no, kidding. he drops his hand, and carefully places it over hers, minding where his fingertips land. if it's too warm, he doesn't flinch. ]
It is terrible, isn't it? [ a soft wryness to that. it's a sense of empathy and... respect, too, for lup, for what she's been through, and for what she's going through now. ] ...But. With perseverance, it can be overcome.
[ ... good. carefully, he threads their fingers together, and nods. ]
So you are.
[ .... ]
... you know, most of the time, I am rather good at talking. There are a few subjects that even I struggle with, though. Some things that take time. [ as he's saying this, he glances absently down at his hand - at the claws he's let come in and out all week, trying to take advantage of the just slightly better hearing and sight that's come in waves. pride, and all of that. ]
What you said to me last week. [ it's not very specific, considering, but - lup probably knows. at least, if she didn't before... well. his cheeks start to turn pink. ] It's mutual.
[ it's just - it's complicated. lup had checked with him all those weeks ago (is that okay with you about despair, and he'd laughed and waved it off, and it was, but -- well. there's another feeling tucked right next to this one, for someone else, too.) ]
Edited (dont eat my tag wtf ) 2021-03-31 04:25 (UTC)
oh. she finally looks over at him, expression startled. for a second, she's silent, still, and then - he'll notice the black soot at the tips of her fingers recedes a little. the glasgow smile of lava shrinks.
it's complicated. she knows there's someone else for the both of them, but... even this much, even an acknowledgement, something that he gives her now, when she looks like this, after what she's done to him. she just sort of stops breathing for a second, and then:]
H-haha. You really had me feeling like a loser for two weeks, you know? [but she's holding his hand so tightly, refusing to let go.]
[ ah. the red flush starts to spread a little further on his cheeks, and gu yun clears his throat in that long silence, looking absolutely anywhere but at her face because he's going to die whether she's lavafied at the moment or not if he looks. ]
... There are things, I suppose, I'm still fairly inexperienced in. [ a beat, and he mutters, reaching up to rub his nose with his free hand. ] ...sorry.
[she hiccups - and then she laughs, a noise that's more relieved than anything. she wants to kiss him so bad, but she doesn't. she's too out of her body to do it, it freaks her out. so instead, she strokes his hand with her thumb, and looks away. tries to make it a little easier on him.]
Don't apologize. You don't have to feel that way at all, and you uh, you sure didn't have to tell me. [a pause.]
[ there, that's much more familiar - his usual playful, teasing lilt, as he pulls up that warm hand to press a kiss to her fingertips. like this, even his hands are warm. ] I'm glad to hear it, Lup.
[another hiccup laugh, and the soot black recedes a little further. her name, her name, her name, and a feeling returned. she holds onto it. she won't be a monster, not with this in her heart.]
I - uh. I uh. [just SAY IT. the blush doesn't show up, but she swallows hard, and:] Love you, Zixi.
We will. [ that's easier. it's the conviction that colors how he looks at everything - once gu zixi sets his mind to something, he will make it happen. ] All or nothing.
[ attempting the impossible and achieving it, he'd told molly. leaving no one behind.
there's a pause, after that. ] ...you too. [ stupid. he winces a little, internally, and corrects, ears turning red; ] Love you too.
[ THERE
anyway: ] ...We're getting closer and closer to the right way. Don't put yourself in too much danger, but - if this happens again, I'll be here to help.
[wow, that just has the black along her hands recede up in streaks, like watercolor. she inhales shakily, and when she looks at him, her eyes flicker in and out, from the lava shade to her normal irises. they settle back on the tiefling-like one color, but.]
... I know you will. [she brings his hand up to kiss his knuckles.] Thank you.
[for whatever part of him he's willing to give to her. she can give him a part of herself in return.]
[ wow he needs to man up and say i love you more often, huh. he watches that happen, clever eyes moving from her arm up to her face, in quiet understanding. ]
Of course. [ gu yun squeezes her hand. ] I told you, didn't I? Until the end of our time here, I'll be treating you with an exorbitant amount of kindness. I'll say your name until you're sick of it. [ with a little laugh. ] If that's the secret to pulling this back, then that's easy.
If there's anything you can share once you're feeling steady, powers or otherwise, I'll ensure its used to reach that end, as well. The power I received on Friday could be rather useful, should the situation get dangerous.
it's hard to tell, but she's smiling a little.] Yeah. Yeah, when I can... when I'm not exhausted.
[she squeezes his hand.] I think maybe we have a plan when I can stand again, so - you guys, you guys uh, keep doing what you're doing. And I'll do what I can.
[ he's feeling less frustrated about the whole situation, honestly. once things started rolling, once information started coming out like a river instead of a rain drop, it felt more like standing in a tent on a battlefield. this is what he excels at. they're going to figure it out.
after a moment, he lolls his head to look at her properly, mouth pulled up in a lopsided smile. ] You ought to rest, you know. Coming from me, that should feel especially concerning.
[ good. then! he will stand up, holding out his other hand to help her. ]
Let's, then. Seems much more convenient than heating water back home. Worst comes to worst, I'll just leap out if it gets too hot, and you'll be presented with a look at my bare ass on the way out of the water. [ which is a good thing obviously ]
[she takes his hands, letting him help her up. she's a little weak still, but!]
Well, I'm sure as hell not going to complain at getting a look at your bare ass. [she agrees. the second part gets her half-assedly putting her hand to her forehead:] No, I'm a fainting maiden. Please, you big, strong man, carry me to my bath.
