[ a huff of a laugh, as richie flops down next to him. as usual, he doesn't look directly at richie, just in his direction. there's not a whole lot from him in return - his emotions just maybe... don't exist? or maybe it's just that they're numbed out.
still, he smiles anyway. ]
Lucas insisted that I take his healing item, or he'd do something drastic. [ ear flick. ] I was starting to find it difficult to stand, so in the interest of keeping all of you safe...
[That is a bit odd. Though with how new this week is, he might register the blankness as something of a unnoticed reprieve. A pocket of normalcy even.]
Keeping us safe? Buddy, I'm just glad you're not leaking in more than one spot! [He sets his arm on the bar and leans, casual, all the better to face him.] I'll thank him later. You haven't rustled up a third or fourth for the other two, have you? I know Marcoh's looking sniffed up.
[unless yves is too bc i couldn't tell with the tags dana gave me shakes]
Leaking is... certainly a term. [ he glances at his drink, and takes a sip. yolo. ]
I haven't seen any extras. I know that one was used on Wis'adel, and then Marcoh, and then me... but these items have been extremely limited, to my dismay.
[ his tail swishes in annoyance. ]
Yves was shot. He really should have taken the item, but... at least he's not in pain.
It's one of many. I can dig up a thesaurus next time.
[But ah. That is a shame. Richie clucks his tongue and shrugs, ordering one of the same as Jiaoqiu. He sighs when he invokes the name. At once there's a whirl of sensation. Worry of course, a bit of exasperation. That's only a thin veneer for a swell of brimming fondness. Love and pride. Quick, maybe, but Yves was an easy kid to love.]
He wouldn't. Not by choice, anyway. You'd have to curse him in secret to fix him up. [His drink arrives and he takes a swig, glancing at JQ sideways.] But you're just about as stubborn, when you get into it. He beats you by an inch.
Really though. It hurts the heart to see you hobbling around in double jeopardy. I wish we had more of those little trinkets, but I'm glad we spent one on you, JQ.
[ as a general rule, he's... pretty numb. his emotions sort of struggle, like an old car trying to start. it takes a couple of tries, but he eventually gets to a point where it kickstarts into something a little more alive.
he takes another drink, ear flicking. ]
... Thank you, Richie. [ he does appreciate it, and that comes through. he glances at him, resting his chin in his palm, elbow on the counter, gold eyes lidded in relaxation. ]
It means I can be here just a little longer to look after all of you.
[Oh. There we go. The sudden introduction of an outside emotion reminds him of the absence. And he does wonder, a bit. It's not like he wants to address it. Seems impolite. Things are meant to stay inside your head and your heart, not leak out over other people. Commenting on it feels gauche.
Still, the chug-a-lug of feeling may be slow, but he does appreciate the sliver of warmth.]
Hey now hey now, there's more to life than just utility, you know.
[Perhaps it is the alpha drink kicking in, but he reaches over to pinch his cheek a little.]
[ he laughs at that - the pinch gets him to wrinkle his nose a little, but it's playful. and even past that, he kind of like... nips at richie's fingers, ear flicking. the emotions keep trying - keep reaching for something anything other than the dark, the void. ]
Oh? Live a little, you say.
[ he leans a little closer, tail swishing behind him. ]
And what would you suggest I do to be more selfish, hm?
[ this is the second time i've seen the (redacted) emotion this week and i have no idea if the other one matched the energy of this one
in any case, that laugh gets a bright, gremlin energy to crawl up out of the muck. there's something a little possessive there too, unfortunately, as the drink does things to his brain. he takes another drink. lets a bit of it spill down the corner of his mouth so he can swipe it away with his finger and suck it off while meeting richie's gaze, like a brat. ]
So bold of you. [ he hums, grinning. ] I could make use of those fingers.
[ OKAY ]
Are you looking for a demonstration of what my mouth can do?
But they're also very harden to restrain when Jiauqiu swipes at that bead of booze and sucks it off the tip of his finger, eyes square on him. There's a jump in his pulse, a flash of alarm (What the fuck), but that only amps up the need to match pace. Gremlin versus gremlin, as it were, and whatever the hell this other antsy, braggadocian push is.
Richie's brows rise high above his glasses. O-fucking-kay.]
Could you now? [Mouth working faster than his brain, as always, except this time there's a bit too much gas in the engine to even hit the brakes.
He leans closer, eyes narrowed and one corner of his mouth cut into the apple of his cheek.]
