Xichen's flushed cheeks and sweet smile cannot hide how much he would like to simply pick Shen Yuan up and, well, break in the new furniture, so to speak. So it is a good thing they have the self-control to, well, not do that.
He very nearly jumps out of his skin when his uncle interrupts.
Quickly stepping between Shen Yuan and his uncle's line of sight to save his fiance some face that they were both openly crying tears of joy, he surreptitiously slides his beloved a handkerchief while drying his own eyes on the hem of his sleeve.
"We, ah, found ourselves lost in conversation, shufu. My apologies."
He rounds his arms and bows apologetically to a rather skeptical 'hmm' from Lan Qiren. He saw that little kiss, nephew, he knows what young men - especially young men madly in love - are like.
"Well then, bid your goodbyes for the evening. You have duties to attend to," the older Lan scolds, but there's not much force to it, and he turns to head down the path to wait for Xichen at the gate. It's good to see his nephews happy, even if the younger one's happiness is going to cost him a lot of sleep.
Xichen turns to Shen Yuan, beaming with warmth.
"Good night, A-Yuan. Tomorrow, if you like, would you care to accompany on a walk around the peak...?"
"Take your brother with you!" his uncle calls over his shoulder. Just because he's happy about this arrangement doesn't mean he's letting Xichen and Shen Yuan scurry about unsupervised.
Oh thank heavens, Lan Xichen doesn't seem to be in trouble! Still, that was much, much too close, and the last thing Shen Yuan wants is to get on the bad side of his in-laws. So while he says, "A walk with Zewu-jun and Hanguang-jun would be lovely," and smiles sweetly, what he means is, 'I solemly swear I will stay on my best behavior for the rest of this visit.'
Which lasts all the way through meeting up with Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji, and all the way through a polite but enthusiastic conversation about how much he liked the little house Lan Xichen built for him, and which pieces of furniture he'd like to bring with him from Shen Manor and which could bought new, and which species of bird are native to the Gusu mountains and how they might be induced to sing outside his window without breaking the strictures against keeping pets. (That last one is perhaps less polite than it could be, but it's not like Lan Wangji is in any place to judge.)
But when Shen Yuan looks up to check that Lan Wangji really doesn't mind, he's surprised to find him -- gone! And when he looks over at Lan Xichen, well! He's met with a twinkling smile that's altogether too mischievous and knowing.
"Lan Lang!" he admonishes him, this time remembering to hide his blushing face behind an unfolded fan. "Where did your brother go? We're not supposed to be alone, you know."
Lan Wangji is a man who loves his older brother very dearly. He would also rather be literally anywhere else in the world at the moment than playing third wheel to an impromptu date between said besotted older brother and said besotted older brother's equally besotted betrothed!
So he gives Lan Xichen a pained look that, clear as day (or at least clear as day to Xichen who is fluent in Wangji's microexpressions), reads just promise me you won't go fucking him in a field somewhere, to which Xichen smiled ambiguously, which was good enough for Wangji to turn on his heel to take off to Caiyi Town. That the Jiang siblings are there probably has absolutely nothing to do with his need to get out of the Cloud Recesses.
"My brother is a young man now," Xichen says sagely, giving Shen Yuan's arm a light squeeze. "He has exciting pursuits of his own and has little time to be trailing after this dull old gege like he did when he was a boy."
He is a little sad for his brother's absence. He does enjoy Wangji's company, and his quiet, straightforward words are refreshing after spending hours upon hours dealing with sect politics and all the honeyed doublespeak that comes with it.
"I am sure we can behave ourselves, yes?" His eyes sparkle with a most wicked intent to wine (well, tea), dine, and woo his betrothed. "There's a lovely meadow just down the path. We can picnic there, if it pleases?"
"Tsk," is all Shen Yuan says for a moment, torn between the two equal yet opposing urges to protest that there is nothing dull about Lan Xichen, and to keep in mind that indeed, they are supposed to be just a little dull, right now. At least until the wedding, which has never seemed so far away.
Still...Shen Yuan is a little hungry...and his husband is so lovely when he smiles...surely a simple picnic wouldn't hurt. They just need to be sure not to touch each other too much, ahem.
"...A picnic would be acceptable," he finally says, still not coming out from behind his fan. He offers Lan Xichen his arm instead, and tries not to shiver at his fiance's warm, yet gentle grip.
He takes his betrothed's arm, beaming at him. Autumn is in full swing, the air crisp and clear and the leaves an explosion of colour. The meadow is small, surrounded by a thick copse of bamboo, with a babbling stream cutting through it. There is a singular tree in its midst; an ancient gnarled willow under which Xichen procures a qiankun bag full of this afternoon's picnic supplies.
He had anticipated Wangji staying on a little longer, so there is quite a bit more than for just two, but it is a lovely spread, laid out on little trays with a blanket and cushions so they can enjoy the weather under the shade of the willow tree.
The food itself is, as expected, vegetarian fare. There is no meat served inside the bounds of the Cloud Recesses. Luckily, none of it is the bitter or bland medicinal dishes for which his sect is known for. Plump bao stuffed with mixed vegetables and rich sauces steam in their basket, fresh pulled noodles and sliced bamboo shoots simmer in savory broth, and there are even sweets shaped into little bunnies are on display.
"Alas," he says, offering one of the rabbit sweets to Shen Yuan, "didi will have to have his later."
A proper young master would never allow himself to engage in behaviors that might give him a reputation for gluttony, but Shen Yuan still can't quite hide his delight on the spread Lan Xichen lays out for him both, even lowering his fan and putting it away so he can better appreciate the gastronomical gifts on offer. Everything looked and smelled so delicious, he didn't even notice the lack of meat!
