#{Graceful Lotus Bringing Life To Barren Soil || Huaxiu and Minglian}

[arcxnumvitae]

Minglian’s relationship with Huaxiu and Zhaohui

@lunarxdaydream || Ask my muse questions about their relationships || Accepting

"Laoshi is the best teacher!" Unknowingly, looking not dissimilar to how Huaxiu did when given the opportunity to praise her, Minglian broke out into a bright smile.

"And Shifu is also the best teacher as well, I'm incredibly lucky to have them both care so much for me. I love most of the time with Laoshi, so I guess he's also something of my caretaker? Back when I was first created, when I was still learning how to do certain things, it was him there who would help me! I remember him showing me ways to do my hair." Though at that time, she had been without emotions, so the moment itself had been lost on her.

"He cooks, cleans, fusses," she giggled. "Not much different from someone's overly doting parent, isn't he? But I can always count on Laoshi no matter what! He's, I suppose he's someone that I can easily say I have unconditional trust in." She trusted the others too, of course, but something about Shifu and Laoshi felt especially special.

"As for Zhao-ge, I guess you could say he's like a fun uncle?" Or maybe she shouldn't say "uncle", lest she get drawn into another bit of dramatics about him being old. "The one who will encourage me to skip training to join him and eat a dessert together instead. I have fun with him! While Laoshi sometimes coddles me, I think, I feel that Zhao-ge is a little more willing to tell me the truth of things." Her voice lowered into a conspiratorial whisper, "So I go to him to ask things I know that Laoshi won't give me a straight answer about."

[arcxnumvitae]

“I didn’t mean to hurt her.”

“No, you didn’t, but she was hurt nonetheless and now you must find a way to reconcile that.” His teacher’s voice was as calm and soothing as always from their place at the table. The first thing he had done after Minglian had stormed off was, of course, to visit his teacher’s estate. If they did not have the answers to his current dilemma then no one on earth would.

His lips pursed into something rather reminiscent of a pout, something the dragon would be sure to deny if someone had pointed it out to him. “I only want to make sure she’s safe. People will approach her with all sorts of malice in their hearts. They will want to use her. Throw her away afterwards. Trample on her feelings. Perhaps that boy is genuinely well-intentioned, and perhaps he isn’t. If someone truly wants to befriend Minglian, then wouldn’t putting them through some hassle at first be a good way to weed out those who would do her wrong?”

Jianhuren calmly regarded him. “Xiao-xiu, do you think that Minglian is a smart young woman?”

“What? Of course she is. Xiao-lian smarter than I was when I was her age, that’s for certain. She is bright, always courteous and always thoughtful, and as clever as she is kind.” As he spoke the dragon practically puffed up as he always did when given the excuse to brag about his student. So much so that the endearment had left him unnoticed, not that his teacher

“If so, then why do you not believe she is capable of making wise decisions when it comes to her friends?”

“I...” The simple question stopped him short. “Well, I mean...”

His teacher’s red gaze remained patient. 

“I trust in her, but I do not want her to be hurt.” The dragon’s own gaze fell and fingers brushed against the fabric of his eye patch. “I--I wouldn’t be able to bear it if she felt even a fraction of what I did. What if there was something I could have done to protect her from it, but I didn’t? She is too kind, too good. I can’t let her end up like how I did back then.”

“The unfortunate part of life and part of having young ones you care for,” Jianhuren sighed, “is that you can protect them from only so much. Xiao-lian will feel pain, that is inevitable, just as inevitable as the fact that she will feel joy. That is what life is. But if you try to hide her away from that, dear student of mine, if you try to bare and snap your fangs at all who would draw near, your student would fare a far worse fate than experiencing the ups and downs of life-- she would not have lived at all. Is that something you wish to subject her to?”

Huaxiu hung his head. “No...not at all.”

A smile quirked at their lips. “No, I know you wouldn’t. You are a good teacher, and you care greatly for her. All that she wants is for you to like her friends as much as she does-- your approval means much to her.”

“But she is upset with me, how do I--?”

“Apologize. And do not continue to do what made her so upset in the first place. It is as simple as that.”

