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( He rises to his feet, still clumsy with drink and exhaustion, wobbling as he immediately, instinctively shrugs out the top layer, throwing it aside in a heap. Maybe he'll be back to his usual fussy, fastidious self once he's rested, but for right now he's too muddled for anything close to it. The belt goes too, and he sways over to Lan Xichen like a little spinning top, taking the robe with slow-blinking obedience.

Thankfully, he doesn't attempt to further undress right in front of him, instead choosing to duck behind the screen in the corner of his room. It's with a lot of banging and vague cursing that he changes, at one point Wen Kexing kicks off a boot and it goes thudding out of reach, the Ghost Valley Master muttering a helpless why as it does. He's not entirely put together when he steps back out, the layers are a little clumsily thrown on, and he's forgone the boots, silent in his socked feet. He doesn't exactly look like a scourge, but well, looks can be deceiving. )

Better?

( He thinks it's a little better. )

[ Xichen takes the time to order a cold meal of ham, cheese and bread (with water) from the concerned girls outside, setting it on the coffee table before making a little nest of pillows on the chaise longue. The flying boot catches his eye and he bestows a soft, fond smile on Wen Kexing who emerges looking like he truly fought his way into those robes. ]

Miles better. You could be one of my sect.

[ Xichen's deft fingers gently pluck those robes into a more comfortable position on his friend's shoulders, then a hand in the small of Wen Kexing's back nudges him toward the little area Xichen has made for him to crash in. ]

I'll sit with you awhile, like I promised. If you want to eat then it would do you good to have something inside your stomach to soak up the wine. Or we can just talk.

With your endless rules?

( He's feeling a little more like himself if he's able to tease, though there's a decided air of fragility still, like a house left shuddering after a flood. He ends up on the cushions, the prospect of food wrinkling his nose a little. The water though, that he reaches for, clumsily filling a cup and then holding it in his two hands like a child. )

I'd have been kicked out within months, Sect Leader Lan. ( A tired grin, toothy. ) Even forgetting my various crimes, the lechery alone would have gotten me thrown from your mountain.

Only if my shufu caught you. I am sect leader, after all.

[ He sinks down in a puff of rich fabrics, smoothing them out and setting a cushion on his lap with an inviting pat-pat, sleeves pushed aside to make room for anyone who might want to flop his way. Seeing Wen Kexing drinking water is a reassuring sight. ]

Besides, lechery toward whom? You've never acted like that in front of me. [ Not seriously, anyway. Xichen can take a joke, unlike Wangji. ] You're heartsick because of the level of your devotion, from what I've seen.

( The water is tossed back like it is wine, cup set down with a thunk, Wen Kexing taking to that little pat like a cat, squirming sideways so that he can rest his head on the cushion. Maybe people do this all the time, who knows? He doesn't have friendships to frame it off and besides, there isn't any motive underneath. His friend is kind, he can allow himself the comfort offered. )

I've slept with world famous courtesans.

( Mumbled, slightly stubborn. )

I'd sneak out and visit all the best brothels. I was well-known. ( But Lan Xichen is right, that part of him has been more than a little subdued these days. ) Don't be fooled.

How impressive.

[ Amused, he starts brushing his fingers through Wen Kexing's hair to detangle the knots, draping his sleeves on him like a blanket. ]

Certainly you couldn't do that in Cloud Recesses. Curfew is from nine at night until five in the morning, you would also have to scale half the mountain and however many miles to the nearest town to find company. Caiyi Town at the base is only fisherfolk.

If I could drag my way from the Valley to find company I could surely pluck a pretty flower from your fishermen. They're usually well muscled, aren't they? All the lifting.

( It's half-hearted at best, a play at being a scoundrel. The fingers in his hair are soothing, joining the rush of his intoxicated blood. He closes his eyes without meaning to, willing to just speak aimlessly. )

I don't think the smell would be much to your liking after the cleanliness of Cloud Recesses.

[ His chuckle is deep and fond, giving a lock of hair a little tug. ]

I get it, you're a philandering rake. I'm terribly jealous of all these liaisons, you've cut me where it hurts.

Edited 2023-10-19 14:01 (UTC)

( A mild grumble at the tug. )

Please, as if you couldn't be sleeping your way around Ephes right now. Master Lan, more than half the men and women in the brothels would pay you for the pleasure of your time. Do you know how hard it is to get anyone to concentrate after you've visited?

( There's a lot of swooning. Wen Kexing would have been one of them, not so long ago. But his heart is elsewhere. It doesn't mean he wouldn't want what's best for Lan Xichen though. )

Say the word and I'll start vetting people.

Mmm. Back home I would spend all my summers with my sworn brothers, time with them was what I prioritised above marriage proposals.

[ His answer may not be the type that Wen Kexing expects, thoughtful and slow. ]

I have been thinking ... perhaps, once, before I focus more on my cultivation ... [ Hesitating to say it, he chuckles at his own reticence. ] I might sleep with someone.

Just for the experience, of course. I don't intend to marry.

( That has him rolling onto his back, peering up at Lan Xichen with narrow hawk-eyed attention. Maybe he should be sober for this conversation, or at least sitting upright. But he finds it's easier to talk to him like this right now, half obscured, gazing at his chin. )

If you want to then you should, but only if you want to. People get too caught up in the idea sometimes. ( Says, notable famed slut Wen Kexing, but he also thinks it's important for Lan Xichen to know that it isn't as insurmountable as all that. ) There's nothing wrong with not fucking, the same way I don't think a person should be judged for sleeping with anyone that takes their fancy.

