lightamidchaos | [pfsb] sword forms by the lake

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

From:

acrookedpath

Oh. With his whole weight against him, Lan Zhan can feel every rapid breath Wei Wuxian takes, chest pressing up to his. He looks dazed, awestruck by his good fortune, cheeks heated bright; he gasps as Lan Zhan closes his fingers around his wrists.

"Yours," he manages. "Lan Zhan." He tries to kiss him, but finds he's started to laugh, softly. "Let me -- put down the wine first."

Only Lan Zhan could make him forget he's holding a wine bottle.

From:

lightamidchaos

He glances down, spots the wine bottle in Wei Ying's hand, and acts. One moment Wei Ying has it in his fingers, and the next, Lan Wangji has taken it, set it haphazardly on the nearby bookshelf, and pinned him to the door once more, hands back around his wrists.

"Mine," he confirms, looking at the disheveled beauty of the man before him. Slowly, deliberately, Lan Wangji leans in to kiss him again.

From:

acrookedpath

Oh, good. Lan Zhan is so good at solving problems like this. Wei Wuxian didn't even have to do anything at all.

His fingers curl on air as Lan Zhan kisses him, seeking contact, but they cannot close on anything. It's all right. Lan Zhan is giving him all the contact he should desire, anyway; he does not need to grab for him shamelessly.

Still, as he returns the kiss, he can feel himself growing more desperate, delving deeper, trying to press even closer --

A tiny, skittering, scratching noise sounds from the other side of the door.

Then a cheerful squeak.

Wei Wuxian stops mid-kiss, eyes opening, and drops back into sudden laughter as he tips his forehead against Lan Zhan's. "Damn it," he whispers.

From:

lightamidchaos

He draws a deep breath, which shudders, as he forces himself to relax his hold on Wei Ying, then steps to the side so that Wei Ying can open the door.

If he braces his arm against the wall and leans his forehead against it, what of it?

From:

acrookedpath

Wei Wuxian fills his lungs in kind, shoving a few loose strands of hair behind his ears that were knocked free in their passion. He opens the door and crouches down to relieve the rat of its burden. "Thank you," he says with a polite smile, inclining his head in an abbreviated bow.

He rises back to his feet and slides the door shut with one elbow, already turning back to Lan Zhan with a grin -- which fades when he takes in the sight of him leaning against the wall, already exhausted and spent.

"Lan Zhan." Gentler. "Come eat?"

From:

lightamidchaos

He takes another careful breath, then turns away from the wall and moves to join him.

Together, they set out the items from the tray. Once that is done, Lan Wangji reaches for the tea, clearly intending to pour for them both.

From:

acrookedpath

Wei Wuxian huffs out a small breath, but allows Lan Zhan to pour the tea. At least Lan Zhan is eating; he will take what victories he may.

He retrieved the wine bottle to add to the table while they were arranging the food. It sits untouched for now as he lifts his teacup, nodding thanks to Lan Zhan before he drinks.

"So what did you find in the library?" he asks. "Things from our world? Music from another?"

From:

lightamidchaos

"There is a section with sheet music from various worlds," he says. "And composition theory. I hope to spend more time studying it."

He takes a bite of food and follows that with a sip of tea before continuing.

"I admit I spent more time talking with Harrow than looking at music, today."

From:

acrookedpath

"Oh?" Curious. "How does she fare?"

From:

lightamidchaos

"Well enough. I think."

Given the difficulty of the situation, that is, which is why he sounds a little doubtful.

"I understand Gideon Nav has arrived."

From:

acrookedpath

"Ah. Yes."

In the flurry of everything, he had nearly forgotten his sparring match with Gideon at the edge of the forest. It may as well have happened weeks ago, not days; with as often as Harrow has spoken of Gideon, it feels as if she has been visiting the inn even longer than Wei Wuxian.

"She has. I met her while you were -- away."

From:

lightamidchaos

"What is she like?"

From:

acrookedpath

"Very much the opposite of Harrow." He grins, nearly conspiratorial -- the grin of one who has found a kindred spirit. "Boisterous, loud. Eager to fight. I like her."

From:

lightamidchaos

"You would," he murmurs, but his small smile is gentle and fond.

"I am sure I will, as well, then."

From:

acrookedpath

"You do seem to have grown more tolerant of the loud and boisterous," he laughs. "Don't tell me I have been a good influence on you, Lan Zhan!"

From:

lightamidchaos

"Yes."

Very simply.

"Wei Ying is a good influence. Wei Ying is good."

From:

acrookedpath

Even less fair than Lan Zhan's grace and beauty: that he can stop all of Wei Wuxian's thoughts with a kind word as easily as he can with a kiss. The problem with kind words like these is he does not quite know what to do with them. At least with a kiss, he can simply kiss Lan Zhan back.

All he does in the end is look down at his tea, still smiling.

From:

lightamidchaos

He does not press Wei Ying further with compliments that he is not well able to accept, but he will not leave them unspoken when there is reason.

Quiet descends between them, but it is a comfortable quiet. He focuses on eating his meal, then sets it aside as a thought strikes him. Instead, he picks up both a cup and the bottle of wine.

From:

acrookedpath

Wei Wuxian nearly chokes on his tea.

"Lan Zhan," he says, "if you think I will let you drink wine when you are like this -- "

From:

lightamidchaos

"Not for me. For you."

He pours the cup and leans forward to set it down in front of Wei Ying.

From:

acrookedpath

"Ah." He relaxes into a relieved grin. "Well, in that case, I will not object at all."

He finishes off his tea and exchanges one cup for another.

"Thank you, Lan Zhan."

From:

lightamidchaos

"You are welcome."

He sets the rest of the dishes aside and pours another cup of tea for himself.

From:

acrookedpath

As is habit, he downs most of the cup of wine in one go. Soon enough he's reaching for the bottle to refill it.

"Harrow and I spoke as well while you were away," he says. "She had some ideas for why I reacted so poorly the one time I utilized thanergy, and how I might be able to use it in the future."

From:

lightamidchaos

"She mentioned," he murmurs.

"But I had not heard of these ideas."

He looks both worried and curious at once.

"Do you think it will work?"

From:

acrookedpath

"I think it might." He drums his fingers against the side of his cup. "I am still working to tease apart the particulars. But the concept that we are already spirits, even before we die, coupled with the apparent need to sheathe any raw thanergy with energy generated by a spirit -- it's very promising."

He chuckles.

"She compared my channeling raw thanergy to biting into an uncooked potato. So I need to make it more appetizing first, somehow."