There are any number of reasons that Yuan is nervous about this event - presenting himself as heir, doing his clan and his family proud - but this, this is the chief among them.
He keeps his face carefully forward as it should be, but from the moment Jin Ling enters the room, Yuan's eyes are on him. How could they not be? He looks every inch the perfect, powerful clan leader and twice as beautiful as Yuan remembers. He didn't think that was possible, but even the Jin Ling who visits in his best dreams pales in comparison to the real thing standing in front of him, dark hair shining with red and gold.
There's something, though, something that has changed in the intervening months. Yuan has gone over every inch of him in his mind repeatedly in the months since they saw one another last, and something has definitely changed. There's something older about him, he seems even more wise and regal, yes, but more... there's something... tired, maybe? Bitter? Some edge of youth that has been chipped away by his experiences... something that makes Yuan wonder if he was hurt more than anybody told him.
As Ling exchanges greetings with his fathers and uncle, Yuan finally drags his gaze away to focus on a point ahead of him, knowing that any moment Ling's eyes might stray to the column and truly scared of what he might see there. Hurt? Anger? Indifference? Love? He doesnt know what expression would pain him more to see. He longs to lift a hand to the ring tucked beneath his robes, or to reach out and seek Jingyi's comfort, but instead his grip tightens on his grandfather's sword and he tells himself to maintain serenity. He will not speak or move or act out of turn, he will do his clan proud.
However much he longs to throw himself into Ling's arms.
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chiming
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Date: 2022-06-18 06:19 pm (UTC)From:There are any number of reasons that Yuan is nervous about this event - presenting himself as heir, doing his clan and his family proud - but this, this is the chief among them.
He keeps his face carefully forward as it should be, but from the moment Jin Ling enters the room, Yuan's eyes are on him. How could they not be? He looks every inch the perfect, powerful clan leader and twice as beautiful as Yuan remembers. He didn't think that was possible, but even the Jin Ling who visits in his best dreams pales in comparison to the real thing standing in front of him, dark hair shining with red and gold.
There's something, though, something that has changed in the intervening months. Yuan has gone over every inch of him in his mind repeatedly in the months since they saw one another last, and something has definitely changed. There's something older about him, he seems even more wise and regal, yes, but more... there's something... tired, maybe? Bitter? Some edge of youth that has been chipped away by his experiences... something that makes Yuan wonder if he was hurt more than anybody told him.
As Ling exchanges greetings with his fathers and uncle, Yuan finally drags his gaze away to focus on a point ahead of him, knowing that any moment Ling's eyes might stray to the column and truly scared of what he might see there. Hurt? Anger? Indifference? Love? He doesnt know what expression would pain him more to see. He longs to lift a hand to the ring tucked beneath his robes, or to reach out and seek Jingyi's comfort, but instead his grip tightens on his grandfather's sword and he tells himself to maintain serenity. He will not speak or move or act out of turn, he will do his clan proud.
However much he longs to throw himself into Ling's arms.