aulteration | sangcheng zone

[He realizes as soon as he's done it, eyes going slightly wide as Jiang Cheng startles, and he's opening his mouth to apologize--

Which means he gets a mouthful of lake water as he's shoved forward into it, choking and spluttering, limbs flailing reflexively. It definitely serves to make sure he gets soaked by the time he rights himself (thankfully, the water here is shallow); Huaisang pushes himself back up, wet robes hanging heavy on his smaller frame, hair clinging to his face.]

Jiang Cheng!

[It's practically a wail, and sounds very pathetic, especially when he looks like a mess to go along with it.]

Really, not even giving me a chance to say anything-!! These are going to take forever to dry!

[He shouldn't have been so rough. He's always use to going big, or going home, and he should not have been so rough with Huaisang, even teasingly.

The hint of amusement vanished from his face when Huaisang topples, and he shifts like he thinks he might have to leap into the water after the man, but then realizes... Huaisang is fine, only now disgusting sitting in the somewhat swampy lake water of Yunmeng.

It's been even longer than thirteen years since he's last let himself laugh. The sound is extremely hoarse, and sharp and very short, but he laughs as he steps into the water to make sure Huaisang can stand.]

I guess you'll tell me I won't be able to make this one up so easily then?

[Anyone else, he might huff at for laughing at him, but Jiang Cheng...

It's been so long that he didn't really remember what hearing him laugh sounded like-- he tries to think if he has a memory of it at all. There's absolutely no chance he's going to scold the man for it, not when he wants to hear him laugh again sometime--

Ah. He really does want that, doesn't he? He didn't even know it until just now. Something twists, just slightly, in his chest at the realization.

But he reaches up, insisting silently on being helped to his feet.]

Not easily at all! We'll be out here for hours, or I'll be going back with wet robes-- ah, I don't have spare ones prepared either...

[This could probably be solved with the clever application of a talisman or two to dry them faster once hung. Huaisang elects not to point this out, instead declaring:]

You'll just have to let me borrow some of yours, mine are going to smell of lake water even if they do dry.

[Spoiled. Huaisang is really out here taking advantage of Jiang Cheng's desire to be the respectable Sect Leader his mother wanted (under all of those too intense regulations).

Unfortunate that when you help a guy up with both hands, you end up close and... well, holding hands.]

Are you implying smelling like Yunmeng lake water is disgusting?

[He's teasing. It barely sounds like it because it's going to take longer than a lake shove to get the stick out of his ass, but he's teasing.]

[They're definitely just holding hands now, because Huaisang doesn't let go-- he acts like he doesn't even notice he hasn't, as if he's just quickly forgotten about it once he's standing.]

Being soaked with it certainly is, these are heavy-!

[But the fact that Jiang Cheng is teasing sparks a little more of it in him. He's-- curious what he can get away with, honestly, if he can get Jiang Cheng to tease. His head tilts, corners of his mouth curving in a little grin.]

Why? Do you happen to like that, Jiang Cheng?

[(nhs voice) wow can't believe you want me to smell like your lake?]

[Teasing is something he hasn't done as long as it's been since he last laughed. It's surprisingly... nice. He won't admit that, of course, but it feels strangely cathartic to be able to tease with someone who will easily deflect it rather than cower in front of him.

Not that he minds people cowering--his image!]

I'll have you know, Yunmeng has the least disgusting lake water in our world.

[Look, he doesn't know what else to say. He's bad at jokes. Huaisang is TOO close, and he's bad at jokes. He has to turn away to try to get to his clothes in the boat.]

Not that I don't believe you, but my clothes will still need to be cleaned, least disgusting or not.

[He lets Jiang Cheng turn away, but while he's not looking-- Huaisang is busy undoing the belt of his outermost layers, loosening and removing it, folding it to set aside so that he can begin pulling off his soaked outer robes.

Jiang Cheng is out here wearing practically nothing, he thinks he's allowed to start divesting himself of some of his own clothes. They're uncomfortable now.]

[Rather than begin pulling the clothes back on himself, Jiang Cheng starts folding them neatly over one of his arms until he has everything.]

I'll have them cleaned. [Which is the least he could do for dunking Huaisang in the water.] I have-- [He turns back to the other man, but freezes when he realizes Huaisang is just... starting to remove clothes. It's fine. They'll both be half naked.

