— xingchen.

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

( smile softens, fingers delicately squeezing his hand as they walk. )

collecting sticks i thought could be useful for fire at home. these ones were more dry to the touch. i also picked some berries. will you look them over when we get back?

[JUDGMENT (UPRIGHT) , @AKAZICHEN]

[ takes his hand and kisses his knuckles. starts walking, keeping them shoulder to shoulder. ]

what were you doing all the way over here anyway?

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

thank you. i’d rather not fall in if i don’t have to.

( playful smile. )

[JUDGMENT (UPRIGHT) , @AKAZICHEN]

it’s — i -

i’ll be right there 💧

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

perhaps when my zichen comes to guide me around the rather large lake that i am currently stuck on the other side of.

[JUDGMENT (UPRIGHT) , @AKAZICHEN]

when will my @AKAXINGCHEN return from war

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

( simply collapses the moment he’s returned to town. it appears that wherever the taoist has been, it has taken its toll on the man. xiao xingchen is still breathing, but it does appear that he’s burning up with a fever and looks paler than usual. — at least he made it back? )

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

@goodsinnings xue yang wants attention, does he? luckily for him, xingchen won’t tease him too much this time. next time, perhaps. skilled fingers work, weaving a new basket for a later marketplace trip as the slightest trace of a smile quirks the taoist’s lips.

“ yes, little troublemaker? ”

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

home with the one he loves. and not just a home : a full one with pets, a garden, chickens and dogs.

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

“ that sounds lovely, zichen. i think it’s the perfect plan ; do you think we’ll have room for a cat, too? i’d love to have one while you’re out. ”

he sounds hopeful, squeezing his hand. xingchen sighs, content. he can imagine it now : their own space. the warmth of a+

[JUDGMENT (UPRIGHT) , @AKAZICHEN]

working on building it in the last half of summer, and i can work on the garden for winter crops. maybe we could get some animals too, two or three chickens, and dogs. i see strays in every town, i’m sure they’d love to follow us home..”

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

“ i’ll have to take your word for it, darling. it sounds exactly like what you’re looking for, though. if it makes you happy, then i am happy too. ”

carefully, the taoist gently bumps his cheek against zichen’s own and turns his head to kiss his cheek.

[JUDGMENT (UPRIGHT) , @AKAZICHEN]

leans back against him, a smile pulling at his lips.

`` mm. when i was out looking for you, i found a place out east that i thought could’ve been nice. open land, a nearby river, plenty of space for homes and maybe a big garden..”

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

xingchen smiles when his darling calls him. carefully, he leans against zichen as he listens to the sound of his voice.

“ you wanted a home closer to the mountains or, no, it was the countryside, wasn’t it? ”

[JUDGMENT (UPRIGHT) , @AKAZICHEN]

@AKAXINGCHEN

`` xingchen.” a gentle brush up against him, head turning towards his lovely companion. the frustration of the day eases in his presence, what power this man holds over him.

`` we should think about finding a place for us again. i’d like to set down roots.”

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

is it only fifteen? perhaps it’ll be sixteen tonight then.

( is he teasing? he’s definitely teasing, given the smile spreading across his lips. )

[— black heart @demonicharms]

[ now he's hiding his face against his neck, blowing a raspberry in protest. ]

it was only fifteen times!

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

for now.

( xingchen agrees, rocking forward and raising his chin so that he might — hopefully — lay a kiss on zichen’s cheek. )

[JUDGMENT (UPRIGHT) , @AKAZICHEN]

[ quietly seethes. oh, how he loathes xue yang.]

… fine. i’ll leave him alone for now.

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

as opposed to the other sixteen times?

( xingchen teases, gently nudging xue yang. )

i don’t mind if you wish to help. it’s probably for the best if you cut the vegetables for me and get the heat going ; i can handle the rest.

[— black heart @demonicharms]

[ well now he's pouting. the market is much less fun than hunting, buttttttttttt if xingchen insists, he'll do it his way. ]

do you want help cooking? I promise not to burn anything this time!

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

hmm. no, that won’t be necessary. i’m certain that it should still be fine. another time, perhaps, you could get another one from the marketplace.

[— black heart @demonicharms]

ooh, that sounds perfect! are you sure the chicken is still good? I can always go ki– hunt some more down for you~!

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

he’s very helpful and, though i can handle myself anyway, he doesn’t let the merchants take advantage of my blindness. beyond that, it is likely the three years i’ve already spent in his company.

[JUDGMENT (UPRIGHT) , @AKAZICHEN]

i hate him so much. why do you tolerate him?

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

( gently pats at his back, small smile working its way across his features. )

how do you feel about stir fry? i can add a little meat in this time as a treat. we do still have that chicken from the other day.

[— black heart @demonicharms]

hello! [ he's draping himself over the man's shoulders, his chin tucked into the crook of his neck. ]

I'm hunnnngryyyyyy. what's for dinner?

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

of course i am.

[JUDGMENT (UPRIGHT) , @AKAZICHEN]

[ opens mouth ]

[ closes mouth ]

… fuck. you’re right.

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

( too bad he cannot see those grabbyhands, but luckily, he does still have full use of his ears. )

hello to you, too.

[— black heart @demonicharms]

xingchen.

( grabby hands. )

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

pardon my language but he’ll probably get off on it, zichen.

[JUDGMENT (UPRIGHT) , @AKAZICHEN]

just one stab? it won’t even hurt him.

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

no.

[JUDGMENT (UPRIGHT) , @AKAZICHEN]

xingchen!

[— xingchen. @AKAXINGCHEN]

zichen.

[JUDGMENT (UPRIGHT) , @AKAZICHEN]

i’m not a fish murderer! i don’t murder fish! i give back for it! i’ll give back for killing xue yang! he’ll be a great meal for the scavengers.