(One Open + One Closed)

[eternallywandering]

Who: Zhou Zishu & Open
When: Mid-July
What: Practicing (i.e. Window of Heaven/Four Seasons Manor techniques) and eating snow. No, really.
Where: Around the home he shares with Wen Kexing. Feel free to see him launching himself around like some kind of superhero.
Warnings: TBD

(Spar)

The weather doesn't agree with him - it is too damn hot - but he has to stay in shape. Even immortals can be lazy and he isn't about to let his husband win their sparring matches. So Baiyi, his sword, is in his hand as he strikes at an invisible opponent. Zishu kicks up dust and grass-blades as he maneuvers his feet in complex rhythms and patterns. Then, suddenly, he launches himself into the air, landing on the roof of his house.

He continues his "battle" up there, dipping and weaving as if gravity has never held him down. When he finally lands - on the ground - again, he isn't even out of breath.

(Snow; Closed to Wen Kexing.)

Hunger pangs demand his attention when he lets himself into the house. They have magic to keep the ice and snow cold, at least, and he fills a cup with the latter, eating it steadily. He refuses to go into the town - or anywhere, truly - without enough snow on his stomach to keep him satisfied. Otherwise the scents...

They are very tempting.

"Lao Wen? Are you here?"

Comments

[flirtatiousdancer]

"We can learn," he corrects with another warm smile. As if he'd let his husband do it alone. Kexing tugs their entwined hands up to nuzzle the back of Zishu's, smile pressed to the skin.

"You're already ahead of your research, A-Xu."

[eternallywandering]

"You want to?" he sounds like an excited child, his grin brightening thanks to the nuzzling, "Little Lao Wen is waiting for us to pick him up!"

Is there a little A-Xu too? Maaaybe.

"All children deserve some preparation, don't you think?"

[flirtatiousdancer]

That excitement is too adorable for him to stop from laughing. His husband is too cute!

"We will find them and bring them home, my A-Xu," he promises with a wide grin.

[eternallywandering]

His steps quicken and he sighs happily, never letting go of his Lao Wen's hand.

"You like little animals. I would get you a dog, but I don't know where to find one."

[flirtatiousdancer]

Kexing shakes his head, amused.

"A-Xu, are you serious? Any animal we bring home would have to be protected from the cold. It wouldn't be fair to make them stay outside all the time."

Though he really would love to have a dog again...

[eternallywandering]

"So? I'll add on rooms that will be a normal temperature for them." Zishu watches Kexing intently, seeing the enthusiasm. Well that settles it. He is now looking for a dog that needs a home with two immortals.

"There are breeds that like the cold."

[flirtatiousdancer]

His amusement grows at those words and his grin is decidedly playful. "You will, A-Xu?"

He will, of course, help in adding said rooms. But the idea of his silly sweet soulmate doing that work threatens to make him snicker.

And then the last statement catches his breath and his fingers tighten around Zishu's. His soulmate knows him too well. "...We could look."

[eternallywandering]

"What? You think I'm incapable? I know how to use nails." Zishu presses his lips together to not snicker. Is that joke too premature? It is a little funny.

The tighter grip has him beaming, victorious. It isn't long before the sounds of the village surround them and he looks around eagerly.

"Maybe little Lao Wen has been a dog all along..."

[flirtatiousdancer]

"A-Xu!" He protests with mostly feigned horror and shoves at him before tugging him in close. He pouts at his beloved soulmate, but it's utterly ruined by the amused gleam in his eyes.

Kexing doesn't let go when they approach the village though, only when they step inside will he loosen his hold.

"Maybe little Lao Wen will bite A-Xu for his horrible jokes."

[eternallywandering]

He stumbles to the side, laughing, unrepentant. If they can't joke about such things, how will they know they have overcome them? Zishu is overjoyed to be free of the nails and he knows what a fool he was to put them in his body in the first place.

He has the best reason to live walking right beside him.

"Well I'll know it's him then!" Zishu entwines their arms as if they are going for a stroll.

[flirtatiousdancer]

Zishu's laughter has always been irresistible. Even with those jokes! So Kexing ends up laughing with him. And really, it's a relief to know his soulmate regrets taking that step. And that they're past it. He sees every day that they no longer hurt his husband.

He grins as their arms entwine, content to hold to that appearance. "True. We'll know when he comes to nip at your heels, huffing at you."

[eternallywandering]

He has learned and he has been able to understand his pain - rather than only reacting to it blindly. As such, he can poke fun at himself and since he loves Kexing's laughter equally as much, he considers himself well repaid!

"What a darling! How could I resist?" he admires the various vendors and pauses at a stall full of flowers.

[flirtatiousdancer]

When together, they can't hurt. Their pain can't stick to them. Kexing grins, walking contentedly with his beloved as they look over the vendors of the market. The flowers have him stop and he reaches out to gently touch some of the blooms.

"Do you want to get some, A-Xu?"

