Meanwhile, in Garlemald...

[awreck]

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.

Comments

[dovedive]

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...

[awreck]

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?

[dovedive]

[ 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?

[awreck]

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...?

[dovedive]

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...

[awreck]

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

[dovedive]

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. ]

[awreck]

[ 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.

[dovedive]

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. ]

[awreck]

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

[dovedive]

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.

[awreck]

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

[dovedive]

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. ]

[awreck]

And what then? What do you want to come next...?

[dovedive]

I don't know... but I'll be with you.

[awreck]

That's fair.... Think about it. Maybe by the night of the masquerade, you'll have more clarity on what you want. But, if in the end all you really want is me... who am I to complain...?

[dovedive]

Is it... really so bad.... if my only desire is you?

[ he reached up from his crouched down spot so he could stroke his face gently. ]

[awreck]

I don't think it's bad. I'm honored if that's the case, Jiāng Wěi. But... I don't want you to feel like you're not allowed to want other things, too. Not other people, of course--

[dovedive]

The same can be said about you, you know. I don't— I don't want you to feel like... you have to stick to me... Even if... I want to be possessive... I fell in love with your free spirit.

[awreck]

Jiāng Wěi. There is no one else for me. You're the one, and... you're stuck with me. For better or worse.

[ Or until one of them dies. ]

[dovedive]

I don't want to be with anyone else anyway, Láng Yìchén... You're the one I want to be with... You're the one who's opened up my sheltered world...

[awreck]

Then at least come be equal with me and sit on the bed instead of kneeling like that....

[dovedive]

[ Jiāng Wěi frowns thoughtfully as he finally moves to get up off the floor and moved to sit down beside him. ]

So you.... really want to run away with me? Of all people?

[awreck]

[ Láng Yìchén immediately takes the opportunity to lean his head against Jiāng Wěi's shoulder. ]

There is no one else I'd rather go hurtling toward uncertainty with than you....

[dovedive]

I'll never understand it... how these kind of feelings and thoughts come to you so naturally...But— I don't hate them...

[ Jiāng Wěi shifts a little bit and starts fussing around with the inside of his coat. ]