The land's sharp features seemed to be The Century's corpse outleant, His crypt the cloudy canopy, The wind his death-lament. The ancient pulse of germ and birth Was shrunken hard and dry, And every spirit upon earth Seemed fervourless as I.
Hello again. It occurred to me that I never gave you the rest of this poem, and what a shame that was. This is the second stanza of four. Would you like the rest? I considered saving the other two stanzas for another day, but the tone of these lines sets a bleak mood and does not presently suit mine.
And I thought, perhaps, that should thank you properly for your part in that difference.
[Why between heaven and earth would that occur to her, is the first thought he has but keeps to himself from an abundance of diplomacy. The rest is harder to pick through, leaves him staring down the device with a pensive frown. Poetry never inspires anything except, in this case, a familiar sliver of dread- pointless, stupid, shamefully superstitious. Even the most levelheaded person by day will feel unease hearing an owl laugh at night, but this is more likely to be a mynah, and this mimicry is apparently not even meant to shiver crickets, much less friends to lunatics. If he's to take her at face value, as much as he can, anyway; bleakness aside, these poetry offerings could mean anything or nothing.]
No need. Whatever I did wasn't for thanks.
Would I like the rest? Two stanzas of winter in four is too many.
[She couldn't possibly know the extent, but the thought was there--that an abundance of winter is not always welcome to read while in the midst of it.]
If there's no need, then I won't. But you should still know it was appreciated.
You might like the rest, it's hard to say. I don't know your tastes so well as my own, but it has a happier message than the trajectory would imply.
[His hint that he's not sure what he's being thanked for specifically was wasted, but that is always the risk, engaging in this kind of needless circumspection where he's outclassed. At least she doesn't get offended easily when he doesn't play politeness games. A trait that almost counterbalances sending him poems.]
What exactly is appreciated?
You may as well send the rest, then. Maybe I will like it.
An outside perspective. An explanation. It was a difficult day, and I was perhaps doing my own share of ghostly melee. Not among my best moments. I'm sorry you had to see it.
At once a voice arose among The bleak twigs overhead In a full-hearted evensong Of joy illimited; An aged thrush, frail, gaunt, and small, In blast-beruffled plume, Had chosen thus to fling his soul Upon the growing gloom.
So little cause for carolings Of such ecstatic sound Was written on terrestrial things Afar or nigh around, That I could think there trembled through His happy good-night air Some blessed Hope, whereof he knew And I was unaware.
[As is always the case when he gets roped into their insanity, with time and distance it had seemed a little much. Somehow Li Lianhua manages to sell him on the dangers of their neighbor against his better judgment, just a bit, on occasion. Maybe it would be nice to have a different, common threat, is the (wrong) takeaway. And yet, a fairly justified rude turn is one of her worse moments?]
I didn't blame you. But I'm glad you appreciate it instead of the opposite.
[Which was one worry of his. He couldn't have picked it out as a difficult day, but he definitely managed some awareness that Li Lianhua had not, clumsy as it was and as inscrutable as half their fight remained. Even he isn't going to go blindly digging for more information, though, poem offerings or not. Nosiness or not, more like.]
It's a good enough poem. Not really to my taste though, even if it does balance out.
[That's all fine and well, but there's a thematic axiom for that, too; she could just as easily have been offended, being called the fox borrowing the tiger's might. Having a fight brought to her door and hearing it isn't even entirely for her could have been an insult. But maybe he's the lunatic this time, and their neighbor's martial pride wasn't ever a real concern.]
How can I know without reading it? This isn't a challenge, I'm sure you know enough poems.
That ghost isn't worth the curiosity. And for what else it's worth, I don't agree with the resemblance.
[Pride isn't necessarily something that she doesn't have, but she doesn't see why it should be threatened by a ghost. Rather, the ghost should be so lucky to have that comparison made.]
Challenge or not, it does sounds like an invitation to send you more poems. You should give me a topic at least. A feeling, or a color? Something to narrow down the possibilities.
