Who told you so, dilly dilly, Who told you so? ‘Twas my own heart, dilly dilly, That told me so.
ouch is one of the most intimate, romantic ways to be close to someone else. The Town knows this very well -- the Town wants everyone to be as close as possible.
Perhaps that's why this bonding is so...aggressive.
Because you're in for quite the shock on this otherwise peaceful day when you brush against the next person on your path.
Maybe you're going out of your way to touch people. Maybe you've got a terrible urge to just see what's lurking in someone's heart. Maybe you trip over a conveniently placed rock -- whatever the cause, you're getting an up close and personal look into someone else's heart.
Welcome to Awash's eighteenth event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to make your own logs and posts for this event!
If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!
[............Hm. So he really is sad about this? He does seem very genuinely hurt and all, but--
But....what? Xie Lian still isn't sure how this mindscape thing works. The corpses are still keeping their distance and Wuxian's no longer losing color, but is that related to his heartbreak? Xie Lian has no idea. But he's gotta! He's gotta thoroughly reject!!
By which I mean he pushes gently against Wuxian's chest--gently enough that he's not actually pushing him away, just sort of. Reminding him...he's still worried enough to hold onto the man so he can't really push much more than that.]
Wuxian...I'm afraid I've let this go on much too long already. Marriage isn't a possibility for me to begin with, though I admit I'd never considered the possibility that a man would-- [wait no]
--Anyway! We can share a platonic love for each other. Isn't that alright?
[ Being held like this and now laying a gentle hand on his chest.... it feels very flirtatious! And yet, he's saying that marriage isn't possible. But that comment... I've never considered the possibility that a man would...
That a man would love him? Want to marry him, a cut-sleeve? And this declaration of love—"platonic love." Do platonic friends hold each other like this? Do they declare their platonic love for each other? What does it all mean?
An explanation comes to mind. Xie Lian might be the kind of person who says one thing and means another. His pride probably won't allow for him to be roped into a wedding by Pyra's honest enthusiasm. He doesn't want anything rushed or arranged. He wants a man whose feelings are genuine.
He doesn't just want a marriage proposal. He wants courtship and love. ]
All right.
[ His voice is gentle, as his hand comes up to his chest, to close over Xie Lian's. ]
I'll love you like that. As... brothers. Whatever you desire, dearest wi—
[ No. He pauses, smiling. ]
Whatever you desire, didi.
[ It's a fortunate turn of events. He can halt this wedding and behave kindly to Xie Lian, taking his words at face value. Nobody's heart needs to get broken. ]
He's never in his life ever been called didi. It's--well honestly he's not sure whether to be amused or frustrated, especially considering Wuxian's voice - and that hand closed over his - is making him feel like something's still been misunderstood somewhere. But what!!
...Well, at least it's a step...in the right direction...he thinks??]
Er. Yes, well, I'm glad you understand...should I be calling you gege then? Haha. [A joke! As he gently attempts to extricate himself.]
[ He can feel the world start to turn beneath his feet, as his heart world begins to release them. Being able to call someone didi. Having them call him gege. Is that all he wants? Is that what his heart desires? Something so simple? It probably is. He feels suddenly a thousand times lighter. The corpses all around them sink back into the earth. There's a sun overhead and it starts to get warmer and brighter. ]
Ah, let me do a little something for you, if you don't mind.
[ He's been thinking about how to do this for some time, and now's the perfect opportunity, with his didi in his power and distracted. Carefully, he slides his fingers beneath the man's bandage necklace, drawing out the curse. It glides smoothly into his fingertips. ]
[He doesn't have his guard up against Wuxian, reacting a little too slow to the man reaching beneath his bandage, and before he knows it--
It feels as if a weight has been lifted off his shoulders, one he'd been carrying so long that without it he feels almost too light. And yet that missing weight is quickly replaced by a mix of shock, surprise, and...the slightest bit of horror.]
What--how did you--you can't!
[The world is changing around them even as he speaks, but still he grabs at Wuxian's arm, as if trying to stop the curse from moving. You're only human! Don't hurt yourself!!]
[ He staggers under the weight of the curse. It's enough to take his breath away. Poor Xie Lian, having to endure something like this for so long; how he must have suffered. He swallows hard. After a few moments he's able to breathe again, and he takes a long, shuddering breath. And then he arranges a smile on his face and says: ]
I did. It's nothing. I just... I just have to work out the specifics of this thing, and it's easier to do that if I'm experiencing it personally.
[ He reaches out to pat Xie Lian's shoulder. His hand is shaking a little, but that's fine. ]
[He'd never thought it was possible to remove the curse--could no longer remember what it felt like not to have that black collar-like mark, or the weight of the restraints that came with it--and to be honest, how he feels right now is difficult to accurately describe.
He does pause at the question, a hand raising up to his neck, feeling for a thing that had simply been a part of his skin and now is sitting on the man before him instead....he doesn't look happy at all, worry the strongest visible emotion on his face as he quickly returns to trying to support the self-sacrificing fool who tried to free him.]
