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antiquecompass · 5 years

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Untamed Fest Day 15: Tradition

Wherein there are ribbons and their meanings.

“Do you know what the fuck this is about?”

Wei Wuxian had been in the middle of a nice, comfortable, relaxing midday bath when he’d received a call from the Headmaster of Lan Academy asking him to come to the school as soon as possible. It wasn’t an emergency, Headmaster Lan had told him, assuring him that his son was perfectly fine, but it was necessary for Wei Wuxian to arrive as soon as he was able.

Wei Wuxian was confused for many reasons.

First, Headmaster Lan was his brother-in-law and rarely every talked to him so formally these days. They’d both caught each other in too many compromising positions with their respective significant others to even try to attempt formality ever again.

Second, Headmaster Lan was, obviously, the uncle to Wei Wuxian’s son, and therefore trusted to make mostly any decision on the part of Wei Wuxian and his husband.

Third, and perhaps most puzzling, his husband taught at the very same school.

When he spotted his brother standing outside of the Administration Building, he blurted out the first thing that came to his mind.

Jiang Cheng shook his head. “I just came to take Xichen out to lunch, when he rushed into his office pulling both Sizhui and Jingyi behind him and muttering something about ribbons.”

“Ribbons?” he asked.

Jiang Cheng nodded. “Ribbons. Sizhui did have a light blue ribbon in his hands.”

“Like the ones they wear with their traditional dress outfits?”

Jiang Cheng shrugged. “I didn’t exactly ask for details. Xichen looked like he’d seen a ghost, so I thought it best not to interrogate him over what the fuck has him so freaked out.”

“Maybe it’s a gang thing,” Wuxian said. That was the only plausible explanation. “Maybe it’s some underground Lan Academy gang thing and Xichen’s just been waiting to bust it and Sizhui is helping him.”

“Jingyi is not in a gang. He’s in a boxing club. Not a gang.”

“He could be,” Wuxian protested as he followed his brother to Lan Xichen’s office. He loved Jingyi like one of his own, heartily approved of him as his son’s boyfriend, but Jingyi had the same mischievous streak Wuxian had as a kid.

And they all remembered his Yiling Patriarch years at Harvard. He knew a thing or two about elite schools and secret societies.

They both ducked their heads as a passing administrator shushed them.

“He could be,” Wei Wuxian whispered.

“Stop using your son, nephew, and their best friends’ lives to plot out your next book,” Jiang Cheng said as he pulled opened the door to Xichen’s office.

Wei Wuxian studied his brother. “You seem very comfortable doing that. Often come by for a little afternoon delight, eh, brother?”

“Shut up, Wei Ying,” Jiang Cheng hissed as he shoved him into a room containing Sizhui, Jingyi, and Lan Xichen.

He turned to his brother. “You’re the only non-Lan in here. How does that feel?”

“Shut up, Wei Ying,” Jiang Cheng repeated.

“Mr. Lan-Wei,” Lan Xichen said, “I’m glad you could join us.”

Wei Wuxian made a face at his, well, legal name. If Xichen was pulling that one out, it had to be serious. He looked at the two boys. Sizhui had his head down, hands in his lap. Jingyi’s head was held high, staring straight at his Headmaster and elder cousin, mutiny clear on his face.

“Is it a gang thing?” Wuxian asked. He stared down on Jinyi. “Are you in a gang?”

“Do I look like I’m in a gang?” Jingyi asked.

“You can’t tell by just looking at someone, Jingyi,” Jiang Cheng scolded him.

“A Secret Society then?” Wuxian asked. He patted his back pocket for his battered moleskin. “Tell me about the hidden rituals of Lan Academy.”

“Dad,” Sizhui said with a laugh, finally breaking some of the tension in the room.

He stood behind his son and gripped his shoulders. “You know you can tell me the truth about the Harry Potter-esque shit that has to go down here. Did Jingyi make you slay a basilisk?”

“Why does he get to be Harry?” Jingyi asked.

“Duh, he’s part of the Orphans Club like me,” he said.

“Gods above,” Jiang Cheng cursed.

Wei Wuxian turned to his brother, ignoring the chuckle as his loose hair hit Sizhui in the face. “Well, please, give me a better explanation. I can’t imagine Xichen would drag me down here over a ribbon.”

“It’s about the ribbon,” Xichen said.

Wuxian frowned. “Is it sacred or something? Did they steal it from a trophy case? Is it a relic?”

“Yes, no, and no,” Xichen said. He gestured to one of the open chairs. “Mr. Lan-Wei, if you could please take a seat.”

“Wait,” Wuxian said as he snatched the ribbon from Sizhui’s hand and took a closer look. There was stitching on it--clouds. And a name on the inside--Jingyi’s. “I’ve seen these before. These are the ones you wear with your ceremonial outfits. They’re more detailed than the historical reenactment ones.”

