#And at the end of the fic jc is almost always like: 'time to get up from this puddle of my own blood and see how jl is doing'

[add1ctedt0you]

Sucker for pain

That's for all the writers who look at jiang cheng and decide to put him through other unimaginable woes. <3 As if his life wasn't rough enough lol.

[wangxianficfinder]

In the mood for...

Jan 16th

LINK LIMIT REACHED (please look in replies for more recs ^^)

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1. Hello, looking for fics that discuss or focus around wy being in a different body and yeah kinda just focused around that. thanks!

the soft animal by cafecliche (T, 5k, wangxian, Hurt/Comfort, Post-Canon, the physicality of moving on: the fic, LWJ is the best husband, Podfic Available, (the presence of) MXY, and a whole bunch of Baby Lans)

a better world by ilip13 (G, 1k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Established Relationship, Slice of Life, Soft WangXian, mild body dysphoria, Hopeful Ending)

a kind of emptiness by ScarlettStorm (E, 11k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Established Relationship, Eating Disorders, Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, Eating Disorder Recovery, low angst, Happy Ending, seriously in spite of the tags this fic is very soft, Tender smut, Frottage, Praise Kink, Additional Warnings In Author's Note)

~*~

2. hopefully something similar to this

thank u!! @/weiwuxianfan34

hunters seeking solid ground by Attila (E, 23k, WangXian, Canon Compliant, discussion of canon character death, Hurt/Comfort, Nightmares, bed sharing, Getting Together, Yearning, Literal Sleeping Together, Really Excessive Amounts of Hurt/Comfort)

~*~

3. Hi, for the next itmf, do you guys have and lwj/wwx/lxc recs? Like with the three of them together in a relationship. It can be cannon era or modern era, I don't really mind either but I would prefer cannon era. Thank you for the help.

our close and kindred ties by exmanhater (E, 41k, WangXianXi, Pregnancy Kink, Incest, almost incest, Post-Canon, Gender Changes, Always a Different Sex, Cunnilingus, Vaginal Sex, Riding, Vaginal Fingering, Established Relationship, Situational Incest Only, POV Outsider, Pregnancy, Family Feels, Fluff, Incest Adjacent, Threesome - F/F/M, Relationship Negotiation, (slight) Pregnancy Kink, Kid Fic, Parenting, Inappropriate Use of Gūsū Lán Forehead Ribbon, Double Penetration, LWJ is a service top, Strap-Ons, Anal Sex, Light Bondage, Light Dom/sub, Restraints, Parenthood) has f!wangxian but otherwise i think it's post-canon-ish setting?

oh we have moved forward in pain by rainbowshoes (E, 47k, WangXianXi, past 3zun, past Niecest, Incest, Post-Betrayal Depression, Severe depressive episodes, Bruises, Bite marks, Consensual sexual injuries, Self harm through sex, self harm ideation, Nightmares, Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Excessive Drinking, Canonical Character Death, Grief/Mourning, Scars, Past Child Abuse, implied ace jc, Explicit Sexual Content, Guilt, Canon-verse version of safe-wording out, Canon-verse version of subdrop, Child Abuse, discussion of death and murder, Discussion of wwx’s first time in the burial mounds, Broken Bones, Starvation, eating corpses, Insecurity not-so-accidental child acquisition, Angst with a Happy Ending, Sort Of, Sibling Incest, mix and mash Mashup of cql verse and novel, anti-lqr)

set my soul alight Series by Skadiseven (E, 42k, WangXianXi, Modern AU, Jadecest, Sibling Incest, Toronto, Halloween Costumes, Halloween, Canada, Jade Xianwich, WWX POV, Power Play, LXC POV, Rough Sex, Intercrural Sex, Oral Sex, Anal Sex, Aftercare, Sort Of)

take this weight of mine by soliloqui (E, 84k, WangXianXi, Post-Canon, LXC in Seclusion, Depression, touch starvation, Self-Harm, Suicidal Ideation, Suicide Attempt, PTSD, Panic Attacks, Dissociation, Canon-Typical Violence, Unreliable Narrator, Dual Cultivation, mild fuck-or-die, Mild Consent Issues, please check end notes of chapter 2 for more information, Sibling Incest, Hurt/Comfort, gentle smut, Healing, demisexual LXC, demisexual lwj, Protective LWJ, Protective LXC, Protective WWX, lqr's a++ parenting, Angst with a Happy Ending)

🔒Embers by xantissa (E, 38k, WangXian, XiXian, WangXianXi, Jadecest, Angst, drama, Fluff, Falling In Love, sex pollen trope (curse), dub con, Comfort, Grief, Forgiveness, Happy Ending, Sibling Incest, Switching, Flirting, Learning to live again, Magic, Curses, Everyone is Badass, lwj has a sense of humor, Polyamory, Polyamory Negotiations, Threesome - M/M/M, Slow Burn, Angst and Hurt/Comfort)

🔒Magnificent by Anonymous (E, 36k, WangXianXi, Post-Canon, Sibling Incest, Threesome - M/M/M, Deepthroating, Mutual Masturbation, Nipple Play, Blow Jobs, Jadecest, Light Angst, Past NieLan, Sharing a Bed, Canon Compliant, Top LWJ, Switch LXC, Switch WWX, Spitroasting, Face-Fucking, Come Eating, Snowballing, Facials, Praise Kink, over-stimulation, Ass to Mouth, Intercrural Sex, Laughter During Sex, Rimming, Come as Lube, Magical Healing Cock, i guess, Come play)

给我再去相信的勇气 // the courage to believe by howodd5ever (E, 55k, WangXian, WangXianXi, Threesome - M/M/M, Jadecest, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, Undernegotiated Kink, Choking, Spanking, Dom/sub, Rough Sex, dub con but trust me wei ying is into it, Polyamory, Getting Together, First Times, porn with a tiny bit of plot if you squint, Bottom wwx, bratty WWX, Marks, WWX Has a Breeding Kink, mostly cql canon timeline but otherwise franken-canon, angst but not about the poly stuff, Cockwarming, a little rimming as a treat)

Fraternal Fissures by Foregone_Shadow (E, 33k, Jadecest, WangXianXi, Angst with a Happy Ending, Threesome - M/M/M, Dual Cultivation, Healing Sex, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering, Sibling Incest, Explicit Sexual Content, Possessive Behavior, Possessive Sex, Somnophilia, Reference to relationships between 3zun, POV Alternating, Oral Sex, Rough Oral Sex, Tender Sex, Mentions of Suicidal Thoughts, Care and aftercare, Bondage, dom!lwj, Sub!lxc, Top / Bottom Versatile Characters, LWJ is canonically huge, Size Kink, Porn with Feelings, Porn With Plot, Light BDSM, Voyeurism, Depression, Dubious Consent, LWJ talks dirty, Marathon Sex, switch!WWX, Lots of bathing, gagging, Blindfolds, Inappropriate Use of Gūsū Lán Forehead Ribbon, Belly Kink, Orgasm Denial, Prostate Play)

~*~

4. hello! this is an itmf request. i would love:

A) recs on good case fics - i have a soft spot for those that take place during the cloud recesses study arc, but any and all case fic recs welcome :)

B) recs on de-aging/age regression fics - whether wangxian or other characters. thank you thank you! @/potatokunst

4A)

see you yesterday by glyphic (M, 138k, WIP, WangXian, Modern with Magic, Ghost Hunters, Time Loop, Case Fic, Hurt/Comfort, Memory Loss, Angst with a Happy Ending, Slow Burn) if OP is open to modern AUs

🔒 Wish I could forget the taste of your skin and the feel of your hands pinning me down by KizuKatana (E, 63k, wangxian, WQ & WWX & WN, Modern Cultivation, weapons-grade thirst, Getting Back Together, Trying REALLY hard to not still like your Ex, but failing, BAMF WWX, BAMF LWJ, Canon Divergence, Case Fic, LWJ’s canonically big dick, sort of a ‘thirsting for your co-worker ex’ vibe, it eventually gets worked out, Mutual Pining, Guest-starring LWJ’s canonically poor communication choices after romantic cave encounters, novel canon relationship dynamics, basically this fic is about escalating sexual tension)

🔒 Vagabond by xantissa (E, 65k, wangxian, Slow Burn, Mystery, Anal Sex, Oral Sex, Frottage, Case Fic, murders, Supernatural, Angst, Fluff, those two are so in love it hurts, Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort, badass LXC, Canon-Typical Violence, topLWJ, Bottom LWJ)

build me no shrines by occultings (microcomets) (M, 54k, WangXian, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, First Time, Getting Together, Confessions, Sharing a Bed, Hair Washing, Sentient Burial Mounds, Case Fic, Post-Canon, CQL Compliant, Hurt/Comfort, Whump, Light Angst, Flashbacks, mild body horror, foot   washing, Happy Ending, Non-Sexual Intimacy, …then sexual intimacy, [Podfic] build me no shrines by flamingwell)

爱不释手; never let me go by yiqie (E, 68k, WangXian, Case Fic, Blood and Injury, Demons, Body Horror)

in your skin by darkredloveknot (enheduane) (E, 10k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Pre-Relationship, Getting Together, Horror, Body Horror, Blood and Gore, Angst with a Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort, Love Confessions, Non-Consensual Body Modification, kinda??, Reflections over death and self-worth, mentions of canon suicide, Near Death Experiences, [Podfic] in your skin by flamingwell)

there was recently a whole event about casefics! Not all of them are wangxian but a lot are so maybe one will catch your interest

💖 I’d be the one to hold you down (kiss you so hard) by AlfAlfAlfAlfAlf & tardigradeschool (E, 85k, wangxian, JGY/LXC, NMJ/LXC, modern, leverage au, canon-typical violence, unhealthy relationships, depression, heists, found family, murder, hurt/comfort, angst w/ happy ending)

🧡 moonlight caught in mutton fat by Raitelzen (T, 45k, WangXian, Case Fic, Curses, Curse Breaking, Transformation, mild body horror, Hurt LWJ, Ghosts)

Your Hand in Mine by cerbykerby (T, 20k, WangXian, Humor, Comedy, Pining, cursed to hold hands, Light Angst, Sharing a Bed, First Dates, Embarrassment, Fluff, bathing together, Canon Compliant)

Linger in the Sun by etymologyplayground (T, 39k, WangXian, JC & WWX, Case Fic, Intimacy, Curses, Canon Compliant, Post-Canon, Cuddling & Snuggling, Getting Together, Romance, Sexual Tension, Scent Kink, m.. maybe??, its not as intense as a kink, Fluff, Scars, Sharing a Bed, Nonverbal Communication)

this river runs to you by sundiscus (T, 53k, WangXian, Modern with Magic, Mutual Pining, Dragons, Literal Sleeping Together, Tender wound tending)

4B)

grow by cafecliche (T, 14k, WangXian, Age Regression/De-Aging, Character Study, Post-Canon, podfic available)

home is where we are by halfdemonvash (T, 17k, wangxian, JC & WWX, Twin Prides of Yúnmèng are Bad at Communicating, JC & WWX Reconciliation, but only somewhat because these these things take time, Age Regression/De-Aging, Angst and Feels, Hijinks & Shenanigans, accidental baby acquisition but it's actually your older brother, references to wwx's past being homeless, and also his past food insecurity, rated T for jiang cheng's language, and light sexual content in the beginning, Post-Canon, Yúnmèng Siblings Feels, Junior Trio Shenanigans)

Bringing Up JC by Mikkeneko (T, 31k, JC & WWX, JC & JL JL & WWX, JL & LSZ, Kid Fic, Age Regression/De-Aging, Fluff and Angst, anticipate about one part kid cuteness to two parts angst, Reparenting, reliving trauma, unpacking JC's childhood issues, no therapy in the jianghu so this will have to do, Take Care reveal, Yúnmèng Siblings Feels, JC & WWX Reconciliation, WWX Is Good With Children, WWX Has a Fear of Dogs, Golden Core Reveal)

🔒 Silver & Gold by beeswaxing (E, 162k, wangxian, post-canon, de-aging, fluff & angst, happy ending, fix-it of sorts, family bonding, established relationship, non-sexual intimacy, BAMF WWX, pining, protective WWX)

found your writing on my wall by howodd5ever (T, 25k, WangXian, JC & LWJ, JC & WWX, Accidental Baby Acquisition, De-aged WWX, Post-Canon, Getting Together, Referenced Child Neglect, discussion of parental loss, child food insecurity, Case Fic, kind of, Nightmares)

🔒suddenly an old song fills my heart with home, my eyes with tears by RoseThorne (T, 724, WangXian, JC & WWX, Curses, Rebirth, Memories, Memory Loss, Age Regression/De-Aging, Recovered Memories, POV Third Person)

~*~

5. Hi, I am looking for fics in the canon-ish setting where characters undergo major injuries or illnesses that disable them but they are still bamf? (Last part added to a FF)

we’re starting at the end by Miss_Enthusiasimal (M, 92k, WangXian, JC & WWX, Time Travel, Canon Divergence, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Golden Core Reveal, Burial Mounds, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Starvation, emaciation, Cannibalism, Self-Harm, Amputation, Suicidal Thoughts, Sunshot Campaign, let JZX and WWX be friends club) WWX loses a leg & continues fighting the SSC with no-one being the wiser

🔒 no new age by everythingispoetry (M, 146k, wangxian, LSZ & LWJ, LXC/JGY, LXC/NMJ, Canon Divergence, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Permanent Injury, Recovery, Disability, Parenthood, Character Study, Thirteen Years of WWX's Death, Growing Up, Family Dynamics, Self-Discovery, Mental Health Issues, Grief/Mourning, Families of Choice, Developing Relationship) LWJ is left disabled by the 33 lashes punishment, & pushes through it, which I would think qualifies for BAMF status

🧡 Company by WithBroomBefore (T, 29k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Pre-Relationship, Getting Together, POV LWJ, Fix-It, Pre-Canon, at least to start, WWX goes to Cloud Recesses, But Not In The Usual Way, fear of character death, Everybody Lives, Hurt/Comfort, Happy Ending, Light Angst, good teacher LQR, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, brief discussion of past minor character suicide, Kitten, Not YZY Friendly)

🔒 a star called sun by thelastdboy (E, 120k, wangxian, SL/XXC, JC & JYL & WWX, JYL & LWJ, WWX & WN & WQ, JYL/JZX, Canon Divergence after Xuanwu Cave, Fall of Lotus Pier, But worse!, Power Imbalance, It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, Not Everyone Dies AU, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Canon-Typical Violence, Sunshot Campaign, Miscommunication, Heavy Angst with a Happy Ending, Slow Burn, Major Character Injury, Loss of Limbs, Chronic Illness, Seizures, WWX's Three Months in the Burial Mounds, Wēn Remnants Live, Wēn Remnants Deserve Better, WWX Creates a Sect | Yílíng Wèi Sect, Additional Warnings In Author's Note, Hurt/Comfort, Selectively Mute LWJ, Service Animals, Crows)

Obscuring the Sun by Karmiya (E, 24k, WIP, WangXian, WWX & WN, the sunshot campaign, Past Domestic Abuse)

~*~

6. ITMF a fic where preferably wwx is an amputee but lwj is okay too and I’d also prefer it in modern setting but again cannon timeline is fine as well @/zerokogane

we’re starting at the end by Miss_Enthusiasimal (M, 92k, WangXian, JC & WWX, Time Travel, Canon Divergence, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Golden Core Reveal, Burial Mounds, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Starvation, emaciation, Cannibalism, Self-Harm, Amputation, Suicidal Thoughts, Sunshot Campaign, let JZX and WWX be friends club) link in #5

🔒some things go forward by everythingispoetry (T, 73k, WangXian, Modern AU, Hospitals, Teenage Drama, Slow Burn, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Happy Ending)

Work in Tandem by MimiSpearmint (E, 23k, WangXian, Modern with Magic, Single Parent LWJ, when you just want disability-led sword lessons for your child, swordflight instructor!wwx, swordflight instructor!lwj, Fluff, give lwj friends agenda, Protective LWJ, Getting Together, Intercrural Sex, Choking, Oral Sex, Rough Sex, Implied off-screen D/s negotiations)

~*~

7. Hey! Do have any recs where wwx never loses his golden core? Like the Just Say Yes series? Could be an au, or anything. Thank you!

