CW: Violence, mentions of sexual assault, mention of sex work, explicit language.
Hanjuyang is a spiteful city with a beautiful façade, much like the young man ambling through her belly.
Rin would tell anyone who might be gullible enough that his territory starts at the cemetery, sweeps through the Slums, and extends past the Artisan’s Quarter and out to the Black Forest. Despite his bold claims, Rin knows that his so-called territory in truth belongs to another. This person – or rather, this entity, for how could they be a mere human? – whose authority remains uncontested by the gangs and guilds of Hanjuyang; the Slums and her weary and broken citizens; the People’s District and the comfortable majority of the city’s populous; the High District, home to the Watchtower, Silversword barracks, and the Ministry Quarters, as well as the other prominent and valuable administrations of the city. In fact, this entity has absolute power across the four nations, whose name all utter in adoration and terror alike: The Mother.
But Rin is a person not without some power in his city. He is notorious for his sharp tongue and hard fists and a temper as thin as a razor wire. Most of the fights he’s ever been in ends badly one way or another. Badly, in that the other party would end up either severely injured and/or robbed entirely of their possessions.
His face also doesn’t go by unnoticed, beguiling those who are yet to know of this boy’s poor temperament and terrible personality. He finds this useful in some instances, when gold is short and the nights are long and lonely. It doesn’t really matter to his partners that he’s quite selfish in bed, using their bodies only as a way to satiate his own thirst. No, somehow, this creature always leaves his companions feeling rather full and charmed, as if they had spent the entire night confirming their undying love for one another, instead of fucking without expectation of anything more.
There are the troublesome ones, who think they can take advantage of this boy whom they assume at first glance is like the gentle bluegrass, easily crushed with the slightest provocation. Very quickly they would find themselves in precarious positions. A few even with irreparable damage to their most precious assets, forcing them to give up dreams of ever having children.
***
Rin heads towards his usual haunt, the Sweet Brier Inn. It’s one of five inns in Hanjuyang that not only serve affordable and delicious foods and drinks, but also the most palatable courtesans in the Eastern territory. These five establishments are considered the decorative petals of a precious bloom, namely, the Rose Palace, which is the main attraction in the Entertainment Strip.
Sweet Brier caters to both the poor and wealthy, though the latter are usually wet behind the ears, have a death wish, or have ugly tastes that none of the other inns would cater to. This is just fine for one like the Rat, who is like the lazy bear in a river full of fat salmon, simply needing to hold open his mouth to catch a tasty snack. It’s usual for him to come away with a pocket full of coin and pilfered goods by the time he tires of the place, which is enough to keep him entertained through the rest of the week.
Rin walks with a bit of a swagger, munching on a stolen steamed bun. It burns the tips of his fingers and the roof of his mouth when he bites into it. The bun is sweet and fluffy, and the pork is rich with the perfect amount of spice.
In the distance, he can see the High District, a view afforded to him by the slant of Aran Mountain upon which Hanjuyang sprawls. The famous White Lotus Lake is hidden by the clouds, never once seen by those outside of the High District.
The Hwan estate can be seen skimming the underbelly of the clouds. This is where the Governor of this city resides, the manor near invisible save for the strange flicker of white that one might catch with a turn of his head. The estate is closer than any other to the Watchtower, the latter reaching into the sky with a blazing face, a glassy orb on a sceptre, flowing an eerie cerulean blue. Within that orb sits the Watcher, the eyes and ears of the Mother in this glorious, broken city.
Stories are exchanged between the children of Hanjuyang: the Watcher drags away people into the maw of the tower to feed upon. The Watcher has no face, no flesh. The Watcher is a ghoul that was created by the Mother, a mindless beast that must be fed to appease, lest it unleash its terrible ire upon the city.
Watcher keep a steady eye/Steal not our flesh nor our lives/Watcher keep within your orb/Dear protector of our wards…
Rin pops the rest of the bun into his mouth as he studies the orb nestled into the mountain. The eye of a slumbering giant, disturbed by the revelry at her base. He suppresses a shiver and continues on towards Sweet Brier.
As he approaches the inn, Rin sees Bellow chatting up a courtesan just outside. The Rose, as these particular courtesans are called, wears a delicate silver mask across her eyes as is regulation set by Madame Kahin to garner mystique. She is a broad faced woman with storms for eyes, regarding Bellow with a cool demeanour. White blonde hair cascades down her back, stark against the shimmering grey robe that gracefully falls from her plump form. She holds herself as regally and elegantly as a queen, though there is a warmth to her aura that makes people feel at ease in her presence.
The one currently chatting her up, on the other hand, is like a coarse beast that violently jars with her well crafted visage. Bellow is a large fellow, all muscle and pure bullish strength. His skin is dark with a rich summer tan and his hair is bleached yellow by the sun. He has a strong jaw and mean eyes that give him the air of a ruffian or a brute. There is a charming rakishness to him however, which is all too clear in the crooked way he grins.
