[closed post] mid-winter blues

[protagonisthalo]

At this point, Luo Binghe would prefer to spend all of his time with Shen Yuan. Perhaps it's Xin Mo's presence, or perhaps Liu Mingyan's visit stirred up fears that his Empire could be adjusting to his absence, healing around the wound he left until there is no longer a place for him. Or perhaps his conversation with Aornis has wakened the dormant paranoia that the residents of the mansion are turning against him, his efforts to build friendships laughable in the face of twenty-five years of being everyone's enemy. Regardless of the reason, he is restless and moody, expecting the worst in every shadow. It's only with Shen Yuan that he feels at ease.

But Shen Yuan has friends and hobbies, and as much as Luo Binghe wants to monopolize all of his time, he still fears Shen Yuan learning the worst of him—how needy he is, how dark and pessimistic and impossible to satisfy. He spent the morning cooking for Shen Yuan's lunch, and now he's curled up in a lounge, morosely reading The 5 Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate.

Comments

[peaklordshen]

"Lan Wangji wouldn't tell me which of my friends was being targeted, but Sagramore and Asmodean have, um." He's been sworn to secrecy about this, so he stays vague. "They used to be close, but they had a falling out." He shifts, a little, getting a gleam in his eye. "I was thinking we could set a trap, like. A dream ambush."

[protagonisthalo]

So Lan Wangji found out someone was having odd dreams, and just assumed it was Luo Binghe's doing. Typical, but Shen Yuan defending him pleases Luo Binghe enough that he can ignore that for now. "Of course we can. Is Lan Wangji close to Sagramore, though? Why would he know more about Sagramore's dreams than you or I?"

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan makes a face. "People seem to think he's wise," he says. "And I imagine Sagramore didn't want to trouble you—he's constantly downplaying things that bother him. He probably thinks they'll go away on their own. And maybe they will, when Asmodean gets bored of being petty, but then he won't have learned anything."

[protagonisthalo]

Shen Yuan is so cute when he's being rude about Lan Wangji. "I see. Then yes, we should make an effort to protect his dreams." He tugs on a lock of Shen Yuan's hair fondly, twisting it around his finger. "What were you thinking? I made a truce with Asmodean, that neither of us would disturb the other's dreamscape without provocation. It seems wise to maintain it."

[peaklordshen]

"Yeah, I don't think we have to go into his dreams," agrees Shen Yuan. "He seems like he might be kind of volatile. But if we hang out in Sagramore's, maybe we can catch him in the act?"

[protagonisthalo]

Luo Binghe beams. "Are you inviting me to a date in our friend's mind?"

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan laughs. "I guess? Kind of a secret one, though. I don't want him to know we're doing this, since he didn't come to me about it directly."

[protagonisthalo]

"It's my birthday, so you have to say it's a date."

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan cups his cheek, alight with fondness. "My silly beautiful birthday boy. It's a date."