Entry tags:
(closed) the blue stars shiver in the distance
WHO: Mo Ran & Chu Wanning
WHERE: The Harbors, marketplace
WHEN: some day of November
WHAT: shopping
WARNINGS: none at the moment
WHERE: The Harbors, marketplace
WHEN: some day of November
WHAT: shopping
WARNINGS: none at the moment

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Shizun said we needed curtains, right?
[ he mentions as he suddenly stops, eyeing a small stall so full of rolls of fabric and sewing necessities, the owner has virtually no room to move. mo ran has every intention to put his own coins into the purchase, so that his teacher can get the fabric he wants, no matter the cost. he then will sew it into curtains and they will hang them up and the house they've been renovating will feel more like home.
through their soulmate bond, with many other things, mo ran can sorely feel the melancholy of the older man over losing the red lotus pavilion. it isn't that different for mo ran, sisheng peak was everything to him as well, but maybe because he has been forced many times to adapt to even the hardest living conditions, he isn't weighed down by it as much. someone who's used to owning nothing would feel lucky even just with one thing.
he motions for his teacher to follow him as he walks up to the stand and he greets the owner cheerfully, eyes bright. ] Good day! We're looking for something we can turn into curtains. I'm sure with your expertise, we'll find just the perfect fabric.
[ he grins, already sweet-talking his way into, possibly, the best service (and maybe a discount?). he isn't half-bad at dealing with people, after all. ] Shizun? [ he reaches out, holding onto the edge of the older man's sleeve to pull him closer, knowing how he'd rather avoid this kind of social interaction, if not forced into it. ]
How did you say you want it to be? [ he asks in a coaxing tone, fingers still tangled in the hem of his sleeve, and upon looking at and talking to chu wanning, his smile deepens on one side and a dimple appears. ]
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marketplaces are not the friendliest of places for chu wanning. crowded and full of talkative, inquisitive people trying to sell him things. at least in their home, people either recognized him or knew he was a cultivator, and would keep a respectful distance, and it was acceptable to let his more silver-tongued, and friendlier, disciples handle purchasing for him. that wasn't the case here, although now that mo ran has joined him, it's much easier to let him handle the shopkeepers, and not bother them with chu wanning's frosty, severe face and short words.
even though mo ran is following behind him, chu wanning is aware of his presence and stops when mo ran does, looking at the stall he's eyeing and all the cloth there. he makes a thoughtful sound when mo ran mentions curtains. he hadn't expected mo ran to remember that, a casual comment he'd made a few nights ago.
as he watches, mo ran charms the owner, and he's ready to defer to the other man in this until mo ran tugs him forward. he doesn't scowl, although he's half-tempted to, and looks at the material rather than the owner. he says nothing about mo ran's fingers tangled in his sleeves, nor does he pull his hand free. ] Something airy, to let in the breeze, but heavy enough it will block out the night. [ layers is probably what the owner will recommend, he thinks, but he'd like to capture the breeze during the day but keep the house warm at night. ]
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he hums thoughtfully as his teacher gives his description of the cloth he wants and mo ran beams at the shopkeeper, not chipping in to give the impression he completely trusts the man's opinion. layers is indeed what is suggested, but, for some reason mo ran can't pinpoint, he instantly knows that's not what they'd like. ]
Boss, layers are really good, but I think we'd like something lighter. The breeze is really nice here, a good curtain should flutter, right? [ he keeps smiling and after some thinking, the owner excuses himself for a moment, to look for something else it might suit them. mo ran lets go of his mentor just to reach out for some of the fabrics, running fingertips against them, until he finds one he particularly likes. it's the kind of white chu wanning always enjoys too. ]
This one feels really nice, shizun. [ he looks at him with his eyes crinkled at the corners and he's excited enough that he dares catching the other's hand directly, to lead it to the cloth so he can try it out for himself. right on cue, the shopkeeper comes back and rolls out another few of them, all light and airy, but holding some weight to them and mo ran waits for chu wanning's opinion. ]
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back before his death, chu wanning was sure mo ran hated him. maybe, on their best days, tolerated him. it was a noted change from the disciple who first picked him out, but one chu wanning assumed was logical: chu wanning is hard to like. but this mo ran, with his sweet dimples and attentiveness hovering that should make chu wanning bristle, is a different person altogether. there's no hatred or disgust in him directed at chu wanning, not even a hint of it bleeding through their bond. it's still a disconcerting change for him, and he feels even more drawn to mo ran now. wants to see that smile, wants to feel his happiness through the bond.
