[♪♫♬]

[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]

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.

[one_note]

[worries at the cloth between his fingers, the rest of his body still entirely still and controlled]

...music. Jokes. The flowers...

[weiyingdown]

Soooo how about a flower crown?

[one_note]

[pauses, then very slowly looks up at him, face solemn as ever]

How?

[weiyingdown]

You don't know how to make a flower crown? I can show you. First, we need to gather flowers. So you'll have to help me find some. Probably not the ones that are in the garden, though.

[holding the tiny body tight, he jumps back down from the tree and carefully sets Lan Wangji's feet on the grass.]

[one_note]

[he stares at the flowers, considering, then back at the door...then changes directions and moves away from the house, still holding onto Wei Wuxian's sleeve.]

[weiyingdown]

[he goes along easily; this kid could be dragging him back to the Burial Mounds and he wouldn't mind]

Do you know where to find good flowers for making flower crowns?

[one_note]

Mn.

[they're going for a walk!!! he's led to a fairly secluded spot, away from buildings; mountain meadow flowers do grow there in profusion, even if they still have the blurred, faded quality of everything else in this area.]

[weiyingdown]

Ohhhh, these will do perfectly!

[when he spots the flowers he steps ahead, letting the sleeve that Lan Wangji's holding trail behind him and making sure not to tug him along too quickly]

[one_note]

[keeps up, walking just behind him like an imprinted duckling]

[weiyingdown]

[finding a good spot to settle down right in the middle of the flowers, so that they're all within easy reach, and gesturing for Lan Wangji to sit with him]

Now, there's a very important technique to this, so you have to make sure that you watch carefully.

[one_note]

[his eyes are VERY INTENT on WEI WUXIAN'S HANDS like a GOOD STUDENT!]

Mn.

[weiyingdown]

[it's difficult for him to make anything with someone holding onto his sleeve, but he works slowly and keeps the makings of the flower crown in his hands visible.]

First, when you're picking flowers, you have to make sure that you find the ones with the longest stems and the biggest petals.