Wei Wuxian | 魏无羡 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
singlelogbridge) wrote2022-02-25 01:37 pm
singlelogbridge) wrote2022-02-25 01:37 pm
Inbox: Ximilia
// Wei Wuxian
TEXT • AUDIO • VIDEO
XIMILIA
If you're done pestering the villagers, food is ready.
I am embraced and loved by the villagers. I bring light and excitement to their lives. But I could eat.
[He's surprised by the message from someone he doesn't know but quick to respond anyway.]
Me and Gwen are both here. [And before he'll speak of Gwen's state—] Who are you Who told you we'd be here?
Me and Gwen are both here. [And before he'll speak of Gwen's state—] Who are you Who told you we'd be here?
[Welp. He's relieved to hear from Zewu-jun though he still feels strange speaking to him after their last encounter. Pushing that aside for now—]
How surprising would it be if I told you I got arrested in Taeum?
How surprising would it be if I told you I got arrested in Taeum?
Edited 2022-03-19 04:48 (UTC)
[ she left without word or warning. her earpiece sat on top of the bed, ringed by a handful of black spiders. (they stayed behind, though not by her choice. venom left some of itself—to keep an eye on the room? as proof they would return?
it knows all of her, but she knows less of it.)
a faint breeze picks at her short hair. seated on the edge of a rooftop, she watches the street below. her hood lies against her back, her mask gone. but she can feel venom wrapped around her slender throat. her nails are black claws stroking the bone white spider legs like ribs at the sides of her short jacket.
she doesn't really want to be herself right now.
there is nothing here of interest, but she does not have to wonder overlong why venom led them here. one person below moves a little faster than the rest. familiarity draws her eye to him. rising, she walks to the other side of the roof, and steps off it. landing quietly, she walks to the mouth of the alley. her hand snakes out and catches wei wuxian by the wrist, tugging him into the shadows with her.
just as quickly, gwen lets go. steps back. she looks at the ground, at her shoes, at his—anywhere but at his face. ]
it knows all of her, but she knows less of it.)
a faint breeze picks at her short hair. seated on the edge of a rooftop, she watches the street below. her hood lies against her back, her mask gone. but she can feel venom wrapped around her slender throat. her nails are black claws stroking the bone white spider legs like ribs at the sides of her short jacket.
she doesn't really want to be herself right now.
there is nothing here of interest, but she does not have to wonder overlong why venom led them here. one person below moves a little faster than the rest. familiarity draws her eye to him. rising, she walks to the other side of the roof, and steps off it. landing quietly, she walks to the mouth of the alley. her hand snakes out and catches wei wuxian by the wrist, tugging him into the shadows with her.
just as quickly, gwen lets go. steps back. she looks at the ground, at her shoes, at his—anywhere but at his face. ]
Edited (you knew this was gonna happen) 2022-03-24 13:14 (UTC)
[Worry is a living breathing thing inside of him, crawling through his veins and gnawing at his insides. It took hold of him the moment he woke from an unplanned sleep and found Gwen missing, and has stayed with him since. Now it squirms between his lungs and holds his heart in its jaws, ready to clamp down and crush it if the worst case scenario should prove true.
Staying still isn't a consideration.
He searches through the slums of Sedorum, checking every grimy corner and dark alley that he can find. He searches without knowing how long she's been gone or which direction she'd taken, unwilling to stop until he knows where she is and knows that she is safe. If it takes all night, he will be here all night. If it stretches out longer than that, he will call for help.
Ultimately, it isn't Wei Wuxian who finds Gwen, but Gwen—or maybe Venom, he isn't sure—who finds him. The sudden contact has his eyes flashing and his fingers reaching for a flute that can summon nothing in this place, but then a longer look makes him sag with relief.
The thing inside of him goes dormant though it does not vanish entirely.]
Gwen. [He only pulls her into his arms, holding her close for a long moment before he slides his hands into hers and begins to lead her back to their room.]
Staying still isn't a consideration.
