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( Oh, Lan Xichen is far more complicated than he first appears then. Wen Kexing watches him as he lowers his gaze, talking about his seclusion, then watches still as the pleasant but real smile returns. He's unlike anyone Wen Kexing knows, save for the earnestness, but there's something about him that stirs his softer side. He waves off the apology either way. )

You don't have to apologise, ah it's fine.

( He's known him for a handful of hours and yet --. )

Reputation means very little to me too. Too many men use their good standing as a smokescreen. It isn't always the truth. So we'll forget it. Let us take each other at face value then.

Very well, then ... I am Lan Huan, less Xichen if you like. You don't need to use Zewu-Jun, it seems performative to grant me the respect of a sect leader in these circumstances. [ Having no sect to speak of, that is. He has never been Huan to anyone before, only his family and the Hualian husbands know his given name. ] It is entirely up to you which you feel most comfortable using, of course.

[ His lips press together tightly for a moment, taking a sip of water before adding on, ]

Any man who professes he is only good is a liar, I agree.

Lan Huan.

( How easily he gives up parts of himself. If Wen Kexing were in a mind to abuse his trust it would prove far too easy. But, well. He isn't. There's very little point right now. Unless Lan Xichen proves to be the mastermind behind all of this - doubtful - then Wen Kexing will do nothing but take him at face value. )

People are complicated, that's true. ( He does it himself, Philanthropist Wen. But usually the air of playful confidence is enough to soften the blow. Nobody can accuse him of lying if he only ever delivers the words with an air of mischief. ) And goodness can mean many things. But I'll believe it of you. You've fed me, helped house me, and I a relative stranger who merely encouraged a bit of ... borrowing. ( A teasing smile. ) Have your friends returned your missive about the spice? I hope they appreciate the thought.

[ If Wen Kexing knew that Xichen finds every piece of himself worthless and may as well be given away ...

Is Xichen good? Is he doing things out of habit? He doesn't know. He wants to help Wen Kexing and so he does, it's not a deep process when the other man is as enigmatic as he is enthusiastic, and depressed as Xichen is there remains a part of him that enjoys lightness and good humour. ]

My brother-in-law is pleased, Xie Lian is happy to have new ingredients, and I think Jiang Wanyin might like to take some of them too. [ He sounds uncertain about it, though. Wen Kexing draws his attention, a smile warming Xichen's eyes. ] You were so at home in that kitchen when I found you, I hope you'll take me on as a student at some point. Please bear with my lack of experience.

[ Sect leaders aren't really taught cookery, just the well-mannered eating. ]

If you'd like. Though we'll have to keep an eye on the ghosts.

( He doesn't know how long he'll be here. If he had his way he'd be gone already. But it does no harm to pretend that everything is currently normal, and so Wen Kexing lets it happen. )

You look like a fast learner. Hopefully you're better at listening than my current ward. ( Technically Chengling is Zhou Zishu's disciple, but ah - it's a joint effort. With a tinge of bittersweet humour - ) I dread to think what he and his shifu are doing without me there to make sure they're eating. They'd burn water.

[ The mention of a family has Xichen reminded of what Wangji said. He wasn't going to broach the subject but pretending he doesn't know something is tantamount to lying, acting dumb for no good reason, so he tries to delicately approach the topic. ]

Wangji, while recounting that he knew you, also mentioned you have a soulmate who was here ... I suppose, the 'last time', we could say? I only bring it up to admit I know such a thing when it is entirely your business to divulge and the choice was not yours to tell me on this occasion, not to pry.

( A stillness falls over Wen Kexing's shoulders, a momentary frown notching between his brows. ) Your brother knows a lot of things, for saying very little.

( His tone is disquiet, but not angry. Whatever seething resentment Wen Kexing currently feels, he keeps it safely tucked away. Upsetting Lan Xichen would not help him. )

I have ... someone. ( He is absolutely Wen Kexing's zhiji, but there is so much that Zhou Zishu does not know that Wen Kexing feels he cannot quite lay that claim outside the privacy of his own weak chest. ) My Ah-Xu. ( Fondness creeps into his voice as he shapes the name, an unbidden curl of his lip. That's good enough, isn't it? Even with all the secrets. ) He has a disciple, Chengling. The sticky kind of boy, always crying. And of course his shifu is a hard master.

