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You're the head of your sect.

[It's a trump card, to be sure. And honestly, though it might be unconventional, he's certain any minor clan would overlook Huaisang's cultivation level in favor of his pedigree. It'd be a powerful match.

Not that it matters. Not that it's any of his business. But he doesn't like Huaisang putting himself down like that, when the truth is--]

And even if you weren't, you aren't lacking as a prospect. Don't be stupid. Just because your cultivation isn't high . . . you just spent over a decade trapping the man who killed your brother. You're-- you're unbelievably clever and dedicated.

Any clan would be stupid not to want to marry their heir to you.

[haha tricked jiang cheng into complimenting him--

Or no, not quite; this much angrily singing his praises is a surprise, if only because, honestly— he's practicing his excuses to get out of marriage prospects, here. "Lacking as a prospect" totally not going to work, if Jiang Cheng will so immediately spin it back into praise...

But that said,] You're the only one who would think what I did to Jin Guangyao is clever and dedicated, Jiang-xiong.

[Just... saying. Most of the cultivation world lacks their unique perspective, as it were.]

Would you? If you had an heir? We could be sworn brothers.

[unless......?]

Would I--

[He honest to god doesn't know what he means at first. Not out of stupidity, but an heir is so far from Jiang Cheng's thoughts as to lack meaning. For so many years, Jin Ling was his only concern; he had no time to think of siring a child when raising the one he already had was so exhausting. Between the brat and his all-consuming hatred for Wei Wuxian, no one had ever had the nerve to think of pushing him to produce an heir. And now--

Well, it's not as if he's particularly popular with women. Has anyone else ever been blacklisted? Probably not.]

You'd be too old by the time they came of age.

[It's a scoffed response, not unfriendly.]

If you want an alliance, you're going to have to get it another way.

We were at Cloud Recesses together!

[Is he not entitled to an alliance by virtue of sheer time? He is! Time and history and having just enough things in common that would turn other people away: Huaisang's ideal checklist. For an alliance.

Still, this is just... Well, this is Huaisang waving his hands and giving Jiang Cheng his very best imploring look until he gets his alliance, serious or not. Some part of him has already taken it for granted that if he needed someone on his side, that person would be Jiang Cheng; so the stupid bit about heirs is fun, but throw him a bone.]

Jiang-xiong! You wouldn't leave me high and dry, would you?

Maybe.

[No. It's not a fervent answer, but rather quiet and unassuming: no, he wouldn't, because they've been through so much together. But not just that. Because now he sees the truth of Huaisang, who he is beneath all the easy fluster and prettiness, and he very much understands that person.

But saying that would be embarrassing. And anyway, this is more fun.]

An alliance has to go both ways. What can you offer me, Sect Leader Nie?

[Oh, is it an earnest negotiation now? Perhaps "earnest" is the wrong word, maybe more like... not-entirely-facetious, but that's Huaisang's favorite kind, anyway. He all but actually pouts at Jiang Cheng for a second more, brow furrowed in affected worry, before he hums and really thinks about it. Hmm, hmm...]

Besides my prestige, you mean? I'm clever and dedicated, according to some people.

[For all intents and purposes, his sect is doing marginally better than Jiang Cheng's at the moment, admirable and impressive as his efforts at restoring Lotus Pier have been. But that's not important, because Huaisang doesn't care about sect power at all, in the end— but he cares about Jiang Cheng.

He leans forward on his elbow again, considering him.]

My cultivation isn't too high, [don't @ him, it's not a put down,] I come from a good family, I- ah... I'm not too loud?

[He waves a hand, look, the point being don't do this with someone you've known since you were like 14, bud:] What score do I make off your list?

[He scoffs out another laugh, and it's . . . nice, really, to be able to do that. To not have to tense up in the next second, wondering what Huaisang might say next, how he might get them in trouble with other clans or ruin the Jiang reputation. It's nice to just--

It's nice to just talk without any real stakes involved. Nice to be able to divert on this stupid tangent, which means nothing at all; nice to be able to weave in and out of topics without worrying if the other man thinks him broken or pitiable.]

You passed.

