XIan

@Nam Dongju Christian couldn't help but chuckle at Dongju's sudden burst of consideration. "You know darling, I don't need a new tattoo right now," he said with a grin, "I've no open place on my body to get a tattoo in such a public location like this," he added, resting his flattened palm against his chest. He patted Dongju's shoulder reassuringly, though the younger's resistance to the idea of tattoos only made Christian want to give him one even more. Perhaps in the future, they'd get there. "Besides, there's so much more to see here. How about we head over to the other side where all the...Hallyu Wave merchandise is? The advertisement flyers said something about free giveaways in that area."

@Christian Yu Dongju could /not/ stop grimacing whenever he saw the atrocities being committed in the tattooing area. It was to the point Christian noticed and graciously decided to let them leave, but Dongju was a kind person, so even if it was Christian, he couldn't help the regret that welled up inside him. "But we came all this way, and you barely got to see anything," he said, glancing out at the vast display before them. He picked Lori up and cradled her so that she wouldn't get in the way. "Let's go see the rest of it. Get a tattoo if you want. I don't mind. I just... I'll just look at the ceiling."

@Nam Dongju Christian was pleased that his first conversation was with none other than the seasoned tattoo artist Cream, who had a gentle demeanor and spoke very fondly of all his clientele's designs. As they briefly shared stories about how they each began their tattooing journey, they seemed to connect over Christian's belief that, "It's all about the stories people want to tell on their skin. Each tattoo is a piece of their life, a moment they want to capture forever." Cream had deftly wrapped cinch wrap over his client's freshly-inked tattoo, and with his free hand, held out his phone to exchange contact numbers with Christian.

A while later, as Cream was showing Christian a particularly detailed piece he had done for a client, Dongju reappeared, standing awkwardly beside him. Realizing that the younger was probably waiting on him and losing patience quickly, Christian decided to wrap up the conversation. "It was great to meet you man, let's connect again. Thanks for sharing your insights," he said with a smile. "I'm going to head out now." He looked over at Dongju, chuckling, "I don't think my friend here can handle it for much longer."

@Christian Yu Despite being given instructions to wait, Dongju followed Christian. He wasn't a dog or a child, and he was allowed to go wherever he wished, obviously. Christian, ever the chatterbox, struck up a conversation with the tattoo artist immediately, while Dongju hung back and watched the artist in the next chair work on a smaller, less abrasive pattern on a client's forearm. There wasn't any blood here, so Dongju was fine with watching, but it didn't change his opinion in any way. He still couldn't understand why people chose to do something so permanent. What if they changed their minds afterward? He couldn't help the face he made, which probably did not go unnoticed by the client in the chair since he shot Dongju a stink eye, sending Dongju right back to Christian's side.

@Nam Dongju "Woah, aren't we fussy?" Christian noted when Dongju /stomped/ his foot on the ground. He never thought he'd see a grown man do that. Though on second thought, Dongju could barely be considered an adult, so he supposed he shouldn't have been that surprised. Once they removed the tags on Lori's dress though, Dongju's spirits were lifted once more, giving him just enough sass to diss the tattoo artists again. Rubbing the back of his reddened hand, Christian shook his head and sighed, "Lori isn't as squealish as you are, so don't go putting ideas in her head now." They made their way back down the aisles they passed earlier. Though the tattoo artists were still busy, Christian felt that it was a better time to converse with them now, since there were less people gathered around. "Wait here," he told Dongju, slipping into the tent to greet one of the young men who was wrapping up a design on his customer.

@Christian Yu Dongju could only huff and stamp his foot. He had wanted to buy the gorgeous dress for Lori! Why did Christian have to steal the spotlight? Lori was technically his dog—he had all the time in the world to buy outfits for her. As soon as the dress was paid for, Dongju asked for a pair of scissors from the stall owner to remove the tags, and that was how Lori was going to walk around for the rest of the day. Absolutely splendid. Dongju clasped his hands together and cooed, "Who's a perfect princess? Lori is, of course. Now we have to go see your appa's body mutilation thingie. Are you ready? Make sure to stay close so blood doesn't splash on your new dress."

[post deleted by owner]

@Nam Dongju "Who said anything about my shop doing poorly?" Christian asked, laughing at disbelief that Dongju would even take an opportunity like this one to jump on his case. Well given that the younger would go to the extent of leaving rotten meat in his store, a verbal jab probably was on the lighter end of things. Christian watched as Dongju fawned over Lori, truly wondering how a person could be so extreme between himself and her. "She does look good," he admitted, standing back and eyeing his girl affectionately. "So cute, aren't you baby girl!" he cooed, bending down to pet her. Lori cozied right up against him, which Christian then declared firmly, "I'm going to buy this for her." He didn't let Dongju reach into his bag (since Christian was conveniently holding onto it anyway) and he paid for it at the first available vendor.

