The return

[inquiryguqin]

WHO: novel!Lan Wangji and you! ota to everyone

WHAT: Lan Wangji returned home for a canon update. He disappeared Friday to Sunday, returns Sunday afternoon (July 5th). The first prompt, he has no memory of the place. The second prompt, he remembers everything and he's drunk. The third is a wildcard after everything else.

WHEN: Sunday afternoon to Tuesday, July 5 to 7

WHERE: All over the hotel

NOTES: Emotions, depression, more to be added

I. Casino lobby, Sunday afternoon, July 5th
He had a strange dream. A man wearing a white suit and a white rabbit mask. He followed him to the mirror and upon entering it, there was darkness and then he woke up in a padded box, in a strange hotel.

What is this place? The natives call it Wonderland. Some of the staff recognized him and said, Welcome back, Wangji, it's been a while. How have you been? But he doesn't remember them or being here at all, and becomes annoyed at their friendly greeting when they didn't give him the answers as to why he is here. He frowned, this place took him here.

"..." Translation, where is Wei Ying? Where is everyone?

He wandered all over the usual places in frantic search.


II. Bar, Monday, July 6th
The memories of his previous stay came slamming back into him. Of course, Wei Wuxian is nowhere to be found.

Morose, dealing with the reality that he left Wei Wuxian back home with the others, and remember where he last left him in this place, the weight of his guilt becomes a heavy one. Wei Ying is gone.

While he doesn't drink, he can be found in a bar. The glass of his drink on the table is already empty, having drunk it down.

"..." Translation, Wei Ying.

III. Wildcard - July 7th and afterward
[Start your own starter basing on the scenarios above!]

Comments

I

[sadflutenoises]

The other Wei Wuxian had worked himself into a drunk, depressive spiral, and it'd been hard for this one to feel much better knowing that Lan Wangji was still missing, gone without so much as a trace.

So, to see him aimlessly wandering the hotel lobby, looking out of place in his traditional Lan sect white robes... it was enough to have him scrambling toward Lan Wangji in a rush. Now he just had to track down his soul-twin!

"Lan Zhan! Where have you been? Are you all right?"

[inquiryguqin]

Lan Wangji was eyeing at all the games, with a look of confusion and being out of place. He finds nothing entertaining about the games.

When the other Wei Wuxian approached him, he was taken aback at being called by his birth name, and there's a look that he doesn't recognize him.

Tilting his head, eyes burrow in confusion. "Who are you...? Have we met? What is this place?"

[sadflutenoises]

Oh.

Lan Wangji's expressions have always been minimal, but with this reaction, he might as well be screaming his confusion. Lan Zhan doesn't recognize him? At all?

"I... I'm Wei Wuxian," he insists, "you really don't remember?"

He lets out a slow breath, rubbing at his temple for a moment. There's so much to explain. Was this another Lan Wangji maybe? Or had they done something to his soul-twin's version of the man? Hopefully his confusion wouldn't extend to the one who still had Mo Xuanyu's face as well. He had to recognize the Wei Wuxian from his own world, didn't he?

[inquiryguqin]

There's no recognition, but when he announces his courtesy name, there's confusion. He doesn't remember ever meeting him or the idea of doubles or having a soul-twin.

Lan Wangji, usually perfect in memory, has no recognition of him at all. But wanting to give a benefit of the doubt and believing him, because he always believes in him.

"Wei Ying? Is that you...? What happened? Your look. You changed."

[sadflutenoises]

Not even a hint of recognition, huh? At least he recognizes the name, he supposes. That bodes well for his soul-twin. If he can dig him out of whatever drunken hole he's crawled into.

"Yes," he sighs, "and no. How I look isn't important. Listen, there's a lot to explain, but it boils down to this place. It does a lot of confusing things."

He's not sure how the others have explained this to Lan Wangji in the past, but hopefully he can wrap his mind around it.

"It can take people from all different places, and I mean. All different. Not just... around the world, but different worlds, some that mirror each other. I'm not the Wei Wuxian you know, but, he's here too."

[inquiryguqin]

Well, no. He assumes this Wei Wuxian is his own, so he calls him by his other birth-name, and thinks he's transformed into a new look.

"Not important." He does indeed listen. With a confused look, almost comically helpless. "Not the Wei Wuxian, you know? But you said he's here. So who are you and where is the other Wei Ying? Two of you?"

[sadflutenoises]

He's really not explaining this well, is he? The more he says, the more confused Lan Zhan seems.

"Right. He's here," probably still at the bar, drinking his troubles away. It's been a while since he last heard from him, but... he's probably all right?

"We're both Wei Wuxian, just sort of, mirrored versions? Things are just slightly different in the world I'm from compared to yours. There's another you here too, a... soul-twin," he holds up his hands placatingly for a moment, hoping he's not going to fast.

