SUPER important question:
have you ever had a s'more
have you ever had a s'more
[On Jakku, Rey had been a creature of habit. In the morning when she first woke up she would spend the early hours practicing with her staff as a way to hone both her body but also her mind, desperate for something to keep from thinking about food. She would go through the forms that centered her and made her strong, clinging to the way her body never gave up on her no matter how little she was able to give it in return, and she would make a plan as she moved.
Form one, make a mental list of the newest discovery in the sands. What parts were selling well, what was junk. Form two, assess just how much of the junk was actually something that could be salvaged and cleaned up or repaired into something valuable. Form three was the hardest every time, but it was also the most important. Form three was when she would start a sort of cool-down routine, muscles pleasantly aching and her belly feeling like an angry pit but no longer growling, beaten into submission by her own stubbornness, and there was no planning then. By that time she had her entire day mapped in her head and the only thing standing in her way was how quickly the sun would set.
That pattern had never left her, even after she had left Jakku. She still trained on her own on Ahch-To and then on Ajan Kloss, but she had traded the staff for lightsabers. Now, on Ximilia station, it's the same. Early morning has her leaving her little hammock in the sunlight room to go to the training room this time, and there she sets clears her mind and goes through forms that are not so well known to her.
Fighting with two lightsabers is still something she isn't used to, but she's been practicing enough with much safer practice swords that now seems as good a time as any to try with the real thing. The hilts are a heavy, familiar weight in her hand by now and when she activates them the hum settles her mind more quickly than she would have expected. It's like holding on to Luke and Leia and as she starts to move, twin beams of blue that spin and twist around her as she carves out patterns around but never strikes the training dummies.
It's something she came up with on Ahch-To, something she means to use as a way to force herself to learn to control them and the way the blades move. Come close to striking, but never actually cleave through-
... Except she does. On one pass she twists on the ball of her feet to spin around and drop down as though she's dodging an overhead strike, but as she does it she sweeps both sabers through the air directly in front of herself and neatly bisects the training dummy in a flash of heat and a sizzle that makes her swear lowly under her breath.]
Not again...
[To her credit, it had looked and felt good right up until then. With a frown she turns the sabers off and pokes at the top of the dummy with the toe of her boot, and then quite suddenly turns when she feels a presence behind her, something... cold and deep like the ocean in the cave under Ahch-To, just and dangerous but also worn down like smooth stone. She has an image in her mind of rain rolling down granite, impossible to penetrate and slow to warm, water pebbling and sliding away with no hope of ever doing any damage.
To see Itachi standing here as the source of those feelings is... certainly odd, and there's a slight pinch between her eyebrows as she fits these impressions in with the person she had shared such a brief moment with on a train what feels like weeks ago. But she inclines her head, a nod of hello, and her eyes are soft enough that it could be a smile if it weren't for the fact that her lips don't quirk up.]
Good morning, Itachi.
Form one, make a mental list of the newest discovery in the sands. What parts were selling well, what was junk. Form two, assess just how much of the junk was actually something that could be salvaged and cleaned up or repaired into something valuable. Form three was the hardest every time, but it was also the most important. Form three was when she would start a sort of cool-down routine, muscles pleasantly aching and her belly feeling like an angry pit but no longer growling, beaten into submission by her own stubbornness, and there was no planning then. By that time she had her entire day mapped in her head and the only thing standing in her way was how quickly the sun would set.
That pattern had never left her, even after she had left Jakku. She still trained on her own on Ahch-To and then on Ajan Kloss, but she had traded the staff for lightsabers. Now, on Ximilia station, it's the same. Early morning has her leaving her little hammock in the sunlight room to go to the training room this time, and there she sets clears her mind and goes through forms that are not so well known to her.
Fighting with two lightsabers is still something she isn't used to, but she's been practicing enough with much safer practice swords that now seems as good a time as any to try with the real thing. The hilts are a heavy, familiar weight in her hand by now and when she activates them the hum settles her mind more quickly than she would have expected. It's like holding on to Luke and Leia and as she starts to move, twin beams of blue that spin and twist around her as she carves out patterns around but never strikes the training dummies.
It's something she came up with on Ahch-To, something she means to use as a way to force herself to learn to control them and the way the blades move. Come close to striking, but never actually cleave through-
... Except she does. On one pass she twists on the ball of her feet to spin around and drop down as though she's dodging an overhead strike, but as she does it she sweeps both sabers through the air directly in front of herself and neatly bisects the training dummy in a flash of heat and a sizzle that makes her swear lowly under her breath.]
Not again...