@Christian Yu "Ew, what? Then it wouldn't be a gift from me." Dongju jerked the bag away from Christian before he could do anything to /Lori's/ food. "Just 'cause your shop isn't doing well doesn't mean mine is. Now hold my bag, I have to help Lori try on her dress." Entrusting Christian with his personal bag and keeping the bag of treats on his arm, Dongju knelt to guide Lori into the frilly gown, letting out a wheezing gasp when it was slipped on easily, without a fight from her. She was the cutest, most obedient dog Dongju had ever met, and he was even more attached than usual since she always settled so easily against him. He adjusted the hat on her head and lifted her to show Christian. "Look! I'm gonna get her this dress too."

@Nam Dongju Christian had only thought to buy one item for Lori, as a little souvenir to remember the fair by, but Dongju seemed to have a completely different idea. When the younger came rushing back to them and started calling the shots on the clothing too, Christian noticed the bag of doggy treats in the bag hanging off his wrist. "Let me see what you bought-" he said, taking it over and opening to see what was inside, "Why'd you buy her so much?" he gasped, his eyes widening since he remembered seeing some of the prices of these treats. "How much did it cost? I'll pay you back."

@Christian Yu Maybe Dongju went a little overboard with the treats. He bought the pie, a peanut butter cupcake, a box of dog-safe cookies, and several bags of organic treats. They cost quite a pretty penny—maybe even a whole day's profit for Dongju at this point—but it was all worth it for the princess named Lori. Once it was all bagged up, Dongju rejoined Christian and Lori at a stall that only sold outfits for pets. "Oh my goodness," he exclaimed. "She looks like a lady! Let's get her that dress to match." Dongju pointed at a frilly pink dress complete with a lacy petticoat. "That one! Ahjussi, can we get that one to try?"

@Nam Dongju "Be careful, your Christian-repellant might mean you have to get your own ride back home if it works too well," Christian noted casually. The more they continued down the aisles, the clearer the sections made themselves. A lot of artists had also set up in the "Artist Alley" section, filled with fanarts and merchandise of the most popular manhwas and animated cartoons. Christian found them to be a tad too colorful and bright for his palette, but it was still interesting to see why this was the most crowded area. After that, food stalls began to line up, and then the pet-friendly section. Lori began to sniff out her surroundings with extra curiosity, which Christian couldn't blame her for. While Dongju was picking out some snacks, Christian's attention was drawn to a cute pink fedora that looked like it would fit on Lori. "Come here girl," he called her, clicking his tongue. Once she was within range, he reached over and placed the hat over her. "Gorgeous!" he praised her affectionately, "You like that baby? Isn't it so pretty on you? Pink is your color, yes it is!"

@Christian Yu "Yeah, it's my Christian-repellant," Dongju said, completely unashamed about what it was meant for. "Maybe there's some down that corner we haven't passed. I smell normal baked goods in that direction." As Dongju predicted, all the food-stuffs were organized in that corner, complete with the dog snack section, too. There was a plethora of doggy toys, beds, shampoo, and even hair dye, although Lori was probably a bit too dark for bright dyes. There were other dogs in attendance, too, all of which Dongju kept a close eye on while letting Lori sniff out whatever interested her. "Ooh, look, sweet potato pie. I think Lori would appreciate something healthy and not greasy for once."

@Nam Dongju When Dongju emerged from the stall a while later, Christian shoved his reddening hand into his pocket, playing it off casually as he examined the offending plant inside the pot. "Wow, it'll be new in your shop. You're going to put that on display?" he asked, though he didn't try to reach out for it. "Good, now we both have something from the convention," he chuckled, turning the attention to Lori, "So it's your turn, girlie," he cooed to her, once again holding back from petting her in case Dongju saw his red hand and belittled him for it. "Did you see any of the dog bakeries yet? I don't think we passed them on our way over," he mumbled, pulling out the map to examine with his good hand again.

