(no subject)

[fennu]

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.