deferences | ♪ noctium inbox

[coming back from the dead? he doesn't quite remember exactly how long ago... but wow, it's been a while since then. sizhui opens his mouth to say something, hesitates, second-guessing what he thinks he might want to say and instead going with,]

Did you inform him of the [pause] happenings back home?

Ah... I'd be thrilled to see him, too. [this works out perfect, actually, keeping in mind he'd wanted to visit wei wuxian at his and lan wangji's new place anyway.]

[ He takes a breath and places his tea down. ]

I have informed him of Jin Guangyao, and of Nie Mingjue. There is much else to be discussed.

[ But also Sizhui knows his papa isn't one for explaining long stories, and it's a long story. ]

Regardless. After this, if you have time, we should go see him.

[for a split second, the boy thinks he's misstepped whenever lan wangji sets his tea down, which makes him visibly stiffen momentarily. he softens afterward though, exhales a relieved breath and fidgets with his own cup.]

In due time. [they needn't rush into explaining after they've all been dumped onto this new world and have barely regained their bearings yet.

and yes, that's also a good point.] Once we are finished here, I would very much like to see him.

Mn.

[ He pushes the pastry he's ordered over so that Sizhui can give it a try. ]

It is better not to bring up all at once.

[ And there's nothing to 'hide' anymore, that's really the important part. ]

[sizhui's gaze immediately downcasts to his father's dessert – sorry, not sorry! – and examines the delicate lavender lemon cake, eyebrows lifted with interest as he carefully breaks a piece off. it gets put in his mouth and while he mmms with delight, his free hand pushes the vanilla cake toward lan wangji so he can try. (if he wants, that is!)

he nods, waits until he's finished chewing to say,] No reason to overwhelm him like that. [then, without really considering manners, sizhui reaches out toward his cake he'd ordered and takes some of it, too.

a distraction during his brief consideration of how hard it'll be to keep quiet about some things if certain situations arise.]

[ He does politely take a small piece of cake from Sizhui so they can share, but not too much because he doesn't like things that are too sweet. In fact, it's a little too creamy for him, so he's glad he went with lemon, since the acidity cuts through a little. ]

Mn.

[ This just means he approves. ]

Do you like it?

[the offer is there and taken and that's what matters to sizhui. his father needn't have any more if it's too much for him, but the boy actually sort of likes the overly sugary taste. the lavender lemon truly is divine as well, though; they weren't kidding when they said it was a specialty.

he hums at the noise, nods delightedly toward the question.]

I do! Both of them are quite delicious in their own ways. [and perhaps for emphasis, he's already reaching for another bite of his vanilla cake, smiling all the while.]

[ He nods, satisfied. ]

Perhaps we can order another slice to take with us.

[ He'll order one for Sizhui, and one to take home to Wei Ying. ]

How are you finding the apartments?

[ If he doesn't like them, he can move in with his papas... ]

[and his son beams outrightly, which isn't very lan-like but that's alright. it's only them, after all, and something tells him they won't need to worry so much about that sort of thing here.

at the offer toward more cake,] Could we? That would be lovely! [sizhui won't turn down sweets and his other father certainly wouldn't mind cake, either.

‘how are you finding the apartments?’ poor boy just about inhales a mouthful of dessert at the question once he realizes he'll have to say he's staying with lan xichen; not because of who it is, but for the reasons, which will seem silly when said aloud, ssso.] Actually, Zewu-jun got ahold of me a short while ago and offered me an extra room...

So, I was thinking I'd stay there for a bit? Until I decide if I want my own place. [or if he wants to stay somewhere with family!]

Oh.

[ Why hadn't Xichen told him about that? Not that it really matters because he's with family and with someone that Wangji trusts - that's what matters the most. ]

I was hoping we could all find somewhere to live.

Perhaps a few apartments close together.

[ Just like at Cloud Recesses.

Your dad's a sentimental guy. ]

[a good question, although it's one even sizhui himself can't answer as he'd be uncertain as to why zewu-jun didn't mention it. perhaps slipped his mind with everything going on at the moment? seems a likely (and safe) assumption.

he brightens at the suggestion, takes a quick sip of tea to wash down his cake then,] Some apartments together would be nice! [sappy though it may seem, he doesn't mind whatsoever, honestly thinks it's a good idea to stay closer together rather than far apart, but especially when it comes to family.]

Do you think we'll find enough clustered buildings for it?

If not, we could build.

[ Lan Wangji is not above construction work after all, even in his delicate white clothes. He would just roll up his sleeves and get to work if it meant being able to live with his family all together.

Happy with this answer, he picks at more of his dessert, but thinks he might just give the rest to someone else who appreciates sweets. ]

There must be a way to acquire land.

We could.

[neither is his son, especially if it means having somewhere they could all comfortably live; lan sizhui much prefers having his family nearby anyway rather than worrying about what might happen to them while living apart.

he mmns softly to himself with consideration, takes more cake, leaving him with hardly anything left at this point, even if he hasn't noticed how quickly he'd downed his dessert. (must've been hungrier than he thought!)] Perhaps once we've gotten more established, it might be easier?

