It had been Xichen's idea when he and Mingjue had been talking about their brothers' futures. Xichen had seen how much Wei Wuxian's death had affected Wangji and hoped Huaisang could help. Mingjue wanted someone strong enough to protect Huaisang, and trusted Wangji was up to that task.
Not idea. But even Wangji could see the wisdom of the union, and so he'd not fought the plans placed. The ceremony itself was to be as elaborate as one would expect for two heirs to prominent clans. But before then, it was expected they have a quiet, private dinner to speak together and make sure the other wasn't too angry before they even started the rest of their lives together.
So Wangji makes his way to where his intended waits. Stepping inside, he bows, hands cupping formally before him, then quietly takes his seat across from Huaisang. His nerves keep his expression closed, but there's a flicker of turmoil and grief in his gaze if Huaisang looks hard enough.
By the time Huaisang is meeting Wangji for their private dinner, he's not
so angry. He's upset still, feeling that the marriage is rash and...this
isn't how he imagined it and Lan Wangji is not who he imagined marrying. He
knew the other is still stuck on Wei Wuxian -- it didn't take a genius to
figure it out when you could pay attention to the details, to expressions
and when you knew what people were up to over time. So there's plenty of
hesitancy.
"Hanguang Jun, welcome," Huaisang greets with a smile, he doesn't think
he's been quite so nervous around the other since he'd been in cloud
recesses. He's ever so grateful that the meal provided had alcohol even if
he'd be the only one drinking it. Maybe it'd be a bit rude but his nerves
were honestly a wreck. He met the other's gaze over the table being
observant as he tended to be he could detect what's going behind the
apparent impassiveness of the other's expression. He then lowers his gaze,
fingers gripping his fan tightly, fingertips rubbing over the design. "I'm
sorry you're in this position," he finally says and it all feels like his
fault that an arranged marriage would be deemed necessary.
He'd never expected to marry at all. A fantasy marrying Wei Wuxian aside, Lan Wangji is a reasonably realistic kind of man. No matter how he feels, once Wuxian died, he accepted he would be alone until Wuxian's return.
But it seems even that is to be nixed. Already has been. They merely have the formality of going through with the ceremony. Is it fair to either of them? No. But he has also accepted his brother's decision as what is probably best for all of them, even if he doesn't see it himself.
Sitting across the small table from Huaisang, hearing that soft voice speak his title feels...stilted. He inwardly chastises himself - he needs to make more of an effort to express himself now. Not everyone automatically understands him - very few do, really.
And then Huaisang seems to take responsibility for their situation, and he immediately frowns a little, shaking his head. "Not your responsibility. Our brothers are protective. Wish us the best."
Huaisang studies Wangji as the other speaks and he exhales softly and then focuses for a moment on pouring tea for the other and wine for himself, not waiting but a moment before swallowing the contents of the small cup. He needs to soothe his anxiety. His fan is set on the table as he looks over it again at Wangji.
"I'm not sure how this protects you," Huaisang says. Wangji is capable of protecting himself he doesn't need the Nie Sect or Huaisang.
He watches silently as tea is poured for him, and wine for Huaisang before the other man downs the small cup. It's tempting to pour a cup of wine for himself too, but he resists easily. He'll leave it to Huaisang, while he takes a sip of tea while his intended settles his nerves.
"Protecting you gives me purpose," he makes an attempt to explain. "An anchor." He shouldn't need it. He should be strong enough to weather even this.
But his brother is wise, and so he's chosen to listen.
Huaisang pours more wine and he listens. His brow furrowing. Huaisang had never been blind. He had figured out long before that it had been something more that Wangji had felt for Wei Wuxian and that this... He sighs to himself, staring down into his cup. It'd always been foolish of him but he'd believed he could marry for love, a happy loving marriage. This...
"Doesn't that just make marriage a task to complete for you?" Huaisang says and maybe that's the part that bothers him the most that whether this was truly right or not or whether they'd be happy didn't factor in. He knew Nie Mingjue probably wasn't thinking about it at all. He was thinking about the people of Qinghe and the fact that he believes that Huaisang is too weak to protect them. "Like another rule to follow."
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secureserver2020-08-19 02:14 pm
no subject
Not idea. But even Wangji could see the wisdom of the union, and so he'd not fought the plans placed. The ceremony itself was to be as elaborate as one would expect for two heirs to prominent clans. But before then, it was expected they have a quiet, private dinner to speak together and make sure the other wasn't too angry before they even started the rest of their lives together.
So Wangji makes his way to where his intended waits. Stepping inside, he bows, hands cupping formally before him, then quietly takes his seat across from Huaisang. His nerves keep his expression closed, but there's a flicker of turmoil and grief in his gaze if Huaisang looks hard enough.
no subject
By the time Huaisang is meeting Wangji for their private dinner, he's not so angry. He's upset still, feeling that the marriage is rash and...this isn't how he imagined it and Lan Wangji is not who he imagined marrying. He knew the other is still stuck on Wei Wuxian -- it didn't take a genius to figure it out when you could pay attention to the details, to expressions and when you knew what people were up to over time. So there's plenty of hesitancy.
"Hanguang Jun, welcome," Huaisang greets with a smile, he doesn't think he's been quite so nervous around the other since he'd been in cloud recesses. He's ever so grateful that the meal provided had alcohol even if he'd be the only one drinking it. Maybe it'd be a bit rude but his nerves were honestly a wreck. He met the other's gaze over the table being observant as he tended to be he could detect what's going behind the apparent impassiveness of the other's expression. He then lowers his gaze, fingers gripping his fan tightly, fingertips rubbing over the design. "I'm sorry you're in this position," he finally says and it all feels like his fault that an arranged marriage would be deemed necessary.
no subject
But it seems even that is to be nixed. Already has been. They merely have the formality of going through with the ceremony. Is it fair to either of them? No. But he has also accepted his brother's decision as what is probably best for all of them, even if he doesn't see it himself.
Sitting across the small table from Huaisang, hearing that soft voice speak his title feels...stilted. He inwardly chastises himself - he needs to make more of an effort to express himself now. Not everyone automatically understands him - very few do, really.
And then Huaisang seems to take responsibility for their situation, and he immediately frowns a little, shaking his head. "Not your responsibility. Our brothers are protective. Wish us the best."
no subject
"I'm not sure how this protects you," Huaisang says. Wangji is capable of protecting himself he doesn't need the Nie Sect or Huaisang.
no subject
"Protecting you gives me purpose," he makes an attempt to explain. "An anchor." He shouldn't need it. He should be strong enough to weather even this.
But his brother is wise, and so he's chosen to listen.
no subject
"Doesn't that just make marriage a task to complete for you?" Huaisang says and maybe that's the part that bothers him the most that whether this was truly right or not or whether they'd be happy didn't factor in. He knew Nie Mingjue probably wasn't thinking about it at all. He was thinking about the people of Qinghe and the fact that he believes that Huaisang is too weak to protect them. "Like another rule to follow."