But would they be my friend? I don't think it'd be better.
[ Maybe not the most tactful way to say it. If he is going to have an arranged marriage whether he likes it or not at least he knows if it's Zizhen that it won't be completely miserable. And she's pretty. He's always thought she was pretty but Jin Ling had never really been one to allow himself to think further than that when it came to girls. He hadn't had time and he hadn't had the desire to open himself up to a relationship.
Now the relationship is to be very serious with someone who knew him better than anyone he would have chosen to court outright. ]
If you'd be unhappy I'll stand with you to stop it.
[ She laughs. Jin Ling is ridiculous. He really is too good for her, she thinks, but he has a good point, too. Why shouldn't your eventual spouse also be someone you consider a friend? Wouldn't that be better than some stranger you hardly know?
Giving up on her pacing, Zizhen moves to flop down on the steps leading up to the pavilion where all the adults are discussing. This whole situation they've found themselves in is also ridiculous. She can't help but laugh at where she's ended up. ]
No, you're right. It would be better to be friends with your husband or wife. That way, you can know they would always be honest with you, or call you out on your bullshit when you needed it. Instead of just being polite all the time.
[ She reaches a hand toward him, fingers making a grabbing motion. ]
C'mere. Sit with me. You know, I'm actually coming around to the idea a little bit? If only because the two of us together can blow all their tiny little heads when we put our minds to it.
[ Jin Ling had thought that she would agree with him that it is better that it be someone you are a friend with. At least, he knows he won't hate Zizhen and it won't be a totally unhappy marriage even if it isn't one that is formed of romantic love. He does love her. ]
You're going to call me on a lot of bullshit aren't you...
[ Jin Ling heaves a dramatic sigh but he nearly smiles as he sits down beside Zizhen. ]
That could be a bad thing or a good thing, honestly.
[ Zizhen chuckles lightly, smiling over at Jin Ling and bumping up against him with her shoulder. ]
I promise, I'll only call you out when you're being a complete idiot.
[ Which Jin Ling only does when he lets his emotions get the better of him. They both know he's a smart, talented young cultivator. Stronger and more powerful than Zizhen thinks she'll ever be. ]
And I give you full permission to call me out on the same stuff.
[ Jin Ling smiles because who knows she might decide the line for
being a complete idiot shifts or something! You never know really but he
knows there are times when he is an idiot and could benefit from someone
setting him straight -- which Zizhen has always been pretty good at,
actually. Maybe this really would be a good match. ]
Alright, but I am never as much of an idiot as you are.
[ She gives him a wry smile, then bumps into him again, this time keeping her body pressed up to his side and leaning her head down on his shoulder, sighing gently. ]
[ It's definitely true but as if Jin Ling would actually admit that! But... when she doesn't move away after bumping into him, he swallows a little. The weight of her head on his shoulder and he leans his own to rest against hers.
[ It had been a gamble, in a way, to lay her head on his shoulder. At first it had felt just like their usual level of good natured ribbing and casual physical contact. But at some point she crossed a line from "friendly" into "intimate," and for a long moment her heart races as she panics that she's gone too far too fast, and Jin Ling is going to hate her for it.
But... Miracle of miracles, he doesn't push her away. He just leans his head down on top of hers.
The knot that had been coiling itself ever tighter inside Zizhen's stomach begins to melt and loosen. ]
I think... I'm glad it's you, too. And on top of that... [ She takes a deep breath, letting it out through her nose. ] As much as I get mad at my dad sometimes, I don't actually want to ruin this for him. It will be important for our clan, to be tied to yours.
[ Jin Ling is glad she'd done it. It helped him, and he liked the feeling, he liked this a lot. And it's good to realize that this isn't as bad as it had seemed and it could actually maybe be really good...
Hopefully, if he doesn't lose it or she doesn't get taken from him life too. That fear is one that never really goes all the way quiet that people he cares about he'll just lose them. ]
We don't have to let them know that we're in such agreement with them, though.
[ Zizhen sits up, nodding and turning to face Jin Ling better. She smiles confidently, placing a hand on his knee. ]
Right! We'll act like we're resisting. We don't want them to think we'll go along with anything they say just because they say it!
[ Just then, the door to the inner chambers opens, and the adults enter the courtyard. Zizhen quickly withdraws her hand from Jin Ling's knee and stands, pulling Jin Ling up beside her. Leaning in close (but not too close as to be incriminating), she whispers, ] Remember. Act like we're not up for whatever they say!
[ Jin Ling doesn't quite want to part he finds but he shakes off the
feeling as they both stand. He bites his lip as she whispers trying not to
smile. That would certainly be a dead giveaway. ]
[ It's not particularly hard for Jin Ling's face to shift into a scowl, glaring at Zizhen and pretending like he's not noticing the approaching adults. ]
Like it has been? How many times have you needed help already?
Like I've ever needed help from you! You must have hit your head, to remember things so wrongly!
[ Just then, Jiang Cheng and Zizhen's father step forward, barking at them to shut up and listen. There may or may not be a threat of broken limbs from the Jiang Sect Leader. Zizhen bites her tongue, but shoots Jin Ling a secret glance.
The adults go on to explain their decision to join the Baling Ouyang and Lanling Jin sects through marriage of the two junior heirs. Zizhen pouts and steps forward, moaning to her dad, ] Come on! You can't seriously want me to marry him!
[ Behind her back, she gropes around until she finds Jin Ling's hand and gives it a little squeeze. ]
[ Jin Ling had been about to say something even though he has to be careful of his choices of insults because he doesn’t actually want to insult her Sect. Jin Ling ends up just rolling his eyes, and tilting his chin up arrogantly instead. He listens to the explanation and then scoffs. ]
That makes sense, what doesn’t make sense is that you want me to marry her!
