#but meanwhile here is wei wuxian

[loosingmoreletters]

hmm AU where post sun-shot, during some gathering perhaps, a man walks up and loudly proclaims that Wei Wuxian seduced his sister! Made promises of marrying her, left her pregnant with a child.

The child in question is hardly a year old, small, and crying pitifully.

It’s a lie, of course.

He makes some talk about needing money to raise his sister’s child, talking big about Yunmeng Jiang owning him for dishonoring his sister so. He’s after the money, obviously, thinking there’s a monthly stipend he can weasel out of this.

Jiang Cheng is already ready to throw the man out for daring to step out of line like this, but Wei Wuxian only pauses.

“Your sister, huh?” he says, eyes flickering the the specter in the corner.

He doesn’t know her - and she cries and rages about her brother’s lies, about the funeral he denied her and her husband, how badly he treats a child so young.

“Yunmeng Jiang thanks you then,” Wei Wuxian decides, and before the man can protest, takes the child from him.

There will be consequences for this too, another dent in his reputation, for sure a terrible conversation with his siblings, attempting to get his new child’s mother to move on before anyone can ask her about the ruse - but at least the child doesn’t have to grow up unwanted.

[wangxian-the-zhijis]

Wei Wuxian: *talks a lot* *insert long paragraph here* *insert long paragraph there* *insert long paragraph everywhere*

Lan Wangji: Mn.

Meanwhile, in another universe…

Xiao Zhan, accepting an award: *talks a lot* *insert long paragraph here* *insert long paragraph there* *insert long paragraph everywhere*

Wang Yibo, accepting an award: Thank u bye.

[Kidding aside, Xiao Zhan’s speech was lovely.]

Xiao Zhan’s Speech | Wang Yibo’s speech

Video Source

[sonik-kun]

JC anti: "If Jiang Cheng knew he'd lose his core whilst saving Wei Wuxian, he wouldn't have sacrificed himself for him!!" "Jiang Cheng is so selfish!! He only thinks about himself!!!!!"

Meanwhile, this scene also exists:

Bro jumped in the way of the core melter hand.. THE CORE MELTER HAND! He knew what he was putting on the line here, both in this scene and in the scene where he saves WWX. And yet he didn't think twice about doing it.. Why? BECAUSE HE FUCKING LOVES HIS FAMILY!!!!

Honestly, if you read between the lines and look beyond WWX's pov, you'll see that JC is actually one of the most selfless characters in the book.

He puts himself between others numerous times throughout the story without a second thought, be it to save WWX, save JL etc..

Granted, it's only for family and those he cares for. But that's okay?? How many of you will willingly take a bullet for your family? Or run out to fight enemies head-on just to keep your family safe?? How many of you will do all this for complete strangers?? Be honest.

[wangxianficrecs]

💙 Away from Trouble by Ilona22

💙 Away from Trouble

by Ilona22

M, 15k, Wangxian

Summary: An overheard conversation changes the way Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian part before he ascends Baoshan Sangren's mountain. From that point onwards, things go differently. Kay's comments: The story that made me fall in love with Ilona22 as a writer! I was immediately gone, the story was just too much to my liking. I'm just so weak for stories where Wei Wuxian thrives outside of the cultvation sects. Here, he leaves after the Golden Core transfer, because Jiang Cheng told him to get lost. Luckily, he soon finds his footing again without a trip to the Burial Mounds, since he didn't wait around for Jiang Cheng. Thanks to Wen Qing, he even has the hope to cultivate a new golden core, but for now, he finds a new profession, as a travelling painter. Meanwhile, Lan Wangji pines. I loved how the canon divergence played out in this story and just the found family vibes of it all. Excerpt: The during their conversation, they had all introduced themselves, too. The monk was Lu Lei, the other man was Lu Zhao. The later was an artist and calligrapher of some renown, Wei Ying had admired one of his paintings on Jiang-Zongzhu’s wall in his study. Lu Lei was the abbot of his monastery. The two of them new each other for a long time, and Lu Zhao had painted for the other on several occasions. Though he was more known for his paintings of plants and scenery. Lu Lei was highly skilled in the healing arts. And unwilling to let his patient escape, especially as he had saved both of them. As Wei Ying had guessed, neither was even slightly skilled at fighting. And so, Wei Ying agreed to travel with them. It turned out to be a good decision. Over the next two weeks, he rested and recovered, spending a lot of time talking with the two men. It were long conversations, often about heavy topics, as Wei Ying finally had the time to grieve the friends he had lost during the fall of Lotus Pier, and to adjust to the changes his life had gone through in such a short time. But they also had a lot of fun discussing art styles and philosophy. Lu Lei and him had several long talks about cultivation, and it was fascinating to learn more about the non-martial styles practiced by monks. Lu Lei was interested in his thoughts about talismans. The first time someone was so willing to talk about the branch of cultivation Wei Ying had always quietly hoped to be able to eventually gain his mastery in. In Lotus Pier, that would have been difficult. But now, he had realized during those conversations, there was no reason not to pursue that path. And so, slowly, he had come to look forward to this new chapter in his life.

pov alternating, canon divergence, wei wuxian leaves the yunmeng jiang sect, wen remants live, wen remants deserve better, families of choice, artist wei wuxian, rogue cultivator wei wuxian, golden core transfer fix-it, lan wangji/wei wuxian get a happy ending, mutual pining, developing relationship, not jiang cheng friendly, genius wei wuxian, inventor wei wuxian, sunshot campaign, love confessions

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for this hard-working author if you like – or think others might like – this story.)

[episodeoftv]

Round 1 of 6, Group 1 of 4

Propaganda is under the cut (671 words) - may contain spoilers

summaries (pulled from imdb or wikis)

propaganda

Chén Qíng Lìng/The Untamed - 1.50 Episode 50

The mastermind who plans everything has appeared. He's not someone who wouldn't think he would be the one who is behind everything, including Wei Wuxian's comeback. Who would that be?

I nominate this final on grounds of CCP information control, censorship and homophobia. They were so scared of the power of wangxian that they ended up banning ao3 in china and in the show they have to inexplicably have them part ways just to hammer home the no-homo. Plus the show is just kind of objectively bad.... but it rewires your brain all the same

Supernatural - 15.20 Carry On

cw: suicide

After Chuck is defeated and someone takes his place, Sam and Dean go about their life of hunting, but things don't turn out as expected.

