Saiyuki (Hakkai/Gojyo)
Jul. 10th, 2007 06:33 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
aonekosama.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
kinkfestTitle: Apples and More
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
aonekosama
Rating: PG
Warnings: Written in a hurry.
Word count: 2397
Summary: Cutting your hair doesn't change anything. Buying apples does.
A/N: I've stayed up all night writing this, and it would do with a lot more editing, I'm sure, but I want to post it on time. ^^' It's probably nowhere near what the prompt submitter had in mind, but in the end this was all the muses offered. Thank you again,flyagainhero and khar_muur for all your help!
For prompt: Saiyuki, Hakkai/Gojyo: Temptation & tension - How did Hakkai convince Gojyo to let him move back in?
Apples and More
* * *
Gojyo walks down the narrow alley, lined on both sides with fruit stalls and bizarre little shops, and the slight breeze blowing through feels good in his short hair. He thinks about his hair and his eyes and how the girls sounded horrified when they saw him, and all of it is almost enough to make him smile as he stops at one of the stalls.
He already knew it wouldn't last long when his beautiful but broken guest came to him one night with scissors in hand.
'Gojyo-san. Could you cut my hair for me?'
Gojyo remembers feeling anxious and strangely afraid, he remembers his fingers shaking slightly as he cut away the longest strands to reveal a pale, delicate neck. He remembers how the man smiled at him and thanked him and took the scissors away, and he remembers he couldn't stop thinking it was like preparing a corpse for the funeral.
He remembered all that when he cut away his own hair. He remembered and laughed at himself, laughed at his stupid, familiar face in the mirror, laughed hard enough to keep from crying.
"Miss? One of these." He picks up a red apple.
He remembers other things too, now, little things. The sound of steps other than his own on the bare floor. Sitting and drinking coffee together and not really talking. Laying awake in the darkness and knowing there is another person asleep next to you.
"These are such a beautiful red, aren't they?"
It all comes crashing back to him in a jumble of emotion and mismatched memories when he hears that voice, and at first Gojyo can do nothing but stare dumbly at the ghost standing in front of him. Then he understands that Gonou - the same he was told was dead! - has said something, but since he can only remember the word 'red', it takes a while until Gojyo realizes the man is talking about apples.
"Gojyo."
"...Guess you could say that," Gojyo replies automatically, not quite sure what he is agreeing to. He ends up buying four, because if he is seeing things, he most likely ought to eat more, and if he isn't, he knows someone who could do with being hit in the head with one.
They walk away from the fruit stall in silence, and Gojyo, who is clutching the brown paper bag to his chest a little too hard, finds he can't seem to stop smiling. There is an old tree a little way ahead, and under it an old, weathered bench anyone rarely bothers to sit on any more, because the tree has grown so big and crooked over the years it now casts a perpetual shadow over the bench, making it a somewhat gloomy place to spend your time in. Gonou walks straight to it and sits down, and Gojyo follows, stuffing the end of the white cloth he is carrying with him into his pocket..
"Here." Gojyo places the bag onto the bench and holds out an apple. He is relieved to see Gonou reaches to take it from him. Gojyo bites into another, but the man beside him just turns the apple around in his hands, smiling slightly and staring at his feet. For a while there are only the sounds of Gojyo eating and the every day sounds of the village buzzing around them.
"I thought you were dead," Gojyo blurts out when he can't take the silence any more. "The stupid priest told me so."
"Yes." Gonou turns the apple twice around. "I asked him to tell you that."
"Wha... why?" is all Gojyo manages to get out. It makes his skin tingle to hear that voice again, even though there's something different about it, something he can't quite put his finger on. He bites what still remains of the apple to keep from reaching out and touching the man beside him to make sure he is real.
"I thought it would have been easier that way." The man gives Gojyo an apologetic smile. "I was supposed to leave."
The apple is finished and Gojyo throws the core over his shoulder. It lands in a shrub with a small rustle. "So why didn't you?"
"I can't. Sanzo has to keep an eye on me." Gonou takes finally a bite, munching on it thoughtfully. "He just didn't tell me that until after he had visited you."
"You know what?" Gojyo fishes another apple from the bag. "I'm going to eat Sanzo's apple. The bastard deserves it."
A surprised little laugh escapes Gonou. "Haha. Don't be too hard on him. He was right, in a way."
