"Well, of course, A-Cheng! Do you think I'm going to hoard the food I make in your own kitchen!"
He's not being discreet indeed, but while she is conscious of his gaze on her, she doesn't really act any different than she normally does. Maybe that's part of her charm, that she's never been one to put on an act of polished manners. She was raised mostly by men, and while she knows exactly how a girl should behave, she usually doesn't do it because everyone knows sh was raised by her brother and sort of vaguely uses that as an excuse for how she acts, so why should she discourage it. She's known many girls playing at being soft and demure to score themselves a husband, and she's always figured that if a man cannot take her as she is, then they don't deserve to have her.
She'd like Jiang Cheng to deserve it, though. If he ever gets around to it.
So she eats, heartily, unconcerned with appearing gluttonous, and she drinks happily, smacking her lips after each cup.
As she finishes, she pulls out her fan, looking out at the lake.]
[ Jiang Cheng answers and there's a hint of teasing to it. He knows most likely she would always be willing to share as long as she had enough to sate her own appetite and there is plenty to work within the kitchen. The fact that Huaisang is always herself endears her all the more to Jiang Cheng. There aren't awkward games to play, ones that he has no patience for. And he wants a partner, someone strong in their own way, someone who can compliment him. He shakes the thoughts away, he shouldn't think of her like that.
He eats at a good pace himself, though, somehow Huaisang manages to out-eat him. This too amuses him but he says nothing of it. He's thoughtful and quiet still vaguely thinking of how exactly to get Mingjue to agree to allow Huaisang to visit more often. He really is blockheaded. Yanli would have had this moving infinitely faster were she still there. ]
"If you really like it... You could make me stay for good."
It really wouldn't be that complicated, except... Except he's just so slow about this, really! She has to wonder, some days, how he managed to rebuild this whole sect from the ground up on his own, and yet when it comes to her, his brain seems to fly out of the window every single time.
"A-Cheng, how much longer is it going to take you to ask Da Ge to let me marry you?"
Jiang Cheng tilts his head at her comment and it doesn't register completely at first. Make her stay for good? He'd like that ... a lot. He's always happier and more relaxed when she's around -- even if not completely, he does still have a sect to run and disciples to train and the weight of the past to carry. He's done it all alone and he'd never seriously considered not doing it alone. There's the fanciful thought, the dream that he never really focuses on or thought to make reality. A part of him couldn't accept that it's something Huaisang would really want... with him.
But now, here she is being so bold and up front about it and he nearly laughs. This is why he would do well to have her be his partner, his wife.
His ears are red and he takes a long drink before he answers. "I... you want me to ask him?"
She doesn't know whether to laugh or feel vaguely sorry for herself when she sees his ears go all red like that, and that he even needs a drink before he speaks.
Not to mention...
"Why would I not want to? A-Cheng, you do remember why I came here specifically, right? Now do you imagine my brother would be happy to learn that, and that you don't intend to make an honest woman out of me at the same time?"
She might be freer than most of the women around, but she is still one of the only people left of the Nie Clan, and also the apple of her brother's eye.
"I've been waiting for you to ask forever, but apparently you're not going to, so I guess I have to do it myself."
And embarrass everyone but herself in the process, it seems.
Jiang Cheng surely is flushing more as she answers him. "You... I..." he stumbles but he never finishes the sentence. He just stares at her, feeling some how nervous. Why should he be nervous in this situation?
"Of course I do! I just didn't know if you would want to."
He's never thought he had much of a claim to her even if she definitely had a claim on him whether he acknowledged it completely or not. "A-Sang, Lotus Pier and I would be better for having you stay."
She is smart. She's got more socially acceptable skills than Jiang Cheng with his temper and such.
"And how were you planning to find out if I wanted to without asking me, A-Cheng? Seriously!"
He looks cute when all flushed, though, and she finally abandons the food so she can get up, walk around the table and plop herself on his lap, arms around his shoulders.
"I don't want to wait anymore. We've both lost too many people, A-Cheng. I don't want to let this pass me by and lose you too."
"I don't know!" Jiang Cheng exclaims and really she's flustering him all the more with that. He would have asked eventually...maybe... probably! But any further defense is abandoned as he finds her in his lap, his arms wrapping around her waist and it calms him to have her so close to him.
