#a league of nobleman fic

[randomingoftherandomness]

Hello! If it's alright, I would like to put in a request for a fic > Zhang Ping x Lan Jue. The prompt is they had a big fight and Zhang Ping went home looking like a kicked puppy. Lan Jue after a few days decided to coax and apologize to Zhang Ping because he realized they might break-up the longer their fight goes. The rest is up to you!

Thank you so much and I hope you have a good day!

"Stubborn!"

"Mm."

"A hotheaded fool..."

"Of course, Daren."

"Incorrigible--"

"Would these be enough or should I empty out the stores again?" Xu Dong flourishes his hand. Peizhi snaps his mouth shut and flicks his sleeves back.

There are five baskets of produce, two bolts of fabric suitable for Zhang Ping and someone in his station, three jars of fine southern wine, a new set of ivory-handled writing brushes, two boxes of rare books from Lan Jue's own personal collection, and perhaps most importantly, a custom made set of cooking knives.

Frowning, he purses his lips. "Go to the chestnut seller and buy a pack of freshly roasted ones."

Peizhi thinks he sees Xu Dong's left eye twitch at his order, even as he bows and leaves to carry out his errand. "A donkey," He mutters, pouring out a fresh cup of tea. "I'm in love with an absolute donkey."

Zhang Ping is living in better conditions these days, which, for Lan Jue is still not as good as having him actually stay in Lan Manor. It isn't as if he hasn't offered him a place, if anything he had to practically tie him down just to get him to stay during those nights their discussions and meandering thoughts take a deeper, more physical touch.

Of course, when he complains about this, Mowen merely laughs at him and his woes.

"You made your bed," Mowen had managed between bouts of roaring laughter. "You can lay in it too."

This is to say, no one can understand why he is so truly determined to keep Zhang Ping by his side in the scant few months before he has to leave for Yiping County.

Peizhi tries not to think about how hurt Zhang Ping had looked when he rebutted something he said with a scoffed, "Of course you wouldn't know where your home is, you don't have one!"

That had been that. Zhang Ping had sucked in a breath, asking with a quiet voice and brown eyes that are sheened over with an emotion that was more than sadness, "Is that what you truly believe?"

And a good week has passed since he last saw Zhang Ping. Not a hair nor sight of his harried tail for one good week.

One whole week wasted being apart when they could just be...

The ache in his stomach returns with a twist, tugging in deep. Tamping down his annoyance at himself, he exhales slowly, gritting his teeth.

Looking up, he can spy the golden tops of the imperial palace glimmering in the noonday sun. Urgency burns bright in his bones. Wasting time, they're all just wasting time, and there is nothing Peizhi can do to stop the turning of the hours.

Helplessness bleeds through. Sinking its claws into his chest. He, Lan Jue, won't beg for anything from anyone but the thought that this ego could be the reason they could part without a second glance or another word, even as friends, even as strangers...

The ache in his core hollows him out and he gasps, gripping the corner of his table as a wave of lightheadedness washes over him.

Someone pushes him to a more relaxed position, and distantly Peizhi hears a familiar, gentle sigh next to his ear. "What have you been working yourself up on again?"

"Zhang Ping?"

His lover casts him a look from the corner of his eyes. Peizhi is so engrossed with drinking in the sight of him, the warmth of his body so close to him, the way he smells like the market and home all at once, that he completely misses the steaming bowl of noodles being placed in front of him.

"You haven't been eating. Xu Dong told me."

Someone is getting his pay docked next month.

"He's been telling tall tales," Peizhi grumbles, but not refusing the pair of chopsticks being pressed into his hand. Quickly, his other hand darts out to grab Zhang Ping by the wrist, refusing to let him go too far. "Don't..."

He snaps his mouth shut, turning his face away. But before he can let go, Zhang Ping turns his hand, sliding their palms together. "I'm not going anywhere, don't worry."

Peizhi lets him fuss, serving him tea until he took his first bite of the food Zhang Ping brought with him. "Lan-daren, I want you to listen to me," Zhang Ping says after a moment of silence. "Alright?"

"Zhang Ping..."

"I know you have me in your heart, that's why you've been restless these last few weeks," Zhang Ping starts with a small smile. "You keep begging me to stay, you've tried every means in your book to keep me by your side every time. I know that you have been anxious about my impending departure for Yiping County, but Daren, I am too."

Peizhi sets his chopstick down, reaching for Zhang Ping's hand. "If you knew, if you feel the same way, then why...?"

"Because I thought that if I could still keep this small distance, if I could just... Keep you at a distance, then maybe, when we have to part, it won't..."

"It won't?"

Zhang Ping leans in, knocking their brows together. "It won't hurt as bad as I know it will."

Peizhi surrenders, then. Leans in and wraps himself around Zhang Ping. Lets strong arms hold him tightly and clings on. "I won't tell you to stay, you know that."

"I do."

