For Wei Ying and Ahn

[lan_wangji]

Lan Wangji already has a multitude of regrets. They are not about Lee-gonxi nor about his faith that he and Wei Ying can find a way to help him.

Wei Ying had been enthusiastic about the idea of inviting Lee-gonxi to their new home for dinner, intrigued by the idea of investigating a new type of magic, sure about the desire to help Lee-gonxi but far less so at the idea of meditation. In fact, most of Wei Ying's enthusiasm seemed centered around having a new drinking partner and the meat that Lan Wangji has prepared for their meal.

He left Wei Ying with strict instruction not to imbibe all their wine or eat the meat or let Bunny out of his hutch OR mess up the careful, clean order he'd left their house in until he has returned with Lee Ahn. He is dubious as to what they will return to.

The wind cuts cold as he and Lee-gonxi fly close enough to see the warm lights of their home and he dips down, fingers tight of Lee-gonxi's shoulders. "Still alright?"

Comments

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian hums. The effect is different, but he imagines it is a little like living with the Stygian Tiger Seal screaming at him endlessly, demanding to be used. Wei Wuxian quiets it - and ignores it - as best he can, but it's still maddening.

"And the visions are overwhelming?" he presses. "So powerful that you can't see past them to what is actually before you?"

[lan_wangji]

He nods along with Wei Ying's questions, unsurprised to find them insightful and focused. There is no one capable of greater focus and ingenuity than Wei Ying when a subject manages to finally capture his full attention.

"And can you feel the strain of the power in your body? For me, when using magic, feel it where my golden core rests," he says, laying a hand on his belly.

[psychometricguy]

Ahn nods vigorously at Wuxian's question, surprised he's put into words exactly what it feels like when he uses his psychometry.

"Sometimes?" he answers Wangji, touching his own stomach as he thinks about it. "I know if I do too much, it does hurt my body. I get bad nose bleeds, headaches, sometimes I get faint enough that I have to stop before I pass out."

[yiling_laozu]

Entirely like Wei Wuxian, then, though he doubts Ahn's loss of control would result in the deaths of hundreds. He busies himself with pouring more wine, first for himself and then for Ahn despite the face he knows he made.

"Lan Zhan will be very helpful, I think," he says. He'd been offered that same help many times, and he never once took it, but only because he knows where he is concerned, there are gaps in Lan Wangji's knowledge. "His Clan does not have so many rules to be poor in control."

[lan_wangji]

The thinks on Lee-Ahn's response as he eats a little more, taking a careful sip of his tea before turning to them both.

"Agree with Wei Ying," he starts, face softening as he looks at the amusing resignation on Wei Ying's face. "Teaching Lee-gonxi to control and calm his own energy will be the start. But Wei Ying will be needed. Knowledge is limited when met with an unknown. Creativity will also be needed. If this is indeed something Lee-gonxi desires."

[psychometricguy]

They keep saying the other will be helpful and great at what Ahn needs, and though it does create an interesting back and forth, Ahn figures their combined teaching should help him somewhere in the middle. At least, that's what it sounds Wangji is saying.

"Yes!" he sits up a little, making sure they are well aware how much he wants the help and how grateful he is for even the suggestion of it. "Yes of course, I want it. Anything you can think of, I want to try it."

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian smiles for Ahn's enthusiasm, even as he drains and refills his own glass twice in quick succession at the thought of the meditation to come. "What of practical trials?" he asks. "Have you spent much time trying to use your power and not be so affected, or to resist it entirely? Meditation may clear your head, but strengthening your resolve should be just as important."

[lan_wangji]

Lan Wangji thinks through scenarios they could try, ranging from objects to his own skin (he is a little reticent of what Lee=-Ahn might experience through Wei Ying's trauma) and knows he has better control of projecting his emotions.

He nods, encouraging Lee-gonxi to answer but also nods towards the food and wine, wanting to ensure they are proper hosts. It would not do to send him back home still hungry.

[psychometricguy]

Ahn dives back into the food at Wangji's little nod, surprised he'd been distracted from it in the first place.

"I haven't really done any trials trying to resist it," he admits, then stuffs his face with a large helping of rice, using the time to chew as he thinks. "I didn't think of it that way. I've tried in the past to see more but haven't tried to control how I feel."

That's actually a good distinction to make, and though Ahn hasn't really felt any regret so far, he's glad that he has someone else to point out things he hadn't even considered before.

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian hums, thinking as he slurps up his soup, lips burning. "Perhaps we could find something very new for you to touch," he suggests. Much of Darrow seems to be new, not its people or its buildings but everything else - furniture, cutlery, even the clothes seem built for convenience rather than to last. One of their funny little forks, for example, will surely hold little to be envisioned straight out of its packaging.

"Practice with a vision that won't be too intense."

[lan_wangji]

"Think Lee-gonxi's goal would be to control whether or not he saw these things. Do not yet know if that is attainable," Lan Wangji admits, grabbing a few more pieces of meat for Wei Ying and then Lee Ahn before settling back into place, posture straight and unmoving as ever.

"But retaining sense of one's self, not being overwhelmed by the vision is where to start. Wei Ying's suggestion is a good one."

[psychometricguy]

Ahn knows that's exactly where he has to start. Sungmo would often find ways to force Ahn to use his power to try to train him into getting used to it, when he found the time to actually focus on Ahn. It makes sense. But he looks around the room, thinks about all the little things in the house that Wangji and Wuxian have touched. He's been careful in their home already, keeping his hands as close to himself as possible and allowing Wangji to serve him instead of reaching out where he may accidentally touch either one of them.

He thinks about what he knows about them, and what he doesn't; they've trusted him enough to take him under their wing for now, and Ahn would very much like to not see their darkest, most painful memories if he can help it. He likes them too much to want their friendships strained by whatever he may see.

"Yes, I think we can start there," he says carefully. "As long as we can try with a stranger's things."