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the-sill-of-all-sills · 2 years

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Xisangweek Day 4: Emotional fishing trip

About 3k. Some attempts at humor and a bit of Angst bc why not.

It must have been after the sunshot campaign, Lan Wangji thought, that his brother began to wear the jade bracelet. Not for long and never in public. It was hidden under his sleeves most of the time, but Wangji had seen it on a few occasions. Whenever Uncle was near he seemed especially nervous that he would see. Perhaps that was also the reason why he stopped wearing it at some point. Lan Wangji didn’t think much of it at the time. Maybe he would have called Xichen out on the expensive ornament before but at that point Wangji was dealing with enough of his own. His wounds had healed. A-Yuan was growing up. Wei Ying was dead.

But now that bracelet was lying on a shelf in Xichen's room. A pile of unread letters lying under it. In the otherwise plain interior, the vibrant green was impossible to miss. Wangji knew Xichen put it there on purpose, as he did all things. He just wasn’t sure why.

“It was a gift,” Xichen spoke and took Wangji out of his thoughts.

“Hhm?”

“The bracelet,” Xichen said with a pleasant smile as he took a sip of his tea, “It was a gift from a friend.”

“Oh,” Wangji said, “And the letters?”

Xichen set the tea cup down with a loud clank, his smile falling slightly, “Also from them.”

“Does Xiongzhang not write to them anymore?” he then asked, because it wasn’t like his brother to leave his mail unattended.

“I fear I don’t have anything interesting to write to them.”

Wangji felt the barrier rise higher than it was already. For all the people complained about his lack of expressions, it was Xichen who was truly impossible to read. Because Xichen’s smile was still as welcoming as it had always been, his eyes crinkled in the right places and his words were still as polite as one would expect from the Sect Leader of Gusu Lan. It was an act that would fool most people.

But he had been in seclusion for over two years now. And Wangji knew his brother. He could see the exhaustion in every action that he performed. Even now, when he was just drinking tea with Wangji.

He looked so tired.

And Wangji didn’t know how much longer he could bear to see him like this.

“I wanted to ask Xiongzhang for a favor,” he said then.

Xichen raised a brow, a practiced act to show interest, “Oh? And what would that be?”

“Go fishing with me.”

That seemed to startle Xichen enough that he forgot to smile. He blinked, “Fishing?”

“Yes.”

“You want to go fishing with me?”

“Mhn.”

“But-” his brows creased in genuine confusion, “We’re vegetarians.”

“Catch and release,” Wangji said and closed his mouth before the ‘Wei Ying told me about it’ left him as well, though he had the bad feeling that Xichen heard it nonetheless.

Xichen tapped his fingers on the table. Once. Twice. Until he spoke again, “That sounds very nice Wangji but I don’t think I would be suitable company. Would you not rather bring Wei Ying?”

“I want it to be Xiongzhang.”

Xichen looked away as if to think about the request. But Wangji knew he was only looking for a polite way to say no.

Two years.

If there was any way to get him out, even if it was just for a few hours, he would take it. He owed him that much.

“Please gege,”

Xichen opened his mouth and closed it again. He was truly lost for words.

As a child, Wangji quickly learned that his brother liked to be called that.

He could count on one hand how often he had used the term. Four times. All when he was still below the age of twelve. Each one to ask for something he wouldn’t usually be allowed.

It was an obvious tactic.

It also never failed.

“Well,” Xichen said, “If it is really that important to you, I suppose I have no other choice.”

The corners of Wangji’s lips lifted before he could stop it. Xichen chose to ignore that.

Wangji found his Uncle when he left the library.

"The answer is no," was the first thing Qiren said when he saw his nephew.

"I have not asked anything."

"I know that look on your face, Wangji. You are going to request something from me that I don't approve of."

Wangji looked at his Uncle dumbfounded. He wasn't aware that his face apparently gave that much away.

Lan Qiren walked down the hallway, almost like he was fleeing. Wangji quickly chased after him.

"Will Shufu at least hear me out?"

His Uncle took a long, exasperated sigh but didn't say anything, which Wangji decided to take as a yes.

"Xiongzhang and I will go on a fishing trip tomorrow. I want Shufu to come with us."

That did make Qiren stop in his tracks and look at his nephew like he had lost his mind.

"You want to go fishing with Xichen."

"Catch and release," Wangji quickly added, which seemed to only aggravate Qiren more. Which, in highsight he should have thought of.

"Fishing of any kind is strictly forbidden, Wangji. End of the discussion."

"But does Shufu not think it is an unfair rule? Seeing as it was made because of him."

Now, Lan Qiren was certainly aggravated. He walked to the nearest empty room, opened the door and glared at Wangji like he hadn't done since he was a child.

He followed his Uncle inside.

"Now," Qiren said, once they were alone, "just how do you know about that?"

"Father told me."

There was a tick in his jaw, "Did he now. And what exactly did he tell you?"

His father had actually shared many stories of his youth. They were the only things he would talk about on the few occasions that Wangji met him.

He had told him that Lan Qiren used to be the troublemaker of the family. That he would often sneak out during the night and do who knows what. That it was usually him who would get disciplined for unruly behavior.

Both Wangji and Xichen had found this very hard to believe but they never brought it up with Qiren. It was way too insulting and Wangji did not feel like unpacking all of that now either.

“He said you used to compete in fishing tournaments,” ‘And left your grades slack because of it’ he didn't say, “Your experience will be very helpful for the trip.”

His Uncle still did not look convinced. Which Wangji thought was very unreasonable of him, “If Shufu won’t come with me I will have to ask Wei Ying instead. And I might tell him the same things father did.”

“Are you blackmailing me?!”

“Mhn.”

After all, Lan Qiren’s will to uphold the rules might be strong, but the need to avoid Wei Ying knowing any of his dirty secrets was stronger.

“Fine, but only because it is a shame that my fishing gear only acquires dust now,” he sighed again, both hands rubbing his temples.

“Thank you, Shufu.” Wangji wanted to leave (before Uncle could change his mind) but Qiren wouldn’t let him go so easily.

“One last thing, nephew,” A strange look on his face, “Why do you think this necessary?”

Because there was dust gathering in the Hanshi as well. It made the air uncomfortable to breathe in. It was stuffy. It was oppressive.

“I fear he will become like father otherwise,” was all that Wangji said, but it was enough. There was a sad look on his uncle's face, a million things seemingly going through his mind. And then, uncharastically, a bitter laugh, “He’s a better man than you’ll father ever be.”

There was another story. One that Wangji’s father never told but which was obvious nonetheless. That for as unruly Lan Qiren might have been as a teenager, he stopped the moment Lan Xichen was born. When he was suddenly responsible for a child that was not his.

In the end they chose a lake and a small wooden boat. The Twin Jades sat on one side, while Lan Qiren was across from them. They had thrown out the bait and now only had to wait for a fish to bite. Until then there was not much else to do. Wangji felt like they should be having some sort of conversation. Wei Ying had made it sound like a fishing trip was first and foremost a bonding experience, but so far there was nothing to bond over in the silence.

Lan Qiren seemed to have found his passion for fishing again and was staring at the water, ready to strike the moment there was even a ripple on the surface.

Lan Xichen, who could normally lead any conversation with ease, did not say a word. His gaze was far away, fishing rod only loseley in his hand.

Lan Wangji was the one who would have to speak up first. “Has Xiongzhang been fishing before?” he asked despite how useless the question was.

“Only once.”

That was not the answer Wangji had expected. He blinked.

This seemed to even take Qiren out of his trance, as he looked up to his nephew in surprise. “You have?”

“...Yes,” he said hesitantly, “A friend used to go with their brother all the time. They took me with them once, though I didn’t do any fishing on my own.”

“How was it?” Wangji asked because that was the best thing he could think of. They were at least talking now.

“It was… nice I suppose,” he said, slowly. Then a small smile appeared on his lips, as if remembering something, “They fought the whole time. They could never agree on the right spot, or what bait to use. And when it came to preparing the fish for eating you would think they were trying to kill each other.”

That sounded the opposite of nice but the fondness of which Xichen spoke seemed to suggest the opposite. This was bonding, wasn’t it? At least Xichen looked happier than he had in ages.

“Will Xiongzhang join them again someday?”

The smile fell instantly. A cold breeze was in the air, taking the warmth from Xichen’s voice, “No, I don’t think so.”

Lan Wangji had never been good with words. Until now, he had not minded that. The tension was worse than before. He sent a pleading look to his Uncle.

Lan Qiren in return was frowning and seemed to have completely forgotten about the fishing.

“If I may also ask a question: How much longer do you plan to stay in seclusion?”

Wangji blinked again. He did not understand the meaning of such an abrupt question.

Xichen didn’t look at his uncle, “This is not something that can be so easily defined.”

“Stop beating around the bush Xichen. You don’t plan on ever showing your face in public again do you?”

Wangji did not like where this was going.

“As I said-”

“No,” Qiren interrupted him harshly, “You are not doing this. I won’t allow it.”

"Oh I didn't know this was Shufu's decision to make," Xichen snapped back. He sneered. Wangji never thought he was capable of that much anger.

"Xiongzhang, Shufu only meant-"

"I know what he meant! And I'm tired of it. I'm tired that everyone thinks they know what's best for me. I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions."

"Perhaps, but your decision is wrong."

"Shufu-"

Xichen huffed, "How like you it is to say such a thing. Nothing ever pleases you. Especially with me."

Lan Qiren did not take the bait, "You may not like it Xichen, but what happened, cannot be undone. You will not change that by running away. All you will achieve is trapping yourself in the past."

"I am not running away."

"Is that so? Then why have you never answered a single letter of that friend of yours?"

Lan Wangji had meant to say something, but Qiren's words rendered him speechless. The boat gently rocked back and forth. The water quietly hit against the wood as the only sound between them.

"You were surveilling my mail?" Xichen whispered coldly.

If Qiren was ashamed, he did not show it. "You have been receiving letters without any sender address for months now. Someone simply informed me of that. They were worried. As they should be. I only asked to be told if you ever wrote back."

"You were surveilling my mail."

"I did not read a single word."

"You were surveilling my mail," Xichen enunciated every word slowly.

"Enough," Wangji's voice was firm.

Both men looked at him startled, like they only now remembered that he was there. "Neither of you is calm enough to have this discussion. It is unwise to continue it at this time."

Xichen was the first to speak, "Wangji is right. This was a bad idea. We should head back now."

That was not what Wangji meant, but neither seemed to care. The boat was already moving to the shore.

"Wait," he said suddenly, looking at the tight string of his fishing rod, "Something bit."

They all looked to where the string led in the water.

"You're right," Qiren said, "Quick! Reel it in!"

Xichen frowned, "Let it go, Wangji. We won't be eating it anyway. This will only delay us.”

“Don’t let it go!”

“Let it go!”

Qiren and Xichen both glared at each other. Xichen tried to make a grap for the fishing rod, but it seemed Qiren had the same idea. The boat shook violently.

Wangji was about to say something, surely this fish wasn’t so important that it would lead to a physical fight. But any words he could have said were drowned in ice cold water, as he fell into the lake.

As his body was immersed in the water, robes now heavy and dragging him down, Wangji asked himself what he had done to deserve this.

Once he reached the surface again, he was greeted by his brother's worried yells, “Wangji do you see Shufu anywhere?!”

Wangji blinked a few times before he could see properly. He was not sure how, but Lan Xichen was still grabbing onto the railing of the small boat, not a hair out of place and completely dry.

Lan Wangji thought this was very unfair.

“I’m over here!” Lan Qiren suddenly yelled much further away. Both brothers looked at him. Their Uncle was in an even worse state. Various plants were sticking in his hair.

He was also holding on to a fish like his life was depending on it.

"I caught it!" He yelled, "I still have it in me, after all!"

Wangji stared at him. The sight was so bizarre he wouldn't believe it if he wasn't seeing it himself.

The fish was about as long as his shoulders were wide. It flapped wildly, trying to slip out of its captor's grasp. Now that his nephews had seen his achievement, Lan Qiren decided he had no use for it anymore and released it.

"That-..." Xichen made a strange sound, when Wangji turned his head he saw his brother pressing a hand to his mouth. But that only helped so long before he burst out laughing.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, you just-" his own laughter interrupted him, "you two just look so ridiculous,"

He continued to laugh for quite some time. Loud and barking. It was the opposite from elegant.

Wangji found he didn't mind the sound.

What he did mind was the freezing water he was still in.

He swam to his brother, who by that time had finally calmed down enough to notice.

"Oh Wangji, I'm sorry. Here, let me help you."

He held out his hand. His face was perfectly calm, but his eyes still held a certain glint. Like he was still laughing at his little brother.

Wangji took his hand, "Much thanks to Xiongzhang," he said and then pulled Xichen into the water.

"So,..." Wei Ying said at the gate of the Cloud Recesses, looking at the three soaking wet Lans, "I take it the fishing trip went well?

"Mhn."

His husband laughed at the smug tone.

It was the next day when Wangji visited his brother again.

"Has Xiongzhang been busy?" He asked and looked at the desk. A pile of letters on one side and a half written letter on the other.

Xichen quickly tried to hide the paper away, but Wangji still recognized his handwriting.

He was pretty sure his brother was blushing now.

"I was just writing to a friend. I thought it would be nice to tell them about yesterday.

"Mhn."

Xichen seemed to want to move on from that topic as quickly as possible, "I have spoken with Shufu, this morning," he said as he sat down.

"You have?"

Xichen smiled, "We continued our discussion in a calmer state of mind as you would put it." He chuckled again, "Perhaps we still don't see eye to eye on everything, but at least this time there were no unforseen accidents."

His gaze fell back on the letters again, "And… he was right. I have to confront my past if I ever wish to move forward again."

They talked for some time after that. There was still a certain exhaustion in Xichen's eyes, but he seemed better.

And Wangji had the small hope that these better days would be appear more from now on.

About a month passed after the incident when Wangji and his husband decided to investigate a strange murder in a nearby village.

They barely stepped outside when Wangji stopped in his tracks, causing Wei Ying to almost crash into him, "Lan Zhan?"

"I heard something," he said and nodded over to some trees. His hand flew to the hilt of Bichen.

"Ah this is all a misunderstanding, Hanguan-Jun!" A panicked voice suddenly yelled and a man emerged from one of the trees. One Wangji knew too well.

"Nie-zhongzhu," he said at some same time as Wei Ying said, "Huaisang?!"

"Ah I was hoping not too many people would see me. I'm not here on official business."

That much was clear from his appearance. Nie Huaisang wore plain, civilian clothing. On one shoulder he carried a bag and on the other a pole with two cormorant birds sitting at the end.

"What you got there," Wei Ying asked, pointing at the birds.

Huaisang grinned, "Beautiful aren't they? The bigger one is Lord Xiao the Great, Conqueror of the sea. The other is Pumpkin."

"What is Nie-zhongzhu doing here?" Wangji asked.

"Ah such formalities really aren't necessary," he looked a bit embarrassed, "I'm only here to go fishing."

"Fishing," Wei Ying said with a skeptical raise of his brows.

"Uhm yeah, that's what Lord Xiao and Pumpkin are here for. It's a neat little trick actually. They catch the fish for you! You just gotta tie a knot under the throat so they don't swallow the fish haha, especially Pumpkin here. She'd eat herself fat if I didn't stop her, wouldn't you pumpkin?" He made some strange cooing noise towards the bird, Pumpkin, who gave no reaction.

"I know how fishing works," Wei Ying said and sounded insulted by the assumption that Huaisang thought he didn't, "What I want to know is why you are doing it here."

"Well," Huaisang shifted his weighted (which made the birds ruffle their feathers in displeasure), "I was- uhm… I was invited?"

That only gave Wangji more questions. Wei Ying seemed to think the same, "Who would invite you to fish?"

"Huaisang!"

Everyone turned to the new sound. Lan Xichen walked towards them, a bright smile on his face. He walked past Wangji without a glance und only stopped when he was before Huaisang, "You're early. Here let me help you,"

He took the bag off Huaisang, the sleeve moving past his wrist as he did so. And it was then that Wangji saw the Jade bracelet again. He had not worn that thing in years, what would cause him to change that?

Wait…

"Lan Zhan," Wei Ying whispered and leaned over to him, "Do you get what's going on here?"

He did.

"Mhn. Will explain on the way." He started to walk again, giving his husband no choice but to follow.

Wangji figured his brother would like to have some privacy for his date.

#mdzs #silliamhill writing #xisangweek2022 #xisang #lan xichen #lan wangji #lan qiren #nie huaisang #hopefully I wont forget to post this on ao3 too #q #also I have never posted fics on here so lets see how that goes #not even sure how to format this #SilliamChronicles #thats my ao3 name for those who don't know haha

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liesonthefloordramatically · 6 months

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you know that I continue to be feral for news of hualian fake dating and also I'll tell it right this time I swear.... but if you'd prefer a different one, oldseph character study?

(ask game over here)

Rowan, you are very sweet, so, guess what, you get snippets of all three.

Hualian fake dating: I feel like pretty much every bit from this that's viewable is in fact something you have already seen, but here we go anyway. At least half of this fic is Hua Cheng Going Through It because he's in a fake dating fic while Xie Lian has the entire TV Tropes page for fake dating pulled up in his mind at all times. I love Xie Lian and I love writing him from an outside perspective even more. He's so frickin' weird.

“I’m sorry if I’m prying,” Xie Lian says, not breaking eye contact, “but...I know what it’s like to be lonely. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.” He smiles, a half-hearted, lopsided jerk of his mouth. Xie Lian smiles so much, but so often his smiles are there to make him look harmless–a quiet, gentle, ever-smiling trash collector. Someone easy to overlook. Someone not worth the effort. “I’m sorry that gege is lonely,” Hua Cheng says, because it’s easier than addressing the rest of it. Xie Lian’s gaze drops again. “I’m not lonely anymore,” he says, and maybe there’s real happiness behind his small smile this time. “I have you, don’t I?” Hua Cheng’s throat works, but no words come out. “And Shi Qingxuan,” Xie Lian continues, oblivious to Hua Cheng’s floundering. “And Fu Yao and Nan Feng. And Lang Ying and Ban Yue! I have so many new friends.” “Good,” Hua Cheng says, far too fervently. “Everyone should love gege.” Xie Lian looks up again, that strangely penetrating gaze. “Mm,” he says, and then very quickly changes tacks. “And you have your beloved.” Hua Cheng’s too aware of the proprietor furiously wiping the table behind them long after it should have been spotless. “You are my beloved,” he says, and if his voice trembles, he can blame it on stage fright. There’s no blush this time, strangely–just Xie Lian watching him, just Xie Lian’s thoughts hidden behind his unreadable face. Then, an apologetic smile–and Hua Cheng can see the performance now, the moment when Xie Lian chooses to make himself small and harmless. “Right,” Xie Lian says. “Ah, where is my head tonight?”

I'll tell it right this time I swear: the premise of this fic is simply "can I craft a fic that is custom-engineered in a lab to make Rowan lose it." (Slightly more serious explanation: it's a fic about grief and memory and iterative storytelling. there's a lot going on here, don't worry about it.)

You don't answer. You haven’t had to explain yourself to anyone yet. Lucy understood--or she understood enough not to ask. You were grateful, at the time, too scraped raw by Gyro’s loss to even be able to imagine retelling it. Maybe that’s why there are no words when you reach for them. Maybe you just haven’t had enough practice sketching the hole Gyro left behind. (Maybe it’s none of their fucking business.)

Oldseph fic: fun fact: I think I started this one before I started writing linear time is fake. when I say it takes forever for the words to coalesce I am really not kidding. the number of things in this one that are me going "I've connected the dots" about things that literally no one cares about is wild, but please have the opening of the fic (complete with my incomplete sentence because this is how my process works).

The morning after they’ve made it back to Japan, Joseph rolls out of bed (literally rolls, because the bed is on the floor, which is insane and he hates) with a crick in his neck. It’s not surprising--as his grandson loves reminding him, he is old, and the bed is on the floor for some unfathomable reason and plane rides have always wreaked havoc on his body, even when he hasn’t literally wrecked them. If you kept up with your hamon practice, this wouldn’t happen, a voice inside his head nags, and he stubbornly ignores it, as he always does. He could [whatever], but hard work and routine are near the top of the list of things Joseph can do without. Still, sometimes hamon can be useful, especially when he needs to get a crick out of his neck. Joseph makes sure his posture is more or less correct. He takes a deep breath. For a moment, it feels like all his blood is running backward through his veins, and then a moment later the pain spreads from his chest to his torso all the way to his fingers and toes. It’s indescribable--like liquid fire, like his skin is going to blister and slough off. Joseph’s breathing stutters, his energy shuddering out of his grasp, and just as suddenly as it started, it’s over, and he just feels like he’s been sunburned from the inside out. The morning after they’ve made it back to Japan, Joseph discovers that being pumped full of vampire blood has some unintended consequences.

