[ lingsha is a good doctor - she is a mean doctor, and she is not afraid of jiaoqiu or therion. she bullies them relentlessly into behaving, but. true to her word, nobody bothers them for the week. she works hard on mending jiaoqiu's leg with cloudhymn magic so that he can move, and by the end of the week, allows him to cook dinner. when she is satisfied that he's not overworking himself doing that much, she gives them the go ahead to leave. promises she'll let sushang know that jiaoqiu is leaving, though not where, and that he'll contact her soon.
and then they're off! the trip there is just a little bit more of recovery time - it's nice to be outside, and even when he's not bickering back and forth with therion, he's happy to rest against the seat and stare out at the stars, humming softly along to the radio. off tune, but hey. the point is, he enjoys the journey, and he enjoys being with therion. he's far less likely to explode if he admits it to himself.
sunshade is a fascinating place. jiaoqiu climbs out of the car, only a little stiff, his leg complaining at him. and then he adjusts his clothes, and follows after therion easily enough, hands folded behind his back.
it's nearly two weeks of being fully awake. it's weird. not bad. just strange, to really see the world around him. absently, he reaches out to touch therion's back - something that's become a little bit of a grounding thing for him, just a brief slide of his fingers down therion's spine to remind himself where he is, and then he's okay.
he doesn't bother hiding his ears or tail. he's bright pink, he can't lay low. ]
[ the hand at his spine is starting to become almost familiar. he doesn't tense up anymore when jiaoqiu reaches out do it - he's used to it, used to the presence of jiaoqiu so close to him, and so it's far more welcome than it ever used to be. it's a quiet reminder too, that he doesn't go striding off through the crowd too fast. he sticks close to jiaoqiu, both hands deep in the pockets of his usual sweatshirt, and he walks slow enough that his leg won't be too much of a bother. there's still that uncertainty, some terrible part of his many years of traumatized brain that screams liability, but, he's able to drown it out for the most part by the reminder of what likely would've happened if jiaoqiu stayed behind.
thankfully, he's not the only one that's colorful here. the crowds are dressed in silks and brilliant colors, and people from all walks of life wander through the booming streets, from foxians to beastlings from a continent further away, to regular old humans like therion and everything in between. people yell at each other from bar windows, and strip clubs and gambling dens populate every other building - despite the crowd, therion seems more comfortable here than ever, just as easily moving between people as he would back in the city he met jiaoqiu in. he knows these streets well enough, and they lead down the main road, to a tavern bigger than all the rest. music plays out in the background - something played on strings and harps, beautiful and enticing, and a lovely woman stands outside, winking at passerby.
it's entirely possible this is (or at least used to be) some kind of brothel. it's fine! therion seems unbothered. he just nods to the girl and jerks his head over his shoulder to lead the way into the actual club and tavern itself! it smells nice in here, like incense and fine perfume, and the atmosphere is enticing. there's an equal mix of men and women around, chatting with each other, sharing drinks. beautiful people weave through the crowd, and a dancer on the stage clothed in red is doing some kind of stunning acrobatic dance, moving and twirling with utter grace.
therion looks at that for a second, and then moves past it, heading for the bar, and glancing back to see if jiaoqiu reacts any to. all of this. ]
[ there's a lot of sounds and smells and commotion, which is a bit much for him, but he keeps up fine. he appreciates therion staying close. he's a big boy, he can handle himself in a crowd and he won't break down about it, but it's still nice to be considered as they make their way through. he feels protected, with therion at his side.
the beastlings get his attention the most, because they're so similar to foxians but... not. but before he can even say much about them or start chattering about the way the city looks, therion leads him into a tavern.
and... therion glances at him, and jiaoqiu looks back. sort of just tilts his head like ? in his direction, like he's expecting therion to ask him something. he has no reaction really to the sexy dancers or the fact that this may or may not be a brothel. it's not the first one he's been in - though he'd never partook - and he's not interested in any of the women or men here. unfortunately for therion jiaoqiu is really only interested in him. about the only thing that really seems to get his attention is the music, and jiaoqiu is not a graceful person really, but he does sway a little in time as he makes his way through the crowd.
he'll follow to the bar, one ear flicked down just because of loud people chattering directly into it. ow. ]
[ unfortunately... or fortunately... maybe fortunately.
he's not necessarily expecting much of a reaction - jiaoqiu's awfully non-reactive in general, though his gaze does flick up to his ears briefly when they're down, but once he's sure he's mostly fine, he leads the way to the bar, and then eventually past that, to a small booth in the back. it's a nice spot - there's a good view of the stage if you really want one behind a set of gauzy curtains, and a soft, cushy looking seat. waitresses occasionally wander by with plates of snacks and full shotglasses, and therion does wave one of them down and has a plate of spicy looking meat skewers deposited on the table, then sits down and kicks his feet up once jiaoqiu does as well. he can sit wherever he wants in the booth, whether that's next to him or across from him, and as they get to the booth, he seems to relax just like, an extra iota. this is clearly a place he's been many, many times before. ]
Shouldn't be too long.
