|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 1:02 pm
  This is a private roleplay between Jianyu [kuromeez] and Yue Lao [Face Your Demons].
Setting:
Yue Lao's home, Jianyu's home.
They were going to have to tell their parents sooner or later... Looks like it's sooner, as Jianyu and Yure visit their families to let them know about the new addition to their family.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 1:21 pm
Although Yowai and Chichi had been out that morning, they were certainly home when Yue returned with Jianyu. She was still holding his hand very tightly, as if she was afraid he would drift away. She was also extremely embarassed, which meant her face was quite red. Her drunken swagger was still in place, so she looked pretty inebriated when she pushed the door of her home open.
Looking back at Jianyu for strength, Yue Lao called out, "I'm home!" She pulled Jianyu in and left the door open behind them, in case they needed to make a quick escape. Yue was being entirely ridiculous; when would Yowai or Chishio ever react to any news in such a way? However, there was a first time for everything, as Jianyu had now proven.
"I brought your future son-in-law," she added, summoning Chichi into the room from her sewing room after a long pause. Chishio clearly thought she was just being ridiculous, or at best that she had misheard her daughter. So much for easing them into it.
"Why are you yelling, my love?" Chishio asked, running her hands through her hair to scoop it and tie it up at the base of her neck with a scrap of material. Yue glanced over at Jianyu and let go of his hand briefly to head into the kitchen. She set the kettle on. Something clicked for Chishio, and she covered her pretty mouth with one hand, brushing some remaining stray hairs away from her face. "Dear one, I think that Yue Lao has some news!" Chichi called out.
"Why is everyone in this household shouting," Yowai replied, scolding them lightly, as she entered from the garden and toweled her hands clean. She saw Jianyu in their home, and looked towards Yue who was very nervously trying to prepare tea, and said, "Chishio, would you mind terribly taking over for Yue? I suspect she will ruin the tea and burn herself in the process."
Yowai swept over to Jianyu, inclining her head to him in greeting. Her eyes sparkled with a distinct and knowing glance. "All this shouting wouldn't have something to do with you, would it?" Yowai asked, smiling faintly.
Yue Lao leaned against the counter, tapping her fingertips along its side. Grinning while Yowai cornered Jianyu. It wasn't long before Chishio was on her case, though, finally realizing what she heard might be true, hugging her daughter to her in a suffocating way. "You mean I heard you right?" chichi squeaked out, her eyes tearing up.
"It would appear rather sudden, but I suspect you know what you are doing, do you not? My daughter is a lot to handle," Yowai added, tapping one slender, pale finger against her cheek.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 1:34 pm
To be perfectly honest, Jianyu was, in fact, slightly wary of having to tell the rest of their families of their engagement. It was not as if he expected them to deny their blessings, but the prospect of having to confess that he had been lax in admitting his feelings for Yue, or being interrogated by his own parents on every last little detail was rather daunting. Not to mention that Yue was holding his hand so tightly her knuckles had begun to turn white, and gently Jianyu extracted his fingers from her grip and then slipped them back with hers, this time in a lighter grip.
"Relax," he said in a low voice against her ear as they stood just outside of Yue's home. "I am not going anywhere; there is no need to hold on so tightly, love."
Except once they were inside, it was Jianyu who's fingers tightened around Yue's. It was one thing to speak of their families' reactions; it was quite another to actually experience them. He shot a look at Yue at the phrase son-in-law, lips twitching in amusement at her boldness, but didn't say anything to the contrary. Yowai and Chichi were in the back room, and clearly she had either misheard Yue or hadn't heard her at all, since she was quite relaxed and cheerful as she came into the front room, tying back her hair. Jianyu felt Yue's hand leave his and he glanced towards her as she fumbled in the kitchen, clearly anxious. Chishio took one look at her daughter, then at Jianyu and something dawned.
Here goes nothing.
"It might," Jianyu answered lightly to Yowai as he too inclined his head to greet her. He kept looking over at Yue, who was now being held in a death grip from Chishio, who was holding back tears. His eyes twinkling, Jianyu turned back to Yowai. "Perhaps for some people, but for me Yue is just the right amount I am capable of handling," he answered her truthfully, then cleared his throat, stepping towards Yue.
