middaeg | [open] july catch-all

Entry tags:

[open] july catch-all

Who: wei wuxian, others, and you!
When: all through july
Where: around aefenglom
What: catch-all including quest and open and closed prompts
Warnings: none atm

doppelganger: (open)

[some people would say that two wei wuxians is two too many, but that's exactly how many are loose in the city right now.

one skips happily through the market, the smile on his lips normal for anyone who knows wei wuxian. but there's something a little more frantic about him. he goes from stall to stall, sampling whatever he wants despite the protest of the vendors. when he angers too many, he takes to the rooftops, finally settling on one. there, he takes out a homemade flute and starts to play it, to the total disregard of any living being's ears. the tune is squeaky and disjointed as if he only started playing the flute today.

the other wei wuxian (the real one) is not far behind, hurried for his own reasons. he's missing a small patch of fur from one ear, because a fight has already happened. right now he can only think of one thing:

he has to find the clone before the clone finds lan wangji. he reaches out for the arm of a passerby.]

This is going to be a weird question, but did I just come through here?

heatwave: (open)

a.
[wei wuxian has never minded the bright warm summers. but lotus pier never had heat like this. it was a bad time to try to start a lotus pond, inspired by his recently arrived family. instead of a pond full of the familiar flowers, all he has to show them is a pit of thick mud and dried up lotus sprouts.

but the mischief of the summer pixies doesn't end there. at one point, it gets so bad that he's swatting at them with his flute, while winged white rabbits fly small buckets of water up to put out the fires on his roof.]

A-Ning, go to the left! And you little...got you!

b.
[if you don't find him commanding his bunny army or hitting a pixie homerun, it's just as likely that you'll find a melted puca on the steps of his favorite bar, just waiting for it to open and quench his thirst. he barely musters up the energy to mumble a warning to anyone who comes close.]

Watch the ears...

wedding shopping: (closed to nie mingjue)

[nie mingjue and wei wuxian walk into a bar.

but first nie mingjue and wei wuxian walk into a fine china shop. it sounds like the real punchline, but here they are, walking alongside items that look like they could shatter if chifeng-zun so much as looked at them wrong.

wei wuxian picks up a tiny cup and raises his eyebrows at it. it's too small for even a swallow of alcohol. but they're not shopping for him anyway. gifts are essential to any honorable wedding. that's why the former yiling partriarch asked for help.]

Chifeng-zun, maybe we should look somewhere else.

[becuse he just saw the price on that tiny teacup, and it made his ears shiver.]

slumber party: (closed to lan wangji and jiang cheng)

[he never falls asleep before midnight, but wei wuxian doubts that he'll be sleeping at all tonight. he's hours away from his wedding, his emotions flickering from nervous to excited to calm. by this time tomorrow he and lan zhan will have made their vows and their bows, an ending that anyone with eyes saw coming.

he lies in bed, which has already been their bed, but will become their bed in an official manner. but just for tonight, they have to share it, completing a ritual that promises them a happy future together. (even if he's sure to already have that, as long as he's by lan wangji's side.]

Jiang Cheng...Jiang Cheng, are you asleep?

[if he was, he probably isn't now. being sandwiched between wangxian doesn't promise a very restful night.]

wildcard.

[anything else that your heart desires! just start us off or feel free to reach out to

legions for plotting.]

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[Chifeng-zun is definitely not the kind of man who can walk into a fine china shop and not have the wary eyes of the shopkeep on him. He's nearly 6'3" and not what anyone would consider delicate. Still, he moves with an odd sort of grace, and thankfully has left Baxia at home; miraculously he doesn't seem like he's going to trip into a shelf or something disastrous.

He even regards the different options with a critical eye. Nie Mingjue is not a man who generally appreciates art, but he knows the sorts of things his brother appreciates, and that pretty much shapes his tastes because he doesn't have any of his own.]

Stop looking at price tags. I told you I would handle it. [He peers at the cup in Wei Wuxian's hand, shakes his head and motions for him to put it back.] That one has a chip regardless, and the design is unimpressive. [The shopkeep looks a bit affronted at that. Nie Mingjue does not care.]

What about the set with the koi motif?

[Nope, there promised to not be a lot of sleeping this evening from anyone involved unless WangJi was somehow able to even without his partner directly by his side. And Jiang Cheng... of course, he had to "sleep" between the soon-to-be-married couple which was not the most restful since it wasn't his own and because he was between two others.

