middleofsomewhere | The Will to Fight: Conclusion

The Will to Fight: Conclusion

The battles rage loud and ferocious at the gates of the city and off in the ruined wastelands of Erda, and on the walls a struggle of a different kind occurs. The team who stayed behind at the towers are small but determined as they move stoically across the walls to right the stones that have become misaligned, even as their friends battle not too far away.

The city begins to hum. It's a quiet hum, not loud enough to be heard out where the others are fighting but it vibrates even through stone. The recovering monks assure them that it is done, the wards are back up and no demon will be able to enter the city.

Eventually the battle is won, all three battles. The demons fought back and killed, a major blow to their gate system that will keep them back for hopefully a long time. Those waiting in the caverns return to the city and by the time they get there the illusions are gone. Everyone can see the world for what it really is.

But despite the ruins of their world the people are relieved, the adrenaline of the fight coursing through their veins and the mood is one of hope. They will build again, their people will survive.

All Voidtreckers please return to the Voidtrecker Express. Departure will be in a few hours

It has landed not too far from the city, cloaked to make it unnoticeable to the citizens, for all the good that does. No one has been particularly subtle this last week. People can begin regrouping, packing up the camp and getting any wounded not already healed to the train.

However roughly half an hour later another message appears on their SCA.

Passenger Persephone has requested we remain on system System #86525656412355 for an additional day to further assist the people of Erda. The Voidtrecker Express will depart on the morning of Day Fifteen of the month of Kazoo.

The train remains where it is, so the voidtreckers can use its facilities. There is definitely a lot that can be done to assist those of this world and the citizens will welcome any helping hands.

After an extra day they finally depart, returning to the void once more.

(OOC Note: Once the wards are up any characters who are demonic in nature will not be able to enter the city either!)

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Sizhui isn't surprised when A-Qing runs face-first into him, all concerned words and grabbing hands which he allows initially, but after he's gotten a quick once-over, he doesn't hesitate to toss both arms around his sister and lift the girl right off her feet in an embrace. “I'm so glad you're okay,” he sighs. “I was worried that you...might have...” Wait, no, don't finish that sentence.

Thank goodness, in this position, she can't really see his expression so he can steel himself before carefully setting A-Qing most of the way back down; she's probably still on her tiptoes. He does not, however, let her go all the way, both hands settling on her shoulders. For a brief moment, his gaze downcasts to Xixue, the faintest smile of relief quirking his lips at seeing the fox's well-being then he looks up again. “Are you okay, though? Is there anything you need?”

Is this too much? Probably, but there's such a rush of overwhelming emotions, it might actually be good for him to focus on something. Anything that's not wondering what happened during this mission.

When her initial questions aren't answered, she tightens her grip and inhales to try again-- and the breath becomes a startled yelp muffled into his shoulder as she leaves the ground. Her own arms flail for a moment before she hooks them around his neck, resigning herself to covering his uniform in battlefield dirt as she clings back. It's fine, he started it after seeing her, so he can't complain at all.

"No trust in me," she grouches, as she's lowered back down. "Haven't I trained with several masters? Don't I have a powerful spirit beast?"

Never mind that her voice quavers a little, or that she has to reach up and balance herself with her hands on his forearms to keep upright on trembling legs for a moment after. XiXue chirps, a placid sort of greeting from a 'spirit beast' almost as filthy as its mistress, and pads forward to touch its freezing nose to Sizhui's leg. Breathe in, breathe out. Composed, she sniffs. "Brother, you're too nice, offering anything. I'll definitely take advantage."

Okay, so, maybe scooping her up like that wasn't the most polite thing, but Sizhui couldn't help himself; the excitement and relief of seeing her had just been too much. At least she hugs back, thankfully, reassuring him that while it might have been abrupt, it isn't entirely unwelcome. And let's be real here, the last thing on his mind is dirty clothes— those can and will be washed later when they aren't busy hugging it out.

“Aiyah,” he huffs. Yes, she has trained with more than one person and yes, she has an adorable little fox helper, but that doesn't mean Sizhui's any less worried about their well-being.

Considering how her voice wavers, no matter how slightly, it seems he has some reason to. He lets her grip his arms, faintly tightening his hold on her shoulders in return. At the animal's tiny chirr, his attention downcasts again, another soft smile curving his mouth as he redirects back to her. “Sisters are allowed to take advantage, especially whenever they've fought in grand battles.” Then another glance toward Xixue and, “Powerful spirit beasts, too.”

"Hmm." She watches him with narrowed eyes for a second longer, noting that smile, and then lets go so she can rest her hands on her hips. Xixue matches her, drawing itself up to its full height and lifting its nose. He's teasing her, she can tell. Fine then! Don't blame her if he regrets it later! "Then... you'll carry me back to the train, won't you?"

