highly new, slightly improved open post

[appliances]

assorted morons

☆ @ the muselist

optional prompts/ideas

☆ caught in the rain meme ☆ little steps meme ☆ affectionate physical contact meme ☆ picture prompt also acceptable but link them so it's tidy ☆ AU ideas: soulmates AU, reincarnation AU, Bad End AU, canon divergent/roleswap AU, dorky college AU, crossover AU, super indulgent high fantasy AU ☆ melodrama is ultimate tier ★ SHIPPING AND FUCC: ☆ non-fluffy relationship types I'm down for: codependent, master/servant power imbalance type ships, "we're bad for each other but worse for anyone else," other things I am failing to think of tbh ☆ things I am not into: noncon (includes "dubcon"), incest, tsundere shit if your tsundere is just verbally abusive, gratuitous torture porn, you'll probably have to ask me about harder kinks and they will vary by character ☆ I don't have a kink list so pitch me an idea if u thirsty ☆ if you would prefer a locked post I can also make that happen

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Pretend this is mxy 'cause I'm too lazy to make a new account.

[diabolique]

[ Carp Tower holds so much fascination for Mo Xuanyu. Everything is bright and beautiful and shimmering, even the people! No one treats him poorly (though, no one treats him particularly kindly, either, but that’s better than before). Apparently, there are some perks to being the sect leader’s son. Illegitimate, yes, but it’s enough to get him out of Mo Village. Plus, one of his half-brothers is attentive to him and his studies. Xuanyu would almost call him friendly.

For the most part, he blends in. He doesn’t show much promise – perhaps he began learning too late – but even so, he likes being here. Even if people don’t take notice of him. After so much abuse in the village, being overlooked is wonderful. Xuanyu no longer frets over his every glance or word. Perhaps because he has so little potential, no one minds him skipping lessons. Or maybe no one notices. Either is fine with him. Being noticed usually brings trouble.

Like Huaisang, he wanders, getting lost in all the many places to explore. There really is so much to admire in the Lanling Jin sect’s territory and Xuanyu is easily moved by the way the sunlight flashes off the leaves and illuminates the flowers. Glistening koi ponds enthral him. He’s easily distracted and rarely missed.

But his half-brother is attentive. He notices and urges Xuanyu to his studies, sometimes even helping him study after a missed lesson. It’s very sweet of Jin Guangyao to take such pains, but he’s like that with everyone. Always smiling, always polite, always attentive. For example, had it been he who ran across Huaisang, he would’ve recalled seeing him before and all the details of their conversation. Xuanyu barely remembers his name and only vaguely thinks the young man familiar.

Familiar or not, he made a pretty sight with the play of light and shadow under the tree and the beautiful fan shielding his eyes. The colours of his clothes tell Xuanyu he’s not part of this sect, but he can’t recall whose colours they are. ]

No.

[ No, lessons aren’t over. No, no one is coming to play. No, you don’t have to leave. He takes a hesitant step closer and gestures toward the fan. ]

I was just admiring that.

tenderly holds his sameface

[fanfavors]

[Huaisang picks up on two things immediately, when the young man steps closer: first, he can see it in the lines of the young man's face, the set of his jaw, even the shape of his mouth— this is another one of Jin Guangshan's, ah, many sons. It might be harder for someone to spot who hasn't heard how many illegitimate children have been brought to Carp Tower, or who hadn't spent his school days with Jin Zixuan and half his adult life with Jin Guangyao, but Huaisang has been around the block with this family, as it were—so. He can tell. It doesn't immediately matter; he'd heard when another son had been welcomed at the tower, a Mo... something or other...?

It does, however, lead into his second conclusion, drawn when Mo-something-or-other steps toward him and just speaks to him, without decorating his words in Sect-Leader-this and Huaisang-xiong-that: this young man has no idea who he is. Or at least he doesn't really care.

Someone else might have been bothered; Mingjue certainly would have bristled at the mere thought of a Jin disciple approaching him so casually, but Huaisang is... almost relieved. It's been so long since he's had a conversation that's only a conversation, without politics and reputations mixed in.

So— he glances down at the fan, up at Xuanyu, and repeat; then he opens the fan again and holds it out for him to have a better look.]

Ah— here.

[A Sect Leader letting disciples play with his expensive accessories— he can feel his brother turn in his grave, but the young master Mo- Huaisang is certain no one actually calls him that- has a captivating gaze, and he finds himself suddenly dreading the weight of his own loneliness. So: here.]

