肉身为引, 魂魄为偿

Or even being perceived as such, intended or not.

Legato shudders and sets to carefully fixing the rumpled clothes the other man is wearing, minding that he doesn't so much as brush skin or knock anything further out of place. The style may be unfamiliar, but they ought to be easy enough to straighten and smooth without... causing more of a reaction. He hopes.

"You did nothing," Legato gets out, finding his voice at once more hoarse than it has any right to be and softer than it would be for almost anyone. "Nothing wrong. I.... I spent far too long on my knees for others to wish anyone bow like that to me. The mistake of collision was both of ours, you don't need to take all the blame."

He doesn't dare attempt to right the man's hair, skin crawling with too many, too large hands just at the thought of how he'd like that. Instead, he slides back and begins to gather the fallen books, righting them at the very least before he starts to gather them into two rough piles. Ones he's sure were his and Nai's in one, ones he believes were the other man's in the other.

"I... I see," he nods his head. There are a lot of people in this world like that, he's found... everyone here carries their own scars. Still, he feels a bit ashamed as he sits up, still partially dissociated but trying... trying.

Fear is hard to swallow, even now.

But after a moment, he's able to move to help with picking up the books. It really isn't easy to tell which of all of them are his and which are the other's...

Legato. That's a name he knows all too well-- but a face that differs from the one that appeared in a coda. He recalls hearing about another Legato, the one from Nai's world. "I am Mo Xuanyu... do you... perhaps know Nai Saverem?" he asks, his voice still quiet, tentative.

Now he feels a little bit embarrassed... if this was the same Legato, then weren't they technically, in a way, part of the same family? And this is the way their first meeting had gone... Mo Xuanyu is still so anxious that his throat felt tight. Though he'd long given up having any kind of a positive impression on others... it's still difficult sometimes. He tries to pull in the scattered shards of his focus into something more solid, breathing in, then releasing it, focusing on the faint ripple of light within his body to steady himself. In and out...

Better.

A special item has been delivered to your home and placed in a mailbox that wasn’t there yesterday. The box, and the item both have your name on them.

Omnibag 200 Emblems A miraculous bag that almost seems to hold unlimited storage! When attuned, the Omnibag can hold up to 3 medium sized objects in a portable dimension-space. It can otherwise be used to fit 1 large item. NOTE: Because the bag can only hold 3 objects at a time, if your muse would like to attune a fourth item, they will have to disenchant one of the previous items and swap out.             Failure to do so will result in the bag warping itself into dimension-space, and your items spilling unceremoniously into one big mess.             If damaged or destroyed, this object cannot be repaired and is considered a PERISHABLE ITEM. You will have to acquire a new Omnibag.

ORIGINAL EMBLEM BALANCE: 200 TRANSACTION: Free! (Hearths Rising Voucher) CURRENT EMBLEM BALANCE: 200

"Let's try all the food, then!" he agrees. There's all kinds of food here in Arcanus, and Mo Xuanyu is pretty sure his tastebuds will be overwhelmed by the time they're done-- but he's still excited, especially about the sweets. Based on what he's read, some of them sound absolutely delightful.

He pays close attention to all those things that Nico talks about-- even though he really will try to get things for himself, he definitely still wants to get at least one gift for his love, something nice and sweet. When he thinks back to the day at the aquarium, the way Nicholas had clung onto the plush ray that Mo Xuanyu had gotten him... that's a feeling he wants to recapture no matter what.

Still, Mo Xuanyu feels a little excited himself. They're just starting to build a life with each other, and now they can get things to fill up that life with...

Hopefully.

The question felt less like a question when he met the other's eyes, following his gesture to see the shop. It did look interesting, some things he could mentally note what they probably were.

"Store one of many? We can go halves on everything so we can try more things, deal?" He grins, pulling his love along to the shop.

Things like this, the sweet simple life, no cross weighing him down, no crushing weight of pain and guilt, of shame and fear- nothing. Just a warmth, a sense of joy and hope.