But he was trying to make the best of it if that were even possible.

Well, it would probably be harder than he thought since WuXian was trying to talk to him now. He kept his eyes closed as he answered]

Yes, of course I'm asleep. I happen to be sleep talking.

( don’t get him wrong. lan wangji is very fond of traditions, always striving to incorporate his society’s culture and ethics in his more open-minded, colorful way of thinking, but this takes the rice cake. jiang cheng, virgin extraordinaire, sandwiched between the witch and the monster. you don’t always realize the ridicule of a particular belief until it’s twisted in your face the way this is. how is jiang wanyin of all people going to bring them luck. or happiness for that matter, already well-established at the core of their relationship.

lan wangji doesn’t sleep. he doesn’t move, either, inert and breathing evenly by the window, save for the brief stutters every time either of them so much as blink. he’s blissfully elated. he’s also utterly annoyed, unable to touch his beloved (one night, it’s sheer torture), and having to endure his brother’s proximity, taking as little space as possible, elbow poking out and arm dropping every time he manages to zone out. it never lasts, and wei wuxian talks and jiang cheng answers, and lan wangji’s nostrils flare, staring wide-eyed in the dark of the room. ) Quiet. ( stop reminding him that this is happening. )

But I don't want to overdo it. What if Nie-xiong decides to get married in the near future?

[his brother will understandably want to give him the best, and wei wuxian doesn't want to be a drain on his finances. even sect leaders can find themselves strapped for cash here.

the cup looks perfect to him, so he's surprised when he runs his finger along the rim and finds that, sure enough, there's a small nick in the porcelain.]

Chifeng-zun has a good eye!

[now that he thinks about it, the nie clan did send a gift of fine pottery to the lans all those years ago. so wei wuxian nods eagerly at his suggestion.]

It's definitely... [what's the word here. graceful language escapes him most of the time.] Pretty?

[jiang cheng makes it clear that he's not in the mood for talking. lan wangji even goes so far as to tell him to be quiet.

so naturally wei wuxian keeps right on talking.]

Did you even try to find someone during all those years? Honestly, I'm not fond of matchmakers, but they might've at least been able to introduce you to more girls. I know you were busy with being a sect leader, plus helping to raise jin ling on the side-

[but maybe time wasn't the real issue. wei wuxian blinks up at the ceiling before rolling onto his side, facing the other two men.]

Do you even like girls?

Then I will truly be penniless by the end. [He says in a flat voice, the way he usually tends to make jokes, dry as they are. The idea of planning Huaisang's wedding would no doubt leave him feeling both elated and in a constant state of dread for his purse. A little more seriously,] Still, I hope he should be so lucky some day. I have had the feeling that the years since my passing left him isolated.

[A quiet snort.] I know a few things after all these years. [Choosing appropriate political gifts for other Sect Leaders and high-ranking people was one of his more hated duties, but he'd wanted to save himself public embarrassment, being such a young Sect Leader.]

The brush-strokes are well-formed and the porcelain itself looks sturdier. I have no eye for art, but it would be suitable, unless you wanted to choose a more meaningful design.

[Jiang Cheng doesn't like this any more than you do, WangJi. He had been perfectly content to just lay there and not move. But now WuXian is talking and being rather persistent about it.

And the more he poked, the more Jiang Cheng felt compelled to defend himself]

Of course I tried. Why wouldn't you think I tried? It's a lost cause now.

[Because matchmakers for female cultivators wouldn't even attempt to make the match with him anymore]

What kind of question is that and why are you asking it now?!

( oh. struck a nerve, jiang wanyin? lan wangji wasn’t really expecting either of them to actually shut up, but the conversation derails into questionable territory and there isn’t enough air in the room for him to sigh as deeply as he wishes he could. )

You lie here between two men, and you ask why? ( two men on the eve of their wedding! it’s okay to like boys. especially since your luck with women seems nonexistent. )

Practicality is probably important considering who we're giving it to.

[the set is sturdy but still elegant. that alone makes him think of lan zhan, and that makes him smile, the reflection of it clear in a silver platter that's on display.]

I think this is the one.

[wei wuxian's heart beats a little faster. it means he's one step closer to the honorable wedding that he'd hoped for.]

Chifeng-zun, if I asked you to pinch me, would you humor me?

Maybe for our world, but you're here now.

[it could be argued that the need for a heir also no longer exists. but wei wuxian thinks that getting married just for that reason would be a bad idea in the first place.]

