[ He's sure both Sousuke and Hamaji would have made the tea even better, but he's been doing this on his own for months, and it's paid off. He smiles, not saying anything, but that's his visible pleasure over having made something acceptable when he's been feeling rather alone.
He sat in the chair to Shi Qingxuan's right on prompting, holding his own tea but not taking a sip. ]
I can always make more, too. You should see how Sousuke brews tea, or Hamaji... they're both way better at it than I am.
[ It's sad, missing them right now especially, but not mentioning their names is so much worse for his heart. ]
But I like how you brew tea, too. It isn't as easy as people think to brew tea well. Tea is finicky.
[ He says that, but he can also feel the longing beneath his words. If Shino weren't someone so close, he wouldn't pry into it, but they're beyond politely letting these things pass.
[ He blinks, pulled out of his own thoughts with a frown. He shakes his head, sitting back and leaving his tea resting on the table. ]
No, they're my family. Sousuke's my younger... older brother, and Hamaji my younger sister. My dad took them in when I was growing up. Sousuke's mom didn't make it, but Hamaji was all alone before then.
[ No mention of his father beyond that, but he recalls him now; a man sitting on the floor of his office with his scrolls and books and the case where Murasame had sat, a dark part of even his youngest memories. A sword with its own life was something he'd been taught to hold healthy fear for and awe of, none of it meant to curry good feeling. ]
[ His younger (?) siblings, then. Shi Qingxuan nods, smiling. Not saying more on his father doesn't cross Shi Qingxuan's mind; this is about Shino's siblings, after all. (And, less consciously, he hasn't thought of his own parents enough in centuries to think there's anything strange about Shino focusing on his siblings.) More so, he thinks, that sounds like quite an assortment...but given what he knows of Shino's childhood, maybe that's not unusual. ]
So Shino's in the middle! You seem like someone with siblings; I'm not surprised at all. Even of you aren't related by blood, you've still known each other since you were young.
[ It's also nice and easy to talk about things like this... Taking a sip of his tea, he lightly continues: ]
What are they like? Did they usually take care of the cooking or just the tea?
[ He's truly an only child as far as he's aware, when it comes to blood, but adopted siblings are siblings, and that's that. There's no difference to him. He's glad Qingxuan doesn't make it a point that they're not blood related, as it better reflects his own opinions on the matter. ]
Mm, what are they like... Hamaji is always researching and learning more when it comes to medicine, or things like it. She's frankly frightening sometimes—did you know she ordered books on poisons?! I had to deliver those to her at her dorm, what the heck!—but she's dedicated to her dream of becoming a doctor, and she looks to traditional medicine and stuff out of further West, too.
[ He sounds proud, and resigned: ]
Some of what she comes up with tastes horrible, but the ingredients are all healthy, so... you learn to endure it.
[ Particularly when it's because she wants to be helping your health, knows how you'd grown up and died, knows that if it weren't for the demon you're joined with, you wouldn't have lived to see eighteen even without the murder and burning. ]
Sousuke can do everything. It's unfair, really, and annoying! The kids respect him whenever he's teaching, he cooks, he bakes, he helps with services at the church if he's asked, he's tall... If there's anything he puts his mind to, he can do it better than most can. Really, they're both like that, you know? Only Hamaji has a much stronger personality, she speaks more of what she thinks, and probably can weather more than either of the rest of us. Not that she ever should, but... she probably can.
[ To Shino, they're his siblings, and that's all that matters in terms of their bonds. Shi Qingxuan has no reason to say anything contrary.
And also, it's nice hearing about them. The feelings Shino has for his siblings wrap Shi Qingxuan in a warmth that he can't help but indulge in. His tail sways off the chair. ]
Medicine usually doesn't taste good, but if she's your younger sister, then she's very devoted and hardworking for her age. Wanting to be a doctor and make sure you stay healthy is very noble.
[ She sounds like a good person... He can imagine her, a strong, studious, and maybe eccentric little sister who loves her brothers. And an older brother who's tall and talented and respectable. The fond smile on Shi Qingxuan's face isn't going anywhere. Really, they sound nice... ]
Sousuke is your older brother, so it's only natural that he's taller and skilled with many things. Older siblings should definitely be like that.
[ His tail swishes back up onto his lap. ]
Though, I think you're strong, talented, and caring, too. You three take after each other.
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no subject
He sat in the chair to Shi Qingxuan's right on prompting, holding his own tea but not taking a sip. ]
I can always make more, too. You should see how Sousuke brews tea, or Hamaji... they're both way better at it than I am.
[ It's sad, missing them right now especially, but not mentioning their names is so much worse for his heart. ]
no subject
[ He says that, but he can also feel the longing beneath his words. If Shino weren't someone so close, he wouldn't pry into it, but they're beyond politely letting these things pass.
Shi Qingxuan lets his tea sit in his hands. ]
Are Sousuke and Hamaji your friends from home?
no subject
[ He blinks, pulled out of his own thoughts with a frown. He shakes his head, sitting back and leaving his tea resting on the table. ]
No, they're my family. Sousuke's my younger... older brother, and Hamaji my younger sister. My dad took them in when I was growing up. Sousuke's mom didn't make it, but Hamaji was all alone before then.
[ No mention of his father beyond that, but he recalls him now; a man sitting on the floor of his office with his scrolls and books and the case where Murasame had sat, a dark part of even his youngest memories. A sword with its own life was something he'd been taught to hold healthy fear for and awe of, none of it meant to curry good feeling. ]
no subject
So Shino's in the middle! You seem like someone with siblings; I'm not surprised at all. Even of you aren't related by blood, you've still known each other since you were young.
[ It's also nice and easy to talk about things like this... Taking a sip of his tea, he lightly continues: ]
What are they like? Did they usually take care of the cooking or just the tea?
no subject
Mm, what are they like... Hamaji is always researching and learning more when it comes to medicine, or things like it. She's frankly frightening sometimes—did you know she ordered books on poisons?! I had to deliver those to her at her dorm, what the heck!—but she's dedicated to her dream of becoming a doctor, and she looks to traditional medicine and stuff out of further West, too.
[ He sounds proud, and resigned: ]
Some of what she comes up with tastes horrible, but the ingredients are all healthy, so... you learn to endure it.
[ Particularly when it's because she wants to be helping your health, knows how you'd grown up and died, knows that if it weren't for the demon you're joined with, you wouldn't have lived to see eighteen even without the murder and burning. ]
Sousuke can do everything. It's unfair, really, and annoying! The kids respect him whenever he's teaching, he cooks, he bakes, he helps with services at the church if he's asked, he's tall... If there's anything he puts his mind to, he can do it better than most can. Really, they're both like that, you know? Only Hamaji has a much stronger personality, she speaks more of what she thinks, and probably can weather more than either of the rest of us. Not that she ever should, but... she probably can.
no subject
And also, it's nice hearing about them. The feelings Shino has for his siblings wrap Shi Qingxuan in a warmth that he can't help but indulge in. His tail sways off the chair. ]
Medicine usually doesn't taste good, but if she's your younger sister, then she's very devoted and hardworking for her age. Wanting to be a doctor and make sure you stay healthy is very noble.
[ She sounds like a good person... He can imagine her, a strong, studious, and maybe eccentric little sister who loves her brothers. And an older brother who's tall and talented and respectable. The fond smile on Shi Qingxuan's face isn't going anywhere. Really, they sound nice... ]
Sousuke is your older brother, so it's only natural that he's taller and skilled with many things. Older siblings should definitely be like that.
[ His tail swishes back up onto his lap. ]
Though, I think you're strong, talented, and caring, too. You three take after each other.