The morning quickly passed. They watched the acrobat troupe for two rounds since Riju loved it so much. They both had money to toss in the collection box since Kit had been given that month's wages early. Riju was still an apprentice, but Trig gave him full wages anyway.
They didn’t eat a proper lunch. Instead, they snacked on various things as they walked around. At fairs, Kit always liked to get flavored, colored sugar crystallized on a stick. Riju said he couldn’t stand something so sweet, and he preferred a skewer of spicy chicken.
Kit eyed the reddish tint of the meat. “I don’t like spicy food. It tastes okay at first and gets to be too much after a few bites. It burns for ages.”
“It must be the Finkin blood in me,” Riju said before sliding off the end piece to pop into his mouth. “It doesn’t bother me.”
“You’re Finkin?”
“Half.” Riju didn’t offer any more information, and since it would involve his parents, maybe it was a touchy subject he didn’t want to expand on.
Kit wasn't about to push him on it. All he knew about Finkin was it was way out east in the ocean and far south of the twin islands, Illusa and Foamlen. Also, they liked spicy food, itwas hot, winter barely existed there, enormous fish lived in the coastal waters, and it was a beautiful place from what he’d heard.
When they passed a tailor’s shop, Riju paused in front of the window to look at a couple of men’s corsets that had been laced onto wooden forms.
“I’ve always wanted one,” said Riju. “I bet the snug feeling is nice.”
“You should buy one.” Kit didn’t care to wear them, but they looked pretty good on some men. “You’ve got like what? Five inches on me? I think they look better on taller men. You just need a coat that you can wear open if you want to show it off.
“Trig hates the way they look even though they’re made for men’s bodies.” Riju rolled his eyes as they kept walking.
Kit bit off a piece of his sugar stick. “But if you like them…”
“Eh. You’d look cute in one too.”
“I’m shorter.”
“It’d still work.”
“I don’t like tight stuff unless it’s rope or straps,” said Kit. “Clothes that are too snug make me feel strange.”
“I like the feel of fitted stuff and layers,” said Riju.
Cheese pastries weren’t overly sweet, and they each ate one while they watched a bawdy play. A couple of the lewd jokes went over Kit’s head, and the crowd kept laughing. When it was over, Kit tried to take Riju’s hand again.
“Too much,” Riju grumbled as he pulled it away.
Kit stared at him, and Riju gave him a slightly hurt look. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s just too much touch.”
Kit still wasn’t entirely sure what was wrong. “I’m sorry. You liked it earlier.”
“It’s not you. I just need a break without touch.”
“Riju, would you come here with me for a moment?”
“Okay.”
It was a little quieter in a wide alley, although a couple of people were cutting through. Still, Kit didn’t have to talk so loudly to be heard over the noises of the crowd.
“What do you mean it’s too much?” Kit stopped by the wall. “What do you feel then?”
Riju avoided his eyes and shrugged.
“Can you try to tell me? I’m just trying to understand because I don’t know what you feel, and I’m not going to touch you if you don’t want it. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to look for something so I don’t do it when you don’t want it, and I’m not sure what it’s like for you.” Kit remembered Trig mentioning Riju didn't like being touched by him either if he was upset.
Riju hesitated. “I like touching you, but sometimes, touch-it’s-” He lifted his hand and tensed his fingers. “It’s too much feeling, and I can’t stand it. It makes me want to not be there because I feel it too much in my skin and my head, and I can’t focus on anything else except how much I want it to stop.”
