[ Wen Qing is rarely given to expressing affection or being touchy with others, even the closest of her friends. But some of the reserve she normally feels falls off her shoulders, and when Hermione joins her, she tucks an arm though her friend's so they are standing together, as close as the cumbersome dresses allow. ]
All good revelations, I hope. [ She smiles at Hermione, rising affection in her chest. The entire journey they've been on has been one of horror and fear, but it's brought Hermione into her life, and for that she can't harbor any regrets. ] We are both lucky. Luckier than anything I had ever experienced or expected.
[ She has remained rather stubbornly in favour of wearing men's trousers, which is a boon considering that there were plenty in the closet of the room she was given. It's also a boon, because the proximity becomes all that easier without two ballgowns in the way.
It is not yet time for that ball, anyway. Hermione dressed herself practically for the day, and that day turned into evening with her still out and about.
Now look at them again, Wen Qing's arm looped with hers, one of Hermione's hands coming to rest atop the woman's. As if she's a bold thing. ]
Only good revelations - I did not expect... [ If this blows up in her face, she'll curse the roses later. But right now, it feels imperative to say it. ]
I can't stop thinking about how I wish my only kiss with a woman hadn't been with Miang-Si. [ She keeps going, whilst going red. ] But with you. [ Utterly and completely blushing. Lips pressed together in consternation, over these confessions just... happening. ] And also not the only one ever oh my gods it's like I can't stop talking!
[ uneasy laughter. Hand pats and all. ] I'm very sorry about all that.
[ When Hermione first starts talking, Wen Qing looks away, focused on the wall of roses, the gentle cascade of petals through the air as the sunset gilds them in light. It's a beautiful picture, almost too perfect for idle conversation, and then Hermione continues, and it is no longer idle chatter but something meaningful and deep.
She looks at the other woman, her messy curls and the practical clothing and the beautiful, beloved face, which stirs emotions in her heart that Wen Qing never expected and isn't sure what to do with, even now. ]
I wanted to kiss you. Back in the house we guarded, in Ke-Waihu. Before the serpant surprised us. [ It had been the first time she'd acknowledged that. ] You were so easy to talk to and funny, and I had never let myself feel anything like that before.
[ She swallows sharply, the vulnerability of such conversation drying her throat out. There will be tea, later. Maybe good wine. ] So you are not the only one who wished for such a thing.
[ She raises her free hand to cup Hermione's cheek, firm and gentle, the skilled fingers of a surgeon, and looks at Hermione, a question unvoiced in her eyes, lingering on her tongue. It's so forward to ask, but between Hermione's confession and the way the words feel pulled out of her, as though by magic, she asks: ] Can I kiss you now?
[ That's one way to quickly kill an incontrollable burst of laughter, those five words: I wanted to kiss you. Hermione's breath catches, the giggle dies off in her throat, and she is left standing halfway up the staircase, frozen in place.
It seems surreal that Wen Qing is truly saying those things. It does not feel surreal that those words, from Wen Qing, send a flutter in her stomach and behind her ribcage. She's not a stranger to crushes, not a stranger to wanting someone physically. Even when Miang-Si planted her lips on Hermione, she'd initially thought the young woman tragically pretty - and it had served as a launching pad to micro-analyse her feelings towards women in general.
It's why the List exists. Buried deep in her notes, there is a list of people (not just men, not just women) that Hermione has felt attracted to. Written in a semi-dazed state, trying to make sense of herself, trying to justify that there would be no need to explore those feelings further at all.
Who falls in love during a journey towards survival? Who falls in love with people they're likely to never see again?
Guess I do, she thinks, floating on the words that Wen Qing keeps saying. A smile flickers on Hermione's lips at you are not the only one who wished for such a thing, and then - the question.
She climbs one more step on the giant staircase, and without relinquishing her hold on Wen Qing's free hand, turns to face her. Because it feels right, she returns her hand back to her cheek, pressing a kiss to the inside of her wrist first, then looks the woman in the eyes.] Please do.
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All good revelations, I hope. [ She smiles at Hermione, rising affection in her chest. The entire journey they've been on has been one of horror and fear, but it's brought Hermione into her life, and for that she can't harbor any regrets. ] We are both lucky. Luckier than anything I had ever experienced or expected.
no subject
It is not yet time for that ball, anyway. Hermione dressed herself practically for the day, and that day turned into evening with her still out and about.
Now look at them again, Wen Qing's arm looped with hers, one of Hermione's hands coming to rest atop the woman's. As if she's a bold thing. ]
Only good revelations - I did not expect... [ If this blows up in her face, she'll curse the roses later. But right now, it feels imperative to say it. ]
I can't stop thinking about how I wish my only kiss with a woman hadn't been with Miang-Si. [ She keeps going, whilst going red. ] But with you. [ Utterly and completely blushing. Lips pressed together in consternation, over these confessions just... happening. ] And also not the only one ever oh my gods it's like I can't stop talking!
[ uneasy laughter. Hand pats and all. ] I'm very sorry about all that.
no subject
She looks at the other woman, her messy curls and the practical clothing and the beautiful, beloved face, which stirs emotions in her heart that Wen Qing never expected and isn't sure what to do with, even now. ]
I wanted to kiss you. Back in the house we guarded, in Ke-Waihu. Before the serpant surprised us. [ It had been the first time she'd acknowledged that. ] You were so easy to talk to and funny, and I had never let myself feel anything like that before.
[ She swallows sharply, the vulnerability of such conversation drying her throat out. There will be tea, later. Maybe good wine. ] So you are not the only one who wished for such a thing.
[ She raises her free hand to cup Hermione's cheek, firm and gentle, the skilled fingers of a surgeon, and looks at Hermione, a question unvoiced in her eyes, lingering on her tongue. It's so forward to ask, but between Hermione's confession and the way the words feel pulled out of her, as though by magic, she asks: ] Can I kiss you now?
no subject
It seems surreal that Wen Qing is truly saying those things. It does not feel surreal that those words, from Wen Qing, send a flutter in her stomach and behind her ribcage. She's not a stranger to crushes, not a stranger to wanting someone physically. Even when Miang-Si planted her lips on Hermione, she'd initially thought the young woman tragically pretty - and it had served as a launching pad to micro-analyse her feelings towards women in general.
It's why the List exists. Buried deep in her notes, there is a list of people (not just men, not just women) that Hermione has felt attracted to. Written in a semi-dazed state, trying to make sense of herself, trying to justify that there would be no need to explore those feelings further at all.
Who falls in love during a journey towards survival? Who falls in love with people they're likely to never see again?
Guess I do, she thinks, floating on the words that Wen Qing keeps saying. A smile flickers on Hermione's lips at you are not the only one who wished for such a thing, and then - the question.
She climbs one more step on the giant staircase, and without relinquishing her hold on Wen Qing's free hand, turns to face her. Because it feels right, she returns her hand back to her cheek, pressing a kiss to the inside of her wrist first, then looks the woman in the eyes.] Please do.