[listen, sizhui's doing his absolute best to not tease jin ling too much, to be fair, but it's difficult when he makes it so easy at times. sometime in the near future, he'll do something that makes jin ling lose it for sure, though he doesn't mean any harm by it and the outcome definitely won't be something he'd expected to happen.
and jin ling needn't worry so much about making situations worse; they have to be bad before they can get better, technically, right? all of the juniors still have much to learn, after all, and nobody's an exception, not even jin ling. he just so happens to be an individual who handles things with more brashness, much like another particular lan they both know, which doesn't mean anything bad, it just means it's different. they shouldn't hold themselves to particularly higher standards when it comes to emotions, especially considering sharing their feelings with one another and conveying things more properly can also be something this future generation could improve on too. (everyone could stand to use their words more often, honestly, not just the younger kids—) but it's an idea that might start with them and spread out between other cultivators who have struggled so hard and for so long.
while in this position, at least he can hold fairy in a gentle embrace, one hand petting through her fur with gratitude, a soft, content-sounding hum escaping him as he tilts his head and rests it against fairy's. maybe it's an awkward position, yes, sizhui doesn't seem all that bothered either way, appreciating the comfort and figuring he's been in stranger stances, given the situation. like, doing one-armed handstands with the other hand copying sect rules! that's far harder in his opinion? the only burdensome thing about this is realizing how dark it is beneath the bottom bunk (which is an odd thing to notice, but not when he's been contemplating petting jin ling's ears for a few minutes now). following through with it, however, won't exactly be a mistake, but he's certainly going to feel embarrassed once it dawns on him that he didn't quite think before acting in the moment.
the hand on his shoulder is where he starts and that's alright there, so it's not unfair for him to assume jin ling mmmight not mind some pets? a broad assumption to make, he knows, but he doesn't like the distressed emotions coming across his friend's face and, in a half-desperate attempt, hopes it's a gesture that could catch jin ling off-guard enough, he doesn't focus as much on the fact they're definitely sort of prisoners aboard this train; nowhere to go except when on-world and no way of returning home, as they've already proved.]
It does, [sizhui agrees, nevertheless.] I'm not denying the similarities are there, just that they're somewhat different.
[then he makes his move with jin ling's attention averted, perhaps another rude way for him to go unnoticed, except he's past caring at this point. now, he wants to help comfort the other boy in whatever way possible, even if asking first would've likely been a better plan.
oh well, ‘you only live once’, or whatever it was he'd heard someone say back on diagad.
thank goodness, he's already withdrawn afterward though, taking jin ling's reaction into account. he hadn't expected him to lean away too, so he feels a little worse than anticipated, but! that's also his fault for assuming— wait, wasn't there a saying about that too? agh!] I'm sorry, [comes without a second thought, his bottom lip briefly tucking between his teeth while he ponders, then he continues,] My fathers and uncle would sometimes pat the top of my head when comforting me? I thought it might help, perhaps... but I probably should have considered it better with your ears.
[he shrinks further back and down a shade, having the decency to look ashamed, despite how he's let his other arm clutch around fairy as well. that way, jin ling can be certain he's not going to reach for him again and he's able to muffle himself partially before repeating,] Sorry. [since he's aware jin ling doesn't like it, but can't help it because wow, what a foolish thing to do.]
you're welcome :')
and jin ling needn't worry so much about making situations worse; they have to be bad before they can get better, technically, right? all of the juniors still have much to learn, after all, and nobody's an exception, not even jin ling. he just so happens to be an individual who handles things with more brashness, much like another particular lan they both know, which doesn't mean anything bad, it just means it's different. they shouldn't hold themselves to particularly higher standards when it comes to emotions, especially considering sharing their feelings with one another and conveying things more properly can also be something this future generation could improve on too. (everyone could stand to use their words more often, honestly, not just the younger kids—) but it's an idea that might start with them and spread out between other cultivators who have struggled so hard and for so long.
while in this position, at least he can hold fairy in a gentle embrace, one hand petting through her fur with gratitude, a soft, content-sounding hum escaping him as he tilts his head and rests it against fairy's. maybe it's an awkward position, yes, sizhui doesn't seem all that bothered either way, appreciating the comfort and figuring he's been in stranger stances, given the situation. like, doing one-armed handstands with the other hand copying sect rules! that's far harder in his opinion? the only burdensome thing about this is realizing how dark it is beneath the bottom bunk (which is an odd thing to notice, but not when he's been contemplating petting jin ling's ears for a few minutes now). following through with it, however, won't exactly be a mistake, but he's certainly going to feel embarrassed once it dawns on him that he didn't quite think before acting in the moment.
the hand on his shoulder is where he starts and that's alright there, so it's not unfair for him to assume jin ling mmmight not mind some pets? a broad assumption to make, he knows, but he doesn't like the distressed emotions coming across his friend's face and, in a half-desperate attempt, hopes it's a gesture that could catch jin ling off-guard enough, he doesn't focus as much on the fact they're definitely sort of prisoners aboard this train; nowhere to go except when on-world and no way of returning home, as they've already proved.]
It does, [sizhui agrees, nevertheless.] I'm not denying the similarities are there, just that they're somewhat different.
[then he makes his move with jin ling's attention averted, perhaps another rude way for him to go unnoticed, except he's past caring at this point. now, he wants to help comfort the other boy in whatever way possible, even if asking first would've likely been a better plan.
oh well, ‘you only live once’, or whatever it was he'd heard someone say back on diagad.
thank goodness, he's already withdrawn afterward though, taking jin ling's reaction into account. he hadn't expected him to lean away too, so he feels a little worse than anticipated, but! that's also his fault for assuming— wait, wasn't there a saying about that too? agh!] I'm sorry, [comes without a second thought, his bottom lip briefly tucking between his teeth while he ponders, then he continues,] My fathers and uncle would sometimes pat the top of my head when comforting me? I thought it might help, perhaps... but I probably should have considered it better with your ears.
[he shrinks further back and down a shade, having the decency to look ashamed, despite how he's let his other arm clutch around fairy as well. that way, jin ling can be certain he's not going to reach for him again and he's able to muffle himself partially before repeating,] Sorry. [since he's aware jin ling doesn't like it, but can't help it because wow, what a foolish thing to do.]