Protect The Weak Without Regret.

[thesecondjade]

[ A Door In The Stone. ]

When Lan Zhan enters the bar, it's with the sticky scent of blood and damp cave air behind him, sword at his hip and A-Yuan in his arms. It's a strange enough appearance that it garners the eyes of some, murmuring for others.

There are a few people he knows can help -- the big man that had all but claimed Wei Wuxian as a ward, Rae Seddon, full of kindness and yang energy. Abe no Seimei would certainly have the magics to help if necessary. He was certain there were others, too.

The first and easiest to find would obviously would be Rae Seddon, so he went to the kitchen first in his search for familiar faces to aid him. Safe in the knowledge that he would return to the instant he left, Lan Zhan never the less searched with urgency, fear for the small life in his arms and the other life, far from here, driving his haste.


[Very obviously Millitimed to when Zenigata is out of the cells, for obvious reasons, and CR locked to the folks involved with the Untamed cast re: the doom that has come to roost. If you don't know if you qualify, please ask!]

Comments

[sunbaked_baker]

The scents wafting from the kitchen signal that Sunshine is indeed working her own form of domestic alchemy within the gathered warmth. Packages of baked goods both savory and sweet are well-wrapped and neatly stacked in a basket, ready for delivery. But it is Halloween, and Sunshine always felt like Halloween called for special sweetness.

She is trying out her new decorative icing tips, icing leaf-shaped gingerbread cookies in the shades of autumn, when the door bursts open.

"Lan Wangji!" Rae straightens, startled more for his appearance - the fear hastening his movement and the small form in his arms - than his sudden entry. "What's wrong? What has happened?"

[thesecondjade]

"A-Yuan is sick," Lan Zhan says, keeping to the facts. "He needs help. I don't know how long he's been like this."

This tells them very little by way of words, but the rest that is unsaid: Wei Ying is not here taking care of A-Yuan, A-Yuan got sick at the Burial Mounds, Lan Zhan found him and doesn't know how long he's been sick...

Something has gone terribly wrong.

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine's expression sharpens and the sunlight web set into her skin glimmers as it wakes in response to the dread that passes over her.

"We will get him help here," she says, firmly, though from her tone it is the only solid thing she is sure of. "Lan Wangji, what has happened? Where... what about the others?"

Wei Wuxian? Wen Ning? Wen Ning's sister who Sunshine has yet to meet, but knows how much her brother loves her when he speaks of her? The others?

[thesecondjade]

"The Wen are dead," he says with the coldness of Cloud Recesses in his voice. "Wei Ying is missing. A-Yuan is who remained behind. I do not know how long he has been alone, but it could be at least three days. He needs food, water and care."

He doesn't have time to feel. He has time to act. He has time to get help. Time to protect the weak in the only way he can.

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine falters, heels of her floury, golden-veined hands hard against the countertop. She knew in her heart they would have to have died - it was the only way A-Yuan would've been left alone - but hearing it confirmed aloud still hurts, like ice piercing her heart and twisting her stomach. She wants to know what happened, who killed them - who killed these people who were harming no one, merely daring to survive, carving a niche for themselves among the places no one wanted? She wants to know just as much as she doesn't want to know. It wouldn't even help her to know. They are dead. There is no one else to take and enjoy the fruits of her labor. There is no need of baked goods now.

But there are things that must be done, difficult things.

And what she can do, she must.

Sunshine can't lie to save her life - her every thought shows up on her face - but some part of her normally open and easily-read face... closes.

"He will get it," she nods, brushing off the flour from her hands and opening her arms to take the sick child. Because Lan Wangji is not staying, she knows. Wei Wuxian is missing.

[thesecondjade]

"I know," Lan Zhan said, placing his trust and the child in Sunshine's arms. He smoothed his hand over the young boy's damp hair, before he said, "I-- it will take me back to the moment I left. I can spare time. Give him spiritual energy to bolster his health. Just show me where we can rest."

He won't stay, but he's not going to run back to the door just yet.

[sunbaked_baker]

"Oh, kiddo, you're burning up with fever," Rae murmurs, holding the child and pressing her cheek to his damp forehead. The hurt encompassing the situation is still there, but encased, enclosed, kept for when there is not a sick child here in need of immediate help. "There's an infirmary here - just on the other side of the bar room - where there are bed and supplies for when patrons need healing or are ill."

[thesecondjade]

Lan Zhan does not ask questions. He gestures for her to go, and for him to follow after. There is nothing to be said that hasn't been already, and he...

