( About Gusu, not about the walk to happen; to where they'll meet with Sizhui and Wen Ning, wishing them well on the journey they're taking for their clan, and the memory of it all. )
In all of this, you're sure? Xiao Apple can handle a few extra paper bundles as we go, I expect, but... how long?
( He laughs, but it's a half-sigh, and the look he gives her is helpless and fond and confused and wondering, all at once. )
Seems like something worth figuring out when we can agree on, but... travel, for now? Outside the realms? You really are going to be able to get away with that, as chief cultivator? Wait, you're chief cultivator now?
[She smiles at the softened voice. Wei Ying finally has an
opportunity to live the life he would want and she can simply wander with
him. If for a while. Lan Wangji nods to Li'l Apple as if to get her
permission as well]
( Li'l Apple doesn't appear to care other than to not flick ears or move away from lan Zhan, instead leaning into her. The donkey continues to prefer Lan Zhan to Wei Wuxian, jokingly, but it is fine as it is.
More so, as the donkey fights the lead until Li'l Apple moves along with the two of them across and downward, winding slowly into a valley that opens into a plain, hugging the base of mountains on the far side of the bank of a river flowing through.
To the village, not much further, and the adventures that await therein. )
[Some months pass as they wander from village to village. As
promised, Lan Wangji writes to her brother in hopes that her adventures
would help him leave seclusion sooner. It is when they have settled into an
inn somewhere in Yiling when there's a stack of letters waiting for her.
Not just for word and advice from the Chief Cultivator. As Wei Ying settles
them down for the night, she opens each one, then quickly and neatly folds
them and sets them aside.]
Wei Ying. There is a festival tonight. We should go.
( He wanders closer, fresh from his joined room and carrying a tea tray that he'd intercepted in the hall. )
Festival?
( He seems to think as he sets now the new tea for her on the table, shaking his head and smiling. )
Yeah, why not go? Which festival is it, I feel like I'm losing track of all time.
( Also, curiously, trying to see what these most recent letter stacks are inviting of Lan Zhan; he's particularly fond of the one written requesting for Lan Zhan to name their baby goat. It'd been from Mianmian's daughter, as written by Mianmian herself. )
[Her script is neat when she writes back to Mianmian and Lady Luo of
what to name their goat. Her official correspondences are in a neat pile.
The proposals, however, well...they get an icy glare from Lan Wangji as if
she could somehow banish them with a look alone. She finishes her mail and
bundles the proposals into a pile to be thrown into the fire later.]
A lantern festival, it seems.
[She sips at the tea he's brought to her, touched at how attentive
he is.]
( He collapses in elegance at the side of her table, by the bundled letters, plucking one from the pile through wiggling, curious effort as he replies. )
Floating or flying?
( Interest in both, and the unfolding of the letter temporarily purloined to skim his eyes over its contents. He clucks his tongue, shaking his head when he does. )
( a state of being, a state of exchange in rites, a shift in relationships. he hasn't asked this before, hasn't said the word, other than in amusement over letter after letter. )
Surprising? No, only a little, I mean. No, you always know your mind, I just hadn't realised.
( like he's pointedly not getting who it is she's interested in marrying. who is going to accept her traveling on the road with him? soulmates or not, she already has to deal with enough insensible fools trying to imply this or that about her integrity, as if Lan Zhan has ever been anything other than exemplary in all her life. )
( He's standing in the moment after her, but is not sure he wants to let that particular bone go. )
Lan Zhan, who?
( If she's wanting to marry, she should, anything she wants she should have, but he would like to vet the person! Give them a good old soulmate shakedown! They have to be worthy of her, and as one who knows he isn't, that bar is High in his estimate. )
( he stands there, dumbstruck, then goes into hand waving motion, both blushing from the back of his neck up and surprised and laughing in that awkward, reactive way, before he's making sure to properly face her and goes: )
Lan Zhan, you mean it? You really do? You want, ah, this?
( he gestures to himself, aware he's got so little to offer in the scheme of things. it doesn't make sense, it's also something he's... )
I'm what you want?
( When Wei Ying is ready. How was he even good enough in that respect? He's still learning how not to be a failure of a soulmate, and that, that's a lot! It really is! )
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( About Gusu, not about the walk to happen; to where they'll meet with Sizhui and Wen Ning, wishing them well on the journey they're taking for their clan, and the memory of it all. )
In all of this, you're sure? Xiao Apple can handle a few extra paper bundles as we go, I expect, but... how long?
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As long as Wei Ying wants.
