( Robes caught, and motion checked, he gives a somewhat hopeless (still smiling, for the moment) look back down at Jiang Cheng. )
You're that eager to join me in kneeling? Mah, Jiang Cheng, at least one of us should remember there's gold under a man's knees.
( It truly is never going to be Wei Wuxian who does, though he knows that's not what this is about. Or so he suspects? Let him fail to reflect too deeply on that for now.
Anyway, it's nothing serious to him, and it's not the kind of thing he enjoys watching Jiang Cheng be talked down to over, but... he does sit, looking to disengage Jiang Cheng's hand from where he caught at his robes. )
What's there to protect me from? The anger blows over—it always does.
[ Jiang Cheng meets that look with a stern one of his own. ]
I would kneel with you again, yes. I committed the same crimes as you last night. We should both kneel.
[ It's not as if Jiang Cheng would ever really escape his mother's watching eye. She is too intense, too dangerous, and the idea of slipping under her radar is just impossible.
He frowns instead, shaking his head, letting his fingers slip away. ]
Mother will always know. There is no point trying to pretend, is there?
( He starts to make a sound of protest, then stops; Jiang Cheng isn't wrong, but he wants to think he can mitigate some of it, and not just have it turn into being his fault while Jiang Cheng is both insulted and held up like some kind of mirror to whatever Wei Wuxian is, as if he's really lacking.
It's not in his hands to that extent, but he can still wish what he wishes, and hold silent in the face of the rest. )
It's like a sixth sense for Madam Yu...
( Is his sighed statement, as close to resignation and agreement as he's inclined to get right now. )
Still, you might get another quarter shichen of peace if I leave.
( Sending him another askance look, lifting his eyebrows if not bringing himself to smile. )
[ It's easier to face his mother as a pair rather than it is alone - more often than not, anyway. In the rare case that she wishes to praise him then she might be better suited to isolation, but for punishment? It is best if they share her anger.
It's not as though his mother will ever really be pleased with him at heart. ]
She always knows. I am sure her two girls help her.
( Sometimes unhappiness is something perpetuated; sometimes it's not. There's little enough they can do for a situation lived by their seniors, other than weather it as they can.
His lips quirk, the smile there then gone, and he twists around to settle a hand on Jiang Cheng's arm. )
I'll stay. Don't blame me when your knees ache later.
( A wry sort of grin that doesn't address any of the other possibilities: more corporeal punishments that may or may not come down the line. )
And of course they do. Bodyguards, maids, informants, is there anything they can't do?
( Let's have a little shudder for dramatic effect; truly only less formidable than their mistress. )
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no subject
You're that eager to join me in kneeling? Mah, Jiang Cheng, at least one of us should remember there's gold under a man's knees.
( It truly is never going to be Wei Wuxian who does, though he knows that's not what this is about. Or so he suspects? Let him fail to reflect too deeply on that for now.
Anyway, it's nothing serious to him, and it's not the kind of thing he enjoys watching Jiang Cheng be talked down to over, but... he does sit, looking to disengage Jiang Cheng's hand from where he caught at his robes. )
What's there to protect me from? The anger blows over—it always does.
no subject
I would kneel with you again, yes. I committed the same crimes as you last night. We should both kneel.
[ It's not as if Jiang Cheng would ever really escape his mother's watching eye. She is too intense, too dangerous, and the idea of slipping under her radar is just impossible.
He frowns instead, shaking his head, letting his fingers slip away. ]
Mother will always know. There is no point trying to pretend, is there?
no subject
It's not in his hands to that extent, but he can still wish what he wishes, and hold silent in the face of the rest. )
It's like a sixth sense for Madam Yu...
( Is his sighed statement, as close to resignation and agreement as he's inclined to get right now. )
Still, you might get another quarter shichen of peace if I leave.
( Sending him another askance look, lifting his eyebrows if not bringing himself to smile. )
no subject
It's not as though his mother will ever really be pleased with him at heart. ]
She always knows. I am sure her two girls help her.
[ Jiang Cheng looks chastised at least. ]
Don't leave. Please.
no subject
His lips quirk, the smile there then gone, and he twists around to settle a hand on Jiang Cheng's arm. )
I'll stay. Don't blame me when your knees ache later.
( A wry sort of grin that doesn't address any of the other possibilities: more corporeal punishments that may or may not come down the line. )
And of course they do. Bodyguards, maids, informants, is there anything they can't do?
( Let's have a little shudder for dramatic effect; truly only less formidable than their mistress. )