#galemoon

@galemoon : It is a precious opportunity to find a moment of peace and quiet, mayhap even more so because the general is often otherwise occupied — duty always coming first, in spite of one's own wants. But today, Dan Heng found himself nestled settled against his side, woes of the past momentarily forgotten in the comfortable warmth of the other's arms. It comes almost natural when he reaches upward, fingers brushing through white strands of fluffy hair, untangling the red ribbon that kept it neat and tidy. An indulgence on his part, to be sure. How many years has it been since he last saw him with his hair loose, after all?

𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐍𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄   𝐖𝐀𝐒   𝐇𝐈𝐒   𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐋   𝐄𝐗𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄   -   a   bidden   exhaustion   that   came   with   all   his   years   of   living   and   the   burden   that   wore   with   his   position   as   general.   heavy   was   the   head   that   wore   the   crown,   after   all,   and   though   jing   yuan's   usually   laid   back   manner   remain   most   prevalent   -   it   belied   the   truth   of   his   never   ending   business,   the   constant   hypervigilant   state   with   which   he   went   through   each   day.   longevity   made   many   on   the   xianzhou   luofu   complacent   -   but   not   jing   yuan,   and   yet   even   still   recent   events   had   surprised   even   him   to   the   point   of   silence.   stellaron   hunters   be   damned,   he   was   more   interested   in   the   vidyadhara   that   had   materialized   back   in   his   life   on   a   phantom   wind.   

he   hadn't   allowed   himself   to   be   selfish   last   time   -   but   perhaps   his   old   age   had   made   him   realize   that   now   was   worth   the   opportunity.   

it   had   been   easy   -   too   easy   -   to   allow   dan   heng   back   into   his   life,   to   pick   back   up   with   the   familiarity   of   immortals   entwined.   he   had   to   admit   -   and   had   told   him   as   much   -   that   little   'more'   human   appearance   of   his   was   quite   cute,   but   jing   yuan   had   always   preferred   him   as   he   was   and   was   meant   to   be.   pointed   ears,   horns,   teeth...   draconic   instincts   and   all,   it   charmed   the   general   to   near   obsession,   and   when   afforded   the   opportunity   of   curling   against   dan   heng   as   he   had   so   many   times   prior...   

the   cushions   of   the   open   aired   pavilion,   still   largely   guarded   from   prying   photographs   and   eyes   by   autonomous   entities,   make   for   the   perfect   nest   -   and   more   importantly   the   perfect   spot   for   napping.   the   shade   of   a   large,   gilded   gingko   tree   covers   them   both   from   the   faux   sun   -   affording   comfort   over   the   blanket   jing   yuan   had   drawn   upon   both   their   frames.   he'd   been   dozing   for   quite   sometime   now,   a   strong   arm   cast   about   dan   heng's   waist   and   his   nose   tucked   against   the   other's   shoulder.   for   a   time,   he'd   been   idly   playing   with   the   long   strands   of   the   archivist's   hair,   but   calloused   digits   had   fallen   to   rest   a   few   moments   ago   -   along   with   the   rhythmic   steadiness   of   his   breathing.   

long   lashes   had   fallen   to   crescents   upon   cheeks,   relaxation   ebbing   away   the   occasional   lines   of   worry   that   haunted   jing   yuan's   handsome   face.   despite   their   separation   for   so   long   -   his   comfort   in   dan   heng's   presence   is   not   secretive,   a   sleepy   and   possessive   hand   perpetually   curled   at   his   hip   as   the   general   rests   close.   only   with   the   slide   of   fingertips   through   the   ashen   strands   of   his   wild   mane   does   he   awaken,   a   slow   flutter   of   eyelids   revealing   molten   gold   to   steel   jade,   and   jing   yuan   takes   a   moment   -   just   one,   to   savor   the   feeling   of   fingertips   within   his   hair   again.   the   tresses   tumble   free   a   moment   later   -   long   and   unbidden,   falling   across   the   bare   plains   of   his   shoulders   in   sharp   waves   and   making   him   look   even   more   the   lion   he   was   associated   with.