( Fire works for the fox as water works for the dragon; Wei Wuxian manipulates as much air as fire, but that's not for him to explain like this, though he could, were he so inclined. Instead, his ears perk forward and his tongue lolls out in canine amusement when the dragon says he may stay—good, no running back into the waters for now.
He settles his front paws back on the ground, dipping into a downward stretch that thrusts all nine tails up into the air behind him, only to drip less magnificently on the cave flower.
At last, he speaks. )
You could always dry them out for me! Terribly heavy, this much wet fur. It's fine when you go swimming, ah? Then you dive in, maybe catch a fat fish, but in a storm like this there's no relief. No sun to warm you, no ready hearth in a foreign land... until I found yours!
( That said, the fox, straightens up out of his stretch. )
Unless you're trying to ask me to assume human form, but jumpy as you are, you'll jump right on me, and we'll be back to holding swords all over again. No, no, let's avoid that!
( Hint of laughter in his voice, he starts turning in tight circles, looking intent to lay down again properly by the fireside, wet mass of tails or no. )
wangji frowns at himself, feeling the tips of his ears heat up. he knows they are turning red, betraying him to all who know what to look for. luckily, this fox does not.
the fox speaks far too much, really, but at the same time there's something about him. the sound of his voice, the hint of amusement and laughter even without him laughing. it's different.
wangji keeps frowning.] I would not attack you in human form. [which, really what has he done to give the fox reason to trust that? lowered his sword? that's not so much. wangji puts bichen away in it's sheath, then settles down where he'd been sitting before he'd been disturbed. it's by the fire still, closer now that the flame is bigger and drying their clothes.] Why were you in the storm? [he's doing a whole lot of talking when he doesn't mean to lately, isn't it?]
Is that what the sword greeting is about, ah? Peace offerings?
( He doesn't seem concerned, and he even lazily starts edging around toward the strange swordsman, who with his scent and bearing likely deserves to be here in a way that Wei Wuxian does not. )
Outracing the rain. It caught up! Winds go faster than a fox, it seems, and unlike certain parties, I don't exactly fly. What about you? Why are you here, in a cave, when it's not particularly strong in spiritual strength, and you don't smell injured. Ah! I've got it!
( A pause, for a beat. )
You were planning to meet with your lover and elope!
[wangji doesn't actually mind the way the fox inches closer, it gives him the opportunity to better examine it. he's still curious about the tails, though he does not let that curiosity move him closer or let his eyes trail toward them.
he's nearly relaxed, as relaxed as straightened shoulders will allow when the fox presents its theory.
the comment on the storm's spiritual strength ruffles some feathers; or in wangji's case, scales. he does not want to admit that the chaos outside is his doing and yet---] It is not a weak storm. [the other comment will get no answer, no entertaining on his part.]
( by now, he's seeing if he can sidle right up to the dragon or not. so far, indications are he's not getting stabbed, and if wangji doesn't move, he's about to inherit nine drying tails and a leggy fox as a side-companion at the fire.
one who huffs at the correction, showing teeth and a lolling tongue. )
Right, right, a very strong storm, very impressive, rain that drowns, lighting that illuminates skies, clouds that swallow mountains. So—clearly that's why your love has been delayed. Don't worry, I'm sure she'll find her way sooner or later.
( wangji, consider yourself just about fox encircled. at least he smells of nicer things than wet dog: small mercies. )
I am not waiting for anyone. [wangji does not hiss but it is a near thing. nor does he grow, tempting at that is.
he is so focused on that, that he does not realize that he's been surrounded until he turns his head and is met with the sight of the oh-so-tempting looking tails. he clenches his hand at his sides, frowns as he resist the urge to reach out and touch them.] There is no love.
( tails surround, and wei wuxian all but leans into his newfound friend's side. )
None at all? And you so handsome! ( factual, and a flick of his tails acts like an extension of his laughing sort of flirtation. ) Good, good, I see, then you don't mind me taking up that role, ah?
( the tails are their temptation, and he practically teases one under wangji's fisted hand. )
I do not need a lover. [it would be childish to lean away, to pull back. to let the fox know that he is in any way affected by this.
wangi does not, instead straightens his back and turns his head to glare at his companion. he ignores the fact that it is likely a victory all the same; the fact that he does not move away.] Shameless.
