#liu vian

[lyngracetalksnwritesnstuff]

Yilling Wei Sect AU Chapter Seven

Ao3

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Wangji remembered Wen Qing yelling at them as she found them the next morning.

"You idiots! What were you thinking? I expected this from you, Wei Ying, but Lan Wangji, I expected better of you! Wei Ying needs to rest!"

"Qing-Jie," Wei Ying winced, covering his ears. "Could you be quieter? Please?"

Wen Qing turned her ire to him. "And you. What the fuck were you thinking? We've been worried sick looking for the both of you all morning! With the assassination attempt, we thought you'd both been kidnapped!" Wen Qing's voice grew shrill and furious as she shouted at them.

"Wen-Guniang," Wangji interrupted her tirade quietly. "We are very sorry. I went for a walk after I thought Wei Ying was asleep and ended up here. A yao somehow made it through the wards and followed me, pretending to be Wei Ying. The real Wei Ying woke up and noticed I was gone. Thankfully, my brother was still around the camp, so he directed him to me, and got there in time to save me from the yao, as I did not have my sword nearby. Believe me, I was also quite unhappy that he got out of bed. He didn't seem in a good state to be moved, so we stayed here, and I suppose we fell asleep."

Wen Qing's anger seemed to deflate, and her impeccable posture fell away, making her look so very tired.

"I'm sorry for yelling," She whispered. "I'm just glad you're alright."

She hugged Wei Ying, who was now standing with Wangji's help. To his surprise, she pulled Wangji into her embrace as well.

"You too, Wangji. Don't do that again, either of you, okay? If you think something's wrong, tell someone. No one wanders off without at least a few people knowing where they are, not here."

Wangji nodded, relaxing into the hug. He didn't have a sister; he supposed this was the closest he'd come.

"Let's go back. You're lucky the banquet is set for late afternoon and not this morning, Meng Yao's been working himself to the bone keeping the other sect leaders at bay as it is." Wen Qing waved them along, constantly checking behind her as if to make sure they hadn't disappeared.

"Oh, in other news," Wen Qing went on, her tone doing a complete three-sixty. "Zu Lanzi and Liu Vian arrived with their children early this morning."

Wei Ying seemed to perk up considerably. "Zi-Jie? Really? I haven't seen her and her wife in forever!" He exclaimed.

"Are Zu-Guniang and Liu-Guniang part of the sect?" Wangji asked, curious about the unfamiliar names.

Wei Ying turned his beaming smile to him. "Zi-Jie and her wife were some of the first refugees to arrive in the Burial Mounds! They have two daughters, Zu Shuyi and Zu Xia, who are war orphans. They've been traveling the past year, so you haven't met them, but they're th best! I think you would get along with Liu-Jie especially." Wei Ying explained animatedly.

"They are both women?" Wangji asked, intrigued.

"Yeah," Wen Qing confirmed. "I have enough faith in you to trust that you won't make a stupid comment, so I won't give you the whole 'and what's it to you' speech."

Wangji nodded in confirmation, standing up straighter as they reached the camp. Wei Ying attracted many shouts and releived sighs as they entered it, and the teenagers, accompanied by two unfamiliar girls, ran to them.

Shouts of "Xian-Gege!" were mixed with the girls' exclaimations of "Wei-Jiujiu!" as they dashed to hug Wei Ying as gently as Wangji thought was possible of excited teens.

"A-Yang! A-Yu!" Wei Ying called, opening his arms for all of them. "And," He pretended to gasp. "Who's this? Surely these cannot be my A-Yi and A-Xia! They're far too big!"

The younger-looking girl giggled at that. "Wei-Jiujiu, we're barely bigger than we were the last time you saw us! You just have a bad memory!"

Wei Ying gasped again, putting a dramatic hand to his chest in false offense. "Lies! Lies and slander, I tell you! My A-Xia was never this cheeky!"

Ah, so the younger one was Zu Xia. Wangji smiled, watching as Wei Ying joked and laughed with the teenagers, ruffling Zu Shuyi's hair and giving them all individual hugs.

"Wei-Jiujiu, who's that?" Zu Shuyi asked politely, gesturing to Wangji.

At this, the boys noticed him and ran to give him hugs as well, which he accepted with a smile, patting their heads as he'd seen Wei Ying do.

"This is Lan Wangji, my husband," Wei Ying explained, moving to stand closer to Wangji, who caught him as he stumbled on a stray pebble.

"Oh," Zu Xia looked surprised. "Nice to meet you, Lan-Qianbei. I am Zu Xia, and this is my older sister, Zu Shuyi.

Wangji bowed in greeting. "It is nice to meet you as well."

"Where are your mothers? I need to see my Zi-Jie," Wei Ying demanded playfully, gesturing for the girls to lead the way.

"She's in the Jingshi, taking tea with Meng Yao," Zu Shuyi supplied. "She is probably going to yell at you for disappearing, so tread carefully."

Wei Ying laughed. "Zi-Jie can never stay mad at me for long, you'll see."

Zu Shuyi led them to the Jingshi, their happy chatter filling the air as they walked along the path.

"Well, I can't say I'm looking forward to being on bed rest again—"

Wei Ying suddenly froze, stopping at the Jingshi doors, and Wangji hurried to stand beside him, wondering what could've possibly shaken him so—

Oh.

Jiang Yanli and Jiang Wanyin were sitting at the tea table with a horrified-looking Meng Yao and a wide-eyed woman, Wangji was pretty sure was Zu Lanzi.

Jiang Yanli's teacup slipped from her fingers as she stared at Wei Ying, who was maskless, disbelief evident on her face. It thudded softly on the table, empty as she slowly stood and made her way across the room rather quickly to stand right in front of Wei Ying.

Wangji resigned himself to never knowing what was going on.

"A-Xian?" She whispered, barely audible. A tear traced it's way down her face as she brushed her fingers against Wei Ying's hair, moving it out of his face.

"What the fuck is happening?" Zu Xia stage whispered to Xue Yang, who shrugged, just as lost.

Jiang Wanyin seemed to literally be frozen, his expression fixed into one of awe, skepticism, grief, and joy.

Wei Ying was completely still, barely breathing as Jiang Yanli stared at him with an achingly hopeful face.

"Wei Ying?" Wangji asked quietly. "What is going on?"

This, it seemed, confirmed whatever Jiang Yanli and Jiang Wanyin's suspicions were, as Jiang Yanli let out a broken sob and flung herself onto Wei Ying in a tight embrace, Jiang Wanyin following.

Okay. Wangji was very, very out of the loop.

"A-Xian," Jiang Yanli was whispering, over and over.

"You're alive," Jiang Wanyin murmured, looking shell-shocked, the only emotion other than anger and irritation Wangji had ever seen on him.

Wait. The Jiang siblings. Wei Wuxian. Wei Ying. The head disciple who'd died.

Was Wei Ying...?

"I'm sorry," Wei Ying sobbed, clutching the Jiangs desperately. "I'm so, so sorry."

Wangji frowned at this. True, he had no idea what was happening, but he was sure Wei Ying had nothing to be sorry for.

Wen Qing looked alarmingly frightened by the situation, Meng Yao panicked, and Zu Lanzi sipped her tea as if trying to hide behind the teacup.

Wei Ying eventually parted from the Jiangs, sniffling and red-eyed, wiping the tears that had started to flow from his face.

"Wei Ying," Wangji moved closer to him, handing him a handkerchief in concern,

"Sorry, sorry," Wei Ying blew his nose, still sniffling.

"Don't apologize," Wangji told him gently. "You have done nothing wrong."

Wei Ying let out a half-sob at that, blinking back stray tears.

"A-Xian," Jiang Yanli said, still looking as though Wei Ying might disappear any moment. "What... why...?" She trailed off, not seeming to know what question to ask.

"I suppose I owe you an explanation," Wei Ying gave them a wobbly smile, letting Wangji help him sit down with a wince.

"Hey, Ying-Di," Zu Lanzi greeted him. "Should I go?"

"No, no, you just got here, and I've missed you, Zi-Jie. You also should hear this, probably. You too, Lan Zhan."

Wangji nodded, seating himself next to Wei Ying.

"Wei Wuxian," Jiang Wanyin's voice was quieter than Wangji had thought possible for him. "What happened? How are you alive? Why didn't you tell us? What happened?"

"I'll explain," Wei Ying suddenly looked haggard and tired, his eyes haunted and resigned.

"Start with me," Wen Qing supplied, sitting on Wei Ying's other side. "That's sort of how all this started anyway."

