[She wasn't going to block his way, but now she was definitely walking along.]
A restaurant that has ten of thousands of dollars of expensive cooking equipment in the kitchen and who got robbed before by people from outside the province who didn't know what they were getting into. We catch a lot more people with it than with the wards.
[She grimaced when he mentioned not telling.]
I can't do that. I came because I was the one on call, but I'm not the only one who gets the alerts. And the officer couldn't know I arrived after the alarm was tripped, but they will. They'll know what time I entered the wards. They already know someone was in there.
Ugh, I should probably drop by to report before I go home. Gonna get yelled at again. Oh well.
So you’re letting me go, telling the police to go away, even though it’s going to get you in trouble with your family?
[ He couldn’t help the small smile. ]
You didn’t even know who I was but you were already going to let me go, huh. I can’t decide if I should feel flattered or dejected.
[ By the spreading grin, probably flattered. ]
Well, one good turn deserves another. Tell them it was me. It’s not like they’ll be able to find me anyway, and it’s not like I don’t have the rep to back it up. It might sound like a bit of a tall tale, but...
[ He paused, looking himself over, then down at his sleeve. Ah, well? He could repair it later. He hummed, reaching into his pocket for that same matchstick, rubbing it between his fingers to get just a little of the ignition powder, and then snapped his fingers. With a line of fire he cut away the end of his sleeve, handing the singed and smoking piece of fabric to her. ]
There. It’s enchanted to all hell, so. You valiantly tried to stop me, but I was too fast and too sneaky for you to keep your hands on. Yeah?
I mean, I get yelled at all the time, so once more isn't gonna change much right now.
[She shrugged, looking completely unbothered.
Still, she blinked at him as she accepted the bit of sleeve... and then smiled, holding it up.]
Well, they'd certainly believe that I couldn't stop you... and also they'll appreciate me keeping the police out of it, so there's that. With any luck, I'll be back to my place before dawn.
... Thanks. I don't need you to walk me back, by the way. It'd be useless to pretend you escaped if you're just going to walk me to the door of the compound. I'll be fine. This is my neighborhood, everyone here knows me.
But if you drop by during the day, I'll make you something to eat, okay?
[ And with a lazy salute he pulled his hood up again, disappearing into it before he himself disappeared into the city.
In the mid afternoon, however, as invited, Fox showed up to the restaurant but through the front door, this time. Stuck soundly between the lunch and dinner rush, the place was happily near empty, and he happily told the waiter that he was hoping to see Liushu while he was here. A little pushback (“why would she want to see you”) and a little charm (“ah, but who wouldn’t want to see her”) later, he was drinking green tea and waiting when he finally caught sight of her. He grinned and waved. ]
[It took her a little while to come out from the back because at first all of the info she can get out of the waiter was that 'there's some weird guy out there asking for you do I need to kick him out?' and only after she'd had a peek from around a corner did she tell him off. No, it's fine, he's a friend.
She finished what she was doing before washing her hands and coming out of the kitchen to plop herself in the seat in front of him with her own drink.]
Well, that was fast. Is no one feeding you at home or what?
[After being told his name and reporting the incident, she'd done a little bit of catching up on who he was. She'd never paid too much attention before. Fox was an elusive and legendary figure who put the Elders on edge but had very little to do with someone like her at this stage of her life.]
I guess there's no that much mystery left. Anything you'd like off the menu, or do you leave it up to me?
[She could tell he was kind of avoiding answering the question, but then could she really fault him. After all, given what his actual identity was, the less people knew about him the better. She'd been asking out of friendliness, but there was no way for him to be assured of that.]
Fine. No dietary restriction? I hope you like pork.
[She left him with another drink as she went to the kitchen, where she busied herself for about forty-five minutes before she brought back too earthenware pots on a tray, one for him and one for her, full of Char Sui barbecue pork belly over rice. There was also a plate of greens and two bowls of soup.]
[ By the time Liushu returned, Fox had folded his paper placemat into a frog, enchanted it, and was watching it hop around the obstacle course he had made for it out of cutlery and condiments. He looked up when she approached, grinned, and tapped twice on the frog’s head to get it to go still. ]
Oh nice! This looks delicious.
[ He grabbed his chopsticks and snapped them open. ]
Ah, I would have just come back until you did, it’s no big deal.
[She shrugged as she got her own chopsticks - personalized, from a small pouch - and started picking at the food as well]
As soon as I mentioned your name and showed them the sleeve and the page from your notebook, they forgot about scolding me and went into panic mode re-securing the whole place. But they told me I still had come work my shift here today so I guess, mostly okay, but I don't like having to handle knives on barely five hours of sleep.
