(no subject)

[shangba]

( Midday, past lunch observed with Xichen: )


How fared the children this morning?

Comments

[shangba]

Perhaps it is his gift.

[emperorssmile]

Our little treasure.

I wonder if he knows how much we love him?

[shangba]

Does. Preens, at times, when Wei Ying kisses.

[emperorssmile]

Does he? I’m glad.

He’s going to be able to read you even better than I can.

[shangba]

Despite the absence of my smiles?

[emperorssmile]

You smile with your eyes more than your lips.

Your neutral face does look a little grumpy, though.

He feels safe around you. He relaxes when you’re the one holding him.

[shangba]

My smell, sooner than my face.

[emperorssmile]

He has good taste.

You make me feel safe, too.

[shangba]

You know no better.

[emperorssmile]

I know you won’t let anything bad happen to me when we’re together. You’re saying I’m wrong?

[shangba]

You speak of physical harm.

[emperorssmile]

You protect my spirit, too. You encourage me to do better even when I complain about it.

[shangba]

At times, I wound your heart.

[emperorssmile]

Misunderstandings.

I’m guilty of doing the same to you.

[shangba]

At times we wound with purpose, stubbornly. Pettily.

[emperorssmile]

You’re right, we do that sometimes. I always feel bad about it as soon as the words leave my mouth.

There’s room for us to grow up.

[shangba]

...unfair. You speak so sweetly before a duel.

[emperorssmile]

I need all the edge I can get!

Would you rather have fighting words?

[shangba]

Would not survive them.

[emperorssmile]

And I wouldn’t survive you not surviving.

Do you want to duel me because you want to see how far my cultivation’s come or is it because it reminds you of when we first met?

[shangba]

Wei Ying.

It thrills me to match against you.

I do not think of you as a creature to protected. You are my soulmate, my equal. I compete with you.

[emperorssmile]

I know. It’s getting easier for me to believe it as I get stronger.

A little competition can push us both to be better.

[shangba]

At times, you speak as if I only love the man I lost.

[emperorssmile]

I compare myself to me too much, I think. I know you love me as I am.

[shangba]

But you do not trust.