[♪♫♬]

[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

[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]

[weiyingdown]

[frowning at the door and swinging a leg towards it, like he's testing if he can kick it open from all the way up in the tree]

Would she get mad if you went in without being told? Are you sure that wasn't just some silly rule that your uncle made up?

[one_note]

...when we are not visiting...Mother has to stay in seclusion.

[weiyingdown]

Is she practicing her cultivation?

[one_note]

[Lan Wangji's tiny fists clench even more determinedly on Wei Wuxian's sleeve, a frown set on his face]

That is what...Brother and I were told.

[weiyingdown]

[if this were big Lan Wangji, he would complain. that kind of story is obviously fake! who would want to practice cultivation instead of playing with cute little Er-Gege?

but he doesn't want to leave a bad impression of his parents in Lan Wangji's mind, especially not when it might not have been an arrangement that she wanted either. so he keeps a smile on his face, in the interest of being his usual cheerful self.]

So she's very busy. You're a good kid, being so patient. Oh! I know. Want to make something for her? If you give her a gift she'll be happy.

[one_note]

[a firm nod.]

Cannot...up in a tree.

[weiyingdown]

You're right, we have to go back down in order to make something.

[however, he doesn't move]

I have an idea, but I don't know her at all. So you should tell me what you think she would enjoy.