butcher shop

@taekwoon j。kumiho he squints, trying really hard to understand where the other was coming from. "in my point of view, it's you who's asking all the questions here, bud." he retaliated. he couldn't blame him for his curiosity but the questions that poured of his mouth, prior to the accusation, had him dumbfounded at how weird and complex he has gotten. he chucked a breathy laugh. "maybe for good reason. you sound unhinged now." he simply responded. as if he wanted to leave his friends behind. he had to admit that because of his secrecy their friendship took a toll. he, himself, doesn't even know where taekwoon has been or gone through. he was that quiet when they were together, back when things fit like a puzzle. would they even be considered friends? now that they're older, their sense of freedom seems to only end up springing back to their job or place of worship.

the butcher could almost see the steam coming out of his ears from the inner rage he seemed to have kept all these years. "yeah, i wonder as well. what're you going to do about it?" he provoked. he wasn't sure how close the two florists are but the thought of him speaking to her about all these things he did in the past had his head swirl in all possible outcomes. he doesn't know where the other is getting at, whether or not he wants to threaten him for whatever reason, or to get him to talk about jieqiong in some sort of way. but he knew how much the other was getting under his skin. she didn't have anything to do with this conversation and having the other mention her several times already was rather irritating.

"repeat your last response, and if you don't find that a threat then i don't know if you were really in my gang back in high school or just someone that fit in the background." he commanded sharply. he found the other reaching for the exit after he went on a bit of a tangent. he focused on him as he approached the flower shop. he flinched at first, thought about whether or not to stop him, but he didn't have the energy to. it was about time to let his private life be revealed to her. he already lost so much of life to his family that losing another thing on top of that wasn't anything special. with a loud sigh, he shrugged to himself as his fingers tapped against the counter - defeated as always.

@jongin k。hachiman "You've got a lot of requests for of me for someone that you're pretending not to know better than the customers that come and go in here... So I don't feel the need to answer any of your questions or quench your curiosity." Taekwoon said as a matter of fact, giving another shrug of his shoulders before he glanced at the package in his hands, smiling a bit in response before those cat-like orbs were settling on the other man once more.
"I wasn't the one who disappeared..." The kumiho had added on when Jongin had decided to throw the whole 'you haven't been my friend in so long' card at him. In the elder's eyes the man had no right to do so, none at all, but with the way he had batted that topic right back at his old friend had spoken a thousand more words about how he felt over it all than any long speech or letter could.

Rolling his eyes when Jongin said he'd still kick the asses of those he used to bully, it had the kumiho pursing his lips and wondering if people ever changed. Or better yet, if the younger's apparent crush would appreciate such a behaviour.
"Wonder how Ji would feel knowing that about you." Came the breathy reply, almost unheard as the elder had turned his back on his friend. The familiar tapping of Jongin's nails on a counter brought Taekwoon back to the days he read the other man like an open book, apparently he still could as well. Smiling softly to himself at that, he briefly glanced over his shoulder at the man before his eyes seemed to light up and he shrugged all over again, pressing a finger to his lips.

"I'd never threaten you. Or... maybe I should. We're not friends after all, right?" Taekwoon reminded the younger about his curt choice of words before he was left laughing softly to himself. Turning away completely now, the kumiho seemed on his way out. A thought had struck him when the bell above his head had dinged to show he was leaving, his lips twitching into a small smirk as he knew Jongin would be watching him whilst he crossed the road over to Jieqiong's flower shop. Without a single look back, he had disappeared into the shop for now, probably, likely to return and see his friend once more after he'd mulled over the words he'd left him with.

@taekwoon j。kumiho a scoff fleeted from his lips as his eyes focused on the other's features momentarily before he looked elsewhere. elsewhere would've been better than being confronted by his old friend, or rather a member from his days as a free-spirited ruffian. no matter where he looked, it was the same old taekwoon but a whole lot more talkative. yet his humor was still there, lingering in each of his calculated words. it surprised how people didn't change. him, on the other hand, his flame had vanished long before his under eyes beame darkened and the knots in his back wind throughout the workdays. "don't flatter yourself." he said as his hands crossed in impatience. he kept his mouth shut as he unwillingly listened to the latter bury himself further.

his brows knit together as he faced taekwoon when jieqiong was mentioned. did they know each other? just the thought of him and jieqiong in the same room together gave him a massive shiver, while not visibly expressed, he still felt it. he tried very hard to catch more of what he murmured but he got the general gist of it. "and? is that all you've got to say?" he inquired monotony. what was he trying to do exactly? nevertheless, it bothered him that taek saw through his facade as if he physically there lurking through the shadows and followed him through his brief interaction with the florist yesterday. whatever it was, it bothered jongin to a great degree.

