[ Yan has had decades now to endure the misconceptions and prejudices of humans and other races who believed the worst of her kind. She tries not to get involved often, for that very reason, but when she lets herself seek company from the inevitable loneliness that comes with solitude, she can forget – at least for a moment – what people expect her to be. She's never felt that she's been seen as what and who she is, in the same hand; when others look at her, they see a human or a huli jing. One is welcomed readily, and the other deals with... this.
At least he isn't trying to kill her. All things considered, this is probably one of the least distressing interactions she's had with a human who knows what she is.
Somehow, it isn't easier.
She waits for him to take his coat, letting the silence drag between them. The longer it stretches, the more antsy she gets, and she finds herself watching Peter's hands, waiting for him to reach for a weapon.
(He has every advantage. It would be laughably easy, and that's what terrifies her right now.)
Yan waits. And waits. And when she's just about ready to drop his jacket and try to run, he speaks.
The apology is so foreign that, at first, she thinks she might have imagined it. Her shock is plain on her face, the guarded, hardened expression dropping away in a heartbeat as she stares at him and listens to him speak. Again, she knows she's an easy target right now, and she doesn't understand why he's bothering to mislead her, why he's wasting breath on lies, unless—
—he really means what he says.
And gods, he's— he's looking at her face. He's looking at her, and not trying to sneak a lingering, lascivious glimpse before she shifts. He's not taking advantage of the fact that she's naked and hobbled and vulnerable, as much as she may hate to admit it. She's so stunned by the offer, by his sincerity, that she can only stare at him in her own moment of silence. She's trying to pick the dishonesty out of his eyes, trying to dig up where he's misleading her, but—
She hates how much she wants to believe him.
(She hates how much she wants a shred of acceptance.)
Careful, still watching him for any signs of a betrayal, she lowers his jacket again. She's tentative as she slides it back on, reaching out to brace herself on Peter's arm as she gets the red leather wrapped around herself properly. ]
no subject
At least he isn't trying to kill her. All things considered, this is probably one of the least distressing interactions she's had with a human who knows what she is.
Somehow, it isn't easier.
She waits for him to take his coat, letting the silence drag between them. The longer it stretches, the more antsy she gets, and she finds herself watching Peter's hands, waiting for him to reach for a weapon.
(He has every advantage. It would be laughably easy, and that's what terrifies her right now.)
Yan waits. And waits. And when she's just about ready to drop his jacket and try to run, he speaks.
The apology is so foreign that, at first, she thinks she might have imagined it. Her shock is plain on her face, the guarded, hardened expression dropping away in a heartbeat as she stares at him and listens to him speak. Again, she knows she's an easy target right now, and she doesn't understand why he's bothering to mislead her, why he's wasting breath on lies, unless—
—he really means what he says.
And gods, he's— he's looking at her face. He's looking at her, and not trying to sneak a lingering, lascivious glimpse before she shifts. He's not taking advantage of the fact that she's naked and hobbled and vulnerable, as much as she may hate to admit it. She's so stunned by the offer, by his sincerity, that she can only stare at him in her own moment of silence. She's trying to pick the dishonesty out of his eyes, trying to dig up where he's misleading her, but—
She hates how much she wants to believe him.
(She hates how much she wants a shred of acceptance.)
Careful, still watching him for any signs of a betrayal, she lowers his jacket again. She's tentative as she slides it back on, reaching out to brace herself on Peter's arm as she gets the red leather wrapped around herself properly. ]
What's your name?