#ask Queenie #Queenie actually says something on this blog #parallelism palooza: the journey #again. ideas that I'm very excited about. if only I had the time and energy for writing slkjflkdusoifsuasa #some of the concepts in the Oldseph one are really top-tier. but I will not spoil them. someday. it will manifest #(I do have to figure out my Joseph narrative voice--that's probably the biggest stumbling block)#(takes me a little while to figure out what narrators sound like and then once I have it it's smooth sailing)

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hualianff · 3 years

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Smol XL

Modern AU where HX comes home around one in the morning after his night shift at a restaurant known for its exquisite fish dishes. Even after taking a dinner break during his shift, HX is starving.

It takes HX several tries to jam his key into the lock before successfully stepping into his apartment. His numb feet carry him through the foyer, heading straight to the fridge.

On his way to the kitchen, the open space to the living room grants HX a view of his roommate HC’s head turned to the television. Some sort of rom-com mixed with martial arts plays on the screen—not what HC typically watches, but HX doesn’t care enough to think too much of it.

With a large yawn, HX opens the fridge in hopes there is something moderately tasty to snack on. The sweet and tangy smell of pork hits HX’s nose, surprising him. HC must have cooked tonight because there was no pork in the fridge this afternoon when HX left for work.

HX reaches for the container sitting on the shelf at chest level, inspecting the overflowing contents of pork, veggies, and rice. He is momentarily skeptical. It’s strange for HC to leave so many leftovers after cooking. It seems HC has left enough that HX can snag a portion. When it comes to his roommate, HX certainly takes what he can get.

After glancing at the lid, HX spots a small sticky note with elegant hand-writing: He Xuan ♡

(HX: 🤨)

HX turns to the counter.

There’s another container with semi-burnt cookies in the middle of the island.

(HX: 😲 )

Begrudgingly, HX scoops the leftover food and some cookies into a bowl to take to his room. On his way, HX is forced to pass by the living room. This time he is afforded a side view of the couch.

Sure enough, HC’s boyfriend is tightly wedged between his legs, leaning back against HC’s chest. A purple velvet blanket covers them both, combining their forms into one huge blob.

The couple doesn’t notice HX. Or at least, HC side-eyes HX for a split second before leaning his chin on his boyfriend’s shoulder, eyes glued back to the television.

HX shakes his head, then scurries into his room.

Even if HC is going to have XL over for dates and permeate the air with romance when HX is home, at least they always save food for him.

***

When HX gets up at a quarter till seven to brew his morning coffee, he’s met with the sight of XL cheerfully mixing pancake batter in just boxers and a t-shirt that is clearly HC’s because of the way it slips off one shoulder.

HX rapidly blinks as his eyes immediately locate all the love bites littered on XL’s collarbone.

“He Xuan, hi! Good morning!” XL exclaims, turning to face the taller man.

“Morning,” HX greets with a nod of his head. To distract himself from the physical evidence that HC is a goddamn leech, he rounds the counter until he stands beside XL. Out of politeness, HX asks, “What are you making?”

“Pancakes! I’m trying this new recipe that my mother sent me. They’re supposed to be extra fluffy and savory, and I’m going to add blackberries since those are San Lang’s favorite,” XL explains distractedly. HX assesses the bowl of blackberries, bottle of syrup, and whipped cream on the island behind them. “And don’t worry, I’ve made enough servings for the three of us and possibly extra. But that depends how hungry you and San Lang are.”

HX stares wordlessly at XL’s side profile as XL turns the stove on with a brief click! The shorter man holds his palm over the pan, waiting for it to heat up.

It’s safe to say HX is thoroughly touched, though he would rather not admit it. Despite his snarky comments, HC cares for HX with little things like doing his laundry or buying HX’s favorite snacks on a spontaneous grocery run. Then there’s XL who goes out of his way to strike conversations with HX to ask about his days and of course, cook for HX.

The two of them make quite a pair.

So here HX is, helping XL flip the pancakes while XL himself decorates the stack designated for HC. Once enough pancakes for the three of them have been cooked–half the bowl of batter left–HX picks his plate up, standing behind XL to wait for the toppings.

HX is in the middle of telling XL about this one customer who eats at the restaurant every week just to request that the head chef, which is HX, surprise them for their dinner order. It baffles HX to no end. What was the point of going to a restaurant and relying on the chef to decide what you’re going to eat?

“How can a person be so bold?” HX asks in disbelief. He tugs at the collar of his black t-shirt, itching at an area on his shoulder where his uniform slightly chafed the skin. XL laughs lightly, followed by the sound of whipped cream splattering out.

“Well, they certainly have your attention, don’t they?” he teases, flashing HX a smile over his shoulder.

HX jerks back at that.

“What? No, they don’t. Not like what you’re thinking. No. Nope, not like that-” HX rambles, narrowing his eyes at the shorter man.

“What’s their name?”

“...”

XL merely raises his eyebrows. HX exhales sharply, breaking eye contact with the devil’s counterpart.

“How could I not know? Their name is always on the receipt. It’s not my fault I’ve memorized it from seeing it so many times.”

“I never said anything was your fault. But…” XL trails off. He turns back to sprinkle some chocolate shavings onto HC’s pancakes. “Are they hot?”

HX outwardly scoffs. Seriously, HC is a terrible influence on his boyfriend!

(Little does HX know, it goes both ways.)

“What- what kind of question is that? Completely irrelevant. I’m a chef who does their job. I don’t care about a customer’s looks; I care about their tastes and whether they are sufficed by the food we serve. Nothing more,” HX insists.

He is unknowingly babbling at this point. He doesn’t know why his big mouth makes its appearance whenever he’s with XL. It just happens. Which HX will regret within a few hours. But it’s okay because no matter what HX has to say, XL is the type of person who will always listen.

Having at the very least one person like this in his life is not something HX will take for granted.

“-and it seems to work because they always leave generous tips, which I’m not complaining about-”

A raspy dominant voice asserts itself in the middle of HX’s monologue.

“Why the fuck are you talking to yourself?”

HX pauses his rambling, eyes rolling to the ceiling. This dickhead-

But before HX can turn around to respond with a defensive “fuck off,” XL’s entire body straightens up. With the plate of neatly stacked pancakes piled with berries, whipped cream, and chocolate, XL peeks his head out to the side of HX’s figure.

“San Lang! I made pancakes-!”

A startled choking sound snags in HC’s throat.

“Gege!?”

HX, in the middle of such a comical scene, can barely contain his amused smirk.

***

Bonus:

HC internally screams as XL settles into his arms for their movie night. He loves squeezing XL against his body. Hugging him from behind. Tickling him. Really, anything to get his boyfriend’s attention. (As if he doesn’t already hog most of it.)

XL alike loves being in HC’s arms. He loves listening to HC’s heartbeat while leaning back against him; loves feeling HC’s laughs reverberate against his chest.

Towards the end of the first movie, HC playfully pokes XL on the cheek. When XL turns his head around with an indignant expression, HC grabs his chin and places loving pecks all over those soft cheeks. XL instantly smiles, eyes curving into crescents from the affection.

HC quickly gravitates towards XL’s lips, pressing his mouth firmly against XL’s. Within seconds, HC’s grip on XL’s jaw tightens as he kisses his boyfriend with urgency, swiping a tongue against his bottom lip.

XL, gasping out a breathless: “Hmmph-! San Lngg-!”

Twenty minutes into their makeout session, the smoke alarm goes off. The couple breaks apart from the blaring beeping.

XL: “MY COOKIES-“ *leaps off of HC*

HC, winded as XL uses him as a springboard to jump off the couch: “OOF-“ *wheezes*

Raws:

XL IS SHORT ENOUGH TO NOT BE SEEN FROM THE BACK OF THE COUCH. HC’S FRAME COMPLETELY SHIELDS HIM.

XL IS SMOL COMPARED TO HIS TOL BF

HX saw the food and was like “yep, Xie Lian is definitely over, even if I can’t currently see him”

(Special thanks to @no-one-says-hi for contributing/listening)

#tgcf #heavenly official's blessing #hualian #hualian au #modern au #he xuan #xie lian #hua cheng #cerdrabbles #smol XL hours: OPEN #fluff #slice of life #implied beefleaf

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ibijau · 3 years

Text

Futures Past pt 20 / on AO3

(posting early this week because I might not have time tomorrow)(also, because of the upcoming xisang week, I’m not sure yet if I’ll update this fic next week)

With some help from Su She, Nie Huaisang gets his wangxian ship sailing.

Nie Huaisang guiltily twisted his hands as they left the classroom, already half crying as Wei Wuxian finished retelling his first day of punishment with Lan Wangji.

"I really am so sorry, Wei-xiong!" he lamented. "I really wish I could help you. Maybe if I could find a way to copy part of the rules for you and pass them to you…"

"Lan er-gongzi would surely notice," Meng Yao softly objected. "And then you'd both be punished again."

"Aren't you busy enough with your own punishment anyway?" Jiang Cheng huffed. "You'll be lucky if you can even attend your music lessons with all that extra homework you were given, right?"

With a miserable sigh, Nie Huaisang nodded. Cheating was more work than he'd thought, and he'd have to find a better way to do it if he were to pass that year. Though really, it had been Lan Wangji’s fault for joining the lectures, which he hadn't done the previous year, and also Wei Wuxian's for taunting Lan Wangji by looking at him. Of course Lan Wangji had gotten curious, and he'd noticed the cheating, and…

For some reason, Lan Qiren had decided that Wei Wuxian was the instigator in this business, so he'd been punished the hardest. But Nie Huaisang had been given a lot of essays to write, and he didn't dare to ask Lan Xichen to help, fearing to be scolded for his dishonesty. Meng Yao and Jiang Cheng, who hadn't cheated at all, offered little sympathy and even less help, the first because he was still catching up, the second because he didn't feel like it. Hopefully Su She might give a hand, if Nie Huaisang cried a little.

"It's really not so bad," Wei Wuxian said carelessly. "I won't say that first afternoon in the library with Lan Zhan was fun, he's even more boring than his uncle, but I think I can entertain myself. I bet before the month is over, I can get him to break his self control. Now that'd be fun!"

Nie Huaisang stopped on his tracks and grabbed him by the arm, not a trace of tears in his eyes.

"Wei-xiong, why do you have to antagonise him so much?"

"Why wouldn't I? I'd like to be his friend, but he's too stuck up. Pissing him off is the next best thing."

Baffled by that logic, Nie Huaisang looked at their two friends. Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes, while Meng Yao was trying his best not to smile.

"Wei gongzi is like that, don't question it too much. He likes to tease people, and thinks everyone understands it's meant in a friendly manner."

Judging by the tone of his voice, Meng Yao himself had been a victim of that friendly teasing, and that perhap it hadn't gone so smoothly between them. That would explain why Meng Yao seemed to prefer Jiang Cheng's company, who was less fun to have around, but also a little quieter when he wasn’t shouting at Wei Wuxian.

Personally, Nie Huaisang preferred Wei Wuxian out of the three, but was getting a little annoyed at him right at that moment.

While Jiang Cheng and Meng Yao went their way to enjoy their freedom for the rest of the day (they would waste it studying, they seemed the type), Nie Huaisang decided to accompany Wei Wuxian all the way to the library, so they could chat a little. He still had a plan to put in motion, orders from his future self to obey, and his own natural desire for fun to satisfy.

“I don’t understand why you’re like that with Lan Wangji,” Nie Huaisang said as they took the longest path possible toward the library, trying to keep his tone casual. "If you want to be his friend, there are better ways. Why don't you talk to him nicely?"

Wei Wuxian did not even hesitate. "I've tried, and he ignores me."

That was sadly true, as Nie Huaisang had seen a few times. It didn’t help that Wei Wuxian naturally sounded like he was trying to tease people, even when he was sincere. He was so fun to have around that most people didn’t mind it, but for someone like Lan Wangji...

"Well maybe if you apologised to him?" Nie Huaisang suggested.

"I've tried that too, but he thinks I'm insincere.”

"Because you are!" Nie Huaisang pointed out, fighting a smile.

Wei Wuxian just laughed, but that was an answer in itself.

"Please, at least don't make him any angrier," Nie Huaisang pleaded. "He'll never be your friend otherwise!"

Hearing him get so distressed about that, Wei Wuxian stopped in his tracks, his expression more serious than Nie Huaisang had ever seen so far. He was a little scary like that, something about his height and the shape of his eyes making him look cold and distant when he wasn’t grinning and laughing.

"Listen, Nie-xiong,” Wei Wuxian said in a voice that had lost some of its warmth. “I want to be his friend, sure. I think there's something interesting about him, definitely. I’d really like it if I could be close to Lan Zhan, and given the chance I’ll do it for sure. But if he only becomes friends with me because I start acting like someone I'm not, then we're not really friends, and it's not worth the effort."

“Wei-xiong, I didn’t expect you to be wise like that,” Nie Huaisang whispered, a little awed.

“Only you would find that wise,” Wei Wuxian mocked, and Nie Huaisang found that he could breathe a little more easily now that the other boy was laughing again. “If Jiang Cheng heard me, he’d say that my personality is too awful for anyone to like me! And Meng Yao would say something about compromises. I’m pretty sure they’re the wise ones, but I just don’t feel like acting so seriously.”

Nie Huaisang grinned, a little envious of such a bold way of living. He was not always likeable, according to a lot of people (himself included, when it came to the man he was supposed to become), and so he would never have expected people to fully like him as he was. Nobody except his brother, who had little choice in the matter, and maybe Su She who probably felt like he couldn’t be too picky when it came to friends, and… well, Lan Xichen seemed to like him as he was, too, but that was just because he was so nice.

It was so bold of Wei Wuxian to expect to be fully accepted as he was. But then again, Lan Wangji also wasn’t the sort to make efforts to get others to like him, so at least they had that in common.

As they arrived near the library, the topic had to be dropped. Wei Wuxian, with a grimace of fake agony, went inside to sit with Lan Wangji, while Nie Huaisang had the pleasant surprise of finding Su She about to leave the library, and free to spend some time with him. Lan Wangji had asked for his help to put some order in a section of the building while waiting for Wei Wuxian to arrive, and Su She couldn’t decide if he was flattered or annoyed that the request had been made to him rather than another disciple.

Su She ranted about that for a little bit as they walked away from the library, before complaining about his classes, and then about a letter from his mother who wanted him to send home some talismans because she was still convinced their house was haunted even thought he’d visited during winter and hadn’t noticed anything amiss. Nie Huaisang listened, and even reacted here and there, but couldn’t quite focus on his friend’s problem that day. Su She noticed of course, and asked what hung so heavy on his mind that he couldn’t even laugh at his description of a clearly fake haunting.

“I might have a silly question to ask you,” Nie Huaisang replied. “But please, don’t make fun of me for it. It’s kind of important, and I think you could really help me.”

“That sounds very worrying, but fine, ask me.”

"How would one seduce a Lan?"

Su She gave him such a long, serious look, that Nie Huaisang started feeling he’d rather have been laughed at after all.

"So you're finally doing something about Lan gongzi?” Su She asked. “About time, it was getting annoying how clueless you are. And, well, if you want my opinion…"

"Oh, no, this is about Lan Wangji, not Xichen-gege!"

Su She stopped walking and fell silent for a moment, his expression turning complicated. He looked as if he’d eaten a very sour lemon that also happened to be moldy, all while there was a cut in his mouth.

"Lan er-gongzi? Really?"

"Yes. See, I think Wei-xiong and him could be good friends,” Nie Huaisang quickly explained, startled by that strong reaction, “so of course I want to help. But they're the two most difficult people in the world, you know? Xichen-gege is helping, but a second opinion never hurts."

"Ah, it's just that," Su She said, instantly relaxing.

He resumed walking away from the library, and Nie Huaisang followed.

"Well, yeah. Why did you think I needed help about Xichen-gege?"

Su She hesitated, and even opened his mouth a few times to say something. Eventually he frowned and shrugged.

"If you're too stupid, it's not my problem,” he said. “Let's talk about those other two instead, since you’re so preoccupied. Aside from being equally good at fighting, what do they have in common?"

Nie Huaisang crossed his arms on his chest and shook his head.

"Nothing at all."

Su She nodded.

"Then I guess they need to fight again. Maybe in public."

"You think that'd help if they had an audience?" Nie Huaisang wondered.

"No idea,” Su She said with a wicked grin, “but I'd like to see Lan er-gongzi in a fight that makes him break a sweat."

Nie Huaisang poked him in the ribs.

"Mean. But… Wei-xiong can be pretty full of himself,” he admitted. “I guess I'd also like to see if he's as good as he thinks. How to get them to fight though?"

They’d reached a more isolated part of the Cloud Recesses, a small garden that rarely saw much use, just at the border to the wilderness. They found a bench, and after removing some dead leaves they sat there to continue chatting in peace.

"In two days, you get a day off from lectures, right?” Su She asked. “Get your Wei-xiong to the training grounds after lunch. Lan er-gongzi is always there at that time on a free day, and I'll do my best to be as well. It'll be pretty easy to get them to spar."

"Su-xiong you're just the best!” Nie Huaisang exclaimed, hugging his friend who barely even grumbled against such effusions. “What would I do without you?"

"You'd be less efficient for sure. Now can we talk about something less boring than Lan er-gongzi?”

“Yes, yes! Tell me more about your parents’ haunting, I’ll really listen now! If it’s not a ghost, then what is it?”

Pleased to return to a more fun subject, Su She started discussing his theory about some wild cats and a few squirrels that he suspected to have found their way into the currently disused ‘haunted’ room, and talked about it with such indignation that Nie Huaisang was soon in tears from how hard he laughed.

Although nobody had been warned of the duel to come, a small crowd had quickly assembled around the training grounds once it became understood that Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian were having a friendly fight. They were both reputed to be insanely skilled after all, and rumours about their first duel under the moonlight had spread fast.

So far, Nie Huaisang had to admit that both boy's reputation was deserved. If anything, they were both more talented than he would have expected. They exchanged blows and parried them as if it were easier than breathing, making for a beautiful show. Su She, who stood on Nie Huaisang's right at the very edge of the training grounds, appeared consumed with admiration and envy. He'd fallen silent a while ago, and perhaps regretted this fight he'd helped organise.

On Nie Huaisang's left, Jin Zixuan was almost as upset, just a little better at concealing it.

"I can't believe such talent has been wasted and given to the world's most obnoxious person," he complained as Wei Wuxian dodged a blow.

"Apparently, that's also Lan Wangji’s opinion," Nie Huaisang cheerfully replied. "But I think he's warming up to Wei-xiong now."

Lan Wangji, after a moment of surprise at the way Wei Wuxian had avoided his attack, lunged at him again with renewed vigour.

"Yes, I can see they're on their way to becoming best friends," Jin Zixuan sneered. "Well, that's getting boring. I was hoping to see Wei Wuxian put in his place, but now he's just going to be more insufferable. I'll see you later, Nie gongzi."

He left, but the spot next to Nie Huaisang didn't remain empty for very long. Lan Xichen quickly made his way there. Nie Huaisang immediately smiled at him, but unlike the rest of them, Lan Xichen didn't appear to pleased by the show.

"Huaisang what's going on here?" he asked. "What are they fighting about? Did something happen?"

"Oh they're just fighting for the sake of it!" Nie Huaisang cheerfully explained, only for Lan Xichen to look even more distressed.

"Wangji got into a fight without reason? How?"

Alerted by his tone, Su She tore his eyes from the fight and gave Lan Xichen a quick bow.

"Lan gongzi needs not worry. They're not actually fighting, this is only a friendly spar."

"Yes, we thought it'd be good for them, so we made it happen," Nie Huaisang confirmed. “I think it’s going great! Wei-xiong looks like he’s having the time of his life!”

Reassured that no rules were broken and no serious harm was intended by either party, Lan Xichen finally properly looked at the ongoing duel. He observed the two fighters for a moment before eventually nodding.