Wei Ying nodded, shaking his head as if to clear all his exhaustion and conflictedness away.

"I met Wen Qing on a Night Hunt near Qishan." Wei Ying started, his voice clear and steady. "She helped me find the beast that was terrorizing the town, and we became correspondents. She shared concerns with me about Wen Rouhan's growing power, and we talked about idle strategies to sabotage and stop him.

"One day, I received a letter from her warning me that Wen Rouhan's ire had turned to me, mainly because I had taken one too many Night Hunts near Qishan, and they didn't want me finding out that they barely Night Hunted anymore and bringing it up to the other sects. I also was too influential and powerful to be left alive with the Jiangs, I suppose.

"I had been prepared to get attacked during the night, and on less-populated Night Hunts, but was caught off guard when the Wens took Jiang Cheng and me after we defeated the yao in that forest."

"What?!" Jiang Wanyin interrupted. "That didn't happen!"

Wei Ying looked so, so sad when he turned to Jiang Wanyin. "Jiang Cheng. What do you remember about that day?"

Jiang Wanyin frowned. "It's foggy. I remember coming back for you and getting snatched by the beast. It took us to its lair, where it held us for a few days until you were able to get our swords. We fought it, and you..." He trailed off, looking upset. "You died."

Wei Ying seemed to brace himself before speaking again. "You remember that because it's what I wanted you to remember."

Jiang Wanyin went white. "No. No, you didn't. You, you couldn't have!"

Wei Ying looked at the floor. Wangji wished he could comfort him in any meaningful way. He felt helpless and horrified as Wei Ying continued with his story.

"The Wen took Jiang Cheng and me, and managed to hold us for a day before we managed to escape. I fled to Qing-Jie's house, and she granted us sanctuary for a few days. I helped create the false memory talisman and told Wen Qing to use it if the Wen captured me again, which they did while I was at the market. I couldn't have you running in senselessly while distracted by looking for me. Better to simply die, as I was sure the Wen would kill me anyway, and it was better to have you believe there was nothing you could do, instead of thinking you could've saved me if only.

"Instead of killing me, the Wens melted my core and threw me in the Burial Mounds. Unluckily for them, I managed to survive and learn demonic cultivation to build a life for myself there. Zi-Jie and Liu-Jie were one of the first people I'd seen in a very long time; they were thrown into the Burial Mounds about six months after I was, and I granted them sanctuary. They came with their children, A-Li and A-Xia. Mo-Nushi came soon after, with A-Yu, and A-Yang not long after that. Then the Dafan Wen came, and by then I was already sustaining about fifty people in the Burial Mounds, and had started the process of clearing the resentful energy.

"A-Xiao was my first child; he came to me as a baby, followed closely by A-Qing and A-Yuan, who is actually Wen Qing's cousin; she and A-Ning allowed me to adopt him."

There was stunned silence after Wei Ying had finished talking. Wangji thought he might be sick. Wei Ying was coreless? It had been melted, and then he'd been tossed into the Burial Mounds to die? No wonder he'd turned to demonic cultivation; it had been his only way to survive.

There was one thing that stood out to Wangji, though. Wei Ying was lying.

Wangji didn't know why, and he didn't question it then; he would ask him later, but Wei Ying had clenched his fists slightly under the low table, his tell, while he was telling them about their stay at Wen Qing's house.

"Why didn't you tell us? Why didn't you find us?" Jiang Yanli asked, heartbreak clear on her face.

Wei Ying looked devastated at her pain. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. There were so many people depending on me, I couldn't just leave. I thought you might be glad to be rid of me." The last part he said in a whisper and Wangji felt his blood turn to ice.

Who had made Wei Ying feel as though he wouldn't be missed? Wangj would kill them. Wei Ying was the best human being in the world and should never have to think otherwise.

Jiang Wanyin's face turned angry at those words. "What made you think that, huh? We mourned you! Jie would barely speak for months! She made an extra bowl of soup for you every time she made it! I still have your sword! It's hung in my room, though A-Niang wanted to destroy it."

Wei Ying looked down again. "Sorry." He murmured.

"Wei Ying. Stop apologizing. You did what you thought was best." Wangji tried to assure him, almost placing a hand on his arm, but refraining. Jiang Wanyin was there, and Wangji didn't want to create any awkward misunderstandings that Wei Ying would have to clear up.

Wei Ying smiled at him before turning back to his siblings. "If you don't want to see me anymore, I'd understand."

Jiang Yanli looked outraged at the suggestion, the first time Wangji had seen her angry. "How dare you say that, Wei Ying. We're family, and we've already lost you once."

Wei Ying slumped in relief. "Good. I missed you a lot. My lotus root and pork rib soup doesn't taste nearly as good as yours does, Shijie."

Jiang Yanli's eyes brightened. "You made my soup?"

"Every week," Wei Ying said with a smile. It was true, although Wangji had never realized its significance before.

"Wei Ying is incorrect," He stated, frowning at Wei Ying.

"What?" Wei Ying seemed confused by that.

"Your lotus root and pork rib soup is excellent." Wangji clarified.

"You have clearly never had my Shijie's soup, then," Wei Ying said with a raised eyebrow.

"You're coreless?" Ah. Wangji had forgotten that Meng Yao was there. He seemed shaky and shell-shocked by Wei Ying's story.

"Ah, er, yeah," Wei Ying didn't seem to want to talk about it, but before Wangji could change the subject himself, Zu Lanzi stepped in.

"It's nice to actually meet the infamous Jiang Yanli and Jiang Wanyin, I've heard a lot about you," She said, drawing the attention away from the subject of Wei Ying's lack of core.

Jiang Yanli's attention was successfully diverted. "Oh, you must be Zu-Guniang! It's an honor to meet you."

Jiang Wanyin nodded in greeting as Zu Lanzi drew them into conversation.

"Yaoyao, I'd prefer if we didn't talk about it much in front of them," Wei Ying whispered to him nervously. Meng Yao seemed to understand, nodding and turning back to the conversation. Zu Lanzi was animatedly retelling a night hunt she'd gone on with her wife recently.

"Would you like a tour around? You can meet your niece and nephews," Wei Ying offered when Zu Lanzi had finished her story.

Jiang Yanli gasped excitedly, and Jiang Wanyin cracked a real smile at that.

Zu Xia flounced in then, stopping short as she did a double-take between Wei Ying's unmasked face and the Jiangs.

"Don't look!" She exclaimed, running in front of Wei Ying, nobly covering his face.

"Xiao-Xia," Zu Lanzi sighed with fond exasperation. "It's okay, he's allowed them to see his face."

Zu Xia seemed to deflate with relief. "Oh, good. I was worried for a moment."

"This is my youngest daughter," Zu Lanzi explained to the Jiangs. "Zu Xia."

"Hello!" Zu Xia greeted them enthusiastically. "Who are you?"

"These are my marital siblings A-Xia," Wei Ying explained. "Jiang Wanyin and Jiang Yanli."

"It's an honor to meet you," Zu Xia bowed again before bounding out of the room, presumably to find Mo Xuanyu and Xue Yang or her sister.

"Let's go find our children then, shall we?" Wei Ying turned to Wangji with a mischievous smile as Wangji helped him to his feet.

Jiang Wanyin raised an eyebrow at that. "Our?"

"Lan Zhan adopted them when we got married," Wei Ying explained innocently, wincing as he stood.

"Wei Ying, you should rest," Wen Qing interjected, frowning at Wei Ying's wound.

"I will," Wei Ying promised. "Just let me introduce them to people for a bit? Please, Qing-Jie?"

Wen Qing blew out a dramatic breath. "Fine. You get half an hour."

"You're the best, Qing-Jie!" Wei Ying cheered, already halfway out the door with Wangji, his human crutch.

"Boys!" He called when they were all out of the Jingshi. "Come here, there are some people I want you to meet!"

Mo Xuanyu and Xue Yang appeared out of nowhere at Wei Ying's summons, looking curiously at the Jiangs.

"These are my martial siblings, Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng!" He introduced them excitedly.

"It's very nice to meet you, ayi*, shushu*," Mo Xuanyu and Xue Yang greeted them, falling into quiet conversation as Wei Ying looked for his smaller children.

"A-Yuan! A-Xiao! A-Qing!" He shouted, glancing around for the toddlers.

Wen Ning ran towards them, chasing down three overexcited toddlers making a beeline for Wei Ying.

"Baba!" A-Qing exclaimed, latching onto Wei Ying's leg, followed closely by her brothers.

"Qing-Gugu said that you were missing," A-Xiao stated, looking up at Wei Ying with big, sad eyes.

