[BASILISK]

[guillotineroom]

[when you open your eyes, you find yourself in a pleasant greenhouse. the sweet scent of flowers surrounds you, and the sun shining through the glass ceiling invigorates you from within. there are stone benches on which you can sit, and if you're hungry, there's a garden table with some refreshing tea and scones available to you]

[the voice– the good voice– echoes in your head again]

YOUR DESIRES. . . CREATED THIS REALM. IT IS YOURS. . . IT IS NOT TYPHON'S! I CAN USE THOSE DESIRES TO GIVE YOU A SAFE PLACE. . . FROM WHICH TO FIGHT.

BUT I CANNOT DEFEAT HIM. . . ONLY YOU CAN. ONLY YOU– WITH YOUR OWN DESIRES!! YOU CAN. . . RESHAPE THIS WORLD. . . HOWEVER YOU'D LIKE!

Comments

[strikingchords]

[tilts his head in return a little, questioning]

[laughitoff]

[nothing, it’s nothing, he almost says]

You don’t object?

[strikingchords]

...

Will you explain my reasoning?

[careful to gentle his voice and make it as neutral a request as possible...]

[laughitoff]

I can't tell if you're asking me to or not to.

[strikingchords]

To know Wei Ying's expectation.

[takes his hand and squeezes, slightly]

[laughitoff]

...I keep half-expecting you to say it wouldn't be right, is all.

[strikingchords]

[nods, a little go-on gesture, eyes on Wei Wuxian's face still; he'd asked for Wei Wuxian's version of his reasoning for saying so, after all]

[laughitoff]

No matter how I qualify it, it does look like demonic cultivation, doesn't it?

[strikingchords]

[...nods...]

At least, the use of resentful beasts.

[laughitoff]

So.

[there's your reasoning; there's his trepidation]

[strikingchords]

Mm.

[thinks about what to say for a couple of minutes, peaceful, thumb stroking the back of Wei Wuxian's hand...]

When resentment is against unrighteous action, even righteous cultivators seek opportunities for the dead to find a different path.

Have not believed Echidna's aim to be endless regret.

Nor, Wei Ying's.

[laughitoff]

No...that's true.

If we're in a realm of wishes, we might as well make that better path, eh?

[strikingchords]

Trust Wei Ying's instincts.

... Perhaps, offered, a place apart. Sanctuary.

[laughitoff]

Why not have them stay here, and, I don't know...if other people are going to make doors to other worlds through here, maybe just allow them through the doors if they don't mean any harm to the people on the other side? I don't think there's a limit on the space here other than what the Warden put in.

...

'If they don't mean any harm' is a good thing to wish for for everyone, actually. There's some people here who probably shouldn't be allowed to go wherever unchecked.

[strikingchords]

This is a realm of will. Tests of intention fit it well.

[watching Wei Wuxian, eyes soft]

[laughitoff]

[huffs a laugh]

Okay. Okay, I guess we're doing this.

...

Are you wishing for the same? Or--anything else?

[strikingchords]

...

Not enough information to say.

[he's still holding Wei Wuxian's hand between them, fingers carefully threaded together]

[laughitoff]

Lan Zhan, ah. I think you'll have to decide on what we have...it doesn't sound like we have that much time.

...what do you need?

[strikingchords]

Is that all Wei Ying will wish for?

[laughitoff]

It's already a lot, isn't it? And it's concerning this world in particular.

[the card in his sleeve...well, if it disappears at the end of all this, then it is still a precious thought from Sprezzatura to carry, and if it doesn't, then it bears more time for thought.]

I guess we should think of something for the loud one out there, it's no good to fix the place around him but leave him still stomping around.

[strikingchords]

Perhaps.

[his fingers tighten on Wei Wuxian's a little...]

...

Whether Wei Ying considers more than "this world in particular."

That is what I must understand.

[laughitoff]

[exhales and looks up at him. it's not enough time, he thinks, but what he said to Lan Wangji applies to him too. he has to make some decisions based on what he has now, and no more.]

My own failures? ...I suppose I do consider them.

[strikingchords]

...

Not my meaning, precisely.

But would hear more, if you would speak.

[laughitoff]

There's not much to say.

[fiddles with the edge of his sleeve]

Sprezzatura Vaux...bought me a wish. I'm thinking about what to do with it, but I'm not going to make it now.

[strikingchords]

[...nods, glancing away... a little painful, maybe]

Will he tell me his decision, before he makes it?