[Li Lianhua has indeed all but forgotten about this, though that's mostly to do with what happened after Inigo had been sent on this mission. He's lost the right to call Cat a friend, and that conversation with Di Feisheng hadn't been much easier. His concern for others had been rejected because he doesn't know how to worry about his own life, and he still has no answer to that hours later.
Hours which he spent sitting by the ocean, taking refuge in its indifference. It's so hard to know what to want for himself, now that living and dying by himself is no longer his fate. It's hard to see how it matters at all, when he's still dying.
And then his phone chimes (which he did remember to take along for once, because what he doesn't want is to make his companions fret yet again). When he sees who it is, Li Lianhua has to laugh. It feels like crying, but better.]
But he doesn't seem upset about it at all. It seems like he's just having fun with it.
[ That quickly went from a very surface-level reason to one that goes a little deeper, huh.. Though Inigo likely means all of it in that same innocent tone he often uses. ]
I thought he must have a lot of fun. So I wanted to take a picture to prove to you that I was taking your challenge serious.
And then I fell into the pond. [ A description of a day so much more simple than Li Lianhua's own... ]
[One could really take these things Inigo sometimes says and create a collection of deeply profound-sounding mantras. Be as serene as a round frog just having fun with it. Maybe Inigo lived a past life as a half-witted hermit in the mountains. Well, they do say fools and children see the truth most clearly.]
Indeed, how can he be upset? He doesn't know he's strange-looking. No expectations of others for how a frog ought to look burden him. He's just living for himself.
At least until something comes along and eats him.
[Still can't resist poking a little fun at Inigo's naivety, so sorry. That's just life.]
An afternoon swim, not a bad idea. Just dry off properly, I won't be made responsible for you catching a cold, alright?
[ At least he didn't start wailing over Li Lianhua making him think of that cute little frog getting eaten, so that's one good thing.. Though this text may not be all that much better when it's directly going asgainst the one thing the other asked him to do. ]
[And there is the other half of that half-wit. Is he meant to assume Inigo is just standing there dripping like a wet dog while he's sending him messages? How did someone this simple make it this far in life? Li Lianhua rubs his forehead like he's having to battle another headache, even while he's still laughing a little.]
Go home and get changed! You have a home, don't you?
[ Sorry, Li Lianhua. Sometimes Inigo's brain thinks about things in a way that's a little too simple, and he was wondering if the other somehow expected him to dry himself off on the spot magically or something..
Not that Inigo's messages stop. No, he can seemingly at least walk and write at the same time without walking into something. At least Inigo is capable of that much! ]
It's not text. It's an image, and if Li Lianhua opens it, it's a photo of Inigo. A selfie, though he would not know to call it that. It's a selfie he must have taken right now, because he looks absolutely drenched from falling into that pond, and he is pulling off the absolutely saddest little puppy eyes in the world.
This is who you're sending those words to, Li Lianhua. ]
[Physically leaning back from the screen!! Rolling his eyes!! What did he do to deserve this? Surely his karmic burden isn't this great.
Oh well, better safe than sorry.
After a long enough time that Inigo can't be blamed for thinking his strategy failed:]
Little fool, I don't know who taught you to be like this. But I'm telling you, a young hero can't be doing this to people he wants to be taken seriously by. Now I know what you think of me, eh?
[Belying the scolding, an image follows immediately after.]
[Oh good, not being able to cut out most of those messages turns out to have been educational and not cause another Inigo Event for calling Xiaobao a brat. Maybe there's hope for the boy yet.
No Inigo behaviors besides the usual getting overly invested in other people's business, anyway. That's probably the third thing today that's made him smile.]
Let me tell you, I'm pretty sure he will invite himself into my house to eat all my food and drink all my tea in every lifetime. So we'd better get along.
Yes. I think it was worth falling into a pond for.
[ Not like Inigo hasn't been through worse. He can bear possibly catching a cold if it's for the sake of his friends. Especially since-- ]
I just wanted you two to be able to share a nice moment. Especially Fang Duobing. He's always so busy looking out for other people that I want him to receive as much affection as he throws around.
[That Inigo isn't wrong, and maybe he never has been as appreciative as Fang Xiaobao deserved... but that's a problem for another day, another time when he isn't feeling so hollowed out already, so lacking in things that must come as easy as breathing to others.
But despite that, dinner is still waiting, and this little fool is still too concerned for others.]
Indeed. Just like someone else I know.
[And because he knows how dense Inigo can be:]
That means you!
