yiling_laozu | (no subject)

(no subject)

It doesn't seem quite fair that the difference between Lan Wangji's usual wake time and sunrise when the curfew lifts are nearly two hours apart. Wei Wuxian, of course, wouldn't normally be awake right now to begrudge the gods their curfew, but after being largely sequestered to bedrest (Lan Wangji's, as often as possible), he's had a lot of time to draw, and last night he'd drawn something magnificent.

Wei Wuxian shuffles through his dark room, pulling his clothes on carefully so as not to aggravate his wounds, already halfway to Odinhaus the moment sunlight first pierces the darkness. Grinning, Wei Wuxian quickens his steps, looking down at the sheath of papers in his hand. When he looks up -

"Oh! Lan Zhan!"

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"That will be a very large bath," laughs Wei Wuxian, and it is not a no. "In the style of our homeland, yes? Not the strange, shallow long ones." Wei Wuxian has found he prefers rain-like showering now that it is known to him, but one need only insert Lan Zhan into the tub to hasten its siren call.

And he will make those screens. It is their own room, no one will see them anyway! There could even be a special, double-sided one surrounding the tub. One with lots of room for exploits.

It would be an entirely ridiculous bathtub. It would be indulgent, a waste of materials and entirely inappropriate.

Lan Zhan very much wants one.

"Mm, only babies lie down in the bath water," he intones, forehead creasing in distaste at the thought of the communal, coffin like bathtub down the hallway. "Like the idea of washing Wei Ying's hair for him."

"Oh," says Wei Wuxian at once, "You must, it is my least favorite task." But the thought of Lan Zhan's long fingers in his hair each day, massaging his scalp and meticulously coaxing out tangles...this is a tub that must be made with stout material indeed.

He cocks his head. "I think I would like washing yours, though. Even if it were not attached to you, it is like silk. Mine has its own mind when it is wet."

The idea of Wei Ying doing so to him is enticing enough to make Lan Zhan pause, trying to imagine that such indulgence could be his. There would be no rule against it in this place. The thought is frightening it is so foreign.

"Like Wei Ying's hair," he finally murmurs, watching as even now unruly pieces stick out in waves. "Would not suit Wei Ying to have hair that behaved. Like the waves and the curls when it is wet. Suits you."

Wei Wuxian looks up to find Lan Zhan's eyes fixed to the area around his topknot. It is messier than usual, for reaching up eventually causes him pain, but now he wonders if even this is too much. Is his messy hair enticing?

It is certainly an avenue to be explored. Wei Wuxian grins. "Ah. This is your ploy to keep me in the bathtub."

"Hanguang-Jun would not do such a thing," he murmurs, face entirely shameless as he moves back to the bed and starts to unwind Wei Ying's ribbon. He cannot fault him but it does look like a child's attempt and Lan Zhan very much wants to touch his hair.

"But I do like Wei Ying's hair. Like that only I touch it."

Wei Wuxian closes his eyes, relaxing as Lan Zhan's fingers slide into his hair. The unwinding of his ribbon is oddly thrilling - Lan Zhan must have felt this way when Wei Wuxian first touched his headband and he did not hate it.

"Lan Zhan is so romantic," he exhales. "If the maidens at home had known, not even the barrier to the Cloud Recesses could have kept them out."

"Lan Zhan is not romantic with anyone but Wei Ying," he corrects, scooting closer and grabbing his own comb from his desk. He carefully works through the tangles at the front of Wei Ying's head. The little waves and textures still want to spring out and Lan Zhan is fascinated. It's so different from his own.

"Maidens would not want Lan Wangji. Only Wei Ying wants Lan Wangji. Good that way."

"Impossible," answers Wei Wuxian. He's only just risen, but his lids feel heavy beneath Lan Zhan's ministrations. "Even Nie Huaisang could not help himself exclaiming your beauty each time you left the room. I wish I could tell them all now who ended up with you."

Even his uncle. Perhaps especially his uncle. And Madam Yu.

That is incredibly disconcerting.

Lan Zhan cannot imagine Nie Huaisang saying such a thing and finds himself a little unsettled at the idea as he continues to brush out his hair. He has heard comment on his looks but not in such direct terms. It was usually around his coldness and he would prefer to think Wei Ying is the only person to ever think about Lan Zhan's attractiveness.

"Would like to have it known as well. Proud to be with Wei Ying."

Wei Ying is the single most beautiful person Lan Zhan has ever seen but without any of the coldness that Lan Zhan knows pervades his own face. Wei Ying is exquisite.

It takes Lan Zhan a beat longer to answer this time, and Wei Wuxian grins. "Is Lan Zhan embarrassed to draw attention? I will make your life more difficult, then, by telling you that you draw every eye in the room."