@Christian Yu Christian reacted like Dongju stabbed him with a tattoo gun. The leaves of a white Mexican rose weren't even sharp! They were just a little prickly—firm at best. Since it repelled Christian, though, maybe it would cleanse Dongju's store and bring him back some good luck and business. It was reasonably priced for being in a convention hall too, so of course it was coming home with him. Once it was packaged nicely in a little bag for Dongju, he bounced with Lori back to Christian, giving him a jab with his own finger this time. "There you are. Look what I got." Dongju opened the top of the bag to show off his newest child. "Tada~"

@Nam Dongju Christian was usually very en guard about his allergies, taking precautionary medicine even when it was deemed unnecessary by others sometimes. To forget them today, while knowing fully well that Dongju was coming to the fair to view flowers was such a rookie mistake on his end. He all but jumped back and yelped when Dongju pressed the tip of the succulent against his hand. "!" he cursed on instinct, pulling his hand away as if had been burned and cradling it with the other one. Then, when he realized that his reaction had been a bit too much for such a small action, he backed away and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "You caught me off guard. I'll be over here looking, you take your time," Christian said, quickly removing himself from the scene. Even with that little brush, Christian's skin was already reddening by the time he made it outside of the stall.

@Christian Yu "Of course not, although that's a common misconception," Dongju said, picking up a small pot shaped and painted like a porcupine to examine the white Mexican rose nestled perfectly inside. Its tight leaves were firmly puffy and green—an indicator of excellent health. "Just because they're from dry environments doesn't mean they don't need water. Actually, succulents are used to periods of dryness followed by a heavy rainfall, meaning each watering should soak the plant completely. People also forget drainage holes, too, so their plants just suffocate in the soil." He turned to Christian and pressed the spiky top of the plant against the back of his hand. "Boink."

@Nam Dongju Dongju's spirits had been pretty high since they arrived, so Christian was fine with following the younger at his own pace if it meant it would minimize any grumbling for the rest of their trip. They had finally traversed from Christian's world into Dongju's when they reached the greenery, and it was very obvious when Dongju bounded towards the plants. Christian lingered behind at first, remembering the one important task he had forgotten today: He didn't take any allergy medicine. The thought of sniffing the plants already had his skin crawling. But when Dongju called him over, he could only hold his breath and make his way over, careful not to touch any of the plants on display or to breathe in their fumes. "Oh...yeah, not bad," he commented, though he kept his distance even from the seemingly harmless succulents. "I heard that succulents are supposed to be easy to care for though- I thought that was why so many people like them?"

@Christian Yu "Sometimes, bleeding means you definitely aren't going to live." Grateful that Christian decided to delay this corner, Dongju allowed him to lead them to the other end. They would inevitably have to return and Dongju would have to face it, but he might be in a better mood after seeing all these flowers the convention had to offer. Seeing all the greenery was a breath of fresh air to Dongju. All the stress immediately left his body, and he led Lori to the closest stand of little succulents. "Lori-yah, look!" Then, he remembered Christian beside him. "Oh... you can look too," he added. "Little baby succulents? Aren't they so cute? The pots are so pretty... They're really hard to take care of, though."

@Nam Dongju Christian never thought much about having to stomach anything as part of his job. Perhaps he had overlooked the possibility that Dongju was scared of needles. Or blood. Or both. Realizing that the younger was getting antsy over the sight of tattoos being openly inked, he gently grabbed Dongju's shoulder and turned them around, heading down the next aisle to explore something else. "You know, maybe I just got used to it. Or I just never thought it was something bad in the first place. Blood flows within you to keep you alive. Bleeding and feeling pain is just a sign that you're still living." Deciding the change the topic, he tried to recall where the plant vendors were, "If we keep going to the other end of the warehouse, I think they put the plant vendors near the open windows for sunlight."

@Christian Yu "No, I don't!!" Why did Christian keep asking Dongju questions about tattoos like he was ever going to change his mind? They were trashy and crude, and they never meant anything good. He would never get a tattoo, and he would never be interested, and he would never admire them either. He watched with a scrunched up face as the tattoo artist in the station closest to them wiped at the blood off his client's back. Dongju nearly vomited. "Is this what you do all day? How do you... stomach it?"

@Nam Dongju "Ouch," Christian replied, pretending as if he had been stabbed over the heart. "Short /and/ ugly? I could be one, but I didn't know I was both," he said. He wasn't the shortest man to exist, but with the milk that kids these days were drinking, Christian was hardly above average height. And as for ugly, well...Dongju made it very clear what he thought about Christian's tattoos. The younger's reaction wasn't the first of its kind either. Managing to keep his money in his wallet as they passed through more stalls, Christian finally came to the tattoo stalls. Boards and signage around the stall listed the types of designs and their prices, which were quite similar to the prices Christian set in his own shop. Dongju's shock towards the tattoo artists doing their job had Christian chuckling, "No, not today. I wanted to do some networking. But most of the artists are busy right now, so I'll come by and talk to them later. You see any designs you like?"

