(no subject)

[alongfallfromgrace]

If someone had told a much younger Wei Wuxian that his main concern for a day of work would be to work out what sort of building material he'd need to create a plot of land that retains enough water to grow, but not so much as to drown young lotus plants...

Well.

He'd ask why you weren't sharing what was obviously some wonderful liquor with him.

But that has been his task of the day. It is, of course, impossible to grow lotus so far from the Yunmeng, but he's gone and promised he can do such a thing. So now there must be lotus here at the Burial Mounds, whether it can be done or not.

One of these days he will learn to stop being so rash.

Not any day soon, however.

Wei Wuxian's 'rooms', such as they are, at the Demon Subdue Palace are in even more disarray than usual, his notes and few acquired books scattered in a mad pile as he tries to conglomerate everything he knows about lotus seeds and plants into a usable whole.

Comments

[alongfallfromgrace]

Wei Wuxian huffs, crestfallen. Betrayed again! If nothing else, he has to succeed in this whole 'growing lotus' lark to escape from the clutches of radishes for every meal.

"Interesting herbs?" He echos, sounding... less than enthused. That's not nearly so welcome as potatoes.

[herb_and_needle]

Qing smiles and reaches out to grasp Ning's shoulder.

"Well done, A-Ning. I am happy you have done so." See both boys so crestfallen almost makes her laugh but she retains her composure. "Let me see these herbs. Perhaps they might make good companions to a small patch of potatoes."

See, she is flexible.

[undead_radish_seller]

Eagerly, Wen Ning brings out a little pouch from his basket. Inside, there are folded pieces of paper, each labelled with names and growing instructions and plant descriptions, all copied out in Wen Ning's small, neat characters. There are familiar names, and plants that she has probably never heard about.

"I can bring seed potatoes the next time!" he adds, now that she has relented on the issue. At least a little. Wen Ning likes all his favourite people to be content, and happy with him.

That reminds him.

"Where's A-Yuan?"

[alongfallfromgrace]

"Buried him in the radish field." Wei Wuxian declares, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Actually he set off a little talisman to release a golden butterfly for him to chase, to give poor Madam Wen a few moments of peace.

"I'll go water him later."

He is actually very curious about the herbs, but having already declared their inferiority to potatoes, he has to hold his ground.

[herb_and_needle]

Qing scowls at Wei Wuxian after taking the paper packets from A-Ning. Why does Wei Wuxian always seem to turn the mood sour?

"I better go and unbury him then. Once he is unearthed, should I send him this way?"

[undead_radish_seller]

"Yes," Wen Ning says. "I brought a few sweets for him, too."

It's fun, giving the people he likes things that will make them happy. He's glad he can do that again, thanks to the strange place he has found.

[alongfallfromgrace]

And yet, no one will bring him potatoes. Alas. Wei Wuxian salutes Wen Qing's retreating back with a wave, wondering if she'll like the butterfly too. It's quite good work, if he does say so himself.

"Sweets? You must have been very effective at selling radishes today, then."

[undead_radish_seller]

"I had a lucky streak," Wen Ning declares.

Now that they're alone, he brings out his special gift for Wei-gongzi: the small brown jug with the red cloth tied around the stopper, and the red label that says WATER OF LIFE.

"I got this from a travelling trader," he claims. "It's all for you, Wei-gongzi!"

[alongfallfromgrace]

"A travelling trader? How much did he charge? Probably a scoundrel." Wei Wuxian frets, but he rises to come take the jar anyway.

"Water of Life?" He asks, fingers tracing over the inscription. "Well, at least they're lyrical."

[undead_radish_seller]

"I hope you like it," Wen Ning says, secretly also hoping it's not too strange. "I tried a little of it. It was very tasty."

[alongfallfromgrace]

"Oh, yes yes, I'm sure it's fine. It's definitely the best I have here." He assures Wen Ning hurriedly. He does actually appreciate the gift - he doesn't get them very often. He uncorks the jar and sniffs, experimentally.

"I do not know that smell - congratulations, Wen Ning, I did not think there was a liquor made I did not at least have some knowledge of. Almost... smoky?"

Well, nothing for it - time to give it a try.

...

Oh, this is... this is actually very good.

[undead_radish_seller]

"You like it, Wei-gongzi?" Wen Ning says, quite eager. "People make liquor from all sorts of things. Very inventive when it comes to drink."