1) you know why 2) god. where do i fucking start. this episode completely ignores this large cast of characters that were considered family in order to make it the "just two brothers" show again, scrapping basically every shred of character development shown throughout the course of the show, cutting out incredibly important characters at the last second (i.e. eileen being replaced with blurry wife for no fucking reason, cas not being there at all despite the whole love confession/ dying for dean that happened just two episodes before). in the penultimate episode the boys fight god. the finale? a random vampire from an episode of season one, who up until this point had never been mentioned again. then we have Dean being impaled on a very phallic looking spike and, after a speech about it just being about the brothers, dies. he then goes to heaven, where his father figure tells him his abusive dad is just down the road. he hops in his car (also in heaven, somehow) and drives for the next 60 odd years waiting for Sam to die. meanwhile, sam is moving on with blurry wife and i shown with a son named dean (as seen stitched onto his clothes), and we eventually see sam, now old and clad in the crustiest looking wig i have ever seen, die in the hospital. he goes to heaven, meets Dean on a bridge, and the last shot is the entire cast and crew on the bridge saying goodbye, completely shattering the fourth wall because fuck it, who cares anymore. and this isn't even mentioning everything that happened after. just an absolute mess the whole way through. 3) Random villain from season 1 kills one of the main characters, he goes to heaven and drives around while the other main character gets a montage of growing old a horrible wig. And that's not even all. 4) It abandoned 15 years of series theme and character growth, veered away from the natural story line and failed to resolve major plot threads. Dean deserved better, and so did Cas. See also Jared's terrible wig, Dean jr, Dean driving through heaven for five minutes... 5) Dean dies in the most anticlimactic way, cheap wig, blurry wife 6) There was no Castel :( 7) I mean... 8) destroyed every character arc in one fell swoop. the guy who tried to kill himself and struggled with depression throughout the show ended up killing himself anyway! was cas’s death even important? who was blurry wife? why was the absolute ugliest toddler imaginable cast to play Sam’s son? but in order to truly grasp how decimating this finale was, you have to understand the queerbaiting between 15.18 and the finale. why did Misha post that pic in the onion field with Uriel. why was Misha originally credited to be in 19 episodes of the final season on IMDb. why was . Hrrgghh. 9) Do I even need to write propaganda for this one? Even though it was the series finale we are still here after 3 years 😂 Title said 'carry on', but the fandom said 'nah, time for season 16'. 10) Bad old man makeup and no castiel 11) Everything had been neatly wrapped up in the previous episode. Then they decided "Hey you know what would be great? If we just killed one of the main characters." They killed him for no reason. He deserved to live a full life, have a family, retire, but nope! He met his match in a RUSTY NAIL. Not to mention that there were terrible wigs, blurry wives, and subtextual incest vibes involved.

+ After it aired, one of the actors unfollowed everyone who had anything to do with the episode.

[justaghostingon]

How to Woo the Girl You Dumped Without her Demon-possessed Brother Getting in your Way: A Guide by Jin Zinxuan

A crack au

It all begins when Jin Zinxuan notices that Jiang Yanli is actually really pretty.

This is unfortunately right in the middle of him yelling at her for trying to claim credit for the soup someone’s been making for him

Wei Wuxian shows up, demonic tendicals (we’re going anime version here) dripping from all around him as he defends his sister, it comes out that she has been making the soup, and now he’s smitten with a huge problem: the girl he likes both now prob hates him because he humiliated her, and also her brother is definitely a demon

Now a sensible person would first try to patch over the relationship with jiang yanli by apologizing, but jin Zixuan is a Jin! He’s never done a sensible thing in his life!

And also talking about feelings is really scary and as his friend Miammiam likes to point out, he is really bad at it

So naturally, he decides that the most important step to wooing Jiang yanli is to save her brother from demonic possession. That way she’ll be super impressed with him and he’ll be less terrifying and so greatful he’ll well come him into the family!

What could go wrong?!!

Jin Guangyao insists that it is not demonic possession, it is demonic cultivation. But jin zixuan has heard jin zixun rant about “that wei demon” enough times to know better

Figure of speech? What’s that?

So jin zixuan decides to exorcise wei wuxian, and to do that, he’ll need help from the smartest person he knows: jin Guangyao

Jin guangyao is less than thrilled at being sent on a rediculous job like this, to exorcise the clearly not possessed wei wuxian, until he realizes jin zixuan will do anything he suggests without question

ANYTHING

So Jin guangyao decides to have fun with this, setting jin zixuan on increasingly ridiculous tasks to “cure” wei wuxian of demonic possesstion

Like covering him in salt. Or throwing itchy flowers at him. Or running after him chanting this truely awful tune while hoping on one foot.

The result of course, is a very angry wei wuxian who chases zixuan away, and an increasingly desperate jin zixuan who thinks wei wuxian’s frustrations are proof that “the demons are trying to stop me!”

Now the sect heir acting strange is going to raise some eyebrows, and when outsiders look at jin zixuan throwing flowers and singing, they come to a very different conclusion.

Within a day, everyone in every sect is convinced jin zixuan is trying to court wei wuxian

“My son is a cutsleeve!” Moans jin guangshan. “How did this happen! I showed him all the fine ways to love a woman!”

“You’re lessons are the reason my son is a cutsleeve!” Madam jin retorts. “U scarred him for life!”

They proceed to spend the rest of the time arguing and somehow forget to actually talk to their son

Meanwhile in yumeng everyone is losing their collective shit. Jiang cheng is furious that jin zixuan thinks he can poach wei ying with a few pretty words and flowers. Jiang yanli is depressed because her crush is really hopeless now, and how could she measure up to wei wuxian?

Wei wuxian himself is disgusted, not that jun zixuan is a cutsleeve, but that he’d dare to court him! After what he did to shijie! He resolves to firmly rebuff every attempt jin zixuan makes

Which only serves to make jin zixuan more determined because “those demons are really stubborn!!”

But then… the rumor reaches gusu

And lan zhan hops on the first sword to the jin sect to challenge jin zixuan to a duel for wei wuxian’s honor

Lan Zhan tells himself he wouldn’t do this is wei wuxian actually loved the guy. But its not just some guy. This is jin zixuan, wei wuxian hates him! Even he knows that!

They fight, but jin zixuan for all his denseness, even he knows he doesn’t have a quirrel with lan Zhan, and eventually he gets lan zhan to calm down enough to ask why they are fighting

Lan zhan explains and jin zixuan is horrified he’d ever thing that, and quickly fills him in on what he’s really doing: saving wei wuxian from the demon that is possessing him

Lan zhan is sceptical at first, but jin zixuan has jin Guangyao to back him up, and his brother always trusts jin Guangyao so maybe there’s something here? (Give him a break, wei wuxian has been worrying him for months and at this point he’ll take anything)

So lan zhan joins jin zixuan’s demon begone schemes

Wei wuxian is horrified: he trusted lan zhan! And now he’s tryimg to get him married to the peacock? Does he even care?

Meanwhile jin Guangshen has realized if his son marries wei wuxian, he gets the tiger seal, and so begins to push for marriage

Jin guangyao realizes this practical joke has gone a bit too far, but he can’t back out now, lan xichen thanked him for helping lan zhan “make friends” and he’d rather the world end than lan xichen think he hurt his brother

In desperation, jin guangyao suggests the final cure: a true loves kiss

Jin zixuan of course, balks at this. He can’t kiss wei wuxian! He’s in love with his sister! He’s doing this for jiang yanli, he doesn’t want her to think he likes her brother! (Still unaware thats exactly what everyone thinks, especially jiang yanli)

To make matters worse, his father seems to be suddenly invested in curing wei wuxian, sending him off to court wei wuxian with a wink, a charriage and a large amount of gold

Terrified, jin zixuan wants to run, but lan Zhan refuses to let wei wuxian suffer because jin zixuan has cold feet. So he gets in the carriage too

When they arrive they meet a very angry, very resentment tentically wei wuxian

Jin zixuan panics, but lan xhan doesn’t back down, if his love can do anything he’s going to try. So he confesses to wei wuxian

This shocks wei wuxian so much his resentment actually starts to fizzle out.

It’s working! Jin zixuan shouts! Lan wanji keep going!

So lan zhan keeps confessing, saying everything he’s been keeping in his heart, then ending with “come to gusu with me”

Wei wuxian’s eyes widen “you mean…this whole time…that was a proposal?!!”

Lan zhan: en

Wei wuxian: lan zhan! Proceeds to jump into his arms and share a passionate kiss with lan zhan

Jin zixuan: i can’t believe that worked

Jiang yanli, who has come up beside him, “you planned this?” (Meaning getting wei ying and lan zhan together)

Jin zixuan: oh yeah! This was all my idea! (Meaning exorising wei ying)

Jiang yanli says “thank you A-xuan” as she places a hand on his arm, and jin zixuan suddenly forgets everything else

And that’s how jin zixuan got wangxian together while trying to impress jiang yanli, and never realizes people thought he was in love with wei wuxian until well after jin ling is born

[icyolive]

Let's look at all the ways the text tells us WWX is not fucking responsible for the fall of Lotus Pier.