Her words make his heart twist in his chest and he lowers his head pressing his forehead to hers and exhaling shakily. "I don't want to lose you either, A-Sang."
"You won't. Look, you've caught me already. All you have to do is keep holding on and not let go."
She nuzzles against his cheek.
"I've never wanted something so much in my life. Don't worry about Da Ge, I'll convince him if I need to. But if you want me, you need to ask. So I can say yes, too."
Jiang Cheng's hold on her tightens a little and he sighs. There's still a
fear of loss, that no matter how secure things might be something could
happen. Her brother could refuse... Any number of things could occur. She
could decide there are better options than him.... Jiang Cheng can think of
a few better options off the top of his head too. He can be difficult and
stubborn and slow sometimes.
"Will you be my partner, my wife, A-Sang?" Jiang Cheng asks her and there's
a shyness that's more reminiscent of the teenager in Gusu than the fierce
Sect Leader that he's become. He holds her before she even answers, though,
getting up with her in his arms with every intention of carrying her to his
room.
He certainly can be difficult and stubborn and slow, but she's stubborn too, and it's not like Lotus Pier isn't used to raised voices anyway. They'll probably have their fights, but unlike his parents who married out of convenience, she really wants this, and she knows he wants it too. Any disagreement they have, they can solve, she is sure, even if they have to fight about it first because this is how they are.
She finds it cute how shy he is about this, too. This is a man who defeated the Wens at Nevernight, who rebuilt the Jiang Sect, who hunted countless fierce ghosts and restored the glory of his Clan. People wither under one of his glares. And yet... She doesn't think she could find it in herself to ever be scared of him.
She gasps a little as she is suddenly lifted in his arms, holding on tighter, and then reaching so she can kiss his cheek.
When Jiang Cheng is around Nie Huaisang he often feels like he is young again, before all the pain and loss they've suffered. The softness that was more apparent back then shows, poking itself out. She draws it out of him which also draws out his lack of confidence when it came to a girl he likes, a girl he wants. And she is fierce in her own way, independent and that makes her a perfect partner for him but also had led him to lack some confidence in her reactions. So he'd held back, procrastinated -- but no longer.
He smiles, true and wide when she gives him that answer and he holds her closer if that's even possible as he moves quickly to get her to his bed as forward a move as it is but it had been the pretenses she had come for in the first place and he wants to kiss her, touch her and be as close as possible. He sets her down and then climbs over her, holding himself up as he looks down at her.
It was pretense, and yet not. She'd certainly hoped to kickstart something, and she did notice that he seemed to jump on the occasion when she had mentioned wanting to be slutty.... and yet even with that, it had come down to her having to do most of the leg work.
Ah well.
She cups his face in her hands, tracing his cheekbones with her thumbs.
"Good. When you do it, remember that even if he is your elder, you're the Sect leader of a Great Clan too and you'll be fine. He's not that intimidating and if he knows you ask for me because you love me, he'll just be a bit grumpy but he'll melt inside."
He should do the asking of course, but she'll be nearby just in case. For now though...
"A-Cheng, do you want to unwrap your present now?"
As far as she's concerned, they are as good as engaged already, which is all but as binding as a wedding for people of their social status. There will be no walking it back once it's publicly announced anyway, so really, ti's just taking a bit of a shortcut.
"I'll put on my best Sect Leader face for him," Jiang Cheng says and his expression is so soft as he looks at her, soaking in the affection of her touch. He realizes how touch-starved he actually is and swallows as he lets his forehead press to hers for just a brief moment.
He smiles as he presses a brief kiss on her lips.
"I very much do want to unwrap you," he says lips still near hers. He could worry about Mingjue later, about dealing with wedding preparations later. Right now, it's just the two of them and his guard is down for her.
He can absolutely worry about Mingjue later. She very much encourages that.
"Go ahead then. Have a look."
She's never been shy or coy, and she's not going to start pretending now. She is, according to many people, lacking in a lot of things, including decorum, but if there is one thing that is true is that she is pretty and she knows it. Not in a vain way, no, she doesn't fancy herself looking like a noblewoman from the court or a fairy, but she knows she looks good, in a way that makes people stop and take a second look, or follow her with their eyes as she walks by.
"Do you even know how long I've waited for this, A-Cheng?"
Jiang Cheng smiles and he does have a bit more shyness about this than her. He'd never really gotten much experience in his youth -- he'd been far too awkward and far too distracted by trying to keep Wei Wuxian out of trouble and the like.
