video | orchestra one, immediately post platform

[jingyeets]

( Lan Jingyi, appearing briefly on ICP, soaked from head to toe, actively dripping water with his hair and ribbon plastered down either side of his face, his, er, nightgown likewise... plastered... against him... and it's white, this is a wet shirt contest and no one told anyone who showed up on platform, they all just suffered together. )

Look, if anyone's trying to find me and is confused why I'm not in my tiny short bed cabin, I'm staying in the "inn" carriage the next week.

( that's it, that's him wanting to inform the ones who'd probably want to know but being in a less than happy mood to track everyone down so doing it in the most broadreaching, effective way the train's got going for it. )

Comments

video; from the garden

[lanxichen]

[ Xichen frowns slightly to himself before choosing the reply option. ]

Would you like company?

[ 'What is wrong' seems ... not right to ask, as if Jingyi were willing to share that part, he'd have done so. ]

[jingyeets]

( asking this dripping guy if he wants company, and he pauses; )

Zewu-jun. ( the brief bow, his hands up, his respects paid, but not Pointedly. ) I would appreciate company... I can make tea?

( perhaps when dripping less. perhaps right now?! )

[agoodsoul]

... your room get moved around too?

[Is what he just assumes. Dragon boy miffed about his room being moved decides to take a mini vacation from the cabins all around.]

[jingyeets]

No, we're still where we were, where'd you get moved to?

( It's fine, he's just taking a Space Vacation after one of his best friends shipped out and some jackass was in his memories and he's DOING FINE he just also can for once get some space to work on it without bristling up. )

[agoodsoul]

[That's all entirely fair. Some space to heal is what we need sometimes.]

Third sleeper car. Upper cabin E. Seems kinda weird that they just got rid of the whole sleeper car when we might need it again anyway.

[jingyeets]

Huh. I'll bring something by.

( welcome to your new cabin, as a gift. said so without thought that it's more reflex on politeness and less anything he's done here before, aside from when sizhui, likely when sizhui had moved from where he shared with a-qing elsewhere. )

The whole train's weird, I may be using the inn thing or whatever but it has an inn. Then it asks us what we want, sometimes, but most the time doesn't, and just does whatever it wants, because it thinks, who knows? This is what it can do so why not.

[deferences]

Jingyi, you... [‘you're all wet,’ is what he wants to say; much like he'd pointed out the obvious before during their spider fight, it's something he wants to do now in the face of distress and sadness, yet he changes his mind instead.

they don't need it blatantly said, not when this platform day has been hard enough on all of them (again).

finally, following a slow, measured sigh,] Whenever you're free again, I'd like to come and visit you.

[jingyeets]

I'm always free as far as time goes, we're not on schedules...

( This is said as more of a sigh, while he's still dripping wet and blinking bothersomely at the ICP screen. )

I'm showering, then I'll be ( here's a flop of a hand gesture ) visitable, it's not like I'm going anywhere really.

( just to a LARGER BED. and the only personal space of a kind they frankly never have, so it would be novel, were he in a more novel mood. )

[deferences]

No, we aren't, but I— [sizhui stops, reconsidering, taking another quick breath then shaking his head. nevermind what he said, it doesn't matter now, not when jingyi has already stated that he isn't busy.

he nods.] Mm, that sounds like a good idea. [after all the cold rain and all.]

And you better not go anywhere, [comes the halfway playful threat. (seriously though, if jingyi ends up leaving, there just might be a riot following shortly thereafter—)

in jingyi's defense, however, it makes sense to want a little more room and privacy; sizhui sure misses his and a-qing's double room.]

[jingyeets]

( Jingyi pauses, a hold on all movement that has him stilling, head cocked just a touch to the side. )

I wouldn't try.

( Is all he can say. He wouldn't try to leave, he wouldn't ask to leave, and leave behind his friends first. Sizhui of all, no matter the inconsistencies between their two lives, the two people they expect each other to be, and who they're close to, imperfect matches as they might be. Jingyi is many things, but that particular kind of selfish, no. )

I would never try to leave you behind.

( Framed as the way it has to be: he would not, but cannot promise, things he's told Inigo before, things he feels Sizhui inherently understands. Even as their fellow friend, as Wen Sizhui left this platform, none of it is choice; none of them have been so unwise to make promises, I won't go.

Still, saying that he wouldn't try, that he wouldn't want to, has to mean something too. That acknowledging certain inevitabilities beyond their control doesn't mean, in turn, that he embraces them. )

[flatteries]

[ Look how strong he's being, Jingyi. Exactly because Inigo knows why the other is having trouble right now - the problem hits too close to home for him to not know, obviously - he's doing his best to ignore the whole 'wet shirt competition' going on here. He's being strong. He's not even blushing. It's fine as long as he just looks at Jingyi's eyes on the screen. I-It's cool. Fine. Great. ]

Uh, is this.. a 'leave me alone' kind of announcement, or a 'you can join me for a bit if you bring good food' kind of announcement? [ Do you need company, pal? Bro?

