The further Nie Huaisang gets away from the oppressive atmosphere of the Impure Realm and the role he has to play there, the softer and more relaxed he becomes. The neverending weight of clan responsibilities is barely felt by the time he reaches the natural rock formation near the road outside of Qinghe he typically meets Zhou Zishu at. He's dressed down when he arrives, wearing humble peasant clothing and a matching cloak, without a guan, fan, or glittering ring in sight. It's how he usually dresses when he wants to travel without attracting anyone's notice - no easy feat when one's an infamous public figure but he somehow he manages. On the off-chance he does get recognized by someone, he's quick to endear himself to them, either through generous bribes, personal favors only someone of his rank can give, or a simple charm offensive in order to guarantee their silence about his activities.
He's humming to himself and there's an odd spring to his step when he approaches. Has his lover arrived yet or did he somehow get here before him in his eagerness?
Zhou Zishu has always been careful with his appearance, and disguise is one thing he's skilled at. Today, he's dressed similarly, with a straw hat to shade his face. The horse waiting patiently harnessed to the simple carriage is one a better off peasant could expect to have.
He beams when he sees his sweet lover approach and steps down from the driver's seat. Even just in humble clothes, he feels Nie Huaisang is handsome. The smile turns to a grin when he sees the eager spring in that step and he holds out a hand. "Come up, we have a little ways to go."
It's exciting, really, like going on an advanture, more like the idle wanderings of his youth back in the days before the war, his brother had changed, and adult life had decisively clipped his wings. Nie Huaisang might not be able to fly as freely as he once did but that yearning for the vast, open sky has never truly left him.
Decisively, he takes Zhou Zishu's hand, squeezing it as he lets him help him up. He still feels a little awkward and clumsy about all of this. He's just so out of practice but even so, he's happier walking down this path than the lonely one he's been on. Once he's settled, he turns to his lover with a tender smile.
He likes spoiling Huaisang~ Zishu squeezes back, helping him get settled before taking up the reigns and clicking the horse into a gentle trot. His heart flutters at the tender smile and he helplessly answers it in kind.
But that question still has him laugh softly and shake his head, eyes bright. "You will soon see, A-Sang. This is part of the surprise!" Maybe he's risking taking his lover to a spot Huaisang has been to before, considering how close they still are to the Impure Realm and how much he know Huaisang has traveled. But he's never taken anyone else to this spot, which is what his lover had asked of him.
It's entirely possible he knows it. As a cautious man - or as some of his critics within the sect might say, paranoid leader, he makes it a point to know every nook and cranny of the region his people reside over. This includes just how many low-level walking corpses are seemingly running amuck across Nie territory as a deterrent to keep unwanted trespassers away from that which he wishes to remain hidden.
However, that part of Nie Huaisang is being kept at bay for the time being by experiencing simple, uncomplicated joy and pleasure of a vacation and promise of a date with his lover. He's all smiles and boyish anticipation as if all of this is totally new and for him, it will be new, even if he's been to the spot a hundred times before because it'll be the first time he's experiencing it with Zishu.
"Okay, I'll be good and patient then. I'm very curious!"
More about what kind of place would stand out to Zishu than the place itself but that's part of why Nie Huaisang likes going places with other people more than on his own.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
chiming
meeting up with NHS after TFLN!
Date: 2024-09-21 11:01 pm (UTC)From:The further Nie Huaisang gets away from the oppressive atmosphere of the Impure Realm and the role he has to play there, the softer and more relaxed he becomes. The neverending weight of clan responsibilities is barely felt by the time he reaches the natural rock formation near the road outside of Qinghe he typically meets Zhou Zishu at. He's dressed down when he arrives, wearing humble peasant clothing and a matching cloak, without a guan, fan, or glittering ring in sight. It's how he usually dresses when he wants to travel without attracting anyone's notice - no easy feat when one's an infamous public figure but he somehow he manages. On the off-chance he does get recognized by someone, he's quick to endear himself to them, either through generous bribes, personal favors only someone of his rank can give, or a simple charm offensive in order to guarantee their silence about his activities.
He's humming to himself and there's an odd spring to his step when he approaches. Has his lover arrived yet or did he somehow get here before him in his eagerness?
/wiggles!
Date: 2024-09-21 11:20 pm (UTC)From:He beams when he sees his sweet lover approach and steps down from the driver's seat. Even just in humble clothes, he feels Nie Huaisang is handsome. The smile turns to a grin when he sees the eager spring in that step and he holds out a hand. "Come up, we have a little ways to go."
Re: /wiggles!
Date: 2024-09-22 12:14 am (UTC)From:Decisively, he takes Zhou Zishu's hand, squeezing it as he lets him help him up. He still feels a little awkward and clumsy about all of this. He's just so out of practice but even so, he's happier walking down this path than the lonely one he's been on. Once he's settled, he turns to his lover with a tender smile.
"So where are we headed this time?"
no subject
Date: 2024-09-22 12:30 am (UTC)From:But that question still has him laugh softly and shake his head, eyes bright. "You will soon see, A-Sang. This is part of the surprise!" Maybe he's risking taking his lover to a spot Huaisang has been to before, considering how close they still are to the Impure Realm and how much he know Huaisang has traveled. But he's never taken anyone else to this spot, which is what his lover had asked of him.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-22 12:55 am (UTC)From:However, that part of Nie Huaisang is being kept at bay for the time being by experiencing simple, uncomplicated joy and pleasure of a vacation and promise of a date with his lover. He's all smiles and boyish anticipation as if all of this is totally new and for him, it will be new, even if he's been to the spot a hundred times before because it'll be the first time he's experiencing it with Zishu.
"Okay, I'll be good and patient then. I'm very curious!"
More about what kind of place would stand out to Zishu than the place itself but that's part of why Nie Huaisang likes going places with other people more than on his own.