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[threedontknows]

 

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[threedontknows]

[He laughs, cocking his head with a cheeky little smile.]

Fast friends, the two of us! But who would have thought there’d be two spectacular bullshitters like us on the Barge at one time.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Hell yeah. [He settles back, an arm lounging behind him.]

So your bad guy is still here, huh?

[threedontknows]

Trying his hand at redemption. [He scoffs and reaches for his fan.]

It’ll never happen. He’s too ruthless, and cares for no one but himself. And even if he is redeemed, what good would it do! Our world hates him now.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Good.

You making his life hell? [He wants that for him. Aaron got his revenge. He would tear the Bishop apart of he sae him here.]

[threedontknows]

My presence here drives him crazy. [He laughs.]

I stumbled on something the other day that could play out nicely, if I choose to keep going down that path.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Well, don't leave me hanging. What did you find out?

[He pushes his hair back from his face, eager to hear this scheme.]

[threedontknows]

[Huaisang pulls out his fan from his belt and opens it with a flourish.]

He thinks I harbor a decades-long crush on him. [He gags slightly. It’s gross.] But if he wants to think that about me, it makes him vulnerable.

[creeksidealtarboy]

[Aaron wrinkles his nose.]

Well.

Alright. You ain't gonna -

[He puts a hand on his chest. Why the fuck doesn't he just carry cigarettes with him?]

[threedontknows]

You disapprove.

[It’s pretty obvious.]

Which part offends you? That I’d entertain ideas about other men or that I’d pretend at all?

[creeksidealtarboy]

[Aaron looks, for a moment, genuinely confused. Then he shakes his head.]

Nah, nah, it's nothing. It's a good plan. Hit him where it hurts and all.

[threedontknows]

[Huaisang is not convinced, but he isn’t about to let Aaron know that.]

I have to get creative here. It isn’t as though I can use my magic or my influence as a clan leader.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Not until you're paired. Then you can get your magic back from them.

[He grins.]

You can really do magic? Real magic?

[threedontknows]

[He shrugs.]

Protective talismans and Daoist magic. I was never any good with martial arts or swords.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Eh, that's alright. I can fight and it isn't as cool as magic.

[He settles back.]

Show me sometime, huh?

[threedontknows]

My mind’s my greatest asset — yours too.

[He leans forward to finish off the rest of the tea.]

The mistake of my peers was to rely on their spiritual powers and magic. They underestimated me because they thought I was frivolous. True — I like nice things! But they let it blind them to what I was capable of.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Yeah, and people hear my accent and think I'm some backwater hick. And shit, maybe I am. But that don't mean the whole 'uh, I just - just don't know what - what I'm doin' act should be as effective as it is.

They're easy to fool when they already make assumptions.

[threedontknows]

[He folds his fan and pokes Aaron in the chest.]

The assumptions continue here, am I right? How many people have you fooled?

[creeksidealtarboy]

Everyone. [He rubs his chest.]

Raylan. Tim. Dorian, probably. James, that idiot in our group. Norton. Lark.

Everyone I've fucking talked to. No one knows the truth.

[threedontknows]

[Only Huaisang knows the truth. He smiles behind his fan.]

How many of those have seen Roy?

[creeksidealtarboy]

Ah, now that's different. Dorian. The detective, Arthur. Lark. He ain't around no more, though.

No one pushes me here. I don't have to do shit.

[He laughs, unable to help the bit of playfulness in his tone. It's a goddamn good game.]

[threedontknows]

[That’s two people who had directly witnessed and interacted with ‘Roy’. That’s a good number to start off with —

Always best to be cautious.]

Until you get a warden.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Yeah, I don't plan on getting that close to anyone.

[He crosses his legs, lounging.]

Someone's it's random, but I've been reading the network.

People get close. They get to be friends. Then they get paired. Best way to stay away is not to get close to Wardens.

[threedontknows]

Aaaanyone?

[Huaisang grins and leans towards him, still fluttering his fan.]

[creeksidealtarboy]

[Aaron doesn't know why he dies it. In fact later, when he thinks about it, he's going to wonder if this place hasn't made him a little crazy.

But there's no time to think about any of that shit too much because he hesitates for half a second and then leans in to kiss him.]

[threedontknows]

Huaisang isn't expecting that at all. He pulls back quickly, eyes wide, fan dropped to one side as he stares back at Aaron.

"I didn't think you--"

Were one of us. Like me. It's difficult for Huaisang to classify himself as anything, being as secretive as he has for all those years. As a dandy people thought he was flamboyant, but no one would ever call him a cut-sleeves.

But he is, of a sort. He also likes brothels. But he's a collector of beautiful things, a lover of delicate, well-made pieces of art and fine fabrics and porcelain. He keeps birds, he paints trees and flowers. He admires pretty women, lovely men. None of that had been an act.