acrookedpath | [pfsb]

[pfsb]

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.

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"Ah, so we can uncover the deepest secrets of the anomaly and drink coffee?"

He does not even have to look at Lan Zhan to know his reaction, and adds, only a little plaintive: "Lan Zhan, I promise I won't drink too much!"

"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji murmurs, and no more than that. He is confident that his zhiji will make the right choice.

Ah, Lan Zhan, you have so much faith in your husband!

But perhaps it isn't misplaced, because while Wei Wuxian affects a grumpy look and a sigh, he makes no further protest. "All right," he says. "Let's speak to this Hawk and learn what we can."

"Very well. Follow me."

Moiraine opens the front door for them and waits for them to make their way down the walk before she shuts and locks it behind them. As she glides after them, a short burst from a siren catches her attention.

Andy Brennan sticks his head out the window and waves wildly at her before pulling his car over. "Hey, Moiraine, Moiraine's, uh, friends," he says, cheerful. "Or are you more of her brother's cousins? Anyway, Lucy radioed and said you were going over to meet Hawk - want a lift?"

"Friends," says Wei Wuxian quickly, but his eyes are alight as he studies the car. He's never ridden in one of those before! "And we would be honored, xiansheng! Our sore feet thank you."

Now, if he remembers right from seeing cars in London Above -- and the inn's garage -- all he should have to do is pull on that little handle there...

"Mn." A panel in the side of the vehicle swings open at Wei Ying's touch. Lan Wangji eyes it dubiously, but nods to the stranger and follows Wei Ying inside.

"My thanks," Moiraine murmurs to Andy. "To you and Lucy both."

"No trouble at all," Andy assures her. He slides back behind the steering wheel and starts the engine as she settles herself in the front passenger seat. "Heard from Coop lately?"

"He is as well as might be expected," Moiraine replies, without batting an eye.

"We've yet to have the good fortune to meet Coop," says Wei Wuxian, settling back against the plush seats. (How fancy! The constant earthquake-like rumble is a bit disconcerting, though.) "Will you tell us about him?"

He has absolutely no idea who Coop might be -- perhaps the Agent Cooper that Lucy mentioned in her call? -- but if they're someone Moiraine knows, Wei Wuxian ought to know about them, too!

"I am not certain the drive is that long," Moiraine murmurs, without missing a beat. Andy laughs, delighted.

"She's right, you know," he offers, cheerfully, glancing in the rearview mirror. "How long are you two gonna be in town? Maybe you'll have a chance to meet him when he gets back from Olympia."

"I hope so!" says Wei Wuxian, then adds with real regret: "But we will probably not be able to stay long. A day or two at most."

If they're only examining the anomaly, it's more likely they'll be back at the inn in a matter of hours. But one never knows -- especially not with something as fierce and old as the Black Lodge seems to be.

Andy makes a disappointed sound. "Oh, that's too bad. You'll have to come back sometime! You--"

"Andy is one of the deputies for Twin Peaks," Moiraine interrupts, with perfect aplomb. "He enjoys welcoming visitors to town, would you not agree, Andy?"

"You bet," he agrees, bright and cheerful. "Only person better at it is Lucy."

"Ah, forgive me for not introducing ourselves!" Wei Wuxian makes a little bow, as best he can while seated. "I am Wei Wuxian; this is my husband Lan Wangji. I count myself fortunate to meet someone so welcoming, Andy-daren!"

Lan Wangji makes a quiet sound of acknowledgement, one he is certain goes unheard as the man talks right over them. "Oh, no, it's Brennan, Andy Brennan," the man tells them. "Not Darren."

Wei Wuxian blinks; even with the help of the inn's magic, it takes an extra moment to parse that.

Once it clicks: "Oh! Daren is a title where we are from, for someone of your standing, but if you'd prefer another instead..."

(He's thinking of that awkward moment in Geralt's world where he cheerfully called Yennefer Yen-furen.)

"'Deputy' would be the most appropriate title, should one be needed," Moiraine murmurs.

"Sure," Andy agrees. "Or you could just call me Andy. Oh, here we are--"

He pulls the car into the lot for the Double R Diner, which even at this hour of the day, between mealtimes, seems to be doing a reasonable amount of business. "Looks like Hawk's still here. You sure you don't need me to join you?"

"We should be all right," Wei Wuxian reassures him. He shimmies sideways in his seat to reach the door. "But hopefully we'll have the opportunity to see you again before we leave Twin Peaks, Deputy Brennan! Thank you again for your hospitality."

He means every word. What was all that nonsense Moiraine had said before, about Twin Peaks being unwelcoming to outsiders? Surely not!

He makes a small sound of acquiescence and acknowledgement, then follows Wei Ying from the car. Lan Wangji has decided that he does not especially like cars; it is too much like being enclosed in a curtained cart, and stifling.

The fresh air outside this building is much better, with a crisp green scent that he takes a moment to appreciate while Moiraine speaks with the deputy. Lan Wangji slants a look at his husband, trying to determine if he is enjoying himself.

Wei Wuxian has his face upturned to the sky, eyes closed, soaking in the sunlight with a radiant grin. He inhales a deep lungful of the mountain air -- then, as he opens his eyes and catches sight of Lan Zhan studying him, laughs.

"It smells a little like Cloud Recesses, eh?" he asks. "We're higher up than I thought we would be!"

"Mn," he agrees. "The trees."

It is and will always be a salve to his heart to see Wei Ying's joy, and something softens in his expression as he watches him.

He nods, eyes alight.

"And so far away from water that you can hardly smell it at all," he says. "Not like the inn."

Or like Lotus Pier.

"Here, at least." He suspects there must be water somewhere, a river or stream perhaps, for there to be this much green. Still, Wei Ying is right.

Soft footsteps on gravel signal an approach, and Lan Wangji turns slightly as Moiraine comes around the front of the vehicle to join them. Deputy Brennan waves, backs the car up, and pulls back out onto the road.

Wei Wuxian waves goodbye to the deputy, as cheery as if he were sending off a lifelong friend, before turning to Moiraine as well.

"Is there anything we should know of our friend Hawk, before we meet?" he asks her.

"He is quieter than Andy," she says. "But he misses nothing."

She glances back and forth between them. "Are you ready?"

"Of course."

He glances to Lan Zhan, just to confirm, but fully expects to find his husband in agreement.

Edited 2023-03-19 01:17 (UTC)

Lan Wangji gives an infinitesimal nod, and Moiraine nods to them both. "Follow me," she tells them, and glides across the parking lot to the diner.

The bell over the door chimes as she opens it. At this hour, it is not too crowded, which she is pleased to see. Shelly is at the other end of the room, coffeepot in hand, and Norma is behind the counter. She raises her eyebrows as she spots Moiraine's companions. "Hi, Moiraine. Table or counter?"

She tips her head to the side, toward the booth where Hawk is sitting. "We will join him," she says, peacefully. "Thank you, Norma."

"Good to see you. I'll have Shelly bring over some tea right away. You boys want coffee?"

Wei Wuxian did make an implicit promise to Lan Zhan that he'd behave himself, but -- !

He turns a look on Lan Zhan, hopeful and just a bit plaintive. They have so much work to do today, Lan Zhan! Wouldn't a little extra energy help?

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