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[The feed opens to a trio of pretty prismal girls in what appears to possibly be a Caihong brothel, judging by the aesthetic. Another young woman can be heard from the recording end: "There, it's on! Say hello, girls!" The girls happily wave at the camera!

"And now if you press this right here—" Ah there we go, selfie mode! Instead of those other girls, we now get a vision of another local lady with a curious-looking man in soft green robes.]

That easy, is it?

["That easy!" as she hands the communicator back to its rightful owner. He stares at the screen for a moment, contemplating whether he should just turn it off - but those girls are coaxing him to try saying something, so eventually he relents.]

So people can see this, is that right? [Awkward!] ......Well. I suppose if anyone here knows of quiet areas to visit or stores that serve good tea, I'm...open to suggestions. [Ahem.]

That is all.

[Aaand after some fumbling (and more help and laughter from his friends), he manages to turn the thing off. All replies will be in voice from here on out!]

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Have you considered the possibility that I may have been enjoying myself before you arrived, and you simply failed to see it? [Because he was!!

He opens and raises his fan to his face, frowning from behind the safety of its screen.]

You don't seem the type to be particularly interested in teas, yourself - if you do not understand the topic, there's no need for you to force it.

[As for Yan Qing, he can barely hide his smile behind the palm he rests on, although judging from the way he is, he doesn't seem keen on concealing anything for the sake of propriety. He watches Shen Qingqiu for a moment with curiosity. He must be a noble if he has the decency to hide his face. Yan Qing is beginning to have a distaste for it.]

There's a small teahouse further down this street. It's the corner shop next to a pharmacy. The tea there tastes just like how my master liked it. I would serve it after our lessons... [His voice trails off, his gaze distant for a moment. Then he interrupts the thought with a dramatic sigh.] Ah, but I don't wanna talk about that. Why don't you just take my word for it? I'm just trying to be friendly.

[He can barely say the same for this guy!]

["How my master liked it" is a phrase that definitely catches his attention. So this man was a servant? A tattooed man with no manners and a constant smile - which gives him the impression that either he had a particularly laid-back master, or something happened to said master and he turned to a life of crime.

Shen Qingqiu narrows his eyes over the fan, cautious yet admittedly somewhat curious.] I suppose I'll have to visit then, to see if the place is as you describe. As for your friendliness—is there a reason you decided an unfamiliar man in a brothel was someone you wanted to befriend? I'm not one of the employees, if that's what you were hoping for.

[Though there are probably some men working here too.]

[ He bursts into boisterous laughter — one that is irritating to an ear that already finds him most unpleasant. ]

No, no! Sorry if I gave you that impression. [ He shakes his head and sets his cup down with a clink. ] I just found it interesting, that's all. You have a handsome man in a brothel — a regular, too — but he never sleeps with any woman here. I mean, no one's being too clingy. What's more, he uses a fan to show what he doesn't say, and he doesn't know how his communicator works...

I just think it's worth talking to a fellow fish out of water.

I'm not showing anything. [That laughter is incredibly obnoxious.] And is it really so strange to appreciate the company of women? [Not that you need to go to a brothel to find female company, but.

He's still got his fan up as he speaks, an irritated frown crossing his features at the idea this stranger somehow understood that he isn't here for the sex, with an added layer of uncertainty over how observant the man appears to be. Then again, at least he isn't condemning him for visiting brothels, unlike a certain somebody he could name...]

...If you consider us "fellow fish out of water," I suppose that means we're both recent arrivals to this...planet. But I remember there being a good number of others when I first arrived here; do you find my particular habits so interesting?

What? Can't I just think you're a cool guy? [Now he's just talking out of his ass.

He pours himself another cup.]

Cool and mysterious. Ain't that what all the ladies love? Besides, those clothes tell me you're from somewhere I know, and I haven't been there in a while. Forgive me for paying you a visit! I guess I'm just getting a little nostalgic.

[And curious. What sort of people do the moons like to bring to this planet? He's sure it's all random, but there's beauty in finding patterns, however artificial, and it wouldn't hurt to make a few friends for whatever might happen along the way.]

