he makes a huffy sound, but he allows it. caps his food, puts it away, and then goes to sit on the bed, honestly, because he doesn't want to stand like a dingus in the kitchen by himself until therion figures out what he wants to do. it means that he's in a little better standing to catch the box when it's tossed to him - he still nearly fumbles it because he sucks, but he manages.
when he opens the box, he actually gasps a little. holy shit!! what a fancy knife... a paring knife, too, and he very obviously knows that it's not the type of thing a thief would use as a weapon. he pulls it from the box to look it over, twirling it a few times, getting a sense of how to hold it and how sharp it is. and then carefully, he puts it back in the box. ]
What do you mean it's useless? It's perfect. [ he says, fussy, scolding a little. he puts the lid back on the box and holds it to his chest, ears laid flat against his head, expression scrunched. ]
... I'm keeping it. [ a beat. ] Thank you.
[ he very kindly does not mention that he saw it in therion's bag ages ago, but the thought that he's kept something like this for so long makes jiaoqiu feel a whole lot of things all at once. ]
[ the scrunched reaction is kind of funny, which is good because he just looks over his shoulder in time to actually get a look at him from where he was very busily doing something (nothing) to try and not look at jiaoqiu.
it's been a while since he lifted the knife - it's been sitting in his bag for at least a month, maybe longer. he's watched jiaoqiu cook about a thousand times, watched how expertly he wielded his chef's knives the way that therion wields his switchblade, his lockpick. so, when his travels led him somewhere he could find fancy equipment like this, his first thought was not to steal things to sell them, but... to take this back to jiaoqiu. as a thank you, as something he could use, the kind of wordlessly thoughtful thing that he's very capable of doing when the conditions are right.
for the past month or so, he's debated over giving it to him and thought about his embarrassing reaction, and then considered selling it and saying fuck it all together, rinse, lather, repeat. and by the time he finally settled on a plan - to put it in his kitchen and say nothing about it - hoolay happened. and here they are now.
jiaoqiu said he stole him out of house and home. and he did. it reminded him of this little knife, a gift that was supposed to be hidden at jiaoqiu's home when things were calmer. that's gone, now - or at least, for a while, it's gone. the least he can do is give it to him, and if jiaoqiu doesn't make a big deal, they can just toss it, only - only he does. of course he makes a big deal out of it. the little gasp, the flat ears, and therion immediately looks away again, folding his arms. ]
Do whatever you want. [ hmph. his ears are red. (baka) ]
[ insistent. he puts the knife down very gently on the bed. a little reverent. it means a lot. it means that therion knows what he likes, that therion knows what is useful to him and was looking for some way to give it to him, and look - while jiaoqiu would never say no to flowers or other things like that, the practical gifts are always going to be something he loves the most. he'll use it here. he'll find some sort of dish that he needs a paring knife for and he will make it, and he will make sure that therion sees him using it every second that he does.
it doesn't matter that they're somewhere else. it doesn't matter that he left his apartment behind. he doesn't really care where he is. he likes it here.
he holds out his hands. c'mere. don't be embarrassed. don't be grouchy, just c'mere. ]
[ he has nothing to say here that won't like, incriminate himself (for what??? caring???) so he just wisely chooses not to say anything. despite his display of incredibly believable nonchalance, this was so clearly purposeful that he is not fooling anyone.
instead he just shuffles back over to where jiaoqiu is standing, peering up at him, obedient for once in his dumb life. ]
anyway!!!!! this is embarrassing. he makes a little "mfft" noise when he is kissed, because he has to... and after a second, hesitates, and then brings his hands up to rest on his wrists. when he pulls back, he pulls a little bit of a :nyeh: face, because he likes spicy food fine but god jiaoqiu's spicy is a different spicy and also a good distraction. ]
he laughs a little when he sees therion's face as he pulls back. ]
Ah. My apologies. [ he's not very sorry, his tail is wagging. ] You don't need to feel as though you have to justify kind things to me. Just so that you know.
therion immediately flusters - opens his mouth, closes it, because he does not have an immediate sarcastic or snarky remark, and then just 'tchs' and pushes back, pointing over to where the bathroom is. ]
Your breath stinks. [ what a fucking comeback good job nerdlord nailed it ]
he makes the most >:3 face in the world at therion getting flustered, but the joke's on him because his knee kind of goes out on him so he almost falls on his ass while walking to the bathroom, like an idiot. therion can probably hear him laughing in the bathroom, mostly at himself.
but he'll brush his teeth. he'll wash his face, and then he'll come back out with a brush, intent on climbing onto the bed to brush out his tail. it needs it, after the drive and being in public. ]
he's not actually hurt so therion feels no remorse for feeling this way at all. he grumpily goes to put the leftovers in the fridge, looks at the little knife box, and then huffs and goes to drop onto the bed and actually settle in, taking a couple minutes to get his composure back. he's grumbly but mostly fine by the time jiaoqiu returns - messing around on his burner phone, laying on his back on the bed.
he looks over at jiaoqiu when he sits down with his brush. that tail of his is going to take up half of this bed... and still, he scoots over to make a little room. ] Primrose'll have my head if you fill this place with your hairballs.
