"If you're.. interested in pursuing other ways, the Lan brothers have a variety of ways to soothe the spirit." Not that Huaisang uses them. His spirit doesn't need soothing. He may be hot-tempered, vengeful, and jealous, but he doesn't think any of those traits need fixing.
Pouring a glass of gin and a glass of baijiu, Huaisang holds them both out. Both glasses are clear, so he lifts one of them slightly higher. "This is the baijiu. Do you want me to go and fetch some ice cubes from the kitchen? I don't mind."
"Mmh... it's more or less assistance with quieting the mind. Every person from my world is tied to the Fade, mages, however subconsciously dream in it. I've chatted with demon, staved off possession and been haunted with nightmares. It's... a normal occurrence I'm accustomed to. Real sleep is something I've experienced here once and before my arrival... my childhood. Let's just say I'm more spiritually attuned than most, but I could seek assistance from Xichen if you think it will help." A chuckle and a twinkle in his eye. "Provided I don't have to drink tea, of course."
Dorian reaches for the glass of baijiu and sniffs at it curiously. "No ice, thank you. I can chill it-water it down to preference with magic."
"Xichen and Wangji are both experts at such things. Everything you've described--well, not me, but... you're not the only one. Please do speak to Xichen. He'd be glad to help, though you..." Hesitating, Huaisang's faint smile grows very tense and cold. "I'd prefer you went to Wangji for this. If you go to Xichen, then please mind my fervent insistence that Meng Yao not be involved in any way, not even to touch or prepare anything Xichen may use for the quieting."
Huaisang knocks back a large gulp of the gin, and his expression has gotten very cold and hard now. "Better on my nerves if you just go to Wangji. You'll remember how Meng Yao spoke of his crimes."
He's not going to say anything more on that topic, but he sits down hard on the couch, expression still tense.
Dorian is left speechless and stares down into his glass before joining Huaisang on the couch.
"I've met Wangji in passing, during events, but we've not been introduced. Not formally. To be quite honest, I trust Xichen more and don't see the relevance concerning Meng Yao or his crimes, but for you... I guess I'll visit the temple." That and he's been curious if they would allow him to train with his staff.
"Thank you. Xichen is trustworthy on most matters. Meng Yao is not, and Xichen's judgement is ... compromised when it comes to him."
Huaisang nestles close, legs hooked over Dorian's lap in his habitual way. "You might talk to Xichen if you have any questions about Meng Yao and my ... hesitation over having Xichen treat you. I'm bound to silence about Meng Yao, but he is not.
"All of us trust Wangji. He is steadfast in all matters."
"I might... he's spoken to me about your brother. We got off on the wrong foot, so to speak and Xichen insisted I try to give him a chance." Because Dorian had every intention of being himself, even if it irritated Mingjue.
"He also revealed some particularly disturbing information to me; concerning your brother. I'm well aware that Meng Yao is not as he seems, he even told me that he has been thoroughly de-fanged. It will be a conversation for another time- I believe I've met my quota for difficult and tense conversations for the month." A shake of his head. Yes, he is curious, but he likes Xichen and he also likes Meng Yao, but it's obvious there is a lot here.
"Oh, da ge and I are on the wrong foot more often than we get along," Huaisang assures him, cheering up a little as he says it. "Fortunately he has no choice but to forgive me for things."
Snuggling close, Huaisang nods at the line about the quota for difficult conversations. "Me too. I want very much for the next month to hold nothing but pleasantness and fun. I'm planning to hold a solstice party, you know. It's traditional back home, our Dongzhi festival."
"I'd like to make peace with him, if at all possible. I know you care deeply for him. I can't promise it will be anytime soon, but one of these days I would like to sit down with him and share more wine." Dorian leans in just as close, truly snuggling him. "You always throw such wonderful parties."
"Maybe not wine. He doesn't drink wine. You could drink tea to demonstrate that you're serious about gaining his regard, or... well, there's always fruit juice."
Happy to snuggle, Huaisang knocks back the rest of his glass and then sets it aside. Reaching for Dorian's face, Huaisang guides him into a soft kiss, sweet at first and then increasingly needy.