As for where the other is, that's... well, it's a good question.

"I'm not sure where he's at right now, but I can send him a message so he can find us, okay?" he offers, pulling out his Empathy device and sending off a quick message.

[inquiryguqin]

Finally understanding, "Two of me, two of you. Okay."

Waiting for a moment, as he types into his device. "Did he answer back?" Is he here? His look is that of worry and concern, but he cares very deeply for him.

"But you are Wei Wuxian? But different? How very different?" He is wondering, almost innocently enough. "Are you the same as mine?"

[sadflutenoises]

"Exactly, yes."

He sends off another message, just in case his soul-twin missed the first, but there's no immediate answer. It's entirely possible he's just drunk off his ass somewhere. Maybe he doesn't have his Empathy with him?

"Not yet," he shakes his head, "b-but he probably just hasn't seen it yet! I'm sure he'll write back any minute."

The other question was harder. How different? Well, so far the details were fairly minor, at least from what he could tell. Lan Zhan said this version had never experienced the caves inside Cloud Recesses, but then, there were things at Phoenix Mountain that he definitely hadn't experienced in return. And the casual way this Lan Zhan said mine...

"I... yes. I mean, the biggest difference is how we look. Your Wei Wuxian's body still looks like Mo Xuanyu. But mine looks like... me," he explains, "and he- remembers more. That is, about things that happen after we were brought back."

[inquiryguqin]

Lan Wangji furrows his eyebrows, trying to piece together the information given. If this gentleman said he's Wei Wuxian, so he thinks he and his Wei Ying are the same. And yet, not the same.

Then, when he stated the difference. Different bodies, different timelines. While he didn't want to ask an unpleasant subject. "Yes, Wei Ying was reborn in the body of Mo Xuanyu. But you...you haven't died yet?"

[sadflutenoises]

It seems to be sufficient, at least it's enough for Lan Wangji to try to process for the moment. Hopefully he hasn't missed anything too important in his explanation. It was hard to shake the anxiety that followed with his other self not answering. He'd been down, sure, but he had to come back eventually, didn't he? It was nothing to worry about. For right now, he just had to make sure he got this Lan Zhan taken care of; answer his questions, make sure he's okay, show him around.

"Oh..." the question caught him off-guard, and he glanced aside, "this is... no. That still happened, hasn't changed. I just got lucky and- the body I was reborn into was able to look like my old one."

[inquiryguqin]

Eventually, he will remember everything else, so Wei Wuxian doesn't explain any further about this place or else he'll overexert himself to find words to explain. In the meanwhile, with no answer given, it simply means they must continue the search for his Wei Ying.

Seeing his expression, "Wei Ying, I'm sorry." And he meant it from the bottom of his heart. "After what happened...I went looking for you. For years. For me, it has been thirteen years."

It's a heavy memory, full of grief. But for now, he's more concerned for him. "But I'm glad you're back and I'm happy to see you. Are you well? Have you eaten and sleep?"

[sadflutenoises]

He feels his stomach sink when Lan Zhan starts apologizing. There's still a number of uncomfortable conversations he's not sure he's ready for, and the idea that he'd caused so much suffering for Lan Zhan is one he's not sure he'll ever be able to right.

"Ah- You don't have to- I know and- It's okay, it's fine, I'm fine, please, that's all in the past, you don't have to worry," he takes a half-step back, swallowing down the tight feeling in his throat and trying to smile.

"I'll um- I'll show you where your room is, okay?"

II

[sadflutenoises]

The last several days have been a bit of a whirlwind, what with new arrivals, missing people, missing memories, and more. He'd be lying if he said he hadn't been a frequent visitor at the local bar, especially lately. But the last person he expected to see here was Lan Wangji. He probably just wanted a cold drink, Wei Wuxian can't imagine Lan Zhan actually making the conscious decision to get drunk.

He slides into a seat across the table from Lan Wangji and picks up the empty cup, giving it a sniff, and oh-

"Ah... Lan Zhan?" he sets the glass carefully back down, waving a hand in front of his face.

"Did you..."

[inquiryguqin]

Drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited in his sect. There's a depressed look on his impassive jade face when he waves a hand in front of him. One would think he sat still like a well-dressed, marbled statue.

Looking to his direction, his light-colored eyes light up, and he nodded. He recognized him. "...Mn."

[sadflutenoises]

Maybe Lan Wangji had learned to hold his alcohol a bit better since his youth. He seems... down, for sure, but he doesn't look drunk. Just... kind of sad.

"Hey..." he says carefully, watching his face. His soul-twin hadn't responded to any of his messages, and if Lan Zhan was here, odds were good he hadn't come across him either. He'd really hoped that when he finally got to see Lan Zhan drunk again, it would be under slightly... more fun circumstances.

"What're you drinking? Anything worth trying?"

