secureserver | [ Arranged Marriage Bullshit Open Post ]

Nie Huaisang had reluctantly agreed when da ge said that there would be an arranged marriage. Nie Mingjue wouldn’t elaborate on his reasons but Huaisang had his thoughts on what the reasons might be — namely, Mingjue thinking he could never be strong enough on his own. Maybe this is a twisted way of trying to let Huaisang be allowed to continue being himself as much as was possible. There is still some bitterness. This is not the kind of marriage he’d wanted for himself but he was starting to understand that things couldn’t always go his way.

The way that it had been decided they would meet is with a dinner, a few servants and some guards nearby. Other than that they would be left alone. It’s just the secrecy about the identity of the other party he couldn’t understand but he guessed it didn’t matter all that much.

So, Huaisang knelt I’m a soft cushion exhaling as he nervously waited for the other party.

Edited 2020-08-29 19:27 (UTC)

This was not even remotely what Billy had desired. But his grandfather had been adamant. There had to be a marriage treaty. The island nation of Genosha needed strong support from outside of themselves. Yes, they were a strong nation, with strong natural magic unlike that found in many other places in the world.

But there you have it. What grandfather demanded happened. And since Billy was the younger of two princes, and not even the sons of the crown prince...

Billy sighed. This was not what he had wanted. But still it had to happen. So he took a deep breath, waved for his guards to stand outside of the room, and let a servant lead him in.

William Magnus of Genosha had arrived. And he was trying to be polite. Just... someone promise him that he didn't have to marry a woman.

The Qinghe Nie Sect is one of the major cultivation clans and is powerful in their own right. The negotiations had landed that the other party would come to the Unclean Realm for the first meeting. The place isn't quite as gloomy as it looks upon approach, there is plenty of beauty and the closer to the arranged meeting site the more beautiful, the more colors. That is mostly to appease Huaisang.

Huaisang is dressed in off white robes with a subtle accent of tan showing. His hair had been braided carefully and the presentation had been put together with quite a bit of thought.

As the door opens, Huaisang snaps his fan shut and stands up quickly, not even getting a good look before cupping his hands in front of him and bowing. As he raises his head he does get a look. The other isn't from any clan he actually recognizes. By name he would know of Genosha but he had never met anyone from there personally.

"Welcome, young master..." he trips up as he doesn't actually know the other's name yet, flushing a little and bowing again before motioning toward the cushion on the other side of the table that is certainly more comfortable than the floor. He wouldn't sit again until the other had.

"I am Nie Huaisang."

It's awkward introducing yourself to someone you will wed soon. He's anxious by nature and he's soon opened his fan again, one side has lettering and the other side that he flips it to is a beautiful landscape of his own design.

Well, at least it's a man. A stranger. One whose language Billy had to teach himself through magic. And it is just a thing he had to make do with. This was what was needed of him, needed for his nation. So here he was.

Billy bowed back and tried to offer proper respects.

"I am Prince William Magnus of Genosha. Your welcome is kindly accepted in the spirit with which it is given."

So he moves to the cushion as gestured and carefully sits upon it.

"It is my honor to meet you," Billy says, carefully flicking his cloak back.

While Huaisang wore robes, Billy just wore the formal black and gold uniform traditionally used by the men of the House of Magnus. It was all he knew how to use when it came to formal wear.

Huaisang smiles at the formality and he appreciates it, bowing his head again before he does sit once the other sits. He had taken a good look at the outfit too, here, robes were the commonplace option, trousers beneath and he had always been interest in fashion and so this uniform is one that isn't something he would see every day. The other man looks quite handsome in it.

"The honor is mine," Huaisang returned, holding his sleeve back with one hand as the other grasps a small teapot and pours Billy some tea and then himself. "The food will be here soon," he assures. They wanted it to be hot and it hadn't been sure if the other would be exactly on time or not.

There are a lot of things that Huaisang isn't good at, namely any sort of martial arts but this sort of thing he can excel at when he has his mind on it. This, paperwork and magic that is more about astronomy and balance than violence. Unlike any other of the Nie clan that Billy would see that wasn't a servant, Huaisang doesn't carry his saber with him anywhere he goes. He barely touches the thing at all.

However, despite his general ability to entertain people, he feels awkward and the fall back to that is to admit he doesn't know. "I really don't know how this is supposed to go. My brother wouldn't tell me anything."

One can never been late when they're a teleporter. Actually, yes, they totally could be late, but Billy tried not to. Truth be told, though, Billy doesn't know the details of this culture very well. He's tried to study, but it's so new, it's so fast. The whole arrangement was so new, and he couldn't read as fast as Tommy could and it wasn't like a lot of etiquette books from here made it there and in German or Hebrew or English.

"You're not the only one feeling awkward," Billy admits, his voice soft. Nervous. "Except in my case, it was my grandfather. My brother tried to fight him over this."

Huaisang is a late a lot, he would be even if he could teleport. It's just part of his nature. His finally closes his fan again, he was just nervously messing with it and it was probably starting to show that what he was doing was a nervous tic just now. He takes his cup to sip before setting it down, his hands then resting in his lap.

