[pfsb]

[acrookedpath]

The good news: the energy-revealing array works!

The bad news --

It's not bad news, he insists to himself. It just... is. It's a complication, a hole in the road, a little snare tripping him up. That's all. It doesn't have to be more. It might not even be in the first place, yes? He is dead, Lan Zhan is alive, of course seeing just how very alive would stir something in him. That's all it is.

Right?

Never mind that he's fairly certain if he placed the same array on Harrow, or Tom-gongzi, or Ingress, he would not have been struck the same way. That -- it's ridiculous, this is all ridiculous, and that's why he's out here by the lake, standing on a flat rock with another array of talismans fluttering in his hand.

The key is not just luring resentful energy from the forest, despite the suppression around the inn. It is how swiftly he can do it. During his coffee-fueled spree of work last night, he drew up some new lures that ought to work faster than a traditional set. Now he scatters them in a wide circle around his feet, gestures sharply, and sends a bolt of red energy into the yellow paper slips.

Silently, in his head, he begins to count. One... two... three...

At the count of thirteen, something boils at the forest's edge, dark and oily.

Wei Wuxian smiles and lifts his flute to meet it.

Comments

[acrookedpath]

His eyes well up; he closes them before the next round of tears can get too far.

Thank you, he wants to say, and knows Lan Zhan will just dismiss it as stolidly as ever. But what else can he possibly offer when faced with this gift? Why does Lan Zhan keep coming back every time Wei Wuxian pushes him away?

He is thinking too much. He is tired, scoured and aching by the nightmare, probably still a little tipsy from too much wine in too short a span, and it is making him maudlin. Enjoy this while it lasts, he tells himself again, silently. That is all you can do.

[lightamidchaos]

He keeps his arm around Wei Ying and stays quiet for a while, steadying him, letting him absorb the warmth of the blanket around him and the sandalwood-scented room.

Eventually, he asks,

"Is there anything else? That would help?"

[acrookedpath]

"I don't know," he whispers. The tea sits warm in his hands; Lan Zhan's arm is steady and sure around him. He breathes in sandalwood. "I am used to hiding away even when they are not this bad. I wake and I wait for it to pass. That is all."

[lightamidchaos]

"We will wait together."

He wants to offer to play Tranquility for Wei Ying, and fears to do so.

"I could... talk," he offers, after a moment. "Share news. As a distraction?"

Talk. Easier to offer almost anything else, but this is Wei Ying. If talking will help, Lan Wangji will find the words to do so even if he has to carve himself open to locate them.

[acrookedpath]

All is silent for a moment... and then Wei Wuxian cracks the smallest of smiles.

"Talking," he repeats, and while he cannot muster up his full humor, there is a shadow of his light teasing. "You would do that for me?"

He shifts his head a little on Lan Zhan's shoulder, making himself more comfortable.

"Yes. I would like that."

[lightamidchaos]

"Mn."

Now that he has promised to do so, he has no idea how to begin. He clears his throat, then tries,

"Xichen tells me that Chifeng-zun commissioned a painter to come to the Unclean Realm. For Nie Huaisang."

[acrookedpath]

"Oh?" His smile grows, fractionally. "I hope they will meet with Nie-xiong's exacting standards."

His old friend takes few things seriously, but art, he knows, is high on the list.

"Is he well?"

[lightamidchaos]

He nods, then realizes Wei Ying might not be able to tell.

"Yes," he says aloud, instead.

"He is well. Chifeng-zun was encouraging him to train harder with the blade, but has recently changed his mind and started supporting his art more, Xichen says. I imagine he is pleased about that."

[acrookedpath]

Remembering his tea, Wei Wuxian shifts just enough to take a sip before resettling against Lan Zhan's shoulder.

"I am certain he is," he says with a small laugh. "What an accident of birth for him to be a Nie! But I am glad Chifeng-zun is letting him do more of what he wishes."

[lightamidchaos]

"He knows poetry, too, correct?"

He looks down at Wei Ying.

"We are not close. Not as you. But if you think he would appreciate it, I could send him a copy of Lan An's work."

[acrookedpath]

"He might," says Wei Wuxian, thoughtful. "He may wonder why you have sent it to him, but he will be appreciative."

His brow knits slightly as he remembers something else.

"You said someone was playing Clarity for Chifeng-zun, didn't you? Is he well?"

[lightamidchaos]

"Baxia's effects are beginning to trouble him," he says, simply. "He is more irritable, and Xichen is concerned that he is in danger of the qi deviation that so often affects the Nie leaders."