"I won't do anything that will impede your ambitions."

Zhang Ping's soft huff of amusement tickles at the curve of his jaw. "I know that."

"But until you have to leave, can you please just stay?" Peizhi whispers, tilting his head, brushing his lips to the bare skin of Zhang Ping's neck. "Please. For me, just do this for me."

Zhang Ping's quiet, "Mn" is everything encapsulated into a singular syllable. And with that, a knot in his heart seems to unravel. Burying himself tighter against Zhang Ping, Peizhi hides the joy he feels, pressing his smile onto a clothed shoulder.

Later, and later still, when all that covers their bare skins is the wash of silver moonlight and the warm night air, Peizhi luxuriates in the feeling of Zhang Ping's fingers carding through his hair.

"I'm sorry for what I said."

"Which part?" Zhang Ping teases, grunting a burst of laughter when Peizhi bites at his arm in retaliation.

Pulling him back to his side, Zhang Ping runs his clever fingers down the line of his spine.

"If you mean to be apologising for what you said the other day about me not having a home, then I should also apologise."

Puzzled, Peizhi shifts himself to look into Zhang Ping's warm and fond eyes, waiting for him to continue. "I was hurt, yes. But more than that, I was disappointed in myself."

"Disappointed?"

"Disappointed, yes." His beloved smiles wryly. Gentle fingertips brush over Peizhi's cheek, settling his touch on the side of his head. "Disappointed in me that I ever made you doubt that you are my home."

A wave of sudden affection cinches itself around his throat, leaving Peizhi breathless, struck dumb at the confession.

Zhang Ping shuffles closer, snuggling into Peizhi. "I know you haven't promised me anything, but in a few years, once the roots of the Empress Dowager's influence have been cleared out, I'll come back to you. And when I do, let's live together. In a house with two studies and a room for both our books. We can have a garden and a place where we can keep a few fish. At night, we can watch the moon together on the veranda. We can be together."

With a hand to Peizhi's chest, he whispers, "Alright?"

Quickly turning his face into the pillow, Peizhi breathes in deep over the prickle of emotion clogging his throat. Not that there was any doubt in the wet sniffles colouring the night silence between them, but Zhang Ping allows him this, moving in for gentle kisses to his temple.

"Have you been eating candies? Since when did your mouth become so sweet?" Peizhi grouses. Pulling Zhang Ping tightly to him, he nods, cheek to warm skin. "A gentleman never goes back on his promise. So you must remember this."

Zhang Ping's laughter in his ear is as good as the sweetest melodies plucked by the most talented musicians. Tangling their bodies together once more, Peizhi smiles when Zhang Ping says, "Of course. I'll need to come home to you after all."

[send me an ALoN prompt!]

[jianghushenanigans]

Whumptober Day 2: “They don’t care about you.”

Zhang Ping lies on the street outside Lan-daren’s house. He doesn’t have the energy to hold himself up. The gravel is rough beneath his cheek. It’s raining. The stab wound in his back is in agony.

The wound hurts less than everything else that has happened.

He had run through the underground corridors with a knife wound in his back, and it had not hurt as much as the horror in Lan-daren’s eyes as he was told Zhang Ping’s origins. The disgust. The way he kept staring, begging for an answer with his eyes, an answer that Zhang Ping didn’t know, that he couldn’t give.

He had carried the unconscious Lan-daren, bearing the wait across his shoulders and his wounded upper back, and it had had not hurt as much as seeing the corpse of their only lead. Of seeing the corpse of a man who was probably the only person who could have told him anything about his past. Of knowing that Lan-daren would never forgive him.

He had waited, waited for Lan-daren to wake up, without getting any medical attention himself, and it had not hurt as much as Lan-daren pointing a sword at his throat, declaring them to be enemies. As Lan-daren drawing a line in the wood between them. As Lan-daren telling him to leave, and to never come back.

He had thought, he had thought that Lan-daren…

“They don’t care about you.”

There’s a voice, and he recognises it like whispers in the wind, but he can’t place it.

“None of them, they don’t want you.”

He doesn’t know who it is. He hadn’t heard footsteps approaching. He should be alone.

“You should leave.”

“Zhang-xiong?” Chen Chou calls, somewhere in the distance, but Zhang Ping cannot call back. He’s stuck, frozen by the pain, frozen by the voice that he remembers somewhere in the depths of lost time.

“Leave the city Zhang Ping. Don’t come back.” The voice fades to silence, and Zhang Ping fades to black.

Crossposted here on ao3

[youaremysunshine-court]

Favourite meet cute is ordering food but the stall owner refuses to serve you bc you look 'poncy' and so you kick him out of his stall and (completely fail to) make the food yourself so he apologises and yall hit it off so we'll that the next time yall meet you take him on a date and reveal all your deepest thoughts to him

[qingruc]

"You’re risking your life, I’m willing to risk mine with you."

