w3 afterparty

[selfconcept]

Everyone passed! That's great! But Wei Wuxian is gone and you keep getting a weird feeling. Maybe it's the adrenaline that's dying down. Maybe you saw something strange because you're tired? It'll all be uncovered on Sunday. Why not take a breather for now? If you're injured, ask Florence for some medical aid. (can be handwaved) It's around 10 PM when you're released.

Comments

[partymagician]

[ Fai gently holds his hand. ]

You know, normally I would be mad at you for breaking a bone in your hand like this, but you didn't have a choice.

[ He carefully lifts Hien's hand and presses his lips to the back of it, not caring much about the bandages or the brace. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Hien looks at Fai. Honestly, if it comes down to it, he had a choice. He could have picked four missions and just stay that way, but he wanted to help others achieve 200 points, and the relief on his face when it was announced that everyone passed (apart from Sage?) was apparent, and all the adrenaline, gone. That's why Hien looks very exhausted more than usual right now. ]

... My hand's dirty. Don't kiss it.

[partymagician]

Don't tell me what to do.

[ There's no heat behind his words, though, as he continues to hold Hien's hand between both his own. ]

How are you? I can tell you're exhausted.

[ He doesn't think he's ever seen Hien this tired. ]

[selfconcept]

I'm... tired.

[ He says as he shoves another big amount of pasta into his mouth. Might as well be an understatement because he looks tired with his default blank look. ]

But nobody failed, so I'm glad. That's the only thing I wanted out of it.

[partymagician]

[ It was strange to see Hien so determined to do something, when he's been otherwise pretty listless.

But Fai thinks back on Hien mentioning that he's the metaphysical concept of the Self.

Hm. ]

You didn't want anyone to lose something that made them who they are, right?

[selfconcept]

Yeah.

[ But to clarify: ]

I didn't do it for everyone. I did it for myself. I'd get unreasonably irritated if there's something like that among us and that's terrible for me to deal with. Florence doesn't really count, surprisingly.

[partymagician]

Still, you did a good thing by helping as many people as possible.

[ Even if it was for selfish reasons more than anything else.

Fai stares down hard at Hien's hand. ]

I'm sorry for getting angry with you earlier. And for having to hurt you.

[ Despite Hien hurting him last week... Fai's guilt will latch onto anything it can. ]

[selfconcept]

It's fine. Sometimes, things are what they are. Honestly, if you had to make a mark on me, I'd prefer it another way.

[ Like a hickey or something... ]

[partymagician]

[ He laughs softly. ]

Too bad those aren't exactly long lasting, hmm?

[ Not like Fai could have even managed to give Hien one with how stressed he was... ]

I'm relieved that bruises counted.

[selfconcept]

Yeah.

[ He sighs quietly and looks around before shoving more pasta into his mouth. Unfortunately for Fai, his tired brain just wants food and downtime instead of mildly complicated talk topics. ]

Want some?

[partymagician]

[ He gets the feeling that Hien isn't in the mood to really talk, so Fai decides he won't bring any of the other stuff up. ]

Sure.

[ Fai even reaches out to take Hien's utensil. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Hien actually uses the fork to twirl some pasta into it and holds it out to Fai. ]

Here.

[partymagician]

[ Fai stares at the fork for a long moment before finally leaning forward to take the bite. Having someone feed him really isn't something he's used to, even if he has no problem doing it for others.

That's especially obvious now. ]

[selfconcept]

It's good, right? I wouldn't make shitty food on purpose.

[ Hien caught Fai's expression, but this is what he interpreted it as. ]

[partymagician]

[ He chews quietly, swallowing before he speaks. ]

I know you wouldn't. You're a good cook.

[selfconcept]

Damn right, I am. I learned so much shit about cooking and the cooking scenery in some worlds I went to. It was fucking brutal—only worse because it's largely opinionated and subjective.

[ He twirls more pasta to feed Fai again. ]

[partymagician]

[ He laughs softly before leaning in to take that bite.

After swallowing, he smiles at Hien. ]

You should prove to me how good you are by making me a nice dinner.

[selfconcept]

Sure. Let's eat dinner together some time.

[ He feeds Fai again. ]

[partymagician]

[ He takes that bite. ]

I'd like that a lot... even if we do have to eat it in the cafeteria here.

[ That reminds him, though... ]

You know, on Shizuku's survey, I said that the one thing I'd like to do with you was share a meal.

[selfconcept]

I said that I'd like to eat together too.

[ Huh. ]

We matched somehow.

[ He stuffs more pasta into his mouth like it's a huge revelation or anything. ]

[partymagician]

Really? I kind of like that...

[ Actually, he likes that a lot. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Like it's not*... ]

Why? Because we agree on something?

[partymagician]

[ Fai shakes his head. ]

No, because we both want to do something nice like that. That's all.

[selfconcept]

We can do a lot more nice things like that if you want.

[ ... ]

Or do you think I'll only go along for the ride and it won't be something I really wanna do?

[partymagician]

[ He would like that, but... something about it still bothers him, and it isn't until Hien asks him that he realizes what it is. ]

I know you wouldn't do something if you didn't want to, but would it just be a distraction?