Into the Array C11
I'm back after so long :X Life have been busy, but my mind was never really away from this story at all... I guess I really do have to continue writing this one way or another. It's beginning to feel like a severe OOC TT.
To Dino: Thanks for the review once again! I lost my two nendoroid APH Japan during the delivery TT
To Guest: I hope that one day I will reach there and you will know why Yao killed his own wife :D!
As always, it's nothing much but please enjoy!
Ivan was sent back to his own building shortly after the whole episode. The whole event took up less than an hour and now Ivan wondered what should he do: To continue with the painting or perhaps take this chance to wander around the palace without Jin Xi.
He took a deep breath and let it out dramatically. The thought of feeling homesick passed by his mind, but actuality, he just misses Varenye. For you see, Ivan have a very sweet tooth, and nothing he have eaten so far in Han have stated that beast yet. The tempting images of it being placed into teas and as spread on bread, the huge generous pieces of fruit just casually and half submerging in the delicious syrupy liquid, as though seducing his taste bud for a sinful bite.
Ivan scrunch his face up childishly, and let out an ugly sob. He need distractions from the pain.
'Desires are the most dangerous when nobody is looking.' Ivan complain to himself. Taking off his coat, he packed up his art supplies and quickly strolled out of his own building. The beautiful tiled ceiling that grace the top of every architecture ends with a curve at the end, Ivan notice its oddity and the words from Jin Xi passes through his mind again: 'It is curved at the end because ghost can't walk in a straight line.'
'Why would the ghost walk on the roof?' he recalled answering.
'Uh.. Well, because that what's written on the books.' Jin Xi replied, bewilderment crumpled on his face.
The palace is a beautiful place, he could hear music in the distance again. A soft pulsing of sound created from plucked and pulled strings floated through the air, it evoke emotions of various sort yet simultaneously pleasing to the ears and heart.
Ivan turned towards the origin of the sound, it doesn't sound too far from here. The sweet smelling scent of flowers that accompanied the wind complemented the music, closing his eyes, Ivan took a deep breath. Perhaps he is able to find Princess Fang, it will be a surprisingly pleasant day if he does.
He walk down the red alley of wall towards his destination. The red alley of wall end in an obvious left turn, however, his keen eyes caught an opening at the right hidden under thick gnarly vines and a tall potted plant. Ivan knows he should not trespass to wherever that place might be, but somehow he cannot resist.
Gingerly, he pulled the vines apart and peek in. A man with his back facing him, dressed in flowing black is standing over a table in a distance. With a painting brush in his hand, he dipped in various plate of ink on the side of the table and move on the paper scroll in front of him. The overgrown weeds peek out in masses through slab of stones that was once the pavement to the dilapidated building behind him. Right at the front are rows of cluttered bamboo trees, with fate similar to its surroundings. Yet despite its unkempt appearance, the wild growing seems to have brought out it's untamed nature, something beautiful, something savage.
The man refuses to leave his eyes from the scroll of paper. He cocked his head, seemingly troubled by what's goings on in front of him. Slowly, he move a little backwards and sat down on the wooden chair behind him, deflated at the lack of answer to the question Ivan have no idea of.
'Hmm, the 12th Prince. I wonder what is he doing here.' Ivan muttered under his breath, as he tried to pull out the vines blocking his view.
With the potted plants blocking his lower body, Ivan can't get a better glimpse than the ones he had currently. Half squatting down, he began to drag the enormous and heavy pot with all his might, trails of drag marks appear as the pot slide against the floor. The plant in the pot tore unwillingly apart from the vines it was intertwined with. Ivan brush his hands clean of soil and headed back to the hole between the walls again.
The void left by the plant allow a clear access to the other side of the wall much to Ivan's delight. Just as he lowered his head with the intent to reach the other side, the commotion Ivan have created turned the head of the 12th prince.
A look of horror flashes pass the 12th prince's face, and with a lack of better words at the precise moment, he shouted 'STOP!'
However it was too late, the crumbled pieces of walls held on tightly by the combination of the vines and potted plant came tumbling down without its support. One particular big one drop right onto Ivan's head, knocking him out in an instant.
Ivan's eyes shot open and found himself looking at a dirty and broken ceiling. Heavy panting can be heard at his side, and before long the person beside him breathe out 'You're so heavy. What do people from your country actually eat?'
