veardant | for liongeneral;

for liongeneral;

[ working for the pleasure houses on the luofu isn't a bad gig, to be perfectly honest. tighnari doesn't mind it. he wouldn't say it's his passion, but it pays the bills, and they allow him to care for the brothel's extensive gardens and greenhouses on his own, so he won't complain. it's not as if this will be his work for the rest of his life. but he's good at it, he enjoys it well enough, so tighnari is content.

he's also quite popular, much to his chagrin. foxians are very common on the loufu, but tighnari is unlike his fellows, a special breed, valuka shuna, more akin to foxes of the desert than foxes of the forests and plains. his ears are larger and taller, for releasing heat efficiently, and his fangs are longer as well. on his hands and feet he bears soft pink pads, and his ability to purr has made others interested in drawing the reaction from him. overall, he is not too different from other foxians, just different enough to be unusual.

at any rate, it's an exciting night at the pleasure district tonight. they say that someone esteemed is visiting, though no one is quite sure who - there are whispers that it's general jing yuan, but tighnari can't remember that man ever stopping in, so he's not convinced. nevertheless, when he's called to present himself for tonight's vip guest, he's ready.

standing in a line with his fellow courtesans of all shapes and sizes, tighnari waits, dressed in his finest clinging silks and gold jewelry, his tail and ears wrapped in chains that jingle softly when he moves. his green-brown eyes are lined in dark kohl, and he smells of flowers and warm fur, as well as something.. a little earthier as well. he's forgotten to clean the dirt out from beneath his fingernails tonight, a fact he has yet to notice. oops. at any rate, the curtains soon rustle as the vip is led inside of the foyer to make their choice.. tighnari tilts his head, his ears swiveling toward the sound of assured footsteps. who will it be, tonight? ]

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[ ah, so he does know teyvat. somehow, just knowing that lifts tighnari's heart, that there's someone he can talk with that remembers, that knows. after all, tighnari had been the only one to leave teyvat behind that day. even still, tighnari tenses almost imperceptibly, his shoulders tightening a little. ]

I did, yes.

[ and he offers nothing further than that. not freely, at least. ]

I'm not doing this against my will, if you're worried about that. While this might not be my ideal profession, I do enjoy it, and I'm good at it. I'm offered many freedoms.

[ freedoms, and privileges. this is the most renown of the luofu's pleasure houses, after all, and tighnari is one of its most esteemed courtesans. he has his padded fingers in quite a few pies, as it were. ]

[That is what he's worried about but his expression does not change. The sleepy gaze becomes razor focused, seeking out small details of the Foxian. He tenses which is worthy of note but there is enough evidence that what he's being told is true enough. Perhaps some unpleasant conditions or contracts have been signed but nothing criminal... Or that is the assumption he can make at present.

He would never question why anyone would work in a pleasure house. It must bring in quite a decent amount of coin if you know how to please both physically and generally. Someone unique enough like Tighnari would do quite well for himself. So he does not press. Far be it from him to question why someone would take up a profession that wasn't their ideal.

After all, being one of the Arbiter Generals was not his ideal career choice either.]

That's good to hear. I'd have been quite cross at my fellow Generals if they were roaming the pleasure district streets of my Luofu and adding to the suffering of those that do not wish to be in their present positions. It goes without saying but I am unfamiliar with this area of the Luofu. This was not a place I roamed very often and even in my youth... All I was keen to do was get a peek. [He chuckles a little.] Had I been caught my master would have turned me into a little ice sculpture for her garden...

[ tighnari can feel it - that heavy gaze. jing yuan may be a kind man with a handsome smile and a penchant for naps, but it can't be forgotten that he is a powerful general, sharp and perceptive in ways that most are not, and being surveyed by him so keenly feels like being stripped of his skin.

even still, tighnari does not shy away from it, but looks boldly back into jing yuan's eyes, open and honest. tighnari might not be offering everything, but he hasn't lied, and does not plan to. ]

A peek, hmm?

[ tighnari can't help but smile at that, one ear giving an idle flick. ]

Was the young Jing Yuan successful in his espionage?