[ Still, he manages to squeeze her hand back subtly and subdue the urge to smile. ]
[ Zizhen opens her mouth to argue further, but Jiang Cheng raises a hand to silence everyone gathered-- and when the Jiang Sect Leader asks for silence, no one (besides maybe Jin Ling) is foolish enough to disobey him. He declares that the plans have been made, and their decision is final, then the elders dismiss the two young disciples and head off to discuss other business.
Zizhen turns to go, shoving Jin Ling with her shoulder to keep up the act, but of course, not so hard as to actually hurt him. As soon as they're alone, though, she bursts out into bright laughter. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ Maybe not the most tactful way to say it. If he is going to have an arranged marriage whether he likes it or not at least he knows if it's Zizhen that it won't be completely miserable. And she's pretty. He's always thought she was pretty but Jin Ling had never really been one to allow himself to think further than that when it came to girls. He hadn't had time and he hadn't had the desire to open himself up to a relationship.
Now the relationship is to be very serious with someone who knew him better than anyone he would have chosen to court outright. ]
If you'd be unhappy I'll stand with you to stop it.
no subject
Giving up on her pacing, Zizhen moves to flop down on the steps leading up to the pavilion where all the adults are discussing. This whole situation they've found themselves in is also ridiculous. She can't help but laugh at where she's ended up. ]
No, you're right. It would be better to be friends with your husband or wife. That way, you can know they would always be honest with you, or call you out on your bullshit when you needed it. Instead of just being polite all the time.
[ She reaches a hand toward him, fingers making a grabbing motion. ]
C'mere. Sit with me. You know, I'm actually coming around to the idea a little bit? If only because the two of us together can blow all their tiny little heads when we put our minds to it.
no subject
You're going to call me on a lot of bullshit aren't you...
[ Jin Ling heaves a dramatic sigh but he nearly smiles as he sits down beside Zizhen. ]
That could be a bad thing or a good thing, honestly.
no subject
I promise, I'll only call you out when you're being a complete idiot.
[ Which Jin Ling only does when he lets his emotions get the better of him. They both know he's a smart, talented young cultivator. Stronger and more powerful than Zizhen thinks she'll ever be. ]
And I give you full permission to call me out on the same stuff.
no subject
You know I'm going to hold you to that...
[ Jin Ling smiles because who knows she might decide the line for being a complete idiot shifts or something! You never know really but he knows there are times when he is an idiot and could benefit from someone setting him straight -- which Zizhen has always been pretty good at, actually. Maybe this really would be a good match. ]
Then you can't get mad at me when I do it.
no subject
[ She gives him a wry smile, then bumps into him again, this time keeping her body pressed up to his side and leaning her head down on his shoulder, sighing gently. ]
You're right. I could do a lot worse than you.
no subject
[ It's definitely true but as if Jin Ling would actually admit that! But... when she doesn't move away after bumping into him, he swallows a little. The weight of her head on his shoulder and he leans his own to rest against hers.
It feels nice. ]
I think I'm glad it's you.
no subject
But... Miracle of miracles, he doesn't push her away. He just leans his head down on top of hers.
The knot that had been coiling itself ever tighter inside Zizhen's stomach begins to melt and loosen. ]
I think... I'm glad it's you, too. And on top of that... [ She takes a deep breath, letting it out through her nose. ] As much as I get mad at my dad sometimes, I don't actually want to ruin this for him. It will be important for our clan, to be tied to yours.
no subject
Hopefully, if he doesn't lose it or she doesn't get taken from him life too. That fear is one that never really goes all the way quiet that people he cares about he'll just lose them. ]
We don't have to let them know that we're in such agreement with them, though.
no subject
Right! We'll act like we're resisting. We don't want them to think we'll go along with anything they say just because they say it!
[ Just then, the door to the inner chambers opens, and the adults enter the courtyard. Zizhen quickly withdraws her hand from Jin Ling's knee and stands, pulling Jin Ling up beside her. Leaning in close (but not too close as to be incriminating), she whispers, ] Remember. Act like we're not up for whatever they say!
no subject
[ Jin Ling doesn't quite want to part he finds but he shakes off the feeling as they both stand. He bites his lip as she whispers trying not to smile. That would certainly be a dead giveaway. ]
Should we act like we've been arguing?
no subject
Good idea!
[ Once the adults are within earshot, she shoves Jin Ling's shoulder (not too hard) and raises her voice a little bit louder than necessary: ]
I told you, I don't need you or your clan! The Baling Ouyang Sect will do fine on its own!
no subject
Like it has been? How many times have you needed help already?
no subject
[ Just then, Jiang Cheng and Zizhen's father step forward, barking at them to shut up and listen. There may or may not be a threat of broken limbs from the Jiang Sect Leader. Zizhen bites her tongue, but shoots Jin Ling a secret glance.
The adults go on to explain their decision to join the Baling Ouyang and Lanling Jin sects through marriage of the two junior heirs. Zizhen pouts and steps forward, moaning to her dad, ] Come on! You can't seriously want me to marry him!
[ Behind her back, she gropes around until she finds Jin Ling's hand and gives it a little squeeze. ]
no subject
That makes sense, what doesn’t make sense is that you want me to marry her!
[ Still, he manages to squeeze her hand back subtly and subdue the urge to smile. ]
no subject
Zizhen turns to go, shoving Jin Ling with her shoulder to keep up the act, but of course, not so hard as to actually hurt him. As soon as they're alone, though, she bursts out into bright laughter. ]
Ha! I can't believe they bought it!