Wei Ying looked guilty as he apologized and assured them that he was fine.

"Promise not again," A-Yuan demanded, looking at both Wei Ying and Wangji.

"We promise baobei," Wei Ying swore, picking him up, as Wangji complied with A-Xiao's grabby hands and carried him as well.

"These are my martial siblings, your Shigu and Shishu." Wei Ying explained, gesturing to Jiang Yanli and Jiang Wanyin.

"A-Xian," Jiang Yanli said gently. "I know A-Niang was always insistent on formality with us, but we grew up together. If you wanted to refer to us as siblings, it would be okay."

Wei Ying's eyes welled with tears at that, and he passed A-Yuan to Wangji, who was now carrying two toddlers, so he could hug his sister.

"So, not Shigu and Shishu?" A-Qing asked.

"No, these are your Yanli-Gugu and Cheng-Shushu," Wei Ying corrected, taking A-Yuan back.

"Hi," A-Xiao waved from Wangji's arm.

"They're so adorable!" Jiang Yanli exclaimed. "Who's who?"

"This is A-Xiao," Wangji told her. "Wei Ying is holding A-Yuan, and A-Qing is the one hiding in my robes."

A-Qing looked up at the Jiangs suspiciously, clutching Wangji's robes. Very carefully, she walked over to Jiang Wanyin, staring him down with narrowed eyes.

Jiang Wanyin looked hilariously out of his depth, and incredibly intimidated by a four-year-old.

A-Qing apparently seemed to find him Uncle Material and raised her arms imperiously.

"What do I do?" Jiang Wanyin asked Wei Ying quietly, looking panicked.

"She wants up," Wei Ying whispered back, looking as though he might burst into laughter any moment. A-Yuan had been passed to his aunt and was watching Jiang Wanyin and A-Qing, not making any effort to hide his giggles.

"Cheng-Shushu," A-Qing frowned at him, stomping her foot. "UP."

"Jiang Wanyin picked her up clumsily, wide-eyed.

"She called me Cheng-Shushu," He murmured, seemingly shell-shocked by this.

"Well, yes," Wei Ying replied, raising an amused eyebrow. "You are their Cheng-Shushu."

"I'm an uncle," Jiang Wanyin said softly, adjusting his grip on A-Qing so she was more secure.

Wei Ying opened his mouth to respond when an unfamiliar woman walked up to them.

"Liu-Jie!" Wei Ying exclaimed, rushing to embrace her. "How have you been doing?"

Ah, so this was Liu Vian, Zu Lanzi's wife.

"It's good to see you as well, Wei-Didi. Is this Lan Wangji? I'd heard you got married." Liu Vian nodded her head towards Wangj as she talked.

"Mn," Wangji confirmed. "It's an honor to meet you, Liu-Guniang."

"Oh, please, call me Liu-Jie," Liu Vian smiled warmly at him, and Wangji was reminded of monthly visits to a secluded house where musical laughter and abundant smiles awaited him.

He nodded in response, doing his best to blink back tears without seeming like he was doing so.

"Oh, right, I came here to tell you that Meng Yao wants to hold a meeting about the attempted assassination now, so go to the medical tent," Liu Vian told them. "Also, Wen Qing told me to tell you that your half hour is up and to get your, uh, yourself back to the medical tent."

They started walking towards the medical tent, Jiang Wanyin and Jiang Yanli fawning over the toddlers

Wangji helped Wei Ying into the bed as they got to the medical tent, despite Wei Ying's adamant protests that he could stand just fine (he had been using Wangji like a human crutch for the past hour he's been up)

"Alright," Meng Yao started, putting his hands on the table (where had he gotten a table??? Wangji thought idly). "Tell me again, both of you, exactly what happened."

"I was following the malevolent music, as the challenge dictated, and the one I was chasing seemed to be further into the forest than the others were, but I didn't think much of it. It must have been some lure music, as I couldn't think of anything other than following the music. It led me to a cloaked figure playing the guqin. I snapped out of it then, and another cloaked person attacked me with a knife while the guqin-player shot bolts of spiritual energy at me. It was well planned; I didn't have any access to unhappy corpses I could use to protect myself, but I eventually shattered the knife and pushed back the guqin player. That was when I got stabbed, though, and Lan Zhan showed up just in time to save me!" Wei Ying told them, smiling up at Wangji, who felt his heart melt even more than it already had been.

"I arrived just as a cloaked figure stabbed Wei Ying," Wangji started his part of the story. "I injured him in response, and went to Wei Ying to ensure he was still alive. Unfortunately, the person took that as an opportunity to burn themself, so I found no incriminating evidence on them."

"Well, I think we all know who was most likely behind this." Meng Yao said grimly.

"Jin Guangshan?" Jiang Yanli guessed bitterly.

Meng Yao nodded. "Wei Ying was right; this was well planned. Luring him away from his peers, with no access to spiritual energy—though they couldn't have known that—and limited resentment in the area, due to the location being near the Cloud Recesses, as well as several people tasked with ensuring his death. It would've been perfect if the communication talisman hadn't been in play."

"Communication talisman?" Jiang Wanyin looked up from his conversation with his niece and nephews. "I don't think I've heard of that one."

"Wei Ying invented it," Wangji informed him, earning shocked looks from both the Jiangs.

"You invented it? A-Xian, that's amazing!" Jiang Yanli exclaimed.

"That and about a hundred others," Wen Qing remarked.

"Wow, that's impressive," Jiang Wanyin said, his eyebrows raised.

"Have I died?" Wei Ying looked freaked out by the compliment. "Since when do you give me unsalty compliments?"

"Since you faked your death and made me think back on all my insult-disguised compliments." Jiang Wanyin said seriously, frowning. "Also, since you apparently became a genius."

"How long have you been creating your own talismans?" Jiang Yanli asked.

"Since I was around thirteen!" Wei Ying told her enthusiastically. "The first dozen or so weren't very good, and it took me a while to properly learn how to make them well, but it paid off!"

"Why didn't you show us any of them?" Jiang Yanli frowned, though she didn't seem upset with Wei Ying.

"Well, if Madam Yu had known I was a talisman genius, she would've flayed me." Wei Ying (hopefully) joked. Jiang Wanyin laughed with him, but Jiang Yanli looked troubled.

"Back to the matter at hand," Meng Yao reminded them. "This is clearly my father throwing a fit about being dethroned."

"Oh, wait, Wangji, tell them about the yao," Wen Qing interjected.

"The yao?" Zu Lanzi had been quiet so far, but she spoke up here, seemingly confused.

"I went to the Cold Springs last night to clear my head. A yao followed me and attempted to kill me. Thankfully, Wei Ying had dragged himself out of bed to follow me and saved me," Wangji told them. "You think this could've been another assassination attempt?"

"I'm sure of it," Meng Yao said firmly. "How else could a yao break through the wards of Gusu? And the fact that it targeted you specifically? Huge telltale."

Liu Vian pursed her lips. "What do we do about these assassins, though? It's not like we have concrete proof they're Jin Guangshan's, and he obviously has an inside man that's been carrying out the hits; he's already a heavily guarded prisoner of the Nie."

"Could Jin Zixuan be behind it?" Wen Qing asked cautiously.

Both Meng Yao and Jiang Yanli shook their heads. "He barely tolerated his father while he was Jin-Zhongzhu," Yanli told them. "He would never help him kill someone."

"Ugh, I forgot you're still arranged to marry The Peacock," Wei Ying groaned.

"Be nice, A-Xian, he's gotten much more gentlemanly in the past few years," Jiang Yanli chided him. "He's actually quite kind and respectful to me now."

"Well, that's something at least," Wei Ying grumbled. Wangji wanted to pat his shoulder in solidarity, but didn't dare with Jiang Wanyin there. (He had many questions about their apparent brotherhood)

"Well, as this seems to be going nowhere and Wei Ying needs his rest, I'm going to ask you all to leave the medical tent so Wei Ying can sleep," Wen Qing told them, making shooing motions with her hands.

"Qing-Jiieeee," Wei Ying complained, though he eagerly snuggled under the blankets.

"You should sleep as well, you were up for most of last night," Wen Qing ordered Wangji, ushering him outside. "Wei Ying will still be here when you wake up, I promise."

Wangji frowned, but complied, collecting his children and taking them to the Jingshi for family nap bonding, as their nap time was soon.

He wanted to stay awake, but found that as soon as he lay down, his eyes felt heavy, his limbs uncooperative.

He sighed as he finally gave in to the sweet embrace of sleep.