[To her credit, it had looked and felt good right up until then. With a frown she turns the sabers off and pokes at the top of the dummy with the toe of her boot, and then quite suddenly turns when she feels a presence behind her, something... cold and deep like the ocean in the cave under Ahch-To, just and dangerous but also worn down like smooth stone. She has an image in her mind of rain rolling down granite, impossible to penetrate and slow to warm, water pebbling and sliding away with no hope of ever doing any damage.
To see Itachi standing here as the source of those feelings is... certainly odd, and there's a slight pinch between her eyebrows as she fits these impressions in with the person she had shared such a brief moment with on a train what feels like weeks ago. But she inclines her head, a nod of hello, and her eyes are soft enough that it could be a smile if it weren't for the fact that her lips don't quirk up.]
Good morning, Itachi.
Edited 2022-05-31 00:03 (UTC)
Rey.
๏ผ it's a cursory greeting, returned in kind with a nod that mirrors her own. he had only just arrived, and so the only thing he witnesses is the dummy's tragic end, he gestures to it with a lift of his chin. ๏ผ
I wouldn't concern yourself about property damage — Viveca-san seems able to replenish or replace anything in this room quite handily.
๏ผ it's a cursory greeting, returned in kind with a nod that mirrors her own. he had only just arrived, and so the only thing he witnesses is the dummy's tragic end, he gestures to it with a lift of his chin. ๏ผ
I wouldn't concern yourself about property damage — Viveca-san seems able to replenish or replace anything in this room quite handily.
[ it's late โ or what constitutes as late on this station โ by the time itachi hears a gentle knock on his door. clarice stands on the other side; her shoulders are hunched and arms are crossed in an instinctive attempt to withdraw into herself... yet here she is. purposefully seeking him out. she knows enough about his sleeping habits now to know he's likely awake but she keeps her knock quiet anyway, to give him the option of pretending he hadn't heard it. after all, just because he's awake doesn't mean he'd appreciate the company. still, she finds herself desperate enough for it to risk the dismissal.
yet when the door opens, she hesitates. ]
Hey. [ shit, she didn't think far enough ahead for a reason for being here. her mind scrambles. ] You got anything to read?
yet when the door opens, she hesitates. ]
Hey. [ shit, she didn't think far enough ahead for a reason for being here. her mind scrambles. ] You got anything to read?
Edited 2022-06-02 21:04 (UTC)
๏ผ she is correct in that he was not sleeping, but he had been... resting, after a fashion. laying on the futon that shang-chi had brought for him, studying the ceiling in the near-dark, with only the faint artificial glow from the running lights to make out details.
it is still a marvel to him, months later, that he can see more than a few inches in front of his face.
he rises at the knock, comes to the door. there is the distinctive ting of a tripwire being disarmed, and then the door slides open. he is standing there with an oversized spongebob shirt slipping down off one shoulder and a pair of truly ugly orange shorts, but then he has never much cared for what he wears, and far less so when he's in the privacy of his own room. they were both available and comfortable, so here he is.
when he sees her standing in the hallway, he says nothing immediately, simply steps back to allow her into the room. there is not much personality to it — the futon on the floor is the aberration, the raised bed is neatly kempt with folded covers. his desk is clear, the shelf above it holds numerous books. there is a small box for calligraphy brushes, and a pot of ink. but nothing else is displayed — for all intents and purposes it could just as easily be unoccupied. ๏ผ
Yes. Though what I have is a matter of taste.
it is still a marvel to him, months later, that he can see more than a few inches in front of his face.
he rises at the knock, comes to the door. there is the distinctive ting of a tripwire being disarmed, and then the door slides open. he is standing there with an oversized spongebob shirt slipping down off one shoulder and a pair of truly ugly orange shorts, but then he has never much cared for what he wears, and far less so when he's in the privacy of his own room. they were both available and comfortable, so here he is.
when he sees her standing in the hallway, he says nothing immediately, simply steps back to allow her into the room. there is not much personality to it — the futon on the floor is the aberration, the raised bed is neatly kempt with folded covers. his desk is clear, the shelf above it holds numerous books. there is a small box for calligraphy brushes, and a pot of ink. but nothing else is displayed — for all intents and purposes it could just as easily be unoccupied. ๏ผ
Yes. Though what I have is a matter of taste.
[Guess who's showing up to make you train with him again? It's some ridiculously early time, Wei Wuxian hasn't slept, and he can always count on Itachi to wake up before the crack of dawn. Sure enough as he enters the training room there's a familiar figure already inside.
He grins and jogs over to him, unworried about Itachi accidentally hitting him because he probably knew he was there the second he walked into the room. Maybe even before. One day he needs to actually ask him how his senses work.]
