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[creeksidealtarboy]

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[creeksidealtarboy]

[Aaron looks up from his book with a bright grin.]

Huaisang! That - that was real fast. What did - did you think?

[threedontknows]

['Huaisang' would normally be a little too informal, but he's come to understand it's a common form of address in this place. He smiles when he's addressed and gives a little bow in proper greeting.]

It was a little strange, I didn't understand some of it. But I liked the heroine, even if the chapters with her cousin were dull, and I was glad she went back to Rochester after he was humbled.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Yeah. She - she's a smart lady.

[Aaron doesn't typically enjoy the Brontë sister, or any of those dull, feminine stories, but Jane Eyre is a strange exception. He likes the pacing of it. He likes the way it moves and the symbols. It's a story that stretches his perceptions, and he appreciates that.

Fortunately, it seems his new friend feels the same.]

It's got a lot - lot of stuff that's not familiar, I know. But the story is - is a classic.

[threedontknows]

There are similar stories from my own home. [Not too similar -- he doesn't know what a Christian is but he can guess it's a religion with a set of morals, and most sects take in orphans so a person wouldn't really be without some kind of family, but similar enough.]

A woman falls in love with an already married man, but they can't be together, that sort of thing. I did enjoy that they were both flawed.

[creeksidealtarboy]

I like that - that, too. There's no bad - bad guy and good guy. Just two regular people.

[He moves over and pulls out a chair for him.]

[threedontknows]

[He sits down next to him and takes out the book from his inner robe.]

Sometimes the villainy is difficult to spot. [He taps the book on the table.] Here it was poverty and high expectations.

[creeksidealtarboy]

[He nods.]

Yeah. It - it's not always a person but - but society.

[threedontknows]

Very astute of us for noticing, wouldn't you say?

[He grins a little and nods towards Aaron's books.]

Did you finish the ghost stories?

[creeksidealtarboy]

[He smiles, a little edge to it, as he ducks his head. And then Huaisang brings up the ghost stories and he nods once.]

I did. I - I liked them. They're real spooky. Wanted to - to read more.

[threedontknows]

I like the stories, but I don't really like the actual ghosts or monsters.

[Is he serious? His smile says he's joking, but there's a little glint in his eyes that would say otherwise.]

[creeksidealtarboy]

Is there ghosts and - and monsters in your world?

[He heard about gargoyles land - this is not a leap.]

[threedontknows]

[He nods.]

Ghosts and monsters and beasts and walking corpses -- [Huaisang reaches for his fan, needing something to fidget with.]

All sorts of terrible things.

[creeksidealtarboy]

[Aaron shivers. Or rather, makes a show of it.]

That - that sounds real awful, Huaisang. This place must - must not be so terrible for you.

[threedontknows]

Oh, no, it is. [Huaisang shakes his head and leans back against the chair, sighing dramatically.]

They want me to work custodial here! It's awful.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Oh, it's not that - that bad. I came in working on that but - but then I moved to the chapel. It's - it's better there.

[He leans forward.]

Mister - Mister Belmont set it on fire. I helped to - to clean it.

[threedontknows]

He's a warden, isn't he? I remember when that happened. Everyone had lost their minds that week.

[He shakes his head.]

Speaking of losing their minds...I saw what happened at the party.

[creeksidealtarboy]

[Aaron turns a little sober at that.]

Oh.

I - I don't remember much about that.

[threedontknows]

[Huaisang nods.]

I saw that too. I heard you lost time, and there was another person who showed up in your place. I didn't get to speak with him, he wasn't there for too long.

[creeksidealtarboy]

[He lowers his eyes to the table.]

I don't - don't remember any of it. They said at - at my trial that he was there, but - but I don't - don't know.

[threedontknows]

[Huaisang frowns softly and leans forward. 'I don't know' is his line, after all.]

Who is he?

[creeksidealtarboy]

[All Aaron can offer him is a shrug.]

Don't - don't know. I'm sorry. I don't - don't talk to him or anything.

[threedontknows]

No one's ever told you anything about him?

[creeksidealtarboy]

My lawyer did. But he - he didn't know what happened.

[He hesitates, then continues.]

He didn't know how - how it started or nothing.

[threedontknows]

When you became two people, you mean? [He closes his fan and taps his chin a little in thought.]

The other one is violent, and protective of you.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Yeah. He - he comes when - when I lose time.

[He rubs the back of his neck.]

Started when - when I was a kid, I guess. My daddy he - he wasn't a very nice man. But I don't remember cuz - cuz I lost time a lot.