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Ah. He's not told me much about you but that you were friends in one of the other worlds...

[ He's not sure how to make chit-chat well... He's also fidgeting awkwardly, not holding eye contact, wishing he had a teacup or something to keep in his hands. ]

Oh! And, uh— And that you like tea! My uncle likes tea, too.

[ He tags on hurriedly, glancing back up to Linneus. He says it like it's some decisive statement, heavy with earnestness. That carries no weight, though, without knowing Zuko well. What the hell's his uncle liking tea have to do with anything?! ]

That remains to be seen...!

[Linneus had navigated more than a few prickly afternoons with guests, but in a teashop he is quite in his element. If he needed to fidget himself it would be with with accessories, twisting or adjusting rings, bracelets. But he is remarkably unadorned, today.]

Yes, we were. [with a fond smile toward Gokudera. "Friends" may be too simple a word for it - but preferred to a long explanation on a first meeting.] I don't know how I would have managed on Amoi if not for Gokudera, honestly - I leaned on him a terrible lot...!

But how wonderful to have learned from family. I suppose you cannot have tea at all without thinking of him?

You think? I've not changed that much since Amoi. [He smiles gently, but the words are as much sad as they are happy.]

I can't even tell you how I first met Linneus, to be honest with you. I think maybe it was during an event of some kind... some horrible holiday for Elites... I've told Zuko of Amoi, about the castes. He's aware of my current dilemma.

[He gestures to his collar, active and waiting on Yamamoto's fingerprints to deactivate. Gokudera has not asked Yamamoto to remove it ~~because that is something I want to log and cannot while Cian is on hiatus~~, because he's not sure how to best approach any questions regarding what it means to be on him, and why he's still wearing it despite the damage and discomfort it regularly causes him.]

Hardly, Linneus! I leaned on you more. Literally, even. It was a... fair partnership.

[He leans his chin in his hand and looks up as one of the wait staff approaches their table to take their order, or follow up now that Zuko is no longer seated alone.]

Dumplings for me. [Seems he'd been taken with them since the last time he'd been to this tea shop. That, and he's partial to whatever tea his friends select.]

[ Zuko listens on as the two banter, feeling a little awkward. He's glad for the waiter to approach. One of the owners passes by with a bucket of dishes in his hands and makes some loud, boisterous snarky comment like old men like to do, something to the mysterious effect of "No lucky dragon today, huh!" and Zuko just shakes his head, mumbling a quiet No and looking away with a pout... He loves coming to this teashop with his spoiled familiar but because he's become such a regular, the regular staff has started to tease him sometimes, too. It's so easy to do, to be fair. ]

Dumplings, too... Um... ...Linneus. Get whatever you want. My treat. Let's get a pot of tea for the table— your choice. Gokudera seemed to imply you've got an expertise.

[ More than Zuko does. Zuko is a tea fan because it makes him think of his uncle, more than a fan of the tea itself, but he's feeling too sheepish to admit that, and leaves Linneus' rather sweet question unanswered as such. He'll open up slowly, rest assured. ]

[a smile at that, touching Gokudera's hand lightly before drawing back]

The strings, yes. The city had a strange seasonal tradition of binding people together with strings on our little fingers. But it was not the worst of that season's traditions, thank goodness - it did bring me a friend. Ah--!

[he'd not even thought to check a menu, when they got here, but there is one at his elbow that he can pluck up easily, his familiar rising and settling on his shoulder as if to read with him. Thankfully there are items on the menu he is familiar with by name or description and he is able to indicate his choice to the staff-]

A black tea, perhaps if we are having savoury foods. Oh...

[gentle laughter as he adjusts his hold on the menu - his familiar has descended to turn the page for him. Directed at Zuko, rather than the waiter-]

And-- forgive me, may we have a piece of cake as well?

