originalshen

[ There are some conversations you don't have over text, and having a talk about your boyfriend (?) leaving that has the chance to turn very emotional is one of those conversations. Airplane would very much like to have this conversations with Cucumber Bro, and winds up making the brilliant decision to visit without checking ahead of time.

... To whatever credit he deserves, he wasn't actually planning on visiting. He mostly found himself in the area and figured now was as good a time as any.

Which means he's knocking on the door to the Shen pair's living space, then sliding it partially open before there's any answer. ]

Shen-shixiong? ... Other Shen-shixiong?

[ He at least knows enough to be careful to make sure none of the animals slip out. What is with you two and hoarding pets, anyway?! ]

[They didn't choose to hoard pets, okay? The pets multiplied on their own!!

Also rather than any Shens, what greets Shang Qinghua upon entry are one dog, an excitedly ~~barking~~ meowing cat, a couple other curious felines poking their head outs from around various corners before disappearing again, and...can he even tell these cats apart, because there's an extra cat sauntering over like it owns the place and sitting down just far enough to be considered polite social distancing as it narrows its eyes like it's judging him for coming in without invitation.

Okay so most cats act like they own the place, but still.]

[ It is in fact completely normal cat behavior, so Shang Qinghua thinks nothing strange of it.

Instead he hesitantly steps inside, still looking around as if expecting one or both of the owners to appear. But they don't obviously, so he temporarily redirects his attention to the dog and dog-like cat, briefly giving each of them some attention in the hopes of getting them to calm down so he isn't being harassed too much.

Well, might as well wait until Cucumber Bro returns. That shouldn't take too long, right?

He settles himself at the table and spends a little while looking around, his gaze eventually landing on that extra cat again. Is he misremembering, or is this a new one? How many pets to these two plan to take in, seriously?! ]

[The dog(s) do, in fact, calm down! They know him, after all, so it's not like he's an actual enemy they need to (somehow) scare away.

Jiu kinda wishes they did think Shang Qinghua was an enemy to scare away, but he's not the one in charge of dog training in this house, so. More importantly! Does the man seriously think it's acceptable to waltz on into someone else's home and sit down like he lives here? Because it's not! It's absolutely not!!

Keeping in line with his current appearance though, the cat doesn't utter a word, instead flicking his ears back and emitting a low growl. His cat form has a surprisingly cute meow despite who he is, but surely a growl can still get his point across, right? His point being that he wants you Out, thanks. Bingbing actually lets out a nervous whine or two at his threat, but otherwise none of the animals pay any attention to it.]

[ Well, that definitely has his attention. Now he's rather certain this isn't a cat that they had already, especially if it's not used to him.

Luckily (?), he isn't afraid of a cat! There's plenty to be scared of in this world, but a house cat isn't that frightening, all things considered!

So Shang Qinghua slowly reaches out and holds out his hand to allow this newcomer to approach and sniff him. The first step to befriending a cat is to let it come to you at its own pace! He's dealt with enough of these cats to understand the basics! ]

[Ah, the proffered hand of peace. He knows this gesture.

He also doesn't care to accept it.

Shen Qingqiu "cautiously" leans forward, makes a show of contemplating the idea of sniffing, and...bites. Hard. Take that, rat.]

Ow!!

[ Bad kitty! Bad kitty!! Shang Qinghua yelps and jerks his hand back, staring at the cat with an expression that is equal parts affronted and terrified.

So much for not being scared of a house cat. ]

What was that for?! I didn't do anything!

Does unlawful intrusion count as nothing nowadays? I'm afraid I wasn't aware.

[So much for pretending he's just a normal cat.

Also if Shang Qinghua isn't careful one of the other cats might attempt to climb up his back right around now.]

WTF, it can talk?!

[ You'd think he would be more used to this sort of thing in a world where people can turn into animals on a monthly basis... but he is not.

He is, however, distracted from his train of thought by the sudden presence of claws on his back. Shang Qinghua yelps and ducks forward, but that just makes the cat dig in its claws harder, then settle comfortably on top of the curve of his back once he stops moving.

It takes him a few moments, and then suddenly he feels his whole body go cold. Wait, this is--this isn't--he and Cucumber Bro might not have the best relationship, but surely the man wouldn't be so cruel as to fake being a cat only to bite him! No, that's a level of terrible that suits a certain someone else much better! Which means... ]

Shen... shixiong?!

[ Oh no. Oh no. He just said "WTF" in front of the original Shen Qingqiu!

No, wait, it's alright! He's been living in this place for months! He's picked up on some of the local slang! Never mind that he pulled it out when he was suddenly freaked out; this is perfectly reasonable! ]

I wasn't going to do anything. I was going to sit here until one of you--ow, ow!! Ah, I get it! I'm sorry!

