[Xie Lian is no stranger to early mornings, but as it happens, safe and snug in his husband's embrace, he is still sleeping quite soundly for now. The small rustling from the next of blankets is not quite enough to rouse him yet.
He moves a little and nuzzles against Hua Cheng's chest.]
[ as he'd said, hua cheng had ensured no other ghosts would interrupt this household's sleep the night before, and as a consequence, well, he's still awake. it's no hardship, of course: even if he wouldn't do literally anything for his husband, as a ghost himself, he doesn't need sleep, and only indulges in it for the pleasure of waking mornings to xie lian's drowsy smile.
so when xichen stirs, hua cheng brushes his lips across his husband's crown and shifts to tuck his robes more snugly around him, then carefully uncurls from around him to sit up on his elbow. his eye flicks briefly over the human in the nest on the floor, cataloguing any hints of lingering distress from last night, before lifting to his face and his alarmed expression. ]
.. You don't remember. [ hua cheng, that ominous statement certainly isn't helping. ]
Hua Cheng! [ The breathy exclamation bursts free before he can help it, startled, and his brows fly up at the sight of a person-shaped lump beside the Ghost King. ] Is that ... ?
[ Oh. Oh, no. This is very much a bedroom, yes, and those are his new acquaintances whom he doesn't know well enough for this to be a normal occurrence by any stretch of the imagination because they are in bed. Together. Of course together! Bringing up the blanket around himself, he bows his head toward Hua Cheng in apology, voice croaky with disuse and shoulders rounded in shame. ]
[The spoken words are enough to finally rouse Xie Lian, and he yawns and then starts to raise himself in a sitting position, his hair beautifully tousled and sticking out in many directions.
He holds the red robe close as he turns to see Lan Xichen awake and give him a sleepy smile.]
[ Seeing Xie Lian rise from the bed, snuggled so close and cosily with Hua Cheng, has Xichen averting his eyes as colour starts to pinken his ears. The question he is asked leads him to part his lips as he considers, is he better after ... ? Oh.
Oh, no.
The anxiety that stiffens him into a kneeling position is the only thing that could make him look back at the couple, the fear of the White Woman only made less by the notion his brother will discover how he was rescued, and he bows his head and brings his hands together to show his gratitude. ]
I'm very grateful for Hua Cheng and Xie Lian's hospitality, it cannot be repaid though I shall try. Despite my imposition, I would humbly beg this is not mentioned to my brother, Lan Wangji, from the ghost to ... this moment. If you would be so kind.
[ the ghost king clicks his tongue at the horrified apology, but there's amusement in his single eye. he takes a moment to gently brush his husband's tangled hair back from his face, then turns more fully toward xichen once more. ]
I brought you here to be certain you'd sleep. Nothing else happened. You were exhausted.
[ he sits up, swinging his legs out of the bed-- missing his boots and red outer layer, it's the most unclothed xichen's seen him thus far, but he's still entirely decent, at least. a good thing, considering the human's awkwardness this morning. ]
I have no reason to tell your brother or anyone else anything about you.
[It tales a minute as Xie Lian disentangles himself a bit from his own robes, smoothing them over and then draping Hua Cheng's red robe around his shoulders. He gets off the bed and comes to his knees in front of Lan Xichen, catching the man's hands in his gently.]
There's no need to apologize. It was the easiest way to make sure the ghost wouldn't bother you. They don't like to come near Hua Cheng.
I've seen one of them too. They tend to prey on some of your worst memories. I know what that feels like.
[ Some of the tension starts easing from his shoulders at their reassurances, lifting his eyes when Xie Lian kneels to take his hands. Looking between them, his frown softens into a smile despite the pink blush remaining in his ears and his surprise to hear about the other man's experience with the White Woman, paired with their kindness in removing him from that situation, makes him feel ... slightly less alone in his struggles. ]
Lan Huan thanks you both.