Hey. I can't sleep. Spar with me? [They hadn't been able to after the Giva mission with both of them nursing recovering injuries. Now though, he's fully recovered and eager to get back to it.]
He grins and jogs over to him, unworried about Itachi accidentally hitting him because he probably knew he was there the second he walked into the room. Maybe even before. One day he needs to actually ask him how his senses work.]
Hey. I can't sleep. Spar with me? [They hadn't been able to after the Giva mission with both of them nursing recovering injuries. Now though, he's fully recovered and eager to get back to it.]
Edited 2022-06-04 01:57 (UTC)
๏ผ he has a variety of kunai slotted between his fingers, and he all but ignores wei wuxian as he throws them at targets clearly intended for this purpose. another is thrown from his left that knocks the trajectory of one of the first ones into a target that's concealed behind a wall, and now that matter is settled, he turns to face him. ๏ผ
Yes — but help me tidy the targets first.
Yes — but help me tidy the targets first.
[ Sam waits, body in the kind of stretch that borders on painful, but feels good - the kind of stretch he's had to work himself back up to, muscles too tight and out of shape after three months in a coma. He was in better shape than he'd have been back home thanks to the Doc and his tech, but still - nothing can stop three months worth of no training from having an affect, and Sam needs his body built stronger and more limber than it's become in order to be able for it to do what he needs it to. It's tedious work. Frustrating, because he was in damn fine shape before this and feels he has to reclaim an unfair amount of territory. But Sam's nothing if not persistent. Overly so, according to some. But neither Bucky nor McCoy are here to tell him to go easier on himself because he's still recovering from a nasty blaster shot.
Screw that. The next mission isn't going to wait for him to recover, either.
Perhaps that's why the idea comes to him in the middle of texting Itachi and explaining 'play stupid games, win stupid prizes' to him. Which to be fair, turns out pretty universal, but forgive him for not being his usual witty genius while pushing himself into the splits. Bucky's not here, and Sam's feeling an itch to work on some weight training. He's reckless, but he's not stupid. So he asks 'hey, you wanna spot me for some weight training?'. And now he waits.
Dude's not gonna give him that kind of disapproval, at least, and is clearly capable from what Sam's seen in the training room before today. Itachi might not need to be building up strong bulk the way Sam does, but Sam's still figured out he'd likely have no trouble wiping the floor with Sam.
Hence, no sparring, just spotting for weight training. Sam's reckless, not stupid. ]
Screw that. The next mission isn't going to wait for him to recover, either.
Perhaps that's why the idea comes to him in the middle of texting Itachi and explaining 'play stupid games, win stupid prizes' to him. Which to be fair, turns out pretty universal, but forgive him for not being his usual witty genius while pushing himself into the splits. Bucky's not here, and Sam's feeling an itch to work on some weight training. He's reckless, but he's not stupid. So he asks 'hey, you wanna spot me for some weight training?'. And now he waits.
Dude's not gonna give him that kind of disapproval, at least, and is clearly capable from what Sam's seen in the training room before today. Itachi might not need to be building up strong bulk the way Sam does, but Sam's still figured out he'd likely have no trouble wiping the floor with Sam.
Hence, no sparring, just spotting for weight training. Sam's reckless, not stupid. ]
๏ผ he arrives not long after sam's text message, having only been engaged in reading one of gwen's many textbooks. he is dressed casually, mesh body armour just barely visible at the collar of his loose shirt.
he nods a greeting to sam, and then asks the question he did not ask via text — ๏ผ
What does it mean, 'to spot'?
๏ผ it may be a colloquialism he is unaware of. he had thought at first sam meant simply to watch him, which felt oddly egotistical of the man and was what lead him to discard that possible meaning. ๏ผ
he nods a greeting to sam, and then asks the question he did not ask via text — ๏ผ
What does it mean, 'to spot'?
๏ผ it may be a colloquialism he is unaware of. he had thought at first sam meant simply to watch him, which felt oddly egotistical of the man and was what lead him to discard that possible meaning. ๏ผ
Hey. You can ignore this. It's probably unimportant!
I have this friend back home. Well, had. She was executed. Anyway, she told me something once about how you should always say what you need to because you don't know if you'll have another chance. "Thank you" and "sorry" she said. She called them the two most important things to make sure someone knew.