As for ghosts, it would still be nice to know what I'm resembling or not resembling. If I understood the shape of what your friend was seeing, then perhaps we could avoid any future combat of that sort. Wouldn't that be the best for all parties?
If you're determined to make it a challenge you'll have to narrow it down yourself.
[Begrudgingly he has to admit she is being fairly reasonable, even if inquisitiveness is still a barely hidden motivation, and even if the tiger squabbles are fascinating and possibly beneficial for all parties, including his. Or would be, without such an unsavory spectre to contend with. But no matter how directly the comparison was made, it just...sticks, in the same unyielding part of his nature that won't let other discrepancies stand, past some line in the sand inscrutable even to Di Feisheng. She's being reasonable, but that can only take her so far, when half the comparison isn't his to make.]
I barely understand what he saw even now. You're no subordinate of mine. If there's power you want, you won't get it by betraying me. Or marrying me into your house. And you enjoy qi too much to want to break my will.
[Well, he's being no help in determining his preferences, but at least she's gaining a bit of knowledge nonetheless. The picture that he paints is... chaotic? That might be the best word. Someone had aspirations, but the trajectory of their means sounds tawdry. A base variety sort of ambition. She's seen the type before.]
[Now she feels a little insulted.]
Well, that's quite the ghost to contend with. I certainly don't harbor any of those intentions, though I suppose it won't do much to simply say so.
[There's a notable delay in her texts, a brief pause of thought. Should she say more? He says that he doesn't see it and barely understands it, and she appreciates that candid assessment. But he's also borrowed this lunacy before. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to put even that speculation to bed.]
You're right, though. I'm no subordinate of yours. I have no interest in power (whatever that should entail here), even less interest in men, and I find your willfulness to be one of your most endearing qualities. Frankly, and I hope you don't mind my forwardness-- I was expecting a little better from this ghost. They sound dreadfully common.
However... I can understand his concern. I hope they didn't cause you too much trouble.
[As far as he understands, insulted is a pretty appropriate way to feel. Designating Jiao Liqiao as 'dreadfully common' doesn't begin to return the insult in full, but it certainly is unexpected enough to get a small amused sound out of him anyway. She can't possibly know how funny that is, and he isn't about to explain, and that seems a waste honestly.]
[The rest is just a lot of confirmation and agreement that unfortunately isn't really called for; the lunacy he borrowed was barely adjacent, he doesn't need any of these assurances. He has maintained from the beginning that there's no point in targeting him. She's presumptuous, and weird, and probably some amount of dangerous, but probably not enough of any of these to do real harm for no benefit. Calling him endearingly willful inspires a fleeting expression of distaste but is a great example.]
I warned you she wasn't worth the curiosity. But she caused more trouble than her life was worth in the end. It's for the best you understand.
You're right that just saying so won't do much, but I don't know what would. Maybe there's no need now anyway.
[The confirmation that the ghost is indeed a ghost-- not quite literal but not strictly metaphor-- is nice as well. At least tells her that the issue was dealt with in an acceptable manner. Not that it would be something to concern her, but it does feel like something that should be more easily put to rest for everyone that had been involved.]
[Why she's being compared to a dead woman is beyond her. Can't Li Lianhua just consider her a unique problem of his? It's so confining, being framed in someone else's shadow simply because ...what? She make a joke about his friend's intentions? Tch.]
I do understand now. I thank you for the explanation.
No need because the altercation has passed? Or because the lunacy has?
[Most unfortunately, beyond her it will have to stay. The casual and even affectionate disrespect with which he treats Li Lianhua's ongoing contentions with the weird scholar next door is a strange fault line with the stonewrought sense of duty he's adopted for some of Li Lianhua's secrets. His house can stay his own, the aetiology of his illness can stay a mystery, and the name Li Xiangyi won't be so much as breathed to her, meaningless as it would be. But these are just some of the many narrow perils of diplomatic undertaking. He's already done an exceptional amount of work he's not well suited to. The idea that anyone will fall prey to an overzealous woman on his account again is as ludicrous as thinking he could hand dye the stripes off any tigers.]
Don't hold your breath for the latter, though I think this particular ghost at least has passed. But words don't work on lunacy. I nearly said as much the first time we talked.
