[sidereal - the dreaming]

[laughitoff]

[for MDZS AU plot-related shenanigans]

Comments

[laughitoff]

Ehh, are you really praising a baby for being peacefully suppressed? I guess that's a rare occurrence here...

[strikingchords]

[that

causes a glimmer of amusement for some reason? it's like the flicker of light deep below water when viewed from the surface, but still present; the first time it's happened in this horrible dream while they've been close enough for Wei Wuxian to feel it.]

[laughitoff]

[emotional pikachu face]

Wow, Lan Zhan has a sense of humor!

[strikingchords]

[...

blandly, testing:]

Nonsense.

[laughitoff]

[:O]

There it is again!

[strikingchords]

More nonsense.

[he sounds as harshly condemning as ever but he's not actually displeased? considers their options, then picks "head down the tunnel to the east" over "fly out through the hole the ghoulbaby made"]

[laughitoff]

Nooo, no, don't lie. Lying is forbidden in the Cloud Recesses, isn't it?

[just kind of, brightening up a bit with the teasing, like a guttering lamp being given new oil]

[strikingchords]

Not lying.

[it is comical and nonsensical, after all.

...he likes feeling that...]

[laughitoff]

So mean, Hanguang-Jun! What a stick-in-the-mud!

[strikingchords]

Playing around.

[feel SCOLDED with the POWER OF THIS SCOLDING, Wei Ying]

[laughitoff]

[he kind of, relaxes a little more? familiarity...]

You should try it sometime!

[strikingchords]

No.

[they remain close enough (is Wei Wuxian still leaning on him?) that it is basically unavoidable to pick up on the fact that Lan Wangji is relaxing into the teasing a little too, that he enjoys this; that especially in this chill dark context his irritation is the faint warming itch of a familiar wool blanket, not unwelcome. oh.]

[laughitoff]

[Wei Wuxian is still leaning on him, not acknowledging the comfort of it, of finding that lost old dynamic one more time aloud. but he isn't moving away, and that's its own answer, isn't it...?]

No fun at all!

[strikingchords]

[he does some equivalent of turning away mock-dismissively, directing his internal attention away from Wei Wuxian so pointedly that it's clear Wei Wuxian is meant to notice and react; the corner of his mouth twitches up for a moment. they are being so careful, taking advantage of this closeness to telegraph intent as much as possible while it lasts, very slowly and tentatively dancing out the old steps...]

[laughitoff]

[he feels a little pull of energy channeled through him again -- rather like the gestures he uses to do things like turn lamps off, but resentful -- and then a faint whisper of movement as the ends of his forehead ribbon get tweaked]

[strikingchords]

[startles the slightest bit against him and goes still, but doesn't pull back]

[laughitoff]

['-'

he just does it the once]

[strikingchords]

[he walks (they walk?) in total silence for a chunk of tunnel...]








It was the song.

[laughitoff]

What was?

[strikingchords]

Well-done technique.

[laughitoff]

Oh. ...oh?

[a bubble of surprise, warmth; he got it that time, finally]

You too.

[strikingchords]

[his fingers curl a couple of millimeters towards his palms; he is (glad)? the bright pressure of it is momentarily disorienting.

on some other track entirely he is responding, the barest hint of dryness in his level voice:]

I had hands.

[laughitoff]

[waves a mental hand of his own]

Your instrument is made to be played by spirits too.

[strikingchords]

Mm.

[the tunnel in front of them is brightening, though it's still sloping down rather than up; it takes a bit of a wrench to redirect some of his attention outward again, as focused as he was on Wei Wuxian]

[laughitoff]

[the light is coming from actual holes knocked in the roof of the tunnel. the edges are squared. man-made...? they still see nothing but the reddened stormcloud-ridden sky of Burial Mounds through them, though]