[ He cuts off as his attempts to straighten up are met with the cat on his back digging its claws in in a valiant effort to stay on the surface suddenly moving under it, forcing Shang Qinghua to remain hunched over, lest they dig even deeper. ]

[What kind of a phrase is WTF supposed to be, is that something people say these days? Leave it to Shang-shidi to pick up new swear words...Jiu carefully grooms his claws, eyes not straying from the current only human in the room.

The shoulder cat, meanwhile, is (for the moment) happy to focus on staying balanced on its new perch. Good job Shagua, keep him on his knees.]

Well, one of us is here. Consider remembering the existence of those wonderfully useful communicators which everyone here owns, next time. In case you didn't know, they can be used to tell someone if you intend to visit.

Ah, yes, well... I realized I was nearby, and at that point, it seemed a little excessive to ask, instead of just coming by and finding out in person...

I, ah, I can't say I was expecting one of you to be a cat.

[ Or at least, not a full cat. ]

... Do you know when Other Shen-shixiong intends to return?

You may have noticed that this world does not lend itself to predictability.

[In other words, he didn't expect to be in this situation himself, as used as he is to occasional felinity by now.]

As for my double...if luck is on his side, he'll be returning after you leave. Was there any particular reason you wished to see him, or was this to be just a simple visit between friends?

I, ah... I had some things I wished to discuss with him. It isn't the sort of conversation that felt suitable for anything other than meeting face to face.

[ Please don't ask for more details. Does the original Shen Qingqiu have enough of a heart that he'd understand getting upset about a partner leaving?

... Would he make judgments that said partner is a man? (At least he's not a demon too!) ]

.......

[Those dots extend for a good long while before, finally, the cat...looks away.]

Wait for him if you wish. But if you do, I don't want to see you stepping too far from this room in the interim.

[He might not know what the problem is, but it isn't as if he's totally heartless, or clueless, or whatever it is he would need to be lacking to reject the man his private discussion.

Also the shoulder cat is now attempting to lick Shang Qinghua's ear.]

[ The extended dots have him squirming... but not too squirming! He doesn't want more claws!

He quietly lets out the breath he didn't realize he'd been holding at Shen Qingqiu's answer, then gives a nod. ]

Understood. I have no plans to wait for him anywhere other--ow!

[ One distinct property of cats' tongues is that they are approximately equivalent to sandpaper. One distinct property of human ears is that they are not particularly hardy. This is not a good mix.

Shang Qinghua ducks his head in surprise and pain, and then tries to gently encourage the cat to jump down from its perch, which does not seem to work. So instead he grudgingly covers his ear to let the cat lick that instead. It's still unpleasant, but at least it doesn't hurt. ]

Ah, is there... a trick to handling this one...?

[ Asking the original Shen Qingqiu for help seems very unlikely to be productive, but he won't know until he tries. Not like he has a better option at the moment... ]

[Now that negotiations(?) have concluded, Shen Qingqiu gets up and starts stalking away as if he couldn't care less what Shang Qinghua does after this--though he doesn't stray too far, either, simply heading over to climb the nearby cat tower.

He does throw out a reply though, over his metaphorical shoulder.] Shagua lives true to his name, I'm afraid. You could simply remove him if he makes you uncomfortable, though he's likely to climb back up again before long.

[The cat is now trying to bite that hand.]

Shagua...

[ What a mean name!

... But also why are you biting?! Shang Qinghua gives another yelp, and after a moment of debating, tentatively reaches out and tries to pluck the cat from his shoulder. Despite having to untangle his claws from his robes, the process goes relatively well, and Shang Qinghua places him down on the floor.

Stay. Please. ]

Has he not told you the animals' names? You certainly come here often enough to have learned them.

[It's a perfectly good name for a perfectly stupid cat, okay? Also it does in fact spare Shang Qinghua once it's set down, choosing this moment to roll over and meow.]

He's told me, ah... a few.

[ Just the ones that are named after people though. Or some of the ones? He doesn't know if there are others that Cucumber Bro just hasn't bothered to mention. It's not like he's an animal sort of person, and he's had other things on his mind most of the time when he's been here! ]

He might have told me all of them at one point or another, but if so, I've forgotten. They usually don't bother with me, so it's not as if I pay most of them much mind...

[ Why would they, when the two Shens are usually around when he is, giving them actual attention while Shang Qinghua is curled up wherever is most likely to avoid making the original Shen Qingqiu mad?!

After another glance towards Shagua, he takes out his device to message Cucumber Bro. Should he have done this earlier? Probably... ]

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sneaks in here pretending it's still june cordis

june cordis is whenever we want it to be

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