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booksaremyobsession · 2 years ago

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Wei Ying, an immortal widely known in the cultivation world, comes to visit the Cloud recesses during the Study Conference when Lan WangJi is assisting as a teenager.

He takes no mind to day or night, time is a mere social construct for the immortal! so he gets in the Cloud recesses during night, and is stopped from doing so by the young Lan WangJi.

Wei Ying looks at the young man and smirks, because, how come he's the immortal one but this one adorable disciple looks like the immortal one instead?

Lan WangJi doesn't even let the intruder speak, and tells the other man who he thinks must be around his age, all the rules he's broken. Wei Ying just let's him take him to the Hanshi, where Lan XiChen and Lan Qiren are occupied with a private lesson.

And what a surprise for the younger ones of the Lan present in the room when WangJi cannot even finish his sentence of how many rules this unruly disciple has broken, before his uncle is standing up and bowing to the man at his side.

XiChen looks at his uncle with an open mouth, and he and his brother share a look of confusion. What is going on?!

"Immortal one, this Lan Qiren is honored to be on your presence," Uncle says. Xichen swallows dry. WangJi looks to the man at his side and goes:

"Shufu, he broke the rules of our Sect. He should still be punished for the offense."

Wei Ying hollers a laugh that bends him in half. He likes this one! He's the best he's ever seen! Daring to ask for punishment to an immortal, right after seeing a display of respect and obedience from his own elders. It lights something inside his chest.

Lan Qiren sighs because technically, WangJi is right. But how could he, a mere cultivator, dare and punish the man? And the Lan Sect... wouldn't that bring a thousand of troubles to his doorstep? So he glares at his nephew and bows again to the immortal in the room, "Immortal one, this one begs your pardon for his nephew's sake. He is still young-"

Wei Ying interrupts him, waving a hand and signaling him to stop the bow. He still has tears in his eyes from the laughter. "No need, Lan Qiren. I find him quite interesting. Besides, he's got a point. I did break in. Besides the age of this old one, there's nothing preventing the Lan Sect from providing a proper punishment. Just don't break me any bones! I'm old already!" He says, hands on his hips and elbowing Lan WangJi in the process.

Now, WangJi knows. He knows now that this man is immortal, all-powerful and mighty. Besides being older than him. So WangJi knows he should stand the man's displays silently and still. But he really can't stand to be touched by anyone, so he steps to the side without even sparing the man a glance.

Wei Ying laughs again.

The immortal man has an annoying laugh, WangJi thinks.

"WangJi-di," he hears from afar, and tries to hurry his step without running. This is in vain, because the man still breaks the rules and does run to him.

His uncle can't understand either, why the immortal that has come to the Cloud recesses has gotten a fixation on him. For the past weeks, the man, Wei Ying, has been following him around and about without a rest. Whenever he sees something he wants to share, or whenever he needs to ask for something, he doesn't go to his Uncle, and instead finds WangJi. If it's a book he wants to find in the library, or a good spot for painting or meditating... maybe is Lan WangJi's fault a bit. Because he proficiently provided the guest with what he asked, but still. Shouldn't an immortal one share table and hold discussions with older ones instead of a mere teenage boy? WangJi doesn't understand.

He also doesn't understand when the laugh of the man has become a sound he somehow likes to hear, when he disliked it so much at first. Now he feels jittery when he hears it. Wich is a lot.

They've been spending quite the time in the other's company, too. Since the Lan Sect wouldn't dare to whip the immortal, instead they've assigned him the punishment they've been giving to the visiting disciples when they break minor rules; copying conduct a hundred times. So they would spend most of their day at the library after the classes end. Then, his uncle would invite the immortal to eat dinner with them, and WangJi is the one who has to accompany him to his assigned rooms. Certainly, during the lessons is the only time he's not in company of Wei Ying.

One day, he's sitting inside the library, somehow alone. Wei Ying is nowhere to be seen, but his uncle would scold him if he dared to go and find the man to bring him to punishment again, so he's alone, reading poetry and taking notes of it for fun, when he hears his name being called again.

"Lan Zhan!"

WangJi looks towards the voice, finding Wei Ying proped up on the window frame. He's halfway opening his mouth to chastise him from doing so and telling him to use the doors when Wei Ying stretches his hand forward, offering him... bunnies.

WangJi is on his feet fast. He reaches for the bunnies and holds them carefully, mouth shut and eyes soft. He can't help it. The bunnies are pushing his palm with their cold noses and they are just so...

"Cute," he hears from the man in front of him, still hanging from the window frame. He doesn't look, he doesn't want to look. He feels his ears growing hot.

Wei Ying looks at the young man and just... yeah. Affirms his word. Lan WangJi is cute. The bunnies too, but the boy particularly is the most cute, with the tips of his ears red, and the way his fingers caresses the rabbits with the utmost care and adoration.

Then, "pets aren't allowed in the Cloud recesses," and it sounds so shy in comparison to the confidence with which he states all the other rules. That Wei Ying has to do something, say something, to make it better for Lan Zhan. He can't have him sad!

"Well, they were already here. I just wanted to show them to you!" He says, and tempted, he reaches and pets the bunnies too. They do look soft.

