[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...]
[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.]
[ 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. ]
[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.
[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.]
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.]
[ 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.
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?
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. ]
[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.]
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.
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.]
I think you would have a nicer time if you could see how much people miss you, that's all. It's a stressful place to be, after all, and the friends we make are all we have.
[ He shrugs, falling quiet as he tries to avoid getting into a deeper subject. ]
[Nor does he expect people to miss him, and he does not tend to call anyone 'friend'. But he doesn't say this out loud, having already covered similar topics before.]
I've been honest with you from the start about my personality. What you can expect from me. I'm not trying to argue with you, but you need to understand... this is who I am.
[And Alhaitham likely will just put it to one side, as easily as that. The question has him shaking his head, though not entirely in denial of it. More in... patient disbelief.]
If you're asking me if I pine for you when you're not with me, or if I think about you and wish you were there when I'm otherwise occupied with a task, then no. [But surely Xie Lian would know this. He has seemed to understand Alhaitham so far, he had to know that this question would not garner the sort of answer that would satisfy him.]
You come to mind occasionally, when I see something that might strike your fancy.
[Most people only perceive that Alhaitham is odd in how he interacts socially. Few people would describe him as kind, or in any genuinely positive way save for comments on his intelligence and ability in spite of the deliberate way he seems to squander it most of the time.]
To know that I enjoy time in your company ought to be enough. There are not many people who can say that.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2024-03-26 09:18 pm (UTC)A grim topic for research, why would you choose it?
[Definitely wouldn't be Alhaitham's first choice...]
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Date: 2024-03-26 09:41 pm (UTC)[ 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.
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Date: 2024-04-02 03:50 am (UTC)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.]
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Date: 2024-04-04 05:41 pm (UTC)The only thing stronger than this would be ... me, or any other martial god.
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Date: 2024-04-09 12:00 am (UTC)[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.
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Date: 2024-04-09 12:06 am (UTC)[ 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.
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Date: 2024-04-11 09:40 am (UTC)[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.
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Date: 2024-04-11 01:50 pm (UTC)Well, no. [ He may as well admit, again tucking his hair behind an ear self-consciously, ] I missed you.
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Date: 2024-04-14 12:38 pm (UTC)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?
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Date: 2024-04-14 12:54 pm (UTC)[ 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?
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Date: 2024-04-22 08:51 pm (UTC)[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.
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Date: 2024-04-22 09:13 pm (UTC)I'm afraid you'll scurry away as fast as a beetle-bug if I do or say the wrong thing.
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Date: 2024-04-22 09:18 pm (UTC)[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?
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Date: 2024-04-22 09:24 pm (UTC)[ 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.
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Date: 2024-04-22 09:32 pm (UTC)[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.
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Date: 2024-04-22 09:35 pm (UTC)[ 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.
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Date: 2024-04-22 09:41 pm (UTC)[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.
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Date: 2024-04-22 09:46 pm (UTC)[ He pokes Alhaitham's neck with his nose. ]
Does that make sense?
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Date: 2024-04-22 09:51 pm (UTC)[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?
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Date: 2024-04-22 09:53 pm (UTC)[ He shrugs, falling quiet as he tries to avoid getting into a deeper subject. ]
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Date: 2024-04-22 10:01 pm (UTC)[Nor does he expect people to miss him, and he does not tend to call anyone 'friend'. But he doesn't say this out loud, having already covered similar topics before.]
I've been honest with you from the start about my personality. What you can expect from me. I'm not trying to argue with you, but you need to understand... this is who I am.
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Date: 2024-04-22 10:04 pm (UTC)[ He looks up then, after a moment's inner debate. ]
Did you miss me, even a little?
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Date: 2024-04-23 09:12 am (UTC)If you're asking me if I pine for you when you're not with me, or if I think about you and wish you were there when I'm otherwise occupied with a task, then no. [But surely Xie Lian would know this. He has seemed to understand Alhaitham so far, he had to know that this question would not garner the sort of answer that would satisfy him.]
You come to mind occasionally, when I see something that might strike your fancy.
[Which is more than what most people get.]
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Date: 2024-04-23 09:16 am (UTC)[ That has him laughing, swatting at Alhaitham's chest. He can't picture Alhaitham carving statues of him, to say the least.
Xie Lian shakes his head and settles back in for a cuddle, humming. ]
I'm content to hear the latter.
[ Alhaitham is strange and a little silly, but he is kind. ]
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Date: 2024-04-30 12:20 pm (UTC)[Most people only perceive that Alhaitham is odd in how he interacts socially. Few people would describe him as kind, or in any genuinely positive way save for comments on his intelligence and ability in spite of the deliberate way he seems to squander it most of the time.]
To know that I enjoy time in your company ought to be enough. There are not many people who can say that.