video; un: peekaboo

[descendency]

[ the video feed flicks on to a young man's grim, steel-eyed gaze. he strikes as a man who might be more attractive were he not so severe and dour, a natural softness to his features that does not take easily to his fury. rosy lips pulled taut in displeasure, he stares out as though scrutinizing an audience he has not yet gathered, who yet remains unseen. ]

It's Gabriel.

[ he states his own name with distaste, as though he would rather be doing anything but giving his name to these circumstances and that much is the plain truth of the matter. ]

I require the statuses of Beitang Moran [ insufferable know it all ], Wei Wuxian [ insufferable busybody ], and Five [ insufferable ].

As for the rest of you, would someone like to kindly tell me where the fuck we are and what the hell we're doing here?

Comments

ur doin ur best....

[descendency]

[ miracle upon miracles that mingyu manages to retain patience for this one man alone. he waits for xiao xingchen to get oriented, then ventures gently— ]

Turn the watch up, Xiao-ge. Slowly, if you don't mind.

[binghua]

...Oh!

[He must have flipped things over. Not surprising. So he does as asked and slowly rights the image to his best approximation. Maybe he's a little crooked on Mingyu's end, but at least his face is visible!

A face that betrays the fact that he is probably still too thin and pale, but alive enough.]

Is this better? More importantly, how are you?

[descendency]

[ yeah, that's what mingyu fucking figured. too thin, too pale. idiot. ]

There's not much to tell. I'm exactly as you remember, I imagine.

Where are you? What's happened to you lately?

[binghua]

It has been some time, but I am glad to hear your voice again. It is always good to hear from a friend.

[They were friends! Or, at least, Xingchen thinks so.]

I am staying at the orphanage here. I imagine that is where you have also been brought. Otherwise, I have been trying to help in any place we end up, though I am unsure how effective my efforts really turn out.

[descendency]

[ they are, unfortunately, friends. ]

Are you at the orphanage now? How is your health?

[ not that he trusts xiao xingchen to accurately assess his own well-being but you know. it's a start. ]

[binghua]

I am. I was just about to help out in the kitchen with meal preparation, as well, if you would like to lend a hand.

[A beat.]

You do not have to. I know it is not everyone's skill.

[descendency]

[ mingyu takes a pause for thought. ]

I will try to attend. I have some unfinished business to take care of first.

[ another moment of silence, then— ]

If I don't show up again, don't look for me.

[binghua]

[...That's not concerning or anything.]

Mn. Be careful, Didi.

[descendency]

You first.

[binghua]

[He wants to respond with an affirmative, tell Mingyu he will, but he knows himself better than that.]

I will try.