Huaxiu let the words sink in, taking a deep breath before he let out a quiet chuckle. “As wise as ever, Shifu. Thank you once more for your advice.”

“Oh, think nothing of it.” They waved a hand as if shooing off the words of praise. “Wisdom comes with age, I suppose.” They leaned in, a sudden, teasing glint in their eyes. “Something perhaps you will come to learn soon, Ancient One.”

“Ugh!” His posture slumped with the single remark. “Am I old now?!”

[arcxnumvitae]

“A prickly cat? Really?”

“Am I wrong!” Her voice took on a scolding tone, turning on its head which was supposed to be student and which teacher. “Especially with the way that you act with him! You give him a hard time for no reason and you know it, Laoshi!”

“Hmph, and so what if I do? A little adversity never hurt a young human. If he truly wishes to be your friend then a little heckling should be nothing.” He was doing a little weeding, that was all!

She was beginning to realize, for all his age, skill, and wisdom...

Her teacher could be very childish.

[arcxnumvitae]

Let it go Let it roll right off your shoulder Don't you know? The hardest part is over Let it in Let your clarity define you In the end We will only just remember how it feels

[arcxnumvitae]

Minglian

@fellbloom || Muse Ramblings

The sweet girl! The sweetest girl! At some point either gearing up for or in the aftermath of Qingshan doing all the stuff (the chats are showing me early April 2020 and I think Qingshan's stuff happened that summer/fall, so before) to get herself banished I realized that per the rule there would always be Three active Red Eyes, a new one would have to be created. Like how Huaxiu replaced Zhaohui and all that. Funnily, it was a little while before I picked out her name, so dynamics were being discussed about her, Vasilios, and Huaxiu all with me referring to her as "dragon girl". Nice. Anyways, I knew from the get-go that she'd be Huaxiu's little student, but I didn't realize just how close the two were going to be.

Huaxiu and Minglian are one of my favorite "my own muse" dynamics on my blog (just after Emil and Katarina and Alexa and Val) because of all of the unexpected ways she changed Huaxiu. Huaxiu was absolutely terrified to be a teacher because he did not consider himself any type of person well-suited for guiding a young mind. He wasn't a bad person, but he definitely lived a heavy bachelor-like lifestyle for most of his life, very much a single young man having a good time, nothing like the wise and guiding feel that Jianhuren and Qingshan had towards him.

I'll also add a little addendum that these feelings didn't manifest until a while later, only because when Minglian was made the gods had taken away all of the Red Eyes emotions so honestly Minglian felt the first little while of her life completely without emotions too-- it was, it was a whole thing but I digress.

But somehow, they both grew to get really sappy about the other. Moreso than even I expected, Huaxiu took like a duck to water in a way even more sentimental than the way his own teachers had dealt with him, and Minglian immediately adored him. She cares deeply for her Jianhuren as her other teacher too, but Huaxiu trends this odd reverent mixture between older brother and parent figure. I really can't overstate just how much they value each other's opinion. Huaxiu spoils her relentlessly and I'm here for it every 👏 day 👏.

[arcxnumvitae]

That one queued post is so funny because Huaxiu really would be....so mean to any even potential partner Minglian brought home. Like “put them under pressure and see if they crack” type of mean. Part of it is rooted in how his own first relationship was just a manipulation and permanently scarred and traumatized him so he wants to do whatever he can for Minglian (though he acknowledges that him at that age versus her, she’s already way smarter and wiser than he was). But the rest of it is just because of how he is as a person.

[arcxnumvitae]

While writing out that bag stuff, for a bit I wavered over whether Huaxiu would have also had pictures of him and Minglian. Mainly because he would want to, but ultimately wouldn’t/would feel a bit awkward about it. Huaxiu and Minglian’s relationship has this nebulous “like father/daughter and also like brother/sister” vibes to it where for all intents and purposes, they’re family. Incredibly close. He’s done things like show her ways to do her hair, cooks for her, dotes on her, she looks up to him, etc. But, on paper their relationship is simply “teacher and student”. 

