[ The weight of grief, of anger and fear and concern and guilt, rests heavily on Lan Zhan's shoulders six months after Wei Wuxian disappears for the third time.
At first, Wei Wuxian's disappearance had been easy to explain away. He's a free spirit, not meant to be caged. His memory is poor, and he gets caught up in what he's doing quite easily. He could have run out of paper, out of talismans, lost his pack, and his donkey. It's been known to happen.
The thought soothes for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Lan Wangji knows the truth: Wei Wuxian would never stop writing him, even if he had to lift paper from a merchant. If he were in a dire situation, he'd figure out a way to get word to Lan Wangji. Everyone knows the name of the Chief Cultivator, and messages are swift to arrive in his hands.
Lan Wangji knows something is horribly, irrevocably wrong within a month. Disciples attempt to track him down. Lan Wangji goes to Lotus Pier, personally, to ask Jiang Wanyin for assistance. It takes months, but they search the width and breadth of the realm, venturing into places few cultivators dare.
It's as though Wei Wuxian disappeared, without a trace, just like he did after he fell from a cliff in Nightless City.
The last place Wei Wuxian had been seen, during that last night hunt of his, is the last place Lan Wangji stops. Back in all white, blue once again banished from his wardrobe, his face more impassive than normal, he studies the small, weathered farmhouse. There had been rumors of a cursed object giving people horribly, graphic nightmares of objects they couldn't understand. It hadn't been a big, exciting job, just a minor cursed item, and Wei Wuxian had promised to handle it "within a week, Lan Zhan, and then I'm stopping in Lanling to visit my favorite nephew, and then I'll be home. Write to me every day!"
They'd searched, of course, but nothing stood out. No items sucked people away, or gave them nightmares, or appeared to be cursed. It was as though Wei Wuxian and the object had disappeared.
Lan Zhan kneels, just inside the door, and stares into the depths of the single room. He's carefully packaged away any trace of emotion, needing to focus; for six months, he's thought of nothing but finding Wei Wuxian. And now—
A heavy wind rushes through the house, heavy enough to topple a table, and when Lan Wangji looks up, he catches the glint of a mirror. Across the room in a moment, he picks it up, wondering. It's careless, in so many ways, and almost immediately after picking it up, he tries to drop it. Only the mirror is holding back or making his fingers hold, and then he's falling—
---
When Lan Wangji opens his eyes, it's to dappled sunlight, shining through towering trees, with a field of grass beneath him. The trees aren't ones he can immediately identify, and he rises, turning to look around. It's a large, empty park, with trees and what appears to be a path, although it's paved with no stone he's ever seen. The sounds are completely different; he can't hear any bird song, or the rustle of animals, even when he closes his eyes and focuses, concentrating on his core and the power therein, letting it connect to the world around him. It's just loud, discordant sounds that hold little meaning. None of the sounds are ones he can place.
There are people around. He can feel that much, traces of residual energy that linger on even the most mundane person, but it's hard to focus, even for someone with control and focus as legendary as Lan Wangji's. No answering power attempts to meet his, and eventually, he stops and opens his eyes.
A person is coming down the path, and Lan Wangji moves without even thinking, standing in the middle of the path. Incredibly rude, even children in his world know not to stand in the middle of the path. But he will allow this rudeness for once, as he needs to get someone's attention, and this individual appears to be that someone. ]
Excuse me, [ he asks, as the person gets closer. His voice sounds odd to his ears, and while he recognizes the words he says, it's almost like there's a slight delay. ] Where are we?
[Merlin had taken to a nice ambling down a path alongside one of the parks in Carmarthen that he likes walking by. It's something to be said to take up his residence where he had been raised as a boy, as different as it is now in the modern day. His haunt isn't without purpose. There had been some sort of disturbance in the Force magic, a feeling of something approaching from this specific park. And, of course, as protector of Albion until Arthur's return, he has a duty to address any magical threats. It's a nice, crisp, autumn day. So he huffs a laugh of surprise when a figure stands in the middle of the road.]
I'd say that you're very far away from home.
