#(( she is so insistent that she does not feel fear or shame or worry or any bad emotion

[royalreef]

[sepublic]

Minor detail but I love how when asking Willow and Gus for advice in For the Future, Camila makes sure to protect Luz’s privacy by not clarifying that she plans to stay in the human realm; Instead, she keeps it vague as “make a bad decision for herself” and I really appreciate it.

Camila can tell Luz needs someone she can confide in and trust, she needs her mom to listen to and respect her decisions after Camila insisted on the Reality Check camp, which might’ve felt not that bad to Luz at first, until she realized how it subtly messed her up afterwards (Big mood). So Camila’s trying to make up for things because she knows that betrayal created a gap, and she’s already just gotten Luz to ask for advice in the previous episode. Luz told her mom about her decision, so Camila isn’t going to expose Luz for her own good or anything like that.

Likewise, Willow and Gus don’t press any further; They do care and that’s why they give advice, but they respect those boundaries too, esp since it’s clearly Luz’s, and might not want to give away that Camila asked them to begin with; That may still understandably bother Luz, which is another factor as to why Camila waited until now, and even then she’s still vague about it. And as kids (with Willow having also had frustrations with her dads before), Willow and Gus can appreciate what Camila is doing.

Similarly, they want to help Camila show that she herself can be supportive to Luz to reassure both Nocedas, and not just do that work for Camila; Doylistically, I imagine this is why Amity didn’t know Luz’s decision, so we could focus on Camila talking to Luz about it. Plus Willow and Gus have Hunter to deal with… And also Willow herself! And Camila keeping it vague does somewhat downplay the potential severity to make it not seem as urgent to the kids, who encourage Camila that she can handle it; Neither party can be blamed for this, not for not fully understanding, nor for wanting to avoid violating Luz’s privacy or putting more burden on other kids (Something Camila even notices in Willow and tries to help her with).

And I love it, I love that trust and respect and the way Camila isn’t getting desperate again, she’s still looking for help but she’s learned. Only when Luz is comfortable with revealing that, will Camila bring it up openly to others for advice. And I think that’s something that resonates with a LOT of kids, especially ones struggling with mental illness and suicidal ideation and shame, while also needing help, as Luz does. Indeed, the wording of “bad decision” reminds me of parents fearing their kid is considering suicide, which furthers the metaphor in a way that gets past the censors.

Man there’s just a melancholy air and uncertainty behind Luz almost casually reassuring her mom she doesn’t have to worry about making Luz happy anymore, that she’s made up her mind and is ready to tell everyone when the time is right, all while clearly cherishing the last moments she has with everyone. It’s really helpless and it just adds to that feeling of inefficacy in this episode, that Camila can’t be the perfect, compatible mother her daughter needs her to be; That every accidental yelp towards the isles is just pushing Luz to the deep end.

And Camila wants to get it in the right words that she doesn’t have to embrace it to still understand and be supportive and co-exist, while Luz is grappling with xenophobic gaslighting that’s insisting otherwise to her; All humans hate it and Luz is the deviant, her mother is normal. If Camila can’t like it, she won’t support Luz, so what difference does it make if Luz can have it for herself but not her mother??? It’s scary in a realistic way; Not some big monster or fright, but more quiet and gradually happening as someone slips through your fingers, something mundane that a lot of people deal with. It’s the dilemma of being a parent; I wonder how much this resonates with people who have loved ones struggling with suicide like that.

Remember how Camila tried to bargain with Luz about being better after realizing she ran away, that she pushed her daughter away; Like parents in the bargaining stage of grief, reasoning they could’ve and should’ve been better. While Luz is lifted into the air, golden and incorporeal like an angel or ghost, by rope tied around her? And that whole scene just contributed to Luz’s self-destructive desire to repent and keep herself from causing any more damage, at any cost. Isolating herself is the first step…

All of this culminates into Camila asking kids for advice, when normally she needs to be their guidance, because they know Luz in ways she doesn’t and vice-versa and again she’s desperate; But never crossing a boundary again and it just shows her growth after the first episode, where Camila does recognize what went wrong and isn’t committing a similar mistake again in the hopes of a solution. And it works out, Camila finally reaches her own resolution when she gets through to her daughter and saves the both of them by repairing their love and relationship!

Makes it all the more agonizing then that just when Camila finally gets it, just when Luz wants to live, Luz is murdered by the man/system that made her feel worthless and split the Nocedas apart, with Luz’s decision over her life, originally for good, taken out of her hands anyway… Luz floating in purgatory, implicitly regretting that she didn’t appreciate her life enough. But then she gets brought back because of the isles that wanted her to stay as well, that Camila wanted her daughter to stay in. Because the Titan asked Luz to choose herself, and Camila had set Luz up to do that earlier so she did and that’s how Luz got her second chance at life, and the full life she deserved.

They went through hell and back for this, literally, with the literal Hell actually being the solution, and the figurative one coming from the one trying to ‘prevent’ it. This woman has gone through so much pain and such a turbulent life but damn if Camila didn’t earn her and Luz’s happy ending, together!!!

[bloody-cupcakes]

Yandere/dark Whittaker! Master x reader; you get caught trying to escape

Tw: yandere/dark content, gender neutral reader, implied kidnapping/Stockholm syndrome, soft femdom, the Master refers to the reader as pet in an affectionately degrading manner, the Master has a dacryphilia kink, implied smut at the end

You'd been caught trying to escape from the Master after she'd overthrown the monarchy of an alien planet you'd been visiting together recently. In all honesty, you had no idea why you'd ran away from her; she was the only family you'd ever known, the only home you'd ever had.

The guards held onto your arms tightly as they marched you to the throne room, preventing you from trying to run away again. The large marble doors opened to reveal none other than the Master herself seated on the ornate throne.

She look displeased as usual, though her face lit up the moment she saw you. "My pet," she cooed out sweetly, leaning forward so she could get a better look at you. "Where have you been, dear? We've been looking for you for ages. I've been so worried."

You kept your head down, glancing up at her with guilt filled eyes. "I'm sorry, Master. I- I didn't mean to," you insisted remorsefully. Your face heated up with shame as you looked down, clearly regretting your actions.

"Oi, look up at your majesty when she speaks to you!" One of the guards demanded gruffly, yanking your arm some in an effort to get you to listen. You let out a soft whimper in fear, something that caused the Master's blood to boil.

"That's enough," she snapped harshly at the guard. "Let them go." If looks could kill, they'd both be dead on the floor for daring to touch her beloved pet like that and speak to them that way.

They both obliged, letting go of you. You dropped to the floor almost immediately, kneeling as a sign of respect. The Master smirked in satisfaction at your action, pleased to know that she'd taught you well.

"Leave us." She dismissively waved the guards away, her attention focused fully on you. They both bowed before exiting the throne room, shutting the doors behind them. "Come here, pet. Come to your Master."

The good pet you were, you instantly obeyed. Knowing better than to get back up again without her permission, you crawled over to where she sat on the throne, resting your cheek against her knee.

"What a good little pet you are." She reached a gloved hand out and patted the top of your head affectionately. "Tell me, why did you run away, hm? You know better than that."

You whimpered at her words, for although her tone was gentle and kind you knew you'd misbehaved and were going to be punished because of it. "I- I don't know, Master. I got separated from you, and I was scared and confused."

The Master moved her hand down to the side of your face, lovingly stroking your cheek with her thumb. Your breathing became ragged as you spoke, and your eyes welled with tears, as though you might cry.

Her hearts broke for you; she could tell you felt guilty still and didn't mean to disobey her. "Oh, don't cry, sweetheart. I won't punish you this time. I can tell you feel bad enough as it is."

Her soft words of reassurance didn't do much to help calm you, tears spilling from your eyes and down your cheeks mere seconds later. "I- I'm sorry, Master... I really didn't mean to run away from you..." You sobbed quietly as you pressed your face into her lap.

As much as she felt bad for you, she couldn't deny just how much it turned her on to see you crying like this. She shifted some in her seat as her panties grew damp from her arousal, something you didn't notice due to how hard you were still crying.

"Now, now. There's really no need for all of this," she scolded in a light tone. "I'll tell you what, pet. If you behave for me by making me feel good, we can call it even and forget all about your transgressions. How does that sound?"

The Master grabbed your face gently with her hand, tilting your head upwards so you'd be forced to look at her. Your eyes were glossy still with tears, your bottom lip quivering with emotion as you watched her.

"Yes, Master. I- I can behave for you." Your voice was uneven and full of emotion due to your recent outburst, but she smiled nonetheless, glad she could get something productive out of your tears.

"Good pet. Now-" she moved the gloved hand that wasn't still holding your face down to the top of her pants and began to undo the buttons "-get to work."

[baohanhanesel]

Just thinking about John Soap Mactavish meeting a girl, taking her out on a few dates, becoming her boyfriend and he is such a sweetheart too!

He is the man for her, always treating her, giving her sappy poems he wrote while on deployment, his sketches, flowers and all. He buys herb tea for her when she feels bad because he knows she likes a good bitter tea to burn her throat. He knows she prefers tea over coffee. He knows her favorite things on earth and truly it is a shame he goes to deployment so soon. He loves his job, sure. But he loves her too!

He proposes to her within six months, the proposal comes early for her expectations and she fears he is lovebombing. But she accepts the proposal, puts on the ring anyways because she knows John Mactavish is the best deal out there. Always with his confidence, bravery, gentleness and happiness. He is smiling a lot for someone who has seen a lot. And she appreciates him for it. For never letting that violence get through him. For having the most beautiful smile.

So when she ties the knot with him, it is early, she knows. They get married, and everything is much better! He is extra careful, extra gentle. He smiles more, talks more. She fears this will all end one day. That this is the honeymoon phase to the marriage. Because coming to think of it, they only met 6 months ago. This is all a bit strange, but she won't let herself overthink this. She'll enjoy her marriage. She'll enjoy Johnny and his smile.

"John you will break it."

"Don't worry, luv. I'll handle it!" Said John. Who was putting their toaster apart and trying to inspect the problem before putting it together.

She sighed, she knew the outcome. Her husband loved to put things apart and then put it together. But every single time. The thing would be broken. And this time would be no different. Another expensive indulgence he is in. She should probably stop him from breaking the thing before it is too late and bring it to someone who actually understands. But it feels like it would be like taking away a child's toy.

And as expected, not even fifteen minutes later Johnny rises his head and smiles clumsily.

"The thing was burnt from the inside, couldn't save it."

"Mhm." She knows it wasn't.

"... I'll buy a new one."

Next time she wouldn't let him break it.

"What will we be eatin' tonight?"

"I have no idea. What should we do?"

This earned a grumble from him, there was no food when he got home? Was she sick? He wasn't used to coming to a home with no warm meal. In their house, it didn't work like that.

"You didn't think of anythin'?!" He is just taken aback, he thought things would be different.

"Nope." She is just as taken aback. What is she supposed to do? He didn't say he would come home today or specificed what he wanted for dinner so she forgot.

After seeing his upset shoulders, and also the inability to speak up about it she got in the kitchen. Seeing what he just pushed her to do, John was quickly behind her.

"So what are we uhm, cooking?" He says this with a sly smirk, she turns to look at his face.

"We? Go sit down John, I'll figure something out."

"Whaaat no! I'd die sitting still when you're cooking for me!"

Just like that, they tried to work in the kitchen together. But whatever John did, she was all over him.

"John, That's too much oil, love! Meat already has some oil in it y'know?"

"I always do it like this!" He insists.

He moves to work with the mashed potatoes, she stops him.

"John. When did margarine enter our house?!"

"Margarine? It says butter on it."

"John..." She sighs. It is the name of the brand. But it takes a moment longer for him to realize it. It is fine though, it is silly.

Next time she'll remind him not to put too much oil or to read the items better next time. Next time, she hopes, for once he won't do things his way.

It is honestly so shocking to see them being so awkward and different within a few weeks of living together. John is always stubborn, and so is she. John does things his way, and she never corrects him even though she says she will. John keeps breaking stuff in order to fix them, and she keeps forgetting about the dinner because he didn't specifically tell her he'll be home.

Guess the honeymoon phase had ended quickly.

"John! For the nth time!" She huffed, exhausted with this. "Why are you so stubborn to let someone else take care of things?"

"I am just tryna fix it!" He is smiling nervously, and a little disappointed in himself. It was in his nature. He was a curious man, let him live!

"Bonnie, really? Again.." He shakes his head and rubs his temples, though he has an exhausted bitter smile tugging on his lips. "'m going to bed."

"I am sorry, I... I still haven't gotten used to your schedule." She pouts, watching him leave to his room. It wasn't her fault... She was forgetful of the days he was home or not.

"Why must you never listen?!" She was the first one to bite. And John had bit back.

"Why must you not care? Why do you forget me?"

"I do not forget you. I am getting used to it!"

Just like that, they argued for hours to no end. John was nervous as to think if he did something wrong. Because things weren't like this before. She was sad too, thinking about their old days. Maybe they did act rash about this.

Maybe they were fools for acting too fast.

She said nothing, so didn't John.

"Love..." She looked at the washing machine. That is no longer in any way functioning. It was separated into its parts. She sighed, rubbing her temples. It hadn't been a month since their last argument.

"I was..." He trailed off. "Sorry,"

This time he didn't smile after his mistake, and the absence of his smile stabbed her in the heart. She widened her eyes, and looked at the expensive mistake.

"Oh, so it had those things in it?"

John's head snapped back at her, blinking with confusion.

"Huh. Yeah. Yeah!" He smiles. And suddenly her whole world is at peace again, and the knife retreats from her heart.

She did not correct him before, she wouldn't correct him again. Damn those expensive mistakes, nothing was worth more than Johnny's smile. His smile was worth more than anything. She'd write down a new memo each week to follow his always changing schedule. Anything for that smile to stay put on his face. John had given her everything. He'd been so patient with her forgetfulness. So patient with her reluctance to sudden changes even though it was the most simple thing like a schedule.

The least she could do was to protect his smile and savour it.

I apologize for this. I just rambled. Might be bad, it is probably bad. No beta read or anything just a slap of late night thoughts. I just think Johnny's smile is one of the most attractive things about him. And I feel his partner would know it too. Because look at him, truly. I'd wake up every morning just for the sole reason of seeing his smile. 🙏

[lovelypink2005]

OKAY SO TODAY'S UPDATE WAS SOMETHING—–

So lemme break this whole page down because I could never sleep without saying anything about it so spoiler alert for The Glass Scientists Chapter 15 Page 17‼️‼️‼️

So first of all, we need to apreciate how far these two, especially Lanyon, has become. From Robert's point of view, it was as if Jekyll is once again shutting himself down from "the shame. The fear", quoted by Lanyon, because it was just YESTERDAY that the whole exhibition day happened, the day it felt like everything changed, the day he was able to finally TALK to Jekyll and got him BACK. " But not this time. This time, i'm staying right here-" is such a STRONG WORDS. He's trying his best to get Henry back, to made up for all of those years, making up for the day he left him, assuring Henry that he won't leave him again, not this time, not after 15 years of yearning, thinking that it has been one sided, not when he just got him back.

