[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]

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."

[acrookedpath]

"You -- "

He bites his tongue. Turns away, in a sudden jerk, to stare unseeing at the talisman wall.

You don't need to protect me.

[lightamidchaos]

It has been some time since he has seen Wei Ying react like that. Lan Wangji feels himself go pale to the lips.

"Wei Ying."

It is barely a whisper.

[acrookedpath]

It is like Lan Zhan took the hilt of Bichen and drove it into an old bruise -- a bruise Wei Wuxian thought had healed by now. His bitten tongue pulled the anger a few inches away; now Lan Zhan's words extinguish it as swiftly as a candle snuffed.

He closes his eyes. Hangs his head, defeated.

"I'm sorry." No louder. "I know..."

He trails off.

[lightamidchaos]

He shakes his head. "I am the one who is sorry," he manages. "I trust your judgment. I do. I apologize for questioning you."

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian flinches.

(Lan Zhan's voice sounds so fragile -- and his words sound so much like something he would say to Lan Qiren.)

"No." He scrubs the side of his hand across his eyes. "Lan Zhan, don't say that. I -- " A small, humorless laugh. "I am glad you trust me. But if you have questions, I want to answer them. I want to hear them."

[lightamidchaos]

He does not understand what about what he said made Wei Ying flinch. Lan Wangji feels utterly helpless.

"I have asked them," he whispers. "I have no more. About this talisman, at least."

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian swallows, finally meeting Lan Zhan's eye.

Quietly: "Do you others that aren't about the talisman?"

[lightamidchaos]

He shakes his head, sending the silken fall of his hair along his shoulders.

"When I do, I will ask," he promises.

[acrookedpath]

He nods. Tentatively, Wei Wuxian reaches out, brushes his fingertips along Lan Zhan's ribbon, and settles his hand on his cheek.

"You do not have to follow me blindly, Lan Zhan," he whispers. "I am not another rule carved on a wall."

[lightamidchaos]

He holds very, very still beneath Wei Ying's touch, as if afraid to startle a rabbit or a butterfly.

"It is not that," he whispers back. "I do not want Wei Ying to think I doubt him. Ever again."

[acrookedpath]

His heart cracks.

Wordlessly -- for what can he say to something like that? -- Wei Wuxian wraps his arms around Lan Zhan.

[lightamidchaos]

Without even an instant's hesitation, he draws him in and holds him tight. He is unaware of the slight shivers of relief that run through him, just for a moment.