⤷ Mo Xuanyu meme / @pretendignorance​ / accepting

            "you’re very dear to me."

Darkness falls and the moon rises, bathing the Unclean Realm in pale, silvery light that catches the silver threads of Huaisang’s robes and makes them glow. As pretty as they are, they don’t suit him— he isn’t his brother. Huaisang belongs in something more colorful, something that isn’t so monotone. Mossy greens and vibrant golds, earthy colors that represent Qinghe as a whole and not just the Unclean Realm.

Here in the moonlight, they are alone— no councilors trying to sway them or argue for or against certain parts of their alliance, no servants ever diligent and watchful. He likes the peace and quiet, how they sit next to each other in this tucked away little garden. It reminds him of simpler times, before everything took a turn for the worse.

    𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃𝐍'𝐓 𝐑𝐔𝐍 𝐀𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐘𝐀𝐑𝐃, yet here he is, quickening his step as he grips the piece of fabric between his fingers tightly, excited to show NIE GONGZI the piece of cloth he’s been working on! minan didn’t want to start embroidering a piece before nie gongzi had had a chance to approve the design, so he’d started the embroidery on a scrap piece of fabric, hoping it would turn out nicely before he actually sewed the proper pattern onto the garment. 

    ❛   𝐆-𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐙𝐈! 𝐍𝐈𝐄 𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐙𝐈!  ❜     he calls out, voice gentle. it doesn’t even sound like he’s talking at a normal volume, much less shouting to get huaisang’s attention, but he manages to catch up to him, shuffling his feet a bit as he holds out the piece of cloth sheepishly.    ❛   this is... for your robes. the one you REQUESTED for the banquet.  ❜    

⤷ Mo Xuanyu meme / @pretendignorance​ / accepting

            “Come here. Let me fix it.”

“How unseemly does it look?”

The night wears on and on, and in his tiredness he’s made the grave mistake of rubbing at his eye, smudging the once perfectly sharp kohl there. Without a mirror, it’s hopeless for him to try and fix it himself, and with the banquet still raging on, it would be rude to be done with it all and retire for the night.

He supposes he’s lucky that Huaisang is there, ready and willing to fix the mess he’s no doubt made of his face. So he moves to the other sect leader’s side, chin tilted up and head still so Huaisang can work.

⤷ Nie Jinhai meme / @pretendignorance​ / accepting

            ‘ things tend to get to me so easily these days ’

❝ do you mind if we stay like this for a little longer? ❞ @ MINAN PLEAS E...........

         huaisang watched as minan spoke with his head tilted up, his voice dreamy and gaze unfocused; tipsy though they’re only on their second cup. within him the alcohol has started to take effect as well, slowing down his thought process, loosening his inhibitions. fortunately he’s still alert enough to move just in time to save minan from tipping back and falling down, catching him by the waist.

         “ be… careful…”  he says, voice softening once he realized how close they’ve gotten, overcame with shyness. minan was — naturally beautiful, with his fair skin and high cheekbones and gentle smile. that much was undeniable. but this minan, with flushed cheeks, glimmering eyes, and pretty pink lips pulled into a grin?  he’s ethereal. he’s glowing. he’s currently in huaisang’s arms. huaisang really wanted to kiss him.

         oh gods, he’s currently still in huaisang’s arm and huaisang was about to kiss him.

         he hurriedly helped minan back into an upright position before returning to his spot, pouring more liquor for himself and resolutely looking anywhere beside minan’s face.

         “ …is this perhaps your first time drinking?”

    𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐍 𝐃𝐎𝐄𝐒𝐍'𝐓 𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐊. he hadn’t been allowed to in his household, and he didn’t have the money to go into town and even buy a jar. there was no opportunity for him to drink, and it was restricted from him. IT DIDN’T MATTER—until nie gongzi had asked him to partake with him. of course, minan cannot refuse.

    barely a cup in and minan was wobbly and dizzy, cheeks flushed and wanting to giggle at EVERY LITTLE THING nie gongzi did or said. who knew that nie gongzi was so funny? but who knew this room could be so hot too? or was it just 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑾𝑨𝒀 𝑵𝑰𝑬 𝑮𝑶𝑵𝑮𝒁𝑰 𝑾𝑨𝑺 𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑲𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑨𝑻 𝑴𝑰𝑵𝑨𝑵. 

    steadied, minan puts his hands up to his cheeks, tries to fan himself to calm down.    ❛   it... it is,  ❜     he whispers softly.    ❛   it was forbidden from me… back at home. 𝑴𝑨𝑫𝑨𝑴 𝑩𝑨𝑰… thought i’d drink the sect poor if… i had just a drop. and my father was… adamant about keeping me… PURE.  ❜      

           “Sect Leader Nie,” he greets with a small bow, Chenqing at his side instead of a sword. When they were studying in Gusu he would’ve laughed at the idea that Nie Huaisang or himself would ever become sect leaders, yet here they stand in Fragrant Palace, two leaders in their own right. Nervous energy fills him, though he does his best to glance around casually. “Has Gusu Lan come yet? How is Lan Zhan?”

            what a world you live in that the times had changed so. your eyes narrow as you take in the man before you. one day you know his true nature will be revealed. perhaps it’ll be today perhaps years from now. should you trust him and ask for his help today, would he be willing to be capable for you.