[Because Lan Wangji is a gay disaster at any age, but a younger Lan Wangji has his studies to throw himself into, and distracts himself from his confusions by working even harder than usual. Somehow. If that's possible.
But that's why it's so unusual to find him doing something like this. He's in Hua Cheng's office, as usual, with a stack of work next to him and his laptop open. He's been sitting quietly, also like usual, seemingly utterly focused on whatever he's looking at.
...Except that the pile of papers next to him has barely been touched, and he's been here for at least half an hour. HM.
He doesn't seem to notice that he's frowning openly at his laptop, and when he does type something, it's slower than usual. Once, he even lets out a low sigh of obvious frustration, which is exceedingly out of character.
Normally, Lan Wangji doesn't let people sneak up on him, but considering this is Hua Cheng, he probably has his ways. If the illustrious professor simply decides to ask him, he'll probably try to be (poorly) evasive--if he decides to simply look for himself, he'll see that Lan Wangji isn't actually working at all.
In fact, he's clothes shopping. During working hours. WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE THE REASON FOR THIS.]
[ Hua Cheng in this world is a silent killer, a brutal assassin that can walk in the shadows with little to no problems. Nearly impossible to detect.
This Hua Cheng is the Ghost King, a Supreme, capable of walking in and out of the Heavens under the emperor's nose. Sneaking up on a distracted TA is hardly an issue for him to do, especially given how deeply he's engrossed in whatever he's doing on his laptop. Arms folded behind his back, he slowly meanders over when he notes that no work is getting done. He doesn't necessarily care, but he's particularly interested in what he's doing.
He comes to stand behind him, single eye focusing on the screen. Technology is fascinating, he thinks absently, as he watches him scroll through the clothes he's looking at.
Silence reigns for a few minutes longer.
He assesses, making sure there's nothing immediately dangerous that could be used as a weapon. (Not that it'd kill him, considering he's already dead, but it would blow his cover.) ]
[It's very rare that Lan Wangji is unfocused enough to jump, but that's exactly what he does now, very nearly banging his knee on the desk as he does. His first instinct is to slap his laptop closed, as if he was caught doing something much more scandalous than browsing Eternally22.
His own actions catch up with him a second later, though, and he lowers his head, the tips of his ears reddening. NO USE IN DENYING IT NOW... not that he would, but still. IT'S EMBARRASSING.]
[ The gleam in his dark eye is practically maniacal, and obviously holds back a cackle at the way he makes Lan Wangji jump. How satisfying that is, especially when this is a person that seems unflappable. Moving over, he leans against the desk, just barely sitting on the edge of it as he uses two fingers to turn the laptop more towards himself.
A little tsk escapes him, like he actually cares to scold him. He doesn't understand what he's looking at, at least not until he scans it a moment longer. ]
You're very distracted, it seems. [ NO SHIT ] Are you trying to dress to impress..?
[Lan Wangji sits, tense, but he makes no move to stop Hua Cheng, resting clenched fists in his lap instead. There's a sort of anxious resignation about him; this has never happened to him before, but he seems perfectly aware that there's no getting out of it. And, well--somehow, Hua Cheng is the professor he's closest to, which is the only reason he's willing (kind of) to discuss this, instead of clamming up and fleeing with the scraps of his dignity.]
No. It is for Wei Ying. [CUE SHOCK not. If Hua Cheng has seen the two of them together for even five seconds he's probably figured them both out tbh. THEY'RE STUPID, NOT SUBTLE. He looks, for a moment, like he wants to say something else, but he can't figure out a way to phrase "I offered to buy a new one because I felt guilty for stabbing him on reflex but then he laughed and said I'd buy him something lame so now I have to prove him wrong". So in the end, he just awkwardly presses his lips together.]
