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dollymixturesIn his dreams, Yuan remembers.
He dreams of kind faces, playful teasing and being buried in the radish patch. He dreams of being poor but happy, of people who love him, of a cousin who shares soup and a visiting man in blue who buys him paper butterflies. He dreams of a life he barely recalls when he's awake.
When he's awake, he doesn't want to remember, because it's hard to think of paper butterflies and people who love you when you're just trying to get through the day - and the night.
It's only been a few months since the Madame of the Golden Hare saw his face and encouraged him to swap begging for something more profitable - he'd been reluctant at first, but two miserable, hungry nights in the rain later he decided he really would do anything for a good meal and a night in a warm bed.
At first, he really had appreciated it - he'd been given a bath, combed his hair for the first time in months (or more), eaten well and slept. The next day Madame gave him fine robes and he finally felt like a human being.
The feeling hadn't lasted, of course it hadn't. Madame's offer had been the essence of be careful what you wish for...
The day everything changes, Yuan wakes the same as he always does, he breakfasts with the other boys and girls of the house as usual, and the only hint that anything is going to be different is the briefest of conversations over the breakfast table.
"Ay, Yuan, is it true your surname's Wen?"
No matter how many years have passed since the Sunshot campaign and still he has to be careful about letting that information get out. He hates it. He was just a child at the time, how can anybody hold a grudge against him just because he is, however distantly, related to the Qishan Wen sect?
"Who told you that?" he answers with a question of his own.
"Doesn't matter, is it true?"
"Of course it is, or he would have just said no!"
"I want to hear hi-"
"Enough." Madame interrupts in a firm tone and Yuan feels himself breathe a sigh of relief. He knows that probably won't be the end of it, but it's the end for now, and that's enough. They all fall silent as they continue their meal, though some of the others still shoot furtive glances his way, which he ignores.
He doesn't think anything of the servants who had overheard the conversation as well, or the way they might gossip amongst themselves, the way that gossip might travel through people until, that afternoon, two men in a wine house across town happen to share a crucial piece of information out loud, where just anyone might overhear-
"I heard the new boy over at the Golden Hare is a Wen"
He dreams of kind faces, playful teasing and being buried in the radish patch. He dreams of being poor but happy, of people who love him, of a cousin who shares soup and a visiting man in blue who buys him paper butterflies. He dreams of a life he barely recalls when he's awake.
When he's awake, he doesn't want to remember, because it's hard to think of paper butterflies and people who love you when you're just trying to get through the day - and the night.
It's only been a few months since the Madame of the Golden Hare saw his face and encouraged him to swap begging for something more profitable - he'd been reluctant at first, but two miserable, hungry nights in the rain later he decided he really would do anything for a good meal and a night in a warm bed.
At first, he really had appreciated it - he'd been given a bath, combed his hair for the first time in months (or more), eaten well and slept. The next day Madame gave him fine robes and he finally felt like a human being.
The feeling hadn't lasted, of course it hadn't. Madame's offer had been the essence of be careful what you wish for...
The day everything changes, Yuan wakes the same as he always does, he breakfasts with the other boys and girls of the house as usual, and the only hint that anything is going to be different is the briefest of conversations over the breakfast table.
"Ay, Yuan, is it true your surname's Wen?"
No matter how many years have passed since the Sunshot campaign and still he has to be careful about letting that information get out. He hates it. He was just a child at the time, how can anybody hold a grudge against him just because he is, however distantly, related to the Qishan Wen sect?
"Who told you that?" he answers with a question of his own.
"Doesn't matter, is it true?"
"Of course it is, or he would have just said no!"
"I want to hear hi-"
"Enough." Madame interrupts in a firm tone and Yuan feels himself breathe a sigh of relief. He knows that probably won't be the end of it, but it's the end for now, and that's enough. They all fall silent as they continue their meal, though some of the others still shoot furtive glances his way, which he ignores.