.... Did you even sleep? Are you wearing the same clothes as earlier?
[She liked fashion a bit too much herself to find it super useful, but it as a cool trick?]
And well, according to most of may aunts, cooking is basically the one thing I'm really good at. It's not true but don't tell them, I've ben coasting on that and it's really relaxing.
... And when you say 'find a place'... You don't have your own?
Don’t worry, I don’t say anything to anyone about anything. [ He grinned, and it was impossible to tell how much of a joke that was. ]
Nope. Kind of easy to find someone who lives in one place. And it leaves a paper trail. And requires money? Which I can make, but I need for other things.
Contrary to popular belief that I am doing my damnedest to uphold, I can, in fact, take care of myself. If you'd wanted to hurt, you would have done it yesterday the second I caught you.
... also, I have a big knife. Like, really big. Not quite sure exactly where it is right this moment but in an emergency, I can improvise.
[She mimes a stab with her chopstick before plopping another piece of meat in her mouth.]
[ He grinned to her smile, leaning back and cocking his head to the right. ]
I like to make myself useful.
You can use it to send messages. If you unfold it, you can write your message on it, then give it either a name if it's met the person before or a place, and it will hop all the way there.
I mean, it's kind of pointless what with cell phones, but. It's fun.
It's cute. But will it run out of power? What do I do if it does?
[She might actually use this. Sure it was a bit old school and gimmicky, but she didn't dislike that, and those things could be as secure, if not more, than internet communications. She could even ad some talisman ink to it to make it self-destruct if it got intercepted by the wrong person and .... okay, she was getting a bit ahead of herself now.]
Finish your food. I'll box up the rest of mine to take home.
[ He reaches out and picks it up, turning it so that it was belly up. There was a little circle drawn there with strange symbols that didn't look like any known language. ]
If this part gets destroyed or messed up, the whole thing will just turn to ash. So don't paint over that part.
[ He hands it back and then digs into his food again, wolfing it down with relish before finishing it off. He leaned back with a happy sigh. ]
[Her eyes widened at that. When she'd told him he was out of her league the day before, she'd meant it, but she hadn't realized exactly how far out of her league.
She brought back the dishes to the kitchen and boxed up her own food for later, putting the boxes in a bag and then loudly saying goodbye before she grabbed her jacket.]
I mean eventually the paper would get torn or the ink would fade, so it's not immortal or anything, but if you take care of him he should last for a little while.
[ He pulled his own hoodie on - though didn't raise up the hood - and thrust his hands into his pockets while he waited for her, before falling in easy step next to her as she walked. ]
So you don't live with your family, then? Must be pretty expensive on your own.
I don't live with them, but that doesn't mean I pay for all of it myself. I mean, I work at the restaurant and I do other stuff too, but... they still take care of me. It's just that it's mostly guys back at the compound, and a girl needs privacy.
[Still, she was well aware that she had a privileged life, especially compared to an alley cat like him.]
I feel like my uncle just say yes because it's like giving me a bit of freedom before they start talking about marrying me off... or more likely adopting a groom into the family since, well. They can't just send me away, really.
[Old magic families were still pretty traditional when it came to marriage alliances, the whole thing more strategic than to do with any actual feelings.
She led the way to a small brownstone building, only three floors, and took the stairs to the top floor, which was apparently, just one apartment since there were no other doors. She unlocked it, took of her shoes in the hall way and called out.]
Lights on!
[The ambient lights in the living room came on illuminating a mix of traditional and modern furniture, sleek and mostly black with metallic grays, white, cream and a touch of purple in the decor. The place was clean, but with the slight mess you'd expect of a lived in space. The biggest thing that looked almost out of place was the huge sheet of rice paper on the dining room table, along with an inkstone and brush, with half of it covered with what looked like a landscape painting in traditional Chinese style. There were also a few talismans left on top of consoles and shelves here and there.]
Come in. Leave your shoes here. I'll see what I have to drink.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
A restaurant that has ten of thousands of dollars of expensive cooking equipment in the kitchen and who got robbed before by people from outside the province who didn't know what they were getting into. We catch a lot more people with it than with the wards.
[She grimaced when he mentioned not telling.]
I can't do that. I came because I was the one on call, but I'm not the only one who gets the alerts. And the officer couldn't know I arrived after the alarm was tripped, but they will. They'll know what time I entered the wards. They already know someone was in there.