You better go look for more cute frogs or beautiful flowers tomorrow, alright? Summer won't last forever, after all. Enjoy them while you can.
[ Li Lianhua, you can't just jump from topic to topic like this. Not when Inigo still has something to say abotu the part that had nothing to do with cute frogs!
.. though cute frogs are very important! ]
You can't just compare me with Fang Duobing! We are not similar at all! You're insulting him!
[It's probably for the best nobody is around to see Li Lianhua visibly wince at this. Does this boy really not even realize what he's saying half the time?]
Insulting him? Is that what I'm doing? Then what do you call searching all over town and falling into a pond just to make sure Fang Duobing and I have a nice moment?
That is indeed what it means to look out for someone. Maybe reflect on why you think it's nothing when you do it and worthy of a compliment when someone like Fang Duobing does it, eh?
[Who would have thought this boy is capable of playing tricks? Someone gives him one reward and suddenly he knows how to haggle? It's unexpected enough it surprises another laugh out of Li Lianhua before he can type a reply.]
Of course, a better understanding of yourself! Isn't that something? A young man should know himself most of all. What else do you want?
[Less quickly, but perhaps all the more surprising, after a few moments Inigo receives a photo. Cast in the last light of the approaching dusk, a handful of pebbles laid out in the shape of a smiling face on the road, a single plucked flower placed on top where a hairpin might be.]
The cookies will be there whenever you're ready to come by my house. Of course I expect you'll be able to share your newfound understanding as a result of your reflecting. Am I right?
[ For a moment he's excited that maybe the photo notification means that he truly did get a photo of a smiling Li Lianhua--
But.. it's not that, huh. Not exactly. It's a little disappointing, mostly because Inigo really wants the other to be able to feel happy and smile, but he supposes the other must have put some effort into making this.
And that has to matter too, right? ]
Of course.
My parents would be disappointed in me if I did not honor our family by keeping my word.
[Who needs a smiling Li Lianhua? But a smiling face on the side of the road will put a smile on the next person's face who passes by, and maybe the next after that. Inigo should learn to see the bigger picture. It's not his fault Li Lianhua's joyful whimsy is nearly indistinguishable from his wiggling.]
Good, very good. A filial son, as expected. Your parents indeed don't have reason to be disappointed.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2024-09-07 10:32 pm (UTC)Hours which he spent sitting by the ocean, taking refuge in its indifference. It's so hard to know what to want for himself, now that living and dying by himself is no longer his fate. It's hard to see how it matters at all, when he's still dying.
And then his phone chimes (which he did remember to take along for once, because what he doesn't want is to make his companions fret yet again). When he sees who it is, Li Lianhua has to laugh. It feels like crying, but better.]
Inigo, I admit defeat. You've really bested me.
Why does he make you smile?
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Date: 2024-09-11 06:57 pm (UTC)But he doesn't seem upset about it at all. It seems like he's just having fun with it.
[ That quickly went from a very surface-level reason to one that goes a little deeper, huh.. Though Inigo likely means all of it in that same innocent tone he often uses. ]
I thought he must have a lot of fun. So I wanted to take a picture to prove to you that I was taking your challenge serious.
And then I fell into the pond. [ A description of a day so much more simple than Li Lianhua's own... ]
no subject
Date: 2024-09-13 04:30 pm (UTC)Indeed, how can he be upset? He doesn't know he's strange-looking. No expectations of others for how a frog ought to look burden him. He's just living for himself.
At least until something comes along and eats him.
[Still can't resist poking a little fun at Inigo's naivety, so sorry. That's just life.]
An afternoon swim, not a bad idea. Just dry off properly, I won't be made responsible for you catching a cold, alright?
no subject
Date: 2024-09-17 06:59 pm (UTC)What am I supposed to dry myself off with?
[ At least he didn't start wailing over Li Lianhua making him think of that cute little frog getting eaten, so that's one good thing.. Though this text may not be all that much better when it's directly going asgainst the one thing the other asked him to do. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-09-23 09:59 pm (UTC)Go home and get changed! You have a home, don't you?
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Date: 2024-09-28 09:54 pm (UTC)[ Sorry, Li Lianhua. Sometimes Inigo's brain thinks about things in a way that's a little too simple, and he was wondering if the other somehow expected him to dry himself off on the spot magically or something..
Not that Inigo's messages stop. No, he can seemingly at least walk and write at the same time without walking into something. At least Inigo is capable of that much! ]
Do I get proof of my reward now?
You promised.
