noenvy | Open Post

It was the first day of the conference, and the sun was high in the sky as Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian approached the entrance to the Unclean Realm. Snow white robes immaculately arranged and a cloud-patterned headband representing discipline were both symbols that many in the cultivation world held very high regard for, but the respect for the individual wearing them was strained by the one he had brought to accompany him. Regardless of whether or not Wei Wuxian was necessary, wanted, or even welcome at all, Lan Wangji would not have come here without him. This was known by enough that the Yiling Patriarch would not be turned away, regardless of his reputation.

Nie Huaisang welcomed them at the door, his nervous demeanor from his youth all but disappeared, betrayed only by a slight uncomfortable expression towards the two of them before greetings were exchanged.

Then they proceeded inwards, and as the two stepped into the main courtyard where several others were already mulling around, the air of awkwardness was nearly palpable. Those present did not yet forget how they had turned their swords upon the news of Wei Wuxian's return, regardless of debts being set aside in the present. It made Lan Wangji all the more ready to not leave his husband's side, his cold gaze scanning those present as before settling on Wei Wuxian and softening.

"Are you well?"

He could already feel the stuffy pressure settling down on his shoulders. What did they expect? It was already known that Lan Zhan was attending this time. If they want to act surprised they really were quite out of touch with things!

But, he could take it, it wasn't anything new. And if he had to suffer through it for a little while he could. He could do that much. After all, he did have responsibilities to GusuLan, even if he was indulged with forgiveness of responsibilities and rules. He wasn't such a person that could take so greedily.

And, it was amusing to watch the lesser cultivators shrink under the intense foreboding stare of Lan Wangji when he didn't like you.

"I'm fine, you don't need to worry so much, if you're not careful someone might die from the look you give them," he couldn't help but laugh looking up slightly. It might be a bit more forced, but, he really wasn't that miserable. At least nothing more than he was expecting and prepared for.

And, of course, with a little fun in his heart and ignoring his own words, he slipped his armed around Lan Wangji's and leaned close against him. Would it be considered scandalous? Would they faint at the sight? He scanned the hall to see the faces made. Take that you old stuffy buzzards!

None were offended quite to the point of fainting, but there was no hiding the way unpleasant expressions further soured and several deliberately directed their gazes away from the two.

Lan Wangji was mindful of their situation, but even still, he placed a hand on Wei Wuxian's arm. His gaze had gotten a little more intense again, but it was not ice but fire in his eyes this time. Even in a situation like this, his husband was the only one he wanted to be on his mind. How he would like to drag Wei Wuxian away to a place where it could be just the two of them. But...

"They will live."

But they were not here just for the two of them. As if perhaps worried that the two might start being even more inappropriate, an older cultivator of their generation called out to Lan Wangji and approached to try to make small talk, trying valiantly to pretend Wei Wuxian did not exist. Though the way Lan Wangji let go of Wei Wuxian again seemed fluid, there was the hint of a lingering touch right before he separated entirely so that he could bow in a proper greeting.

And of course, Lan Wangji did not make for good small talk, leading to a one-sided, slightly awkward conversation.

Knowing his manners, even though he was more than glad to throw them away here and there, Wei Wuxian also gave a proper greeting, even though he was completely ignored. But that was fine, no one could say his manners had been lacking! He even resisted laughing at the man try desperately to talk of boring inconsequential things.

Really know, don't you know better? The famous Hanguang Jun hardly spoke in these sorts of situations, everyone knew that!

He didn't bother trying to join the conversation, he knew he was iced out, it was expected. Though he wished he could save Lan Wangji, he was sorry, he knows this sort of stuff is bothersome. Thankfully he didn't have to try anything in particular, as they were calling people to take to their seating so they could start organizing. Perhaps they had arrived late enough that they had avoided most of the early mingling. How fortunate!

"We should probably get to our seats," they would be somewhere prominent, because you don't shaft GusuLan, but he wondered how it would be placed. Who would have to suffer proximity to the hated Yiling Patriach?

"Mm."

Lan Wangji headed into the main hall, knowing that Wei Wuxian would stay by his side. The spot they were directed to was prominent, immediately to the side of Nie Huaisang's seat at the front. To the opposite side sat Jin Ling--no, Jin Rulan properly now. The arrangement was not surprising, for even if none of the venerated triad was present, the bonds from that arrangement continued to benefit all three sects to this day.

Lan Wangji took his seat immediately, opting not to invite further mingling before they properly began. There was a seat prepared for Wei Wuxian adjacent to him, arranged with proper respect in spite of public opinions remaining sour.

But they had only been seated a moment when the one designated to sit beside them arrived, and realizing who he was next to, made an expression of one with no intent of hiding displeasure. Regardless, Lan Wangji offered a proper salute in greeting. Jiang Cheng made no move to return it.

Wei Wuxian was torn between trying to play polite and trying to pretend he wasn't there. No matter what things just felt awkward between him and Jiang Cheng and he had not known what to do about it. He couldn't talk to him like a stranger, but he couldn't talk to him like a friend or family either.

Having no answers after it had been far too long to sit there with no reaction he attempted to hid as much as possible behind Lan Wangji as if he could be forgotten.