[alongfallfromgrace]

"It is very good, an excellent drink." Wei Wuxian assures him, "Thank you - warm and smokey like a good fire, with notes of sweetness like the first kiss of a lover."

Even a mystery one.

Eh. Best to forget it. He will make do with the liquor instead.

[undead_radish_seller]

That's when there is the sound of fast little steps from outside, and A-Yuan storms into the cave.

"Ning-gege, you're back!"

He tackles Wen Ning from behind and hugs his leg. "You brought nice things! Xian-gege has a bottle!"

Wen Ning laughs. "Yes, I have sweets for you, too, little radish!"

[alongfallfromgrace]

Now, a few years ago, in an more innocent time, Wei Wuxian would have just enjoyed seeing A-Yuan light up with anticipation and thought no more of it. He had a vague idea of what things cost, and at what price point costs would become a concern, but other than that, he paid it very little mind. It was a privilege, he knew, but one that came with his life.

But he's had to fend for himself and others for a while now. The cost concerns of balancing what they can bring in from their crops versus what what they need to survive out here is an equation he knows quite well by now.

Things aren't adding up.

Wei Wuxian subsides behind his glorified 'table', still unwilling to raise his concerns in front of A-Yuan, but ready to pounce the moment the child is out of earshot. He doesn't blame Wen Ning - frankly, it's more than a minor miracle the man can go into town alone, but maybe he gave him too large a burden.

[undead_radish_seller]

Wen Ning brings out a paper bag, rather larger than one would expect, opens it, and lets A-Yuan chose something from it. The thing he picks is odd, striped in black and white, but the little fellow makes a beatific face as he takes a bite.

"Is it not hush any more? Can I give Xian-gege a piece?" he asks, and before Wen Ning can answer, he grabs the bag, pulls out another black-and-white thing, runs at Wei Wuxian to try and shove the sweet directly into his face, then runs out, giggling, with the bag in his hand.

"He'll share with everybody," Wen Ning chuckles, turning to see him go. "Good thing I have more. They were made by a baker I met in town, Jiangguang-guniang, the Lady Sunshine. She is very good at what she does."

[alongfallfromgrace]

"It does seem so." Wei Wuxian agrees, keeping his voice mild, though alarm is mounting. This is no small store of treats - this is expertly made, with finely-milled flour, as good as a fair-day cake.

He cannot fault Wen Ning for his kindness, but... with what this must have cost, they may be at risk of starving.

Still, gentle, gentle, he just needs to find out what the damage is, and then never repeat his mistake. He can manage without food for a while - oh Lan Wangji, what would you say about the crooked tricks he's about to pull? Worth it, it will still be worth it, but the scolding would be fierce, Wei Wuxian is sure.

"Wen Ning... did you bring anything else home today?" He asks, carefully.

[undead_radish_seller]

"Rice," Wen Ning declares proudly, "vegetables, chili oil, everything on jiejie's list, potatoes for eating, Fourth Uncle's starter cultures, and money."

Proudly, he presents his basket with several tidy qiankun bags.

[alongfallfromgrace]

... What?

That... is not at all what he expected. or a long moment his panic simmers down, back to the low-level anxiety that haunts his steps.

...

So.

How does the first conscious fierce corpse ever manage such a trick?

"Just how much did you charge for those radishes?" He asks, incredulously. And what idiot bought them, anyway?

[undead_radish_seller]

"They were happy to pay me so well, and really liked our radishes," Wen Ning says proudly. "And the sweets, I got in exchange for radishes, too. She likes to cook, not just bake."

He is the best radish seller, and hopes that Wei-gongzi will praise him for the bounty he brought back.

That's much better than keeping everything about that place a secret from all except little A-Yuan.

[alongfallfromgrace]

... Someone traded cakes for radishes. Good grief.

Wei Wuxian has made it into a personal crusade to defend those who need it, but that sort of thing can just go defend itself. He's not to blame for other people's financial mistakes.

"Well then, very well done." No one has died, no one was forced, and the radishes are gone? He has absolutely nothing to complain about. "Thank you, for the Water of Life. I think you will just have to do our buying and selling from now on, you're clearly gifted."

[undead_radish_seller]

Wen Ning beams at him.

"The people were all so very kind to me..." he says.

