angryhearts | that the blood you bleed; open

WHO: Lan Xichen + open

WHAT: event aftermath, dealing with having a temporary ceramic arm, and possible info sharing around it

WHEN: running from the end of the camping event through now

WHERE: the gym, the hotel lobby, the guest level, his room

NOTES: likely discussion of violence, limb loss, and nonconsensual medical procedures - I'll match either brackets or prose in replies!

When they'd been told that those injured would be taken away for medical attention, Lan Xichen had anticipated that may not mean anything good. He hadn't expected... this. After waking up in his quarters back at the hotel, there'd been very little pain. That alone would have been something of a marvel, considering the fact that within the last day his left arm had been completely torn off and replaced with one made of ceramic, but then there is the ceramic arm itself.

He can't figure out how it's attached. He can feel its weight, a solid presence that feels every bit like an arm should - except that it is completely nonresponsive. Even if its joints were articulated, he couldn't get it to move at all. It is... disconcerting, in a way he has no words to express, how it feels simultaneously as though he has no arm at all and one that is completely foreign.

In an attempt to learn more, he can be found in the gym - not making use of the equipment, but standing in front of one of the mirrors in the changing area or the dance studio. He is dressed, for the most part, in a long blue skirt and a long-sleeved blue overcoat, but the coat itself is loose, and currently pulled down enough on the left side to completely expose his shoulder and the upper part of the ceramic arm. His fingers smooth over the lines where it's joined to his skin, gaze split between the arm itself and its reflection in the mirror. His focus is intent enough that it may take him a moment to realize someone else has come into the room, but when he does he'll pull the fabric somewhat awkwardly back up over his shoulder.

"My apologies. I needed a reflective surface larger than what is available in my room."

He may also be found in the hotel lobby, walking among the shops set up by the traveling merchants. His long sleeves hide the ceramic arm, but it's still tucked immobile at his side as he walks. The claim of the spiritual properties of the items for sale is certainly not unheard of for him - but neither is the knowledge that claims such as these are not always truthful, and he has no access to his own spiritual power to be able to test it.

Still, he is curious, and when he spots someone else looking, he approaches them.

"Have you purchased anything?"

Or maybe he's in the hallway of the guest rooms, making his way back to his room with a tray of food balanced in one arm. Something jostles him - stepping out of the way of an opening door, perhaps, or moving to the side to accommodate a staff member or another guest - and he adjusts instinctively, intending to bring up his other arm to steady his load.

Only, of course, he cannot, and he realizes it too late to completely correct the imbalance. The tray doesn't quite slip from his grasp, but one or two dishes tumble from it before he can catch them.

At any time, for those who might go looking for him, he can be found in his room, both during the week that he has the ceramic arm and the time shortly after, when he wakes up in his room to find a flesh and bone replacement in its stead. He has taken to leaving his door unlocked when he's in the room, so he doesn't need to get up from his meditations to open it, and should anyone knock he'll call for them to enter.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Early in the morning, Lan Wangji make use of the gym by keeping himself fit and in shape. He lifts weights, does push-ups, works out on the cardio equipment. He never bothers using the mirror every time he make use of the gym.

When his brother enters the gym, he said nothing at first. But he felt a tremble of emotion to see his arm replacement. Ceramic and smooth, and made in every likeness of a real arm.

"Xiong-zhang? No apologies were necessary. But brother...your arm. It's..." Made of ceramic, he observes and examines upon a closer look. Keeping his expression stony, tone soft. "What happened?"

He reaches for his coat that is slipping loosely down his shoulder and pulls it upward so the sleeve will fit over his ceramic arm and shoulder to give it adequate cover.

"Wangji." There is both relief and the barest hint of regret in his voice. He hadn't wished to make his brother worry, but at the same time, Wangji is one of the very few people who he would trust to see him more vulnerable.

As such, he doesn't flinch away from Wangji's touch when he pulls the fabric over his shoulder.

"After I was injured fighting one of the creatures in the woods, I woke up in my quarters like this. It is, apparently, what is considered medical attention in this place. I am told that it's only temporary."

Somehow, he knew his brother is always filled with regrets. There's always an emotional fragility and vulnerability within. Foreseeing the sect together and being seen as the leader and twin jades of the Gusu Lan Sect.

He made sure the sleeve and coat cover his arm and shoulder completely. He took a seat and sit by his side.

"I fought a creature, but we're running out of arrows, so I ran away. They're too dangerous. If only I knew, I would come to your side, but..." He sighs in relief. "I'm glad you're all right."

He wish he could do more to save him, but now he is filled with so much regrets for not being able to protect him and it's too late.

At hearing that, Lan Xichen looks more assessingly at his brother, scanning for any sign of injury. Wangji seems to be all right, but he has to make sure.