[ he watches him sway a little, peering at him through the dim lights of the tavern and the stage lights. therion's no stranger to people being pretty, but, lately, it has kind of stuck to him when it comes to jiaoqiu - the way the moonlight peeks through the windows of this place gives him sort of an ethereal quality, and, as it turns out, unfortunately, he's only really interested in jiaoqiu, too.
drinks are delivered to the table after a bit - therion catches a beer in one hand and settles back. ]
[ oh god, giving jiaoqiu the choice where to sit is a nightmare. he stalls for a second, unsure, but after a moment he sits across from therion. as much as he wants to sit next to him, he's pretty sure he'd have a hard time keeping his hands to himself, and they're in public. he does not want to have to wrestle with his intrusive thoughts versus the fact that people can see them.
he does press his foot against therion's under the table, though.
anyway. this is a really nice place? the seats are cushy and the music is nice, and it's a little more quiet here, in this section. he relaxes just a bit when therion does, and lets himself get used to the environment. his ears pop back up, twitching and flicking every so often as he takes in the way the place looks. the thing is, he's just so awake. he's present, and it doesn't seem like there's any chance of him slipping off into nothing. his fingers absently tap in time to the music, and when the food comes by, his tail wags.
it's not nearly spicy enough for him, the meat skewers, but they're passable. he picks one apart like he's going to be able to tell what is in them. ]
Too long?
[ he asks curiously, glancing up. if this place serves tea, that's what jiaoqiu gets because he's boring. otherwise he's fine with just munching. ]
[ cute... no hands to himself. he might have even set his hand on the gearshift when he was driving to let jiaoqiu put his on it if he wanted though he wouldn't have said anything about it... embarrassing....
he doesn't seem to mind the foot, either, and he's not jittering as much as he might, normally. he seems just kind of settled, watching the stage with a bored expression, chin resting in his hand before his gaze returns to jiaoqiu - his voice is dry. ]
Didn't really think you'd want to go out partying after all the traveling.
[ the food is decently spicy! desert food is spicy. he watches him for a moment, and then returns to look at the stage. the audience starts wolf whistling for the dancer, who is doing some kind of crazy aerial silk business. ] We're meeting someone.
[ that absolutely happened, jiaoqiu held his hand while driving, and neither of them said a word about it, like losers.
it's decently spicy but jiaoqiu is insane. it's mild to him, but he doesn't seem to mind, and he eats happily enough. he's not picky, not really, unless it has coriander and then he won't eat it, but we'll just assume this doesn't. it's mostly just that he can't... taste a lot of foods without them being so hot a normal person would pass out.
he doesn't argue not wanting to party because therion is correct even if he is being sarcastic, jiaoqiu might have just crawled under the car if he had to go anywhere that required Party of any kind. but: ]
I seem to recall someone saying connections weren't needed.
[ eyebrow raise. his face is all healed, also - there's a very, very faint scar over his nose and cheek, but it's only visible if you look very closely. lingsha's magic is nice. ]
but it is different, because this is someone who has earned therion's extremely difficult trust - someone who is like jiaoqiu, but someone who has been around for much longer. and sure enough, as he's about to open his mouth to respond, there's a soft female voice, and a jingle of bells.
"Oh, are we connected? That's a surprise to me."
there's a lilt of teasing surprise to the voice, and out from the shadows - out of nowhere, a woman appears at the table, leaning on it with a smile. this is of course, the prettiest lady, and the dancer from the stage. despite all the jewels and bells, she made a perfectly silent entrance, appearing only when she wanted to be seen. she's flushed a little and smiling, and without any other word, she sits down besides therion, trapping him in the booth, chin in her hand as she examines jiaoqiu, up, and down - therion rolls his eyes, but makes room.
"And who's this?" she asks, with a hum. ]
God, you're sweaty - Primrose, you're already off the stage, you can stop showing off.
look, he might not be interested in other people, but primrose is objectively beautiful, and he takes a second to admire her. respectfully, of course, he doesn't ogle her or look at her boobs or all her exposed skin - he just takes her in, and appreciates her aesthetic. he gives her a smile, too. something much more honest than his normal one. obviously, therion trusts her, considering he didn't skitter up the wall when primrose sat down, so she must be good people.
he takes the up and down look serenely, ear flicking. ]
Jiaoqiu. [ he says, bowing his head. as best he can at the table, anyway. ] Primrose, hm? A beautiful name to suit a beautiful woman. Though you must also have the patience of a saint if you're friends with Therion.
