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#you both wanted jiang cheng so i combined your requests~
elliethefroggy · 1 year
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The Wedding Committee
Sangchengmonth2020 (on ao3) ((note: this is a continuation of day 8: The Fanciful Courtship)
Day 31: Marriage (the last one!!! Finally!!! No more fic challenge for me)
“Are you out of your mind,” Wei Wuxian shrieked at Sect Leader Nie, an ill-advised thing to do, “That day is not nearly as auspicious. Look at this day.” He thrust a calendar in the Sect Leader’s face, far too close for Nie Mingjue to have any hope of reading it. “This is a much better day for a wedding.”
The calendar hid Nie Mingjue’s quickly reddening face.
“Are you out of your mind?” Nie Mingjue roared back, shoving the calendar and Wei Wuxian away.
Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng watched from afar the table where both Nie Mingjue and Wei Wuxian were seated as well as an unfortunate number of aunties, the bloodthistier of them all present.
Neither Nie Huaisang nor Jiang Cheng had been invited to the wedding planning, their opinion on the matter deemed unimportant. Even Jiang Yanli had a say and she wasn’t even here, having sent a list of her demands ahead of time.
“Should we tell them our courtship is a farce?” Nie Huaisang asked.
“No.” Jiang Cheng watched as the aunties smiled. He’d never seen them smile so much. Their smiles were not pleasant and did not distract from their long, sharp, perfectly manicured claws.
The screaming continued as Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng walked away in a completely-casual-and-not-at-all-fleeing manner.
***
The wedding arguments became commonplace around Lotus Pier. Jiang Cheng got used to it; the shouting and the occasional sounds of fistfights fading into the background as he continued doing actually important work.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Nie Mingjue said, “We can’t seat him there; Madame Kuang hates him and is likely to stab him with the dessert spoon—if they even manage to get that far in the meal,”
“An even better reason to put him there,” Wei Wuxian said.
“He is a sect leader. You will show some respect.”
“Oh, please. Don’t act all high and mighty; you don’t like him either.”
“Of course not; Sect Leader Yao is the most intolerable man I’ve ever met.”
***
“Would it be so bad if we were to marry?” Nie Huaisang asked in between brush strokes, eyes on his most recent painting.
Jiang Cheng dipped his bare feet into the cool waters, ripples dancing over the surface of the lake. They were seated in Nie Huaisang’s preferred pier—the lighting here was especially flattering to the lotuses. Apparently.
“Marriages of convenience happen all the time,” Jiang Cheng not-answered. It wouldn’t be the worst thing to be married to Nie Huaisang, he thought, but he didn’t want to be the first to admit that out loud.
“What do married couples even do?”
“I don’t know. Hold hands, pretend to be happy whenever official dignitaries come to visit, try not to make it obvious how many mistresses they have.”
Nie Huaisang made a face at that.
“Anyway,” Jiang Cheng continued, “I don’t think we have a choice anymore.”
“At least they won’t be expecting us to produce any heirs.”
It was Jiang Cheng’s turn to make a face.
Nie Huaisang returned to his painting as Jiang Cheng continued to sway his feet in the water, the calm of the afternoon only disturbed by Wei Wuxian and Nie Mingjue’s distant shouting.
“Nie Huaisang is joining the Jiang household, therefore the purple napkins would be more appropriate!” Wei Wuxian screeched.
“Purple and red? I’ve never heard of something so ridiculous. Grey and red is a much more pleasing combination,” Nie Mingjue screeched just as stridently.
***
Jiang Yanli arriving months before the wedding was unexpected but not altogether surprising. Wei Wuxian’s letters regarding the planning hadn’t been frequent enough for her liking (ignoring the fact that, per her request, Wei Wuxian had been writing to her every day about every minute detail from which shade of red best suited Jiang Cheng’s skin tone to the exact number of red dates ordered for the big day).
Jiang Cheng had barely hugged her before she was marching away, dragging both Wei Wuxian and Nie Mingjue with her. Jiang Cheng hadn’t known Ajie had such amazing upper body strength.
“She’s going to eat them alive,” Nie Huaisang said.
***
Lotus Pier became much quieter after that, the kind of quiet that came with prey trying to go unnoticed by the predator skulking about, roaming, searching for its next kill, for the next poorly arranged flower display or the next happiness symbol out of place. But there was less shouting. Jiang Yanli didn’t shout; she was much too dignified for that. Instead, she smiled prettily while telling everyone in a kind and calm manner exactly why they were all morons and why they would be going with her ideas instead.
“Stop pestering me,” Nie Mingjue whispered down from the ladder, “I know what I’m doing.”
“Listen here, you over-muscled brut.” Wei Wuxian whispered back, brandishing Chenqing as close to Nie Mingjue’s face as he could get when he had to contend with both Nie Mingjue’s naturally superior height and a ladder, “If you don’t stop with your nonsense, I’m going to have you slaughtered, then use your corpse as a puppet and make it hang up the lanterns the correct way.”
“Now, now, boys.” Jiang Yanli said, appearing out of nowhere. Both of the fully grown men—each a powerful cultivator in his own right—flinched, the ladder wobbling precariously. “There’s no need to argue; everything will be perfect.”
In a certain light, her smile almost looked like Mother’s.
***
Jiang Cheng muttered, “I think we might have taken this fake courtship too far.”
Nie Huaisang grimaced slightly in agreement.
Standing in front of the shrine, surrounded by family, friends and unfortunate guests they couldn’t not invite without causing a sect feud, dressed from head to toe in intricately embroidered red robes, Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang knelt down, side by side and kowtowed to Heaven, Earth and their family, declaring their union to the Universe as Wei Wuxian and Nie Mingjue cried their hearts out.
The aunties’ smiles were all teeth. Ajie’s smile was worse.
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fytheuntamed · 4 years
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Untamed Wardrobes (3/?) // Jiang Cheng + eps 25 - 28
More pictures, commentary, and general nonsense under the cut!
Just a little disclaimer before I get into it; i did play around with the colors of the outfit in the actual edit part of this post, so if you notice some differences in color between the pictures above and the pictures below, that’s why. The pictures posted under this read more have been edited to better show the details, but unless otherwise stated, the colors themselves have been left alone.
First things first, some full body shots! One of my favorite things about the clothing in this show is that it’s very flowy and there are multiple layers!
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I believe the cape is detachable, as Jiang Cheng later throws it from his shoulders quite dramatically, but there is a small chance he simply ripped the fucking thing off, so I am keeping the (?) after detachable incase that is indeed what happened. One never knows with this lad.
Both the outermost and middle layer have slits in the skirt, which I imagine serve both a functional (ease of movement) and aesthetic purpose. The outermost layer is sleeveless and the middle layer has two buckles holding the upper part of it together. The bottom of the innermost layer is not a skirt, but pants. *Cue gratuitous shots of Jiang Cheng in naught but his undergarments*
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bonus: 
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(socks too big for he gotdamn feet)
Also, after taking approximately 50,000 screenshots of this outfit from episodes 25 - 28 I’ve come to the conclusion that he may have changed his undergarments sometime in between? The color seems slightly different and the necklines are different.
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Now in terms of him changing his undergarments, in real life it wouldn’t be surprising since time did pass in between these episodes, however if you’re a character then there isn’t really a need to change them... (aka nobody but someone taking way too many screenshots would notice the difference). I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable and boring explanation, but it just struck me as interesting lol. Anyways, enough about the man’s undergarments. Back to the outfit as a whole.
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(Pictured above: large, medium, and small Jiang Chengs)
In the first picture you can see a bit of his innermost layer peeking out, whereas in the third picture he has come to a halt, so the outermost layer is covering most of the other two layers. In the fourth picture he is walking quickly, so the top two layers are flapping about quite rambunctiously.
Now for some cape shots!
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First we have a view from the side, then a view from above while he’s mid-twirl, and lastly a view of the cape from behind. I believe the cape attaches beneath the purple fabric at the very top, as this piece remains attached to Jiang Cheng after he throws the cape off his shoulders. (See screenshots below)
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also i have a hypothesis that this is not the first time the man has dramatically flung a cape off of his shoulders, which leads me to question what then becomes of said capes.
option 1: the yunmeng jiang disciples are used to this particular habit of jiang cheng’s and pick up his capes for him once he’s walked away in a huff.
option 2: having someone pick up the cape ruins the drama of it all, therefore random capes can be found strewn across the land wherever jiang cheng has experienced an adverse emotion. he is single-handedly keeping cape-makers in business.
option 3: he sneaks back to retrieve his cape in the dead of night because he liked that cape but he also has a reputation to maintain :(
he sit
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oh shit there he go
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alright now for some detail shots! (feel free to open them in another tab to see them at their full size)
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sexiest sword. there, i said it.
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back of his sash/belt:
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also, a before and after shot is necessary:
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and finally some memes to end this post
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how to smile like you’ve definitely smiled before and this definitely isn’t your first time trying to do so, a guide by jiang cheng:
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wangxianficrecs · 3 years
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Follower Recs
There are nearly FORTY THOUSAND AO3 stories in the MDZS universe, and I am just a single person with limited time, so....  Here’s a bit of y’all doing my work for me!
~*~
Mojo, I know it'd probably be recced before, but I have to recommend stiltonbasket's Twelve Moons and a Fortnight. It has made me squee of cuteness, hold my breath with suspense, marvel over the worldbuilding and character interactions, and just awed me at how well every original piece of lore and HC ties back to canon. I cried over it, only to cry laughing the next chapter. it kept me going through an entire year of lockdown and is finally coming to an end, and the resolution was magnificent.
