[With her grabbing his arm, he abandons his immediate plan to pick one of the blooms and instead puts a hand over hers to hold her steady - the hand of the arm she'd grabbed going first to her waist and then to her elbow. They may have gotten this deep into the island safely enough, but he did not want to risk Orchid falling in when the denizens of the waters were mostly unknown.
Daqiang did not tell her to be 'careful' or to wait. That would be pointless when she was already reaching out and pulling her back could destabilize the boat they were on. Holding her in place, ready to pull her into the safety of his arms, would be enough.]
[ Orchid has so much trust for Daqiang that she doesn't falter when his grip changes, knowing that he will be there for her. Whether that means they tip the boat and both go in, or get to stay on top of the water.
It does tip dangerously just as she grabs the stem of the closest lotus pod. ]
[It starts to tip and Orchid just keeps reaching for the pod. Daqaing shifts his grip, pulling himself to her so he could wrap his arm around her waist and hold her up while she bent further forward. They were no longer standing on the boat, however, as he had resorted to hovering in the air while holding her to prevent them falling in. Below them the boat splashed hard as the opposite side landed back in the water and sent waves out from the vessel.
His power was sealed such that he could no longer simply hold her in the air as he wanted. Or cut the seed pod from it's stem and call it to them. No he had to assist in the most troublesome way that also let him hold her tight and hold her close. With the boat rocking inches below where they now floated in the air, he finally said:]
[ The way his grip shifts to hold her around the waist has her distracted for a moment, long enough for the boat to mostly settle back into the water with very little ripples from the sudden lack of passengers. It's his voice that makes her recall her task, gently squeezing the stem. ]
Oh, all right.
[ With all the practice of someone who has been gardening for a thousand years, Orchid snaps off the seed pod in one clean move. She straightens to show it to him, the move brings them very close together. ]
I got it! Now we can have dozens of lotus flowers without removing many flowers from the marsh.
[They are nearly nose to nose. Something which throws him off for a moment as he stared down at her, blinking a few times, mouth softening into something almost like a smile before he remembers himself.
Swallowing hard, he sets her back down on the boat before landing on it a few steps away. With distance between them, he let his hands fall to his side. Eyes wide and expression still open, he made a weak gesture towards the baskets brought along for the blooms.]
If all we need for the garden is the seed pods, then we can... harvest the blooms safely?
[Asked more to have something to ask because thinking about the fact that she had been so close - close enough to kiss - was not going to be helpful. And he didn't want to scare her or make her upset when she was so happy. No matter how tempting kissing her might be.]
[ Perhaps surprisingly, Orchid isn't the one to pull away first after discovering their closeness. She looks up at him as if waiting for something, gaze flitting down to see that almost-smile upon his lips. Part of her wants to use her fingers to help him finish that smile, but it doesn't seem like the right time.
Daqiang places her on the boat before landing further away from her, and she wants to close the distance again. To always be close to him, but it's clear that Daqiang is floundering where she isn't. ]
Mm! [ A sound of agreement and a nod of her head. ] How many lanterns did you want? We should look around for the best ones to harvest.
[ Orchid had wanted him to kiss her, for him to want to for no other reason but that. No one to make jealous, no body swapping back, no saving her from drowning. Simply because he wanted to. ]
[One day he would discover that she would let him do just that: grab her and kiss her for other reason than he wanted to. But it would not be this day. This day he his stomach still turned with the fear of making her mad at him. At ruining the happiness she was feeling. He couldn't feel it, with the hairpin in, but seeing her smile was enough. She was happy in his company. As she had been when they shared time in Shuiyuntian. That was enough.
His eyes broke contact first as he glanced sideways at the blossoms.]
With as large as they are, we can fit nearly a dozen in the boat. They will attract fireflies on the way and we can provide both the lotuses and the fireflies to those who have requested them.
[One hand curled into a loose fist and he tucked it behind him. To keep him from stepping forward and touching her arm.]
This venerable one can retrieve the blossoms. Whichever ones you choose.
[ Before that day ever comes, Orchid might be the one kissing Daqiang first. She may still be shy about it in front of others, but has discovered where her heart truly lies. For now, Orchid simply waits for him to develop and understand his own feelings - rather than try to figure out hers without the hairpin.
When he looks away, she's still looking at him. ]
I'm certain we can find a dozen that require trimming. There will be so many fireflies with that many flowers.
[ It's when his arm tucks behind his back that Orchid looks around at all the lotus blossoms, determining which ones are ready to be picked. ]
Don't fall in, Damutou. I'm not strong enough to pull you back in. [ A gentle tease.