[Gokudera would feel awful if he knew this were awkward. The comment from the staff gives a lift to his eyebrow, but it's more a question of necessity for the staff to make that observation. It's rude, he thinks, but then his slowly developing frown vanishes as Linneus touches his hand. He glances at him, putting on a sweet smile and a curious hum.]

We couldn't have anyone over without him pouring tea for them. Even Hibari. Honestly, Linneus, I've never seen him take to anyone the way he did you.

And for those strings... [He looks at his little finger and nods, remembering.] You helped me gain the strength to talk to Violet. I appreciate that. Violet was my first owner. He was...

[He frowns, searching for the right word. Then Linneus is looking through the menu and Gokudera is leaning back, looking up at the ceiling and considering what all happened in Amoi after he left. Did the castes switch again?]

...And a piece of cake, please.

[ Zuko says to the waiter for Linneus, his tone slower, brow arched. Why's he asking him, he thinks to himself; he'd already offered to pay! He can already tell this guy is a lot more considerate and polite and softer a person than he is. He's a little intimidated by the boy's grace and he's not sure why. Hearing that Kyouya Hibari even got along with Linneus just amplifies that feeling, too, knowing what he's been told of the Cloud Guardian, plus the rare sweet smile on Gokudera's face. Something about Linneus vaguely reminds him of Aurora, something in that well-mannered charm. It's not a bad kind of awkward Zuko feels; he's just nervous, a normal nervous. This is clearly an important friend to Gokudera; Zuko's wondering if Gokudera might have felt similarly on edge when meeting Iroh at first, in fact. He just cares a great deal about the bomber... That much he and Linneus have in common, it seems.

He looks to Gokudera curiously, expecting him to finish the story about his first owner, but the bomber trails off, just leaving Zuko's brow arched again. ]

"...He was...?"

Thank you.

[Zuko had offered, but it was always better to ask than presume to stretch a person's generosity. His fairy has already alighted on the one she wants - a beautifully-decorated strawberry roll cake Linneus would probably have picked for himself, too - only moving off once the order has been taken, skimming her way over the table and to their companions.

A shake of his head, a slight wrinkle of his nose.]

I did not think very much of Violet, from what I heard of him.

[in the couched language of someone who dislikes speaking ill of anyone, though he has made little secret to Gokudera of his... disapproval. It needn't be belaboured.]

But masters can vary anywhere, just as people do.

[He was also nervous when meeting Iroh, but partly because the old man had asked him questions about the mafia. That was an -understandably- serious topic to be somewhat backed into by a man whom he immediately felt pressured to respect and speak kindly with. Gokudera thinks he handled himself rather well. Zuko would have to actively try hard to offend Linneus in order to do so, and even then, he doubts that Linneus would judge him harshly. They are both kind. Gokudera wouldn't befriend and introduce them if they weren't.

Gokudera looks on at the fairy, smiling fondly. Ever since his time-travel-world-jumping nap, he'd developed a fondness for the fae. Maybe because he doesn't recall the curse they'd placed on him, or that he'd made his peace.

At Linneus mentioning Violet, his mind jumps back to the topic he'd drifted away from.]

He had punished me for letting another mongrel into the house without his permission. [Gokudera looks away, face lighting up an embarrassed scarlet as he recalls vividly what had happened and how he'd felt.]

He recorded our entire interaction, showed it to me, and I did not apologize. I felt my privacy had been violated, and for arguing with him, he uh... put a cage....

[This is too embarrassing to talk about in public. The tea can not come fast enough.]

Iskandar, the mongrel I'd had over saw it, and spoke with him. Violet was very controlling, it was his home, and I was his property, and I did not reserve myself for him. I should have never signed the contract to be his pet, but we broke it off amicably, and he supported me until I found housing with Linneus.

"Mongrel?"

