[It is going to take Rin an embarrassingly long time to realize where Xie Lian is. Hell, it's probably going to be close to sunset by the time Rin curses up a storm trying to climb on the roof. His eyes are still red and puffy and his face is a mess, but he's not crying anymore. Emotionally drained, but a little closer to who Rin normally is.]
[ xie lian has been… around, today! he keeps returning to this spot - as the evening carries on, he seems to be keeping a little bit of a vigil.
he’s not actually expecting rin to notice him, so it’s a little surprising - but, a the sound of his voice, he looks down, and offers him a small smile, sheepish. busted. ]
Ah… the view of the sunset from this place is magnificent. That’s all. [ is it? ] Here.
[ and he’ll come over and offer a hand to help pull him up. ]
[Tomorrow is another day in another city. It's fine, probably.
Rin sits there quietly for a moment, watching as the sky turns purple with the hues of nighttime. Then he shifts his position so he's sitting cross-legged, and then he claps his hands in front of him and bows his head a little and closes his eyes. He's trying to do some kind of a prayer position, but he doesn't know what the hell he's doing. Then he starts talking in a mock-prayer voice.]
O, mysterious God of-
[He pauses, and then he cracks one of his eyes open to peek at Xie Lian.]
[Like father like son! But at least Rin isn't flirting with XL.]
Right, right.
[He closes his eye again and starts once more with the overly-dramatic prayer voice.]
O, mysterious god of the central plains! Hear my words and answer my prayers!
There is a demonic spirit living within me! I can't get rid of it, because to do so would kill me. But it cannot be left unchecked, because any time I start having impulsive thoughts it takes over and makes me do regrettable things!
[After that dramatic speech, he quiets down to a normal speaking voice and sneakily peeks at Xie Lian again.]
Please, teach me how to tame the darkness in my heart so I can live like a normal person again?
[ this feels so, so utterly familiar, too, and xie lian is just awash with instant fondness for rin. not just for him as a person and his situation, but for his spirit, as strong and fierce as can possibly be - even after experiencing such an immensely personal, painful trauma, he is still himself. a lantern not snuffed out.
a heart, that wants to be good.
when rin peeks at him, xie lian is smiling. the expression is so, so warm - he looks just touched, for a moment, the gentle and serene visage of a man who became a god so well known for his kindness. ]
...You may sit up straight. [ he plays along, with the god and devotee thing, for a moment, sounding just a bit more imperious. ] I ask those who pray to me never to prostrate - I don't see any merit in simply bowing before the gods as if they are so much better than humans. I was - and am - a human myself.
[ and then. ]
It would be my honor to help you, Rin. I could think of no prayer more important to answer, than one where I can help to set you free from your struggle - and teach you to keep your heart as still as water and that creature locked safe away. In whatever manners necessary - you have my word, as His Highness the Crown Prince, Martial God of the Central Plains.
[ it feels a little like playing dress up to say it, now, to act that way, but some of that imperious fake aura fades, and he holds out a hand. ]
...But more so, you have my word as Xie Lian, beyond anything else.
[Rin sits up, as commanded. He would've done it anyway, but he's e specially doing it to play along with the 'act' of a god and a human communicating.
He listens to what Xie Lian tells him all of this, going about saying he would help in a flourished and fancy way, and he finds himself settling into a more genuine and meaningful smile. He was sure Xie Lian would have something to offer him- meditation is what he had thought of at first, even- but to hear it said so earnestly, and as a friend too, it just warms Rin's damaged and shivering heart. He's taken a lot of mental damage today, but the support of a friend helps make it a little bit easier to handle.]
Y'know, I've never been that good at saying 'thanks'. So...thanks. For listening, and for answering me.
I'll work hard, and I'll be a good student. ...as good of a student as I can be.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
Week 3, Sunday
Date: 2021-10-24 10:11 pm (UTC)Why are you up here?
no subject
Date: 2021-10-24 10:19 pm (UTC)he’s not actually expecting rin to notice him, so it’s a little surprising - but, a the sound of his voice, he looks down, and offers him a small smile, sheepish. busted. ]
Ah… the view of the sunset from this place is magnificent. That’s all. [ is it? ] Here.
