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

[linguaphilia]

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

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[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.]

[dianxie]

[ The arm around him makes a soft spot inside melt and he leans a little more against him, reassured Alhaitham is comfortable too. ]

The only thing stronger than this would be ... me, or any other martial god.

[linguaphilia]

Mm, are you certain of that?

[Not that he doubts the power of said gods even if his views on gods tend to err on the practical side.]

Reading about these machines on a page may be different from their practical application.

[dianxie]

I'm stronger.

[ There's understated confidence in his words, looking sheepish a moment later as he plays with his hair, twirling it behind an ear while looking at the machines on the page. ]

I know it seems unlikely.

[linguaphilia]

Hm.

[He looks Xie Lian's way, observing him quietly for a few moments, as if trying to judge if the man is overstating his power or simply, genuinely so certain of it. In the end, he cannot say that he knows enough of what the god may be capable of to say either way, so he simply gives a small shrug.]

I couldn't judge one way or the other. [It would be an empty debate with no way to actually reach a conclusion, in any case.]

But I don't think you invited me to meet you so we could discuss your military prowess, hypothetical or otherwise.

[dianxie]

[ At that, his blush deepens and he glances at Alhaitham who suddenly seems very close, even just sat beside him. ]

Well, no. [ He may as well admit, again tucking his hair behind an ear self-consciously, ] I missed you.

[linguaphilia]

[It's not something he hears often - that he was missed. That is entirely by design of course. He isn't often in anyone's orbit for long enough to be missed and if he is then his attitude often ensures they are glad to see the back of him.

Xie Lian, though... He is one of the rare few who have managed to both tolerate Alhaitham's personality and earn a place as someone whom he is content to occasionally spend time with.

He moves his hand as Xie Lian tucks his hair back, completing the action for him with a light touch and tracing a fingertip around the shell of his ear.]

You wanted to kiss me, didn't you?

[dianxie]

Hah! Only if you want me to.

[ The bubbling, nervous laughter comes as his ear is tickled and he leans into the touch, fondly looking Alhaitham over. ]

Would you like a kiss?

[linguaphilia]

Hmn. If I objected, I wouldn't have come here to begin with.

[That is not a 'yes', but when it comes to Alhaitham there's rarely a simple answer. What is more of a yes is how he draws Xie Lian in closer and tilts his head, gently and softly pressing their lips together.]

You can be a little bolder with me.

[dianxie]

[ The kiss is sweet and soft. Xie Lian trails his fingertips along Alhaitham's jaw and down his neck for the duration, giving his chest a pat as their lips part. His cheeks are pink and stray hairs fall into his eyes, hastily brushed away. ]

I'm afraid you'll scurry away as fast as a beetle-bug if I do or say the wrong thing.

[linguaphilia]

Tch... if I had a mind to do that, I wouldn't have agreed to meet you in the first place.

[While Alhaitham will always be quick to remove himself from situations he no longer wants to be in, he will also avoid putting himself in them to begin with if he can.]

Have I done something to make you believe that is the kind of behaviour you can expect from me?

[dianxie]

Well, you make me a little nervous. I don't have much experience with this sort of thing either beyond my husband and I know for a fact nothing I do will ever bother him into leaving.

[ He is, despite being very forward about his wants, also very self-conscious and inherently unsure of himself with anyone but Hua Cheng. Bringing a hand up to hesitantly tuck Alhaitham's hair behind an ear, Xie Lian smiles through a sigh. ]

You're a bit intimidating, Alhaitham.

[linguaphilia]

Yes, I know.

[He shrugs one shoulder lightly in acknowledgement. It's a fact, one that he is well aware of and one that he does not try to do anything to mitigate. It works well for him, after all.]

You aren't the first to have that opinion of me.

[dianxie]

Ai, then if you know it why not mitigate it?

[ He can't help laughing, laying his head on Alhaitham's shoulder in a cuddle. ]

I can't read your mind, tell me how you're feeling.

[linguaphilia]

Why not? I don't see why I should pretend to be something I'm not for the sake of other people.

[But he allows that contact, shifting his shoulder a little to make it a more comfortable spot for Xie Lian to lay his head.]

I never have, and I don't intend to start doing it here.

[dianxie]

It's not about pretending. Isn't this nice, spending time with someone you like and knowing they feel comfortable around you? So, why not give them more of a reason to feel that way and be as happy as you can possibly make them? If you like a person, you should want to be the one who inspires those feelings and not simply let them happen.

[ He pokes Alhaitham's neck with his nose. ]

Does that make sense?

[linguaphilia]

Tch.

[Alhaitham just shakes his head.]

Regardless of what you think, you would still be asking me to change my personality for the sake of someone else. I'm not going to do that, Xie Lian, and I don't expect anyone to do it for me either. I enjoy your company because you have seemed content enough to be around me without expecting me to be anything other than who I am. [He tilts his head slightly, looking down at his companion.]

Was I wrong?