It only rains when you're gone

[wu_xi]

⌛ Who: Wu Xi, ota
⌛ What: sadness
⌛ When: Early November
⌛ Where: His home, nearby area
⌛ Warnings: N/A



OTA

When the realization that Beiyuan is gone settles on Wu Xi like a crushing boulder he has no desire to leave his home. He stays with his creatures who all seem to try and comfort him but to little avail. Only the small snake and Sable remain persistent -- although Sable is often sent out to check on Zishu and a few others that Wu Xi particularly cares about and would want to protect and make sure they are alright in his absence.

On a few occasions, he does leave. He goes to a few vendors to select food and looks tired. Sable always makes it so he has to stop at a sweets vendor to pick up honeyed treats for her. He doesn't seem particularly social or focused on what he's doing.

Established CR

His closest friends here would have also realized that Beiyuan is gone. That Wu Xi is still there. That he's not leaving his home much at all or answering messages. He has ignored the door a few times most likely those first few days.

Comments

[fated_dance]

The Sable has been acting oddly lately. As if something is wrong, just when things should be well. So of course Zishu tried contacting first Wu Xi, then Beiyuan.

Nothing.

No answer.

Eventually, with the Sable perched on his shoulder, clearly encouraging where he's going, he heads for his friends' home. When the door doesn't open to his knocking, he calls through it, voice ringing with thinly veiled promise.

"Wu Xi. Open this door before I destroy it."

[wu_xi]

Wu Xi sighs from where he is sitting on the edge of the bed. He looks put together aside from the tell-tale signs that he's not sleeping. He's not him that opens the door but one of his creatures doing it for him. He doesn't get up to greet Zishu.

It had been difficult to arrive here without Beiyuan by his side but that had been nothing to the grief of losing him when he had been right there beside him. His guards had made themselves scarce only making sure that necessities had been taken care of -- not letting Wu Xi lapse in caring for himself.

There's no signs of disarray or excessive drinking or anything of the sort. Just a heaviness that weighed over the home and all of its inhabitants.

[fated_dance]

Just stepping inside tells him the horrible truth. He notices the lack of guards, true. But there was no chance Beiyuan would just leave his husband in this state willingly.

Yet Wu Xi is handling the lack far better than he would, if Kexing were to vanish.

Sable scampers down and climbs up Wu Xi's leg to grumble at him.

"Come on. We're going for a walk." If he has to pick his friend up and drag him off himself, he'll do it.

[wu_xi]

"Why?" Wu Xi asks, his hand reaching out to touch the top of Sable's head soothingly. He knows his mood is affecting her as is the fact she herself must be missing Beiyuan too. He looks over at Zishu.

"I'm fine. Just tired."

[fated_dance]

She burrows into Wu Xi's robes, still huffing as she makes herself at home again.

"Because it has been a few days and I doubt you have done much at all. I'll help you sleep when we come back."

Fortunately he has some Drunk Like A Dream incense on him today.

[wu_xi]

"I went to get some supplies a few days ago," Wu Xi tries to reason, the last thing he wants to do is leave. This is the last place he saw him. He doesn't want to leave it. He knows this is weakness and he's never really been allowed weakness. He shouldn't allow it now either. This place isn't a paradise after all, bad things could happen.

Yes, he's going to make this difficult Zishu.

[fated_dance]

"This isn't about supplies," he brushes the pitiful excuse away, but does claim a seat beside his friend.

"How long?" Has Beiyuan been gone.

[wu_xi]

Wu Xi doesn't answer right away, staring at the wall in front of him, his hands resting on his knees.

"About a week," he finally says. Somehow acknowledging it makes the way his chest is tight -- tighten more and he exhales shakily.

[fated_dance]

A week. That makes his chest hurt and he drops his gaze, even without hearing that shaky breath he hates this.

It would be wrong to demand someone he cares about to do what he's not willing to himself. Live without their soulmate.

"He is not dead," he states firmly instead. "You will see him again."

[wu_xi]

"I know."

He knows but it doesn't feel very different from death. Beiyuan is out of reach, out of sight.

"I will handle myself better soon," he tries to assure Zishu.

[fated_dance]

Zishu nods slightly, then quirks a brow at his friend.

"I'm here. As long as I can be." They've learned nothing is permanent or for certain here.

[wu_xi]

Wu Xi nods. "Same," he says quietly.

"Should we drink?"

[fated_dance]

"If you wish to. I would rather you sleep."

He pulls out a few bottles of wine anyway though, and hands one to his friend.

[wu_xi]

"He would drink," Wu Xi says with a hint of a smile. "And then he would sleep a lot."

He accepts the bottle.

[fated_dance]

That draws a chuckle from him and he nods. "He would." Clicking his bottle against Wu Xi's, he opens it and takes a long drink.

[wu_xi]

Wu Xi takes a moment longer than Zishu to open the bottle but he does and then he drinks. A long drink and then another before he lowers it and glances at his friend.

"I feel lost without him."

[fated_dance]

Anyone else, he'd make them move to the Four Seasons Manor where he won't be alone. But this...he doesn't bother. Wu Xi already knows he has a room there.

But this home is where he and Beiyuan were together. Zishu won't try to take that from him. Instead, he shifts closer without a word, offering a literal shoulder to lean on if his friend wants it.

[wu_xi]

Wu Xi has too many creatures to move to the Four Seasons Manor. He wouldn't want to be away from them and live somewhere else while they remained here. He does know he is always welcome. He appreciates Zishu's friendship. But here... this is the last place he saw Beiyuan, this is where his creatures are. He can't leave it.

