I'm Not Actually An Elaborate Dominoes Enthusiast [closed post]

[summerdude]

Ever since Magnus learned that Hanguang-jun keeps a regular schedule, he's been doing his best to memorize it. Without asking Galahad to tell it to him, because that just seems like it's cheating.

It helps that Magnus already knows about Galahad's training time, which he does sometimes now crash... just to watch, not to participate; it's an inoculation against the jealousy that still clings at the edges of his vision whenever he watches them interact. But now he knows the times Hanguang-jun flies around to survey the grounds, and the times that he's in his room doing stuff Magnus doesn't need to know about, and the times he's in the kitchens cooking, and --

Well. Anyway. It's helpful, because now that the secret garden he and Claudius are growing for Hanguang-jun is getting big, he can, like, try to cover it so Hanguang-jun can't see it from the air.

It's also helpful on a day like today, when he's been worrying over his conversation with Luo Binghe and (admittedly) getting a little worked up over the thought of what needs to happen to bring Aornis down. He's sitting on a log just outside of tree cover, watching the skies for Hanguang-jun and Bichen, ruminating. When they fly into his field of vision, he leaps up, waving Hanguang-jun down.

Comments

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji is also occupied with several of his own thoughts, but Magnus in sudden motion acts as a beacon. He redirects Bichen's momentum and the sword angles downward obediently. Its angle is steep -- he wants to waste no time getting to Magnus in the event that there is something pressing he needs. Once he is nearer to the ground, he jumps down and lands beside Magnus, light enough to make little impact on the soil next to him.

[summerdude]

"Hanguang-jun." It should be clear that Magnus is serious, and worried about something -- his brow is lightly furrowed; there's a downward twist to his mouth. He had, it must be said, been staring so far into the middle distance while scanning for Lan Wangji that his vision was lightly blurred, but now all of his attention is on Lan Wangji.

He takes a deep breath, makes eye contact, and says, "I need your help."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji's already-serious expression sharpens and focuses, his jaw set and his eyes intent on Magnus. "What is it?"

[summerdude]

"Do I have to help kill... her?" There's grim determination written all over his face and underscoring his tone. He'll do it, if he has to, but he won't like it.

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji's eyes widen minutely. His confusion might be apparent to Magnus, who is skilled at reading him. "No," he says, almost instantly. Even if Magnus had not stepped back from fighting generally, Lan Wangji would never have considered recruiting him for Aornis' death. "That is not your responsibility."

[summerdude]

"Can anyone else here do anything like the Peace of Frey?"

[lightbearinglord]

"Not to my knowledge. But I want you nowhere near her."

[summerdude]

Magnus nods slowly -- an acknowledgement, nothing more. "You and Claudius have a plan, right?"

[lightbearinglord]

He gives Magnus a hard look, not overfond of how he dodged the implied question. "We have most of a plan. Her abilities leave no room for error."

[summerdude]

Part of Magnus wants to ask what the plan is. He should know. It's the responsible thing.

He absolutely does not want to know the details, though. Is that bad? It's probably bad. He wants nothing to do with any of this!!! He recognizes that it has to happen, but he doesn't want to be involved. But if no one else can do what he can...

He shakes himself.

"And so you're, like. Accounting for her abilities?"

[lightbearinglord]

"Of course." Lan Wangji frowns, trying to ascertain where Magnus is leading this discussion. Claudius is clever, and he has everything in writing -- naturally they are accounting for Aornis' abilities. There is no other reason that this plan has taken so long to assemble.

[summerdude]

Of course Hanguang-jun and Claudius would be fastidiously careful in setting up a plan. Luo Binghe, Magnus feels, might be... less so. He had so much pain, so much anger... Magnus does get why. He shares a good deal of that anger. It's just that he's trying to fill a different role here. A side role, rather than a primary one.

But he's still important to the equation, so he sets his jaw and tilts his head back. "I need you to talk to Luo Binghe."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji's expression slides back into blankness, touched with something a little frostier -- but only a little. "Why?" It is meant as a genuine question, not a refusal. Luo Binghe came to him once. He could do so again if he felt it necessary.

[summerdude]

"I talked to him this morning." What is Linearity? "He's... she... there was a thing. He remembered something. He's going to try to kill her, but, like..." Magnus sighs. "I've been focused on Shen Yuan. I don't want -- I don't know what maybe you do. It's... I know you hate him, but it's not, like. A solution if he dies because he doesn't have all the information. All I know is what I remember, and I don't even remember her, really, just what I've been reminded about. And the gun. And there's no good way to avoid a gun. Except, maybe, Peace of Frey."

[lightbearinglord]

He remembered something. Lan Wangji's mouth presses into a hard line for a moment. It doesn't particularly matter that he hates Luo Binghe. Whatever will eradicate Aornis is of interest to him. "If I remove her hands, she will be unable to wield a gun," he says shortly. "I will speak with Luo Binghe."