Madam Yu: "So you came here this time for the sake of a kite?" ... Wang Lingjiao: "I came this time to punish someone on behalf of Wen Clan and Wen-gongzi."

If we didn't already know from their unprovoked attack on the Lan, this kite thing makes it extremely clear that WWX's actions at the shittier summer camp reeducation camp are absolutely not to blame for the fall of Lotus Pier.

They were always going to make a move on Lotus Pier, and they'll pick whatever excuse they want—from a kid playing with kites, to an unnamed offense from a clan leader who has been in seclusion for decades, to a prisoner (!!!) fighting back.

In fact, WLJ says it herself: taking over Lotus Pier was "the second important matter [she] came to Yunmeng for," something that was going to happen whether or not they punished WWX.

That's the point at which Madam Yu snaps: when he pride, her status, and (if we're being charitable) her family and home, are finally threatened. Instead of simply pacifying a more powerful clan, punishing WWX became an act of submission to the Wen. It would mean following orders as a subject of the Wen, not just a less powerful clan with an upstart disciple. And orders from the Wen's servant envoy, no less.

So she finally fought back—and that's what sparked the actual battle. If anyone is going to argue that WWX should have kept his head down and not caused trouble, well then, here's where Madam Yu should've kept her head down.

Like... this is barely even meta. It's literally in the text:

"If you dare lay your hands on me, he'll—" Madam Yu raised her hand and slapped her again. "He'll what?" she mocked. "Chop off our hands or our legs? Burn down our residence? Send people to raze Lotus Pier to the ground? Establish an overwatch office here?"

Maybe didn't give them ideas, Madam Yu?

Meanwhile, the worst threat given for refusing to punish WWX:

"... things won't go so well the next time Wen-gongzi asks questions!"

WWX was never an important part of this equation—not for anyone but WLJ. The Wen were there to establish a supervisory office, and they attacked in response to Madam Yu literally striking first.

And of course, later, after their escape:

"Deep down, Jiang Cheng knew very well that even if Wei Wuxian had not saved Lan Wangji in the Xuanwu of Slaughter's cave at Mount Muxi, the Wens would have found a reason to come knocking sooner or later. But he couldn't help but think that had it not been for Wei Wuxian, perhaps it wouldn't have happened so soon. Perhaps there would've still been time to salvage the situation."

Even JC knows he's grasping at straws.

(Also, the time for salvaging the situation was when the Wen took all the land and forbade night hunting. Or when they demanded inner clan members as prisoners. Or when they burned down the Cloud Recesses. Or even after WWX and JC made it back, instead of leaving to diplomatically negotiate Jesus Christ Jiang Fengmian. The time was NOT when WWX stepped into a fight with their captors, in support of their allies, that was already happening.)

[lanwangjihouse]

tag of the week:

#in laws in harmony. peace and love on planet earth ❋  @betweenbutterflies

#i like to think that this is what lan wangji and jiang cheng would actually be like in their off time ⋯ you know ⋯ without the pressures of their clans and a war and the shadow of wei wuxian's death hanging over them ❋  @retronation

#once again im here with my 'these two would be the mean girls of the cultivation world' agenda ⋯ in another life they sit next to each other during the cultivation meettings ⋯ originally wwx was in between them as like the bridge of course but then he goes off to make friends with a million people ⋯ and so these two bond because they are both incredibly awkward and terribly jealous ⋯ jc is like 'cant believe wwx is friends with everyone hes MY shixiong' ⋯ meanwhile lwj is like 'wei ying dont leave i love you T_T' ⋯ and naturally they both sigh deeply whenever this happens at the exact same time and make awkward eye contact ⋯ but then they look at something dumb su she did or watch wwx give up his like 15th attempt at a meal for someone else ⋯ and they bond ⋯ and yeah ⋯ i have a lot of feelings about these two being pals ❋  @gentil-minou

#the bts are just a cql au to me ❋  @neurodivergentwangxian  

[ninjakk]

WWX meeting LWJ post Burial Mounds escape

The chapters entitled "Evil" (or the more aptly named "ill winds" - 7s), is where we finally see the true extent of how traumatised WWX has become after escaping the Burial Mounds. In my opinion, it has some of the most heartbreaking scenes in the whole novel.

His lips trembled, saying something in silence. Jiang Cheng stood up almost immediately. It was Wei WuXian! However, apart from the face, from top to bottom, this person was nowhere like the past Wei WuXian. Wei WuXian had clearly been a bright, high-spirited boy. The tips of his eyes and eyebrows had always retained the hint of a grin, always refusing to walk properly. Yet, this person was entirely enveloped in a cold, dark energy. He was handsome, yet pale-faced, his smile eerie.

Chapter 62 ExR translations

In all honesty, the minute I read the description of WWX in this chapter, a tear rolled down my cheek. In fact, I continued to cry silently throughout this chapter as I read it. The difference in WWXs appearance and personality just broke my heart to read. To some extent, the fact we never fully find out what WWX went through during those three months trapped in the Burial Mounds, could almost be worse than knowing. With MXTX leaving it up to our own imaginations to fill in the gaps on his torturous time there, most of our minds probably go somewhere awfully dark and extremely unpleasant, very quickly.

Wen ZhuLiu couldn’t attend to both sides at the same time, blundering amid the chaos. As he looked to the side and saw Wei WuXian’s cold smile, he threw himself at him. Both of the two on the roof frowned. Lan WangJi smacked down. The tiles shattered and the roof collapsed. Through the roof, he descended into the second floor of the courier station and blocked Wen ZhuLiu from Wei WuXian.

In an effortlessly cool fashion, LWJ descends from the broken roof in a shower of tiles and a flutter of white robes, in order to protect WWX. If WWX had been his usual self at this point, I think he might have swooned! It was pretty epic. It's a 10 from me as far as dramatic entrances go! LWJ, falling with style.

WenZhuLiu’s large, heavy body had been lifted up by the surging whip and was now dangling in the air. Immediately, there came the crunching sounds of his neckbones cracked. At the same time, Wei WuXian’s pupils shrunk. He took out a flute from beside his waist and spun around, standing up. The ghoul child and blue-faced woman who had been tearing at Wen ZhuLiu quickly backed off to his side and stared with vigilance at the two strangers.

Meanwhile JC takes advantage of the sudden distraction and attacks WZL, using Zidian to garrote the man who murdered his mother and father. At the same time, the minute WWX sees LWJ and JC, he does not react the way he should. Even in the current circumstances, you would assume he would be happy to see JC, at the very least. And let's be honest, WWX is usually rather excited to see LWJ! But seeing them just now only evoked negative emotions, resulting in WWXs pupils contracting. Shrinking pupils usually indicates anger or anxiety - and I think it's safe to assume it's most likely anxiety here. From his reaction, we can see WWX seems almost nervous that he's been found out. He is somewhat uncomfortable that LWJ and JC have witnessed his behaviour - he wasn't expecting an audience!

The ghoul child snarled at Lan WangJi and Jiang Cheng, not at all hiding its enmity. Wei WuXian raised his hand slightly for it to withdraw its fangs. His gaze swept back and forth between Lan WangJi and Jiang Cheng. Among the three, nobody spoke up. A few moments later, Jiang Cheng waved his arm and tossed something over. Wei WuXian caught it without a second thought. Jiang Cheng, “Your sword!” Wei WuXian’s hand slowly dropped. He looked down at Suibian and only responded after a pause, “… Thank you.”

