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)

Jin Ling had argued long and hard about not needing to marry. There is one person he likes but they're just as young as he and he'd never say he was ready to marry them. What's being insisted is that he's too young for his new position as Sect Leader and at least if he married someone older and more experienced then it would give some semblance security in Lanling. Jin Ling had argued it's hardly necessary. Jiang Cheng hadn't been that much older than he was when he became Sect Leader but there had been mumblings about temperaments and different situations.

All in all, Jin Ling's protests had fallen on deaf ears and he wasn't skilled enough to make the right political moves to get himself out of this -- even Jiang Cheng had agreed it would be best and Jin Ling could scarcely believe it. His uncle had assured him a good match.

Jin Ling had barely had any time once he'd learned the identity of the person chosen for him and not by him to even process it before a lavish wedding is rushed. Now, the ceremony is done and he's in the chamber with his new spouse, trying very hard not to think about the expectations of a wedding night. He ordered the servants to bring more wine, his hands clenched at his sides. He's furious that this had happened but more than anything he's a little scared and even sadder. He knew his parents' marriage had started out as an arranged one but it had been broken off... It'd ended up a partnership they chose and Jin Ling had romanticized that idea for years silently, secretly wanting to find that for himself too.

Now? He turns to look at the spouse.

"Did you want this?" he asks, the first words he's spoken of his own volition to the other since finding out.

It's not been all that long since the first meeting and the new newlyweds were now alone for the first time after the ceremony. Huaisang still knew barely anything about his partner but he also knew what's expected of a wedding night, what has been specified as necessary to make sure the marriage couldn't easily be annulled. Huaisang was no blushing virgin but this situation is... difficult. At least his new spouse is attractive but the almost coerced or really the definite coercion behind this clause in the arrangements is... more than difficult as a hurdle.

"Ahh... I don't know... This is really awkward..." he smiles, his hands waving lightly in front of him one hand clutching his closed fan. But he puts on a lighthearted expression, maybe he can at least set the other at ease. After all, they're on Huaisang's home ground, in his quarters even -- that can be seen as an advantage or comfort for him but he doesn't actually feel that it is.

Honestly, Jingyi hadn't understood all the politics that went into the arrangement between himself and Jiang Cheng. He definitely didn't understand why he was chosen to marry a sect leader in some sort of political agreement. He hadn't complained, though. Jiang Cheng could be abrasive but he knew the other wasn't cruel and he was more or less a good person.

And Jingyi did like Lotus Pier and the Jiang Clan. He'd always envied the freedom they seemed to have in comparison to the strict Lan principles. Now it's been months since their marriage, months sharing space together. Jiang Cheng had been icy at first, always angry it seems but Jingyi had never been really perturbed by it. He was always willing to stand up to Jiang Cheng when he was being unfair and somewhere it had become a mutual sort of respect that had shifted into affection the more time they spent together.

There's still not very much intimacy between them and Jingyi wishes that were different. He cares for Jiang Cheng and he wants to be closer, wants a happy and full marriage. And they're starting to fit together, though not as quickly as Jingyi had fit into the Sect. At least he thinks they are... sometimes Jiang Cheng is hard to read.

But as the other sits and is working on paperwork still, despite the late hour, Jingyi had joined him across the table but then eventually scooting around until he could shift and lay his head on the other's thigh, grabbing part of the stack that still needed to be worked on. He's become good at being quiet when Jiang Cheng needs to work or at least making himself scarce. He still is outspoken when need be but when it's just the two of them and paperwork? There's no need to be loud.

This was... unexpected. One would have thought that in order to secure the Wen's position in his sect, they would have offered Wen Qing, but, no. He wasn't quite certain why they would suggest her brother instead of her. Were they looking for a blood tie or just a show of alliance?

Actually, it was brilliant, in hindsight. Wen Ning was meek and quiet and especially not a threat to Xue Yang. Perhaps Wen Qing had puzzled that out herself, who knew. But currently, he was in his rooms, quietly sizing up Wen Ning and preparing for the difficult discussions that needed to be made.

"What do you expect from this?" He started off, voice calm and mild.

[ The elders and Madam Yu had been behind the arrangement that had brought Jiang Cheng and Wu Xi together -- although, Madam Yu has passed and Jiang Cheng is in charge now. The arrangements hadn't been canceled -- although, Jiang Cheng didn't seem to be very actively approving of his own marriage.

Wu Xi is dangerous on the best of days but having the future shamanic leader of Nan Jiang tied so intimately to Yunmeng is a power move that is hard to pass up -- and Lotus Pier has plenty to offer the Southern clan. It's an alliance that is too good to pass up -- after all, what if Nan Jiang pledged allegiance to Jiang Cheng's enemies after the arrangement had been nullified? It isn't that far-fetched of a possibility.

Still, Wu Xi is quiet and shy. He had been throughout their first meeting, the wedding, the reception that had followed. On their wedding night, nothing had been required of Wu Xi to his surprise. Since settling in Lotus Pier he had found a secret place for his menagerie of deadly creatures and frequently is difficult to be found -- which stirred up more than a few rumors that were troublesome and would have to be dealt with eventually.

In any case, it's hard for him to be so far from them. On this day, around his wrist is a slender green snake beneath his sleeve and his sable is curled around his neck as he returns and moves to the rooms that he and his husband share. Wu Xi has grown rather fond of his chosen husband, although, he is moody and difficult. Wu Xi can be jealous and petulant although those sides of himself haven't quite presented. He is thoughtful, though. It has been so long and they had yet to consummate their marriage. The last time that Wu Xi had brought it up Jiang Cheng had shut him down and so Wu Xi had not mentioned it again.

Tonight, he would question him on it. Did he want a woman instead? If that be so then let them consummate their marriage at least once and then Jiang Cheng should just take a mistress. The conversation is a nervous one and hence why not only his sable accompanied him today. By the time the other enters, dinner will be ready and tea hot, Wu Xi waiting patiently with sable in his lap. ]

OTA

OTA (++ age gap)

OTA ( Wedding Night )