WE FALL WITH WHAT WE BUILD

@tidestempered said: ❛ I trust you, you know. ❜ - tidestempered, for lw (it is going to take swd a good 50 years to recover from saying this out loud) MEME: STAGES OF RELATIONSHIPS

The night is quiet, the chaos and demands of the day softened into peace under darkened skies. In theory ; her work is never ending and she too often has spent many nights hunched over scrolls or records. Tonight is not one such night of burdens. For there is company from one of the very few she considers near and dear - though such utterances are facts that remain unspoken yet mutually understood. TONIGHT IT IS JUST THEM. Ol' Pei is predictably occupied elsewhere. It is nice to have these moments with Shi Wudu. Quieter but no less embraced. Shi Wudu understands her in a way that Pei Ming does not.

It is why his unprompted words cause her pause. No dramatics, no gasps, or snapped glances. Only a subtle pause, slender fingertips hovering above the pieces on the board of the game they're only idly playing rather than competitively. THEY DO SOMETIMES. Not tonight. Tonight is the kind of night with tranquility, company enjoyed in presence more than profound words. Her hand moves after that pause, moving her piece.

She contemplates teasing him ; considers asking how much he's been drinking to say that so suddenly. She does not.

" I know. " Ling Wen confirms softly, only then lifting her eyes to gaze up at him. It is quite the sight of the PRIDEFUL WATER MASTER to offer his words up freely. " You would be in quite a lot of trouble if that were not the case given what knowledge I possess. " Their shared crimes. That is not what he speaks of. This much she knows for that is all mutually understood, but that doesn't mean she will forgo teasing him entirely. He should know that of her too.

Her hand settles into her lap, but there is a ripple of unease within her mind. It is not that she doesn't appreciate his words, she does, but to what drives this almost out of character comment she is, for once, in the dark of. THAT is what unsettles her. Perhaps it is simply that kind of night where softened words slip their cages to fly free for however brief it may be. Especially when it is only the two of them. Her ice and steel gaze softens, the harsh lines blurred and smoothed when she regards Shi Wudu.

"I   dare   you   to   try."

"Do   you   always   get   close?"

"You’re   pushing   my   limits."

"Stop   looking   at   me   like   that."

"I’m   losing   control   here."

"You   have   no   idea,   do   you?"

"I   can’t   resist   you   anymore."

"Stay   back,   or   don’t."

"I   know   what   you   want."

"This   is   getting   dangerous   now."

"You’re   too   tempting   for   me."

"I   shouldn’t   want   this,   but…"

"I   don’t   play   fair,   remember?"

"Careful,   you’re   testing   me."

"You’re   just   making   it   worse."

"You’re   too   close   for   comfort."

"Do   you   always   push   buttons?"

"Stop   before   I   kiss   you."

"You’re   making   it   too   hard."

"I   can’t   stop   thinking   about   you."

"I   want   you   too   much."

"You   know   exactly   what   you’re   doing."

"I’m   not   playing   games   here."

"You’ve   crossed   the   line   now."

"Keep   pushing,   and   you’ll   regret   it."

"This   is   dangerous,   isn’t   it?"

"I’m   trying   not   to   care."

"Don’t   make   me   regret   this."

"You’re   playing   with   fire."

"You   don’t   know   what’s   coming."

"I   shouldn’t   be   this   close."

"We’re   getting   dangerously   close   now."

"I   can   feel   the   heat."

"Don’t   test   me   right   now."

"I   want   you   too   badly."

"Don’t   make   me   chase   you."

"You’re   distracting   me,   you   know."

"I   won’t   fall   for   this."

"I   want   you,   but…"

"What   do   you   want   from   me?"

"I’ll   never   give   in."

"I’m   trying   not   to   care."

"You’re   playing   with   my   patience."

"Don’t   make   this   harder,   please."

"I   can’t   stop   this   feeling."

"I’m   already   in   too   deep."

"You   won’t   walk   away   unscathed."

"You’re   walking   a   fine   line."

"I’m   trying   to   stay   calm."