[well, at least she feels good enough to joke around]
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no, kidding. he drops his hand, and carefully places it over hers, minding where his fingertips land. if it's too warm, he doesn't flinch. ]
It is terrible, isn't it? [ a soft wryness to that. it's a sense of empathy and... respect, too, for lup, for what she's been through, and for what she's going through now. ] ...But. With perseverance, it can be overcome.
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It can. [she sounds a little less distant.] ... I'm here.
[like he'd asked, weeks ago. she's here, she's present.]
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So you are.
[ .... ]
... you know, most of the time, I am rather good at talking. There are a few subjects that even I struggle with, though. Some things that take time. [ as he's saying this, he glances absently down at his hand - at the claws he's let come in and out all week, trying to take advantage of the just slightly better hearing and sight that's come in waves. pride, and all of that. ]
What you said to me last week. [ it's not very specific, considering, but - lup probably knows. at least, if she didn't before... well. his cheeks start to turn pink. ] It's mutual.
[ it's just - it's complicated. lup had checked with him all those weeks ago (is that okay with you about despair, and he'd laughed and waved it off, and it was, but -- well. there's another feeling tucked right next to this one, for someone else, too.) ]
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oh. she finally looks over at him, expression startled. for a second, she's silent, still, and then - he'll notice the black soot at the tips of her fingers recedes a little. the glasgow smile of lava shrinks.
it's complicated. she knows there's someone else for the both of them, but... even this much, even an acknowledgement, something that he gives her now, when she looks like this, after what she's done to him. she just sort of stops breathing for a second, and then:]
H-haha. You really had me feeling like a loser for two weeks, you know? [but she's holding his hand so tightly, refusing to let go.]
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... There are things, I suppose, I'm still fairly inexperienced in. [ a beat, and he mutters, reaching up to rub his nose with his free hand. ] ...sorry.
[ for making her feel that way!!! christ.
there's a beat, but he squeezes back. ]
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Don't apologize. You don't have to feel that way at all, and you uh, you sure didn't have to tell me. [a pause.]
... I'd forgotten what anchors feel like, almost.
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...gu yun glances over at her again, out of the corner of his eye. still pink cheeked and flustered, but... the phrase is familiar. ]
Better, I'd hope. [ seems like it. ]
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Better. [she agrees.] I'm, uh. I'm not angry now.
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[ there, that's much more familiar - his usual playful, teasing lilt, as he pulls up that warm hand to press a kiss to her fingertips. like this, even his hands are warm. ] I'm glad to hear it, Lup.
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I - uh. I uh. [just SAY IT. the blush doesn't show up, but she swallows hard, and:] Love you, Zixi.
We're going to make it.
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We will. [ that's easier. it's the conviction that colors how he looks at everything - once gu zixi sets his mind to something, he will make it happen. ] All or nothing.
[ attempting the impossible and achieving it, he'd told molly. leaving no one behind.
there's a pause, after that. ] ...you too. [ stupid. he winces a little, internally, and corrects, ears turning red; ] Love you too.
[ THERE
anyway: ] ...We're getting closer and closer to the right way. Don't put yourself in too much danger, but - if this happens again, I'll be here to help.
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... I know you will. [she brings his hand up to kiss his knuckles.] Thank you.
[for whatever part of him he's willing to give to her. she can give him a part of herself in return.]
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Of course. [ gu yun squeezes her hand. ] I told you, didn't I? Until the end of our time here, I'll be treating you with an exorbitant amount of kindness. I'll say your name until you're sick of it. [ with a little laugh. ] If that's the secret to pulling this back, then that's easy.
If there's anything you can share once you're feeling steady, powers or otherwise, I'll ensure its used to reach that end, as well. The power I received on Friday could be rather useful, should the situation get dangerous.
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it's hard to tell, but she's smiling a little.] Yeah. Yeah, when I can... when I'm not exhausted.
[she squeezes his hand.] I think maybe we have a plan when I can stand again, so - you guys, you guys uh, keep doing what you're doing. And I'll do what I can.
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[ he's feeling less frustrated about the whole situation, honestly. once things started rolling, once information started coming out like a river instead of a rain drop, it felt more like standing in a tent on a battlefield. this is what he excels at. they're going to figure it out.
after a moment, he lolls his head to look at her properly, mouth pulled up in a lopsided smile. ] You ought to rest, you know. Coming from me, that should feel especially concerning.
[ local man never rests ]
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I'm afraid I'm going to set my bed on fire. [she says, and it's - only half a joke? wheeze]
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[ eyyyyyy
anyway bad joke aside, he laughs a little, and asks, curious - ] Would a bath hurt you, like this?
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but oh, huh. she blinks at that last part.]
I don't know? I don't think so. [but she thinks maybe she would like to try because that sounds nice...]
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Let's, then. Seems much more convenient than heating water back home. Worst comes to worst, I'll just leap out if it gets too hot, and you'll be presented with a look at my bare ass on the way out of the water. [ which is a good thing obviously ]
Can you walk alright?
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Well, I'm sure as hell not going to complain at getting a look at your bare ass. [she agrees. the second part gets her half-assedly putting her hand to her forehead:] No, I'm a fainting maiden. Please, you big, strong man, carry me to my bath.
[well, at least she feels good enough to joke around]
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He just picks her up and tosses her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
off we go to go take a nice bath! ]
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but yeah, it's bath time. she won't boil the water, at least! in fact she'll probably fall asleep on him, even.]