If he broke Xuanyu...

Nicholas starts as they stop, eyes looking around, clearly having tuned out and been entirely focused on their hands, on the way their skin met and the promise of life he felt under the touch.

"Oh, right." He takes the basket, crouching to set up. "Still not used to seeing so much green, it's-"

his words are cut off, seeing the letter. He almost ignores it, thinking it was stuffed there as the other rushed to meet him, a typical Xuanyu thing to do.

But he saw his own name on it.

He picks it out, turning it over to see a delicate wax seal. Definitely Xuanyu's work. He looks up at the other, truly looks at him now. Anxious, timid, hopeful, jittery.

"This seems like a big deal." He voices his summary of the other, eyes trailing back down.

He was asked to set up, so the other knew it was there, this was planned. So, he pulled out his swiss knife, flicked it open to gingerly pry the wax off, careful to keep it in tact - he collected every single one Xuanyu ever gave him. Wasn't many yet, but he hoped to have quite a pretty pile one day.

Once done, he pockets the tool and pulls out the paper. Eyes trail it for a moment, brow furrowing, a clear sign he struggled before sighing reluctantly.

"I.... Still can't read." He thought maybe he'd gotten the hang of it, but all these words were gabbled nonsense to him still.

It's only on the second read that he notes the words near the bottom. Simple ones used, clearly the doing of Xuanyu, or the lawyer under his plea.

"As of now... Nicholas and Xuanyu... Own a house?" Eyes snapped up, knowing there was some words in there he didn't quite get but the end was written for him. "We.... What?" They owned a house? But he hadn't bought one yet, he'd failed to get enough because of one thing or the next, he'd failed, but...

Still, he's worried, however unreasonable it may be, that Nicholas won't be happy.

So, Mo Xuanyu bites his lip as he pretends to be busy doing something, absently petting his companion's head and waiting for the paper to be open, the deed revealed. Every second is a special kind of agony prickling at the back of his mind, faint whispers echoing through his thoughts until...

Nicholas is surprised, shocked even.

It was unexpected, of course-- Mo Xuanyu had wanted it that way, but he's still a little bit nervous.

"I... did a lot of things," he said. "Worked, found things that I could sell... You remember, right? What I said back before... before we got married? I rely on you so much, but I also wanted to be someone that you could rely on."

He wraps the leash back and forth around his hand, worrying a bit more at his lip. "So... I decided I would do this. We have a house now-- and it has all of the things we talked about. Do you... do you want to go see?"

Xuanyu was speaking still, he was there but lost immediately at whatever a kowtow was. Still, he nodded, following suit, a little slower than Xuanyu if only because he was mirroring him. By the time it came to facing one another, there was far more meaning to it for Nicholas.

Bowing. It was a sign of deep bowing, showing yourself in a smaller state and perfectly vulnerable. This, was almost natural towards the other. It's here he took the lead.

Bowing deep and holding for longer than they had, raising with a barely audible murmur of love. The second, and there was a whisper of adoration. The last, a murmur of devotion. Three things he vowed to uphold until his final breath for good. To love, to adore and to be devoted to.

Sure, they weren't part of Xuanyu's ceremony, but the moment was important to him as well. And if they're involving heaven, earth and the old farts, then they will hear what he has to say.

Quietly, out of respect to Xuanyu and this moment, of course.

The wine glasses were claimed, the vibrant pink toned liquid shimmering bright but he relaxed. It was awkward, working around the veil, but he lifted the corner juuust enough to do what was needed, eyes clearly shut to uphold the 'will not see beyond the veil of red until permitted' thing.

When all was said and done, fingers claimed the other's hand, taking the ring just shy of it's seated position before returning it to it's forever home on Xuanyu's hand, imitating putting it on again.

Isn't what's between them the most important, after all?

Once he lifts his head from the final bow, he lets his husband take his hand, feel this shift of the band upon his finger, and he in turn mimics the gesture with Nicholas-- under his breath, quietly he responds. "In this world where death lasts a moment... until death and then beyond," he says, then takes both of Nicholas' hands, leading him down to sit upon the bed-- only then does he at last lift the corners of the silk fabric covering his husband's face, drawing the veil aside.