[ Eat shit, Wangji. While he's not sure how he wound up with this morally upright young man as his TA - and he doubts the Other Hua Cheng knows, either - he's a little amusedly fond of this outstanding cultivator-turned-student. He's learning very quickly that it's very, very easy to pick on him like this, and he sinks his teeth into the scraps of his dignity like a fox cornering a chicken. ]
Ah, is it? [ There isn't even the courtesy of mock-shock, here. He scrolls through the clothes with a scrutinizing eye. Unfortunately for all parties, he only has the one eye, so it's very, very scrutinizing. ] How nice. Though your, ah, taste doesn't line up very much with his. [ Stop being a dick for like, five seconds.
... actually, considering their similar aesthetic...
He clicks the trackpad with a single finger, once he pinpoints something appropriate. ]
No. [NO IT DOES NOT LINE UP, that's true. Everything about this is horrendously embarrassing, but at least Lan Wangji doesn't seem offended by truthful statements. Wei Wuxian had explicitly (yet unknowingly) rejected his first idea, but he hadn't actually provided any alternatives, and since they wear uniforms he doesn't really have anything to work with besides his vague knowledge of Wei Wuxian's tastes. He's bought things for other people before, but most of them had been either thoughtfully sentimental, or practical. He's never actually bought clothes for anyone but his brother before.
Cautiously, he glances up at the screen, staring with an uncertainty that looks far more mild than it feels.]
...Do you think so? [His voice is even, but it doesn't really matter, because he's obviously totally lost.]
[ Any expression on an otherwise often expressionless seeming person is quite a lot, in Hua Cheng's experience. He raises an eyebrow with minor amusement in response to the question, corners of his mouth curled meanly.
But, like, normal meanly. He's not being outright cruel, which is a goddamn miracle at this point in his non-life. Shifting easily where he's seated on the desk, he starts looking at the related merchandise on the page, twisted around, considering, mock-thoughtful. ]
You're obviously hopeless. [ Blunt, but true. At least Lan Wangji can probably accept that. ] As your laoshi - [ NEVER NOT GOING TO BE FUNNY TO HIM ] - I'll offer advice.
Lan Wangji's brow shifts, and it looks, briefly, like he wants to protest--but either he sees something in Hua Cheng's face, or he thinks better of it on his own, because he sighs quietly. He's not going to verbally agree to his own hopeless, but he's not arguing, which is close enough.
ADVICE, THOUGH... at that, he gives Hua Cheng a side-eye that's so blatant it's borderline disrespectful. He's not sure he trusts any advice Hua Cheng has to offer, okay!! He wouldn't have lasted this long as his TA if he was that much of a fool.
Hua Cheng's got his man, though, so he must've done something right at some point. It's hard to argue with success. Also, probably anything's better than what Lan Wangji's been doing, which is "continue to grapple with having Feelings in the first place and react with violence every time he gets flustered".
Besides, he can always choose not to take it. Slowly, he nods his acceptance, though the wariness isn't totally gone.]
[ What the fuck do the kids wear in this world? Hell if Hua Cheng knows, but he's seen Wei Wuxian enough - here, and in the Space - that he can take a wild guess at what might be appropriate. Him, but twinkier.
The fact that Lan Wangji backs down amuses him just as much as the entirety of the situation does, and he tilts his head again to assess what he's looking at. Getting a side-eye doesn't even faze him, save for something to laugh at later when he tells gege about this, but he instead figures out what he's doing with the laptop. At least no one's asked him to type yet, and his TA is useful enough to do his writing for him. No one has to see him learning how to use technology, and no one suffers his handwriting. ]
To begin with, you should probably stab him less with a blade. [ "And more with something else" isn't even subtext. He clicks on a form-fitting shirt - or the poor excuse for one, he wagers - with sheer panels in it. Would Wei Wuxian wear this? Seems legit. ] Less clothing to replace.
[ "Better ways to take them off," also not really subtext. ]
[Whatever he chooses will probably be better than what Lan Wangji might choose, since apparently Wei Wuxian is too good for a nice, respectable cardigan.
