{ he's already cried once thanks to boothill and castorice, it already feels raw and difficult to accept when even if, with their words, he should stop blaming himself. he can't, not yet.
but he can deflect and throw his good buddy under the bus- }
You're warmer than Boothill is for this.
{ if he sounds choked up and guizhong's shoulder feels a bit wet please do not bring it up, guizhong... }
{ he huffs at that, unable to bring a full laugh up even if he tries to. he's too tired. physically, mentally, emotionally. earlier he'd said he wasn't but that was before all of this.
at her question though he pauses, exhales softly then nods. his voice is quiet when he speaks, but it'll give her the verbal consent in case she needs it. }
[She's gentle with it even though she asked. Her fingers drop out of his hair and her hand lands softly between his shoulder blades, patting comfortingly against his back.
She is still lightly swaying, just enought to be noticed.]
It's not so bad, is it, to let someone look after you for a little while?
{ he still twitches at the first touch, his hands reaching up to hold onto her sides, but he makes no move to stop her. a few seconds later he's relaxing again, as though he's telling himself this time... this time maybe it's fine.
maybe it isn't a trick, or something that will be pulled out from under him. maybe, just maybe, he can trust. }
Past experiences tell me that people only do this to get an advantage, once they have what they want... I'm sure I don't need to say the rest.
{ she'll hear the inhale he gives in response to that softness too. it isn't sharp, just slow and deep, trying to force his body to relax. trying to push back the flight mechanism, the urge to put on a mask to hide behind. to not be perceived.
maybe it's okay to let himself believe if he does trust this time it won't end up with his heart being stomped on. maybe. }
Don't... do too much though. { his head is tilted down, but she can probably feel the tension. } If you do, I can't... promise something won't happen down the line. Already this much I- { he laughs, laughs because he doesn't know how else to process it. } -I don't know what price we'd have to pay for it.
[Whatever that means. She can feel the tension in him, knowing it's directed at something that isn't her but... something else that he's worried about.
Her phone lets out a notification beep.]
Ah... [A hum.] That will be the food I ordered. Sit down, all right? I'll go and get it and make you something to eat.
{ he inhales, swallows back wanting to say 'you wouldn't deserve to suffer or die because of me' and instead just... nods. nods and follows the order to sit down. }
Sure, I can do that.
{ the cat cakes have probably been hanging around close by as it is, seeing that guizhong will step away for a moment they hop up to curl up with him anyway.
guizhong will get to see him get piled on before she moves to the kitchen. }
[And she might scold him - of course she would - for thinking he could even begin to take that kind of responsibility on himself, and that she can get herself into trouble quite well enough without any kind of assistance from him at all.
She pats him on the head before she moves away to get the door and bring in the fairly modest bag of groceries, and she spends the next half an hour or so completely overtaking every inch of Aventurine's kitchen as she cooks (and she will be staying clear of that spice rack, thank you, you deviant).
Occasionally she does check in on him, making sure the cat cakes are doing their job, and soon enough she's heading over with a bowl of soup and two pieces of warm, buttered bread.]
Here we go! Now, eat up. I don't want to hear any complaints about vegetables.
{ it's happened enough time that he expects it. his luck is as much like a pendulum as it is a black hole. he somehow manages to make it when the tides try to knock him over, other people haven't been so lucky. literally.
he doesn't do much while she's away cooking, instead seems to have spent the majority of the time petting the cats who have curled up either next to his side or across his chest and lap. the three of them seem to be content to lay there, and there's a munya! of complaint when guizhong comes back and he gently nudges them aside. just enough to eat. }
I don't really mind anything...
{ which is how he ends up with a bowl of cup cupped under his hand, then resting on a pillow when the heat gets too much. }
[She didn't think he'd mind, not really, but she can rarely resist teasing him a little. Guizhong isn't going to watch him eat, that would be weird, so she gets up and gently ruffles his hair before going to make herself some tea.
A short time later, settled into the corner of the couch and holding her cup, she takes a small sip and hums softly, glancing over to the young man eating his soup.]
{ she really has settled herself in, not that he's paying attention to that. he's slow as he eats, one spoonful at a time. slow and steady, pauses in between. he'll idly pet the cat at his side too, one arm slouched over it.
he glances up at the question, realises he hasn't... really paid attention to the taste.
he takes another bite, actually tries to think on it this time. }
It's... It's good. Probably a lot better than anything I'd make.
I can teach you how to make it, if you'd like. It's an old Liyue recipe.
[Flavourful without being too rich, perfected over hundreds of years of being a favourite of the adepti. She could have made him something with more meat but if he hadn't eaten for a few days... that would probably be too much.
She didn't quite believe him when he said he had eaten this morning.]
It isn't difficult, and you don't have to be too precise with what you put into it.
{ he glances at her as he takes another spoonful, waits until he's done before he finishes. }
Shouldn't I start with something simpler?
{ he pokes around with his spoon then, she can probably tell he's taking his sweet time with it, incredibly slow like he's pushing himself to work through it. he's getting there, bit by bit. }
{ he still twitches slightly, but it isn't anything drastic. }
Have I eaten enough to satisfy your worries?
{ it's said with a sad sort of soft laugh, like he knows he isn't making it easy for her, but doesn't know what to do with himself to make it up to her, to try and relieve her of her worries. }
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no subject
Date: 2025-12-30 07:45 pm (UTC)but he can deflect and throw his good buddy under the bus- }
You're warmer than Boothill is for this.
