I-- well, I-- I cannot imagine it is so...? It would be a terrible infringement upon all of your privacy, when Dan Feng is the only one I am involved with in... that sort of way.
...Yes, he supposes he can see the picture forming here. He frowns slightly at the way her wings tuck close, eying the feathers for a moment.]
Beyond asking you to try and believe me when I say I find your company enjoyable--
[Because he has a feeling that directly saying so might not have as much impact here--] I genuinely believe you being here is a good thing. For me, for Dan Feng. For everyone. Even those who do not know you yet. There is a reason I bought this house, you see.
[ It's a clearly self-conscious movement, meant to tuck them in close and out of the way; if he's eyeing them anyway it's clear to see that the places where she'd lost patches of feathers before are slowly growing back in, all spiky with pinfeathers.
she looks pretty embarrassed by his words, though, because why would her presence be that good of a thing-- when Dan Feng acts the way he does, and when she's a perfect stranger to half of the house-- ]
[He does see. It's concerning, because if it's anything like scales... well, regrowth must be unpleasant, to say the least. Were they pulled out? It didn't look like a natural shed pattern.
His tail taps against the floor as he considers his words, smiling wryly.] I would not have wanted a permanent place for myself only. There's only so much room in the dorms, and Dan Feng and I are both... happier, when we know where everyone we care about is.
[He won't speak for the other Dan Heng, of course.] Dan Feng especially needs stabilizing influences. Having you here gives him someone he cares deeply for that he can go to, someone that isn't linked to his past [And mara--] and that balances things out for everyone.
[It's a complicated tangle of people, but Val was unique in her position here.] ...And I've wanted to get to know you better for quite awhile.
I'm... not so stabilizing an influence as you might think, for him.
[ but she says nothing of the rest, her face deeply flustered. She doesn't respond any more for a long moment, but eventually: ]
If... the others are not opposed then-- then perhaps I could... stay.
[ It's not that she doesn't want to stay, even, because being wanted is, certainly, one of the things she is weakest to. But it's at odds with her natural politeness, and distance she was raised to have, and a natural disinclination to believe she has any priority at all in Dan Feng's life, especially compared to people like Yingxing-- this she knows to be true. ]
[He was worried he might embarrass her, and it seems he was right.]
I wasn't upset by the sight, but concerned. if it's anything like when scales get patchy, it must be uncomfortable. Is there anything that can be done?
[ she rubs her face a bit, as if trying to fight off the fluster. ]
I can groom them myself, mostly, so-- you don't have to...
[ but she quiets a moment, thoughtful, because Dan Heng is being so nice and welcoming and he's offering something and even though it's fairly intimate and distasteful to look at surely she should... ]
...
But, I. It would be-- nice, if you could help. Just a bit.
[ she lowers her hand, spreading a lower wing to demonstrate on one of the pin feathers there, carefully breaking some of the keratin sheath with her fingers and releasing the feather within. ]
Like this-- the dry ones will crumble easily. I'm sorry, it can be a little messy...
[There's fascinating alight in his eyes as he watches, considers the process with clear interest.] Again, it's nothing to apologize for. I'm more than happy to help, and any mess can be easily cleaned.
[Dan Feng might sulk if he uses his cloudhymn to clean, but he's learned to ignore it.]
Would a change of location help you feel more comfortable before we start?
[ She considers the options, red-faced. The bedroom is certainly more comfortable, but she cannot fight the feeling still that she is a guest here, nor the feeling that it would still be particularly messy for her to drop featherdust all over his space But the bathroom........................ ]
... I think-- the bedroom, if you wouldn't mind. I'm sorry to intrude.
[She keeps apologizing for things she really doesn't need to apologize for... he just shakes his head and offers her a smile.]
Bedroom it is, then.
[He'll lead her to one of the bedrooms-- one with a makeshift futon slash nest tucked in a corner, a bucket of tools that have clearly been recently used near the slightly weathered windowsill. It's... not entirely certain who is residing here, since Dan Heng has mostly been sleeping in his study when he's not getting dragged into Dan Feng's nest.
Honestly he'll probably end up moving it soon enough, or ceding it to someone else.] Have a seat.
