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 Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2020 6:55 pm
"What's stupid about sentimentality?" Soleiyu asked instead. "If this was your room in the past, there must have been a reason that it was out. Maybe it's a treasure of yours."
Nalanda smiled softly, returning what he could to match Qingcheng's, but he found himself a bit alarmed by the moisture in his eyes. He wanted to put Soleiyu down and embrace Qingcheng instead.
"Bring it home," he encouraged. "You can get it cleaned up and we'll put it somewhere with a little more life. It's lasted so long, and if you left it with your ring, I'm certain there was a reason. You, or anyone else." He wasn't quite sure, himself, but he could see how much Qingcheng cared and that meant he did too. Gently maneuvering Soleiyu, he leaned over to kiss Qingcheng's cheek. "I love you," he said gently, reassuringly, and smiled softly. "...You don't have to explain anything. If you want it, take it. It's yours. You don't have to understand why. No one understands the heart anyway. But if you look into it, maybe you can figure something out. We, if you need help."
...But something about this seemed personal, almost invasive. He wasn't going to push himself into solving some mystery that wasn't his to claim. He would be there for Qingcheng, he'd support him however he could, but he wasn't going to intrude where he wasn't wanted--especially when there seemed to be so much that Qingcheng needed to figure out, first.
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Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2020 7:07 pm
Qingcheng gave a slightly shaky laugh and a few tears rolled down his cheeks, which he brushed away roughly with the back of his hand. “Are...are the two of you okay if we head back to Earth? I...I think my heart has had enough of whatever this place is trying to tell me...we can come back though! I just…”
He held the doll a little more securely. “...I just want to get him home. I...want to get him home badly.” His voice was just above a whisper and he held his free hand to Nalanda, managing a small smile. “...If you’re ready, my love…?”
It almost felt cowardly but. There it was.
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Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2020 2:36 pm
"I'm ready," Nalanda promised, reaching a hand over to take Qingcheng's; he squeezed it reassuringly. "It's okay. Let's go."
He took a step closer and Soleiyu bumped heads with Qingcheng's chest. "Thank you for bringing me, Qingcheng. I hope I can come again soon. You did really good. I'm proud of you."
He pressed closer into Nalanda's arms, not intending to be left behind, and Nalanda just held onto Qingcheng closer, partly because he wanted to make it easy for Qingcheng to take them home--and partly because he wanted to give him that extra comfort if he could.
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