Alas. So much for promising no ill intentions when I next pretend to flirt with you.
[Which she will. Understanding the nature of Li Lianhua's concerns doesn't mean she's interested in curbing her own. It just gives her an idea on how to mitigate any feathers that she ruffles, how to side-step disputes that she doesn't feel like having, and that's good enough for her.]
Is it endearing, to have someone be so protective of you?
[The less said, the better. Conversationally the equivalent of playing dead. Unfortunately, he understands why it's so amusing. Li Lianhua would be much better off if he just enjoyed the liberty being inflicted on Di Feisheng, like a sensible person.]
It's not just for my benefit. If he were right and not insane, who would you target first?
[Unfortunately, the playing dead does still make her smile. Such is life.]
If he were right about what? That I have some predatory interest in you? That I'm dangerous to you? This is a very silly hypothetical, and the idea of "targeting" anyone is beyond me.
But if I have to answer, then it would have to be him first, no? And if I did that, then I don't imagine you would like me very much, and my days would be very boring. So where would I even be?
See, it all falls apart the moment you take more than two seconds to think about. I'm a little insulted that I'm expected to be so devoid of reason.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[backdated to two days after that mess of a sleepr post]
The Century's corpse outleant,
His crypt the cloudy canopy,
The wind his death-lament.
The ancient pulse of germ and birth
Was shrunken hard and dry,
And every spirit upon earth
Seemed fervourless as I.
Hello again. It occurred to me that I never gave you the rest of this poem, and what a shame that was. This is the second stanza of four. Would you like the rest? I considered saving the other two stanzas for another day, but the tone of these lines sets a bleak mood and does not presently suit mine.
And I thought, perhaps, that should thank you properly for your part in that difference.
no subject
No need. Whatever I did wasn't for thanks.
Would I like the rest? Two stanzas of winter in four is too many.
no subject
If there's no need, then I won't. But you should still know it was appreciated.
You might like the rest, it's hard to say. I don't know your tastes so well as my own, but it has a happier message than the trajectory would imply.
no subject
What exactly is appreciated?
You may as well send the rest, then. Maybe I will like it.
no subject
At once a voice arose among
The bleak twigs overhead
In a full-hearted evensong
Of joy illimited;
An aged thrush, frail, gaunt, and small,
In blast-beruffled plume,
Had chosen thus to fling his soul
Upon the growing gloom.
So little cause for carolings
Of such ecstatic sound
Was written on terrestrial things
Afar or nigh around,
That I could think there trembled through
His happy good-night air
Some blessed Hope, whereof he knew
And I was unaware.
no subject
Maybe it would be nice to have a different, common threat, is the (wrong) takeaway.And yet, a fairly justified rude turn is one of her worse moments?]I didn't blame you. But I'm glad you appreciate it instead of the opposite.
[Which was one worry of his. He couldn't have picked it out as a difficult day, but he definitely managed some awareness that Li Lianhua had not, clumsy as it was and as inscrutable as half their fight remained. Even he isn't going to go blindly digging for more information, though, poem offerings or not.
Nosiness or not, more like.]It's a good enough poem. Not really to my taste though, even if it does balance out.
no subject
Hmm. What sort of poem would be to your taste? I know quite a few off the top of my head. Perhaps I could offer something more to your liking.
Or we could talk about ghosts. I'll confess, I'm far more curious than I was before about what sort of spectre I appeared as.
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How can I know without reading it? This isn't a challenge, I'm sure you know enough poems.
That ghost isn't worth the curiosity. And for what else it's worth, I don't agree with the resemblance.
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Challenge or not, it does sounds like an invitation to send you more poems. You should give me a topic at least. A feeling, or a color? Something to narrow down the possibilities.