These two are driving me insane enough to write fic, please send help.

[litchi-jelly]

"a league of nobleman" why'd they spell it that way. obviously it should've been "a league of noodleman"

[erotica-hooligan]

A League of Noblemen Fic: Grateful

LINK

Lan Jue/Mowen, Pre-canon. Spanking.

"I wasn't even gone a week." How many more times will this scene play out between them? This is at least the third, and Mowen knows it won't be the last. He can only hope they'll keep happening, with Peizhi managing to escape from a mess of his own making by the skin of his teeth.

[luckymoonly]

Prompts created by @flufftober .

Fandom: A League of Nobleman

Ship: Pingchou (Zhang Ping x Chen Chou)

(My heart) Flutters

🦋Read it here on AO3.

[tm-trx]

currents.06

selections from the week of 5-11 february 2023

~ sp*ilers for My School President ep 10 ~

[listening]

Fighting/BSS feat. Lee Young Ji

This is Not a Song/Jun K

[watching]

A League of Nobleman - 10 new episodes dropped Sunday/Monday and I immediately binged them all because I have no chill. You can tell this is the middle bit, because compared to the first 10 episodes things were less ramped up. But still very very enjoyable. And for a change, I think I’ve caught some foreshadowing! Now, whether I have interpreted it correctly remains to be seen. Mowen continues to throw a curve (lock? barge?) into the shipping lanes and I love him. OT3 ftw?

The Lost Tomb 2 - Been watching it all week and am pleased that there are so many episodes. It started out kinda slow/exposition-y, but picked up once they got to the mountains and in the tomb. One of the actors looks enough like Machida Keita that I do a double take every time he’s on screen. I suspect there is fic for Wu Xie/Zhang Qi Ling and will be investigating once I’ve caught up. That is an old skool slash ship if I’ve ever seen one, even though neither are blond. LOL

My School President - A great episode this week. I know this is a ‘sweet’ series, but for a minute there I did think that Gun’s mom might not survive the surgery. I’m also more than a little surprised that the Hot Wave competition wasn’t the big finale episode. That leaves two episodes of falling action that will feel like filler after the competition/surgery plots. But at least ep 10 was excellent and felt like a finale.

[fic recs from page 9 of my AO3 bookmarks list]

love & longing, rabbit edition. by jaws_3 - MDZS WWX/LWJ fluff

Three Dinners in Seoul by protos_metazu_ison - Beyond Evil future fic

previous Currents posts

[qserasera]

there’s only TWO whole fics in a league of nobleman that i can read???

[randomingoftherandomness]

(Mowen x Lan Jue x Zhang Ping) Mowen: I'm bored, let's go do something. Zhang Ping: Did Lan-daren do something to piss you off again?

This one became a little more Mowen x Zhang Ping than anything hahah I can't find it within myself to regret it tho. Hope you like this!

~*~*~*~

He leaves him be until the second bowl of watery dough knocks against his elbow. An intervention is needed, Zhang Ping decides, taking a deep breath to brush off the flour on his hands.

"Are you going to compensate me for the ingredients you're wasting?"

Mowen startles mid-crack of an egg, eyes blinking owlishly at him. Pursing his lips, he frowns, nose scrunched in a way that Zhang Ping will forever deny sets off a flurry of butterflies in his belly.

"I'm bored," Mowen declares almost imperiously a beat later. There's a thread of anticipation in his voice when he follows it up with a lilting, "Let's go do something."

Bravely resisting the urge to roll his eyes, and barely just succeeding, Zhang Ping carefully takes the bowl from Mowen, setting it aside and gently taking a cloth to wipe down his hands.

"Did Lan-daren do something to piss you off again?" He asks, fingertips caressing the back of Mowen's hands. Smiling gently under the gaze he receives, he trails his thumb over a pulse point. "Don't deny it. You're terrible at hiding your true emotions when it comes to him."

Mowen harumphs, but doesn't move away. If anything, he shuffles closer, knocking their knees together. "It's not just him, you know?"

"If you mean to say that I may be jealous because you think you are both closer together than you are with me, please don't be," Zhang Ping chuckles, letting a little bit of his weight be supported by Mowen. "You both had a life together even before I entered the picture. It's only natural you are much familiar with his moods and fancies. I'm content to play catch-up with you."

"Be that as it may," Mowen starts, twisting his hand in Zhang Ping's to hold on to a slender wrist. "We never want to make you feel left out when it comes to us. Because you're part of us now, even if sometimes you may not feel like it."

Zhang Ping smiles, lifting his eyes. "You're side-stepping the question here, Wang-daren. Did Lan-daren do something to piss you off again?"

Mowen sighs, pulling him in until their hips are knocking against the corner of the kitchen table. "Sometimes I hate that your mind spins in a hundred ways that I can't follow sometimes."

"And so?"

Mowen smiles, darting in to slide their lips together and nipping gently. "Yeah. He said something stupid at court today and I just..."

