aefenglom | (no subject)

[When he first sees the name attached to the message, he nearly drops the watch he has. He just barely manages to rescue it... and then he has to reluctantly go back and assign himself a username he had stubbornly skipped earlier. Only for Lan Wangji. He looks intent when the image appears, scrutinizing to make sure his brother is okay, but also relieved.]

You're here. I thought there might have been some mistake.

[Like maybe the dream not actually showing people that were in Aefenglom with him. Or maybe leaving the two behind, which would be both a blessing and a curse.]

Are you all right?

[That expression he made means something has already happened. He should have found them sooner.]

( so did lan wangji, but after finding wei wuxian, hoping to run into his brother wasn’t that far-fetched. and here he is. with the same intent and the same relief lan wangji wears on his own face, tension visibly draining from his otherwise stoic demeanor.

lan xichen’s question is simple enough, yet it’s loaded in a way lan wangji can’t properly answer. technically, he is okay. but also, he isn’t. there seems to be a misunderstanding with wei wuxian, and what’s more, his bonded has no idea that he died, along with his sister. things are… complicated, but lan wangji is lan wangji, and if there’s a sliver of hesitation before he ultimately nods, he keeps his gaze downward for a moment, just long enough to regain his composure. )

You escaped the Merrow. ( it’s a banal statement, really, but it means a dozen things more. for one, it’s an acknowledgement of the dream they shared, which clearly wasn’t just a that. he’s impossibly happy that his brother is now relatively safe, a faint question in his eyes that seems to seek further reassurances. is he alright? )

[ The relief at seeing his brother again, alive and in one piece, is countered somewhat by the hesitation and worry in Lan Wangji's eyes. He might physically be okay, and that answer is not incorrect, but the response is lacking heart to it. Something has definitely happened.

The fact that he mentioned Wei Wuxian makes Xichen suspect it involves him.

Pressing too much will only cause his brother to be more unhappy, so Xichen smiles keeping a bracing calm front for both of them. There is no reason for Lan Wangji to worry about his senior at a time like this. ]

It was a dream after all. Mysterious, but apparently not as dangerous as it seemed. Perhaps that was merely a test.

[ He pauses, because he doesn't want his question to end up going too far, then tentatively asks: ]

Where is Wei-gongzi?

( oh, lan wangji isn’t unhappy. concerned, definitely, and maybe a trifle upset, but wei wuxian is alive and lan xichen is here, which is reason enough to celebrate… in his own lan way. which doesn’t amount to much. still. he should be grateful and leave it at at, but he’s learned the hard way that nothing is ever just black or white. even emotions. especially emotions.

lan xichen’s calming aura does the trick; his brother’s always managed to soothe his nerves, and so lan wangji’s head dips in silent acknowledgement. a test, maybe. is his brother a witch as well? he wants to ask, but then another question beats him to it, leaving him speechless for a moment. his lips part. nothing comes out but his breath, forehead creased in subdued disquiet; he avoids looking directly into his eyes, a sigh that slowly leaves his lungs. ) Xiongzhang. ( a pause, and then… ) He doesn’t know what happened. ( his gaze crosses his then, heavy with unspoken meanings. )

[His confidence at least seems to be well-received, although that seems to mean he was right about Wei Wuxian. At least it doesn't seem too serious--nothing life-threatening. He waits, watching Lan Wangji with careful attention while his brother looks away instead. The answer leaves him with more questions. He frowns slightly, because what Wei Wuxian doesn't know could cover many things. He doesn't know about what Lan Wangji did for him? That Lan Xichen has found out, but it is unlikely that Wangji would ever mention that to him as a concern. He doesn't remember their confession? Maybe, but not quite right.

Then Xichen remembers something that Lan Wangji said to him in the dream they shared. He had been night-hunting. He had been searching, which, if that were still true, means-]

Wei-gongzi's memory may not be the best, but he is also not a forgetful person. Could-

What has he said?

[If Lan Xichen has learned anything, it's that these two are full of misunderstandings.]

