Realistic or Modern all these empty pudding cups

[mon]

Ruyin giggles with careless ease, her laughter like tinkling bells.

“Of course, I’ll remember,” she says, failing to catch the broken pieces in light cyan. “Tomorrow. I’ll see you again tomorrow. Lunch will be on me this time,” she promises.

 

[Aster]

She forgets, naturally. Yuhuan did not hold any hope. He had long abandoned the belief of miracles and the beauty outside his windows taunts him. The light rays reflect off morning dew and everything is slowly creeping to life, but Yuhuan.

Yuhuan is still dying.

Hazel eyes focus on the sights outdoor. A snail is making a desperate ascent up a curling green leaf, likely without realizing that at the end of it was only a pitfall straight down to the soft earth below. Like an ignorant fool, the snail threads on and Yuhuan finds himself smiling bitterly at this.

The nausea in his gut is worse than before. It feels as though his blood has curdled in his veins and in the mirror, his reflection begs him for rest. How much longer can he hold out? It was too late to save himself.

The running tap is shut with a close and with waning determination, Yuhuan gets dressed for the day. His breakfast is minimum and he barely succeeds in its completion. Each bite is swallowed with suffocating difficulty and when he's finally out the door, he meets the one face he wishes not to see. The one who haunts his dreams, his future and his past.

Still, he smiles.

And he greets her good morning.

Lying has become much more easier upon the years.

 

[mon]

There are changes, however subtle they are. There are changes everyday even if she lives them all out as the same.

The day is warmer. The skies are clearer. And today, Ruyin is caught by surprise by her how handsome new neighbor was.

In the pale light, she fails to immediately spy the shadow of illness which cloaks his whole frame. His features display a gentleness which draws her attention almost immediately---though in someone else's lens, that same gentleness can easily be mistaken as weariness.

"Oh, good morning!" Ruyin greets with a polite bow and smile. "You must be the new neighbor. I'm Jiang Ruyin. Pleasure to meet you," she says as she extends a hand in greeting. It puzzles her to see him flinch, no matter how controlled or minute the movement was. Something flickers in his eyes.

Was he afraid of her? Perhaps he was a mysophobe?

That thought is quickly shaken off as he shakes her hand in greeting, a soft smile in accompaniment.

 

[Aster]

His smile strains under the weight of the burdens he's been carrying for so long, yet still he shakes her hand like a gentleman ought.

"New neighbor? Lan Zhan, hasn't he been living here since---?"

The words which ring out behind him had him spinning fast on his heel, eyes wide in desperation as Yuhuan clasps his hand over Wei Wuxian's mouth before the truth slips out. Both of them are shocked by his actions and a pain closes itself around Yuhuan's wrist. His eyes raise to meet a very cold gaze and Wei Ying takes a step back in surprise. Yuhuan, ashamed at his own behavior, could only lower his arm slowly.

"Wangji Xiansheng*"

His eyes fall in defeat from his senior's cool and impassive stare. He doesn't dare to look behind him. The confused and likely frightened look felt like daggers on his back. Inside, Yuhuan trembled.

Since when had he become such a coward?

He bowed his head a fraction at the couple. The look of regret was a familiar mask. "I apologize," he tells them without meeting their eyes.

Wei Ying, merely shocked than offended, forces a light laugh as he waves the matter off.

"It's a small matter. Lan Zhan, let's go. We're going to be late soon right?" the handsome Wei Wuxian says as he tries to direct his husband's well-placed and silent anger. For some reason, he was still staring critically at Yuhuan as though his gaze was trying to dissect something he couldn't see.

If Yuhuan was a flower, he would've wilted under such a gaze and this brought Wei Ying too, to cast a look of concern in his direction.

If the male didn't know before, Yuhuan had no doubts his husband would fill him in on the details later. It was only a matter of time that they find out. The truth always had a way of coming out.

"You should tell her," Lan Wangji says to him, surprising both Yuhuan and Wei Ying; two people who knows that Lan Wangji never interjects unless necessary. "Before you lose the chance to," he adds, quieter this time. His cool gaze moves from Yuhuan to Wei Ying and the couple share a look which spoke of deeper understanding. They too, had their fair share of troubles in ages past and Lan Wangji's words were a simple warning to someone who reminded him of his past self.

It was tragically pitiful and Yuhuan couldn't even bring himself to thank the man for his advice.

The younger, brighter individual pats Yuhuan on the shoulder the way one would a friend. "You should get your condition checked out too. Lan Zhan means well," Wei Ying says with a sympathetic smile. It's frightening how much he understood just from their short exchange. Yuhuan thinks bitterly, that the field of telepathic links ought to be explored more.*

"Take care," Wei Ying says with a wave as he hooks an arm around Lan Wangji's and the two walk off, leaving Yuhuan alone with his demons...

And Jiang Ruyin.

(ooc: I can't believe you roasted me for not replying to r4pf but look who's talking hm?)​

additional notes
- Xiansheng is the title for mister
- Wei Ying and Lan Zhan only shared a look but it was as though they had a whole private conversation in their mind

 

[mon]

Tell her? Ruyin thinks in puzzlement as she stares at the unusual exchange. While it looked simple at a glance, the oppressive air and atmosphere spoke volumes deeper than any outsider could peer into. Her natural caring disposition had her concerned, particularly for the stranger dressed in white. Yuhuan wore a pained smile, but his discomfort was evident to her. Despite usually being too shy to put herself forward, Ruyin felt the need to defend him.

"Why?" A voice asked within her. She was not involved. (But something told her she was.) She barely knew him. (Can this feeling be trusted?) Why did she care?

It wasn't hard to piece together what was said earlier. If Ruyin had to guess, Yuhuan must've been someone who was staying here for a while now? Perhaps he had moved in last week but never introduced himself until now? But why?

Something in her gut told her that there was more than what meets the eye and if that sinking feeling within her was right... that something had to do with her.

Had she committed a great grievance unknowingly?

"Xiansheng... Is there something I ought to know?" Her voice was hesitant. Timid, even. But underneath that timidness was a resolve to dig up the truth.