For some reason, the both of them are trying to act out the professionalism of those titles and are embarrassed to acknowledge that they consider each other like family. Don’t ask me why but it at least won’t last forever, pictures of Minglian eventually will be put up in his house alongside family pictures with the husband and daughter too. This is just how they are now at this moment. Anyways, I can go on for ages about how much Huaxiu cares for her, I think it’s very cute. He spoils her, really. But I digress.

[arcxnumvitae]

Okay, quick rundown of Huaxiu and Minglian’s tag. First, the character “Lian” in Minglian’s name is the one for the lotus flower, and it’s also her favorite flower. The lake in/by Huaxiu’s estate is also filled with them. It also is an important flower in Chinese culture and it’s symbolic of being such a pretty/graceful/elegant flower that grows upright from the mud at the bottom of the water to the clear water and sky above. And in Huaxiu’s character blurbs on the muse page, I’ve had a bit of a running theme comparing his heart to barren soil, and then with the addition of his boyfriend Vasilios and Minglian to his life, changing it to reflect as such to what it is now. 

So it’s just an overall commentary on the nature of their relationship, Minglian representing the lotus that’s helped to kind of thaw that frozen heart of Huaxiu’s, and what’s helped him become overall more loving and caring.

[arcxnumvitae]

Send 💘 for Muse A to talk about Muse’s B love life (or lack of one) Huaxiu about Minglian

@strawberryxdreams || multimuse grape vine

I’m tempted to throw formatting out of the window for the sake of my sanity

He clicked his tongue in irritation, single eye narrowing dangerously. “If anyone thinks that they are worthy of 阿-Lian’s attention,” the endearment slipped from his lips without notice and of its own volition, “then that already tells me all that I need to know about them. Granted, I do not have to worry because she is an incredibly smart girl-- she won’t make the same foolish mistakes that I once did.”

“Still!” Crossing his arms in front of him, the dragon gave a fanged grin that spoke more of danger than it did friendliness. “Should my precious student ever bring anyone home, then, to put it simply, I will give them hell. What person expects good in their life without having to work for it? If they break under the pressure then that speaks lengths about their personality and worth, it is as simple as that.” 

Of course he had no issue or actual say in Minglian’s choices, she was her own person at the end of the day and could disregard any of his misgivings entirely if she wished. Even so, he would do whatever he could to ensure that nothing took away that bright smile of hers. That she would not have to suffer the same pain that he once had. 

[arcxnumvitae]

dfgfd I FORGOT ABOUT THIS BUT Send 💞 for Jianhuren to comment on Huaxiu’s relationships and/or people they know

@fellbloom @cxrsedsouls || multimuse grape vine

Send 💞 for Muse A to comment on Muse B’s relationships and/or people they know

“I was surprised when I first heard from Zhaohui that  小-Xiu had a friend.” In the midst of their returning memories and the agonizing truth of what Qingshan had done, to them and to Huaxiu, it was the only point of comfort in that entire situation. That after so many years alone, their student had finally opened up to someone again. “And when I met him again after my disappearance, the change was stark between how he was a few years ago, and how he was then. Even mourning his teacher, the change that Vasilios had brought on him was astonishing.” The dragon sighed. “He had closed his heart off for so many years after what happened with that huli jing. Looking back on it, as his teachers Qingshan and I should have done more for him, I should have done more for the both of them.” They would never forget that image of Huaxiu, the bandages over his newly wounded eye still seeping blood as he thanked them and turned to leave. What would have happened if they had forced him to stay? If they had refused to allow him to distance himself from caring for others? They had watched their bright-eyed pupil grow jaded right in front of their very own eyes. They had failed him.

“But I foolishly thought that space and time was what he needed. It was not, and that guilt is something that I will have to carry. But with Vasilios,” a smile touched their lips, “I see in 小-Xiu that young, innocent dragon again. The one who would excitedly explain xiaolongbao to me or shoo Qingshan and I out of the kitchen because he couldn’t trust us to cook. He is smiling and happy again, and it is because of Vasilios that that smile has returned once more. I owe that man a debt I can never repay.

