Video; Fiddlesticks 25

[achickenformylove]

[For anyone that would know based just on the background, WangJi is in the garden car. It is quiet at the moment and he's clearly sitting on the ground, based on the position of flowers behind him. Also, a white rabbit keeps poking its head into the field of view, trying to get WangJi to pay attention.

WangJi's face is carefully impassive, but there is a subtle sadness in his eyes]

For those that knew them, it would seem that Wei WuXian and Lan Sizhui are no longer on the train.

[Sorry, Yanli and HuaiSang. He's noticed, but those two are his priorities]

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[radishlobbyist]

[ Wen Qing doesn't respond to the video, she just goes to check the roster, unwilling to believe it - discovering in the process that two more familiar names who she hadn't even known were on the train are in gold as well - and then goes to the garden car.

She approaches him slowly, not sure if he will welcome the company at all. Her face is solemn, shoulders slumped. ]

The train won't be the same without them.

[achickenformylove]

[WangJi knelt in the car. He has his guqin next to him, but currently, he isn't playing it. There is a rabbit in his lap, trying to get him to pay more attention to him... or snuggle him because Daddy was sad if one believed animals could tell that sort of thing. Needless to say, he is petting the rabbit.

He doesn't look up, but he doesn't shy away as she comes over]

No, it will not be the same.

[radishlobbyist]

[ She doesn't quite know what to do with herself, she's never been terribly good at offering comfort to anyone other than her brother but...

Wen Qing sits down in crouch of him and slowly reaches for the bunny. ] May I? [ she asks quietly. They can just sit here in silence and feel sad together while they are sharing an emotional support bunny, maybe. That's how you do this, right? ]

[achickenformylove]

[WangJi glanced over as she reaches towards the rabbit] You may. [They both had reasons to be sad. Bunny was good for that.

He directs Little Rabbit on his lap so he's a little closer to her. The rabbit didn't mind. Dad was paying attention to him]

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[spikelet]

[ a few minutes later, a-Qing skids into the garden car.

She's! She's so mad at... she's not sure who she's mad at! Not Lan Wangji, though. Or his rabbit. ]

They're-- Just like that?!

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[achickenformylove]

[WangJi glances up as she comes running in before looking down at the rabbit trying to snuggle in an attempt to get him to feel better]

It seems so. Wei WuXian was not in his bunk this morning and he is rarely up before me. Sizhui is similiarly marked on the roster and I have not seen him.

[spikelet]

[ They're not dead, though, that's important, and... Ugh!! No, she's not feeling any better.

She sits next to him in a tangle of gangly limbs. He must be feeling terrible, and he's vulnerable like this. The least she can do is keep him company, and make sure he's not alone. ]

That's not fair! He's your-- can we talk to someone? Get them back?

[achickenformylove]

[The rabbit looked up at her, wiggling his nose before resting his head on WangJi's hand. For his part, WangJi really did appreciate the company, that he was not just sitting here alone with a rabbit]

There is no one in charge to talk to.

[laurefindil]

Glorfindel shows up in the car moments later, not out of breath despite having been several cars away. His warm glow brightens the room just slightly, as he quietly approaches the man he calls his brother.

He sits down next to Lan Wangji, but doesn't say anything immediately. He is there to support him, however the other needs.

[achickenformylove]

WangJi sat quietly in the car, the rabbit on his lap, sitting up like he was trying to get WangJi's attention. WangJi was petting him, but only absently. His guqin sat beside him as though he had brought it with him for a reason, but now had no interest in it.

For a long few moments, he didn't acknowledge Glorfindel's arrival as he sat down next to them. Finally, he spoke.

"I miss them."

[laurefindil]

Glorfindel nodded. "I know you must," he said quietly. "Would you like to talk about it?"

He was very glad that Lan Wanji had the rabbit. He could see that Little Rabbit knew something was wrong.

[achickenformylove]

WangJi was glad that he had the rabbit too. His rabbits back home had been great company after he had lost WuXian the first time. Like home, the rabbit was a reminder of him, but he found comfort in that.

"It is difficult. I have not been so definitely without Sizhui."

Yes, he had been on night hunts without WangJi, but that was just them being in different locations and a part of growing up. This was literal worlds apart for who knew how long.

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[kabe]

( there's a soft pain that graces yuna's face as she watches the stranger talk about people important to him leaving. she isn't sure if she should even comment on it, but having experience with death and loss for almost all her life, she knows it can be difficult. )

I'm sorry, hopefully they're going home to something better than this train. I hate to ask but....was there any indication they'd be going home soon?

[achickenformylove]

[WangJi really did appreciate that she had said something. This was hard for him. He's lost WuXian too many times and it never got easier. But this was the first with his son and it was just as hard]

I also hope that they are as well and at least they are together. I did not see any indication of them leaving.

[kabe]

I see, I hope so too. It can be really hard to loose people you care about, and even if they're just going away, it can be difficult.

( she smiles just a bit, but it comes across as strained more than anything. )

Can I ask, how long had they been here?

[achickenformylove]

It is difficult because I have lost WuXian before. I have never been so completely without my son.

[Yes, Sizhui had gone on night hunts without him, but there was something different about not seeing him and not being able to see him]

Several months at least. They were here before I was.

[marriedanidiot]

Oh, oh no. Oh my dear... is there anything I can do to help?

[ no, oh no, so soon after they were talking of how happy they were, oh no... ]

[achickenformylove]

I suppose... some company would be nice.

[It was very ironic thinking back on it]

[marriedanidiot]

In the garden? [ She offers ] I will bring my son's harp. I am not the harpist he is, but ... I can at least offer some comfort that way.

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[stealsyourheart]

Ah man... I'm sorry, WangJi-san... Wei-san was awesome.

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[achickenformylove]

Thank you. It was not something that was expected.

[Little Rabbit pokes his head up into the video]

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[stealsyourheart]

I bet.

[ He winces. Aoi coos at the fluff ]

Need anything?

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[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin was in fact heading for the Garden Carriage, which is his favorite place to be when not engaged in projects, chores, or tasks related to the Council or Team Orange. But he stops along the way to check the nearest ICP for messages, and he's just in time to catch Lan WangJi's short, sad video.

He hurries to the Garden Coach, comes in quietly, and sees WanJi sitting in front of one of the corner flower boxes, with the little white rabbit. He comes nearer and sits down beside him. ]

Lan WanJi, I'm so sorry. And just ten weeks after the wedding! You, your husband, and your son -- what an amazing family you were. I hope that wherever they are, they are well and safe."

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[achickenformylove]

[WangJi glanced up for a moment as he came in before looking back at Little Rabbit trying to get his attention. Either the rabbit was bored or trying to make him feel better in the only way it knew how. WangJi reached to pet the rabbit]

Thank you. I hope that they are well... and together.

[It was the best he could hope for. And then quieter]

I miss them.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin smiled down at the rabbit. It was an extremely cute bunny, and it seemed seemed to care about Lan WanJi and visa versa. ]

Maybe. . . they were taken back to your world? Will they be able to stay with each other if that's the case?

[ Curufin pauses. He knows what it is like to lose a partner and a son. ]

You loved them well. Wherever they are, they must miss you, too.