give it life and make it real

[winepouring]

Ge was turning thirty.

This was, of course, a massive deal. Each birthday was important, but one that lands on a decade mark is especially important. When Shi Wudu turned sixteen, Shi Qingxuan wasn't even in elementary school, but their parents were still able to give him a proper birthday celebration to mark the occasion. When Shi Wudu turned twenty, it was just the two of them, and, well, what nine year old can plan a good party? At that time, covering the house with homemade decorations felt like a lot, and it was an accomplishment that he made a two-tier cake for his older brother that was neither burnt nor under-baked.

Thinking of it was almost shameful. In the last decade, there were many attempts by Shi Qingxuan to give Shi Wudu the kind of celebration he deserved, but this time—this time, he would absolutely do it!

Even if it meant that he'd need to invite that Pei Ming in addition to any other acquaintances his brother may want to see...to fill out the guest list but prune out anyone his brother wasn't really fond of without also causing any potential offense along the way... Naturally, the event would be catered as well, the menu selected to suit Shi Wudu's taste - and naturally there would be drinks, too, with that menu selected to suit both their tastes.

Along with his brother's friends and colleagues, He Xuan was invited, too, as his plus-one. Compared to his other friends that Shi Wudu had only met in passing, He Xuan felt like a safe choice. Xie Lian may be an even safer pick, but he had a boyfriend that he was always spending time with now. Besides, if Ge and He-xiong could get along, that would only bring good things.

It had taken nearly the entire previous two months to plan and organize, and the previous day to arrange their house to be suitable for the number of attendees. That is to say nothing about the actual present he had selected for his brother—but that would come later.

The most important thing was to make Shi Wudu feel happy and appreciated. His older brother had done everything for him, and if Shi Qingxuan could give even a little bit of that back, that would make him happy.

And before the party actually started, he had to make sure his brother looked good, too. Not that his brother ever looked bad, but, this could be considered another part of party organizing - another present, even! Who doesn't like being treated and pampered on their birthday? Shi Qingxuan had already prepared and served breakfast for him, but he couldn't just slack off for the rest of the day.

So, after washing up, Shi Qingxuan was right back at it with the same excited energy he had been carrying the entire day thus far.

"Ge, let me do your hair for you! I saw some new styles that are good for your hair type. Let's try them out before we have to pick one."

Comments

[winepouring]

But it was Shi Wudu's birthday party, and that made it significant to his significant other. Surely his brother wouldn't date someone who would forget his birthday — and Ge wouldn't leave someone important out after checking it over multiple times now.

That, of course, means that whoever it is must already be on the list, and there's no way it was one of his colleagues or business associates - his brother would never - and the number of friends present is enough for Shi Qingxuan to count on one hand.

For the younger Shi brother, he doesn't know if that's better or worse, considering the candidates... Try as he might not to let his dismay show, his face still pales and brows pinch together as he takes the tablet back.

"Ah, you're right," he agrees with wavering certainty. "Of course no-one important would be left out at this stage."

Unless that person was inviting himself? Truthfully, in all Shi Qingxuan's memories, Shi Wudu has never been the type to date. With how much he worked, how would he have the time? Maybe this boyfriend is the type who doesn't like parties, so he isn't forcing him to come...? Shi Qingxuan could see his brother dating someone like that. But his older brother has told him about this irresponsible coworker and that irritating client, so why stay silent when it comes to someone he has a good opinion of?

—Unless his boyfriend is someone he doesn't want Shi Qingxuan to know he's seeing, like Pei Ming.

The thought alone is terrifying. His brother has good taste in clothes, in design, in drinks, in music. How can he have bad taste in men?

No, no, no. Shi Qingxuan shakes his head to dismiss all those thoughts and trades the tablet in his hand for his brush and the tray of styling tools and products. He is not thinking of this anymore!

Ge never does anything with his hair, but with how full and healthy it is, it doesn't show. Or maybe it's because he never does anything with it that it's like this? Shi Qingxuan's hair is also full and thick, but it's also fluffy, wavy, and he's particular about its care. Meanwhile, Shi Wudu's is pretty on its own, soft and silky, on top of being completely straight, nicely manageable, and pliant to styling.

Shi Wudu could do so much with his hair if he took the time... This is a little nostalgic now...

...

He holds the brush in his hand, but the issue of this unknown boyfriend still haunts him, and it takes a moment before Shi Qingxuan delicately gathers up his brother's hair and begins brushing out the little tangles.

"But I don't know everyone you know," he confesses. "If I missed someone important, it might make things awkward between you two. It's better to invite late than not at all."

