[Later. Later they could speak about children. About a future that
could be theirs. For now, she sets her sword into her sleeve and nods at
him again to lead the way to the festival.]
( Out, out it is: to the thriving thrum of the crowds that flow past, the chatter and laughter and shouts and every hawked ware, every scent that collides and flows over and past them, heady and hearty and everything inbetween. The press of bodies are ones he sluices through, leaving her room in his wake, one arm back to keep hold of her hand, fingers laced, like he doesn't know how to let go. )
Lan Zhan! Riddles?
( Lantern riddles, waiting for their solving and decorated in all different manners, hung and pointed out toward the crowds. One has a rabbit perched up, ears tipped forward, paws tucked up to its chest. He gestures toward it, his smile ready and happy, inviting her to the riddle, the reading. )
[She holds onto him, letting their fingers interlace and happily
following along and moving around people as best she can as they move from
vendor to vendor. Whenever he stops, she stays close to him, allowing
herself to enjoy his presence now that they're--well, now that Wei Ying
understands that she considers him her fated one. When he asks if she wants
to participate in riddles, she nods, looking over the lantern with the
rabbit]
( He grins, letting her look and read, meanwhile letting his gaze stray across several. There, the one with the red gate on it: the answer, a cow. The one below, with the reeds and the bird peeking between them: the answer, filial piety.
His eyes turn back to the one she views, and he waits, reading the riddle:
A thousand threads, a million strands. Reaching the water, vanishing all at once.
The squeeze of her hand as unnecessary encouragement, so sure she already knows the shape of the answer, such as it is. )
[She wants to give the others a chance to answer before speaking.
Though the squeeze from Wei Ying's hand tells her that she should speak up.
Her voice is steady but quiet amongst the other guesses and she stares the
vendor down. He looks surprised then laughs, uneasy with how serious her
answer is. He brings the rabbit lantern down and declares her clever,
handing it over to her]
( He's encouraging her to reach out with her free hand, accept the lantern with its rabbit and its riddle, the rain that had once fallen over them a distant memory, times of pain and solitude and support and grim facing down death, in a long march from one inevitability to the next.
It's easy, tonight, with hands entwined, the flow of people like that of a mellowed burbling brook, and he leads them down, toward the stalls of food, to the sugar paintings that stand on sticks, and oh, he laughs before he tugs her toward a vegetable grilling stall. )
Lan Zhan, you should try these! I saw something, two stalls down, I'll grab it and come back to you here, then we can head for the river--find a place to watch the lanterns.
[It's easy and she takes the rabbit lantern, holding onto it and
reminded of a different time when rain brought her first true heartache.
Since then, she hadn't liked rainy days. But then Wei Ying is leading her
down and she can't help but feel a joy in her that they're able to do this,
be so open and be with each other in this way. She always hated it whenever
anyone touched her but with Wei Ying, who had so easily grasped her hand to
pull her along so much during their lives, it's different. She settles
before the stall and takes out her coin purse to pay for a few vegetable
skewers that are being grilled. Her head lifts and she tilts, confused as
to where Wei Ying is going. But nods nonetheless. She pays for two and
awaits at the stall as Wei Ying goes off.]
[Perhaps Sizhui would enjoy the lantern. She has nothing to wish
for, after all. He already has one from their time in Tanzhou. She silently
awaits for Wei Ying to return, watching as the people pass by her;
families, children, and even lovers who huddle close together.]
( He's gone, only to turn up again, a smile that blooms from one of politeness into one of gratitude when he rejoins her. In his hands, sugar art, two rabbits: if he's running with a theme, he doesn't try to let it fade into anything less than the obvious.
A gift, and he twirls the rabbit, thinking of years ago, of walking with Jiang Yanli, Jiang Cheng. Before he'd reached Gusu's steps, the impassible gate before the displeasure of Lan Wangji, second young master of the sect. Not yet Lan Zhan, not yet Hanguang-jun.
Times no one returns to, and there are regrets, yes, but life continues. Life does not stop, even when hearts break, or mend, or die. )
For you!