"What d'you mean, in a way?" Gojyo asks, mouth full of Sanzo's apple.
"Cho Gonou is dead." The man smiles at him enigmatically, and for a split second Gojyo believes he is seeing things after all. "I'm Cho Hakkai."
"Huh?" Gojyo has to fight to keep his hands to himself. "You... changed your name?" Now he really, really wants to touch him to be sure the man is there.
"Yes." Gonou, no, Hakkai suddenly leans closer and runs his fingers through Gojyo's hair, his hand lingering on the shortest hairs at his neck. "And you cut your hair, I see."
There is a silence as Gojyo just stares, fighting a bit of apple that threatens to get stuck in his throat. Then Hakkai pulls away and mumbles an apology. They sit there, not quite looking at each other but not quite looking away, either. Finally Gojyo breaks the silence.
"Well... I suppose you could say it's a little like the thing with your name." He's not hundred percent sure what he means by that, but if it makes Hakkai smile it must be the right thing to say.
"Did you use the same scissors?"
"I did."
"They weren't that good for cutting hair, weren't they?"
"No they weren't." Gojyo grins. "We'll need to buy another pair if you want to keep you hair neat."
Gojyo only realizes properly what he has just said when Hakkai turns to really look at him for the first time since they sat down.
"Sorry," Gojyo looks at the half eaten apple in his hand and the one in similar condition in Hakkai's. "I just assumed... Sorry. Shouldn't have."
Hakkai shakes his head. "No need to apologize. Truth to be told, I have no idea where I'm going to sleep tonight."
"Really?" Gojyo is slightly puzzled to hear his own voice sound delighted. "Um... have you been at the temple all this time, then?"
"I left there a couple of days back. I've been renting a room from that inn," he points at an old building some distance away, "but I spent my last money today buying a new coat." Hakkai's apple is starting to turn brown where he has taken bites out of it. He looks up to smile at Gojyo. "So I'm not sure what to do now."
Gojyo looks away and plays time by finishing his apple, even though he knows what he will say. "My place is a total mess again, but if you don't mind..." The apple core flies into the shrub in search of its lost friend. "You know. Maybe you'd get it clean again." He grins. "You would. You should come stay there for a couple of days."
"Haha." Hakkai's nose wrinkles when he laughs, and Gojyo only now notices the unfamiliar monocle sitting there. "I should, shouldn't I?"
"You'd have a place to sleep in until you figure out what you're gonna do."
"And maybe you would learn how to clean and cook by the time I left."
Gojyo laughs out loud at the idea. "Yeah, right." The thought of Hakkai leaving creates an ache that is both familiar and unfamiliar. "I mean, I probably haven't even remembered to take out the garbage."
Hakkai laughs a little and clicks his tongue disapprovingly. Then he goes back to staring at his half eaten apple, and Gojyo is left feeling stupid for not being able to think of anything more to say. The silence sits between them like a heavy blanket, accentuated by the myriad sounds around them.
"You know..." he finally says, "I don't really think it needs any cutting soon." Hakkai turns to look at him with a puzzled expression and Gojyo feels even more stupid. He looks away and lifts a hand to ruffle the hairs at the back of his head. "Your hair, I mean. It looks way neater than when I cut it."
"Ah." Hakkai mimics his gesture, running his fingers over the short hairs at his neck. "They cut it at the temple before I left." Then he reaches out and Gojyo thinks he will touch his hair again, but Hakkai's hand stops just short of Gojyo's face, just where his long hair used to hang.
"Why did you cut it?" Hakkai's fingers curl as he hesitates before continuing. "I liked it the way it was."
Gojyo looks around to make sure no-one is watching them, then lowers his own hand and takes Hakkai's hand in his. "It's not like it'll never grow back, you know," he says, giving the hand a light squeeze and then letting it go. He is not sure why he does any of it, but then he is not that sure about many other things, either. "I don't know why I cut it... I mean..." Gojyo looks up to see Hakkai has shifted closer and is watching him with intent expression. "I'm not sure any more. Maybe I thought it'd change something."
"Did it change anything?"
"Nah... I'm still the same. And my..." Gojyo glances down and goes slightly red. "Everything about me is the same." He grins. "Except the hair, of course."