before the owner pulls out his fabrics, chu wanning knows what he'll settle on. but he lets the shopkeeper save face and show off the fabrics he has. one is tempting, the same blue that sisheng peak's armor was, but chu wanning is still drawn to the white fabric and points to it finally. ] This one.
[ the shopkeeper sighs loudly, bemoaning his work, but is happy to cut the lengths of the material for curtains, chattering away about how best to hem the material. ]
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he asks all details about hemming, the best way to do it without ruining the cloth, and everything else the shopkeeper wants to tell him, eagerly and sincerely paying attention and giving appropriate reactions to his chatter. he's sure chu wanning will stop paying attention to their topic, at some point, since even witnessing others' back and forth can be tiring to him, when he thinks so lowly of talking --and that's when bratty mo ran pays for the fabric with his own coin, giving a small extra for the service and the information and thus even getting blessings from the shopkeeper.
chu wanning will likely notice mo ran is finally done by the silence, but also by the towering presence now next to him, oozing body heat the way he does in bed. mo ran is full of sweetness to the brim --chu wanning really picked the style of fabric he thought he'd like best. maybe it's that, the surge of his feelings, that brings the coughing out --or maybe he'd just been too lucky today, not experiencing much symptoms yet.
he buries his mouth in his sleeve, against his inner elbow, thankful for how most of his clothes are black, because besides the petals, he can feel the sting of thorns and the taste of blood. he has to walk to the side, out of the market's street, to spit out blood and rose petals, the corners of his mouth stained red. for a fleeting moment, he looks tired, eyes hollow and pain irradiating from his ribcage to his lungs to his throat.
but the bond reminds him he cannot wallow in negative feelings, or he'll have his mentor experience them as well --so he quickly turns to him, unaware his lips still hold a trace of blood. ] I saw a stall with sweets, shizun. Let's go and get some, so I can get rid of this aftertaste. [ he says it while smiling, despite everything. he doesn't like sweets, to be fair --it's just another way to spoil chu wanning. ]
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they're still sharing the bed, but with moving into a bigger space, mo ran might want his own bed back, chu wanning thinks. it would make sense; chu wanning is so cold and drawn to the natural warmth of mo ran, and the bond probably draws them together, so they wake up tangled together, and surely mo ran would want to not sleep with someone who steals his warmth and who kicks the blankets off. maybe he can suggest it later, talk about buying extra blankets. there's even fabric in the shop that would make for good blankets— he thinks; is that how blankets are made?— and see what mo ran says. or maybe he doesn't say anything and simply lets mo ran continue sleeping in his bed, until mo ran decides to move on. it's unfair and unbecoming of him, because he knows mo ran is simply doing it to help his teacher, and it started because chu wanning injured him, and chu wanning should be the better person. but he's a selfish old man, desperate for warmth and affection.
he's still warring with his thoughts, face impassive, when he feels mo ran's heat, suddenly aware of the silence; the shopkeeper's disappeared into the store, and mo ran is there, next to him. he flushes, caught unaware, but before he can think, mo ran starts coughing.
of everything, chu wanning hates helplessness, the sense of pervasive dread that arises from watching mo ran cough and cough. it sounds terrible, a hoarse, rattling cough from deep in the lungs, the faintest whistle as mo ran attempts to breathe through the petals. it's grown worse in the past week, and all chu wanning can do is watch, helpless, as mo ran struggles. ]
Mo Ran. [ chu wanning can feel the faintest traces of mo ran's exhaustion and an echo of the pain before it's pushed away, and chu wanning has to struggle with his own guilt over it. he digs out a handkerchief, glaring at mo ran as he reaches out and scrubs at his lip, perhaps a little too harshly. ] Do you have that medicine? You should carry it with you.
