Zizhen would like to point out Jin Ling's own uncle, who hadn't been letting any of that stuff stop him from going for what he wants, but he also doesn't think Jin Ling would accept the 'just do it in secret until you can do it properly' answer - and, truthfully, he'd probably also agree that Yuan kind of deserves to be courted properly.
Before he can decide exactly how to handle that, though, Ling is making an unfortunately accurate point, and he winces slightly.
"Sort of...." he admits "but it's also just about the attempts in general, he just got super paranoid that's all! And it wasn't your job to keep me safe! I knew somebody was out to get you and we could only be sure something was safe if Liling brought it, that wasn't your fault at all! And! And! You did keep me safe because who had the antidote ready, huh? You saved my life."
It's a semi-familiar argument at this point, though the phrasing of it is slightly different every time, but Zizhen will argue until he's blue in the face that Ling saved him that night, rather than being the one to put him in danger.
His righteous indignation deflates, however, at the question about the story and he suddenly looks even more embarrassed.
"Just..you know... if..." he trails off awkwardly, and then stares down at the table, not quite able to meet Ling's eyes as he continues "if this was a novel that's how it would end..."
Look, fine, he reads too many novels okay? But sometimes real life gets to be like the stories, doesn't it?
~~~
Wuxian nods, accepting the excuse easily - this is Xichen's first big event since coming out of seclusion, after all, and being back here in Lanling is probably not easy. It would be good to check in on him and make sure he isn't just moping by himself.
"Tell him I hope he's alright, too." He says - he does genuinely care about his brother-in-law after all "I promise I won't be too late."
~~~
"Yes, we should change..." he decides. It's appropriate, and proper, and falling into those now-familiar rules is strangely comforting, a way to ground the nervous energy that's threatening to overtake him.
Besides, changing his robes gives him an excuse to not quite look at his sworn brother when he asks if he's excited - he is, he thinks, at least a part of him is, he's been longing for this moment for so long he can hardly believe it's actually here, but he's also terrified.
"I'm..." he trails off, uncertain - not quite gathering his thoughts to give them voice when the follow up question is asked, and his hand automatically strays to where the ring lays against his chest. He thinks about it for a moment, and shakes his head.
"I don't... I don't want to make him uncomfortable, if... if things have changed he may not like that I still wear it..." he might ask for it back.
Yuan knows, of course, that he would hand over in a heartbeat if that's what Jin Ling wanted, but he can't deny it would be the final blow to his already battered heart.
no subject
Zizhen would like to point out Jin Ling's own uncle, who hadn't been letting any of that stuff stop him from going for what he wants, but he also doesn't think Jin Ling would accept the 'just do it in secret until you can do it properly' answer - and, truthfully, he'd probably also agree that Yuan kind of deserves to be courted properly.
Before he can decide exactly how to handle that, though, Ling is making an unfortunately accurate point, and he winces slightly.
"Sort of...." he admits "but it's also just about the attempts in general, he just got super paranoid that's all! And it wasn't your job to keep me safe! I knew somebody was out to get you and we could only be sure something was safe if Liling brought it, that wasn't your fault at all! And! And! You did keep me safe because who had the antidote ready, huh? You saved my life."
It's a semi-familiar argument at this point, though the phrasing of it is slightly different every time, but Zizhen will argue until he's blue in the face that Ling saved him that night, rather than being the one to put him in danger.
His righteous indignation deflates, however, at the question about the story and he suddenly looks even more embarrassed.
"Just..you know... if..." he trails off awkwardly, and then stares down at the table, not quite able to meet Ling's eyes as he continues "if this was a novel that's how it would end..."
Look, fine, he reads too many novels okay? But sometimes real life gets to be like the stories, doesn't it?
~~~
Wuxian nods, accepting the excuse easily - this is Xichen's first big event since coming out of seclusion, after all, and being back here in Lanling is probably not easy. It would be good to check in on him and make sure he isn't just moping by himself.
"Tell him I hope he's alright, too." He says - he does genuinely care about his brother-in-law after all "I promise I won't be too late."
~~~
"Yes, we should change..." he decides. It's appropriate, and proper, and falling into those now-familiar rules is strangely comforting, a way to ground the nervous energy that's threatening to overtake him.
Besides, changing his robes gives him an excuse to not quite look at his sworn brother when he asks if he's excited - he is, he thinks, at least a part of him is, he's been longing for this moment for so long he can hardly believe it's actually here, but he's also terrified.
"I'm..." he trails off, uncertain - not quite gathering his thoughts to give them voice when the follow up question is asked, and his hand automatically strays to where the ring lays against his chest. He thinks about it for a moment, and shakes his head.
"I don't... I don't want to make him uncomfortable, if... if things have changed he may not like that I still wear it..." he might ask for it back.
Yuan knows, of course, that he would hand over in a heartbeat if that's what Jin Ling wanted, but he can't deny it would be the final blow to his already battered heart.