WangJi doesn't take his hand away from the rabbits when Wei Ying's comes in his sight. Their hands rub for a moment and WangJi remains still regardless of how much fire it lights in him. He endures. The bunnies look comfortable.

Wei Ying eyes the younger man, and smiles.

He can wait. He can always wait and see what happens next. But he can't deny that Lan Zhan has become someone important to him like no one has in decades, so he will treasure the man.

WangJi is panicking.

He knows Wei Ying is an immortal. That he's centuries old. But the man doesn't make his confused mind any favors when he acts the way he does, carefree and young, so full of freedom and smiles. He knows for a fact that not all the known immortals were stoic and calm, like Baoshan Sanren is known to be. But Wei Ying could might as well be on the same age group that WangJi and no one would bat an eye to his presence there.

And he would actually look more the part there than as an immortal. So WangJi is... is lost. He doesn't want to admit why he feels so much around the man, but he does and that he can't lie. Xichen has been looking at him with an increasing worry in his eyes and forehead and he can only keep it in so long before the traitor goes and tells their Uncle. And Uncle, Immortal or not, will kick Wei Ying out of the Cloud recesses if he thinks he's corrupting his nephew. So Lan WangJi is just there. Not knowing what to do. Sulking as he caresses the bunnies Wei Ying gave him.

"WangJi."

Speaking of...

"Brother," he answers, getting to his feet to greet his older brother properly.

XiChen smiles at him and pets the rabbit a bit too, "they are really adorable. Does Uncle know? You know that pets are not-"

"Not pets, brother. They were here. I am just caring for them from time to time." He interrupts, and has to close his mouth so fast that his teeth clatter. Xichen looks at him surprised but still laughs a bit.

Pets in Cloud recesses are just as forbidden as unnecessary laughter, so they're even.

"I see," his brother says, "friends, then."

And WangJi agrees, "mh."

Silence settles around them for a moment they give to admire the bunnies. There are just a couple of them, but something in XiChen eyes makes him think that that will not be the case for too long.

Then, XiChen speaks again, "WangJi..." tentatively.

He looks up, afraid of what he'll find in his brother's eyes.

"About the Immortal Wei, you... you're close with him. Is he a friend too?"

WangJi wishes for a moment that they were more, and he stunts himself with the idea, before pushing it aside to answer his brother's questions, "He is. A friend."

XiChen knows his brother too well, because he doesn't let the little shadow go unnoticed, "Do you consider him to be just a friend?"

WangJi doesn't lie, so he doesn't answer. His brother sighs heavily.

"WangJi, do you want him to be more? He's an immortal! This doesn't add up to me. He's- I don't trust his character. He's not acting like other immortals and it makes me wonder why he came to the Cloud Recesses for. I worry for you, didi..." he says, exasperated.

"Brother," he says almost shy. He's about to confirm his brother's suspicions because as soon as he opens his mouth, he's defending Wei Ying, "Wei Ying is good. He is carefree but he is not vane. Uncle wouldn't let him spend time with me if he suspected his character or his intentions... and I know him better. He would not do anything unrighteous or plot. He's not like that, brother."

XiChen looks at him and it takes a while, but a sad smile makes way in his face, "So you do want him to be more..."

WangJi looks down to the bunnies in his hands, "I don't dare to," he confesses.

Time goes swiftly from then on. The Conference ends, the other Sects' disciples depart from the Cloud recesses, and Wei Ying also does. But there's a difference, because WangJi has given him a gift; an entrance token he can use to come and go from the Cloud recesses as he pleases, as long as he doesn't come after the curtfew. WangJi made sure to remind his friend of that. Wei Ying smiled at him for it.

Then one day, letters arrive. Wei Ying sends them, along with more gifts for him, for uncle and even a couple of them for his brother.

Uncle does seem pleased with most of the gifts he receives; books from afar, music scores and even an incense burner made of a meteorite. His uncle is very pleased, WangJi counts it as a win.

Brother receives a Xiao, also made from the meteorite. His brother is impressed with it and the way the metal changes colors under the light; a rainbow travels the instrument in a lovely way. It is a precious gift. And he also gets some good tea from afar.

WangJi receives the most. He gets drawings made by Wei Ying's hand, picturing amazing places he wishes to see someday too. He gets musical scores to try on his guqin, and even a robe with a special cut that Wei Ying got for him in a far land. He receives loquats one time too. And he is happy. He likes this as much as he longs for it.

He longs to be standing by Wei Ying's side and see all the beautiful places he's seen only on drawings, and to listen to the different music from the different cultures around. He wants to nighthunt with Wei Ying, help the people that is in need. He reads the letters and pictures himself besides his friend, his soulmate, so much that it hurts from time to time.

He grows older, Wei Ying stays the same.

The next time Wei Ying graces the Cloud recesses with a visit, it is not unannounced. This time, he sent a letter to let them know, and comes by the door with his own token. WangJi counts that as another win. And he has to keep adding wins to his score when Wei Ying smiles at him again, wide and happy.

He can't even complain of being hugged in front of the whole group of disciples that came to welcome the immortal being in their lands. Instead, he closes his eyes tight and hugs back. His Wei Ying.