There is again an awkward silence, during which Hakkai studies his face like he is searching something, and Gojyo watches Hakkai fiddle with the apple and tries not to go any redder. Finally Hakkai, too, turns his eyes to what is by now one sad half of an apple.
"I'm not sure I'm able to finish this," he says with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry."
"I'll eat it." Gojyo takes the fruit and after a couple of bites the core flies to join its companions. Gojyo looks at the last red apple, sitting quietly at the bottom of the paper bag. "Now I don't know what to do with that one," he says. "And I think I need to go buy a futon." He looks up to see Hakkai is once again staring at him with incomprehension. "The couch is not exactly comfortable," he offers as explanation.
"Oh," a polite smile appears on Hakkai's face, "I don't mind, really."
"I do. I might need to stay out late some nights. To play cards," he quickly explains when he sees Hakkai's polite smile twitch. "Need to bring home some cash. And there's no sense in you sleeping on the couch then."
"Really, there's no need." Hakkai shakes his head. "I don't want to cause any trouble. In fact, it would probably be best if I just found somewhere else to stay."
Gojyo grabs his hand with both of his. "No. You're staying with me." The sudden determination in his voice makes Hakkai's eyes go wide and Gojyo falters. "I mean... until you know what you're gonna do... and," he finds himself smiling as he continues, "it's no trouble since the place really needs cleaning and you'll likely end up cooking all the food, too."
Hakkai is looking at him like he just made the world turn inside out, then he looks at his own hand, still clasped between Gojyo's palms. Then the smallest smile tugs at the corners of his mouth and he turns his gaze back to Gojyo, who is left feeling something important must have happened while he wasn't paying enough attention.
They are still holding hands, and Gojyo quickly transforms the grip into a handshake. "We have an agreement, then? You can stay as long as you need to. Just... help me keep the house liveable."
"Agreed." Hakkai shakes his hand and then lets go of it, standing up and turning to look around. "I was thinking, I should probably visit the temple soon." He smiles. "Sanzo will want to know how I am doing."
Gojyo stands up and stretches his arms. "Let's go, then. I have nothing better to do today, and there's still one apple left to throw at the priest's head... Hey!" Hakkai has taken the brown paper bag from the bench and is walking towards a group of small children playing catch near by. "Where are you going with my apple?!"
"Would you like to have this?" Hakkai is asking them, holding out the bag. "It's nutritious, and it looks to me you lot would do well with some extra food." One of the kids takes the bag, and as they all run away with a 'yaaay!' Gojyo sees their clothes are somewhat tattered and their legs rather skinny. Hakkai is smiling, and for the first time Gojyo thinks the smile might be entirely genuine.
"Charity, eh?" he asks, stepping closer and tying the white cloth over his head. Hakkai turns to look at him, his expression closing off even though he is still smiling.
"Better than wasting good food on Sanzo," he replies, and Gojyo can't help laughing. He reaches out and takes a step closer, wrapping his arms around Hakkai and pressing the man against his chest. He has already let go and is stepping back by the time Hakkai asks: "Is something wrong, Gojyo?"
"Nothing..." Gojyo shakes his head and grins sheepishly. "Just making sure you're not some evil spirit the monk has sent to haunt me, after all."
"That's... a reasonable precaution, I'm sure," Hakkai says, and laughs when Gojyo does.
They start to walk, side by side in silence that is still uncomfortable for Gojyo but not as thick and pressing as before. After a few minutes Hakkai speaks again.
"Gojyo... Would you cut my hair again when it gets too long?"
Gojyo glances at him and then finds himself wanting to smile again. "Sure. No problem." And he knows it may not last that long this time around, either, but even though he has no idea why, he wants to give it a shot anyway.
* * *
Author:
aonekosamaRating: PG
Warnings: Written in a hurry.
Word count: 2397
Summary: Cutting your hair doesn't change anything. Buying apples does.
A/N: I've stayed up all night writing this, and it would do with a lot more editing, I'm sure, but I want to post it on time. ^^' It's probably nowhere near what the prompt submitter had in mind, but in the end this was all the muses offered. Thank you again,
flyagainhero and khar_muur for all your help!For prompt: Saiyuki, Hakkai/Gojyo: Temptation & tension - How did Hakkai convince Gojyo to let him move back in?