[ see, this is really a game - jiaoqiu likes to play with this. he's a fox, after all, and the stereotype of mischief and clever pressing isn't unrealistic for him. and while there have definitely been times where he's been outflirted and outflustered, this is not one of them. he knows richie isn't exactly experienced in this with men, considering all measures of flirting in the past went over his head. it makes for an easy swing, for someone he doesn't have to be embarrassed or shy with.
it's been a long five weeks, and he's a little pent up. the alpha drink just kicks it along, unlocks his patience, and makes him incapable of dropping a challenge. he has too much pride to lose, and so with a spike of bright, pursuer energy, he reaches to take richie's chin in his hand, firm but not mean.
and leans forward and kisses him! it's not a chaste kiss, either. jiaoqiu does not play nicely, despite his usual demeanor. ]
See, Richie flirts plenty, if he senses a greenlight for it. Most men understood it immediately as a joke. Getting their goats and punching his arm to stave the onslaught, lay off man my wife's here.
And it is a joke.
And it never backfires, because the robust gay community of Los Angeles (which overlaps a hefty chunk of the Los Angeles entertainment community on a Venn diagram) can look him up and down once and mark him as a skirt chaser, and any straight man he pulls it on sees him for the shit disturber he is. But you play with matches too many times, one day you're gonna burn yourself.
Jiaoqiu can enjoy the sharp spark of surprise as he makes good on his word, stunning him stupid with a push of lips and tongue. But then the feedback loop kicks in, as does the drink, his own natural ego, and Richie rallies to meet and match him, blow for blow. Jiaoqiu can claim his chin, fine. Richie will snatch at his collar, twist it in his fist.
Good thing the bar is empty? They're kind of making out, and for a touch longer than is kosher on a dare.
[ it's the surprise that really gets him, which is unfortunate. obviously, richie is a skirt chaser. obviously he only flirts to get a rise out of other men, but jiaoqiu is two hundred years old and very, very experienced with the type of boys who never have consequences for their dumb little dares. jiaoqiu gets an immense enjoyment out of flustering people. especially when it comes to gay chicken.
past that, though, it isn't unpleasant. he likes richie. he definitely likes that twisted collar, and there's a rumble of a noise when it happens. more than anything, he thinks, if it wasn't a dare, if he didn't think richie was going to explode from embarrassment, he wouldn't mind pressing. spaghetti is only straight until you get it hot, he thinks, with an amused pulse of emotion.
but this was a dare. it's only a joke, right? a joke followed through.
when he pulls away, he is wildly pleased with himself. eyes lidded, ears pressed back just slightly, expression smug. his tail sways back and forth behind him the way a cat that's got the cream might, and he leans back, settling back against the counter.
the red ears get him to laugh, and he rests his chin in his palm again. ]
[This truly is just the prettiest JQ icon, i don't think you should waste it on Richie.
There should be more consequences for his actions. Too many people are too willing to let him rattle on. There needs to be pushback. JQ now has the highest success rate yet, though the current method is unorthodox.
Look, he's not blind and he's not numb in the mouth either. Mostly he doesn't bother considering shit. Sure, he can tell when a guy's got the charm, but even then most men slot into sub-caterogies of too-broad shoulders and hard muscle where he wants for something soft. Middling hygiene and bald spots, bodies swiftly going to seed as 40 crests above the hill. Jiaoqiu has the good fortune of being something otherwordly, stealing back youth where he ought to be ravaged by time. Besides that, he's damnably pretty. Good kisser too.
Fucking hell.]
I suppose you do.
[He'd released his collar once the fit ended and is now holding an even staring contest to waylay his sparking mind, some of the booze-born bravado fading. Is that what it was? He thinks, a little too quickly and hopefully for his own liking.
In spite of his well-schooled expression and posture, his ears only serve to betray him. Manifesting in red what emotionshare teases at.]
Ought we get you a trophy? Bet we could get it engraved — Best Use of Mouth in South-Central Paradise.
[ there are too many tops in this game that i will never use it on it's gotta get some use somewhere
it is kind of funny, to be just androgynous enough to push at those boundaries. it's mean, and it's not entirely fair, but jiaoqiu enjoys the feeling of being a brat far more than he really should. it used to get him in trouble a lot, in his younger days. maybe it still does. maybe it definitely does, based on richie's red ears, on the way he hides his fluster.
there's something satisfying about having control over one thing. he can't fight and he can't stop people from dying and he can barely get around, these days, but he can kiss a man into having a crisis. he'll take that, as rude as it is. ]
Now that would get me more than a few side-eyes. I'm not interested in being asked to drop to my knees twice a day, thank you.
[ he says, wryly. ]
There's no need to be embarrassed. [ and then, in that same little shit tone: ] I hope that wasn't your first.
The tickling amusement tugs at him. Pulls him out from his own mounting urge to make a tactical retreat. The comment following helps — he bursts out laughing, eyes closed and hand at his mouth.]
Not at your ripe age, old man. Gotta watch your joints.
[Well there's little point in fighting how his own face is reacting. His cheeks are a little hot too when he pulls out of the guffaw.]
First kiss ever? Yes it was. Will you marry me? [But no. Richie shakes his head.] I got handed too many 6 cards to count back when we had that first party. Blew a few on the lads, got asked to return the favour.