( with his position as a university student secured, kakashi has begun to train his sights on exploring the outer circles.
it takes little effort to assume different personas as needed, catering to the populace in each district and what they deem familiar and unobtrusive. he spends his days on campus and his evenings getting chummy with the locals while he gets a better lay of the land.
but tonight, he verges away from his normal outing alone. instead, he is accompanied by itachi as they enter the den in the fourth circle together.
they sit at a table with a clear view of all entry points, awaiting the order kakashi placed moments ago. )
I don't think we've ever had a drink together, have we?
it takes little effort to assume different personas as needed, catering to the populace in each district and what they deem familiar and unobtrusive. he spends his days on campus and his evenings getting chummy with the locals while he gets a better lay of the land.
but tonight, he verges away from his normal outing alone. instead, he is accompanied by itachi as they enter the den in the fourth circle together.
they sit at a table with a clear view of all entry points, awaiting the order kakashi placed moments ago. )
I don't think we've ever had a drink together, have we?
๏ผ he is quite certain that kakashi, with an eidetic memory that rivals his own, knows exactly what day it is. still, he relents in coming to the bar itself — knowing that it may well lead them to something worth their time. viveca never gives them information in the mission file without cause.
they are seated opposite one-another, in such a way that kakashi's left side is nearer a wall, and they both have a full view of the room. itachi angles a decorative metal centerpiece in the table so that its reflective surface is angled to catch behind him. ๏ผ
No.
๏ผ kakashi knows full well their work in anbu never facilitated such a thing. ๏ผ
I do not have much taste for liquor.
๏ผ kotarล's effects on his self control were enough. he did not wish to replicate its effects. ๏ผ
they are seated opposite one-another, in such a way that kakashi's left side is nearer a wall, and they both have a full view of the room. itachi angles a decorative metal centerpiece in the table so that its reflective surface is angled to catch behind him. ๏ผ
No.
๏ผ kakashi knows full well their work in anbu never facilitated such a thing. ๏ผ
I do not have much taste for liquor.
๏ผ kotarล's effects on his self control were enough. he did not wish to replicate its effects. ๏ผ
[It's late by the time Wei Wuxian gets back for the night. While he doesn't exactly keep up on the work for his classes, the class period itself eats up a lot of his time and he spends the rest wandering the city and gathering information. Tonight the sun has set by time he gets home, and he toes his shoes off at the apartment entrance before dropping his bag at the door.]
Hey, I'm back. [He calls and slips his feet into a pair of fluffy grey slippers—not as cute as the ones he has back on the Ximilia but comfortable enough at least. He pads into the kitchen where the light is still on and turns a smile on his friend and current roommate.]
Hey, I'm back. [He calls and slips his feet into a pair of fluffy grey slippers—not as cute as the ones he has back on the Ximilia but comfortable enough at least. He pads into the kitchen where the light is still on and turns a smile on his friend and current roommate.]
๏ผ itachi is sitting at the small counter in the kitchen, a book propped open, one arm draped idly along its side. he's about three-quarters of the way through it, one of the dense biochem textbooks. there's a cup of tea steaming faintly beside him, and not far from him is a plate covered with foil. guess who bring his own food and has ever since the mission to badrock?
in any case, he doesn't look up — simply gestures to the plate. ๏ผ
Dango.
in any case, he doesn't look up — simply gestures to the plate. ๏ผ
Dango.
[ It's about a week after their last mission, and even more time since the weirdest food delivery he's ever experienced back on the station, but acknowledging the kind (if weird, we're emphasizing weird here) act with a 'thanks' does have an expiry date in the realm of politeness. His mama taught him better than that.
So he's at Itachi's door for the second time since he's known the guy, and knocks.
Maybe he won't be in. Maybe this is just a waste of his time. Maybe he'll just come back later โ ]
So he's at Itachi's door for the second time since he's known the guy, and knocks.
Maybe he won't be in. Maybe this is just a waste of his time. Maybe he'll just come back later โ ]
๏ผ the knock is... not unfamiliar, and after a long moment itachi rises from the chair at his desk and opens his door without ceremony. the last remaining vestige of his long-standing paranoia — the tripwire that he used to keep stretched across the threshold of the door — is nowhere in immediate sight. ๏ผ
Shang-Chi.
๏ผ his tone is faintly surprised, but he does step back and indicate the man is welcome to enter. his space, as always, is kempt and neat, nothing out of place. ๏ผ
Is there something you require of me?
Shang-Chi.
๏ผ his tone is faintly surprised, but he does step back and indicate the man is welcome to enter. his space, as always, is kempt and neat, nothing out of place. ๏ผ
Is there something you require of me?
That was an interesting class.
[ nie huaisang, pretending to be an assistant teacher in fine arts, has found his day with an unexpected gap where his evening lecture was supposed to be — and instead of returning to his room or going to the library, he hears an ongoing philosophy class and stands outside the open door, listening to the end of it.
it is only when the students walk out that he walks in, a holographic fan fluttering in his hand, a small smile on his face.
