[♪♫♬]

[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]

[spinning to face him with what is indeed a shameless grin]

My methods are unorthodox but effective. What else did you expect?

[one_note]

[...just...shakes his head once]

Mistake.

[weiyingdown]

[hopping over to throw an arm around him]

It wasn't a mistake! It was just getting fun. Bring the other me back, didn't you want there to be two of me?

[one_note]

Doubly ridiculous.

[weiyingdown]

You must not hate that ridiculousness if I was here in the first place.

[one_note]

[JUST, SHUTS UP AT THAT, A FLUSH CREEPING UP TO HIS EARS]

[weiyingdown]

[his face is literally right there, he can practically feel the heat radiating off of his ears. it just makes him laugh]

I already know you don't hate me. But I have to admit that I was surprised to find myself up here! Isn't this the nice area?

[one_note]

...

...

...

...

...

Happiness.

[weiyingdown]

Ah-hah! Because I'm so naturally cheerful all the time?

[try harder, wei wuxian]

[one_note]

I want you to be happy.

[weiyingdown]

[his throat is caught with an emotion he doesn't want to name; he leans heavier against Lan Wangji even as he turns away to hide his face]

...I don't remember ever doing something to earn such high regard with you. Why would you care about my happiness?

[one_note]

[he's very solid and holding very still, letting Wei Wuxian steady himself.]

You belong here.

[weiyingdown]

[a sharp laugh bubbles out of him]

I don't think you know what you're saying, Lan Zhan. I belong in your heart, in the place where your happiness resides? Now you're just being silly.

[one_note]

No.

[sounds pretty implacable about that, actually]

[weiyingdown]

It's silly. You're the silliest, Lan Zhan.

[shifting so that his forehead is resting on Lan Wangji's shoulder, his voice getting smaller]

...I don't understand.

[one_note]

[Lan Wangji rests a hand on the small of his back, so delicate he can barely feel it]

"Wei Ying deserves happiness." Simple.

[weiyingdown]

[as light as the touch is, he startles as if he was given an electric shock]

Not just that! There's--

[his throat stops working, unable to make the words come out. unsure of whether he wants to hear the response. but he lifts his head up to look Lan Wangji in the eye and puts his hands on his shoulders]

There was the Burial Mounds too. I felt your grief down there. Is it just because I'm the one that's here, that I keep seeing things that have to do with me?

[one_note]

[holds his eyes, and shakes his head once.]

[weiyingdown]

[his eyes widen and fingers tighten on Lan Wangji's shoulders]

Lan Zhan...

[it could mean anything. he could be wildly misinterpreting Lan Wangji]

You're going to give me the wrong idea.

[one_note]

No.

[gentler]

It is simple. A desire.

[weiyingdown]

This isn't simple at all! We used to argue all of the time. I thought you couldn't stand me. And now you're saying that wasn't the case at all. That it was...practically the opposite...

[one_note]

[takes a breath and lets it out, letting Wei Wuxian come to his own conclusion.]

[weiyingdown]

Lan Zhan!

[shaking his shoulders]

T-tell me what you think of me.

[one_note]

. . .

[oh]

[one_note]

[finally, with almost glacially careful slowness]

Wei Ying...is Wei Ying. I...like that.