(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]

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.