The gentle tug on his sleeve is enough to bring his drifting thoughts back to the present, and it is a gesture so familiar by now that he closes his hand around hers almost unthinkingly, an unquestioning response to her request. Though it doesn't take long to realize that she too had her hopes left unanswered today, and he offers her a small smile in return. Neither of them will walk back alone, at least.
Which would have been preferable to being called for by a familiar yet unasked for voice, and the soft lines of his expression ice over at the sound. He doesn't need to look over to be aware of the noisy, flailing approach; in fact it might seem that Lan Wangji is under the impression that if he doesn't acknowledge the man he might avoid having to engage with him at all. A strategy that has worked many times before.
Unfortunately there isn't anyone else here in a position to take the brunt of Nie Huaisang's neediness, and so he does finally turn to look at him. Just in time to witness his startled reaction and clumsy descent into the dirt. Which is clearly where he belongs for reacting to Klaudia that way, and his icy glare at the man beneath him says as much.
Klaudia's presence here is more normal and welcome than his, obviously, and so Lan Wangji gives her hand a brief squeeze before letting go in order to offer a bow with both hands wrapped around Bichen to the newcomer. It is a decorum towards a man rolling in the dirt so incongruous it cannot be anything but pointed. "Clan Leader Nie."
no subject
Which would have been preferable to being called for by a familiar yet unasked for voice, and the soft lines of his expression ice over at the sound. He doesn't need to look over to be aware of the noisy, flailing approach; in fact it might seem that Lan Wangji is under the impression that if he doesn't acknowledge the man he might avoid having to engage with him at all. A strategy that has worked many times before.
Unfortunately there isn't anyone else here in a position to take the brunt of Nie Huaisang's neediness, and so he does finally turn to look at him. Just in time to witness his startled reaction and clumsy descent into the dirt. Which is clearly where he belongs for reacting to Klaudia that way, and his icy glare at the man beneath him says as much.
Klaudia's presence here is more normal and welcome than his, obviously, and so Lan Wangji gives her hand a brief squeeze before letting go in order to offer a bow with both hands wrapped around Bichen to the newcomer. It is a decorum towards a man rolling in the dirt so incongruous it cannot be anything but pointed. "Clan Leader Nie."