PFSB in London Above

[herald_ingress]

The door slams behind Ingress as she strides into Milliways. She hesitates in front of the House of Arch painting, but if she goes there she'll cry and be coddled, and her sister will give her the look that always says "Come home, we'll figure it out, just come back home to us." There is no figuring it out, not even with Tom's help. She was chosen for a reason. She wants to be a Herald. She wants to be with her companion. She wants to be a part of her new world, her true home now. She wants and wants and never stops wanting.

And, oh, tonight, she is tired. Tired to the bone. Tired deep down to her soul.

The last time she came here, she laughed like she had when she was little with her practice sword and tutu, when everything was bright before her and nothing could go wrong. When she went back to Haven, no time had passed; Megwyn asked her why she hadn't gone after all. Ingress hadn't answered right away, and then she'd simply said "I changed my mind" and then changed the subject.

When Megwyn found her here, all those years ago, she had been broken, possibly beyond repair. Door had tried so hard to be everything her sister needed her to be, but she was, Ingress knows now, ridiculously young, and she had Tom to deal with, too, even though he tried his best to fix them both as they stumbled together into life as a family. But Ingress had shattered that day in the greenhouse when the blood rushed out from her mother's throat onto the roses, and she'd been snatched, kicking and screaming, away from her home. She'd broken into more and more and more pieces during her silent captivity; isolated, cold, and in the constant dark with nothing but scuttling spiders for company.

She'd tried to open the door for Islington when he had her brought to him. She'd tried so hard. But she was too little, and the door he wanted was too far away, and when he screamed at her, she'd tried again, tried so hard that her ears hurt and her nose bled, but it still hadn't been enough and back she'd gone into the dark. She was fed irregularly, and, after a while, she stopped crying. She stopped hoping. She stopped feeling anything at all. When Door saved her months later, she had to learn how to be a little sister, how to be loved, how to be Ingress again.

When Megwyn found her, when she chose her as her herald, the bond between them mended the broken parts within her enough that, with all the rest of the love and support from her family and friends, she healed quickly. Ingress came out of the dark that day, for good, in her mind and heart, and she lived and she laughed and she thrived.

But even when you're not broken, life isn't easy. Ingress has the blessing of a companion who is always - and will always be - there for her, but she's as lonely as any single young woman hoping with all her heart for more. Her  three week circuit had ended, and she was tired and wounded from a skirmish - nothing terrible, but enough to make her constantly aware of the ache on her left side that kept her from sleeping well. When she got back to her room, her heart full of hope and relief, the message basket beside her door was empty. Cassildra hadn't written. That made two months without word from her, and, what was worse, Mewgyn gently told her no when Ingress asked her to check in with her Companion, Talian, to see if Cassildra was okay. Which meant... which meant Cassildra wasn't going to write her. Ever.

Blast it all, it wasn't as if Ingress had insisted on a betrothal. She was deeply smitten, but she'd tried to play it cool, to not be clingy, as her ex-boyfriend had called her a year before. When Cassildra was posted indefinitely across the kingdom, she'd only had hoped for letters. And for something, maybe one day, more than an empty bed night after night.  But that was looking like it would be her fate.

It was hard for Ingress, even still, to fit in as someone from 'out kingdom'. Someone with strange hair and strange eyes and strange gifts who was oh so lovely, and such a gifted fighter, but never quite enough to secure a place in a beloved's heart.

She slumps onto one of the couches near the fireplace. There are times when she wonders if it would be worth opening the door that she keeps tightly shut within herself, the door with thoughts of her sister and her birth world and just what could be fixed and what couldn't behind it.

Or... maybe she'll get really, really drunk and not think about anything for a while, until her wide open heart pains her just a little bit  less.

Comments

[herald_ingress]

"They should be able to see you fine. This. Is. Going. To. Be. SO. Much. Fun," she promises, grasping his hand with a squeal of delight.

