[ it's a calm evening not in sunshade, but somewhere else - a place called sufrataljah on the way back home along the train line. famous for its white sands, pretty architecture, tongue scorchingly hot food, and more recently, rumors of a quack doctor that needs to be chased out of town. it's not an infrequent haunt for therion, who sidesteps around the shadier areas of town and pickpockets the filthy rich folk who flutter around the palace away from the main streets. therion wouldn't normally concern himself with running someone out of town - if poor street folk get scammed, maybe they'll learn not to get scammed a second time, in his less than kind opinion - so he pays no mind to it.
still, because he's therion, despite huffing and grumbling about it, despite harshness, he listens. picks up on information quietly and feeds it to jiaoqiu when they're sitting in a tavern bar - a spy and a strategist do in fact make a good pair. according to the locals, the quack doctor is a con artist who has been selling snake oil to violently ill citizens. the symptoms of the sickness are akin to a poisoning. the doctor's tall and dresses well, and frequents a tavern in the wealthiest parts of town.
therion drums his fingers on the bar where he's sitting, untouched beer in front of him, his sharp-eyed gaze focused on jiaoqiu. on the shift in this trip, from tourism to something fiercer. it'd be impossible to miss it.
...honestly, it's kind of attractive? the thought pings somewhere in his subconscious, but he ignores it, for now, delivering the last bit of information he gathered as nonchalant as can be. supposedly, the doctor's medicine fixes people then makes them sicker, so they're forced to cough up the cash for another remedy, and perpetuating the cycle anew. ]
Con artists. [ therion says, dryly, as if he is not also kind of a con artist, but it's different. ] That's about it.
[ the second jiaoqiu catches wind of this, something in him switches up. therion's seen him pretty consistently as a healer with gentle hands and a warm bedside manner. it's more important to him to take care of the sick and hungry than it is anything else - years ago, a general had once said that unlike ordinary healers, jiaoqiu did not focus on just one patient, but focused instead on curing all of the xianzhou. his scope has never been small.
they were here originally just to taste the cuisine, to explore, let therion get his fill of picking pockets and being away from home, and jiaoqiu has always been happy to just let that happen. but now, he's heard about a tall man in nice clothing taking advantage of the weak and sick, and it shifts his demeanor from something casual and sleepy to something far more focused. to outside eyes, he looks the same as ever, the placid smile and easy stance, but therion has lived on top of him for long enough and is far, far too observant to not catch the predator behind that false cheer. he is a fox, after all. and he's not that old.
he's sitting at the bar as well, though he's drinking something that looks more like sake than anything else. his ear flicks violently when therion gives him that last bit of information - he's right, a spy and a strategist do make a good pair - and his gaze slides over to therion. ]
Thank you. [ for gathering the information for him. absently, as he traces the lip of his cup: ] Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.
[ and he takes a sip from his drink. ]
Would you indulge me with something, love? [ just slips one of those in there and pretends he didn't say it because he likes to do it when therion's least expecting it ]
[ therion's more or less expecting this kind of reaction, because he could see how he'd handle this quack doctor from miles away. jiaoqiu has a far, far stronger sense of justice than therion does, is so whole minded that it feels foreign (as if he doesn't like that about him, as if his open heart isn't attractive, no matter that it often bleeds), and this clown skulking around hits all of those little trigger points. it means he's aware, when jiaoqiu's demeanor slinks into a knife, into the gleam in his golden eyes.
dangerous. he's seen this expression on him before, too, and it stirs a familiar thrill of adrenaline. it's a good look on jiaoqiu, isn't it? poison tucked into a perfectly cooked dessert, innocuous dinners with pearls of spice - therion's eyes flick to the cup, watching his finger trace the rim.
still, it doesn't read on his face, because neutrality is his baseline, but therion pulls his gaze away from his to roll his eyes and snort, lolling his head back. ]
You're going to do whatever you want whether I say yes or no. [ he says, cool as ever. but see, despite all of that, what does surprise him here is the little nickname. there's a brief pause in his cool guy routine as it registers, the tops of his cheekbones dusting with red. love, again, huh. like he doesn't know what he's doing. okay.
the beat passes, and he recalibrates, back to his usual - the red does not fade right away - and fixes him with a deadpan stare again, raising an eyebrow - a wordless "go on". ]
[ his tail wriggles a little behind him, playful, when he spots the bit of red on therion's cheeks. hehe. he wins.
sometimes he wonders what therion would've thought of him when he was sat in front of the man that beat therion half to death and stole his things, actually analyzing whether or not he could rip the man's throat out with his teeth before being stabbed. jiaoqiu would not necessarily call himself a good person - good people, the best of people, are not satisfied with violence as a solution, but good people often do not return from war. being the last one standing at the cooking pot in the recovery pot at the end of the day has taught him that sometimes what is necessary isn't good. if anything, he thinks that therion understands that, and so he doesn't think therion will judge him for anything that'll happen next. ]
Well. I'd at least like your permission before dragging you into my schemes.
[ he teases lightly, taking another drink. ]
I'm going to pretend to be sick. I'd like you to bring him to me and play the part of the worried caretaker, if you will.
I'd like to see what is in his compound before he dies so that I may reverse the effects on his victims.