[She made the mistake before; has her regrets of not going with him and going along with him. She won't make that mistake or have that regret again.]
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( He laughs, but it's a half-sigh, and the look he gives her is helpless and fond and confused and wondering, all at once. )
Seems like something worth figuring out when we can agree on, but... travel, for now? Outside the realms? You really are going to be able to get away with that, as chief cultivator? Wait, you're chief cultivator now?
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[She nods. She doesn't like the title and she's sure that it means that there will be...other things that came with the title]
Travel within the realms.
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[She nods once]
We will go where Wei Ying will go.
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( Softened voice, as he looks down. Then up again, his hand resting on Little Apple's neck. )
May as well start with the village down the mountain and west of here.
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[She smiles at the softened voice. Wei Ying finally has an opportunity to live the life he would want and she can simply wander with him. If for a while. Lan Wangji nods to Li'l Apple as if to get her permission as well]
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More so, as the donkey fights the lead until Li'l Apple moves along with the two of them across and downward, winding slowly into a valley that opens into a plain, hugging the base of mountains on the far side of the bank of a river flowing through.
To the village, not much further, and the adventures that await therein. )
no subject
[Some months pass as they wander from village to village. As promised, Lan Wangji writes to her brother in hopes that her adventures would help him leave seclusion sooner. It is when they have settled into an inn somewhere in Yiling when there's a stack of letters waiting for her. Not just for word and advice from the Chief Cultivator. As Wei Ying settles them down for the night, she opens each one, then quickly and neatly folds them and sets them aside.]
Wei Ying. There is a festival tonight. We should go.
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Festival?
( He seems to think as he sets now the new tea for her on the table, shaking his head and smiling. )
Yeah, why not go? Which festival is it, I feel like I'm losing track of all time.
( Also, curiously, trying to see what these most recent letter stacks are inviting of Lan Zhan; he's particularly fond of the one written requesting for Lan Zhan to name their baby goat. It'd been from Mianmian's daughter, as written by Mianmian herself. )
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[Her script is neat when she writes back to Mianmian and Lady Luo of what to name their goat. Her official correspondences are in a neat pile. The proposals, however, well...they get an icy glare from Lan Wangji as if she could somehow banish them with a look alone. She finishes her mail and bundles the proposals into a pile to be thrown into the fire later.]
A lantern festival, it seems.
[She sips at the tea he's brought to her, touched at how attentive he is.]
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Floating or flying?
( Interest in both, and the unfolding of the letter temporarily purloined to skim his eyes over its contents. He clucks his tongue, shaking his head when he does. )
How many does this make?
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Floating.
[she pauses as Wei Ying reads over the letter]
…enough to request that xiongzhang wrote to me to consider serious candidates.
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( a state of being, a state of exchange in rites, a shift in relationships. he hasn't asked this before, hasn't said the word, other than in amusement over letter after letter. )
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Yes.
[She sips her tea again, letting the liquid comfort her along with Wei Ying's presence.]
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You do? ( a short pause, and then: ) To who?
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[Her ears burn red at his question.]
Does Wei Ying find it surprising?
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Surprising? No, only a little, I mean. No, you always know your mind, I just hadn't realised.
( like he's pointedly not getting who it is she's interested in marrying. who is going to accept her traveling on the road with him? soulmates or not, she already has to deal with enough insensible fools trying to imply this or that about her integrity, as if Lan Zhan has ever been anything other than exemplary in all her life. )
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[She sets down her teacup, then stands]
The festival will start soon. We should go.
[go and leave this awkward conversation behind]
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Lan Zhan, who?
( If she's wanting to marry, she should, anything she wants she should have, but he would like to vet the person! Give them a good old soulmate shakedown! They have to be worthy of her, and as one who knows he isn't, that bar is High in his estimate. )
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[She looks at him. So he hadn't figured out their song. Wei Ying can be brilliant. Wei Ying can also be incredibly oblivious.]
Someone I consider a soul mate.
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... Hahaha, wait, do you have more than one soulmate?
( He can also have the self confidence and self worth of a wet piece of paper, but hey. He's... really... uncertain, here. )
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No. Only Wei Ying.
[She says it with certainty.]
When Wei Ying is ready, then we will discuss.
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Lan Zhan, you mean it? You really do? You want, ah, this?
( he gestures to himself, aware he's got so little to offer in the scheme of things. it doesn't make sense, it's also something he's... )
I'm what you want?
( When Wei Ying is ready. How was he even good enough in that respect? He's still learning how not to be a failure of a soulmate, and that, that's a lot! It really is! )
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