[wangji's words are ice, but his hand, treacherous thing unclenches from a fist and his fingers brush against the soft tails.]
Oh? Handsome like you are, yet you don't want to love, to be loved?
( it's all teasing, like his tail under the dragon's hand, and wei wuxian knows fear and sensibility enough that he finds it more amusing than permissive, how this man stills. the glare slides off him, something anchoring but also impersonal: and that's nice, to be glared at like this and have someone know nothing of him and have no opinion of him to matter, thinner than air.
there are his tails, then, shoved into a hand, but he himself leans against a leg, and doesn't seek meaningful affection. )
Shameless, this isn't shameless, this is survival. Warmth of a fire and warmth of another living body, it's only natural, isn't it?
( and a pause, then. )
Not waiting, not longing, so why? Why be here, on your lonesome, so high on this mountain? In a cave with none of the rest of yours around? You're not in seclusion, none of the right wards were set.
It is shameless. We aren't familiar. [and yet, and yet there he is not moving even if there's bite in his words and eyes remain narrowed.
here he is, hands still where they are and fingers brushing over so soft fur. it's different then what he's used to, than the texture of scales and the fur that makes up his own mane. his curiosity gets the best of him before he realizes that he's run his fingers through the fur and he gives the offending tails a soft shove, as if that'll displace the whole mass of them.
the precepts advise against any exercise in futility. and yet.
the question is almost missed and stings, causes him to look away as rounded ears flush a shade of pink that makes its way to the base of his horns.] It's none of your concern.
( he doesn't have to answer to that, when he feels fingers in his fur. he chuckles, which like this sounds more like a rumbling than the laughter it is, and leans more heavily into the dragon's side. )
Ah, don't be cold, of course I'm concerned about a friend. What troubles you? The skies are wailing, it'll be fine if you want to wail for a while too, I won't tell a soul.
( and there the tails are, still soft, still around him, and he's all but got a fox crawling into his lap for petting. all but, since he's standing, and laps have trouble existing in those circumstances. )
We are not friends. [wangji doesn't have friends and even if he did, they are not so familiar and have not established such a thing.
yet, here he is, not pushing the fox away as it leans into him. it is warm, he must admit. which is nice considering that he himself is often cold and in need of the warmth of his kind or a bask in the sunlight.
the flush grows.] our storms are not because of wailing.[which, oops. he's revealed too much.]
... If not wailing, what's all the rain about? It's not like you're wet, ah?
( okay watch his brain try to process this. not wailing... he noses at the dragon's human side, keeping at least one tail or two under hand and all too present and warm as he's shedding his damp by the fire. )
[there is a moment where wangji narrows his eyes, looks like he is not about to answer. the fox, after all, does not require an answer.
it is not wangji's purpose in life to fulfill it's curiosity and address each fancy. he has no obligation to do it. he shuts his mouth, narrows his eyes. that is, until he's nudged again and warmed.
the fire is nice but there's something different about the warmth of another being, unfamiliar as this one is. familiar as he's acting.] No. [the huff is short, upset. revealing, perhaps. ]
( fox spirits are indeed terribly devious, being that wei wuxian's reacting to the dragon by slowly making sure each of his drying tails ends up pillowing around the human-formed dragon. who was huffing, now, and a flick of wei wuxian's ear indicates he's hearing more than enough, sly canine eyes and silly canine lolling tongue grin, aimed to look more human than it is, part of his play at relaxing an upset dragon. )
Yes, right, because we make it rain when we're in good moods. Make it rain violently when we're in very good moods! Not pouting, or sad, or lonely, never then. Hey, will you sit down already? I'm straining to look up at your face like this, you're so unfairly tall all standing like that.
( ignore that wei wuxian is a large fox, he's still sitting and thus not rivaling a human standing two metres tall. )
It is not because of a mood. [which is still more than he wishes to say but there's something about this fox, that has wangji unable to keep to his usual silence.
it's something getting underneath his skin; an irritation. he frowns, looking at the fox with narrowed eyes.] That is your fault for the form you chose. [if he then moves to sit, it is only because it is closer to the warmth of the fire.]
( tails are slow to curl around his new friend as they sit by the fire, and one by one, he notes their acceptance. or he tries to, as another settles itself at the dragon's back, and fox as he is for the time being, his mouth can hang open, his laughter silent, albeit implied.
unlike his curiosity, which remains loud. )
Then why'd you set the skies trembling, cloud bellies swollen heavy with water?