[Is this the anomaly? Strange. Merlin shakes his head. Well. Worst threats came in less threatening looking packages.]
You're in Carmarthen.
[From how the man is dressed, it is likely he hasn't heard of Wales or even the United Kingdom.]
[ There's a ringing in Lan Wangji's ears as he watches the man open his mouth to speak. Words follow a second later, a slight delay at first that causes Lan Wangji to shake his head. Even in dire circumstances, he manages to suppress any emotion on his face, but there's a growing amount of unease in his chest. But eventually, the lag between the man talking and the sounds he produces stops, and he can understand the man quite easily.
He does frown, at the mention of this place. It is not a place familiar to him. ]
I am not.
[ Where is he? Is Wei Wuxian here? He fixes the man with a stare, impassive. ] I am from Gusu.
[There's a wide eyed look in Merlin and he beams like a
madman.]
Come with me, then. I think I may just have the thing.
[He doesn't think twice before grabbing the man's hand. A whirlwind
stirs up around them for a moment before disappearing. The scene has
changed from the middle of the road, near an open park to a cosy, spacious
cottage with all sorts of books, bottles, and knick knacks all
around]
[ Lan Wangji isn't really too used to expressions like that. And he certainly isn't used to people who aren't Wei Wuxian just grabbing his hand.
But before he can protest, they've been whisked away, and he's in an entirely new spot. He stares at the man, Merlin, jerking his hand away quickly, eyeing the other man. ] You possess unique abilities.
[ And then, because has been trained in courtesies and this man hasn't yet done anything to deserve disdain, other than grabbing his hand, Lan Wangji bows. ] Lan Wangji.
Unique abilities are both a blessing and a curse, I'm afraid.
[He doesn't do a bow as formally as Wangji does but Merlin does
lower his torso forty-five degrees, as the bow he had known back in
Camelot. A sad smile passes his features for a moment before it
disappears]
Perhaps. I'd need to...change it a little to make sure it sends you to the
right place and time. My magic, I'm sure, is quite different from your
magic. Everything from how divination works to simple spells.
[Merlin immediately goes around to try and check the cabinets for
ingredients]
[The person that steps into the path in front of him surprises Sizhui, who's on his way home from the grocery store with his arms full of bags. He looks around his packages to take a better look at the person that had stepped into his path. Sizhui glances at the costume that the man is wearing.]
Ah, you're in Suzhou.
[He offers with a smile.
Did your cosplay friends leave you behind? I think I saw a few at the cafe down the street.
[He uses his shoulder to try to push his large glasses up his nose for a better look, surprised that he didn't recognize the voice earlier. His cheeks flush with embarrassment before giving a happy, bright smile.]
[Found a mirror? Cursed? His father is not...well, father never
really did do costumes. And hearing him speak of cursed mirrors is
concerning. Costumes no. Cursed mirrors, yes, that was certainly his
father. Sizhui gives him a kind smile]
I see. Then please accompany me back to my apartment. Perhaps you could
tell me more of this cursed mirror.
Sizhui. [ After six months of missing Wei Wuxian, and now this, his voice trembles ever so slightly. ] Where—
[ No. Asking what happened to his forehead ribbon, and his hair, and his clothes is unimportant. The facts are important. ]
I found it in the same place Wei Ying was last seen. It was hidden beneath a plank, although I suspect it might have been planted. A simple mirror, with a plain frame. But the moment I touched it, I felt something. And woke up in the park.
[A cursed mirror. Found in the same place that baba had been. Sizhui
had just gotten off the phone with his adopted parents earlier that day and
they both seemed fine. He seemed to want to ask a question and stopped
himself. Sizhui shifted the groceries in his arms so that he could reach
out and give a comforting pat to his father's doppleganger.]
It's not far from here.
[He starts to walk in the direction, trying to remember if any of
his cultivation studies included time travel of some sort. He approaches a
rather nice building and leads them up to a modest one bedroom apartment.
Sizhui unlocks the door and lets them both in before putting his groceries
on the table nearby.]