He searches through the slums of Sedorum, checking every grimy corner and dark alley that he can find. He searches without knowing how long she's been gone or which direction she'd taken, unwilling to stop until he knows where she is and knows that she is safe. If it takes all night, he will be here all night. If it stretches out longer than that, he will call for help.
Ultimately, it isn't Wei Wuxian who finds Gwen, but Gwen—or maybe Venom, he isn't sure—who finds him. The sudden contact has his eyes flashing and his fingers reaching for a flute that can summon nothing in this place, but then a longer look makes him sag with relief.
The thing inside of him goes dormant though it does not vanish entirely.]
Gwen. [He only pulls her into his arms, holding her close for a long moment before he slides his hands into hers and begins to lead her back to their room.]
[ wei wuxian was asleep when gwen started. he sleeps fitfully. back on the station, she realized he suffered from nightmares—top five ailment among orbers, and gwen is willing to bank on it being first. back then, he put a silencing talisman on himself. she only noticed because venom did. come morning, she told him she got them too. that was it. problem solved. they should turn their attention to world peace next.
seated beside wei wuxian in the bed, gwen plays with his hair. it was glossier in taeum, felt like silk in her hand that time she pulled it because he was being annoying. here, the flaws show. damage. split ends. wherever he was before coming to the station, it lacked both food and leave-in conditioners. mary jane would never stop complaining about the second.
they sleep even less now. somewhere in taeum, gwen can feel mccoy frowning. it a gentle thrum through her awareness informs her that wei wuxian is awake. whether because of her actions or their individual insomnia, she doesn't know. her fingers keep twisting. the activity is mindless, almost instinctive. it's nice. gwen has already put two dutch braids into the side of his head. she alternates pulling on the strands to give it a decorative look.
task complete, she sections off more of his hair, taking less care now that she does not need to worry about him waking. her fingers drift across his scalp. ]
seated beside wei wuxian in the bed, gwen plays with his hair. it was glossier in taeum, felt like silk in her hand that time she pulled it because he was being annoying. here, the flaws show. damage. split ends. wherever he was before coming to the station, it lacked both food and leave-in conditioners. mary jane would never stop complaining about the second.
they sleep even less now. somewhere in taeum, gwen can feel mccoy frowning. it a gentle thrum through her awareness informs her that wei wuxian is awake. whether because of her actions or their individual insomnia, she doesn't know. her fingers keep twisting. the activity is mindless, almost instinctive. it's nice. gwen has already put two dutch braids into the side of his head. she alternates pulling on the strands to give it a decorative look.
task complete, she sections off more of his hair, taking less care now that she does not need to worry about him waking. her fingers drift across his scalp. ]
[For what feels like the first time since arriving on this planet, Wei Wuxian doesn't wake with his heart in his throat and his body jumping to alertness. Instead he wakes slowly, stirred gently from unconsciousness by a soft touch. Even before he's opened his eyes or remembered himself, the touch registers as safe, and he doesn't move away from it. He doesn't want to.
Instead he allows wakefulness to return at a slow pace, quietly creeping into his senses, and even when he's returned to consciousness entirely, he doesn't pull away from Gwen's fingers.
For several minutes he says nothing as she works, reveling in the intimacy and affection of it. When he does find his voice it's scratchy with the remnants of sleep.]
Are you making me prettier?
Instead he allows wakefulness to return at a slow pace, quietly creeping into his senses, and even when he's returned to consciousness entirely, he doesn't pull away from Gwen's fingers.
For several minutes he says nothing as she works, reveling in the intimacy and affection of it. When he does find his voice it's scratchy with the remnants of sleep.]
Are you making me prettier?
[ she woke half-manic. a surge of energy, of excitement as her brain latched onto an idea that had her shoving wei wuxian awake not so gently and all but rushing him into clothes and out the door. she insisted he close his eyes before turning on the simulation.
new york's practically a living person from how many stories gwen has shared of it. but mental image fails to come close to seeing the real thing…or as close to it as a technologically advanced station removed from time and space can approximate.
standing on the ledge of the empire state building, gwen smiles to see wei wuxian's expression. she loves the city with a fierceness unmatched; seeing it through another's eye, for the very first time, spreads a warmth through her chest. she extends a hand to him. ]
Care to travel Air Spider-Woman?
new york's practically a living person from how many stories gwen has shared of it. but mental image fails to come close to seeing the real thing…or as close to it as a technologically advanced station removed from time and space can approximate.
