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gay-disabled-characters-showdown · 7 months

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Characters Confirmed in the Showdown

(Pretty much finalized at this point)

1.) Submissions are still open if you want to submit propaganda or a character.

2.) If you submitted a character and they are not here or on the rejected character list then it was probably an issue on our end, feel free to send us an ask about it.

3.) If you’re like, hey these are technically the same character, why are they in twice, it’s because we think it’s funny.

4.) Submissions for our sanity will probably close in like a week, we’ll see what the vibe is in a bit.

5.) There are some characters that we are still looking for propaganda for, they will be at the very bottom of the list under the cut. Additionally, we reserve the right to not use some propaganda submitted.

6.) Currently, 78/181 image descriptions are written. What this means for when the showdown will actually start? I don’t know, it’s just gonna be a while.

Superheroes:

Sun Spider / Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Webber - Spider-Man Media

Larry Trainor - Doom Patrol

Crazy Jane / Kay Challis - Doom Patrol

James ‘Bucky’ Barnes - Marvel

Joseph Wilson / Jericho - DC

Hartley Rathaway / Pied Piper - DC

Wade Wilson / Deadpool - Deadpool

Charles Xavier / Professor X - X-Men

Matt Murdock / Daredevil - Marvel Comics

Star Wars/Trek:

Julian Bashir - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Luke Skywalker - Star Wars

Geordi La Forge - Star Trek: The Next Generation

Data - Star Trek: The Next Generation

Elim Garak - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Schnn T’gai Spock - Star Trek

Seven of Nine - Star Trek Discovery

T’Pol - Star Trek Enterpise

Keyla Detmer - Star Trek Discovery

Chirrut Îmwe - Rogue One

Darth Maul - Star Wars

Anime/Manga:

Kurogane - Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle

Homura Akemi - Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Tougou Mimori - Yuuki Yunna is a Hero

Suletta Mercury - Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury

Qifrey - Witch Hat Atelier

Johnny Joestar - Steel Ball Run (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Hitori Gotoh - Bocchi the Rock!

Yuko ‘Isako’ Amasawa - Dennou Coil

Nodoka Hanadera / Cure Grace - Healin’ Good Precure

Crona - Soul Eater

Katsuki Yuuri - Yuri!!! On Ice

Yukari Kotozume / Cure Macaron - Kira Kira Precure a la Mode

Yoite - Nabari no Ou

Tokito Minoru - Wild Adapter

Non-English Language Media:

Rose Lavillant - Miraculous Ladybug

Heart - Moonlight Chicken

Leonardo - The Way He Looks

Xiao Xingchen - The Untamed

Wen Kexing - Faraway Wanderers

Zhou Zishu - Word of Honor

Zhou Zishu - Faraway Wanderers

Lan Wangji - The Untamed

Even - SKAM

Wei Wuxian - The Untamed

Chu Sangwoo - Semantic Error

Wen Kexing - Word of Honor

Hua Cheng - Heaven Official’s Blessing

Eliott Demaury - SKAM France

Cui Buqu - Peerless / Wushuang

Fu Shen - Golden Terrace / Huang Jin Tai

Yan Xiaohan - Golden Terrace / Huang Jin Tai

Xue Xian - Copper Coins / Tong Qian Kan Shi

Animated/TV Shows:

General Amaya - The Dragon Prince

Ballister Boldheart - Nimona

Yang Xiao Long - RWBY

Eda Clawthorne - The Owl House

Luz Noceda - The Owl House

Quinni Gallagher-Jones - Heartbreak High

Korra - Avatar: The Legend of Korra

Lapis Lazuli - Steven Universe

Norma Khan - Dead End: Paranormal Park

Ian Gallagher - Shameless

Entrapta - She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

Viktor - Arcane

Runaan - The Dragon Prince

Hiccup Haddock - How To Train Your Dragon

Robin Buckley - Stranger Things

Takashi ‘Shiro’ Shirogane - Voltron: Legendary Defender

Zuko - Avatar: The Last Airbender

Alex Manes - Roswell, New Mexico

Hunter - The Owl House

Felix - Heartstopper

Coach Ben Scott - Yellowjackets

Red Action - OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes

Lucius Spriggs - Our Flag Means Death

Prince Wilhelm - Young Royals

Lilith Clawthorne - The Owl House

Sameen Shaw - Person of Interest

Gobber - How To Train Your Dragon

Frankie Stein - Monster High

Lord Boxman - OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes

Books:

Wylan Van Eck - Six of Crows

Kessa - Rooks and Ruin

Kaz Brekker - Six of Crows

Renarin Kholin - The Stormlight Archive

Asta Headstrom - The Reckless Kind

Alexander Claremont-Diaz - Red, White & Royal Blue

Zofia Boguska - The Gilded Wolves

Tiberius ‘Ty’ Blackthorn - The Shadowhunter Chronicles

Anna Tromedlov - Hench by Natalie Zina

Havelock Vetinari - Discworld

Harrowhawk Nonagesimus - The Locked Tomb Series

Ling Chan - The Diviners Series

Shallan Davar - The Stormlight Archive

Niclays Roos - Priory of the Orange Tree (Roots of Chaos)

Wayne Terrisborn - Mistborn

Wu Zetian - Iron Widow

Spira - Tess of the Road

Artemisia of Naimes - Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson

Tunuva Melim - A Day of Fallen Night (Roots of Chaos)

Sabran IX Berethnet - Priory of the Orange Tree

Simon Snow - Carry On

Neil Josten - All for the Game

Baru Cormorant - The Masquerade Series

Percy Newton - The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue

Adam Parrish - The Raven Cycle

Queen Shulamit - The Second Mango by Shiro Glassman

Amara - Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis

Ianthe Tridentarius - The Locked Tomb Series

Mille Roper - The Arcadia Project Series

Nico di Angelo - Percy Jackson

Jem Carstairs / Ke Jian Ming - The Shadowhunter Chronicles

Frodo Baggins - Lord of the Rings

Jesper Fahey - Six of Crows

Val Palafox - Venom and Vow

Joly - Les Misérables

Baz Pitch - Carry On

Hearthstone - Magnus Chase

Jack Zimmerman - Check Please!

Dezi - The Sunbearer Trials

Nova Huang - Mooncakes

Jack Wolcott - Wayward Children

Charlie Spring - Heartstopper

Ambrosius Goldenloin - Nimona

Andrew Minyard - All for the Game

Eduoar Corabelli II (Ed) - The Reader Trilogy / Sea of Ink and Gold

Jimmy Kaga-Ricci - I Was Born for This

Kate Rose - Cosmoknights

Erik - The Tea Dragon Society

Elphaba Tropp - Wicked

Ballister Blackheart - Nimona

Video Games:

Floofty Fizzlebean - Bugsnax

Snorpy Fizzlebean - Bugsnax

Olivia - Fear and Hunger 2: Termina

Saki Tenma - Project Sekai

Daan - Fear and Hunger

Scavenger - Arknights

Snake - Zero Escape

Patchouli Knowledge - Touhou Project

Riku - Kingdom Hearts

Link - Legend of Zelda

Kuruto Ryuki - AI: The Somnium Files

Loam Arnault - Entropic Float

Ignis Scientia - Final Fantasy XV

Billie Lurk - Dishonered

Shane - Stardew Valley

Chicory - Chicory: A Colorful Tale

Gaige - Borderlands

Eichi Tenshouin - Ensemble Stars!!

Patricia Tannis - Borderlands Series

Alistair Hammerlock - Borderlands

Kin Kitsuragi - Disco Elysium

Harry du Bois - Disco Elysium

Blade - Honkai Star Rail

Other Media:

Lenore Vandernacht - Nevermore on Webtoon

Ashton Greymoore - Critical Role

Kale Romarin - Leif & Thorn

Melanie King - The Magnus Archives

Tedd Verres - El Goonish Shive

Valerie Day - Paranatural

Ayda Aguefort - Dimension 20

Jace Beleren - Magic: The Gathering

Will Kenrith - Magic: The Gathering

Arthur Lester - Malevolent

Hebe Harrison - Doctor Who

Hermann Gottlieb - Pacific Rim

Isabella Peretti - ValorPUNK

Sydney October Sargent - Camp Here and There

Zolf Smith - Rusty Quill podcast

Rudyard Funn - Wooden Overcoats

Merle Highchurch - The Adventure Zone: Balance

Jedidiah A.A. Martin - Camp Here and There

Jonathan Sims - The Magnus Archives

Juno Steel - The Penumbra Podcast

Buddy Aurinko - The Penumbra Podcast

Vespa Ilkay - The Penumbra Podcast

Princess Sapphia of Mytilene - High Class Homos

Ricky Potts - Ride the Cyclone

Characters we’d really like propaganda for:

Zuko - Avatar: The Last Airbender

Prince Wilhelm - Young Royals

Ambrosius Goldenloin - Nimona (book not movie)

Hermann Gottlieb - Pacific Rim

Andrew Minyard - All for the Game

Katsuki Yuuri - Yuri!!! On Ice

Jimmy Kaga-Ricci - I Was Born for This

Ballister Blackheart - Nimona (book not movie)

Vash the Stampede - Trigun (We’ve seen decent evidence for this character qualifying but without a submission we won’t include him)

#lgbtq disabled characters showdown #disabled characters #lgbtq characters #polls #poll #disability #lgbtq

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rosethornewrites · 2 years

Text

Sunday-Wednesday NR, E, & M reading

One of the unfinished mature fics is a friend’s Slayers x/z epic.

Finished

Not Rated:

A Future Together, by TimeToRead112

The story in which Lan Wangji opens his eyes and meets a slightly younger version of the ghost of the man he loves, and thinks that it is never too late to ask for forgiveness.

Or, Lan Wangji wakes up in the middle of a Sunshot Campaign thinking it's just another nightmare of Wei Ying leaving him, when in fact it's a well-deserved second chance.

Another Time Travel/Rebirth AU!

The Wrong Letter, by ConinaUK

Wei Ying is travelling alone, believing Lan Zhan didn't want him to stay in Cloud Recesses. He sends Lan Zhan letters, all the same.

Explicit:

A Smile that Belongs to You, by Seirilypsis

“Look, what happened with Mianmian--”

“Shut up,” Lan Zhan cut him off.

He would be lying if he said that tone didn’t hurt a little.

A lot.

“I don’t know why she came onto me like that--”

“For fuck’s sake, Wei Ying. Shut. Up.”

Lan Zhan slammed him into a tree in the same breath and--

-----

Wei Ying thinks Lan Zhan is uncharacteristically attending the post exams beach party because of Mianmian.

Lan Zhan proceeds to show Wei Ying how wrong he is.

stop the sting, by littledust

Wen Qing can't bear to look at his wounded expression anymore. Her eyes fall to his hands, in part because of the glint of Zidian on his finger. His unadorned hand is pale against violet robes, but the hand that bears Zidian is raw and red.

"Wait," she says. "Sit down. I want to look at your hand."

(Jiang Cheng pays a second visit to the Burial Mounds.)