[ If nothing else, the fact that Sizhui had his own place and it was so filled with random things that Lan Zhan couldn't even begin to describe convinced him that he was not in his own world.
He stood in the apartment, peering around before settling his attention on this person who looked so much like his son. Was he? ] Please.
[ He tucked his hand behind his back, watching as Sizhui moved around the small space. While it was all so confusing, watching someone familiar made it a little less odd. ]
[Random things like pictures of his friends and family. There's
quite a few pictures of him and the other juniors, somehow finding each
other again in high school and becoming fast friends. There's quite a few
photos of him with his adoptive father. The man looks austere in the
photos, not smiling whatsoever, but there are some photos where one could
discern a sense of pride. There's a photo of a much younger Sizhui,
laughing and practically buried in rabbits. There's a few kick knacks as
well. ]
Please, have a seat.
[Sizhui pulls out two mugs and throws two bags of tea in them before
pouring the hot water from the dispenser. He adjusts his glasses and
watches the man; so like his father but...not. He carefully brings the tea
over and gives a soft smile.]
[ Lan Wangji notices the pictures, and while he doesn't touch them, that would be improper and impolite, he does study them. There's a man who looks almost like Lan Wangji and it solidifies the idea that he is in the wrong place, the wrong time.
He turns, watching Sizhui carry over the tea, taking it from carefully. ]
My appreciation. [ He studies the tea, quiet for several minutes. ] I have mistaken you for someone else. I thought you my son, but I come to realize I am in the wrong place.
[He sits down and watches as he takes the tea carefully and studies
it. So like his own father.]
I think, perhaps, the wrong time.
[He smiles at a picture of him graduating university with his father
at his side. The similarities are uncanny. The only difference being that
this man was dressed in old clothes and let his hair flow freely. While his
own father keeps his hair in a neat, low ponytail.]
You can stay here, if you'd like. Until you figure out how to return home
to your son.
[And on cue, there's a ringing from the mobile in his pocket. Sizhui
gives an embarrassed smile before drawing it out.]
Excuse me.
[He answers the call, a facetime video, and his father appears on
screen, stoic as ever.]
Father.
[Perhaps...he turns so that his father could see the man in his
apartment. The man in the video's eyes widen a little at seeing him]
[ At least he did run into someone familiar, rather than a complete stranger, which means staying is something of a possibility. Especially since it seems there are others familiar to Lan Wangji present.
It is distinctly odd to see him pull out a small device and talk into it, but as far as things go, it’s not the most unusual. What is unusual is seeing his face, reflected back at him from the screen.
Lan Wangji’s eyes widen, lips parting in surprise. There are some differences, especially since his mirror image doesn’t wear a forehead ribbon, but it’s undeniably his face. ]
It is less an adventure and more a complication.
[ He says it to Sizhui but he doesn’t look away from the phone, studying his mirror self. ]
[ Kaya's dressed in her training gear mid-job when she spots a figure dressed in what looks like either a really fancy couture duds, or a costume. Since she's in combat boots, dark sweatpants, a faded gray-green sweater with TALOS in large block letters and the meaning (Tactics and Logistics Operations Solutions) spelled out underneath — it becomes a question of whether she's underdressed or if the person in front of her is lost.
When he (and wiw, what a pretty man) asks where they are, she's a good 98% that it's the latter. ]
Uh. [ She stops a few feet away. ] You're on the Dalhay Training Grounds.
[ And while she doesn't know that he was thinking it, he's right that he's in a park. Most of the others on the grounds are TALOS employees and trainees like herself, but more are the members across the different organizations — DEFIANT, the Silay Coastal Defence Forces. ]
[ It's not unusual for Lan Wangji to run into children, as he's taught a number of classes. And while he has no comprehension of her clothes, they scream training gear.
Of course, he could be in a place where such things are acceptable as everyday wear and not specifically designed for training. Still, something tells him this girl isn't an ordinary civilian that's confirmed once she mentions training grounds. ]
I am unfamiliar with these grounds.