"Am annoyed?"

"Mn."

"Frustrated."

"Mmhm

"Perhaps a little...?"

"Don't be cheeky, it doesn't suit you," Mowen tuts, affecting a mock affronted glare. There's no heat in his words, nothing but a fondness that cuts Zhang Ping deep in his chest. He's lucky, he knows that. Lucky to be loved by this man and the man he's a little annoyed at.

"Shall we go do something fun to surprise him when he comes home?"

Mowen cocks an eyebrow, his smile dipping into a slow grin with his teeth showing conspiratorially. "What do you have in mind?"

Zhang Ping laughs. "I have a few things I can show you. Have you ever read the Kama Sutra?"

[Am currently still accepting ALoN prompts]

[jianghushenanigans]

Whumptober Day 28: Sacrifice

Peizhi looks awful. Truly awful. And Gu Qingzhang… he has a job to do. He can’t sacrifice everything he’s worked towards just for this.

Except…

He had approached Lan Jue because of who his father was. He had befriended Lan Jue as a means to an end. He had meant to stay with Lan Jue in order use him.

He had stayed with Peizhi because he was utterly entranced by him.

He can see himself in him. They’re of a similar age. They’re both orphans (or, in Gu Qingzhang’s case, as good as). They’re both determined to go through anything to get justice for their families.

Peizhi doesn’t know this about Shulin, of course, but he must have seen something, because for all Gu Qingzhang had tried to chase him, Peizhi had not tried hard to escape. Had pushed closer himself.

And all this, now, has led to Gu Qingzhang’s heart beating faster as he watches Peizhi pour poison into his own wine.

Gu Qingzhang has too much at stake to risk anything. He has to avenge the people who raised him. He has to have revenge on the Empress who left him to die.

And yet... and yet.

He swaps the wine with a deft hand. Tips it back without giving anything away. Slips away into the dark, feeling his insides burning but knowing, at least, that Peizhi will be alright.

Some sacrifices are worth it.

Peizhi looks awful. Truly awful. And Wang Yan… he has a job to do. He can’t sacrifice his good name, his family’s reputation just for this.

Except…

When he had met Lan Jue, he had been a nobody, selling calligraphy in the street, his own family’s reputation nothing but dust. Wang Yan hadn’t even noticed him, until he had been given no choice not to.

He can’t imagine his life without Peizhi in it, now.

He can see himself in him. They’re of a similar age. They both want their father’s to be able to look at them proudly. They’re both desperate to prove themselves in the political sphere.

Peizhi knows about the struggle Mowen has had, getting his father to approve of him. They had held each other close, one of them wishing his father cared, the other wishing his father was there. It made Wang Yan feel selfish, thinking about it afterwards, but somehow it had only drawn Peizhi closer.

And all this, now, has led to Wang Yan pausing to think as Peizhi begs him to hide evidence that he says is being used to frame him.

Wang Yan has too much at stake to risk anything. He has to prove his worth as the Minister for Justice to the Emperor. He has to prove it to his father.

And yet... and yet.

He nods, briskly. He swaps the evidence with a deft hand. Hides it without giving anything away. Slips back to the investigation, ignoring the potential political ramifications because he knows, at least, that Peizhi will be alright.

Some sacrifices are worth it.

*

Crossposted here on ao3

[wolfstarlibrarian]

Hullo!

Do you happen to have any wolfstar fics about horses, riding or keeping horses?

Love and admiration for your work!

Hello friend and thank you for the love!

Now to answer your question: kind of? Below are fics that all have either Remus or Sirius riding a horse at some point. Are they all focused on riding horses? Unfortunately not, but with the rising popularity of the cowboy au in the wolfstar fandom, there are certainly more horse fics out there or being written. These are just the ones the Librarian has read and hopes you enjoy.

🐴 Wolfstar + Horses 🐎

AMOR VINCIT OMNIA (love conquers all) by @prettyremus Remus, a servant boy to the cruel Emperor Voldemort, meets Sirius, a charming nobleman. Together they fight for freedom and love in Ancient Rome.

A Good League Hence by @eyra Remus has always believed that December is the Hall's very best month. It's like the place was built to have boughs of holly and fir strung from every wall sconce and picture rail; like its architect, all those hundreds of years ago, designed it specifically to bear the big, fat garlands he and Lily wind around its balustrades and bannisters, and the jolly wreaths that they hoist into place on every door, and the towering, beribboned tree that stands proudly in the hotel reception and takes four of them a whole afternoon to decorate. A country hotel in the wintertime. Plenty of snow, plenty of mulled wine, and a feeling that this Christmas might be different.

