aires | CMO ; they're dollops of paint on a new work of art

[The way I was going to ask you if you wanted cute cr or stinky cr but then I suddenly realized what I had to do

anyway at some nebulous point post-7r, several months at the least, mr. marquis will get a text that just says]

I hate you

[...you gonna. you gonna explain, childe? no? okay]

[Oh there it is. A few minutes later, a photo comes through, one that was clearly surreptitiously taken--

--it's a photo of a guy who looks a hell of a lot like gu yun. You know the one.]

Hm? Aren't you glad we're coworkers?
Hush and pay attention.

[ lol ]

[HE CAN HEAR YOU LAUGHING 50 WORLDS OVER]

there's nothing to pay attention to they're just bickering

[that classic meeting vibe...]

I can't believe this, I had to look at you for months and now I have to be back here looking at him too

I can't believe you'd complain about spending your days looking at someone so handsome.
Your aesthetic sense is as lacking as always.

[ gu yun or mr. pants? yes

anyway yeah this is the funniest thing thats ever happened 10/10]

[Gu Yun may get the odd sensation that someone, somewhere, is flipping him off... weird!

Anyway the more he thinks about it the more he realizes that gy and pantalone would probably get along, actually (well. insofar as someone like pantalone gets along with anybody) and if that ain't the worst thing in the whole world]

Well, if you're that enamored with him then you can come sit here and appreciate his face in my stead, how about that

[ this is the best day of his life ]

And deny you the opportunity? I could never.
I suppose I could come visit. Maybe looking twice will teach you to appreciate the finer things?

I would rather die for a third time than look at both of you together

[stop]

But you can drop by after the funeral if you want, we got some new imports I'd like to test out

[WHY ARE YOU TEXTING DURING A FUNERAL]

[ completely unbothered by the texting during a funeral considering he was part of the texting during fukuda's execution squad

anyway this is hysterical ]

Sure.
Let me know when its finished, I'll come by when you're free and introduce myself to your friend. :)

[ it's week three.

like every other member of the staff, aquila is on call for attention from the guests at just about any time. he likes to joke that he handles all of their requests, no matter how ridiculous, but as the dawn rose on that bright monday, he and the rest of the staff were alarmed to realize that one inconvenient little effect was going to make this week very, very difficult.

memory sharing.

unfortunately, being called up requires them to pay attention to their guests. there is no ignoring a request, no matter how much aquila would love to avoid everyone this week, and there is no one more he'd like to ignore than the very person who calls for him on this fine monday afternoon.

when chang geng rings the bell, aquila takes a moment or two to appear, but eventually, a dark, shadowy void opens. it opens above the desk, strangely, instead of vertically, and it's because aquila appears and lands neatly on the top of the desk, dropping into a crouch. he is putting on his absolute best vax'ildan, right now. ]

What's up, doc?

[ and very, very warily watching out for stardust. ]

[ there have been some small suspicions, in the back of chang geng's mind, about the kind of people behind the veils of the staff. the more he learns from the others - about the situations they came from, the people they were surrounded by - the more he starts to slowly narrow down the possible identities.

but the question becomes: are they actually who they thinks they are, or is it a facade?

regardless, aquila is one of the ones that he calls on the most. something draws him there, and he follows it, cautious but curious.

at least he doesn't seem surprised by the sharp, easy landing on the desk, tracking it with his eyes. ]

Impeccable entrance as always, Aquila. [ a little dry ] Care to go exploring, on the other side of the doors?

[ alright. vax'ildan.

vax'ildan is an easy mask to put on. gu yun excels at acting, excels at pretending, but pretending around chang geng, his own ward, who knew vax'ildan because he was in a murder game really pushes him to the edge of his skills. when he first saw chang geng's name on the list, he flipped his absolute shit, and the idea of anything happening to him here is nervewracking. but chang geng can't know that gu yun is here for a variety of reasons, and gu yun can't protect him, and the idea gives him hives.

but. the thing is, he's already pretended to be someone else in front of chang geng. for years, he was shen shiliu. he can do this.

... probably.

pretending to be vax'ildan means he leans easily on his left knee with his left arm; twirls a pen between his gloved fingers. ]

's what I'm known for. [ impeccable entrances, something both versions of 'aquila' have in common. he puts the gravel in his voice, and with the veil over his face modulating how it sounds, it gives him an extra layer of cover - still, chang geng can probably hear his playful wink in aquila's words. very vax. ] I'd love to. Going fuckin' stir crazy trapped in here, anyway.

[ he hops off the surface of the desk. lifted up in the subtly heeled boots he wears, he's nearly as tall as chang geng, and he stretches his arms over his head in a big, dramatic motion. ] Any requests, or you just wanna leave it to chance?