Imbalance, by blueingaround (5 chapters)

In hindsight, Wei Wuxian should probably have known something like this would happen. But he was the first person to really invest so much in demonic cultivation and the only way to find out more about how things worked was to simply try them out. The thing about having to deal with ghosts and often harvesting their anger for power is that you can’t really choose which ones are the best fit, especially when you’re desperate and need all the help you can get.

aka Wei Wuxian has an imbalance of yin energy and can't deal with it on his own bc he doesn't have a golden core anymore, he needs to dual cultivate with someone, but in the middle of a war, he has no time and trusts no one, things escalate from there

Mature:

nothing is safe., by eeriemedusa

“Do you remember the first person you killed, Lan Zhan?”

Knee deep in the thicket of the Sunshot Campaign, a group of cultivators try their best to survive the war.

Unfinished

Not Rated:

between shield and sword, by shuofthewind

Jiang Yanli has settled into her role as the eldest and most useless child of the Jiang when her mother's sister arrives at Lotus Pier with a proposal: accompany her on her final journey around the cultivation world, make connections with current sect leaders and their heirs, and maybe make a friend or two.

Their first stop on the journey? Yunping.

---

In which Jiang Yanli has a chance encounter with Meng Yao and his mother before he leaves Yunping for Lanling, and the consequences reach far beyond what anyone anticipated.

Explicit:

The Space Between Us, by TempestFlame

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji were once considered a doubles pair to watch as they rose through the ranks of tennis players in China. Though they were each skilled individually, together they were practically unstoppable. But things ended poorly between them, and they haven't seen each other once since the downfall of their partnership.

But when they meet again, two years later, their connection is still stronger than the distance that has grown between them, and they seize their second chance at standing together with everything they have.

A Narrow Bridge, by FrameofMind, Jo Lasalle (Jo_Lasalle)

Once, Lan Wangji made a choice to step aside. Ten years after Wei Ying’s death, he finds a way back to choose again.

The Peach Blossom Grotto, by waffles_4_breakfast

A canon-divergence after core transfer.

Wei Wuxian emerges from the burial mounds, and the events of the Sunshot Campaign play out differently.

Discarded, by teawater

Children in Cloud Recesses are succubming to a dark curse. There's one person who may be able to help.

Mature:

Birth Rite, by tsutsuji

In the sequel to Poison, Zelgadis sets off with Xelloss as his "guardian" on a new quest for ancient magic, and soon discovers something surprising about his own hidden powers. As their journey continues, Zel's quest for the Lost City of Skye uncovers ancient secrets and a conspiracy that could threaten the world - or at least, really mess up his relationship with Xelloss.

Muted Silence, by Forever_Marie

When Wei Wuxian went to the Jiang clan, he could talk. Shortly after arriving he suddenly had slash marks across his young neck and he never spoke again.

Now, that he is going to attend the lectures. Can Lan Zhan unravel the mystery surrounding this beautiful cultivator and help him?

Your Song Called Me, Can't Believe I am Late, by Padma_Warrior

" Forgive me! I beg you, please!." A sharp smile.

" You didn't listen when he said please, so tell me. Why. Should. I?"

Sometimes, people forget. They forget that the Nightless City witnessed a bloodbath because some hurt the loved ones of the Yilling Patriarch. They forget that while Wei Wuxian wouldn't even bat an eye if you cut off his meridians — the same cannot be said for those he cares for.

The world pays a price to be reminded.

Alternate, by Hanashi_o_suru

No one is actually sure what happened, or why it happened. No one died. No one made any whacked up array that backfired --to their knowledge--and no one wasn't necessarily in discontent for where they were in life...

So, why is it they're suddenly in the past to the day they had just got to the Cloud Recesses?

Head and the heart, by Janelle24601

(This story moves away at some point from the canon story)

Lan Zhan loses his memories after an accident at fighting the Wen’s at Nightless City. He can’t remember the last few years. The war, being indoctrinated and humiliated by Wen Chao, and most importantly for his brother and Uncle he can’t imagine ever meeting Wei Ying. Lan Zhan never fell in love with the most unsuitable cultivator possible, he can now live a life more suitable for his station without being dragged down by the YiLing Patriarch. It seems too good to be true. Maybe it is! Meanwhile without the balance of the Lan's the cultivation world has been aiming their hatred at both Wei Ying and the Jiang Sect, forcing Wei Ying to make some hard choices. By the time the Lan's and the cultivation world need Wei Ying's help once again will all this time apart without Lan Zhan’s guidance and support mean the new Wei Ying still feel anything for Lan Zhan?

travelers through the empty gate, by stiltonbasket

Ten years after eliminating the Jiang and Nie clans, Emperor Wen Ruohan is dethroned by a young demonic cultivator from the outlands of Yiling, who surpasses him in both talent and cruelty. Where Wen Ruohan burned his enemies, Emperor Yiling raises his from the dead, and sends them through the imperial city to hunt down every last remnant of the Wen clan that tries to evade his clutches.

The last thing Lan Wangji wants to do with the Yiling huangdi is marry him.

Unfortunately, his family's fall from grace leaves him with no other choice.

We're Alone Now, by Forever_Marie

"Did you hear, did you hear? Hanguang-jun deserted his clan"

Lan Zhan deserts the Lan Clan in favor of protecting Wei Wuxian and warns him of the pending Siege. They all run for the hills and everything is quiet for a decade until one day Xichen wanders upon him in a market in Yiling.

#the untamed #mo dao zu shi #cql #chen qing ling #mdzs #untamed fanfiction

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everythingsouthasian · 2 years

Photo

First 'official' meeting

Buying me a drink is within reason, don't you think?

LIGHT THE NIGHT 華燈初上 (2021-2022) S01E02

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begrudginglytumbling · 3 years

Text

An Uncle’s Wisdom

Summary:

Sometimes, just sometimes, it pays to listen to your elders.

or Lan Qiren would like more grandchildren, please and thank you, and Wei Wuxian's ridiculously low levels of self-worth will not be stopping him from creating the family they all deserve.

(Can be found on AO3 too)

Wei Wuxian was decidedly not in the mood when Lan Qiren decided to visit.

He wasn’t even sure he’d be able to tolerate anyone other than Lan Zhan around him at that moment.

…and if he was being completely honest with himself, he might not be able to tolerate even Lan Zhan’s presence.

Yet, regardless of what was going on, when Lan Qiren came round for tea, you sat your arse down and had tea. It was awkward and stilted, yet Wei Wuxian managed to dredge up enough politeness to get through it, and not actively throw the man out.

At least, he thought he’d managed to present a sufficiently acceptable front until Lan Qiren set his teacup down, nudged the coaster to sit parallel to the edge of the coffee table, folded his hands primly in his lap and said, “Now then Wei Wuxian, will you continue with this farce, or would you like to try the truth?”

The flinch was inevitable, Wei Wuxian couldn’t help it, the words stinging more than usual.

He felt fragile, sitting there under Lan Qiren’s gaze, fingers fiddling with his teacup.

Lan Qiren sighed after the silence had stretched on a little too long. “Know that I do not enjoy it when you force my hand, Wei Wuxian.”

Wei Wuxian merely blinked, uncomprehending and still struggling to find the words that usually came so effortlessly, as Lan Qiren pushed himself to his feet and made his way to the bathroom.

Realisation was a horrible thing, sending ice dripping down his spine when Lan Qiren re-emerged carrying the small bin they usually kept next to the sink. Wei Wuxian knew what was in that bin, and he desperately wanted to forget.

But Lan Qiren seemed insistent on reminding him, pointedly setting the bin down in front of Wei Wuxian, before gracefully sitting beside him.

“Talk to me.”

“Why?” Wei Wuxian’s voice came out quiet and hoarse, his vision blurring as tears gathered on his lashes.

“Because you are struggling, and sometimes talking to someone outside of the situation can help bring things into perspective.”

“Perspective? What other perspective is there?” Wei Wuxian laughed, a wet and pitiful thing. “You can see for yourself, I’m a failure. My existence has a single purpose, and I can’t even do that.”

“Single purpose?” Lan Qiren snapped, clearly indignant at such a term. “Do you deem me a failure then? For spurning this so called ‘single purpose’? For refusing to find a mate and raising a child I have born from my own body?”

“No!” Wei Wuxian cried, grasping at Lan Qiren’s sleeve, eyes wide and horrified. “Uncle I would never suggest that!”

A warm dry hand pat comfortingly at Wei Wuxian’s clenched fists. “Then why do you insist on accusing yourself of such things, hm?

“Because I…I…” he couldn’t help turning his eyes to the bin, to the white sticks littered at its bottom, the bolded ‘Negative’ clear as day on every single one of them.

He startled when Lan Qiren’s slipper came into view, kicking the bin carefully away. “They are not the sum of your worth. Your ability or inability to procreate is not the sum of your worth.”

“But…”

“Have you had your fertility tested?”

“…no?”

“Then if you must lay blame for this, how do you know the fault lies with yourself? Perhaps the fault is Wangji’s.”

Wei Wuxian’s response to such an accusation was an instantaneous and vehement, “No!”

“But you do not know,” Lan Qiren pointed out, even as Wei Wuxian shook his head, refusing to even entertain such an idea.

“Lan Zhan is perfect, this is my fault, not his.”

“My boy,” Lan Qiren sighed the sigh of the long suffering and resigned. “As much as I love my nephew, I will be the first to admit he is not perfect.”

“You…!”

Lan Qiren held up a hand, halting the words likely to spring forth in defence of Lan Wangji, “Let me finish. I do not say this to slander him. I say this because I am fully aware that humans, by their very nature, are not perfect. We are not infallible creatures. As I said, if you must find fault then my nephew is just as likely to blame as yourself.”

Shoulders slumping, a tear finally escaped to roll down his cheek. “But I just want to have a family with Lan Zhan.”

“And what makes you think carrying the child yourself is the only option for that? There are other paths you can explore. Adoption is always an admirable path to take, and, it would seem, is becoming something of a family tradition.”

“You would not think less of me?” Wei Wuxian asked, voice small.

Lan Qiren softened as much as his stiff posture would allow, reaching out to cup Wei Wuxian’s cheek, “a-Xian, how could I think less of you for doing the very same thing that I have done when I took in my nephews? How could I think less of you when Xichen has done the same with his mates and given me a-Yi to dote upon?”

“But don’t the Lan need a blood heir?”

“Blood does not matter. We are not the Jin, nor are we the Jiang. A good heart, a just soul. These things matter. Family matters. By blood or by bond, family is the most important.”

A smile curved Wei Wuxian’s lips. Watery though it may be, it was still true.

“Thank you, Uncle.”

“Uncle? Wei Ying?”

The pair turned to see a lightly frowning Lan Wangji standing in the doorway.

“Ah Wangji, you’re home, good.” Dropping his hand to give a reassuring squeeze to Wei Wuxian’s shoulder, he rose to his feet and straightened his clothes. “I shall return in a week’s time. I trust you shall both be here?”

“Of course, Uncle, but…”

“Just tend to your husband, Wangji, and I shall deal with the rest.”

-x-

They were honestly not quite sure what had happened, but a week later, as promised, Lan Qiren swept into their home ladened with forms and files and annotated paperwork.

The three sat at the dining room table, Lan Qiren on one side, Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian on the other. A relatively thick folder was pushed towards them.