[the fox is lucky that this dragon is so weak against those tails, even if he remains seated with a straight spine and looks straight ahead as if made of stone.
very judging stone, with eyes narrowed as he's easily provoked.] Does it matter?
Your fur is now being warmed by the fire. [petulant nearly, as if it cancels out the very reason that such a thing is needed at all.
wangji glances to the side to look at the others ear for a moment. that looks soft too. which is distracting. ] I will tell you if you shift to your human form. [he doesn't think the fox will do so, really, so there's no harm here.]
( because in the next moment, the fox is very much human, or human enough, leaving his tails as they are and instead becoming a crouched man at the dragon-man's side, artfully draped in robes of black to match his fur, lined with an inner white, to again match his fur. illusioned robes, and only visual, but the one way anyone could tell would be to reach out and touch him, and he rather doubted the dragon would be attempting that.
thus wei wuxian smiles, charmingly enough, and cants his head to regard his somewhat unfairly handsome companion who had gone on summoning massive storms. )
[lan wangji is an idiot. he curses mentally and knows that physically, he has turned a shade or red that stands out even if the fire tints everything in the small space with it's orange hue.
he looks at the fox turned man quite dumbly and then purses his lips, fighting a battle with himself because he had not accounted for this.
he had made a promise, the precepts forbid lying. even if the reason is embarrassing.] I was worried it would get out of hand. [quiet, terse. an admission of weakness and anxiety.]
( it does not, strictly, occur to wei wuxian to not admire the red as he finds it painting across lan wangji's pale features. he even reaches out, ostensibly to pink at an ear, or his cheek, full admiration: )
Why, you're blushing! Don't be embarrassed, there's no reason, we all have times where testing our limits means learning if we over-extend beyond them. Storms growing out of hand... no, that's not one I've worried over, but it's where your affiliation must lie. Is it linked to emotion, or simply to strength? Can the storm win away from you with its own will?
( some of his tails are twitching and being beguiling without his active thought. they all do help conspire to keep him decent, for what that's worth. if, again, anyone were to realise his robes weren't truly there, but only in illusion. )
[strictly, lan wangji should not allow the touch to his ears. they are sensitive and even though he has control over his own reactions in most moments, a light tremor passes through him before he leans back.
he doesn't go far, not with them sitting side by side, but it is a childish attempt at putting distance between him and the hand he glares at.
at the same time, he grows more flushed.
instead of addressing it, he sticks to the more practical side of the conversations.] They should not get away from us but they can. [his brother and uncle are always in control, but wangji can sometimes lose his grasp and drench the region in rain for days longer than he intends.
he's distracted by a tail swiping, reaches for one and misses only for his hand to land on the fox's thigh. which-- while it looks covered, does not feel covered. wangji stares at where his hand is, frozen and knowing the rest of his skin is matching the red of his ears.] You are not clothed. [and yes, that is an accusation.]
Sounds like a matter of practice, ( he says, leaning forward in a partial tease, but not truly chasing after the retreating dragon. he has limits, and that would be more cruel than fun.
he does laugh at the missed grab for a tail, though the laughter chokes off into something more awkward with the dragon's palm lays warm and heavy on his thigh. he almost jerks back, but he's as frozen too, and his immediate rejoinder (illogical as it is) comes out: )
We're all naked underneath the illusion of clothes!
( watch a tail curl around to very firmly drape into his lap, across the bits that made people silly, whatever their species. just in case the dragon proved vindictive. )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
and suddenly, talking fox
He settles his front paws back on the ground, dipping into a downward stretch that thrusts all nine tails up into the air behind him, only to drip less magnificently on the cave flower.
At last, he speaks. )
You could always dry them out for me! Terribly heavy, this much wet fur. It's fine when you go swimming, ah? Then you dive in, maybe catch a fat fish, but in a storm like this there's no relief. No sun to warm you, no ready hearth in a foreign land... until I found yours!
( That said, the fox, straightens up out of his stretch. )
Unless you're trying to ask me to assume human form, but jumpy as you are, you'll jump right on me, and we'll be back to holding swords all over again. No, no, let's avoid that!
