The Bearer of Bad News

[yinyangwizard]

Lan Zhan has had his injuries treated, and after some protest, has been convinced to take some time to recover. Or perhaps it's more accurate to say he was guilted into taking the time.

In any case, Lan Zhan and Lan Yuan are now asleep on adjacent futons in Seimei's room. Seimei has left his retainer Shizuka, the seven-tailed fox, to wait in attendance in case they should need anything. Someone needs to deliver the bad news to Zenigata, and in Seimei's view, giving Rae Seddon this task - when she is already so weary from her own grief and the other burdens she has to bear - would be selfish and unkind. So he takes it upon himself.

Seimei goes up to Inspector Zenigata's door, takes a deep breath, and knocks.

Comments

[yinyangwizard]

“From what I have read, the Lans follow Chan Buddhism - the forerunner of our own Zen. The practice of Yin-Yang magic absorbed much of its influence.” Seimei sighs. “But I was never very familiar with Chan funeral rites: I will have to do some research.”

Of course what they do is ultimately up to Lan Zhan, but Seimei does not want him to be troubled over every detail.

[zenigatcha]

"Let me know if you need any help," Zenigata says, always looking for work to do. If there's something constructive to do, it'll quiet his mind. (He knows it will not.)

[yinyangwizard]

Seimei knows that having work to do does not always put one’s mind at ease, but one’s troubles may seem multiplied if one is not able to feel useful.

“If you can find the liturgy, I would appreciate it. I can take care of the incense and offerings and other materials.”

And memorial tablets will need to be prepared, probably.

[zenigatcha]

Zenigata nods, filing it away in his mind. Liturgy is easy. A few reference books and he can find that. The library here should have everything they need (and then some.)

"I'll see to it," Zenigata says.

[yinyangwizard]

“Thank you,” Seimei says. He stands up from the chair. “We may want to give Lan Zhan a little time before asking him what exactly happened - although I, also, want to know.”

Seimei thought it would end with either Lan Zhan or Wei Wuxian dead at the other’s hands, but what actually occurred seems to have been stranger and more complicated than that.

[zenigatcha]

"Of course," Zenigata says. He's running on autopilot at this point -- his own numbness settling in. "They were -- they were very good friends, at the least. I would not intrude."

[yinyangwizard]

"When the time comes, I shall not be the one to ask. It should be you, Zenigata-keibu, or Rae-san. Someone who knew Wei Wuxian better than I."

[zenigatcha]

Zenigata opens his mouth, then closes it again. He wants to know. The detective, the cop he is to his bones, he wants an answer. He wants to know who did it, why, what happened that everything went so wrong.

Despite all that, his tongue turns to sandpaper in his mouth at the very idea of asking.

"I'll--- I'll discuss that with Sunshine," he finally replies.

[yinyangwizard]

Seimei nods. It's quite awkward. How could it not be, though?

"Lan Wangji is staying in my room for the time being, until he is a little better. Lan Yuan is with him. I have a retainer keeping an eye on them, but I should go back."

[zenigatcha]

"Y-yes, of course. Thank you for-- for coming to tell me," Zenigata says, as he rose to see Abe out. Awkward as the rest of it, but still, it must be done.

All of it must be done.

But...does that really have to be the end of it?

Thoughts starting to grind together, Zenigata goes through the platitudes on autopilot. He's got to think. There are so many things that he can think about, right now. Not all of them good, but...

...maybe one of them might yield a solution for a problem he didn't have a few minutes ago.