angryhearts | A Family Dinner

WHO: Wei Wuxians, Lan Wangjis, Lan Xichen, Jin Ling, Nie Huaisang

WHAT: An Untamed/MDZS Family Dinner

WHEN: Near Christmas

WHERE: Dining area

NOTES: None

It has been quiet around the hotel other then the fact that there is snow everywhere and the staff seems to be in a festive mood. After some discussions about holidays they discover that this is a time of the year when people gather with families and celebrate. So it was only natural that this large, unique, extended family should all come together and enjoy a meal together and reflect over their time in the hotel.

So the dining area has been decorated with red and gold and green, christmas trees are brightly lit around the room. Music plays softly over the speakers and a large buffet of food is out for all to enjoy. A fire crackles in the fireplace warming the room so that they snow has been melted away and won't make people want to rush back to the warmth of their rooms.mo

Come and enjoy the festivities, share gifts with one another, tell stories and simply enjoy the company and expectations for the coming year.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He waited very patiently to have a moment of alone time with him. Just a few moments out of anyone's sight, to give him his present.

He isn't sure if he deserved it and is worthy of a present from him. But first, in order, he wants to give him his present.

"Wei Ying, for you." It's a gift wrapped in red foil and ribbons and it's quite big and heavy as he hands him over his present.

With winter settling in and the cold making it unpleasant to leave the room without relying on the hotel's teas, it's been hard to get much done of late. He has a vague idea of the holiday and that gift-giving is a big part of it, so he'd poured much of his time into making and modifying various spells and even if he couldn't get all of them to work, hand-made gifts.

It's been a welcome distraction from his problems and the general melancholy of their imprisonment. Lan Wangji, of course, had been among them, and the chafe of their struggling friendship. It made his gift especially hard to pin down. Not sure where he stood, he was worried about giving anything too personal, or if he should give anything at all.

He hadn't expected Lan Wangji to be the one to approach him after their last abrupt meeting, so when he not only seeks him out, but hands him a large, heavy gift, he can't help blinking back at him in surprise.

"Oh- you didn't have to," he shakes it lightly, curious. What on earth was it?

With the heavy gift in hand, it's difficult to pull out his own, so he just holds it, looking back at Lan Wangji.

"Should I open it now?"

Lan Wangji didn't care much for any gift returned. It's peace he wanted, and reconciliation, and to make him smile again. He realized they're all imprisoned. But for Wei Ying, he doesn't want to make it more harder then it is than necessary.

If they're all going to imprisoned together for the rest of their lives. So be it. At least, he figured, he can die however many times he wanted protecting him and his honor until Queen's will is done. He has to be stronger to endure it.

"Mn. Open it."

Once Wei Ying unravels it, it's really a big black rabbit pillow with a red ribbon tied around it's floppy ears.

Unable to hide his curiosity, he tears into the package, and is met with an oversized black pillow. He picks it up, turning it this way and that til he figures out it's a big, black rabbit. The red ribbon really should've been a giveaway.

"Thanks, it's- it's cute," he can't help the fond, lopsided smile that appears as he looks up at Lan Wangji.

He tucks the oversized critter under one arm as he digs in his robes and finally offers a box just a little bigger than his palm. Inside is, well, it's a piece of paper, cut to look like a rabbit, but imbued with the same sort of spells he likes to use on his papermen. It will shiver to life when the box is opened, and moves with an almost life-like grace up and down one's arms if given the chance.

"I'm still trying to figure out how to make it last longer," he explains, "it's better than the early attempts. I'd give it two weeks, at least. Longer if you don't take it out of the box much."

Lan Wangji watches his reaction and expression once he receives the gift and realized what it is. Finally, he smiled. Considering from Lan Wangji's point of view, he thought he's blaming him and pointing fingers at his own death, for leaving him alone and he felt a crippling sense of his own weakness and shame even though he's pretty sure it was an accident.