( Hint of laughter in his voice, he starts turning in tight circles, looking intent to lay down again properly by the fireside, wet mass of tails or no. )
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wangji frowns at himself, feeling the tips of his ears heat up. he knows they are turning red, betraying him to all who know what to look for. luckily, this fox does not.
the fox speaks far too much, really, but at the same time there's something about him. the sound of his voice, the hint of amusement and laughter even without him laughing. it's different.
wangji keeps frowning.] I would not attack you in human form. [which, really what has he done to give the fox reason to trust that? lowered his sword? that's not so much. wangji puts bichen away in it's sheath, then settles down where he'd been sitting before he'd been disturbed. it's by the fire still, closer now that the flame is bigger and drying their clothes.] Why were you in the storm? [he's doing a whole lot of talking when he doesn't mean to lately, isn't it?]
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( He doesn't seem concerned, and he even lazily starts edging around toward the strange swordsman, who with his scent and bearing likely deserves to be here in a way that Wei Wuxian does not. )
Outracing the rain. It caught up! Winds go faster than a fox, it seems, and unlike certain parties, I don't exactly fly. What about you? Why are you here, in a cave, when it's not particularly strong in spiritual strength, and you don't smell injured. Ah! I've got it!
( A pause, for a beat. )
You were planning to meet with your lover and elope!
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he's nearly relaxed, as relaxed as straightened shoulders will allow when the fox presents its theory.
the comment on the storm's spiritual strength ruffles some feathers; or in wangji's case, scales. he does not want to admit that the chaos outside is his doing and yet---] It is not a weak storm. [the other comment will get no answer, no entertaining on his part.]
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one who huffs at the correction, showing teeth and a lolling tongue. )
Right, right, a very strong storm, very impressive, rain that drowns, lighting that illuminates skies, clouds that swallow mountains. So—clearly that's why your love has been delayed. Don't worry, I'm sure she'll find her way sooner or later.
( wangji, consider yourself just about fox encircled. at least he smells of nicer things than wet dog: small mercies. )
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he is so focused on that, that he does not realize that he's been surrounded until he turns his head and is met with the sight of the oh-so-tempting looking tails. he clenches his hand at his sides, frowns as he resist the urge to reach out and touch them.] There is no love.
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( tails surround, and wei wuxian all but leans into his newfound friend's side. )
None at all? And you so handsome! ( factual, and a flick of his tails acts like an extension of his laughing sort of flirtation. ) Good, good, I see, then you don't mind me taking up that role, ah?
( the tails are their temptation, and he practically teases one under wangji's fisted hand. )
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wangi does not, instead straightens his back and turns his head to glare at his companion. he ignores the fact that it is likely a victory all the same; the fact that he does not move away.] Shameless.
[wangji's words are ice, but his hand, treacherous thing unclenches from a fist and his fingers brush against the soft tails.]
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( it's all teasing, like his tail under the dragon's hand, and wei wuxian knows fear and sensibility enough that he finds it more amusing than permissive, how this man stills. the glare slides off him, something anchoring but also impersonal: and that's nice, to be glared at like this and have someone know nothing of him and have no opinion of him to matter, thinner than air.
there are his tails, then, shoved into a hand, but he himself leans against a leg, and doesn't seek meaningful affection. )
Shameless, this isn't shameless, this is survival. Warmth of a fire and warmth of another living body, it's only natural, isn't it?
( and a pause, then. )
Not waiting, not longing, so why? Why be here, on your lonesome, so high on this mountain? In a cave with none of the rest of yours around? You're not in seclusion, none of the right wards were set.
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here he is, hands still where they are and fingers brushing over so soft fur. it's different then what he's used to, than the texture of scales and the fur that makes up his own mane. his curiosity gets the best of him before he realizes that he's run his fingers through the fur and he gives the offending tails a soft shove, as if that'll displace the whole mass of them.
the precepts advise against any exercise in futility. and yet.
the question is almost missed and stings, causes him to look away as rounded ears flush a shade of pink that makes its way to the base of his horns.] It's none of your concern.
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Ah, don't be cold, of course I'm concerned about a friend. What troubles you? The skies are wailing, it'll be fine if you want to wail for a while too, I won't tell a soul.