"Um. Okay. Okay, first, clothes. Bar can provide some for you, and I'll need to go to the House for mine. I'm definitely not wearing Herald whites for a night out. We'll go through the front gallery into London Below and then to the Topside. You don't mind me dragging you along with me? Truly?"

There are probably other things she needs to prepare for this spur of the moment trip, like, oh, money to buy the drinks she'd like to disappear into, but she has a few more minutes to remember that.

[acrookedpath]

Her delight is infectious, and Wei Wuxian's swiftly grows to match it.

"I do not mind at all," he assures her with a laugh. "You're not dragging me -- I will go willingly to drown my own sorrows with you. Here -- "

Quickly, he refills her cup.

"I will ask Madam Bar to hold on to the rest of this bottle, and if we still have the stomach for it, we will finish it when we return. Though we should endeavor not to have the stomach for it, I feel!"

He tosses back the rest of his own glass and gets to his feet.

[herald_ingress]

"Excellent idea!"

She drinks, making more appreciative noises as she does, and stands beside him as they make their way over to Bar.

"We should probably plan on eating a little first. Bar, would you give me some chips I can take with me?"

A cone of piping hot fried potatoes appears for her, and she devours one, licking the salt off her fingers.

"Chips are the best. Even when I'm at my saddest, I can be hungry for them."

She knows why she's sad, and she should probably at least ask what's going on with him before they run away like this. But they're both genuinely smiling now, and questions will lead to not smiling, she's sure of it. So none of those for now!

[acrookedpath]

"I haven't tried those yet," says Wei Wuxian, peering with avid curiosity at her food. "Madam Bar, may I have some as well? And clothes that would fit well with -- London Above, you said?"

A second basket of steaming-hot chips materializes; so does a set of chopsticks, for the sake of his own comfort. A folded bundle of clothing and a pair of sneakers pops up next to them. As he idly picks up the chopsticks and uses them to snag a chip from the basket, he examines the complex pattern of lacing up the front of the shoes.

"Perfect," he says, nodding approval, and pops the chip in his mouth with all intention of moving on to look at the rest of his new clothes.

Instead, he stops, eyes wide as he gets a good taste of the food.

[herald_ingress]

"Right??? Oh, the chopsticks are a great idea," she says, although truth be told, she doesn't mind licking the salt off her fingers. A pair appears for her and she mimics his actions, grinning as the salty greasy goodness explodes on her tongue.

Those sneakers are an excellent idea, too, she thinks, and tries to remember where a pair might be in her room.

"Ready? Let's go!"

He can get through the painting on his own now, thanks to Tom, but she loops her arm amiably through his when it's time to go through the painting to her childhood room. It's bright room of yellow and purple and white with accents of glitter. So much glitter. Her childhood toys, books, and practice weapons live on the shelves now instead of the floor, and the walls are covered with cute Wizard rock boys striking stylish poses on posters, artwork Ingress made over the years, and random pretty things that she liked and wanted to display.

She points to the lavender privacy screen (painted with a glittery rendition of a unicorn, of course) in one corner of the room.

"You can change there, unless you want more privacy?"

She heads for her overstuffed wardrobe, picking up the blue feather boa that trails onto the floor with great fondness before opening the doors.

[acrookedpath]

Well! It's certainly a very... jaunty room. Wei Wuxian will not judge; Ingress is a very jaunty person, after all.

"No, this is fine," he says, and ducks behind the (incredibly sparkly) privacy screen. In short order, a set of black robes, then red robes, then trousers flop over the top of the screen; he kicks his boots off and tosses his belt alongside them.

Briefly, he considers fetching his flute after he's changed, just in case -- but where would he put it? The clothes Madam Bar gave him are... really rather snug. Especially the trousers, which are made of a stiff indigo cloth that makes him feel more like he's breaking in a new pair of boots than a new piece of clothing.

Moments later, he emerges, shrugging on the last item Madam Bar gave him (a black zip-up hoodie) and pulling his hair free of the fabric.

[herald_ingress]

“You look super cute,” Ingress says approvingly as she switches places with him behind the screen.

