live-he-says

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TITLE: Winter Frost, Spring Rain

GENRE/TAGS: Romance, enemies to lovers, getting together, he fell first and she fell harder, drinking

PAIRINGS FEATURED: main pairing: Danyin/Xunfeng, side pairings: Jieli/Shangque, background Xiao Lanhua/Dongfang Qingcang, contextual unrequited Danyin/Changheng

MAJOR CHARACTERS: Danyin, Xunfeng, Shangque, Jieli

RATING: M

WARNINGS: None

SUMMARY:

In Moon Tribe weddings, it is customary for the bride and groom to choose a champion as representatives to fight for their respective side: If the groom's champion wins, it's a good omen for health, healing, and continued strength. If the bride's champion wins it's a good omen of fertility, bountiful harvests, and wealth. In the past, this meant someone had to die, as a sacrifice for the omen to come to pass.

Fortunately, modern Moon Tribe weddings had long since ended the sacrificial tradition, and fights between champions are largely staged as symbolic tradition. But unfortunately for Danyin, the chosen champion for her sister Jieli, she has to be the one that loses the fight against Shangque's chosen champion. This wouldn't be so bad if Shangque's chosen champion didn't also happen to be the most insufferable, spoiled, prideful excuse of a failed coup that has walked the three realms: Xunfeng.

Or: Danyin’s longest, worst day ever turns out to be the best.

Takes place a few centuries after the war against Tai Sui is won, and before Xiao Lanhua/Goddess Xiyun revives Dongfang Qingcang.

Read on Ao3. (https://archiveofourown.org/works/62156254)

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Standing in the light of HaLo  17/100

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Those times Louis needed to be reminded that they were in the middle of an interview.

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Hi India. I feel really bad for asking this but I wondered if there is an explanation. I always see Larries say 'anyone but Louis' because if Harry is being romantically linked to men then Louis is always excluded when it's very obvious that something went on between Harry and Louis during 1D. Whether it's Harries or the odd time the media they never bring up Louis. So I always see this 'anyone but Louis'. But I noticed that Larries won't accept Harry with any man but Louis. They would prefer him to be straight than with a man who isn't Louis. Isn't this a similar thing? Anyone but Louis vs no one but Louis. Or am I missing a point? Thanks!

Um, it’s very late where I am, so I’m gonna try and be as coherent as possible.

Personally, I believe Harry and Louis are together, and have been for the last 13 years, and the reason I believe Harry has been with “no one but Louis” as you put it, is absolutely not because I would “rather Harry be straight than be with someone else”. It’s literally because I’ve never seen Harry (or Louis) look at anyone else the way they look at each other.

I say this, time and again: to me Larry isn’t a ship. Larry is not me playing with two dolls and making them kiss each other. Neither part of the couple is “swappable” with any other “character” no matter whether man or woman, no matter what level of attractiveness or wealth or fame, no matter how many pap pics are taken of them walking side by side shirtless and in silence or fake kissing next to a car or dancing on a yacht, because none of those things equate to being in love.

What convinced me of Larry isn’t the amount of time they spent together, or how handsome they both are, or what a cute couple they make (even though they are hella cute). It’s literally everything else. It’s their body language around each other, it’s Harry’s stupid little nose scrunch and how it’s disappeared now that they’re never seen together, it’s the way they always seem to reference the same documentaries and albums, is how they dance their little pointy-pointy victory dance that I’ve never seen anyone else do, its how they speak of England as home and LA as work, its the fact that their deep-seated values are so aligned, it’s the entire discography of songs that tell two perspectives of the same love story, it’s the way they describe success with insanely similar verbiage that you can imagine them discussing it laying next to each other in bed…

For me, it’s Harry for Louis and Louis for Harry not because I won’t accept anything else. It’s because I’ve never seen anyone else even come close to being on the receiving end of the way they look at each other. If I see either of them acting that way towards someone else, I’ll consider changing my mind.