"Chishio, Yowai," he said, taking Yue's hand in his and standing to face both of her mothers. "I realize that this is somewhat belated, and perhaps a little out of order,"
Jianyu paused, looking down at Yue as he intertwined their fingers together. Then he looked back up, his expression calm, determination at the edges. "But if you will give it, I would like both your permission and your blessings to marry your daughter." 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 1:50 pm
Assured by Jianyu, Yue did try to relax her hold on his hand. It would only constrict again shortly after. Hearing him call her love again, this time in new context, made her take a deep breath and stop squeezing so hard, though.
This part was relatively easy for Yue Lao. She knew her mothers, and they had respected her decision-making skills for quite some time. The only exception was Yue Lao's fit and sulking over the time when Jianyu hadn't loved her back. And Yowai had scolded her for it. Her mothers took a lot of motivation to actually interfere with their daughter. It was part of her unique way of being. She had never needed their direction; Yue was influenced by her own whims, and they were usually quite specific ones.
In this case, she had been in love with Jianyu for so long that it didn't seem very surprising to her mothers that time had unravelled her tricky situation. However, Yowai was determined to harass Jianyu at least a little. Chichi was busy going between holding Yue Lao tight and looking at the ring on her hand. Suddenly, she exclaimed in excitement, and ran into the other room, leaving Yue to wander back to Jianyu's side in a daze. She leaned her head on his shoulder with a heavy exhalation. Yowai did respect Jianyu's answer, and her eyes sparkled with approval.
However, while Chichi was out of the room, Yowai said, "Our permission, and our blessings? I will speak for both my love and I when I say..." Yowai paused, raising one hand to maintain silence as she appeared to think hard. "I will provide one, but not the other: blessing, or permission, which one would you choose?" Yowai asked, tilting her head slightly, curious. The faintest smile curved her lips upwards.
Chichi barelled back into the room, and Yue recapped for her mother, "Jianyu just asked for your permission and blessing," Yue told her.
"Wh-what? Of course! Of course you have both of those, silly." Chishio rushed forward and kissed Jianyu's cheek, then the top of her daughter's head. "This family blesses the both of you. May you find the same happiness we have found," Chichi added. "Only... with each other, not another woman. Or man. Or which ever--"
Yowai interrupted her. "You had something to give them, I believe?" Yowai asked, trying not to laugh at her dear lover. Chichi seemed to remember, and took out a box, handing it to Yue.
"Go on, look inside," Chichi urged Yue. "It's a gift that I give to you, so you may give to the one that you love," she said. "I would have given it to you much sooner, but I didn't realize you would need it..." Chichi said, obviously sheepish. She bowed herself out to stand beside Yowai, holding the woman's hand.
Yue Lao opened the box. It was a silver band, with an etched dragon across it, and a ruby for its eyes. Yue Lao smiled, and looked up at her mothers. "That was your grandfather's ring," Yowai explained. "And now you may pass it along."
Yue Lao took a deep breath, and took it out of the box. "My captain? Looks like I have something to give you after all," Yue said, taking his hand in hers. She pressed the ring into his palm, and closed his fingers around it, bringing the fist up to kiss it lightly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 2:04 pm
Lips quirked in amusement at the question, and Jianyu fought back a smile. Somehow, Yowai asking him to choose between her blessings and permission made him feel much more at ease; it was such a familiar way for the woman to speak, which meant that she was, in a way, giving him both of those things without actually saying it aloud.
"Your blessings, of course," said Jianyu easily, looking Yowai straight in the eye, his own twinkling with mild mischief. "Your permission is desired, of course, but even should you deny me that I would marry your daughter anyway. However, I would prefer to have your blessings; with Yue comes the chance to be accepted into and accept a new family along with your old, and I would dearly love for that aspect of our lives to be stable and true. You will be as much a family to me as my own."
He bent his head, returning the kiss to Chishio's face and then stepped over to Yowai, taking the woman's hand in his own. "Either way, I am thankful for the chance to have met your daughter," he said gently and ducked down, brushing his lips against Yowai's cheek briefly and then stepped back, his hand around Yue's feeling warm and secure. He looked down at her, feeling a rush of happiness, and rubbed his thumb against the back of her hand.
"Something to give us?" Jianyu repeated, blinking down at the two women with some surprise. Chishio had handed a small wooden box to her daughter, and Yue opened it carefully, curiosity evident on her face. Jianyu himself leaned closer, eyes falling on a simple silver ring. The band was engraved with a delicate dragon, a tiny red jewel winking as its eye. It was quite elegant, and Jianyu lifted his gaze to meet Yue's as she pressed the ring into his palm.