Lessons relearned by Iamnotawriter (T, 44k, WangXian, LQR & WWX, Not YZY Friendly, Time Travel Fix-It, Angst with a Happy Ending, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Inventor WWX, It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, No Golden Core Transfer, YZY Bashing)

Until The World Embraces Me Home by azri (T, 5k, WIP, WangXian, Canon Divergence, YLLZ LWJ, LWJ Has No Golden Core, Role Reversal, Not LXC Friendly, Not JC Friendly, Not cultivation world friendly overall tbh, Sunshot Campaign, Friends to Lovers, Temporary Character Death, WangXian Get a Happy Ending) LZ loses his core but WY keeps his

A Thousand Things by tickertape (M, 108k, wangxian, canon divergence, WWX is not adopted by Jiangs, develping friendships, miscommunication, misunderstanding, nightmares, panic attacks, hurt/comfort, slow burn)

~*~

8. Hi, itmf recently completed wips. What's new and good is ready for the binge reading. Thank you! @/best-before-end

pale shadows of forgotten names by Chrononautical (T, 56k, wangxian, Madam Lán Lives, Madam Lán Deserves Better, Good Sibling LXC, Badass LXC, He gets there in the end it just takes a while, Not particularly JGY friendly, Gūsū Lán Sect Rules, Canon-Typical Behavior, Unresolved Sexual Tension, the universal fear of growing up to become one of your parents, Canon Divergence, Everyone Lives AU, Except WN but he's very polite, Arranged Marriage, Forced Marriage, Imprisonment, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, not between wangxian, Drunk LWJ, to lighten the mood, Fluff and Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Traumatized WWX, though he will not admit it, Taking time to heal, canon-typical communication skills)

~*~

9. Hello! I am in the mood for a wangxian arranged marriage fanfic. I would prefer a longer story (over 50k words, if possible). It can be canon or even AU. I would like the story to focus not only on the relationship between LZ and WY but also on the politics behind it. It can also be omegaverse. It would be great if their relationship is rocky at first and then becomes better. If there's more fanfics like this, I would be grateful for all of them. Thank you very much. @/broodyelii

Concord by Deastar (T, 41k, WangXian, Arranged Marriage, Gūsū Lán Sect Rules, Depression, Canon Divergence, Angst with a Happy Ending)

🧡 a stone to break your soul, a song to save it by rikke (M, 179k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Arranged Marriage) Definitely meets the length criteria, though its been long enough since I last read it that I don't recall how much it went into the politics of the marriage

love, in fire and blood by cicer (E, 360k, wangxian, immortal WWX, slow burn, pining, arranged marriages)

❤️ A Myriad of Blossoms by Itszero (E, 56k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Arranged Marriage, Forced Marriage, YLLZ WWX, Hurt LWJ, Cruel wwx, he's cruel until he's not, Protective WWX, Caring WWX, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff and Angst, Eventual Smut, Bottom LWJ, Dark WWX)

The Scarlet Lotus by rainbowninja167 (M, 137k, WangXian, Marriage of Convenience, Secret Identity, Fix-It, Angst with a Happy Ending, It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, Canon-Typical Violence, canon-typical war crimes, Yunmeng Bros, the mortifying ordeal of getting seduced by your own husband, nonlinear chronology we die like cql, just kidding nobody dies in this fic, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, Miscommunication)

~*~

10. Itmf wangxian fics with WWX in peril (happy ending only please).

pitfalls of greed by glitteringmoonlight (T, 3k, wangxian, post-canon, outsider pov, BAMF WWX, kidnapping, violence)

❤️ kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight by AlfAlfAlfAlfAlf, tardigradeschool (T, 75k, WangXian, Hurt/Comfort, Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Eventual Happy Ending, Getting Together, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, Inspired by The Parent Trap (1998), Kid Fic, teen shenanigans, two a-yuans, Fluff and Angst)

~*~

11. I am currently reading "Get it right (mdzs time travel) Series" by AmiraAlzilu (AO3) and now I'm ITMF for a time travel fic where LXC and LQR are specifically called out for their lack of trust in LWJ witness testimony (aka child/elders in the Burial Mounds) and believing a sworn brother over family. Bonus for a) apologies or b) digging a deeper hole aka surely LWJ is mistaken, Meng Yao would never, I'm looking at you chapter 15 to 17 of this fic LXC (yes I'm salty). Bonus bonus for consequences on LXC's loose lips telling things to others he was asked to keep in confidence.... @/mreisse

I'm #11, and you know what? Recs calling out LXC and LQR is also fine :)

Weep You No More, Sad Fountains by athena_crikey (T, 59k, wangxian, LXC & LWJ, LXC & JGY, Canon Divergence, Fix-it fic, Whump, Curses, Fever, Delirium, Stabbing, Loneliness, Confessions, LWJ's emotional repression, WWX giving everything as always, LXC realising sympathy is not support, LQR Being an Asshole) Okay so this isn't a time travel fic, so feel free to disregard, BUT! Does have LXC coming to WWX for help & seeing the truth, & characters calling him tf out on how it took him this long, so requester may still be interested

~*~

12. this is an itmf ask!!

fics where wwx is in his full yiling patriarch glory, I want to see scary yllz, possessive yllz (for lwj ofc) anything. longer fics pls but anything is fine, just no wips please haha!!

🔒hold me fast, fear me not by cicer (M, 16k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Fairy Tale Elements, Mpreg, Bottom LWJ/Top WWX, YLLZ WWX, brief reference to abortificants, Implied/Referenced Dubious Consent, may be interpreted as noncon by some)

curse of the dragon emperor by lulu_kitty (E, 96k, WangXian, Dragon AU, Canon Divergence, Mythology References, Identity Porn, Cursed WWX, Trans LWJ, Trans Male Character, Misgendering, Canon-Typical Violence, Gender Dysphoria, gender euphoria, Phoenixes, Dragon WWX, Fox WWX, Double Penetration in Two Holes, Vaginal Sex, Anal Sex, Cunnilingus, Bottom LWJ/Top WWX, Dirty Talk, Submissive LWJ, Trauma, WWX Has PTSD, Minor Character Death, Prince WWX, Emperor WWX, Soulmates, Arranged Marriage, Mpreg, Trans Male Pregnancy, Size Difference, Dragonxian has two dicks, YLLZ WWX, technically!, It's more like YLLZ adjacent)

your darkest roads by comefeedtherainn (E, 76k, WangXian, YLLZ WWX, non-yunmeng wwx, Kinda, No Golden Core Transfer, Dark WWX, d/s dynamics, No noncon, playing with subverting some tropes/expectations)

~*~

13. I swear the only reason I can still consume Wangxian content daily is because of your recommendations.

There’s a couple fics I’ve been craving for a while and haven’t been able to find any I really love, so any help/ recommendations would be much appreciated!

A) Lan Xichen focused fics. It’s so hard to find fics that centre him.

B) Lan Sizhui focused fics. Mainly him with his dads/ family, but also him remembering his past would be great! Baby or adult A-yuan.

C) Wangxian being parents. Wei Wuxian being single parent. Just them being amazing dad’s content.

I’d appreciate any of these prompts 💞✨💫 @/jinxedjaz

13A)

Chapter 2 of Every Mother's Son by Chrononautical (T, 11k, Madam Lan & WWX, Madam Lan & LWJ, Madam Lan & Lxc, wangxian, Madam Lán Lives, Madam Lán Deserves Better, Madam Lán Leaves Cloud Recesses, Madam Lan rescues women from abusive husbands in feudal Japan and honestly that's so valid of her, mentions of rape/non-con between Madam Lan & QHJ, Give Madam Lan a name of her own, let Madam Lan find out that QHJ died in a fire as a treat, now with bonus Lan Xichen!) chapter 1 is more focused on LWJ and WWX, I recommend both :)

Weep You No More, Sad Fountains by athena_crikey (T, 59k, wangxian, LXC & LWJ, LXC & JGY, Canon Divergence, Fix-it fic, Whump, Curses, Fever, Delirium, Stabbing, Loneliness, Confessions, LWJ's emotional repression, WWX giving everything as always, LXC realising sympathy is not support, LQR Being an Asshole) link in #11

i told you when i came i was a stranger by Caramelized (M, 50k, OFC/LXC, minor WangXian, Isekai, Transmigration, Fix-It, Canon Divergence, Amateur cartography, Butterfly Effect, Sunshot Campaign, Somebody Lives/Not Everyone Dies, No Golden Core Transfer, Dimension Travel, Politics, LXC the politician, Self-Insert, Foreknowledge, Angst with a Happy Ending) it's SI/OC but heavily features LXC (including some chapters from his POV). also has one of my favorite characterizations of LXC i've seen in fic

To Love What Is Mortal by treemaidengeek (T, 22k, LXC/SL, Post-Canon, Grief/Mourning, Fluff and Angst, Healing, Hurt/Comfort, [Podfic] To Love What Is Mortal by flamingwell) as well as most of the works in this series.

Gentle Exile by rynleaf (E, 9k, LXC/SL, Post-Canon, Canonical Character Death, Grief/Mourning, References to Depression, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Character Study, Epistolary, Post-Canon Exploration, [PODFIC] Gentle Exile by flamingwell, semperfiona_podfic (semperfiona))

13B)

When You Wake, 怎能当梦一场 by acertainrogue (T, 39k, WangXian, WWX is in a coma, Angst with a Happy Ending, Modern AU, Single Dad LWJ, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Parenthood, YZY's A+ Parenting, JFM's A+ parenting, wangxian family) this is completely from lsz's pov

this blood in my mouth by ShanaStoryteller (Not Rated, 3k, WangXian, LSZ & WWX & LWJ, Post-Canon, POV LXC)

The Living Looked That Day by violettressed (T, 19k, LSZ & WN, WangXian, Post-Canon, Canon Compliant, Ritualistic Self-Harm, Mild Gore)

🧡 Lan Sizhui Sees Dead People Series by darkbrokenreaper (T, 30k, WIP, WangXian, LWJ & LSZ, JC & LSZ, Canon Divergence, Fluff, Kid Fic, Hurt/Comfort, lsz sees dead people, Paranormal)

as i stumble homewards by the_pretzel (T, 27k, wangxian, canonical character death, found family, food issues, trauma, LSZ pov, angst w/ happy ending, fluff) LSZ raised by ghost!WWX

Symmetry by Vir_Abelasan (M, 13k, WangXian, LSZ & WWX, One-Sided ChengXian, One-Sided ChengZhui, Canon Divergence, LSZ is raised by wwx, Wwx still dies sorry, Revenge, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Dark LSZ, Manipulation, Power Imbalance, Torture, Not JC Friendly, JC’s Canonical 13 Years Murder Spree, BAMF LSZ, WangXian Get a Happy Ending, LSZ Gets to Go Apeshit) LSZ gets to have a lil revenge, as a treat

Remember, Remember by Izzyaro (Isilarma) (G, 1k, LSZ & WN, LJY & LSZ, Character Study, Post-Canon, Family, Families of Choice, Grief/Mourning, Angry LSZ, LSZ Needs a Hug, not for jc fans, LSZ gets a hug) LSZ remembers a few things, & gets to be angry

the kite string and the anchor rope by fleurdeliser (M, 39k, wangxian, after yiling date, sick child) LSZ is sick for a chunk of this but is still the central character

keeping score by hauntedotamatone (T, 6k, LSZ & WWX, Background WangXian, the opposite of reconciliation, Protective WWX, Duelling, Grief/Mourning, not for jc fans, Swordfighting, Resentment, LSZ centric, No JC & WWX Reconciliation) featuring protective dad WWX

Would You Come Home? by s6115 (Not rated, 46k, WangXian, Junior Quartet Centric, Time Travel Fix-It, Canon Divergence, Junior Quartet Dynamics) being a coming-of-age type story as LSZ discovers his past with WWX

13C)

emergent properties by luckymarrow (E, 8k, WangXian, Modern AU, Family Fluff, Trans Male Character, Trans LWJ, Queer Families, Queer Youth, Adoption, Baby LSZ, Teen MXY, Crossdressing, but not as a kinkgender expression, Dilf4Dilf Wangxian, Penis In Vagina Sex, Blow Jobs, Domestic Fluff, Fluff and Smut, gender euphoria, Cunnilingus)

at no other time by luckymarrow (M, 2k, WangXian, Modern AU, Queer Families, Queer Youth, Child LSZ, Family Fluff, Non-Explicit Sex, farming, Wangxian Run an Organic Farm as God Intended, Found Family, Families of Choice, Adoption, Trans Male Character, Married WangXian, Established Relationship)

Across the street to another life by danegen (M, 99k, WangXian, Modern AU, unleashed au, Family Fluff, Set in America, Hurt/Comfort, Past Child Abuse, Addiction, Crime, Amnesia, Ableist Language, another fridged mother, POV Alternating, past wwx/ofc, past wwx/omc, Medium parent YZY, A-Yuan is wwx’s biological son, Musicians, Happy Ending) this one also has WangXian being great parents, but it's not the main plot of the story.

my little love by mellowflicker (T, 54k, WangXian, Modern AU, Single Parent WWX, kindergarten teacher!lwj, Kid Fic, Hurt/Comfort, Domestic Fluff, Pining)

box your errors by mellowflicker (T, 42k, WangXian, Modern AU, single dad lwj, Domestic Fluff, Family Issues, Slow Burn, Kid Fic, let lwj have friends agenda, Hurt/Comfort, Pining)

❤️ Seen and not heard by eatmyass (E, 51k, wangxian, case fic, no sunshot, kid fic, dadxian, strangers to lovers, found family, LWJ pov, pining, fake/pretend relationship, first time, falling in love)

❤️ Attempting the Impossible by Ariaste for williedustice (T, 36k, WangXian, JC & WWX, Post-Canon, Yunmeng Bros Reconciliation, Adoption, Family Fluff, Kid fic, Family drama, Fluff, [PODFIC] Attempting the Impossible by Ariaste by lunatique)

~*~

14. thanks for your hard work admins! itmf darkji fics :) once again, ty!!

~*~

15. Can you please give me all the Fic Recs you can find on A) WWX getting his body back? Post canon. I’m struggling to find them. And also B) post canon reconciliation docs with JC and Jin ling, and/or C) post canon fica where wwx night hunts and gets injured, and nearly dies? And worries everyone. Please and thank you. @/the-daydreamer

15A)

Touch That Body, (It's Not Mine) by brrrrrRawr (T, 3k, WangXian, WWX in WWX's original body, Fluff, Pet Names, Blushing, No Smut, Genius WWX, yunmeng bros reconciliation, endgame lotus pier, big bro wwx rights, also dad wwx rights, BAMF WWX, Bad Writing, Body Dysphoria, So OOC)

15B)

Rotten Work by ShanaStoryteller (Not Rated, 63k, WangXian, WWX & JL, Post-Canon, Protective WWX, Protective JL, Yunmeng Bros Reconciliation, Reluctant Matchmaker JL, [PODFIC] Rotten Work by sakizar) qualifies for both 15B and 15C

Twelve Moons and a Fortnight by stiltonbasket (M, 290k, WangXian, Humor, Slow Burn, Post-Canon Fix-It, Long-Distance Relationship, Epistolary, Love Letters, Family Feels, a-qing lives, teenage romance, Adoption, Romantic Comedy, Happy Ending, Weddings, Case Fic, Parenthood, Politics) this fic works for both b and c I think

Imprints by Lisa_Telramor (G, 47k, WangXian, accidental puppy adoption, Humor, Panic Attacks, phobia recovery, Post-Canon, JC & WWX Reconciliation, Poor Life Choices, Self-Acceptance, Developing Relationship, fluff with a side of anxiety lol, WWX adopts a puppy, Dogs)

other side of paradise by blueseam (T, 12k, JC & WWX & JL, Post-Canon, Platonic hair-washing, excessive amounts of communication, Emotional Hurt/Comfort)

singing through the dark by twigofwillow (G, 13k, JL & WWX, WangXian, Post-Canon, Yunmeng bros reconciliation if you squint, angst with a tiny bit of fluff)

everyone else is spring bound by Lise (T, 18k, JC & WWX, Post-Canon, Post-Finale, Dysfunctional Family, Family Bonding, Minor WangXian, Yunmeng bros Reconciliation, JC Needs a Hug, POV JC, Family Feels, Light Angst, Reconciliation, Awkward Conversations)

some good mistakes by Lise (T, 18k, WangXian, JC & WWX, Post-Canon, Road trips, rescue Missions, Hurt/Comfort, Awkward Conversations, Yunmeng Bros Reconciliation, [Podfic] some good mistakes by kisahawklin )

an aging wound by Lise (G, 7k, JC & WWX, POV WWX, Post-Canon, Yunmeng bros Reconciliation, Awkward Conversations, Light Angst, but mostly just the awkward conversations, Dysfunctional Family, Post-The Untamed (TV), Twin Prides of Yúnmèng Dynamics, Twin Prides of Yúnmèng Feels)

With Absolute Splendor by Lise (T, 43k, WangXian, JC & WWX, Post-Canon, Wedding planning, Yunmeng Bros Reconciliation, Complicated Relationships, Angst with a happy ending, [Podfic] With Absolute Splendor by kisahawklin, [PODFIC] With Absolute Splendor by Gwogobo)

Jiang Cheng goes Traveling Series by gbuzy12 (G, 11k, JC & LWJ, JC & WWX, Light Angst Post-Canon, yunmeng bros reconciliation)

Reeds in the Wind by merakily (T, 26k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Canon Compliant, Character Study, Yunmeng bros Reconciliation, Rabbit Therapy, Sewing Therapy, PTSD, Emotional Baggage, Hurt/Comfort, JC is Bad at Feelings, JC Needs a Hug) 15C)

let the yoke fall from our shoulders by occultings (microcomets) (G, 2k, WangXian, Hurt/Comfort, Light Angst, Character Study, Mentions of Canonical Character Death, Grief/Mourning, Gūsū Lán Juniors Dynamics, Happy Ending, Family Feels, Established Relationship)

~*~

16. Any fanfiction about the xicheng ship.

Audience of One by WinterDreams (T, 181k, XiCheng, WangXian, XuanLi, Modern AU, Celebrities, Inspired by 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Singer LXC, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Everyone Needs A Hug, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Slow Burn, Family Feels, Family Bonding, past emotional abuse, Post-Betrayal, Venerated Triad Feels, Yunmeng Duo Feels, Nightmares, Fluff and Angst, Babysitter Ā-Qìng, Domestic Fluff, SongXiao mentioned relationship, Soft XiCheng, Eventual Happy Ending, implied MingYao)

~*~

17. pls rec some post canon fluff :)

with such a suffering, such a deadly life by cqlorphan (T, 7k, wangxian, post-canon, curses, curse breaking, getting together, angst w/ happy ending, fluff, hurt/comfort, affection, touch-starved LWJ, LWJ whump, cuddling & snuggling, love confessions)

Continuation by thefaceofno (T, 13k, WangXian, Canon Continuation, wwx builds a lotus pond in cloud recesses, Hair Brushing, Angst with a Happy Ending, Light Angst, Pining, gay disaster lwj, Post-Canon Fix-It)

Deeper grows my longing by feyburner (T, 4k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Getting Together, First Kiss, Deeper grows my longing [podfic] by someplacelikebolivia)

~*~

If you didn’t get an answer to your ask here, don’t forget to make use of @mdzs-kinkmeme and MDZS KINK MEME on Dreamwidth. Authors actually do use them for ideas. You may get what you order!***Your prompt doesn’t have to be kink! Fluff, crack, whatever - it’s all good!***

[admirableadmiranda]

jc stans really say things like lwj is almost as guilty for all the things jc is criticised for lol as if lwj tortured random people, declared wwx an enemy, participated in a mass murder that took wwx’s life, was homophobic, kicked wwx out of his home, exposed wwx to his greatest fear lmao like people literally believe lwj not quite knowing how to deal with his seemingly unrequited love when he’s a teenager or a young adult is a crime that’s equal to murder, torture, and betrayal

Does Lan Wangji ever participate in any torture? Now I haven't seen the donghua, but at least in the book and CQL, he is explicitly pushed away from the place where Wei Wuxian chased Wen Zhuliu and Wen Chao to, his fights with Xue Yang, Jin Guangyao and his own family are certainly dramatic, but he always first goes for the disabling attack, then only goes further if necessary. This is why Xue Yang is the only named character in story to die at his hands.