[ hmm. well, he's an excellent actor, so that won't be a problem, however - that phrase deserves to be dissected, rightfully.
before he dies does not go unnoticed. and - jiaoqiu's dead on, therion would be the last person to judge. his hands are plenty dirty, though he's more likely to wound someone than to kill them, and always in self defense. he's lived a rough, shitty life, and maybe self defense is the key. for therion, his self was all he ever had. for jiaoqiu, he puts so much outwards that maybe protecting a little desert town's poor and downtrodden is his version of defense. so, no, it doesn't surprise him - though it definitely raises his eyebrows.
that, and - well. the look changes, something flatter. judgy. not over the clear murderous intent, but actually... ]
Does that involve you taking it? [ if you eat this poisonous medicine he swears to gods he does not believe in. no one has ever said therion was a good person, either. ]
no, he's aware that's a bit of a flippant response, and before therion can get too mad at him about it, he lifts a hand, ear flicking. ]
No. I'm not going to take it. [ a head tilt. ] I doubt he has the time to stop and watch me absorb every last bit. And if he does, I'm remarkably resistant to poison.
this just gets a SIGH. aggrieved. pained. suffering. he reaches into his pocket and slaps some cash across the bar to the bartender, and then slides off his stool, jerking his head in a come on gesture. in typical therion fashion, he has to be grumpy about it but yes, he will be coming with. ]
jiaoqiu looks pleased at this, and finishes his drink before sliding off his own stool. business time! he waits until they're outside and away from a lot of prying eyes before ducking down to press a grateful kiss to therion's cheek, brief and easy. and then they'll figure out where to go in order to make this guy come visit.
when it comes to this, jiaoqiu is a pretty decent actor. he curls up under a bunch of blankets, presses hand warmers to his cheeks and forehead to artificially inflate his temperature, and makes his fur look disheveled and uncared for. all the usual tricks, and an extra bit of over the top whining for therion to roll his eyes at. when therion calls for the tall, nicely dressed man to come look after his sickly foxian friend, jiaoqiu is perfectly out of it, eyes glazed and voice small and hoarse.
the compound itself is in a little brown bag, and smells strongly of herbs. and when the man turns his back on jiaoqiu to give therion instructions, therion might catch jiaoqiu's bright gold eyes watching the man with a sharp sense of disgust. ]
[ therion rolls his eyes at the cheek kiss. ok ok, off they go. true to form, jiaoqiu does a good job - he murmurs under his breath as he's coming over that of course you're good at looking pathetic, snicker in his voice. (even if secretly it tugs his heartstrings a little, and if he didn't know it was fake, he'd be distressed no matter how good he is at hiding it, but that's besides the point.)
but with that, he loops his arm through jiaoqiu's and leads him to the doctor's side. just looking at this guy, therion can almost see the sleaze oozing off of him, and internally, he sneers a little at it, derisive and judgy - conman to conman, he doesn't like this guy's game. externally, however, he puts on a perfect show to match jiaoqiu. big, round, worried visible eye, soft expression, biting his lip when he brings up the cost. desperate, poor, miserable - an act he's seen in reality many many times.
he takes the compound as it is handed to him, looking at jiaoqiu in the background and noting that sharp expression. right. something's wrong with it, the medicine. fantastic. he turns his soft eyes back on the doctor, then away, and then back to the doctor again, like he's nervous. ]
...Can you tell me what's in it, before I pay...? [ he says, softly, clasping his hands around the bag. ] If he had an allergic reaction, I don't know what I'd do with myself.
[ let's see if this guy's as stupid as he looks, he thinks to himself - curiosity, too, to see what jiaoqiu's going to do. he's here to assist. ]
[ the sleaze is really palpable, and jiaoqiu is having a hard time not gagging about it. he's a good actor and he plays his part well, and he refuses to let this man see through his ruse, but everything in him does in fact want to hang the guy out to dry. the cost only makes it worse - the kind of money that would be everything a poor family had. it's so hard not to growl.
for now, he plays up the frailness. like he couldn't stand, if he were asked. and when therion speaks up, the man stops digging around in his bag for a second to give him a raised eyebrow. as if to say what, you don't trust a doctor? slightly disgruntled, even. how dare he have allergies. ]
Can't tell you what's in it, I'm afraid. We don't need anybody overhearing the ingredients. You mix these ingredients without knowing what you're doing and you'll do more harm than good. [ the man says, casually. a beat. ] Why don't you tell me his allergies and I'll tell you what to worry about.
[ jiaoqiu's ear flicks. in fact - he speaks up. ]
Oh - I can tell him. [ he says, voice wispy and tired. he looks like he can barely remember what his name is, and the man's raised eyebrow gets a little more raised, but he doesn't protest. instead, he gestures, and jiaoqiu quietly lists a few allergies he makes up on the spot, ingredients that he can't identify by smell alone. whatever is in this bundle he knows he'll be able to figure out by sense, but some of them don't have a smell. this will help.
the man gives him a yes or no list back without seeming to realize anything at all. and when jiaoqiu is satisfied - he breaks off into a manufactured coughing fit. the sleazeball turns back to therion. ]
Satisfied? With your coin you can guarantee that cough will be gone in minutes.
[ therion's expression changes easily between the moments - apologetic, at first at the raised eyebrow, and then changing as he looks over to jiaoqiu. if the doctor looked back at therion, he'd see a smile on his face, soft and appreciative, worried. since he doesn't look back, therion, not even blinking, pickpockets the money from his last con right out of the guy's pocket.
he doesn't quite catch onto what jiaoqiu is doing, besides how smart he is, but he takes that moment to cross over to him when he starts to cough, the smile dropping off into immediate worry as he sets a hand on his back and leans over beside him like he's rubbing his back, reassuring. ]
-- Easy, love, easy... [ the reuse of that petname was absolutely on purpose, too, a private joke, a bratty prod at jiaoqiu even under this moment, as he slips the cash he stole into jiaoqiu's pocket as smooth as water, and then looks up at the doctor once more. he reaches for his own cash, half the amount initially asked for. ]
... Thank you. I'm sorry - of course. [ to the doctor, as he winces a little, holding the bag still in his other hand. it's close enough jiaoqiu can hopefully get a better sniff at it, even. ] The amount is... well... I think there's no price you can put on someone's health, right...?
[ he glances back to jiaoqiu again, as if he's checking to make sure it's alright to "spend the money", but checking in with him, too. ]
it really does take like everything jiaoqiu has to not snort in amusement when therion pickpockets the man without blinking. there's a little pulse of a lot of things at once, there. amusement, approval, definitely attraction. love a man who can scam a scammer, it's the best. his tail wags once, but it's enough that he can pass it off as part of his coughing fit - which actually turns a bit into real choking when therion hits him with the love. not for very long, just a surprised little bwuh reaction, which he's sure therion was looking for. god.
he shifts a little to lean against therion, and as he does he breathes in the herbs, eyes closed. it looks like he's resting, mostly, but he's doing his best to pick out the different sprigs. recognize that one. that one is just oregano. that one is...
when therion glances at him, jiaoqiu hums. slides an arm around therion's waist, and presses his fingers into his side gently as acknowledgement. he's got it. he doesn't need the medicine, he knows what's in it. ]
That's... is that all we have? [ jiaoqiu asks, putting on a worried tone. he glances at the doctor, who is starting to look impatient. ] Will this be enough?
