Brothel meme continued

[lastjinstanding]

Continued from here

Jin Ling had really hoped he'd have A-Yuan at his side for this, but he didn't blame the sweet man for being ill one bit. In fact, he really enjoyed holding him as they finished traveling up to Lotus Pier. He sends servants off the boat to arrange a discreet delivery of his ill and subdued guest to private chambers following Ling's disembark. He instructed only Fu Geming to carry A-Yuan with Liling.

Sadly, after that, he had to leave his pets in his servants care. Squaring his shoulders, he stepped onto the pier. He bowed humbly to all of his relatives and gave them each a proper greeting- or in Wei Wuxian's case, a cheeky one.

He was brought into the main hall and given the seat next to Jiang Cheng's throne. Wei Wuxian was seated beside him with Lan Wangji at the next seat. And yes, Wangji had been offered the throne but had chosen to stay at Wuxian's side. It was Jiang Cheng's wedding, after all.

Jin Ling is happy sitting to a nice cup of tea and some wine after a long day of travel with promise of dinner coming.

~~~

"Jin-Guniang, is the young master Zheng in this room?" A young, unfamiliar male voice asks. "I have some medicine I wish to offer if you'd announce me."

"Of course. Let me ask for you," Liling says in a warm tone. She knocks on Yuan's door and peeks in. She smiles when she sees him awake. She comes in and shuts the door behind her. "Zheng-gongzi? How are you feeling? A friend of Jin-zongzhu from the Lan Clan is here to offer you some medicine. Would you feel up to seeing him?"

Comments

[notaturnip]

Zizhen's head jerks up from the book at the news of his punishment, frowning deeply.

"You shouldn't have been punished for that," he says stubbornly "that was the right thing to do."

Jingyi might not be very upset about it, but Zizhen clearly is.

Yuan looks concerned - not just about the punishment, but also the casual way Jingyi brushes it off.

"We never got beatings from Madame if we misbehaved... she wouldn't want to punish us any way that left marks," he admits "I do have a scar from- never mind."

He probably shouldn't talk about any of that, even with these two, he shouldn't remind them of where he came from, he thinks.

And then immediately glances at the oil and says, without thinking, "It's for lubrication."

Zizhen, who has read a few books of his own, immediately gets what he means and blushes - he might not be a Lan disciple, but he's still a well behaved young master.

[unlanylikebehavior]

"I know. It's okay." It was the right thing to do and Jingyi had accepted the punishment like a Lan! It was one of the only times he'd acted like one too. He'd followed Wen Ning and fought bravely with the other juniors! If it meant he lost some of Lan Qiren's approval and had to earn a few scars well.. that's what what he had to do. It would've been really nice to have another Lan disciple there to help him though. It was once everything was over, he discovered how much approval he'd gained from Hanguang Jun for the act. He'd practically been adopted for it.

"From what?" He asks Yuan concerned.

The explanation of the oil almost goes over Jingyi's head but a glance in Zizhen's direction fills in the blanks for him. He turns a dark shade of red and glances toward the couple's bed. "Oh!" He puts it back quickly. That apparently was too much for him as Jingyi starts putting everything back to hide it again.

[notaturnip]

Zizhen doesn't voice it, but he thinks that some Lans (Lan Qiren) focus too much on all their stupid rules and forget that the Lan words call for righteousness, and he personally thinks that Jingyi has that in spades - especially when he's willing to break the rules to stand up for what he believes in.

He might be a little bit biased, though, he does have nothing but admiration for Jingyi.

"I..." Yuan shrugs, looking down as he helps pack the things back into the little hiding place. He clears his throat awkwardly "I had a client who got a little over-zealous with a whip."

Only one of the marks on his back had scarred, but he hadn't been able to see another client for nearly two weeks after that.

[unlanylikebehavior]

Jingyi, who was normally so cavalier about things, was having trouble meeting Zizhen's gaze. He said it was fine, but at the time it had hurt his spirit more than anyone had a right to know. Fortunately, between Jingyi's experience and Hanguang Jun's, Lan Zhan now mostly gave punishments involving copying books, the precepts, chores, kneeling, and endurance discipline (like holding up planks while kneeling). Those were the more extreme cases though.

"Aww, Yuan!" Jingyi laments, putting a hand lightly on his shoulder. He wonders if Yuan remembers who it is. If so, he bets if he even implies the man did something bad to Yuan, Jin Ling would have the guy run through with a sword. However, they weren't going to mention that name for a while. "I'm sorry. I hate that you've had to live like that. You're such a sweet person and you didn't deserve to be treated like that."

