#and knowing he got his cooking from huaxiu too!

[arcxnumvitae]

A hand rubbed against the aching pain in his chest as he watched the lotus flowers bobbing gently in the pond that spanned from the patio. Despite the outward injuries being healed, it seemed it would still take some time yet for the effects of the damage that the enchanted metal had caused to his heart to dissipate. 怒, what, was Zhaohui too much of a coward to come and face him again afterwards? The dragon hadn't even come to retrieve his accursed sword. Well, it would be for the best if he didn't show his face around any time soon. His own anger at the situation hadn't lessened any, and it probably wouldn't help matters if they just got to fighting again.

"Xiao-xiu." A calm voice broke through his thoughts and Huaxiu jolted with a start.

"Shifu!"

He rose to greet them, but a wave of the hand from the other urged him to remain seated as they instead approached and sank down next to him. Worried eyes, alight with a tiredness Huaxiu did not often see in his teacher, rested on him. "How do you feel?"

"I'm feeling better. It may take some time for the aches to go away completely, but I can handle those just fine." He discreetly pulled his hand away from where it had been pressed against his chest in an effort to not add to his teacher's worries. "Truly, I'm sorry that you and Minglian had to witness that. I didn't mean to worry you both."

Jiahuren breathed out a quiet breath. "Silly student of mine." Before Huaxiu knew it, the elder dragon's hand tugged him closer, cradling his head as they pulled him closer against them in a comforting embracing. Physical affection had simply never been anything the dragons showed. Even with Minglian, Huaxiu preferred to show his care for her through cooking her favorite meals or buying her whatever she wanted.

His teacher was hugging him like a child of theirs and a flush warmed the dragon's cheeks at the unusual treatment.

"Shifu...?"

"I felt helpless when you showed up at my home, heartbroken, bleeding, and missing an eye." Huaxiu grew silent, and his tteacher's cheek rested gently atop his head. "I could tell that some part of you had been deeply wounded by the huli jing's betrayal, and yet I thought there was no way to halt the way you closed your heart off to Qingshan and I afterwards. I failed you then. When my own ignorance led to Qingshan hurting you as she did, a second betrayal of one that was once dear, I failed you a second time. I cannot bear to watch you suffer, and yet another of my mistakes has led to it happening a third time." a drop of warmth hit the top of his head, and Huaxiu stilled.

Were they...crying?

"I know it is impossible to protect one's student from every pain that life will send their way, much as I wish I were capable. But I can at least protect you from the consequences of my own foolishness."

It was a similar sentiment he had felt towards Minglian, and for the first time, Huaxiu felt as if he might be starting to understand their feelings throughout the years.

"Come now, Shifu. Don't blame yourself for any of it. I didn't realize what was going on with Shizun either. It isn't as if you're solely to blame for everything that's ever happened to me."

Cheek still resting against his head, his teacher remained silent and no response came. It seemed like they just wanted to take these few moments together, holding their student tight, in peace. He could grant them that at least.

[cxrsedsouls]

( @fellbloom ) asked:

"아 - 바질?"

Peryton calls out, hoping to catch the pureblood as he passed the hallway. Whether it was decided to leave him undisturbed or no one noticed him in the kitchen the night before, Suyeon was pulling out the tray of baklava that had been left to cool down on a side table.

"I wanted to try making some baklava after 妹妹 and I saw some pictures online. Do you want to try some?"

It was odd for him to not be confident in the things he'd made, but...well, it was his first time working with phyllo dough so it couldn't be helped. The presentation was nice, at least - neat little diamonds topped with crushed pistachios.

Cute unprompted surprise!

Steps halt the moment the nickname rings throughout the hall, a smile already tugging at the edges of pale lips before even turning. Frame shifts, blue eyes landing on Suyeon for a moment before glancing down towards the tray held within the other’s hands. This... this kid, the Peryton, everything about him the Pureblood couldn’t help but find endearing. From his antics with Minglian and the other dragons to the soft, sweet moments like this.

Baklava, was this meant specifically for him? Whether it was so or not, it didn’t make the gesture any less heartwarming. His smile grows, eyes sweeping over the beautifully presented pastries, the scent wafting towards him and already had his mouth watering. “They smell wonderful, Ελαφάκι.”

Lithe fingers gently grasp the one in the front, gaze rising from the tray to meet Suyeon’s as a bit is taken. It’s only a moment later that Vasilios is quickly nodding, grin breaking loose even while chewing as his eyes light up. Once the first bite is finished, the grins only continues to grow. “They’re amazing,” his free hand now reaches out, gentle pets given to the Peryton to show his appreciation but also... because he simply couldn’t help it. The urge to pet him was far too difficult to resist and so long as Suyeon didn’t mind...

As he finished the last bit of the pastry, a thought struck Vasilios before blue eyes shift along the stretch of hallway, as if making sure that no one was nearby. “Does anyone else know that you’ve made these?” Did he have every intention of stealing the whole tray if Suyeon was willing? Why yes, yes he was.

[arcxnumvitae]

1. What does your muse smell like?

Sandalwood! 

2. What do your muse’s hands feel like?

Pretty much like normal hands for someone who doesn’t do hard labor but isn’t necessarily pampered. He’s got a little bit of callouses from his sword, but he doesn’t wield it enough to where they’re rougher.

3. What does your muse usually eat in a day?

Zhaohui eats somewhat infrequently, since he doesn’t have to. When he does eat, either it’s pilfering something that Huaxiu has cooked, a snack that he was craving, or pilfering a snack that Huaxiu has cooked. He also has a big sweet tooth, so chances are he’s snacking on something sweet.

4. Does your muse have a good singing voice?

Yep, a really nice, smooth one, but unfortunately he doesn’t ever really sing. Tragic.

5. Does your muse have any bad habits or nervous ticks?

Gee. Any and all of his coping mechanisms are trash and usually involve avoiding, ignoring, and burying the bad feelings under something else with something else. And I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen Zhaohui nervous so I’m really not sure what any nervous habits of his would even be.

6. What does your muse usually look like/wear?

I’d say a little step up above normal. He’s not wearing designer like some people, but he’s also not in something as casual as jeans. Slacks and a nice shirt, even if it isn’t a button down or something like that. Usually he keeps his hair up too, out of habit and because it tends to do what it wants when it’s loose.

7. Is your muse affectionate? How much? How so?

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha no. I doubt he’d even know how, save for maybe Jianhuren to an extent, I don’t think he’d have ever received any kind of affection in his life. And so would have no clue how to display it if he even wanted to. Which, I mean, he doesn’t, so....

8. What position does your muse sleep in?

He also doesn’t have to sleep, but generally does follow normal sleeping patterns because unbroken consciousness is a nightmare. He shifts a bit throughout the night though, so he starts on his side, may move to his back, and then end up half-front, half-side. I won’t speak on whatever chaos his hair ends up like with all of that movement.

9. Could you hear your muse in the hallway from another room?

I’d say yeah. He doesn’t speak obnoxiously loud but he does speak boisterously and will give a laugh often.