unfinishedlibrary | Meanwhile, in Garlemald...

Entry tags:

Meanwhile, in Garlemald...

Who: Nice/Jiāng Wěi & Wreck/Láng Yìchén
What: Meeting up to discuss things
When: Evening before the masquerade for the Moonlit Rivals Story
Where: The inn in neutral territory
Content warnings: It's them, so... you know. Currently none, will update as needed.

It was significantly easier to meet up with Jiāng Wěi before Láng Yìchén became a werewolf. When he was human, hardly a soul batted an eye at a human spending time with a vampire. People generally thought he would eventually become Jiāng Wěi's snack, and if not, they thought Jiāng Wěi would turn Láng Yìchén into a vampire.

And to be fair, that had been the plan. But Jiāng Wěi's clan, while less strict than the Umbra clan, had hoops to jump through when it came to turning humans. Even so, plans had existed... until Jiāng Wěi had business to attend outside of Montica. When he returned, it was too late; Láng Yìchén was a werewolf.

There were cures, of course, but it's hard to get your hands on a cure for lycanthropy when the person who bit you basically held you hostage until the next full moon came. Ultimately, Láng Yìchén figured it was his 'punishment' for hanging around a vampire too much. Thought maybe a werewolf had noticed and wanted to make an irreversible dig against a vampire. It was easy enough to believe since the whole situation had essentially been a bite and run.

Tonight, although he has a home of his own, he's booked a room at the inn. He's been waiting in it for a few hours, mostly because it would have been more obvious than it already is what he was doing if Jiāng Wěi arrived at the same time. He expects Jiāng Wěi to be here soon, though, and despite everything, he's excited to finally have an opportunity to talk privately with him. It feels like they've only spent a handful of hours together over the past few months.

...He does hope Jiāng Wěi shows up. Láng Yìchén hadn't really considered until this moment that Jiāng Wěi very well might not show up at all.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Idiot.... Stupid Stupid Stupid idiot....

[ His voice almost sounded a little shaken as he gently squeezes Láng Yìchén's face. he leaned in to press their foreheads together as if he just wanted to soak up everything he possibly could. ]

I don't know what I would have done had you been murdered... I would have lost my mind. No man nor woman would have been safe....

Well, at least you'd spare the children....

[ He tries to keep his tone light. He understands how serious it had been, but it's just not something he prefers to dwell on. ]

I'm okay. Truly. I know my blood tastes foul to you now, and I probably have the permanent smell of dog clinging to me, but... I'm okay.

[ A part of him did appreciate Láng Yìchén wanting to keep things light, but he was just far too dramatic for that. At least right now he was. He was just so frustrated with the situation, with himself. He wanted to destroy whoever did this to Láng Yìchén in the first place. he hates that stupid wolf, he hates his own obligations. He... hates himself. ]

I should never have left your side.

It's not like you had a choice. We both know that.

[ Or rather, Láng Yìchén knows that. He doesn't feel as though Jiāng Wěi will ever forgive himself. ]

Even though we're in neutral territory, and even though I knew you from before I was bitten... you're still putting yourself at risk even coming to talk to me. So don't think that's lost on me.

As if that even matters right now...

[ He was hesitant as he reached out his hand to stroke Láng Yìchén's hair back. Slowly taking charge of there position and moving him until he hit the bed. ]

It does matter, Jiāng Wěi.

[ After the first full moon he'd experienced since the bite, he'd been thinking about the future, though. And he has an idea, but not a plan. ]

You always seem to forget you're important, too.

I'm not the one in danger. I'm not the one specifically being targeted to get to me.

[ With enough force he shoves Láng Yìchén onto the bed in the inn room, but he ends up falling to his knees and burying his face into Láng Yìchén's knee. ]

I doubt I'm a target anymore. They got what they wanted....

[ With a soft sigh, Láng Yìchén reaches a hand out to comb his fingers through Jiāng Wěi's hair. ]

I was... thinking... which I know, I should stop doing that... but I was thinking nonetheless... that after the masquerade we might just... leave Montica. What do you think?

[ . . . ]

Leave?