[ he can be charming sometimes. he's a brat all of the time when it comes to therion. ]
[ wow, rude? primrose chuckles, clearly finding this immediately funny, and she props her chin in her hand. "Oh, you have no idea."
also rude????? therion is starting to regret this immediately. she hums, reaching for the skewer off of therion's plate and just taking it, picking off a piece to eat. jiaoqiu will get the sense that he's being scrutinized too, but it's quick. "Jiaoqiu. Aren't you a charmer? It's a pleasure. You are right - he helped me out of a bind, a few years ago. "
oh that really gets therion to roll his eyes. he makes a tch noise, hunkering down into his sweatshirt. don't tell people he's nice. what the fuck.
"This tavern is mine, nowadays, so you'll be staying in the upstairs rooms, I believe - though it is not without its cost..." ]
[ aww... therion helped her. squishy. he really just lets her bully him, wow. jiaoqiu is impressed.
he doesn't mind being scrutinized. the impression he's getting from this woman is that she's extremely savvy, and that if he doesn't pass muster she's going to destroy him, so he's behaving. a beat, as his ear flicks. ]
A cost? [ he does not look at therion, he just addresses her politely...... like, money, or. ]
[ hey!!!! shut up!!! he's tough and edgy and evil!!!
a cost, indeed. primrose smiles. it's sort of a similar smile to jiaoqiu's in that it is full of mischief. it is spicy. she folds her hands together. "Tell me all about how much of a saint you are, hmm? I'd love to know how you got here."
no she just wants gossip. therion rolls his eyes so hard he could arguably send them out of his head, and he starts trying to get up like he's just going to clamber out of the booth. ]
Get your nose out of my business. [ GRUMBLING!!! primrose pulls him back down. ]
[ help!!! jiaoqiu is SO amused by this, and it is very clear. his own smile goes impish to match, his tail waving gently behind him. ]
It isn't just your business. [ he says, glancing at therion. he doesn't mind, like. he's not going to tell her absolutely every detail because as much as he likes her already there are some things he can't talk about, but. he can give her a little gossip. ]
I found an injured, hissing cat outside my pharmacy. I took him home and bandaged him up, and he kept coming back. [ lightly. and then: ] And eventually, he helped me out of a bind, as well.
I owe him my life and much more. Patience comes easy.
[ he's just making this icon face at this point because this is torture. red cheeked and flustered, he sinks a little lower into the chair, and the worst part of it is that i owe him my life and much more gives him a stupid little doki flutter, and he hates it here!!! he's just going to pick more meat off this skewer and eat it and not sulk.
in the meantime, primrose listens to this answer. despite the slight, mischievous turn to her smile, there's something that softens, faintly, in her face as jiaoqiu continues, and just like that, she understands. she looks at therion for a long moment, and then back to jiaoqiu.
"I see. Well. Don't mind his sulking - ] Not sulking. [ --"But I think I can see where you're coming from." for as subtle as this phrase is, there's a hidden undertone - she knows therion well, and she knows what it must mean to him, to bring someone back to this place.
and so, primrose smiles a little further, leaning back away from jiaoqiu now, less scrutinizing and more just interested. her voice is soft, alluring, but she's not trying to seduce. like a comfortable, lounging jungle cat. "This is the first time I've ever had the pleasure of entertaining his guest, is all. I can't chat for long, and I doubt you'll want to stay out and about for much longer, but... perhaps you'll lend me a bit of your time so we can chat one to one, tomorrow before we open? And if you need anything, feel free to ask. ]
[ unfortunately for therion jiaoqiu thinks the sulking is very cute, and his gaze flicks to him once or twice as he slowly becomes sludge in his chair. when he looks, his expression gets warmer, bit by bit. at least embarrassing him got him to eat a little. ]
Of course, Miss Primrose. I'd be delighted. [ that's genuine - he'd love to talk to her one on one. someone who understands therion the way jiaoqiu has learned to understand him over time would make him happy. and besides that, she seems to him like a very kind, very confident woman. someone worth knowing.
his tail keeps wagging gently behind him. ]
I appreciate it. I imagine we'll be able to find our way. Therion will, if only to stop us from speaking.
"Therion could stand to speak more often." primrose says with a chuckle as she pushes herself up from her seat, looking over at therion who is once again Definitely Not Sulking. this is a direct point at him because he refuses to talk about his feelings at any time, and he is aware she's making a direct point at him, and he is ignoring it.
as she stands, she dips her head, graceful. "I think we'll make fast friends - and you can drop the 'miss'." there is no room for politeness, here in this place, after all. after a moment, she gracefully tosses something to therion - a set of keys - and winks. where she was keeping them in that tiny outfit, who knows...
