#also wwx has a right to be angry at jc and not want to be around him damn

[llycaons]

it's very sweet when wwx is like 'aw jin ling is just like his uncle' in postcanon fics but I have to laugh because in canon he's literally like 'ugh, jin ling is JUST like his uncle 🙄'

[rosethornewrites]

Mom, who has only seen The Untamed, didn’t understand why Wei Wuxian was so feared.

I had to explain that he dug up cemeteries to get the bodies of their enemies’ ancestors to march against them, that Wen Ruohan was a megalomaniac but not into demonic cultivation, that every Wen soldier that was cut down was potentially another corpse wwx could raise to fight for him (but did he also raise allies?), that the very idea of him was so terrifying that he became the folk culture boogie man very easily with a few well-placed rumors. Children thought if they were naughty he would come for them in the night. Wei Wuxian was a living nightmare.

She was surprised none of that got into The Untamed, where it is made to seem like wwx just disrupts Wen Ruohan’s control and wwx is never shown controlling a fierce corpse—only Wen Ning, who isn’t technically dead in The Untamed, more like in between life and death. They couldn’t show it because then wwx would be morally grey and that’s not allowed. They can’t show shambling corpses, only living puppets, unless the controlling cultivator is absolutely evil. What is black, what is white?

Specifically she didn’t get why Jiang Cheng was so angry at Lan Wangji, and it’s like, mom, he spent 13 years angry with wwx and raising his nephew and grieving his sister and other family, and right in his salad Lan Wangji is parading around in mourning clothes for far too long to be considered appropriate, clearly acting like a grieving spouse, mooning over and, in going to where the chaos is to fulfill his promise with wwx, appears to jc to be searching for him instead. Shows up randomly where demonic cultivators mimicking wwx are causing trouble like he hopes wwx is back. Not that Jiang Cheng isn’t low-key doing the same thing. And so it becomes wrapped into the grief and anger.

She really wants to read the novels now.

Sorry, rambles here.

[rayshippouuchiha]

I had a gremlin thought and had to throw it at you. So we all know that JC and WWX revolved around JYL (as they should) and would 100% do what she told them to. Why had no one taken this to its logical conclusion? Let’s say it’s after another failed meeting in between JYL and her horrible fiancé she is doing the depressingly normal routine of trying to not be hurt while YZY is being horrible to WWX and JC. And she just takes a moment to breathe and wonder why them. What has she and her siblings done to suffer like this? One of the disciples comes over and offers her any help they can. This causes JYL to just have a moment of realization where she stops and tries to remember the last time anyone except those outside the sect asked the Sect leaders for anything. Because the people know that JFM is just passive at best and YZY is plain aggressive. JYL was raised to be a sect wife and basically shadow run a sect right? And let’s say she’s been doing this for years at this point. WWX basically owns the disciples and every resident of Lotus Pier. JC is Sect Heir and has every ounce of loyalty his people and siblings can give him. JYL has this vision of a sect run by the three siblings and it’s just so much better. I imagine for all that they were their mother and father JFM and YZY were very estranged from their children. It’s also basically canon that WWX hid so much of his power and skill from everyone as to not rock the boat. JYL rolls into her brothers rooms, sees the hurt that has been allowed to fester for to long and just decides it’s her turn to go feral. So now I present the idea of a coup. JYL points at the Sect and says I want it and her brothers go whole or in pieces? Now I don’t think any of the siblings is cold enough to kill JFM or YZY so I’m more leaning more towards talisman master over there creating a Jiāng version of Lan forced seclusion. Think about this would put canon in a blender and just shred it. We have Sect leader JYL, her co leader/Heir JC and their brother/Head disciple WWX. Think about WWX allowed to make the Jiāng a talisman powerhouse. Think about how a strengthened, united three person leadership which is really just JYL telling her brothers what to do and them doing it cheerfully. Everyone is validated, there isn’t constant fighting and money is rolling in from the talisman sales. The Jiāng all of a sudden are rising like someone strapped a rocket onto their ass. Let’s be honest the Lan are traditionalists who will swiftly be left in the dust by galaxy-for-a-brainWWX! Who invents like some people breathe. The Jin hold power by riches and let’s point again at our resident genius talisman master who rolls out the flags and compass. The Jiāng are getting richer by the second. The Nie are powerhouses and we have JC and WWX who are ridiculous and almost evenly matched. Lotus disciples are melee masters and going against one now makes a lot of people want to cry because Head Disciple WWX is going to drag his shidis into excellence one way or the other. JC is laughing on the sidelines because how do you think he got so powerful huh and let’s be real our angry grape loves watching people suffer. All of a sudden the Wen conquest doesn’t look to realistic anymore. Then WWX meets WN and WQ and decides to impulse adopt them and their entire branch. Then the Jiāng are now also the medical center of the Sects? Watch out Wens you’ve just lost the top spot to three teenagers two of which are really just following their beloved sisters lead. All I’m saying is JYL ruling the Cultivation World with her brothers cheerfully giving her whatever she wants while she can finally pamper them as she pleases. You want the horrible peacock? Fine buts he’s marrying in. Hey little brother you’re drooling over WQ huh? There is much mocking from single WWX towards his siblings. For awhile WWX is the only unmarried Lotus Pier sibling and boy is he hunted. Everyone is tripping over themselves to lock down the most eligible bachelor who is handsome and rich. And then WWX meets his LZ and how the tables have turned brother dear? Let’s just say the Lans are going to lose that fight before it even begins. LWJ is going to perish at their first meeting. Somehow this ends up a trend where the Jiāng end up pretty much never marrying out. Wow this got away from me but I now offer you this vision!

[coolshadowtwins]

The next step on my MDZS Pokémon au, with part 1 being here, we’re going back in time from the Juniors!

Rules that I mentioned- 1) Everyone has a team of three. 2) their started is the equivalent to their sword, and has their swords name. If they have a second, named weapon, then a second Pokémon has a name. Let’s go!

So the Pokémon protagonists that we will be following are, *Drum roll 🥁🥁🥁*

Yep! It’s Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian!

So the story starts out with them only having an Eevee each. All three siblings got an Eevee, as the family got the eggs from JFM’s own Vaporeon.

The Jiangs own the water gym in the region, except JFM is also an elite four. So when the tournament season starts, and JFM can’t take gym challengers and instead has to take elite four challengers, who would man the gym?

The answer is Madam Yu. But her main team is not primarily water based, so she has to use gym Pokémon to match her husbands theme, which she hates. (I don’t have her drawn yet, so when I do, I’ll post her) She wants JC to take over, but he can’t with just an Eevee. So, it’s time for his Pokémon journey!

JC just wants to do his family proud, and get water types to take over the gym. He’s fully expecting to evolve his Eevee into a vaporeon. I had a little trouble, debating what other Pokémon to give him that felt JC, and if you can think of something better, please tell me! But I ended up going with Feebas, because I can only imagining him trying to fish up a Magikarp to get a gyarados (after probably episodes and episodes of trying and failing to get a water type) only to get a Feebas. And through ~shenanigans~ he has to keep the ugly, weak fish.

Of course, he doesn’t really know what it evolves into. Imagine his surprise later…. (I have a separate, older JC drawn up to show later)

I gave him a lotad, because you’re fighting a angry looking trainer that sends out a Ludicolo is hilarious to me. I don’t have an image of how he got that Pokémon, or when, but I do think it’s his last.

Now to WWX.

