#When he's Mo Xanyu

[lozeyart]

A quick sketch of Wei Wuxian that I might color later when I have the time

[lanbichenbunny]

Nie Huaisang is a great actor…

Well he’s better than Wei Ying at any rate.

I think when he sees Wei Ying in the in after the man eating bunker thing. It’s I think it’s the first confirmation he has that Wei Ying is back in Mo Xuanyu’s body.

Seeing him must still be something of a shock to know his reckless plan has worked. Mo Xanyu’s sacrifice as he had hoped and planned.

He covers his face to protect the real reaction he’s having, he has to pretend not to know Mo Xuanyu and to not know that Mo Xanyu is actually Wei Ying.

I really think he’s hiding a smile behind the fan. His plan that was years in the making has paid off and he can continue to the end goal for his ‘justice’.

He’s definitely having a cat that’s got the cream moment but he’s also truly intimidated by Lan Zhan and no doubt by Wei Ying too, knowing how smart the duo is.

[khepiari]

Love mattered in Mo Dao Zu Shi!

Another aspect of Mo Dao Zu Shi I appreciate is that it show’s Individuals alone cannot change the world where people are profiting out of exploitation under the banner of righteousness. Wei Wuxian’s moral code was always intact and strong. But the world only saw him as an expendable tool.

They praised him for demonic cultivation when he fought the Wens. And they immediately condemned him when he protected the Wen refugees under his name. All Wei Wuxian ever wanted was to let others be and live. He participated in the war because he wanted to protect the people he loved and cared for. And then his actions in the war was used as justification to shun him.

Individuals have always been coopted or targeted by larger groups to serve their purpose. Wei Wuxian failed in first life to save the Wens, lost his siblings, his best friends and most importantly died alone trying to undo the powers of his amulet. At one point he asks what was the point of him fighting when he couldn’t save anyone.

And I think the answer to Wei Wuxian’s question is A’Yuan.

Everything he did, every action he was made to do was answered by A’Yuan. Love was there and it didn’t change anything but it mattered. A’Yuan was loved by Grandma Wen, Fourth Uncle, Wen Ning, Wen Qin and Wei Wuxian. And each of them tried to protect him.

The Wens left him in the burial grounds hoping for a miracle. Wei Wuxian held his own in the burial grounds until he destroyed his amulet and himself. And Lan Wangji despite his injuries went looking for traces of Wei Wuxian but found A’Yuan. Their actions saved him!

Love mattered, Lan Wangji’s love for Wei Wuxian made him save A’Yuan and raise him as his own and named him Shizui: To recollect and long for. World had shunned the Yiling Patriarch but Not Lan Wangji. He remembered and loved and lived, and in his memory Wei Wuxian was preserved. And because Lan Wangji insisted, the Lan Sect adopted A’Yuan as their own. Change came slow but it came because one individual’s love for another, hence I insist love mattered.

Wei Wuxian was not able to save himself or others but he was able to save one. And that mattered; when he returns in Mo Xanyu’s body and meets Lan Shizui for first time he is impressed and praises the one who raised this young man with such compassion. He is surprised to find uptight Lan Sect to be friendly.

This was the change he initiated, Lan Wangji didn’t blindly follow the rules anymore. He no longer trusted the people above him, he questioned the rules of morality. He took the best of both worlds— his and Wei Wuxian’s and raised A’Yuan. And not only that, he taught the younger generation to be kinder and open minded to the one who has been shunned or isolated by society. We see in Lan Jingyi who is honestly outspoken and doesn’t let polite code of conduct dictate his behaviour. If he sees wrong happening he will point it out.

I like to believe Lan Zhan would’ve succumbed to his injuries! He was holding on to the hope Wei Ying survived. When he went to look for Wei Ying in Burial Mounds, I think he had prepared for no return either, this was a heartbroken man! Had it not been A’Yuan hidden in the tree bark, he would’ve collapsed. The child was the only person in this entire world who (remembered) Wei Ying as Wei Ying, not Yiling Laozu not head disciple of Jiang Sect or a War Hero or the unstable man. And indirectly Wei Ying died protecting A’Yuan! Lan Wangji wouldn’t dare to die after everything the love of his life did!

Love was there, it couldn’t do much but it saved one person. And I think this knowledge is where Wei Wuxian finds his solace.

[jayktoralldaylong]

Me unlocking new sad thoughts about the Yunmeng bros everyday.

There's a lot of sorrow around the Yunmeng bros promise and how they couldn't be the Yunmeng prides together as they promised. It was the one oath that Wei Wuxian could not keep.

He made that oath during a time of peace and thought they'd have that forever and that they had all the time in the world. However, when the war broke loose, Wei Wuxian made a different oath. As he and Jiang Cheng floated away from Madam Yu, she made him promise to do everything in his power to protect Jiang Cheng. The promise Wei Wuxian made to his adoptive mother ended up overriding the very important promise he'd made to Jiang Cheng.

I believe, even if it's debatable, that Wei Wuxian never truly hated Madam Yu, he greatly respected her. I've even heard rumours that he modelled the Yiling Patriarch after her, cold, distant, won't express their emotions, attacks before they get attacked, very protective of their family. When he made that promise to her, he was hell bent on dying to keep it. He proceeded to shield Jiang Cheng with his body in every possible way.

With his core that he gave up, with the dream he wanted that he sacrificed so that Jiang Cheng and the Jiang clan wouldn't get dragged down by the Yiling Patriarch's dark image (Yeah the brothers should have stood together but the decision to split was one championed by Wei Wuxian. He didn't want Jiang Cheng to loose face, so he protected him by leaving). Wei Wuxian, while fighting for the things he still believed in, while aching for the family he missed so dearly and didn't really want to leave, still fought to protect Jiang Cheng. Slowly and surely Wei Wuxian began to break down until the time of first siege, championed by Jiang Cheng. At that point, he guessed he'd caused too much trouble now. So, for the sake of the Jiang clan, and the brother he loved so much, Wei Wuxian died. Sacrificing the last bit of himself for the promise he made to a mother that never loved him.

Wei Wuxian did give all of himself for the Jiang clan. Wei Wuxian died as he should be, as a martyr that no one will remember but he doesn't care because he did it for his family and in a way he kept his promise. His center is right beside Jiang Cheng always, a defacto twin pride that will always give Jiang Cheng strength when he falters.

