Dealing with heartbreak, poorly

[alongfallfromgrace]

Wei Ying knows, knows, that he has no right to be upset. It wasn't even remotely Lan Zhan's fault that Wei Ying's heart is the trampled mess that it is. He should have dealt with this crush a long time ago, but he figured there was no harm in it, that he was allowed to look all he wanted. It was safe - Lan Zhan would one day find some woman worthy of him, and Wei Ying just hoped that one day their kids would be told stories about a silly young man from Yunmeng who tried to sneak wine into the Cloud Recesses.

But it turns out Lan Zhan isn't looking for a young woman.

And the ache of being so close to what he could have if the world was different is like a knife through his heart.

So once Wei Ying got over the initial shock of it, he gathered himself up, and heads down the stairs.

And stops.

He really doesn't want to go back to the Burial Mounds tonight, to poor food and minimal comfort and people who are grateful, and friendly, but are always just a tiny bit wary of the man who had become something of a monster the Wens feared during the war. He doesn't want to go back to the whispering shadows which will simply have a field day over this. He doesn't want to face Wen Qing's knowing eyes.

So he doesn't.

He turns right back around, collects two jars of wine (Yunmeng's, not Emperor's Smile, that's... too much, too soon), and parks himself as close to the fireplace as he can manage without being actually in it. He's going to be warm, and he's going to be drunk, and that will be... better.

Right?

Comments

[zenigatcha]

One jug of wine later, Zenigata comes downstairs with his coat slung over his arm. Sometimes the Milliways time versus regular time -- it will be a much different hour when he gets back, he knows. But for now, it's fine.

Wei Wuxian? He's not fine.

"Bit early, isn't it?" he asks when he reaches down to the empty jar, tilts it and taps out the scant few drops into his own mouth. "You're already on your second."

[alongfallfromgrace]

"Just living up to Yunmeng Jiang's motto - attempt the impossible." Wei Ying declares, but there's a bitterness to his words that turns down the corners of his mouth. He can't really claim Yunmeng Jaing as his own any more, can he?

He just has a never-ending pile of horrible ideas, it seems.

[zenigatcha]

"Mm, sounds like you're attempting the very possible, what with trying to get shitfaced before it's even five," Zenigata says, before he drops into a seat across from him. "Why don't you spill a little, before you drink more wine. If you don't let your troubles out, the wine won't have any room to rest in you!"

Spoken like one alcoholic with terrible coping methods to another.

[alongfallfromgrace]

Wei Ying drinks, and considers. He could just go mute, keep his own council and drink until he blacks out. He doesn't go that route often, it hurts, but he's not sure it will hurt more than talking in this case.

But Wei Ying has always been a talker, and can't find it in himself to be silent.

"Just my idiot heart developing dreams without my permission." He grumbles instead, staring into the jar as if it held all the answers. "Stupid useless thing."

[zenigatcha]

"They are," he says. "They tell you to do crazy things."

Fall in love, marry, have children, get lonely, have affairs, grieve the marriage you ruined, realize you're a little to much in love with your work, and your work is another man.

"Sometimes they're good things, though. Without dreams we wither and die," Zenigata says, not looking for any more drink right now. Wei Wuxian is well on his way to being shitfaced for both of them, and it sounds like he needs a sober ear, not a sauced one.

[alongfallfromgrace]

Wei Ying laughs at that, but it's not his usual bright, cheerful laugh. It's as if his options came down to 'laugh or cry', and 'laugh' only won on a technicality. It's a choking, ragged thing, and he washes it back with more wine.

"Good to know." He figured that was the way this was going anyway, but hey! Confirmation!

Or something.

[zenigatcha]

"You know what you need?" Zenigata says, leaning back in his seat. "Change of pace. Some place to get away. And there's a door to plenty of worlds, right there. Mine's -- not going to be anything like yours, but you know, if you want a visit -- it works the same as any other, yes? I've been told it's common. I'll happily take you to my home, act as translator. As I understand it, you speak Chinese..."

Maybe Bar has something for that, too. He could ask. They have universal translators in books and shows, maybe Bar can make one!

[alongfallfromgrace]

"You... would do that?" He's not saying no. The other dream, of the open road, of freedom, was also shown to him today, and seemed equally out of reach. But travelling to a new world...

"Would time pass, at the Burial Mounds?" He asks, because above any personal disaster, this is his purpose - to keep the beleaguered survivors of the Wen clan alive and whole for as long as he can.

[zenigatcha]

"As I understand, no. Time will pass for you in the world, yes, but-- there, no," Zenigata says, scratching his neck. "My main concern is language, and you being overwhelmed."

Because his world is big and noisy and bright.

"We'd need to get you some clothes that work, too," Zenigata says thoughtfully.

[alongfallfromgrace]

"I am not wandering around half-naked." He declares, because he's seen what Zenigata considers as decent wear for normal activities, and while he's not going to kick up a fuss about it for other people, that's... just not going to fly.

[zenigatcha]

"No, no! But -- you'll see people that dress like that," Zenigata laughs. There's a lot to be said about the cultural shock. "I only wear that to exercise. But you might see folks in shorts and things. I'll keep to long pants and t-shirts for you."

"Come, let's ask Bar for a few things -- a weekend bag, we'd call it -- and maybe something for language issues," Zenigata says, getting up from his chair. He beckons Wei Ying to follow.

[alongfallfromgrace]

Wei Ying hesitates, thrown by this sudden upending of his (horrible) plans. But while Lan Zhan might despise him, the music he played still did its job. He remembers the joy of the open road, of adventures, and... well. What bigger adventure than a whole new world?

So he rises, loose-limbed from the wine already in him, and follows.

"This will not cause problems for you?"

[zenigatcha]

"Nah, currently I've been fired from my job," which probably reads as 'dishonorably released from my station' or something for Wei Ying, "and will be freewheeling until they realize they've screwed up again and bring me back."

He asks first for paper and pen, and then makes some notes. A generael list of requirements, thinks they're going to need. Then he passes it to bar. Then he writes another item, and asks bar to take care of it. It's just a note for for Wen Ning and Lan Zhan (or who he terms as Wei Wuxian's pretty friend.)


Once bar produces a gig bag for Wei Ying and what looks like a fashionable necklace.

"That's your translator, you'll hear and translate to whoever's listening in the local language of French," Zenigata says with a smile. "But stick with me, okay? There's... going to be a lot to take in."

[alongfallfromgrace]

"I will stay close as a shadow." Wei Ying promises, giving a solemn three-fingered salute. He takes the necklace, loops it around his neck, and shoulders the bag.

"Should I change here?" He asks, though he cannot see a good place to change, other than maybe getting a room upstairs again.

[zenigatcha]

"No, I came in from from my apartment, so we'll go right back there," Zenigata replied as he headed to the door. "If you want to leave any messages for your friends, you might do so now though! Time won't stop here, after all."

[alongfallfromgrace]

He pauses, staring at the Bar for a long moment.

She provides a piece of paper when he reaches out, and the ink and quill he is most used to.

Wen Ning, Wen Qing -

Gone to see Wa.

I'll be back soon.

Wei Wuxian

He then proceeds to draw a cute cat face under his name. Wen Ning might get a kick out of it, and Wen Qing can roll her eyes about it to her heart's content (he knows she likes it).

[zenigatcha]

Zenigata opens the door to a short hallway, dimly lit with a floor nightlight.

"Come to Lyon, France, then!" he says with a big grin, and waits for Wei Ying to follow him onward.