...he has no idea what he's going to do from this point on. He has to think.

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine leads the way, thinking of when Billy had been about the same age at A-Yuan and had been so sick with food poisoning. A deeply unhappy little body, in urgent need of hydration and gentle nutrition and rest as it fought the silent fight against whatever was attacking it.

"Ivanhoe," Rae gets the attention of a large waitrat as it crosses their path. "Could you have a couple of bottles of Pedialyte sent to the infirmary? Thank you."

The rat squeaks an affirmative-sounding squeak and scuttles away towards the kitchens, and Rae continues across the bar room. She opens the infirmary door with her free hand and passes through, holding the door for Lan Wangji, as well. There are infirmary beds, each with the possibility of a curtain drawn around them for privacy, cupboards and drawers of supplies, and various technologies for healing. Sunshine takes A-Yuan to the nearest bed, and settles him upon it gently.

"The rats will bring something to help the dehydration, but he's going to need to be awake enough to drink," she murmurs, focusing on the task at hand.

[yinyangwizard]

Seimei is not in Milliways when Lan Zhan and A-Yuan arrive. He comes through the Front Door somewhat later, after the two have sought and received aid in the Infirmary.

But as soon as he crosses the threshold he has a feeling - a divination feeling - that he should make his way to the infirmary. And he does, to find them there.

“Lan Wangji,” he says, “obviously something is amiss.”

With the nature of the situation back in the Cultivators’ world, something disastrous was bound to happen sooner or later.

[thesecondjade]

A-Yuan is sleeping now, having been roused enough to drink and changed out of filthy clothing, but Lan Zhan is supplying energy still. His Cultivation is very strong, this is nothing for him.

Still, he looks up at Abe no Seimei and says, "The Wen are dead. Wei Wuxian is missing. A-Yuan was left behind, and is quite ill now."

Keep to the facts. The facts are safe, and they care not for feelings.

[yinyangwizard]

Oh. So all the bad things have happened at once, of course.

“All but him? Wen Ning and his sister too?”

[thesecondjade]

Lan Zhan gives a curt nod.

"Jin ambush of Wei Wuxian ended in many deaths. Sect Leader Jin said that so long as Wen Ning and the Wen remnants turned themselves in, justice would be served," Lan Zhan says in clipped, emotionless words. "They are all dead."

He'll grieve when he has the time. Such things are not for the now; he needs his energy high to help the child, and then to return to his world and hunt down Wei Wuxian before things go totally wrong.

[yinyangwizard]

This being Milliways, Wen Ning and Wen Qing being dead does not necessarily mean they won’t show up again - but there are no guarantees.

Lan Zhan is understandably focused on dealing with the crisis in front of him at the moment, and Seimei follows his example. “I understand. How can I best assist you?”

(Now, or later, or both.)

[thesecondjade]

"I will be unable to stay," he says simply, voice kept quiet for A-Yuan's sake. "Rae Seddon, and Zenigata-qianbei have already been given their requests. However, there is the matter of Jin Guangyao."

Jin Guangyao can never know that this child is here, or survived. He knows the man can come and go, and when he saw him last at the hundred day celebration... well, he knew for certain that the Jin Guangyao he knew was the Jin Guangyao that came to Milliways.

[yinyangwizard]

“Indeed. Jin Guangyao should be left with the impression that not a single member of the Wen clan remains.”

There is a bit of a problem, in that other people saw Lan Zhan come in with his young charge.

“There are a number of possible approaches. But the best one will depend upon your plans for the child while you sort out matters at home. If necessary, he can stay at my house for a time.”

He would not be the first child to use Seimei’s house as a way station.

[thesecondjade]

"Rae Seddon says her rooms here are magically warded, and Zenigata-qianbei has said he will take him to France if the worst occurs," Lan Zhan says. There is every chance that Wei Ying will be dead soon, and quite possibly Lan Zhan will follow after him -- not by his own hand, but...

...he has to stop Wei Ying, but he does not know if Wei Ying will be able to know who he is, recognize him. If Wei Ying can recognize Lan Zhan at all, he will count himself fortunate.

"I will leave it to the three of you to decide amongst yourself the best place for him," he adds. "If I return alive, then we will discuss matters of his safety further. I cannot what the future will bring."

Pain, though. Pain is a certainty.

