lastjinstanding | Brothel meme continued

Yuan feels a flood of relief - he doesn't want to turn Jingyi down, but the idea of eating with the whole of the rest of Cloud Recesses - particularly Lan Qiren - is incredibly daunting. He gives the two boys a small smile as Zizhen helps Jingyi to sit up slowly.

"Thank you, Hanguang Jun," Zizhen says politely "We'll makes sure somebody brings some food up."

He feels a little bad for snooping, now.

Not that bad, but a little.

"Lean on me if you need to, A-Yi," he tells the Lan boy softly.

Jingyi doesn't. That was so interesting! He is going to talk about what was in that secret compartment all night once they get away from everyone else.

"Thank you. Good night, Hanguang Jun. Good night Yuan!" He smiles at the sweet boy helping him. "Okay, thanks, A-Zhen!"

While it's a sin to lie, Jingyi has to wonder as they leave if leaning on Zizhen a little more than he really needs to falls under that same category. Once they've made it to the archway, he asks, "We're going to ignore that he just asked for food for Yuan, right?"

Inside the small house, Lan Zhan quietly picks up the used tea cups and sets out a fresh one for himself. He refills Yuan's glass. He takes a sip before setting his cup down. And.. silence.

Zizhen doesn't think it counts. Or rather, if it does, he doesn't care, because he's pleased that Jingyi is leaning on him.

"Oh, of course, we're making sure there's enough for two." he grins - Hanguang Jun would be too polite to not eat if the food was brought for him.

Yuan moves back to the table, thanking him quietly for refilling his tea and taking a sip. He lets the silence settle over them for a moment, actually finding it quite restful. He isn't sure exactly what to say, in truth, he's still worried about causing too much trouble to really justify being here. Eventually, though, he decides on a different subject.

"Why didn't Wei-Qianbei come back with us?" he asks softly, realising that was never actually explained.

Wangji remains quiet as he thinks over how best to answer the question. He believes in telling the truth but he also doesn't believe in emotionally torturing people. There is nothing Yuan can do but worry about Jin Ling just as there's little Lan Zhan can do but worry about Wei Wuxian. In the end, though, the truth was the most important.

Therefore, he goes classic Lan Zhan. "He was helping someone."

Yuan thinks it must be his brother, since he is the one who just had his engagement broken off, and he nods slightly - he isn't entirely sure why Hanguang Jun took so long to respond, but he doesn't suspect the truth.

"When do you think he will be back?" he asks.

He's still not sure how to deal with this new - or old, really - family that he's suddenly a part of, and they're both intimidating (for very different reasons), but that doesn't mean he isn't interested, isn't starting to care about them. He remembers so little of Wei Wuxian, but what he does remember is fond.

Wangji frowns and gets to his feet. He looks out the window worriedly for a moment before turning back. "It depends.. on if he had to travel all the way to Lanling or whether he just needed to pass on a message and would be shortly behind us." He hates that once again, he's asking the night 'Wei Ying, where are you?'

"If he's not here tomorrow, then I suspect he did go that far and will be a couple more days away," he admits with a sigh. "Our plans won't change, helping you get acclimated here."

"Lanling?" Yuan repeats, brow furrowing. Why would he need to go to Lanling? Worry creeps up his spine.

"Is... has something happened to Jin Ling?" he asks. Why had he let Jin Ling talk him into coming here? He should have refused, should have insisted on staying with him, what if he's in danger still? What if he's hurt?

Dimly, he knows he would have been little help, that he would have only been a distraction or something more for Jin Ling to have to protect, but that doesn't help the guilt.

Wangji nods and with a sigh, he slowly comes back to the table.

He sees the worry growing and decides being frank is the most fair. "No, not to my knowledge. However, Wei Wuxian requested two of the Jiang clan members to report back to him after caring for the Jin guards of any suspicious behavior. Jin-zongzhu departed before your father received word back from the disciples and has been unable to find them."

"There was a lot of chaos in the house, including helping many clans leave with short notice, so it's possible there is reason for their absence that shouldn't have caused alarm. We didn't want to take that risk, so Wei Wuxian went after him to make sure he was alright and that he knew."

Yuan breathes out slowly, trying to calm his racing heart. It's fine, something odd had happened and Wei Wuxian was just following it up, he's making sure Jin Ling is fine.

"Alright," he says with a nod, though he knows his worry won't entirely go away until Wei Wuxian returns and he can ask him for certain. There just isn't anything he can actually do about it right now.

"I'm sorry," he says softly, looking down at the teacup in his hands "I know you're doing so much for me, risking so much bringing me here, I don't mean to be ungrateful..."

He is worried too. His husband was wonderful but trouble has a way of following him wherever he goes. The former Yiling Patriarch showing up in Lanling after the captain of the guard is abruptly executed could have negative reactions they weren't prepared for. If something happened to Jin Ling and one of his cousins took over, would it mean war between the Jin clan and Jiang clan for the treatment in Yunmeng? All these headaches he never had to think before becoming Chief Cultivator.