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standing on the ledge of the empire state building, gwen smiles to see wei wuxian's expression. she loves the city with a fierceness unmatched; seeing it through another's eye, for the very first time, spreads a warmth through her chest. she extends a hand to him. ]
Care to travel Air Spider-Woman?
Edited 2022-04-28 02:01 (UTC)
[It's an easy enough thing to follow her instruction to close his eyes. He doesn't know what time it is, but he knows it's definitely too early for him; an easy enough criteria to meet considering that on the nights he did sleep, (more and more of them these days) he generally gets out of bed around noon.
The lingering sleepiness gripping him with his eyes closed abruptly washes away the moment he opens them. Eyes widening, his mouth falls open just a little and he thinks he might let out a quiet gasp, suddenly extremely awake.
He knows it's all a simulation as surely that he knows that this is a real place. Somewhere out there in another world, this is real. In Gwen's world, this is real. This is Gwen's home. None of the descriptions do it justice. After a long moment of taking the city in he turns to her, face and smile bright, and takes her hand.]
Is there any better way to travel?
The lingering sleepiness gripping him with his eyes closed abruptly washes away the moment he opens them. Eyes widening, his mouth falls open just a little and he thinks he might let out a quiet gasp, suddenly extremely awake.
He knows it's all a simulation as surely that he knows that this is a real place. Somewhere out there in another world, this is real. In Gwen's world, this is real. This is Gwen's home. None of the descriptions do it justice. After a long moment of taking the city in he turns to her, face and smile bright, and takes her hand.]
Is there any better way to travel?
[ in bed, wearing drawstring shorts and an oversized t-shirt that reads “queens, new york”, gwen fiddles with her phone, waiting for wei wuxian to get out of the bathroom. her head lifts at the sound of the door, the corner of her mouth quirking up. her eyes return to her phone, but not her attention. that is elsewhere in a very different point in time.
when she feels the tug of the sheets as he climbs in, she finally speaks. ]
Wei Wuxian? [ despite her best effort, she sounds uncomfortable. when she looks at him, a furrow has formed between her brows. ] Can I talk to you for a minute?
when she feels the tug of the sheets as he climbs in, she finally speaks. ]
Wei Wuxian? [ despite her best effort, she sounds uncomfortable. when she looks at him, a furrow has formed between her brows. ] Can I talk to you for a minute?
[It's the tone that catches his attention—tentative in a way he hasn't heard in a while—and his eyes slide to hers with just the slightest hint of concern. There's the urge to tease in his gut, the instinct to push away anything that might get too serious, but he shoves it down and puts on a smile instead. Gwen deserves more than that.
So he scoots closer instead, laying on his side and tilting his head in inquiry.]
What can I do for you, Ms. Stacy? [Alright so it's a little bit of teasing but that's only because he can't help himself, not because he's trying to change the subject.]
So he scoots closer instead, laying on his side and tilting his head in inquiry.]
What can I do for you, Ms. Stacy? [Alright so it's a little bit of teasing but that's only because he can't help himself, not because he's trying to change the subject.]
[It's really too bad he didn't pay any attention to Peter Quill's emoji post, because if he had, Itachi would have received only a laughing crying emoji in response.]
please guess
please guess
〈 taking advantage of wei wuxian's proclivity toward sleeping in, gwen snuck off early—"early"—to pick up her new order. she returns to find him still sprawled under the covers.
smiling, she steps lightly up to the bed, and drops the heavy stack of textbooks on her side that they may shake the bed. 〉
Delivery! 〈 she sing-songs. 〉
smiling, she steps lightly up to the bed, and drops the heavy stack of textbooks on her side that they may shake the bed. 〉
Delivery! 〈 she sing-songs. 〉
Mnnuf? [Is the intelligible sound that comes from the lump stull buried under a blanket on the bed. Wei Wuxian pulls back the cover and blinks up at Gwen through bleary eyes, gaze flickering to the stack of...books that she's just dropped beside him.]