To him, Nie Huaisang is beautiful, she always has been. He would have never thought himself one to catch her eye until more recent times. And now... she will be his wife. His fingers are gentle as he starts to undo her robes, feeling nervous anticipation.
Before he answers her, his lips brush against hers. "Probably almost as long as I have."
"Really? I don't think you were as aware of me as I was of you back in Gusu, A-Cheng."
That, and the fact that she had to be the one to sit on him and demand more... maybe his awareness of her was buried quite deep for a long time.
The gauzy robes easily yield to his fingers, revealing creamy skin. Really, she's more muscular than most people would believe since she tends to skip training all the time. Qinghe is a mountainous region, though, and those birds don't catch themselves, and she can be tenacious when she's set on a goal. But even then, it's still soft and bouncy flesh in all the right places, and no scars to speak of (she's never been in an actual battle after all).
She helps him out by slipping out her arms of the different layers, and shimmying out of them quite enthusiastically. Not an ounce of shame to be found. And why would there be? She's always felt beautiful in his eyes.
Huaisang had been as impossible to ignore then as she was now even if Jiang Cheng hadn't made his attraction clear. No, there had been too many reasons to keep it to himself.
But that was the past and currently, he has her beneath him, clothes pushed away and her beautiful body exposed to him. His calloused hands slide lightly over her stomach.
Her stomach flutters under his touch, and this might be her first real touch of nervousness, even though she quickly hides it. And his words bring a real flush to her cheeks. It hits differently, hearing him say it like this while looking at her baring herself to him.
Jiang Cheng shouldn't hesitate. She's already bared herself and it's not as if it is rare for others to see him shirtless at the least even if he tended to avoid it. But, he raises up to quickly divest himself of his robes. He has plenty of scars beneath his robes and there's a vague wonder if that will suit her tastes. He wishes he could be playful just now and tease her and ask if she likes what she sees but he's nervous. He's desperate for her approval.
She knows about the scars, even though she's never seen them. One of the ways she keeps ahead of the game is by making sure she knows as much as possible about everything and there's many stories about what happened when the Wens took over Lotus Pier.
And she knows how self conscious he might be.
So when he removes the robes, she doesn't hesitate. She hold sout her hands and traces a few of the lines with her fingers, just enough to show she's noticed, and she doesn't mind, and then simply splays her hands on his chest and smiles.
"You should just take your shirt off when you go ask for my hand. I'm sure Da Ge will like that."
Jiang Cheng has never had someone touch his scars so intimately. Having them be seen is one thing, touched is another and he feels bare in more than just the physical sense. Her smile eases some of the tension he's carrying in his shoulders, undoubtedly making him furrow his brow but it smoothes some now.
"I somehow don't think that would help my case, A-Sang," Jiang Cheng says there's a hint of a laugh in his voice before he leans down and presses a gentle kiss to her lips.
"And there is only one Nie I want to see me like this."
"Hmmmm you never know. He appreciates some rugged handsomeness, you know?"
But she understands that he might want to keep this private.
Now there's just one thing...
"A-Cheng, you've never done this before, have you?"
It wouldn't be too out there for him to have. Young Masters usually get educated in those things. The whole problem, of course, being that there wasn't really anyone around to play that role for Jiang Cheng when he came to an age where that would have been done.
Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes and he has absolutely no intention of disrobing in any way in front of Nie Mingjue. He is startled by her question and admittedly embarrassed. His instinct is to be defensive but he takes a deep breath and reminds himself that Huaisang is not trying to mock him or anything.
That's pretty much what she thought, and no, she's not going to mock him for this. They all got involved in a war while still teenagers, and there was so much more to do, for some of them, than explore this.
Its not like Huaisang has done this particular act herself either. She knows better than to jeopardize the honor of her sect. But she has the advantage on him of having done some things. Exploration on her own, or with other girls her age, plus her extensive reading of erotic literature. So while she is by no mean an expert, she at least knows what she is doing, or what she wants to do.
"Then, how about you lie down and let me take care of you this time, A-Cheng?"