Luckily for Miss Primrose, I don't groom myself like a cat.
[ he says swiftly, ear flicking. he sinks down onto the bed when therion makes room, pulling his tail into his lap. there's a moment where it looks like he might just start brushing it himself, and then he glances at therion, laying back with his phone.
a beat. and then he flips the hairbrush and offers the handle to therion. would you like to brush it? he doesn't have to, but... it is definitely something jiaoqiu has never offered him before. ]
[ more like lucky for him because that would be fucking weird. he makes a face, thinking about it - and then the brush is in his peripheral. therion looks at it for a second, and then sighs, as if put upon, and rolls up to sitting, gathering up his stupid fluff and dropping it in his lap and taking the brush. ]
You're about as spoiled as one. [ a housecat, that is. grumbling once again, he looks at his tail and... after a second, because he's not sure exactly where to even start, he brings the brush down and strokes it through his tail. it's not hesitant, necessarily, but it's gentler than you might expect. this is more grooming than he's ever done on his own body in his entire life actually ]
[ he says, amused, settling on the bed. actually he'll just lay down on his stomach because it's easier that way, and because he can, despite him protesting being called a cat, lounge like one while therion brushes. he stretches out, and sighs at the relief it puts on all his various aches and pains.
the first brush gets him to hum - the brush snags just a little bit, because there are tangles in his fur. he hasn't really gotten to brush it super well for a week because he's been healing. it's fine, though. he doesn't mind a little pain, obviously. he's very well behaved, settling his tail in therion's lap and resting his head on his folded arms, peering behind him over his shoulder. ]
he does not do this, of course. instead, he just pays attention to what he's doing - feeling the pull of the brush through the more tangled parts of his tail, trying not to yank but pulling a little bit to unsnarl some of those knots. it's messier than he really expected, but it makes sense.
looking at him, jiaoqiu can see therion's usual, neutral expression, but he is focused on what he's doing. finding a particularly tangly bit, he moves the brush aside and combs his fingers through it, instead, dexterously undoing the knot, and then carrying on with what he was doing. it's like... weirdly soothing to do this? it's repetitive, and there's sort of a lull to it, a rhythm. his lap is warm with his tail flopped over it, and he's tired, too - it's nice to just... unwind, like this. slowly, some of the tension in his shoulders starts to bleed out, too.
and he's realizing, sort of belatedly, that... it was a good day? today was a good day. huh. ]
[ the longer that therion does this, the sleepier jiaoqiu gets. or, rather, he just gets relaxed, his gold eyes slits as he watches. he finds that he's really enjoying therion doing this for him, actually - he likes the fingers in his fur, he likes the care and concentration that therion puts into it, and he likes that therion is slowly loosening up as well. the quiet is welcome, and it makes the room feel soft, safe, the chatter of people downstairs and in the streets just distant enough to be a low drone. like white noise. they're fed, and warm, and in a place where nobody is going to try to hurt them.
(there's a stupid part of him that says and you got to hold his hand for a while, which he dismisses on the grounds of he's not a twelve year old and doesn't need to get excited about that.)
it was a good day. huh.
jiaoqiu shifts an arm out from under his head so he can rest a hand on therion's leg. he just wants to be touching. ]
[ the grunt of acknowledgement once again from therion "wordsmith" therionson, but that's normal. it is like, weirdly soothing to continue brushing it over, the repetitive, easy strokes and the untangling of knots. he lets his thoughts drift, reflective - running the brush through the tip of his tail, it's a reminder of the scarf still curled around his neck, the little gift and the interaction that came from it. he mulls that over, too. the quiet kindnesses of others are something he rarely got to experience, and the way that jiaoqiu has delivered his - with bite and snark, sometimes, just how he likes it - made the eventual acceptance of them easier. to say his trust has been hard earned is an understatement.
eventually, as he brushes through another section, he feels that hand on his leg and lets it stay there. for once, he's not really very tense, and from that angle, jiaoqiu can see his lips twitch into an amused little smirk. almost a smile. ]
I can't say that I'm surprised. Usually gets a different reaction.
