Work Text:
Days in Gandharva Flora were moderately busy, nothing Tighnari couldn’t really handle, but still fairly busy. Though, recently, it’d seemed like every so often someone would come in and ask him to identify what flower the tattoo that had just sprouted was. He wasn’t sure why everyone had decided that Gandharva Flora was the place to go to for identifying what their Soulmate tattoo was. It wasn’t the only flower shop in the town, as there were quite a few, but maybe it was merely just convenience.
Tighnari’s own Soulmark was of a Qingxin, it was one of the first Marks he’d identified. Not that specifically identifying Qingxin was particular hard, he even grew some in the flower shop itself. They were quite hardy plants, and could survive on very little water, their stalks were yellowish and their petals white. They didn’t need all that much heat, seeing as they grew on mountains in their natural environment. They also didn’t require much oxygen either. His Soulmark though? So far just a dark patch on his skin, not yet coloured in by the meeting of his particular Soulmate. Even Cyno’s had been coloured in by this point! Strangely enough, his being Violetgrass, a flower also growing on mountains.
Also Liyuean. Though quite hard to find and difficult to acquire. Elusive.
Collei had joked once that he and Cyno could end up being Soulmates, that hadn’t happened obviously, but, Tighnari wasn’t exactly bothered by it either. His Soulmate being Liyuean, an assumption he’d made based on the home region of Qingxins, intrigued him slightly. Of all plants it could’ve been it had been a Liyuean one. And to top it all off, Cyno’s Soulmate was also Liyuean.
Tighnari almost wondered if his and Cyno’s Soulmates were connected in some way, though he’d never actually met Cyno’s. He’d never met his either, to be frank, but it was still an interesting coincidence.
The bell ringing from the front door, snapped Tighnari out of his thoughts, and he turned his gaze from where he’d been staring at the Qingxins to the suddenly very interested smirk of Tingyun. The vixen had a strong scent of incense and sakura petals on her, so strong, that it made Tighnari wince from just smelling it. It was way too overpowering combined with all the conflicting scents. Tingyun didn’t seemed phased at all however and smirked at him. “Might I ask what’s so interesting about the collection of Qingxins over there?” She hummed. Tighnari shook his head to try and clear it if the conflicting scents.
“I was just wondering if today is a day to water them,” Tighnari said. The white lie pricked him with guilt, but he wasn’t actually sure how to say he’d been thinking about his Soulmate. Tingyun’s eyes gleamed mischievously, and Tighnari sighed. “For the last time, sakuras grow on trees, we can’t grow trees in here. Plus, they only bloom at a specific time of year and it’s not at around this time of year.” Tingyun gave him a dismissive wave.
“I’m not here for sakuras, Miko wants Violetgrass to create a new perfume or incense or whatever, like the tattoo on her arm, courtesy of me,” Tingyun said with a smirk. “I’m well aware sakuras grow on trees. Though, I’m just finding it particularly interesting you were staring at the Qingxins. And…. Well, you know, you’re the guy to go to for figuring out your Soulmark.” Tighnari deadpanned at the brown Foxian and rolled his eyes.
Archons above, she got even more insufferable after she began to date Miko.
“What are you getting at Tingyun?” He deadpanned, to Tingyun’s smirk, though it showed no signs of going away. He merely sighed as Tingyun’s eyes lit up.
“Miko is just wondering if the little botanist has identified his own Soulmark yet, and if he has any guesses as to it could be,” Tingyun replied, taking herself completely out of the picture, but Tighnari wasn’t buying it. He was far too clued into her tricks, even if the conflicting scents surrounding her made it hard to think. “Because, Miko has her own guesses for who your Soulmate could be, but I’m sure we could narrow down the options if you tell us the flower. So, what’s your flower?” Tighnari blinked at her. So that’s what this is. He wasn’t quite sure about how he’d feel if Miko knew what flower he had. The kitsune could run with it to a place that was completely out there.
Yeah, he wasn’t comfortable with Miko knowing. Let alone Tingyun knowing.
