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[ Eda, in Alem, is mostly busy relieving the richer residents of some coin and merchants of food and medicine so she can help take care of the sick; and when she isn't doing that, she's exploring the grounds and getting the lay of the land, drawing elaborate maps, as usual.
She's about to return to the towers for her defense shift when she sees Wen Qing coming toward her, looking worse for the wear, her eyes reddened as if she'd been crying. ]
Geez. What happened to you?
She's about to return to the towers for her defense shift when she sees Wen Qing coming toward her, looking worse for the wear, her eyes reddened as if she'd been crying. ]
Geez. What happened to you?
[ Only a small handful of people have seen her cry, and Wen Qing had hoped the late night would be enough to keep everyone away, so she could go wash her face and return to work.
Of course, it did not work that way. ]
Nothing. [ Despite that, she does reach up and wipe her cheeks again. ]
Of course, it did not work that way. ]
Nothing. [ Despite that, she does reach up and wipe her cheeks again. ]
[ It certainly doesn't look like nothing. But honestly, Eda isn't the best at this, and she's not usually one to pry, so she shrugs her shoulders. ]
Alright, if you say so.
[ But, sheesh. They've all been kinda through it, haven't they? Eda rummages through the bag she's carrying for some pieces of fruit and offers them to Wen Qing. ]
Hey, uh, I don't know what's going on, but maybe you can use this.
Alright, if you say so.
[ But, sheesh. They've all been kinda through it, haven't they? Eda rummages through the bag she's carrying for some pieces of fruit and offers them to Wen Qing. ]
Hey, uh, I don't know what's going on, but maybe you can use this.
[ Not having someone pry into her affairs is a relief, and the fact that Eda doesn't pry lets Wen Qing relax a little, some of the tension draining from her shoulders.
The offer of fruit does surprise her, although she accepts them gratefully. ] Thank you. [ She takes a bite of one, occupied with eating for a moment. ] Why are you around so late?
The offer of fruit does surprise her, although she accepts them gratefully. ] Thank you. [ She takes a bite of one, occupied with eating for a moment. ] Why are you around so late?
[ Eda waves her hand dismissively. ]
Eh, you know, towers need defending.
Eh, you know, towers need defending.
Wen Qing, I've been blessed with one of the large cabins, did you want to share? It's me and the rabbits in here, and they're absolute menaces. Worst cabinmates. I'd put them to kneeling, but they tend to nap as soon as you set them back on the floor. Terrible.
You have trained them poorly if they're given just to napping. Or perhaps they're in need of toys.
Are you sure you do not mind sharing?
Are you sure you do not mind sharing?
I would assume so. The cats I knew growing up liked to play. I assume it is the same for most animals kept as pets.
[ they're like children! ]
I do not mind them, even if they are menaces. Hanguang-jun is not joining you?
[ they're like children! ]
I do not mind them, even if they are menaces. Hanguang-jun is not joining you?
Little Apple never wanted toys... just spiritual grass. An unerring appetite for finding all spiritual grass.
( it's almost admirable, that donkey. )
He's chosen to stay elsewhere! He'll maybe decide otherwise or I'll hunt him down after he's been avoiding me the last week, but I'm trying to be that one word. What's the word I'm thinking of?
( it's almost admirable, that donkey. )
He's chosen to stay elsewhere! He'll maybe decide otherwise or I'll hunt him down after he's been avoiding me the last week, but I'm trying to be that one word. What's the word I'm thinking of?
Little Apple was a pet of yours, I gather. What kind? Maybe the spiritual grass was better than any toy.
Independent. Is that the word?
Independent. Is that the word?
You managed to find a donkey when you returned?
[ Maybe she can use this time to learn exactly what happened after he returned. ]
Don't try to fool me, that's not the word. Stubborn? Demanding? Why is he avoiding you?
[ Maybe she can use this time to learn exactly what happened after he returned. ]
Don't try to fool me, that's not the word. Stubborn? Demanding? Why is he avoiding you?
I had a little luck after leaving the Mo Manor. Most that luck was Little Apple. Most of Little Apple being lucky was Little Apple being motivated by apples. Did you know, sixteen years later people of all kinds were using all my inventions? Turns out the copying didn't stop after I did.
( it's a little too off the cuff, but it's also telling in its own ways. she hasn't asked much about what 'returning' was for him, and the problem with it, he realises, is he'll actually tell. )
Can I not say in writing, ah? Something about committing it to words feels wrong when he hasn't admitted it to me and I only know because someone else did commit it to words.