he groaned as his nicknamed repeatedly bashed against his eardrums. his fingers curved into a fist but was later relaxed when he exhaled a sigh. "don't call me that... ever..." he warned in a low growl. "you haven't been a friend to me for how long? you realize that, right?" his questioning continued as his patience were lowering and lowering the more the other teased about his love life - or at least the start of it. he was surprised, astonished actually, that the latter didn't just stop by to feed off the butcher's agitation but to purchase some produce from the shop. with a huff, he followed his finger to a selection of livers, which he robotically took out and placed on the counter beside him. he never would've thought he would be a meat type of guy, seeing as his lean figure hadn't change much from the past.

with an equally generic reply, he opened the register to fill it with more of the currency. he looked over at him while he spoke, a grin shortly lifted up his features. "by now, those little kids are full-grown adults. and i'd still kick their asses for their money." he sharply commented before packaging the meat, with nimble fingers as always. once he was done, he placed it closer to the other male, in hopes of ending their little meeting there. his fingernails tapped against the counter rhythmically as the other continued to fuel his anger. he gave all the hints that he wanted him to leave but he seemed like he didn't get it. what was he still doing here? "are you trying to threaten me?" he interjected the silence between them as his fingernails tapped faster. by the minute, his presence continued to irritate him as all the memories between them flash and finally release themselves freely into his mind. he was concerned... what exactly has entered back into his life, again?

@jongin k。hachiman When he was greeted so coldly, Taekwoon had his gaze flicked up as he looked over at the other man, narrowing his gaze just slightly before he shook his head in response.
"Now is that any way to treat an old friend? Or perhaps you've forgotten me." He murmured, tilting his head to the side before he walked up to the counter, his eyes still on the other man as he watched his old friend.
"No, you've definitely not forgotten me." The kumiho smiled to himself at this, the old hints of playfulness anf sly, darkened humour still there. Being covered in blood oddly suited Jongin, not that the elder would ever mention that. He knew the man he used to be, but he didn't know the one he had perhaps changed into after he'd pretty much disappeared off of the face of the earth, seemingly not bothered about finding his friend after all that time either.

Yeah that hurt, but the kumiho made it a point not to get close to people since then.
"Oh you know. The pretty lady you had a date with just the other day... to the market?" He pressed, turning his head and with the most subtle of gestures had motioned over to the flower shop just opposite the butcher establishment.
"Jieqiong. She's pretty, no wonder she's caught your eye." Taekwoon murmured, low enough that it would make the other man have to strain his hearing in order to be able to hear what he said. He did it on purpose, knowing it was a sure way to make sure Jongin was actually listening to him, giving him the attention he more than deserved after everything that had happened.

"Did you replace me with another friend? You seem all cosy with knives now, Nini." Speaking the nickname Jongin didn't like as much when they were younger, it was both a dig at the younger as well as a reminder of just how well the two of them used to know one another. Stretching out one of his hands, the man gestured to a selection of livers, tapping the glass and curling his finger afterwards as a gesture he wanted to check the produce before he was to buy any. He'd been craving the odd cut of meat for a while now, or rather, he just hadn't noticed how much he liked it? Regardless, as the meat was brought closer, Taekwoon leaned in just slightly and sniffed at what was on offer, not as fresh as he would have liked but how was one to get fresher aside from eating straight from the animal?

With another gesture he placed a note on the counter to show he was interested in purchasing it, his wallet put back before he could even be given the change.
"Keep the change. Can't have you bullying little kids for it still." There it was again, that twitch at the corner of Taekwoon's lips that hinted he was more than just pleased with poking figurative sticks at his old friend. What? Wasn't like it wasn't unwarranted, especially considering how he'd just been left behind. Picking up the package he'd paid for, the kumiho pointedly looked from Jongin across the street once more, spotting the flower shop again and bowing his head just slightly as he added on.
"Nini giving up his heart for someone so quaint and sweet... Wonder if she knows who you really are, hmn?"

