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[laughitoff]

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[laughitoff]

...

What's wrong?

[strikingchords]

...

As I said.

Cannot decide for others.

[laughitoff]

[ccccarefully]

I'm not following.

[strikingchords]

"I would have said I wanted to be friends, once."

[laughitoff]

Ah.

[this silence is some sort of champion peak of awkward stickiness. you could make meringue out of this silence]

[strikingchords]

[just. searching his face, wide-eyed]

[laughitoff]

I did mean that.

[strikingchords]

[...kind of draws himself up subtly, some of that wide-eyed anticipation lost in tension... but, stubborn]

Asked what changed. You replied, "I don't really know where we stand now."

Have explained my position.

Where, then?

It is yours that is unclear.

[laughitoff]

I've pointed out that a desire for myself to be friends with anyone now is foolish. I don't make a very good one. I would rather not put others in a position to deal with that. I meant that as well.

[strikingchords]

["You have told him, 'I respect you, and wish to stay by your side'? ...Even if you do say it as directly as that, it may still take him time to believe it. He is too used to thinking otherwise at the moment."

...

trying to think, past the first bite of rejection.

Wei Wuxian is repeating himself.

"What's the point of missing such things?"]

...

[laughitoff]

[he has time to think. Wei Wuxian's drawn himself up into something approximating decent posture for once, tail curled around himself, hands clenched in his lap]

[strikingchords]

[he keeps trying to chase the tangle of his own thoughts through the hot pained pound of his own heartbeat till he gets... distracted by those hands...

studies them, the white knuckles, the unusual, defensive posture, the fluffy tail tucked tight around him; lifts his eyes to Wei Wuxian's face again and studies that, too]

[laughitoff]

[It'S VERY STILL AND SET. HIS EARS ARE FLATTENED RIGHT DOWN TO HIS HAIR]

[strikingchords]

[oh no.]

You are unhappy.

[laughitoff]

I'm fine.

[automatic]

[strikingchords]

[nods]

...

I considered your words.

[laughitoff]

Ah?

[strikingchords]

You cited your circumstances. However, current circumstances match. We intend to collaborate.

Issues to deal with will emerge. But, after we have observed our results.

So. A question.

[laughitoff]

[inclines his head: yes?]

[strikingchords]

[absolutely serious, eyes fixed on Wei Wuxian's again]

...

Would you like it?

[laughitoff]

[twitches, not quite a flinch]

That's irrelevant.

[strikingchords]

Wei Ying.

[laughitoff]

Lan Zhan.

[strikingchords]

...

[low]

You liked the milkshakes.

Please answer.

[laughitoff]

I've answered.