Apples and More
* * *
Gojyo walks down the narrow alley, lined on both sides with fruit stalls and bizarre little shops, and the slight breeze blowing through feels good in his short hair. He thinks about his hair and his eyes and how the girls sounded horrified when they saw him, and all of it is almost enough to make him smile as he stops at one of the stalls.
He already knew it wouldn't last long when his beautiful but broken guest came to him one night with scissors in hand.
'Gojyo-san. Could you cut my hair for me?'
Gojyo remembers feeling anxious and strangely afraid, he remembers his fingers shaking slightly as he cut away the longest strands to reveal a pale, delicate neck. He remembers how the man smiled at him and thanked him and took the scissors away, and he remembers he couldn't stop thinking it was like preparing a corpse for the funeral.
He remembered all that when he cut away his own hair. He remembered and laughed at himself, laughed at his stupid, familiar face in the mirror, laughed hard enough to keep from crying.
"Miss? One of these." He picks up a red apple.
He remembers other things too, now, little things. The sound of steps other than his own on the bare floor. Sitting and drinking coffee together and not really talking. Laying awake in the darkness and knowing there is another person asleep next to you.
"These are such a beautiful red, aren't they?"
It all comes crashing back to him in a jumble of emotion and mismatched memories when he hears that voice, and at first Gojyo can do nothing but stare dumbly at the ghost standing in front of him. Then he understands that Gonou - the same he was told was dead! - has said something, but since he can only remember the word 'red', it takes a while until Gojyo realizes the man is talking about apples.
"Gojyo."
"...Guess you could say that," Gojyo replies automatically, not quite sure what he is agreeing to. He ends up buying four, because if he is seeing things, he most likely ought to eat more, and if he isn't, he knows someone who could do with being hit in the head with one.
They walk away from the fruit stall in silence, and Gojyo, who is clutching the brown paper bag to his chest a little too hard, finds he can't seem to stop smiling. There is an old tree a little way ahead, and under it an old, weathered bench anyone rarely bothers to sit on any more, because the tree has grown so big and crooked over the years it now casts a perpetual shadow over the bench, making it a somewhat gloomy place to spend your time in. Gonou walks straight to it and sits down, and Gojyo follows, stuffing the end of the white cloth he is carrying with him into his pocket..
"Here." Gojyo places the bag onto the bench and holds out an apple. He is relieved to see Gonou reaches to take it from him. Gojyo bites into another, but the man beside him just turns the apple around in his hands, smiling slightly and staring at his feet. For a while there are only the sounds of Gojyo eating and the every day sounds of the village buzzing around them.
"I thought you were dead," Gojyo blurts out when he can't take the silence any more. "The stupid priest told me so."
"Yes." Gonou turns the apple twice around. "I asked him to tell you that."
"Wha... why?" is all Gojyo manages to get out. It makes his skin tingle to hear that voice again, even though there's something different about it, something he can't quite put his finger on. He bites what still remains of the apple to keep from reaching out and touching the man beside him to make sure he is real.
"I thought it would have been easier that way." The man gives Gojyo an apologetic smile. "I was supposed to leave."
The apple is finished and Gojyo throws the core over his shoulder. It lands in a shrub with a small rustle. "So why didn't you?"
"I can't. Sanzo has to keep an eye on me." Gonou takes finally a bite, munching on it thoughtfully. "He just didn't tell me that until after he had visited you."
"You know what?" Gojyo fishes another apple from the bag. "I'm going to eat Sanzo's apple. The bastard deserves it."
A surprised little laugh escapes Gonou. "Haha. Don't be too hard on him. He was right, in a way."
"What d'you mean, in a way?" Gojyo asks, mouth full of Sanzo's apple.
"Cho Gonou is dead." The man smiles at him enigmatically, and for a split second Gojyo believes he is seeing things after all. "I'm Cho Hakkai."
"Huh?" Gojyo has to fight to keep his hands to himself. "You... changed your name?" Now he really, really wants to touch him to be sure the man is there.
"Yes." Gonou, no, Hakkai suddenly leans closer and runs his fingers through Gojyo's hair, his hand lingering on the shortest hairs at his neck. "And you cut your hair, I see."
There is a silence as Gojyo just stares, fighting a bit of apple that threatens to get stuck in his throat. Then Hakkai pulls away and mumbles an apology. They sit there, not quite looking at each other but not quite looking away, either. Finally Gojyo breaks the silence.
"Well... I suppose you could say it's a little like the thing with your name." He's not hundred percent sure what he means by that, but if it makes Hakkai smile it must be the right thing to say.
"Did you use the same scissors?"
"I did."
"They weren't that good for cutting hair, weren't they?"
"No they weren't." Gojyo grins. "We'll need to buy another pair if you want to keep you hair neat."
Gojyo only realizes properly what he has just said when Hakkai turns to really look at him for the first time since they sat down.
"Sorry," Gojyo looks at the half eaten apple in his hand and the one in similar condition in Hakkai's. "I just assumed... Sorry. Shouldn't have."
Hakkai shakes his head. "No need to apologize. Truth to be told, I have no idea where I'm going to sleep tonight."
"Really?" Gojyo is slightly puzzled to hear his own voice sound delighted. "Um... have you been at the temple all this time, then?"
"I left there a couple of days back. I've been renting a room from that inn," he points at an old building some distance away, "but I spent my last money today buying a new coat." Hakkai's apple is starting to turn brown where he has taken bites out of it. He looks up to smile at Gojyo. "So I'm not sure what to do now."
Gojyo looks away and plays time by finishing his apple, even though he knows what he will say. "My place is a total mess again, but if you don't mind..." The apple core flies into the shrub in search of its lost friend. "You know. Maybe you'd get it clean again." He grins. "You would. You should come stay there for a couple of days."
"Haha." Hakkai's nose wrinkles when he laughs, and Gojyo only now notices the unfamiliar monocle sitting there. "I should, shouldn't I?"
"You'd have a place to sleep in until you figure out what you're gonna do."
"And maybe you would learn how to clean and cook by the time I left."
Gojyo laughs out loud at the idea. "Yeah, right." The thought of Hakkai leaving creates an ache that is both familiar and unfamiliar. "I mean, I probably haven't even remembered to take out the garbage."
Hakkai laughs a little and clicks his tongue disapprovingly. Then he goes back to staring at his half eaten apple, and Gojyo is left feeling stupid for not being able to think of anything more to say. The silence sits between them like a heavy blanket, accentuated by the myriad sounds around them.
"You know..." he finally says, "I don't really think it needs any cutting soon." Hakkai turns to look at him with a puzzled expression and Gojyo feels even more stupid. He looks away and lifts a hand to ruffle the hairs at the back of his head. "Your hair, I mean. It looks way neater than when I cut it."
"Ah." Hakkai mimics his gesture, running his fingers over the short hairs at his neck. "They cut it at the temple before I left." Then he reaches out and Gojyo thinks he will touch his hair again, but Hakkai's hand stops just short of Gojyo's face, just where his long hair used to hang.
"Why did you cut it?" Hakkai's fingers curl as he hesitates before continuing. "I liked it the way it was."
Gojyo looks around to make sure no-one is watching them, then lowers his own hand and takes Hakkai's hand in his. "It's not like it'll never grow back, you know," he says, giving the hand a light squeeze and then letting it go. He is not sure why he does any of it, but then he is not that sure about many other things, either. "I don't know why I cut it... I mean..." Gojyo looks up to see Hakkai has shifted closer and is watching him with intent expression. "I'm not sure any more. Maybe I thought it'd change something."
"Did it change anything?"
"Nah... I'm still the same. And my..." Gojyo glances down and goes slightly red. "Everything about me is the same." He grins. "Except the hair, of course."
There is again an awkward silence, during which Hakkai studies his face like he is searching something, and Gojyo watches Hakkai fiddle with the apple and tries not to go any redder. Finally Hakkai, too, turns his eyes to what is by now one sad half of an apple.
"I'm not sure I'm able to finish this," he says with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry."
"I'll eat it." Gojyo takes the fruit and after a couple of bites the core flies to join its companions. Gojyo looks at the last red apple, sitting quietly at the bottom of the paper bag. "Now I don't know what to do with that one," he says. "And I think I need to go buy a futon." He looks up to see Hakkai is once again staring at him with incomprehension. "The couch is not exactly comfortable," he offers as explanation.
"Oh," a polite smile appears on Hakkai's face, "I don't mind, really."
"I do. I might need to stay out late some nights. To play cards," he quickly explains when he sees Hakkai's polite smile twitch. "Need to bring home some cash. And there's no sense in you sleeping on the couch then."