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Why wouldn't you be permanently welcome?
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[ quiets, awkward, her feathers slimming and wings pressing tighter against herself. ]
... I do not... see why I should be wanted, were that not the case.
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...Yes, he supposes he can see the picture forming here. He frowns slightly at the way her wings tuck close, eying the feathers for a moment.]
Beyond asking you to try and believe me when I say I find your company enjoyable--
[Because he has a feeling that directly saying so might not have as much impact here--] I genuinely believe you being here is a good thing. For me, for Dan Feng. For everyone. Even those who do not know you yet. There is a reason I bought this house, you see.
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she looks pretty embarrassed by his words, though, because why would her presence be that good of a thing-- when Dan Feng acts the way he does, and when she's a perfect stranger to half of the house-- ]
... A reason?
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His tail taps against the floor as he considers his words, smiling wryly.] I would not have wanted a permanent place for myself only. There's only so much room in the dorms, and Dan Feng and I are both... happier, when we know where everyone we care about is.
[He won't speak for the other Dan Heng, of course.] Dan Feng especially needs stabilizing influences. Having you here gives him someone he cares deeply for that he can go to, someone that isn't linked to his past [And mara--] and that balances things out for everyone.
[It's a complicated tangle of people, but Val was unique in her position here.] ...And I've wanted to get to know you better for quite awhile.
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[ but she says nothing of the rest, her face deeply flustered. She doesn't respond any more for a long moment, but eventually: ]
If... the others are not opposed then-- then perhaps I could... stay.
[ It's not that she doesn't want to stay, even, because being wanted is, certainly, one of the things she is weakest to. But it's at odds with her natural politeness, and distance she was raised to have, and a natural disinclination to believe she has any priority at all in Dan Feng's life, especially compared to people like Yingxing-- this she knows to be true. ]
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[About what??? But his tail swishes behind him, betraying his own happiness at her agreement.]
I can't speak for Jing Yuan and Yingxing, but I don't see why they'd say no if you asked. There's more than enough room for everyone here after all.
[A pause. Hesitantly, like he's not sure he's allowed to ask--] May I ask a personal question?
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-- Yes?
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[Slightly worried.]
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[ they relax a bit, and she reaches up to touch one of her neckwings... ]
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[ She looks. Pretty embarrassed by that, in a different way than before, subtly covering the one she was touching with a hand. ]
... It seems-- one of my taboos causes my feathers to fall out, and so... Well, they're growing back fine, I think. I'm sorry they're unsightly.
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[He was worried he might embarrass her, and it seems he was right.]
I wasn't upset by the sight, but concerned. if it's anything like when scales get patchy, it must be uncomfortable. Is there anything that can be done?
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I can groom them myself, mostly, so-- you don't have to...
[ but she quiets a moment, thoughtful, because Dan Heng is being so nice and welcoming and he's offering something and even though it's fairly intimate and distasteful to look at surely she should... ]
...
But, I. It would be-- nice, if you could help. Just a bit.
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I'd be happy to help, if you're comfortable with me doing so.
[He's... curious honestly. You didn't meet many halovians outside of the Family's territory. And Val's shyness is cute.] What do I need to do?
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Like this-- the dry ones will crumble easily. I'm sorry, it can be a little messy...
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[Dan Feng might sulk if he uses his cloudhymn to clean, but he's learned to ignore it.]
Would a change of location help you feel more comfortable before we start?
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[ setting aside the iced tea so she can sweep up the bits she just flaked off with her hands to throw away. ]
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[The kitchen is probably not the ideal place for this regardless.]
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... I think-- the bedroom, if you wouldn't mind. I'm sorry to intrude.
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Bedroom it is, then.
[He'll lead her to one of the bedrooms-- one with a makeshift futon slash nest tucked in a corner, a bucket of tools that have clearly been recently used near the slightly weathered windowsill. It's... not entirely certain who is residing here, since Dan Heng has mostly been sleeping in his study when he's not getting dragged into Dan Feng's nest.
Honestly he'll probably end up moving it soon enough, or ceding it to someone else.] Have a seat.
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