And then, when all of his debt (most of his debt considering the Jin Ling family incident) to the Jiang family had been paid, Mo Xanyu woke up...and went home with Lan Wangji.

Mo Xanyu, not Wei Wuxian. After all, Wei Wuxian is dead, and this is the truly sad thing about the Yunmeng bros. Wei Wuxian is dead. Everyone had a chance with Wei Wuxian but he's not coming back. Wei Wuxian ended his story and Mo Xanyu starts a new one with Lan Wangji.

[homoerotic-swordplay]

Thinking about WWX growing out Mo Xanyu’s hair until he can wear it like he did when he was the Yiling Patriarch and I just think Lan Wanji would have a literal heart attack the first day he saw it down.

[captainkirkk]

Wei wuxian as a trans man, not showing his body to anyone for a long time when he first gets lotus pier and not realizing what a period is. Freaking Jc out and making him think wwx is DYING! jyl having to explain to both of them that wwx is okay and this is normal for Boys like wwx. No one ever makes him feel bad for being trans because I say so.wwx waking up in mo xanyu body and crying when he realizes that now he has a body that fits how he feels and he LOVES it even if he's weaker than before

Trans WWX! Hell yes. I love him and Jiang Cheng running around panicked until Yanli steps in.

[scarletjedi]

Sangcheng Time Travel Fixit Outline Part 3: Rebuilding

Here it is, folks, the final installment! 

(Part 1) (Part 2)

Part III: Rebuilding

After the Banquet, everyone returns to their respective sects to rebuild, with plans to meet in Lanling in one month for the Mountain Hunt/Flower Banquet

Nie Huaisang sees this as a blatant political move/first step in an ultimate power grab. Jiang Cheng sees it as well, but mostly because he’s expecting it from Jin Guangshan. Huaisang also thinks it odd because, last time, the hunt was Jin Guangyao’s idea. Who is whispering in Jin Guangshan’s ear? He retreats to Qinghe and watches and waits

Jiang Cheng, meanwhile, is at loose ends.

He is *engaged* which is the first actually new thing to happen to him in years, at this point.

The war is over, he is as he remembers except Lotus Pier never burned down, so he doesn’t have to rebuild. (He’s earned the loyalty of the disciples in the war, that hasn’t changed, but they’re different disciples, more and less familiar. He does, however, convince his father to open recruiting to their sect – if nothing else, the war and actions of the Wen have left a lot of resentful energy. They’re going to need to cover more cases over greater distance or risk a second Burial Mounds

His parents are *alive* which is great, but even after their heart to heart (or maybe because of it) his father constantly looks surprised to see him and his mother sees far too much. They’re getting along better, but nothing like the couples Jiang Cheng knows who actually love each other.

Wei Wuxian is in Gusu, and his absence is perhaps the most familiar thing, for all that Jiang Cheng occasionally finds himself frustrated and looking for him in the places where he would hide to drink after the war. (and it hurts that it’s only now sinking in how wrong that was, and what kind of leader was he that his head disciple, his brother, was in so much pain and he didn’t see it)

Maybe he should get a hobby? He misses his dogs something fierce, but refuses to allow dogs on Lotus Pier.

I AM OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT HIS HOBBY SHOULD BE. I’m sure Nie Huaisang also has some ideas

Jiang Yanli is in Lotus Pier, and Jiang Cheng is shameless about following her around. He missed out on 16 years of his sister, he’s not missing one more minute. Yanli thinks it’s pre-wedding jitters (for both of them). She’s not *entirely* wrong

Jiang Cheng ends up spilling the beans to his sister. He’s just so tired, and it *all* comes spilling out. Time travel, Lotus Pier in flames, the death of her and Zixuan, Wei Wuxian being the weapon pointed at them, raising Jin Ling, his core—and he *cries* and Yanli cries with him and when it’s over, they have soup

Yanli invites Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji to lotus pier the next day, with the idea that they’d spend the time between now and the hunt with them and go back to Gusu after the hunt. She insists (and she’s right) that they all need to be with each other. And that Wei Wuxian needs to be told.

So, Jiang Cheng writes to Nie Huaisang, appraising him of the situation. Nie Huaisang is the mastermind, after all.

Nie Huaisang has about 3 days of painting/poetry/porn before he grows tried of it (and oh, the irony), and begins his study of the yin iron shard that Xue Yang left behind, beginning by recreating his notes, and what he can remember of Wei Wuxian’s (and what he knew of what Jin Guangyao kept in his treasure room)

Meng Yao finds out and tells Mingjue because some things should not be kept secret. He gets very angry – the war didn’t do his qi any favors.

Huaisang comes clean the way he only does with his brother and Jiang Cheng – as long as the Yin Iron is around, it will be coveted and we will end up with another Wen Rohan sooner or later

Meng Yao immediately realizes Nie Huaisang is talking about Jin Guangshan. “There are faster ways of solving that problem.” “I’m not letting you assassinate him, no matter how much he deserves it”

….WOULD THIS BE A GOOD PLACE FOR A VERSION OF FATAL JOURNEY?!? Only one that is less fatal.

Nie Mingjue proposes the sword castles to suppress the Yin Iron, that it could perhaps be used instead of corpses?

Nie Huaisang brings the shard with him, but of course it all goes wrong. They get separated from the disciples (and have their wonderful heart to heart – Nie Huaisang comes clean about doing this all before. Nie Mingjue comes clean about him and Lan Xichen considering propositioning Meng Yao) and have to fight off the sword spirits raised by the Yin Iron. Which they do, together, and escape. Nie Zonghui brings Nie Huaisang back to The Unclean Realm while Mingjue oversees the settling of the castle.

Nie Huaisang makes a crack about being glad they didn’t accidentally kill Sandu Sengshu’s fiancé

Nie Huaisang gets Jiang Cheng’s letter and confesses that Nie Mingjue now knows. It may be time to start letting people know, strategically. So yes, tell Wei Wuxian…but wait for me to start research!

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji arrive in Lotus Pier. Jiang Cheng tells all. Wei Wuxian hugs him so hard they both fall off the pier

Something fishy is happening. There are upticks in resentful activity that is ascribed to the fallout of a war involving the Yin Irons, but Nie Huaisang’s little birds smell something fishy. He begins to play closer attention to Jin Guangshan

Flower Mountain Hunt

No Wen prisoners this time, but Jin Zixun continues to make an ass of himself, natch

Riding in, Jiang Cheng makes DAMN sure that Nie Huaisang has flowers because they are courting and that is what one does (and Jiang Cheng has a habit of blurting out exactly what he thinks and it is at times incredibly romantic), and is *completely flustered* when Nie Huaisang beats him to it. He’s almost used to affection between them in private, but *was not prepared* for public courting when HE is the target.

