[Wen Ning makes sure to look optimistic about the conversation. Jin Zixuan tolerates his presence, which is something.]
H-he doesn't like me, understandably, but... he acknowledged that we'll probably see each other a good amount a-and didn't demand I stay away from his family.
[it is a start, and a better one than wei wuxian had been braced for. he looks slightly surprised, even pleased. but then his expression sours, the reason for it mumbled under his breath.]
Dammit. If he keeps this up, I might actually start liking him.
[wei wuxian exhales heavily before giving wen ning a faint smile.]
[That remark gets another grin out of Wen Ning. If being in this place means that people get a second chance and new friendships can happen then it can't be that bad of a place.
He nods happily. Though at the same time he also puts both hands behind him in preparation for following Wei Wuxian. He knows that if he doesn't he won't be able to stop himself from trying to touch the puca's ears on the way back.]
[his ears are just one of many things that have become normal over the months, so normal that he forgets how strange it is to have newly arrived. he leads the way back to the cottage, slyly sneaking a carrot from one of the vendor's tables as they take a shortcut through the marketplace.
he should tell sae ahead of time, explain to her so that she won't be worried about what is essentially a strange new man in their home. he can explain to lan zhan later, not that his husband will mind-
ah. wei wuxian blinks and lowers the carrot before glancing back at him.]
Eh - Wen Ning, there's probably a thing or two that I should explain. You might be surprised.
[A carrot. Really. It's too much. Wen Ning won't be able to stop grinning from ear to ear the whole way back. (And it's nice to be able to grin this easily again too. It had taken a while for him to get past his puppet body's original stiffness enough to do it.)
What if he just... no. Hands behind his back. If he tried to pet Wei Wuxian on the head he'd never hear the end of it.]
[the surprise turns on wei wuxian, though he ends up looking pleased too. not that anyone's had a problem with it. it's gone pretty smoothly with everyone, now that he thinks about it.
maybe because everybody knew.]
The bond made it easier. You can feel things through it. It's one of the reasons why a lot of people avoid bonding, but you can only be stubborn about it for so long.
It can't have always been like this. Surely there was a time when witches didn't explode because they didn't have a partner. He'll have to look into it.]
It's good that you two... that you have each other here. And now I can be here to help you both.
[He grins again. What he leaves unspoken is that he would gladly be a bond for either of them, as there's little about him they don't already know.]
It's not much different from having a soulmate, not counting the chance that you could turn feral.
[it's never been something that he's struggled with the way that many others have, but then his situation is different. more fortunate.]
Ah, Wen Ning, it will be a help having you around. There's so many winged rabbits! And I'm still thinking about digging a burrow in the back yard! That's not so different from a cave right? It's just...underground.
[That's a thing they can have? That's so... ludicrous. And amazing. He's still reeling from that when Wei Wuxian goes on and he finds himself a little lost.]
[He feels like he's missing a lot right now, but Wen Ning keeps smiling anyway. It's a slightly confused smile, but a smile all the same.
Flying rabbits named after their swords. It doesn't seem like such an impossibility, after everything else. He's still going to have to see them so he knows Wei Wuxian isn't just teasing with him, but he doesn't think he is.
And he wants them all to live underground. Well, he is part rabbit now, after all...]
[a burrow just seems so cozy to him. and safe! and at this rate, wei wuxian is increasingly surrounded by people who can't say no to him.
they might end up in a burrow.]
Sae is a girl that I met here a few months ago. She's like a little sister to me. [and to lan zhan, lan xichen. wei wuxian's fondness for her is obvious in his voice.] She doesn't have family here, and she's been through a lot. [he nearly hesitates before saying more, but if anyone could understand, it's wen ning.] She was an innocent who suffered too much in her world, mostly because people were willing to stand aside and let it happen.
[That does hit Wen Ning's (admittedly large) soft spot. But it wasn't even necessary to explain that much. If Sae is an important person to Wei Wuxian, then she would get Wen Ning's protection automatically.
He gives a serious nod once his friend has finished.]
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[Wen Ning makes sure to look optimistic about the conversation. Jin Zixuan tolerates his presence, which is something.]
H-he doesn't like me, understandably, but... he acknowledged that we'll probably see each other a good amount a-and didn't demand I stay away from his family.
[Though he'd offered to.]
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Dammit. If he keeps this up, I might actually start liking him.
[wei wuxian exhales heavily before giving wen ning a faint smile.]
Let's go.
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He nods happily. Though at the same time he also puts both hands behind him in preparation for following Wei Wuxian. He knows that if he doesn't he won't be able to stop himself from trying to touch the puca's ears on the way back.]
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he should tell sae ahead of time, explain to her so that she won't be worried about what is essentially a strange new man in their home. he can explain to lan zhan later, not that his husband will mind-
ah. wei wuxian blinks and lowers the carrot before glancing back at him.]
Eh - Wen Ning, there's probably a thing or two that I should explain. You might be surprised.
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What if he just... no. Hands behind his back. If he tried to pet Wei Wuxian on the head he'd never hear the end of it.]
Of course! Please tell me everything.
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wei wuxian pauses, and turns to face him as he delivers what he assumed to be the biggest news.]
Lan Zhan and I are married.
[gasp, he and lan wangji fell in love, who would've guessed...]
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[Wen Ning doesn't seem nearly as shocked by this news as one might expect (that singular one being Wei Wuxian), but he does look very pleased.
If that sort of thing is easily accepted here, then it's all the better for them.]
That's wonderful! I-I wasn't sure you would ever tell him.
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maybe because everybody knew.]
The bond made it easier. You can feel things through it. It's one of the reasons why a lot of people avoid bonding, but you can only be stubborn about it for so long.
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It can't have always been like this. Surely there was a time when witches didn't explode because they didn't have a partner. He'll have to look into it.]
It's good that you two... that you have each other here. And now I can be here to help you both.
[He grins again. What he leaves unspoken is that he would gladly be a bond for either of them, as there's little about him they don't already know.]
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[it's never been something that he's struggled with the way that many others have, but then his situation is different. more fortunate.]
Ah, Wen Ning, it will be a help having you around. There's so many winged rabbits! And I'm still thinking about digging a burrow in the back yard! That's not so different from a cave right? It's just...underground.
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[That's a thing they can have? That's so... ludicrous. And amazing. He's still reeling from that when Wei Wuxian goes on and he finds himself a little lost.]
A burrow... f-for the rabbits?
[Do they need a burrow if they can fly?]
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Suibian and Bichen. Ah, I thought they were both boys at first. I was pretty amazed when Suibian had babies!
[and then realized that she was a girl. in that order.]
Oh no, the burrow would be for us if we wanted it! Me and Lan Zhan and you and Sae.
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Flying rabbits named after their swords. It doesn't seem like such an impossibility, after everything else. He's still going to have to see them so he knows Wei Wuxian isn't just teasing with him, but he doesn't think he is.
And he wants them all to live underground. Well, he is part rabbit now, after all...]
Sae? [He latches onto the unfamiliar name.]
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they might end up in a burrow.]
Sae is a girl that I met here a few months ago. She's like a little sister to me. [and to lan zhan, lan xichen. wei wuxian's fondness for her is obvious in his voice.] She doesn't have family here, and she's been through a lot. [he nearly hesitates before saying more, but if anyone could understand, it's wen ning.] She was an innocent who suffered too much in her world, mostly because people were willing to stand aside and let it happen.
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He gives a serious nod once his friend has finished.]
I will be glad to meet her, then.