I think what people don’t get is that this isn’t really a point of pride for me. I don’t ‘get anything’ by believing in Larry (in fact, there are many times I wish I could spare myself the heartbreak of knowing so much about celeb closeting and just forget about it) or by convincing other people to believe in them. I literally just believe it. And maybe one day there will be enough evidence to change my mind, and then I won’t believe it. It’s just… today’s not that day. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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✨YiZhan as WangXian✨

(aka YiZhan switching roles)

Bonus: xz and wyb actually playing each other’s roles

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The rain scene is just way more romantic if you understood the Chinese. None of the translations I’ve read so far really encompass the meaning behind, “If I could die by your hand, then it would be worth it.” I can hardly explain this in English but I’ll try:

If wwx could be killed by lwj, it would mean that all is right with the world. Being killed by anyone or anything else, would mean the world is wrong about wwx. But if lwj killed him, he would have no regrets because it would mean he deserved it. It’s almost like saying, “The world will only make sense if Hanguang-jun believes I’m to die and I’ll accept that.” And you know in every situation possible, Lan Wangji would never believe Wei Wuxian deserved to die.

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WIP Wednesday - River of Stardust

Have a 950-word snippet from my upcoming Chapter 10 of River of Stardust.

This scene is a fix-it moment between Xunfeng and Dongfang Qingcang, where Dongfang Qingcang finally teaches Xunfeng Black Slash.

It's been edited to censor certain spoilers, and also so it could also stand-alone for those who haven't read the fic from the beginning. If you like this snippet, you might like my fic! River of Stardust is a canon post-drama gap-filler and fix-it story. Check out the main tumblr post for the story here (and give @clj-art-blog all the love for her amazing art).

Without further ado, the snippet:

***

“Better. Remember to stay grounded.” Dongfang Qingcang said to Xunfeng, as he walked from behind him. He tapped the back of his younger brother’s knee with the flat of his blade as he passed, nonverbally reminding him to keep his knees loose. 

With the Moon Supreme having finished whatever lengthy political one-on-one discussion he had been having with an officiant, Dongfang Qingcang had offered to finally, unexpectedly, teach Xunfeng Black Slash. (“Better late than never,” Dongfang Qingcang had said at Xunfeng’s shocked reaction. “31,000 years after I stopped asking is fairly close to never.” Xunfeng couldn’t resist quipping back.)

They were both in full war armor regalia, their blades glinting with the starlight surrounding them. Xunfeng had practiced the move several times already after watching his brother demonstrate, getting closer and closer to perfecting its nuances.

“It’s the diversion of an exerted force, back to its target,” Dongfang Qingcang coached, “You are taking the cultivation in your opponent’s strike and redirecting it back to them. It looks like an offensive maneuver but it���s defensive, and only possible when you are attacked first. When perfected, Black Slash is effortless. Understood?”

Xunfeng nodded. 

Without preamble Dongfang Qingcang suddenly lashed out, not with his blade, but with his fist. Centuries of training under a once ruthless Moon Supreme taught him to never be caught off guard however, and Xunfeng tapped into the core of his cultivation, feeling it ground him as his brother had instructed previously, and for a moment it was as if the world moved in slow motion. Rather than stiffen for impact against Dongfang Qingcang’s incoming blow, Xunfeng shifted with it, as if dodging. He could see the aura of Dongfang Qingcang’s cultivation like an outline around his fist, and rather than blocking it, he welcomed it, opening a part of his cultivation up like a channel, siphoning the direction of the energy. 

This all happened in mere seconds. Xunfeng moved with the hit, and then redirected its energy flow to his blade as he brought it up, slashing the air between them.

Dongfang Qingcang grunted on impact as he fell to the ground.

Xunfeng’s eyes widened. He did it. He really did it. Even with his brother having said so, it still felt surprising in its ease, with hardly any exertion of his own power.

Dongfang Qingcang looked up at him from the ground, rubbing his shoulder where the energy of his own punch had been redirected. “So that’s what it feels like.” His expression was wry, but not displeased.

“I think you could’ve hit harder,” Xunfeng said, walking toward him smugly. 

Dongfang Qingcang ignored the remark. “Your form has improved,” he replied instead, the closest to a compliment Xunfeng had ever received from him. When Xunfeng offered him his hand, Dongfang Qingcang looked at it for a beat, and smirked. He grasped it, allowing his younger brother to pull him up. Xunfeng smiled at him a little. “And so has your mood,” Dongfang Qingcang continued. “Did something happen?”

Xunfeng thought about what Danyin said to him, and how such lovely, honeyed words from her lips was enough to sustain a man for another thousand years. Xunfeng’s smile widened just thinking of it.

“I learned Black Slash from you, at last,” Xunfeng said evasively, uncharacteristic grin still evident, “If that’s not cause for celebration, what is?”