He's anxious still, though perhaps anxious isn't the word, and there's a smile on his face that's half-shy, lips bright red, accentuating the flower petals painted in the center of his forehead, dark hair black as midnight in the dim light of candles, starkly contrasting his face. His clothes are similar to Nicholas'-- both of them wearing bridegroom's robes-- but there are a few more layers, and a long scarf rippling over his arms and around his back, dragons and phoenixes swirling across it in gold thread.

"Husband," he says, trying the word, feeling it within his mouth in a different way than ever before...

"That's me. And yeah, they'll be fine. Probably not bruised, hmm?"

Actually, strawberries can be pretty tough, aren't they? And they're a bit like that...he tosses the ones he'd picked up from that spill and tosses them into Xuanyu's basket.

Truth be told, he hasn't tried any yet-- after all, he doesn't know if there are rules about that sort of thing. "But I haven't taken them back... are you sure that's allowed?" he asks, curious now.

"Perfumes and colognes are hard to find one you like. It changes when it touches your skin into something uniquely you tinted. I thought I'd try this one, dad looked so desperate." He remembers the look on the elf, the pleading eyes until he'd promised to try.

He knows the elf is going through it, both for himself and stressing over Nicholas and Xuanyu. He was at peace, though, content to simply follow the lead of the once shy and timid male.

"Walking sounds great." He hesitates, looking into the home to the large cross, fingers twitching.

Did he need it, really?

He slips from Xuanyu, going for his wallet, keys and pocket knife instead, slipping vials and his cigarette case into his small bag and finally followed Xuanyu out.

Seeing Nicholas leave the weapon behind, his brow relaxes a little. His husband is troubled, too troubled... maybe this is a step in the right direction. Maybe... things will be calm again. Or at least start to calm down. Now that they have a place of their own...

"Mhm," he agrees. "I think we'll be okay."

The hand not holding onto a small picnic basket reaches out to claim Nicholas' as a gesture of comfort, of reassurance.

He has his own tools with him as well.

Besides, this is Arcanus, not Sonare-- reasonably, it shouldn't be too dangerous.

The walk takes a little while, over to downtown, then taking a detour off into the trees. Then, after they've gone down a small road for a little while, Mo Xuanyu stops in his tracks, and takes a deep breath. "What about here?" he asks, holding out the picnic basket. "Do you... would you mind setting it up?"

How many times had he been in that same posture, begging forgiveness from one Master or another? Even Knives had him on his knees often enough before. To have another direct such a thing at him? It immediately wipes away any defensive anger and replaces it with bile in the back of his throat.

Anxiety, fear, panic, it runs through his veins, overtaking the rush of blood in his ears.

"I'm sorry-- I'm sorry," he repeats again, but... there's no expected violence or shouting. Still, it takes a great amount of effort to drag himself back to semi-consciousness, and even more effort to drag himself from the ground, hair and clothes messy, distant, glassy look in his eyes.

"I didn't..."

His face nearly matches the silks over him, unable to see the other clear as day, but the sight of him, in the dimly lit room was one he knows he will never forget.

He follows to the candle set up, seeing the image he idly thinks of his own. He doesn't know the meaning of it, but wonders, is it a deity or a parent? If a parent he'd offer the polaroid he has of Roberto, but if it was the other, a deity...

Did he even have one? Would it mess everything up not having something for his side?

The tremble is met with a soft squeeze, knowing no matter his own fears, his own worries, the man before him made everything else seem obsolete. Nothing could shake his devotion to him, nothing could rattle him from his love, right here, right now, h truly knew the definition of the words 'I love you'.

He's already failed her enough... even if he still blamed himself for her death, it just wouldn't feel right to entirely leave out the only family that had ever truly claimed him from his wedding.