I...what...[His brain is still waking up, give him a minute. He sits up properly and yawns, rubbing his eyes and tugging his disheveled hair behind him. It's not so early he's exhausted but it still takes him a minute to orient himself.]
You brought books.
I...what...[His brain is still waking up, give him a minute. He sits up properly and yawns, rubbing his eyes and tugging his disheveled hair behind him. It's not so early he's exhausted but it still takes him a minute to orient himself.]
You brought books.
In a body as in someone whose already been poisoned? I could do that. I can make that into a talisman easy. It'll take a couple of weeks probably. The application for a weapon would be trickier. I assume you'd want it to be applicable mid-combat?
〈 if only tone could be conveyed… 〉 Hi, Xianxian.
How's the collar treating you?
How's the collar treating you?
[Expressing her concern for him is something that gives her hives just thinking about it, so it's the roundabout way for now.]
I learned how to make s'mores before we ended up here and you landed where you did. Have you had them? When we go back we can see what happens when you add those spices you like so much to them.
I learned how to make s'mores before we ended up here and you landed where you did. Have you had them? When we go back we can see what happens when you add those spices you like so much to them.
a selection of texts sent as status updates, and one voice message
construing
2022-07-02 01:14 am (UTC)(link)
Another joke: what do you call a pig that does karate? A pork chop.
Good morning, residents of Dystopia. Today will be a perfectly cloudy day with a light acid drizzle around noon. Come evening, there will be absolutely no difference, because no sunlight has touched ground in decades anyway, and there's a dome above our heads. Back to you in the studio.
No, okay, Animal is who I aspire to be. Beaker is who I actually am.
So, Betty found this Pokémon type filter, and we all tried it. It was shockingly, one could say emotionally damaging in its accuracy. MJ got fire right off the bat. She wanted to redo, but we snatched the phone from her. You don't mess with perfection. Glory got normal first, did it again, got grass/fighting which. That's Glory. Sweet as grass, but she'll fucking deck you. Betty…you'd have thought she won the freaking lottery when that psychic/dark popped up. She made the labels for herself, wore them all day. And I get ghost.
〈 in response to the prompt "bread": 〉 Smash.
I wonder if the big bed has come in yet. I mean, I will take waking up slotted between our beds over this, but I'd also like to not wake up because I'm about to slip through a crack, you know?
Remind me that punching a guard would be a terrible idea. Be specific as to the reasons why I should not do it.
Like yes, filter, I am aware I am pasty with a proclivity for dying, I do not need the reminder. Fucking ghost…
I have a friend back home. His name's Harry. He'd transferred to my school. First thing I heard about him is he scrambled for his die while yelling MY PRECIOUSSSSS. Of course, I immediately insisted on making friends. Like I did with you, actually. He has my die. When we're back, we can probably start a campaign of our own. See if we can't drag Itachi in. He'd kill as a DM, honestly.
〈 away from the others, gwen lies on the desolate ground surrounding the reservoir. in the distance, the water laps gently at the shore. spiders crawl along her chest, following the vibrations of her voice through her torso. quietly, she finishes singing, 〉 Just close your eyes. You'll be all right. Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound…
Good morning, residents of Dystopia. Today will be a perfectly cloudy day with a light acid drizzle around noon. Come evening, there will be absolutely no difference, because no sunlight has touched ground in decades anyway, and there's a dome above our heads. Back to you in the studio.
No, okay, Animal is who I aspire to be. Beaker is who I actually am.
So, Betty found this Pokémon type filter, and we all tried it. It was shockingly, one could say emotionally damaging in its accuracy. MJ got fire right off the bat. She wanted to redo, but we snatched the phone from her. You don't mess with perfection. Glory got normal first, did it again, got grass/fighting which. That's Glory. Sweet as grass, but she'll fucking deck you. Betty…you'd have thought she won the freaking lottery when that psychic/dark popped up. She made the labels for herself, wore them all day. And I get ghost.
