fennu: (cql20133)
jiang cheng. ([personal profile] fennu) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2022-07-03 12:12 pm

(no subject)

Who: Jiang Cheng, Madoka
Where: Quiet carriage
When: Platform day
What: Presents uwu
Warnings: N/A

As soon as Jiang Cheng picks up his order he wonders if he is making some kind of a mistake.

While his affection for Madoka is absolutely paternal - there's no denying the comparison of his protectiveness towards her to the same kind as he is towards a-Ling. The issue is that he has made a decision and not consulted her about it, and he wonders if she is going to be particularly receptive towards it. She's told him that she trusts him, of course, and she has shown that it's true, but that doesn't mean she wants this gift.

Jiang Cheng second guesses himself because it's natural for him to do so, and he sits and waits for Madoka in the quiet carriage with a package in front of him, looking like he has got a sour lemon in his mouth with the twisting of his expression. He fiddles idly with the string holding the package together, leaning back and gazing out the door of the carriage.

It is much easier to offer gifts to a-Ling, even to Wei Wuxian, because at least he can predict how they are going to react to them. He knows exactly the sort of things that will come out of their mouths, the sort of things they'll say, the gentle nudges or embarrassed glee. Madoka is someone entirely different - but he predicts that she will thank him even if she loathes the gift, which makes his expression get all the more sour and frustrated. He doesn't want her to fabricate enjoying it; he wants her to actually welcome the gift.

Hopefully he doesn't look too intimidating.
happyends: (lies in the palm)

[personal profile] happyends 2022-07-04 06:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Please, there is not a single moment where Jiang Cheng isn't intimidating.

Though that's not exactly the kind of impression Madoka has when she spots him seeing there before even entering the specific booth he's sitting at. If anything, she thinks he looks.. weirdly nervous, maybe? Even without the feelings that often roll in waves off Jiang Cheng due to his powers, Madoka feels like she's getting better at putting certain feelings to his expressions, even if they might all just be slightly different scowls.

She's pretty sure this is a nervous one, but at the same time she's entirely unsure why. Yes, he told her to come over, but.. surely there couldn't be anything the man would be nervous about, right?

Hence why the girl, in turn, looks a little curious as she enters the quiet booth, moving to sit down opposite Jiang Cheng.

"Is everything okay..? You look a little like there's something wrong.."
happyends: (Default)

[personal profile] happyends 2022-07-06 05:58 am (UTC)(link)
The girl stares at the gift, and then back over at the man.

Something is clearly still bothering him. Is it something about the gift? .. Is he worried she won't like it? That's the only thing Madoka can think of, especially with that last thing he says. Like the gift somehow needs a disclaimer, even before Madoka has already opened it, let alone had a peek at what's inside of it.

Which is a strange idea. Madoka can't imagine getting a gift from someone she cares for and not liking it. Even when it's something she might not have asked for or wanted, just the intention behind the act of getting her a gift is enough for her, really..

"I don't think you have to be worried about that, you know.." She therefore says, a faintly awkward smile on her face. "Since it's a gift from you, I'm sure I'll like it!"

But she won't keep him in suspense either way, really. As soon as Madoka is done saying those words, she's already starting to work on unwrapping the package, even if it might take a few moments since she's always delicate. Madoka is definitely not a giftwrap tearer. She's too much of a gentle soul for it.
happyends: (lies in the palm)

[personal profile] happyends 2022-07-10 06:34 am (UTC)(link)
Thankfully it doesn't take forever for her to open it. After a while Madoka has managed to open the wrapping enough to see what's inside. It makes her blink a little with curiosity, but then she unfolds the paper even further until the package is open enough for her to pull out the content without damaging it.

"Wow.."

Madoka doesn't realise the full significance. Not in this moment. Sure, she could at least understand a little through the colours, but right now she's just assuming that it's got to be Jiang Cheng's favourite colour or something..

But even without the connection being made in her mind, the girl seems amazed enough. She stares at the robes with wide eyes, taking them in for a moment. That's definitely her size, so..

