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1.
As with most Glory Pro gatherings that take place far away from the public, things devolve fairly quickly into complete mayhem. This time it's Fang Rui, who decides that the most fun one can have at a gathering of Glory professionals is trying to annoy the other pros into playing Fuck Marry Kill. Despite some light attempts at homicide - maybe asking Han Wenqing who he'd fuck marry or kill out of Ye Qiu, Zhang Jiale and Lin Jingyan was pushing his luck a little - Fang Rui is not deterred from his important information gathering session.
Spotting his next target-slash-victim, Fang Rui heads over to where Wang Jiexi and Huang Shaotian are sniping at each other.
"Hey Captain Wang, out of Huang Shaotian, Tian Sen and Lin Jingyan, who would you fuck, marry or kill?"
"Kill Huang Shaotian," Wang Jiexi immediately replies, then pauses for a moment. "Can I choose the same person for more than one option?"
Huang Shaotian sticks his tongue out, like the mature adult he is. Fang Rui laughs - both at the speed of Wang Jiexi's answer and at Huang Shaotian's response - then answers Wang Jiexi's question.
"No, rule of the game is that you can only choose one for each person."
Wang Jiexi stares at Fang Rui, unblinking, for several seconds. Fang Rui stares back, waiting out the increasing awkwardness of each second which goes by where Wang Jiexi doesn't say a word. Wang Jiexi is the first one to look away, eyes looking away to the left where Tian Sen and Lin Jingyan are conversing. Just when he thinks that Wang Jiexi isn't going to finishing answering at all, Wang Jiexi finally opens his mouth.
"Marry Tian Sen," Wang Jiexi says, "and I'll leave you to fuck Lin Jingyan."
Wang Jiexi strides away right after he finishes speaking, not leaving Fang Rui any time to respond, towards Tian Sen and Lin Jingyan. Huang Shaotian starts cackling like a hyena in the background, especially when Wang Jiexi exchanges a couple of words with Lin Jingyan who then immediately starts heading over with a disappointed look on his face that Fang Rui recognises all too well.
2.
"Time for little boys to go to sleep," Fang Shiqian says in a sing-song voice, sauntering over to see what has Wang Jiexi up at a quarter to midnight on a Tuesday. Surprisingly, on Wang Jiexi's screen isn't anything related to Glory. It only takes a moment for Fang Shiqian to recognise it as Sundew Gully, the farming simulator which half the Glory pro circuit is currently obsessed with.
Wang Jiexi doesn't even deign to answer him, still concentrated on his screen.
Fang Shiqian takes another look, then another. "Wait a moment, who's getting married?"
He gets a little closer and squints at the two little farmers under the arch, one dressed in green clothes and the other in black and gold.
Wang Jiexi seems to be in a pretty good mood, because he actually gives a straightforward answer. "I'm getting married."
"I can't believe you didn't invite me to your server, and I especially can't believe you didn't invite me to your wedding," Fang Shiqian complains. He hadn't even known Wang Jiexi had been playing Sundew Gully at all.
Fang Shiqian squints at the screen, guessing that the one dressed in green is Wang Jiexi. Fang Shiqian judges him silently for dressing in Tiny Herb colours even in a fictional game, studiously ignoring the fact that his own avatar in game was also dressed in green. "I don't recognise that NPC."
"You wouldn't," Wang Jiexi answers, "because it's not a NPC."
Fang Shiqian waits for Wang Jiexi to elaborate, but it seems he's not being that level of helpful. Sighing, he gives in and asks. "So who are you marrying then?"
Wang Jiexi obliges him by showing him the profile of his marriage partner. Peaceful Forest, a lumberjack. Fang Shiqian swears he's seen that username before. It takes a moment and it's the black and gold clothes that finally reminds him why it seems familiar.
"Wait a moment, isn't that the username that Tian Sen uses in Mammal Crossing?"
"Yes," Wang Jiexi answers succinctly and deliberately unhelpfully.
Fang Shiqian eyes are drilling holes into the back of Wang Jiexi's head, waiting for further elaboration. None appear to be forthcoming. In the end he ends up asking the question directly.
"Are you getting married to Tian Sen?"
The ceremony finishes and Wang Jiexi finally turns around, giving Fang Shiqian his most unimpressed stare. "Isn't it obvious?"
Fang Shiqian throws his hands up in the air and stalks out of the room.