[He also just kissed Lucas for shits and giggles, but that's mostly Adolphe's fault for challenging him to a drinking contest. Good sense was a lost cause after that.]
[Oh he's fine. Richie is embarrassed but amicably so. Though he's very glad to have no witnesses either. (GET OUT OF OUR WALLS HAROLD)
Also WOW]
Oh, come off it, I know when I'm licked. [Laughing and waving off this entire line of dialogue, we are done!] And that's no euphemism for anything more, before you start. Jesus Christ.
You'll have to find some nice gentleman to use those moves on, stop wasting it on me.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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still, he smiles anyway. ]
Lucas insisted that I take his healing item, or he'd do something drastic. [ ear flick. ] I was starting to find it difficult to stand, so in the interest of keeping all of you safe...
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Keeping us safe? Buddy, I'm just glad you're not leaking in more than one spot! [He sets his arm on the bar and leans, casual, all the better to face him.] I'll thank him later. You haven't rustled up a third or fourth for the other two, have you? I know Marcoh's looking sniffed up.
[unless yves is too bc i couldn't tell with the tags dana gave me shakes]
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Leaking is... certainly a term. [ he glances at his drink, and takes a sip. yolo. ]
I haven't seen any extras. I know that one was used on Wis'adel, and then Marcoh, and then me... but these items have been extremely limited, to my dismay.
[ his tail swishes in annoyance. ]
Yves was shot. He really should have taken the item, but... at least he's not in pain.
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[But ah. That is a shame. Richie clucks his tongue and shrugs, ordering one of the same as Jiaoqiu. He sighs when he invokes the name. At once there's a whirl of sensation. Worry of course, a bit of exasperation. That's only a thin veneer for a swell of brimming fondness. Love and pride. Quick, maybe, but Yves was an easy kid to love.]
He wouldn't. Not by choice, anyway. You'd have to curse him in secret to fix him up. [His drink arrives and he takes a swig, glancing at JQ sideways.] But you're just about as stubborn, when you get into it. He beats you by an inch.
Really though. It hurts the heart to see you hobbling around in double jeopardy. I wish we had more of those little trinkets, but I'm glad we spent one on you, JQ.
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he takes another drink, ear flicking. ]
... Thank you, Richie. [ he does appreciate it, and that comes through. he glances at him, resting his chin in his palm, elbow on the counter, gold eyes lidded in relaxation. ]
It means I can be here just a little longer to look after all of you.
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Still, the chug-a-lug of feeling may be slow, but he does appreciate the sliver of warmth.]
Hey now hey now, there's more to life than just utility, you know.
[Perhaps it is the alpha drink kicking in, but he reaches over to pinch his cheek a little.]
Be a bit more selfish, baby. Live a little.
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Oh? Live a little, you say.
[ he leans a little closer, tail swishing behind him. ]
And what would you suggest I do to be more selfish, hm?
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Find a better use for that mouth of yours than biting my fingers, for starters. I've only got the one set left.
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in any case, that laugh gets a bright, gremlin energy to crawl up out of the muck. there's something a little possessive there too, unfortunately, as the drink does things to his brain. he takes another drink. lets a bit of it spill down the corner of his mouth so he can swipe it away with his finger and suck it off while meeting richie's gaze, like a brat. ]
So bold of you. [ he hums, grinning. ] I could make use of those fingers.
[ OKAY ]
Are you looking for a demonstration of what my mouth can do?
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But they're also very harden to restrain when Jiauqiu swipes at that bead of booze and sucks it off the tip of his finger, eyes square on him. There's a jump in his pulse, a flash of alarm (What the fuck), but that only amps up the need to match pace. Gremlin versus gremlin, as it were, and whatever the hell this other antsy, braggadocian push is.
Richie's brows rise high above his glasses. O-fucking-kay.]
Could you now? [Mouth working faster than his brain, as always, except this time there's a bit too much gas in the engine to even hit the brakes.
He leans closer, eyes narrowed and one corner of his mouth cut into the apple of his cheek.]
Don't offer shit if you won't follow through.
[Double dog dare you.]
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it's been a long five weeks, and he's a little pent up. the alpha drink just kicks it along, unlocks his patience, and makes him incapable of dropping a challenge. he has too much pride to lose, and so with a spike of bright, pursuer energy, he reaches to take richie's chin in his hand, firm but not mean.
and leans forward and kisses him! it's not a chaste kiss, either. jiaoqiu does not play nicely, despite his usual demeanor. ]
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See, Richie flirts plenty, if he senses a greenlight for it. Most men understood it immediately as a joke. Getting their goats and punching his arm to stave the onslaught, lay off man my wife's here.
And it is a joke.