“Oh, I know,” she says, tossing her white tunic and trousers to drape beside his robes. “We’ll have to take a picture. Tom has a camera. That way if you ever wanted to show anyone what you looked like on your night out in London, you can.”

She steps out from the screen wearing a chic black dress that hugs her shape and shows off the muscles of her arms, as well as plenty of her long legs. She looks fit and strong and fierce. It’s a shame she won’t catch anyone’s eye tonight due to the nature of the Underside.

Standing in front of her vanity, she executes swift and sure movements with thin brushes dipped into pots. More glitter comes into play, but she was taught by Lilly Kane herself how to rock a look, so it looks fetching and not feverish.

She makes a face at herself in the mirror as she gathers her hair on top of her head. She never knows what to do with her hair.

“Up, down, or braided?”

[acrookedpath]

By now, he's used to the standards of modesty at the inn and how they vary from his own world; still, he is temporarily struck speechless when Ingress walks from behind the screen.

(Somewhere in the back of his mind, he can practically hear Tom-gongzi clearing his throat meaningfully and reminding Wei Wuxian that this is his daughter, which is enough to chill any thoughts before they get too far.)

"You look very nice as well," he says quickly, as respectful as he can. "Ah -- down, I think?"

He unfastens his own hair and gets to work re-tying it, capturing the loose strands that have escaped throughout the day.

[herald_ingress]

While she's not attracted to Wei Wuxian in any way that would go beyond casual friend snuggling, she appreciates the compliment and being noticed. She giggles, pleased, because you know what? She is pretty and she is fucking fabulous, and they are going to have fun tonight.

"I just need to find shoes, hold on," she says, kneeling down and pulling various and sundry items from under her bed until she finds one yellow canvas sneaker and one pink one that are for the opposite feet and will do just fine.

"Do you need anything?" she asks Wei Wuxian as she slides them on and laces them up. (The laces, of course, sparkle.) She may be pretty and fucking fabulous, but her feet are going to be comfortable.

[acrookedpath]

"I thought I might bring my flute, but I have no idea where I would put it," he says wryly, eyeing his trousers in the mirror as he finishes securing the hair ribbon. It is hard not to feel a tad exposed in this clothing. "Will we need money for the alcohol? I suppose we will -- I have gotten too used to free wine here."

[herald_ingress]

"Oh, money. Right. Damn it. We'll definitely need some, because I don't think these places will take my coin. And they definitely won't barter for goods."

Shoes on, she tears into another section of discarded belongings and yanks out a bright yellow satchel shaped like a duck that is going to be big enough for his flute and plenty of money once she locates it.

"If you don't mind me carrying it... Or you can carry it yourself, if you don't mind the duck."

[acrookedpath]

"It is your satchel," he says, with great solemnity. "I will leave the task in your capable hands."

And then, with a quick grin, he grabs his robes and shoes.

"Let me return these to my room, find my flute, and -- you mentioned a camera?"

[herald_ingress]

"Perfect, yes, I'll take you to the front gallery, you can go get what you need, and then we can meet back there once I borrow what we need from Tom."

Who doesn't need to know about this excursion, really. He's probably putting the kids to bed or something, anyway; he's a very busy man.

Sure enough, Ingress is there waiting for him when he returns to the gallery. She folds and stuffs wads of pounds into the inner pockets of the duck satchel. There's enough to buy pretty much whatever they'll want or need tonight.

She also has the camera!

"It will take us a few minutes to go through the Underside on our way out, and we can take pictures on the way. Or wait until we get there. Or both! I'm so glad we're doing this."

She beams.

[acrookedpath]

He beams back at her. "So am I," he says, and tugs the satchel just close enough to slip the bamboo flute inside. "We should take pictures on the way. You know, I have seen and been told of cameras, but never used one myself until now?"

Maybe he can show the pictures to Lan Zhan later!

...Damn it, no he can't. Who is he kidding. As if he has not embarrassed himself enough already.

