[pfsb]

[acrookedpath]

Lan Zhan, he writes, I'm swimming in the lake! I love you -- Wei Ying. After a moment's thought, Wei Wuxian adds a smiley face to the bottom like Madam Bar so often does with her napkin notes.

It's unseasonably warm today, more early summer than late fall. The trees have dropped enough of their leaves that Wei Wuxian knows such days will depart for good soon enough. And frankly, if he stares at his latest iteration of the energy-revealing array much longer, his eyes will cross and stick that way. He needs to clear his head.

After leaving one copy of the note in their room and another with Madam Bar, he requests some swimming attire; she provides a black short-sleeved shirt much like the one he wore to London Above, the fabric smooth as silk but much stretchier, and loose red trousers that end just above his knees. A little revealing for a lake shared by many, perhaps, but they'll do.

He changes in the public washroom and walks to the shoreline. Stepping onto one of the larger rocks, he eyes the water with a smile.

Then he backs up, sprints forward to spring off the rock, and cannonballs into the lake with a loud whoop.

Comments

[lightamidchaos]

He reaches over to brush his fingers over the bright color in Wei Ying’s cheek, very lightly, before picking up his own bowl.

[acrookedpath]

The couch sits just far enough back from the table that it is easier to pick up his food in one hand, chopsticks in the other, and snuggle up close to Lan Zhan as he eats.

(Yes. Easier. That's the only reason.)

"We will have to go swimming again in the spring," he says between bites. "Maybe we can explore the deeper water together."

[lightamidchaos]

“Mn,” he affirms, keeping proper posture for the meal -- but also letting himself lean just slightly against Wei Ying.

To steady him, of course. Even if that is not the only reason.

[acrookedpath]

"If we find fish that glow," he says, "we could bring them back with us and replace all the lanterns in the room. Little aquariums full of glowing fish! We'd have to cover them when we sleep, of course, but it'd be much more interesting than simple lanterns."

[lightamidchaos]

“They would be happier in the lake,” he observes.

[acrookedpath]

"I suppose they would." He eats another bite of his dinner. "I know I would be unhappy if someone plucked me away to put me in a tiny box of water. And while we'd never have to light our new lanterns, we would have to feed them every day."

He brightens.

"We should see if Ingress's camera works underwater! Then we can take pictures of anything we find and place them on the walls."

[lightamidchaos]

"It might."

He is still content to listen more than he speaks when it comes to meals, but he will not fail to respond to Wei Ying.

Blandly, he adds,

"Perhaps the squid could use it."

[acrookedpath]

He sputters a laugh, pressing the side of his hand to his mouth. "Ah, we should do that! Get our own camera from Madam Bar and give it to the squid for a day. It could take as many pictures as it wished of places so deep we could never reach them. And of course it could keep the best ones! But maybe it would be kind enough to share a few with us."

[lightamidchaos]

"Perhaps."

Stranger things have happened here, he is sure.

"If it understands us. Ingress would know."

[acrookedpath]

"It sounded like it might," he says, gesturing with his chopsticks. "It recognized Ingress and waved hello to her when she introduced me. Though... now that I think about it," he goes on, deflating slightly, "its tentacles may be too large to press the little button on top to take the picture."

Another great plan foiled!

[lightamidchaos]

"We will have to take our own. In spring."

It might be more comfortable than trying to explain to a squid, although he would not doubt that Wei Ying would be willing to attempt it.

In contrast to Wei Ying's gesticulations, he continues to eat neatly, then pours another cup of tea.

[acrookedpath]

"Yes." A small laugh. "I suppose that's the easiest option."

He kisses Lan Zhan's cheek, finishes off the last of his food, then shifts away just enough to grab his wine.

"...You know," he says thoughtfully after he's taken a gulp from the bottle. "The talk of lanterns before. I might try painting the energy-revealing array on a lantern once I've finished refining it. That way you would only need to hold it up to the person you wish to view, not stick talismans all over them."

[lightamidchaos]

He considers that for several moments.

"The light from the lantern carries the array's effect?" He glances at Wei Ying.

"Before. I was surrounded by the talismans. Would the light be able to surround the target?"

[acrookedpath]

"If the lantern were held above them, maybe." He drums his fingers against the white ceramic. "You're right, though; I would have to find a way to duplicate that surrounding effect, to make it as versatile as I wished. But if I changed the core principle from opening to illuminating -- I am already testing that to see if it will allow others to see the energy, so if it works, it may not be too far a reach to move on to an energy-revealing lantern."

[lightamidchaos]

"If it does not, perhaps combining," he suggests. "Illuminate what is opened."

[acrookedpath]

"Yes!" He beams. "Open, then make what is there shine brighter, rather than trying to draw it out. And with a lantern that would allow me to use reflecting principles, too, or magnifying, as I could combine the lantern's light with the energy somehow."

He hooks his chin over Lan Zhan's shoulder.

"Though I may still have to test the array on you before I move on to the lantern. I am committed, Lan Zhan. I have spent so long staring at it that if I give up now, my eyes will not know what to do with themselves. They will still see nothing but the array wherever I go!"

[lightamidchaos]

“Mn.”

The look in his eyes is fond.

“You may test as many arrays on me as you wish.”

[acrookedpath]

"Always so patient!" He kisses the corner of his mouth. "I promise I will only test them when you are not about to fall asleep where you stand."

[lightamidchaos]

“You could always give me coffee first.”

His tone is perfectly bland.

[acrookedpath]

"And have you awake for an entire week?" Laughing. "Do you even want to drink coffee, Lan Zhan?"

[lightamidchaos]

“It was not bad. The other night. Your birthday,” he points out.

“But I prefer tea.”

[acrookedpath]

"Ah, that's right," he says, as the shape of the memory emerges from that particular alcohol-induced fog. "I had forgotten you had a cup as well. How much of it did you drink? You weren't awake the entire night, were you?"

He's very concerned about this!

[lightamidchaos]

“Half,” he says. “No.”

“It does not affect me like it does you.”

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian pulls a face, sulking against Lan Zhan's shoulder. "I suppose it's only fair," he grumps. "You will have your coffee, I will have my wine, and we will balance each other perfectly."

Speaking of that: he swallows another substantial mouthful from the bottle.

"But no, I am glad you were unharmed by it."

[lightamidchaos]

He kisses Wei Ying’s hair.

“Balance.”