[ open post: Lan Wangji and guests ]

[lightbearinglord]

In the wake of his disorienting and unpleasant stint in Gu Xiang's body, Lan Wangji has done his utmost to resume and enjoy all of his usual pursuits. He has, he believes, thoroughly made up for his lapse in his promise to Wei Ying. He has wielded kitchen knives, his ink brush, and Bichen with precision and enthusiasm. He has sunk into long, restorative shichen of meditation. He has, at Claudius' behest, thoroughly perused Emily Post's instructions regarding how to conduct oneself as the best man at a wedding.

There is the matter of his qin, too. The discovery of the spirit in Gideon's sword struck Lan Wangji with greater surprise than he might have expected. Such things were once commonplace for him; he hardly went two weeks, before he came to this place, without finding himself called to some night-hunt. He does not like to believe that he could become complacent, and he has always practiced diligently, but still.

The tableau is a familiar one: a certain parlor near the entryway of the mansion, one that often houses this particular cultivator along with his spiritual instrument. Wangji is balanced on a table at the center of the room, polished black wood gleaming and strings freshly tuned, and Lan Wangji sits cross-legged before it. He is not actually playing it at this precise moment, however, because he currently has guests. A small white rabbit sits next to the qin, munching his way through a piece of lettuce. An equally small brown rabbit is perched in the crook of Lan Wangji's elbow, eyeing his brother with some envy. Ostensibly, the rabbits are in trouble, because they have recently laid waste to Lan Wangji's copy of Emma. It is impossible to tell, because Lan Wangji is petting Danding's head with exactly as much solemn focus as always.

Comments

[temnota]

Aleksander returned the bow elegantly then stepped inside. "I am glad to see you. No ill effects from the switch, I hope."

[lightbearinglord]

"No." The greatest injury was to Lan Wangji's pride, and -- temporarily -- to his marriage, but there was no lasting damage. "You fared worse than I did." He sits again, folding elegantly down with his legs freshly crossed and the layers of his robes coming along with him. His intention is that Aleksander should sit with him.

[temnota]

Aleksander smiled wryly but said nothing as he took Lan Wangji's cue and sat down across from him. He carefully rearranged his kefta so it wouldn't bunch up uncomfortably. "I am very glad to hear that. The Mansion is capable of being kind, after all."

[lightbearinglord]

"Mn." That is undeniably true. The house has provided them with food and shelter and an apparently endless supply of reading material. Lan Wangji gives Xiaoxue a gentle tap on the head, between the ears, with two fingers. The rabbit glances up and eyes Aleksander, interested and wary all at once. Danding follows suit, then hops tidily right over the qin to bring his tiny body closer to Aleksander for investigative purposes.

[temnota]

"Hello, lapushka¹," Aleksander said to the braver of the two rabbits. He smiled and slowly held out his hand, not wanting to startle either, to allow for further investigation. "Who might you be?"

¹Darling.

[lightbearinglord]

Danding applies himself industriously to the task of sniffing Aleksander's fingers, nose twitching at a somewhat remarkable rate as a result. "This is Danding," Lan Wangji offers, watching with an almost overtly soft look on his face. "The other is Xiaoxue."

[temnota]

"Hello, Danding," Aleksander greeted the rabbit with all of the deference one would give to an visiting dignitary. He looked over at Xioxue and greeted him just as deferentially. "It is an honor to meet the both of you."

[lightbearinglord]

As is his habit now, Lan Wangji passes over a few lettuce leaves to Aleksander, for his use in the endeavor of earning the rabbits' trust. He glances down at his qin, then. "You wanted to hear me play."

[temnota]

Moving slowly so as not to startle either rabbit, Aleksander accepted the pieces of lettuce. He gently offered one piece to Danding, keeping his hand steady and once that had been gobbled up, he offered another to Xioxue.

"I did," he said, looking up with a smile. "Would this be a good time?"

[lightbearinglord]

With only the faintest trace of amusement, Lan Wangji looks at his qin again, more pointedly this time. What better time? The rabbits are content. The qin is already out.

It is easiest to answer by shaking back his sleeves, setting his hands to the strings, and beginning to play.

