This is Halloween!

[we_bring_hell]

The Bar loves her holidays, but she is also capable of respecting religious strictures. That's why she put a lot of thought into finding a Halloween costume for Harrow that works with her face paint and general insistence on the monochromatic.

Harrow, for her part, is baffled by the white-pinstriped black suit and the oversized bow, but the gloves are very cool, and the buckled shoes suit as well. She has no idea what's going on but she can live with this.

The Bar seems even more unusually populated than usual, and there are a lot of gourds around. Hm.

Comments

[we_do_bones]

"Lan Wangji!" she says, surprised and touched. "That's a...yeah. Yeah. Fuck, sure, I'll try it."

The only thing she's ever been good at is learning to fight. And if there's a chance she can learn a new trick...?

"Either way, I need all the practice and training I can get."

[lightamidchaos]

He nods.

"Then we will."

Carefully, he settles the white wings against his back.

"... once this event has passed."

[we_do_bones]

"Yeah," she agrees. "Good call. Who knows what else this place will trot out?"

Not her. She only knows enough to be sure there's no way she can brace for it.

[lightamidchaos]

"Mn."

He sounds resigned, but not upset about it.

[we_do_bones]

"How've you been aside from, uh..."

She gestures at the wings, then winks at him. "I heard you and Wei Wuxian are a thing. Nice."

What? She can appreciate how cute Wei Wuxian is, even if he's not her preferred gender.

[lightamidchaos]

The faintest of smiles touches his lips, but for Lan Wangji, it is the equivalent of a beaming grin.

"Yes."

Without any sign of hesitation or embarrassment, he adds,

"Very nice indeed."

(Were Wei Ying to witness this, he would undoubtedly accuse Lan Wangji of shamelessness. He would not be wrong.)

"I hear you have also recently found such happiness."

[we_do_bones]

It's cute. It reminds her of how Magnus and Abigail smiled at each other, like they still couldn't believe how they managed to luck out.

Is that how she feels about Harrow, and everything they are to each other? She does a quick and dirty search of her feelings, can't find anything she can easily describe, and gives up. Happiness, she thinks, is maybe not the right word. It doesn't fit this fierceness, the devotion, the way if Harrow broke something Gideon thinks she would be the one feeling the pain. There isn't anything easy about loving Harrow, just like there's nothing easy about hefting her sword. It's just something she does now, like instinct.

It's like loving herself – it doesn't always make her happy, but it always makes her more than she could be otherwise. "Cat's out of the bag," is what she says, light.

"Not even the Reverend Daughter can resist all this, I guess. I was just born too attractive."

[lightamidchaos]

Without missing a beat:

"It is the curse you must carry."

[we_do_bones]

"We all have our struggles," she says, pseudo-philosophically in that particular way that always makes Harrow roll her eyes.

(And, occasionally, trip her up with a passing skeleton.)

"Now we just gotta hook Ingress up. Know any cute singles?"

She does, but they're all either obnoxious or dying.

[lightamidchaos]

"Not here."

Which, of course, is not a 'no.'

[we_do_bones]

"Yeah, me neither. I guess I really only know you three."

And Moiraine and Tom, but also, not really?

But thinking about cute single people that she knows makes her think about Dulcinea, and that makes her feel really weird, so she hops away from the thought with a quickness.

Three is still more people than she's ever cared to know before Canaan House, though. She turns to glance over the crowd. "Pretty good pickings tonight, anyhow."

[lightamidchaos]

He does not think it prudent to mention whatever brief connection had existed between Harrow and Ingress. Not only does he not know the extent of it, but there is no need to have anyone drinking vinegar, not now, when it is so clearly unnecessary.

(Due to timeline manipulation, the narrative regrets that he has not yet seen Ingress's costume and so cannot remark on it. Alas.)

"Mn."

Somehow, despite only being a single syllable, it sounds dry.

"This event is certainly popular."

[we_do_bones]

(It is truly tragic they have neither of them seen Ingress in her costume yet, but good in the sense that Gideon's eyes haven't rolled right out of her head.)

