[pfsb]

[acrookedpath]

The latest idea that struck Wei Wuxian mid-lunch: if he combined one of the theoretical energy talismans with a paper doll, would that allow him to search the grounds for resentful energy without having to blanket the whole inn with talismans?

It seems like a sound idea! It won't replace the planned night hunt with Lan Zhan -- nor would he want it to -- but if he succeeds, it will be a fun experiment.

First, though: combining a paper doll with a simpler talisman. Which brings us to Wei Wuxian at a table underneath the Observation Window, not an inch left uncovered by his notes, scribbling onto a tiny cutout with a ballpoint pen Bar gave him. (What an invention!) He completes the last character with a flourish and waves his hand over the doll; it springs to its "feet," and, grinning, he directs it toward the empty cup perched precariously on a corner of the table.

Comments

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian has his chin pillowed on both hands, watching the little paper cutout scoot across the table. When it reaches the teacup, it leaps forward and smacks its whole body against it, the tips of its arms curled over the rim like tiny hands.

Nothing happens. Wei Wuxian's expression falls.

And then there is a little pop, and a rattle, as the teacup jumps an inch into the air and clatters back against the wood.

"Hah!" he exclaims, delighted. As he leans over to scoop up the doll, he spots Lan Zhan, and his expression brightens even more. "Lan Zhan!"

He waves an arm overhead.

[lightamidchaos]

A flash of movement, a familiar voice --

Lan Wangji crosses the room with brisk strides and comes to a stop by the table.

"Wei Ying."

[acrookedpath]

"Hello!" Still beaming. "I see wǔ hour is done. Did it go well?"

The minor levitation part of the talisman has burnt away: it's safe for him to send the paper doll toddling toward Lan Zhan, intent on climbing up his sleeve like dozens of other paper dolls Wei Wuxian flung at him over the years.

[lightamidchaos]

"Yes."

He wants to tell Wei Ying about A-Yuan, but fears that to do so would be cruel. A-Yuan does not remember anything from before Lan Wangji brought him to the Cloud Recesses. He does not remember Wei Ying. And Wei Ying is dead, and cannot come to him. Cannot even see him.

Lan Wangji cannot find it in himself to bring Wei Ying more grief than he already bears.

"It was good to see Xichen."

He gives the talisman a resigned look, but does not pull away.

[acrookedpath]

"Good." Heartfelt. "I am glad you aren't completely alone every day."

The talisman hops onto Lan Zhan's sleeve with a cheery flutter and gets to work scaling his robes. Maybe it will hitch a ride back with him and he'll be even less alone!

(More likely it'll just try to tuck itself into Lan Zhan's forehead ribbon like a jaunty feather.)

[lightamidchaos]

"I am not."

He eyes the talisman warily, but lets it climb undisturbed.

"I am here."

It might be a joke. If one were very generous.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian, generous soul that he is, chuckles.

"You are! And here I have rudely taken the entire table for myself." He begins to sweep the papers together into a haphazard pile. The paper doll, having finally summited Lan Zhan Mountain, wraps an arm around his forehead ribbon right where it disappears into his hair -- and after a pause just long enough to be shameless, keeps climbing to perch atop his hairpiece.

"Sit, sit. You are even less alone now."

[lightamidchaos]

It tickles as the paper doll moves across his hair. He is merely grateful that it did not tease him further by toying with his forehead ribbon.

He ignores it, for now, and sits down by Wei Ying.

"Mn."

Lan Wangji looks at the sheer amount of papers on the table, and his eyebrows rise.

"Wei Ying. Have you been here all day?"

[acrookedpath]

"...Not the whole day?"

His smile grows sheepish.

"I'm sorry, Lan Zhan -- I had a few more ideas and wanted to test them before I forgot."

[lightamidchaos]

"Do not apologize," Lan Wangji tells him.

Knowing something of how focused Wei Ying can get when he is trying to solve a problem, he then asks,

"Have you eaten?"

[acrookedpath]

"I ate breakfast?"

You know. With Lan Zhan. Many, many hours ago.

[lightamidchaos]

"Mn."

The look on Lan Wangji's face is one of patient resignation.

"I will bring something."

First, however, he holds one hand up beside his head, clearly waiting for the paper doll to hop into it. He has no intention of walking through the inn's main room with it riding on his hairpiece.

