[ this brick is still smarter than senri ]

[usogi]

Comments

[nosediving]

For having fewer bodies than the previous weeks, it was more eventful than the preceding trials.

[that's his answer as he picks up a pack. his fingers trace the edge of the plastic before they close around the edge and tug gently. this is how he opens it, right?]

To see so many of my fellow participants suffering, this evening weighs heavily on all our hearts.

[usogi]

.... you weren't suffering too, Shang-san?

[senri blinks in slight confusion, tilting his head]

I guess... maybe you weren't that close with Ray-kun, huh.

[nosediving]

[was he? with a bashful smile, he continues to tear open the pack.]

There are far more important matters at hand. My feelings aren't among those.

[usogi]

[ . . . . ]

What makes you say that....?

You and Connor-san both get like this....

[nosediving]

. . . I won't speak in Connor's place; however, a cultivator must act with a certain grace. To burden others with these feelings would not be good.

[usogi]

... do you think that maybe, when it's just you and me, we can be friends first, instead of you being a cultivator first?

[senri frowns]

I... I know what it's like - to bottle everything up like that. I don't want you to have to.

[nosediving]

[at that, he can only sigh. the hand that was opening the pack stops.]

It shames me to say this, but I don't know how I can be a friend to you. I have never had one before.

[usogi]

[senri blinks]

... never?

You should've told me that....

Then... let's start now.

[nosediving]

[the pack drops to the floor.

shang qinghua hastily kneels down to pick it up.]

You don't have to do that for someone like me. I am perfectly fine with the relationship we have right now.

[usogi]

[senri blinks

again]

.... but I want to be your friend....

[nosediving]

[he freezes.

clearly, no one has felt this way about him before.]

This late into the contest, do you really want that?

[usogi]

That's why I said you should've told me before....

[he huffs a little but

also nods]

Of course I want that.

[nosediving]

[with a serious expression, shang qinghua meets senri's eyes.]

Nito Senri . . .

[he trails off. it's quiet in the beauty salon.

then he raises his left hand—and, with it, the mostly opened pack.]

This mask, how do you put it on?

[usogi]

Oh... There's gonna be holes for your eyes and mouth, so you just need to arrange it on your face so that you can see through it, and still talk.

[senri will reach out]

Want me to do it for you?

[nosediving]

I-if you don't mind . . .

[he'll relinquish his grip on the pack when prompted. help.]

[usogi]

I don't - it's gonna feel a little weird at first, but trust the process.

[it sure is just a sheet face mask,,

and he'll gently pull it out of the packaging, unfolding the face mask before reaching out to gently press the surface against shang's face]

[nosediving]

[he flinches at first contact. how can he not? it's cold! he keeps still otherwise, with half-lidded eyes lest the mask get him there.]

[usogi]

[sdlkfjsfsdf please help him

senri doesn't mind though - only laughing faintly before he gently presses the mask to stick on this lovely brick's face]

There you go - we'll leave it for about fifteen to twenty minutes.

[and he'll pick up a mask to do the same for his own face]

[nosediving]

[the mask is on. only after senri's done his own does shang qinghua see how strange it looks.]

This will help with the swelling? I haven't cried recently . . .

[usogi]

[senri snorts faintly at that]

It's good for your skin for a lot of reasons! It's pretty rejuvenating.

[nosediving]

Since the day I became an immortal cultivator, things like this haven't crossed my mind . . . Still, it would be good to try.