He doesn't think anything of the servants who had overheard the conversation as well, or the way they might gossip amongst themselves, the way that gossip might travel through people until, that afternoon, two men in a wine house across town happen to share a crucial piece of information out loud, where just anyone might overhear-
"I heard the new boy over at the Golden Hare is a Wen"
no subject
Date: 2021-07-17 10:43 pm (UTC)"Okay. Maybe, then, we'll start with Mo Xuanyu. How he was the one that summoned me back from the dead. He wanted the fearsome Yiling Patriarch to dole out his revenge for him," he states softly. "Mo Village was not fun, let me tell you."
If this took three days and two and a half inns, then it would. Him telling Yuan of Mo Village, Lan Zhan re-finding him and figuring out who he was... Every bit of story he had, he'd give the boy. All the way up until being in that no name crap town where the Golden Hare was and re-finding him.
"We'll be in Caiyi Town tomorrow. Then, from there, Cloud Recesses."
no subject
Date: 2021-07-17 10:50 pm (UTC)That's the other reason Yuan is happy to listen to the story, as much as his father wants to give him, for as long as it takes to tell it - it gives him something else to focus on other than where they're going. There's just something inherently intimidating about Cloud Recesses; everything he's heard about it suggests the Lan clan are strict, sensible people - people who might object to somebody like Yuan in their midst, not just because of his history but also because it's a place for cultivators and he isn't one (he could be, he thinks, he's almost certain he could be, but of course he's never had any training at all). Wei Wuxian is obviously perfectly confident he'll be welcomed with open arms, but Yuan can't help but worry about it at the back of his mind.
But if he's got a story to listen to the whole journey, something else to think about, maybe that worry won't be so bad.
no subject
Date: 2021-07-18 12:31 am (UTC)"Do you want anything? Before we head up to Cloud Recesses? We can wait until tomorrow morning, if you want. It's getting close to the Lan hour as it is."
no subject
Date: 2021-07-18 12:39 am (UTC)The story fills in so many gaps, not just in his knowledge (where it also provides clarification, since so many rumours differ, it is nice to hear the truth) but also in his own memories - when his father reaches the part of the story he's in, they help draw those little pieces from his dreams together, stitch them into something more coherent, bring forth buried memories he'd barely even realised were there. That night, his dreams are even more vivid than they have ever been before, even more complete.
"You've already given me more than enough, baba," he says softly, shaking his head - he's still too used to everything coming with a price, yes, but truthfully he'd spent so many years without really having much in the way of belongings he didn't really feel as though he needed anything more. "We can travel when you think it most appropriate."
He's almost eager to get this over with, they're so close now it's hard to fight back the nerves, especially with the story finished, but he can survive another night if Wei Wuxian thinks they shouldn't continue on now.
no subject
Date: 2021-07-18 01:56 am (UTC)He's not entirely sure how time worked where the Golden Hare was concerned. Or, rather schedules. Not that it mattered. Those could go to hell. Or, rather, that woman and brothel could go to hell. He really hated that place. Far more than he thought he would.
"The Lans have a strict schedule. They sleep at 9pm and get up at 5am. So, that'll be something to get used to, I'm sure."
Wei Ying, himself, didn't do that. Not that Lan Zhan expected him to. He normally slept until almost noon and stayed up until 1 or 2am.
no subject
Date: 2021-07-18 06:42 am (UTC)Yuan nods, hiding his nerves at the extra waiting time by focusing on the comment about the Lan schedule instead. He huffs a slightly amused laugh.
"I don't think I've ever been awake at 5am... sometimes I have gone to bed at 5am." He comments lightly. He's not usually up that late, but, well, he did have somewhat of a night time profession after all.
