( open ) February catch-all

[diabolique]

⌛ Who: Wei Wuxian, Wen Kexing, Ouyang, Henry Silver AND YOU!
⌛ What: February catch-all
⌛ When: February
⌛ Where: various
⌛ Warnings: will be added to threads as needed

Wei Wuxian
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Wen Kexing
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Ouyang
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Henry Silver

Comments

[konohamaru]

"I am trying," Esen says quietly. Perhaps, if he were a more modern man he could have expressed himself better but he's not. So instead, he quickly drinks more of the beer.

"But you must understand, the things confessed to you, they were there before. Every time you pushed me away and you pushed everyone away, choosing loneliness you were always condemning me to it as well and now... you are not and I still am."

He finishes the beer.

"I had a taste of what I had been craving for years and now..." I'm starving. he pushes it down. "Now, I'm the one trying to keep distant for you."

[theatrics]

Ouyang's jaw tightens and he can feel unkind words bubbling up in his throat. If it were anyone but Esen he wouldn't hesitate to unleash them. But it is Esen, Esen who wants so badly to have his favorite plaything back. Esen who kissed him so suddenly, Esen who touched him without care for his comfort. Esen who still calls him his General. How does he not see...? Well, he never was good at seeing things from Ouyang's perspective.

"I never asked for distance, only respect."

[konohamaru]

"I do respect you," Esen murmurs. The distance is perhaps something he'd imposed himself in an attempt to keep to Ouyang's wishes because he knows himself.

[prince_of_the_moon]

Being ignored doesn't impress him. Sesshomaru closes his eyes as if bored with the display, though, secretly, he is impressed by Ouyang's determination and focus. He doesn't move until he hears the other speak, his head tilting as he opens his eyes again.

"I see no war."

[diabolique]

Wei Wuxian huffs in indignation. "Well! We'll just have to go back and try everything all over again! It's all really good and no ill-effects so far!"

[theatrics]

"Not here. Not now." But in his home, there was nearly perpetual war, what with the Mongols being greedy for all the land they could conquer. "There is no reason to let myself grow fat and soft for lack of war."

[theatrics]

"So I am told." Except where he's from, men fight and women dance. The comparison makes him clench his jaw slightly.

[theatrics]

Ouyang finds the boy's skill interesting. The sort of magic he's seen others use exudes from him as they fight. The General is observant enough to notice Jin Ling is trying to restrain and, some part of him, appreciates that as he has no magic to counter.

[theatrics]

"Yet you touch me as casually as you would one of your wives." Even his lovers don't do that. They ask, they make sure he's receptive to it. Why is it so hard for someone who thinks of him as a friend to do the same?

[konohamaru]

Esen is exhales, looking away. “Be patient with me too.”

[theatrics]

"I am trying, Esen." He huffs out a short breath and finally takes a drink of his beer. "You don't make it easy."

[konohamaru]

"Neither do you," Esen mutters. "Or this place."

[theatrics]

"How can I make this easier for you without compromising myself?" He'd genuinely like to know.

[konohamaru]

"I don't know, Ouyang."

Esen waves to the waiter and orders another beer for himself.

[theatrics]

Another long exhale. Another quick drink. "Then there is no point in discussing the matter further."

[konohamaru]

"I'll do my best," Esen says and gives a slight nod.

[theatrics]

"How are you settling in? Are your lodgings agreeable?" There. Small talk should be safe.

[konohamaru]

Esen feels no less dissatisfied even as the subject drops. He makes a face.

"They are less than agreeable," obviously not what he is used to, both too nice and too poor. He's not been settling well at all.

[theatrics]

"Where are you staying?" Ouyang pauses, then adds as if to be specific, "I began in the East."

[konohamaru]

"Tokyo," Esen says, glancing over at Ouyang and he feels a surge of relief when there's the delivery of beer and he takes another drink from it.

[theatrics]

"Mm," he nods. "I began there, as well. I have not explored as much of Kyoto as I would like. I have only recently relocated to the Four Season Manor. Perhaps we could take the train West to visit together?"

[konohamaru]

Esen takes another drink of his beer and glances at Ouyang before looking down at the strange liquid that's like nothing he's had before.

"We could."

A pause.

"Is there anywhere to hunt?"

It isn't a battle but it would be something.

[eternalgrief]

Huaisang laughs.

"We're both going to end up plump."

[eternalgrief]

"I'm better at dancing than I am fighting," Huaisang says, his thumb rubbing the wooden part of his fan. He notices the way the other's jaw clenches but he doesn't pry.

"I'm Nie Huaisang."

He offers the introduction without preamble.

[jinlingers]

Jin Ling rolls his eyes at the warning and he sits down.

"I spent half my life in Yunmeng."