“Wangji too is enjoying this,” he said after some consideration. “I’m glad for him. It is so rare for him to get an opponent of his level. Other juniors are rarely a match, and adults won’t spar with him because they don’t want to lose to someone so young. You had a good idea, Huaisang.”

“Oh, that wasn’t even my idea,” Nie Huaisang replied, beaming. “It was Su-xiong who suggested it, and who asked to see them spar.”

Lan Xichen turned his attention to Su She, who appeared a little uncomfortable. Nie Huaisang realised, a little late, that scheming to make people fight, even in a friendly manner, was probably against some of Gusu Lan rules.

“I am glad you have such a good friend helping you set your plan in motion,” Lan Xichen said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Still, don’t drag him into too much mischief. I would be very disappointed in you, Huaisang, if you caused Su-shidi to get in trouble. He’s worked so hard to prove himself to our teachers, let’s not ruin his efforts just because you like to have a little too much fun.”

“Of course not!” Nie Huaisang exclaimed. “Su-xiong, you wouldn’t let me cause you real problems, right?”

“I only agree with Nie gongzi’s ideas if they don’t contradict the rules,” Su She confirmed, bowing again toward Lan Xichen. “And I wouldn’t let Nie gongzi do anything dangerous or ill-advised. Lan gongzi can be at peace, I won’t let anything happen to his friend.”

Lan Xichen smiled stiffly.

"I know I can trust Su-shidi to take good care of Nie gongzi. I am… quite happy to leave him in your hands, where I know he'll be safe."

It was a rather odd way to say that, and there was something a little too cold in Lan Xichen’s tone which did not quite please Nie Huaisang. But Su She himself seemed unbothered, so this might just have been Nie Huaisang imagining things. It was probably just that Lan Xichen still remained doubtful regarding Lan Wangji’s potential friendship with Wei Wuxian, which had to affect his mood.

But things really were going quite well. In fact, they were going much better than Nie Huaisang had hoped. After fighting a little more, Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian eventually stopped when a Lan teacher approached them to explain that he needed the training grounds for his own class. There didn’t appear to be a clear winner between them, as far as Nie Huaisang could say. Later, when he asked Su She, his friend gave his more expert opinion that although they had completely different fighting styles, they were equals in strength and capacity. It would be interesting, he said, to see them fight side by side instead of against each other.

For now though, they politely bowed to each other, and Wei Wuxian, grinning more brightly than Nie Huaisang had ever seen him yet, asked if they might train together again in the future.

It was quite funny to see Lan Wangji’s conflicted expression. On one hand, Wei Wuxian was nearly a criminal in his eyes, who had disrespected his uncle, broken many rules, and cheated during an exam, all of which was unforgivable and marked Wei Wuxian as beneath his consideration. But at the same time, this looked to have been a very fun sparring session, Lan Wangji had been forced to use all his skill to keep up with his opponent, and that was something too precious to be easily dismissed.

At a loss, Lan Wangji turned to look at his brother, hoping for guidance. Lan Xichen, in turn, only briefly glanced at Nie Huaisang before nodding at his brother with an encouraging smile.

“Behave in class,” Lan Wangji ordered with a slight frown, before turning away.

Wei Wuxian looked disappointed by what he must have mistaken for rejection, but Nie Huaisang saw that answer for what it was and ran to his friend to explain that Lan Wangji had, in fact, very warmly agreed to fight him again.

#xisang #nie huaisang #lan xichen #double time travel #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #jau writes

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honoredbastard · 3 years

Text

I COME BACK WITH THOUGHTS/THEORIES ON ITADORI AND HIS RELATIONS- I THINK.

anyways, so i'll just point this out: i'm not good at speaking my thoughts in an organized manner. i absolutely suck at it, i speak on how my brain brings up the thoughts so i might ramble, get over my head in a thought, etc. i can't control it so i apologize in advance for the jumpiness of the texts. i will spell a lot of things wrong and not everything will be correct, as i read translations and on a manga site. don't worry it's not illegal, i believe.

MANGA SPOILERS AHEAD.

i apologize for my absence! last week or two weeks ago the tower to my computer completely broke and will not turn on. i tried to repair it and follow my fathers instructions but nothing worked. even cleaned off the fan and went through countless nights readjusting things. it's not my cords either so to help me out my father is working extra shifts to get me a new pc. so in the meantime i'll do small posts like these but not full writing/head canons until i have a computer tower lol. a family member was kind enough to allow me to have their phone while we work throughout this issue.

now onto the actual topic:

kenjaku and itadori's relationship. ( family wise ).

for context in the most recent chapter, 160 "colony" kamo shows up in sasaki's home and talks to her about the culling game and a barrier. but that's not the point, the point is as he's guiding her to the barrier inside her "dream" at the end he says "oh right. i almost forgot to tell you. thank you for getting along with my son." and then she is awakened inside the barrier, in her pajamas beside iguchi. when sasaki and iguchi look at the barrier and gather themselves they bring up kamo.

sasaki asked iguchi if he mentioned his son and he says no. this leaves sasaki in a state of confusion when itadori flashes in her mind. she says his name aloud like she finally connected the dots. now. why am i bringing up this whole kenjaku thanking sasaki for being his "son"'s friend. it throws me off because why didn't he thank iguchi?

did he not think iguchi meant their friendship? because sasaki was the one uninjured and still counted itadori as a friend? does iguchi not consider itadori as a friend anymore?

because we haven't seen these two at all since the incident. that raised many questions in me. as well "how can itadori be related to kamo?" and itadori is related to choso.

because kamo's technique is explained ( vaguely. we are aware he can create barriers, take over bodies, and has incredible cursed tools. chapter 134. this is also where choso makes his connection ( i believe. ) to itadori yuji as his brother. but because we saw this with todo many thought itadori just had another unconsious technique that allows the person who is hit create false memories and believe of a completely made up relationship with itadori without his knowledge. but alas, i was wrong. ) and we're given more hints shown than told ( imo ) i tried my best to make sense out of the situation and what he said. i think my conclusions are pretty solid, so continuing on.

we're given very little history on itadori, his past, and family. at the start of the manga we know that itadori's only family he knows is his grandfather and that he is ill in the hospital. at the very very beginning we learn that itadori is your average cute, fluffy, laid back but strong and goofy protagonist. in smaller words: itadori is kirby but even cuter and dumber.

my first impressions of him is a pineapple. if you're confused to this saying: it's calling a person prickly on the outside but sweet on the inside. and this is true, itadori's grandfather seems prickly and cold on the outside but he genuinely cares for itadori.

he raised itadori for all we know and did that with his all in assumption. but this ends up backfiring onto itadori, because he cares so much for his grandson - he ends up leaving a " curse " on yuji.

help people. save them.

itadori takes this to heart as his grandfathers speech is his last one. when he looks over to his grandfather the man is dead and now yuji is left alone. then the following events occur.

at this point in time i assumed itadori was an orphan ( he technically is if we're connecting the dots. his parents has not been shown, he doesn't speak of them, they aren't in the picture. we can conclude either they disowned itadori or died before he could make complete memories of them. )

but when we are shown in chapter 143 itadori's parents we see this "woman" jin ( yuji's father ) and his grandfather talking about has the same scar pattern. this scar pattern is either stitching ( assuming that is how kamo keeps the top of the opened skull from coming off. this is also how kamo revealed his cursed technique / body of sorts ( the brain, assuming that is kenjaku in his cursed technique and not the body / puppet he is controlling " getou suguru " ) to gojou. )

this is the only way i find kamo being able to assign itadori as his son. why is that you might be asking this dumbass here.

we do not have the full story, exact date, location, and full context of the memory/dream itadori is having. this cannot be fake either because kamo would than have no reason to call itadori his son. or is there? anyways.

take a leap of faith with me. imagine that before itadori is born ( he seems no more than a few weeks or days old in this memory. hence why i am thinking my conclusion is pretty solid in theory. but yknow gege, there might be something different. ) anywhooo.

TW. D3ATH/IMPLYING ANTI LIFE ATTEMPT

kamo had to have taken over yuji's mothers body after an accident OR after she gave birth to yuji. his grandfather is interrupted by her before he can finish his sentence but it seems to be leading to the conclusion that either kaori ( yuji's mother ) died while giving birth to yuji or kaori could not conceive and tried to take her own life or cause an accident that would take her life. ( i read a fan translation for this part but im pretty sure i also read the official translation today too and it added up to the same. )

i believe in the first idea, but since kamo's cursed technique wasn't explained in detail i don't know the conditions of his body technique. does the original host of the body have to be dead? can he regenerate body limbs ( i highly doubt. getou lost an arm during his fight with yuta. overconfident dick. reminding me of an ex ANTWAYS. i forgive him for being overconfident smooch. he learned. OFF TOPIC but continuing on i promise.

this is being continued from the cut off point. i'm so upset so it'll just be summarized. i can't believe this shit lol i took three hours just to finish it for it to literally cut off the bottom half.

continuing on in a sadge mood. kamo must not have the complete ability to take over a body. after all getou took his only arm he had as he was dying and choked his own body to his full ability. getou was willing to die ( possibly, you never know he could be alive if he killed his own body. moving on. ) just to have the chance to save his friend from being swallowed by a damn box.

so there has to be a chance that kamo cannot fully take over the previous persons complete consious and memory of their body. if getou still had his other arm after losing the fight to yuta, he could've choked kamo with both arms. in theory kamo wouldn't be able to control the right arm and die to the previous host choking him to death.

so why wouldn't the other hosts do it? after all, kamo did say it was his first time experiencing such a thing. assuming kamo has lived throughout many bodies in his 150+ lifespan none of the previous hosts could take control of their body.

i believe getou was completely influenced by gojou and his six eyes. there is no way gojou would even try to speak out to his friend unless he had an inkling or saw getou still in there. helpless and without the ability to save himself from the cage he's in.

being used and puppeteered in his own body by an external force. laughing in the world he could not. putting getou into a constant misery and defeat that he couldn't escape his hell. the one he tried so hard to fight and get out of. even if it was the wrong path.

gojou was the last person to witness getou dying. he had to watch getou bleed out after their conversation because he couldn't bring himself to kill his friend. the one he spent his whole jujutsu student life with. so for gojou to say such a thing to getou despite all that he did had to break getou out of his misery and give him that small sliver of hope that he could do something. of course he failed, but i doubt that's going to be the end of that.

the only way i see kamo being related to yuji is if he took over kaori's body before the pregnancy. assuming that when kamo takes over a body he becomes one with said body and is that person for however long he lives in said body. my only thing is, can he take over a persons body whilst they are alive? i would go more in depth like i did the last time but i am extremely upset about my work being erased so that's the end of this part.

thank you for reading! i have one more thing for you though.

the last time we see sukuna in a manga page after the shibuya incident is where he is on his throne and in his domain. this is after yuji is stabbed by yuta and is presumed "dead" at the time. he seems to be interested in yuta and i can think of 2-3 things. I would love to hear your theories too so don't be afraid to barge into my dms like the koolaid man.

A - sukuna is interested in Yuta because of his ability to use the reverse healing technique ( only a few sorcerers know this. sukuna being the first. shoko being the second one to be told that she has this power and then gojou. ) because of this he sees potential in yuta as well or has added this boy into his plans. after all, there is very few that can make sukuna make an expression that isn't an RBF. aka megumi and possibly gojou. I was looking at the page of him stabbing yuji and noticed we only see the entry point of where the blade enters. it's smaller because some got chunked off so its a possibility yuta used this to his advantage when "killing" yuji and instead hit an artery that could kill him but quickly healed him afterwards. or just his heart. the ideas.

B. Rika, Yuta is able to completely control Rika as shown. Even though he claims he is on the weak side, these two combined seem like an unstoppable force. He may be interested in Rika as she is a curse that has been put on someone that can fully control it. Not many people is shown to be able to control their curse. As we haven't met many.

this was enti and that's the last of my post! thank you for reading and it was a fun one. even though i had to restore this shit. anyways, i'd love you to add or fix up my ideas and tell me your thoughts and opinions! Thanks a bunch!

^ this is for pure humor

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heavensturtle · 3 years

Text

Day 7: Free Day

A short fic for Day 7 of Xie Lian’s Birthday Week!

- - -

Note: So, I realize I’m posting this on day 9, I could just not keep a schedule this week.

Also, if you know me at all you know I need rules, free days are not good for me. So, my self-imposed prompt for today is writing about Xie Lian’s fears in a modern AU.

Also, this is again unedited. Good luck!

Spoiler alert: This is an AU, so technically no spoilers today!

- - -

It begins, as it always does, with the sound of rain on the roof.

Xie Lian rises from the futon where he’s been napping and races to the front closet to pull out the buckets he keeps expressly for this purpose. His hands are already shaking.

“Should have…” he scolds himself, should have fixed this weeks ago.

The small, dilapidated house on the edge of town was barely habitable when Xie Lian moved in a few months ago, but even so, it had been a vast improvement over where he’d been before.

Xie Lian hadn’t exactly minded sleeping in cars or in doorways or on the couches of friends who weren’t his friends any more. He hadn’t exactly minded the looks or the way people would turn and walk the other way when they saw him taking a rest from collecting bottles for the recycling center.

He hadn’t exactly minded, but he hadn’t exactly not minded, either.

Xie Lian runs to the guest bedroom, which is currently furnished with a bed, a nightstand, and a slowly growing wet spot on the wooden floor. Xie Lian places a cracked bucket underneath the drip.

For a long time the bed had just been a mattress placed directly on the floor, until one day Hua Cheng had turned up with a hammer and nails and proceeded to turn some scrap wood Xie Lian had been collecting for unspecified projects into a bedframe that looked like it belonged in a catalog. He’d built the nightstand almost as an aside. And suddenly, the room was transformed from poor to tastefully spare.

Xie Lian has more drips to catch, so he rushes to the hallway to place his second bucket, and as he does so he catches sight of the painting Hua Cheng gifted him (Hua Cheng claims to have found it at a thrift store, but the signature in the corner, when Xie Lian had removed it from its frame one day, looked suspiciously like Hua Cheng’s name). He rushes to his bedroom to catch another drip, then to the kitchen, where the table Hua Cheng built out of more scraps fills the empty space by the oven, making the room feel cozy.

He’s just placing the last bucket under the drip by the back door when he hears the sound of the front door unlocking.

“Gege, are you home?” Hua Cheng calls. Hua Cheng has a key to the house; Xie Lian had insisted on giving him the spare when Hua Cheng had installed the lock only days after meeting Xie Lian. Hua Cheng had refused for several more days, saying Xie Lian should give it to someone he trusted, not seeming to realize that that person was him.

Hua Cheng should just let himself in, but instead he waits by the open door. Once, Xie Lian had pretended not to be home, just to see what would happen. Hua Cheng had closed the door, locked it again, and left, and Xie Lian had been left with an odd sense of bereavement.

“San Lang!” he calls, emerging from the little room by the back door to greet Hua Cheng. He runs across the main room and skids to a stop in his stockinged feet just in front of Hua Cheng, unable to contain his smile. Hua Cheng smiles back and holds up his hand as though to steady Xie Lian. When he sees Xie Lian isn’t going to fall over, he drops it. Xie Lian feels a little bereft.

Then he remembers the leaks.

“Ah, San Lang, maybe you could come back tomorrow? Now’s not a good time…” but he has nowhere to be, and can think of no reason why Hua Cheng shouldn’t also be here.

“Ah, but gege, I found something I wanted to try to cook with you?” Hua Cheng holds out a bag of groceries, and Xie Lian’s throat tightens.

Xie Lian spent years eating food picked out, or thrown out, by others, but when Hua Cheng brings him food it’s a categorically different experience. Hua Cheng asks him what he likes and dislikes, and doesn’t seem at all impatient when Xie Lian doesn’t know how to chop onions or peel a tomato or any of the rest of it. He simply puts his hands over Xie Lian’s and shows him.

“Oh! Uh-” Xie Lian stops talking, because a new drip has just begun, right over his head. A drop hits his forehead and rolls down to the tip of his nose.

“San Lang…” he feels his face grow hot. This is too much, Hua Cheng is going to see the buckets and realize just how poor of a caretaker Xie Lian is. With anyone else, Xie Lian wouldn’t spare it a thought. But Hua Cheng isn’t anyone else.

“Gege,” Hua Cheng chuckles, reaching out and wiping the drop from Xie Lian’s nose. For a terrible second Xie Lian thinks he’s about to lick it from his finger, but then Hua Cheng wipes it on his shirt and Xie Lian lets out a sigh.

“San Lang, this is just-”

“Your roof giving you trouble?” Hua Cheng finishes.

Xie Lian hangs his head. He really can’t look at Hua Cheng.

“I’m sorry, my house isn’t really suitable for company right now,” he admits.

Hua Cheng makes a small noise, and Xie Lian looks up. Hua Cheng is giving him an inscrutable look.

“Gege. If you want me to leave I will, but if this is about your roof, it’s really no problem at all, we can just fix it tomorrow.”

Xie Lian shifts uncomfortably, but it’s still raining hard, and he’s sure that Hua Cheng is getting cold in the doorway. Xie Lian is.

He moves to the side. “San Lang, please come inside.”

Hua Cheng beams, steps inside, and opens his arms. His coat is open and Xie Lian slips his arms inside when he goes to hug Hua Cheng, avoiding the wet exterior of his red peacoat.

Hua Cheng makes a soft choking noise.

“San L-” Xie Lian starts to pull back, but then Hua Cheng is pulling the edges of his coat around Xie Lian and Xie Lian’s house isn’t that cold but being cocooned inside Hua Cheng’s coat feels better. He lets out another sigh.

“It’s warm in here,” he mutters, and Hua Cheng wraps his arms around him.

“Gege, what’s this about?” Hua Cheng asks.

“I’m just glad you’re here,” he says.

Hua Cheng tightens his hold.

“Oh! San Lang! Your dinner,” Xie Lian extracts himself from Hua Cheng. Then he picks up the bag of groceries that’s been discarded by Hua Cheng’s feet and takes it to the kitchen. Hua Cheng comes in a bit later, coatless, as Xie Lian is unloading everything onto the kitchen table. Xie Lian notices that Hua Cheng is wearing a black shirt that looks very good on him.

Hua Cheng has brought ingredients for at least three different meals, but tonight he wants to make the Korean version some sort of chicken dish. As they’re about to start putting things into the frying pan, another drip starts, just above the stove. The raindrop sizzles on the hot pan.

“Oh no,” Xie Lian buries his face in his hands. This really is too embarrassing.

Hua Cheng, who is standing next to Xie Lian ready to pass over ingredients, laughs delightedly.

“Gege, it seems we need another bucket to protect the food.”

“San Lang, please,” Xie Lian begs, the sound muffled.

“It’s fine, we can use a lid, and after tomorrow you won’t have to worry about it.” Hua Cheng pulls out a lid that’s much too large. “A little rain-hat,” he explains, holding it above the pan. He’s smiling at Xie Lian like he’s immensely pleased with himself.

Xie Lian stares at that smile for a long, quiet moment. Then: “I can’t.”

“Can’t what?” Hua Cheng sets the lid on the pan. A drop hits it and rolls off the side.

Xie Lian watches the drips landing on the lid, avoiding Hua Cheng’s face.

“San Lang, you’ve been so kind, but I can’t let you keep helping me.”

“Why not?” Hua Cheng’s voice sounds tinny, but maybe that’s just from the blood pounding behind Xie Lian’s ears.

“Because I don’t live here,” he admits, letting out a shaky breath.

Hua Cheng puts a hand on Xie Lian’s wrist, and Xie Lian turns to meet his eyes.

Hua Cheng is staring at him intently, focused. He can see Hua Cheng’s throat bob as he swallows.

“Gege, you do live here,” he says, “This is your home.”

Xie Lian shakes his head. He’s trembling now, and he knows Hua Cheng feels it because Hua Cheng takes hold of his hand and holds it, tightly.

“Actually, I’m homeless.”

Xie Lian doesn’t remember ever feeling afraid before, but in this moment, with Hua Cheng holding his hand and the frying pan gently smoking on the stove, he’s terrified.

He has something to lose, now.

“It’s not my house,” he goes on, “I found it. I, well, I moved in shortly before I met you. And I’ve just been waiting this whole time for someone to come take it away.”

He braces for the moment when Hua Cheng lets go of his hand. For when he asks what, exactly, Xie Lian was doing before he broke into someone’s house. For when he gets up and walks away.

