This show. {The Untamed}

[mourningjade]

No point.

{This is a man of few words. Perhaps he is answering the question "is there a point to him being here?" or maybe he is commenting on his mun's existence.

Either way he is turning, ready to leave.}

Don't follow.

Comments

[weiward]

Lan Zhan, "having fun" is a perfectly good point. It's just one that you happen to miss most of the time.

[mourningjade]

{He pauses and turns ever so slightly.} Where is fun?

[weiward]

Anywhere there's a jar of Emperor's Smile?

[he thinks he's charming.]

Or anywhere you make it, as long as you have at least one good friend. Now I wonder....where would you find one of those?

[he taps his chin thoughtfully, waiting. waiting.]

Lan Zhan, just stop being such a stick in the mud. I'm sure your mun would appreciate it.

[mourningjade]

{Nope, sorry, not charmed by the idea of getting drunk. Probably because it doesn't take much.}

I don't know.

{It's hard to tell if he is being a pretentious asshole about "not needing friends" or if his feelings for Wei Wuxian are more complicated than that. Hint: it's actually the latter.}

I am not a puppet. {Ghost or otherwise.} They can look elsewhere.

[weiward]

What if they don't want to? Lan Zhan, as someone who gets accused of bringing trouble upon himself all the time, it feels a little like you're asking for it.

[mourningjade]

They have troubled me. {Surely that must count for something? He knows it doesn't.} You are eager to follow where they lead, hm?

[weiward]

Mine lets me do what I want, so why not!

Also, if they trouble you, it might mean that they like you.

[just speaking from experience here.]

[mourningjade]

{This takes courage for him to phrase...}

Does that mean you like me?

[weiward]

[oh. well. wei wuxian doesn't normally hesitate to speak up about anything. but hearing those words so directly, and from lan zhan of all people...]

Lan Zhan, what do you think?

[mourningjade]

{The hesitation plucks at the strings of his heart, but he doesn't show it. Except, perhaps, in the way he purses his lips ever so faintly.}

...I thought...you did.

[weiward]

I still do.

[does anyone else look at him this way? he hasn't seen it. but maybe that's because his eyes are always on lan wangji whenever he's around.]

[mourningjade]

{A suspiciously warm sensation nestles in his chest - like a tiny rabbit curling up for a good rest.}

We are not alike.

[weiward]

Hmm? Oh, you mean like how you can't hold your liquor, or how you take everything way too seriously. Or maybe you mean the way that you act like your entire face will shatter into a million little pieces if you smile?

[he's barely repressing his own smile, but not trying very hard. yes, he can name a million ways that they're different, a million "flaws" of lan wangji. and somehow wei ying still finds him amazing.]

Who do you think you're talking to? I already know that. We're like fire and ice.

[mourningjade]

{Strangely it is only the last observation that makes him frown. He can't really help his genes and what else can be expected of a child raised under the guidance of three thousand rules. But smiling...

It comes easily for Wei Ying. Maybe he needs lessons? How silly.}

Are you saying it is only a matter of time before we extinguish one another?

[weiward]

[he really has no problem with lan wangji's genes. those are perfectly good genes.]

No.

But if I had to be extinguished, I'd still rather it be you.

[mourningjade]

{Nope. Nope, nope. Those words right there are dangerous. He finds himself smiling - softly, shyly - in the face of them and it feels entirely foreign.

But good.}

I won't. Not you. {Not ever.}

[weiward]

There's been a time or two where you looked like you might!

[when he was being overly annoying. or, you know, himself.

lan zhan's words don't totally surprise him, but they do scare him a little.]

But I don't ever want to hurt you either. I'm always afraid that I might.

[he's always bringing disaster to those around him.]

[mourningjade]

It never crossed my mind.

{While he might have been annoyed or frustrated, Wangji isn't a man who resorts to violence when he is angry. Subduing is not the same as conquering.}

How? This is what I choose.

{So what comes with it, he accepts.}

[weiward]

Choices come with consequences. Leave it up to me to forget that, but never Hanguang-Jun.

[he's still smiling, but there's something a little sad about it.]

If you're always where the chaos is, maybe it's my fault for bringing it.

[mourningjade]

{He steps closer, his hand nearly touching the other man's arm.}

Then I accept the consequences.

{Wangji looks him over and nods.}

Chaos likes to follow you, but if I can bring order, it is like a dog with no teeth.

[weiward]

[he shouldn't be surprised. this man has chosen to stand beside him time and time again, when no one else would, regardless of what it does to his reputation, his body.

and that's exactly why it surprises him.

but wei ying shivers at that analogy, hugging himself tightly.]

Lan Zhan, that still sounds terrifying.

[of all animals, why a dog? it could've been 'a snake with no teeth', or 'a tiger with no teeth'.]

[mourningjade]

It is terrifying. {He hesitates before softening his words with:} But you can stand behind me.

{What dog in their right mind would attack Lan Zhan? His glare can surely stop them dead in their tracks.}

You are bigger than them.

[weiward]

[he wasn't always bigger. in wei ying's mind, all dogs are still those large beasts with the sharp teeth, all too willing to make a meal out of him instead of the scraps they were fighting over.

wei ying laughs weakly and nods. right.]

But Lan Zhan, you're bigger too. And you already said you'd protect me, you wouldn't go back on your word!

[mourningjade]

No, I wouldn't. {His words is unbreakable especially where Wei Ying is concerned.} You needn't fear them.

{He stretches out his arm in case he wants to hide right now.}

[weiward]

[wei ying is grinning at that.

and even if he doesn't need lan zhan's protection right at this very moment....he still slides behind his arm.]

Haha! Nothing can touch me here!

[he sticks his tongue out at the imaginary dangers.]

[mourningjade]

{This is silly, yet he doesn't seem to mind. He peeks back at Wei Ying, his features expressionless. But, for him, he is dangerously close to smiling.}

How old are you?

[weiward]

Lan Zhan, what are you implying? I'm still a growing boy...


[he's playing that card again, he one where he pouts so childishly. it always worked so well on his sister.]

[mourningjade]

We are the same age.

{Or they had been, at least. The pout has an interesting effect and Zhan turns his head away, his cheeks burning.}

[weiward]

Then that means you're still a growing boy too!

[wei ying laughs, poking at one of those cheeks.]

We should look for a meal.

[mourningjade]

I am done growing. {Mostly...? However he does move in the direction of where they can find food.}