“They’re part of traditional Lan uniform, yes,” Xichen agreed. “But the ribbon has special significance,” he said with a look towards Jingyi.

“How special could it be?” Jiang Cheng asked with a scoff as he leaned over Wuxian’s shoulder. “You’ve tied one of these around my wrists multiple times.”

Wei Wuxian could say the same thing. Lan Zhan had tied a ribbon just like this around his arms countless times when they were younger. He’d spent entire nights back at Cloud Recesses trying to undo the many knots.

Jingyi laughed to himself while Xichen almost looked embarrassed. “Maybe you need to have a conference with your boyfriend, Headmaster Lan.”

“Jingyi, stop,” Sizhui said. He carefully took the ribbon back from his father. “It is part of Lan family tradition to bestow the headband on those you wish to marry.”

Wei Wuxian’s eyes widened as Jiang Cheng started choking beside him.

“But in modern times it’s become more of a formal declaration of dating,” Sizhui said.

“So, you’re basically wearing Jingyi’s Varsity jacket and he wants to take you to the next sock hop. You’re going steady,” Wei Wuxian said. “That’s fine. I don’t see the issue here. You two have been dating for years anyway.”

“The issue,” Xichen said with a hand pinching the bridge of his nose, “is that it still holds its original meaning for direct members of the Lan family.”

Jiang Cheng actually looked like he was about to pass out and Sizhui stood to give him his own chair.

“Just how many times have you silently proposed to him?” Wei Wuxian asked.

“Not the point of this meeting, Mr. Lan-Wei,” Xichen said.

Wuxian pouted. “I think it should be the point of it now. Just how long have you been trying to marry my brother?”

“Don’t be an ass,” Jiang Cheng said.

He tilted his head in his brother’s direction. Jiang Cheng’s complexion had gone from Kermit-green to a tomato-red. “We can talk about all the times Headmaster Lan has inadvertently proposed to you in detail?”

“Fine. Keep being an ass,” Jiang Cheng said.

Wuxian turned his attention to the silent boys in their pristine school uniforms. They were young, both still only sixteen, with two more years of high school to go, and years of collegiate education to follow. They would grow and they would change. He understood Xichen’s concerns. He loved both of these boys like they were his own sons, and they were his family, and everyone had been happy when the two started dating. He was being protective of both of them, and their hearts.

But Lan Zhan had known since he was seven that he wanted to marry Wei Ying.

And the Lans tended to fall in love once, hard, and for life.

“It’s a promise,” Jingyi said. “And it wasn’t meant to be seen by anyone else.” He fearlessly met the eyes of his Headmaster, his cousin, his boyfriend’s uncle. “It’s a promise for a future we both want, but I would never disrespect Sizhui or our families by formally proposing to him without speaking to his parents first.”

“So much is going to change,” Sizhui said. “So much of it is already changing, and I’ve been worried and anxious and Jingyi...he did this for me. He did this to give me a tangible anchor. Something to physically hold on to. Maybe we shouldn’t have done it on school grounds, but I don’t believe any part of it violates the Lan Academy Principles.”

“It doesn’t,” Jingyi said.

And the poor kid should know. He’d had to copy those by hand so many times he could probably recite them in his sleep.

Wei Wuxian was still filing all this headband information away for later. He and his husband were going to have a talk as soon as classes let out.

“Well, Headmaster Lan, it seems like the boys have got you there. They next time Jingyi proposes, he won’t do it on school grounds where you or Old Man Lan can see them.” He looked over at Sizhui. “Wait, do you have your own ribbon?”

Sizhui nodded. “Papa gave me one when the official adoption documents and name change went through.”

“Well, when we get home you find it and give it to Jingyi. It’s only fair.”

“Gods above,” Xichen muttered into his hands.

“And since the boys aren’t in any trouble…”

“Dismissed,” Xichen said with a wave of his hand. “All of you. Get hall passes from Miss Howell.”

“Good,” Wei Wuxian said. He patted Jiang Cheng’s shoulder. “You going to be okay or should I get you a brown paper bag to breathe into?”

“Get the fuck out of my face, Wei Ying.”

“Cursing is forbidden on Lan Academy grounds,” three different voices answered him.

**********

Jin Ling and Ouyang Zizhen were waiting for the other boys.They were trying to look inconspicuous, but even in the Lan Academy uniform, Jin Ling stood out with his flashy gold sneakers and Zizhen with his towering height. They both stood at attention when they saw Wei Wuxian.

“Relax, kiddos. I won’t report you for bad posture.” He ruffled Jin Ling’s hair, ignoring the frown and fierce curse that he muttered under his breath. “How did you two get out of class?”

“Study hall. We’re taking a really long time to go to the bathroom,” Zizhen said.

“Both of you? At the same time?” he asked. “That’s more trust than I expected from the teachers.”