[inquiryguqin]

Looking at Wei Ying, a part of him knows this isn't his own, but this one is a friend whom he felt connected to. More so than anyone else. A lonely look in his eyes, but seeing Wei Ying, this version, his heart is acting on its own volition. Being drunk, he wanted to express his gratitude.

"...Mn. Wei Ying." In an indirect response to his question, he slowly rose to head toward to the buffet. His walking is unsteady, but he is able to walk. A few moments later, it becomes clear when he returns as to what he is fetching.

He came back with a plate of chicken nuggets, presenting him what he's hoping to be a gift.

"Not chicken. But it's still chicken. For you."

[sadflutenoises]

It... wasn't exactly an answer, and as Lan Wangji gets up, he watches his unsteady gait. Wei Wuxian stands up from the table, ready to go after him, but he seems to have found what he wanted at the buffet and returns after only a moment to hand him...

A plate of chicken nuggets.

"Right... it's chicken," he repeats, a puzzled look on his face. Under different circumstances, he'd probably be laughing himself silly, and as it is, he has a hard time keeping a straight face.

"Thanks... I was... getting hungry?" he nods and sets the plate down on the table. At least he looks slightly less morose.

"Do you want some too?"

[inquiryguqin]

It doesn't change the fact that his Wei Ying is probably back home, while he is stuck here as a prisoner in this hotel. Unable to cope, he drank a whole cup of the strongest liquor.

"The gift is inadequate?" Looking at the plate of chicken nuggets, it's probably was. He shook his head. "Not hungry. No appetite. If you're hungry, I can cook soup for you." Though given his condition, it perhaps for the best to avoid that activity.

The answer to his earlier question, "Wei Ying, are you a prisoner here too? If Wei Ying drinks, I'll drink with him. But only tea."

[sadflutenoises]

"No, no, it's fine, perfectly adequate!" he tugs at Lan Wangji's sleeve, trying to lead him back to his seat. The idea of a drunken Lan Wangji trying to cook soup when he couldn't even walk a straight line was pretty amusing, but it was probably best to avoid any heat or sharp objects at the moment.

"I'll eat it right here, okay? Sit, sit. We'll get you some tea and I'll have a drink, how's that?" he tries. As for being prisoners... well, maybe it's better to avoid the heavier topics right now.

[inquiryguqin]

"Mn, I'm glad Wei Ying accepts my gifts." And at the offer of eating with him, it helps forgot his sorrow and the heaviness in his heart for now if only for a while. By his nature, he is truthful and he will not pretend he is not grieving beneath an exterior of stoicism, but he will accept Wei Ying as he is himself.

He sat next to him, looking terribly unfocused that he didn't noticed his question isn't directly answered. "Tea for you and for me. Drink together. Eat together." He agrees with him, liking that very much.

[sadflutenoises]

Apparently he was having chicken nuggets and tea for dinner. So much for that drink. Well, it was probably better if one of them was sober, at least.

"Yes, they're great, love them, are you sure you don't want one?" he nods, making a show of eating one. He waves over one of the staff to ask for tea, and some water was probably a good idea too. The nuggets were edible, even if they weren't his first choice, and he didn't mind eating them if it was going to make Lan Zhan happy. He'd do whatever he could to bring him a little cheer.

"How have we never sat down for a meal together here? You're right, it's a great idea," he nods, a faint smile on his face.

[inquiryguqin]

"My apologies. I'll try to eat and drink. It just that, I remembered everything as to what happened here. The first time I was here."

Using a fork and a knife, he gingerly cut the small piece into an even smaller piece and slowly eat. One by one, as a part of him, try to process what's happened. Drinking the tea evens out the drunkenness.

"No, we never have eaten together. Me and Wei Ying eat together occasionally. But with you, this is the first."

[sadflutenoises]

So much for bringing cheer. Lan Zhan was already apologizing and- ah. He remembered? And that was probably why he'd decided to drink. He couldn't think of a better way to try to forget.

"It's okay, you don't have to think about it right now. Let's just have fun."

Watching Lan Wangji try to eat finger food so delicately, even when drunk, pulls his smile wider.

"No better time than right now," he offers. Maybe he's making things worse. If his Wei Wuxian is missing, he's probably the last face Lan Zhan wants to see right now, right? He takes a moment to drink his tea, and tries not to wish it was something stronger.

"Oh- I know, tell me something good, that you've remembered. You had some good times when you were here before, right?"

[inquiryguqin]

With a nod, he continues to eat. At least, he's motivated in his presence. It's to get something in his stomach. A lethargic, "Mn."

At his question, he looks away, hiding the blush dusting across his cheeks to the tip of his ears. "Fun...good times? Mn."

Eventually, he managed to eat and drink everything somewhat. There is some expression in his eyes. "What is Wei Ying's idea of fun? Hide and seek?"