dumbshow | highly new, slightly improved open post

I'm not.

[Please. The only poems he knows are dirty ones, and even then, it's maybe two at best.]

I'm just wondering what the appeal is, that's all.

[Tell him the dirty poetry, Jiang Cheng.]

I like the way it sounds. The world is bigger than saber practice. [Does this sound like the exact words he's parroted to his brother before? It is.] Not everything comes back to cultivation, you know.

[But they've come up on the riverboats, and Huaisang stops to look at Jiang Cheng expectantly. Helloooo, get in this boat with him......]

[EARN IT.

But fine, fine, and he's good on boats; it's easy to climb into one without disturbing it too much. By unspoken agreement, it's him who steers, pushing them off into the water.

It's calming, being in a boat. It's not home, but it's a little like it, and he's always enjoyed the water.]

It does in our world.

[It's idly said, less a condemnation and more a vague comment.]

Tell me one, then. If they sound so good.

[Huaisang scoffs, waving his fan dismissively to show what he thinks of that. Stupid... cultivation is alright and all, but the rest is such a pain. Jiang Cheng can steer; Huaisang takes the moment to settle himself comfortably.

Now then, what a demand...]

You want me to recite one? Right now?

[He says, in the exact tone of voice he uses when Lan Qiren tries to get him to answer questions in lectures, but fine. He shuts the fan, tapping it against his palm a few times while he thinks of a totally dope poem... Alright:]

Beside my bed a pool of light—
Is it hoarfrost on the ground?
I lift my eyes and see the moon,
I bend my head and think of home.

[He smirks back at him, a silent answer to that whine, but settles in. And it's . . .

Okay, fine. He can admit that the poem's nice. There's an elegance to it that he hadn't expected. Huaisang's voice becomes melodious in a way it never does in class, and he's a little sorry it's only four lines.]

Do you miss it? Home?

[It's mellowing, reciting the poetry; it makes him forget about the dread of having to face Lan Qiren whenever they get back, to let himself slip into the verse for a moment and let the rhythm do the work. His poems, the ones he writes on corners of papers he never turns in, are amateurish at best, but his recitation of others' is smooth and easy.]

Only sometimes, [comes his answer after a moment, honest.] My brother is the only family I have left, but— you know.

[Brothers. His face scrunches up in a frown, a perfect summary of all his brother-centric complaints.]

I know.

[It's said darkly. Has Wei Wuxian noticed they're missing yet? Unlikely. He's loud enough that they'd know.]

I'll trade you.

[Wow— he actually laughs, leaning over to elbow Jiang Cheng in the arm. Please, that's a curse! Don't curse him!]

No way! I'd never be able to sleep again!

[Wei Wuxian is a lot of fun, sorry Jiang Cheng, but still only in specially curated doses.]

You would fight my brother all the time.

Probably. I'll still trade, though.

[It's affectionately meant, sort of. He leans back, trusting the boat won't suddenly swerve sharply left or right. There's a shout to his left, and he glances over-- but no, it's not Wei Wuxian, and he relaxes.]

At least he's not chasing after Lan Wangji today, I guess.

[An improvement? Perhaps.]

I'll be glad when that's over with.

[Huaisang watches him, fan open again and mercifully covering the small smile he just... cannot help. Even when he's relaxed, Jiang Cheng complains... what a remarkable boy.]

Lan Wangji is so upright and serious... he could put a stop to Wei Wuxian faster than any of us could.

[But he didn't.mp3, hmm, how suspect.]

[AND YET HE DOESN'T, and Jiang Cheng's expression is considerably less pleased about that than Nie Huaisang's is. With an enormous sigh he leans back, staring up at the sky. No one has ever suffered as he has suffered.]

How long do you want to stay out here for, anyway?

[Sorry that your brother is absurdly attracted to human statues, Jiang Cheng... Could he do worse?? Likely, and yet.]

Do you want to go back? [They're in the middle of the river, so whatever, but he's willing to ask.] Are you bored already?

I didn't say that, I just--

[God, can he not snap for once in his life? Jiang Cheng glances sharply to the side.]

I'm not bored. But if we get caught sneaking back in, you're going to be in even more trouble.

And you won't?

[Huaisang waves his fan at him, definitely close enough to blow his hair in his face. It is on purpose, and he is not sorry.]

We have the whole afternoon, Jiang-xiong! I'm not ready to go back yet!

[The response is automatic: reaching over the side of the little boat, he dips his fingers in the water and deftly flicks them up, splashing enough water to make Huaisang sputter. This was a provoked attack; he is blameless.]

Suit yourself.

[Oh, look at that: he's actually smiling a little.]

[And he does sputter, but oh no, Jiang Cheng is so damnably handsome when he actually smiles. Huaisang is grateful for the excuse to duck his face and fuss over his hair and the most minuscule amount of water that got onto his robes, because god. God!]