He got his Eevee, Suiban, at the same time as JC, when they are 10~ just a little after coming to live with the Jiangs. Side note here- I have no idea how his dog phobia works here. Is it a specific dog? Is it just dog Pokémon? I said before that Yiling is the graveyard town of the region, so maybe he’s just scared of Greavard. He was still on the streets after losing his parents, just like canon.

I think Zorua is his last Pokémon. I gave him that one purely because I felt it fit his vibes. I think he gets Drifloon when they pass through Yiling, to challenge the gym there. He actually had this Pokémon as a kid, and it got left in Yiling because it wasn’t in a ball. So when it saw WWX again, it just started following him again. I gave him Drifloon because of the Pokédex entries saying how it steals children! I felt that it was horrifying enough to work! JFM comes to find his dead friends child, only to find him living on the streets, with a Drifloon following him? Horrifying.

I think he gets his Drifloon before JC gets anymore Pokémon. Maybe he even gets his Zoroa before JC gets anymore Pokémon. This makes JC that much more desperate to catch something, leading to his fumble with the fishing.

I also don’t know which Pokémon gets to be Chenqing. I feel like, being the one got in Yiling, it should be Drifloon. But I think Zorua would be the ‘feared’ equivalent to the demonic cultivation. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Another thing that I imagine for WWX is that he had expected to take over the gym when JC, in the future, started completely taking over for his dad- gym and elite four. Like Madam Yu is doing. He fully expects to evolve his Eevee into a vaporeon as well, and had expected to get a team of water types to match. JC is not that happy when he ends the journey with the team that he has!

But it’s fine, right? He’ll just used borrowed Pokémon like Madam Yu does, and it’ll be no problem!

I was going to add a third to this post, but it got long! So I’ll add it in the next one!

Next time! The boys first gym battle, with (reminder) only an Eevee each!

[sanduchengjiu]

I think I’ve realized why wwx is so jiang cheng’s tears-phobic. He lowkey internalized that Jiang cheng is just like his mom into the sense that Jiang cheng’s bad moods are compartmentalized in the part of wwx’s brain that kept all the anger and vitriol yzy had for him. I think a part of him thinks that jc’s anger is somehow going to be turned against him in the way yzy’s was, even though most times jc was justified in his anger, in wwx’s perspective that anger is something to be avoided. It’s a big part of why I think wwx acted so fast in finding a solution to the golden core situation, even at the expense of his own life. He was made to feel (by yzy) that he owed her a life debt for the simple act of saving him and taking him in. Every privilege that he enjoyed was turned on its head and spit back out at him and his whole life he felt like he was bidding his time until yzy got sick of him enough to do something about it. On the other hand jc could not understand why wwx was so eager to leave, he saw him as a brother the minute he got over his dogs being taken away and went to find wwx. Jc does not see their relationship as so transactional as wwx does, so his anger towards wwx is that of a family member towards another. But since anger had been weaponized against wwx so much as a child (and jc too but his situation was different obv) he feels an obligation to either solve the problem right away , or distance himself from jc and his feelings. He doesn’t think that jc cherished him enough to handle his feelings and have an equal back and forth relationship with him, when obv that’s not true. Its also why wwx was so happy go lucky all the time, I’m sure him and jc had their moments when wwx felt frustrated or angry but we never really see those feelings resurface that much. He was so drawn to working with resentment bc he has a pool full of it inside him. I honesty do like that wwx is so positive but you can’t deny the fact that his trauma is something intense and it informs his relationships with all the other characters including lwj. Instead of assuming that lwj wanted to help him (which was true) he went with the narrative that someone as righteous as lwj would not want anything to do with him, going so far as to believe it even when told otherwise.

[trans-xianxian]

hmm top five jc and wwx scenes? ten if you want but if that's too many, pretend I just said five

OOOOOOOHH I will do ten because I am insane. these aren't in any particular order because how could I rank them

wei wuxians last words being jiang chengs name. I can never and will never be normal about this

when they get back from their yin iron hunting adventure and are kneeling in the throne room waiting for jiang fengmian to come and scold them and wei wuxian is scratching jiang chengs shoulder sooo tenderly and they have their "what did I do in a past life to be cursed with a brother like you?" "in our next lives, let's be brothers again" exchange. something so tender about in the moment something so devastating in retrospect

when jiang cheng kneels in front of his mother and Tells her to stop hitting wei wuxian with zidian... a heartbreaking selfless act of love to disrespect his mother and put himself in harms way but also an interesting look into how and when jiang cheng decides that things are wei wuxians fault

in xuanwu cave then jiang cheng has to be Dragged Out Screaming in order to leave wei wuxian behind. makes me feel some type of way

I'm cheating here by combining several different moments from the same sequence into one list item but well I get to make the rules. but anyway when jiang cheng wakes up after his core is taken and wei wuxian sees him looking at the scars on his chest and is like don't worry I'll find a way to erase them. and then jiang cheng hits him and he's like if that's what makes you feel better you can hit me again. just the way that wei wuxian would do Anything to make jiang cheng feel better anything to see him smile. and then later when wei wuxian decides that he really Would do anything to take jiang chengs pain away and he's making him eat all his food, piling more into his bowl, before telling him anything about how they'll "get his core back" and jiang cheng in his frenzy and his trust eats his food with his chopsticks upside down. imagine I've said all of this in one breath shaking like a chihuahua

THE HUG ough I always forget how emotional it makes me until I see it again... "I was worried about you these three months" 🤧

the little flashback where baby yunmeng bros are holding hands and playing with each other.... absolute insanity

AAAAAHHGHHHBFDD when jiang cheng comes to the burial mounds. and wei wuxian tries to take his hand to lead him around but jiang cheng will not follow. and there are little moments that are Almost normal because affection comes so naturally but also because you can tell that wei wuxian is trying So Hard to make it seem like everything is okay, like it's all still the same. wei wuxian saying that yiling and yunmeng are close and he can visit whenever he likes, and jiang cheng telling him to stop being foolish. "no precedent? I'll be the precedent!" "wei wuxian, do you have to make me spell it out? if you keep protecting them, I won't be able to protect you". their whole conversation in the cave - jiang cheng full of concern, not even angry, trying to get wei wuxian to make the safe and easy choice, the one that will keep them together, wei wuxian, who Always carries the burden, trying his hardest to protect jiang cheng and their sect while still doing what he knows is right but never letting jiang cheng see even a drop of his pain and his heartbreak. "you are asking for the moon again". how they're both sort of just in disbelief of the other person as they agree to the fight

waaahg when they're goofing around about the soup with jiang yanli at lotus pier after jiang cheng eavesdrops on their conversation... soooo siblings and the last little bit of light and innocence before it all falls apart 👍

and last but most certainly not least goes to the entirety of their interaction in guanyin temple. jiang chengs childish rage, the way wei wuxian just sits there and takes it, "why didn't you tell me!" "because I didn't want to see you like this", wei wuxian wiping away jiang chengs tears, the way that throughout their entire conversation until that point you can see wei wuxian almost reach out to touch jiang cheng several times before clenching his fingers again, the fact that even tho they reveal secrets and give apologies and explanations it is Not all said and done, their relationship, realistically, is not fixed with a single conversation, there is still work to do but you know that it will be done

honorable mention to "take care" followed by The Flashback... technically the scene is About yunmeng bros but they aren't actually interacting so I didn't include it in the main list. something about the seed of their reconciliation being planted by jiang cheng committing the truly selfless act of letting wei wuxian go. the way that it would have been so easy and so in character for jiang cheng to reveal the monumental secret of his own sacrifice, to hold it against wei wuxian, just one more thing he believes he is owed, but in a moment of growth all jiang cheng wants is for wei wuxian to be well. okay.

