[ closed post: delivery for Hanguang-jun ]

[lightbearinglord]

The morning after the dance¹ sees Lan Wangji in one of the better moods that has visited him in quite some time. Wei Ying was happy last night: truly happy, the kind of happiness that chases all the ghosts out of his head. It is so much better to see than the false smile that graced his face for several days following their confrontation with Jiang Wanyin.

Lan Wangji, content and light of heart for once, has found a small parlor not far off the entryway of the mansion, and he is sitting cross-legged on a floor cushion, hair down, with his qin laid out on a low table before him as he strums a few thoughtful chords. It has been some time since Lan Wangji composed something, but there was so much unfamiliar music the night prior. It has made him want to begin again.

Now, surely nothing could possibly improve his mood even more at a time like this. And surely everyone in the mansion had an equally romantic and enjoyable evening.

¹Time is a flat circle. No further questions.

Comments

[lightbearinglord]

It is easy, still, to lose himself in this song. He has not been married for long, in comparison to the length of time that saw him mourning Wei Ying's death or the years of turmoil before it. The memory of their third bow, of Wei Ying's flushed cheeks and shining eyes, can still catch him like a blow to the chest. I want to night-hunt with you for the rest of my life.

Lan Wangji glances up from Wangji's strings in time to catch the uncharacteristic warmth on Crowley's face, and in time to briefly catch Claudius' eye about it. Seeing how Claudius has arranged the rabbits pulls another smile from him as he gently flattens a hand on the qin strings to silence them. "I prefer it with dizi accompaniment," he says. He truly is in an indulgent mood, because then he hums a little of the dizi part, low and clear in the small room.

[aflashbastard]

Crowley knows that both of them caught the expression on his face. He knows it. Therefore, it's fine if he stops having feelings now¹. Crowley inclines his head at Lan Wangji in thanks. "As ABBA would say," he says, dryly with just enough of a touch of warmth, "thank you for the music."

¹Citation needed.

[wickedwit]

“Oh, I know ABBA,” Claudius says, rather pleased he got that reference (just as he’s pleased to hear the dizi part and know Lan Wangji means Wei Wuxian’s part, the other half of his melody). “ABBA composed Dancing Queen — I believe you and Wei Wuxian shared a dance to it, among your many shared dances.”

[lightbearinglord]

With Crowley's request¹ fulfilled, Lan Wangji stands again, but only so he can sit next to Claudius and extend his hands in anticipation of receiving at least one rabbit. "None of the music was familiar to us, including ABBA. We observed the other guests and then improvised." He looks again at Crowley, still lightly curious as to what transpired between him and Aziraphale but unwilling to pry.

¹Was it Crowley's request...?

[aflashbastard]

Crowley catches the glance and understands it, letting out a sigh. "I know, I know, that's why we're all here today, listening to the romantic song. It's an intervention after that-- that disaster."

[wickedwit]

"I've come to the decision that a disaster is necessary," Claudius says, as he encourages the little white rabbit into Lan Wangji's proffered hands. "But I've more than one confidante for a reason. This isn't an intervention, it's a conversation between friends, with a romantic song." 

[lightbearinglord]

Satisfied, Lan Wangji sits with the rabbit in his lap, letting it hide its face in his hand as he rubs a thumb against its very soft cheek. He continues looking levelly at Crowley. They have discussed this in a roundabout fashion, and Lan Wangji had thought his perspective on the matter was clear, but perhaps he should trim any remaining fat. "Does Aziraphale know how you feel?" he asks.

[aflashbastard]

"Aziraphale can sense love," Crowley says, by way of explanation¹. "I can't."

¹An explanation that does not answer the question at all.

[wickedwit]

Claudius blinks. “You’ve never told me that. You haven’t, have you? I’d remember if you did.” Or he’d have it written down somewhere. Why didn’t he bring his dossier to this friendly conversation with rabbits and romantic music?

[lightbearinglord]

The way Lan Wangji's eyes narrow should make it clear that he is not particularly impressed by this answer. "You are assuming he knows. He may not." There is more he would like to say. He pets the rabbit's ears and glances very quickly at Claudius, only to fortify himself as he prepares to share something else personal. "I assumed Wei Ying knew my feelings. He assumed it was impossible for me to return his. I nearly watched him die with us both believing that what we had shared the night before was a mistake. Tell him."

[aflashbastard]

“He’s an angel,” Crowley says off-handedly to Claudius, as if that explains everything. Then he turns to Lan Wangji and frowns. “I can’t. We just found a careful balance. I can’t run the risk of ruining it so soon.”