[ even the suggestion of sweets isn't enough to derail him at the moment, although the knowledge of that stall lingers in the back of his head. he's been good about sweets, trying to avoid getting cavities, but surely one won't hurt. ]
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It's not so bad, shizun. [ he lies, since it keeps getting worse and by now it's nearly unbearable. the thorns have gotten thicker, scratching his throat, poking his tongue, to the point he constantly tastes and smells blood. at times, like now, he wishes nothing more than embrace chu wanning and curl up against him, drown in his scent instead. it surely travels through their bond, since he's growing tired and that means being more open. ]
I gave it away, the medicine. To a friend... she needed it more. [ he smiles, tender, almost an attempt to coax his mentor into not scolding him for it, before he's wrecked by another fit. the petals are of a darker red, almost black, and he wheezes around a whole bloom until he manages to spit it out. he eventually removes a thorn from his tongue and he laughs breathlessly at how ridiculous this is. it reminds him of the blood hourglass, how he kept coughing up blood with that sword lodged in his chest. and just like back then, the one next to him, the one giving him comfort, is chu wanning. he wipes his mouth on his sleeve, before he holds more tightly onto what they bought and his free hand reaches out for his wrist, curling around it through the fabric of his robe. ]
Let's go, shizun. [ he knows the older man won't agree, so he simply tugs at his arm and leads him, steady and confident, to the sweets stall, like his chest doesn't feel like it's shattering at each breath. there's something that resembles tanghulu, small candied apples, and pastries and other sweets he has never seen before. ] Pick something for me. [ he beams, offering a dimpled smile. he can feel wanning's awfully sharp helplessness, his guilt (what about? it is not his fault mo ran got sick), and the only way he can think to make it better, to repay him for his unwavering kindness, is by treating him to the sweets he always loves and never allows himself to have. ]
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and mo ran gave away the only medicine that was known to help?! what kind of an idiot disciple— the annoyance hides the jealousy flaring in his chest at the mention of a friend. a girl. mo ran had a crush on shi mei, who was beautiful and delicate, not like chu wanning, and so many of the women chu wanning has seen have been like that, pretty and delicate and nice. mo ran has grown in his years, so it's not surprising he gave away his medicine, and it was the right thing to do, but that still doesn't mean it's easy to acknowledge.
the jumble of emotions likely bleeds through the bond: concern and annoyance and jealousy and a deep, deep worry, until he manages to compose himself, and he hopes mo ran is distracted enough not to notice too much. by the time they reach the stall, laden with sweets, he's at least settled his mind. ]
You don't like sweets. [ he's learned over the years that mo ran prefers his food spicier, sharper, and generally avoids the sweet pastries. and the ones they have here tend to be even sweeter. he frowns at mo ran briefly, despite that innocent smile, then looks at the sweets, picking out a couple of pastries that look tasty and the small candied apples, then asks the owner if they have anything spicy, or at least not too sweet. when they point out some fruit spiced with chili powder— what a ridiculous waste, chu wanning thinks— he adds that to the order, hoping something might appeal to his disciple. ]
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and yet that last feeling washes everything else away with how much it startles mo ran: jealousy. it's an undercurrent, like the low buzz right before the booming of a thunder, mo ran can feel it building it up, twisting in his guts. can... their bond be broken? can it not work properly? mo ran is dumbfounded for a moment: he doesn't think chu wanning capable of feeling jealousy. about what, even? he is perfect.
but he's startled out of his doubts by the older man's words and he smiles, too pleased. he indeed doesn't like sweets --how does chu wanning remember that? his dimples turn deep with how wide his smile is, sweeter than the food of the stall. he steps ahead when the other orders the chili fruit, feeling his distaste for it. ]
Ah, actually, are those osmathus cakes? I'd like those better than the fruit. [ he tells the stall owner, once again lying. he can't taste anything with that constant blood in his mouth, it'd be a waste to spend money over something chu wanning doesn't like.
