[ slowly, his calloused fingers ghost over the soft backs of hers, as he stares straight ahead, finding something more stable in the gesture. and, then, he seeks the spaces between her fingers to lace them together gently. solace is here. his sanity is here, for the time being, and he closes his eyes against the colors of the refracting prism.
he can still feel the swirl of emotions, but he's used to managing those. he can stay steady in the face of that storm.
(it helps - the amber, her presence, the reminder. the people that depend on them.) ]
Work. [ because idle hands, and all that - a phrase he's heard since the westerner's came into great liang unwelcomed. but chang geng takes another deep breath, exhaling it out in a rush, and squeezing her hand. ] Distractions.
... you. [ forward, in another time, maybe, but honesty is what jiuqing deserves from soneone who has so much built up inside of him. he won't ever lie to her. ] You being here helps.
So don't go where I can't follow, Jiuqing. I promise to do the same.
[ ... i know i can leave the rest up to you, sir chang. take care of them, will you? ]
[she closes her eyes, briefly, at the honesty, and with their fingers laced together, she gives his hand a gentle squeeze.
she won't take any risks, tonight. she won't part from him, and try to use color in a different part of the prism, only to come back cold and desaturated. she'll stay by his side as they make their preparations for the morning, as close to him as he wants.
it helps him - but it helps her, too, to have him this close. the warmth of him, the feel of his hands over hers, is a very physical reminder of his presence, and it helps her heart internalize what her head already knows: that he won't leave her alone.
come what may, they'll face this together.]
I won't leave you. [her voice is soft, but - she's certain. she won't let anything part her from him tonight.] I promise, too.
[ a little of the tension leaves him, in response to the squeeze. whatever jitters behind his eyelids, whatever is scratching against the inside of his skull, isn't quite so loud as he focuses on every point of contact and shuts out the harsh intensity of color. it makes it easier to get his emotions a little steadier, too - the anger always festering under his skin simmers instead of boils, like it usually does. ]
Thank you. [ again. for staying, for promising. he hopes neither of them has to relive the worst parts of their trips. ] ... wherever we need to go, whatever we need, we're all together now.
We won't be alone.
[ you won't be.
there's so much for them to do, so much planning, preparations... he doesn't know where to start, as he tries to sort out a list. the anger in him makes it hard to, the pressure of the prism mounting, but he's quiet, taking jiuqing's support and giving his own in return. simmering. ]
... let's start. [ a squeeze to her hand, and chang geng shifts just enough to indicate that he's going to turn around; she can let go, if only for a moment. ] We should be ready, in case we need to do field treatment.
[he shifts, and she lets go of him so that he can turn - but it really is only for a moment, because once he's facing her, she takes one of his hands again, then goes up on her tiptoes as her other hand comes up to cup his cheek.
her touch is very gentle, and the kiss she gives him even more so - an apology, perhaps, for having to let go of him even for a second.]
...the medical bay first, then.
[her voice comes out in what's almost a whisper as she considers it. this feeling of restlessness, of needing to do something, is nearly overwhelming, but it's always been when she's at her most overwhelmed that she's had to get her mind working. it's how she's survived.
here and now, just edging on the early stages of refraction, is no different.]
We can gather supplies. The greenhouse, next. I harvested many of the plants there at the beginning of the week, but left some cuttings; we can retrieve some of the fresh yarrow to make poultices.
[ allowing her to have his hand again - even going so far as to reach out, in kind, to meet her in the middle - his eyes flutter closed for a moment as she kisses him. whatever apology it is, it's forgiven. especially considering he chases it before she can go far, before refocusing, prioritizing, remembering that they were discussing plans before that. ]
As much of everything as we can take with us. I'm sure we can find means of carrying it, from the store or the closet. Something for the cuttings, as well.
[ his free hand goes to her waist, drawing her closer to him. the issue with emotions being heightened is that his everything is buzzing, but she is a warm distraction. the low whisper of her voice is strangely soothing, and his eyes stay closed as he goes to simply - kiss the corner of his mouth, a murmur against her cheek after. ]
I'll have to go to the workshop, at some point. I want to make a bow, in case we need to fight, and for as proficient as I am with a sword... we might need tactical range. [ and he doesn't want to be far from her. a bow means that they can move more easily, and he can offer coverage if they have to retrieve the injured from danger.
whatever they can do as a whole. whatever chang geng can do to help. ]
jiuqing has to remind herself to focus, first when he chases after the kiss as she's pulling back (would it really be so bad to kiss him again? maybe the distraction would help?), but he refocuses himself, and that helps her to do so as well.
but then his hand comes to her waist, and he pulls her close; he leans in, and she feels his lips against the corner of her mouth, feels the closeness of him against her cheek. he'll likely feel it when her cheeks flush with warmth - he must, she thinks, because she can certainly feel her face heating up.
strategy.]
