" yer in my seat. " he says, coming from behind where they were sitting. it wasn't really his seat- but it was his favorite spot at the party car's bar. surprised actually that anyone else was here; a new face ??? made it doubly hard not to take a jab and tease them for the inconvenience. hand braces himself on the counter, and he leans to get a good look at who it was. " scoot it or loose it. " clearly a joke, as he flashes them a toothy smile.
these days, Shen Qingqiu feels he's finally adjusted to a point he's comfortable enough to leave the sanctity of his own bedroom and not feel completely out of place. having spent a good portion of his first months aboard the Astral Express locked away – not because of fear, but due to uncertanity about his situation and the repercussions that could arise, depending on the choices he makes. he's fortunate that in his transmigration, the system also came with him, but even it was unsure what this place was. at present it was still currently rebuilding it's database like it had been since they arrived, but every now and then Shen Qingqiu could call on it for a little sense of comfort. which is precisely what he's done today, wanting some companionship in the solitude found on the ship, due to the absence of most of it's inhabitants.
as he understands it, they've wound up at the front of a particularly complicated world that required almost everyone's cooperation. Shen Qingqiu himself almost contemplated going out as well – but when he looked at the state of things, he wasn't certain Xiu Ya would be more helpful than detrimental to the others. so he resigned himself to staying behind yet again, and opted to tuck himself away in the party car for a quick drink.
with no real destination in store for him, he'd chose to wear the robes of Qing Jing Peak, rather than some of the more modernized styles provided to him by the good grace of his companions. he was comfortable like this and looked both elegant && a little out of place, but it didn't necessarily matter all that much to him what he did or didn't wear. he did like this dimension's fashion quite a bit though. there was his trademark fan in hand, and his eyes were closed as he silently argued with the system in his head about something or other. the damn thing was about as helpful as ever, and his patience was growing thin. from an outside perspective he probably looked like he was meditating – or something to that degree – but it couldn't be further from the truth.
just as he's about to hurl a particularly nasty insult toward the system for denying one of his requests, an unfamiliar voice drifted into his ear, drawing him out from within himself. slowly, emerald eyes drew half-open and wandered up until they'd come face-to-face with that voice's owner. a frown touching his lips; one which he quickly covers up behind his fan as he can't help thinking; what's with all these tall people? really? it makes him almost miss his students back on Qing Jing Peak, only because their heights didn't even come close to his own.
silence follows as Shen Qingqiu appraises him for a good long while. that silence is then broken when he appears to have made up his mind, and snapped his fan shut quite suddenly. the tip of that fan is tucked beneath Boothill's chin, lifting it ever so slightly as Shen Qingqiu finally deigns to offer some form of acknowledgement. expression as lofty and schooled as it's always been. “ i don't see your name on it. ” voice trickles out smoothly with the faintest hint of amusement to be detected on it. “ if you want to sit down, there are chairs on either side of me. ” he makes a point to tap each one with the tip of his fan after pulling it out from underneath Boothill's chin.
“ pick one of them instead. this master isn't moving from here. ”


















