reverie: inbox

[rootsforyou]

Text | Action | Ring A Bell | Other

Comments

[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]

[strikingchords]

[examines her face gravely]

You are hurt.

[rootsforyou]

...?

[reaches up to touch the side of her face]

Ah. It would seems so.

[strikingchords]

["MY EYE WAS BLINDED" IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOUNG LADY

this is too far back in the timeline for us to get into it more, but they're awkward and upset but still try to comfort each other. when Lan Wangji's spiritual energy doesn't fix her blinded eye, he gives her a shop card to strengthen her weak core, so her body can give her more protection against the curse mark on its own. that doesn't fix it either, but it hurts less until they figure out some way to address the huli jing.

the space of time between now and the moment a way to fix Wei Wuxian's fading shadow emerges is going to feel very long.]