( 'There is no reason.' 'The cold bites.' 'You have no core.'
The world of Wei Ying's silks tumbles down like snowfall. )
...may I not have this little as my own? ( But he speaks already as a man resigned, knowing the peace of his penance ended. A game of weiqi seen to conclusion from the first few hands. )
( Fingers deft on the ties of his inner robe, tugging them free of their bow. The second tie follows, robe opening with a sigh of silk over silk. He doesn't layer like Lan Zhan: only his innermost robe remains. )
Sometimes. Not this one.
( Sliding off shoulders, caught in arm and swung around to be folded over, then set down, joining the first.
Being who he is, without pants, he then makes to kneel by Lan Zhan's side, the expanse of his dark haired calves left exposed, a glimpse up along his thigh winking out at the world. )
( Beautiful, bare, warm. A proud display, within hand's reach. What is the gamble here? That he will concede, as he ever does, prioritising Wie Ying's welfare over his own hubris. The wretch has learned the way of it: to hold himself hostage until he has gained what he wishes won.
Lan Wangji has but moments, slipped like ashes between fingertips. )
You only push secrecy between us. That I must hereon do this discreetly. ( Hidden, without confession. Omissions are not lies. Silence, the key provider in the house of every great matrimony. ) Is this your wish?
( He allows the possibility of misunderstanding, of probability of prejudice. Wei Ying's own suffering, shaping a scratch-marred lens. Back bowed, face struck by the treacle of night's light turned blue-soft and saccharine, before dawns wake. )
Because you believe it is a thing that cannot be desired. ( Openly, transparently, in full possession of one's capacities. Gracefully and unimposed. ) Only inflicted.
( Because Wei Ying has only suffered it so and assumes it cannot be elsewise. )
( There are moments when he thinks his heart beats with the universe. That Wei Ying, sullen and immature, can be waited out by time. But then, he neglects himself: ignores the deeper dagger swerving, twisting, cutting at himself.
He is his own betrayer, sharp: before Wei Ying can abandon his post, Lan Wangji does it for him, starting to shift and rise up. )
...come. We sleep. ( Like herding a child towards his resting place. )
( asked, soft. dark eyes inquiring, not beseeching. both men know patience in very different forms, and there are few things which make wei wuxian suffer that aren't the harms visited in those he cares about.
( Not in body, not in soul. No part of him is truly, unmistakable prepared. But Wei Ying's discomfort eats at him, the mere possibility of catching a chill.
He rises, holds his hand out and wait, a point of stalwart resilience in the face of his soulmate's constant volatility. )
It is past curfew. ( It was past curfew long before he arrived here. )
( What is the shape of faith, what are its borders and boundaries? He feels s if he defines beauty by chipping away at negative spaces, until he is left with all that something is no.
Faith is not this moment. Beauty is not his mindset. He drifts toward Wei Ying to raise him up. )
( Well, then. Very well. A vision of conformity, Lan Wangji drifting as summoned, one hand arrested, drooping to his lower back. The second, rising to meet Wei Ying's palm.
( Tangled, hand to hand, and warmth between them — even he who has been cold runs warm enough in the moment. )
Will it bring you peace?
( Gratitude in his gaze for the offering of skill; even if there are older frustrations on the imposition of it, in specific melodies, hrs never found Lan Zhan lacking in musical accomplishments. As he doesn't lack in so much, including jealousy without merit. Easily forgiven, when it's barely even words. )
( In a way they perhaps should have, but never did explore, too troubled by demands and tribulations to study each other and their affinities.
Music is language and love and legacy for the Lan: a weaving of their souls. A weapon, too, when the intensity of its brute force turns outward. Not tonight, with hands knitting, with Lan Wangji tugging once to bid Wei Ying up and close. )
No songs of clarity. ( No long-trodden, despairingly reiterated plays. ) Only melodies of Caiyi. Market songs.
( A small, small and true, as he rises, one knee creaking in protest, painless and noted. He rolls his shoulders, best as he can while hand in hand with Lan Zhan, and steps close, steps into him, and for a moment leans in, chest to chest, chin hooking over his shoulder, a small sort of collapse and agreement without saying those words. )
Sounds lovely.
( The rumble of his voice caught between them, and then it's a moment past, and it's time to be led onward, to the music as it sings from Lan Zhan's fingers and from Wangji itself, and the not so distant pleasure that has always been part of how he's felt caught in the weaving of Lan Zhan's songs. He doesn't sleep, such as it is; he listens, and he rests, and for a while, his mind slows enough not to be chasing concepts around like birds diving after gnats in the afternoon sunlight, incessant, constant, chaotic.
For a while, he simply is in the sphere of Lan Zhan's playing, and that isn't an expectation, but it is a kindness. Even if, as he suspects, it only is one for him. )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
( 'There is no reason.' 'The cold bites.' 'You have no core.'
The world of Wei Ying's silks tumbles down like snowfall. )
...may I not have this little as my own? ( But he speaks already as a man resigned, knowing the peace of his penance ended. A game of weiqi seen to conclusion from the first few hands. )
no subject
( Fingers deft on the ties of his inner robe, tugging them free of their bow. The second tie follows, robe opening with a sigh of silk over silk. He doesn't layer like Lan Zhan: only his innermost robe remains. )
Sometimes. Not this one.