Beneath a Big Blue Sky by @eyra The four-by-four heaves its way down long, twisting lanes, little more than dirt tracks scuffed into the surrounding fields and hemmed in by serpentine walls of flat, grey stone. They truly are in the middle of nowhere: the countryside rushes past, all rolling green hills and vast, endless skies, and it's odious. Sirius wants to murder James with his bare hands. Sirius and James accidentally find themselves on a Yorkshire farm during lambing season. The farmer’s son thinks that’s a bit annoying, actually.

Neon Moon by @allhalloweve

“Come down here and I’ll tell you.”

“My parents are asleep.”

“You’re twenty-three,” Sirius said in the same tone of false sympathy, though his grin didn’t falter as he stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “C’mon, I’ll be by the fence.”

Desperado by @yeats-infection West Texas, 1861. “I’m unsure when we elected to hand the reigns of this operation over to a hophead felon and a bottom-tier bounty hunter.”

A Change In The Stars by @neondomino Desperate for a change in his stars, Squire Sirius pretends to be a Noble to compete in the jousting tournament. Along the way he meets two men. Lord Lucius Malfoy, who offers to be his… as long as he wins, and clothing merchant, Remus Lupin, who doesn't care whether Sirius wins or loses, claiming nothing would change how he feels. Inspired by a Knight's Tale

Untold Blessings by @aryastark-valarmorghulis Magic once existed in England and has finally returned. Mr Sirius Black, a gifted magician, ventures, rash and ill-prepared, into Faerie.

[lovesickfolly]

tagged by @aleng-neng. What are my fave top 9 shows in no particular order. (All of these I have at 10/10.) I'll only pick recent shows, as they're the ones I have listed on MyDramaList and thus have a ranking for. XD This means it's mostly bls and cdramas. 1. Moonlight Chicken.

One of my feelgood shows, even though it's still new. It feels comfortable and adult and grounded, with a bunch of amazing actors who are clearly comfortable with each other. As an 'older queer' it resonates with me a lot and I didn't dislike a single thing about it.

2. The Blood of Youth.

A really fun show with gorgeous, engaging characters and the right mix of beautiful scenery, beautiful people, and creative storytelling that I like. Sprinkle in some excellent fight scenes and a bunch of my favourite actors and I'm sold!

3. Old Fashion Cupcake.

I talked about mature stories earlier and this is another one of those. I could see myself in the main lead just a bit too much for me not to love this. Nozue recognizes that he's maybe stuck in a rut and complacent when he doesn't have to be. And, maybe, that handsome junior at the firm could help him get out of it (and make him recognize he's not straight).

4. KinnPorsche.

Look, I know it has its issues. I know. And I know people have an issue with some of the fandom. I get it and for the most part I agree. However, this was the first BL in a long time that I had the urge to write fic for. I enjoyed the complexity of the universe and the characters that much. (Even if some of it didn't make sense. but that's half the fun!) And that's why I like it. It got my brain involved. (And I just adore Tankhun, okay.)

5. Word of Honor.

Years ago I watched a few cdramas and then...somehow forgot about them? (I don't know how I did that.) However, back in 2019 I got back into them and eventually stumbled upon The Untamed. 'This is the pinnacle of cdrama for me and my tastes!' I thought. But then Word of Honor showed up. Look, everything about this show is stunning. The story, the characters, the setting, the clear and unadulterated love between the two main characters. Everything and everyone is beautiful and I've never gone through a cdrama as fast as I did this one. It's beautiful in ever sense of the word. And so, so queer. Don't believe me? Just search 'word of honor cdrama' in the gif section on tumblr and marvel at the art.

6. A Tale of Thousand Stars.

This is not the first Thai BL I watched, but it almost feels like it? Because ATOTS is the first one I remember going crazy about (and it set me on the road to basically loving everything EarthMix are in together). I was super invested and wanted to draw art and everything. It's just such a nice, soft, romantic story and the characters are so fun. This is probably the one I've rewatched the most.

7. Semantic Error.

As you can tell, I generally like stories that feel far away from home. I like magic and fantasy and settings that aren't typical. However, this is one of the few exceptions. I think it's the characters and their journey and the perfect execution of tropes that would have felt stale in any other show. It's a fun story with excellent characters and I get why it's so popular.

8. Mysterious Lotus Casebook.

Technically, I can't say this show is 10/10 yet because it still has a bunch of episodes to go. However, I can tell it's going to get close at least. (And will probably get to 10.) I keep comparing it to a perfect blend of The Blood of Youth and A League of Nobleman, in that it's a fantasy world with a master swordsman who's dying (and begrudgingly adopts a cute puppy who loves him) and a bunch of cases that need solving (to unravel the overarching plot). It's so much fun and the settings + characters are so beautiful. (And I may or may not heavily ship the loyal, eager puppy with the stoic, lying dying man who tries to push him away (and literally abandon him) in an attempt to keep him safe (from harm and heartache).) The hurt/comfort and love against all odds is strong in this one! He gave up his lifelong dream to protect a man who's been lying to him ever since they met and whom is at that point a wanted fugitive!! Because he trusts and loves him so. Also, it has a bunch of very handsome and gorgeous actors/characters in it, whom I love (and who suffer beautifully).