AND THEN WE FINALLY GOT THE "I LOVE YOU" BOMB!!!!

THis one is surely a HUDGE character development, knowing that throughout these years, and throughout the whole comic, he had always been the type of huy to show his affections through action instead of words, hoe it "pains" him to say nice things to people, how it's hard for him to be open about his feelings, especially in PUBLIC. This is Lanyon at his moment of desperation, finally showing his love towards Henry with his words to win him once again, hoping that it'll get through him, hoping Jekyll would let him in once again, Knowing that's what Henry wanted. Honestly. And the fact that he seems like he would BREAK at any second if Jekyll did not respond at all, the face of a man holding back his tears perhaps....

And second of all, I'm sure we all collectively agreed that this was NOT Jekyll. The Jekyll we knew would lock himself out, he can't just see a meltdown as "haha it was silly so nevermind that! Just come in!" In the middle of a crisis he's him, when his body condition is absolutely UNSTABLE with the little things that could trigger any types of transformations. This is most definitely Hyde, especially Hekyll (Green-Eyed Jekyll/Hyde in Jekyll's body), and judging by how quickly Lanyon buys it, I'm pretty sure it was probably still Jekyll's voice, which makes me believe in "Hekyll is behind that door" possibility way more. What concerns Me the most is, what would Hyde want from this? What's his goal out of it?

Well, to me there could be 2 possibilities on what is going to be Hyde's intention.

From Chapter 14 Page 12 and 13, we got these panels where Hyde told Jekyll that Lanyon wanted him instead, wanted the "Doe-eyed sweetheart". In moments of desperation, he could be planning to win Lanyon, to " steal" him from Jekyll. This could ruin absolutely everything that Jekyll and Lanyon had done the other day. As much as I don't want this to happen, I am excited to see where this is going.

On the other hand, a few pages back, we know that Hyde was having his panic attack, wanting to go out, to get out, desperately wanting to run and hide. Jekyll had requested Frankenstein that whatever she heard do NOT open the door, knowing Hyde could take them elsewhere and got into yet another trouble, or getting themselves caught by the police or the angry mobs surrounding their society at the moment. If this was Hyde's intention, he could probably ran out immediately the moment Lanyon opens the door.

On the very last panel of today's update, we can see that Frankenstein was trying to somehow warn Lanyon. Her body language seemingly stiff, probably ready to do something to prevent Lanyon from opening the door, remembering what Jekyll told him, probably knowing that it doesn't sound like Jekyll at all. Or she could just be worried that Lanyon is going to found Jekyll in a middle of a transformation, which would be a disaster.

Hopefully Frankenstein could at least do something, although knowing Lanyon, he would probably insist into going in knowing that "Jekyll" allowed him to go in, saying that he's the one who's close to dear Henry, that they both had worked things out that if Jekyll allowed him to go, he won't let anyone stop him from doing so.

Overall I am just SO EXCITED AND NERVOUS FOR NEXT WEAKKDKDBXKDBXKDJ-💥💥💥

[bloodiedrogue]

I CANT BELIEVE I MISSED SHOW AND TAV! you best believe i have yet another tav to talk about. i am infected with OC disease i cant stop making them.

(keeping it brief this round because its like 4am.)

here is my half-elf durge sunny (short for sunshine)! nobody bothered giving him a proper name as a child, instead he was mostly referred to as simply The Dark Urge, or Bhaals Chosen. he couldnt remember being called anything when he woke up from the nautiloid though, so introducing himself was kind of awkward. the lack of name troubled dear shadowheart so she insisted on calling him something. sunshine started off as a sarcastic nickname (i mean look at the guy he is 6'5, jacked as hell and has the worlds worst resting bitch face) but it caught on. even sunny himself starts to introduce himself as 'sunny'. i always think its hilarious to imagine someone asking him what sunny is short for and this big hunk of beef having to answer 'sunshine.' with a straight face.

his romance is a little complicated.. he definitely has feelings for shadowheart throughout the events of the game. but after dealing with the urges and the tadpole and gortash and orin and bhaal.... this guy is just a (barely) living wreck. whatever relationship they had beforehand is practically decimated halfway through act 3 because sunny just cuts himself off completely from shadowheart. he starts sleeping around (literally anything with a pulse. i think they should neuter this guy) and just generally avoiding any sort of committment or relationship of any kind. not necessarily out of malice but out of fear? protection? he just thinks shadowheart is better without having to worry about him all the time. he is fully aware of how poorly he is put together and he doesn't want shadowheart to keep picking up the pieces. this dude also has 0 communication skills (what being raised in a murder temple does to a mf) and is scared of his own feelings. anything not related to murder and blood is new to him and he does NOT want to deal with it. i also think meeting gortash has a real effect here...coming face to face with an ex-lover and realising just how fucked up your relationship was is sure to make you rethink a few things.

the game ends and sunny is left in limbo. like here is a guy who was sculpted from bhaals own flesh to be the last man left alive and is now just let loose into the world with no idea who he is. he isn't like the rest, he was never a person before all this. he wasn't made to be a person. does he even have the right to be a person after everything he has done in bhaals name? he goes to helpsastarion in the underdark. both because he and astarion are very close friensd but also because he believes that helping the 7,000 spawn acts as some sort off repentance. the idea of sunny and astarion being in charge by themselves is actually kind of terrifying but i think they'd manage okay... they'd be good for each other i think. i'd like to think that after some well deserved healing and reflection that they might end up together... there was definitely an initial chemistry but they were both a little too bonkers to do anything about it. only after they have taken the time to figure themselves out though... i just want them to be happy. i also like to think that shadowheart and nocturne are a happy couple after the game because I'll be damned if she doesn't get her happy ending too.

(i lied about keeping it brief.)

okay, he may be big and spooky because of the dark urge stuff but deep down in my heart that guy is the definition of a sunshine. look at that cute face!

also absolutely love his character arc and the hardships he goes through. they definitely feel really true to how i feel a redeemed durge would end up reacting. especially in regards to relationships.

shame about him and shadowheart! but glad he potentially finds a partner in astarion because that poor vamp needs some loving too 😤💚

[dujour13]

Owlcatober 6. Family

Kenabres, 19 Arodus 4715

Dear Mom & Dad, Zarin, Fati & Layla,

While I’m afraid this missive bears bad tidings, know first that I’m safe among the brave defenders of Kenabres and in the hands of able healers. I won’t pretend to be well & happy; mostly it’s my morale that has suffered a blow, as you’ll soon understand.

This will surely be the first news that reaches you of Mendev’s recent misfortunes. You know already it has weathered constant siege by the forces of the Abyss for over a century, but sadly the arrival of our delegation coincided with a rare, concerted assault by rather more high-ranking demons than usual.

Of what befell us I’ll spare you the details, as much because I recall little myself: on the road outside Kenabres our delegation was attacked by marauding demons and none survived but myself.

By this same post I’ve written to the families of my friends and colleagues. At the very moment you read this they should be receiving the terrible blow I have had the misfortune to deliver. I don’t need to tell you how heavy a burden this duty has been. The pain of my wound is no rival for that in my heart. On the reverse I’ve listed their names and addresses; most are in Almas and perhaps would appreciate a visit, but especially Romi, who will be devastated and need help sorting her and Gilford’s affairs. Please give her all my love.

I don’t understand why I of all of them was spared, gravely wounded but left alive to be collected by passing samaritans, who kindly carried me into the city for healing. The folk here have, for the most part at least, been most obliging and helpful. (One passing gentleman suggested I be tossed in a ditch, and the Inquisitors here are excessively and insistently paranoid. However the silver dragon protector of the city, Terendelev herself, came to my aid right there in the city square as I was brought in, and the kind prior of the temple of Desna has been to see me since.) (Yes, you may tell Kyrash I met an actual dragon.)

My wound is coming along; please don’t fret. Besides grief, what I’m mostly feeling now is overwhelming shame, as if had I any decency whatsoever I should have perished alongside them, yet irrational as the thought seems I can’t shake it off. By now many times over I should have died and somehow Pharasma has turned her face from me at the last moment on each occasion.

Not to worry you! I believe the worst has passed and the city defenders, the ranks of which I’ve joined, have things well in hand. When our forces are gathered we will make one final foray to rescue the Wardstone and its protective aura will make Kenabres safe once again, and all will be well.

Though I won’t set out for home quite so soon. I wrote to the Council and plan to stay on in Mendev while awaiting the appointment of a new ambassador. There may still be a few tasks I can carry out to mitigate the total disaster of this mission.

In the meantime, I’ve taken up with a handful of brave souls among the city defenders and we’ve formed ourselves a merry little band of misfits, striking out into the city to rescue all the orphans & cats & stray Desnans we happen across. They are truly my only ray of sunshine in this miserable place. Let me tell you a little about them.

First, because she was first to leap to my aid when I was brought bleeding through the gates of Kenabres: Seelah, a fearless paladin of Iomedae from Solku, a bulwark against the pointed bits of demons and already a fast friend. I know what you’re thinking: thank all the good gods he has a paladin around to keep him from doing something crazy. Well, have I got news for you.

Next: have you heard legends of savage, mutant cave-dwellers beneath Mendev, light-fearing descendants of cursed crusaders? So they’re real. One of them has taken up with us—half-half-elf, half-a number of other things, and entirely an impressive hunter. This is the guy who tries to keep me from doing something crazy, but all he does is sigh and crack dark jokes so that’s not likely to stop me. I’m already fond of him. He still needs to come up into the sunlight if you see what I mean, but I’m confident we’ll get him there.

I also have some hope for Camellia, a kindred half-elf we took up with in the caves. I thought at first she and I might connect, but it seems she’s a typical highborn snob with too delicate a nose for the likes of us plebian Andorens, half-elvenness notwithstanding. Still she’s a fine fighter and does seem keen to slay demons at least. One thing that intrigues me: she’s in touch with the restless spirits of old Sarkoris, and I think that could play to our advantage.

In the streets of Kenabres we also stumbled across an encyclopedist, and for some reason she decided we were smart enough to merit her company, or perhaps peculiar enough to merit her curiosity at least. Mom, you’d love Nenio: she knows all the most useless trivia, and a few useful spells as well. She’s an accident waiting to happen but she’s hilarious. (Dad's thinking "not unlike someone else we know" right now, I can hear you.) Just need to keep her pointed at the enemy.

This one I think you’ll enjoy. Yesterday we were summoned in extremis to rescue a certified degenerate aristocrat—a Count from the bluest of Mendevian blood—because, I’m not kidding, he was partying so hard he didn’t notice the demon invasion. He’s just as bad as you’re thinking and a lot worse. On the other hand he’s an aasimar with some talent for divine healing and he really does seem to detest demons, so we’re keeping him on hand for now. I have to admit, he’s democratic about dishing it out. (And actually kind of funny sometimes but if the occasion arises don’t ever, ever let him know I said that.)

I should also mention the elf orphan, Ember. By my best estimate she’s three times my age but a child by elf standards of course, and has suffered so cruelly at the hands of the Inquisitors I’m afraid her mind has come a little loose. But if it’s flapping in the wind, the wind is blowing the right direction. Her apparently boundless forgiveness may at first seem symptomatic, but I see in it the inspiration of genius. And I suspect I’m not the only one. She is blessed with divine protection and while mindless of her own scars is keen to heal those of others.

I’m not sure why I saved the tiefling, Woljif, for last. Perhaps because I have more to say, and more yet to puzzle out on his account. He is the face of what Mendev has become: part human, part demon, and those parts at constant war. (I can hear you Zarin: “But is that not true of all of us?” - Fair enough.) I had to pull some strings to get him out of jail. He’s proved to be very handy to have around since then but I keep catching him looking antsy as if he’s going to ditch us at the first chance. I don’t think crusading is exactly what he had planned in life, and I don’t blame him. You would be shocked at how they treat tieflings here. There's a whole lexicon of terms for them.

Indeed he seems to have taken the abuse to heart. All his life he’s been told he’s demonic vermin, and he seems determined to live up to it. Not that he’s actually a bad person—no, I’m hesitating as I write this because that’s what I’m still puzzling out. He is a bad person, and though he’ll have you believe it’s Society that made him this way it is also out of a heart made black by greed and spite. But if my first instinct was to tell you he’s not a bad person, it’s because there’s something underneath the cunning, something he thinks he’s hiding but that’s obvious to me—a heart that's fighting back against the blackness. He has the hopeful look you get from a stray cat before it bites you. Like if he’s just given a chance, and a little food, maybe he’ll let his guard down. Ok, I know what you’re thinking—yes, I have a project. I just hope he sticks around long enough.

There’s a good deal more to tell, but I should rest while the ta fortress we’ve taken refuge in is relatively quiet. By the time this letter reaches you I’m certain peace will have been restored, indeed because this letter will not have reached you if not—so take heart that if you’re reading it, we’re already celebrating our victory!

All my love & hugs to you and the jerboas. With luck I’ll be home to play our Crystalhue duet, Dad, and yes I have been practicing.

Sia 🦋

[acre-of-wheat]

So in your fics, does Kit have a safe word and does she ever use it? I feel like her obsession with being good for Jade might make her too willing to do things she doesn't enjoy for Jade's sake, but I also feel like Jade would be aware of that and worry about that a little, so she'd make sure she knows she has to say it if she's not into something.

Also is every time they have sex kinky or do they also engage in sex with no power play?

Love the fics btw, very intense. Even if I'm not usually not the rougher stuff, the emotions and care Jade has for Kit is sweet.

This is such an incredible series of questions-- thank you for asking!

I think they definitely have a safe word, and it was certainly Jade's idea. Kit was probably like, "we don't really need that!" and Jade was like, "baby girl, yes we absolutely do."

I think that kink negotiation can actually be pretty hot to read, so I'm not opposed to writing about some of their discussions and protocols. I do also think that would come with a little bit of angst though, because you're right that I do think that Kit would want to push herself too far and it would be Jade who would be insistent about her checking in, and I think that is a dynamic that's rife for problems until they figure it out.

In fic world, obviously everyone's desires match up perfectly at all times and everyone is down for anything at any given time, so there are certain creative liberties taken. And also, anyone who writes sexy fanfic is telling on themself a little bit-- I wouldn't include something if I didn't think it was hot, and that includes the little moments of fear and shame and anxiety that can pop up during any sex, not just kinky stuff. It's safe to play with in writing.

The way I've written Kit and Jade, I think their power dynamics are always a little present? Certainly not always to the extent that I've written about, but it's what they like-- what makes them feel safe and fulfilled, cared for and trusted. So in my mind Kit is always going to be a little submissive and Jade is always going to enjoy pushing her a little bit. But do they have sweet laughing sex and romantic worshipful sex and everything in between? Of course.