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He's not being discreet indeed, but while she is conscious of his gaze on her, she doesn't really act any different than she normally does. Maybe that's part of her charm, that she's never been one to put on an act of polished manners. She was raised mostly by men, and while she knows exactly how a girl should behave, she usually doesn't do it because everyone knows sh was raised by her brother and sort of vaguely uses that as an excuse for how she acts, so why should she discourage it. She's known many girls playing at being soft and demure to score themselves a husband, and she's always figured that if a man cannot take her as she is, then they don't deserve to have her.
She'd like Jiang Cheng to deserve it, though. If he ever gets around to it.
So she eats, heartily, unconcerned with appearing gluttonous, and she drinks happily, smacking her lips after each cup.
As she finishes, she pulls out her fan, looking out at the lake.]
I really like it here, A-Cheng.
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[ Jiang Cheng answers and there's a hint of teasing to it. He knows most likely she would always be willing to share as long as she had enough to sate her own appetite and there is plenty to work within the kitchen. The fact that Huaisang is always herself endears her all the more to Jiang Cheng. There aren't awkward games to play, ones that he has no patience for. And he wants a partner, someone strong in their own way, someone who can compliment him. He shakes the thoughts away, he shouldn't think of her like that.
He eats at a good pace himself, though, somehow Huaisang manages to out-eat him. This too amuses him but he says nothing of it. He's thoughtful and quiet still vaguely thinking of how exactly to get Mingjue to agree to allow Huaisang to visit more often. He really is blockheaded. Yanli would have had this moving infinitely faster were she still there. ]
I like having you here.
[ To himself he adds, you look like you belong. ]
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It really wouldn't be that complicated, except... Except he's just so slow about this, really! She has to wonder, some days, how he managed to rebuild this whole sect from the ground up on his own, and yet when it comes to her, his brain seems to fly out of the window every single time.
"A-Cheng, how much longer is it going to take you to ask Da Ge to let me marry you?"
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But now, here she is being so bold and up front about it and he nearly laughs. This is why he would do well to have her be his partner, his wife.
His ears are red and he takes a long drink before he answers. "I... you want me to ask him?"
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Not to mention...
"Why would I not want to? A-Cheng, you do remember why I came here specifically, right? Now do you imagine my brother would be happy to learn that, and that you don't intend to make an honest woman out of me at the same time?"
She might be freer than most of the women around, but she is still one of the only people left of the Nie Clan, and also the apple of her brother's eye.
"I've been waiting for you to ask forever, but apparently you're not going to, so I guess I have to do it myself."
And embarrass everyone but herself in the process, it seems.
"So, do you want me to stay for good?"
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"Of course I do! I just didn't know if you would want to."
He's never thought he had much of a claim to her even if she definitely had a claim on him whether he acknowledged it completely or not. "A-Sang, Lotus Pier and I would be better for having you stay."
She is smart. She's got more socially acceptable skills than Jiang Cheng with his temper and such.
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He looks cute when all flushed, though, and she finally abandons the food so she can get up, walk around the table and plop herself on his lap, arms around his shoulders.
"I don't want to wait anymore. We've both lost too many people, A-Cheng. I don't want to let this pass me by and lose you too."
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Her words make his heart twist in his chest and he lowers his head pressing his forehead to hers and exhaling shakily. "I don't want to lose you either, A-Sang."
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She nuzzles against his cheek.
"I've never wanted something so much in my life. Don't worry about Da Ge, I'll convince him if I need to. But if you want me, you need to ask. So I can say yes, too."
And impish smile, and then...
"And then maybe you can show me your room."
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Jiang Cheng's hold on her tightens a little and he sighs. There's still a fear of loss, that no matter how secure things might be something could happen. Her brother could refuse... Any number of things could occur. She could decide there are better options than him.... Jiang Cheng can think of a few better options off the top of his head too. He can be difficult and stubborn and slow sometimes.
"Will you be my partner, my wife, A-Sang?" Jiang Cheng asks her and there's a shyness that's more reminiscent of the teenager in Gusu than the fierce Sect Leader that he's become. He holds her before she even answers, though, getting up with her in his arms with every intention of carrying her to his room.
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She finds it cute how shy he is about this, too. This is a man who defeated the Wens at Nevernight, who rebuilt the Jiang Sect, who hunted countless fierce ghosts and restored the glory of his Clan. People wither under one of his glares. And yet... She doesn't think she could find it in herself to ever be scared of him.
She gasps a little as she is suddenly lifted in his arms, holding on tighter, and then reaching so she can kiss his cheek.