[ the doctor holds out his hand, but not for the money - for the medicine. ]
If you can't pay the full amount, we're finished here. Plenty have need for this, you know.
[ he does look a little smug when jiaoqiu actually chokes, though it's hidden in the fall of his white hair from the view of their doctor, but its there and gone again as he lets jiaoqiu lean against him, waiting patiently for him to do whatever it is he needs to do with this medicine. to therion, it does smell like medicine - its part of what make jiaoqiu's skills come into even further focus. he's more than aware of his good senses, but seeing jiaoqiu use them like this is a little different, and he watches him keenly, letting it register in the back of his mind. the focus at the moment is stopping this assclown.
there's a tension in the air. invisible to their companion, likely - but therion can feel it. the slow rise of adrenaline running through his veins, the poised like a snake nature under the surface that waits, waits for a move to be made. jiaoqiu had been clear with his intentions, though therion's not sure it'll get that far - and if it does, frankly, he'll be the first one to keep him from getting his hands dirty.
to match the worried expression, he moves from worry to something heartbroken, holding the little bag tightly in his hands. ]
But...
[ another moment of stalling, to see what jiaoqiu's planning on doing. he looks at the hand, and then looks at jiaoqiu, swallowing hard like he's trying very hard not to cry. ]
He could die. [ is that about jiaoqiu, or about the doctor? ]
People die every day, son. These ingredients are too expensive to waste.
[ the man says, hand still extended.
that tension gets a little worse. jiaoqiu's shoulders tighten, and he holds therion a little more closely. he can only imagine how that would feel if he was truly sick. how those who are have been hit with this same line, with the certainty that because they couldn't work hard enough, they were likely to die. that they were a waste. it makes jiaoqiu's heart race with anger, with a cold fury that makes it hard to keep up the frail act.
he could die, therion says. this man could die. he'd very well deserve it. but death is too good for him, jiaoqiu thinks, and so he changes course. instead, he shakes his head. ]
Doctor. [ jiaoqiu says, voice soft. ] I have a question for you, if you'll indulge a dying man.
[ the doctor pauses where he's moving to grab that herb bag back. glances at jiaoqiu, and says, sure. jiaoqiu pauses, and turns his head to press his lips to the side of therion's head, close enough to murmur: ]
[ therion's no hero, but he was a kid in a miserable alley treating his own injuries once upon a time, too poor to eat, let alone to care for himself, and despite all his grumbling before, this is an issue after his heart, too. he can feel jiaoqiu's anger starting to solidify, turning the air around them to ice, and the adrenaline ratchets up a little further. it's just about time to move.
and -- trust me, jiaoqiu says. many, many months ago, that would've been an impossible ask. but in the time they've spent together, the bond that he's formed with jiaoqiu is on steadier ground, no longer a breakable shard of glass, no longer brittle. he'll never, ever, ever, use the word partner to describe someone again, and here, he doesn't have to. here, they aren't partners in a crime. jiaoqiu is an expert, in this moment, and therion supports him, because jiaoqiu trusts him, and he asks for the same.
his visible eye moves to jiaoqiu, and as he's pulled in closer, he lets it close. trust me washes over him, and it's not even really a question. he exhales out and nods - the motion disguised like he's turning his head to hide how upset he is, nodding twice as he does. his other hand, still settled on jiaoqiu's back, curls lightly and tugs a lock of his hair. nonverbal - i've got your back. like always.
and then he pulls back a bit, turning his head to look at the doctor from under his bangs, silent, scrunched downwards to appear downtrodden, even if he reaches the hand on jiaoqiu's back down to slide it to his own hip where he keeps his switchblade, just in case. ]
[ therion's got his back, like always. he's bolstered by that, ear flicking a little as he pulls back and away. then, with that: ]
Have you ever been hungry, sir?
[ he asks the doctor mildly, pulling himself up to sit properly. the doctor blinks, clearly not having expected the question. he doesn't answer right away, but jiaoqiu doesn't need him to. ]
Hunger is an insidious thing. [ soft, still, but there's that ice, something so cold it burns. ] It eats you up from the inside. It creeps through your body like a sickness. The pain of hunger can kill, slow and steady, can make your skin sallow and your heart wither, your blood thin, your bones frail and breakable. It is remarkably like guilt, in some ways. The weight of hunger and the weight of sin aren't so different - both are avoidable, but only one is understandable. But you would know nothing about guilt, would you? Perhaps you are only capable of hunger, preying on those who cannot protect themselves.
So. Let me hurt you another way.
[ and as he stands up, as he slips right up into the doctor's space like smoke, for a moment, it's almost like it wouldn't be surprising to see nine tails instead of one, to see a bloody maw with sharp grinning teeth. jiaoqiu doesn't touch the man just yet, but his presence is enough to make the doctor stumble back into a wall, near the door. ]
Your compound consists of a very exotic berry that tastes sweet, and has poisonous seeds that can kill an adult with less than a tablespoon of ingestion. Its properties induce a strong, hearty period of strength, but once they leave your system, you grow so weak that your lungs near collapse. [ the man's eyes widen, and he opens his mouth to protest, but jiaoqiu continues. ]
No. I know what you've been doing. This was no accident. And let me tell you, my friend. You should feel great relief knowing that I not only have the capability to feel remorse and guilt for things I have done, and will do, but also that I dislike feeling said guilt. It is the only thing keeping you alive, at this very moment.
[ the man splutters, and jiaoqiu's smile sharpens as his claws come up and take the man by the chin, forcing him to look. ]
Ah ah. No excuses. What I'd like you to do now is go to each and every one of your victims and tell them that you are a liar and a cheat, and return their money. I will cure them. You cannot be trusted. And when you are finished with that, by the end of the day tomorrow, you will leave town and I will never see you again. Or else. Do I make myself clear?