I'm glad you're enjoying the fics so far, even if they're a little out of your comfort zone. Again, I wouldn't include it if I didn't think it was hot, and Jade's absolute love and care for Kit is part of that.

[rfaromance]

Could you write rfa with an mc who has a lazy eye and is really insecure about it and almost always refuses to take their glasses off because people used to gawk at them and tease them as a child?

Zen knows what it's like to draw special attention from having a unique appearance. While he often likes to flatter himself and play up the role of a narcissist, he's insecure about his features. He grew up in a household that ridiculed him and shamed him for the red eyes and white hair that caught the attention of many, treating him like a monster and putting him down. So he will never pressure MC to take their glasses off, if that makes them comfortable. However, he will also smother MC in praises, like he does to himself. "You're so stunning," he'll whisper when they're alone, gently pulling the glasses down to give them a kiss on the forehead. "You and I are proof that God makes mistakes. He had to make us different because otherwise, our beauty would be too powerful for the world to handle."

Yoosung can't imagine why MC feels insecure. He doesn't really pay attention to those details. First and foremost, MC is someone he cares about, someone he enjoys being with and spending time with. While he's dense, he's no dummy. If he sees MC getting shy or anxious in public, he will hold their hand and encourage them to lean against me. "You can just look at me," he'd murmur. "Besides... I like it when you focus on me, anyway."

Jaehee isn't the type to get caught up in appearances. She had to cut her hair and adorn unnecessary glasses for her job at C&R, after all, and while she may miss her long locks, she knows they aren't the most important thing in life. Connection, fulfillment, and happiness are. MC gives her a reason to wake up in the morning and power through her day. But she is sensitive to the needs of others and can pick up on subtle changes. (You'd have to be perceptive to be able to work as Jumin Han's chief assistant.) So if she's in public with MC, she will always check up on them if they seem to get tense or shrink away from people. "We can go somewhere more secluded, if you want," she'll insist. "Although... If I were as wonderful as you, I would hold my chin up high."

Jumin genuinely does not care about such details. He'd take a mental note, if only as an identifying trait, and that would be the end of the story. He's not accustomed to being around uncertain people; growing up with his father, his father's many love interests, and teenage V, he's been surrounded by cocky, arrogant people who think they are almighty. He almost doesn't know how to handle it, but that works in MC's favor because it means Jumin is constantly checking in on them. "Are you alright? Is this too much? How can I assist?" He also has MC help in organizing their plans, wanting to maximize comfort and efficiency for both of them. "I apologize if this seems excessive, but my priority is your well-being."

707 is the type of person who dismisses all his insecurities and fears with humor. He wears the mask of a jokester so that nobody knows how much pain he holds inside. Therefore, his gut reaction is to lighten the mood. "Wait, we should switch glasses! Or get matching ones!" He wants to find ways to make MC have fun, to laugh so hard that they can forget their worries. But that doesn't mean he isn't sincere. At his core, Saeyoung Choi is a sentimental person, who loves so deeply he would sacrifice anything and everything to ensure his loved ones' happiness. "When you and I are together, nobody will look at us in disdain," he assures MC. "They will look at us in envy, focusing only on our smiles and wishing they could ever find the joy that we find in each other."

[dcwnthercbbithcle]

“I found my religion in the crooks of your body. The things I would do to hear the sound of your voice anew are nothing short of unholy.”

—Selene

@teeth-and-ashes

My Beloved,

Oh to find the words of how delightful it is to hear from you. Your words on my screen are a warm beam of heavenly sunlight that paints these cold, sterile walls of my practice with life and energy and purpose.

I was beginning to fear I had lost you, that your beauty and poise and that ever so colorful mind of yours was lost to me forever and that I had been resigned to a life without your light, but I had really ought to know never to doubt your cleverness!

Goodness, if only you could see me now, blushing life a schoolgirl and sitting hunched over this silly machine writing to you, I know you would have a laugh, and my, what a heavenly sound that would be.

Have the men been treating you well? I earnestly, sincerely hope they have,

The men, when they took you away, they questioned me so tersely - they acted as though I went above my position and that I had ought to be ashamed, but my love, even looking in the faces of those men, I could never feel an ounce of shame.

My time with you- although brief, has been the subject of my sweetest dreams and my dearest times, it is what fuels me on my darkest days and I long to see you once again- to feel you in my arms and hold you close.

I have been speaking at length to the doctors, as they so call themselves. It's a sick-joke if you ask me, but I digress, I have been trying to convince them to let me see you or speak to you, even for a moment. I have offered to pick up extra shifts if its a matter of justifying cost, yet, they refuse.

Still- I hope that with enough persistence I may make them relent- perhaps it is wishful thinking, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, and their annoyance and the temporary barbs of their frustration is a worthy sacrifice. I would do it a million times over to see you, to even have a single conversation with you and to hear your voice again.

But enough of me prattling on and waxing poetic, I know your time is precious and you have far better things to be doing than reading the silly musings of a single lovesick dreamer.

I am delighted to tell you that Poppy has been doing very well! Her energy is unmatched, and she's had me running in circles, much to her delight!

She has taken to calling me, 'Miss Lia,' as she's found my name to be far too long, and though it may be silly to say, I have truly come to love it. When the men are escorting me to her cell, I can hear jump up from within and yell 'Miss Lia,' like a war cry each time, and to say it makes my heart swell with pride is an understatement.

Her studies are presently going well, though not spectacular by any means, she is doing particularly well with her reading, though her penmanship could use some work.

She has also taken fondly to coloring! I was able to talk some of the men assigned to her into allowing me to bring coloring books and crayons from the recreation room in the infirmary for her, and she seems to adore them. She especially prefers the books with animals rather than princesses or superheroes, and perhaps it sentimental, but I think she may be taking after you.

Now if only I am able to get her to let me put a brush through that hair of hers! Haha. I swear at times it is more of a rats nest than hair, however she is insistent I do not take a comb to it, so I have taken to manually detangling it with my hands while she colors. It is, regrettably, a work in progress, but I know she will relax in time, she simply has to, else I may have to take to her with the scissors.

Aside from that, though this may be the doubt in me, but I worry that the Foundation does not provide her enough to eat. She seems to be the right size for her age, yet, every time I visit, the poor dear always has such a voracious appetite. Perhaps she is approaching a growth spurt? Either way, I do worry!

On that note, she looks more and more like you by the day, I have yet to speak to her about it- I do not want to stress or confuse the poor dear- but every time I look at her, I see the best of you. She has your wide, infectious smile, and your adorable ears, even your freckles. God, you'd be so proud to see her.

I would love to speak to you more, but I fear I must get going, I hear my assistant, this young man named Mason, calling for me to get going, but I will write you back again, and, god as my witness, I will see you again someday,

Forever yours,

XOXO,

Ophelia

[deathblossomed]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 & 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐒

@thuganomxcs

The powerful enemy was finally defeated thanks to a boost from Yusuke's own anger given that this enemy had raised arms against Botan. Now the Yokai was beaten and broken on the floor, but it didn't take long before the mazoku trampled onto the beast's chest, the sound of bones broken under the force echoes along with the yokai's sweet scream that were nothing but a symphony to Yusuke at this point. His finger points at the beast's head as crimson energy was seen at the tip. Yusuke did not just wanted to kill this yokai, but destroy him..and he would find utter pleasure in doing so.

She needs to get stronger. When they face an enemy, Yusuke is always the combatant. That's the role he's taken and he's good at it. And she knows he likes the challenge, no matter how dangerous. And Botan, weaker by a wide margin, is the support. She can heal, she can make barriers, she can navigate. But when it comes to fighting anything more than Yusuke's wandering eye (mind, hand, he really is awful), she's lousy. And when she makes a wrong move, she ends up getting in the way or getting caught and Yusuke has to save her. She's a liability and she hates it.

She's been trying, practicing back in Reikai in the arts that she's experienced with, but she was trained to defend against yurei, not gargantuan demons like the one before them.

Yusuke came to her rescue, like he always does, forcing the demon to drop her. She has claw marks across her cheek, her ponytail's come loose and she can feel bruises blooming on her stomach. But it's manageable, she can heal that. She's been through worse.

But it's enough to rile Yusuke to a wrathful state. When she catches her breath and looks up, the demon is on the floor with Yusuke on top. Dark markings pattern his skin and his eyes flash darkly with each scream. This is the power Reikai fears, the kind used to bend the knee of a third of Makai.

But it doesn't scare Botan. No, what scares her, what worries her, is the consequences. Sure, Yusuke has been in deathly battles before, it was par for the course during his detective days. But he tries not to. He doesn't want to unless the consequences of mercy are world ending. Or, as is the case more frequently, Botan is somehow involved.

But even if his reasoning were sound, the guilt will set in later, the shame and indignation, a shadow eclipsing his heart. That's not fair. It's not right. And if Yusuke will insist on protecting Botan physically, the least she can do is protect his heart.

She rises to her feet, watching him charge the Spirit Gun, gleaming red with demonic might. She tries to call to him, but he's not listening, focused only on his prey, helpless to dodge the incoming strike. So Botan steels herself and rushes forward, throwing her arms around him and knocking them both the ground.

She has one arm looped around his neck, the other hand at the back of his head to cushion the fall. Botan lays atop him, legs braced on either side and her face pressed to his shoulder.

"Yusuke, it's alright. I'm right here, I'm safe. It's all over, shhh," she hushes, holding on tight. And even if he were to struggle against her, even if he fights with all his strength, or turns the gun on her in confusion, she won't let go. She won't ever let go.

[fannish-karmiya]

Wei Wuxian’s Position in the Jiang Household

Fandom tends to mischaracterise Wei Wuxian’s position in the Jiang family greatly. A lot of people project more modern ideas about adoption onto his relationship with the Jiang siblings, and write as if he really is their sibling and only Yu Ziyuan’s abusive nature gets in the way of their bond.

This strikes me as a bit misguided. While adoption was practised in ancient China, it was mainly for the purpose of obtaining a male heir in the absence of one, or obtaining more daughters to marry off for alliances. Jiang Fengmian had no reason to adopt Wei Wuxian into the main family, and he didn’t. Wei Wuxian’s position in the household is far more nebulous than that, and honestly it’s hard to find an exact corollary, in Chinese history or in any culture, precisely because it was so messy and ill-defined.

A Companion to Upper Class Children

Wei Wuxian is the son of a servant of Yunmeng Jiang; it’s notable that Wei Changze is always referred to this way, rather than as a disciple. Wei Changze wound up leaving the sect in order to marry Cangse Sanren, and Jiang Fengmian considered them dear enough friends that when he heard they passed away, he spent years searching for their orphaned son. He wound up finding Wei Wuxian on the streets of Yiling and brought him home as his ward.

Wei WuXian was taken home by Jiang FengMian when he was nine.

Most memories from back then were already blurred. Yet, Jin Ling’s mother, Jiang YanLi, remembered all of them, and even told him quite a few.

She said that, after his father heard of the news that his parents both died in battle, he had always dedicated himself to finding the child that these past friends had left behind. After searching for a while, he finally found the child in Yiling.

(Chapter 24, Exiled Rebels translation)

It’s clear from the start that beyond this sense of obligation to his old friends, Jiang Fengmian also had a role set out for Wei Wuxian: he wanted him to be a companion to his children, and Jiang Cheng in particular.

He encourages a friendship between them, insisting on a sleepover between the two a week into Wei Wuxian’s stay.

On the second day, Jiang Cheng’s puppies were given to someone else.

This angered Jiang Cheng so much that he threw a big tantrum. No matter how much Jiang FengMian comforted him gently, telling him that they should ‘be good friends’, he refused to talk to Wei WuXian. Quite a few days later, Jiang Cheng’s attitude softened. Jiang FengMian wanted to strike while the iron was still hot, so he told Wei WuXian to sleep in the same room as him, hoping that they’d grow fonder of each other.

[...]

That night, Jiang Cheng locked Wei WuXian outside his room, refusing to let him in.

[...]

Wei WuXian waited outside for a long time. When the door opened, before the joy could spread onto his face, he was bombarded with a pile of things being thrown out. The door banged shut again.

Jiang Cheng told him from inside, “Go sleep somewhere else! This is my room! You’re even gonna steal my room?!”

[...]

Standing outside, as Wei WuXian heard that dogs would come bite him, fear immediately bubbled within him. Twisting his fingers, he hurried, “I’ll go, I’ll go. Don’t call the dogs!”

Dragging behind him the sheets and blanket that were thrown outside, he ran out the hall. Having only arrived at Lotus Pier for a short period of time, he didn’t dare jump around yet. Every day, he obediently holed up in the places that Jiang FengMian told him to stay at. He didn’t even know where his room was, much less have the courage to knock on other people’s doors, scared that it’d disturb someone’s dreams.

(Chapter 71, Exiled Rebels translation)

After Jiang Cheng is worried about getting in trouble, he goes to Jiang Yanli for help, and she searches for Wei Wuxian.

But this was the first pair of shoes that Jiang FengMian bought him. Wei WuXian was too embarrassed to make him go out of his way to buy another pair, and so he said that they weren’t too big. Jiang YanLi helped him into his shoe and pressed the hollow tip, “It is a bit big. I’ll fix it for you when we get back.”

Hearing this, Wei WuXian felt somewhat uneasy, as if he did something wrong again.

Living in other people’s homes, the worst that could happen was to make trouble for the hosts.

Jiang YanLi put him onto her back and began to walk back, wobbling in her steps as she spoke, “A-Ying, no matter what A-Cheng said to you, don’t bother about him. He doesn’t have a good temper, so he’s always home playing with himself. Those puppies were his favorites. Dad sent them away, and so he’s feeling upset. He’s actually really happy that somebody’s here to be with him.”

(Chapter 71, Exiled Rebels translation)

Later, Wei Wuxian offers to cover for him, saying simply that he ran outside by himself because he was scared. In this one case it feels like a genuine instance of children showing solidarity and covering for each other’s little misbehaviours. But it also follows a pattern of Wei Wuxian doing this and making excuses, time and time again, for Jiang Cheng. I wonder if on some level, he already knew that his role in the household was in part to be a companion-servant to Jiang Cheng.

Wei Wuxian normally never puts up with people treating him poorly or being arrogant; he constantly bites his tongue when Jiang Cheng does so around him. While they study at Cloud Recesses, Jiang Cheng frequently insults Wei Wuxian, who always just smiles and laughs it off.

Jiang Cheng humphed, “Him? He wakes at nine in the morning and sleeps at one during the night. When he wakes up, he doesn’t practice his sword or meditate; he goes boating, swims around, picks lotus seedpods, and hunts for pheasants.”