Ugh, I should probably drop by to report before I go home. Gonna get yelled at again. Oh well.
no subject
[ He couldn’t help the small smile. ]
You didn’t even know who I was but you were already going to let me go, huh. I can’t decide if I should feel flattered or dejected.
[ By the spreading grin, probably flattered. ]
Well, one good turn deserves another. Tell them it was me. It’s not like they’ll be able to find me anyway, and it’s not like I don’t have the rep to back it up. It might sound like a bit of a tall tale, but...
[ He paused, looking himself over, then down at his sleeve. Ah, well? He could repair it later. He hummed, reaching into his pocket for that same matchstick, rubbing it between his fingers to get just a little of the ignition powder, and then snapped his fingers. With a line of fire he cut away the end of his sleeve, handing the singed and smoking piece of fabric to her. ]
There. It’s enchanted to all hell, so. You valiantly tried to stop me, but I was too fast and too sneaky for you to keep your hands on. Yeah?
no subject
[She shrugged, looking completely unbothered.
Still, she blinked at him as she accepted the bit of sleeve... and then smiled, holding it up.]
Well, they'd certainly believe that I couldn't stop you... and also they'll appreciate me keeping the police out of it, so there's that. With any luck, I'll be back to my place before dawn.
... Thanks. I don't need you to walk me back, by the way. It'd be useless to pretend you escaped if you're just going to walk me to the door of the compound. I'll be fine. This is my neighborhood, everyone here knows me.
But if you drop by during the day, I'll make you something to eat, okay?
no subject
Well, I can’t resist an offer like that, can I?
Don’t get in trouble, Liushu.
[ And with a lazy salute he pulled his hood up again, disappearing into it before he himself disappeared into the city.
In the mid afternoon, however, as invited, Fox showed up to the restaurant but through the front door, this time. Stuck soundly between the lunch and dinner rush, the place was happily near empty, and he happily told the waiter that he was hoping to see Liushu while he was here. A little pushback (“why would she want to see you”) and a little charm (“ah, but who wouldn’t want to see her”) later, he was drinking green tea and waiting when he finally caught sight of her. He grinned and waved. ]
no subject
She finished what she was doing before washing her hands and coming out of the kitchen to plop herself in the seat in front of him with her own drink.]
Well, that was fast. Is no one feeding you at home or what?
no subject
[ He deflected the question completely. Home itself wasn’t an applicable concept, let alone anyone feeding him in one. ]
Should I have given it a few days just for the air of mystery?
no subject
[After being told his name and reporting the incident, she'd done a little bit of catching up on who he was. She'd never paid too much attention before. Fox was an elusive and legendary figure who put the Elders on edge but had very little to do with someone like her at this stage of her life.]
I guess there's no that much mystery left. Anything you'd like off the menu, or do you leave it up to me?
no subject
[ He leaned back in his chair, idly fiddling with the paper his chopsticks had come wrapped in. ]
I’ll eat just about anything that’s put in front of me, so surprise me.
no subject
Fine. No dietary restriction? I hope you like pork.
[She left him with another drink as she went to the kitchen, where she busied herself for about forty-five minutes before she brought back too earthenware pots on a tray, one for him and one for her, full of Char Sui barbecue pork belly over rice. There was also a plate of greens and two bowls of soup.]
It's lucky for you I had a shift today.
no subject
Oh nice! This looks delicious.
[ He grabbed his chopsticks and snapped them open. ]
Ah, I would have just come back until you did, it’s no big deal.
So how’d you make out? Any trouble?
no subject
As soon as I mentioned your name and showed them the sleeve and the page from your notebook, they forgot about scolding me and went into panic mode re-securing the whole place. But they told me I still had come work my shift here today so I guess, mostly okay, but I don't like having to handle knives on barely five hours of sleep.
.... Did you even sleep? Are you wearing the same clothes as earlier?
no subject
[ He tapped his chest and his shirt flickered from saying “Don’t @ Me” to “aw shit”. ]
Mmm, no, haven’t slept yet. That’s okay. I’ll find somewhere to pass out for a bit in a couple hours.
[ He dug into the food and happily sighed as he ate. ]
Well this tastes really good, so even on five hours sleep I think you probably handle that blade fine!
no subject
[She liked fashion a bit too much herself to find it super useful, but it as a cool trick?]
And well, according to most of may aunts, cooking is basically the one thing I'm really good at. It's not true but don't tell them, I've ben coasting on that and it's really relaxing.