( Sliding off shoulders, caught in arm and swung around to be folded over, then set down, joining the first.
Being who he is, without pants, he then makes to kneel by Lan Zhan's side, the expanse of his dark haired calves left exposed, a glimpse up along his thigh winking out at the world. )
no subject
( Beautiful, bare, warm. A proud display, within hand's reach. What is the gamble here? That he will concede, as he ever does, prioritising Wie Ying's welfare over his own hubris. The wretch has learned the way of it: to hold himself hostage until he has gained what he wishes won.
Lan Wangji has but moments, slipped like ashes between fingertips. )
You only push secrecy between us. That I must hereon do this discreetly. ( Hidden, without confession. Omissions are not lies. Silence, the key provider in the house of every great matrimony. ) Is this your wish?
no subject
( Looking forward, into nothing particular. Tipping his head up, to seek the skies. )
So many threats. Can't we face them, side by side? Even if one or the other believes it's foolish, unbecoming, shameless, silly, certain?
( Head still tipped back, eyes still searching the heavens for answers which have never been there. )
no subject
( It seems a pretty, strategic, acceptable compromise. No more, nor less than would be expected in a partnership: to share, to divide, to delegate.
Only, Lan Wangji rests, stricken — and what sleeps at stake is his own soul. )
...no. Not this. This is mine. As my scars are mine. As Bichen is mine. ( Part and principle. ) This is who I am.
no subject
( He doesn't lower his head, still gazing skyward. Forever forward, if not always upward. If not always in hope. )
Why does it feel stolen?
no subject
Because you believe it is a thing that cannot be desired. ( Openly, transparently, in full possession of one's capacities. Gracefully and unimposed. ) Only inflicted.
( Because Wei Ying has only suffered it so and assumes it cannot be elsewise. )
no subject
For me, it has been. For you, I know it's not. There's a difference when it's a choice.
( Such as the one he made to be here now. He continues studying Lan Zhan's profile, quiet. Waiting.
There are infinities and inflexibilities in his husband, just as his graces and kindness for deeper than the obvious, always.
He is, as ever, protective. )
no subject
( There are moments when he thinks his heart beats with the universe. That Wei Ying, sullen and immature, can be waited out by time. But then, he neglects himself: ignores the deeper dagger swerving, twisting, cutting at himself.
He is his own betrayer, sharp: before Wei Ying can abandon his post, Lan Wangji does it for him, starting to shift and rise up. )
...come. We sleep. ( Like herding a child towards his resting place. )
no subject
Are you truly ready?
( asked, soft. dark eyes inquiring, not beseeching. both men know patience in very different forms, and there are few things which make wei wuxian suffer that aren't the harms visited in those he cares about.
including the self indicated ones. )
no subject
( Not in body, not in soul. No part of him is truly, unmistakable prepared. But Wei Ying's discomfort eats at him, the mere possibility of catching a chill.
He rises, holds his hand out and wait, a point of stalwart resilience in the face of his soulmate's constant volatility. )
It is past curfew. ( It was past curfew long before he arrived here. )
no subject
( Softly: )
Lan Zhan.
( A palm turned toward him, cupped, held out. )
Have faith.
no subject
Faith is not this moment. Beauty is not his mindset. He drifts toward Wei Ying to raise him up. )
You are cold.
no subject
( Still said quietly, softly. )
Is it cooler than in more layers? Yes. Yet Yunmeng nights were colder each winter. I'm truly fine.
no subject
Mere moments ago, you wanted abed. Come.
no subject
I just wanted you. You know I don't tire easily, and you didn't want me speaking with Wen Kexing, are you even going to sleep well?
no subject
Fingers colliding, knotting, shifting, slotting. Palms grazing. )
I shall play for you.
no subject
Will it bring you peace?
( Gratitude in his gaze for the offering of skill; even if there are older frustrations on the imposition of it, in specific melodies, hrs never found Lan Zhan lacking in musical accomplishments. As he doesn't lack in so much, including jealousy without merit. Easily forgiven, when it's barely even words. )
no subject
( In a way they perhaps should have, but never did explore, too troubled by demands and tribulations to study each other and their affinities.
Music is language and love and legacy for the Lan: a weaving of their souls. A weapon, too, when the intensity of its brute force turns outward. Not tonight, with hands knitting, with Lan Wangji tugging once to bid Wei Ying up and close. )
No songs of clarity. ( No long-trodden, despairingly reiterated plays. ) Only melodies of Caiyi. Market songs.
no subject
Sounds lovely.
( The rumble of his voice caught between them, and then it's a moment past, and it's time to be led onward, to the music as it sings from Lan Zhan's fingers and from Wangji itself, and the not so distant pleasure that has always been part of how he's felt caught in the weaving of Lan Zhan's songs. He doesn't sleep, such as it is; he listens, and he rests, and for a while, his mind slows enough not to be chasing concepts around like birds diving after gnats in the afternoon sunlight, incessant, constant, chaotic.
For a while, he simply is in the sphere of Lan Zhan's playing, and that isn't an expectation, but it is a kindness. Even if, as he suspects, it only is one for him. )