Shen Yuan would have liked to assure Lan Xichen that on the contrary, he thought he might like nothing more than to live somewhere quiet and peaceful, where he could focus on his studies with minimal interruption...but that conversation will have to wait for another time, as apparently they've arrived at their destination...
Oh, and what a destination it is! Shen Yuan has to bite his tongue not to squeal out loud and risk scaring the bunnies, because they are so cute he can hardly stand it. Even the dour look on Hanguang-jun's face can't curb his enthusiasm, although he remembers himself well enough to bow his head respectfully and say, "It's an honor to meet Hanguang-jun at last. My second brother speaks highly of you." And then his gaze immediately drops back down to the bunnies; he bites his lower lip for a moment, wrestling with it, before asking nervously, "Are your rabbits friendly?"
Can he pet one?? Please, please let him pet one ;.;
Whatever trepidation Wangji seems to have from his perfunctory curt bow to his older brother's fiance fades when he sees Shen Yuan's pure delight at the sight of the rabbits.
He gives a quiet "Mn" and hands one over for Shen Yuan to hold.
Xichen gives into the urge to poke the little critter in it's wiggling nose, beaming impishly between his brother and fiance, delighted to see the two getting along.
(Well, for any given measure that Wangji gets along with anyone).
"It's a secret from shufu," Wangji warns. "So long as you remember that, you can come visit."
Xichen nods solemnly.
"Indeed, it's forbidden to keep pets in the Cloud Recesses," he explains as Wangji, seemingly having exhausted his capacity for conversation, turns on his heel and heads off. So much for having a proper chaperone. (Chaperone yourself! says the look Wangji casts back at his brother.
"But I know some of the junior disciples come up this way to relax after difficult lessons."
"Hm, pets? I haven't seen any pets in the Cloud Recesses," Shen Yuan said placidly (but with a hint of an impish smile curling his lips and twinkling in his eyes). "Just some perfectly normal wild rabbits, doing perfectly normal wild rabbit things. Hardly worth mentioning to anyone, isn't that right little one?" He cooed at the rabbit, stroking its back and gently petting it between the ears.
"They're so cute, Lan-zongzhu," he sighed, so happy he nearly sounds distressed about it. "Just. So very cute."
Oh - his heart skips a beat - Shen Yuan is really quite adorable, isn't he...?
Xichen sends a silent 'thank you' to his uncle for arranging this meeting; he'd probably implode if he had to deal with Wen Xu or Wen Chao for longer than an hour outside social functions. But even when he's not comparing Shen Yuan to what may have been, he finds that he is enjoying his company, and that he feels at ease by his side.
It is easy to picture their marriage further down the line: both are inclined to scholarly pursuits, and he can easily see Shen Yuan being good with the disciples and the other responsibilities marrying into the Lan Sect would demand.
His smile is effused with warmth as they walk the narrow paths of the meadow where the very wild rabbits frolic and play, and occasionally hop up to them expectantly, waiting for pets or treats.
Xichen, of course, indulges them.
"It is a good place to go when the Cloud Recesses can feel overly stringent," he explains. "I do not doubt you will thrive here - shufu told me you are of a scholarly disposition, and much of the lifestyle here caters to that - but I think it only fair to warn you that living here takes some adjustments."
His smile fades a little.
"You seem a kind and compassionate man. I would not want you to ever feel trapped here."
Shen Yuan cocks his head slightly, his arms occupied by yet another rabbit -- he can see how Lan Wangji wound up carrying several of them at once, they're adorable and all of them want to be cuddled but alas, there is only one of him and he only has two arms -- but he can sense an odd weight behind Lan Xichen's words, something that leaves him inclined toward melancholy.
It won't do at all. Let this be the beginning of his spousely duties, then: trying to reassure his husband, and cheer him up.
"I have no such concern," he says gently, and carefully sets the rabbit on the ground so he can (shyly, but with more confidence than before) set his hand on top of his husband's. "Lan-zongzhu is also a kind and compassionate man," he says softly. "I have every confidence that he will be a wonderful husband."
He jolts at the touch, surprised by the warmth of his betrothed's hand, and how it makes the fine hairs on the back of his neck prickle pleasantly.
(Xichen had expected that, if he ever found love, it would likely be quite chaste. Even in the throes of puberty, he never had much in ways of urges that a quick trip to the cold springs couldn't manage. Today, he is about to get in touch with his long dormant libido).
He smiles, sheepish, his jade-white cheeks flushed a pleasant shade of rose.
"Then, if you are sure that this is something you also want, we should head back and speak to your brothers and shufu."