None of that happens. Instead, Hua Cheng starts rubbing Xie Lian’s palm with his thumb. “They won’t take it away,” he says quietly.

The warmth radiating from Hua Cheng’s hand competes with the cold gripping Xie Lian’s heart. “How do you know?” he asks.

“I checked.”

“You- what?” Xie Lian’s mind is tripping over itself, trying to understand.

“I knew you were squatting when I met you, gege. You didn’t even have a lock on your door. So I checked the laws. You have squatter’s rights. You can stay in this house as long as you want to. You just have to take care of it, and after five years it’s yours if you want it.”

“You knew?” Xie Lian feels limp, all the nervous energy drained out of him.

Hua Cheng smiles brightly and tugs on Xie Lian’s hand until Xie Lian moves closer. Then he wraps his arms around Xie Lian, holding him close. Xie Lian presses himself against Hua Cheng, feeling Hua Cheng’s heart beating rapidly like it’s his own.

“Of course I knew. So I installed a lock. And helped you level the floors. And tomorrow we’ll fix the roof, and then we can start building your garden beds. And then, we can start filling this house with whatever you love most.”

Xie Lian swallows hard. The words slip out before he can stop them:

“With you, then?”

Hua Cheng laughs, a deep rumble that Xie Lian wants to never stop.

“This is your home, gege. But I’d be honored to be a part of it.”

Xie Lian smiles, hiding his face in Hua Cheng’s shirt.

“You already are.”

#hualian #modern au #hua cheng #xie lian #tgcf fanfic #tgcf au #heaven official's blessing #XieLianWeek2021 #Day 7

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disastermages · 4 years

Text

part 6 of the au where xiao xingchen raises wei wuxian

"You're planning on leaving us soon, aren't you?"

The question catches Xiao Xingchen off guard, nearly making him drop the firewood he'd been helping Wei Changze carry. He won't deny it now that he's been caught, though. "Am I that obvious?" His brother in law surprises him then, because he laughs and shakes his head.

"You and Cangse get the same look on your faces when you start to feel trapped somewhere." There's a note of impossible fondness in Wei Changze's voice that takes away the sting of guilt that had been growing inside Xiao Xingchen’s stomach, a smile own coming onto his face. "You should have seen the look she gave me when the doctor who delivered A-Ying told us we'd have to stay put for a few months."

"Shijie doesn't like to stay anywhere longer than a few weeks." Xiao Xingchen can imagine the way his sister had reacted to being tied down for the first time since she'd left the mountain, she must have jumped up the second the doctor had cleared her for travel.

They walk in silence for a few moments then, the both of them bending to pick up dry brain and pieces of kindling. "She can last a few months if she has someone uptight to play around with or a few rules to break." Wei Changze seems wrapped up in his own memory as he speaks now, not looking at Xiao Xingchen as he adjusts his grip on the firewood. "I think that's why she stayed in Gusu for the whole year. She could have left, but she had over two thousand rules and people like Lan Qiren and Yu Ziyuan to work through."

Xiao Xingchen nods as he listens, he'd heard his sister's versions of these stories. The way Cangse told them, she'd been trying to get her classmates to loosen up, convinced that she could make what she considered a stuffy place fun. He'd always wondered what those stories would sound like coming from other people.

Something Wei Changze had said caught him, though, and Xiao Xingchen frowns just a little. "Shijie told me she stayed because you were there."

"Oh." Is the only thing Wei Changze says when Xiao Xingchen looks back at him, color rising high on his cheeks as he snuck a glance back in the direction of their camp. Had he not known? Was Xiao Xingchen going to wake up and find Shuanghua glued shut because he'd told his sister's secret?

Cangse either wouldn't care about the slip up or Xiao Xingchen would pay dearly for it, only time would tell.

"I think we've got enough for tonight, don't you?" Wei Changze says suddenly, clearing his throat. "We should get back, it's my turn to put A-Ying to bed."

At the time, Wei Changze had already started walking back towards their camp, and Xiao Xingchen had had to jog just to keep up with him. They'd flirted all through dinner that night, Cangse grinning at him when he'd made the mistake of looking at them while Wei Changze had whispered in her ear.

Back then, Xiao Xingchen had reacted like a properly grossed out younger brother, but now, Xiao Xingchen smiles as he holds another one of Wei Ying’s letters in his hand.

Early on in his stay, Wei Ying had only been made to copy down all 3,500 Gusu Lan rules a few thousand times over, though, in his letters he swore it was going to make his hand fall off.

He and Song Lan had both flexed their hands in sympathy when Xiao Xingchen had read the letter aloud.

They had known that their nephew would spend his year either skirting the rules carefully or throw caution to the wind and do as he pleased, just like his mother had.

"From what I’ve heard about your sister, I'm surprised Grandmaster Lan didn't have a qi deviation on sight." Song Lan had said after they'd received Wei Ying’s first letter, the one where he'd openly and shamelessly admitted to breaking down the ward that protected the gates of Cloud Recesses.

A-Qing had looked up at the both of them curiously then, her head cocked to the side. They’d just started teaching her the basics of cultivation before Wei Ying had left for Gusu, they hadn’t even begun to tell her about the possibilities of qi deviations.

“Your A-Die is making a joke about whether or not Grandmaster Lan will be able to handle your brother.” Xiao Xingchen explained, having leaned forward to brush A-Qing’s hair out of her face, smiling back when she’d shown him an all too familiar pout.

“If Grandmaster Lan can’t handle Xian-gege, will he come back sooner? He’s already a good cultivator.” She’d been pulling at Song Lan’s sleeves as she asked, her pout dropping off into something sadder. It’s a dull pain in Xiao Xingchen’s heart. They all missed Wei Ying, but A-Qing had gotten quieter since he’d gone, clinging to either Song Lan or himself whenever she could, and writing her own letters to Wei Ying whenever she couldn’t.

“Your Xian-gege will be back soon enough, A-Qing.” Xiao Xingchen had pulled their daughter into his own lap then, rocking her slightly. He’d felt selfish for entertaining thoughts about Wei Ying coming back to them sooner rather than later, he’d even felt guilty enough to admit it to Song Lan late in their tent one night, the warm hand on his cheek offering him undeserved comfort.

Wanting his nephew back had felt easier after that, swallowing down the pangs of guilt that came as he wrote reply after reply had gotten easier too.

Wei Ying had been gone for all of five months when they’d been tracked down by a Jiang envoy, a sealed letter in his hand that he breathlessly held out to Xiao Xingchen.

“Apologies for the imposition, Daozhangs, but Sect Leader Jiang has requested Xiao Xingchen accompany him to Cloud Recesses for urgent business.”

Xiao Xingchen’s eyes widen and he barely keeps himself from snatching the letter away before he tears it open, his shoulders nearly up by his ears before they drop away again.

A snort escapes him before he can even begin to stop it.

“What is it?” Song Lan asks, his eyebrows knit together as he shifts A-Qing onto one hip and reaches for the letter with his other hand. Xiao Xingchen hands it over willingly, the smile still pulling at his lips as he watches the realization spread over his husband’s face while their daughter sounds out the words silently.

“Daozhang?” The Jiang disciple asks impatiently, bouncing on his heels in front of them as Xiao Xingchen tries, and fails at first, to pull himself together, his hand coming up in front of himself.

“We should depart immediately.” Xiao Xingchen clears his throat before he speaks, though a backwards glance at Song Lan nearly ruins the face he’d tried so hard to put back together, all because of a shared grin.

“A-Qing and I will meet you in Caiyi Town.” Song Lan says as Xiao Xingchen mounts Shuanghua, mischief still alight in his eyes and their fingers laced together for just a moment before Shuanghua lifts Xiao Xingchen into the air beside the Jiang disciple.

“What did Xian-gege do? Why did Baba have to leave?” A-Qing asks, holding the letter too close to her face as she tries to make out the hurried calligraphy.

“A-Xian played a very mean prank on some people, and Baba has to go help Sect Leader Jiang figure out what to do about it.” Song Lan says, turning and walking in the opposite direction that they’d been heading, a vague set of directions in his head. It would only take them a day and a half to reach Caiyi Town on foot.

By then, Song Lan will have thought of a way to explain how Wei Ying had caught and set almost two dozen frogs loose into the Jin disciples dormitories with the help of three other boys.

Jiang Fengmian had met Xiao Xingchen at the gates of Cloud Recesses with a smile meant to placate him the next morning, inclining his head respectfully as Xiao Xingchen did the same. The last time he’d heard from Jiang Fengmian had been right after Wei Ying and his friends had been punished without his permission for drinking. The only thing that had stopped Xiao Xingchen from taking his nephew back right then had been Wei Ying’s claims that he wasn’t even sore and that Xiao Xingchen didn’t need to worry.

He’d had to take Wei Ying’s word for it, even knowing about his nephew’s habit of downplaying his own injuries.

The two of them are led to Lan Qiren by one of the senior disciples, their pace slowing when Xiao Xingchen catches sight of his nephew kneeling in one of the gardens, though, once they’re close enough for Wei Ying to notice them, a smile is pulling at Xiao Xingchen’s lips. Ants were marching along the white rocks since Wei Ying had disturbed their nest.

“Uncle Xiao!” Wei Ying says, smiling widely and tossing the stick he’d been fidgeting with aside as he stands.

“Kneel.” Jiang Fengmian orders and Wei Ying flinches. The smile drops off of Xiao Xingchen’s face completely, his eyes narrowing as Shuanghua hums quietly in the back of his head.

“Do not speak to my nephew as if he is your disciple to punish.”

The words and his own tone catch Xiao Xingchen off guard, but he doesn’t take them back, his eyes firm as Jiang Fengmian blinks at him before deciding to give up the fight without even starting one.

“A-Ying, stay there and kneel for now, we’ll talk about this once I’m finished with Grandmaster Lan.” Compared to how he’d just spoken to Jiang Fengmian, Xiao Xingchen’s tone is immeasurably softer, a tighter version of the smile he’d had earlier coming to rest on his face as Wei Ying pouts, but does as he’s asked all the same.

Xiao Xingchen doesn’t look at Jiang Fengmian as he walks past him, following close behind the Lan disciple leading them.

“I must confess, Daozhang, I wasn’t aware Cangse Sanren had a younger brother, much less one with a reputation such as yours.” Lan Qiren says, smiling politely, but warily as Xiao Xingchen took his seat next to Jiang Fengmian.

“My sister was unaware that I would ever leave the mountain, Grandmaster Lan, I do not fault her for not telling others about me.” Xiao Xingchen had barely been 14 years old when Cangse left the mountain, he’d asked her not to go, but she’d smiled sadly and told him that she had to. She hadn’t been able to explain it and Xiao Xingchen hadn’t been able to understand it until he’d felt the same ache she’d described in his bones years after she’d gone.

Nodding stiffly, Lan Qiren clears his throat. “I understand that Sect Leader Jiang has informed you of Wei Wuxian’s actions.”

“Sect Leader Jiang informed me that my nephew, along with three others, pulled a prank.” Xiao Xingchen clarifies, because it’s true.

What Wei Ying, Jiang Wanyin, Wen Qionglin, and Nie Huaisang had been harmless, Xiao Xingchen had had worse pranks played on him when he’d lived on the mountain. Xiao Xingchen had played worse pranks when he’d still lived on the mountain.

“Two dozen frogs released into my disciples’ dormitories in one night, Daozhang.” Sect Leader Jin says, the smile on his face making him look just as slimy as the rumors had said. Xiao Xingchen can barely keep his nose from scrunching up.

Inhaling deeply, Xiao Xingchen blinks and chooses his next few words carefully. “May I ask why? My nephew doesn’t often act without reason.” That part was less than true, there’d been many times he’d seen Wei Ying accidentally set fire to something because he had been trying to see what might happen if he took his tinkering to the next level.

Sect Leader Jin looks to Lan Qiren then, his fingers tapping against the table as Jiang Fengmian shifts uncomfortably in his seat.

“The account given by Young Master Wei the following morning claims that Young Master Jin had insulted Lady Jiang and refused to apologize for it. I believe he said that the plan was something he and Young Master Jiang came up with, and the other two had only helped them catch the frogs.” Xiao Xingchen looks over as Lan Xichen speaks, the amusement badly hidden on his face as he reads off the scroll in front of him, glancing back at it for accuracy.

“Several of the guest disciples not included in the prank have confirmed Young Master Wei’s account, including my own brother.” Lan Xichen finishes, and Xiao Xingchen nearly sighs. That was very much like his nephew, jumping to someone else’s defense without a thought for the consequences.

Xiao Xingchen had raised him to look out for others, and he can’t bring himself to regret a second of it.

Lan Qiren speaks before anyone else to get the chance to, straightening his shoulders, “Young Master Jin has been directed to copy down Gusu Lan’s rules on the treatment of one’s partner two thousand times.”

Xiao Xingchen has to bite down on the inside of his cheek to keep himself from grinning at the way Jin Guangshan’s head snaps to look over at Lan Qiren. “Normally, Young Master Wei’s actions along with his prior punishments would call for immediate expulsion, but given his high cultivation level, the elders and myself have decided to allow him to remain on the condition that Daozhang can supply an adequate punishment.”

Nodding his head, Xiao Xingchen sits back with his hands on his knees. Wandering as they always had, Xiao Xingchen had had to be creative with the few punishments he’d been forced to give his nephew, most issues could be nipped at the heels with a lecture Wei Ying had to sit still for.

“Have the four of them clean all the dormitories from top to bottom, to Grandmaster Lan’s satisfaction.” Xiao Xingchen finally decides, watching Lan Qiren’s eyebrows lift just slightly, his hand reaching up to pull at his beard as he mulls it over.

After a few moments of silence, Lan Qiren nods his head. “An acceptable punishment given the circumstances.”

Xiao Xingchen feels himself relax and at the same time he feels a small part of himself mourn the chance he’d had to take his nephew back.

Jiang Fengmian speaks up then, asking Jin Guangshan’s permission to break the troth between their children, but tunes it out. It wasn’t his business, even if he thought Jiang Yanli was too kind for someone like the Jin heir. Wei Ying’s letters only called him a peacock when he was mentioned at all, Xiao Xingchen didn’t know the boy’s name.

He doesn’t notice that Lan Qiren has approached him until he’s almost right in front of him.

“Your nephew’s personality is much like his mother’s.” Lan Qiren says after Xiao Xingchen’s stood up to meet him. There’s something wistful in Lan Qiren’s eyes then, as if he was remembering something long gone by now.

Smiling fondly, Xiao Xingchen glances towards the door. “A-Ying has always been free spirited, I won’t deny him his nature.”

Lan Qiren seems to lose his train of thought then, a dry chuckle escaping him as the tension seeps out of his shoulders. “One would sooner divert a river. I’m still needed to mediate here, could I trouble Daozhang to deliver the news of punishment to Young Master Wei?”

Nodding his head once, Xiao Xingchen bows to Lan Qiren, blinking in surprise when it’s returned in kind. He says nothing as he closes the door behind him.

He can hear Wei Ying speaking with someone as he rounds the corner, his eyes landing on blindingly white robes when he looks up.

“You agreed with me Lan Zhan! The Peacock had it coming!”

“I agreed that Wei Ying was right to be angry.” The other boy, Lan Wangji, Xiao Xingchen figures, says plainly, standing on the deck and refusing to come down into the garden with Wei Ying. “I did not agree with Wei Ying’s decision to bring frogs into Cloud Recesses.”

Despite himself, Xiao Xingchen laughs, hiding his smile behind his sleeve. Lecturing his nephew and then telling him about his punishment would be easier if he weren’t laughing through it.

Both of their heads turn in his direction and Xiao Xingchen forces himself to straighten, bowing quickly to the boy in front of him.

“You must be Lan Wangji, my nephew speaks very highly of you.” Wei Ying spoke very highly of Lan Wangji now, after they’d been forced to spend so many hours together in the library, but Xiao Xingchen doesn’t feel the need to share that information.

Lan Wangji’s head turns towards Wei Ying then, a silent conversation happening between them and ending when Wei Ying shrugs his shoulders and grins. “Wei Ying did not tell me his uncle was Xiao Xingchen, the bright moon and gentle breeze.” Lan Wangji bows as he says it, throwing another glance over to Wei Ying.

“Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying objects loudly, his voice bouncing off the walls as he steps up onto the deck and crosses his arms over his chest. “I’ve told you about both my uncles plenty of times!” Lan Wangji looks off to the side then, refusing to look at Wei Ying.

Xiao Xingchen can see the beginnings of another objection on his nephew’s face and he puts a hand on his shoulder to stop it, laughing when Wei Ying pouts at him. “If Second Young Master Lan could excuse us, my nephew and I have to discuss the conditions of his punishment.”

Something uncertain passes over Lan Wangji’s face then, but he doesn’t voice it, instead he bows quickly and walks away. His tightened grip on his sword doesn’t go unnoticed.

A beat of silence passes before the weight of it becomes too heavy for Wei Ying to bear, his face dropping as he asks, “I got expelled, didn’t I?”

“Almost.” Xiao Xingchen hums, brushing Wei Ying’s bangs out of his face. They were alone now, he could allow himself to fuss over his nephew just a little. “Grandmaster Lan and I were able to come to an agreement.”

“Like the agreements you and Uncle Song come up with?” There’s a grimace on his face then, and Xiao Xingchen almost snorts.

“Something much worse than those, dear nephew, but you’ll have your friends to help you.” When Wei Ying looks at him suspiciously, and this time Xiao Xingchen does laugh. “I’ll tell you while we walk to town, Uncle Song and A-Qing are waiting for us.”

A month after his uncle’s visit, Wei Ying had become maudlin, his eyes unfocused as he stared past Lan Qiren and through the window behind him. It had been weeks since he’d last disrupted class and days since he’d dared to argue or talk out of turn.

By any means, Lan Wangji should be overjoyed that Wei Ying was no longer bending over backwards for the sake of working his uncle up. He should be, but he isn’t.

He’d expected the behavior to last for a week at most, two, if Wei Ying had been personally scolded by the elders, but no such thing had happened. He’d been left with no choice but to ask.

“Is Wei Ying alright?” Lan Wangji’s voice is quiet and tight as he stands across from Jiang Yanli, his fingers twisted into his sleeves when she looks up at him and smiles.

“I think A-Xian only misses his home, Second Young Master Lan.” Jiang Yanli’s voice is gentle as she sets her book to the side, her hands folding into her lap politely.

“Wei Ying is a rogue cultivator,” Lan Wangji says, shaking his head and forcing himself to loosen his grip on Bichen, “he has no fixed address.”

Jiang Yanli smiles serenely at him then, “A-Xian’s home is with his uncles and his sister, when someone doesn’t have a fixed address, they carry home inside their hearts.” The words sound like something common to Jiang Yanli, but they make Lan Wangji’s eyes widen ever so slightly in understanding.

“Thank you, Lady Jiang.” Lan Wangji bows before he leaves, his eyes on the ground as he walks quickly.

He should have known that speaking to Jiang Yanli would be the better option, but he’d still sought Jiang Wanyin out first.

“Wei Wuxian always gets that look on his face whenever he thinks he’s been somewhere too long, he never stays in Lotus Pier for more than three weeks when he visits.” Jiang Wanyin had rolled his eyes as he spoke, as if he’d had the conversation a dozen times already.

They’d given Lan Wangji two different answers, but they’d both made sense, and that’s why Lan Wangji had jumped on the chance his brother had given him to go into town.

“Could I take one of the guest disciples with me?” He hadn’t looked at Lan Xichen has he’d asked, but Lan Wangji could still hear his brother chuckle at him.

“Of course you can, Wangji.”

Lan Wangji finds Wei Ying in his room, laying upside down on his bed with his head hanging over the edge.

“Have you come to scold me for sitting improperly, Lan Zhan?” Wei Ying asks, looking up at him without righting himself.

“Wei Ying is not sitting, he is laying.” Lan Wangji says, his eyes catching the way Wei Ying’s hair cascades downwards before spilling across the floor like ink. “There are no rules about laying improperly in one’s own bed.” None that Lan Wangji cared to remember at the moment anyway.

“My brother has asked me to go into Caiyi town for guqin strings, I came to ask if Wei Ying would like to come with me.” Lan Wangji says the words carefully, knowing very well that his brother could’ve and would’ve gone into town for the strings himself if Lan Wangji hadn’t needed something to hide his request underneath. Lan Xichen had done his brother a kindness by giving him an excuse.

