[♪♫♬]

[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]

[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.

[one_note]

[the door opens.

the house is pretty and well-kept, but empty.

Lan Wangji makes a very small sound.]

[weiyingdown]

[that was...expected, but still disappointing.]

Let's leave it on the table for her to see later, hmm?

[he steps over to the table and knees down, all but sitting on the floor so that Lan Wangji can put the flower crown down. he doesn't set him down, unless he's asked to.]

[one_note]

[he doesn't ask.

the flower crown is set down almost reverently. the grief in the air, old and soft as it is, is soothed closer to peace.]

[weiyingdown]

[he steals another look around the house...but even if he wanted to be nosy (which he kind of does) he won't be with Lan Wangji in his arms. so he heads back outside.]

Ah, we went inside without permission. If you get in trouble for it later, just tell them that I made you, okay?

[one_note]

[...shakes his head :(]

[weiyingdown]

Whaaaat? If you don't do what I say I'm going to put you down.

[one_note]

[reclaims Wei Wuxian's sleeve and shakes his head again.]

[weiyingdown]

[sets him down. don't think he doesn't mean what he says!!!!]

What a handful you are! You should listen to your elders, Lan-er Gege.

[one_note]

...lying is forbidden in the Cloud Recesses...

[weiyingdown]

But nothing happens when you do lie! If something did, then I'd have been struck by lightning and killed by now.

[one_note]

[flinches in alarm and then glares AT THE SKY]

No.

[weiyingdown]

[laughing]

I won't die, I won't die! Sorry, sorry, I forgot. That upset you when it happened before.

["upset" is an understatement to describe that grief]

With you looking out for me in the present, there's no way I'd die.

[one_note]

[nods, a bit stiffly]

Do not.

[weiyingdown]

[reaching over to give him a gentle pat on the head]

I won't. ...I want to make sure that you don't, either.

[one_note]

[gives him a nakedly startled look...it's a lot more obvious on a child than on the older Lan Zhans.]

[weiyingdown]

[putting a finger to his lips]

Don't tell the big Lan Zhan that I said that, though. I'm sure he'll scoff and call me ridiculous. But, ahhh, I am here now to stop something bad from happening outside, so maybe he already knows?

[one_note]

[a nod!!!

...that could mean a lot of things...]

[weiyingdown]

[that could mean too many things. it's fine. he gets another pat on the head for that.]

Good boy. Do you think you can help me with that? I'm not sure if there's a path further in or not.

[one_note]

No.

[but points off to the east from the house]

Back. Up.