[A beat, and then:]

You're not too loud.

[Of all the selling points, bud.]

[Jiang Cheng, please love him as he is, thanks. He scoffs and picks up his cup, but ah- empty.]

How do you expect me to remember the whole list? I got three!

[And he passed, which first, thank you, of course he did-- and second, hmm! He'll have to think about that. But not here, because the tea has run out, and so as he puts his cup down and moves back to get to his feet:]

Come with me and I'll show you around.

[Bird tour? Bird tour. He nods toward the open door and the sprawling garden beyond; it's a nice day, Jiang Cheng, come spend it enjoying the scenery with him. They can waste some time together without a care in the world for a little bit longer.

And back to the topic at hand...]

You know, your nephew is probably going to be married before either of us.

[Bird tour, which he'll put up with for the chance to move around. Besides: it's an incredibly stupid thought, but he does like how Huaisang's hair looks in the sunlight. Especially now, when everything in the Unclean Realm is so much more colorful than it used to be.

He'd have been content with just looking. But ugh, Jin Ling getting married, and he scowls.]

He's still a child.

[No, he's not.]

Besides: there's two people in the world who can stand him. It doesn't matter which he picks; I'm not going to be sworn to the Lans twice over.

[Well, it's time for this bird tour, complete with Huaisang smoothly retrieving his fan and fluttering it idly, so that he doesn't immediately say something like, "That's one more than you!"— no, no. That doesn't sound as innocent as he initially thinks.

But it is true, so as the only person in the world who can stand Jiang Cheng, follow him down this sunlit path into the spotty shade of some young trees. It's all very scenic.]

He's as old as we were back then, [he points out, like, remember Back Then... not that Huaisang participated in much, but they weren't much older than Jin Ling when the Sunshot Campaign took off.] The Lan juniors are sensible, for the most part...

[Well, one of them is. That's enough.]

Is he picking one? I didn't think he would tell you.

He doesn't. That doesn't mean he's subtle about it.

[Is it mean he puts on a slight falsetto in order to mock his beloved nephew? Probably. Eh.]

Everything is Lan Sizhui says and Lan Sizhui tells me . . . he never shuts up about him, even if half of it's complaining. He's shameless.

Edited 2020-03-21 05:23 (UTC)

[Oh it's definitely mean to mock his own nephew, and it's just as mean for Huaisang to laugh, but does that stop him having a good chuckle behind his fan? Not at all.]

It's good that he finally has a friend his own age...

[A Friend. Anyway, what's with your family and those Lans, huh? It truly is a Thing.]

I could talk to him. Maybe I'll learn something for you.

[That's--

. . . actually, that's a good idea. A really good idea, actually, because Huaisang has just spent about ten years proving he's the champion when it comes to getting information out of others, never mind put it to use.]

You'll have to visit soon if you want to catch him.

[Hell yes, Nie Huaisang, sect leader, taking an extensive trip just to wheedle gossip out of a teenager. Now this is the best use of his power and status, for sure.

He shuts his fan and taps it resolutely against Jiang Cheng's shoulder, nodding.]

Just tell me when and I'll make the arrangements. You'll owe me one, Jiang-xiong.

The hell I do. We're allies, aren't we?

[It's drawled out and absolutely not meant. Somehow, wildly, the idea of owing Huaisang isn't exactly repugnant.]

Two weeks. We have a banquet coming up anyway-- for him, actually, sending him off. You can attend it officially, and he won't suspect a thing.

[That makes it way more legit, right? Definitely.]

[Oh, that's-- hmm. Does it do something to Huaisang for a moment, when Jiang Cheng says the hell I do so immediately? Maybe. He won't dwell.]

I'm doing you a favor, so you owe me. Attending the banquet officially is what I would have to do anyway...

[To show his support, etc etc. Bothering Jin Ling about his personal life is the favor, see. Huaisang lifts his closed fan and taps it against Jiang Cheng's cheek, for emphasis. Did he have to do this? Did he have to then drag the end of it down along his jaw? Yes, maybe.]

Deal?

[Despite what certain people might postulate, he's not entirely inexperienced. Sex and romance are two wildly different things, after all, and while he might have never had a steady, solid relationship, he at least knows when he's being flirted with. He's not that dense.