〈 in response to the prompt "bread": 〉 Smash.
I wonder if the big bed has come in yet. I mean, I will take waking up slotted between our beds over this, but I'd also like to not wake up because I'm about to slip through a crack, you know?
Remind me that punching a guard would be a terrible idea. Be specific as to the reasons why I should not do it.
Like yes, filter, I am aware I am pasty with a proclivity for dying, I do not need the reminder. Fucking ghost…
I have a friend back home. His name's Harry. He'd transferred to my school. First thing I heard about him is he scrambled for his die while yelling MY PRECIOUSSSSS. Of course, I immediately insisted on making friends. Like I did with you, actually. He has my die. When we're back, we can probably start a campaign of our own. See if we can't drag Itachi in. He'd kill as a DM, honestly.
〈 away from the others, gwen lies on the desolate ground surrounding the reservoir. in the distance, the water laps gently at the shore. spiders crawl along her chest, following the vibrations of her voice through her torso. quietly, she finishes singing, 〉 Just close your eyes. You'll be all right. Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound…
Edited 2022-07-02 01:32 (UTC)
Beaker is the one who communicates in squeaks, right?
Wei-xiong, is everything going alright? No one's exploded yet, right?
Also, what's a six-letter word for "relative of yoga pants"?
Also, what's a six-letter word for "relative of yoga pants"?
[Wei Wuxian starts a call to respond right as a new swathe of guards approach, so instead of a reply, Huaisang will only hear Wei Wuxian cursing under his breath, loud screaming, and then the familiar sounds of a dizi being played. It's loud, chaotic, and filled with a handful of familiar groaning corpse sounds.
Eventually after a couple of minutes of this, Wei Wuxian yells back.]
Busy, Nie-xiong! [Also he doesn't know what yoga pants are.]
Eventually after a couple of minutes of this, Wei Wuxian yells back.]
Busy, Nie-xiong! [Also he doesn't know what yoga pants are.]
[ a knock on his door a day or so after their return, and a familiar voice that calls out, ]
Wei-xiong? Do you have a moment?
Wei-xiong? Do you have a moment?
Ah, I'm coming! [The shout comes from just inside the door, and several moments later, Wei Wuxian is opening it, his robes thrown on hastily and his hair still wet from a shower. He opens the door wide and steps back, offering Huaisang a smile of greeting as he motions him inside.]
I'm not busy, come in, come in. Gwen's not here, you didn't need her too, did you?
[And as Wei Wuxian lets him in, he pulls out something from beneath his bed that turns out to be a makeshift Kang table for them to sit at. After swiping it quickly with a cloth, he invites Huaisang to sit. It isn't perfect, but it's comfortable enough, and he grabs a cushion for each of them to sit across from each other.]
How can I help you Nie-xiong?
I'm not busy, come in, come in. Gwen's not here, you didn't need her too, did you?
[And as Wei Wuxian lets him in, he pulls out something from beneath his bed that turns out to be a makeshift Kang table for them to sit at. After swiping it quickly with a cloth, he invites Huaisang to sit. It isn't perfect, but it's comfortable enough, and he grabs a cushion for each of them to sit across from each other.]
How can I help you Nie-xiong?
〈 a tiny pebble strikes wei wuxian's forehead. except it's not a pebble, and it doesn't bounce off. tiny black spiders tickle across the skin of his brow and temple.
sitting atop the building in a white hoodie, gwen waits for him to find her. there is a beat. then she swings her feet up and gets up from the ledge. it has only been a couple of days since the camps' liberation. he will take the invitation or he won't.
either one is an answer. 〉
sitting atop the building in a white hoodie, gwen waits for him to find her. there is a beat. then she swings her feet up and gets up from the ledge. it has only been a couple of days since the camps' liberation. he will take the invitation or he won't.
either one is an answer. 〉
[He reaches up to his forehead and allows one of the spiders to crawl along the back of his hand, eyes tracking its movement with a closed off expression, though his hands remain delicate and gentle. After a beat has passed, he moves silently with Spiders and makes his way up on top of the roof to Gwen.