"These are clothes from your world, right?" She looks back at him. Apparently the girl already grasped that much, even if she's still missing the last mental push.. "They're so pretty..! I don't think I've ever worn anything like it before!"
happyends: (lies in the palm)

[personal profile] happyends 2022-07-12 06:20 am (UTC)(link)
"It's okay!" She immediately says, adding: "I don't mind practice!"

So if he helps her, then she'll make sure to pay close attention at that point, just so she can remember how to do it herself later on.. Because these clothes are definitely way too pretty to just stuff away somewhere and never wear again. She'll have to try to wear them on some days here on the train for sure!

.. but her brain is also slowly leading into another direction. She was so focused on reassuring him about the practice thing that she only now thinks about the other part of what Jiang Cheng said.

The juniors.. would wear them.

That means the juniors.. at his clan, right..?

She stares at the robes for a moment, her expression turning into something a little more complicated - or maybe just dazed, really, as her brain is trying to process something here - before she looks back at Jiang Cheng.

"But.. um, is it really alright for me to wear those..? I mean, I'm not a junior.." W-Wouldn't that bring dishonour, or something like that? She wouldn't want to do that to Jiang Cheng!
happyends: (so it's now or never more)

[personal profile] happyends 2022-07-26 06:05 am (UTC)(link)
It's the last statement that makes Madoka pause for a moment. Maybe Jiang Cheng is right. Maybe they're just clothes, and maybe Madoka is overthinking all of this a little bit too much.

.. at the same time.. she can't quite help it. It does somehow feel like a little bit more than that. Maybe it all only exists in her own head, but Madoka just can't stop thinking about it. Can't stop remembering how important Jiang Cheng's sect is to him, and then for her to wear robes that remind him of them.. It's still significant in some way.

"T-They're more than just clothes to me," she stammers, sounding a little shy.

But even with how meek Madoka can be at times, she knows that there are important things. Things you have to sometimes just say.

Things like what she's saying right now.

"To me, it feels.. special to wear them," she continues, her voice soft. "It makes me feel like you trust me.."

After all, he wouldn't buy just anyone these, right?
happyends: (i can hold on tight to nothing)

[personal profile] happyends 2022-07-27 06:11 am (UTC)(link)
"I will, then..!"

Please, if Jiang Cheng is outright telling her to wear them proudly, then it makes the entire matter very easily. Gone are all the doubts from a moment ago about whether or not she ought to be allowed to wear it. Whether she won't embarrass Jiang Cheng's sect, something so important to him.

If he wants her to do this, then she absolutely will. Something about them being so special, and yet them being given to her, still makes her heart flutter a little though, and it makes her clutch the clothes close to her chest for a moment, holding them like she's been given a treasure. (She has, technically.)

".. I kind of want to try them on right away then." If not just to show Jiang Cheng. Would that make him happy?

Madoka hopes so.

"Um, you know.. so you can see how they look on me..!"
happyends: (so it's now or never more)

[personal profile] happyends 2022-07-30 06:13 am (UTC)(link)
It's definitely a toss up - if not just for a moment. Madoka can see the good points and the bad points about it at the same time, after all. She's sure she would look cooler and more capable if she did it by herself, but then there's the risk of messing up. On the other hand, if she let him do it, then she's sure it'd be kind of nice.. She likes being guided by him. It feels comfortable, like she has to worry less about what she's doing.

So after a moment of thought, the girl's head slowly dips into a nod.

"I'd really like it if you could help me.."

She'll make sure to cooperate well!
happyends: (lies in the palm)

[personal profile] happyends 2022-08-03 05:57 am (UTC)(link)
Since they've already decided, it takes no time for Madoka to stand up. For a moment she's a little awkward though, trying to figure out what the best way to do this is. After all, she's definitely already way too old for her parents to still be dressing her back home, and she doesn't really have very clear memories of when she was young enough and they helped her..

How exactly does she hold her arms? Just out to the sides? Or up? Madoka isn't sure, and it means she moves through a few of the poses, like she's trying them out, before pulling her arms back to herself.

"Um, what goes on first..?"

Maybe that's better to ask, since then she can figure how to cooperate with him helping put the clothes on her best.