I'm glad for you.

[ The way happiness radiates off Wen Kexing when he mentions this a-Xu is almost palpable in the air and has Xichen smiling, eyes soft as he watches in real time as memories surface and bring all the colours of the other man into brighter relief somehow.

Not to dwell and make Wen Kexing uncomfortable, he offers up a similar comparison. ]

Sizhui is my adopted nephew, Wangji and Wei Wuxian's son. He is a good boy, not the sticky kind, but his friends certainly are, within and without the sect. You may run into him eventually, if you spend enough time with me. He will do anything for you if it's above-board.

[ Sizhui is an angel, a sweet boy who has all the best traits of everyone he grew up with and none of their flaws. Chengling sounds a lot like Jingyi, by contrast: sticky is a very apt word for the chicken-eating rebel. ]

I wouldn't dream of abusing such a beloved nephew's trust.

( Everything he does is above board, thank you very much ... )

Do you have children of your own?

[ He looks mildly surprised to be asked such a thing, glancing down as he peels more rind from his orange segments. ]

No. I'm unmarried.

[ Famously eligible, technically, although he isn't sure how much anymore ... but that might be his self-loathing talking (it is). Xichen isn't sure where to lead the conversation from there, floundering for a beat too long as he tries not to stall on why he isn't married or a father, hitching up a smile more of a decorous shell than genuine. ]

It never came up.

A shame.

( Just because Wen Kexing has a beloved zhiji who thwarts him at every flirtatious attempt does not mean he is now blind. Lan Xichen's certainly handsome, charming in the way that good, proper sect members often are. He's a catch. )

Not that there's anything wrong with being an eligible bachelor!

[ That makes his smile deepen before he can catch it, taking a sip of water to get control of his reaction. Serene, yes, absolutely. He accepts compliments without making a fuss, well-mannered in letting them slide. ]

There were offers ... for myself and Wangji. I was too busy to consider them, then the Sunshot Campaign began and there was a great deal of warring between the clans. Afterward, I had my hands full rebuilding my home.

( He finishes off another bun as Lan Xichen talks, not too foolish to let politeness mean he cannot eat. Hunger is an old friend he doesn't want to be reacquainted with and if he's breaking any rules he doesn't know them, humming a thoughtful note after he swallows. )

I confess I have not heard of this 'sunshot campaign' you speak off.

( Which is fair. He had spies in the Jianghu, obviously, but he'd aimed them towards the Five Lakes. It's not entirely in the realm of possibility he's missed something further out. )

But I can hazard a guess. Isn't that what great clans do? Fight between themselves for the honour of being the very best? ( His tone shifts slightly on the word honour, a hint of venom before it's gone. Perhaps he shouldn't speak so viciously of clans when he's in the sphere of a sect leader. Wen Kexing glances at Lan Xichen and then, more demurely. ) Though what do I know, I'm merely a commoner. My parents were clingy, they wanted me close.

( It's not ... entirely a lie. They could have left him with Four Seasons Manor. Maybe they might have sent him back, once things died down. )

It was a campaign launched when all the clans decided it was time to put a stop to the Wen clan. [ He gives Wen Kexing a wry smile; the surname is rife! ] They were ... to put it simply, becoming too domineering and dabbling in the demonic; I spearheaded many offensive rescues and liberating strikes against the towns and cities they overran. It was decided to completely erase the sect, [ here Xichen looks thoughtful, even guilty, ] though that was not carried out with any grace for the old or young. It was a driving wedge between Wangji and his husband.

[ Not wanting to get into that, he lifts his chin and studies his water. Glances at Wen Kexing. ]

Do you miss your parents?

Oh, it never is.

( Carried out gracefully, he means. ) Ah, but I was right. You are upstanding, if you fought so hard to battle against the wicked. ( It's a little funny, he thinks. He highly doubts this man has heard of Ghost Valley, and he's not about to bring it up without reason, but he definitely seems the type to be righteous. To think, he's dining with it's Master!

Still, perhaps he should be more careful.

The next question gives Wen Kexing another strange pause. )

They've been dead a long time. I miss them as any filial son would.

( Murderously, monstrously. But he'll find a way to avenge them soon. )

Mm. Mine died when I was young, Wangji didn't understand death at the time our mother passed but he did when it came to our father. He loved her ferociously.