*Ayi and Shushu are respectful ways to refer to a woman or man older than the speaker

Did I end a chapter with LWJ falling asleep again? Yes. I'm tired and I may have hallucinated the things on my desk levitating for a moment, let me have this lol.

Sorry, this took longer, I didn't want to separate this chapter into two, and I wanted to finally have the assasination meeting, so you get an extra long chapter posted at one am! (Let's be honest, most of these are posted late at night for me. I think the one time I posted it at a reasonable hour was Chapter Four (?), which I posted around four pm.) Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this!!! Have an amazing day!!!

[khr-guilded-cage]

My names for the Arcobaleno:

Colonello – Cornelio Marchesi

Lal Mirch – Laura Morano

Fon – Liu Feng

Verde – Victor Greene

Viper – Vian Morgensen, later went by Morgan for a while

Reborn – Renato Sinclair

They all were in theirs middle 20s to early 30s when they were cursed.

Viper, Verde, Lal, Reborn, Fon all between 25 and 35

I see Colonello as younger than Lal because she is his superior and teacher. Like 23 and 27?

Skull was 21

Skull is Perseus Chase-Jackson, Greek and American

I see Lal, Colonello and Reborn from Italy (mixed blood from the soldiers maybe? Colonello half-German?)

Fon is Chinese of course

Verde is British

Viper is...dunno, zero ideas

[cherrychaerish]

acc intro!

carrd: https://violets-and-kamilias.carrd.co/#

violet ★ 15 yo ★ 4 jun ★ gemini

intj ★ lesbian ★ demigirl ★ she/they

groups are in alphabetical order because i struggle to rank groups lol

ULT BIASES

lee chaeyeon, lee jieun (iu), kim seungmin (skz), jang dosie song-eun (purki), saito kyoko (hinatazaka46), park gyuri (kara), keroppi (sanrio), hirai momo (twice), ha yves sooyoung (loona), lee dami yoobin (dreamcatcher), vian (me&)

BOY GROUPS

ateez seonghwa + mingi bias atiny since: halazia

seventeen wonwoo bias carat since: super

stray kids seungmin bias stay since: case 143

p1harmony jongseob bias p1ece since: back down

GIRL GROUPS

dreamcatcher dami bias insomnia since: because

loona yves bias orbit since: paint the town

rolling quartz ot5 bias diadem since: fighting

twice momo bias once since: kura kura

vcha kaylee bias vlight since: a2k

young posse yeonjung + jiana bias teleposse since: predebut

SOLOISTS/COED

akmu ot2 bias aunt/uncle (there isn't a gender-neutral fandom name lol) since: nakka

chaeyeon chaerish since: ssots

iu uaena since: pieces

BOY GROUPS

enhypen jungwon bias engene since: paradoxx invasion

nct ten bias nctzen since: baggy jeans

onlyoneof junji + rie bias lyOn since: mid 2023

riize shotaro bias briize since: talk saxy

shinee key bias shawol since: guilty

txt soobin bias moa since: sugar rush ride

xdinary heroes gunil bias villain since: freakin' bad

GIRL GROUPS

blackpink jennie bias blink since: lovesick girls

everglow sihyeon + yiren bias forever since: first

(g)i-dle soojin bias neverland since: hwaa

itzy yeji + chaeryeong bias midzy since: in the morning

kara gyuri bias kamillia since: i do i do

le sserafim eunchae bias fearnot since: debut

nature haru bias bc i'm queer leaf since: 2023 comeback drought

newjeans hyein bias (don't call me creepy she's literally older than me) bunny since: predebut

nmixx haewon bias nswer since: debut

purple kiss dosie bias plory since: bxx

red velvet yeri bias reveluv since: early 2021

tripleS kotone bias wav since: triples glow

xg cocona bias alphaz since: mascara

J+CPOP GROUPS

niziu, sakimichi series, atarashi gakko!, cdl ∞, jpop, me&, babymint, cpop

NON-KPOP SOLOISTS

rina sawayama, chappell roan, cloudy june, troye sivan, vana, arctic monkeys, skylar, jackson wang, audrey nuna, lexie liu

OTHER SPECIAL INTERESTS

bob's burgers, b99, smosh, stephen king, heathers, gladiators uk, linguistics, brandon rogers, make it pop, horror, some anime

[444names]

Names generated from Roman emperor forenames

Aela Aemian Aeminus Aemitus Aemius Alba Albasios Albinius Albius Alenes Alentius Aletian Alexan Alian Alius Alla Allibius Allice Alucius Alus Anas Anasius Ander Anderac Anderius Andrius Anian Anius Anne Annerius Antheo Anthera Antinian Antius Anus Aracarus Aracrius Arcartan Arcian Arcius Arcus Arianne Arinus Arius Arta Artilius Artinus Arus Audian Audidius Audios Audius Augus Augustan Auracius Aurajoan Aurakios Aurel Aurian Aurius Avian Avitel Avitian Avitinus...

Balene Balenus Baleodus Baler Baletian Balexios Balus Basdos Basian Basilius Basio Basios Basius Cadian Cadidios Cadios Cadius Cadrian Cadro Calbinus Calbius Caletros Calus Caratius Carcas Carcian Carcitus Carcius Carcus Carian Carice Casdos Casios Casius Claurian Cleo Clerius Comac Comarcus Cominus Comius Commodos Comula Comulius Comulus Conas Conasios Conian Conikos Coninus Conio Conius Cono Conos Cons Constios Constius Contian Continus Dian Didianus Didio Dios Diostan Dius Dorian Dorobus Dosius Elaugus Elian Eliberus Elisaac Elius Ellus Flonsta Flordius Florobus Floros Flos Gaba Gabas Galbas Galbinus Galbius Galene Galenus Galeo Galeodos Galeodus Galexan Galian Gallian Galus Getian Getillus Getius Getran Glybrian Glybrius Glyce Gora Goratius Gordius Goricius Gorius Goros Grac Grajoan Grakios Graklos Gratios Hadio Hadius Hadrius Hael Haela Haellian Haemius Heminus Hemitel Heodoman Heodos Heodus Heonius Heonos Heophos Hera Herajoan Herian Hericius Herinus Hocallus Hocarcus Honos Honstus Horan Irel Ireligus Irentius Irenus Iscus Joan Joanian Joano Joantius Jordian Jordius Jorian Jorinius Jorius Joronos Joros Jovitela Jovitius Jovitus Jula Julianus Julibius Julienus Juliscus Julucian Julucius Julus Leno Lenoro Lenos Lenus Lerakios Lerius Lertius Lervalus Lexan Lexans Leximian Leximius Lexios Lian Lianas Lianian Libero Lice Lienes Ligulus Lippikos Liscus Lius Lucian Luciusta Macinus Macius Macrian Macrius Magalus Majan Majantil Majanus Majohn Majorius Majoros Manthos Mantian Mantimil Mantons Manus Maraklos Marcine Marcitus Marcius Marianne Marus Maudian Maudius Maurela Maurenus Maxeno Maxens Maxentin Maxenus Maximice Maximil Maximius Maxio Maxios Mian Miliano Minus Mitus Mius Nerac Nerian Nerinius Nerinus Nerius Nerus Nian Niantian Nikos Ninios Ninus Nios Nius Nuela Olybrian Olyce Olycera Olyceran Othemius Otheo Otheodos Othonian Othono Perakios Peran Perian Pericius Perius Perus Petinus Petius Petro Petros Phil Philian Philiber Philicer Phillus Philos Phocla Phons Phonstan Phorian Phorius Phoro Promius Promulus Prontian Prostus Quin Quinian Quinus Robus Romius Rommodos Romulius Ronine Roninus Ronios Rons Sephil Sepho Septil Severian Severva Seves Sevespas Sevetrel Stacalus Staugus Stus Tabalian Tabas Tacartan Tanas Tanorius Tasian Tasilius Tasios Themitel Themitus Themius Theo Theodos Theodus Theons Theophil Thera Theriano Therice Therius Thero Therobus Thertian Thordios Thorius Tian Tianax Tiantian Tianus Tiligus Timitus Tinus Tios Titustus Tius Trac Tracius Traclius Tracrius Trajohn Trakios Tran Tratian Trebono Trebons Trel Treno Trenstus Trobus Tromius Trono Tros Valba Valbinus Valbius Valene Valeo Valeono Valerus Valexio Valexios Vallius Vallus Valucius Valus Verajoan Verus Vespas Vetibius Vetilius Vetine Vetro Vian Vitus Zenstian Zentian Zentios Zentius Zentonax Zenuel Zenus

[misslacito]

Liu Jo Otoño Invierno 2019

Liu Jo Otoño Invierno 2019

Anna Ewers protaginiza una de las campañas más escuetas para este otoño invierno. Hablamos de la firma Liu Jo que dedica todo su amor a las orquídeas, unas flores muy delicadas. Mert Alas y Marcus Piggott fotografían la campaña con estilismos de Sissy Vian. Veamos!