[The sharp gaze melts away in an instant. The corners of his eye crinkling with a laugh, one that he brings his hand up to muffle a bit.]

I was not... I was friends with a short life prodigy blacksmith at the time. We were the same size but I was older by a handful of years. He was not nearly as invested or amused by my mission and dragged me back before I got us both in trouble. But really... It would have been mostly myself in hot water. Both from my predecessor, General Teng Xiao, and my master.

[In matters of the High Cloud Quintet, Jing Yuan speaks of it as if it was a fanciful fairy tale. Or that he was a distant part of it though the records would clearly state otherwise as would the egregious amount of fiction written about the five. For those that are aware of the legendary group there are only so many people the few he talks about so vaguely could be.

The master would be Jingliu, a name forbidden being spoken of on the Luofu due to her horrific crimes. And the Short Life blacksmith would be the prodigy Forge Master whose fate was presumed lost after the High Elder's betrayal. And though he's brought them subtly into conversation he is as quick to wave a hand over it.]

I don't have many exciting stories. I fear you don't become a General by getting into trouble and what got me the position have been told so frequently and far better than I ever could despite being there. [He gestures to the Foxian.] Tell me about this Sumaru of yours and how you came to find yourself aboard my Luofu.

[ he has a nice laugh, tighnari thinks. to be honest, he knows little about the generals and their history. it's not that he doesn't care or isn't interested - it's more that he's.. a bit cloistered, here. the courtesans rarely leave the brothel, and tighnari is no exception, but this establishment is enormous, filled with rolling gardens and sprawling baths and even a well stocked library. he wants for nothing here. ]

Somehow I think you have more exciting stories than you're letting on.

[ but he won't pry. jing yuan had specifically stated that he wanted to hear about tighnari, after all, so that's what he will discuss, even if the topic is slightly uncomfortable in some ways. with a hum, tighnari taps his padded fingers against his bare knee. ]

Sumeru is beautiful. Rainforest and vast desert, and a great city built into the divine tree. It's the land of Wisdom in Teyvat, and people come from across all seven nations to study at the Akademiya there. I was a student there as well, once. As for how I came to be here -

[ tighnari hesitates, pressing his lips together for a moment. ]

There were people dear to me.. family. They slipped through my fingers. Sumeru had nothing more for me than painful memories, so when the opportunity to leave it all behind fell into my hands, I took it. [ a thin smile. ] Besides, I couldn't resist the chance to see the flora and fungi of foreign worlds.

[He shakes his head at that remark, denying any fascinating stories on his end. Nothing worth telling…

But for now he listens with half-lidded eyes and nods along to what he hears. The end resonates deeply… People slipping through your fingers and being powerless to stop the bleeding of their existence from your life. Had things been different he’d have done the same. He’d have flown far from this place and sought out something else.

But he stayed. He stayed because there was a life that needed him. An unspoken promise to none but himself but he would see it done. It was the only thing he could do in the wake of that horrible never ending tragedy.]

Not many get the opportunity to leave the world they knew behind. That you boarded the Luofu when you did… another chance may never have come your way. It’s quite a fortuitous moment…

Do you have any regrets about leaving your homeland?

[He won’t prod at this old wound any longer than necessary. But he is curious about this one particular thing.]

Sliding the knife so delicately between my ribs, aren't you?

[ perhaps that's a bold thing to say to an arbiter-general, but tighnari is a bold creature, and jing yuan had wanted to be treated like any other man, so tighnari will do exactly that. leaning his chin against his knuckles, his eyes grow distant as he thinks. ]

Mm.. yes, I do. I think it would be impossible not to.

[ sumeru was his home, after all. the luofu is his home now, and he won't leave it behind, but that does not mean that he is without regret entirely. ]

I miss it, sometimes. Avidya forest was more beautiful than any garden the Luofu might produce, if you'll pardon my saying so. And.. I would like to visit their graves. To talk to them again.

[He offers a wry smile at that comment.]

I don't intend to twist it, don't worry.