Again, if WWX is around things aren't usually that quiet! As such, there is an awkward moment where no one speaks. This is most likely because the two who fell with style only minutes ago, are probably in shock at what they have witnessed. WWX is uncharacteristically silent, possibly because he is worried they will judge him for the severity of his actions and the method he is using to extract such vicious revenge. In the end JC finally breaks the ice because he is simply not as concerned about the whole situation. He's relieved to see WWX is back and seems intrigued by his new cultivation method - but he doesn't seem concerned by the stark difference in WWXs personality and demeanor. If anything, JC seems positively delighted to see WWX so fixated on unspeakable revenge. The coldness around WWX starts to dissipate as he notices JC is not treating him any different from usual and he starts to open up a little more. Although he's still reluctant to fully address everything.

From the corner of his eye, Wei WuXian saw that Lan WangJi had always been looking at them.

WWX has been watching LWJ from the corner of his eye since they first appeared. The fact he has been purposefully avoiding his gaze shows us he's nervous and worried about how LWJ might perceive him now. WWX has always wanted LWJ's attention, now he has it under less than ideal circumstances - which is just so heartbreakingly poignant. Instead of having his assumptions confirmed, he chooses to ignore LWJ, which is something WWX has never done before.

Wei WuXian, “I just got out, hey? I heard that both shijie and you were fine, and you were rebuilding the YunmengJiang Sect and forming an alliance, so I went to kill a few Wen-dogs first to lighten up your burden, and do some contributions. In these three months, you’ve been working hard.”

WWX has somehow received information regarding JC and JYL. It's safe to surmise he would have been very anxious to find out if they were okay. Of course on a re-read, we can probably speculate WWX would have been keen to know how JC was doing post golden core transfer as well.

So from the above we can assume that over the past few days, since WWX escaped the Burial Mounds, he most likely asked around regarding the people he cares most about. In fact, it's probably the first thing he did alongside cleaning himself up and buying new clothes. There is a telling sign that WWX has also been enquiring (or at the very least, listening and taking interest in what people are saying) about LWJ as well. Which we'll get to in a minute. Just as WWX starts to thaw out and open up a little, LWJ finally calls out to him.

Lan WangJi suddenly spoke up, “Wei Ying.” He had been standing quietly at the side. As he spoke, both Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng turned to him. It was as though Wei WuXian finally remembered to greet him. He nodded slightly, “HanGuang-Jun.”

We know from earlier in the chapter, WWX is very well aware that LWJ is present, just as he always is whenever LWJ is nearby. So it's not that he forgot to greet LWJ, but more he's reluctant to do so. It's quite obvious WWX is nervous about LWJs inevitable reaction towards his new cultivation technique.

WWX calling LWJ by his title when greeting him in the above scene is actually rather significant. This is the first time he's ever done so in his first life thus far. From what we can gather, LWJ has only just obtained the title, presumably during the Sunshot Campaign. Although we aren't told this outright, it's the only conclusion we can arrive at due the information provided in the novel. So technically, WWX shouldn't know anything about his title yet. He's only been back a few days and the cultivation world is at the start of a war. As amazing as LWJ is, it's probably one of the least important facts that you would tell a random person enquiring about the war and the Jiang sect. Unless WWX specifically asked about Second Young Master Lan... because he was worried about him also.

Personally, I think it's pretty safe to assume that LWJ obtained his title during his most recent valiant efforts during the Sunshot Campaign. LWJ has not been addressed as HanGuang-Jun until this moment in time onwards. It's not until we read the second Incense Burner chapter from the extras, that we get more evidence that this is most likely the case.

The Lan WangJi of tonight’s dream still appeared to be young, but he was more like the one Wei WuXian saw in the Cave of the Xuanwu, about seventeen or eighteen.

Chapter 119

As we can see from the above, in one of the incense induced dreams, WWX meets a 17/18 year old LWJ. He mentions that LWJ looks around the age he was during their time together in the cave of the Xuanwu of Slaughter. WWX then goes on to playfully call LWJ by his title HanGuang-Jun, while teasing and provoking him. But we find out that the 17/18 year old DreamJi doesn't understand this reference, because he has not received the title yet.

He didn’t have the spare energy to think about whom HanGuang-Jun was either, his voice harsh, “Wei Ying!!!”

With this in mind, it only gives us a short period of time for LWJ to have gained the title amid the nearly four months in between their time in the cave and the two meeting in the above chapter.

WWX addressing LWJ as 'HanGuang-Jun' during Chapter 62 holds so much meaning - even more than some might have noticed on a first read. WWX is already on the defensive with LWJ, because he knows how his sect feels about what they deem "improper" cultivating methods. As such, we could conclude he's drawing a line between them by using LWJ's formal title when he finally addresses him. It's a stark contrast to his usual casual way of addressing LWJ by his birth name. But WWX goes on to use his birth name after greeting him, so it seems this might not be the case.

As I said earlier, WWX using LWJ's title is also a telling sign he has been asking (or perhaps heard) about him post Burial Mounds escape. This could actually be quite a sweet little slip-up that shows us just how much he truly cares for LWJ. WWX literally escapes hell on earth and has to find out how LWJ is doing - which is just too cute! It's certainly very much in his character to worry about LWJ, as we've seen numerous times before. It's very interesting, because in the original version of MDZS, it seems WWX does not use his title during the chapter in question. MXTX seems to have added this small detail in when editing the novel - which means it is most likely there for a reason. Personally I think this is MXTX subtly hinting at WWXs feelings for LWJ, showing the reader he was not only thinking about him, but concerned for his welfare - just as he was with JC and JYL. Adding such a tiny detail to quite a sad and gory chapter is a beautifully delicate, creative way to show that underneath the trauma and thirst for revenge, WWX is still the same sweet natured person he has always been. LWJ is always on WWXs mind, even when his mind is in turmoil.

He walked one step forward, “What means do you use to control such dark creatures?” The curvature of Wei WuXian’s lips dropped slightly as he glanced at him. Jiang Cheng had also heard the dissonant tone, “Second Young Master Lan, what do you mean by this?” Lan WangJi’s eyes were glued to Wei WuXian, “Answer me.”

LWJ is worried about WWX and the technique he is using to control the ghosts that are currently present. But WWX is reluctant to explain how he is controlling them, because he has already guessed how LWJ is going to react.

“Lan Zhan, we’ve just met each other again after so long and you’re already trying to catch me. That’s not nice, is it?”

Although, WWX originally called LWJ by his new title, he has reverted back to using his birth name - even though there is some tension between them. Personally I think this shows WWX is showing he is hurt, rather than angry with LWJ at this moment in time. WWX is still clinging onto the familiarity he feels he has with LWJ, trying to reason with him and avoid conflict.

“I thought that we could be considered familiar with each other. You starting a fight with me without saying anything does sound a bit heartless, doesn’t it?”

Unfortunately although LWJ's questions come from a place of concern for him, WWX thinks LWJ is acting this way because he does not like the cultivation technique he is using. WWX is notably upset that LWJ seems to oppose his new method. Learning how to harness resentful energy and cultivating the ghostly path was the only way WWX could survive in such an awful place, doing so saved his life and allowed him to escape. So WWX is probably feeling very frustrated and rejected by LWJs attitude, because WWX had no choice but to cultivate this new path. Not that LWJ knows the reason behind any of this of course, but LWJ jumping to conclusions has clearly cut WWX rather deeply. It's quite sad to see WWX trying to reason with LWJ and appeal to any feelings of friendship he might harbor for him. To me, his reaction to LWJ's attitude shows us how much he truly values any relationship they might have. Rather than arguing or fighting him, he tries to diffuse the situation.