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[karolinawrites]

60 knih roku 2018

Můj cíl pro rok 2018 bylo přečíst 45 knih - to jsem ale zvládla už někdy v říjnu, a tak jsem ho zvýšila na 50. Toto číslo se pak ale ještě zvýšilo, z čehož jsem upřímně celkem udivená, protože jsem to vůbec nečekala. Samozřejmě je mezi těmi 60 knihami i pár velice krátkých (esejů, edukačních, vím o jednom průvodci), takže to číslo je vlastně nižší, ale zní to dobře, ne? Všichni se mě vždycky ptají, jestli to, co čtu, vnímám - no při skládání knížek na sebe, abych se u nich mohla vyfotit, jsem si uvědomila že si opravdu pamatuji každou z nich, co se mi líbilo, kde jsem jí četla, a co jsem si myslela. Hodně mi pomohla čtečka, takže jsem četla úplně všude a hlavně jsem na cesty nemusela tahat 3-5 knížek, jako to mám ve zvyku. A tak si pro příští rok dávám výzvu 61 knížek, a víc číst německy. Tak uvidím, co z toho bude.

P.S.: V seznamu není 60 knih, ale o trochu méně (některé jsem si prostě chtěla nechat pro sebe).

oblíbenci

Osm Hor (Paolo Cognetti) - Cognetti si mě ukradl hned na začátku roku, Osm hor jsem četla o zkouškovým a nemohla jsem se od toho odtrhnout. O přírodě, dospívání, vztazích, přátelství (mezi muži), nacházení sebe sama s své identity.

Sto roků samoty (Gabriel García Márquez) - Márqueze jsem dlouho odkládala, bála jsem se že to bude moc, ono to bylo moc, ale bylo to krásný a nepřekonatelný a Márquez je tak objevem roku 2018.

Klub nenapravitelných optimistů (Jean-Michel Guenassia) - Plná silných témat, řeší existenciální problémy a nutí k zamyšlení. Probírá osudy, popisuje životní příběhy a sleduje vzpomínky - na rodinu, mládí, těžkosti co emigranty potkaly - ale zachycuje i dospívání kluka ze západoevropské rodiny, který by měl mít život jako v bavlnce, ale i přesto se potýká s bolestmi stejně jako jeho přátelé.

Born to run (Christopher McDougall) - Knížka o běhání nejen pro běžce, McDougall v ní pojednává o tajemném kmeni Tarahumarů, o jejich životním stylu, běhání, jídle. A tohle čtení mi změnilo pohled na běhání.

Paní Curieová (Eva Curie) - Život Marie Curie napsaný její dcerou, nikdy jsem o paní Curie moc nevěděla a konečně jsem se dozvěděla, jak neuvěřitelně těžký život měla - jak moc byla odhodlaná a statečná. Kniha popisuje tři období jejího života, její každodenní život, vítězství, i prohry.

neapolská sága

Geniální přítelkyně, Příběh nového jména,  Příběh těch, co odcházejí, a těch, kteří zůstanou,  Příběh ztracené holčičky (Elena Ferrante) - Neapolskou ságu jsem četla celkem pozdě, protože jsem si nebyla jistá tím, jestli je ten hype oprávněný. První knížka se mi vůbec nelíbila, ani jsem nevěděla jestli jí dočtu a jestli budu chtít číst další, ale prokousala jsem se jí a Elena Ferrante dokázala něco neuvěřitelného - každý další díl byl lepší a lepší. Vypráví o Itálii druhé poloviny 20. století, o periferní neapolské čtvrti, o dynamice ženských přátelství a o vztazích mužů a žen v té konkrétní době. Příběhy jsou mnohovrstevnaté, komplexní, a myslím, že to je jedna z nejlepších sérii, kterou jsem kdy četla.

sci-fi a dystopie

Problém tří těles, Vzpomínka na Zemi, Temný les (Liu Cixin) - To je ta další skvělá knížní série, kterou jsem tento rok objevila. Sci-fi miluju, a o tomto spisovateli jsem se dozvěděla náhodou v Respektu. Cixin popisuje alternativní realitu na pozadí čínské kulturní revoluce, používá k tomu hard SF a i přesto, že se texty hemží technickými a odbornými pojmy, je to neuvěřitelně čtivé a zajímavé. Druhý díl nabízí zajímavou odpověď na Fermiho paradox a třetí až neuvěřitelné rozřešení všeho, co v prvních knihách načrtnul.

451 stupňů Fahrenheita (Ray Bradbury) - Bradbury o společnosti a dystopickém světě, kde jsou knihy zločinem a kde je společnost udržována ve stavu jakési apatie, prohnilosti, stagnace - samozřejmě až na pár jedinců. Je tu vykreslená technologie, cenzura, a vše je podtrženo řádkou skvělých symbolů. Co mě ale překvapilo nejvíce, byla poetika knihy - určitě to není jen strohé sci-fi. Příběh jako by někde zpomaloval a někdy letěl rychlostí světla.

2001: Vesmírná odysea (Arthur C. Clarke) - Vesmírná odysea je taková klasika, a tak jsem si jí nejdřív chtěla přečíst, než jsem shlédla film (a dobře jsem udělala). Příběh o tom, jak se může zvrhnout umělá inteligence je neskutečný hlavně tím, že kniha byla napsána v roce 1968.

Stopařův průvodce galaxií (Douglas Adams) - Další klasika, ta mě ale bohužel zklamala. Občas to na mě bylo moc, líbilo se mi ale, jak kniha dokáže dát perspektivu “pozemšťanovi” a ukázat, že to, za čím se pachtíme, není vlastně vůbec důležité.

Počátek (Dan Brown) - Úplně typický Dan Brown, se vším, co je pro jeho knihy potřeba. Děj mě ale neuvěřitelně nadchl - tentokrát jde o umělou inteligenci - a stejně tak mě nadchl jeho příběh nabitý španělskými reáliemi.  Jako červená nit se příběhem vine neuvěřitelná umělá inteligence Winston, která ihned na začátku projde Turingovým testem a provází tak profesora Langdona a jeho velice půvabnou a prominentní společnici celým jejich dobrodružstvím.

Příběh služebnice (Margaret Atwood) - Knihu i seriál všichni opěvují, mě to ale nějak minulo. Námět dystopického světa zasazeného do Ameriky budoucnosti, kde vládne totalitní režim a z plodných žen se stávají tzv. “služebnice”, byl sice velice zajímavý, jako by tomu ale něco chybělo - nápad mi připadal nedotažený a nedodělaný.

Pěna dní (Boris Vian) -  Jednoduchý příběh pár dní a pár postav, které satiricky zrcadlí naší společnost a neduhy - příběh o lásce a přátelství, a jednoduchém životě pár lidí žijících v naprosto surreálném světě. I přes velký počet pozitivních recenzí a ohlasů se mi knížka nelíbila, příběh se táhnul a na konci už jsem si přála aby to skončilo.

1984 (George Orwell) - 1984 jsem v minulých letech několikrát začala a po pár stránkách odložila, tentokrát jsem se donutila ji přečíst celou a byla jsem akorát otrávená.  Román popisuje zajímavá témata, jako sledování, manipulaci mučení jak psychické, tak i fyzické. Dotýká se ale také osobních témat jako je láska, důvěra a zrada, ale místy to pro mě bylo až moc zdlouhavé a popisné.

murakami

Po otřesech - Útlá povídková knížka popisující události po zemětřesení v Kóbe roku 1995 a před teroristickým útokem v tokijském metru - ve velkém počtu kritik je Murakami vyzdvihován za to, že se konečně dotkl i politického dění. V žádné z povídek ale není zemětřesení centrální událostí - dotýká se ale protagonistů a jejich myšlenek, rozhodně ale není jediným pohonem pro vyprávění.

What I talk about when I talk about running - Žádná knížka o běhání, ale o Murakamim! Popisuje v ní svůj vztah k běhu, psaní, je to takový vhled do Murakamiho nitra - vtipný, svižný a inspirativní.