For a moment, Wei Ying says nothing and only blinks at him, and Lan Wangji thinks he’s going to be turned down, but then Wei Ying rights himself on the bed and grins brilliantly at him as he stands, bathing Lan Wangji in all the warmth of the sun and beyond it.

After the last few weeks, seeing it again almost brings a smile of his own to Lan Wangji’s face.

Wei Ying chatters next to him constantly as they walk. Months ago, he’d accused Lan Wangji of ignoring him and he might’ve been right back then, but now Lan Wangji listens to every word, humming along quietly when it’s appropriate.

He’d thought of things to talk about while he’d walked to Wei Ying’s room, there’d been questions he’d planned to ask, but now those words are one overlarge tangle in his throat. There would be time to pick the knot apart, they still had a few miles to walk before they would reach the shop that carried the strings his brother preferred.

“Lan Zhan! You should try this!” Wei Ying’s voice drags Lan Wangji out of his thoughts as he turns his head, his eyes struggling to focus on the small cake Wei Ying had held up to his face. He should say no, he knows he should, but Wei Ying looks so excited that Lan Wangji can’t help but take a bite out of the cake he’d been offered.

If he’d been alone in his room with the memory, Lan Wangji might’ve waxed poetic abou Wei Ying feeding him from his hand, but instead, Lan Wangji chews thoughtfully. The cake is good, but the scent of it overpowers any other flavors it might’ve had.

“Lavender is very calming.” Lan Wangji says quietly, wishing he’d been able to say literally anything else.

“My Uncle Song’s cakes are better.” Wei Ying hums, taking a bite after Lan Wangji carefully. “If I knew you liked sweets, I would’ve saved you some.” The grin comes back to his face as he says it, and Lan Wangji feels his ears warm.

He didn’t like sweets, but he would eat them if Wei Ying brought them to him.

“Wei Ying is very fond of his uncles.” Lan Wangji hums, the taste of lavender still in his mouth as they start walking again.

Their shoulders brush and Lan Wangji allows himself to steal another look at Wei Ying, his eyes following Wei Ying’s finger as he brushes it over his nose three times. “My parents died when I was four, at first it was just me and Uncle Xiao, but then we met Uncle Song and they’ve both been like fathers to me.” Lan Wangji’s mouth falls open just slightly then, his grip on Bichen tightening as he takes in the faraway look on Wei Ying’s face.

“I did not mean to upset you.” Lan Wangji says thickly. His own mother was a touchy subject, he should have known better than to bring something like that up.

Whatever emotions Wei Ying had shown on his face part like clouds then, revealing a smile when he finally looks at Lan Wangji again, his hand wrapping tightly around Lan Wangji’s wrist and tugging insistently. “I’m not! Lan Zhan, I was only thinking about whether or not I should get a gift for A-Qing, will you help me look?”

It was a distraction if Lan Wangji had ever seen one, but he lets it pass, nodding his head rather than answering. Wei Ying’s smile had found his eyes easier and Lan Wangji could only feel his ears burn more in the face of it.

They return to Cloud Recesses an hour before curfew, Wei Ying was still talking beside him, but he was quieter now, their shoulders brushing every few steps as they came up the mountain.

As badly as he wants to walk with Wei Ying all the way to his room in the Jiang sect’s dormitories, he forces himself to say goodbye at the gate, making himself believe that he had to bring the guqin strings to Lan Xichen before he turned in for the night.

Wei Ying takes Lan Wangji’s wrist into his hand and squeezes it once before he nods and lets go, his fingertips trailing over the inside of Lan Wangji’s wrist, glancing up at Lan Wangji and smiling as he shuts the gate behind him.

Lan Wangji can still feel those fingers on his wrist when he finally turns and walks towards the Hanshi, his pace unhurried.

It was a rule that Xiao Xingchen didn’t read any letters from Wei Ying without Song Lan and A-Qing right next to him, but there had to be an exception for letters that came in the middle of the night.

Letters that came in the middle of the night weren’t good, letters that came in the middle of the night only spelled trouble.

“Uncle Xiao,” The letter started, and Xiao Xingchen drags his unbound hair out of his face, sitting up slowly so he didn’t wake his husband.

“Why would someone like another person? I mean “that” kind of like?”

#the untamed #mdzs #xiao xingchen #wei wuxian #song lan #song zichen #a-qing #songxiao #wangxian #but only like cute lil baby wangxian #this chapter gave me SO MANY FITS #as usual the ao3 link and links to the other parts will be in the reblog to my main

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shijiujun · 3 years

Note

thirst follow au for chuyao? (i dunno if you still take prompt requests for chuyao but i just discovered the prompt list you posted and if you do still take prompts i'd love read your version for chuyao of this!!)

new celebrity lu yao + ceo of the company lu yao is signed under qiao chusheng

---

The first thing that Lu Yao does once he’s alone these days is open his Weibo app and scroll to a particular account to look for updates. It doesn’t matter if he’s just started break after his filming sequence, or when he gets home after a day of long activities, before he does anything, Lu Yao is on his phone and checking through @/乔楚生mmc.

“Yao Yao, are you checking through Qiao-zong’s Weibo again?” his manager sighs as she enters the waiting room that has been allocated to Lu Yao for the duration of this period drama shoot.

“... Jie,” Lu Yao grins suddenly, showing her his phone, “Look at him at the ELLE Fashion event, he’s not wearing an inside shirt! It’s just a blazer over, I saw his fans yelling about this earlier but I didn’t have time to check, he just-”

Man Man-jie, his manager, tries not to be exasperated with him, but it has honestly been two months since Lu Yao discovered Qiao Chusheng, the CEO of Qing Long Ying Shi, the largest entertainment and media company in the country, after he visited one of Lu Yao’s shoots.

Not for Lu Yao of course, but for the world-renowned director that Lu Yao and every other crew and cast member in this production is working with - suffice to say, Lu Yao laid eyes on their company’s CEO for the first time since he signed on a year ago, and he hasn’t been able to keep away from him since.

It makes him wonder why Qiao Chusheng did not become a star himself, but Man Man said that the man has always had a knack for business development, and the company has only grown stronger after Boss Bai, the man who founded it and who is also Qiao Chusheng’s adoptive father, relinquished the position to him.

“How did you not know Qiao Chusheng is the CEO of this company?! Your paychecks are getting signed by him!”

“Aiya.... Jie, it’s not like I come across him at all... And I thought our CEO was some old man...”

Lu Yao immediately followed Qiao-zong on all his social media accounts because the man is certified exceptional in looks and body. He won’t admit it, but the best thing he likes about Qiao Chusheng aside from his arms, his muscles, his chiseled jaw, those sharp eyes, that hot body, is definitely the man’s smile.

It’s too embarrassing to say though, so Lu Yao stalks him online instead, on his private account that no one knows about. And because it’s a private and almost empty account, Lu Yao dares to leave emoji responses and some comments from time to time.

Today, Lu Yao replied Qiao Chusheng’s post with five thumbs-ups and five fire emojis. On second thought, he adds:

“哥哥帅爆了! 哥哥看我一下~”*

Man Man looks over his shoulder to glance at the comment and rolls her eyes so hard that she almost pulls something in her neck.

“You know, one of these days, if anyone finds out, you’re dead,” she shakes her head. “When that time comes, you’re on your own. Don’t expect me to clean up on your behalf. Also, Qiao-zong is only a year older than you are, and you’re calling him gege?”

“Hey!” Lu Yao exclaims, indignant, “I have to present myself as one of his young girl fans right? If anyone ever finds out about my account, i can at least roll my eyes and ask if I would ever sound this disgusting, and then people will think twice.”

“Okay, if not that, then could you please change your Weibo name? You’re embarrassing me!”

Lu Yao frowns, confused. He thinks @/三土葱油饼 is a great handle for a social media account.

The best thing is, Qiao-zong has been oddly responsive to social media post comments recently, and he banters hilariously with fans when he has the time. Lu Yao hasn’t gotten that privilege yet, but Qiao-zong seems to be liking a lot of his fans’ posts as well, at least for those who post in the first hour of his new post, and those get likes.

Recently, it has also been Lu Yao’s personal mission to leave a comment and get a like by his Qiao-zong.

“Yao Yao, you’re so stupid, you know that? Not every single fangirl has the opportunity that you do. You literally have an excuse to go see him, you actually have access to him, his office floor? Company events? What game are you playing, stalking him on Weibo?”

Lu Yao tunes her out a little. It’s pretty fun to him, to be able to openly appreciate all these hot and amazing photos of Qiao-zong. Here, he can stare to his heart’s content, and he doesn’t have to hold back when he makes his comments. If he met Qiao Chusheng in person...

Well, of course he wants that too, but would he be more disappointed if Qiao Chusheng barely looks at him, or ignores him? Lu Yao isn’t a small artiste by any measure, and he did win the newcomer award two years ago, but there are so many experienced and legendary colleagues in his company too.

It is, after all, the country’s media and entertainment industry behemoth, and Lu Yao doesn’t have a complex - he knows what he’s worth right now, and it ain’t a whole damn lot.

When he comes out of the shower two hours later at home, he sees a notification on Weibo, and it says that @/乔楚生mmc has liked his comment!

His day made, Lu Yao flops back onto his bed and conks out for the next 24 hours.

===

Lu Yao can only thank his lucky stars because someone up there must really be looking out for him. If not, how can anyone explain Qiao Chusheng turning up at his shoot so frequently the week after?

Before this, Lu Yao had literally never seen the man even once aside from that very first meeting that began this whole thirst journey for him, and this week, Qiao-zong has visited every single day.

Of course, it’s not like he’s here for Lu Yao. According to some of his cast mates, Qiao Chusheng’s younger sister Bai Youning wrote the script for the last stage of their filming before the production wraps up, and asked her brother to stay on set to watch every scene being filmed.

The scriptwriter is usually on set for the parts she writes, but this particular segment of filming happened to clash with her honeymoon period with her new husband, but did that stop her from being involved? Not at all, and so busy Qiao Chusheng has to sit his ass down, note down what’s happening, and report back to his adopted sister at the end of each day.

Sadly, this segment will only take five days or less to complete, which means Lu Yao won’t be able to stare at Qiao-zong for much longer.

When will he shine brightly enough to catch Qiao-zong’s attention?

At the thought, Lu Yao slaps his own cheeks.

He only thinks of Qiao Chusheng as eye candy. He’s after a visual feast whenever he logs onto Weibo to catch the man’s updates. Qiao Chusheng is a pillar of strength for him mentally.

Lu Yao has no other untoward fantasy or goals when it comes to Qiao Chusheng.

None at all.

===

Somehow, Lu Yao ends up all drunk and boneless in Qiao-zong’s laps at the end of the week. As they expected, filming wrapped up officially earlier in the evening after Lu Yao filmed his very last scene, and since the CEO was present, there was no reason not to treat everyone on the production to a good meal.

Man Man temporarily left ten minutes ago to take on a call for another possible role for Lu Yao, and the room was cleared when Qiao Chusheng offered to book three huge karaoke rooms upstairs for the crew and cast to continue their party at after their dinner.

Lu Yao has had a bit too much to drink, and Man Man isn’t around to direct him elsewhere, so when the room has emptied, he is still seated, staring at his empty glass of wine.

Suddenly, he thinks of something, and immediately pats at his pockets for his phone.

“... Lu-xiansheng,” a voice sounds, “You’re not going to join them upstairs?”

“Mmm,” Lu Yao nods, trying to focus on his phone screen. “Going home.”

A nice-sounding chuckle echoes through the room then, “Can you get home like this?”

“I’m going on Weibo. Man-jie will send me home,” Lu Yao responds, almost sulking a little as he tries to find his favourite Weibo account.

There’s a bit of silence after that, and before Lu Yao can even scroll through today’s updates, a hand closes over the screen.

“You’re drunk, Lu Yao,” the same person says again. “You really shouldn’t be on Weibo. What if you post something by accident?”

Lu Yao pauses, and then he shakes his head, “I’m not posting anything.”

He turns and shows his ‘friend’ his phone screen, “See? It’s a private account, and... and... and I’m just... going to check on my favourite account.”

“Even then,” the man says again, exceedingly gentle and patient, “You should only look at Weibo when you’re sober.”

“No!” Lu Yao protests. “I have to check. I check this account everyday. See? See?”

There’s a long, long moment of silence as Lu Yao scrolls his way down the account, detailing which are his favourite photos. The man lets him go on, and because he’s cold, Lu Yao inches even closer to him.

The last thing he remembers is his new friend taking his phone from him.

===

It’s painfully bright when he wakes up, the light triggering a headache even before he opens his eyes. When he does, however, Lu Yao has to take a long, long moment to figure out just where the fuck he is.

He’s trying to massage the headache away with his fingers, seated up in bed but having zero energy to get out of it just yet, so when Qiao Chusheng walks through the door with a smile, Lu Yao just stares.

“You’re awake. Great, I got you some fried buns for breakfast, you okay with that? Man Man didn’t say you were on any sort of diet,” the man says casually, as if they are friends.

Lu Yao looks down at himself, and nearly jolts when he realizes he’s in nothing else but a bathrobe.

Before he can panic, Qiao Chusheng adds, “I thought you looked a little uncomfortable sleeping in your jeans and shirt yesterday.”

“I’m sorry,” Lu Yao rasps, trying to wrap his head around why Qiao Chusheng is here, why they’re in a hotel room, and why the fuck the man is even speaking to him in the first place-

He must have inconvenienced the man last night while he was drunk, and instead of throwing him to Man Man, Qiao Chusheng decided to take care of him instead. Maybe Qiao Chusheng could have left him on the streets or something, but he is after all an artist under his company, and if anything strange happened because Lu Yao was drunk, it would be bad for the reputation and image of the company if word got out.

Yes, that’s the only explanation for this.

“I’m sorry for the trouble, Qiao-zong,” Lu Yao says, inching his way out of bed.

“No trouble at all,” Qiao Chusheng replies. “Come and sit, have some breakfast before you go. I called Man Man, she should be here in a bit to pick you up.”

With that said, it isn’t good for Lu Yao to reject him and just run off no matter how much he wants to right now. He sits down opposite the man at the table, and then picks up the buns.

After he’s literally swallowed three whole buns, Qiao Chusheng comments idly, “I thought it was random when you chose your Weibo account handle, but it seems that you really like cong you bings?”

“Mnn,” Lu Yao nods, wolfing the buns down because he’s hungry as hell, and so he doesn’t’ really register the first part of the man’s sentence, not until he’s on the last bite of his bun.

And then he chokes.

“How did you-?!”

At that, Qiao Chusheng raises an eyebrow, “You showed me your phone yesterday, and introduced to me your favourite account.”

Lu Yao blanches, because he knows which account that is, and then Qiao Chusheng continues, amused, “You were telling me how nice his smile looks. How pretty his eyes are. How strong his arms probably are hidden under that suit. And that you guessed right, he actually does have six-pack-”

“Please stop,” Lu Yao croaks, mortified. “I...”

The man takes pity on him and stops as requested. Lu Yao is frozen in his seat, like a deer caught in headlights, wondering what he should say next.

Qiao Chusheng nods, “Would you like to have lunch with me later?”

“Are you firing me?”

“It’s just lunch,” he answers. “I’m technically your boss, so I understand if you’re uncomfortable with the idea but... we could do lunch, and see how it goes from there.”

And then Qiao Chusheng looks away a little, “And.. I may have been visiting the set not to supervise the interpretation of Youning’s script.”

Once again, it takes him a few solid seconds to connect the dots, and when it does, Lu Yao flushes completely red.

“... we could do lunch,” Lu Yao agrees finally. “But I have to go home and change first.”

When he looks up again, it’s that smile he sees.

===

Weeks later, Chusheng makes Lu Yao repeat every single message he’s left on his posts, all the embarrassing ones, refusing to move if he doesn’t. Lu Yao’s hands balls into fists in the sheets, and says no.

He left a lot of messages! How is he supposed to remember every single one of them?!

Chusheng makes a a convincing argument though, towering over him and not giving into Lu Yao’s requests to fuck him properly until Lu Yao says them. It ends with Lu Yao trying to concentrate enough to speak, word after word.

He’s going to unfollow his boyfriend on Weibo after this!

---

Notes:

1. Qiao Chusheng’s Weibo account name is @/乔楚生mmc = Qiao Chusheng MMC, and this is taken directly from Zhang Yunlong’s own Weibo handle, which is 张云龙mmc. MMC, as I recently found out from Hanyi, stands for mao mao chong = caterpillar/worm? HAHAHAHA

2. Lu Yao’s handle is @/三土葱油饼 = San Tu Cong You BIng, which is a combination of the name San Tu and his favourite fried buns HAHAHA that’s how QCS was inspired to buy fried buns for Lu Yao the morning after

3. The comment that Lu Yao left in Chinese above is: “哥哥帅爆了! 哥哥看我一下~” = Gege you’re handsome af, take a look at me please! Something like that, he was definitely kind of joking when he posted that, but you can imagine Lu Yao being a little troublemaker by posting those comments and once QCS realized it was him, it was payback time? Of course, QCS likes to hear his baobei Lu Yao say anything <3

#asks #mriad #my roommate is a detective #民国奇探 #chuyao #fic prompt #hahahhahhha ded

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cultivatethis · 3 years

Photo

Read on AO3

Wangxian, 2k, Not Rated

Wei Ying is back.

Wei Ying is back and Lan Wangji’s hands almost shake sometimes, with the effort required to keep them folded quietly in his lap, pour tea, rest lightly on his guqin. Not to reach out for Wei Ying, not to check his pulse a dozen times a day just to feel the strong, even beat of the blood in his living veins.

Not to reach out and pull him into an embrace, to crush him against Lan Wangji’s chest. Not to tip Wei Ying’s lovely, impossible face up to his, and kiss him breathless.

He’ll never forget it, the moment of sliding Mo Xuanyu’s mask off to reveal a face he’d last seen against a backdrop of blood, fire, and despair.

He doesn’t know what the ritual did, why it took Mo Xuanyu’s body and changed it to match its new soul. It doesn’t matter, he would have loved Wei Ying in any shape, any form. But to see his face again? After mourning him for so long?

And then, after the temple, after everything. He’d had to let him go. Lan Wangji would not be his father. He wouldn’t fetter Wei Ying’s bright spirit to a regimented existence in Cloud Recesses.

Letting Wei Ying walk away from him after all that had happened is not the hardest thing he’s ever done. That was picking himself up to continue on, for A-Yuan’s sake, after his soulmate’s death. No, seeing Wei Ying off was not as hard as that. But.

Wei Ying has been wandering for almost a year. Lan Wangji lives from letter to travel-worn letter. He pores over them, and folds them carefully into a lacquerware box that he keeps under his bed. Wei Ying writes as he speaks, flying from thought to thought like a kestrel on the wing. Sketches of far-off places, descriptions of local food and alcohol. Blithe, too-cheerful accounts of night hunts.

If Lan Wangji would let himself worry, it would consume him utterly. Fortunate, then, that he is so accomplished at meditation.

But now the leaves are starting to turn, and frost spreads a glittering coat over everything in the mornings. Loud skeins of wild geese have begun to cross the skies overhead.

And Wei Ying is back.

Back and tired around the eyes, but smiling. The real kind of smile, Lan Wangji believes. Not the bright, brittle grimace Wei Ying uses to deflect. His clothes are worn, just this side of disreputable, and Lan Wangji aches to drape him in new robes. Black and scarlet, whatever he likes, in the softest, warmest silks the merchants in Cayi can produce.

The urge he has to care for Wei Ying frightens him sometimes in its intensity. It gnaws on his insides, and he wonders if his father—- but no, no. Lan Wangji had let Wei Ying go. And he will not keep him now. While he is here, however. While he is here, Lan Wangji can allow himself to care for him.

When he’d first arrived Wei Ying had spouted some utter nonsense about guest quarters and such, but Lan Wangji had pretended not to hear and had asked for fresh bed linen and a warm bath to be brought to the Jingshi.

“Aiyah, Lan Zhan, I can’t just impose like—” he had started to protest, and Lan Wangji had just looked at him. In that way that only he seems to be able to, Wei Ying had understood. He’d smiled, quieter, gentler. “Alright then, Lan Zhan,” he’d said. “Alright.”

He’s perched in the window now, jar of illicit Emperor's Smile dangling dangerously from one hand. He’s rambling on about the type of sesame shaobing that they make in a tiny nowhere village to the north, and Lan Wangji feels the beloved cadence of Wei Ying’s voice resonate through him as though he were a plucked guqin string.

