#|rp

[actualkomodo]

Jikhaa.

[[ Context: The entirety of a scene at Candlelight Night, with Cuinn/Jikhaa’s narrative. This is the first time he requests a different name in public.

Has a bunch of mentions... that I’m not gonna mention fskljf but I will plug @elegant-etienne and @pearlescent-scales here...

Disclaimer for food or beverage distributors involved: None of his skepticism is representative of my views on your menu items or service, nor of his actual assessment or the genuine quality of the aforementioned. ;; ]]

---------------

“How shall I introduce you...?”

“Jikhaa.”  Jikhüüngerel.

“This is my friend Jikhaa.”

No words for this feeling.

“Welcome, Jikhaa!”

Welcome? Welcome… home?

No words.

“Bar or snacks?”

“As you like.”

Colours. Wood. Paper. Blue.

“Hello Etienne! That your friend?”

“An old friend… Jikhaa. These are friends as well, Xiaohu and Oosra.”

Lights, voices. Descent.

They kiss Him. Only He is left.

“Name’s Vander Thuun, at your service, friend.”

“Vander.”

“Whatever tickles your fancy, Master…?”

Master... 

“Jikhaa.” It’s loud in his head.

“So, how did you two meet, Jikhaa?”

Where is he?

    Etienne.

“Did you put your name in, Jikhaa? There's nothing at all you're curious about?”

No.

“I suppose I'm envious, then... Makes me think there are things I need to handle. Come clean about, mayhap.”

“Mayhap.” Mayhap, Jikhaa.

Azena would like that.

Etienne likes that.

    Blue.

“Sake?”

No.

“I was hoping not to drink alone.”

“Choose then. For me.”

“Airag for Jikhaa, then.”  

Airag on the counter. Airag from a pitcher. Probably cold. Probably not fresh. Probably not airag.

Silent brothers. Not brothers. Strangers.

Etienne seems happy.

Here. Drink in their hand. Heavy?

“Cheers?”

He walks away.

In the dark, he turns around.

“Not too much?”

“It’s one drink, darling. There’s no sheep for me to yell at…”

“I’m not sheep.” Not sheep. No yelling.

“I promise I won’t yell at you either.”

Sip.

“This is my friend Jikhaa. Order as you like - I've got to make up for all that buuz I ate somehow!”

Buuz then.

“We make a pretty good buuz and other…”

He makes it.  

Etienne has food.

“You'll help me eat some of this, won't you?”

It’s for them.

“After you.” It’s for them.

Crab.

Eating. Etienne likes it.

“This is more than I can eat.”

Okay.  

They like it.  

He wants the flower. It reminds him of Azena.

“How is Miss Azena?”

They were listening.

Clients were angry when she told them she would be away. She is back, dancing. Tea. Busy. Maybe Etienne will see her.

Beside Etienne. Someone else.

Someone else. Behind him.

Someone else.

Someone else.

Someone else.

Frost.

Someone else.

He feels numb.

Etienne seems happy. Warm. Reaching. Stealing… It’s Vander.

My Vander.

“I try not to eavesdrop… They’re personal.”

My Vander.

Defrost.

Etienne.

“Safe?”

Confusion. Understanding.

“Yes, safe.”

“--Jikhaa. They'll be safe here, don't you worry.”

Vander doesn’t know what it means.

Etienne knows.

[actualkomodo]

Etienne Clairemont shrugs as their friend lingers outside the entrance. "I was hoping not to drink alone," they murmur, sounding cheerfully resigned.

Cuinn Kha from his corner lowers his head, a sort of exasperation lent better appreciation from his posture than his lack of expression. "Choose then," he says, just loudly enough to carry. "For me."

Etienne Clairemont says, lightly, absolutely not echoing that same familiar exasperation, "Airag for Jikhaa, then, please, darling."

Candlelight Night at The White Lotus Inn, with @elegant-etienne.

[actualkomodo]

Dawn turned to day, day turned to night.

Some quiet time at the Festival of Nhaama, edging out of our age-long RP hiatus... only but the calm before the storm.

/ @pearlescent-scales

[actualkomodo]

“«Can’t even answer, can you?»

“Fucking hells…” She clenches her fists and jaw, tail thumping against the table once more. “«You are positively infuriating!»”

Komodo meets dragon (@pearlescent-scales)…

[actualkomodo]

“Want to try again.”

“Try… the gloss again?”

Cuinn hums softly in affirmation, pressing a careful kiss to her lips. He barely retreats before he speaks. “Like warmth,” he murmurs. A gentle, ragged exhale escapes him–the sublest hint of a laugh that fails to resonate through the rest of his body. He lightly touches her cheek with the heel of his hand. “Like your face.”

Azena blushes as if on command, her cheeks warming instantly. “Well, I can’t help it when I’m around you.”

Adorkables with @pearlescent-scales :7«

[actualkomodo]

“Bubbles,”

he echoes, turning the rings in his hand to look through them at a different formation of barely-visible stars. He glances towards Azena, then the bottles of bubble solution, and says disjointedly, “«Water star.»”

“«Water star?»” Azena mimicks, turning to look at him with a quirked brow.

“«Water star»,” he says again, most insistently. “«What is it?»”

“«I’m afraid I’m confused… Could you point it out to me?»“ She follows his gesture, watching the children as they play on the bridge, chasing after bubbles as they fly through the air. “«You… You mean the bubbles?»”

Cuinn gives her no proper response, instead murmuring back, “«Bubbles.»” Folding his arms atop the railing and leaning against them, he repeats, “«Water star.»”

Azena chuckles softly. “«Water stars… How cute.»”

An evening on the Shirogane docks with @pearlescent-scales for a little personal Tanabata encounter!

[actualkomodo]

After a careful dip in the inkwell, he makes a swift downward stroke that is easily far too small compared to the previous letters, but appealingly and marginally thicker and rounder at the top and thinner at the bottom. But it is not the right size at all, Cuinn having applied too little pressure for fear of pressing too hard. And in the attempt to fix it, he misses the end of his initial I, creating a parallel line--though they are close enough to not notice at a distance--and the bottom is much too heavy. At this, he exhales a little heavily and leans slightly against Azena, as if the proximity and warmth will make him feel less frustrated and the task much easier.

Azena becomes quiet once more as she watches his attempts with the troublesome I. She feels him lean against her, a small smile pulling at her lips. She presses herself against him gently, her tail giving his a reassuring little tug. “You are doing well. Don’t let little mishaps discourage you.”

w/ @pearlescent-scales