[ He frowned thoughtfully, as if the thought just.... never occurred to him. His father figure had kept him here this whole life and he just... never thought about leaving. Not when everything he knew was here. Láng Yìchén was here. ]

Leave. Somewhere else far away from here that doesn't have daily clashes between vampires and werewolves. Maybe even somewhere that has no idea what vampires and werewolves are, although we might have to travel quite a ways for that.

[ Láng Yìchén sighs again. ]

I know you have your whole immortal life here, and you feel indebted to your clan, but... I'm... tired of the way of life here. I never wanted to take sides, let alone get dragged to the side opposite of yours.

Is this.... something you've been thinking about for a long while now?

[ is that... why he wanted to see him today? ]

On and off... but... more seriously recently. But I'd never leave without you, of course. I'm... not so sure you know that, so I wanted to be sure I said it out loud.

And I don't suggest it thinking it would be easy. I know it would be difficult for you.

I... um... well, what are your thoughts...?

I knew I should have locked you up in a cage and kept you safely in my room...

[ Jiāng Wěi let out a soft little sigh as he turns his head in Láng Yìchén's lap. Only tilting upward a little to peak at him and his expressions. ]

I... don't care what happens to me.... but I don't want you to be in danger.... I love you too much..... You're my sun, my stars, my muse.....if.... getting away would keep you safe...

The frightening part is I can't tell whether you're making a joke....

[ Honestly, Jiāng Wěi probably would have been willing to do that. ]

Jiāng Wěi.... I'm grateful that you love me, and I love you, but I want you to love yourself, too. Don't you know how devastated I'd be if something were to happen to you?

[ But it sounds like Jiāng Wěi isn't entirely against leaving Montica. He thought it'd be... more of a struggle? Not necessarily an argument, but a "let me make my case" kind of situation. ]

I'd feel the same way you would. I'd never be able to smile again.

[ Láng Yìchén doesn't think he'd go on a rampage, necessarily, the way Jiāng Wěi claimed he would, but... the truth is, even if Láng Yìchén doesn't think he has it in himself, he probably would. ]

So then... are we really in agreement? After the masquerade, we'll tie up loose ends here and... part ways with Montica?

[ He didn't want to answer that question out loud, probably because there was a small part of him (maybe not so small after all.) that was really serious about it. He's always had the tendency to want to keep Láng Yìchén all to himself and not want to share him with the world. But... he also knew Láng Yìchén wouldn't thrive like that. He was a beautiful spirit who needed to be able to be social and experience the world.

He frowns deeper and hides his face in Láng Yìchén's lap once more. ]

I-I.... don't know. Maybe?

We don't have to leave the night after. So... if you need some time to prepare, that's okay. Although... with your clan... leaving would be pretty difficult, wouldn't it...?

If... we're both serious about this... My clan is not going to make this easy for either of us... We'll have to... leave as soon as the ball is over...

Even if you don't tell them...?

They'll be a bigger problem if I do tell them, so it's better... if we do it secretly... at least on my end of things... I won't stop you from talking to anyone you need to... but...

[ he turned his head a little to look up at Láng Yìchén, worry, fear, nervousness written all over his face. ]

[ Láng Yìchén reaches out to cup Jiāng Wěi's face in the palm of his hand. ]

I'm right here with you. And... should we be... unsuccessful in following through, I won't be upset. I have friends here and a fulfilling life in Montica, but my happiness is where you are.

If one of us gets cold feet... we'll manage. I promise.

I don't.... want to give myself the chance to get cold feet here. I want to go somewhere where I'm free to just love you and not have to worry about all these stupid rules.

[ He leans into the hand cupping his face. ]

You're really okay with leaping into the unknown with me...?

I am absolutely terrified of leaping into the unknown. My life has pretty much been scripted out before me. Before I met you I never had to think I just had to do. It's terrifying, the world you've opened up for me... but... I'm even more terrified of losing you.

But, Jiāng Wěi... what is it that you want?

I want to run away with you.

[ Which one of them is supposed to be the werewolf again, because Jiāng Wěi is staring up at him with wibbly eyes. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject