[Xiao Xingchen grips the exposed roots of the trees by the water, pulling himself back to his feet and running between their trunks before the branches can take hold of him. Some leaves brush against his skin and fill him with the heat from before, but his will to run lets him push the renewing arousal aside for now, along with the biting cold on his skin. Yet again he knows he can't just run back to the cafe. Once he reaches the edge of the trees, he runs towards the beach. Most of the time he had spent there was a result of fishing for the Unclean Realm's food reserves, so he can only guess Xue Yang wouldn't think about checking there.
Even more than his current state, the act of running away every time stings his pride. But... what else can he do? Every new thing that Xue Yang says only confuses him—not rejecting the man's demands out of hand only confuses him more.
He doesn't stop running until he's at the beach, and - after a quick glance and moment to listen for anyone nearby - transforms into the half-fish form he used before here. Swimming deep past the surface until he's beyond anyone's line of sight, he catches his breath, already used to the strange feeling of water in his lungs in this body. All he needs is a moment to think again, even if his current form complicates it some more when he remembers just what happened when he first was turned into this strange creature.
If Xue Yang somehow hasn't stooped so low as to pretend what he feels is love to get what he wants... what is it, really? Just a desire for a sense of ownership? But his feelings don't seem to waver, though he's unsure if Xue Yang merely doesn't care about being accidentally killed in general, or...
His heart still hasn't stopped racing, as his back presses against the sand and he looks up at the distorting water's surface.]
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Even more than his current state, the act of running away every time stings his pride. But... what else can he do? Every new thing that Xue Yang says only confuses him—not rejecting the man's demands out of hand only confuses him more.
He doesn't stop running until he's at the beach, and - after a quick glance and moment to listen for anyone nearby - transforms into the half-fish form he used before here. Swimming deep past the surface until he's beyond anyone's line of sight, he catches his breath, already used to the strange feeling of water in his lungs in this body. All he needs is a moment to think again, even if his current form complicates it some more when he remembers just what happened when he first was turned into this strange creature.
If Xue Yang somehow hasn't stooped so low as to pretend what he feels is love to get what he wants... what is it, really? Just a desire for a sense of ownership? But his feelings don't seem to waver, though he's unsure if Xue Yang merely doesn't care about being accidentally killed in general, or...
His heart still hasn't stopped racing, as his back presses against the sand and he looks up at the distorting water's surface.]