( he doesn’t think it has anything to do with wei wuxian’s memory, and no matter the conclusions he draws, he’s always left a little more perplexed each time. for all he knows, lan xichen might not know what he does, either, or vice versa. it’s almost like they were plucked from specific yet random points in their lives, and it makes him wonder just how many realities might coexist without their knowledge.

there’s still so much they ought to learn, and lan wangji swallows past the dry lump in his throat, a shaky breath on his lips. ) The Nightless City massacre. ( he doesn’t know that he died. that lan wangji has been mourning him for fifteen years. that lady jiang is no more, and lan wangji slightly shakes his head in lieu of a more elaborate response.

he’s also under the impression that lan wangji sees him as an actual monster, but that’s another story for another day. )

[Ah. Well, that at least clarifies that. He presses his lips together so as not to frown, because he doesn't want to look displeased in front of his brother. Part of him still regrets his own outburst--a little too bold and impatient--but he still remembers the blank expression Wei Wuxian gave him when he accused the man of leading his brother on with flirtations. The once-Yiling Patriarch really is that naive at times, it seems. He lets out a slow breath. This won't be easy.]

It... was traumatic. [But then the way Lan Wangji hangs on that does make him frown. It seems almost ridiculous to ask, but based on what his brother said in the dream? And he did run across Wei Wuxian, didn't he? He had just thought it was a coincidence; a strange logic only dreams can produce, but now he can't look past it.]

Or- Wangji, are you saying Wei Wuxian is in this city?

[He wouldn't normally use Wei Wuxian's name like that, but this clarification is necessary. He hasn't seen the body Wei Wuxian is in yet.]

( ...oh boy are they in for a wild ride. see, as unaware of his own fate as wei wuxian seems, there are apparently a few critical things that lan wangji has also missed. lan xichen’s outburst? what. wei wuxian stringing him along? double what. from their exchanges since their arrival, wei wuxian seems to be fresh out of the burial mounds, his yiling patriarch title not yet established. if only he could read his brother’s mind the same way lan xichen can read his.

the knot in his stomach twists, leaving him slightly paler. something’s amiss. traumatic is an understatement, and lan wangji stares, blankly at first as a mild sense of panic wells in his throat, and then his eyes narrow, dismayed, his nod slow and hesitant.

who else could wei wuxian be? he can’t be sure what the other lan is hinting at exactly, and so his brows rise, a hint of urgency in his voice. ) Brother?

[Lan Wangji's confusion hits him hard, like a stab from behind. He's shocked for a moment, not by the confirmation of something he didn't expect--Wei Wuxian is in his own, right form--but by the knowledge that his brother has no idea why he would ask something like that. To him it must sound violent, like he was pursuing Wei Wuxian, perhaps following the oath he made with his brothers to defend the world against potential villainy what feels like ages ago. Lan Xichen draws back, lowering his gaze with a certain sense of shame.]

Nothing, I was just worried. You're sure it is him, then. Not a spirit or trick.

[He lifts his head to smile. It's a poorly placed lie, one that would have gotten a laugh out of the other two Zuns, but Xichen is realizing with a growing sense of dread that Wei Wuxian isn't the only one who has things he doesn't know about. He's not sure he can keep all of these things from Lan Wangji, but he also doesn't know if he can possibly tell him.]

Then... You had a misunderstanding with Young Master Wei.

[He says that in a gentler tone. Almost a question, but not quite. No wonder his brother is so upset. That is a heavy burden.]

( that’s… marginally reassuring. lan wangji did search for him. everywhere chaos went, lan wangji followed, always hoping and fearing that he’d find wei wuxian somehow, though he never did. until now. it is him. what lan xichen asked and what he says now definitely makes more sense, and still there’s that odd sense of utter unease rolling in his stomach, and he can’t quite shake it off.

it’s a little less heavy once lan xichen distracts him with a smile and what sounds an awful lot like a statement, like he knows. he’s always been particularly good at reading him, even when lan wangji could barely read himself. his wisdom knows no bounds, and the warmth in his smile’s always appeased him. it’s no different now, though lan wangji can’t quite find the words to explain what actually happened. he drank, for one, and he shouldn’t have. woke up with his body wrapped around his, and then promptly left, mortified, flashes of the night before in his mind. he remembers the fur, and now wei wuxian wonders why lan wangji avoids him, thinking himself an actual monster. he isn’t. it’s quite the opposite, actually, and that’s exactly why lan wangji is purposely staying away.

he doesn’t know where to begin, doesn’t know if he even wants to. so he keeps his gaze down, a little flustered as he slightly bows, a polite yet dismissive gesture. ) There’s no need to worry.