So, with that in mind: hey, what the fuck!

He doesn't gape at him, thank god. He just swallows thickly, his face going just a little heated, and god, is he blushing? His skin isn't as pale as it could be, thank god, so maybe he won't notice.]

Uh-- yeah. Deal.

[SMOOTH. Even smoother: the way he takes a half-step back, realizes what he's doing, steps forward again. Now would like to walk into the ocean a little after that stupid teeter-totter display, thank you. His temper flares again, rushing forward in a vague attempt at hiding his growing horror and embarrassment.

He turns, scowling, fully intending to storm up the path, because he's doing great.]

Come on.

[Aha— Huaisang stands there, eyebrows raised like he's surprised that Jiang Cheng is doing... this. This back and forth thing he's worked himself up into in seconds flat; it's endearing, of course it is, Huaisang doesn't make a habit of flirting around without any interest to back it up, but all the same... wow.

Wow, Jiang Cheng. When he turns Huaisang seems to remember to do something, hastily tucking the fan away at his waist and reaching to grab Jiang Cheng's arm. Hey, hey—]

Wait, wait! [Is he going to apologize? Uh, no— but he's holding that arm with both hands and trying to think of something to say, so...] Don't rush off!

[And-- alright, there's a distinct difference between nudging someone with a fan and touching them with his own hands, he's suddenly very aware of that much. It's not like they're pressed together, he's barely touching Jiang Cheng at all, but it's-- well, now he's dwelling on it. He looks at Jiang Cheng's face and then away, lips pursed in thought.

Cool. Cool cool cool.]

Let's talk about something else, A-Cheng.

[ah, fuck, let's cancel Feelings.]

[Talk? No. He has no real interest in talking, because he's going to make a fucking fool of himself (an even bigger fool of himself) if he tries to play this off cool. There's no talking. There's just Huaisang, looking at him with a mixture of amusement and-- god, not pity, never pity, but at least slightly sympathetic to poor, virginal Jiang Cheng.

(Or at least, that's what it seems to him, so touchy and ill-tempered as he can be).

But where he might normally storm off, now he stays. A-Cheng, and honestly, Huaisang didn't have to grab him. He could have just said that and stopped him in his tracks.

He glances back at him, his expression twisted up in something unreadable, his eyes darting about his face.]

Two weeks.

[Be there. It's snapped out, as much an order as anything else he ever says. And before Huaisang can say anything else-- before he can tell Jiang Cheng that it's okay, that he didn't mean anything by it, that they can politely pretend nothing happened, it's fine, he didn't mean to be overwhelming or whatever-- Jiang Cheng darts forward.

It's not a good kiss, really. It's swift and a little too harsh, his fingers gripping Huaisang's shoulder. His mouth is soft, he notes faintly, soft and sweet, and god, but he wants to kiss him more, he wants . . . whatever. The point is, it's a kiss, and with it, a firm declaration: that not only is he signaling his approval, but that he refuses to let that idiotic display just now set the tone of whatever they're about to do.]

Two weeks.

[He echoes it, taking a step back, and then another. Is he going to flee like a fucking child? Maybe! Whatever! Two weeks! Be there!]

[Two weeks, he says, and Huaisang is ready to confirm that yes, he didn't already forget about Jin Ling's feast, and then Jiang Cheng's mouth is against his before he can speak. His hands fumble, surprised, and grips Jiang Cheng's sleeve a little too tightly before he remembers himself and lets go. It's hasty and hard and exactly how he'd expect Jiang Cheng to kiss, all emotion and zero finesse. That's enough; Jiang Cheng's grip on his shoulder steadies him against the sudden wave of something that courses through him, an aching and almost painful awareness of how long he's, ah... been without.

So it's enough; he wants very much to lean into Jiang Cheng properly, to take more and more, but Jiang Cheng pulls away before Huaisang's thoughts can settle and his head can clear and oh, two weeks. Huaisang clasps his hands firmly behind his back and nods, acceptance and understanding and the herculean self control he requires to not reach for Jiang Cheng again here and now. Okay. Alright!]

