[If Flayn is being entirely honest, she isn't sure she ought to be accepting anyone's comfort. But... Wei Wuxian is one of the few people who knows her involvement in what happened, and if he's offering it anyway...
...is it okay to accept it?
Blinking rapidly to try to keep herself from crying again, she scoots over and hugs him tightly.]
[He sure does know what happened, and it's all the more reason to offer as much as he can, in his mind. He can only do so much, say so much, provide so much.
At the very least, he can hold her just as tight. Or as. Tight as he can manage with his injuries. He raises a hand, gently resting it against the back of her head in what he hopes is a somewhat soothing gesture.
Softly:] If you need to cry, you can cry here. Tonight was hard. It'll be difficult today, and tomorrow. No one here has an easy time of it, no matter where they are or what role they play. We've all been through too much. We all have the right to mourn.
[Not just the people they've lost, but the sacrifices they've made, the decisions they've been forced into - their lives, before these games, which they'll never fully be able to regain even if they return. It's not fair to anyone, but he knows the type of person Flayn is.]
[He'll feel her shoulders start to tremble as he speaks.
She doesn't want to cry, but. She's going to. Flayn knows she's going to, there's no escaping it, and soon enough the front of Wei Wuxian's clothing will be wet with her tears, because once she gets started?
Well, it's next to impossible to stop.]
I wanted— I was hoping so badly that we could, that we could find some way to end this, before we had to hurt him, but we could not, and...
[He just gently smooths her hair down, letting her cry and cling as much as she needs. Especially considering how many hours they'll all have to hold their collective shit together tomorrow...]
I know... I know. We were all hoping for the same. No one wanted to put him or you through that.
[And he knows she only offered the suggestion because they were between a rock and a hard place, and feels just as guilty for not being able to make a better counter-suggestion. All the same...]
Any pick we make will hurt now. I just wish - we'd been able to spare you this. You and him and everyone else who loved him. I know-- [A beat, before he continues.] ...I can't tell you to not feel guilty, or pretend this won't weigh on you. But I hope - I at least hope that it didn't go poorly.
[He knows Flayn can't tell him but HOO BOY the last time he tried reasoning with someone it. It went so poorly. Nothing will make any version of this scenario anything less than traumatic, but he does hope they avoided unnecessary trauma. Good lord.]
[Her voice trails off, and the word is punctuated by a sob. She is tired. She is so tired, but -
She's also uninjured, aside from the bruises from the island and the typewriter bruise under her bangs. Taako and Tonbokiri are both alive. Is there any way that it could have turned out better, aside from nobody having to die that night at all?]
I am sure I cannot say. [...] But I trusted that Dimitri would understand why last night happened the way that it did, and I do not... I do not believe that trust was misplaced.
[There's a little bit of a satisfied lilt to the hum that follows, even if it's punctuated by something empathetic and the brief tightening of his hold.
After a beat, softly:]
Makes it a little harder in some ways, hm?
[Sometimes it's easier, when there's a struggle or a fight. None of this ever feels good, but - well. He could understand why Veronica had wanted Evan to fight back. He breathes in, sighs out.]
--We'll bring them all back. This time- [Compared to how things were for him before, anyway.] -we won't leave anyone behind. It won't be easy even when things are over, but they are almost over.
[If he hadn't understood, maybe he would still be alive. But - if that was the case, then, maybe Taako or Tonbokiri would be dead. Flayn doesn't like how it happened, but she isn't sure she could live with either of them dying in his place, either.]
...yes. We are almost... we are almost through this. It is just a little further, now.
[Another "bad or worse" situation, like so many other things here. Nothing is easy. No decision is without painful consequences. It's the role they've been given, and while they may not have the room to ask for forgiveness among the rest - most of them wouldn't even want to ask for it - he can at least try to provide her with some comfort here, with someone else who knows what she's been through.]
Just a little further.
[He repeats it, low and soft.]
You don't need to thank me for anything, Flayn. We're friends, after all - I'll do whatever I can for you. [A beat, and then:] Wei Ying is fine.
[Can't wait for people to realize she's maf because she calls him Wei Ying publicly.]
Wei Ying...? Th— [Wait. He just told her not to thank him. Well - she does, at least, want to thank him for trusting her with his name. So.] ...thank you. For telling me.
And for being here. If it was not for you and the others, I...
[Honestly, if Magnus hadn't stepped into his role and she hadn't found out about the rest of the group, she probably would have deliberately let herself be caught at trial, or worse.]
His expression softens though because he is weak to friendship goobers. And also because he REALLY UNDERSTANDS THAT. The literal only thing keeping him from letting himself get caught was the idea that if he died, someone else would have to take his place and take on the burden of his role. He couldn't in good conscience do that, but if things had continued on as they were...]
Hah - I don't think any of us would be where we are right now if Taako hadn't led us to each other. [He DOESN'T WANNA THINK ABOUT IT!! He pats her back with his little bandaged mummy hands.] I'm glad things didn't come to that. Difficult a situation as it may be, I'm glad you're all alive and well.