[ He almost laughs at that. No need to worry. There never is, and once upon a time that answer would have satisfied him. Lan Xichen, despite knowing better, would have blindly taken his brother at his word, trusting that no matter how bad things got, he would be able to work things out somehow. Wangji was strong and reliable. But Xichen has taken too many things for granted in the past. Now he recognizes this. ]

Mm. And yet I will worry.

[ This is something he should have said more often. Along with other things that might slightly offend the GusuLan's sense of propriety. He's feeling more bold today, particularly with Wangji involved, so he persists, the smile remaining confident. ]

Perhaps it is not my business, but will you humor me in this strange place? There is too much to get used to. I should at least be capable of easing my brother's burden.

( brother no ;; lan xichen has always been there for him, beyond rules and propriety. lan wangji’s never felt as though he had anything to hide when it came to his brother, the only one to ever make him feel as though what he felt wasn’t wrong. like he could find a home in the grey area between black and white, even if it wore the name of a pariah. he owes him more than lan xichen probably thinks he does, and so lan wangji breathes deep, chest rising in unison with his head.

he feels a little ridiculous, with a faint splash of pink creeping up his cheeks. all in all, it’s nothing dire, though lan wangji isn’t sure how to navigate through his feelings and make wei wuxian understand what he means to him, without putting them on display. it’s a daily struggle that quickly resurfaced here, only made worse by years of grief and remorse.

his breath leaves his lungs in a quiet rush, lips parted on delayed words. ) Wei Ying… seems to be under the impression that I find him repulsive. ( ... and this is why lan wangji doesn’t talk, because this sounds ludicrous at best. luckily, even though lan wangji never explicitly told his brother how he feels about him, he’s fairly certain that he knows. )

[ That answer is somehow surprising and not. Surprising, because it is ridiculous to him now that Wei Wuxian would think Lan Wangji wouldn't like him, but somehow not surprising, because if anyone were going to have such a misunderstanding, it would have to be Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. They must have had some kind of exchange, of what sort he does not know, but knowing his brother, much of the problem must lie in what wasn't said rather than what was.

He can't be too obvious about this. The matter is between the two of them, and Lan Xichen wants to allow it to proceed as naturally as possible. But he's not anxious to repeat his frustration in Guanyin Temple, so it's also better that he helps guide the two just a little bit. ]

I do not understand why Young Master Wei would believe this. But whatever has happened, I believe it is something that can be repaired. Will you come see me? I have something to give you.

( well… yes, there is that. and there are also the things lan wangji might have said and doesn’t remember. wei wuxian’s reaction isn’t completely without logic. lan wangji pet his fur—how and where, he didn’t ask for details—and then promptly left as soon as he woke up, successfully avoiding him in the following hours… maybe days. shhhh. it’s fine. he’s making amends as they speak—if lan xichen catches him covertly typing on his device, that’s why.

help your morons, zewu-jun.

a distraction is most welcome, and lan wangji’s relief is palpable at the change of subject, acquiescing with a downward dip of his head. ) Mn. ( something to give him like a LESSON TO LEARN??? ) Where may I find you?

[It is probably better for Xichen that his brother didn't remember and thus failed to mention those important details. In a way, it spared him a headache he would have had to endure. He got the basic idea at least, and he does notice that now and then Lan Wangji's attention drifts away. That is hopefully a good sign. The attention he's giving whatever it is suggests it might involve Wei Wuxian, at least.

Either way, he'll lend the two a small push.]

Meet me here.

[Lan Xichen turns the view of his watch to the outside of... a very busy and rather rough-looking forge. It's messy and lively and Xichen definitely sticks out--he also somehow got some soot at the edges of his robes, only visible when he turns to show off his surroundings.]

It's called the Forge. The people who run it are very nice.

