[ He can keep his hold on her waist as long as she can still get to her pocket... she reaches in to pull out a sword tassel in Vasilios' style, although the one she gives him is made of red and black thread. The ornament is a gold sunburst with a ruby at the center, one of the earrings she was wearing on the day of their arrival, when they met. ]
Normally you'd hang it on a sword, but... I wasn't able to make the cording as sturdy with what we have here, so it might not hold up to something like that.
[ He moves his hands from her waist to take the tassel in his hands, his fingers gently running over the threads before he runs his thumb over the ornament and, of course, the ruby. It looks extremely familiar... was she wearing earrings like this? She must have been. ]
It's beautiful, Psyche. [ His voice is soft as he continues to look down at it, stunned. ] I'll find somewhere to keep it close to me. I need to have something like this on me, after all.
[ She'd been so certain when she was making it that it would suit him, but it still feels like her heart twists in her chest at the look on his face. It's such a warm feeling. ]
I'm... really glad you like it. I wanted it to be something like a good luck charm for you.
With you being the one who made it, I'm certain it will be. And if it doesn't give me luck, it'll give me strength.
[ Though he has to wonder... does this mean she's decided to go back to her own world? His fingers clasp more tightly around the tassel at the thought, even as he smiles softly at her. ]
[ She blinks as she hops up onto one of the stools again. It takes her a second to follow the flow of the question to realize what decision he must mean. ]
You mean, about after this? When we win, and get to pick where to return?
[ It's such a series of best-case scenarios. But, even so. ]
He didn’t expect that, figuring she had too much back home to be able to leave it all. Naturally, Wei Wuxian would have understood and not held it against her.
But this? It’s better than he could have imagined, and so he leans over the bar and kisses her. ]
[ With her eyes closed, lost in thought, he catches her by (very happy) surprise. She makes a quiet startled noise and reaches for a handful of his robes as she kisses back. ]
That's why it took me so long. I felt so guilty, thinking of the mess I'm leaving behind for her. I wondered if I was running away. If it's selfish of me. And I was afraid to ask her because I knew she'd tell me to go even if it caused her hardship.
[ And all of that is probably still true. But Psyche touches the letter folded in her pocket with a smile. ]
She told me that if all I could picture from returning was the work to be done, and an ending... if this was where I could imagine a future that I wanted for myself, and a person I want to become, then the choice should be obvious.
[ He had felt guilt too, wondering if he was leaving when things were finally going to improve for him. But he knows now that they won’t, and he has a sinking feeling that the people he saved won’t be there when he comes back, because he wasn’t around to protect them from other Sects and the fierce corpses and spirits on the mounds themselves.
There’s no future there either. ]
Medea is wise, isn’t she? [ He smiles, opening up a bottle of vodka. ] I think we both had similar thoughts and fears, but we reached our conclusions through different methods.
[ She watches his expression with a soft smile, half wondering at the direction of his thoughts. It's another reason she hadn't wanted to voice her own doubts earlier. He seems to feel responsibility so strongly, and she knows there are people at home that he loves. If she'd made him second-guess his own decision... that would have been even worse. ]
She's the same age as you. I wonder if that means I'll be that wise in three more years? I really hope it doesn't take a full eighteen. [ Adding in her years in the basement, that is. ] I'm glad, though. That you want to move forward, too.
[ She'd been more than half-afraid that he'd head back to accept whatever terrible situation was awaiting him there. Maybe she was projecting, that time. ]
[ Honestly, he doesn’t know if years make someone wise. Can Wei Wuxian even consider himself wise? ]
I feel a sense of clarity, if that makes sense.
[ It’s hard to explain what being out of his world has done. It’s a new perspective, possibly. ]
But I have no doubt in my mind that this decision will move the three of us forward. Perhaps it’s a selfish decision, but what else can we do when we’re faced with it?