(there's something different to his air from wei wuxian and lan xichen; wei wuxian is always sincere, even when he's lying, because he lies to himself at the same time... whereas lan xichen's kindness is there for all to see, and so is his pain, if one knows how to look.
nie huaisang looks like a house full of shuttered windows, door locked.) ]
[ nie huaisang, pretending to be an assistant teacher in fine arts, has found his day with an unexpected gap where his evening lecture was supposed to be — and instead of returning to his room or going to the library, he hears an ongoing philosophy class and stands outside the open door, listening to the end of it.
it is only when the students walk out that he walks in, a holographic fan fluttering in his hand, a small smile on his face.
(there's something different to his air from wei wuxian and lan xichen; wei wuxian is always sincere, even when he's lying, because he lies to himself at the same time... whereas lan xichen's kindness is there for all to see, and so is his pain, if one knows how to look.
nie huaisang looks like a house full of shuttered windows, door locked.) ]
๏ผ he is slow to gather himself up. no books to speak of in this world as there are no trees from which to cull paper — but he prefers to be the last one to leave a room so that no one is at his back, and when huaisang walks in, itachi rises smoothly from where he had 'accidentally' knocked his waterbottle under another of the tables.
he recognizes the man, of course — as one learns to recognize most of the others aboard the ximilia, and can place a name to the face, nie huaisang. he is not quite so certain of wei wuxian's judge in character as to put any amount of trust in the man as all that, but childhood friend is not an unkind description.
itachi inclines his head faintly. ๏ผ
There are some strong opinions on Bernoff's moralistic relativity among my classmates, it would seem.
he recognizes the man, of course — as one learns to recognize most of the others aboard the ximilia, and can place a name to the face, nie huaisang. he is not quite so certain of wei wuxian's judge in character as to put any amount of trust in the man as all that, but childhood friend is not an unkind description.
itachi inclines his head faintly. ๏ผ
There are some strong opinions on Bernoff's moralistic relativity among my classmates, it would seem.
Hey, Wayback Machine.
Think you can get me the bullet points for what I've missed?
Think you can get me the bullet points for what I've missed?
๏ผ attached is, of course, a heavily detailed file with all the various findings up to this point. relevant highlights:
โข viveca is from this world! also is the fox. also is the mayor's daughter.
โข no one has found any trace of the orb.
โข given the history of the earthquakes and the location of its epicenter, he suspects the orb's involvement there.
โข the identities and masks of all known members of the fables.
โข who among the ximilia's crew is likely to support assisting the world, and who is likely to care more about retrieving the orb.
guess who's not mentioning that he's in one of the camps right now tho? this asshole.
then — ๏ผ
If you have not reached out to Wei Wuxian, please do so. It has been nearly a month without contact on our end. He has been concerned.
โข viveca is from this world! also is the fox. also is the mayor's daughter.
โข no one has found any trace of the orb.
โข given the history of the earthquakes and the location of its epicenter, he suspects the orb's involvement there.
โข the identities and masks of all known members of the fables.
โข who among the ximilia's crew is likely to support assisting the world, and who is likely to care more about retrieving the orb.
guess who's not mentioning that he's in one of the camps right now tho? this asshole.
then — ๏ผ
If you have not reached out to Wei Wuxian, please do so. It has been nearly a month without contact on our end. He has been concerned.
text | sometime during their prison stays, late at night
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
singlelogbridge
2022-07-14 12:55 am (UTC)(link)
Can I ask you something weird?
ใ at the close of another day on e-23b, gwen presses a colorful booklet into itachiโs hands. ใ
Happy belated birthday! This is yours, ใ she explains unnecessarily.
standing outside the door, gwen slips her hands into the pockets of her overalls. sunflowers climb the pant legs. little embroidered spiders sit in a row at the sleeves of her white tee. the only piece of jewelry she wearsโthe only one she has regularly wornโis a glint of purple worn on her right ring finger since craemore.
any physical evidence of the horrific injuries she took at the water purification site had faded within hoursโonly her hair, shaved to an undercut above her left ear to get rid of the burnt ends, suggests anything happened at all.
rocking lightly on the balls of her feet, she regards itachi with a smile. ใ
I wasnโt sure what you would like best soโฆI give you the gift of options!