Jiang Cheng refuses to look at Wangxian being themselves because of course they are. He’s mostly happy that he knows Jin Zixuan will be better behaved towards Yanli. He’s already told her he likes her, so no awkward confessions in the woods.

But, of course, Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang come across Wangxian rustling some bushes, and have to VERY LOUDLY delay Zixuan and Yanli until they emerge, sheepishly pulling twigs from their hair.

They advance as a group and come across Jin Zixun harassing Wen Ning, who was until then doing very well in the hunt (because he’s a damn good archer) but he doesn’t have his years as a fierce corpse to give him the backbone he needs to tell Zixun to take a hike.

This is one step of Jin Guangshan’s plan. He wants information on how to use the Yin Iron and is convinced that Wen Qing knows something, and if she knows, then Wen Ning might know something, too. So, the purpose of this is “what do you know?” with a combination of “tell your sister to cooperate”

Without The Yilling Patriarch, there are no impostors, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t demonic cultivators - people like Xue Yang but not him because I don’t like him so he’s dead. (Wait for it!) FUCKING SU SHE!! 

Jiang Cheng - “I thought he died in the war!” “He was supposed to...”

I know his focus is on transportation arrays, but he’s also desperate to prove himself and Jin Guangshan is *good* at exploiting weakness

So, we get a “demonic cultivator” who knows just enough to be dangerous because of what he doesn’t know and can’t do. 

Despite the interruption, Wen Ning ranks in the hunt, as does Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen.

During the banquet, Jin Zixun tries that “Drink with me” bullshit to “apologize” for his shitty behavior, and to celebrate Lan Xichen’s standing.

Jin Guangshan has seen the ways the others are closing ranks and instead of saying “I have an in through my son, and possibly my nephew if he had a personality transplant” he wants to gain leverage over them.

He straight up tries to marry Zixun to Wen Qing again, thinking it’s only a matter of time before the Yilling Wen are a major house again. Wen Qing will not have any of it, because Zixun is a) odious and b) mean to her brother. 

The date for Yanli’s wedding is announced, some two months hence.

Yanli is already pregnant, and Wen Qing notices (she’s the only one)

She’ll be around just 12 weeks when they marry, and while her due date gains her some serious side-eye from her mother, Zixuan is head over heels about the baby and is the softest father – but more on that later

There is a brief meeting to discuss the state of things. They plan to meet in Qinghe after the Banquet to compare notes and study the piece of Yin Iron to which Huaisang has access (the one in Gusu is still in the hands of Lan Qiren, who would not let them experiment, and there’s no way they can get to Lanling Jin’s artifact room.)

Nie Huaisang invites everyone to Qinghe for a night hunt

Everyone shows up like “okay, why are we really here” and are surprised when he says “no for real, a night hunt”

What are we hunting? “Xuanwu of Slaughter” the fuck you say?

Jin Zixuan mentions that his father is getting a bit too interested in the fact that Jin Zixuan is friends with the heirs to the main clans. Jin Zixuan tells him nothing except a very politely worded “fuck off” that Jin Guangshan doesn’t truly understand.

Jin Zixuan reunites with Meng Yao, and makes a formal offer of “brotherhood” 

Nie Huaisang tips Jin Zixuan off on Qin Su and Mo Xanyu, who is now a year or two old

Fighting the Xuanwu isn’t easy, but it’s easier with more people/weapons.

Wangji uses chord assassination but with the actual guqin and the help of zidian.

Wei Wuxian still goes inside the Xuanwu as bait, finding the sword.

Wen Ning uses arrows and Zixuan is rathter good with his sword, actually. Nie Huaisang fights with talismans and the occasional fan

The beast dies in 2 hours rather than 6.

“At least we didn’t have to swim for it this time.” “And I wasn’t left behind in Qishan”

They  take the sword back to Qinghe and begin their experiments in earnest. They are looking for a way to purify, destroy, or suppress the metal. Along the way, Wei Wuxian is gaining a clearer and clearer understanding of demonic cultivation.

“I have an idea, but it’s going to require huge amounts of resentful energy.” “You should go with Wen Ning to Yilling. There’s a place called the Burial Mounds” “Huaisang, no!” “Huaisang, yes!”

Before they go, Jiang Cheng reminds Wei Wuxian than he has to be happy, healthy, and whole for Yanli’s wedding. Wei Wuxian says not to worry, there’s a few things he wants to check in Gusu’s library before he tries anything

In Lotus Pier, wedding prep is in full swing, and Jiang Cheng throws himself into everything he can

It’s different than last time, last time Yanli did a lot of her prep in Lanling as Lotus Pier was still under construction

Her wedding will be perfect, damnit

True to his word, Wei Wuxian appears (sans Wangji) to escort Yanli to Lanling. For everything that’s been happening, Wei Wuxian is focused entirely on the wedding.

A-Jie’s wedding

It’s Jinlintai, so it's tacky as hell, but it’s also extravagant as hell.

Jiang Cheng weeps openly, and Nie Huaisang only mocks him a little before handing him a handkerchief. It’s odd, but so much better to have Wei Wuxian next to him, also weeping openly, but that’s Wangji’s problem.

Everyone (minus the wedded couple) end up in Jiang Cheng’s room after the wedding, and Jiang Cheng is able to ignore their absence only because of Jin Ling

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji leave for 9pm curfew (though Jiang Cheng is horrified to know that they won't be sleeping yet. He’s seen that look too many times to know differently), and one by one they all leave, leaving Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang alone for the first time in a while. Something they take full advantage of

The next morning they are woken by an alarmed Wen Qing - Wen Ning has gone Missing. They find him just over the border in Qinghe. (transportation array! Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng know IMMEDIATELY who it is - “WHY ISN’T HE DEAD?” “I don’t know!”) He’s very badly hurt, so they take him first to The Unclean Realm, bringing Wen Qing there to treat him. He’ll recover, but it will take time. Possibly, we’re looking at the return of Ghost General!Wen Qing. He was absolutely experimented on and left to die

The place they find him has been abandoned, but only recently. 

