voidtreckerexpress | [Open] Recovering from battle

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[Open] Recovering from battle

Who: WangJi and Open!
Where: Dining car, possibly elsewhere
When: Grasshopper 12
What: Taking a break and recovering from a fight.
Warnings: None yet.

WangJi had used much of his abilities fighting on this mission and when they were finally complete and able to return to the train, he was very tired. But he wouldn't let that show. What they had done was important and it was something that he would do again if he had to, even if he wished that it had not been so prolonged

He found a quiet venue in the dining car, at least for the moment. He made himself a cup of tea and sat quietly, sipping at the warm liquid. He probably should have been hungry, but really that was enough for him at the moment. A cup of hot tea. It wasn't necessarily the best but it would do.

He glanced up hearing the sound of someone else at the door. He nodded his head once in greeting.

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He walks over to collect a drink, deciding tea is at least familiar and might help to ease any sort of unrest he might be feeling. Once in his hands he comes over and settles into the seat that the other man gestured towards.

He can't say that they are particularly friendly, but Lan Wangji had been there to help him when he needed it and had continued to play music to help ease his mind each day so that he could rest. He hadn't seen the other since his confinement but he figured they were both busy with the previous mission.

"Perhaps you will be able to assist me with something."

He certainly didn't consider Xue Yang a friend, but he would at least be civil to him and help with his problems after being attacked. The mission had kept them from seeing each other for a few days at least.

"I will do what I can. What do you require assistance with?"

He is silent as he mulls over his question. Coming from him it will probably seem a bit odd but..well his life hadn't exactly been normal for several weeks now.

"How does one prove they have changed?"

More specifically, how does he prove that he can be a well behaved human being when he wants to be?

That is a difficult question and he put his cup down for the moment as he mulled it over in his head. It was a difficult question, but it was an important one and he didn't want to say it wrong.

"Trust is easy to break and hard to rebuild, but... I do not believe that such a thing is impossible. Firstly, actions speak louder than words. One can make promises, but then also break them. If you make one, it is important to keep it. Showing that you have changed will help."

"And how would I show that I changed?" Because apparently simply saying it isn't enough for people to believe it. And he already made one mistake in this place that once again makes him untrustworthy. He still doesn't regret his actions, but that doesn't mean he hasn't learned not to do such things again in the future.

He doesn't know how to be good and well behaved. He only knows how to live and do things his own way. Caring about what other people think has not been a part of his desires or way of life. Having to suddenly change that is foreign to him and he has no obvious direction to go into to start figuring out how.

Well, this certainly was interesting. Absolute proof that some individuals simply did not understand thinking about others. And he was not really so surprised that it was Xue Yang that led him to this. Still, he was being asked to help.

"If you would permit me to quote some of the rules of Gusu Lan, I think they may prove helpful.

Do not tell lies. Do not praise yourself and slander others. Speak meagerly as too many words will cause harm. Do not act impulsively. If others should win over you, do not envy them. If others should lose to you, do not look down upon them. Have courtesy and integrity.

Be grateful to those who have helped you, be loyal, and be just. Be trustworthy and others will believe you."

The more the rules went on, the more Xue Yang cringed. Perhaps he wasn't really cut out for changing. He wonders if there was even one rule in that sect he hadn't already broken about ten times in his life.

He reaches up to rub at his temples, an amused smirk coming to his lips. "I think it might be quite hopeless in my case." Because if all of that is what needed to happen for him to prove he had changed..he didn't have the energy.

And that wasn't even all of them. That was just a small fraction of Gusu Lan's rules. He had only picked ones that seemed most relevant.

"Do not think you must do all of them at once, but be aware. Start small for real progress. Begin by expressing gratitude to others when they help you. That I believe will help others realize there has been a change."

He drops his hand down and considers that. In a way he has started to take that step. "Like thanking the ones that pulled me from that unfortunate state I was in."

This man being one of those. He had voiced a small amount of appreciation towards them when he was in the medical car. It was awkward but he knew it was necessary.

