.:Private Conversations Between Huaisang and Yeager:.

[biyishuangfei]

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week 2, post-trial

[biyishuangfei]

[ That was awful. Huaisang didn't like the climax of that trial, not truly, though to be quite honest, he had been afraid the alternative ending to the trial would've ended with another innocent's death other than SQ. Though it had not happened, from what was discussed at trial, he wouldn't be surprised if it was a near thing.

That being said, Huaisang knew what it was like to be the center of suspicion and fear for their life. Even if what had happened a week ago wrapped up far swiftly and wasn't towards the end of trial.

He had his concerns, nonetheless. He liked being around Yeager, after all...even if he was incredibly upset over SQ's death. Which was why he waited a bit to make sure he had time for himself before seeking the other out.

The Sect Leader will head towards Yeager's room and gave the door a gentle rap. ]

Yeager? Are you in? And if you are, may we please speak for awhile?

[scythegun]

[Needless to say, Yeager wasn't exactly fond of that trial. The first part was great, cookie corner was fantastic, but then...

Well, it's no surprise that he returns to his room and doesn't leave. He's not interested in playing nice with anyone at whatever gathering they're holding, and he's certainly not interested in pretending that he doesn't care that he was nearly voted to die for on the flimsiest of accusations. SQ's conviction is dreadful, certainly, but right now he can only focus on one half-a-feeling and that half-a-feeling is anger at everyone else.

Almost everyone else, anyway. He hears that knock and that familiar voice and after a moment he sighs and goes to get the door. He's properly dressed as always, looking as put-together as he always is. He's smiling, but it doesn't look like his usual ones at all.]

Ja, of course. I'm unopposed~ Feel free to make yourself at home.

[His room is exactly the same as the others; he hasn't personalized his at all. Well, aside from the mirror from the boutique, that's leaned up against a wall.]

What is it you wanted to discuss?

[He asks, like there can be anything else to discuss.]

[biyishuangfei]

[ Huaisang once knew someone who smiled a lot. He smiled most of the time, but it meant that the different smiles he had contained different meanings, and were indicative different moods that people were at times incapable of deciphering because they didn't want to or didn't care.

After getting to know that person, looking more into the expression on other people's faces was second nature. But he didn't need to think hard to conclude that it was one that was borne of displeasure.

The other man will come in after he's allowed, however.

Once he was, he'll pull up his fan, looking a little thoughtful as he spoke. ]

I guess...maybe about what had happened. Not in intimate detail, or hardly any at all. And, I was a little worried—I-I know we don't know each other all that well...b-but, I thought for a short amount of time it might be nice, having company with someone who didn't think you did something.

Last week...when I—when things were difficult and we still got the right answer, I didn't want to be alone. That's why I came here.

That said, we also don't have to talk much about it, we can even talk about something else if you want...distractions can be nice, after all.

[scythegun]

[Worried, huh? That's a hell of a thing to be about someone like him, but that's just it - he's gone out of his way to make sure that the profile isn't all he's known for. And yet...

It doesn't do him any good to get frustrated about it, and it isn't as though Huaisang has done anything wrong. He came here of his own free will to check in on Yeager, and if he's truthful with himself for even a moment - it means something to him, something that he's not really sure he fully understands. It's been a long time since he felt anything quite like this; he's not really sure how to handle it anymore.]

I appreciate that you stopped by. Truly. I apologize if I'm coming off as... irritable.

[And that much is true, for however much it's worth.]

I'm not unfamiliar with situations like this. I've made quite a few enemies over the years. But that was... quite a bit different.

[To understate it. It wasn't so much the trial and the accusations that are agitating him so much as it was... Well, the demand of proof, of removing his shirt to reveal... what? That he didn't have any wounds, just like everyone else? For something they'd already argued could be healed quickly with an item from the shop?

Anyway, he shakes his head.]

I meant what I said; I didn't kill him, and I have no intention of killing here. My wish... it isn't worth playing this game.

[Maybe that's not the right way to phrase it, but that's the way he's chosen to do so.]

[biyishuangfei]

It's fine, you have every right to be upset...I'd be surprised if you weren't, really.