Instead, Tighnari walked over to the Liyue section, and headed straight for the Violetgrass, making sure to not linger on the Qingxin too much. Tingyun was breathing down his neck the entire time, which wasn’t really helping all that much. Ignoring her, he stopped beside the Violetgrass and shoved a pot into Tingyun’s grasp. Tingyun glanced at the purple flowers, and stroked a petal with her finger. “They’re looking well cared for,” she hummed. “Do you think your Soulmate would appreciate how well you’ve been treating the Qingxin?” Tighnari whipped his head around to find a knowing look on Tingyun’s face, her green eyes shining mischievously.
“I’m sure they’d appreciate how I’ve been taking care of whatever plant that represents them,” he said simply. Tingyun hummed to herself, but she started heading for the door. She stopped beside the door however, when she noticed the next person waiting to come in. Tighnari turned his head and then smiled in his recognition. “Oh, Jiaoqiu,” he greeted and Jiaoqiu sent him a smile back. “Let me guess, you want some Qingxin? Or are you planning to add more ‘unique’ poisons to your dishes?” He chuckled, and Tighnari only really felt something brush against his leg, and a curious hum from Tingyun.
“I’m actually not here for Qingxin for once. I was thinking of maybe attempting to find uses for other plants, specifically Nilotpala Lotuses. I mean, they don’t have medicinal uses, but they could have food properties?” Tighnari’s tail started wagging excitedly and Jiaoqiu’s smile softened ever so slightly, earning another curious hum from Tingyun. “And… you’re kinda the authority on those Lotuses, so I wanted to ask you too,” Jiaoqiu added. “So, I’ll let you take the lead.” Tighnari did so, practically dragging Jiaoqiu into the Sumeru section.
“Here we are. The Nilotpala Lotuses,” Tighnari commented gesturing towards the lotuses. “Grown at the correct temperature, the appropriate moisture. They’re also healthily yellow, the correct squishiness, have good water content.” Jiaoqiu chuckled lightly and Tighnari smiled, though he did catch Jiaoqiu’s tail wagging slightly. “So, take whichever you want. Or, I could pick for you.” Tighnari looked back at the lotuses and picked one up. “Hey, this one is like, the same shade as your eyes.” He presented the lotus to Jiaoqiu, who smiled at him in a way that Tighnari was suddenly breathless.
A weird cold shiver passed over his body too, a feeling seemingly affecting Jiaoqiu too, but it was over as quick as it appeared.
Shaking himself, he focused back on the lotuses. “Though, you’d need quite a few to test food properties. Maybe three? Let’s not be too crazy here,” he said with a nod and picked two more. He gave the lotuses to Jiaoqiu and then stood up. “Though, you’re probably also running low on Qingxins for cough medicine related properties, and not necessarily food related properties.” Jiaoqiu’s ears twitched.
“I’m not running low on Qingxin, it’s my favourite plant so I’m more than happy to grow it myself, however I’m running low on pretty much everything else, plus Moze requested some Violetgrass to bring on a date. Can you imagine that? Moze! On a date! I don’t believe it much myself.” Out of the corner of his eye, Tighnari saw Tingyun finally leave, phone pressed up against her ear. “Ah, Ting is finally leaving,” Jiaoqiu commented, seeming a lot happier all of a sudden. “Anyways, Moze is going on a date! I’m not sure whether to be happy or cry.” Tighnari’s ear twitched.
“Who is he going on a date with?” Tighnari asked, as the two of them walked over towards the Violetgrass. “That does seem kind of strange. He doesn’t strike me as the type to go on dates, if at all.” Jiaoqiu stroked his finger against one of the lotuses in his hand, looking at the one that Tighnari had described as sharing his eye colour. He was smiling down at the lotus, though Tighnari couldn’t exactly decipher why.
“All he told me was his Soulmate, I wasn’t aware he had found his. He’s not exactly open to these kinds of things, I’d expect it if it was Feixiao, but she’s already found hers. I’m sure you’ve seen her, I think she came in once to have hers identified,” he commented, still eying the lotus.
“Yeah, she did. Naku Weed, if I remember correctly. Haven’t quite figured out how to grow it here yet though,” Tighnari commented. He pricked his ears, and looked at Jiaoqiu, who gave him a smile in return. “Say, are you here for me to identify your Soulmark?” Jiaoqiu’s ear twitched.
