[ see he finds this attractive, which says a lot about the kind of person that he is. the skill and dexterity it takes for jiaoqiu to turn that knife is expertise. being able not to hurt yourself is skill. (but on the other hand - it just means you get more skilled with a different weapon. it doesn't have to be the edge of a knife. it can be days of not eating, a life of existing in nothing. he's familiar with those skills, too.)
therion doesn't say anything, but there's something appreciative in his visible eye, briefly, even after he's been smacked. (and frankly, the fact he doesn't immediately jolt away is such a testament to the amount of tentative trust he's built to jiaoqiu that not even a brief, sour look could hide it.) after the prerequisite bitching, of course, where he swats at his hand automatically and grouses: ] Show you germs on the counter.
[ he probably has but that's beside the point. anyway whatever else he was going to stay is silenced as he is just. handed a potato? he stares at it. he stares at jiaoqiu, giving him a very pointed look. and you know what? you know what?
he shrugs, and reaches into his pocket, and pulls out his switchblade, casually flipping it open and starting a mental countdown to how long it takes jiaoqiu to flip his metaphorical lid (to react, to react) over therion just using his switchblade he uses to occasionally stab people to peel a potato that's going in someone's mouth. ]
Germs! [ is all he manages to splutter at first, putting his knife down. okay, now you're getting thwacked with a dishtowel like he's some sort of exasperated housewife. ] Where has that knife been? Wash your hands!
[ but there's no heat to it. it's all for show - well, most of it. the huffiness is, he's serious about not using a stab knife to peel a potato, but he's not mad. he is very rarely ever really angry with therion. it's just a constant game of pulling each other's tails.
and... he is, he's reacting. he's alive. he's acting like it. crazy, to think the start of his day was catatonic. ]
[ rude!!!! he makes an undignified noise when he's swatted at! ] What did you want me to use, my teeth?
[ YOU DIDN'T GIVE HIM A PEELER!!!! anyway this was all completely on purpose, and he's a little smug at the successful pigtail pulling, finally sliding down from the counter and walking over to wash his hands, shutting the switchblade with a click and tucking it back into whatever place he keeps it on his person. in the meantime, he has to push the sleeves of the borrowed shirt up to his elbows, has to invade jiaoqiu's space to get to the sink. companionable and close, in ways that he's not been with anyone in years, in ways that he does not dare allow himself to consider for more than a second.
it's easiest like this. maybe that's what makes it successful - he doesn't have to think about it at all. ]
You're going to give this old fox white hair. [ grumble grumble.
but therion goes to wash his hands, and jiaoqiu is appeased. instinctively he shifts to make room for therion to stand, tilting his body to the side to let him close, not bothering to step away. companionable. this close, jiaoqiu can smell his shampoo on therion, can smell the mix of his own scent and therion's rubbed in against the borrowed shirt, the remains of rain. therion is right here, with him, and it's easy.
for a moment, there's something in him that wants to wreck it. there is something in him that wants to dig his teeth in and rip it to shreds, if only to remind himself that he will lose whatever nails in his feet that are keeping him pinned. but it isn't an instinct to hurt therion, and it won't ever be - it's just for a moment he considers curling his fingers around the blade of his knife again.
but he doesn't. he puts the knife down. he pulls a peeler from the drawer, hands it to therion, and leans in therion's space to bit the ridge of his ear.
and then he scoots away with a huffy little laugh, escaping to the fridge. ]
however, it's a heatless comeback, despite the sass and complaining, and therion sideeyes him for a moment as he's shaking the water from his hands. he can't shake the sight of the waif of a person settled before that grave even with a real, lively jiaoqiu sitting next to him, and as he's toweling off his hands, his mouth pulls lower into a frown. he should have just left him there. this isn't his problem. the more that he interacts with him, the more dangerously he situates himself into old habits, the more he sets himself up to be pushed off the proverbial cliff. he doesn't trust jiaoqiu, he tells himself, and yet, he finds himself in this relative moment of comfort and safety, not captured or held but staying.
scary. it rattles fear through his heart, briefly, and he entertains how quickly he can escape this situation when jiaoqiu very suddenly interrupts him with a bite to his ear - which warms to it as he jolts and claps a hand over his ear, flustering and shooting him a scowly glare before he snatches the peeler with a loud huff, then sits right back down on his counter to resume peeling the potato. a roll of the eyes after a glare, a petty comeback as opposed to a chance to flee. ]
Have you had your rabies shot recently? [ therion you're the one who needs a rabies shot. also as if he has not been bitten by jiaoqiu many, many times before. ]
his tail swishes back and forth as he digs into his fridge, and he chances a look over his shoulder at therion, who is glaring at him. he's not sure if the feeling he gets is a stomach cramp or his heart trying to handle what he's feeling, but either way it continues to hurt. he wonders if it'll ever stop, or if he'll get used to it. it has to be like exercise, right? his old bones will get used to it.
he comes back to stand next to therion, and cuts the meat. ]
You would know if I hadn't. [ he hums peacefully, glancing up at therion with a sly little smile. therion cannot escape jiaoqiu biting the shit out of him every time they sleep together. ]
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therion doesn't say anything, but there's something appreciative in his visible eye, briefly, even after he's been smacked. (and frankly, the fact he doesn't immediately jolt away is such a testament to the amount of tentative trust he's built to jiaoqiu that not even a brief, sour look could hide it.) after the prerequisite bitching, of course, where he swats at his hand automatically and grouses: ] Show you germs on the counter.
