Huaisang was going to drop on by to Yuri's and give her door a light knocking to see if she were in, because he wanted to check in on her. She seemed just as upset as he was. ]
There's some rustling through the door as Yuri composes herself enough to answer the knock. Even that feels like a chore, the weight of each motion, each step feels as heavy as lead. Finally she opens the door, her face red and swollen, head bowed. She sees Huaisang's robes first and takes them in with some confusion, then tilts her head up to meet his eyes. ]
... Hello, my lord. Did you need me for something?
[ Huaisang will give her a gentle, disarming smile. It's...also tired as well because he was tired due to everything that's happened this week. Seeing the way she looked was in a way like looking into a mirror in of itself. ]
[ His words make her tense up even as his smile means to put her at ease. She’s... scared of what he wants to say, especially if it’s about what happened today. ]
I... [ Reaching for words she can’t seem to find, she ends up settling for an automatic: ] Yes, of course. Please come in.
[ She gestures to her vanity, which has the only chair in the room. Various vials decorate it. If he knows anything about make-up, he’ll realize that none of it is cosmetic. Aside from the vials, the only other things out of place in her room are the lounge rugs rolled up in a corner. ]
[ He knew vaguely enough about make-up to make note of it, but honestly he's tired so he's not going to even so much as comment on it. The same went for the lounge rugs.
Anyway, his smile fell as he let the exhaustion take him a bit, and he made his way to the chair, plopping himself down. ]
...How are you, after all that?
[ He's not really here to scold. He's not the type and he's done that maybe ever once since his time here and even then he's been bad about it (...it ended in tears, let us just say.) ]
[ She takes a seat on her bed, clasping her hands together on her lap.
How is she? Well, her arm is all scratched up - she hasn't gotten injured in a while. She's so physically and emotionally exhausted from all that crying and yelling. And her heart is -
The easiest answer would be... ]
Tired, I suppose. [ Her smiling grimace says she knows that doesn't even cover how they both feel. ] And you?
[ Huaisang had been doing a lot of crying these past two days and though he's used to putting out the waterworks for far less serious situations, having to do so for reasonable ones made him far more tired, to put it simply.
He'll peer at her scratched up arm but won't say anything for now. He assumed she'll know to put ointment on it. ]
...The same. Upset too.
And maybe a lot of other things? I think you might have an idea of what I mean...a lot's happened, after all.
A good memory, maybe. I don't want to remember - [ A catch. ] - remember any of them as we last saw them. Though facing that truth is important, b-but...
Well, there was one time I made a terrible peach pun with Nageki and he got really angry with me. I thought the kind of face he made was hilarious...
[ Huaisang, pls. ]
There's also this one other time Wei-xiong made Lan Qiren, who was our teacher at the Cloud Recesses, really angry...angry enough to toss a scroll and Wei-xiong dodged perfectly. It ended up hitting me in the face, though.
[ He remembered how reckless the other bird was during the execution. But that was natural, in a way, even if it's not something he'd ever been himself...if he could help it, anyway. ]
Well...I'm not really sure. A lot of it is just immature teenage boy days which are kind of embarrassing.
Maybe one good memory would be when we got the chance to reunite after so many years of being apart. And at that time, Wei-xiong had shown he was still the same kind of person he was when I met him.
I could only really be happy about that, I think, as simple as it sounds.
Hehe, the embarrassing stories are the most cherished ones, I think. It means something when a memory is clear enough that the details stand out and embarrass you, no?
[ Blinks. Wei-xiong? ]
You call him by a different name. Is it a nickname?
[ The chair from last time is still there if he would like to have a seat. Once he does, she'll take the bed again. ]
Since everything... Aha... I won't pretend it wasn't - that I didn't struggle with the accusations. But - there was a bright side to it all, too, I think. Everyone who spoke out in my defense, I don't think I expected that, but it did warm my heart.
It's hard not to feel awful about such things, but... it helps that I have the truth on my side, too. My unwavering truth is that I've done nothing wrong; I will not be swayed to think otherwise.
[ She wish the others would think of the broader picture. ]
I'm thankful of that, to be honest. It makes it more difficult for people to stick to the wrong path when someone is just unwavering in that they've done nothing wrong.
[ And it's harder for it to feel like bullshit. ]
...No, but Wei-xiong was.
H-He always looked out for everyone and did everything he could for others. But other people were afraid of his power and the fact he went to many lengths to protect the weak. So, they persecuted and killed him.