[ jiaoqiu's move forward is the beginning of a crescendo, in more ways than one. and what really, really catches therion's attention is where it starts - with the simple question have you ever been hungry.
because he has been. so many times in his life, when he was a vulnerable child, he scraped for survival, and every word jiaoqiu says is so familiar it makes the hair on the back of his neck stand up. days would pass in his childhood where he curled in on himself, wrapped around his own tiny figure, his too thin frame, his visible ribs, trying to stop the gnawing ache of how it felt to starve. therion learned how to fend for himself, how to steal and survive, but how different would his life had been, if he'd known someone like jiaoqiu, then. it's this strange, swooping feeling in his stomach, this swirling knot of recognition and anger at the past and at this fucking doctor, and the catch-breath anticipation of watching something coming to fruition. even he finds himself leaning in a little as jiaoqiu talks to catch every word, his green, visible eye focused on the scene in front of him like he's been magnetized.
and oh, every word builds on itself - sharp, sharp and clever, wielding his words like he wields a kitchen knife, cutting through the muscle and the fat and carving right to the heart of the doctor, whose back hits the wall. therion's attention is drawn, in this little room, his mouth a little dry, watching him like a hawk as he takes him by the chin. the breakdown of the medicine. the way he doesn't have to do a thing. the defense of the hungry, so personal - selfish little parasite, in the end, drawn in by what might have benefited him in the end - it's a lot, it's undeniably fucking attractive to watch this guy shake in his boots before jiaoqiu lays a finger on him.
he's watching so closely that he sees it, when the man's eyes dart from jiaoqiu to therion like he might get some kind of help. what the doctor's greeted with instead is therion's cold, intense expression, his head tilted back, keeping his own taut-wire, heartbeat thumping sensations under wraps as he pulls his hand free from his side and flicks out his switchblade, the silver blade catching in the dim light of the rented room, and says nothing. therion doesn't have to say anything.
the man swallows, hard, wild eyes flicking back to jiaoqiu, and he nods. the pink fox guy is fucking terrifying and he's got backup! i've got your back, indeed. ]
[ jiaoqiu says, in that same soft, dangerous tone. he wrenches the man's chin to the side, letting go, and then pats him on the cheek. a step back, easy, hands folded behind his back. ]
And I do mean it. If I catch the scent of your sin on the wind again, I will find you, and that time, I will not be so kind. I hope that you find your remorse. Go on now. Be sure to do as I said. I'll be checking.
[ his ear flicks, as the man inches towards the door. for a second, jiaoqiu is very still - and then he fake-lunges in the man's direction, prompting a squeal and a mad rush for the door. the combination of being menaced by two very capable men, especially one with a knife, has the guy about ready to pee himself. he's out the door in a second, and jiaoqiu relaxes, huffing out a little dark laugh as he straightens his fur out.
right this moment he doesn't much care if the man apologizes or not, so long as the victims get their money back. and sure, tomorrow he'll have his work cut out for him - he intends to go by and find those victims to cure them - but there's a sense of satisfaction he can't hide.
jiaoqiu looks over his shoulder at therion, tail flicking back and forth, and gives him a small, sly smile. ]
He thought that you would help him. What a silly notion.
see, the thing is, therion has long since known how capable jiaoqiu is. it's something that he likes about him, really - he's a strategist and a veteran, a slippery, sly fox, a brilliant doctor just as much as he's a layabout who whines when he has to run too much. therion likes the edge of his danger, likes that knife's edge he's danced along, likes that there's something wrong with you. he might be bored, otherwise. and oh, he likes it.
this is the first time he's really seen it in action, is all, short of interactions laced with an entirely different kind of tension, and both those types of tension are building in the air. that adrenaline feeling in his heartbeat is surging - something hot swirling in his stomach, as he looks at jiaoqiu in a whole new light from behind him, switchblade knife still in hand.
the look in his visible eye is intense, bright green slightly dark, mouth starting to curl up in a matching smile of his own, with the thrill of the moment, the riding high feeling alive sensation of his successes roaring through his veins, that sly little smile sending something into overdrive.
he doesn't immediately respond to him out loud. no pithy commentary, no snarky oneliners. no, instead, he just gives straight into that wild instinct - one that led him into bed with someone else many years ago, something he thought he'd never feel again and never wanted to until jiaoqiu, jiaoqiu - and lunges across the room between them to shove jiaoqiu into the nearest wall, surge up their height distance, and press their mouths together with zero warning. ]
[ he really should see this coming, because he recognizes the look on therion's face, the curl of a grin, the adrenaline-high of success. but for whatever reason, jiaoqiu isn't expecting therion to launch himself across the room and slam him into a wall - maybe it's because he's distracted by how much he likes that look, or because he's basking in his own satisfaction. either way, therion rams him up into the wall and steals a kiss, and jiaoqiu lets out a surprised noise, almost a yelp, hands coming up to hold on.
and then pretty instantly he gets carried away with it. it takes about two seconds for it to sink in, the intensity of the moment making his fur stand up, making him suck in a breath and kiss therion back, one hand resting on therion's hip and the other sliding up to fist at the back of his hair. he doesn't need to breathe, this is fine. ]
[ no, no he doesn't! maybe neither of them need to!
like a motherfucking thief, he wastes no time in those two seconds, tongue sliding between the seam of his lips to kiss his mouth open, and it's all the better for it once he catches on. it's a hot, therion could practically climb him if they wouldn't both go crashing to the floor; there's too much space between them when there's almost none, and he instead presses his chest to jiaoqiu's, hips together, pushing one foot between his to spread his legs a little wider where he's standing to get a better stance, himself. his hands move just as much - one resting on his chest, over the front of his shirt, stroking down his side, skirting his waist, his hips as he bites down on jiaoqiu's lower lip, sharp, then soothes it over with his tongue just a moment after.