[ he probably has but that's beside the point. anyway whatever else he was going to stay is silenced as he is just. handed a potato? he stares at it. he stares at jiaoqiu, giving him a very pointed look. and you know what? you know what?
he shrugs, and reaches into his pocket, and pulls out his switchblade, casually flipping it open and starting a mental countdown to how long it takes jiaoqiu to flip his metaphorical lid (to react, to react) over therion just using his switchblade he uses to occasionally stab people to peel a potato that's going in someone's mouth. ]
no subject
Germs! [ is all he manages to splutter at first, putting his knife down. okay, now you're getting thwacked with a dishtowel like he's some sort of exasperated housewife. ] Where has that knife been? Wash your hands!
[ but there's no heat to it. it's all for show - well, most of it. the huffiness is, he's serious about not using a stab knife to peel a potato, but he's not mad. he is very rarely ever really angry with therion. it's just a constant game of pulling each other's tails.
and... he is, he's reacting. he's alive. he's acting like it. crazy, to think the start of his day was catatonic. ]
no subject
[ YOU DIDN'T GIVE HIM A PEELER!!!! anyway this was all completely on purpose, and he's a little smug at the successful pigtail pulling, finally sliding down from the counter and walking over to wash his hands, shutting the switchblade with a click and tucking it back into whatever place he keeps it on his person. in the meantime, he has to push the sleeves of the borrowed shirt up to his elbows, has to invade jiaoqiu's space to get to the sink. companionable and close, in ways that he's not been with anyone in years, in ways that he does not dare allow himself to consider for more than a second.
it's easiest like this. maybe that's what makes it successful - he doesn't have to think about it at all. ]
no subject
but therion goes to wash his hands, and jiaoqiu is appeased. instinctively he shifts to make room for therion to stand, tilting his body to the side to let him close, not bothering to step away. companionable. this close, jiaoqiu can smell his shampoo on therion, can smell the mix of his own scent and therion's rubbed in against the borrowed shirt, the remains of rain. therion is right here, with him, and it's easy.
for a moment, there's something in him that wants to wreck it. there is something in him that wants to dig his teeth in and rip it to shreds, if only to remind himself that he will lose whatever nails in his feet that are keeping him pinned. but it isn't an instinct to hurt therion, and it won't ever be - it's just for a moment he considers curling his fingers around the blade of his knife again.
but he doesn't. he puts the knife down. he pulls a peeler from the drawer, hands it to therion, and leans in therion's space to bit the ridge of his ear.
and then he scoots away with a huffy little laugh, escaping to the fridge. ]
no subject
[ you got a problem with white hair? huh?
however, it's a heatless comeback, despite the sass and complaining, and therion sideeyes him for a moment as he's shaking the water from his hands. he can't shake the sight of the waif of a person settled before that grave even with a real, lively jiaoqiu sitting next to him, and as he's toweling off his hands, his mouth pulls lower into a frown. he should have just left him there. this isn't his problem. the more that he interacts with him, the more dangerously he situates himself into old habits, the more he sets himself up to be pushed off the proverbial cliff. he doesn't trust jiaoqiu, he tells himself, and yet, he finds himself in this relative moment of comfort and safety, not captured or held but staying.
scary. it rattles fear through his heart, briefly, and he entertains how quickly he can escape this situation when jiaoqiu very suddenly interrupts him with a bite to his ear - which warms to it as he jolts and claps a hand over his ear, flustering and shooting him a scowly glare before he snatches the peeler with a loud huff, then sits right back down on his counter to resume peeling the potato. a roll of the eyes after a glare, a petty comeback as opposed to a chance to flee. ]
Have you had your rabies shot recently? [ therion you're the one who needs a rabies shot. also as if he has not been bitten by jiaoqiu many, many times before. ]
no subject
his tail swishes back and forth as he digs into his fridge, and he chances a look over his shoulder at therion, who is glaring at him. he's not sure if the feeling he gets is a stomach cramp or his heart trying to handle what he's feeling, but either way it continues to hurt. he wonders if it'll ever stop, or if he'll get used to it. it has to be like exercise, right? his old bones will get used to it.
he comes back to stand next to therion, and cuts the meat. ]
You would know if I hadn't. [ he hums peacefully, glancing up at therion with a sly little smile. therion cannot escape jiaoqiu biting the shit out of him every time they sleep together. ]