*[I’m subscribed to this and keep waiting for Part One to be completed, but instead later parts keep getting posted:  is it completed but not marked?  I am confused.  And eager to read!]*
Twelve Moons and a Fortnight
by stiltonbasket (G, 267k, wangxian, WIP)
Summary:  "Let me get this straight. You really want me to stand in for you while you help Jin Ling settle in at Koi Tower?"
"Who else do I have?" Jiang Cheng snaps, ears turning scarlet as Jin Ling tries to pretend he isn't listening. "Father trained you to serve as my deputy, didn't he? And don't say you don't remember, or I'll break your legs."
"Well, yes," Wei Wuxian manages. "Uh. I'll just let Lan Zhan know I'll be at Lotus Pier until you're back at home, then."
Or, the one where Wei Wuxian spends the year before his wedding as Yunmeng Jiang's acting sect leader, and the cultivation world's greatest love story finds its happy ending with the help of three juniors, a teenage romance, and one very involved (and exasperated) younger brother.
~*~
May I recommend fielty by milkpunch a sort of AU where lwj in order to save his sect from being destroyed by nine after wen rouhans assasination goes to work as a guard to Jin zixuan where he meets wwx the right hand of Jin guanguao... ~ @pastashouldbeeatenwithafork
Fealty
by milkpunch (E, 84k, wangxian)
Summary:  Before, there had been two reigning kingdoms. Both claimed to be blessed by the sun, but with vastly differing views. One, under the name of Wen, was washed red with blood and violence, its soldiers fierce and stoked with a fiery blaze. The other, under the name of Jin, was bathed in golden light and glory, its soldiers proud and heavy with coin and prestige. The two kingdoms went to war for the true honour of having the sun’s blessing, fighting for many long years with many lives lost.
Jin Guangshan, emperor of the Golden Sun Palace, found that the sun favoured him more.
To prevent his kingdom from being crushed, Lan Zhan, second heir to the Lan kingdom, exchanges his freedom for that of servitude to the Jin kingdom. He is appointed as Jin Zixuan's personal guard, but there's more on his plate than just keeping the Jin heir safe. The Golden Sun Palace is not all that it seems, and the dazzling lives of the royals are less perfect than they appear.
~*~
Hey, I was wondering if I could rec a fic to you. My bestie wrote it for the Lunar New Year Wangxian gift exchange and it definitely did not receive the attention it deserves. It's a really fun mermaid/arranged marriage au! ~ @leahlisabeth
More Than This Provincial Wife
by ApprenticedMagician (T, 6k, wangxian)
Summary:  The negotiations surrounding the Lan & Jiang alliance through marriage encountered a few snags in the beginning.
~*~
I love your blog! I saw a recent post where you listed some rec's from other people? [Thank you!  And yes, I always appreciate and am happy to share your recs!]  I just read the WIP A Corpse Called By Name jaemyun and LOVED it! It's a zombie apocolypse AU, where Wei Ying gets bitten by a zombie.... and I don't want to spoil anything from there, but it is amazing! No pressure to put it in your blog, but wanted to send a note just in case. Thanks for all you do!
A Corpse Called By Name
by jaemyun (not rated, 37k, wangxian, WIP)
Summary:  A continuation of zombie drabble!
She loses her brother in a hoard of the undead.
She finds a corpse wearing his face in a convenience store.
The corpse calls her name.
~*~
Hi! I was wondering if I could rec this short fic that I recently found and really liked! The narrative is an inner monologue and I think it captures lwj really well :)
binding me in spells (till my heart's devoured)
by gaysgaysgays (G, <1k, wangxian)
Summary:  His scars are a reminder of his hurt, a reminder that he had healed.
(or a study of lan zhan's scars)
~*~
I found a fic I had recently asked you about, so I thought I'd share it with you: Seasons of Falling Flowers by merakily (http://archiveofourown.org/works/28522326). I rediscovered it completely by accident after listening to spinifex's excellent podfic adaptation. This is the fic where Lan Qiren despises Wei Wuxian until Wei Wuxian catches a cold and Lan Qiren find out about his golden core. That part is about 3/4 of the way through. The fic is wonderful and shows a rigid but surprisingly introspective Lan Qiren. ~ @clmoryel [Oh!  I just read this one yesterday!  Here’s my bookmark.]
Seasons of Falling Flowers
by merakily (G, 40k, wangxian, lan qiren & wei wuxian, podfic)
Summary:  Like a parasite, Wei Wuxian has this way of growing on people when you least expect it.
Over the seasons, Lan Qiren slowly pieces back together his relationship with Wangji and learns to like Wei Wuxian in the process.
(“Will you rejoin your sect?” As soon as the words leave his mouth, Lan Qiren regrets his wording.
He is not surprised when Wangji’s eyes narrow, flashing with offence. “There is no need to rejoin what one has never left. I did not turn my back on my sect. My sect turned their backs on me.”)
~*~
Hi! Can I rec a fic? "bring you home" by Alasse_Irena on AO3 is a modern AU and is one of the most beautiful and atmospheric fics I have read. Thanks for you work running this blog! I have new Wangxian fics to read <3
bring you home
by Alasse_Irena (T, 28k, wangxian)
Summary:  Wei Ying rents a run-down cottage in a small town by the sea, looking for a quiet place to hide after the war.
Lan Zhan has always dreamed of the ocean. He returns to the town where he was born, and where his parents died, to find out why.
Instead, they find each other.
~*~
Good morning lady mojo, I hope you’re having a good day! I wanted to rec a fic, Breathing Firestorm by ladyshadowdrake. It’s 111k and great but barely has any love, which is unfair. You mentioned it in the last ‘in a mood for’ post but I think it should have more of a shoutout because it’s a lot of fun and I liked it a lot. Have a great day ♥️  [Oh!  I was subscribed to this one and saw it had been recently finished.  It’s def. on my list!]
Breathing Firestorm
by ladyshadowdrake (M, 111k, wangxian)
Summary:  After years of a mad quest, Wen Ruohan is finally given proof of a powerful creature living among mortals. He is delighted to find that it truly believes itself to be only a boy named “Wei Wuxian.”
While Wen Ruohan tries to unlock Wei Wuxian’s secret, the sects unite against him. If he can achieve his goal before they arrive, even the combined might of the cultivation world would not be enough to humble him. Meanwhile, Lan Wangji dreams of Wei Wuxian in the Cold Pond Cave, and works tirelessly to rescue him from Wen Ruohan’s clutches. No one is prepared for what awaits the allied sects in Nightless City at the conclusion of the war, and it very well might mean the end of the world as they know it.
~*~
Hi Mojo, firstly thank you for all the hard work you put into running this blog, I’ve found so many fics that I probably would have never come across if it wasn’t for your fic finders posts and your personal review posts.  [Aw, thank you!]
I don’t know if you’ve read this fic before or if it’s been mentioned before on your blog (I’ve done a quick search of your blog and couldn’t see it, so if I’ve missed it I apologise!) but if you’ve got a fic rec post coming up, I would suggest “The shapes a bright container can contain” by litbynosun.
It’s a case fic about 16k words long and set after canon. Whilst it’s not the main focus of the story it does delve slightly into chronic illness of wwx (the ailments of mxy’s body) and lwj (his continuous treatment of his scars) which might cover a few requests in the IITMF posts in future.
Thanks again for all the hard work you do! ~ @dulachodladh
the shapes a bright container can contain
by litbynosun
M, 17k, wangxian
Summary:  "Lan Zhan, look at this," Wei Wuxian calls. "They don't have organs, but they're all… fuzzy."
He gently strokes the corpse's arm -- it's covered in soft, pigmentless downy hair, like a rabbit. Lan Wangji crouches next to him and nods. "Lanugo," he says. Wei Wuxian raises one eyebrow. "They were malnourished for quite a while before death," Lan Wangji elaborates. Wei Wuxian scans the bodies again. Indeed, they both have sunken cheeks, and their abdomens are empty of both organs and fat padding. “That’s a question,” he says. “Did they starve to death, and have their bodies desecrated after they were already deceased? Or were they murdered, and simply starving at the same time?” "We should stay," Lan Wangji tells him. This is not an answer to his question. It is an offer to search for answers.
Or: Wei Wuxian and his family solve a ghost haunting. Wei Wuxain's old enemy, societal injustice, rears its head again.
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carolyncaves · 4 years
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It’s been three days since I posted a ficlet, but that’s because my hand Really slipped this time and I wrote a canon divergence ‘post-Burial Mounds Wei Wuxian actually goes to Gusu’ fic. I’ll call this Day 19: Journey, but it also includes days 17 and 18 Rest and Breath for bonus points. 3680 words, WWX, LXC, LWJ, JC. Alcohol, vague mental illness (it’s post-burial-mounds wwx), strong undercurrent of wangxian (it’s lwj), angst, tenderness, golden core reveal.
also on ao3
“You do not necessarily need to take up the sword at once,” Lan Xichen called after Wei Wuxian, perhaps too desperately, but it mercifully stopped him in his tracks. “You can come to Cloud Recesses and simply consider it further there.”
“So instead of agreeing to take up the sword, Zewu Jun would like me to agree to agree to it in time. A grand distinction.” Wei Wuxian tipped his head back and drained the rest of the jar of baijiu. When he drew it down and looked at it, the rigid arrogance etched into his profile was mixed very briefly with a desperate despondence. Lan Xichen might not have noticed it, were it not for his conversation with Wangji.
Wei Wuxian had been somewhere terrible for three months, and he was not well. Wei Wuxian needed help. Wangji was forbidden to come, so Lan Xichen had to do this in his place, and please, Xiongzhang, you must get him to agree to come to Gusu, whatever it takes.
After what he’d seen so far of Wei Wuxian’s state, Lan Xichen was not sure it would be within his power. But Wangji had placed his trust in him.
“You will not be required to do anything, if only you will come.”
“I do not recall when Zewu Jun gained the authority to require things of me.”