it's just - hot, is what it was, it was unbelievably hot, and it's hotter still to have chased that stupid doctor out of his own rented room, let alone out of town. to have that sense of forbidden, that sense of law-breaking that therion's always thrived on, drives some of that feral need to get closer, to touch jiaoqiu over, to bite and scratch and take, take, take. thoughts can come later. ]
[ honestly, when he realizes just how keyed up therion is already, that does something to him. jiaoqiu isn't exactly sure the though process that led to this, but he doesn't really need to know - sometimes, it's just a small action, or a piece of clothing, and there's no waiting. there's a tongue in his mouth and hands dragging all over his body, and it's almost funny how fast the rest of him gets on board, the way his brain flicks the switch from surprised but pleased, trying to keep up, to hungry.
part of that is the way therion's foot wedges his legs spread, without a second thought. being manhandled tends to do it for him, especially when it makes it a little filthier, when it makes it easier for therion to just access whatever he wants to touch. jiaoqiu shifts just enough down the wall to meet him a bit better, licking into his mouth, arching his hips up against therion's. arching in general, just giving himself up and over, letting therion be possessive, letting him claim whatever he wants, take however much he wants.
for now, anyway. there's something about the bite that awakens something bratty in him, makes him feel a little more fighty than normal. the sigh he lets out when therion bites his lip is shamelessly needy. do that again, he thinks, yanking therion's hair, free hand hooking into therion's shirt. keeping him close, anchoring him. take - he's going to make him work for it. ]
[ it's been a while since they've gotten this rowdy - though sex between them has very rarely been gentle by any means, this is a little different. this is just pure instinct, wanting to reward jiaoqiu for that entire display, wanting to fuck him until he can't stand up straight, reduce him to a babbling mess on this stolen room floor.
that of course comes with a challenge. the yank into his hair feels good, lights up all the right pleasure centers - his head tilts back into it and up, mouth curling back into that wild grin for half a second before he ducks back in to kiss him again, for now obeying that bratty little ask. another bite to the lower lip, this time tugging, punctuated by the motion of his sneaky, sneaky hands. his right hand grabs his ass, kneading his fingers into the pliant give of his body, and his left hooks around the base of his tail and yanks in response to the bite.
he pushes his thigh forward when jiaoqiu arches into him, pressing it up into his groin, and turns his head away from the kiss to bite at his jaw, finding the hinge with his teeth, soft pressure from his lips, and he busies himself there, sucking a hickey in a bright, visible place for later. talk about a stolen treasure. ]
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the fact that my paid expired.
still, because he's therion, despite huffing and grumbling about it, despite harshness, he listens. picks up on information quietly and feeds it to jiaoqiu when they're sitting in a tavern bar - a spy and a strategist do in fact make a good pair. according to the locals, the quack doctor is a con artist who has been selling snake oil to violently ill citizens. the symptoms of the sickness are akin to a poisoning. the doctor's tall and dresses well, and frequents a tavern in the wealthiest parts of town.
therion drums his fingers on the bar where he's sitting, untouched beer in front of him, his sharp-eyed gaze focused on jiaoqiu. on the shift in this trip, from tourism to something fiercer. it'd be impossible to miss it.
...honestly, it's kind of attractive? the thought pings somewhere in his subconscious, but he ignores it, for now, delivering the last bit of information he gathered as nonchalant as can be. supposedly, the doctor's medicine fixes people then makes them sicker, so they're forced to cough up the cash for another remedy, and perpetuating the cycle anew. ]
Con artists. [ therion says, dryly, as if he is not also kind of a con artist, but it's different. ] That's about it.
YOUR PAID
they were here originally just to taste the cuisine, to explore, let therion get his fill of picking pockets and being away from home, and jiaoqiu has always been happy to just let that happen. but now, he's heard about a tall man in nice clothing taking advantage of the weak and sick, and it shifts his demeanor from something casual and sleepy to something far more focused. to outside eyes, he looks the same as ever, the placid smile and easy stance, but therion has lived on top of him for long enough and is far, far too observant to not catch the predator behind that false cheer. he is a fox, after all. and he's not that old.
he's sitting at the bar as well, though he's drinking something that looks more like sake than anything else. his ear flicks violently when therion gives him that last bit of information - he's right, a spy and a strategist do make a good pair - and his gaze slides over to therion. ]
Thank you. [ for gathering the information for him. absently, as he traces the lip of his cup: ] Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.
[ and he takes a sip from his drink. ]
Would you indulge me with something, love? [ just slips one of those in there and pretends he didn't say it because he likes to do it when therion's least expecting it ]
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dangerous. he's seen this expression on him before, too, and it stirs a familiar thrill of adrenaline. it's a good look on jiaoqiu, isn't it? poison tucked into a perfectly cooked dessert, innocuous dinners with pearls of spice - therion's eyes flick to the cup, watching his finger trace the rim.
still, it doesn't read on his face, because neutrality is his baseline, but therion pulls his gaze away from his to roll his eyes and snort, lolling his head back. ]
You're going to do whatever you want whether I say yes or no. [ he says, cool as ever. but see, despite all of that, what does surprise him here is the little nickname. there's a brief pause in his cool guy routine as it registers, the tops of his cheekbones dusting with red. love, again, huh. like he doesn't know what he's doing. okay.
the beat passes, and he recalibrates, back to his usual - the red does not fade right away - and fixes him with a deadpan stare again, raising an eyebrow - a wordless "go on". ]
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sometimes he wonders what therion would've thought of him when he was sat in front of the man that beat therion half to death and stole his things, actually analyzing whether or not he could rip the man's throat out with his teeth before being stabbed. jiaoqiu would not necessarily call himself a good person - good people, the best of people, are not satisfied with violence as a solution, but good people often do not return from war. being the last one standing at the cooking pot in the recovery pot at the end of the day has taught him that sometimes what is necessary isn't good. if anything, he thinks that therion understands that, and so he doesn't think therion will judge him for anything that'll happen next. ]
Well. I'd at least like your permission before dragging you into my schemes.
[ he teases lightly, taking another drink. ]
I'm going to pretend to be sick. I'd like you to bring him to me and play the part of the worried caretaker, if you will.
I'd like to see what is in his compound before he dies so that I may reverse the effects on his victims.