[Admittedly, the thought that they could be from the same (or similar) world definitely has Shen Qingqiu's interest. A man with a possibly-similar background, from a place like home....he isn't the type to get nostalgic, but he doesn't usually find himself stuck on foreign planets either, so he can't help that tiny sliver of desire for something approaching familiar companionship.

A sliver which he attempts to ignore, even as he trades the fan for a sip of wine.]

So nostalgia got the better of you, then? [As if he hasn't been hit by something similar himself.] And how long have you been away from home, then? I'm afraid I don't have much recent news to share with you, if we're from the same world at all.

Nine hundred years.

[He lets that hang in the air for a dramatic moment.

And then he smiles again.]

Ah, sorry. It's only been a few months. But I think I have some stories to share with you. Then maybe you got some stories to share with me! Maybe we can find out if we're from the same world then. How about it?

[Nine hundred years—that impossible number elicits a suspicious narrowing of the eyes, the slight tensing of his body increasing with every second the silence continues. He doesn't fully relax at the correction either - is this man human? Demon? It's stupid to wonder such things in a place like this, but he can't help that instinctual fight-or-flight response at the possibility.

He doesn't start to relax until one of the women leans into his side, her touch reminding him of their current position. She wants to hear some stories!]

...Alright. A few stories. Though I don't have many good ones to tell.

Ah, that's fine. I'll start! Now, let's see... Oh! Here's a good one.

[Hmm... He'll go with one of Chaldea's favorites.]

Once upon a time, there was a Buddhist monk called Xuanzang. She was kind of dumb, but she was infinitely wise... so long as she was sure she wasn't gonna die. She was ordered by the emperor to fetch the sacred scriptures from India. To help her, the bodhisattva Guanyin enlisted the aid of three demons to protect her on her journey...

[Well that's...a story that's both familiar and unfamiliar at once. His guard lowers slightly as he listens, curiosity gradually winning out over his suspicion.

And once there's a break in this storytelling session:] I know of a similar story...although Xuanzhang was a man, and he was ordered by the head of his sect rather than some emperor. [No comment on the "dumb" part, he thought the guy in the stories sounded kinda dumb himself.]

Oh? Well, that's just one more thing we have in common. [So he's from a different world. Or maybe just a different timeline? It's hard to say. Yan Qing doesn't let the thought show on his face, though, appearing carefree as ever.] I might bore you to tears with this one, then! Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and all that? How about I tell you another?

[To be honest, he's never taken the time to read stories in his youth, outside of a few passages from the classics. The life of a desperate orphan, and all that. But while he's honestly curious, having only gleaned the most commonly known details of the epic of Xuanzhang, he can't bring himself to actually show any curiosity, so—ahem.]

Tell what you want. Another legend? A historical event? [He takes a carefully measured sip of tea.] If you're looking to compare our worlds, perhaps you could mention something a little more recent. Have you heard of the Battle of Bailu, for example? In which the great sects subdued a heavenly demon beneath the mountain.

Haha! First time I've heard of that. My current master did something like that recently, though. Mm, they beat... I think six? Seven demonic pillars of Solomon? I wasn't there, though...

[He'd say more, but that's spoilers. Anyway, he is definitely more interested in this discrepancy than Shen Qingqiu is. He leans in, eyes bright and smile wide.]

Oh! Speaking of heavenly demons, maybe you'll know this one! Have you heard of the 108 Stars of Destiny?

Pillars of Solomon? That's a rather foreign name. [Did the man's master travel to some foreign land? Or maybe it's some strange demon name? Though it doesn't fit in with any of the demons whose names he actually knows.

The fact Yan Qing looks hopeful just makes him calmer, really.] I'm afraid I haven't. Is that supposed to be referring to demons as well? The demons I remember were already trouble enough without getting destiny involved.

[He throws his head back as he laughs. If only he knew.]

Haha, I guess you would like 'em then. Those guys like to start a loooootta trouble! The 108 Demonic Stars... Heaven sent them down to Earth as humans to atone for their sins and stuff. Well, it was more like someone accidentally broke the seal on 'em. They tried really hard to save China and get back to Heaven, though? It's a fun story!

