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 Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 2:27 pm
It had been only a few months since Jiao-lang had been introduced to the father that was not his own, but he felt he had settled in quite pleasantly. The boy walked the halls as though he were the first born, the brother who had gone, and had the respect of all of the servants... But that was not what he desired.
Jiao-lang paused to look into his mother's room - the door was kept open at all times now, now that Uncle had been killed and she had tried to harm herself. She was brushing her hair lazily, humming a warbled tune, and he sighed, shaking his head. This was not the woman, the mother he had been raised by. This was a mess, a tumbling tower that he was sure would fall apart completely before he turned thirteen. He looked at her sadly, then continued on. She didn't notice.
Was this what his missing brother had gone through?
Jian-lang made his way to the main hall, now, intent on finding some new entertainment. Ning-qui was so boring, now that he had come back from apparently getting the fingers from his brother. He doubted they were even his brother's fingers... Probably some orphan child he found on the street. He snorted in annoyance, before making his way outside.
He was told he looked like his brother. Shen-ru was his name, if he recalled correctly. He had only heard it a time or two. He paused to look into one of the golden disks lining the doorway, grey eyes blinking slowly. His hair was tied up in a topknot, colored a rich black. But he had less refined features, one of the young maids had told him before being sent away. He scowled lightly, turning to continue walking. Not worth the worry...
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 5:28 pm
It had been a long time since Tingzhe last wore the bright, flashy costume of a circus performer. He was relieved to find that he still felt at home in a glaring white coat, gaudy star decals, and fitted black shorts. This suit was only a mediocre copy of the one that Qiao had made him, years ago, but it would do for a single performance.
The child who emerged from the manor house was almost Shen-Ru's spitting image. He was like a memory brought to life, or maybe a ghost. Tingzhe hadn't seen his friend since they were boys, and he could only vaguely imagine what Shen looked like now that his shoulders must have filled out and his facial hair came in.
He imagined it was... nice.
The performer waited to be sure that no servants had followed the boy outside. Then he bled out of the shadows, pasted a smile on his face, and spread his hands in a sweeping, submissive half-bow.
"Young master!" He called out, all eyes sparkling with mischief and merry-making. This was a part Tingzhe had played before. The only difference was that now his hair was longer, his center of gravity was higher, and he had to be careful to keep the kid out of his blind spot. "I was hoping to catch sight of you today, but I did not feel worthy to approach your honored family in a formal manner. What a stroke of luck to stumble across you here!"
Tingzhe launched himself into a cartwheel and a simple double flip, landing right in front of the boy. Yeah, he still had it.
"The approval of the House of Yao is priceless in these parts. My circus will be arriving in town in a couple of days, and I was dispatched ahead of the pack to promote it around town. We would be honored if the young master would care to patronize our little show."
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 8:34 pm
Jiao-lang was no fool. He shivered as he walked, getting the feeling of being watched, and kept an eye out warily, knowing that this estate was barely safe for anyone. He walked carefully, being left to himself - the servants did not like to be near him, and he did not like to be near them either. They preferred his brother to this new young master, he heard them whisper... it was easy to walk on and ignore.
But the sudden appearance of a strangely dressed, startlingly flippy and loud young man made Jiao-lang drop his carefully created facade of boredom, and for those few moments he looked exactly like a startled Shen-ru, staring at Tingzhe with wide eyes and parted lips. But the look vanished quickly and he watched the other with barely veiled wariness, lips pursing now. When the other landed in front of him, he merely lifted his chin to look better at Tingzhe, frowning now.
"I have heard no news of a circus arriving," he said, despite the fact that, even if there had been news, he probably would not have heard it. "And while I am honored you have invited me, this does not escape the fact that you are trespassing without permission, on the Yao Estate. Why should I even consider going to the show?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:49 am
Tingzhe wasn't a fool either. He knew very well that a sheltered boy, in this walled-off place, would have no idea of the comings and goings in the town around him. Nobles rarely attended circus shows. it was considered beneath their dignity.
"Trespassing?" Tingzhe waved off the accusation with a dismissive gesture. "Come, now, young master. Am I doing so much harm by enjoying your lovely gardens? A wanderer such as myself can't expect any rewards if he doesn't take a risk now and then."
The once-and-future acrobat jumped up to perch on a nearby tree-branch, pulling into a ready crouch. He must look silly, hopping about like a chimp-bunny on steroids. That was the point.
Tingzhe's goofy grin didn't fade for one second.
"If you call your servants, you'll find I'm long gone by the time that they get here. I assure you, my intention is not to cause harm or offense. My only goal is to entertain."
In a flash, he pulled himself up into a hand-stand on the branch.
"So why don't you tell me what feats could convince you of the merits of my humble troupe?"
Naturally, he couldn't do any impressive tricks in full view of the manner. That was as good an excuse as any to lure the boy into the more secluded parts of the garden. He didn't need to know that Tingzhe was a Firebender. Yet.
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Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 11:10 am
Jiao-lang pursed his lips when he was called out on about the servants, clasping his hands behind his back and watching Tingzhe with as little interest as he could muster, barely managing to veil his intrigue. It was rare that he saw someone from outside of the estate, outside of the house even, and to see someone with this much energy and ability... Jiao-lang could only be more and more curious.
As the boy moved further away from the doors, so did Jiao-lang, unconsciously following this strange other and wanting to learn more. The boy trailed after Tingzhe, moving to stand beneath the tree and peering up at him, blinking slowly. "Seeing your work, I do not doubt the merits," he said finally, blinking slowly. "I am sure the troupe is quite talented. It is simply not my place to attend."
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Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 12:29 pm
"Really? But that's not right."
Tingzhe blinked, looking taken-aback. Then he backflipped off the the branch and retreated further off into the greenery. Just a little farther, and the view from the main house would be blocked off by a large hedge.
"You're the young master, aren't you? Isn't it your place to do whatever you like? Maybe a guy like me just can't understand these things, but..."
He tapped a finger to his cheek, looking thoughtful.
"Hey, hey - I know." Tingzhe lowered his voice to a conspiratorial tone, and gave Jiao-lang a conspiratorial wink. "Let me give you a free preview, and then you can see if you really want to stay in this stuffy ol' house instead of coming out to a show. I can't go back to the Ringmaster without telling him I tried my best. The Old Man would flay me alive."
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Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 3:18 pm
Jiao-lang, not realizing the potential danger he was putting himself into, trailed further after Tingzhe, blinking slowly. "I... suppose I am now," he answered quietly, feeling a little less confident about his answer than he would have liked. He was considered the new heir, now that his brother seemed to have been snipped from the picture, but certainly did not feel much like it - he knew nothing of the political power that his family had and how it could be used.
His eyes widened slightly when he was given that wink, chin lifting just marginally in an alarmed manner, before a tiny smile - barely there, and almost careful in its appearance - curled on his lips. "That could... be interesting," he murmured after a moment, nodding just once. "You could show me and I could speak to my mother about attending..."
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