ใ the front cover of said options reads โitachiโs coupon book.โ intricate braiding in the spine done with red and white thread holds the booklet together.
the voucher options vary from playing board games to nail painting and hair braiding to โbe alone togetherโโparallel play now fall out boy themed. a few are dedicated to making wei wuxian be quiet or removing him from itachiโs presence. all told, there are about thirty-odd vouchers in the booklet, each page decorated with markers. ใ
Happy belated birthday! This is yours, ใ she explains unnecessarily.
standing outside the door, gwen slips her hands into the pockets of her overalls. sunflowers climb the pant legs. little embroidered spiders sit in a row at the sleeves of her white tee. the only piece of jewelry she wearsโthe only one she has regularly wornโis a glint of purple worn on her right ring finger since craemore.
any physical evidence of the horrific injuries she took at the water purification site had faded within hoursโonly her hair, shaved to an undercut above her left ear to get rid of the burnt ends, suggests anything happened at all.
rocking lightly on the balls of her feet, she regards itachi with a smile. ใ
I wasnโt sure what you would like best soโฆI give you the gift of options!
ใ the front cover of said options reads โitachiโs coupon book.โ intricate braiding in the spine done with red and white thread holds the booklet together.
the voucher options vary from playing board games to nail painting and hair braiding to โbe alone togetherโโparallel play now fall out boy themed. a few are dedicated to making wei wuxian be quiet or removing him from itachiโs presence. all told, there are about thirty-odd vouchers in the booklet, each page decorated with markers. ใ
๏ผ what.
he stares at this little booklet with very clear confusion written in his expression, turning it over in his hands as if he expects to find... something more useful (a knife??) taped underneath it.
local man, 22, has never received a gift that was not intended to provide direct and immediate use to his duties as a shinobi. ๏ผ
What is this meant to convey?
๏ผ he thumbs through it, and although the point of each individual coupon is clear, it does nothing to mitigate his confusion. what is the point, gwen. what is it. ๏ผ
he stares at this little booklet with very clear confusion written in his expression, turning it over in his hands as if he expects to find... something more useful (a knife??) taped underneath it.
local man, 22, has never received a gift that was not intended to provide direct and immediate use to his duties as a shinobi. ๏ผ
What is this meant to convey?
๏ผ he thumbs through it, and although the point of each individual coupon is clear, it does nothing to mitigate his confusion. what is the point, gwen. what is it. ๏ผ
Ah — young master?
[ it feels only polite to start like that, even if the address is not strictly correct. ] It's Nie Huaisang. We've met briefly, but... you know Wei Wuxian, and I know Wei Wuxian, and that's a weird way to start this conversation, I know, but he seems to think you're trustworthy.
[ and wei wuxian's instincts are rarely off. ]
All this to say... I have a favour to ask.
[ it feels only polite to start like that, even if the address is not strictly correct. ] It's Nie Huaisang. We've met briefly, but... you know Wei Wuxian, and I know Wei Wuxian, and that's a weird way to start this conversation, I know, but he seems to think you're trustworthy.
[ and wei wuxian's instincts are rarely off. ]
All this to say... I have a favour to ask.
[In the wake of the successful revolution, Wei Wuxian hadn't returned to the first circle. There was no reason for it, and while the Fables and some of the Orbers were still in the process of working out the next steps, he was doing his best to help out where he could.
At the moment, that mostly meant spending his time burying the unclaimed bodies of prisoners. It was mindless work but it was meaningful to him, and more than that, it kept his mind off of other things. Or it did at least until he dragged himself back into the prison each night to sleep. The cots were functional enough and he'd slept in far worse places. It seemed silly to go anywhere else when it would just take him further away from the work he was doing.
He's not the only Orber staying here, but most of the others had opted to stay elsewhere. It's a relief, not having to interact with others.
Now it's late enough in the night to be considered very early morning, and his whole body is aching with the physical labor he's been putting in. It doesn't help that he's been playing to the souls of the dead every day and depriving his body of the chance to recover from the amount of resentful energy strain he'd put it through. Sleep would help, but it isn't coming and he's been lying here for long enough to know that it won't. With a sigh, he rises from his bed and steps out of his cell turned room. If he can't sleep, he might as well go back to making himself useful.
It's to his surprise that he finds Itachi walking down the hall opposite of him and his eyes go wide in recognition as his feet come to an instinctive stop. His mouth opens but no sound comes out, and he closes his eyes and swallows over a dry throat before trying again.]
...up early or late?
At the moment, that mostly meant spending his time burying the unclaimed bodies of prisoners. It was mindless work but it was meaningful to him, and more than that, it kept his mind off of other things. Or it did at least until he dragged himself back into the prison each night to sleep. The cots were functional enough and he'd slept in far worse places. It seemed silly to go anywhere else when it would just take him further away from the work he was doing.