This puts Nie Mingjue and Wen Qing together, and she gets brought in on the whole “our method of cultivation makes us more susceptible to qi deviation” issue to offer medical advice, as an exchange for “allowing” Wen Ning to recover there

Like Nie Mingjue was going to kick out Nie Huaisang’s friend. Pssh. 

This is where Meng Yao approaches Wen Qing with a solution for her marriage issues (which might honestly boil down to “I’ve been in touch with my brother and he’s informed the ladies and I don’t think Jin Guangshan will be an issue any longer)

Jiang Cheng returns to Koi Tower to report to Jiang Yanli. She’s relieved that Wen Ning (and A-Qing, and when did they get so close??) are okay. She’s sad for Jiang Cheng that Nie Huaisang had to stay in Qinghe to host, as Nie Mingjue was still at Koi Tower, though he doesn’t stay long, ultimately.

Jiang Cheng returns with his parents to Lotus Pier, and is only mildly horrified to realize that his mother is beginning the preparations for HIS wedding almost immediately. Luckily, he’s able to put her off by telling her that Wen Ning was absolutely abducted by the Jin Sect. With Yilling Wen being a recognized house (and close neighbor to Yunmeng Jiang), Madame Yu is in favor of fostering good relations. She is (unfortunately) out of children, and Jiang Cheng only has to yell a little to remind her that he’s marrying Nie Huaisang and that *nobody* would be happy if he had to break his engagement to marry Wen Qing.

After his recovery, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji arrive to escort them to Yilling, where Wei Wuxian begins his task at the Burial Mounds. This puts him close enough that it makes *perfect* sense for Nie Huaisang to visit his fiancé in Lotus Pier (and assert that yes, *he* is going to marry Jiang Cheng. Wen Qing doesn’t even want to marry!)

This is the beginning of the end, everyone!

The Breakthrough

This happens “off-camera,” but basically, Wei Wuxian throws himself into the Burial Mounds, and with the help of Lan Wangji, learns how to manipulate resentful energies. With the background of his own (from another timeline) research, he’s able to stumble upon a more sustainable path very quickly.

I want it to have the side effect of purifying (at least in part) the burial mounds. It’s a form of suppression that, over time, purifies.

Absolutely, this is something that will also work on the saber spirit. This is a fix it, damnit

The End: SangCheng wedding

It all comes to a head at their wedding. It’s a natural end to both their romantic plotline (the shift from friends, to friends with benefits, to power couple, to terrifying husbands) and the other driving action (things only seem to happen near the great sects.) 

It’s a week of party, and everything goes down right before the wedding, like, the night before

Wen Ning was the test subject, and the Class of ‘84 is abducted (via talisman) to a secret location, the goal of which is to turn them into (non-zombie) puppets so that Jin Guangshan can control them. Thing more Manchurian Candidate than Renfield

This is, of course, a blatant parallel to the Guanyin Temple, where the major players are either brought back or subbed in. 

Jiang Cheng, Nie Mingjue, WN, Wei Wuxian, and Lan Wangji are all there, as is Su She

Jin Guangshan takes Jin Guangyao’s role, Jin Zixuan takes Lan Xichen’s place (I trusted you!) and Jiang Yanli takes Jin Ling’s place

Wen Qing and MianMian are also there, though they don’t have a direct parallel

I think Wen Ning still arrives, like, half way through and bursts down the door with Nie Mingjue, because that’s fucking poetry right there. (Lan Xichen should also get to have fun, and if they’re there, Meng Yao is there)

And if Meng Yao is there, then perhaps he should have a stab at Jin Guangshan. Though, I don’t think Jin Zixuan would like that

I think the most fitting end is that Jin Guangshan is subject to the weight of his own hubris. His cultivation is high, which helped to a certain extent, but this isn’t the sort of cultivation that can be brute-strengthed. Best case scenario, you have Wen Rohan. Worst case, you blow yourself up. I’m not sure if a Qi Deviation or literal explosion would be better here. 

They marry, and live happily ever after

Jiang Yanli might also announce that she’s pregnant...and Jiang Cheng might cry “HIS NAME IS JIN LING COURTESY RULAN AND HE’S A GODDAMN MESS BUT HE TRIES SO HARD I MISS HIM SO MUCH"

Well, that’s all she wrote, folks! I’m going to be writing bits and pieces of this, at least, and I’m more than willing to take suggestions! If there’s something you want to see written out, let me know!

[antiphrastic]

Just thinking about how, post resurrection, Wei Wuxian doesn't actually kill any of the people the summon required dead.

He did damage control at Mo Manor more than anything else. He shows up, learns about Mo Xanyu, protects some disciples and household staff, and boom! 3 out of 4 curse wounds lifted.

And then, as he's wandering away from there, he stumbles across the scenario with the statue and winds up discovering his old pal the Best Boy Sr (Sizhui is obvs Best Boy Jr) just in time for the illusion to break.

And then he's all caught up in this mystery, which hey! He likes mysteries! And solving problems! And helping people! So this is all right up his alley, all the way up until he figures out how Jin Guangyao was behind stuff, and then all he has to do is be there in the room when Nie Huaisang calls out a warning and well. We know how that ends.

But, Wei Wuxian didn't kill any of the people he was meant to kill? He was just nearby?

It's almost as if someone went out of their way to ensure the parameters of the summon would be met without forcing Wei Wuxian to bloody his own hands any more than absolutely necessary, which I just think is neat.

[lotus-mirage]

The Untamed episode 39 + 40 liveblog

Not sure how this is going to end, but I think this arc is wrapping up.

I can’t tell if he’s doing something magic or if he’s just really good at sneaking around in fog

Yikes, that was a pretty close call. Good thing Wen Ning caught on so fast.

Bringing up the actor friend again

Oh, Wen Ning kept his chains, just as like weapons/reinforcement then?

Wait, I thought she was a ghost already?

Guess not?

Wait, was that Song Lan back to having normal eyes again?

Shoot here’s the masked guy- is he the actor friend? He’s the only other one associated with Xue Yang at the moment.

And he’s gone.

Oh, the girl has the puppet marks too?

Stabbed 3 times!?