"Yes, that would be one. Beyond that, those who have assisted you after that point as well."

WangJi wasn't fishing for praise, really. It was what he should have done for someone in need. But, for others, being thanked when they helped was a good way to show that someone thought about them as well.

"Would it not be considered a little late, now?" A lot has happened since then and he isn't sure he has even come in contact with any of them since then. He wonders if it would be a little odd to thank people weeks after the event.

"I do not think a few weeks would be considered too late. But in the end, if you feel too much time has passed, you can always make the note to thank them the next time."

It was a big change for him. While WangJi wouldn't have had much of an issue if it was something big to thank someone even at a later time, it was new to him so he didn't want to create added pressure which might cause him to rethink this.

Although Xue Yang has never really cared much about awkward situations, he does wonder if it might not feel that way for both parties if he were to randomly come up and tell him how much he appreciated their efforts in his recovery.

"I suppose I will have to see what kind of opportunity presents itself and see how I feel at the time." He stares at the other for a moment.

"I owe you a little more thanks then others given you spent extra days at my request."

"Of course. That is your call to make." This was something he had learned when he was a child, but he was fairly certain that Xue Yang had not so he had to do it on his own.

"That is up to you." If he was thanked, especially after this conversation, he wouldn't dismiss it as easily as he had before, but still he wouldn't make him.

He is quite as a moment as if gathering his thoughts. He finally looks up at the other man again and there is a sincerity in his expression that is almost never there.

"Thank you for your help then and now. I was your enemy so you didn't have to do what you did at all. You could have left me alone and instead you still assisted. I appreciate it."

These words are not surface deep. He actually for once means what he says. It still feels a little awkward but also there is a different feeling there as well that he doesn't quite understand yet.

Normally WangJi would have waved that off that he had only been doing what he was supposed to do, what he had been trained to do, but this was a different situation.

"You're welcome. Though we may not see eye-to-eye, you are deserving of respect, too."

In the way that all beings deserved a level of respect.

Deserving of respect...has anyone ever actually respected him? Perhaps Xingchen during the time he didn't know who he was. Does that even count? He looks down at the table as he dwells on those words a little. Even if it wasn't much respect, even a little is something.

He picks up his tea and takes a sip. It's cooled off a little too much now but he doesn't mind. He smiles a little against the cup, as if wanting to hide how much he is feeling pleased by this conversation. When he lowers the cup back down he seems to be contemplating something.

"What do you think the next easiest rule to follow would be?" Since it is going to take baby steps for him..

WangJi took a sip of his own tea as well in the silence. His tea was getting cold and he still wanted to enjoy it before it became unbearably cold. However, if it did, he would simply reheat his tea after their conversation had finished.

At the question, he considered this. Having been around WuXian for so long, he knew how hard it was to not act impulsively. Which one was the easiest?

"Do not praise yourself and slander others."

If that is the next easiest then he really might have a hard time. He chews on his lower lip but then gives a nod, "Okay..That seems like something I can do perhaps a little easier then the apologies."

It might be harder then it sounds and he will have to figure out how to hold back depending on who he is talking to. But Xue Yang is determined to change and these two things are the first steps towards that.

It was the easiest all things considered. He didn't have to monitor subtle actions or how much he was talking and it was more to not think so much about himself and to consider positive aspects of others.

"Even if you don't say anything out loud to them, consider it."

He nods and after another quiet moment, pushes himself to his feet. "I think that will be enough to start with. That alone is going to be hard enough." Once he thinks he has figured out those two steps and feels a little less awkward about showing appreciation then he might have to harass the man again for more tips.

"Of course. It will take time." WangJi wasn't going to expect instant results. If he was able to change instantly, he would have been concerned that Xue Yang was a better actor than he thought. But he gave Xue Yang a nod.

He takes his cup to the sink and when he returns he circles his arms and gives a little bow, as much a sign of appreciation as it is respect. He will take his leave now to try and see how much of the information he has gained that he can put into use.

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[Open] Recovering from battle

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