inflexibility: (Default)
Jiang Cheng ([personal profile] inflexibility) wrote in [community profile] jiangshan2020-01-18 09:15 pm

(no subject)

WHO: Jiang Cheng (open)
WHERE: Lotus Pier, Cloud Recesses, Other locations
WHEN: Different points depending on threads
WHAT: CR building mostly
WARNINGS: TBD

Threads will be tailored to specific people in comments.
flightforfreedom: (oh hey i get that joke)

[personal profile] flightforfreedom 2020-01-19 04:04 am (UTC)(link)
The journey back to Lotus Pier had been a long one, which meant that Po Daxiang had managed to heal his wounds enough to not look like a complete mess as he and Wen Fen crouched in the bottom of the boat. They'd managed to buy passage from the delivery service, though buying it with complete discretion had cost them every last nugget they had. Which really hadn't been much in the first place.

Still, the scars that the Wens had left on him were mostly hidden by his robes - save for two on his face that hadn't been there the last time he'd been home. Even still, he could feel his excitement build as they approached the pier, and couldn't help but stand up in the boat, feeling it move under his weight as he turned to look back at his rescuer.

"You're gonna love this place, trust me," He said, flashing the man a grin, before stepping right up to the edge of the boat and squinting at the docks. He swear he could see--

"Hey! Hey!! Jiang Wanyin!" Yeah he should probably call him 'Young Master' but Daxiang has never been great with formalities.
hatejakku: (no problem)

[personal profile] hatejakku 2020-01-19 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
Fen had to brace himself along the edges of the boat but he was easily able to steady himself and catch sight of Lotus Pier. He'd never seen it before, had heard rumors of its beauty, but he didn't dream it would look like this. He didn't think anywhere looked like this.

Fen smiled at Poe and stood carefully, recognizing Young Master Jiang Cheng on the pier to meet them... His smile slowly dissolved, hands adjusting his robes.

He wasn't sure how the other side would greet him. And while getting a change of clothes and going by a different name had crossed his mind, he didn't want to lie to the other side. Besides, Po Daxiang seemed totally oblivious that Fen's heritage could pose a problem.

So, Fen stayed silent.
flightforfreedom: (my budddyyyyyyyyyyy)

[personal profile] flightforfreedom 2020-01-19 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
The boat barely meets the dock before Po Daxiang is already leaping off of it and jogging up the rest of the way to where the Sect's heir is standing, a wide grin on his face.

He doesn't quite go so far as to hug him - his well known lack of propriety not extending quite that far - but he does reach out to grip Jiang Cheng's arm and give it a good squeeze in welcome.

"You're alright! Man, am I glad to see you! I've got a report and a half to give, let me tell you!" He turned and gestured back towards his new friend.

"But first - meet my rescuer! This is Wen Fen, but don't hold it against him, he's the one who dragged my sorry ass out of their dungeons."
hatejakku: (dotdotdot)

[personal profile] hatejakku 2020-01-19 05:45 am (UTC)(link)
Wen Fen had never been so nervous. It wasn't just meeting the other side, but this was also Po Daxiang's sect. He wanted to make a good impression but that felt impossible now.

He stepped off of the boat, immediately wrapped up in the introductions but clearly not as happy as Po Daxiang is. He cups his hands and bows deeply. "Young Master Jiang."
flightforfreedom: (random handsome)

[personal profile] flightforfreedom 2020-01-19 06:22 am (UTC)(link)
Po Daxiang -who has spent more than his fair share of time kneeling in punishment for having no real sense of formality or decorum - smiles a little bemusedly at the two of them.

"Yeah, might as well give the full report now - I can't say I have very good news. Hopefully A-Fen here will be able to corroborate the holes in my report." Yeah. Yeah, he's already calling him A-Fen. Remember the part where I said 'no real sense of formality or decorum'?

"Sorry I wasn't there to pick you up from Gusu and escort you home, though. How'd it go? Did the rules drive you nuts? Did I ever tell you that I got kicked right out when I got sent for the lectures? I think I lasted maybe three weeks--"
hatejakku: (longing)

[personal profile] hatejakku 2020-01-19 06:54 am (UTC)(link)
Wen Fen cringed, his eyes closing tighter and tighter the more Po Daxiang spoke, his face practically aflame. It wasn't just that he remained oblivious, but that he'd called A-Fen. In public. To his Young Master. Po Daxiang had done it before, making Wen Fen's heart leap in his throat, but he never expected-

But this was all right. This was fine. Po Daxiang being oblivious was a good thing. At least he wasn't feeling Wen Fen's dread.

As Po Daxiang continued, Wen Fen took a better look at Lotus Pier, the beauty still striking him. He wanted to mention it, compliment Yunmeng as was polite (and true), but his voice stuck in his throat. All he could do was follow.

