jigokulogs | August catchall.

All in all, it was a good night. His performance went really well and he got a large cash prize from Tenkohime for his efforts. He was still dressed in his dance outfit for the evening, choosing to meet up with Nie Huaisang for a few drinks and to watch the stars before his boyfriend went to meet up with someone. He was happy tonight. All of his hard work felt like it had paid off and this place was starting to feel like home. Koemi felt similarly as well.

When he saw Gojyo at the bar he leaned against him and wrapped an arm around his shoulder.

"A-Jing. Let's have some food and drinks I feel like I haven't seen you in a long time!"

He may have already gotten into the sauce here. He was smiling but his speech was slightly slurred.

Guangyao wasn't the only one having a fantastic night. A big bonus from the boss led up to an even bigger payout once he was done cheating his way through the new underground casino.

Toraguma had fulfilled any monetary issues Gojyo had been struggling with tenfold. He was loaded. He had enough money to cover a wonderful life twice back in Chang'an, which was saying something! It wasn't like Chang'an was a cheap city!

But here he was, drinking down his first expenditures like there was no tomorrow. Letting out a hefty sigh as he slammed down what was probably his fourth glass of beer for the evening amidst the lively celebrations. Only to suddenly find a pair of arms wrapping around him from behind.

It was almost reflexive as he leaned back into the mysterious stranger's soft slender embrace. He was closing his eyes as he tilted his head back and nuzzled affectionately against their jawline.

Ah, such a slender frame as well. Indeed a beauty has embraced Gojyo in his good fortune.

And then he heard the voice.

His eyes shot open as he suddenly looked at a familiar smile.

"...Eh?........ Uuuuueghh!?" At once, he sat up in surprise. Raising his arms reflexively, he turned to meet Jin Guangyao face to face. "Old man!?"

Yep. That was Guangyao. He drunkenly cuddled Jin Guangyao, assuming he had been embraced by some cute dame who saw how loaded he was.

"What the hell! Do you always sneak up on guys like that??? Wait," He paused again, his eyes squinting as he leaned in to bring his face closer to the other man. "Are you drunk?"

"Me?" he said pointing to himself dramatically. "Nooooo." *hic* "Nope!" he giggled.

"You were really invested in your conversation. I don't think I walked so quietly." he smiled, reaching up to smoosh his cheeks a little bit. "It's good to see you. I know we've both been so busy. You must have been working hard. I have been busy practicing for my performance. Did you see it?" he chattered excitedly, his tails were certainly wagging happily as he spoke. Goodness, he had an urge to nuzzle his friend. He was just so happy to see him and was feeling happy all around. The crowd liked his performance, and Tenkohime seemed to appreciate his efforts.

He even felt like he honoured his mother. He hasn't been in such a good mood in a long time.

"I like your new clothes. You look good."

"Mnnn, you're one to talk, you lush," Gojyo said with a bemused smirk to his old friend, playfully looking over the sultry garb now that he could get a better look at it up close. It was true; Gojyo had seemed to clean up quite nicely over these past few months. Or at least he looked like he had his life together in the more classy garb of the Shuten uniform. Well, almost. "Just my work clothes, though the leather is my special touch. A little somethin' special as thanks to a lady friend."

He leaned into the bar table, resting his cheek into the palm of his hand as he lifted his eyebrows with interest at how the other man seemed to nuzzle into him so affectionately. "You did pretty damn good up there. Feels like you're finally starting to get comfortable with it all, yeah? Certainly much better than that first performance a few months back."

Here's looking at you, 'stupid game of strip club gay chicken.'

"How've you been?"

“Do you like it? It’s in the dunhuang style, that mimics bodhisatvas. I modified it myself to fit my frame better. It would be bad if it got caught on my sword.” He smiled warmly. One hand pressing on the leather.

“Its good quality. Though a bit tight. Does your backside get sweaty in it? The leather clothes back home was usually looser.” He leaned against him and ordered a drink for himself and a beer for Gojyo. An order of sashimi and tofu for their Yao.

“I thought of it less as a sexy way for people to want me and more of a way to express a story I want to tell. This routine is based on one my mother used to dance but I adapted my fighting style to it, a mix of dance and marital arts. With a story I wanted to tell.

Besides. I’m a Jin, we’re famed for our beauty. I know I’ll make people want me regardless.” He replied with a giggle and a coquettish wink.

“I’ve been well, if busy. I have a few projects that I’m helping with. Asides from practiceing my performance. Oh I also started dating a friend of mine. We have a lot to work through but I’ve been happy.

How about you?”

"Eh? Me?" Damn, that certainly was a lot that Guangyao had managed to dump on Gojyo all at once. And truthfully, he may have been a bit too foggy-headed himself to process all of it. Hell, he barely realized the way Guangyao was getting all feely. Not that it mattered to him, he was a very tactile person himself.

