practicality | (no subject)

Well, I like it. [He holds out his hand] You can try, if you'd like!

[The corners of his lips quirked slightly as he tried to hide the grin at what Tian's reaction to being called 'Mr. Tian' would look like]

Tian-dono can be very scary, it's true. But not always.

[So far so good. Huo kept his voice both low, all shy and a bit scared (which was also a handy reason to avoid licking Daitou).]

But he's a dragon and you taste like candy now! [He raised huge eyes to Daito.] Did he try to eat you?

[There's a small, hastily stifled snicker at that before the perfect composure is back.]

Tian-dono doesn't eat humans. Just fish.

He doesn't? Really? [Huo stressed, every bit the child understandably intimidated by the big bad dragon. Then he appeared to get distracted by a new thought.]

So he should taste like fish. [He smiled a tiny smile.] Fish and candy together, phooey!

Well, I don't usually taste like grape candies - even if I eat a lot of them - so I don't think Tian-dono tastes like fish.

[He grins a little]

That does sound like a strange flavor, though.

Not for always. [Huo shook his head emphatically.] Only now because everything's funny now. [He gave a mischievous smile.] You should check! It isn't good to taste like fish and not even know!

[Oh small child, you amuse Dai with your cluelessness. That isn't actually cluelessness]

Hmm, I think I'll leave the choice of who checks if Tian-dono tastes like fish to him, ne?

[None the less, that grin is kind of betraying that he knows the answer already]

[Time to get even clueless-er then~

Huo knows better than to react to that grin. No idea what you're on about, friendly candyman.]

Yes. Because you have to lick him for that. Or kiss him. [And he makes the universal face of a little kid on the subject of kissing: EWW.]

[That gets an amused smirk out of him.]

It's not so bad - though you probably won't understand that until you're older.

[Secretly grown-up Huo does not like that smirk. But he has to stick to part.]

Maybe kissing a dragon isn't so bad, [he says doubtfully.]

A dragon like Tian-dono? I don't think that'd be bad at all.

[...Yup, still looking like a cat who got the cream.]

[That look has Huo in a bit of a predication. He'd very much like to believe that he is misunderstanding, but knows he isn't. He's understanding entirely too well.

He needs an innocent question. Quickly. Before that understanding shows on his face.]

What's 'dono' mean?

Hm? It's a title for someone of higher status than you. Like 'lord'.

Ohhh. [That... is intriguing, actually.] So Mr. Tian is a lord?

Mm - not quite. It's not an actual title. Just a level of respect.

[And coming from a samurai, placing Tian on a level with a daimyo is actually pretty high praise]

[That's not exactly the answer Huo was looking for, but it's getting somewhere.]

I'd respect a great big dragon too, even if he only eats fish...

[Daitou chuckles a little]

I suppose that's one reason to respect him, yes. But dragons are gods - benevolent ones. [Even if this one hides that under grumpyface] They should be respected for that as well.

[The little boy breaks into a huge grin at that. You may not know it, Daitou, but you have just caused him untold relief now that he knows that you know what you're getting into when you, ahem, have tea with Tian. It's about the only good turn the conversation has taken so far.]

Wow! [Now how to make that into a properly childlike reaction...] Can he do magic? Can he make me taste like candy too? [And a serious face.] Should I pray to him?

I think he can do magic - but probably not candy magic. That's just the Sphere. As for praying to him... [He pauses, looking thoughtful] I think you'd have to ask him that question, not me.

Aww... [So Tian has not shown Daitou any particular powers - if the other man was telling the truth, and why would he lie to a child? He fixed Daitou with an innocently fascinated stare.] Do you pray to him?

[Daitou flashed the child a small grin - a little sharper and bleaker than before, though]

I'm not the type to pray to gods. And he has never asked me to pray to him.

[A child would not understand, but Huo does, and it's another piece in the puzzle. It makes him wonder how much further he can push the matter.]

He must get sad if no one prays to him...

[That question gets a slightly sidelong glance. This is an awfully inquisitive small child...]

People still respect him, even if they don't pray to him.

[Sensitive to such cues in his, well, delicate position, Huo notices the glance and knows what it means. No more questions, at least not outright...]

If he's not sad then it's okay! [He flashes his most winning smile.] No one should be sad. Not scary dragons either!

[That gets a laugh and a warm grin from Daitou]

I agree.

(no subject)

QL - Huo you're a bastard

QL - it's in his job description~

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