That hostility could bring them to failure. Lan Xichen needed to shift to his reserve approach. He thought, given the circumstances, Wangji would consent. “To speak even more plainly, it would please Wangji very much to see you. You were correct when you said so yourself. He has been anxious since the close of Sunshot, and lonely at Cloud Recesses. I am asking you for this favor, as his closest confidant, for the sake of my brother’s happiness – so I will not be easily discouraged.” Those words were all true; it had become clear Wangji’s happiness depended very much on Wei Wuxian.
Wei Wuxian’s expression softened once again, this time toward affection. Lan Xichen gave his words time to sink in, and then followed them with a wager: “It will be an opportunity for you to rest.” Despite Wei Wuxian’s bright smile and earnest greeting when they’d met on the street, Lan Xichen had sensed underneath it that Wei Wuxian was haggard and worn.
Wei Wuxian finally turned and looked at him again, and his agitation had fully melted back away. Lan Xichen felt the gentle lift of hope.
“I’m a member of the Jiang sect, aren’t I?” Wei Wuxian asked. “My brother has been named Sect Leader, and needs me now more than ever in his life. How can I go to Gusu with you?”
“Please allow me to ask him,” Lan Xichen said immediately. “On my own behalf, please give me your leave to request of him that you come visit us.” He did not mention, and only barely allowed himself to think, that if Wei Wuxian was here in town drinking baijiu in the middle of the day, he was probably not giving his brother the support he needed regardless.
Wei Wuxian stared at the floor for a very long time. He gave a hollow laugh. “All right. If Jiang Cheng gives you his blessing, I’ll go to Gusu with you.”
Lan Xichen had swayed one immovable stone, only to find another in its shadow.
/
Jiang Cheng received him almost immediately in Lotus Pier’s Sword Hall. He sat on the carved lotus seat, looking every inch a Sect Leader despite his youthful face. Wei Wuxian stood slightly to one side, looking carefully at the opposite wall instead of either of them.
“Take Wei Wuxian to Cloud Recesses?” Jiang Cheng kept his voice even and respectful, for now, but his features clearly displayed his incredulous irritation. “And you want to go, I suppose,” he added, much more acidly, to Wei Wuxian. “You’d like to run off and see Hanguang Jun, nevermind Yunmeng Jiang.”
“Zewu Jun has asked it of me,” Wei Wuxian said lowly. “Should I just refuse him out of hand?”
Jiang Cheng’s eyes narrowed, and Lan Xichen could almost hear his rejoinder – So you make me do it instead? “Have you been drinking? I needed you today. Look at you.”
“Sect Leader Jiang, I am asking this of you as a personal favor,” Zewu Jun said, hoping to coerce Jiang Cheng into discussing it with him instead. “I’m hopeful spending a measure of time together at Cloud Recesses will be beneficial for both my brother and yours.”
“Hanguang Jun is more than welcome to come to Yunmeng,” Jiang Cheng countered.
“Currently Wangji has sect matters he is required to attend to,” Zewu Jun answered, before immediately wincing.
“And Wei Wuxian doesn’t?” Jiang Cheng snapped. He looked incensed with a fire more furious than this one conversation would ignite, implying Wei Wuxian’s truancy today was not an isolated incident; this request was precisely the fuel to grow a smolder into a blaze. “Not that he’s been doing them. Are you planning to stand by my side and help me at any point, Wei Wuxian? Have you no sense of responsibility?”
Lan Xichen saw those words hit Wei Wuxian like a blow, but he was surprised when Jiang Cheng flinched as well. Perhaps he had not intended the second meaning – the implication of blame, as well as duty.
Jiang Cheng took a breath to recover, and apparently that gave him the time he needed to reconsider.
“Forget the thing I just said. You should go with him.”
Wei Wuxian looked right at him, then, for the first time in that conversation, and his face was masked with slow confusion and hurt. “Jiang Cheng …”
“Don’t argue with me! Go cheer up Lan Wangji and yourself, and come back. You’ve been impossible and stubborn since you got back from wherever on earth you were, and I need you to get your head back on straight.” Wei Wuxian’s face had gone blank again during that tirade. Jiang Cheng snorted in exasperation and added, “Don’t forget to take your sword with you, and see if you can come back riding it.”
Wei Wuxian stiffened, and Lan Xichen was briefly terrified the situation would collapse mere inches from success. He stepped forward, clamped a hand down hard on Wei Wuxian’s shoulder, and said, “We will bring the sword with us.” He hoped Wei Wuxian would remember the assurances Lan Xichen had given him, so he wouldn’t have to repeat them in front of Jiang Cheng. “Where is it, Wei-gongzi?”
/
Lan Xichen escorted Wei Wuxian to collect the sword and some personal effects from his room – thankfully, Jiang Cheng remained behind. Suibian was tucked behind a chest of drawers, where Wei Wuxian would not see it as he went about his daily life. Wei Wuxian retrieved it and stared at it like it was alien in his own hand, in contrast to the dark flute he held as at his side as an extension of himself in the other.
He thrust his arm toward Lan Xichen.
This disturbed Lan Xichen, the way Wei Wuxian seemed actively averse to the sword’s presence, but he said nothing; he was on the verge of achieving his mission. All this could be discussed in the fullness of time once Wei Wuxian was safely at Cloud Recesses. He took Suibian in his own hand, for the time being. He would bear this person and his sword to Wangji.
Wei Wuxian was slow and lethargic in his movements, some combination of mood and intoxication. It took all of Lan Xichen’s discipline not to rush him. It felt as if every moment that elapsed could bring some unforeseen stimulus that would knock Wei Wuxian off this vital and fragile course. Eventually he was ready, and as soon as they had sky over their heads, Lan Xichen took him on Shuoyue and maneuvered them into the air.
Lan Xichen relaxed, since they were now underway, which seemed a significant milestone in making this more difficult to stop. Wei Wuxian clung to him in strange desperation with the arm that wasn’t holding Chenqing. He stared down and around and out, face wide and wild as they climbed into the dusky sky, and as the minutes passed he began to shake. Did he feel unsafe relying on someone else to maneuver the sword? Had something happened that had instilled in him a fear of heights?
“Hide your eyes, if you would be more at ease,” Lan Xichen told him. “I assure you, Wei-gongzi, I will deliver you safely.”
Wei Wuxian’s fingers tightened ever so slightly in Lan Xichen’s robes, like he was hesitating, fighting a silent battle. Finally, his head collapsed onto Lan Xichen’s shoulder, his face angled into the side of his neck. Otherwise he said nothing, and did nothing. It was so far distant from the buoyant young man who had come to Gusu for lectures and even the sharp, bright, terrible one he’d seen glimpses of during Sunshot. Wangji had been correct. Wei Wuxian was deeply not well. Lan Xichen had been moderately convinced by the end of their conversation at the inn; now he was beyond certain.
The flight was long, but at the end of it, the patch of garden in front of Wangji’s jingshi came up to meet them, and Lan Xichen set them safely down. Wei Wuxian had made the journey.
///
Lan Wangji heard a sound he quickly placed as Xichen maneuvering Shuoyue, and he was out the door of the jingshi as quickly as he could physically manage it. First, because Xichen would not maneuver the sword within Cloud Recesses if he were not on some urgent mission, and second, because Lan Wangji would not have been able to hear him if he were alone and unburdened.
Sure enough, he was met with the sight of Xichen ushering a rigid Wei Ying from the steel onto the grass. A relief so intense it threatened to send him to his knees expanded through Lan Wangji.
“Wei Ying,” he said reflexively, closing the space between them.
Wei Ying turned to him with glazed, hazy eyes.
“He may still be intoxicated,” Xichen said, “and he has been harrowed by the flight.”
Lan Wangji stopped just before he touched Wei Ying, remembering him step away from him at Yiling Supervisory Office, turn away at the cliffs at Nightless City. This time, Wei Ying let him slowly move in and take him by one wrist. It was hope, and forgiveness, and a plea.
“Let’s get him inside,” Xichen said, which meant Lan Wangji had to release him. He followed as Xichen escorted Wei Ying up the walk. By the time they reached the open doorway, Wei Ying had recovered some of his senses, and he pulled himself out of Xichen’s hold.
“You don’t have to … you didn’t have to,” Wei Ying said coldly. “I shouldn’t be here. I should go back.”
Lan Wangji’s stomach sank, but Xichen just said, “Wei-gongzi, surely you aren’t suggesting I fly you back to Lotus Pier by sword this very moment.”
Wei Ying flinched, even as he scowled at himself for it.
“You must at least take dinner with us, and stay the night,” Xichen continued. “We can discuss it further in the morning if you like. You’re no prisoner here, just a welcome guest.” Xichen extended his arm, gesturing for Wei Ying to continue into the jingshi.
At length, he did.
Wei Ying stopped in the center of the room, standing aimlessly as Xichen and Lan Wangji came in around him. “I’ll go have someone prepare us a meal,” Xichen said. He held out Suibian, which for the first time Lan Wangji noticed he was carrying.
Wei Ying stared at him. He made no move to take it.
Xichen smiled sadly and went to set the sword at one of the places at the table.
Lan Wangji said stepped forward and took Suibian from his hand. “Xiongzhang,” he said, bowing formally with Wei Ying’s sword clasped in his hands, “thank you for bringing Wei Ying here. Now I will speak with him.”
Xichen briefly looked taken aback. Then his gaze floated from Lan Wangji to Wei Ying before returning. “I told Wei-gongzi we would not force him to take up his sword if he came here. That we would not require anything of him if he was unwilling.”
Lan Wangji imagined how the conversation must have gone, for Xichen to make that assurance. “Thank you,” he said again, and he hoped Xichen understood him.
Xichen nodded. “I will have the meal sent over for you.” Xichen acknowledged Wei Ying and left, surrendering Wei Ying into Lan Wangji’s custody.