“Following our discussion I took it upon myself to make some enquires. This is Wen Yuan. He is three years old and an orphan. His parents were tragically killed in a car accident, following which he was placed in some less than satisfactory foster homes before his remaining family could be found and contacted. Unfortunately, due to varying circumstances, his family have been unable to offer the care he needs.”

Wei Wuxian reached out a trembling hand to open the file, his breath hitching at the photograph of an adorable little boy. “Lan Zhan?”

“Mn.” A strong arm curled around Wei Wuxian’s shoulders, holding him safe and secure.

“The child’s birth family would like to maintain contact and are accepting of the fact his name will change with the adoption. What matters to them is that the child is loved and well cared for.”

“How…why him?” Wei Wuxian asked, fingers still tracing the curve of a cheek, plump with baby fat.

“As I have already told you, to the Lans, family matters. I believe, even at such a young age, this boy embodies those beliefs of the Lan. I believe he would thrive under your care, and I also believe that you would thrive within a large family.”

-x-

Three Years Later

Wei Wuxian could happily say that the party was going to be a rousing success. With a glass of Uncle Four’s latest batch in one hand, and a plate piled high with various foods made by his sister, his Lan Zhan, and the budding culinary skills of Wen Ning, Wei Wuxian couldn’t stop smiling even if he tried.

Taking a seat next to a gently smiling Lan Wangji, he turned his attention to the people gathered in their garden.

Nie Mingjue stood, shoulders slumped and chastised, as Wen Qing listed all the things he needed to do to care for his health. Clearly the instigators of the dressing down Nie Mingjue was receiving, Meng Yao and Nie Huaisang sat to one side, smug little smiles on their faces.

Lan Xichen and Wen Ning were sat beside a heavily pregnant Jiang Yanli, talking about this and that in gentle tones, while Jin Zixuan fluttered about tending to Jiang Yanli’s every need.

Granny Wen and Lan Qiren had taken over the comfortable garden chairs under the shade of an umbrella, swiping at their phones in that awkward way some technologically challenged older people had. But they were content, radiating pride as they told stories and showed off various photos of their grandchildren and family, and shared the odd image that the other didn’t already have.

Jiang Cheng was splayed out on the grass, Lan Yuan, Lan Jingyi, and the neighbour’s kid Ouyang Zizhen sat on his back cheering about defeating the great evil water ghoul. All the while little three-year-old Jin Ling sat giggling and happily whacking his uncle’s head with a foam sword.

This, this is what he’d wanted all those years ago, when he’d had a bin full of negative pregnancy tests and was so very close to just throwing Lan Qiren out of the house.

This was the family he’d always craved

What he’d always wanted.

Snuggled against Lan Wangji’s side, the scent of sandalwood under his nose, and the sounds of family filling his ears, Wei Wuxian could admit that sometimes, just sometimes, it paid to listen to your elders.

#mdzsbingo #The Untamed #Lan Qiren #Wei Wuxian #Lan Wangji #my writing #fanfiction writing #there are family feels #and I made LQR into a good parent because I didn't feel like making him a villian this time #especially when I could pair him with Granny Wen looking at pictures of their grandkids and bragging to each other

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jiangwanyinscatmom · 3 years

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I just found a chengxian blog and checked out a fanfic - just to see how they worked around wangxian - I’m always curious and sometimes this kind of thing gives me insight I didn’t realise was present - but jfc, the delusion is real.

Now I know, it’s bad form to go look for this stuff and shit on a ship, and I’m not shitting on the very concept of chengxian. Hell, before the fall of LP, I could even see something? Something unhealthy and all sorts of unbalanced but okay sure. And AUs of course. Either way, to each their own.

But these post-resurrection or even worse, post canon fics are hilarious.

Because suddenly we’re all forgetting just how gone WWX is for LWJ because they have similar interests (music and literature), morals (you know, being good) and have always been equals (in talent) - and instead we have WWX being a miserable drunk and hating CR because LWJ gives in too easily, he doesn’t have enough pushback to stimulate him (are we forgetting how this relationship started?) and it just baffles me.

Why it baffles me is the lack of awareness. Do they actually believe this? I mean, I’ve read some XiYao fics and some of those shippers are very well aware of the effed up dynamics at play. Sure, they mess around with it, give Yao some benefit of the doubt, make a lot of canon divergences, but these guys just see everything through opaque rose coloured glasses and somehow try to justify it and I don’t really know how they function...

Btw I’m a CQL only but with a healthy respect for the other forms but CQL really did mess with minds when you see JC clapping for WWX during the archery thing (albeit with a constipated smile and he didn’t even participate) while the donghua which is closer to the novel clearly shows us that he was upset at not winning himself - this is apparently a very clear sign of his adoration and of course justifies how he basically led to WWX throwing himself off a cliff because the irrational grape would have led to both wangxian falling.

Just🤦🏼‍♀️

I'm dealing with a migraine so hopefully what I put here isn't too mean in regards to this ship.

I don't in anyway care what others ship given that I myself lowkey ship ridiculous things that have no romantic basis in the material (and given I respect the author I see exactly what she means that none other than the purely romantic pairs shown in MDZS are meant to be seriously interpreted as romantic in canon). But hey, I like shallow, I like the effed up dynamic in NieYao and XueXiao and like the shallowness of X!cheng for fun what if's. But you (general you but for the stans specifically) have got to admit when something is just for shallow fun without demeaning the real work itself and hate the main core of it and changing the dynamics to be so wildly OOC because you are personally salty (You look like a major Karen doing this shit and are fucking adults sounding like those middle school shit heads).

I also have a whole fanon conspiracy that Jiang Cheng works as a false love interest and as an unrequited fucked up crush/obsession since I personally feel it adds more to Jiang Cheng's depths in terms of exploration for FAN works.

"Do they actually believe this?"

Yes, they honestly do believe, in all their tiny galaxy brained power that this ship is somehow superior and has romantic chemisty along with needing to have been the focused CP. I will point out it is really not even what I would consider a popular pair given it has just under 2k on AO3 alone for the Western base along with the Untamed/MDZS having the largest audience for Danmei works there. Lofter itself has it's own top 100 ships with Jiang Cheng's most popular being X!cheng by a large margin similar to it's Western stats.

If we breakdown it's rankings for both

AO3: Rank 2 of overall ship works 2020: Wangx!an

Rank 55: X!cheng

with ChengX!an being too low in numbers to rank in.

Lofter overall ship works 2020: Rank 1: Wangx!an (with X!anwang ranking again at 66)

Rank 13: X!cheng

Rank 48: Xiancheng (and yes this is a very important distinction as it denotes the "dominate" one in the pair)

If we were to mesh these together with tumblr stats in a similar way the overall would still be Wangxian ranking high as Rank 1 in the Untamed/MDZS tag, overall ships Rank 13 and the only MXTX pair to be featured.

After that digression, regardless of the interpretations, even with Wang ZhouCheng he himself only played up the sibling aspect of the relationship as was in script, it does not have the supposed chemistry they speak of when they slap the Wangx!an one on it. God damn if I have to see this Cuckji shit from these shippers one more time my eyes will roll on the floor and melt from the stupid, which is ironic since Jiang Cheng himself was the canon Cuck who's bro got swept off his feet by the canon Chad. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Jiang Cheng through several passages in the book shows that his downfall was his jealousy of Wei Wuxian as his own person that did not listen to him specifically but it was never in terms of romance at the base of what MXTX was showing simple as that. This was shown with Wei Wuxian's interest in Lan Wangji, him saving Lan Wangji and to a point MianMian, as well as the Wen Remnants because it simply left Jiang Cheng what he considered more work and trouble. He cared about Wei Wuxian in so much as Wei Wuxian didn't make a splash for the reputation of Yunmeng Jiang while hypocritically having made use of Wei Wuxian during the war and turning around to be jealous of the devotion Wei Wuxian had during that time due to the attention Wei Wuxian garnered. Jiang Cheng simply did not think he had to extend some sort of actual good will to Wei Wuxian since he felt he had given enough of that just by the sake of Jiang Fengmian taking him in as a disciple and raising him. HOW you get Wei Wuxian having romantic inclination out of this, I can't say as I am not enlightened enough for the wonders of ChengX!an and apparently want to fuck MXTX who I have never met or know, or, want to fuck the very gay leads (who do not exist) despite being a lesbian.

#major wank #salt? salt #god damn I hate this pair as much as Asr!an thanks to the stans of them

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gacy-lajla · 4 years

Text

Wen Qing x Reader || Comb

Genre: idk ths is like the introduction to something with slight angst and def fluff fluff fluff, also based on the SERIES because i have yet to finish the web novel (and animation,, and manhua,,,,)

Warnings: none

Word count: 1,171

Summary: You help Wen Qing do the dishes when you find out about the comb she was gifted (this is probably a two part series - if not more); reader is gender neutral so anyone should be able to read this?? also not proof read because we die like almost everyone in this series

“Wen Qing!”

At the sound of your voice the woman turned around, abandoning her task of cleaning the dishes by giving you all of her attention. She slowly rose on her two legs, nearly matching you in height, her red clothing dirtied by working many hours a day, having to kneel down in the most unclean places – especially when it came to playing with little Yuan. You couldn't help but smile every single time she gave him time of the day just to help him have a fulfilling childhood – considering the situation you found yourself currently in. You've always known, ever since meeting Wen Qing, that she was much of a family person. Her brother seemed to be the world to her, so seeing her watch A-Yuan with so much love in her eyes was no surprise – and now with the state Wen Ning is in he probably is a good distraction for her. The look in her eyes when she looked at both though nearly matched the same expression you had whenever you spotted her. Not that she knew, you didn't have the courage to tell her how you felt. Instead you poked fun at her that she was a real heartbreaker for every man walking by which made her scold you for spending too much time with Wei Wuxian.

“Is there something you need? Should I help you with your work?” Her voice was soft and you would do anything to listen to her day in and day out.

“Oh no, there's no need, I actually finished a while ago and came to find you to ask if you need-” you stopped, remembering how much she disliked it when people offered their help by asking if she needed it – as if she wasn't capable to do it on her own. “I'm here to help you out a bit, Yuan's missing you and Granny Wen would probably like a little break!”

You gave her a cheeky smile to which she answered with a defeated sigh. She knew that you wouldn't accept an rejection so instead she just handed you a plate and a cloth, getting back to her work. You worked in silence, only the steady scrubbing on the dishes breaking it, but no word was uttered, you both too concentrated on the task. But it didn't take long for you to lift your head a little and look at the woman once again, silently admiring her for the strong person she was, which she would obviously would deny. But you, for once in your life, knew better. You just haven't found a way to show her, yet.

Your body jumped a little when her eyes flicked up and met yours, unimpressed and yet questioning. “You shouldn't offer your help if you won't actually do anything.” She said, leaving the question on top of her tongue out. You let out a little 'oh', noticing that, yes, you have stopped scrubbing which you immediately resumed on doing. After that you forced yourself not to look up any more, your face burning in embarrassment at being caught staring. At least she didn't ask you about why you were doing it because honestly? You probably wouldn't have a good comeback for her and would just stumble all over your words.

