[ his fingers flex, clench. start to come up, reaching towards richie, and immediately jiaoqiu turns and walks very fast towards the bar stools instead. he rams his side against the counter as he does, and that seems to shock him out of whatever was going on enough as he grips the counter with a grunt.
his tail waves back and forth in that same agitation. ]
[all of this is startling. Richie watches the hands come for him with furrowing brows (what are you doing), and when he spins around and bangs into something he startles, nearly reaching for him.]
Okay?
[Richie blinks.]
I uh...hate to point out the obvious on a Friday, but you seem a bit on edge...
[Bro. Okay the mood is bad and Jiaoqiu is in so much pain but this is ever so slightly endearing. Richie barely stifles a smile and brings him the tea, steeping with three cubes of sugar at the side, little spoon included.]
I think you've earned a little sweetness. Not too much though.
Anytime, dear. [Spoken as the most tender, pie-baking granny you ever heard.] You're nothing but skin and bones! You sure you don't want a chocker-chip cookie to go with your drink?
No, but I can pick a different one. I've got tons in here, take your pick. I'm open to requests!
[But more seriously, he takes a seat opposite and sets his hand in his chin.]
I won't bullshit you, it's rough. I was...attached to Els. She was something else. And I may not have known Zhongli quite so well, but he seemed like a good soul. Really liked looking after people.
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[Depositing the kettle on the burner and looking back at him quite evenly, in spite of his own paling pallor and reddened eyes.]
Take it easy for once, JQ. I'll brew you a cup. Rest your bones.
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his tail waves back and forth in that same agitation. ]
I'm fine.
[ before richie freaks out!! ]
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Okay?
[Richie blinks.]
I uh...hate to point out the obvious on a Friday, but you seem a bit on edge...
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Since I came back yesterday my hands keep trying to strangle people without my permission. I think edge is justified.
... Make the tea. It's fine.
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Good lord. Yes, by all means, have your edge.
[He sets to it.]
Do you take sugar with it?
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[ goes... to sit down at the counter and just puts his head down on it. lbhghgh. ]
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I think you've earned a little sweetness. Not too much though.
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I suppose. [ mumbles. ] Thank you, Richie.
[ just stares at the tea with a frown. ]
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Anytime, dear. [Spoken as the most tender, pie-baking granny you ever heard.] You're nothing but skin and bones! You sure you don't want a chocker-chip cookie to go with your drink?
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Don't you start. [ exasperated!! but he takes the cup in his hands. ]
Are you going to continue with that voice if I ask you how you're doing?
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[But more seriously, he takes a seat opposite and sets his hand in his chin.]
I won't bullshit you, it's rough. I was...attached to Els. She was something else. And I may not have known Zhongli quite so well, but he seemed like a good soul. Really liked looking after people.
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I was attached to Ellie as well. [ ... ] And Zhongli has been a steady support for weeks, now.
[ slow exhale. ]
I'm sorry. [ reaches to put a hand on richie's. almost misses, but he manages. ] Ellie in particular was... it was very easy to love her.
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[He laughs, though it's muted. He lets his thumb hook over Jaioqiu's fingers and meets his eyes.]
What was it that she introduced herself as? A "girl as gorgeous as dancing petals?"
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That sounds about right. [ ... ] She isn't gone forever. Only lost.
Still. [ ... ] We have tomorrow to contend with. I can't say that I'm exactly raring to find who did it.
[ unless they killed her on purpose but ]
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With two, we're looking at either another apple, maybe escalating possessions...hard to say, with so little to go off of.
[A beat.]
...You didn't wake up with a new injury or anything, did you?
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I didn't. But I know Anders did, as well as Basilio and Taair. [ what a collection of people, god. ] Was it a bruise on your arm?
[ ... ]
-- Actually, you don't know of anybody else who woke up with a corndog in their pocket, do you.
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[Squints]
What?
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The diner, the garden, the funhouse...
[ mumbles, squinting. and then: ] I woke up with a corndog in my pocket.
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[Takes a deep breath and blows it out like "man."]
They didn't write the killer's name in mustard on it, by chance?
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It is the stupidest piece of evidence I've experienced so far, however.
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Still, where were you holed up? If you say anywhere but the hospital I will be very cross with you.
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sweats ]
The flower garden. Yves, Marcoh, and Siffrin didn't want to stay, and I was reluctant to leave them.
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Rescinds one sugar cube and pops it in his mouth.]
Bad patient tax.
But I'm glad you all stuck together. None of them got marked up, I take it?
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Not that I saw. [ ... ] But seeing as I was the one who injured them in the first place, there's a good chance they may have hid it from me.