Sorry, little tangent cause I've seen that thrown around a few times and am confused where it even came from because Lan Wangji is explicitly very clear and concise in his actions and that includes battle. He may chop off arms, but his goal is always to end the fight with as few casualties as possible.

Also yeah... what jc stans are usually trying to do is to say "well our boy can't be proven to have done any of these things (cause they erased from their memory all the points where he did) so if you're accusing our boy of being terrible, we'll accuse your boy!" and fail to remember that A: book text and episodes are a thing and we can fact check your claims, and B: they're throwing up a strawman argument so we'll stop talking about JC and start arguing about LWJ instead.

There are some people who are very odd about LWJ out there, I certainly won't deny it. But also I don't engage with them because to be honest, in this limited time that I have to enjoy my fandom, I would much rather spend it writing fic, hanging with my friends and chatting with anons than getting into stupid arguments with people who had decided from the getgo that they were never going to listen to me anyway.

[captain-apostrophe]

20 questions for fic writers

How many works do you have on AO3? 56!

What's your total AO3 word count? 866,338

What fandoms do you write for? Just MDZS/The Untamed, though in my misspent youth there was one multivolume handwritten Lord of the Rings fanfic.

What are your top 5 fics by kudos? 1. we both know better (maybe we don't) 2. the hand is a voice 3. not mad about it 4. hard to say (it's all for you) 5. alone at christmas?

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? I do, though occasionally it takes me a minute to find the juice to do so. I guess it feels nice to acknowledge that I've seen and appreciate the comments people leave!

What is a fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? I don't think there's any contest that Confluence is the tearjerker, though does it count as angstiest if it's technically a positive/bittersweet ending and not actually a sad one? Maybe one of the prompt fics - perhaps Play, where Xue Yang re-enacts a grisly past life's fate.

What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? I'm not sure that's really quantifiable when almost everything I've written has more or less had a happy ending. If it's not cheating to choose a WIP, probably WBKB since the eventual epilogue is about everybody involved having their happily ever after.

Do you get hate on fics? Not generally. I did get some anon hate at one point that was stressful but I don't even remember what it was about. Shipping Jiang Cheng with Nie Huaisang when certain unhinged people wanted JC for themselves, possibly.

Do you write smut? If so, what kind? Yep. The kind is anything I find hot, I guess. Does this mean is it het? Is it vanilla? Well once it was gay noncon between a guy and a very mean mermaid so... I'd say "all kinds".

Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written? Nope! I've written a few short fics putting the characters into other media in the place of its characters (Howl's Moving Castle, GBBO, some Shakespeare) but I don't tend to see the appeal of merging two different casts together.

Have you ever had a fic stolen? Not that I'm aware of, so... fingers crossed!

Have you ever had a fic translated? Someone did start a translation of Not Mad About It into Russian, but that's all I'm aware of.

Have you ever co-written a fic before? Nope, but I also haven't written much that wasn't heavily plotted, planned, polished and generally discussed to death with @megalodont

What's your all-time favorite ship? If we base this on who I've spent the most time writing about it'd be SangCheng, but I wouldn't say I really have one favourite. I like some and not others, and my preference varies.

What's a wip you want to finish, but doubt you ever will? I don't think I should answer this without my lawyer present (aka I would really love to finish every one of them, and a couple planned sequels too, but unless my mojo comes back from the war with a serious second wind I don't think it's realistic to hold my breath for any of it)

What are your writing strengths? Settings. I love to describe a place, to make it a character.

What are your writing weaknesses? Um lately? Getting words onto the page.

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic? For myself? I would have to rely on machine translation or have someone else do it, both of which have obvious downsides. For people doing it in general? It can be interesting when the intention is for the POV character (and therefore the audience) not to know what's being said, but otherwise it's distracting at best and pulls me completely out of the story.

First fandom you wrote for? Lord of the Rings. It was at the height of my Karl Urban phase so probably revolved around Eomer. I wonder if I still have it in a box somewhere.

Favorite fic you've written? I'm really fond of quite a few of them, and it's always hard to narrow anything down to a single favourite (seriously, people have to stop asking me to choose just one of anything!), but Run might be the one I'm saddest not to get through. The vibe was so fun, I loved the magic system, and I think adding that to the source material really elevated it into something quite special.

Thanks for the tag, @mulberrylotus! I know that nobody ever takes "if you're reading this and want to do it, consider yourself tagged" seriously but I'm pretty out of things at the moment so... if you're reading this and want to do it, consider yourself tagged? I love seeing people fill these out and hate the anxiety around tagging folks so.

[pharahsgf]

Feel free to ignore this ask but I'm not really sure how to feel about LQR/Lan clan in mdzs. On one hand I really buy the idea that he loves his nephews and enjoys teaching and in general his teachings are good, as well as the Lan rules. But I do think it's stressed a bit, especially in the novel, that the Lan clan and LQR by extension have strayed a bit from "spirit of the rule" to following and making rules that are very repressive (off the top of my head: don't laugh or smile without cause). And while I know that LQR loves LWJ and had no reason to believe in WWX after everything, I forgot how the discipline whip almost killed LWJ and the scars are designed to never heal and are a representation of ultimate shame. I know LWJ needed to be disciplined in some way bc he did hurt Lan elders but there is this sense that LQR punished LWJ so much hoping that he would break and when he didn't, he doubled down. Idk like I hate the way the fandom engages with the Lan and LQR without nuance but at the same time I don't think it would be out of character for him to continue to try to make WWX and LWJ's lives difficult. I really adore fics etc that explore the idea of him changing for the better though and am really tired of takes that are like nothing gets better and WWX has to deal with both JC and the Lan clan hating him. Its exhausting. You're the only MDZS blog I trust so I just wanted to ramble about this issue to you :)

aw thank you! it's nice of you to say that

wrt lan qiren... i can't fault him for his dedication to the rules and to orthodox cultivation when he is safeguarding hundreds of years of tradition and legacy, and when his attitude allowed him to not only maintain but elevate the pristine reputation of the sect he suddenly had to lead. the teachings and values of the lan have always served him well, and he never had the incentive to re-evaluate his understanding of the rulebook like lan wangji eventually would; as a result, the lan precepts become the framework through which he analyses wei wuxian's actions, and not knowing the important context behind these actions further condemns them in lan qiren's mind.

his treatment of wei wuxian is unfair and lan wangji's punishment is undeserved, but the reason he behaves like this is not because he's an unreasonable abusive conservative who lives to make wangxian's life difficult - it's because, from his point of view, wei wuxian is morally bankrupt and leading lan wangji down a path of depravity in an uncomfortable parallel to the drama that destroyed qingheng-jun. protecting his nephews and his clan are always his priorities and the knowledge available to him, alongside the values that have been instilled in him, led him to strongly believe that wei wuxian was an enemy to those goals. so, imo, if he grew to understand wei wuxian's motivations and the way he fits into the narrative of heroism painted by the lan sect's teachings, the animosity would end. that's what redeems lan qiren to me.

[boxofdice]

Three attempts on answering the ot3 meme for Chengyi, in chronological order.

1

I've kept thinking about this and my first instinct is to go with Sizhui because I like the dynamics I've devised for them, at least in my head.

I think Sizhui and Jingyi would be good for JC and he'd be either awkwardly sincere or the other angle, more experienced and showing them the ropes (if I headcanon him that way, as in not sex-repulsed).

For me, that ship feels more like a Vee of JC/LSZ and JC/LJY with either a platonic or queerplatonic relationship between Jingyi and Sizhui.

But then I thought, what if that's just my bias and not enough in the spirit of the meme?

Which is silly, it's a *meme*, but yeah. Thanks, brain.

So I thought up some more ships that might be, well, still biased but also considering JC and Jingyi's characters a bit and the inherent way I see their ship dynamic.

My problem is that Chengyi feels very contained for me.

As if they wouldn't actually *need* to have someone balance them out.

But it might be fun. So.

My second choice is also kinda biased, Wei Wuxian, but I also encountered a WWX/LJY fic once (which I can't remember if I read or not?) so that was my next idea.

But I'm also fond of Lan Wangji, so, OT4.

It might work?

Three of the prettiest men in the cultivation world.

I headcanon Jingyi as more or less unable to resist that temptation.

I think he and Wei Wuxian could have a lot of fun together, as a ship and platonically, and that might soften some of the emotional baggage of the other relationships involved.

Then, my other ideas are NHS and Wen Ning.

There's fic for the JC/NHS/LJY ship which I have a slight interest in reading one day (there are so many ships I haven't read yet).

There's a bit of power imbalance in it at times that's not quite my cup though.

Mostly hinging on how the author writes and interprets Nie Huaisang's canon actions/motivations and character in general.

It depends. :/ I'm just soft, you know?

I like Wen Ning and am pretty sure Jingyi does, too, and (and I read fic once…) they could probably work something out involving JC?

Even if the range between JC/WN interpretation can go from 'it's complicated' to 'we really hated each other's guts'.

Then there's LXC, and again, I've read fic of that threesome(and even finished it. Mostly.) and Xicheng is moderately common (which means many interpretations but also many angles it might be able to work. Or fail.) but I also found the LXC/LJY relationship interesting.

They're probably not that closely related, right?

Which is one of the questions involved in this, as well as how personal LXC and Jingyi know each other.

Just in the same sect? Knowing of each other but no closer bond?

Cousins?

Mentor and protégé?

2

I'm a bit late with this but I still have some far older unanswered asks, so.

This is almost fast all things considered.

For me, Chengyi is my go-to ship for a fun read, when I want to ship JC with someone he doesn't have age-old baggage with.

Angst is fine but I need some silver lining.

It's pretty hard for me to pick a third for them but I'll talk a bit about the ones I'd consider.

Because I am a JC shipper, they are mostly from that angle first and also because he has connections to the others that Lan Jingyi sometimes lacks.

There's Nie Huaisang, Lan Xichen, possibly Wei Wuxian with or without Lan Wangji,

3

Chengyi ot3 meme

All right, this is my third try to get this answered.

Just a caveat.

I have been thinking this over and always come to the same conclusion: I have already settled on an answer but am scared of my own boldness.

It's because shipping is a very personal thing and sometimes causes backlash.

I don't like backlash (who does?) but I still wanted to answer this.

Every time I thought about a possible third for this ship and went through the other alive characters at the end of canon, I thought: but I want it to be Sizhui!

So I'll throw caution to the wind and say, yes, it's Sizhui.

Jiang Cheng gets followed by two adorable, smitten ducklings.

Now I have ideas about this *sigh*.

I actually headcanon that Jiang Cheng eventually figures out who Sizhui is, or was, either before Wei Wuxian's return or after because Wen Ning follows him on night hunts.

One of my other headcanons is that Jiang Cheng doesn't want him dead, for being a Wen.

It could be my hopeful interpretation of CQL Jiang Cheng but I actually think he would have some scruples about killing children.

(That sounds awful out of context but most people in MDZS are a bit awful, it's a lighter grey and darker grey spectrum.)

The same post on Dreamwidth.

[dragonji]

i think the most surprisingly prevalent premise for wgxn fic that really catches me off guard every time I see it is the sheer amount of time-travel fic, specifically time-travel fix-it fic circa sunshot/burial mounds arcs. Im mostly talking abt postcqueel-release fic btw since that tends to be what I read way more often. Anyways I suppose I can kind of get why that would be an intriguing prompt to explore as an author but if I'm being honest no matter how well-written or interesting a fix it fic is, they almost always fall flat or become just plain unrealistic and cheapen the characters in a way that grates on me like very little else. Will be expanding on this below:

So like the whole Point of the events of sunshot and burial mounds arcs IS that so much of it was motivated by people making the inevitable choice for themselves because of who they are. And yes I acknowledge in certain characters the foreknowledge would absolutely change their actions (particularly lwj- and in turn affect his relationship w wwx- jc, sl, lxc, etc) but imo all that that does is lessen the strength of actual canon.

The reason that these characters are so compelling and fascinating is precisely that they all care So Strongly about other characters/their ideals that the original decisions they made at those times were the only courses of action they saw as an option. And because of that they experience the consequences of those choices and are forever changed and (generally) grow and learn from them. As for the characters whose choices likely would not change even if they were given ability to (wwx, wn and wq, nhs to an extent) they're in the same situation- their morals or relationships or dedication left them with no other options than what they chose originally! But back to my earlier point of those who have possibly-resolvable regrets from their pasts; having a version of themself go back and change events to lessen these regrets feels to me like cheapening the ways they mature (or don't!) because of said pasts.

Take for example lwj (since we know more about him than the others mentioned and also bc I've spent the most time considering him lol): say current-lwj either replaces or advises sunshot-lwj on how to interact with wwx. In either scenario, a lwj with knowledge of his future might be able to make some progress by virtue of acting in unexpected ways and being a better communicator, but for wwx at that time the abrupt accomodation and shift from what wwx expects lwj to think about his cultivation and actions would in all likelihood make him even More guarded and avoidant of lwj, in order to avoid his guilt or the possibility of lwj chosing him over lwj's own standing and reputation and etc. We already see wwx struggling with these issues in his postres life, so adding that to his mental state during SS/BM would undoubtedly make it even worse. For lwj himself, I don't deny that he would feel relief and something like closure at being able to clearly state his intentions at that time, but like I've said- both of them were in situations that had no easy answer, and both would still end up with their own shares of grief and guilt even if they had been able to communicate effectively. And besides that, the aftermath of BM is what launched lwj into questioning and reforming his teachings+priorities+worldview, and without that catalyst it just doesn't feel anywhere as natural or fitting for him to become who he does. Add to that the fact that a majority of fix-its operating on this premise involve wgxn getting together during or shortly after that time as the 'solution' to their conflicts and its just amplifies how Off something like that would be! A romantic/sexual relationship would not have solved the issues either of them were dealing with, and acting like it could just completely ignores what is to me one of if not Thee major hook of the story- the interplay of politics and reputation and personal morals, and how characters choose to act within the varied confines of what is expected of them by others, their families/peers, and themselves.

Never let it be said that I think suffering is necessary for a happy ending but esp with a story like this, The Tragedy Is the Story, yknow? The pain that the characters experience is precisely what makes the conclusions to each storyline so much more impactful, whether that conclusion is rewarding or upsetting. Every single choice made during those arcs hugely affects that character's thoughts and actions postres, and shutting it off midway with a 'theyre fine actually!' just cuts down all of that potential.

[bloody-bee-tea]

Lashing out

What better way to celebrate my 50th Mingcheng fic than with ace!JC and some misunderstandings regarding what non-sexual touches are okay in a relationship. Because JC's and NMJ's opinion on that couldn't be more different.

Jiang Cheng thought that telling Nie Mingjue that he is asexual and will never sleep with him would be the hard part and he wasn’t completely wrong about that.

It was hard, and he hated doing it, because the fear that Nie Mingjue would walk away from him, would call an end to this, was very real and something Jiang Cheng almost dreaded more than having to sleep with Nie Mingjue.

But Jiang Cheng did it, he told Nie Mingjue about it, and Nie Mingjue took it better than Jiang Cheng could have ever imagined. Nie Mingjue promised him that it wouldn’t be a problem, that this wasn’t the only reason he was with Jiang Cheng after all, and that they would make it work.

And Jiang Cheng believes him.

But what Jiang Cheng forgot about is that now he has to be careful. Careful about what he says, what he does, how he touches Nie Mingjue because otherwise Nie Mingjue will get a wrong impression and think that Jiang Cheng does actually want more.

Which he doesn’t. It’s just—it would be nice to cuddle up to Nie Mingjue, is all.

Jiang Cheng has never thought of himself as touch-starved; at least not until Nie Huaisang has mentioned it and then suddenly Jiang Cheng could think of nothing else.

And it is fine with his friends; there are no expectations there so he can cuddle up to his siblings or Nie Huaisang as much as he wants to but with his partners, it’s different.

Jiang Cheng already made that mistake once and he’s not about to make it again.

So he keeps to himself; he makes sure to never touch Nie Mingjue more than is necessary, and he tries to pretend that it doesn’t matter to him.

It even almost works.

~*~*~

When Jiang Cheng lets himself into Nie Mingjue’s apartment, he finds him sprawled out on the couch, hand dangling off the side and clearly fast asleep.

Jiang Cheng can’t help the fond smile that steals over his face at seeing Nie Mingjue this relaxed and adorable and he quickly whips out his phone to take at least one photo. He’s due for a new background pic anyway.

Once that is done, Jiang Cheng quietly steps closer and crouches down next to the couch. It’s not quite what he wants to do; his first instinct was to simply climb on top of Nie Mingjue and sprawl out on top of him, but Jiang Cheng is very aware that he shouldn’t do that.

It could make Nie Mingjue expect certain things when he wakes up to Jiang Cheng laid out on top of him and Jiang Cheng is not about to do that to either of them. So crouching down is the next best thing and Jiang Cheng takes his time to watch a peacefully sleeping Nie Mingjue for long moments.