"For health reasons, I don't drink tea." Even though he's fairly certain the popular stuff from Minrathous isn't likely what he'll be serving or drinking. Mingjue had shared wine with him when he first came over, but Dorian doesn't argue the point, not when Huaisang is guiding him in for a kiss.
Dorian visibly relaxes into the other man's grasp and presses into the kiss with a vaguely subdued passion.
"Most people drink tea for health reasons," Huaisang states, amused at Dorian's reasoning. Tea is considered medicinal where he comes from, and essential. It's one of the great pleasures of life.
Glad for the respite of the kiss, Huaisang hooks his legs tighter over Dorian's lap, winding his arms around Dorian's neck in order to cling to him while their lips exchange caresses. He whimpers, desperate for affection and reassurance, and needing every second of this kiss.
“Most people aren’t allergic to the leaves.” Dorian whispers and keeps his lips just enough out of reach to talk. “And you should know, Huaisang. I’m not most people.”
It’s nice, just sitting close, kissing and talking. There’s not a lot of room for thought or debate, not when Huaisang is so warm and willing against him.
"You're much better than most people," Huaisang agrees the next time their lips part. He giggles delightedly, quickly starting to cheer up again as they cuddle and kiss. Dorian always soothes him, and right now he's more grateful than ever to be soothed.
“Mmh... and don’t forget handsome- you can’t leave that out.” Dorian smirks, lips curling even as they fall to Huaisang’s once more.
He curls his arm around the other man and leans forward so he can grab his drink. Priorities. Good drink, even better company, things are looking better already.
"So handsome," Huaisang agrees, nestling close while Dorian sips at his drink. "Dizzyingly handsome. It's why you have to carry me everywhere, I can't help but swoon at the sight of you."
Dorian exhales a soft laugh when Huaisang not only acknowledges his good looks, but elaborates on them.
“I’ll be happy to carry you.” The drink is set aside once more and he cradled Huaisang’s chin, looking him in the eyes with all the affection he can muster. He holds that gaze for a short while and then swoops back in to claim those lips and kiss the other man breathless.
Sighing happily as he's kissed, Huaisang hugs close, shifting to fully straddle Dorian's lap so that he can loop his arms around his lover's neck and they can kiss ever more deeply. He wants to be as close to Dorian as he can get, so that he won't have to worry about ever letting him go.
That deep kiss and the clinging embrace of Huaisang are easily indulged, as Dorian enjoys the proximity and the passion behind the man's possessiveness. It's a shame he still intends to leave him later in the night, but for the moment he will give in to any desire his love has.
Nuzzling softly at him when the kiss breaks, Huaisang gives his lover a shy grin. He has no idea that Dorian intends to leave. All that unpleasantness is forgotten for now, and he simply wants to smooth it all over with affection and pleasure, cuddling into bed together as soon as possible. "Sex?"
“I suppose that means I’ll have to save drinking myself stupid for after I make love to you.” Dorian whispers, shooting his drink a mildly disappointing look. Huaisang will win out over drinks any day.
Huaisang's brow furrows with concern at that, and he pulls back a little, ardor cooled by worry. "You really do mean drinking yourself into a stupor, don't you?"
It's not something Huaisang can understand. He drinks heavily and constantly, but to him alcohol is something for pleasure and fun, and the goal of heavy drinking is to get silly and lose inhibitions--not consciousness. "I thought you just meant stupid drunk. Dorian..."
"At this point the act of drinking until I'm hardly conscious, but conscious enough not to act a fool has becomes somewhat of a habit. Hard to break and likely unhealthy, I know. But there are worse things. And few hobbies taste as good." Dorian honestly sees no harm in it. Huaisang should feel proud, there are very few he will drinking around to be in such a state.
It is, however, a sign that he's troubled and is just choosing to drink away anymore of those pesky feelings.
Still worried, Huaisang gives his cheek a sweet peck. "How about we go upstairs to bed? Maybe a bubble bath first, if you'd like, and then I can give you a massage while you're hot and melted from the bath and you can fall asleep without needing the drink?"