He's not the only Orber staying here, but most of the others had opted to stay elsewhere. It's a relief, not having to interact with others.
Now it's late enough in the night to be considered very early morning, and his whole body is aching with the physical labor he's been putting in. It doesn't help that he's been playing to the souls of the dead every day and depriving his body of the chance to recover from the amount of resentful energy strain he'd put it through. Sleep would help, but it isn't coming and he's been lying here for long enough to know that it won't. With a sigh, he rises from his bed and steps out of his cell turned room. If he can't sleep, he might as well go back to making himself useful.
It's to his surprise that he finds Itachi walking down the hall opposite of him and his eyes go wide in recognition as his feet come to an instinctive stop. His mouth opens but no sound comes out, and he closes his eyes and swallows over a dry throat before trying again.]
...up early or late?
I could ask the same of you.
๏ผ it's an evasion in his usual custom, sidestepping around wei wuxian's question without much care for how obvious it is he's doing so. he indicates dirt on the man's robes, and cocks his head faintly. ๏ผ
Are you keeping a registry of the dead?
๏ผ it's an evasion in his usual custom, sidestepping around wei wuxian's question without much care for how obvious it is he's doing so. he indicates dirt on the man's robes, and cocks his head faintly. ๏ผ
Are you keeping a registry of the dead?
[ one morning on the station, on each orber's door, the following hand-written note (in fancy calligraphy) will be taped:
the orber can choose to attend or simply listen in to the meeting when it occurs, or they may ignore it altogether. ]
the orber can choose to attend or simply listen in to the meeting when it occurs, or they may ignore it altogether. ]
[The first thing he does is to text Itachi in the morning about eating dinner together, and while he knows Itachi likely suspects he's up to something, he still agrees to it which is all that matters. The second thing he does is head to the kitchen.
Despite the fact that his choices in spicing tends to leave something to be desired, Wei Wuxian does know how to cook, and since he knows enough not to spice anything heavily if he's serving it to Itachi, that much at least isn't a problem.
But as it turns out, even having made noodles plenty of times in his life, it still takes him hours to get these ones right. The dough comes together just fine, but getting the thickness consistent without breaking it is hell and by the time he's finally managed it, it's just in time to finish cooking them for dinner.
He heads over to Itachi's with two bowls of noodles on a platter and a new sense of appreciation for the cooks in Lotus Pier, knocking with one hand before returning it to help balance the tray as he waits.]
Despite the fact that his choices in spicing tends to leave something to be desired, Wei Wuxian does know how to cook, and since he knows enough not to spice anything heavily if he's serving it to Itachi, that much at least isn't a problem.
But as it turns out, even having made noodles plenty of times in his life, it still takes him hours to get these ones right. The dough comes together just fine, but getting the thickness consistent without breaking it is hell and by the time he's finally managed it, it's just in time to finish cooking them for dinner.
He heads over to Itachi's with two bowls of noodles on a platter and a new sense of appreciation for the cooks in Lotus Pier, knocking with one hand before returning it to help balance the tray as he waits.]
๏ผ it is not unusual for wei wuxian to request his time, attention or company, much less some combination of the three. what is more unusual is the fact that he specifies dinner.
so, wei wuxian is not entirely incorrect about his being suspicious of his intentions. that it in any way involves his birthday, now a month past, is not so much as a blip on his radar. it may be that the man wishes to talk, to express gratitude for the discussion they had in the aftermath of the fight, to talk about the lake they built — any number of things.
when wei wuxian knocks, he opens it moments later. inside, his room has not changed much — it is still perfectly neat and devoid of all personality save a faintly steaming teapot set out on his small desk and two cups. he raises a brow faintly at the food — there were no noodles of that sort in the latest supply drop, which means they are handmade, and he is not entirely certain what to think of that.
he takes the tray deftly so that wei wuxian can slip off his shoes, and sets it on the desk, moving the bowls in correspondence with his two chairs. ๏ผ
What is the occasion?
so, wei wuxian is not entirely incorrect about his being suspicious of his intentions. that it in any way involves his birthday, now a month past, is not so much as a blip on his radar. it may be that the man wishes to talk, to express gratitude for the discussion they had in the aftermath of the fight, to talk about the lake they built — any number of things.
when wei wuxian knocks, he opens it moments later. inside, his room has not changed much — it is still perfectly neat and devoid of all personality save a faintly steaming teapot set out on his small desk and two cups. he raises a brow faintly at the food — there were no noodles of that sort in the latest supply drop, which means they are handmade, and he is not entirely certain what to think of that.
he takes the tray deftly so that wei wuxian can slip off his shoes, and sets it on the desk, moving the bowls in correspondence with his two chairs. ๏ผ
What is the occasion?