Uncle is not oblivious to his nephew's heart. He just hasn't said anything because he has seen the Immortal's heart too. In the way they grew longing whenever his nephew wasn't seeing, in how he held his hands behind his back whenever WangJi was around; as if containing himself from reaching for a hand or a strand of hair. He's seen Wei Ying gifting his nephew with practical things and other not so much, like the bunnies that are now a part of the Cloud Recesses. But over all, Lan Qiren has seen his own nephew smiling at the letters and the smugness in him when he liked his own gifts. He's seen the both of them being happy with how things were, and it pleased him greatly because this is what he wished for his little A-Zhan. A partner that would have in mind his nephew's necessities and times to do and think and act. Wei Ying lacks patience for many things, but not for Lan WangJi.

So when they hugged so much and long in front of the gates, he just sighed and waited to bow to the immortal, regardless of how disrespectful the gesture is from the man; he went right to WangJi and hugged him promptly! He ignored all the entourage of people that are standing there. But he doesn't blame him. It's been five years since they've seen each other. And he also knows that despite how many letters WangJi received, due to how much Wei Ying moved around, he didn't get to receive any himself. So he indulges the pair.

"Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan! You liked your gifts?" He asks as they walk towards the Jingshi. He knows the way, but he still walks besides WangJi.

"Mh, Wei Ying chose good gifts. I appreciated them," WangJi answers.

There's something in the air... that none of them can put their finger on, but it makes them nervous. As if the forest and the houses and even the birds around them were waiting for something to happen. Anticipation that grows louder with each step, that tries to hurry them to something. But they take their time, their steps remain unhurried if a bit more stumbler than usual.

"I'm glad, I wondered... but I'm happy you liked them, Lan Zhan," Wei Ying smiles at him and now he almost stumbles for real.

With that pace, when they get to the Jingshi, there's a servant already waiting for their arrival with tea and snacks for the evening. Wei Ying takes the tray and thanks the servant for the attention as WangJi opens the door to his home.

Inside, Wei Ying is frozen. There are some of his drawings and paintings hanged on the walls, many of his gifts are on display and it makes him want to cry a bit for how precious Lan WangJi is, and how lucky he is to be appreciated by the man. Because he's a lot more a man now than he was when they met.

WangJi has a bigger frame now, even grew a bit taller than Wei Ying for an inch. He realized when he hugged him at the gates, how time passed by for his Lan Zhan regardless of how he's still the same. But that's alright.

Lan Zhan still has the same soft look on his eyes, the same little smile and the same smirk, and he's still as beautiful as he was the day they met on the walls of the Cloud Recesses. But now he seems different too. So he observes the man in front of him and enjoys his presence after so long.

WangJi serves them the tea, and listens to everything Wei Ying is saying with care. A care that doesn't come from him being an immortal but from him just being Wei Ying. They spend the day like that, until dinner, which they are to spend with the Lan main family.

Lan Qiren gives the pair a knowing look, and Lan XiChen seems almost resigned, but they do listen to him and ask him about his travels.

There, he offers the Lan another gift; talismans and things that he came up with and thought useful for the Sect. It wouldn't do for other Sects, for these are to be activated with music. One of them, when used, gives the illusion of flying butterflies around the space, and it makes a really good company for when the Lan were playing their instruments. Other of the talismans works wonders for finding a specific book one cannot remember the title or look, but a single line of it. And the other one is for helping with excessive noises. It zones out the loud, and makes everything easy to the ear. It is dumb, somehow, but useful if put in a very specific case. Wich is, in the end, useful.

Lan Qiren thanks him for the gifts and sends them on their way after the meal, and once again, WangJi is the one in charge of accompanying Wei Ying to his rooms.

Lan WangJi felt like he had a timer set on his very stomach, nerves on edge and hands unsteady. He gave Wei Ying a long stare, as the other walked ahead just for a step.

He is happy, content. But oh, how he wishes.

And then before he knows it his fingers are closing around Wei Ying's wrist, stopping the man in the middle of the path, threes tall and giving a sense of solitude.

The immortal turns towards the younger man, eyebrows shoot up in a silent question. Which is for the best because he probably wouldn't have been able to speak; Lan Zhan's beauty is heavenly, the moon already at his back just like the first time he met him, but there's anticipation on his golden eyes, and Wei Ying, who cannot even talk, clearly can't either move.

WangJi looks at his friend's eyes, then he steps closer, audacious once he's over the fear of Wei Ying pushing him away. After all, Wei Ying doesn't mind the touches, the closeness. And WangJi wants that.

Wei Ying gulps saliva, but tries to steady his heart beat with a deep breath. WangJi is closer now.

The younger man envelops his arms around Wei Ying's neck and holds him close, "I missed you," goes unsaid but it is obvious for both of them.

Wei Ying's knees almost buckle under him, and he holds WangJi a bit harder just for the sake of stay standing. But once he's stable, he too, hugs closer, pressing all of his upper body against Lan zhan's.

They stay there for a while, not enough time for either of them. Then is Wei Ying the one pulling apart for a moment because he really misses seeing WangJi's handsome face, but once again, the golden eyes steals his breath away.