[But the smile fades as he is told the tale. There are no graves on the Luofu. The ship could not contain the loss of life that happens during war times. Not to mention the risk in keeping dead bodies in such an enclosed space. A large one but enclosed all the same. That said... There are no markers for those he's lost. Those that have slipped away and yet remain out there in the stars. Chasing each other. Killing each other. He knows not what they are currently up to.

It's best if he never learns.]

I made a decision long ago to remain here. Though I did wonder if it would have been easier to leave. But it seems there's an ache no matter where you go or what you decide to do.

[ one who has lived as long as jing yuan, and seen so much war, surely must have many deep and lasting scars. despite his kind smile, tighnari can see the shadows behind his eyes, knows that there are a hundred stories there, a hundred wounds. neither of them will ever see their dearest ones again; it's a deep ache that tighnari knows well, one that sinks right into the bones and settles into the marrow, unrelenting.

reaching out, he closes one soft hand over jing yuan's, squeezing gently. ]

You know.. it's supposed to be my job to make you feel good, not to open old wounds. Unless that's something you're into.

[ tighnari chuckles, his padded thumb smoothing over jing yuan's knuckles, one by one. ]

The memories are painful, but.. I will hold onto them still. It's all we have left of them, isn't it?

Time cannot be reversed and broken blades cannot be mended...

[The words he speaks are soft, gaze fallen onto the hand upon is own, fingers unable to help the small twitch that he experiences at the unbearably gentle contact.

His cheek continues to rest upon his palm, gaze hooded and expression both thoughtful yet sad. But eventually those eyes lift to meet Tighnari's.]

Far be it from me to keep you from your work... [There's a pause between this and the next thing he says. It just requires some thought. A weighing of his moral principles against loneliness.] You may touch... But no penetration. That's my stipulation at present.

I understand. My work only involves making you feel good, in whatever ways you prefer.

[ sex, or no sex. still, it's also tighnari's job to read his partners, to try to deduce and understand what they want without needing to ask, to keep up appearances, and the soft, gauzy impression that everything is better when they are here. people come here to forget their woes, to be soothed.. though sometimes talking about pain is the only balm that cures. jing yuan is a little more difficult for tighnari to get a read on, for him to confidently guess what might make the general feel good. after all, most patrons are here for one thing, and one thing alone.

that deep sadness in his voice.. it jerks at tighnari's heart. this man has seen loss, has endured more than tighnari can guess at. after a quiet pause, he shifts nearer, silk whispering against silk as he moves. you may touch.

and so he does. lifting his hand away from jing yuan's, he instead brings it up to his face, cupping his jaw, smoothing his thumb over the crest of the general's cheek. their eyes meet, and he leans to touch their brows together, their noses nudging, his voice dropped to a soft whisper. ]

Do you want to forget, for a little while?

[The General's eyes flutter closed and he leans into that hand that's touched his cheek. The intake of his breath is sharp and the exhale is a little stuttering. Like if he wasn't careful more would have slipped from the cracks of his heart.

The touch is foreign yet deeply needed and desired.]

Forget... [He muses, a small sad smile tugging at his lips. Of five names three must pay the price. His name is not one of them. A whispered lie in his ear.] My price is to remember.

But perhaps for a few moments it would be alright to forget, hm?

[He nuzzles into the hand on his cheek eyes falling closed once more.]

[ tighnari, for all he is pragmatic and matter-of-fact, is a very kind man, capable of great empathy. he sees the weight on jing yuan's shoulders, he feels it, and perhaps this is one of the many reasons that he is good at what he does - he has this uncanny ability to make people feel seen and heard, cared for. ]

Allow yourself to rest, for a little while.

[ he does not know the general's past, does not know what it is that brings him such pain, and for all tighnari knows, he may be a terrible man capable of terrible things.. but the foxian's sharp instincts suggest to him that there is far more to jing yuan than meets the eye, that his damaged heart is warm, and kind.

with a soft sigh, tighnari leans in, using his hand to draw jing yuan's face in close so he can press a warm and yielding kiss to his lips. tighnari tends to be a demanding lover, but right now he is soft, shifting in close, his hand dropping from the general's face to rest against his chest now, gold ornaments ringing quietly as he tilts his head, and parts his lips. his free hand sifts into that thick mane of pale hair, sinking deep. ]

[The intention, upon being dragged here, was not to do anything. He was not particularly interested in his old age of being physical not to mention the risks of doing anything in a pleasure house, considering his position. With the other Generals boasting of their destination and even loudly proclaiming their pick for him... there was just a lot of risks.

