Open: And they're gonna bend their branches down to lay their fruit upon the ground

[vineleaves]

Dionysus is in a kitchen, apron tied over a purple dress with vine details, singing to himself as he uses a melon baller to scoop out a watermelon. The large bowl next to him is already full of honeydew melon and cantaloupe, and he's got a few other ingredients nearby ready to add in once he's done with the watermelon. Mint leaves, some honey, some lemon juice, and some lime juice.

It has been quite an eventful time lately, but overall his life is pretty great right now.

Comments

[lightbearinglord]

Everything Lan Wangji has heard of this god, every last story, aggravates him beyond reason. What god treats his followers so callously? What god asks such impossible tests of them? Gods can be capricious and unkind, but they don't earn their followers through nothing but acts of malice.

"All right," he says, slightly quieter, still so, so serious. "I needed to be certain. Claudius' trust is precious."

[vineleaves]

Dionysus smiles. "Of course! He's very fortunate to have a good friend like you. And, ah, if you ever need anything from me as well, don't hesitate to ask. I mean, not, y'know, as a god, or whatever, just as a friend."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji gives him a look of faint surprise, fantastically understated on his features. "Are we friends?" It is a sincere question.

[vineleaves]

"I mean, I'd like to be?"

[lightbearinglord]

That also surprises him, truthfully. "I had never had a friend before I met Claudius," he confesses.

[vineleaves]

"Whaaaat? Really? Why wouldn't everyone want to be your friend?" Like, yeah, he's a little quiet but a lot of people are quiet...

[lightbearinglord]

Frankly, Lan Wangji is growing weary of explaining this lately, but that is not Dionysus' fault specifically, so he makes no indication of that. "I have often been perceived as cold and unapproachable," he says levelly.

[vineleaves]

"What, because you're quiet? If that's why that's bullshit. I'm sorry, dear."

[lightbearinglord]

"And because of my face."

[vineleaves]

"...What's wrong with your face? You have a beautiful face." Dionysus is a god of Emotions and therefore probably a liiiiittle more in tune with these sorts of things than most people would be¹, but even still, he figures it's not as though Lan Wangji is the only person alive who is more subdued with how he shows things outwardly.


1. Unless it's a situation where it's funnier if he doesn't notice something. He is, of course, from a comedy after all. The rule of funny governs more in his life than not.

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji, who is perfectly aware of the beauty of his expressionless face, receives this with some fresh bemusement. He is uncertain whether Dionysus sincerely misunderstands him or whether he is being teased, which is mildly discomfiting.

Apparently, this is pointless to pursue. He thinks of Sagramore, saying, Since when is this thing that's defined me of no consequence to anyone? He spent thirty-six years cold and untouchable. It feels like stepping into the sun after a long winter to meet so many people who seem to take no notice of his demeanor at all, like peering into a brightness he is not sure he likes.

"I am not declining your offer," he says rather than answering the question.

[vineleaves]

"Oh, wonderful!" Dionysus says at that, sounding for all the world truly delighted.

[lightbearinglord]

Everything about Dionysus is utterly opaque to Lan Wangji, but he attempts to take this at face value. "Then my assistance is available to you as well."

[vineleaves]

“We should definitely hang out some time,” he says, still just as completely excited as he was before.

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji, nonplussed by the enthusiasm from the god of wine at the prospect of spending time with someone who almost never drinks alcohol, looks at him. He tries to think of what he does with the few friends he has now. "Do you know weiqi?"

[vineleaves]

"I do!" he says cheerfully, then pauses and adds, "I'm incredibly terrible at it though."

[lightbearinglord]

That doesn't matter. Claudius is far from terrible at this point -- in fact, he is improving admirably -- but he has yet to win a single game against Lan Wangji in all the time they have been playing. "Then we can play. I will teach you more strategy, if you like."

[vineleaves]

"Oh, that sounds great!" He can't remember, does he like playing weiqi? Hopefully so.

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji nods briskly. Naturally, he will not insist on further interrupting Dionysus, who is in the middle of a task. "When you are ready, find me." He is easy to find. He largely does the same thing every day, at the same times.

[vineleaves]

“Oh yeah, for sure!”

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji puts his hands back together, bows with all the precision he has, which is a great deal, and sweeps out of the room. He still needs to find that garlic.