"Xichen has played for him, and has taught Lianfang-zun to do so, as well."

[acrookedpath]

Sometimes he nearly forgets how much time has passed back home -- as if Lan Zhan were the only one who has lived three years, and everyone else has lived the mere month Wei Wuxian has spent at the inn. It seems so sudden to think of Chifeng-zun in danger of qi deviation, but of course it would not be sudden at all. Much can happen in three years.

Much has.

He breathes out, the furrows in his brow deepening. "I hope it does not come to that," he murmurs. "If your brother is playing for him, though, he is in good hands."

[lightamidchaos]

"I hope so, too."

He casts about for another topic of news that might engage Wei Ying, and remembers that he had been interested that day in Yiling in hearing of new alliances.

"Baling Ouyang is doing well," he tries. "They are interested in forming closer ties with Gusu Lan, and have suggested sending their sect heir to Cloud Recesses for training when he is old enough."

At least it is not Pingyang Yao, he thinks, but refrains from mentioning that.

[acrookedpath]

"Ah, really?" He turns his head a little to give Lan Zhan a sidelong, curious glance. "You must have thoughts about that, Lan Zhan. Will you share them with me?"

[lightamidchaos]

He realizes, all at once, that Wei Ying may not know of his own involvement with Baling Ouyang during the Sunshot Campaign, which - he has been told - is part of the reason the sect still exists at all, as it had happened during the three months when he was --

--well.

"Mn." He clears his throat a little awkwardly. "Sect Leader Ouyang is -- tolerable."

A beat of quiet, as he tries to find the right words to follow that.

"Young A-Zizhen is five or six now, and there are several who will be disciples near to him in age."

Including A-Yuan.

"I think it could be... good?"

[acrookedpath]

"Tolerable! High praise, Lan Zhan," he teases, before taking another sip of tea. "I will hope A-Zizhen is tolerable as well, then, and that he and other disciples will not give you too much trouble when the time comes."

[lightamidchaos]

"He is young. He will be fine. Even if he is trouble."

[acrookedpath]

"As long as he does not dispel a barrier, climb over the roof, and attempt to bribe anyone with alcohol, I suppose."

This is the closest to a true grin Wei Wuxian has shown since he woke up.

[lightamidchaos]

Lan Wangji looks down at Wei Ying, whose head is still resting on his shoulder.

"Even then."

[acrookedpath]

His smile softens. The flutter returns to his belly, though it is -- thankfully -- much gentler than before. The cup of tea has cooled somewhat; he drains it and stretches to set it on the tray.

Then, pulling the blanket closer around himself, he leans more heavily against Lan Zhan and asks softly, "And what of Yunmeng Jiang? I know it has not been very long since you told me of them, but..."

He trails off.

[lightamidchaos]

His arm tightens slightly around Wei Ying as if to protect him, even as panic freezes his thoughts for a moment.

Jiang-zongzhu is very angry, Xichen had told him, not long ago. Lan Wangji had hated hearing every word of what his brother had to say, even though he understood why Xichen felt it necessary to tell him. I know what you think of him, Wangji, but he believes Wei Wuxian may possess the body of another, and hunts those suspected of practicing -- the ghost path.

He had been grateful to Xichen for not saying demonic cultivation, another example of his brother's kind heart, even while regretting that Xichen had not understood that Jiang Wanyin's actions in this regard only serve to make it impossible for Lan Wangji to think anything good of him at all, much less to forgive him.

"Jiang Wanyin will be helping to raise Jin Ling soon," he settles on. "When he is a little older. He will spend half of his time at Lotus Pier."

[acrookedpath]

His heartbeat kicks up a notch as Lan Zhan pulls him closer. Wei Wuxian tries to focus on the scent of sandalwood again; tries to calm the dragonflies in his stomach before they can grow out of control once more.

"That's good," he says, no louder. "Someone will have to teach him how to swim properly, and I know Lanling Jin isn't up to the task."

It will always sear him to remember the hatred in his brother's eyes as he drove the sword down. But he does not doubt Jiang Cheng will love -- does love -- his nephew fiercely, as fiercely as he hated Wei Wuxian by the end, and he will do right by him as the boy grows up.

[lightamidchaos]

"Mn. No doubt."

A beat of silence.

"Although Lianfang-zun is fond of him."

[acrookedpath]

"Huh." He frowns in thought. "Does Jin Guangyao know how to swim? I can't remember."