Wei WuXian replied, “No matter how much pheasants I hunt, I’m still number one.”

(Chapter 13, Exiled Rebels translation)

Jiang Cheng scolded with a darkened expression, “What are you proud of?! What is there to be proud of with this?! Do you think that it’s a glorious thing to be told by someone to get lost? You bring so much shame upon our sect!”

(Chapter 16, Exiled Rebels translation)

We never see Wei Wuxian excusing this sort of behaviour from any other character; he has no problem scolding Jin Ling for his arrogant attitude and telling him that he shouldn’t be imitating his uncle, after all! It’s only where Jiang Cheng is concerned that he does this, and honestly, even then he seems to be quite aware that Jiang Cheng’s behaviour is wrong; he simply accepts on some level that it’s his role in the household to put up with it.

He actually does, very gently, try to guide Jiang Cheng at times. In Lotus Seed Pods, for example, he tries to give Jiang Cheng advice on how to flirt with some of the maidens in Yunmeng and make friends:

Wei WuXian threw the seed pods toward the shore. It was a far distance, but they landed lightly in the women’s hands. He grabbed a few more and stuffed them into Jiang Cheng’s arms, shoving, “What are you doing, just standing there? Hurry up.”

After a few shoves, Jiang Cheng could only accept them, “Hurry up and do what?”

Wei WuXian, “You ate the watermelon too, so you also have to return the gift, don’t you? Here, here, don’t be embarrassed. Start throwing, start throwing.”

Jiang Cheng snorted again, “You must be joking. What’s there to be embarrassed about?” Whatever he said, however, even after all of the shidi began to throw seed pods, he still didn’t start to move. Wei WuXian urged, “Then throw some! If you throw some this time, next time you can ask them if the seed pods tasted good, and you’ll be able to make conversation again!”

[...]

Jiang Cheng was just about to throw one when he realized how shameless it was the moment he heard it. He peeled a seed pod and ate it by himself.

[...]

After a while of laughter, he turned around and looked at Jiang Cheng, who was sitting at the front of the boat eating seed pods with a long face. His smile gradually disappeared as he sighed, “Well, what an unteachable child.”

Jiang Cheng fumed, “So what if I want to eat alone?”

Wei WuXian, “Look at you, Jiang Cheng. Nevermind. You’re hopeless. Just wait to eat alone your whole life!”

(Chapter 125, Lotus Seed Pod, Exiled Rebels translation)

He even sighs rather disappointedly when Jiang Cheng refuses to take the hint; he knows that Jiang Cheng’s sullen behaviour is going to make him miserable down the line, but all of his gentle efforts to nudge him in a better direction have failed.

He also speaks with great awareness of Jiang Cheng’s flaws after the fight in the ancestral hall:

Wei WuXian reached out with one hand and massaged his chest, as if trying to break up the pent-up feeling inside his heart. A moment later, he blurted, “I knew Jiang Cheng wouldn’t have let us go so easily. That brat… How could this be?!”

[...]

Wei WuXian’s eyelids throbbed, “Every one of them. The brat’s been like this ever since he was young.He’ll say anything when he’s angry, no matter how bad it is. He gives up on all grace and discipline whatsoever. As long as it’d annoy whomever he’s against, he’d say it no matter what terrible insults he uses. After all these years, he hasn’t gotten better at all. Please don’t take it to heart.”

(Chapter 90, Exiled Rebels translation)

This is so interesting to me, because it really makes it clear that Wei Wuxian has always been aware of these flaws of Jiang Cheng’s. He hasn’t been viewing him through rose-coloured lenses or making excuses for him because he’s ‘family’. He puts up with Jiang Cheng’s behaviour because being his companion is one of his duties in the Jiang household. It may never have been directly stated, but there seems to be some unspoken understanding to this effect.

I honestly don’t know if there is any official role in history (in any culture, not just China) which perfectly correlates to this. In China a lady’s maid was expected to also be a close friend and companion to her mistress (in canon, see Bicao to Qin-furen and Yinzhu and Jinzhu to Yu-furen). In Europe an upper class woman would hire a lady’s companion, a woman from the lower fringes of the gentry who would serve as her companion in exchange for financial support.

I don’t know of any version of this role which involves two men. In general, this sort of role existed because upper class women were confined to the household by and large, and had very limited social spheres. Men, meanwhile, had much greater ability to meet with their peers and make friends. I almost feel like Wei Wuxian wound up being shoved into this role simply because even as a child Jiang Cheng was so unsociable that Jiang Fengmian didn’t know what else to do!

Wei Wuxian also at least once steps in and starts a fight in place of Jiang Cheng (essentially taking the fall for him). He does this when Jin Zixuan speaks disparagingly of Jiang Yanli at Cloud Recesses:

Jin ZiXuan asked in reply, “Why don’t you ask me how on Earth can I be satisfied with her?”

Jiang Cheng instantly stood up.

Pushing him to the side, Wei WuXian walked in front of him and sneered, “You sure think that you’re pretty satisfying, don’t you? Where did you get the guts to be all choosy here?”

[...]

Wei WuXian sighed, “… It’d be nice if shijie came. It’s fortunate that you didn’t hit him.”

Jiang Cheng, “I was going to. If you didn’t push me, the other side of Jin ZiXuan’s face would also be ruined.”

(Chapter 18, Exiled Rebels translation)

It’s also very notable that Wei Wuxian is never shown having friends outside of Jiang Cheng’s social circle, despite what an outgoing and friendly person he is. Any time he expresses interest in someone for himself, as with Lan Wangji, Jiang Cheng tries to nip it in the bud. Being unable to deter Wei Wuxian from Lan Wangji directly, Jiang Cheng instead tries to drive a wedge between them, constantly telling Wei Wuxian that Lan Wangji hates him.

“Yeah,” Nie HuaiSang spoke, “It looks like he really hates you, Wei-xiong. Lan WangJi usually… No, he never does something so impolite.”

Wei WuXian, “He hates me already? I wanted to apologize to him.”

Jiang Cheng sneered, “Apologizing now? Too late! Like his uncle, he surely thinks that you are evil and unruly to the core, and didn’t bother to pay you any attention.”

(Chapter 14, Exiled Rebels translation)

Jiang Cheng pulled him even closer, “It’s not as if you’re familiar with him! Don’t you see how much he hates you? You’re going to carry him? He probably doesn’t even want you a step closer to him.”

(Chapter 52, Exiled Rebels translation)

He even directly orders Wei Wuxian not to invite Lan Wangji to come visit him at Lotus Pier during the Lotus Seed Pod extra.

Wei WuXian, “Why are you so upset? My watermelon almost flew away! I was just being polite. Of course he wouldn’t come. Have you ever heard of him go anywhere by himself to have fun?”

Jiang Cheng had on a stern expression, “Let’s make this clear. I don’t want him to come, anyhow. Don’t invite him.”

(Chapter 125, Lotus Seed Pod, Exiled Rebels translation)

It’s not only Lan Wangji he tries to steer Wei Wuxian away from; he also interrupts his conversation with Wen Ning at the archery competition:

Wen QiongLin was probably one of Wen Clan’s disciples furthest in bloodline. His status was neither high nor low, yet his personality was timid. He didn’t dare do anything and even his speech stuttered. Through much practice, he had finally conjured up the courage to enter the competition, but he blew it because he was too nervous. If he didn’t receive the right guidance, perhaps the boy would hide his true self more and more from now on and never dare to perform in front of other people again. Wei WuXian encouraged him a couple of times and touched on a few areas of growth, correcting some miniscule problems that he had when he was shooting in the garden. Wen QiongLin listened so attentively that he didn’t even turn his eyes away, nodding uncontrollably.

Jiang Cheng, “Where did you find so much nonsense? The competition is starting soon. Get into the arena right now!”

Wei WuXian spoke to Wen QiongLin in a serious tone, “I’ll be off to the competition now. Later, you can see how I shoot when I’m in the arena…”

Jiang Cheng dragged him away, short of patience. He spat as he dragged, “See how you shoot? Do you think that you’re a model or something?!”

(Chapter 59, Exiled Rebels translation)

Even when it comes to Wei Wuxian’s friendly flirtation with Mianmian, Jiang Cheng has something to say and tries to deter him from her:

Jiang Cheng, “The one that MianMian gave you? I didn’t.”

Wei WuXian exclaimed his regret, “I’ll find her for another one later.”

Jiang Cheng frowned, “You’re at it again. You don’t really like her, do you? The girl does look fine, but it’s obvious that she doesn’t have much background. Maybe she isn’t even a disciple. She seems like the daughter of a servant.”

Wei WuXian, “What’s wrong with servants? I’m also the son of a servant, aren’t I?”

Jiang Cheng, “How can you compare to her? Whose servant is like you, having your master peel lotus seeds for you and boil you soup. I didn’t even get to have some!”

(Chapter 56, Exiled Rebels translation)

Jiang Cheng really does seem to view Wei Wuxian in a very proprietary light; he’s not allowed to have any friendships which don’t exist under Jiang Cheng’s direct control.

The idea that Wei Wuxian was meant to be Jiang Cheng’s servant-friend is reinforced at its darkest when Lotus Pier falls: both Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Fengmian’s last words to Wei Wuxian are an instruction to protect Jiang Cheng.

One hand holding him, Madam Yu grabbed Wei WuXian’s lapels with her other hand as though to strangle him to death. She spoke through clenched teeth, “… You damn little brat! I hate you! I hate you more than anything else! Look at what our sect has gone through for your sake!”

[...]

Madam Yu, “Don’t make such a fuss. It’ll loosen up when you’re somewhere safe. If anyone attacks you on the journey, it’ll protect you as well. Don’t come back. Go to Meishan straight away and find your sister!”

After she finished, she turned to Wei WuXian and pointed at him, “Wei Ying! Listen to me! Protect Jiang Cheng, protect him even if you die, do you understand?!”

[...]

Jiang FengMian stared into his eyes. Suddenly, he reached out. Only after pausing in the air did he finally touch Jiang Cheng’s head, slowly, “A-Cheng, be well.”

Wei WuXian, “Uncle Jiang, if anything happens to you, he won’t be well.”

Jiang FengMian turned his eyes to him, “A-Ying, A-Cheng… you must look after him.”

(Chapter 58, Exiled Rebels translation)

Even Jiang Fengmian, who supposedly favoured Wei Wuxian, only gives him instructions as pertains to his own son; he doesn’t spare a single last word for Wei Wuxian himself.

A Lower Status Family Member

It wasn’t uncommon throughout human history, across many cultures, for wealthy families to take in relatives who were orphaned or had otherwise fallen on hard times. They tended to have a lower status than the main family; they lived with them and were still a part of their social sphere, but were not quite equal, either. The English term for this is ‘poor relation’.

Obviously, Wei Wuxian isn’t actually a blood relative at all. But his position in the Jiang household definitely has some similarities. He lives in the main house, eats meals with the family, attends school with the son... He is even on some conditional levels accepted into the gentry of cultivation society. But he isn’t a full equal member of the family, either.

The fact that he’s Jiang Fengmian’s ward, not a blood relative or adopted into the main family, puts him at even more of a disadvantage. It seems that Jiang Fengmian paid for all of Wei Wuxian’s expenses:

Wei WuXian took a bite, “Back then, I didn’t even have to pay when I ate at the dock. I grabbed whatever I wanted, ate whatever I wanted; ran after I grabbed, walked as I ate. A month later, the vendor would get the reimbursement from Uncle Jiang.”

(Chapter 86, Exiled Rebels translation)

While this is a bit of conjecture, I gather that he was given access to family money as if he was part of the clan, and could just charge Yunmeng Jiang whenever he shopped in Lotus Pier. Which is great so long as Wei Wuxian is accepted in Yunmeng Jiang...but as we see during the Burial Mounds settlement period, the moment that acceptance fades, Wei Wuxian is left out in the cold without a single coin. And because he isn’t a member of the family, it’s a far easier matter for him to be thrown aside, as he was when Jiang Cheng grew angry with him over his decision to protect the Wens.

Of course, Chinese families traditionally did share their wealth, and still do nowadays. Ideally, in a loving family, this is a positive and means they all support each other; but when that isn’t the case, it leaves the victims of abuse vulnerable.

In Wei Wuxian’s case, he has some of the benefits of being a member of the Jiang clan, without ever actually being a member. He can be cast aside at any time, and he is never afforded the same respect by wider cultivation society which an inner clan member would have.

I don’t believe the novel ever directly addresses Wei Wuxian’s acceptance into the guest lectures at Cloud Recesses in this light, but the donghua actually has a very interesting little exchange about it which takes place between Nie Huaisang and a relative of his:

“Wei-xiong is just a disciple from Yunmeng. Why could he come to Gusu to study?”

“Wei-xiong is the son of Jiang-zongzhu’s old friend. He has been treated as their own son.”

“Oh, I see. That explains why they don’t look like master and servant, they seem like brothers.”

(MDZS Donghua, Episode 3, Guodong Subs)

Wei Wuxian was only allowed to attend these lectures, which seem to mainly be for sect heirs and inner clan members, on the grace of being Jiang Fengmian’s ward (and probably to accompany Jiang Cheng). While this exchange is not from the book, we never do see or hear about any of the other students being outer disciples rather than members of the main clan. Here’s what the novel had to say about it:

In that year, aside from the YunmengJiang Sect, there were also the young masters from other clans, sent to study here from parents who heard of the reputation. The young masters were all around fifteen or sixteen. Because the sects all knew the others, although they weren’t close, they had seen others’ faces before. It was widely known that, although Wei WuXian’s surname was not Jiang, he was the leading disciple of the sect leader of the YunmengJiang Sect—Jiang FengMian, and also the son of his friend who had passed away. In fact, the sect leader regarded him as his own child. This, along with how youths were not as concerned with status and ancestry as elders, they were soon friends. Only a few sentences passed, and everyone started to call others older brothers or younger brothers.

(Chapter 13, Exiled Rebels translation)

And Wei Wuxian isn’t treated as an equal at school, either; when he and his friends get up to mischief, he’s frequently the only one punished. Nie Huaisang even notes that Lan Qiren seems to be far harder on him than the other students:

Nie HuaiSang spoke, “Why does it seem like old man Lan is especially strict towards you? He always directs his scoldings at you.”

(Chapter 14, Exiled Rebels translation)

And we see Wei Wuxian being the sole one punished out of a group taken for granted by his friends multiple times:

As a result of cheating notes flying everywhere in the air, Lan WangJi suddenly attacked during the test, and caught a few initiators of the commotion. Lan QiRen exploded with anger, writing letters to the prominent clans to tell on them. He loathed Wei WuXian—in the beginning, although these disciples could hardly sit still, at least nobody started anything, and their buttocks were able to stick to their legs. However, now that Wei Ying came, the originally spineless brats were influenced by his encouragement, venturing out at night and drinking alcohol however they pleased. The unhealthy practices grew greater and greater. As he had expected, Wei Ying was one of the biggest threats to humanity!