He can't help but smile, just a tiny bit, when Wangji says he wishes he had been able to come to his side. It's true that perhaps they would have been able to fight it together, but - the creatures had been quick, and formidable. He would not want to see his brother hurt because of him.

"We both had to run, it seems. I would not want you to be hurt as well." He hesitates for the briefest moment before continuing. He has not spoken to this Wangji of Meng Yao, and it is a difficult subject to bring up, but to leave it there feels deceitful. "I received this protecting Meng Yao. I would not have asked that you do so as well."

There's no physical injury on him at the moment. Other than the old scars on his back as proof of his punishment when he goes against the sect rules.

"Still, whoever decides to save you. I'm not sure if I should give thanks or not." It was strange to him. He had thought everything in this place was set up against them, and yet his brother was still here.

He senses his hesitation, and he could feel his brother's wounds. He had seen Meng Yao at the campfire and he felt the snake doesn't deserve to live, not after what everything he has done.

At his brother's choices. "You did this all for him...?" That's hardly worth losing his brother over to the snake. He sighs. "I'm only glad you're all right and you returned."

He silently sat next to him for a long-time to feel a kinship with him. "Brother, when this is over. You must return home with them. Everyone."

"Meng Yao pulled me to safety, away from the creature." It is hardly the first time that he's saved Lan Xichen's life, but he is aware that it pales in comparison to crimes that Jin Guangyao had committed. This is not Jin Guangyao, but - he is also aware that he may be one of the few concerned with the distinction. "They called the one who gave me this Carpenter."

He is content to sit in silence after that, enjoying his brother's company. He looks over at him when he speaks. To anyone else, it would appear that Lan Xichen has no reaction to what he says - but to one who knows him better, the slight tensing of his mouth will give away that it is a somewhat painful subject.

He is aware as well, that he will return home. That all of his efforts here, every moment with Meng Yao, it will not be for him. It is for Meng Yao, that he might be happy when he returns to his own timeline. For that other world, that they may have a better future than Lan Xichen's past.

The mistakes he made are not ones that can be undone. He will return home to continue to face them, the deaths of his sworn brothers and countless others still on his shoulders. This may be a temporary reprieve, a place where he can set his mind to other things and try to do some good, but it will not wash the blood from his hands.

"What did Jin Guangyao do, in your world?"

"Meng Yao saved you." He tightens his lips in consideration and deep thought. He can see the pain in his expression and doesn't ask anymore. Silence means the mind is being still, visiting and recalling memories, and reflecting the value of pain and the lesson it brings.

While Lan Wangji meant is for his brother to return home with his soultwin and Wei Ying, back to their own timeline. By then, they have no memory that this accident will ever occur, and by then, would his arm be replaced and healed? He could only wonder.

At his question, how to answer it in a few words? "He was the leader of the Lanling Jin Sect. A very clever, but a ruthless politician. A sworn brother of my brother. Despite his ruthlessness, he did help rebuild Cloud Recesses. His ambitions and crimes know no limits."

There's a soft hum of acknowledgement, but he feels no need to expand on it. Meng Yao saved him, once again, as he had when Cloud Recesses was burning - so many years ago for Lan Xichen and so few months ago for Meng Yao.

Meng Yao who is not yet Jin Guangyao, and still there is no escaping how the two are intwined.

"In my world, his ambitions were often seen as crimes long before he had committed anything more than the supposed sin of his birth."

He doesn't intend to sound as though he is defending Jin Guangyao, except - he supposes he is, a little. He has spent so many years doing so, it seems it's difficult to maintain neutrality even when he is still angry and grieving over his betrayal.

The sound of his own voice angers him, briefly, for still holding softness, for still sounding the way he did when he would speak to Mingue in A-Yao's defense. The fingers of his remaining hand twist into the fabric of his overcoat to steady himself.

"You do not have to answer if you don't wish to discuss it, but - what crimes did he commit, that have lead you to hold your current opinion of him?"

Lan Wangji sighs, seeing his brother will side with him, holding his anger and distrust in check.

"He's a crafty politician, brother. He will kill for the sake of his own status and face in society. He tries to win his nephew over and has no trouble in an attempt to kill him, his own blood. He frames Wei Wuxian to cover up the murder of a sect leader. While he tries to win you over, he will bite you with his poison at the last breath just to save his own skin."

He warns him, and now that he knows Meng Yao is around, he's going to keep an eye out for his perchance of treachery.

"If he hurts you, I may not have my sword now, but I wouldn't hesitate to strangle a snake's head before he bares their treacherous fangs if he takes further advantage of you for his own gain."

that the blood you bleed; open

GYM

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