“I don’t need to.”
“Huh?” Jiaoqiu let out an almost embarrassed chuckle and looked away and at the Violetgrass. Tighnari, on the other hand, just felt extremely confused. This behaviour from Jiaoqiu was kinda strange.
“Let’s put it this way, I already know what my Soulmark is of. Who it is, I don’t know, but I have ideas.” He shrugged. “Have you identified your own Soulmark? I figure it would be impossible not to, since you wake up every day and see it there.” Tighnari nodded.
“I have. It honestly surprised me on what it is to be honest. I just didn’t expect it to be a-“ A loud crash from the back room, made Tighnari’s blood turn cold. “Sorry! I have to check if Collei is okay, use the self-checkout or something,” his voice came out frantic and he raced for the back room, leaving Jiaoqiu in between the zinnias and Violetgrass. Jiaoqiu, however, didn’t seem bothered, and almost seemed worried as well when he yelled after him
“Bring her to me if it’s serious!”
Tighnari rushed over to the back room and basically kicked the door open, to find Collei standing off to the side with a crate lying on the floor. She looked up and blinked. “I’m fine,” she said preemptively, just as Tighnari reached her. “The crate was just a bit too heavy for me and I dropped it.” Tighnari checked her over and she just seemed to be in shock, and it was nothing serious, causing him to calm down. Collei then smiled. “Though, I can act like it’s more serious if it means you get to see your boyfriend again.” Tighnari blinked.
“Now where do you get that idea?” Tighnari sighed and Collei chuckled and even tutted. He deadpanned at her cheek. “Are you… patronizing me?” He couldn’t keep the amusement out of his voice. “He’s not my boyfriend, Collei. I just know him from my Amurta classes at the Akademiya. We worked together on one project. By that logic, me and Cyno would be dating by now.” Collei simply smiled.
“Well, Mr. Tighnari, it seems like he likes you at least,” Collei responded. “I’ve never seen someone’s tail wag like that.” Tighnari looked at her. He found that likely improbable as a wagging tail could mean anything that the owner was thinking. Also, she’d called him Mr. Tighnari again.
“Collei, for the last time, it’s just Tighnari. That sounds way too formal. Anyways, do you want me to help you with these boxes?” Collei rolled her eyes at his deflection and Tighnari started moving boxes around. A strong scent of Qingxin hit him and he walked over to that crate, and lifted the lid. The scent wafted throughout the back room and he just sat there for a bit.
Qingxin’s scent did remind him of Jiaoqiu, now that he thought about it.
Collei watched him from where she was dealing with a lighter crate and rolled her eyes. Tighnari picked up the Qingxin crate and walked back inside into the shop. These, full-grown Qingxins weren’t for the flower shop, they were for his own little project. He was attempting to hybridize them with a Sumeran plant. With lotuses it was impossible but with the Sumeru Rose? Possible.
Jiaoqiu would like it-
Wait.
No he wouldn’t. Tighnari shook his head, and focused on the Qingxins. He put the crate into the the small laboratory and then left to go get more crates, passing by Collei taking the seed packets for the various different plants and such. The other crates didn’t give him the same reaction as the Qingxin ones, which he wasn’t bothered by.
They were just plants, anyways.
However, after about the fifth trip to the laboratory, was when he finally noticed it.
He had just put down the crate full of Windwheel Asters, when he noticed a reddish patch on his arm, a simple line really, one could mistake it for a scar, but it wasn’t bleeding, which was the weird part. Tighnari rolled up his sleeve, and the red line, now more reddish orange, continued until at last he pulled his full arm out of the sleeve to inspect it
There, the once black Qingxin tattoo was now burning a red-orange, fading to salmon pink every so often.
Tighnari stumbled backward in surprise, falling over the recently sterilized comparison desk and landing on the floor. Collei came rushing in, but burst out laughing after seeing him in a pile on the floor, arm still hanging out of his shirt. Then, his apprentice walked over and crouched beside him. “You met your Soulmate today,” she commented, eying the colour-changing mark up his arm. “I bet it’s Jiaoqiu.” Tighnari stumbled up to at least make himself look less frazzled.