Cupping his hands around Dorian's cheeks, Huaisang pouts at him in hopes of persuading Dorian to yield.
“Is my drinking cause for concern?” Dorian raises a brow and narrows his eyes slightly. He looks mildly confused and suspicious over the offer to pamper him, but not at all displeased by the idea.
"If you're drinking to a stupor and drinking to fall asleep rather than drinking for fun, then yes." Huaisang meets that eye narrowing with a pout, wanting to keep his lover safe.
"I do insist on spoiling you. I love spoiling you."
Getting up, Huaisang tugs at Dorian's hand to lure him upstairs. "Bath first or just the massage?"
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Pouring a glass of gin and a glass of baijiu, Huaisang holds them both out. Both glasses are clear, so he lifts one of them slightly higher. "This is the baijiu. Do you want me to go and fetch some ice cubes from the kitchen? I don't mind."
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Dorian reaches for the glass of baijiu and sniffs at it curiously. "No ice, thank you. I can chill it-water it down to preference with magic."
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Huaisang knocks back a large gulp of the gin, and his expression has gotten very cold and hard now. "Better on my nerves if you just go to Wangji. You'll remember how Meng Yao spoke of his crimes."
He's not going to say anything more on that topic, but he sits down hard on the couch, expression still tense.
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"I've met Wangji in passing, during events, but we've not been introduced. Not formally. To be quite honest, I trust Xichen more and don't see the relevance concerning Meng Yao or his crimes, but for you... I guess I'll visit the temple." That and he's been curious if they would allow him to train with his staff.
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Huaisang nestles close, legs hooked over Dorian's lap in his habitual way. "You might talk to Xichen if you have any questions about Meng Yao and my ... hesitation over having Xichen treat you. I'm bound to silence about Meng Yao, but he is not.
"All of us trust Wangji. He is steadfast in all matters."
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"He also revealed some particularly disturbing information to me; concerning your brother. I'm well aware that Meng Yao is not as he seems, he even told me that he has been thoroughly de-fanged. It will be a conversation for another time- I believe I've met my quota for difficult and tense conversations for the month." A shake of his head. Yes, he is curious, but he likes Xichen and he also likes Meng Yao, but it's obvious there is a lot here.
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Snuggling close, Huaisang nods at the line about the quota for difficult conversations. "Me too. I want very much for the next month to hold nothing but pleasantness and fun. I'm planning to hold a solstice party, you know. It's traditional back home, our Dongzhi festival."
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Happy to snuggle, Huaisang knocks back the rest of his glass and then sets it aside. Reaching for Dorian's face, Huaisang guides him into a soft kiss, sweet at first and then increasingly needy.
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Dorian visibly relaxes into the other man's grasp and presses into the kiss with a vaguely subdued passion.
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Glad for the respite of the kiss, Huaisang hooks his legs tighter over Dorian's lap, winding his arms around Dorian's neck in order to cling to him while their lips exchange caresses. He whimpers, desperate for affection and reassurance, and needing every second of this kiss.
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It’s nice, just sitting close, kissing and talking. There’s not a lot of room for thought or debate, not when Huaisang is so warm and willing against him.
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He curls his arm around the other man and leans forward so he can grab his drink. Priorities. Good drink, even better company, things are looking better already.
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“I’ll be happy to carry you.” The drink is set aside once more and he cradled Huaisang’s chin, looking him in the eyes with all the affection he can muster. He holds that gaze for a short while and then swoops back in to claim those lips and kiss the other man breathless.
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It's not something Huaisang can understand. He drinks heavily and constantly, but to him alcohol is something for pleasure and fun, and the goal of heavy drinking is to get silly and lose inhibitions--not consciousness. "I thought you just meant stupid drunk. Dorian..."
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It is, however, a sign that he's troubled and is just choosing to drink away anymore of those pesky feelings.
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Cupping his hands around Dorian's cheeks, Huaisang pouts at him in hopes of persuading Dorian to yield.
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“If you insist on spoiling me, I won’t object.”
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"I do insist on spoiling you. I love spoiling you."
Getting up, Huaisang tugs at Dorian's hand to lure him upstairs. "Bath first or just the massage?"
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