[ This would be where he'd smile a little, but after everything that's happened, it's very hard to manage that for any sort of reason. So thankfully, he won't.

To be honest, Huaisang found the checks to be important, but not so important to go after people who wouldn't comply with the 'strip checking'. The items had been mentioned, not to mention the person had attacked from afar; it was difficult to even know the killer was injured. It was really hard to say when there was so much blood, but...this person really knew what they were doing. That was going to stick with him for awhile. ]

I believe you. Just because everyone has been brought into this game for a wish, it's not something that they would kill for. People here didn't really have much of a choice in being here in the first place, just because Hamelin found out some have wishes they have, somehow got an 'agreement', and dragged them here due to that. But, even if others forget, it's something I always remember because I'm the same way.

[scythegun]

It really is ridiculous to think that all of our wishes are equal in weight - or that killing here will actually serve to get us what we want. And don't forget that we have no proof that Hamelin will play by his own rules - there are so many reasons not to play along, but it hardly matters what you think about it when they decide things point towards you.

[It's infuriating to know that there wasn't anything he could have said or done to cast suspicion off of himself, because everything they were accusing him of had some sort of answer. A wound check revealed nothing? There's a potion for that. It was all hearsay, and the fact that the killer got away with it only irritates him more. Someone knew what they were doing in casting suspicion on other people, but he wasn't paying enough attention to the case to even begin solving it himself. Ugh, that sounds like a lot of work, too...]

Well, anyway, I do appreciate your presence here. It's not like me to get so irritated...

[But today has been something else entirely, hasn't it.]

[biyishuangfei]

...We really don't. We don't know Hamelin, he kidnapped us for 'fun' and whatever other reasons, and he's unsurprisingly not forthcoming about giving us anymore answers surrounding our situation. For all anyone knows, he could just decide that whoever is victorious stays here for an eternity, or receives their 'wish' in the worst way possible.

If they don't get that, sooner or later, they're going to regret it. Anyone else who tries to take up the offer and those who don't consider things carefully.

[ He could just feel somewhere out there finger from a monkey's paw just curled for the one who got "lucky". Or maybe that's what he's hoping. Either way, there's no way he's going to believe listening to that crazy man was worth it.

But unfortunately for them, someone did. Multiple someones by now, and one of them had even gotten away with it. He wondered when it would be obvious that falling for Hamelin's little 'game' would suddenly start to not become worth it so that nobody would try again. ]

...I really do think if things had gone worse for me last time, I might have been feeling just as irritated as you are. [ Or curled up in his bed, crying himself into a sleep ] But, I'm glad you do appreciate my presence right now...I know it's hard being alone with thoughts about this sort of thing. Though, I had also been prepared to be sent away, considering.

[scythegun]

[There's a brief pause while he considers it. He was expecting Raven to stop by because there are questions that need to be answered and things that need to be addressed, but otherwise... Well, there isn't anyone else he was expecting to see today. Maybe if Alexei was feeling particularly rude he'd swing by, but the rest?]

I wasn't expecting it. Maybe if I had been my reaction would have been different.

[Or maybe not, since it is Huaisang. He can't say he knows a lot about the man, but Huaisang has always struck him as terribly sincere; if Huaisang was swinging by here, it likely wasn't to accuse him of getting away with murder. So maybe Huaisang would have been an exception anyway, just because of who he is as a person. Maybe someone else would call that friendship, but it certainly won't be Yeager!!]

I will be just fine in a few days or so - oh, and if you could keep my irritation just between the two of us? I would greatly prefer that no one else see just how annoyed I am with all of this.

[Because in the end Yeager really only knows how to present one face for himself, and emotions like anger and frustration have no place in that mask.]

[biyishuangfei]

I don't think I can imagine how that'd be...

[ Huaisang gave a small smile, however weak it was at that.

He wondered how the other's reaction would have been different, but decided that wasn't important right now. He's actually a little happy that something about everything concerning this week went a teensy bit okay. Even if everything shitty dwarfed it majorly. Sometimes, life was like that. ]

I can get that...it's really none of anyone else's business anyway. So, your secret is safe with me, I promise. If you want, we can even pinky swear on it, though you don't seem like the type of person who would.