Still, he can't let his betrothed think he's gotten off the hook that easily (he totally has, but that doesn't mean he needs to know it). "What a shame," he says blandly, accepting the adorable sweet from Lan Xichen's hand. "Perhaps next time he won't be so quick to forget his duties." He arches his eyebrow knowingly before taking a nibble off the rabbit.
Immediately all pretense of annoyance melts away as the sugary flavor spreads across his tongue. "Lan Lang," he says, covering his mouth with his other hand. "This is delightful! Wherever did you get it?" Could there really be a shop in Gusu that makes such delicacies? If so Shen Yuan is going to become their number one customer!
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2023-06-04 12:57 am (UTC)He very nearly jumps out of his skin when his uncle interrupts.
Quickly stepping between Shen Yuan and his uncle's line of sight to save his fiance some face that they were both openly crying tears of joy, he surreptitiously slides his beloved a handkerchief while drying his own eyes on the hem of his sleeve.
"We, ah, found ourselves lost in conversation, shufu. My apologies."
He rounds his arms and bows apologetically to a rather skeptical 'hmm' from Lan Qiren. He saw that little kiss, nephew, he knows what young men - especially young men madly in love - are like.
"Well then, bid your goodbyes for the evening. You have duties to attend to," the older Lan scolds, but there's not much force to it, and he turns to head down the path to wait for Xichen at the gate. It's good to see his nephews happy, even if the younger one's happiness is going to cost him a lot of sleep.
Xichen turns to Shen Yuan, beaming with warmth.
"Good night, A-Yuan. Tomorrow, if you like, would you care to accompany on a walk around the peak...?"
"Take your brother with you!" his uncle calls over his shoulder. Just because he's happy about this arrangement doesn't mean he's letting Xichen and Shen Yuan scurry about unsupervised.
"...Er... accompany Wangji and me, I mean."
no subject
Date: 2023-06-04 05:48 am (UTC)Which lasts all the way through meeting up with Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji, and all the way through a polite but enthusiastic conversation about how much he liked the little house Lan Xichen built for him, and which pieces of furniture he'd like to bring with him from Shen Manor and which could bought new, and which species of bird are native to the Gusu mountains and how they might be induced to sing outside his window without breaking the strictures against keeping pets. (That last one is perhaps less polite than it could be, but it's not like Lan Wangji is in any place to judge.)
But when Shen Yuan looks up to check that Lan Wangji really doesn't mind, he's surprised to find him -- gone! And when he looks over at Lan Xichen, well! He's met with a twinkling smile that's altogether too mischievous and knowing.
"Lan Lang!" he admonishes him, this time remembering to hide his blushing face behind an unfolded fan. "Where did your brother go? We're not supposed to be alone, you know."
no subject
Date: 2023-06-04 06:13 am (UTC)So he gives Lan Xichen a pained look that, clear as day (or at least clear as day to Xichen who is fluent in Wangji's microexpressions), reads just promise me you won't go fucking him in a field somewhere, to which Xichen smiled ambiguously, which was good enough for Wangji to turn on his heel to take off to Caiyi Town. That the Jiang siblings are there probably has absolutely nothing to do with his need to get out of the Cloud Recesses.
"My brother is a young man now," Xichen says sagely, giving Shen Yuan's arm a light squeeze. "He has exciting pursuits of his own and has little time to be trailing after this dull old gege like he did when he was a boy."
He is a little sad for his brother's absence. He does enjoy Wangji's company, and his quiet, straightforward words are refreshing after spending hours upon hours dealing with sect politics and all the honeyed doublespeak that comes with it.
"I am sure we can behave ourselves, yes?" His eyes sparkle with a most wicked intent to wine (well, tea), dine, and woo his betrothed. "There's a lovely meadow just down the path. We can picnic there, if it pleases?"
no subject
Date: 2023-06-04 07:51 am (UTC)Still...Shen Yuan is a little hungry...and his husband is so lovely when he smiles...surely a simple picnic wouldn't hurt. They just need to be sure not to touch each other too much, ahem.
"...A picnic would be acceptable," he finally says, still not coming out from behind his fan. He offers Lan Xichen his arm instead, and tries not to shiver at his fiance's warm, yet gentle grip.
no subject
Date: 2023-06-04 09:57 pm (UTC)He had anticipated Wangji staying on a little longer, so there is quite a bit more than for just two, but it is a lovely spread, laid out on little trays with a blanket and cushions so they can enjoy the weather under the shade of the willow tree.
The food itself is, as expected, vegetarian fare. There is no meat served inside the bounds of the Cloud Recesses. Luckily, none of it is the bitter or bland medicinal dishes for which his sect is known for. Plump bao stuffed with mixed vegetables and rich sauces steam in their basket, fresh pulled noodles and sliced bamboo shoots simmer in savory broth, and there are even sweets shaped into little bunnies are on display.
"Alas," he says, offering one of the rabbit sweets to Shen Yuan, "didi will have to have his later."
no subject
Date: 2023-06-06 05:57 am (UTC)Still, he can't let his betrothed think he's gotten off the hook that easily (he totally has, but that doesn't mean he needs to know it). "What a shame," he says blandly, accepting the adorable sweet from Lan Xichen's hand. "Perhaps next time he won't be so quick to forget his duties." He arches his eyebrow knowingly before taking a nibble off the rabbit.
Immediately all pretense of annoyance melts away as the sugary flavor spreads across his tongue. "Lan Lang," he says, covering his mouth with his other hand. "This is delightful! Wherever did you get it?" Could there really be a shop in Gusu that makes such delicacies? If so Shen Yuan is going to become their number one customer!