( and there the tails are, still soft, still around him, and he's all but got a fox crawling into his lap for petting. all but, since he's standing, and laps have trouble existing in those circumstances. )
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yet, here he is, not pushing the fox away as it leans into him. it is warm, he must admit. which is nice considering that he himself is often cold and in need of the warmth of his kind or a bask in the sunlight.
the flush grows.] our storms are not because of wailing.[which, oops. he's revealed too much.]
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( okay watch his brain try to process this. not wailing... he noses at the dragon's human side, keeping at least one tail or two under hand and all too present and warm as he's shedding his damp by the fire. )
Angry? Lonely? Stirred up?
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it is not wangji's purpose in life to fulfill it's curiosity and address each fancy. he has no obligation to do it. he shuts his mouth, narrows his eyes. that is, until he's nudged again and warmed.
the fire is nice but there's something different about the warmth of another being, unfamiliar as this one is. familiar as he's acting.] No. [the huff is short, upset. revealing, perhaps. ]
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Yes, right, because we make it rain when we're in good moods. Make it rain violently when we're in very good moods! Not pouting, or sad, or lonely, never then. Hey, will you sit down already? I'm straining to look up at your face like this, you're so unfairly tall all standing like that.
( ignore that wei wuxian is a large fox, he's still sitting and thus not rivaling a human standing two metres tall. )
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it's something getting underneath his skin; an irritation. he frowns, looking at the fox with narrowed eyes.] That is your fault for the form you chose. [if he then moves to sit, it is only because it is closer to the warmth of the fire.]
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unlike his curiosity, which remains loud. )
Then why'd you set the skies trembling, cloud bellies swollen heavy with water?
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very judging stone, with eyes narrowed as he's easily provoked.] Does it matter?
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( her perks his ears forward, letting one swivel to be pointedly listening to the dragon in the moment. )
And I'm a good listener. Have you seen my ears? Wide open!
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wangji glances to the side to look at the others ear for a moment. that looks soft too. which is distracting. ] I will tell you if you shift to your human form. [he doesn't think the fox will do so, really, so there's no harm here.]
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( because in the next moment, the fox is very much human, or human enough, leaving his tails as they are and instead becoming a crouched man at the dragon-man's side, artfully draped in robes of black to match his fur, lined with an inner white, to again match his fur. illusioned robes, and only visual, but the one way anyone could tell would be to reach out and touch him, and he rather doubted the dragon would be attempting that.
thus wei wuxian smiles, charmingly enough, and cants his head to regard his somewhat unfairly handsome companion who had gone on summoning massive storms. )
Go on, tell!
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he looks at the fox turned man quite dumbly and then purses his lips, fighting a battle with himself because he had not accounted for this.
he had made a promise, the precepts forbid lying. even if the reason is embarrassing.] I was worried it would get out of hand. [quiet, terse. an admission of weakness and anxiety.]
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Why, you're blushing! Don't be embarrassed, there's no reason, we all have times where testing our limits means learning if we over-extend beyond them. Storms growing out of hand... no, that's not one I've worried over, but it's where your affiliation must lie. Is it linked to emotion, or simply to strength? Can the storm win away from you with its own will?
( some of his tails are twitching and being beguiling without his active thought. they all do help conspire to keep him decent, for what that's worth. if, again, anyone were to realise his robes weren't truly there, but only in illusion. )
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he doesn't go far, not with them sitting side by side, but it is a childish attempt at putting distance between him and the hand he glares at.
at the same time, he grows more flushed.
instead of addressing it, he sticks to the more practical side of the conversations.] They should not get away from us but they can. [his brother and uncle are always in control, but wangji can sometimes lose his grasp and drench the region in rain for days longer than he intends.
he's distracted by a tail swiping, reaches for one and misses only for his hand to land on the fox's thigh. which-- while it looks covered, does not feel covered. wangji stares at where his hand is, frozen and knowing the rest of his skin is matching the red of his ears.] You are not clothed. [and yes, that is an accusation.]
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he does laugh at the missed grab for a tail, though the laughter chokes off into something more awkward with the dragon's palm lays warm and heavy on his thigh. he almost jerks back, but he's as frozen too, and his immediate rejoinder (illogical as it is) comes out: )
We're all naked underneath the illusion of clothes!
( watch a tail curl around to very firmly drape into his lap, across the bits that made people silly, whatever their species. just in case the dragon proved vindictive. )
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i lost the notif for this.. SHAME ON ME
no shame only GAINS
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