[incarnadinedreams]

What do you think about jc and wwx's relationship? And how sometimes it seems like wwx is not very kind(?) thinking about jc? I don't perceive him having a good opinion about jc (as he does with wn and lwj that he praises)

Oh, this is a tricky one for me! Thanks for the ask, it sparked a lot of thinking... probably too much, oops... and sorry it took so long to reply, there was a small tornado over the weekend so I've been busy picking up the yard for the last couple days...

I definitely agree that's the overall vibe. It's tough because I go back and forth on this and can probably be swayed in different directions depending on my mood or if I read a persuasive argument or something. (And if anyone has any thoughts on the topic I definitely welcome commentary or different perspectives! It's an interesting topic with a lot of different angles to explore, I think.) Or rather what I think the cause of it is, because I agree that he doesn't think of him in particularly nice ways, especially post-resurrection.

Because of the framing of the story, it's a little hard to tell if it's how he's thought about Jiang Cheng all along, or if it's his post-resurrection resentment coloring his recollections.

So then the question I waffle on is exactly how much of these opinions are from anger over everything that happened, how much stem from avoiding painful topics, and how much are from his ideas of Jiang Cheng that took root long before everything that happened? Or why not a little bit of all three!

(Cut for length. 'Challenge: Shut the Fuck Up and Have a Concise Point' has been a spectacular failure. Brevity is the soul of wit but these two make me stupid, so.)

As much as I do dearly love the most precious purple darling of my heart Jiang Cheng, from Wei Wuxian's perspective I can't really blame him for being at least a little bit peeved! There was a siege, after all, and it's not like Jiang Cheng is exactly nice to him either in the present timeline. So there's some 'turnabout is fair play' involved there. I might think he's simply objectively wrong in some of his evaluations of Jiang Cheng, but from an emotional perspective it makes sense and is probably on the mild side, all things considered.

In some ways, I think Wei Wuxian is somewhat invested in the idea of being someone that lets anything and everything go. Partially because it's true that he really does let go of a lot, perhaps to the point where the line is between a healthy amount of letting go and plain avoidance could be called into question, but also because it's what Jiang Yanli told him that's what he was like:

Jiang YanLi said that he was born with a smiling look. No matter what unfortunate thing happened, he wouldn't cling on to them; no matter what situation he was in, he would be happy.

-- Ch. 24, ExR translation

To some extent I think he wants to live up to that, to still be who his shijie said he is, back before everything horrible happened and he was trapped in a downward spiral. So he tries to suppress the greater part of both his anger and resentment, but it still sort of... leaks out, in all those small comments.

In some ways they're mirror opposites of each other: Jiang Cheng is aggressively bitter and angry to suppress how much he still cares about Wei Wuxian, and Wei Wuxian is comparatively civil and pleasant, considering the circumstances, to suppress the genuine pain and anger he feels.

And in some way, that response - the muted sort of civility - sets Jiang Cheng off even more, because it plays so strongly into his fears and insecurities that he cares more about Wei Wuxian than Wei Wuxian cares about him. The way their personalities and coping mechanisms and miscommunications all compound and echo off each other and create this awful swirling chasm between them is tragic but also rings so painfully true.

I think their first big confrontation after Jiang Cheng knows for sure that he was right, that it's really Wei Wuxian - in the inn after Jiang Cheng 'borrows' Fairy - really encapsulates that dynamic between them.

Although his face had always been clouded, marked with arrogance and satire, it seemed as if every corner of it had come alive. It was difficult to determine whether it was vengeful wrath, fathomless hatred, or raving ecstasy.

-- Ch. 23. Love or hate, that's... a lot of feelings going on right there on Jiang Cheng's side. And then (from his perspective) he gets a whole lot of bland nothing back.

For a moment, no one spoke a word. The cup of tea was still steaming hot. Without having a single sip of it, he hurled it onto the ground. Jiang Cheng pulled a curt smile on his face, "... Don't you have anything to say to me?" […] With a sincere tone, Wei WuXian replied: "I don't know what to say to you." Jiang Cheng whispered: "You really don't learn, do you?"

And then to add insult to injury, later in the scene what finally provokes a real response from Wei Wuxian is insulting Lan Wangji.

If I had to take a stab at it, I'd probably say that Jiang Cheng's terrible reaction to non-reactions probably has something to do with his father's vague non-confrontational disappointment and general apathy, on top of just being infuriating in general.

But it's the scene in ch. 32 where the random children are playing out the Sunshot campaign where we see that Wei Wuxian's really not so unbothered about what happened between them at all:

"Jiang Cheng", "Hmph, I can't be better than you? Do you remember how you died?" The light smile on Wei WuXian's face dissipated at once. It was as if he had suddenly been pricked by a poisonous needle. A faint, sharp pain came from all around his body.

Even though it's the situation as seen through third parties who only having rumors to go off of (and the novel reminds us over and over again how accurate that is, even following up in later chapters to have Wei Wuxian clarify), it's obvious that being reminded of the general situation actually is pretty painful for him even if the details aren't particularly accurate. It takes him by surprise and hits where it hurts.

I think this whole pattern between the two of them plays heavily into the lead-up to the Ancestral Hall confrontation, actually - which is also where Wei Wuxian's sourness and dismissiveness is at its peak, and so is Jiang Cheng's fury and bitterness at Wei Wuxian's flippant attitude.

From Jiang Cheng's perspective, he's having just how little Wei Wuxian cares about him shoved in his face right after he'd just been prepared to do something that looks vaguely like dying for him at the Second Siege. Meanwhile, I'm pretty sure Wei Wuxian doesn't know any of that preparing-to-sacrifice-himself stuff even happened, since he was a little busy turning himself into bait with spirit lure flags and all.

So, as usual, everything is horribly amplified by all the things each of them doesn't know about the other. All the things they don't know they don't know come to a head.

Unfortunately only Jiang Cheng comes out of that Ancestral Hall really knowing anything that he didn't know before.

For most of the novel, there's also just... less that he knows about Wen Ning and Lan Wangji. There's so much less baggage, less intensity.

Wen Ning, bless him, Wei Wuxian only knew as a living person for one afternoon at an archery tournament and then for three days at the Supervisory Office in Yiling. (Well, plus the time spent on the mountain for the golden core transfer but I don't think they were sitting around chatting over a nice cup of tea for that.) Of course some of what Wen Ning does really does deserve praise - he did help them at great personal danger to himself. But does Wei Wuxian even really know him? Wen Ning's suppressed resentment in life becomes a powerful tool for Wei Wuxian later, but how much does he really know about his hopes and fears and dreams? A significant chunk of time in the Burial Mounds is spent with no consciousness on Wen Ning's part, and once he regains consciousness there's still this sort of... lingering weird vibe with them until the very end of the novel when Wen Ning becomes more independent. There's genuine friendship, but there's also a sort of avoidance of ever really touching the topic of how Wen Ning feels about being used as his weapon, about being raised as a fierce corpse, about the possibility of being controlled by him, about the decisions Wei Wuxian made for him.

Wen Ning is also just... easy to like. He's sweet and polite -- and he never really pushes back or questions Wei Wuxian's decisions or hits him where it hurts the way Jiang Cheng does.

