[It's taken some time, but Xingchen has asked around about the barrels of oranges and where they're located. It's just...these sailors don't seem to like him much. But Xingchen is used to being shunned. He does eventually get some grumbled answers to his questions, though, and that's the important part.
So he makes his way back below decks, a small basket full of oranges, intending to share them with Xue Yang. Or whoever he meets.
Xue Yang... Xingchen isn't sure he'll ever feel quite at ease with that man ever again, and yet he's bringing him this kind of delicacy. It's not candy - he still doesn't have the heart to pick that up again - but the sentiment is similar. Xue Yang is trying. Shouldn't he do the same?
He gets back to where the two of them have been rooming, for lack of a better word, amd quietly calls out.]
[He responds right away, honed in on Xingchen's voice. Generally, he is a light sleeper out of necessity, although he frequently pretends to be a deep sleeper when he can get away with it. When his arms are around Xingchen and he can refuse to open his eyes and soak in his warmth instead.
Right now, though? He sits up, looking Xingchen over right away, just in case he's injured. As he doesn't appear to be, he relaxes, leaning back.]
[He swallows, because something is thick in his throat and he's not quite sure what. His tongue feels heavy, so he says nothing at the moment. He just reaches out for Xingchen's hand, grabbing him by the wrist rather than going for the orange. Pulling him close carefully, he's nevertheless insistent until Xingchen sits next to him.
Then he turns to face him, unaware of his soft smile. He traces the side of Xingchen's face with his free hand, the other still holding on to his wrist.]
I'll take them from you. That way I know they'll be sweet.
[Being grabbed like this isn't a surprise. Xue Yang did it plenty of times before. Xingchen allows himself to be pulled down to sit and to be touched.]
I hope I chose well. You know I'm not the best at that.
[He prepared far too many meals for the three of them that ended up being less than satisfactory due to his inability to discern good produce from the refuse.]
[That is high praise, coming from him, and he finally releases his wrist to actually reach for the orange and take it from him. He can peel it quickly enough, breathing in.]
It smells nice. [He breaks off a piece and pushes it past his own lips, then holds another against Xingchen's.] Have a taste, daozhang.
[He should be used to Xue Yang's flirtations by now, but they still affect him. He bows his head, feeling his cheeks flush.
Moments pass and the refreshing zest of the orange hits his nose, as well. This one really does smell good. Xingchen's tongue sneaks out to lick his lips of its own accord, but then there's an orange slice pressed against those same lips and he opens his mouth obediently.
It is sweet, with a little shock of tartness, but nothing overwhelming. Just the right amount. He finishes the slice and licks his lips again.]
Are you not doing it on purpose, daozhang? Truly not?
[It's not that he actually doubts that, it's just that he can barely believe how skilfully Xingchen teases without having the slightest clue. He doesn't bother resisting, instead he cups his cheek with one hand, gently brushing his thumb across Xingchen's lower lip.]
Open up for me, won't you?
[His voice is a whisper and then he puts another orange slice between his own lips, so he can lean forward to guide it into Xingchen's mouth.]
[There is no teasing in his tone, only sincerity. He really doesn't know what Xue Yang means.
But then there's a hand on his face again, touching more intimately now, and a softer voice, and Xingchen complies. His mouth opens amd before he can wonder too much about what this could mean, another orange slice is pressed into his mouth.
Except, this time, it's accompanied by Xue Yang's face so close to his own. This is...
His teeth and tongue take hold of the orange slice and pull it entirely into his mouth. Xingchen can tell that one half of it is a little wet from where it's been between Xue Yang's lips, but that thought is quickly forgotten as he chews and eats it.
And then, with the taste of the juice still fresh in his mouth, he presses his lips to Xue Yang's.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
action;
Date: 2022-06-15 09:55 pm (UTC)So he makes his way back below decks, a small basket full of oranges, intending to share them with Xue Yang. Or whoever he meets.
Xue Yang... Xingchen isn't sure he'll ever feel quite at ease with that man ever again, and yet he's bringing him this kind of delicacy. It's not candy - he still doesn't have the heart to pick that up again - but the sentiment is similar. Xue Yang is trying. Shouldn't he do the same?
He gets back to where the two of them have been rooming, for lack of a better word, amd quietly calls out.]
Xue Yang? Are you down here?
Re: action;
Date: 2022-06-15 10:00 pm (UTC)[He responds right away, honed in on Xingchen's voice. Generally, he is a light sleeper out of necessity, although he frequently pretends to be a deep sleeper when he can get away with it. When his arms are around Xingchen and he can refuse to open his eyes and soak in his warmth instead.
Right now, though? He sits up, looking Xingchen over right away, just in case he's injured. As he doesn't appear to be, he relaxes, leaning back.]
Do you need me, daozhang?
no subject
Date: 2022-06-15 10:11 pm (UTC)He shakes his head, then realizes it could be dark down here.]
No, I... I have something for you.
[He pulls out an orange from the basket and holds it toward Xue Yang.]
Wen Qing said we should be eating these often. And it's been a while since I've had one. I don't know about you.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-15 10:17 pm (UTC)Then he turns to face him, unaware of his soft smile. He traces the side of Xingchen's face with his free hand, the other still holding on to his wrist.]
I'll take them from you. That way I know they'll be sweet.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-15 10:32 pm (UTC)I hope I chose well. You know I'm not the best at that.
[He prepared far too many meals for the three of them that ended up being less than satisfactory due to his inability to discern good produce from the refuse.]
no subject
Date: 2022-06-15 10:40 pm (UTC)[That is high praise, coming from him, and he finally releases his wrist to actually reach for the orange and take it from him. He can peel it quickly enough, breathing in.]
It smells nice. [He breaks off a piece and pushes it past his own lips, then holds another against Xingchen's.] Have a taste, daozhang.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-15 10:52 pm (UTC)Moments pass and the refreshing zest of the orange hits his nose, as well. This one really does smell good. Xingchen's tongue sneaks out to lick his lips of its own accord, but then there's an orange slice pressed against those same lips and he opens his mouth obediently.
It is sweet, with a little shock of tartness, but nothing overwhelming. Just the right amount. He finishes the slice and licks his lips again.]
It is good.
no subject
Date: 2022-06-15 10:56 pm (UTC)[It's not that he actually doubts that, it's just that he can barely believe how skilfully Xingchen teases without having the slightest clue. He doesn't bother resisting, instead he cups his cheek with one hand, gently brushing his thumb across Xingchen's lower lip.]
Open up for me, won't you?
[His voice is a whisper and then he puts another orange slice between his own lips, so he can lean forward to guide it into Xingchen's mouth.]
no subject
Date: 2022-06-15 11:16 pm (UTC)Not doing what?
[There is no teasing in his tone, only sincerity. He really doesn't know what Xue Yang means.
But then there's a hand on his face again, touching more intimately now, and a softer voice, and Xingchen complies. His mouth opens amd before he can wonder too much about what this could mean, another orange slice is pressed into his mouth.
Except, this time, it's accompanied by Xue Yang's face so close to his own. This is...
His teeth and tongue take hold of the orange slice and pull it entirely into his mouth. Xingchen can tell that one half of it is a little wet from where it's been between Xue Yang's lips, but that thought is quickly forgotten as he chews and eats it.
And then, with the taste of the juice still fresh in his mouth, he presses his lips to Xue Yang's.]