Audience: SQX

[probe]

Comments

[shiftingwinds]

Well, anyone who would've chosen to do that would be wrong.

[she huffs and takes a swig of her wine]

[probe]

[they just keep petting her hair.]

Make sure you don't drink too much, unless you have someone who wants to come pick you up off the floor later.

[shiftingwinds]

Ming-xiong will, probably. I don't know if he wants to, but he always does.

[probe]

[a pause.]

That's sweet of him.

[shiftingwinds]

He's sweeter than he acts.

[probe]

I'll take your word for it. Haven't uh, really talked to the guy.

[shiftingwinds]

He doesn't talk much. [...] But he's...

[god she's not sure how to describe this, exactly.]

...you know a lot about us, right?

[probe]

I know some stuff, sure. I haven't looked up a lot about the two of you, but I'm vaguely familiar.

[shiftingwinds]

...I'm kind of a big shot in the heavens. My brother is, too. [she hesitates] People are... friendly with me, there. Sometimes it's because they want something from me, and sometimes it's because they want to get into my brother's good graces.

But Ming-xiong... he never asks me for favors, or to put in a good word for him, or anything like that.

[...]

He's one of the only people I know who's been there for me without asking for anything in return.

[probe]

[they hum a little.]

Yeah. Yeah, I get that. Having someone right next to you who never sells you out. Who wouldn't. [they sound a little sad.] I get it. It's nice to uh, to have someone like that.

[shiftingwinds]

[even as drunk as she is, she can pick up on that sad note in wrath's voice.]

...are you okay?

[probe]

[they sound amused.]

I'm fine. I just miss my person like that. [they tug her hair a bit.] Worry about yourself, babe.

[shiftingwinds]

...you'll get to see them again, once we're done here, right?

[worrying about wrath is easier than worrying about herself]

[probe]

I hope so.

[shiftingwinds]

...

[reaches over to try to take one of wrath's hands to give it a gentle squeeze]

You will.

[probe]

[there's a hint of a smile from under the hood. wrath squeezes her hand in return - their hand is very warm, and covered in lava cracks.]

Thanks. [...] You want me to take you back to your room?

[shiftingwinds]

[she smiles back at her]

Thanks, but I think I can make it back. [or ming yi will come and fetch her, probably] I should probably drink some water first, anyway.

[probe]

Well, I can do that much for you, hold on.

[and they just pull a whole glass of water out of their sleeve, hello? they slide it over to her.]

[shiftingwinds]

[stares at the water. stares at the sleeve. stares at wrath.]

Where were you keeping that?

[drinks the water anyway]

[probe]

My sleeves, duh.

[uwu]

[shiftingwinds]

Ahaha... how useful!

[sips water]

[probe]

It can be.

You want me to sit with you for a bit? Drinking by yourself is kind of sad.

[shiftingwinds]

If you have the time to - I do enjoy your company.

[but also, for all she knows, wrath could be busy...]

[probe]

[they can sit for a while then! maybe wrath will pet her hair more. it's fine. she deserves it, after what... happens the next day, wow.]

[shiftingwinds]

[haha! yeah. wow.]