Wei Ying was here. He had come to Gusu, however tensely. Lan Wangji was not helpless any longer. He could do something. He looked at the sword in his hand. Wei Ying’s wild Suibian. “I will play Clarity for you until the dinner comes,” he said.
“Lan Zhan, you can’t help me.”
“You said you would allow me,” Lan Wangji pushed back, pacing around Wei Ying to face him. “You came here.”
“No, Lan Zhan. You can’t help me.” Wei Ying looked up at him, expression gaunt. He was still thin, from wherever he’d been when he was away. If he was intoxicated, it was the morose kind. “You can play Clarity for me until your fingers bleed. I still won’t take up the sword again.”
“Why not?” Lan Wangji bit out, clenching Suibian in his grip. “What happened, Wei Ying?”
Wei Ying’s gaze was heavy on the sword in Lan Wangji’s hand. He thought for a great, long silence. “You have to believe me this time,” he said, swaying a little on his feet. “If I tell you, you have to believe me.”
Lan Wangji had not believed him when he spun a tall tale about a book and a cave with a dark, haughty grin. He had been afraid to believe him when he mentioned the Burial Mounds with a smile. Now, with Wei Ying standing empty in the jingshi, a silent tear rolling down his face, having relented and left his home so Lan Wangji could help him, Lan Wangji was prepared to believe anything he had to say. Lan Wangji nodded.
“It’s a secret,” Wei Ying pressed instantly, and more tears followed the first. “You need to swear to me you’ll keep it a secret. From Zewu Jun, from your uncle, from everyone. I would die rather than have it be known. Do you understand, Lan Zhan? It’s a secret I was going to die to keep.”
That image, the one of Wei Ying dead, frightened Lan Wangji more than anything had previously in his life. A year ago, it would have seemed impossible – his overloud, overfamiliar other, taken by death. Now, it seemed possible. Now, Wei Ying was barely held together by resentful energy and thin wire.
Lan Wangji raised his head, decided. He crossed the room, to the sword stand where his own Bichen stood. He put Suibian to rest alongside it. Then he turned. Wei Ying had turned to watch him.
Lan Wangji held out his hand, palm up. “Then tell me. We will keep it together.”
Wei Ying looked at his hand like a man going to his death. He looked at it like a man who wanted to be saved. He barely took his eyes off it as he took the three steps sideways necessary to walk over and place Chenqing on the corner of the table. Then he took the three steps back – toward Lan Wangji – and Lan Wangji’s hand in his own.
He drew it toward him and pressed it against his lower abdomen.
It took Lan Wangji a second to process this strange action, and another to follow its implication. He controlled his spiritual energy, reached in to touch Wei Ying’s spiritual core.
Nothing.
Lan Wangji’s hand clenched, pulling in a handful of Wei Ying’s clothes. He could feel his own breath begin to accelerate. Wei Ying’s cultivation was a match for Lan Wangji’s own. How could Wei Ying lack a golden core?
Wei Ying had bit his lip so hard he bled. Lan Wangji raised his other hand instinctively, to wipe the blood and tears away.
“Hanguang Jun,” came a voice from outside, and the door slid open.
The junior disciple holding the tray with their dinner froze on the threshold. Fortunately, Wei Ying was facing away from the door, so the tears on his face would not be visible. Lan Wangji could not begin to imagine what his own showed.
The disciple opened her mouth, then closed it again.
“Place it quickly and go,” Lan Wangji said, his voice harsh even in his own ears. The disciple leapt forward to obey, practically diving across the room and setting the tray on the table. Her sleeve brushed against Chenqing as she withdrew, sending it clattering to the floor. She winced and reached for it.
“Leave it,” Lan Wangji commanded. The disciple gave the quickest bow he had ever seen and fled the jingshi, banging the door closed behind her.
Wei Ying gave a wet laugh. Lan Wangji’s hand was still on his face. “Lan Zhan, that disciple surely thought you were in the middle of ravishing me. By morning, every junior in the Lan sect will be talking about Hanguang Jun and his secret lover.”
Lan Wangji drew Wei Ying into the circle of his arms and crushed him to his chest.
“Wei Ying,” he said into the side of his head. He clutched at him, dug one hand into his hair. “Wei Ying.”
“It’s all right, Lan Zhan, really,” Wei Ying said, voice hollow. “It’s not so terribly bad. I’m practically used to it at this point. But you see why I can’t take up the sword anymore.” Wei Ying was still babbling. “Do you see, Lan Zhan?”
“Enough talking,” Lan Wangji said. His mind was beginning to seek causes and effects. “Wen Zhuliu?”
“I thought you said enough talking,” Wei Ying deflected.
The Wen soldiers had said things that hadn’t made sense to Lan Wangji. They’d said the heir to the Jiang sect had been burned down into a mediocre person. The pieces rearranged themselves, and Lan Wangji spat, “Jiang Cheng. Wen Zhuliu, and Jiang Cheng.”
“Enough talking,” Wei Ying whispered, but his hands finally came up and wrapped around him. He finally took hold of Lan Wangji. And he began to cry. It was quiet. Listless. Unlike everything Wei Ying was.
Lan Wangji held him until he stopped.
He didn’t realize tears were on his own face until they dampened Wei Ying’s shoulder and he felt the coolness.
When eventually they pulled back, Wei Ying was barely on his feet. Lan Wangji walked him over to the table. He food had gone cold, but he needed to eat. Wei Ying picked up Chenqing and placed it back on the corner of the table with a shaking hand. Lan Wangji sat beside him instead of across from him, an arm still wrapped around his waist. He did not know when he would be willing to let go of Wei Ying again.
When Wei Ying finished eating, he realized he would have to.
“I will play Clarity for you,” Lan Wangji said, though it came out more stifled than he intended.
Wei Ying shook his head ruefully. “I’ve taken you too off-guard, Lan Zhan. I’m sure you could if my life depended on it, but you don’t need to play it tonight.”
Perhaps that was best. Lan Wangji did not feel even remotely clear himself. He shifted so he could draw Wei Ying back against him, back pressed against Lan Wangji’s chest. As if it were possible to hold him close enough to make this all right.
“Ah, Lan Zhan, I didn’t know you were going to be quite so possessive of my spiritual power,” Wei Ying said – joking even now, joking already. He tipped his head back on Lan Zhan’s shoulder, showing his exhaustion. “Ah, well, now you know the truth. You can send me back to Lotus Pier tomorrow with a clear conscience.”
Lan Wangji shook his head. Slowly, several times. How could Wei Ying say such false things, even in jest? Lang Wangji cupped a hand under his chin, angling his face up slightly.
Wei Ying stared up at him. “Lan Zhan …”
Lan Wangji leaned down and kissed him.
It was brief and light. Lan Wangji could taste the whisper of baijiu on his breath. Then it was over.
Wei Ying stared up at him, eyebrows furrowed in confusion, lips hanging ever so slightly agape.
“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji said. “You said you would allow me to help you.”
“Oh,” he said, as if he were truly surprised. His chin drifted back down, and he stared across the jingshi unseeing in thought. Then he took one of Lan Wangji’s hands in both of his own and raised the back of it to his lips. “Thank you, Lan Zhan.”
It was barely seven thirty, long before even the Lan sect’s curfew, but soon Wei Ying was starting to drowse in his arms. Lan Wangji wanted to continue to hold him, but he had been exhausted even when he stepped off Shuoyue. He needed to rest.
Lan Wangji might have carried him to the bed, but he woke and was already pulling himself up before Lan Wangji could arrange it. Instead, he walked at his side, supporting him.
Wei Ying slept the sleep of the bone-weary. Lan Wangji sat beside him and watched. This was worse than anything he’d imagined. But now he understood, and he could stop wasting energy on the false problem and help Wei Ying with the true one.
Wei Ying had dark circles under his eyes and alcohol in his blood and no golden core, but he was safe in Lan Wangji’s bed at Cloud Recesses. As long as that was true, hope was not gone.
part two
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satonthelotuspier · 4 years
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❄️ Untamed Winter Fest 2019 ❄️
Day 4 - Decorating - 1.7k - Continuation of Day 2 
Lan Xichen knocked on the door of Jiang Wanyin’s apartment, hoping he was the first to arrive. He had a bottle of wine and nibbles intended for later, much later, after the rest of Wanyin’s family had finished making their decorations and taken them and their sleepy children home, and a selfish want for a little of his boyfriend’s time to himself before the others turned up.
He thought their relationship was getting towards the point where they needed to have the talk about moving in together, but he felt it was fair to leave that topic until after the holidays and all the busyness they entailed, unless Wanyin brought it up earlier of course.
Jiang Wanyin opened the door at that point, and all thought left his head at the sight of his boyfriend, dressed in faded old jeans and a purple v-neck jumper that looked as soft as a rabbit’s fur to touch. How did he manage to make being fully dressed look inviting?
“You’re a little earlier than I expected you” Jiang Wanyin told him stepping back to allow him into the apartment, “But that’s great, you can help me put the tree up and the lights on”
“Anything you want” Xichen agreed as Wanyin closed the door behind him.
But first.
He bent the short distance needed to be able to press a kiss against Wanyin’s unsuspecting mouth.
The brief kiss was over far too quickly for Xichen’s liking, but his family would be arriving any time, and they did have all night later. It didn’t mean he wasn’t going to spend a few extra minutes hugging his boyfriend though. “I wish you had time to seriously muss me up before your family arrive” he murmured regretfully, brushing a lock of hair off of Wanyin’s forehead.
The other pushed him away to arms length at his comment, with a “How can your face be so damn thick as to keep spouting things like that?” he complained, flushing helplessly.
“How can yours be so thin that you’re still blushing at this stage of our relationship?” Xichen asked in amusement.