And to ensure they aren't too worried that Xichen might have whisked the other young man away to have his wicked way with him before their wedding.
For a moment Shen Yuan hesitates, worried he overstepped -- but then Lan Xichen smiles at him, and he relaxes, certain he did the right thing after all. He gently squeezes his husband fingers, a fond goodbye until the wedding is done and they've gained leave to touch as much as they like behind closed doors, before nodding and taking a decorous step back.
"It is," he says simply. "I can think of no greater joy or duty than being wed to Zewu-jun."
Now it is his turn to turn slightly pink, as he ducks his head in recognition of the boldness of his words. But he means them, though. And he won't be taking them back.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2023-05-21 07:35 am (UTC)Oh, and what a destination it is! Shen Yuan has to bite his tongue not to squeal out loud and risk scaring the bunnies, because they are so cute he can hardly stand it. Even the dour look on Hanguang-jun's face can't curb his enthusiasm, although he remembers himself well enough to bow his head respectfully and say, "It's an honor to meet Hanguang-jun at last. My second brother speaks highly of you." And then his gaze immediately drops back down to the bunnies; he bites his lower lip for a moment, wrestling with it, before asking nervously, "Are your rabbits friendly?"
Can he pet one?? Please, please let him pet one ;.;
no subject
Date: 2023-05-21 08:47 am (UTC)He gives a quiet "Mn" and hands one over for Shen Yuan to hold.
Xichen gives into the urge to poke the little critter in it's wiggling nose, beaming impishly between his brother and fiance, delighted to see the two getting along.
(Well, for any given measure that Wangji gets along with anyone).
"It's a secret from shufu," Wangji warns. "So long as you remember that, you can come visit."
Xichen nods solemnly.
"Indeed, it's forbidden to keep pets in the Cloud Recesses," he explains as Wangji, seemingly having exhausted his capacity for conversation, turns on his heel and heads off. So much for having a proper chaperone. (Chaperone yourself! says the look Wangji casts back at his brother.
"But I know some of the junior disciples come up this way to relax after difficult lessons."
Bunny therapy is extremely effective, it seems.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-21 09:30 am (UTC)"They're so cute, Lan-zongzhu," he sighed, so happy he nearly sounds distressed about it. "Just. So very cute."
no subject
Date: 2023-05-21 09:55 am (UTC)Xichen sends a silent 'thank you' to his uncle for arranging this meeting; he'd probably implode if he had to deal with Wen Xu or Wen Chao for longer than an hour outside social functions. But even when he's not comparing Shen Yuan to what may have been, he finds that he is enjoying his company, and that he feels at ease by his side.
It is easy to picture their marriage further down the line: both are inclined to scholarly pursuits, and he can easily see Shen Yuan being good with the disciples and the other responsibilities marrying into the Lan Sect would demand.
His smile is effused with warmth as they walk the narrow paths of the meadow where the very wild rabbits frolic and play, and occasionally hop up to them expectantly, waiting for pets or treats.
Xichen, of course, indulges them.
"It is a good place to go when the Cloud Recesses can feel overly stringent," he explains. "I do not doubt you will thrive here - shufu told me you are of a scholarly disposition, and much of the lifestyle here caters to that - but I think it only fair to warn you that living here takes some adjustments."
His smile fades a little.
"You seem a kind and compassionate man. I would not want you to ever feel trapped here."
no subject
Date: 2023-05-21 10:44 am (UTC)It won't do at all. Let this be the beginning of his spousely duties, then: trying to reassure his husband, and cheer him up.
"I have no such concern," he says gently, and carefully sets the rabbit on the ground so he can (shyly, but with more confidence than before) set his hand on top of his husband's. "Lan-zongzhu is also a kind and compassionate man," he says softly. "I have every confidence that he will be a wonderful husband."
no subject
Date: 2023-05-21 11:45 am (UTC)(Xichen had expected that, if he ever found love, it would likely be quite chaste. Even in the throes of puberty, he never had much in ways of urges that a quick trip to the cold springs couldn't manage. Today, he is about to get in touch with his long dormant libido).
He smiles, sheepish, his jade-white cheeks flushed a pleasant shade of rose.
"Then, if you are sure that this is something you also want, we should head back and speak to your brothers and shufu."
And to ensure they aren't too worried that Xichen might have whisked the other young man away to have his wicked way with him before their wedding.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-21 11:53 am (UTC)"It is," he says simply. "I can think of no greater joy or duty than being wed to Zewu-jun."
Now it is his turn to turn slightly pink, as he ducks his head in recognition of the boldness of his words. But he means them, though. And he won't be taking them back.