"There is only Sect Leader Nie Mingjue," Huaisang said softly, at least for now. Soon, there would only be Reluctant Sect Leader Nie Huaisang. He didn't want it, because his brother shouldn't have to die so young. He shakes off the thought, it brings a heavy melancholy if he lets it linger and Zonghui is not there to help keep his spirits up and he wouldn't want this man to think that he is getting an overly emotional match -- which he is, but he doesn't need to see that yet.

"I'm sorry. I iknow you are probably troubled by this arrangement," Huaisang says and there's a small smile on his lips. Soon after the food would be delivered, plenty of meat, rice and some local vegetables, a few wine jars were delivered as well and Huaisang thanked the servants who bowed deeply before leaving.

Edited 2020-08-31 01:15 (UTC)

Troubled? Oh, he's definitely troubled. This was the last thing he wanted in his life. He was, at best, fifth in line for the throne. This shouldn't have been his lot. But he supposes the younger sons are for marrying, just like the younger daughters. Not that Lorna had been married off.

It was maddening.

So mostly he feels awkward. And scared. What if he's not allowed to go home? A prisoner of politics.

"Are you not? Forgive me for being forward, but this wasn't what I expected of my life. Genosha is such a... young nation, in the grand scheme of things. I cannot fathom why ones such as your family would seek an alliance. Save for, you know, agreements to protect one another militarily."

Huaisang is quiet for a little after that. He reaches to pour wine and gestures with the jar in his hand in a silent question if the other wanted some poured to just drink some of the unease away or to go with the meal...both.

"In a way I am, but it is the right thing for my clan and it will give my brother some peace of mind that I cannot give him. I assume if you were agreeable to him you must have many strengths that will help lead the clan once..." he trails off and forces a smile. "He did this to shore up the weaknesses of his heir and it couldn't protect our clan if it was one of the other large cultivation clans and someone from a smaller one wouldn't be a powerful enough ally."

Nie Huaisang would hold the Sect Leader title but he's sure his brother intended the real leading to be done by someone else, someone who wasn't completely useless.

"I... uh, I'm only nineteen. It's not legal for me to drink in my country," Billy mumbles. So instead he pulls his tea closer. See, he can be happy with this. This is only a first meeting, after all. He has to go home after. And his mom would kill him if he got drunk because of his nerves.

But he understands enough of politics to nod along with what he's being told. Yes, he supposes he gets it. Genosha may be a small nation in the grand scheme of things, but they were large in numbers, and the power they had was not to be ignored.

"There will not be far more issue over the fact that your partner is... well, first and foremost, foreign. Secondly, unable to give you an heir of your own."

As for Billy, he can't see what his grandfather is getting out of this at all.

"It's legal here, if you want it," there is really no actual drinking age enforced and more so places that you can and cannot drink. But Huaisang simply offers and doesn't pressure. They'd both had more than enough of their freedoms taken away.

Huaisang begins to pick at his food. It's dinner but he's anything but hungry and he favors his wine instead.

"If you are powerful then it won't matter if you're foreign. And... I imagine at some point a surrogate," he grimaces a little because he has very little interest in women at all. His fingers curl around his cup and he downs the rest of the wine and refills it.

At least Billy won't be the one expected to make use of the surrogate if it comes to that. Still... If he's powerful enough? Billy sighs and flicks his fingers at the container of wine.

"Refill," he orders. Blue light wraps around the jar of wine. It floats up into the air and tilts over very precisely, pouring the liquid only as much as would be needed to fill the cup, before tilting back to standing and setting back down where it had come from.

"I'm probably not going to disappoint there at least. But... I suppose the question is more if you want this. This... arrangement."

Huaisang hadn't been trying to slight or vying for proof but he looks at the other in confusion at the finger moment, the single word and then... His brow furrows as he watches it as it moves, as the liquid pours out.

His mouth just gapes. There many such show off tricks that most cultivators can do but Huaisang isn't strong. His magic relies on his wits and cleverness, using the earth and the sky to do the work for him. It's magic that can only really be done with purpose. In everything else he is beyond mediocre.

There's a slight nod, he wouldn't disappoint at all. Somehow the proof made him feel more inadequate.

"Does it matter?" Huaisang questions and he smiles and it seems bright enough. "Honestly, I had hoped for love... I..." he exhales, he hadn't had anyone in mind anymore, he'd watched his brother accidentally murder the love of his life while under his sword's control. He had still hoped in finding someone new.

"I've always dreamed of a happy and loving marriage," Huaisang exhales, flushing. "I'm not innocent, I've had many love interests." Lovers. "But, this is my duty and it is because of my own failings and weaknesses that it is necessary."

A romantic. Just like Billy. Which of course earns a soft, pitiful smile.

"Me too. I figured, as the least important in the family I could... well, just find happiness. Find a guy who would love me for who I am and not what I can do or my family. I suppose that at the very least we're... wistful together?"

They can probably make an arrangement. One that allows for Huaisang to do what he wants. Billy? A foreigner who married in? Him being unfaithful would be seen as an act of aggression. He can't risk it.

