Lan Wangji | The Untamed

[lan_wangji]

Who: Lan Wangji and Everyone and Anyone
What: It's RICE TIME!! Help Lan Wangji harvest rice. Laugh at Lan Wangji, the esteemed Light Bearing Lord of Gusu get dirty in a field of muddy water. He sent a call for help over the bracelets.
When: Timed for March 27th
Where: the rice paddy off the river, outside the city
Warnings: Lan Wangji getting his pristine robes dirty

Lan Wangji is still angry about the recent ridiculousness. It violated things that ought not be violated. It dared to touch his Wei Ying, even if the wounds had been most superficial. It dirtied and damaged their new home and it delayed the harvesting of the rice.

He needs this rice. The city needs the rice, of course, but Lan Wangji has wine to make for his Wei Ying and such a delay is unacceptable. In his haste to harvest the rice, he'd forgotten to ask for help and made it precisely one hour before breaking down and realizing he would need help. He would need to actually ask other people for help. And allow them to see him like this. Wei Ying might call it growth but it takes all his faculties to put out a short call for help over the strange, magical bracelet.

Help needed harvesting rice. Odin District. River. Can trade sword lessons or labor.

He forgoes his white robes for a blue, coarse pair he'd purchased and his hair is tied up in a style not at all appropriate to be seen in company but he can think of no other way. He simply hopes his appearance is not offensive to whomever may come to help.

Comments

[vagabone]

?I could try? Least I could do is keep you two company, I can't carry much.

[lan_wangji]

Master Hector's presence in any form would be welcomed. Please come.

[vagabone]

!see you soon!

In about a half hour, as promised, he's found the rice paddy. If nothing else... he'll be an extra pair of hands, and somebody to talk to. It's been a long, long time since he's done any sort of harvesting. Once or twice he helped out for a little extra money, over a hundred years ago when he was alive...

"Lan! How's it going so far?"

[lan_wangji]

Lan Zhan makes a step forward, realizing immediately he is wet up to his ankles and dirty and entirely unpresentable. He makes as dignified a bow as he can manage, ears burning at being seen in such a way.

"Thank you for coming. I apologize for my appearance," he says, carefully setting down his bucket and his scythe and walking towards the edge of the paddy. "Going adequately, although I confess my knowledge is limited. Has Master ever done such a thing?"

[vagabone]

"What? Oh, you're fine, can't imagine there's anyone who can stay clean doing this." He's going to be filthy himself, and that's fine with him. Mud and water are not what grossed him out the most.

"A few times when I was alive. I barely remember it, honestly, that was so long ago. So... what do you want me to do?"

[lan_wangji]

Lan Zhan's brow furrows as he tries to decide what to request. The labor is hard and he does not fully understand what Hector can and cannot do, physically.

"Stalks that I harvest," he starts, gesturing to the growing pile at the side of the paddy. "Must separate to dry in the sun. If Master Hector can arrange them, process will go by much more quickly."

He cannot quite yet bring himself to ask Hector to take up a scythe himself, not when he is his elder.

[vagabone]

Probably for the best, it looks heavy. An easier job, that's what he needs. Wanting it to be otherwise won't do any good--it seems like he's always been tired at this point and he's never gotten anything he wants most.

"Easy enough." He starts doing that, then. "Glad you decides not to try and do it all yourself."

[lan_wangji]

He did contemplate it, in fact. He was quite determined to do so not only because asking for help in any situation is uncomfortable but being seen so dirty is unacceptable.

However...

"Wei Ying made me," he admits with a blush as the hacks at another bunch of stalks and adds them to his bucket. "Trying to compromise, more."

[vagabone]

"Smart. Otherwise it might go bad before you get it harvested." It won't take long to lay out the stalks where they'll be nice and dry.

"How is everything else going for you guys?"

[lan_wangji]

Lan Zhan takes a moment to answer, as if somehow Hector will read the thoughts flitting through his head of Wei Ying and their home and the unspeakable things they have been doing within said home.

"Well," he finally offers, stuffing down more stalks until the bucket is full and carefully making his way over to where Hector stands. "Enjoy the house. Enjoy the quiet," he says, looking across the field to where their modest, lovely home stands.

"Will be putting Master's portrait up, as promised."

[vagabone]

"Oh." he says, faltering. The portrait. They haven't forgotten, he meant it when he said he'd paint one... it's astounding, almost mind-blowing. It's too, too good. One day he'll be gone, but there will still be a house in a magical land with a picture of him.

And that's fantastic. "Ay, I'd... really like that."

[lan_wangji]

Lan Zhan gives a solemn and slow nod, not fully understanding the significance but knowing it is deeply meaningful to Hector.

"Deserved. Proud to have Master in our home," he says, finding himself seized by a strange impulse.

"Perhaps," he starts, dumping the new stalks in the growing pile before he straightens back up. "A dinner. It is a thing people do here upon moving into a new home. Master Hector could attend. Perhaps others."

[vagabone]

Lan Wangji would only have to ask, the skeleman's willing to explain. The next bunch of stalks are separated and laid out, same as the first. Not the lousiest job he's had to do, by far.

"Sounds nice. And nobody's going to catch me turning down free food, it's one of the best things about this place." Food! That he can eat just for the fun of it! "But what would you do in your own world? If you'd just built a house?"

