[Golden Peacock IC Inbox][un: scribe] (defunct)

[linguaphilia]

This is Alhaitham.
Leave a message. Or don't. I don't really care either way.

Comments

[dianxie]

[ He blushes, pleased. ]

Ah, if you say so then it must be true. As for books ... I've never known them to be anything but physical, but you're obviously a little more technologically advanced than I am.

[ Xie Lian sets down his brush and walks around the table to Alhaitham, gesturing to his lap. ]

May I take a seat? I want to be closer to you.

text; later that day

[linguaphilia]

Thank you.

[linguaphilia]

[He studies Xie Lian for a moment, then tilts his head to the seat next to him.]

Sit there. I'm still eating.

[That's close enough, right? Alhaitham unfortunately doesn't reciprocate the desire the other man has to be draped all over him even if he understands, objectively, why Xie Lian would want to do that.]

[dianxie]

I'll browse while you're finishing, there's no rush.

[ He doesn't want to be bossed around, instead opting to have a look at the shelves nearby while Alhaitham finishes his (very important, hah) meal. Xie Lian always feels a little too needy around him but it isn't Alhaitham's fault; it's just true, Xie Lian supposes, and the irony is the person he wants to be around not wanting him back. Things are so much easier with Hua Cheng for a hundred different reasons, he supposes, even aside from being soulmates. He has always felt awkward around other people since before he can remember.

He finds a book on sex positions (of course) and pauses in putting it back as he considers how many of them are feasible in general, flipping through the pages before the stacks in companionable silence. ]

[linguaphilia]

[He doesn't rush to finish up, taking another few minutes to get through the rest of the pastry and once he's finished he neatly folds the packet into a slender strip and deftly ties it into a knot.

Then, after lightly brushing his hands together, he pushes his chair back and stands up.]

That was good, thank you.

[He might actually go and get one himself, some time...]

[dianxie]

Mm? Oh, I'm glad you liked it!

[ Closing the book he has hold of, he folds his arms. ]

I was thinking it would be nice to buy enough for a picnic in the woodlands here sometime, but I don't know if there are bugs too. All in all, I much prefer the library to a lot of places in the resort, it's just ... reliable, I suppose.

[linguaphilia]

With the other things people get up to in here [Including the two of them, as they both well know.] I don't think that a picnic is going to be something too many people bat an eye at.

[No one even has to see it, if it's done in one of the private alcoves.]

And less chance of interruptions.

[dianxie]

We could have a library picnic ... and bring our favourite books that we've found here?

[ That sounds like a nice afternoon. ]

[linguaphilia]

[Alhaitham studies Xie Lian for a long, silent few moments. There isn't anything particularly unkind about his expression, nigh-unreadable as it is, but simply a quality of someone mulling his options over.]

Fine.

[He shrugs one shoulder mildly.]

If you like, we can do that.

[dianxie]

[ Xie Lian waits for that decision, not arguing for it to come faster. He wonders if this is how maids felt in Xianle when they had to wait on his own decisions, then thinks that's just him being unkind because he's impatient and anxious. ]

I would. I'll ... figure out the food and let you know when we could do it. When a basket's ready.

[linguaphilia]

[Xie Lian knows him well enough by now to realise that if Alhaitham was not actually comfortable with or interested in a idea he would simply turn it down, not worrying about what feelings might be stung by his doing so. The scribe doesn't mind spending time with Xie Lian - he's intelligent and unintrusive, polite and understanding of Alhaitham's own boundaries, and altogether the kind of person that he can very easily tolerate being around.

So he nods slightly to the suggestion.]

All right. Then it's a date.

audio (@puqishrine)

[dianxie]

Alhaitham? I don't have a picnic together yet, I'm sorry, but I was hoping you were free to spend some time together again. [ And then, boldly, ] I'm in the mood to kiss you!

[linguaphilia]

[There's another one of those lengthy waits. The kind where you can't be sure if Alhaitham is going to even entertain the message.

He does, eventually, reply.]

How bold.

[If Xie Lian listens carefully, he might detect a hint of amusement.]

Do I get a say in this sudden impulse of yours?

[dianxie]

[ He hums, weighing whether to be playful or if it won't come across properly without being in person. ]

Only if it's not a protest.

[linguaphilia]

[Heh. What a brat...]

No, it isn't a protest.

[dianxie]

[ Ohoho, that means smooches will happen! This is the strangest flirting but he enjoys it thoroughly, kept on his toes. ]

Good, then, the library again? It's nice and quiet, I can hear your voice better there.

[linguaphilia]

Mm, all right. I'll meet you there shortly.

[And perhaps Xie Lian does not realise how fortunate he is to have such compliance from Alhaitham... but he's somehow ended up being someone that the man actually finds it a little more than tolerable to spend time with.]

[dianxie]

[ Xie Lian knows all too well how rare it is to catch Alhaitham in a sociable mood and it buoys his own to have managed it today, heading to a pre-arranged location. Somewhere semi-private where he can draw the blinds but not so removed from the public eye it worries Alhaitham's expectations.

He sets his book aside when he glances up to see him coming, having not managed to read a single sentence he could retain. ]

There you are.

[linguaphilia]

[Alhaitham raises one hand in a small, polite greeting when he comes into view. He isn't ignorant of the fact that this is unusual for him, but he isn't a complete hermit. He does go out sometimes...]

Mhm, here I am.

[And there was something that he wanted, wasn't there? The scribe pauses a moment, as if in thought, then leans down and brushes his fingertips down the line of Xie Lian's jaw. He follows the gesture with a soft, chaste kiss.]

[dianxie]

[ His insides do a little flip with the kiss, resting his hands on Alhaitham's waist. As their lips part he looks up with a fond smile and something of the beginning of a blush. ]

Hello. Shall we get comfortable?

[linguaphilia]

Sure.

[He never starts off with too much physical contact. It's something he warms up to slowly, and even as they make themselves comfortable together he's carefully keeping his distance.

Not too far, but far enough. Situations like this are still... strange ones. He's growing more accustomed to it with certain people.]

Have you been here long today?

[Small talk. Normally he doesn't think much of it, but they might as well.]

[dianxie]

Not very.

[ Xie Lian pulls a blanket over his lap and slouches against the comfortable couch in the half-circle alcove, content to watch Alhaitham get cosy wherever he wishes. He gestures to the small pile of books collected on the coffee table. ]

I've ransacked this floor for books on 'modern' warfare, it's fascinating and frightening to read about the things in some worlds. Guns sound hideous.

[linguaphilia]

[Alhaitham seems to consider his options. He knows what Xie Lian wants and honestly, he doesn't really object in giving it to him as things stand. With a quiet sigh he shifts himself into the alcove and settles in beside the other man, their arms just touching as he looks over to the pile of books.]

A grim topic for research, why would you choose it?

[Definitely wouldn't be Alhaitham's first choice...]

[dianxie]

I was a general once.

[ He rests lightly against that arm, showing Alhaitham the page that breaks down how to put a tank together. ]

We never had anything like this. I think that if we did, we would have obliterated other nations with an unfair advantage.

[linguaphilia]

[This is the kind of quiet intimacy that he can find appreciation for. Xie Lian reads him well - something he is not ignorant of - and that the other man understands where his boundaries lie and how best to please him is something he does appreciate.]

Mm... Unless they had machines of equal power. Things like this rarely develop without something of equal strength to oppose them.

[Alhaitham shifts, putting his arm around Xie Lian so he can get comfortable against him.]