[zenigatcha]

Zenigata had been out of the cells maybe a few hours when he was found by the man he only knew as 'the pretty friend.' He had never before spoken to Lan Zhan, and he did not know the man beyond that Wei Wuxian had sang his praise: he was virtuous and righteous, honest and true.

That was why his heart stopped when Lan Zhan said that the Wen were dead, Wei Wuxian was missing, and A-Yuan was here with dangerous fever. Lan Zhan did not lie. That was a core piece of him, everyone said so. You could not make Hanguang-jun a liar.

So when it came time, he went into the infirmary, sat down, and held a tiny hand between his huge, dinner plate palms, and quietly prayed for mercy. He knew there was trouble. He knew it would come to a head. But it had come so soon, so fast and so, so final.

He knew they'd have to talk about the future -- potentially one without Lan Zhan or Wei Ying -- but for now, he is here, waiting for the others to come and go, to find out what more they can do. They've been entrusted with the child, and they're going to be worthy of that trust, Goddamn it.

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine doesn't ever let A-Yuan out of her line of sight, even now that he is resting again. Despite the extensive first-aid kit hidden in her bathroom, there are things she will need to have on-hand in her room that she does not have, and she uses this time to gather them. She lets Zenigata have a long moment to himself, to order his thoughts and... process, if any of them can manage that right now. He had been close to Wei Wuxian, closer than she, and had sought to help the Wen refugees. He too could only be grieving.

After she has gathered the supplies she feels will be needed - at least for now - Sunshine comes over and places a hand on Zenigata's shoulder, offering a light squeeze.

[zenigatcha]

Zenigata lifted his hand to cover Sunshine's own, the other still holding A-Yuan's little fist. He doesn't know what to say at first, because what words are there for this? They may lose-- any number of people, and while Milliways brings the dead-- that's not the same. Not for the people who lost their lives, and not for the people who will grieve them.

Especially not if the child dies. A-Yuan must live; it is non-negotiable, it is not possible, he refuses to allow this to come to pass. With the power of God knows how many wizards and heroes in the bar, surely some will have what he needs to live.

But what comes after? What if they are dead?

"No matter what," he finally says to Sunshine, "I won't let him down. I promise. You have my support in all things here, no matter... no matter what consequences occur on the other side of the door."

[yinyangwizard]

At this point Abe no Seimei comes in, holding a folded multicolored quilt and a small plush Totoro toy in one arm.

“Rae-san. Zenigata-keibu,” he says, bowing briefly to each. “I had to gather some things for the little one. I have some clothes also.”

Whatever meager possessions A-Yuan may have had before, he has nothing now but what they give him.

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine, dabbing at A-Yuan's forehead with a cool, damp cloth, startles hard upon noticing someone coming in, but settles again when she recognizes who it is.

"Abe-san," she greets him with as much gladness as she can muster, given the circumstances. "Thank you - that is thoughtful and pragmatic. I've gathered some necessary supplies from the infirmary, so they'll be on-hand, but haven't... really had the focus to think beyond that, yet."

[zenigatcha]

"Abe-san!" Zenigata straightens up, before he tenderly puts A-Yuan's little fist to his chest and comes around the bed on which he lays to take up the gifts that Abe-no-Seimei has brought.

He pauses there for a moment, looking down at the stuffed Totoro. It only takes a moment for his breath to stop in his throat. He makes a hiccupy noise, and then the waterworks begin, tears clinging to his long, thick eyelashes before they start to well over and escape, cutting down his cheeks.

"Thank you," he manages gruffly, before he goes over to carefully start moving A-Yuan, coaxing him awake with a strained voices so he can change him into clean clothes.

"Give me the wash cloth, we'll wipe him down," Zenigata says, since a bath is out of the question.

[yinyangwizard]

Seimei goes to the nearby sink, which has pedals for the hot and cold water rather than handles. He washes his hands while figuring out how to get water at the right temperature - lukewarm so that A-Yuan will find it soothing but not frigid.

“Rae-san, which medicines have you given him thus far? And what was his temperature the last time it was taken?”

[sunbaked_baker]

"One-oh-two point five," she says, quiet. Bad, for a child this age, even without all of the other factors. "We were able to get him awake enough to drink some Pedialyte safely while Hanguang-jun was here, and gave him a dose of children's acetaminophen. He's still badly dehydrated."

Though her tone makes it clear that dehydration is only one thing among the long list of what is wrong with the situation. She is having to cut that list short, mentally, to focus only on what is right before her - what she can do something about.