angryhearts | The return

The return

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!]

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He is quite right, he is missing him with a such a deep sadness that is unknown to many with his brother as the exception.

"Thank you..." Voice soft from the pain, but with gratitude. He gently squeezed his hand, not wanting to let go, but reluctantly and eventually he did. It's not just the warmth of his hands that lingers, but the warmth of his thoughts.

Even drunk, he is quite aware the other Wei Wuxian isn't the same person at all. Looking at the picture, "I think it's finished, Wei Ying. So I'm going to take this picture back to my room."

He's not used to being thanked so sincerely, and it still leaves him flustered, no matter how many nice things Lan Zhan says. He lets their fingers part, and isn't quite sure what to do with his hands without anything to fiddle with, but smiles all the same.

"A masterpiece, for certain," he nods, "why don't I walk with you?"

The last time he'd seen Lan Zhan drunk he'd had to drag him to bed half a dozen times before it finally stuck. The last thing he ought to let his friend do is try to wander back to his room alone.

With a nod, "You can walk with me later, but I'm not ready to leave yet. It's too early and I wanted to stay."

And furthermore, he wanted him to stay with him also, at least for a little while longer. If anything, going back to his room means spending the night alone which he will do so. Reluctantly.

Besides, he's holding onto Wei Ying's word. He still needs him here for a little while longer. "Let's draw another picture. Can we do so together...?"

"Oh, now it's Hanguang Jun telling me he wants to stay up late, how the tables have turned," he smiles, but stays in his seat.

"Guess I've no choice but to stay and watch over this delinquent," he reaches for a fresh piece of paper, then sets to shepherding a handful of pencils back from where they'd scattered.

"What shall we draw this time? A portrait maybe? I can draw Lan Zhan, and he can draw me, hm?" there were a dozen other things he wanted to ask, like what did A-Yuan look like now, or how had the Cloud Recesses changed, but Lan Zhan seemed to be doing a bit better, and it was best not to drag the mood by reminding him of all the things that were lost right now.

"Or is there something else you'd rather draw?"

"Yes, I want to stay up late. It's allowed. I will stay up because I want you to. Just for a while longer if you're willing. Don't think about rules for now."

His first night sleeping alone will be hard. Back home, it was easy. It was familiar territory. In Wonderland, it's different. He's back here again, he returned. Twice. If he returned back here, then that means there is unfinished business he must attend to eventually.

For now, a little longer being in Wei Ying's company to take the pain and his mind off and find a distraction.

"I'll draw anything Wei Ying asked me too. I show you my home, so I could draw portraits of us and also people you know back in my home, then I can show you what they look like."

"I guess we're both allowed to break as many rules as we want here, hm?" he gives a short laugh, pushing paper across the table toward Lan Wangji. When would he get another chance to play with a drunk Lan Zhan, after all?

"Oh? You can draw things you like too Lan Zhan," he teases good-naturedly, tapping his pencil on the paper.

"But I can't refuse such a tempting offer. Hmm... why don't you draw me your students then. I met them briefly, at Mo manor, but I want to know what they look like in your world, okay?"

Drunkenly, speech slightly slurred as the alcohol is really kicking into his system. "Mn. As many rules..." He said, in a dreamy tone, dazed and tipsy from the alcohol.

Looking at the paper, he picks up the color pencils and start drawing the juniors, and then write their names. Albeit might be sloppy but recognizable as he draws and doodles.

The juniors definitely look different. Probably cuter. "That's one Sizhui. It's A-Yuan. This one is Jing Yi, his best friend. And this one is Jin Ling. Sizhui is the cute one, he's my son and yours as well."

He then draws in rabbits around them. "The rabbits like to play with them. I will bury them in a pile because they're children."

He has to bite the inside of his cheek to stifle laughter as Lan Zhan slurs. It's so childish and cute, he can't help reaching out a hand to pat his head gently as he starts to draw.

It's hard to say how different the juniors look from the ones he'd met, since he'd only seen them the one time. But the caricatures are adorable, and Wei Wuxian ends up propping his head in his hands as Lan Zhan tells him about each one.

"You're right, A-Yuan is definitely the cutest," he nods along, shifting so he can sit shoulder-to-shoulder with Lan Zhan.

"How about the rabbits, did you name them too?"

Lan Wangji is happy when he pats him on the head. "I named a few, the black one with the red ribbon is...Wei Ying...no, I mean his name is Daiyun. The while rabbit is Ten Miles."