Maybe, if this was going where he thought it was, they could grant his request or have their own foresight to send Po Daxiang away before starting with the blame and sentencing. He gripped his sword tighter, nervous for a different reason than embarrassment.
flightforfreedom: (oh that's your opinion is it)

[personal profile] flightforfreedom 2020-01-19 07:32 am (UTC)(link)
“Wanyin— Hey, Jiang Cheng, don’t be—“ And he was gone, and Po Daxiang was left calling after his Sect’s heir in a way too familiar way right in front of the sect leader. Nice. He grimaced. And then quickly gave a deep bow, arms extended.

“Sect Leader Jiang, I hate to say it, but without the man beside me now, I would have never gotten back at all.” He stood up again, quickly, the joking nature fading a little bit.

“If I’d had any choice, I would have been back months ago. I’ve got some bad news and I’m not even sure how fresh it is. But, uh...” he glanced at Wen Fen.

“The Wen clan is collecting people. Cultivators. Turning them into puppets. I saw it with my own eyes, I swear—“
hatejakku: (heart eyes)

[personal profile] hatejakku 2020-01-19 07:53 am (UTC)(link)
Wen Fen was already grimacing when Young Master Jiang completely ignored Po Daxiang. That wasn't fair. None of this was his fault... But it was because of who he was associating with, and Wen Fen was suddenly sure how this would end.

But maybe they would believe him first.

He bowed low with arms stretched out, mimicking Poe's movement. "Sect Leader Jiang. What Po Daxiang says is true. The Emperor's been collecting puppets for some time now." He stood straighter, eyes averted to the floor. "I also have information about their resources and future plans. Wen Ruohan is desperate for more pieces of the Yin Iron. He'll destroy anyone he thinks may be in his path."
Edited 2020-01-19 16:36 (UTC)
flightforfreedom: (gotta go fast)

[personal profile] flightforfreedom 2020-01-21 04:17 am (UTC)(link)
"What?"

The word was out of his mouth before he even realised the sheer audacity of saying it, and then grimaced a little.

"I mean - Sect Leader, please. We might not be able to do much about the puppets, but that doesn't mean we can't do anything! We can't just send him away - where's he going to go? He doesn't know anyone in the Nie Sect!"

His fists were balling at his side, trying to resist the urge to cast the spell he knew would flare up his red string. He wanted to make a logical argument, a rational one, rather than the emotional one that was actually flaring in his breast.

"Please - I'll take responsibility for him. I swear. We won't cause you or the sect any trouble."
hatejakku: (oh yeah okay)

[personal profile] hatejakku 2020-01-21 05:12 am (UTC)(link)
Honestly, the response was better than he'd thought. Apparently, the rumors of kindness about Sect Leader Jiang were true. And going to Qinghe seemed like a wise move. The Nie Sect was strong and their leader smart in warfare. He would be the one to listen to Wen Fen's words... or lock him away.

Despite himself, his heart twisted in pain from the idea of leaving Poe behind. They had only just found each other, but this was inevitable. It was the main reason he had dreaded coming to Lotus Pier.

But he couldn't dwell on that. Wen Fen bowed- And paused midway when Po Daxiang started speaking up. No, no, no.

Wen Fen stepped forward, putting a hand to the other's chest, trying to draw him back. "Wait, wait- Po Daxiang, please, it's all right-"
flightforfreedom: (pic#12167245)

[personal profile] flightforfreedom 2020-01-21 11:08 am (UTC)(link)
His mouth opened to argue again, but Wen Fen’s hand on his chest brought him up short. His heart was pounding. No, no, no— it had taken years for his thread to reveal itself, and he couldn’t just —

The problem was, he loved Jiang Fengmian. Not in a cursory way - the man has proven himself in Poe’s eyes again and again, and there was a reason that Poe was completely devoted to him and his family. In a world full of schemers and evil, Jiang Fengmian had always been just and fair and kind.

On a level, Poe knew he was being so now, too. He just couldn’t accept it, anyway. He wasn’t going to leave Wen Fen. It wasn’t going to happen. But there was no point arguing it, now.

After visibly struggling for several seconds, he swept his arms out in front of him and did a tight bow.

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

At least the journey would give him time to come up with a better plan.
hatejakku: (oh shit dont die)

[personal profile] hatejakku 2020-01-21 05:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Po Daxiang didn't exactly look appeased but at least he had settled. That was enough. Wen Fen took a deep breath, stepping away and giving the bow he'd meant to give earlier.

"Thank you, Sect Leader Jiang."

Besides, they'd just been given another gift. They weren't being separated yet. They still had some time. That's far more than Wen Fen had expected.
flightforfreedom: (pause)

[personal profile] flightforfreedom 2020-01-21 09:55 pm (UTC)(link)
He made another bow but didn’t bother to linger, turning and leaving immediately.