He noticed the box and his expression lightens to see the paper rabbit and once imbued with his spiritual energy, it moves and hops to life. Perhaps the door to forgiveness has open? He could only hope.

"Your powers, have they returned back? Mine has returned, my ability to heal and play music. I remember you are practicing your paperman spells."

Much of his anger boiled down to frustration over their circumstances, confusion at what he wanted from their friendship, and his own guilt, worried he'd driven a wedge between the Lan Wangji and his other self. So, he'd done what he always did, push people away and retreat, put up walls.

Even so, this Lan Wangji kept reaching out, and it was so damn hard to ignore the issues when it kept hurting them both. He wasn't sure he dared let himself get close, but he didn't want Lan Wangji to think he hated him, or wished him ill.

"Not everything," he admits, "just talismans and spells, really. It's something, at least. I've been testing some spells, working on..."

He trails off, gesturing to the paper rabbit.

"Things like this, mostly."

In the end, he still loves him and he hides how much he cares. He loved him just as much. Their friendship means a lot to him, but after the wedding and marriage, he realized they made their choices. He was uncertain and doubtful at first as to whether it's the right choice, but now he has little to no doubt that the choice they both made is the right one.

Seeing Wei Ying's pain, confusion, and frustration deeply hurts him, and he tries his best to make amends and to show nothing is truly loss. Only a shift of priorities and perspectives.

"It's a good spell. You worked very hard on it. You should continue what you're working on. I'm proud of you. Someday, you will return home to your husband and..." He stops and halts, trying to shift his thoughts.

And then, seeing the obvious pain in his eyes, the walls he puts up to protect his obvious hurt, he finally noticed after holding himself back, and he sighs, wanting to surrender and help him let go of his guilt, whatever it is that bothers him and drove a wedge. "Wei Ying. I still care about you and I love you just as much as the other." And he figured he hurts him.

"A part of me and the moments we shared together, those memories belong to you, to us, and only to you. It just that after I died, I realized I love my Wei Ying because he's the one I go back home with. But that doesn't mean the love I have for you is diminished. Far from it. I treasure your kindness and your help, your quiet strength, and your heart. In some different life, I would have adore you and love you until the red in your ribbons faded and fall off, your black hanfu turn threadbare and thin, and in that love, the love I have for you is far greater than we have here now."

His expression softened, "It's an ideal and in such a life, a dream, I do belong to you and I understand you completely."

Spells and talismans were about the only thing he worked on lately. Things to help protect, to notify them of enemies, to draw enemies out, and to reach places that were blocked to them. So far, he'd had little luck, but it was one of the few things that kept him driven, if it would help in their escape, he'd do whatever he could. So he nods in thanks for the praise, but...

But the rest was a lot more complicated. The simple fact was Lan Wangji would always love Wei Wuxian, it seemed, no matter what world or time, and no matter how dense and stubborn Wei Wuxian could be. The hard part was here, where there really were other worlds and lives and versions of themselves, it was easy to let feelings of hurt and jealousy slip in.

He holds out the flat of his hand, to keep Lan Wangji at a distance, worried if there was anything more than words between them. His gaze is lowered; it's hard enough to hear those words of devotion without seeing Lan Wangji's face as well.

"In a different life, in a dream, that's where it has to stay," he says after a moment, shaking his head.

"You can't kiss me like I'm yours, or hold me like we belong together, it's- it's not fair."

It was only an offer. An idea. But it's more of releasing what he previously felt and now he felt empty, lighter perhaps. He changed, the distance growing by the day, his gaze downcast. He swallowed his humiliation and while a part of him want to fight for the death of this man, but he can see the pain he caused him so it's a hopeless cause.

Rather than to give into despair, there's a purpose to this. "I agreed. It's not fair." Finding difficulty to speak. "The gift is thank you for the help as a friend."

Then with resolve, "That's why I'm...it's time for us to go back home, so I hope your husband finds a safe way and your journey continues."

Quieter, releasing the pain, but for his own good, "I'll do the same and take my Wei Ying back home."

A Family Dinner

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