"...thank you," he told her softly, and smiled, kissing her briefly before turning back to Yowai and Chishio. "And thank you as well," he said, bending over in a bow of respect. "I know it will not be easy, giving up your daughter, but I can promise you that I will take care of her for the rest of my life. Perhaps it will not be an easy life, but I will protect and love her for as long as I live and after I die."
Straightening, Jianyu squeezed Yue's fingers. "To be honest, I was rather hoping your mothers would be able to assist my own mother and father in the preparations," he said with a smile. "Though, er...we haven't exactly told them yet."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 5:11 pm
Yowai was, indeed, giving her blessing, in a way. She liked Jianyu and thought that he was a strong young man; that was why she had reacted as she did. It would have been an insult on her part if she had reacted more mildly. Even though she was already reacting rather tame, given Yue Lao had just announced she would be starting a new family of her own. Yue was an important part of their household dynamic, and her mothers would insist upon her visiting them often. Still, Yue Lao had already introduced Jianyu's parents to her own mothers, and both families had gotten along so well that this was hardly a stretch for Yue or her mothers.
"That is the correct choice," Yowai replied, laughing without making much of a sound. She liked both his honesty and his bold reply. If he were to allow her to forbid their marriage, she would not have been pleased with him. But he seemed to be every bit as brave and steadfast as she had guessed.
"So I suppose it's about time we came to terms with you starting a new family, my sweet little girl... Though I guess I am also overjoyed that we will be bringing our two families together..!" Chichi seemed rather down at first, but brightened considerably, clasping her hands together. To the former, Yue Lao grimaced; she wasn't entirely fond of being anyone's sweet little girl.
Yue Lao chewed her lip, leaning her head against Jianyu's arm as she thought about what he was saying. Until he died, and beyond...? The thought was so sweet that she thought she was dreaming. Still. Her mothers both smiled, though Chichi looked like she was going to cry out of joy. Finally, she burst into laughter. "Yue Lao, you had better treat this man well!" she ordered her daughter.
"--but not too well, or he won't have anything to complain about," Yowai cautioned, her eyes glimmering perpetually with mischief. "In terms of preparations, all our ressources are at your disposal. Perhaps we should meet with your parents to discuss what must now be done?" Yowai covered her mouth with one elegant hand, as if she was about to burst into laughter. "I suppose that is a crucial next step, is it not?" Yowai asked.
"That's our next stop, isn't it," Yue Lao stated more than asked, looking up at Jianyu. She wrinkled her nose, but her mock apprehension cracked into a grin. She really liked his family.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 7:40 pm
Though it was incredibly important to Jianyu to be able to receive Yowai and Chishio's blessings on their marriage, he knew that if they had said no (which he couldn't imagine why they would, but there was always the minuscule chance) he would still marry Yue. But being accepted into the family, and vice versa was one of the most important things about getting married, at least in Jianyu's mind. He loved Chishio and Yowai; their support of their daughter was he had always admired about them, and now was no different.
"I am glad to have passed your test," Jianyu said with a teasing smile to Yowai, winking at her playfully. His gaze slid sideways, trying to fight back the amusement at the disgruntled look on Yue's face. He had a feeling she did not particularly like being referred to as a "sweet little girl," but Chishio's face was rapturous in her adoration of her daughter, and Jianyu slipped his arm comfortably around her waist.
"Don't worry, Yowai," he said, eyes dancing with mischief. He feigned a deadpan voice, looking down at Yue. "I'm quite certain I will not be the one complaining. Yue will come to you daily about what a terrible, horribly old man I am and after a few weeks..." he dropped his tone to sound melodramatically despondent, shaking his head in mock despair. "Well, I shudder to think of what the outcome would be."
Despite his playful attitude, the fact remained that they now had...well, quite a bit of planning to do. A Lunarian wedding ceremony took quite a bit of planning, as well as gathered together many supplies and people. It would take time and effort, and they would need all the help they could get, so Jianyu was quite appreciative of Yowai's willingness to do just that.
