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⌛ Who: Yu Mingye and Runyu
⌛ What: Easing the Mind
⌛ When: After this conversation
⌛ Where: Runyu's Place
⌛ Warnings: TBD

Yu Mingye did not make this into a habit. When he'd played for Xingchen it had been because the man wanted to hear it. Had wanted to hear it since before Xingchen had found a way to give him back his arm. An arm that he was still strengthening. Xingchen had been the first to ever step into his personal space. That, in itself, had been weird to him. No one did that. Xiao Xingchen did.

Now? He was heading off towards the address that Runyu had given him. Just walk in. Who did that? He could easily slip through the shadows and in through the window. Instead, comes through the front door and shuts it behind him. Runyu was definitely courting danger allowing him just to walk right in like that, even if he's no danger to his newfound friend.

"Love what you did with the place," he teases.

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He'd decorated his place simply, using his abilities to make it more suited to what he was used to. Everything was rather easily arranged but there was almost a refined quality to it. Such was the benefit of being able to turn objects into other objects. This way he could have his place a more humble version of his home in the Heavenly Realm.

It was comfortable that way.

Without looking up, he smiled a little, pouring water into the pot so he could let the tea brew. It would have been so easy for Yu Mingye to attack him if he wished to but Runyu wasn't nearly so defenseless as he seemed.

"Thank you. I kept it simple really." Turning finally, he carried the tea over to the table and sat down. Even the tea set was a fine jade. Gently, he waved for him to make himself comfortable.

"Welcome, Yu Mingye."

Mingye, for the most part, hasn't even bothered to decorate his own place. It was still weird that he even had a place of his own. Nippon had given him that. Xingchen had kept him close to where he lived and done that on purpose too, just in case. More worried about what would happen to a one armed man. Luckily, that wasn't the case anymore.

The fine jade is a nice touch and he moves over sitting down, giving a slight smile. "I can tell. Simple can be good," he tells him, setting his xiao close to himself. Despite having already sat down he gives a slight bow before sitting up, giving Runyu a slight smile.

"It was something I had for a very long time before I gained the position I have now. So I still find myself drawn to it." Even wearing silks now it was clear there was no real detail on them, just layers of silver and white. He'd even stopped wearing his crown here, just letting a ribbon tie his hair back.

It was nice actually. Comforting even.

"I know it is polite but you don't need to bow to me when you are here. I find I'm more comfortable without it." Because it was something he was surrounded by back home. Who wouldn't bow to him? But no, he didn't want that here. As much as he acknowledged his title for what it was, he didn't want to think about carrying it. Let him just be a humble man for a time. Let him find a way to repent somehow in this place.

"Your xiao is beautiful by the way."

Nippon was, compared to Junwu, a simple place. Something that Mingye didn't mind himself. Were there things back home that he missed? Not really. There were people, perhaps, but that wasn't the same as the simple things. He hadn't even known what he would do after the death of his father.

"I will try to keep that in mind. That was something engrained in me," he explains. Not that he thinks he even needs to truly explain anything to Runyu that he doesn't want to. However, bowing was something that had been engrained into him by Lord Demon. Much the same as asking for punishment if something went wrong. There was a lot of habits that were hard to break.

"Thank you. I've had it for as long as I can remember."

"I understand. I also come from a culture like that," he told him as he started to pour the tea into the cups. It was light in color but fragrant. A high quality to be sure. Tea was all he drank these days, his only indulgence since he avoided alcohol.

"Please, enjoy. Consider it a thank you for coming to see me and playing for me."

It was all he could offer really. At least for the time being.

"The demands of the parents."

Forget culture, it was more like parental command. Even if it was also just being polite. That was going to be a hard habit to break, but he could break it. Could work on it. Even though he barely drinks tea, but he picks the cup up and takes in the scent.

"What type is it? It's got a good scent to it." That? He could very well admit. How good it smelled to him. "And here I thought it was you that was meant to be kept in tea and good music," he teases.

"It's a floral blend. Just one I'm fond of from back home." And because he tended to use it as a way to remind himself of his many crimes. But that was another matter entirely and one they didn't need to discuss here.

Instead, he offered a little smile to him. "It does appear that I am taking care of you. But shouldn't I show my gratitude toward the one kind enough to visit me and play music for me?"

It was a reasonable enough logic at any rate.

There's a bit of a nod to the mention of it being a floral blend. Not that he'd paid much attention to the flowers back home. That would've been something that Little Fairy would have been able to point out to him.

"Now you're starting to sound like Xingchen," he teases, giving a soft smile. "Gratitude is not something that I'm used to, so you'll have to forgive me. As far as I'm concerned? The friendship that we made was gratitude enough."

The friendship they made was gratitude enough. It was so nice to hear such a sentiment. He almost didn't know what to do with it and smiled a little as he looked down. Did he even deserve it? Probably not. But he was so grateful for the words all the same.

"Then just consider it a gift simply because I wished to give you something since I like you."

If someone were to ask Mingye he'd probably tell them that these friendships were foreign. That he didn't deserve them due to how he was raised and the way he grew up. Something that he tries not to bring up. No one needed to hear about the Darknight Court and the way it treated others.

"That? I can do," he tells him, giving a small smile. Funny how Xingchen, for the most part, used to be the only one to get a rare smile out of him. Now Runyu's managed it, as well. He does, however, take a sip of the tea. "That's actually not bad."

Even if he knew nothing whatsoever about teas, but he doubts anyone would hold that against him.

Mingye had a nice smile honestly. Runyu took note of that rather quickly as he observed him. It had a way of softening his features while lighting up his eyes. He had to admit he was fond of it already and could only hope to see it more in the future.