Hon na ovci - Kniha patří do tzv. Trilogy of Rat (kde se čtenář setkává s bezejmenným mužem a Myšákem) a je pomyslným posledním dílem. Jako obvykle se setkáváme s naprosto obyčejným hrdinou, který v průběhu příběhu vzpomíná, hledá a setkává se s fantastickými postavami. Murakami zde i komentuje historii Japonska a sdílí své myšlenky. I přes to, že byl příběh moc zajímavý, dočítala jsem Hon trochu zklamaná.

The Elephant Vanishes - Sbírka povídek, které už jsem četla i jinde, ale i tak se mi moc líbila - líbilo se mi jak byly seřazené, jakou měly atmosféru - ani trochu se nepodobaly těm z Otřesů.

Komturova smrt - Nejnovější Murakamiho knížka, kterou jsem četla asi měsíc po vydání tady u nás v Čechách, a znamená pro mě hodně, už jen proto, že jsem si procházela něčím podobným jako hlavní hrdina (v určitých mezích). A Murakami nezklamal, zas a znova - jako by to byla óda na Gatsbyho, na hledání smyslu, samotu, tajemství a touhy, s přidaným magickým realismem. Četlo se mi skvěle a četla jsem pořád!

+ Kočičí host (Takashi Hiraide) - Sice to není Murakami, ale mohl by být. V této knize se toho tolik neděje, ale vzbudila ve mně pocit klidu a tajemna. Autobiografický román manželů žijících v Japonsku devadesátých let 20. století, na jejichž konci se toho mění spousta v japonské společnosti. Příběh je jednoduchý, není tam žádná složitá zápletka, jen tak pomalu plyne a to je možná to, co občas všichni potřebujeme.

self-help / pořád se učím

You are a badass (Jen Sincero) - Připadá mi, že self-help literatura je byla dost kontroverzní téma - i sama autorka to na začátku sama přiznává. Jen Sincero dělí cestu k osobnímu rozvoji na několik kapitol, odvětví, na kterých by měl člověk zapracovat - uvádí příklady i ze svého života, je vtipná, svižná, a je to jako by na vás sama mluvila.

The course of love (Alain de Botton) - De Botton v této knize vysvětluje neuvěřitelnou komplexitu partnerských vztahů na příkladu fiktivního páru - vysvětluje všechny hádky, zabouchnuté dveře, nebo mlčení. A to s přesností, že se člověk až diví jak to ví, jak za takovou maličkostí můžou stát hluboké a často nevědomé pochody mysli. Knížka vás určitě donutí se zamyslet, vytáhne vás z komfortní zóny a naučí vás o věcech, o kterých jste předtím nepřemýšleli.

Muž, který chtěl být šťastný (Laurent Gounelle) - Typický Gounelle, který je mi sympatický nejen stylem, jakým píše, ale i svou osobou - v jeho dílech se jeho zájmy přímo odráží - a to se mi líbí, že má svoje vědomosti podloženy svými zkušenostmi. Na zdánlivě jednoduchém příběhu tu vysvětluje složité úvahy a vypráví o zajímavých setkáních a poznatcích.

Self-knowledge (The School of Life) -  Self-Knowledge, jak už název napovídá, v pár krátkých kapitolách radí, jak skrz sám sebe a své myšlenky poznat své podvědomí, vnitřní hlas, a nám neviditelné normy a pravidla, které je často skryté za našimi řečmi, touhami a frustrací. Na konci každé kapitoly je i "dotazník", díky němuž se člověk může dobrat odpovědí na otázky, které pak slouží k hlubšímu poznání. Ke knížce se určitě budu vracet, protože to, o čem píše je proces, ne jednorázová záležitost.

Get some headspace (Andy Puddicombe) - Něco jako teoretický podklad a první vhled do meditace od zakladatele Headspace - seznamuje s meditací, různými technikami, a Puddicombe uvádí příklady ze svého života, ale také příklady a příměry,  které pomůžou při meditaci.

Radost z ticha (Erling Kagge) - Polárník Kagge se vydal na 50 dní dlouhou cestu Antarktidou, aby se naučil najít ticho kolem sebe a v sobě. V knížce ticho rozebírá, vidí ho jako základ kreativity, meditace, silných prožitků, ale také jako konsekvenci. Hodně důležité a zajímavé!

Spontaneous Healing (Andrew Weil) - Tady si dovolím citát, který mluví za vše:  “Imagine a future world in which medicine was oriented toward healing rather than disease, where doctors believed in the natural healing capacity of human beings and emphasized prevention above treatment.” Knížka o léčení, o metodách jak se spolehnout na sebe a na přírodu.

We should all be feminists (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie) - Přepis TedTalku, krátká esej, která nenásilně mluví o feminismu (tak nenásilně, že jsem si čtení užila) a tak trochu otevírá oči, je to takový první vhled do feminismu jako takového.

Linguistics: A very short introduction (P.H. Matthews) - Matthews poskytuje čtenářům shrnutí hlavních bodů, které zkoumá vědní obor lingvistika a poukazuje na několik jejích odvětví. Musím ale přiznat, že si neumím představit číst tuto knihu jako laik nebo bez žádných vědomostí které už mám, někdy zacházel až moc do detailu. Na druhou stranu ale ke všemu přidává příklady pro ilustraci a používá jen nejnutnější pojmy.

Jez a běhej (Scott Jurek) - Moje srdcová záležitost - seznámení s ultramaratoncem Scottem Jurekem a jeho životním příběhem, a vlastně vůbec seznámení s ultramaratonci. Zajímavé čtení i pro neběžce, protože se hodně opírá i o zdravou stravu, nebo psychiku.

Cesta do nekonečna (Jane Hawking) -  Spousta lidí hodnotí knížku negativně, protože si podle nich Jane Hawking v knize jen stěžuje. Ale pokud se nad tím člověk opravdu zamyslí, její život nebyl vůbec jednoduchý, nebylo to to, co jsme mohli sledovat v televizi nebo tisku. Bojovala o svojí identitu v prostředí Cambridge, ale také vedle Stephena, řešila rodinné spory, snažila se vytvořit domov a umožnit rodině žít normálně - a k tomu se ještě starala o nemocného manžela, dlouho bez jakékoliv pomoci, soupeřila s mocnou Fyzikou a s nástrahami každodenního života, přičemž upřednostňovala všechny, jen ne sebe, častokrát skoro až do vyčerpání - a i přesto se našli lidé, kteří ji předhazovali sobeckost.

The Wander Society (Keri Smith) - Keri Smith úplně nahodou narazila na tajnou společnost Wander Society (členem byl třeba Whitmann, nebo V. Woolf), kterou ve své knize popisuje a prezentuje svoje myšlenky a poznatky.

Gebrauchsanweisung für Andalusien (Paul Ingendaay) - Pořízena před velkou cestou do Andalusie - Autor popisuje různé důležité kulturní zvyky, místa a příhody Andalusie - města, přírodu, jídla, býčí zápasy, umění, flamenco, náboženství. Je to moc fajn, přečíst si informace někde jinde než v klasickém průvodce, ale styl vyprávění mi připadal nudný a táhlý...Tak možná za nějakou dobu se k ní zase vrátím a nadchne mě.

Angličtina na rovinu I a II (Darren Crown) - Krátké a stručné knížky rodilého mluvčího angličtiny, ve kterých poukazuje na úskalí svého rodného jazyka, ve kterých chybují hlavně Češi - i přesto, že se anglicky učím dlouho a studuji to, to bylo zajímavé!

lokálně

Probudím se na Šibuji (Anna Cima) - Prvotina české autorky, a rovnou magický realismus, a hodně povedený! Příběh mladé japanoložky, která v rámci závěrečné práce začíná zkoumat tajemného japonského spisovatele Kawašitu - s nímž se všechno začne prolínat do dalšího příběhu a tajemné reality. Líbilo se mi, jak popisovala pocity,  jak se knížkou táhla jako červená nit literatura, a i to, že všechny magické prvky působily reálně. A jako bonus - popisy filozofické fakulty, které jsou pořád ještě trefné.

Vitka (Kateřina Tučková) -  Kateřina Tučková ve svých knihách dokáže skvěle popsat faktické skutečnosti a vložit je do příběhu, do románu, v případě Vitky do divadelní hry. Jedná se o mladou skladatelku a dirigentku Vítězslavu Kaprálovou a osoby jí blízké - Tučková popisuje nejen vztahy, ale i průběh jejího života, který se dá jednoduše vyčíst ze hry. Ne vše ale stojí explicitně napsané na stránkách knihy, jsou věci, které stojí mezi řádky. Postavy, které Tučková vykresluje se sice v její hře točí okolo Vitky, jelikož je to kniha výhradně o ní, nejsou ale jednorozměrné, čtenář může vycítit jejich hloubku a jejich osobní pohnutky.