That it is. [ the trace of gravel, the lilt of the accent, the cheeky wink lacing the more playful exchanges; he remembers vax needling at him, companionable, getting him to let loose and swearing and slandering gu yun up and down one day. trial days and curfews, an ease of familiarity in a black-feathered bird.

he remembers him monitoring chang geng and percy, after his revival from the dead. watching with sharp, keen eyes that he played off, protective and vigilant.

there's enough similarities that he doesn't wholly question it. but there is always something niggling at the back of his mind, wanting to dissect. always wanting to dissect.

chang geng always wants to know everything. that's one of the things he hates most about these games. ]

Well, as long as you don't dump us into a volcano. Or a "dinosaur park." [ the air quotes are in his voice. ] I'd had enough of those in the previous run. Otherwise, we can leave it to chance, I think.

[ i also don't remember what mg was during memshare week so yolo ]

Aw, c'mon. Never jumped into a volcano?

[ he immediately elbows at chang geng, playfully jostling him as they make their way over to the revolving doors at the front of the hotel. ]

Random it is. Time to get an education, doc. Sure you'll love it.

[ laughing, teasing, as jovial and mischievous as aquila always is, he brings them both through the revolving door, taking the moment to inwardly try and ward off any kind of stardust. don't you fucking dare!!!! don't you dare!!!!!!

they pop out at the outside of the campus, near the lazy river! aquila whistles, long and low, and puts his hands on his hips. ] Good luck. Been out here yet?

Helped kill a dragon in one. Does that count?

[ and it wasn't his favorite experience, frankly. but he allows the jostling with little reaction, save for making sure that his gate returns to normal and he doesn't wobble too much, as he goes along with aquila to the doors. ]

Oh I'm sure. [ he doesn't distrust him, though, as he keeps alert on his end for any stardust. not that he's worried about himself - although, considering he died during memshare week in the prism, maybe a little for himself - but also just because maybe he can shove aquila into it at first chance. (no)

(yes) ]

Mm, no. Had something a little like this, but not exact, since it wasn't so... big.

[ time to prod chang geng for information? time to prod chang geng for information.

once they arrive at the river, aquila glances over at him, very casually as he walks to the edge of the river, squatting down like he's fairly sure vax'ildan would do. very casual. ]

You were in the prism, right? What do you think, which one do you like better?

[ (the lizard brain urge to kick him into the river by the ass) ]

Well. I would say that's comparing two very different things to each other, and now I have the advantage of being a little better prepared in this place. [ the hotel, rather. he's checking out the surroundings of the lazy river, narrowing keen eyes at the campus beyond and around, curious but wary.

not any school he's seen. so. ]

No magic for me to have to learn how to use in this place, though, so I suppose there's that.

Magic can be a pain in the ass. Only kinda my thing - always prefer a blade, yeah? Feels more reliable.

[ aquila says this as if he's ever used magic. he has, a little bit - just in healing, in using the gloves that allow him to have, but it's not technically a lie, which is why he's very good at this acting job and/or maybe just very good at lying.

he leans his head back to look at chang geng, all wary and careful and just... cannot help himself

as he dips his hand really fast in the water and splashes at him. ]

Magic nebulously exists, where I come from, and even then it wasn't something I had... direct interaction with. I much prefer my own abilities.

[ it does feel more reliable, using your own two hands for something, instead of hoping that magic will come through for you. but some things are convenient, or useful - in theory, anyways. so if he could use some things from the prism...

whatever thoughts he has for that, they're gone. chang geng bristles when he's splashed, bringing his arm up like his sleeve can protect him from the worst of it. ]

... really?

[ gu yun is making such a face under his veil. his nose is wrinkling. it does NOT, chang geng. this is what happens when you spend time with those shitty terrible monks. this is why you got splashed, actually, over anything else.

which, he hits perfectly, and chang geng cannot see aquila's face, but the tone of his gravelly voice suggests that he might be grinning. ]

What? [ stop ] Something happened?

[ he shakes his sleeve out, reaching down to try and brush off any residual droplets from the cloth. nothing to be done for anything that's already soaked in.

with a sigh at the grin in his voice, with his questions, chang geng resigns himself to being surrounded by people like this at all times. but he doesn't seem particularly bothered, beyond the initial reaction.

so, he shakes his head. goes back to investigating the things set up around the lazy river.

( evil cg voice ) what if he does boot him by the ass into the water tho ]

[ chang geng: 0
gu yun: 1

aquila laughs, then, watching chang geng as he sits back on his hands like he might sun himself. ridiculous, considering his uniform and veil combination, but if he flops over he feels particularly vax'ildan, so he stays spread eagled on the ground, making an obnoxious stretching noise. ]

Do you need a tour guide? Or can I take a nap?