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before he dies does not go unnoticed. and - jiaoqiu's dead on, therion would be the last person to judge. his hands are plenty dirty, though he's more likely to wound someone than to kill them, and always in self defense. he's lived a rough, shitty life, and maybe self defense is the key. for therion, his self was all he ever had. for jiaoqiu, he puts so much outwards that maybe protecting a little desert town's poor and downtrodden is his version of defense. so, no, it doesn't surprise him - though it definitely raises his eyebrows.
that, and - well. the look changes, something flatter. judgy. not over the clear murderous intent, but actually... ]
Does that involve you taking it? [ if you eat this poisonous medicine he swears to gods he does not believe in. no one has ever said therion was a good person, either. ]
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[ active being the key word here
no, he's aware that's a bit of a flippant response, and before therion can get too mad at him about it, he lifts a hand, ear flicking. ]
No. I'm not going to take it. [ a head tilt. ] I doubt he has the time to stop and watch me absorb every last bit. And if he does, I'm remarkably resistant to poison.
[ on what basis does he think this ]
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gives him this look
sorry we can move on in a moment ]
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[ he says pleasantly, amused and actually kind of touched, help him ]
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this just gets a SIGH. aggrieved. pained. suffering. he reaches into his pocket and slaps some cash across the bar to the bartender, and then slides off his stool, jerking his head in a come on gesture. in typical therion fashion, he has to be grumpy about it but yes, he will be coming with. ]
You coming or what? [ let's go ]
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jiaoqiu looks pleased at this, and finishes his drink before sliding off his own stool. business time! he waits until they're outside and away from a lot of prying eyes before ducking down to press a grateful kiss to therion's cheek, brief and easy. and then they'll figure out where to go in order to make this guy come visit.
when it comes to this, jiaoqiu is a pretty decent actor. he curls up under a bunch of blankets, presses hand warmers to his cheeks and forehead to artificially inflate his temperature, and makes his fur look disheveled and uncared for. all the usual tricks, and an extra bit of over the top whining for therion to roll his eyes at. when therion calls for the tall, nicely dressed man to come look after his sickly foxian friend, jiaoqiu is perfectly out of it, eyes glazed and voice small and hoarse.
the compound itself is in a little brown bag, and smells strongly of herbs. and when the man turns his back on jiaoqiu to give therion instructions, therion might catch jiaoqiu's bright gold eyes watching the man with a sharp sense of disgust. ]
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but with that, he loops his arm through jiaoqiu's and leads him to the doctor's side. just looking at this guy, therion can almost see the sleaze oozing off of him, and internally, he sneers a little at it, derisive and judgy - conman to conman, he doesn't like this guy's game. externally, however, he puts on a perfect show to match jiaoqiu. big, round, worried visible eye, soft expression, biting his lip when he brings up the cost. desperate, poor, miserable - an act he's seen in reality many many times.
he takes the compound as it is handed to him, looking at jiaoqiu in the background and noting that sharp expression. right. something's wrong with it, the medicine. fantastic. he turns his soft eyes back on the doctor, then away, and then back to the doctor again, like he's nervous. ]
...Can you tell me what's in it, before I pay...? [ he says, softly, clasping his hands around the bag. ] If he had an allergic reaction, I don't know what I'd do with myself.
[ let's see if this guy's as stupid as he looks, he thinks to himself - curiosity, too, to see what jiaoqiu's going to do. he's here to assist. ]
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for now, he plays up the frailness. like he couldn't stand, if he were asked. and when therion speaks up, the man stops digging around in his bag for a second to give him a raised eyebrow. as if to say what, you don't trust a doctor? slightly disgruntled, even. how dare he have allergies. ]
Can't tell you what's in it, I'm afraid. We don't need anybody overhearing the ingredients. You mix these ingredients without knowing what you're doing and you'll do more harm than good. [ the man says, casually. a beat. ] Why don't you tell me his allergies and I'll tell you what to worry about.
[ jiaoqiu's ear flicks. in fact - he speaks up. ]
Oh - I can tell him. [ he says, voice wispy and tired. he looks like he can barely remember what his name is, and the man's raised eyebrow gets a little more raised, but he doesn't protest. instead, he gestures, and jiaoqiu quietly lists a few allergies he makes up on the spot, ingredients that he can't identify by smell alone. whatever is in this bundle he knows he'll be able to figure out by sense, but some of them don't have a smell. this will help.
the man gives him a yes or no list back without seeming to realize anything at all. and when jiaoqiu is satisfied - he breaks off into a manufactured coughing fit. the sleazeball turns back to therion. ]
Satisfied? With your coin you can guarantee that cough will be gone in minutes.
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he doesn't quite catch onto what jiaoqiu is doing, besides how smart he is, but he takes that moment to cross over to him when he starts to cough, the smile dropping off into immediate worry as he sets a hand on his back and leans over beside him like he's rubbing his back, reassuring. ]
-- Easy, love, easy... [ the reuse of that petname was absolutely on purpose, too, a private joke, a bratty prod at jiaoqiu even under this moment, as he slips the cash he stole into jiaoqiu's pocket as smooth as water, and then looks up at the doctor once more. he reaches for his own cash, half the amount initially asked for. ]
... Thank you. I'm sorry - of course. [ to the doctor, as he winces a little, holding the bag still in his other hand. it's close enough jiaoqiu can hopefully get a better sniff at it, even. ] The amount is... well... I think there's no price you can put on someone's health, right...?
[ he glances back to jiaoqiu again, as if he's checking to make sure it's alright to "spend the money", but checking in with him, too. ]
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it really does take like everything jiaoqiu has to not snort in amusement when therion pickpockets the man without blinking. there's a little pulse of a lot of things at once, there. amusement, approval, definitely attraction. love a man who can scam a scammer, it's the best. his tail wags once, but it's enough that he can pass it off as part of his coughing fit - which actually turns a bit into real choking when therion hits him with the love. not for very long, just a surprised little bwuh reaction, which he's sure therion was looking for. god.
he shifts a little to lean against therion, and as he does he breathes in the herbs, eyes closed. it looks like he's resting, mostly, but he's doing his best to pick out the different sprigs. recognize that one. that one is just oregano. that one is...
when therion glances at him, jiaoqiu hums. slides an arm around therion's waist, and presses his fingers into his side gently as acknowledgement. he's got it. he doesn't need the medicine, he knows what's in it. ]
That's... is that all we have? [ jiaoqiu asks, putting on a worried tone. he glances at the doctor, who is starting to look impatient. ] Will this be enough?