Were it truly so dire he's sure the Master Diviner would have forewarned him of his imminent demise in the pleasure district. All the same it was best to be cautious. How quickly the walls forged from hundreds of years of hardship crumble at the prospect of company. Perhaps also due to everyone within the other rooms enjoying themselves. There's the scent of incense within the halls but it doesn't completely cover up the more obvious scent of sex.

Thus there is an aching longing for some sort of connection. Even if the thought of doing something too physical at this hour makes his joints ache. That first touch against his cheek feels like something shattered deep within him. Just an ache that is on the cusp of finally feeling some sort of balm. A salve to ease the hundreds of years of being alone... Even if it is but a temporary relief. Not more than a couple of hours... The real concern is having to go back to the way things are supposed to be outside of these walls.

Thankfully the raging thoughts come to a necessary halt at the feel of lips upon his own. It causes every muscle in his body to go rigid for a moment. Ah... he probably should have declined this sort of affection as well but... It's very gentle and warm. It coaxes him into it with ease. It gives way to parted lips that move against Tighnari's with what can only be described as youthful inexperience. Ill fitting for a man in the twilight of his years, the risk of mara like thorns around his throat but a truth all the same. The way his hands hover over the courtesan, not yet touching, with uncertainty rolling off of him like gentle waves.]

[ the tension that runs through the general's body when they kiss is not lost on him, but it takes only a few moments more for jing yuan to relax into it, and tighnari breathes a soft, gentle hum, equal parts encouraging and soothing. he doesn't want to push for too much. jing yuan is in clear need of the comfort of companionship, but something else binds him - respect? duty? self-control?

tighnari doesn't know, but he does know how to follow cues, how to read body language, and jing yuan isn't pulling away. that's more than enough, for now. their lips part, and tighnari exhales in a warm gust, before both of his hands take jing yuan's hovering ones. ]

You can touch me.

[ he says, while drawing the general's arms around his body, urging him to hold to him. ]

I want you to touch me.

[ because it's so very clear that this man is painfully lonely, and in ways that tighnari can relate to, ways that make him feel like he's in like company. jing yuan's presence is comforting in a way that surprises tighnari - most men in positions of power do not behave like this. their eyes meet, tighnari's expression earnest, both hands now slipping into jing yuan's hair. perhaps tighnari can only offer him this one night, but these hours until morning can be a mercy, if jing yuan will allow himself the freedom to bask in the healing balm of tighnari's companionship. ]

Just hold me.

[It all seems to take some gentle coaxing, as one would with a hesitant cat that's weary of the hand that offers pets but desires it all the same.

He's not exactly pliable as Tighnari positions his arms but he does move. Slow and hesitant but eventually he gets there. Rough hands wrapping around the courtesan's slender waist, tugging him a little closer, hinting at the want of bodies pressed together but not yet taking it that far.

The hands in his hair is like a short circuit to higher thinking. Now with both hands in the fluffy tresses a sound escapes the General. A soft keen followed by a fully body tremble. Jing Yuan offers the slightest tilt of his head, as if he can somehow subtly encourage more of that. It wasn't even a tug or a pull in all that hair... Just the sensation of fingers carding through through was enough for the old life long species. And the first truly positive reaction thus far.]

[ ah, there it is. there's the opening tighnari had been waiting for.

jing yuan seems too controlled yet to pull him in, so tighnari takes that initiative and closes the rest of the distance between them, not quite settling himself into the general's lap, but surely nearly there. their bodies press close, and jing yuan will find that tighnari is soft and yielding, warm, smelling of flowers and the musk of clean fur, of crisp rainwater on a broad leaf.

tighnari's hands continue to work, and he turns his head to press his cheek to jing yuan's, a low, soft purr beginning to roll in his chest and throat. ]

I'm here.

