@noblefires ginseng slices. the rock sugar dissolvesˏ 𖬺͟. metal spoon is acquired to stir the sea-floor residents of dried longan 𖬺͟. wolfberries.
raiden's a lord thereˏ huh? how fitting.)
but between you and meˏ i don't think he knew what he was talking about.
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a compliment is a compliment. you aren't any lesser—— despite what anybody thinks. you're human. just like the rest of us.
(wellˏ that's what kenshi thinks. but this was the true essence of humanity; in all shapesˏ sizesˏ ways. to himˏ no respect had been lost.)
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"a man like you"?
(brows furrow. kenshi leans back. staring them up 𖬺͟. down through the flicker of eyes. 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒 he had seen them when he first saw them. it was hard to missˏ the braces.)
there's nothing pitiful about a man like you. ⠀⠀(rather strongly.)
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he admits. damn america. he misses familiarized roadsˏ local-shops with names he grew up with. "if you don't mindˏ that is."
the implication of what choice he picked was said earlier; so this was just to relieve pressureˏ if there was any to be had.
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water trickled down his tan visageˏ following the planes of a sharp featuresˏ making it's way like heavy-sweat that he swipes with a palm that goes down his face. he must have overlooked the weather forecast; just his luck.
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know one a . . a block
down ⸝ i think ⸝ " stumbling
voice forces out. " i could
——i could take you. or——
i mean ⸝ i could . . just give
you directions. "
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seeing the stutter in their words; he slouches his shouldersˏ loosening the tenseness of a usually-tenseˏ 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 mug with a willed-friendlier approachˏ as if he could soften the edges of his natural sharpness.
"i've already gotten lost three times on this blockˏ"
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hrn. i don't know if anybody could encapsulate your ego into itˏ though.
(joking. it's a little flatˏ but there's no bite. just the slightest curve of tone into playfulness.)
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(whatever. he doubted 𝑡̵𝑦̵𝑙̵𝑒̵𝑟̵ the stranger had it in the first place; had just become accustomed to tea to ease the mind. this saves the trouble of going to that herbal-shop for tea-leaves.)
where do you keep your kettle?
(.. he should've asked before rummaging.)
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(a pause. kenshi rolls his jaw. yeahˏ tea would be the better option. he doesn't know how he got in this shabby old house anyways—— he needed a ride home from the bar; one thing lead to another— but his demeanor seemed more timid than earlier.)
you're very .. interesting.
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ㅤ
( that's ...ㅤwhat it sounds like ,
doesn't it .ㅤdamn it .ㅤokay .
rubbing his cheek . )
...ㅤthat's —— that's not
what i was trying to say .
i'll take the tea ?ㅤplease .
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(kenshi hopes he has tea. not like he has that in his pockets. he turns—— the cupboards mostly barrenˏ until he comes across a box full of it; 𝑓𝑟𝑢𝑖𝑡—flavored. 𝘩͟𝑢͟𝘩͟.)
(the packaging was cutesy. out of place. almost like a feminine touch graced it.)
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