Yeah I’d give Song Lan the final blow here

Oh, there is something weird with his finger

Kind of just yikes at Xue Yang’s whole monologue

:,(

Oh no

I wasn’t initially expecting that to be how he got his neck wound, but after the last episode... yeah

Wow, that seems really lacking compared to the setup that WWX had for Wen Ning.

Can’t fully feel bad for him at this point, but it is kind of hard to watch

Threatening the guy isn’t going to help if it’s still just a corpse

Guess the guy really was the first person to treat him alright huh

Who left the candy there while he’s dying?

It’s a sweet gesture (no pun intended), but unless he was using Song Lan to ferry them around, who’d even have them??

I wonder how long there been there after that.

Where’d Song Lan go?

Oh they made a grave for her :,)

Wait, they’re just leaving Wen Ning and the disciples together?

Oh there he is. He doesn’t have the markings?? I thought he was, like, still undead, surely?

Awww his plans are very sweet, even if tragic. Is he keeping the spirit bag on him along with the sword?

The white sword + carrier really contrasts the rest of his outfit in a nice way

cut from Song Lan with his sword to both of them walking together, my heart

:,)

I think this might be the last we see if either of them, honestly - it feels pretty final.

I’m so glad I wasn’t more attached to these guys - they don’t have the luxury of the fallen half of the pair getting resurrected, and it hurts enough as it is.

Wait, what was in the bag that went into the coffin?

A second coffin underneath it!?

Is that Nie Mingjue? The robes look like the same pattern.

They cut away but I’m going to assume it was.

Okay more focus on the disciples, particularly on Lan Sizhui at the toy stalls

The butterfly for younger kids, then? I think Wen Yuan had one in a stick, right?

Okay there was a lot of emphasis being put on that butterfly

Wait. Wait that quick flashback cut was one of Wen Yuan and his toy, wasn’t it!?

Is. Is the implication that Lan Sizhui is Wen Yuan. Am I reading this right? I’m fairly certain, but I’m also like !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! right now

How’d he get to Gusu, though? None of the Wens were cultivators, right? And the burial grounds were far away - they only had 3 days before WWX could get up.

I’m sure it’ll be elaborated on, I’ve just had this screen paused for like a solid 5 minutes to type this all out on my phone.

Anyway !!!!!!!!!!

Awwww WWX flashing back to Wen Yuan too

That’s definitely the intended connection to draw, okay.

!!!!

Just hands Lan Sizhui the lantern with no explanation, haha

Oh good he’s got his mask back on

It was headless!?

That is a lot of data points on the masked guy

The implied ‘him’ is Meng Yao, I’m assuming?

Yeah I’m not sure that he’s a good enough fighter (or cultivator) to do all this, but I guess he could be getting someone else to? Maybe?

And now for whatever the disciples are discussing, I guess

Ouch, Jin Ling

LAN XICHEN KNOWS, OKAY

wasn’t expecting him to just. address him like that out of the blue

End notes:

Okay. Okay that was a lot.

We got our last bit of flashbacks from Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen, backstory Xue Yang, and probably the last we’ll see of either party.

We also had the heavy implication/pre-reveal sort of thing that Lan Sizhui is Wen Yuan, which I am very happy about and eager to see more of (best boi twice over it seems, haha).

There was also momentum on the main story - found Nie Mingjue’s body and a heavily implied murderer. Even if he isn’t the guy in the mask, at this point I’m not sure how Meng Yao could not be involved, particularly with how the show has been building him up.

Also like. Where is Wen Ning? He can’t be inside with the disciples, right? ...was Jin Ling there when he got identified on Danfan mountain?? Does he know who that is?????

- episode 40 -

A couple hours later: I have time to watch more and lingering hype from the Lan Sizhui thing, I’m going to keep going

Pfft - ‘lets not attract attention’ ‘shoot he’s right there’

The staring as he asks for liquor, haha

Hahaha it just keeps going

He just stuck the chicken back in his friends mouth

Was that Wen Ning outside?

Yes, okay, it was him. Coming in spider-man style

I love this episode

Ouch haha

Wait is LWJ planning to drink liquor again

Oh thank goodness I don’t know if I could handle that again so soon

Why the head? Wouldn’t it be the most damning to have?

Are we skipping right to the next month??

Wait I just realized - who are these other guys in red? They’re dressed differently than the Wens, but...???

Did Jiang Cheng come just before them? He doesn’t seem to have a retinue. Or was he waiting for them??

Jin Ling and his boatload of uncles

Wait that’s actually like more accurate than I thought they’re all more or less uncles. Wow.

Oh right Mo Xanyu got thrown out of here

Okay, so Meng Yao’s wife is going to be relevant

Is Nie Huaisang drunk?

Doesn’t seem to be handling things well

Awwww Jin Ling’s trying to defend him

Oh boy that’s, ah. Yeah that’s gonna land him in hot water with everyone.

Oh, teaching him a new move?

Hahaha he’s kind of an awful influence

Haven’t seen the paper person in a while. What’re they doing now?

Even with the paper person he’s messing with LWJ’s ribbon.

There’s synth music I can’t

Is she scared of Meng Yao?

What’s in the letter? Really doesn’t seem to be good.

So it is definitely the letter and not, like, food poisoning, so: really bad.

So it implied he got their son killed?

They’re saying a ‘she’ sent the letter, but WWX said ‘he’. Unless there’s multiple then I guess there’s a broad range of suspects.

He’s. Switching emotions being projected really fast and it’s kind of terrifying.

What’d he just do to her

That was a doorway?

Are those chains

They’ve been building him up for a while but I genuinely am shocked that he’s gotten so bad. Holy crud.

I assume that’s the head?

Yyep

He can do Empathy with just the guy’s head??

End notes:

So this episode started out really fun. And then it went a little internal politic-y and then it went to whatever brand of spy-slash-horror drama this is.

I really don’t know how to feel about this one. In other news: major plot progression, I guess?

I don’t know. When he was first introduced (and for a while afterwards) I kind of liked Meng Yao, so I don’t really have a solid emotion towards whatever’s happening right now. Definitely don’t like him as he is now, though, and he has concretely gone full-blown evil antagonist.

He’s also probably the ‘actor friend’ of Xue Yang, considering... the conversation between him and his wife (Qing Su?). I didn’t comment much during that, admittedly, albeit mostly because my brain was blanking out with internal sirens going the entire time.