... And then he was killed here, too. My lord, I'm so sorry.
People fear what they cannot understand, and power that's not their own will always been jealously sought after - and if not deemed attainable, then dismissed and demonized. Why is that, I wonder? Why is that the way of so many worlds?
I used to believe that if I stayed ignorant of those things, and with those I loved that I wouldn't be affected by the cruel hearts of others who'd go so far.
[ He sighed softly. ]
But the actions of those people affect everyone eventually.
Even now...I think I have trouble understanding why people would lust after power, and if they couldn't have it, kill out of jealousy or in some way to obtain it. It just never seems worth it.
[ If he had his way, he would never be Sect Leader and his brother would be alive. Even his brother had been murdered for the sake of some power hungry game machinations. ]
To them it's worth it. It may be because some people are just ever hungry - for love, for power, for riches. They are born an empty well that has no end. In the regard, they're unlucky compared to us. They'll never know what it truly means to love - to be satisfied with the little things and live meaningfully.
...No, they won't. To be honest, the thought of losing the ability to love is a scary one to me.
[ ...At some point, he thought he lost that capability, but since he's come here, he's learned that he hadn't, and even though he hates their situation, he's happy he discovered this recently. Just as a thing in general.
That he can still care about others. ]
To me it feels like it's part of what makes even our hardship at least a bit bearable. Or any, really.
I...where did you—where did this come from all of a sudden?
[ His face is flushing entirely red. Huaisang has barely any idea to handle falling in romantic love clearly...look, this is his first time...it's so different experiencing it than reading it in books. ]
H-how did you even know?
[ Poor Huaisang doesn't even know how obvious he is with this, smh. ]
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biyishuangfei) wrote2021-06-20 09:36 pm
Sunday, Post-Execution, Week 3
Huaisang was going to drop on by to Yuri's and give her door a light knocking to see if she were in, because he wanted to check in on her. She seemed just as upset as he was. ]
Yuri? Are you around?
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There's some rustling through the door as Yuri composes herself enough to answer the knock. Even that feels like a chore, the weight of each motion, each step feels as heavy as lead. Finally she opens the door, her face red and swollen, head bowed. She sees Huaisang's robes first and takes them in with some confusion, then tilts her head up to meet his eyes. ]
... Hello, my lord. Did you need me for something?
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Do you mind?
[ Huaisang will give her a gentle, disarming smile. It's...also tired as well because he was tired due to everything that's happened this week. Seeing the way she looked was in a way like looking into a mirror in of itself. ]
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I... [ Reaching for words she can’t seem to find, she ends up settling for an automatic: ] Yes, of course. Please come in.
[ She gestures to her vanity, which has the only chair in the room. Various vials decorate it. If he knows anything about make-up, he’ll realize that none of it is cosmetic. Aside from the vials, the only other things out of place in her room are the lounge rugs rolled up in a corner. ]
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Anyway, his smile fell as he let the exhaustion take him a bit, and he made his way to the chair, plopping himself down. ]
...How are you, after all that?
[ He's not really here to scold. He's not the type and he's done that maybe ever once since his time here and even then he's been bad about it (...it ended in tears, let us just say.) ]
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How is she? Well, her arm is all scratched up - she hasn't gotten injured in a while. She's so physically and emotionally exhausted from all that crying and yelling. And her heart is -
The easiest answer would be... ]
Tired, I suppose. [ Her smiling grimace says she knows that doesn't even cover how they both feel. ] And you?
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He'll peer at her scratched up arm but won't say anything for now. He assumed she'll know to put ointment on it. ]
...The same. Upset too.
And maybe a lot of other things? I think you might have an idea of what I mean...a lot's happened, after all.
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Of course... It's hard to believe. You've had it rougher than everyone else these past couple of days. Did you need me to lend an ear?
[ He must have a lot he wants to say. ]
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I'm not sure what to say, to be honest. Maybe I was looking for company too, after everything that's happened, but...
Where would I even begin?
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[ Huaisang, pls. ]
There's also this one other time Wei-xiong made Lan Qiren, who was our teacher at the Cloud Recesses, really angry...angry enough to toss a scroll and Wei-xiong dodged perfectly. It ended up hitting me in the face, though.
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I don't think I've ever seen Mister Nageki angry! What was he like?
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[ Huaisang made a good :| face but it looked funny on him. ]
And he said something like, "Let's not."