And now their faces are just centimeters apart, every little thing they can see on the other's face is kept on their brains and memories, is treasured.

"Lan Zhan-"

"Wei Ying-"

They spoke at the same time, and Wei Ying cannot help but chuckle a bit. Encouraged, he presses his arms around the other a bit harder, and tilts his head to the side, shamelessly.

"Tell me, Lan Zhan?" But WangJi, despite breathing weirdly, gives no other reaction.

"Wei Ying," his voice is... deeper. Darker even. And Wei Ying notices thanks to his perfect pitch, chills running down his back.

"Lan Zhan?" He asks in a whisper now, all the strenght he has left on his body. Then WangJi's eyes fall on his lips and he definitely stumbles a bit.

Due to this misstep, WangJi also makes a step back and before they both know it, they're supporting their weird hug against one of the trunk of the threes, having stumbled into it.

WangJi's back is pressed on the three, and to prevent his hands from being squashed, Wei Ying is holding onto the sides of his waist, fingers grabbing the silk of his robes.

Wei Ying looks almost savage, still held close by WangJi's own arms too. He himself cannot be in a much better state either, much less when this scene has been on many, many of his dreams and fantasies he's had for years. He's seen himself on the mirror one too many times, he knows exactly what expressions he must bear on his face right now.

But Wei Ying... He has his gray eyes wide open, sparkling in the moon just like the first time they meet, his mouth agape and a beautiful strand of hair falling over his face. He is the closest thing WangJi knows to a God. He is not sure if WuXian hasn't simply descended from the Heavens instead of worked his golden core until he became an immortal. Wei WuXian is just way too handsome for having been born into the same world as everyone else. He doesn't know that Wei WuXian can't believe that WangJi is mortal. Surely, such a perfect being is nothing else but a God! Gold eyes, full lips and carrying the greatness of the world onto his board shoulders, someone who is righteous, who cares... WuXian simply can't stop falling in love with this man. He can't stop himself from looking at him more. From trying and find every single detail and all the things Lan Zhan is and loves too.

As it is, they just stare at the other for a moment too long, breathing deeply and loudly, bodies reacting to the situation as if they were running laps around the compound.

"Lan Zhan..." Wei Ying calls, bitting his lips afterwards, "I really can't if you're like this. Do you know how hard you're making it for me?"

And WangJi, the brat, has the audacity of smiling all smug and pulls him closer.

"Mh, Wei Ying is to blame. Too pretty."

Wei Ying groans and hides his face on the other's shoulder. "Cruel, bad... you're bad on my heart, Lan Zhan."

WangJi snorts, but answers softly, "So is Wei Ying."

The immortal looks up and starts to tilt his head a bit, and if he thought that WangJi would quietly and patiently meet him in the middle, he's wrong.

Lan WangJi grabs his face with one of his big hands and presses their lips together at once.

"Mh-mh!" Wei WuXian let's out a little gasp of surprise, but soon he's way too melted into Lan WangJi's lips to do much else but kissing back.

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booksaremyobsession · 2 years ago

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If you don't mind me asking, is WWX living with the Lans post canon? How exactly is his relationship with them like?

He seems to be! The banquet extra is about him going to a family banquet as Lan Wangji’s husband, From Dawn to Dusk has him having a jade token that allows him free passage from Cloud Recesses and for him to spend the Lan’s money, and he finds the oh so infamous incense burner by going digging around in their treasure houses and bringing back toys from there to play with. In addition, most of the extras have him either in Cloud Recesses, another Lan house on their travels, or plotting to put ugly turtles in their teaching hall. So he’s pretty clearly comfortable using their stuff and meets with no on page resistance.

How his relationship with them is? Well he and Lan Qiren will never get along, and their relationship is basically Lan Qiren throwing tantrums that he has lost all fights on Wei Wuxian being there and doing as he pleases. The juniors adore him and they go out on solo night hunts while Lan Wangji stays in the Cloud Recesses twice, while we don’t see Wei Wuxian and Lan Xichen together post canon, their last interactions are Lan Xichen being fearful for him in the temple and Wei Wuxian worrying about him, so there’s care on both sides.

To say that it’s an unashamedly good relationship with no hiccups ever is fanon. But to say it’s bad and he’s miserable and hates it there is worse fanon, because in every extra he’s happy and comfortable and secure. What I think is most likely is that in a Great Clan that likely has over a thousand people living there, he has people he likes and people he doesn’t. No group is a monolith and there’s no way that Lan Wangji, Lan Jingyi and Lan Sizhui are going to be the only people who care about him.

So what is it like? Probably like any other community. There’s good and bad and for Wei Wuxian, the good is enough for him.

I hope this helps!

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booksaremyobsession · 2 years ago

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A Home (Not A Prison) - Chapter 12: Asunder - nana_banana - 魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù [Archive of Our Own]

Word Count: 11.5K (total: 77.3K)

Chapter 12 Summary:

Lan Wangji complies with the Lan Sect's rules, much to his displeasure. Wei Wuxian is tired and would very much like to rest, but some people are determined to cause problems. Meanwhile, Lan Yuan is scared and would very much like Xian jiejie to come get him please.