His attention is drawn back to the present when Yuan apologizes. "You've mentioned that before. What action do you think you're doing that makes you ungrateful?"

"I simply mean... what you're offering me, what you're giving me, is so beyond anything I could have ever imagined, it feels wrong to still be wanting other things. I know you said it's okay, but I just..."

He bites his lip, trying to figure out how to put it into words.

"I feel like there's an expected way I should be behaving and I'm... not." he glances up nervously, hoping that made any sort of sense. "I just don't know how I'm supposed to act in this situation, so I'm trying to put together what I know from all sorts of other places and I feel like I'm just making mistakes all the time."

Lan Zhan thought over Yuan's concern for a few moments, unconcerned with the quiet. For some it was unnerving when the powerful man went silent like this, but for others- particularly those who have worked with him- they knew he was being careful.

"Be righteous. Always stand with justice. Protect the weak. Help the poor. The rest.. will come. You went for help when Jingyi needed it even though you were unfamiliar with this place and were afraid. You've been brave to come here and have been willing to let us get to know you. Even though you're in a vulnerable position, you keep showing concern for Jin Ling's safety and well-being."

He picks up his teacup and takes another sip. "I've seen no mistakes."

Edited 2021-08-25 23:58 (UTC)

Yuan waits nervously for his response, listening quietly when it comes. He's silent for a long moment, gathering his thoughts, though it's clear Lan Zhan has no problem with that so he doesn't feel the need to rush.

"Thank you," he says eventually "That's... that's very reassuring. I will continue to try and follow your guidance."

Even after he learns more, he thinks as a foundation those things are pretty important, he can continue to live by those words.

There's a knock at the door, then, from a servant bearing a tray with food - for both of them, of course.

Underneath all of the power of his position and the calm of his trained demeanor, Lan Zhan is fretting. The truth was, he doesn't know what he's doing. He's never had a youth come to the Lan clan so late and certainly not one with such a background. He feels his inexperience with being a father and keeps looking to his own but not finding any helpful answers. All the memories from his uncle seem cruel now in his older, wiser age.

What would Wei Ying do here? He would've found a way to make the boy laugh and be at ease, but Lan Zhan doesn't know how to do that. Instead the pockets of silence drag on which are normally comforting to him but he worries they aren't to Yuan. Should he be giving him more concrete answers? He can't possibly give the young man the precepts his first night here and expect him not to crumble. Once upon a time, he would've but he's learned from his husband's point of view how intimidating those are.

He's grateful when the food arrives. At least he could go play his qin while.. he blinks in confusion when he opens the door and sees there's too much food for one person. He opens his mouth to protest but is quick to realize what's happened. He looks toward the dining hall and shakes his head.

He joins Yuan again and just before he starts to eat, he turns and opens the hidden compartment in the floor. He takes out the jar of peppers and sets it in front of Yuan. "Our food can taste bland to some outsiders."

Yuan feels a flicker of guilt when Lan Zhan opens up that compartment, but he holds his breath as well, hoping that they didn't leave anything out of place.

He smiles a little, though, when he realises why the peppers are being given, and shakes his head.

"I'm never going to complain about food." He says softly "it's hot, it's fresh and it looks good, it already beats any number of meals I've had." Or haven't had. Even after the steady meals of the Golden Hare, he hasn't ever quite forgotten what it's like to go hungry.

Still, he does add a little, since La Zhan went to the trouble of getting it out for him, and he does actually like spicy food, it always makes him feel at home for some reason.

In truth, he doesn't look at the compartment much. It is Wei Wuxian's mostly since his husband moved in. It seemed only right with the man having to live here in Cloud Recesses that he get some private place to hide all the naughty things he liked to do that didn't follow their rules. You know, when he wasn't just flaunting disobeying following their rules down the street making everyone cringe. He'd been reluctant to let Wuxian get rid of the black bottles though, even when he'd finished drinking their contents so they'd compromised on Wei Ying refilling the bottles already in there or using them for other things. Sometimes Lan Zhan's emotions didn't always make sense, but he was glad he was supported nonetheless.

"There will always be plenty here. Eat however you need. We get more in town every few months." After that, he was quiet while he ate. He was pleased Yuan felt welcome enough to use the peppers but didn't feel he had to go overboard.

When they were finished, he finally spoke again. "Would you care for a walk before bed?" He asks. It was better than sitting around with nervous energy waiting for his husband to arrive. He had an idea of what might make Yuan feel better.

The food was good- simple, and yes a little bland, but good quality and well made and he was more than happy to eat his fill. The added kick from the peppers was nice, but he definitely would have been perfectly content even without it.

The offer makes him pause for a moment, because he is a little nervous about going back out there, but also the place is beautiful and he'd like to get to know it and he didn't just want to sit here awkwardly, so after a moment of deliberation, he nods.

"A walk sounds lovely."

The walk is relatively quiet as is most things around Lan Zhan. Instead of going toward the buildings and giving Yuan a tour, he goes the opposite further into the mountains. He does point out where the path splits to go to the cold springs before taking a different route.