Hsiao Zheng crawled over and look at Ivan's face. 'Are you okay? Oie. Can you answer?' he continued, slapping lightly on Ivan's slightly chubby cheeks. 'Goodness, I think I need to find a doctor.'
Finally, Ivan started blinking and focused his face on Hsiao Zheng. '12th prince.' he asked. 'Where are my brushes!? what happened?'
'I kept your supplies with mine at the ...! You shouldn't have move the potted plant away.' Hsiao Zheng let out a sigh of exasperation. 'Those debris might really killed you. This is a very old and abandoned part of the palace, so it's not really that safe.'
'Why are you here then?' Ivan asked in return.
'It's quieter here and beside, I paint out in the open. Not anywhere near the building I'm just trying to get some inspiration for a story to accompany with my piece.'
'You paint too?'
'Yes.'
'That's interesting. I paint too!' Ivan blurt out in excitement, and shortly after did he realise how stupid his declaration was, since he was invited precisely to paint their portrait.
'Yes, I do know that.' Hsiao Zheng smiled awkwardly. His panting have subsided, but the sweat that dotted across his forehead have not. He have such gentle mannerism that Ivan felt the need to soften his words talking to him.
'I'm so sorry, that was a pretty stupid statement.' Ivan apologise, scratching and feeling the painful bump swollen on his head.
'No it's not.' Hsiao Zheng replied politely. 'Please if you might, would you like to take a look at what I am painting. Perhaps, a fresh view might provide an insight that I have not thought of.'
Ivan looks bewildered, but followed after him anyway.
Hsiao Zheng brought him to the table, to the scroll of painting he was working on. Ivan stood beside him and found a girl dressed in white and lavender, with embroidered flower patterns drawn on the edge of the sleeves on the paper before him. Otherworldly poise grace her fixed position, blue birds with orange belly flew with life around her. A single thick stalk of plum blossom grew in her background, sprouting into a delightful light pink bloom at its every end.
'Your art style is amazing. I've only seen art of these sort sold in the black market of my country a few times.' Ivan commented, eyes trailing over every details, hoping that he might be able to recreate the light watery colour style that seems prevalent in oriental arts.
Hsiao Zheng gave a little chuckle, hidden behind the wooden handheld fan that follow wherever he goes, the folds on the white paper distorted the words on the fan. 'These are nothing compared to the real artist out there.'
'It seems completed to me. What seems to be the problem plaguing you over here? Ivan turned back to the 12th prince for answers.
The shadow cast by his drawn brows seems to darken a little before he turned to Ivan and smile gently. 'You see, I am stuck with the background story I have given to this painting. I am not quite sure if the original ending I have intended to provide is the ending this painting really wanted. As such, I am pretty bugged by it.'
'The ending..? This painting wanted?' Ivan ask, bemused by what he have heard.
The 12th prince gave a little laugh, this time, he did not manage to hide it in time. The thin spectacle frame slide down his nose, and he finally explain to Ivan 'It might sound a little weird to you, but I always felt a need to give a background story to every painting I have created. At times, there might be stories I have in mind, but somehow the painting seems to have a life of its own and speaks to me, telling me their stories instead. Normally, I would follow, but.. '
Ivan look intently at him, obviously interested. 'But?'
'But won't it be sad to keep on waiting for a person that will never arrive again?' Hsiao Zheng stated. 'Won't it be better if she found a closure, be it in death or eternal amnesia?'
Ivan thought about it carefully.
'I don't what is her story is. But perhaps she don't want to let the memories of the person she is waiting for to be faded away. That between the choice of being free and keeping memories, she felt happier keeping those memories forever because those are the best times of her life.' Ivan suggested.
His eyes soften in understanding, the 12th prince look back at his drawing and a decision seems to have been made. The gentle smile surfaced on his face again, facial expression seems to be free of the demons plaguing him.
'I see.' he muttered. He gave Ivan a grateful pat on his shoulder. 'Thank you. I guess, I'll go with her ending then.'
However, Ivan's eyes is still fixated on the girl's face, he is staring it, scrutinizing it, because it felt all too familiar to him. Where have he seen her before?
'What's wrong?' Hsiao Zheng ask, trailing his glance to the face of the girl.
'Is that..' Ivan started, 'the 9th Prince's face you have drawn for the girl? I almost didn't recognize him with the circular pink eyebrow, makeup and obvious chest.'
Hsiao Zheng's eyes widened in horror and he quickly hush him up. 'How did you recognize it!? I thought that with that hairdo and make up, it should not be this obvious. You've seen my 9th brother before?'
