[pfsb]

[acrookedpath]

The lantern is done. It's a momentous achievement; a culmination of all of Wei Wuxian's work since he first arrived at the inn...

And now it means he doesn't have a project to work on anymore. The agony!

He'll think of one soon enough. In the meantime, he's settled for sketching out an update to the Compass of Evil, whittling away at a block of wood Madam Bar provided him. If he has all the tools of a thousand worlds at his disposal, it should be no trouble at all to fine-tune the instrument.

Comments

[lightamidchaos]

"It would seem not." Lan Wangji nods to Wei Ying's work. "While you gather that, I will prepare a message for Ingress. It would be as well for someone to know where we have gone."

Especially if there should be difficulty returning, he does not say.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian nods agreement. "Tell her that if we are not back within the day, she should Open a door to Twin Peaks to fetch us."

He leans in to kiss Lan Zhan's cheek.

"I'll bring these to our room and start packing. See you there?"

[lightamidchaos]

"Yes." He gives Wei Ying a clear, compelling stare. "Do not leave without me."

[acrookedpath]

"Lan Zhan!" With great mock-affront. "Do you have so little faith in your husband?"

[lightamidchaos]

"I have faith in Wei Ying," he returns. "I also know Wei Ying."

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian slaps a hand to his chest, no less dramatic -- only to break into laughter before he can finish the charade.

"Then know that I have enough good sense not to wander away without you," he manages at last. "We night hunt together, Lan Zhan."

[lightamidchaos]

"Together," he murmurs. "Yes." He takes a second for a breath. "We will go together to this woman's world, and do what we can for the people there. But you will be careful, Wei Ying. Promise me that."

[acrookedpath]

At that, Wei Wuxian sobers.

"I promise," he says, soft, as he takes Lan Zhan's hand. "I will be careful. You have my word."

[lightamidchaos]

He holds his hand tightly for a moment, then nods.

"All right."

[acrookedpath]

With a small, sweet smile, he lifts Lan Zhan's hand to kiss his knuckles.

"Don't worry too much about me," he murmurs. "I will be fine."

[lightamidchaos]

Lan Wangji gives him a dubious look, but says, "Yes. You will."

He intends to see to it personally.

[acrookedpath]

That spurs a tiny laugh from him. Squeezing Lan Zhan's hand one last time, he lets go to finish gathering his things.

"See you soon, my husband," he says, warmly, before he heads for the stairs.

[lightamidchaos]

Lan Wangji watches after him for a moment, then takes a deep breath and crosses over to Madam Bar. He has letters to write, and perhaps a few things to add to his qiankun bag as well.

[acrookedpath]

Most of what he gathers are items he'd bring to any night hunt: talisman paper, his dizi, a small bundle of medicine and bandages. It won't truly take him a couple of hours to pack. He spends far more time standing before his talisman wall, rubbing his nose as he contemplates what experiments may help.

It is ancient. Well-rooted. Its destruction -- for Wei Wuxian is under no illusions that the anomaly can be liberated or suppressed -- will likely take more than two cultivators. But this is an exploratory journey, he reminds himself; there will be time later, after all the information is gathered, to chart a path with Lan Zhan at his side.

He is still studying the wall when Lan Zhan returns to their quarters.

[lightamidchaos]

He comes silently to join him in front of the wall of papers and possibilities, studying it with him. Although he does not have the blade-sharp brilliance that Wei Ying possesses when it comes to new creations and talismans, he can use them as well as any.

"Is there something new that may help?"

[acrookedpath]

"I'm not certain," he murmurs, distracted. His gaze skips up to a higher row of talismans. "Maybe..."

He stretches on his tiptoes to fetch down a slip of paper.

"Moiraine described the Black Lodge, the thing at its heart, like a place. Harrow and I never finished our work in communicating across the boundary of the inn, but there are some principles here that might work."

He passes the paper to Lan Zhan.

"There are some warding projects as well, and something -- " He huffs a wry laugh. "Well, I thought to use it to uproot radishes more easily, once. A single talisman for an entire crop! But we will have to see how deep the roots of the anomaly extend first."

[lightamidchaos]

He studies the paper, then looks at Wei Ying just as carefully.

"You do not mean to enter this Lodge." It is not precisely a question.

[acrookedpath]

Swiftly, Wei Wuxian shakes his head.

"Not yet," he says. "I thought to investigate at a distance without relying on a paper man. They are too fragile to carry my consciousness into a vortex like that, if it is as Moiraine described."

[lightamidchaos]

Lan Wangji stares at him.

"Wei Ying."

[acrookedpath]

"Lan Zhan!" he protests. "What?"

[lightamidchaos]

"From what she has said, it is not a place to enter without becoming possessed." Every word is taut. "Do not do this."

[acrookedpath]

"That's why I would use a talisman to investigate!" He gestures to the one in Lan Zhan's hand. "If it is truly not safe to enter, then we will find another way, but -- "

[lightamidchaos]

"Will this talisman carry your consciousness, as your paper men do?" he demands.

[acrookedpath]

"No! That's why I will use it instead -- I could modify it, attach it to some creature we could release into the Black Lodge, a rat or a snake, maybe -- "

Frustration tinges the edges of his words.

[lightamidchaos]

The frustration slices him deeply, although he does his best not to let it show. He cannot give in, not on this. Can he?

"Wei Ying. I do not seek to stop you from doing what is needed. I only seek to protect you."