prompts / continuations.

[fennu]

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[fennu]

[ Jiang Cheng allows himself to be lead, letting his racing heart and flushed cheeks calm in the cool evening air. It doesn’t take too long comparatively, and the room is as neat and tidy as he would expect from being a guest at Gusu Lan. Nodding his head, he reluctantly pulls his hand away. ]

Thank you, a-Huan.

[ He hesitates for only a moment. ]

I won’t disturb you. But I will come by in the morning to collect my sword. It was a pleasure to spend the evening with you.

[lanclan]

[ Ah, the sword. He inclines his head, foolishly having forgotten it. ]

Shuoyue will keep watch.

[ Which it will, but also he will take good care of it. That said, he straightens up and offers a shyer smile that remains as he turns away. ]

... Sleep well, a-Cheng.

[fennu]

I have trust in that.

[ Jiang Cheng’s bow is a little awkward, because he’s trying to keep eye contact, but it’s a proper bow all the same. ]

Good night, a-Huan.

[lanclan]

[ That eye-contact lingers as he bows back, leaving in comfortable silence.

The night passes with an ease he hasn't felt in weeks, not since his last spiral. He sleeps well and rises even before the bell, feeling energized enough to eat the breakfast brought to the Hanshi and dressing in pale blues. The library pavilion is cool but he wears no thick layer, used to it after a lifetime, and by the time Jiang Cheng arrives there are a few sheets of carefully copied text from the crumbling book carefully set aside on Xichen's desk.

A second desk has been set up nearby, with similar utensils for writing. ]

[fennu]

[ The night passes well enough for Jiang Cheng who, despite his embarrassment and the nervous frenzy of his stomach, is tired after his travelling and slips into rest easily enough. He wakes and changes, has the breakfast he is given with a gentle thanks, still holding onto hope that he can avoid his brother, and tracks back to collect his sword - no Xichen.

The library it is.

It doesn't take long to find his way there, familiar at least with these paths, and when he steps inside he offers Xichen a small bow, careful to glance around to see if they are alone. ]

Good morning. I hope you slept well.

[lanclan]

[ A smile lights up his solemn face when he spots the other man, nodding. He swallows any unfounded nervousness. ]

Good morning, yes. And you?

[ The library is indeed empty save for them, peaceful with nothing but the birdsong outside to disturb them. He cocks his head to glance outside, noting the lack of wailing complaints. ]

Still a fugitive, I see.

[fennu]

You make it sound as though you are keeping me prisoner.

[ He goes to sit, placing his sword down carefully, trying to manage his smile and keep it at a measured pace. ]

I slept well, thank you, a-Huan.

[ They are alone, after all. ]

[lanclan]

I hope I am a pleasant jailer.

[ He rests his brush, beckoning him over. ]

Lend me your eyes, a-Cheng, I've been staring at this line for thirty minutes and nothing I try to copy makes sense.

[fennu]

The best I’ve had.

[ Considering he was a Wen prisoner for a short time.

Stepping over, he kneels down beside Xichen with a nod. ]

Where?

[lanclan]

[ Prison here consists of Xichen's hand resting lightly on Jiang Cheng's back. ]

There, [ showing him the last page of lines expertly copied, ] The original text is so faint I can't tell if this means something about marriage or breaking a seal ... or both.

[fennu]

[ It takes him a moment to notice the gentle touch, but then it’s almost dizzying. ]

Is it not both? It seems to be discussing marriage and then the consequences of breaking it, as though the marriage had formed a bond deeper than just a commitment.

[lanclan]

Ah. [ His eyes brighten as he starts writing the new translation Jiang Cheng theorises, thumb brushing along a back absently with each stroke. He mutters it back to himself when the neat characters are jotted down in ink and look like they flow better than the nonsense Xichen was writing, satisfied. ] Good work, a-Cheng, I think you did it.

[ Genuinely impressed, he slides his arm down to rest around a waist. Light pressure, gathering him inside his sleeve as he gazes down fondly. ]

You're very good at this.

[fennu]

[ The touch is nice - soothing, almost, leaving little prickles of warmth through the layers of his robe, and Jiang Cheng tries not to focus on it too much, to analyse it too much. It doesn’t have to mean anything - none of this needs to mean more than what it is. ]

It seems my arrival was at least a little fortuitous.

