lightning-mcquinn

[lightning-mcquinn]

Someone just said “your dumb” to me via TikTok comments section and trust me when I say this is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

[lightning-mcquinn]

That one post that’s like “if I was attracted to a blond man I’d keep that to myself” but it’s Haruhi and Kyouya to each other about Tamaki.

[lightning-mcquinn]

「先手後手どちらとてコマ進めりゃ万事」

watch me post kyotama in the big '25

[lightning-mcquinn]

Man fanfiction is crazy because I can go to the Ouran High School Host Club tag on ao3 and find “cannibalism, stalking, major character death and fluff” all under one fic, about a tv show that’s basically 5 1/2 rich bi-curious men and the genderqueer icon they hold hostage.

[lightning-mcquinn]

Take a shot everytime Jinshi is described as a nymph in the light novels.

[lightning-mcquinn]

maomao’s dedication to ignoring jinshi’s real identity is truly inspiring. the woman who has solved multiple murders based on minor clues in the environment keeps looking at every sign pointing to jinshi being royalty and going “damn, this could add up to something. good thing I can’t do math!”

[lightning-mcquinn]

What are some traits/characteristics of Jinshi, that makes the relationship with him and maomao healthy— in a realistic sense?

where do i even begin :')

i'll try to make this solely about jinshi as much as i can (my interpretation of his character, at least), so here goes:

he puts others above himself. jinshi's #1 character trait is going above and beyond for people. it doesn't matter if they're doing him wrong or hate him; if he can find some way to help others, even at his own cost, he will. now, i know this isn't exactly healthy, but this guy is a people pleaser to his core </3

he listens. many times in the novels, we're shown how jinshi personally visits villages or people directly affected by taxes, laws, or whatever political movement the capital imposes, to gauge the people's reactions. he takes note and does what he can to help them.

he's wise and intelligent. takes one to know one. that's literally how he met maomao. to do his best work, he consults the opinions of those more knowledgeable than him (he's wise not to let something stupid like pride get in the way of his work). he takes their words to heart and takes them into consideration. oftentimes, he doesn't pursue a decision unless he's absolutely sure he's on the same page with trusted people.

he is kind and compassionate. he's been through shit since he was a child, but we don't see a vengeful streak once. this guy is so incredibly forgiving that he's willing to overlook any attempts made on his life (both sexual and murderous). this trait also drives him to help people without asking for anything in return. it's why he helped lady fuyou be reunited with her lover and why, despite his status, he wrote 200 letters begging regional leaders and political big-shots to help the western capital. and most especially, it's why shisui/loulan, suirei, and the shi clan children are still alive.

he is patient and resilient. again, people have been doing him wrong his entire life, but he still puts up with them (e.g., lakan & gyokou). he has a bad day almost every day and is stressed 24/7, but he tolerates it (despite complaining). still, he doesn't give up.

he has a strong work ethic. guy is a workaholic. if he's committed to doing something, he'll do it full-force, to the best of his abilities, and see it through till the end.

he is logical. he doesn't let his emotions dictate all his actions. if he could go about things his way, he would. instead, he uses critical thinking skills: he analyzes different perspectives, breaks elements down, and considers how his decisions will affect certain people. after all his thinking, he comes up with logical conclusions on which to base his decisions.

okay, so combine all these traits together, and we see how it makes his relationship with maomao healthy:

he prioritizes maomao above all else. everything he does, he takes her into consideration. when he makes decisions, he always has her safety in mind. he does this solely because he cares for her and doesn't want to put her in harm's way. he protects her, ensures her needs are met before his, and goes to great lengths to keep her from getting hurt, both physically and emotionally.

he listens and respects her boundaries. maomao is complicated. she has a skewed sense of value, self-worth, love, and all things emotional. she's also uncomfortable with grand gestures of affection, yet that doesn't stop him from pursuing her. and he does so in a way that is convenient for her, even if he has to take so much shit in the process.

he is supportive of her dreams and ambitions. though he views their status difference as an obstacle, he wields it for her benefit (he even created a new position just so maomao could practice medicine and opened up opportunities for her to become a surgeon.). he doesn't find her obsessions weird; instead, he sees value in their potential and actively encourages her to hone her skills. he also respects her expertise and doesn't command others to acknowledge it. he lets her competence speak for itself as he stands from the sidelines, watching her shine.