Once they had made arrangements for Yue's mothers to meet iwith Jianyu's family, he turned towards his fiancee. "Well, my dear?" Jianyu said with a smile. "Shall we go inform my parents now?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:19 pm
There was a kind of dizziness to all Yue's actions. She had trouble accepting that what was happening was really going down, and she didn't have the capacity to absorb it all yet. So she just kept on moving, proceeding forward. With the biggest smile on her face.
"You are bold, Jianyu," Yowai said, "I am proud to count you both an ally in the war and a member of our family." It was high praise for Yowai, and Yue's mouth hung open in shock. She had never heard her othermother say anything pleasant so honestly. But Jianyu had earned it. Yowai was never so blatant with Yue Lao because Yue was her daughter; that made her awkward with praise. For Yue, and for Yowai, there was always a higher goal to achieve. So for Yowai and her daughter, there was no such thing as praising accomplishment, really. Yue Lao knew she was loved; that much was obvious. But to make her mothers proud? That was what she really longed for. To be someone that her mothers could claim, openly and without shame.
Yue Lao exhaled heavily again as Jianyu slipped his arm around her waist. She could not feel frustrated at her mother, not when he was being so sweet to her. Immediately, her eyes slid sideways: what a sneaky move, to be able to calm her so easily. Yue Lao pursed her lips at Jianyu, but looked away right after, so there was a chance he didn't catch her gesture. Yue Lao snorted. "You're already an old man, Yuyu. There are no illusions about that," she retorted, resting her forehead against his arm.
Chishio was clearly rocking up and down with excitement. "What about your dress, Yue?! May I make it?" Chichi asked permission, as if Yue would ever decline that offer.
"I don't know anything about dresses," she admitted, "but when I figure out, I'll ask you, okay?" Yue offered, sincere. She had only worn a dress once that she could remember, at a festival a long time ago; she had seen Jianyu then, too.
Yowai would provide the beverages easily enough, and Chichi could take care of garments for anyone involved. Apart from that, Yowai had an agreement with a local restaurant which sold her beverages, so catering would be easy. Indeed, Yowai had her hands in many different facets of the city's market.
"Yeah, I guess that would be a good idea," she said, sheepishly. She resisted the overwhelming urge to add, What if they don't like me? In fact, Jianyu's parents had made her feel reassured more than once when he had not loved her back. So telling them was probably one of the things she looked forward to most. That didn't mean she wasn't nervous.
She said goodbye to her two mothers, kissing them both on the cheek, and looked around for Hime-san: he was sitting on her pile of blankets. "HEY, Princess! Guess who's joining the family?" she called up to Hime-san. Lazily, the monkey rolled out of bed, and climbed down the ladder, trundling over to Yue to drape himself lazily across her shoulders, as if claiming her. "As if you ever cared about me. Don't pretend to be jealous now, damn monkey," she said, grimacing at the golden lion tamarin.
"Looks like we have company for this," Yue looked up at Jianyu, slipping one hand around his arm tentatively.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 10:09 pm
The feeling of having earned praise from Yowai's lips was quite a success; even Yue had looked surprised, and Jianyu had felt a swell of pleasure move through him quickly. It took quite a bit to see that side of Yue's mother, and Jianyu felt an odd sort of victory within her comments towards him.
He bowed to them both on his way out, giving them brief kisses on their cheeks before he and Yue departed, making their way down the path towards the street. Yue's monkey - something golden and fluffy that tended to not like many people - had climbed onto her shoulders, marking his territory. Jianyu raised a brow.
"Now now, there is no need to be jealous, Hime," he said, with a voice that clearly showed his amusement. "I get Yue all the time, you get her...well, we'll work something out. Perhaps I'll share on weekends."
He gave Yue a mischievous smile, lifting her hand from his arm in order to slide it around her waist. In one quick moment he had whisked her off to the side, in the shadows of a nearby building.
"As long as I can still do this, I am perfectly all right with him joining our party," Jianyu said cheerfully, and leaned down to kiss her. It seemed to him that he was doing this quite a bit; he had never been this physically affectionate with Bataar, but for some reason with Yue he felt...open. Much more free to express how he felt without the words that usually accompanied the gestures. Perhaps it was because in realizing his feelings and proposing, it felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders, and he had suddenly felt liberated, able to do whatever it was that he wanted.
His fingers danced along Yue's face, gently cupping her jaw in his larger hands. She felt so delicate beneath his palms, though that could not be farther than the truth; Yue Lao was strong and confident, which was exactly why he had been so drawn to her. Why had it taken him so long to realize things? Had he really been so dense all these long months?