It's fine.]

...I have additional robes you can wear until they are cleaned.

I do hate to impose on you that much, but- yes, it would be appreciated.

[It's the least he could do!

Huaisang says that entirely casually, draping his outer robes over a nearby branch, removing more. He's down to thinner layers that cling to him now that they're wet, almost inappropriate despite still being fully covered-- he leaves it at that for now, actually.]

I suppose we'll be awfully delayed in getting back, though, waiting for these to dry...

[If Jiang Cheng had told himself he would be half-naked in some secluded copse of trees with a half-naked Nie Huaisang, he would have balked and then laughed.

And yet, here they are. Huaisang is taking off more clothes, and the ones beneath are soaked and just light enough to be nearly see through.

Quietly, he clears his throat, and he turns his head away to the side. He lifts up his outer black robe, holding it open and, like, high enough to be mostly eye level in his peripheral.]

Take what's wet off and put this on. If you became ill, I'd never hear the end of it.

[Also, Chifeng-zun would bust out of the tomb and hunt him down.]

Oh-! Of course, of course, you're right...

[Huaisang hums in what sounds like a pleased manner, reaching out to take the fabric from him.

And then he just steps away, going to try to duck behind a tree or something. His pants are soaked too, okay.]

Turn the other way, if you wouldn't mind?

[For the first few moments, he watches Huaisang take the robe and squirrel around one of the trees. And then, as asked, he turns around in place so his back is to Huaisang's direction.

Unfortunately, he can see a little of Huaisang's reflection on the water's surface. WOW. Luckily, despite that, he is a respectable man (most of the time...), and so he shifts his eyes the other way.]

You can use my belt if yours is still wet.

[The worst part about this for Huaisang is probably the fact the robe smells very much like Jiang Cheng. Sometimes you smell a lot like lotus blooms, spice, sandalwood. It's fine.]

[He may have picked this tree with the reflection in mind! Maybe it's a coincidence! A mystery.

Anyway, yes, the fact that the fabric smells a lot like him is definitely a problem. He can't quite help it, when Jiang Cheng isn't looking, to just. Hold it closer to his face for a moment. Sue him, it smells nice.

The problem is that it makes wrapping himself in the robe feel a lot like wrapping himself up in Jiang Cheng, and that's a thought that sends an unbidden little shiver down his spine despite the heat.

Huaisang ignores it. He wraps it around himself, holding it in place as he returns.]

If I borrow yours, then what about you?

[JIANG CHENG IS A RESPECTABLE MAN. In some things. (He may sneak a quick look at the reflection in the water, but it's only because he's trying to make sure Huaisang is almost finished!!)

He turns back as Huaisang comes out again. Very upsetting how normal and good Huaisang looks in that edgelord thing.]

I'm still clothed, at least. [Mostly.] I'll manage. Here.

[He offers Huaisang the slim, silver belt and the wide one which can go beneath it--if Huaisang wants.]

[Huaisang thinks he'd look good in anything, thanks very much. But he does accept the belts, taking a moment to tie each into place, because if Jiang Cheng is offering... he thinks he doesn't mind taking.

He's a little curious of the reaction they'll get, if anyone spots them. Maybe he gets the same sort of little thrill from it that he does from wearing Jiang Cheng's clothes. He is very, very good at pushing these thoughts aside.]

Only barely clothed, for now-- but I'm sure you'll be respectable enough with what you have left.

[important question is the bell still attached to the belt.]

[The belt still does, in fact, have the bell. (jiang cheng voice) Don't lose it. This is going to be wonderful walking back into Lotus Pier.

Hopefully, most people will be asleep, and he will know the routes to get them from the piers to--hm, he's out here taking Huaisang back to his room, isn't he? That is the only place Huaisang can go first when they are a mess of different clothes, and while he has to see to getting Huaisang a vacant place to stay.]

You say that with such a thick face, I don't know whether you're complimenting me, or reminding me of my indecency.

Can't it be both? It's true either way, you know!

[He's out here in his ye olde underwear, he is not clothed! Nie Huaisang, you little shit.

He takes a moment there to glance down at himself though, now that he's dressed-- adjusts the belt, fingers brushing the tie that holds the bell onto it. It's a careful movement, gentle.]