Why don't you come join me out of the sun?

bless

[diabolique]

[ Ah, yes, his circumstances weren’t wholly unlike Jin Guangyao’s. His mother also longed for Jin Guangshan’s return and hoped he would acknowledge their child. In truth, she probably only wanted a better life than they had in Mo Village. He couldn’t blame her, but he never actually expected to be welcomed by the LanlingJin sect.

He doesn’t fit in well here, but he isn’t mistreated. Half of the reason is likely due his lack of knowledge of how to behave toward certain people of higher status. He honestly doesn’t know who half of them are. Why should he? He’s nobody. There’s no great talent or ambition in him to speak of, so what reason would he ever have to interact with such luminaries?

So, yes, he had no idea the pretty person with the pretty fan was anyone important, let alone the leader of the QingheNie sect.

Upon seeing the fan held out, Xuanyu steps closer, bending down to take a closer look at the details he admired from afar. It’s much finer than anything he’s seen. Then again, that could be said of everything in Carp Tower. Another reason he didn’t fit in here: he was like the rural cousin who didn’t know or understand how to exist in the more bustling environment of more settled areas.

His expression brightens, lips forming a silent ‘ah’ in delight at what he sees. So much joy in such a small thing. It takes a moment for Xuanyu to realize he’s being spoken to. Blinking up at Huaisang, Xuanyu points to himself as though he were unsure. ]

You don’t mind?

crawls to this beautiful thread

[fanfavors]

[Mo-something-or-other has no idea who he is, but he still hesitates; Huaisang isn't sure how to respond to that except to keep holding the fan out, non...threateningly? He isn't used to being the more confident person in a given interaction, but it would feel even more false than usual to start in with his headshaker routine now to put the young man at ease, so.

Well, this: the fan, and the sunlight, and the inviting cool of the shade beneath this tree. He watches Xuanyu with a kind of bemusement, quiet for a moment like saying anything too suddenly would break the spell the sun and the shadow and the fan have over this moment.

Ah—]

Oh- no, no! It would be nice to have company.

[Just hang out with him, pretty mystery Mo.]

[diabolique]

[ After a beat, a bright smile breaks out across his face. There are precious few who acknowledge Xuanyu here (why should they, he’s nobody, after all) and fewer still who want to while away their time with him. How awkward it must be to have to welcome so many of Jin Guangshan’s illegitimate sons to the sect. It’s no wonder others don’t know what to make of him. It’s not as if he really wants his fathers love or attention, but cultivating has been a unique experience, even if he’s not great at it.

And it’s always wonderful to sit beside a handsome stranger.

Almost as quickly as his trepidation turned to excitement, he steps into the shade, all bright smiles and glistening eyes. It takes very little kindness to make Xuanyu happy. He’s a bit romantic at heart, thinking what a lovely scene this would be if it were a painting. Two people sitting under the shadow of a tree in all this breath-taking scenery.

Xuanyu settles in the grass, peering up into the leaves swaying with the soft breeze. Very pretty, indeed. ]

Did you paint it yourself? The fan?

90 years later, me

[fanfavors]

[Huaisang watches him, idly fascinated still by his demeanor; casual and controlled all at once somehow. But then, as one of the many illegitimate sons (besides that one), he would have to be, wouldn't he? He has a different kind of careful about him than his half-brother does, or even Huaisang himself; like some part of him is always on the defensive.

Well, this boy has nothing to worry about when it comes to Huaisang. He won't make overtures to bully him into being at ease, please, that's the oppressive half-friendliness of every Discussion Conference; instead, they can just be here, under the tree, Xuanyu's dark hair framing his face just so in the breeze. Hmm.]

Oh- no, not this one. I bought it last month, to... [make himself feel better about his dead brother, who hated his fans, well--] to match my robes. I left the ones I painted back in my room, ah- sorry, this sort of thing is unbecoming, or so I'm told...

No worries. I'm the slowest of the slow, friend.

[diabolique]

Unbecoming?

[ Xuanyu tilts his head slightly, a sour look flickering quickly over his features. It’s a word he’s heard a lot in his life. Mostly before he came here. At least here, people only whisper behind his back and ignore him if they have no good reason to interact with him. Ah, but that look is fleeting, almost immediately replaced by a friendly smile. ]

I think it’s wonderful! How is painting fans any different from practicing calligraphy? Both take patience and skill to turn something boring into something beautiful. Isn’t that so?