She can probably make it on her own, but she knows enough of her limits that it won't be pleasant. She really just wants a shower and something warm to drink, at this point. Then, realising she never got an answer as to his state, "As long as you're not injured-!"

He withdraws after she does, pressing his lips together in an attempt to not smile wider at A-Qing's gesture. Coupled with the fox puffing up, however, it becomes somewhat more difficult and he can't help letting his mouth quirk at the left side. Perhaps he's teasing a bit, but he really does mean it; A-Qing and Xixue fought hard and they both look quite run-down. So much so, that when she suggests carrying her all the way back, Sizhui doesn't delay to say, “Without hesitation.” Gosh, he'll even use the items in his qiankun pouch to fasten something together for Xixue to sit against his chest, too.

Rather than letting A-Qing push herself until she can no longer go, he much prefers helping, particularly whenever he's unharmed. This is the least he can do— that, and fixing them tea while she cleans up. Sizhui's head shakes, “No, I am not. You needn't worry about that.” Both hands momentarily tucked behind his back, he tilts his head sideways, inquiringly. “Will your companion let themself be carried as well?”

"Good, then I'll rely on you." Ah, she's not going to win this encounter, as much as it might be winnable in some strange sibling aspect that she's not quite understood yet. He's too earnest. The fox and a-Qing exchange a look, one that results in her nodding and the monster rearing up, its paws in the air. Obliging. There were so many small corridors in the catacombs, enough sharp rubble littering the floors, it's used to being picked up.

It sits there patiently. A-Qing less so, rocking backwards and forwards from her toes to her heels. "XiXue would like to be held, too," she adds, helpfully.

“So it's settled.” Stubbornness isn't something he's lacking; if anything, Sizhui will be extra willful when given good enough reason to and carrying his injured sister is definitely more than enough. That, and with them being held, he can move as fast as he likes without the risk of exacerbating things. Thank goodness, Wei Qing and Xixue don't put up too much more of a fuss and after the creature rears up, he crouches down, scoops the fox up into his arms then gestures with a faint turn of his head.

Hopefully, she'll be as accommodating as her animal companion, and after he's used the sash around his waist to create something reminiscent of a kangaroo pouch to put Xixue in, he adds for emphasis (just in case), “Climb on, then.”

The ensuing scramble is, at least, one done with the experience of a girl who's definitely managed to pester a piggyback out of someone before. He's perhaps a little shorter, and there weren't any animals involved in any previous episodes, given that she almost kicks the fox pouch before she's settled...

But they manage it with a minimum of pulled hair, though his robes are now hopelessly scuffed with dirt from her boots.

"I'd be doing the laundry anyway," she says, instead of apologising.

Thank the immortals for that or else Sizhui might've teased her a little more, particularly when he needs to ever-so-slightly shift his arms so poor Xixue doesn't end up accidentally getting kicked. (It's fine, he has this handled, and it'll be easier once A-Qing's gotten onto his back.) Hey, having a cold fox on one side and a warm sister on the other means he won't overheat, though!

Some hair-pulling and dirt tracks aren't anything he's worried about either; the robes will get cleaned one way or another, his hair will be fine.

“I'll hold you to it,” he claims, regardless of his plan to never really collect if she forgets. With everything (and everyone) secured, he moves his arms back, hooks them underneath the girl's legs then gives her the faintest lift upward for extra certainty before starting to make the trek back toward the train.

And off they go. It's difficult to say which creature makes herself more comfortable. The fox dozes off first, nose tucked into its paws and breath sending small flurries of snowflakes to melt against Sizhui's robes. A-Qing is kept awake mostly by residual adrenaline, and the overriding need to talk.

She starts out with a little bit of chatter about her opinion of the battle - a mess - and what she plans to do next - sleep - and how the newly-arrived cat-eared Hanguang-jun threatened her with rules and a headband - can you imagine. She doesn't stay on any one topic long enough to allow him to respond, mind too tired to settle. After a minute or so, she yawns, losing her place in her monologue.

"... Anyway, I forgot. What's it called when you make someone see something that isn't there?"

Which is extremely distracting, by the way. How can something's breath be so cold it creates its own snow? How marvelous, he thinks offhandedly, still attentive enough to hear A-Qing chattering away. He doesn't mind it, the talk fills what would be silence, even if he wouldn't have minded that, either.

Sizhui easily agrees that the battle was disastrous and sleeping is a good next plan, manages grinning at her remark about the headband alongside the threat of rules, despite already knowing A-Qing would never. Again, he doesn't mind letting her ramble, knowing all too well that feeling of having to get everything out when one's thoughts cannot rest. The yawn, however, is their break and when she asks, he has to think a moment before answering.

“Hmmm... you make them hallucinate things? Or something of that nature.”

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The Will to Fight: Conclusion

aftermath

weh

let gege help :c

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