RTYY 324 - The Irony In Small Things

A soft movement captured his attention, waking him from his thoughts. And FeiWan suspiciously followed that pale hand, as it reached for his head. There was a soft pull on his hair, and then the tight uncomfortable tension his head had been in since that afternoon was blessedly relieved, as CalRimRan pulled out one of the many gold hairpins holding his hair in place.

FeiWan's hands immediately froze in place, especially when CalRimRan reached out and gently pulled free another hairpin.

FeiWan's mind went completely blank.

What was he doing? And with that serious expression on his face!, as if someone had given him a task of the utmost importance and he was deeply committed to seeing it through without fail. It was kind of … intimidating, FeiWan concluded when he pulled out yet another hairpin. Oh, and undeniably embarrassing, he added, leaning back away from his hand when CalRimRan reached out for his head for the fourth time, leaving his arm hanging midair like that.

"Hmm … there's quite a lot of them, right?" FeiWan mumbled, glancing sideways at the hairpins now lying on the bed as if they were mere trinkets. He was trying very hard to figure out the best way to get himself out of that embarrassing situation.

If he had gone back to his room as he was supposed to, by now a maidservant would have already carefully taken them all out, storing each precious piece inside its own special case. After all, the jewelry he was wearing was not only very expensive, some of it was actually very frail, the delicate golden leaves and flowers easy to break. His mother would have a fit, if she saw them simply lying around like that.

"Your head must hurt as well."

FeiWan's eyes widened in complete disbelief, and then he blinked, trying to quickly pull himself together. His heart was beating stupidly fast inside his chest and, somehow, he couldn't help feeling as if something invisible was squeezing his throat, making it hard to swallow. Chuckling nervously, he distractedly poked one of the golden hairpins lying beside him.

"It's quite ironic. We barely know each other, and yet you're the first person to ever tell me something like that," he declared, leaving a confused expression on CalRimRan's face.

"It's just a logical assumption."

FeiWan nodded, looking back at him, the elated glow that had taken over his green eyes leaving CalRimRan even more confounded.

"So it is. And yet no one around me as ever cared about that. Not the handmaids that have been sticking those things in my hair since I was a child. And certainly not my mother, whose only concern is how I'll look, when compared with my brothers and sisters. So, I guess it was kind of strange … suddenly hearing that … coming from you."

Leaning forward, CalRimRan reached out and pulled another hairpin, successfully releasing one of FeiWan's many braids.

"I will never be able to understand why you people feel the need to torture yourselves for the mere sake of appearances."

FeiWan laughed dryly at that.

"As my mother would say, amongst the Imperial Family, even amongst the noble Clans, appearances are everything. They immediately tell other people how important you are, how much power you hold. All it takes is a single glance."

CalRimRan reached out for another hairpin and this time FeiWan actually lowered his head, to grant him better access. He had to admit, it was a relief, being able to finally loosen his hair.

"If one is important, or powerful, then one shouldn't feel the need to openly flaunt their blessings."

FeiWan nodded, a smile on his face.

"Yes, yes. I remember all too well your Demon Clan's book of Individual Conduct. Unfortunately, people just don't think the same, on this side of the world."

CalRimRan pulled out another hairpin and FeiWan couldn't help smiling. He really seemed to be taking his task very seriously, he concluded, those stormy eyes looking completely focused. Was he still a bit drunk? He just couldn't envision the normal CalRimRan patiently doing something like that.

"I also have no desire to become your enemy," CalRimRan finally stated, putting down a complex golden flower covered in precious stones on the bed. "I shall be more careful, next time."

FeiWan nodded approvingly.

"You better be. At the end of the day, I'm just another El'Gin. Although I do enjoy some of the El'Dur's favor, there's still just so much I can do, when dealing with Imperial decrees."

Releasing the last braid, CalRimRan gently straightened down FeiWan's back. It was kind of enticing, FeiWan thought, seeing those big, elegant hands handle his hair with so much care.

"Hmm, thank you. It does feel a lot better," he forced himself to confess, and CalRimRan simply nodded, as if someone had just complimented him on a task well done. "And now you better lay down and get some rest. And let me restore your energy levels."

The change in CalRimRan's posture spoke more than any words could. Straightening his back, he tidily placed both hands on his lap and averted his gaze.

"There is no need. I'm fairly sure I can handle it on my own. One night's rest and I'm bound to feel a lot better in the morning."

FeiWan immediately frowned angrily at that.

"And how long is that supposed to last? One day? Two? Do you intend to keep dragging yourself like that until you finally collapse?"

His face an impenetrable mask of ice, CalRimRan didn't even move, much less answer, his hard gaze fixed on the floor in front of his feet.

