#but at least he'll always have wei-xiong | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

thebiscuiteternal · 1 year

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teeny ficlet inspired by the "world's first unmanned flying desk set" scene from Dead Poets Society. can be read as sangcheng if you want.

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When the disciple at the gates gave him an uncomfortable, sheepish smile and told him that she was going to be the escort for the students returning to Lotus Pier, not either of his parents, it had stung a little bit.

Even Jin Guangshan had bothered to show up, if only to be a smug prick about Jin Zixuan having made fifth in the grade rankings.

Then the disciple perked up. "Oh! But they did send a graduation gift!" she said before rifling through her sleeves for a small box.

For the short moments it took for Jiang Cheng to unwrap and open it, he cheered up as well.

Then he realized he recognized the contents.

He'd seen this same calligraphy set before, at Wei Wuxian's birthday party last autumn. The tools were even decorated in his shixiong's preferred colors.

Only... they weren't...

He closed the box and plastered on a smile as he thanked the disciple -it wasn't her fault, after all- but as he walked back to his room to finish packing his things, his heart dragged on the ground behind him.

Even when he'd managed to do something Wei Wuxian hadn't -even if his grade wasn't as high as Wei Wuxian's would have been if he hadn't been sent home, at least he'd finished the classes, and with decent grades!- it wasn't good enough to actually get a gift of his own.

Just an inferior copy.

Like him.

Before he could open the door, someone bumped him from his left.

"What's with the face, Jiang-xiong? We're finally headed back to the lands of real foo- what's that?"

Jiang Cheng sighed and opened the lid to let Nie Huaisang see. "My graduation gift."

Nie Huaisang leaned over his arm, then frowned. "But... I thought you don't like- oh."

Jiang Cheng shut the box with a snap, but before he could pull away, Nie Huaisang slipped a hand around his elbow, expression of sunny cheer back like it had never faltered.

"What time are you supposed to leave?"

"Not until morning. We'd mostly be flying in the dark if we left now."

"Same here! We were actually supposed to leave already, but Da-ge got tied up with an incident on the way, so he'll be arriving late. Which meeeeeans we've got time for our own graduation celebration!"

"Nie-xiong-"

"Come on!"

Though he really just wanted to be left alone to soak in his downcast mood, Jiang Cheng allowed himself to be half-dragged towards the lesser-patrolled buildings near the back hills.

Jiang Cheng had never actually been to the roof of the chosen building before, though he recognized the spot as one Nie Huaisang liked to sneak off to.

As soon as they sat down, he could immediately see why. "Wow. How many of these sunsets have you painted?"

"As many as I could without getting caught or rained on," Nie Huaisang replied with a grin, pulling a qiankun pouch out of his sleeve.

Jiang Cheng was unsurprised when out of that came packages of sweets and salty snacks, the smell of roasted meat prominent from some of them, and two small jars. "Not a fan of the illustrious Emperor's Smile?" he asked dryly when he saw the label.

"Eh, I've always preferred nongxiang to qingxiang whenever I've been allowed to have a sample of either at banquets. Don't tell Wei-xiong, he'd be heartbroken."

Jiang Cheng snorted, then accepted one of the jars and tore the cap off. "To graduation?"

"To getting out of here!"

They'd worked their way through most of the food and alcohol when Nie Huaisang nodded to the box that had been plaguing him since he'd opened it. "What're you gonna do with that?"

"Dunno. Don' wanna think about it."

Nie Huaisang gave a considering hum. "Why not just toss it?"

"Pretty sure that's... unfilial or something. Rude, at least." He was also pretty sure chucking stuff off the cliffs was against Lan Rules.

Okay, no, he knew it was against Lan Rules.

"Pft. I bet they won't even notice it's gone."

True. It hurt for it to be put so bluntly, but... it was true.

"And I bet it'd make you feel better."

It was really tempting.

Damn tempting.

Too tempting.

A bit unsteady from the alcohol, he hefted himself to his feet and picked up the box all in one half-boneless motion, then straightened. As Nie Huaisang cheered, he reared back and then pitched the box into the open air with all his strength.

The lid popped open as it flew in a long arc downward, the contents scattering free to disappear amongst the trees.

Maybe it was just the alcohol in his blood or the enthusiastic encouragement, but he couldn't deny that watching them go was satisfying.

#mdzs #jiang cheng #nie huaisang #gusu era #fanfic

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the-archlich · 7 years

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Do you think you'd ever get to a point (after the late era's are fleshed out) where an add like Hua Xiong might interest or excite you? I see Man Chong and think "We just got a Wei strategist" Chong deserves to be in, but I have to wonder what he'll really add. At this point there's enough strategists that his addition won't change how the story is told, while characters like Hua Xiong, who may only show up in 1 or 2 battles would at least always be involved/used and improve the level they're in

I can’t imagine I would.

With someone like Hua Xiong (or Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Wang Shuang, etc.), there will always be a better choice. And if all of those better choices have been taken, then there’s no reason to fall back on the worse option.

With Hua Xiong, for example, there are any number of other warrior types you could go with instead. Gao Shun and Xu Rong are obvious choices. Zhang Xiu cold also be a fantastic addition. Li Jue and Guo Si would help to flesh out the post Dong Zhuo era. Even Niu Fu would add more, since he could be an excellent foil for his father-in-law. With Hua Xiong, all you’re getting is someone to make Guan Yu look good.

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