video: average sighren

[lanclan]

[ The scene is one of steam and muffled, echoing male voices from elsewhere, tiles covering walls. Xichen's face is in shot, hair unbound and soaked where it falls down his bare shoulders, pink from the hot water (no fear, he has a thin robe shrugged off but tied about his waist out of shot) where he is leaning over the edge of the bath. ]

This is rather unorthodox, in many ways, as first meetings go. Pardon my appearance, robes are somewhat contradictory to my surroundings. [ But he's out of seclusion, in a strange realm, and this is the only way he knows to prove the bathhouse is safe: by using it. ] Some of you already know my younger brother, Lan Wangji. You may call me Lan Xichen.

[ He sighs, nasal and soft. More of an exhale. His smile hitches back up. ]

I now live above the bathhouse. Technically, [ here he glances over blandly to a pair of guffawing sailors in the background, lips pursing as he holds back his real opinion, ] this is a private residence, but it would be rude to deny access to those who wish to use the downstairs, so I would like to invite over anyone who wishes to bathe in something other than cold lake-water — if my housemates wouldn't mind, I should like to meet all of you, too.

There is a separate area for women, of course. Please use the rinsing stations before entering the main baths and wear something discreet, for the sake of others.

[ Xichen glances around as someone calls his name and there is a momentary wider shot of him soaked to the waist as he straightens to nod in answer, raking back his hair so it isn't stuck to his chest you're welcome. He looks again to the video and smiles warmly, tilting his head in apology for the break in his attention. ]

It is seemingly busier in the afternoons.

Comments

[pathologise]

an hour it is
it'll be nice to chat

[lanclan]

Until then.

[ The tea table doesn't take long to set up, always somewhere perpetually between one use and another. Xichen is dressed properly in blue robes with a guan in his hair, tidied up from the mess he (thinks he) presented in the baths: his hair is a little damp when he goes to answer the door for his guest and there are some shadows under his eyes, but otherwise his smile is genuinely welcoming. ]

Lady Adrienne.

[ He steps back to give her a courteous, formal bow, because while he knows nothing of her standing or history, she is still a woman visiting his home unescorted and in his opinion requires the utmost manners for the sake of her reputation. Although, he suspects that may not matter in this realm as much as back home ... but he goes through the motions anyway. ]

[lanclan]

[ Lips twitching, he smooths them out. ]

It is good to know he has many, here.

[lanclan]

Taking on leadership of my sect was an opportunity to try and do good for my clan, as with other sect leaders here that was all that mattered to me in my youth.

[lanclan]

[ OMINOUS. ]

Thank you.

[deescalate]

[Ah. Lan must be their family or clan name, then.]

Gotchya. I'll remember that.

[The longer he soaks, the more Cal's muscles start to relax, but there is always that soreness under his skin. He reaches up and rubs the back of his neck and shoulders, holding back any noises other than a deep sigh.]

Is he older or younger?

[lanclan]

Younger by a few years, though his skill is higher than others of his age.

[ Distracted from humble-bragging about his brother, he tilts his head at the show of soreness in Cal. ]

Are you in pain?

[deescalate]

You sound proud of him.

[Cal is curious what kind of skill he has, but that's something that can wait until another time, probably.

Upon being called out on his soreness, he stops and lowers his arms back below the water.]

No, I'm fine. I just do a lot of walking and climbing and stuff like that.

["Stuff like that" including falling, being tossed around by people and creatures bigger than him, possibly having all his bones turned to powder, and classic insomnia!

He's fine.]

[pathologise]

( to her he's giving her very high praise, calling her a lady, bowing, and she feels slightly embarrassed because that's not her. but she knows nothing about where he's from, that it's customary for him and when he looks back at her she's slightly surprised, not certain what to say for the moment )

It's nice to meet you. I brought the coffee.

( she's got it in her little bag, relaxing into a smile )

[silverneedles]

A flavor. That's... adequate.

[ It probably beats anything they had at the Burial Mounds. Most of the tea they've had here is an improvement. ]

[lanclan]

Mmm. In between other things, I will keep an eye out for something more palatable.

[ Lowkey priority mission for Xichen. ]

[silverneedles]

Wei Wuxian did mention something about stealing leaves from our previous transport. Perhaps he has some he'd share.

[ Please find some decent tea in this waterlogged nightmare, Xichen! ]

[lanclan]

He has been most hospitable alongside Wangji, I can ask no more of them.

[ So, he will undertake this solemn duty to make sure everyone drinks a nice snack, now and then. ]

[rumorate]

Have you been getting a lot of responses, then?

[She can imagine quite a few people had a similar response to her.]

[lanclan]

More than I expected, though I hoped letting everyone know they are welcome at the baths would help so I'm pleasantly surprised.

[ He's also starting to turn pink from the heat, a Lan stewing. ]

[lanclan]

Thank you. Please, come in.

[ He gestures toward the low table already set up with a steaming teapot. The tea cups are a little small for coffee, but he has no idea what to expect as he seats himself opposite her. ]

You must enjoy the flavour, to have enough in reserve to share with newcomers.

[lanclan]

I can help, if you like.

[ He doesn't offer anything else by way of an explanation, sitting there demurely in the bath as he lets the subject of Wangji slide in favour of paying his companion the appropriate attention. ]

My technique will ease any aches.

[deescalate]

[It's...tempting. The thought of having a proper massage nearly makes Cal give in to the offer, but he realizes he doesn't even know what Lan Xichen is offering at all. And while Cal doesn't sense anything malicious in the other man, he's been fooled before, and so recently. The betrayal still stings, still gurgles angrily in his gut.

Cal really wishes he didn't have to live like this, but when the alternative is potentially ending up dead and helping no one...well. He has to be like this.]

Really, I'm fine. I'll just soak here for a while.

[lanclan]

As you wish, Master Cal.

[ Xichen settles back and dips low to dampen his hair again, taking the opportunity to turn his attention to something other than the possibly uncomfortable other man. ]

[deescalate]

[Okay, that feels weird. He sits up a little straighter and runs a wet hand through his hair.]

Please, just Cal. I'm no one's master.

[lanclan]

[ Adapting to the mannerisms of others is still a strange thing to have to do, especially when restricted to using first given-names. Xichen hesitates before he smiles this time, feeling a little inappropriate calling Cal nothing but that, in a bath, with no mark of respect however small. Still, the over-familiarity has been borne by Wangji so it mustn't fall to Xichen to show his uncomfortableness. ]

If it pleases you.

[rumorate]

Oh, the baths are definitely an opportunity I'll be talking.

[It's been so long since she's visited a sauna to try and sweat away some of her stress.]

You have to take advantage of the little luxuries while you have them.

[lanclan]

They disappear with great frequency, as I understand it.

[rumorate]

We move around a lot. So what may be consistent in one place, might not be in another.

[There definitely wasn't time for spas when they were in the siege at Alem.]

[dog_eat_dog]

You had to have been class valedictorian, huh?