text; un: li_min

[kiss_it_better]

I've found myself with more free time than I know what to do with in the evenings.

[Which is to say, he's sleeping as little as humanly possible for the foreseeable future.]

I may as well do something productive with that time, right?

So I was thinking that I would be interested in learning a new language. Or maybe two, though I feel as if learning one at a time may be better. If anyone would be willing to teach me theirs I would appreciate it.

I am also interested in taking up new hobbies if anyone has any suggestion. I have a special interest in engineering and medicine, but in truth my interests are fairly eclectic.

Oh, and I was considering building a new chicken coop for our two hens. I don't suppose anyone has any advice on that? Or on raising chickens in general. I've done a bit of reading but I would enjoy hearing from people who might have more practical experiences.

[He just wants things to do to pass the time since he doesn't have enough to do here compared to back home where he had so many schemes going...and he needed the distraction.

Also, despite his attempts at depriving himself entirely of sleep, he's posting this at a very reasonable hour in the morning...or rather, he's purposefully posting at a reasonable hour so hopefully no one will suspect anything was wrong.]

Comments

[kiss_it_better]

Why is it odd? Many people raise hens.

[But not, he knows, in the city and not people who look like young masters like him.]

Besides, they give fresh eggs.

[huaisang]

Well, yes but

[ ... definitely not someone who looks like him. ]

I don't know. Is someone making you do this? Did you lose a bet?

[kiss_it_better]

Hauisang-xiong doesn't need to worry so much. I promise it's nothing like that.

[The answer is: Gu Yun suggested it.

But since the whole point of this exercise was not thinking about Gu Yun he doesn't mention it.]

Chickens are surprisingly in intelligent. I read somewhere they could be taught to do tricks.

[huaisang]

[ chang geng is so whipped it's adorable. ]

I will worry, you seem too nice.

Is that also part of the reason you've decided to keep the chickens as pets? To teach them tricks?

[kiss_it_better]

Huaisang-xiong is very kind.

[But truly, he's a lot less nice than he appears...]

We mostly got them for the eggs. Teaching them tricks is only something to pass the time.

Ah, speaking of eggs, I was testing some recipes earlier for sweets. Would you like to come over to try some?

[huaisang]

A-Min, how sweet are they? You know anything too sweet will make my teeth hurt.

[ translation: OH HE IS HERE FOR FREE SWEETS. ]

[kiss_it_better]

Not too sweet. At least, according to my palate.

[He's learned that some people come from places that prefer their sweets to be very decadent and very, very sweet. But he himself prefers more subtle flavours.]

Though I believe Huaisang-xiong will have to try it himself and let me know if it's to his liking.

[huaisang]

You are asking for so much trust, A-Min! What am I going to do if you lead me astray? I don't know...

Fine, fine, I will do this and try out the sweets and see what would go well with the types of tea we'll have on offer. My cultivation is very poor but I am very strict about quality.

Only the best will do.

[kiss_it_better]

Didn't Huaisang-xiong just say I was too nice? Surely, if I did lead you astray it could only be by accident.

[Hahaha.]

I would expect nothing less.

I will wait for you with tea then.

[Because you mean you're coming right now, surely?]

[huaisang]

How curious you are, A-Min! Confessing to not being nice to me like this. That's so interesting, yes.

I won't be long, just need to find the perfect fan that goes with this outfit.

[kiss_it_better]

You wound me. Do I seem like such a person?

That gives me just enough time to prepare things properly then.

[He takes a moment to boil the water and set out the sweets--little cakes and pastries--on a platter. The work is mechanical, it doesn't require much thinking which is nice.

The apartment is more or less as it's always been, neat and orderly and well cared for. The only differences besides the chicken coup in the courtyard is the fact that there were only his shoes and no black armour to be seen anywhere where there'd at least be one hanging about (after all, Gu Yun could only wear one set of armour at a time and not all of them would be given over to his mechanic of choice in this place).

Either way, like Chang Geng himself there is nothing overtly giving away that something was off to the average person as he prepares.]

[huaisang]

[ nie huaisang has this bad habit of making himself at home in strange places. he uses it to hide in plain sight when he's back home, but here in this place he just looks like an idle young master who is pestering poor chang geng while the other is hard at work.

huaisang takes note of the small changes and shifts since his last visit but they are none of his business and so he just fans himself lazily while taking a seat at a low table. ]

You might have to come over more often to my place. One of the rooms is now converted entirely for the purpose of growing the leaves and picking them out but- ah, since it is just me now and all - the house gets messy.

[kiss_it_better]

Is Huaisang-xiong asking me to be his housekeeper?

[He sounds just a little bit amused. He brings the spread over. There's tea, of course, but also some desserts, as promised.