[temnota]

That was answer enough and Aleksander sat back to listen, occasionally tearing off little bits of lettuce for the rabbits. Once the pieces were gone, he devoted his entire attention to Lan Wangji and his music. It was different then anything he'd ever heard before but he found it hauntingly beautiful.

[lightbearinglord]

This instrument has been at his side for so long that Lan Wangji believes he could play it blindfolded and in his sleep if necessary. He concentrates regardless, placing his fingers with precision against the strings as he finds the hui to play Flowing Water. Wangji is quiet when he plays it as a mere instrument rather than as a weapon, but it's the kind of quiet that rewards close attention.

[temnota]

Aleksander listened contentedly, absently petting Danding. The music reminded him of gently flowing water which in return reminded him of the streams and rivers of Ravka. He let the memories flow, something he hadn't done for a long time. And right up until he remembered Annika and the night at the lake, they were good memories.

He forcibly wrenched his attention back to the present moment, not wanting to dwell on the moment that had changed his path and that of Ravka's.

Once the song was done, he smiled warmly and applauded softly. "That was lovely."

[lightbearinglord]

The applause is a little bemusing, but Lan Wangji doesn't mind it, of course. He inclines his head for a moment in acknowledgement of the compliment, then withdraws his hands from the strings. He reaches to pet Xiaoxue's cheek with the backs of two fingers. "Thank you."

[temnota]

"Did you compose this yourself?" Aleksander asked curiously.

[lightbearinglord]

"No," Lan Wangji says with surprise. "That is a classic piece." He hesitates, but then does add, "I do compose."

[temnota]

Aleksander smiled ruefully. "I did say music was not one of my skills. I can say whether or not I enjoyed a piece but that is as far as it goes. I would like to hear something of your own if it would not be an imposition."

[lightbearinglord]

After another hesitation, a short one, Lan Wangji sets his hands back to Wangji's strings and, again, commences playing. It is not the song he wrote for Wei Ying -- he likes Aleksander, but they are only shortly into their acquaintance, and he has played that song often enough recently that he is beginning to feel protective of it again. It is, however, a piece he composed during the last year of his seclusion. It is slow, melancholy, and deliberate, like the feeling of rebuilding something broken piece by piece, and of knowing that its reconstruction will not make it the same, but that it is worth the trying regardless.

[temnota]

The first piece was beautiful but this one moved Aleksander. The notes spoke to something deep inside his heart, as though they were aware he had been shattering the pieces of himself that were monstrous and broken in attempt to become someone new. His past has left scars, there is no denying that but it did not need to be all he was.

And if Danding's fur was wet and he had to turn his head to discreetly wipe away tears once the song was done, then that could be considered progress towards the change he was trying to make.

[lightbearinglord]

Politely, Lan Wangji makes no mention of Aleksander's tears. They are subtle enough not to warrant intervention, and he himself would not appreciate having attention drawn at such a moment. He silences the strings with a careful flat hand and looks back up to Aleksander with a neutral expression. Out of continued politeness, he waits for him to gather himself.

[temnota]

Once Aleksander had regained control of himself, he looked back at Lan Wangji. "I am not sure I have words to express my feelings," he said slowly. "That was beautiful. Thank you for sharing that with me."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji ducks his head for a moment -- not quite abashed, but a little surprised at the strength of Aleksander's response. "Thank you," he echoes, and reaches to stroke Xiaoxue's head. He pauses, and then adds, "I was seeking something within myself when I wrote that."

[temnota]

Aleksander nodded thoughtfully. "The feeling I had was of putting one's self together, of a change that redefined the world and needing to come to terms with it. I don't mean to say that was your intention, only that is how the music made me feel. Whatever the way of it, you have a wonderful talent."

[lightbearinglord]

That description is enough to have Lan Wangji releasing a deliberate breath, his hand stilling on Xiaoxue's back. It would be polite to thank Aleksander again, but he finds it, abruptly, difficult to speak, even only to dispense some nicety about the long years of practice that led to the level of skill he has attained. He's silent, but appreciative.

[temnota]

Aleksander was content to sit in silence and continue to contemplate the themes of the music and pet Danding in the bargain. The little rabbits were growing on him and it was calming to run his fingers through Danding's soft fur and imagine what life must be like as a much loved and cossetted rabbit.