[ For Jiang Cheng, several things happen at once. First, his attention perks at the mention of Jin Ling. He's usually in a good mood from having Wen Qing's presence alone, so his eyes simply brighten a little as he narrows in his focus on whatever is coming after the mention of his nephew.
Then he hears 'marry', and immediately takes a gulp of his tea instead of a sip. His burning, scalding hot tea, which causes a truly interesting wheeze-scream to issue from his lips. He only just barely keeps from spraying his mouthful of tea all over the table, eyes watering, and then—
Wen Qing is offering him a cow???
He's having a stroke.
He's about to drop dead, he's definitely having a stroke. ]
I—
[ His eyes are watering. Everything burns. Tea was a mistake. ]
( surprise is to be expected. wen qing puts a fair amount of effort towards not teasing him as her hand falls back to her side, offering jiang cheng a level look and a warm smile as she shakes her head. )
The dowry was a bit of a joke, I admit.
( but — from her sleeve, she pulls out a second cow charm, dangling the two of them on her middle finger. )
But there is some symbolism there, to be sure. Knowing your feelings, I figured that things are so strange here, who's to say there can't be one phoenix for two dragons? ( pointing to each cow separately. ) One for Jiang Cheng, one for Jin Zixuan.
( setting them on the table, wen qing reaches forward and plucks the cup from his hands, setting that back as well so she can replace it with herself, draped across his lap. there's a thin line between traditional and blasphemous, and they've blurred it quite a few times since being here, saving but one advancement for the sanctity of marriage alone. still, there are intimacies besides that wen qing indulges them in, closeness that wouldn't ordinarily be permitted that wen qing sticks up a proverbial middle finger to, in light of the new world they find themselves in.
still, there's power and significance in marriage. she smiles at him, warm. )
I am serious. You can think about it, if you like.
[ She is truly the only woman for him, because her advances are conducted in such a way that there is no mistaking her intentions. It's beyond even Jiang Cheng's infinite capacity for self-doubt and denial, the way she climbs so readily into his lap, immediately sending his heart pounding, mouth dry. She's breathtaking from across the room, and from this close—
It feels fatal, but Jiang Cheng would die in her arms and gladly a thousand times over.
Swallowing hard, he scrapes himself together, reaching up to cup her cheek in one hand. His touch with her is reverent, not because he's afraid she might break but because she's so radiant he wonders if she could be dragged down, be sullied.
That she's given consideration for Jin Zixuan in this as well makes his breath catch further. He half expected to exist in this limbo forever, until one or both of them moved on. And yet— ]
...you know you're better than either of us deserve, right?
[ His smile aches, but that only makes him want to smile brighter. ]
If you would have me, if— If you will have me—
It would be my great honor to vow this life to you. [ A pause. He gives a hard swallow. ] ...both of you.
( her smile is small but genuine, a rarity at home but all the more commonplace here with jiang cheng. maybe it's just the freedom he allows her — that despite who and how she is, there are parts of her untouched by the wen name, still capable of being loved. she presses her cheek to his palm, humming. )
If I believed that, I wouldn't have asked you.
( her free hand raises, knuckle tucked under his chin to prop him up to her gaze. )
You're both better than you give yourselves credit for. ( leaning in, she kisses the corner of his mouth delicately twice, before turning his head and giving him a lingering kiss. ) And together, we're better than the sum of our parts. I love you both.
( she seals it with a longer kiss, tilting his head to deepen it fractionally, piece by piece. the cows jostle together with a small ringing there under his chin, and wen qing's lips turn up sharply, teeth in his lower lip as she pulls back. she slips one of the cows pointedly out of her hand, holding it out of jiang cheng to take. )
Bring this to Jin Zixuan. Ask him.
When he says yes, we can start preparations. What do you think?
[ There is a strength in Wen Qing unlike any other, and bearing the full force of it Jiang Cheng cannot help but tremble. Her confidence shatters him, yet is so steadying and earnest that it builds him back up into something kinder, something truer. Into someone worthy of this gift, of this promised life.