[ Sad talks to be having in a house of the dead, but somewhat apt. ]

I don't know if it's bad luck to wish your partner was here with you, but if it would ease your troubles then I do.

( He makes a small, sympathetic sound in response to that, but lets the conversation shift after. )

Ah, he'd hate it. There's a distinct lack of wine, or so I've seen, and he gets sore like a bear if it isn't on hand. ( It's left him a little wrong-footed, this absense. Wen Kexing has bothered the other man constantly since their fated run in that sunny afternoon. He barely goes an hour without finding some silly, flippant little excuse to speak with him. Even, more lately, with Zhou Zishu's prickling insistence on calling Wen Kexing shidi there's very little to that could run Wen Kexing off.

But perhaps -. Who knows what happened after he feel unconscious? Maybe Zhou Zishu has found him too much trouble. )

You'd like him. ( Unprompted. ) He's a softer heart than mine, that's how we ended up with Chengling. ( Not that Wen Kexing didn't force that. ) Left unleashed here who knows what number of adoptees he'd find? And who'd have to feed them? Me. ( Spirited, and then slightly more muted. ) No, it's better that he isn't. I'll find my way back to him. I always do.

[ It warms his heart to hear such rambling fondness rattled off, thought after thought given tepid consideration because Wen Kexing knows his zhiji so well. ]

That's a good way to think. [ Lightly, he teases, ] Nevertheless, I hope to meet him someday, this man who drinks like a brawler with the generous heart of a daozhang.

( A laugh, startled out of him, light and tinkling, Wen Kexing leaning forward with an elbow on his knees. )

Are you sure you haven't met him, you've got him down so well.

It's all down to your colourful description, rest assured. Wen Kexing has a way with words.

[ And Xichen likes to listen, especially to that uplifting laugh. ]

I might have been a poet in another life.

( Airy. )

But how refreshing to have someone not disgruntled with my chatter.

( If Zhou Zishu ever does turn up, then Wen Kexing will use Lan Xichen as a shining example of how someone really should react to him talking. )

But tell me more of Lan Huan, I have talked of myself more than enough. I know of his brother, of his nephew, of his feats in battle, but not of what makes him smile. Is this place so lacking in them?

I ...

[ He pauses, lips parted, realising he doesn't know what makes him smile anymore. He hasn't wanted to, not since Guanyin Temple. Everything that brings him joy is fleeting and his reactions reflexive, he hasn't done anything fun in so long ... what did he used to do? He ought to dredge up his hobbies. ]

I paint. In Yancai I was working on two teacups for my brother and his husband as a kind of replacement wedding gift, as I missed each occasion, but then we were all transported to this house.

[ He never gave those cups to Wei Wuxian, did he? No. I will leave them in the cave, he had said, and then become so relaxed in the village he saw no need to hurry. Sad now, to think of those two delicate teacups lost in time somewhere, delicately painted in blue wash depicting Cloud Recesses. In an attempt not to look forlorn, Xichen considers a broader range of activities he has enjoyed in the past, back when he delighted in company. ]

I enjoy archery and used to enter contests, but I'm no sure shot. Collecting books and manuscripts for the Library Pavilion back home was one of my fonder past-times.

Keep all my belongings on me at all times, I see. ( It's a little joking, but his expression is sympathetic at least. He'd hate to work on something and have it go missing. )

A master of many skills is Lan Huan. We'll get on well, if those are your hobbies.

( Maybe not the archery, Wen Kexing is not a long range fighter, he prefers to be up close and personal to his targets. There's definitely something more ruthless in him, a desire to see something seen through more properly. )

I didn't see a library about the place when I arrived, but that's not to say there isn't one in a house like this.

[ Wen Kexing has the ability to drop a hook in any vaguely morose topic and bring a smile out of Xichen with it, given a grateful look as he jokes about keeping items on him. A good idea, truly! ]

I would like to look with you but it's dangerous, we might run into the bear.

Ah yes, the bear.

( He has to fight a little hysterical laugh at the reminder. Who keeps a bear in a house like this? Why is there a bear in a house like this? )

I've never fought a bear before. ( And then with a shrug of one shoulder. ) How hard could it be?

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