pcs with psyche

[diabolizes]

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[diabolizes]

[ She's right to look at the bar, because Wei Wuxian is right there, pouring a cup of juice. He looks up when he senses someone walking his way. ]

Ah, Psyche. How are you feeling?

[ Wei Wuxian may have been investigating, but he heard just how much of a rush she was in to get to her cabana, and given that Chai passed... well... he assumes she's not doing well at all. ]

[chrysaline]

[ He's right, and she's definitely been better. She tries to give him a little smile for a second, but it falters and she drops it. He told her she didn't have to force it, so... ]

Do you think... it'll be like this every week?

[ That's kind of an answer, right? ]

[diabolizes]

[ She said that she didn't want to be treated like she's delicate, so Wei Wuxian decides to be completely honest. ]

I do. [ ... ] I think that it might get worse each week.

[chrysaline]

[ She gives a nod and just lets herself slump a little, resting her arms on the bar and plopping her cheek on them. Maybe she's not delicate, but she's definitely tired. ]

You're probably right. I've seen trials before, but this was... [ ... ] I hate having to suspect everyone. I hate how close I think it was. And I hate... that the best outcome we can hope for is killing the "right" person.

[diabolizes]

It isn't fair, is it?

[ He breathes out through his nose as he adds a small amount of alcohol to his drink. ]

Then again... perhaps it speaks to the whole theme of this "vacation". Every twist and turn will continue to be unfair.

[chrysaline]

It isn't. I didn't expect it to be, but it was... worse than I thought.

[ Psyche breathes out a long sigh of agreement. For a few more moments she just lets herself stay like that, a little boneless, before she pushes herself upright again to look over at him. ]

What about you? How are you feeling?

[ Probably the alcohol is a good tip-off there, but she wants to ask. ]

[diabolizes]

Well...

[ He holds up the bottle of alcohol. At least he hasn't added a whole lot to his drink. ]

I've pushed through much worse, so I have no doubt I'll come out of the other side of this.

[chrysaline]

[ She glances at the level in the bottle and gives a nod. It answers both questions at once; how he's feeling, and that he's still being careful. ]

You will. You helped a lot today. It can't have been easy, what you did with Chai's emotions...

[ She gives the bottle one more glance. ]

...Can I have a little?

[diabolizes]

Are you used to drinking, Psyche?

[ That'll impact how much he lets her have.

But as for what else she says... Wei Wuxian has a sip of what's essentially turned into a mimosa before answering. ]

It's never easy, reading the emotions of the dead, but I'm used to it. [ ... ] I used to be able to see their memories, but I can understand why I wouldn't be allowed to here.

[chrysaline]

A little wine, sometimes?

[ So: lightweight. But it doesn't sound like he's saying no, so she moves to get herself a cup for pouring. ]

I wonder if it's this place or the... "administrators" that did something to our powers. I'm sure they'd want to keep you from doing that. Then they wouldn't get their trial.

[ Being used to it is maybe a little sadder, in a way. She frowns to herself. ]

[diabolizes]

[ Well in that case, he's keeping the alcohol content in her drink relatively light and using mostly juice. ]

That's my thought. Would make for a boring trial for me to walk up and say "I saw how it happened from the eyes of the victim", right?

[chrysaline]

[ She won't protest that! It's not as if she wants to get drunk-drunk. Just help him a little with the bottle. ]

I'm sure it's not what they want. But... maybe I'm a little glad you can't. I mean— [ She bites her lip to curb the first thought, too dark. ] ...I'm glad you don't have to see that. It's bad enough, isn't it?

[diabolizes]

[ It's fine, he'll make this a lot darker on his own.

He hands over Psyche her drink—juice with a small hint of alcohol, just enough to burn a bit. ]

To tell you the truth... it's not so bad. I've seen worse firsthand than most of the memories I've come across.

[chrysaline]

[ She accepts the drink with a little nod of thanks — it's almost a little funny, that this keeps happening for them — but it's hard to smile when he says something like that. She takes a sip instead. ]

What kind of things? Do you mean... what you experienced in the Burial Mound, or...?