[ For someone who generally never asks for help, is the one providing it, the question makes him pause. He's in unfamiliar territory, with nothing to remind him of home, and no knowledge of how he got here. It's time not to let pride get in his way. ]
[ She perks up when the man confirms that yes, he does, in fact, need assistance. He's probably an ambassador, she thinks. He looks precisely the type who would be in that particular job description. ]
Who is it you're looking for?
[ Helpful. She will be very helpful. It's part because he looks like he needs it and — she's not going to lie — because it might earn her some brownie points. ]
My husband. [ He looks down at her, a slight moue on his face, carefully considering. It is unlikely Wei Wuxian is here, and he suspects she is not asking about that. But it's the first words he can say when asked that question.
He clears his throat, looking away. ] I am lost. Need to find assistance returning to my home.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
open starter
At first, Wei Wuxian's disappearance had been easy to explain away. He's a free spirit, not meant to be caged. His memory is poor, and he gets caught up in what he's doing quite easily. He could have run out of paper, out of talismans, lost his pack, and his donkey. It's been known to happen.
The thought soothes for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Lan Wangji knows the truth: Wei Wuxian would never stop writing him, even if he had to lift paper from a merchant. If he were in a dire situation, he'd figure out a way to get word to Lan Wangji. Everyone knows the name of the Chief Cultivator, and messages are swift to arrive in his hands.
Lan Wangji knows something is horribly, irrevocably wrong within a month. Disciples attempt to track him down. Lan Wangji goes to Lotus Pier, personally, to ask Jiang Wanyin for assistance. It takes months, but they search the width and breadth of the realm, venturing into places few cultivators dare.
It's as though Wei Wuxian disappeared, without a trace, just like he did after he fell from a cliff in Nightless City.
The last place Wei Wuxian had been seen, during that last night hunt of his, is the last place Lan Wangji stops. Back in all white, blue once again banished from his wardrobe, his face more impassive than normal, he studies the small, weathered farmhouse. There had been rumors of a cursed object giving people horribly, graphic nightmares of objects they couldn't understand. It hadn't been a big, exciting job, just a minor cursed item, and Wei Wuxian had promised to handle it "within a week, Lan Zhan, and then I'm stopping in Lanling to visit my favorite nephew, and then I'll be home. Write to me every day!"
They'd searched, of course, but nothing stood out. No items sucked people away, or gave them nightmares, or appeared to be cursed. It was as though Wei Wuxian and the object had disappeared.
Lan Zhan kneels, just inside the door, and stares into the depths of the single room. He's carefully packaged away any trace of emotion, needing to focus; for six months, he's thought of nothing but finding Wei Wuxian. And now—
A heavy wind rushes through the house, heavy enough to topple a table, and when Lan Wangji looks up, he catches the glint of a mirror. Across the room in a moment, he picks it up, wondering. It's careless, in so many ways, and almost immediately after picking it up, he tries to drop it. Only the mirror is holding back or making his fingers hold, and then he's falling—
---
When Lan Wangji opens his eyes, it's to dappled sunlight, shining through towering trees, with a field of grass beneath him. The trees aren't ones he can immediately identify, and he rises, turning to look around. It's a large, empty park, with trees and what appears to be a path, although it's paved with no stone he's ever seen. The sounds are completely different; he can't hear any bird song, or the rustle of animals, even when he closes his eyes and focuses, concentrating on his core and the power therein, letting it connect to the world around him. It's just loud, discordant sounds that hold little meaning. None of the sounds are ones he can place.
There are people around. He can feel that much, traces of residual energy that linger on even the most mundane person, but it's hard to focus, even for someone with control and focus as legendary as Lan Wangji's. No answering power attempts to meet his, and eventually, he stops and opens his eyes.