You can try again, no restrictions. [because again, an heir isn't important.] So what if you're a cut-sleeve? You're free to follow your heart, the way I did.

[don't mind him, just gonna try to reach across the pillow above his brother's head to hold his betrothed's hand.]

[Riku doesn't think much of it when he sees Wei Wuxian rush past, a stall owner yelling in his wake. It's not his business to but into. Though he would have at least offered the man a greeting if he hadn't seemed to be in such a rush.

But it's quickly forgotten as the teen turns back to his task of shopping for needed household supplies, a reusable shopping bag looping over one arm. A couple of minutes pass before he feels a hand on his arm and turns to come face-to-face with Wei Wuxian.

Surprise fills his expression, but is quickly tempered by the man's question. Oh no. This is all too familiar.]

You did. But that...wasn't you, was it? [He sighs, hoisting the shopping bag further up his shoulder.] He went that way not too long ago. We should be able to catch up.

[He points in the direction leading out of the market.]

[He sighed. Yes, probably arguing with the wrong two about that question there, but still...]

I never said I was a cut-sleeve. If that's what you two like, that's your business.

[And currently his for one night... and every family dinner...

~~Boy, won't it be awkward if he ends up dating a guy...~~]

If you must know, I was blacklisted.

[And no one is surprised]

( lan wangji’s never seen himself as a cut-sleeve, even though technically, it’s what he is. if that’s what you two like, jiang cheng says, as if it weren’t plain as day already. and yet more than that... ) I like Wei Ying. No one else. ( and yes, “like” is definitely a bit of an understatement, but. don’t mind him as he reaches up to find wei wuxian’s hand, idle caresses of fingers as they slowly intertwine.

as for jiang cheng’s statement… if wei wuxian insists, since they’ve already mingled in matchmaking endeavors, he might be willing to indulge. maybe. but his brother-in-law better up his game. ) Perhaps you should lower your expectations, in order to match what you have to offer. ( sorry not sorry. )

I drank a potion-

[he feels like he barely needs to explain beyond that, and riku seems to understand already. wei wuxian looks in the direction that he points out, but doesn't bound immediately off after himself.

he looks at riku instead, a grin appearing from ear to rabbit ear.]

Ah, this brings back memories. At least we're the ones chasing this time!

[instead of being chased. wei wuxian nods firmly.]

Let's go. I'll take the right, maybe we can circle around on him!

And I only like my Lan Zhan. No one else could make me feel the way that he does, with the strength and endurance of ten cultivators.

[sorry jiang cheng, wei wuxian seems to have forgotten that you're there for a moment, a sugary smile and flirtatious look shot right across his brother's body.

but then he sits bolt upright.]

Blacklisted?? Jiang Cheng, what did you do! Lan Zhan, this is serious! At this rate, he'll be sleeping in the marriage bed with Jin Ling before his wedding! And then Jin Ling's son! And his-

[well you get the picture. the puca huffs.]

This is my fault. I would never have let it come to this if I'd been around.

[Mikasa hadn't meant to...Really. Well, she had meant to knock the pixie away.

She just hadn't put two and two together. So instead of knocking it to the ground. She'd just swung a fist at it, a strong right-hook that'd send a grown man flying off his feet back home. But a pixie was a lot smaller.

So she's still for a moment. Watching the little creature with it's sparking wings just...sailing off. Towards-]

MOVE!

[Hot potato coming through.]

[Oh great, here came the flowery love confessions. Well... WangJi's was easy enough to live with. WuXian's was more dramatic.

He still had his eyes closed in a futile attempt to sleep. If he hadn't been, he would have leveled his most withering stare at WangJi for that comment. So, he was going to imagine that he was doing it. Not that it would have done any good one way or the other. WangJi would have ignored it]

What did I do? You are going to ask that? [He's been obsessed with killing those who practice dark arts, had always had a bad temper with no one to keep it in check, and his nephew even took after him in a way. Did anyone think dating was going to go well for him?]

Wonderful confidence that you have in me, Wei WuXian. Thanks. Saying I'm going to be sleeping in Jin Ling's bed.

[He wouldn't do that... or at least he wouldn't admit that he could at that point.

Finally though, he opened one eye, turning to look at WuXian] Would you have? Really?