It takes him almost ten minutes to remember that Nie Mingjue will be grumpy as hell when he can’t sleep that evening and since Jiang Cheng doesn’t know just how long Nie Mingjue has already been asleep for, he decides to wake him up.

Jiang Cheng ghosts a finger over the side of Nie Mingjue’s face and he chuckles when Nie Mingjue frowns slightly in his sleep.

“My soul,” Jiang Cheng whispers and tucks a strand of his hair behind his ear. “You have to wake up.”

Nie Mingjue makes an unintelligent noise and tries to move out of Jiang Cheng’s reach, which of course doesn’t work. Instead Jiang Cheng moves his finger over Nie Mingjue’s nose, clearly tickling him into a more coherent state.

“What?” Nie Mingjue grumbles and blinks sluggishly up at Jiang Cheng.

“Good morning, sleepy head,” Jiang Cheng teasingly says and he realizes the dangerous twinkling in Nie Mingjue’s eyes too late.

Jiang Cheng isn’t entirely sure just how Nie Mingjue does it, but one moment he’s still sleepily blinking and the next he has turned around on the couch and pulled Jiang Cheng on top of him.

“Uff,” Jiang Cheng says when he comes to rest on Nie Mingjue’s chest and he tenses when Nie Mingjue’s arms come up around him, pressing him closer to his body.

“Good morning,” Nie Mingjue mutters, laughter still in his voice and Jiang Cheng makes a conscious effort to relax himself. “Why did you wake me, I was having a nice dream.”

“Nicer than this?” Jiang Cheng gives back and then mentally chides himself because their situation could be suggestive and he doesn’t want to raise any expectations.

“Mh, no,” Nie Mingjue hums. “Good point, my heart,” Nie Mingjue gives back and then seems content to simply drift off again.

“You shouldn’t sleep in the middle of the day,” Jiang Cheng lowly says when Nie Mingjue’s breathing gets deeper by the second and Nie Mingjue startles.

“But it’s such a good time to sleep,” he grumbles and Jiang Cheng huffs.

“I’ll remind you of that in the evening then, when you’re bitching at me that you can’t sleep,” he tells him and Nie Mingjue heaves out a sigh.

“Ugh, why do you always have to be right?” he wants to know but he turns them around again, so they are laying on their sides.

Jiang Cheng is sure he would slide right off the couch, if Nie Mingjue wouldn’t keep such a tight grip on him.

“You love me for it, don’t even pretend,” Jiang Cheng gives back, and even though he knows Nie Mingjue does, even though Nie Mingjue tells him regularly, there’s still that split second of fear where he thinks this will be the time that Nie Mingjue doesn’t say it back.

“You’re right with that as well,” Nie Mingjue gives back immediately, peppering Jiang Cheng’s face with kisses. “But this is comfortable. We can stay like this for a while, right?” he then tries, his voice hopeful, but Jiang Cheng shakes his head as best as he can in this position.

He’s still pressed up to Nie Mingjue’s front, Nie Mingjue’s hand low on his back and Jiang Cheng fears where this will go if he lets this go on. And besides. Nie Mingjue is liable to drift off again the moment they stop talking.

“No,” Jiang Cheng decisively says and pushes away from Nie Mingjue, who fights him on this a moment longer, but in the end he lets go.

“Rude,” Nie Mingjue grumbles as he sits up on the couch and stares up at Jiang Cheng, his displeasure clear on his face. “Why do you have to be so rude. I was comfortable.”

“Yeah, well, I’m hungry,” Jiang Cheng gives back and averts his eyes.

Nie Mingjue might have been comfortable in that moment, but if Jiang Cheng indulges him with that too long, he’ll think Jiang Cheng is open for more, which he very much is not, and Jiang Cheng is not ready for a fight with Nie Mingjue.

All he ever did with his last partner was fight over things like that, always lashing out at the other, and he doesn’t want to do the same with Nie Mingjue.

“Alright, alright,” Nie Mingjue mutters and gets up from the couch, though he does take a moment to step close and steal a kiss from Jiang Cheng.

“Hi, my heart,” Nie Mingjue breathes out and Jiang Cheng can’t help the sappy smile on his face.

“Hi,” he gives back just as lowly and he thinks that this might be okay.

They can do this.

~*~*~

Nie Mingjue announces his arrival with a booming “I’m home!” before he comes into the living-room.

Jiang Cheng looks up from the couch, pausing the movie he was watching and he startles badly when Nie Mingjue simply flops himself down on the couch, resting his head in Jiang Cheng’s lap.

Jiang Cheng awkwardly hovers his hands over Nie Mingjue’s head for a few moments, before he rests one on the top of it and one on his shoulder and his heart beats just a little bit faster when Nie Mingjue slightly turns to smile up at him.

“Hey there,” he says and Jiang Cheng returns the smile.

“Comfortable, are you?” he wants to know and goes warm all over when Nie Mingjue laughs happily.

“So very much,” he replies and then turns around completely so he can hide his face in Jiang Cheng’s stomach.

It’s innocent enough, for now, but Jiang Cheng fears where this might lead, so he pushes Nie Mingjue away, even though he does want nothing more than to hug him tight to himself and never let him go again.

“Quit this,” Jiang Cheng grumbles and catches the slight frown on Nie Mingjue’s face before he makes an effort to smooth it back out.

“Are you okay?” Nie Mingjue asks and Jiang Cheng awkwardly shrugs.

“Sure. How was your day?” he tries to distract Nie Mingjue, who clearly seems to know what he’s up to, but who indulges him anyway.

“Stupid. What are we watching?” Nie Mingjue asks, sounding a little bit upset but he sits down next to Jiang Cheng, keeping a little bit of distance between them.

It does something to Jiang Cheng’s heart that hurts, but he reminds himself that he was the one to push Nie Mingjue away just now, so he should be grateful that he accepts his boundaries. Still, Jiang Cheng can’t help but to scoot a little bit closer, just enough to brush their shoulders together.

Nie Mingjue tenses briefly but then he leans more heavily against Jiang Cheng and Jiang Cheng nods to himself.

This is fine and all he really needs.

No matter that he wants to climb into Nie Mingjue’s lap, or wants to pull him back into his, wants to cuddle throughout the whole movie.

This will have to do. He can’t ask for more, especially not when he can’t even give Nie Mingjue more than this.

~*~*~

Jiang Cheng is in the kitchen, making dinner for them, when Nie Mingjue comes up behind him. He slings his arms around Jiang Cheng’s middle and presses a kiss to his temple before he rests his chin on his shoulder.

It’s nice, it’s comfortable and Jiang Cheng feels like his heart is going to flow over with love, but then Nie Mingjue moves slightly, which presses him much more firmly against Jiang Cheng’s back and Jiang Cheng tenses.

And Nie Mingjue steps away.

“Mingjue,” Jiang Cheng starts, unsure what just happened, but then Nie Mingjue is reaching past him, turning off the stove and moving pots away and Jiang Cheng’s heart sinks.

“I think we have to talk, Wanyin,” Nie Mingjue says and just like that Jiang Cheng sees it all shattered around him.

He thought they were good; he thought he managed to not make Nie Mingjue expect anything, not with his touches or otherwise, but of course he had fucked up somewhere.

Jiang Cheng reminds himself that they agreed upon this when he told Nie Mingjue that he’s asexual, that Nie Mingjue could always tell him when not having sex with Jiang Cheng would be too much, but he didn’t expect it to happen so late after their talk.

“Okay,” Jiang Cheng gives back, hating himself for how his voice shakes, but he follows Nie Mingjue when he walks into the living-room.

Maybe he did raise some expectations, Jiang Cheng thinks, remembering all the touches he allowed between them. Maybe he needs to be more careful in the future.

“What do you want to talk about?” Jiang Cheng asks unsurely, watching how Nie Mingjue paces in the living-room, and he just wants to get this over with.

“I’m a tactile person,” Nie Mingjue finally says when he comes to a stop. “You know that.”

“I do,” Jiang Cheng gives back, because it’s hard to miss how often Nie Mingjue reaches out for him, or how he behaves with Nie Huaisang.

“Okay,” Nie Mingjue says and nods to himself before he straightens up and looks Jiang Cheng in the eye. “If you can’t allow a simple touch, I can’t do this anymore,” he then says and Jiang Cheng’s heart stops in his chest.

“You said you are okay with it,” he breathes out, even though he knows it’s unfair, even though they agreed on something different, but he can’t help himself.

Nie Mingjue said he’s okay with the fact that Jiang Cheng is ace.

“I am fine with not having sex with you,” Nie Mingjue says. “That’s not a problem. But the fact that I can’t even touch you, can’t hug you close or cuddle you? That’s a problem. And if that is part of you being ace, then I’m sorry that it’s a problem to me, but I can’t be in a relationship where I have to think twice about reaching out for my partner.”

“What?” Jiang Cheng asks because it doesn’t make sense what Nie Mingjue just said. “It has nothing to do with me being ace.”

“Then what?” Nie Mingjue wants to know and Jiang Cheng is surprised to see how desperate he is. “Then why can’t you allow me to touch you? Why am I not allowed to cuddle you, or hug you, or fall asleep with you in my arms?”

Jiang Cheng has to blink back some tears, because he wants those same things, but he can’t allow this; he can’t raise expectations he can’t meet and he doesn’t understand sexual attraction enough to know when he crosses a line.

“I don’t want to get your hopes up,” is what he finally gets out, crossing his arms in front of his chest to hide how much his hands shake.

He yearns for Nie Mingjue’s arms, would do almost anything to have him hug Jiang Cheng as close as he just did in the kitchen, but he dreads what comes after.

“What hopes?” Nie Mingjue asks him and he seems honestly confused.

“I’m not going to sleep with you,” Jiang Cheng says, again, but it does nothing to clear the confusion from Nie Mingjue’s face.

“Yes, I know, we’ve been over that.”

“No, you don’t—listen, I—I don’t know when I cross a line, okay?” Jiang Cheng gets out, much louder than he wanted to, but Nie Mingjue doesn’t seem to understand and he’s going to walk away from Jiang Cheng, he just knows it and his heart is already cracking in his chest. “I don’t know, and I don’t want there to be misunderstandings or to give you false hope or anything like that. I learned my lesson,” Jiang Cheng bitterly finishes and sees how Nie Mingjue goes still.

“You learned your lesson,” he repeats and Jiang Cheng nods. “Did your—previous partner do something?”

“He didn’t—I just—we were cuddling and he clearly thought it would lead to more. I try not to do that anymore,” Jiang Cheng explains, not quite able to meet Nie Mingjue’s eyes. “I don’t want to disappoint you or have a fight about this.”

The irony of his words is not lost on Jiang Cheng, because they are having a fight about this anyway, but what he wasn’t prepared for is for Nie Mingjue to walk up to him and pull him into his arms.

Jiang Cheng wasn’t quick enough to untangle his arms, so now they are trapped between them, and his face is uncomfortable smashed into Nie Mingjue’s shoulder, but it’s still the best place to be in.

“You said no sex, ever,” Nie Mingjue whispers into his hair. “So until you tell me that you changed your mind or that you want to try something, it’s a no. No matter what you do. It will always be a no, and I know that. I respect that. Us cuddling or you sleeping on me, or my head in your lap is not going to change that. It will always be a no until you explicitly tell me otherwise.”

Jiang Cheng has to blink fast to keep the sudden tears at bay, but he can’t quite hide the fact that he’s shaking all over.

“It’s just—my heart, I’m tactile, and that is something I can’t do without. If you’re touch-averse then—” Nie Mingjue trails off but Jiang Cheng can tell what he wants to say anyway, and it’s enough to make him untangle his arms enough to sling them around Nie Mingjue’s middle.

“I’m not, I’m not,” he rushes to reassure Nie Mingjue. “Huaisang would say I’m quite the opposite, really,” he says with a weak laugh. “I want you to hug me and cuddle me and sleep with your head in my lap, I do,” he promises. “I just always thought I had to make sure that I don’t lead you on by allowing that.”

“You’re not leading me on,” Nie Mingjue says and pushes Jiang Cheng away from him. “You said no, it doesn’t get much clearer than that. And I would never assume anything until you verbally tell me, okay? So you can’t lead me on, because the only thing I’m really expecting when I cuddle you is that I get to cuddle you, if that makes sense,” Nie Mingjue awkwardly says and Jiang Cheng immediately nods.

“It does, it does make sense,” he says, his voice trembling with his tears and he hides back in Nie Mingjue’s arms. “And I want that, too.”

“Thank the gods,” Nie Mingjue breathes out and Jiang Cheng realizes with a start, that Nie Mingjue doesn’t want to walk away from this any more than Jiang Cheng wants that.

“I love you. And I want to be tactile with you, too, without having to second guess everything,” Jiang Cheng admits and Nie Mingjue almost crushes him, he’s hugging him so hard.

“You can, my heart, you can. I love you,” Nie Mingjue gives back and Jiang Cheng dares to believe him.

It’s hard to do anything else with how relieved and sincere Nie Mingjue sounds.

~*~*~

When Jiang Cheng comes across a sleeping Nie Mingjue on the couch again, he doesn’t hesitate. He simply climbs on the couch as well and lays down all over Nie Mingjue’s back, just like he wanted to do that very first time.

“You’re heavy,” Nie Mingjue grumbles into the couch, clearly unpleasantly woken up, but Jiang Cheng can’t find it in himself to care about that.

He gets to lay on Nie Mingjue without having to worry about a single thing, so Nie Mingjue can be grumpy all the wants.

“And you’re rude,” Jiang Cheng gives back, just a moment before Nie Mingjue moves under him.

Also much like the first time Jiang Cheng doesn’t quite understand how Nie Mingjue manages it, but when they come to a rest again, it’s Jiang Cheng who is being pressed into the couch by Nie Mingjue’s weight.

“You’re heavy,” Jiang Cheng gives back, mostly because he feels it’s only fair.

“Shut up,” Nie Mingjue mutters, hiding his face in Jiang Cheng’s neck, clearly content to fall asleep again right there.

“You shouldn’t sleep here, my soul,” Jiang Cheng mumbles as he cards his fingers through Nie Mingjue’s hair, lightly scratching at his scalp as he does it.

“Then you shouldn’t be this comfortable or do that,” is the slurred answer he gets and Jiang Cheng huffs out a laugh.

“Fine, you get half an hour,” he decides and goes boneless under Nie Mingjue.

He is quite heavy, but Jiang Cheng loves that weight on him, the reassurance and the steady presence and he wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

In hindsight it seems so incredibly stupid that he deprived both of them of this for so long, but Jiang Cheng decides that he’d rather enjoy the moment right now than dwell on the past.

And so he slings his free arm around Nie Mingjue’s middle, hugging him tighter, while the other keeps up with his ministrations.

It’s not long before he drifts off as well, Nie Mingjue already slightly snoring away on top off him, and it’s much more than half an hour before Nie Mingjue wakes him by peppering kisses all over his face.

It’s a very good way to wake up, Jiang Cheng decides.

Link to my ko-fi on the sidebar!

[vrishchikawrites]

Hello, this is the prompt I wanted to send you.

WangXian fic set during the sunshot compaign after one of their famous fights. They stumble upon an array that shows the future and It activated when WWX touched it. The array started showing glimpses of married and in love WX going on dates (yunmeng date), night hunting together, kissing, pillowtalks and aftercare, adopting children, teaching at the CR... YLLZ! WWX feeling jealous and bitter and not understanding why. The reveal that LWJ's husband is WWX, his falling out with the Jiang sect and JC's role in his death. Basically a fic where YLLZ! WWX finds out that after all these hardships he is finally going to be happy, have his own family and be with the love of his life where he is loved, cared for, respected and appreciated. And longing to have that future with LWj.

It can be a fix it fic with a happy ending please.

Posted on Ao3 here

Alternating POV - Wei Wuxian - Lan Wangji - Wangxian - A bit angsty with happy ending - Mature. Betaed by Moonyju.

I hear your heart beating in your chest

Wei Wuxian isn't the one to dwell on the past or look towards the future. He lives every day as it comes and faces every challenge without carrying burdens forward.

He has never planned for his future, not really. Some vague dreams here and there, but nothing real. Wei Wuxian learned at the tender age of four that the future is unpredictable. One day you wake up to your mother's warm smile and your father's gentle words. The next day, you have lost those things forever. Life has proven this to him repeatedly.

Future is uncertain, present is the only certainty Wei Wuxian believes in.

So, when he and the illustrious Second Jade of Lan stumble into an array while rescuing a few civilians. An illusion of sorts surrounds him, obscuring the real world outside the array. He doesn’t pay much attention to what it reveals. Instead, he focuses his attention on the array itself, carefully examining its intricacies. A single glance is enough to tell it is some sort of temporal array, a shade of what cultivators use for preservation purposes. But it also seems to have some form of an illusionary element to it. He tilts his head to the side and crouches down to study it.

“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan calls, almost in warning but Wei Wuxian is content to ignore him for once. Lan Zhan has always drawn too much of his attention and it rankles now more than ever.

Another quarrel, another needless argument about Wei Wuxian not understanding the depth and implications of his actions. Sometimes he wonders if Lan Zhan intends to sound as dismissive or haughty as he does when he confronts him about Mo Dao. He likes to believe Lan Wangji is above such petty things, but the man’s dogged refusal to accept Wei Wuxian’s path and his relentless quest to fix something that can’t be fixed is getting on his last nerve.

“Wei Ying,” He looks up at the sharp tone, meeting a pair of golden eyes in question only to be arrested by something akin to embarrassment tinting Lan Zhan’s stoic features. He glances towards the illusion and stills, somewhat stunned by the scene before him.

It is Lan Zhan. Or a version of him. He’s broader, with more mature features and a much sharper gaze. But that’s not the most astonishing thing, no.

Lan Zhan is… kissing someone.