All he really knows about Lan Wangji for a good chunk of the novel is that he's the goody-two-shoes Lan from summer camp who condemns evil or whatever. Obviously that perception changes drastically throughout the story as more information is revealed and misunderstandings from the past are corrected, but he'd never really had any expectations in his past life for LWJ, and so it left far less room for disappointment, since he didn't realize how LWJ really felt. So what's not to praise?

Of course from a more meta standpoint LWJ is frequently used as a direct contrast to Jiang Cheng, often in ways that are intentionally deceptive on MXTX's part in service to the overall goal of trickle-truthing us about Jiang Cheng over the course of the novel. The setup is constantly reframing his character with tidbits of new information. For example the way Wei Wuxian reacts when seeing Lan Wangji's discipline whip scars in ch. 11 is clearly meant to lead us to believe Jiang Cheng committed some horrible transgression to recieve his own discipline whip scar... and then we find out actually it was from Wen Chao torturing him after the fall of the Jiang sect, because he foolishly, impulsively rushed back to recover his parents' bodies from Lotus Pier, forcing his long-suffering shixiong to sacrifice his own core... except oh wait, that's not what happened at all, except Wei Wuxian doesn't know that last part. So some of the early comparisons I think were also meant to serve that purpose.

But in terms of how Wei Wuxian uses this sort of dismissiveness to avoid confronting how much he's really lost, I think the way he regards Lotus Pier itself is pretty telling:

Although he had always dreamed of returning to Lotus Pier once more, he didn't want to go back to the tattered one nowadays!

Because isn't it just easier to think about how it's not that great anyway, so who cares if you've lost it?

[truly-morgan]

[Gym training, oblivious JC]

MingCheng | Mo Dao Zu Shi Modern AU 07-06-2021

[#mingcheng modern, gym]

I know a common hc for jc is him going to the gym and loving it, but hear me out: JC who doesn't like going to the gym. He doesn't mind training (after all, he trains often with the swimming team of his college), doesn't mind a run from time to time to let so stream out. But Gym? Nope.

But he is somewhat forced to go, with how insistent his mother can get about it “You must stay fit, or do you want to be like your father? Out of shape at 4x y/o?”. Not to help, swimming is /one/ of the things jc is better than wwx at and she wants it to stay like this, so she said he should train more for this reason.

So jc does get a subscription to a gym near his college (“It's owned by my family, I can get you a better price” said nhs with a large smile). And so jc goes to the gym, but really he cannot get to like it. Getting all sweaty around other people getting all sweaty isn't really his thing (and you will never catch him using any of the machines without washing his place first).

He's also too self-conscious about other people's opinions and he feels like everyone is looking at him and judging him if he does something wrong or if he doesn't do enough set or if he doesn't look as fit as others or if h-

jc has no problem training in the pool, once he's in the water he can easily forget about everyone and everything around him. He doesn't see others, doesn't hear them, doesn't see them look at him. He's also not very good at making a workout schedule that works correctly (but he also doesn't exactly take it 100% seriously so...).

Yzy got angry when she went with him once and saw how unorganised he was in his training (“How can you be so unorganised when you are the contrary for school and swimming?”). He even nearly got himself hurt (but he was distracted by her scolding).

So yzy makes sure jc has one of the best personal trainers the gym has, which is actually the eldest son of the owner, nie mingjue. Jc is a bit intimidated by nmj because the man looks a bit fierce and strong enough that he could snap him in half like a twig if he even fucks up something in his training. Jc couldn't be considered skinny or small & has his share of muscle, but compared to nmj he looks small.

He is a bit surprised by how patient nmj actually is despite his looks, explaining the training sheet & schedule and why the exercise he suggests could help his swimming. He shows him own the use each workout machine he would need to use since he never had anyone explain it to him (jc also realise he had been using some of them wrong, he's lucky to not have hurt himself!).

Slowly jc gets more comfortable around nmj and also a bit more comfortable at the gym (nmj did suggest coming early or late since there are fewer people at these hours). He likes how the man will make sure he does the exercise right before letting him alone, how he praises him when he attains all his objectives, how he cheers him up a bit if he doesn't, how he also encourages him when he does his sets so he can finish them.

These praises make him blush and he thanks his pale skin for flushing a bit when training, so it can hide his blushing. Jc quickly grows a crush on the man and he tries to ignore it, nmj is only trying to do his job after all. But he finds they have nice chemistry and so he tries to flirt discreetly (which is not as discreet as he thinks it is, nor are his staring at nmj train somewhere else in the gym. Maybe he shouldn't listen too much to wwx advice).

Nmj does flirt back, but it often flies right over jc's head as he thinks he's simply joking with him. He does suspect sometimes that it is flirting, but then manages to convince him otherwise (“nmj must have better taste than this, he's simply being nice to me).

But on the other side, nmj /does/ like him and would like to flirt more openly, but jc doesn't always seem receptive to his flirting. (“I don't think flirting with a client is a good idea” admit lxc, “He must be really dense if he doesn't understand your obvious attempt at flirting” comment jgy). Nmj knows he cannot go too far, toeing the line of what is and isn't professional.

When their contract finally comes to an end they have already grown a bit closer, as they often talked a bit more than needed and often went on subjects that were sometimes more personal. Jc is a bit sad when nmj mentions he might not need his help anymore since he can keep it up like this way to keep the good shape he has right now (really he just wants to cut the professional/client relationship).

Jc is sure this means he won't be able to see nmj as much as he does.

“Would you like to go out for diner tonight?” he hears nmj ask.

“What?” jc asks after a moment, stunned by the question.

“I am asking you on a date,” nmj says more clearly, smiling when he sees jc blush (he can nearly hear in jgy voice, “I told you he was dense, you must be direct”)

of course, jc accepts and not long after they start dating. Jc still goes to the gym with nmj, but this time it isn't for a personal trainer, but to join his boyfriend in his training.

Finally, maybe going to the gym isn't /that/ bad.

(does it show I know fuck all about personal trainers and gyms jabfjb)

also, I just want to imagine the “first-time” nmj present jc to his two friends:

jgy: wait... aren't you the brother of jzx wife? Nmj: you know him?!? lxc: jc? Nmj: you too!? Lxc: he's the brother of lz's boyfriend nmj: !!!

Original

[runespoor7]

Re: chengxian cis!girl au, what do you think would change socially/politically/ect if Jiang Cheng was afab!guy ?

It would really depend on how/when the social transition happened! And how you decide the Jianghu is wrt trans guys. I largely err on the side of “idk, I don't feel like it would change much provided JC doesn't come out/transition socially while JGS is running the show.”

Still not really what you asked for, but here's a couple things I think this would mean for JC and his self image and his relationship with WWX:

In a world where the Jiang parents hide JC’s sex at birth (maybe YZY had a hard enough pregnancy etc that another try isn't an option, and they already think JYL will be unfit as a sect leader, so they decide to announce JC is a boy and raise him as such), it doesn't change much of anything on that scale. JC has a very bad time when sequestered in LP and WQ promptly doses him with abortives, but that’s largely it.

If JC doesn't transition as a child, I think a good moment for it would be Sunshot. It’s a messy, chaotic time, the jianghu is in upheaval, JC is the Jiang authority, I don't think anyone’s going to find the time and energy to police too strenuously his claim that where the younger Jiang daughter died a Jiang son lives. (You know, it'd be cool if one of the reasons why WWX defaults to calling him JC in that world is bc JC doesn't like his courtesy name.)