Pulling back, Jianyu sighed against her lips, smiling so that she could feel his mouth curve upwards. "I love you," he said, and kissed her again, this time just a quick peck before he laughed, taking her hand in his and tugging her back out onto the path.
They reached the Qian home within a few moments, the expansive mansion stretching out across the sun-warmed grass. Jianyu led the way over the small bridge that crossed the pond, stepping into the front courtyard towards the front door. Then he stopped, pausing just outside the entrance, and turned to look at Yue, eyes sparkling merrily.
"Are you ready to become a Qian?" he asked her teasingly, but there was a mild note of seriousness to his voice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:07 pm
Hime-san provided Jianyu with a look which was halfway between displeasure and boredom. He bared his monkey teeth and chittered, which also looked either like laughter or irritation: Hime-san was in a strange mood. He had not yet decided how he felt about Jianyu, but it was leaning towards dislike. Very strongly. Yue Lao, however, was grinning from ear to ear. No one but her bothered to put her monkey in his place; Sara spoiled the damn thing. Hime-san loved Sara, like no other. He had once tried to smother Kiran, but failed miserably.
Yue was about to complain that he had taken her hand away when he scooped her off to the shadows next to a building. Hime-san protested as Jianyu pressed in, but Yue only mumbled in happy agreement, kissing Jianyu firmly, sliding her hands up to run down his chest. Hime-san escaped off to the side somewhere, and decided he would walk on his own, if they were going to keep doing that. He chittered at Jianyu, again, glaring from within the shadows.
"Please do," Yue encouraged Jianyu, expressing her enjoyment of being pulled into the darkness for a kiss. Although at that time, she would be happy to kiss him just about anywhere. Sighing, she looked at Hime-san: "He's not replacing you, I love you both in different ways," she told the monkey. Perhaps she was being too harsh on him. After all, it wasn't as though he had gotten any time to adjust either; he had barely met Jianyu.
Yue Lao shivered, smiling, as Jianyu's fingers cupped her jaw. To be touched in this way... she had stolen physical affection now and again, but it was nothing like this. Every time he touched her skin, the touch reverbrated through her body. She wanted to lean in, to get more of it, to keep it going. She had spent so long convincing herself that it wasn't what she wanted, and now she knew she would have missed this all along. This feeling that she had kept sheltered within her, never really confessing to him. And she felt no regret, because she wasn't sure he would have ever realized if she had pressed him into a decision. In fact, she was nearly sure he would have rejected her advances if she had tried. So to have him holding her like this, kissing her... Yue's slender fingers closed around his clothing and held on tightly.
In response to his smile, she grinned right back, her lips matching his. "I love you, too," Yue replied, simply. She was going to have to get used to these light teasing kisses; he seemed to be fond of giving her a light kiss and then pulling away before she could react. She jokingly grumbled about it a little, but held onto him as if gravity was not her friend. "Hime-san! Latch on if you want to be lazy," she told the monkey, tapping her shoulder, looking behind her. Hime-san chittered angrily but did, indeed, skitter forward to jump up, latching on and grooming her braid with his nimble fingers.
Yue Lao admired the mansion, again. She remembered how in awe she had been, visiting his home for the first time. Hers was nothing like this. They lived so humbly in comparison. "A Qian..." Yue repeated, in awe. "Qian Yue Lao," she said, and then laughed. "I am ready, Fierce warrior! I will take on any obstacle, in the name of our love," Yue declared, her hand pressed against her chest dramatically.
She winked at Jianyu, and grinned widely at him. Then, she took a deep breath, and sheepishly said, "I guess we can go in now, yeah," and steeled herself for what would happen next. She couldn't bring herself to barge in the way she had with her own home.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 12:54 pm
The Qian House was large, expanding over the grass and taking up nearly a quarter of an acre with just the main building. His father was quite well off, and took very good care of his family; this meant not only was the house itself big, but the family that resided within it quite large as well. It was not just his immediate family; there were uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents that all lived within the walls of the Qian House as well, along with several miscellaneous animals that tended to roam the halls. This meant that within moments the news of his engagement would spread like wildfire, and Jianyu and Yue would both be subjected to much squealing and cheering, demands for details, and food and other such things being thrust at them. However, despite all of this, Jianyu loved his family deeply, and was simultaneously thrilled and wary of telling them what he had just done.