[diabolizes]

[ Perhaps they'll develop a habit of hanging out at the bar, regardless of alcohol consumption. ]

Before the Burial Mounds, and I suppose after as well. [ Though the trauma from Burial Mounds is bad enough that he'll never be able to talk about it. ] Empathy gives me a barrier—it isn't me experiencing those things, not exactly.

[chrysaline]

It's a little more removed. You can hurt for someone, but it isn't yours... I think I can understand, a bit.

[ Her mouth quirks down just a little wryly. It's not the same thing -- not even a shadow compared to a magic version of that. But she's felt something similar. ]

Before, and after... has your life always been so hard?

[diabolizes]

[ His brows furrow at the way her lips turn down. What is she thinking...?

But then Psyche hits him with that word—hard. Has his life really been that hard? For someone like Wei Wuxian, who buries everything deep inside, it's hard for him to quantify it as such. ]

...I've been blessed. For most of my teenage years, I was lucky enough to be raised in a household where I felt plenty of love. My young childhood was filled with love as well.

[ There's a period inbetween without such things, but it's a small blip for Wei Wuxian now, the scars from it only appearing in specific ways. ]

[chrysaline]

[ Psyche hums, not quite in disagreement. He's been blessed, but he's seen so many things worse than the memories of the dead? But if he sees things that way it's not really for her to say he's wrong. If she were pressed... she probably would say something similar herself. ]

Like the stories you were telling me about your siblings. It's wonderful to never doubt that you're loved.

[ She hesitates a little; that gap between young childhood and teenage is hard to quite miss. ]

And even now, you have them and many people who look up to you, don't you? It's only... maybe it wasn't hard. But it sounds like you've always had to fight. What you mentioned about your Sects, and the war...

[diabolizes]

There was a period of time I didn’t.

[ He smiles a little bit. Those times are ones he remembers fondly, when he had not a worry in the world. ]

But… the worst of it started when I was seventeen. I suppose it’s been five years now, so perhaps it’ll start to feel like always soon enough.

[chrysaline]

[ It's hard not to think of what he'd said on the beach — that he would choose a peaceful and uneventful life, if he could. She's glad that he had that for a little while, but... ]

Five years already... you don't think there's any hope it will resolve soon? That they'll want peace after fighting for so long?

[diabolizes]

I think so.

[ He smiles a bit, tentatively. ]

I’d been invited to the one-month celebration of my nephew, and was about to set out to attend it when I was pulled here. I think that event would have been the start of integrating myself back into the cultivation world.

[ But… that shot has been missed now that he’s here.

(and he dies several days after that so it doesn’t matter anyway oops) ]

[chrysaline]

[ She smiles back in encouragement; she said she didn't want to give him empty words, and she means that. But if he thinks things were hopeful, then she can believe in that too.

blissfully not knowing he was about to die wth wwx ]

Their timing here was really unlucky... I'm sure there'll be another chance once we return. [ Which she's still going to state like a certainty. She can't waver on that. ] Your sister must be worried, though. Do you think she'll have people looking for you?

[diabolizes]

[ He shakes his head. ]

I doubt it. I’m sure they would all assume I decided against going, even if it would be out of character for me.

[ After all, he loves his sister more than just about anything. ]

[chrysaline]

I feel like she'd know, but...

[ Well, Psyche doesn't have any siblings, by blood or otherwise. She reaches over to touch his arm lightly in reassurance. ]

It's good if she's not worrying. ...It's hard, not knowing what's going on back home. But if people really want peace, I'm sure there are still other people working towards it. It can't all rest on you.

[diabolizes]

[ He glances down at her hand for a brief moment before looking back up at her face. ]

I’d hope so. [ Wei Wuxian lets out a soft sigh. He has to trust in his siblings to make some semblance of an effort. ] What about you, Psyche? How did you leave things back home?