“A lot of people entered the shop today, Collei, it could be anyone,” Tighnari stated logically. Just because he spent the most time with Jiaoqiu, didn’t necessarily mean that his Soulmate was Jiaoqiu. Plus, that’d be way too coincidental, Jiaoqiu hadn’t even said anything about it now glowing. Collei shook her head in amusement. “Anyways, we should continue on the crates, for some reason, there’s like fifty.” Conversation about his possible Soulmate now deflected, Tighnari walked back into the back room, after putting his shirt back in his sleeve, and Collei followed him.
“Whoever it is, I wonder if I’ll end up liking them,” Collei commented. “I mean, it would probably be good if they’re approved by your apprentice, would it not?” Tighnari sent her a look. Collei only laughed in response.
“If they’re my Soulmate, I’d sure hope they’d be likable. I don’t want to be stuck with some jerk. But I don’t think Irminsul would be that cruel. Has your Soulmark formed yet?” He asked curiously. Collei shook her head.
“No, unfortunately. Well, I mean, there’s something, but it’s just a black lump, and doesn’t really have any form. It doesn’t really scream ‘particular plant’ just yet, so. But stop deflecting! You found your Soulmate! That’s the important thing.” Tighnari sighed and put down the crate.
“Let’s stop for today, it’s getting late anyways.”
The next day, Tighnari took a quiet moment to stare on at his tattoo. It had seemingly decided to settle on the salmon pink colour, though it now looked like he had a Qingxin-shaped scar running up his arm. The only sign it wasn’t, was that it rippled every so often, briefly turning red-orange before returning to the salmon colour. He’d known that the tattoos would change colour, but he hadn’t realized how animated it would be after changing colour. The most experience he’d had with transformed Soulmarks were those of Kaveh and Alhaitham, clearly each others, though Alhaitham’s was a lot brighter orange and Kaveh’s was a dull, dark green. Dull, because of something happening that Tighnari wasn’t exactly aware of, but Tighnari’s own Soulmark just inherently seemed to have a sort of greyness to it.
Not unlike Jiaoqiu’s hair, now that he thought about it.
He shook his head. Collei had put that name in his head and he was now simply just looking for things that could confirm this resulting confirmation bias. Many people had come into the shop yesterday, Tingyun and Jiaoqiu just simply being the people he knew the most, and Tingyun had already found her Soulmate.
Thank Buer.
That would only leave Jiaoqiu of the people he knew, but for all he and Collei knew, it could’ve been one of the other customers that had come in yesterday, the ones he didn’t know well. And, Jiaoqiu did like Qingxins, he thought as his finger stroked the tattoo from stalk to petals. The Qingxin was salmon pink, Jiaoqiu’s hair was salmon pink, the tattoo was of a Qingxin, Jiaoqiu liked Qingxins. With a sigh, he glanced upward.
Tingyun’s green gaze staring at him evilly made him fall out of the chair
“Tingyun!” He yelled after he heard her start laughing maniacally. He stood up quickly and hid the Qingxin tattoo, being too slow to put the arm back in his sleeve. “What are you doing up here? The displays are over there.” He gestured wildly with his free arm at the surrounding flora.
“We’re not here for the plants, kit,” a voice hummed from behind Tingyun and then Miko revealed herself. “Tingyun had told me a lot of things about a particular customer of yours, am I correct?” Her eyes glanced down at where Tighnari was hiding his tattoo, and smirked. “Hm, Qingxin? Interesting plant to have, Liyuean,” Miko commented, sharing a look with Tingyun.
“It’s also gone salmon pink,” Tingyun added, smirk that matched the one of her girlfriend. “Which is an interesting colour to turn. Especially since Qingxins are usually white. It’s also fully gone salmon pink. You never did tell me what your Soulmark was, now did you? Well, I think the answer is quite obvious now. Oh, I do hope you know it glows through your clothes when your Soulmate is near.” Tighnari leaned backward when she leaned forward. “Now, seeing as this whole little issue has been sorted out. Who is it?” Tighnari glanced over at Miko who was seemingly more focused on the Dendrobiums in the Inazuma section, before turning his gaze back on Tingyun.
