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chenqing_100Title: You and I Met in the Dark Sea
Author: Cheshire (![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p2.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
ivoryandhorn/![[twitter.com profile]](https://p2.dreamwidth.org/e0caa790ec10/-/twitter.com/favicon.ico)
ivory_and_horn)
Word Count/Drabble Type: 200 words.
Character(s)/Ship(s): Xue Yang & Xiao Xingchen
Rating/Warnings: G
Author's Notes: Title comes from this translation of "By Chance" by Xu Zhimo, the prompt source.
~~~~
“Shall we head out?”
Xue Yang looked up over the fire, to where Xiao Xingchen stood waiting by the door.
He’d had plans for tonight, but—his usual tricks had lost their savor. It wasn’t like it was hard, fooling a blind man. And it was so much work, sneaking around, dosing people with the corpse powder. He just—he didn’t want to. He was running low on corpse powder, anyway.
“Heard a rumor about the cemetery.” He snorted. “Probably somebody’s dog.”
Xiao Xingchen’s brow furrowed in concern. “I should still take a look.”
Of course he’d say that. They’d head out, poke around enough to satisfy Xiao Xingchen with going through the motions, then come back and sit around the fire some more. Make some tea. The idea was strangely appealing... Probably because it was freezing.
Xue Yang heaved a sigh and got to his feet. “If you have to.”
Xiao Xingchen chuckled. “Is it the cold? You don’t have to come, you know.”
By firelight, his robes showed their wear, but they were still clean. Still white.
“No,” Xue Yang said, “I want to.” Suddenly, the idea of Xiao Xingchen leaving him behind was unbearable. “Daozhang, I’ll follow you tonight.”
Author: Cheshire (
Word Count/Drabble Type: 200 words.
Character(s)/Ship(s): Xue Yang & Xiao Xingchen
Rating/Warnings: G
Author's Notes: Title comes from this translation of "By Chance" by Xu Zhimo, the prompt source.
~~~~
“Shall we head out?”
Xue Yang looked up over the fire, to where Xiao Xingchen stood waiting by the door.
He’d had plans for tonight, but—his usual tricks had lost their savor. It wasn’t like it was hard, fooling a blind man. And it was so much work, sneaking around, dosing people with the corpse powder. He just—he didn’t want to. He was running low on corpse powder, anyway.
“Heard a rumor about the cemetery.” He snorted. “Probably somebody’s dog.”
Xiao Xingchen’s brow furrowed in concern. “I should still take a look.”
Of course he’d say that. They’d head out, poke around enough to satisfy Xiao Xingchen with going through the motions, then come back and sit around the fire some more. Make some tea. The idea was strangely appealing... Probably because it was freezing.
Xue Yang heaved a sigh and got to his feet. “If you have to.”
Xiao Xingchen chuckled. “Is it the cold? You don’t have to come, you know.”
By firelight, his robes showed their wear, but they were still clean. Still white.
“No,” Xue Yang said, “I want to.” Suddenly, the idea of Xiao Xingchen leaving him behind was unbearable. “Daozhang, I’ll follow you tonight.”
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Date: 2021-04-06 03:46 am (UTC)I also like the foreshadowing here: the idea of Xiao Xingchen leaving him behind was unbearable Really well done!
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Date: 2021-04-08 10:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-04-06 08:22 am (UTC)It is so sad to see Xingchen's dedication and good humour, unaware.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-08 10:30 pm (UTC)Thanks for reading!