Maybe a garden should be added to their new home...Yes. He'll have to hunt down various bulbs so they can get pretty blooms all year round.

[eternallywandering]

Nothing hurts when it's just them. Zishu couldn't possibly repay Kexing enough for all he has done for him. Yet Kexing has never asked for payment or even hinted at it. Their love seems to be enough and it makes Zishu feel like the luckiest man in any world.

"The cold might help them keep longer." if they set them by a window with sunlight? He does like the colors. Color is something their mountain lacks.

[flirtatiousdancer]

Zhou Zishu is his life and heart. Without him, there is no point for Wen Kexing to keep living. But the same is true in reverse, isn't it? They've proven that to each other. All they need...is their love.

He smiles at his husband and nods. "Pick what you like. They'll come home with us."

[eternallywandering]

Yes. Zishu had been ready to die when he thought Kexing perished falling over that cliff. Now life is sweeter than ever and he wants to enjoy all of it with his soulmate. Why should anyone deny them further?

The flowers are assessed and chosen with great care. He has an armful of bright blooms when he is finished and he peeks over them to smile at his husband.

"We'll need vases."

[flirtatiousdancer]

Just as Kexing had been all set to give his life so Zishu could live forever. He's still amazed some days that he wakes up at all. Watching Zishu now, moving back and forth in front of the flowers, picking with care, leaves him with a feeling of utter contentment. He could watch his husband for years and never tire at even the simplest of things being done.

He can't resist the laugh by the time his beloved is done and peeks at him like that. "We'll get as many as we need," he promises without any hesitation, and looks around before gesturing to a likely seller a few stalls away. "Over there looks good, A-Xu," he decides, and leaves a piece of silver for the lovely blooms.

[eternallywandering]

The pretty flowers are fragrant too and Zishu can't help inhaling deeply as they walk. He looks like a happy deer, burying his face in the blooms, his eyes half-lidded. But, of course, he shares that fragrance with his Kexing, shifting the flowers under his soulmate's nose.

"We can have a vase for each room." he decides, arranging the flowers by color, size and shape between the vases. He is about to lift his creations into his arms when a dog intrudes, hopping up to sniff the flowers too.

"Well hello." Zishu smiles knowingly, rubbing over the puppy's ears.

[flirtatiousdancer]

Kexing grins as he happily follows at his husband's heels, and obediently leans in to sniff the flowers. "As many as my A-Xu wants."

Only for an adorable puppy to come up to them, making his eyes go wide as he hesitantly kneels. Is this real? He offers a hand to the dog, memory flashing back to the little puppy Zishu had given him when they were children.

[eternallywandering]

"Why are you being so accepting?" Zishu can't help smirking when Kexing buries his nose in the blooms too. His husband is adorable and he wants to fulfill his wish for a dog, but where oh where will he find one?

The puppy smiles up at them and instantly snuggles into Kexing's arms, wiggling happily. Zishu sets the vases aside and kneels too, laughing.

"He likes you. I can't say I blame him."

[flirtatiousdancer]

"A-Xu!" He playfully pouts, widening his eyes at his beloved over the flowers.

Kexing can't resist scooping the puppy up and snuggling him right back, this time his eyes are wide not just for effect. Part of him rattles though, at the idea of having so much. "You're always giving me dogs, A-Xu," he murmurs, burying his face against soft fur.

[eternallywandering]

How can he resist? Sighing, he reaches out a hand and caresses Kexing's cheek.

"Lao Wen, they choose you. I can't deny them the joy of being with you too." Zishu watches his soulmate softly, loving the happiness he senses. Oh there are complicated emotions warring with the happiness, he knows, but his beloved is a good man. The best he knows, frankly.

The puppy sits down right in front of Kexing, his ears adorably lopsided. He whines and turns his head to lick the man's cheek.

[flirtatiousdancer]

Kexing leans into that hand, nuzzling it as he listens to those sweet words. They make him smile, as Zishu usually does. As long as his husband is with him, healthy and happy, then he's also happy.

He still can't resist playing with the puppy's cute ears! Especially when his cheek gets licked. "I think our family has just grown a bit."

[eternallywandering]

Hasn't he ensured that? Zishu owes Kexing for his heart and his life. Without his Lao Wen, he wouldn't care if he died a horrible, lingering death. In fact, he would be certain he deserved it! But now he understands that this is his place. Right beside his soulmate.

And his puppy.

"I knew it would." he kisses Kexing's other cheek and rises, gathering the vases again, "How fierce."

The puppy growls at a butterfly before smiling up at Kexing. He did good, right?

[flirtatiousdancer]

They both have. They both gave all of themselves to the other, just because they knew they couldn't live without the other half of their soul. What they've lost is unimportant.

Kexing scoops the pup up, standing when his beloved does. There's a shyness to his expression as he rests his chin on the playful puppy's head. What he'd once told A-Xiang will hold true here - except he's certain of his ability to keep this little life safe. Just as he'll fight to keep his A-Xu safe.

"Now we need to get food for him." Such a hardship!