[♪♫♬]

[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]

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.

[one_note]

[...points at one nearby that seems to fit the description well]

[weiyingdown]

[plucks it for him and threads two of the flowers together, and then a third, before handing it over to him]

Just like that. Now you try.

[he can't keep holding onto Wei Wuxian's sleeve if he wants to thread it with two hands though...]

[one_note]

[. . . pins Wei Wuxian's sleeve between his elbow and his knee, takes the flowers, and starts working quietly]

[weiyingdown]

[staring at the bit of sleeve that's caught, a smile twitching on his lips.]

I'm not going to run off. You're not going to be able to make a good crown with your elbow stuck like that.

[he shifts so that he's sitting in a wide cross-legged position and pulls Lan Wangji into his lap.]

[one_note]

[startles like a rabbit again, but sits up straight and lets his sleeve go...

studiously attaches the latest flower to the chain they're making.]

[weiyingdown]

[leaving it to him to thread the flowers together, being a good teacher and overseeing his work. every so often when his eyes sweep through the flowers around them he spots a decent flower to add to the crown and plucks it, presenting it to Lan Wangji with a flourish.]

[one_note]

[hmmmm. there's one too many at the end.

grabs it and offers it to Wei Wuxian]

[weiyingdown]

[takes it and tucks it behind his ear]

Does it suit me?

[one_note]

[looks at him and nods firmly]

Yes.

[weiyingdown]

Awww, Lan Zhan, you're going to make me blush!

[he plucks a flower and tucks it into Lan Wangji's hair too. because nothing is stopping him!!!]

Are you satisfied with your work? Ready to present it?

[one_note]

[his features shift minutely into something that might be pleased, if you squint very hard...it's just for a moment, though, everything smoothing back to blankness as he looks at the house door again]

Mn.

[weiyingdown]

[he picks up a WHOLE SMALL CHILD when he stands up, being careful not to squish the flower crown at all. when he makes for the house again he walks right up to the door and tries to nudge it open with his foot.]

Oh Madame Lan~! We're coming in now.