Eventually they find themselves in a small clearing with a donkey grazing nearby and a hill full of glistening white rabbits. Here, Lan Zhan sits and picks up one of them to pet, giving Yuan a small smile. He offers the one in his hand to Yuan.

Yuan flushes when Lan Zhan points out the route that goes to the cold springs, but he nods, commiting this part of the path to memory - he never wants to repeat what happened earlier. At least he wasn't traumatised by the view, he's seen his share of naked old men before.

When they step out into the clearing and Yuan realises he's been taken to the rabbits Jingyi told him about, his eyes widen in wonder and he gasps - there's so many more than he was expecting and they all look adorable!

"Thank you," he whispers, taking the rabbit gently and holding it cradled in his arm so he can pet it softly. Suddenly all his worries don't seem so bad.

Lan Zhan is quiet for a while as all the rabbits seem to come out from wherever they were resting to sit around him. A few brave or curious ones also circle around Yuan, finding his presence also pleasantly calm. His scent is stronger with some of the lingering perfumes of Lanling on him, which keep a few of the more shy bunnies away.

Stroking a rabbit's forehead with his finger, he begins to talk quietly. "If one of the kits were to get scared and nip my finger should I blame it? Did it do anything wrong? It doesn't haven't experience yet just instinct. And if you look at it from my point of view, a tiny cut on my hand is such a minor injury. I've been to war. I've watched loved ones die. I've watched this very place that I love burn. What real pain do I feel from something so trivial?"

His gaze turns from the rabbit to Yuan. "You're like one of these rabbits, Yuan. You might see a cut or a spot of blood but I see a little white rabbit learning to trust and relying on whatever instinct he has. This is not a bad thing and it's not costing me what you think it is. Be patient and be at peace, Little Rabbit.

Yuan listens carefully, thinking at first that it's just some philosophical musing, or perhaps advice on staying calm should one of the rabbits nibble or startle, it's not until Lan Zhan looks up at him and continues that he realises what the older man is trying to say.

"Oh," he says softly, looking up from his own rabbit to stare at Hanguang Jun with wide eyes, like it's finally sinking in the love and care and patience this man has for him, immediately and without question. A father's love.

"I understand. Thank you... a-die." It's cautious, testing out the word to see how it feels, if it's right, yet.

It warms his heart to see how well his words work to soothe whatever worries might have been lingering with his son. He'd seen how he'd reacted to the mention of the cold springs and it was such a stupid thing to worry about. His uncle was being a fool and should never have treated his sweet Little Rabbit so roughly. He wishes he'd been there for all of Yuan's fearful or sad moments so he could wipe away the tears and hold him. It breaks his heart that he wasn't, but he could try and make up for some of it now.

His smile grows and he drops his gaze with a slight bashfulness at the name. Was the Chief Cultivator allowed to feel giddy? He isn't used to having such strong feelings around anyone other than his husband (obviously, not the same kind of feelings). Who knew there would be two people in this world who could bring out this side of him?

"You're welcome, érzi."

Unfortunately, it isn't too long before they have to return to Lan Zhan's room. It's forbidden to be out walking around at night, after all. He offers his bed to Yuan but a small cot has been brought in and set along the wall adjacent to his desk where he plays his qin. Whichever Yuan feels most comfortable, especially given it's clear the older of the two is following the strict bedtime. (Though he does give Yuan a few books and leaves his qin out in case he doesn't want to sleep right away).

Yuan feels a lot more content when they return to the Jingshi, there are still worries of course - especially about Jin Ling - but he feels much more stable knowing he has Hanguang Jun on his side, and much more confident that the older man is on his side.

He can't possibly bring himself to take Hanguang Jun's bed so he insists on the cot, saying a polite good night. He isn't particularly sleepy, so he entertains himself with one of the books (not wanting to disturb him with playing) until he finally falls asleep.

It's late at night when Wei Wuxian returns, shedding his bloodied robes and tucking them out of sight. He spends a moment just watching his son sleep before kissing him lightly on the forehead and slipping through to wrap himself around his husband.

Lan Zhan wrinkles his nose slightly. Smoke, sweat, some other unsavory scents mix together to greet him but underneath it all he finds his husband and he smiles.

"You're home," he murmurs in a groggy tone, curling in against the other man's chest. He is slower to open his eyes than usual, it had been a long trek back and Jingyi had taken quite a bit of his energy that day. When he finally gets his eyes open, he leans in to steal a sleepy kiss, pleased to have his husband near again. "Everything go alright?"

"Yes," he agrees quietly, giving his husband a soft, affectionate kiss on the forehead, though he smiles when Lan Zhan gives him a proper kiss in turn.

"Not really," he admits "there was an attempt on Jin Ling's life. I'll tell you the full story in the morning, but Song Lan got to him and held them off until we arrived. Jiang Cheng has gone back with him. He's alive, but injured."

He thinks it will be fine, and he doesn't intend on giving their son all the details, but he's still a little concerned.

"Also you will never believe what I walked in on when I went to get Cheng."

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