[[open post and announcement: no mourners, no funerals]]

[ravkanwitch]

[cw: discussion of death!]

Nina knows that word of Shen Yuan's death has been slowly spreading. She tried to put out a general warning of danger right after it happened... but she's not sure how many people were warned by it. She wasn't in the right mind at the time, after all. This time, she's more careful and collected. With SecUnit's help, she's alerted and gathered everyone who's interested for an important announcement in the lobby of the mansion. Despite all appearances of bossiness and stubbornness - all quite true - Nina has never been in charge of anything so serious. Kaz, Zoya, and the King himself; she followed their lead. As people slowly begin to gather and she attempts to compose herself, she wonders why she decided to put herself up to this.

Deep breath, Zenik. Pretend that - well, that this is pretend. She's back in the orphanage as the official greeter, making an important announcement to all the other children. She's the governor of a small town, making sure that all the citizens are aware and prepared. It does have to be her, after all. She's playing a crucial role in everything. She also doesn't want anyone else to carry the emotional load.

"Hi," she tells everyone gathered, trying to paste on a somber but not-too-morose expression. "Thanks for coming. I'm sure some of you have heard part of this announcement already and I'm sorry that it took so long to pass this information onto everyone else... but there was an incident not too long ago. We're not sure what caused it, whether it was the house or whether it was an individual, but... Shen Yuan is dead." There's most likely a reaction at this point and Nina forges onwards as confidently as she can, pitching her voice above the hubbub.

"But there is a way that he can return. We're sure of it. We're just trying to figure out the details, which might take a while. If you want to know more about that, you can ask Magnus, but I'm not sure how much he can tell you. Also, if you encounter any signs of Shen Yuan's spirit, you can talk to--" Here she meets Aleksander's eyes almost instinctively; this line of conversation is something she's purposefully kept from him. "You can talk to myself. Or... to Lan Wangji. ...That's all. Thank you."

A confident start but slightly deflated by her last few sentences, Nina steps back and allows for conversation to happen. If anyone would like to speak to her, she's looking much less strained and grim than she has in a while.

[[Feel free to post a single comment reaction and/or start a thread with Nina in the comments!]]

Comments

[temnota]

"Is there a rota? Or is it all informal?" It was hard not to immediately jump into action and take charge but Aleksander did not trust himself with any assumption of power, no matter how good of a cause it might be. He was happy to help and would but the leading the charge was someone else's job.

[lightbearinglord]

"At this time, it is informal," Lan Wangji says. "I circle the grounds each morning." He has done so almost since the first day he arrived. Initially, it seemed that nothing changed day to day, but that is no longer the case. The people here have made their various marks on the landscape. "Perhaps we should change that."

[temnota]

Aleksander nodded. "I believe it would be a good idea. It does not have to be permanent but at least until this situation has been resolved, the more people having eyes out on the ground the better. I can patrol at night and surely we can find someone who would handle the afternoon. Random times so there is no pattern to be picked up on."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji nods in turn, serious. "It is worth pursuing." He hesitates briefly -- he has a fleeting impulse to touch Aleksander's shoulder, for a moment of comfort or connection or both. But he isn't entirely confident that it will be welcome.

[temnota]

If Aleksander had been more sure of his friendship with Lan Wangji, he would have offered him a hug. In these unsettling times, some comfort would be welcomed but Lan Wangji was just as reserved as he was if not more. Rather than cause unintended offense, he gave him a small smile. "We have a small but strong community. I believe we will prevail."

[lightbearinglord]

As small as it is, Lan Wangji takes that smile to heart. He can't quite return it, but his answering glance is a warm one, softer around the eyes. He nods. There is nothing he can say without dispensing false hope, but he is glad to have Aleksander among them, despite all Aleksander's troubles and doubts. "That is all. You may return if you like."

[temnota]

Aleksander's first instinct was to make an excuse to stay here and be alone with his thoughts for awhile. He fought back that impulse, aware that it would lead to nowhere good. What he needed - what everyone need in this time - was community so he would go back to the others and offer what comfort he could. "I will do that. But should you need me, let me know and I will be there."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji nods, grateful for Aleksander's assurances and, obscurely, to have had a quiet moment with a friend, even a slightly fraught one. He dips into another little bow, a show of his respect and his thanks for Aleksander's time, before he turns to head back to the gathering.