"It's good to see you, Therion. We'll talk tomorrow, too." primrose adds, one last time - he grumbles, and the sulking mostly disappears off of his face as he catches the keys, shrugging his shoulder instead of responding properly, which is his version of acknowledging it, which is more than he's offered to maybe almost anyone else he's ever interacted with, or at least that jiaoqiu's seen him interact with.
the keys go around his fingertips as primrose calls over her shoulder, Maybe tomorrow, you'll arrive in time to watch a dance, hmm? Sleep well." and like a breath of fresh air, she's gone, off to go check on the girls who work for her, now. ]
[ oh, he's a big fan of the callout, too. maybe they should stay here forever actually? but she stands up, off to go attend to her girls, and jiaoqiu waves, watching her go. when she's out of sight, he looks at therion, expression warm and pleased.
[ on her way out, primrose murmurs something to therion that makes him look like a startled, flustered cat - he swats at her and she bows gracefully out of his way, and then goes about her business. sheesh. that leaves him to turn to jiaoqiu's warm smile, and - god. he has a headache suddenly. ]
Yeah, somehow, not surprised. [ and he makes a little 'tch' noise. because he is a tsundere. however, at the last question he glances jiaoqiu up and down, briefly, sweeping - checking. ]
How's your leg? [ or more so - are you feeling up to staying out? ]
[ help, he's so curious about what primrose said, but he politely does not ask.
instead, he glances down at his leg, and his ear flicks. ]
It's fine. A little stiff. [ but therion would be able to tell if it actually hurt him because again, jiaoqiu is a weenie. ] I should be fine to walk, if that's what we decide.
[ mm. he doesn't say anything in response, but it's acknowledgement enough, and thinks it over for a minute, finishing off his drink. if he's feeling alright to walk, then... ]
's a night market a few streets down. [ it would be good to pick up some supplies since they'll be here for a few days, and the night market is somewhere that therion has stolen things from like, way too many times so it's very familiar.
that, and: ] They've got a lot of food stalls. You might be able to find something for your demon taste buds.
[ oh!! night market... he looks kind of excited about this, actually. the food stalls even more so, but therion's comment makes him laugh. ]
Someday you will appreciate spice. [ a hum. ] I would like to visit the night market. I'm sure there are things we'll need.
[ he probably brought extra clothes and like, toiletries, but anything other than what he could fit in a duffel bag he left behind. his poor apartment. ]
Than... let's go? [ he probably should stretch, anyway. ]
[ though he doesn't say it - barely even admits it to himself - there's that warm, achy little feeling watching jiaoqiu brighten up like that. he thought he might like it. there's something about watching him be lively that's novel, because, well. he's seen the opposite. often.
not...recently, though. which, after the week or so they had, maybe that's understandable.
either way, therion nods, his cool guy persona officially On, and nods. they can take a brief detour to drop their shit off upstairs - there's not much time to look at the room itself, but it's a nice little ensuite with a little mini kitchen in it, the kind of ameneties that only someone like primrose would take care of. (he'd called her when jiaoqiu was asleep, resting off his injuries. mentioned he liked to cook. figures she'd find a way to get what he was asking for without him even needing to do so - that's part of why he's come to trust primrose, what made them work well together.)
but that's a quick trip, so. back down they go to the main floor, and out into the desert night.
the night market is a pretty, bustling place, once again full of sights, sounds and colors - large silks drape over the top of the aisleways, casting starlit color lines on the ground. there are merchants selling just about everything you could ask for here, and the entire place smells like aromatics and spices, with merchants hawking their wares from across the planet, let alone just from across this continent. regular merchants mix with merchants selling magical objects, magical creatures, plants and flowers, weapons, jewels, and of course, lots and lots of food. it is an utter hubbub of humanity, here, and the many shoppers make the streets busy and crowded.
therion's been here a million times, so. he adjusts his hood down, and makes a gesture with his hand - a "go on", and he'll follow. he's kind of curious to see where jiaoqiu's nature and curiosity will lead him around this place, anyway. he'd like to, secretly, see him brighten up like that again. ]
[ the kitchen also gets little approving noises out of jiaoqiu as they deposit their stuff. primrose is the best for getting them a room like this, but - more than anything, therion thought ahead. he considered what jiaoqiu might like to have, and that makes him feel warm. before they walk back out into the night, jiaoqiu reaches to touch again, rests a hand on therion's lower back and leans to nose at the side of his head. like a cat, almost. not a kiss, but just affectionate rubbing his face against therion. enjoy your fox not-boyfriend.
but, night market it is! jiaoqiu stays close to therion out of instinct - he trusts therion to watch his back, trusts him to make sure that nobody is going to sneak up on them or hurt them. therion can probably see it, even, the way he eases up, the way he's less vigilant about trying to hear everything around them because therion is at his back.
