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

[acrookedpath]

"You did?"

Oh, no. Wei Wuxian stumbles to a halt, rounding on him in a burst of sudden worry. He grabs Lan Zhan's face in both hands. "Lan Zhan, are you all right? Do you feel okay?"

One tiny glass and Wei Wuxian feels as drunk as he did in London Above. Who knows how little it would take to affect Lan Zhan?

[lightamidchaos]

"I did not drink it," he reassures him, letting Wei Ying search his face without trying to pull away.

"I only tasted. You."

[acrookedpath]

He squints, muzzily, studying Lan Zhan a moment longer. "All right," he says at last, and pats him on the cheek before dropping his hands. "Good."

(Also, Wei Wuxian has dimly realized that Lan Zhan wouldn't have been able to hold him and Ingress upright if he were drunk as well. So... that's definitely good! Lovely, helpful, very much sober Lan Zhan. Good.)

"But it was excellent, wasn't it?" he goes on, the worry melting away as fast as it arrived. "I can't think of anything better. Not even Emperor's Smile. Which I can't believe I'm saying! But it's true, Lan Zhan, I almost wish it wasn't so strong so I could drink it more often."

[lightamidchaos]

"Special occasions."

He slides an arm and a wing around Wei Ying and resumes his patient attempt to move them toward the lake - or, more specifically - to the flat rocks near the shoreline.

[acrookedpath]

"I know, I know," he sighs. He lets Lan Zhan guide him along without complaint. "And I know if I try to make up special occasions just to drink more, you'll make faces at me. So I won't."

A beat.

"Well, I might, but I know I'll lose. Maybe! Maybe I'll just see how much of a face you make when I suggest something."

[lightamidchaos]

"Mn."

He helps Wei Ying sit on the rock, when they reach it. It surely cannot be any less comfortable than a rooftop.

[acrookedpath]

Indeed, Wei Wuxian thumps onto the rock with no indication that he will do anything but happily sit here for hours. As soon as Lan Zhan has joined him, he leans against him as if he were part of the rock formation itself, propping the heel of one boot on the stone as he tilts his face to the sky.

Above them, the moon gleams bright silver in the blackened sky, thin wisps of clouds refracting its light into ghostly streaks. He wraps one dark wing around Lan Zhan with a smile.

"What about when there's a full moon? Is that a special enough occasion?"

[lightamidchaos]

"Special," he agrees, looking at the way the moonlight shines from Wei Ying's hair and the black feathers of the wings he currently wears.

"But not enough."

[acrookedpath]

"What about..."

He draws out the words, idly kicking his free foot against the rock.

"If I figure out all the new constellas -- constel -- " Damn it. "Stars. Because they're not like home, did you see that? What if I figure out how to..." Oh, what's the word. "Go places, with them. Around here."

[lightamidchaos]

"It would be an accomplishment. Worthy of celebration."

Before Wei Ying can take that to mean agreement, however, he adds,

"However, since Wei Ying has figured out more difficult things, it is also not a special enough occasion."

[acrookedpath]

"Lan Zhan," he whines. "Lan-er-gege. Don't tease me like that! I thought you were going to agree with me. All right, fine, what else."

He snuggles closer to Lan Zhan.

"What if I clear half the talismans off my wall?"

[lightamidchaos]

He kisses Wei Ying's temple.

"Then you will have room for new ones."

[acrookedpath]

Briefly, he lets his eyes drift closed at the kiss, pleased.

"Mm. All the talismans, then. Every project done."

[lightamidchaos]

"Then you will have time for new projects, as well."

He sounds suspiciously amused, now.

[acrookedpath]

He grumbles. "Fine," he says, with all the sulkiness he can muster when he's still too content to hold back a smile. "But just wait. When I'm sober I'll think of plenty of better special occasions."

So there!

[lightamidchaos]

"I am sure you will."

He leans his head against Wei Ying's, and enjoys the peace of this moment between them.

[acrookedpath]

He laughs -- well, it is still closer to a giggle than not, considering his state -- and turns his attention back to the moon.

The Atlantean sits warm in his belly, sparkling along his meridians. In the dark, the lake rippling gently before them, he may as well be back at Lotus Pier, side by side with his zhiji. No pain behind them. No worries ahead.

"I'm happy," he says, softly wondering. "Truly happy, Lan Zhan. Not just content."

[lightamidchaos]

Unexpected joy leaps within him, and his arm tightens around Wei Ying.

"I am glad."

It is not enough, to say only that, but he cannot find any other words.

"So very glad."

[acrookedpath]

His smile grows. "I don't know if I would be, if you weren't here. You're..."

Wei Wuxian fumbles for the right words.

"My anchor. When I think too much. When it's too loud here." Clumsily, he taps his temple. "You've always been so calm."

[lightamidchaos]

He lays his hand along the side of Wei Ying’s face, his fingers resting lightly at his temple.

“You will never have to find out,” he promises.

“I am here. With you.”

[acrookedpath]

"Mm."

He turns his head toward Lan Zhan's hand, like a cat coaxing someone to scratch it behind its ears.

"Good." No louder. "It's nice not to think sometimes."

[lightamidchaos]

He runs his fingers gently into his hair, back from his face, then down behind his ears.

"I will remember," he murmurs. "For later."

[acrookedpath]

As they have both discovered, Wei Wuxian will reliably melt whenever Lan Zhan does this. It's even more pronounced when he's drunk on Atlantean; he lets out a long, pleased hum, sagging against Lan Zhan without the slightest care that he may knock him over. Lan Zhan's strong, after all. He'll keep him upright.

"Good," he mumbles again. "Ah, that feels so nice, Lan Zhan. How are you so good at this?"

[lightamidchaos]

He huffs a soft sound that might be a laugh, and pulls Wei Ying more comfortably against his side, supporting his weight with ease as he repeats the gentle caress.

"Mn. I will improve. With practice."

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian begins to smile; slowly, he descends into more tiny giggles.

"You're very good already," he says, trying for serene and missing by a thousand kilometers. "But if you want to practice..."