9. ??? I only have 8 shows that I've given 10/10 to (or a prospective 10/10, lol), so I'll just leave you with some other recommended shows that came close! Bad Buddy

Between Us

Choco Milk Shake

Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms

My Only 12%

Ancient Love Poetry

That's it! I invested way too much effort into this, but...it was fun? Sorry for clogging up your timelines with this, though!

[blackberrysummerblog]

I liiiive! I cannot believe how long it’s been since I’ve posted an excerpt on here, but it’s been a pretty spoonless month (cue lengthy attempt at discussing the situation followed by a quick delete, because seriously? Whine moar 🙄). Thank you so much to all you lovelies who have kept tagging me; it’s been so nice to feel remembered! @wellbelesbian, @j-nipper-95, @orange-peony, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @youarenevertooold, @alleycat0306, @artsyunderstudy, @prettygoododds, @shrekgogurt, @larkral, @valeffelees, @fatalfangirl, @facewithoutheart, @nightimedreamersworld, @rimeswithpurple, @forabeatofadrum, @confused-bi-queer and @cutestkilla all tagged me recently and I’ve been so delighted to see what you’ve all been working on! This fandom really has the most talented writers and artists <3

As for me, I’ve been working on a few things as well! Some of you may have seen a woeful post last week when I realized I’d been writing one of my CORBs in a file I’d unwittingly created on my work account. *chef’s kiss* Beautiful. The upshot of that is that I lost thousands of words after hastily and permanently deleting the file, then buried myself under six feet of rocky soil in the backyard. But I’ve since climbed out and have been recreating it! (In my PERSONAL documents this time!) I’m not sure I’m allowed to say who I’m collaborating with or how much of the summary I can share, but I don’t think it’s giving away too much to say that it’s an AU where Baz is a demon nobleman in hell and Simon is a mortal merman who catches his eye. It’s a really creative concept and I’m excited to be working on it! Here’s a few more than six sentences (and some other fic excerpt shares) under the cut:

I’m lost in the dream again when Métis buzzes in my ear, and I try my damnedest not to hear her. I roll over and pull the shadows closer, but she burrows in nonetheless. “No,” I grumble as blue eyes and golden scales slip away from me once more, leaving nothing but ripples in the fluidity of retreating sleep. As I sit up and scowl at my father’s right hand pest, I can just about recall the setting sun limning bronze curls with a reddish halo.

Halo—ha.

“He wantsz to szeeee you,” Métis hums, settling alight in her favorite spot atop the curve of my left horn. “Sayszz it’s important.”

There’s just the barest fog of despair weaving around my ankles as I make my way to Father’s chambers, nurturing the chill that always permeates my corporeal form. An unexpected meeting seldom brings good news, but I wouldn’t say speaking with him is the last way I’d want to spend these early hours—the hypocritamus pools need sieving, after all. Depending on their recent diet and the subject Father wishes to discuss, the difference may be vanishingly slight.

The second thing I’ve been working on is from an anon prompt on @carryonprompts, which I’m going to paraphrase as “post-awtwb Simon getting kidnapped and Baz (plus Penny and Sheperd) having to be the one to play the hero to Simon’s damsel for a change.” Here’s six sentences:

I pull him up to his knees and kick his legs apart, stabilizing him.

Baz is so far out of this one’s league; I’ve never known what he sees in this deformed, ill-mannered, working-class mage.

He’s handsome enough in spite of the wings though, I suppose—in a brutish way. His eyes flash at me when I knot my fingers in his dirty hair to pull his head back, lifting his face. Square-jawed and broad through the shoulders and chest, thick-thighed, what we would have called a bit of rough, once. The faithful common laborer you could count on to throw you down on top of the bed for the pounding of a lifetime—is that all that Baz wants him for?

Lastly, a good bit more than 6 sentences from my still-unpublished crucible marriage AU, just because. I know I once posted a paragraph where Baz was taking Simon clothes shopping after being scandalized by the state of his drawers, and this is a resulting scene:

“Baz!” Snow shouts from the changing room. Balthazar’s balls, what’s the issue? He can’t want me to go in there. “Baz, c’mere!” He…wants me to go in there. I take a deep breath and push open the door fractionally.

“What, Snow?”

“Come in here!”

“I swear to magic, if you’re naked—” Oh. Oh, Crowley. This may somehow be worse. Simon is wearing the snug fitting blue knit shirt I sent him in with, and it would be showing off his biceps and chest enough to blow what’s left of my mind even if he didn’t have it hitched halfway up his abdomen. He’s changed into a pair of the short new boxer briefs we purchased in the last store (ordinarily I’d recoil at the notion of not washing them first, the heathen, but—Simon) and he’s gripping the waistband of a pair of soft grey trousers that he’s pulled halfway up his arse.