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fishingforcompliments) wrote2020-06-07 04:18 pm
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[...eyes his leg.]
I can attempt to carry you...
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[JUST LIKE HE CRUSHED LILI...]
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[but like
not much.]
Perhaps we should just walk very carefully, then.
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Mm - maybe we can just go sit by those trees for the time being.
[Somewhere not too far away, because you can only hammertime so carefully.]
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Anyway, once they're seated:]
What was it that you wanted to discuss?
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But once they're situated, he'll just. Turn to face Flayn and hold his arms open, giving her a questioning look. He would like to give her a hug...]
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[If Flayn is being entirely honest, she isn't sure she ought to be accepting anyone's comfort. But... Wei Wuxian is one of the few people who knows her involvement in what happened, and if he's offering it anyway...
...is it okay to accept it?
Blinking rapidly to try to keep herself from crying again, she scoots over and hugs him tightly.]
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At the very least, he can hold her just as tight. Or as. Tight as he can manage with his injuries. He raises a hand, gently resting it against the back of her head in what he hopes is a somewhat soothing gesture.
Softly:] If you need to cry, you can cry here. Tonight was hard. It'll be difficult today, and tomorrow. No one here has an easy time of it, no matter where they are or what role they play. We've all been through too much. We all have the right to mourn.
[Not just the people they've lost, but the sacrifices they've made, the decisions they've been forced into - their lives, before these games, which they'll never fully be able to regain even if they return. It's not fair to anyone, but he knows the type of person Flayn is.]
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She doesn't want to cry, but. She's going to. Flayn knows she's going to, there's no escaping it, and soon enough the front of Wei Wuxian's clothing will be wet with her tears, because once she gets started?
Well, it's next to impossible to stop.]
I wanted— I was hoping so badly that we could, that we could find some way to end this, before we had to hurt him, but we could not, and...
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I know... I know. We were all hoping for the same. No one wanted to put him or you through that.
[And he knows she only offered the suggestion because they were between a rock and a hard place, and feels just as guilty for not being able to make a better counter-suggestion. All the same...]
Any pick we make will hurt now. I just wish - we'd been able to spare you this. You and him and everyone else who loved him. I know-- [A beat, before he continues.] ...I can't tell you to not feel guilty, or pretend this won't weigh on you. But I hope - I at least hope that it didn't go poorly.
[He knows Flayn can't tell him but HOO BOY the last time he tried reasoning with someone it. It went so poorly. Nothing will make any version of this scenario anything less than traumatic, but he does hope they avoided unnecessary trauma. Good lord.]
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[Her voice trails off, and the word is punctuated by a sob. She is tired. She is so tired, but -
She's also uninjured, aside from the bruises from the island and the typewriter bruise under her bangs. Taako and Tonbokiri are both alive. Is there any way that it could have turned out better, aside from nobody having to die that night at all?]
I am sure I cannot say. [...] But I trusted that Dimitri would understand why last night happened the way that it did, and I do not... I do not believe that trust was misplaced.
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After a beat, softly:]
Makes it a little harder in some ways, hm?
[Sometimes it's easier, when there's a struggle or a fight. None of this ever feels good, but - well. He could understand why Veronica had wanted Evan to fight back. He breathes in, sighs out.]
--We'll bring them all back. This time- [Compared to how things were for him before, anyway.] -we won't leave anyone behind. It won't be easy even when things are over, but they are almost over.
[They have to be, surely.]
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[If he hadn't understood, maybe he would still be alive. But - if that was the case, then, maybe Taako or Tonbokiri would be dead. Flayn doesn't like how it happened, but she isn't sure she could live with either of them dying in his place, either.]
...yes. We are almost... we are almost through this. It is just a little further, now.
[...]
...thank you, Wei Wuxian.
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Just a little further.
[He repeats it, low and soft.]
You don't need to thank me for anything, Flayn. We're friends, after all - I'll do whatever I can for you. [A beat, and then:] Wei Ying is fine.
[Thots and mafia get birthname rights.]
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Wei Ying...? Th— [Wait. He just told her not to thank him. Well - she does, at least, want to thank him for trusting her with his name. So.] ...thank you. For telling me.
And for being here. If it was not for you and the others, I...
[Honestly, if Magnus hadn't stepped into his role and she hadn't found out about the rest of the group, she probably would have deliberately let herself be caught at trial, or worse.]
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His expression softens though because he is weak to friendship goobers. And also because he REALLY UNDERSTANDS THAT. The literal only thing keeping him from letting himself get caught was the idea that if he died, someone else would have to take his place and take on the burden of his role. He couldn't in good conscience do that, but if things had continued on as they were...]
Hah - I don't think any of us would be where we are right now if Taako hadn't led us to each other. [He DOESN'T WANNA THINK ABOUT IT!! He pats her back with his little bandaged mummy hands.] I'm glad things didn't come to that. Difficult a situation as it may be, I'm glad you're all alive and well.
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I am glad that you are, too. Very glad.