[lisbeibeth]

When you were watching The Untamed, what did you think would happen in the end (about Wangxian)? For a moment, I thought Wei Ying was just temporarily occupying Mo Xanyu's body and he, like Lan Zhan, would die somehow, but would find Lan Zhan in the afterlife. And then that scene where Lan Zhan is walking the donkey along with Wei Ying, a parallel to the memory Wei Ying has of his parents, that would be the final scene, their happy moment eternalized. e.e

To be honest, I was already spoiled for the ending - I think I’d already read certain chapters (hem hem) because I’m not gonna commit to 50 episodes without knowing there’s going to be a happy ending. And even though people were complaining about CQL’s ending, others were arguing in the comments, saying that HE DID GO BACK! AND LAN ZHAN WAS THERE and analysing the reflection in Xiao Zahn’s eyes, and linking to the behind the scenes video (which showed that Wang Yibo was there for that scene, rofl - like, why?) which also showed the director/AD telling Xiao Zahn that he has to look like his life/the light of his life came back to him.

So yeah. I’m ok with any ending (though special consideration is given to the one where they bang like a screen door in a hurricane) - and I direct you at the S3 extras for the audio drama, where we have a few post canon episodes, one of which features WWX and LWJ working a case with Sizhui!

Re the whole Mo Xuanyu situation - I can quite happily handwave the fact that in the Untamed, he was simply Wei Wuxian again: you can’t have two actors playing the same role if you want the audience to empathise with the character, and as he’s the protagonist, you pretty much have to. Either Wei Wuxian or Mo Xuanyu would lose the audience’s interest. It’s different in a book - because that’s your imagination at work.

So, am fine with that. Mo Xuanyu was Wei Wuxian’s doppelganger - no prob. Willing suspension of disbelief, etc.

[lanbichenbunny]

Wei Ying, The Sort of Prude

I love how Wei Ying calls Lan Zhan a prude. (I don’t think Lan Zhan is a prude at all. I think when Wei Ying tries to get naked in front of him, he’s just worried he’ll become horny and unstoppably feral.)

I think Wei Ying is a prude is certain situations. (Hear me out on this.)

In the Cloud Recesses when Wei Ying gives Lan Zhan rabbits. Wei Ying gets cutely embarrassed. (I don’t remember the exact words.)

Wei Ying says something like “Lan Zhan you looked.” He shocked that Lan finds out both are boys. Which means he didn’t look himself.

Then when he’s older in Mo Xanyu’s body he steals Lil Apple the donkey. He thinks about checking wether Apple is a boy or a girl but he never does.

To be fair he might just forget to do it, but I like he head cannon that he’s an oblivious prude.

He’s not in front of Lan Zhan because he’s so horny he forgets to be embarrassed.

He can read porn because it’s on paper, but if anyone other than Lan Zhan got naked in front of him, he’d turn into an embarrassed mess.

[mwritesink]

The never ending shelf of WiPs

(Working titles are italicized. this is my attempt at organizing myself. Includes both Original and Fan Works. Post under a cut as this got long real quick...)

Original Works

“Rebel Songs”: November 1920. Dublin, Ireland. A chance meeting brings WW1 veterans Shannon Maxwell and Lawrence Barton together and into a whirlwind romance. Their first problem? Shannon is an IRA soldier and Lawrence works with the RIC Special Reserve. (currently writing random scenes, outlining, and researching)

“iceskating”: Modern day. Somewhere. Danny Reid is hired by Esmé Caldwell - renowned former Olympic Ice Skater and current coach - to help get her protege back into competitive shape. Jason O’Rinn - scarred, intense, and guarded - is just the sort of man Danny should stay away from, but he can’t turn away from fixing broken things, especially when Jason reaches back to heal Danny’s own scars. (I’ve maybe an eighth done of a first draft. fully outlined. need to do research)

“Red Headed Bastards”: [fictional year. fictional city name]. Lauren Lowfey, marked from birth as an outsider by her red hair, is just trying to make a life. One day she gets a package to deliver at the Aesir Castle that sends her life into far more adventure than she ever asked for or wanted. Outside the city, though, forces are moving to make the first moves of Ragnarok. (need to write scenes, need to outline, need to research)

“Chicago History Poetry Zine Series”: Poetry to inform about significant, and some not so significant, details about Chicago history. (have a set written about Camp Douglas, though several are in edit mode. Need to figure out the best way to arrange and publish. constantly in research)

“My Squire, My Knight”: visual novel idea. Arthurian based. the MC is related to a king allied to King Arthur - leaning towards being the youngest son of King Pellinore -  and is assigned to be a squire to one of Arthur’s knights: Sir Kai, Sir Dinadan, Sir Palomides, Sir Galehaut, or Sir Mordred. The course of the final days of Camelot are changed depending on the path and choices of the MC. (have the ideas, outlining, researching)

“Mad Ladies Ghost Stories”: Visual novel idea. MC is a Paranormal Investigator trying to find and free the ghosts of a haunted mental hospital without joining their number herself. Each ghost is of a woman falsely deemed insane and fell victim to the cures of her time. (have ideas, need to outline, need to do more research than one book)

“Crow Merwin”: Fantasy inspired by the French Revolution, but with more figures who are not white, presumed straight men. (idea there. I had notes from a year ago, but lost them. need to recreate notes)

Fan Works

K. J. Charles series

“The Magpie Lord - Script Adaptation”: for Charm of Magpies series. Writing exercise. Is what it says on the tin, just me practicing script writing by adapting The Magpie Lord by K. J. Charles. (in progress)

“Damned Spot”: for Green Men Series/Secret Casebook of Simon Feximel. Simon and Robert resolve the story of a haunted theatre. At one point Robert gets stage blood thrown on him. I get to indulge in how much I love MacBeth. (in planning)

“Elaphromancer”: for Charm of Magpies series. A Jono/Doug AU, where Jonothon “Chamber” Starsmore and Doug “Cypher” Ramsey are remade for existing in the world of Charm of Magpies. Jono is a magician who works as a fire breather and sword swallower for the Hellfire Freak Show and Circus. His life gets infinitely more complicated than it already is when he encounters a runaway autonomous Automaton who insists on having Jono help protect a political fugitive. Then the Justiciary gets involved. (in planning, opening scenes written)