And it never backfires, because the robust gay community of Los Angeles (which overlaps a hefty chunk of the Los Angeles entertainment community on a Venn diagram) can look him up and down once and mark him as a skirt chaser, and any straight man he pulls it on sees him for the shit disturber he is. But you play with matches too many times, one day you're gonna burn yourself.
Jiaoqiu can enjoy the sharp spark of surprise as he makes good on his word, stunning him stupid with a push of lips and tongue. But then the feedback loop kicks in, as does the drink, his own natural ego, and Richie rallies to meet and match him, blow for blow. Jiaoqiu can claim his chin, fine. Richie will snatch at his collar, twist it in his fist.
Good thing the bar is empty? They're kind of making out, and for a touch longer than is kosher on a dare.
Then he pulls back.]
...
[His ears go a little red.]
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past that, though, it isn't unpleasant. he likes richie. he definitely likes that twisted collar, and there's a rumble of a noise when it happens. more than anything, he thinks, if it wasn't a dare, if he didn't think richie was going to explode from embarrassment, he wouldn't mind pressing. spaghetti is only straight until you get it hot, he thinks, with an amused pulse of emotion.
but this was a dare. it's only a joke, right? a joke followed through.
when he pulls away, he is wildly pleased with himself. eyes lidded, ears pressed back just slightly, expression smug. his tail sways back and forth behind him the way a cat that's got the cream might, and he leans back, settling back against the counter.
the red ears get him to laugh, and he rests his chin in his palm again. ]
I win.
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There should be more consequences for his actions. Too many people are too willing to let him rattle on. There needs to be pushback. JQ now has the highest success rate yet, though the current method is unorthodox.
Look, he's not blind and he's not numb in the mouth either. Mostly he doesn't bother considering shit. Sure, he can tell when a guy's got the charm, but even then most men slot into sub-caterogies of too-broad shoulders and hard muscle where he wants for something soft. Middling hygiene and bald spots, bodies swiftly going to seed as 40 crests above the hill. Jiaoqiu has the good fortune of being something otherwordly, stealing back youth where he ought to be ravaged by time. Besides that, he's damnably pretty. Good kisser too.
Fucking hell.]
I suppose you do.
[He'd released his collar once the fit ended and is now holding an even staring contest to waylay his sparking mind, some of the booze-born bravado fading. Is that what it was? He thinks, a little too quickly and hopefully for his own liking.
In spite of his well-schooled expression and posture, his ears only serve to betray him. Manifesting in red what emotionshare teases at.]
Ought we get you a trophy? Bet we could get it engraved — Best Use of Mouth in South-Central Paradise.
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it is kind of funny, to be just androgynous enough to push at those boundaries. it's mean, and it's not entirely fair, but jiaoqiu enjoys the feeling of being a brat far more than he really should. it used to get him in trouble a lot, in his younger days. maybe it still does. maybe it definitely does, based on richie's red ears, on the way he hides his fluster.
there's something satisfying about having control over one thing. he can't fight and he can't stop people from dying and he can barely get around, these days, but he can kiss a man into having a crisis. he'll take that, as rude as it is. ]
Now that would get me more than a few side-eyes. I'm not interested in being asked to drop to my knees twice a day, thank you.
[ he says, wryly. ]
There's no need to be embarrassed. [ and then, in that same little shit tone: ] I hope that wasn't your first.
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The tickling amusement tugs at him. Pulls him out from his own mounting urge to make a tactical retreat. The comment following helps — he bursts out laughing, eyes closed and hand at his mouth.]
Not at your ripe age, old man. Gotta watch your joints.
[Well there's little point in fighting how his own face is reacting. His cheeks are a little hot too when he pulls out of the guffaw.]
First kiss ever? Yes it was. Will you marry me? [But no. Richie shakes his head.] I got handed too many 6 cards to count back when we had that first party. Blew a few on the lads, got asked to return the favour.
[He also just kissed Lucas for shits and giggles, but that's mostly Adolphe's fault for challenging him to a drinking contest. Good sense was a lost cause after that.]
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You're not so terrible at it. [ hehe. ] You should really know better than to challenge a fox.
[ teasing. but it's also sort of a check. sorry he took you up on your challenge, but also it was funny and he didn't exactly hate doing it. ]
Unfortunately for you, I'm married to my job. You'll have to find those other men you blew and ask them.
[ that is NOT what he said ]
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[Oh he's fine. Richie is embarrassed but amicably so. Though he's very glad to have no witnesses either. (GET OUT OF OUR WALLS HAROLD)
Also WOW]
Oh, come off it, I know when I'm licked. [Laughing and waving off this entire line of dialogue, we are done!] And that's no euphemism for anything more, before you start. Jesus Christ.
You'll have to find some nice gentleman to use those moves on, stop wasting it on me.
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Oh, I don't think it was wasted. But noted. I've no other gentlemen to woo, so. [ takes another drink. yolo. ]