Dongfang Qingcang gave him a closed-mouth smile back, far less of the grimace it used to be back when he was learning how to wield his emotions. 

“I understand why this is so powerful now,” Xunfeng continued, “Regardless of the size or power of your foe, it’ll always be a blow capable of flooring them, since it’s a transfer of their own energy.”

“Correct,” Dongfang Qingcang confirmed.

Xunfeng went on, “I also see why you avoided teaching me for so long. Black Slash requires a clear mind due to the invitation of someone else’s energy into your own, as part of the diversion process. If you are not of sound mind, inviting someone else’s energy alongside yours could have devastating consequences– and when I was a child, I was far from level-headed or clear-minded.”

“You’ve always been the more sensitive of the two of us,” Dongfang Qingcang acquiesced, “Even before my emotions were stripped.”

Xunfeng’s smile slipped from his features. He lowered his head in deference. “I am… sorry, brother, for not considering your situation sooner.” He closed his eyes. “The pain you had to endure for hellfire, and for Cangyan Sea, is unimaginable.”  

“You would have done the same, had you been in my place.”

Xunfeng looked up at that.

Dongfang Qingcang met his gaze evenly.

In the silence, an exchange of new understanding passed between them. They were brothers, as distinct as night and day in many ways, but they were both sons of the crown their father left them, and with it came the weight of an entire people which they would not hesitate to die for.

Had it been Xunfeng, and not Dongfang Qingcang who had the the potential for hellfire, his father would have done the same to him, and Dongfang Qingcang held no doubt that his brother would have bore the same necessary tortures, and successfully. Fate flipped a coin, and it simply landed on Dongfang Qingcang. That was the only difference.

“Brother,” Xunfeng said, and somehow it was both an acknowledgement and a thank you.

“Brother.” Dongfang Qingcang returned with a small smile.

Xunfeng swallowed, breathing in deep as if to compose himself.

“Now,” Dongfang Qingcang started anew, “let’s see if you can do Black Slash again. Or was it a fluke?”

Xunfeng smirked, and got into formation.

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Dongfang yanwai & Lanhua niangzi | Drowning in her eyes...

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I finally updated my fic with Chapter 9, the chapter where I shoveled so much gapfiller into some of the gaping plot holes I wanted filled in LBFAD, and an injection of pre-canon lore into the existing canon, and I was both excited and nervous about how it would be received, but these first few comments are everything an author would wish for omg. The second comment left by Voulve was so long it met the character limit and had to be broken into two comments!! <3 and the amount of times they said they are adopting my lore gapfillers as personal headcanons... honestly. That's the validation I wanted lmao. I just wanted to write airtight fanon. <3

River of Stardust (Ch. 9)

Title: River of Stardust Author: yoshi09 (or yoshi-09/live-he-says on tumblr) Summary: Post-canon fic begins about two weeks after the final episode. Changheng goes missing in search for his banished mother. Xiao Lanhua and Dongfang Qingcang must postpone their wedding day as they embark with Danyin, Xunfeng, Shanque, and Jieli in their quest to find him. Their search will take them to the deepest depths of the Memory Loss River, and to the stars beyond the Destruction of Heaven. Warnings: Canon-typical Major Character Death (in the case that someone gets reincarnated), Canon-typical Violence, no plot armor for side characters, bugs (butterflies) Rating: T Genre: Romance, Action/Adventure, Canon Compliant, Post-Canon Pairings Featured: Main pairing: Dongfang Qingcang/Xiao Lanhua, Side pairings: Xunfeng/Danyin, Jieli/Shangque Major Characters: Dongfang Qingcang, Xiao Lanhua/Goddess Xiyun, Changheng, Danyin, Xunfeng, Jieli, Shangque, Siming

Read on Ao3: Chapter 1: The Invitation Chapter 2: A Mission Chapter 3: Old Enemies Chapter 4: To Chrysalis Chapter 5: Poison Draught Chapter 6: Sky Pirates Chapter 7: Dragon Trials Chapter 8: Fated Reunion Chapter 9: Siming's Tale

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Constantly obsessed with the concept of a man forced to be a myth. What do you do when every step you take is embedded into the text. Every word you say prose to read. You're part of something bigger than yourself. The narrative tugs you along like water currents. There is no time to rest, to be human. You must be great, you must be legend

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My therapist just told me my problem is that I need to write more fanfiction.

