The Scent of Jiaozi and Awkward Times~

[godsavemy]

WHO: Arthur and Yao
WHEN: Sunday Early Afternoon (April 11th)
WHERE: A narrow alleyway in Huayuan.
WHAT: “Next time,” Arthur thought. “No shortcuts.”
RATING: ...Let’s not go there.

Comments

I SAID QUIET.

[godsavemy]

From now on, Arthur would always, always look forwards while walking. No more being foolishly distracted by shop signs or just gazing around in curiosity at the sights around him. His eyes would look straight at all times as, God help his poor bones, it seems liked whenever he diverted his eyes even for a moment from his path he ended up on the ground - flat on his aching back.

It was the traitorous drawing of a dragon that did him in this time. Someone, for some insurmountable reason Arthur could think of besides artistic whim, had drawn one that stretched all along the wall of the alley. And Arthur had (foolishly, stupidly, idiotically) turned to look more closely at the detail work, before his legs were suddenly not under him and his back hit the ground - an area Arthur really didn’t want his back touching - with the added pleasure of having the wind knocked harshly out of him by the unexplainable pressure on his chest.

The sense of breathlessness mounting, Arthur tried to take in some air, before realising that something (some sort of silky material, Arthur didn’t know) was covering his face - most importantly his mouth. Desperately, he took a hold of whatever was on top of him and pushed it away from his face far enough to breathe once more.

Greedily, he sucked up as much oxygen as he could - yet to notice the dazed figure above him.

MAKE ME.

[binilao_aru]

This day was most definitely not Yao's day. He was never going to daydream or fantasize about anything from this point onward if it meant that he'd be having collisions and falls such as painful as the one he was having right now. Shakily drawing in a breath, he felt his chest expand painfully as his lungs engulfed as much oxygen as they could take. Another point to make: He was never going to take another shortcut again. Ever.

He was shocked out of his stupor, however, when fingers lightly brushed against his cheek. Now really, it was one thing for him to fall because of his own, two, left feet; it was another when he had literally crashed into another person without either one of them noticing there was another in the alleyway. Immediately after realizing he was on top of someone, Yao did his best to swiftly move off of the other while trying not to strain his own body either. The second he got the chance, he would apologize then quickly move on, seeing that the likelihood of bumping into someone extremely distasteful was far too likely.

For now, he would just attempt to catch his breath, unbeknownst of the identity of the figure next to him.

IS THAT A CHALLENGE?

[godsavemy]

The burden of weight suddenly off of him, Arthur did his best to get his lungs under control and regulate his breathing. His heavy panting was starting to make him lightheaded and it only served to daze him even more. All Arthur could do was lie there and wait until everything stopped spinning. Closing his eyes against the pounding of his head, Arthur tried to lift his hand and perhaps rub relief into his forehead. Yet, after a moment or two filled with a distinct lack of movement from his arm, Arthur realised that the mass that had been on top of him had only moved next to him and was now pinning his right arm.

Writhing to free his arm, Arthur shifted to his side so he could hopefully push himself off the ground and pull his arm out in the process. Opening his eyes to assess exactly what had trapped his arm, Arthur realised that it was actually a person. Leaning in closer to make sure that he hadn’t inadvertently done something more serious than knock them out, Arthur swept the tousled hair out of their face and abruptly stopped his struggle to free his arm.

YOU BET IT IS.

[binilao_aru]

Finally catching his breath, Yao didn't realize he was still technically on top of the other until fingers once again brushed the hair out of his face. The gesture was kind, but it only served to make him even more nervous about the fact that it could very well be someone familiar. Not to mention that he was suddenly immersed in the familiar scent of a distinct brand of Earl Grey tea he had tasted long ago...

Dread suddenly filled the pit of his stomach when he felt the other stiffen at what might have been a good look at Yao's face. The childish solution? Sneak a peak at the man while profusely apologizing in Chinese in order to somewhat avoid him. Now if it would work according to plan, he could possibly be the happiest person on earth. However, Yao knew better than that and if he was going to be mature about this, he would acknowledge the other, apologize, and move on with his life. So hesitatingly, he looked up and immediately regretted his decision once he saw those the familiar bulking eyebrows shade of green.