When Wen Qing stood up once more to place the washed dishes on a table you noticed a piece of cloth tightly wound around something drop to the floor with a soft thud which she didn't seem to notice. You looked at her and then back to the little piece on the ground before reaching out and grabbing it to hand it back to her.

“Wen Qing, you dropped something!” You held the veiled object up above your head, holding it between your fingers so she could see it. She turned her head towards you and when she noticed what you were holding she rushed back after placing the items down.

“Ah, thank you so much, I can't believe I actually let it slip I-” She stopped there, leaving the rushed sentence unfinished. You didn't want to force her to explain herself – it was her matter in the end and not yours, curiosity rarely got the better of you anyway.

“I didn't look at what it is, don't worry. You know I don't like it when people snoop around so I also don't do it to others.” You reassured her with a sincere smile which made her visibly relax, the grip on the item still firm, though.

“It's... fine. I was meaning to return it anyway. I don't need it, even though- well, I feel bad for holding on to it for so long.” You cocked your head to the side in question. What could make her feel so bad for having something for a longer period of time? Was it some kind of charm that didn't belong to her? Maybe something Wen Ning possessed which she wants to give him back once he awakens again? But you didn't have to muse over the answer for long because with her gaze on the cloth she opened it and revealed a comb.

“A comb? Did you take it from Granny? I can give it back to her if-”

“It was given to me by Jiang Cheng.”

“Oh.”

You pressed your lips into a firm line, immediately understanding the meaning of the gifted comb by the leader of the Jiang Sect, your entire body stiffening by the uncomfortable atmosphere created. Wen Qing looked sad, her eyes downcast on the little piece which was most likely a sign of interest – of love.

“I don't- I don't want to give him hope where it isn't due. Especially after everything that happened. I doubt he even feels the same way the day he gifted it to me. And I...” There was a pause in which she took a deep breath. You were holding your own unconsciously, waiting with anticipation what she was going to say.

“I don't think I can say I return his feelings. There's someone else I hold dear which I have not felt when being around him.”

You let out the breath you were holding, at a loss of words. You weren't ready for her to open up about such things to you now. And it kind of made you scared to do the same because she apparently had someone in mind, and by the love of every living being, you couldn't put your finger on who it might actually be.

“Ah, I probably said too much, I'm sorry. You don't need to say anything, I wouldn't know what to say if I were you as well.”

“You don't need to be sorry, Wen Qing, you know I'm always happy to just listen to you...” Your voice was uncharacteristically quiet compared to hers, the double meaning of your words only known to you. You would never dare to grow tired of hearing her voice filling the room.

“Thank you.”

#mo dao zu shi #mo dao zu shi x reader #wen qing #wen qing x reader #the untamed #the untamed x reader #the grandmaster of demonic cultivation #the grandmaster of demonic cultivation x reader #reader insert #reader #imagine #scenario #fanfic #fanfiction #i'm sorry jiang cheng #but wen qing needs some LOVE

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this-solaris-life · 3 years

Text

A Witchy Kind of Love

♥ Co-Written with @ruensroad ♥ Status: Completed ♥ Pairing: ZhanCheng (Lan Wangji x Jiang Cheng) ♥ AU: Modern Witches/Familiars; Hurt/Comfort; Coming Together; Happy Ending ♥ Where to Read: AO3 | Only chapter one will be posted on Tumblr. ♥ Author’s Note: If you don’t like this paring then do not read it. Absolutely do not send either us disgusting hate messages here or on AO3 about you not liking this paring. Just move on and live your best life. Otherwise! Enjoy ♥

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“Of course you wouldn’t be XianXian’s familiar. It all makes sense now…” Jiang Fengmian said as he stared his son down with that disappointed look that Jiang Cheng was all too familiar with. Jiang Cheng swallowed the shame all the same. He’d tried his best and it seemed like he would have been chosen because he had a good bond with Wei Wuxian. However, Wen Ning had appeared with his sister Wen Qing into their part of the familiar realm Lotus Pier. It so happened Wei Wuxian was visiting and the two met.

“You couldn’t even be that brat’s familiar? What’s the point in you being here now!” His mother said with an icy edge that Jiang Cheng felt actual pain. His mother had been the one pushing him to try to bond more with Wei Wuxian.

“Maybe you should just take a walk? Let them calm down, it's not like they are going to make you leave.” Jiang Yanli said, softly trying to comfort him. “You’ll find your own Bond like me and A-Xian.”

“That’s a great idea, A-Li! At first light you’re to leave and find your witch then you can come back!” Jiang Fengmian said with a grin on his face and a look in his eyes that broke the last bit of hope in him that his father actually cared about him. HIs sister had at least had the decency to look horrified though did nothing and his mother had been pleased because this was an appropriate punishment for a failure such as him.

Jiang Cheng had known that it wasn’t going to be a good breakfast with his family when Wei Wuxian had met his familiar, Wen Ning. All this father’s hope that he’d been the familiar of his former friend that was a witch went down in flames and his mother had only wished for it because it would stop his father’s daydreaming. What he hadn't expected was to be thrown out the next morning. He felt like his heart was breaking when his mother had all but disowned him.

He didn’t even bother to take anything but his bell. That he attached to his sash. A gift he’d been preparing to give his witch. He wouldn’t wait for the morning. What's the point in avoiding the inevitable? It’s not that they truly cared, did they?

Jiang Cheng’s eyes burned as he ran away from the only home he’d ever known. From the family he thought cared for him. No, he wouldn’t go back. If he ever found them. Supposedly familiars are forever linked. So in each life in some way he’d find his way to the one who’d care for him.

He left the familiar spiritual realm of Lotus Pier into what was Shanghai. And of course the moment he stepped out in his familiar form as a black cat it was raining. Not a soft mist, but a cold heavy pelting followed by rolling thunder. His hackles rose in this form but he focused on finding a spot. He needed to quickly before he got sick, because that would be his luck after what happened. He would get sick and die alone.

Jiang Cheng got off the sidewalk and saw the signs of a park. He’d remembered that a lot of them had benches or maybe a tree he could climb up in to try to get dry. Though the rain was only coming down harder and the benches that he was close too all had those metal slats. Sadly the trees were all manicured and lacking in the coverage needed to protect him from the rain. Jiang Cheng huffed as he sat in front of one staring at the bench like somehow it would morph into what he needed. His ears twitched hearing the sound of shoes on pavement but he ignored it.

Suddenly, the rain was no longer falling on him. The pattering of it striking a tight, slick fabric made soft music instead.

He had ignored the feet, but the owner of said feet had not ignored him. Even with such neat, tidy clothes, the man wasted no time in tilting his umbrella to cover Jiang Cheng. His left arm was already soaked.

If the man cared, he didn’t show it. His eyes were kind, though his face was impassive, and a strong current of magic flowed through him. He crouched over the mud to get a good look at Jiang Cheng.

“Lost?” he asked, gentle and unthreatening. He offered his free hand for Jiang Cheng to sniff just as a crack of thunder raged overhead.

“Nope.” Jiang Cheng answered resolutely. Because he had nowhere to go. He still didn’t even bother to look up. It wasn’t like there was a magic red string that could help him find his witch. No, that’s not how bonds worked. “I am not a pet, human.” He ignored the hand. There wasn’t a reason for him to accept. No one would want a bone soaked cat.

“You are not,” the man agreed, hearing the cat sniffle. No doubt, he had been in the rain long enough to get sick. That thick fur was soaked through.

It was clear the brown mackerel tabby was a stubborn sort, but the man was too, and he quickly tried a different tack. “Hungry?”

Jiang Cheng blinked and finally deigned to look up at his bystander. His eyes narrowed seeing the magical aura around him. It was calm and an icy blue. The way it moved let him know that he was a witch and a musical one at that. Which was nice but it also stung because that’s what kind of aura that Wei Wuxian had.

He pushed that thought away to focus on the man. He was tall and lean. Clearly a runner. His hair was shoulder length and dark with a bluish tint to it that made his ember eyes stand out. The man was dressed in a light blue turtleneck that peeked out from a pristine white pea coat and jeans.

A sneeze ruined his train of thought. His wet paw rubbing it from the burn he’d felt. Jiang Cheng internally sighed feeling that it was warm which meant he was probably going to be sick. He’d been right that the powers that be were against him. His stomach growled at the thought of food. That’s when he remembered that he hadn’t eaten since breakfast this morning and had been too anxious to eat after finding out about Wen Ning and Wei Wuxian.

“I am fine.” Jiang Cheng said stubbornly. He could find something he was sure and it wouldn’t be smart to just trust the first witch he’d seen. The weather alone was a sign. But his stomach growled again just as the words had come out of his mouth.

To the man’s credit, he didn’t quite snort, but there was definitely some sort of huffed breath at that. “You will get sick,” he said, knowing the familiar already was, and turned his face to point down the street. The sky was so dreary and dark, it was hard to make out his home, which was a three story house squeezed between two older apartment buildings. It had a red door from the previous owner, which he’d kept, liking the striking accent. Now, he was thankful he’d kept it for another reason, for it was visible even through the rain.

“Red door,” he said softly. “Free food and a warm hearth. You are welcome to come. Stay as you like, go as you like.”

“Why? Is that what you do? Take stray familiars?” Jiang Cheng sassed, feeling the sting of that being what he was now. A stray. He sneezed again and he swatted his nose, sadly entertaining the thought that perhaps he should have waited till morning.

“Sometimes,” the man said, calm in that. It was true enough. He did meet a few strays - familiar and regular animals alike - that needed help. “Have none of my own. Help where I can.” He didn’t bother offering his hand again, given that sniffling meant Jiang Cheng couldn’t smell him. He moved the umbrella more over the cat instead, uncaring that he was getting wet. “No charge to stay.”

Immediately, Jiang Cheng wanted to tell him no, but he couldn’t go home. Well...what had been his home. He let out an audible sigh as he tried not to cry. Because that’d be the cherry on top of a terrible day. Crying in front of the witch while being rude to him. He also needed to think about the situation. Jiang Cheng had nowhere to go and this witch was offering. Though he was still a bit weary that the witch would trap him.

“No tricks or I’ll claw your eyes out.” Jiang Cheng finally caved as he moved onto all four paws.

“No tricks,” the man agreed and held his umbrella over Jiang Cheng as they slowly walked to the tall, squashed house with a red door. He’d been about to wrap the cat up in his pea coat, carry him there, but Jiang Cheng was clearly a proud creature and would probably not appreciate it. There would be plenty of time to get him warm and dry once inside, anyways.

The key he took out of his pocket was antique and long, with a flat head for the lock. He had to turn it completely through the lock nearly twice, and there was a soft rumble through the building, the magic shivering through it, welcoming them both.

He held the door for Jiang Cheng to move through, right into a small entryway with a spot for outdoor shoes and indoor shoes. It was old concrete, so there was no harm in standing there a moment dripping.

“Be right back,” the witch said, tucking out of his shoes and wet pea coat. He shook out the umbrella outside then shut the door, which locked itself with a winding mechanism much like a clock’s. Shuffling into his indoor slippers, the man stepped up into the entry-hall, which had glossy, dark hardwood floors and moved quickly towards his bathroom to grab a towel.