It is someone shorter than him, with long hair tied up and away from a fairly pretty face. Wei Wuxian eyes the way Lan Zhan cradles the face and guides it towards his kisses, gentle and full of affection.

It entrances him for a moment. He can’t help but stare at the scene, taking in how Lan Zhan seems to lean in again and again, to press closer like he can’t get enough. His heart races and he doesn’t really understand why it is suddenly so…

“Wei Ying!” He drags his eyes away from the illusion and looks at his Lan Zhan, who seems increasingly flustered despite the relatively calm expression on his face. His ears are bright red and he’s pointedly not looking in the illusion’s direction.

He smiles teasingly, “Aiya, Lan Zhan, it looks like the older version of you is more relaxed.”

“It is a trick.” Lan Zhan protests immediately but Wei Ying dips his eyes down to scan the array again and shakes his head. There are several clues that highlight the array’s purpose clearly. Lan Zhan is no less knowledgeable than he is so he must see it too.

The denial is already fading from the Second Jade’s features and Wei Wuxian stands up, brushing his knees absently. He glances at the illusion and feels something strange pool in his stomach, something like dread, when he sees the pair again. Lan Zhan is pressing the strange person to the tree behind them, pinning her- no-

He peers closer, swallowing when Lan Zhan’s hand disappears into the person’s robes. Lan Zhan’s… companion is clearly not a woman, that much was apparent at first glance. But it is even more apparent when those robes fall open under Lan Zhan’s questing fingers.

Somehow, that feels worse.

He struggles to maintain his composure and fixes a grin on his face, “Well-” The scene shifts abruptly and Wei Wuxian barely withholds a gasp, his eyes immediately drawn to the older Lan Zhan’s peaceful face. He’s sleeping, his arms wrapped loosely around the same companion from before. The room around them seems like it is in Cloud Recesses, perhaps Lan Wangji’s home?

His eyes turn back towards Lan Wangji and he takes a careful breath, heart aching for some reason. He pointedly doesn’t look at the man’s companion and silently turns to look at the array again. The time element is solid, undisturbed and clean. More than a simple illusion, a clear glimpse of the future.

But…

He looks up and the scene has changed again. Lan Wangji is with that man again. They stand side by side and the man is leaning against the Second Jade brazenly but Lan Wangji doesn’t seem to mind. He has his hand low on the man’s back, a gesture that reads distinctly possessive. The scene wouldn’t be out of place in any family. There’s a husband, there’s a wife, there’s a child clinging to the wife’s robes, and there’s a young man standing before them with a smile that speaks of affection.

The array seeks to show people a glimpse of their future. Lan Zhan is seeing his life as a settled man of a good family.

Wei Wuxian doesn’t exist.

He takes a careful breath as that thought settles in his mind. He has always known his path is treacherous but something in him burns to see life move on so peacefully without him.

The world has never had much space for him. When he was a child, no one had space to let him rest. As a youth, his place at the Lotus Pier was small, surrounded by thorns. The space keeps shrinking and shrinking ever since he stepped out of the Burial Mounds. He imagines at some point it will vanish altogether and Wei Wuxian will be forced to vanish with it.

Melancholy doesn’t suit him but the ache of it strikes him powerfully now.

The sight of Lan Zhan moving on – they’re not even friends, what does he need to move on from? – shatters something in him.

He can’t summon a smile.

Wei Wuxian locks his jaw and ignores his racing heart as the scene goes on. The young boy saying something to Lan Wangji’s partner and the partner grinning in response.

Lan Wangji’s expression is soaked in affection, despite how stoic it appears. The corners of his mouth are softer and there’s a fond light in those golden eyes. Wei Wuxian has never seen something so beautiful.

He watches as the young man leans down and plucks the child off the ground and carries him away, both of them waving to Lan Wangji and his partner until they’re out of sight.

Wei Wuxian’s heart shudders when Lan Wangji discreetly pulls his partner closer and buries his nose in his hair, expression content.

Suddenly, it is unbearable.

He brings his thumb to his mouth, ready to tear into his flesh and disrupt the seal with his blood. It would take very little to get them out of here safely. Lan Zhan has seen enough good things about his life, there’s no need to linger.

No need for him to find out that Wei Wuxian wouldn’t exist during this peaceful time. He knows the man cares about him enough to be upset if he is lost.

Just as he’s about to bite into his thumb, fingers wrap around his wrist tightly.