Wait, did he say he was dating someone?

Damn.

Good for him.

"I've been all right, I guess. Getting around," Gojyo shrugged casually. Nothing he's been doing these days sounds as exciting or life-changing as what Guangyao was going through. "Got my strength back. Also, my weapon. And I guess I had the shit beaten out of me recently?"

Not that that probably wasn't visible with how bruised his face looked. The duds still made him look good, so what does it matter?

"Besides that, I've been mostly stickin' to the casino. I had my hands full teaching all the shitty members in my clan how to gamble something properly. Can you believe how few people know how to play cards in a clan fuckin' dedicated to running the casinos!?"

He complains casually, more than happy to shove a piece of fish in his mouth. Only to shudder slightly as the fin-like ears shot up with excitement.

"Damn! It ain't half bad here."

Jin Guangyao was always a bit chattier when he was tipsy.

"It's good, isn't it? It is an offering for the lovely Yao inside of you. I thought your lady could use some fresh fish." He smiled. Taking a bite of the soft fried tofu. At which his tails began to wag happily.

"Delicious! Perfectly fried!" Koemi's voice rang out from his lips.

He took a moment after to really look at the bruising on his face. His hand pressed on the unscarred cheek, and he began to pour spiritual energy into him.

"You delinquent, what trouble have you been getting yourself into?"

That had managed to hit a part of Gojyo deep inside that rarely reacted. Eyes dilating, bits of blue seeming to peek through in the crimson coloring as he turned to look at Guangyao curiously. The flow of spiritual energy as it rushed through his skin left a familiar warmth, one he hadn't felt since back when he was in Shangri-La. It felt nice, the way he felt his wounds mending.

But he couldn't openly bring that up. No, he wasn't the one in control at the moment.

"This is the second time now," She blinked slowly, head tilting to the side. The buzz of alcohol swarmed her mind like a hit of liquid courage that she would otherwise never have. "You are unnecessarily considerate of my presence."

What a strange human. She hadn't even done anything to help him yet, but he gave her offerings.

“Ah? Why should I not be? There are two of us in my body, and Koemi would like to be acknowledged sometimes. It is painful to live a life and have no one see your presence. Maiden, you deserve respect and consideration.” It was a matter of course. He would do this for any human back home, no matter who they were, he always remembered their likes ands dislikes It was a habit he applied to yao now as well.

He smiled softly and picked up a delicate piece of fatty tuna for her. “If you tell me what your favorites are I can make sure to send some for you.” His eyes were kind. He was after all a person who many believed beneath thier consideration after all.

“I already know A-Jings tastes. It must be wearysome eating junk food all the time.” He said with a wink.

Gojyo's expression seemed to soften with that. The tension and nervousness that Unabara had painted on his features seeming to ease slightly as she listened to his words.

She had lost her trust in others so very long ago. Especially so with humans. It was why she was so eager to pick up the young rambunctious hanyou at the first possible opportunity. But this human was unnecessarily kind, and she still couldn't quite trust it.

None the less she blushed to the honeyed words. They were sweet and kind and something she rarely heard. So even if she couldn't believe them, at least she could still enjoy them.

"This one takes horrible care of himself. Over abuses his capabilities at every chance he gets," She sighs with that, opening her mouth to eagerly take the piece of tuna into her mouth as it was offered. It reminded her of home. it reminded her of the ocean. "For a man who talks about how much he wants to live, he certainly loves to do as much as he can to try and kill himself off early. Ah--"

She opens her mouth again.

More please.

She really was kind of adorable. There was something really girlish about her that he would never have guessed. He could not help but smile drunk as he is. He held out another piece of fatty tuna.

He was happily feeding her. At his core, he loved caring for and taking those who never had that type of care. Perhaps if he made himself useful he would not need to be hurt by them but a part of him really just loved to be able to kind and respectful.

"Ah but that comes with youth. I remember when I was young I thought myself invincible. But that's why we are here to look after him yes? A-Jing is a sweet young man who hides it under a troublesome exterior. I know others like that as well."

Unabara seemed to hesitate with that. She preferred to try once more for another bite of the tune before leaning in and nuzzling against this new drunken human friend. He was warm and surprisingly broad for how small he was.

"He is surprisingly fragile. A child who endured a lot of pain and loneliness," Should she be saying this? Probably not. But her mind was abuzz, and she was caught up in the joys of having a decent conversation with someone. It has been so long, after all. "...Ah. I shouldn't talk about him like that. He'll be upset if he finds out."

She hiccups, only to cover her mouth quickly in embarrassment.

"Promise you won't tell."

Closed to Gojyo.

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[closed to Nie Huaisang]