[pfsb] happy halloween!

[acrookedpath]

It's that time of year again.

The inn is bustling. All manner of strange outfits have been donned (some more willingly than others). Lanterns flicker ominously in the corners, pumpkins stand sentry at either end of the bar, and every order comes complete with a handful of wrapped candies.

And -- if you're Wei Wuxian -- Madam Bar has also gifted you with an enormous array of tiny cakes, each one with a little candle stuck in its center. His second birthday at the inn has arrived, and he could not be more pleased.

(He's also wearing a red T-shirt that reads, simply, I'M THE CHAOS. Just like last year, he has set his mild confusion aside in favor of delight at the bounty Madam Bar has given him.)

Comments

[acrookedpath]

"You aren't," he reassures him, pulling him the last couple of steps down the staircase. "We were just about to explore the library. Shijie, it's all right if Lan Zhan comes along, isn't it?"

[lotus_sister]

"Of course," she assures him - assures both of them. "Please do. You will, won't you?"

Hanguang-jun nods, and Jiang Yanli smiles at him.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian beams, as bright as the sunrise. "Then let's go!"

Without letting go of Lan Zhan's hand, he grabs Jiang Yanli's with his other to tug them both back up the stairs. (Perhaps they should have joined Lan Zhan at the top of the staircase, rather than pulling him down, but then Wei Wuxian wouldn't have seen his costume! It all works out for the best.)

[lightamidchaos]

He follows along willingly, trailing after Wei Ying and beside Jiang Yanli down the hallway to the library.

The Librarian looks up from its work with a beady gimlet eye, and he instinctively steps between the ape and Wei Ying.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian offers the Librarian an uneasy smile; ever since he returned the water-stained scroll they used in Harrow's consecration ritual, the ape has treated him as if every book he touches will come back ink-smudged and possibly on fire.

"Ah -- hello, my friend!" he chirps anyway, circling his arms to offer a formal bow. "Not to worry, Lan Zhan and my shijie will make certain I behave myself. Shijie, this is the inn's Librarian!"

[lotus_sister]

She bows as well, perfectly poised, and regards the Librarian with a polite smile - having not missed either Hanguang-jun's protective air or A-Xian's nervousness. "I am very pleased to meet you," she tells the ape. "My brother has spoken highly of your collection and insisted that I come see its wonders."

The ape blinks in surprise and peers closely at A-Xian, its entire manner saying You?

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian puts on his sunniest expression, the better to say, Of course me! Who else?

"You do maintain an impeccable library," he says, cheerful. "Forgive my rudeness for not saying that often enough! And I promise we will leave it all as we found it."

He holds up a three-fingered salute for emphasis.

[lightamidchaos]

The Librarian peers harder at Wei Ying, then looks at Lan Wangji, who inclines his head in a fractional nod of assent.

The ape huffs agreement and waves a hand at the library beyond.

[acrookedpath]

What a relief!

"Thank you," says Wei Wuxian again, offering another quick bow before he grins at both his companions. "Here, the magic section is down this way -- "

And he takes off toward one of the aisles.

[lotus_sister]

She gives the Librarian another polite nod and moves to follow A-Xian, walking beside Hanguang-jun.

"He seems very happy," she murmurs. "I trust you are as well?"

"Yes." His voice is deep and sure, and Jiang Yanli smiles.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian glances back at the murmured voices. He can't quite catch what they're saying, but he sees the smile on his shijie's face, the quiet contentment on Lan Zhan's. The wash of love that overtakes him would sweep him away if he weren't careful.

This is the perfect evening, he thinks.

"Here we are!" He brushes his hand over the spines of a few books, the aisle beyond stretching to uncountable lengths. "There seem to be new ones every time I visit."

He plucks out a battered paperback titled Kitchen Witch Recipes, intrigued, and tilts it toward Jiang Yanli and Lan Zhan so they can tke a look.

[lightamidchaos]

"Spells for food?" Lan Wangji asks, surprised. He leans in, careful not to intrude on Jiang Yanli's space, and looks at the pages.

She looks more than politely interested, he notices. Perhaps it is not just soup that she would prefer to make, or at least oversee in the household. Given how fondly Wei Ying has spoken of the care she puts into such things, he can certainly understand it.