Two weeks.

[And Jiang Cheng makes his strategic retreat, which is small mercy to them both, despite how much it feels like the opposite in his immediate absence. Huaisang is distracted for the rest of the day and much of the next, head empty save for the memory of Jiang Cheng's firm hand and the warmth of his mouth. But he has two weeks to mull over that, and maybe by the time he has to set out for the banquet, he'll have calmed down.

It is a nice wish. He accomplishes it more or less anyway, arriving in two weeks with his small entourage and quite a few very expensive gifts to push on the boy as a token of his well-wishes. There's been business to take care of in the interim that's set him back on track, regrettably, and he's unfortunately swept into talk of it with members of smaller clans in the hours before the banquet itself begins. He does his best to focus, but he still keeps an eye and ear out for Jiang Cheng, gaze lingering on him whenever he does manage to spot him stomping around dealing with the rest of the preparations.

So, then: the banquet. He's seated to Jiang Cheng's right, obviously, as the leader of one of the great sects, and spends much of the meal leaning forward to talk around him to Jin Ling, who is doing the best he can at being the centerpiece of this whole thing on his uncle's left. Huaisang is here to butter up the young master, after all... It isn't as if he's ignoring Jiang Cheng, far from it, but he knows how to behave in public.

He knows, and yet when he leans around Jiang Cheng to prod Jin Ling with another question sometime around the second course, his hand finds its way to Jiang Cheng's knee and lingers there, very subtly. It's as much a racy flirtation, here where someone might guess at his game, as it is an earnest display of affection; two weeks is a long time to think about kissing Jiang Cheng without seeing him! He'll get through this dinner come hell or high water, but god, he's going to be like this for the rest of the meal, rest assured.]

[Mercifully, he does not actually drop his liquor.

It's close, though. It's too close, his hand jerking enough that Jin Ling scowls at him in confusion. But whatever, the kid focuses back on the fucking Sect Leader asking him questions, so it's fine. It's fine because no one can see them; it's fine because Jiang Cheng hadn't realized just how much just one touch could affect him, and damned if he'll give it up too quickly.

God. Is he that touch-deprived? Well, yes. Clearly, yes, because it's just a hand on his knee, and yet it's the only thing he can think about right now. Heavy, deliberate heat, his thumb stroking lightly against the curve, and fuck, but it's pathetic how that sparks his imagination. He wouldn't mind that hand elsewhere. Not-- not crudely (although that, too), but literally, anywhere. Brushing against his cheek or the curve of his neck, down his chest, anywhere, but god, he's so desperate for more of it.

It's not a competition. But still, he won't let Huaisang want him fumble through move after move. He's got more dignity than that.

He sets his liquor down. Shifts a little so he can be sure one trailing sleeve covers Huaisang's hand. And then, quite firmly, places his own hand atop his, fingers gripping firmly, his thumb brushing against the inside of his wrist. Stay just like that, a grip both possessive and demanding. If he wants to flirt, they can flirt, all right.

He even glances over at him, just once, meeting his gaze rather matter-of-factly. Your move.]

[Jin Ling, bless him, has no idea what immaturity is happening immediately in front of him. Huaisang doesn't expect him to; he can see the boy is stressed and nervous, see the desperate gratitude in his eyes when Huaisang asks him something and keeps his attention away from other people, people he doesn't know, who might have otherwise approached and tried to get in a few words. Huaisang has wasted enough time at Lanling Jin to be at least familiar with Jin Ling, if only just; he doesn't stop to wonder what the boy thinks of this sect leader who used to cry on his other uncle's shoulder now cheerfully chattering away at Jiang Cheng's elbow.

Still, Jin Ling's casual obliviousness makes this stupid, stupid thing they're doing that much easier. If he notices them share a glance and catches the tail end of Huaisang's smallest of smirks, he says nothing; surely they're just making fun of him for whatever he's just said about Lan Sizhui anyway, so never mind. Huaisang can multitask, asking Jin Ling something about night hunting while he leans a little closer, clearly enthusiastic about spirit nets and not for the excuse to press against Jiang Cheng's arm.

