Which sorcerer? [Huaisang looks innocent, then thoughtful, tapping his chin as he considers. There's really only one possible 'sorcerer'.] The one who dotes on me, worships the ground I walk on, would show up in an instant to protect me, and does everything I ask? Mmmmmmmm, no. I wasn't with him.
You know who I am talking about, Huaisang. Don't play the fool. I cannot stop you from being with him but I don't have to approve of someone arrogant, vain, rude, and offensive. [Mingjue frowns at him then lets out a long sigh.]
[The man snorts in a way that says he refuses to believe anything good about Dorian until the man bothers to prove it. Instead, he moves on.]
Xichen and Meng Yao's contracts with you are ending soon. I would request to take their contracts next.
[Mingjue closes his eyes and sighs then looks at his brother.]
I feel I need to. I cannot move on or heal without that time with them, Huaisang. You've cared for them all this time. Let me take them when their contracts expire.
[Huaisang will note that his brother's tone is very respectful. He's not making this so much an emotional issue even if emotions are involved. But, he wants to be formal about this and make this request rather than simply taking the contracts as they expire.
Because his brother deserves that respect. At least, that's what Mingjue is trying to show him in his own way.]
[Huaisang blinks at the request. He didn't expect it, but Mingjue's phrasing is the exact right approach to get Huaisang to agree without balking. Huaisang has needed his time with them, and it is reasonable that Mingjue should want that likewise.
It helps that Huaisang has repeatedly wanted to be free of the contracts. He'd wanted Meng Yao by himself, but the arrival of Xichen had changed everything. Huaisang's hold over Meng Yao had been severely damaged, Xichen balked and resented anything Huaisang did to come between them, and Huaisang felt neglected by them both. Being freed of them would allow him to take on submissives who were eager to be at his side.
Lifting his arms, Huaisang gives his brother a brief but formal bow.] I would be glad to grant my da ge's request.
[He drops his arms.] Are you sure you'll be okay with them?
[Right away, Mingjue gives Huaisang a bow in return to thank him for accepting his request. With the formalities out of the way, he relaxes. There's a sigh from him and he looks to the side.]
My instincts tell me that I will be. That this is the right and just decision for all four of us.
[He looks back to Huaisang.]
You need people who can devote themselves to you.
[Something that Huaisang has been neglected of for much of his life.]
[Huaisang smiles at the reasoning, nodding happily and warming with pleasure that his brother wants him to be spoiled and cared for.] I will, da ge. I'll have Jiang Cheng and my Tiangou to dote on me.
And Dorian Pavus, though I'll have to sneak him in so my da ge won't see.
[Smiling playfully, Huaisang pours the tea for them both, setting one cup down in front of Mingjue.]
No one's good enough for me, da ge, [Huaisang smiles, pleased by Mingjue's choice of argument.]
He's an ancient and powerful creature, and he is sworn to obey me. [Huaisang sips at his tea casually, but he's actually quite smug about this fact.] I call him Puppy.
Correct. But some I will approve of to attempt. [Some already have his blessing, after all. Dorian? Nope. He revokes all positive feelings towards that sorcerer.]
Puppy. [He sighs heavily.] Of course you would name such a creature this.
Mhm. [Huaisang grins cheerfully over his tea.] Because to me he is. I don't know if you'll like him any better than Dorian, though. He's rough around the edges and not necessarily polite to anyone other than myself.
[Getting up, Huaisang fetches the food from the oven and sets out bowls of rice for them both. Xichen indulges him with familiar foods from Qinghe as often as he can. It's a Lan's best replication of Qinghe foods, but close enough to be familiar and soothing.] Xichen cooks for me, since I cannot be trusted to cook for myself.
I will see if Xichen will want to continue to cook for you after the contracts have exchanged hands.
[Because he won't force him to do that but he can at least ask. It'll be his decision.
The food does perk his interest though, Mingjue sitting up a little more and looking to see what the food is. He doesn't admit it easily but he misses the food of their home a great deal.]
I will reserve judgement on this...puppy until I meet him.
I expect he will. [Huaisang would feel very hurt if he didn't, really. He believes that Xichen feeds him out of love and care rather than out of their contract. Unless Huaisang obtains someone inclined to cook for him, if Xichen stops cooking then Huaisang will be living off of takeout and micro-waved food once again.
Tucking in hungrily, Huaisang watches his brother with a little smile as the two of them share a meal.]
[It isn't exactly the same as their food from home but it's so close that he's happy to tuck into it. It's been weeks since he's had the Qinghe cuisine after all. Maglor is good at cooking but Mingjue wouldn't begin to know where to begin for asking for the food of his homeland.
The fact that he's so quiet? A very good sign indeed that he loves the food.]
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That isn't why I came. I came to make a request.
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[Getting up to fetch the boiling water, Huaisang brings it back to the table and begins to prepare the tea.] A request, da ge?
[He's a little worried. Mingjue isn't coming to him as an authority, and he doubts that Mingjue is here for money. What does that leave?]
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Xichen and Meng Yao's contracts with you are ending soon. I would request to take their contracts next.
[Mingjue closes his eyes and sighs then looks at his brother.]
I feel I need to. I cannot move on or heal without that time with them, Huaisang. You've cared for them all this time. Let me take them when their contracts expire.
[Huaisang will note that his brother's tone is very respectful. He's not making this so much an emotional issue even if emotions are involved. But, he wants to be formal about this and make this request rather than simply taking the contracts as they expire.
Because his brother deserves that respect. At least, that's what Mingjue is trying to show him in his own way.]
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It helps that Huaisang has repeatedly wanted to be free of the contracts. He'd wanted Meng Yao by himself, but the arrival of Xichen had changed everything. Huaisang's hold over Meng Yao had been severely damaged, Xichen balked and resented anything Huaisang did to come between them, and Huaisang felt neglected by them both. Being freed of them would allow him to take on submissives who were eager to be at his side.
Lifting his arms, Huaisang gives his brother a brief but formal bow.] I would be glad to grant my da ge's request.
[He drops his arms.] Are you sure you'll be okay with them?
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My instincts tell me that I will be. That this is the right and just decision for all four of us.
[He looks back to Huaisang.]
You need people who can devote themselves to you.
[Something that Huaisang has been neglected of for much of his life.]
I want that for you.
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And Dorian Pavus, though I'll have to sneak him in so my da ge won't see.
[Smiling playfully, Huaisang pours the tea for them both, setting one cup down in front of Mingjue.]
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[Mingjue scowls even as he takes his tea to have some of it.]
Tell me of this Tiangou. You haven't spoken of this one before.
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He's an ancient and powerful creature, and he is sworn to obey me. [Huaisang sips at his tea casually, but he's actually quite smug about this fact.] I call him Puppy.
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Puppy. [He sighs heavily.] Of course you would name such a creature this.
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[Getting up, Huaisang fetches the food from the oven and sets out bowls of rice for them both. Xichen indulges him with familiar foods from Qinghe as often as he can. It's a Lan's best replication of Qinghe foods, but close enough to be familiar and soothing.] Xichen cooks for me, since I cannot be trusted to cook for myself.
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[Because he won't force him to do that but he can at least ask. It'll be his decision.
The food does perk his interest though, Mingjue sitting up a little more and looking to see what the food is. He doesn't admit it easily but he misses the food of their home a great deal.]
I will reserve judgement on this...puppy until I meet him.
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Tucking in hungrily, Huaisang watches his brother with a little smile as the two of them share a meal.]
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The fact that he's so quiet? A very good sign indeed that he loves the food.]