He came back and knelt down, holding the towel open so Jiang Cheng could walk into it. “Here.”

Jiang Cheng considered it and hesitated only for a moment before stepping forward into the warm towel. He’d only ever been touched by Wei Wuxian and his sister in this form since he was kitten. His eyes closed to keep the tears at bay again. It was best to try not to think about them. He knew though that it was easier thought than done.

The man rubbed him vigorously with the towel, drying him off. He could better hear the cat’s thick breathing now that the rain was muffled through the door. “May I carry you?” he asked, wrapping the towel around Jiang Cheng like he was a kitten burrito. “Living room not far. Has a fireplace.”

“No funny business.” Jiang Cheng sniffled. He’d been strong and hadn’t purred when the drying off started to feel a lot like scratching. It’d been a while since he’d been petted. He swatted his tail at the witch. “I am Jiang Wanyin.” Jiang Cheng finally decided to share his name with the witch.

“Lan Wangji,” the man gave him, then carefully lifted him up into his arms, cradling him like he was a babe. He further wrapped the towel around Jiang Cheng and moved towards his living room as promised. The fireplace came to life with a mere thought, warming the room in a golden glow. It was a traditional looking space, for all the building was more western in design. It had a low table and a daybed couch near the fire, but also a recliner. Lan Wangji set him on the recliner since it was closest and softest.

“I’ll be back,” Lan Wangji said again, removing the damp towel and trading it for a dry blanket. Then he was out of the room to make a quick bowl of food for his new guest, leaving Jiang Cheng there to get settled.

Jiang Cheng settled into the warm cushion of the seat. He kneaded and circled till he felt comfortable enough to sit down. Well loaf down was the correct term. To just lounge wasn’t something that he did around anyone really. For fear of being called lazy. He tucked his tail in and listened for Lan Wangji. The witch's home was comfortable and nothing like his siblings' own homes. It smelled of sandalwood and patchouli. His gaze shifted to the guqin on the table and with the swirl of clouds of his design made him think of Wei Wuxian’s youth at the Cloud of Recesses.

Soft footsteps approached around the smell of fish. Lan Wangji quietly crossed the room to him with a plate of lightly steamed shredded trout. He set it on the recliner next to Jiang Cheng and tucked the blanket around the cat a little more, making sure he was warm and fed.

Once satisfied that Jiang Cheng was comfortable, he neatly folded himself behind the guqin and started to tune the instrument, his magic shimmering over the strings. He plucked softly, so as not to disturb his guest, obviously not one to push too much into Jiang Cheng’s business or force awkward conversation.

Jiang Cheng ate as quietly as he could after smelling it to make sure that it hadn’t been tampered with. Not that he’d truly smell any right now. His eyes got droopy from the good trout, Lan Wangji’s playing, and the warmth from the fireplace. Just when he started to fall asleep he sneezed hard.

“I...I’m done.” Jiang Cheng announced, though he hadn’t eaten all of it. He probably should have but his stomach just wasn’t in the mood while his head felt the way it did. “Thank you, Lan Wangji.” He tried for nice but he was sure it sounded like he was annoyed.

Lan Wangji took it in stride, elegantly standing and taking the plate. Then, his head tilted, considering him. “Bonded or not?” he asked, needing to know if Jiang Cheng would be shifting human at some point. It would determine the medicine he needed to get for him.

“Not.” Jiang Cheng answered, bluntly. Dazed sapphire eyes gazed up at him. “And I wouldn’t be shifting anyways. I’m for my witch.” the last bit a little slurred from slight dizziness that was coming to him. He really shouldn’t have been out in that rain most of the day.

Lan Wangji just nodded. “Alright. Will be back with medicine,” he said and moved off, no judgement in his tone. He knew Bonds were important to familiars and he truly had only needed to know what medicine to grab. It was meant for smaller animals, but infused with his own magic, a cocktail just for familiars. He knelt down beside the recliner and held up the needleless syringe to Jiang Cheng’s nose. “Here. Good for colds and sleep.”

Jiang Cheng tried to smell it but all he really smelled was Lan Wangi and his sandalwood. So far the witch hadn’t tried to hurt or capture him. He swallowed, making the best choice for himself before opening to take the medicine. The mixture had settled on his stomach and started it’s job. He could feel the magic in it that told him Lan Wangji was the one who made this. It tasted mostly like he’d taken a bite of a strawberry pie. Which had him curious about the witch’s kitchen and cookbooks.

“Not bad.” Jiang Cheng offered instead of a thanks. That would be reserved for when he was better to see if the witch had tricked him. Even if it had been too late. At least he hadn’t thanked him for hurting him.

Lan Wangji took that as a good sign and simply tucked the blanket around Jiang Cheng more, then returned to his kitchen to clean out the medical syringe. He was hardly surprised to see Jiang Cheng’s eyes blinking slowly when he folded himself back behind his qin and began to play for him. He went with a lullaby that was infused with his qi, promoting deep sleep and present dreams. Jiang Cheng seemed like he needed that kind of kindness.

Sleep, he bid silently through the melody, watching Jiang Cheng from the corner of his eye. Feel better.

“Don’t trick.” Jiang Cheng reminded him, before he felt himself start to drift off to the lovely music that Lan Wangji was playing. His ears flicking. He prayed that he didn't purr as he slept was his last thought before falling into a deep sleep.

Lan Wangji continued to play, even though Jiang Cheng was sound asleep, and didn’t stop until his usual practice time was over. Then he got up to get dressed and readied his music room for the couple music students that would drop by for their lessons. He hoped all the giggling wouldn’t wake Jiang Cheng, but then he supposed there were worse things to wake up to, and thought no more on it when his first student of the afternoon showed up with her tiny qin on her back.

He had three students, a slower day, and it was a good hour before he needed to decide dinner when he escorted his final pupil to the door. The house fell silent again, calm with the echoes of children’s laughter and the magic of music being so earnestly learned. He moved quietly to the living room to check on Jiang Cheng. Seeing the cat still sound asleep was both endearing and worrying, and he could only hope the medicine was doing its job.

#Don't Like Don't Read!#The Untamed #Lan Wangji #Jiang Cheng #ZhanCheng #Wei Wuxian #Wen Ning #Nie Huaisang #Jiang Yanli #Jiang Fengmian #Madam Yu #Hurt/Comfort #Happy Ending

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coffee-and-cookies-mochi · 4 years

Text

how do they see the yiling patriarch—fifteen years later

A sharp shrill of a flute rips through the darkened skies, along with repetitive caws from the murder of crows appearing from nowhere. Cold winds blow against their robes, chilling them to the bone. A hundred or so whispers blend with the air—like lost souls humming a deathly tune.

Lan SiZhui can only watch in stupefied terror, not knowing what to do. Beside him, Jin Ling and Lan JingYi move closer to him, tightening their grips on their respective swords.

Then—

SiZhui feels before he sees.

He feels a frost colder than Cloud Recesses’ winters wrapping around them, shrouded with terror and dread. He senses the resentful energies slowly creeping towards them, yet somehow keeping a distance.

And then SiZhui sees the very man the whole cultivation world had feared a long, long time ago.

Long hair sway loosely with every step, a small knot of it tied with a red ribbon. Dressed in black robes detailed with flames and red clouds; a gleaming ebony flute on his pale hand, a crimson tassel hanging on the instrument’s end.

The man looks up, and SiZhui notes how pallid his skin is against the moonlight—almost like that of a ghost’s. His eyes are closed, as if trying to calm himself.

“I heard,” the man murmurs, and everyone trembles at the raw fear his wintry voice invokes. “You were looking for me?”

The man’s eyes open, and his orbs—SiZhui holds back a shudder—are bright, twinkling rubies.

For a brief moment, Lan SiZhui does not see his Senior Wei, or the man who once planted him in the soil like a radish. He does not see the playful, teasing man whose laugh is nearly unbridled; whose smile reminds him of an approaching summer; whose warmth is parental and soothing.

SiZhui sees the very man the whole cultivation wanted to be gone for good—the YiLing Patriarch.

-x-

Jin Ling can only gape in mute terror, wishing this is all just a nightmare.

It is not, unfortunately—everything is just too tangible, too real to be even considered a dream.

As his eyes follow his uncle—YiLing Patriarch, one part of him hisses—he finds himself musing that believing everything would have been so easy if he’d seen his uncle like this first.

It would be so easy to believe, really, that this man before them was the one who murdered his parents. It would be so easy to believe that this man was the very same man who brought destruction to Lotus Pier, and nearly all of Yunmeng.

It would be so easy to believe that Wei WuXian was, indeed, a terrifying, crazed demon.

But deep down, Jin Ling holds on to the thought that Wei WuXian is not the fiend spat upon in the past; that just like everyone, he, too, was an innocent soul. He only wanted to survive the horrors crushed down on him so he could avenge, so he could save—so he could live.

That he became a demon because people thought of him as one, not because he is one; that he ended up destroying and eventually being destroyed, all because of a wicked scheme.

Moreover, Jin Ling knows that Wei WuXian has a better grasp of the cultivation he’d founded, having learned from his past. He knows he recognizes his limits now as a demonic cultivator—and how much he can do anyway.

That his uncle is, nevertheless, the very same Senior Wei who will do anything to bring HanGuang-Jun back.

-x-

How many years had it been the last time he’d seen this…person?

Jiang Cheng tries to count back.

The first time was nearly twenty years ago, when he took his revenge from the damned Wen dogs under Wen Chao. Back then, the flames around them morphed from bright, orange tongues to glowing green, the air turning cold despite the summer season. Accompanied with an eerie melody of trills and lows, fierce corpses rose clumsily from the ground and attacked the living Wens—a melody played by only a single flute.

Back then it seemed to be hopeless; he and Lan WangJi almost gave up after hearing from the scum, Wen Chao, that he threw Wei WuXian down the Burial Mounds, never to be heard of again. But the misery was short-lived, for the one who played the black flute and dressed in resentful auras was Wei WuXian himself.

However, Jiang Cheng couldn’t even deny how…ghastly his brother looked, with pale skin and burning red eyes. He couldn’t even see the traces of the boy he once knew, not even a hint of a teasing, genuine smile.

And the days after that…although Jiang Cheng knew that Wei WuXian was still alive and well, sometimes he caught himself thinking that he shared the same space with a demon who crawled up from Hell—and brought Hell with him.

After Wei WuXian’s soul was revived in Mo XuanYu’s body, Jiang Cheng noticed the playful fifteen-year-old boy coming back, as if he never carried his sins from the past. His brother’s shamelessness returned, as well as the teasing and grins. As if he never felt guilt from all the mistakes he’d committed, towards his parents and then his sister’s husband and eventually his own sister.

Admittedly, rage and hatred from that blinded Jiang Cheng so much, his eyes only gaining sight when he learned the truth. Yes, his pride was bruised from what he’d discovered first-hand, but eventually, he learned to let go and move forward.

Holding on to such grudge wouldn’t do him any good, anyway.

After the events in GuanYin Temple, Jiang Cheng thought that maybe that feared demon would never resurface anymore, especially after realizing how…happy he was with Lan WangJi. How the HanGuang-Jun, of all people, brought back the warm sun his brother once was.