He says nothing to her when he gets there, looks at her for only a moment with a shuttered expression and then shifts his gaze to look out over the city.
His shoulders are tense and his eyes stare out into the distance, but he isn't looking at anything. After a while passes, it becomes clear that he does not intend to break the silence between them.]
He says nothing to her when he gets there, looks at her for only a moment with a shuttered expression and then shifts his gaze to look out over the city.
His shoulders are tense and his eyes stare out into the distance, but he isn't looking at anything. After a while passes, it becomes clear that he does not intend to break the silence between them.]
Edited 2022-07-22 20:45 (UTC)
[Well now, he'd said he would come find Wei Wuxian back on the station, and he meant it. He's genuinely curious about the guy's artwork. Who doesn't like art? But also, this is a much better place to talk about their home worlds and abilities than the middle of a classroom while they're supposed to be undercover.
They ended up kinda blowing that last part as a whole, at the end there, and ultimately Rosinante isn't thrilled with a lot of what ended up happening, but it's not too hard to move on afterward. In the end, they helped the best they could. It's all he ever tries to do.
Months of poking around the station means he generally has a good idea of who is staying in which room. But who knows who's in their rooms at any given time, so as he makes his way through the living quarters he shoots off a quick text.]
Hey, it's Rosinante. You around? Thought I'd stop by your room if you're in.
They ended up kinda blowing that last part as a whole, at the end there, and ultimately Rosinante isn't thrilled with a lot of what ended up happening, but it's not too hard to move on afterward. In the end, they helped the best they could. It's all he ever tries to do.
Months of poking around the station means he generally has a good idea of who is staying in which room. But who knows who's in their rooms at any given time, so as he makes his way through the living quarters he shoots off a quick text.]
Hey, it's Rosinante. You around? Thought I'd stop by your room if you're in.
Yes, I'm in my room! Please, please, come by! Do you know where it is? [He doesn't wait for a response, rattling off the location just in case.]
My very tall metal friend! It's good to hear from you. I'm doing well, and what is this about a club! You're not planning to put me in charge of anything, are you?
[ one morning on the station, on each orber's door, the following hand-written note (in fancy calligraphy) will be taped:
the orber can choose to attend or simply listen in to the meeting when it occurs, or they may ignore it altogether. ]
the orber can choose to attend or simply listen in to the meeting when it occurs, or they may ignore it altogether. ]
Okay. Okay. A serious one now.
〈 holding the phone on a selfie stick (generously formed by venom), gwen waits until the last moment before going for the spot on wei wuxian’s side that she knows to be ticklish. click. and they are immortalized in their natural state: being ridiculous.
laughing, she swipes for the photos. they spill across the screen in ordered rows. she opens their latest one to show him—half-blurry, both laughing.
it has been a slow day. the kind of day that she would have spent with mj, glory, and betty, picking at tunes or going for a hot dog. or else staying home with her dad with a marathon of dad cop. here that means lounging on their giant bed with wei wuxian, taking a series of selfies, each more ridiculous than the last.
when she taps the “for you” section, a collection of memories comprises the top of the screen. the first shows a photo of two kids, a boy and a girl, one ten, the other fourteen, both with a striking similarity to gwen herself. the girl shares gwen’s face shape and the color of her hair; the boy has gwen’s sky blue eyes. 〉
〈 holding the phone on a selfie stick (generously formed by venom), gwen waits until the last moment before going for the spot on wei wuxian’s side that she knows to be ticklish. click. and they are immortalized in their natural state: being ridiculous.
laughing, she swipes for the photos. they spill across the screen in ordered rows. she opens their latest one to show him—half-blurry, both laughing.
it has been a slow day. the kind of day that she would have spent with mj, glory, and betty, picking at tunes or going for a hot dog. or else staying home with her dad with a marathon of dad cop. here that means lounging on their giant bed with wei wuxian, taking a series of selfies, each more ridiculous than the last.
when she taps the “for you” section, a collection of memories comprises the top of the screen. the first shows a photo of two kids, a boy and a girl, one ten, the other fourteen, both with a striking similarity to gwen herself. the girl shares gwen’s face shape and the color of her hair; the boy has gwen’s sky blue eyes. 〉
[The pictures of the children catch his attention immediately and his eyes widen as he takes them in, hand landing on Gwen's to still hers from moving on. His gaze flickers between the picture and her, and he fixes her with a curious look.]
