The talisman Shen Qingqiu set up to inform him when Luo Binghe opened his invitation changes color what feels like hours before the man himself arrives, though it can't be more than the few minutes it took to walk from wherever he'd been in the Mansion. Shen Qingqiu pretends not to watch him approach, though he's watching so intently from the corner of his eyes that they ache. He'd seen Binghe here before, of course, but seeing him here, in this setting—the Protagonist approaching the beautiful garden pavilion, light and shadow shifting over his face—oh, he's fucking stupid, he should have done this in the ugliest basement storeroom he could find so he'd actually be able to think of what to say. How could anyone be faced with such a sight and not be struck dumb?
"Thank you," he says, finally, nonsensically, and then, with a little self-deprecating laugh that he's too nervous to stop, "I have made—an attempt. It's not—obviously it's not enough, and I doubt you will actually be impressed, but maybe it's a start, maybe I can—impress upon you my sincerity, at least." He takes the bowl of congee from under the table, setting it down on the opposite side, and the spoon next to it. He can't even stand to look at it, so he raises his eyes again to Luo Binghe instead, overture made, waiting to see if it is accepted.
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momijizukamori
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Date: 2023-10-09 08:43 pm (UTC)"Thank you," he says, finally, nonsensically, and then, with a little self-deprecating laugh that he's too nervous to stop, "I have made—an attempt. It's not—obviously it's not enough, and I doubt you will actually be impressed, but maybe it's a start, maybe I can—impress upon you my sincerity, at least." He takes the bowl of congee from under the table, setting it down on the opposite side, and the spoon next to it. He can't even stand to look at it, so he raises his eyes again to Luo Binghe instead, overture made, waiting to see if it is accepted.