[♪♫♬]

[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]

[that makes his escape less fraught with danger, and once he's out of sight he slows to a walk, still grinning. and, naturally, he checks to see if the little rabbit is still following him]

[one_note]

[even the rabbit gives him a reproachful look, from where it's hopping at his heels]

[weiyingdown]

What's that look for? I did him a favor. He's acting more like himself again, isn't he?

[one_note]

[since it is a bunny and has very little in the way of physical recourse, it headbutts him again.]

[weiyingdown]

[nudges the rabbit with his foot as he heads back down the path]

If you're going to be like that then you can stay here.

[one_note]

[it gives him another definite look, nose twitching, and keeps right on keeping pace with him.

the landscape of the Cloud Recesses remains as he walks, but softens even more at the edges, the greys and blacks and whites blurring and wearing together, like an old watercolour left out in the rain and sun. the grief returns, but it's so soft it's almost nostalgia; something gentler on the nerves.

eventually, the shape of a small house appears in the distance.]

[weiyingdown]

[this house is...one he's never seen before, and he can't help but look around to make sure it really is still the Cloud Recesses. there aren't many reasons he can think of for a house to be separated from everything else like this]

A little house like this...secluded meditation?

[but of course the strange grief in his chest feels familiar, too. it feels like something he would feel for his parents. which leads him to the logical conclusion behind whose house it could be.

he goes right up to the small house, keeping an eye out for any sign of movement. any sign of life]

[one_note]

[a six-year-old Lan Wangji is seated on the ground across from the door, looking at it intently.]

[weiyingdown]

[ITTY! BITTY! LAN! WANGJI!]

[weiyingdown]

[no, no, no, shakes his head and makes himself focus. it takes most of his considerable willpower to approach little Lan Wangji without reaching over to scoop him up and pinch his cheeks.

instead, he approaches and takes a seat off to the side, slightly behind him. just enough so that Lan Wangji can see him out of the corner of his eye without moving a bit]

Why don't you go inside?

[one_note]

[this one startles when Wei Wuxian makes himself known, eyes widening as he clenches his tiny hands in his lap, he's still Lan Wangji, so the reaction isn't super overt, but moreso that it would be on the adult or even the teenage versions. he had to grow into his inscrutability, maybe...?

his voice is very quiet.]

...waiting.

[weiyingdown]

[his smile is a little sad, when he offers it. the grief he feels is more than enough to tell him that the door never opened, one time.]

Just waiting might not make the door open, you know. Children are allowed to be a little spoiled from time to time.

[one_note]

I will wait.

[but his hands tremble.]

[weiyingdown]

Then I'll wait with you!

[until he gets antsy enough to open the door himself.]

But just sitting here is boring, little Lan Zhan. Let's play a game.

[one_note]

[look at that tiny frown]

A...game?

[weiyingdown]

Surely a smart kid like you knows how to play games. Or are you worried that I'll win? I promise to go easy on you, don't worry.

[one_note]

[>:|a???]

...what game...

[weiyingdown]

Chase the rabbit?

[he points to the rabbit that's been tagging along with him. it's a long shot that Lan Wangji will move away from the door, but he's fine with starting big and seeing what he can get away with]

[one_note]

...it is not running away.

[it has in fact formed a loaf, since Wei Wuxian has sat down]

[weiyingdown]

[making shooing motions at the rabbit, trying to get it to hop around a little]

That's what chasing it is for! If you chase it, of course it'll run away.

[one_note]

[it hops into Wei Wuxian's lap 8D]

...tormenting animals is forbidden in the Cloud Recesses...

[weiyingdown]

[frowns down at the rabbit. traitor]

This animal is clearly the one tormenting me.

Alright, alright. How about a tree climbing contest?

[one_note]

[the rabbit blinks contentedly at him.]

...why do you want...

[tiny Lan Wangji fidgets. is he shy...?]

[weiyingdown]

[leans in closer, a characteristic grin on his face, trying to entice little Lan Zhan into joining him]

Because it will be fun, of course.

[one_note]

...

[a tiny hand closes on Wei Wuxian's sleeve.]