[It's rare he spends any nights away from the room he and Gwen share, but not entirely unheard of with his penchant for working at all hours of the night and then falling asleep wherever he is. Usually that amounts to a quick nap in the training or simulation rooms. This night, it means curling up on Itachi's bed after a long several hours of working on talismans and prodding the other man's exceptional brain whenever he needed a sounding board.
He'd meant to close his eyes for just a minute before returning to his work, but after days of his eternally weird sleep schedule, the bed had been too much to resist and his nap had turned into a full on night's sleep. (Thankfully, Itachi doesn't ever use his bed, preferring to keep a futon on the floor.)
Later, when he is conscious enough to realize what had happened, he'll be torn between being sulky that his friend hadn't awakened him, and endeared that Itachi had allowed him to stay (and had been thoughtful enough to alert Gwen to his whereabouts.) But that is for later.
Now, Wei Wuxian's heartrate is accelerating, his breathing is coming in and out too fast, and his brow is furrowing as he curls into himself where he sleeps. His nightmares don't come every night like they used to, but the massive use of resentful energy on the last mission has left him worse off than usual. It's only another couple minutes before he's shooting up in bed, eyes slamming open and hands reaching for a flute that isn't there.
The only good thing about his nightmares is that he has long learned to keep them very quiet, and though his breathing still comes in labored fits and his pulse hammers away in his ears, his lips remain sealed and he doesn't utter a single sound.]
He'd meant to close his eyes for just a minute before returning to his work, but after days of his eternally weird sleep schedule, the bed had been too much to resist and his nap had turned into a full on night's sleep. (Thankfully, Itachi doesn't ever use his bed, preferring to keep a futon on the floor.)
Later, when he is conscious enough to realize what had happened, he'll be torn between being sulky that his friend hadn't awakened him, and endeared that Itachi had allowed him to stay (and had been thoughtful enough to alert Gwen to his whereabouts.) But that is for later.
Now, Wei Wuxian's heartrate is accelerating, his breathing is coming in and out too fast, and his brow is furrowing as he curls into himself where he sleeps. His nightmares don't come every night like they used to, but the massive use of resentful energy on the last mission has left him worse off than usual. It's only another couple minutes before he's shooting up in bed, eyes slamming open and hands reaching for a flute that isn't there.
The only good thing about his nightmares is that he has long learned to keep them very quiet, and though his breathing still comes in labored fits and his pulse hammers away in his ears, his lips remain sealed and he doesn't utter a single sound.]
๏ผ sleep claims the man, and itachi simply adjusts the blankets around him and makes his own futon on the floor. truthfully, he is not tired — he is still in the process of deconstructing and assessing the crew's collective actions on the mission, searching for the fractures and fissures that lead to the larger issues that plagued them there. he is seated seiza on the futon, hands on his knees, unmoving for much of the night claimed by such meditations.
but when wei wuxian's breathing goes to flux, he looks up.
he does not move immediately, waiting to see if the man's mind will settle of its own accord. but when it doesn't, and the breathing tends towards frantic, he rises and moves to the bedside. the man jerks awake at the same moment itachi reaches for his shoulder, and their hands intersect as wei wuxian flings one arm out. itachi curls his fingers around the man's wrist, and for a moment simply holds him there as he outwaits the dream's grasp.
no words, just a steady presence and a singular point of connection, eyes sharingan-bright in the dark. ๏ผ
but when wei wuxian's breathing goes to flux, he looks up.
he does not move immediately, waiting to see if the man's mind will settle of its own accord. but when it doesn't, and the breathing tends towards frantic, he rises and moves to the bedside. the man jerks awake at the same moment itachi reaches for his shoulder, and their hands intersect as wei wuxian flings one arm out. itachi curls his fingers around the man's wrist, and for a moment simply holds him there as he outwaits the dream's grasp.
no words, just a steady presence and a singular point of connection, eyes sharingan-bright in the dark. ๏ผ
Edited 2022-08-02 03:21 (UTC)
[a file is sent - gentle music, not on lyre but on violin.]
Yzak helped me reproduce the melodies I listened to in Shangri-La and record them. I wanted to share them with you.
Yzak helped me reproduce the melodies I listened to in Shangri-La and record them. I wanted to share them with you.
I need to talk to you. Are you free?
Just letting you know that if your goal is betrayal, tell me my tail isn't pretty. It would be a lie because my tail is beautiful, but I'm willing to make that sacrifice for you.
I'm kidding, what's your goal? Do you need any help?
I'm kidding, what's your goal? Do you need any help?
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