[PALACE GAME - LAN WANGJI RUN]

[laughitoff]

Everything is red. You are dying, somewhere far beyond pain, the very essence of yourself going to pieces. You’re shattering so badly you don’t know if you’ll ever find all of yourself again, if you’ll ever put yourself back together. There are teeth on you, ripping, tearing, devouring. There are teeth inside you, carving their way out, and those are worse.

This is a memory, happening at a remove. It is not yours. This is not happening now.

Everything is grey. You wake up in a prison cell, eyes wide, the ceiling flat and blank and unfamiliar above you. For a moment you simply think, no. You think, Please, wasn’t it over? Wasn’t it enough? You consider closing your eyes again and refusing to get up, until oblivion reclaims you. Even if you’re no longer dying, everything hurts.

This is a memory, happening at a remove. It is not yours. This is not happening now.

What is happening, then?

You–

–sit up.

Comments

[laughitoff]

...you got here...

It must have been hard.

[strikingchords]

...

Wei Ying.

Why are you saying this, at this time?

[laughitoff]

Huh...?

[strikingchords]

Would travel this path a hundred times.

My only fear, that he might not be here.

[laughitoff]

Nngh...

You can't just say that to a man, you'll break his heart...

[strikingchords]

...

[soft]

Your heart is strong.

Was honored to see it.

[laughitoff]

...

"Lying is forbidden," ah?

[but his eyes are wide.]

[strikingchords]

["Lying is forbidden." rests one hand flat on Wei Wuxian's chest, feeling that heartbeat. still there, still strong. not vanished from Lan Wangji yet.]

Wei Ying.

[laughitoff]

You're still hurt.

[strikingchords]

[he's luckily more FUCKED UP than injured, down to the last dregs of spiritual energy, meridians aching sharply with overuse and strain... the place where his brief tears show up in the blood tracks from his eyes is probably arresting though]

Little.

[laughitoff]

[Wei Wuxian can't heal him, but he can gently smooth the blood and the damp from his eyes]

...I should have done better.

[strikingchords]

[Lan Wangji's face is closer to that familiar untouchable profile, now... Lan Wangji gravely tilts into the touch, letting him]

...

How?

[laughitoff]

I don't know. I can usually keep myself under control, you know...

[he just sounds sad.]

The last thing I wanted...was to endanger everyone again.

[strikingchords]

[closes his eyes, still leaning into Wei Wuxian's touch; there's a little catch in his breathing, momentary]

...

Do you regret our presence?

[laughitoff]

I regret your pain.

[a deep breath]

But you were already here.

[strikingchords]

[...makes a questioning chrrp noise, not quite meaning it to come out that way, as he opens his eyes to look at Wei Wuxian again between his hands]

[laughitoff]

This place is my heart.

You were all -- already here.

[strikingchords]

[...

bows his head and just closes his eyes again. there's a little more wet, not much. Wei Wuxian probably doesn't even need to take care of it if he doesn't want to.]

[laughitoff]

[there are gentle fingers on his cheek again...]

[strikingchords]

[Lan Wangji never stopped leaning into his hands, tbh. allows this too, bringing up a hand to cover Wei Wuxian's]

[laughitoff]

[gently swipes the tears away with his thumb again, quiet...]

[strikingchords]

[laces their fingers together.]

Wei Ying.

[laughitoff]

Yes.

[strikingchords]

If we remain, will he take thought to his own pain, as well?

[laughitoff]

Remain...?