[acrookedpath]

Even more sheepish: "Thank you, Lan Zhan."

The talisman's little paper shoulders slump -- no more time with Lan Zhan? Aw. -- but it obediently lets go and floats down into his waiting hand. The animation power dissolves by the time it lights into his palm, leaving nothing but an ordinary paper doll behind.

Wei Wuxian opens his mouth to say more -- but before he can, a squeak sounds from near floor level.

[blue_ajah]

The waitrat is holding a tray with a teapot -- already brewed, as it happens, and heated to the correct temperature. (The weave that maintains it as such is inverted and thus invisible.)

Also on the tray are two cups, the standard Milliways serving bowls of sugar, cream, and lemon peel for those who might want them... and a handwritten note. (The Bar's translation field has been of some assistance here.)

Master Wei--

With my compliments.

--Moiraine Sedai

The woman in blue responsible for this delivery is seated on the far side of the room, near the fireplace, writing in her journal with an occasional pause to check something in one of a few books lying scattered on the table where she is working. She appears to be paying no attention whatsoever to any of this.

[lightamidchaos]

Is the service here so efficient? Surprised, Lan Wangji reaches down to accept the tray from the rat. He sets it on the table as the rat scurries away, and looks down at the note.



"This is for you."

His voice is flat. He pushes the entire thing toward Wei Ying.

[acrookedpath]

"Huh?"

With good-natured puzzlement, he reaches for the note. "Who sent it? Did Madam Bar hear you..."

He trails off as he reaches the note's signature. All the mirth leaches from his face like a stormcloud covering the sun; he crumples the note with a single clench of his fist, drops it in the middle of the sugar bowl, and tells the waitrat, "Send it back to her. I don't want it."

[lightamidchaos]

The rat stops mid-flight -- evidently it hadn't moved quickly enough to get out of range. (Just as evidently, it had been trying to.)

It slinks back to the table and looks up at Wei Wuxian with an apologetic chitter. Is he sure? Is he really sure? Can the rat talk him out of this?



The initial surge of jealousy that had threatened to drown him with vinegar has retreated at the sight of Wei Ying's reaction, only to be replaced with immediate, intense concern.

"Who is she?"

[acrookedpath]

"She is no one, Lan Zhan."

He reels in his anger at the waitrat's apologetic posture, though his tone remains brusque. "I apologize you have been drawn into this," he tells it. "But no. I do not want it. Thank you."

[lightamidchaos]

"Wei Ying. You are upset."

The waitrat heaves a sigh and takes the tray back, starting across the room toward Moiraine as slowly as it can get away with.

Lan Wangji ignores it, all his attention on Wei Ying.

"Tell me."

[acrookedpath]

"It's nothing."

His resistance is already fading as he says this. Wei Wuxian leans his cheek against his fist with a tired sigh.

"She is another cultivator. We shared tea some days ago; when the pot was half-empty, she said she could -- " his voice turns bitterly sarcastic, "'sense the taint of the Shadow' on me, as if I were ignorant of it, and asked if I wished to be healed."

[lightamidchaos]

The look he directs across the room at her is sharp and searing.

"Did she."

He knows, at least in part, that this may be unfair. Perhaps she only wished to aid in some way. Resentful energy does harm the body, and the temperament. It is why he himself had begged Wei Ying to let him help, that night on the rooftop in the Unclean Realm.

But he cannot forget the memory of all the times people had looked askance at Wei Ying, spoken insults to his face and behind his back, the whispers and rumors about the Yiling Patriarch, or the sects at Nightless City, screaming and calling for Wei Ying's blood.

Wei Ying knows the risks. He has made his choices. And Lan Wangji will not fail to stand beside him again.

"I will tell her. To leave you be."

[acrookedpath]

His eyes widen as he lifts his chin off his hand.

"Don't, Lan Zhan," he says. "I will avoid her. It's fine -- "

[lightamidchaos]

"It is not fine."

He shoves back his chair and rises to his feet.

[acrookedpath]

He didn't expect this level of vehemence over so small a slight.

"Lan Zhan -- " Half-rising from his chair, he catches Lan Zhan by the arm in an effort to halt his path.

[lightamidchaos]

The hand on his arm stops him. He turns to look at Wei Ying.

"She has no right," he says, biting off each word, short and sharp.