Wei WuXian crossed his flute in front of him, “That’s too much, isn’t it? Why so unfriendly? Lan Zhan, just what in the world do you want to do?” Lan WangJi spoke one word at a time, “Go back to Gusu with me.” Hearing this, both Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng were surprised. Quickly afterward, Wei WuXian laughed, “Go back to Gusu with you? To the Cloud Recesses? Why go there?” He immediately seemed to realize, “Oh. I forgot. Your uncle Lan QiRen hates crooked people like me. You’re his proudest disciple, so of course you’re the same as him, haha. I refuse.”

WWX is still using LWJ's birth name, even though tension is starting to soar. He's still trying to be as friendly as possible towards LWJ, making light of the situation as best he can. WWX even brushes off what he assumes is LWJ's insistence he accompanies him back to his sect, presumably for punishment. Of course although WWX stated he "forgot" about the Lan sects views on certain cultivation methods, we know this is simply not true. His body language and reluctance to acknowledge LWJ is enough proof he is lying. Not to mention less than four months ago, while stuck in the cave of the Xuanwu of Slaughter, WWX was very cautious mentioning anything about the iron sword he found. So we can see that he must remember quite clearly how LWJ's sect would react to his cultivation method.

He gazed at Wei WuXian, “Wei Ying, for cultivating an evil path you would eventually have to pay. Throughout time, there has not been a single exception.” Wei WuXian, “I can pay.” Seeing how unconcerned he seemed to be, Lan WangJi lowered his voice, “The path would not only damage your body, but your heart as well.” Wei WuXian, “Damage or not, how much damage, I know it the most. As for my heart, it’s my heart after all. I know what I’m doing.” Lan WangJi, “Some things you cannot be able to control at all.” Displeasure flashed across Wei WuXian’s face, “Of course I can control it.”

WWX is obviously losing patience with LWJ's insistence that this new cultivation method will harm him. He tries to reason with LWJ further, telling him that he knows this new method better than anyone (he developed it himself after all!) and he can control it.

Lan WangJi walked a step closer. He seemed to be about to speak again when Wei WuXian closed his eyes, “After all, on the topic of how my heart is, what could other people know about it? Why should other people care about it?” Lan WangJi paused. He had suddenly been angered, “… Wei WuXian!”

This sentence is just so heartbreaking to read. It's a rather cutting remark, especially considering we know how LWJ truly feels about WWX. The fact WWX shuts his eyes and is unable to meet LWJ's gaze as he said it is very telling as well. Shutting your eyes while talking to someone is an act of shutting them out. It's an unconscious gesture often called eye blocking, a reflexive movement from someone who is lying and anxious- which is definitely the case here. WWX wants others to care about him and his heart, especially when it comes to LWJ, on a subconscious level.

WWXs comment certainly struck a nerve with LWJ, so much so he lost his composure and called WWX by his courtesy name. LWJ is visibly distressed by WWX's apparent disregard for his own worth, which of course is a lie, hence him shutting his eyes. But he is also hurt by WWX using the comment to draw a line between them, to place LWJ as an "other" in his life. WWX doesn't mean this of course, right up until this very point he was still clinging to hope they were friends or at the very least, familiar with one another. It is only when he is so hurt and angered by LWJs attitude that he reminds LWJ he has always said they weren't close - so how would he know anything about WWX. LWJ pauses because his own previous reluctance to acknowledge they are acquainted has finally come back to bite him on that sexy ass of his.

Wei WuXian had been angered as well, “Lan WangJi! Do you really have to make this difficult at such a point in time? You want me to go to the Cloud Recesses for the GusuLan Sect’s confinement punishment? Who do you think you are, what do you think the GusuLan Sect is?! You really think that I won’t resist?!”

LWJ using his courtesy name is the final push WWX needed to get angry. He shouts LWJ's courtesy name back at him and rebukes his attempt to bring him back to his sect. The atmosphere in the room has become extremely belligerent, resulting in WWX and JC working in tandem to argue with LWJ. Finally JC takes a swipe at LWJ and verbally kicks him while he's down, with one of the harshest remarks I think is in the novel.

“Apologies for saying something so blunt, but even if we get to the bottom of this, Wei WuXian isn’t from your sect either. It’s not in the GusuLan Sect’s place to punish him. No matter whom he goes back with, it wouldn‟t be you.” Hearing this, Lan WangJi’s expression froze. He looked up at Wei WuXian, the lump at his throat trembling, “I…” Before he could continue, a thin scream came from Wen Chao at the corner. Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng immediately turned around.

There's no other way to say this... When I read this comment from JC I literally swore. Out loud. Like a crazy person. Some will argue otherwise I'm sure, but as I've mentioned in my previous meta, I fully believe that JC suspects WX have unspoken feelings for each other. Granted he's probably not aware of their exact feelings, but he has certainly picked up on something. MXTX has confirmed as such herself as well. JC is definitely threatened by LWJ and his usual influence over WWX. Personally, I think the comment above goes on to prove all of this further. It all seems very personal and the last sentence comes across as deliberately harsh and hurtful. Why say that to him if he doesn't suspect it would hurt LWJ to hear such a cutting remark. JC is definitely his mother's son, with such a viciously sharp tongue. JC even witnessed LWJ's concern for WWX a few days prior, when he noticed JC carrying Suibian and asked about him. But now, he's leveraging the current situation to drive an even bigger wedge between WWX and LWJ.

What's even more upsetting is that LWJ starts to visibly shows his emotions at this point, obviously finally unable to hide the distress and worry for WWX. Under normal circumstances WWX would have noticed this instantly - because he's exceptionally good at reading people. He has even been able to read LWJ (at times) since their time together at the Cloud Recesses, he just refuses to accept it! If WWX was in the right frame of mind, he'd have been hit by LWJs sudden display of emotions and perhaps understood his true intentions weren't what he had first assumed. Sadly WWX is too traumatised and wrapped up in his current overwhelming thirst for revenge to notice anything other than the screams of his dying enemy. As WWX and JCs attention becomes focused elsewhere, preparing to kill WC and WZL, they "suggest" LWJ leave the room, his assistance no longer required.

A few moments later, Lan WangJi turned around and walked down the stairs. After he went out of the courier station, he stood before the door for a long time, but he never left. He didn’t know how long had passed when the silent nightwas ripped apart by a shrill wail. Lan WangJi looked up behind him, his white robes and forehead ribbon fluttering in the cold wind.

The night had passed. The sun in the sky was about to rise. And the sun on the ground was falling.

I think the fact LWJ leaves the building, but still stays nearby is symbolic of his resolve to stay near WWX and protect him no matter what. LWJ will not give up on WWX and he later proves he never does - even if he might lose his own life in doing so.

The final paragraph of this chapter is just so poetic. Personally I think this has a double meaning. Obviously it is symbolic of the fall of the Wen sect, the self-proclaimed sun of the cultivation world who lorded over the other sects from their lofty position. But I think this could also show the unspeakable emotions LWJ is feeling at this moment in time. WWX is a cheerful and vibrant person, he's very enigmatic and LWJ must absolutely adore this. He is the brightest person in LWJs life, so it wouldn't be much of a stretch to claim WWX is the light of his life - or in other words, the sun. As such, this could also symbolise LWJ's fear that WWX is also falling. That WWX is losing himself, darkening his heart and becoming something else, because of his thirst for revenge and the cultivation method he has created. Obviously we know that WWXs heart is not darkening and his method isn't harmful, which LWJ eventually realises as well.

Unfortunately the whole cultivation world begins to turn against WWX and this marks the start of his demis and LWJs sun finally setting. He tries everything in his power to protect it, to keep it shining and prevent it from descending. But sadly LWJ is unable to stop his beloved sun from burning out. Then, just as there is always sunshine after darkness, LWJ gets a second chance to protect his bright shining sun and this time he will not let it fall, because he will always be there to catch it.