It was as if he was about to summon a blizzard, but instead I was just trying not to laugh...
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...What did you imagine anyway?
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But that doesn't sound like him at all. Haha...
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Oh, I think I get it. I guess he's really not to have gone to go the traditional route.
...It makes me wonder if Professor would do something like t hat, though.
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[ get it, ruffled feathers... ]
1/2
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Yes, he's quite open about his emotions. Like you, actually.
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[ A sheepish smile graced his features at that. ]
Though I imagine he wouldn't admit to it if someone said those exact words to his face.
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[ But is that something Huaisang knows as well... ]
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[ He remembered how reckless the other bird was during the execution. But that was natural, in a way, even if it's not something he'd ever been himself...if he could help it, anyway. ]
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Maybe one good memory would be when we got the chance to reunite after so many years of being apart. And at that time, Wei-xiong had shown he was still the same kind of person he was when I met him.
I could only really be happy about that, I think, as simple as it sounds.
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[ Blinks. Wei-xiong? ]
You call him by a different name. Is it a nickname?
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[ Then he'll blink at the question, smiling slightly. ]
Oh, kind of. It's like...a term of platonic endearment for someone you've known really well? I don't think there's really an apt translation for it...
[ Which is why it doesn't get translated, or so easily. ]
Week 5, Monday evening
But though Huaisang hadn't been able to come by as earlier as he had liked, he will do so now, giving the door a light knock. ]
Yuri? Are you in?
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[ She opens the door wider in an open invitation. ]
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Oh, um...no, sorry!
I just wanted to visit someone I know, and see how they were doing? It was a very long weekend, so...
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Well, I'm always glad to see you! Won't you come in?
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Oh, thank you, I think I will.
[ He will come in once he's allowed. ]
Can you tell me how you have been holding up...since everything?
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Since everything... Aha... I won't pretend it wasn't - that I didn't struggle with the accusations. But - there was a bright side to it all, too, I think. Everyone who spoke out in my defense, I don't think I expected that, but it did warm my heart.
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It gives him a bit of hope, that no one will end up like Wei Wuxian had, or SQ had (he won't forget her, he promised.) ]
I'm glad. I was a little worried about it making you feel awful, but I do remember that a lot of people suddenly spoke up.
Even though this situation is awful, sometimes times like that reminds me that it's different than the way it is back home.
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[ She wish the others would think of the broader picture. ]
Were you... persecuted at home?
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[ And it's harder for it to feel like bullshit. ]
...No, but Wei-xiong was.
H-He always looked out for everyone and did everything he could for others. But other people were afraid of his power and the fact he went to many lengths to protect the weak. So, they persecuted and killed him.
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People fear what they cannot understand, and power that's not their own will always been jealously sought after - and if not deemed attainable, then dismissed and demonized. Why is that, I wonder? Why is that the way of so many worlds?
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I used to believe that if I stayed ignorant of those things, and with those I loved that I wouldn't be affected by the cruel hearts of others who'd go so far.
[ He sighed softly. ]
But the actions of those people affect everyone eventually.
Even now...I think I have trouble understanding why people would lust after power, and if they couldn't have it, kill out of jealousy or in some way to obtain it. It just never seems worth it.
[ If he had his way, he would never be Sect Leader and his brother would be alive. Even his brother had been murdered for the sake of some power hungry game machinations. ]
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[ ...At some point, he thought he lost that capability, but since he's come here, he's learned that he hadn't, and even though he hates their situation, he's happy he discovered this recently. Just as a thing in general.
That he can still care about others. ]
To me it feels like it's part of what makes even our hardship at least a bit bearable. Or any, really.
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Lord McGillis?
1/2
H-how...no, wait! Um!
[ IT'S FINE TO SAY HE ADMIRES HIM AND SAY HE'S PRETTY HANDSOME ENOUGH TO HAVE A LITTLE CRUSH ON, BUT TO ADMIT HE'S ACTUALLY IN LOVE?! ]
2/2
[ His face is flushing entirely red. Huaisang has barely any idea to handle falling in romantic love clearly...look, this is his first time...it's so different experiencing it than reading it in books. ]
H-how did you even know?
[ Poor Huaisang doesn't even know how obvious he is with this, smh. ]
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[ Tee-hee ☆ ]
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[ Gdit ]
Well, I doubt you will tell anyone, but please don't.
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No one will hear anything from me, I promise.