Jordan L. Hawk series

“Griffin’s Queer Chicago”: for Whyborne and Griffin Series. Collection of one-shots and other shorts speculating on Griffin’s time in Chicago. So far planning to include the following: bed-sharing w/ Elliot [finished!], almost getting caught having sex under a bridge, having outdoor sex in one of the parks, the Columbian Exhibition World’s Fair, hotel sex w/ Glenn, and the Chicago Athletic Club. (In planning, first short finished!!, may be a while until the next one, in research)

“Seduced by the Shark-Man”: for Whyborne and Griffin Series. Fishborne AU. Instead of an Umbre, Griffin and Glenn find a shark-man who says his name is “Fire In His Blood”. He got very lost, ended up in fresh water, and would like to go home. But not without first finding out everything he can about land-dwellers. (the idea is there)

“Jono, Doug, and the no good, very bad haunted adventure”: For Spirits Series. A Jono/Doug AU where Jonothon “Chamber” Starsmore and Doug “Cypher” Ramsey are remade for existing in the world of the Spirits books. Doug and Jono are both Mediums. Jono’s talents reside in Pyromancy, and Doug has a willing “Spirit Guide” named Warlock. Doug enlists the help of Henry, Vincent, and Lizzie to free Jono from a haunted asylum after one of Jono’s seances goes horrifically wrong and he is confined as mentally insane. (in planning, have beginning scenes written)

“SPECTR: Hunter of Demons - Script Adaptation”: Writing Exercise. Practicing writing comic book scripts by adapting the first book of the SPECTR Series. 

Marvel Comics/Movies

“Hellions AU”: Jono/Doug AU. Jonothon is invited to join the Hellions by Emma Frost when he is 14. He and the Hellions get entangled with Doug Ramsey and the New Mutants, which leads to a radically different Jono, and a different Doug. (in outlining, some scenes written)

“Jono Frost AU”: Jono/Doug AU. Jonothon was adopted at a young age by the Frost Family, and followed Emma to the Hellfire Club. Along the way, Jono gets involved with Shinobi Shaw and other 90′s X-Men villains. (in planning)

“X-Force AU”: Jono AU. the NHS catches Jono’s mutation when he is 16 and sends him to Muir Island to be taken care of by Dr McTaggart. While there he becomes friends with Terry and Maddrox and follows Terry to X-Force. Various relationship entanglements ensue as well as morality questions regarding what X-Force does. (Idea is there)

“Excalibur AU”: Jono/Douglock AU. After exploding, Jono is sent to Muir Island, instead of getting an invite to join Generation X. While there, Douglock befriends him, and (along with Rahne) they begin a romantic relationship that goes rocky when Warlock comes back on the scene. (in planning)

“Savior”: personal/fan essay. tying “Savior” by Rise Against to the wreckage of Jono/Paige. (idea is there)

“Guthrie Family Dinners”: personal/fan essay. the implications of the New Mutants and Generation X staying together/breaking up and the number of times each team gets invited to Guthrie family dinners. Sam regularly takes the New Mutants to Guthrie Family dinners, and they mostly stay together. Paige only ever brings Jono over (once, and not to dinner), and Generation X is never really brought back together. (idea is there)

“Holistic Villains AU”: Jono/Doug AU. Jono is nabbed by Clan Akkaba right after his mutation explodes his body and he’s given the Apocalypse look. Taking on the codename Leviticus, he sets out to assemble his own horsemen and become a new Apocalypse for a new age. His Death is the newly revived Doug Ramsey. (in planning). 

“Really a Villain AU”: Jono/Doug AU. Jono was brainwashed by Clan Akkaba from a young age, and has been their agent. After M-Day, he turns himself over to Utopia. Doug becomes interested in him and in his apparent reformation. theme song: Sedated by Hozier. (in planning)

“In the Flesh AUs versions 1 and 2″: Jono/Doug AUS. setting Jono and Doug within the world of “In the Flesh” tv series. Version 1 has both Jono and Doug as PDS and wrangling their lives post treatment. Version 2 has Jono and Leeland (oc child character belonging to @stem-cell who lets me and @nobiliorpomis use) are PDS, and Leeland gets his living father together with his PDS friend. (in planning)

“that one Burnside AU”: Captain America AU. Set in the MCU somewhere. Steve gets kidnapped by William Burnside, a historian of WW2 and the super soldier project who looks uncannily alike to Steve. back and forth pov of Steve’s captivity by Burnside and the other Avengers trying to find and rescue Steve. (the idea has been there for a long while)

Fire Emblem

“Ride Across the River”: Palette Swap AU where Arvis and Sigurd switch roles and families and what happens with the fallout from that. (first few chapters on AO3, in progress)

Dragon Age

“The Salt in the Ashes”: Inquisition AU with Samson as the Inquisitor. somehow I get him and Dorian together. (in hiatus/in progress)

Mo Dao Zu Shi

“Untitled”: mash up with Exalted. Detailing the rise and fall of First Age Twilight caste Solar Wei Wuxian, Zenith Solar Lan Wanji, and the Death Lord “The Yiling Patriarch”. (idea there)

“Untitled”: a Mo Xanyu lives fic, where he and WWX share his body, and freely go back and forth between who’s in control of the body.

Castlevania (Netflix)

“Untitled”: Get Alucard out of the house a bit and rescueing Hector from Carmilla’s clutches. Romance ensues. (idea is there, plus a paragraph or two)

[jayktoralldaylong]

Sorting MDZS characters into Hogwarts Houses because I've wanted to do this since forever!!

Jiang Cheng - Slytherin. It just seems right. Feel free to argue if you want. Looks like Jiang Cheng's gonna have to learn how to look good in green.

Wei Wuxian - Gryffindor. Self explanatory. He cannot mind his own business when he thinks others are going to get hurt. He will be first on scene, last to leave.

Jiang Yanli: Hufflepuff, was there ever any doubt. 🥰 She's so sweet.

Lan Wangji - Ravenclaw. Makes sense. Cool, calm, collected, studious, doesn't understand the madness of Gryffindor and Slytherin. I feel like Wangji would make a great Gryffindor too though.

Lan Xichen - Sigh, Gryffindor. You would think Hufflepuff but he doesn't sit on the sidelines when things start getting dicy. If he thinks someone is getting bullied he steps in and fight for them. He's just too kind and sometimes finds himself fighting for the wrong person.

Jin Guangyao - Slytherin. I shouldn't even need to explain this.

Jin Zixuan - Surprisingly Hufflepuff. He just really wanted to help....and got ouchied for it. I imagine him having a whole breakdown about not being sorted into one of the two major houses. "What will my father say."

