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[CAN YOU BE AT LEAST MORE PROPER ABOUT THINGS WHY ARE YOU BEING A SLOB but ok Dan Feng takes the glass and sets it a little farther away on the floor.
He vaguely knows this is not the right time to ask but Dan Feng has no impulse control so he asks anyway.]
Why not ask for your glaive?
He vaguely knows this is not the right time to ask but Dan Feng has no impulse control so he asks anyway.]
Why not ask for your glaive?
Because I haven't touched it in 160 years.
[He says it in a matter-of-fact tone, but he doesnt look at Dan Feng when he does. The shame will surely eat him alive if he acknowledges it.]
[He says it in a matter-of-fact tone, but he doesnt look at Dan Feng when he does. The shame will surely eat him alive if he acknowledges it.]
I loved it. But...
[He lays back down and rolls over, back to Dan Feng and a pillow held tight in his arms.]
...I used it the night I betrayed my Dan Feng. Even seeing it sends me back to that moment.
[He lays back down and rolls over, back to Dan Feng and a pillow held tight in his arms.]
...I used it the night I betrayed my Dan Feng. Even seeing it sends me back to that moment.
[He answers despite that pause making his shoulders go dreadfully stiff. He can only pray that there will be no more torment tonight.]
It's a Zhuming blade I found in a night market shortly after my escape. I think... it most likely isn't one of his, but it feels like it could be. I haven't named it.
It's a Zhuming blade I found in a night market shortly after my escape. I think... it most likely isn't one of his, but it feels like it could be. I haven't named it.
Mm, I should so want to know what it would feel like...
[Buried in his gut or chest or wherever he isn't picky. The mattress behind Jing Yuan dips as Dan Feng crawls into the warm space he'd left behind.
It doesn't seem like he will actually bring up that grievous betrayal. Instead, his tail flops cool over Jing Yuan's waist.]
[Buried in his gut or chest or wherever he isn't picky. The mattress behind Jing Yuan dips as Dan Feng crawls into the warm space he'd left behind.
It doesn't seem like he will actually bring up that grievous betrayal. Instead, his tail flops cool over Jing Yuan's waist.]
[After texting that he'd be out late, Jing Yuan slips into the room late at night. There's something different about his footsteps -- a slightly shorter, lighter stride with a lower center of gravity. There's the slight jingle of metal jewelry, and that's the warning Dan Feng gets before Jing Yuan drapes himself over his shoulders.
His arms are slightly more slender than they were just earlier in the day, and there's substantially more soft flesh pressing against Dan Feng's back.]
Still awake?
[The voice is, in fitting with the rest, higher and a little less deep, but still Jing Yuan's warm tone.]
His arms are slightly more slender than they were just earlier in the day, and there's substantially more soft flesh pressing against Dan Feng's back.]
Still awake?
[The voice is, in fitting with the rest, higher and a little less deep, but still Jing Yuan's warm tone.]
[Dan Feng was just getting used to the sound of this Jing Yuan's gait - he was more light-footed than the Jing Yuan he knew, more cautious, if that was even possible - but he notices the difference. He doesn't know what it is, so he turns over on the mattress - wide awake, because he really can't sleep without Jing Yuan in the same room - but he's stopped by.
Jing Yuan can feel the way Dan Feng tenses all the way up, his tail stilling on the sheets, before the tip of it swishes. Wags? Help?]
You already know my sleeping habits? [He sounds like he's trying for annoyed but he just ends up nervous?] Where have you been?
Jing Yuan can feel the way Dan Feng tenses all the way up, his tail stilling on the sheets, before the tip of it swishes. Wags? Help?]
You already know my sleeping habits? [He sounds like he's trying for annoyed but he just ends up nervous?] Where have you been?
Shopping.
[Not untrue.]
I got you something.
[Not untrue.]
I got you something.
[He can squirm away!
Sort of. Jing Yuan just latches onto the end of his tail instead.
If Dan Feng looks, he'll find Jing Yuan's body has shifted to a feminine form -- an unfairly well-proportioned one at that. Around his neck is a thin gold chain with sun-shaped pendant of bloodred gemstone.]
It's this.
[He gestures to the necklace with the hand not currently hugging Dan Feng's tail to his ample chest. It glows, faintly, and...
...the mara in Dan Feng's mind, and all the Abundance in his body, shuts off like a light.]
Sort of. Jing Yuan just latches onto the end of his tail instead.