[watertyrant]

Shi Qingxuan's steady, soft repetitive motion is enough to lull Shi Wudu into the haze of sleep once more. The espresso machine is somewhere within the spacious dressing room he shares with his brother, and yet not worth the hassle of getting up to down an impromptu shot to keep him awake. Perhaps his little brother wouldn't mind him sneaking in another nap.

He should have taken the entire day off, probably.

"Even if you've missed anyone important, I wouldn't have had." the raven haired man reminds him patiently, rubbing the crease that's starting to form between his brows as they've gone back and forth on this, "unless there's someone you've been wanting to add?"

He's already behaved himself, offering not a twitch in response when he saw that creature's name on the list. It's the most grace he could afford his baby brother, the most self restraint. The abominable evil stick keeps pushing and prodding to meet him at his work place, as if Shi Wudu would ever allow him to blacken his office.

"The only important guest is already in this room," his tone turns gentle, as if washing away the unpleasantness of merely thinking about that brat, "and the sooner you're done with me, the sooner you can get ready yourself. You're the magician of the party tonight."

It is the last thing he will cast his say in, now over and done with. The older Shi sibling decides to allude this quaint insistence to nerves plying Qingxuan at the last moment. And how could he not? The young man might have bitten off more than he could chew with the planning.

[winepouring]

His brother's bluntness doesn't fail to pull Shi Qingxuan back to reality with the plain truth that he wouldn't forget anyone - from the start, of course Shi Qingxuan knew that - and then his brother's gentle words do wonders in soothing him.

An easy smile comes to his face as his heart warms, voice dropping the wary tone and brightening to something lighter.

"But you're the star. I can be ready in no time. You can relax and let me take care of the rest."

Even if the matter of his new boyfriend is still a mystery... The rest of the event had been carefully planned, so really, the sudden prospect of Shi Wudu having someone special in his life was just one little hiccup. And if his older brother insisted that it wasn't a problem, then he couldn't push the issue... Especially not after he dashed any further line of questioning.

So, he'll let it drop! As it was, Shi Wudu still looked tired even after his nap, and really, more than what he dressed like and who was there, his own happiness came first. Brushing his brother's hair gently, carefully parting it to the side, Shi Qingxuan fell silent and let nap number three begin.

He should have taken the day off! Working hard even on his birthday...was just like the older Shi brother.

He needed this break... And if he let himself get more sleep first, all the better. As Shi Wudu dozes off, Shi Qingxuan steps away to give him space. The guest of honor doesn't need to be bothered by the caterers coming in and setting up or by He Xuan coming early. His sullen, gloomy friend had barely agreed to come in the first place, but he was still coming, and Shi Qingxuan couldn't be ungrateful. Nor could he be ungrateful that his older brother hadn't asked that said friend to be struck out of the guest list, either.

Really...it would be nice if this could be the time where they start to get along better.

But! First things first, and he needs to get himself ready, then get ready for everyone else. For all some people might falter under pressure and as much as Shi Qingxuan dreads the idea of fumbling such an important event, truthfully, now that the time is drawing close, he's buzzing with excitement again.

It will be a good party! There will be food, there will be drinks, there will be music, and most of all, there will be his brother!

(Who he'll wake up with enough time to make himself presentable again. Maybe with some coffee.)

[watertyrant]

When Shi Wudu wakes up next, there's a tray with a bottle of sparkling water and a few bars of mint chocolate to wash off the taste of sleep off his mouth. It's a short reprieve until his little brother attacks his hair next in earnest, wheeling in one outfit choice after another until he finally narrows the choices down to a slim fit Aramani over a silk blend gilet, which he assures Qingxuan he's fully capable of putting on, on his own.

The weight of his hair on his shoulders is unfamiliar, used to having it out of the way. Qingxuan had pinned it up in a half up-do, small, subtle braids disappearing into the underside in understated twists. The cuffs at his wrists--a platinum gold pair that had been one of the last presents gifted to him by his parents--are the only jewelry he wears, abandoning any other statement pieces despite his brother's evident pouting.

This is as much sentimentality as he can afford, even for one night.

Shi Wudu has learned there were very few things in life that needen't to be questioned. His brother's ability to procure reservations, no matter the season, traffic, or cost, is on that short list of life's greatest mysteries. Procuring the dining halls and their adjacent garden areas at this particular hotel resort right between the winter holidays, the lunar new year, and Valentine's day is a feat defying rational explanation. He's tried to put his foot down on reserving a suite for an overnight stay to go with it. It isn't as if he's getting married!

Although Qingxuan must have yanked the venue from underneath a wedding party. Or five.