[notaturnip]

"I had a roof over my head and food in my stomach. There are worse things." Yuan says pragmatically - he didn't always believe that. Sometimes when he had his worse clients (like Xiaowen), he wondered if maybe it would be better to still be on the streets, but there was something to be said for knowing when his next meal was coming from.

"There are better things, too, and you deserve them all," Zizhen says firmly "Jingyi's right. You didn't deserve that. I'm glad your fathers have found you and you get to stay here now, you're going to love it."

Yuan smiles gratefully at both of them.

"Thank you. I couldn't have asked for better friends to help me with this."

[unlanylikebehavior]

Jingyi glances down at Yuan's reasoning. It is so simple but it slays him. He's the second son of one of the wealthiest family in Gusu and part of a very powerful clan. Things like a roof over his head and food in his belly have never been concerns for more than a couple hours on the rarest and most temporary of occasions. He wonders what it would be like to live in a world where he be at the mercy of a whip and angry, disgusting men to survive?

He fortunately starts paying attention again right when he hears he was right about something and then Yuan being sweet. He smiles at Yuan, heartfelt, but as he does, he suddenly recalls how Jin Ling had been hiding so much behind a smile too. Well, okay, maybe not a smile in Lingy-Boy's case, but he'd convinced Zizhen and Jingyi everything was normal for so long! In a way, hadn't he been at the mercy of some angry, disgusting man as well?

he feels his heart clench painfully in his chest. Before he knows it he's telling his friends he needs some air and dashes outside.

He nearly collides with the wooden archway that leads to the Jingshi from the other buildings as he grabs it for balance. He hugs it and cries! It was like A-Qing all over again!

[notaturnip]

Both boys startle when Jingyi suddenly rushes outside and Zizhen looks after him, stuck with indecision.

"Go after him." Yuan says softly, giving him a gentle, encouraging nudge and moving to finish putting away everything they'd found and cover up that they'd looked at all.

"Are you-" Zizhen starts, but Yuan interrupts him, a little firmer but still kind.

"Go."

Zizhen nods and rushes out, coming to an abrupt stop when he finds Jingyi sobbing just outside.

"A-Yi," he says gently, the name slipping out before he can stop it "it's okay, I'm here."

[unlanylikebehavior]

"It's not fair!" He whimpers, letting go of the wood when Zizhen gets close only to switch to wrapping his arm around his friend's abdomen instead. He buries his face in his chest. "H- he's so sweet! If Ling ha-hadn't done something so utterly stupid.." He dissolves into too many tears to talk for a couple minutes.

"We always think he's so strong.. but do you realize that Yuan.. Yuan's probably the first person to ever be like that with him? To be soft with him?" He looks up, face red and swollen with tears. "We almost lost him and it's because I'm always such a dick to him! He didn't feel like he could tell us! And now we're both here with Yuan and who's with Ling?! Again?!"

[notaturnip]

Zizhen lets Jingyi cling to him, wrapping his arms around his friend and just holding him, waiting for the words to come. It takes him a little bit of time for understanding to dawn.

"It's not your fault, A-yi," he says, and he means it, but he can't help but wonder if they could have done more, if they could have found more ways to show Jin Ling he could trust them both. They were almost there, he thinks, at the wedding, but then they lost it, and it was too late anyway, and Jingyi and Yuan both got hurt.

"His uncle is with him, right? Wei-qianbei left to go after him, so he isn't alone. And- and when we've got Yuan settled in, I'll go visit him too, just to check up. We won't let anything like this happen again, I promise."

[unlanylikebehavior]

It is Zizhen's fault it's hard to understand Jingyi. There's about ten points he's making at once. Only about two manage to get fully voiced enough to make sense, but it's everything. He's devastated by Yuan's abuse and how close he came to never getting out of that horrible life. He's distraught with this new knowledge Hanguang Jun and Wei Wuxian even had a son that they were mourning and never spoke of. It would've been so easy for them never to have found each other. How had fate worked it out that Jin Ling would come up with such a bizarre plan and feel so utterly alone to try it?

He runs his sleeves over his face wiping away tears. "R-really? You'd do that? You'd go check on him? I know it's silly with his uncles there and I know they're going to take care of him but.. Zizhen, please? Would you tell him how sorry I am? You know, if.. he doesn't know.." He drops his head against green robes and starts sobbing again. He loves his friends! Both of them! He already loves Yuan as well and he just met him.

He doesn't mean to be such a chore. He closes his eyes and a rush of criticism from his father and Lan Qiren flow back through his mind reminding him how 'un-Lan-like' he was. Even crying like this was against who they were. Never mind that emotions can get unbalanced with a concussion. Instead, he just holds his best friend tighter.