“I thought you might want to check out the new pants,” he says casually, nodding toward his backside as if I could pry my eyes away with a crowbar. “Do these get the seal of approval, then?”

I can’t speak. I think I may be salivating. Simon grins at me then, dragging one side of the trousers up while letting the other drop below the curve of his world-ending arse. He shimmies the exposed cheek in my direction, working himself into the trousers one centimeter at a time.

“You menace,” I hiss, unable to modulate my voice to a normal speaking level.

“What?” He finishes hitching the trousers up and leans back against the wall, not bothering to do up the flies. “Do I look OK?”

“No.” His face falls and I can’t bear it, even for a joke. “You look delicious. Absolutely debauched.”

“Debauched?!” Simon’s offended moue melts into something else as I slink toward him purposefully. “I don’t look debauched.”

He does. Trousers open, shirt still pushed up over his navel, curls in disarray from his habit of manhandling them when frustrated. I lean over him, my feet on either side of his, and he’s even farther beneath me than usual because of how he’s slouched back against the wall. He gasps softly when I take hold of his waistband and fasten the button of his trousers, my knuckles grazing the soft hair on his belly.

“Baz…nngh.”

I’ve drawn the zipper up carefully, but not so carefully that I’m not palming him over his trousers. I’ve barely touched him, but I note with satisfaction the goose flesh rising on his forearms. “Shh, love,” I murmur in his ear, tugging down his shirt so that it covers his stomach. Once he’s no longer indecent, I run both hands up under his shirt, squeezing at his thick, firm waist. Simon moans, tipping his head back to expose his long neck, and I’m dropping kiss after kiss there when I hear a sudden clearing of someone’s throat behind us.

It’s the changing room attendant, scowling in through the door that I foolishly left open. “Can I bring you gentlemen any different sizes?”

And that’s about it! I’d tag people if I hadn’t gotten to post this so late in the day, but as it stands I think most everyone’s already posted today. I hope everyone’s had a great week and that the next one is even better! :)

[omgpurplefattie]

HAHA I just got an email notification for your City fic and "ye baiyi gets accused of being straight" made me Snort! Need to finish mlc bc im so excited to read this!!

I'm glad you're enjoying MLC -- it really is the Next Big Thing I had hoped "A League of Nobleman" might be. Still love the kooky cinematography, super weird cases, beautiful food shots, deeply moving deconstruction of the "non-Han tribe causes trouble in imperial politics" trope (played painfully straight in MLC) and general "Hannibal" vibes in ALoN a lot, but that may end up being a lonely love.-

MLC has a fandom, and it's growing. I hope one of the western distributors picks it up; it would be great on Netflix.

As for my fic and Ye Baiyi, here is a little money quote for you as a further preview:

“People have accused me of many misdeeds both sexual and computer related,” Ye Baiyi drawled, “but being ‘straight and inept’ is new.”

[radioactivepeasant]

Fic Prompts: Free Day Thursday

As per Monday's poll, here we have the Prisoner Exchange AU! If I added everything I've got for it this post would be super long, so what I'm actually doing is giving you the angsty bits from the beginning here, and later this afternoon I'll post the later and less angsty part HERE and THERE

_________<________<________<_______<____

"Shift change."

Tomsin couldn't help breathing a sigh of relief. The prisoner -- gods it felt wrong to even think that -- hadn't moved much since the force field went up, but it was still unnerving to sit in the silence with him.

"Thank the Precursors. I'm gonna lose it if I have to stare at these walls another second." Tomsin stood up and stretched, trying not to show how eager she was to escape.

Her relief, Giles, shifted uncomfortably. His arm was still in a sling where Jak had all but snapped it in two. Green eco was rationed, even for soldiers now. It would take a few days for the bone to mend.

"How's he doing?" Giles asked, peering around Tomsin's shoulder at the figure crouched in the cell.

"He was pretty violent for a couple hours, but then he just went quiet," Tomsin admitted.

"Well can you blame him?" Giles shifted uncomfortably and crept closer to the force field.

Jak, their one time hero, huddled in a corner, knees pulled to his chest and staring blankly at the wall. He rocked back and forth, completely silent.

"This feels wrong, this feels so wrong," Giles whispered.

"This isn't what we got the tattoos for."

"I know." Tomsin looked away.

"Heard the stories. But I only ever saw Jak in creature mode, y'know? I didn't think he was this young."

Giles winced at the pitiful figure's silent rocking and let a traitorous thought escape.

"Is this really worth it?"

Tomsin gaped at him. "Giles, this is Torn we're talking about! Loyalty aside, losing him would compromise the whole city! And then Veger would be the governor's second in command."

Giles shuddered. Nobody wanted the pompous nobleman taking Commander Torn's place.

"I know, I know. I just...he can't be that much older than my Rosie. Feels bad."

"It's him or all of us," Tomsin said, but she wouldn't look at either of them.