If you're going to be like that, maybe I should go back without you!

[Narrator voice: he would not fuckin do that, tho]

You won't.

[Smugly said, as he settles back onto the boat, arms stretching out behind him.]

You wouldn't dare. Who'd protect you from Lan Qiren?

[Huaisang frowns, or really, Huaisang pouts, because Jiang Cheng sure does have him there. Be kind to him, handsome human shield...]

You would deserve it if I did! [Cruel, cruel boy!! He doesn't need to prod Jiang Cheng in the side with his fan, but if he's going to lounge like that, then he deserves this, too. Poke... poke...]

Swear you'll help me escape Lan Qiren!

Hey!

[Don't be fucking rude? Just for that, he grabs the end of the fan and snatches it back, and he can do that because he does his cultivation exercises. He has good reflexes. And a fan, now.]

Maybe you should be swearing to me. What are you going to give me so I don't soak your fan?

Jiang-xiong! Don't!!

[That thing is more expensive than half the things you own, boy!! Give him his stupid trinket, a sentiment further expressed by Huaisang leaning over him, trying to reach it. Give him his stuff back... stupid tall boy...]

I'll copy your lines for you! [because they are Going to be punished and the Lans really have only one detention activity, huh--] I'll do whatever you want!

[Ah, ah-ha, aha okay, and this absolutely wasn't his intention because he's not a dick, but boy what an outcome. Huaisang crawling over him, and it's way, way too easy to imagine other ways he could be over him.

Which, hey! Not his fault! At all! Huaisang's the one who supplies them with porn, it's his fault Jiang Cheng's got a little too fuel for his overheated imagination.

Whatever I want, he'd say perfectly confidently, and Huaisang would (in this fantastical scenario) go all red-- and then there'd be no need for negotiation or words, they'd just kiss, make out, and then, and then--

And then he'd better fucking knock it off, he tells himself sharply, because it's pretty gross to fantasize about your friend like this when you know they don't return your feelings.]

Say please, then.

[He's sometimes a bit of an asshole, though, so. Let him live.]

[Is Jiang Cheng for real? Honestly— Huaisang scoffs and just- just puts his hand down right on his face, leaning more fervently to make a grab for his fan. There's just enough Nie Bad Temper TM in him for this, of all things.]

I really don't know— why you want to argue, Jiang-xiong-

[Give! Him! The fan!! Or: he strains just that much more before he sighs and looks down at Jiang Cheng, since he's not going to really crawl all the way over him. But it's this moment that he realizes how much he's already done just that, and oh, hello! He blinks.

He blinks again, then clasps his hands together and bows over them, because if there's a quick way out of having to acknowledge serious emotions, it's throwing his pride out the window in no seconds flat.]

Please!! I painted it myself...!

[Ah. They blink stupidly at each other for one long, heartstopping moment, with Jiang Cheng's heart in his throat and his cheeks going hot-- and then, thank god, Huaisang bows, and the world starts moving once more.]

All right, all right--

[If only because surely people are starting to stare, maybe. Or maybe because his heart just leapt in a distinctly unpleasant way when he'd thought for half a second that Huaisang had suspected what was flashing through his mind.

So here, take your damn fan, and he gently shoves him back, glancing away.]

You painted it yourself?

[Huaisang moves back to his side gratefully, for both his fan and his, ah, dignity? Something like that. He needn't open the fan to check for damages, it's not like Jiang Cheng did anything to it, but he opens it anyway - instead to show him the painting: birds, obviously. A hazy landscape, a wispy-looking tree in the background. Behold... his art(tm).]

This one, I did. I bought the best ink I could find and told my brother it was for studies.

[of course.]

Of course.

[Honestly, he's more surprised Nie Mingjue didn't question the lie. Or maybe he knew precisely what his brother was doing and decided to pick his battles; he's a renowned strategist, after all.

Anyway: birds. Trees. It's very meaningful and very poetic and, honestly, fairly well done. Certainly better than anything Jiang Cheng could come up with: his attempts at calligraphy, never mind artistry, are . . . hm, blocky? Angry? It's just bad. He scoots forward, a little interested despite himself, if only because it's strangely jarring to see something that Huaisang is good at.

He doesn't mean it badly. It's just that he's so awful at schoolwork and cultivation; it's easy to forget there's more to life than that, and that yes, everyone has talents. There's a pleasing delicacy to the lines drawn there, each minor brush stroke seemingly done with deliberation.

It's a nice fan.]

How often do you--

[Hm.]

You should show me how you paint them.

[Show him how you paint, babe, let him watch you in your natural habitat. Or something. It's just that he can't get the idea of Huaisang being not only competent but clever in something; sue him for wanting to see it.]

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ten hours on google later

worth it

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