[ It's only polite to let them know who he is, after all this, and not just have then stand on titles. ]
[ he pauses briefly at the newly-given name, aware that it must be one lan xichen doesn't give out easily, but doesn't linger over it. he's aware that the human must be feeling vulnerable, indebted, and if that's the reason he's sharing such an intimate thing.. well. hua cheng doesn't want other attachments here, anyway. hasn't he said as much?
still, he can see the way he softens with xie lian's reassurances, and that's only to be expected. it's hard not to feel at ease under the attention of the only god that matters. ]
I'll see what I can do to ensure your room is included in my territory. [ the ghosts here clearly don't always respect such things, but he expects it will make them think twice, at least. ]
[Xie Lian briefly smiles up at Hua Cheng and gives him a small nod of thanks, but soon his attention is back on their guest, and he actually goes to put his palm on Lan Xichen's forehead to feel for a fever, but he doesn't feel hot to the touch now. Still, he did sweat a bit during that ordeal.]
I'll get you a basin so you can at least wash up a little, and you should probably go for a bath, too, after breakfast.
Hua Cheng, can you make the tea while I see what we have to eat?
[ To be taken care of by such a young man is a little galling but only superficially, and he has the grace to gratefully accept Xie Lian's offer of washing up. That, and he's incredibly indebted to Hua Cheng for his part, not knowing how to thank him yet beyond a nod. ]
You're very kind. You remind me of home, in that way, and the disciples of Cloud Recesses.
Haha, well, I only studied cultivation for a few years, and that was a very, very long time ago.
[But well, if that brings he other man some peace, why not? Let him get up again, durst off his robes, and start fretting about for a basin and some water.]
[ It can't have been that long, not when Xie Lian looks so young. Even with successful cultivation slowing down the aging process, he can't be much older than his early twenties. ]
[ of course, a request from his husband is as good as holy writ to him, so he rises from the bed to start the tea. he has half his attention on the other two men, though, and finds his mouth curling into an amused smile at lan xichen's question.
he glances back over his shoulder with an arched brow. ] Ah, gege hasn't told you yet. [ he chuckles as he turns back to his preparations. ] My husband is older than me, you know.
[Really, their age difference is barely a few years and given how old they both are, it hardly even matters these days!
Still, Xie Lian looks vaguely embarrassed when he responds. It's rarer and rarer that he meets people here that don't know, because he's been truthful any time he's asked, so he's disclosed his identity to almost everyone by now, but with so many new people...]
That was more than eight hundred years ago. And let me ell you that I made my teacher despair at times. Poor Guoshi, I was so insolent with him back then...
[ Blinking through his disbelief, he tries to contain it as he rises from his makeshift bed, tidying and folding it to give himself something to do. Hua Cheng is thoroughly enjoying this, isn't he? ]
[ Ascended? Gods??? Xichen really cannot help the way his mouth hangs open as he hugs folded blankets, staring after Xie Lian who disappears into the kitchen, apparently a god. No wonder Wangji somewhat idolises the young(???) man, if he knows about that, it's practically his one goal in life (beyond constantly being attached to Wei Wuxian for any convenient reason and often none at all).
He glances at Hua Cheng and his astonished expression softens with sympathy, reserved though it is. Xie Lian exits into the kitchen, though he can likely still hear as Xichen addresses the Ghost King with admiring respect. ]
A tale of a love that lasted eight-hundred years would be famous where I come from, ghost or human. I would like to have been raised with such a story to warm the ice-cold winter nights in Cloud Recesses.
It's not so straightforward as that, [ hua cheng corrects mildly, setting the tea-tray with its steaming pot and cups on the room's small table. ] We've only been married a short time.
[ he'd been a nothing little ghost for a time, and even once he'd become a calamity, he hadn't felt worthy of courting xie lian. he still doesn't feel worthy of his love or admiration most of the time, but his husband doesn't leave much room for doubt, either.
he taps nails against the table absently, single eye lifting to xichen once more, mouth tilting up at the corner. ] It's a very long story. Gege can tell you if he wishes to.
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He moves a little and nuzzles against Hua Cheng's chest.]
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so when xichen stirs, hua cheng brushes his lips across his husband's crown and shifts to tuck his robes more snugly around him, then carefully uncurls from around him to sit up on his elbow. his eye flicks briefly over the human in the nest on the floor, cataloguing any hints of lingering distress from last night, before lifting to his face and his alarmed expression. ]
.. You don't remember. [ hua cheng, that ominous statement certainly isn't helping. ]
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[ Oh. Oh, no. This is very much a bedroom, yes, and those are his new acquaintances whom he doesn't know well enough for this to be a normal occurrence by any stretch of the imagination because they are in bed. Together. Of course together! Bringing up the blanket around himself, he bows his head toward Hua Cheng in apology, voice croaky with disuse and shoulders rounded in shame. ]
Please elaborate on ... how I came to be here.