“We’re in different years, so technically different classes,” Jin Ling said. “Or did you forget how old I am again?”

Wei Wuxian squinted. “Thirteen, right?”

“Fourteen,” Jin Ling said. “Are you sure you were there when I was born?”

“I had the broken hand to prove it,” he said. Yanli could put that Lan family arm strength to shame. “You should go back to class before someone catches you.” He gestured to Jingyi and Sihzui. “Go on with them.”

“I can just wait until the bell rings,” Sizhui said.

Wei Wuxian shook his head. “I’m going to wait for your papa. I’m sure Jingyi can give you a ride home.” He paused. “Well, not that kind of ride.”

“Dad!” Sizhui said, face turning bright red. He grabbed Jingyi’s hand and started marching in the opposite direction, the other two boys running after them asking all sorts of questions.

Wei Wuxian laughed as he watched them go. Oh, to be so young again, so awkward, and so in love. He checked his watch. Lan Zhan should be in his office hours by now.

Lan Zhan’s classroom and office were in one of the older buildings, from the original foundations of the school. It meant that the rooms were too warm in the spring and too cold in the winter, but the architecture was exquisite and the details in the woodwork were beautiful. It somehow fit Lan Zhan, a man always a little too old-fashioned for modern times. Today he even looked a man out of time, with his hair mostly down, and wearing a light blue waistcoat over a starched white shirt.

“Good afternoon, oh husband mine.”

Lan Zhan glanced up in surprise, before a small crooked smile appeared on his face. “Wei Ying,” he said as he stood. He pulled him into his office and shut the door behind them. “You’re early.”

“I was called into a meeting by Headmaster Lan.”

“What did my brother want that he could not ask with me there? A PTA problem?”

“Jingyi gave Sizhui this blue ribbon and for some reason,” Wuxian made sure to widen his eyes in confusion as he spoke, “your brother thought it was a concern worthy of calling a parent down. And I thought that was particularly funny, since I recall having a similar ribbon wrapped around my wrists at least once a summer since we were eight.”

Lan Zhan’s ears were that darling shade of red that always made him want to kiss them. “I told you.”

“That you really have wanted to marry me since we were seven,” he said. He wrapped his arms around his husband’s waist. “Is that why you never told me about the meaning behind the ribbon?”

“I didn’t want you to feel burdened with my feelings. I didn’t know if you’d ever feel the same, but I had to do it.” He closed his eyes and rested his head on Wei Wuxian’s shoulder. “I had to,” he murmured.

“Oh, Lan Zhan,” he whispered into his hair. “How long you had to wait for me. I’m sorry, my love.”

“Worth every second,” Lan Zhan said.

Wei Wuxian took a moment just to breathe it all in. The strong arms of his husband around him. The scent of sandalwood on his skin. That distinct smell of old books that clung to this office and his clothes. All those things that made him feel safe. That made him feel at home.

“Ready to bust out of this popsicle stand?”

“I have another twenty minutes until the final bell.” Lan Zhan stepped back and walked over to his desk, pushing out the extra chair he kept there just for his husband.

“And what subject are we grading today?” Wuxian asked as he took a stack of papers.

“Essays on mythology in the modern world,” Lan Zhan said, passing over a pen.

Wei Wuxian clicked his pen and eagerly pulled the first essay towards him. “Let’s see how--really--Zeus? How basic can you be? If you’re going to go Greek, at least go with someone cool like Athena.” He looked over at Lan Zhan’s stack. “Who did Sizhui pick?”

“Di Ku,” Lan Zhan said.

“And Jingyi?”

Lan Zhan sighed. “Don Juan.” He gave a small shake of his head. “He made a sound argument about how legendary fictitious figures should also apply to the assignment.”

“So, you let him do it because he had the guts to question his own teacher?”

“In this, he acted as an exemplary Lan should.”

“Nice way of saying he’s an argumentative little shit, but you love him.”

“Indeed,” Lan Zhan agreed. “Though it is still too soon for them to be engaged.”

“They know,” he said. “Jingyi did it for Sizhui. We know how anxious he’s been getting about all the talks over where he’s going to college, and then graduate school, and his future position as an heir. It’s a lot. He’s only sixteen and he has all our families looking to him as the eldest grandchild. He needed an anchor and Jingyi gave him the one that he’d never have any reason to forget or doubt.”

“They are well matched,” Lan Zhan agreed.

“Hmm,” he said, leaning into his husband’s side. “Reminds me of someone else I know. I might not have had a ribbon--or at least, I didn’t know about it. I did have a song though.”

Lan Zhan’s small smile meant the world to him as he started humming their song.

(And the tiny sequel featuring the Dumbass Uncles is here.)

#long post #untamedfest #the untamed #fandom: the untamed #fic: tales from lan academy #verse: lahl #my ridic writing #day 15

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