pcs with psyche

[diabolizes]

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[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?

[chrysaline]

[ He doesn't seem to mind the contact as such, so she lets it linger a moment longer while she thinks. It's restraint, to her way of thinking; considering how many strategy discussions Medea's had to exasperatedly detach Psyche's arms from around her... ]

It's... complicated. The politics of Vasilios go a little over my head still. But, um... my disappearing could be a little bit of a mess. It's only for a few more weeks, but I'm the crown-princess-to-be. [ She sneaks a quick glance over at him to see if that was too abrupt. ] I'm worried Eros will use this as an excuse to say I've been kidnapped. If he makes me into a justification to go after -- after a political rival, or reopen hostilities with Othilei...

[diabolizes]

[ He raises his eyebrows. A princess, huh…? That explains the big, frilly outfit she had on when they first met. But he doesn’t seem too perturbed by the admission otherwise. ]

Ah, so your absence will be an excuse to cause conflict and invade somewhere else? Those are quite the consequences…

[ Damn, and he thought his own absence was bad. ]

[chrysaline]

[ She lets out a sigh of relief that's a little more audible than she realizes. There's no reason her position would make a difference, even if it weren't very temporary. But it feels better to be open with it. ]

It could be. I... really can't understand him, but that's why I'm worried. I'm hoping he'll decide he needs to act cautiously until he knows where I am. All I can really do is trust Medea to manage the situation somehow.

[diabolizes]

Your friend, right? You seem to have a lot of faith in her, and I doubt that it’s been placed incorrectly.

[ He smiles. ]

But prepare yourself to walk back into a mess. Don’t stress much now, but give it enough thought so you’ll have a clear head when you go back.

[ And honestly, Wei Wuxian should take his own advice here. ]

[chrysaline]

It's impossible not to believe in her. She's strong and brilliant. Talented at everything she touches.

[ But his advice is good - and not just for her, she thinks. She shoots him a knowing glance and takes another sip of the drink he made her. He mixed it light, but it's still a soothing amount of burn to it. ]

That's why I worry about her. She thinks she needs to do everything herself. She shines like a beacon, and you can't help but want to follow her. But she'll use herself as the kindling for that flame, too.

[ Sometimes, vexingly, fairly literally. Psyche tips her head a little to the side as she watches him. ]

I'll try not to dwell on it now if you'll promise the same? And I hope when you go home, you won't do anything that makes the people there who love you worry too much.

[diabolizes]

[ Wow sounds familiar! Anyway… ]

You have my word, Psyche. I’ll do my best to keep myself calm and collected when I return.

[ While he can’t promise anything, he can at least say he’ll try. He owes Psyche that much. ]

Your friend, Medea… you have quite a high opinion of her. You make me want to meet her.

[chrysaline]

I trust you. ...And if it's you, I believe you can. You've kept your head through everything so far.

[ But the next comment makes her breath catch briefly. Unthinking, her hand drifts to touch her pocket. ]

I think she'd like you. I did warn you that she can be a little stern, right? But she really is kind.

[ Although as she's saying that, she starts picking a little at the seam of her pocket with a nail in indecision. ]

[diabolizes]

[ Wei Wuxian isn’t sure if he really has kept his head, but he’d like to believe it. ]

Ah, but I’m used to stern. I’m sure I could match her energy just fine.

[ He grins, but his gas travels to her hand. Is that nervousness? Or something else?

He isn’t sure. ]

But you don’t need to worry about me getting in the way of your friendship.

[chrysaline]

You mean, if you two didn't get along? I'm not worried. For a while... she deeply, truly hated me. I don't think anything could get in the way of our friendship now.

[ And honestly, Psyche has every confidence Medea would humor her on this even if she didn't like Wei Wuxian. Which she would! She has every reason to!

Maybe there's a little nervousness in her gesture. Psyche finally stills her fidgeting by force, reaching for her drink again with her other hand. ]

[diabolizes]

[ Hated Psyche? That seems like a difficult task, but perhaps someone like Medea would view her kindness as a weakness until she realized how much of a strength it is.

But the way Psyche suddenly stops fidgeting and reaches for her drink instead is telling enough to pull Wei Wuxian out of his thoughts. ]

Is something wrong?

[chrysaline]

[ Psyche likes to think she's gotten better at lying when she has to. But if she'd committed to lying to him, she wouldn't have been so restless in the first place. She gives him a sheepish sidelong smile. ]

Not exactly. It's just a little hard to explain... do you actually want to meet Medea?

[diabolizes]

[ He furrows his brows before eventually giving her a shrug. ]

I wouldn’t mind. I like meeting people, and it’s a nice thought.

[ After all, he’s a very social person—something that Psyche might have noticed. ]

Though I wouldn’t do everything in the world for a chance at it, I would take the opportunity should it arise.

[chrysaline]

[ She lets out a little exhalation of self-directed laughter and stifles her nerves in a very stiff drink. ]

I think I could do that, with my power. Or rather... if I don't, there still might not be any avoiding it.

[ Oh, this is strange to explain. She kicks her legs a little restlessly on the bar stool and looks down. ]

...It's part of my blessing, I think. The guardian deity's protection. When my life is in danger... our souls trade places. Mine and Medea's. I'm doing everything I can to avoid that happening. But...

[ Well. They're in a place where their lives are kind of all in danger, a lot. ]

[diabolizes]

…I see.

[ A very take-charge person taking over Psyche’s body if she were in danger. Hm. ]

You don’t need to do that for my sake.

[ Because part of him doesn’t want her to feel like she’s in danger around him. But there’s something else that bothers him above all else— ]

Would she kill on your behalf?

[ Maybe it’s an abrupt question, but it’s the first one on his mind. How could it not be, what with his history and experiences? ]

[chrysaline]

[ It's probably telling that there's not even a moment of hesitation before Psyche nods. It's far from just a hypothetical. ]

That's what I'm worried about. Sometimes, when we trade places, it's because I've already been attacked.

[ Psyche lifts a hand absentmindedly to press to her chest. Her healing doesn't leave any scars, but she remembers. ]

If she finds herself in my body with no warning, she'll assume the worst. That's why I went to the beach last night. I thought if I wrote her a letter and traded places when no one was around, at least she could be prepared if it happened again... she wouldn't do anything too impulsive.