The house was bustling with activity when he and Yue stepped through the door. Jianyu caught sight of one of his brothers whisking across the front hall carrying a large vase, followed closely by his sister Liqiu who was saying frantically "Jinjing, don't drop it!"
"They're preparing for the fall season," Jianyu muttered to Yue, very nearly succumbing to the desire to roll his eyes, but refraining at the last second. "It's the biggest season for our business."
His mother was standing by one of the doors to the kitchens, holding a large stack of towels in her hand. "Oh, hello, dears," she said cheerfully as they approached. "Pardon my not greeting you properly, but we're really quite busy at the moment."
"Er, Mother - " Jianyu started to say, but he was cut off by Jingguo barreling through, followed closely by his brother, Jinhai. "Coming through!"
Jianyu hastily stepped out of the way, putting an arm out automatically in front of Yue. There was a shout, a sudden crash, and Jinjing came stomping back into view.
"TAKE THAT OFF!" he all but wailed at the twins, who looked at each other with amusement. Dressed in nearly identical flowing girl's chongsams, they did look a little odd - but at the same time, they always wore female attire and therefore this was nothing new - at least not Jianyu.
"Mother - " Jianyu tried again, but Ehuang was now busy reprimanding Jinjing for breaking her vase.
"I told you to set it down properly, but nooo, you just HAD to go and..."
"Afternoon, son!" came a booming, cheerful voice, and Jianyu's father clapped a hand onto his shoulder in greeting, bending down to kiss Yue's cheek. "And son's dear friend," he added with a wink before he swept over to his wife.
It was complete pandemonium. Jianyu took a deep breath and did the only thing he could think of.
"Yue and I are getting married," he said in quite a normal tone of voice.
Utter silence followed this statement. Ehuang dropped the towels on Jinjing's head. About a dozen pairs of eyes turned to stare at him and Yue. For a few moments nobody said anything.
Then complete havoc broke out.
"WHAT?!"
"WHEN?!"
"HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? WHEN DID IT HAPPEN? CAN WE SEE THE RING? HOW DID YOU PROPOSE WHEN ARE YOU GETTING MARRIED CAN I COME TO THE WEDDING I'LL MAKE THE FOOD - "
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 8:09 pm
Yue Lao hadn't been to Jianyu's house in a while. Back when she had comforted him, she had snuck inside; but now, with everyone up and about, it was extremely busy. It was a kind of chaos that, instead of overwhelming Yue Lao, comforted her. At her heart, she was chaotic, so to experience a household that had so much going on within it made her deeply happy. This family would be her own, and she would be theirs. That thought made her smile, and everything that happened as soon as they stepped into the house wouldn't bother her half as much as it could have. Well, not that it would have anyway. She was Yue Lao; things like that didn't bother her.
First there was the brother with the vase, followed by Jianyu's sister. Yue glanced over at Jianyu as he explained the chaos. "Looks like they're pretty excited about it," Yue said, grinning. At least someone enjoyed the fall. Yue Lao loved the colours and the crisp air, but she preferred a warmer temperature. Ehuang was by the kitchen, and Yue Lao lit up, but smiled sheepishly. She was behaving a little strangely. It was hard not to; after all, she would soon be asking this woman to help her plan a wedding. With her son. Good thing she had always liked Ehuang. Both of Jianyu's parents were smart, kind people and she liked them both very much.
Yue Lao burst into laughter as Jianyu put an arm out in front of her and first one brother, then two twins in identical female outfits wandered by. "I like them," Yue whispered conspiratorially to Jianyu, "do they always have such... good taste in clothing?" she asked, grinning.
The vase had broken, though, which wasn't entirely something she should laugh at, so she coughed awkwardly to hide her laughter and remained silent behind Jianyu, peeking out from behind him. "Liwei, good to see you," Yue replied quickly as he approached, and kissed her cheek. She grinned wide and went to clasp his hand, but it seemed like he was moving too quickly. She almost automatically corrected him when he said she was just Jianyu's dear friend, but instead she laughed to herself. Oh, the things they would learn... If Jianyu could ever tell them.
And then, in the silence which followed Jianyu's blatant statement, Yue Lao burst into full on laughter again, doubled over. "You're no better at this than I am!" she accused him. That whole time, she had been incapable of tact telling her mothers, and here it was that Jianyu stated it even more plainly than she had.
