[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.]
[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?
[Great! An excuse for Dan Feng to try and squirm out of Jing Yuan's arms. His ears are already red; he is wholly unused to Jing Yuan being the one??? Touching him????]
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?
[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.]
[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.]
[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.
[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 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'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.
[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.
[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.
[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.]
[Unfortunately for Dan Feng, the sound Jing Yuan makes at the hands on his neck is likely unhelpful. The same could be said of the way pink dusts his cheeks as he sees Dan Feng's troubled expression, or the smile that follows.
There are a thousand reasons he should never want to flirt with this man, but he's Jing Yuan and Dan Feng is in his right mind and he simply cannot help himself.]
I did not say I wanted anything. [But he's petting down the nape of Jing Yuan's neck, and his tail is still around Jing Yuan's waist. He's starting to flush red.] We should not do anything you may regret later, once my mara returns. And I do not want to risk infecting you.
[He wasn't sure it would go this way, but Jing Yuan will always be the type to cover his bases.
He's also the type to, should Dan Feng's tail allow, adjust to press his rather voluminous soft bits harder against him and lean up to attempt a kiss.]
[He doesn't even need to do anything, but there's no space between them for Dan Feng to hide the kick of his hips. But at least he manages to slide a hand between their mouths, covering Jing Yuan's treacherous lips with a palm.
His heart's pounding. Why is Jing Yuan moving like that? Moreover why is his tail uncurling and just draping possessively over the other man?]
Yuan'er, I have loved you for centuries, but I've never - we've never - I - [He makes a faint dying noise.]
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Day 18 2am
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.]
Re: Day 18 2am
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?
Re: Day 18 2am
[Not untrue.]
I got you something.
Re: Day 18 2am
What is it?
Re: Day 18 2am
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.]
Re: Day 18 2am
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?
Re: Day 18 2am
[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!
Re: Day 18 2am
He can't even convey what it feels like so he just stares at Jing Yuan, blinking back tears.]
What, exactly, is it?
Re: Day 18 2am
...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.
Re: Day 18 2am
[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.]
Re: Day 18 2am
[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.]
Re: Day 18 2am
[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.
Re: Day 18 2am
[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.
Re: Day 18 2am
[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.
Re: Day 18 2am
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.
Re: Day 18 2am
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.
Re: Day 18 2am
[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.
Re: Day 18 2am
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...?
Re: Day 18 2am
There are a thousand reasons he should never want to flirt with this man, but he's Jing Yuan and Dan Feng is in his right mind and he simply cannot help himself.]
You don't look like you want to.
Re: Day 18 2am
I did not say I wanted anything. [But he's petting down the nape of Jing Yuan's neck, and his tail is still around Jing Yuan's waist. He's starting to flush red.] We should not do anything you may regret later, once my mara returns. And I do not want to risk infecting you.
Re: Day 18 2am
[He wasn't sure it would go this way, but Jing Yuan will always be the type to cover his bases.
He's also the type to, should Dan Feng's tail allow, adjust to press his rather voluminous soft bits harder against him and lean up to attempt a kiss.]
Re: Day 18 2am
His heart's pounding. Why is Jing Yuan moving like that? Moreover why is his tail uncurling and just draping possessively over the other man?]
Yuan'er, I have loved you for centuries, but I've never - we've never - I - [He makes a faint dying noise.]
Re: Day 18 2am
Better nip Dan Feng's hand about it -- while adjusting so Dan Feng's hips are between his knees.]
In my world, I've had you hundreds of times. Do you not trust me?
Re: Day 18 2am
I trust you with my life, with or without the Abundance, but I - I wanted. Is this not supposed to be romantic?
Re: Day 18 2am
[He has no regrets. Those faces are worth any potential consequences when the necklace stops working.]
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