As for ghosts, it would still be nice to know what I'm resembling or not resembling. If I understood the shape of what your friend was seeing, then perhaps we could avoid any future combat of that sort. Wouldn't that be the best for all parties?
no subject
[Begrudgingly he has to admit she is being fairly reasonable, even if inquisitiveness is still a barely hidden motivation, and even if the tiger squabbles are fascinating and possibly beneficial for all parties, including his. Or would be, without such an unsavory spectre to contend with. But no matter how directly the comparison was made, it just...sticks, in the same unyielding part of his nature that won't let other discrepancies stand, past some line in the sand inscrutable even to Di Feisheng. She's being reasonable, but that can only take her so far, when half the comparison isn't his to make.]
I barely understand what he saw even now. You're no subordinate of mine. If there's power you want, you won't get it by betraying me. Or marrying me into your house. And you enjoy qi too much to want to break my will.
no subject
[Now she feels a little insulted.]
Well, that's quite the ghost to contend with. I certainly don't harbor any of those intentions, though I suppose it won't do much to simply say so.
[There's a notable delay in her texts, a brief pause of thought. Should she say more? He says that he doesn't see it and barely understands it, and she appreciates that candid assessment. But he's also borrowed this lunacy before. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to put even that speculation to bed.]
You're right, though. I'm no subordinate of yours. I have no interest in power (whatever that should entail here), even less interest in men, and I find your willfulness to be one of your most endearing qualities. Frankly, and I hope you don't mind my forwardness-- I was expecting a little better from this ghost. They sound dreadfully common.
However... I can understand his concern. I hope they didn't cause you too much trouble.
no subject
[The rest is just a lot of confirmation and agreement that unfortunately isn't really called for; the lunacy he borrowed was barely adjacent, he doesn't need any of these assurances. He has maintained from the beginning that there's no point in targeting him. She's presumptuous, and weird, and probably some amount of dangerous, but probably not enough of any of these to do real harm for no benefit. Calling him endearingly willful inspires a fleeting expression of distaste but is a great example.]
I warned you she wasn't worth the curiosity. But she caused more trouble than her life was worth in the end. It's for the best you understand.
You're right that just saying so won't do much, but I don't know what would. Maybe there's no need now anyway.
no subject
[Why she's being compared to a dead woman is beyond her. Can't Li Lianhua just consider her a unique problem of his? It's so confining, being framed in someone else's shadow simply because ...what? She make a joke about his friend's intentions? Tch.]
I do understand now. I thank you for the explanation.
No need because the altercation has passed? Or because the lunacy has?
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Don't hold your breath for the latter, though I think this particular ghost at least has passed. But words don't work on lunacy. I nearly said as much the first time we talked.
no subject
[Which she will. Understanding the nature of Li Lianhua's concerns doesn't mean she's interested in curbing her own. It just gives her an idea on how to mitigate any feathers that she ruffles, how to side-step disputes that she doesn't feel like having, and that's good enough for her.]
Is it endearing, to have someone be so protective of you?
no subject
[The less said, the better. Conversationally the equivalent of playing dead. Unfortunately, he understands why it's so amusing. Li Lianhua would be much better off if he just enjoyed the liberty being inflicted on Di Feisheng, like a sensible person.]
It's not just for my benefit. If he were right and not insane, who would you target first?
no subject
If he were right about what? That I have some predatory interest in you? That I'm dangerous to you? This is a very silly hypothetical, and the idea of "targeting" anyone is beyond me.
But if I have to answer, then it would have to be him first, no? And if I did that, then I don't imagine you would like me very much, and my days would be very boring. So where would I even be?
See, it all falls apart the moment you take more than two seconds to think about. I'm a little insulted that I'm expected to be so devoid of reason.
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I've already said you don't need to reassure me. Or are you trying to do the opposite with all these words? You understand my point, and agree.
no subject
I understand your point, though it didn't need to be made. My question was genuine. Do you enjoy his fussing over you?
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I don't know if you did understand, or you wouldn't call it that. Should I enjoy it?
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I can't tell you if you should enjoy it or not. That's up to you to determine.
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Why? Have you finally run out of words?
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I could wax poetic all day about the nature between the two of you, but why should I? I'd much rather have your words than mine on the matter.
no subject
Congratulations, you've discovered one half of conversation.
no subject
You're avoiding the question, though. Is it really so difficult to answer?
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