[ Zuko wears a look of vague disgust, disapproval, at the use of the word. "Another mongrel" implies that Gokudera is a mongrel. He doesn't like that implication. At all. ]

What do you mean he recorded your interaction— he, uh... made a video of it? Like in secret? That is a violation of privacy, I didn't even think—

[ He stops himself, glancing to Linneus, and feels the need suddenly to explain more, before continuing. ]

Uh— I come from a world where we don't have shit like that. Video. Recording. Technology. Stuff... But even if I had, that's a shitty thing to do!

Mmm. [the hum is probably enough to convey Linneus' distaste] The castes were determined by hair colour. If one had red hair or lighter, they were considered of the lower caste - Mongrels. They could be taken by Elites as Pets. Most of those who had arrived on Amoi from other worlds were familiar with this practice, one way or another - if not Amoi's particular... presentation.

[a little shift of his shoulders - in absence of teawares to fiddle with, he busies his hands gathering menus and setting tidily aside as he speaks. Choosing his words - it is delicate to discuss in public, and double-speak can only stretch so far when he's not sure how much Zuko knows]

So most non-native Elites would be a little looser than natives, though in others I fear it only encouraged the worst of them. But I'm thankful at least that Violet supported Gokudera that far - though you know I disagree with his... approaches.

[straightening up at Zuko's explanation]

Ah, yes - as did I. I learned a little about it during my time in Amoi, though I had never realised such technologies could be easily hidden. I came to understand it the hard way - I'm not sure I ever told Gokudera the story... [glancing at the other teen - Linneus has always been an easy blusher, but there is certainly a little colour gathering in his cheek] Of how I came to meet Katze?

Yeah. You'd be an Elite, Zuko. [Which may be why his collar is so reactive around him? It's an assumption. Gokudera living with Yamamoto and Tsuna currently also does not help.]

Yeah, he had camera's all over and would record when he was not home because he didn't trust me.

[He's watching as their food is brought out, and the pot of tea as well. Gokudera isn't in any rush to eat, and just merely nods at their server as he listens to Linneus.]

Were you a pet when we met, Linneus? I can't remember... I just recall the weather being warm... [He'd arrived in Anchor and someone had shot him with some power of theirs to restore his memories, which made a good many he created on Amoi feel weak, crumbling away. He no longer feels like a misplaced native of that world, but like the reality of what happened weighs heavier.]

I met Katze once. Nice guy... you didn't tell me about how you met.

[ Zuko doesn't like hearing he'd be an Elite, even though it seems so arbitrary to him, perhaps because it seems so arbitrary to him, but something sits quite poorly with him about it. He scowls, hearing the boys' explanations. He's glad for the food and tea to arrive as a distraction, but lets the two old friends continue telling him their story without interrupting, not finding any point to make in the meantime. Instead, he begins pouring cups of tea for the three of them and divvying up dumplings evenly on each plate. Polite prince. ]

[he automatically reaches for the teapot once the staff have left - force of habit - but Zuko gets there first]

Oh-- thank you.

[almost sheepishly, withdrawing his hands, though his familiar does flutter in to check. The cream jug is too heavy, but she is able to deposit two sugar lumps in the cup for Linneus - in two separate trips, and to Linneus' gentle amusement.]

I arrived before the castes changed - I took on a Pet myself and then when the castes inverted so did the ownership. Makoto left a little after you and I met, but it was a little over a year. Katze I met a lot earlier - there was a terrible run of these cameras being where the shouldn't and-- broad-casting? - people's private moments to strangers.

He was able to come and remove the one in my room. But I confess I made... something of an exhibition of myself, first, not knowing it was there.

[Gokudera does wonder how his and Zuko's relationship may be if they were on Amoi instead of Avalon. He'd never met him until this world, but with the way the Fire Prince has been so interested in him, there's another idle question as to whether or not he would take the Storm Guardian in as a pet... to keep him safe. It's nothing he'd seriously consider, still stuck being property despite Amoi being far away and unknown to most people.]

Was he impartial about it? I can't imagine if he would be interested in you in that way, or if he simply thought it was surprising to see a braodcast like that compared to how you usually act...

