rattlerofthestars:

  The appearance of a lanky catfish caused Jim to snortle*. Well, his mustache made him look like one anyway. Who could take this guy seriously? Even as he raised his voice to scold his new found buddy, Jim continued to believe that this man was more ridiculous than Doppler in his space suit. Except he wasn’t so funny anymore. Now he was just plain annoying. The way he cut into Ping caused a flash of anger to pulsate throughout his body. Who did he think he was? 

Finally, he had enough.

  “Hey-!” Jim stepped forward, fists gripped tightly as if to restrain himself. He could deck this guy so hard. He would enjoy it too. “Back off, fish-man. Ping rescued me from the mountains. I would have died out there had it not been for him. Shouldn’t you be relieved that your soldier didn’t get lost and die in the wilderness?” His hands had been gesturing about in a frustrated manner. What gives? This army seemed to be very disconnected from itself. Instead of jumping down Ping’s throat, shouldn’t their captain be glad he’s okay?

  “Look, I need to speak to your captain so I’ll just take Ping here with me and we’ll go apologize together. Alright?” Jim grabbed hold of Ping’s sleeve and began to walk past the irritating presence. As soon as they were a few paces away, he whispered over to the solider. “Which way is the captain’s tent…?”

*snortle- to laugh with a snort at the inhale.

As Jim bristled at Chi Fu, Ping’s mouth fell open.  Nobody, not even the captain himself, had ever yelled at the Emperor’s consul like that in front of everybody - and as he glanced around uneasily, the young recruit realized that all of the men in the vicinity had stopped to watch.  Ping felt an urge to sidle away from Jim a few steps, so nobody would think he’d put Jim up to it.  But it was too late: the onlookers were beginning to smirk, and Ping cringed lest Chi Fu himself see their faces.  Even Ping knew this couldn’t possibly be good for morale.  And guess who it would be blamed on?  "Haaaaa,“ he interjected, smiling tightly at them both, "what he means, Consul, is that I found - Jim - during endurance training earlier.  He’s a scholar,” Ping plugged on inexorably, almost wondering why nobody had interrupted him yet, “and he says he’s been sent here to - ”

His breath came out in a sharp whoosh as Jim grabbed his sleeve.  Incredulously, Ping turned to Jim to ask him what he thought he was doing.  It was one thing, the way Jim had insulted Ping earlier, because a scholar could so easily insult an army recruit without apologizing - Chi Fu had done this countless times himself - but for Jim to speak to an older man and a superior the way he had?  How could he be so disrespectful?  And he didn’t even know where Captain Shang’s tent was!  Ping wanted to roll his eyes - what did it matter if one more person was mad at him now?  But before the horrified soldier could form any of this into coherent words, Chi Fu finally interjected from behind them: “Hua Ping!  Come back here this instant!”

Without hesitation Ping turned, pulling his jacket from Jim’s grasp as he did so, and stepped towards Chi Fu - although not too close, because there was only so much courage you could have at a time like this.  Ping bowed slightly in apology, bending slightly at the waist, but it was his head that hung so low that his feet weren’t even in his line of vision.  "I didn’t mean to cause trouble, sir,“ Ping murmured.  "But I understand that his visit is of great importance.”

“That will be for the captain to decide.”  Ping couldn’t see the consul’s face as he spoke, but his words caused Ping’s shoulders to lift ever so slightly in relief.  Still, he didn’t dare look up yet.  Chi Fu’s voice continued.  "Scholar, I will escort you to the captain’s tent personally.  On the way there, we will discuss your mission.  As advisor to the Emperor, I can assure you that I recognize your urgency.  And you!“

Ping paused, then looked up.  "Me, sir?”

“The captain has asked that you assist the cook with dinner tonight - preparation, serving, and cleaning up.  You’re lucky it’s not the latrines.”  And with that he swept out of Ping’s line of vision.  The recruit straightened and glanced at Jim, giving him a swift firm nod: Go with him.  Please.  Don’t make a scene again.