[ he laughs, his tail coming up to wave in therion's face briefly. it's the only time he'll misbehave, okay, he's gotta. it settles back down into therion's lap after. ]
I've discovered gentle can be nice when I can feel it. [ like now. he still likes it rough, he still likes to be bitten and scratched and yanked, but he thinks that it's less necessary, now. he's not numb all over. he can feel therion's fingers running through his fur, and he can taste foods that aren't the hottest peppers he can find. it's new. wonderful, but new.
he stretches a bit. ]
That doesn't mean stop being rough in the future, however.
[ just so therion knows. and then: ]
Hmmm... maybe you're doing this even better than I can. Maybe I'll put you in charge of brushing from now on.
[ the tail in his face gets a reaction, first - a "pffthtt" noise because he is EATING FUR, and he smacks it out of the way, as one might do with a particularly naughty cat. and, as jiaoqiu continues, therion tugs his tail where he's got his hand in it in response to that, because: ] Oi. Don't foist your haircare routine off on me.
[ listen he understands that you are enjoying this but also? no? even if it's enjoyable. take care of yourself!!! he has to put up a fuss about it because he's therion. he also does not stop brushing him, bearing down a little on his tail to reach a particularly messy spot on the underside. ]
Edited (i forgot half my tag) 2024-10-23 17:31 (UTC)
[ he startles slightly when therion pulls his tail, but it's not a bad startle. in fact, as therion bears down a bit on him he wriggles. obediently lets therion have his tail, but also, full body squirms.
he grins over his shoulder at therion. ]
Why should I when you do such a good job?
[ ignore his voice being slightly, slightly breathless. ]
[ ohhh. see in response to that grin - really, more in response to that little bit of breathlessness - a very slow smirk spreads over therion's face, and he just oozes smug. ]
Yeah? A good job at what?
[ and then snarls his hand a little tighter in the spot and really pulls. ]
You are not. [ he squirms again when therion tugs, though - and exhales a little shivery sigh. ] Keep doing that and I'm going to make you responsible.
[ with a low note of amusement in his voice - ] You could not make me responsible if you tried.
[ yeah unfortunately he is still just exuding all of his usual cocky confidence, because now he's been spurred onto mischief. that, and he's not complaining about the nails in his jeans, so he just bends down to get a closer look at his expression and releases his grip like he's going to stop, then just wriggles his hand a little lower to get a better handful at the base of it and tug. this was a fun discovery the first time, and it has yet to stop being a fun discovery? he's always liked pulling reactions out of jiaoqiu. pushing his buttons. knocking his composure right off of his foxy face. ]
[ okay, well, fair enough to that first bit, he cannot domesticate
but jiaoqiu is distracted, as therion might expect. the better grip actually gets another noise out of him, this time something a little higher pitched, which he immediately buries his face in his arm again, ears standing up straight. his grip on therion's leg tightens instinctively.
a beat. ]
No. [ muffled, grumpy. he doesn't want him to stop!! to his annoyance!! he's a little embarrassed, but only because therion is so wehehe about it. ]
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he makes a huffy sound, but he allows it. caps his food, puts it away, and then goes to sit on the bed, honestly, because he doesn't want to stand like a dingus in the kitchen by himself until therion figures out what he wants to do. it means that he's in a little better standing to catch the box when it's tossed to him - he still nearly fumbles it because he sucks, but he manages.
when he opens the box, he actually gasps a little. holy shit!! what a fancy knife... a paring knife, too, and he very obviously knows that it's not the type of thing a thief would use as a weapon. he pulls it from the box to look it over, twirling it a few times, getting a sense of how to hold it and how sharp it is. and then carefully, he puts it back in the box. ]
What do you mean it's useless? It's perfect. [ he says, fussy, scolding a little. he puts the lid back on the box and holds it to his chest, ears laid flat against his head, expression scrunched. ]
... I'm keeping it. [ a beat. ] Thank you.
[ he very kindly does not mention that he saw it in therion's bag ages ago, but the thought that he's kept something like this for so long makes jiaoqiu feel a whole lot of things all at once. ]
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it's been a while since he lifted the knife - it's been sitting in his bag for at least a month, maybe longer. he's watched jiaoqiu cook about a thousand times, watched how expertly he wielded his chef's knives the way that therion wields his switchblade, his lockpick. so, when his travels led him somewhere he could find fancy equipment like this, his first thought was not to steal things to sell them, but... to take this back to jiaoqiu. as a thank you, as something he could use, the kind of wordlessly thoughtful thing that he's very capable of doing when the conditions are right.
for the past month or so, he's debated over giving it to him and thought about his embarrassing reaction, and then considered selling it and saying fuck it all together, rinse, lather, repeat. and by the time he finally settled on a plan - to put it in his kitchen and say nothing about it - hoolay happened. and here they are now.
jiaoqiu said he stole him out of house and home. and he did. it reminded him of this little knife, a gift that was supposed to be hidden at jiaoqiu's home when things were calmer. that's gone, now - or at least, for a while, it's gone. the least he can do is give it to him, and if jiaoqiu doesn't make a big deal, they can just toss it, only - only he does. of course he makes a big deal out of it. the little gasp, the flat ears, and therion immediately looks away again, folding his arms. ]
Do whatever you want. [ hmph. his ears are red. (baka) ]
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Come here.
