[ Lan Xichen trusts his brother above all else. He does not for a moment doubt that he does have Wangji's support in this, however little he believes that he deserves it, and if Wangji says that Wei Wuxian will not take his revenge, than Lan Xichen believes it to be so.
That doesn't mean that he is not... cognizant of the fact that both of his brothers and their partners would not choose to spend time with Meng Yao of their own accord. That having Meng Yao here at all is a balance more delicate than riding a sword through a storm. He cannot forget it, even as he allows himself to be content with his brothers' happiness, to enjoy Meng Yao's presence.
He focuses on that contentness as much as possible. Content is a much better emotion for Meng Yao to feel than the sheer weight of his feelings for the other man. Although Lan Xichen has never explicitly said it, he knows that Meng Yao knows that Lan Xichen loves him. He knows, even, that he has likely discerned that he was in love with him, even beyond their sworn brotherhood.
He also knows that that knowledge would pale in comparison to the true depths of his grief, betrayal, and devotion. Lan Xichen himself hasn't even sorted them out; he will not allow himself to let them spill out onto Meng Yao.
So he stays restrained. He radiates serenity when he meditates, and does not try to stop the surges of fondness, the amusement, the contentment - even occasionally the melancholy, the loneliness, the frustration. Anything but the true intensity of emotion he possesses.
Now is it amusement that curls outward at Meng Yao's comment, soft and fond and pleased. ]
I have had many years to practice the finesse of my strength, though I suppose I will never live it down. [ He allows himself to be playful in return, his own smile curving up just a little. ] I do not mind being humbled before you.
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That doesn't mean that he is not... cognizant of the fact that both of his brothers and their partners would not choose to spend time with Meng Yao of their own accord. That having Meng Yao here at all is a balance more delicate than riding a sword through a storm. He cannot forget it, even as he allows himself to be content with his brothers' happiness, to enjoy Meng Yao's presence.
He focuses on that contentness as much as possible. Content is a much better emotion for Meng Yao to feel than the sheer weight of his feelings for the other man. Although Lan Xichen has never explicitly said it, he knows that Meng Yao knows that Lan Xichen loves him. He knows, even, that he has likely discerned that he was in love with him, even beyond their sworn brotherhood.
He also knows that that knowledge would pale in comparison to the true depths of his grief, betrayal, and devotion. Lan Xichen himself hasn't even sorted them out; he will not allow himself to let them spill out onto Meng Yao.
So he stays restrained. He radiates serenity when he meditates, and does not try to stop the surges of fondness, the amusement, the contentment - even occasionally the melancholy, the loneliness, the frustration. Anything but the true intensity of emotion he possesses.
Now is it amusement that curls outward at Meng Yao's comment, soft and fond and pleased. ]
I have had many years to practice the finesse of my strength, though I suppose I will never live it down. [ He allows himself to be playful in return, his own smile curving up just a little. ] I do not mind being humbled before you.