mondengel:yamaryouhei:EP50 // EP08I really loved this moment in episode 50.Nie Huaisang is clearly t

mondengel:yamaryouhei:EP50 // EP08I really loved this moment in episode 50.Nie Huaisang is clearly there to test the waters to me.  He isn’t hiding anything anymore, even though he isn’t admitting anything either.  His voice isn’t doing that higher-pitched, helpless tone and he isn’t trying to look panicked - he’s just standing there, calm and collected with an open expression.  Neutral.  Waiting to see what happens.  Which, really, is his true nature.That super tense moment when Wei WuXian steps close and half-whispers “thou shalt not befriend the devil” is his answer to Nie Huaisang’s unspoken question.Friendship is officially over.The interesting part of this phrase - if it’s close to the subtitles - is that it can go both ways.  The “devil” could be Wei WuXian or Nie Huaisang.  Wei WuXian, founder of demonic cultivation, is not at all a “devil” you want to cross.  Nie Huaisang thought is a “devil” of a mastermind.  Since he has ruthlessly endangered people Wei WuXian cared about, either way this is taken he can’t forgive or let that pass.Wei WuXian is essentially saying he’ll either be the devil you should never have befriended, or the righteous one to strike down the devil if needed.Nie Huaisang gets it immediately.  No more flinching or crying.  He stands strong and only says a long, low, “Oh?” and a thick swallow before he slowly looks at him.  You can see them both coming to agreement the moment their eyes meet.Then they both laugh.I don’t see this as a diffusion of tension.  Their smiling expressions are so shallow and fleeting; and after their expressions are polite, but definitely very guarded.  There’s more animation in their faces; but it’s the animation of acting.   Look at the last two gifs of them laughing.  In the past Wei WuXian is bent double, his whole face scrunching up, and Nie Huaisang is meeting his gaze, smiling widely and insserting himself into his space with his fan.  In the present, Wei WuXian’s smile is small and his throat bobs a bit with a lackluster “ha”, and Nie Huaisang’s smile is narrowed even though it’s showing teeth and he turns away.  Also note the way the ominous strings in the OST keep going.  To me that laugh is them both instantaneously accepting their new positions opposite each other, but being willing to still be cordial.  Nie Huaisang then compliments Wei WuXian, who turns it back on him as a backhanded insult.Relationship with Wei WuXian established, only then does he dare to take his attention off him and look to Lan Wangji.Here he actually looks regretful.  Lan Wangji is someone he’s known longer.  He might have known Wei WuXian the same length of time, but Wei WuXian was gone for 16 years.  Lan Wangji is the younger brother of his “er-ge”, they likely interacted a lot in that time.  Once he bows he gives a little-bit crooked smile.  Rueful and fleeting.  He’ll need to work with him in the future as Lan Wangji is excellency, but he knows Lan Wangji will follow Wei WuXian’s example and end any friendship.  Maybe more-so.  When he turns to leave he looks satisfied.  Jin Guangyao has been replaced with a much better man and life goes on.  The way he visibly braces himself when Wei WuXian calls out to him says he wasn’t expecting that.  He looks nervous, but pulls on that pleasant expression and turns.He’s so visibly stunned when Wei WuXian asks him “don’t you want to be excellency?”  Nie Huaisang freezes, parts his mouth and takes a slow, deep breath before turning around.  This is Wei WuXian throwing down a gauntlet.  You can see from his expression Wei WuXian knows just how hard that hits him. He looks a little hurt, some sort of upset; and I do think part of him does want the position, but, as he says, he’s a sensible man.He won’t shirk the things he has to do, “but for things that aren’t my business, I won’t meddle in.”Nie Huaisang needed Wei WuXian to achieve his revenge.  He couldn’t do it alone.  He knows this and Wei WuXian knows this.  If he tries anything and Wei WuXian comes after him, he will lose.  Even if he gets the whole cultivation world on his own side, Wei WuXian has always operated outside of it any way and is too monstrously powerful to deal with.  Nie Huaisang has not intention of pressing him further.  I think the reassuring look he gives Wei WuXian then is genuine.Even if he wanted to take the excellency position, he knows that’s impossible as long as the one holding it is Lan Wangji, because Wei WuXian will protect him at the first sign of meddling.You can see them coming to a more friendly understanding after those words.  Wei WuXian is pleased Lan Wangji is safe from Nie Huaisang, and Nie Huaisang is perhaps a bit pleased he hasn’t entirely ruined the goodwill he has with Wei WuXian.I think it’s telling he doesn’t try to really engage with Lan Wangji here, remaining very formal and leaving without actually speaking to him.  He knows he destroyed all relationship with Lan Xichen - just look at that disgusted look on Lan Xichen’s face the last time he looks at Nie Huaisang - so he won’t make any attempt at friendship with his brother.  The Twin Jades are too close.  Lan Wangji will side with his brother every time - and probably Nie Huaisang approves of this deeply.  But they’ll have a formal working relationship and that’s all he needs. -- source link

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