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[equivocations]

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[misrepresentation]

❰ he had been worried that zewu jun wouldn't understand what he was attempting to do would balk at the casual familiarity in meng yao's words, or insist he complete his bow — but meng yao should have known better. zewu jun is not ranked number one just because he's attractive and strong, he's also intelligent. when he responds to meng yao's greeting in kind, with fond remembrance and informality, meng yao's smile relaxes a fraction, and he stops his careful glancing about for spies — what a good actor is zewu jun, that he can make such silly words sound so genuine.

the way zewu jun's eyes flick over meng yao in assessment does not go unnoticed, but meng yao just keeps smiling, giving away nothing. ❱

Yes, I would like that. I wasn't planning on staying here for very long so I didn't look for an inn — do you have a room somewhere? I can try to find one. Or if you are amenable to a walk, I passed a forest on my way into town.

❰ passed through one, more accurately, and found a nice, sizable cave that could serve two fugitives well enough, at least for a night. ❱

[equivocations]

[ Lan Xichan is surely intelligent - it would be impossible to be the Lan Sect Leader if he were not - but as to the type of intelligence, well. His doesn't lend itself to artificial acting skills. In this case, they are fortunate that his burgeoning fondness for Meng Yao is genuine.

He knows well enough not to press further for an answer to the question he didn't ask - he had hardly answered Meng Yao's as to the state of his own health, after all, for this is not the place.

He has enough money with him for an inn, if they so chose, along with the scrolls and unbound books that are secreted away amongst his robes, but - they can't trust that he won't be recognized, if not personally then as a member of the Lan clan, and they couldn't truly talk without fear of being overheard. It's a quick decision. ]

I have not traveled very far yet. [ Much closer to a lie, and though he says it with a small smile and a neutral expression, it's not nearly as genuine. It feels as though he has traveled very far, indeed. ] I would appreciate the opportunity to walk a little further into the forest.

[misrepresentation]

It did look very tranquil. Shall we go? ❰ meng yao sweep his arm out to invite zewu jun to join him in walking, and then they're on their way out of the city. it doesn't appear as though they're being followed, but meng yao keeps his eyes peeled for any suspicious people as they exit the village, positioning himself just a few steps behind zewu jun so that he can get between him and any attackers that may follow — not that he could provide much use except as a human shield, but it would at least give zewu jun enough warning that someone was upon them that he might be able to put up a better fight than if he was surprised.

thankfully, there's no trouble as they make their way into the forest. either the wen haven't caught up to zewu jun yet — unlikely, but possible — or they didn't consider this one small village worth sending spies to — more likely, but not likely enough for meng yao to stake both his and zewu jun's life on it. he keeps his eyes and ears sharp while they wend through the forest, leading zewu jun with quiet directions.

when they arrive at the cave he had found, he wastes no time in dropping into a deep bow. ❱

This one offers his most humble apologies for disrespecting Zewu Jun.

❰ please don't be mad! you didn't seem mad but PLEASE DON'T BE MAD!!! ❱

[equivocations]

[ Similarly, Lan Xichen keeps himself angled just a little bit in front of Meng Yao, putting himself between him and any danger that may come as they moved towards the forest. He doesn't quite clutch the hilt of Shuoyue, but the hand that he would normally keep at the small of his back is much closer to where it rests on his hip.

Though of course, if he knew of Meng Yao's willingness to use himself as a human shield to protect another, he would - well. It speaks very highly of him, that he is willing to sacrifice himself to protect another, at the same time as he would fear it came from a place of not viewing himself as worthy as the one he saved.

But they reach the cave undisturbed, and although Lan Xichen knows that the Wen are still out there looking for him - for a moment, he allows himself to breath a sigh of relief at something like a place of safety.

In retrospect, he should have been expecting that - and perhaps he was, somewhat, because he reaction on instinct to catch Meng Yao's arms. ]

How could protecting my life be any disrespect? You must know who I am hiding from. [ His touch lingers, as it had the last times they'd come into contact, and allows himself to not pull away just yet. ] There's no need for that between us, most especially not now.