More family? [He knows she doesn't have any siblings, and their physical features speak of different parents than Gwen's he thinks, but the resemblance is undeniable.]
More family? [He knows she doesn't have any siblings, and their physical features speak of different parents than Gwen's he thinks, but the resemblance is undeniable.]
[He takes a moment to stare at the name change and wonder what prompted it, and then focuses on the question asked, his brow furrowing as he considers it carefully. It's instinct the way he almost immediately responds with a yes, but more recent conversations with his friend give him pause.]
He was one of my closest friends when we were young. Huaisang has always been flighty and unfocused on important matters, but he's one of the only ones who didn't turn on me when everything went wrong. He doesn't agree with what happened to the Wen. He didn't have any power to stop it.
He was one of my closest friends when we were young. Huaisang has always been flighty and unfocused on important matters, but he's one of the only ones who didn't turn on me when everything went wrong. He doesn't agree with what happened to the Wen. He didn't have any power to stop it.
〈 early morning, a text notification pops up. 〉
Heading out. Gonna look for one of the plants in the bestiary. Don't know how long the trip will take me.
〈 she does not wait for a response. 〉
Heading out. Gonna look for one of the plants in the bestiary. Don't know how long the trip will take me.
〈 she does not wait for a response. 〉
[Years before, he would have left her on read. There's a part of him that still wants to do it, but that's the part of him that hasn't watched most everyone he's loved die. In the end, his fears outweigh his pride.]
Where are you?
Where are you?
I saw your post about your task. Do you still need help with that?
[He hasn't found anyone yet, no, but still.]
I'm still looking. What a stupid goal, why can't it be someone who deserves it? [Because that would defeat the purpose, obviously.]
I'm still looking. What a stupid goal, why can't it be someone who deserves it? [Because that would defeat the purpose, obviously.]
[ it isn't often that huaisang takes to the simulation room — one might expect him to frequent it, but he's taken the opposite approach; the less that he can see his home, the better.
but sometimes...
what wei wuxian sees when he enters the simulation is not, as he might have expected, the unclean realm; instead, it is lanling. stairs rise in front of him, and on top of them stands nie huaisang, staring at a spot beyond them.
he doesn't turn to look at wei wuxian. ]
If you wanted to use the room, I shouldn't be long, [ he says instead, in a faraway tone. ]
but sometimes...
what wei wuxian sees when he enters the simulation is not, as he might have expected, the unclean realm; instead, it is lanling. stairs rise in front of him, and on top of them stands nie huaisang, staring at a spot beyond them.
he doesn't turn to look at wei wuxian. ]
If you wanted to use the room, I shouldn't be long, [ he says instead, in a faraway tone. ]
[The sight of Koi Tower knocks the air from his lungs and for a moment, Wei Wuxian thinks he's sleeping—that only a nightmare could explain this. It takes a few moments and a few deep breaths to realize this isn't a dream.
Huaisang's voice answers the next question forming in his mind (Zewu-jun or Nie-xiong?) and he pauses his retreat, beginning a slow assent of the stairs. He tries not to think about the last time he was here—too late to save the Wen siblings, eyes drawn to the three days dead bodies hanging from the walls, and mostly he fails.
But he puts it aside.
There's something in Huaisang's voice that pushes him forward.
When he reaches the top of the stairs, he doesn't speak. For not the first time he is reminded of the years between them. Years he doesn't know. Years in which his friend came to know the kind of anger that could only speak to deep pain and loss. So he doesn't speak, only stands in silent vigil at his friend's side for as long as he'll have him.]
Huaisang's voice answers the next question forming in his mind (Zewu-jun or Nie-xiong?) and he pauses his retreat, beginning a slow assent of the stairs. He tries not to think about the last time he was here—too late to save the Wen siblings, eyes drawn to the three days dead bodies hanging from the walls, and mostly he fails.