(And, [although quite…disconcerting and embarrassing] how Wei WuXian was dreadfully in love with Lan WangJi, and vice-versa.)

Yet here he is, in the middle of the battlefield, staring in disbelief as Wei WuXian strolls towards their opponent, looking the very same, horrifying man from twenty years ago.

(Opponent who, according to his nephew, very nearly killed Lan WangJi right in front of Wei WuXian.)

Jiang Cheng suddenly remembers the rumors from before, on those thirteen years that his brother was dead. That the YiLing Patriarch had truly perished, never to live again; his soul never to be summoned forth anymore.

That it would be impossible to bring him back, to have him wreak havoc once more.

Jiang Cheng—as he watches Wei WuXian glare darkly at the cultivator in front of him with those gleaming red eyes, the resentful energies wrapping around his body like a robe as more spirits gather round—disagrees.

All it takes is chaos and blood, deception and pain. Blend them with death, preferably that of a person so close to Wei WuXian’s heart, then with injustice.

There is no need for the Tiger Seal—HanGuang-Jun’s blood, in this case, will be more than enough.

More than enough to re-summon the YiLing Patriarch from Hell.

Instead, Jiang Cheng throws a question he isn’t sure anyone can answer—

—how, exactly, will you stop a YiLing Patriarch from dragging a more haunting, harrowing kind of Hell back to the Earth on his second life?

#MDZS #mo dao zu shi #lan sizhui #jin ling #jiang cheng #wei wuxian #wangxian #probably #aka what if somebody angers wwx so much he goes yiling laozu Again #yiling patriarch #(is honestly a bad idea for the opponent man)

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schmuwuwu · 4 years

Text

Let Me Love You - XiCheng FF

Pairing: Jiang Cheng|Jiang Wanyin x Lan Huan|Lan Xichen

There’s not really any spoilers to the novel/drama/donghua/manhua so please enjoy! For my friend who showed me a pic of Jiang Wanyin with puppies and so I used it as a prompt for this fanfiction.

Jiang Wanyin entered the room where he was directed from the front desk clerk. She had said that due to it being the busy tourist period, there was too little personnel working on the current production that featured him and thus there wasn’t anyone available to guide him there. He didn’t mind as he was tired at having prepared Yunmeng Jiang and the whole of Lotus Pier for the upcoming New Year’s celebrations. He was only here as his council and his right-hand man literally pushed him out of the gates of his sect before sending him off with good wishes on relaxing. At first, he couldn’t grasp how coming to an interview would help him relax. Even now, he couldn’t relax. Just by the busy atmosphere around him, he couldn’t help but worry about the preparations back home. What’s more, he was even more worried about who was going to interview him today. He had been blacklisted one too many times with the reason that he was too serious, too angry, too… frowny.

His scowl deepened as he remembered those dates. It wasn’t his fault he couldn’t change his personality. In fact, if the other party couldn’t accept his personality, there was no reason for them to marry at all. After all, he wouldn’t want a loveless marriage like his parents had and the constant disappointment that maybe he wasn’t what his wife always thought he was. That made him scowl even more. Women were such complicated beings, he concluded. He entered the room in deep thought and looked around. It wasn’t beautifully decorated like the lotus lakes back in Yunmeng, wasn’t pristinely pictured like the Cloud Recesses in Gusu, nor was it as extravagant as Koi Tower in Lanling. Of course, it wasn’t as moody and boring as the Unclean Realm in Qinghe. It was beautiful in its own right and even someone who was not talented in the arts such as Lan Xichen or Nie Huaisang could appreciate its unique beauty. Untalented in anything overall, he added on bitterly.

He glanced around. The furniture was simple, a table and a few seats, a few cabinets and some shelves lining the walls. The walls themselves were painted with faint motifs of the four great cultivational sects. The head of a beast for the Qinghe Nie, the white peony for the Lanling Jin, the cloud for the Gusu Lan and finally the nine-petalled lotus for the Yunmeng Jiang. He noticed that there were other sects’ motifs that were hidden between the spaces of the more dominant sects and realised that all four walls were representing different areas of the cultivation world; where each of the four dominant sects had conquered and the smaller sects that hid under their protection. He had also noticed there was no imagery of the Qishan Wen sect, which he wasn’t complaining off. In fact, his scowl lightened quite a few degrees after discovering this fact. None could blame him, seeing as how Yunmeng Jiang had one of the more devastating losses during Qishan Wen’s dominance over the whole entire country. He could still smell the flames as they rose up from the ground and suddenly they were all around him, burning the once-beautifully standing Lotus Pier. He could only watch in anger and resent, vision blurred through the curtain of tears and red, as the Yunmeng Jiang sect flags were torn from their flag poles, still half burnt, stomped to the ground and even trampled upon in disrespect.

He shook his head. He shouldn’t dwell on the past anymore. What mattered more was the present. And at present, he needed to worry about the interview. He went to seat on one of the provided seats at the table where tea and refreshments had been laid out. It was simple china but it was polished till he could see his own reflection on his face. Tilting his head from side to side, he couldn’t help but praise the maids for their effort in hiding the traces of long nights and lack of food in his face, Though his cheeks and eyes were still more hollow than ever before, the heavy eyebags had gone and there was slight colouring to his cheeks. Even his usually dry lips were moisturised and preserved so that they wouldn’t suddenly turn dry and crack in the middle of the interview. Though he originally felt uncomfortable at the thought of applying make-up on a male such as him, it didn’t feel unnatural to wear it on his face. In fact, he had taken a newfound liking to it and even newfound respect to maids or noblewomen for putting on such thick make-up every single day. He was already weary at having to sit still for more than 30 minutes in front of a mirror just to be told that his makeup was not even half the time of most women’s make-up regime. Even doing his hair took less than 10 minutes!

He poured himself a cup of tea and enjoyed the light refreshments that were served in variations. He had recognised them as the portrayed images of the four great sects. Lotus-flavoured obviously for Yunmeng Jiang-though he preferred desserts made back at Yunmeng; desserts made anywhere else were under-par with those served back home! A slightly herbal taste while refreshing for the Gusu Lan; he was more surprised that it wasn’t plain bitter or just tasteless. Unexpectedly, the tea complemented with this dessert the most. A fairly rich taste of expensive for Lanling Jin and a more impactful and forceful taste for Qinghe Nie. They were rotated with sour, bitter, salty, sweet and sometimes even spicy, acidic or even tasteless! Really, did they have to invent a tasteless flavour too?

Time passed and by the time the interviewer had come, he was busy playing a game he made up to try and differentiate the different tastes. He even managed to play a game similar to bingo! It just showed how bored he really was.

“Uhm, Sect Leader Jiang?” a voice called out hesitantly.

He looked up from his small game and saw a young boy around the age of twenty. He had a tired face and looked as though he had pulled through as many nights as he did as a sect leader. He immediately felt pity for the boy; he wasn’t in any important positions in the whole world, even in the country, and yet he had to pull on as many hours working as him.

Seeing as Jiang Wanyin didn’t reply, he hesitantly said, “I sincerely apologise for having you wait for such a long time. I can only hope I can repay it with something if it’s within my abilities.”

He shook off the boy’s offer and said gently, “It is fine. It is not like I could make you wait in return.”

The boy was immediately relieved as he broke into a small smile. Sect Leader Jiang wasn’t as fearful as he had thought. Contrarily, however, the boy reminded Jiang Wanyin much of his sister for some odd reason. He couldn’t put his finger on it and he wasn’t in the mood to try. He merely took another dessert and drank another sip from his third cup of tea; he must admit it was quite good.

“Would you like to indulge yourself with more sweets?” the boy peeked at him.

“Oh, no,” Jiang Wanyin fumbled, draining the remaining tea. “They are quite enjoyable, however.”

The boy smiled, free of tension. “Then, if you would, please follow me to the next room where we will begin your interview.”

Jiang Wanyin nodded and stood up to follow the surprisingly brisk boy. The other room was a little ways from his waiting room but it was relatively a replica, albeit smaller. The same walls adorned the different motifs of different sects and it was furnished relatively the same way. Pasted on the walls were different talismans. He peeked at them and could guess they’re vaguely for enclosing the sounds within these four walls and a few other spells scrawled to record their voices for future references. There was also another spell scrawled in the middle of the table on a white cloth with the exact same purpose. He went ahead to sit down on the table where there was already the interviewer seated. He was looking up and down a large stack of notes and occasionally looked up to see if a new communication talisman had arrived. He looked stressed and even to Jiang Wanyin, he looked way overworked, though he wasn’t in any position to judge himself. As he seated himself, the interviewer in front of him suddenly looked at his direction dumbfounded. A look of realisation dawned when he finally remembered why the esteemed Sandu Shengshou would come to their humble offices.

“Sandu Shengshou, sir! I apologise for being unable to meet you in person and for having you wait for a long time!” he squawked.

Jiang Wanyin raised an eyebrow.

The interviewer stumbled, “If—if it is alright with you, we can start whenever you are ready. The preparations have been done…”

Jiang Wanyin, though he understood the poor interviewer’s position, was starting to get annoyed. Was he really that feared? It wasn’t as if he was going to raise a hand on unarmed people. Well, he wouldn’t spare anyone of his sharp tongue though.

“But.”

The interviewer startled, “But something is holding up the last party and so we will need to wait for them…”

Jiang Wanyin stared at him dubiously. “Them?”

“Uh, yes, sir. Them.”

The interviewer answered just as a communication talisman entered the room and stopped in front of him. Jiang Wanyin could care less of what was about to happen. Though he was grateful for the extra time to eat more snacks. He poured tea in his newly given cup and stayed oblivious to the conspicuous sneaking around of the interviewer. Well, it was more of he couldn’t give a shit. When he finally looked at the interviewer after finishing his short but very much relaxing teatime, suspicion was written all over his body. His demeanour changed fully. He was no longer nervous or glancing around the room but was now smiling widely and was even sitting closer to the table right to his face. He even had his hands on the table as though anticipating something from Jiang Wanyin. He was staring at Jiang Wanyin with eyes full of adoration and worship. Jiang Wanyin could feel a chill down his back. Somehow, he felt that they were familiar. Too familiar.

He cleared his throat. “Are we going to start? I’d appreciate if my time is not wasted much more than this already has.”

The interviewer nodded and pulled out his notes, the movement looking very elegant. Too elegant. Jiang Wanyin stared down on him and reaffirmed the tugging feeling in the back of his mind. He cautiously watched as the interviewer asked the questions.

“Alright, sir. If you could, please introduce yourself, your name and titles, if you would?”

Jiang Wanyin gave him a long stare but the interviewer didn’t even quake, it even looked as though his smile grew bigger. That smile was unsettling. Too unsettling. As though Jiang Wanyin should be anticipating something very detestable after this interview was over. Or maybe even during.

“Jiang Cheng, courtesy name Jiang Wanyin. Sect leader of Yunmeng Jiang and holder of title Sandu Shengshou,” he said slowly.

He expected another intimidatingly familiar reaction but all he got out of the other person was a nod and him writing a few lines in his notes.