[ the doctor holds out his hand, but not for the money - for the medicine. ]
If you can't pay the full amount, we're finished here. Plenty have need for this, you know.
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there's a tension in the air. invisible to their companion, likely - but therion can feel it. the slow rise of adrenaline running through his veins, the poised like a snake nature under the surface that waits, waits for a move to be made. jiaoqiu had been clear with his intentions, though therion's not sure it'll get that far - and if it does, frankly, he'll be the first one to keep him from getting his hands dirty.
to match the worried expression, he moves from worry to something heartbroken, holding the little bag tightly in his hands. ]
But...
[ another moment of stalling, to see what jiaoqiu's planning on doing. he looks at the hand, and then looks at jiaoqiu, swallowing hard like he's trying very hard not to cry. ]
He could die. [ is that about jiaoqiu, or about the doctor? ]
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[ the man says, hand still extended.
that tension gets a little worse. jiaoqiu's shoulders tighten, and he holds therion a little more closely. he can only imagine how that would feel if he was truly sick. how those who are have been hit with this same line, with the certainty that because they couldn't work hard enough, they were likely to die. that they were a waste. it makes jiaoqiu's heart race with anger, with a cold fury that makes it hard to keep up the frail act.
he could die, therion says. this man could die. he'd very well deserve it. but death is too good for him, jiaoqiu thinks, and so he changes course. instead, he shakes his head. ]
Doctor. [ jiaoqiu says, voice soft. ] I have a question for you, if you'll indulge a dying man.
[ the doctor pauses where he's moving to grab that herb bag back. glances at jiaoqiu, and says, sure. jiaoqiu pauses, and turns his head to press his lips to the side of therion's head, close enough to murmur: ]
Trust me. Mm?
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and -- trust me, jiaoqiu says. many, many months ago, that would've been an impossible ask. but in the time they've spent together, the bond that he's formed with jiaoqiu is on steadier ground, no longer a breakable shard of glass, no longer brittle. he'll never, ever, ever, use the word partner to describe someone again, and here, he doesn't have to. here, they aren't partners in a crime. jiaoqiu is an expert, in this moment, and therion supports him, because jiaoqiu trusts him, and he asks for the same.
his visible eye moves to jiaoqiu, and as he's pulled in closer, he lets it close. trust me washes over him, and it's not even really a question. he exhales out and nods - the motion disguised like he's turning his head to hide how upset he is, nodding twice as he does. his other hand, still settled on jiaoqiu's back, curls lightly and tugs a lock of his hair. nonverbal - i've got your back. like always.
and then he pulls back a bit, turning his head to look at the doctor from under his bangs, silent, scrunched downwards to appear downtrodden, even if he reaches the hand on jiaoqiu's back down to slide it to his own hip where he keeps his switchblade, just in case. ]
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Have you ever been hungry, sir?
[ he asks the doctor mildly, pulling himself up to sit properly. the doctor blinks, clearly not having expected the question. he doesn't answer right away, but jiaoqiu doesn't need him to. ]
Hunger is an insidious thing. [ soft, still, but there's that ice, something so cold it burns. ] It eats you up from the inside. It creeps through your body like a sickness. The pain of hunger can kill, slow and steady, can make your skin sallow and your heart wither, your blood thin, your bones frail and breakable. It is remarkably like guilt, in some ways. The weight of hunger and the weight of sin aren't so different - both are avoidable, but only one is understandable. But you would know nothing about guilt, would you? Perhaps you are only capable of hunger, preying on those who cannot protect themselves.
So. Let me hurt you another way.
[ and as he stands up, as he slips right up into the doctor's space like smoke, for a moment, it's almost like it wouldn't be surprising to see nine tails instead of one, to see a bloody maw with sharp grinning teeth. jiaoqiu doesn't touch the man just yet, but his presence is enough to make the doctor stumble back into a wall, near the door. ]
Your compound consists of a very exotic berry that tastes sweet, and has poisonous seeds that can kill an adult with less than a tablespoon of ingestion. Its properties induce a strong, hearty period of strength, but once they leave your system, you grow so weak that your lungs near collapse. [ the man's eyes widen, and he opens his mouth to protest, but jiaoqiu continues. ]
No. I know what you've been doing. This was no accident. And let me tell you, my friend. You should feel great relief knowing that I not only have the capability to feel remorse and guilt for things I have done, and will do, but also that I dislike feeling said guilt. It is the only thing keeping you alive, at this very moment.
[ the man splutters, and jiaoqiu's smile sharpens as his claws come up and take the man by the chin, forcing him to look. ]
Ah ah. No excuses. What I'd like you to do now is go to each and every one of your victims and tell them that you are a liar and a cheat, and return their money. I will cure them. You cannot be trusted. And when you are finished with that, by the end of the day tomorrow, you will leave town and I will never see you again. Or else. Do I make myself clear?