Also, after much deliberation I have decided that Lan Wangji does in fact understand this, which means he's immediately turning away and glaring into the distance, his hands balled into fists on his lap.]
Professor, please. [DON'T DO THIS TO HIM, HE CAN'T TAKE IT.]
Of course, Wangji. [ He doesn't apologize, because he's not fucking apologetic. But he returns his attention to what he's doing, absently scrolling and clicking things, nary a care in the world. Because he's the worst. ]
Ah, here we go. [ He has the strange, "I'm an edgy twink leaving my bits up to the imagination" shirt open in one of those 'tab' things, but he's gotten a series of progressively goth looking things open. These thumbhole sweaters look comfy? ] This really is the exact opposite of you. Amazing how opposites so often attract one another - oh, this one says it glows in the dark.
[HE IS IN FACT THE WORST WOW. Lan Wangji can't believe his most trusted professor is making fun of him like this...
...yeah okay that's a lie he absolutely can. Awful.
JUST LIKE THESE CLOTHES--actually, though, the thumbhole sweaters are okay. Sweaters are fine? See, obviously Lan Wangji's taste isn't that bad, since Hua Cheng is--
[ While TAs aren't necessarily given final choice, they do get to at least list their choices. You put yourself in this situation, Wangji. It was you that done did it.
Hua Cheng barks out a laugh at the one-note comment, but doesn't close the tab. No, this frivolous bitch is staying up. ]
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SOMETIME AFTER THE 13TH
But that's why it's so unusual to find him doing something like this. He's in Hua Cheng's office, as usual, with a stack of work next to him and his laptop open. He's been sitting quietly, also like usual, seemingly utterly focused on whatever he's looking at.
...Except that the pile of papers next to him has barely been touched, and he's been here for at least half an hour. HM.
He doesn't seem to notice that he's frowning openly at his laptop, and when he does type something, it's slower than usual. Once, he even lets out a low sigh of obvious frustration, which is exceedingly out of character.
Normally, Lan Wangji doesn't let people sneak up on him, but considering this is Hua Cheng, he probably has his ways. If the illustrious professor simply decides to ask him, he'll probably try to be (poorly) evasive--if he decides to simply look for himself, he'll see that Lan Wangji isn't actually working at all.
In fact, he's clothes shopping. During working hours. WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE THE REASON FOR THIS.]
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This Hua Cheng is the Ghost King, a Supreme, capable of walking in and out of the Heavens under the emperor's nose. Sneaking up on a distracted TA is hardly an issue for him to do, especially given how deeply he's engrossed in whatever he's doing on his laptop. Arms folded behind his back, he slowly meanders over when he notes that no work is getting done. He doesn't necessarily care, but he's particularly interested in what he's doing.
He comes to stand behind him, single eye focusing on the screen. Technology is fascinating, he thinks absently, as he watches him scroll through the clothes he's looking at.
Silence reigns for a few minutes longer.
He assesses, making sure there's nothing immediately dangerous that could be used as a weapon. (Not that it'd kill him, considering he's already dead, but it would blow his cover.) ]
My, my, Wangji. Looking for a change in style?
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His own actions catch up with him a second later, though, and he lowers his head, the tips of his ears reddening. NO USE IN DENYING IT NOW... not that he would, but still. IT'S EMBARRASSING.]
I apologize. I am [
very gay] distracted.[NO SHIT, LWJ.]
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A little tsk escapes him, like he actually cares to scold him. He doesn't understand what he's looking at, at least not until he scans it a moment longer. ]
You're very distracted, it seems. [ NO SHIT ] Are you trying to dress to impress..?
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No. It is for Wei Ying. [CUE SHOCK not. If Hua Cheng has seen the two of them together for even five seconds he's probably figured them both out tbh. THEY'RE STUPID, NOT SUBTLE. He looks, for a moment, like he wants to say something else, but he can't figure out a way to phrase "I offered to buy a new one because I felt guilty for stabbing him on reflex but then he laughed and said I'd buy him something lame so now I have to prove him wrong". So in the end, he just awkwardly presses his lips together.]
no subject
Ah, is it? [ There isn't even the courtesy of mock-shock, here. He scrolls through the clothes with a scrutinizing eye. Unfortunately for all parties, he only has the one eye, so it's very, very scrutinizing. ] How nice. Though your, ah, taste doesn't line up very much with his. [ Stop being a dick for like, five seconds.