A few were shaped into delicate flowers, a traditional choice, but more of them were shaped like gears.]]

[huaisang]

A-Min could never keep up with the mess I make, besides there is an order to my madness in the house! [ he spreads his fan open to hide his laughter and smile.

then he turns his attention to the desserts, all so artfully arranged and delicate looking. ] But I do need help with the tea leaves, we do not want them to spoil or go wrong after we've come so far.

But, would you enjoy being a housekeeper?

[kiss_it_better]

If you say so.

[He says it so mildly there is no telling if it were sincere or not. Then he started pouring the tea, each movement elegant in a way that's completely at odds with the fact that just earlier he had been asking about raising chickens.]

It would be a pity to see all that work go to waste. [He places the teapot down.] I do clean, but I have never worked as a housekeeper. However, I like to think I am the sort of person who isn't afraid to try new things.

[Also, housekeeping would be something extra to take up more of his free time.]

[huaisang]

[ li min is such a curiosity for someone like huaisang, there are secrets here that much he can tell. but they are the type of secrets that do not affect him and have no bearing on his revenge schemes so he is happy to leave them be.

who is he to ask questions here and there about this man's past. but the incongruence is noted and filed away without judgement. ]

You are a very confident and brave individual then, [ he takes the tea and inhales. ] Ah, finally. Good tea.

I wonder how it is that this place has almost everything except for decent tea.

[kiss_it_better]

I'm just used to doing odd jobs.

[Which only adds more questions to the mystery that he presents.

He picks up his own tea.]

Every place has things they are famous for. Besides, [He smiles, amused.] it presents a wonderful opportunity for us, does it not?

[huaisang]

Any reason why? [ huaisang opens his fan - force of habit - and fans himself slowly, casually. ] Did you travel a lot? Or - oh, were you just curious about different things?


And, I suppose it does. [ he takes a sweet with his free hand, admiring it for a moment before popping it into his mouth and tasting. ] Oh! That is rather delicious, the taste is very fine, A-Min.

1/2

[kiss_it_better]

I wandered the pugilist world for four years. As for why... [He was still smiling and the expression seemed open and gentle. But as he poured some more tea, his eyes focused downwards, beneath the shadow of his lashes the look in his eyes were unfathomable.] I simply wanted to learn as much as I could so that I could be of use to one person.

[That one person who left.]

2/2

[kiss_it_better]

[When he's done he looks back up and it's as if the previous moment was nothing more than an illusion.] Ah, I'm glad Huaisang-xiong approves.

[huaisang]

[ ah.

there is something he can understand in the sudden melancholy that seems to follow those words. huaisang can... relate to missing someone, deeply and desperately. that is enough for now, isn't it? to have this much in common is sufficient. huaisang finds that trust is a commodity he cannot afford but — ]

Were you able to be of use to that one person? They better have appreciated your efforts, A-Min, if they don't then I will be sure to do so.

[kiss_it_better]

Someone who doesn't know better might mistake Huaisang-xiong's words as a marriage proposal.

[He is teasing...but he does appreciate the sentiment.]

As for whether I succeeded in my goals...not at first, but I did eventually. [It had only taken Gu Yun getting locked up for him to figure out what it was they needed.

[...until they ended up here anyway. He thought he had it at first but now he's not so sure.]

[huaisang]

[ nie huaisang lifts his fan and then laughs. ] Ah, if A-Min knew me from home he would not make such a mistake. I am the worst marriage prospect in cultivator society. [ ... well, at least he was not blacklisted as jiang cheng but... ]

Then all your hard work paid off. My brother used to be very emphatic about hard work. He would like you, and you him. [ he beams, then takes another bite of the sweets, yes. they could certainly use these in the tea shop. ]

[kiss_it_better]

[On the other hand, Chang Geng's situation had been the opposite. The Yan Wang who had revitalized Great Liang's army, who had fought on the walls during the siege of the capital...young, educated and well-known for a mild temper and elegant bearings...even though he had presented his childhood abuse as an excuse, he's certain his brother would have married him off already.

Still, he smiles warmly.] The worst? Either Huaisang-xiong is exaggerating or the metric by which such things are measured is beyond my ability to understand it.

[Though he feels like, a lot of reasons people decide whether or someone is a good marriage prospect were rather arbitrary.]

I did not realize you had a brother.

[He sounds curious. Even though he doesn't outright ask, his gaze is inquisitive and a little expectant.]

[huaisang]

It is not an exaggeration, I promise. [ he laughs, self-deprecating and then decides that that is enough self-pity. it was not like his reputation bothered him nor that he regretted it. he had to stay safe.]

I did, [ huaisang confirms, fan coming up to shield half his face. ] What about, A-Min?