there's so much going on here that he's not sure where to go first, so he just wanders. the food gets his attention, of course, but he waits on that one. he's not hungry enough. instead, he wanders to a stall with a collection of jewelry and gems. the merchant jabbers at him to try and sell him on things, and jiaoqiu politely ignores him, running his fingers over the gems and bracelets, necklaces. he glances at therion a couple of times, almost considering him, and then back at a collection of jade bracelets.
this is not things they Need to buy, but. his tail is waving gently behind him and his smile isn't that fake one he usually wears. ]
[ oogh embarrassing. therion grumbles about the face rubbing but he also definitely leans into it, so like, clearly it doesn't bother him that much.
off they go! honestly, he'd be more surprised if jiaoqiu did keep this to a needs only trip, because no one here ever does. the whole point is to draw the eye, after all. for the most part, therion seems perfectly content to stay just a step behind his wandering, alert to their surroundings and paying close attention. what they have not seen here is a single borisin - he can't imagine the hot climate is any pleasure for creatures that are mostly fur as opposed to just a little, which helps to ease the way even further. it's not like anyone who could be skulking around this market is more shady than therion is, after all, so a close eye is more than enough to keep any potential pickpocket at bay.
by that nature, he keeps his eye on jiaoqiu. his tailwag is obvious, a little charming, and he finds himself watching it, then lifting his gaze back up when he feels jiaoqiu looking at him, sees that for once honest looking smile. his eyebrows raise, the neutral bitchface completely unaffected, but he will step up since jiaoqiu's looking, sticking his hands in his pockets and peering over at the merchant's display.
An excellent gift for a lovely lady in your life. says the merchant, and therion can't help it - he snorts, turning his head to snicker into his own shoulder. yeah, okay. lady in his life. ]
[ jiaoqiu also snorts, actually, bringing his hand up to his mouth like he's considering the wares and not covering a laugh. the merchant looks a little disgruntled, but it's fine, jiaoqiu is so very unconcerned about it.
when therion comes a little closer, jiaoqiu's tail instinctively curls around his legs, briefly. kind of just like a hello sort of gentle whap. and then he reaches for one of the bracelets - a beaded jade one. the green of the jade is a very particular color, a very specific shade of green, and though jiaoqiu doesn't say anything about it, he looks at therion's visible eye one more time before he picks it up and asks the merchant how much.
the price seems reasonable enough to him, and he slips it onto his own wrist once he's handed over the money. and then he glances at therion. ]
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and then they're off! the trip there is just a little bit more of recovery time - it's nice to be outside, and even when he's not bickering back and forth with therion, he's happy to rest against the seat and stare out at the stars, humming softly along to the radio. off tune, but hey. the point is, he enjoys the journey, and he enjoys being with therion. he's far less likely to explode if he admits it to himself.
sunshade is a fascinating place. jiaoqiu climbs out of the car, only a little stiff, his leg complaining at him. and then he adjusts his clothes, and follows after therion easily enough, hands folded behind his back.
it's nearly two weeks of being fully awake. it's weird. not bad. just strange, to really see the world around him. absently, he reaches out to touch therion's back - something that's become a little bit of a grounding thing for him, just a brief slide of his fingers down therion's spine to remind himself where he is, and then he's okay.
he doesn't bother hiding his ears or tail. he's bright pink, he can't lay low. ]
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thankfully, he's not the only one that's colorful here. the crowds are dressed in silks and brilliant colors, and people from all walks of life wander through the booming streets, from foxians to beastlings from a continent further away, to regular old humans like therion and everything in between. people yell at each other from bar windows, and strip clubs and gambling dens populate every other building - despite the crowd, therion seems more comfortable here than ever, just as easily moving between people as he would back in the city he met jiaoqiu in. he knows these streets well enough, and they lead down the main road, to a tavern bigger than all the rest. music plays out in the background - something played on strings and harps, beautiful and enticing, and a lovely woman stands outside, winking at passerby.
it's entirely possible this is (or at least used to be) some kind of brothel. it's fine! therion seems unbothered. he just nods to the girl and jerks his head over his shoulder to lead the way into the actual club and tavern itself! it smells nice in here, like incense and fine perfume, and the atmosphere is enticing. there's an equal mix of men and women around, chatting with each other, sharing drinks. beautiful people weave through the crowd, and a dancer on the stage clothed in red is doing some kind of stunning acrobatic dance, moving and twirling with utter grace.
therion looks at that for a second, and then moves past it, heading for the bar, and glancing back to see if jiaoqiu reacts any to. all of this. ]
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the beastlings get his attention the most, because they're so similar to foxians but... not. but before he can even say much about them or start chattering about the way the city looks, therion leads him into a tavern.