I don't thiiiiiink WWX would necessarily be super cool with coming back and finding JC recognized as a dude even if he’s known for years that JC’s a dude. This is mostly because post-being-thrown-in-the-BM WWX is horribly not okay. Everything that’s different from what it was before grates. Also, this specific thing, I think it hits WWX right in the toxic masculinity/cultivationship/sth-sth: it’s like JC decided to be his own protector, it’s like– it’s like an acknowledgement or an announcement that WWX isn't there anymore, that the brilliant head disciple of the Jiang is no more. WWX isn't enough. And WWX feels it like that because that’s what’s going on, he is no longer the person he was and he can't fulfill his duty to JC like he was meant to and he will never again be able to. (I wonder. Would this WWX look for WQ at some point. Would he try to convince her to give him a core, any core. He fantasizes about it, that's for sure.)

If JC doesn't transition socially during Sunshot, I think he’s stuck being understood to be a woman for a good while. Maybe he can transition at some point after JGS’s death but before WWX’s return? Would he, though? He’s not exactly someone who loves to rock the boat.

Wouldn't it be something if when WWX returns JC is out as a man, though. Wouldn't that occupy WWX’s thoughts a lot! (Maybe would fuel his unavowed resentment. Oh, so JC can fight against social norms after all.) I'm not sure when/how it works but WWX being flummoxed would make it a good fic.

Or maybe he transitions after canon. The other two great sects are in disarray, the Nie are… whatever’s going there, people have decided to blame JGY instead of WWX, up is down, might as well. Now's a good time. Now is the time. JC is no longer a frightened youth, he's a powerful adult that no-one wants to have angry at them. (And, as well: WWX and LWJ have confessed their love and have married. Is it such a reach that JC would take advantage of that?)

In both last two cases I’m not sure WWX knew about JC being a guy; I don't think JC did. JC didn't conceptualize it that way. It took him a long time to arrange the pieces.

In both cases - JC being a guy after WWX’s death - I think it reframes his relationship to WWX in his mind. Surely that was the root of both his resentment and his love. He loved WWX because he was a girl and he resented WWX because he wanted to be WWX (cool and strong and a boy). He’s not actually in love with WWX.

WWX’s confession to LWJ is also a lot here. (let JC tell himself that men can't like men like that, WWX!!)

[miixz]

🔥Unpopular opinion on certain ships that I won't name in mdzs that are just super silly?

Just for you my dear I opened ao3 to look at what the popular ships that aren't wangxian (♥) are so I can chat about the one's I think are silly. I don't have any specifically strong opinions so I'm just going to ramble about all of them on a list.

Xicheng: I only find this one fun if LXC rejects JC in the end. I think the whole idea that JC wants to be something with LXC has potential, even with his canon homophobia I think someone could sell that much if they wrote it well, but LXC ever reciprocating anything just feels inherently OOC to me, especially given what JC's relationship with WangXian is like.

XiYao: I also don't see it, but I could enjoy it if it was a horror story or something deeply fucked up. Not my thing, I see why it exists though, at least these two have a close relationship.

SangCheng: Nope. JC is too much angry and too much effort for poor NHS, let him live happily being the lazy young master he wants to be, managing JC's emotions is liiiike a full time job.

XuanLi: I get it and I will write it for the purposes of Jin Ling, but also I think JYL is too good for JZX.

XueXiao: doesn't have any right being above SongXiao unless all of this is horror fic writing. D:

SongXiao: good boys, not super attached, but go them! I hope they can surpass XueXiao one day.

ChengXian: ew ew ew. Cursed, WWX would never.

NieLan: eeehhhhhh I get why it exists, LXC deserves better though.

So there you go, I hope at least one or two of those opinions countes as unpopular cause I have no idea anymore.

[llycaons]

ep48 (1/3): thank fucking god jc and wwx are finally talking it out

this was sweet. when does lwj ever defend someone to wwx rather than vice versa? but he dutifully reports than wen ning didn't do this happily

wwx rolling his eyes like 'oh GOD here we go again'

okay okay but I am so excited for this because I truly believe this is jc's absolutely best scene best monologue best interaction with wwx in the SHOW. finally everything coming to light! finally communication! finally a solid closure to the rage and grief that has torn them apart! but first it displays all of jc's issues and problems so so clearly

and it start off with jc bitterly praising wwx for being such a saint. which I really enjoy on a writing level, because it's very self-aware. it's easy as a reader to think that jc should bow down in gratitude, but jc as a character has a lot of pride and judges things very differently - he's a living, breathing, thinking character who has his own beliefs, principles, grudges, and motivations

I don't even know how to describe this. mocking praise? it's very characteristic of jc of this arc. sarcastic, insecure, and bitter, keenly aware of wwx's achievements and virtues and resenting him for them. idk what he wants wwx to do...obviously he's not thinking rationally but wwx can't help being good at stuff

he's making wwx entirely responsible for his feelings. not even 'you did this and I felt this way' but 'you are this way and I'm different and it's your fault that I'm not as good'

not even forgiving the debt owed from all those decades ago, even knowing the truth! he also has a big victim complex - even when wwx was being disrespected and even abused in ways jc wasn't, he still remembers it the way it'll suit his needs. no capacity to consider wwx's troubles or suffering. absolutely no emotional imagination. not that being low-empathy makes you a bad person, but the way he acted has never been part of a healthy relationship w wwx

this moment captures him SO well. while castigating wwx about jin ling, jin ling himself tries to reach out - to comfort or dissuade. and jc throws him off, impatient and angry and entirely focused on the object of his revenge rather than the living child he claims to be trying to protect, the child who's right there asking for his attention

this also feels very self-aware of the writing. almost...lampshading? not the right term. it feels fair and right that one major character close to wwx, and sympathetic despite his behavior, is holding wwx to task for this. I am obviously on wwx's side, but it makes sense than people would be upset but what happened and it feels very honest to allow jc this bitterness and anger rather than forcing everyone in the story to immediately forgive and love him. it adds texture and complexity to the characters and the world, and it makes actions like lwj's more significant. jc was never going to be the partner wwx needed, and that's extremely important to the story

another fair accusation. on the other hand it was pretty clear wwx was majorly depressed after the war and while jc might have been angry with him for drinking, he only responded with punishment instead of, idk, compassion for the other sibling who lost his entire home and family? jc didn't talk to wwx either

I read this as jc angry with himself for not being able to truly hate wwx, and blaming wwx himself for...not being hateable? it's very convoluted. jc needs so much therapy

CLOWN MOMENT

wwx touching lwj's hand to prevent him from jumping to wwx's defense, jl interpreting lwj leaning forward as him about to attack, and jc tearfully saying "I can take him!! you think I'm scared of him?" a lot going on here

oof. ough

there it is 😭 circumstances of the past aside, I'm glad they made it this point

...is that a smile? I can't even tell I swear

and NOW he's calling HIMSELF pathetic for even caring that much. my guy I think easing off on being judgemental towards yourself and your loved ones might help

JIANG CHENG APOLOGY EVENT CATCH IT ONCE EVERY TWENTY YEARS 🎇🎉🎈🎁

I can't tell if this is putting distance between jc and wwx (bc wwx is saying he did it as payment) or bringing them closer (bc wwx is saying there's no need for jc to regret or agonize over the past anymore)

I forgot how satisfying this scene was. wwx went through so many trials and despite the residual trauma, he really feels like he's able to move on. and that can include jc too

🥺🥺🥺

I believe in yunmeng sibling reconciliation!!! this was a really hopeful and honest and cathartic discussion and I feel really good about their future relationship. I get caught up in the scenes before this and I just a lot of jc fic writers on it, but after this scene I can def see their dynamic becoming much less antagonistic. wwx isn't joking about his pain or making excuses for jc or talking about how much he likes to be mistreated - he's gentle and honest and real. and he wants to move on. finally. finally they got there

[sentienceisoverrated]

Thank you for that MDZS post! It was a breath of fresh air!