[ Anyway, he's terrible at a lot of things, but keeping mum on a matter like this was easy to him. It was like when he was younger and had to do something similar because he and other disciples were being bad students and breaking the rules! ]

[scythegun]

Oh? Do you really think I'm a man who doesn't trust pinky swears?

[In other words, he is absolutely not above this and he certainly isn't going to pretend for even a minute that he is. He holds out a gloved pinky instead!!]

Not that I really need the reassurance - I do believe you, after all! - but I'm unopposed~

[biyishuangfei]

I really thought you were! But, I'm glad to see you're not opposed.

[ Oh my god, Yeager, please. But his expression brightened up some more...it's more subdued than how it'll usually be due to everything, but Huaisang was the type of person who found joy in the smallest things sometimes. Things that may seem kind of childish. ]

Also, do you remember when I said that you're a fun person? Well, you get to hear that again.

[ Here we go one pinky swear! ♪ ]

[scythegun]

[Childish, maybe, but it's cute nonetheless. It's sort of nice to see someone take joy in even something this small.]

I wouldn't want to let you down, now would I? Regardless of what happens here, I will always continue to be fun~

["Fun" is a definition for how he is but probably not the right one. Anyway, pinky swear!! ☆]

week 3, post-trial

[scythegun]

[It's not difficult to see how worked up Huaisang's been through all of this. He noted as much as he left Wuxian's body and he knew it wouldn't be easy for Huaisang today. Given how poorly things went the whole time, it wouldn't be a surprise if Huaisang's holed up in his room, wanting to be alone.

But last week when Yeager was doing the same thing, Huaisang stopped by. It was... strange and unnecessary and something he still isn't entirely sure he understands, but it was also important to him in a way he can never express. It meant something that someone - someone he didn't know from home - wanted to stop by to check on him.

So... maybe Huaisang will feel the same way. The problem is that Yeager needs to knock on the door.

Okay, maybe that's not the actual problem. The actual problem is that he needs to greet Huaisang and say something that isn't stupid. He needs to say something that isn't about how much of a mess the trial was, or how totally awful it is to lose your friend(?) or... something horribly dumb that'll just make things worse. His presence isn't exactly a comfort to begin with, he's aware of that, so he needs to be careful with how to approach this.

So the end result is him standing in front of the door with a hand raised to knock and looking like he's thinking very hard, but you know what he's actually trying for once.]

[biyishuangfei]

[ Huaisang hadn't anticipated someone to be right outside of his door.

For awhile he'd gone back to his room to sort of just...sulk for a bit. Like, he's happy that the killer was going to be executed tomorrow and would be dead as all hell, but that didn't really bring back Wei Wuxian either. So. There was that he had to unpack.

But, as much as he tried to unpack it, he didn't really want to be alone. So, one of the people he wanted to seek out was someone he had spoken to last week.

He got out of the bed, and hurriedly opened the door to see...

... ... ... ]

Yeager? You weren't staying out here for long, were you?

[scythegun]

[Well, looks like he's going to have to improvise, which is possibly the worst outcome imaginable!! After a moment of blank staring and this exact expression, he finally manages to get ahold of himself.]

N-No, of course not! I merely wanted to stop by to see if you're doing okay, but I certainly wasn't here for long!

[...it wasn't that long...]

[biyishuangfei]

[ ... Oh my god, Yeager.

He definitely blinked at the blank staring for a moment because this was going well. ]

...Oh, okay. [ a small, weak smile ] I'll believe you this time...you can also come in if you want. I was thinking of talking to you for a bit, since sitting in here for hours thinking of myself by myself is hard, even if we did manage to have a successful trial.

[ He'll turn his back to Yeager before heading back into the room. Everything looked kind of orderly here, though there's a bunch of papers piled with doodles in one corner of the room. ]

[scythegun]

[He nods at that and follows Huaisang back into the room, glancing over at that pile for a moment curiously before returning his attention to Huaisang.]

I'm flattered that you thought to come visit me.

[And the tone isn't as over-the-top cheerful as always, so... he is, truly.]