Biting his lip once more, he holds Nicholas' hand even more tightly. "Alright. First, we'll kneel down on those cushions and kowtow three times to heaven and earth, then three times to our ancestors, then turn to face each other, and do the same toward one another. After that, we drink the wine from the glasses with our arms linked around each other, and then... well..."

He pauses, tilts his head toward the bed. "Then... I'll take off the veil."

And more than that. His throat is closing up now... damn it, he's so nervous. This is happening now.

"Ah... I think that's all."

He's got a basket hooked around his elbow, the interior filling quickly, when he hears a familiar, distressed, voice. Peeking over, he sees Mo Xuanyu and a little creature trying to retrieve their berries.

Mo Xuanyu takes a moment to think... those first days in this world were a blur, and he didn't remember them well, but...

"Oh-- you're... Badou-xiansheng, right?" he says. "Sorry... it has been a little while. Ah-- yes, I dropped them, but... I think it's still alright?"

He scoops a few back into the basket. Just a few ice crystals cling to them, but otherwise, the berries are unharmed. Suddenly having a thought, he tilts his head slightly. Badou's been here longer, right?

Mostly, he'd been fighting with himself. He'd found Vash, or rather been found by Vash. It was chaos, an entanglement of emotions, hopes, love, heartbreak, pain, guilt, shame... It was too much, reminded him of the monster he was, plus, to meet in Rosewood District no less. Ugh.

But, he'd given up on trying to gain a pile of keys suddenly for their home, at least whilst he's too unstable to not kill someone on accident. Like he'd already done.

That had broken him, shattered his mind and tore his heart, but he'd found Xiao-Ying when his husk shambled towards his home. It's where he'd taken the pup home, had the brief talk and shambled away to get his instrument and wait for the past to return again.

The knock on the door snaps him from his mindless daze. He'd cleaned himself up for the first time all week, had stopped drinking the day prior when he knew this was happening. He needed to ground himself. And he had, had found himself in the last week after losing himself first. Vash knew about them, knew he loved him but...

Well, Xuanyu was his priority, so Vash had to just be happy with being his friend or fuck off. They'll play nice for Roberto in the case of the second one, but that's all he'd get.

When the door finally opens, it's clear the moment eyes fall on Xuanyu that his shoulders drop, all the weight falling off. He smiles, pulling the other close, claiming a soft, sweet kiss as he all but falls apart in that moment. The world, was once again, right.

"Hey there, handsome." A snuffle at his foot has him laughing, finally pulling back to squat and give their beloved canine some affection too. "And how's the best pup in the world, hmm?"

The laugh surprised him, the lightness of it, the sound throwing all the stress and pain from the last week into the winds instantly. It was everything he needed and more.

The idea that even he could be someone that could be relied on...

Whether Nicholas would say so or not, he needed someone like that, and however much of a struggle it might be, Mo Xuanyu would be that person. Bit by bit, piece by piece... starting with today's surprise.

There was no mistake, he was absolutely exhausted, his own nerves strained and unsteadied, but for now at least he's fueled on by accomplishment, and when he runs out, there's a certain three-legged pup by his side to offer a bit of encouragement.

And, of course, his partner-- into whose hair Mo Xuanyu's fingers intertwine, clasping with a gentle yet possessive grasp as he tastes the other's lips. A quiet laugh escapes him, filtering through his nose as he watches Xiao-Ying nose at Nicholas' hand, a wag of her tail still a bit hesitant, but gradually becoming more comfortable-- like the one who she accompanies.

"The training is going well," he says with a little smile on his face. "She doesn't usually need a leash now... but the city seemed a little busy today."

He tugs the other back up, pausing to bury his face in the crook of his neck, taking in the fragrance and tucking his hand up around Nicholas' back, a soft embrace as he gives an approving nod.

"It's good," he agrees. Unique, varied... strong enough but not too strong at the same time. Mo Xuanyu wasn't wearing any fragrance of his own-- though there was a lingering hint of incense smoke and copper upon his clothes-- but he wouldn't mind if a bit of Nicholas' rubbed off on him. "I'm still... trying to find which I like."

