--Cultivate--

[eyesofaproxy]

[When Wise was very young, or at least younger than he is now, he'd gotten lost in the forest outside Helios. He was only saved by a passing wandering cultivator, and to this day he's wanted to meet the man again to thank him. It doesn't matter that Helios fell and he and Belle moved to Yunkui Summit, he wants to find that man and thank him for what he did that day. He changed the trajectory of Wise's life, he's pretty sure, and he deserves to know that.

Granted, a wandering cultivator isn't why Wise (and Belle) is now the heir to Yunkui Summit, that is entirely because of Yixuan-shifu and their own unique abilities, but all the same. That man inspired Wise to get with Belle to create Phatheon, a nameless somebody who is able to hire people to handle things the larger temples and sects can't or won't.

Right now, though, Wise is not acting in the guise of Phaetheon. Wise is acting in the guise of a very annoyed older brother being strongarmed into going down the mountain for an annual check up, since apparently the doctors are all afraid of coming up the mountain after last year's run-in with Eous the spiritual monster rabbit. Cowards.]

I don't need to go right now, Belle, really.

Yes you do! And because there's bandits on the road, I even hired you a bodyguard!

Belle...

Comments

[eyesofaproxy]

Makes sense.

[They head out of the cave and back to the rest of the temple.

That night, Wise slips out of his suite to head to the springs in the back. They're kept warm with Pan Yinhu's cultivation and they're perfect for a relaxing soak at night.]

[fuegor]

[Wise will find the springs occupied already.

Lighter didn't always have the chance to have a proper soak in hot springs, so he's been here a few minutes. His hair was gathered to one side over his shoulder and Wise could see him from a side view, eyes closed and just relaxing. He was tall enough that his torso could be seen above water.

And all the scars it bore. Across his arms, his chest, his back. He lifted one of his hands to brush his bangs away and they're just as scarred. On closer inspection one might notice they've been broken multiple times.

But here Lighter was, calm and steady in the water with his entire body wet from either it or lingering mist. It certainly made his muscles stand out. His arms, his chest, his core so strong the path of those muscles went past the water.

All in all, Lighter cut quite the figure for someone who just happened to catch it.]

[eyesofaproxy]

[The lantern hanging nearby helps, giving Lighter an almost mystical look.

Wise, meanwhile, is having a crisis as he ducks back behind the rocks nearby because he is very, very gay and Lighter is far, far too handsome for his own good. Does he say anything? Does he just wait?]

[fuegor]

[Lighter did sense someone nearby. In fact he was looking directly at the rocks Wise was ducking behind. No hiding from someone of Lighter's skill.

What he didn't sense was hostility so he'll just keep looking at the rocks for a little while but not saying anything except to himself:]

... Hmm. Wonder if I've been in the bath too long.

[eyesofaproxy]

[...right. He probably knows.

Wise does not get up but he does call out:]

Lighter?

[fuegor]

Wise? Yeah, it's me.

[Said turning around to face the rocks. So Wise gets a great view of his pecs from up front.

His bangs were wet so his eyes were still a bit hard to see from a distance.]

Did you wanna use the springs? I'll wrap up so you can.

[eyesofaproxy]

[Fuck, he's strong. Wise is a weak, weak gay.]

I did, yeah, but you don't have to leave! I can wait.

[Or they can share but he's not saying that.]

[fuegor]

You sure? I'd feel pretty guilty holding you up.

[...]

I don't mind sharing if you don't.

[He was honest at least.]

[eyesofaproxy]

[RIFP Wise.]

If you're sure...

[Wait why is he agreeing to this??

Wise shifts a little before standing, very carefully not looking at Lighter as he does. He ducks behind some other rocks to strip and set his robes aside.]

[fuegor]

Positive. It'd feel like a crime if I didn't share the space. These are the nicest springs I've gotten to bathe in at all.

[Lighter at least had the decency to look away while Wise stripped. Just in case!]

[eyesofaproxy]

We try to keep them clean and warm.

[And he's in! He is skinny and clearly lacking in almost all muscle. He's nothing like Lighter...

But there is an odd mark on the left shoulder. A crescent moon birthmark.

(The last time anyone saw that was when Wise was being saved by his hero. His shirt had gotten torn)]

[fuegor]

[Lighter caught that right away. Even double checked, moving his hair away from his eyes.

Is he remembering where he saw that last correctly? God knows his memory was terrible but. That's definitely a thing that sticks out.]

Huh. That mark on your shoulder...

[eyesofaproxy]

Hm? Oh, my birthmark?

[He reaches up to touch it.]

Belle has a sun one on the other shoulder.

[fuegor]

Really...

[He's leaning in a bit for a closer look.]

It's weird. I swear I've seen it before... a long while ago.

[eyesofaproxy]

I'm not sure how. You've never seen me shirtless, right?

[Unless...?]

How long ago?

[fuegor]

[Ah, fuck he has to remember. Think, Lighter... it was around the time the Sun Capital fell... Helios, or whatever it was called locally. And that was...]

I wanna say... ten years ago?

[eyesofaproxy]

Ten years ago...outside Helios?

[fuegor]

Yeah! That's exactly it. I was there in the midst of it falling. I remembered seeing a kid with a moon on his shoulder...

[Was that Wise?]

[eyesofaproxy]

[Wise turns around, smiling.]

Did you save the kid, by any chance?

[fuegor]

... Yeah, I did. Just in time.

[The only time he did manage to save someone.]

[eyesofaproxy]

I'm only here because of you, then. That was me--I was lost in the forest, and those fierce corpses were closing in, remember?

[fuegor]

Yeah, it's all coming back to me now. There were two of them and one came real close to you. But they must not've been that smart in life let alone in death. The way they were moving it was easy to get between you and them. And that was before I learned to cleanse with fire.

[A laugh.]

Well, I did end up using some fire anyway. [Just from external sources.]

[eyesofaproxy]

Yeah, because I handed you a fire talisman, right? And then they were gone and you were literally hauling me back to the city.

[fuegor]

Well, I wasn't gonna let a kid run around in the forest alone.

[Said while laying a hand on Wise's back.]

What a small world we live in, huh...

[eyesofaproxy]

[His hand is warm. Wise smiles a little, blushing.]

Yeah. You saved my life, Lighter. Thank you.