“Who’s blushing?” Wanyin’s voice rose a decibel or two.
“Oh, no one, no one” Xichen placed a kiss on the jut of Wanyin’s cheekbone, anointing the flush, before pulling away regretfully. “Lets get the tree” he heard Wanyin pull a breath of relief in, so he couldn’t help but add, “Will you promise to muss me up completely later?”
It had the desired effect, and Wanyin’s face flamed.
#
Jiang Cheng’s apartment was in a modern building, and the living space was open and airy, with floor to ceiling windows down one side of the room. It didn’t take them long to get the tree into place in the corner next to the windows, and they worked together to get the white lights strung and spread out to perfection just as the first knock on the door announced Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan, with their eight year old son Jin Ling.
Jiang Yanli bustled in with a container and her usual friendly cheer, “I brought dessert” she informed and paused to hug Jiang Cheng, “You like almond cookies, right?” she asked Xichen as she also gave him a hug.
“Of course, who doesn’t?” Xichen responded.
Jiang Cheng could tell, despite how comfortable Xichen was with personal contact within their relationship he was still surprised by casual touch outside of that. But Yanli had always been someone who showed her love through touch with her family, which extended by default to her family’s family. Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian had grown up with it so it was the norm for them, whereas, from what Jiang Cheng had gleaned from both Lan Wangji and Xichen, theirs had been a much more restrained household. It was a wonder Xichen was as demonstrative as he was with Jiang Cheng.
He watched, not realising what a sappy smile had curled his mouth as Xichen took the container from Yanli and fussed over her, automatically turning on his charm, the full focus of which was enough to make anyone swoon. He had her coat and hat, had her sat comfortably on the sofa and her preference for tea before she even realised what had happened.
“Apparently the Jiangs are particularly weak to the Lan charm” Zixuan teased Jiang Cheng, who was saved from having to make any response beyond a flush of embarrassment by the second, much more chaotic arrival of Wei Wuxian and his little family.
“A-Yuan take your coat off” Wei Wuxian grabbed hold of the back of A-Yuan’s collar, because he had seen Jin Ling and dashed forward in excitement, while Wuxian was only half out of his own shoes and coat, Lan Wangji stood at the back clucking over them both like an overworked mother hen as they turned taking off outwear into a complex ritual.
It didn’t take long to settle the noisy lot, serve drinks, and have all the crafting materials handed around ready for their afternoon of decoration making.
“We’re counting on you two to make some really great paper chains this year” Wei Wuxian told Jin Ling and Lan Yuan, both of whom agreed excitedly.
“But you’re going to help, right Uncle?” Jin Ling demanded.
“You bet I am” he agreed and Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. The boys had always absolutely idolised Wei Wuxian. Jiang Cheng told him it was because he was the same mental age as a child so they were always on the same wavelength.
“I’m going to order pizza, yell what you want” Jiang Cheng threw into the ring, and his family didn’t disappoint him.
Lan Xichen looked a little lost at the racket, but Jiang Cheng easily picked out the  different requests shouted at him, each one over the top of the previous.
Once pizza was ordered he was dragged into the melee on the floor, making chains with his nephews and brother.
It was a noisy, chaotic, very Jiang-family afternoon. He noticed Lan Wangji and Xichen have to disappear to the kitchen occasionally, ostensibly to “make tea” but really just to take a break from the chaos. Jin Zixuan joined them once or twice, but after a decade of marriage into the family he was almost completely immune to it now.
They ate pizza and almond cookies, talked, laughed and bickered back and forth and strung paper chains and lanterns together until the sky outside darkened. Eventually Xichen was allowed to put some of the paper chains on the tree while Yanli supervised him, and A-Yuan and A-Ling hung the paper lanterns from random branches. Then they all stood back to observe their joint effort.
“Perfect” Yanli said, an arm around each of the boys’ shoulders and she hugged them into her sides.
“Not quite. But I know what’s missing” Xichen said and went to the kitchen, returning with a presentation box.
He brought it over to Jiang Cheng and held it out with the lid up.
“It’s missing just this I think”
Jiang Cheng’s stomach flipped inside him, and then dropped completely.
He reached out with a shaking hand to accept the purple tinted cut glass lotus flower Xichen held out to him.
It was the single most beautiful piece of craftsmanship he’d ever seen. It has a small tinkling bell and a beautiful shaded purple tassel hanging from the underside of the lotus.
“There’s one for Yanli and Wuxian too” Xichen held the box out to the other two who’d moved closer to look. They each took the lotus ornament obviously meant for them from the box, one almost identical to Jiang Cheng's for Yanli and a dark grey lotus with a red tassel for Wuxian, both of their touches gentle and reverent.
“How did you-?” Jiang Cheng cut the question off, because of course Wangji would know about the lotus being so important to his family, “Where did you-?” he tried, but that wasn’t even important. “This is beautiful, and completely perfect. You’re right, it is what’s missing from the tree” Jiang Cheng saw the pleasure his compliment had caused his boyfriend turn quickly to surprise as he launched himself at Xichen, arms around his neck, “Thank you so much” he didn’t even realise he was crying until Xichen rubbed his back and made soothing noises.
Of course that set Yanli crying, holding the lotus to her chest she wrapped the other arm around Xichen and Jiang Cheng, crying into Jiang Cheng’s shoulder, “This is so lovely, I can’t thank you enough” she managed to hiccup out.
And of course Wei Wuxian wouldn’t be out-done, wrapping his arms around them all. “Thanks Xichen I’ve always said you’re one of the best brother-in-laws I have” he propped his chin on Jiang Cheng’s other shoulder, his automatic humour-to-hide-emotion not doing a good enough job because there were tears rolling down his cheeks.
When he finally managed to break free Jiang Cheng pulled Lan Xichen over to the tree, to hang the crystal lotus ornament from one of the highest branches with him, almost like it was a ceremony.
“Perfect” Yanli said again, and this time no one said otherwise.
#
On the whole, Lan Xichen had had a very enjoyable day. It had been noisy and disordered and completely overwhelming on occasion, but he hoped to be involved in hundreds more similar days with Jiang Wanyin, Wangji and the rest of their family in the future.
He hummed his satisfaction, head resting against Wanyin’s chest where they cuddled together on the sofa in the dark, the only illumination from the Christmas tree lights and their reflection of the multicoloured paper decorations that had been made that afternoon.
Wanyin’s hand brushed through his hair in a repeated and extremely soothing brush.
It was fair to say with the combination of the exhaustion of dealing with Jiang Wanyin’s  boisterous family, the wine they’d drunk together this evening, and the soft, rhythmic stroke of Wanyin’s fingers in his hair he couldn’t keep his eyes open.
So he stopped fighting the feeling and let sleep take him.
He didn’t know whether he really heard the “I love you” or whether it was his dreaming mind playing tricks on him.
Day 4 down and the second outing for these two. Think there’s likely two more outings for them over the course of the month but the ideas I’m playing with fit into later prompts.
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pastthevaulteddoors · 4 years
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What if Wei WuXain was taken in by the Qishan Wen Sect?
What if Wei WuXain was taken in by the Qishan Wen Sect?
Just as a servant, eventually a disciple, until his genius of manipulating cultivation is understood and he's allowed nearly free range to experiment as long as his work comes back to help the Qishan Wen Sect.
One night hunt he's hopping around a region far from home, chasing a spectral tiger, when his query is strung up in a net. Wei WuXain is more amused than annoyed that someone was able to catch it and sticks around to congratulate/piss off whomever decided to take out his hunt.
It's Lan WangJi, of course.
Wei WuXain, a bit more cocky and forward than if he would have grown up at Lotus Pier, demands compensation for destroying his hunt. Lan WangJi counters that the beast was eating people so, no, he doesn't owe this Wen person anything.
Wei WuXain explains how he was following it to gain an understanding of it's movements so he could translate his shadow jumping feature into a talisman. Then they fight, because of course they do. Wei WuXain is having far more fun with a real challenge than Lan WangJi who just wants him to stfu.
It ends in a stalemate, but Wei WuXain claims he is not done and they will meet again. He goes to his head disciple and asks if he can join the classes at Cloud Recesses to gain more knowledge.
(More under the cut because I did not mean to write so much! Idea is completely inspired by this fic: https://archiveofourown.org/works/16504007/chapters/38655827 Please read it, it is very good. And please read the rest of my headcanon because it was fun to write!)
Lan QiRen is NOT happy but accepts the pupil in exchange for a peace talk about territory disputes. Wei WuXain is delivered by Wen Chao himself, causing a stir already, and Wei WuXain wastes no time in pissing off the Lan Elders. He's still lovable and popular with the students, and the longer he stays, he more he likes hanging out with people his own age.
Even Lan WangJi, who he doesn't hesitate in pestering right off. After the waterborne abyss event, then Lan WangJi and Wei WuXain just happen to run into each other when exploring/eradicating a monster that is an entire mountain (I have a lovely fight scene in my head that I have no energy to write about that...), there's a bit of respect of talents shared between them.
And maybe friendship, as they're seen together a lot. Wei WuXain with his crazy ideas, and Lan WangJi not adding to the fire of his ideas, but adding logic and why-it-wouldn't-work, stirring the concept into a workable piece of cultivation. Which actually makes them a great team at skating the line of what is and is not acceptable in their cultivation ideals. Lan WangJi starts to question the rules and realizes that life is not all black and white, and Wei WuXain starts to understand the not all sects are 'beneath' Qishan Wen and maybe worth protecting rather than suppressing.
