Jiehong was his own man. He could do whatever he wanted. He could go to the tavern and drink himself silly... but he didn't. He had fish to fry.

Whiskey left for her own errands and did Zan. Hoping to run into that shapeshifter again -- Meow -- Jiehong returned to the series of mudbrick buildings close to Marsha and Mimsy's flat. He searched, talked with people, and asked around. No one reported seeing a shapeshifter or anyone which matched Jiehong's description. He did not truly expect to see the shapeshifter again, though. Only hoped. He had more questions for it.

Figuring the night a failure, Jiehong decided he would drop by the tavern after all. Have a nightcap, or two, but that was it.

He had the night. And the coin. Once Winters came through with their reward, he would have more coin. With his circumstances bright, Jiehong pushed his way through the festival crowd to the swanker parts of town, where the wealthy lived. There, he found a nice bar which catered to the upper class. In the mood for a fine spirit, Jiehong's mood couldn't have been higher prior to its crash.

At first, Jiehong did not realize he had crashed. He laid eyes on two figures and instantly his mood changed. It crashed, changed course. For the worse? Perhaps, but in other ways, 'not bad.' For, when one saw their parents, how could one feel anything other than mixed emotions?

Catching eyes, Jiehong caught his parents' gaze. He approached them slowly.

Jiehong's mother said.

Jiehong said, telling his parents what he thought they wanted him to say. Instead, a curious event: they looked rattled at Jiehong's insulting of Zan. Last time they met, when Zan was off in that White Chamber and cavorting with that Expanse contact of his, whatever he was called, Jiehong had spent a little bit of time with the parents. And boy, was he unprepared for how frustrated they were with Zan. Most of his stay there was spent with him superficially ragging on Zan as parental appeasement.

Jiehong's father said.

Still standing outside the bar, Jiehong felt the first nip of the wind on his skin. He could ignore it before. Unmoving, tense conversation, though, often caused him to chill down. Jiehong replied.

his father continued.

Jiehong asked, knowing they were clearly intent on entering before he showed up.

His mother looked at his father. If his father gave his mother an approving or disapproving look, Jiehong could not discern it. His mother said,

Jie followed instructions. He got between his mother and father, as though he were a little boy, and entered the restaurant with them. A member of the staff brought them to a nice table near the quiet part of the restaurant after father slipped them a generous tip. Looking over the menu, Jie recognized the cuisine as Sunstar food. It was likely the only restaurant in town which specialized in such dishes. Considering the state of the buildings and road, Jiehong was surprised the town had anything in the way of diverse food.

Had it not been for mother's cooking, and the occasional outing during special events, such as birthdays, Jiehong would've never known his homeland's native cuisine. Per the norm, then, he ordered some curry. Dumplings were ordered as a side in addition to lemon hibiscus iced tea and a fresh salad. Jiehong wasn't looking forward to hearing what his parents would say, but he consoled himself with at least getting a free meal out of it.

To Jiehong's surprise, his parents did not bring up Zan and the war and his role in it until well after the food arrived. Everyone managed at least half their dish into their stomachs before Jie's parents said anything intense.

His mother began:

She asked the question innocuously. No ill-intent lay behind how she phrased it, Jiehong sensed. It was a normal question asked as normally as 'how is the air'? Refusing to overthink what the question could mean, in part, because Jiehong didn't want to mentally suffer any more than he was going to throughout dinner, he simply told the truth.

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He wanted to continue and talk about the military engagements they saw action. Jie knew his parents did not like him talking on for too long without giving them a chance to comment. So, he stopped himself and let them talk.

his mother said.

By now, Jiehong's confusion reigned supreme. Why were his parents acting so different? He did as they asked and told him that extra information he wanted to tell them a moment ago. All the stuff regarding the fights. Not only did they listen to Jiehong but they held onto his every word. His parents, for the first time in his life, seemed genuinely captivated by him talking.

