openmisc | Aaron/Huaisang

Aaron/Huaisang - Early

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.

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"I have my studies," he tells him, but still nods to his answer. "It isn't far for you."

Nie Huaisang has to actively stop himself from pouting. The boy was already kind enough, he should probably just be grateful that he even bothered with him.

He bends at the waist in a low bow. "Thank you, young master." Then Huaisang rights himself and scurries back off towards the original pavilion, hoping to catch the last few minutes of the lecture without getting into trouble.

The next year, Aaron finds himself waiting for the boy that had been such a disappointment the year before. Would he return this year? Would he be there?

He sits on a bench, enjoying the sunshine, watching younger children play, while he waits on the disciples.

His year had been a certifiable disaster - he hadn't passed the lectures, he hadn't learned anything other than what the birds were like in Gusu, and Lan Qiren had written a very snippy note to his brother which forced him to practice the saber for weeks after he came home. Thankfully Da-ge's soft spot for his younger brother won out over his anger at the failure, and he only made Huaisang do two days of extra saber practice before letting him go back to his painting.

But then the next year came around. He'd been hoping he would get to skip to the next year and actually be with his peers, but his brother was adamant that he try again.

And so Nie Huaisang found himself back in Cloud Recesses. He was happy to see Lan Xichen though, and spent some of the first day with his older brother's best friend talking about poetry and silk fans.

Aaron passes Huaisang wordlessly, but he slips a bit of paper into his hand as he does, averting his eyes from the boy's companion and offering a deep bow before skittering off to his destination.

Folded in Huaisang's hand is a paper bird. A little chick, just the size of his palm.

Nie Huaisang is on his way to the evening meal when the boy with hair like sunshine passes him by. He moves before he's able to respond with a bow of his own, and blinks softly as he opens his palm and looks at the little origami bird.

He's quiet for a long while after that, though slips the paper into his sleeve and hurries off to the dining pavilion to sit with the other students. He wants to see the boy again, but somehow he doubts that he will.

He'll see him again when the boy wants him to. He just wishes he could get a read on his personality. To give him such a pretty gift, but to just run off! Obviously he wants to be his friend.

He does want to be his friend, but he doesn't know how to do it. He doesn't want him to cry again and he doesn't want him to fail.

The next day, the next time he sees him, he slides him a paintbrush. A symbol, rather than a gift. He knows what he'd rather be doing, but he has to focus!

He can't fail again.

The delight in Nie Huaisang's eyes is unbridled. He doesn't let Lan Yalun get away this time, grabbing his arm so he can properly thank him with a low bow of his own.

"You're giving me gifts! Is this to help me study?" Copying texts, probably. He hasn't been caught doing anything wrong this time, but it might one day happen. Lan Yalun is probably preparing him.

But that doesn't explain the bird. He grins at him.

Aaron's eyes go wide with surprise and shock. He hadn't expected this. He didn't think that he was going to actually talk to him. He scrambles a moment, though the only thing on his face is calm.

"I'm reminding you to not let your mind wander. To keep your distractions out here and your studies in there."

Oh.

Well, it's still a very good gift, even if it's a little backhanded. And he does need help staying focused, that's always been his problem at home too. There's just too many other, more interesting things to spend his time and efforts on, like painting and poetry and birds!

Oh, he loves birds. There are so many pretty birds here too in Gusu, what he wouldn't give to skip a day of the lectures and go hunting birds instead.

Whoops, his mind was wandering there for a bit, wasn't it? He smiles a little. "Of course, young master Lan. Thank you for keeping me focused."

He bows to him. "You are very fortunate," he tells him. "To have this chance again. I would go for you, if we could switch."

Hey, now there’s an idea! Nie Huaisang reaches for his belt, lovely new fan tucked into his waist. He flicks it open with a thoughtful expression on his face, leaning slightly towards the Lan disciple.

“What if you could switch with me?”

For the first time, a flicker of confusion crosses his face.

"How?"

Nie Huaisang smiles - and those who know him would realize it's one of his more devious looks, the kind he gets when he's scheming - from behind his fan.

"There's Daoist magic, of course! I can disguise myself to look like you, and you could disguise yourself to look like me."

Of course he doesn't know how to do this off the top of his head, but there's the famed Cloud Recesses library somewhere around here!

Aaron looks at his face, looks at that fan, and wrinkles his nose.

"Are you - aware that's against the rules?" he finally finishes, losing his nerve.

He can't even muster the ability to look shocked.

"I didn't think it was one of the 3,000 rules specifically..." But yes. Of course it's against the rules!

...is it one of the specific rules?

He's pretty sure that it is.

"What if we get caught?"

That still isn't a no.

Nie Huaisang also notices that's not an immediate no. He grins and steps a little closer to Lan Yalun.

"We probably won't, but if we do you can blame it all on me. That's what a good friend does."

That doesn't sound right.

"Friends don't do that," he insists. "You have bad friends."

He frowns softly. That must mean Yalun thinks he's the bad friend.

"Well," he says, closing his fan again with a little pout. "Did you want to try it?"

He thinks about it, but he really does want to know what to expect for next year. And maybe he can restore his friend's honor in the process.

"...yes."

He wasn't expecting him to actually say yes, but his heart gives a little excited leap in his chest when he does. Now he actually has to figure out how to do this - if it's even possible.

"Can you take me to the library?"

He already doesn't like this, but he's already committed, so there's really no going back.

He frowns, but he turns away, leading him off to another building.

Hmn, not complaining, not fighting him. He's going to be easier to manipulate than Da-ge on a good day!

But that's not quite the right term for what he's doing, manipulating. He doesn't feel like he's using Aaron so much as commiserating with him, which is an odd feeling for the somewhat sheltered boy. It wasn't as though he had a lot of friends to begin with, but after their father died Nie Mingjue had become overly protective of his little brother. He wasn't allowed to go anywhere without a retainer or servant.

Nie Huaisang follows him, having to hurry to keep up with the boy's longer legs.

Aaron leads him to their library and opens the door, leaning back against it to allow him inside. "Do you even know what you're looking for?"

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