Of course, that's always the flirting, but a bit harder edged with being raised by Qishan Wen, Wei WuXain really digs in when he notices how flustered his new friend becomes when he flirts. And barriers are pushed further until Wei WuXain and Lan WangJi aren't able to keep emotions at bay and have a heated teenaged tryst. It's not a love confession but neither boy comes out if it a virgin. Nor regret because they both acknowledged that something's there, a spark of love, but it's not quite manifested and agree that want to continue to meet to 'cultivate' this emotion further. <3
When Wei WuXain goes home, he's pushed into the middle of a war room where Qishan Wen Sect is finally preparing to take over the other four major sects. Wei WuXain is like 'wuuuut? I have friends in those sects now' but of course that doesn't matter and he's commissioned to use his cultivist knowledge to attack the others.
Wei WuXain starts suggesting ways to overcome the enemy to suppress rather than kill. He takes an idea that he and Lan WangJi had played with, but without Lan WangJi as his impulse control, he's not stopped. He risks his life to head into Burial Mounds, digs up the dead, and starts creating a way to control the corpses. He figures that if the sects are overwhelmed and frightened, then they will give up before they're all dead. They could just give up their control, fly the Qishan Wen's flag, and learn to work under their rule. Peace!
This is all well and good for a young man's theory, but never having been in a war before, doesn't realize just how resilient people could be when their home is getting destroyed. Nor does he realize the first target is Cloud Recesses. Wei WuXain tries to warn Lan WangJi to evacuate his people before the strike, but it's too late.
Too stubborn to give in, Lan XiChen goes missing, the Sect leader dies, Lan QiRen is injured, and Lan WangJi is brought back to Qishan Wen territory (under Wei WuXain's request). Cloud Recesses is burned to the ground, even against the threat of a thousand fierce corpses, they do not yield until the choice is no longer theirs to make.
Wei WuXain realizes that this is bad. Really bad. That he made a mistake! He pleads with Lan WangJi for forgiveness, but would you forgive your kinda-boyfriend for indirectly killing your dad and destroying your home? Probably not.
It takes another attack, this one on Lotus Pier, before Wei WuXain begins fight back against his own sect. He turns the tide back on his own troops, leaving Lotus Pier damaged but not overrun (and Jiang Fengmian and Madam Yu live). Jiang Cheng confronts Wei WuXain as he's playing his flute to turn the tides. Having been friends back at Cloud Recesses, he tries to discover wtf is going on.
Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXain run off from both sects to rectify this mess. They need to save Lan WangJi where he was left back at Qishan, and put their heads together to try and fix this mess. Somewhere along the way they pick up Wen Ning, Jin Zixaun, and Nie Huaisang.
After a daring rescue to get Lan WangJi, Wei WuXain has to regain his trust. He says that he will turn himself in once they make everything right. Wei WuXain presents a plan to overrule the corpses that were taken out of his control which involves basically rewriting the elements' significance, writing a giant pentagram over the land with resentful energy, and maybe-possibly creating a few giant skeletons with bones pieced together like Legos.
Needless to say, the Sect Leaders do NOT agree to this, but the boys believe in Wei WuXain's talents and their crazy idea. So they run off to utilize the plan anyway with just the six of them. They all realize that they're probably going to face serious, if not deadly, consequences when they return but it's for the greater good.
Lan WangJi and Wei WuXain have a semi-make up moment, where Lan WangJi wants to hate him but he can't. He's in love. And Wei WuXain loves him and... what a mess...
So battle time! Using each sect's protective magics as their net/tethers that force the corpses into one spot. They separate to gather up the ley lines of protective barriers from each sect, and slowly inch in towards a central location.
Nie Huaisang is confronted by his brother as he's trying to pull up the ley lines of Qinghe Nie Sect. Nie Mingjue actually decides to help out his weak-cultivating brother and they both carry the ley line together.
Jaing Cheng and YanLi figure out together where the ley lines are. Jiang Fengmian and Madam Yu don't agree with this method but don't hinder them. Jiang Cheng starts flying off with his string of ley line after a warm goodbye from his sect.
Lan WangJi is confronted by his found brother and Uncle. Neither agree to this method, so WangJi has to argue against the 3000 rules and the unfair justices of black and white views. Lan XiChen caves first, but Lan QiRen tells Lan WangJi that he will be discharged from the sect if he goes through with this ritual.
Lan XiChen doesn't go with Lan WangJi, but guides him on where he can find his part of the ley line. Lan WangJi goes through the ruins of his home that he defects from the moment he leaves.
Jin ZiXuan is like 'get out of my way, I do what I want' and has the easiest time gathering up his sect's ley lines. Because he's badass like that (go go peacock!)
Wen Ning and Wen Qing have to sneak around to gather up their ley line. Wen Qing calls her brother brave. It's a wonderful sibling bonding moment.
In the center, where they're all supposed to meet, Wei WuXain is gathering up all the resentful energy as it begins folding into the designated location. Where this is? At the mountain that he fought with Lan WangJi when they were in school.
Wei WuXain starts the battle before the others can get to him, trying to regain control of the corpses to fight Qishan's army. He doesn't actually want people to die, but there's no choice if they don't yield. Then suddenly, over the horizon, boom! There's the Nie Sect people coming to fight, then WOW! Jiang Fengmian is riding over the hill with his disciples. Wen Sect that defected arrive with Wen Ning and his sister. And then WOWZA! LanLing Jin finally join in.
The tide turns, but then Wei WuXain begins losing his control. Someone else is out there using his methods to control the corpses (they raided him rooms and picked apart the knowledge in notes he left behind). Just as they fear that Qishan will push them back a cloud of white gathers through the mist of the sunrise. GusuLan have finally arrived, lead by the new sect leader, Lan XiChan!
The young men tie together their ley lines and unearth the mountain's mouth. It gobbles up the corpses and the resentful energy, along with Wei WuXain's giant skeletons. With the fierce corspes out of the way, Qishan is overwhelmed by the combined forces and are taken down swiftly after.
When the dust settles and victory is assured they have to wonder; where did Wei WuXain go? Lan WangJi gets the idea to follow the fading tails of the ley lines and discovers that Wei WuXain folded the lines down into the mountain's mouth on top of himself, trapping himself with all that resentful energy and fierce corpses deep inside.
Is there a daring, heart wrenching rescue? You bet there is! All with smothered kisses, deep friendships, and glorious teamwork! Then Jiang Cheng, Jin ZiXuan, Lan WangJi, Nie Huaisang, Wen Ning, and a handful of others stand before Wei WuXain before their elders, not allowing them to take him for judgement.
Wei WuXain is the one to tell them to stand down. That he had committed atrocities against the cultivation world and brought on a lot of deaths due to his meddling. The elders decide his punishment is to take in the pentagram's remaining hold onto himself to get rid of all the resentful energy that had been stored there. Basically, he has to give up all the energy of his golden core, hence destroy it, to get rid of the mess he left behind.
He could die, yeah, but with the support from his friends, he's able to take on the task. He spends 13 months meditating, giving up his golden core. The resentful energy in the mountain slowly evaporates but when it's gone, so is Wei WuXain's core.
Not long into this, he falls into a trance-like coma, kind of like a living Buddha. Luckily, he doesn't die, but is very weakened when the task is completed. The Sect friends of his agree to protect Wei WuXain, because no matter how much of a mess he made, it was in his best intentions to gain peace.
And then there's a wedding, and bitter-sweetness to the end when Lan WangJi is still rejected from GusuLan for his endangerment of his people. Lan WangJi and Wei WuXain travel together for awhile before finding a home within Qishan's territory and become farmers and adopt A-Yuan (and more). There are promises of growth, rebuilding, friendship, and forgiveness.
And of course, love.
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antiquecompass · 4 years
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Untamed Fest Day Twenty-Eight: Light/Dark
This was not the first Lan Academy fundraiser Lan Sizhui had attended. Nor would it be his last. It was, however, the first where he was expected to be one of the family hosts, standing in the official greeting line for their wealthy donors. 
This version of the traditional Lan garb was even more elaborate than what he wore to his graduation. He actually needed Jingyi’s help to smooth down all the layers and thread his hair and forehead ribbon through the headpiece.
He was so very jealous of Jingyi is his simple black tux.
“Aww, you poor little heir to a massive family fortune,” Jingyi teased as he smoothed down Sizhui’s hair and placed a kiss behind his ear.
“If I hadn’t been adopted, you’d be in this position right now.”
“I don’t like to think of that version of events,” Jingyi said as he wrapped his arms around Sizhui’s waist. “We never would’ve met.”
Sizhui didn’t like to think of that either, though part of him felt they’d still have found a way, even with the world between them.
He studied them in the mirror, Jingyi’s dark to his light, tall to his...not tall, Jingyi’s new short haircut to Sizhui’s long locks. A study in contrasts to outsiders, but so much of their lives and who they were as themselves, were tied up in each other. 
“I love you,” Sizhui said.
Jingyi’s smile was brilliant--loud--lively, just like him. “I love you too,” he said, voice and eyes soft. 
His arms tightened around Sizhui. “Don’t worry. In a few years, I’ll have to join you officially in the greeting line nonesense. Right now I’ll live comfortably in this tux for both of us.” He breathed into Sizhui’s ear, a tease for later. “But you do look fucking gorgeous. Like something otherworldly. A god of the clouds.”
**********
The greeting line for these fundraisers was the only time Sizhui saw his dad, usually in dark tones for work and formal events, in the white Lan robes. He was currently holding up the line, so many donors eager to talk to the ‘famous writer Wuxian Wei’ and it did the Lan Foundation good to so clearly display his connection to their family and name. Dad only picked one Lan Fundraiser a year to ‘don those mourning clothes,’ and each one always saw a spike in donors and attendees when his official presence was announced.
This year’s greeting line also held another surprise. Uncle Cheng, officially married in now for over a year, stood next to Uncle Xichen, looking even more commanding in his own set of white and light blue Lan robes than Great-Uncle did. Sizhui studied him closer, smiling to himself as he found the hint of a light lavender under robe. He might be married to a Lan now, but Uncle Cheng would <i>always</i> be the proudest of Jiangs. 