But he puts it aside.
There's something in Huaisang's voice that pushes him forward.
When he reaches the top of the stairs, he doesn't speak. For not the first time he is reminded of the years between them. Years he doesn't know. Years in which his friend came to know the kind of anger that could only speak to deep pain and loss. So he doesn't speak, only stands in silent vigil at his friend's side for as long as he'll have him.]
( a few days after the orbers have returned to the station, a cardboard tube is left outside of wei wuxian’s door. his name is written on the outside on xichen’s fine script.
there is no note attached but inside are three paintings. the first is of lan sizhui looking roughly ten, beaming with excitement and holding a sword. the second is of the same boy but now he is nearly a man, his smile softer and gentler as he stands in a pose that mirrors one of the father that raised him.
the last painting is of lan wangji and unlike the refined works that the previous two are this one was done in haste, the strokes rough but capture the softness in his brother’s edges and the smile in his gaze. it is a rare thing but xichen knows it well for it is a sight reserved for few; for sizhui, for xichen himself, and for a wei wuxian that is not the man here but may one day know this smile. )
there is no note attached but inside are three paintings. the first is of lan sizhui looking roughly ten, beaming with excitement and holding a sword. the second is of the same boy but now he is nearly a man, his smile softer and gentler as he stands in a pose that mirrors one of the father that raised him.
the last painting is of lan wangji and unlike the refined works that the previous two are this one was done in haste, the strokes rough but capture the softness in his brother’s edges and the smile in his gaze. it is a rare thing but xichen knows it well for it is a sight reserved for few; for sizhui, for xichen himself, and for a wei wuxian that is not the man here but may one day know this smile. )
[When Wei Wuxian has finished unrolling the first picture, Gwen isn't in the room and that's for the best. He sits down on the bed with the painting in hand and makes sure that his tears don't get the paper wet. He studies every detail, memorizing the shape of a-Yuan's smile—much loved and well missed—and he traces the round of his cheek, no longer gaunt with need.
Wei Wuxian cries silently as he stares at the boy who was almost his son. He sits there like that for over an hour, staring and weeping and aching so deeply he doesn't know what to do.
When he's finally able to set the first painting down, he debates waiting to unravel the other two, knowing that whatever they're of they're likely to hurt just as much. Then again, he's never shied away from hurting himself. He unravels them both.
As expected, they both hurt, but the one of Lan Wangji shatters what was left of his composure and he falls to the grounds and weeps loudly and openly, curling into a ball and trying to breathe through his chest rattling sobs. It's a good thing that Gwen is off doing something else because there is no hiding or containing this, and it's all he can do to roll them back up and then retreat into the shower to curl up on the floor and cry some more.
Eventually he'll come out and wander the station, avoiding anyone he knows to keep to himself before finally returning later that night.
The next day the tube gets placed under his bed with the paintings of 10 year old a-Yuan and the one with Lan Wangi safely stored inside. The one of a-Yuan as a young man gets carefully tacked to the wall in the center of other various poems, paintings and pictures.]
Wei Wuxian cries silently as he stares at the boy who was almost his son. He sits there like that for over an hour, staring and weeping and aching so deeply he doesn't know what to do.
When he's finally able to set the first painting down, he debates waiting to unravel the other two, knowing that whatever they're of they're likely to hurt just as much. Then again, he's never shied away from hurting himself. He unravels them both.
As expected, they both hurt, but the one of Lan Wangji shatters what was left of his composure and he falls to the grounds and weeps loudly and openly, curling into a ball and trying to breathe through his chest rattling sobs. It's a good thing that Gwen is off doing something else because there is no hiding or containing this, and it's all he can do to roll them back up and then retreat into the shower to curl up on the floor and cry some more.
Eventually he'll come out and wander the station, avoiding anyone he knows to keep to himself before finally returning later that night.
The next day the tube gets placed under his bed with the paintings of 10 year old a-Yuan and the one with Lan Wangi safely stored inside. The one of a-Yuan as a young man gets carefully tacked to the wall in the center of other various poems, paintings and pictures.]
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