and... therion glances at him, and jiaoqiu looks back. sort of just tilts his head like ? in his direction, like he's expecting therion to ask him something. he has no reaction really to the sexy dancers or the fact that this may or may not be a brothel. it's not the first one he's been in - though he'd never partook - and he's not interested in any of the women or men here. unfortunately for therion jiaoqiu is really only interested in him. about the only thing that really seems to get his attention is the music, and jiaoqiu is not a graceful person really, but he does sway a little in time as he makes his way through the crowd.
he'll follow to the bar, one ear flicked down just because of loud people chattering directly into it. ow. ]
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he's not necessarily expecting much of a reaction - jiaoqiu's awfully non-reactive in general, though his gaze does flick up to his ears briefly when they're down, but once he's sure he's mostly fine, he leads the way to the bar, and then eventually past that, to a small booth in the back. it's a nice spot - there's a good view of the stage if you really want one behind a set of gauzy curtains, and a soft, cushy looking seat. waitresses occasionally wander by with plates of snacks and full shotglasses, and therion does wave one of them down and has a plate of spicy looking meat skewers deposited on the table, then sits down and kicks his feet up once jiaoqiu does as well. he can sit wherever he wants in the booth, whether that's next to him or across from him, and as they get to the booth, he seems to relax just like, an extra iota. this is clearly a place he's been many, many times before. ]
Shouldn't be too long.
[ he watches him sway a little, peering at him through the dim lights of the tavern and the stage lights. therion's no stranger to people being pretty, but, lately, it has kind of stuck to him when it comes to jiaoqiu - the way the moonlight peeks through the windows of this place gives him sort of an ethereal quality, and, as it turns out, unfortunately, he's only really interested in jiaoqiu, too.
drinks are delivered to the table after a bit - therion catches a beer in one hand and settles back. ]
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he does press his foot against therion's under the table, though.
anyway. this is a really nice place? the seats are cushy and the music is nice, and it's a little more quiet here, in this section. he relaxes just a bit when therion does, and lets himself get used to the environment. his ears pop back up, twitching and flicking every so often as he takes in the way the place looks. the thing is, he's just so awake. he's present, and it doesn't seem like there's any chance of him slipping off into nothing. his fingers absently tap in time to the music, and when the food comes by, his tail wags.
it's not nearly spicy enough for him, the meat skewers, but they're passable. he picks one apart like he's going to be able to tell what is in them. ]
Too long?
[ he asks curiously, glancing up. if this place serves tea, that's what jiaoqiu gets because he's boring. otherwise he's fine with just munching. ]
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he doesn't seem to mind the foot, either, and he's not jittering as much as he might, normally. he seems just kind of settled, watching the stage with a bored expression, chin resting in his hand before his gaze returns to jiaoqiu - his voice is dry. ]
Didn't really think you'd want to go out partying after all the traveling.
[ the food is decently spicy! desert food is spicy. he watches him for a moment, and then returns to look at the stage. the audience starts wolf whistling for the dancer, who is doing some kind of crazy aerial silk business. ] We're meeting someone.
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it's decently spicy but jiaoqiu is insane. it's mild to him, but he doesn't seem to mind, and he eats happily enough. he's not picky, not really, unless it has coriander and then he won't eat it, but we'll just assume this doesn't. it's mostly just that he can't... taste a lot of foods without them being so hot a normal person would pass out.
he doesn't argue not wanting to party because therion is correct even if he is being sarcastic, jiaoqiu might have just crawled under the car if he had to go anywhere that required Party of any kind. but: ]
I seem to recall someone saying connections weren't needed.
[ eyebrow raise. his face is all healed, also - there's a very, very faint scar over his nose and cheek, but it's only visible if you look very closely. lingsha's magic is nice. ]
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[ okay, therion
but it is different, because this is someone who has earned therion's extremely difficult trust - someone who is like jiaoqiu, but someone who has been around for much longer. and sure enough, as he's about to open his mouth to respond, there's a soft female voice, and a jingle of bells.
"Oh, are we connected? That's a surprise to me."
there's a lilt of teasing surprise to the voice, and out from the shadows - out of nowhere, a woman appears at the table, leaning on it with a smile. this is of course, the prettiest lady, and the dancer from the stage. despite all the jewels and bells, she made a perfectly silent entrance, appearing only when she wanted to be seen. she's flushed a little and smiling, and without any other word, she sits down besides therion, trapping him in the booth, chin in her hand as she examines jiaoqiu, up, and down - therion rolls his eyes, but makes room.
"And who's this?" she asks, with a hum. ]
God, you're sweaty - Primrose, you're already off the stage, you can stop showing off.
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look, he might not be interested in other people, but primrose is objectively beautiful, and he takes a second to admire her. respectfully, of course, he doesn't ogle her or look at her boobs or all her exposed skin - he just takes her in, and appreciates her aesthetic. he gives her a smile, too. something much more honest than his normal one. obviously, therion trusts her, considering he didn't skitter up the wall when primrose sat down, so she must be good people.
he takes the up and down look serenely, ear flicking. ]
Jiaoqiu. [ he says, bowing his head. as best he can at the table, anyway. ] Primrose, hm? A beautiful name to suit a beautiful woman. Though you must also have the patience of a saint if you're friends with Therion.
