zhanmadao: (Default)
mo ran 墨燃 | mo weiyu 墨微雨 ([personal profile] zhanmadao) wrote in [community profile] logs2022-11-19 04:10 am

(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
rumination: (rX4q2XZ)

[personal profile] rumination 2022-11-19 11:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[ remembering that mo ran is now taller than him isn't impossible, considering they've been sleeping in the same bed and practicing together, but standing next to him, or walking with him is a visceral reminder to chu wanning that his former disciple has grown up. the way he acts, so careful and considerate and solicitous of chu wanning and his needs is also a reminder of his growth over the past five years.

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. ]
rumination: (008)

[personal profile] rumination 2022-11-20 04:02 am (UTC)(link)
[ through their bond, chu wanning can feel mo ran's excitement and eagerness, especially when he finds one that particularly pleases him. he studies the fabric in mo ran's hands even before mo ran reaches for him, and then once mo ran leads his hand to the material, deigns to rub it between his fingers.

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. ]
rumination: (013)

[personal profile] rumination 2022-11-23 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
[ sewing and mending and pretty much any practical, useful skill in home matters are beyond chu wanning's care. he knows it would be good to learn, applicable to more than just mending clothes, but he can't bring himself to focus on it, and when mo ran and the shopkeeper talk about how to best hem the curtains, chu wanning tries to listen for about a minute, and then tunes them out.

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. ]
rumination: (FxIU05r)

[personal profile] rumination 2022-11-26 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
[ chu wanning isn't stupid. he knows it's getting worse, especially when he can hear the gradual progression in mo ran's breathing and the hoarseness of his coughing. but he can't say anything about it, since mo ran's emotions flood the bond, and while chu wanning tries his best not to eavesdrop or spy on his emotions, it's hard when they're so open. it's mo ran in pain, which makes the guilt even worse. if chu wanning could find a way to transfer the curse, he would: despite his strictness, he never wanted anything to happen to his disciples, and something like this is untenable for him. he can't control it, can't figure out how to protect mo ran.

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. ]
rumination: (033)

[personal profile] rumination 2022-11-26 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
[ under normal circumstances, chu wanning might have pushed back on that. or huffed and walked off, ashamed at being caught not being right, even though he was so sure mo ran would like something spicy. but despite having composed his mind somewhat, he's still flustered, even more when the pleased feeling comes through the bond. and mo ran does move swiftly, which leaves him standing there, collecting the bags from the merchant as mo ran pays for the snacks.

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.
rumination: (016)

[personal profile] rumination 2022-11-26 06:49 am (UTC)(link)
[ knowing there are enough sweets that mo ran can't eat them all, chu wanning does grab one of the osmanthus cakes, nibbling at the edge before mo ran speaks. once he starts, chu wanning glances at him from the corner of his eyes, momentarily distracted by the pinkness of his lips, the softness of his eyes. mo ran's always been handsome but he looks even more charming like this.

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. ]
rumination: (018)

[personal profile] rumination 2022-11-26 07:56 am (UTC)(link)
[ despite the thoughts in his head and the fear that mo ran will leave him for this new friend and the sharp jealously blooming in his gut, when mo ran starts coughing again, chu wanning straightens up, digging out his handkerchief and passing it to mo ran. there's no hiding the petals and it looks gruesome, as bad as anything chu wanning's seen.

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. ]
rumination: (032)

[personal profile] rumination 2022-11-26 07:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[ nothing about chu wanning is gentle or soft or cuddly. no one turns to him to ask for comfort. but mo ran is, turning into him, leaning against him. chu wanning's shoulder burns where mo ran rests his forehead, and he can feel the exhaustion seeping in from mo ran.

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.