Ah— ...that sounds awful...

[ Zuko would be mortified, he probably wouldn't leave the house for at least a week! Just the thought brings a faint blush to his cheeks. Also, this is a perfect stranger he's having this conversation with, and he can barely speak about sex and such with the actual person he has sex with regularly... Accidental public broadcasts of something private because of an invasive, paranoid partner of some kind? It's a lot to imagine. He can't hide a grimace, a transparent person more than he even realizes he is. ]

Mmm. [in soft agreement with Zuko, delicately stirring his tea, his familiar perched on the handle of the teacup] I do tend to believe these things should be kept behind closed doors - I'd not appreciated how technology rather tends to frustrate privacy. But better me than someone else.

[the blush is still apparent on his cheek - hardly unwilling to talk but certainly tiptoeing about his words. They're still in public.]

He was remarkably good about it, though it was his culture in the first place. I was always quite comfortable with Katze. I think he learned more about me in that evening than I might have preferred to give on a first meeting - I did attempt to revive my image by serving him tea, but it does not change that that was his very first impression of me...!

[he was raised to ensure that guests to the house were properly received - but it does seem even more ridiculous, once he says it. A laughing shake of his head]

That was simply the way of things in Amoi - these things would so often end up public, anyway, for this or that reason, and it was no help that I didn't understand the technology, which may as well have been magic to me. And now I find myself here. I'm coming to understand how very different it is.

Even if you were never interested in something like that, Amoi was full of so many situations that not only encouraged it, but would influence or put you in circumstances where you had little choice. Being drugged was pretty common... Even with things like pollen, or just... some rooms you could walk into.

It is as Linneus said, though... the way of things.

[Gokudera feels irritated with the shift of his surroundings, and the lack of relationships and start of new ones, and not many people know which is a comfort but also a headache. Their ignorance about him is not something he wants to think much on. Gokudera moves to drink his tea without anything in it.]

You can only imagine how a place like that, and then coming here compare. It's almost dizzying.

Being drugged...?! Wh— Why was it like that?

[ Zuko's got a faint blush on, but tries to keep his composure despite his bashfulness about these matters. ]

Um— ...In Lunatia, the world I was in before this— it was powered by touching each other... This energy force called Chroma. It was being harnessed to restore their world, because the natives lost their ability to generate that energy themselves. But— it was generated from us touching in any way. Holding hands. Even fighting. It wasn't all, um— encouraging more...

[ He puts all this very lightly, such a straight talker in most other cases, but is definitely someone who errs on the side of gentle phrasing when talking about sexual matters, even when not talking about them with someone he's never met. ]

It was... encouragement. For people to "perform" for one another.

[Pausing for a sip of his tea, a moment to recover himself, though that is not enough to hide how clipped his words were, his rare frown of distaste at uttering them.

Straightening himself up, his little way of distancing the two topics-]

That sounds preferable - maybe not fighting, but the rest of it...! I have always very tactile with those I care about - I'd rather that than having to be as forward as I have had to be in the past.

[not just meaning Amoi. He's tiptoeing around Ivore, too. A gentle chuckle, watching his familiar hop off his saucer and start dragging the cake fork over. Cutting her a few little slivers-]

Yes, yes. [heavens, but the slice is almost as tall as she is!] But it is still a little strange for me. Mongrels and Elites-- they were not permitted to touch, for the longest time. I was on Amoi so long and grew so accustomed, sometimes-- it seems simply foolish, how I police myself...!

I'm sure you could imagine, Zuko. Being in a world so focused on something like that, and not knowing many people... you had to at some point engage in activities with people you'd never met... Drugs made it easier. There were many, too...

[Gokudera never willingly did any drugs except for eating fruit, drinking alcohol, But there were so many other means of delivery for aphrodisiacs. He'd been injected with things, had things put on his body against his will that made him act certain ways... been... trained.