Pause.

"It wasn't in Yiling, though. People in Yiling probably are still mean and fake as always."

Just so Wei-gongzi doesn't get any wrong ideas and goes looking for the Lady Sunshine in Yiling. He won't say more now, really not.

[alongfallfromgrace]

Alarm bells ring again, more strident than before. Starvation is an unfortunately close companion out here - giving the major clans a reason to invade their peace is something else entirely.

"Wen Ning... where did you go?" It's not an idle question, or one that he intends to get less than a full reckoning over. This is important. If one of the major clans knew there was a fierce corpse wandering their territory, that would be more than enough excuse to come and burn everything down around their ears.

[undead_radish_seller]

"Oh, Wei-gongzi, you don't have to worry," Wen Ning says hurriedly. "Nobody can follow me from there, it's -- it's a place in a completely different realm that I found by accident wandering among the trees. It's -- I wasn't going to talk about it..." he adds, unhappily.

[alongfallfromgrace]

Wait, wait... what? A different realm hidden amongst the trees? Wei Wuxian finds himself on his feet, Chenqing in his hand (when did he pull it out of his belt? He does not remember, he'll have to be alarmed about that later). Every instinct he ever learned as a Cultivator is screaming that this could be a trap, could be dangerous, and beyond the mere level of life and death that he's been balancing these last few years.

"And now you will talk about, Wen Ning, I will need a full recounting - nothing left out." He demands firmly.

[undead_radish_seller]

"Wei-gongzi," Wen Ning says unhappily, "these people are very kind and helpful! I was going to Yiling to sell radishes some weeks ago when suddenly there were healthy trees in the wood" -- totally unheard of in the land around the Burial Mounds -- "and I came out at a lake where there was a tavern and a forge and a garden and cats and so many different strange people from many different realms, and the bar counter gave me lots of money for my radishes, and the Lady Sunshine gave me sweets, and there were people with different kinds of magic, and people from the land of Wa, and there were fish in the lake -- I forgot, I brought fish as well! That I caught in the lake there. And I sort of promised the man who gave me the whisky -- Water of life -- he was from the land of Wa as well and gave us all the rice, I said I'd bring little A-Yuan along with me the next time. May I? We can bring you all the chili oil you want."

[alongfallfromgrace]

Wei Wuxian rides out the first wave of terror - at this point, it's almost an old friend, that sudden moment of knowing that you've hit some tipping point and the world will not go back to its smooth path. Think, he has to think, what could this be? There is no natural path from the Burial Mounds to the land of Wa that one fierce corpse, no matter how gifted, could walk in the span of a day.

But the dead...

The dead could travel to another realm. Were supposed to, the drama always came when they did not, when they remained behind, resentful of the life they lost. Could a fierce corpse walk that path? Would the unnatural connection to the body bring him back? Would that mean this food originated in the realm of the dead?

What he wouldn't give for an hour let loose in the library at Gusu. He doesn't have the resources here to answer any of these questions.

But breathe, breathe, leash up again the energy that he knows is taking the opportunity to seethe free, focus.

Lan Qiren would be horrified, Wei Wuxian is sure, if he ever found out that the Lan techniques for mediation were such an important part of the Yiling Patriarch's control. Some day Wei Wuxian must find a way to tell him.

There. There.

He offers Wen Ning a smile he means as warm, but probably comes out much more limp than he'd like, before striding out of his cave. As he walks he bites into the edge of one finger, an old habit started in his youth when he'd always be leaving his cinnabar sticks behind, kept up now that he doesn't have the spiritual strength to power cinnabar anyway. Blood suits his uses now.

[undead_radish_seller]

Something is definitely wrong here!

"Wei-gongzi!" Wen Ning calls at his retreating back before hurrying after him. "Are you upset about it? Do you want me to try and take you there? Find your own chilies?"

[alongfallfromgrace]

Talisman magic - a cheap trick, perhaps, but still within his abilities - will have to do here. He can't stop and wish for other things, other people, that is useless.

Besides.

He's very good with talismans. Even if he is saying so himself.

As he walks, he scribbles out the pattern for protection on his palm with his own blood, as overt as he can make it, as clean as he can make it with the tools he has available.

