-- the general ,

jie lishen / courtesy: zhongli (oc.)

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

" 𝒍𝒐𝒚𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒏, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒏. "

꧁༒☬𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓲𝓬 𝓰𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵☬༒꧂

° 𝓶𝓾𝓵𝓽𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓮 𝓸𝓬
° 21+
° 𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓹𝓼 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓶

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

“ i'll do my best to guarantee that. ”

the general takes the lead, guiding sun xie along the path.

“ you are not too cold, are you? ”

[𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘹𝘪𝘦. @ahiddencrown]

it's not quite a guarantee, but sun xie smiles anyways. he'll link his arm with the general's, beaming up at him.

"we'll get back safely, then!"

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

“ so long as we make it back safely tonight, without incident, then of course. we simply have to be careful in the meantime. ”

bearing that in mind, jie lishen finally offers out his arm for sun xie.

[𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘹𝘪𝘦. @ahiddencrown]

"will there be a next time soon?" perhaps he sounds too hopeful, but perhaps he doesn't care. these little outings. . . he lived for them.

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

“ it is a possibility, but there are heavier robes one can wear to prevent that and usually we did. perhaps i could put in an order for you for the next time we venture outside. ”

[𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘹𝘪𝘦. @ahiddencrown]

"doesn't that get your robes wet? and then you're all cold, and you'd get sick, wouldn't you?" he stared at the ground, wondering. . .

if he was someone else, perhaps, it would make sense. perhaps he would even give it a try.

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

@ahiddencrown “ it was. ”

it’s a shame he doesn’t remember the stories or even what his father looked like anymore.

“ i’m not sure if i did, but they aren’t hard to make. you just lie down in the snow on your back and spread out your arms and legs a couple times. ”

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

throws a coat over @ahiddencrown.

“ get up, prince. it’s time we got out beyond these dusty walls for a little while for your health, yes? his majesty is asleep for some time now. ”

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

@ahiddencrown “ we stayed inside the house, of course, until it was warm enough to thaw the snow again. we would play games and my father would tell me old stories, we’d have hot teas and sometimes cocoa to keep warm. ”

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

@ahiddencrown “ mm. ”

there’s a slight nod from the general in response.

“ there was heavy snowfall in the winter from what little i do remember of my childhood. the snow was deep enough that some years, overnight, we’d be snowed in. ”

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

@ahiddencrown " there may be less snow on the roads within the cities and even more in the rural areas. you may even find snowmen that the kids build or even snow angels. it doesn't look like this year round, of course. "

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

@ahiddencrown ah. momentarily, the general freezes in place as the kiss is applied to his cheek. sun xie has already darted off by the time he's recovered. absent-minded now, he responds,

" most likely, yes, though the snow may get thicker the further we go. "

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

@ahiddencrown sun xie has nothing to worry about ; jie lishen is, if anything, as oblivious as he is stern. the general straightens after brushing the snow from his highness' hair.

" good, then the risk of being caught smuggling you out of the castle in the first place has made it worth it. "

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

@ahiddencrown “ it was inevitable knowing your excitement with all things considered new to you. at any rate, you are enjoying yourself, yes? ”

with gloved digits, the general reaches out to brush the snow from sun xie's hair. it wouldn't do if he caught cold. they'd be caught for certain.

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

@ahiddencrown “ you did ask what happens when the snow melts and the universe saw fit to answer you. it turns to slush and there's usually ice beneath ; that is why i told you to be mindful of your steps. ”

it was bound to happen, though, so jie lishen cannot be upset over such a thing.

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

@ahiddencrown leans down all the same to offer a hand to the prince.

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

@ahiddencrown it appears there is no need for him to answer because said answer has found sun xie instead. if one listens closely, there is the softest huff of a sound coming from the general. no, he isn't laughing but there is most certainly amusement shining in dark hues.

still, he+

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

@ahiddencrown few falling snowflakes as they lazily descend from the sky. without looking away as they melt in his palm, he replies, “ that’s right. some years, however, there is more snow on the ground. it seems to be a late start this year. ”

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

@ahiddencrown given he shouldn’t be indulging sun xie in the first place, it would certainly be unwise not to follow him. his majesty never said to let him loose in the woods and leave him there after all. regardless of that, the general does pause for a moment to lay his palm up to catch a+

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

@ahiddencrown there isn’t an audible response in the slightest but, instead, the most minute of physical responses in the slight curve of his lips. one can’t really see it if they look, but it is there nonetheless.

quietly, he trails after his prince, lest he get lost on his own.

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

@ahiddencrown year as well. though there may be a scarce few trees with leaves upon them still, seeing the branches covered in thin layers of ice and snow are a beautiful thing to behold. ”

one of the few likes the general even has.

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

@ahiddencrown what a surprise he’s already forgotten everything he’s told him the moment he steps outside. the general heaves out a sighed breath as he trails after sun xie. of course he likes it, though ; zhongli knew that he would.

“ isn’t it? the wintertime is my favorite time of the+

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

@ahiddencrown help the prince to his feet again as many times as he fell. a few twists and turns and they reach the exit into the surrounding woods.

“ so, be mindful of your footing. ”

[-- the general , @jie_lishen]

@ahiddencrown “ given your. . . less than graceful gait in most circumstances, yes. it certainly does. you’re likely to slip if you aren’t careful. i don’t imagine you’d like falling on the cold hard ground. ”

while moderately amusing to think about, it is zhongli who would have to+