#HualianHappyHour and #WuMingWednesday (pride)

"There," Xie Lian says, finishing the final purple stripe of the flag on Wu Ming's cheek. He's glad Hua Cheng agreed to use the memory monster for this. Wu Ming is so cute every time he shows up, but Xie Lian always wants to show him off. Now he can.

Wu Ming's gaze darts toward his discarded mask.

"No one will even notice," Xie Lian reassures him. He kisses Wu Ming's brow on the side of his red eye. "Not in Ghost City during Pride. At most, they'll compliment your new form. Want to take a peek?"

Xie Lian's excitement seems to be contagious, and Wu Ming agrees. Soon, they're strolling through chaotic streets, hand in hand.

- 🍁

#HualianHappyHour (master/servant)

Xie Lian hears familiar footsteps and turns, automatically going to greet their beloved. Wait, no. Their mouth snaps shut and they hurriedly refocus on the papers in front of them. Pompous masters do /not/ greet their servants like that.

Silently, Hua Cheng places a tray of food on Xie Lian's desk, then stands to the side. Xie Lian thinks it's trying to be unobtrusive, but how could Xie Lian focus on anything but their lover?! They pretend to study the papers for a moment longer before turning to the tray of food.

...Okay, Xie Lian was supposed to ask Hua Cheng to change some aspect of the tray in the pretense that something wasn't good enough, but it really thought of everything! Xie Lian cannot think of a single thing to change or add. They look helplessly up at Hua Cheng.

Hua Cheng cracks up. "Beloved, you're so bad at this," it gasps through peals of laughter. Xie Lian pouts, but Hua Cheng's laughter warms their heart.

"I didn't think I did /that/ badly," Xie Lian protests.

Hua Cheng counts off on its fingers. "You keep looking at me like I'm important," it starts.

"Which you are," Xie Lian argues.

"But not in the game," Hua Cheng counters. "You can't ignore me even when I'm being as boring as I can--"

"which is not very boring--"

"and you're letting me do whatever. I bet if I came up with some flimsy reason to feed you by hand, you'd allow it."

Xie Lian can't argue. "Well, you're also bad at this," they shoot back. "You're too interesting and pretty. I think what my character needs is actually a decorative statue to admire."

For a moment, they lock eyes. Then there's a flurry of movement. Left behind, the lovingly prepared tray of food slowly goes cold.

- 🦋

#tgcf #hualian

#HualianHappyHour and #WumingWednesday (spare)

"I'm tired of not being able to see your face!" Xie Lian hisses, stomping over to Wu Ming. "Even I take off my mask to eat! What are you hiding under there? Some horrible secret?"

"Your Highness should not have to see it," Wu Ming says, standing perfectly still. "It's ugly."

Xie Lian rolls his eyes. "I fought in the same war you did," he says dismissively. "I saw plenty of ugly things." He reaches out, snatches Wu Ming's mask away, and...

"I brought a spare," Wu Ming says. "Just in case."

Xie Lian stares at him, incredulous. A painted smile stares back.

- 🦋

#tgcf #wulian

#hualianHappyHour for the Feb 4th prompts (https://blorbo.social/@hualianhappyhou[email protected]/116015550018781161)

Yes all of them.

It's angsty, 482 words, on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/79265126