Okay so yes, Rosh Hashana was two days ago, but better late than never! Please enjoy a smol ficlet of wangxian being jewish and making new holiday traditions.
* * *
Lan Wangji is nearing the house when he hears it.
“Dip the apple in the honey, say the bracha loud and clear…”
Ah. Wei Ying is getting into the holiday spirit, it seems. Lan Wangji is glad; he had suspected that Wei Ying was feeling nervous about spending this much time with his family after everything that had happened. They all claim that they’ve put it all behind them, but tensions are still high whenever Wei Ying and any of the Jiangs - save Jiang Yanli - are in the same room.
But now, at least, it seems that Wei Ying is looking forward to Rosh Hashana. A good thing, too; there are only a few hours left until sundown, and then it’s two entire days of festive meals and celebrations, which have the potential to turn unpleasant if everyone isn’t on their best behavior.
Lan Zhan turns the corner, and stops. He had expected to see Wei Ying, of course; he is, as always, a welcome sight. But he had not expected to see him pouring honey and - he looks closer - cut-up apples into his donkey’s feed bowl. In the few seconds it takes Lan Wangji to make sense of the scene, he mentally adds an uppercase ‘A’ to the Apple that Wei Ying is singing about.
“Wei Ying,” he says. Wei Ying looks up.
“Ah, Lan Zhan! You’re just in time for the new holiday tradition I’m starting. It’s a take on dipping the apple in the honey, because why shouldn’t donkeys have a sweet new year too?” He looks heavenward, his expression turning pious. “One must treat the animals in one’s care with respect, Lan Zhan. It wouldn’t do to have Apple feeling left out, now would it?”
“Hmm,” Lan Wangji says. He cannot fault Wei Ying’s logic, but he does take a moment to send up a prayer of thanks that they had decided to spend the holidays in Yunmeng with the Jiangs instead of in Gusu. His uncle, who is always one Wei Ying away from having a stroke, would quite likely need medical attention if Wei Ying fed Apple honey from Gusu Lan’s treasured beehives. A trip to the hospital is no way to start the new year.
He takes a step closer to his ridiculous, wonderful soulmate. Wei Ying grins; Apple brays. Lan Wangji reaches towards the apple slices, dips one in honey, holds it out to Apple. He smiles. “Shana tovah u’metuka, Wei Ying. Have a happy, sweet new year.”
* * *
Shana tova, y’all! Hoping that 5781 will be a kinder, sweeter year than the last one.