[wickedwit]

"Lan Wangji does, however, have a point," Claudius says, still grappling with the idea that angels can sense love. It doesn't seem fair. How much easier would match-making be if he could sense love? Why hasn't he been getting all his romantic gossip from Aziraphale, instead of going the long way around, looking for subtle signs? In fact, why did he recommend subtlety to Crowley at all, and why did Crowley take the recommendation¹? He dearly hopes Crowley doesn't mention it in front of Lan Wangji. "Sensing love is not the same as knowing it, or hearing it spoken. You wanted to learn the ways of human romance, didn't you? Humans make confessions." They don't just scheme and sneak books out of the library behind their beloved's back. What? Who suggested that?

¹ It's a good question to ask, if not entirely for the right reasons.

[aflashbastard]

Crowley turns to Claudius, snatching the chance of a distraction. “A confession? You told me to be subtle. You said I should gather info and read Emma before I did anything else! That’s why we have these rabbits in the first place.”

[lightbearinglord]

Again, Lan Wangji's eyes narrow. He had been gazing steadily at Crowley, but now his attention does flick over to Claudius, and he frowns at him. Admittedly, Lan Wangji does not know Aziraphale. He has experience of loving one person only. But if Aziraphale is even half so oblivious or set in his beliefs as Wei Ying once was, subtlety will be useless. Lan Wangji declared his devotion in every way he knew how with his actions, but it was not enough.

A little irritated, he focuses anew on the rabbit in his lap and on gently petting the fur along its back. This sweet, small creature is the result of an effort at subtlety? Ridiculous. "If you will not tell him, then suit yourself. But if you do not, you may never know what could have been."

[wickedwit]

A fleeting frown from Lan Wangji is like a thousand stern words of censure. If only Claudius had an unreasonable number of rabbits to offer in apology — but no. Each rabbit is precious and appreciated, and Claudius holds the brown rabbit closer to remind it.

“Have you read Emma?” he asks Crowley, conversationally.

[aflashbastard]

"Er, not yet," Crowley says. "Well, the first two pages."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji trains a mildly unimpressed expectant look on Claudius. He awaits an explanation for why Emma, presumably some instructional text unfamiliar to him, is so important for the resolution of Crowley's romantic troubles.

[wickedwit]

"It does make sense that there wouldn't be a confession of love in the first two pages," Claudius says, as though that were ever the issue. "It would be like revealing the culprit before the detective's had a chance to commence investigations¹. Though if the formula for romance novels is anything like that of mysteries, it's likely the confession will come from someone introduced early on. Are there any prospective suitors yet?"

¹ You know, like a Columbo situation.

[aflashbastard]

Crowley muses. "No, so far she's just been a bit selfish over her governess getting married and leaving her without anyone to talk to. She thinks her dad's a bit boring."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji rarely has this much trouble understanding Claudius. That is normally an issue confined to Crowley. Crowley must bring it out in him. He resigns himself to his own questionable taste in company and reaches over to rub the little brown rabbit's cheek as if in commiseration with it.

[wickedwit]

"It's a dreary thing, being left without lively and interesting conversation to occupy one's time. And tolerating boring conversation -- it's an art, but not a pleasure. I'm sure such a heroine is more than ready for a romance to vary her days. Perhaps I should read Emma myself, and see how well I can predict it." It dawns on him, twirling his finger in an encompassing gesture. "We should read Emma. We can discuss it together, all three of us."

[aflashbastard]

Crowley shrugs, looking over at Lan Wangji, who looks like he has absolutely no idea what's going on. "I was already planning on reading it."<sup>1

1</sup>Crowley himself is absolutely unaware of the fact that being in a book club is probably one of the best ways of impressing Aziraphale? Hello??

[lightbearinglord]

Most of Lan Wangji's exploratory ventures in the mansion library have been of the research variety, in an effort to feel less poorly-educated with nearly every new encounter, but at this suggestion, he looks up from where he has been petting the rabbit in Claudius' lap. "I will read it," he agrees. He likes to read.

[wickedwit]

"Excellent. In a week, we'll convene again after reading the first set of chapters -- you've at least opened the book, Crowley, so you can tell us what's a reasonable number. Oh, and we should meet in the Café Ami. Enjolras and Grantaire both seem to swear by cafés as centers of discussion." Claudius looks momentarily blissful at the prospect of planning something. "Are either of you familiar with the works of Voltaire? But no, we should focus on one book at a time."

[aflashbastard]

Crowley may have skimmed the first few pages but he has absolutely no idea how many chapters there are in Emma. They did seem like short chapters, though. "Ten chapters...?" He says in response, because it seems like a good number.