[ He blinks at her, not expecting the touch or the words that follow. It leaves him silent a moment, something warm in his chest—gratitude toward all the people he'd met, Shenhe included, and their kindness.
He's not sure how to accept it, but he believes her, and values that she made the effort to share this sentiment with him. ]
... Thanks.
[ He meets her gaze with a small smile. ]
I'm really glad we met, Shenhe. I wouldn't trade our friendship for anything.
[actually he can have this as a memory in return - it's short and simple.
When you were first brought to Mt. Hulao, you wouldn't speak.
You didn't feel like it was necessary. There was nothing to say. Nothing that could express how bad you felt. The only thing that felt worth it was the sea of clouds among the mountains. You liked to climb to the peak and watch them lazily float by. Your mind empties this way - you don't have to think of the monster that still haunts you. You don't have to think about the way it stalked you across the floor, the way it laughed when you screamed, the way --
You watch the clouds. You sleep when you're tired. You drink the dew of the mountains when thirsty, and chew on a few stalks of Qingxin when hungry. This is your existence for weeks.
The adepti that rescued you from the cave floor watches you, sometimes, and you ignore her. She's a beautiful, graceful crane, and her voice annoys you sometimes. But she doesn't bother you for the most part. Until one day, she approaches you with a comb.
It's very pretty. White jade, made from a sacred stone. Cloud Retainer, the crane adepti, tells you that should you brush your hair thrice with this comb, it would be counted as a rite of apprenticeship. You would sever your ties with the mortal world, and enter adeptal tutelage.
Without hesitation, you do exactly as the adeptus says. You don't want this, you don't want to be mortal, you don't want to be human. You still will be, but anything you can do to distance yourself from this, you want. And as you start to brush your hair, something strange happens. The jade comb strokes once, from root to tip - and a frosty silver color shivers down from the top to bottom, replacing the black.
On the second brush, but half your hair remains dark. And when you finish, only a flowing curtain of snow is left.
[ ... Oh. It still strikes Rin as tragic, to see Shenhe in that memory—haunted, a survivor, and the stark contrast to the girl she was before her father left her in that cave.
He's not the type to be forward with touch, but his fingers brush the crook of her arm, tilting his head closer to look at her hair more closely. ]
That explains it. [ And then looking back at her. ] That was a beautiful crane.
[aw, rin. she rests her hand on top of his briefly, to let him know she's okay with it. when he looks - it is silver! there's a bit of black at the very end, though.]
That was Cloud Retainer. My master. [kind of mom.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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He's not sure how to accept it, but he believes her, and values that she made the effort to share this sentiment with him. ]
... Thanks.
[ He meets her gaze with a small smile. ]
I'm really glad we met, Shenhe. I wouldn't trade our friendship for anything.
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she smiles a little, when he gives her one. it's small, but she's been practicing!]
I am glad we met, too. [she brings that hand up to push his hair out of his face.] And I am glad you think of me as a friend.
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She's so mom, he looks a little pleased at the touch. ]
Think of? Does that mean we aren't actually?
[ He's teasing.
Also, while we're here, have another memory. It's not important, I just need everyone to look at Rin's perfect little sister. ]
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Your... sister? You have a sibling. [ohhh this is so cute... shenhe tilts her head a little.] She looks like you.
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Yeah, Gou. The two of us and my mom have a pretty strong family resemblance because of our hair. [ anime red
he looks curious, hesitant to bring it up but... ]
Your hair used to be black?
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shenhe huffs.]
... Yes. It used to be black.
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He's not the type to be forward with touch, but his fingers brush the crook of her arm, tilting his head closer to look at her hair more closely. ]
That explains it. [ And then looking back at her. ] That was a beautiful crane.
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That was Cloud Retainer. My master. [kind of mom.]