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Date: 2024-10-04 04:02 pm (UTC)[He can't have Inigo thinking the boy can just go around demanding proof of his honesty from him. Where would they be if that were the case?]
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Date: 2024-10-08 02:57 pm (UTC)It's not text. It's an image, and if Li Lianhua opens it, it's a photo of Inigo. A selfie, though he would not know to call it that. It's a selfie he must have taken right now, because he looks absolutely drenched from falling into that pond, and he is pulling off the absolutely saddest little puppy eyes in the world.
This is who you're sending those words to, Li Lianhua. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-10-31 05:50 pm (UTC)Oh well, better safe than sorry.
After a long enough time that Inigo can't be blamed for thinking his strategy failed:]
Little fool, I don't know who taught you to be like this. But I'm telling you, a young hero can't be doing this to people he wants to be taken seriously by. Now I know what you think of me, eh?
[Belying the scolding, an image follows immediately after.]
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Date: 2024-11-04 06:06 pm (UTC)But there's no need to focus on the scolding when that image follows so soon after, Inigo immediately checking it out, and--
The scolding is forgotten entirely. Immediately. Instead Inigo stupidly smiles down at the image, just so genuine happy about it. ]
You two really get along well.
I'm so glad.
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Date: 2024-11-04 09:15 pm (UTC)No Inigo behaviors besides the usual getting overly invested in other people's business, anyway. That's probably the third thing today that's made him smile.]
Let me tell you, I'm pretty sure he will invite himself into my house to eat all my food and drink all my tea in every lifetime. So we'd better get along.
But it's true, he takes care of me well.
Now are you satisfied with your reward?
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Date: 2024-11-10 12:53 pm (UTC)[ Not like Inigo hasn't been through worse. He can bear possibly catching a cold if it's for the sake of his friends. Especially since-- ]
I just wanted you two to be able to share a nice moment. Especially Fang Duobing. He's always so busy looking out for other people that I want him to receive as much affection as he throws around.
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Date: 2024-11-20 09:49 pm (UTC)But despite that, dinner is still waiting, and this little fool is still too concerned for others.]
Indeed. Just like someone else I know.
[And because he knows how dense Inigo can be:]
That means you!
You better go look for more cute frogs or beautiful flowers tomorrow, alright? Summer won't last forever, after all. Enjoy them while you can.
no subject
Date: 2024-11-23 06:30 pm (UTC)[ Li Lianhua, you can't just jump from topic to topic like this. Not when Inigo still has something to say abotu the part that had nothing to do with cute frogs!
.. though cute frogs are very important! ]
You can't just compare me with Fang Duobing! We are not similar at all! You're insulting him!
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Date: 2024-12-08 03:47 pm (UTC)Insulting him? Is that what I'm doing? Then what do you call searching all over town and falling into a pond just to make sure Fang Duobing and I have a nice moment?
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Date: 2024-12-10 07:59 pm (UTC)And I know how much you mean to him. I'm sure that getting a compliment from you would make his entire day. Don't you always want to make his day?
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Date: 2024-12-10 11:23 pm (UTC)That is indeed what it means to look out for someone. Maybe reflect on why you think it's nothing when you do it and worthy of a compliment when someone like Fang Duobing does it, eh?
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Date: 2024-12-18 06:55 pm (UTC)There's a few moments of nothing. Maybe just long enough to imagine that Inigo may have been scared off by the statement, but then: ]
Do I get something if I reflect?
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Date: 2024-12-18 09:26 pm (UTC)Of course, a better understanding of yourself! Isn't that something? A young man should know himself most of all. What else do you want?
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Date: 2024-12-22 09:20 pm (UTC)I would take a smile from you as payment!
And some cookies. If I am allowed to make more demands.
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Date: 2024-12-23 02:18 am (UTC)The cookies will be there whenever you're ready to come by my house. Of course I expect you'll be able to share your newfound understanding as a result of your reflecting. Am I right?
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Date: 2024-12-26 02:40 pm (UTC)But.. it's not that, huh. Not exactly. It's a little disappointing, mostly because Inigo really wants the other to be able to feel happy and smile, but he supposes the other must have put some effort into making this.
And that has to matter too, right? ]
Of course.
My parents would be disappointed in me if I did not honor our family by keeping my word.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-27 01:40 am (UTC)It's not his fault Li Lianhua's joyful whimsy is nearly indistinguishable from his wiggling.]Good, very good. A filial son, as expected. Your parents indeed don't have reason to be disappointed.
See you then, Inigo.