Jiehong said, leaving out the part about the shapeshifter.

By the end of his explanation of events, which included many battles with the automotrons, Jiehong began to stand up, expecting his parents to want to leave. They were not fans of dessert or sugar, so he assumed they would want to go. Surprising him again, they told him to sit down and continue talking about his experiences with Zan. They ordered for the table a round of spiced mango rice to justify continuing the conversation.

Speaking up after remaining quiet for most of dinner, his father said, his father said.

He blinked. No words. No animalistic grunt of ascent. Simply his eye closing, then opening. Uncertainty grew itself anew inside Jiehong. This was a side of his parents he had never seen. As much as he harped on this new side of them, it never got old, as his parents never stopped finding new ways to surprise him! Worrying about the suit payment issue, Jiehong had tiptoed around the issue, only mentioning to them the credit direction. He was sure his father would rage. But he didn't. He did the opposite of whatever rage was. He blissed?

Finding the means to work his mouth, Jiehong thanked his parents voraciously.

He wasn't done yet. Remembering to use his lips for their intended purpose, Jiehong went bold and asked his parents for aid. If some kind of brain parasite was eating away at them and causing them to act totally different, the least Jiehong could do as an accommodating teenager was take advantage of that kindness.

Despite his parents and their new side on full display, Jiehong did not think his parents would go as far as to help him on this matter. Collateral meant precious family heirlooms. It meant big cash withdrawals from Sunstar's banks. It meant a fraction less security for when they grew older and needed to be cared for all the time. By all means, then he shouldn't have been surprised. Yet once more, Jiehong's parents surprised him. his father remarked.

With his mango sticky rice half-finished, Jiehong held his parent's gaze. Jiehong asked. He was tired of putting on a charade. He had to know why his parents were so... weird!

his father said. We're only wanting the best for you and Zan. Both of you are in a dangerous situation. We want to see you both protected during these dangerous times. That being said, there is something you have the ability to help us with. Protect your brother."

Protect... Zan?

His mother joined the conversation again and told Jiehong how much they loved him.

Conversation continued with Jiehong feeling much better. With the edge gone from the encounter, Jiehong actually started to feel happy he was here, in a place which knew their lineage and history as proud Sunstar Citizens. He felt a connection to his parents again. Something he hadn't felt in many months now. Even before the invasion, Jie reckoned.

So long the conversation went, his parents ordered another round of desserts for the table. Jiehong felt calm enough to order a mixed drink. His parents did not bat an eye. In fact, his father took the water by the hand and said,

Hearing his father defend his honor as a customer and as an adult capable of making his own intake needs made him feel like a swarm of bees drenched in pollen. Happiness was a word, but it couldn't convey how joyous Jiehong felt. Elation was more like it.

By evening's close, the waiter brought them the bill. His father snatched the bill up once it dropped. His affixed his reading glasses and carefully notched down a tip for the staff. his father gasped under his breath.

With the bill paid, the family left the restaurant in a wild wind the opposite of which they had arrived. Laughing, joking, and with tongues lessened by a few adult beverages, it was as opposite as they could get. Hailing a transport wagon stocked with a city guard, his parents told Jiehong, his father said.

Jiehong said, taken aback by their sudden departure.

His parents turned to look at him. Jiehong said,

his father said with a glow.

Jiehong said, thinking nothing unusual about his father encouraging him to seek preferential treatment.

Piling into their wagon, his parents bid the driver their destination. Using an oversized horn, the driver shattered the disruption in the streets, causing many people who were freely walking from one side of the road to the other, to rush out of the wagon's way while it rolled out of sight, leaving Jiehong alone and feeling sad to be by himself once more.

Looking at the time, the moon in full-showing, Jiehong knew he should be returning to Marsha's flat. Lonesome though he felt, Jiehong was refreshed. His mind felt tingling with the feel-good sensations crawling over his head like hairs standing straight. Jiehong mouthed as he watched their wagon disappear into the night.