For now, he nodded his head politely.

"Thank you. I'm glad you enjoy the flavor of it."

It was possible that the other would see it more often. The more Mingye got used to someone and trusted them is when it would show the most. He was a work in progress and it would take time but he'd trust them without hesitation, eventually.

"Between you and Xingchen I'm bound to end up trying every tea imaginable." That, in itself, was a slight tease even if he's not one to really do such things. "Do we want to finish the tea first before I play for you?"

Edited 2021-08-15 03:22 (UTC)

"I can always have alcohol available for you instead. I don't drink anymore but I don't mind keeping something for you." Some people preferred it. He had his reasons for not consuming it anymore but that wasn't something they needed to go into.

For now, Runyu just considered the question before answering. "Play when it feels right for you. The tea will be here if you want it when you're done. Or more can be made if you would like to finish first."

"I can handle tea if you don't drink." Yes, he preferred his wine over anything else, but he didn't mind tea. Even if he's never had floral blends before. Besides, if he wanted wine or anything else he could go out for that on his own. That way Runyu wouldn't need to have alcohol available if he didn't drink himself.

That soft smile brightens a little," Are you comfortable, then? I can't start playing if you're not." Another small tease? Possibly.

Naturally he said this but Runyu was now planning to make sure to have bottles for him. It wouldn't be a problem to keep them around when he knew that someone would be there to appreciate them. But, he would let that be a surprise for the next time that Mingye came over.

For now, he just let out a little laugh. "Are you going to make me comfortable if I'm not?"

The tease came easily. He was honestly surprised by how quickly it came to his lips. He supposed it could even sound like flirtation too but he saw no reason to correct to make it seem less so. "I am ready to listen. I promise."

That little laugh? Mingye actually likes that little laugh," If I need to, yes." Whether he was serious about that or not was a whole other story. Actually, he probably wouldn't make anyone do anything.

So, what may have sounded like flirtation gets a half smirk and a smile out of the Darknight Court heir. Another sip of his tea before it's set aside and he picks his xiao up, twirling it.

"Well... if you promise."

He wouldn't start just yet, though. He'd wait to see if Runyu needed to do anything else first, despite the fact that he said he was ready to listen.

"My, so threatening. Forcing me to be comfortable for my own good." Lifting his tea to his lips, he took a slow sip. Only partially to hide his amusement. It had been so long since he'd laughed and smiled this much. This place was really doing things for him, wasn't it.

And he couldn't even find it in himself to complain.

"I promise," he reassured him a moment later, setting his cup down so that way he'd properly be able to appreciate the music.

"I'm sure someone has to be."

Mingye wasn't entirely sure why it was so easy to tease or smile around Runyu. Xingchen was the same way. He found that with these two, so far, everything seemed easier.

It was like back home around Little Fairy. Feng Wu had been easy to be around. Then again, she'd also been the one to show him that not everyone had an agenda against him. That people cared.

Leaning back in the seat he gets comfortable himself, bringing his xiao up to his lips before starting to play.

Closing his eyes, he let his hands rest in his lap as he listened to the sound of the xiao. It was different from the way that Yanyou played but there was something he appreciated about that. With how long it had been since he'd last spoken to Yanyou, thinking too long about him could be painful for the dragon. Still, there was a beauty to the way the man played and he allowed himself to get lost in the music for a time.

It was only when the song ended and before, perhaps, another would be played, that he spoke. "You play beautifully. You have a true talent for music."

If he wasn't careful, himself, then he'd get lost in his own music. The xiao was the easiest way for him to lose himself. It had been something that gave him a bit of an escape growing up. Something that set him apart from others in the Darknight Court.

When he does stop, he twirls his xiao, and sets it aside," I've been playing it for a long time." A soft smile is giving to Runyu," I'm glad you enjoyed it. So, as I said before, any time you wish. I'll play for you."

Slowly, he opened his dark eyes, in time to look up to see that soft smile. Really, it did such nice things for that handsome face. He had to take a moment to appreciate it before he spoke again.

"You are welcome here anytime. With how well you play, I admit I would prefer you here than giving your gift almost entirely to the trees."

"So you would deny the trees their music?" It's asked with a hint of amusement.

He had his own place near Xingchen, but he liked the outdoors. If he wasn't inside then he was outside up in a tree, somewhere in the park. "I'm sure that you, Xingchen, and the trees could alternate custody." Though, that wasn't to say that he wouldn't visit as often as possible. Whether just to spend time with Runyu or play the xiao for him, or a bit of both.

"I never claimed I wasn't selfish." But no. He would never force him to do anything. He'd already felt the pain of what it was like to do that to someone. To do that to someone he loved as well which just made it worse. Still, he could continue with this playful banter, enjoying it all the same.

At the mention of shared custody, he let out another little laugh and nodded. "I would be honored to have the right to custody over you, Yu Mingye."

"No, you never claimed such things." As far as he knew no one ever truly claimed if they were or were not selfish. Not even Linyuan could claim such a thing. Not that he minds the selfishness. In an odd way, it was nice. Whether it was something that happened or not.

He can't help, however, to laugh a little at Runyu being honored to have the right to custody over him. He honestly hadn't expected that answer. "You might need pointers from Xingchen, then. I'm sure I can be a handful."

"You wouldn't be the first. But I think I would like to figure out my own tricks for your handful than taking advice from another. It seems like it would be more interesting that way."

Besides, it somehow didn't seem right to ask others for advice on that. Not that it mattered. So far Mingye hadn't really been a handful at all. He'd just been someone he found himself bonding with faster than he did most people. Honestly, it was pleasant to have him around.