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī/Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Alternate Universe - Gender Changes, Female Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Burial Mounds (Módào Zǔshī), Burial Mounds Settlement Days (Módào Zǔshī), Burial Mounds Ensemble as Family (Módào Zǔshī), Implied/Referenced Sex, Getting Together, Fix-It, Noncon kiss, Followed By Enthusiastic Consent, POV Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Unplanned Pregnancy, Pregnancy, Pregnant Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, WangXian Brand Kink, Dirty Talk, Outdoor Sex, Walking In On Someone, (any and all sex is still implied and-or referenced at this point), Cuddling & Snuggling, Naked Cuddling, the inherent vulnerability of having important conversations while in your most unguarded form, Sex, Vaginal Sex, Dubious Consent, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, POV Lán Yuàn | Lán Sīzhuī , POV Lán Qǐrén, Unreliable Narrator, Unreliable Narrator: Lan Qiren, POV Wēn Qíng No Miscarriage Will Take Place In This Story Genderqueer Character Gender Issues Gender Dysphoria Gender Identity POV Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn

Fic Summary:

Such basic needs. Having walls to house him. Sheets to swathe himself in. A bed to lay in. A desk to write comfortably at. Cushions, should he want them. Privacy screens to separate his bed from the rest of the room. An incense stand and a jade incense burner. Simple things that, in another life, in another place, were considered such luxury. And yet, Wei Wuxian had none of it. Daughter of a servant she might have been, but Wei Wuxian had grown up a ward of a great, wealthy sect. A real lady. One who cultivated, but a lady nonetheless. She was used to creature comforts. To eating what she wished, to having what she wanted. All she had ever had to do was ask, and her world had provided. And now — In her damp, derelict cave, Wei Wuxian had a flat boulder for a bed and ragged sheets. She had stone upon stone upon stone. Stone walls, a stone desk, a stone pool filled with blood that made the room reek of wet rusted iron. She had no soft sheets. No padded mattress. No privacy screens. Not even a proper bathtub.

Or: Lan Wangji goes back to the Burial Mounds after his first visit. Wei Wuxian is a woman and this changes everything.

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booksaremyobsession · 2 years ago

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booksaremyobsession · 2 years ago

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Happy Wednesday! Time for a wip! Today I bring you the intro to In Abeyance. (word count: 1.867, cw: none)

The streets were congested in the city. It was a searingly hot day, the temperature at a record high. Wei Wuxian, Wen Ning, and Wen Yuan traveled with the windows up and the air conditioning of their small sedan at full blast, but the rays of the sun fell through the windows like light through a magnifying glass, and they were the unfortunate ants trapped under its scorching glare by an uncaring god. Wei Wuxian wiped the sweat from his eyes with the collar of his shirt and glanced over at the backseat where a dark screen had been stuck to the window to block the direct rays, much to the distaste of one grumpy four-year-old. Little A-Yuan was pouting in his booster seat, the large aviators on his face making him look too comical to take seriously.

“Wanna play 'I spy'?” Wei Wuxian coaxed. He had been at it since they got in the car fifteen minutes ago, but Wen Yuan was in no mood to be pandered to. He turned his head away and glared, or Wei Wuxian assumed he glared — the large aviators made it hard to tell — at the offending window.

He said, petulant, “I can't spy anything!”

“Okay, poor choice,” Wei Wuxian muttered to himself. “How about —”

“No!” Wen Yuan shouted, and Wei Wuxian recognized that he was not about to play ball. “I wanna go on the hoverway!” Wei Wuxian glanced out the window just in time to see one of those fancy schmancy rich people hover cars speed overhead, completely missing the congestion of traffic those of lower middle class and below could not afford. Like them. He winced.

“A-Yuan, but this is so much more fun!” Wei Wuxian said. “Those people up there don't get to enjoy anything with how fast they're going!” As he spoke, a few more cars drove overhead, their engines purring high and quick, the sound of them whooshing past barely audible in the sound of slow traffic around them.

“A-Lan said it's funner!” Wen Yuan grouched. “You're lying!”

“Me?” Wei Wuxian said. “Lying? A-Yuan, I'm wounded!” Wei Wuxian pretended he had been shot and dramatically clapped a hand over his heart. Only instead of smiling, Wen Yuan's lips pursed and he huffed.

“Man, I hate that A-Lan kid,” Wei Wuxian muttered to Wen Ning, who gave him a nod of sympathy. They both had grown quite tired of hearing how privileged that child was. Especially since Wen Yuan's preschool buddy spent an awful lot of time bragging and making everyone else feel bad. Wei Wuxian and the other guardians often commiserated at pickup time over what disaster that Yao Lan kid had brewed up for them to deal with that afternoon.

They did not blame the kid, really. Wei Wuxian might have said he hated the kid, but what he really meant was that he detested hearing about him.

“Awful parents,” Wen Ning, precious boy who never spoke ill of anyone, said. “I met the dad the other day. He nearly dropped his car on mine because he said he didn't see me parking. I had to move just to make sure he didn't actually land his hover car on me. I nearly clipped Mo xiansheng coming out of the spot.”