he prepares the coins and pays before his teacher has the chance to, after allowing the merchant to give the bags with the neatly arranged sweets to chu wanning. ]
Let's go find some place to sit down. [ he suggests, leading the way in the packed streets of the harbor so that chu wanning can walk behind him and avoid most of the people, knowing he doesn't like the crowd at all. he finds a bench in a spot where they can see the ships, relatively quiet, and he sits down first. ] Is there anything else we were supposed to buy? [ he's pretending on purpose he can't remember they should buy another mattress --maybe if he doesn't address it, nor will his teacher and they can keep sharing a bed... ]
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when did mo ran get so quick to act? isn't it shameless for a teacher to allow his disciple to pay for everything? at least he can make mo ran eat the sweets, although chu wanning suspects he has little appreciation for the subtleties of osmanthus cake, not when he prefers the sting of spice. is mo ran trying to impress someone?
chu wanning follows him out of the shop quietly, trying and failing not to think of his earlier words. gave the medicine to a friend. she needed it more. but the more he tries not to think about it, the louder the thoughts grow. thankfully, mo ran hasn't yet tried to read his thoughts, or at least nothing too intense has bled through because all he'd find are the questions about what it meant and the implications.
finally sitting down pulls him out of his thoughts somewhat, to the point where he can focus on the pastries, and he shoves a bag at mo ran. ] No. Nothing else. [ there is: the mattress. but chu wanning doesn't want to talk about that now. doesn't want to think about what another mattress would mean. mo ran sleeping away from him. possibly not coming back until late. mingling with other people. making friends. finding a— a wife. humph. chu wanning scowls, annoyance seeping through the bond again before he manages to rope that back. mo ran's far too young, and there is still much for him to learn. not even xue zhengyong would start talking about mo ran finding a wife yet, and he's romantic enough that he wants everyone settled and happy.
mo ran surely has to know that. maybe it was just a kind, innocent gesture like chu wanning taught his disciples. and chu wanning is an old man, he doesn't need to be worked up over his disciple helping someone, even if it is a girl.
somehow, logic is cold comfort. ]
Well. Eat up. I'll get you more medicine tomorrow.
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but if he doesn't mention the mattress, maybe it's not so bad.
mo ran can feel the surge of annoyance seeping through and he glances at his teacher, wondering if he's displeased about the stall not having enough of his favorite sweets. he does fish in the bag to get a caramelized apple, since the tartness of the fruit will make the sugar more bearable. he's sucking and licking at the smooth surface so it thins and he can get a bite of the apple when chu wanning speaks and mo ran finally understands the source of the annoyance --or so he believes. ]
I'm sorry I gave it away and made you mad, shizun. [ he apologizes softly, lips pinker because of the pigment mixed with the sugar. ] Her cough was really worse than mine back then, so I gave her some of the berries I was picking to remove the aftertaste and the medicine. She didn't want to take it at first, she's a good meimei. [ he smiles. nevermind he doesn't know her age, but because of his protective instinct anyone he likes is instantly younger. he finally bites into the apple with a crunch, sucking at the juice and wiping the trickle from the corner of his mouth with his knuckles. ] The pain isn't unbearable. [ yet it's not even easy and it gets harder to fall asleep. but the truth is that he feels he deserves it, so it's likely he won't use the medicine at all if chu wanning doesn't force him to. ]
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the girl, the good meimei, she's probably beautiful, just like shi mei. pretty enough for mo ran. and he gave her berries, not just the medicine. which again, is a logical thing to do, if it helps with the medicine or the blood and flowers, but chu wanning can't see beyond the burning jealousy in his heart. mo ran never gave him berries!
