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The sun is barely in the sky when a striking pair can be found at the early-hours of the local street market. The two tall men stand in front of one of the few stalls already put up at the unconventional time of day.
“This is supposed to be… daily wear?” Calcharo asks, holding up a white jacket with a rather over-the-top amount of straps, belts, and pockets.
The General, clothed in much more casual clothing than usual, chuckles at his incredulous expression. “It’s practical enough. You should see the truly decorative clothing that some of the people of inner Huanglong wear.”
Calcharo wrinkles his nose in distaste at the thought. “I don’t understand them at all– Jinzhou can be considered barely passable compared to those.”
“Well, Jinzhou is a lot more traditional than the New Federation. The rest of Huanglong even more so. It’s simply living conditions that require Jinzhou people to dress more practically in case of emergency,” Jiyan explains.
“The General is right!” The elderly merchant agrees, “In fact, Jinzhou fashion is a very culturally diverse thing that mixes both practicality and style. To me, its aesthetic is rivalled by no other.”
“Ah, please,” Jiyan says, “I’m off duty, so just call me Jiyan.”
“Nonsense! General, you are far too humble for someone who risks his life for the wellbeing of Jinzhou.” The elderly man says, face wrinkled in a frown.
Calcharo keeps an ear out to listen to the polite but futile protests Jiyan tried to say to convince the man otherwise as he takes stock of the other clothing. He keeps a hand free in case of a threat. Call him over defensive— Jiyan would likely be scandalised if he knew Calcharo’s wariness against his people, but the New Federation has taught him enough to know that appearances can always be deceiving.
He turns his attention to the different outfits that the merchant had advertised as “made for Resonators”.
There is a pattern of superfluous ribbons and hanging strips of cloth on many of the clothes. The pockets, he could understand. But the cloth and ribbons seemed impractical for combat.
The merchant dismisses Jiyan’s attempts at persuasion, turning to Calcharo, “You are a Resonator, correct? From the New Federation? I hear the Resonators there are all about usefulness, no sense of traditional aesthetic at all.”
Calcharo crosses his arms. “I may not know as much about the elites, but the people I’ve encountered are more pragmatic than those here, I suppose.”
Jiyan glances at him, understanding what he means. “That’s because you only interact with the… ‘business-minded’ people there.”
“So you’re a business person, young man?” The merchant asks as he places a box down on the table, “Well, I suppose it makes sense for you to be associated with the General, then.”
Calcharo’s not sure what he means by that, but he doesn’t say anything. Is it about status?
He wonders what might happen if he tells the old man that he’s none other than the leader of one of the most infamous mercenary groups, but dismisses the thought.
Best not give him a heart attack and send him to the afterlife while the General’s around. It won’t be conducive to amicable business relationships if someone dies, whether it be directly or indirectly, because of Calcharo.
He’s broken out of his thoughts when the merchant opens the box. There’s laminated papers inside the box, with scrawling designs of what seems to be clothing on it.
“This is the VIP treatment, young man. Top-secret new designs that Huaxu Academy’s been collaborating with the top New Federation clothing stores have been working on— clothing specifically for Resonators. You can pick an outfit to be custom-tailored, on the house.”
Calcharo shifts, “What’s the catch?”
The merchant merely chuckles, “There’s no catch, young man. You’re a guest of Jinzhou, and the General.”
Jiyan approaches, standing a little ways behind his shoulder. His back prickles at the feeling of leaving himself unguarded to someone else, but strangely enough, his instincts are rather calm.
Yet, the merchant is so obviously suspicious. He isn’t so much of an idiot to agree, and then later be dragged into favors.
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m not interested.”
He can feel the General’s gaze on him as he leaves. He ignores it, of course. It would do him no good to acknowledge whatever soft-hearted thoughts that the other may harbour towards him.
The other man catches up to him with a light jog that makes those impractically long strips of cloth that the Jinzhou natives seem to call fashion dance behind him. It’s a bit mesmerizing, but he pulls his eyes away and continues on ahead.