Jiang FengMian replied, “Ying has always been like this. Please take care to discipline him, Mr. Lan.”

And so, Wei WuXian was punished again.

(Chapter 14, Exiled Rebels translation)

The boys were all cheating, but Wei Wuxian is the one punished most severely. This happens when he's caught sneaking alcohol, too (though to be fair to Lan Wangji, he probably was only punishing him, and himself alongside him, for being outside after curfew when he threw them off the wall).

Of course, Jiang Cheng didn’t dare to say that Wei WuXian was at fault. Thinking back, it was them who urged Wei WuXian to buy liquor. Each and every one of them should have been punished. He could only speak in a vague way, “It’s fine, it’s fine; it’s not that serious! He can walk. Wei WuXian, why are you still up there?!”

(Chapter 18, Exiled Rebels translation)

It’s not entirely unreasonable for the one who gets caught to take the punishment (what’s he going to do, rat his friends out?) but their ready acceptance of this does fit into a pattern.

Jiang Cheng’s top was tied at his waist. Hearing his mother’s chastise, he hastily put it over his head. Madam Yu scolded again, “And you boys! Can’t you see that A-Li’s here? Who taught you brats to dress like this in front of a girl!?”

Of course, it was needless to think who led the group. Thus, Madam Yu’s next sentence, as usual, was “Wei Ying! Do you want to die!?”

[...]

He could still feel some pain in his back, so he tossed the paddles to someone else, sat down, and felt the stinging piece of flesh, ���How unfair. Nobody else was wearing anything, but why was I the only one who got scolded and beaten up?”

Jiang Cheng, “Because you hurt the eye the most with no clothes on, for sure.”

[...]

Everyone nodded. Wei WuXian, “Thanks for the praise, you guys. I’m even starting to feel some goose bumps.”

The shidi, “You’re welcome, Da-Shixiong. You protect us every single time. You deserve even more!”

(Chapter 125, Lotus Seed Pod, Exiled Rebels translation)

While we know that Yu Ziyuan is an abusive person in general, she abuses Wei Wuxian far more harshly than anyone else, even the outer disciples. It’s made clear to us in Lotus Seed Pods that she whips him regularly over minor infractions:

Madam Yu was even angrier, “How dare you run! Come back right now and kneel!” As she spoke, she let loose her whip with a flip of her wrist. Wei WuXian felt a searing pain slash across his back. He loudly exclaimed, “Ow!” And almost tripped on the ground.

(Chapter 125, Lotus Seed Pod, Exiled Rebels translation)

And that his back is heavily scarred from it:

He felt his back, covered in scars both old and new, and still couldn’t hold back the question he’d be thinking about, “How awfully unfair. Why is it that I’m the only one who gets beaten up, whenever something happens?”

(Chapter 125, Lotus Seed Pod, Exiled Rebels translation)

Rumours about this even made it outside of Lotus Pier; during their visit to the ancestral hall years later, Lan Wangji even states that he heard about some of it:

Lan WangJi had on an expression of understanding, “Kneeling as punishment?”

Wei WuXian mused, “How did you know? That’s right. Madam Yu punished me almost every day.”

Lan WangJi nodded, “I have heard of a few things.”

Wei WuXian, “It’s so famous that even people outside Yunmeng, even you Gusu people know—how could it be ‘a few things’? But, to be honest, in all these years, I’ve never seen a second woman whose temper was as bad as Madam Yu’s. She told me to go to the ancestral hall and kneel no matter how small the matter was. Hahaha…”

(Chapter 87, Exiled Rebels translation)

Wei Wuxian’s lower social standing is definitely a part of why Yu Ziyuan is able to abuse him so terribly and receive little to no censure for it. Everyone at Lotus Pier simply takes it for granted, with the exception of Jiang Yanli who at least does try to deflect her mother when she is angry with Wei Wuxian:

Yet, all of a sudden, someone’s quiet voice drifted by Madam Yu’s ear, “Mom, do you want to eat some watermelon…”

[...]

Jiang YanLi almost cried from her mother’s pinching, mumbling, “Mom, A-Xian and the others were hiding here to relieve the heat and I came here on my own. Don’t blame them… Do… Do you want some watermelon… I don’t know who gave them to us, but it’s really sweet. Eating watermelon in the summer is great for cooling down and quenching thirst. I’ll cut them for you…”

(Chapter 125, Lotus Seed Pod, Exiled Rebels translation)

She both tries to deflect her mother from her anger, and also outright states that Wei Wuxian and the other boys weren’t at fault. Jiang Yanli seems to be the only one at Lotus Pier who ever does this.

After the war, Wei Wuxian attends social events at Jiang Cheng’s side but is never quite treated as an equal, either. See how at the Flower Banquet, Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue greet Jiang Cheng but not him:

Suddenly, a voice spoke, “Sect Leader Nie, Sect Leader Lan.”

Hearing the familiar voice, Wei WuXian’s heart jumped. Nie MingJue turned around again. Jiang Cheng came over, dressed in purple, hand on his sword.

And the person standing beside Jiang Cheng was none other than Wei WuXian himself.

He saw himself walk with hands behind his back, wearing all black. A flute in the shade of ink stuck to his waist, hanging down with crimson colored tassels. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Jiang Cheng, he nodded in this direction to show respect. Attitude slightly arrogant, he took on a profound, disdainful appearance. As Wei WuXian saw the stance of his younger self, the root of his teeth even cringed in soreness. He felt that he really was pretentious, and itched to just beat the hell out of himself.

Lan WangJi also saw Wei WuXian, who stood beside Jiang Cheng. The tip of his brows twitched ever so slightly. Soon afterward, his light-colored eyes returned to where they were, still looking forward in that composed way. Jiang Cheng and Nie MingJue nodded at each other with grave faces. Neither had anything unnecessary to say. After a hasty greeting, the two walked their separate ways. Wei WuXian saw his black-clothed self glance around as he finally saw Lan WangJi. He looked as if he was about to speak before Jiang Cheng came over and stood to his side.

(Chapter 49, Exiled Rebels translation)

They then proceed to talk about him and his lack of a sword behind his back, never having said a word to Wei Wuxian himself:

Nie MingJue’s gaze turned over again, “Why does Wei Ying not carry his sword?”

Carrying one’s sword was like wearing formal attire. In such gatherings, it was a non-negligible indication of etiquette. Those from prominent sects saw it as especially important. Lan WangJi responded in a lukewarm tone, “He had probably forgotten.”

Ning MingJue raised a brow, “He can even forget something like this?”

(Chapter 49, Exiled Rebels translation)

At Phoenix Mountain it also seems that Wei Wuxian is conditionally a member of the gentry, but not treated like an equal. Sometimes there are these more cheerful interactions:

Holding the flower, Lan WangJi seemed to be quite cold. His tone seemed cold as well, “Was it you?”

Wei WuXian immediately denied it, “No, it wasn’t.”

The maidens beside him spoke at once, “Don’t believe him. It was him!”

Wei WuXian, “How could you treat a good person like this? I’m getting angry!”

Giggling, the maidens pulled their reins and went to the formations of their own sects. Lan WangJi lowered the hand that he held the flower with and shook his head. Jiang Cheng spoke, “ZeWu-Jun, HanGuang-Jun, apologies. Don’t pay attention to him.”

Lan XiChen smiled, “That is fine. I will thank Young Master Wei’s kindness behind the flower in place of WangJi.”

(Chapter 69, Exiled Rebels translation)

But then he will be publicly disparaged and it is readily accepted by others. Jin Zixun first starts an argument with him by criticising Wei Wuxian for fighting Jin Zixuan, then turns the topic to Wei Wuxian’s having taken a third of the prey in the hunt.

Jin ZiXun, “Wei, just what what do you mean by going against ZiXuan so many times?”

[...]

Jin ZiXun sneered, “How is it presumptuous? How is any part of you not presumptuous? Today, in such an important hunt involving all of the sects, you really showed off your abilities, didn’t you? One third of the prey have been taken by you. You sure feel pleased, don’t you?”

[...]

He mocked, “But it’s only natural that you don’t think you’re in the wrong. It’s not the first time that Young Master Wei has disregarded the rules. You didn’t wear your sword in both last time’s flower banquet and this time’s hunt. It’s such a grand event, and you care nothing for courtesy. In what regard to you hold us, the people who are present with you?”

[...]

No disciple had ever dared say such lofty words in front of so many people. A moment later, as Jin ZiXun finally regained his composure, he yelled, “Wei WuXian! You’re only the son of a servant—how dare you be so bold!!!”

(Chapters 69-70, Exiled Rebels translation)

Naturally, Jin Zixun is able to weasel out of giving an apology, even though Jiang Yanli demands one. And guess who also takes a third of the prey, but this time without any censure?

Jin GuangYao, “In reality, not only did Young Master Wei keep a third of the prey to himself, our eldest brother has eliminated over half of the fays and the monsters as well.”

Hearing this, Lan XiChen laughed, “That is how Brother is like, after all.”

(Chapter 70, Exiled Rebels translation)

Never a Brother

As I’ve already mentioned, Wei Wuxian was never adopted by Jiang Fengmian, or adopted into the clan in general in even a distant way. And this nebulous ‘we’re letting you live with the main family as a charity, but you aren’t really one of us’ attitude also reflects in his relationship with Jiang Yanli.

I’ve already discussed how Wei Wuxian was more like a companion servant to Jiang Cheng than a brother. It’s also worth noting quickly that neither of them ever refers to the other as a brother. Wei Wuxian refers to Jiang Cheng as his shidi a few times, and Jiang Cheng never even refers to him as his shixiong (because Jiang Cheng views him as his servant, not as even a martial brother, I’d argue).

Only one member of the Jiang family ever does use familial terms to refer to Wei Wuxian: his shijie, Jiang Yanli. At Phoenix Mountain, when Wei Wuxian is being insulted by Jin Zixun, Jiang Yanli stands up and defends him, and states clearly that she considers Wei Wuxian a little brother:

The people who gathered around Jin ZiXun had on the same dark faces as he did. Yet, taking into consideration Jiang YanLi’s background, they didn’t dare talk back to her directly.

Jiang YanLi added, “Besides, hunting is hunting, so why bring the matter of discipline to the table? A-Xian is a disciple of the YunmengJiang Sect. He grew up with my brother and I, and so he’s as close as a brother is to me. Calling him the ‘son of a servant’—I’m sorry, but I won’t accept this. And thus…”

She straightened her back and raised her voice, “I hope that Young Master Jin ZiXun would apologize to Wei WuXian of the YunmengJiang Sect!”

(Chapter 70, Exiled Rebels translation)

It doesn’t come through in the Exiled Rebels translation, but she actually refers to Wei Wuxian as her didi in this scene, not her shidi. She’s trying to draw a line and state that Wei Wuxian is a part of the family. However, no one takes her seriously, and shortly afterwards we see Jin-furen insisting that Jiang Yanli and Wei Wuxian shouldn’t be walking alone together because it would be inappropriate.

Jiang YanLi whispered, “That’s not necessary. I’d like to have a few words with A-Xian. He can walk me back.”

Madam Jin raised her brows, looking Wei WuXian up and down. Her gaze was somewhat cautious, as if she was feeling displeased, “A young man and a young woman—you two can’t stick together all the time if nobody else is present.”

Jiang YanLi, “A-Xian is my younger brother.”

[...]

Wei WuXian lowered his head, “Excuse my absence, Madam Jin.”

He and Jiang YanLi bowed at the same time. As they turned around to leave, Madam Jin grabbed Jiang YanLi’s hand and refused to let her leave.

(Chapter 70, Exiled Rebels translation)

Jin Zixuan also never treats Wei Wuxian the way one might a brother who is still angered with him over his past dismissive treatment of his sister. For example, see their argument at the Flower Banquet:

Before he could see how Lan WangJi reacted, a series of clamor suddenly came from the other end of the base. Wei WuXian heard his own raging shout, “Jin ZiXuan! Don’t you forget about what things you said and what things you did? What do you mean by this, now?!”

Wei WuXian remembered. So it was this time!

On the other side, Jin ZiXuan also fumed, “I was asking Sect Leader Jiang, not you! The one I was asking about was also Maiden Jiang. How is that related to you?!”

[...]

Jin ZiXuan, “Sect Leader Jiang—this is our sect’s flower banquet, and this is your sect’s person! Are you going to look after him or not?!”

[...]

...Jiang Cheng’s voice came, “Wei WuXian, you can just shut your mouth. Young Master Jin, I’m sorry. My sister is doing quite well. Thank you for your concern. We can talk about this next time.”

Wei WuXian laughed coldly, “Next time? There is no next time! Whether or not she’s doing well isn’t any of his business, either! Who does he think he is?”

He turned around and started to leave. Jiang Cheng shouted, “Get back here! Where are you going?”

Wei WuXian waved his hands, “Anywhere is fine! Just don’t let me see that face of his. I never wanted to come, anyway. You can deal with whatever’s here yourself.”

Having been abandoned by Wei WuXian, Jiang Cheng’s face immediately clouded over.

[...]

Jiang Cheng stowed away the clouds on his face, “Don’t mind him. Look at how impolite he is. He’s used to such rude behavior at home.”

He then began to converse with Jin ZiXuan.

(Chapter 49, Exiled Rebels translation)

Jiang Cheng also quietly dismisses the notion of Wei Wuxian as a brother in relation to Jiang Yanli; when they visit to show him her wedding dress and she asks for a courtesy name, Jiang Cheng specifically says:

Jiang Cheng, “The courtesy name of my unborn nephew.”

(Chapter 75, Exiled Rebels translation)

Not our nephew, mine.

Even the disastrous invitation to Jin Ling’s one month celebration is framed as a favour to an old shidi, not a family member:

Jin ZiXun, “Since you’ve heard it from him already, you should know that I can’t wait. Don’t tell me that you’ll disregard your brother’s life for the sake of Sister-in-Law’s shidi?!”

Jin ZiXuan, “You clearly know that I’m not that kind of person! He might not necessarily be the one who cursed you with Hundred Holes either. Why are you so rash? I was the one who invited Wei WuXian to A-Ling’s full-month celebration anyways. If this is the way you do things, where does that leave me? Where does it leave my wife?”

Jin ZiXun raised his voice, “It’s best if he doesn’t attend! What does Wei WuXian think he is—does he deserve to attend our sect’s banquet? Whoever touches him gets nothing but a splash of black! ZiXuan, when you invited him, weren’t you worried that you, Sister-in-Law and A-Ling would receive an irremovable stain for the rest of your lives?!”

