AFTERPARTY III: Never Have I Ever Been Quite This Drunk

[mirrite]

[There's absolutely nothing celebratory about this drinking party. "Party" isn't even the right word, not really-- it's more like a "drink until you forget and/or black out" session for anyone who wants to participate, and even the bartender isn't immune from that much. Please forgive him if your drink isn't mixed quite right; he's trying his best under the circumstances.

There's food, too, if anyone wants to attempt to stave off a hangover tomorrow, or just get something in their stomach after the events of the day: stirfry from Makoto, vegetable soup from Nageki (mediocre, but hey, a genuine effort was made and that's what counts), and some tea for those who would rather abstain from the harder stuff. (Is that even many people tonight? Probably not.)

Come on by the bar if you're hungry or want a drink, or even if you just don't want to be alone right now. That much, at least, is something that can be guaranteed tonight.]

Comments

[biyishuangfei]

[ He certainly did his best...but upon McGillis making the comment that he might be the most balanced person, he'll end up looking a little surprised. That's the first time anyone's so much as said anything like that to him in his entire life? ]

Ah...

[ He didn't know what to say to that, so he's thankful McGillis asked the question. But he did feel a little happy to hear it. ]

He was, yes. We'd known each other since childhood. We used to go around doing the kinds of stupid things that friends did when we were younger, if you know what I mean. And I knew him better than anyone I'd ever met outside of family. Even when we were unable to speak to each other for a long stretch of time, that never changed.

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis does know what he means and for a moment he's back many years in time in another world, sneaking out of a prestigious dormitory after hours with a laughing boy his age at his side. ]

I'm sorry... this is the worst possible place to lose somebody so precious to you.

[ A loss that leaves you hollow for years and years to come. But wait... Wasn't Wei Wuxian only 20 years old? An interesting age difference for childhood friends. ]

You must have practically raised him.

[biyishuangfei]

[ He'll nod to the first comment in agreement.

But the second made him give pause. Right, he was from a later point along the timeline from their world, so it completely slipped Huaisang's mind to even so much as correct what he said or add a slight addendum. But honestly thanks to the fact that there were clearly people from the future and such, it would probably be easy to explain or amend.

He'll crack a little smile at that. ]

Raising Wei-xiong is kind of a funny image, but I can see why you'd say that. It's a little hard to explain, but I'm further along a point in time than he is. Normally, that wouldn't be the case, but I think it's just some odd things due to how and when Hamelin pulled us here. I'm not sure how to explain why it happened this way, but it doesn't change much for me.

[ Though of course this meant his friend didn't know of some things and he had to be careful in bringing things up so it didn't get confusing or make him upset. ]

[vogelfrei]

[ Oh.

McGillis had of course known this was theoretically possible. A great many of them are from Earth in different points in time, they might easily not all be the same kind of Earth... but two people who knew each other? He imagines being stuck here with a younger Gaelio, still bright-eyed and enthusiastic, and suddenly is grateful that no such thing occurred.

But for this paradox... ]

I wonder what it will be like if you go home in the end of this. [ 'If' is a painful word but they have to keep it real here. ] Are you going to come back to a parallel world where he was gone for a long time? Or will you find him alive, and this one was an alternate?

[ But no, wait... ]

... I'm sorry, this is callous speculation.

[biyishuangfei]

[ ...

It's really not too much of McGillis' fault (or maybe it is), but as soon as he started to talk about that, his eyes became a little wet, and tears started to roll down his face. ]

It's n-not something I thought about...

[ He suddenly eyed the drinks, but knew that was a bad idea, and instead rubbed at his eyes with a sleeve, but it's not working. He didn't even think about what happened to Wei Wuxian here affecting his position in history. At least Huaisang had thought about what might happen if he wouldn't return as Sect Leader (someone from distant family would replace him with certainty.)

Though when he spoke again, you could forgive him for sounding so upset, with his shoulders shaking. ]

I don't want anything like that to happen! S-so if you're sorry don't...don't talk about it again. Not right now.

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis knows he deserves this reaction entirely, he really should have kept his mouth shut even as the possibilities of parallel universes intrigued him.

For a moment he seems helpless in the face of those tears, like comforting somebody is an action he has to consciously remind himself how to perform. The hesitation fades as quick as it came, however, and he wraps an arm around Huaisang's shoulders instead. ]

I won't. I promise. One step at a time, that is all you need to focus on.

[biyishuangfei]

[ A hiccup escaped him, but at least his sobs quiet much faster when McGillis has an arm around his shoulders. Though, he'll blink away some of the tears and then slowly but surely the tremors stop as well as he relaxed a bit in the hold. But only when his shaking managed to stop was when he'll trust himself to be able to speak properly.

Still, Huaisang will just nod first, accepting his words and also his followup to those first words. ]

Yes, that'd make things far easier. We already do have a lot of things to consider as it is...

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis pulls Huaisang in to lean against him, just a little, nothing untoward, and waits patiently for Huaisang to collect himself. These tears feel overdue, considering how easy it is to make the other man cry usually. ]

Actually, let's take a break from that for tonight as well. You had a harder day than any of us, you should be free to not think at all for a little.

[biyishuangfei]

[ Huaisang didn't so much as mind, feeling himself relax even more into him, even closing his eyes for a bit. Even after the trial he hadn't so much as felt anything other than tension, still wired up from everything that had happened.

It made him realize he had hardly any time to properly sort out his feelings concerning the death of his friend. Usually he's been pretty good at making sure he wasn't pushing himself all that hard, but it was essentially extenuating circumstances where this place was concerned. ]

Mm...I suppose that is true. It's been really hard, and I think I was trying my best, but it's nice not to have to do any of that right now.

[vogelfrei]

You were keeping it together well. Better than some others might have.

[ Honestly impressive, compared to how Huaisang usually conducts himself. It speaks in his favor entirely. ]

Rest for the weekend. And if you need anything, just ask.

[biyishuangfei]

[ He only kept it together for so long because of his desire to find WWX's killer. But, he supposed the other was right, and then he heard him say those other words.

Huaisang opened his eyes, feeling and seeing the wetness of some unshed tears blur his vision. ]

I...Please allow me to stay like this a little while longer.

[ Then, he'll just close his eyes again. He knew it was probably a little selfish, but even besides the fact that admittedly he was ... happy it was McGillis saying this to him, he thought that maybe he'd hardly get the chance to be comforted like this again. ]

[vogelfrei]

... of course. Take your time.

[ McGillis himself is not one who values physical touch all that much, but it is an easy request to fulfill for somebody else, easier than comforting words might be. He'll gladly keep Huaisang tucked in his arm for as long as is needed. Surely none of the others will leave the bar before midnight today and McGillis will be content simply sitting and watching, exhausted and somber. They can be exhausted and somber together. ]