Nearly half a year had passed since Lan Xichen had begun his romantic relationship with William Laurence. They had been friends some months before that. It was, Lan Xichen felt, enough time that it was only proper to make an official courtship of it.
Such a thing would not have been possible in his home world; men could be cultivation partners, but courtship and marriage were not options open to them. In Vallo, however, people of any gender could marry people of any other, legally and spiritually, and no one seemed to think anything odd about it at all. Finding himself in a place where he was actually allowed to have formal intentions toward a man he loved, Lan Xichen very much wanted to pursue them.
First, of course, that meant speaking with his own family. He had no clan elders here that he had to ask permission from, but the clan still existed and was still vitally important to Lan Xichen. Most important of all was his brother–Lan Wangji was his best friend and confidante, and they had relied on each other in every major matter since they were small boys. Lan Xichen could not in good conscience go forward with seeking an engagement without first having his brother’s approval.
After dinner, Lan Xichen caught his brother’s attention as they departed the table. “Younger brother, would you take a walk with me?” he asked. “I would like to speak privately with you.”
Lan Wangji set down his gorgeously-scrawled calligraphy with care, rising to his feet with his usual grace. He set aside work and his concentration for few people; however his brother was one of them. Lan Xichen had supported him at every stepping stone skip of life: from when he was young, grieving, and angry, to when he was older, grieving, and locked tight. Now that he was happy, it was only right to provide the same attentions to the only man who had acted as a role model for decorum and care.
Once they were outside amid the lazy May air, he waited for several strolling minutes, enjoying the pace and their silent camaraderie. At last, however, he turned his face expectantly to his older brother, curious.
Lan Xichen did not require further prompting. He knew his brother’s cues well, and could usually tell his mood or understand a question just from a flick of Lan Wangji’s sleeve in context.
“You know that I have been involved with Will Laurence for some time,” he said. “I feel I know him well enough now to say that I would like to pursue a real courtship, with the hope of it ending in marriage.”
Marriage. Lan Wangji was not so remote as to not smile at the word, thinking as always of his own joyous day of watching Wei Ying beam beneath a robe of crimson. It was still a happy surprise to him, sometimes, waking up alongside him, and knowing that they could have lunch together, be seen together, laugh together… well, at least Wei Ying would laugh. Lan Wangji was more likely to raise his eyebrows serenely to express humor at something funny. The end result was, at least, that they were free to do as they wished here.
And he wanted his brother to enjoy the same freedom.
The small smile was still on his face as he turned toward Lan Xichen. “He’s good for you,” he said with his usual primness. “I approve of him.”
Lan Wangji’s smiles were all the more precious for how rare they were. Lan Xichen often wore his own smile like a mask, but the one he gave his brother now was warm and genuine. Lan Wangji’s approval was not readily given, and it meant more to his brother than anyone else’s approval would.
“Thank you, brother.” Lan Xichen gave a small bow. “I am grateful for your blessing in this. I can only hope Will’s family will be as gracious.”
Lan Wangji returned the bow, as if they were distant family members and not brothers. It was the Lan way, to render beautiful and complex things small and suspicious, but as soon as his shoulders returned to their normal level he indicated the path with a gesture of his hand. “They will be gracious,” he assured Lan Xichen as they walked along the foggy mists of Cloud Recesses. “You do them an honor joining your clan with theirs.” It was all very simple to Lan Wangji: anyone blessed by association with the Lans could only be grateful for it, particularly when the Lan in question was his cultivated, elegant sibling.
“I hope A-Xiang will think so,” Lan Xichen replied, somewhat less confident than his brother was. At home, he never would have questioned it. He was widely agreed to be the most eligible bachelor in all the cultivation world and the most handsome gentleman of his generation. Even rivals who did not like his clan viewed the Lans with respect. He could have had his pick of fine ladies from any clan and been certain that the lady in question’s family would have been delighted.
But things were different in Vallo. The Lan Clan was much smaller, still earning a position of respect in this land. Lan Xichen knew, realistically, that he was one among many very handsome, cultured, and talented people a person could wed. And of course, rather than speaking with clan elders about a request for courtship, he would be speaking with a dragon who was more like Will Laurence’s clever-but-somewhat-unruly 20-ton son.
“I know he likes me well enough, but he is very protective of Will. And while I know how to please clan elders, I do not know what a dragon values in a mate.”
“A-Xiang is perceptive,” Lan Wangji stated. For all that it was unusual to consider the preferences of a dragon, it was something he had adapted to as a creature of rules and decorum. “And he will want what is best for Laurence.” His eyes flicked back to his brother’s. “I believe he will know that you are that person.”
Lan Wangji didn’t know dragons, not really. But he had every faith that Lan Xichen was the best of men, and would hear no argument to the contrary.
“Thank you, brother,” Lan Xichen warmly replied. He touched his brother’s arm, just briefly, in what qualified in their clan as an effusive display of affection and gratitude. “Your confidence gives me hope.”
The light touch spoke volumes of mutual respect, shared camaraderie, a turbulent past, and hope for a peaceful future. Lan Wangji was emotionally affected by the bold gesture, and dipped his chin lower as the corners of his mouth worked into a fond smile. It was a day for dramatic emotional reckonings, apparently, and he knew that his brother would be able to read all that in the humble nod of his head.
“Let’s take another turn before returning to our work,” he offered, and took a graceful step forward.