Two Demons and a Cutie

[fanoperator]

The strangest news Huaisang has received all year, perhaps all decade, is that there are two kings from the demon realm in Qinghe. His province of Qinghe is a wealthy place, with a thriving capital city, and as the kings are directed toward the fortress residence of the Sect Leader, they'll find it to be a seat of immense power, built upon and as part of a mountainside.

Immortals are rare enough that some people don't believe in them, and gods and demons are even more legendary. So Huaisang has no idea at all what to expect when they're brought before him in his throne room.

He doesn't feel like an imposing sect leader, not half the man his brother had been, but he still rises and comes forward to greet his guests, looking between the two of them in awed confusion at their gleaming horns and bizarre attire. "My lords. Um. Welcome? I am Sect Leader Nie Huaisang of Qinghe."

Comments

[goldenfootsteps]

"I agree. Part of our time here is to learn of mortal culture, so us seeing what you eat and drink is part of it." And maybe set up trade later for said food and drink, but Mammon will leave that to Bimet if it comes to that. He likes having Earth businesses.

Mammon raises a brow at Satan's suggestion, before grinning widely. "That is a wonderful suggestion! I agree." Though Mammon's mind is partly on eyeing up the rest of the palace and its wealth. But also how small and cute Huaisang is.

They had some time to stay and enjoy themselves, right? Right!

[fanoperator]

"We'll have a few nice days of touring, then. For now, we'll go up and have refreshments at the silver pavilion." Huaisang nods at one of his attendants to have the instruction carried out for food to be sent there. "I hope you won't mind all the stairs. Bujing Shi was built upon a mountain, it's all stairs and caverns."

Gesturing for them to follow, Huaisang leads the way out of the reception hall and up a grand flight of stairs behind it. "But what's nice is that there's a hot spring that has several outlets on the mountain, and my people have gotten very good at routing it, so most of the finer guest and family residences have heated pools, and there's running water accessible throughout the city."

What Mammon will have noticed by now, going through the city of Qinghe and now this fortress Bujing Shi, is that there's an incongruous air of neglect in all the government-owned buildings. The whole place is very powerful and imposing, but statues have gone unrepaired, ornamental plating has fallen off, nothing looks like it's been polished in years. The military presence in particular just looks shabby--armor has been patched too many times, weapons looking a bit makeshift. It looks on the surface like a place that doesn't have the money to keep up the shows of wealth and prosperity or to maintain its defenses. That's fairly obvious to anyone, but what Mammon in particular will have noticed is that all the underlying infrastructure is flawless: roads in good repair, people in the city looking well-fed and happy, hardly any presence of beggars or pickpockets.

Huaisang or someone else in power here has clearly put a lot of effort into seeming like the province is impoverished while making sure all the humbler needs of the people are met.

He takes them up another set of stairs, still imposing but more winding, by which point his pace has slowed and his breath is coming quick. They've just climbed about twelve flights worth of stairs and evidently there are more to go.

[bruxing]

What...What a welcome. It's unnerving, the more Satan thinks on it; sure, it's the reception they deserve, and it's not like these mortals probably have a chance against two wholeass Devil Kings, but...
Hm. To offer a few days of just touring, on top of refreshments and the like. How interesting! How weird. Interesting more, though; Satan's not about to refuse free shit or some damn good exercise, after all!

All of these flights of stairs are nothing to him, and he pops along without breaking a sweat, struggling to not overtake Huaisang or push him out of the road accidentally. (A terrible guest, alas, he probably will make.)

"...You alright there?"

At least he eventually notices that their generous host is starting to wear down a little, spinning to face him with a curious expression. "Want me to carry you? Just tell us which way to go, where to turn, all that shit, and I'll get you there. I'd make Mammon carry you, but he'd just pinch your ass the whole way."

[goldenfootsteps]

Certainly was quite a surprise from a human, but an interesting one. Would be rude not to take up the offer, and Mammon is also well used to being gifted such things, so it seems less strange to him. Only that it was coming from a human. He also makes note of the land as they pass it, curious at the details, a mental note in place to maybe gift something in return for the hospitality. This place could do with a few stacks of gold bars. Maybe that would help things! The structure was there, but it could be prettier.

He unlike Satan stays quiet at first as Huaisang works hard on those stairs, it bringing back memories of Mammon's own earlier life. And just how stubborn he had been as a child. That he could do such a climb himself, that he did not need help, that he could achieve it alone. It brings a smile to his face. Such wonderful memories. "Let him make his own way if he chooses to, Satan." Sometimes it is the achievement of doing something yourself rather than taking the hand that is offered to you.

[fanoperator]

"Oh!" Huaisang blinks at the offer from Satan, lashes fluttering in confused surprise, and then over at Mammon for the gentle smoothing over of that same offer. Back to staring at Satan, since he was the one who had made the original offer. "Wouldn't that be disrespectful to you? You're immortal demon lords. Wouldn't it demean you to carry a mere mortal?"

Then the next part of that clicks in his head and his blushes return, though he can't help but laugh a little as he turns toward Mammon. "Wait. Would you really pinch my ass?" Back to Satan, laughing a little bit more. "Was that a joke?"

[bruxing]

"Disrespectful to me? If it was, I wouldn't offer. And yeah, he loves ass. You'd be sorer than if he didn't carry you."

Satan rolls his head towards Mammon, though his gaze stays on Huaisang, just to underscore how Honest And Truthful this is. "Fact he hasn't denied it means it's true, right? But he's also right, I'm not gonna force you. Just thought I'd offer since you're treating us real good."

...And look, Satan's also not above a little groping, it's just not as much of a habit. He'd hold himself back and stick to just feeling Huaisang Normally without squeezing and groping!!

[goldenfootsteps]

"Is carrying a person really such a disrespectful thing? It is offering help when needed! And a King should always be there to help his people." Before that next part, Mammon forgetting letting Huaisang pick a choice when one of his favorite topics come up. "Yes. I would. It looks rather lovely from what I can see."

[fanoperator]

"Most people in Zhongguo are very reserved about touch," Huaisang explains, smile lingering even after his laughter has calmed. "I'm usually the exception, I like touching people I care about. I think I'd ... like that. If you're sure."

He takes a tentative step closer to Satan, choosing to trust him, though he does also glance over at Mammon, amused and interested in this apparent appreciation of his ass.