jiang cheng. (
fennu) wrote in
voidtreckerexpress2022-07-03 12:12 pm
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Entry tags:
(no subject)
Who: Jiang Cheng, Madoka
Where: Quiet carriage
When: Platform day
What: Presents uwu
Warnings: N/A
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.
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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.."
no subject
Shaking his head, he leans back and fiddles idly with Zidian on his fingers.
"Nothing's wrong. I got you a gift."
Reaching out, he pushes the package over towards her.
"If you don't like it I can pass it on to someone else, so don't feel forced to accept it."
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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.
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A part of him wants to immediately pull it back and away, to tuck it into his own robes and dash off, but it's too late for that now.
"I hope so," he manages to say after a long moment, having to bite back the lump in his throat and stop himself from saying something more embarrassing.
"But you do not have to pretend if you don't. I will not be offended."
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"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!"
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"They are, yes. The juniors would wear them."
And that might be the best she is going to get about the gift, no matter how pleased she might be. Jiang Cheng is happy with her reaction, though, and he nods his head, settling back in his chair.
"I can show you how to put them on if you want. It will take practice first but you will get used to it."
no subject
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!
no subject
It's said fondly, though, as Jiang Cheng watches her. There are any number of people on the train she could ask for help - his nephew, his brother, any of his fellow world members. Anyone will help her, but he selfishly hopes that she comes to him first - that she continues to come to him first.
Of course, she is bright enough to make the connection and he leans back, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Would I have given them to you if it wasn't alright? It will be fine. They're just clothes." They're not directly bringing her into the family, he isn't adopting her or claiming ownership of her, but he is making an overture.
He'll take care of her. Is that enough?
no subject
.. 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?
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He doesn't want to admit the truth of what the clothing means, of what other people are going to assume when they look at her dressed in his purples. It is significant, but he isn't quite ready to explain it to her. He can't, because it means too much for her.
Breathing out, he nods his head.
"It is special. They're Jiang clothes, and it does mean I trust you. It means that I care about you."
Glancing away, he frowns, a classic sign that he's a little embarrassed.
"You should wear them proudly."
no subject
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..!"
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Her enthusiasm is endearing, though, and something like a smile settles on his face as he sits up and reaches over, pointing at the different layers as he begins to explain quietly.
"You wear this layer first, and then put each one over the top one by one. The purple layer goes on top and you secure it with the belt, here."
He looks back up at her, almost smiling.
"Do you want me to help you?"
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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!
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He can look at those memories with fondness now, but before... Well. It was agonising.
"Stand up, then, and we can make a start. We'll do it over your clothes for now until you've learned."
Easy, simple, and it makes sense. This is the sort of thing Jiang Cheng can do without thinking - and it's a relief.
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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.