[♪♫♬]

[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]

[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?]

[one_note]

[they're study notes, but they seem of a lower level than the ones he remembers handling in the Cloud Recesses. for someone younger?]

[weiyingdown]

[flipping through them with mild interest before setting them back down]

Ah, does one of the teachers live here?

[one_note]

[Lan Wangji's eyes flicker to the bedroom with the slightly-opened door]

[weiyingdown]

[he

he can't not go look, he's too nosy to just leave. GOING TO SNEAK A LOOK INTO THE BEDROOM]

[one_note]

[you open the door into a neat and tidy bedroom with two beds. one side of it is painfully neat and correct, with Bichen placed meticulously on its stand by the perfectly made bed and a stack of cultivation scrolls on the desk; the other side is just as tidy, but more comfortably furnished, with a couple of chairs drawn together to make an elegant sitting area and a few nature scenes on the walls. the two sides have distinctly different personalities, but they don't clash at all, complementing each other instead.

Lan Xichen is sitting at the table copying something, his own sword at his side, but he looks up with a pleasant smile.]

Young master Wei! Welcome.

[weiyingdown]

[he should have been expecting this, but...he wasn't, and the surprise is on his face for a moment before he remembers to give Lan Xichen a bow in greeting.]

Hello, Zewu-jun. Is this your house?

[now he feels a little bad for barging in]