Nie Mingjue - Gryffindor. Running headfirst into every problem. Could take a second to think things true. This is why he and Xichen keep getting steam rolled by Jin Guangyao.

Nie Huaisang - Slytherin. He just needed his 13th reason to unleash himself. Probably got sorted into Hufflepuff and hid there for a while.

Wen Qing - Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, she can do both.

Wen Ning - Gryffindor. 100% He's adorable.

Su She - Slytherin. 100% 😑

Mo Xanyu - Also Slytherin.

[vallikesgivinghugs]

We've been expecting you.

Mdzs oneshot(?)

Lan Meihui was soundlessly reading a book in her room when a knock sounded at door, immediately followed by the sound of her mother’s voice. ‘’A-Fang can I come in?’’ It said brightly like it always did, Lan Meihui responded with a loud agreeable hum which made her mother scoff, ‘’Not worthy of a simple yes, am I?’’ which made Lan Meihui grin softly.

‘’What brings you mother, I thought you and father had planned to go down to Caiyi?’’ The young woman asked rather coldly but it did not bother the other one bit they shook their head. ‘’We were… but something came up. Can you go pick up some things for dinner? Loquats, Emperor’s-’’ The younger raised her hand ‘’Alcohol is forbidden in the Cloud Recess mother, we both know this.’’ Lan Meihui refuted calmly, even though a mischievous glint shone in her light eyes. Her mother grimaced and grumbled, ‘’Just like your father I swear… Well anyways you’ll go right?’’ making Lan Meihui grin, ‘’Of course, mom.’’

The trip to Caiyi from the cloud recess was short, uneventful, especially seeing as the young lan had flown down by sword. The village was busy and as bustling as ever, road full of people and merchants, it made Lan Meihui smile. The energy down here was so different from her home up in the mountains, it made the blue and black clad young woman want to stay here forever but, she had been sent with a purpose and was silently expected back for dinner, which of course she had to attend.  She landed not far from the main road and b-lined for the merchants that interested her. For about half an hour she perused the stalls and made small talk with the people, gathering information about the worldly matters as she did so. As she finally was ready to go back to her home a voice caught her attention;

‘’Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan are you sure we should be wandering? This is Caiyi but I have a really bad feeling!’’ The voice, similar to the one she’d spoken with whom she’d spoken earlier though it sounded younger, rang out through the crowd from a nearby alleyway. Lan Meihui rushed towards it with confusion ad as she turned the corner ran straight into a hard wall of a man. The young Lan stood her ground but stepped back quickly rubbing her abused nose softly before her light eyes found a pair of even lighter ones, ones that she’d seen so many times in the cloud recess. But no, it couldn’t be, the eyes she knew were gentler, warmer and older. ‘’Fa-father?’’

Lan Zhans eyes narrowed with confusion and he turned to look at the one besides him. Mo Xanyu no, Wei Ying, clad in red and black looked like he was holding back a laugh. ‘’L-lan Zhan, you’ve hit the girl so hard she mistakenly thinks you’re her father!’’ He teased and Lan Meihui watched as Lan Zhan’s eyes narrowed a little more and his ears reddened as he mumbled “Wei Ying...” but did not say any more. Lan Meihui on the other hand was mortified. ‘’You!’’She cried slightly offended pointing a finger at Wei Ying, her ears bright red whilst the rest of her face remained a soft shade of peach. Her light eyes caught the sun and glinted a bright gold as she narrowed them and Wei Ying froze. Lan Meihui raised a brow before a bell went off somewhere in town signaling it was almost dinner time. Lan Meihui gasped suddenly looking down at her groceries then back at Lan Zhan and Wei Ying before taking a breath to calm herself. ‘’I think there’s more of a conversation to be had here but I need to go care to join me for dinner in the cloud recess?’’ She asked hesitantly, not really hoping for anything. She wasn’t really sure why she’d asked really. It just felt needed, right. A soft agreeable hum escaped Lan Zhan and Wei Ying sent a confused look his husband’s way but nodded. ‘’If Lan Zhan agrees who am I to refuse’’ He said with a purr which made Lan Meihui almost pull a face, almost.

They hopped on to their swords and rode back to the cloud recess, Wei Ying hanging on to Lan Zhan as he did not have his own sword to ride. Lan Meihui quickly asked another Lan disciple to bring the groceries to the kitchen staff before marching as quickly as she could towards her parent’s jingshi. Upon arrival she knocked almost excitedly on the door. Her mother’s voice erupted, ‘’Who is it?’’ It asked. ‘’It’s me mother! You and father have some guests!’’ Lan Meihui said rather loudly before blushing and coughing into her sleeve in embarrassment. The door opened to reveal two figures, both older late forties and early fifties or so, one dress in the Gusu Lan sect robes of white and baby blue, tall, muscular, hair whitening slightly but not extremely so. A clean shaven, stoic man with two bright golden eyes, Lan Wangji of Gusu. The other clad in black and red, slim tall but smaller than their partner, bright smile on their face, hair in a high ponytail, Wei Wuxian Yilling patriarch.

Wei Wuxian beamed as he looked down to his and his husband’s younger selves, ‘’Welcome, we were expecting you.’’

[lanbichenbunny]

Falling at Lan Zhan’s Feet

I love how when Wei Ying comes back in Mo Xanyu’s body when he meets Lan Zhan again for the first time (I don’t count at Mo mannor, it was at a distance and I don’t think Lan Zhan was close enough to see him back, he was focused on the corpse arm.)

He very literally falls at his feet and very casually just picks himself back up again.

I feel like this is a a hint that Wei Ying will end up falling well and truly in love with Lan Zhan.

[lanbichenbunny]

MDZS Thought of the Day…

I like how when Lan Zhan and Wei Ying go to Golden Carp tower. Wei Ying notices people are giving him weird looks and he remembers he’s in Mo Xanyu’s body and he was kicked out for harassment.

He leans close to Lan Zhan and say he might need to act crazy again. Lan Zhan is pretty much like sure, just don’t involve other people.

I’ve just realised that he’s basically telling him, if you’re going to flirt, keep it to me. Since Wei Ying acting crazy in Mo Xanyu’s body is usually just him be flirty with Lan Zhan and a bit of other stuff outside of that.

Ah… the reasons I love these boys, just keeps getting longer.