[ he can be charming sometimes. he's a brat all of the time when it comes to therion. ]
It's a pleasure to meet you.
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also rude????? therion is starting to regret this immediately. she hums, reaching for the skewer off of therion's plate and just taking it, picking off a piece to eat. jiaoqiu will get the sense that he's being scrutinized too, but it's quick. "Jiaoqiu. Aren't you a charmer? It's a pleasure. You are right - he helped me out of a bind, a few years ago. "
oh that really gets therion to roll his eyes. he makes a tch noise, hunkering down into his sweatshirt. don't tell people he's nice. what the fuck.
"This tavern is mine, nowadays, so you'll be staying in the upstairs rooms, I believe - though it is not without its cost..." ]
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he doesn't mind being scrutinized. the impression he's getting from this woman is that she's extremely savvy, and that if he doesn't pass muster she's going to destroy him, so he's behaving. a beat, as his ear flicks. ]
A cost? [ he does not look at therion, he just addresses her politely...... like, money, or. ]
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a cost, indeed. primrose smiles. it's sort of a similar smile to jiaoqiu's in that it is full of mischief. it is spicy. she folds her hands together. "Tell me all about how much of a saint you are, hmm? I'd love to know how you got here."
no she just wants gossip. therion rolls his eyes so hard he could arguably send them out of his head, and he starts trying to get up like he's just going to clamber out of the booth. ]
Get your nose out of my business. [ GRUMBLING!!! primrose pulls him back down. ]
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It isn't just your business. [ he says, glancing at therion. he doesn't mind, like. he's not going to tell her absolutely every detail because as much as he likes her already there are some things he can't talk about, but. he can give her a little gossip. ]
I found an injured, hissing cat outside my pharmacy. I took him home and bandaged him up, and he kept coming back. [ lightly. and then: ] And eventually, he helped me out of a bind, as well.
I owe him my life and much more. Patience comes easy.
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in the meantime, primrose listens to this answer. despite the slight, mischievous turn to her smile, there's something that softens, faintly, in her face as jiaoqiu continues, and just like that, she understands. she looks at therion for a long moment, and then back to jiaoqiu.
"I see. Well. Don't mind his sulking - ] Not sulking. [ --"But I think I can see where you're coming from." for as subtle as this phrase is, there's a hidden undertone - she knows therion well, and she knows what it must mean to him, to bring someone back to this place.
and so, primrose smiles a little further, leaning back away from jiaoqiu now, less scrutinizing and more just interested. her voice is soft, alluring, but she's not trying to seduce. like a comfortable, lounging jungle cat. "This is the first time I've ever had the pleasure of entertaining his guest, is all. I can't chat for long, and I doubt you'll want to stay out and about for much longer, but... perhaps you'll lend me a bit of your time so we can chat one to one, tomorrow before we open? And if you need anything, feel free to ask. ]
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Of course, Miss Primrose. I'd be delighted. [ that's genuine - he'd love to talk to her one on one. someone who understands therion the way jiaoqiu has learned to understand him over time would make him happy. and besides that, she seems to him like a very kind, very confident woman. someone worth knowing.
his tail keeps wagging gently behind him. ]
I appreciate it. I imagine we'll be able to find our way. Therion will, if only to stop us from speaking.
[ lol ]
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"Therion could stand to speak more often." primrose says with a chuckle as she pushes herself up from her seat, looking over at therion who is once again Definitely Not Sulking. this is a direct point at him because he refuses to talk about his feelings at any time, and he is aware she's making a direct point at him, and he is ignoring it.
as she stands, she dips her head, graceful. "I think we'll make fast friends - and you can drop the 'miss'." there is no room for politeness, here in this place, after all. after a moment, she gracefully tosses something to therion - a set of keys - and winks. where she was keeping them in that tiny outfit, who knows...
"It's good to see you, Therion. We'll talk tomorrow, too." primrose adds, one last time - he grumbles, and the sulking mostly disappears off of his face as he catches the keys, shrugging his shoulder instead of responding properly, which is his version of acknowledging it, which is more than he's offered to maybe almost anyone else he's ever interacted with, or at least that jiaoqiu's seen him interact with.
the keys go around his fingertips as primrose calls over her shoulder, Maybe tomorrow, you'll arrive in time to watch a dance, hmm? Sleep well." and like a breath of fresh air, she's gone, off to go check on the girls who work for her, now. ]
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a pause. ]
I like her.
[ hehe. ]
Would you like to stay out, or find our room?
