h e a r t s t r i n g s

She’s starting to get the feeling that he’s not going to be any LESS troublesome than any of the previous ‘partnerships’ she’s had across the years, even if in a slightly more workable manner. Instead of directly acknowledging what he says, she lets him know her observation bluntly. “ - You’re VERY slippery.” Not the first time she’s thought of it that day. Waves it away brightly as she gets to her feet and brushes off the stray bits of grass that clings to her hair and clothes before wandering idly to his side. ”That’s a compliment. I’m usually a harder bargainer, but - ” Wiggles her fingers in a gesture that was perhaps a little childish, as if performing some kind of magic trick.

“I just skimmed a little off the top of my cultivation for you, tiny bit of a boost- should make things a little easier, since I’ll be able to sense what you want and…guide your performance, if you will. Call it a gesture of GOOD WILL. ” He doesn’t trust her and she doesn’t trust him - but supposedly, they ought to start somewhere. That’s how it always goes, right? She shrugs - “And because I’m DYING to get out of here. I’d even prefer the endless dreary halls to this - they’re terrible at LANDSCAPING in these parts, you know. No sense of taste.” Kicks a rock that skids to a stop close beside her foot with a frown.

An accurate assessment of his personality, yes, but Jin Guangyao kept on feigning innocence, as if each and every word out of his mouth didn’t happen to be meticulously calculated to avoid conflict and still guarantee the best possible outcome for himself. There wasn’t much of a choice for someone that had to use any means necessary to earn his place in the cultivation world. Nonetheless, she stunned him once again in considering that trait under a positive light, going as far as to reward his bargaining skills with a prize far better than he could have predicted.

“Amazing...” He let out softly, the surge of energy tingling underneath his skin. Perhaps for the first time since being burdened with that artifact, he actually wanted to use the saber, to test out that power. He could only hope that with his brain and her brawn they could be allies rather than a mutually destructive force. He swung around again, the weight of the blade more comfortable for his arm, his quick feet finding an easier balance. Amazing, indeed.

And this is why this is FASCINATING - there is a great deal Ruyu has surmised that Xingchen hasn’t spoken of, gleaned from the cracks with sharp, dark eyes. He will draw it out, undoubtedly, bit by bit, before the whole thing is over, a story to sigh over later, when a soul is gone and he’s got a cup of tea - but there’s something delicious about the way the mortal remains CRISP AND CLEAN, untouched by the world’s sorrows, its hatreds and regrets and deep aches. His life, Ruyu can tell, is not consumed with it.

The fox demon has fulfilled so many desires - some softer and some more vicious, closer to his nature. That Xingchen’s desire is merely to REMAIN - well, at the very least, that is something he can easily fulfill. “ - We don’t have to go very far.” Agrees, and lets a light GIGGLE slip past lips when kisses brush over back of hand - he reaches out, very gently, to poke the other man’s cheek. “But you know I’d go ANYWHERE with you. Do anything.” 

Lilting laughter lifted his spirits, a confirmation that the usual good mood of their talks hadn’t been ruined by those passing dark clouds. It seemed like it was nigh impossible to prompt negative emotions in Ruyu’s speech, leading to the mental image of an exquisite gentleman, equally lovely in appearance and disposition. There was always the possibility that it happened to be an enlightened immortal, someone above the pettiness of humankind, yet to Xingchen it didn’t matter if he only knew as much as he was told. What they had was real and that was enough.

Snorts in a way that could  not be considered ladylike. “ - Well, it’s also just the STYLE of the Lanling Jin, I suppose.” They had a REPUTATION, for being kind of snobbish, even if they could afford to be. It was a shame, because Madame Jin was truly very lovely. Qin Su couldn’t think of a life like it for herself, and she imagines Jiang Yanli might have it tough in the future - her own sect is a little easier, a little freer, a little less careful of appearances. At least there she had always been comfortable in her own skin - and it was HOME, even if she had not yet started to miss it.  

He had seemed more comfortable there TOO, over the years - now, she can barely remember the little boy that he had been when she’d first met him, the one she tried to cajole into play with great enthusiasm and little result. But - they could only make such comments between themselves ANYWAY - their own sect greatly reliant on the Jins half the time. The political connection even she couldn’t miss. Grins at the face he makes, satisfied with herself - “You SAY that, and you might fool everyone else but you don’t fool me, A-Yao.”

He could topple empires with that silver tongue if he wanted to. “I expect that means you won’t ask ME to be helping you hide any bodies - that list of rules is at least a mile long but I don’t have to have read it to know that STABBING is probably not allowed.”