“Why do you think I’d tell you that?” Tighnari stated simply, putting his arm back in his sleeve.
Unfortunately for him, his Soulmark started glowing at that very moment, and he hardly heard the doorbell, going pale.
The looks on Tingyun and Miko’s faces were priceless. Tighnari, on the other hand, felt like sinking into the floor for the first time.
Is this how Gorou feels whenever these two vixens appear?
Tighnari didn’t even get to see who had entered the shop, as Tingyun was blocking his view. Miko seemingly teleported over as well. “Tingyun?” Said a voice and Tighnari felt even more like disappearing into the floor. “What did I tell you about bullying him?” Jiaoqiu basically snapped, which almost seemed uncharacteristic for him. Tingyun blinked and looked over before smirking at him.
“Well if it isn’t Jiaoqiu! How’s that new fur wash coming in handy? Pulled any eyes yet? Maybe of a specific Foxian?”
Jiaoqiu ignored her and walked over to where Tighnari was basically having a panic attack. “If he doesn’t want to tell you about who his Soulmate is, you can’t force him to.” Tighnari grabbed Jiaoqiu’s hand and he took them over towards the Nilotpala Lotuses. He sat them both down and took Tighnari’s hands. “Just breathe. Hey, why don’t you tell me about the lotuses again? You’re kind of adorable when you do so.” Tighnari noticed Jiaoqiu’s tail wagging slightly and he sat up. Tighnari also thought he could see a flash of green as he sat up, but he ignored it for the time being.
“Nilot…pala Lotuses, grow mostly on lilypads. Or well, the flower that reveals them does, and they only open at night. They don’t really glow, but because they’re bright yellow, they seem to glow. Your eyes… remind me of them. No wait, they remind me of your eyes. Yeah, that’s it,” Tighnari mumbled in response. Jiaoqiu let out a small chuckle, before he looked over at something above them.
“Tingyun. Back.” He sounded like he was commanding a pet or something or other. Tingyun merely chuckled, and Tighnari noticed her lean over and whisper something in Jiaoqiu’s ears, something that made his tail wag. He turned his attention back on Tighnari and Tighnari sat back up. “Hey… can you show me your arm?” He asked suddenly, and Tighnari blinked and sat up. Assuming he meant the tattooed arm, he took it out of its sleeve. There, the Qingxin revealed itself in salmon pink, earning a wide-eyed expression from Jiaoqiu. He then glanced at the tip of Tighnari’s tail, and lifted his shirt, and compared the colour of… the Nilotpala Lotus? Tighnari suddenly was alert, eying the two Soulmarks himself.
Ah.
That’s why he didn’t need his services of identification.
Jiaoqiu… already knew it was him. Or well, already knew it was a Nilotpala Lotus, and probably by extension, him.
Tighnari wasn’t sure if Jiaoqiu knew any other people who liked Nilotpala Lotuses as much as him. So it was probably himself.
Tighnari, suddenly feeling extremely warm, made some distance between them. He supposed he wasn’t upset it was Jiaoqiu, he was the opposite of upset. And looking back, everything had been pointing to it being Jiaoqiu.
The fact it turned salmon pink after they ‘met’, seeing as they hadn’t seen each other since the marks appeared. The same colour of Jiaoqiu’s hair
The fact the plant had been Liyuean. Jiaoqiu is Liyuean
The tattoo even being a Qingxin in the first place was a red flag. Jiaoqiu has always loved Qingxin, especially when using in a prank sense. If anything, it being a Qingxin should have narrowed the options down immediately, because who else does he know who likes Qingxin?
Only Jiaoqiu.
Jiaoqiu gave him a soft smile, almost seeming a little shy. “It’s you,” he murmured. Tighnari playfully flicked his ear.
“You seem really happy about that, Jiao,” he teased. “Where’s all your usual confidence?” Tighnari’s own tail gave him away though, by wagging, and Jiaoqiu’s eyes gleamed mischievously. Tighnari grinned at this.
“You also seem quite happy ‘Nari, so much so, you probably wouldn’t mind what I’m going to do right now,” Jiaoqiu joked. Without, waiting for a continuation or responding, Tighnari kissed him, Jiaoqiu reciprocating almost immediately