“And you didn't tell me this earlier?” Wei Wuxian said, astounded that Wen Ning had kept this to himself.

In the backseat, Wen Yuan made a sullen noise. Looking back at him, Wei Wuxian saw him reaching uselessly for a toy in the footwell. Wei Wuxian leaned over to fish it out. It was a dinosaur. He smiled as he handed it to him. Wen Yuan quietly thanked him, though he sounded peevish about it.

“I didn't wanna start anything,” Wen Ning said. “Anyway, apparently he'd just fired the nanny, so he's only going to be picking up Yao Lan until he gets a new one.”

“He's still a jerk,” Wei Wuxian said. “Should give him a piece of my mind.”

“You can't,” Wen Ning said, “remember?”

Wei Wuxian did.

“Oh, right,” said Wei Wuxian, and he quieted.

“Hoverway!” Wen Yuan abruptly shouted as a series of sport cars speeded overhead.

Wei Wuxian turned to him and said, “Ow.” He reached up to rub at his ear and made a sad face. “That hurt, buddy.” Wen Yuan pouted immediately and looked down, petting his dinosaur.

“Sorry,” Wen Yuan said.

“Inside voices, okay?” Wei Wuxian said, and Wen Yuan quietly nodded.

In the driver's seat, Wen Ning sighed. Wei Wuxian blinked and cringed. “What is it?”

Wen Ning shuffled uncomfortably in his seat and ducked his head a little. He shook it in a negative and mumbled, “Nothing.”

“Sorry,” Wei Wuxian said, voice low as he could make it. “Should I leave him alone? I know he's not … mine.”

Blinking, Wen Ning suddenly straightened and looked at him in confusion.

“Oh, no!” Wen Ning said, lifting a hand off the steering wheel to wave it. “No, of c-course you — ah, ge, you know you're allowed to parent him. You do a b-better job than any of us — I —” A frustrated grimace pulled at his features and he shook his head again. “N-no, I'm just wondering…” He trailed off.

Tilting his head, Wei Wuxian grabbed his shirt and wiped at his face again. He turned away from Wen Yuan to Wen Ning.

“No, go on, what is it?”

“It's just,” Wen Ning struggled, “is this really the b-best option?” He gestured vaguely ahead of them. Outside the windshield was a sea of vehicles of every kind. Next to them, the lane moved and a large truck rumbled up beside them, blocking the sun much to Wei Wuxian's relief.

“Oh, heavens, stay there,” Wei Wuxian pleaded to the vehicle before turning back to Wen Ning who smiled slightly at his wistful comment. The vibrations of the truck's powerful engine could be felt through the seats of the sedan. It felt like sitting on a washing machine during the spin cycle. The hoarse rumbling noise, however, Wei Wuxian could do without. He sighed. “It's kind of late,” he said to Wen Ning, humming in contentment as the sudden shade cooled down the interior of the car significantly. “Wen Ning, holy shit, keep up with this truck. I don't care if people honk at us, it's worth it.”

“Okay,” Wen Ning readily agreed because he was a good boy — the best boy, really — and would do anything his loved ones asked of him without question. “B-but, uh, you can always b-back out. They said so.” He frowned a little in concern, though Wei Wuxian only noticed when he reopened his eyes from where he had closed them in his enjoyment. “It's just … it's two years.”

Wei Wuxian glanced out at the sea of vehicles and breathed quietly before he shrugged.

“But the benefits are astronomical,” he replied, and he turned a grin on Wen Ning who smiled against his will.

“Jiejie would hate that,” he said.

“I know,” Wei Wuxian grinned harder. “Be sure to tell her when she gets off work. She won't be able to punch me since I'm gonna be in the facility.”

“Okay,” Wen Ning said. His smile turned a little sad. “You really … don't have to do this. We're, uh, getting b-by fine.”

“But this is better than fine,” Wei Wuxian said. He glanced over at Wen Yuan who had gotten tired of being mad and was currently playing with his newest space ranger toy. It seemed to be attacking the dinosaur, and the dinosaur seemed to be winning. Wei Wuxian grimaced a little and hoped that did not mean anything for his future.

“There's no dinosaurs in space, right?” Wei Wuxian mumbled.

“What?” said Wen Ning.

“Nothing.” Wei Wuxian waved him off. “Look, I'm happy to do this. I've always wanted to go to space!” He smiled, and Wen Ning tried to mimic it, but it still held the dregs of sadness. “And just think of it. This means you get a monthly stipend! Just — that's rent. Every month! You'll basically be living for free in a really nice apartment for two years! A place we would never be able to afford otherwise. This way you can actually afford to buy fresh vegetables.” He glanced at Wen Yuan again, but the child was still preoccupied. Nonetheless, he lowered his voice even more. “And we can put more money away for A-Yuan's schooling!” he said. “That's not even to mention the insurance! Wen Ning, you've got dental. You can finally get that tooth fixed!”

When Wen Ning's eyes widened, Wei Wuxian's smile turned wry.

“You didn't think you were hiding it well, did you?” Wei Wuxian said. “Wen Ning, I see you wince every time we eat. We're buying a new bottle of painkillers every other week.”