If Dan Feng looks, he'll find Jing Yuan's body has shifted to a feminine form -- an unfairly well-proportioned one at that. Around his neck is a thin gold chain with sun-shaped pendant of bloodred gemstone.]
It's this.
[He gestures to the necklace with the hand not currently hugging Dan Feng's tail to his ample chest. It glows, faintly, and...
...the mara in Dan Feng's mind, and all the Abundance in his body, shuts off like a light.]
[His braincells haven't even gotten past holy shit a woman??? when the switch happens, and for a moment, Dan Feng just stares at the pendant. Lifts his eyes at Jing Yuan, before he scrambles completely away, yanking his tail out of Jing Yuan's grip.
Dan Feng has never quite looked at him with this sort of terror, pupils fading from the poisonous gold of ginkgo to the original, fathomless azure.]
What... [He presses a hand over his chest.] What did you do?
Dan Feng has never quite looked at him with this sort of terror, pupils fading from the poisonous gold of ginkgo to the original, fathomless azure.]
What... [He presses a hand over his chest.] What did you do?
Wait--
[The instant Dan Feng pulls away, the mara starts to creep back in along the edges. He won't have much time to process that though, because Jing Yuan practically stumbles over himself in his frantic rush to get hold of him again.
If he can cling onto Dan Feng's arm, the wisps of Abundance will fade again.]
Don't move! It only works if I'm touching you!
[The instant Dan Feng pulls away, the mara starts to creep back in along the edges. He won't have much time to process that though, because Jing Yuan practically stumbles over himself in his frantic rush to get hold of him again.
If he can cling onto Dan Feng's arm, the wisps of Abundance will fade again.]
Don't move! It only works if I'm touching you!
[He tries to pull away, but he freezes at Jing Yuan's words, at least, letting him cling. He inhales. Exhales. He hasn't been able to breathe without the ginkgo physically growing in his ribcage in several centuries. Hasn't been able to think so clearly even longer, unimpeded by the mental vertigo the Plagues Author suspended him in.
He can't even convey what it feels like so he just stares at Jing Yuan, blinking back tears.]
What, exactly, is it?
He can't even convey what it feels like so he just stares at Jing Yuan, blinking back tears.]
What, exactly, is it?
[With his transformation, Jing Yuan is now a scant few centimeters shorter than Dan Feng, which makes it all the easier to tuck his face against the dragon's shoulder. He's trembling slightly, overwhelmed by the relief of seeing the necklace work and the fear of Dan Feng being angry at him for using it.]
...The jewelry. I got it from the theatre. I can use it to suppress the influence of the Abundance for an hour or two, so long as we're in physical contact. I have to pay to recharge it between uses.
...The jewelry. I got it from the theatre. I can use it to suppress the influence of the Abundance for an hour or two, so long as we're in physical contact. I have to pay to recharge it between uses.
Silver, right? Not anything else?
[Dan Feng knew firsthand what miraculous boons cost and he was not going to let Jing Yuan pay anything on his behalf.
He sounds halfway through a lecture, but he's already trying to hold Jing Yuan closer, tighter, tail curling around his waist, less in possession and more in the simple intimacy of an embrace between loved ones.]
[Dan Feng knew firsthand what miraculous boons cost and he was not going to let Jing Yuan pay anything on his behalf.
He sounds halfway through a lecture, but he's already trying to hold Jing Yuan closer, tighter, tail curling around his waist, less in possession and more in the simple intimacy of an embrace between loved ones.]
This body is a payment. And a few small tasks. Nothing too unpleasant.
[He sounds preemptively petulant, fully expecting to be lectured. Still, he shifts from holding Dan Feng's arms to clinging to him fully -- even he hasn't really understood how badly he's needed to be held this way. Not even an Aeon could pry him lose now.]
[He sounds preemptively petulant, fully expecting to be lectured. Still, he shifts from holding Dan Feng's arms to clinging to him fully -- even he hasn't really understood how badly he's needed to be held this way. Not even an Aeon could pry him lose now.]
Jing Yuan.
[He chokes out, shifting them so that Dan Feng is sitting against the wealth of pillows and Jing Yuan is basically a tangle of limbs with him. He doesn't seem to be able to not cling, either, shifting back just enough so he can
Pinch Jing Yuan's cheek gently, exasperated. There is the feeling of he should be more angry, explosively angry, he should be hurting him so he remembers but there is nothing of that now except the well of love and gratitude and worry.]