The mastermind with his little mint green mini ipad is not anywhere to be found at the venue itself. And while the older Shi brother finds it hard to relinquish control and his all too many questions, he forces himself to step away from the path of micromanagement, stepping out into the cobblestone area surrounding the pool where guests are being served their first drinks of the evening.

It's chilly still this time of the year, a subtle shudder to his shoulders subdued promptly by a heavy, muscular arm settling about.

"Getting frail in your old age?"

The husky voice is a mere confirmation to the presence Shi Wudu has known well since his university days.

"Old age? You're thirty two!"

"And aging like fine wine."

"Go age all the way over there, old Pei."

He could feel Pei Ming's chest vibrating against his arm with the vigor of his laughter, wondering briefly how their other friend had managed to make a swift run for it.

"A little birdie told me about your room key..."

Shi Wudu finds himself sighing before having to hear the rest of that sentence. The only "little birdie" around must be supervising the appetizers in the kitchen right now, checking the catering staff one last time. He knows a bluff when he hears one, and Shi Qingxuan is more apt to make the man swallows the card key itself than chit-chat with him.

"And here I thought I owed the pleasure of your company tonight to our fond years of camaraderie. You're already chasing tail."

His eyes can't help but sweep past the pool, his eagle gaze picking up the plus ones of his more esteemed guests, noting by process of elimination who Pei Ming may have his eye on tonight, who would fit the bill--who looks to be so far twenty five years of age and under, with the right bust to waist ratio.

He shudders at the thought and Pei Ming starts to rub his back in sympathy.

"Not even I'd stoop low enough to hit on your cute little bunny tonight. On your birthday, no less!" he misses Shi Wudu's scowl entirely, leaning in close enough to whisper, "But do point her out to me, anyway. Just in case. Just to know who to stay clear off."

"She's not here," he fibs like air, occupying his lips with the rim of his glass against further inquiries. Pei Ming just laughs, squeezing the side of his shoulder in understanding. It's not as if he couldn't enlist Ling Wen's help for this very task, later.

[winepouring]

It was Shi Qingxuan, of course, who had taken on the role of micromanagement—something that maybe came from his brother, except that instead of business, it was social gatherings like this where he shined.

That Shi Qingxuan also wouldn't allow anyone else to step in when it was his brother and his brother's party went without saying.

Now that all the guest had arrived (greeted warmly by Shi Qingxuan, though he was still no closer to guessing who his brother's mysterious partner might be), the kitchens were Shi Qingxuan's current domain. Hors d'oeuvres went first, along with some wines, and although the menu had been decided long before this and any little incidents like ingredient shortages had all been stamped out and accounted for, he still wanted to be there to observe.

He stood out rather brightly in large, bustling kitchen that stood some distance from main venue. Although the air outside was chilly at this time of year, the kitchen was so warm that Shi Qingxuan's already fluffy hair was starting to curl in earnest, framing his face where his hair was left loose. There was no amount of hair product that could tame hair like his, unlike his brother's.

And unlike He-xiong's, who still looked as handsome and dignified as Shi Qingxuan has left him, albeit now with a little bit of sauce at the corner of his lips. The suit he had picked out for his plus-one complemented his friend's wide shoulders nicely, and while his brother couldn't wear his own hair up for certain reasons, He Xuan's dark hair looked good pulled back to show off his pale face and strong cheekbones. Even in a kitchen with a half-finished plate of grilled skewers in his hand, he looked just as good - or, if he had to speak for himself, even better than - as any of Ge's business partners and guests.

In the buzz of the party and the assurances of the head chef and kitchen manager that pace the food was being prepared and the hors d'oeuvres were being sent out meant that dinner would be served on schedule as planned, He Xuan's presence was quiet and grounding. Even comforting in how detached he was from all of it! He Xuan may have been reluctant to come (and his brother may have been equally reluctant to have him come), but it nice to have him here at times like this...

Shi Qingxuan stood back next to him as sighed with feeling, making notes on his tablet.

"You're so lucky. No matter how chaotic things get, you're as cool and composed as ever. Not even a hair out of place! Say, maybe you should be an event organizer? You're like my shadow today, but you might have hidden talent," he teased, nudging He Xuan in the side only to receive a cold, irritated look in return.

"I'll pass," he answered, then his eyes seemed to travel in search of another small bite to steal. How many had that made so far? Shi Qingxuan could hardly keep count, and he knew his friend wasn't.

He grabbed the corner of his sleeve before he could pilfer another canape from one of the trays.

"He-xiong, don't fill up on snacks. There's still a whole dinner waiting," he chided, then released his sleeve before it could be yanked away. "Here, here, let's get some fresh air. The longer we're in here, the more your stomach will be tempted."