[notaturnip]

"Of course," Zizhen reassures softly "I'm worried about him too, and I want him to know we both care about him. I'll let you know as soon as I've seen him, okay? I'll write you a letter and send it with his fastest courier."

There's no judgement or criticism from him, just a comforting arms wrapped around Jingyi and a soothing hand running up and down his back. He'll stand here forever if be needs to.

"It's okay," he murmurs "I'm here. I'll always be here. I mean.. except when I'm not. But. You know what I mean, right?" He laughs awkwardly.

[unlanylikebehavior]

It isn't fair! He's busy crying here and Zizhen somehow pulls a watery giggle from him. He tries to maintain his pout, but a smile is threatening to appear. He playfully swats the Ouyang sect heir in the arm lightly. "You're such a dork!"

He draws back in for a hug and to lay his head on Zizhen's shoulder as a few remaining tremors go through him. Eventually he's just basking in his friend's embrace, something he's never done and the very brief times they've maybe done this he's taken for granted and ended far too quickly. What if something happens to Zizhen? What if when he leaves Cloud Recesses..

He has to quickly push that thought away before he drowns in it. However, it gives him a few ideas and maybe something Yuan might be able to help him with (involving a proper education on a few things).

There is one thing he can do now. He looks up and studies Zizhen's face for a minute, trying to find some courage.

[notaturnip]

Zizhen is more than happy to get the chance to hold him, and he's smiling smugly at making him laugh, even if he is being called a dork for it. When Jingyi draws away and looks at him, his breath catches and he isn't sure why.

"Feeling better?" He asks in hushed tones, watching his friend's face carefully. There's something there, something he doesn't think he's seen before, but he can't quote figure out what it is.

He knows what he hopes it is, but he doesn't want to let himself get carried away.

[unlanylikebehavior]

"Yeah, thanks.." he answers in that same quiet tone. His eyes drop to Zizhen's lips and then back up to meet his gaze. He's so torn on how to do this. Is he supposed to ask first or is there an etiquette he doesn't know? If he does this and Zizhen doesn't feel the same way is he going to hate him for it or be furious at him?

He starts to lose his nerve when he mutters 'hell with it' and leans in to press his lips against Zizhen's. Only it's a little too hard and awkward to be a 'good' kiss.

[notaturnip]

It is hard, and awkward, but it's what Zizhen's been wanting for a while now so he can't bring himself to care, and after he gets over his immediate shock he tilts his head to fit their mouths together better, trying to show Jingyi by example how it ought to be.

One of the hands wrapped around him comes up to cup his cheek, brushing his thumb across it gently.

This is actually happening, he is kissing Jingyi!

[unlanylikebehavior]

Oh. Oh!

The kiss had started off strange but when Zizhen adjusts it, suddenly the Lan junior is seeing hearts in his eyes! The world disappears around them and there is only Zizhen and his amazingly soft, plush lips. Jingyi swears he's never felt anything so luscious and tender in all his life. Zizhen's mouth tastes sweet and there's a scent to him that the Lan disciple has always liked about him, but he didn't realize just how much until now.

Tilting his head into the caress, he sighs happily, not wanting the kiss to ever end. He is so breathless though. Where did his air go? How can he be breathing so heavily and he feels lightheaded. As he draws back from the kind, romantic man who has been so supportive in everything they've gone through in the last few years. His heart swells with joy from the kiss and the love and the..

Jingyi swoons. Literally. On the ground. Zizhen, your kiss made your crush faint. Congratulations.

[notaturnip]

Zizhen smiles softly at the joy on Jingyi's face, feeling it reflected back in his own eyes.

He opens his mouth to say something and then suddenly Jingyi is... fainting. He's fainting. Oh god he has a concussion and he's been crying and then kissing him and he's probably done something wrong because now Jingyi is on the floor (and at least Zizhen managed to half catch him to lower him a bit more gently) and he's panicking.

He picks him up as best he can manage so he can try and get him back inside at least, calling for Yuan to help. The other boy comes rushing to open the door, staring in shock at the unconscious Jingyi before helping Zizhen get him inside. They put him on the bed, because that seems the most obvious place.

"You stay with him?" Yuan suggests, seeing how stricken Zizhen looks, how he can't even manage to explain what happened, "I'll go get help."

He doesn't know where he's going to go, exactly, but he'll find someone sooner or later, right?

[unlanylikebehavior]

It wasn't nine yet, but the evening was drawing near. When Yuan leaves the small hut, there's a confusing number of paths and directions he can go to either go further up the mountain or down. Disciples are more scarce this time of day, preferring to be either in the common room at the dormitory, helping in the kitchens, or cleaning up in either the libraries or classrooms (as if those really needed it).

