It takes ... a moment for Xingchen to finally realize, and then his eyebrows fly up, and he turns his face the rest of the way to meek that kiss with one of his own, thoughtfully humming.
Baoshan Sanren's path of cultivation is not, in fact, one of celibacy. Cangse Sanren's path beyond the mountain is demonstration enough for that; also, while some of the disciples are children that Master has brought to the mountain, some are those born of couples who met and married there. Even though Xingchen was only seventeen when he left, he has some idea about these things. In fact, in ways that aren't branded as 'shameful' as he has discovered most people consider them. Dual cultivation is a technique to enhance the golden core, after all.
But then he met Zichen, and he knew that, with the man's dislike for touch, the more involved interactions like making love were probably out of the question. And he knew that he didn't want anyone else... So he more or less put that away from his mind. But this is - a different life for them both. A different realm, too, but mostly, the pain of separation changes things.
Still. Xingchen's fingers come up to caress, feel the beloved features after the kiss.
"It... all the way? We can - try things out that will satisfy the need."
But also, they are not teenagers, he reminds himself. Either of them could disappear at any moment without warning. The exploration, getting to know each other's bodies that people explained to him back then - he would like that, but it doesn't have to be like that.
"Or we can try everything, though I do not think I am prepared for that." Oil. Ointment. Something to ease the burn of friction, as he was explained long ago. "But whatever you need... I'm here." His lips return to the column of Zichen's throat, and nuzzle lightly lower than the edge of the collar of his robes, a lingering kiss. "All of me, A-Lan."
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Baoshan Sanren's path of cultivation is not, in fact, one of celibacy. Cangse Sanren's path beyond the mountain is demonstration enough for that; also, while some of the disciples are children that Master has brought to the mountain, some are those born of couples who met and married there. Even though Xingchen was only seventeen when he left, he has some idea about these things. In fact, in ways that aren't branded as 'shameful' as he has discovered most people consider them. Dual cultivation is a technique to enhance the golden core, after all.
But then he met Zichen, and he knew that, with the man's dislike for touch, the more involved interactions like making love were probably out of the question. And he knew that he didn't want anyone else... So he more or less put that away from his mind. But this is - a different life for them both. A different realm, too, but mostly, the pain of separation changes things.
Still. Xingchen's fingers come up to caress, feel the beloved features after the kiss.
"It... all the way? We can - try things out that will satisfy the need."
But also, they are not teenagers, he reminds himself. Either of them could disappear at any moment without warning. The exploration, getting to know each other's bodies that people explained to him back then - he would like that, but it doesn't have to be like that.
"Or we can try everything, though I do not think I am prepared for that." Oil. Ointment. Something to ease the burn of friction, as he was explained long ago. "But whatever you need... I'm here." His lips return to the column of Zichen's throat, and nuzzle lightly lower than the edge of the collar of his robes, a lingering kiss. "All of me, A-Lan."