( He holds both out, and offers for the lantern in turn, to loop over his arm while offering her his other one. For the intimacy without it needing to be anything new, as it wasn't; he'd done this before, knows this dance, but not the ending, not the nuance.
Simple joys? Those he embraces. With you not needing the words when he's here like this, and realising also: they need extra sets of hands. Whoops? How to account for those grilled vegetables as well... they'll figure it out. )
[A gift from Wei Ying. She takes one of the sugar rabbits, easily
shuffling so that she could hand him one of the vegetable skewers in
between the spaces of her fingers. There's people that watch their exchange
but she doesn't pay them any mind.]
And one for you.
[She's going to have Wei Ying eat more vegetables somehow. She
easily hands the lantern over to him, making sure that it stays balanced on
his arm as she hooks it. They always figure it out. There's a whisper that
she picks up and thoroughly ignores. She's so cold. That's Hanguang Jun!
But she's with him? Doesn't seem to be her type.]
( he takes the vegetable skewer, only realising that it means he's not just holding it for her when she speaks. he laughs, shaking his head and shifting his hold on them to mock wag a finger at her: )
You are a devious one, aren't you? Lan Zhan, I don't need fattening up.
( but it's a soft jest, and it's a lie they both know; he's too lanky, still, too lean and gaunt even years away from Yiling. it's only been months, here.
and he moves them, ignoring the voices, the whispers, like he's learned to ages ago. their opinions aren't worth the air that carries them past their lips, and here, he spies a section of riverbank, on the paved stones, and moves for it, arm in arm to find their place, and the lanterns already on the water. )
To think in Gusu, you had us set them to the air, and down here, they're floating out in the canals and to the waters. I wonder why?
( Absently, he takes a bite of vegetables, wrinkling his nose a touch at the slow dawning chill on them, but they're decent enough. )
[Too gaunt still. She lets him lead them to the riverbank and
quietly eats her vegetable skewer, even though it’s cooled a little by the
time they’re stopped. The sugar rabbit is sweet on her tongue, something
that she takes her time savoring as Wei Ying compares these lanterns with
the ones they had released as teenagers.]
At home, we are sending hopes and dreams into the heavens. Here, the waters
carry them out as wishes and messages to the dead.
[Let me go, Lan Zhan. His final words to her in his last
life. She swallows at the memory, at how he acknowledges that past.
Instead, she eats her sugar rabbit and takes the lantern from him, holding
it up]
( He doesn't quite make a full smile, but the smaller attempt, and looks to the lantern. A wish, then, for what?
More happinesses in our future than sadnesses. More reasons to smile than to cry. More, rather than less.
Things they could in part give themselves, and in part wrangle as the world spun madly on. He nods his head to her, wish given, for her to do as she must in the release of it.
[She crouches and sets the lantern go as soon as she sees him nod to
her. Her own soft smile is flickered in the soft light as the lantern
floats away from her. She stands again and straightens her robes; neat and
set right as always. She's already let go of their past the moment he
stepped back into her life. Lan Wangji stands near Wei Ying and watches as
their lantern moves down the canal.]
( He licks at the sugar rabbit, having eaten the vegetable skewer. He doesn't taste it, mind too far away, but he smiles back at her when she stands, and his eyes linger on the river, the form of the lantern with its riddle for rain getting further an further away. )
Oh? I still recall more letters requiring answering.
( a crooked smile, gaze still on the river. when his eyes slip back to hers, he shifts, and ends up bringing his rabbit to her mouth. heeeey there lan zhan... )
[Letters that she could happily return back to her uncle; rejecting
all of them. She isn't phased by him waving the sugar rabbit in front of
her face then shakes her head.]
( Then this is only a beginning, and he holds out his arm, like a gallant gentleman. Or more like he's inviting her into his proximity again, while he continues to lick and nibble his rabbit, uncaring of how it looks. He's too distracted by the rest, and wanting a pace away from the memories of a river of lights, beautiful as they are.