He turned his attention back to the donor line. Endured too many pinches to his cheeks and pats to his hands, as long-time members of the Board and annual donors complimented him on growing up so well, graduating high school, getting into college. Most were polite; some were a bit too probing in their questions of whether or not he was still dating that one Lan, the loud one. Every single time he was asked that his eyes flicked up to find Jingyi across the room, making faces at him and trying to get him to break his composure. Sizhui always happily assured the questioner that yes, he was still dating that Lan; yes, the loud one. 
Finally a very familiar face came through the line.
“Zizhen!” Sizhui said.
Zizhen had gone back home after the final graduation party. He had things to handle with his family business, and all the arrangements needed for his move to New Haven. They’d talked of course, plenty of FaceTime sessions and unending group chats, but life had been a little less brighter without Zizhen around.
He looked every inch the Ouyang heir now. His tux was tailored and fitted, making him look years older than eighteen. He wore a dark red tie in the Ouyang colors, with a gold tie pin featuring the family crest. It hadn’t been that long since they’d met in person, not really, but it looked like Zizhen had aged by years.
Zizhen was still Zizhen though, and gave him a soft smile and a warm hug as he pulled Sizhui close.
“Look at you, the Lan Heir!”
“Look at you,” Sizhui said.
Zizhen dropped his head, a blush staining his cheeks. “My parents felt it was best for me to start making myself known at society events. I figured I’d start here.”
“Don’t spend too much of tonight trying to build those social and business connections. We have plans for this weekend, remember?”
Zizhen nodded. “I do. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I’m looking forward to it.”
Now Sizhui was the one holding up the line, so he let Zizhen go, keeping an eye on him until he’d escaped the greeting line. Jin Ling and Jingyi immediately crowded around him, stealing him away before anyone could even get the chance. They caught the eye, Jingyi in his dark tux, Jin Ling, in the lighter creams and golds of the Jin family’s traditional dress, and Zizhen, towering above them both, red tie stark and noticeable.
“Oh, what handsome young men,” Mrs. Ritter said as she followed Sizhui’s eyes. “Though not as precious as you, dear,” she said. And then pinched his cheek.
*********
When Sizhui had first heard he’d have to learn how to formally dance in the Lan robes, he remembered laughing and saying it was impossible. It had felt impossible at the time, being years behind his Lan cousins who had been forced into the uniform for formal family events since they could walk. There was too much fabric to keep account of, too worried he was going to trip on his robes, or the trailing ends of his forehead ribbon, or his partner’s feet. 
Now he did it with ease, though he still envied Jingyi and his tux. 
“Swing your partner, do-si-do,” Dad said as he cut in between them, stealing Jingyi away and leaving Sizhui with Papa.
“You’ve done well tonight, Sizhui,” Papa said as the next dance started. “You do the family proud.”
It was effusive praise coming from his papa. Where once Sizhui would try to deny it, head bent and face flushed red, forever worried he’d be found lacking as a Lan, now he accepted it with grace and a nod. 
The Lans had made their choice. They’d chosen him. And he would honor that choice.
Even if it meant what felt like miles of fabric and a hairpiece that weighed a ton.
Papa smiled. “You’ll only have to present yourself like this a few times a year. Your uncles will advise you on the best calendar. They’re far more familiar with the social events in Boston than we are.”
Sizhui was worried about having to attend those, representing both sides of his family, mostly on his own. But he’d have Jingyi.
“Nie Huasiang has requested to help you expand your wardrobe. It would do you and Jingyi well to follow his advice.”
Sizhui did not wince. He would not show weakness, but he had to know when it was coming. 
“And when will that happen?”
“You have two weeks to prepare yourself,” Papa said. “He’ll only encourage Jingyi to explore his more colorful clothing tastes, so it’ll be up to you to try and rein them in.”
Sizhui would need help with that; one of the two he could handle. Both? He absolutely needed a lifeline. Dad would only encourage them, Uncle Cheng would be busy, Mr. Mo might be of assistance, but he also had more fantastical clothing tastes than all of them combined. 
“I’ll see if Cousin Ning is available,” Sizhui said.
“A wise decision,” Papa said. He smiled at something over Sizhui’s shoulder. “I believe we’re about to be interrupted again.”
“It’s just a jump to the right, and a step to the right,” Dad said as he stole Papa away again.
Jingyi laughed as he stumbled into Sizhui’s arms. “I think he’s finally cracked. Though it was hilarious when he tried to cut between Cousin Xichen and Uncle Cheng.”
“Really?” Sizhui asked as he guided them off the dancefloor.
“Before Uncle Cheng could enough open his mouth, Cousin Xichen just looked at your dad and said ‘no.’ I’ve never seen him back away so quickly in my life. I’ll cherish that moment until my end of days.”
Jingyi rested his head against Sizhui’s shoulder once they found their table. “I don’t know how you still have that smile on your face. I’m exhausted.”
“It’s all a lie,” Sizhui said. “I can’t wait until this is over. My head is aching.”
Jingyi checked his watch. “Just a few more hours there, Cinderella. Then your carriage will once again be a pumpkin and you can go back to your t-shirt and sweats norm.” He patted Sizhui’s thigh. “How are those glass slippers working out for you?”
“Keep it up and I <i>will</i> abandon you for some random handsome stranger.”
“No, you won’t,” Jingyi said.
“Fine, not a stranger. Zizhen. He looks like a fine, respectable gentleman.”
“Yeah, if you want your cousin to stab you with one of his arrows, you do that,” Jingyi said.
Sizhui shot up. “What?” he hissed.
“Oh come on,” Jingyi said, voice pitched low. He gestured to the outdoor balcony where Jin Ling and Zizhen were talking. “Surely you recognize the signs by now. Your little cousin’s got himself a big old crush.”
“Holy shit,” Sizhui said as he thought over the last few months. “Does Zizhen know?”
“I doubt it,” Jingyi said. “And even if he did, Zizhen wouldn’t say anything to embarrass Jin Ling.” He took Sizhui’s hand. “Opposites attract and all that. Maybe, in a few years, once Jin Ling’s matured, and isn’t, you know, sixteen, maybe it’ll become something. Who knows what Zizhen’s life will be like then. He could turn out like Uncle Cheng, not really dating until his late-20s. Or, considering his family, he could already have some pre-arranged thing going on to keep his company’s shareholders off his back. You know Zizhen doesn’t like to talk about that stuff. Not with us, at least.”
With them, Zizhen liked to be normal. So, Sizhui would let it rest for now, but he’d be sure to pay far more attention in the future.
“Come on,” Jingyi said. He held out his hand. “One last dance.”
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saezutte · 4 years
Text
Dear Yuletide Writer
Dear Yuletide Writer,
Happy end-of-the-year season! Thank you for writing for me!
This is my first time signing up for Yuletide, though I’ve been reading Yuletide fic for 14-15 years and it’s one of my favorite yearly traditions. Now I’m turning over a new leaf of active participation in my old age! I guarantee you I am much more worried about what I’m writing than what you’re writing—I’m pretty easy-going about the fic I read and I am going to try to help you out as best I can with this letter. If there’s something you’re unclear about, feel free to contact the mods or stalk me to find my preferences.
My AO3: saezutte
My public twitter: juncassis
My tumblr: here but I do not use tumblr much anymore, sorry.
Do Not Wants
[note: I have no actual triggers, nothing you can write for me will make me any more depressed or anxious than I already am]
Death (of major/important/beloved characters)
Suicide attempts
Rape
Angst without a happy ending, really too much angst at all
University/college settings
Established relationship
Cheating
Actual Unrequited Feelings
Pregnancy (the actual process; breeding kink is fine)
Scat or watersports
Hard BDSM or any kink complicated enough that the characters would have to discuss it ahead of time
Non-canon cisswapping or gender change (it’s ok if they do it in canon, e.g. HX/SQX)
Homophobia as a plot device
Excessive attention to sexual identity or queer politics
Note on AUs: I am ok with the usual popular AU tropes (except, see above, university settings) but I do not want them combined, e.g. A/B/O is fine and coffeeshop is fine, but I don’t want an omega barista getting his scent all over the lattes he makes for some alpha lawyer who comes in every morning. (Ridiculous example, but you get the point.) For AU/modern settings of fandoms with magic, I often like it when the magic is still there in the AU setting. I also like AUs which maintain the general outlines of the character’s relationships, like if the characters are childhood friends in canon, I like to keep that intact.
General preferences:
I am a pretty basic bitch when it comes to fanfic: I like it when two clueless boys pine for each other through some shenanigans and then lock eyes/lips/dicks.
If you fed a neural net every fanfic written in Stargate Atlantis fandom between 2005 and 2010, the result would probably be some nonsense I’d enjoy.
I love many tropes. Tropes! Bed-sharing. Sharing an umbrella. WASHING EACH OTHER’S HAIR? Confessions where they are having an argument and then one of them yells “Because I love you!” 
I love situations where characters are forced to spend time in close proximity and find themselves with feelings.
I love fakeness: fake dating, fake marriage, arranged marriage, marriage of convenience, fake lust induced by sex pollen or heats, aliens make them have sex, whatever. 
I’d prefer story/romance/build-up to PWP but you are welcome to write porn
Tian Guan Ci Fu
Requested characters: He Xuan, Shi Qingxuan
Note: If you don’t want to write those two, I would be happy with Hualian! There are other pairings I like as well, like Fengqing. I requested these two because they are the ones I want the most, but I like almost all of the characters in TGCF so if you want to write me something that sells me on your pet pairing, go for it. Caveat is that I don’t like Qi Rong (sorry cousin)—he makes me anxious, haha.