[poorlittleyaoyao]

I think part of the threatening to summon lwj with jin king thing is partly like. wwx is HORRIBLE at reading people. like he’s charming. he draws people in. he’s extremely clever and brilliant. but I, personally, think he’s an idiot when it comes to reading people!

almost every wangxian interpretation I’ve ever seen has some iteration of ‘wwx can read lwj while lwj seems expressionless’ and I am always FLOORED how people got that from any of the media. the person who can read lwj is his brother! not wei at the time of my death the man who hated me and my demonic cultivation most was non other than hanguang jun wuxian. not wei lan zhan has a crush on mianmiam wuxian. not wei I couldn’t admit to myself I wanted to sleep with lwj until after I died and got resurrected and we’re all being held hostage wuxian.

fic writers out here are like ‘wwx understands lwj best!’ meanwhile xichen is over here on his fourth cup of ‘insert number of days’ since lwj has been irrational about the cultivation world’s number 1 criminal now that wen ruohan is dead’ coffee like

Am I a fucking joke to you

ANON YOU ARE CORRECT ON ALL POINTS IMO. The very first thing that made me go "ohhhh, I don't think I like this" reading the novel was when LWJ showed up and WWX was genuinely convinced that LWJ despised him and was going to kill him. Like. What? I totally get not realizing the depth or nature of his feelings! But no discernible emotional attachment on WWX's part? They're not even friends? This makes LWJ forcibly dragging WWX back to Cloud Recesses extremely sketchy. What am I even doing here?

And the thing is, I could see WWX's obliviousness being used effectively! LWJ is the one who invited him to Jinlintai for Jin Ling's ceremony, after all; from what I can tell, it's entirely reasonable for WWX in the novel to think LWJ lured him deliberately into the Qiongqi Pass ambush. WWX could've approached LWJ with a mixture of distrust and hostility on the grounds that LWJ tried to kill him in his past life (deceitfully via a gesture of friendship, no less!), and been utterly bewildered by LWJ's behavior towards him for that reason. His feelings for LWJ then change and grow because he's learning more about what the hell happened with the political plot.

Instead, we just get Wei Wuxian, The Jianghu's Most Tediously Oblivious Man, and his aloof love interest who exclusively shows affection while he is drunk or while WWX is incapacitated/unconscious/whatever and won't remember, and both of them replace Gay Chicken with communication.

I can see "WWX can read LWJ like a book" for the drama specifically. Wang Yibo does an excellent job of conveying interiority so something different is always going on underneath LWJ's stoic expressions. The "you must like Mianmian!" stuff in CQL always read to me as WWX teasing LWJ knowing full well there was no truth to it (though still not getting who LWJ did have a crush on). And since the two of them are good friends in that canon (with WWX's protestations that they are TOTALLY not friends, LWJ is so BORING!! coming off as tsundere behavior rather than his honest assessment of the situation), of course they'd understand each other!

BUT EVEN THEN. EVEN THEN! LXC can read him best. LXC can read him even when LWJ demonstrates his own tsundere behavior. LXC knows his didi better than anyone else and does everything he can for LWJ's happiness and safety, and in exchange he gets kicked to the curb at the lowest point in his life. Maybe the insistence that WWX is the only person who can understand him is so ppl don't have to think about that last part too much.

[stiltonbasket]

What do you think MDZS characters at a LOTR convention would look like?

I'm assuming this ask is about cosplay, so here goes:

Wei Wuxian stitches up a copy of Arwen's red and blue mourning dress and dresses A-Yuan as her son Eldarion. Halfway through the con, they stumble across Lan Wangji in an ent costume. <3

Lan Qiren goes as Elrond. He is very tired, and also in charge of too many people. Someone help him; he shaved off his precious beard for this.

Wen Qing and Jiang Cheng both end up going as Arwen's twin brothers, Elladan and Elrohir; this is because Wei Wuxian was cosplaying Arwen, and Wen Ning was cosplaying Elrohir. Their costumes look similar to Aragorn's traveling outfit in LOTR, because of the twins' close association with the Dunedain.

Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan cosplay as hobbits, complete with furry hobbit feet. Jin Ling insisted on going as Bill the pony.

Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen cosplayed as Sauron and Thranduil respectively, at Jingyi's request. Lan Xichen's costume looked like this; and he looked so gorgeous in it that NMJ couldn't stop kissing him at the con. By the end of the weekend, there were over a hundred Sauron/Thranduil fics on Lofter and AO3; the fandom never recovered.

Meanwhile, Jingyi went as baby Legolas with a tiny bow and quiver.

Nie Huaisang made a very good Galadriel. He's just that fabulous.

[joys-of-everyday]

Misunderstandings, Miscommunications, and Misbeliefs

I spent a liushenweek drawing because Practice Makes Perfect????? Back to meta post to stretch these meta muscles again haha

So… there was a comment somewhere on some writing/book channel that ‘misunderstandings’ is like a pet-peeve/least favourite troupe. And I get it. Badly executed misunderstandings is super annoying. It’s like… ‘why is this stupid plot device here other than to make the story longer’. But I think mxtx does misunderstandings brilliantly, and here’s some ideas on why.

Btw, the ‘misunderstanding’ trope is when character A and B fail to communicate and important Thing, which causes Problems. You know, SQQ convinced that LBH is out to kill him, LBH convinced SQQ hates him for being a demon for TWO GODDAM BOOKS *screams in agony in the pits of hell*

Misunderstandings and misbeliefs

(In my humble view) one of the central things about mxtx’s big misunderstandings is that they are fundamentally connected to the character’s misbelief. Misbeliefs are important peeps (find out more on How to Find Your Character's MISBELIEF (or Fatal Flaw) - YouTube) (Another great writing channel btw). It’s what drives character development.

A good example is Shen Jiu and Yue Qingyuan. SJ believes that YQY abandoned him, which is connected to his misbelief that he is unlovable and alone. He believes YQY abandoned him not (just) because YQY doesn’t tell him what happened, but because fundamentally, he believes everyone will abandon him. Meanwhile, YQY doesn’t tell SJ about the events in the Lingxi caves because his misbelief is that his failure makes him detestable. He’s a protective person who feels responsible for those around him, and judges himself harshly for his limitations. Thus he misunderstands Shen Jiu’s rejection as a judgement of his failure, rather than a fear of abandonment. The key point is that the misunderstanding goes far beyond the initial lack of communication. So it’s not just ‘here’s a plot device to make things complicated’. It tells you a lot about the characters involved.

Miscommunicating on a Wendy’s Parking Lot

To follow up, any character’s miscommunication should make sense within their character profile.  

Why does Shen Qingqiu not just tell Luo Binghe that he didn’t want to shove him down the Abyss? Because he’s always putting on an act. 24/7. Hiding his feelings is his trademark.

Why does Lan Wangji not just tell Wei Wuxian about his feelings? Because he just doesn’t say anything that doesn’t need to be said. Ever.

Why does Mu Qing not just tell Xie Lian he wants to be friends? Because he’s prickly and defensive and expects everyone to laugh at him.

It’s not just ‘they failed to communicate this one time’. It’s ‘they always fail to communicate with each other, and this happens to be a time where it blew up into a Thing’.

The opposite to this is conveying a character’s deeper feelings/trauma through miscommunication.

WWX initially comes across as an easy-going, open person, who’s not afraid to say his thoughts even in the face of authority. But there are things he just Never Mentions, one of the key ones being the events surrounding his golden core. His silence on particular topics says volumes about how they affected him, because it doesn’t fit his surface level character profile. You know losing his golden core wasn’t a walk in the park, because it changes him so much. It also tells you something deeper about his character – his self-sacrificial nature, how he downplays his achievements, and how he takes these to a level that is detrimental to him.

