Aaron/Huaisang - Early

[creeksidealtarboy]

He was simply Aaron when his boat landed on the coast. He remained only Aaron when he was pulled from the small boat and taken to a healer, who found him not only alive and breathing but strong and capable. He was taken in by a clan, a strong clan, one of rules and laws and principles, and Aaron began to thrive there. He doesn't talk much, chooses to smile and fake his way through most interactions, but he proves himself to be a diligent student and learner. He spends his time reading or practicing, and they assess that he isn't too far behind his peers. He will catch up eventually.

But there's the matter of his appearance. He's an odd child, fair of skin and hair and eyes. He's been able to prove himself with his own clan, but that doesn't mean that the others will think the same of him.

Comments

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron opens one of his eyes and glances to the other boy.

"They aren't finished yet," he says, hands in his lap.

He's breaking the rules, and Aaron likes his rules. He likes the way they tell people what to do and makes them predictable and easy. He likes the routine of knowing what comes next and what will happen later. He likes the structure of it all, the way the consequences are lined up so there aren't any surprises. It's neat and efficient.

And of course someone is already screwing it up.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang's head picks up from where he's dropped it into his hands. He quickly rubs at his eyes, because of course he's been crying, and they widen when they land on the boy who's spoken to him.

It's the ghost. The blue-eyed boy.

"You speak our language," he says shakily.

[creeksidealtarboy]

"No I don't," he tells him serenely. "I speak my language."

He has no discernable accent or lilt to his words, only those of what the rest of his clan might.

[threedontknows]

He frowns. That isn't what he meant -- he twists his closed fan between his hands.

"I just thought...because you're a foreigner..."

[creeksidealtarboy]

He raises his head. "My name is Lan Yalun," he tells him. "I live here in Cloud Recesses. You don't. You are the foreigner."

[threedontknows]

Lan Yalun? He looks back at him, blue eyes and fair skin and Lan headband, and ducks his head a little bashfully. "I just meant...you weren't born here..."

He feels like an idiot though, the more he talks the worse he's making it. He just can't seem to stop though.

"And you're white."

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Yes."

He lets out a long breath, focusing on his mind and his body like he's been taught. "Why are you crying?"

[threedontknows]

It's just weird, is all. He just feels the need to point that out.

"No reason," he says, wiping at his eyes again. Does it still look like he's been crying? He doesn't want that. "I'm hungry."

It's not a lie, he is hungry.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Hm.

He hops down off of the bench he's sitting on. "Come on," he says, but doesn't wait for him.

[threedontknows]

Nie Huaisang perks up slightly, but the boy's already moving when he realizes he should be up and following. He jumps up and hurries after him. "Wait, wait, wait, don't leave me behind!"

He waves his hand with his fan still clutched in his palm, finally catching up to the boy with minimal tripping over his feet. "Where are we going?"

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Perhaps if you eat, you'll be more attentive," he says, winding his way through the little homes and buildings towards his own. He's lived here for a long while, but he's proven to be mostly self sufficient, but he's still too young to live on his own. There was an old woman who took him in, her own children grown and gone.

He darts inside and brings out a steamed bun.

[threedontknows]

Well, it’s not that great a stretch to assume that he’d listen better with food in his stomach. The Lan meals are so light, the last few days he hasn’t had a full belly, not even during the banquet. His eyes widen when he sees the fluffy steamed bun.

“For me?”

He’s almost afraid to take it from him.

[creeksidealtarboy]

He nods and holds it out for him again.

"Yes. But you have to tell me why you're here," he answers. "You're too young. You're no older than me."

[threedontknows]

Huaisang hesitates, because this feels like some kind of trick question. But he takes the bun and starts to eat it, nearly crying because it tastes so good, but it's also not a bun from home. There's no smoked meat inside, just more vegetables.

"My brother," he says, mouth half full. "My brother made me."

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron tilts his head, watching him. "Why?"

[threedontknows]

He uses the pause allotted to him by having more food in his mouth to delay the answer, but when he swallows he still hasn't come up with what to say.

"He's...he thinks I need more help."

Huaisang looks at the lacquered wooden walkway. "He's the Nie Clan Leader."

[creeksidealtarboy]

"I know who he is," he insists. "Do you need help? Are you stupid?"

He isn't actually asking maliciously, but more of a way to try to understand.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang tries not to look insulted, because maybe he is! But his brother doesn't think so.

"I just don't care about cultivating," he admits quietly.

[creeksidealtarboy]

"What do you care about?" he asks, turning and finding another bun. This one he tears apart and hands the other half to Huaisang.

[threedontknows]

He brightens up, just ever-so-slightly, when he's asked about what he cares about. He takes the bun with a gracious nod and eats this half a little slower. "I really like painting, and birds," he says, chewing thoughtfully. "Da-ge said I could choose, but that was before..."

Huaisang shakes his head. "That was before, and now he wants me to work on my golden core."

[creeksidealtarboy]

Before their father died. Aaron paid attention to the news; it had been what everyone was talking about for weeks.

"Leaving the lectures will not help you with that," he points out.

[threedontknows]

Before their father was killed by a man who was supposed to be his friend. Wen Ruohan had expressed his deepest sympathies when the elder Nie had gone mad from a broken saber, even offering to take little Huaisang under the care of his clan until Mingjue was confident in his role as sect leader.

Nie Mingjue had been skeptical and rightfully wary. Huaisang's never been more grateful for his brother's natural mistrust in people who have done wrong.

He doesn't care about his golden core, but he doesn't want to let Mingjue down. He sighs. "It was so long though. 3000 rules is too many."

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Most of them are common sense," he assures him, patting his shoulder. "Focus on the ones that are not."

Aaron enjoys most of the rules and the ones that he doesn't, he considers an appropriate sacrifice. No meat for the ability to live safely and with predictability is a small price to pay.

[threedontknows]

They all seem pretty stupid to Nie Huaisang, but at least there doesn't seem to be one that makes him cart around a giant saber and practice all day long.

But it's pretty good advice, so he nods softly and finishes his bun. "I'm just not used to sitting still for so long."

[creeksidealtarboy]

He looks behind him, like he might get caught, then lowers his voice. "I make up stories in my head when it gets too long," he explains.