Lan Wangji then proceeds to speak in drunken whispers and mumbles afterward, and his sketchings and doodles become scribbles. He swayed side to side.

Once the drawing is done, he settled his color pencil down and then curls up on Wei Ying's lap like a ball, and in his mind, he pretend to be a rabbit. Would Wei Ying pat him again?

"I want to stay here with Wei Ying and Wei Ying to stay with me. Can Wei Ying do that again?"

He nods at the names, smiling in turn and trying to commit each to memory. Lan Zhan is much better at naming pets, he thinks, far better than Jiang Cheng. It's fun to watch the drawings devolve into wobbly doodles and illegible scribbles. He hopes he can keep the papers, even if they're silly, he likes this side of Lan Zhan too.

As Lan Zhan lays his head into Wei Wuxian's lap, he can't help but laugh, soft and pleased. He had promised, after all, to be here when Lan Zhan needed him. And even if this wasn't his Lan Zhan, it was impossible not to feel attached, to enjoy his presence in every little moment like this.

"We can stay. As long as you want, I promised," he pats Lan Zhan's head again gently, then lets his fingers start to comb through his silky hair, repeating the motion as if Lan Zhan really were a giant bunny, just waiting to be petted.

"Like that?" he asks with a smile.

He wanted to lay on his lap, all curled up comfortably for as long as possible. It was warm and soft. His warm laughther, his touch, it's all comforting to him. He's at his moment, where he's almost loosing his strength and his will, from the years eroded, just waiting for him, coping and grieving his loss. Regardless that he has the juniors, his brother, his clan, and the possibly his own Wei Ying waiting for him back home in their world, this small measure of comfort brings him back to focus.

His promises is all he ever needs. All the petting calms him, easing his worries. He hums, looking happy, even though he's in his drunken state of mind, a part of him registers that Wei Ying is here.

As long as he wants, so he gives himself permission to be selfish if only what seems like a lifetime to him, to share a moment of his time together. "Mn. Like that Wei Ying."

Looking up to him, "How long can you stay with me?"

Lan Zhan seems content enough to hum softly, so he just keeps playing with his long hair, separating out some strands so he can start to braid it. It's silky between his fingers, and makes him feel special, somehow, that the Hanguang Jun who is so picky about letting people touch him, is curled up with his head in Wei Wuxian's lap.

It pulls at his heartstrings to hear Lan Zhan ask so earnestly. Even if they both know he's not the Wei Wuxian this Lan Zhan is waiting for, he wishes he could give him a comforting answer, say that he's not going anywhere. Unfortunately, he knew just as well that it would be an empty promise.

"I'll stay as long as I can," he assures with a soft laugh, "even if you fall asleep on me, okay?"

"Mn. Stay. Stay with you." He remains where he is on his lap, still depressed, however not as heavy as before. Wei Ying is tying his hair in a braid, forming plaited patterns, so he looks happy at least, that his long black hair is getting one. It surprises him because he would have thought Wei Ying wouldn't be so thoughtful to fix his hair, but here he is, braiding his hair.

Empty promise or not, this Wei Ying has his own merits. "I won't fall asleep. I'll let Wei Ying go when he needs too."

He waited until his braid is all done and finished. "My hair. Is it all done...?"

"You wanna stay up late with Wei-gege, hm?"

He'd really only thought to play with his hair, something for his idle hands to do that was safer than reaching out to poke at Lan Zhan's cheeks, try to tickle his chin, or play with this headband. It's a rather messy braid when he's done, and he searches around for something to tie it with, coming up empty handed. Finally, he tugs his red ribbon loose, giving the end of Lan Zhan's braid a big loopy bow. He sets it over Lan Zhan's shoulder for inspection.

"Mm, see? Very pretty," he assures, even if he's out of practice at it, "do you want to try?"

"Mn. I want...stay up late..." He said, voice slurred, eyes look distant, almost dreamy as he curled up comfortably on his lap. Part of his imaginative mind thinks he's a rabbit and had wandered to a field in the backyard of his jingshi far, far, far away back home.

Drunkenly he rose up to sit up, swaying a little. "Try? What has Wei Ying done? Your red ribbon..." He frowns and he undid his red ribbon, and completely undo his work, his braid unravels.

He looks unhappy as he holds his red ribbon in his hand and he gives it back to him. If anything, he's pouting, almost childish. "Your red ribbon. Tie it back. I want Wei Ying back..." He whispers.

