Welcome to Gaia! ::

Moma bird had chosen to visit the tiniest of her babies that day, and with a small chirp, Lan peeked her head out from behind the side wall of her home. "For you Lifen, you hardly need to even ask." Smiling, she motioned for the artisan to join her, sliding the door open to invite her friend inside.

"You caught me right at the end of my walk. Some of the flowers have begun to bloom and the gardens have begun to look... reminiscent. It's rather nice given it is what it is." A slow stride, Lans hand remained in the folds of her sleeves. "What brings you here today? Oh-" She perked up looking to one of the side rooms. "I can get you tea if you like."

Lan didn't really work on her garden. She had people do that for her. She did at most, direct them to layout, setting, just exactly where to plant blubs- Lan planned things. That was her contribution to gardening. "I am not... very direct with what I do, but I enjoy the fruits of the labor, and I find that simply sitting in the garden can wash the stress right away."

Moving to a small corner, a kettle was brought over, fresh water already inside. Tiny fire off to the side would heat it soon enough. Cups brought out, a tin of leaves, tiny spoonfuls added- Now it was just a matter of waiting. "I am always willing to listen. After all, you've had to deal with me prattle on about this and that before." She waved it off. "And you would know if you had inconvenienced me. At worst, you're having me take my tea just a few minutes earlier than normal." Smiling she motioned for Lifen to sit.
"What is on you mind Lifen?"

There was a small quirk of he lip at Soren's name, light amusement in her eyes as she quipped. "Death isn't the most suited for drawing out life are they?" A sip of tea she nodded in silence at the mention of enjoying the early spring together. It would be nice to have company.

"Would you grant me permission to speak.. bluntly on the matter?"

A heavy sigh, Lan's eyes fixed to the cup in her hands.

"Then I will speak freely, and try to keep my tone... light." Thumb running over the rim of the cup, she clicked her tongue once before she began. "Mengyao has lost himself." No hesitation, the words were dull, yet stung in a strange way. A bitterness on her tongue.
"I hesitate to bring up the subject, but after my last encounter with him I fear that I can no longer protect him- as if I ever could. He has denied... he has our friendship..." She swallowed, words hesitant before she spoke.

"He denied you."

It was not a question, but a statement. She was not blind, and she was not a fool. Something was held between the artisan and the noble, and if not she'd have cried foul.

It was not something easy to discuss, worse, Lan didn't know the extent how their relationship- until Lifen's claim. Eyes widened just slightly, her grip tightened on her cup. It was quite a thing to hear. To see the glances, the small touches- but to say such a thing was... bold. Very bold. "If I say it was Senga externally, would you be surprised?" He kept her tone even.

A sip of her tea, she kept speaking. "I do not know what you nor others face with this challenge to yourselves, but what I have seen...." The cup sent down, Lan folded her fingers on the table.

"He approached me, aggressively.. negative. Demeaning of himself and others, his clothes a mess, he cared not for anything but his anger it seemed. When I told him I would take him to the court physician he'd have none of it." She looked at Lifen.
"I have not gone to Invictus as of yet, out of both respect for Mengyao and the knowledge that.. it is a sensitive subject. Yet I fear I can no longer withhold my thoughts, not if Mengyao has begun to lash at those closest to him, those in the clan." The words came just above a whisper.

"I fear my lack of seeking knowledge on the subject has only further escalated the situation."

"Heated." A sad chuckle escaped her. "That is I suppose, a good word for it. As far as Senga is concerned his grasp on reality remains, where as with Mengyao-" She trailed off, leaving the rest unspoken. Mengyao had lost himself, just as he said. Now, it was a toss up as to what remained, what might be recovered.

Reaching out, she gentle set her hand on Lifen's own before briefly pulling away. "He cares for you, and with what you say... I question just how deep." A sad smile, Lan swirled her tea, another sip soothing her senses.

"He's like a great number of us... trained to.. withhold a great deal of our feels from public eye. From voicing them. I do not think he wishes to cause you pain, but prevent it. As full of pride as he is, I cannot imagine his anguish at the idea he would be unable to shield you from what he might view as his own struggles. However." A small clatter as she set the tea down, Lan looked Lifen in the eye.

"I will have to go to him and ask for his aid. As treacherous as such a ground might be, his majesty has faced such a trial before and overcome it, returned stronger. We had faith in him... And I will have faith in Mengyao as well."

Lan looked to Lifen, concern etched in her face, deep in her eyes. "It is because you are strong that I fear he will only bring harm upon you both in his efforts to keep you safe from himself. We are not alone, and this way he is acting, seeking his own council when really he needs that of others... it will bring misfortune upon us." A sip of tea Lan looked at her cup.

"If needed, I will summon you for my visit to his majesty. If not, he might summon you himself to seek your thoughts on this matter." Shoulders slumped just a bit.

"Really, treating you like this. He's lucky enough some other stallion hasn't started courting you." She muttered.