( ahh lan xichen, matchmaker extraordinaire. for the second time, apparently. lan wangji will play the guqin to soothe your nerves, he promises. for now, he simply finds his way to the forge, the streets a little more crowded than he would have liked. thankfully he doesn’t mind throngs of people as much as he used to, and he walks mostly undisturbed until his brother comes into view and damn, what a sight for sore eyes.

if they were the type to do so, he would probably hug him longer than necessary. alas, open affection never really was a thing in the cloud recesses, and so lan wangji simply bows, his joy apparent in the way his face slightly lights up. the darkened edges of his robes are a little at odds with everything zewu-jun represents—he’s never seen his brother clad in anything less than immaculate, though considering where they are now, and how fast they have to adapt to pretty much everything, well. he suspects it’s not the last peculiarity he’ll run into.

as for this particular location…? ) Brother. Did you have another sword made?

[It's a lucky chance that Lan Xichen happened to become acquainted with the Forge the day before. In fact, he considers it a sign of fate, considering the conditions. When he catches sight of Lan Wangji approaching, he smiles brightly with both relief and warmth. Seeing him in person is much better than communicating through a device. It at least soothes a little of his anxieties.

He returns the bow delicately, with perhaps a little less propriety than he once did (because what is propriety anyway?) but the affection is there.]

Wangji. [The acknowledgment that he is there is like a breath of fresh air to him. It tastes of home.] Actually, I came here on a visit. One of the masters of this place is a venerated young man who gave me a great gift. I promised I would repay him.

[He was also told he didn't have to do that, but stubborn Lan blood tends to be hard of hearing when one of them has their mind set on something.]

This is good timing. Here.

[Xichen pulls a small parcel from his sleeve and takes Lan Wangji's hand with the other, placing a cloth-wrapped item against his palm. It's a small bundle of fresh pastries, neatly folded up inside clean fabric for protection. He closes his hand over the gift and holds it there for emphasis before leaving it to his brother.]

It's a custom here to share good food with others. It will be a problem if we don't respect the local practices and a waste if the food goes uneaten, so be sure to share these. Also- eating with those you respect and think fondly of is a blessing. Perhaps you can find someone to pass that along to?

[Wei Wuxian may be completely oblivious and miss Xichen's point unless he's being far too blunt, but Lan Wangji will get the point he's trying to convey.]

Small things have a way of making a difference.

[That's a familiar-looking bow after meeting both Xichen and Wuxian, and Momo's sneaking suspicion about who this might be is what ultimately gets him to reply. He's visibly much more familiar with technology from the moment he opens the video feed, picture perfectly aligned as he holds one hand with red-painted nails against his chin like he's trying to remember something.]

There's a produce market nearer the harbour end of the shopping district, and I've definitely seen peppers there even if I couldn't tell you how hot they are. I'm not sure about lotus root, but if they've got that in this world at all then I'd say you'd find it in the same place.

( maybe it’s the color red. lan wangji faintly squints at the sight of painted nails, candid curiosity in his gaze. it doesn’t last. he bows again, a thankful glint in his eyes. ~~if only he knew that he was gonna play soccer with this guy )~~

Then perhaps in a lake nearby. ( or a pond. or a river. if there is none at the market, that is. he did mention a harbor, so. there’s hope yet. ) And pork? ( because pork ribs are important. )

[Momo almost waves a hand to say that all the formality isn't necessary, but then he considers how the other two people from probably that same world have been, and instead just curls his hand mid-motion and rests his chin on it.]

Oh, yeah, there's definitely butchers here, I think there's actually one on the next block from the produce market. [Momo is a certified carnivore, so that was one of the things he went looking for when he arrived.] As far as I know, they have the standard stuff like pork, chicken and beef. It seems like the food here isn't that different to what most people are familiar with, as long as you're not looking for something more regional.

( momo will also—probably—notice that lan wangji is a lot less talkative than the two other cultivators he already met. holding an actual conversation with him is a feat in itself, but it doesn’t make him any less grateful for the help he receives. )

Thank you for your valuable information. ( there’s no smile to punctuate his gratitude, but his face is a little brighter, maybe, a little less stern. if he has any luck, he’ll even be able to find what he needs to make spicy chocolate. )

[He sure is, but Momo's pretty decent at spinning talk out at least slightly longer than he might get otherwise. He's also good enough at reading body language to not need a smile to tell that he's helped out a bit.]