You can either tell me the entirety of it now or later when I pry it out of you and likely to lock you in this room because I am upset. Your choice.
[He chokes out, shifting them so that Dan Feng is sitting against the wealth of pillows and Jing Yuan is basically a tangle of limbs with him. He doesn't seem to be able to not cling, either, shifting back just enough so he can
Pinch Jing Yuan's cheek gently, exasperated. There is the feeling of he should be more angry, explosively angry, he should be hurting him so he remembers but there is nothing of that now except the well of love and gratitude and worry.]
You can either tell me the entirety of it now or later when I pry it out of you and likely to lock you in this room because I am upset. Your choice.
There's no reason to be upset.
[He's helping so it's fine! He honestly doesn't even know why Dan Feng would get angry about this one, and that shows on his face.]
Buying required me to help other people with their objectives, share a memory, and take a potion to temporarily look like this. Recharging it should be only one such thing, though the details will vary.
Dan Heng & Yingxing helped me with everything, this time.
[He's helping so it's fine! He honestly doesn't even know why Dan Feng would get angry about this one, and that shows on his face.]
Buying required me to help other people with their objectives, share a memory, and take a potion to temporarily look like this. Recharging it should be only one such thing, though the details will vary.
Dan Heng & Yingxing helped me with everything, this time.
And what if more is demanded of you? What if - something else happens? Don't give me that look. I can already tell you'd do it again.
[Shaking him a little, but he's smiling helplessly. How could he not? Does he have any idea how good Dan Feng feels right now?]
I'm grateful for it, my dear, thank you. [That's the first time he's said anything even approaching sincere gratitude.] But I need you to think of yourself for once in your life, Yuan'er.
[Shaking him a little, but he's smiling helplessly. How could he not? Does he have any idea how good Dan Feng feels right now?]
I'm grateful for it, my dear, thank you. [That's the first time he's said anything even approaching sincere gratitude.] But I need you to think of yourself for once in your life, Yuan'er.
[The shaking earns a whiny groan, but seeing Dan Feng happy vastly outweighs any complaints he might have. Being treated kindly by him makes Jing Yuan want to burrow into his chest and stay there forever.]
I am thinking of myself. I wanted to see you this way. I want to spend time with Yingxing without my very presence causing him to suffer. Those are my own selfish desires.
I am thinking of myself. I wanted to see you this way. I want to spend time with Yingxing without my very presence causing him to suffer. Those are my own selfish desires.
[His face twists at the thought of a Yingxing who was not clouded by mara. Who was the same man who left him at Yaoshi's altar, the same man he'd lost everything for. He's not actually sure what he'd do if they meet like this, with both their sanity intact.]
If it also works on Yingxing, then... [He pauses. Angles Jing Yuan's face up with a finger, threading hands through his fluff of hair and kneading at his scalp.] Why are you here? You should be with him.
If it also works on Yingxing, then... [He pauses. Angles Jing Yuan's face up with a finger, threading hands through his fluff of hair and kneading at his scalp.] Why are you here? You should be with him.
I was with him before I came here.
[But whether he ran off with the necklace as soon as he got it or has already recharged it once is a mystery of that unfinished thread.
Regardless, he leans into Dan Feng's hands like a content cat, relishing the comfort of that affection.]
I want to be with you now.
[But whether he ran off with the necklace as soon as he got it or has already recharged it once is a mystery of that unfinished thread.
Regardless, he leans into Dan Feng's hands like a content cat, relishing the comfort of that affection.]
I want to be with you now.
[Dan Feng takes that at face value, at least, relaxing just that little further at knowing he's had his fill of Yingxing.]
Well, I shall be in your care.
[He takes several moments marveling at Jing Yuan's hair, taking it out of its braid gently and efficiently, so he can work his hands down into the base of his neck, and then he realizes all at once that Jing Yuan is leaning against him on his lap and in his arms and he's very warm and--
He freezes. Wills himself to think about other things than the softness lying against him; a feat that he hasn't had to do in centuries, mostly because the mara was always a thing to think about.]
If you- want to doze off...?
Well, I shall be in your care.
[He takes several moments marveling at Jing Yuan's hair, taking it out of its braid gently and efficiently, so he can work his hands down into the base of his neck, and then he realizes all at once that Jing Yuan is leaning against him on his lap and in his arms and he's very warm and--
He freezes. Wills himself to think about other things than the softness lying against him; a feat that he hasn't had to do in centuries, mostly because the mara was always a thing to think about.]
If you- want to doze off...?
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