[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

[lightamidchaos]

"My sect -- my xiansheng, our grand master, my uncle -- saw fit to punish me for my actions at and after the Second Battle of Nightless City," he explains.

He says it as though he expects the name to mean something to her.

"As part of that punishment, I have been in seclusion for almost three years."

[herald_ingress]

“But... what for? What on earth could you have done to warrant that from your own family?”

[lightamidchaos]

His eyes widen, very slightly. Wei Ying has not told her.

He understands, when he thinks about it, why Wei Ying might not mention him. But he cannot be certain, now, that Wei Ying has told her any of it, and if he has chosen to keep silent, Lan Wangji will not betray him.

"I... fought against them," he says, finally. "I believed they were wrong, in what they were trying to do. I failed. I was unable to stop them, but they felt it necessary that I be punished for the attempt."

[herald_ingress]

“That must be terribly hard. I’m so sorry. I know that you and Wei Wuxian are dear friends from the same world, but I don’t think I’ve asked after your histories.”

And with Wei Wuxian being dead, she wouldn’t have asked many questions anyway. Now she realizes that she may have been overly glib in her ignorance, and she’s feeling pretty terrible about it.

[lightamidchaos]

"Yes. Wei Ying is very dear to me," he says, simply.

"I do not regret my actions then. I only regret that I did not do more; that I was not successful. Wei Ying died at that battle for my failure."

[herald_ingress]

“Oh, Lan Wangji, no.”

This is simply awful. She had no idea.

“I didn’t ask - you tend to not ask how someone died when you’re one of the living people here. I suppose it just hasn’t come up. We’ve spent time together, but-“

She waves her hand in the general direction of his hidden storage bag with the photos. “- we’ve been focused on the cheerful present.”

Wei Wuxian is going to get SUCH a big hug the next time he sees Ingress.

[lightamidchaos]

"I am glad," he says, gently, and there is no mistaking his sincerity.

"He deserves happiness, deserves fun. Until the war, he was always bright and laughing, teasing others. I am glad, Ingress, very glad, that he has found that again with you."

[herald_ingress]

“That’s good, I’m happy to hear it. Don’t forget, though, that you deserve happiness and fun, too. You said you have three more weeks of punishment? And then you’ll be free to do as you please? We will have such a fine time in Haven, and Wei Wuxian could come with us, if he wanted.”

[lightamidchaos]

"A little less than three weeks, now. After which I will resume my duties as the Second Jade of Lan."

One would have to know him well or be looking very closely to see it, but there is a stubborn glint in his eye that indicates that his interpretation of what that duty might entail may differ significantly from what Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren think it should be.

"But travel will be common, in that. I would like very much to see your Haven, and meet the others you have mentioned. I hope that Wei Ying will, as well. I will ask him, or you can."

[herald_ingress]

“Oh, please do ask,” she says. “So he knows he’s more than welcome to come along. Megwyn - the heavenly horse who’s my companion - will be pleased to meet you both. She’s heard a lot about you.”

[lightamidchaos]

"I will be pleased to meet her also."

He is not sure of the protocol for greeting and conversing with a tiānmǎ, but he will figure something out.

"I will ask him."

[herald_ingress]

“Perfect.”

She picks up her sword once more.

“If it’s all right, I’d love to continue through to the end of your form practice,” she says.

And so they do.