He tilts his head back. "I know you are. When I returned, you never let me stand alone again. Once, I even pushed you!" Wei Wuxian exclaims. "But you came right back."

"Not exactly embarrassed," he murmurs, scooting up the bed so he is sitting right at the top of the bed to better reach the sides and back of Wei Ying's head. "Do not enjoy attention. Also, I think Wei Ying is not entirely accurate. Wei Ying draws attention. Wei Ying is powerful and uncommonly beautiful. Lan Wangji is quiet so stories are spun to fill that void," he decides.

He is very pleased that this version of him has learned from past mistakes. His biggest regret is not being by Wei Ying's side when he needed him most. It's not a mistake he will ever make again.

Wei Ying is also very loud, but he's enjoying the praise and doesn't voice his suspicions. It's enough that Lan Zhan thinks so. "Lan Zhan will make me blush," he teases.

"I suppose that's partly true," he says. "I imagined all sorts of things about you when we first met. Your mystery is very intriguing. Another reason you could send maidens into a frenzy."

"Ridiculous," he huffs, finally giving up any pretense of decorum and scooting fully into bed with Wei Ying yet again, gently moving him to rest back against Lan Zhan's chest. His fingers keep moving the comb through Wei Ying's hair, working out tangles he suspects are there from the last time Lan Zhan combed it for him.

"Wei Ying offered to show me maidens in Yungmeng, once. It infuriated me."

"They are famous beauties!" Wei Wuxian laughs in his defense, immediately falling back into Lan Zhan and his incredible warmth. "I also offered you loquats and Emperor's Smile and a drawing and my companionship. Lan Zhan was very stubborn. Really," he says, feeling bold - and a little bratty - "It's not my fault that I had to enchant you to try a single cup."

"It was often the manner of the offering more than the offer itself," he says, voice mild and dubious as he kisses the top of Wei Ying's head.

He ought to put his hair back up for him but there is something scandalous about having it spill all over Lan Zhan's pristine, white robes so he leaves it as is. The comb is set down and replaced with idle fingers as he leans them both back to lie down. "Embarrassed Lan Zhan. Had never been so angry," he murmurs, remembering being even more livid at the embarrassment of having been enchanted and apparently having less than no tolerance.

"I truly did think you might stab me," Wei Wuxian admits. He doesn't normally outright flee, but he had that day. He curls in against Lan Zhan's side. "I was sorry for making you drink, though. And not only because you are such a terror after even one little cup."

"Do not remember details," he admits, happily gathering Wei Ying up as close as they can currently manage. He tucks his chin on Wei Ying's head, remembering the only other time he was drunk and managed to disfigure himself. He hopes the first night in no way resembled the second.

"At least Wei Ying was sorry. Took me longer to regret my behavior."

"This would require you admitting you liked me," Wei Wuxian agrees. "The very last sort of person a Lan should ever care for. I will admit, there are times when I feel I am a bad influence on you."

He looks up at Lan Zhan. "Or perhaps it is the other way around. I had never vandalized a column with my name before you!"

It takes Lan Zhan a moment to realize it is not this version of Lan Wangji is being accused of this crime. Unless Wei Ying means he did this in Cloud Recesses? Either way it is ridiculous.

"Did not," he counters, frowning as he tries to imagine such a thing. That is the behavior of a delinquent, a child. "Why would I do that?"

Wei Wuxian snorts. "You swallowed a cup of wine before I could stop you. You stayed out past curfew, you stole chickens, and you carved your name in a farmer's veranda." He shakes his head. "My comeuppance, I think, for everything I put you through through the years."

That all sounds completely ridiculous but Wei Ying would not lie to him about such a thing. Which only means that Lan Zhan is a monster when inebriated, a monster with no sense at all.

"Must never drink without Wei Ying," he intones, nodding to himself. "Or at all."

It has apparently resulted in theft, vandalism and self branding and he is not even sure what else he does not know. It could have been anything. It could be all manner of lewd and terrible things.

Wei Wuxian lifts his head and sees the uncertainty on Lan Zhan's face. "We gave the chickens back," he assures him, "And that is the only incident of wine you do not know about. There was only a little nudity," he can't help adding, looking at Lan Zhan smooth-faced.

Lan Zhan's eyes widen with concern, trying to imagine how on earth nudity found it's way between theft and vandalism. Surely Wei Ying would stop him from going too far.

"Do not understand why I would do that," he murmurs, unable to imagine and state of mind where he would willingly undress in front of others.

Oh no.

"Did I undress in front of Wei Ying?"

Wei Wuxian nods solemnly. "It was very shocking," he says. "Do you know what I saw?" Lifting his hand, Wei Wuxian touches Lan Zhan's throat, then reaches just past the edge of his robes to a bit a skin well above his collarbone.

"I'm sure I swooned."