[ insistent. he puts the knife down very gently on the bed. a little reverent. it means a lot. it means that therion knows what he likes, that therion knows what is useful to him and was looking for some way to give it to him, and look - while jiaoqiu would never say no to flowers or other things like that, the practical gifts are always going to be something he loves the most. he'll use it here. he'll find some sort of dish that he needs a paring knife for and he will make it, and he will make sure that therion sees him using it every second that he does.
it doesn't matter that they're somewhere else. it doesn't matter that he left his apartment behind. he doesn't really care where he is. he likes it here.
he holds out his hands. c'mere. don't be embarrassed. don't be grouchy, just c'mere. ]
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instead he just shuffles back over to where jiaoqiu is standing, peering up at him, obedient for once in his dumb life. ]
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anyway!!!!! this is embarrassing. he makes a little "mfft" noise when he is kissed, because he has to... and after a second, hesitates, and then brings his hands up to rest on his wrists. when he pulls back, he pulls a little bit of a :nyeh: face, because he likes spicy food fine but god jiaoqiu's spicy is a different spicy and also a good distraction. ]
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he laughs a little when he sees therion's face as he pulls back. ]
Ah. My apologies. [ he's not very sorry, his tail is wagging. ] You don't need to feel as though you have to justify kind things to me. Just so that you know.
[ strokes his face with his thumbs. ]
Let me go brush my teeth, hm?
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therion immediately flusters - opens his mouth, closes it, because he does not have an immediate sarcastic or snarky remark, and then just 'tchs' and pushes back, pointing over to where the bathroom is. ]
Your breath stinks. [ what a fucking comeback good job nerdlord nailed it ]
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he makes the most >:3 face in the world at therion getting flustered, but the joke's on him because his knee kind of goes out on him so he almost falls on his ass while walking to the bathroom, like an idiot. therion can probably hear him laughing in the bathroom, mostly at himself.
but he'll brush his teeth. he'll wash his face, and then he'll come back out with a brush, intent on climbing onto the bed to brush out his tail. it needs it, after the drive and being in public. ]
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he's not actually hurt so therion feels no remorse for feeling this way at all. he grumpily goes to put the leftovers in the fridge, looks at the little knife box, and then huffs and goes to drop onto the bed and actually settle in, taking a couple minutes to get his composure back. he's grumbly but mostly fine by the time jiaoqiu returns - messing around on his burner phone, laying on his back on the bed.
he looks over at jiaoqiu when he sits down with his brush. that tail of his is going to take up half of this bed... and still, he scoots over to make a little room. ] Primrose'll have my head if you fill this place with your hairballs.
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[ he says swiftly, ear flicking. he sinks down onto the bed when therion makes room, pulling his tail into his lap. there's a moment where it looks like he might just start brushing it himself, and then he glances at therion, laying back with his phone.
a beat. and then he flips the hairbrush and offers the handle to therion. would you like to brush it? he doesn't have to, but... it is definitely something jiaoqiu has never offered him before. ]
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[ more like lucky for him because that would be fucking weird. he makes a face, thinking about it - and then the brush is in his peripheral. therion looks at it for a second, and then sighs, as if put upon, and rolls up to sitting, gathering up his stupid fluff and dropping it in his lap and taking the brush. ]
You're about as spoiled as one. [ a housecat, that is. grumbling once again, he looks at his tail and... after a second, because he's not sure exactly where to even start, he brings the brush down and strokes it through his tail. it's not hesitant, necessarily, but it's gentler than you might expect. this is more grooming than he's ever done on his own body in his entire life actually ]
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[ he says, amused, settling on the bed. actually he'll just lay down on his stomach because it's easier that way, and because he can, despite him protesting being called a cat, lounge like one while therion brushes. he stretches out, and sighs at the relief it puts on all his various aches and pains.