This entire thing is stupid and probably a terrible idea and Phillip doesn't know why he's here.

Well, he knows why, but he doesn't like it. Peace treaties, beneficial family marriages, blah blah blah. He would have thought being an only child plus his... unique abilities and somewhat dubious qualification as being 'human' would have meant he wouldn't be shoved into something like that. Apparently he was wrong.

He wonders vaguely on the trip over if anyone has bothered to tell this family anything about him, and how badly they would react if they found out. Oh well. Hopefully, his intended won't mind if he keeps a million secrets and is generally very cagey because like hell is he sharing said information. (Even Phillip knows that he'll probably mind.)

When he arrives, he's dressed sharply. Even if this is not something he wanted, he's not going to look bad. Time to see how this goes.

Huaisang thinks briefly maybe it's better that they're in the same boat. He reaches for his cup and takes a sip, exhaling as he does so and not drinking as quickly as he had been at least.

"It is some comfort, at least," Huaisang says softly, looking down. "Perhaps we can find some happiness together."

Huaisang wouldn't consider going outside their marriage. He's seen the damage that can do and he has no desire to be a part of it and despite his frivolous nature once he has committed to something he doesn't stray.

Find some happiness together? Something tells him that isn't true. Because for it to be true, Billy would have to be lucky, but he's not. He knows he isn't.

"Happiness is the safety of our peoples," he posits with a sigh. "We can both agree on that, right?"

Huaisang's brow furrows at the response and he reads it as not particularly receptive to what he had suggested. Would they both have to be miserable for it? That had always been Huaisang's probably, the reason he didn't want to be the Master of the Nie Sect. He didn't want to settle, he didn't want to become someone he wasn't. He's not a leader, he's not a fighter.

But he forces a smile and nods. "Of course," because it's the only acceptable answer.

He finishes off another cup and reaches for the jar to pour more again.

"Does the food suit your tastes?"

Forgive him, he's miserable and scared. His life is being sold away to this place. Can't even hide the way his body shakes.

"It's nice," Billy agrees, and honestly he clearly hasn't touched it.

To nervous.

"They can make you something else if you prefer," Huaisang says softly and maybe he should have tried to figure out what sort of food was common where he was from but that would have meant someone would have had to tell him something. He studies Billy and then he's back to drinking.

"I can make my brother break the troth," he finally says.

He can beg, he can use every trick and push da ge to cave in but he could do it. And Nie Mingjue would rage at him and he'd have the tip of Baxia pointed at his face again. He can live with that.

"I don't think I could survive if there is no true happiness for you to find here."

Edited 2020-09-01 00:12 (UTC)

"Breaking it would only anger my grandfather and insult Genosha. No, that would have too much ill effect for your people. I... I don't want them hurt."

They were innocent, in the grand scheme of things. And it made Billy tired.

"Forgive me. I've had three days warning on this," he admits. Which left one to wonder how he spoke the language. "It was a relief enough to find you to be a man, and attractive. But... I've never left Genosha. I feel so weird here. So out of place. I must look silly to you, dressed as I am. And no one where will look me in the eye. Do they fear me? Are they disgusted by me? These are my thoughts, my fears. People attack what they do not understand, what they fear.

Huaisang is quiet and his hand goes for his fan, holding it a moment in both hands and then letting it open smoothly turning it around and lightly fanning himself. He has the urge to hide behind it as he often does when he doesn't know what to say or do, when he would rather run and hide but it isn't a current option. He listens carefully and there's a flicker of a smile at being called attractive.

"There is nothing to forgive."

Huaisang starts and there is so much that is strange about this foreign prince and that he doesn't really understand. He lifts the fan a little and it only covers a small portion of his face.

"Your lands must be very different from ours. I have not traveled outside of going visit different clans and studying with some of them. But you do not look silly. I appreciated how you looked, I like clothes and I have never seen any like this before," Huaisang smiles a bit behind the fan. "My people aren't afraid of anything," Huaisang on the other hand??? "They are certainly not disgusted, why would they be? Unsure, curious and trying to respect you is far more likely. No one will attack you here."

Another clan? He cannot speak for but he doubted anyone would come to Qinghe or the Unclean Realm for an attempt.

"Oh."

Oh dear. Billy looks so embarrassed, his cheeks coloring deeply at the correction. This whole thing is so uncomfortable.

"I still ask your forgiveness. I've been here less than twenty minutes and already I've made it awkward. It's... uncommon for me and my brother to interact with a lot of people outside of the palace. I'm making this bad, aren't I?"

Huaisang certainly hadn't meant to embarrass him but maybe he looks kind of cute that way. He doesn't say anything though.

"Am I any less awkward?" Huaisang laughs. It comes easily, his laugh usually does even when it shouldn't.

"I think the circumstances make this difficult."

"You're in a situation in which you are more comfortable. We'd call it home field advantage," Billy says. It would be easier if he were in Genosha. But he's not the one who was the heir.

"They do. It'd be easier if this first meeting was... more casual. Meals feel so intimate."

[ Arranged Marriage Bullshit Open Post ]

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