[lan_wangji]

He pauses and sets down his scythe to take up a cup of water as he thinks. "Move into it after purifying of spirits," he finally decides. His own home in Gusu had been built prior to his birth but after the destruction of the Cloud Recesses, that is what had been done.

"But Wei Ying would like a gathering. That would be his preference. Is there a custom of your people?" he asks, thinking that perhaps he ought to ask that of whomever else they would invite. Such social niceties are still so foreign to him.

[vagabone]

He snickers quietly, hearing that first part--purifying away the spirits, eh? "Don't purify it too much, I might not be able to come in." Because, well. Is it not obvious he's extremely deceased??

More seriously, though. "A party. Like Wei's wanting. People you invite might bring you homey sorts of things. Silverware, cups, a broom, useful stuff. Or just decorations, those are nice too."

[lan_wangji]

His eyes widen, not having ever thought of that. "Is that truly a possibility?" he asks, realizing yet again he does not understand what Hector is. It makes no sense that spirit would reside in a decomposed body and that Lan Zhan clearly has not through through all of the implications.

His worry is only increased at the mention of gifts. "No gifts are needed. Or expected. Would not have gifts of same value ready for guests. It wouldn't be proper."

[vagabone]

"I don't have a clue! It's a joke, relax." After all, this is his first time in any living world as a dead man. He doesn't know the rules, anything could happen.

He raises a bony brow at that second part. "You don't have to give gifts at your own party. Not where I'm from. Don't be surprised if you do get people giving you things."

[lan_wangji]

Lan Zhan is already incredibly anxious about this dinner and he's only just had the idea. Such social niceties are exhausting and complicated and he remembers why he had simply ignored them in Gusu.

"It will make Wei Ying happy to receive gifts," he resolves, speaking far more as if he was discussing some atrocity than a party. "I should not interfere."

[vagabone]

That's just sad. One might think the guy's talking about his own execution, not a party and presents! Happy thoughts! He shifts from one foot to the other, thinking. "You know, you could always bring thank you gifts to whoever comes later on. Not the day of the party, I mean. And remember, they're not going to think you're being rude if you don't. It'll be fine."

[iustise]

John can't say that he has any particular experience harvesting rice, but the specific offer of sword lessons has piqued his interest. Not because he needs them -- he was practically born with a sword in his hand -- but because he has been looking for a sparring partner for some time now, and perhaps this rice harvester might be amenable?

He has come dressed down in his best civilian's attire, which is to say nothing fancy. Simple breeches and boots, a simple waistcoat, and a light jacket, with his hair tied back in its customary queue (old army habits die hard).

"Hallo there, sir!" he calls out, raising a hand in greeting. "Might you still be in need of some assistance?"

Why hasn't John replied to the message instead of just appearing, you ask? Because, from one historic Traveler to another, he isn't certain he will ever be comfortable with the magical bracelet network over a good face-to-face conversation.

[lan_wangji]

It is just as well Lan Wangji had not received a reply as he rarely manages to see them and detests the entire process. Messages from Wei Ying, notwithstanding. He sets down his scythe and bucket at the call of the newcomer, giving a proper bow in greeting and taking a careful breath to steel himself to speak with a stranger.

"Assistance would be appreciated. I am Lan Wangji. First harvest," he explains, gesturing awkwardly at the paddy behind him. "Not a farmer in my previous life."

[trafficreport]

Jet might not know much about harvesting rice, but trading his labor in exchange for sword lessons sounds like a pretty damn good deal to him. He still sucks at combat in close quarters, and given the level of tech around here, he'd kind of prefer to get better at that.

He heads to the Odin District without any calling ahead. The rice paddy is an obvious location, once he finds it.

"Hey." One-eyed, wild-haired, and looking a bit like someone who's been sleeping on the streets for a while (which he has), Jet Star might not make for the most appealing helping hand. But he's here regardless. "Need a hand?"

[lan_wangji]

Lan Zhan's eyes widen a little at the newcomer but he knows he himself is not looking his most groomed. Perhaps the gentleman had also been farming. And perhaps sleeping outdoors.

He nods, adjusting his bucket of stalks as he walks through the shallow water to the edge before offering a proper bow in greeting.

"Did sir receive my message?" he asks, voice soft and low as he fights the urge to smooth his work robes out. "I am Lan Wangji of Gusu Lan. Am new to farming. First harvest."

[trafficreport]

"Yeah," says Jet. The word's a little rough - he doesn't generally use more words than is absolutely necessary. "Never done this before either."

And he probably has even less of an idea of what he's doing than the guy doing the harvesting, which bodes fantastic for the both of them. The offer to help probably would have been worth more coming from someone with some experience in this kind of thing.

Can't do a thing about that now. Most he can do is offer to help.

[lan_wangji]

The man does not offer a name and Lan Zhan is unsure if he ought to ask. Perhaps that is not his custom. Perhaps it is information that Lan Zhan must earn.

"My understanding is cutting the stalks then spreading to dry," he says, gesturing towards the pile of waiting stalks on the ground and the extra scythe. "Any help is appreciated. It is...more grueling than expected," he admits with great hesitation.

Wei Ying would be pleased.

[trafficreport]

Jet shrugs. "No problem."

Offering a name isn't second nature to him - hasn't been for some time. He comes from a place where he's pretty well-known in basically every avenue. Most people here tend to ask him if they're confused, so if this guy's got no clue...sorry, bud.

He picks up the scythe, tests its weight. His eye runs up and down the length of it as he tightens his grip on the handle.

"Been at it long?"