[summerdude]

Magnus blinks. "Remove her," he starts, raising his eyebrows. That sounds kind of badass, actually? "Brooooooooooo..."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji lets his own eyebrows quirk upward in answer. Dismemberment proved an effective way of preventing Jin Guangyao from cutting Jin Ling's throat, after all.

[summerdude]

"Also I think there needs to be some kind of, like. Protection... array? Thing. So that her spirit can't take the bodies."

[lightbearinglord]

"Has Luo Binghe not already warded them?"

[summerdude]

"Yeah, I guess, but what if...?" The fact of the matter here is that Magnus thinks Lan Wangji is probably the best cultivator in any universe. He might not be a god, but he still has the vibes of an expert in his field.

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji nods, then. "I will confirm that they are protected before we confront her." He has doubts about Luo Binghe's willingness to let him do so, but that is irrelevant to Magnus.

[summerdude]

Magnus nods, too; despite himself, as he looks up at Hanguang-jun, his lower lip trembles. "I don't want to be involved," he says. "But I will. If I'm needed. If... if you and Claudius need me to speak to or for Luo Binghe. Or if you need the Peace of Frey. Or--"

[lightbearinglord]

"Magnus," Lan Wangji says, clipped not with anger but with the immediacy of his intent to cut him off. "I want you nowhere near her. We will take care of this. I will talk to Luo Binghe myself."

[summerdude]

"Okay, but I can be there when you do. If you want. I'm Middle Ground Guy. It might make things easier for you."

[lightbearinglord]

"No." He takes Magnus by the shoulders, firm. "This is not your responsibility," he repeats.

[summerdude]

"Why does it have to be yours?"

[lightbearinglord]

"I want it to be." Lan Wangji keeps his hold on Magnus' shoulders, looking him directly in the eye. "Protecting the weak and eradicating evil is the purpose of my cultivation."

[summerdude]

"Oh." Magnus blinks a few times. He guesses he kind of forgot that just because Hanguang-jun is, like, a father figure to him or whatever, it doesn't mean he's, like, also a god of peace or whatever. Or, at least, not a Peace Guy in the same way Frey is. "Okay."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji lets silence hang between them. He searches Magnus' face, hoping to find understanding there.

[summerdude]

"And you're taking all the precautions?"

[lightbearinglord]

For another moment, Lan Wangji doesn't answer. He has already told Magnus that they are accounting for Aornis' abilities. Magnus knows he is a careful person and he knows that Claudius has a deft mind. Something else must be troubling him. "Yes."

[summerdude]

"And," another deep breath. "You'll call me in if you need me?"

[lightbearinglord]

"Only if there is no other choice." It would be idiocy to throw away his life if Magnus could save it -- but he will do whatever he can to avoid that scenario.

[summerdude]

Magnus nods, grateful on several levels. He opens his mouth to say 'thank you.' What comes out is, "I'm scared."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji's brows draw together, almost a reflexive expression. He is already holding Magnus, which makes it a simple matter to pull him in for a purposeful embrace. He can't tell Magnus not to be afraid; it would be disingenuous. A total absence of fear would be foolish in this instance.

[summerdude]

Magnus sinks gratefully into the hug. "She's a bad news bear, Hanguang-jun."

[lightbearinglord]

"Mn. I want her gone." That is a grievous understatement.

[summerdude]

"I just, like. Hate that this is the only way."

[lightbearinglord]

"I know." He is far from thrilled at the extent of the cold-blooded premeditation this plan requires. But they have had it confirmed again and again that there is no negotiating with Aornis, that she wants nothing but misery. "Sometimes it is necessary."

[summerdude]

"I know." His jaw is set, resolute, but he's clearly unhappy about it.

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji draws back and considers him again. "If I leave to confer with Luo Binghe, will you be well?"

[summerdude]

"You can," Magnus says. "I, um. I told him you'd meet him by the lake house first thing in the morning, or I'd go if you and Claudius both said, no, but if you need to talk to him now... that's fine."

[lightbearinglord]

"I would like to have done with this." And, although he knows that Claudius could endure a meeting with Luo Binghe if necessary, he would like to spare him the conversation if it is at all possible. Endurance is not always imperative. Additionally, Magnus did not answer his question; he asks it again. "Will you be well?"

[summerdude]

"Yeah. I mean, this is important, right? I wanted -- there's something else I want to talk about, but it's not, like, urgent. It can easily wait till after. I'll be fine." Is Magnus putting off his big training confession scene? He sure is!

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji gives him another long, level look. He is not eager to leave Magnus if he needs something, but the sooner Aornis is gone, the better. "Will you?"

[summerdude]

"Hanguang-jun, I don't break my promises," Magnus says. "I'd tell you if I wouldn't."

[lightbearinglord]

"All right." Lan Wangji holds onto him, one more moment of gazing down at his dear and beloved face, and then he nods. They will speak soon. He presses a firm kiss to Magnus' forehead before he calls Bichen back to his side, makes the small jump back onto its blade, and goes in search of Luo Binghe.