[♪♫♬]

[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]

[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.

[weiyingdown]

[nodding, not surprised; that was about what he expected.

hearing it is...disquieting, though. there are only three places for grief, and one is for him? in the same space as Lan Wangji's parents? wasn't that putting far too much importance on him?

he looks off to the east before looking back to the child.]

Little Lan Er-Gege, do you talk to the big Lan Zhan's at all?

[one_note]

No.

[visibly considers that answer, then adds]

No need. We are all...the same.

[weiyingdown]

[THAT makes him laugh, doubling over and gasping out his words in between breaths]

AHAHAHA! Are you sure? Hahaha, I can't imagine big Lan Zhan following me around and holding my sleeve like that...

[he dissolves into a fit of giggles as he pictures it. he's distracted from his original question now. only picturing Biggest Lan Wangji tugging on his sleeve and following him around]

[one_note]

[baby Lan Wangji gives this the response it deserves, which is an impassive face and a very soft huff.]

[weiyingdown]

[poking a lil cheek]

Does that mean that Lan Zhan likes me just as much as you?

[one_note]

[looks up at him steadily]

We are the same.

[weiyingdown]

Hmm. I'll have to ask him to make flower crowns with me sometime, in that case.

[glancing towards the east again]

Are you staying put too? All of you have a perfectly good Jingshi that's empty, you know.

[one_note]

...it is not empty.

[weiyingdown]

It's not? There weren't any Lan Zhan's in there when I was there...Maybe I just missed him. I'll go back and check. Does that mean you're staying here?

[one_note]

...it is...our place.

[weiyingdown]

Alright. I won't push it anymore then. Make sure to listen to your elders!

Except your uncle, you don't have to listen to him.

[one_note]

[he makes a tiny discontented sound.]

[weiyingdown]

[tilting his head]

What?

[one_note]

...backtalking elders...is forbidden in the Cloud Recesses.

[weiyingdown]

It shouldn't be if they deserve it!

[one_note]

[FROWNS AT HIM]

[weiyingdown]

See? I'm your elder right now, and you're frowning at me like that.

[one_note]

Wei Ying...not here.

[weiyingdown]

[startles at being called that by tiny Lan Zhan. it's enough to make him relent.]

You knew what you were getting into when you let me in here. But I'll stop, okay? I'll go before I give you any more trouble.

[giving Lan Zhan one last fond pat on the head and glancing around for his rabbit guide]