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River of Stardust (Ch. 9)

Title: River of Stardust Author: yoshi09 (or yoshi-09/live-he-says on tumblr) Summary: Post-canon fic begins about two weeks after the final episode. Changheng goes missing in search for his banished mother. Xiao Lanhua and Dongfang Qingcang must postpone their wedding day as they embark with Danyin, Xunfeng, Shanque, and Jieli in their quest to find him. Their search will take them to the deepest depths of the Memory Loss River, and to the stars beyond the Destruction of Heaven. Warnings: Canon-typical Major Character Death (in the case that someone gets reincarnated), Canon-typical Violence, no plot armor for side characters, bugs (butterflies) Rating: T Genre: Romance, Action/Adventure, Canon Compliant, Post-Canon Pairings Featured: Main pairing: Dongfang Qingcang/Xiao Lanhua, Side pairings: Xunfeng/Danyin, Jieli/Shangque Major Characters: Dongfang Qingcang, Xiao Lanhua/Goddess Xiyun, Changheng, Danyin, Xunfeng, Jieli, Shangque, Siming

Read on Ao3: Chapter 1: The Invitation Chapter 2: A Mission Chapter 3: Old Enemies Chapter 4: To Chrysalis Chapter 5: Poison Draught Chapter 6: Sky Pirates Chapter 7: Dragon Trials Chapter 8: Fated Reunion Chapter 9: Siming's Tale

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to defeat monsters: become the greater monster | m.a.w

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拜见月尊和月主 (Baijian Yue Zun he Yue Zhu) | Greetings Moon Supreme and Moon Queen!

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ZHANG CHEN XIAO as DONGFANG XUNFENG Love Between Fairy and Devil 苍兰诀 (2022) – Ep. 12

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River of Stardust (Ch. 8)

Title: River of Stardust Author: yoshi09 (or yoshi-09/live-he-says on tumblr) Summary: Post-canon fic begins about two weeks after the final episode. Changheng goes missing in search for his banished mother. Xiao Lanhua and Dongfang Qingcang must postpone their wedding day as they embark with Danyin, Xunfeng, Shanque, and Jieli in their quest to find him. Their search will take them to the deepest depths of the Memory Loss River, and to the stars beyond the Destruction of Heaven. Warnings: Canon-typical Major Character Death (in the case that someone gets reincarnated), Canon-typical Violence, no plot armor for side characters, bugs (butterflies) Rating: T Genre: Romance, Action/Adventure, Canon Compliant, Post-Canon Pairings Featured: Main pairing: Dongfang Qingcang/Xiao Lanhua, Side pairings: Xunfeng/Danyin, Jieli/Shangque Major Characters: Dongfang Qingcang, Xiao Lanhua/Goddess Xiyun, Changheng, Danyin, Xunfeng, Jieli, Shangque, Siming, Yunzhong

Read on Ao3: Chapter 1: The Invitation Chapter 2: A Mission Chapter 3: Old Enemies Chapter 4: To Chrysalis Chapter 5: Poison Draught Chapter 6: Sky Pirates Chapter 7: Dragon Trials Chapter 8: Fated Reunion

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River of Stardust (Ch. 7)

Title: River of Stardust Author: yoshi09 (or yoshi-09/live-he-says on tumblr) Summary: Post-canon fic begins about two weeks after the final episode. Changheng goes missing in search for his banished mother. Xiao Lanhua and Dongfang Qingcang must postpone their wedding day as they embark with Danyin, Xunfeng, Shanque, and Jieli in their quest to find him. Their search will take them to the deepest depths of the Memory Loss River, and to the stars beyond the Destruction of Heaven. Warnings: Canon-typical Major Character Death (in the case that someone gets reincarnated), Canon-typical Violence, no plot armor for side characters, bugs (butterflies) Rating: T Genre: Romance, Action/Adventure, Canon Compliant, Post-Canon Pairings Featured: Main pairing: Dongfang Qingcang/Xiao Lanhua, Side pairings: Xunfeng/Danyin, Jieli/Shangque Major Characters: Dongfang Qingcang, Xiao Lanhua/Goddess Xiyun, Changheng, Danyin, Xunfeng, Jieli, Shangque, Siming, Yunzhong

Read on Ao3: Chapter 1: The Invitation Chapter 2: A Mission Chapter 3: Old Enemies Chapter 4: To Chrysalis Chapter 5: Poison Draught Chapter 6: Sky Pirates Chapter 7: Dragon Trials