Listening to Linneus admit that he's been very tactile has Gokudera offering his hand to him with a smile, resting it on the tabletop. Linneus is very emotionally supportive for him, has always been, it feels like.]

I still do. [He admits gently. Policing himself. Every person who gets too close, he wonders and startles if they are going to touch him, if anyone is watching him, if anyone is going to do anything.]

Y-Yeah... That'd be hard for me. The only people I've done, uh— stuff like that— with... I've known for basically my whole life... Someone on the other planet told me about doing stuff with strangers, even in a world without Chroma, and I— I don't think I could... [ If you catch his drift. He averts his eyes. ] I'd be too uncomfortable. So, uh— I guess all kinds of drugs make sense...

[ He pauses to sip his tea, looking into it with downcast eyes and a furrowed brow in thought. ]

I can't imagine what you guys have gone through... It all sounds so— um... intense?

[ He doesn't have a better word at his fingertips. He glances back up to them, Linneus first, then Gokudera, his gaze lingering on the bomber. It sounds so traumatic, is what it sounds! But he doesn't wanna say that outright, necessarily. He also made a friend like Linneus, who seems so dear to him. Zuko can't help but think he'd do so poorly in a world like that himself, even beyond being inexperienced or feeling awkward in so many ways; even having been around the block much more since leaving home, he knows he's still far too much the jealous type. ]

I understand. As I say, in my country these things were usually kept behind closed doors. But I was... familiar with being owned before I arrived, so in many respects it wasn't a difficult adjustment.

[some respects he is not going to mention. Another sip of his tea with his free hand - his other in Gokudera's as soon as he offered, almost without his realising or acknowledging. Naturally the boy would know his tendency to touch better than most, given their time living together.]

There were so many who had lead less constrained lives than I had - and there I was, not sure I knew necessarily what to do with freedom, it seemed almost unfair the brief time that I was an Elite. But it was important to me to protect my... charge from being forced into anything he was not ready for. [not using the word "Pet" again.] For better or worse my experience helped me with that. I was not prepared to be a master, but if I was to be one, I wanted to ensure I was better than those I had known.

[a smile at his familiar, perched contentedly on the edge of the plate, shimmering different colours with each small cake piece she draws into herself]

Of course there was so much new that that was quite difficult, in itself. But I am at least a little bit better with technology than when this all started...!

It is.

[Uncomfortable and intense. Gokudera is still thinking back, reminiscing about some of his first ever really intense sexual experiences on Amoi. Hearing Linneus mention that he'd been owned before brings him back and his hand being accepted is warm, familiar, and comforting. It feels not too long ago he was so stuck thinking he would be alone in what he'd been through. Linneus is a comfort to him in so many ways that it's obvious with this physical contact Gokudera is more comfortable now than he's seemed in the last few weeks, or since he ever even woke up.

He listens, his thumb stroking the back of Linneus's hand and over his knuckles. Part of him wishes that they had been in different classes. Gokudera would have appreciated the care that this man has given him.]

[ He notices their hands holding, but averts his eyes. He can't imagine — doesn't really want to imagine — what both of them must have been through in that place. It all sounds so bizarre; it made Lunatia sound like a vacation getaway, which he's now feeling a little sheepish for having resented so much then... He tone is tempered when he speaks, taking in Linneus' words with due gravity. ]

...That's noble of you. Not everyone would have that reaction, if given the power — even if they'd been in the opposite position themselves before. Power and control do something to people. It's impressive you remained kind in, um— if I can say so, a world that really doesn't sound like it encouraged so much kindness, either...

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Oof, this was longer than I meant it to be, sorry...!

we love the too-long tags here. Write me an essay, please <3

extra long tag club, we love long tags yes please all the words

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sorry for the delay!! fell in a hole lol. let's continue if y'all would like!

You may have to stop me ^^;

I'm not stopping anyone, including myself!