MDZS tumblr has its own sects dedicated to different characters. They all have each other blocked but they also can't stop making snide comments about each other... and I'm here like... I wanted to discuss MDZS and read impassioned meta,not RP inter-sect conflicts??

You're so right about the fact that these characters are put in impossible situations,on purpose. That is the joy of the story! The Jiang Cheng & Wei Wuxian relationship can't be fixed and it's meant to be that way and to hurt. On some days I relate to Jiang Cheng,who did his duty and rebuilt his clan,but betrayed his life debt to the Wens and WWX(he should not have done that!!). And on other days I relate to Wei Wuxian,who followed his principles and protected the Wen remnants at the cost of everything else,but also who tricked and lied to his brother by giving him a core he never asked for(he should not have done that!!). I can get angry on behalf of each of them. But I can also resent each of them. Which other story will fill me up so well with so many various conflicting emotions? Is that not why we're reading or consuming media? To feel?

Instead this place is like a sports competition now. Team JC or Team WWX or Team JGY. There is no fun in that.

Thank you anon!

I joined this fandom a few months ago after watching The Untamed and honestly I thought I was missing something with all those posts. After watching the animation and reading the books, I was even more confused.

People tend to pick favourites and defend them at all costs, and with a story like mdzs, I guess that also means hating on the characters that hurt them (which is literally every character). It bothered me, because when people hate others they often look past the things they can’t control, and after seeing so many of those posts, I just felt the need to raise a neutral stance.

You’re right, Tumblr does seem to have its own sects, but I’m glad someone out there agrees with me. ^.^

[annalacerda17]

WWX and JC's relationship was never brotherly. Being members of the same sect who studied under the same master doesn't make them brothers, and they never saw each other as such.

JC saw WWX as a servant who grew up with him, but who was inherently inferior due to his social position, and was jealous that despite this WWX outshone him in every single way possible.

WWX also saw himself as a sort of servant of the Jiang sect. He never looked down on himself for it since he doesn't think social status has anything to do with a person's value, and never let it stop him from doing what he believed was right, which put him at odds with JC, who had no morals. I'd argue that even before the SSC their friendship was somewhat shallow. The impression I get from the novel is that their pre SSC relationship is basically WWX enjoying himself despite JC's negativity and JC following WWX around feeling jealous and spouting negativity. WWX never seems to enjoy JC's company itself, and even when he's happy and JC's around, the reason he's happy is not JC's company. We never see WWX and JC having any deep and meaningful conversation unless it's a moral dispute that they inevitably end on opposite sides of.

WWX and JC have opposite moral values. In the novel WWX only shows interest in befriending people with similar moral values to his own. Sure, he can get along with most people so long as they aren't downright despicable, but the people he shows explicit interest in befriending are LWJ, Wen Ning and XXC. More importantly, their moral righteousness is stated as the main reason WWX wanted to befriend both LWJ and XXC, and the Wen siblings, whom WWX a close friendship with are also people whose actions in the novel show their moral righteousness.

Every other character we meet that has a personality and morals similar to JC's are characters WWX either has no interest in befriending, has some sort of conflict with after which he forgets their existence, or is at odds with. I'm talking about Su She, JZXun, JGY, XY and WC. I also think it's worth noting that after the GC transfer (when WWX no longer feels indebted towards the Jiangs) WWX's attitude towards JC starts to become less and less appeasing, culminating in his leaving the Jiang sect after JC refuses to repay his life debt to the Wens. Now, there were extenuating circumstances there, and I don't think WWX realizes exactly how hostile JC is towards him at this point, since WWX still considers the years they grew up together, but I also think he no longer has the patience to coddle JC like the baby he isn't. While I don't think that without the whole prison camps situation he'd have left the Jiang sect at that point in time, I think it's inevitable that he'd have left eventually (independently from his relationship with LWJ and eventual marriage).

Post SSC, JC was very jealous of WWX's power and the attention he was getting, and JC's attitude towards WWX started to become more and more hostile and angry. JC wasn't the kind of leader capable of earning WWX's respect, since JC was ineffective, supported morally corrupt causes for personal gain and was outright stupid (evidenced by the fact the he threw away his biggest supporter and the backbone of his sect, WWX, due to having his jealousy provoked by JGS and his cohort). At the same time, there was no more debt tying WWX to the Jiang sect and JC in particular. WWX, as a morally upright man, was bound to break away from JC soon no matter how you look at it.

WWX has a much closer relationship with Wen Ning, whose company he genuinely enjoys and whose values he shares. Wen Ning also reciprocates WWX's friendship. The 2 of them help each other and stand up for each other. Wen Ning is genuinely happy for WWX and LWJ, since he values WWX's happiness. Unlike JC, who is a homophobic asshole and reacts to wangxian with violence and anger. So, really. If anyone in the novel can be called WWX's little brother that person can only be Wen Ning.

[robininthelabyrinth]

Prompt: what if jc was lxc's age (and jyl maybe 2 or 3 years older) and wwx was lwj's/nhs' age when he was brought to lotus pier? (Or anything that involves a much bigger age gap bw the jiang sibs and wwx - where wwx is babey)

Untamed

“You know what,” Jiang Cheng said to his sister, who looked at him. “I’ve changed my mind. I’m not marrying a woman.”

Jiang Yanli’s lips started twitching uncontrollably and she hid her smile behind her sleeve. “Oh?”

“Nope. I’m going to marry Chifeng-zun.”

“On the basis of…?”

“If you take two adult men in charge of two Great Sects,” Jiang Cheng said, doing his utmost best to keep a straight face, “with all the power we can generate between us, we might – maybe – have a chance at disciplining our baby brothers.”

Jiang Yanli burst out laughing.

“There, there. It’s all right,” he said, grinning, reaching out to pat her on the shoulder. “You can join us if you’d like. There’s enough room in Qinghe for two wives.”

“We are not both running away to Qinghe,” she said, giggling. “A-Cheng!”

“What? I think it’s a great idea. If our parents want us back, they can negotiate with Chifeng-zun for it – may they have more luck than they had with the whole medicinal herb debacle.”

“A-Cheng, I am officially tabling this idea,” Jiang Yanli said, still snorting. “Older sibling privilege.”

“I let you out of the womb first as a matter of courtesy,” Jiang Cheng sniffed. “And now you use it against me? A-Li, how could you?”

“Call me jiejie! It doesn’t matter how much older, a few shichen or a few years, older is still older.”

“You probably elbowed me with those sharp pointy things you have on your arms. Weapons of war.”

“Older is older!” she sang. “Now tell me, what did A-Xian do this time?”

“Would you like it in chronological order, or in order of severity? I can also group it by theme, if you prefer.”

“Oh no,” Jiang Yanli said, covering her eyes. “Oh no.”

“And the chief-most theme,” Jiang Cheng said, continuing anyway, “is still called Lan Wangji.”

“Oh no!”