Jiyan doesn’t seem content with the silence, because he quickly breaks it, “He was just being kind.”
“I don’t need it.”
“You could try accepting it and see what happens.” The General looks at him with soft, hopeful eyes. Ones that had no place in being directed towards him .
“Please. I already know,” he says. Slight bitterness clouds his tone.
The General frowns. “I know you’ve been hurt before, but the people of Jinzhou aren’t like that.”
Calcharo stops and turns, frustration building. His hand twitches, itching for battle, but he quells that, simply biting out: “Oh, because you would know everything about everyone here? That there’s no crime? That everyone here is the paragon of innocence?”
“Of course not,” Jiyan says slowly. He doesn’t look away. Warm, honey gold eyes look straight into his, unflinching. “But I am of the opinion that you can feel belonging here. You can find a place for yourself, if you give it a try.”
“I’m not here to make a home,” Calcharo retorts. But, even to his own ears, it sounds flat and weak.
Jiyan only looks at him with that doe-eyed melancholic look that was entirely unbefitting of a General.
Calcharo turns away and walks up to the nearest stall, leaving the other man in the dust. “What are you selling,” He grunts out. It isn’t a question.
“Ah!” The storekeeper, a young woman, jumps. “Uh, um. Tea! I- I sell tea. Freshly imported from all over the world! Highest quality you’ll find,” She manages to advertise between her stutters.
Calcharo quickly scans the products, before catching sight of something familiar. “That. What is it?”
“Um, that’s Noctemint tea.” She responds quickly, stiff as a board.
“Give me one,” He places a bag of credits on the table and picks up the box she places down in return.
“S-sir, would you be interested in Premium Noctemint Tea?” The woman interjects, in a small voice. If it weren’t for his increased hearing capabilities as a resonator, he likely wouldn’t have heard.
“What’s the difference?”
“Handpicked, sundried perfectly, and loose-leaf. The one you have is bagged, but loose-leaf is arguably more pure and rich in taste.”
“I’ll take it.” He places more credits.
“Have a nice day!” She smiles cheerily, having forgotten her fear in the face of a sale.
Calcharo merely grunts and turns. Jiyan is nowhere to be found. He’s not where he last saw him, so Calcharo walks through the market that is beginning to fill with people as the sun rises higher in the sky.
Finally, after a minute or two, he spots that signature teal by a stall. Jiyan turns just in time to spot him, eyes lighting up.
“Ah, Calcharo. This is for you,” Jiyan says, placing a bag into his hands. Calcharo, bewildered by the sudden gift, holds it. He looks inside the bag and takes out a bottle of premium blade oil. It’s the good kind, too. The ones that cost quite the hefty sum that even he would think twice about buying.
“I’m sorry,” Jiyan says quietly, while Calcharo holds up the bottle to the light, admiring the liquid in the glass. Calcharo turns his head towards him as Jiyan looks away, “I shouldn’t have forced you earlier.”
Calcharo pauses for a moment, carefully thinking over his words before speaking. “You love Jinzhou, I will not fault you for that. It is simply a… different kind of environment that I am just not used to.”
Jiyan nods, “I cannot say that I can understand your exact circumstance, but I know what you mean. I simply hope that perhaps, one day, you might see Jinzhou a bit more like the way I do.”
His first instinct is to retort that no, he likely will never. But with the rising sun, the bustle of commotion, the look in the General’s eyes, and the warmth in his chest, he finds himself faltering.
“Hm,” He says, as nonchalantly as possible. “Perhaps one day. For now, take this.”
The other man blinks as he not-so-gently pushes the bag with the teas inside towards him. Jiyan’s eyes widen. “That’s my favorite.”
“I guessed correctly, then.”
“How did you know?”
Calcharo raises a brow, “That’s the only one you drink.”
“Oh. You noticed that?” Jiyan whispers, stunned.
Calcharo turns, steadfastly ignoring him. “...Come on. Let’s go back to that clothing merchant.”
He doesn’t need to turn to feel Jiyan smile at him. The warmth in his chest tells him enough.