Somewhere, there's a joke about Jin Zixuan's pride, but the reflexive jab dissolves in the memory of the man's nobility, in his clear and genuine love for his son. In the care with which he treats the pair of them, these anomalies in his life neither of whom would be tolerated in the least as a match for him were they back home.
It's strange. It's so strange a thing, that love has come for Jiang Wanyin, not once but twice. ]
'When' he says yes... [ Jiang Cheng repeats, a little breathless, a little incredulous. ] Do you have a plan for if he says no?
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consignation) wrote2019-12-14 12:01 pm
no subject
Then he hears 'marry', and immediately takes a gulp of his tea instead of a sip. His burning, scalding hot tea, which causes a truly interesting wheeze-scream to issue from his lips. He only just barely keeps from spraying his mouthful of tea all over the table, eyes watering, and then—
Wen Qing is offering him a cow???
He's having a stroke.
He's about to drop dead, he's definitely having a stroke. ]
I—
[ His eyes are watering. Everything burns. Tea was a mistake. ]
...is this a joke?
no subject
The dowry was a bit of a joke, I admit.
( but — from her sleeve, she pulls out a second cow charm, dangling the two of them on her middle finger. )
But there is some symbolism there, to be sure. Knowing your feelings, I figured that things are so strange here, who's to say there can't be one phoenix for two dragons? ( pointing to each cow separately. ) One for Jiang Cheng, one for Jin Zixuan.
( setting them on the table, wen qing reaches forward and plucks the cup from his hands, setting that back as well so she can replace it with herself, draped across his lap. there's a thin line between traditional and blasphemous, and they've blurred it quite a few times since being here, saving but one advancement for the sanctity of marriage alone. still, there are intimacies besides that wen qing indulges them in, closeness that wouldn't ordinarily be permitted that wen qing sticks up a proverbial middle finger to, in light of the new world they find themselves in.
still, there's power and significance in marriage. she smiles at him, warm. )
I am serious. You can think about it, if you like.
no subject
It feels fatal, but Jiang Cheng would die in her arms and gladly a thousand times over.
Swallowing hard, he scrapes himself together, reaching up to cup her cheek in one hand. His touch with her is reverent, not because he's afraid she might break but because she's so radiant he wonders if she could be dragged down, be sullied.
That she's given consideration for Jin Zixuan in this as well makes his breath catch further. He half expected to exist in this limbo forever, until one or both of them moved on. And yet— ]
...you know you're better than either of us deserve, right?
[ His smile aches, but that only makes him want to smile brighter. ]
If you would have me, if— If you will have me—
It would be my great honor to vow this life to you. [ A pause. He gives a hard swallow. ] ...both of you.
no subject
If I believed that, I wouldn't have asked you.
( her free hand raises, knuckle tucked under his chin to prop him up to her gaze. )
You're both better than you give yourselves credit for. ( leaning in, she kisses the corner of his mouth delicately twice, before turning his head and giving him a lingering kiss. ) And together, we're better than the sum of our parts. I love you both.
( she seals it with a longer kiss, tilting his head to deepen it fractionally, piece by piece. the cows jostle together with a small ringing there under his chin, and wen qing's lips turn up sharply, teeth in his lower lip as she pulls back. she slips one of the cows pointedly out of her hand, holding it out of jiang cheng to take. )
Bring this to Jin Zixuan. Ask him.
When he says yes, we can start preparations. What do you think?
no subject
Somewhere, there's a joke about Jin Zixuan's pride, but the reflexive jab dissolves in the memory of the man's nobility, in his clear and genuine love for his son. In the care with which he treats the pair of them, these anomalies in his life neither of whom would be tolerated in the least as a match for him were they back home.
It's strange. It's so strange a thing, that love has come for Jiang Wanyin, not once but twice. ]
'When' he says yes... [ Jiang Cheng repeats, a little breathless, a little incredulous. ] Do you have a plan for if he says no?