“He has the worst crush,” Jiang Cheng said, shaking his head with endless amusement. “And he just – refuses to admit it. ‘Nooooo, shixiong, we’re just friends, he can’t even stand me most of the time, he’s always trying to get me in trouble, but sometimes he lets me sit next to him and spend time with him and he’s so handsome and I really just want to make him laugh –’”

“We have,” Jiang Yanli said thoughtfully, “raised an idiot.”

“He was fine when we got him,” Jiang Cheng disagreed. “We have spoiled an idiot.”

“This is true. Maybe we should go form a mutual complaining society with Chifeng-zun; isn’t his little brother also an idiot?”

“Oh, you have no idea,” Jiang Cheng said. “Worse: they’ve teamed up. Nie Huaisang buys Wei Wuxian porn now.”

“Oh no…”

“In return for help cheating on his tests!”

“Oh no!”

“So that’s why I’m going to marry Chifeng-zun,” Jiang Cheng concluded. “Our parents may be disappointed by my decision, but with our powers combined, we might be able to save the world from our respective younger idiots.”

“Maybe,” she said, and shook her head. “A-Cheng – about our parents…”

Jiang Cheng shook his head as well, echoing her action but more in denial. It wasn’t anyone’s fault that she took after their father and he took after their mother, that she was born a shichen prior to midnight and he a shichen after and their personalities completely different as a result; it was no one’s fault that their parents didn’t get along, with their mother disdaining what she perceived as Jiang Yanli’s passiveness and lack of passion and their father despising Jiang Cheng’ prickly temper and difficulty communicating his affection without scolding.

It certainly wasn’t Wei Wuxian’s fault for being younger and more brilliant, talented at everything he did and with just the sort of personality their father liked best – the combination of his former best friend and the girl he’d once thought of marrying – and that he’d always made that preference very clear to everyone, even to their mother who often worried that her husband would dispossess her children in favor of his foundling and who lashed out at everyone in response.

That had hurt – hurt a lot, even, and Jiang Cheng was soft and sensitive underneath all his defensive layers, but any time he got angry over it he would look at Wei Wuxian, their little A-Xian, baby Xianxian, who adored his older siblings more than anything and was adored in return, and he forced himself to get over it. He was old enough, by the time Wei Wuxian arrived, to know to whom the blame really belonged.

“I spoke with Nie Huaisang while I was at the Cloud Recesses,” Jiang Cheng said in an undertone, one reserved just for his sister. “He’s asked me to pass along a message to his brother, the next time I go night-hunting, about the whole debacle – he’s so terribly apologetic, you understand, he couldn’t wait for the post – if we get to Qinghe by tomorrow, Chifeng-zun will be able to get to Gusu in time to intervene before our father does something wretched like cancel your engagement and take A-Xian home early from his studies.”

“The engagement I wouldn’t mind,” she remarked. “If Jin Zixuan feels so strongly about it that he’d get into a fistfight with A-Xian, it’s better not to marry, no matter what our mother might think. But on no account is A-Xian to be sent home early! He needs his education!”

Unsaid was everything else he needed, things he could get better at the Cloud Recesses than anywhere else.

“Then we go?”

“We go,” she agreed. Between the two of them, Jiang Cheng had more talent at cultivation, but she was steadier, even in her overall mediocrity: when the two of them flew on a sword together, they could make it much further and faster than anyone expected.

Qinghe wasn’t really close enough for a quick jaunt – they flew all night without stopping – but Chifeng-zun was amendable to their scheme, jumping at once onto his saber and making his way straight to Gusu. A waste of spiritual energy all around, really, but far faster than their father would move, with his Sect Leader’s dignity and retinue, rushing to the Cloud Recesses to save his precious little Wei Wuxian from having any connections in life that weren’t to the Jiang sect, and the Jiang sect alone. 

And never mind how much he needed those connections: needed to have friends his own age, needed to have more time with that crush of his, needed independence and freedom and everything the Jiang sect supposedly stood for - needed for them to support him and act as the foundation beneath his feet, rather than the chains tying him down to earth.

Chifeng-zun – who was only a few years older than they were – was really a very understanding person, getting the problem at once and immediately agreeing with their view on things. Perhaps there really was something to be said about the difference in generations…

“Let me show you to rooms where you can rest,” Chifeng-zun’s aide said, a slender young man with a polite smile on his face as he saluted. “I’ll arrange for refreshments as well.”

“We hate to trouble you, but in all honesty you are a lifesaver,” Jiang Yanli said to him warmly, and he unexpectedly flushed red at the cheeks. “A-Cheng, let’s follow this handsome young man and rest a while before we return to the Lotus Pier.”

The young man was blushing.

“What’s your name?” Jiang Cheng asked, and the blush faded away at once as the man paled a little: it would be one he expected them to recognize, then, and not in a good way.

“This one is Meng Yao,” he said, and saluted again even though he’d already saluted once before, and Jiang Yanli’s eyes flickered to Jiang Cheng’s very briefly before she caught his arms and raised him up.

“I’ve heard of you. Smart and talented enough to get Chifeng-zun’s attention, even so far as becoming his personal deputy - you must be brilliant. Truly, you deserve a better father,” she told him, and he stared up at her, dumbstruck.

“Don’t mind her,” Jiang Cheng said. “She’s trying out this new thing in which she says everything she feels without thinking first.”

She elbowed him. “And isn’t it your fault?” she asked snappishly. “You’re the one who needs to speak your mind more; I’m just modeling good behavior!”

If she’d been older than him – really older, rather than just a few shichen – maybe she would have held her tongue more and played the role of the peacekeeper, trying to protect him from his father’s indifference the way she had tried to when they were both younger, just as he had tried to distract his mother from her with his hard-fought accomplishments. It wasn’t until they had little Wei Wuxian to spoil and care for, a joint task that required both of their attention, that they realized that splitting their forces like that was pointless and self-defeating: it wasn’t actually helping that Jiang Yanli suppressed so much of her spirit until she felt like little more than a reflective mirror with no content, nor that Jiang Cheng nearly worked himself to death trying to prove that he was worthy of his father’s love and respect that he would never receive, and it never would.

So they stopped.

They were trying very hard to stop, anyway.

“You’re very kind,” Meng Yao murmured, and led them to their rooms.

The moment he closed the door behind him, Jiang Yanli turned to Jiang Cheng and said, “I’ve changed my mind about your plan – we can run away to Qinghe. You marry Chifeng-zun, and I’ll marry that charming boy out there.”

There was an audible thudding sound from the corridor outside, as if someone had accidentally walked into a wall, and they both grinned at each other.

“Mother would kill you,” he warned her in an undertone.

“And being married to someone who disdains me enough to fight over my worthlessness in public wouldn’t?” she retorted, smiling even though her expression was tinged with pain: if she had one ambition in life, it was to never become their mother. “The marriage agreement might have been forged by our mothers, but the text of it says ‘the Jin sect leader’s son to the Jiang sect leader’s daughter’. Why can’t I marry him?”

“He hasn’t been acknowledged.”

“Only technically. Everyone knows he’s the real deal, or else his father wouldn’t have made such a fuss about it.”

“But –”

“Anyway, he must be a good man, or Chifeng-zun wouldn’t have promoted him.”

“I don’t know about that,” Jiang Cheng said. “Chifeng-zun doesn’t have the sense of self-preservation the heavens bestowed on a lemming.”