Giles knew it was to hide the uncertainty in her eyes.

Tomsin signed out and Giles took her seat. Working up his courage, he swallowed hard and called softly, "Hey, hey kid. You hungry? I can...I can get something delivered if you want. You want anything?"

Jak curled tighter -- the first reaction Giles had seen so far -- and barely audibly croaked,

"No drugs."

The words soured and withered away on Giles's tongue. The kid expected them to drug his food? Giles thought of his daughter, twelve and full of pre-teen impudence. His stomach churned, imagining her in Jak’s place.

Are we selling our souls to get Torn back? he wondered.

"I'm sorry, kid," he said quietly. "If...if I had the passcode, I'd let you out."

He was not that surprised to find that he meant it.

"The governor is pretty darn sure those Wastelanders don't want to hurt you but- well. Who ever trusted a Praxis anyway?"

"I did," Jak answered unexpectedly.

He buried his head in his arms.

"Wish I hadn't."

____________<><><><><><><><>______________

In any other context, the morning would have been beautiful. Birds were beginning to fill the empty buildings of Dead Town with their nests, and for the first time in more than ten years, signs of life filled the ruined streets. It was a perfect summer morning, still spared the waves of heat that were already sweeping the western archipelago.

It was, in Ashelin's opinion, deeply inappropriate weather for what might as well have been an execution.

Jak hadn't spoken to her since the night before. Actually, Jak hadn't spoken to anyone since the night before. He glared at the ground, but didn't seem to be really seeing it. His movements were mechanical, a kind of autopilot just quick enough to prevent the Freedom League guards from dragging him bodily to the stretch of land where the exchange was to take place. He looked...broken. Like he'd finally lost his will to fight.

Ashelin wanted to be sick.

"I...I'm sorry, Jak," she whispered. "The Council overruled me. There was nothing I could do."

She tasted the lie on her lips and closed her eyes.

"I know that you're the only person who can get through this, and beat these raiders at their own game. I hope- I hope one day you'll forgive me, Jak."

From his shoulder, Daxter bunched himself up and growled, "Don't count on it."

Count Veger marched out ahead of them and raised his staff to signal the warlord they called The Dune-Wolf.

"Show us the commander, unharmed, and we'll release the boy to you."

"Well look at that," a Wastelander -- Sig, Ashelin thought his name was, Krew's heavy-- jeered.

"A Praxis can do the right thing after all! And it only took a hostage and some blackmail to accomplish."

The Wolf snorted, an echoing sound behind his mask. "Thank heaven for little miracles," he said sardonically, and once again Ashelin was struck by the familiarity of his voice.

She could have sworn that for just an instant she felt the ice in his stare, piercing her throat when he caught sight of Jak and stiffened.

Cold and hard, he hissed, "You bring him to me in chains?"

Jak’s eyes flicked upward for a brief second, meeting his, then they seemed to cloud over again. It was the most reaction he'd shown to anything since they'd taken him from the cell.

Veger hid his nerves better than the soldiers. Better than Ashelin.

"For your own protection," he murmured, feigning deference as he stepped back. "The boy is...violently unsuited to society. Feral, in a word."

"You want feral?" Daxter snarled from Jak's shoulder, "Oh, I'll give you feral-!"

Sig stepped forward at a gesture from his commander and shoved Torn in front of him. Torn stumbled and nearly fell. He sucked in a breath. Jak looked rough. Disoriented. Clearly, this wasn't a willing trade. He looked to Ashelin, to Veger, and knew in his heart that this was always going to happen. But this marked the second time he had betrayed Jak, albeit unwittingly this time. And this time, Jak wasn't coming back.

"I'm so sorry, Jak-! I didn't want this!" Torn croaked.

Jak did not seem like he was even aware of his presence.

When the two prisoners reached the halfway point, Sig all but threw Torn at the Havenites. He grabbed Jak by the arm and yanked him away from the guards as if they were going to change their mind and whisk Jak back into the city.

"Easy, cherries," he murmured, softening his grip, "Y'all just sit tight. S' gonna be okay."

The Wolf tilted his head to watch Jak for a moment. The boy was slumped, listless. Resigned. Slowly, the warlord's posture tightened and tensed until he looked to be a hair's breadth from killing someone.

"Take them back to base camp," he commanded.

"Aye, sir."

Sig wrapped his arm around Jak’s shoulders -- and Daxter by extension.

"Come on, boys. Let's get that wristwear off you."

The Wolf watched as Sig led Jak to one of the ominous looking vehicles behind them. Then he lifted his chin and gestured with his staff at the Havenites in a parody of a magnanimous benefactor.

"The House of Mar thanks you for your...cooperation, Count. Governor," he declared mockingly.

His guards kept their eyes trained on the slack, horrified faces of Ashelin, Torn, and Veger until the Wolf had swung himself back in the retrofitted Hellcat.