(Chapter 76, Exiled Rebels translation)

It’s clear that not only does wider society not consider Wei Wuxian and the Jiangs siblings...they themselves don’t, either. Wei Wuxian, after all, readily accepts that his relationship with them is over after he leaves the sect:

Before they parted, Jiang Cheng spoke, “We won’t see you off. It wouldn’t be good if someone saw us.”

Wei WuXian nodded. He understood that it wasn’t easy for the Jiang siblings to have come out here. If someone else saw them, all those things they did for the public to believe would be wasted. He spoke, “We’ll go first.”

[...]

He turned around, knowing that it’d be a long time before he’d get to see the people he was familiar with again.

But… right now, wasn’t he on his way to seeing people he was familiar with as well?

(Chapter 75, Exiled Rebels translation)

Cast Aside

The way cultivation society treats Wei Wuxian when he is not with the Jiangs is also very revealing. Any level of respect he is given is contingent on his position in the Jiang household, and when they aren’t around that minimal respect fades away. Look at how disrespectfully he is treated when he approaches Jin Zixun to ask for Wen Ning’s location.

Wei WuXian didn’t make small talk either, getting straight to the point, “No thanks. I don’t.” He nodded slightly at Jin ZiXun, “Young Master Jin, could I please have a word with you?”

Jin ZiXun, “If you have anything to say, come after our banquet is over.”

In reality, he didn’t want to talk to Wei WuXian at all. Wei WuXian could see this as well, “How long do I have to wait?”

Jin ZiXun, “Probably around six to eight hours. Or maybe ten to twelve. Or until tomorrow.”

Wei WuXian, “I’m afraid I can’t wait for that long.”

Jin ZiXun’s voice was arrogant, “You’ll have to wait even if you can’t.”

Jin GuangYao, “Young Master Wei, what do you need ZiXun for? Is it a pressing matter?”

Wei WuXian, “Pressing indeed. It allows for no delay.”

[...]

Jin ZiXun, “Wei WuXian, what do you mean? You came for him? You aren’t standing up for a Wen-dog, are you?”

Wei WuXian wore a broad grin, “Since when is it your business whether I’d like to stand up for him or cut his head off? Just give him to me!”

At the last sentence, the grin on his face vanished. His tone turned cold as well. It was clear that he had lost his patience. Many of the people within Glamor Hal shivered in fear. Jin ZiXun felt his scalp tingle as well. Yet, his anger soon soared. He shouted, “Wei WuXian, you are too bold! Did the LanlingJin Sect invite you today? And you dare run wild here. Do you really think that you’re invincible, that nobody has the courage to confront you? Do you want to overturn the Heavens?”

Wei WuXian smiled, “You’re comparing yourself to the Heavens? Excuse my language, but your face is a little too thick, isn’t it?”

[...]

Just as he was about to rebut, sitting on the foremost seat, Jin GuangShan spoke up.

His voice seemed kind, “It’s not anything too important anyways. You youngsters, why lose your tempers over such a thing? However, Young Master Wei, let me be fair here. Barging in when the LanlingJin Sect is holding a private banquet is indeed inappropriate.”

To say that Jin GuangShan didn’t mind what happened at Phoenix Mountain would be impossible. This was also why he only smiled when Jin ZiXun bickered with Wei WuXian but didn’t stop them, and only spoke up when Jin ZiXun was at the disadvantage.

Wei WuXian nodded, “Sect Leader Jin, it was never my intention to disturb your private banquet. My apologies. However, the whereabouts of the people whom Young Master Jin took are still unclear. Just a moment of delay, and it might be too late. One of the group had once saved me before. I will definitely not sit back and watch. Please do not feel pressured. I will make amends for this at a later date.”

[...]

After a few laughs, he continued, “Sect Leader Jin, let me ask you something else. Do you think that, because the QishanWen Sect is gone, the LanlingJin Sect has all right to replace it?”

All was silent within Glamor Hall.

Wei WuXian added, “Everything has to be given to you? Everyone has to listen to you? Looking at how the LanlingJin Sect does things, I almost thought that it was the QishanWen Sect’s empire all over again.”

[...]

A guest cultivator on his right shouted, “Wei WuXian! Watch your words!”

Wei WuXian, “Did I say something wrong? Forcing living people to be bait and beating them up whenever they refused to obey—is this any different from what the QishanWen Sect does?”

Another guest cultivator stood up, “Of course it’s different. The Wen-dogs did all kinds of evil. To arrive at such an end is only karma for them. We only avenged a tooth for a tooth, letting them taste the fruit that they themselves had sown. What’s wrong with this?”

Wei WuXian, “Take revenge on the ones who bite you. Wen Ning’s branch doesn’t have much blood on their hands. Don’t tell me that you find them guilty by association?”

Another person spoke, “Young Master Wei, is it that they don’t have much blood on their hands just because you say so? These are only your one-sided words. Where’s the evidence?”

[...]

Jin GuangShan stood up as well, his face a mixture of shock, anger, fear, and hatred, “Wei WuXian! Just because… Sect Leader Jiang isn’t here doesn’t mean you can be so reckless!”

Wei WuXian’s voice was harsh, “Do you think that I wouldn’t be reckless if he were here? If I wanted to kill someone, who could stop me, and who would dare stop me?!”

[...]

“Young Master Wei really is too impulsive. How could he speak in such a way in front of so many sects?”

Lan WangJi spoke coldly, “Was he wrong?”

Jin GuangYao paused almost unnoticeably. He immediately laughed, “Haha. Yes, he’s right. But it’s because he’s right that he can’t say it in front of them, correct?”

Lan XiChen seemed as if he was deep in thought, “Young Master Wei’s heart really has changed.”

(Chapter 72, Exiled Rebels translation)

The only person at this banquet who speaks to Wei Wuxian respectfully is Jin Guangyao, a consummate manipulator who is also of a lower social status. Everyone else speaks to him dismissively, refusing to respect his request for Wen Ning’s location even though he states that Wen Ning helped him during the war. Wei Wuxian is extremely polite at the beginning of this conversation, and only slowly begins to lose his temper when Jin Zixun speaks rudely and Jin Guangshan decides to bring up the matter of the Yinhufu (Wei Wuxian is right in suspecting him of wanting to replace Qishan Wen, of course, and that it’s very bold of them to think they have the right to a spiritual tool of his just because...they’re rich?).

When the sects meet at Koi Tower to discuss the breakout at Qiongqi Path, no one considers Wei Wuxian as an independent agent who they might actually want to meet and negotiate with themselves. He is a wayward servant of Yunmeng Jiang who the sect leader has failed to keep in hand.

Jiang Cheng only spoke after a few moments, “What he did was indeed a bit too much. Sect Leader Jin, I apologize to you in place of him. If there’s any way at all to help the situation, please let me know. I’ll definitely compensate for things however I can.”

[...]

Jin GuangShan, “Sect Leader Jiang, Wei Ying is your right-hand man. You value him a lot. All of us know this. However, on the other hand, it’s hard to tell whether or not he actually respects you. In any case, I’ve been a sect leader for so many years and I’ve never seen the servant of any sect dare be so arrogant, so proud. Have you heard what they say outside? Things like how during the Sunshot Campaign the victories of the YunmengJiang Sect were all because of Wei WuXian alone—what nonsense!”

[...]

Lan WangJi sat with his back straight, speaking in a tone of absolute tranquility, “I did not hear Wei Ying say this. I did not hear him express the slightest disrespect towards Sect Leader Jiang either.”

[...]

The good thing was that, not long after he felt awkward, Jin GuangYao came to save the day, exclaiming, “Really? That day, Young Master Wei busted into Koi Tower with such force. He said too many things, one more shocking than the next. Perhaps he said a few things that were along those lines. I can’t remember them either.”

[...]

Jin GuangShan followed the transition, “That’s right. Anyhow, his attitude has always been arrogant.”

One of the sect leaders added, “To be honest, I’ve wanted to say this since a long time ago. Although Wei WuXian did a few things during the Sunshot Campaign, there are many guest cultivators who did more than him. I’ve never seen anyone as full of themselves as him. Excuse my bluntness, but he’s the son of a servant. How could the son of a servant be so arrogant?”

[...]

“In the beginning, Sect Leader Jin asked Wei Ying for the Tiger Seal with nothing but good intentions, worried that he wouldn’t be able to control it and lead to a disaster. He, however, used his own yardstick to measure another’s intents. Did he think that everyone is after his treasure? What a joke. In terms of treasures, is there any sect that doesn’t hold a few treasures?”

“I knew that something would eventually happen if he continued on the ghostly path—look! His killing intents are being revealed already. Killing indiscriminately those from our side just because of a few Wen-dogs…”

[...]

Jin GuangShan continued, “Sect Leader Jiang, you’re not like your father. It’s just been a couple of years since the reestablishment of the YunmengJiang Sect, precisely when you should be displaying your power. And he doesn’t even know to avoid suspicions. What would the Jiang Sect’s new disciples think if they saw him? Don’t tell me you’d let them see him as their role model and look down on you?”

He spoke one sentence after another, striking the iron while it was still hot. Jiang Cheng spoke slowly, “Sect Leader Jin, that’s enough. I’ll go to Burial Mound and deal with this.”

Jin GuangShan felt satisfied, speaking in a sincere tone, “That’s the spirit. Sect Leader Jiang, there are some things, some people that you shouldn’t put up with.”

(Chapter 73, Exiled Rebels translation)

This is very reminiscent of the way that Jin Zixuan would often turn around and say, ‘Why aren’t you controlling your servant?’ to Jiang Cheng whenever he had a dispute with Wei Wuxian over his treatment of Jiang Yanli.

When Jiang Cheng goes to the Burial Mounds and Wei Wuxian defects from Yunmeng Jiang in order to help the sect save face, Jiang Cheng treats this as a personal betrayal. He not only challenges Wei Wuxian to a duel but then announces that Wei Wuxian has betrayed Yunmeng Jiang and declared himself the enemy of cultivation society:

After the fight, Jiang Cheng told the outside that Wei WuXian defected from the sect and was an enemy to the entire cultivation world. The YunmengJiang Sect had already cast him out. From then on, no ties remained between them—a clear line was drawn. Henceforth, no matter what he did, they’d have nothing to do with the YunmengJiang Sect!

(Chapter 73, Exiled Rebels translation)

“Wei Wuxian has betrayed the sect, and publicly regards all cultivation sects as enemy! Yunmeng Jiang Sect hereby expels him, breaking all ties with him and drawing a clear line between us. Henceforth, no matter what this person does, it will have nothing to do with Yunmeng Jiang Sect!”

(Modao Zushi Radio Drama, Season 3 Episode 5, Suibian Subs)

Naturally, no one ever questions this or wants to hear Wei Wuxian’s side of the story. Jiang Cheng is a sect leader and Wei Wuxian his servant, and that is all cultivation society needs to know.

In Conclusion

Wei Wuxian was never really part of the Jiang family. The wider social view was that he was a servant who was lucky to be taken in by the family and allowed to live in the main house alongside the sect leader’s children. He’s accepted into cultivation society conditionally, but only as someone who remains a rank below everyone else.

This attitude isn’t just the wider social view which the family themselves disregard; they all play into it. Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Cheng both actively enforce it, Jiang Fengmian passively enforces it, and Jiang Yanli tries but fails to break through the social barriers between them.

[atlas-of-a-human-soul]

Draw your swords, pt.4

Summary: In his attempt to get to know his wife, the Darkling realizes he might be getting too close.

Warnings: angst, swearing, sexual innuendoes, slightest bit of fluff

Part one // Part two // Part three   

=================================

Y/N couldn’t sleep that night. Not only did she agonize over the slightest possibility of his words being true, but the lingering of his lips on hers even hours after they’ve left tormented her mind. Instead of sleeping, she sat outside in the darkness with nothing but stars to keep her company. She shuddered with the cold wind as it chilled her, even the kefta didn’t protect her as well as she thought it would.

Sighing, she smiled up at the night sky, watching the stars in their celestial dance. It’s undeniable, she’s envious of them – their freedom is undisputed, their beauty unmatched by anything earthly. No one can force a star to marriage, no one can dull its brightness.

“Are you alright?” Genya spoke up, startling Y/N into a loud gasp.

Turning around, Y/N giggles in slight panic, a hand resting on her chest. “You scared me!”

“I didn’t mean to”, she chuckles too, coming closer to Y/N who let out a relieved sigh, only to look up once again.

“I couldn’t sleep”, she explains, “So I came here to watch the stars.”

“Most people are afraid of the dark”, Genya raised an eyebrow as she fixed her gaze on Y/N instead. She studied her carefully, unsure if she should invest all her hopes and dreams in her – no matter how striking she is.

“Oh, I’m scared of the dark!” Y/N exclaims, pointing up at the sky, “But the night sky is littered with lanterns, meant to guide you home. My mom always told me to look up whenever I feel lost, because the stars will help me find answers to any worry.”

Pursing her lips, Genya frowned, “Does that mean you doubt your plan?”

“No”, Y/N replied with haste, “I am simply trying to understand some of the chess pieces I thought I had figured out.”

Looking back at the Palace, Y/N’s eyes found the window of her room in an instant. A dark figure passed by it, the candlelight revealing the figure is pacing.

“He’s not a bad man, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Holding her breath, Y/N’s eyes find amber ones, “That’s not what I’ve heard. His deeds have spoken plenty about the strength of his character.”

“He’s fighting a war, not just with the outsiders, not just your father, but those on our side as well.” Pausing, Genya steps before her, “Do you know what they call him?”

“The Darkling”, she states, “A starless saint, a demon, a shadow king.”

“So many of those names are meant to demonize him, to shun him from society simply for the power he was born with”, licking her lips, Genya reaches for Y/N’s hand. “His own people are dying simply for who they’re born as – humans, Shu, Druskelle, they’re all sharpening their swords. If he’s not feared, we’re all dead.”

Nibbling on her lower lip, Y/N closed her eyes. Exhaling, she faced Genya once more.

“Does that mean I should applaud him for the way he’s treated the First army so far? How can you defend him when he’s the one who brought you here…to the emperor?”

Retracting her hand, Genya flashed a smile – one too strained to be believable. “He tried to defend me and got himself punished for it. So I’m here and I’m telling you to give him a chance.” Walking past Y/N, Genya stops just a few paces behind her, “He might surprise you.”

All the things Genya said became faint echoes inside Y/N’s head. When she returned to the room, she was ready for a new quarrel with Kirigan. Despite her readiness, he was sound asleep as she slipped her kefta off. With trembling fingers, she lifted the comforter only to stifle a laugh upon a surprising sight. Not only had there been a pillow to separate them, but three to ensure she wouldn’t accidentally roll on his side during the night. Perhaps she did smother him the night before and for once, she didn’t feel ashamed, rather satisfied. If he’s so insistent on sharing a bed, why would she make it any easier on him?

