Who: Shen Qingqiu and friends! What/When: A place to organize Shen Qingqiu's December threads Where: Anywhere people gather Warning(s): TBD [12/20]
Thread starters in the comments below. Wildcards welcome!
"Are you sure you don't mind?" is the first thing Shen Qingqiu sheepishly asks, once he and Artemy have met outside the entrance to the winter market. Shen Qingqiu is dressed in his fur-trimmed winter robe, the spruce-colored fabric laced up to his chin while his hair, braided against the wind and snow flurries, snakes over one shoulder. "I know I said I could use a second pair of eyes while gift-shopping, but this is hardly the most exciting venue for a date...Are you sure you won't be bored?"
"I don't know why I would mind, Qingqiu. Boredom is a luxury."
Truer words have never been spoken by a man that has known what it is to scrape by. He isn't dressed nearly as nicely as him, of course, his coat is much warmer, more utilitarian in design, and plain brown with olive green pants and chunky winter boots. He's at least wearing a tan fuzzy Ushanka, because of course he must.
"I only fear I won't be much help. I might just be company rather than a helpful eye, as I said, but I will do my best to help regardless... I do also have a bit of shopping to do myself."
Not a whole lot, but he does want to see if they have a certain record perhaps.
(Artemy looks so adorable in his furry cap, if Shen Qingqiu were taller he'd probably try to pat him on his dear fuzzy head...)
"Just your company will be lovely," Shen Qingqiu affectionately insists. "Although I really suspect you're doing yourself too little credit, my friend." If nothing else, Shen Qingqiu thinks sneakily, he can keep an eye on Artemy's reactions to figure out what kind of thing he'd appreciate most in a gift, and sneak back to purchase it later.
"If nothing else, I've heard the food's good," he says, putting a hand on Artemy's arm. "And the drinks. Have you ever had hot cocoa?"
"I can supply my company at the very least, but- Ah, I haven't." Artemy admits, patting Qingqiu's hand. There's a lot of foodstuffs that were much too luxury to be imported to his tiny town. And even when living in the Capital, Artemy didn't find it in himself to experiment too much with food stuffs, living off such a limited income and whatnot. "I suppose I could try some."
In the back of his head, he hopes it isn't too expensive as he walks along. He'll have to afford two cups after all.
Artemy wonders what sort of gifts Shen Qingqiu would like, perhaps a comb for all that hair...? The Haruspex suddenly realizes he is way in over his head with all of this.
You really can't go wrong, giving a xianxia character hair accessories...unless you're in one of those stories where such things are part of the rituals around marriage proposals, but don't worry. Shen Qingqiu would never hold such a thing against his darling foreign friend.
"If you like sweets, then you'll like this," Shen Qingqiu remarks cheerfully, as the two of them begin a leisurely stroll down the market's central aisle, pausing to examine booths full of wooden carvings, handicrafts, and winter clothes. "It's funny how many winter celebrations seem to revolve around eating sweets, isn't it?"
"I wouldn't know, truthfully." Artemy says. Though he is looking out for hot chocolate.
Everything is very colorful and cheerful, mostly in reds and greens, it's all rather eye catching. He can see why everyone's in such good spirits. "I have heard of Christmas, but it wasn't much celebrated. Something about the Capital discouraging pagan holidays." Artemy says this with a smirk, knowing his own religion would be considered one of these pagan religions, "I also haven't eaten many sweets. Such things aren't imported in or traded around very often and are very expensive even in the Capital."
And no, he hasn't been experimenting much with food since coming to Pumpkin Hollow, truthfully. It's a meat and meat diet for my boy over here.
"Then we'll have to start you off slowly, with a few bland items, so you don't get overwhelmed," Shen Qingqiu teases him. "I have the advantage here, it seems. I grew up in a very cosmopolitan city, we had imports from all over -- oh my! What are those?" He immediately proves himself mistaken when he drags Artemy over to a booth where the seller is offering thumb-sized fried dough balls, coated in a honey glaze.
"I've never had these before, although they look a bit like fried tangyuan...let's share a few," he suggests to Artemy, already handing a few brass over to the vendor.
Artemy eyes the new foodstuffs suspiciously, holding the plate they got from the vendor like the gentleman he is, before popping one into his mouth.
It's likely the most sugary sweet thing he's ever tried. It mostly just tastes entirely like honey and sugar to him. His face scrunches up in discomfort, he's really not used to that-
"That is... quite a lot." Artemy says politely, trying not to be rude.
"Too much for you?" Shen Qingqiu says sympathetically, hiding his laugh in a fold of his sleeve. "My mistake. You can pick out the next snack we try." He really does want this to be fun for Artemy too!
As for himself, he's more than happy to munch on fried dough and honey as they continue their walk. Licking his fingers clean, he innocently asks, "What do your people like to do in winter? They must have festivals and rites of their own, I've never heard of a culture that didn't."
"I suppose so." He gives a small chuckle, "I apologize, that must be mild compared to what you have tasted."
You better be careful, Qingqiu. Artemy will likely pick out something very salty!