That, and it was about time to check on how the music was coming along. Stepping out of the kitchen and onto the grounds of the outdoor venue, Shi Qingxuan was pleased to see that the lights had come on in the pool already and that the gardens had been lit with small, multicolored lights that lit the pathways and added color to the displays that had been reduced to just a few charming, evergreen specimens in the off season. It was one thing he could happily mark as finished on his tablet as he made his way around the venue, stopping to chat with whoever caught his eye, letting He Xuan continue to steal small bites from the staff's trays while they made their way through.

That was, of course, until he spotted the guest of honor himself...and his less savory company that was standing much too close for comfort.

...Well, this wasn't about Pei Ming, and for Ge's sake, he would pretend he wasn't there!

"Ge!" Shi Qingxuan called out as he made his way over to his older brother with He Xuan, thankfully, actually trailing a few paces behind.

Seeing his brother, it was impossible for his eyes not to light up and a bright smile to come to his face. Shi Wudu's look was understated but undeniably elegant, with an air that was cool and commanding. Although Shi Qingxuan's own suit matched his brother's and he had opted to wear a pair of small, gold earrings and rings, there was no way to mistake who was the guest of honor at this party.

"How do you like it? Are you having fun?"

The answer to those two questions, of course, determined whether or not this party was actually a success.

[watertyrant]

He Xuan's presence was irritating.

The discrete, inconspicuous young man would have rarely registered on his radar on a usual day. At a gathering of this size and magnitude, he might have as well just bled into the darkness of the less visible shrubberies, a shadow behind a column. Another faceless nobody.

Alas, the shade is no longer a shadow, the ravenous look in his haunted eyes no longer dismissed with an uninterested glance. Shi Wudu was, in fact, quite painfully aware of that one dark spot always three steps behind his brother at every angle, as much as Shi Qingxuan flitted from one station to another like a fretting matriarch.

Somehow, the micromanaging, frazzled looking nineteen year old from earlier today has transformed into a graceful model of poise, pausing gracefully in the middle of any supervising task to greet new faces with grace and charm. Somehow, Shi Wudu could forget they really were related. He was not in denial of his own occasional dourness, after all.

"How do you like it? Are you having fun?"

Despite Shi Wudu's natrual look of mild annoyance, thin lips curved downward at the side in a perpetual prelude to a pout, smiling came to easy at the lilt in his brother' s voice, rarely shown dimples blossoming at the side of his mouth.

"Are you having fun? You seem to be enjoying yourself, as well."

It is easy to smile when the Evil Stick isn't too close to spout his rancid air in Shi Qingxuan's radiant wake. In fact, the young man seems to be temporarily missing.

"Sure he is!" Pei Ming's voice boomed, drawing a title of one head or the other from those close enough to the pool area to overhear the loud man, before they turned back to their respective socializing.

"Look at him, flitting around like the belle of the ball! It's a shame you're not the birthday boy's little sister. We honestly were robbed!"

" --gratfeul for small mercies," Shi Wudu mumbled into his glass. This was not even the first iteration of this particular conversation, and yet, Qingxuan rose to the bait every time. It never taught his oldest friend to stop taunting the boy. In fact, he seemed to be delighted in how consistent Shi Qingxuan's indignation was.

At some point, Pei Ming will end up shoved into the pool at the hands of either his little brother or an irate beautiful woman. Shi Wudu only hoped he was inebriated enough at that point to stop caring. After all, this wasn't his party now, was it? A party held for him, and there were some distinctive differences between the two events.

And it made Shi Qingxuan happy.

It gave the younger Shi something to do that is not trail behind the sentient Bad News like an adoring puppy. He Xuan had kept his word, up to a point. And while Shi Wudu would have preferred the young man had dropped out of his prestigious university, moved to another continent, or faked his own death, he really couldn't push his luck. There was no getting around having him as a guest at not-his-party, but the man could have at least faked having a stomach bug...

So the man lurked, disturbing Shi Wudu's peace even when he was out of sight.

He could barely hear the text alert over the noise of the two bickering, his phone vibrating feebly in his pocket, battery whittled down to nothing. Shi Wudu cursed under his breath before leaning close enough to get Pei Ming's attention.

"Ling Wen's car broke down again," he stuffed the phone back into the pocket of his tailored jacket, "Not too far from the hotel, however. Go get it sorted out, will you?"

It's not that the woman couldn't afford a more reliable car. Ling Wen just couldn't be bothered to take her vehicle in for its quarterly maintenance, not with her crammed schedule. Barely three years old and its life span was already shortened.

"It will give him something to do aside from harassing all the women here," and riling you up, Shi Wudu added silently.