"You're really something! You know? Out there you're all well-mannered and polite, trying your best to accommodate everyone, even going as far as willingly spending the night at my brother's Pavilion! But here?!" FeiWan crossed his arms. He felt truly annoyed right now. He wanted to set that idiot's tunic on fire!, just to see him jump to his feet and flail around the room like a headless chicken. Now that was bound to improve his mood! "Must you always fight me in this?"

Since CalRimRan still wouldn't even dignify him with a single glance, much less an answer, FeiWan sighed, forcing himself to overcome his eruptive emotions and adopt a more rational approach.

"Fine. Go ahead and exhaust yourself until you collapse. I've already told you. I'm not going to let you die. So I'll just transfer my energy to you once you become unconscious, just like last time." He purposely gave him an offended glare. "It's just a pity that you are unable to feel neither gratitude nor consideration for the person who's trying to save your life. Otherwise, you wouldn't force me to deplete my own energy reserves, trying to bring you back from the brink of death, just because you're too proud and stubborn to accept that you need my help."

As FeiWan had expected, that successfully resulted in some kind of reaction. And the moment he saw CalRimRan take a sideways peek at him, he immediately looked away, tilting his nose up, trying to look like as he couldn't care less.

"I will still do it, though. As a rule, I never go back on my word. It's just kind of disappointing, knowing that the esteemed CalDai couldn't care less for my health and well-being. Knowing that he's willing to make an Imperial El'Gin exhaust himself to such point, just so he can hold on to his idiotic pride!"

Releasing a deep sigh, CalRimRan bent forward and started unlacing his boots.

Not wanting to break character, FeiWan tried his best to see what he was doing without as much as lowering his head.

After taking off his boots and neatly placing them side by side near the bed, CalRimRan straightened his back again, and FeiWan immediately looked away, trying his best to maintain his indifferent yet superior posture. Still, he could see him move, from the corner of his eye. And then he was out of his line of sight.

What was he doing?!

Unable to resist, FeiWan turned around to see him scoot back across the golden silky comforter covering the bed.

"The noble Imperial El'Gin is worse than a winning child. It's giving me a headache," CalRimRan simply declared, lying down on the center of the bed. "So if this is the only way to shut you up, hurry up just get it over with. I need my rest."

Seeing him lying down so properly, his clothes impeccably tidy, his white hair fanning equally beneath his back, FeiWan couldn't help smiling. Yeah. This was definitely like CalRimRan, he thought, noticing how he held both hands over his chest, his elbows bent at equal degrees. It definitely couldn't compare with last time, when he had carried him and seen himself forced to simply throw him on the bed. The only thing missing … right, was that ribbon, FeiWan realized, noticing that it had been left abandoned on the bed, together with all his precious shiny hairpins and jewelry. It was quite the contrast. CalRimRan's simple, white ribbon. And FeiWan's shiny expensive jewelry. Like those objects, they too, couldn't be more different from one another, he thought, looking at how beautiful CalRimRan looked lying there, how falsely harmless and frail, and yet distant and cold.

With his eyes closed as if he'd simply fallen asleep, CalRimRan stretched out an arm across the bed.

"So? Are you going to do it or not?"

Looking at that elegant, pale hand resting atop the silky gold, FeiWan's smile widened. Well, no matter how spiteful he may sound! That round he had definitely won!

And yet another difficulty arose, FeiWan frowned as he moved to reach his hand. It was too far. That bed was just too wide, and CalRimRan was lying right in the middle of it. There was no way he could comfortably reach his hand from where he sat. He could ask him to scoot closer, FeiWan considered. But then, seeing how everything about him seemed absurdly perfect for someone who had simply laid down, he just could muster to courage to do so. Also, he definitely incurred the risk of pissing him off, if he were to demand anything else right now. Which would in turn completely and successfully overturn his hard-won victory.

No other choice, he decided, bending down to unlace his shiny boots. Anyway, by now his feet more than hurt, from being constricted like that all that time. So it was kind of a relief when he finally took them off.

Taking a deep breath, FeiWan crawled on his hands and knees across the bed, to finally sit down beside him. With his legs crossed, he held CalRimRan's cold hand in his and closed his eyes.

"I know this is never pleasant. But please try to relax," he declared, already slowing down his own energy flow, trying his best to make it as soft and gentle as his raging energy could possibly become.

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Author's Note: Ah, so CalRimRan can actually be kind of cute 😊. Anyways, the continuation of this adorable night will be part of "RimDai, FeiWan". It's time to go back to our dearest Snow, since we've been away for so long 😔.

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