“It's just a little c-cracked,” Wen Ning said quietly, dropping his gaze.

“And now you can get it fixed,” Wei Wuxian repeated, though he gentled his voice. “The benefits of me joining this program are too good to pass up, Wen Ning.” He sat back in his seat and sighed as he leaned his head back, closing his eyes. The car was getting actually cold now, and Wei Wuxian's heated body was achingly grateful for it. He sweated far too easily and the sun’s glare only made it worse.

“I'm scared,” Wen Ning admitted. His voice was so quiet that Wei Wuxian nearly missed it. He shifted closer to hear, but did not open his eyes. “You can take care of yourself really well. I know this. B-but that's when you're in an environment you know. That you have some sort of control over and kind of predict.” He stopped. Wei Wuxian held his breath. “Out there … it's not the same.”

Wei Wuxian extended a hand and felt around until he managed to clamp it on Wen Ning's muscled shoulder. He patted it.

“Thousands of people have gone to space and been just fine,” Wei Wuxian said. Behind them, someone began to honk. Opening his eyes, he looked around and noticed that their lane had moved forward, but true to form, Wen Ning had stayed put next to the truck. Wei Wuxian smiled slightly and gestured him to move forward. Wen Ning moved the car along and Wei Wuxian winced at the sudden flood of bright morning light as the left the shade of the truck. Beside him, Wen Ning was squinting.

“Ships have gone missing,” Wen Ning said, voice small.

“Only soldiers go to that quadrant anymore,” Wei Wuxian said. “Remember? Marked red zone after the fifth. There was some news thing about it. They won't — they can't, actually, send me there. I'll probably just end up in some mining colony. And I can do that. I'm able-bodied and, well, not as strong as you, but I'm no slouch.”

“Mn,” Wen Ning hummed. He sounded nervous, still.

“I get a weekly call,” Wei Wuxian said. “You'll be hearing from me every week. Y'know, unless we go past some time dilation anomaly.”

“Two years,” Wen Ning whispered, and Wei Wuxian squeezed his shoulder in comfort.

“I'll be back before you know it.”

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booksaremyobsession · 2 years ago

Note

Through a strange twist of fate, lan jingyi accidentally becomes the chief cultivator. He is ridiculously good at it???

Untamed

It happened very abruptly.

Lan Wangji's tenure as Chief Cultivator had thus far been an excellent one. He'd met with all the people he needed to meet with, set up agreements, made arrangements - nowadays he mostly got petitions by correspondence, rather than in person, and it suited him and them just fine. Lan Jingyi knew this because he'd gotten involved in helping draft the formal responses to various people...though that was only because it was more interesting than copying rules, which was the other alternative punishment he could accept.

(Those rules about loudness were bullshit. Completely discriminatory! He was just a loud person. It happened, right?

"You're allowed to make sounds," Teacher Lan had said, looking long-suffering. "Even loud sounds. Even loud yodeling sounds. But not at midnight. Not even if your friends dared you!"

He might, maybe, have a point.)

They were about eight months in, if Lan Jingyi was counting right, when Lan Wangji just put down his brush in the middle of the afternoon, said, "Wei Ying needs me, and I him. I will wait no longer." and then swept out the door without another word.

"Uh," Lan Jingyi said, glancing at Teacher Lan, who was staring at the open doorway in disbelief. "Okay. So that happened."

More staring. The beginning of a glare - not good! Teacher Lan needed to stop being angry all the time; it was bad for his health!

"Well, best of luck to Hanguang-jun and his romantic endeavors," Lan Jingyi said quickly. "Now why don't we change the subject to something more practical, huh? Like...who's going to be Chief Cultivator now?"

Teacher Lan glanced at the giant pile of paperwork on Lan Wangji's desk, and now he looked really pissed off.

"I am not," he said through gritted teeth, "going to clean up another person's mess. Not again. You hear me? Not again!"

And then he stormed out, too.

Leaving Lan Jingyi alone in the jingshi.

"Uh," he said intelligently, then looked down at the paperwork. He'd already been doing most of the formal correspondence for the last month or so, so people were probably used to his handwriting.

Maybe if he just...didn't tell anyone about Hanguang-jun quitting on the spot and Teacher Lan refusing to take the job, they would, like, maybe, perhaps just...not notice that it was him and not Hanguang-jun writing back to them? Could he do that?

...was there any reason not to?

Eh, whatever. If he messed it up, what was Teacher Lan going to do? Assign him more copying?

Whatever. It'd be all right!

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booksaremyobsession · 2 years ago

Note

Lan Sizhui is actually the unLanest of the Lans.

"It's just weird, that's all," Lan Jingyi said. "You're weird."

Lan Sizhui rolled his eyes.

Jin Lin looked between the two of them. "What do you mean?" he asked, more than a little bemused. "Lan Sizhui's completely normal."

"Exactly!"

"...oooookay...?"

"No, that's - that really is it, I wasn't making fun! Sizhui is just really, completely, utterly normal and that's weird."

"You're insane," Jin Ling concluded.

"Allow me to explain," Lan Sizhui interjected, looking amused. "Please sit back down and stop trying to fight, both of you."

