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 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.”

[creeksidealtarboy]

He gives him a shitty little bow and disappears behind the screen. At least he knows how to put the robes on now. He slips into them, pleased with the blue, and walks out in his sneakers.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang changes as well, choosing something a little more refined for the Chief Cultivation to be seen in whilst he's out and about. Lots of muted colors, geometric designs. He fixes his hair and waits with his fan by the door, turning when Aaron finally reappears.

He looks beautiful in the blue, those terrible shoes and all. "Are you ready?"

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron's a little mesmerized by him. He's never seen anyone, much less a man, look this beautiful. It's disarming how good he looks.

"Uh, yeah," he says, walking over to join him.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang fans himself idly as he continues to inspect Aaron. Pretty little thing, he feels like a lecher.

“Come. I need to take care of a little business and then we can proceed.”

The business? He needs to tell his disciples and servants where he’s off to for the day, which takes him through the Nie throne room, by far the most elaborate space in all of the Impure Realm.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron is suddenly aware of how small he really is. This space is huge and he feels...dirty.

Fuck.

"What's the business?" he whispers as they walk. "Where the fuck am I supposed to stand?"

[threedontknows]

“Beside me, of course,” Huaisang tells him, casually walking up to the throne. A few of his servants are scurrying about, but he wants to meet with the men and women waiting for him at the head of the room.

“Excellency,” they say in unison, bowing. Huaisang returns the bow with a polite one of his own, then gives them his instructions.

He doesn’t say a word about Aaron; they all know better to ask.

“No following me, Nie Hui,” he adds with a laugh, snapping his fan. “Don’t think I don’t know you do it! I can handle Qinghe.”

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron follows after, head up as he watches everyone bow and address him.

He feels a flutter in his chest, almost painful, and his eyes dart to that fan.

Standing there beside Huaisang, he clasps his hands in front of him.

[threedontknows]

“My guest and I will be staying the night in Qinghe; you may expect us tomorrow afternoon, evenings by at the latest.” And because his disciples know him— “I’ll send a butterfly if things change or I need assistance.”

Once again his followers bow, and Huaisang smiles and gives a few more points of order. The ins and outs of the upcoming Cultivation Conference, the usual perils of the monsters in the hills. Business. He’s very used to business.

When he’s finish he turns in his heels and nods for Aaron to follow.

[creeksidealtarboy]

He doesn't miss the cue. Aaron can read a room, read nonverbal cues, better than almost anyone he knows.

And he's patient. He casts glances at him out of the corner of his eyes as they walk, waiting until they're alone.

"How long's the walk?"

[threedontknows]

“Not very long,” answers Huaisang, leading them through the gardens and towards the large, towering walls of the Impure Realm. “A few hours if we meander, though…can you ride a horse?”

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Nah. Never had the chance. Horses ain't for folks like me. We don't use 'em to get around at home."

He nudges him with his elbow. "Told you it was better to wear the sneakers."

[threedontknows]

That’s fair, horses are reserved for gentry and other rich folk. Most common people walked or used donkeys.

“I’d rather walk anyway. I enjoy the path to Qinghe, it’s pretty.”

[creeksidealtarboy]

"It's country. The country roads are always nice."

And it's in the opposite direction from where he was picked up, so at least it's new.

"Tell me the news while we walk. Who are all those people?"

[threedontknows]

“A healthy mix of friends, family, disciples, well-wishers and servants,” he answers with a smile. “I’m the Chief Cultivator, so I have people constantly coming and going. My first and second disciples like to meet with me and keep me updated on the progress of the others, and I have a few advisors that help me with the day-to-day for my sect and the cultivation world in general.”

Just a whole mess of people. Huaisang’s clearly got them all moving smoothly like an orchestra - everyone has a role, everyone is important in their own ways.