... And when you say 'find a place'... You don't have your own?
no subject
Nope. Kind of easy to find someone who lives in one place. And it leaves a paper trail. And requires money? Which I can make, but I need for other things.
no subject
[But still, that did sound like being constantly on the run.
Maybe it was because she was tired herself, but as she plopped another piece of pork in her mouth, she said.]
Well, I'm finished with my shift here anyway. If you want you can crash on my couch for a while. Don't worry, I don't live at the family compound.
no subject
You usually invite strange men that you meet in the dead of night trespassing back to your place?
I mean, I won’t say no, but I don’t mooch. So you’ll have to let me do something for you in return.
no subject
Contrary to popular belief that I am doing my damnedest to uphold, I can, in fact, take care of myself. If you'd wanted to hurt, you would have done it yesterday the second I caught you.
... also, I have a big knife. Like, really big. Not quite sure exactly where it is right this moment but in an emergency, I can improvise.
[She mimes a stab with her chopstick before plopping another piece of meat in her mouth.]
And it's not mooching if I offer, is it?
no subject
[ Too bad the warning about the knife just made him want to see it. ]
But I can be pretty handy if there’s anythjng you need done around the house. Or entertainment.
[ He deftly pulled up a pile of rice between his chopsticks. ]
Like, for example, this food.
[ He leaned over and tapped the origami frog. ]
This is Wilbur. He’s my thank you.
[ it gave a small jump. ]
no subject
She gave him a teasing smile.]
... Pretty 'handy', huh? Alright then. We'll see about that.
[She blinked at the small frog as it jumped, then held out her hand for it to climb onto.]
What does it do? Apart from hopping?
no subject
I like to make myself useful.
You can use it to send messages. If you unfold it, you can write your message on it, then give it either a name if it's met the person before or a place, and it will hop all the way there.
I mean, it's kind of pointless what with cell phones, but. It's fun.
no subject
[She might actually use this. Sure it was a bit old school and gimmicky, but she didn't dislike that, and those things could be as secure, if not more, than internet communications. She could even ad some talisman ink to it to make it self-destruct if it got intercepted by the wrong person and .... okay, she was getting a bit ahead of herself now.]
Finish your food. I'll box up the rest of mine to take home.
no subject
[ He reaches out and picks it up, turning it so that it was belly up. There was a little circle drawn there with strange symbols that didn't look like any known language. ]
If this part gets destroyed or messed up, the whole thing will just turn to ash. So don't paint over that part.
[ He hands it back and then digs into his food again, wolfing it down with relish before finishing it off. He leaned back with a happy sigh. ]
Thanks. That was great.
no subject
[Her eyes widened at that. When she'd told him he was out of her league the day before, she'd meant it, but she hadn't realized exactly how far out of her league.
She brought back the dishes to the kitchen and boxed up her own food for later, putting the boxes in a bag and then loudly saying goodbye before she grabbed her jacket.]
Come on. It's not very far from here.
no subject
[ He pulled his own hoodie on - though didn't raise up the hood - and thrust his hands into his pockets while he waited for her, before falling in easy step next to her as she walked. ]
So you don't live with your family, then? Must be pretty expensive on your own.
no subject
I don't live with them, but that doesn't mean I pay for all of it myself. I mean, I work at the restaurant and I do other stuff too, but... they still take care of me. It's just that it's mostly guys back at the compound, and a girl needs privacy.
[Still, she was well aware that she had a privileged life, especially compared to an alley cat like him.]
I feel like my uncle just say yes because it's like giving me a bit of freedom before they start talking about marrying me off... or more likely adopting a groom into the family since, well. They can't just send me away, really.
[Old magic families were still pretty traditional when it came to marriage alliances, the whole thing more strategic than to do with any actual feelings.
She led the way to a small brownstone building, only three floors, and took the stairs to the top floor, which was apparently, just one apartment since there were no other doors. She unlocked it, took of her shoes in the hall way and called out.]
Lights on!
[The ambient lights in the living room came on illuminating a mix of traditional and modern furniture, sleek and mostly black with metallic grays, white, cream and a touch of purple in the decor. The place was clean, but with the slight mess you'd expect of a lived in space. The biggest thing that looked almost out of place was the huge sheet of rice paper on the dining room table, along with an inkstone and brush, with half of it covered with what looked like a landscape painting in traditional Chinese style. There were also a few talismans left on top of consoles and shelves here and there.]
Come in. Leave your shoes here. I'll see what I have to drink.