Tossing the pillows aside, she slid onto his side. Pressing her lips in a thin line, she tried to wrap an arm around his middle, but she couldn’t do it with her heart clenching wildly inside her chest. She drew back, forming tight fists at her side as she glared up at the canopy in frustration. If she’s going to play well and win, she’ll have to swallow her pride and withstand some discomfort.

Staring daggers at the back of his head, Y/N held her breath as she half climbed atop of Kirigan. Waiting to see if he’ll wake, Y/N finally released a shuddered breath. Burying her nose in the crook of his neck, she finally felt herself warm up after being outside for so long.

Closing her eyes, she inhaled his scent – woodsy and clean as if he had just had a bath. She never realized it before, but he smelled the same way on their wedding day…and night. But also earlier when he was pressed against her, devouring her mouth. Just the thought of his arms around her, his tall frame against her and the feverish kiss they’ve shared had caused her heartbeat to quicken with no shame.

And while she drifted off, she failed to realize something else – the Darkling was very much awake.

Instead of moving away when he felt a weight atop of him, he struggled to even his breathing. She smelled like spring, like lilacs and oddly enough, he enjoyed it. Most times, he’d crinkle his nose in disgust for strong, flowery scents made him nauseous, but she didn’t have the heavy, unbearably thick air of perfume cling to her – it felt like it’s her natural scent.

Smiling, the Darkling allowed himself to relax once her breathing calmed down and while her hands and feet felt like icicles, her cold nose brought most of the discomfort. Once she warmed up, by stealing his body heat, the Darkling began to drift away too. After all, he was winning.

A single ray of sunshine came through the window, its heat tickling Y/N’s nose. Sleepily, she brushed at it then tried to turn away, but something blocked her way. She lazily opened her eyes and saw the strange bed canopy overhead. When she remembered where she was and how she fell asleep last night, she felt her face grow hot as blood rushed to her cheeks. Even her body seemed to blush. She moved her head toward the other side of the bed and looked at where her husband’s supposed to be, yet he was gone – only the pillows she could have sworn she removed remained.

There was no way of knowing it, but each morning, the Darkling opened his eyes and looked at her first. No matter if she was drooling or her hair matted on her face, he quite enjoyed his view. She seemed gentle, almost like a saint sent to remind him light can exist along with darkness he’s been shrouded in.

Disgruntled, she sat up and huffed. She wanted to wake up at the same time as he did. One, she wanted to see his reaction and laugh, two, she really wanted to discuss the kiss from before. Then again, she just wanted to see the general at his most vulnerable state – waking up disheveled, just like any human would. His perfectly styled hair unnerved her and she couldn’t help but wonder if Genya used her power on it because she had never once seen a hair out of place, not even after their kiss.

For the rest of the day, Y/N tried to catch him alone. Unfortunately, she barely saw her husband at all. A fleeting glance of acknowledgement was all she received as they passed each other in the hall, both surrounded by others.

At night, she laid awake in hopes of speaking to him before bed. The faint candlelight on the bedside table kept the darkness away, relieving her fear. Would he laugh at her if she admitted to it? After all, isn’t he the one who can create darkness out of thin air? Perhaps he’d shroud her with it and prove he truly is cruel, but she had no way of being sure. He must never know of it and she truly hoped never to see his display of power.

Lost in her thoughts, she blinked and it was morning.

Wide eyed, she sat up and looked to his side. It was unmade, the pillow dented right where his head was and yet she can’t remember hearing him arrive in the night or leave in the morning. She never does.

“Fuck”, she mutters under her breath as she slams a fist in his pillow. Grunting, she buries her face into it, muffling her frustrated scream.

“Are you done?” Genya frowned at her, waiting by the door while Y/N screamed at the top of her lungs into a pillow.

“YOU’VE GOT TO STOP SNEAKING UP ON ME!”

Scoffing, Genya rolled her eyes. “You need to be more perceptive about your surroundings.”

A knock on the door had startled them both, enough for them to both let out a strangled scream. The door opened before either of them gave the permission and once they realized who it was that entered, they didn’t need a reason as to why.

“Ah, you’re awake.” The Darkling grinned at his wife who narrowed her eyes at him immediately.

“Your voice gives me a headache”, Y/N complains.

Squinting at her, the Darkling wondered if a woman could be so infuriating without wielding some mystic power to make her so.

“I believe you agreed to ride with me.”

“Oh”, Genya smirks, “She’ll ride you –“, covering her mouth, Genya giggles as she sees Y/N’s glare is on her, “I meant, with you.”

“I’ve prepared the horses”, he waited for her to respond, to give him reason to dislike her yet she didn’t.

“I will keep my word”, Y/N stood with her formidable gaze on his. She dared not look at his lips for they brought memories and self-loathing she’d rather avoid. After all, what kind of a woman quivers for her enemies touch?

“Wonderful”, he smirks, “I’ll wait for you to dress.”

Remaining in his spot, his hands at his sides, Kirigan raised his eyebrows as both women stared at him.

“Get out”, Y/N waves him off and he clicks his tongue.

“You may not let me touch you, but I can look.”

Angry, she narrowed her eyes at him, “That didn’t stop you from pinning me to a door.”

Genya’s eyes widen, pressing her lips to stop herself from commenting on their little exchange.

Shrugging, he stepped closer. His eyes raked over her body, the nightgown leaving little to imagination. “You didn’t seem to protest”, he leans in, “Especially since you proved you could easily escape me.”

Swallowing thickly, she exhaled through her nose. She couldn’t argue with that, now could she? If she wished, she could have forced him to unhand her. She could have fought him, but she didn’t. She may have been startled when he kissed her but she barely tried to push him away and still, when she had the option to back away, she was the one leaning in for a kiss when he lifted her onto the table. He played a game with her and she lost that day and now he gets to be smug about it.

“As your husband, I promise to protect you from all others. If anyone harms you, they’ll part with their life. For that alone, I deserve an occasional view.”

Winking, he takes a step back and sends a smile in Genya’s direction before turning on his heel and walking out.

“YOU KISSED HIM?!”

Groaning, Y/N throws her head back, “Sort of. It’s more like he kissed me and I didn’t fight him on it.”

“So, does this mean you like him?” Wiggling her eyebrows, Genya squealed in excitement. “Are you bringing him on this plan of yours?”

Holding out her hand, Y/N shook her head, “No, no and no. I don’t trust him one bit and he isn’t exactly a man who’d go along with it.” Exhaling loudly, Y/N decided, “He must be removed along with the emperor.”

When she walked outside, Y/N breath was caught in her throat. The sight of the general on a horse truly felt like a fabrication. Never had she seen a man as majestic as him, as proud and aggravatingly cocky all at once. With his black kefta and the cape, he rode on a black stallion as if he were a mere extension of his will.

She wasted no more time in mounting her white mare, chasing after the Darkling who seemed to only then notice he’s not alone.

Her horse was not above average size, but she was alert and slender-limbed. Her muscles and good nature allowed Y/N to keep up a fairly good pace, never too far behind the black stallion her husband rode. The stallion was clearly riled up, competitive by nature. Anyone else on its back would be a great danger for the rider, but he clearly trusted Kirigan.

The wind blew her hair back and the cold was rather unforgiving on her skin. Passing him narrowly once they entered the woods, she didn’t look back. Instead, she gripped the reigns tighter and continued to breathe as the cold air made her mouth dry and throat scratchy.

Feeling his gaze on her, she relents, looking back at him.

“Where’s your coat?!” He shouted after her and only then did she realize it must have fallen off. Genya made it pretty for a romantic ride, not quite as practical for a race. But that’s not what truly made Y/N’s heart skip a beat. The hint of worry laced in the words of an angry general is what betrayed him and she couldn’t help but wonder – what if it’s more than just lust for him?

“It was slowing me down”, she couldn’t suppress a victorious smile just as he couldn’t suppress an annoyed grunt. Yet they both slowed down, neither of them speaking as they turned around and headed straight to the palace.

“You’re an avid rider.” The general conceded as he dismounted. Before she could blink, he was beside her, his hands on her hips as he pulled her of the horse and effectively stole her breath away.

The rosy colored cheeks left him defenseless as he stared at her too, a little too intently for it to be innocent. Taking her hands in his, he brought them up to his mouth, blowing at them. She kept her gaze at him, undoubtedly in shock as her cold hands started to tingle with the warmth of his breath.

“I’ll have to leave for a few days”, he speaks before she has a chance. “You’ll have the bed all to yourself.”

“Don’t I have to come? If it concerns my peo –“, she began, but he silenced her.

“It’s got nothing to do with the army. I’m merely doing an errand for the emperor.”

Looking at her hands still in his, she pursed her lips. “Doesn’t he have enough servants to do his bidding?”

A breathless chuckle escapes him, “Why? Will you miss me?”

Rolling her eyes, she snorts, “Why? Do you fancy yourself as someone of importance?”

He looked at her like she's the Sun, angrily squinting at every second she spent in his presence. He never looked at her other than in frustration. At least she thought so. It’s how he looked at her a month ago when they first met on a field stained with Druskelle blood. He stood there, alone and victorious as she stepped over the bodies after arriving on this side of the fold with a Sandskiff.

All of their conversations were arguments – she’d narrow her eyes and he’s squint at her, throwing jabs at each other every chance they get, but this felt different. Something changed after the wedding and she wasn’t entirely sure what.

Achingly aware of their closeness, she couldn’t help but ask. "What is this between us?"

Pausing, he looked at her with wonder. If he could put it to words, it wouldn’t make any sense. His mind could hardly fathom what exactly she meant to him other than being a nuisance, but he didn’t exactly hate her as he believed at first when he admittedly hoped she’d find herself eaten by Volcra while crossing the Shadow fold. What he hated was not having a choice. He hated how arrogant she is and how little respect she has for her superiors. He especially hated her mortality, her species and all the atrocities they’ve committed against him and his kind.

He didn’t love her, that he was sure of. He couldn’t possibly care for her either. Lust, winning this game, feeding his ego by having Zlatan’s daughter at his feet is what he longed for. So no, he didn’t love her, but a part of him feared he might love her in time. For the first time in a very, very long time, the Darkling had a fear and it carried her name.

Perhaps that’s why he reacted the way he did when she asked him if there is something between them.

"Nothing." He grabbed the back of her neck, his lips pressing against hers hard.

He was right, she realized. There was nothing between them, nothing between their lips, not even air.

Pulling away, he smirks as she inhales sharply.

"Did you feel a connection?" He looks her in the eye, his lips set in a firm line.

"Yes", she whispers shakily.

His eyes harden as an ache in his chest reminds him of his fear. Someone like him must give up anything he could possibly love for the loss and disappointment are inevitable. She’s mortal, an enemy behind his borders he can never trust. So he will shut his heart out. Love is not an option for the Darkling, he reminds himself. The last time he allowed himself to love was also the day his heart turned to stone. So, he will not love her and she will not love him. He will destroy that possibility, cut any ties that bind them. Lust is the only thing he will let fester.

Leaning in, his lips brush hers softly as he whispers against them, "That's why you're a fool." Stepping back, he heard her gulp. “The connection you feel is lust, that’s all we have and it’s all we will ever have. Accept it.”

“Is that true or are you just afraid?!” Her voice wavers and she instinctively steps toward him, asserting dominance she felt was lost.

“General”, Ivan calls out, just in case Kirigan needed an excuse to leave.

“Afraid?” The Darkling chuckles dryly, averting his gaze to Ivan who waited for him at the entrance. “I’m not afraid of anything”, he remarks as his eyes lock on her lips again, “Certainly not of my wife.”

As he stepped back, the Darkling caught the strangest look in her eyes. It looked like clarity, total and complete sobriety from the ecstasy his presence gave her. She stood proud, despite the self-loathing in her previously warm eyes that slowly turned them back to the ice she held when she first laid her eyes on him.

=============================

Tags: @bruxa0007 @rangotangomango @kaitlyn2907 @thestoryofmylife9 @shelivesindaydreamswme @hxrgreeves @safetyhtom @kaqua @savannah-elliott @all-art-is-quite-useless  @azure23x @girlmadeofavocados @ashdab2611 @acciorudolphx @ladyblablabla @wckedheart​

Part 5  

[a-libra-writes]

Peaky Blinders - How They Care for Their Disabled S/O

In This Preference, You’ll Be Dating: Tommy Shelby, Arthur Shelby, John Shelby, Ada Shelby, Polly Grey, Michael Grey, Esme Shelby, Alfie Solomons, Lizzie Stark, Isaiah Jesus, Luca Changretta, Aberama Gold

hello friends sometimes i post writing. this may have been a request at some point but who knows, time is an illusion.

THOMAS SHELBY

He’s overprotective but in a quiet way - he’ll send a nurse to assist you during the day, but you have no idea how many guards Tommy actually has patrolling the place. When you’re out in public with him, he often has a hand on the small of your back and scans the room to ‘make sure’ it’s safe. The anxiety and overprotectiveness really sets in when there’s trouble with business and he believes his rivals could get to you. You can call him out on this behavior, remind him you aren’t made of glass, but Tommy still struggles with the paranoia that something might go wrong. There’s a deep fear that he’s not fit to be with you, that someone kinder or more attentive would be better for you.

ARTHUR SHELBY

He treats you like he would anyone he’s in love with, which is to say like an angel that’s come to this earth. Arthur is his usual sappy, clingy self but there are times when he has intense guilt -- you have enough to worry about, you shouldn’t be dealing with a mess like him. To “make up” for that, there’s really nothing he wouldn’t do to make you more comfortable or help you get around better. He becomes very aware of your limitations so he can assist when you need it; he thinks it’s the least he can do, considering how much you help him. Side note, he will also go absolutely feral on anyone who insults you.

JOHN SHELBY

John is the sort of person who might protect you too much. He’ll want to keep you in a calm and relaxed home, preferably in the country, away from the dirty loud city -- well, he heard that was better for people’s health. He’d be stubborn about things at first, but eventually he’d listen to you when you explain the care you need. He’ll never hesitate to do something for you or get something you need, and will fight anyone that upsets you. Also, his kiddos adore you - you’re surprised to learn he taught them how to be considerate of you and help when needed.

ADA SHELBY 

As your friendship gets closer, Ada reads up on your condition and listens to you so she can do her best to accommodate you when you visit her, or when she visits your house. She never treats you like you’re different... But some days, she can become protective, especially around strangers or when her brothers saying stupid things. Before you two lived together, she set up some cozy accommodations in her home in hopes you’d be more willing to stay over (though she’d never admit to it).

POLLY GRAY

Polly won’t let anyone try to call you weak or shame you for your condition. She knows better than anyone what you go through on a daily basis, and how you still help the company in spite of that. They’ll get such a tongue lashing, they won’t look at you for a week. Protective as she is, she’ll never treat you like you’re helpless. She’d hate to be treated like that way herself. When she was having her bad days after cutting ties with Tommy, Polly would stay at your home and you both would look after each other, though she’d feel terrible for being a burden to you.