"You might as well call it cooking with cultivation," she laughs, and brushes light fingers over the page. "I might do better with this than other forms!"

[acrookedpath]

"When you visit next, we will have to collect as many books like this as we can and spend the whole night in the kitchen," says Wei Wuxian, laughing as well. "Imagine what the rats will think!"

Because Jiang Yanli will visit again. If he lets himself think otherwise -- if he jumps so far ahead that all he can see is the night's ending, and his shijie vanishing once more --

No. He will enjoy what he has, while he has it.

[lotus_sister]

“As long as they don’t scold you again,” she says. To Hanguang-jun, she explains, “A-Xian took ingredients that they’d meant for another dish.”

[acrookedpath]

"I was scolded quite thoroughly for it," says Wei Wuxian, unrepentant. (Mostly.) "But we are back in their good graces now that they have the recipe for shijie's soup."

[lightamidchaos]

"It was kind of you to give it." He is surprised for an instant, and then more surprised that she is evidently able to read his expression, at least somewhat, enough to explain.

"I wanted A-Xian to always be able to have some when he wants," she says, and their eyes meet as perfect understanding passes between them.

"Mn," he agrees.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian's smile goes suspiciously watery at the edges. He clears his throat, attempting to regain some of his composure.

(What a marvel, to be here again with the two people who love him deepest. Who will always take care of him, however they can.)

"Perhaps they'll be able to make a version with no meat, Lan Zhan, so you can taste it too," he says brightly. "It will not be entirely the same, but you should be able to enjoy shijie's food alongside me."

[lotus_sister]

“Mn,” he says again, and Jiang Yanli feels her heart turn over within her at the quiet love and acceptance Hanguang-jun manages to put in a single sound.

“I will think of a way,” she promises, and smiles at them both. “For next time.”

[acrookedpath]

"Next time," he agrees with a firm nod. " -- Ah, maybe there are cookbooks that could give you ideas! Not even magical ones; think of all the different foods that must exist elsewhere. I know I saw a few this way -- "

He ducks further into the stacks.

[lightamidchaos]

"Wei Ying." He keeps it quiet enough not to disturb the Librarian and waits to discover if he has caught the other man's attention in time or not.

"Jin shao-fu'ren, would you wish to sit while we bring things for you to examine, or to explore the shelves?"

She smiles at him. "That is very thoughtful. Please, rest assured, I'm happy to come with you both."

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian catches himself mid-step, throwing a faintly chagrined look over his shoulder. He returns to Lan Zhan and Jiang Yanli's side, offering up an embarrassed grin.

"I am too excited for my own good, eh?" he says. "It is only because I'm so glad to have both of you here."

[lotus_sister]

She reaches for his hands and squeezes them, smiling at him.

"I'm glad, too," she says, simply.

[acrookedpath]

His smile blossoms back to the unselfconscious grin of before. Returning the squeeze, he tugs on his shijie's hands -- very gently -- to lead her along to the books.

"Still, I will go slower so both of you can keep up," he laughs. "Let me see... ah! Here we are already! Sometimes I wonder if the library is like the inn itself, changing its dimensions all the time."

Because sure enough, the magic books have segued into row after row of cookbooks, their spines shimmering as the inn's translation spell weaves over the hundreds of languages on display.

[lightamidchaos]

He paces along behind them, simply happy to see Wei Ying's bright smile, his irrepressible laughter, the way he brightens when Jiang Yanli exclaims over the things he is showing her.

This time is a gift. He will protect it for them, as much as he can.

[acrookedpath]

In no time, Wei Wuxian has an entire armful of books -- recipes from unheard-of planets, a few magical cookbooks, a couple of musical scores balanced precariously on top. They settle at a table to dig through their bounty; Wei Wuxian scribbles down as many notes as he can, writing every title his shijie finds interesting, resisting the urge (mostly successfully) to hop back to his feet every time a new idea crosses his mind.

They could spend the whole evening here and barely scrape the surface of the library's offerings. Next time, he silently repeats to himself, even as he laughs and chatters excitedly over everything they've found. Next time.