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[rootsforyou]

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[rootsforyou]

[honestly it takes her a good two hours to respond]

the cell walk.

[strikingchords]

[HE PROBABLY LOOKED THERE SOMETIME IN THAT TWO HOURS BUT BETWEEN TIMING AND WHAT SHADOWS CAN HIDE, HE DIDN'T FIND HER. that in itself doesn't bode well.

it takes him very little time to get back there, regardless, poised for a fight despite the likelihood the time for that is past...]

[rootsforyou]

[he might trip over her if he's not careful. she's sitting on the floor of the cell walk in the dark. the only indication she's there is the little blip of a red blinking light on her phone indicating she has notifications]

[strikingchords]

[the first sign that he's there is the icy light of Bichen falling on her, strangely comforting despite its chill; then he's rushing immediately to her side...]

Young Madam Jin!

[rootsforyou]

[shakes her head before he reaches her and lifts her arm up to wipe at her face]

I'm--I'm not hurt.

[the thickness in her voice says she is crying, though]

[strikingchords]

[he's going to kneel down next to her and reach out to touch her shoulder regardless of whether she's hurt or not, though! his hand is steady, though his voice is tight]

What happened?

[rootsforyou]

[she shakes her head again, dropping her phone so that she can use the heels of her hands to scrub at the tears that won't stop falling]

Nothing happened.

[strikingchords]

[he would not have pegged her as this obvious of a liar, but Wei Wuxian must get it honestly. makes a meaningless little noise of acknowledgement, okay, I heard you say that, and takes her hand to press a handkerchief into it in lieu of asking a second time for now...

how much is or isn't she flinching back from him touching her?]

[rootsforyou]

[she isn't flinching away at all; there's a vague nod of thanks for the handkerchief before she presses it to her face, dabbing away until it's throughly damp]

[strikingchords]

[if she's not flinching from his touch, he's going to sit next to her, stupidly straight, and awkwardly put an arm around her shoulders in comfort, unless she rejects it...

Wei Wuxian likes it even when he doesn't ask for it, he's learned; maybe this will help ._.]

[rootsforyou]

[there's no rejection, no moving away; the only acknowledgement he receives that she knows he's there is that as she wears herself bit by bit with crying, she sags into his side.

it doesn't stop for a while. she's mostly quiet, except for the occasional hiccup or shuddering breath.]

[strikingchords]

[he settles into the position more as she seems to accept it, tightens his grip around her further as she droops in exhaustion. he doesn't give her any more words, for now. his arm and shoulder don't offer any of the comforting familiarity of the people she wants to be there instead, but it's warm, at least, and steady; always steady.

the blue light of Bichen's sword glare makes a little space around them in the dark corridor.]

[rootsforyou]

[she does eventually, inevitably, run out of tears to shed. when she does there is only a hollow, bone-aching tiredness left behind. there is no special inclination within her to get up and move, but she does reach to squeeze his hand]

...We should head back.

[strikingchords]

[...he draws a water bottle out of his sleeve and hands it over, with a fresh handkerchief...]

Drink, first.

[it won't hurt anything at this point to create a little more space for her to compose herself 8(]

[rootsforyou]

[takes them both, a bit wooden, but she's able to meet his eyes instead of staring off into space. progress.]

Thank you.

[strikingchords]

No need.

[takes back the wet handkerchief and tucks it away, quiet]

[rootsforyou]

All the same.

[she drinks from his water bottle and passes it back without elaborating; there's too much to put into words, and in this space of time it's more than she can manage]

[strikingchords]

Mm.

[he doesn't argue. he just tucks the water bottle away again, rises to his feet, and takes both her hands to help her to her feet.]

[rootsforyou]

she's unsteady up until she gets her feet under her once more. that seems to help her compose herself; she links an arm with his once they're upright]

...Did you see him?

[strikingchords]

Which?

[the question is bleak but necessary; THERE ARE A LOT OF FREAKOUTS HAPPENING AROUND THEM]

[rootsforyou]

[SHE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER THAT]

The...huli jing.

[strikingchords]

We met.

[loops his arm more tightly around hers, passing her spiritual energy in the process; that gives him a dim idea of how much she's lying about nothing happening, if he extends his senses. does he feel anything?]

[rootsforyou]

[she is blind in one eye and a curse mark radiates from said eye and across the side of her face, oops

otherwise she's perfectly fine]

It left. I tried not to let go, but...

[strikingchords]

It is strong beyond a single cultivator.

[YEAH THAT'S CERTAINLY UPSETTING. stops dead when he realizes, tugging her to face himself]

[rootsforyou]

It is the rage of thousands. What can one person do?

[it takes a second for her to register, but she turns to face him at his tugging]