[ closed post: hold fast to the center ]

[lightbearinglord]

With Dark behind them, most of Lan Wangji's routine has managed to reassert itself. He awakens at mao hour and disentangles himself from his clinging cultivation partner, who tends to sprout several additional limbs in the night. He dresses and slips away for his morning meditation. He takes Bichen to the air, circles the grounds of the mansion and checks the woods for any changes beyond the known quantities of Ragnelle's nest and Magnus' camp, and runs through his sword forms. He stops in the kitchen and makes breakfast for his husband. By that point, his day can branch in several ways: he can, upon bringing the breakfast to Wei Ying, also opt to return to his bed, a perpetually tempting option. He can find Magnus and indulge in listening to him talking about whatever strikes his fancy. He can practice his qin, work on his calligraphy, retreat to the library for the endless project of educating himself, or embark on some more ambitious culinary endeavor.

Recently, however, Lan Wangji was reminded of a promise he made to someone important. Where possible, he prefers to keep his promises. So this morning, after he has sufficiently fed Wei Ying, made his apologies in the form of several lingering love-bites along his neck and shoulders, and changed his boots for house slippers, he approaches Claudius and Galahad's room. This route is one of the few persistently familiar paths that seem to exist in the ever-changing mansion.

It is early, but not so early. And Claudius did ask him for this, not once but twice. He lifts a hand and knocks crisply at the door.

Comments

[wickedwit]

"E'en so?" Claudius shakes his head, but smiles. "I think too oft on what stories can spread from a single action. Others, I'd argue, don't think oft enough on how they'll be perceived by others ... but it is a fault in me. One I'll lay on the cut-throat rumormongering at court. I fear to be misrepresented, to be misunderstood, but an thou dost understand me, I find my reputation bothers me far less. It's a virtue of thine," he says. The only request Claudius ever wrangled out of Lan Wangji was to protect Wei Wuxian's reputation here -- but in Lan Wangji's presence, with his quiet conviction and devotion, Claudius is sure Wei Wuxian rarely worries about reputation himself. It's because Lan Wangji loves so loyally, Claudius thinks. Having someone that loyal always at your side is naturally reassuring.

[lightbearinglord]

That earns Claudius another warmly fond look, not exactly a smile but something close to it. If Lan Wangji's regard for him can ease the built-up fears left behind by the sticky hands of that cutthroat court, then that is all the better. "I would prefer to say that reputations do not matter at all," he says, "but Wei Ying was cast out for his and died for a rumor he could not control." His own reputation was spotless, until he married the Yiling Patriarch. He would do it again a thousand times. "Still, even the most skilled social architect I have known could not attain complete mastery of the hearts and minds around him."

[wickedwit]

"Well, now I want to hear about the most skilled social architect you know," Claudius says, brightened by curiosity. "Would we get along, do you think? Or would we always be outmaneuvering each other?"

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji has to take a silent and pensive moment to consider the mindboggling thought exercise of Nie Huaisang and Claudius in the same room. It is occasionally easy to believe that he never knew Nie Huaisang at all -- that even the delicate, fragile boy who whined about da-ge's expectations, his unwilling childhood companion, was all a construction. That can't be true, however. More likely, Sect Leader Nie began the work of layering pieces of himself after the death of his brother, and that is when it became impossible to track which piece was real and which was the performance.

"You would like Nie Huaisang," he says, after that moment, "and I suspect he would like you, but that he would be unable to resist trying to use you for his own ends. He is known as the Headshaker¹ for his ability to pretend at useless ignorance."

¹This is a pretty loose translation of Nie Huaisang's title, 一问三不知, which more literally means "one question, three I-don't-knows."

[wickedwit]

“Ah, I know the type. I’m too proud of my own cunning to pretend at uselessness or ignorance … but my protégé at court was a Headshaker to the core. It’s the most efficient way to deal with the likes of Polonius. Look at him like you’re utterly lost, until he has to state his expectations outright, or else give up on whatever he’s asking. Nine times out of ten, he’ll give up. It’s both frustrating and fascinating to watch.” Claudius smirks and shakes his head, remembering. Idly, he crumples up the wax paper and tosses it into the waste basket, before turning to the wardrobe where he can consider what to wear. This will undoubtedly take some time.