...that's a good idea. We have plenty of combatants, but many of them do seem to specialize in, ah... getting up close and personal with people.
[she gives the hand that she's holding a small squeeze. onward. they may have the relearn the layout of the nodes, now - since they have to take these doors that connect one to the other, rather than just going back to the central one to find the archways - but that's fine. they can figure this out. they're both reasonably intelligent people.]
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no subject
he can still feel the swirl of emotions, but he's used to managing those. he can stay steady in the face of that storm.
(it helps - the amber, her presence, the reminder. the people that depend on them.) ]
Work. [ because idle hands, and all that - a phrase he's heard since the westerner's came into great liang unwelcomed. but chang geng takes another deep breath, exhaling it out in a rush, and squeezing her hand. ] Distractions.
... you. [ forward, in another time, maybe, but honesty is what jiuqing deserves from soneone who has so much built up inside of him. he won't ever lie to her. ] You being here helps.
So don't go where I can't follow, Jiuqing. I promise to do the same.
[ ... i know i can leave the rest up to you, sir chang. take care of them, will you? ]
no subject
she won't take any risks, tonight. she won't part from him, and try to use color in a different part of the prism, only to come back cold and desaturated. she'll stay by his side as they make their preparations for the morning, as close to him as he wants.
it helps him - but it helps her, too, to have him this close. the warmth of him, the feel of his hands over hers, is a very physical reminder of his presence, and it helps her heart internalize what her head already knows: that he won't leave her alone.
come what may, they'll face this together.]
I won't leave you. [her voice is soft, but - she's certain. she won't let anything part her from him tonight.] I promise, too.
If we go anywhere, we'll go together.
no subject
Thank you. [ again. for staying, for promising. he hopes neither of them has to relive the worst parts of their trips. ] ... wherever we need to go, whatever we need, we're all together now.
We won't be alone.
[ you won't be.
there's so much for them to do, so much planning, preparations... he doesn't know where to start, as he tries to sort out a list. the anger in him makes it hard to, the pressure of the prism mounting, but he's quiet, taking jiuqing's support and giving his own in return. simmering. ]
... let's start. [ a squeeze to her hand, and chang geng shifts just enough to indicate that he's going to turn around; she can let go, if only for a moment. ] We should be ready, in case we need to do field treatment.
no subject
her touch is very gentle, and the kiss she gives him even more so - an apology, perhaps, for having to let go of him even for a second.]
...the medical bay first, then.
[her voice comes out in what's almost a whisper as she considers it. this feeling of restlessness, of needing to do something, is nearly overwhelming, but it's always been when she's at her most overwhelmed that she's had to get her mind working. it's how she's survived.
here and now, just edging on the early stages of refraction, is no different.]
We can gather supplies. The greenhouse, next. I harvested many of the plants there at the beginning of the week, but left some cuttings; we can retrieve some of the fresh yarrow to make poultices.
no subject
As much of everything as we can take with us. I'm sure we can find means of carrying it, from the store or the closet. Something for the cuttings, as well.
[ his free hand goes to her waist, drawing her closer to him. the issue with emotions being heightened is that his everything is buzzing, but she is a warm distraction. the low whisper of her voice is strangely soothing, and his eyes stay closed as he goes to simply - kiss the corner of his mouth, a murmur against her cheek after. ]
I'll have to go to the workshop, at some point. I want to make a bow, in case we need to fight, and for as proficient as I am with a sword... we might need tactical range. [ and he doesn't want to be far from her. a bow means that they can move more easily, and he can offer coverage if they have to retrieve the injured from danger.
whatever they can do as a whole. whatever chang geng can do to help. ]
no subject
jiuqing has to remind herself to focus, first when he chases after the kiss as she's pulling back (would it really be so bad to kiss him again? maybe the distraction would help?), but he refocuses himself, and that helps her to do so as well.
but then his hand comes to her waist, and he pulls her close; he leans in, and she feels his lips against the corner of her mouth, feels the closeness of him against her cheek. he'll likely feel it when her cheeks flush with warmth - he must, she thinks, because she can certainly feel her face heating up.
strategy.]
...that's a good idea. We have plenty of combatants, but many of them do seem to specialize in, ah... getting up close and personal with people.
[she gives the hand that she's holding a small squeeze. onward. they may have the relearn the layout of the nodes, now - since they have to take these doors that connect one to the other, rather than just going back to the central one to find the archways - but that's fine. they can figure this out. they're both reasonably intelligent people.]