IC Inbox

[narrowpath]

Comments

[downswing]

( An unnatural disposition, to stare in a polished surface and bide his time, as if he were an emperor, a performer, or a... peacock.

All the same, then, without preamble: )

The flower.

( Greetings, master Wei, how are you this fine morning, in the wake of a finer feast? )

[narrowpath]

[He had turned the mirror away, only occasionally going to look at it. It left him feeling weary since he couldn't control what showed up on it. However, at hearing the familiar voice he went over to look.]

Not even a hello? So rude.

What flower?

[Wei Wuxian had not been awake for long, and it showed. His robes were disheveled and his hair still needed to be combed. He gave no care to sharing this appearance casually.]

[downswing]

( Should he point out the classical morning chaos of Wei Ying's hair first, or rip out his own? Ah, so many choices, all leading to a deep drawn breath of hollowed resignation. )

I entrusted a red tea flower.

[narrowpath]

Hmm?

[he paused a moment and then recollection dawned on him.]

Ah! You did. Did Lan Zhan want to take it back? And here I thought you gave me a gift like I have done before.

[downswing]

( Must... tame his breathing. Must remember the point of an hour's meditation before this was precisely to combat the frustration of this moment. )

It flowered on a girl tainted by the feast.

[narrowpath]

[Was it the same girl he had met that night?]

Oh, so a gift from a girl? Such a precious thing!

Was it love at first sight? Is this your memento?

[downswing]

( ...perhaps he should aim for two hours' morning meditation, moving forward. )

Wei Ying. Return it.

[narrowpath]

So it really is your memento!

All you had to do was say. How can I keep you from your first love!

Second love? Ah! You are becoming a real man!

I have to find it first though.

[downswing]

( If blame sits between them, it lies with Lan Wangji. He knew better than to entrust Wei Ying with any one thing. )


By midday. Name your quarters.


( For... science and no ulterior motives. )

[narrowpath]

Don't be so serious. It's somewhere. Don't worry. I put it away, I'm sure of it.

[He gives some sort of directions or indicator of where his room is located. and starts shuffling through his sleeve.]

Your memento will be returned.

Did you tell her how you feel? Will you see her later?

[downswing]

Said she would not perish.

( ...a true romantic.

And then, a differently charged hesitation: he has the room to spoil and intrude with his visits, but Wei Ying must still battle his nightmares each night inside it. )

You sleep the night whole?

[narrowpath]

I sleep when I sleep and I wake up when I wake up.

[His sleeping was more erratic now than it ever was. And sometimes he didn't sleep at all, and others he slept for days. It really all depended on his mood and how distracted he was by something.]

[downswing]

...Wei Ying.

( Stop. )

[peerlesscucumber]

Master Wei, your necromancy—can you practice it without unnerving the survivors in this aftermath? This one fears outbreak in disease should the deceased not be uncovered in good time.

[narrowpath]

That depends on what you think 'unnerving' is. The easiest way woukd be to have them crawl out on their own, and that seems, no matter what, pretty unnerving!

But, we do need to do something about the potential unfound dead.

[peerlesscucumber]

Crawling closer to the surface for ease of unearthing might be less unnerving than seeing them crawl free of the wreckage.

[ Sighing inwardly; there's no perfect solution here, okay. Truly none. ]

[narrowpath]

That might take a bit too much fine control. I can call them up, call them to me, and send them somewhere, but, for that sort of thing... I don't think I can do that with more than two to three at a time, and I would have to know where they are.

[peerlesscucumber]

That... wouldn't be a problem.

[ He says, and his voice softens when he does. Only to stay softer, but calm, otherwise unmoved, as he continues: ]

... Do whatever you believe most appropriate. The handling after will depend on what the customs are for the people here.

[ One more avenue to investigate; a necessary, sad, uncomfortable one. There's enough mourning that's gone without word even now: the changlings and human servants weren't even granted this. ]

[narrowpath]

I won't be callous, I'll put them in a nice pile outside near the forest. People can collect what they can, and the rest can dig their grave.

[peerlesscucumber]

Or we can dig graves or light pyres as is required according to their rituals. They've been killed through no fault of their own, we needn't put them to work digging their own resting places.

[narrowpath]

It makes it easier though.

[peerlesscucumber]

Does easier equate to better?

[narrowpath]

It equates to less time, which is better when dealing with such a situation.

Is it better to spend days with one or two people digging for hours at a time each?

[peerlesscucumber]

One does begin to question how much of the population you suspect perished...

Wei Wuxian, hold off on your plans for how the dead shall be handled until the citizens it concerns have been consulted. You can agree to that much, can't you?

[ Not that the dead burying themselves doesn't sound efficient, but if he has to fucking imagine his own body doing that, he can't! He can't take it! Could anyone? Efficiency isn't a good enough reason! ]

[narrowpath]

[He was just so jaded when it came to the dead now, and clearing them out.]

Since I don't know how high the population was to begin with, it's hard to say the potential amount. The number might be quite low.

Of course. I'm not an unreasonable man.