[herald_ingress]

Don't worry, Ingress will show Lan Wangji all the pictures if Wei Wuxian fails to do so. Well, not any incriminating ones!

"We can take as many pictures as we want all night long," she assures him. She tosses the slim rectangle device to him. "It's easy. Press the round button on top. That turns it into the camera. You line things up with the view finder and you press another button and the picture comes out! It's brilliant."

She grabs his free hand and opens the wall of the gallery into an alley somewhere in the Underside. It's dim there, not great for a picture, even with a wizard's camera, so she keeps walking, towards the nearest free line station is that can take them where they need to go.

As they wait on the platform for the train, she says, "Oh. When we get on the train, mind the gap. If you step into it, it might eat you."

No big!

[acrookedpath]

No big at all! Wei Wuxian has almost been eaten by his share of monsters.

"You have my word I'll be careful," he says. He holds up three fingers in a cheerful promise, then turns his attention to the camera -- which, it turns out, unfolds into something far bigger than he expected when he presses the button Ingress indicated. He lets out a small noise of surprise, but the grin doesn't falter; if anything, it grows as he swings it around toward Ingress.

Click!

[herald_ingress]

She waggles her fingers and strikes a pose. A 4X4 square picture whirs out of the camera, developing into her moving image.

"See? Want me to take one of you? Oh, hold on, here comes the train."

They bundle onboard once it rattles to a stop, minding the gap, and Ingress snaps a picture of him.

"Hey. Important questions," she says, pressing the button and letting the camera fold into its tinier shape. "We're going places to drink, but I also want to flirt and maybe even dance with any attractive people who are able to see me; some of the more artistic and open people can. This-" she waves to herself with a flourish "-shouldn't go to waste! But before I push you in front of someone cute, do you want to flirt with hot people and if so, what kind? There are no wrong answers."

[acrookedpath]

He beams at the camera and waves an enthusiastic hello, delighted to see the milky-white square that pops out resolve into a miniature him waving up at them. The train is already rather loud, like a constant shaking roll of thunder beneath their feet; he suspects, somewhat wryly, that this isn't as loud as the evening will get. Oh well. He'll be fine.

And then Ingress mentions flirting and dancing, and his expression freezes a touch.

"Ah..." He can hear himself trailing into the deflating-balloon noise he's made far too often the past couple of days. "No, I will pass. I will not ruin your fun, I promise! If you wish to flirt and dance, you should, I'm just..."

He's started slumping more and more as he says this, until he ends up with his elbows planted on his knees.

[herald_ingress]

"I promise I will not push in front you of any cute people then, and we will have just as much fun anyway."

She loops her arm around his shoulders.

"And hey, I won't pry. I know that your whole situation makes things... complicated. But if you ever want to talk about anything, I'm here. Okay?"

Especially once they're a few drinks in.

[acrookedpath]

"All right," he says with a sigh, leaning in to bump shoulders with hers. He aims a small smile her way, then goes back to examining his sneakers a moment.




"I am pretty sure I'm in love with Lan Zhan?" he goes on a moment later, half a wince and half a wry laugh. "And I made a fool of myself about it."

[herald_ingress]

"What? Seriously? Wait, what happened? Tell me, tell me, tell me!"

[acrookedpath]

Yes, it is definitely a laugh now, though it trails into an amused groan as Wei Wuxian buries his face in his hands.

"It's terrible," he declares, the picture of melodramatic woe. "I have not actually said anything to him, I don't know if I can -- he visits every night, yes? And last night I could hardly speak at all whenever I looked at him, half of what I said made me sound like an idiot, I drank too much to calm my nerves and only worried him more -- "

[herald_ingress]

"He visits you every night? For, what, dinner?"

[acrookedpath]

"Yes, for dinner and tea," he says. "He returns home in the morning -- right now it is more comfortable for him to sleep at the inn."

He can already feel his face starting to redden again.

[herald_ingress]

"That's- every night?"

Um. Wei Wuxian? Honey?

"Does he have his own room?"