“Next question, do you like dogs?”

Jiang Wanyin, “Yes, I do.”

The interviewer beamed at him before opening the door to the room. Jiang Wanyin could only look on curiously as a trail of people entered the room, carrying something in their arms. The first person went up to him and deposited a round white object into his lap. He looked at the unknown object with curious eyes. The object moved and a pair of curious eyes met with his. He only then realised that it was a puppy. He was pleasantly surprised as he was quickly surrounded by multiple puppies that were brought in by the staff. His clothes were quickly dishevelled and his hair was mussed out of its usual tight bun. He was quickly caught up in the puppies’ tireless energy and was overwhelmed. He could barely keep a grin off his face and would occasionally be attacked by a barrage of small but sloppy tongues. He happily accepted the sudden bombardment of the small and cute puppies. His shoulders immediately lost their usual tension and his signature frown on his face had completely disappeared. He had a relaxed face and constantly moved his upper body to account for every single puppy who demanded his attention.

Everyone in the room held their breaths at this moment of weakness. The Sandu Shengshou had his guard down. And it was so easily accomplished by the appearance of dogs. There was a warm and fluffy atmosphere surround Jiang Wanyin, as though encompassing him in this very joyous haven that he could enjoy alone. They could see the small but innocent smile of his face and even the slight tint of pink in his cheeks. His eyes were soft and were looking at the puppies with tenderness. They could not believe at this blessing to see a side of the notoriously infamous Sandu Shengshou. A man who was ruthless and merciless towards his enemies and could make one’s blood run cold at a mere glance. They could only savour this rare, if not once in a blue moon, side of Jiang Wanyin.

Suddenly, it had felt as though the room chilled. A murderous intent lurked into the four walls of the room. The staff members could only look towards the only other involved person in the room; the interviewer. He was glaring intensely at the small puppies that hang off Jiang Wanyin’s arms and occasionally looked at the staff members, harbouring a stiff smile and cold, lifeless eyes. They could only gulp in fear and quickly shuffled out of the room, afraid of their lives. Once outside, they quickly ran away as far as they could, informing every personnel not to enter the room until further notice before collapsing and thanking the Gods that they made it out alive.

Inside, Jiang Wanyin was fully oblivious to the on-goings of possible murder. Even more, his guard was fully down. He had put aside Zidian and Sandu for fear of harming the puppies due to their playfulness and his inability to occupy every single one of them. He was constantly kept busy by switching between multiple puppies who lay around his body as though they were worshipping him. Being in such a blissful situation, he didn’t realise when a certain someone snuck up from behind him, only realising when he was finally encased in someone’s warm embrace.

“Wanyin.”

Jiang Wanyin turned around, expecting it to be the interviewer but was met with the familiar dazzling smile of Lan Xichen.

“Sect leader Lan?” he squawked in surprise. “What are you doing here? Where are the rest of the people?”

He looked around quickly only to realise now that they were the only ones in the room. His sight landed back onto Lan Xichen.

“I am unsure of what happened to those pitiful people. However, I don’t assume that you have something for me?”

Jiang Wanyin stared at him dubiously. “I don’t recall having anything to give you.” He frowned.

Lan Xichen only looked at him expectantly and seeing his serious eyes, he proceeded to bait him.

“See, I heard you liked dogs…”

Jiang Wanyin nodded in agreement.

“But you are also notorious for not liking people…”

Jiang Wanyin impatiently snapped. “So, what is your point, Sect leader Lan?”

Lan Xichen sighed. “Now, now, Wanyin. Have we not agreed just the other day to drop formalities? Call me Lan Huan.”

The pink in Jiang Wanyin’s cheeks grew deeper. “We never agreed to! You went ahead and made it up yourself!”

He tutted. “But you didn’t complain about it, so I had taken it upon myself to call you so.”

Jiang Wanyin couldn’t retort. It was true; he didn’t really hate it when Lan Xichen called him by his name. Although… He shook his head. No, no! He wasn’t just trying to imagine Lan Xichen calling him by his birth name. Not at all!

Seeing as he didn’t answer, Lan Xichen proceeded to pout. “Well, if you dislike it this much, I will immediately cease calling—”

“No, no! You can!” Jiang Wanyin was flustered and refused to meet Lan Xichen’s eyes. “I—I mean, you can call me however you wish to.”

Lan Xichen’s face immediately brightened. “Then, I shall take up your offer, A-Cheng!”

Jiang Wanyin’s heart stilled before beating at Mach 20 speed. A-Cheng! Lan Xichen’s voice was looping in his head and he couldn’t stop the heat that spread from his cheeks all the way to his ears. He didn’t even notice when Lan Xichen’s arms circled around his waist and were snuggled comfortably at the nook of his hips. He sat closer to him, his chest now coming into contact with his back. At the sudden contact of warmth, Jiang Wanyin was immediately snapped out of his daze.

“A-Cheng, do you like me?” Lan Xichen breathed into his ear. Jiang Wanyin couldn’t help but shiver, his nerves tingling at the low rumble.

“O—Of course, I mean, Sect leader Lan is very likeable…”

“Not like that, A-Cheng.” His mouth was dangerously close to Jiang Wanyin’s neck now and he couldn’t stop his trembling and the feeling of longing. He unconsciously leaned back towards that inviting warmth but was quickly dragged to reality when Lan Xichen immediately drew back and stood up. He stared up at him dumbfoundedly.

“There is no need to think so seriously, Wanyin. After all, I have no obligation to rush for an answer right now.”

Jiang Wanyin stared after him as Lan Xichen walked dejectedly towards the door. Jiang Wanyin could have sworn he saw a pair of ears and a long tail droop down in accordance. He couldn’t ignore his demand now and hesitantly opened his mouth.

“Y—Yes…l—like…” he whispered softly.

Lan Xichen immediately perked up. “I’m sorry, would you care to repeat that?”

“Yes! I like you, Lan Xichen!”

Jiang Wanyin’s face was on fire and he immediately avoided Lan Xichen’s gaze when he turned to look at him. In all honesty, Lan Xichen didn’t need him to repeat his answer as his trained ear could pick out any of Jiang Wanyin’s clear voice, brimming with emotion. His uncut anger when he spouts out complains, his curt responses when he brutally gives his opinion, his sorrow-filled whispers as he voices out his regrets, the carefree laughter as he let go of his restraints and smiled freely, the shy and embarrassing responses to his words of love… Lan Xichen loved it all. His open and direct character drew him in. He who could only wear a smile through thick and thin could only watch in wonder at this rare gem that had coincidentally been sent to his doorstep. A gem laden with pain and longing, hurt by what he lacked but scorned the idea of weakness. He was attracted to that strength. An imperfection with an obvious flaw.

And despite Jiang Wanyin’s constant criticisms to his self, Lan Xichen, a man who was born to be perfect, born raised to be perfect, expected to be perfect, could only find this imperfection beautiful. That someone who was so self-deprecating about his flaw was this powerful and successful.

“Thank you, A-Cheng.”

Jiang Wanyin startled as Lan Xichen held him to his chest.

“F—For what? I didn’t do anything,” he said.

“No, you did.” But I’ll save the explanation for later.

Jiang Wanyin stilled, unused to being embraced, before surrendering and leaned into Lan Xichen. Lan Xichen could feel a smile spread and tightened his hold on Jiang Wanyin, forcing them to press even closer. Jiang Wanyin was flustered and tried to push with his hands on Lan Xichen’s chest. He stopped his futile attempt when he felt Lan Xichen’s lips back on his neck.

“W-w-w-w-what are you doing?!”

Lan Xichen sighed, his hot breath making Jiang Wanyin unable to resist the shiver down his back and his rapid heartbeat. “Well, it seems as though my A-Cheng is being needy so I wanted to pamper him…”

He sighed again. “Alas, it seems that I was merely speculating…”

He trailed off dramatically. Jiang Wanyin could never get used to his antics and thus it caused his anger to spike up. “Who said I needed pampering?!”

“Hmm… I am unsure of that myself but I heard you were going to celebrate the New Year by yourself, since Young Master Jin — oh, should I be saying Sect Leader Jin, now? — has gone off to celebrate with some of my disciples.”

Jiang Wanyin impatiently replied. “Well, yes. That has been happening since recent years so I am used to celebrating alone. It doesn’t seem like a big deal to me.”

Lan Xichen turned his head and looked at Jiang Wanyin, resting it on his shoulder.

“I am merely upset that you didn’t feel that it was necessary to invite me to celebrate with you.”

Jiang Wanyin opened his mouth to retort only to stop when he met Lan Xichen’s eyes. Oh God, the eyes. He could even swear that the dog ears were back, drooping down flat onto the sides of his head. It wouldn’t be presumptuous for him to assume that the tail was also back.

“It—It wasn’t as though I didn’t want to…” he looked away from Lan Xichen.

“But you’re not looking at me… so you really don’t want to celebrate with me…” he could hear the sadness in his voice.

He was quite certain that it was feigned but he really couldn’t bring himself to push away the older sect leader.

“… Fine. You can celebrate it with me.”

Lan Xichen immediately lit up and released his hold on Jiang Wanyin, sliding his hand into his and pulling him towards the exit.

“W—wait, where are we going??” Jiang Wanyin exclaimed in bewilderment.

“First things first, we are going to be a family!” Lan Xichen excitedly replied.

Although he was at the mercy of the Lan superhuman, even for cultivators, strength, he still stubbornly resisted being dragged across the room to the door. “What do you mean family?? Aren’t we technically already?”

Lan Xichen stopped and turned to face him. “You… Don’t want to be family?”

Oh, for fuck sakes! “Alright, alright, yes, I do! Happy now?”

Lan Xichen smiled again and before Jiang Wanyin could retaliate, he was picked up into Lan Xichen’s arms who proceeded to exit the building merrily. Jiang Wanyin knew there was no use in fighting a Lan and could only hide the growing embarrassment he felt with anger.

“Can you at least tell me where we are going and what we are going to be doing?”

Lan Xichen merely looked straight ahead and smiled. “Lotus Pier should be empty due to the New Year, so we shall be going there and become family!”

There was a slight tone of pride as though he was patting himself on the back for thinking of such a smart idea. Jiang Wanyin immediately picked up on it and his face darkened when he realised what Lan Xichen had been hinting at.

“Don’t tell me.”

“That’s right! We shall make love, my dear A-Cheng!”

“Lan Xichen, you—”

“Lan Huan.”

He sighed, exasperated. “L—Lan Huan, we don’t have to rush into it, do we? You already told your uncle that you would abstain!”

Lan Xichen nodded. “Indeed. Abstain till you agreed to it. Which you did.”

His scowl deepened. “You planned for this, didn’t you?!”

Lan Xichen only chuckled lightly.

With nothing else to entertain him during the journey back home, he decided to provoke the Lan.

“Were you in the room when I got there?” Lan Xichen hummed in agreement.

“Were you the one who organised the interview?” A shake of his head.

“How did I not notice you when I entered the room?” His smile grew wider. He was certainly playing hard to get that’s for sure.

“Was the whole interview just a sham?” A hum.

“Did you switch places with the interviewer?” A hum.

“Did you— Wait… You switched places with the interviewer?”