Why I like the canon: Tian Guan Ci Fu is my favorite of MXTX’s novels, which took over my life this summer. What I love about it is the gods/mythology angle. The different story arcs remind me of reading myths about gods going out on adventures—I love folklore and myths! I love Xie Lian, I respect him so much, and I love Hua Cheng. I love how dark the story gets and I love that I could read it while being relatively assured of a happy ending. But with MXTX, you only ever get that happy ending for the main pair, hence why I requested my side pair.
Why I like these characters: I was in love with these two when He Xuan was pretending to be a grouchy Earth Master who reluctantly goes along with whatever Shi Qingxuan wants. When it turned out to be ABOUT REVENGE and they have FATES WHICH ARE ENTANGLED TOGETHER, I promptly lost my mind. I like the contrast in personalities.
I love Shi Qingxuan as a happy gossip god who is friends with everyone and yet also still pretty good at his job (unlike a lot of the gods around). I like his struggle with realizing he wasn’t meant to be a god and I honestly like where he ends up at the end of the novel—but personally I’d like it better if he re-qualified as a god, haha. I love his sex switching and you are welcome to play with that, though I would prefer if it weren’t a straightforward switch where he (she) settles as a woman. With He Xuan… I love that he’s on this dark completely-justified vengeance quest but he is also kind of a mess? How in debt is he to Hua Cheng? Has he totally neglected his ghostly duties to play Earth Master in heaven? How did he feel starting to be friends with SQX when he’s still planning on ruining his life?
What I would like for these two is something between pure fluff / all the issues are solved / “decapitated brother who?” and angst. I think they mirror Hualian in a lot of ways and I wish they had a chance together!
Prompts:
Them meeting again post-canon: He Xuan not knowing what to do with his (after)life now that he’s got his revenge and not being totally sure what’s keeping him around now that his business is over. SQX living his happy beggar life and HX not sure how he’s still so energetic.
A canon divergent AU where He Xuan doesn’t pull off his revenge plot ? Instead something else happens?
A soulmate AU would work well for these two IMO
Modern AU where HX is infiltrating the company that destroyed his family business and falls in love with the heir to the company president
SQX reascending to godhood as a beggar god and HX suspecting he will come for him in revenge but he just wants to be friends again
The Untamed (RPF)
Requested characters: Wang Yibo, Xiao Zhan
Why I like the canon: Uh, it took over my stupid life this summer. I haven’t liked an idol in years. I have frequently said I don’t like RPF because the canon is too diffuse to keep up with! And yet look at my twitter. I’m living in a hell of my own making.
Anyway, I got into the RPF side for The Untamed initially because the fictional canon here was very overloaded with its status as an adaptation of a novel where the characters are already together and where there aren’t many points for a writer to jump in and add to it. So I got more interested in the actors’ dynamic particularly because it’s different from Wangxian—WYB is a gremlin! Xiao Zhan is the serious professional one! And then I fell in love with them and now this is my life.
Why I like these characters: I just love their stupid handsome faces, I can’t help it. Don’t look at me. I am more of a Xiao Zhan fan but I want to be Wang Yibo’s best friend and bully him.
With Xiao Zhan, I love his smile and I love that he can write a whole essay on Wei Wuxian’s character and I love that he was a regular person who worked in an office before deciding to join one of wjjw’s basically-a-scam idol raising shows and then accidentally becoming the most famous man in China. He’s so professional and serious in interviews and it’s a great contrast to how we see him goofing around with WYB and the others on set.
With Wang Yibo, I like that he’s a wild boy who will run off to race motorcycles at any minute. I would like to shove him a little bit, in an affectionate manner. I love that he’s always looking at XZ and smiling and doesn’t seem to care if anyone notices.
Prompts:
Fooling around on set leads to love? The most basic of basic  
AUs with different settings/meetings—maybe XZ is still a designer and his company ends up working with WYB (who is still an idol)? Or WYB is a pro motorcycle racer and XZ is a sports photographer?
They drift apart now but meet again in 10 years with Regrets
Porn star AU
Having to share a bed
WYB is scared of something! XZ comforts him!
Any dumb AU you want but I would like to veto ABO for this, it’s too weird for me when they’re real people.
The Untamed (TV)
Requested characters: Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian
Note: There are other CQL/MDZS pairings I like, namely Jiang Cheng/Nie Huaisang. I also like the junior trio (as OT3 or as various twosomes.) Also, one night I read a Jiang Cheng/Lan Sizhui fic and suddenly I got all these ideas for inappropriate uncle pairings JC/LSZ and LXC/JL. If any of that speaks to your heart instead, go wild.
Why I like the canon: So obviously I read the novel and plunged into this MXTX abyss for 100 years. With this adaptation, there are a few things I don’t like versus the novel but I’m happy to ignore them because I love what they did with the visuals and music and the acting choices. Some of the changes I also do love—I love how WWX seems to be so much more into LWJ from the beginning! I love seeing them goof around, I love drunk!WYB in the drama.
I also don’t like established relationship fic for the most part, so the censorship in this adaptation means I have more to play with in fanfic!
Why I like the characters: They invented love!!! They did. I particularly like them both as kind of messes… It’s easy to forget with how great Hanguang-jun is but he’s also bad at expressing himself and it gets him into trouble. Then you have WWX the deviant genius troublemaker with a heart of gold (even when he doesn’t have his golden core). They’re immature kids who can’t figure their shit out before things get serious and then 16 years later, they are emotionally stunted 30-somethings and (tbh) I feel that. These two are meant for each other and meant to wander the country following the chaos and getting into adventures together while fucking a lot.
Prompts:
How do Wangxian get together in this universe? Was it as teens? During the war? Did they split up? Did LWJ give in to temptation earlier than in the novel? When did WWX realize his feelings?
Fix-it for the ending where they separate!! Duh! Does anyone think them being apart is going to last?
Star Trek AU with the Lans as Vulcans
Uh, I really like A/B/O fic for these two.
MAGIC SEX CURSES. Fuck or die! Sex pollen! Particularly if they’re not a couple yet and this leads to awkwardness and getting together.
Nirvana in Fire (TV)
Requested characters: Mei Changsu, Xiao Jingyan
Note: I also love Lin Chen so if you want to write some MCS/LC or LC/Fei Liu or LC/MCS/JINGYAN OT3??? go for it. I am also a Nihuang/Xia Dong shipper so if you want to put that in… somehow… my gay little heart would be happy. I also like Nihuang/MCS/XJY or MNH/MCS + MCS/XJY but I’d like the focus on the men in that case! 
Why I like the canon: I watched this show because someone recommended this show to me as, like, Chinese Game of Thrones but good. I think it’s genuinely one of the best TV shows I’ve ever seen. I love plots and revenge and good people doing bad things for justice. Even the ending is good for me though obviously it left me unsatisfied on several points.
Why I like the characters: I am deeply into sickly doomed genius MCS and every time he got even more deeply ill, I fell deeper in love. Every time he coughs up blood, my heart would race. I love his terrible schemes and stupid self-sacrificing choices. I find watching this show very soothing because I knew he would always come out on top in his schemes. I trust him. I love handsome clueless Jingyan and how he’s just so good (it’s terrible.) I love his mom and how much he cares for her. I love him but he is useless, he needs his Xiao Shu and I need fanfic to restore him to him.
Note: So my limited research on this says that male/male sex practices were accepted and well-known in this time period in history, so I really don’t want them thinking “oh no what are these weird gay feelings.” There are other barriers to them being together, like a ruler or official being overly attached to one person was considered very bad. I am also a big supporter of the socially-approved polygamy of this time period, so I don’t need Jingyan to refuse to sleep with his wife or something out of loyalty to MCS—he has to do it! Or all their plans are ruined! And he can enjoy spending time with her or the concubines without affecting his feelings for MCS—you could explore that complexity in fic if you like.
Prompts:
Mei Changsu isn’t dead, he’s hiding again, Jingyan searches for him
They start having sex during the series, the ending is averted [somehow]
Post-canon, MCS is alive and Jingyan hides him in the palace with his consort/concubines to keep him on as an advisor without anyone objecting
AU where male/male marriage is customary (maybe aristocratic men are expected to have one male and one female consort?) and so MCS decides the best way to influence and help Jingyan in the capital is by becoming his wife or one of his concubines
anything just get them together and happy.
Promare
Requested characters: Galo, Lio
Why I like the canon: I love this film but I also find it to be… not enough? I wanted more character development, I wanted more plot, I wanted the goddamn Burnish to stay burning things. So I requested it because I want more! Please help me.
Why I like the characters: I love freedom fighter idealist Lio who will kick everyone’s ass for what is right. I love idiot idealist Galo who wants to fight all fires and learns to love exactly one fire. I think now that they aren’t saving the world by punching global warming, they should have a nice romance. I also like they points where they clash in the film, so I’d love to see them adjusting to “normal life” and having to deal with not having the crisis to make sure they get along.
Prompts:
Galo and Lio rebuilding the world together
Lio regaining Burnish powers?
AU where the Burnish are still a thing but it’s not a big crisis/battle and they just have normal jobs and there are integration programs and Lio is an angry Burnish teen and Galo volunteers at a community center helping Burnish control their powers. Like a world that’s more everyday X-Men than X-men in full adventure war mode.
This is the one request where I’d probably enjoy gen fic with lots of worldbuilding.
I would also enjoy lots of horny porn, preference for Galo topping with his giant stupid dick? I’m sorry I’m like this.
I do want to note ahead of time that I might be traveling (as in, possibly literally on a plane) when fics go live, so please do not be upset if I do not comment on the fic right away! But I definitely will! I know this can be a sore spot for authors so I wanted to give some warning. 
I think that is all! Thank you very much and I’ll see you at the end of all this. 
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