A person is coming down the path, and Lan Wangji moves without even thinking, standing in the middle of the path. Incredibly rude, even children in his world know not to stand in the middle of the path. But he will allow this rudeness for once, as he needs to get someone's attention, and this individual appears to be that someone. ]
Excuse me, [ he asks, as the person gets closer. His voice sounds odd to his ears, and while he recognizes the words he says, it's almost like there's a slight delay. ] Where are we?
eastern v western magic
the Forcemagic, a feeling of something approaching from this specific park. And, of course, as protector of Albion until Arthur's return, he has a duty to address any magical threats. It's a nice, crisp, autumn day. So he huffs a laugh of surprise when a figure stands in the middle of the road.]I'd say that you're very far away from home.
[Is this the anomaly? Strange. Merlin shakes his head. Well. Worst threats came in less threatening looking packages.]
You're in Carmarthen.
[From how the man is dressed, it is likely he hasn't heard of Wales or even the United Kingdom.]
Cymru, if you're familiar.
no subject
He does frown, at the mention of this place. It is not a place familiar to him. ]
I am not.
[ Where is he? Is Wei Wuxian here? He fixes the man with a stare, impassive. ] I am from Gusu.
no subject
Gusu.
[Somewhere he hasn't really...heard of before. Merlin nods and regards him with his own stare.]
Right. Okay. Follow up question: how did you get here from Gusu?
no subject
I touched it, unaware it was cursed, and then ended up here.
no subject
Cursed mirror.
[There's a wide eyed look in Merlin and he beams like a madman.]
Come with me, then. I think I may just have the thing.
[He doesn't think twice before grabbing the man's hand. A whirlwind stirs up around them for a moment before disappearing. The scene has changed from the middle of the road, near an open park to a cosy, spacious cottage with all sorts of books, bottles, and knick knacks all around]
What's your name, anyway? I'm Merlin.
no subject
But before he can protest, they've been whisked away, and he's in an entirely new spot. He stares at the man, Merlin, jerking his hand away quickly, eyeing the other man. ] You possess unique abilities.
[ And then, because has been trained in courtesies and this man hasn't yet done anything to deserve disdain, other than grabbing his hand, Lan Wangji bows. ] Lan Wangji.
no subject
[He chuckles.]
Unique abilities are both a blessing and a curse, I'm afraid.
[He doesn't do a bow as formally as Wangji does but Merlin does lower his torso forty-five degrees, as the bow he had known back in Camelot. A sad smile passes his features for a moment before it disappears]
no subject
He catches the sad smile, but Lan Wangji is not one to pry. ]
You believe you have something to assist?
no subject
Perhaps. I'd need to...change it a little to make sure it sends you to the right place and time. My magic, I'm sure, is quite different from your magic. Everything from how divination works to simple spells.
[Merlin immediately goes around to try and check the cabinets for ingredients]
no subject
[ He watches, curious and attentive, as he pokes around at the cabinets, trying to make sense of the ingredients, but they all seem foreign to him. ]
Do you often encounter cursed objects?
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Ah, you're in Suzhou.
[He offers with a smile.
Did your cosplay friends leave you behind? I think I saw a few at the cafe down the street.
[He uses his shoulder to try to push his large glasses up his nose for a better look, surprised that he didn't recognize the voice earlier. His cheeks flush with embarrassment before giving a happy, bright smile.]
Father? What are you doing here?
i'm sorry i couldn't resist
It is Sizhui, even if he's got short hair and glasses and no forehead ribbon. Lan Wangji would recognize him anywhere. ]
I landed here. [ A line appears between his brows. ] I found a mirror. It was cursed.
omfg perfect
[Found a mirror? Cursed? His father is not...well, father never really did do costumes. And hearing him speak of cursed mirrors is concerning. Costumes no. Cursed mirrors, yes, that was certainly his father. Sizhui gives him a kind smile]
I see. Then please accompany me back to my apartment. Perhaps you could tell me more of this cursed mirror.
no subject
[ No. Asking what happened to his forehead ribbon, and his hair, and his clothes is unimportant. The facts are important. ]
I found it in the same place Wei Ying was last seen. It was hidden beneath a plank, although I suspect it might have been planted. A simple mirror, with a plain frame. But the moment I touched it, I felt something. And woke up in the park.
no subject
[A cursed mirror. Found in the same place that baba had been. Sizhui had just gotten off the phone with his adopted parents earlier that day and they both seemed fine. He seemed to want to ask a question and stopped himself. Sizhui shifted the groceries in his arms so that he could reach out and give a comforting pat to his father's doppleganger.]
