Untamed/MDZS catch-all

[ze_uwu_jun]

WHO: The Untamed / MDZS cast and friends (enemies, etc)
WHERE: Anywhere, everywhere, including their assigned lodgings and around all towns
WHEN: February
WHAT: Catch-all because the emotions never end
WARNINGS: The Untamed / Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation / Mo Dao Zu Shi spoilers; canon-typical violence; event-typical violence. Will add more if it becomes necessary

ooc: Go forth and do the things as they come.

Comments

[secondjade]

Jiang Wanyin is here.

Jiang Wanyin is here, and Wangji still hates him.

Maybe hate was too strong a word, knowing what he knew now. Maybe there was a great deal of pity mixed in there, too. But ultimately, Jiang Cheng condemned Wei Wuxian to death at the very moment where Lan Wangji had almost gotten through to him. Had almost shown him that no matter what anyone else thought, there was still one man who wanted him whole and hale. Alive. He dreamed of that moment often, saw it in his mind’s eye if he closed his eyes too long.

Jiang Wanyin has stolen his hope from him, had betrayed his brother, had destroyed their lives. And now Wangji knew that he had done this all while still bearing Wei Ying’s golden core - while he had still privileged from Wei Ying’s greatest sacrifice.

But Jiang Cheng was a man that Wei Wuxian loved. And whether or not he deserved it was beside the point. He could see Wei Ying was miserable, and he knew why. Who wouldn’t be, after what they went through?

He gave Wei Ying all the space he needed, though he was never far to hand. And after a long time of Wei Ying leaning against the window, Wangji’s thoughts finally coalesced enough to show him what to say. He couldn’t fix their relationship, and he couldn’t fix what happened, but...

“Wei Ying.” The tone was soft. A gentle tug to pull the man’s attention. “Your file, when you arrived. You still possess it?”

[yilingdaddy]

He feels like he's spiraling, right back to where he'd been on the cliff. Except now there's a buffer. A reason not to go over it...no matter the pain.

Lan Zhan.

The truth behind everything.

...Lan Zhan.

Always Lan Wangji. Hanguang-Jun.

One person who, by all accounts, should not believe in him. Should never have believed in him. And yet has. And does. So no matter how bruised or battered Wei Wuxian feels, he won't take that last tempting step.

He'd only slept the night before because of the new routine of curling up with Wangji, though only for a few hours before he gave up on sleep and pulled away. Too restless. To bruised with what should have been a fun evening.

Wangji's voice tugs him back and he blinks, turning a confused look to his friend. He rubs absently at his face before nodding, and reaches into his Qiankun pouch for the folder he'd thrown in there after showing Wangji. He doesn't look at it, just holds it out towards his friend.

No one else has read it but them. Only Wangji knows what his 'powers' are. Only Wangji...knows everything.

[secondjade]

He takes it, his movements deliberate and slow, before he opens the file. He doesn’t say anything as he reads - wants to confirm his memory is accurate before giving false hope - but eventually he finds the passage he was looking for. The description of Wei Ying’s abilities.

The description of his golden core.

He placed his thumb at the top of the section, then held out the page in question for Wei Ying’s, silently requesting him to read it.

[yilingdaddy]

Wuxian doesn't hurry him along, only waits silently until his friend is ready to show him whatever it is that had him ask for it.

And when Wangji does...pointing out the one power he's avoided trying to use here...he swallows heavily and looks away, fingers tightening in the cloth at his elbows as he refolds his arms over his chest. Not quite hugging himself, but it's a very near thing.

"...So what...Lan Zhan...? Am I suddenly supposed to be healed...? I've still gone down that path. It's too late."

[secondjade]

He's silent for a moment, before he sets down the file off to the side again, trying to phrase what he wants to say. It isn't easy - he's never been good with words.

"... This world is different," he starts, his voice low. Careful. "The gods of this world grant powers upon arrival. To some, they give powers they've always had."

A pause.

"To others, they grant new."

[yilingdaddy]

It only makes what Lan Wangji does choose to say matter more. Mean more. Has Wei Wuxian trying to pay that much more attention. Does he wish Wangji would say more? Yes.

But that's not how his friend is, and he's accepted that about him.

He listens now, head tilted just a little towards the other, though his eyes don't immediately follow to return to Wangji's face.

...Lan Zhan wants him to what...try? To use the golden core he has apparently been given back?

He'd be a fool not to try. There are too many of them here now, too many people who are important. He closes his eyes for a moment, inwardly poking at the thought to try...to potentially fail and find this is in fact a farce.

"...Lan Zhan..." Quietly.

"Will you...catch me...if I fall?"

He'll try. Only if Lan Zhan will stay, will watch as he makes that first attempt.

[secondjade]

“Will not fall.” The answer this time is quick. Assured. Absolute.

He still has nightmares of that day. Of the blood red dawn. Of Wei Ying falling away from him.

Never again.

“Cannot fall.” He would grip Wei Ying’s arm so tight that the man would never reach the edge of the cliff, let alone fall off it.

“Not unless together.”

[yilingdaddy]

The last sentence is what shocks Wuxian from the inner spiral. It sinks in, better than perhaps anything else. His head jerks around and he stares at Wangji for a long moment.

Then huffs out a little breath, relaxing a little. Bit by bit.

...He's hurting Wangji again. Just having asked that.

Selfish.

He doesn't say it.

Instead, "We won't fall."

A promise.

He steps away from the wall, a determined set to face and shoulders, then lets his eyes close as he focuses inwardly. Simple memories, of kinder, happier days. How to form your core and let it be seen.

His arms move almost on their own, hands seeming to pull up, then push back down in a graceful gesture. Wuxian feels the energy form even as he lets it go again with a shuddering breath, ignoring the tears that form then slip down pale cheeks.

There's joy, of course. But it's...fragile.

He swallows heavily, trying to pull himself together and stop worrying his closest friend.

"I...I'll talk to Jiang Cheng. About taking Suibian back..."

[secondjade]

He sees the tears. Of course he does. Even as Wei Ying pulls his core together, Wangji's eyes are on his face instead, almost ignoring his hands. He doesn't need the confirmation. Wei Ying does.

He can see how fragile that hope is - how very tenuous. A part of him wishes he could do what another might - dry Wei Ying's cheeks, comfort him, console him.

He doesn't move closer, and he offers no comfort. No matter how much he wishes to, the words never coalesce.

Instead:

"Core likely weaker. Regular cultivation will be required. Your sword, a necessity."

[yilingdaddy]

He rubs at his face, drawing in another breath. Just another reason to stay. Even if it also means not go back...He'd be ok with that.

Wuxian manages a watery little laugh, shoulders shaking a little at the words Wangji chooses. Lan Zhan's unending faith in him is humbling. He can feel it even now, when the other speaks of what he should do next.

The smile he sends his friend's way is still oddly bright, for someone being told he'd have to work hard again at strengthening his core.

"Tomorrow. I think he'd just punch or stab me again if I tried talking to him today." And he's feeling too raw himself, with this revelation on top of everything else.

[secondjade]

He doesn’t smile back.

Instead, he just keeps his careful watch of Wei Ying, trying to find the words to deliver the warning he wants to give.

“... His heart has hardened,” he says eventually. Lowly. “Forgiveness, understanding - a slow, faltering course, if willing to take it at all. No patience for mercy, no wavering of false conviction.

Be careful.”