[♪♫♬]

[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]

[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.

[weiyingdown]

[that was still too ambiguous

he swallows twice, trying to wet his throat. his words still come out in a bit of a croak]

You haven't always thought that, have you?

[one_note]

[considers that one]

No.

[he hasn't known you ALL his life, Wei Ying.]

[weiyingdown]

[that question was not meant to be taken that literally, Lan Zhan!]

Since when, then?

[one_note]

Fifteen.

[weiyingdown]

. . .

Lan Zhan, that's the whole time you've known me, isn't it?

[one_note]

Mn.

[weiyingdown]

[shaking his shoulders again, but with much less force this time; just enough to vent his exasperation]

I just asked you--! Lan Zhan, are you teasing me?! What am I going to do with you...!

[one_note]

[lets himself be shaken; solid as granite, either way]

I am telling you the truth.

[weiyingdown]

Mm. You wouldn't...you wouldn't lie. That's one of the things I like about you.

[one_note]

[his eyes widen, a little.]

[weiyingdown]

[immediately lets go of him, his face heating up]

I've said that before! It's not like my position's suddenly changed.

[one_note]

[inclines his head in acceptance of that...]

[weiyingdown]

[moves to get behind Lan Wangji and push at his back, urging him forward]

What are you doing letting me get distracted for? I'm supposed to be helping you out. Show me what's here!

[that was the smoothest topic change known to man]

[one_note]

That is not...simple. The space can be changed.

[walks forward easily with Wei Ying's urging.]

What do you seek?

[weiyingdown]

I was looking for something that might be causing your qi deviation.

But if there's nothing like that then I just want to snoop around.