diabolizes | pcs with psyche

[ Well... It'll be filed under "neutral," for now. But she gives the suggestion a happy nod. ]

I'd like that. It'll be nice to have company. We can make a picnic of it!

[ You know, for relative values of picnic. ]

Then let's head down to the beach.

[ He'll lead the way, turning to look at Psyche as they start to walk. ]

How are you holding up?

[ No point in delaying the reason why he came to check in on her. ]

So you were worried about me after all.

[ There's a mock-chiding note in her voice, but she shoots him a sidelong smile. ]

To be honest, it was... a little disappointing that even the people who brought us here don't know how to send us back. But it's only been a few days. I'm sure we'll come up with something.

[ And then there's the murder thing, but, ]

Of course I was.

[ That little chiding note in her voice just gets him to smile wide at her, before his own expression shifts into something more serious. ]

I would hope so. We have people with a wide range of abilities with us, so we could come up with something.

[ Unless, you know, someone dies first. And considering this group... it's very much possible. ]

[ Pft, a troublemaker... she stifles a tiny giggle at that, brief as it is. ]

There really are so many, aren't there? It was something of a shock. In a good way, I think. [ although on the flipside... ] ...I wonder if anyone is really considering doing what they said.

[ She's right on the money with that one!

He lets out a soft sigh, a small shrug accompanying it. ]

It's hard to say, though it seems like quite a few of us are used to death. I wouldn't be surprised if someone killed eventually for the hell of it.

[ While Wei Wuxian isn't trying to scare her, he isn't going to withhold his true thoughts either. ]

[ That gets him a startled glance, and a paradoxical flicker of a smile. ]

I thought you might try to lie to reassure me. I'm glad you didn't.

[ Considering people have already been making bets on the network about deaths, it would have been a stretch... but that doesn't always stop people. ]

It would be an injustice to you, wouldn’t it?

[ And he isn’t about to make a promise he can’t keep either. ]

Personally, I don’t like being told what to do, but I can’t say the same for other people here. I’d imagine most of us don’t, but someone might develop a grudge and stop caring about anything else… it’s hard to say.

[ Given the people that they have here… he wouldn’t be surprised if a few people developed grudges. ]

I think so, too. Even when someone means well... I don't think it's possible to respect someone you aren't honest with.

[ So she's a little glad, even if their topic is murder. But his observation gets another nod of agreement from her. ]

Especially now that they've put the idea to everyone. Someone might just get scared, or want to find a way back more quickly, or be willing to try because we're a group of strangers. I don't want to think badly of anyone. But it's more realistic to think they've got their own circumstances too, isn't it?

I think so. We can't know what might be going through someone's head, after all. What if they have a sick family member they need to tend to right away?

[ Wei Wuxian wouldn't necessarily blame them for doing whatever they could to escape. ]

Exactly. I couldn't blame someone for being a little frantic then...

[ The example makes her look over with a little frown of concern. ]

Are you worried about your family— [ there's a longer pause, but it's probably a little soon to drop the title just yet. Especially when he's so polite. ] — Sir Wei?

[ That pause makes him smile a bit. ]

Just Wei Wuxian is fine.

[ He can go over the names from his world if she's curious, is what his tone seems to say. ]

I'll always worry about my family, but there are people I'm especially worried about.

It's a very different style from names in Vasilios.

[ She does want to ask... But getting to what's worrying him is more important. She sizes up the beach and picks a spot to flop herself down a little indecorously, looking up as she waits for him to join her. ]

Who are you thinking of?

[ He plops down on the sand right beside her, laying the bag more gently onto it than he himself. Wei Wuxian scoots the bag closer to Psyche. There are muffins inside, along with a few other pastries like cheese danishes. He's not really familiar with these particular pastries, so he grabbed whatever smelled good. ]

I have a group of people I'm looking after right now. There are about fifty of them, mostly the elderly and ill. Without my presence, I'm worried about what might befall them.

[ She leans over to pick up a muffin, just holding it in her hands for the moment. If she eats, then he probably will too. It's too serious a situation to think sugar will make it better, but... well, it's something. ]

So you have people you're responsible for... there's no one else who can step in for you when you're not there?

Well, there is someone, but she lacks the power that I have to keep people out.

[ It isn't a matter of trust so much as it is that he's the only necromancer among them.

Seeing that Psyche has a muffin prompts Wei Wuxian to dig into the bag and pull out a cheese danish, contemplating it for a moment before taking a bite.

Not bad. ]

Do you think she'll need to?

[ She'd ask why someone might want to cause trouble for the sickly and the elderly, but... it wouldn't exactly be new to her either.

She picks a little at the muffin, her expression easing just a little. Sugar doesn't fix everything, but it doesn't hurt, that's for certain. ]

I believe so.

[ He has another bite of his pastry, taking note of the way Psyche seems to be a bit more relaxed. Next time he bothers her, he'll bring sugar then too. ]

The people I took under my wing... they were part of a larger group that started a war, so the winners of that war now want them dead despite it being obvious that none of these people have committed any wrongs.

It's difficult, after a war. When everyone's lost loved ones, they must want someone to blame. But that's no excuse for going after helpless people.

[ Oops, that piece of muffin is getting a little squished between her fingers in agitation... She glances down at it morosely before popping it in her mouth anyway. So much for comportment. ]

What made you take them in? Are they countrymen of yours?

[ Ah, so she must be familiar with the fallout of war... He can't help but wonder before he's distracted with more questions. ]

They are not, but two of the members of the group helped me when my former Sect was attacked. I owe everything to them, so... I'm repaying my debt.

[ He's also gotten attached to the others, but that's neither here nor there. ]

[ That would in fact be here and there. But Psyche doesn't know, so she smiles for the answer he actually offers. ]

They sound like good people. [ And so does he, because that's a very honorable reason to help. ] I wish I could say something more reassuring... but if we put our heads together, I hope we can find a way to get you back to them soon.

[ ...Which feels like slightly empty words, with the powers she actually has on hand. ]

[ He smiles before shoving the rest of the pastry in his hand into his mouth. Thankfully, he waits until he's swallowed before speaking. ]

I appreciate it. Don't feel like you need to be reassuring, though, especially if you don't feel it in your heart.

[ He'd rather she be honest over anything else. ]

Are there people you need to go back to?

I just don't want to give empty words.

[ But he kept his promise and told her something he was worrying about, so... she'll figure out something. She takes a very determined bite of the muffin. ]

Hm... I've been thinking hard about it, but I think my parents might actually be safer with me here. There's a friend I'm worried about... but if she heard me say that, I know she'd call me foolish.

[ As someone who doesn’t care for empty words, he’s grateful that she won’t give them.

Reaching into his bag for another pastry, he pauses at the mention of her parents. Is something going on there…? ]

And why would she call you foolish?

[ Oh, it's not hard at all for Psyche to channel her inner Medea. She draws herself up a little taller and more proper... ]

"You were kidnapped into another world, and you had your head in the clouds about what was going on here? Just how careless can you be? Keep your eyes on what's in front of you. I know what I'm doing."

[ And she lets the tension out of her shoulders again and laughs a little. ]

She always acts strong like that.

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