No problem. It's easier to adjust to a place like this if you can find familiar things. [When there's so many people from different places here, it only makes sense to do what he can to help out.] Ah...I didn't introduce myself properly, did I? I'm Momo. It's nice to meet you.

[He says it like that's his entire name, not a shortening or a nickname. Which is much easier when that's the name he's been going by for the last five years.]

( and so momo is wei wuxian’s twin then. rip lan wangji. his natural enthusiasm is certainly similar, which somehow manages to make him feel a little more at ease. it shouldn’t, when you’re someone who enjoys tranquility, but as he realized years ago, just because you revel in certain things doesn’t mean you can’t also appreciate their opposites.

so momo it is, then. the name rings a vague bell—wei wuxian might have mentioned him before. ) Lan Wangji. ( head inclined in a polite gesture, he doesn’t glance back up right away, instead quietly amending... ) Lan Zhan. ( because wei wuxian’s already shouted his birth name left and right since their arrival, and lan wangji is doing his very best to adapt to this strange new world.

he straightens up, a soundless breath. ) Have you been here a long time? ( because he does seem knowledgeable. )

[That name confirms Momo's suspicions completely - he probably would've gotten that it was the same person just from the shared family name, but he definitely heard Lan Zhan rather than Lan Wangji when the name came up - and clasps his hands together in a cheerful little gesture.]

Oh, I thought you might be. I met your brother and your partner already, but I thought it might be overbearing to say that first. [This guy strikes Momo as reserved even more so than Momo's own partner, even outside of what he's heard mentioned about him, so it seemed like the more fitting approach.]

I came with the most recent group. I'm just way more comfortable outside than inside, so I've been exploring the city a lot since I got here. [Momo is whatever the opposite of a homebody is.]

( .....his…...partner……? the term is relatively harmless on its own, insignificant even, but wei wuxian automatically comes to mind and lan wangji’s eyes slightly widen, a hint of pink creeping up his cheeks. when you’re a cultivator, a partner is everything lan wangji would like to be and isn’t, and so he frowns and offers a tentative... ) … Wei Ying? ( who else, honestly, and the other’s cheerful expression doesn't go unnoticed; lan wangji realizes, not without a mild sense of dread, that both momo and wei wuxian together might prove to be a force to be reckoned with.

he breathes in deep to give himself a sliver of the composure he’s lost, taking in the information given. ) Have you come across a library? ( he has yet to explore as much as he would have preferred, because things, but... ) I would like to expand my knowledge of Aefenglom’s history and magic.

[Don't mind Momo's knowing, possibly slightly cheeky little quirk to his smile at that subtle hint of pink. Which is probably not any kind of reassurance about that whole "force to be reckoned with" thing.] He introduced himself as Wei Wuxian, but I'm guessing it's the same deal as you having two names. [Courtesy names aren't as common as they used to be where he comes from, at least.

Libraries aren't quite so much Momo's thing, but he has spotted some things in passing, and he taps his chin.] I know the Coven's got one that's magic-focused, and I'm almost certain the big college in the aristocratic district has one. Undermael, or something like that. Hard to run a school without a library, though I didn't go in to see how big it was.

[ Ah, he knows this one. It's brighter now, the unease of being newly arrived not hanging over either of them quite as heavily. While he isn't quite sure how to respond to the first part - it isn't meant for him, but he wants to offer to help all the same - Arthur is able, at least, to start with the second. ]

I've kept my eye out for plants before. If you can describe what you're looking for, I'll keep my eye out and bring them by, when I find them.

( he remembers him, the man with a bad cough and a skillful hand. lan wangji’s face doesn’t quite brighten at the familiar sight, though there’s recognition in his eyes, and remnants of gratitude as his head slightly dips downward; he kept the drawing.

as for what he’s looking for... ) Lotuses grow in muddy ground, underwater.( speaking of… wasn’t there a river nearby? ) Only the leaves and petals are visible above the surface.

Can you describe 'em a bit? The leaves and petals? Otherwise I'm just as likely to grab you a lily-pad on accident.