Wei Wuxian looks up to see Lan Zhan gazing at him with wide, stunned eyes.

```

Wangji accepts what is happening almost immediately after Wei Ying shakes his head. He has always had a more intuitive understanding of spells and talismans. It is rare for Wei Ying to be mistaken in such matters.

So, this is his future. A glimpse of things that will happen a few decades down the line. Wangji is uncertain what to make of it. His ears feel warm as he witnesses the intimacy between partners. There’s enough affection written on his older self’s face to know the relationship is real.

He looks at his… companion. He doesn’t lack beauty. A delicate countenance, inky black hair, and a pleasing form. He looks almost alarmingly similar to Wei Ying, with only small differences. There’s an echo of Wei Ying in his smile and even the way he tosses his head back and laughs reminds Wangji strongly of the man beside him.

Only Wei Ying has never looked at him like that. This man’s face is flushed with passion, lips bitten red by his partner’s kisses. There’s a teasing sparkle in his eyes that makes his breath still in his chest for a moment. It reminds him of the expression Wei Ying wore all those years ago when they ran across the rooftops in Cloud Recesses.

How… is it possible for this man to be so similar?

He glances down at the array, trying to decipher what it seeks to accomplish. Wangji has never seen anything like it but there are enough familiar elements in it to deduce its purpose. It is clearly designed to show them their future, to create a sort of mirror that reflects images of their future life into the past.

Wangji tears his eyes away and turns to Wei Ying, a few questions already forming in his mind.

Wei Ying’s expression arrests him.

Wangji stills, unable to move his gaze away from Wei Ying’s face. There’s something bitter about his grimace and flinty in his eyes. He watches the scene with an almost animal expression, lips pursed in displeasure – furious – Wangji realizes with an indrawn breath.

For a short, heartbreaking moment, he fears it is disapproval, disgust for a cutsleeve relationship.

That impression doesn’t last.

Wei Ying’s hand goes briefly to his chest and something very much like open, raw pain crosses his face, wiping away the anger. The expression… is nothing close to disgust.

It is a short, unguarded moment and it ensnares Wangji completely. His heart races in his chest as several realizations happen in an instant.

Wei Ying is an ever-smiling sprite, mischievous as they come. He rarely shows any true sorrow and Wangji has only seen him show true anger three times over their acquaintance. It is easy to become convinced that nothing can touch the formidable Wei Wuxian. But standing there, looking at Wangji’s future with a bitter expression, Wei Ying seems shattered.

The expression is devastatingly open. In that instant, Wangji has no problem understanding Wei Ying better than he has ever before.

Wei Ying’s expression twists before every inch of vulnerability is gone from his face. It is wiped clean and almost cold, colder than he has ever seen Wei Ying be. He locks his jaw and brings his hand to his mouth, his movements stiff and sharp.

Wangji shoots forward, wrapping his fingers around Wei Ying’s wrist. He feels the pulse hammering under his fingers and his own heart races in an echo of it. Wei Ying’s eyes are sharp and defensive, hiding the pain that Wangji had glimpsed clearly before.

In contrast, Wangji feels almost breathless with elation, “Don’t,” he says, pulling Wei Ying’s hand away from his mouth. His hand doesn’t shake but he feels shaken. Wei Ying scowls at him, which is also something he has never done, “Don’t.”

“Lan Wangji,” Wei Ying says curtly, “This isn’t for me to see and we have seen enough. Let go.”

Wangji tightens his fingers, unwilling to let go. He studies Wei Ying’s face carefully, finding it unreadable once again. In fact, Wei Ying is uncharacteristically quiet, not teasing him about his future partner, not commenting on the cutsleeve relationship, not even mentioning his older self’s appearance.

The silence speaks loudly.

'Don't nurture foolish hope,' Wangji thinks to himself but it grows in him anyways. It is strange that a single glimpse of an unguarded emotion is enough to alter Wangji’s perspective so much, but it does and now he isn’t inclined to let the matter go.

“Don’t destroy the array,” He requests, “Something isn’t right.” Wei Ying should be present. The array shouldn’t focus on Wangji’s future only. He doesn’t know who the strange man is but he can’t imagine being with anyone but Wei Ying.

Is his heart so fickle? Can it stray from Wei Ying that easily?

It is unsettling to consider it.

“We can figure it out once we’re away from this illusion,” Wei Ying says, making a visible effort to muster his usual nonchallance but Wangji sees they way his eyes flicker away, looking at the couple in the illusion briefly before glancing down at the array like he can’t stand the sight of it.

“Wei Ying-”

“Aiya, er-gege, what are you doing to your poor Wei Ying?”

Wangji glances sharply at the illusion as Wei Ying stills, his arm going tense in his grasp.

The pair in the illusion are now closer and somehow their conversation is audible. The voice is strange but the cadence and rhythm is entirely Wei Ying, teasing, playful, pleasant.

Wangji’s grip tightens as he sees his future self pull his companion onto his lap, a spare Lan forehead ribbon in his grasp. It has the clan markings, it belongs to a clan member but Wangji’s ribbon is already on his forehead.

He swallows and feels the pulse beating against his fingers speed up as his future self wraps the ribbon around his partner’s forehead.

“Wei Ying must wear it for today’s ceremony,” His older self says and his Wei Ying sucks in a sharp breath, his hand going lax in surprise, “Xiongzhang has requested it.”

“Well, if Xichen-ge has requested it, this one must obey,” Wei Ying sounds… happy. And it is Wei Ying. The face is different but the smile, full of mischief and life, is the same.

“What… is this?” His Wei Ying asks, baffled. He looks down to study the array more keenly, trying to determine why the illusion looks different.

Wangji is hearted to see the stiffness of his features melt into curiosity, “Lan Zhan, why would the array alter my appearance and not yours?” He asks, no longer attempting to pull away from Wangji.

The illusion is still playing in the background, showing what will happen several years down the line. But Wangji isn’t curious now. The present is so much more interesting.

Wei Ying is looking at the array, the conversation in the background is cheerful, full of intimacy and affection, the pulse against his fingers is still beating rapidly.

There’s a flush crawling up Wei Ying’s neck.

Wangji observes. He sees the blush crawl further and settle on Wei Ying’s cheeks. He sees teeth digging into soft lips, anxious. He sees eyes flicker towards him, towards the illusion, before moving away.

‘How can I bear it,’ He asks himself and gives in. He pulls the hand in his grasp to his mouth, pressing his lips against the center of Wei Ying’s palm and closing his eyes.

---

Wei Ying fears his heart will fail if this continues. The lively chatter of a couple in love surrounds them and his Lan Zhan is pressing his precious face against Wei Ying’s hand, cool but utterly content. The feel of his petal-soft lips against the rough skin of his palm is enough to drive him to distraction.

He doesn’t know how to react or what to say. He doesn’t want to pull his hand away but there’s a strange, almost unsettling sensation low in his stomach, not unpleasant, but very unfamiliar. Wei Ying has flirted with people before but he has never felt any true attraction towards them.

But the longer he remains inside this array, the more he learns about himself.

Lan Zhan moves, taking a step closer, dipping his lips lower to brush against Wei Ying’s exposed wrist.

His breath trembles as he gasps. The sensation is almost sharp, knife-like. He feels his entire body change and respond to it. He feels his fingers curl, his hair stand on end, and his body lean forward.

There’s a flash of teeth.

“Lan Zhan,” His voice is shamefully raw, everything he feels is written in the tone of it. Lan Zhan reacts immediately and Wei Ying goes, helpless against him. Lips slide over his and a warm, strong body presses close. The kiss is harsh, full of tongue and teeth. Desperate like Lan Zhan has been holding himself back and has finally been granted permission.

Wei Ying sways in place, lightheaded as a tongue slides over his and licks the roof of his mouth. ‘What is this,’ he wonders dazedly. There are strong fingers around his wrist and neck, showing no indication of every letting go. There’s a slight popping sound in his ears and he absently notes that the illusion has dispersed but Lan Zhan doesn’t give him time to think.

He yelps when Lan Zhan moves a hand down his back and grabs him under his thighs, lifting him up in a smooth movement. Next thing he knows, he’s pressed against a rough surface and his lips are captive again. His skin burns wherever Lan Zhan has touched it. His mouth feels raw and hot when they pull apart.

He stares when bright golden eyes look at him, edged with heat that he didn’t think Lan Zhan was capable of feeling.

It takes a moment for him to collect his thoughts under that direct gaze but he manages, his bruised lips curling into a teasing smile, “Er-gege, how shocking!” He leans forward, confident that Lan Zhan won’t drop him, “Look at what you’ve done to your poor Wei Ying!” He lifts the hand Lan Zhan had kept captive, showing off the redness he can feel around his wrist.

Lan Zhan glances at it but there’s no remorse in his expression, not even a hint of apology.

Wei Ying feels a delighted laughter bubble in his chest at this new revelation. The reserved and taciturn Hangjuang-jun is capable of such passion! “My, my, who would have thought you’d take advantage of me like this?” He drapes his hands around Lan Zhan’s neck, bringing his lips close to a flushed red ear, “You didn’t even ask, just held me tight and took what you wanted. How bold! How shameless!”

“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan’s voice is lined with warning but Wei Ying doesn’t care. He feels utterly safe, utterly content, for the first time in years. What can touch him when he is in Lan Wangji’s arms?

“Is it always going to be like this?” He teases, “Now that you know I am to be yours, probably your husband or will it be wife? Will you kiss me… maybe even fuck me, whenever you wish?”

“Be silent.”

“Aiya, Lan Zhan, how can I be silent now? You have awakened my curio-” Another fierce, biting kiss interrupts him and Wei Ying laughs, delighting in Lan Zhan’s eagerness. Everything fades, all serious and practical considerations hold no meaning. Later, when he is alone in his tent, he will think about how unreachable this dream is, but now he is happy to submit to Lan Zhan.

---

War progresses as it must. Wei Ying continues to remain on his cultivation path but his touch is a bit gentler now. He isn’t as ruthless as he used to be.

It takes effort and patience. It takes many bitten back reprimands and angry words. It takes months and months of careful questioning before Lan Wangji understands the incredible, breathtaking sacrifices his beloved has made. Not even Wei Ying can stop him from seeking out Wen Qing and asking for her assistance. Not even his brother can stop him from offering shelter to her family in exchange. Not even Jiang Wanyin’s bitterness can stop Wangji from protecting Wei Ying.

He does what he must because he understands. That Wei Wuxian, the one from the array, had endured terrible strife. More strife than Wangji can ever allow his Wei Ying to suffer.

Wei Ying will survive and thrive.

Wangji will make sure of it.

[plan-d-to-i]

In addition to the post you reblogged from jaebald, another instance of emotional turmoil that can be compared to jc choking wwx after the fall of lotus pier is when jzx dies. After lotus pier, jc chokes wwx and blames him for what happened and if that part was in wwx's pov, it would be more convincing that jc was overcome by the trauma he just experienced and taking it out on the closest person to him. But we get that part from his pov and he clearly says that he knows wwx is not to blame. Him choking wwx then doesn't feel like a reaction due to trauma because he knows the wens are to blame. Also, he never even apologizes to wwx for the verbal and physical abuse he did when he's calmed down. On the other hand, after jzx's death, wwx blames wn and he's in such an emotional state that wq has to knock him unconscious. But even in such a state, wwx never tried to kill wn and he never states to himself that he knows wn isn't to blame. In that moment wwx genuinely believes it's wn's fault but when he wakes up and is out of that emotionally compromised state, he tells wn that wwx is the one at fault for the situation and wn isn't and wwx declares he will go to koi tower and face the consequences as he's the one to blame. A person's reaction after their trauma and when they've had time to process their emotional turmoil tells you a lot about that person and it says nothing good about jc

Totally agree. jc makes the choice to just blame WWX for everything, to use him as a punching bag. It's not a logical choice, it all hinges on a totally unrealistic if the Wens had come later- but it's the habit of a lifetime. He's been blaming WWX, and thinking the worst of WWX since they were kids; he has his mother's encouragement on top of it, and he has always resonated with his mother's judgement and been in harmony with her world views. Even though he was right there watching as WWX endured his whipping and was ready to sacrifice his hand but YZY didn't feel like she could sacrifice her pride to a servant and set off the whole bloodbath; even though he himself would've died in that cave if it wasn't for WWX's intervention- because let's face it Wen Chao wasn't going to murder heirs of Jin and Gusu Lan in front of them all and then LET THEM GO to tell the tale. Most importantly jc never backtracks on that decision to blame WWX. He blames him still in the temple at the end.

For his part WWX too is momentarily overcome with a haze of loss and anger. How easy would it have been for him to lose himself in that to excuse himself of culpability by saying it had just been Wen Ning. After all it was clearly Wen Ning's hand in Jin Zixuan's chest. But he shoulders the blame almost immediately.

“Wei WuXian felt extremely ridiculous. It wasn’t Wen Ning’s fault at all. It was his own fault.”

People fixate on jc because he gives them a free pass w their shitty behavior but at the same time they can't handle the consequences of it. They keep writing 'fix it fics' to absolve him of the repercussions of it and paint him as the the victim.

trld: Qualifying hurting others with personal trauma doesn't absolve jc or anyone else.

[wangxianficfinder]

Fic Finder

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1. Hi! I’m looking for a fic I read on AO3, I don’t remember anything really more than that there was some kind of big entity in a town which noone but Wei Ying could see? The other character’s would be like ”nothing is wrong with this town :-)”. Thankful for help! Have a nice day and thank you for your work <3

#1, can u ask the requestor is Wei ying lived at the edge of the woods/forest ??

FOUND! Not What We May Be by brooklinegirl (E, 29k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Mutual Pining, Bedsharing, casefic, Hurt/Comfort) though its not only wwx who sees it. Great fic.

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2. Hello! I'm trying to find a fic where LWJ was cursed/blessed by his mom with a truth spell for LWJ's safety? It's not really the typical, your average "I speak the truth" one, but it's how LWJ can hear lies in the form of sounds that only he can hear! If i remember correctly, LXC knows about it and asked NMJ (blunt truths) and NHS (white lies) to help him control it. There's also scenes where he's stumped because WWX almost always speak the truth (thus making no lie detector sound for LWJ — which boggles him so much because no one always speak the whole truths even in CR — except the couple of times when he was speaking about his time in Lotus Pier). Thank you! (I'm pretty sure this is a fic by @i-like-plan-m but I can't remember the name rn 😅 - Mod C)

FOUND! in the shadow of moonlit flowers by Reverie (cl410) (T, 48k, wangxian, LXC/NMJ, cloud recesses, NHS & LWJ friendship, developing relationship, LWJ pov, minor injuries, autistic LWJ, implied/referenced child abuse, aka YZY warning, genius WWX, light angst, hurt/comfort, WWX protection squad, WIP) this one perhaps?

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3. hi i’ve been looking for a fic that i read a while ago but can’t remember what it’s called. Basically WWX is hired by LWJ for company/sex and he’s kinda like a sugar baby and stays at his house a lot. LWJ is a rich lan and both end up having feelings for eachother but bc LWJ started basically as WWXs client of sorts there’s some confusion. I remember at one point WWX gets sick and lets LWJ come to his house which he usually wouldn’t do with past clients and LWJ helps him shower and there’s a line where he talks abt the intimacy of letting LWJ wash his crotch (pretty sure he lives w wen qing) Then i think LWJ takes WWX to like new york or something on a work trip

these were the only things i could remember lol @st3wartladle​

FOUND? The Sugar Daddy AU Series by vesna (mrsronweasley) (E, 106k, wangxian, modern, sugar daddy, sex work, dom/sub, aftercare, semi-public sex, exhibitionism, bondage, boundary setting, relationship negotiation) specifically the first part A Sure Thing

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4. Hi! For the fic finder, two fics I enjoyed but apparently failed to bookmark, and now cannot find back...

A) Complete, medium length: Lan Zhan steps into the path of Wen Zhuliu coming for Wei Ying, loses his golden core. Afterwards, he tells no one but goes into seclusion. WWX is fine, and eventually comes to visit in Gusu. LWJ is reclusive as he is not a cultivator anymore (so he grows old faster than WWX), but they still build a connection. No solution for the golden core, just dealing with the new facts of life for LWJ, and building back some hope.

B) Similar in vibes, also complete: WWX travels to an alternative universe, where JC died and WWX is somehow the Jiang Sect Leader. He meets LWJ at a conference. The new universes' WWX was not friends with LWJ. LWJ's leg was still broken after the Wen Indoctrination and never healed, so LWJ is wheelchair bound (pushed by Jingyi). WWX builds up a friendship with LWJ but I think in the end he goes back to his own universe. This one sounds like that one fic where the theme was something like 'be careful what you wish for', iirc WWX wanted to see either his parents or JYL alive 🤔 ~Mod L

Any help would be much appreciated! As well as any other dimension travel recs anyone has. Thanks again for this wonderful blog! @vasterthanempires

I found 4A myself! It was love some littler things by shipyrds

4B remains elusive, although the comments so far seem to refer to the same fic. still looking for it!

4A)

FOUND! love some littler things by shipyrds (G, 17k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Angst, LWJ Loses His Golden Core, Canon Divergence, No Golden Core Transfer, Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst with a Hopeful Ending, Disability)

4B I have read but also cannot recall! Additional details, it was an alternate dimension talisman WWX created, and when he leaves any changes he might have cause are erased but somehow wheelchair!LZ starts an actual friendship with local!WWX? not sure if it was a bonus chapter or an endnote but I recall I was happy that it was a hair ending for both sets...

4B)

FOUND? empty as the sky by incendir (T, 23k, wangxian, JYL & WWX, CSSR & WWX, be careful what you wish for)

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5. Howdy fine folks of the internet! I'm looking for a Twitter thread fic that disappeared from my bookmarks during some twitter turmoil, if any of yall can help. It was a modern au where wwx got kicked out of the Jiang home and stayed in a shed on school property while using the school showers and eating leftovers from the cafeteria overnight, until lqr, lxc, and nmj catch him. It had some really great depictions of panic attacks and I want back. Thanks

FOUND! Where is home? by SpicyRamen_10969 (M, 16k, wangxian, modern, high school au, implied/referenced child abuse, implied/referenced homophobia, coming out, not Jiang family friendly, supportive LQR, good sibling LXC, fluff, angst w happy ending, WIP)

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6. Hi, I'm looking for a fic where lan xichen had harsh realization of his wrong doing by supporting jin guangyao. (If this is actually an Itmf let me know and I will move it - Mod C)

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7. Hi, I've been trying to find this wangxian fic so badly. Like canon divergence lan xichen notices that wei ying likes lan zhan during cloud reases arc and starts convincing his teachers to change their style for him and his ADHD Genius and teach him about his own self worth so as to steal him away from Jiang sect. Like Jiang chan has an argument where Wei Ying finally stands up to him and it's so good. Think its ABO, dont remember. Please help

FOUND? might be 💖 Hoards and treasures by apathyinreverie (T, 21k, WangXian, Siblings, Family, not particularly Jiang friendly, YZY Bashing, slightly darker Gusu Lans, LXC being the best brother, Some manipulation, But with the best of intentions, and not between wangxian, Dragon LWJ, Fox WWX, Smitten LWJ, Fluff, perfect happiness, adorable WWX, Romance, Some worldbuilding, courting) although it's FoxWWX and DragonLans not A/B/O

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8. Hello <3 I'm looking for a modern AU fic where Lan Wangji contracts Mo Xuanyu as a companion for the night but mistakes him for Wei Wuxian in the hotel they would meet up. So they spend the whole night together and the chemistry is off the charts until Mo Xuanyu sends him a message later (or in the morning after, I can't exactly remember) saying that he never showed up. Lan Wangji tells Wei Wuxian about the misunderstanding and Wei Ying, who was thrilled with his attention, gets pretty hurt and they end things pretty tense. I remember that it's the anniversary of the passing of his mother or her anniversary, and Lan Wangji didn't want to spend it alone. After he explains that to Wei Ying, they try giving their date another chance. That's all I remember for sure that happens, I hope these details are enough!

FOUND! Many happy returns. by orange_crushed (E, 25k, WangXian, Modern AU, Mistaken Identity, Misunderstandings, Grief/Mourning, Loss of Parent(s), Implied/Referenced Suicide, Past Suicide of a Parent, References to Depression, Anxiety, Therapy, References to Anti-Depressant Medications, Escort Service, Loneliness, Everybody’s Abandonment Issues, Angst and Fluff and Smut, Angst with a Happy Ending, Domestic Fluff, Moving In Together, Oral Sex, Penetrative Sex, Hopeful Ending, Recovery, References to Escorting/Sex Work but No Actual Escorting/Sex Work)  

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9. I need help on finding a fic. It's about how wei wuxian created his own sect from a past syndicate movements, he transformed it into a merchant/shops/silk road or something similar. He never went with the jiangs or any sects. When he was still on the streets he got betrayed by an "esteemed" cultivator because of false accusations (vendor told the cultivator that he caught wei wuxian stealing from him, but in actuality wei wuxian was at the wrong place at the wrong time), it was another kid that stole a toy from a merchant, if I'm not wrong. He was also a part of an illegal underground fights where he "won the bet" against the strongest fighter. He's also claimed by wen qing to be the killer of a murder because the only one who knows around needles is herself, and she met wei wuxian and taught him the arts of needles. There's also a wei wuxian - xue yang connection by said syndicate because the chang sect was a part of it.

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10. hi! i was wondering if you could help me find this one fanfic that i can't for the love of me remember at all!!!

the details are a bit hazy, but basically burial mounds era something happens that fucks up wei wuxian mentally and physically and he starts dreaming about things in the future,,,, meanwhile the whole jianghu is plunged into chaos with disasters and that one specific bird thing.

