[pfsb] sword forms by the lake

[lightamidchaos]

It is late afternoon by the time he makes his way outside.

Lan Wangji is well aware that Wei Ying would probably very much prefer him to be resting again at present, and in truth he likely should be, especially given what had just come to pass in the library not long before.

But. But. It has been three days, and he needs to know how much strength he can regain, how quickly, before he returns to Cold Pond Cave and faces his brother, tomorrow.

(He is fairly certain Shufu did not intend the injuries to be quite as severe this time, either. Fairly certain.)

Bichen flashes into his hand, gleaming along the blade with a faint, icy blue-white shine. Lan Wangji draws a deep breath, and begins to move through each of the Lan sword forms in a slow motion routine, his concentration absolute.

Comments

[acrookedpath]

When they parted ways -- Wei Wuxian to retrieve a long-delayed meal and some more medicine, Lan Zhan to explore the library -- he expected they would reconvene in a few hours. Considering it's Lan Zhan, he also half-expected he might need to dive into the library himself, eventually, lest the other man get so engrossed in some book on another world's music theory that he not resurface for hours.

What he did not expect, as he watched the grounds from their window, idly finishing the last of his meal, was to see a familiar glint of steel under the lowered sun.

He pauses, chopsticks halfway to his mouth. "Lan Zhan," he groans, dropping them back to his bowl with a clatter.

Correct, Lan Zhan! He would prefer you be resting!

Heaving a sigh, he gathers up the dishes to bring down to Madam Bar, where he exchanges them for a bottle of wine before heading outside. Autumn is on its way in earnest: the air cannot hold the sun's heat for very long anymore, and in its loosened grasp, a cool breeze stirs the hair near Wei Wuxian's temples. He won't demand Lan Zhan stop. He won't even suggest it. But what he will do is sprawl on a nearby rock, crack open his bottle, and keep an eye on Lan Zhan as he moves through his sword forms.

No hardship, really. It's a very nice view.

[lightamidchaos]

He catches a glimpse of movement from the corner of his eye as Wei Ying settles on the rock and braces himself --

-- then, as he realizes that Wei Ying is not going to say anything, the faintest of smiles touches his mouth for a moment.

(Wei Ying does not have to say anything. His observing presence says it all for him.)

He draws Bichen back through the air as if pulling a bowstring and shifts into the next in the series of forms, precise and deliberate, each motion smooth and steady as the flow of water over rock or wind through mountain trees, the shining blade an extension of his arm and his spirit both.

(He is using only enough spiritual energy to wield the sword, controlled and careful. The purpose of this exercise is a test, not foolishness.)

[acrookedpath]

Lan Zhan smiles, and Wei Wuxian feels an answering grin spread over his face, far bigger and brighter. How could he react any other way?

He takes a long swig of wine and settles in. Lan Zhan certainly seems to be moving all right -- the slow deliberation such forms require, especially to move so smoothly, can be just as taxing to the muscles as a quick whirlwind of strikes. He studies him closely for any hitch of movement that might speak to deeper pain. So far, there are none.

It is really, truly, deeply unfair how graceful he is, though.

[lightamidchaos]

He can tell which wounds have split from the way they pull as he moves, but he does not think it is too bad. Whatever bandages and ointments Ford-daifu applied seem to have helped. He will just need to be careful until they heal completely.

The exercise also helps to stretch his stiffened muscles and restore flexibility, despite the steady, lingering aches. None of them seem to be the sort that indicate torn muscles or deeper damage which would need to concern him, and he is glad of it.

He keeps his pace controlled, however, especially now. Eventually, he comes to the end of this series of forms, lowers Bichen, and turns to face Wei Ying.

He says nothing, but raises both eyebrows.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian beams and hops to his feet, letting the bottle dangle loosely from his hand.

As he approaches Lan Zhan, he calls, teasing: "I did not know the inn had a library outside as well, Lan Zhan! What a marvelous place."

[lightamidchaos]

"It has stranger things."

There is a softness in his expression as he looks at Wei Ying, and patient resignation in his glance.

"But no. I was in the library before."

[acrookedpath]

"Mm."

Apparently, thanks to Lan Zhan, he has begun to appreciate the value of using a single syllable to convey a whole range of emotions. (In this case: skepticism, amusement, and a deep, loving fondness.)

Wei Wuxian pecks him on the lips without hesitation once he's close enough. "Did you find anything interesting?"

[lightamidchaos]

He keeps Bichen to the side so there is no chance of accidentally injuring Wei Ying and places his other hand on Wei Ying's hip, then leans in for another kiss.

"Mn. A few things. I will make copies of them, if I am allowed."

[acrookedpath]

"I think as long as you do not submerge them in salt water, you should be fine," he says, wry but still smiling.

(He's been a little afraid to go back to the library since he sheepishly asked Madam Bar to return the water-stained scroll from Harrow's consecration ritual. Someday he will face down the Librarian again, but... not yet.)

He combs his fingers through Lan Zhan's hair, settling them on the back of his neck.

[lightamidchaos]

"Ah."