[ and he’ll come over and offer a hand to help pull him up. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-24 10:46 pm (UTC)Once he's up on the roof though, he'll sit down next to Xie Lian. The view really is magnificent, just like Xie Lian said.]
It's hard to believe it hasn't even been a whole day yet...we watched the sun rise and the sun set today.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-24 10:58 pm (UTC)a small smile tugs the corner of xie lian’s mouth, and he nods, looking up at the stars slowly blinking on ahead as they settle down. ]
So we did. It is as I said, then - no matter what happens, the light will come. Whether it feels like it should, or not.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-24 11:14 pm (UTC)[Tomorrow is another day in another city. It's fine, probably.
Rin sits there quietly for a moment, watching as the sky turns purple with the hues of nighttime. Then he shifts his position so he's sitting cross-legged, and then he claps his hands in front of him and bows his head a little and closes his eyes. He's trying to do some kind of a prayer position, but he doesn't know what the hell he's doing. Then he starts talking in a mock-prayer voice.]
O, mysterious God of-
[He pauses, and then he cracks one of his eyes open to peek at Xie Lian.]
Er, what are you the god of again?
no subject
Date: 2021-10-24 11:19 pm (UTC)xie lian has absolutely no idea what rin is doing at first. He just kind of watches him, head tilting like a bird, confused —
…and then, as he peeks at him, he laughs. it’s warm and bright, startled out of him, and xie lian can’t help the fond smile on his face. ]
…you can just say the central plains.
[ even if it’s a little silly - how long has it been, since xie lian heard a prayer? ]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-24 11:44 pm (UTC)Right, right.
[He closes his eye again and starts once more with the overly-dramatic prayer voice.]
O, mysterious god of the central plains! Hear my words and answer my prayers!
There is a demonic spirit living within me! I can't get rid of it, because to do so would kill me. But it cannot be left unchecked, because any time I start having impulsive thoughts it takes over and makes me do regrettable things!
[After that dramatic speech, he quiets down to a normal speaking voice and sneakily peeks at Xie Lian again.]
Please, teach me how to tame the darkness in my heart so I can live like a normal person again?
no subject
Date: 2021-10-25 12:33 am (UTC)a heart, that wants to be good.
when rin peeks at him, xie lian is smiling. the expression is so, so warm - he looks just touched, for a moment, the gentle and serene visage of a man who became a god so well known for his kindness. ]
...You may sit up straight. [ he plays along, with the god and devotee thing, for a moment, sounding just a bit more imperious. ] I ask those who pray to me never to prostrate - I don't see any merit in simply bowing before the gods as if they are so much better than humans. I was - and am - a human myself.
[ and then. ]
It would be my honor to help you, Rin. I could think of no prayer more important to answer, than one where I can help to set you free from your struggle - and teach you to keep your heart as still as water and that creature locked safe away. In whatever manners necessary - you have my word, as His Highness the Crown Prince, Martial God of the Central Plains.
[ it feels a little like playing dress up to say it, now, to act that way, but some of that imperious fake aura fades, and he holds out a hand. ]
...But more so, you have my word as Xie Lian, beyond anything else.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-25 02:08 am (UTC)He listens to what Xie Lian tells him all of this, going about saying he would help in a flourished and fancy way, and he finds himself settling into a more genuine and meaningful smile. He was sure Xie Lian would have something to offer him- meditation is what he had thought of at first, even- but to hear it said so earnestly, and as a friend too, it just warms Rin's damaged and shivering heart. He's taken a lot of mental damage today, but the support of a friend helps make it a little bit easier to handle.]
Y'know, I've never been that good at saying 'thanks'. So...thanks. For listening, and for answering me.
I'll work hard, and I'll be a good student. ...as good of a student as I can be.