As he felt his body stiffen with a narrowed glance at the Englishman, he swallowed hard now noticing the close distance between them and managed to murmur a civil, "Arthur."

THEN LET ME GO GET MY GLOVES AND WE CAN MAKE THIS OFFICIAL.

[godsavemy]

Arthur really shouldn’t have been surprised - he really, honestly shouldn’t have been. Considering all that had happened to him in Liberty - most (and hopefully all) of his siblings gathering in one small city, meeting figures of his past that he never once thought he would meet again in this lifetime... After all of that, of course Arthur would ending up painfully crashing into one of those same figures as soon as he decided to step outside his house and be a little adventurous.

And yet, despite knowing better, Arthur impossibly was.

It was always a bit of a shock to run into a person that you had been on more familiar terms with in another country. Moreover, one literally on the other side of the globe. Ever since he had met the other man, Arthur had always associated Yao with China…and to see him here in Liberty of all places… Well, it was a bit jarring - even though they had met by complete accident once before (but with significantly less bodily injuries).

“Yao,” Arthur intoned seriously, if not a bit hesitantly. He dryly swallowed the lump that clung to the back of his throat, his voice seizing from the loss of something more to say. Terribly ironic that a writer had no words to give, but he supposed that’s what happens when one is literally swept off their feet.

His back twinged in memory of the recent fall (and all other falls before this one) and gradually, he felt the sharp tingling sensation in his arm that indicated a significant lack of blood flow to that region of his body. And so, “...My arm is becoming numb,” was all he could say in the end.

YOU CAN GET YOUR GLOVES, BUT YOU'RE NOT WINNING EITHER WAY.

[binilao_aru]

For being such a smooth-talker from when they had last met, Yao couldn't help but scoff softly at the fact that Arthur had nothing better to say. The Englishman had sweet talked both his friends and family into thinking he was the absolute gentleman to the point where they had even allowed Zhi to attend school in England under his supervision. Now, when they unintentionally clashed for the first time since China, was there really nothing better to say?

"My apologies," he replied stiffly while proceeding to move off the other and stand, brushing the dirt off his pants. Yao wasn't terribly surprised to see him here, knowing that surprises in Liberty were far too normal to be remotely surprising anymore. As for now, he would retain the civil manner until he could establish that the two of them were without injury, then be on his merry way. After all, his personal loathing for the man since the events back in his homeland were unimportant at this point... or at least he hoped they were.

"Are you alright?" Yao asked, extending a hand to Arthur in what he hoped was a kind gesture.

Now if he could keep the civil sutra in his hand for the next few minutes, everything would be fine.

THE GLOVES ARE THE KEY TO VICTORY.

[godsavemy]

As soon as Yao stood up and freed the pinned arm, Arthur carefully lifted up the limb up. He was careful not to jostle it too much and incur the annoyance that was the tiny stabs of pain. Slowly rubbing his arm to help the circulation along, Arthur took one look at the proffered hand - which might have lasted a second too long - and simply focused back on his prickling arm (that honestly didn’t need as much rubbing as Arthur was giving it to regain feeling).

“I’m fine, thank you.” Arthur replied stiffly, as he clumsily pushed himself up with his hands and feet - pointedly ignoring Yao’s hand. Once he was vertical again, a sense of vertigo hit Arthur for a moment, sending him tripping back into the alley’s wall behind him. “Must have hit my head harder than I thought...” Arthur muttered to himself, rubbing the back of his head and hissing when he touched a tender spot.

SO WERE YOUR EYEBROWS, AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM.

[binilao_aru]

It was that proud look on his face as Arthur looked at his hand that Yao suddenly remembered why he absolutely loathed this man. Eye twitching from being obviously ignored even though he was stupid enough to offer assistance to the now... somewhat upright man, he refrained himself from spouting a rant of Chinese curses at him and allowed himself to wallow in a pleasant feeling when it was revealed that the man had indeed, hit his head too hard.

"You'll be just fine," he waved off, still slightly irked that such an unfortunate encounter had to be with this man, "You've had worse in China, did you not?" Come to think of it... Zhi had told him that Arthur was pointedly trying to forget and not even mention events of before especially if it included Yao, but he couldn't care for he was trying to do the same. Which then reminded him that he did not want to be here at this moment at this time.

