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

[lanclan]

Lan Wangji. He isn't shy as much as reserved in what he says.

[ And kind of a bitch, but that runs lowkey in the family. ]

[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.]

[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.