["Like", he says. Shen Qingqiu? Liking demons? Maybe about as much as he'd like a hot branding iron in his mouth. Aside from a narrowing of the eyes and a quiet frown, though, he stays silent until the end of that little description.]

So what you mean to say, is that the heroes in this story were all heavenly demons? That seems more like a particularly bad nightmare than anything.

[Good thing that story's from a totally different world!! He's going to take a slightly larger sip of wine here, thanks.]

I feel sorry for the people of your world, if such a story is true.

Someone's got a hateboner.

[ Figures. Yan Qing can't please everybody. He leans back, failing to hide more of his laughter behind a tattooed hand. ]

Relax, they're human now. Not so fond of demons, aincha? I'm guessing it's personal.

[ The likes of Kintoki and Raikou were the same. If he knew anything about demons, he was more than aware that the oni of Mt. Ooe weren't to be trusted. Vampires like Yu Meiren, though — they had their charm. Not that she's particularly charming!

As for himself, well... His own monstrosity doesn't come from what he eats. ]

[a what]

I'm afraid my own experiences with demons have consistently been less-than-pleasant encounters.

[Torture, slander, death...demons suck, okay? He hates them with every fiber of his being!

Somehow this translates to quickly chugging down the rest of his glass and then fanning himself with irritation as he looks away.]

I suppose you find them fun? It sounds like they have such interesting adventures, after all.

Eh, they're okay. I don't like to judge. So they eat people! That's pretty bad.

[The ladies with them start to furrow their brows and murmur. "Have you met such a demon?" one asks.

Yan Qing directs his smile at Shen Qingqiu.]

Well, I wonder. I wouldn't get too close to one if you know what's coming to ya. Our friend here has the right idea.

[Man-eating demons! How scary! This certainly isn't appropriate conversation for their current location, and Yan Qing certainly isn't getting anything approaching a smile from Shen Qingqiu at this point.

Rather than the location, maybe it's just inappropriate for him. He's staying cordial(?) for the sake of the ladies in the room though.]

Yes, it's best to stay far away from them if you can. Those things never let go, once they've set their sights on you.

[Yan Qing can sense the tension in the room, but he doesn't want to leave just yet. After all, for all the stories they've exchanged, he doesn't know a thing about Shen Qingqiu! So he remains, his demeanor collected as ever as he leans in to get a closer look at one of the ladies accompanying them.]

What's your name, miss? Hongyu? Ah, that explains it. [Mischief tugs at his lips.] Your eyes are like jewels... the demons love that. You better be careful. But if you run into one, don't worry.

I hear there are cultivators around these parts.

[Why is he trying to drag the women into this!!! Hongyu giggles at the cheeky compliment though, curiously leaning closer to their tattooed guest. "Cultivators? Are they strong?"

Shen Qingqiu, meanwhile, has stiffened like a knife's been pointed at his neck. He feels like the man is making a threat - but for what purpose? He just doesn't know! Who the heck is this guy!! Maybe he's a demon himself, that'd explain his favorite choice of conversation topic, right? And that mention of cultivators...]

...You seem rather more interested in your tales of demons and cultivators than in the services offered here. I have knowledge of the topic myself, but should we move our conversation elsewhere, if that's the case? It's rather a waste of money to stay here otherwise.

[Somewhere without defenseless women for you to leer at.]

[Gosh, maybe these women are armed with high heels, okay. But Shen Qingqiu makes a good point. In fact, it's the point Yan Qing wanted him to make. A place with wine is as good as any, but brothels aren't the best place for him to let loose. He's not that sort of character, and he doesn't like to make others too jealous. He's sure that isn't what Shen Qingqiu feels now, though.

He chuckles, tickling Hongyu's throat before settling back into his seat.]

I don't mind. Maybe you can try the tea I toldja about while we're at it!

[If suspicion was a liquid then Shen Qingqiu would be drowning in it, that's how he feels right now. And if Yan Qing's going to keep sitting around, then he'll be the one to take the initiative, thanks—

He gets calmly up from his seat, sweeping a cold gaze over the man before nodding to the girls.]

I'll be taking my leave then. Your company was greatly appreciated. [And to the weirdo in the room:] Well? That teashop of yours won't find itself.

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