[ unbelievable. this is his plan for avoiding stardust which you have to do first by rule of npc. :B ]

[ what an obnoxious man(?) that he's imprinted on.

chang geng huffs at the laugh. hard to say if it's amused or exasperated, but that's a typical reaction to both gu yun and vax'ildan, actually, so who knows. but he continues his meandering, finding some of the equipment for the lazy river and poking through it. taking things out, setting them down, putting them back, shuffling around... ]

Maybe I wanted your company? But if you'd rather a nap, then by all means.

[

he takes one of the buckets to scoop some water into, going to chuck the contents right at aquila. ]

[ this is a perfectly well executed plan

unfortunately for chang geng, he won't get to enjoy the entire reaction, if only becuase the first second a water droplet hits him, aquila squawks like a bird and instincts immediately have him portaling, swallowed up by shadows and reappearing across the river, where he CLUTCHES HIS CHEST LIKE A MAIDEN.

POINTING!!! ]

Traitor!

[ chang geng chucks the bucket over his shoulder with a tsk as soon as he sees shadows.

but after that, he folds his arms behind his back placidly, putting on his most serene, puppy-like expression, head tilted. a slight, cocked smile on his mouth. confused. innocent.

it'd work on nearly everyone else. ]

What? [ :)? ] Did something happen?

[ aquila

portals back over and sticks a gloved finger in his own mouth from under the veil and attempts to give chang geng a wet willy from behind

this feels very vax'ildan ]

[

chang geng turns his hip into aquila, aiming for his hip or stomach so that he can bend a bit out of his reach. maybe get him off his feet. while the height doesn't seem so drastic, here, it's still enough - maybe - that he can avoid a wet willy.

or a gross wet glove in his face. ]

[ okay he can work with this actually because he just hipchecks him as hard as he can right in the direction of the lazy river

at this point he's not even thinking about being vax'ildan because he has to assert his yifu dominance? he has to? eat filial piety ]

Whoops!

[ if you don't think he's going to try and grab onto this stupid bird to either drag him down with him, or force him to shadowport them both out because he's so sticky -

FILIAL PIETY THIS ]

[ well

goodbye

he's already doing this at this point so he might as well just body chang geng into the water as he gets dragged down by his STUPID WARD who is TALLER THAN HE USED TO BE into the water, also. aquila has enough foresight to grab onto his hat with his free hand so it doesn't go flying off of his head - that would be awkward - but they're both hitting the surface of the lazy river with a loud splash. ]

[ despite the fact that he is now soaking wet, submerged as he is, he'll take the spiteful victory for what it is. aquila's plan didn't succeed exactly as intended, and that's enough for him.

a part of him wants to just drag him down and shake him like a rat under the water. the other part hauls them both up, because they're waterlogged and in a million layers. ]

- was that necessary -

[ this bitch can't see shit under all his hair ]

[ in a normal situation, he would play deaf to this but he's not allowed

however he lets chang geng haul him out of the water like a wet cat as he holds his hat very firmly on his hand with his other hand. aquila is lighter than chang geng might be expecting? he can't hold him very long because once he gets a foot on the bank, he pushes himself up and out and sighs, flopping face first in the grass.]

You started it. [ NO HE DID NOT ]

You splashed me first.

[ his grip loosens, of course, when aquila goes to actually push himself out. tempting as it is to just yank him back into the water - chang geng might lash out, sometimes, but he's a good boy other times - he's definitely not dressed for this stupid lazy river. (neither of them are) (not the point) ]

You may act all innocent, but no one else is here to do that. [ god. with his hair all in his face and sopping, he undoes his ponytail as he sits on the bank, dripping water, trying to wring it all out. ]

[ muffled, with his face in the grass and in the veil: ]

Didn't see the bird overhead? Big fuckoff bird? Came down for a fish!

[ sure that feels like a vax answer. also it's a little tongue in cheek because heh bird

also he's in a good mood because chang geng is sulking and it feels much more like the sixteen year old he left at home!!! this is great even if he's soaking wet. ]

[ chang geng shoots aquila's back A Look, before going back to dealing with his hair. the curls are weighed down by the water, so it all just blends into waves, his fingers combing through to make sure there's no tangles that'll knot up more fiercely as it all dries.

just think of peaceful things and not smushing your maybe friend, maybe yifu's face into the mud. ]

There's no fish in this water. [ can he say this 100%? no. but he's going to say it confidently. ]

Are too.