They returned to their seats.

"What Jingyi meant is not that I'm weird in and of myself, but just that I'm not like other Lan," Lan Sizhui explained.

Jin Ling scowled.

"I didn't mean it as an insult," Lan Jingyi grumbled, looking injured. "Sizhui knows that. Right?"

"Of course."

"How is being normal weird, though?" Jin Ling wanted to know. "What does that even mean?"

"Well, I mean. You know. He's...normal. He has normal reactions to things. If it's upsetting, he's upset. If it's happy, he's happy. It's all very reasonable."

"...and other Lan are...not like that?"

"Uh, no. Obviously. Most main family members in the Lan sect are just completely feral about something or another."

Jin Ling's eyebrows went up. "Hanguang-jun -"

"Senior Wei."

"Well, okay, nevermind about him then. Zewu-jun -"

"That whole thing with Jin Guangyao? And his new thing with Nie Huaisang. Clearly not results of a sound mind."

"...fair enough. Uh. Teacher Lan?"

"Waaaaay too into the sect rules."

Jin Ling had to concede that one. "Okay, fine. What are you feral about, then?"

"I'm pretty sure Jingyi is just feral, actually," Lan Sizhui said thoughtfully. "Really, if you look at it in a certain light, he's the most Lan of all the Lan sect members I know!"

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booksaremyobsession · 2 years ago

Text

Lmao I forgot I had this in my drafts. Sorry for the lateness of this. For WIP Wednesday, I bring you a WIP titled It's Free Wif(e)-i. No warnings applicable. Word count: 776

Lan Huan gave him the game.

It was an unofficial copy downloaded directly from the Jin Tech servers, the title written in permanent marker across the blank CD in neat handwriting. Lan Huan told him it was not on the market yet. It was given to him by his friend, Jin Guangyao. But Lan Huan was not much of a gamer, so he had gifted it to Lan Zhan instead and told to keep it to himself.

As Lan Zhan had no friends to share it with, and had no desire to expose his brother to a possible lawsuit from the company, he took the thin jewel case in hand and easily agreed. His brother told him little of the game. He said it was about a journey to find a lost creature that an alien race invading the earth was demanding be returned to them, and the title written across the white CD did not sound very appealing.

Earth's Summit, it was called.

But it was a gift, and Lan Huan was sure to ask him later what it was about and if he had fun playing it. So with a resigned sigh, Lan Zhan popped the CD into his laptop and opened it up to find Earth's Summit. He clicked it and followed the instructions from the wizard to install it.

Then the final message popped up, declaring his game installed and whether to run the program. He clicked the option and waited.

And waited.

He blinked slowly, becoming a little confused when nothing happened. He checked his windows and found nothing. Checked the item tray and saw no change. Growing more confused, he opened a new window to run the CD again. His laptop was state of the art. It did not lag and he had taken it to a computer expert to rid it of bloatware. It should be running perfectly. And yet, the game did not run.

He clicked over the CD only to find that it was blank.

He blinked and checked again.

The CD was blank. The title, Earth's Summit, was gone. He frowned. He did not understand what he had done wrong.

“Hm,” Lan Zhan hummed aloud, and he started a search on his computer for the game title.

No files came up.

Shaking his head, Lan Zhan decided to restart the laptop. Before he could choose the option, however, his screen flickered. He stilled, watching warily, and then a small window opened up, about a twelfth of the screen in size. It was brightly colored with a pink graphic, like a mother of pearl rainbow, it flashed across the window and in cheerful red letters, there was a title.

It was not Earth's Summit.

The title was Dress Up With Wei Ying! And underneath it was a bubble-gum pink font flashing the words Start Game.

Baffled, Lan Zhan could guess what had happened. The person who had prepared the CD had mistakenly burned the wrong game and had not bothered to double check the contents. So here was Lan Zhan, staring at a child's dress up game because of human error. He withheld a grimace and shook his head. Reaching out for the screen, he made to close the laptop.

But just as he made contact with the brushed metal, the screen flashed with a new graphic. He lowered his hand and watched as a sprite, comprised of a head and two skin-colored circles that Lan Zhan supposed were hands, popped up, waving beside the head to catch his attention. A little speech bubble popped up near its head.

“Play with Wei Ying!” the sprite pleaded. It had long hair pulled up in a high ponytail and big watery gray eyes that looked a lot like an emoji that his brother sent him to convey a variety of emotions, including, but not limited to, sadness, sympathy, awe, pleading, happiness, and petulance. A new speech bubble popped up. “Wei Ying is so lonely!” it said. Then a third popped up next to it. “Handsome gege, won't you play with Wei Ying?” Two cat ears popped up on its head, twitching cutely. The cat ears vanished in a puff of smoke, quickly replaced by teddy bear ears. Then, to Lan Zhan's delight, bunny ears. He smiled a little, finding it very cute.

The sprite called him gege, which meant this game was likely targeted towards male audiences. Odd for a dress up game, Lan Zhan thought. He watched the bunny ears twitch. They were black in color, though a different shade from the hair to distinguish them. They did not vanish to be replaced by something else.

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