3.
In the interests of the public relations, something about bringing together the new and the traditional in light of the rumoured upcoming introduction of marriage in Glory, Tiny Herb and Royal Style find themselves participating in a skit re-enacting an ancient Chinese marriage ceremony.
In all honesty, despite being here the entire time, Ren Junchi still isn't quite sure why this is happening but it's too late (too funny) for him to bother questioning it too much, especially since Tian Sen and Wang Jiexi have sacrificed themselves to act as the couple to be wed rather than make anyone else in their team act the parts instead. As vice-captain, all Ren Junchi has to do is play the part of the esteemed father of the groom while opposite him Fang Shiqian takes on the role of the esteemed father of the also-groom.
Tian Sen is too broad to fit properly in the red jacket prepared and has taken to wearing it hanging off his shoulders like a cloak; Wang Jiexi wears over his Tiny Herb jacket which still peaks out of the collar of the jacket. Since there was no way the red sash would fit on Tian Sen, he is left wearing the headdress while Wang Jiexi gets the cross-sash. This is ridiculous, Ren Junchi thinks to himself, but at least he gets a fake moustache and beard so who is he to complain.
The interviewer who was chosen to act as the celebrant in this scenario is much too enthusiastic about the whole thing.
"Bow to the Heaven and Earth!"
Tian Sen and Wang Jiexi turn to surprisingly detailed prop alter table and execute their first bow, expressions seeming properly solemn.
"Bow to the ancestors!"
Tian Sen and Wang Jiexi bow once again to the prop alter table, where generic memorials have been set up.
"Bow to the parents!"
Tian Sen and Wang Jiexi turn slightly to where Ren Junchi and Fang Shiqian are sitting to complete their third bow.
Fang Shiqian is doing his best impression of a stern parent, but the twitching of lips give away his amusement. Ren Junchi is not doing as good a job, fake moustache shaking with his barely supressed laughter. Either way, the interviewer pretends that everything is proceeding perfectly as normal, cheerily announcing the final bow.
"Bow to each other!"
Tian Sen and Wang Jiexi turn to each other and execute their final bow. After the bow, Wang Jiexi whispers something too quiet for everyone else to make out but which makes Tian Sen smile in a surprisingly sweet way in response. Wang Jiexi is also smiling slightly - Ren Junchi isn't close enough to Wang Jiexi to know him well but it looks genuine rather than out of embarrassed awkwardness.
The moment is broken by Fang Shiqian stage whispering, "you may now kiss the bride!"
For a split second, it looks like Wang Jiexi is actually starting to lean in but the interviewer jumps in to explain other ancient Chinese marriage customs, effectively concluding the little skit.
Ren Junchi takes off his fake moustache and beard; it really was starting to itch.
+1.
The ride to the marriage registration office is quiet, the car radio playing softly in the background. Wang Jiexi's fingers tap a steady rhythm on the clear plastic portfolio which holds all their necessary documentation. Tian Sen doesn't recognise the timing pattern - presumably it is something new that he has been working on.
Sooner than expected, they arrive at the marriage registration office. The building is plain, unremarkable - all functional concrete. The receptionist is slightly harried and looks overly grateful that they have all their documentation prepared and ready to go.
Instead of sitting down on the uncomfortable waiting chairs, they stand together in the corner of the room and chat quietly, heads bend together, talking of small mundane matters - which tea leaves will need to be restocked soon, what are the latest shenanigans going on in their respective Glory pro generation chatrooms.
Tian Sen had almost expected to be nervous about actually getting married but now that he is here, there is only a sense of ease and slight excitement. He has already chosen Wang Jiexi as his lifelong partner, already made the commitment to choose Wang Jiexi every day now and into the future; signing a marriage certificate seems almost superfluous in comparison. If Wang Jiexi is nervous at all, he doesn't show it in any way.
They are soon ushered into a room. The bureaucrat is efficient, walking them through the process in an almost bored manner. Tian Sen signs his name neatly, taking extra care not to accidentally sign his autograph instead. Wang Jiexi is the same, the pen sweeping through the motions of his signature with a slight flourish.
There is only fifteen minutes between when they entered and when they exit the room, now legally - bureaucratically - tied together in matrimony. Wang Jiexi is wearing his soft satisfied smile and Tian Sen wonders how it is possible to keep falling more and more deeply in love with the same person.