[♪♫♬]

[one_note]

[after Yi City and the second time Wei Wuxian gets Lan Wangji drunk, it takes about a day for them to reach the Garden of Annual blossoms. this curious incident takes place in the space of that day.

outside of appeasing the corpse pieces they've been collecting each night, it's not uncommon for Lan Wangji to take the time to practice on the guqin. he doesn't play entire songs, since he's not trying to interact with any spirits at the moment, but safely broken-up sections of Inquiry and Empathy (was Empathy always a musical technique? it is in this timeline, shut up) and the other songs he uses for battle hum through the walls of the rest stop they've paused at on the road.

it's partway through a passage of Empathy that there's a notable shriek of strings, and then silence; when Wei Wuxian goes to check, he'll find Lan Wangji half-collapsed over the instrument, his breathing harsh and a strange fluctuation of energy around him.

a qi deviation...? oh no.]

Comments

[weiyingdown]

See?

[he clearly took that as a "we don't need to eat out" hm]

I'm on a mission right now anyways. We can eat once I'm finished.

[before the boys can suggest any more silly things to Lan Wangji, he drags him off]

[one_note]

[he allows himself to be dragged. the sky above the plateau is indeed shading warmer; edging towards a clear mountain sunset.]

[weiyingdown]

[he looks at the sky before he looks back at Lan Wangji with one eyebrow cocked]

Where should get go next, Lan Zhan? If you don't pick a place then I can only go to the places I know about.

[one_note]

What do you want?

[weiyingdown]

I want to see the things you love most. Who knows if I'll get the chance again? I want to at least satisfy my curiosity that much before I go and fix your qi deviation.

[one_note]

[just

stares directly at him, at Wei Wuxian, backlit by the sun in a place Lan Wangji calls happiness.]

[weiyingdown]

[tugging on his hand, prompting. he is oblivious to the mood lighting.]

We're already so close; don't tell me you're getting shy?

[one_note]

...no need.

[weiyingdown]

There's plenty of need!

[one_note]

Wei Ying.

[weiyingdown]

Lan Zhan~

[one_note]

[RELUCTANTLY]

...you will aggravate the qi deviation, if you stay longer.

[weiyingdown]

Kicking me out already?

[but he nods, agreeable, and steps back the way they came]

I did say that I would go and find it. I just have to check below, then?

[one_note]

...have a care, Wei Ying.

[weiyingdown]

I have a lot of cares about what's going on in your heart, Lan Zhan.

[weiyingdown]

[oops that was too many feelings, time to flee]

--Anyways, I'll go fix that qi deviation for you!

[HE JUST. TAKES OFF RUNNING back to the white foggy area]

[one_note]

[wow

it's easy to find the road again. the rabbit picks out the path for him one more time, if he doesn't grab it.]

[weiyingdown]

[he was too busy running away from feelings to grab the rabbit. good rabbit!]

I don't suppose you're going to point me in the right direction, are you?

[one_note]

[it tilts its head at him, one long ear flopping sideways]

[weiyingdown]

How hard can it be to find one qi deviation?!

[ok he's. back at the fork i guess. has anything new magically appeared or is it just the 3 paths]

[one_note]

[it's just the three paths! happiness, grief, and the way back to the jingshi. the rabbit gives a small and definite hop onto the latter and looks at him again.]

[weiyingdown]

[he is taking the one back to the jingshi, yeah. it's the remaining place that he feels confident he didn't fully check, on account of being mildly freaked out but constantly seeing memories that weren't his.]

You know, if you're not going to be helpful, I could just put you back in the bookshelf where I found you.

[one_note]

[the rabbit pauses on the path and scratches its floppy ear vigorously, before continuing.

the jingshi doors come into view.]

[weiyingdown]

[resists the urge to scruff the rabbit and heads back inside!! is everything as he left it]

[one_note]

[pretty much! you left everything but the scrolls messy, buddy]