He busies himself with taking his hair down so that he does not stand and go to him. He takes out each piece of his guan with infinite care, and lays them in the chest he keeps them in one by one. He’s untying his hair from its intricate tucks and twists when Wei Ying leaves the window and kneels at the table, across from him.

“You have the prettiest hair,” Wei Ying says, and Lan Wangji aches. Don’t, he wants to say. Don’t say that sort of thing to me. I can’t bear it.

He has to untie his forehead ribbon to fully take down his hair. Wei Ying’s eyes follow it as Lan Wangji carefully folds the ribbon and sets it on the table, the metal ornament making a soft clink against the polished surface.

Uncharacteristically quiet, Wei Ying continues to watch as Lan Wangji pulls back part of his hair as he always does at night, then ties the ribbon back on with practiced motions.

“Crooked,” Wei Ying says, with a half-smile. He points at the ribbon but doesn’t touch it. Lan Wangji wishes he would.

“Fix it for me,” his mouth says, without his permission. Wei Ying goes very, very still. His mobile, expressive face for once gives away nothing.

Still silent, he shuffles over on his knees and reaches up. Lan Wangji closes his eyes. Wei Ying smells of the night air and Lan Wangji’s soap. He touches the ribbon’s ornament gently, with only the tips of his fingers. Reverent.

When his hands fall away, Lan Wangji can still sense him there, taller up on his knees like this than Lan Wangji is, seated. He opens his eyes, looks up into the face that the ritual made of Mo Xuanyu’s.

Wei Ying has a beauty mark, right under the swell of his bottom lip. Lan Wangji has wanted to press his mouth to it since they were fifteen.

Wei Ying touches him again, brushing back a strand of hair from Lan Wangji’s face.

“Ah, sweetheart. I’ve missed you so,” he says, and Lan Wangji’s insides bloom.

Wei Ying lays one thin, long-fingered hand along Lan Wangji’s cheek, thumb brushing softly back and forth in an unconscious caress that almost undoes him.

“I’m so selfish,” Wei Ying says, his voice cracking over the words. “I can’t— I want—”

Absurd. The absurdity of this man.

“You are the least selfish person I have ever met,” Lan Wangji tells him. “If you want something of me, take it. Please, take it.”

“Fuck,” Wei Ying breathes, and rests their foreheads together. “I don’t think a day went by on my travels that I didn’t think of you. Miss you.”

Lan Wangji trembles with want. Stay, his heart cries out. Please, stay. He will not say it. He will not be his father.

“Wei Ying,” he says instead. “I missed you as well.”

“Ah, Lan Zhan,” he says then, leaning back to look at him, cupping Lan Wangji’s face in both of his hands. He smiles gently and it is a heartbreaking, sorrowful thing. “You spent so long missing me. I’m sorry.”

Lan Wangji shudders, and wraps his hands around Wei Ying’s wrists. The beat of his heart thrums under Lan Wangji’s fingers. Here. Alive.

“Oh—” Wei Ying says, and on a ragged inhale Lan Wangji realizes that his own cheeks are wet with tears. He turns his face into Wei Ying’s hand and helplessly presses a kiss to his palm.

Wei Ying makes a wounded noise. “Did you want, all this time—”

“I would not keep you here.” Lan Wangji’s voice is a rasp. “Not if you wanted to go. I would not do as my father did.”

“But you wanted,” Wei Ying says urgently. “You wanted me here? Even after everything?”

Lan Wangji does not know how to convey the enormity of his desire. “Wei Ying. For thirteen years I have wanted nothing else.”

Wei Ying makes another hurt sound and then he is close, even closer, Lan Wangji can feel the warmth of his body— and then, his lips—

His lips are so, so soft on Lan Wangji’s. Lan Wangji buries his hands in Wei Ying’s thick, beautiful hair and pulls him in even closer, straddling Lan Wangji’s lap. Wei Ying drops frantic, beseeching kisses onto Lan Wangji’s cheeks, his forehead, his eyelids. Then, a spot just by the hinge of his jaw that steals Lan Wangji’s ability to breathe.

“Wei Ying,” he sighs, and it holds almost all the worship in his raw, aching heart.

“I’m here,” Wei Ying answers him between kisses. “I’m here, I’m here, I’m here.”

Lan Wangji surges forward, he tightens his hold, he plunders Wei Ying’s pretty, clever mouth. There is a storm breaking in him and he doesn’t think he can dam it up any longer.

They’re on the floor, somehow. Wei Ying is beneath him, eyes bright, bright, bright.

His mouth is bruised red, and his chest heaves. There’s a kiss mark blooming in the lovely hollow of his throat. Lan Wangji has done this to him.

“Lan-er gege,” Wei Ying says, and laughs, airless and dreamy. He touches his fingers to the mark. “You’ve left a bruise. Everyone will know—“ his breath hitches. “Will know we did this.”

Good, Lan Wangji thinks, and it must show on his face because Wei Ying throws his head back and laughs. “Now look who’s shameless!”

Wasted time, Lan Wangji thinks. Wasted time worrying about things like shame. What use is that now? What worth does it have in the face of such blinding happiness?

“Am I yours, Lan Zhan?” Wei Ying asks. “Do you want to keep me?”

As answer, Lan Wangji leans down and sets his teeth, gently, to the other side of his throat. The mark he left needs company. It doesn’t do, to be alone.

“Please, Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying says, and Lan Wangji raises his head to try and understand what he’s asking. The bright shimmer in his eyes has turned manic.

“I want you,” Lan Wangji says. “Here, with me. Beside me every day, in my bed every night.”

Wei Ying closes his eyes with a sigh. “You want me.” There’s a deep relief in his words that knifes painfully through Lan Wangji to hear.

Ah. That’s what this is about.

“I want you so badly it frightens me,” Lan Wangji confesses.

Wei Ying opens his eyes, frowning. “You are not your father. I know you, Lan Zhan. I know you, sweetheart.”

Lan Wangji shudders at the endearment and Wei Ying grins, sharp and devilish. “Did you like that? Sweetheart. Lan-er-gege. Baobei.”

In a lifetime of fantasizing about this man, Lan Wangji had never imagined what it might do to him to hear soft, sweet names drop from Wei Ying’s lips for him like so much honey.

“Stay,” he croaks, not sweetly at all. “Stay, my love.”

Wei Ying’s eyes are so wide, and shining so with tears. “All that time wandering,” he says. “All that time wandering and nowhere felt right. Nowhere felt like home. Nowhere you weren’t.”

Lan Wangji groans into their kiss. And he asks.

“Stay?”

“I’ll stay, Lan Zhan. I’ll stay.”

Lan Wangji’s mind goes blank in the white-hot fire of his joy.

His free hand works at the ties to Wei Ying’s robe. And Wei Ying is laughing, and tearing at his in turn.

“So many layers, Lan Zhan, even to sleep! Aiyah—“

Skin. Finally. He is able to kiss his way down Wei Ying’s naked chest. And one of Wei Ying’s hands has made its way under his robes and slides to his back.

His back. He freezes.

“Baobei?” Wei Ying says. “What is it?” He circles his hand reassuringly on Lan Wangji’s shoulder blade, and Lan Wangji can see his face when he hits the scar tissue. Anger contorts his face for half a heartbeat’s time.

“Ah, Lan Zhan. What am I to do when every part of my beloved is so perfect?” He smiles again, and his smile says everything else Lan Wangji needs to hear. Both of Wei Ying’s hands are on him now, and they sink into each other, lost in each other’s bliss.

***

The Jingshi’s second bed stays empty. And Lan Wangji does not sleep flat on his back, as he usually does. He lies on his side, folded around Wei Ying, with an arm around Wei Wing’s waist, with his nose buried in Wei Ying’s hair.

He is too happy to sleep.

Wei Ying yawns, and nestles sweetly back into him with a sigh. “I think,” he murmurs, syrupy with tiredness. “I’ve loved you for a very, very long time. I’m sorry it took me so long to realize.”

“No apologies,” Lan Wangji says, and runs a thumb over his forehead ribbon, where it’s looped around Wei Ying’s wrist. “Rest. I love you, as well.”

Wei Ying raises their joined hands to his lips and kisses them softly.

“See you in the morning,” he says, and then they sleep.

#the untamed #wangxian #lan wangji/wei wuxian #cql #mdzs #post-canon #getting together #shameless schmoop

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i-growl-growl-growl · 3 years

Text

Inbox cleared

Admin Ahreum and I have finally cleared out the requests from the inbox that we felt we wouldn’t be able to work on.

All together there are 40 requests in drafts and 52 requests in the inbox.

The yandere Talks, yandere-life ships, yandere ships, and selca ships have all been kept and make up the majority of what is left

(the inbox is where I’m keeping what I’ll be working on while Ahreum has the requests they will be working on in drafts.)

Seeing as most of what remains are talks and ships I will be focusing on those for a while with some reactions posted every now and again between. As for how admin Ahreum will approach their workload, I’m unsure, but please look forward to what we have in store.

...............................................

Again, we apologize to all of those who sent in request that have been deleted.

.........................................

If you wish to see the REACTION / IMAGINE / SCENARIO requests that remain then you may see the list below the “read More” link

~Savie

Savie’s works:

....... How Ateez would be as Yandere’s? (WIP: Jongho & Mingi left)

.......Hi, my asks don’t get delivered so I had to use the submit option to make a request (if you are taking them 🙈) I just read a request for Yandere!NCT in which you are horny and askthem to impregnate you, can I get the same for Ateez? Thank you 💕 (WIP: Yunho, San, Mingi, Wooyoung & Jongho left)

...... Vampire NCT to smelling blood that leads to them to find their soulmate who is human? (WIP, many members remaining)

......Hi I was wondering how yandere!nct would react to their partner getting an infection after a punishment/ their inflicted injuries getting worse due to neglectment causing them to suffer way more than intended - would they send them to the doctors or punish them more for causing even more trouble for them? (WIP, admin left- I’m taking over remaining members)

Hello! I’m new to requesting, if you guys are open for requests then can I request a yandere!king!Nct127 scenarios where they get infatuated and obsessed over their servant? If you can? Ty so much!

Hi. I don't know if you're still doing requests but if you are could you do yandere Hybrid NCT reaction where they're taken to the care center and the reader is their caretaker. What would that be like?

Idk if you still doing requests but could you do Monsta x yandere reaction to you finally falling in love with them after they had kidnapped you

a imagine of the untamed where weying and lan zhan are in love and in a relationship with a boy from another sect but in his clan the master has the right and power over everyone else to maintain relationships with them whenever he wants since they are very young ( although weiying and lan zhan see it as an abuse this in the clan is naturalized as a thanks to their master) and they can only have relationships with other people until their master gives them permission,

ikon reaction; (yandere ikon) to s/o trying to escape

ATEEZ mtl to date a thicker/curvier black girl?

You can do a second part of the little brother of the untamed in which this time when he was little he had a leg injury and his brothers always carried him in their arms to make sure he does not run and is playing all the time and when his brother grows He tries to take care of him too but he tells him that now he is older so that they cant carryhhimalthough his brother is worried in the end after a while he notices how it hurts more and more and he says in a cute way gege it hurts thank you

Can you make an EXO reaction. Please. If you approve it I will say about what you will write.

Ahreum’s works:

Last nct yandere imagine was so hot! Talking about kinks, could you maybe do the imagine for when their darling tells yandere au! nct legal line to impregnate her in seductive way?

Hi; i ask you as a anon but now i ask in my account, can you make a yandere of SuperM defending their black girlfriend ?

Hi thereeee! I love everything you writeeee! Youre great! I wanted to make a request 😝 mafia au yandere! GOT7. how they punish you when they find you after you succesfully scape and hide away for 2 o 3 years (a lot of time so they are truly angry and desperate hahaha) love ur blog, please dont stop writing. Loveeeeeee

Hi, may I have a scenario with Taeyong or Lucas of s/o having a glow up? Thanks uwu

Do you think Ahreum or Savie could respond to the moaning in sleep one with 127 🥺??? Thanks 😊

yandere nct 127 reaction to getting bored of their s/o? 👠

Yandere!Nct127 or WayV reaction to you being on your period qnd getting severe cramps? (Myabe a lil bit of fluff soft!yandere! moments)

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spaceskam · 4 years

Text

no one deserves to be forgotten

Summary: Growing up, Lan Sizhui is very interested in learning about the Yiling Patriarch.

ao3

The first time he hears his name is in hushed whispers.

“What do you plan to say to everyone? To Grandmaster?” A man in blue said as A-Yuan woke up, “I-I don’t mean to scold you, Wangji, but you brought a child here without explanation and have been hiding him in the Jingshi. How long have you been hiding him and having servants lie to me about it?”

A-die stayed still and silent. The man in blue shook his head and turned to look at A-Yuan. He met his eyes before taking a step closer to a-die and spoke quieter. A-Yuan’s eyes fell closed again. He was still tired.

“Are you set on this? Raising a child when so much is still happening? This soon after... You are set to be punished for what you did in Yiling, Wangji, even I can’t prevent that,” he said, pausing for a moment. A-die didn’t say anything. “At least tell me where he came from so I can help you.”

“Unimportant.”

“This is important. I don’t understand why you would bring a child here when things are still so fragile. I usually understand why you do things, but I can’t right now. The only reason I can even imagine is if...” There was a long pause. A scary pause. A-Yuan pulled his knees closer to his chest. “Wangji, does this child belong to Wei Wuxian?”

A-die didn’t say a word.

“Do I tell Grandmaster that you simply found him and took him in out of the goodness of your heart?”

“Bastard,” A-die said, “Legitimized.” A few more silent seconds and A-Yuan opened his eyes again. The man in blue looked tired as he nodded his head.

“He’ll be angry.”

“Mn.”

“Goodnight, Wangji,” the man in blue said softly, “Take care of yourself, please. And I’ll see you at your punishment in the morning.”

He made it a little ways to the door before a-die said, “Huan-gege.”

The way the man in blue turned to look at him made it seem like it wasn’t the right name. His eyes were wide and his lips were parted. A-die didn’t say more.

“He’ll be in good care when it can’t be yours,” the man in blue said, watching him with a scared face. A-die nodded and didn’t move again until the man in blue was gone.

A-Yuan watched him write on his hand and throw something at the door before he came closer. He sat on the bed and looked at him for a moment, pulling the blanket up to his chin and then putting the back of his hand on A-Yuan’s forehead.

“Blue gege?” he asked. A-die smiled and touched his cheek.

“A-Yuan will call him Zewu-Jun,” he said, his hand returning to his lap.

“Where is a-die going?” A-Yuan asked, tears already coming to his eyes. He was still sick, a-die said so himself, and he didn’t want to be with Blue gege. He wanted his a-die.

“Nowhere far,” A-die promised, “And I will be back. I will always be back.”

A-Yuan wiggled his arms out of the blanket and reached out to him, grabbing for him. A-die smiled again and laid down beside him and wrapped him up against his chest. It was safe there. He didn’t want him to go away.

But he did go away.

Zewu-Jun was nice and patient, but A-Yuan learned very quickly not to cry too loudly for a-die, especially when Grandmaster was around. Zewu-Jun gave him his own part of the Hanshi, but he didn’t like sleeping alone. It was cold and scary and he heard too many things when it got too quiet. But he could cry for a-die there and no one would ask him to be a big boy and grow up. They never called him a-die, either, it was always Lan Wangji and Hanguang-Jun and it took him too long to figure out who they meant.

Instead of staying with Zewu-Jun as often as he’d stayed with a-die, he spent most of his time with other children and the servants in the sect. They knew more than him about too many things and they didn’t understand where he came from and he didn’t know either. He was taught rules and, after a year, he was taught even more about the cultivation world and more about what it meant to be a Lan disciple. But he learned more than he was taught.

Lan Yuan was a very good listener.

“They say Hanguang-Jun had an affair with a prostitute when he visited the QingheNie Sect before they burning of the Cloud Recesses,” a few servants would whisper, thinking he wasn’t listening, “Then after his great fight with the Yiling Patriarch at the Bloodbath of Nightless City, he decided to bring the child somewhere he could watch him.”

“Ah, I heard it was an affair with another cultivator and she died during the Bloodbath which is why he brought him back,” other servants would say in response.

“Whatever it was, it seems awfully fitting of him to disappear after bringing him here.”

And A-Yuan would smile at them and cuddle close and listen more. It was easy. He was a sweet boy, they’d say, as they spoke of his a-die in words he wasn’t quite sure he liked. He’d absorb every word, even the ones he didn’t know yet.

“Zewu-Jun,” A-Yuan said carefully as they walked to the Hanshi for a meal. He glanced at the Jingshi when they passed it. He hadn’t been allowed to go inside since Hanguang-Jun had disappeared. “Can A-Yuan see a-die?”

“Hm?” Zewu-Jun said, looking down at him. A-Yuan flashed that smile that always worked and leaned against his leg, cuddling close. Zewu-Jun smiled.

“Hanguang-Jun?” he said. The words didn’t fit right, too big for his mouth and too many things to say properly, but Zewu-Jun seemed to understand.

“Did Hanguang-Jun say where he was going?” Zewu-Jun asked. A-Yuan shook his head no. “You might have to wait until he comes home then.”

Tears pricked his eyes again, but he managed to make them go away. He had gotten very good at that. It was better than scolding. A-die didn’t scold him. He missed him.

“Tell me, A-Yuan,” Zewu-Jun said as they sat down. He didn’t start their meal yet. “What do you remember from before you came to the Cloud Recesses?”

A-Yuan watched him and didn’t have words to give him. Should he know things outside of the Cloud Recesses?

“Well, what’s the first thing you can remember?” Zewu-Jun said instead. A-Yuan thought really hard.

“A-die,” he said. Zewu-Jun stared at him for a moment and nodded before he started their meal.

A few days later, Zewu-Jun didn’t send him off with the servants. He took his hand and started leading him somewhere and A-Yuan was on his best behavior. He kept his eyes to himself and his ears to everyone else. No one said anything about Hanguang-Jun with Zewu-Jun so close.

They walked through trees and the grass. It was so high, A-Yuan had to watch his feet so he wouldn’t fall. Still, he almost fell anyway when he accidentally ran into Zewu-Jun when he stopped.

“A-Yuan is sorry,” he said, looking up at him with the big eyes he always used to get out of trouble. Zewu-Jun just smiled.

“It’s alright. Look,” Zewu-Jun said, gesturing over. A-Yuan looked and, sitting in the grass around the bunnies, was Hanguang-Jun.

Running was bad, he knew it, but he ran anyway. He was engulfed in all the gray robes Hanguang-Jun wore as he hugged him and he was hugged back. He wanted to cry. He did cry.

“Be careful, Wangji,” Zewu-Jun said. Hanguang-Jun cradled A-Yuan’s head to his chest instead of answering.

“Hanguang-Jun,” A-Yuan said into his shoulder, holding him tight.

“Mn,” he hummed, “Hanguang-Jun?”

“A-die,” A-Yuan corrected, still crying and still clinging. Hanguang-Jun breathed a laugh and leaned his head against his.

They stayed there for a while and A-Yuan clung to him the whole time. He didn’t want him to go away again. Everyone else made him have to be so careful and scared. With Hanguang-Jun, there was nothing to be scared of.

He carried A-Yuan all the way back to the Jingshi despite Zewu-Jun telling him he needed to be careful, that he still needed rest. He locked the door with a talisman like A-Yuan hadn’t seen anyone else do since he left. Still, A-Yuan looked around and smiled as he put him down. He missed it there.

“A-die is staying?” he asked. A-die nodded again and A-Yuan smiled even wider, clinging to his leg in a hug.

That night, he finally didn’t have to sleep by himself.

It was better after that.

He still was expected to spend time with the other children and the servants and so much of his time was spent with Zewu-Jun, but he got to see Hanguang-Jun. People seemed to know that. Even though Hanguang-Jun wasn’t there and never went outside, they seemed to be more scared to say things around Lan Yuan. It didn’t mean he didn’t hear them anyway.

“I can’t believe Lan Wangji is actually raising him,” they whispered. They were a few feet away and Lan Yuan was playing with Jingyi, but he listened anyway. “And while he’s in seclusion.”

“Maybe he wants to be better than his father,” another said.

“Maybe he feels guilty for not killing the Yiling Patriarch sooner,” a third scoffed, “And he’s just raising another warrior to be more aware of evil.”