He shivers, very slightly, and moves closer.

"If it would help - I could give you a copy of something from our library. You could offer that as replacement and apology."

[acrookedpath]

The portion of his mind making a pleased note at Lan Zhan's response to the touch collides, rather abruptly, with the rest of what Lan Zhan says. His eyebrows fly up his forehead.

"I hope that won't be necessary," he says with a small laugh. "I cannot imagine that would go unnoticed, Lan Zhan. No, I will make whatever apologies and payment the Librarian wishes."

[lightamidchaos]

"I can make a copy of it myself, if needed," he insists. "You will tell me, if it will help."

He shifts his grasp on Bichen slightly, as he assesses his spiritual energy reserves, then reluctantly lets go of Wei Ying's hip in order to sheathe the sword manually rather than vanish it.

[acrookedpath]

"Yes. I will tell you," he reassures him, and punctuates it with another brief kiss.

When he notices what Lan Zhan is trying to do, he steps back enough to give him the space for it -- even as his gaze sharpens slightly, assessing. If he has enough spiritual energy to command Bichen through his sword forms, but none left over to vanish the blade, then his reserves remain far too low. Wei Wuxian sighs inwardly.

Stubborn Lan Zhan, he thinks, but even that is tinged with fondness.

"How do you feel?"

[herald_ingress]

Ingress has been looking for Wei Wuxian, dying to know what happened after leaving him that night in the front gallery - if he was brave enough to tell Lan Wangji his feelings, whether Lan Wangji responded in kind. She hopes he did. Oh, she hopes.

Especially when she spots Lan Wangji going through his sword forms. Temple and Arch, she hopes things worked out, because Lan Wangji is as stunning as he always is. Thankfully, his forms distract her, because while they are similar to a couple of the styles she was taught, they are distinct enough that she needs to know them.

"Hello," she calls. "Would it disturb you if I watch your practice? I'm always keen to learn new forms and techniques."

[lightamidchaos]

"It will not disturb me."

He glances over at her as he brings Bichen down from overhead in a controlled, precise strike.

"Do you wish to spar?"

[herald_ingress]

Does she!

"If you'd be willing, I'm always ready to spar." Her smile is huge and her eyes sparkling.

She unsheathes her own sword and moves into Heron Wading in the Rushes, a balancing form another Lan taught her many years ago, to start warming up.

"I'm a bit of a collector of sorts when it comes to weapons and fighting styles. I want to learn everything I can whenever I get the chance."

[lightamidchaos]

It is probably unwise, he knows, but he thinks he has regained enough energy to do so, as long as he is somewhat careful. Somewhat.

"It can be useful, if others are expecting you to fight a certain way only."

He holds Bichen to the side and stands ready, easy and seemingly relaxed, as he observes the form she is using.

[herald_ingress]

"Exactly."

She flows through her standard warm up, a mix and match of favorite stretches and reaches, mostly in a Valdamaran style, since that's what she's trained in day after day for the past several years. But there are hints of others, and her motions are not as graceful and immaculate as those of the Light Bearing Lord, but they indicate a skilled and serious fighter. Ingress may smile like sunshine and conduct herself as playfully as the girl she used to be at times, but not when she has a weapon in her hand.

"If it's alright with you, I'd like to focus on technique instead of going all out. There's a time and place for bouts, of course, but I'm in a mood to learn."

[lightamidchaos]

He nods.

"That is fine."

It is probably better, all things considered.

"I can run through the first set of forms slowly, as I have been doing, for you to imitate. Then we could repeat them, against each other."

[herald_ingress]

"Perfect."

She only needs one full viewing before she's on her feet before him, answering strike to strike as the Lan sword forms flow together in quicker and quicker practice. Ingress is a fast learner, but she's still, of course, a learner.

"Wait, show me that counterstrike again?" she asks, stepping out of fighting stance. "There's a fiddly bit in the middle I didn't catch."

[lightamidchaos]

He does so, smooth and deliberate.

"You are very skilled."

His breathing is a little more rapid than usual, but otherwise he is showing no undue strain.

"Is that why you chose to act as Harrow's cavalier?"

[herald_ingress]

She repeats his actions back to him, mastering the segment that had evaded her, and only then does she process what he's asked her.

"I'm sorry, what?"

[lightamidchaos]

"To defend her," he clarifies. "The other night. When she needed it."

He moves into the next in the sequence of movements.

"It is good, that you were there, when she needed help."

[herald_ingress]

"Oh, you mean when I took her to London Below?"

What did Harrow share with Lan Wangji about the necropolis?

Ingress shrugs, which is a tricky to manage when you're sword fighting, but, bless her, she can pull it off.

"I'd protect and aid anyone for whom I was responsible, especially in my home world. It can easily be a deadly place."

She steps out of her stance again, concerned. "She's okay, isn't she? She's terribly stubborn about showing weakness but once I got her back to her room and she seemed on the mend enough to be left alone."

[lightamidchaos]

He lowers Bichen, and nods to her.

"She is all right."

Confused perhaps, but that is not anything he feels he can say.