It's not far from here.
[He starts to walk in the direction, trying to remember if any of his cultivation studies included time travel of some sort. He approaches a rather nice building and leads them up to a modest one bedroom apartment. Sizhui unlocks the door and lets them both in before putting his groceries on the table nearby.]
Would you like tea?
no subject
He stood in the apartment, peering around before settling his attention on this person who looked so much like his son. Was he? ] Please.
[ He tucked his hand behind his back, watching as Sizhui moved around the small space. While it was all so confusing, watching someone familiar made it a little less odd. ]
no subject
[Random things like pictures of his friends and family. There's quite a few pictures of him and the other juniors, somehow finding each other again in high school and becoming fast friends. There's quite a few photos of him with his adoptive father. The man looks austere in the photos, not smiling whatsoever, but there are some photos where one could discern a sense of pride. There's a photo of a much younger Sizhui, laughing and practically buried in rabbits. There's a few kick knacks as well. ]
Please, have a seat.
[Sizhui pulls out two mugs and throws two bags of tea in them before pouring the hot water from the dispenser. He adjusts his glasses and watches the man; so like his father but...not. He carefully brings the tea over and gives a soft smile.]
Careful, it's hot.
no subject
He turns, watching Sizhui carry over the tea, taking it from carefully. ]
My appreciation. [ He studies the tea, quiet for several minutes. ] I have mistaken you for someone else. I thought you my son, but I come to realize I am in the wrong place.
no subject
[He sits down and watches as he takes the tea carefully and studies it. So like his own father.]
I think, perhaps, the wrong time.
[He smiles at a picture of him graduating university with his father at his side. The similarities are uncanny. The only difference being that this man was dressed in old clothes and let his hair flow freely. While his own father keeps his hair in a neat, low ponytail.]
You can stay here, if you'd like. Until you figure out how to return home to your son.
[And on cue, there's a ringing from the mobile in his pocket. Sizhui gives an embarrassed smile before drawing it out.]
Excuse me.
[He answers the call, a facetime video, and his father appears on screen, stoic as ever.]
Father.
[Perhaps...he turns so that his father could see the man in his apartment. The man in the video's eyes widen a little at seeing him]
We may have a slight...adventure.
no subject
It is distinctly odd to see him pull out a small device and talk into it, but as far as things go, it’s not the most unusual. What is unusual is seeing his face, reflected back at him from the screen.
Lan Wangji’s eyes widen, lips parting in surprise. There are some differences, especially since his mirror image doesn’t wear a forehead ribbon, but it’s undeniably his face. ]
It is less an adventure and more a complication.
[ He says it to Sizhui but he doesn’t look away from the phone, studying his mirror self. ]
(no subject)
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heb a child
When he (and wiw, what a pretty man) asks where they are, she's a good 98% that it's the latter. ]
Uh. [ She stops a few feet away. ] You're on the Dalhay Training Grounds.
[ And while she doesn't know that he was thinking it, he's right that he's in a park. Most of the others on the grounds are TALOS employees and trainees like herself, but more are the members across the different organizations — DEFIANT, the Silay Coastal Defence Forces. ]
Do you need help?
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Of course, he could be in a place where such things are acceptable as everyday wear and not specifically designed for training. Still, something tells him this girl isn't an ordinary civilian that's confirmed once she mentions training grounds. ]
I am unfamiliar with these grounds.
[ For someone who generally never asks for help, is the one providing it, the question makes him pause. He's in unfamiliar territory, with nothing to remind him of home, and no knowledge of how he got here. It's time not to let pride get in his way. ]
Yes, I do.
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Who is it you're looking for?
[ Helpful. She will be very helpful. It's part because he looks like he needs it and — she's not going to lie — because it might earn her some brownie points. ]
no subject
He clears his throat, looking away. ] I am lost. Need to find assistance returning to my home.