“Maybe.”

When he got home, A-Yuan didn’t have to stay silent like he had when he was with Zewu-Jun. He watched him still, though. He was unsure of what question he wanted to ask. When he settled on the right one, it was important he said it the right way. Everyone else said the words like they were bad.

“What is Yiling Patriarch?” he asked. The words didn’t feel right, but Hanguang-Jun froze with his eyes on the floor so maybe he understood anyway. He stayed like that until A-Yuan felt bad and cuddled up to his leg, giving that smile that made everyone forgive him.

“Who did you hear that from?”

“Everyone,” he said honestly. He overheard servants say it, he’d overheard Grandmaster say it, and he’d even heard one of the kids he played with say it. But he didn’t want to get anyone in trouble.

A-die said nothing for a little while and A-Yuan was sure he wasn’t going to say anything. Until he did.

“Rest. Tomorrow we travel to Caiyi.”

When they traveled to Caiyi (without the approval of Zewu-Jun), A-Yuan started to understand why they needed to go to the city for him to explain what the Yiling Patriarch was. People were on the street and saying his name, selling talismans under his title, telling stories with ugly and scary pictures of him. There weren't too many people, but it was enough. They also told great stories of Hanguang-Jun’s epic rivalry with him and how he destroyed him alongside Sandu Shengshou. A-die said nothing no matter how much A-Yuan looked at him for an explanation.

Eventually, they got a room at the inn and they got their food sent to the room. A-Yuan quickly began to eat.

“The Yiling Patriarch is called Wei Wuxian,” A-die said. A-Yuan froze with his spoon in his mouth. There was no talking during meals, but today apparently they could because a-die nodded at him to continue eating. He did so slowly just in case. “The stories that are told about him… The people telling them can never understand. He made mistakes. He is not a bad man.”

“Where is he now?” A-Yuan asked. He’d heard a few people say he was dead, but they still spoke of him by warning his return.

“He’s lost,” A-die said slowly, going to start his own meal. A-Yuan nodded.

They didn’t speak much more about him after that on purpose.

Hanguang-Jun started to show his face around the Cloud Recesses again and began teaching the juniors. Lan Yuan started having classes where they taught about the history of the cultivation world, he found himself more interested in the very recent past than anything else. He wanted to hear everything about the war, about the Sunshot Campaign, about who Wei Wuxian, the great Yiling Patriarch, was. They never really gave him the answers he wanted.

So he asked the only person he trusted on the topic.

“A-die, Grandmaster said the Yiling Patriarch was one of the most promising cultivators of his generation and he just chose to do bad with it, is that true?”

“His thoughts were simply new and people fear what they can’t understand.”

“A-die, they said you both killed the Tortoise of Slaughter together, but you were rivals. How can you fight well with someone you dislike?”

“He is not my rival.”

“A-die, they said he murdered tons of LanlingJin cultivators and tons of Wen civilians, but that doesn’t make sense to me.”

“Wei Wuxian destroyed his reputation to take care of those Wen civilians. I cannot speak on the actual events of that night.”

“Hanguang-Jun, did he really create the Ghost General to be a weapon?”

“He saved someone he cared for. He cared very much.”

“Hanguang-Jun, did Young Master Wei really murder the heir to the LanlingJin sect?”

“I cannot speak on the actual event.”

“Hanguang-Jun, at the Bloodbath of Nightless City, did Young Master Wei really slaughter thousands of cultivators, including his sister?”

“That night is difficult for everyone.”

The more questions Lan Yuan asked, regardless of how explanatory the answer was, he began to put together a picture of Wei Wuxian. A man of questionable decisions, but one who wasn’t shy about his opinions. A man who wasn’t necessarily all good, but he wasn’t evil. A man who was intelligent and an inventor. A man who deserved a little bit of compassion just like everyone else.

“Hanguang-Jun, do you think there’s any way it could’ve gone different for Wei Wuxian?” he asked one day. Hanguang-Jun held his head high, his gaze somewhere else.

“The GusuLan sect rules are a guideline. That doesn’t mean they’re always right. Trust yourself first,” Hanguang-Jun said. Lan Yuan filled in the rest of the sentence for him to get his answer. That, maybe if someone broke the right rules, Wei Wuxian could’ve been saved.

Lan Yuan thought about that a lot. The GusuLan sect rules were strict and they were very clear. You shouldn’t pass judgment and you should simply help those in need, but you should stick to what you know is right above all else. Most people didn’t fare too well with any of those, but Lan Yuan strived for it. If he did nothing worthwhile in his life, he would be that.

When he got his forehead ribbon, he was old enough to be aware of the way Grandmaster Lan felt about him. It wasn’t that he disproved of him outright or blamed him for his parentage, but it was a never ending wariness in his gaze like he was just waiting for him to show his true self. It gave him all the more reason to be himself honestly.

“...and for self-regulation. A staple of not only how you represent yourself, but your people,” Grandmaster announced calmly, his eyes locked on Lan Sizhui despite despite the fact that there were three other boys getting their ribbons as well.

Hanguang-Jun carefully tied it around his head with skill, not even accidentally pulling a single strand of hair as he secured it. He moved to the front to straighten it and gave an approving nod. Lan Sizhui smiled. When he stepped away, though, he was faced with Grandmaster’s wary gaze. He smiled wider and bowed low.

It didn’t take away the concern.

“It’s silly to think you were so small once,” Zewu-Jun said as they walked out of the lanshi. Lan Sizhui stood between him and Hanguang-Jun, but he chose to keep his chin up and his eyes forward so he didn’t mess up his forehead ribbon. Zewu-Jun must’ve noticed because he laughed. “When is he moving out of the Jingshi and into the dormitory?”

That got Lan Suzhui to break his forward stare and he looked up to Hanguang-Jun with furrowed eyebrows. He didn’t really want to move out of the Jingshi. He liked the safety that came with sleeping beside his father, something he very distinctly remembered lacking for too much time when he was little. Something he felt even now when Hanguang-Jun went on night hunts.

“He’s still young,” Hanguang-Jun said simply.

“You were in a dormitory at his age. He’s nearly 12, he begins actual training soon.”

Hanguang-Jun said nothing as he dropped his left hand. Lan Sizhui didn’t need any further instruction as he grabbed his hand and they started to head towards the Jingshi. He spared a look over his shoulder to Zewu-Jun to make sure he wasn’t upset. But he was smiling in that very, very specific way that Lan Sizhui only saw a few times. He knew it was okay.

They got back to the Jingshi and Lan Sizhui didn’t say anything about it as he watched Hanguang-Jun sit behind his guqin. Lan Sizhui was slowly but surely learning to play on his own and he could play simple, little things. He sat near him and watched.

He started to pluck a little melody, something that felt almost unfinished, instead of adding onto the topic of Lan Sizhui moving out of the Jingshi. He knew he would have to eventually, but didn’t he have at least a couple more years? Hanguang-Jun sure thought so.

Lan Sizhui closed his eyes and focused on the music, breathing in time with it as he internalized it. It was a song he’d heard a few times over the years, but Hanguang-Jun had never so deliberately played it in front of him before. He typically played it when he was alone and Lan Sizhui would hear it when he came back from classes. As he listened to it now, he hadn’t expected to get an answer to Zewu-Jun’s inquiry, but he did anyway. It seemed to be written into the song.

People weren’t meant to sleep alone.

“That isn’t him.”

“What are you talking about, of course it’s him, that’s what it says.”

Lan Sizhui smiled at Lan Jingyi and then bowed to the artist selling portraits of the Yiling Patriarch. Then he grabbed Jingyi and tugged him to follow Hanguang-Jun a little closer. He’d brought them to Caiyi for a sort of pre-night hunt before they were officially classified as juniors.

“Wei Wuxian was the same age as Hanguang-Jun, he is young. He probably won’t like people thinking he’s old,” Lan Sizhui said softly. Jingyi looked at him weirdly.

“Who cares what he likes?”

“It’s wrong to lie,” Lan Sizhui said. Lan Jingyi rolled his eyes as they caught up to Hanguang-Jun.

They followed him closely and Lan Sizhui’s eyes lingered back to the portraits. Of all his years hearing his name, he’d never actually known what Wei Wuxian looked like. He looked back to Hanguang-Jun and wondered if he knew. He wondered if he’d tell him.

“Hanguang-Jun,” he called, stepping up beside him, “Do you know any of the talismans that Wei Wuxian created?”

Hanguang-Jun breathed out, his shoulders setting a little more and he looked down at him with that very distinctly fond look. Lan Sizhui hadn’t noticed that he was the only one who received that until recently. In return, he offered that smile that everyone loved. Hanguang-Jun rested his hand on his shoulder.

“I know a few,” he said.

He led the way with Sihzui and Jingyi hot on his trail all the way to the inn they planned to stay in for the night. There was a ghost that showed its face after a traveler had died unexpectedly in his room at the beginning of the night. It was a simple, small task that needed to be handled to save the innkeeper from going out of business. It was the perfect hunt to take children on.

And yet, even with a ghost lurking, Sihzui could sense a new, almost excited air around Hanguang-Jun. Jingyi could too, it seemed, and he fed off it.

“Is it cool? I know he came up with some cool evil things, but you knew him when he came up with cool normal things, didn’t you? Are you going to show us one of those?” Lan Jingyi asked, nearly running to keep up with Hanguang-Jun’s wider strides.

“Mn,” he said.

It wasn’t long before they were in the room Hanguang-Jun rented out and then, all too quickly, he crafted a talisman and there was a direct string from his wrist to Sizhui’s. He straightened up with startled eyes, looking up to him. Hanguang-Jun was smiling.

“Whoa!” Lan Jingyi said, “What’s it called?”

“Bonding,” he said, his voice carrying something Lan Sizhui couldn’t quite place, “Or Binding.”

Lan Sizhui tugged on it and Hanguang-Jun’s arm followed it, the tie never extending. It was impressive. He walked a bit closer and studied it.

“What was used for? To keep thieves from running?” he asked, looking up to Hanguang-Jun, “This is so clever. Did he ever expand upon it?” His smile turned a bit sad before it disappeared entirely.

“No,” he said.

He didn’t say much more as they fought the ghost that night.

Lan Sizhui very quickly rose to the top of his class after that. It wasn’t a secret, but he didn’t wear it with any pride. That felt wrong. Instead, he spent his time assisting those who struggled. Even when the juniors from other sects came to visit, Lan Sizhui spent most of his time teaching them. Slowly and unintentionally, he saw Grandmaster Lan grow to respect him. He tried not to take pride in that either, but it felt nice.

Other sect leaders came to visit during the months that they housed the other juniors, including Nie Hauisang, the infamous Head Shaker. The other juniors seemed to think little of him, but Lan Sizhui found him charming. He watched the way Zewu-Jun handled him as if he was still a child instead of a sect leader and almost instantly wanted to hear the man speak.

So, as he always did, he listened.

It took a long while, until the sun had already gone to sleep and most of the people in the Cloud Recesses were retiring for the night. Lan Sizhui and Yan Zijing, a QingheNie disciple, however, were on patrol. It was pure convenience that they ran into Nie Hauisang.

“Sect Leader Nie,” Lan Sizhui said, bowing deep for him, “What are you doing up?”

“Ah, reminiscing,” he said quietly, his fan open and his face bowed just a bit as if he wasn’t their superior, “I studied here. I, I never learned much, no, it wasn’t for me, I, I don’t know enough for all that.”

Lan Sizhui smiled at him kindly, “You were here with Hanguang-Jun, weren’t you?”

“Yes, yes, it was very, very different back then. With… everything,” he said, looking around before settling on Sizhui again, “You’re Hanguang-Jun’s ward, aren’t you?”

“Yes, Sect Leader Nie.”

“Mm,” he said, looking over him, “You don’t look like him.”

“Oh.”

“But I’m sure you’re just as loyal,” Nie Hauisang said, lowering his face just a little. Lan Sizhui didn’t know how to respond to that, so he simply nodded. Nie Hauisang looked to Yan Zijing for a moment then back to Lan Sizhui again before he said goodnight.

The conversation captured his interest nonetheless and he found himself lingering outside the room Nie Hauisang was staying in the next morning. It was probably inappropriate and he would scold himself for it later if he didn’t get in actual trouble with Hanguang-Jun for harassing their guests, but he’d never been able to stop himself from asking questions even when he shouldn’t. It was selfish of him, really. Maybe Grandmaster was right to question him…

“This disciple is so sorry to bother you, Sect Leader Nie,” Lan Sizhui said after he knocked and Nie Hauisang answered, bowing lower than he had the night before, “But there was a question I needed to ask you.”

“Oh, I’m sure I’m the wrong person, I, I don’t have answers, I don’t know anything, I just don’t know,” he said, giving a breathy laugh.

“You knew my father when he was young.” Lan Sizhui flashed that smile he always used and it worked as well as it always did when Nie Hauisang relaxed his shoulders a little. He nodded. “I was wondering if perhaps you remembered Wei Wuxian? He is so interesting to me.”

Nie Hauisang’s awkward laughter returned, “Maybe you shouldn’t say that.”

“I usually don’t,” Lan Sizhui admitted, “But you seemed like a friendly face to ask.”

It didn’t take much persuasion until he was invited in and Nie Hauisang told him a few more than slightly disjointed stories. He told the middle before he told the beginning and the ending was always sprinkled throughout and most of the details weren’t what he asked for, choosing to stumble onto tangents and fumble around his words instead of making sense. He made it through the second tale before he was beginning to think he was doing it on purpose. Hanguang-Jun was a man of few words, but the words he said were meaningful. Nie Hauisang seemed to speak so much to get away with not saying anything at all.

“Right, yes, but weren’t he and Hanguan-Jun rivals? Why would they travel to Qinghe together?” Lan Sizhui asked. It was the only part of the stories he could grasp that he both understood and had never heard before. Well, he knew they weren’t rivals, but no one needed to know that he knew that fact. Nie Hauisang tilted his head and smiled.

“And just why would they not? They are men of poetry, that’s the only thing I know.”

Lan Sizhui didn’t have much time to ask as he realized he had to get to class, so he’d excused himself and bowed and thanked Nie Hauisang for the company. He just bowed back, the structure all too similar to a junior bowing to Grandmaster, and did not say he enjoyed his company, nor did he say he would like to do it again. It was a funny little thing.

Hanguang-Jun sat at the front of the class and Lan Sizhui found himself thinking too hard about what he meant by poetry.

Poetry seemed to be too simplistic of a word to describe Hanguang-Jun, especially when he seemed to instantly attach himself to Young Master Mo Xuanyu. Lan Sizhui had never seen him act that way before. It was confusing.

However, the more time he spent around him and them, it slowly started to make sense. Listening to him speaking and having him as their teacher felt all too familiar. He spoke with such confidence and he was always correct. It reminded him of being with Hanguang-Jun. There was nothing to fear with them.

Lan Sizhui would have the moment ingrained into his mind when he first discovered who Mo Xuanyu really was. The way his stomach dropped and he felt overwhelmed and ill at the fact that this man who made him feel so safe, who his father put on such a high regard, was the deviant Yiling Patriarch himself.

It didn’t take long, though, to readjust his mindset. This was a man who had captivated his mind for his entire life. The fact that he hadn’t known it was him to begin with was mindless.

However, when he saw his bare face again with the knowledge that it was Wei Wuxian, he still felt he couldn’t breathe. And when he saw his wide smile, the one Lan Sizhui had been giving people his entire life, he couldn’t breathe. But it didn’t break his loyalty during the Second Siege of the Burial Mounds. If anything, it strengthened it. This was the man he’d been trying so hard to learn about, to know without reason, and here he was.

And the more he thought and spoke and learned and…

“A-die!”

Lan Sizhui gasped as he gathered his surroundings. The last thing he’d remembered was being with Wen Ning at Nightless City, but now he was on the floor of the Jingshi. Hanguang-Jun was on the floor knelt unceremoniously beside him, a hand on his arm and a hand on his cheek. Concern was etched onto his brow despite the fact that he’d clearly been woken up.

“A-Yuan,” A-die said, his thumb rubbing over his cheek as Lan Sizhui caught his breath.

“A-die,” he said back. He didn’t care if he sounded or acted like a child as he scooted closer. A-die pulled him into a hug and held him like he did when he was small. He pressed his face into the white robe and let him console him.

The longer he stayed there and caught his breath, the more he could make sense of his panic. And it was just a bad dream brought upon by too many memories that weren’t his, locking him inside his mind for far too long. Maybe it was silly of him to try to learn more about his true ancestors by welcoming ghosts to tell him. It’d been too much and Wen Ning had apparently needed to haul him back to the Cloud Recesses.

“Are you alright?” a second voice asked once Lan Sizhui had steadied himself. He still stayed laid against Hanguang-Jun, discarding pride and self-control in favor of his father’s comfort, but he managed to turn his head while still keeping it against his shoulder.

Wei Wuxian was crouched beside them in all black in a similar turned down state. A second quick look around made it clear that Wei Wuxian had made himself at home in the Jingshi. Even the bed was messier than Hanguang-Jun ever would’ve let it get on his own. Although his cheeks flushed a bit red, he could appreciate that his a-die no longer had to sleep alone.

“I’m alright,” Lan Sizhui insisted, eyes downcast so he didn’t make the situation more shameful, “I’m sorry.”

“Nonsense, you’re sorry for what? Needing someone? Ha, you know what I always say, never apologize for needing someone,” Wei Wuxian said boldly. Hanguang-Jun huffed a laugh due to how distinctly untrue that was, but Lan Sizhui appreciated the sentiment. “Are you really alright, though? Wen Ning said you got too lost.”

“I-I didn’t get lost‒”

“Ay, then what would you call it? It’s called getting lost, don’t be embarrassed of words, they exist for a reason, you got lost,” Wei Wuxian said, his tone almost a little scolding. Sizhui couldn’t see his a-die’s face, but he felt him stroke his hair and his face in a way he hadn’t since Grandmaster had unintentionally made him cry nearly a decade prior. And Wei Wuxian smiled that smile. “Ah, Lan Zhan, you’re such a good dad. So strong, so protective.”

“Mn.”

“I didn’t get lost,” Sizhui said again if only to save himself, “It was just too much at once. I got overwhelmed, that’s all. I’ll be better next time.”

“Yes, you will, and I’ll show you how to do better,” Wei Wuxian said, scrunching up his nose and reaching out to pinch his cheek. He didn’t even try to lean away from it.

“Tomorrow,” Hanguang-Jun said.

“Obviously tomorrow, why would I mean tonight?” Wei Wuxian said, but then there was a pause and he gave a guilty smile, “Okay, if he’d wanted to, I probably would’ve said tonight, but you have to forgive me, Lan Zhan! I missed so many years! Boring, boring years.”

“You weren’t conscious.”

“Semantics,” he said. Lan Sizhui smiled a little and Wei Wuxian lit up in response. “Ah, there we are, he’s better now. Or, if you’re not, I can find Chenqing for you to chew on, that always made you feel better when you were little.”

“He is tired,” Hanguang-Jun said. Wei Wuxian turned his smile on him.

“He’s a grown boy, Lan Zhan, he can say if he’s tired himself.”

“I’m tired,” Lan Sizhui said. Wei Wuxian breathed a dramatic sigh and pushed himself to his feet.

“I leave you alone with him for a few years and you turn into him, so unfair,” he said, but the smile was evident, “Fine, fine, I’ll be respectful, you can go to sleep.”

“I’ll go to‒” Lan Sizhui started to stay as they helped him to his feet, but Wei Wuxian shook his head.

“You’ll stay here,” Hanguang-Jun said.

“In case you get lost again,” Wei Wuxian filled in. He was too tired and too thankful to argue, so he nodded.

Lan Sizhui rubbed his eye and started to take off his shoes. Without any warning, Wei Wuxian reached to take off his forehead ribbon. His instinct was to tell him no, but he realized that it was alright. Especially when Hanguang-Jun didn’t say anything to him about it, simply guided him down the pillow and made sure his head didn’t hit too hard as if that would throw him right back into his bad dreams.

“Ah, I had a dream about this once, only A-Yuan was much smaller in that dream,” Wei Wuxian said as he stood beside the bed, his hands on his hips. He watched them with a smile as they settled into bed, A-Yuan on the edge and a-die leaving enough space for him by the wall. “My Hanguang-Jun, so sweet.”

“Come,” Hanguang-Jun requested.