All the eyes staring at her calmed her down. She took a deep breath, holding her stomach from laughing so hard, and smiled at the family. She tried to answer a couple of the questions, but it was hard to catch them all. She managed to catch the question about the ring, and something about when were they getting married, and something about food... But in the end, all she did was walk over to Ehuang and hold out her hand, so that the ring glinted visibly, offering it to Jianyu's parents to examine. "Pretty recently," Yue Lao said, "I hope you'll accept me into your family. I would really like to be a part of it." Yue's face was red, from excitement and embarrassment. Mostly... she loved Jianyu. She loved his family. She could not be happier just then.
"As for when we're getting married..." Yue trailed off, looked over at Jianyu and sighed, "we haven't had time to figure that out yet. Unless Jianyu knows...?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 8:54 pm
For several moments the house was in complete and utter chaos. Ehuang had not, in fact, burst into tears like Jianyu had thought she would (though her eyes were suspiciously shiny), but what she had done was fling her arms around Yue in a backbreaking embrace (Jinjing was still bemoaning his mother dropping the towels on his head). This was followed closely by Liwei stepping in and lifting her off her feet in his own cheerful hug, exclaiming brightly as to how pleased he was to be gaining another daughter. There were loud squeals and giggling from his sisters (and from the twins as well, much to Jinjing's disgust), who were surrounding Yue, and Jianyu found himself being thumped on the back, his hand being seized by various family members to shake.
After nearly ten minutes of being bombarded with questions, exclamations, and much laughter and yelling, Ehuang herded them all into the very large and spacious common room, the servants bustling to bring refreshments to everyone. Once they were all settled, glasses of lemonade in their hands and dishes of fresh fruit placed strategically around the room, Ehuang clapped her hands together for silence.
"Now Yue," she said, her eyes twinkling. "We are all extremely glad that our son has finally managed to realize his own feelings for you and apologize for the fact that he is so dense as to have not recognized them all this time - "
"Mother!" said Jianyu indignantly, going slightly red and nearly choking on the piece of mango he was eating.
" - and we are incredibly glad," Ehuang went on, ignoring her son. " - to finally be able to make you a part of our family officially. We have always loved you, my dear, and we are so very happy to welcome you into our family. And we are very grateful you did not just run off and get married without telling us like certain other children."
This last part was said quite cheerfully, though there was a steeliness to her eyes that no one quite dared to comment on. Jianyu, his arm around Yue's waist, mouthed Yuudai's sister, with a pointed look towards his mother.
"So when are you guys getting hitched?" asked Jingguo pleasantly, twisting the long black braid in his hair.
"Soon, I hope," said Jinhai. "We do love a good party."
Jinjing was looking thoroughly appalled at this and was trying to inch away from the twins without being too obvious. Jianyu glanced down at Yue again, smiling.
"We have not set a date yet," he told them all. "However, it will hopefully be relatively soon; a prolonged engagement is not really something that is necessary - at least," he added, with a slightly sheepish look at Yue, cheeks dusting a pale red. "I myself do not really wish to wait that long."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 9:22 pm
It appeared that Ehuang was taking it better than Yue Lao had. She was still a little embarassed she had burst into tears, but after so much time and pain spent reassuring herself that it was okay not to be loved in return, it had been quite a shock to have the very Lunarian she had loved for so long suddenly admit that he realized he had loved her as well. Not only admit that, but to propose as well? All of that had simply overwhelmed her, even though Yue was hardly prone to tears. And any other time she had cried, she had followed it up with a fight. So far, she was doing well, in light of that.
Ehuang's embrace, and then Liwei lifting her up, made laughter cascade out of Yue Lao. Her braid got caught in all the hugging, but she was so happy that apart from a slight wince, she didn't let on. The twins were definitely her favourites at the moment, though her heart went out to the one with towels on his head. How would she ever learn everyone's names?... It would take her forever! She'd have to turn it into a song or something, practicing secretly at home. Where would home be, once they were married...? There was so much she hadn't even thought of yet, her mind was practically falling over itself.