So in other words, mxtx shifts away from ‘misunderstanding for the sake of plot development’ to misunderstanding as a consequence of a character trait. And character traits should have consequences! This is very important. (Making a character ‘clumsy’ and it having no consequence to the story is stupid.)

A short point on theme

Here’s a video on using misbeliefs to write theme into your story: How to Write THEME Into Your Story - YouTube. Long story short, easy way to integrate theme into story is to turn the theme upside down and make it your main character’s misbelief. SQQ’s misunderstanding of LBH’s motives is a plot driver for ∞ly many books and weaves very obviously into the ‘see people as more than their role in a story’ theme.

(The other two books don’t fall into this pattern quite as neatly, layering themes in different ways, although I’m sure there are things to pick out if you wanted to.) (On an offhand meta note actually, through three books, mxtx goes from misunderstandings driving a large portion of the plot to almost no misunderstandings at all??? Or at least, that’s the impression I got. Like the identity shenanigans in tgcf weren’t really misunderstandings and more like everyone being deliberately sneaky. I wonder what her latest series will be like.)

If Only They Just Talked With Each Other… not

I think what makes the ‘misunderstanding’ trope annoying is that it feels so arbitrary. The characters tell each other The Big Secret they’ve been hiding and then everyone moves on like nothing happened, leaving you thinking ‘well what was the point?’ Meanwhile, mxtx’s misunderstandings are deep, ugly, and painful. They develop into rifts between characters that cannot be fixed by just telling each other The Big Secret.

For example, Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng. In the end, JC learnt about the golden core. Did it fix everything? No. Because JC already knew WWX cared about his adopted family. He already knew the WQ and WN had helped them. Knowing that WWX and the Wens had helped him to a far greater extent than he initially thought would not have made his decision to cut off WWX in any way easier – the rest of the cultivation world would still have hated the Wens, he still had a sect to protect. Hey, this knowledge would only have made his decision even more difficult to make!!! WWX knew this. JC realised this. When JC learns the truth, he basically has a breakdown.

Talking to each other is the start of the healing process. But one conversation most certainly isn’t going to fix things. Note that this relies on the points above. The misunderstanding is so significant because it is interwoven so heavily into the character’s traits, flaws, and misbeliefs. Overcoming the miscommunication forces character development (which should be done with all the care that character development deserves).

Mxtx’s misunderstandings are never really ‘fixed’, and certainly never forgotten. You might see them on the path of healing and understanding, like SQQ and LBH. Or with SJ and YQY, you’re just left with a bitter aftertaste in your mouth. They’re never arbitrary, and that’s what makes them significant.

hmmm... I’m not 100% happy with this post for some reason.

Anyway, comments and criticisms very very welcome!

[miixz]

Been thinking about the beginning of MDZS because I was talking about it with a friend who just finished vol. 1, and I really love the placing of the CR flashback right after LWJ and JC's introduction and all the questions and context it brings. 

First we get introduced to both LWJ (properly at least) and JC in Dafan, and that segment as well as wangxian’s arrival to CR sets the tone for their current relationships with WWX. 

One is slightly confusing, because WWX has already ran from LWJ once, which implies that he expects a certain hostility from him that isn't there, made even more puzzling when he allows himself to be taken to CR with little resistance, and proceeds to annoy him the best he can to see what will come of it.

While the other is outright hostile, surprising WWX who had actually thought that JC would have forgotten his grievances by now, but leaving little to the reader to question.

"Unfortunately, the person who came happened to be from the Lan Clan, but even more unfortunately, he happened to be Lan WangJi! This was one of the people who had fought with him before, so he should retreat quickly. " (chapter 5)

"He thought that, after so many years, no matter how much hatred Jiang Cheng had held for him, it would have disappeared long ago. He didn’t expect that not only did it not disappear, it became richer, as if it was a jar of aged alcohol. To the point where at the present time, his hatred had grown to affect even people who cultivated like him!" (chapter 7)

Then our first flashback shows us that there is a lot more happening here. 

We learn that Lan Wangji used to be far less composed than he is now, getting flustered by WWX’s antics quite easily. But their relationship wasn’t really bad, just a little messy as they stumbled through navigating their teenage crushes. We’re left to wonder what went on in the future that WWX first called him an enemy, but it also shows us that what's happening between them now isn’t so strange. 

WWX’s shenanigans in Cloud Recesses are in line with the things he did as a teen, the only difference is that LWJ is responding in kind now and WWX is not really up to speed with this quite yet. 

There’s also the tangible impact WWX has had in LWJ's current life (the bunnies, the emperors smile) that speaks for itself about what kinds of feelings he’s held for WWX during these years.

(It’s not that much of a surprise since LWJ is the romantic lead after all, but it is very well crafted and I love the attention to detail there and how every little thing is connected and helps build up the narrative while WWX is busy trying to mislead us about his feelings)

Meanwhile Wei Wuxian’s thoughts on Jiang Cheng gain a new context when we learn that he hasn’t always hated WWX. 

That’s not a surprise exactly, considering how much WWX thinks about them and the past in Dafan, but it does invite us to question how it got there, and shows how the worst we’ve seen of JC can already be found in his younger else, while tragically also making you empathize with him after seeing through these glimpses that he had the potential to be much better had he not chosen to hold onto his bitterness.

JC and WWX’s friendship wasn’t perfect, but it had potential. Except we already know it went nowhere, just not how exactly that happened.

It’s just!! So good! Love that as early as this and in the most light hearted flashback we can already determine how LWJ was always on WWX’s side despite WWX’s previous lack of knowledge of this, get hints of what role JC could have played on WWX’s downfall given that even as a teen he was quick to jealousy and to put him down, then there’s wangxian and how both their feelings have been present since back then too. 

I haven’t had to think about all the initial mystery surrounding WWX in a bit since I already know the entire story, but I had fun seeing it through someone else’s eyes and it reminded me of how good the build up on that is and how much fun it is to pick apart the beginning. It’s a beginning that does a really good job of leaving us curious about what happened during WWX’s first life for his relationships to have gotten like this and it establishes a lot of things that’ll be solidified later when we get to the relevant flashbacks. 

[wangxianficrecs]

💙 as i stumble homewards by the_pretzel

💙 as i stumble homewards

by the_pretzel (@the-pretzel)

T, 27k, Wangxian

Part of the MXTX Mini Bang

Summary: Six years after the siege at the Burial Mounds, the Jiang Sect looks to Yiling once more as rumors of a young demonic cultivator and the restless spirit which trails behind him reach their ears. Luckily for the two in question, Hanguang-jun has heard the same rumors, and comes trailing behind. A-Yuan, in the meanwhile, is not pleased at having his life disrupted, especially by a man who has mysterious intentions towards his Xian-gege. Kay's comments: You know, I'm always here for stories where A-Yuan is a little bit (a lot) of a strange kid after his time in the Burial Mounds and in this one, he's a certified weirdo in the best way possible. Here, he doesn't get found my Lan Wangji and instead, Wei Wuxian looks for him, at least until Jiang Cheng notices him on his hunt for demonic cultivators... Ah, this story doesn't really pull any punches and I like this exploration of what could have happened to A-Yuan, it feel very true to the story. And of course, Lan Wangji discovers soon enough that A-Yuan is talking to Wei Wuxian and Wangxian can't help each other but gravitate towards each other. Excerpt: Fine, Wei Wuxian tells him, reassuringly, sounding as though he’s back in the present. I’m just fine. Don’t worry about your Xian-gege, he’s very resilient! Lan Wangji is still looking at him, so he does not react, but his stomach unclenches a little. Then-- “You are talking to someone,” Lan Wangji says, and A-Yuan’s stomach clenches right back up again. “What? No,” he hedges, too quickly. It’s a lie so bad Lan Wangji does not even deign to acknowledge it. “What is his name?” “None of your business,” A-Yuan snaps, curling his hands into fists. Lan Wangji only keeps going. “Wei Wuxian?” He rears back. It’s as good as an answer, because Lan Wangji stills, staring at him as though he is somehow surprised to have it confirmed. It doesn’t do anything to comfort A-Yuan. Uh-oh, Wei Wuxian murmurs, tone uncertain. “Come to the jingshi,” Lan Wangji says abruptly, and walks away. For lack of any better options, A-Yuan follows.