MICHAEL GRAY

He wasn’t sure how to progress with his crush on you, wondering if you weren’t interested because of your “condition” - he definitely had a more old-fashioned mindset about it that Polly set him straight on. Once Michael actually gets to sit and talk with you, he begins to understand better. He feels like an overly confident bravado won’t work with you. It’d be dishonest, and you’d see right through it. So you end up seeing a surprisingly real side of Michael that many aren’t privy to. Once you’re a couple, Michael is as protective as the rest of the Shelbys. He might do things that are overprotective, but he insists that’s what’s best.

ESME SHELBY

Esme has never completely understood your condition, but she’s never treated you negatively for it, either. When she’s feeling like going outside, she’ll do whatever she can so you can come with her. When she’d rather stay in, she’ll make sure you’re cozy and the house is tidy before snuggling up with you. She’ll do lots of things you don’t notice right away, like clean this or fetch that, without saying anything. She will immediately fire back at anyone insulting you, even if you aren’t in the room. She has no patience for that nonsense.

ALFIE SOLOMONS

First of all, you’re Alfie’s princess, that’s the long and short of it. You have a lovely home in a safe part of town that his men guard 24/7. The home has whatever accommodations you need, and if you need a helper when he’s gone, he’ll have someone there - after an intense “interview” to make sure they won’t try anything funny. There are times when he’s too overprotective, and you call him out on it, the core is Alfie wanting to protect you from his enemies. After he’s been shot, you relocate to Margate with him. Yes, he makes incredibly morbid jokes about his condition and your’s, and he’s still protective even if he’s falling apart.

LIZZIE STARK

She isn’t proud that she pitied you at first, wondering how you’d fit in with the Shelby company, but she was quickly proven wrong after working with you. She feels she has no right to judge you, and she makes a point to make sure the office is cozier to work at. Goodness knows Tommy doesn’t think about that. Eventually you and Lizzie will become friends or something more, and she’ll do little things to make your life easier, whether that be helping with work or helping out around the home. She’s happy when you move in together so she can better assist you, though she’s definitely not an overprotective or smothering sort. She’ll knock it off if you ask.

ISAIAH JESUS

You both met through his father, who often helped you out if you needed it, but Isaiah also just liked visiting with you over the years. Isaiah has always treated you respectfully but he couldn’t help getting a crush. He’s quite protective, wanting you to move to a better part of town and often volunteering to help you with things just so he can hang out with you. He tries to keep you out of trouble with the gang and its rivals, telling you as little as possible and pretending he isn’t as involved as he is. He’ll insist it’s for your own safety and he doesn’t want to upset your delicate constitution; feel free to give him a round of scoldings for that turn of phrase.

LUCA CHANGRETTA

You aren’t the usual sort of girl that Luca chases, so he’s less likely to put up his suave persona he likes to use with women. He’ll speak with you on a more personal and honest level. He’ll still spoil you like he does with all the women he’s interested in, but the gifts will seem far more personalized. Before you know it, you both would be dating, and eventually he’d insist on you moving in with him. While he’d respect your wants and independence, his old-fashioned tendency to care for you and keep you out of his family’s unsavory business would just be exacerbated.

ABERAMA GOLD

Aberama’s spoiling and doting doesn’t let up; if anything, he’d want to look after you even more. It never feels patronizing or overprotective, however. Caretaking has always been a way he expresses his love. However, he’ll feel guiltier about the long days he has to spend away from you. He’d likely have Bonnie or his daughters check on you and help out around your home; or maybe you could live with them, if that pleased you. He’d ensure you had a nicely put together wagon to accommodate whatever you needed! But if you prefer your own place, he’d still be happy to come in after a week of being away and give you lots of attention.

[christinesficrecs]

Any Sterek fics where Stiles is also a werewolf?

There are more fics in the tag.

Until I Wrap Myself Inside Your Arms (I Cannot Rest) by EvanesDust, flymeofftoneverland | 16.3K | Explicit

It’s been two years since Derek returned and, so far, he’s kept his promise. He's never left again. But, as far as Stiles is concerned, he might as well have never come back.

It Was a Wednesday by isthatbloodonhisshirt (wasterella) | 80.1K | Mature

“What happened? Where are you? What’s that sound?”

Derek jumped, having momentarily forgotten Scott was on the phone with him because Stiles had started moving. He’d stalked over to the other side of the cave, still eying Derek warily and growling, then settled protectively over a mass of clothes, leaves and animal innards. It was probably where he was sleeping.

Lovely. No wonder he smelled like death.

“Stiles,” Derek said, answering Scott’s question. Or, one of them, at least.

running with the wind by  thepsychicclam | 15.4K

Derek’s been running and hopes he can find sanctuary in the Stilinski Pack’s territory. The Alpha isn’t the strong sheriff he thought he was, but a sarcastic awkward teenager that Derek finds he kinda hates.

Bonds of Blood, Bonds of Family, Bonds of Love by TyReed | 44K

After being beaten up by a door, werewolf Stiles Stilinksi finds himself bonded to Derek Hale, of the Hale Noble Bloodline. For a scrawny, wimpy, Tainted Bloodline werewolf, Stiles runs away, embarrassed and humiliated as he worries about bringing shame to the Hale Family, and even more shame to himself. Because the Nobles and Tainted just don’t mix, never have, never will.

Except, things aren’t exactly what they seem.

With the help of the (meddling) Hale family, his adoptive (meddling) human parents John and Claudia Stilinksi, and one very persistent Alpha Derek Hale, Stiles might come to see himself as more than just the blood that runs through his veins, and open his heart to find the happiness, friends, pack, and the family that he’d always wanted.

Welcome to the Pack, Omega by  alisvolatpropiis | 4.7K

“Derek Hale is a wandering Omega looking for a pack to call his own. When he comes into Beacon Hills, he’s intercepted by the local pack. They take him to their Alpha who Derek is expecting to be an older werewolf. What he’s not expecting is for this kid that can’t be more than 20, with the smirk playing about his kissable looking lips, to be the Alpha. Needless to say, they don’t exactly get off on the right foot. But, Derek thinks later that night, he could easily find his home in Beacon Hills with Stiles Stilinski and his pack.”

hold my hand (it’s a long way down) by  Chosenfire | 3.5K

Derek has no intention of ever going back to Beacon Hills, but a call from Scott changes that. When he gets there, Derek finds something unexpected.

The Alpha to My Alpha by  CupcakeGirlA | 10.7K

“Derek will kill you. He’ll tear you limb from limb!” Stiles says, scrambling away from him. The Alpha ambles closer.

“No, I don’t think he will,” the Alpha says. “I mean aside from killing a couple of hikers in his territory and doing him this favor, I haven’t really done anything to Hale. Once I’m gone he’ll probably be happy with the gift I’ve left for him.”

Throw Me to the Wolves by  skoosiepants | 13.4K

Stiles accidentally gets bitten, and everything goes to hell.

This is Not (In Fact) Okay by  rileywrites | 3K

Derek and Stiles end up partnered for a project, and Derek contents himself with being a part of Stiles’ life. For a while.

Regarding the Epigenetic Effects of Kissing Werewolves by Unloyal_Olio | 33.8K | Explicit

Stiles’s mom had tried to tell him before she died. He should have listened.

The Hour of the Wolf by Suaine | 54K

Stiles never wanted to be a werewolf, but the choice is taken out of his hands by a series of unfortunate events. When he wakes up his life has become infinitely more complicated.

Pale Horses by Jana_C | 56K | Explicit

Being bitten had never been on his to-do list, but he could deal with that. Helping Derek Hale become a competent Alpha, though, that was so not in his job description.

Choice by Omni | 8.6K

Derek knows what it feels like to not really have a choice, what it’s like to be manipulated. He’d never take away someone’s right to choose freely. The fear of even accidentally doing so is enough to hold him back from acting on his own feelings.

Stiles has never had a problem making his own choices, and fuck anyone who would try to tell him he can’t.

best case scenario by verity | 13.1K

The fourth time Stiles breaks the fridge, Dad is less sympathetic. “Stiles,” he says as Stiles holds the door steady for him to screw it back onto the chassis—there’s new hardware involved this time, and not a little duct tape— “I thought this werewolf thing was going to help.”

“Yeah, with the dementia,” Stiles says.

Trust Fall by Stoney | 144.2K | Explicit

Stiles is fairly certain that a case could be made for every bad thing in his life coming back to Peter Hale. This time it’s pissing off a powerful witch, who retaliated by swapping Stiles and Derek a la Freaky Friday, because sure. That makes sense. Um, there are GPAs on the line, not to mention the whole thing where his dad wants to shoot Derek on sight. Except who he sees as Derek is actually Stiles, and Stiles did not sign up for filicide.

Great. Wait…does this mean he’s the Alpha until they figure this out? Holy. Shit.

Entelechy by the_deep_magic | 7.2K | Explicit

entelechy (n): a realization or actuality as opposed to a potentiality

Unbroken by Piscaria | 43.4K

When Stiles starts getting sick, he assumes his appetite loss and lethargy stem from the darkness the Nemeton left in his heart. But soon enough, even he can’t deny that he’s showing the same symptoms his mom had. When he’s forced to face the truth about his illness, Stiles finds himself making a choice he never thought he’d make.

Go Away, Scott by HelloWhyTheFuckAmIHere | 66.2K

After the incident at the warehouse, Stiles is fed up with Scott. He finds himself drawn into Derek’s pack and in the process, drawn to Derek himself.

With the Alpha Pack closing in, Derek needs to learn how to trust his pack and those around him. And who better to help him than Stiles?

Ukochany by VincentMeoblinn | 34.1K

Derek comes home to find a mail order husband and two amused betas waiting for him. When he realizes their prank was far from harmless he ends up saddled with a husband who barely speaks English but insists Derek is the love of his life. He’s also determined to win him over.

[shitpostingfromthebarricade]

Reputation

11 Frimaire, Year XIII

(2 December 1804)

“Marius! Why aren’t you dressed yet?” The cannons had fired at 8 that morning, but Napoléon has been up since far earlier. “The procession begins in twenty minutes!”

Still in his bedclothes, Marius’s back remains toward Napoléon as he stares resolutely out the bright window of the Tuileries with his arms crossed. “I’m not going.”

Not this again.

“I did not follow you only to see France raise another king.”

“You know it isn’t like that,” insists Napoléon.

Indignant, Marius spins to face him. “You imported a pope to officiate!”

Ah, yes, he had done that. Marius is looking back out the window, but at the end of the day, this is Marius: Napoléon knows how to handle Marius. He kneels on the plush mattress of the bed, rumpled but made (Marius always insists on doing so himself, even if the staff are better at it), and beckons. “Marius, turn around.”

“It’s a betrayal of everything you’re supposed to stand for.”

“Marius,” he repeats, this time a little sharper.

Marius turns, still clearly pouting; his eyes are trained away from Napoléon.

“Come here,” he says, this time more gently.

It’s still begrudging, but Marius shuffles forward toward the bed.

“Sit.”

He does, feet on the ground and back toward Napoléon..

Napoléon wraps his arms around Marius’s waist and leans in, slotting their faces next to one another and inhaling. “I don’t like this pageant act any better than you.”

“Liar,” Marius mutters, corner of his mouth quirking.

“All right, I do,” says Napoléon with an easy shrug, “but only because I like to see the powerful squirm. Think of it, Marius: they have to concede that a lowborn noble from Corsica is their equal — the shame of it all.”

“It isn’t shameful,” Marius insists, trying (but not very hard, Napoléon notes) to pull free of his arms. “You’ve had to work twenty times as hard to receive half of the recognition.”

“Which is exactly the gap that this farce seeks to bridge! Don’t you see?” Napoléon had been kneeling before, but he crawls forward now to sit beside Marius, legs swinging over the side as one arm remains draped around Marius’s side. “This is all to gain the leverage I need to effect change, to get the other powers to accept me.”

With an impertinent roll of his eyes, Marius grumbles, “You aren’t even Catholic,.”

“No,” agrees Napoléon, “but most of France is, and the Pope is one of the most universally respected authorities in all of Europe.” Marius remains discontented, and Napoléon sighs. “I am an instrument of providence, Marius. She will use me, then she will break me like a glass.”

Marius glances over, a hint of the concern that has been steadily creeping into his looks over the past years coloring his features.

“It is the natural course of things, when one is destined for greatness — look at Caesar, look at Alexander. But listen to me: fate will have her way with me, and I will not make the mistake of Laius nor Achilles. I will neither fear my fate nor be so proud as to fight it.”

“You don’t believe in fate or luck,” Marius pathetically parries. “You would do well to remember that I am not one of your citizens to be swayed so easily by pretty words and pictures.”

“You are not.” says Napoléon with a serious nod. “I shall use fate, and I shall use lucky generals, and I shall use every resource at my disposal to convince providence of my worth — and if that means dressing up in fine things and making the Pope himself declare me equal to kings, then I shall wear my mantle and ride off to Notre-Dame to face him myself.

“But I should feel better with you at my side.”

Marius doesn’t answer right away, but Napoléon isn’t worried: this is Marius’s way. He also knows, however, that when he’d arrived several minutes ago, there had only been twenty minutes before the procession’s departure, and Napoléon begins doing the calculations on how long things can be stalled without drawing attention.

Marius must sense this, because he bumps his shoulder against Napoléon’s. “Go. I’ll wait for you at the cathedral. I wouldn’t want to interfere with fate, after all,” he says, eyes twinkling.

“You would only interfere if fate allowed you to,” Napoléon tells him, rising nevertheless.

With Marius meeting him there, there is no longer any rush. He remains seated on the bed, hands on his knees as he continues staring out the window at the end of the room. “It’s probably best if you’re not seen arriving with me, if this is all a spectacle to gain respect.”

Drawing himself to his full height, Napoléon declares, “Alexander was not embarrassed by Sisygambis, and I will not be cowed by France.”

“Napoléon, listen to me.” Marius is still seated in his bedclothes, having only turned his head, but he appears before Napoléon transformed to ancient royalty. “This moment is to magnify your glory and that of your empress. I do not fit into that. I shall support you, but your providence and glory are your own; remember also that it was Hephaestion who laid Alexander low, and Patroclus Achilles.”

Napoléon’s mouth goes acrid, and he feels his lips press together in a firm line. Marius spoke true before: he is indeed not one of Napoléon’s uneducated subjects or awestruck soldiers. Napoléon has been so swept up in designing and shaping the new world order that it can be easy to forget that Marius stands in the center of that hurricane, witnessing its creation yet moved by none of its winds. “Very well. I will be looking for you among my sisters.”

“Take care that they do not trip Joséphine on the way to the ceremony,” smiles Marius wryly.

Napoléon reaches forward, giving Marius’s ear two affectionate tweaks before letting himself out of the room.