@Christian Yu "No, I don't want to be a potato," Dongju said after a moment of consideration. "They're short and ugly. I want to be something more elegant, like a... a rice cake or something." Maybe rice cakes weren't the most elegant, but they were versatile and delicious, just like Dongju. After floating by a few more stalls that didn't hold their attention for long, they arrived at the coveted tattoo corner they came for. Dongju couldn't help scrunching up his face at the sight of all these half- men and women lying around in chairs. The hum of possibly twenty or more tattoo guns filled the air, and Dongju instinctively took a closer step to Christian. "What are you going to do here? You're not getting one, right?"

@Nam Dongju Christian watched in awe as Dongju stepped forward to pay for him. The young boy, sharp-tongued and finnicky as he was, was actually the type who understood gratitude! Christian was full of smiles as the card was handed back to him, wrapped up and protected. "Thanks!" he chirped, finding it special that the first gift he had received since coming to Korea actually came out of the pockets of his most challenging interpersonal relationship. "Potatoes are very useful. They're a staple food in parts of the world you know?" he asked, following Dongju as they continued to walk through the busy aisle and turning onto the next one, "You'd be lucky to be a potato."

@Christian Yu While he and Christian were practically sworn enemies, Dongju did owe Christian for a couple things, especially for the clogged sink, and so if a five thousand won card was going to keep him Dongju's good side, then it was worth it. "I'm a man of my word," Dongju said, knocking Christian's hand aside to hand a bill to the vendor. "Think of it as thanks for... sticking up for the community." Once it was packaged, Dongju inspected the wrap job before holding it out in front of Christian. "There you go, Potato."

@Nam Dongju "Aww, you're willing to spend money on me sweetheart?" Christian asked, turning over to Dongju with a smirk and holding out the card for the younger to see, "I like the art style. This cartoon potato is cute. Good source of inspiration at times, you know?" he asked. And of course, because he didn't want to be rude, he held the card back out to the vendor who approached them, "Hi, yes, we'll just be getting this. He offered to get it for me actually..." Christian said, turning his head to Dongju, then snickering when he'd gotten the reaction he wanted from the younger, "But of course I can't have him do that. How much is one card?"

@Christian Yu Dongju stared blankly at Christian. Even Lori seemed to join him in his astonishment, tilting her small head at the older. Did he serious find this kind of stuff funny? Of course a potato would do nothing. It would be funnier if the potato turned itself into a salad or something, but of course, it had to do nothing. Dongju's elderly mother had a better sense of humour than this man. "Just like you," Dongju deadpanned, "doing nothing inside your shop but listening to weird stuff all day. I should get this for you to put on your wall."

@Nam Dongju Christian had come mainly for the tattoo artists, but he was also open to seeing what other vendors were setting up shop here. Looking both left and right as he slowly made his way through the crowd, he noticed keychain shops and homemade soaps along with DIY fidget toys and different clothing brands. While they all looked pretty nice, none made him want to stop by for a closer look until he saw a handmade stationary store. Seeing the cute designs on the cards, he stepped in closer to pick one up with a cute potato on it. "How to be a potato" he read aloud, snickering at the comedy, "Step one. Do nothing. That's it."

@Christian Yu Although they had lunch, Dongju couldn't get his mind off the chocolate cookies. They were too sweet, yes, but they were so good. /So/ good that Dongju snuck the entire carton into his bag as a convention snack, and now he was just itching to pull it out and chow the hell down. They floated by a few vendors, and while it was cute, there was nothing much that really caught Dongju's attention when his mind was only on flowers and chocolate cookies. Keeping Lori on a tight leash, Dongju stuck as close to Christian as he could without touching him, using the man in front of him as a shield that parted the sea of people.

@Nam Dongju “We don’t need to be besties, just good business partners,” Christian tried to convince the younger, still being rather playful despite Dongju’s harsh refusal. He let Dongju lead the way with Lori at first, making sure that he locked the car and marked the parking spot on his phone. Once they were inside the warehouse, Christian started to scan the area for landmarks that would help them find their way back to the entrance at the end. Just as advertised, the convention was filled with every novelty that they might be looking for. It was rather thoughtful of Dongju to think about Christian’s purpose for coming, so he took the lead when it was offered to him. “I looked at the vendor layout last night. I think the tattoo artists are down the southeast side of the building,” he said, “Let’s start down this aisle and work our way down.”