he's incredibly patient with her. do i even need to expound? with all his princely authority, he could easily command maomao to reciprocate his feelings. but because he loves her so much, he doesn't. he sees her as someone he wants to be on equal footing with. however, because maomao is a different breed, he works for her affection and remains patient despite her constant avoidance. thus, the push-and-pull continues for 12 volumes. he's careful not to push her buttons too much and quickly observes how she reciprocates his advances.

he values her intelligence and trusts her. he never mansplains or acts like he knows more than her. he holds her words with heavy weight and consults her with things he finds difficult. even for stuff he's already figured out, he still seeks out her opinion because what she says and does matters to him.

he's loyal to her!!!! my guy is committed! he's thrown himself into this path ever since maomao said he'd always be jinshi to her, and he hasn't looked back or away since. he's determined to win her heart no matter how long it takes, and he will see it to the end.

i could go on and on and on about how self-sacrificial and beautiful jinshi's love for maomao is. the average guy would've given up on her, but he has the wits and intelligence to match her pace. he's likely noticed how maomao treats him differently from the rest and picked up on her kindness and compassion. he held on to that and kept faith, giving maomao the time needed to sort out her emotions and feelings, hoping his efforts would be rewarded someday.

now, i'm not saying jinshi is perfect. in fact, some of his character traits can be viewed as flaws. but when you really think about it, jinshi is a PRINCE living in a patriarchal society where women had little to no rights. yet he's doing all this FOR MAOMAO, a woman and a 'common apothecary.' despite his nobility, he's intentionally making his life difficult in his pursuit of her, yet he doesn't give a rat's ass. he wants her with every fiber of his being, and he wants her to want him too. but he's doing that on her terms.

however, jinshi's traits alone aren't what make their relationship healthy. jinshi loves maomao, but maomao values jinshi just as much. she cares for him, notices even the smallest things about him, observes him and his moods, supports him in any way she can, gets mad on his behalf, and gets worried and frustrated when he hurts himself for her or others, she feels comfortable when he's being his true self, and above all, she feels safe around him. there are so many more examples, and it's hidden in plain sight in the novels; you really just have to read between the lines.

maomao and jinshi are just humans, navigating feelings and personal relationships for the first time. it's an absolute delight to witness their growth and how far they've come, positively impacting each other despite their personalities. now that they're technically dating as of LN 12, they still have a long way to go, especially with communication and maneuvering this unfamiliar territory together. their love is so wholesome, strong, beautiful, and genuinely healthy. they truly bring out the best in each other, and you just can't help but root for these two freaks.

[lightning-mcquinn]

[lightning-mcquinn]

the range this man has. from "a beauty so captivating that he could topple a kingdom" to the most pathetic, sopping wet cat in existence.

[lightning-mcquinn]

I just know that once a week Kaeya and Lisa meet up and talk shit

[lightning-mcquinn]

lovely character. i need him to finally break down sobbing clutching his chest like it'll stop the pain crumpling to the floor begging God to either help him or let him die

[lightning-mcquinn]

I love you so much. Dick really is the best of them! (I’m not being 100% serious here) They’re all great in their own ways, but Dick tries to be there for everyone! But the fandom villainized him to make angst and some ff only readers think that’s how he actually is!

I hate the “bad sibling Dick Grayson” tag, like Dick Grayson would never. Especially in Tim centric fics. They have such a close bond in canon, Tim Drake is Dick Grayson’s #1 fan and Dick raves about Tim like every other issue in Nightwing (1996)

[lightning-mcquinn]

How every single one of my conversations go:

yap yap yap yap Nightwing….yap yap yap…the economy….yap yap yap Anakin….yap yap yap yappity yap Kaeya….yap yap yap, I did not vote for this…yap yap yap Genshin yap yap yap I want to leave America yap yap yap lesbians :D

[lightning-mcquinn]

When I walk into a doomed by the narrative competition and my opponent is Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala

[lightning-mcquinn]

Dazai would be 10x hotter as a woman.

[lightning-mcquinn]

Have I pretty much stopped caring about Bungou Stray Dogs? Yes. Yes I have. Will Soukoku forever be that one ship that I adore and changed the trajectory of my life? Yes. Yes it will. Will I continue consuming Soukoku fanfic, art and edits? Yes. Yes I will.

[lightning-mcquinn]

I was comparing and contrasting the plot points of AFTG and Die Free or Die a Failure to my roomate and they just looked at me and said:

“What even goes on in these books”

And then I realized how crazy “Yeah so his father is a serial killer and he’s on the run and plays a made up sport and then he gets involved in a mafia war and there’s gay people” must sound.