Aaron/Huaisang

[creeksidealtarboy]

It's nightfall by the time Aaron finally sees this "Impure Realm" that they took him to. He's hungry. He's filthy. He's thirsty. And there's nothing around him that's familiar. He has cigarettes in the pocket of his jeans and nothing else of his own. No note. No information.

Only the vaguely unsettling feeling that he's been deposited somewhere...wrong.

These people look like Huaisang. The robes, the way they move...it's familiar enough that, before they could unsheath their swords, he's throwing his hands out, asking for Nie Huaisang to their complete bafflement. But they loaded him up and took him. Goddamn.

Hopefully they sent someone ahead.

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[threedontknows]

Huaisang uses his fan to bat the date away. “The saber, it’s difficult! And I don’t mind sweating, but only when I want to.”

[creeksidealtarboy]

"But you missed a banquet," he says, standing up and stretching.

[threedontknows]

“It was a great tragedy. Fortunately I was able to throw another the following month.”

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Oh sure, yeah. Just have random banquets," he teases. "Alright. Now we gonna get out of here or what?"

Now that they have a plan, Aaron is ready to move.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang sighs dramatically but finishes up his meal and rises. He’s missed the food from his home during his time on the Barge, but there’ll be time to indulge later.

“Let me dress and make arrangements first.”

He’s still running a sect, after all.

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Sure, uh....do I get new clothes? Do you just walk around the city in these? What the fuck am I supposed to wear?"

[threedontknows]

Huaisang shakes his head. “You could walk around in those, but you slept in them. You need fresh robes.”

And he knows exactly what to give him. He picks out a light blue to match Aaron’s eyes — very Lan, but then again, that was why he’d like it. But his own complexion was never suited for the light blues.

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Never wore light colors before," he says with a laugh, taking the robes. They're finer than anything he's ever worn in his life.

That's starting to become less and less of a surprise.

[threedontknows]

“Never? I don’t believe it.”

He does believe it. Aaron’s never been able to get nice things for himself, he was too busy just trying to survive.

“Now’s a good time to start. Go get changed.”

[creeksidealtarboy]

"I'm goin' back to my room!" he laughs. "You need a taxi to get there."

[threedontknows]

“Just change in the bedroom!”

Pain in the ass.

“There’s a screen, I won’t peek.”

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Nah, man. That's where my good shoes are. I can't wear these!"

He wiggles his feet. "I broke those sneakers in!"

[threedontknows]

Huaisang looks aghast. “You can’t wear those shoes with your robes! You’d look ridiculous!”

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron turns on him, blinking big eyes. "But - but they're real uncomfortable," he mumbles.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang crosses his arms over his chest.

Those eyes are dangerous. It’s a game
Huaisang himself used to play in his heyday. “You haven’t tried the shoes yet.”

[creeksidealtarboy]

Thos e crossed arms mean nothing to him. He's seen worse.

"You ain't even gonna see 'em under the robes," he insists.

[threedontknows]

Does he want to win this battle? Absolutely. He’d like to show off his exotic friend while they strolled through the streets of Qinghe.

“I’m not going to argue with you about footwear. Wear the damned shoes.” He huffs and fans himself.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron's smile, bright and cheerful and boyish, only shows for half a moment before he closes the gap between them again and kisses him.

"Knew you could be reasonable."

[threedontknows]

The kiss stops him mid-wave. He pauses, then slaps his fan shut and taps him on the chest as he pulls back.

“Don’t think you can get with that every time. I invented the innocent eyes and distraction routine.”

[creeksidealtarboy]

He rubs that spot on his chest with a grin. "Yeah, yeah. Sure, man. You keep telling yourself that."

He walks backwards as he continues to protest. "You're more like that than you think, you know."

[threedontknows]

Huaisang continues to walk forward, still tapping Aaron on the chest with his fan. “More like what exactly? Say what you mean.”

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Aw, don't be like that. I'm just playin'." He gives him a sideways smile as he walks out the door, still backwards.

That. Fucking. Fan.

"Just that you're more like that big eyed innocent type than me."

[threedontknows]

“Only because I’ve been playing at it longer. You’re…what, twenty? Younger?”

He’s probably younger. What are you doing, Huaisang?!

He frowns and flicks his fan back open.

[creeksidealtarboy]

"I'm nineteen," he laughs. "But I do it better. Ain't always about experience. Natural talent is important."

[threedontknows]

Nineteen! He’s so young. Huaisang sighs.

“We’ll see if you have some natural talent.”

He nods towards the privacy screen. “Go change so we can go out! I’ll be right back. Business to attend to and all.”