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

[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.

[threedontknows]

Huh. So does he.

"What kind of stories?" he asks quietly.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron glances over at the boy and then shakes his head.

"You should go back."

[threedontknows]

Huaisang frowns slightly. He's not used to not getting what he wants, but he can sense that if he presses now he's still not going to get a satisfactory answer.

He wipes his mouth and nods. "This way?" he asks quietly, pointing back towards the pavilion. He really doesn't want to leave his new friend.

[creeksidealtarboy]

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

[threedontknows]

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.

[creeksidealtarboy]

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.

[threedontknows]

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.

[creeksidealtarboy]

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.

[threedontknows]

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.

[creeksidealtarboy]

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.

[threedontknows]

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.

[creeksidealtarboy]

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."

[threedontknows]

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."

[creeksidealtarboy]

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."

[threedontknows]

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?”

[creeksidealtarboy]

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

"How?"

[threedontknows]

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!

[creeksidealtarboy]

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.

[threedontknows]

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!