Thankfully, Yue Lao took a lot to be overwhelmed, so she was still enjoying herself in the midst of the bombardment. In fact, every question just seemed to make her happier. Yue, herded into the large room with servants going back and forth, was a little surprised yet again by how elegant everything was amidst the chaos. She also discovered very quickly that she liked lemonade, even though she had never had it before. It was strictly tea and wine at her parents' home. Yue Lao grinned and winked at Ehuang, taking a sip of her lemonade. "Thank you, Ehuang," she began, "you and Liwei have always made me feel welcome, and even hopeful." Yue cast a glance at Jianyu and smiled, her eyes glittering, "But I was pretty sure he would never feel this way."
Yue ignored Jianyu's near-choking episode with the mango, dismissing his protest with a wink before looking at his parents again. She did smack him on the back a couple times; lovingly, of course. "I will be a diligent daughter, I promise," she swore, leaning forward. Sitting made her uncomfortable. She was, in fact, very bad at sitting still. Even for something this important. She looked over at Jianyu with a question mark in her expression at the comment of certain other children. She tried to catch what Jianyu was saying, but she had never met nor heard of Yuudai, that she could recall, so that name was unfamiliar. Still, she could gather that someone in their family had eloped, and it hadn't exactly been the preference.
"I, for one, have waited long enough," Yue agreed, with a wry smile. She slipped her hand onto Jianyu's knee and rested it there, looking up at him with something indescribable in her eyes. She turned back to look at Ehuang and Liwei and said, "I'm certain my mothers would like to meet with you, whenever it is convenient, so that we can pool our resources and leave much of the planning up to all of you," Yue said. She didn't know how to plan a wedding alone, after all. Yowai and Chichi were very familiar with them, though. After dealing with the essentials, Yue Lao leaned her head against Jianyu's shoulder, beginning to feel the strain of their whirlwind tour from parents to parents. As Yue looked up at Jianyu, she caught his faint blush, and it made her blush in return.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 9:39 pm
"We only made you feel hopeful because we know our son well enough to surmise his feelings," Ehuang said, waving a noncommittal hand. "Unfortunately for him, we sometimes know them better than he can. I'm afraid Liwei and I tried many times to hint to him; but it apparently has not worked until now. I apologize for his slowness."
She said this all with very straight face, though it was clearly melodramatic. "Mother," said Jianyu, in a voice laced with exasperation, though as he thought about it, she was quite right. Now all of her teasing, her subtle comments, the knowing looks she tended to send in his direction whenever Yue was around or her name mentioned...it all made sense. Of course Ehuang had seen it all; which made Jianyu feel quite stupid that he himself had not seen it when it seemed all else had.
"I promise you that although it...may have taken me a long time to realize my own feelings - "
Jingguo snorted. "Try forever."
" - what I feel for Yue now is quite permanently in my head," Jianyu finished, attempting to regain some of his lost dignity and having pointedly ignored his younger brother. "So let us kindly move onto the next subject and refrain from speaking of my density?"
Ehuang's eyes were twinkling with mischief and amusement, but the conversation shifted easily
Beside him, Yue shifted. Jianyu knew she was getting antsy; she was not used to sitting still, after all, and after quite a bit more talking she leaned her head against his arm. He slipped his hand over hers where it was resting on his knee, squeezing her fingers lightly as a gesture of reassurance.
Nearly an hour later he stood, pulling Yue to her feet. They had made plans for Chishio and Yowai to meet with Ehuang and Liwei (and probably several of Jianyu's siblings as well), and the afternoon had started to fade into twilight, the sky deepening to a dusky orange.
"I'm afraid it is growing late; we must go now," Jianyu said, somewhat apologetically, and there were reluctant groans that echoed throughout the room.
"One moment," Ehuang said just as they were bidding goodbyes, standing at the front door. She crossed the room to the large cabinet that stood against the northeast wall and pulled open the heavy front doors. Rummaging around a bit, she returned with something small and hard, which she placed in Jianyu's hand. He looked down at it.
"The key to the summer house?" he asked her with a puzzled expression. "Why..."
"After you marry, it is probable you will not want to live at home," Ehuang said, leaning against her husband and folding her arms across her chest. "We have not used the summer home in many years; it is a smaller place, yes, but it is comfortable and safe. I'm not saying you have to use it, but it is an option."
Jianyu's throat constricted abruptly. Ehuang was looking away now, blinking too rapidly, and a gentle smile crossed his face.
"Thank you, Mother," he said softly, and kissed her cheek. "For everything."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