Johana (Pavla Horáková...) -  Knížka o dítěti, mladé slečně, ženě a o jejím úplně obyčejném životě, který je srovnatelný s desítkou dalších. V ději není takřka nic, co by nebylo předvídatelné a čtenář může s dávkou fantazie dobře předpovědět, co se bude dít a jak se bude Johanin život dál ubírat. Ale o příběhu tahle knížka vůbec není. Je to o pocitech a osobních vzpomínkách, které se vynořují při čtení, o věcech mezi řádky, o detailech, které člověk vidí hned, nebo až za čas. Autorky popisují dětsví, soužití s prarodiči a věčně utrápenou matkou, bouřlivé dospívání doprovázené revolucí a prvními láskami a přerod ve zralou ženu. Johana je prostě jen obyčejná holka, která dělala co mohla, snad jako každý, a v tom je to kouzlo.

Veselí (Radka Třeštíková) - Chtěla jsem si přečíst Třeštíkovou, protože mě zajímalo, jestli to nadšení panující okolo jejích knížek je opodstatněné - a pro mě není. Nápad zajímavý - o vracení se domů, k sobě samé - ale moc povrchní, nedodělaný.

guilty pleasures aneb Alan Bradley

Smrt v křišťálové kouli a Oblékni se pro smrt - Série už asi 7/8 knih, která je provázena hlavní hrdinkou Flavií de Luce, mladou slečnou, která miluje chemii a záhady, je neuvěřitelně vtipná, ironická a bystrá. První díl jsem četla asi ve 12,  a i když to není nic, co by mě hodně rozvíjelo, moc ráda se k tomu vracím (a vyšel nový díl!).

fernweh

Mapy měst (Jeremy Black) - Coffee table book pro milovníky map, četla jsem jí dlouho, protože jsem si to chtěla užít - autor kromě obrázků starých map i popisuje okolnosti za kterých vznikly, autory, formality, či zajímavosti, a já vím, že se k ní budu hodně vracet!

Die Nacht von Lissabon (E.M. Remarque) -  Kniha o všem, o lásce, nejistotě, utrpení, vzpomínkách, zapomnění, o štěstí a jeho ztrátě a o všem, co z nás lidí dělá lidi, a už na zase tolik o Lisabonu. Příběh se odehrává během jedné noci, kdy se potkají dva neznámí muži, z nichž jeden nabízí tomu druhému jízdenky na loď za to, že mu bude moci vypovědět svůj příběh.

Vlčí ostrov (Lajla Rolstad) -  Vlčí ostrov je autobiografickou knihou, kdy Lajla Rolstad vypráví o třech obdobích svého života - o kanadském ostrově, kde sama hlídá osamělou nemovitost kterou přes zimu nikdo nepoužívá, o roadtripu po Americe a o Údolí koní, kde hlídá domy svým známým. Lajla trpí chronickou depresí a úzkostmi, rozhodne se ale, že tyto nemoci zvládne bez pomoci lékařů a bez léků - tím nejjednodušším způsobem - v přírodě. Po většinu času je daleko od všeho - hodinu cesty od lidí, od obchodů a tráví čas sama se sebou. Učí se naslouchat přírodě, obstarávat vše, co musí, shánět potravu, štípat dříví, a občas jí překoná i strach - ze zvířat, ale především i z lidí.

The time traveler’s wife (Audrey Niffeneger) -  Tato knížka mě nadchla, ukradla si mě do svého světa a ani na chvíli mě nepustila zpět. I přes velké množství negativních recenzí mi přišla krásná, skoro jako by její svět byl důvěrně známý. Hlavní postavy Henry a Clare mají velice uvěřitelné a reálné rysy, až na fakt, že Henry umí cestovat časem. To je ale v knížce podáno tak nenásilně, že má člověk až skoro pocit, že to doopravdy možné je. Autorka to netlačí jako scifi, ale popisuje to jako každodenní věc. Kniha je jakousi ódou na lásku dvou postav, které se neustále míjejí v čase - popisuje jejich strasti, každodenní život a radostné zážitky - všechno s neuvěřitelnou reálností. Na tuhle knížku hodně myslím a určitě si jí přečtu znovu.

Oči modrého psa (Gabriel García Márquez) - První a osudové setkání s Márquezem, které jsem si předepsala jako přípravu na Sto roků. Ze začátku jsem se se stylem nemohla vůbec ztotižnit, a jak už to u povídkových knih bývá, nelíbily se mi všechny, ale nakonec si mě získal, protože nic podobného jsem nikdy předtím nečetla. Marquézův svět v této knize je směsicí paradoxů a oxymóronů - sen a skutečnost, smrt a život existují společně, jakoby ve stejné rovině. ( J. Konáš: "Oči modrého psa ale dostaly obálku až s váchalovským nádechem, což je trefné. Jde o texty chladné, temné, morbidní, těkavé, ve kterých se každou chvíli může stát cokoliv – v jednom odstavci jíme pomeranče a ve druhém cestuje duše galaxií. Kniha je amébou, jejíž forma může být na každé stránce jiná.")

Call me by your name (André Aciman) -  Aciman tak popisuje rostoucí přátelství, dny, kdy spolu ani nepromluví a Eliovu touhu po poznání ještě nepoznaného. Rozvádí pocity zdánlivě neopětované lásky, smutku a naděje, že by se snad jednoho dne mohlo všechno otočit o 180 stupňů. Kniha je rozdělena do čtyř částí - v první se dozvídáme vše o poblouznění láskou, které určuje tok Eliových myšlenek, v druhé pak rozuzlení jeho lásky, ve třetí se setkáváme s Oliverem a Eliem jako dvojící, párem a ve čtvrté Elio navštěvuje "ghost spots". Kniha se mi nejdřív četla strašně špatně, ale skrz Acimanovu schopnost naprosto perfektně popsat odehrávající se situaci a plynutí dnů ve Středomoří, platonické přátelství a lásku mezi dvěma mladými muži jsem se příběhem prokousala a ke konci už prožívala Eliovy pocity s ním.

Toulky s Charleym (John Steinbeck) -  Než jsem se do Toulek začetla, chvíli to trvalo, ale pak jsem si zvykla na Steinbeckův styl, způsob myšlení a jeho způsob popisování myšlenek a různých vjemů. Příběh o cestě Amerikou, pozorování krajiny, lidí, všech možných detailů.

Der Geschmack von Apfelkernen (Katharina Hagena) -  Příběh byl velice jednoduchý, ale přece chytlavý - člověk si úplně dokázal představit obrovský dům, někde na severu Německa uprostřed polí, s velikánskou zahradou a jablečným sadem. Dny prosezené na zahradě nebo strávené sbíráním jablek a plením, ježděním na kole a koupáním se v jezerech. Nevím, zda bych knížku tak ocenila kdybych ji četla v češtině, protože právě jazyk originálu v sobě pro mě nesl jakési kouzlo.

po anglicku

Návrat Sherlocka Holmese (Arthur Conan Doyle) - Sherlock Holmes a jeho několik případů - tohle byl sice 6. díl, ale člověk to nemusí číst popořadě. Vzhledem k tomu, že jsem Sherlocka nikdy nečetla, to pro mě bylo zajímavé - vidět, jak se neuvěřitelným způsobem dobere k rozřešením občas absurdních případů.

Na větrné hůrce (Emily Brontë) - Oblíbenost, o prostředí a osudu postav hodně často přemýšlím - je to knížka o lásce, pomstě, prohrách a lidských vztazích, ve které si vždy něco najdu.

Rozum a cit (Jane Austen) -  Pro mě částečné zklamání, do čtení jsem se musela nutit. Rozum a cit vypráví hlavně o ženách, jejich starostech a životních cestách, Austenová nabízí zajímavou zápletku a její rozřešení. Kvůli jazyku i kvůli mé neschopnosti se do hrdinek vcítit se mi kniha tolik nelíbila.

[coppolafrancis]

How Do Stars Get To Wear All Those Jewels? Celebrity Stylist Michael O’Connor Tells All!

As we mentioned in an earlier blog, Oscar night is to jewelry what Fashion Week is to clothing. But celebrities need to accessorize for many other appearances too. Unless they get snapped (or in current parlance, “papped”) at the airport or out for a run, most celebrity outfits you see in photos are the result of a stylist’s help. 

