[ xiao xingchen's senses are amplified enough already, now that he's been blinded. already a cultivator, well attuned to the world around him, xiao xingchen sees the world through sound, and with how absolutely hyperfocused he is on song lan, he wouldn't miss a thing. he hears the fabric moving, thinks wildly, for a moment, that he's going to join him (and that would be nice, wouldn't it?), and sucks in a breath as if predicting the feeling of the washcloth before it touches his back.
almost immediately, goosebumps crawl down his spine. the silk of his sleeve is an overdrive of sensation, and song lan's hair, and--
xiao xingchen reaches upwards, moving to pull his dark hair properly over his shoulders and out of song lan's way. he exhales, his shoulders drooping underneath the care of his touch. maybe he shouldn't be listening so much to song lan behind him: if his heart keeps beating this fast against his chest he might sooner drown him out. he's talking himself back into rational thoughts here. (song lan isn't the only one feeling like he's been struck by lightning. xiao xingchen can taste it in the air, the faint burnt feeling of something more powerful than he's ready to put to words.)
slowly, his head dips forward. the faint touch feels nice; xiao xingchen tries to focus on that instead of every other haywire emotion thundering in his bloodstream, playing a tune on his ribcage. he listens instead for the sound of song lan's breathing, to try and link them together, to find a state beyond teetering over the edge of a cliff of something.
as he counts (inhale, and exhale) he doesn't hear a breath. he hears i have missed you, instead, and something in xiao xingchen snaps.
he turns his head, the best he can, even though he can't see him, and blurts-- ] Join me. [ in a way that completely escapes any sense of logic or propriety, a sudden burst of intense emotion actualized. instead of letting this simmer, it's taking the bridge that's been thrown across the chasm between them in a running leap, because xiao xingchen's already ruined this once. what is the worst that could possibly happen?
(admittedly, the moment it comes out of his mouth, his cheeks color. it has nothing to do with the heat of the water, and everything to do with he just said that out loud.
none the less, he stands by it, mouth opening to say something again and then closing, stubborn in the admittance and refusing to back down, even if it was impulsive.) ]
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almost immediately, goosebumps crawl down his spine. the silk of his sleeve is an overdrive of sensation, and song lan's hair, and--
xiao xingchen reaches upwards, moving to pull his dark hair properly over his shoulders and out of song lan's way. he exhales, his shoulders drooping underneath the care of his touch. maybe he shouldn't be listening so much to song lan behind him: if his heart keeps beating this fast against his chest he might sooner drown him out. he's talking himself back into rational thoughts here. (song lan isn't the only one feeling like he's been struck by lightning. xiao xingchen can taste it in the air, the faint burnt feeling of something more powerful than he's ready to put to words.)
slowly, his head dips forward. the faint touch feels nice; xiao xingchen tries to focus on that instead of every other haywire emotion thundering in his bloodstream, playing a tune on his ribcage. he listens instead for the sound of song lan's breathing, to try and link them together, to find a state beyond teetering over the edge of a cliff of something.
as he counts (inhale, and exhale) he doesn't hear a breath. he hears i have missed you, instead, and something in xiao xingchen snaps.
he turns his head, the best he can, even though he can't see him, and blurts-- ] Join me. [ in a way that completely escapes any sense of logic or propriety, a sudden burst of intense emotion actualized. instead of letting this simmer, it's taking the bridge that's been thrown across the chasm between them in a running leap, because xiao xingchen's already ruined this once. what is the worst that could possibly happen?
(admittedly, the moment it comes out of his mouth, his cheeks color. it has nothing to do with the heat of the water, and everything to do with he just said that out loud.
none the less, he stands by it, mouth opening to say something again and then closing, stubborn in the admittance and refusing to back down, even if it was impulsive.) ]