[ The three moments pass, and in that time, Lan Zhan settles back down on the ground in a relaxed yet attentive pose. Back straight, legs folded, robes carefully arranged though they now bear twin green smudges where both knees had bruised the grass beneath him. Once he has settled, he uses the next handful of stolen moments to focus on the talisman. He is overly diligent to make up for Wei Ying's haphazard execution of a good idea, filling in the blanks and elevating the cultivation from a simple spell to a true boon. A fingertip traces the lines of ink, slow and steady, both for increased awareness and to spoil Wei Ying with more time. Even after several minutes, when Lan Zhan has added to the talisman and set it on his knee for safekeeping, he remains silent.
The sun sets over the horizon, stealing the warmth of the day and leaving behind the faint chill of night, a breeze that carries with it the scent of all the night-blooming flowers that begin to wake. Once the sky is dark enough, he tilts his head back to gaze up at the stars. Connecting the dots between familiar constellations occupies his mind for a while, but there is an ever-present awareness of Wei Ying behind him, slouched against his rigid back, stealing more time and attempting to wear on Lan Zhan's patience.
Shameless. Foolish. Lan Zhan has proved how long he can wait for Wei Ying, that he has waited longer for the promise of far less.
He feels him moving before he appears in his periphery, black robes blending in with the darkness around them. Lan Zhan feels incredibly seen, not just because of his stark white robes, but the fact that he had bared his heart and Wei Ying had asked for the time to turn it over in his hands, inspecting the organ and searching for a solution.
The words are startling without context, and for a moment, Lan Zhan blinks in silence as he searches for understanding. Wei Ying provides it, drawing out a map of the conversation he wishes to have had. Lan Zhan, ever indulgent, smiles and bows his head. ]
Hello, Wei Ying. I am glad to see you, too, and in good health. Sizhui is well and wishes for me to convey his desire to see you in Cloud Recesses soon.
[ It isn't a lie. Perhaps the words had not left Sizhui's own lips when wishing Lan Zhan safe travels, but the sentiment was in his posture and his eyes. Lan Zhan knows that A-Yuan misses Wei Ying as much as Lan Zhan does when he leaves, that he has so many questions for the first father he had known who buried him in a garden and defended him with his life. ]
What is the next point of conversation now that we have exchanged greetings?
no subject
The sun sets over the horizon, stealing the warmth of the day and leaving behind the faint chill of night, a breeze that carries with it the scent of all the night-blooming flowers that begin to wake. Once the sky is dark enough, he tilts his head back to gaze up at the stars. Connecting the dots between familiar constellations occupies his mind for a while, but there is an ever-present awareness of Wei Ying behind him, slouched against his rigid back, stealing more time and attempting to wear on Lan Zhan's patience.
Shameless. Foolish. Lan Zhan has proved how long he can wait for Wei Ying, that he has waited longer for the promise of far less.
He feels him moving before he appears in his periphery, black robes blending in with the darkness around them. Lan Zhan feels incredibly seen, not just because of his stark white robes, but the fact that he had bared his heart and Wei Ying had asked for the time to turn it over in his hands, inspecting the organ and searching for a solution.
The words are startling without context, and for a moment, Lan Zhan blinks in silence as he searches for understanding. Wei Ying provides it, drawing out a map of the conversation he wishes to have had. Lan Zhan, ever indulgent, smiles and bows his head. ]
Hello, Wei Ying. I am glad to see you, too, and in good health. Sizhui is well and wishes for me to convey his desire to see you in Cloud Recesses soon.
[ It isn't a lie. Perhaps the words had not left Sizhui's own lips when wishing Lan Zhan safe travels, but the sentiment was in his posture and his eyes. Lan Zhan knows that A-Yuan misses Wei Ying as much as Lan Zhan does when he leaves, that he has so many questions for the first father he had known who buried him in a garden and defended him with his life. ]
What is the next point of conversation now that we have exchanged greetings?