“And if Vasilios was responsible for the return of the person that  小-Xiu once was, then  小-Lian is responsible for the man that he has grown into beyond that. He did not want to let her see it, but he was so nervous being her teacher at first! Certain that he was not fit for the task of guiding a young person, he even asked if I could oversee the majority of her training. Needless to say, his worries were unfounded. I have never seen him so caring and loving before, why,” a laugh escaped, fangs glinting in the light, “he will even cut plates of fruit to bring to her! Take her shopping and buy whatever she even briefly lays eyes on! Ah, truly he spoils her, but she is a sweet girl and it seems to bring him great joy to do so, and so I will let it be. 

“And  小-Lian of course thinks the world of him, everything she does is to make him proud of her, of which she has already achieved.” Truly, even the slightest thing would set him off when it came to bragging about Minglian’s achievements, it seemed that that pride of his transferred easily to his student as well. “They are incredibly adorable to watch together, and though I am never one to say ‘I told you so’,  小-Xiu has turned out to be the best teacher among all of us.”

[arcxnumvitae]

Shoutout to Angie for providing me a tag replacer so I can do this mini tag dump for relationships between my own muses. Since I have a bunch I need to name too, I’ll probably be coming back to this and editing it.

[arcxnumvitae]

Incorrect Quotes Generator

Huaxiu: Minglian... Minglian: Oh no, 'Minglian' in b-flat. Minglian: You're disappointed.

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Huaxiu, walking into their house: Hello, people who do not live here. Meihui: Hello. Xiaodan: Hey! Huaxiu: I gave you the key to my place for emergencies only! Zhaohui: We were out of Doritos.

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Huaxiu: I made tea. Minglian: I don’t want tea. Huaxiu: I did not make tea for you. This is my tea. Minglian: Then why are you telling me? Huaxiu: It is a conversation starter. Minglian: That’s a lousy conversation starter. Huaxiu: Oh, is it? We are conversing. Checkmate.

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Meihui: There are seven chairs and ten kids. What do you do? Xiaodan: Have everyone stand. Minglian: Bring three more chairs! Huaxiu: The most important ones can sit down. Zhaohui: Kill three.

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Minglian: What did you guys get in your yearbook? Huaxiu: 'Prettiest Smile' Zhaohui: 'Nicest Personality' Xiaodan: 'Most likely to start a bar fight' Meihui: 'Least likely to start a bar fight, but most likely to win one'

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Huaxiu: How did none of you hear what I just said? Xiaodan: I’ve been zoned out for the past two and a half hours. Zhaohui: I got distracted about halfway through. Meihui: Ignoring you was a conscious decision.

[arcxnumvitae]

Minglian, whats your thoughts on seeing Vasilios and Huaxiu together? Would you like to one day find a love as strong as theirs? How do you think they’d react to you being in a relationship with someone?

Answering questions

”They are very,,, affectionate.” To any who weren’t familiar with her it would have sounded like an indictment. Those who were though would have caught sight of the small bit of red that spread across her cheeks as she said it. But it was true, it seemed like there was hardly a moment she didn’t come across them whispering sweet nothings or staring adoringly at the other. “As for me...the thought has never struck me.” It was in all of the movies and shows she watched, she supposed, but there had never been any thought to apply something like that to her. It was a very new notion, one she wasn’t sure what to make of. But both Laoshi and Vasilios seemed rather happy with it all themselves. “I can’t imagine they would react strongly one way or the other though, I don’t see why they would.”

[arcxnumvitae]

She sat still as the comb ran through her hair and stared in the mirror set in front of her on the table. “You know a lot of hairstyles, Laoshi.” Minglian remembered the first time she tried to style her hair, it had been a mess, sticking out in some places, refusing to be tamed in others. Teacher had taken one look at it and ordered her to sit while he fixed it. She didn’t quite understand but apparently it had something to do with presenting well and being a Red Eye. That and it seemed like her teacher was very specific about physical appearances anyways, even now when really he couldn’t even care enough to be specific. But still, just like that it had become something of a ritual, him every now and then teaching her a new way to style it.