People, ah, people can see this one. He's sure there are eyebrows raising and eyes rolling in the rest of the hall, a murmured comment or two about how that Nie Huaisang is better, isn't he, but he's still shameless when it comes to literally falling all over the other leaders for support. All Jiang Cheng has to do is keep a straight face and none will be any the wiser. Probably.]

—And, [he's saying now, and is it still about night hunts? Uh,] Jiang-xiong knows what to do, just in case! Isn't that right, Sect Leader?

[It's probably still about night hunts. Huaisang nods very certainly about this probably-night-hunts thing, taking advantage of the sleeve cover to turn his hand and slide his fingers in between Jiang Cheng's. There will be time enough later for touching knees through several layers of robes, but for now it's this, holding his hand in secret like a couple of juniors. Those kids wish they could pull off this move.]

Ah-- yes. Though you shouldn't need my help, [he adds supportively to his only nephew.] You're old enough to take care of almost anything you'd encounter on a night hunt.

[It lacks any real heat, though. Holding hands with the man you've had a growing crush on tends to mellow out anyone. He squeezes just once, but even that isn't about showing off. It's just . . . nice, that's all, to feel Huaisang's hand beneath his, just small enough to fit perfectly.

Eventually, the conversation peters off, and he regrettably has to release his hand. They've got hours left in this banquet, which is fucking unbearable, but at least he can make it pass a bit more quickly. He doesn't lean all over Huaisang, no, but thank god for Huaisang and his fan. It means he can lean in a bit closer than he ordinarily might, acting as though they're talking about some sensitive clan matter.]

This can't go on for much longer.

[Another course? Two? Jin Ling leaving home is a big deal, sure, but it's not like he's getting married.]

Come by for a drink afterwards.

[A "drink", whatever.]

[Well, the food is good, if not the tragic loss of sneakily holding hands like real adults. Huaisang considers himself a very patient man, considering, and yet sitting next to Jiang Cheng without being able to touch him even casually is suddenly among the hardest things he's ever had to do. There's harmless flirting and then there's a deluge of old feelings dredged up by new peace, or more accurately, the endless possibilities of things they could be doing instead of sitting here nodding politely at people whose names Huaisang doesn't care to remember.

So it is a long banquet despite Jiang Cheng's invitation, or perhaps because of it; Huaisang hums in the affirmative behind his fan, and that is more or less it— food and drink and other people pull their attention away from each other for the rest of it. Huaisang can't even enjoy the presentation of everyone's fancy gifts the way he normally might, the only good part of any of these banquets, because it's taking so long and he's all too aware of Jiang Cheng beside him. Torture.

When the thing finally ends, Huaisang sits through only a couple members of smaller sects coming up to formally say goodbye to the bunch of them before he excuses himself and insists he has to retire. He is a longtime friend, of course there's a room prepared for him somewhere and at this point he knows where it is without help, thank you, that will be all from the various servants— and then Huaisang is alone in a hallway, taking a moment to loiter around and let people disperse before he turns on his heel and sets out for Jiang Cheng's rooms instead.

He taps the door frame with the end of his fan before sliding it open enough to peer inside. Surely, Jiang Cheng took the hint and excused himself as well...]

Jiang-xiong? Are you here?

[He sure isn't!

Just kidding, he's way too thirsty to put this off for another minute. He'd barely waited a respectable amount of time before deciding that he didn't have to say goodbye to every sect leader that wants to catch his eye. It's rude, sure, but it's fine.

Huaisang is way more important, anyway.

And see, he'd intended on talking like an adult. Discussing what this is, what they are, what kinds of expectations ought to be set . . . he really had intended that.

But he's also spent two weeks thinking about that first kiss, and hey, shockingly, Jiang Cheng is not known for his patience? So yeah. The intentions are good, but the instant Huaisang slides the door closed, Jiang Cheng is kissing him.

It's messy, sure, but at least better than last time. Less harsh, more hungry, his hand sweeping up the side of his neck, body pressing forward because he is so, so desperate for any kind of contact. Words can come later. Words will come later, they have to, but god, let him be irresponsible for just a little while.]

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