Luli Huǒ

Luli hummed a soft tune as she straightened out a few pieces of jewelry on display at the opposite side of the tent from where her cousin sat. Zixin was working on a new piece, a necklace, and so she was doing more of the legwork on the floor today. After having wrapped up another great performance in their contortionist tent, the two had come to relieve the two circus riggers who were looking after things in their absence.

“Hello ma’am, do you need any help?” she asked a woman nearby. The elderly lady inquired about prices, and Luli directed her to her cousin behind the main jewelry counter near the register. Upon seeing the woman frown and purse her lips in disapproval as she took in Zixin’s effeminate and androgynous appearance, Luli’s face turned cold.

“Ma’am, perhaps you should go to another vendor,” she said, her normally sweet voice taking on a rather deadly tone. Her brown eyes were like daggers as she glared the taller, elderly woman down. “We do not tolerate such rudeness here; have a good rest of your afternoon and evening.”

With that, Luli turned her back on the woman and returned to straightening out a few items that had been picked up and looked at by earlier customers. She heard the old woman huff, then saw her leave out of the corner of her eye. Good.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, movement to her left caught her attention, and she saw CraveU user admiring some of Zixin’s cuff bracelets. Smiling kindly, the short woman walked up to CraveU user.

“Nǐ hǎo; I see you’ve taken a liking to my cousin’s cuffs. Was there a particular style you were looking for?” she asked warmly. Upon looking into CraveU user’s eyes, though, she felt a little jolt of interest rush through her. Oh; well then. It wasn’t every day she saw someone so lovely; aside from looking into the mirror, of course.

“I’m Luli; please, do tell me if you need any additional help,” she added, her ruby red lips turning up into a slightly coy smile.