( it's a little too off the cuff, but it's also telling in its own ways. she hasn't asked much about what 'returning' was for him, and the problem with it, he realises, is he'll actually tell. )
Can I not say in writing, ah? Something about committing it to words feels wrong when he hasn't admitted it to me and I only know because someone else did commit it to words.
Not surprised by that. They were useful inventions. Did you find out anything else useful when you returned?
[ and she knows the cultivation world.
So you know this fact because someone else told you? You can tell me in person, when I arrive at the cabin.
[ and she knows the cultivation world.
So you know this fact because someone else told you? You can tell me in person, when I arrive at the cabin.
Not really, or not for a long time. Sizhui being alive was... delayed, to know it was A-Yuan.
You know, I'm realising as I think on it the only nice things were that Jin Ling grew up to be a young man of sound principles and A-Yuan lived up to all the potential you could wish for a young man and more. The juniors of the clans were more broad minded, good children, who had still too little practical experience, but we were working on that. They had more mixed clans groups, not just those that sat under larger clan's regional assistance. The Wen's were... someone did sweep the tombs at Dafan Mountain.
Ah, wait. Wen Ning. Learning Wen Ning was alive was... immense. Learning someone had attempted to control him as they did was infuriating. They didn't manage it, don't let it worry you, but he was left reduced and hiding for years before I returned. When we found each other, I helped him. He's set off on his own now, to find what life he wants to live, ah? You'd be proud of him.
( this is a lot more than he thinks he does anything approaching justice for. and it's not all good news, but there's good parts? )
Emilia did. You know her. She's not given to lies or exaggeration.
( he includes his cabin number, and pours out two glasses of wine, okay. right then and there, waiting. )
You know, I'm realising as I think on it the only nice things were that Jin Ling grew up to be a young man of sound principles and A-Yuan lived up to all the potential you could wish for a young man and more. The juniors of the clans were more broad minded, good children, who had still too little practical experience, but we were working on that. They had more mixed clans groups, not just those that sat under larger clan's regional assistance. The Wen's were... someone did sweep the tombs at Dafan Mountain.
Ah, wait. Wen Ning. Learning Wen Ning was alive was... immense. Learning someone had attempted to control him as they did was infuriating. They didn't manage it, don't let it worry you, but he was left reduced and hiding for years before I returned. When we found each other, I helped him. He's set off on his own now, to find what life he wants to live, ah? You'd be proud of him.
( this is a lot more than he thinks he does anything approaching justice for. and it's not all good news, but there's good parts? )
Emilia did. You know her. She's not given to lies or exaggeration.
( he includes his cabin number, and pours out two glasses of wine, okay. right then and there, waiting. )
[ it's all so much to process, the possibilities, the potential for these juniors. For a-Yuan, for her brother, all of the people she left behind. ]
I've always been proud of him, even when he was getting us in trouble.
[ she pauses in her messages, considering, then decides against saying anything further, about how proud she is of Wei Wuxian. it feels too real to put it down on in a message, so she avoids it. ]
She's not.
[ it takes her a little time to wander the train, slipping into the first class cars and finding the cabin number, but she's there eventually, carrying a bag containing the things she's managed to keep through their journeys. she knocks and enters without waiting for him to respond, setting her bag to the side. ]
I wasn't expecting wine. [ she says it teasingly, sitting across from him and reaching for one of the glasses, smiling at him. ] Did it come with the room?
I've always been proud of him, even when he was getting us in trouble.
[ she pauses in her messages, considering, then decides against saying anything further, about how proud she is of Wei Wuxian. it feels too real to put it down on in a message, so she avoids it. ]
She's not.
[ it takes her a little time to wander the train, slipping into the first class cars and finding the cabin number, but she's there eventually, carrying a bag containing the things she's managed to keep through their journeys. she knocks and enters without waiting for him to respond, setting her bag to the side. ]
I wasn't expecting wine. [ she says it teasingly, sitting across from him and reaching for one of the glasses, smiling at him. ] Did it come with the room?
( this would be a roguish tip of his cup to her on entrance, Wei Wuxian lounging in clothing that's both appropriate to the train, only layered: layered men's sleep robes which are not meant to be worn like this, but try to stop him, train. try to stop him. the pattern of his outermost layer bamboo, which amuses him, on the level of classics and bamboo gentlemen.
he likewise swirls the wine in his own glass as he speaks. )
Along with silly hats and monogrammed towels. Oh, and extra sets of slippers. Some might work for you! They're all tucked under the low bench by the door.
