Hungry. [ Quietly finishing the sentence. Why does it seem, no matter where one may travel, there's no escaping this ? From the boy in the battered shrine to the young one back at Paradise Manor. All different people, trapped by various circumstances but affected the same way by the world. Disposable at worst and entertainment at best. It's sad really.
One would think that society would learn to grow and protect its most vulnerable, yet it never fails that when given the chance, most people simply don't care . Ruoye's grip goes limp from around the small ankle, before coiling back up, and taking its place on Xie Lian's forearm.
Breaking the boazi in two, releases a robust warm spicy fragrance into the air. The process is a bit messy, but he manages to keep most of the hearty filling inside with just a tiny bit dripping down his left hand. Gently extending his right hand forward offering the cleaner piece.] Here, take this, you can have more after you finish. [ His soft silvery voice is soothing and empathetic. He can't help but feel for the boy's plight, and even if it's the only food he's acquired in the last day, he simply can't watch the child go hungry.]
[The child freezes. Well, he was going to say 'looking for your money pouch' and get whatever punishment he had coming over and done with so he could scurry off and lick his wounds.
Pity works too, though. Sucker.
(As the child grows into adulthood, he'll be more inclined to see the injustice of it all, but as it stands now, all of this is simply normal for him. One does what they must to survive - that is how it is in the wild, and that is how it is among humans. At least the pickings were more abundant here in the heart of winter.)
He eyes the half of the baozi warily, skeptical of everything, even this apparent altruism before reaching with only the slightest hesitation to take it from Xie Lian's hand. Shockingly he doesn't just wolf it down, but rather stares seriously up at the other man.]
...Onii-san should eat the other half or he will go hungry.
[He says this because he has an acute sense of stranger danger and needs to be sure this sudden windfall isn't drugged, and definitely not because he feels a little bad for taking this kind person's food.]
[ With the growl he just heard explode from that stomach, absolutely not. Eyes close like moon crescents and a small smile appears. ]I won't go hungry, I ate before coming into town. This is just a leftover from lunch. [ Oh but how he wishes that statement was actually the truth. ] My favorite are the seafood filled ones with fresh salmon and the little[ mimicking someone picking a flower or blade of grass ] fresh pieces of ginger that they shape to look like hay. The garlic really helps enhance the natural flavors of the fish and it's great for reducing inflammation as well as ... [ stopping himself before he begins to make his own stomach start talking and bore this kid out of his mind about the benefits of specific vegetables all in the same breath. ]
Well, unfortunately the shop was out of them so I ended up with --[ eyebrows furrow and head tilts to the side ] wait what did I get?? [ Having got the bun as a form of payment in exchange for helping out the vendor, he really had no idea what he actually ended up with. The thought to check or ask never crossed his mind because food is food. Licking the fine trail of sauce that dripped down his hand causing his mouth to instantly salivate . ] Pork [ shaking his head ] that's definitely pork. It's very good too, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
[The child's expression barely changes more than a slight narrowing of the eyes, and yet the look he's giving Xie Lian can only be described as smug and accusatory.]
...Liar.
[And terrible at it too. Liars always love to talk, to say much more than needs to be said and this stranger just rambled a whole screed about salmon.
A perfunctory sniff of the bun doesn't yield any bitter scents that might indicate poison. The stranger was likely just putting on a brave face.
And if the child commits to memory that Xie Lian likes salmon bao with garlic and ginger the best, that's nobody's business but his own.]
Eat the other half. A city like this will swallow onii-san alive if he does not keep his strength up.
[As if a nine year old is one to talk. But then again, spring is right around the corner, and he knows how to make snares and nets, and soon he'll be feasting on plump hares, fat squirrels, drowsy fish and frogs, and fresh butterburr shoots. He knows how to survive - this stranger looks like a stiff wind could knock him over.]
[He wholeheartedly disagrees. Xie Lian did in fact eat before coming into town; it was just that it was two days ago. It's not a lie in his mind but more like a slight stretch. Being deceitful is not his intention but if the situation calls for it, he's not above resorting to white lies. Especially if the truth maybe more damaging then a small fabrication.
One eyebrow raises and his head quirks to the side at the accusatory statement] … What reason would I have to lie to you? [That childish expression may have aggravated him in his younger days, but at this point he's pretty used to all kinds of provocation. With the exception of a very irritating family member, most people, especially kids, can get away with quite a bit. ]
I can always get more. But I do appreciate your concern for me [ a polite smile ] however I can assure you, I'll be fine, besides your stomach sounds like it would appreciate it.
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CW Hungry Children
One would think that society would learn to grow and protect its most vulnerable, yet it never fails that when given the chance, most people simply don't care . Ruoye's grip goes limp from around the small ankle, before coiling back up, and taking its place on Xie Lian's forearm.
Breaking the boazi in two, releases a robust warm spicy fragrance into the air. The process is a bit messy, but he manages to keep most of the hearty filling inside with just a tiny bit dripping down his left hand. Gently extending his right hand forward offering the cleaner piece.] Here, take this, you can have more after you finish. [ His soft silvery voice is soothing and empathetic. He can't help but feel for the boy's plight, and even if it's the only food he's acquired in the last day, he simply can't watch the child go hungry.]
no subject
Pity works too, though. Sucker.
(As the child grows into adulthood, he'll be more inclined to see the injustice of it all, but as it stands now, all of this is simply normal for him. One does what they must to survive - that is how it is in the wild, and that is how it is among humans. At least the pickings were more abundant here in the heart of winter.)
He eyes the half of the baozi warily, skeptical of everything, even this apparent altruism before reaching with only the slightest hesitation to take it from Xie Lian's hand. Shockingly he doesn't just wolf it down, but rather stares seriously up at the other man.]
...Onii-san should eat the other half or he will go hungry.
[He says this because he has an acute sense of stranger danger and needs to be sure this sudden windfall isn't drugged, and definitely not because he feels a little bad for taking this kind person's food.]
no subject
Well, unfortunately the shop was out of them so I ended up with --[ eyebrows furrow and head tilts to the side ] wait what did I get?? [ Having got the bun as a form of payment in exchange for helping out the vendor, he really had no idea what he actually ended up with. The thought to check or ask never crossed his mind because food is food. Licking the fine trail of sauce that dripped down his hand causing his mouth to instantly salivate . ] Pork [ shaking his head ] that's definitely pork. It's very good too, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
no subject
...Liar.
[And terrible at it too. Liars always love to talk, to say much more than needs to be said and this stranger just rambled a whole screed about salmon.
A perfunctory sniff of the bun doesn't yield any bitter scents that might indicate poison. The stranger was likely just putting on a brave face.
And if the child commits to memory that Xie Lian likes salmon bao with garlic and ginger the best, that's nobody's business but his own.]Eat the other half. A city like this will swallow onii-san alive if he does not keep his strength up.
[As if a nine year old is one to talk. But then again, spring is right around the corner, and he knows how to make snares and nets, and soon he'll be feasting on plump hares, fat squirrels, drowsy fish and frogs, and fresh butterburr shoots. He knows how to survive - this stranger looks like a stiff wind could knock him over.]
no subject
white lies.Especially if the truth maybe more damaging then a small fabrication.One eyebrow raises and his head quirks to the side at the accusatory statement]
…
What reason would I have to lie to you?
[That childish expression may have aggravated him in his younger days, but at this point he's pretty used to all kinds of provocation. With the exception of a very irritating family member, most people, especially kids, can get away with quite a bit. ]
I can always get more. But I do appreciate your concern for me [ a polite smile ] however I can assure you, I'll be fine, besides your stomach sounds like it would appreciate it.