There's a ghost of a smile when the other moves closer silently and he leans onto him, his head resting on Zishu as he drinks at a relatively slow pace.

"Now you will get nagged even more," he says trying to lighten his own mood.

[fated_dance]

Zishu doesn't mind the various creatures his friend has. They protect him, and keep him company. Though he'd admit the Sable is his favorite of them all and he does keep honeyed treats with him for her.

The fact Wu Xi lets himself lean on him makes him feel a touch of relief and he tilts his head to rest it against his friend's.

"Aah?" He pitches as if insulted. "And what about, now that I'm fully healed and my strength returns?"

[wu_xi]

Sable is most everyone's favorite. Beiyuan loves her as well and Sable loves both of them even with her moods. He closes his eyes and shakes his head ever so slightly without lifting it.

"You are always doing something you shouldn't and getting into some kind of trouble."

[fated_dance]

Can they be blamed? She's so cute and fierce!

Zishu nuzzles his friend's head a little and chuckles. "You'd get bored if I didn't do something stupid that needed your help."

[wu_xi]

Of course not! She is also perhaps the most traditionally cute of all the creatures he has. He is a little partial to the tiny snake that's currently wound around his wrist. He doesn't worry about it with Zishu, knowing the snake is familiar enough with Zishu not to attack if she's bumped or startled.

"Or I could be more productive in other things," Wu Xi counters and he reaches after a moment to grasp at Zishu's hand. "I'll try not to rely on you too much in his absence."

[fated_dance]

Zishu knows and trusts Wu Xi enough that his friend wouldn't let him be this close if he was in danger. And he also is rather fond of that little snake that often rides along on Wu Xi's wrist, occasionally offering her little snacks just as he does with the Sable.

He chuckles and squeezes his friend's fingers before entwining them with his own. "I want to start a clinic. Your expertise would be welcome there." Silly Wu Xi, Zishu doesn't mind friends relying on him.

[wu_xi]

You really are going to fatten up all his deadly creatures Zishu! Tsk.

Wu Xi considers it thoughtfully but a small smile touches his lips as he holds onto the other's hand, taking comfort in this. Before such intimacies might not have been something he'd sought out from Zishu -- but this place has made things a bit different.

"You need me, you mean."

[fated_dance]

Well why not? He likes them and it helps them remember not to eat him.

A lot of things have changed since coming to this world. He'd fulfilled an old wish with Beiyuan only recently. And before that, with Wu Xi.

Zishu chuckles, shaking his head just a little. Not enough to disturb the comfort of their position.

"I'm better at poisons and their cures. Xingchen has been teaching me a few others. It only makes sense to bring you in on it as well."

[wu_xi]

As if they would forget!

Wu Xi feels the shake but he just lets out a little huff at the answer.

"You don't have to admit it," he says simply, teasing. "You'll be a disaster."

He knows that Zishu doesn't need him. There's a sort of hollow ache at the fact that he's not really needed by anyone here anymore. Beiyuan had needed him. For a while Zishu had needed him but no longer. It would be hard to find a purpose once more.

"If I ask you to take my mind off things... sometimes... would you?"

[fated_dance]

He chuckles at that huff - it's so cute! And grins. "You're being cute again, Wu Xi," he teases right back.

Maybe not as he used to, when they'd first gotten here. But Zishu still actively wants him around. He sobers a little at that request and squeezes his friend's fingers again.

"Yes." He doesn't hesitate to agree. It's not even that he owes Wu Xi (though he feels he does). It's simply what he'd do even without the whole fact this man is why he'd been healed in the first place.

[wu_xi]

Wu Xi shakes his head slightly but again not enough to dislodge them from each other. He squeezes the other's hand tighter for a moment in response to his. He tilts his head for the briefest of moments to let his nose brush against the other before turning back.

"Thank you, Zishu," he says quietly.

[fated_dance]

It's too comfortable to pull away just yet. Zishu smiles slightly at the nudge of noses and simply nuzzles their heads together.

"We look after each other." Even if not specifically needed. "I haven't forgotten how upset you were when you realized I wasn't healing."

[wu_xi]

"You... didn't need to know that," Wu Xi says quietly, and he sets the wine down, turning a little more into Zishu. "But I will always look over you."

Zishu is important to him and he cares for him deeply. He couldn't let anything happen to him.

"Would Kexing be angry if I asked you to stay while I sleep?"

[fated_dance]

Zishu's only response is to wrap an arm around his friend. He knew that without it being said. Wu Xi, and Beiyuan, are just that kind of people, with those they care about.

And he won't let any harm come to either of them as long as there is breath in his body.

"I just have to be back before it's time to sleep for the night." Because sleeping together every night is one of their rules. "If you're still asleep when I leave, I'll leave a note to remind you."

[wu_xi]

Wu Xi gives a nod at the other's answer. He glances at the time. It's still early in the day. He hasn't slept well since Beiyuan has been gone.

"Then I'd ask you to stay now and I'll sleep some."

He would be fine with restless nights. There is plenty he can work at in the night hours. He'd always been good with them.

[fated_dance]

Zishu just nuzzles his friend's head and kicks his boots off before shifting back, dragging Wu Xi with him before simply laying back. After all, it's far easier to fall asleep when curled up with someone. Especially when you're missing someone important.

"Rest," he murmurs, tugging the blankets up and over them as the Sable wiggles into a better position to curl up and keep watch over them.