"Yes, A-Cheng. I'd like that very, very much."
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He smiles, true and wide when she gives him that answer and he holds her closer if that's even possible as he moves quickly to get her to his bed as forward a move as it is but it had been the pretenses she had come for in the first place and he wants to kiss her, touch her and be as close as possible. He sets her down and then climbs over her, holding himself up as he looks down at her.
"Then we will talk to your brother."
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Ah well.
She cups his face in her hands, tracing his cheekbones with her thumbs.
"Good. When you do it, remember that even if he is your elder, you're the Sect leader of a Great Clan too and you'll be fine. He's not that intimidating and if he knows you ask for me because you love me, he'll just be a bit grumpy but he'll melt inside."
He should do the asking of course, but she'll be nearby just in case. For now though...
"A-Cheng, do you want to unwrap your present now?"
As far as she's concerned, they are as good as engaged already, which is all but as binding as a wedding for people of their social status. There will be no walking it back once it's publicly announced anyway, so really, ti's just taking a bit of a shortcut.
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He smiles as he presses a brief kiss on her lips.
"I very much do want to unwrap you," he says lips still near hers. He could worry about Mingjue later, about dealing with wedding preparations later. Right now, it's just the two of them and his guard is down for her.
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"Go ahead then. Have a look."
She's never been shy or coy, and she's not going to start pretending now. She is, according to many people, lacking in a lot of things, including decorum, but if there is one thing that is true is that she is pretty and she knows it. Not in a vain way, no, she doesn't fancy herself looking like a noblewoman from the court or a fairy, but she knows she looks good, in a way that makes people stop and take a second look, or follow her with their eyes as she walks by.
"Do you even know how long I've waited for this, A-Cheng?"
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To him, Nie Huaisang is beautiful, she always has been. He would have never thought himself one to catch her eye until more recent times. And now... she will be his wife. His fingers are gentle as he starts to undo her robes, feeling nervous anticipation.
Before he answers her, his lips brush against hers. "Probably almost as long as I have."
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That, and the fact that she had to be the one to sit on him and demand more... maybe his awareness of her was buried quite deep for a long time.
The gauzy robes easily yield to his fingers, revealing creamy skin. Really, she's more muscular than most people would believe since she tends to skip training all the time. Qinghe is a mountainous region, though, and those birds don't catch themselves, and she can be tenacious when she's set on a goal. But even then, it's still soft and bouncy flesh in all the right places, and no scars to speak of (she's never been in an actual battle after all).
She helps him out by slipping out her arms of the different layers, and shimmying out of them quite enthusiastically. Not an ounce of shame to be found. And why would there be? She's always felt beautiful in his eyes.
"Like what you see, A-Cheng?"
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Huaisang had been as impossible to ignore then as she was now even if Jiang Cheng hadn't made his attraction clear. No, there had been too many reasons to keep it to himself.
But that was the past and currently, he has her beneath him, clothes pushed away and her beautiful body exposed to him. His calloused hands slide lightly over her stomach.
"You're breathtaking."
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"... Can I see you too, A-Cheng? Please?"
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And she knows how self conscious he might be.
So when he removes the robes, she doesn't hesitate. She hold sout her hands and traces a few of the lines with her fingers, just enough to show she's noticed, and she doesn't mind, and then simply splays her hands on his chest and smiles.
"You should just take your shirt off when you go ask for my hand. I'm sure Da Ge will like that."
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"I somehow don't think that would help my case, A-Sang," Jiang Cheng says there's a hint of a laugh in his voice before he leans down and presses a gentle kiss to her lips.
"And there is only one Nie I want to see me like this."
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But she understands that he might want to keep this private.
Now there's just one thing...
"A-Cheng, you've never done this before, have you?"
It wouldn't be too out there for him to have. Young Masters usually get educated in those things. The whole problem, of course, being that there wasn't really anyone around to play that role for Jiang Cheng when he came to an age where that would have been done.
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"I haven't."
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Its not like Huaisang has done this particular act herself either. She knows better than to jeopardize the honor of her sect. But she has the advantage on him of having done some things. Exploration on her own, or with other girls her age, plus her extensive reading of erotic literature. So while she is by no mean an expert, she at least knows what she is doing, or what she wants to do.
"Then, how about you lie down and let me take care of you this time, A-Cheng?"
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