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"I need a break," said He Xuan. He stood in the corner of the room, arms folded, looking anywhere but at the other ghost king sitting before him.
"I don't think you're in a position to bargain for such things, Blackwater."
They were in the Paradise Manor's expansive drawing room; Crimson Rain sat on a lush, red couch, manspreading and lazily sipping wine like he owned the place (Well. He Xuan supposed he did).
He Xuan hated how they were positioned at the moment. It's not like Crimson Rain didn't offer him a seat, but he didn't want to take it. You see, he didn't want to get comfortable; he wanted to keep an escape route open, just in case.
"It's....a request," the words caught in He Xuan's throat, but he had to let them out.
Crimson Rain barked out a laugh. "You are not in a position to make requests either. I have done you enough favors and more."
He Xuan took a deep breath, even though he didn't need to.
"Listen, I know I cannot expect you to understand such things, but I'm starting to feel really burned out up there," He uselessly pointed upwards. They both knew he was talking about the Heavenly Court.
"If it were just for my personal mission, I would have taken several breaks in the name of seclusion already. I simply cannot stand the never-ending yapping of the idiot gods over the most inane things. And the Wind Master....um. Well. They're a lot to handle, too. I may not be human, but I cannot explain how draining it is to deal with the lot of them day in and day out; I just—"
Crimson Rain held up a hand, cutting him off.
"It seems you have forgotten the mission I gave you. That which cannot be completed with you taking your week-long vacations. You need to be present there. Always."
"Who said anything about week-long vac—? Okay, look, it's been over 700 years, and nothing has happened so far. I'm sure your prince is not going to show up in the heavens overnight, just the one day I happen to be gone."
"Are you hearing yourself? Have I not told you about how Dianxia already ascended twice? And the first time was actually in his sleep? So, yes, Blackwater, he could very well ascend the one day your sorry ass manages to not be where I pay it to be."
Had he not told him that? Ha. Only a few hundred times. Nope, He Xuan did not say that out loud. Honestly, he was hoping Crimson Rain wouldn't bring up his very special prince's very special past ascensions again, but that was like hoping Mt. Tonglu would have picnic weather.
"I...did not account for that possibility," He Xuan mumbled.
"You should have. That is what I keep you fed and watered for. Leave. You have already been out of the Heavenly Court for too long now. Send me a report over the array once you reach," Crimson Rain waved a hand dismissively.
He Xuan could have strangled him right then and there. He should have at least tried. Stab the bastard with a hundred swordfish bones—
"Oh, and," Crimson Rain called out, "he is 'Taizi Dianxia' to you. Address him by his proper title. None of this 'your prince' business hereafter, you hear me?"
He Xuan quickly left before his ghostly spirit could disperse from pure, blinding rage alone.