"I guess people like dressing up in costumes," she hazards, though she doesn't really understand why. What's the point? To do things you'd otherwise never do? Just fucking do them without all the fuss and stop worrying about it.

...is what Gideon would say if anyone asked her opinion.

Also, this feels like something the Third or Fifth would do, and while Gideon has fond memories of two of the Fifth, the Third can fall straight into the heart of Dominicus for all she cares.

(Maybe except for Corona. Damn.) "Seems like a lot of fuss for a bunch of people who already spend all their time together."

[lightamidchaos]

"I suppose."

Absently, he fiddles with the cuff of his shirt and the soft blue sweater over it, which are so much more tight-fitting than the sleeves of his robes.

"I never particularly liked banquets and festivals."

Too loud, too many people, too much in all too many ways.

"This is strange. But not ... bad."

[we_do_bones]

It isn't actually more people than the whole of the Ninth, but it feels as though it is, with them all crowded in here together, and she nods in understanding.

When you come from a place with more skeletons than living bodies, a room this packed feels claustrophobic. "We could get some air, if you want."

[lightamidchaos]

"I would like that. If you do not mind."

It has not escaped him that she offered to keep him company, rather than sending him away alone, and he finds himself strangely charmed by that.

[we_do_bones]

Strangely charming is Gideon's bread and butter, honestly.

She makes for the door to the outside, pushing her way through the crowd as best she can, until a brainwave strikes. "Here, you go first –"

She maneuvers Lan Wangji in front of her and says: "Spread those wings, man! Let's make some room."

[lightamidchaos]

He gives her a very startled look over his shoulder as she pushes him forward, but quickly realizes what she's suggesting.

He concentrates for a moment, and both white wings sweep up and out, curving softly forward, white feathers bright in the light of the inn.

It draws some stares, certainly; but as he starts to move toward the door, people clear the space in front of them.

[we_do_bones]

It's a time-tested strategy from the ancient Dragon Conventions of ages past, and it works a treat here: Bar partons wishing to keep their eyes move themselves aside and Gideon and Lan Wangji reach the door much more quickly than would otherwise have been possible.

"Nicely done," she grins, and holds the door open for him. "After you."

[lightamidchaos]

He lowers his wings, holding them tightly to his back, and steps outside.

"It was a good idea."

It is much quieter out here, and he takes a deep breath.

[we_do_bones]

It is pretty nice. The air is crisp and cool and there are clouds scudding across the sky. It took Gideon a while to get used to actual sky and weather at Canaan House, but now she can just relax and enjoy them.

"When we got to the First," she says, after a moment's silence, "Harrow made me pretend I had a vow of silence. She told me I wasn't allowed to talk to anyone. It annoyed me at the time, but I did it."

She leans her head back, looks up at the stars. "Here, she told me I could. But half the time I don't know what to say, you know? And when I'm around that many people... Sometimes I wish she'd told me to keep my mouth shut here, too."

[lightamidchaos]

He nods.

"'Do not use frivolous words' is one of the rules of Gusu Lan," he says, after a moment.

"I... speak less than most. It is -- difficult, sometimes."

[we_do_bones]

All of Gideon's words are frivolous, usually, so she would probably have to keep her mouth shut there, too.

"Is Gusu Lan where you're from?" she asks, instead of saying so, proving that she can focus when she wants to. "What's it like?"

Other than...quiet.

[lightamidchaos]

"It is my sect," he explains. "Lan is the family name, and Gusu the location. My home is the Cloud Recesses. It sits high on a mountain in Gusu."

He looks out at the lake, watching the moonlight on the water.

"It is beautiful there," he says, after a moment. "Clear mountain streams and mist in the trees; crisp air and snow in winter, flowers and green in summer."

He pauses, and slants a glance at her to see if he should go on.

[we_do_bones]

"Sounds nice," says Gideon, encouragingly in response to his glance. This is by far the most she's ever gotten out of Lan Wangji and she's not stopping now!