You need to return it. You don't know what you're doing--this isn't a curse meant for common people!
[It's a burden he's borne for so long that he feels almost lacking without it, a burden he'd never wish upon another, one now chaining down a young man who should have a bright future ahead of him.]
Who're you calling a common person? Do you know who you're talking to? Hahaha!
[ He fancies he can already see how Xie Lian is moving differently without the weight of this curse upon him. He makes an attempt at a reassureing smile. ]
Good heavens, don't look so worried, you'll wrinkle your pretty face!
[ He makes an effort to draw himself up and stand up straight, so that Xie Lian won't have to keep supporting him. ]
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ouch is one of the most intimate, romantic ways to be close to someone else. The Town knows this very well -- the Town wants everyone to be as close as possible.
no subject
But....what? Xie Lian still isn't sure how this mindscape thing works. The corpses are still keeping their distance and Wuxian's no longer losing color, but is that related to his heartbreak? Xie Lian has no idea. But he's gotta! He's gotta thoroughly reject!!
By which I mean he pushes gently against Wuxian's chest--gently enough that he's not actually pushing him away, just sort of. Reminding him...he's still worried enough to hold onto the man so he can't really push much more than that.]
Wuxian...I'm afraid I've let this go on much too long already. Marriage isn't a possibility for me to begin with, though I admit I'd never considered the possibility that a man would-- [wait no]
--Anyway! We can share a platonic love for each other. Isn't that alright?
no subject
That a man would love him? Want to marry him, a cut-sleeve? And this declaration of love—"platonic love." Do platonic friends hold each other like this? Do they declare their platonic love for each other? What does it all mean?
An explanation comes to mind. Xie Lian might be the kind of person who says one thing and means another. His pride probably won't allow for him to be roped into a wedding by Pyra's honest enthusiasm. He doesn't want anything rushed or arranged. He wants a man whose feelings are genuine.
He doesn't just want a marriage proposal. He wants courtship and love. ]
All right.
[ His voice is gentle, as his hand comes up to his chest, to close over Xie Lian's. ]
I'll love you like that. As... brothers. Whatever you desire, dearest wi—
[ No. He pauses, smiling. ]
Whatever you desire, didi.
[ It's a fortunate turn of events. He can halt this wedding and behave kindly to Xie Lian, taking his words at face value. Nobody's heart needs to get broken. ]
no subject
He's never in his life ever been called didi. It's--well honestly he's not sure whether to be amused or frustrated, especially considering Wuxian's voice - and that hand closed over his - is making him feel like something's still been misunderstood somewhere. But what!!
...Well, at least it's a step...in the right direction...he thinks??]
Er. Yes, well, I'm glad you understand...should I be calling you gege then? Haha. [A joke! As he gently attempts to extricate himself.]
no subject
[ He can feel the world start to turn beneath his feet, as his heart world begins to release them. Being able to call someone didi. Having them call him gege. Is that all he wants? Is that what his heart desires? Something so simple? It probably is. He feels suddenly a thousand times lighter. The corpses all around them sink back into the earth. There's a sun overhead and it starts to get warmer and brighter. ]
Ah, let me do a little something for you, if you don't mind.
[ He's been thinking about how to do this for some time, and now's the perfect opportunity, with his didi in his power and distracted. Carefully, he slides his fingers beneath the man's bandage necklace, drawing out the curse. It glides smoothly into his fingertips. ]
This is my specialty, so don't worry.
no subject
[He doesn't have his guard up against Wuxian, reacting a little too slow to the man reaching beneath his bandage, and before he knows it--
It feels as if a weight has been lifted off his shoulders, one he'd been carrying so long that without it he feels almost too light. And yet that missing weight is quickly replaced by a mix of shock, surprise, and...the slightest bit of horror.]
What--how did you--you can't!
[The world is changing around them even as he speaks, but still he grabs at Wuxian's arm, as if trying to stop the curse from moving. You're only human! Don't hurt yourself!!]
no subject
I did. It's nothing. I just... I just have to work out the specifics of this thing, and it's easier to do that if I'm experiencing it personally.
[ He reaches out to pat Xie Lian's shoulder. His hand is shaking a little, but that's fine. ]
How are you feeling, didi?
no subject
He does pause at the question, a hand raising up to his neck, feeling for a thing that had simply been a part of his skin and now is sitting on the man before him instead....he doesn't look happy at all, worry the strongest visible emotion on his face as he quickly returns to trying to support the self-sacrificing fool who tried to free him.]
You need to return it. You don't know what you're doing--this isn't a curse meant for common people!
[It's a burden he's borne for so long that he feels almost lacking without it, a burden he'd never wish upon another, one now chaining down a young man who should have a bright future ahead of him.]
I don't want you to suffer.
no subject
[ He fancies he can already see how Xie Lian is moving differently without the weight of this curse upon him. He makes an attempt at a reassureing smile. ]
Good heavens, don't look so worried, you'll wrinkle your pretty face!
[ He makes an effort to draw himself up and stand up straight, so that Xie Lian won't have to keep supporting him. ]
Who's suffering? This much is nothing!