He loves how readily the other agrees, and how patiently Meng Yao begins to show him how to fold things. Xichen watches intently, kneeling beside him. And so when the half is set before him, he smiles his thanks before getting to work.
His attempts are...well. Functional. But with each garment, he improves just a little. Xichen can't help enjoy the work, though more because of the company and being able to help. He feels that glance and it threatens to make him flush, but he doesn't allow himself to show...how very much he likes the thought of lips being pressed to his - this kind young man's lips, to be precise.
He smiled as he watched Xichen work. He was lovely and hardworking, willing to learn. As he finished he set it with the ones he did, all of them set and ready to be out away. They will feel good freshly bathed and in clean clothes.
He looked away flushing deeper. It was easy to forget their identities in this place. They weren't whoreson Meng Yao and Sect Heir Lan Xichen, they were just A-Yao and A-Huan.
This simple life that one could pretend they weren't in a war, that A-Huan wasn't in danger. it was such a nice fantasy to fall into.
He stands up, knees creaking a little bit as he did, and stretched his arms out.
"You should go first, in the bath. I have some fermented rice water we can put in your hair as well. Mama used to do it and it made it so shiny."
He'd admit to looking forward to being freshly bathed and clothed. This isn't the Cloud Recesses, or the Unclean Realm. But A-Yao is with him. So they are making do with what little they have. It's enough for now.
Xichen blinks at the words, but hears the cracks of those knees and shakes his head a little, gaze still lowered.
"You have been working hard. You should go first, while the water is warmest." He's used to cold water. But he smiles at the glimpse at Meng Yao's mother, how she'd cared for her son. "Is there enough for both of us?"
"No no no, I couldn't." he blushed. He knew that he didn't mind but how could Meng Yao subject him to bathe in used water. For him he was used to things like that but to ask gentry to... Never.
"Yes. I do. And when we make dinner I can set aside the rice water we wash the rice with to ferment for more." He squeezed his shoulder gently and walked over to get the tub ready. It was already scrubbed clean. It just had to be moved into the middle of the room.
"Does vegetable soup and rice sound good to you tonight?"
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His attempts are...well. Functional. But with each garment, he improves just a little. Xichen can't help enjoy the work, though more because of the company and being able to help. He feels that glance and it threatens to make him flush, but he doesn't allow himself to show...how very much he likes the thought of lips being pressed to his - this kind young man's lips, to be precise.
It would be too easy to get carried away.
no subject
He looked away flushing deeper. It was easy to forget their identities in this place. They weren't whoreson Meng Yao and Sect Heir Lan Xichen, they were just A-Yao and A-Huan.
This simple life that one could pretend they weren't in a war, that A-Huan wasn't in danger. it was such a nice fantasy to fall into.
He stands up, knees creaking a little bit as he did, and stretched his arms out.
"You should go first, in the bath. I have some fermented rice water we can put in your hair as well. Mama used to do it and it made it so shiny."
no subject
Xichen blinks at the words, but hears the cracks of those knees and shakes his head a little, gaze still lowered.
"You have been working hard. You should go first, while the water is warmest." He's used to cold water. But he smiles at the glimpse at Meng Yao's mother, how she'd cared for her son. "Is there enough for both of us?"
no subject
"Yes. I do. And when we make dinner I can set aside the rice water we wash the rice with to ferment for more." He squeezed his shoulder gently and walked over to get the tub ready. It was already scrubbed clean. It just had to be moved into the middle of the room.
"Does vegetable soup and rice sound good to you tonight?"