Lanling Jin’s golden tower seemed like a royal palace – sometimes he wondered what it would have been like to grow up with that extravagant lavishness, wearing robes of the richest color. More than once, Meng Yao had caught his mother gazing wistfully whenever their cultivators passed them by in the city or on official visits back home, and he used to tell himself that one day he would be able to afford her the same kind of luxuries. Until recently, he hadn’t known that the truth of her longing ran deeper than that, and when she finally told him the whole story he only became more tenacious in his pursuit to grant her the respect she was due.

Even so, it was with the Laoling Qin clan that they had found their home, and they occupied the same priority in his plans to escape that oppressing shadow. Why count on a birth right when they could prove that they were better?

@indulgentia​ as Xue Yang said: “  why didn’t you kill me?  when you had the chance?  ”

It struck him as an odd topic to ask about – did the reason really matter when one was allowed to remain alive? Jin Guangyao pondered in silence, his choices always rationalized down to the smallest detail but kept to himself, jealously guarded. It required a careful balance to answer that kind of loaded question, as he didn’t believe that he owed any explanations, while at the same time he couldn’t let the other man run wild with little ideas in his head that would be untrue. Controlling the narrative was a must for the Chief Cultivator’s operations.

“ - A-Yao, then.” Amends smoothly, quickly - taking the unspoken invitation. After all, he deals in DISTANCE - crossed and kept, and this is a tug of war he’s all too familiar with. Ruyu doesn’t frequently take a liking to others of his kind either - in his experience, they’re so very TEDIOUS most of the time. Cultivating toward the endlessly boring goal of becoming a god, or else moving from place to place, forever in the shadows hiding from humans. It’s rare he meets some other demon son - bloodily to his taste. “I’m Ruyu. You might call me…well, anything you please.” Smile COQUETTISH, as if it’s a private joke. “I’m not particularly choosy.”

Considerately slips off yellow outer robe to drape over the other. “It’s near but it’s…shall we say, a little eye catching. If I have to live around these parts, I like to do it in luxury. You’ll find a simple glamor does WONDERS.” Smile deepens with amusement, “You’d best not be sporting VISIBLE bloodstains. Oh, of course, I could make witnesses disappear - but that’s inconvenient.” Adjusts his own sleeves as he tilts his head. “And there’s been enough excitement tonight.”

A smile spread across his lips at the immediate appropriation of his nickname, the opportunity taken with enough confidence that it left him a little bit impressed. “Anything? That’s some liberty indeed, I wonder what has made you so... accommodating,” he remarked, eyes intent on the fellow demon. Both the considerate helpfulness and the note of humor in Ruyu’s voice when suggesting pleasantries led Meng Yao to believe that there was surely something to gain from the situation. In his – admittedly limited – experience, no one was ever that nice without intentions behind it, and he could only hope there wasn’t any wickedness directed at him in that case.

In the meantime... well, he did enjoy being spoiled, slipping his arms into the sleeves of the fancy yellow robe he was presented with. He pulled it close around his body while double-checking to make sure that there weren’t any spots of blood showing through the fabric.

        “Shen Xiaodan, it’s not nice to show someone a snake without asking them first.” Su Rong scolded her son and took the green snake from him with care, fingers stroking over it a couple of times before allowing it to wrap itself around her wrist. “Even if it’s alright, I’m trying to teach him not to pull that on anyone without permission.” She whispered to Qianqiao with a slight smile. 

           @chordbound​ ft. Liu Qianqiao 

Never in her life would Qianqiao have expected to be presented with a snake from a little boy’s hands, the sudden gesture shocking but somehow... endearing? “Oh, thank you, that’s–” She started saying out of habit, before a young woman, most likely the mother, intervened on her behalf. The beginnings of a laugh bubbled up her throat and she smiled, straightening herself up from where she had crouched down to be at eye level with the child.

“ - Not EVERY corner, I’m sure.” Offers a helpless smile -  “Even if it is…um, a lot of them. This city has its own charm though - I’m sure you there are nooks and crannies that you like better than others.” It was beautiful and a little mysterious, strange and terrifying and alluring all at once, at least to her, so different and yet familiar from all that she’s known before. While the general energy of Qishan was…OPPRESSIVE, at best - it was home to him, and now an abode for her. She can’t really imagine what it must have been like to be a child, growing up here - and thinks that perhaps there may be stories she’ll have to poke out of him or perhaps his seemingly tight-lipped sister one day. 

There were things about any city that needed making peace with. Especially now - when she has to decide where she’s going to go from here. But first of all - when she looks critically inward, it seems she hasn’t been entirely THAT CAREFUL. Too reliant on the people she was currently staying with, even if they had their own troubles.