Instinctively, Lan Wangji moved slightly to cover Wei Wuxian better. The exchange between Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng was curt, and though his expression didn't improve Jiang Cheng seemed just as willing to ignore Wei Wuxian as Wei Wuxian was to avoid him. It felt as if it lasted far too long for how short it was, but Jiang Cheng soon enough took his seat and pointedly kept his glare on Jin Rulan, much to the youth's chagrin.

Lan Wangji being at the conference was almost like a formality. Even as discussions began, even as things started to get heated to the point that even Nie Huaisang stopped speaking up and let them get their energy out so everyone could move on, Lan Wangji remained silent and stoic.

But while everyone else was engaged with or at least watching the blustering, Lan Wangji was very occasionally sneaking a slight sideways glance at Wei Wuxian. If Lan Xichen had been here he'd have noticed immediately, but likely Wei Wuxian could at this point as well. In truth, Lan Wangji was barely listening to the ones who were speaking at all. Wei Wuxian was the only one who had his attention.

Wei Wuxian was bored. He was tried really hard to not look it, but it was pretty obvious. Sitting down and behaving through these was agonizing, especially when it started to become a yelling fest of sides fighting over stuff no one really cares about.

It was all for show and to push their own personal agendas.

It was then that he started to notice Lan Wangji looking over. At first, he played cool, like he didn't see. He was being good, look at him. He was sitting right, he wasn't draped over his table, he was listening even! Though he really wasn't.

He let it go on for a while before he walked his fingers over slowly to poke at the side of Lan Wangji's hip, just low enough that his hand couldn't be seen by others, and the sleeve of his robe helped hide his actions.

But, who cared if he decided to flirt a little? If anyone said anything he would just say the truth! Lan Wangji started it.

The poke drew his attention immediately. His next look was much more obvious, the slight turn of his head instead a turn of noticeable degrees. Lan Wangji's brow furrowed slightly in an expression that could easily be taken for disapproval, but the pink starting to creep into his ears and the way his eyes softened both spoke otherwise.

He seemed to catch himself after a moment and turned back to those who were... "speaking". But despite directing his attention away, the shade of his ears only darkened a little further. His lips moved very slightly in a word he didn't give voice to, both so others would not hear and because his husband would easily know what he was mouthing anyway.

Shameless.

But Lan Wangji could not stop himself from continuing to glance towards his husband regardless. His mind was most certainly no longer on the conference.

Wei Wuxian could not help but grin to himself, his little attack had landed with a hit! But then, he knew it would.

With further mischief he shuffled a little closer. It wasn't very much, barely an inch or so, but that didn't matter. He was ever so closer and that was the point. No one would notice particularly, but Lan Wangji would notice.

This time he decided to walk his hand towards the table and poke and Lan Wangji's thigh.

Lan Wangji absolutely noticed. His eyes immediately swept downward towards the contact. Though his head and eyes had been traitorous under Wei Wuxian's attacks, for the first time, the rest of him began to show weakness as well: a very slight shiver of his hands, otherwise immaculately still on his thighs.

That hand was so close to his own. He could easily reach out and grab it, force it still or wherever he wanted. Perhaps pin it down to the floor, and then while Wei Wuxian was unable to move it--

"Wei Ying."

This time he gave voice to it, soft but audible. Though his tone was chastising, there was a bit of strain to it.

Despite his patience and his discipline, Lan Wangji was finding that this session of the conference could not end quickly enough.

"Lan Zhan," he knew he should stop, he knew he was being incredibly wicked and unfair right now, but that was what made it so hard to stop.

But, for the moment he did retreat his hand and turned slightly away doing something with his sleeve, or maybe he was just bored and fooling around. Either way, it was only a few moments and he was back to sitting up again, and closing the distance between them just a little more.

"They're all quite preoccupied, aren't they?" it was said innocently, with an expression that seemed to not reveal anything in particular. However, Lan Wangji might find something on his other side, brushing against his robes, rustling around.

It would seem Wei Wuxian had not paused at all, and instead a little paper man was now harassing Lan Wangji.

"Mm."

He knew that Wei Wuxian was up to something. Once he started teasing, it would take more than Lan Wangji's stoic disposition to stop him. He didn't for a moment think that his husband was done.

At the brush, he gave a small turn of his head as his gaze quickly darted to the side. He recognized the form of the paper man easily. On the one hand, it was small, and would not be able to cause a particular disturbance to the group should it try. But on the other, its small size left it plenty of opportunity to cause trouble with Lan Wangji, especially here. If he was to last through this without needing to leave early, it would be much safer to handle it now.

He let a hand move from his thighs, attempting to press the paper down under a single finger to prevent it from moving about.

The little man of paper flailed around at being pinned, after a moment it started pushing at Lan Wangji's fingers as if trying to get free and then when it couldn't pantomimed the action of crying.

Meanwhile, Lan Wangji could find, if he chose to look, Wei Wuxian on his other side pouting. "No fun."

"Behave."

He turned to give Wei Wuxian a look in return, but it wasn't a glare. It was a look full of subtle affection, his lips softening into something that, to those who knew it, was the beginning of a smile.