[ why is he like this.

he just waves a hand from where he's settled, and then props himself up; his hands disappear underneath the veil, as he seemingly props his chin in them. truly, aquila cannot help himself. ]

[

]

[ gu yun like wow i feel like i know someone who did this before

anyway

splat. chang geng hits him with his giant ponytail which makes him splutter. it's through his veil, so it's mostly just secondhand (genshin voice) wet, and he laughs, big an bright and startled. it's less than his usual gravel voice, though still modulated by the magic of the veil itself, and he poofs up a towel from his sleeve and tosses it in chang geng's direction in ""Retaliation"" ]

Rude.

Sorry, can't see a thing like this.

[ ( gu yun voice )

but he accepts the "retaliation" of the towel, grumbling softly to himself as he tries to use it to its maximum effect. maybe he can use it to dry some of himself off, too, if his hair isn't too bad...

problem is, he's no longer vigilant like this. chang geng can't avoid the stardust that happens to sprinkle over their heads.

birthday

it's alright, big brother, he won't notice a drop missing! we'll get it cleaned up, and you can add the egg, no trouble!

is

frickin MEMSHARE ]

[ he'd be proud of this little brat for using his methodology but he doesn't really have time.

instead, this memory hits gu yun like a punch in the gut. because that's who he is, of couse, not vax'ildan. and in his timeline, in his life, chang geng has only just come back from a separation where they had gotten into a huge fight - where chang geng went off with the monks (he will never be over this) and things were awkward, and strange, and he was fairly sure chang geng hated him. he'd pretend it was fine, but really? chang geng hating him is one of those things gu yun is actually terrified of, and so to see this memory, with his chang geng just a few years younger, feeling all these worries and this want to make him happy, to make the perfect meal -

he remembers slurping that meal down, remembers the occasional crunch of eggshell, and wants to reach over and - god, he doesn't even know, he wants to ruffle his hair and also tease him and he also sort of wants to smile like an idiot but he can't do that, he can't even react.

at that age, he was especially unsure of what he was doing. gu yun's not sure if he's gotten any better, but...

he swallows down an absolutely massive lump of emotion in his throat, that feels like the warmth in chang geng's heart finding its way here, just utter affection that makes his heart feel three sizes too big, and finally, manages: ]

Aww.

[ that's. about all he can do, actually. that's the best vax reaction even great liang's greatest garlic can properly manage. ]

[ a small grumble of embarrassment leaves him, but chang geng wrings his curls dry with the towel that's been given to him, focusing on that and looking away from - the memory, from aquila, from how much he misses that moment in time. things were simpler, then. a part of him wishes that he could have locked time into that chilly courtyard, warmed by the company and the fact that gu yun had eaten all of the noodles prepared for him, eggshell and all.

but the world is always moving forward, with or without you. better for you to seize it so that you aren't left behind.

better to make sure that you and your loved ones survive what it dishes out, too. ]

... better that memory than any of the others that people have seen, here and in the prism, I suppose.

[ cool. cool!!! it's fine!!! it's not like gu yun was just totally knocked off of his feet by that!!! wow. chang geng does like him! he loves him, even!

not that gu yun's ever been afraid of that... except... well, he kind of always is. it's not like he has any examples for how to raise a child, or how to spend time with children at all, and, it's not like he's unaware that he has no idea what he's doing, because that's his state of mind most of the time, and it's not like he's unaware of how badly that can screw up a child, considering his own life, but...

...well, it's nice, is all.

he's quiet for a little longer than he should be, laying back in the grass, face still blissfully covered. when chang geng speaks again, he glances up at him through the gauzy fabric of his veil, and feels an irrational flash of irritation at the idea that chang geng has memories that are bad, because it means that someone's treated him badly, but he manages to keep that under wraps, too.

mostly because gu zixi can't let a sleeping dog lie, he asks, in his very good affect of vax'ildan's gravelly, low voice; ] So...your 'yifu', huh? Seems like he liked it.

[ surprise!! chang geng loves you with all of his heart!

were it another lifetime, that love would have turned into something different. it's still devoted, still borderline obsessive, still endless - because this is the man who saved his life. taught him things, whether they were intentional or through chang geng's power of observation. gu yun is the man who gave him a home instead of a tomb.

and, while he teases behind the mask of aquila, he won't shy away from this. no reason to. ]

... he's particular, about his food. [ picky like a child, he doesn't say, but it's there in the undertone. ] That he ate it meant a lot.

[ he didn't have to. gu yun didn't have to eat a single bite of those longevity noodles, but he had eaten everything down to the crunch of shells and poorly cooked ingredients. it's something that he's always going to remember, that the great marquis of order had eaten the food that his ward had made him for his birthday. ]

I'm looking forward to celebrating more birthdays with him in the future, once this is over with.

CMO ; they're dollops of paint on a new work of art

1/2......... you know what verse this is already

2/2

help

IT HAD TO BE DONE

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for snow | CRAU 2 ... AU 2

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