[ He says it dryly, but there's clear humor there; it sparkles a bit in the blue of his eyes, in the twitch of his lips. ]

And what kind of peppers are you lookin' for? I knew a man, he could eat a pepper so hot that it'd leave the rest of us sick after just a little bite. He'd eat the whole thing. I reckon that ain't the sort most people are lookin' for.

( right. water lilies and lotus flowers, extremely similar yet different, and you’re asking a guy whose favorite expression is silence to describe it for you? arthur pls. but it’s worth a shot. it’s for his bonded, after all, so here goes nothing. ) The leaves are green. ( welp. his mouth twists into a momentary pensive frown, and then... ) The petals anywhere between white and pink. They rise above the surface. ( whereas water lilies merely float.

as for the type of peppers he’s looking for, arthur’s amusement doesn’t go unnoticed, and lan wangji’s own gaze lightens up a little, a flash of fondness—blink and you’ll miss it. ) My… bonded is the same. ( so… the hotter the better. )

[ Well- you could have drawn it for him? Or used text.

Still, Arthur chuckles and waves a hand; that description is enough. Don't hurt yourself saying more than a few words; he'd hate to be held responsible. ]

That'll help. I'll look them and the peppers over for infection before bringin' 'em to you; I know the guards check, before coming into the city, but another few look-overs don't hurt. Need to start learnin' how to check plants anyway, now that I've got a handle on game.

[ He hums in thought. ] You want me to message you when I've got them, have you tell me where to meet you?

( alas his fingers are much better with strings. guqin strings anyway, but no matter; arthur seems like a capable man, though lan wangji hadn’t expected anyone to do all the work for him. especially if it involves potential and plausible danger. )

Please. ( his gaze dims, a concerned glint. ) There’s no need to leave the city on my behalf.

I leave anyway. Not much for cities, and hunting's honest work. So is gathering useful plants.

[ The concern is... well. Arthur's not used to it; he shifts a little under the gaze, not quite sure what to do with it. ] I'll be careful. I don't go too far out.

Edited 2020-02-17 04:21 (UTC)

( that’s a sentiment he can definitely understand. moments of peace around here are rather scarce, and lan wangji’s introverted nature has always favored tranquility. he can handle chaos, cacophony. the lively sides of things. sometimes he even seeks them, but quietude is how he recharges, and so far everything here has been a little overwhelming, for lack of a better word.

so! lan wangji gives a little sigh, and then—you guessed it—he bows. ) Then allow me to join you. ( he has a sword? and he’s used to dealing with… strange creatures. )

[ There can be plenty of chaos outside of the city. It's the amount of people, the buildings, the way everything is pressing in on all sides that Arthur can't stand. At least the cities here have a reason behind them more than trying to tame the wilderness, but that doesn't mean he likes it anymore.

He chuckles, shaking his head. ] Ain't the point of askin' for help so that you don't have to do it? [ But... he gets it. ] Sure, alright. Just let me know when you wanna leave.

[ ...and then a pause, because he's just realized- ] Arthur, by the way. Arthur Morgan.

( lan wangji isn’t much for large crowds either, so there’s that. sometimes he doesn’t have a choice, considering what he does, though this city is unlike anything he’s ever known, and it is a little suffocating.

another peculiar name. lan wangji nods in acknowledgement, offering his courtesy name in turn. ) Lan Wangji. ( and no, he wasn’t going to just sit there and have people fetch what he needs for him. all he wanted was directions, more or less, but he’s meant to explore beyond the walls for a little while now, and arthur’s quiet company is welcome. ) I will be ready to leave at your earliest convenience. ( he is now, basically. )

Meet you at the gate out of the city nearest the river, then.

[ Arthur smiles a little, dipping his head. He likes this one already, he thinks, confusing name and all. And when Lan Wangji arrives, Arthur will be leaning up against the Bright Wall, hat pulled down over his eyes and with a bow and quiver over his back. He has a leather satchel over his shoulder and across his chest, too; he's gained some items since he saw lan Wangji at the bonfires, and this time, he's not drunk. He's also studying a map and making notes on it in pencil. ]

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video; un: zewu-jun

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video, un: momo-chan~♥

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video; un: morgan

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