[lightbearinglord]

That does sound precisely like Nie Huaisang, and even more precisely like Nie Huaisang cajoling Jin Guangyao into solving every minor sect squabble on his behalf -- ostensibly so that he could while away his days on frivolous pursuits, but Lan Wangji knows better, now. "It is an effective tactic." Sensing that the portion of events wherein Claudius gets dressed may be a lengthy one, Lan Wangji avails himself of a seat at the kotatsu. "Nie Huaisang accomplished his revenge with most none the wiser."

[wickedwit]

"He must be an exceptionally talented man." That is, by Claudius's standard, the best outcome for an act of vengeance: to have done it so subtly no one would ever suspect you a hand in it. Other men, he's sure, prefer the more forthright approach, but why paint a target on your own back? "Who was he avenging?"

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji has no choice but to say, just a little wryly, "His older brother."

[wickedwit]

"Ah," Claudius says with a laugh. "Well, I must admit ... if anything happened to thee, I'd be as willing to architect such a plot for thee. And I would have not thee to advise me wisely, so the plot would become more convoluted and cunning as time went on."

[lightbearinglord]

Cognizant of the fact that this is a high honor coming from Claudius, Lan Wangji gives him another of those quick, fond little glances. "Thank you." It is a good thing he is around, and has no intention of leaving Claudius to his own devices. "If you want, I will tell you the story of Nie Huaisang," he adds, "after we meditate." He is not above utilizing an incentive.

[wickedwit]

"Such shameless bribery! Know thou, it will work." With a thoughtful hum, he contemplates his two wardrobes, the curated one and the one that answers the mansion's whims. "What if I dressed in thy style today? Would it suit me?"

[lightbearinglord]

Naturally, Lan Wangji knew the bribery would work. That is why he did it. At the question, he contemplates Claudius in turn, recalling how jarringly unusual he once found his typical clothing. It no longer strikes him that way, the result of all their familiarity, but he does feel a sentimental pang at the thought of his friend dressed in the style of his world, as if preparing for that aspirational trip to the Cloud Recesses after all. "Mn. Perhaps not in Lan colors." Out of loyalty, he does not mention that Claudius' hair is much too short.

[wickedwit]

"Those are thy azures and thy argents, ay?" asks Claudius, another thing Claudius gathered quickly from observing Lan Wangji. It makes it easy to plan future wedding wear. For now, Claudius thinks of darker clothes, warmer hues, and pulls from his wardrobe a black jacket with a folded collar and pleated skirt, a golden serpent winding over its shoulder. Or and sable are Sagramore's colors, but Claudius finds himself rather fond of them. "I do like layers," he says admiringly. "What should I layer this with?"

[lightbearinglord]

That golden serpent makes Lan Wangji smile fleetingly, though Claudius isn't likely to see it, what with his contemplation of his outfit. If Claudius truly wants to dress in this fashion, he may as well do it properly. Lan Wangji stands again and crosses to that wardrobe, reaching over Claudius' shoulder easily enough to slide open a convenient drawer. "Zhongyi," he says, having produced a pair of plain white trousers and a long-sleeved undershirt, "and a skirt¹. At least one robe over those. A sash. I can tie it for you. And then that zhaoshan."

¹The specific word used here pre-translator is chang/裳, a pleated skirt to go beneath that aforementioned middle layer. Also, as usual, MDZS is an ahistorical melange of whatever, so we're partly going on vibes here as to what cultivators actually wear.

[wickedwit]

"There are many layers," Claudius says, with appreciation, taking in the many folds of fabric over one arm. "Well, I do enjoy them, as I said. In conversation and in clothing. And I would be obliged if thou wouldst assist me."

[lightbearinglord]

There could easily be several more layers than this, but they are planning to meditate as a pair of friends, not attend a banquet or a discussion conference. "I will not allow you a breach of etiquette," Lan Wangji assures him. "Begin with the zhongyi and I will assist you from there."

[wickedwit]

Claudius laughs, both from fondness and because he does fear breaching etiquette an inordinate amount -- it feels natural, that Wangji should provide that education for him, the way Wangji taught him how to use chopsticks. He must have started thinking of Lan Wangji as a brother, even back then.