"Seeing that you'll be alright, I'll just take my leave aru. You obviously have nothing to say to me, and I to you." Yao sighed in mock disappointment and prepared to walk away from this man once and for all.

THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO YOUR BROTHER'S EYEBROWS, YOU MEAN~

[godsavemy]

“Oh come off it,” Arthur groaned, clutching his head, but still remaining upright. “How long ago was it? Seven years ago? Six? And you’re still spitting tacks over it?” He probably should have just let the other man be on his not-so-jolly way, but Arthur was far too dizzy for hesitance or any façade of stoic civility.

Besides, potential head trauma was a lovely scapegoat if he said something particularly untowardly.

“It’s not as if I completely mucked up your life. And surely whatever influence I’ve had on it has faded by now.” It was true, at least in his own mind. If he was honest with himself (usually only in one of his darker brooding spells), he had done worse things to more wholesome people.

And Wang Yao certainly didn’t fit neatly into either of those categories.

It had just been a whirlwind of four weeks in China - the adrenaline of being in an entirely different culture and (admittedly) seeing what he could get up to in the short time he was there made his head spin in a good way. It had all happened so fast that, years later, the details were a little blurry in Arthur's mind. He wasn’t even completely sure how or why he dragged Yao’s younger brother with him back to England. Granted, knowing him back then, it was probably just a sudden whim of his.

He had a lot of those when he was younger.

And one of them just happened to be standing in front of him.

“But, don’t let me keep you,” Arthur remarked at length, the pain in his head settling down to a muted throb. “That is, if you really must be going. Then, by all means.” Amusement coloured his tone as he saw the irritation in the other swell. Though older, he did occasionally derive delight from riling others up.

LEAVE MY DIDI OUT OF THIS ARU.

[binilao_aru]

Oh.
Oh.
He did not just say what Yao thought he said. How dare he had the nerve to say that what he did wasn't completely devastating! Not only had those four weeks been the bane of his existence, they had ultimately ruined him. Right, well, he didn't need to get angry now seeing that it would be useless to reason with the other since it never was possible to before.

Closing his eyes and breathing steadily, Yao couldn't help but remember how he had been dragged that first opium den, which turned to once more, then ten, then twenty until suddenly, everything was just one big blur of nothing. It had taken a year of rehab before he was completely independent of the 可恶 drug and even now, anti-depressants had to be taken every now and then.

"You know absolutely nothing, Arthur," the name tasted like acid in his mouth, "and you know what? The best thing about it all is that you wouldn't even care if I were to tell you. So before I get the sudden urge to break your neck, I'll be on my way."

Get some tea, go back home, and swallow the anger and rage that was threatening to overflow.

OUR EYEBROWS MATCH~

[godsavemy]

Arthur scoffed. “I know absolutely nothing?” he parroted back, skeptical. “You’re one to talk. Knowing you, whatever you’re thinking is no doubt some great exaggeration of the dastardly deeds I’ve committed.” At least in regard to himself. No need to regale Yao with the entire history of these so-called dastardly deeds in regards to other people.

F-far too incriminating, that.

But he knew from firsthand experience that Yao had a tendency to get carried away. Arthur at the very least remember before he left, Yao prattling on about bringing shame upon his family because of those forty or so opium dens...

Now, it wasn’t his finest moment, but there honestly was only that one - which at that time was, he only visited (and brought along the other man) for curiosity’s sake. Granted, his curiosity back then wasn’t exactly an innocent one... But still, the fact remained it was a far cry from the impossible number that Yao cited.

Wrapping this up!

[godsavemy]

“But I digress,” Arthur cut off Yao before he could get a word in edgewise. “I really must be going and have no time to quarrel about past events with you.” He loftily brushed off the loose debris that had stuck to his person until he was presentable once more.

“I have a feeling we wouldn’t get anywhere with that one anyway,” he remarked wryly with a small quirk of the mouth. “Right then, off I go. …Have a nice day,” he added on in a last ditch effort for politeness, before he making his way down the alley. He disappeared around the first corner, inadvertently going the opposite direction of his original destination as going to Shizhen Medicine was but a murmur in his mind.