Lan Zhan may be content enough in her lack of need for wishing, but he doesn't know he can be for others. Only for himself.
That said, it's an easy walk back into the thinner crowds on this street, and word passed along that someone may have arranged for fireworks from a barge out on the lake. He hears as much, quirking a brow to Lan Zhan. )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Lan Zhan's word on this.
( Her word on when, if ever. For now, ah; )
What were we about to do? Walk, properly, go find food outside this tea house and inn, ah?
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[She nods]
Mmn, lantern festival.
[Later. Later they could speak about children. About a future that could be theirs. For now, she sets her sword into her sleeve and nods at him again to lead the way to the festival.]
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Lan Zhan! Riddles?
( Lantern riddles, waiting for their solving and decorated in all different manners, hung and pointed out toward the crowds. One has a rabbit perched up, ears tipped forward, paws tucked up to its chest. He gestures toward it, his smile ready and happy, inviting her to the riddle, the reading. )
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[She holds onto him, letting their fingers interlace and happily following along and moving around people as best she can as they move from vendor to vendor. Whenever he stops, she stays close to him, allowing herself to enjoy his presence now that they're--well, now that Wei Ying understands that she considers him her fated one. When he asks if she wants to participate in riddles, she nods, looking over the lantern with the rabbit]
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His eyes turn back to the one she views, and he waits, reading the riddle:
A thousand threads, a million strands. Reaching the water, vanishing all at once.
The squeeze of her hand as unnecessary encouragement, so sure she already knows the shape of the answer, such as it is. )
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Rain.
[She wants to give the others a chance to answer before speaking. Though the squeeze from Wei Ying's hand tells her that she should speak up. Her voice is steady but quiet amongst the other guesses and she stares the vendor down. He looks surprised then laughs, uneasy with how serious her answer is. He brings the rabbit lantern down and declares her clever, handing it over to her]
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It's easy, tonight, with hands entwined, the flow of people like that of a mellowed burbling brook, and he leads them down, toward the stalls of food, to the sugar paintings that stand on sticks, and oh, he laughs before he tugs her toward a vegetable grilling stall. )
Lan Zhan, you should try these! I saw something, two stalls down, I'll grab it and come back to you here, then we can head for the river--find a place to watch the lanterns.
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[It's easy and she takes the rabbit lantern, holding onto it and reminded of a different time when rain brought her first true heartache. Since then, she hadn't liked rainy days. But then Wei Ying is leading her down and she can't help but feel a joy in her that they're able to do this, be so open and be with each other in this way. She always hated it whenever anyone touched her but with Wei Ying, who had so easily grasped her hand to pull her along so much during their lives, it's different. She settles before the stall and takes out her coin purse to pay for a few vegetable skewers that are being grilled. Her head lifts and she tilts, confused as to where Wei Ying is going. But nods nonetheless. She pays for two and awaits at the stall as Wei Ying goes off.]
[Perhaps Sizhui would enjoy the lantern. She has nothing to wish for, after all. He already has one from their time in Tanzhou. She silently awaits for Wei Ying to return, watching as the people pass by her; families, children, and even lovers who huddle close together.]
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A gift, and he twirls the rabbit, thinking of years ago, of walking with Jiang Yanli, Jiang Cheng. Before he'd reached Gusu's steps, the impassible gate before the displeasure of Lan Wangji, second young master of the sect. Not yet Lan Zhan, not yet Hanguang-jun.
Times no one returns to, and there are regrets, yes, but life continues. Life does not stop, even when hearts break, or mend, or die. )
For you!
( He holds both out, and offers for the lantern in turn, to loop over his arm while offering her his other one. For the intimacy without it needing to be anything new, as it wasn't; he'd done this before, knows this dance, but not the ending, not the nuance.
Simple joys? Those he embraces. With you not needing the words when he's here like this, and realising also: they need extra sets of hands. Whoops? How to account for those grilled vegetables as well... they'll figure it out. )
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[A gift from Wei Ying. She takes one of the sugar rabbits, easily shuffling so that she could hand him one of the vegetable skewers in between the spaces of her fingers. There's people that watch their exchange but she doesn't pay them any mind.]
