Audience: Gu Yun

[probe]

Comments

[liuli]

[ pride your breadsleeves. ]

Got a corkscrew in there, while you're at it? Knife'll do in a pinch. [ lolol ]

[probe]

I lost my knife.

[they sound irritated about this. but they do have a corkscrew, so they'll hand it to him.]

[liuli]

That seems to be a constant in this place.

[ our kitchen knives...

he takes the corkscrew when offered, though, and plants the bottle between his thighs to hold it still, so he can get the cork off with all of the practiced skills of an alcoholic. ] Everyone here drinks their wine Western, don't they...

[ but, he pours a nice glass for pride, and one for himself, and then passes it over to them. ]

[probe]

I don't know what you mean by Western.

[they will take the glass, though. as they do, their sleeve slips. there are two gold bands tattooed around their wrist.]

[liuli]

Hmm... outside of Great Liang. That probably doesn't mean anything to you, either. Imported, I suppose - it's a different style of liquor than what we drink, but I don't care either way.

[ oooo he's definitely looking. claws, gold bands... ] Did you pick our color theme?

[probe]

This wine is imported, as well.

[... they pull their sleeves back down over their hands.] No. Pride is gold. For whatever reason.

[liuli]

Well, I'm honored by your courtesy and kindness. [ gu yun's manners always sound like a tiny bit sarcastic, but, he's pleased by it. raising his glass! ]

Cheers. [ a beat, before he pauses with the rim at his lips - ] I hope you aren't trying to poison me.

[ with a wink, he takes a drink!

not. not that poison would do much. high poison resistance ]

[probe]

[bold of you to think he has a high poison resistance here

anyway]

If I were going to, I wouldn't do it where someone could walk in. [they say, dryly.] I'm not an amateur.

[liuli]

[ he doesn’t know that!!!!!!! wait dammit now I have medicine questions

anyway! that answer gets him snickering again, as he swallows - it really is very good. ] All that ominous talk earlier makes sense. Remind me not to get on your bad side!

[ teehee ]

[probe]

It's a terrible side to be on.

[they seem almost like they're joking, at least. they take a sip of their wine - the glass vanishes into the depths of the hood.]

[liuli]

[ he. watches this happen. ]

... This place is stranger by the moment.

[probe]

This of all things prompts an observation like that?

[he can't see their face but there's definitely the air of an eyebrow being raised from pride's tone.]

[liuli]

Hm?

[ did you say something, pride?


anyway, ] So, we're supposed to indulge pridefully. What does that mean, exactly? I suppose besides boasting, that seems like the easy way out.

[probe]

[don't just be deaf when it suits you gu yun wow]

Mm... [they swirl the wine in their glass.] You are the most important person in the room. So act like it. Make someone worship you. Win effortlessly at something.

[they glance at him, and this is almost teasing:] Sleep with someone in public. I'm sure you have no shortage of people wanting.

[liuli]

[ great liang's greatest garlic strikes again

his hearing is not in fact broken yet, so he listens carefully to each of those, chewing them over - and that last line ends up getting him grinning again. gu yun leans forward, batting his eyelashes, playful. ]

Oh~? Are you saying I'm desirable, Pride? I'll swoon.

[probe]

[the BIGGEST sigh.]

That was - not an invitation. [they take another sip of wine. or like, a gulp. don't judge them.]

[liuli]

[ gu yun laughs, a bright, loud peal of it, clearly amused. he swirls his own glass, examining the drink, sly smile still on his face. ]

Would you believe me if I told you I've never been intimate with someone?

[probe]

[they pause.]

Mm. I'm not sure you'd lie about something like that. [their hood tilts just slightly to the side.

they seem to struggle for a moment, and then:] I am not - experienced. Either.

[liuli]

You might be the first to say that. [ but, his gaze is bright and steady, and pride is right - he's telling the truth. the marquis of order isn't really someone with a lot of free time.

he's not expecting the response back - gu yun's brows raise, and then, his expression brightens again, much less shitty in his smile. ] Well, look at that! There's something else we have in common. A couple of virgins, dropped in here and expected to sleep around. Guess we'll have to figure it out together.

[ wink. okay, that part's a little shitty. ]

So, what's your preferred form of indulgence, then? [ he gives a little wiggle of the glass in his hand. ] This's mine.

[probe]

[they shift, slightly uncomfortably, but don't correct him or anything, just nod.]

It certainly isn't sex. [they say flatly. but.] I enjoy wine, as well. This is... what you're drinking is my favorite.

It's the only indulgence I have the space for.

[liuli]

It's good - you've got good taste. [ it is! imported and all. gu yun takes another sip of it, eyes twinkling a bit even with that discomfort. gu yun's long learned to make jokes about the things he's uncomfortable with (mostly), so. very healthy.

as he finishes, he tips his head back, curious. ] What do you mean by that?

[probe]

[they tap their claws against the glass.]

It means what it means. I can't afford more than a glass of wine every once in a while. My life did not allow for it. [they take another sip.] Though I suppose that doesn't matter here.

[liuli]

Hm. [ interesting. something else in common. ] That makes two of us, for that, too. Always decisions to be made, questions to be answered. Battles to win. I couldn't tell you the last time I had free time.

[ the marquis of order is no common foot soldier, that's for sure. gu yun's actually, not a very indulgent person, despite being so utterly chaotic. ]

And now, here, I've got an abundance of it, suddenly. I suppose that's the point of indulging, isn't it? That people with responsibilities are supposed to let them go. [ a beat. his eyes shift away for a moment, as he pauses before he takes another sip. ] Though I have no intention of losing sight of mine anytime soon.

[probe]

[they watch gu yun for a long moment, like they're thinking about something.]

Similar, but for different reasons. [they say, finally.] I expect you'll do fine here, as will the rest of the Prides.

[liuli]

[ interesting indeed. ]

How coy. [ that's said very lightly, but he respects the privacy of the answer - for now, anyway. ] I hope that's the case. Does it do us any favors to indulge together? Or should we be trying to spread across the board?