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He holds the red robe close as he turns to see Lan Xichen awake and give him a sleepy smile.]
Are you feeling better?
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Oh, no.
The anxiety that stiffens him into a kneeling position is the only thing that could make him look back at the couple, the fear of the White Woman only made less by the notion his brother will discover how he was rescued, and he bows his head and brings his hands together to show his gratitude. ]
I'm very grateful for Hua Cheng and Xie Lian's hospitality, it cannot be repaid though I shall try. Despite my imposition, I would humbly beg this is not mentioned to my brother, Lan Wangji, from the ghost to ... this moment. If you would be so kind.
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I brought you here to be certain you'd sleep. Nothing else happened. You were exhausted.
[ he sits up, swinging his legs out of the bed-- missing his boots and red outer layer, it's the most unclothed xichen's seen him thus far, but he's still entirely decent, at least. a good thing, considering the human's awkwardness this morning. ]
I have no reason to tell your brother or anyone else anything about you.
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There's no need to apologize. It was the easiest way to make sure the ghost wouldn't bother you. They don't like to come near Hua Cheng.
I've seen one of them too. They tend to prey on some of your worst memories. I know what that feels like.
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Lan Huan thanks you both.
[ It's only polite to let them know who he is, after all this, and not just have then stand on titles. ]
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still, he can see the way he softens with xie lian's reassurances, and that's only to be expected. it's hard not to feel at ease under the attention of the only god that matters. ]
I'll see what I can do to ensure your room is included in my territory. [ the ghosts here clearly don't always respect such things, but he expects it will make them think twice, at least. ]
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I'll get you a basin so you can at least wash up a little, and you should probably go for a bath, too, after breakfast.
Hua Cheng, can you make the tea while I see what we have to eat?
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You're very kind. You remind me of home, in that way, and the disciples of Cloud Recesses.
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[But well, if that brings he other man some peace, why not? Let him get up again, durst off his robes, and start fretting about for a basin and some water.]
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[ It can't have been that long, not when Xie Lian looks so young. Even with successful cultivation slowing down the aging process, he can't be much older than his early twenties. ]
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he glances back over his shoulder with an arched brow. ] Ah, gege hasn't told you yet. [ he chuckles as he turns back to his preparations. ] My husband is older than me, you know.
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[Really, their age difference is barely a few years and given how old they both are, it hardly even matters these days!
Still, Xie Lian looks vaguely embarrassed when he responds. It's rarer and rarer that he meets people here that don't know, because he's been truthful any time he's asked, so he's disclosed his identity to almost everyone by now, but with so many new people...]
That was more than eight hundred years ago. And let me ell you that I made my teacher despair at times. Poor Guoshi, I was so insolent with him back then...
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[ Blinking through his disbelief, he tries to contain it as he rises from his makeshift bed, tidying and folding it to give himself something to do. Hua Cheng is thoroughly enjoying this, isn't he? ]
I thought you were much younger than Wangji.
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[There, he is holding out a basin filled with water.]
I was seventeen when I ascended, so my body remains as it was then. But, yes, it's been... a while.
I'll let you freshen up and go see what's in the kitchen for breakfast.
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He glances at Hua Cheng and his astonished expression softens with sympathy, reserved though it is. Xie Lian exits into the kitchen, though he can likely still hear as Xichen addresses the Ghost King with admiring respect. ]
A tale of a love that lasted eight-hundred years would be famous where I come from, ghost or human. I would like to have been raised with such a story to warm the ice-cold winter nights in Cloud Recesses.
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[ he'd been a nothing little ghost for a time, and even once he'd become a calamity, he hadn't felt worthy of courting xie lian. he still doesn't feel worthy of his love or admiration most of the time, but his husband doesn't leave much room for doubt, either.
he taps nails against the table absently, single eye lifting to xichen once more, mouth tilting up at the corner. ] It's a very long story. Gege can tell you if he wishes to.