"Ah, honestly, we celebrate... sort of. I do not know if celebrate is the word you would use for it. On the darkest day of winter we observe Suok, remember her place in our origin story of the world, sacrifice blood to her name in order to satiate her for another year..." He says all this as if it is quite normal and regular things to do, "It's nothing quite as cheery as this, honestly in comparison, it's rather dreary. No food cooked, no gifts exchanged, nothing like that."
Is that supposed to deter him? Shen Qingqiu would happily eat something salty if Artemy placed it in his hand -- or his mouth.
Shen Qingqiu nods, listening with genuine interest and no judgement. It's not impossible that he might put his foot in his mouth at some point, but any rudeness on his part is completely unintentional. A product of privilege, not conscious disrespect. "A rite of solemnity and respect, then," he says thoughtfully. "Those are important too. In some cultures they believe that wolves or a giant serpent are attempting to plunge the world into darkness, and perform rites to chase off the monsters or satiate them so the sun can return. Is your Suok a little similar?"
"I suppose, similar enough." He says, believing the tale he's saying to be superstition, a metaphor. Important to his culture, yes, but not a real tale of events that truly unfolded exactly as told. "It is said that Bos Turokh swallowed her to contain all the evils of the world, which allowed the universe to be created... I think most cultures likely have a similar enough story for one reason or another."
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Winter date with Artemy
no subject
Truer words have never been spoken by a man that has known what it is to scrape by. He isn't dressed nearly as nicely as him, of course, his coat is much warmer, more utilitarian in design, and plain brown with olive green pants and chunky winter boots. He's at least wearing a tan fuzzy Ushanka, because of course he must.
"I only fear I won't be much help. I might just be company rather than a helpful eye, as I said, but I will do my best to help regardless... I do also have a bit of shopping to do myself."
Not a whole lot, but he does want to see if they have a certain record perhaps.
no subject
"Just your company will be lovely," Shen Qingqiu affectionately insists. "Although I really suspect you're doing yourself too little credit, my friend." If nothing else, Shen Qingqiu thinks sneakily, he can keep an eye on Artemy's reactions to figure out what kind of thing he'd appreciate most in a gift, and sneak back to purchase it later.
"If nothing else, I've heard the food's good," he says, putting a hand on Artemy's arm. "And the drinks. Have you ever had hot cocoa?"
no subject
In the back of his head, he hopes it isn't too expensive as he walks along. He'll have to afford two cups after all.
Artemy wonders what sort of gifts Shen Qingqiu would like, perhaps a comb for all that hair...? The Haruspex suddenly realizes he is way in over his head with all of this.
no subject
"If you like sweets, then you'll like this," Shen Qingqiu remarks cheerfully, as the two of them begin a leisurely stroll down the market's central aisle, pausing to examine booths full of wooden carvings, handicrafts, and winter clothes. "It's funny how many winter celebrations seem to revolve around eating sweets, isn't it?"
no subject
Everything is very colorful and cheerful, mostly in reds and greens, it's all rather eye catching. He can see why everyone's in such good spirits. "I have heard of Christmas, but it wasn't much celebrated. Something about the Capital discouraging pagan holidays." Artemy says this with a smirk, knowing his own religion would be considered one of these pagan religions, "I also haven't eaten many sweets. Such things aren't imported in or traded around very often and are very expensive even in the Capital."
And no, he hasn't been experimenting much with food since coming to Pumpkin Hollow, truthfully. It's a meat and meat diet for my boy over here.
no subject
"I've never had these before, although they look a bit like fried tangyuan...let's share a few," he suggests to Artemy, already handing a few brass over to the vendor.
no subject
It's likely the most sugary sweet thing he's ever tried. It mostly just tastes entirely like honey and sugar to him. His face scrunches up in discomfort, he's really not used to that-
"That is... quite a lot." Artemy says politely, trying not to be rude.
no subject
As for himself, he's more than happy to munch on fried dough and honey as they continue their walk. Licking his fingers clean, he innocently asks, "What do your people like to do in winter? They must have festivals and rites of their own, I've never heard of a culture that didn't."
no subject
You better be careful, Qingqiu. Artemy will likely pick out something very salty!
"Ah, honestly, we celebrate... sort of. I do not know if celebrate is the word you would use for it. On the darkest day of winter we observe Suok, remember her place in our origin story of the world, sacrifice blood to her name in order to satiate her for another year..." He says all this as if it is quite normal and regular things to do, "It's nothing quite as cheery as this, honestly in comparison, it's rather dreary. No food cooked, no gifts exchanged, nothing like that."
no subject
Shen Qingqiu nods, listening with genuine interest and no judgement. It's not impossible that he might put his foot in his mouth at some point, but any rudeness on his part is completely unintentional. A product of privilege, not conscious disrespect. "A rite of solemnity and respect, then," he says thoughtfully. "Those are important too. In some cultures they believe that wolves or a giant serpent are attempting to plunge the world into darkness, and perform rites to chase off the monsters or satiate them so the sun can return. Is your Suok a little similar?"
no subject
I'm putting you in gay baby jail, Drake."I suppose, similar enough." He says, believing the tale he's saying to be superstition, a metaphor. Important to his culture, yes, but not a real tale of events that truly unfolded exactly as told. "It is said that Bos Turokh swallowed her to contain all the evils of the world, which allowed the universe to be created... I think most cultures likely have a similar enough story for one reason or another."