eastbound | un: worm wife / text

( There is absolutely someone out there fucking with Wen Kexing, and so if anyone mentions the state of his new name he's going to commit Attrocities. He's here for a reason ... admittedly a potential wife reason, but still! You mention being a worm one time and fate laughs at you. )

It's come to my attention we're all very demure about our own skill sets. When it comes to trying to work together that reticence might be to our detriment. Especially considering the wealth of people we have here, what if one of us is in need of a carpenter and we don't know where to go? Or a scribe, those might be handy with all the terrible meetings we have to listen to. Or a healer, even.

( A healer especially, but he is the most subtle and anyone implying otherwise needs to be quiet. )

And so, I thought it might be a good idea if we instead shared what we were good at. I can go first.

Cooking.
A pursuer of scholarly endeavours.
Passable martial arts.
Provider of wine.

If anyone needs any poetry or lessons in how not to burn water then I am certainly your man. I know these aren’t exactly the more useful of skills, but there are bound to be more capable people out there. We need to help each other in these trying times, after all.

( We also need to not be lying bastards, but oh well. )

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( He thinks about being coy, but then Jacob does have a tendency to find him regardless. Honesty is presumably the best policy. )

Someone from home turned up, shortly after the arena attack. I've told you about him, my Ah-Xu. I've been helping him settle.

( STARING AT HIS FACE CONSTANTLY, HE MEANS. )

But the world waits for no man, I suppose. We still have all that boring Messalina business to attend to.

[Ah, that's the explanation. It's a fair one too, he's well aware that having someone arrive from home, especially someone you care for, must be welcome. It must also be a painful reminder that they aren't home.]

I suppose that has rather distracted you.

You could say that.

( He's pretty and dying, that takes a lot of time up. )

Don't fret, I haven't forgot what we're doing here. Though you'll probably run into each other at some point. I have to put him to work or he'll drink my bottles dry.

You should get into the brewing business.

[ Between Wen Kexing and his... friend a brewery might just keep them in their bottles.

Probably wouldn't be enough let for Jacob though. ]

Who says I haven't tried?

( Wine in Ghost Valley used to be scarce. )

Mm. But no, never again. It's not for me - the smell.

( He's Fussy. )

The smell? You're brewing the wrong stuff then. Beer smells wonderful while it's being made. Like hops and malt. You might like that more.

I'll leave the brewing to the more capable, and the drinking to me, if it's all the same.

( He might not have the same patience now as he once did. )

Well if I ever get old, retire back to the countryside and set up my own brewery, I'll give you a discount.

( If he ever gets old, Wen Kexing knows that sentiment. )

No freebies? Xiao Frye, I'm hurt.

Wennie, knowing how much you drink? Not on your life.

No, wait. Maybe if you're still as pretty when you're forty, we'll talk.

( A bark of laughter. )

You charmer. Who knows, I might hold you to that.

Oh, I expect you will. In fact, I count on it.

Mm. Well, until then. You should come by tomorrow. We can talk about any future endeavours that might cross our mind.

( SCHEMES. )

Hmmm, I suppose I might be able to. I'll check my calendar.

( Dryly. )

Oh, don't put yourself out too badly Xiao Frye.

Do you want me to bring food?

That depends. What's your idea of food? Is it like the beer?

Tell me what you like, I'll try to find it.

There's a stall in the market that does amazing skewers of fried squid. Or there's little crab cakes. I know there's a woman that does delicious bread with olives in. I think it's olives.

Trust me, you don't want the food from home.

The squid, yes. Do you know I'd never had it before here? I don't live by the coast, I'd never seen it, and it's difficult to import that kind of fish. There's a benefit to being kidnapped, I suppose, widening my culinary appetite.

No? I mean, there's some places where I'm from that are a few hours by train from the sea, but not enough to not have fish. So I'll get that then. A treat's as soon as a rest, right?

I don't know what a train is. But the coast is weeks away, they'd be spoiled by the time it got anywhere near. There's still river fish though, and lakes, I've not been completely bereft. I just find the culinary differences interesting.

( A pause. )

Maybe I'll make you something. Who knows!

Oh. You're from a place that doesn't have those. Think... long carriage without horses, driven by steam. That's pretty much what it is.

[Wait. Wait.]

You'd make me something? Me?

Yes? Why not?

( He's set his mind to it now, it's going to happen. )

I'm quite good, you don't have to sound so surprised.

[ It isn't that Wen can cook, but that he is offering to go to the trouble for someone like Jacob. ]

Most people wouldn't bother. I mean, just for me.

I like cooking. It helps me think.

( It's also his love language but that's neither here nor there, all right? Jacob is his business associate!!! )

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