“Come on, Bucky, you know how much fun I can be. Why donchya just drink with me, huh? Just one measly drink!” Bellow’s booming voice is at odds with his skin crawling simpering, which does nothing at all to sway the Rose who simply stands as still and silent as a statue.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Bellow pushes his hot breath through flaring nostrils, red in the face as he’s all too easily tamed. “What does that make you then?”
“The same brand of trash as you. You know this already.” Rin gives the bullish man a good shake, surely rattling the pea-sized brain within his thick skull. He glances at the Rose, who’s been watching all this unfold with that quiet smile of hers. “Are you new? You don’t normally work at the Sweet Brier.”
“New to the Sweet Brier, yes,” Bucky responds, her voice touched with an alluring huskiness. “You are the Rat.”
“I am,” Rin says and the two share a smile.
“I’ve seen you before,” she says, flipping open her fan. She waves it elegantly before her face, though it’s more of a thoughtful gesture than a way to cool herself. “You stole a client from Poppy not two weeks ago and she gave you a black eye. Or so I’ve heard.”
“Have you seen the size of her?” the Rat protests, cringing internally at the memory. He could hardly keep his right eye open for a good few days. “She could beat a battalion of Silverswords with just one hand. I’d bet on it.”
Bucky laughs, a funny braying sound that she’s clearly self conscious about by the way she quickly swallows her mirth and covers her mouth with the fan. “You’re not working for Madame Kahin.”
“I like to keep the money I earn,” Rin says, flippantly.
“Are you old biddies gonna keep yapping away or am I gonna have to beat the both of you black and blue?” Bell growls, catching Rin in the stomach with a stray fist. The boy grunts and grabs his stomach, stooping over with a cough.
“I take it you are both friends?” Bucky says, tone dry as she regards the two unruly men.
“Only the best of,” Rin wheezes.
“Regulars of the Sweet Brier?”
“Regular drinkers.” He gives her a wry smile, narrowly avoiding another punch by ducking under the swinging fist. “We’re Slummers, so not much coin to go around.”
“Then you would know about this area.”
“Been here since I could walk.”
“Perhaps we should be friends.”
“Only the best of,” Rin chuckles and gives Bellow a sharp jab in the ribs. The latter pauses in his wild swinging to grab at his sore side, glaring at the innocent faced perpetrator. “You don’t get along with the other Roses?”
Bucky’s smile turns frigid. Her eyes like cracked glass. “No,” is all she says, her tone cool and detached. “Anyway, they’re boring. I think you and your friend here are quite entertaining. Maybe you could show me around one day.”
“Maybe we could.” By his lilting tone, it’s clear that the Rat expects something in return for this service.
The Rose’s smile curls behind the fan, her dark lashes fluttering like the anxious wings of a hummingbird. “Lady Nam is celebrating her fiftieth birthday next month with a ball and there’s a feast at the docks afterwards. A post-ball revelry of sorts. She’s hired almost everyone from the Rose Palace for entertainment and I’m sure she won’t notice one or two extra.”
“Will there be food? And drink?” Bell asks, an eager expression brightening up his rough face. “I heard them noble ladies are frisky behind closed doors.”
“It’s a feast, you moron. Of course there’ll be food and drink.” Rin quickly sidesteps another blow from Bellow, who turns red at his words.
“That’s just fine,” Rin says to Bucky with a grin. “We’ll come along, but I can’t guarantee I’m not going to steal anything.”
“Oh, please do,” Bucky says, smoothly. “An opportunity like this doesn’t come by often. Not for us, anyway.”
“Will the Madame herself be attending?” Rin asks curiously. He’s only ever heard about the infamous Madame of the Roses. Very rarely does anyone lay eyes on the woman herself, except for the exceedingly powerful and wealthy.
Bucky raises a brow at the Rat, her expression inexplicably darkening. “She will be. But I expect she will be busy entertaining Lady Nam. She is the Lady’s favourite, after all.”
“I see,” Rin hums, looking rather thoughtful as he gazes upon that ominous expression.
Storms flicker to the side when she spots a wealthy looking woman eyeing her from one of the outdoor tables, a merchant by the richness of her wear and the contrasting work shoes upon her feet.
“Let’s speak more on this later,” Bucky says, snapping her fan shut with practised ease. “If you’ll excuse me.” Without another word, the Rose sashays towards the merchant who greets her with a hungry smile.
***
While Bucky entertains her client, the Rat and the Bull spend the next hour idling in the sun, sharing a jug of cold River Wine. The potent wine is pungent and strong with the scent of blue river apples which are grown in state orchards and left on the trees until they are overripe. They are placed into salted and waterproof barrels, then left in the waters of Hanjuyang River to ferment. It’s a fine drink for little coin and a favourite of the Slummers.
The two young men sit at one of the outdoor tables, watching the bustling street with heavy eyes. Though the majority of their interactions end in a fight or an exchange of scathing words, they are, as claimed, the best of friends. Best, in that they often accompany each other and, perhaps, know each other more intimately than anyone else.