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Yeah, somehow, not surprised. [ and he makes a little 'tch' noise. because he is a tsundere. however, at the last question he glances jiaoqiu up and down, briefly, sweeping - checking. ]
How's your leg? [ or more so - are you feeling up to staying out? ]
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instead, he glances down at his leg, and his ear flicks. ]
It's fine. A little stiff. [ but therion would be able to tell if it actually hurt him because again, jiaoqiu is a weenie. ] I should be fine to walk, if that's what we decide.
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's a night market a few streets down. [ it would be good to pick up some supplies since they'll be here for a few days, and the night market is somewhere that therion has stolen things from like, way too many times so it's very familiar.
that, and: ] They've got a lot of food stalls. You might be able to find something for your demon taste buds.
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Someday you will appreciate spice. [ a hum. ] I would like to visit the night market. I'm sure there are things we'll need.
[ he probably brought extra clothes and like, toiletries, but anything other than what he could fit in a duffel bag he left behind. his poor apartment. ]
Than... let's go? [ he probably should stretch, anyway. ]
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not...recently, though. which, after the week or so they had, maybe that's understandable.
either way, therion nods, his cool guy persona officially On, and nods. they can take a brief detour to drop their shit off upstairs - there's not much time to look at the room itself, but it's a nice little ensuite with a little mini kitchen in it, the kind of ameneties that only someone like primrose would take care of. (he'd called her when jiaoqiu was asleep, resting off his injuries. mentioned he liked to cook. figures she'd find a way to get what he was asking for without him even needing to do so - that's part of why he's come to trust primrose, what made them work well together.)
but that's a quick trip, so. back down they go to the main floor, and out into the desert night.
the night market is a pretty, bustling place, once again full of sights, sounds and colors - large silks drape over the top of the aisleways, casting starlit color lines on the ground. there are merchants selling just about everything you could ask for here, and the entire place smells like aromatics and spices, with merchants hawking their wares from across the planet, let alone just from across this continent. regular merchants mix with merchants selling magical objects, magical creatures, plants and flowers, weapons, jewels, and of course, lots and lots of food. it is an utter hubbub of humanity, here, and the many shoppers make the streets busy and crowded.
therion's been here a million times, so. he adjusts his hood down, and makes a gesture with his hand - a "go on", and he'll follow. he's kind of curious to see where jiaoqiu's nature and curiosity will lead him around this place, anyway. he'd like to, secretly, see him brighten up like that again. ]
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but, night market it is! jiaoqiu stays close to therion out of instinct - he trusts therion to watch his back, trusts him to make sure that nobody is going to sneak up on them or hurt them. therion can probably see it, even, the way he eases up, the way he's less vigilant about trying to hear everything around them because therion is at his back.
there's so much going on here that he's not sure where to go first, so he just wanders. the food gets his attention, of course, but he waits on that one. he's not hungry enough. instead, he wanders to a stall with a collection of jewelry and gems. the merchant jabbers at him to try and sell him on things, and jiaoqiu politely ignores him, running his fingers over the gems and bracelets, necklaces. he glances at therion a couple of times, almost considering him, and then back at a collection of jade bracelets.
this is not things they Need to buy, but. his tail is waving gently behind him and his smile isn't that fake one he usually wears. ]
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off they go! honestly, he'd be more surprised if jiaoqiu did keep this to a needs only trip, because no one here ever does. the whole point is to draw the eye, after all. for the most part, therion seems perfectly content to stay just a step behind his wandering, alert to their surroundings and paying close attention. what they have not seen here is a single borisin - he can't imagine the hot climate is any pleasure for creatures that are mostly fur as opposed to just a little, which helps to ease the way even further. it's not like anyone who could be skulking around this market is more shady than therion is, after all, so a close eye is more than enough to keep any potential pickpocket at bay.
by that nature, he keeps his eye on jiaoqiu. his tailwag is obvious, a little charming, and he finds himself watching it, then lifting his gaze back up when he feels jiaoqiu looking at him, sees that for once honest looking smile. his eyebrows raise, the neutral bitchface completely unaffected, but he will step up since jiaoqiu's looking, sticking his hands in his pockets and peering over at the merchant's display.
An excellent gift for a lovely lady in your life. says the merchant, and therion can't help it - he snorts, turning his head to snicker into his own shoulder. yeah, okay. lady in his life. ]
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when therion comes a little closer, jiaoqiu's tail instinctively curls around his legs, briefly. kind of just like a hello sort of gentle whap. and then he reaches for one of the bracelets - a beaded jade one. the green of the jade is a very particular color, a very specific shade of green, and though jiaoqiu doesn't say anything about it, he looks at therion's visible eye one more time before he picks it up and asks the merchant how much.
the price seems reasonable enough to him, and he slips it onto his own wrist once he's handed over the money. and then he glances at therion. ]
Do you see anything you like, here?
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