(but mo ran has been making their meals, and he might not always include a dessert but he makes sure chu wanning has sweets sometimes. like now.)
he sulks, taking another bite of the cake, glaring at it as he chews, the thoughts in his head out of control and getting louder and louder until he's convinced mo ran is going to up and simply leave him, go off with this girl. it's fine; mo ran deserves to be happy. he's a good disciple, grown into his talent. he doesn't need chu wanning. doesn't need chu wanning's temper and deplorable personality.
but even the despondency that comes with those thoughts can't hide the jealousy or the thoughts in his head about the girl, and mo ran giving her medicine. it's unbecoming of him, but he stews in it. ]
I'll pick up more. [ it sounds petulant to his ears like he's a sulky child, but it really comes out strict and harsher than necessary. he's not going to let mo ran suffer on his watch, even if he is jealous and terrible. ] Who taught you to talk back like that?
[ no one, likely. he isn't even really talking back. certainly nothing like he used to do when he was younger. ]
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the answer comes quickly when his teacher speaks again so harshly and mo ran recoils, because he can feel his voice in his head, as much as hears it. he can only assume it's because chu wanning is feeling so strongly.
mo ran turns to face him more, lowers his head, long eyelashes casting shadows on his cheeks. he looks like a kicked puppy. he really wasn't talking back --he simply didn't want to give chu wanning more work, since he already seems so busy these days, disappearing for hours on end. ]
I'm sorry, shizun. I was ungrateful and I made you waste time, looking for the medicine. This disciple isn't good-- [ maybe it's because of the surge of feelings, because he wonders if chu wanning finds him a burden, that his coughing reprises and he turns away. no matter mo ran's hand pressing against his mouth, petals slip through his fingers and blood stains between them. ]
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the library has proven futile so far and there's nothing else he can do; watching his disciple wither away coughing up flowers, helpless to help him, makes chu wanning feel even worse, but that's a feeling he's aware of and used to, and can put it aside as he leans in closer, listening to mo ran's breathing through the coughs, so he can report to the healer when he goes asking for medicine. and he will make sure mo ran uses it this time, even if he has to oversee the use himself. ]
Stop talking nonsense. [ not that mo ran can talk, even. should chu wanning pat him on the back? would that help? chu wanning doesn't touch people, usually. but this is a rare case, and mo ran won't likely say anything, so he reaches out and pats his back, gentler than he usually is. ] You did good, giving it to her. [ and he is proud of mo ran for that. ] I'll get more, and you'll take it.
[ and yes, that is a threat. ]
[ mo ran is not allowed to die from a stupid curse in this place. chu wanning won't let him. ]
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he softens at the patting to his back and he turns to offer his teacher a tired smile, just his eyes showing above the hem of the handkerchief and yet bright and content enough to show his earnest appreciation. his coughing is over for the time being, it seems, and mo ran breathes deeply.
without much thought, with chu wanning so close, mo ran drops his hands to his lap and turns just enough to be able to lean his forehead against the older man's shoulder, shutting his eyes and inhaling his scent deeply, like it could cure him of everything. his exhaustion will likely seep through, together with the raw craving for warmth and comfort. he wants to tuck his face in his neck almost desperately and that will travel the bond. ]
Shizun will get more and I'll take it. [ he repeats, voice low and raspy. ] It needs to be rubbed into my back and chest, right? Will shizun help me out? Everything aches these days... [ he would never admit it, were he in his right mind. but he surely isn't, feeling vulnerable and awfully needy for any affection and closeness he may get. ]
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it's been a long day for them, and mo ran's done most of the work— talking to shopkeepers because chu wanning can't, carrying bags (which his ridiculous disciple insisted upon), trying to figure out what would work in their house. it's time to rest.
the cravings for warmth and comfort, feelings chu wanning can recognize but firmly ignores his own need for, soften him. he's always been harder on mo ran because he couldn't acknowledge his feelings, but in truth, it was hard to deny him sometimes. and now, when he's sick, there's no possibility that chu wanning can ignore those feelings or be harsh on him. putting the cake back in its bag so that he can finish it later, chu wanning gently pats mo ran on the back once again. ] Yes, yes, I'll help you. [ he's not going to think about that. he's the most familiar person mo ran has, he wouldn't just go ask anyone to rub medicine into his back, and chu wanning shouldn't think about what it means that mo ran asked him. or how it means he'll see his back again, and that firm chest. ] Let's go back. You should rest.