i think there was one time wei wuxian did a "no shit serlock!" joke but then said "oh wait, wrong timeline."

FOUND? To Ride A Stygian Tiger by Madyamisam (M, 93k, WIP, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Time travel, Angst with a happy ending, BAMF WWX, Dark LWJ, Slow burn, Family Feels, Misunderstandings)

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11. hwoooooo! :D back at it again with the asks, thank you so much for your services to the community!

im looking for a time travel fic for my bff!

it's in Lwj's pov in which he dreams about an older version of him, who tells him to treat wei ying kindly, and how the future lwj's world is completely frozen as a result of his sacrifice in order to safe a different timeline.

Future Lwj gets a happy ending in the last chapter!

FOUND? 💖 Looking at You Always, All Ways by Keysmashed T, 29k, wangxian, time travel fix-it, fluff, nostalgia, mild angst w/ happy ending)

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12. hi! i'm looking for a fic where there was quarantine and wangxian went to stay at the family house (it was so big like a mansion or an apartment i don't really remember).

remember a scene where jingyi was having a panic attack (?) and wei ying came to calm him down. they were at the balcony. i think they were adopting jingyi.

i don't know if it is finished or deleted.

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13. hello!! i hope y’all are doing well ☺️ the fic I’m looking for was definitely on ao3 but idk if it got deleted or I just can’t find it again but here’s what I remember

1) Wei wuxian died taking the arrows to save jin zixuan’s life. Initially people celebrated until the (sentient) burial mounds retaliated and destroyed most of the jin sect and people started panicking and trying to bring back wwx (jin zixuan, jin ling, and Jiang yanli all live)

2) parts of Wei wuxian’s diary was scattered amongst the cultivation world and Jin ling buys the pages and develops a sort of parasocial relationship w his dead uncle who he idolizes based on the image he creates of him thru wwx’s writing

3) i think one of the latest updates (it wasn’t finished when I read it) is wwx coming back as Mo xuanyu and running into jin ling and jiang cheng who recognize him.

Im pretty sure the wens are alive as well (not 100% tho). If this rings any bells please let me know - I’ve seriously looked for this for a solid couple of weeks and I loved it a lot 😭 thank you!! 💓

FOUND? To Be Named by Suibian_613 (T, 18k, WIP, WangXian, XuanLi, Canon Divergence, WQ is out of character, Everyone is probably ooc, canonical violence, Canonical Character Death, Somewhat Sentient Burial Mounds)

FOUND? I shall pay for all your sorrows by MidnightLightHowlite (G, 3k, JZX & WWX, XuanLi, angst with bitter ending)

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14. A fanfic where Wei Wuxian is found by Lan Qiren as he saves him from something and then faints. It’s a modern AU, Lan Qiren takes him to the hospital and later they learn that he has fits and he becomes a teacher at the school. Lan Zhan and he marries later on and adopts Wen Yuan from an orphanage run by Wen Qing and Wen Ning. @hebbbb

FOUND? Against Entropy by Duochanfan (M, 40k, WangXian, NieLan, Modern AU, Attempted Rape/Non-Con, of an underaged character, Amnesia, Drama, Romance, Family Feels, Hurt WWX, Older JC, Homelessness, Angst with a Happy Ending, Protective LWJ, Protective LXC, Supportive LXC, Protective NMJ, Supportive LQR)

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15. Hi I want to ask is there a wangxian fanfiction where lan zhan is a prince and wei wuxian is a huli jing and becomes his consort by forced marriage but instead wei ying is against this loveless marriage and so everytime they sleep it's always hate s£× until he gets preg and gives birth to a yuan and tries his best to give him love until he dies protecting a yuan from a wen attack and that day he realises wangji actually loved him dies and gets reincarnated and tries to fix things @random-online-reader

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16. Hi there! I am looking for a fic that takes place during the war against the wens and mo xuanyu does the self sacrifice to summon wwx who is thought to project himself as his original form, but (SPOILERS) he is immortal and lwj is the reincarnation of his lover. Baoshan Sanren also makes an appearance after the last stand against wen ruohan

FOUND? Old Foreshadows by protos_metazu_ison (M, 15k, WangXian, YLLZ WWX, BAMF WWX, War, Universe Alteration, Sunshot Campaign, Rated For Violence, Timeline What Timeline)

~*~

17. Hello, can you help me find a fic?

Generally, all I remember was that WWX went back to the past (Studying at GusuLan Arc) after dying during the Burial Mound Siege. He was so traumatized over it that he has decided he does not want anything to do with the cultivation world anymore. His personality changed (from cheerful to downright depressed, from lively to soulless) so much that everyone began to notice and wondered what was up.

However, I remember a scene which pushed him to flee Gusu. He was walking and listening as NHS talked and talked trying to get him back to his old personality. They met NMJ on the way. WWX on pilot mode said that he (NMJ) has heart demons and without ado removed the resentful energy lingering inside NMJ. This shocked the Nie brothers, the Twin jades and JC (the latter two having just arrived and witnessed WWX manipulating resentful energy).

WWX obviously panicked, packed his belongings and flees from GusuLan because he thought they would kill him again due to his manipulation of resentful energy.

Please help me find this fic. I've been searching the web for weeks. Sadly, my browser history was disabled at that time and I don't remember the title. @heratheslytherinqueen

FOUND? Possible Works 2 - Numb by Hauntcats (M, 6k, wangxian, angst w happy ending, unhappy WWX, time travel fix-it)

FOUND? Without end by barisan (M, 70k, wangxian, major character death, time travel, suicide attempt, hurt/comfort, depressed WWX, protective LWJ, good uncle LQR, bad parents JFM & YZY, not YZY & JFM & Jiang friendly, implied/referenced child abuse & self harm, BAMF WWX, WIP)

~*~

18. So there was this fic in which wei wuxian modified nei huaisang's fan or something like that so it can be used as a weapon while in CR and also at some point nmj wrote a letter thanking him and asking him what he would like as payment but wwx replied that it was a gift for a friend

I don't think this was a major plot point of the story though. Thanks

FOUND? Eyes Wide Shut by Netrixie (T, 65k, LXC/NMJ, wangxian, canon divergence, no sunshot, everyone lives au, enemies to friends to lovers, identity porn, mistaken identity, misunderstanding, slow burn) when I read that I immediately thought of this fic just bc it sounds so similar, but it's lxc that gives nhs the fan, and nmj gets mad at lxc for it. and also it's nielan. maybe this is what you're looking for?

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19. Hi again! I'm in need of help for finding a fic that I forgot to bookmark AGAIN🥹

How i remember it, It's how WWX died and get "resurrected" as a ghost thing by another character (could be Hua Cheng, could be Luo Binghe idk they definitely wore robes with the color red and black lol). So WWX started chatting with his "savior" and they told him that he can grow powerful by eating other demons in the BM(?) But as he grew powerful, he also shapeshifted as a white tiger for a while because he needs to hunt to maintain his human form, and by doing so he needs a lot of demon meat so he needs to catch food with his tiger form a lot (I'm kinda confusing myself if WWX started as a tiger from beginning or not, but it definitely involves him as a ghost/tiger!)

Other details that I kinda remember: 1) he re-introduced himself to the cultivation world as "Wei Wuqian" or something similar, he thought it was funny 2) nearby people who lived around the place WWX would hunt depicted him as a guardian/god and would gift him some spicy meat as prayers 3) said people would defend him when cultivators were trying to hunt this weirdly nice, babysitting as a secondary job, only likes his meat spicy tiger kitty that they call "evil spirit, dangerous and needs to be gone" 4) I think he has white hair but can change to black, it could be somewhat glowing hair but I'm not sure about this detail 5) LWJ definitely tried the "give big kitty spice and he'll play nice" trick he got from the village people to see if it was a malevolent ghost or not 6) tiger!WWX had been written eating a corpse in the fic at least once

FOUND? Wuqian, the Local God of Yiling by Grace_ShadowWolf (TaubeLePigeon) (M, 77k, wangxian, WWX & LSZ & LWJ, major character death, canon divergence, angst w/ happy ending, god WWX, Chinese mythology & folklore, pining, temporary character death, WIP)

~*~

20. Hi, I'm looking for the the story I've read before. I think it's about Wuxian are cursed to feel pain each time Jiang Wanyin close to him at Cloud recesses. It's kinda Jiang Wanyin bashing. I think Wei Wuxian took the cursed meant for Lan Wangji.

FOUND? I’ll Take the Path of Thorns by Admiranda (G, 6k, wangxian, cloud recesses study era, curses, not JC friendly, clever WWX, baby wangxian)

~*~

[pocketfulofrecs]

It's Friday and we're here with another Author Spotlight!

It’s impossible for you to be in this corner of fandom and never have heard of Vir_Abelasan. She has written some of the most interesting Wangxian fics we have read, a shade darker than usual, but so engrossing. When we want to read something a little savory, we go back to this author.

She has written 49k words in 5 fics, and we can’t wait to see what else she will come up with.

Her fics:

It’s we that you are for - [explicit | 2.5k | LWJ/WWX/LXC pwp]

to be wielded by your hands (our post) - [mature | 3k | competence kink]

Visitations - [mature | 18k | wip | modern au - corporate espionage]

Like stones on an unseen board - [not rated | 11k | dark lan wangji]

Symmetry (our post) - [mature | 13k | dark sizhui]

Dee’s favourite: I love Symmetry but my favorite happens to be Like stones on an unseen board. I have a special fondness for dark LWJ who is just as devoted to WWX as canon LWJ is. This fic has the potential age difference and teacher-student relationship but they don’t really get together in it. I like that, I like how LWJ recognizes how Jiangs are dimming WWX’s light and does things to get WWX away from them, even if it involves manipulation and subtly widening the divide between the Jiangs and WWX. Dark in a way that eventually benefits WWX.

Ju’s favourite: Ohhh I loved Symmetry. I loved to see JC getting his just deserves by Sizhui. The fic is very dark, and in many moments I was completely blown away and so angry. I love when reading makes me feel things, and I felt a lot of things reading this one. But as dark as it gets in some points, it makes sense in the story. And then we get a happy ending that is so good and perfect. Made me cry.

The Interview:

Q. When did you start writing fics? Did you have fandoms before this one?

A. Somewhere around the early 2000s with the Buffy the Vampire Slayer fandom, and BtVS was very prolific with crossover, which just led to more fandoms, mostly Western TV series. I wrote a lot of the Dragon Age trilogy afterwards, and a lot of Pacific Rim before finding MDZS.

Q. What made you start writing for MDZS?

A. Honestly at first I was here for the porn, because the Wangxian porn is bountiful and tender and exquisite. But then I read the novel and was enamored with how much more nuanced everything was, especially the many recurring themes and motifs related to social classes and personal vs familial/communal responsibilities, which as an Asian person you don't often get to dig into in the oftentimes Western-leaning fandom spheres.

Q. What’s your favourite fic you’ve written?

A. In the MDZS fandom it's Symmetry, because it's literally the fic I wanted to read upon completing MDZS but was not able to find. One of the saddest thing in canon for me is the lack of consequences for any of the gentry cultivators' actions in the past, and while it's realistic to the world building, I just really want an alternative where someone could go around an inherently broken system and make it so perpetrators actually pay for their crimes and less people in general becomes collateral.

Q. What’s your favourite type of fics to read?

A. Smut, because I'm just really bad at writing it. And oh, how the MDZS fandom delivers - Pure smut, sad smut, painstakingly tender smut, existential smut, it has everything! But Wangxian smut in particular is almost always a treat because there's just always that undercurrent of trust and having a person who's just for you in every sense of the word despite everything else happening. It's such a good, affirming feeling.

Q. What’s your favourite comment? Or type of comment?

A. Any comment is always a delight! From just incoherent screaming to details of which lines spoke to them the most, every comment is a reaction and stories are out there to create conversation in the first place.

Q. What motivates you to write?

A. Writing has always felt like problem solving to me, and fanfics in general has always been really interesting to write because there's the inherent conflict and problems written into canon, but also the matter of the fandom's perception of the source material to play with and solve.

Q. Who’s your favorite author?

A. There's so many fanfic authors throughout the years who are just amazing and hit a lot of very profound places a lot of published works didn't go to, so it's really hard to choose just a few. But thank you, every single fan author out there, you've really made a lot of people's days (and lives) better with your writing.

Q. What is your favorite trope to read and/or write?

A. I'm particularly fond of the trope of characters who are normally amicable or accommodating just going apeshit, both literally or figuratively. Because both in fandom and in real life, kindness and compromise in someone are often mistaken as a free pass for others around them to be terrible.

Q. Do you have any advice for new authors?

A. Write what you feel strongly about, I guess? And it's sometimes helpful to have an objective to the whole thing, for the times when it seems the story is going nowhere or you get stuck in a particular aspect of it. Sort of like a thesis statement, so whenever you fumble you have something to refocus on.

Q. What do you think is the most important element in writing? Plot, characterization, relationship?

A. Characterization carries you a long way since they're the vehicle to bringing the readers to where you intend them to be, but I also feel like structure helps a lot with stories too. Just the way you scaffold a narrative, like laying down the kind of path you want your readers to follow and experience along the way to the end.

~

Check out their stories on ao3 and remember…

Comments and kudos feed the author’s soul.

[scarletjedi]

untitled Untamed time travel au but make it Mingcheng PART 2A

@piyo-13

Part 1: The Setup

Part 2A: GUSU REVISITED (part 1)

EDIT: Part 2B now up!

y'all...I tried to do one part, but this notefic is quickly becoming fic, and I need to keep it small enough to fit on tumblr, lol. The second half of this should be up in the next day or two!

Okay, the next day they arrive in Gusu, have the run in with Zixuan, which....almost goes the same? Zixuan still buys out the inn, but WWX saw this dude, who made Yanli happy, die (and while JC says it wasn’t him, he still feels that guilt) and JC looks at him and sees Jin Ling’s father, and they just... leave. Do not engage. Perhaps with a look at each other like - we need him to see her for herself, but we don’t want to put her through the pain of losing him.

...okay, JC can’t leave without saying something along the lines of “we’re in Gusu to learn, but also to form alliances. Open your damn eyes, and you might actually make a friend” - Zixuan is shook, but Mianmian looks at JC assessingly. I am here for “isolated and therefore socially awkward Zixuan” and I think it’d be hilarious if he takes this as a sign that JC wants to be friends. So, he will kind of randomly show up where JC is, like a cat trying to signal that they’re friends by mirroring you? Luckily, JC speaks “stray animal” and eventually figures out that Zixuan isn’t trying to spy on him but trying to make friends. It eventually leads to a conversation where JC turns to him and just asks “Why don’t you like my sister?” ...but i’ll get to that.

So, they leave, and this time they double check that WWX has the invitation. He does, but they’re still delayed just a bit going up the mountain, so when they reach the top, Lan Wangji is waiting.

The party stops when they see him, mostly because it looks like he’s barring entry, but JC sees the way LWJ looks at WWX and *knows* that somehow, LWJ is back too.

Now, in The Untamed canon (which we’re in) I fully believe that WWX was in love with (and knew it) LWJ before he died, but either felt that his love was not returned, or that LWJ’s love would end if he knew, the time was never right, etc - so, he’s looking at this like and opportunity to present the side of himself that he thinks LWJ wants.

Meanwhile LWJ is like “THERE IS MY GREMLIN ALIVE AND WELL. THIS TIME I WILL LOVE HIM AND STAND WITH HIM NO MATTER WHAT.”

But when JC announces themselves and WWX pulls out the invitation, LWJ says “Wei Ying” in that WAY of his and WWX freezes because a) he realizes that LWJ is also back b) this doesn’t fit into his plan and c) stall. So he does that awkward laugh, flicking his nose, like “Ahaha, Lan Zhan. It’s me.”

And LWJ *SMILES* “It is good to see Wei Ying.”

And WWX *melts* because he is weak, and JC is like “kill me now” (JYL is confused but thinks its sweet) and everyone else is just *confused*.

Not taking his eyes off WWX, LWJ gestures for Yunmeng Jiang to follow him, and leads them (well, WWX and by proxy everyone else) to the student dorms where they will be staying. (WWX walks next to LWJ, and there is something about the way they fit together that makes JC *feel things* all over again, because here was one more thing WWX lost because of *him* and—

When they arrive at the dorms, the other disciples and Yanli all retire, but JC stays because if LWJ is back then they need to talk before JC leaves those two to “count each others eyelashes or whatever they do when they’re alone together” and the absolute bitchy-ass angry *look* that LWJ sends him has JC standing taller and WWX stepping between them.

“Ayia, Lan Zhan, there’s no need for that. Jiang Cheng and I talked it out. We’re good.”

Lan Zhan looks over at WWX, softening for a moment, before bringing the heat back for JC. “He killed you.”

“You-!” JC clenches his fist, and is thrown because there *aren’t* sparks because Zidian is on his *mother’s* wrist, and it’s enough to make him settle, enough for WWX to step in again and say:

“That fall wouldn’t have killed me if— If I hadn’t lied to him, then Jiang Cheng wouldn’t have had every reason to believe I would survive that fall.”

*That* causes a reaction, a widening of his eyes that would be subtle on any other face, at the implication that Jiang Cheng hadn’t been trying to kill him. But, it doesn’t make the frown disappear. “He did not stand with you.”

“Neither did you!” Jiang Cheng snaps, going for the *jugular* without even realizing, and LWJ just fucking *wilts*

“That...is my regret.”

But before he could say anything else, WWX spoke again.

“Look, there’s no reason to rehash the past. I’m alive! And I know what I need to do to not be bad again, but I would really appreciate it if my brother and my soulmate” and didn’t THAT cause JC’s eyebrows to rise “didn’t hate each other.” Suddenly, several things about the last few years made a lot more sense.

“I don’t hate him,” Jiang Cheng said, as Lan Wangji said “Wei Ying is always good.”

When *that* caused the three of them to stare at each other again, Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. “Look, we need to talk soon about this whole time travel... thing, but I want nothing to do with whatever this” and gestures between them “is. So, I’m going to bed because I have been awake for two days straight and I would like to sleep. Figure it out!” and Jiang Cheng turned and went to find his bedroom (which he shared with WWX. Considering the way they were looking at each other, JC was pretty sure he’d be spending the first night without a roommate. Again).

MEANWHILE, outside, Lan Zhan and Wei Ying are left staring at each other. (Well, WWX stares after JC for a minute, mouth open, but that fades quickly when he sees Lan Zhan staring at him, all intent.)

Wei Ying would normally begin to fidget, but he’s transfixed, heart in his throat, without a clue as to what to do next and—

“A-Yuan.” Lan Zhan said, and Wei Ying’s focus sharpens.

“A-Yuan?!”

Lan Zhan nodded. “I found him, after. He was sick. I brought him here, gave him the name Lan to hide him.” He opened his mouth as if to say more, but fell silent.

Wei Ying was staring with shining eyes. “He lived? My little radish...” he trailed off, staring into the distance. He frowned, shaking his head. “But Lan Zhan, why would you—”

“I should have been there,” Lan Zhan interrupts *interrupts* angrier than he had ever sounded, but even Wei Ying can tell that it’s not directed at him. He cools quickly. “I will not make the same mistake.”

He catches Lan Zhan’s eye again and falls silent. “Oh.”

And Lan Zhan steps back, like he hadn’t intended to let that slip. “If Wei Ying does not feel the same—”

“I do!” Wei Ying bursts out, stepping forward and reaching out, not quite touching. “I do. Feel the same,” he said, quieter this time, for the two of them. Lan Zhan’s expression doesn’t change, but something shifts and Wei Ying knows him well enough to know it as *joy*

And, Lan Zhan reaches out and takes his hand.

(Yes, they use the next several months to actually talk though their relationship, but this is effectively a speed run from the way they feel in Episode 1 to the steps of jinlintai, bypassing all the *plot* that gets in the way of their romance, but whatever, it’s my fic. If this was a wangxian fic first, then I might do the “WWX needs to get a clue” thing he has going in the book, but.... Honestly, I *adore* the idea of *gremlin couple wangxian* on what is essentially their honeymoon in gusu. Like - pre-sunshot Gusu is not *prepared* for post-Yiling Laozu LWJ.)

The next morning, JC arrives to classes with the rest of the Jiangs, not at all surprised to see Wei Ying standing with LWJ (though everyone else seems to be weirded out by it, which may be because they’re standing far too close). LWJ nods at JC, who nods back, grimly pleased to see that there was no longer an open front of hostility. JC wasn’t foolish enough to think it was gone completely, but at least they should be able to discuss business when necessary. (And some part of his mind absolutely began planning the wedding. WWX was Yunmeng Jiang, and if JC had anything to say about it, he would REMAIN YMJ until he was damn sure to remember that he can’t get rid of Jiang Cheng that easily... and JC would be DAMNED if he let Lan Xichen steamroll the wedding prep, which he absolutely would, hopeless romantic that he was).

They enter and settle into their usual spots, though LWJ hesitates when he realizes that his seat would not let him watch WWX. JC continues on to sit in his old seat, determined to see *as little of this as possible* and turns to look at Nie Huaisang, who—

Oh, sonofabitch, Nie Huaisang was back too. How the fuck did their ritual have enough power to drag *four souls* back in time, especially one from *wherever the hell WWX was* JC widened his eyes at him, clearly saying *WTF* which had Nie Huaisang giving him a *look* from behind his fan, which fluttered, agitated. JC rolled his eyes, cutting them over to WWX, who was blatantly staring at Lan Wangji, chin propped on his palm. (And if LWJ had his head tilted so he could look back, well, *most* of the class probably couldn’t tell). Incredible. Jiang Cheng turned to look at JYL, who was hiding a smile behind her sleeve, when movement behind NHS caught his eye.

Meng Yao. Oh, that wasn’t awkward at all. Nie Huaisang flicked the corner of his fan, and JC turned back aground, knowing they would talk later, and then they were all standing as Lan Qiren walked into the room.

Which was when it dawned on Jiang Cheng that he would have to take these classes again. Judging by the soft whimper behind him, Nie Huaisang realized it, too.

The class runs the same, as clear as Jiang Cheng can remember, even if the recitation of the rules seems occasionally pointed at Lan Wangji, which is odd. He doesn’t dwell on it, however. He’s gotten good at looking like he was paying attention while thinking of other things, and Jiang Cheng had a lot to think about.