pov lan sizhui, canon-divergence, burial mounds settlement days, post-first siege of the burial mounds, canonical character death - wei wuxian, ghost wei wuxian, families of choice, food issues, trauma, fluff, angst with a happy ending, emotional hurt/comfort, demonic cultivator lan sizhui, getting together, mutual pining

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for this hard-working author if you like – or think others might like – this story.)

[mdzs-owns-my-ass-i-guess]

Saccharine

@yuzanrath

🌌🌙🍯 (night, moon, honey) Preferably in canon era/universe

Song for atmosphere: here (Easily - Bruno Major)

I was incredibly flustered writing this, enjoy!

Wei Wuxian stares up in his husband's eyes, the molten gold of his pupils shining into the cool-toned light of the moon. Lan Wangji's eyes have caught onto something outside, his eyes lazily dragging over the vast expanse of the starry night sky, expression soft and placid.

He's always been beautiful, Wei Wuxian reminds himself, but there is something entirely otherworldly in see him like this, unguarded, vulnerable, relaxed between the pristine sheets of their bed. There is a cool breeze wafting from the open window, and Wei Wuxian has taken it as pretext to snuggle closer to Lan Wangji, laying his head on the other's chest and stealing glances at him from his privileged position right atop his heartbeat.

If he knows he's being stared at, Lan Wangji doesn't comment on it. The silence is warm, and his eyes seem lost in the distance, as if daydreaming. Wei Wuxian lets one of his hands reach up to run through his hair, and is rewarded with a soft smile, his husband's attention back on him. He hums, questioningly, but Wei Wuxian shakes his head that it's nothing, letting the hand in Lan Wangji's hair slide over his cheek, caressing the skin there.

Meanwhile, the hand Lan Wangji had on Wei Wuxian's lower back has begun moving up and down his spine, gently drawing shapes on the skin. He can't help staring at Wei Wuxian a little, sweeping his eyes over the other's features with the kind of awe that feels just a bit too close to worship. His eyes, soft with love, with gratitude, with wonder, remind Wei Wuxian of the finest honey, sweet, filling, everlasting.

Wei Wuxian feels the touches on his back, and realizes they aren't a senseless series of movements. He sits up just slightly, and steals a kiss from Lan Wangji's lips. "What are you writing on me, Hanguang-Jun?"

"I love you."

Then, Lan Wangji decides he's going to steal a kiss back, and he does, a rare laugh escaping him at Wei Wuxian's flustered expression.

"You're going to kill me one of these days!" he mumbles as he reclaims his spot on Lan Wangji's chest. hiding his face in the skin there.

"I would sure hope not. I've had enough of being without you."

"Lan Zhan!" comes the blushy protest as Wei Wuxian drags the light blanket over his head.

"There is no point hiding. You can still hear."

"No, I can't."

Lan Wangji huffs fondly. "Then I suppose you can't hear me telling you how incredibly happy I am to share the rest of my life with you."

The bundle of blankets that is Wei Wuxian makes a pitiful sound in Lan Wangji's arms.

"And you also cannot hear about how lucky I feel that I get to have you, in all the ways you let me."

Wei Wuxian wiggles himself off Lan Wangji in protest, taking all the blankets with him. He can't help a proper laugh this time.

"Wei Ying."

No response.

Lan Wangji tugs at the blanket, "It's cold."

A lie, and they both know it, but Wei Wuxian gives in and returns in his husband's arms.

"You know what!" He emerges, at last, so red in the face it's comical. "Two can play at this game! You think I can't wax poetic about you too?" And he clears his voice with emphasis. "Your eyes feel like having honey poured on my soul. And every time you're around, I feel so loved and safe and wanted that I want to scream it out in the world."

Lan Wangji's ears burn, but he doesn't protest. After all, he deserves this, he started it in the first place.

"And you've given me the life that I've never even thought would be possible beyond my dreams, you've given me a home, and a family, and a place in the world."

Lan Wangji wants to kiss him shut up, because he has to admit hearing all that has made his heart do sommersaults in his chest and he doubts that is healthy.

"Oh, and one more thing!" Wei Wuxian says, mischief in his eyes. "You're also very good at fu-"

Lan Wangji finally kisses him, and they entangle in the sheets again, a mess of blushes, giggles and love.

[sizhui]

My favorite thing about MDZS/The Untamed is the existential and moral substance of its romantic plot - the. object of longing embodies a value initially lacking in the subject of longing; his existence itself answers a question that the subject has been posing.

Lan Wangji asks Lan Qiren, “what is black and what is white? What is good and what is bad? what is orthodoxy and what is heresy?” Lan Qiren quotes a section of the sect rules which states, “I will not make friends with bad people.” Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian responds to the question not with words but with the entirety of his life and death. He subjects himself to humiliation and resentment by giving up on his golden core for Jiang Cheng, then to banishment and death by siding with the Wen remnants, all while allowing the world to think of him as selfish, unfilial and motivated by greed for power. The contradiction to Lan Qiren is most prominent here. The Wen Remnants are, in the Lans’ eyes, the lowest of the low - belonging to an enemy sect, and on top of that elders, women and a child - people who can’t even die honorably, left to work to exhaustion instead. Wei Wuxian’s love for them is very different from anything Lan Wangji might consider love.

For young Lan Wangji, love is considered a tribulation and a temptation to overcome - the “earthly matter” he needs to overcome. Though ardent, it is an unspoken feeling, never expressed in a way that can be meaningfully received and interpreted. For Wei Wuxian, love is a series of definite acts of partaking in others’ pain and condemnation. First he accepts being branded with hot iron instead of Mian Mian. Then he gives away the golden core he cultivated all his life to Jiang Cheng. Finally, in his grandest display of compassion, he leads the Wen Remnants away to the Burial Mounds. The odds are very poor-looking: he cannot save anyone, only prolong their lives by a few years, and he will eventually also die with them. If he were to abandon them, the outcome of Wens’ destinies would be the same, but Wei Wuxian might have earned back his respect and livelihood. Still, he chose the former, because that’s the value his character is assigned - it is more than compassion or even empathy - it’s a mad, willing descent for the sake of a doomed another.

And while Wei Wuxian in life still perplexed Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian’s death drills the lesson into his head fully and fatally. Only in Wei Wuxian’s absence did Lan Wangji come to understand the “self-chosen right and wrong, the crooked bridge you walk into the night” that Wei Wuxian spoke of, and accepted it - branded himself with the same hot iron, symbolically taking upon continuing the fate of Wei Wuxian. He begins selling his charity so cheaply that all the orthodox sects sneer at him, a hero of the people rather than the cultivation world. He does not make his love and ideals known, no longer out of shame but because he asks for no recognition, no reward and no way out. Goodness, for Wei Wuxian and now for him, is a sacrifice that asks for nothing, not even to be acknowledged.