Lan Xichen nodded and finally looked down at him. “Yes, I did, A-Cheng.”

Jiang Wanyin finally realised as to why the interviewer was questionably familiar. “You… Did you use that new spell that you constructed just recently?”

Lan Xichen beamed at him despite his ploy being out in the open. “Yes, I did! A-Cheng, you’re very smart!”

Jiang Wanyin snorted. “I’m not smart. I didn’t even realise that you were in the room at all until now.”

Lan Xichen frowned and chided, “Of course you’re smart. How else have you maintained Yunmeng Jiang sect as one of the top cultivation sects without any guidance? You even denied any help offered to you.”

“That’s different.”

“And how is it different?”

“No one would do it. So, of course, I’d take it up upon myself to do it. After all, I am the only son of the previous Sect leader Jiang.”

Lan Xichen went quiet. There was truth to his words but…

“If it were anyone else in your position, do you think they’d do it?”

“…Of course,” Jiang Wanyin said hesitantly, his confidence slipping.

Lan Xichen shook his head. “No, A-Cheng. Even I wouldn’t.”

Jiang Wanyin disagreed in disbelief. “The esteemed and obedient Zewu-Jun wouldn’t save his clan and sect from the brink of destruction?”

Lan Xichen smiled at him, with a hint of sadness. “Do you think I would? If the Cloud Recesses sat atop ashes, no signs of life, or any traces of the previous Gusu Lan?” He shook his head. “I wouldn’t. There wouldn’t have been any point. Even if I managed to rebuild the Cloud Recesses, what about the recruitment of disciples? What about the lost techniques that were lost in the destruction? And what about being left alone again?”

Jiang Wanyin could only stare at him. He didn’t have the answers to them. He only knew that he should regain Yunmeng Jiang’s and his former glory. He wasn’t about to let the Wens think they had brought down a strong sect with their petty ways. He wasn’t going to let the other cultivators think of what they wished about how Lotus Pier fell. And he wasn’t going to let the world think that he was that much of a coward to listen to all those whispers.

“It’s all my selfishness. Only that,” he muttered finally.

“Then,” Lan Xichen replied firmly. “let me be selfish just this once and say that I want to spend time with you.”

Jiang Wanyin pursed his lips. “Fine, have it your way.”

Lan Xichen gave him a small smile and they travelled the rest of the way in silence. After dismounting from Shuoyue, Jiang Wanyin immediately marched to the direction of the kitchens. Lan Xichen followed him, shutting his mouth when he saw the stubborn expression on the younger man. Jiang Wanyin approached the stove, sleeves rolled up, and began to prepare the food. Lan Xichen could not hold it in anymore and opened his mouth to ask when Jiang Wanyin spoke first.

“If you want to spend time together, then make yourself useful,” he said, his back towards Lan Xichen.

Lan Xichen stared at him and processed his words before getting the hint. He beamed as he noticed the familiar pink tint that climbed up his neck. “Of course, A-Cheng!”

Lan Xichen immediately busied himself with the preparation of the ingredients, falling into step with Jiang Wanyin easily. They worked in silence, easily coordinating with one another as easily as breathing, having spent too long on the same battlefield.

The day quickly passed and the sun quickly fell from its mighty position. The food, now completed, was laid out in front of them where they were sitting at one of Jiang Wanyin’s favourite spots that looked out over the lotus lakes. They ate in silence as they were both not too keen on conversing while eating, unlike a certain male whose mouth and words were as abundant as the rabbits back in the Cloud Recesses. And unlike that same certain person, they settled comfortably in the silence, especially Jiang Wanyin.

The entire Lotus Pier was empty, including all of his attendants and there was only him staying there for the next few days. He didn’t know how comfortable he felt with another person intruding into his personal space but Lan Xichen was tolerable, if not comfortable, to be around. Lan Xichen held his questions back and perfectly assisted him as though he was his right-hand man currently.

Ending up back in his study, he finally asked Lan Xichen the question that had bothered him since that afternoon—no, since he confessed three months ago.

“… Why me?”

Lan Xichen looked up from the scroll he was reading right into Jiang Wanyin’s questioning eyes.

“… Do I need a reason to love someone?” Jiang Wanyin didn’t answer. “Love needs no rhyme or reason. It just is.”

Jiang Wanyin became exasperated. Sure, he could agree that love was an unreasonable feeling. But it didn’t explain why it was him.

“It’s because it’s you.” Jiang Wanyin looked up at Lan Xichen who was now standing right in front of him, a serious expression on his face rid of the usual polite smile.

“Hah?” Jiang Wanyin could only reply dumbfoundedly.

“I love you because it’s you.” Lan Xichen was now behind the desk and stepping even closer to Jiang Wanyin. Unused to close contact, Jiang Wanyin unconsciously took a step back to which Lan Xichen covered the distance with a step of his own. That was until Jiang Wanyin’s back hit the wall. He was trapped in Lan Xichen’s gaze and he couldn’t help but swallow stiffly. He wasn’t worthy… He didn’t deserve him…

“If you’re thinking of how I can easily find someone like you, then you’re wrong. Where am I going to find someone who decided to do something as grand as reviving a dead sect and rebuilding their burnt home from the ground up and went through with it? Where am I going to find someone who although is finicky when it comes to standards but so entertaining when he tries to make an expression?” Lan Xichen continued. He cupped Jiang Wanyin’s face and made him look up to meet his eyes. This pitiful man could only look at him helplessly, unable to refute. He wanted to say that there were millions of other people in the world, and even if they didn’t meet his standards now, what about in the future? There was bound to be someone. Even his family. Even though his father had him, he was more satisfied with someone else’s son. Even though his mother had him, she was more satisfied pampering his older sister. Even though his siblings loved him, in the end, they chose to stay with their beloved who would keep them safe. Because he couldn’t give them that safety. That warm comfort of love that he never learnt to reciprocate.

“Then, what if it isn’t me? Someone totally different from me. Not a stubborn, annoying and hard to please person. But a kind, caring and patient person?” Jiang Wanyin blinked hard. The image of Jin Guangyao entered his mind to which he furiously pushed out of his mind. He was going to be second again. The alternative. The silence settled around them again, this time stifling. He could hardly breathe now, thinking that Lan Xichen’s silence was affirmation. Lan Xichen looked at him, re-evaluating him, maybe even regretting ever saying he fell in love with him, Jiang Wanyin thought. By the time he noticed, tears had already left a trail on his cheeks, falling silently to the ground, just as silently as his heart broke. He never wanted to realise, never wanted to acknowledge. Because he couldn’t bear another slipping out of his hands. Slipping through his fingers as though they were just sand and them being beside him was just an illusion. That all he could do was chase around after their backs, hoping something would change. But it never did. Because—

“—Because they never had the chance to look at you.”

Jiang Wanyin blinked. It finally clicked that it was Lan Xichen who said that. “They ran out of time, A-Cheng. It wasn’t because they didn’t bother to look at you properly but because they never realised how much time they had to do so.” Jiang Wanyin found himself leaning away from Lan Xichen’s hands, trying to slip away, but failed when Lan Xichen’s hands moved from his cheeks to his back, pulling him close to his chest.

“Then, what about you? Are you going to run out of time too?” Jiang Wanyin muffled from his chest.

“I won’t,” Lan Xichen replied and chuckled when Jiang Wanyin looked up with incredulity. “Not until I hear you saying that you are glad I fell in love with you and believe that I love you.”

Jiang Wanyin immediately buried his head further into his chest, feeling the now familiar feeling of warmth spread through his face. Lan Xichen laughed softly at his act of shyness and could only think of how adorable his Jiang Wanyin was. When it was obvious that Jiang Wanyin had no intentions of moving from his chest, Lan Xichen made a sound something of a sigh and a hum. Jiang Wanyin looked up puzzled before feeling himself being lifted off the ground. Lan Xichen effortless carried him in his arms and sat him on his lap as he took a seat on the chair behind the desk. Jiang Wanyin turned to Lan Xichen, bewildered, while the other merely gave him a large smile.

“What are you doing?” he asked, still shocked at his bewitching manoeuvre. Only Lan Xichen could make such a movement so beautiful, he thought as he sighed to himself. “Showering you with love, of course!” Lan Xichen replied, delighted at his reaction. Jiang Wanyin choked at that unexpected comment. As expected, only Lan Xichen could find his reactions entertaining, he continued thinking.

“Is there anything else you would like to entertain me with?” Jiang Wanyin snorted. Lan Xichen smiled even brighter. Really, if he was going to smile any wider or brighter, Jiang Wanyin felt he might really go blind, and not only because of love. “There are a million things, of course,” Lan Xichen said, holding Jiang Wanyin closer. “But I know if I don’t follow your pace, we’d go backwards instead of forwards. So, what would you like me to do?”

Jiang Wanyin looked up at him, marvelling at how this Jade of Lan shone under the cover of moonlight. He rested his chin on his chest and pondered for a moment. Every single thought that went through his mind made him blush more. “U—Uh, what are my options?” he coughed. Lan Xichen struggled to keep his laughter from bubbling but that didn’t stop his shoulders from shaking. His eyes filled with adoration at the young man in his arms before him as Jiang Wanyin’s face formed a pout. His eyes twinkled. “Well, we could start off easy. Pick a number from one to ten,” he grinned mischievously. Jiang Wanyin racked his brains. There was definitely a catch here. But maybe there wasn’t. Lan Xichen wouldn’t do anything he wouldn’t like, would he? Maybe the numbers represent the comfort level? Maybe his confidence level? Maybe speed? Jiang Wanyin felt his temples throbbed and thought, Screw it!

“Then, eight!” he said confidently. The higher the better, right? I won’t regret it, surely!

Lan Xichen grinned widely and proceeded to pick him up.

“W-w-w-w-wait, where are we going?!” Jiang Wanyin flailed as he was adjusted comfortably again in the bridal carry.

Lan Xichen opened the door to Jiang Wanyin’s room adjacent to the study and proceeded to lay him on the bed. Was he going to tuck him to bed, Jiang Wanyin wondered. But his relief would slowly turn into dread and, although Jiang Wanyin strongly and stubbornly denied the idea, pleasure. For the number eight was the number of hours Lan Xichen proceeded to whisper words of love and affection whilst pampering the uncomfortable man with kisses.

The next day when Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji had come with the preparations of the New Year, uninvited of course, they found Jiang Wanyin with swollen and full lips and a Lan Xichen whose smile seemed to put the sun to shame. The couple dreaded to think what had happened and instead kept their mouth shut when the two sect leaders greeted them at the gate.

Well, Wei Wuxian thought, at least now he isn’t second anymore. He watched as his younger brother busied himself with cleaning the hallways while being spoiled rotten by the older Lan. And that was the start of Jiang Wanyin’s fall from being alone and scarred to being helpless, in love and helplessly in love.

End.

#xicheng #mdzs #the untamed #grandmaster of demonic cultivation #lan xichen #jiang wanyin #lan huan #jiang cheng #ff #lan xichen x jiang wanyin #lan huan x jiang cheng #how did an originally 3 pages of writing become 13 pages #finally satisfied with the ending be like TnT #mo dao zu shi

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