And one for you.
[She's going to have Wei Ying eat more vegetables somehow. She easily hands the lantern over to him, making sure that it stays balanced on his arm as she hooks it. They always figure it out. There's a whisper that she picks up and thoroughly ignores. She's so cold. That's Hanguang Jun! But she's with him? Doesn't seem to be her type.]
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You are a devious one, aren't you? Lan Zhan, I don't need fattening up.
( but it's a soft jest, and it's a lie they both know; he's too lanky, still, too lean and gaunt even years away from Yiling. it's only been months, here.
and he moves them, ignoring the voices, the whispers, like he's learned to ages ago. their opinions aren't worth the air that carries them past their lips, and here, he spies a section of riverbank, on the paved stones, and moves for it, arm in arm to find their place, and the lanterns already on the water. )
To think in Gusu, you had us set them to the air, and down here, they're floating out in the canals and to the waters. I wonder why?
( Absently, he takes a bite of vegetables, wrinkling his nose a touch at the slow dawning chill on them, but they're decent enough. )
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[Too gaunt still. She lets him lead them to the riverbank and quietly eats her vegetable skewer, even though it’s cooled a little by the time they’re stopped. The sugar rabbit is sweet on her tongue, something that she takes her time savoring as Wei Ying compares these lanterns with the ones they had released as teenagers.]
At home, we are sending hopes and dreams into the heavens. Here, the waters carry them out as wishes and messages to the dead.
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Did you send any for me?
( He asks, and it's a quiet question, for many reasons. )
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[She looks down at the sugar rabbit as she mulls over how to best answer his question.]
No.
[Lan Wangji turns her gaze to him]
I did not believe you were dead.
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I had intended to be, Lan Zhan.
( And, because of it, so much else. )
I'm sorry. It wasn't the right decision, or even a good one. I'm sorry for what you've had to endure.
( What his despair had bought her, when he'd been incapable of thinking anything more than, be free. Let me go, and be free. )
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[Let me go, Lan Zhan. His final words to her in his last life. She swallows at the memory, at how he acknowledges that past. Instead, she eats her sugar rabbit and takes the lantern from him, holding it up]
Make a wish, Wei Ying.
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More happinesses in our future than sadnesses. More reasons to smile than to cry. More, rather than less.
Things they could in part give themselves, and in part wrangle as the world spun madly on. He nods his head to her, wish given, for her to do as she must in the release of it.
Let me go. )
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[She crouches and sets the lantern go as soon as she sees him nod to her. Her own soft smile is flickered in the soft light as the lantern floats away from her. She stands again and straightens her robes; neat and set right as always. She's already let go of their past the moment he stepped back into her life. Lan Wangji stands near Wei Ying and watches as their lantern moves down the canal.]
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Did you make your own wish?
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[She shakes her head, watching him as he takes his time with the sugar rabbit.]
Have everything.
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( a crooked smile, gaze still on the river. when his eyes slip back to hers, he shifts, and ends up bringing his rabbit to her mouth. heeeey there lan zhan... )
Do you wish to linger here to watch the lanterns?
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[Letters that she could happily return back to her uncle; rejecting all of them. She isn't phased by him waving the sugar rabbit in front of her face then shakes her head.]
Does Wei Ying wish to return to the inn?
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( He quirks a smile, giving the rabbit another lick. )
Lan Zhan, are you tired?
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[Her eyes fall on the rabbit as he takes another taste of it]
There are other things to see.
[Shes put up with his reading before. She can put up with it now]
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Lan Zhan may be content enough in her lack of need for wishing, but he doesn't know he can be for others. Only for himself.
That said, it's an easy walk back into the thinner crowds on this street, and word passed along that someone may have arranged for fireworks from a barge out on the lake. He hears as much, quirking a brow to Lan Zhan. )
Thoughts?
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