[ he says quietly, and continues to work his slim fingers through that thick mane of hair, petting, rubbing, gently scraping his short claws along jing yuan's scalp in a way he hopes is warm and soothing. if he can offer jing yuan only one night of respite.. that is still something. ]

[He tugs Tighnari the rest of the way onto his lap, slotting them close together. The hands in his hair cause a new wave of trembles, especially when the nails scratch against his scalp. That sensation causes his very breathing to hitch and stutter.

It's the purr that catches him off guard completely. He'd forgotten that Foxians could purr. He'd forgotten that Baiheng could and did often. So did the High Elder... Wrapped up in that heavy scaled tail and sleeping beneath a moonlit sky after too many cups of rice wine. He'd only do it when he thought everyone was asleep but he remembers waking up to it... The steady pleased rhythm as the false sky cycled into dawn.

Such an incredibly long time ago...

What's not familiar in these memories is the gentle jingle of all the accessories Tighnari wears. They distort the memories with their calming melody which is good. The promise was for forgetting. Not remembering... He grinds the courtesan into his lap. He's not hard, that may take a moment, but the intention is clear enough especially because he thinks words will likely fail him at present.]

[ tighnari's breath rushes in a little surprise when he's pulled into the general's lap, but soon his mouth curves into a pleased smile. slowly but surely he's beginning to figure out what it is that jing yuan wants, what he likes, what he needs - it's going well. as well as he could have hoped for, all things considered.

one hand looses from jing yuan's hair so he can instead loop that arm around his shoulders, but the other remains where it is, carding through fluffy locks, gently scraping his scalp. he seems to enjoy having his hair and head rubbed, so that's what tighnari does, his short claws tracing paths from his hairline down to the nape of his neck, then back again. it's so soft, so thick, and the general is so warm.. humming softly, still purring, tighnari dips his head to drag kisses over the crest of jing yuan's cheek, to the shell of his ear.

he wants to whisper something there, to tell him how good he feels, how nice and warm he is, but he doesn't want to break the magic of the moment, doesn't want to distract him too much, or take him out of the moment. so instead he inhales deeply, catching jing yuan's sharp ozone scent just as his hips are tugged down against the general's lap. a soft, pleased sound leaves him, a little curl of heat in his gut, and tighnari lets his body roll forward from hips to shoulders, rubbing himself against jing yuan's lap and torso.

slow. he needs to go slow. to take his time.. ]

[The General has been a way from the front lines for some time. Steel and bloodshed no longer cling the scent of his person. It's a hint of plum blossoms and ginkgo leaves along with various other flowers that grow within his garden. Spider lilies and lotus... It mixes well with all the flowers he can smell on the courtesan. From one gardener at heart to another.

There is a flutter of lashes as the soothing scents wash over him along with the, quite literal, heavy petting. The General deeply loves the fingers carding through his hair. The tingling sensation it leaves behind and he mourns the loss of both hands running through the thick mane of hair. There are other sensations to focus on, of course. The lips against his cheek, against his ear. The purring that thrums against his chest and the rolling of Tighnari's hips against his lap. It's the perfect amount of physical pleasures to get lost in. And it's slow and gentle which is also preferred. The heat that starts to build is pleasant but is building up very gradually. A sort of slow deep burn.

Jing Yuan's breath is hot against Tighnari's skin and his lips graze over what skin he's allowed to touch at this angle. The cheek. That slender neck all decorated. There's a particularly good roll of the hips that even gives cause for a groan to escape him, deep and breathy against the soft skin.]

[ this might be tighnari's job, but jing yuan is a good partner, he's finding. he's handsome, of course, but many of his clients are good looking - it's the gentleness of his hands that tighnari likes, the warmth of him, the cadence of his voice and the care in his touch, the sweet scent of flowers and foliage he carries. he's a lovely man.

that soft, low groan is pleasing to tighnari's ears, and he murmurs softly, his hand gripping a little more tightly in that soft hair, though not tight enough to pull or hurt, only enough to show his interest. heat is beginning to pool in his belly, tempting and syrupy, and tighnari's pulse quickens beneath the gust of jing yuan's breath, and the pass of his warm lips. ]

You feel good..