{ if he sounds choked up and guizhong's shoulder feels a bit wet please do not bring it up, guizhong... }
no subject
Date: 2025-12-30 11:18 pm (UTC)[She murmurs the words as she rests her cheek against his head, definitely not mentioning the sniffling.
Her fingers run through his hair as she idly sways them both from side to side.]
... Would it be all right if I touched your shoulders?
[Not wanting to startle him again...]
no subject
Date: 2025-12-31 12:08 am (UTC)at her question though he pauses, exhales softly then nods. his voice is quiet when he speaks, but it'll give her the verbal consent in case she needs it. }
Go ahead.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-31 12:20 am (UTC)She is still lightly swaying, just enought to be noticed.]
It's not so bad, is it, to let someone look after you for a little while?
no subject
Date: 2025-12-31 11:33 pm (UTC)maybe it isn't a trick, or something that will be pulled out from under him. maybe, just maybe, he can trust. }
Past experiences tell me that people only do this to get an advantage, once they have what they want... I'm sure I don't need to say the rest.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-07 02:04 am (UTC)I think I understand.
[She gets the idea. While she has him held against her like this she gives his temple a little kiss.]
And I shan't be offended if you hold such suspicions about me. I will be here to take care of you regardless.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-09 12:22 am (UTC)maybe it's okay to let himself believe if he does trust this time it won't end up with his heart being stomped on. maybe. }
Don't... do too much though. { his head is tilted down, but she can probably feel the tension. } If you do, I can't... promise something won't happen down the line. Already this much I- { he laughs, laughs because he doesn't know how else to process it. } -I don't know what price we'd have to pay for it.
{ what does that even mean- }
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 12:27 am (UTC)[Whatever that means. She can feel the tension in him, knowing it's directed at something that isn't her but... something else that he's worried about.
Her phone lets out a notification beep.]
Ah... [A hum.] That will be the food I ordered. Sit down, all right? I'll go and get it and make you something to eat.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-11 10:24 pm (UTC)Sure, I can do that.
{ the cat cakes have probably been hanging around close by as it is, seeing that guizhong will step away for a moment they hop up to curl up with him anyway.
guizhong will get to see him get piled on before she moves to the kitchen. }
no subject
Date: 2026-01-15 09:06 am (UTC)She pats him on the head before she moves away to get the door and bring in the fairly modest bag of groceries, and she spends the next half an hour or so completely overtaking every inch of Aventurine's kitchen as she cooks (and she will be staying clear of that spice rack, thank you, you deviant).
Occasionally she does check in on him, making sure the cat cakes are doing their job, and soon enough she's heading over with a bowl of soup and two pieces of warm, buttered bread.]
Here we go! Now, eat up. I don't want to hear any complaints about vegetables.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-15 05:13 pm (UTC)he doesn't do much while she's away cooking, instead seems to have spent the majority of the time petting the cats who have curled up either next to his side or across his chest and lap. the three of them seem to be content to lay there, and there's a munya! of complaint when guizhong comes back and he gently nudges them aside. just enough to eat. }
I don't really mind anything...
{ which is how he ends up with a bowl of cup cupped under his hand, then resting on a pillow when the heat gets too much. }
...Thanks, though.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 05:22 pm (UTC)A short time later, settled into the corner of the couch and holding her cup, she takes a small sip and hums softly, glancing over to the young man eating his soup.]
How is it?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 07:47 pm (UTC)he glances up at the question, realises he hasn't... really paid attention to the taste.
he takes another bite, actually tries to think on it this time. }
It's... It's good. Probably a lot better than anything I'd make.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-21 05:47 pm (UTC)[Flavourful without being too rich, perfected over hundreds of years of being a favourite of the adepti. She could have made him something with more meat but if he hadn't eaten for a few days... that would probably be too much.
She didn't quite believe him when he said he had eaten this morning.]
It isn't difficult, and you don't have to be too precise with what you put into it.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-22 11:42 pm (UTC)Shouldn't I start with something simpler?
{ he pokes around with his spoon then, she can probably tell he's taking his sweet time with it, incredibly slow like he's pushing himself to work through it. he's getting there, bit by bit. }
no subject
Date: 2026-02-06 11:28 pm (UTC)[She leans against his arm very gently, looking at him with a soft, fond smile.]
You don't have to force it down, sweet boy. I won't be insulted.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-09 09:14 pm (UTC){ his eyes stay down towards the bowl, takes another bite. }
And for that reason, I don't like to waste things either. It's just. Hard to stomach right now.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-14 09:51 pm (UTC)It'll keep, you know? You can put it back in the pot.
[It'll keep for a little while, at least. She should be able to portion it up and put it away for him to eat for a couple of days.]
no subject
Date: 2026-02-16 11:58 pm (UTC)Have I eaten enough to satisfy your worries?
{ it's said with a sad sort of soft laugh, like he knows he isn't making it easy for her, but doesn't know what to do with himself to make it up to her, to try and relieve her of her worries. }
no subject
Date: 2026-02-21 11:35 pm (UTC)If my only worries were about your nutrition, I would be entirely satisfied.
[He isn't making it easy, but she knows he isn't doing it on purpose. He's hurting and she wants to help in any way she can.]
Can I persuade you to try and get some rest?