[ He was never the best at things like Wei Wuxian was, but he pushed himself to study well, if only to try and gain a little pride from his parents.

Slowly, almost shyly, he leans into Xichen, trying not to get too embarrassed - a difficult feat given his track record. ]

I practice when I can.

[lanclan]

That is fortunate for me, having so sharp a mind at my disposal.

[ Xichen remains sitting properly but he gathers Jiang Cheng's weight into his side when he feels it resting there, the support of his arm an unwavering band of strength. As he continues writing, he spares him warm glances. ]

If you don't mind staying here with me instead of at your desk, we can work on figuring out this text together. I would appreciate the help.

[ With a nod to the crumbling pages in front of them. ]

[fennu]

That may be taking it too far.

[ This is comfortable, however, and Jiang Cheng leans into the embrace a little more, letting himself settle. It feels like he’s being embraced, held a little more, and he tries not to hyper fixate on how nice it feels to have his body pressed up against someone else’s.

Xichen’s especially. It feels good. ]

I’ll help in any way that I can.

[lanclan]

Good. [ As much as he likes having Jiang Cheng there, Xichen is earnest about his faith in him to translate the texts well. He has no reason to doubt him and finds encouragement is the best addition to any task.

If his fingers drift a little over the sash at Jiang Cheng's waist, well. That's subconscious. ]

Here, you take the brush and try the next line. I'll have a tea break.

[ Since he hasn't had a sip of the pot beside him in a while, and it's a good excuse to admire watch the other man work. ]

[fennu]

You - how long have you been working?

[ It feels painfully intimate - no one has ever been this close to him before, not in anything short of aggression, and for it to be someone as handsome and charming as Lan Xichen… Well, he was fond enough of the man already. To be this close to him, intimately close to him, is a flattery and a source of nervousness both.

He looks down at the next line, trying not to allow himself to get awkward and fail at his given task. ]

Experience does not make me an expert at these things.

[lanclan]

I started a little before six. The day was too too beautiful to miss.

[ Waking up early is ingrained in him as deeply as sitting comfortably without slouching, he simply lives this way. The knowledge that Jiang Cheng was around may have also enthused him. ]

Try not to be nervous, think of what you want to write and note it down. These aren't the final translations, so you can add your own flair. I'd like to see what you interpret the original as.

[fennu]

One day the people of Cloud Recesses might enjoy an extra hour or two, if only once.

[ Jiang Cheng works hard, but the Lan work harder, it seems. He frowns as he leans down to look at the manuscript in front of him, beginning to write out a translation as he does, hand poised - he doesn’t want to do any of this wrong, clearly.

He glances at Xichen almost without thinking about it, happily warm here in his arm, their bodies tucked together.

Imagine if someone walked in. ]

I will do my best.

[lanclan]

I have laid in before.

[ Sipping his tea so as there's no need to add to that, he leans in so their temples are close. This is all so selfish of him, he knows, what with Jiang Cheng specifically being in the region to find a wife, but ...

When he catches that glance, his smile deepens. ]

You'll do just fine, don't worry.

[ He starts reading off what he thinks is the likeliest translation, waiting for Jiang Cheng's input so they can shake it down together. ]

[fennu]

Perhaps not often enough.

[ They’re so close, and with Xichen leaning into him and his voice right there in Jiang Cheng’s ear it’s impossible to focus on anything more than the bare minimum, his cheeks flushing again. He loathes the fact that he doesn’t seem able to control himself around this man - out of respect and pride when younger and shyness now.

Glancing at the paper, he breathes out. ]

You are making it remarkably difficult to focus, a-Huan.

[lanclan]

That sounds like a you-problem, a-Cheng.

[ His smile is a little sly as he tilts his chin up, teasing. The mentor is in play, if only to see what he can and can't get Jiang Cheng to do while tracing circles in the small of his back. ]

Unless you want to skip your work?

[fennu]

Of course not. You brought me here to help you.

[ He’s stoic and determined, or he’s trying to be. He wants to do well here, but focussing is beyond him with the warm touch and gentle hand and Xichen’s face right there. ]

But you’re also distractingly-

[ Handsome. ]

[lanclan]

Hmm?

[ His eyes widen, big and dark like nothing could be hiding in there. No thoughts, head empty! ]

I'm distracting you how?

[fennu]

By being you.

[ Does he have to say it out loud? ]

Handsome. Attractive. Kind.