“It’s a good idea - you’ll just have to take me around sometime so I’ll REALLY know what’s dangerous and what isn’t…” Nods along, chewing her lip. “There’s still a lot I’ve got to learn, if this is the life I’ve ended up in.” The life fate chose for her, when it sent her down a river only to be plucked up at the right place. It isn’t SO BAD, after all, she thinks, turning to look at him. “ - Maybe you can teach me how to protect myself, so you don’t always have to do the rescuing.”

“Possibly, yes,” he replied, mostly to acknowledge her point although he wasn’t sure he agreed with it completely. Qishan wasn’t the problem in itself, a place like any other in its own idiosyncrasies – no, it was the way the main branch of the Wen clan handled matters in the city that made it dangerous to those who didn’t know how to play their game. Still, Wen Ning did have the places he loved, those full of childhood memories with his sister or the quieter, less conspicuous spots where no one bothered him.  

“I’ll show you how I get by here, there are also some pathways that the villagers prefer to take... and they’re much nicer people.” The last part of the sentence was said in a low voice, almost unintelligible – he didn’t like badmouthing anyone, but the worst of the soldiers definitely didn’t make it easy for him to like them. He used to think that Qi Rou was better suited for the grandeur of their palace, but perhaps the common people had much more to offer a refugee in terms of kindness and support.

Reaches up to trace the outline of the smile, fingers lingering over lips briefly.  “…You know you can have anything - you need only ask.” It’s something he’s seen OFTEN ENOUGH on Xingchen’s face, but Ruyu doesn’t understand such an expression. It’s beautiful, CERTAINLY, and part of the reason he had chosen him in this particular pursuit - but he’s certain it’s an emotion he has never felt.

“Perhaps,” He suggests lightly, fingers wandering to bottom lip - “You might come up with some of those NEW dreams.” The smile can be heard in his voice, warm and indulgent, “And then we can go fulfill them together.” And then, he thinks as he leans close and places a chaste kiss to the corner of that lip, perhaps I might finally get a taste of you.

The Taoist priest understood that there was more to life than those whims, that the longing and the heartbreak would always exist no matter how much one tried to ignore it. He believed that Ruyu was the same as him – someone who chose to make his own happiness in spite of that, who could find beauty in a miserable world. There had to be a reason for that unfailing kindness, and Xingchen was glad to get to know such a selfless person.

Parecia  uma  pena  aquela  menininha  não  poder  testemunhar  a  expressão  que  se  desenhava  em  suas  feições,  misturando  o  mais  completo  divertimento  e  o  total  contempto  ao  perceber  que  ela  também  estava  disposta  a  brincar  com  as  palavras  para  afrontá-lo  em  igual  medida.  Essa  ceguinha  pode  até  ser  insuportável  às  vezes,  mas  certamente  nem  Daozhang  conseguia  ser  tão  divertido  com  reações  tão  ━━━━━━━━  deliciosamente  cruas.  Certamente  ela  conseguia  salvá-lo  do  mais  completo  tédio  quando  estavam  a  sós.  Precedido  de  mais  um  riso,  este  um  pouco  mais  desavergonhado,  as  pavras  seguem  sendo  venenosas  e  ditas  em  tom  jovial:      ❛❛ Pois  tem  muito  mais  de  onde  isso  veio,  ‘cês  dois  são  muito  sortudos  por  contarem  com  meus  talentos. ❜❜      No  entanto,  um  segundo  pensamento  parece  afligí-lo,  tirando  dele  um  breve  arquear  de  sobrancelhas  de  incredulidade.  Uma  pena  ela  não  poder  enxergar  mesmo,  ou  ele  poderia  lançar  mão  de  seus  teatros  numa  ocasião  dessas.

❛❛ Vamo’  ‘perando  um  bocadinho  aí …  Eu  não  tiro  sarro,  eu  apenas  faço  comentários  construtivos,  ‘cê  que  ‘tá  levando  pra  esse  lado  maldoso. ❜❜      O  tom  é,  claramente,  de  ultrage  fingido,  um  fingimento  um  pouco  mais  óbvio  do  que  seria  com  qualquer  outro.  Afinal,  este  diablerista  ainda  queria  se  divertir  com  as  reações  dela.

Cerrando os dentes, evitou deixar escapar qualquer comentário que pudesse soar ingrato, ainda que não considerasse tanta sorte assim ter que aturar a presença de alguém tão insolente quanto ela própria. Ajudar conforme as capacidades de cada um não era mais do que a obrigação dos habitantes daquele lugar quase abandonado – sorte seria ter nascido em uma das grandes seitas, com serviçais atendendo prontamente a cada pedido, sem precisar de truques para roubar e ter o que comer dia após dia. Há muito tempo, A-Qing deixara de acreditar na sorte de ter uma vida melhor, contando mais com sua esperteza natural.