( aww. aren’t they just adorably gross. look, jiang cheng. you can’t blame his betrothed for his lack of confidence, or his fears rather, legitimate concerns when you’ve never been able to find a woman who would tolerate you. why should he think otherwise, when you’re the one lying between them now?

he refrains from saying anything. silence is gold, and all that, and it’s a conversation between long lost brothers, one he hopes will resume quickly. he gives wei wuxian’s hand a squeeze, shooting jiang cheng a mildly exasperated, slightly offended glance when dares to doubt wei wuxian’s word or will to indulge him. )

[the last of the tiny fires is out. wei wuxian wipes the sweat from his forehead, sleeves rolled up and robes hiked to get some air flowing to the bottom half of all four limbs.

when she shouts her warning, he turns his head her way, eyes growing wide at the flying ember. he flattens his ears, and the pixie barely clears the top of his head before crash landing into the ground.

it's probably not happy. it'll be even less happy about the bunny immediately dumping water on it.]

You have strong arms. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear you were a Lan.

You don't get blacklisted for nothing.

[especially not a sect leader. it had to have been something bad, and on more than one occasion.

he sighs and scoots closer, thankful to have lan zhan's hand in his. but it's also a reminder of the things that he wants his brother to find too.]

Of course. No one knows your moods better than me. Haven't we seen each other at our worst?

[brothers through thick and thin. wei wuxian hopes to get that back.]

I can't do anything about that now. [he lies back down again, but a sly grin, the likes of which both men probably recognize, crosses his lips.] But I can make sure that you don't make the same mistakes here. Jiang Cheng, I hope you're prepared for after the wedding!

[ at least she's used to places like alabasta, so the heatwave isn't that terrible... but that doesn't mean it's pleasant, either. drinking sounds like the perfect way to pass the time and stay cool, so nami is on the hunt for a bar, too — and when she finds one, it's not open... of course! ]

Ehh, do I have to find another one...?

[ and then she registers the lump there on the steps, and the warning. ]

Don't you look pathetic? [ she tilts her head, watching wei wuxian with half amusement, half sympathy. he kind of reminds her of chopper in hot climates right now... ]

I guess you don't like hot weather?

[He catches that smile, stifles a slight one of his own. It's good to see other people happy. Good to see Wei Wuxian happy, to know that Lan Wangji is happy with him too.] Then this will be the one. I'll arrange to have it delivered.

[Nie Mingjue reaches over and unceremoniously pinches his arm. A little hard. He's rough but that's how he shows he cares, just ask Huaisang.] It isn't a dream. [He says with a soft huff of a laugh, waving over the shopkeep and exchanging a few words.] It will be good to see you both finally married, and with family here for you besides.

You're right. You don't.

[He knows fully well why he was blacklisted. Was going to share that information? Nope, not at all. Surprising WuXian couldn't guess considering he has been attacked by Jiang Cheng several times and has seen his temper too many times]

Hmm... I can't say that anyone else would have.

[WuXian had seen him after his parents when he was pretty much ready to run off into oblivion to ignore the world. He had seen but never understand the problems WuXian had after returning from the Burial Mounds the first time.

He was quiet for a long moment as WuXian said WuXian said that he was going to make sure that didn't happen here. He turned to look at the ceiling as though he was ignoring him before he finally spoke]

I suppose I don't have much choice either way.

[It was his way of accepting it, acknowledging it was going to happen]

[Riku is already nodding as Wei Wuxian begins to explain.]

Yeah, I know. I did too. Things didn't go quite as planned.

[Which he's sure he doesn't have to clarify for the other man. Considering he's probably experiencing a version of the same thing now.

He's already moving in the direction of the doppelganger when Wei Wuxian's words bring him to a halt. His lips tug up into a small smile as he looks at the man over his shoulder.]

Hopefully this time can be solved with less violence.

[But if Wei Wuxian's doppelganger is anything like his own...that's wishful thinking.]

Alright. I'll go left then.

It opens in seven minutes.

[does wei wuxian know the operating hours of every bar in aefenglom? of course he does. the fact that he's dying on the steps of this particular one is actually high praise.]

Trust me, I feel worse than I look. [but he does, somehow, pull himself up into a sitting position, dark ears drooped so low that it's hard to tell them apart from his hair.] Summers were always hot on Lotus Pier. I never minded it then. It's all this stupid fur.

[he pulls at the front of his robe, fanning it to keep the material from sticking to it as much.

on the bright side...]

Six minutes.

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[open] july catch-all

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"Slumber" Party

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doppelganger;

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Heatwave a-ish

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b.

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