He didn’t pause until they were just outside his quarters, and Po Daxiang turned to noticed Jiang Cheng had followed them out. He looked at Wen Fen, then titled his head towards his rooms.

“Go on inside. I just- I need a minute. But I’ll be right there.” Once Wen Fen was inside, he turned back to Jiang Cheng, almost with a grimace.

“I can’t do it, shidi, I can’t just leave him there. There’s gotta be a way to convince Sect Leader Jiang—“
hatejakku: (please)

[personal profile] hatejakku 2020-01-21 10:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Wen Fen tilted his head in a shorter bow to the Sect Leader, but his eyes darted over to Jiang Cheng. Perhaps he only seemed cold or it was because of the situation, but he still didn't like how Po Daxiang was suddenly being treated by him.

They left the main hall with Jiang Cheng following them close behind, unsurprisingly. Equally unsurprising was Po Daxiang ushering him inside so he could speak to Young Master Jiang alone.

The door had barely slid closed before he realized that this was actually quarters that had been lived in, not a guest area... but those thoughts were quickly dashed away when the voices outside began speaking. Wen Fen leaned closer to the door, listening with a pained frown.
flightforfreedom: (oh no)

[personal profile] flightforfreedom 2020-01-22 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
“What? No!” He sounded affronted by the very idea, a hint of colour rising in his cheeks.

“The Sect is my family as much as it is yours!” Just because his name wasn’t Jiang didn’t mean he hadn’t been raised here, hadn’t lived here. “I’m not abandoning anything! But I can’t—“

He sucked in a breath, focusing himself, and then raised his hand to clench his fist, pushing his spiritual energy into his red string as he did so. It did so, lighting up as vibrant as red blood, the thread trailing back between the doors behind him. He gave Jiang Cheng a helpless look. He knew he man knew what it meant - that the stringless, flirty Po Daxiang, ever a night’s entertainment but never anything more - finally had a string of his own, after all.

“There’s got to be a way to get your father to let him stay,” he said, his voice dropping quieter. “I— he could take my name, we could go into seclusion a couple of months— no one even needs to know we’re here—“

The concept of Po Daxiang sitting still for a couple of months was a hilarious one on its own, but that was another matter entirely.
flightforfreedom: (more dramatically in the window)

[personal profile] flightforfreedom 2020-01-22 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
“You can talk to him. I know it’s not easy to get through to him, but I—“

He sighed, looking away.

“I’m not trying to endanger anyone, you know that. But if he hadn’t have saved my life, they would have finally managed to break me and turn me into one of those puppets. We can’t— we have to stand up to them! What they’re doing is a fate worse than death, and I —“

Ugh. He bit into his lip to shut himself up.

“Get him to give me a mission, then. Give us a mission. Let me be helpful rather than just....”
flightforfreedom: (discussing the plan)

[personal profile] flightforfreedom 2020-01-22 12:46 am (UTC)(link)
“Yeah, I do think he listens to you,” Poe retorted, more out of Jiang Cheng’s defence than anything else. “I know he doesn’t show it all that much but you are the heir, and your opinion matters to him.”

He was stubborn on this point, if only because he understood it from Jiang Chen’s side, too. His mother had died when he was young and it had opened a rift between Daxiang and his own father, and they had ever seemed at odds, afterward. He understood what it felt like to be ignored by your father.

But Jiang Fengmian was a good man - one of the best of them - and Po Daxiang refused to believe that he didn’t respect his son’s opinion, on some level. Maybe it was because he was a little stupid, or maybe it was projection, but he would argue this to the end of his days.

He made a little bit of a face at he mention of Wei Wuxian. “I know better than that. When was the last time he and I agreed on a course of action that didn’t end up blowing up? I’m asking you because I need you. You care about this Sect more than anyone. If I can convince you that what I’m doing is for the good of everyone, then maybe I can convince him too.”

He paused, grimacing.

“... Or, at least, you can help me come up with a way to do this that doesn’t hurt anyone.”
flightforfreedom: (hold that thought)

[personal profile] flightforfreedom 2020-01-22 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
Po Daxiang tsks, because he thinks he has a pretty good handle on the situation but also is pretty sure he'd not going to change Jiang Cheng's mind about it. So he isn't going to keep debating the point.

"I don't want to send him anywhere," he clarifies. "If he has to go somewhere - Nie Sect certainly isn't the worst, but it's hardly the best, either. It's so close to Wen territory that if they get word about him they are going to get there a lot faster than anyone from Lotus Pier could. If he was there and I was here there's no way I'd get there in time - even though I can fly faster than anyone."

A pause, and then a slight huff as he looked away.

"Besides, pretty sure Sect Leader Nie hates me. But. You know. That's sort of beside the point."