[ She nods, glancing down at the bar counter with a smile. Clarity. That's exactly it, somehow. ]
It's self-serving of me to say so, but... I think it's not so bad to be a little selfish. The people who love you and want you happy are depending on you to be able to do that when it counts.
[ She really hopes she doesn't have to let them down, too. But if nothing else, her mind is made up. ]
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Maybe the smoke is reminiscent of the bonfire that first time? ]
It does. This is where we met, isn't it? [ And where he and Wang Lu made other memories. ] I had something I wanted to give you, too.
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That it is. [ He smiles, but is immediately distracted. ] What is it?
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Normally you'd hang it on a sword, but... I wasn't able to make the cording as sturdy with what we have here, so it might not hold up to something like that.
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It's beautiful, Psyche. [ His voice is soft as he continues to look down at it, stunned. ] I'll find somewhere to keep it close to me. I need to have something like this on me, after all.
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I'm... really glad you like it. I wanted it to be something like a good luck charm for you.
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[ Though he has to wonder... does this mean she's decided to go back to her own world? His fingers clasp more tightly around the tassel at the thought, even as he smiles softly at her. ]
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[ That part still scares her a little. She reaches over to cup her hands around his, holding the tassel. ]
I made one for Wang Lu, too. I hope that doesn't make it less special to you.
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[ And knowing they both have them makes his heart full.
He moves his hand, lightly grabbing onto hers. ]
We’ll be safe, and so will you.
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Then we're here to toast to the victory we'll definitely have. Right?
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[ He grins. ]
Shall I make you a drink? [ Before she can answer, he moves on ahead to the bar, getting behind it. ] Have you made a decision yet?
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You mean, about after this? When we win, and get to pick where to return?
[ It's such a series of best-case scenarios. But, even so. ]
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Yes. Should we choose where we return to, what will you do?
[ Honestly, he isn’t sure that they’ll even have a choice, but he may as well hope for it. ]
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If that's how it turns out, then... I'm going with the two of you, to Wang Lu's world.
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He didn’t expect that, figuring she had too much back home to be able to leave it all. Naturally, Wei Wuxian would have understood and not held it against her.
But this? It’s better than he could have imagined, and so he leans over the bar and kisses her. ]
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You really are impulsive...
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Haha! But is that a bad thing?
[ Yes, but not in this particular context. ]
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[ ...In this context. She'll pull him in for one more kiss, though. ]
...You thought I was going to return home, didn't you?
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You have things to take care of. I wouldn’t have been surprised if you chose to return home.
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[ And all of that is probably still true. But Psyche touches the letter folded in her pocket with a smile. ]
She told me that if all I could picture from returning was the work to be done, and an ending... if this was where I could imagine a future that I wanted for myself, and a person I want to become, then the choice should be obvious.
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There’s no future there either. ]
Medea is wise, isn’t she? [ He smiles, opening up a bottle of vodka. ] I think we both had similar thoughts and fears, but we reached our conclusions through different methods.
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She's the same age as you. I wonder if that means I'll be that wise in three more years? I really hope it doesn't take a full eighteen. [ Adding in her years in the basement, that is. ] I'm glad, though. That you want to move forward, too.
[ She'd been more than half-afraid that he'd head back to accept whatever terrible situation was awaiting him there. Maybe she was projecting, that time. ]
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I feel a sense of clarity, if that makes sense.
[ It’s hard to explain what being out of his world has done. It’s a new perspective, possibly. ]
But I have no doubt in my mind that this decision will move the three of us forward. Perhaps it’s a selfish decision, but what else can we do when we’re faced with it?
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It's self-serving of me to say so, but... I think it's not so bad to be a little selfish. The people who love you and want you happy are depending on you to be able to do that when it counts.
[ She really hopes she doesn't have to let them down, too. But if nothing else, her mind is made up. ]
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I think you may be right about that. [ He smiles, just a little. ] I do hope you’re thinking the same thing for yourself as well.
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[ But the thought makes her laugh softly as she glances up at him again through her eyelashes. ]
I'll do my best if you will.
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