I did want to check in on you, to make sure you're doing... well, as okay as you can be after all of that.

[Off to a fantastic start, great job.]

[biyishuangfei]

[ He'll take note of that; if he were in a better mood he'd have smiled at the first comment, but it made him feel a little glad nonetheless.

So he'll sit on the bed, hands fiddling with something he took deep out of his sleeves. It's a red ribbon, which used to belong to Wei Wuxian. He's...trying to cope, and it may not be the best way with the loss of a friend. But he's lost so many people close to him that sometimes, it might be the only way you know how. ]

I'm doing my best. It's a little hard because this isn't the first time I've lost him.

[ He'll blink, feeling his eyes wet again since yesterday. ]

Or maybe it'd still be that hard. It's always hard losing close friends and family...you know.

[scythegun]

...The first time?

[There could be any number of explanations for that, but he'd be lying if he said his mind didn't jump to the worst one, the relevant one. He shakes his head after that's out there and moves to take a seat nearby.]

It is, ja. I truly am sorry for your loss, Huaisang. And I'm sorry that the trial today was such a mess, I can only imagine how difficult it was to sit through that.

[biyishuangfei]

[ He'll nod. ]

There's some strange time differences going on, I think. But...this Wei-xiong was taken from a time before everyone back home turned on him a-and...killed him...

[ He figured that was the simplest explanation, really.

As Yeager offered his condolences, he wipes at his eyes. ]

I was scared...really scared we wouldn't catch his killer. It's not going to bring him back, and it was...hard, yes. But I guess I could take some comfort in that, if anything.

week 5, monday

[scythegun]

[After the incident in the ice maze, it's no wonder both of them are eager to get out of the cold and go someplace better. The peach museum is absolutely better, but it's mostly because Huaisang can get back to work on his paintings and Yeager can watch, because a distraction sounds excellent right about now.

Yeager's quick to shed his winter gear, revealing that yes, he is indeed still wearing a full suit underneath it. That's just how it goes, he continues to be like this all the time. He takes a seat nearby and props his elbow on the table, then his chin on his hand.]

I see you did take me up on that lovely idea from last time! I noticed some gorgeous new paintings, after all~

[He was absolutely snickering every single time we passed one, of course.]

[biyishuangfei]

[ Oh my god, Yeager ... then again it is. pretty cold in that area.

Not like Huaisang has any room to talk, because he definitely had on just a lot of scarves, gloves, and two hats on top of his robes. The only change completely is the fact he put some boots on before he traversed into the cold area. But, the extra clothing is now in a lazy pile that would be enough to make his older brother cry in outrage if he ever had the chance to lay his eyes upon it. ]

Why thank you! I'm sure they've done well to add more color to this place, but I'm happy to know that you think they're incredible works of art~

[ He's so amused saying this, and he begins to make himself comfortable with the stuff he's used to utilizing in the room. ]

...How long do you think before the others actually notice?

[scythegun]

[That gets a laugh out of him and he waves his free hand.]

I imagine most of them won't be coming back in here willingly... Oh, perhaps we should hold a meeting in here!

[......this is the worst idea, it's a damn good thing we don't rely on yeager to do anything.]

With that said, I'm sure a few of them will wander by eventually... And I'd be surprised if they didn't notice your art, simply because it truly is that incredible!

[will they be able to pick out the ones that aren't peaches? ehhhhh.]

[biyishuangfei]

Hmm...maybe.

Also thank you, I really do try my best.

[ Huaisang looked actually thoughtful?

Later on, the only reason he decides not to hold a meeting in the museum is because the portraits scare him so bad that he feels like crying sometimes.

This time he's going to be painting an island surrounded by an ocean. But only the waves are evident now. ]

By the way...Yeager, would you be okay with it if we could talk about what happened earlier?

[scythegun]

[bless huaisang!!

Yeager inclines his head as he watches Huaisang work, and that question... Hmm.]

I would be, ja. Would you like to start, or...?

[He doesn't mind answering questions, because thankfully this was the better of the two options he had. But Huaisang might want to discuss what he saw, and Yeager's certainly fine talking about that! Though admittedly, he's not sure how much help he'll actually be...]