[ Nigel Thornberry voice ] Smashing!

[lemmehulksmash]

smash or pass (anon) meme

WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY A GAME except don't worry, calm down, this isn't a Saw-type game. No. It's scary in a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAY.

how to play
• comment with your character, preferences, and a pic or two if you're feeling generous.
• everyone else has been asked if they'd smash or pass. they'll let you know.
• after you tallied up the numbers, it's your turn. you can do the same to any and all top levels.

Comments

[timescales]

[ Hand. A different word comes to mind, but he's trying to decipher something here. ]

Lick.

[entrinsic]

[ Lick hand? Cheng Xiaoshi's eyebrow lifts. ]

Tongue.

[ This feels kinda weird now. Even though he'd definitely been doing the exact same thing earlier. ]

[timescales]

[ He tilts his head by the smallest fraction, enough to point toward Cheng Xiaoshi and subtly direct his gaze in his friend's direction. ]

Cherry.

[entrinsic]

[ ...what the fuck! He's definitely doing this on purpose now! These are all things Cheng Xiaoshi said before; isn't that cheating? His eyes narrow, staring at Lu Guang like it'll help him figure out what's going on here. ]

Lips.

[timescales]

[ It would be cheating if they were playing how they were before. This round has been different though—different rules, too many passes, and complete divergences from the words they're meant to make associations with.

Slowly, Lu Guang turns to face Cheng Xiaoshi until his side hits the back of the couch. ]

Kiss.

[entrinsic]

[ ...hm. What was it that Lu Guang had said before? That's gotta be the right answer, if he's leading things down the same path they'd gone previous. There is no way it's a coincidence, and even someone like Cheng Xiaoshi - who is way less analytical than Lu Guang - can recognize that. ]

You.

[timescales]

[ He pauses there, doubt filling his gaze. He's the one who decided to probe like this, but—

Should he really keep going? ]

Me.

[entrinsic]

[ They've gotten pretty good at figuring each other out, after the years they've known each other and all the dives they've done. Still, even though Cheng Xiaoshi thinks he's starting to understand, he figures he's gotta be wrong about this. Lu Guang is the kind of person to keep secrets from him for sure - which pisses Cheng Xiaoshi off every single time - but this is different. Every time he's kept something from Cheng Xiaoshi has been for his own good (supposedly), but this?

This is where the game ended, too, so he's got nothing to go on for how he's supposed to answer.

...would he kiss Lu Guang? ]

Sure.

[timescales]

[ …dammit. ]

Cheng Xiaoshi. [ His voice is strained, throat closing so tight it threatens to strangle every word spilling from his mouth. This game was a mistake. Using Cheng Xiaoshi's words to try and prove something—maybe to himself, not his partner like he thought—was a bigger mistake.

"Sure." Another second passes, then he sighs and rises. ]

I lose. And no arguing this time, you beat me fair and square. [ A while ago, at that. ]

[entrinsic]

[ Okay, yeah. He won this time, but it doesn’t feel as gratifying as it should. Especially not when Lu Guang stands from the couch, like he’s going to leave. What was the point of all that?

Cheng Xiaoshi stands, too, even though he’s suddenly feeling at a loss for words. ]

I’m not going to argue, but your answers were just things I already said.

[ Why? ]

[timescales]

[ It felt like you were searching for something. I was trying to figure out what.

He can't just say that, can he? Whatever it was seemed important. It still might be, given where they eventually landed. But… This isn't territory he's confident they can navigate, not without one of them getting seriously hurt. ]

Just working something out. Don't think about it too hard. [ Tiredly, he rolls his shoulder and starts rubbing it. ]

[entrinsic]

[ This was important. This is important. Cheng Xiaoshi bites his lip; he feels like he needs to push this, but. Yeah, there’s a very real chance of everything turning into a mess.

…he’s gonna push it. ]

Don’t keep secrets.

[ Aren’t they close? Come on, Lu Guang. ]

[timescales]

[ It isn't that easy.

His secrets protect Cheng Xiaoshi—protect both of them. If sometimes there's distance between them, unanswered questions, or silence it's because that's what he deemed best for them. Like now, what's best for them is to back away and forget this entire conversation.

Exploring more is simply too risky, whether it's meant as something shallow or…

He remains quiet for some time, posture rigid from the tension in his body. ]

What we have is what works. We don't need to change anything. [ Even if it's callous, better to say it now when this seed has yet to sprout in Cheng Xiaoshi's subconscious. ]

[entrinsic]

[ Oh, but that seed has already sprouted; it’s just not something Cheng Xiaoshi has paid much mind to up to now. But that’s where the issue comes in. He might not be as perceptive as Lu Guang, or as good at planning, but Cheng Xiaoshi isn’t stupid. He knows the discussion (???) they’d just had means something. He knows Lu Guang is keeping something from him, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out the issue in question.

What Lu Guang says basically confirms it. What they have works, he says, which means there’s something in his mind that is different from what they have. ]

So, because something works, you shouldn’t mess with it at all?

[ That seems silly. Cheng Xiaoshi had been content with Qiao Ling before they’d met Lu Guang, but he doesn’t regret at all adding a third to their group. ]

[timescales]

[ Shame Lu Guang doesn't realize that. He thinks he's protecting Cheng Xiaoshi, that it isn't too late to backpedal because he isn't conscious of where he's trying to lead them. It's wishful thinking—naive, even. He knows Cheng Xiaoshi is smarter than this, but for his own reasons he doesn't want to believe it.

Not right now. ]

Not when messing with it could ruin everything.

[ Cheng Xiaoshi… how can he risk losing you over some—some physiological impulse? This will pass. He knows that because it's never been a problem before. ] Just listen to what I'm saying and forget whatever it is you're thinking.

[entrinsic]

[ As if Cheng Xiaoshi would let Lu Guang go that easily! Just because something doesn't work out... does he really think Cheng Xiaoshi is that shallow? That he'd throw away all the things they've been through because whatever it is they're moving towards doesn't work out?

He makes a face, very clearly the kind that means he's not letting this go. ]

Would you knock it off? You're always doing this, like you think I can't handle things, and then you deal with it by yourself.

[ Meanwhile, Cheng Xiaoshi is right here. ]

If you're scared, you can just say so.

[ Ah- That sounds mean, but he doesn't mean it like that. Hell, Lu Guang has seen Cheng Xiaoshi a terrified mess more times than he'd like to remember. ]

[timescales]

[ His entire body seizes, a chill coursing through his entire body that leaves him breathless. Scared? Him?

He wants to deny it. Insist he isn't afraid, only being rational. Even the strongest of friendships are liable to break under pressure, and that isn't something he can afford to risk. He—isn't like Cheng Xiaoshi. He can no longer fix his mistakes, and he can't let Cheng Xiaoshi go back to fix them either.

He doesn't notice the way his hand balls into a fist, shaking from the strength of his grip. Without warning, he turns to stare coolly into Cheng Xiaoshi's eyes. ]

We can't undo our mistakes. [ Like everyone else, they only have one chance to get things right, one chance to have no regrets. Ordinarily, this would go without saying—but because Cheng Xiaoshi has the power to truly change things, they have to be even more careful.

At the same time… His jaw tenses as he turns away, his mind flicking through option after option.

If Cheng Xiaoshi doesn't feel anything after a single kiss, there really is no harm in trying. So is he afraid there is something here? Is that why he's resistant? ]

…but we can take one step. [ He relents, though only just. He tries his best to ease the tension from his body as he tilts his head to the side and holds his hand out to Cheng Xiaoshi. Holding hands is enough for now. ]