Unfortunately, it's just as easy to get turned around and end up in the cold springs only to discover a very wrinkly butt attached to a very unhappy old man.

Not five minutes after Yuan left, Jingyi groans and opens his eyes. Dazed, he looks around unsure where he was and if what he thinks just happened did or if he dreamed it.

[notaturnip]

Yuan is running (in his defense, he doesn't actually know this is against the rules) but he's having trouble keeping track of where they even came when they arrived and he just can't seem to find anybody. He rushes down some steps in the side of a hill and skids to a halt when he realises he's reached some kind of spring or bath - and it's occupied.

"I'm so sorry!" he apologised with a rushed bow "I needed to find someone and I got so turned around..."

"A-Yi?" Zizhen gasps, grasping his friend's hand "How are you feeling? Are you okay? I'm so sorry! Just lie here, Yuan's gone to look for somebody!"

[unlanylikebehavior]

"You!" Lan Qiren cried, turning around and flushing with rage. "How dare you come spy on me! You're just like that no good father of yours who's ruined my nephew! Disgusting! Get out! Get out! Help! Somebody!"

He hurries toward his clothes, but he doesn't dare actually move that quickly for fear of falling. "I'll have you forbidden from coming down here again!"

Jingyi blinks at him confused. He snorts a laugh and puts a hand quickly to cover his face. "I'm fine! Really, I'm just.. I'm a little lightheaded. It's okay. What happened? I remember.. Oh no! Please tell me that didn't just happen! Did we..? Did I just.. Zizhen.. Tell me I didn't just faint after we.."

He covers his face with his sleeves and continues to giggle.

[notaturnip]

Yuan turns his back quickly to give the old man some privacy - and to hide how flustered the vitriol was making him. Disgusting. If the old man reacted like this just because he was the son of Wei Wuxian, just because he accidentally came across him bathing, he could only imagine what he would say about him if he found out the truth.

"Please forgive me, shifu," he apologises in a rush "I didn't mean to intrude upon you."

He gives the old man a hasty bow without looking, blinks back his tears and flees back up the steps, nearly stumbling in his haste.

Zizhen giggles as well, leaning in to kiss his forehead just above his ribbon.

"I took your breath away, that's what happened." he says with a cheeky grin.

[unlanylikebehavior]

Lan Zhan seems to step out of no where at the top of the stairs and catches Yuan. He wraps the young man in his arms protectively.

"What has happened, my érzi?"

Jingyi slowly draws his hands down and peeks over them. His cheeks are rosy, but there's a smile too. "So.. that really did happen? We really just kissed?" He bites his lip. "You're not mad or upset or anything that I did that?"

[notaturnip]

"I-I didn't mean to! I just got lost! I'm sorry!" Yuan says desperately, unable to keep himself from leaning into that steady embrace. It felt safe, protective, and he needs that right now - however much it makes his stomach twist with guilt to want it so badly.

"I shouldn't have come here. It's only going to cause trouble, ruin your reputations. I don't belong here."

Zizhen smiles back.

"It did, we did, and I'm definitely not mad." he promises "I'm a little bit worried about you, please don't faint on me again?"

[unlanylikebehavior]

Jingyi's blush darkens and he wants to hide behind his hands again, but he it's so not like him to get bashful. He's just so giddy and Zizhen was so cute and sweet! He could show this other side of himself that wasn't hard and sarcastic to him. However, the man also had a great sense of humor and surprisingly tough skin so he didn't mind a little playful ribbing either. It made Jingyi fall all that much harder for him and his silly romantic views.

"I can't promise that. It was a pretty amazing kiss." His smile widened. "But, I can promise to try to remember to breathe next time!" Pause. "When will next time be?" He looks so hopeful!

Wangji frowns and looks toward the cold springs. He's not sure who upset his son, but he knows a couple who might have overreacted. It was unfortunate that back when everyone thought Wei Wuxian was Mo Xuanya he'd made an ass of himself publicly stating he'd been gawking at Lan Zhan bathing. Those memories for some fools around here were hard to live down.

He gently takes Yuan's face between his hands and very tenderly kisses his forehead. "You belong wherever I am. My reputation is only valuable so long as it protects you."

[notaturnip]

Zizhen's just so grateful that Jingyi has woken up and seems to be fine that he can't resist.

"Right now," he says happily, leaning in to kiss him - gently, though, and he doesn't let it linger as long, the last thing he wants is for him to pass out again.

"If he finds out the truth he's going to hate me," Yuan whispers "he'll kick me out."

He appreciates the solid reassurance and the gentle affection, he does, his heart aches for it, but it's going to take him a long time to really, truly believe he can belong here, that this isn't something that's going to be snatched away from him.