None of us have been here long, so settling with the apartments might be our only choice for now.

Mn. I will look into it.

[ He would like to see Sizhui every day, after all. And his brother, and the others. He had gone into seclusion once upon a time, but he saw no reason to do that now. And certainly not when they had to work together to figure out this place.

He also sees no reason to keep Wei Ying far from his sister, since they have much catching up to do. A compound would be best. ]

I doubt we have the capital, but we can save up for land.

Should you need any help... [well, he knows where his son is, how to get ahold of him and will do so if necessary.

teamwork makes the dream work, after all, and being closer together means they'll have easier accessibility if there's ever a time where they are needed right away— like an emergency family meeting sort of thing! wei-qianbei being able to see his sister easier is also absolutely something sizhui would support.]

Manna doesn't seem all that difficult to obtain. [to be frank, anyway.] With enough currency, I'm sure they would let us have some.

Mn.

[ He's glowing right now, anyway, since Sizhui is right here. So they're at least generating a little bit of manna just sitting around and enjoying something to eat.

He finishes up his snack, and sips at his tea idly. ]

We will do our best, Sizhui.

[ Then he pulls up the menu. ]

Help me pick something for Wei Ying?

[speaking of, he's doing it too, he just hasn't noticed anything besides the warmth because his gemstone is tucked neatly between his shoulderblades beneath all his layers.

to be fair, he is absolutely distracted with cake and tea as well.]

That's all we can do for now and doing our best is what matters. [optimistic as always, of course!

he perks after his father picks up the menu again, gleefully bright-eyed at the thought of helping decide on something his other parent will enjoy.] Should we look for something like yours or choose a dessert that's sweeter? [because if it's up to him, you can bet sizhui's going to pick a thing like the chili-chocolate cake.]

Mm... I think he would like something sweeter.

[ He doesn't even think there will be something spicy in here, though he does notice there is something called a chili chocolate cake. ]

I wonder. What is chocolate?

Do you know?

[ He would lean towards this flavor anyway, but he's just curious. ]

I think so, too. [he'd just seen ‘chili,’ immediately thought of the spiciness and figured wei wuxian would probably enjoy something like spice-infused cake.

toward the question, he faintly shrugs his shoulders then downs the rest of his tea before answering,] I'm not sure. I haven't tried it yet and I've never heard of it back home... [which piques his curiosity even further, really. part of sizhui almost wants to order the cake to try for himself, but this is for the other parental unit, not him.]

Should we ask what it tastes like or chance it and hope it's an alright choice?

[ He nods. ]

He will appreciate the gesture. If he does not like it, I will eat it.

[ Even if it is spicy, which he didn't expect out of a dessert. But if Wei Ying truly does not like it, it won't go to waste. And he'll be very loud about how much he hates it if so. ]

And next time we will have him accompany us.

Most assuredly. [oh, but poor hanguang-jun, he shouldn't have to suffer such a cruel fate—] I could have some, too. I am quite curious how any dessert is spicy.

[or at least not alone, that is! sizhui's the one who suggested and all.

he doesn't even seem worried about how a cake could burn his mouth whenever lan wangji mentions them all going together. dinner as a family? he's aware it hadn't been all that long since he'd seen his fathers back home and they have already reunited, with wei wuxian coming here shortly too.]

Yes, [sizhui agrees without hesitation, excitement swelling.] I'm sure there are many things here he'd try if given the chance.

Mn, we will all partake.

[ Wei Ying was always willing to share, particularly in gifts, and definitely with his favorite a-Yuan. Only when he was poor, did he refuse him, out of practicality. And even then, Lan Wangji had at least partially been there to help spoil the boy a little.

Now that they're both back - and Sizhui has grown into a very unspoiled adult - he thought it was high time the two of them returned to showering a little bit of affection on him, anyway. ]

It has been many years since I have eaten with both of you.

[ He is practically beaming at the idea. In true, slightly affected, Hanguang-jun fashion, of course. ]

[sizhui nods affirmingly, rolls his lips together then presses them tightly in an attempt to stifle any further grinning. here, where the three of them will have the ability to gain currency, they can all spoil each other; it's always exciting, being able to give back now that he's older, particularly because he thinks his family deserves the world.

and of course, he'll accept every single bit of affection his fathers give, whether it seems selfish or not. although their noctium situation isn't the best, this newly gained free time will be good for bonding.

oh no, how is he supposed to resist smiling when lan wangji looks so pleased? (yes, in his micro-expressive way, but that only furthers sizhui's persistent enthusiasm.)]

It has! The last time I remember is when I was very young still.

He would enjoy it very much, I'm sure.

[ And even though he has just as much money this time, Lan Wangji is sure he'll be the one with the open purse strings, but he has never minded to shower either of these boys with trinkets and foodstuffs that cost so little compared to the joy that they bring.

No, he is exceedingly happy to do all these things as long as he gets to spend his time with his family, too.

In fact, if they are both done, he'll call the waiter over so they can wrap up here and go gain a third. ]

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