Drunken Lan Zhan was so much like a child, it was equal parts amusing and endearing. How many times had A-Yuan wanted to stay up late, only to end up falling asleep on his lap moments later? Rather than an impromptu nap though, he was surprised to see Lan Zhan sit back up again, apparently upset about the ribbon.

"Hey, hey, I'm still here," he pats Lan Zhan's hand a couple times as he tries to hand the ribbon back.

"Can you help me tie it?" he asks, turning slightly so his back is toward Lan Zhan. He looks over his shoulder, holding out the ribbon.

Lan Zhan feels insecure that Wei Ying may disappear anytime from him, that he doesn't want this one to disappear too. Seeing he is still here physically with him.

"Tie it..." The moment Wei Ying turns around, and with the ribbon in hand, he clumsily gather his long hair together. "Wei Ying has long hair." With the red ribbon, he ties the ribbon around his hair into a ponytail and then tie his ribbon securely in a knot.

"Wei Ying has a ponytail. Wei Ying is Wei Ying now." He murmured with approval and finally happy with the result.

Then slowly he wraps his arms around him and placed his chin on his shoulder, planting his face there, wanting the close contact of hugging him softly.

He's curious to see how Lan Zhan will fair, with drunken hands instead of his usual dexterous fingers. If the way the drawings began to degrade into scribbles is any indication, he'll be lucky if Lan Wangji can tie a knot at all.

"I think Lan Zhan's hair is longer than mine," he laughs, but allows him to pull it up into a messy ponytail. Ah, this is the style his other self wears it in, isn't it? He's glad his back is turned, as a look of concern briefly crosses his features. If he can help comfort Lan Zhan, even for a little while, it's fine, isn't it?

The hug is unexpected, the heavy weight of Lan Zhan's head on his shoulder even more so, but he puts on a smile and reaches up to pat his head again. He wears a soft smile and wonders just how much Lan Zhan will even remember of this after.

"Yeah? You fixed it, good, good. Does it look pretty?"

"Mn." He looks happy for tying up Wei Ying's hair in a ponytail. "Wei Ying has a ponytail." He manages to smile. He almost looks exactly like his own Wei Ying.

But inwardly Lan Zhan is still inconsolable. He holds onto Wei Ying in his arms for as long as he could, the anxiety of alone somewhat lessening. "It's pretty." He murmured. "Looks good on you."

However, in the back of his mind, his thoughts scolds him. That this Wei Ying isn't his. It's not the same, he knew this Wei Ying is different and it's that difference that he also fell for and is attracted also, his heart turns to him like a magnet for warmth. But just for once, a hug to feel him warm and solid, just to feel him real.

Very slowly he lets him go. He just needs that and nothing more. "Thank you, Wei Ying. I was feeling sad, but there isn't anything you could do."

He gives him a quick kiss on the cheek. Because he wanted to kiss him, but not overstep his boundaries. In slow, lethargic movements, he gathers their drawings and collects them.

"Ah... must be because you did such a good job tying it."

Even if it's just Lan Zhan's drunk rambling, he can't help flushing, a heat rising in his cheeks and neck. He'd mostly meant to tease, to keep up their play, not take advantage of Lan Zhan's affection for the other Wei Wuxian. It's a hard thing to reconcile, they're so close to the same, so similar in memory and experience, and...

It pulls at his heart to hear Lan Zhan sound so defeated. There's nothing he can do? Right, after all, he's just a place holder. He can only hope his soul-twin returns soon. It hurts to see Lan Zhan pained like this.

"Ah... mm," his blush only spreads after the kiss, even chaste as it is.

"Sorry I'm not the one you want, Lan Zhan, but..." he swallows, "but it'll be okay. Remember that, alright?"

One could only hope either the soul-twin returns or they both go home if the hotel is done playing their games, but the game is far from over.

Lan Wangji gathered up the drawings in his arms. "I'll put up our drawings up on my wall." Then turning to him, he managed to smile, albeit forced, which is uncharacteristic of him. "Between you and me, never say sorry." He holds him with such a high regard. "I'll try my best Wei Ying. And...I appreciate you. Very much."

For him, to exchange even a glance with him. "In another life, I'll happily give up my lifetime for you." He meant that.

Once he gathered their drawings and collected the pencils to be taken back to his room. "I shall be heading back to my room now. You have a good-night."

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The return

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