[Open Post] ..only want to glean the purpose..

[lanselos_du_lac]

Since they learned of Shen Yuan's death, things have been subdued; rightly so, Lancelot reasons. He has done what he can to be a support for those he loves, and to keep his own worry and anxiety at bay. He worries about how they are all doing, about whether or not they are safe, about what he can do to make anything better -- which often feels like nothing. It's unsettling, and he wants to stay settled and present for them, so he determines to find a way to be so.

As has always been the case for him, being outside helps. The weather is warming and true spring is settling in. (He has difficulty keeping track of what time may be like back in Britain¹, but he suspects that it is early summer there. If so, then he supposes that means he is another year older, which is a strangely hopeful thought.) And so, after his lunch with Susan, he heads back out -- he might ride, or walk through the woods, or explore the lake. Whatever keeps him out in the sunshine, under the sky.



^{1: He has not quite realized this yet, but he has generally stopped thinking "at home" when he means Camelot, or Britain in general. That this place -- no, these people -- have become home in so short a span is something he has to take by degrees, lest he worry about what it means for his relationship with those he left behind there.}

Comments

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji's longing for Gusu has come and gone, something cyclical like the phases of the moon. He is glad, often, to be here; just as often, he yearns for the Cloud Recesses. He cannot imagine a total absence of that melancholy, but he doesn't begrudge Lancelot his contentment. "The architecture is from the West," he says. "Perhaps the landscape is, too."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Much of it is similar to Britain," he agrees, "though the woods are not as dense as some I know. I have seen plants or birds that are new to me, but the change is not drastic."

[lightbearinglord]

Britain. Lan Wangji turns the word over. He has read of it, some, but only one person here has mentioned that country to him aloud. "Do you and Sir Sagramore come from the same world?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Yes," with perhaps a faint note of surprise at the question. "From the same court, as well, though not the same time."

[lightbearinglord]

The same court, but not the same time. Lan Wangji can only imagine the frustrating possibilities of that. If the Wei Ying who had arrived here was one from before they were married -- it doesn't bear lengthy contemplation. "Arthur's court?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Yes," glancing over, with a small smile. "King Arthur's court."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji remains carefully neutral, which is luckily an easy feat for him. "Sagramore has spoken of this king to me."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"That does not surprise me."

[lightbearinglord]

He is curious to hear Lancelot's opinion of that same man, but the two of them are not close enough for him to pry. As it is, Lan Wangji only leaves a silence, one that Lancelot can choose to fill or not as they continue to walk.

[lanselos_du_lac]

He's quiet for a space before he says, "I think you will find our opinions differ. I understand Sagramore's point of view, I think, but to me he was a friend."

The faint hesitation before friend gives it more weight than he really intends, but he supposes there's nothing he can do about that.

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji turns that over quietly. What Sagramore has told him about Arthur has had the weight of something complicated. This, too, sounds potentially complicated, but differently complicated. "He was not only your king, then."

[lanselos_du_lac]

A quick, slightly sad smile, "No. Not only my king."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji turns over the melancholy twist to that smile, too, for a quiet moment. Lancelot doesn't seem to mind the quiet, and he likes to take the time to think before he speaks, when he can. "Would you have him here, if you could?"<sup>1

1</sup>Forgive him; he missed that part of visitor's day. Too busy fighting Jiang Cheng.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"He was here, the day of the visitors," Lancelot's reply is cautious, though this is largely because he doesn't know Lan Wangji well enough to share the details. "But-- I think to wish for that would be selfish. Britain has greater need of him, as does the Queen."

[lightbearinglord]

If Lan Wangji is faintly surprised, it's only brief. He could not have met every last visitor, after all. He can only be relieved that he was present to separate Wei Ying from Jiang Wanyin. "Mn. I visited with my older brother that day, but I would not bring him here. He is the sect leader." Not one who is capable of fulfilling most of his duties these days, but Lan Wangji has hope for his recovery.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Aye, that sounds like a grave responsibility."

[lightbearinglord]

"There is a great deal of administration," Lan Wangji agrees. Before he was taken by the mansion, he and Uncle split the bulk of Lan Xichen's work between them.

[lanselos_du_lac]

With genuine interest, Lancelot asks, "And there are students?"

[lightbearinglord]

"Yes. I teach cultivation to the older junior disciples."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"Do you enjoy that work?"

[lightbearinglord]

"Yes," Lan Wangji says again, promptly and with a little more feeling. He misses it, although not so much as he did before he began training Galahad and giving occasional lessons to Magnus, too. He misses Sizhui and Jingyi and the rest.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"That's well," a little smile. "I have trained others, younger knights, and often it is very rewarding."

[lightbearinglord]

"What do knights learn beyond swordplay?" It may not be obvious from the continued restraint to his voice, but Lan Wangji is sincerely interested, too.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"There are stages to pass through. One typically must serve as a squire, while refining swordplay and use of a shield, horsemanship, these kinds of things."

[lightbearinglord]

Swordplay, use of a shield, horsemanship. Lan Wangji will remember. "Do you learn any arts?"