"We will not leave early."

So no matter what Wei Wuxian did, Lan Wangji was committed to staying until the end of today's session. Any attempts to rile him up that went too far would be shut down.

But that declaration made, he lifted his finger just enough to let the paper man slip out.

Now free the paper man scurried away from Lan Wangji's hand to hide down near his knee. It turned and looked back as if hiding from a great enemy and clung to the cloth and shook slightly.

"I am behaving," for the most part. But, it really was all very boring. "There should be a break soon though, right?" and as if a switch flipped his pouty mood shifted to a grin. Of course he had to be mischievous.

"Mm."

One almost wondered if Nie Huaisang was taking a break already, with the way he seemed to be spacing out as he watched the others argue.

"More later."

So even if they were to get occupied with each other after this, it would not be for the rest of the day.

He knew he'd just given his husband a pass to do many different things, so he kept his eyes forward and steadied himself. If Wei Wuxian was going to start teasing him more, he'd need to stay particularly strong for however long the rest of this session took... and Wei Wuxian was the one force that his self-discipline easily crumbled in the face of.

Wei Wuxian seemed more or less content with the fact that there would be some sort of break in not too long a time and looked like he had settled down to wait for the current session to end.

His paper man however started climbing up Lan Wagji's knee.

"And more tomorrow," discussion conferences were so tedious.

Lan Wangji's gaze flickered down to it, to Wei Wuxian for a moment to see if he had the look of someone getting up to mischief, then straight ahead just as quickly.

"Three days."

Today, tomorrow, the day after, assuming nothing unexpected were to happen.

Three days might as well be a lifetime and he flopped forward as expected of that feeling.

"Why do we even have to sit here? It's just a courtesy, it's not like anyone cares if we're here not. Not really," in fact if it was properly cared, maybe it would be slightly less infuriating boring. Not that he wanted to participate.

The little paper man meanwhile conquered Lan Wangji's knee and walked up his though to then playfully pull at his belt.

"Sit properly. Have discipline."

If it were just for himself, Lan Wangji would have no issue ignoring the rest of them and taking Wei Wuxian somewhere else. But he was here on behalf of his brother, and he was not one to neglect a duty such as that. Perhaps he was a poor substitute, not as intimately familiar with the present needs of the Lan Sect as one who spent most of their days in the Cloud Recesses. But having even someone like him present was better than having none at all. Even if now's conversation had strayed from things that he would care about, later today or tomorrow would likely be different.

His belt was properly fastened, nothing that a mere sheet of paper could dislodge, but Lan Wangji understood the intention behind it. He let his gaze drift to Wei Wuxian and linger this time, something warm in his eyes.

He sat up, acting obedient. He knew not to push too much, and he did care about not being a complete embarrassment to the cultivation world.

But, it was still hard when it was all so pointless.

"We should move for an early recess," because nothing was getting done now. He swore he could see others glazing over just as much as he felt.

As Lan Wangji's eyes warmed to him, he tried to pretend he didn't notice, but it only lasted for barely a moment before he grinned giving himself away.

The paper man, though futile in its efforts, started to climb up Lan Wangji's torso. It struggled quite a bit and slipped down a few times with a distressed wave of its little paper arms.

Lan Wangji let it try for a little while, but finally lifted his hand to help the paper man.

Whether intentional or by coincidence, that was right as Nie Huaisang suddenly called out to the arguing group, waving his closed fan for emphasis,

"Alright, that's enough! Sect Leaders A and B, you've been making the same two points this whole time, while Sect Leader C has brought up six points of his own. We'll take today's recess now, and if Sect Leaders A and B cannot come up with more arguments for their side, we will continue with Sect Leader C's plan. Dismissed!"

Without leaving anyone the time to argue, he stood up from his seat and walked off, leaving the three men still standing awkwardly with angry looks on their faces.

Lan Wangji ignored them, his gaze focusing in entirely on Wei Wuxian. "Wei Ying." His voice was full of affection, and he carefully lifted the paper man up so that it could climb onto his shoulder. They were free of their obligations until later that day... as long as no one else sought their attention.

Leaving his spot beside Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng gave a loud hmph and stormed out of the room himself.

The paper man clung to Lan Wangji's hair so as not to fall from his shoulder, and Wei Wuxian jumped up excitedly. Finally free of the confined boredom and intense stares of everyone he could do something more enjoyable. Why Jiang Cheng stormed out in such a way he would never understand, but it did leave him feeling a little bad.

He did not want to be on bad terms, but I did not knowhow to fix them.

With a soft sigh he let those feelings go, and instead clung to Lan Wangji's arm like they were physically attached.

"Let's have a walk, I'm sure there are beautiful gardens here," it was an assumption, but he felt confident in it's truth.

Lan Wangji nodded, standing up with Wei Wuxian. He didn't pay attention to anyone else, instead starting to lead Wei Wuxian out of the room.

He didn't know very much of his way around the Unclean Realm, so unless Wei Wuxian had a better idea, he was going to lead the two of them to wander.

Once they left the company of others, his grip on Wei Wuxian tightened a little, the slight flush starting to creep back into his ears.

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