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because he has been. so many times in his life, when he was a vulnerable child, he scraped for survival, and every word jiaoqiu says is so familiar it makes the hair on the back of his neck stand up. days would pass in his childhood where he curled in on himself, wrapped around his own tiny figure, his too thin frame, his visible ribs, trying to stop the gnawing ache of how it felt to starve. therion learned how to fend for himself, how to steal and survive, but how different would his life had been, if he'd known someone like jiaoqiu, then. it's this strange, swooping feeling in his stomach, this swirling knot of recognition and anger at the past and at this fucking doctor, and the catch-breath anticipation of watching something coming to fruition. even he finds himself leaning in a little as jiaoqiu talks to catch every word, his green, visible eye focused on the scene in front of him like he's been magnetized.
and oh, every word builds on itself - sharp, sharp and clever, wielding his words like he wields a kitchen knife, cutting through the muscle and the fat and carving right to the heart of the doctor, whose back hits the wall. therion's attention is drawn, in this little room, his mouth a little dry, watching him like a hawk as he takes him by the chin. the breakdown of the medicine. the way he doesn't have to do a thing. the defense of the hungry, so personal - selfish little parasite, in the end, drawn in by what might have benefited him in the end - it's a lot, it's undeniably fucking attractive to watch this guy shake in his boots before jiaoqiu lays a finger on him.
he's watching so closely that he sees it, when the man's eyes dart from jiaoqiu to therion like he might get some kind of help. what the doctor's greeted with instead is therion's cold, intense expression, his head tilted back, keeping his own taut-wire, heartbeat thumping sensations under wraps as he pulls his hand free from his side and flicks out his switchblade, the silver blade catching in the dim light of the rented room, and says nothing. therion doesn't have to say anything.
the man swallows, hard, wild eyes flicking back to jiaoqiu, and he nods. the pink fox guy is fucking terrifying and he's got backup! i've got your back, indeed. ]
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[ jiaoqiu says, in that same soft, dangerous tone. he wrenches the man's chin to the side, letting go, and then pats him on the cheek. a step back, easy, hands folded behind his back. ]
And I do mean it. If I catch the scent of your sin on the wind again, I will find you, and that time, I will not be so kind. I hope that you find your remorse. Go on now. Be sure to do as I said. I'll be checking.
[ his ear flicks, as the man inches towards the door. for a second, jiaoqiu is very still - and then he fake-lunges in the man's direction, prompting a squeal and a mad rush for the door. the combination of being menaced by two very capable men, especially one with a knife, has the guy about ready to pee himself. he's out the door in a second, and jiaoqiu relaxes, huffing out a little dark laugh as he straightens his fur out.
right this moment he doesn't much care if the man apologizes or not, so long as the victims get their money back. and sure, tomorrow he'll have his work cut out for him - he intends to go by and find those victims to cure them - but there's a sense of satisfaction he can't hide.
jiaoqiu looks over his shoulder at therion, tail flicking back and forth, and gives him a small, sly smile. ]
He thought that you would help him. What a silly notion.
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see, the thing is, therion has long since known how capable jiaoqiu is. it's something that he likes about him, really - he's a strategist and a veteran, a slippery, sly fox, a brilliant doctor just as much as he's a layabout who whines when he has to run too much. therion likes the edge of his danger, likes that knife's edge he's danced along, likes that there's something wrong with you. he might be bored, otherwise. and oh, he likes it.
this is the first time he's really seen it in action, is all, short of interactions laced with an entirely different kind of tension, and both those types of tension are building in the air. that adrenaline feeling in his heartbeat is surging - something hot swirling in his stomach, as he looks at jiaoqiu in a whole new light from behind him, switchblade knife still in hand.
the look in his visible eye is intense, bright green slightly dark, mouth starting to curl up in a matching smile of his own, with the thrill of the moment, the riding high feeling alive sensation of his successes roaring through his veins, that sly little smile sending something into overdrive.
he doesn't immediately respond to him out loud. no pithy commentary, no snarky oneliners. no, instead, he just gives straight into that wild instinct - one that led him into bed with someone else many years ago, something he thought he'd never feel again and never wanted to until jiaoqiu, jiaoqiu - and lunges across the room between them to shove jiaoqiu into the nearest wall, surge up their height distance, and press their mouths together with zero warning. ]
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and then pretty instantly he gets carried away with it. it takes about two seconds for it to sink in, the intensity of the moment making his fur stand up, making him suck in a breath and kiss therion back, one hand resting on therion's hip and the other sliding up to fist at the back of his hair. he doesn't need to breathe, this is fine. ]
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like a motherfucking thief, he wastes no time in those two seconds, tongue sliding between the seam of his lips to kiss his mouth open, and it's all the better for it once he catches on. it's a hot, therion could practically climb him if they wouldn't both go crashing to the floor; there's too much space between them when there's almost none, and he instead presses his chest to jiaoqiu's, hips together, pushing one foot between his to spread his legs a little wider where he's standing to get a better stance, himself. his hands move just as much - one resting on his chest, over the front of his shirt, stroking down his side, skirting his waist, his hips as he bites down on jiaoqiu's lower lip, sharp, then soothes it over with his tongue just a moment after.
it's just - hot, is what it was, it was unbelievably hot, and it's hotter still to have chased that stupid doctor out of his own rented room, let alone out of town. to have that sense of forbidden, that sense of law-breaking that therion's always thrived on, drives some of that feral need to get closer, to touch jiaoqiu over, to bite and scratch and take, take, take. thoughts can come later. ]
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part of that is the way therion's foot wedges his legs spread, without a second thought. being manhandled tends to do it for him, especially when it makes it a little filthier, when it makes it easier for therion to just access whatever he wants to touch. jiaoqiu shifts just enough down the wall to meet him a bit better, licking into his mouth, arching his hips up against therion's. arching in general, just giving himself up and over, letting therion be possessive, letting him claim whatever he wants, take however much he wants.
for now, anyway. there's something about the bite that awakens something bratty in him, makes him feel a little more fighty than normal. the sigh he lets out when therion bites his lip is shamelessly needy. do that again, he thinks, yanking therion's hair, free hand hooking into therion's shirt. keeping him close, anchoring him. take - he's going to make him work for it. ]
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that of course comes with a challenge. the yank into his hair feels good, lights up all the right pleasure centers - his head tilts back into it and up, mouth curling back into that wild grin for half a second before he ducks back in to kiss him again, for now obeying that bratty little ask. another bite to the lower lip, this time tugging, punctuated by the motion of his sneaky, sneaky hands. his right hand grabs his ass, kneading his fingers into the pliant give of his body, and his left hooks around the base of his tail and yanks in response to the bite.
he pushes his thigh forward when jiaoqiu arches into him, pressing it up into his groin, and turns his head away from the kiss to bite at his jaw, finding the hinge with his teeth, soft pressure from his lips, and he busies himself there, sucking a hickey in a bright, visible place for later. talk about a stolen treasure. ]
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