“Later, later, I’m not tired. I have books to read, things to think, people to remember and forget, probably a prophecy or two if I let it. I’ll be asleep when you wake up, don’t worry,” he said. Wei Wuxian then gave them both loud, exaggerated forehead kisses and threw the blanket over them. It felt almost teasing, but he was too tired to laugh.

He walked out of the bedchamber section of the Jingshi, instead heading to the otherside entirely where he created a small talisman to give him light that would let him read but not disturb the two of them. Lan Sizhui could see him sprawl out on the floor with a book in hand. He looked over to his a-die. He was the most at ease he’d ever seen him.

As he drifted back to sleep, Lan Sizhui considered that maybe, through all of his time thinking of Wei Wuxian as a way of extending compassion to a dead man, it didn’t hold a candle to way to the extents Hanguang-Jun had cherished him in his mind.

He could only hope he could do them both justice with this second chance.

#the untamed #lan sizhui #lan wangji #wei wuxian #the untamed fic #my fic #mdzs

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lan-zhans · 4 years

Text

I am... not? | HuaLian

A/N: Oh, hey! Watch me writing trash on side blog! 😀 We all need tickly content with our ships. Don't you think? No?... No? ... I hope you enjoy it!

Summary: Are Ghost Kings ticklish? Of course not! Oh, wait...

Words: 2409

Xie Lian's sweet yet nearly hysterical laughter filled up the room.

"Why are you laughing so much, Gege?" Hua Cheng's voice was teasy, swirling inside Xie Lian's ear; his cold lips brushing against the shell, causing a little squeak to break the string of laughter pouring out of him. "What's so funny?"

"San Lahahahahang!" Xie Lian arched his back off the bed in yet another failed attempt to throw Hua Cheng off him; his arms trapped between his and Hua Cheng's chest and under his lover's weight.

He could easily push San Lang off him, he really could, but those fingers mercilessly wiggling and digging playfully under his arms were making his body lose all strength as he squirmed as best as he could, trying to escape the tickling.

Hua Cheng chuckled softly. "Ah, could it be that it tickles?"

Xie Lian felt his face heating up, a deep pink blush spreading across his cheeks for laughing so much and for every teasing word whispered against his ear; tears of laughter falling from the corners of his eyes.

Xie Lian was used to this by now. Hua Cheng always found the opportunity to tickle him: in the morning, when Xie Lian just woke up and was still sleepy and weak, when he was trying to cook, when he was writing down calligraphy exercises for Hua Cheng; goodness, even during their intimate times!

Hua Cheng was always able to turn Xie Lian into a laughing mess, but even if he was used to it, it didn't mean it tickled any less, and he was so weak against it; Hua Cheng knew just which spots to touch to make Xie Lian laugh like mad and squirm under Hua Cheng's playful administration every single time.

Regardless, Xie Lian could not come to hate it, especially when Hua Cheng smiled so brightly at him, (not that he was able to see his smile too often since Xie Lian's eyes were always tightly shut as he laughed), his mischievous eye tinkling lovely and his touch, even though extremely ticklish, was soft and gentle.

He couldn't deny that it was fun... But it still tickled too much!

"Plehehehease!" Xie Lian cried out between his laughter.

"I've never done this to anyone besides His Highness before," Hua Cheng said nonchalantly, completely ignoring Xie Lian's pleas. "So I wonder if San Lang is doing a good job, Gege?"

"No no no no!" Xie Lian squeaked when Hua Cheng quickly changed spots, his nimble fingers moving up to tickle his neck. The Crown Prince's belly laughter turned into uncontrollably giggling as he scrunched up his shoulders, an adorable snort making his his nose vibrate.

Xie Lian could hear Hua Cheng's chuckles as he hummed softly. "Hmm? Is His Highness ignoring me now? I'd like some feedback, please?"

"Yes! Yehehehes!" Xie Lian shrieked out. "Good wohohohork, San Lahahahang!"

"Does Gege think so?" Hua Cheng smirked, purring his words against Xie Lian's flushed ear. "Then I think I will not stop, since His Highness is enjoying this so much."

Xie Lian shook his head, his legs kicking out in a futile attempt to escape his evil husband. "San Lang! I'm dying! I'm- ahahaha!"

Hua Cheng chuckled, "Hmm? But Gege is immortal! He can't die because of a little tickling, right?"

At some point, when Xie Lian's laughter had gone silent and he thought he was going to actually die from suffocation, the dead weight on top of him felt lighter and, with a rather weak push of his arms, he could easily (and finally), throw Hua Cheng off him. Hua Cheng fell dramatically on his back right beside Xie Lian on top of their divan, a very inexpresive 'ah' leaving his lips.

Xie Lian breathed heavily between some residual giggles. "San Lang..." He whined softly.

Hua Cheng chuckled at his side. "Hmm? What is it, Gege?"

Still a bit out of breath, Xie Lian, probably in the heat of the moment, climbed on top of Hua Cheng, straddling his waist as his hands quickly made contact with his sides, squeezing them up and down.

Hua Cheng chuckled and Xie Lian beamed at the sound, his fingers moving faster, not noticing the teasing smile pulling at the corners of Hua Cheng's mouth.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness." Only then Xie Lian looked up at his lover and his hands froze against Hua Cheng's sides. "This San Lang is not ticklish at all."

Xie Lian's eyes widened, his pink face turning red once again as he stared at Hua Cheng, mouth slightly open and surprise splashed on his features.

"..."

Xie Lian, "you are lying."

Hua Cheng laughed. "I would never lie to His Highness. This lowly one does not experience that ticklish sensation that sends Gege into hysterics, but," he said, arching one thin eyebrow, a smirk on his lips, "if His Highness is interested, he can try to find something." He smugly placed his arms behind his head like a pillow. "I don't mind being touched all over by Your Highness."

Xie Lian blushed to the tip of his ears and he wondered deep within his heart, when would it come the time when he didn't fall for Hua Cheng's teasing; at this rate... probably never.

However, still embarrassed, he narrowed his eyes. Hua Cheng smiled brightly and quite confidently when he saw that sparkling determination in Xie Lian's eyes.

The Crown Prince nodded. "I will do it," he said, pressing his legs against Hua Cheng's torso, holding him in place. "But so you know, San Lang," he smiled and Hua Cheng chuckled because he was sure Xie Lian tried to smirk, "if I do find a good spot, I will not stop until I'm satisfied."

Hua Cheng nodded, "good luck then, Gege. San Lang will take his punishment... If you success, of course."

Xie Lian was determinated, as soon as those words left Hua Cheng's mouth, he started his attack. He began with his ears, brushing gently against them and scratching behind. Nothing, so he moved down and Xie Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry when Hua Cheng lifted his chin to expose his neck more. So nothing.

His collarbones, his chest, under his arms, ("You are lying!" "His Highness is very ticklish there, but I really am not!"), his ribs, his sides, his waist - by now the only flustered one was Xie Lian!

Hua Cheng didn't even giggle once! Not even when Xie Lian clawed his gentle fingers against Hua Cheng's tight stomach, (he was almost sure it would work, but maybe just because that's Xie Lian's weakest spot), not even a single chuckle came out of his mouth... No sound except for a teasing yawn that had Xie Lian blushing furiously.

"I told Gege I was not ticklish."

Xie Lian huffed proudly, and Hua Cheng beamed, that was the first time he saw that expression in Xie Lian's face. He was frowning a bit, his eyes slightly wide as he hungrily looked over Hua Cheng's body, trying to find another spot to attack. His pink tongue was sticking a bit between his lips and his nose was scrunched up.

He looked adorable, Hua Cheng couldn't care less about the poking and prodding around his body when Xie Lian was looking so sweet and beautiful on top of him. Honestly, he should-

"Hahahaha!" Hua Cheng's bark of laughter made the both of them freeze. "What-

Hua Cheng lifted himself up a bit to see Xie Lian's hands wrapped around his hipbones; he frowned, feeling the lingering tingling sensation right under Xie Lian's fingers. If he was able to blush, his face would be bright red by now as he saw Xie Lian's face: he was smiling widely, his eyes sparkling at his discovery.

"Did you laugh, San Lang?" He asked, pressing his thumbs into Hua Cheng's hips, making him jump. "Did that tickle?"

"It... Seems like it kind of di- ack! Your Highness, wa- ahahahaha!" Hua Cheng fell back against the divan, his back arching up and his hands reaching down to grab Xie Lian's hands.

"Hands up!" Xie Lian said and much to Hua Cheng's surprise, Ruoye came flying out, unwrapping itself from its master's arms to wrap around the Ghost King's wrists, pulling his arms up until it tied to one of the divan's legs. "I said I would not stop and you said you'd take your punishment. So now take it!"

"Your Highness!" Hua Cheng squealed. "I will keep my arms up, we... don't need Ruoye!"

Xie Lian shook his head, a bright smile pulling at the corner of his lips as he looked down to where his hands held Hua Cheng's hips. "I am going to start now. Do not pull too hard or you'll tear Ruoye up."

"Your Highness!" Hua Cheng tried again. "Your Highness, this San Lang was wrong, I didn't thought I could be- stahahap!"

His reaction was instantaneous, he bucked his hips up, almost throwing Xie Lian off him. He tried to hold his laughter in, not used to the sensation sending shiver up his spine, but as soon as Xie Lian used his thumbs to rub deep circles against his hipbones, he threw his head back, letting out clear and loud laughter that made Xie Lian laugh as well.

"G-gege! Gehehehege, wait!" He begged, trying to squirm away from the situation.

Xie Lian giggled. "No waiting, San Lang, please enjoy my revenge."

Hua Cheng shook his head as heavy laughter made his body shake as well. He hated himself for not knowing he was ticklish in the first place, but really, how could he know? No one had dared to do such thing to the Ghost King, but Xie Lian was Xie Lian and he could do whatever he wanted...

And Xie Lian was more than enjoying himself as he turned his playful lover into a mess; his eyes, beaming with excitement, looked down at Hua Cheng tenderly, his loud, unrestrained and continuous laughter (he didn't need to breath, after all), sending pleasant shivers down Xie Lian's spine. He wondered, though, if the ghosts in the Ghost City could hear their King laughing so freely and loud like this... They wouldn't dare to mention it if they did hear.

On top of that, Hua Cheng was trying to hide his face into the side of his arm and Xie Lian felt his heart flutter at the sweet sight. "San Lang... Are you flustered?"

"Your Highnehehehess!" Hua Cheng squeaked. "Dohohon't tease mehehe!"

Xie Lian laughed. "Why? San Lang always teases me, so I think-

Hua Cheng let out another loud laugh and, wanting to really hide from Xie Lian, he tried to roll on his stomach and he actually succeeded when Xie Lian lifted himself up a little bit, but as soon as he found himself with his face buried into a pillow, he knew this new position was worst since Xie Lian's fingers could easily dig into the dips of his hips, which were a very sensitive places.

"Yohohour Highnes! Have mehehehercy!" Hua Cheng pleaded, his legs kicking and his body twisting under Xie Lian as he tried not to pull his arms too harshly. "Plehehehase, stop!"

Xie Lian chuckled, "Why are you laughing so much, San Lang?"

Hua Cheng let out a groan between his laughter. "N-No, plehehehease! Don't say that!"

"This is actually my first time tickling someone. I'd like some feed back, San Lang." Xie Lian mercilessly used the same teasing words Hua Cheng used on him earlier and he enjoyed every reaction it evoked in the Ghost King.

"Gehehehege, I'm dying! Stohohohop!"

"How's that possible, San Lang?" Xie Lian asked with a faked surprised voice. "You are already dead!" Xie Lian couldn't stop laughing himself, it was fun to be on the upper hand every once in a while.

"San Lang will behave!" Hua Cheng said at once, trying to control his laughter. "I will n-nohohahahaha- I'll g-gihihive Gege a break!" He promised hurriedly, trying to look at Xie Lian through his teary eye.

Xie Lian hummed, a funny smile playing on his lips. "Really?"

"Yes! Yehehes, Gege! Plehehehase!"

Xie Lian chuckled, perhaps he tortured Hua Cheng long enough, so with a soft clearing of his throat, Ruoye came back to wrap around his arms. As soon as Hua Cheng felt his freedom, he reached down, gently grabbing Xie Lian's wrists, trying to push them away from his hips as he laughed tiredly.

Xie Lian stopped slowly until one of his hands was patting Hua Cheng's back softly, waiting for him to stop laughing and feeling a bit weird when Hua Cheng didn't breathe heavily once his laughter died down.

"Is San Lang alright?" Xie Lian asked just a bit worried, laying down beside Hua Cheng, who slowly turned on his back.

"Well, that was fun, wasn't it?" Xie Lian laughed and he let out a little squeal when Hua Cheng suddenly wrapped him between his arms, he tensed up, expecting another tickle attack, but Hua Cheng simply kissed his forehead and Xie Lian fixed Hua Cheng's eye patch once he relaxed. "Gege is really mean."

Xie Lian chuckled. "San Lang could easily throw me off, I had to keep him in place so I could take my revenge," he explained, the tip of his nose pressed against Hua Cheng's, their lips brushing with every of their words. "I kept looking back, in case E'Ming wanted to attack me."

Hua Cheng puffed. "That little shit would attack me first than Gege."

Xie Lian laughed, thinking that that was probably true.

They stayed like that for a while, staring into each other's eyes and giggling quietly at silly words and thoughts until Hua Cheng puckered his lower lip into a tiny pout, Xie Lian blushed softly. "Gege was really mean, though," he said. "I think San Lang will need a kiss so he can forgive His Highness."

Xie Lian giggled, his hands cupping Hua Cheng's perfect face. "Why, I think I also need a kiss to forgive San Lang."

Hua Cheng chuckled, bringing Xie Lian closer to him by the waist, "then let's do it at the same time, Gege~"

They kissed and kissed and kissed and giggled into each other's mouths until the moon was up and the last thing their sleepy eyes saw was their lips moving, wishing a good night, swearing their eternal love, and promising to see each other again the next morning.

#Tian Guan Ci Fu #TGCF #HuaLian #Hua Cheng #Xie Lian #tickling #tickle fic #trash on side blog #my writing #my fic

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niets-is-onbeduidend · 3 years

Text

More Modern AU’s

* indicates a personal favourite

MODERN CULTIVATOR AU’s

I feel like I win when I lose by so_shhy

Wei Ying is at his first Grand Final, rated fifth in the solo cultivator rankings, with the Qishan and Lanling silver medals tucked away in his sock drawer, and he’s about to walk into the arena for a match that everyone knows he’s going to lose.

A modern competitive cultivation AU.

Words: 25.500

Always Knew You Were Magical by jeyhawk

Lan Wangji finds Wei Wuxian pajamas to wear and coaxes him into them, wide plaid pants in dark blue and white and a t-shirt with two rabbits on it. Wei Wuxian looks down on the shirt and smiles for the first time all evening.

"Lan Zhan, do all your pajamas have rabbits on them?"

Lan Wangji thinks about lying, but it would be foolish when Wei Wuxian is standing right next to the proof. He inclines his head slightly.

"I like rabbits," he says.

Wei Wuxian blinks and then he smiles a little wider.

Words: 25.000

living in my memory/living in my mouth by tardigradeschool

Wei Wuxian dies at twenty-two and doesn’t come back. Lan Wangji dies in an “unfortunate accident” in a temple in Yunping at thirty-seven. The world moves on.

Thousands of years later, Wei Ying and Lan Zhan have a senior thesis in cultivation to co-write on the Yiling Patriarch. It doesn’t go exactly how they were expecting. - “I still do not understand why you were able to read the journal in the first place,” Lan Zhan says.

Wei Ying grins. “You’ll laugh,” he says. He won’t, of course. Lan Zhan doesn’t laugh. But maybe he can swing a smile. “It’s because of the name thing. He wrote his name into the scrambling talisman. So it says that no one can undo the lock but Wei Ying.” He hooks a thumb at himself.

Everyone’s always said his name is unlucky. This is the first time it’s worked out in his favor. It’s not a coincidence either; apparently his mother thought it would be funny. Mrs. Yu had told him that with a curl in her lip, as if it didn’t make him wish he knew his parents even more.

Words: 33.000

Brilliant Mistake by brooklinegirl

"Fine," Wen Qing says, turning back to Wei Ying. "You're pregnant."

Lan Zhan feels his mouth drop open and has to work to shut it.

Wei Ying reacts not at all. He's swinging his feet where he's sitting on the table, a bored expression on his face.

Wen Qing just looks at him. "I am not joking about that."

Wei Ying stops swinging his feet. He blinks several times in a row. "Wait," he says.

Words: 53.500

MODERN AU

Operation Old Men by Chiharu

An ill-fated parent teacher conference reunites Jin Ling's wayward uncle with Sizhui's father. AKA: A matchmaking disaster as told by Jin Ling, Sizhui, and Jingyi.

Jin Ling knows he’s in deep trouble even before reporting to Headmaster Lan’s office, but the words “your uncle will be here soon” still strike the fear of God in him. His only consolation is that Jingyi and Sizhui’s guardians are also in the office, Jingyi’s mom already lecturing her sheepish-looking son. Lan-ayi only stops when Sizhui’s father, a quiet and tall man in white, clears his throat, causing her to engage him in one-sided smalltalk.

This is a disaster. Jin Ling had spent such a nice break at home for Mid-Autumn Festival, and Fairy’s presence had soothed his homesickness after returning to boarding school in Gusu. He knows pets aren’t allowed, but who is going to report Jin Ling when his father pays good money for a private suite in the dorms? Then there was the incident with Jingyi, a box of mooncakes, and a door left ajar. Long story short, he spent an hour chasing Fairy down the halls with Sizhui and Jingyi before finding his dog nosing up to a very angry Headmaster Lan.

Words: 37.500/Modern AU/ humour/ JIn Lings many uncles

*Let's Play Pretend and Live Our Lives by Tassos

"And for Lan Zhan? He's not going to believe that I mentioned A-Yuan to him and he's the one who forgot about it."

Nie Huaisang lifts his wine glass and gestures with it a little, like a sage who has given his advice and now the rest is Wei Wuxian's problem. "You're just going to have to pretend very hard. Don't let him break you."

Or: The one where Wei Wuxian secretly adopts A-Yuan and when he tries to convince Lan Wangji he had a kid all along, Lan Wangji rolls with it, ups the ante, and sets off a game of chicken that digs up buried feelings that Wei Wuxian is 100% sure he's not going to act on. Okay, 90% sure.

Words: 50.000/ kid fic/fake relationship

say it's here where our pieces fall in place by Lirelyn

“It’s okay that you miss him,” said Lan Wangji, a familiar litany to them both by now. “Do you feel sad?”

“I feel sad,” A-Yuan repeated, shoulders hitching with tiny hiccuping sniffs. “When is he coming back?”

“I don’t know. I am not sure where he is.”

But this seemed to frustrate A-Yuan. “Xian-gege! I miss him! Please, baba?” He looked up at him with wet cheeks and a wide, quivering frown. “Please baba can you ask him? I really miss him!” He sobbed again, heartbreakingly.

It stabbed straight through him, cracking open the reservoir of loss and helplessness that was all his own. His child’s grief did that, sometimes. It always took him by surprise. He caught his breath sharply and gathered A-Yuan into his arms, holding him tight until the pain ebbed.

“I will try,” he said softly into A-Yuan’s hair, when he could speak again. He never made uncertain promises and tried not even to raise uncertain hopes, but his son was hurting. His son believed he could make it better. He couldn’t not try.

Wen Qing might at least know who this “Xian-gege” was. He would text her in the morning. It would be a start.

Words: 68.500/kid fic

*And the world's alright with me by so_shhy

Wei Ying has been feeling like a grey, wrung-out, mildewed dishrag for a week when Lan Zhan slopes in from a trip to the store looking blank-faced and awkward and sets a pregnancy test down on the kitchen counter.

Words: 13.000/ mpreg/ pining

*总有一天; a place to hide (can’t find one near) by yiqie

That’s just the thing, isn’t it? Wei Ying feels nothing. He doesn’t feel anything, and this emptiness should scare him. He knows he should be scared. He wants to be scared. He isn’t. Fear itself is never scary; fear is just a response. It means that your body wants you alive. It’s the absence of terror that scares him.

Words: 76.000/ poetic & hopeful/ very well written

#The Untamed #the untamed fic recs #for sister #wangxian #(edited november 4th to add one extra fic)

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