There was a vaguely audible snort from outside their door. It seemed Meng Yao, at least, had the good sense not to leave guests in his house unattended, and no discrimination against the very useful business of listening at doors.

He also had a sense of humor, which was good given Jiang Yanli’s newfound ambitions in his regard.

“Yes, well, I wasn’t saying I’d elope with him tomorrow or anything,” she sniffed, eyes dancing. “Give him some time to prove himself to me.”

Jiang Cheng couldn’t help but smile back. “That’s true,” he said, raising his voice a little. “At Chifeng-zun’s side, he’ll be able to make a name for himself until the whispers all say that his father was an idiot for keeping him away.”

“And if even that doesn’t work, I’ll marry him in and make him help me run the Jiang sect,” she said cheerfully. “Who needs Lanling Jin?”

“Wait, since when are you inheriting the Jiang sect?”

“I’m older! And anyway, aren’t you marrying Chifeng-zun? That means you’ll be away helping run his sect, and that leaves an opening at home for me.”

“…huh. Good point.”

“Maybe you can just swap places with Meng Yao,” she said, starting to giggle again. “And we can all see how long it takes anyone to notice…”

“Our parents might not,” Jiang Cheng said dryly. “But Chifeng-zun would. If only because I have my sights set on his bed, and I don’t think Meng Yao does.”

“You don’t know that; everyone wants Chifeng-zun. Maybe you have competition.”

“Better to have competition than be oblivious. Do you want to hear the whole story about A-Xian and Lan Wangji’s tragic mutual pining disaster? Xichen-xiong told me all the details he’s been leaving out of his letters.”

“Tell me everything!”

[a-sky-full-of-ideas]

Restaurant AU

Need a Xicheng AU where JC becomes a food critic, cause after his jiejies death he is more or less unconsciously searching for the taste of her cooking around the world but it never tastes quite right.

Luckily for him, he does get to see -and taste -a lot cause his overt criticism may be harsh but his opinions are usually fair and well respected. Thus he climbs up the ladder quite fast and is soon a world star critic.

LXC is the owner of a well known restaurant, that serves seemingly bland but actually quite flavourful and rich dishes. And while he doesn’t like to brag, he knows his food is good and so far no food critic has come out with a frown on their face… until JC

Saying he is offended and at loss for words isn’t even half of it. Thus he invites JC back again and again in hopes to get his usually 5/5 stars.

JC on the other hand doesn’t understand what the big deal is??? Most chefs are on their knees sobbing, when he even takes the time to eat there, let alone gives them a rating over 2/5 stars? A rating of 4.5/5 stars is basically unheard of. So he constantly seems dismissive and annoyed by LXC.

LXC actually though starts getting frustrated and angry after a couple of time,at least for his temper. So much so that the other waiters etc. are getting concerned for LXC. They have never seen him like this.

But LXC is determined! He is gonna get that critic! Wait no! The last half star! He is gonna get the last half star!! Not the critic himself? Haha why would he- who would even say- that’s not at all what he wanted to say …hahah! A suck of toun- ah ah A slip of the tongue really! Haha yeaaaah.

Bonus: WWX is JC’s manager, who decides to tag along after the third time, cause surly his grumpy brother isn’t just gonna visit a restaurant, cause ‘they asked nicely’ and ‘for the food’ right? (That makes no sense WWX?!? Why else would someone visit a restaurant?!? Oh, just shut up.) Anyway, he ends up flirting with their waiter LWJ.

Side note this prompt would also work for fengqing! With MQ being the critic!

[truly-morgan]

[Twin Jiang AU, loving being understood]

ChengXian | Mo Dao Zu Shi Modern AU 08-06-2021

[#chengxian but make it double jiang >:), twin jiang AU]

jc and jwy basically grew up with people always unsure who is whom because yzy and jyl loved to make them wear identical or matching outfits. How could they not when those little kids are so identical?

They grew up finding this pretty funny, keeping this game for years. even their teachers couldn't tell who was whom since they were wearing uniforms and grew up to have similar voices. But as fun as it can be, sometimes they are a bit sad and tired of this because it isn't just when they are trying to trick people, it /all/ the time.

classmate and teacher? Most likely will get it wrong or guess right.

friends? will often get it wrong.

But these people aren't always around, so it is expected.

but family?+

This is what sometimes hit a bit more. When jfm doesn't seem to care enough to try getting it right. When jyl has a moment of hesitation every time she's about to call a name. The way yzy gets it wrong but /argues/ ("are you saying I don't recognise my own child?" yes muqin).

They are very close to one another and they are physically identical, but they aren't /the same person/ either. At some point, they just gave up to have people know.

Until they realise they do. it took some years to really notice, but wwx always gets it right, only one rare occasion does he miss it and often it's when he just woke up and still not fully awake.

but he will always figure out which is jc and which is jwy, even in their little game of "guess which is jc" wwx simply noticed things as he was always hanging around them. Their voices are very similar, but the way they speak is a bit different. They are physically identical, but they have mannerisms that aren't the same.

jc likes sweeter things while jwy is more of a spicy person. jc will prefer pacifying a situation while jwy will get angry more easily. jc prefers lighter and more pastel colours while jwy prefers darker ones. jc is a bit more talkative than jwy is.

There are a bunch of little things wwx notices and he can in a second tell who is who. He cannot understand how everyone else has a hard time, they are easy to differentiate.

this is probably how jc and jwy crush on wwx got even bigger than what they already had before. Having wwx known them so well and without mistakes, they feel warm and actually seen. They don't care what yzy says about wwx, he is great.

So they try to flirt and pursue wwx semi-discreetly since they don't want their parents to notice both sons are pursuing the kid of a friend (who could arguably be called their step-sibling). They aren't sure if it is working, but wwx is simply a bit oblivious and dense and he eventually caught up to them (thanks to nhs not being as blind and seeing how they look at wwx).

and wwx also realise really quickly that he might also love the twin and not the way jfm hoped it would be. He has always been a bit angry at anyone trying to flirt at them and he now understands better where it comes from. he also accepts that a couple of sexy dreams he had wasn't just "well, we are close, so this is normal".

But they are all dumb kid and keep dancing around each other without doing anything until one time jc decide to attack and kisses wwx one night the three of them are alone at home and watching movies.

it's a bit surprising that jc is the one to make the first move (people would probably have expected jwy to be) and wwx is stunned for a little moment as jc sits on his lap straddling him, looking a bit nervous at the lack of response.

he was about to apologise and get off when wwx kisses him, pulling him closer.

"Don't forget about me!" jwy ends up saying, a little pout on his face as he slides close, stealing wwx lips from his twin, giving him a smirk when he huffs a bit.

They quickly forget about the movie they were watching, the new makeout session is much more interesting. "We really love you a-ying" jc whispered again in his ear, "Would you like to go out with us?".

It takes a little moment for just to /really/ realise the twin wanted to date him together all along. No choosing and leaving someone behind.

Somehow he feels like he shouldn't be surprised, he's sure they have shared and tried together things that are a bit more "unshareable" for them. a bright smile appears on his lips as he kisses jc again, "Of course, I would like to, I wasn't sure what I would have done with all the love I have for you two" he jokes, rather happy to see them both just as happy.

Of course, they don't tell anyone (but nhs /somehow/ knows and he makes it vaguely known). neither of them wants to know what rage yzy would get into and what kind of comments jfm would make about /both/twins dating him.

also, soon, there are other reasons wwx can differentiate jc and jwy, but these reasons cannot be known by anyone else but him ;)

Original