Pagan/Huaisang

[crab_rangoon]

"Ah! No, no. I don't need to send the messenger. Just let me go," he tells the guards at the gates, waving them away as he walks straight through with his sword at his side, his entourage behind him. They walks in with their white robes, though Pagan is in red and black, and he breathes in the Impure Realm. He hasn't been here since the death of the Nie clan leader, but he's been aiming to check on their newest leader. It's been a dark time for them, for all of them, but he still feels more than a twinge of affection for the boy.

Well, man. He's been a man for several years now, but it doesn't seem like anything has changed.

Still, he promised he'd continue to offer support, so he walks on, ignoring the protests of the guards.

Comments

[crab_rangoon]

"Walk with me."

He leads him towards a path along the outside of the palace. There's a small building that seems newly built, at least comparatively. Pagan says nothing about it as they pass.

"There is where we can see the entire valley. Are you up for the walk?" he asks, pointing towards the topmost point of the mountain.

[threedontknows]

For the moment Nie Huaisang doesn't say anything about the little building, but he recognizes a shrine when he sees one. He bows his head as he passes and then raises it back up when they're on the path proper, looking at the very high mountain with a bit of a smile.

"I think I can handle that walk," he says, hand sneaking into his pocket and pulling out a treat he may-or-may-not have snuck from the Min kitchen. "You'll carry me when I'm tired, right?"

[crab_rangoon]

"I certainly will not. But these mountains do not grow too cold. I'm sure you'll sleep just fine."

He smiles to himself as he walks, pointing out the various flowers and animals they find. "Monkeys," he mutters, pointing to a chattering tree.

[threedontknows]

“That doesn’t mean they don’t grow cold at all,” he whines, though he is momentarily distracted by the monkeys. Or at least allows himself to look distracted, when in reality he’s thinking about how Min Pagan might keep him warm throughout their walk.

“Monkeys common?”

[crab_rangoon]

"Very. If you're not careful, they'll throw rotten fruit at you," he says with a smirk. "Ishwari taught me how to avoid them, but it's a secret I will take to my grave."

He puts a hand on Huaisang's shoulder and continues on the trail, up and up and up.

[threedontknows]

That's the second time he's mentioned his late wife. He can guess that it's the location - he's home, and is closest to the ghosts of his happy family here.

He likes when he talks about her. There's something about him that's so much less guarded.

"That was kind of her," he says, stretching his legs as far as they would allow for being so short. "It's only so funny, I can imagine."

[crab_rangoon]

"It is! But - " He holds up a finger, darting off of the path and returning with a mango, offering it to Huaisang.

"Ah, it is only amusing when it happens to other people."

[threedontknows]

He tips his head to one side. He thinks he's had this fruit before, but it's been a long, long time. He's mostly just intrigued by the way Pagan had run off like a kid, like he was Nie Huaisang's age, like he didn't have the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"What's that called?"

[crab_rangoon]

"Ama," he explains, drawing out the strange sounds. He peels it open for him, holding the sweet fruit up for him.

"What do you think?"

[threedontknows]

“Ama,” he repeats, looking at the pale yellow flesh of the fruit. He reaches for it, slender fingers touching his as he takes it from him. He puts it into his mouth and exhales loudly through his nose; it’s delicious, of course, like everything else had been.

Nie Huaisang licks his fingertips. “It’s fine,” he grins.

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan stares for a moment, then clears his throat, looking away. "Ah, you are too much of a distraction. Do you realize this?"

[threedontknows]

“No more than a new outfit or a gilded sculpture,” he teases, then holds his hand out expectantly for another piece. He grins innocently.

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan flips his sword over and smacks Huaisang's hand with the sheath. "Go and get your own. I showed you where the tree is." And he points.

[threedontknows]

Nie Huaisang yelps and then pouts, big eyes wide and sad. He looks back at the tree and shakes his head. "The monkeys are nearby!"

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan's grin spreads.

"Guess you should be quick about it."

[threedontknows]

“I could get hurt,” he says, “or get my nice clothes dirty.” And that along with the fact that he wants to share what Pagan has, or it’s not any funny.

He clasps his hands behind his back and continues on stubbornly. He’s far worse than his brother or his father ever were.

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan watches him in something like awe. This was the reason he had kissed him in the atrium. This exact sort of moment. He lingers for half a second before he hurries after him.

"I wouldn't let you get hurt," he points out. "But the clothes - hm. That's your problem."

[threedontknows]

"No, it would be your problem, because I would demand an equally as fine set as this." He stops and admires the fabric with a little half-turn. "I look handsome in this. It's a shame this isn't the fashion in the Jianghu. I'd quickly rise to the first position on that handsomest cultivators list."

[crab_rangoon]

"Ah, I have plenty for you, A-Sang. You simply have to ask." He points to a fork in the road and leads them to the left, along the mountain. "But you already have that position, I fear."

[threedontknows]

Oh, he doesn’t believe the flattery, but it is nice to hear. He reaches up the more tailored sleeve and produces his fan, opening it as he walks along the path.

“Did you guess my measurements, or do you have someone in your life that’s my size?”

[crab_rangoon]

"I guessed," he remarks lightly. "I have had a long time to admire you, after all."

[threedontknows]

He huffs softly and waves the fan in front of his face. "While you were seeing my brother, or after that?"

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan grins a little wickedly. "I never broke any promise or word to your brother," he says cryptically, but with that smile never changing.

[threedontknows]

"Oh, I don't doubt it, Da-ge wasn't the kind of person to take a broken oath lightly." Did Nie Mingjue know that Min Pagan wasn't just with him? Did he even care? He finds it hard to believe that he wouldn't care - but there's a lot he doesn't know about his elder brother.

"You wouldn't have a head."

[crab_rangoon]

He sucks air through his teeth. "Ah, and neither would he," he remarks lightly. "But I cared for him too much and - " He shrugs. "Well, there are some things a younger brother shouldn't know about his elder."