Now and then, when Rin is feeling particularly lonely, he would slip into Bellow’s bed and spend the night with him. Though the brute is a rather poor lover, Rin finds some comfort in his clumsiness. And in the darkest of times, Bell reveals an earnest side of himself that he rarely shows anyone, and the Rat can only find him endearing (though he would never say such a thing to the brute’s face).
Bellow peers at Rin over the rim of his cup, face wrinkling in a spectacularly ugly way. “What happened to your face?”
Rin downs the last mouthful of his drink and snatches the jug to refill his cup. “What do you think happened?” he snorts, leaning back in his seat when his cup is full.
“…You shouldn’t make her angry,” Bellow grumbles into his cup, hiding his face. “Would be a shame if it scarred.”
Rin gives the larger boy an indolent smile, face gently flushed by the heat and drink. The raw gash tugs painfully on his cheek. “You think I do it on purpose? My face paid for this drink, Bell. There’s no way I’d intentionally endanger my main source of coin.” He huffs and sips at the wine, savouring the sticky sweetness. “Anyway, she found a stash of watches under my futon and lost her shit. It kinda devolved from there.”
“Eh. My old man’s the same. He beat me black and blue the other day for not working the farms with him. I don’t see why I have to if I still bring coin home. He thinks I should just give up the gang and be a farmer. Can you imagine that? Me, a corn farmer? Forced to break my damn back for some snotty lord who don’t even know corn from his own dick.”
The Rat hums in agreement, running his fingertips around the rim of his cup. He’s watching a strange figure chatting amicably to the fruit stall owner. Clean white robes reflect the sun in a way that makes this figure appear like a lighthouse in a colourful, grimy sea. The raven tilts his head and raises the corner of his lips, dark eyes mesmerised by the handsome face and strong form. Who is this little lord?
“Where are the boys?” Rin asks distractedly before raising his cup. Sweet blue liquid laps at his lips but he doesn’t yet take a sip.
“I gave them the day off.” Bellow pounds his chest with a fist and releases an impressive burp. “Did you know that the Marquis’ been trying to give them jobs behind my back? The fucking prick thinks he can steal my lads away from me. Turn them into his Hounds. But that ain’t happening. See, he don’t treat his people right. I do. I give them a day off. Give them equal shares whenever we do a job. I don’t beat them like the Marquis does. Plus, I ain’t perverted like he is.”
“You are perverted, Bell,” Rin interjects, eyes still fixed upon the radiant figure across the road. “The most perverted man in Hanjuyang.”
“You know first hand what kinda sick fuck he is.”
“Hm.” Not exactly a memory Rin wants to linger on. “Don’t worry too much about the Marquis. He’s just testing the waters, seeing what he can get away with.”
“Yeah, right.” Bellow slurps his drink loudly and smacks his lips with relish. “Should we get another jug?”
The boy in white bows politely to the fruit vendor before wandering down the road, glancing around with keen interest. Those golden eyes flash with every turn of his head, as brilliantly reflective as his robes. As he draws near, Rin notices a sword sheathed at the little lord’s waist. A white sheathe with a golden emblem, too small to attract much attention: a majestic lion’s head embossed in metallic gold.
The raven suddenly sits upright, almost spilling his drink. His smirk deepens when he realises the identity of this little lord. “Well, well. Now that is interesting.”
“What is?” Bellow asks dumbly, shaking his empty cup above his head to catch the last drop with his tongue. “I’m going to get another jug. And maybe a bowl of noodles. Want one?”
“Mn.” Rin waves at him distractedly, tapping the sides of his cup with restless fingers.
And with that noncommittal response from his friend, Bell grumbles and stalks into the inn to place his order.
It doesn’t take long for someone else to notice the little lord. This is, after all, Slum territory. And with the Slums comes the desperation and hunger, keen enough to take a life for a few bits of coin.
A gang of three rough looking men step into the lord’s path with ugly sneers upon their faces. They are heavily scarred and each carrying a weapon of some sort: a couple of rusty daggers and a heavy looking club.
Rin knows who these men are. In fact, their leader, a rather short, dense looking man, had tried to corner him when he’d been heavily inebriated about a month ago. Thanks to Bellow’s help, he managed to escape with his ass intact. Unfortunately, he’s not yet had a chance to get his revenge. That is, until today.
Judging by the way the three men are leering at the lord, it’s clear that they are trying to extort him somehow. And the noble, as stupid and naïve as he is, pulls out a rather large coin purse and begins counting out several gold pieces. The three extortionists exchange excited glances, practically salivating when they see the amount of money this lord has on his person.
Their faces turn ugly and they step closer to the lord, crowd around him. The leader throws an arm around the boy’s shoulders and they quickly lead him into the nearest alleyway. Dark and secluded. Away from prying eyes.
None of them notice the small figure ambling after them, hips swaying slightly with each swaggering step and a drink held loftily in one hand.
our MC….confirmed scumbag u_u but at least he’s hot?
LOL he’s a fkn bauble
Somehow i wanna live inside this chp, live a wild life for a sec and die