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

It's hard to find anyone who isn't obnoxious.

[ Aside from present company, of course. Xie Lian purses his lips, wondering if he should mention something, then deciding he may as well: Alhaitham must find him somewhat attractive to tolerate him, after all. ]

Do you think I'm a lot? Or rather ... do I come off as unappealing for any particular reasons?

[ His issue has nothing to do with the other man, asking him calmly and thoughtfully. This is something Xie Lian has been wondering. ]

Edited 2024-02-03 20:59 (UTC)

[The question is calmly put, but Alhaitham knows very well that people often ask such questions when they aren't prepared to hear an honest answer. Xie Lian would know by now that he should expect an honest answer from Alhaitham, so the scribe can only assume he is being asked for that reason.]

I can only speak for myself.

[And he will only speak for himself. Anything he says in reply would be a matter of opinion.]

But before I answer, I want to know why you're asking.

[ He taps his lower lip with the pencil, judging his work. The next word he works on is "Precious" and his gaze stays on it as he answers. ]

I asked a man if he would consider me, I told him I thought he was handsome and clever, but he was very reserved. I was polite and took him for tea so we could get to know each other, but ...

I don't know if I was too honest about everything. I'm not very good at acting coy, so I tried to be earnest instead.

Edited 2024-02-03 21:25 (UTC)

[A soft sigh leaves him.]

I see.

[And why is he being asked this..? His first instinct is to shrug it off, not wanting anything to do with Xie Lian's other 'activities', but he supposes on further thought that he might as well give the honest answer that he suspects the other man believes he might get from him.]

If you're not good at playing coy, don't play coy. You'll only make yourself look foolish. ['Earnest' is definitely a word he would have used to describe the man if asked. It suits him better.] People pretending to be something they're not will always get found out eventually.

[He pauses for another bite, then swallows.]

You will never be able to please everyone. Don't try to.

Mmm, I know. I suppose I wanted to hear someone say that who isn't in love with me.

[ Perspective and all. Alhaitham has that in spades.

He smiles again, looking at him over the desk (pleased to have him present to look at). ]

As long as you're halfway-happy with me, I'll know I'm doing something right.

Were you not so respectful of my boundaries, I can assure you that we would not be spending any significant amount of time together.

[Alhaitham does not claim anyone as a friend but he is far more likely to be willing to spend time with people who do not try to push him into being something that they want him to be, rather than simply what he is. Xie Lian has been accepting of his nature, his boundaries, and his blunt vocabulary. It's all positive points.]

I have limited reserves for social interaction.

[And so he is very picky about who he chooses to spend time with at all.]

That's how friends work, Alhaitham.

[ He gives him a wry smile for that comment, softening it a moment later as he nods. ]

I know you do. That's why I'm so happy you've chose to spend time with me today.

[The ashen-haired man arches a brow Xie Lian's way, but doesn't argue. He is here after all, he can't deny that much.]

Were you looking for something in particular here? There isn't much I'd call light reading.

It doesn't have to be light. I used to "save" the old books being thrown out when I was little, I would read them one last time as if I could preserve their knowledge and do them a favour. It didn't matter what they were about.

[ What would he like to read? ]

... I like history. Painting. Dancing. Lots of things.

[Something piques in Alhaitham's expression when Xie Lian talks about saving old books. It's something he would have done as a child - and often did, especially when the book would be difficult to find in anything but Akasha format otherwise.]

Ah... a man of culture, I see.

[High praise, coming from someone like Alhaitham.]

I have always preferred physical books myself. Nothing quite compares.

[ 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.

[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.]

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. ]

[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...]

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.

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.

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

[ That sounds like a nice afternoon. ]

[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.

[ 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.

[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.

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