[♪♫♬]

[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]

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.]

[weiyingdown]

[flipping his hand up and out of his sleeve, palm up, so that Lan Wangji can hold his hand instead]

We'll stay close just in case the door opens, okay?

[pointing towards a nearby tree within sight of the door with his free hand]

That's a good one to try.

[one_note]

[clutches his sleeve tighter instead, but nods once]

[weiyingdown]

[nudging the rabbit off of his lap and standing up, coaxing the child up with him. he still wants to scoop him up and squish his little cheeks, and his fingers flex like he hasn't completely taken the act off of the table. he reigns in his impulses when he looks at the closed door, hears nothing but silence behind it, and feels the light grief still settled in his heart.

for the moment, at least, he tries to be on his somewhat-middling-best behavior as he makes for the tree]

Should I give you a handicap? It's a little unfair, since I'm taller. I could try climbing with only one arm?

[one_note]

[it's possible he's going to have an involuntary handicap anyway, because this kid is not letting go of his sleeve even when they reach the tree

it is possible he has missed the point of 'tree climbing contest.']

[weiyingdown]

[he looks up into the branches of the tree, then down at the kid, and makes a thoughtful hmmm sound as he tries to think of a suitable way to get both of them up the tree and make it seem like a contest. he's got to put a little effort into it, since it was his idea.]

You can't climb up if you're holding onto me like that, can you?

[one_note]

[...FISTS...HIS OTHER HAND...IN WEI WUXIAN'S SLEEVE ALSO...]

[weiyingdown]

[oh no all of wei wuxian's willpower is gone]

[weiyingdown]

If you won't let go, then hold on!

[in one fluid movement he scoops up the child into his arms and leaps up to grab ahold of a low-hanging branch. with a grunt of exertion his pulls them both up into the tree]

[one_note]

[tiny Lan Wangji makes no noise when he's grabbed, though he does inhale sharply. he holds on without protest.]

[weiyingdown]

[he settles Lan Wangji onto his lap, making sure he doesn't fall off, and then shifts to let his feet hang and swing with every soft breeze]

Since I brought you up here that means I won. So now you have to answer a question of mine.

[one_note]

[he holds very still, but without protest]

...what is it?

[weiyingdown]

[pointing towards the door]

Why won't you just go inside if you want to?

[one_note]

...we’re not allowed. She has to invite us.

[his shoulders hunch almost imperceptibly]