[ TFLN 4.0 - 2021 ]

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[jiangry]

The things expected when someone visits from another Sect. Should I have something in particular prepared for you privately?

[niexiaojie]

[.... Damnit Jiang Cheng she said she's coming there to be slutty how many more hints do you need.]

I don't know, A-Cheng.

Do you think I would look good wearing purple?

[jiangry]

Not as good as you would look wearing nothing.

[niexiaojie]

Alright, now we're getting somewhere.

I still think you should unwrap your present though. that's the best part.

[jiangry]

Is it? Sometimes unwrapping takes so long.

[niexiaojie]

You're too impatient, A-Cheng. But I don't dislike that about you.

[jiangry]

So are you hurrying?

[niexiaojie]

A-Cheng, I can't fly on my sword! It's going to take me a day or two to make it to Yunmeng!

... Unless you come pick me up, I guess.

[jiangry]

I could do that but do you think I can do so without drawing your brother's attention?

[niexiaojie]

You could meet me somewhere in the middle?

[His hurry is pretty flattering, though.]

((OOC: also ok for moving this to action if you want to continue !)

[jiangry]

Of course.

Jiang Cheng is mostly unresponsive after that and he flies far closer than he makes her travel to pick her up. After all, he can fly faster than she can travel. It still takes far longer than he would want, after their conversation he's eager to see her, impatient as one would expect.

But who could blame him for such impatience?

His responsibilities had been taken care so he doesn't feel too guilty for going off for something like this and it will be nice to bring her back to Lotus Pier for a visit he hopes isn't too short. A part of him wonders if perhaps he is being far too eager...

"A-sang," he smiles when he finally gets to greet her, feet on the ground and bowing.

[niexiaojie]

Huaisang and her small Nie retinue are traveling on horseback - she could have taken a chariot, but she actually enjoys horse riding and she is a more than competent rider.

She tumbles from her horse quickly when she sees him and kind of forgets all of her manners, bypassing the bowing and usually greeting to just grab him in a hug.

"A-Cheng! That was fast!"

[jiangry]

Jiang Cheng is more than happy to ignore formalities and he just wraps his arms around her to return the hug, squeezing. Despite their conversation he is just happy to see her for the sake of seeing one of his only friends.

"I had good reason to hurry."

[niexiaojie]

It's nice to see him be genuinely enthusiastic too. He hasn't much silliness to smile about lately, and it's just good to try and distract him from all those serious things that he gets absorbed in all the time.

But also, to say that in front of her own people...

"A-Cheng, control yourself a little!"

Now there's just one problem.

"If you're taking me back, they'll have to keep going with the horses, so they won't wake it there until tomorrow at the earliest."

[jiangry]

"I am perfectly controlled," he says quietly and he believes he has said nothing that could not be seen in the guise of innocent friendship -- even though her people would probably know better. All the same he takes a few steps away from her after that, hands going behind his back.

"Is that a problem?"

[niexiaojie]

"Not for me. I have everything I need here," she taps her qiankun pouch lightly. "Just warn people in advance that they'll be passing through and it'll be fine."

And then she seems to remember another thing and looks a little concerned.

"And also don't fly too high or too fast? I'm always a bit scared..."

Since, well, she can't do it herself, so she never really got used to it.

[jiangry]

Jiang Cheng nods. It's not a particularly difficult thing to do and well worth it to get her alone quicker. Maybe he really is a bit too eager but he doesn't think he can be blamed for that.

"You scared?" he teases a brief smile again before his face draws more serious. "You'll be safe. Come along then."

[niexiaojie]

"A-Cheng, I never fly on swords! It's scary!"

And you and Wei Wuxian are daredevils about it too. But she'll still step closer so she can warp an arm around his waist - and get a deathgrip on his robes, just in case.

[jiangry]

Jiang Cheng just hides a smile, more from her people than from her. Still, he's quick to make sure that she's steady before he starts, He resists the urge to curl his hand over hers, just wanting to touch her. It's ridiculous really that he's so easy. He shouldn't have come and yet here he is.

"Ready?"

[niexiaojie]

Well, what does it say about her that she set up this whole thing in less than a day, then. Her brother would have a stroke if he knew, probably.

But the death grip is going to intensify as they fly, Huaisang hiding her face against his chest and giving little gasps of fright and pressing closer when there are small bumps.

[jiangry]

She's simply resourceful and clever, clearly.

Jiang Cheng can't help but enjoy the death grip, actually, and the way her face is pressed into his chest but he doesn't like that she's afraid and so he does try and make the flight as smooth as possible while still making as good of time as possible.

"I'm not going to let anything happen to you, A-Sang."

[niexiaojie]

"I know... I'm just not used to it..."

She is glad to find her feet on solid ground again as they land at the pier, her legs a little wobbly still, and she still holds onto his arm as she looks around to take in the sights.

She's been here before, and she loves it. Everyone here is so much more relaxed than back in Unclean Realm, and the food is delicious. The only thing she has a bit of trouble with is the heat, so much more overbearing than in the mountains where she was born.

"I've missed coming here... How long has it even been?"

[jiangry]

Jiang Cheng makes sure to keep her safe and steady. He takes in a deep breath and as always he is happy to return home. He starts to lead her along the pier.

The question she had posed requires some thought. "It's been at least a year hasn't it? You are welcome to visit more often."

A moment later, "Are you hungry?"

[niexiaojie]

"I would come more often if I could. Da Ge doesn't think it's the done thing for a young lady to travel on her own. Just letting me go to town alone is a fight on some days."

At least Huaisang is not going to act like your typical young lady when asked about food.

"I'm ravenous! And the food is always so good here! Oh do you still have that lotus wine you had last time I came? And can we have some watermelon too? It's so hot here, I think I need to change first."

[jiangry]

"What if I were able to devise a way to convince him to let you stay here for a longer period of time?" Jiang Cheng questions, it would give Huaisang some freedom from the restrictive nature of her brother -- and Jiang Cheng would enjoy having her around more even if he tries not to make that blatantly clear. This is just a favor between friends, of course!

Jiang Cheng nearly laughs but not quite, instead, there's a hint of a smile as he watches her from the corner of his eye as they walk. "Of course, I can show you where you'll be staying and then you can join me for a meal." It wouldn't take long to get everything she requests and more.