In the early 2000s, some celebrities started to seek out colored gemstones to accompany their red carpet looks. Whether to modernize their look to keep up with color in fashion—or potentially resulting from the movie Blood Diamond in 2006—colored gemstones started to become much more fashionable for celebrities to accessorize with. In 2008, Heidi Klum chose massive red and pink gemstone earrings from Mouawad instead of diamonds (she is a design collaborator for the brand); and in 2009 Angelina Jolie leapfrogged everyone and created a huge surge of interest in color when she wore a large pair of emerald-only earrings. That same year, Amy Adams wore a vintage Fred Leighton necklace comprised of a variety of colored gemstones.

The focus on earrings remained a red-carpet rule for many years, but larger bracelets and bracelet stacks became an important focus with celebrities too. Madonna led the way there at the Oscars in 1991.

In the early 2000s, some celebrities started to seek out colored gemstones to accompany their red carpet looks. Whether to modernize their look to keep up with color in fashion—or potentially resulting from the movie Blood Diamond in 2006—colored gemstones started to become much more fashionable for celebrities to accessorize with. In 2008, Heidi Klum chose massive red and pink gemstone earrings from Mouawad instead of diamonds (she is a design collaborator for the brand); and in 2009 Angelina Jolie leapfrogged everyone and created a huge surge of interest in color when she wore a large pair of emerald-only earrings. That same year, Amy Adams wore a vintage Fred Leighton necklace comprised of a variety of colored gemstones.

By 2009 the necklace was gaining importance again. Although in 1999 Gwyneth Paltrow paired her sugar-pink Ralph Lauren gown with a 40-carat diamond choker from Harry Winston to accept her Oscar for Shakespeare In Love, the necklace was still rarely seen again until 2009 when it magically seemed to gain favor again with the Amy Adams necklace and Nicole Kidman’s very large draped necklace. Today it seems that the necklace is again a favored red carpet item: this year it was seen on everyone from Lady Gaga (Tiffany & Co., where she is a design collaborator) to Charlize Theron (Bvlgari) and Laura Harrier (Bvlgari), among many others.

Worthy: Apart from the major awards, when celebrities are photographed wearing jewelry at other events or just out and about, is it their own or borrowed?

O’Connor: For major events and photo shoots, it’s unlikely that celebrities are wearing their own jewelry. The desire to be seen and photographed in pieces that are new and different, and rarely repeated, is huge. Therefore, when given the option of borrowing from the world’s biggest jewelry brands or to choose pieces from a plethora of designers, it’s easy to understand why the idea of borrowing jewels of that caliber is so appealing.

Worthy: Do any celebrities own much fine jewelry since they can borrow whatever they need at the time they need it?

O’Connor: Having worked with, and known, many celebrities over the years, I’m constantly reminded that they are ‘just like us!’ Many have jewelry—big pieces, small pieces, valuable pieces, costume pieces—that have been given to them over the years, self-purchased, or handed down in their family. There are some who love jewelry and have large collections and there are some for whom jewelry is the last item that they think of when they’re getting dressed and going out. It’s really a mixed bag.

Worthy: Other than Liz Taylor who was famous for her jewels, what other celebrities are passionate jewelry collectors or jewelry lovers who have a substantial collection of their own?

O’Connor: I was fortunate enough to know and work with Joan Rivers for many years. Not only was she a lovely lady, but she had a significant jewelry collection comprised of everything from the most important jewelry houses to costume jewelry.

Although I’ve never seen it, I’m told that Oprah Winfrey is an avid jewelry collector with a collection worth millions of dollars. It’s often noted in Hollywood that she does not borrow jewelry at all and prefers to only wear her own pieces.

Model Kate Moss is another celebrity who is said to have amassed a significant collection of pieces over the years. I’ve also heard that Elton John has been a collector for years as well.

When I was first in New York and in the jewelry business, I had the opportunity to meet actor Rex Harrison (of Dr. Doolittle and Professor Henry Higgins fame) at his home. He had one of the most impressive collections of cufflinks that I had ever seen!

Worthy: What’s the general process of getting jewelry onto a celebrity? Do brands pay agencies to pitch stylists or do they go straight to the stylists or a mix of both?

O’Connor: There are no set rules. Sometimes a celebrity will have seen and like a particular designer, or a store’s aesthetic, and will want to wear those pieces. In some cases, the celebrity or stylist will have a look they’re trying to achieve and will reach out to various designers to fulfill that look. At times, brands will approach me and want to be exposed to celebrities with the goal of potentially being worn.

Regarding pay, it’s much more common these days that stylists and celebrities are asking for fees to ensure wear of product. Some brands will approach stylists and agents with an offer. In all cases, one must know who they are dealing with, because there is a lot of misrepresentation and falsities in claims on what can be done and how much it will cost.

Worthy: Who picks the pieces the celebrity wears? The stylist or the celebrity?

O’Connor: The actual choice of pieces is a balancing act. As a stylist, fortunately I’ve developed a very good reputation over the years I’ve been doing this, so celebrities who come to me know that my goal is to make THEM look good. I’ve told many a celebrity that a certain gown or piece of jewelry would not be right for them, and many have grown to trust my guidance. Sometimes a celebrity will have a very definite thought on a piece and that can be hard to sway. Also, even though a stylist may have a definite opinion on what works with what, it’s important to remember that the celebrity is the one who is going to be seen, and THEY are the one that needs to be comfortable! You guide the decision, but you shouldn’t dictate the decision.

Worthy: Are celebrities paid to wear jewelry or is the press exposure considered payment enough?

O’Connor: More and more celebrities are being approached with an offer of payment for wearing pieces. So many designers feel that this is the “magic bullet” that will skyrocket them to fame and therefore, many celebrities are starting to seek a fee to be seen in the jewelry. However, there are still many, many celebrities who are more interested in ensuring that the total look is right and they go to stylists who they trust to make that happen. In those cases, they don’t expect payment, and the benefit for the designer is the press exposure.

That said, I’m often asked by certain brands to place their pieces on certain celebrities who may have financial or promotional arrangements with other brands, which makes it impossible. When a celebrity wears a particular brand over and over, it does raise the question, “Are they being paid for this?”

Worthy: Are situations like the Sharon Stone/Harry Winston misunderstanding (where she thought a necklace was a gift, not a loan), common? Or are there very firm contracts that spell out ownership of the jewelry?

O’Connor: Usually when I work with a celebrity there is a very definite contract and understanding on the loan, the purpose, the timing, and what security measures need to be adhered to. Although there have been a couple of ‘misunderstandings’ on the timing etc., I’ve never had a celebrity feel that they were receiving the piece as a gift.

Worthy: How often does a celebrity end up buying the pieces she or he has been styled in?

O’Connor: I always tell the designers and brands that I’m working with not to expect a purchase. However, in my 15+ years of doing this, I’ve been asked approximately 10 or so times by the celebrity, if the designer would be willing to sell them the pieces. Therefore, although it should not be expected, it’s not uncommon. It’s never uncommon to love and want something that makes you look great!

Worthy: Do any “regular” jewelry brands—the kind that anyone can buy at a local jewelry store—ever get big red-carpet moments, or is it all limited to the big jewelry houses or acknowledged “celebrity jewelers?”

O’Connor: Absolutely! Many a great designer and even retailer—many of whom I’ve worked with—have enjoyed the glamour and coverage of being on the red carpet at an awards show. Erica Courtney, Susan Eisen, Farah Khan, Elyse Fine Jewelers, Christopher Designs, Shaftel Diamond Company, Fei Liu, and Leeza Braun, to name a few. There are so many celebrities and they can’t all be seen in the same brands. (Editor’s note: Forevermark, Le Vian, Hearts On Fire, and Belle Étoile are more brands frequently seen on celebrities).

Worthy: Last, but not least, if a woman is selling a lot of jewelry she doesn’t wear and she wants to use the proceeds for something she will wear, what would you advise she invest in first?

O’Connor: The fact that jewelry maintains value and a person can sell it when needed is a wonderful thing. Although I always tell people that the investment in jewelry is primarily for its beauty and durability, there are very few other tangible goods that give you the option that jewelry does: to sell it, pass it down to future generations, or to modify its style later on. Therefore, a reinvestment in jewelry is still, in my opinion, the best idea.

However, there are many personal needs that might be greater when selling jewelry, such as an investment in higher education or housing. If that’s the case, then I think those elements should take priority. Rose gold is a subtle, romantic color of gold that translates into romantic, elegant fine jewelry and engagement rings. We love creating designs in rose gold, and look forward to creating the perfect rose gold wedding rings, or fine jewelry piece for you.