A few dashing steps has him at the roof of the Demon Subdue Palace, where he can get a clear view of the four corners of their tiny realm. Just as well it is tiny today - he simply doesn't have the resources to defend a larger space. The motions to fling the protection talisman to the anchor points he'd long ago decided on in each cardinal direction are long-ingrained, the red flare of the sigils sharp as they snap into place.

He pauses to breathe, and watch the protection take hold, and focus on not toppling off to his death. That'd be embarrassing.

Finally he jumps down in a more controlled fashion, dusting off his hands.

"It's... it's fine, Wen Ning." It's not quite a lie, but not strictly the truth. He smiles anyway, clapping Wen Ning's shoulder. "But please, do not take the living among such paths."

[undead_radish_seller]

"The living?" Wen Ning says. "Oh no, it's not a place of the dead! These people are as alive as you or me -- no, wrong, they're as alive as jiejjie or little A-Yuan. Even the dead people are alive again in there."

Pause.

"But if you'd rather, I'll go alone again next time. And bring you seed potatoes. My friend from the land of Wa will understand that you'd rather not have me bring A-Yuan there."

He hopes.

[alongfallfromgrace]

"That's good." Wei Wuxian sighs, rueful, "I don't know what else we'd have here to appease him."

It's not exactly a land brimming over with milk and honey, after all.

Still. No real harm done, he supposes.

"Still, I should go play Requiescat, to keep the peace."

And just try not to think about how the last time he played it, it was as a duet.

[undead_radish_seller]

"Here, or there?"

There is nothing to lay to rest, here, except the usual resentful energy, of course.

[alongfallfromgrace]

Wei Wuxian laughs, short and rueful.

"I'm not quite ready to walk those paths, Wen Ning." He does not fear death, but he is not actively courting it either, despite what anyone might say. "Go, you should make sure A-Yuan hasn't stuffed himself silly with those treats."

[undead_radish_seller]

"He's probably tried to give the rest away to the aunties and uncles," Wen Ning says, shaking his head. "He wants to make sure everybody is happy."

Pause.

"I could cook for everybody tonight? There is enough fish for once. And hot sauce for you if you find the fish too tame?"

Then everybody can be happy for once, and Wei-gongzi will see all the good coming from that strange place, and hopefully worry less.

[alongfallfromgrace]

"Aaaah, yes, that would be good, thank you." At this point there's precious little reason to bother trying to stop anyone from eating food from this mysterious place - it can hardly be less troublesome than food grown from a land full of corpses. Besides, the damage is done - what good will worrying do?

"Let me know when it is ready?"

[undead_radish_seller]

"Oh yes, I will," Wen Ning promises. "I'll go right ahead, after I try and separate A-Yuan from the rest of his Killer Zebras and Chocoholias."

The last is just a meaningless sound, reproduced as well as he can.

"That's what she calls her sweets."

[alongfallfromgrace]

Wei Wuxian chokes on air, spinning back to grab Wen Ning's robes.

"Killer?" He demands, harshly.

[undead_radish_seller]

"It's a joke!" Wen Ning yelps. "The name is a joke! Wei-gongzi! It's just black and white sweets!"

[alongfallfromgrace]

After a long, assessing stare, Wei Wuxian nods, and releases Wen Ning with an almost apologetic pat. Almost. His heart is still hammering away in his chest like it is trying to escape - he'll manage a better apology later.

"A poor joke." Wei Wuxian agrees, taking a step back. "And one that does not bear repeating."

[undead_radish_seller]

Wen Ning almost argues that it's not his fault what the Lady Sunshine names her sweets, but he thinks the better of it before the first word leaves his mouth. Wei-gongzi is upset enough as it is.

"Erm, I'll go and cook, then," he says instead.

[alongfallfromgrace]

"Yes." Wei Wuxian is glad the point isn't argued - names have power, if not the grand dramatic power of many things in their world. "Give me a shout when there's supper." He gives Chenqing a spin, the red tassel whipping around in a whirl.

[undead_radish_seller]

"I will," Wen Ning says, nodding briefly instead of bowing, and then he hurries off without naming any more names, powerful or otherwise.

That went -- moderately -- well.

[alongfallfromgrace]

It isn't long before the first haunting notes of Requiescat soar out over the compound, echoing from the perch Wei Wuxian has found. Maybe it's a bit over-protective, but...

Nothing wrong with a little over-abundance of caution.