"I'm sure I can adjust."
no subject
Date: 2021-07-21 09:23 am (UTC)There's a soft hum out of him as he gets them to an inn, one he's familiar with in Caiyi Town, and gets Lil' Apple set up before helping Yuan down off of her. "How hungry are you?"
work is the wooooorst
Date: 2021-07-21 09:31 am (UTC)That earns a soft, amused smile and he ducks his head slightly - he's glad, though, that he may not be expected to follow that schedule, at least not right at first. He just wouldn't be used to it, and he could see himself lying awake at night waiting to feel sleepy enough - and feeling only too sleepy first thing in the morning.
Once he's down from the donkey he stretches, considering the question. He's a lot better fed than he used to be, so he's not quite immediately starving, but he's still pretty hungry. He hesitates before admitting to it, he's spent too many years not really being able to express his own wants and needs, but after a day or two with his father he's tentatively aware that he's allowed to say what he wants.
"Pretty hungry."
I'd kick it, but that might hurt
Date: 2021-07-21 09:44 am (UTC)"No alcohol, though," he states before shaking his head, leading Sizhui into the inn. It's obvious, by actions alone, that he's been there more than once before and they're led to a table after he gets them a room for the night.
"Order what you want. If you like spicy food, you might want to get as much as you can handle." He, himself, loved spicy foods. So, he had to keep spices in the Jingshi just for himself. Lan food could be kind of bland.
<3
Date: 2021-07-21 10:16 am (UTC)In another life he would be surprised he needed to be told no alcohol, but of course in this one he's no stranger to liquor. For a moment, he looks as though he's about to complain - he's nervous enough that a little wine might soothe his way to actually being able to sleep tonight - but he bites back on it and just nods obediently.
"Thank you, baba." he says softly as they sit, though he's careful not to go overboard when he orders. From his choices, it's clear he enjoys things a little spicier than the usual Lan blandness, but he's definitely nowhere near Wei Wuxian's preferences.
He's quiet while he eats, there's obviously a lot on his mind now that they're closer to Cloud Recesses.
♥ I am not staying up as late tonight; too much pain
Date: 2021-07-21 10:33 am (UTC)"You're welcome, little radish," he says with a soft smile, giving a bow when the food is brought out. His own order is a little heavier, both in amount and spice. Even if nothing would compare to the soup he used to get when he was younger. Now that still stung.
He can't help but smirk a bit, though," If you don't talk while you eat, you'll fit right in. Another Lan rule. There's over 4,000 of them. You won't be expected to know them all immediately."
Totally fair, you get yourself some sleep bb <3
Date: 2021-07-21 10:44 am (UTC)Yuan's head shoots up in surprise at that, his eyes a little wide.
"Four thousand rules?" he asks, aghast. How is he supposed to remember 4000 rules? How is he supposed to learn them in the first place? How do four thousand rules even exist?
It only makes him more nervous, how could his father take someone like him to such a strict place? He's suddenly terrified of being an embarrassment, of bringing shame on his father so soon after finding him again, on both of them.
♥ Plan on it!
Date: 2021-07-21 10:53 am (UTC)So, he knows what it's like to deal with a ton of rules. Back then he didn't have the problem of having cracks in his memory, though. He'd been the best at what he did. Even if Lan Qiren hadn't been able to stand him. The man still couldn't stand him, but he made Lan Zhan happy and that was enough.
"Little radish, try not to worry so much. Everything will work out," he tells him.
<3
Date: 2021-07-21 05:30 pm (UTC)So his father got in a lot of trouble and they still allowed him there, Hanguang Jun still accepted him and loved him... it's reassuring to know, it is, but he doesn't know if it's quite enough to get rid of all his concerns - he's just too nervous to put it all aside, however confident his father seems to be that everything is fine.
The story does bring a hint of a smile to his face, though, imagining how torturous it must have been for the cheerful, energetic man opposite him to sit still and write lines - from what little he knows about Hanguang Jun, he can imagine him sitting serenely across from him, unmoved by his boredom.
He tries to hold onto the smile at the reassurance, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. It's clear from his expression that he doesn't entirely believe him, but he nods all the same, not wanting to tell him he's wrong.
"Yes, baba."