“Over two thousand years of experience,” he reminded her and gently began to work at a stubborn knot. “And popular styles change often with the times so I had to keep up. ” Two thousand, it seemed like an impossibly large number to her and an even larger one to have lived that many years. Yet here teacher was, that and then some, and Laoshi Jianhuren was even more unfathomably older than even that. It was hard to imagine. Finally, the knot loosened and her teacher set the comb down onto the table and reached for some pins next to it. His fingers set to work doing something she couldn’t see but felt was probably complicated and at this point she wondered if this session would truly be teaching her something in her skill level or simply giving her a hairstyle that-- well not that he wanted to do, it couldn’t be something that he’d ‘want’, that was impossible for them whatever this ‘want’ even really was. So why?

But instead of asking him that, instead she found herself questioning, “Did you ever need help with your hair?” It seemed difficult to imagine her teacher unknowing and needing help with anything, the same way it seemed difficult to imagine his age. She watched him in the mirror though as he nodded.

“Of course, there were many things I needed to be taught the same as you. Laoshi Jianhuren taught me simple ways to tie it up but I did search out how to do the more elaborate styles on my own later.” That seemed like something that he would do. Or at least, that seemed like something the him of before would do from the stories she’d heard, the version that felt the thing they called emotions and sought out nicer ways to do his hair because he enjoyed taking care of his hair and wearing the nicest clothes and indulging in luxury. A stranger. Without even noticing, her thoughts had run away with her and some time passed before her teacher finally finished. “There, that was a popular style quite some time ago.”

Minglian studied her hair in the mirror. “It is very...elaborate.” She met his gaze in the mirror. “I don’t think I’ll be able to replicate this and won’t it get in the way while I’m training?”

“Ah.” He blinked and it seemed as if he’d actually forgotten that he was supposed to be showing her something doable. “We were talking about older styles and I forgot.” So he had forgotten. “This one happened to be one that was made popular by a noblewoman that I knew.” 

"You were friends with a noblewoman?” She hadn’t met any royalty or nobility but that was supposed to be something pretty prestigious. Then again, what they were was apparently prestigious as well. She watched as her teacher paused at the question, then stood up instead.

“The style requires a hairpin to complete it, I’ll go find one.” 

And with that, he was gone. Had she asked a bad question?

[arcxnumvitae]

She stared out at a lotus at where the outdoor porch jutted out over the water of the lake by her teacher’s house. Not a single ripple passed over the surface of the flower-dotted water, mirroring the young dragon’s own expression, and her hand moved on its own to reach out over the edge of the wood in an attempt to reach the flower. Her fingertips just barely grazed against it.... And then she felt her body begin to pitch forward towards the water below having leaned too far out to properly brace herself. Minglian readied herself for the impact-- but suddenly halted midair when a hand grabbed the back of her collar and hauled her back onto the porch. Turning, she saw her teacher staring down at her.

“You nearly fell in,” he observed as he released her shirt, “what were you doing?”

“I was trying to get a lotus,” she pointed back out at the flower she’d been aiming for.

“Why?”

“....” Really, there wasn’t any reason why she should have been trying to reach the lotus. Even she herself didn’t know why. At her silence though, her teacher only sighed and strode over to the edge. With a crook of his finger, the lotus began to drift closer as if pulled by a current within the water. Once it was close enough, he reached down and plucked the already cut flower from the water and handed it to her.

She stared down at the delicate flower in her palms. “Thank you, Laoshi.” 

His hands reached out towards her once more, this time to straighten her rumpled shirt and collar, and simply nodded. “It was nothing. Be sure to be more careful.” And with that, he turned and left, leaving Minglian alone staring down at the lotus in her hands.

[arcxnumvitae]

Keep your stance wide Keep your body lowered As you're moving forward Balance is the key Right foot, left foot Now go even faster And as you're moving backwards Keep your eyes on me

Keep my stance wide (good) Keep my body lowered (right) As I'm moving forward Concentrate. Don't you want him to live? Right foot, left foot Yes, but put your whole body into it Everything you have, everything you are You've got to give