Who he wants to be, how he wants to step forward... It's a process.

One that will no doubt take a long time.

But... they have all the time in the world, right?

And so he waits.

He'd disassociated by the time he hears the knock, jolting out of his focus to snap to the bathroom, then look away out of respect. Shit, what was he meant to do?

"You're good to come in." He feels his voice shaking, nerves spiking up again. Soon, he'd be married. Not by law no but this was just as good in his eyes. Something special, private, just them.

With a shaky breath, he closes the bathroom door behind him.

"Ah... let me just set up a few things over here," he says, moving to the other side of the room. In a moment, the soft fragrance of incense fills the air. A bit of shuffling around later, the room has been divided metaphorically in two, with one half set up for the ceremony, the other, of course, containing the bed. It's not over-the-top by any means, just a few things that he'd picked up from the wedding shop-- a red silk cloth draped over the desk, upon which the incense burner is set, next to a small canvas upon which has been painted a young woman's portrait. The brush strokes are a little uneven, and the likeness not perfectly clear-- but such is the the case when the face in question comes from a young man's hazy, indistinct memories.

A-niang... would you be happy to see me like this?

The question not spoken aloud... and Mo Xuanyu isn't sure. To think that in the end he'd failed all of her expectations and the hopes she'd had for him, and ended up a world away... and yet, even despite all that he had found happiness.

He likes to think that his mother would at least want to see him happy.

In lieu of the presence of family, or a proper memorial tablet... this would have to do.

On the floor he's placed a couple of cushions for the bows, and nearby a pair of candles, brilliant red with intricate, golden dragons carved into them.

"I can only imagine these are strange magical tablets to you." He motioned to the couch, content to settle in for a swarm of hundreds upon hundreds of questions.

"Come. Where you know of talismans and herbal mixtures, technology was where I was born. I will teach you the basics of how to work this, the fun things you can do, and if you feel ready, the more complicated things." He didn't expect to get farther than how to text, call, take notes and photos, but who knew, this was a start.

"It'll allow me an insight into your learning style and capabilities. Tell me when it's too much or I need to slow down. This is a test for your position on the job." Set a goal, a target for the other to focus and learn something vital and important in this world.

Sometimes he's able to figure it out on his own too-- like the light switches. Once he notices the patterns, it's not too hard to understand and apply it elsewhere. Even though all of this could be overwhelming sometimes... It was also engaging in a way that let him start to sift through the eternal fog that had wrapped around his mind.

The fact that people here actually treated him... well, generally not badly, that helped too.

Though he's still a little nervous at the thought of being taught, of learning styles, of all of that... a flicker of shyness crosses his brow and he takes a breath-- the stakes seem higher now. "Alright-- Nico and Astarion-qianbei showed me some things already... like how to send messages, and... the... photos."

like this post for a hearth's rising starter from xuanyu -- cap at 2, with castmates and family members exempt. please specify in replies if you have an event preference!

where he can be found:

"Now, food doesn't count, remember this! I want to try a ton of things with you, I've never seen food this varied where I'm from so, I want to share this experience." Where he got the lung capacity to talk at such lengths whilst practically bouncing around his lover like an excitable puppy was a wonder.

"Let's try all the food, then!" he agrees. There's all kinds of food here in Arcanus, and Mo Xuanyu is pretty sure his tastebuds will be overwhelmed by the time they're done-- but he's still excited, especially about the sweets. Based on what he's read, some of them sound absolutely delightful.

He pays close attention to all those things that Nico talks about-- even though he really will try to get things for himself, he definitely still wants to get at least one gift for his love, something nice and sweet. When he thinks back to the day at the aquarium, the way Nicholas had clung onto the plush ray that Mo Xuanyu had gotten him... that's a feeling he wants to recapture no matter what.

Still, Mo Xuanyu feels a little excited himself. They're just starting to build a life with each other, and now they can get things to fill up that life with...