( he sets down his glass without having taken a drink out of it since she's arrived, flashing her a smile more genuine and relieved than devil may care. )
Please, please! Make yourself comfortable, there's storage over here, ( and he's standing, to sweep over to the built in closet, which parallels the double-sized bed, where the rabbits are presently sleeping in disorganised, sweet piles ) and more wine in that cabinet right there. Ice too! Not that this has ice made in here, not that I can tell, but somewhere on this train there is!
( he is, in fact, starting to babble. helpfully babble, but babble nonetheless. especially since she'd already seated herself, therefore having made herself comfortable: but his restlessness needs someplace to pour, and too much wine is something he avoids these days, so abbreviated tour of the room from where she sits it is. )
he likewise swirls the wine in his own glass as he speaks. )
Along with silly hats and monogrammed towels. Oh, and extra sets of slippers. Some might work for you! They're all tucked under the low bench by the door.
( he sets down his glass without having taken a drink out of it since she's arrived, flashing her a smile more genuine and relieved than devil may care. )
Please, please! Make yourself comfortable, there's storage over here, ( and he's standing, to sweep over to the built in closet, which parallels the double-sized bed, where the rabbits are presently sleeping in disorganised, sweet piles ) and more wine in that cabinet right there. Ice too! Not that this has ice made in here, not that I can tell, but somewhere on this train there is!
( he is, in fact, starting to babble. helpfully babble, but babble nonetheless. especially since she'd already seated herself, therefore having made herself comfortable: but his restlessness needs someplace to pour, and too much wine is something he avoids these days, so abbreviated tour of the room from where she sits it is. )
Edited 2023-04-10 10:28 (UTC)
[ Wei Wuxian's layered clothing makes Wen Qing lips twitch with amusement, but she says nothing, turning to look at the bench, and pulling out the spare slippers. there is one set that is close enough to her size that she slips those on, hiding her other shoes beneath the bench. ]
Wei Wuxian. [ she settles back into her chair, reaching for her wineglass again and sipping it. the room is better than the one she'd been planning on squeezing into, and she enjoys his company, so she feels relatively relaxed. especially after dealing with hell. ]
What has gotten into you? [ she finally asks, setting the glass down and moving to the bed, reaching out to gently pet one of the rabbits. ] Have you explored all of the train yet?
Wei Wuxian. [ she settles back into her chair, reaching for her wineglass again and sipping it. the room is better than the one she'd been planning on squeezing into, and she enjoys his company, so she feels relatively relaxed. especially after dealing with hell. ]
What has gotten into you? [ she finally asks, setting the glass down and moving to the bed, reaching out to gently pet one of the rabbits. ] Have you explored all of the train yet?
( the rabbit's nose twitches before it lifts its head and snuffles at her hand, blinking slowly in the manner of sleepy creatures the world over. wei wuxian watches, a finger tapping against the table. )
The accessible parts. Tried ducking into the kitchen to ask after greens for them, ( he says, gesturing to the bed and the rabbits and wen qing by the necessity of proximity; ) but was chased out in a very polite, very firm manner. One of the kitchen staff muttered something about passengers and the train.
( he smiles, leaning further back in his chair. almost enough to lift the front two legs off the floor. )
Can't get near the engine or into anyone's cabin in this section that isn't yours, unless you're staff, since staff can almost always get just about anywhere. Don't you find that to be true?
The accessible parts. Tried ducking into the kitchen to ask after greens for them, ( he says, gesturing to the bed and the rabbits and wen qing by the necessity of proximity; ) but was chased out in a very polite, very firm manner. One of the kitchen staff muttered something about passengers and the train.
( he smiles, leaning further back in his chair. almost enough to lift the front two legs off the floor. )
Can't get near the engine or into anyone's cabin in this section that isn't yours, unless you're staff, since staff can almost always get just about anywhere. Don't you find that to be true?
How do you intend to feed them? [ though, by now, the question applies to both of them, since she doesn't intend to let the rabbits starve on her watch. she grins down at the one snuffling at her, gently rubbing its ears. ]
There's a certain power that comes along with being staff. They pass unnoticed and have access to so much information. [ she gives the rabbit one final pat before moving away from the bed to look over the rest of the room. ] So if you want to sneak in anywhere, you should pretend to be staff.
There's a certain power that comes along with being staff. They pass unnoticed and have access to so much information. [ she gives the rabbit one final pat before moving away from the bed to look over the rest of the room. ] So if you want to sneak in anywhere, you should pretend to be staff.
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