'Yeah, he went to my room yesterday night.'
'My my, how hasty is he to go back to that godforsaken battlefield.' Hsiao Zheng chuckle a tad bit too sadly, mouth hidden under the folded fan.
Ivan look back at the painting, a sudden surge of interest began to violently take over his heart, now he really want to listen to the story behind this girl in a painting no matter what.
However, before Ivan could say anything, Hsiao Zheng quickly add on 'Please do not tell my 9th brother though. I would get flayed alive if he knows about this.'
'Why do you still decided to draw him then?'
'No, there was never any intention to draw him. But whenever I thought of something beautiful, there are only two face that appear in my head, and one of them is my 9th brother. Sadly.' Hsiao Zheng indignant face suddenly brighten in exchange for a sneaky one, and he continued 'I'll tell you why and various other palace stores. And in return, you can't tell my 9th brother about this.'
'You really do know how to strike a bargain, don't you. Deal.'
'Let's take a seat then, it's going to be a long time.' the 12th prince gestured to the broken stone stairs that lead to the building.
'So.' he started, hitting the folded fan on his palm subconsciously. 'My 9th brother, 10th sister, 11th brother and I were all in quite a relatively close age gap, so we would always play together when we were really young. But because my 10th sister is the only girl in our group, she was always pretty lonely because being boys, we would always exclude her out from our shenanigans. One day, we found her crying by the imperial garden's lake while her lady in waiting was trying to console her. She was throwing a tantrum about how she wish she have a sister to play with instead. This sister of mine was quite a handful even though she is supposed to be older than me. When she was young, she doesn't seem to have an idea of when to stop crying, and so she would always cry until her eyes are swollen like goldfish and she still won't stop. It was very dangerous because the imperial physicist once warned that it might potentially blind her if she keeps crying like this. We were all at loss and all of us tried to console her, but our combined effort prove to be futile.
That is until our 9th brother appear fully dressed like a girl and said to her "I'll be your sister, so stop crying now."
I believe I was not the only one smitten with how he look that day. My 10th sister's eyes glitter with excitement and she immediately stopped crying, having a partner to play with from that day on. She kept on repeating "Sister Yao is so pretty. Sister Yao is so beautiful." and kept hogging him to herself. So my 11th brother made the decision to play with them as well, while I was pretty much forced to stay by their side too, since I have no one else to play with. I spent my free time painting and reading, that's where I started painting them, and I started noticing them too.'
'Does he still dress like a girl now?' Ivan asked with interest.
'Hmm, he still do. But for that reason, you better not catch him doing that.' Hsiao Zheng warn gravely with a smile. 'He was really good at what he was doing, mimicking the graceful propriety that princesses are suppose to have. For that while, we have all forgotten that we had a brother. Despite that, the looks in my 11th brother's eyes never change.'
'So-' Ivan started, but he was immediately cut off by a distant combination shouting and shuffling feet.
'12th Prince! 12th Prince!' a lady in waiting run panting over. 'The Emperor have called for your presence! P-Please be ready.' she panted, crouching over to catch her breath.
Hsiao Zheng's attention is turned towards her, and back at Ivan with embarrassed features, he quickly added 'I am very sorry, it seems that I am caught up with some urgent matter with my Father.'
Ivan saw him standing and immediately grabbed his long sleeve. 'The story of that girl?'
'I guess I have to leave it for another day then. My youngest brother, Xiao Bao would love to listen to it too. Perhaps tomorrow would be a good time to continue our conversation after your session with Sister Mu?'
'About that.. I guess she was pretty upset after I ask her about Ya- I mean the 9th Prince.'
'I see. Well, I would request for my turn to be drawn then. I'll see you tomorrow.' the 12th prince decided and smile kindly, before hastily rushing off into a distance door with his lady in waiting.
Ivan stare after the back of the prince for the longest time. It's just him alone again, how many times have this happen in this palace. The story of the girl in the painting still nag at his mind, who is she waiting for? Why is the person she is waiting for not coming back anymore. Why did the person left in the first place?
He let out a snort of disbelief at himself, is he indulging in the idea of him and the 9th prince, or is he genuinely interested in the story. He can't seem to tell.
Tiny note: Apparently, according to a Russian friend, Varenye is NOT jam, and thanks to her, I have craving for something I have never eaten before. OTL I want me some Varenye right now