[♪♫♬]

[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]

[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.

[one_note]

[Lan Wangji exhales, and raises a hand, and suddenly buildings from the Cloud Recesses dot the plateau, sprawling and peaceful.]

You can look. But the deviation is lower.

[weiyingdown]

[pushing hm towards the closest building]

I just came from lower. Did I miss it?

[one_note]

Most likely.

[sorry Wei Ying he can only tell the truth.

the building is long and low; it looks like one of the family compound buildings in the Cloud Recesses, actually? r u sure]

[weiyingdown]

[YES

he just wants to take a peek, ok]

I'll...I'll go back and find it after this.

[one_note]

[it's a living area, like the Jingshi, rather like the ones the disciples used but roomier. there are two bedrooms; one is ajar. it seems occupied; there are two drinking bowls left unattended on a table (though no alcohol), and books and scrolls spread open like someone was just reading through them. the air comes through the broad, open windows is spring-sweet.

Lan Wangji pauses on the threshold, but doesn't stop Wei Wuxian from going the rest of the way in.]

[weiyingdown]

[of course he goes in!!! he's quiet, almost mindful of disturbing the residents of this place as he goes over to take a look at the books and scrolls on the table. is there anything interesting written on them?]