( Easily. ) It doesn't have to be anything but what you want it to be.

It feels a little silly, not knowing anything when I'm in charge of an entire sect of families. My little brother has a husband and I can't advise him on a single aspect of marriage.

[ He feels deficient, snorting as he tickles Wen Kexing's nose with the man's own hair. ]

You're very sweet for saying so. I'm simply not accustomed to being bottom of the class.

Tch. Nobody knows anything, that's the first thing you need to remember.

( His nose scrunches a little, thoughtful. )

My first time was with a woman almost twice my age. I couldn't afford anyone else and I wanted it - done, I suppose? I wanted to choose it. It felt very important at the time, to be rid of my virginity.

( He'd been young, and growing into something prettier than he should have been. Sneaking out had made sense, he doesn't sound even remotely ashamed of it. )

She was nice, matronly. I didn't know what to do with any part of my body and she didn't make me feel bad about that. I didn't know what I liked back then, or that women weren't really for me, and it was awkward and a little silly and I thought afterwards that I didn't know what the fuss was about. But it didn't change anything, I wasn't different. I was still me. So even if you choose to and it's not what you think it doesn't have to mean anything, mm?

[ He really did pick the best subject matter to get Wen Kexing's mind off vibrating with terror at the prospect of the old Ghost Valley master. Maybe it's too good of a topic, even!

Xichen strokes his friend's hair as Wen Kexing opens up. ]

I imagined it would be special, I waited for a-Yao for years but nothing ever happened. Now ... I don't care as much, it won't mean what it was going to, either way.

I know I want a man.

No grandmothers for Huan-er.

( It's a good distraction, Wen Kexing has never actually felt shame on this specific topic of conversation and it very clearly shows. The brutal vicious murder? Yes. The sleeping around half of China? No. )

Would you be opposed to paying? I know you treat the whores well, so I know you don't see them as anything lesser, but you might still want it to happen organically.

Paying doesn't matter.

[ It makes no difference to him if money makes the other person happier about the situation. ]

Only ... I want them to want to be there. [ His cheeks feel so warm. ] Someone kind and patient, with a sweet demeanour. Bright eyes. But, not someone physically weak who won't be able to, ah. Keep up.

[ Yes, his cheeks are definitely on fire. ]

Cute.

( He reaches up to prod at Lan Xichen's cheek, feeling a little silly. It's better than the alternative though, and so he doesn't mind. )

Aiya, Lan Huan, I don't think you'll find it hard to find someone willing to warm your bed. If I asked I'm sure there'd be a long line of people trailing halfway out the taverns. ( Waving that hand. ) Don't worry, don't worry, I'll be subtle. I do know how to be.

( Sometimes. )

[ The squint he gives him!! ]

My brother can't know about this, it would not go down well. I would be breaking a dozen rules.

[ That finger prodding his cheek gets scooped up and bitten. ]

( He hisses through his teeth like a cat, plucking his hand back down. It's not fair to have his own antics turned back on him, especially when he's too out of his wits to deal with it. )

Behave.

( And then -. ) I won't tell your brother, because he'd probably behead me for saying the rules are stupid. ( Half-hearted, Lan Wangji was kind to him after all. He might have to deal with that at some point. ) It's not his business either way.

It's really not. And ... he already thinks less of me than I would like.

[ Wangji has him on a pedestal, he knows, but there's always going to be a deep crack in it where Xichen wanted to believe in Jin Guangyao. Not wanting to bring the mood down again, he snatches the bitten hand back and drops a brief, apologetic kiss to its knuckles. ]

I always behave, didn't you know?

[ Snerk. ]

He shouldn't.

( What crime was it? Loving someone. It's easy to be mistaken when the heart burns so bright. )

Mm. And I'm a bodhisattva. ( Except, they both know now that he is not. He blinks, sudden, repeatedly, lets out a sigh again, closing his eyes more fully so he can't see. ) I think you deserve happiness. Anyone who knows you should see that.

My a-Xing is always wishing the best for me.

[ A brief kiss finds the inside of a wrist like a silent Thank You, soft and tender, skirting blue veins before he tucks that hand back with Wen Kexing. He gives him a pat on the shoulder, rubbing his back to help him relax. ]

Who will fight all my battles for me when I go home? I shall have to conscript the wild rabbits.

The only thing rabbits are good for are eating.

( A mild grumble, because he knows Lan Xichen sees things differently than he does. He doesn't think he'll be as offended as Lan Wangji was with the fish though. )

I'll make you a list of retorts before you go, so if anyone ever says anything bad you have them already compiled. You can strike the fear of me in Gusu too, that's only fitting.

A huli-jing would say that.

[ He tugs on a strand of Wen Kexing's hair, amused. ]

Perhaps, if I cultivate into immortality, I can finally travel the world and find you in it. That's more than enough incentive for me to try.

I'll cook you a feast, then. The ingredients here are lacking.

( And then, a yawn, splitting his face in two before he covers it with the palm of his hand. )

Aiya, I'm an old man.

( Or maybe the days are catching up on him. )

I should go to bed. I should certainly stop taking up all your time.

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