[A part of him wanted to meet the man half way but this demonstration was easier on the table. When Xiao Xingchen was close enough, he picked up the box he hand in front of him and slid it over. It wasn't that he was too lazy to pick it up but sliding it made a sound as he moved the box, which was a simple thing made of wood with a button to press that would open it.]
You mentioned drawing talismans last time.
[If Xiao Xingchen opened the box and felt around, he'd find six carved blocks, each of them no longer than a hand's width, wide enough to be held in one hand without it being clumsy. They're made of cool stone that are all the same colour. But where they lacked differences in colour they made up for in difference in texture. One handle was carved with flowers, another with impressions of bamboo, then yet another with cranes, with fish...each of them distinct to the touch. On the bottom, there are the impression of seals. Ones Chu Wanning know but perhaps the constructions of some of them would be familiar enough, but just in case...]
I can explain their uses, if you don't recognize these ones in particular.
[Though, oddly enough, there's at least one that might be obvious enough, the furthest one on the left. The bottom of it isn't a seal at all, but a name, stylized bu recognizable: Xiao Xingchen.]
[The man doesn't have to be so thoughtful, could have simply shoved this gift directly into Xingchen's hands, but the fact that he makes its presence known and detectable only makes Xingchen more grateful. He really is kind, despite the tone his voice may take or the curtness of his words.
He opens the box, all the more curious, and pulls out the first block. His hands map out the general shape of it first, forming a mental image of its size relative to his hands, then brushes his fingertips over the more detailed sections, especially the bottom, where he's certain he can make out the character. Or is it backwards?
Then he does the same for the second block, and so on. Xingchen is pretty sure he understands the function by now and he can't help but let his the corners of his mouth curl up just slightly. He's probably taking a long time and he hopes this man isn't growing frustrated, but he seems patient enough. When he gets to the final block, his fingers moving to their expected dance by now, he gasps, quietly.
That's...that's his name. He's sure of it.]
This is...
[Thoughtful. So, so thoughtful.]
I think I understand, but might you verify? Just in case.
[For all that he doesn't seem the patient type, he let Xiao Xingchen feel out the stamps for as long as he wanted.
Perhaps it was because the man was blind, but Chu Wanning felt less like he needed to keep up with pretenses and allowed himself to just...enjoy watching Xiao Xingchen's reaction.
The seals were all backwards and that had been a challenge almost as bad as the scale at which he had to carve them at. But it was worth it, if it were helpful.
When Xiao Xingchen asked his question though, he instinctively schooled his expression back into something more aloof.]
They're stamps, each producing a different talisman. [He notes the four that Xiao Xingchen had mentioned and which pattern they were carved with. One for creating fire, gloom burning, spirit repelling and attraction. That left two.]
The one with the cloud carvings is an experiment. You can stamp it on paper and once activated it will make spiritual energy imbued into the paper linger a little longer.
[Useful for regular talismans but also useful for the way they'd figured out together for Xiao Xingchen to write.] Naturally, it's not something I have used before but it worked well enough when I tried it. There is the issue that if these don't stamp completely they may not work, at the very least, I made sure to use seals that wouldn't turn into something else if a stroke is missing.
[That they wouldn't blow up or something.
But he still hasn't talked about the last one which was maybe what Xiao Xingchen was most interested in. Not that he knew, but he'd left it to last because...
...it was so superfluous. It wasn't something the man had asked for and there was no real practical use for it. It may not even be something he'd want. So he had already decided how he would bring this up, what excuse he'd use to explain its inclusion in the box so that if it weren't appreciated he wouldn't lose face for having made it.]
I don't carve often. Your name was useful as practise. And since I'd already made it, it would be a waste to just get rid of it.
[It's not a very good excuse but he doesn't realize it.
[Xingchen listens closely, taking into account any of the flaws that may still be evident in these stamps, no matter how well thought out they also are. It all makes sense.]
This is truly impressive. You've put so much thought into all of this.
[Even just holding one of these stamps - the one bearing his own name - Xingchen feels so much closer to his old potential. He could leave right now, go back to his rooms, and test one of these out and hopefully feel some part inside of him spark back to life. It's been so long since he's felt whole.
Fingers gently rub over the entire piece of wood in his hands and he smiles as the explanation of his name being carved comes to light. It could be true, just as easily as it could be a bluff. Not that either version is better or worse. The fact that it was created at all, for him, tugs at that spot in his chest.
He can never repay this man for all of this kindness.]
I can never thank you enough. You've done so much for me.
[He's so glad his efforts were well-received...but he wasn't about to admit that.]
It was just something I was dabbling in.
[It's nothing impressive, his tone seemed to say.
He hadn't really meant to keep his name a secret, not here where no one knew who he was, but it simply hadn't occurred to him to introduce himself earlier.
Well, no time like the present, he supposed.]