But that's a conversational layer. He starts navigating layers of actual fabric, removing his dressing gown to clothe himself in the zhongyi, unselfconscious as he does so. He also reveals a lot of marks left by Galahad, the rows of roses and peonies planted along his neck and chest.

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji is unruffled by standing by, holding the piled layers of clothing for Claudius, and waiting for him. It would be impossible for him not to notice the chains of purpling bruises, however, with the tiniest little twitch of a smile. This must be how Wei Ying would look every morning if he did not have a slowly-growing golden core to speed his healing along. It's something of a shame that he does, in this respect only. He steps in once the zhongyi's components are in place so that he can wrap the skirt around Claudius' waist and tie it crisply for him; then, as he holds out that middle layer of robe with the expectation that Claudius will slip his arms into the sleeves, lets his gaze catch on one of those blossoming marks, now especially visible where the color bleeds beneath the white collar of that undershirt. "Galahad," he guesses, with confidence.

[wickedwit]

Claudius laughs, not surprised at Lan Wangji's accuracy, but suitably impressed. "Galahad," he says, "is a menace. None would think it of him, particularly if they met him back when he was chaste and would blush at the smallest insinuation of being otherwise. Know'st thou, I think I remember Wei Wuxian saying something similiar. At the talent show: no one back home would ever believe me that Hanguang-jun is so unreasonable ..." At this point, he's entirely teasing. He knows Lan Wangji doesn't remember that part of the talent show. He neatly pulls out the sleeves of his robe, seeing how far they go -- Claudius already knew the cut-sleeve story, but he has a new appreciation for it. Claudius would gladly cut the sleeve off even this fine a fabric, if Galahad were comfortable on top of it.

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji does not remember that portion of the talent show, but it sounds so exactly right that he believes it immediately, with hardly any embarrassment. Wei Ying bemoans his husband's cruel and unyielding nature nearly every night.

"Mn." He's temporarily silent as he arranges Claudius' robe for him, smoothing it down neatly and then pulling it around him. He's efficient and practiced, but gentle, and moving more slowly than he otherwise might so that Claudius can observe. It puts him in mind of Lan Xichen, showing him all these same motions when he was still much smaller than his brother, tying his forehead ribbon into his hair for him. "It must be folded left over right," he says, demonstrating as he tucks the collar into place and then continuing, while he unwinds the sash, as if there had been no interruption to the previous topic. "I would think it of him. I first bit Wei Ying years before kissing him." The connection there, which he assumes Claudius will easily ascertain, is that he sees himself in Galahad.

[wickedwit]

"Didst thou?" Claudius laughs, a sharp, bright laugh like a flash of light down a creek. (Like the sort of example one might look for, when poetry students or disciples. He tilts his head a moment, while Lan Wangji works. "I can imagine it too clearly. What did he say, at that first bite?"

[lightbearinglord]

Most of this memory is not pleasant, but looking back at it more than twenty years later softens it. Lan Wangji begins wrapping that sash around Claudius' waist, tidy and focused, as he recites Wei Ying's words -- almost dispassionately, but with an underlying rueful amusement. "'Lan Zhan, you've gone mad today! You're a dog! Stop biting me!'"

[wickedwit]

Claudius laughs with joy, and even hides the laughter in one of his long, layered sleeves. "What a disrespectful man! Know'st thou, even when Sagramore plays a dog, he is not half so disrespectful. And I --" He holds a finger to his lips, and winks. Tidy and wrapped in Lan Wangji's well-tied sash. "I understand such men need taming and chiding. It's because we have some wild instinct in us, but when we are humbled ... all of us longs for that humbling. Wei Wuxian longs for thee completely. I know this to be true."

[lightbearinglord]

This next twitch of a smile is not quite so tiny. "Mn." Lan Wangji takes the time to finish his task, tucking the ends of that sash away and smoothing it all out. He gives Claudius' robe a few businesslike tugs to ensure it falls the way it should. "I know that now."

[wickedwit]

"Ay, after all thy tribulations," Claudius says fondly -- the two certainly have had their share of tribulations, out of all the lovers Claudius knows. It's part of his fondness for them. "Now thou canst both bite and kiss."