Did you really think clingy puppy Inigo would not offer some, in case you'd need it. ]

[jingyeets]

( Sorry, give him a moment to just blink at the screen, then wrinkle his brow. )

I was telling people so they wouldn't worry.

( In other words, he doesn't see how it leads to either of Inigo's scenarios, though he supposes he can reflect on Inigo's need to hear what it means to go "I am not in my room I am spending lots of points to Not Be In My Room and Instead Be In This Other Room". )

It's not telling anyone to go away, I'd say leave me alone if I wanted to be alone. Guess it has to be your other one.

( "one" as in scenario, though he's still standing dripping water and making a nice puddle at whatever ICP he'd reached once back on train. )

[flatteries]

[ PLEASE, JINGYI, DON'T GIVE HIM THAT LOOK?

Seriously, Inigo feels like he's withering under it, even though he was just asking to be considerate.. but now he feels like he's being made out to be dumb for asking. It's even worse when it's over the ICPs, and Inigo hates communicating so publically in the first place..

Can't he just lock himself in the bathroom and cry for a little bit or something. That's clearly the only way to deal with social interaction. ]

I was making sure. [ He slowly says, awkwardly glancing away from the screen, as if he can't Directly Engage. At least he's keeping his tone low and non-confrontational, because he doesn't want to make things harder for Jingyi. ] But if you don't mind, then I'll be stopping by.

[longforgottenpromise]

Shuǐlóng

[His voice is quiet, worried.]

Please let me know if you need anything.

[jingyeets]

A bath. Shower. Something, Xiao Ki.

( the literal something of a present need is easier than things like "i don't know" or "probably food at some point" or having to use critical thought at all. It's not even just having Wen Sizhui head off platform, or Elidibus playing around in his head for his own righteous purpose, or being abducted from his own abduction to answer questions and feel like none of them had guarantees about their systems or the seriousness of the Void Ministry or their non-communicative ship or any specifics. It was the collection of it all.

Anyway, it's why his answer is less than helpful. )

[longforgottenpromise]

I understand. [He does, as much as he can. Some time alone would help with thoughts, but too much time alone would not been good for him in the long run.

It is never good to be alone too much when your heart is hurting.]

I will bring some food for you later if you wish, after your shower.

[fivemilesdeep]

[Well, if Ryo hadn't been aware that Jingyi is on his "everyone is attractive and nothing is fair" list before, he sure is now. While he can get past it well enough to recognize Jingyi probably isn't too happy right now (on account of being soaked and Done enough to broadcast his business to the entire train) and he should at least try to help, there's still color in his cheeks when he replies.]

Thanks for letting us know. Do you need anything?

[jingyeets]

( If only we all had wet t-shirt contests every day, what eye candy it would be, wouldn't it?

Jingyi blinks, slow, more reptilian for a moment, lifting his hands after, showing they were empty. )

A shower?

( What answer to that, in the end? He does need a shower, it's the obvious answer, and he blinks through to the equally obvious and useless followup: )

Dry clothes. That's coming, just ( a gesture of his hand ) telling people first.

[fivemilesdeep]

[He'd have a much tougher time functioning day-to-day, that's for sure.]

[He recognizes the slow blink, and the slow answer - Jingyi probably needs to take care of a couple of things before he can really think again, doesn't he.]

Okay. Let me know when you're cleaned up and I'll bring you something to drink, if you'd like.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin is also wet from head to toe. But he's collecting clothes to change into, and he has a towel to dry his hair off afterwards. ]

Jeez, Lan Jingyi, you must have gotten saturated out on the platform! I've never known it to rain that hard out there. The train ought to give us rain gear for days like this. And I do recommend a hot shower and a change of clothing.

[jingyeets]

( Clothes, right, those are in the rucksack he's packed and sits offscreen, against the wall in the hire carriage hall, and he breathes out in something like a sigh, something like a frown on his lips. )

The rain felt nice. Being wet and not in the rain feels less nice. I hate being soaked, ( he says, like it's an explanation of sorts, and it might be ) and it's not like the train bothers with weather updates before shoving us on platform.

[so_dark_a_road]

I agree with you, the rain felt good. I've always liked rain and snow, not that there was any snow. Though I'm sure it's only a matter of time until we come to a platform that is buried in three feet of snow and ice. [ Curufin laughs a little over that idea. ] It would remind me of my home.

Weather updates! That's a good idea. The train really should give us those. Maybe I'll go to the network feedback post and suggest it?

[achickenformylove]

It is good to have space sometimes. If you need some company, do not hesitate to let me know.

[jingyeets]

Yes, Hanguang-jun.

( A small pause, and: )

May I make us tea? ... For after I bathe.

( Because it is not going to be great tea if he shows up like this. )

[achickenformylove]

That would be nice. Thank you.

[Yes, after getting cleaned up but since Jingyi has already acknowledged it, no reason to repeat it]

Let me know when you are ready to meet and I will be there.