~*~

Like before, WWX invites NHS to go fishing (and JC isn’t sure if he realizes that NHS has also come back yet - in fact, he’s pretty sure he doesn’t), only this time, JC agrees to go with them and WWX pulls LWJ along, leading the group far enough ahead that JC and NHS end up waking behind. NHS keeps up with looked wide-eyed and confused until they leave the main areas for the backwoods.

“So,” Jiang Cheng starts. “Something went wrong.”

“Obviously,” Nie Huaisang hisses, snapping his fan closed. “I woke up in the same room as him.”

JC winces, because yeah, awkward. “I’m a little surprised he’s still alive, actually.”

NHS’s jaw clenched, and JC was reminded very strongly of NMJ. “No one would support flat out murder, even if they don’t really care about the victim.”

“And it’s messy,” JC offered, dry. NHS looked at him from the corner of his eye.

“It’s so hard to get blood out of white fabric,” he agreed and JC laughed.

THAT gets WWX to spin around. “You laughed!” he accuses, pointing a finger at JC.

“So?”

“So I haven’t heard you laugh in years, Jiang Cheng!” he pouts. “Why do you laugh at his jokes and not mine.”

“You are an *actual child*--”

Then, of course, NHS gasps, his fan falling from his hand. JC, catches it, reflexively, startled at the horror he sees on NHS’s face as the show drops. “Wei-xiong, you— but you—”

WWX laughs awkwardly. “No need to worry, I’m —” probably going to say something about not being evil anymore, or not following the demonic path, but NHS cuts him off.

“Back from the dead!?”

Which is when JC remembers that they used Baxia in the ritual, and if his core was enough to bring back WWX, then maybe...

“Da-ge!”

MEANWHILE, in Qinghe, Nie Mingjue wakes up, which is odd, considering the last thing he remembered was dying. Perhaps he didn’t die? Unless the doctors had some new pain medications, he didn’t feel as if he had just had a near-fatal qi-deviation.

Tentatively, he opens his eyes and sees...his bedroom ceiling. How long was he sleeping that they brought him from Lanling to Qinghe? His door opens and he’s reaching for Baxia before he can think — and stops when he recognizes Nie Zonghui (though not before Zonghui notices the aborted movement). “Sect Leader....troubled night?”

Nie Mingjue snorts. “That’s one way to put it.” There’s something rattling around the back of his mind, some detail that doesn’t quite add up as Nie Zonghui helps get him ready for the day. It’s not just that Zonghui doesn’t seem surprised (or relieved) to see him up and awake, it’s the names that Zonghui mentions in is reports — names of disciples who are, like Zonghui himself, long dead.

It’s when Zonghui mentions that a messenger bird had arrived from Gusu that morning, carrying word that Huaisang had arrived safely and that Meng Yao would be leaving tomorrow to return to his duties that the other shoe dropped.

“Zonghui, there’s something I forgot to tell Huaisang. I need to send him a message, the faster the better.”

Zonghui gave a short bow. “Consider it done.”

BACK IN GUSU

Nie Huaisang was pacing atop a long, flat rock on the river’s edge. It wasn’t a very long boulder, maybe 5 or 6 steps at most, but it was dry so Jiang Cheng wasn’t too worried about him slipping. Besides, Lan Wangji was sitting only a few stones away, playing a soft melody on his guqin.

Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian were both in the stream, robes and pants hiked up to keep them from getting too wet, as they waited to catch their dinner. Jiang Cheng remembered getting upset about WWX fishing their second night there, blatantly flaunting the “no killing” rule, but if LWJ felt like indulging his soulmate, what the fuck, then who was Jiang Cheng to complain.

On the rock, Huaisang was plotting out loud, starting ideas and rejecting them just as quickly. “You know, if you put this much effort into your studies this time, you might not have to come back again,” JC called over. Nie Huaisand didn’t even break his stride, just flapped his fan irritably in Jiang Cheng’s direction.

WWX darted forward, pulling a wriggling fish into the air in triumph. “Jiang Cheng, catch!” He tossed the fish, and Jiang Cheng caught it with ease. He considered, for a moment, throwing it at Nie Huaisang, but he was getting hungry. He tossed the fish into the bank, where it wouldn’t flop back into the water. Lan Wangji side-eyed it, warily.

“You know, he’s not actually done anything wrong yet,” Wei Wuxian said. “Can you really hold him accountable for actions he hasn’t taken?”

That made Huaisang stop. “To a certain extent, yes, I can.” That got him a *look* from both LWJ and WWX. “Look, all the decisions we make are influenced by the lives we live. And no, as far as I can tell, Meng Yao didn’t come back with the rest of us - and I still don't’ know why you came back too, Lan Wangji,” LWJ makes a gesture that is far too elegant to be, and yet totally is, a shrug, “but so far, Meng Yao’s life is *exactly the same* as the Meng Yao who committed those acts. That means Meng Yao is the same man who WILL make those choices, barring a MAJOR shift in the way he views the world.”

“Can we cause that shift, then?” Wei Wuxian asked. “I just don’t know if ‘kill him dead’ is always the best course of action.”

Nie Huaisang’s eyes narrowed, a fraction of the coldness Jiang Cheng had seen that day seeping through, before his expression cleared a bit. “It would be a touchy subject for you, yes, but Meng Yao is not Wen Ning.” Wei Wuxian flinched, and, surprisingly, it was Lan Wangji that spoke.

“One cannot change another’s mind,” he said, vanishing his guqin and rising to his feet, one hand behind his back. “One can only show the path; only they can choose to walk.”

“And we have the path to show him,” Wei Wuxian argued. “Don’t we have a responsibility to try, knowing the damage he can do? If we know we have the opportunity to change things and save lives, are we not bound to try? Is that not why Jiang Cheng was sent back in the first place?”

“I’m fine with killing him,” Jiang Cheng said. “He deliberately uses his own weakness to learn the vulnerabilities of others, and then uses that as leverage to get what he wants and then discard them once his objective has been met. He uses Jin Zixuan’s better nature against him. He used Mingjue’s sense of fair play against him and then used his biggest fear to kill him, and he used Zewu-jun’s kindness as a shield.” He looked up at Nie Huaisang. “Though, if you’re right and he’s back too, Meng Yao might not live long enough for us to do anything about it.”

“Oh no,” Huaisang said, voice dryer than dust. “What a tragedy.”

“His information was key in winning the war,” Lan Wangji said. “Can we win against the Wens again without him?”

“Hey, yeah,” Wei Wuxian added. “Speaking of - am I going to have to...” he trailed off, miming playing a dizi.

“You better not!” Jiang Cheng snapped. Wei Wuxian looked at him in surprise, then smiled sadly.

“No, you said not to, and I won’t refuse a direct order from my sect leader,” he said. “But that doesn’t change the fact that I know how.”

“Meng Yao wasn’t actually that good a spy,” Nie Huaisang said, a faint frown between his brows that Jiang Cheng didn’t trust at all. It meant he had noticed something and was putting pieces together that Jiang Cheng wasn’t sure he wanted known. “More than once his information was either wrong or outdated. A lot of the correspondence was kept for our records, and I went back to check once I had my suspicions about him.”

“You think he was playing both sides?” Jiang Cheng asked. Nie Huaisang fluttered his fan and didn’t disagree.

Between them, Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian caught more than enough fish to feed Huaisang as well, and he and Lan Wangji were both invited back to the Yunmeng dorms to eat with them and their sister. Yanli was surprised, of course, but rolled with it well enough. Luckily, she had chosen to make a soup that was in line with Gusu Lan’s dietary restrictions, so Lan Wangji was able to join them. WWX and JC exchanged smug looks when Lan Wangji blinked down at his soup in surprise, and began to eat more quickly.

Later that night, while WWX was walking LWJ back to his rooms, Yanli poked her head into JC’s room. “Second Young Master Lan seems to have taken quite a liking to A-Xian,” she said.

JC nodded, because that was certainly one way to put it.

“Which makes sense, A-Xian can be very charming,” she continued. “But from what the other female disciples tell me, Second Young Master Lan is ...” he paused, and Jiang Cheng filled in:

“A giant stick in the mud?”

“A-Cheng!” Yanli scolded, but there was laughter behind her voice. “...essentially, yes.”

Jiang Cheng sighed. He had no idea what to say here. He was never good at lies, never LIKED lies, preferring to neither confirm nor deny another’s suppositions when the need for secrecy was necessary...and he had never been able to lie to Yanli. Never wanted to. And besides, Nie Huaisang hadn’t covered this possibility with him.

“A-Jie,” he said, “There’s something I want to tell you, but it’s going to sound like a lie even though it’s the truth. I need you to hear me out, and to believe me, and I will do whatever I can to convince you that it’s real and true.”

And...he tells her. Flat out, just tells her about living the next ten years of his life - the end of her engagement, the indoctrination in Qishan, the burning of Cloud Recesses and Lotus Pier, the death of their parents, losing his core, gaining his core but losing Wei Wuxian, the War, her marriage to Zixuan, A-Ling, Nightless City, Nie Mingjue, death after death after death — and Nie Huaisang, like vengeance made flesh, with a crazy, desperate plan.

“So, yeah. They’re close because they’re, like, in love or whatever.”

“Because they’ve known each other for ten years.”

“Seven,” Jiang Cheng corrected. “They only had seven.”

Yanli looks a little stunned wild-eyed. She had looked sad yet resigned when she had heard about her engagement ending, hopeful when she heard about their wedding. Her eyes had shone suspiciously when she heard about Jin Ling...a few tears falling when she heard about Qongyi pass and Nightless City.

“Do...” he began. “Do you believe me?” he asked, voice small and hating it, but he couldn’t stand it if Yanli thought he would make this up.

Slowly, she nodded her head. “It sounds...wild,” she said. “But I know my A-Cheng. He is honest, and would not make up wild stories like this. So, if A-Cheng says it, it must be true.”

“A-jie,” He said, and had to stop, his voice choked off, and when Yanli leaned in to hug him, his tears were sweet with relief.

~*~

The next complication came the next day, at the presentation ceremony, when, once again, Wen Cho showed up to interrupt Yunmeng Jiang’s gifting. It took everything in him not to punch Wen Chao in his smug face with Sandu unsheathed, and Wei Wuxian was a dark, simmering presence next to him. Somehow, the steps played out like they had before - a brief exchange lead to swords drawn, lead to Xichen stepping in and Wen Qing soothing tempers with quick words.

Jiang Cheng wasn’t prepared to see her again. Her, or Wen Ning, who was a remarkably still shadow behind her. When they left, his eyes stayed lowered towards the ground. There was nothing to make Jiang Cheng think that there was something different, except the long running knowledge that he had the worst possible luck.

WWX was strangely unwilling to approach Wen Ning first, though he clearly wanted to. Some misplaced guilt, perhaps. He still clung to LWJ’s side, which was in no way avoidant behavior, WWX, but Jiang Cheng was surprised when Wen Ning found him first.

“I knew it!” Jiang Cheng cried out, to everyone’s surprise, even Wen Ning. He gestured at Wen Ning. “WWX’s here because he’s tied to me, and Wen Ning here is tied to Wei Wuxian.”

“That still doesn’t explain Lan Wangji,” Nie Huaisang said, tapping his fan against his cheek.

“Nothing explains Lan Wangji.”

“Aiya, Jiang Cheng, so mean!”

None of this has much of an effect on the present moment, however, save that it causes Nie Huaisang to adjust his plans *again*. “No one else has better come back!” he demanded. “All of these calculations are hard, and I am *delicate,* Jiang Cheng.”

“Yeah, a real wilting flower.”

Later that night, just before curfew, a missive arrived to Nie Huaisang from his brother. Huaisang walked as fast as he could manage from the Nie Quarters to the Jiang, bursting into Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian’s room, holding the letter aloft, speaking as soon as he’s through the door: “It’s him! He’s alive! Da-ge’s back!”

Huaisang slammed the letter on the table, reaching for the nearby inkbrush, quickly grinding some ink to circle letters on the page. There, written in an otherwise standard letter reminding Huaisang to mind his studies and practice his saber, was the phrase: Do Not Trust Meng Yao.

TO BE CONTINUED....

[crossdressingdeath]

1/2 after a year in fandom I've grown to dislike JC, but I didn't always and I've read a fair few reconciliation fics because that's something I used to be interested in, and I've gotta say I don't think JC stans give him enough credit. at the very end of the book he STARTS to get some development, the "take care" scene was him realising he's been unreasonable and deciding to try and move on and let go of at least a little bit of his anger

2/2 but then 9/10 times they just make JC go right back to square one, angry and entitled and brooding over how much WWX "betrayed him" and blaming him for everything that went wrong in his life. I don't even like JC and honestly I'm almost offended on his behalf? at least I think he's capable of growth 

Oh, absolutely. They take a character who was starting to realize that his behaviour was wrong and turn him right back into the whiny man-baby he was just getting away from being, going on and on about how WWX betrayed him by not leaving people to die. It really is like... so do you like this character or not, because you clearly have a very low opinion of his ability to learn from his mistakes!

[tracer85s]

MDZS fics i treasure (3)

parts 1, 2

Bet Your Heart by Vamillepudding

[general, lan wangji/wei wuxian, 14k, completed]

wwx decides to seduce lxc during his stay in gusu. spoiler alert, he seduces the wrong brother. this one definitely made it into my favourite humour fics, it’s lighthearted with the usual mutual pining and some hurt/comfort with an ALMOST bed sharing (you’ll see what i mean). the line that got me cackling over this was “i’ve taken a vow of abstinence”, ugh this fic is just so cute

cloudy autumn heaps the sky by anatheme

[teen and up, lan wangji/wei wuxian, 23k, completed]

DRAGON LWJ AND FOX WWX. GEGE WWX. SCREAMS. oh my god i just read this today and i am in love. this one veers towards fantasy, but the world building isn’t as different as the one in mdzs, there’s just some little additions and they’re well integrated. their first meeting is on the cloud recesses rooftop and they still have a sword fight i’m crying. ugh just strangers to friends to lovers gege wwx and didi lwj, with wwx spoiling lwj, lots of bed sharing and hints of arranged marriage? this baby’s got it all. GO READ.

Covered in Bees by ScarlettStorm

[teen and up, lan wangji/wei wuxian, 8k, completed]

modern beekeeping wangxian au. yes you read that right. bees. THIS IS SO ADORABLE AND FLUFFY, i love meet-cute fics so much and this one’s a fresh take on it. it’s just wwx being cute with all his questions about the bees and lwj indulging him. lots of flirting with bee puns and facts, i really enjoyed this !!

How a Pediatrician Likes His Eggs by yeolinski

[mature, lan wangji/wei wuxian, 7k, completed]

modern wangxian and their hospital shenanigans. i absolutely adore this, it’s so fluffy and the meet-ugly is one of a kind: pediatrician lwj keeps parking his car in head of surgical team wwx’s spot for three weeks and wwx is over it and keys lwj’s car. my favourite part is lwj keeping wwx’s a** p****** (READ THE FIC TO FIGURE OUT THE ASTERISKS)

Lynchpin by @shanastoryteller

[not rated, lan wangji/wei wuxian, 103k, completed]

reader, i am going to marry this fic. this is definitely my favourite time travel fix it fic. IT IS AMAZING. this is written in jiang cheng’s pov and i find that it addresses a lot of our what-ifs: “what if jc knew wwx gave him his core?”, “what if jc and yanli were more assertive towards protecting wwx during the sunshot campaign?”, “what if wangxian realized their feelings earlier?” this fic is an honest to god GEM, it’s just jiang cheng fixing everything through the power of brotherly love and i am sobbing because guys, the three of them really did stay together. just do yourself a favour and read it, also, nie mingjue is everyone’s da-ge confirmed

Children of the River by Achromos

[mature, lan xichen/jiang wanyin, 83k, completed]

xicheng is one of my favourite side ships and this fic is such a slow burn, i highly recommend it ! xichen emerges from seclusion and finds out yunmeng jiang is no longer one of the four greatest sects so xichen decides to help jiang cheng to distract himself from his grief. the found family feels is so good in this one and i find that there’s not enough lan xichen healing fics so i was happy to discover this one

It’s easier to let me go (let me hold you) by Iamthedarkoverlord

[mature, lan xichen/jiang wanyin, lan wangji/wei wuxian, 24k, complete]

this one is so, so heavy. like make you cry heavy and also lots of hurt/comfort. this fic is jiang cheng focused and deals with suicidal thoughts, there is a *suicide attempt* so please be careful reading this. my thoughts? jiang cheng needs to be wrapped in blankets and hugged very, very tightly. the ending is also very hopeful but i guarantee that the other chapters will make you sob

no certainty of doors between us by betts

[teen and up, lan wangji/wei wuxian, 6k, completed]

wangxian are roommates, lwj thinks he despises wwx, keyword: thinks (he’s in love with him but we already know that). i’m such a sucker for roommates fic i will devour any fic with this trope oh and add in some clothes sharing, bed sharing, one-sided enemies to lovers (from lwj’s pov), and lots of hugging... well, i’m sold. also that one scene where lwj’s trying to ask wwx what’s wrong oh my god i love it so much i can relate so hard and when lwj buys chili oil for wwx *sigh* domesticity at its finest

Oh, The Weather Outside is Frightful by feenwitch

[explicit, lan wangji/wei wuxian, 21k, completed]

because it’s winter, i present to you, snowboarders wangxian !!! of course, it’s enemies to lovers i mean what did you expect from me? this centers around coaches wangxian getting together while herding the juniors around in the snow and you can’t forget the classic *drum roll* getting stuck together in a cabin and it’s so cold that they just have to huddle together for warmth, also olympic winner lwj ! i always find myself re-reading this one, it’s so fluffy

paint smears on sunny days by SnowshadowAO3

[explicit, lan wangji/wei wuxian, 53k, completed]

MODERN SINGLE DAD LWJ WITH ART TEACHER WWX? I AM SOLD. or in which dadji accidentally co-parents with a-yuan’s art teacher. the result is me melting, this is the softest thing ever, even the way they pine in this one is the softest. wwx paints lwj + a-yuan a bunny picture, lwj composes wangxian for wwx, there’s also some making out in an art gallery. if you’re looking for a comfort fic, this would be the perfect one

the recluse at the end of the moonlit path by b_ofdale

[teen and up, lan wangji/wei wuxian, 28k, completed]

what if wwx dies of old age after post-canon and gets reincarnated in the modern world? you get this fic. immortal lwj just waiting for his lover to return after all of these years... give me the tissues already damn. also photographer wwx hello? and lwj builds him a dark room? LWJ IS ALWAYS BESOTTED NO MATTER THE TIMELINE. 

[eenasbabysmom]

Yeah, I was thinking it didn't even need to be the same incident, just some way LQR was intervening but not looking to fight WWX. I think LWJ's faith remains but things get aaaawkward at home, and it does make any post resurrection romance also a lil awkward on both sides, even though I think LWJ believes Zixuan about the second flute. Speaking of, I'm a little concerned about Zixuan's good health but Yanli's probably fine? Does give LWJ extra reason to investigate and he and JC are fine...

Help-I’ve been thinking about this so much it’s turned into full-fledged fic ideas:

JC on a thirteen year rampage through demonic cultivators, not to find WWX, but to figure if one of them was the mysterious second flute his brother in law heard. LWJ accompanying him, going far flung places and helping people there. Still earning the nickname Hanguang Jun, which JC viciously teases him about, for LWJ to turn around and remind him that most people think Sandu Shengshou is his sidekick.

JZX is stupid, but brave and JYL does all his thinking for him. JGY knows he’s got little chance of bullshitting his SIL, so deals with NMJ and JGS a lot sooner. JGY is still carrying on with his obsession with demonic cultivation, but JYL makes it so that MXY can’t be targeted or harassed at Koi Tower (she is a jiejie first and foremost). He’s extra reliant on XY because of this, and XY gets a lot more access to Wen Ning and NMJ than is probably advisable. Nirejseki on AO3 is writing a delightful AU in which XY becomes unhinged and does the Soul Sacrifice Spell and I’m very enamoured of the idea. Of course, not much of this is possible if JZX looks too closely at things, or JYL, so JGY is engaged in some long-standing embezzling to find all this far enough away from Koi Tower that they don’t get suspicious. Perhaps the Guanyin temple in Yunping, hidden as charitable works in his hometown (an orphanage/school for those born in brothels? Something sentimental enough that neither his brother or his SIL really question it).

JZX and JYL have three kids, Jin Ling, his sister Jin Qiaolian and their little brother baby a-Ying. JC offered to duel JZX for rights to name JQL his heir and they almost do it but JYL forbids it. JC gets his way, and guardianship of his niece for six months of the year to see to her education. Her brothers always end up at LP at the same time, which means JYL is there often (yay!) but so is JZX (JC has accepted that JZX has fathered his niece and nephews, but has not forgiven him for HOW).

(There are an obscene amount of rumours about the nature of LWJ and JC’s ‘friendship’, JC’s naming his niece his heir, and his refusal to marry. We can go the canon way and say the reality is JC is straight as an arrow and hard to please. But I’m a zhancheng shipper at heart, so in my mind-they’re definitely fucking.)

LWJ’s insistence on WWX’s innocence has created an irreparable rift between him and his brother, especially as LWJ followed up his performance at Nightless City by standing between WWX and a group of Lan elders at the Burial Mounds. LWJ still taking 33 strikes, but LXC aches for his brother even though he no longer trusts his judgement. JC arrives one day demanding LWJ join him on another WWX themed road trip sing-along, and LXC takes the out. Bundles his brother off into JC’s care, is lucky JC has his hands full of LWJ so the threat coming from the suddenly active Zidian remains a threat. LWJ recovering quicker at LP because of actual medical care, put in the same medical wing as a young and feverish a-Yuan (JC: “I went to see if I could find any trace of my brother, found him instead. He hugged my leg once and I was rude to him; I think my brother loved him like a son. So he’ll stay here until we find a way to get WWX back.”)

LXC and LWJ orbiting one another, brothers who love each other but separated by this one thing. LXC accepts WWX lost control and killed his uncle; LWJ still believes in the second flute with a desperation that is topped only by JC’s own. LWJ is still Hanguang Jun but no longer the pride of Gusu Lan. LXC wants his little brother with him, but he’s not sure who this LWJ is. He doesn’t know how he can so easily overlook the death of the one adult who didn’t leave them. He doesn’t know why love of WWX is greater than live for their uncle. And with NMJ gone, LXC relies even more heavily upon JGY.

That means a post revived WWX cannot come to Gusu to lie low, but LWJ doesn’t think to bring him there. They go to LP and the Lan juniors don’t follow like ducklings (unless we go with Lan Jingyi is forced to grow up without Lan Sizhui and doesn’t fit in with the other disciples and so imprints on LWJ as the only senior who actually seems okay with Jingyi’s un-Lanness and so follows LWJ around like a duckling and therefore gets a lot more exposure to JC which makes him snarkier than the Elders can handle). All of a sudden, the LWJ and JC road trip sing-along has a third member.