"Really, there's no need." Hakkai shakes his head. "I don't want to cause any trouble. In fact, it would probably be best if I just found somewhere else to stay."
Gojyo grabs his hand with both of his. "No. You're staying with me." The sudden determination in his voice makes Hakkai's eyes go wide and Gojyo falters. "I mean... until you know what you're gonna do... and," he finds himself smiling as he continues, "it's no trouble since the place really needs cleaning and you'll likely end up cooking all the food, too."
Hakkai is looking at him like he just made the world turn inside out, then he looks at his own hand, still clasped between Gojyo's palms. Then the smallest smile tugs at the corners of his mouth and he turns his gaze back to Gojyo, who is left feeling something important must have happened while he wasn't paying enough attention.
They are still holding hands, and Gojyo quickly transforms the grip into a handshake. "We have an agreement, then? You can stay as long as you need to. Just... help me keep the house liveable."
"Agreed." Hakkai shakes his hand and then lets go of it, standing up and turning to look around. "I was thinking, I should probably visit the temple soon." He smiles. "Sanzo will want to know how I am doing."
Gojyo stands up and stretches his arms. "Let's go, then. I have nothing better to do today, and there's still one apple left to throw at the priest's head... Hey!" Hakkai has taken the brown paper bag from the bench and is walking towards a group of small children playing catch near by. "Where are you going with my apple?!"
"Would you like to have this?" Hakkai is asking them, holding out the bag. "It's nutritious, and it looks to me you lot would do well with some extra food." One of the kids takes the bag, and as they all run away with a 'yaaay!' Gojyo sees their clothes are somewhat tattered and their legs rather skinny. Hakkai is smiling, and for the first time Gojyo thinks the smile might be entirely genuine.
"Charity, eh?" he asks, stepping closer and tying the white cloth over his head. Hakkai turns to look at him, his expression closing off even though he is still smiling.
"Better than wasting good food on Sanzo," he replies, and Gojyo can't help laughing. He reaches out and takes a step closer, wrapping his arms around Hakkai and pressing the man against his chest. He has already let go and is stepping back by the time Hakkai asks: "Is something wrong, Gojyo?"
"Nothing..." Gojyo shakes his head and grins sheepishly. "Just making sure you're not some evil spirit the monk has sent to haunt me, after all."
"That's... a reasonable precaution, I'm sure," Hakkai says, and laughs when Gojyo does.
They start to walk, side by side in silence that is still uncomfortable for Gojyo but not as thick and pressing as before. After a few minutes Hakkai speaks again.
"Gojyo... Would you cut my hair again when it gets too long?"
Gojyo glances at him and then finds himself wanting to smile again. "Sure. No problem." And he knows it may not last that long this time around, either, but even though he has no idea why, he wants to give it a shot anyway.
* * *
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-07-10 04:43 am (UTC)Really sweet. ♥
no subject
Date: 2007-07-10 06:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-10 04:49 am (UTC)Very Gojyo. I loved the dramatic irony of this line. Mentally, I want to add "And three years later...":
And he knows it may not last that long this time around, either, but even though he has no idea why, he wants to give it a shot anyway.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-10 06:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-10 01:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-10 06:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-11 08:18 pm (UTC)Turned out marvellous, as expected. Here, have a genuine Howl-plushie ^^
("Better than wasting good food on Sanzo" - I couldn't help meself mentally replacing that with "Waste not" ^^''' I mean, it's *apples* we're talking about and all ^o^)
no subject
Date: 2007-07-11 11:49 pm (UTC)(Ah, didn't even cross my mind, in fact! ^^' Well, better that way, or I wouldn't have been able to write this at all...)
no subject
Date: 2007-07-12 12:58 am (UTC)Temptation and tension, yes. You addressed this prompt beautifully, and in such a subtle and true-to-canon fashion. To re-iterate what others have said, the awkwardness was marvelously done and so appropriate to the situation. This *felt* like it really could have happened this way (down to explaining the fate of the 4 apples!).
A lovely and enjoyable read. Thanks so much for writing this. ^_^
no subject
Date: 2007-07-12 12:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-12 04:41 pm (UTC)And what can I say? The fate of the apples puzzled me! :D
no subject
Date: 2007-07-13 08:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-13 05:37 pm (UTC)