@taekwoon j。kumiho the chopping board became frail the more the butcher sliced on top of it. the blood splattered on the counter nonchalantly as he continued chopping. as soon as he was finished, he placed the meat on a much cleaner surface. he packaged it skillfully with a dense corrugated wrap and tied it with a hefty chord. as he sent the customer off with a hum and the payment into the register, he continued to look over the selection of meats that populated the store. nothing was really happening and jongin liked for it to stay that way. he had enough excitement the day before that if he had something new come out of today, it will genuinely drain him. he gave out a loud huff, loud enough to alert a customer about to order something, as he returned to his regularly scheduled duties.

he was once young and zealous before. now that his life was situated in a small shop, he felt it was his need to settle down. although he'd deny his youth, there were good memories hidden that would always seem to creep every now and again. jieqiong made him realize how little to none of his friendships he maintained. it was a sad realization, really. he didn't have much friends growing up.. but one stuck out to him the most. jung taekwoon.

jung taekwoon was the guy he was almost inseparable with during his gang days, where the world was on the ends of their fingertips. they didn't care about the rules, it'll be lucky enough to have them listen to them first. all was good back then. when they had the time - to hang in the darkness like a pack of wolves that howled slurs out of frustration to the moon like they owned it. what happened to those days, jongin would point to himself. he had disappeared numerous times back then that his friendships and youth were long over. before he knew it, he was at a shop chopping up bits and pieces of ham routinely.

despite being the age of his prime, he still felt lost. the world wasn't as small it used to be back in those days. it was like time decided to take its anger out on him. or perhaps the whole world didn't want him the most happiest beating up children and sending them running to the hills. nor did they want him to succeed. to feel lost is to feel pity, disappointed, and isolated. he was more isolated then ever before. but the fact that he talked to the florist across the street gave him a spark of hope. a tiny spark but spark nonetheless.

he returned to his post after briefly looking over the inventory. with an already packaged sausage in hand, he passed the customer in exchange for some bills, which he put in the register before the customer said a quick good-bye. as soon as the register shut, he heard the bell signal an incoming customer. he kept quiet, as he did in a regular basis to let them silently pick whatever without his judgement. quiet was always preferable. he wiped the blood off of his gloves and into his worn apron before looking up to see a familiar face. speak of the devil. "i recommend you leave." he stated, his tone cold. when the other added a very unnecessary, may he add, comment he was taken aback. "what are you on about?" his frown was eminent. he was confused. this situation, no matter how much he thought about this moment before, wasn't like anything he'd imagine. he couldn't have come out of the blue, could he?

@jongin k。hachiman Now, Taekwoon knew his old best friend had been working at the butchers shop for a while now. At first it was like he'd seen him in a dream, the image of his friend in an apron and surrounded by fresh meat... so vivid it was as if the man could taste the iron flavour in his own mouth. After that dream he'd told himself he'd been ridiculous for even considering visiting the butcher shop not far from where he himself lived, but... he'd given in to temptation. Sure enough, he'd found Jongin where he'd seen him in his dream, those pretty eyes of his widening at the sight but he'd made himself scarce before the other man even had the chance of perhaps spotting him outside the shop window. He'd had lots of questions after that, is that where his friend had been all these years? Is that all that had become of him when he'd disappeared for a while during their school days together?

The past was meant to stay in the past and Taekwoon had tried once more to brush it all off as a farce, nothing more than just coincidence. He didn't have time for friendships like that any more and somewhere inside of him he'd hoped that Jongin had changed for the better too. But the fall festival had occurred and Taekwoon had promised he'd at least check it out after the wishes of one of his only friends now (if not just his own friend), Jieqiong. She insisted he get out more, spend time with more than the clients he entertained or the flowers that could only do so much for someone's happiness. But it was in the action of listening to her that he'd not only seen her, but his old best friend too, no less with the woman. He'd seen her once more too, with Jongin, this time not talking but instead with the man milling around like a spineless fool outside her shop.

Needless to say it hadn't taken the kumiho long to figure out that this one woman was the centre of his friend's affections. There would surely be no chance better than that to to reintroduce himself into Jongin's life, right? Some part of the man was terrified that his old acquaintance would want nothing to do with him though, and why would he? He seemed to have moved on, grown up a bit, hopefully... Exhaling softly, Taekwoon found himself outside of the butchers shop, the ring of the bell above the door signalling his entrance though he didn't expect the man working to look up and give more than a brief hello.

Hands pressed into the confines of his trouser pockets, Taekwoon's shoulders were pushed back in their usually relaxed way of his, somehow managing to look regal and calm all at once. Nothing much had changed there, or about his features. If anything he'd grown into his body more, filled out and even gotten a little bit taller than his friend, that making him smile since he'd been somewhat smaller in school and yet acted as Jongin's only conscience.
"What might you recommend for an old friend? Or..." Taekwoon trailed off, his voice as soft as ever whilst his sharp gaze held amusement and mirth in them, steadied on the man behind the counter.
"...Someone looking to go on a date with a pretty little someone."