Chu Wanning.
[He said it with the confidence of someone who knew the name wouldn't be recognized.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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You mentioned drawing talismans last time.
[If Xiao Xingchen opened the box and felt around, he'd find six carved blocks, each of them no longer than a hand's width, wide enough to be held in one hand without it being clumsy. They're made of cool stone that are all the same colour. But where they lacked differences in colour they made up for in difference in texture. One handle was carved with flowers, another with impressions of bamboo, then yet another with cranes, with fish...each of them distinct to the touch. On the bottom, there are the impression of seals. Ones Chu Wanning know but perhaps the constructions of some of them would be familiar enough, but just in case...]
I can explain their uses, if you don't recognize these ones in particular.
[Though, oddly enough, there's at least one that might be obvious enough, the furthest one on the left. The bottom of it isn't a seal at all, but a name, stylized bu recognizable: Xiao Xingchen.]
no subject
He opens the box, all the more curious, and pulls out the first block. His hands map out the general shape of it first, forming a mental image of its size relative to his hands, then brushes his fingertips over the more detailed sections, especially the bottom, where he's certain he can make out the character. Or is it backwards?
Then he does the same for the second block, and so on. Xingchen is pretty sure he understands the function by now and he can't help but let his the corners of his mouth curl up just slightly. He's probably taking a long time and he hopes this man isn't growing frustrated, but he seems patient enough. When he gets to the final block, his fingers moving to their expected dance by now, he gasps, quietly.
That's...that's his name. He's sure of it.]
This is...
[Thoughtful. So, so thoughtful.]
I think I understand, but might you verify? Just in case.
no subject
Perhaps it was because the man was blind, but Chu Wanning felt less like he needed to keep up with pretenses and allowed himself to just...enjoy watching Xiao Xingchen's reaction.
The seals were all backwards and that had been a challenge almost as bad as the scale at which he had to carve them at. But it was worth it, if it were helpful.
When Xiao Xingchen asked his question though, he instinctively schooled his expression back into something more aloof.]
They're stamps, each producing a different talisman. [He notes the four that Xiao Xingchen had mentioned and which pattern they were carved with. One for creating fire, gloom burning, spirit repelling and attraction. That left two.]
The one with the cloud carvings is an experiment. You can stamp it on paper and once activated it will make spiritual energy imbued into the paper linger a little longer.
[Useful for regular talismans but also useful for the way they'd figured out together for Xiao Xingchen to write.] Naturally, it's not something I have used before but it worked well enough when I tried it. There is the issue that if these don't stamp completely they may not work, at the very least, I made sure to use seals that wouldn't turn into something else if a stroke is missing.
[That they wouldn't blow up or something.
But he still hasn't talked about the last one which was maybe what Xiao Xingchen was most interested in. Not that he knew, but he'd left it to last because...
...it was so superfluous. It wasn't something the man had asked for and there was no real practical use for it. It may not even be something he'd want. So he had already decided how he would bring this up, what excuse he'd use to explain its inclusion in the box so that if it weren't appreciated he wouldn't lose face for having made it.]
I don't carve often. Your name was useful as practise. And since I'd already made it, it would be a waste to just get rid of it.
[It's not a very good excuse but he doesn't realize it.
no subject
This is truly impressive. You've put so much thought into all of this.
[Even just holding one of these stamps - the one bearing his own name - Xingchen feels so much closer to his old potential. He could leave right now, go back to his rooms, and test one of these out and hopefully feel some part inside of him spark back to life. It's been so long since he's felt whole.
Fingers gently rub over the entire piece of wood in his hands and he smiles as the explanation of his name being carved comes to light. It could be true, just as easily as it could be a bluff. Not that either version is better or worse. The fact that it was created at all, for him, tugs at that spot in his chest.
He can never repay this man for all of this kindness.]
I can never thank you enough. You've done so much for me.
[He laughs, softly.]
I don't even know your name.
no subject
It was just something I was dabbling in.
[It's nothing impressive, his tone seemed to say.
He hadn't really meant to keep his name a secret, not here where no one knew who he was, but it simply hadn't occurred to him to introduce himself earlier.
Well, no time like the present, he supposed.]
Chu Wanning.
[He said it with the confidence of someone who knew the name wouldn't be recognized.]
no subject
Then your skills must be all the more impressive when on full display.
[This man is obviously talented and smart and despite his best efforts to deny them, Xingchen wants to make that known, at least a little.
But he carefully slots the stamps back into their box and circles his arms into a salute, bowing respectfully.]
This one thanks you again, Chu-gongzi.
no subject
[Yes, it's a polite address but he's still uncomfortable with it (and so, being uncomfortable he looks vaguely irritated).]
Just call me Chu Wanning.
no subject
Thank you, again, Chu Wanning.
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[Hmph!!]
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