Does it look all right?

[Is he just asking if he's decent enough or asking for Jiang Cheng's opinion on how he looks in his clothes... again, a mystery.]

[Both of his eyes narrow, though there is a decided lack of the usual vitriol in them. He would blame it on the alcohol, since he's fairly certain he is still slightly tipsy even if the cool water of Lotus Pier sort of smack some sobriety back into it.

The question gets his expression to drop, and he pauses in opening his mouth. He realizes almost immediately what a terribly loaded question this is--Huaisang?

For once, it takes him a moment or two of debate.]

...It does. [WHAT DOES HE SAY. He's stupid.] Is it... comfortable?

[He smiles at that answer-- it doesn't look quite like usual. A little smaller, so one could be forgiven for thinking it's less genuine at first; despite being less blatant, though, it's warmer, reaches his eyes and softly creases the corners. There's nothing feigned or exaggerated about it. Something about being out here alone in a place like this just makes it easier.

He's taken with the sudden urge to test what feels almost like a sort of tension slowly forming between them. Huaisang does not say they still smell like Jiang Cheng-- he just steps close enough for him to be able to tell that's the case himself, mingled with a little bit of lake water smell because Huaisang's hair is still damp. It masks most of whatever Huaisang smelled like before. It's more or less just Yunmeng, now, both Jiang Cheng and the lake.]

Yes. More than comfortable enough-- or maybe that's just because it's dry?

[A quiet laugh, there.]

[They are just out here trading things they haven't done in a decade, aren't they? It's been so long since he's even seen a hint of a smile like that from Huaisang, he's almost worried he's misinterpreting it.

He's horrendously aware of how much of his skin is exposed when Huaisang steps closer, mostly because he's fairly certain it has to be pink in the center from the wash of uncertain heat he feels there.]

Do you want these, too? For your legs. [Obviously, where the hell would the pants he holds up go except the legs? Jesus.] For the return to Lotus Pier, I mean.

My legs will be fine! You're bigger than me, you know, your robes alone cover me well enough.

[Which. He kind of likes, in a way. They're a bit big on him and he doesn't mind it at all.]

Have you dried enough yet? I do enjoy it here, but I'll need to bathe at the very least.

[GOD. He is a FOOL. His face smacks with embarrassment, but he at least doesn't turn bright red or anything.]

I'm dry.

[He wonders if Huaisang is put off enough about the lake water to need to go back immediately. He reaches up between them, but pauses and curls his hand into a fist. There's a brief moment of him not knowing what he had planned to do with it. Maybe he should put the bell back on; damn, he's lacking clarity.

So he ends up putting it on Huaisang's shoulder and squeezing once, for lack of having hover hand.]

Here. Keep these with you. I'll carry yours. [Since everything is wet.] I'm sure they have sent several search parties for us already.

[God, the bro shoulder squeeze, Huaisang can't believe this is someone he's.... well, he isn't blind or stupid, he's attracted to Jiang Cheng and has been for some time. He's hot and stupid about many things. He likes that in a man.

Still. Absolutely unbelievable.]

Then I suppose we'd best not worry them, hm?

[He turns back to the boat, pausing with his back to Jiang Cheng.]

But perhaps we should come back here another time. I suspect it's the most time away we'll ever get out of you.

[The bro shoulder squeeze was so bad. He does feel a little stupid for it, but maybe even more stupid feeling lax enough to--what?

Touch Huaisang's face?

His expression softens at Huaisang's back before he turns away to collect the olive robes hanging from the tree. He's careful so they don't pull or tear.] You may have to try harder next time to get me to leave Lotus Pier so easily. [He brings himself up to try to reel the boat in again.

He will hold it for Huaisang. Unfortunately, Huaisang will have to touch wet robes a bit when holding onto his arm to get in.]

I think you'll find I can be quite persistent.

[He doesn't have to say it with a teasing smile, or with his eyes slightly lidded. He doesn't have to say it with his hand on Jiang Cheng's arm.

But that's exactly what he does, stepping casually into the boat as if he's done absolutely nothing at all, getting settled there comfortably so Jiang Cheng can take them back. It's perfectly fine, and he looks all too innocent.]

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