... actually, considering their similar aesthetic...
He clicks the trackpad with a single finger, once he pinpoints something appropriate. ]
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Cautiously, he glances up at the screen, staring with an uncertainty that looks far more mild than it feels.]
...Do you think so? [His voice is even, but it doesn't really matter, because he's obviously totally lost.]
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But, like, normal meanly. He's not being outright cruel, which is a goddamn miracle at this point in his non-life. Shifting easily where he's seated on the desk, he starts looking at the related merchandise on the page, twisted around, considering, mock-thoughtful. ]
You're obviously hopeless. [ Blunt, but true. At least Lan Wangji can probably accept that. ] As your laoshi - [ NEVER NOT GOING TO BE FUNNY TO HIM ] - I'll offer advice.
no subject
Lan Wangji's brow shifts, and it looks, briefly, like he wants to protest--but either he sees something in Hua Cheng's face, or he thinks better of it on his own, because he sighs quietly. He's not going to verbally agree to his own hopeless, but he's not arguing, which is close enough.
ADVICE, THOUGH... at that, he gives Hua Cheng a side-eye that's so blatant it's borderline disrespectful. He's not sure he trusts any advice Hua Cheng has to offer, okay!! He wouldn't have lasted this long as his TA if he was that much of a fool.
Hua Cheng's got his man, though, so he must've done something right at some point. It's hard to argue with success. Also, probably anything's better than what Lan Wangji's been doing, which is "continue to grapple with having Feelings in the first place and react with violence every time he gets flustered".
Besides, he can always choose not to take it. Slowly, he nods his acceptance, though the wariness isn't totally gone.]
...Thank you. [Still as polite as always!]
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Him, but twinkier.The fact that Lan Wangji backs down amuses him just as much as the entirety of the situation does, and he tilts his head again to assess what he's looking at. Getting a side-eye doesn't even faze him, save for something to laugh at later when he tells gege about this, but he instead figures out what he's doing with the laptop. At least no one's asked him to type yet, and his TA is useful enough to do his writing for him. No one has to see him learning how to use technology, and no one suffers his handwriting. ]
To begin with, you should probably stab him less with a blade. [ "And more with something else" isn't even subtext. He clicks on a form-fitting shirt - or the poor excuse for one, he wagers - with sheer panels in it. Would Wei Wuxian wear this? Seems legit. ] Less clothing to replace.
[ "Better ways to take them off," also not really subtext. ]
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Also, after much deliberation I have decided that Lan Wangji does in fact understand this, which means he's immediately turning away and glaring into the distance, his hands balled into fists on his lap.]
Professor, please. [DON'T DO THIS TO HIM, HE CAN'T TAKE IT.]
no subject
Ah, here we go. [ He has the strange, "I'm an edgy twink leaving my bits up to the imagination" shirt open in one of those 'tab' things, but he's gotten a series of progressively goth looking things open. These thumbhole sweaters look comfy? ] This really is the exact opposite of you. Amazing how opposites so often attract one another - oh, this one says it glows in the dark.
no subject
...yeah okay that's a lie he absolutely can. Awful.
JUST LIKE THESE CLOTHES--actually, though, the thumbhole sweaters are okay. Sweaters are fine? See, obviously Lan Wangji's taste isn't that bad, since Hua Cheng is--
--why.]
...Frivolous.
[WHY DOES IT GLOW IN THE DARK HE HATES THIS.]
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Hua Cheng barks out a laugh at the one-note comment, but doesn't close the tab. No, this frivolous bitch is staying up. ]
And yet you know he'd love it!