She starts pointing out a few nearby that are at the peak of their blossoming, that are surrounded by many buds waiting to bloom. Seeing as how he's been trying his hand at gardening, it may be something he notices. ]
[He's mostly been dabbling in single blooms in individual pots. Pruning a plant of blooms to make room for more to open and grow was still something he had not yet learned the proper signs of.
When she joked about him falling in, he gave her sarcastic frown, but stepped out into the air where she directed him. Laughing at him was something she'd done since they first met and never was it malicious. Not truly. It was... 'teasing'. The good, friendly kind. The kind Rem attempted to do with him quite often that still left him confused. Especially when she did it through the shellphone.
Floating to the first cluster of blooms, he knelt down and pointed at the one he thought she was indicating.]
[ It's fine if he hasn't reached that stage yet, because Orchid can teach him before he learns any bad habits.
She can only laugh lightly at the frown he gives her in return, but moves to sit in the boat so that she can lean over the edge to see what he's doing. Where he's going and what he's pointing out. Orchid waits until he points at one and asks her if it's right. ]
To the left! See how big it's bloomed compared to all the others? That's the one you want to pluck. This way, the others get all the sun and other things they need to bloom next.
[He moves his hands over to the one indicated and carefully separates it from it's stem. One down, many to go. He was still skeptical this would be healthy for the flowers. But considering that she was very careful with those plants in her care (even if she wasn't careful with herself), he couldn't really justify his skepticism. He just... didn't want to mess it up.
Any of it.
Daqiang put the bloom away and moved to the next - and the one after that - following her instructions the entire time. When finally they had enough, he returned to the boat and settled into it so they could stand together. Safely. No rocking. Fireflies had already begun to gather around the centers of the lotus blooms. And the light had begun to fade - leaving only the lotus and the fireflies to really light the way. If night had not yet fallen, then it would come soon. This deep in the swamp, it was difficult to tell.
Orchid looked very pretty in the light of the fireflies. Almost as pretty as she did in the light of the rising sun.]
[ Orchid very much got caught up in the whole process and directing Daqiang to the plants to pluck from that she only notices the fireflies when he's back on the boat. Her attention is on the fireflies dancing around them, her expression one of joy and happiness as she holds her hands up to one drifting nearby.
It lands on her finger, and she carefully holds it up - as if he isn't already looking at her. ]
Daqiang, Daqiang! Look!
[ Her eyes lift from the bug to his face, realizing at that moment just how intently he's watching her. Suddenly, the view of the fireflies isn't as captivating. ]
[Her eyes meet his and he finds his mouth has gone dry.
His eyes, as always, are the first to look away. Unable to hold the intensity of her gaze. Unable to hold onto the feelings that bubbled up inside whenever she looked at him with that happy, wonder-struck expression.
[ For the length of time that their gaze is locked, Orchid has the desire to kiss him. Then he looks away, and the desire still lingers - but she's not sure his heart does yet.
Since he's looking away, she moves to stand on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek. ]
Daqiang, thank you.
[ The words are for things he's done (even if his life is tied to hers or had other motives), and things he will do, for picking the flowers for her now and making her happy.
With that, she turns away and nods - using it to hide her blush. The lotus flowers they picked are already in full bloom, but the buds that are still left behind on the water suddenly become so. ]
[A not-quite smile bloomed on his lips as the lotus in the water spread their petals. He nodded, a bit too eagerly, where she couldn't see it because she'd already turned away... So he managed to get control of himself before she could look back after he reached out to help steady her as she got seated in the boat. Then he was lifting the steering pole and pushing them back towards civilization.
His heart beating far too faces and his chest far too full. But she had kissed him! Of her own choice!
[ There is no one to interrupt them this time, no Shangque to rush in and start speaking, or Jieli with her knowing looks. It's only the two of them out here on this boat, and nothing bad lurks on the horizon. Orchid is reminded of those days in Arbiter Hall, when it was only the two of them - only without the worry of being caught having a criminal with her.
She takes her seat and keeps her focus on the lotus pod that she'd plucked earlier, counting the seeds. Trying not to wonder what sort of expression Daqiang had on his face after receiving the kiss. ]
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Daqiang did not tell her to be 'careful' or to wait. That would be pointless when she was already reaching out and pulling her back could destabilize the boat they were on. Holding her in place, ready to pull her into the safety of his arms, would be enough.]
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It does tip dangerously just as she grabs the stem of the closest lotus pod. ]
Just a little more...
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His power was sealed such that he could no longer simply hold her in the air as he wanted. Or cut the seed pod from it's stem and call it to them. No he had to assist in the most troublesome way
that also let him hold her tight and hold her close. With the boat rocking inches below where they now floated in the air, he finally said:]Be quick.
no subject
Oh, all right.