[ he says softly, genuinely, as their hips move together, tighnari's voice lowering, rough around the edges. he feels warm all over, and there's a pleasant buzz beneath his skin as he lowers his head, kissing a slow, delicate line down jing yuan's jaw and neck, the hand behind him sliding down his back, fingers splayed against his shoulder blades. ]

Touch my back.

[ he asks, his tail curling. the silks that he wears are open at the back, baring the column of his spine all the way down to the base of his soft tail. that's where he wants those strong hands. ]

[It's a shame he's in his usual attire. Not all of it... Capes and the usual decorations have been left behind. But there are belts and buckles and leather that stop him from feeling the hand against his back to its fullest. He's not even terribly sure how undressed he wants to become. He's set a line in the sand of how far he's interested in going but a mind full of hazy lust becomes fickle indeed... He'd like to think he can hold onto some of his conviction but he finds that his lonely soul aches for this.

It's hard to deny himself a simple pleasure when he's been without for nearly the entirety of his long life.

He'll have to see where the night takes him.

Jing Yuan lets out a hum, arms still draped loosely around those hips, at the request. Command? He's uncertain.]

My hands may be too rough for your soft skin.

[He says the words softly against the courtesan's skin, sincerity in his words. Hands that have known and bled from years upon years of sword practice and combat. He still doesn't wear proper gloves when wielding Starfall Reverie. They are calloused and rough to the touch, unpleasant and unfit for soft lovers no matter how temporary they are.]

Like a civilian trying to touch a priceless art piece... Sometimes one isn't meant to touch the truly beautiful.

[ of course he would say such a thing - tighnari is slowly learning what this man is like, and jing yuan's behavior is making sense, is coming together like pieces of a puzzle in tighnari's mind. he's painting the picture of who jing yuan is with the brush of his perception. ]

I'm no piece of art.

[ tighnari says, with the coil of a smile curling in his voice. he sits back a little to he can look into the general's face, into his eyes, both hands cupping his jaw. ]

Don't let these pretty ornaments and fine silks fool you. Before you were here, my hands were deep in dirt. I'm always in trouble for tracking mud into the halls. Sometimes I snort in my sleep.

[ his smile broadens, and tighnari drops his hands to take one of jing yuan's, lifting it upward to press kisses to his knuckles, one by one. his thumbs slide over the rough, callused palms, touching gently, but firmly. these hands tell a story of strength and stamina, of discipline. he wants to feel them against his skin. he wants jing yuan to remember what it is like to touch someone in gentle warmth, someone warm and willing. ]

Please?

[Jing Yuan cants his head at these words, bangs shifting in and out of his vision which each little movement. His lips curl into the notable catlike smile and he gives a shake of the head at those words.]

That still sounds like art to me.

[If there's more to be said will remain a mystery. He silences himself at the kiss to his knuckles. Instead he tilts his chin up, watching each graze of lips against his hand. His expression is impassive but eventually he has to lower his head head some, hair falling into his face but not enough to hide the slightest dusting of pink on his cheeks. It's a gesture so pure that it's hard to not be moved by it.]

But I can hardly say no to such a plea... As you wish, Tighnari.

[ tighnari chuckles. what sort of art do you enjoy, jing yuan? but he appreciates the vote of confidence nonetheless, and appreciates his assent even more. tighnari wants to be touched just as much as he wants to do the touching.

tighnari takes another few minutes to nudge his nose and mouth along jing yuan's knuckles before he lifts his head again, and pulls the general's hand back behind him, guiding him to settle it against the bare skin found where the silk parts. humming softly, tighnari closes his eyes again, bunting their foreheads together as he slides his hands back into jing yuan's hair - a little reward for his good behavior, as it's more than clear to him that the general enjoys having his head tended to.

so he will move back to that, stroking both hands through his hair, scratching lightly at his scalp, behind his ears and along the nape of his neck. and all the while his body is moving, rocking slowly in jing yuan's lap, feeling the irresistible warmth of his body through his clothing, encouraging him to touch, to feel, to lose himself in the space between them. ]

That's better..

[ he murmurs, his mouth curving into a smile as it brushes jing yuan's cheek. ]

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