the first brush gets him to hum - the brush snags just a little bit, because there are tangles in his fur. he hasn't really gotten to brush it super well for a week because he's been healing. it's fine, though. he doesn't mind a little pain, obviously. he's very well behaved, settling his tail in therion's lap and resting his head on his folded arms, peering behind him over his shoulder. ]
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[ he will shove you off of this bed.
he does not do this, of course. instead, he just pays attention to what he's doing - feeling the pull of the brush through the more tangled parts of his tail, trying not to yank but pulling a little bit to unsnarl some of those knots. it's messier than he really expected, but it makes sense.
looking at him, jiaoqiu can see therion's usual, neutral expression, but he is focused on what he's doing. finding a particularly tangly bit, he moves the brush aside and combs his fingers through it, instead, dexterously undoing the knot, and then carrying on with what he was doing. it's like... weirdly soothing to do this? it's repetitive, and there's sort of a lull to it, a rhythm. his lap is warm with his tail flopped over it, and he's tired, too - it's nice to just... unwind, like this. slowly, some of the tension in his shoulders starts to bleed out, too.
and he's realizing, sort of belatedly, that... it was a good day? today was a good day. huh. ]
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(there's a stupid part of him that says and you got to hold his hand for a while, which he dismisses on the grounds of he's not a twelve year old and doesn't need to get excited about that.)
it was a good day. huh.
jiaoqiu shifts an arm out from under his head so he can rest a hand on therion's leg. he just wants to be touching. ]
That feels nice.
[ he murmurs. ]
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[ the grunt of acknowledgement once again from therion "wordsmith" therionson, but that's normal. it is like, weirdly soothing to continue brushing it over, the repetitive, easy strokes and the untangling of knots. he lets his thoughts drift, reflective - running the brush through the tip of his tail, it's a reminder of the scarf still curled around his neck, the little gift and the interaction that came from it. he mulls that over, too. the quiet kindnesses of others are something he rarely got to experience, and the way that jiaoqiu has delivered his - with bite and snark, sometimes, just how he likes it - made the eventual acceptance of them easier. to say his trust has been hard earned is an understatement.
eventually, as he brushes through another section, he feels that hand on his leg and lets it stay there. for once, he's not really very tense, and from that angle, jiaoqiu can see his lips twitch into an amused little smirk. almost a smile. ]
I can't say that I'm surprised. Usually gets a different reaction.
[ mister pull my tail when we bang ]
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I've discovered gentle can be nice when I can feel it. [ like now. he still likes it rough, he still likes to be bitten and scratched and yanked, but he thinks that it's less necessary, now. he's not numb all over. he can feel therion's fingers running through his fur, and he can taste foods that aren't the hottest peppers he can find. it's new. wonderful, but new.
he stretches a bit. ]
That doesn't mean stop being rough in the future, however.
[ just so therion knows. and then: ]
Hmmm... maybe you're doing this even better than I can. Maybe I'll put you in charge of brushing from now on.
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[ listen he understands that you are enjoying this but also? no? even if it's enjoyable. take care of yourself!!! he has to put up a fuss about it because he's therion. he also does not stop brushing him, bearing down a little on his tail to reach a particularly messy spot on the underside. ]
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he grins over his shoulder at therion. ]
Why should I when you do such a good job?
[ ignore his voice being slightly, slightly breathless. ]
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Yeah? A good job at what?
[ and then snarls his hand a little tighter in the spot and really pulls. ]
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At brushing. Of course. [ he says, after a moment. ] Don't be so smug. Brat.
[ there's no heat to this whatsoever, and he also has not moved, his tail shivering in therion's hand. ]
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Oops. [ as he pulls it again, setting the brush down. ] I'm soooo sorry.
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You are not. [ he squirms again when therion tugs, though - and exhales a little shivery sigh. ] Keep doing that and I'm going to make you responsible.
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[ yeah unfortunately he is still just exuding all of his usual cocky confidence, because now he's been spurred onto mischief. that, and he's not complaining about the nails in his jeans, so he just bends down to get a closer look at his expression and releases his grip like he's going to stop, then just wriggles his hand a little lower to get a better handful at the base of it and tug. this was a fun discovery the first time, and it has yet to stop being a fun discovery? he's always liked pulling reactions out of jiaoqiu. pushing his buttons. knocking his composure right off of his foxy face. ]
Did you want me to stop? [ lol. ]
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but jiaoqiu is distracted, as therion might expect. the better grip actually gets another noise out of him, this time something a little higher pitched, which he immediately buries his face in his arm again, ears standing up straight. his grip on therion's leg tightens instinctively.
a beat. ]
No. [ muffled, grumpy. he doesn't want him to stop!! to his annoyance!! he's a little embarrassed, but only because therion is so wehehe about it. ]
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