[ With all the practice of someone who has been gardening for a thousand years, Orchid snaps off the seed pod in one clean move. She straightens to show it to him, the move brings them very close together. ]
I got it! Now we can have dozens of lotus flowers without removing many flowers from the marsh.
no subject
Swallowing hard, he sets her back down on the boat before landing on it a few steps away. With distance between them, he let his hands fall to his side. Eyes wide and expression still open, he made a weak gesture towards the baskets brought along for the blooms.]
If all we need for the garden is the seed pods, then we can... harvest the blooms safely?
[Asked more to have something to ask because thinking about the fact that she had been so close - close enough to kiss - was not going to be helpful. And he didn't want to scare her or make her upset when she was so happy. No matter how tempting kissing her might be.]
no subject
Daqiang places her on the boat before landing further away from her, and she wants to close the distance again. To always be close to him, but it's clear that Daqiang is floundering where she isn't. ]
Mm! [ A sound of agreement and a nod of her head. ] How many lanterns did you want? We should look around for the best ones to harvest.
[ Orchid had wanted him to kiss her, for him to want to for no other reason but that. No one to make jealous, no body swapping back, no saving her from drowning. Simply because he wanted to. ]
no subject
His eyes broke contact first as he glanced sideways at the blossoms.]
With as large as they are, we can fit nearly a dozen in the boat. They will attract fireflies on the way and we can provide both the lotuses and the fireflies to those who have requested them.
[One hand curled into a loose fist and he tucked it behind him. To keep him from stepping forward and touching her arm.]
This venerable one can retrieve the blossoms. Whichever ones you choose.
no subject
When he looks away, she's still looking at him. ]
I'm certain we can find a dozen that require trimming. There will be so many fireflies with that many flowers.
[ It's when his arm tucks behind his back that Orchid looks around at all the lotus blossoms, determining which ones are ready to be picked. ]
Don't fall in, Damutou. I'm not strong enough to pull you back in. [ A gentle tease.
She starts pointing out a few nearby that are at the peak of their blossoming, that are surrounded by many buds waiting to bloom. Seeing as how he's been trying his hand at gardening, it may be something he notices. ]
no subject
When she joked about him falling in, he gave her sarcastic frown, but stepped out into the air where she directed him. Laughing at him was something she'd done since they first met and never was it malicious. Not truly. It was... 'teasing'. The good, friendly kind. The kind Rem attempted to do with him quite often that still left him confused. Especially when she did it through the shellphone.
Floating to the first cluster of blooms, he knelt down and pointed at the one he thought she was indicating.]
This one?
no subject
She can only laugh lightly at the frown he gives her in return, but moves to sit in the boat so that she can lean over the edge to see what he's doing. Where he's going and what he's pointing out. Orchid waits until he points at one and asks her if it's right. ]
To the left! See how big it's bloomed compared to all the others? That's the one you want to pluck. This way, the others get all the sun and other things they need to bloom next.
no subject
Any of it.
Daqiang put the bloom away and moved to the next - and the one after that - following her instructions the entire time. When finally they had enough, he returned to the boat and settled into it so they could stand together. Safely. No rocking. Fireflies had already begun to gather around the centers of the lotus blooms. And the light had begun to fade - leaving only the lotus and the fireflies to really light the way. If night had not yet fallen, then it would come soon. This deep in the swamp, it was difficult to tell.
Orchid looked very pretty in the light of the fireflies. Almost as pretty as she did in the light of the rising sun.]
no subject
It lands on her finger, and she carefully holds it up - as if he isn't already looking at her. ]
Daqiang, Daqiang! Look!
[ Her eyes lift from the bug to his face, realizing at that moment just how intently he's watching her. Suddenly, the view of the fireflies isn't as captivating. ]
no subject
His eyes, as always, are the first to look away. Unable to hold the intensity of her gaze. Unable to hold onto the feelings that bubbled up inside whenever she looked at him with that happy, wonder-struck expression.
Daqiang cleared his throat.]
We should head back.
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Since he's looking away, she moves to stand on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek. ]
Daqiang, thank you.
[ The words are for things he's done (even if his life is tied to hers or had other motives), and things he will do, for picking the flowers for her now and making her happy.
With that, she turns away and nods - using it to hide her blush. The lotus flowers they picked are already in full bloom, but the buds that are still left behind on the water suddenly become so. ]
Mn, let's go.
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His heart beating far too faces and his chest far too full. But she had kissed him! Of her own choice!
On the cheek.
Still a kiss!]
no subject
She takes her seat and keeps her focus on the lotus pod that she'd plucked earlier, counting the seeds. Trying not to wonder what sort of expression Daqiang had on his face after receiving the kiss. ]