post the sleepy little party in the tavern, jiaoqiu is still curled up in a beanbag. he's brushing his tail, which seems to be a distraction from the letters he seems to be attempting to write.
taair has been in and out of the tavern for a bit once everyone's left - helping out to clean, doing little chores here and there, but it is probably obvious his brain is somewhere else today. by the time gabriel shooes him off, he makes his way over when he spots jiaoqiu, and offers him a little smile. ]
[ after a moment, he comes to settle down, carefully folding himself down into a beanbag chair as gracefully as one person can. the hesitation is not long, but it's still there, though the distance of it doesn't seem to come from anything sorrowful. ]
-- yes, I'm well. It was a nice night. [ softly, fondly. ] And I very much enjoyed the film.
[ freedom. for the first time since - well. since he learned of the redemption thing, really, but if not that, for the first time since the murder began, freedom feels closer than ever. the cage door begins to open. ]
Not just that, I - I could fix things. [ he could save iria, is the thing. he could set things right. ] When I was in Convallaria Town... there's still one remaining heir to the current monarchy, Princess Inanna. She was in hiding, and we were working together to come up with a plan, and things were in motion, but things got out of control.
[ a beat. and then, softer: ] I could abdicate, Jiaoqiu.
[ he's - it's hard. for someone who is very hopeful and very optimistic, it feels... terrifying, to know that that hope could be real - but if something goes poorly, it could be devastating. the idea of letting himself have it, of reaching out to put his hands on the dream that he has sought his entire life and grasping it, finally freeing himself of his cage and his name and his burdens, and this time not in death, is almost tantalizing as much as it is terrifying. he can almost taste the ocean. can almost feel the sun on his skin.
but as jiaoqiu talks, undeniably, a smile spreads on his face, and he ducks his head and admits: ] More than anything.
[ it's one of the only things he's ever wanted. to travel the world, to finish his book, to hear the tales of iria and see her sights himself, instead of reading about it in wistful books from a tower. to talk to her people and gather her legends as large and insignificant as they can be.
taair exhales out, trying not to let it jitter through him too badly, talking quietly as if he might scare the possibility of it away. ]
That is just the side effect, though - most importantly, it could save Iria. Princess Inanna will be an incredible ruler... [ a pause. ] ...so long as I am able to achieve the redemption as asked, of course.
[ confidently. he believes that taair will be able to. he's one of the kindest people here, and jiaoqiu thinks it'd be nonsense for him to fail. and like, listen, maybe he's a little hypocritical here, but: ]
Taair. Think less about the good of the country and be selfish for a little while.
Well, if I'm not the only one, it must mean that I'm right. [ teases. ] That is to say, yes, I do believe you. Many of us here care about your freedom.
...I've never quite lost sight of that dream of mine - I always hoped it could work out, it's just...
[ well. things at home were awful. and being here felt just like a reminder, sometimes, if not a chance to live it up for a little while, to get in all the adventure he could before he was returned back to his cage. but with a simple aside today, a path began to light.
as he trails off, he looks down at his hands, twisting his fingers together. ]
There has never been room to be selfish. I... don't know how.
[ a little smile. he offers his hand out, though. hold paw. ]
It isn't. [ of course it's not strange. ] In fact, it'd be more strange if you weren't afraid. A change like that is life-changing, even if it is for the better.
Fear is not something to avoid, it's something to take and conquer. You'll do fine. I know you will.
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w5, WEDNESDAY
post the sleepy little party in the tavern, jiaoqiu is still curled up in a beanbag. he's brushing his tail, which seems to be a distraction from the letters he seems to be attempting to write.
anyway, hewwo. ]
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taair has been in and out of the tavern for a bit once everyone's left - helping out to clean, doing little chores here and there, but it is probably obvious his brain is somewhere else today. by the time gabriel shooes him off, he makes his way over when he spots jiaoqiu, and offers him a little smile. ]
That was nice, mm? Good evening, Jiaoqiu...
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anyway, he peeks up at taair when he wanders over, and smiles. ]
It was. I think I prefer these small get-togethers over the fancy ones. How are you doing, Taair?
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[ after a moment, he comes to settle down, carefully folding himself down into a beanbag chair as gracefully as one person can. the hesitation is not long, but it's still there, though the distance of it doesn't seem to come from anything sorrowful. ]
-- yes, I'm well. It was a nice night. [ softly, fondly. ] And I very much enjoyed the film.
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And something else, it seems like. [ what else did you enjoy!!! ]
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[ ahhh. ]
.... I was just thinking about what Yves said, was all.
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[ a warmer smile. ]
You could go somewhere else, little hummingbird.
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Not just that, I - I could fix things. [ he could save iria, is the thing. he could set things right. ] When I was in Convallaria Town... there's still one remaining heir to the current monarchy, Princess Inanna. She was in hiding, and we were working together to come up with a plan, and things were in motion, but things got out of control.
[ a beat. and then, softer: ] I could abdicate, Jiaoqiu.
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You could. You could really be free, hm? Didn't you say you wanted to explore the world? That's within your reach.
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but as jiaoqiu talks, undeniably, a smile spreads on his face, and he ducks his head and admits: ] More than anything.
[ it's one of the only things he's ever wanted. to travel the world, to finish his book, to hear the tales of iria and see her sights himself, instead of reading about it in wistful books from a tower. to talk to her people and gather her legends as large and insignificant as they can be.
taair exhales out, trying not to let it jitter through him too badly, talking quietly as if he might scare the possibility of it away. ]
That is just the side effect, though - most importantly, it could save Iria. Princess Inanna will be an incredible ruler... [ a pause. ] ...so long as I am able to achieve the redemption as asked, of course.
no subject
[ confidently. he believes that taair will be able to. he's one of the kindest people here, and jiaoqiu thinks it'd be nonsense for him to fail. and like, listen, maybe he's a little hypocritical here, but: ]
Taair. Think less about the good of the country and be selfish for a little while.
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he. laughs a little, sheepishly, and folds his hands in his lap. ]
... Would you believe me if I told you were not the first person to tell me that this week?
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jiaoqiu huffs. ]
Well, if I'm not the only one, it must mean that I'm right. [ teases. ] That is to say, yes, I do believe you. Many of us here care about your freedom.
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[ well. things at home were awful. and being here felt just like a reminder, sometimes, if not a chance to live it up for a little while, to get in all the adventure he could before he was returned back to his cage. but with a simple aside today, a path began to light.
as he trails off, he looks down at his hands, twisting his fingers together. ]
There has never been room to be selfish. I... don't know how.
[ ... ]
Is it strange to say that - I'm afraid?
no subject
It isn't. [ of course it's not strange. ] In fact, it'd be more strange if you weren't afraid. A change like that is life-changing, even if it is for the better.
Fear is not something to avoid, it's something to take and conquer. You'll do fine. I know you will.