#does the 5-tag limit still work? i guess we'll find out

[neuxue]

May I have a WWX for the Blorbo Bleebus sheet?

you most certainly may!

The divorce is jiang cheng. neither of them is doing well about it.

The thing about Wei Wuxian is that he's absolutely the protagonist of this story as it's told, and the narrative itself plays with that concept... but if you zoom out a bit, he is also very much Just Some Guy who was chosen due to a combination of his own choices and external factors as a convenient target for society's ire. And you can see the way even that shifts with the times, and the way while he ends up tangled up in so many other people's stories, those stories are not so much centred around him as observed by him or colliding with him, depending. All of which is to say: he is the protagonist of this story only, because he is the one whose eyes we see it through.

whether he's inventing new and creative ways to torture you into insanity and death (in that order) or teaching you Talismans 101 just because he can really depends on his mood and when in his life you're meeting him. I might have been a little unfair on this one and perhaps he should be further over to the right, but I feel like I'm trying to compensate for the fact that the crueller parts of him often get sanded down in fandom.

enemy of god (in his first life); at peace with life (in his second, eventually)

oh, the hot takes. He's not the only character to inspire them, and he's not really even the worst, but yikes.

He deserves healing and peace and nice things! I'm glad he has them! But I am who I am and I like him best when he's bleeding and bitter and furious and losing his tenuous grip on who he is or who he once wanted to be.

In this case The Realisation and consequences pair nicely: the moment where it all falls apart at Qiongqidao in particular is absolutely choice. More of Wei Wuxian realising far too late that there are consequences for his actions that are no longer within his control, that moment of frozen horror right before it spirals but after the point of no return. That's the good shit.

[amethystina]

I was casually rereading whtd, as one does, and reading the comments (because i love the extra insight you give about the information that we're limited to in Ga On's pov) when i stumbled upon this comment: "… sort everything out? (and no one dies along the way, hopefully) He'll be very happy for them." about lawyer Ko and that in combination with the "minor character death tag" has made me Extremele worried about him. (plus you have also said that the kidnapping tag is not the one we should be worried about!!) I know you probably can't say anything about this because of spoilers, but know that it has been noted!!

Also kind of want a scene wherein lawyer Ko, Yo Han and Ga On are all together. Their dynamic would be so exquisite!! (obviously no pressure to actually write this, just a thought)

Anyway, whtd remains so good even after already having read and reread it in its entirety at least 5 times (and some scenes/chapters much more than that) (my ao3 history says i've visited whtd 200 times… so uh. yeah. i'm normal). I love slow burn so much (to the point where most romance book leave me disappointed bc they MCs get together like 100 pages in), i just love reading/watching the build up of a relationship and you write it so well!

I guess i just wanted to thank you for writing! I hope you're doing well <3

I'm usually very careful not to spoil what's going to happen in future chapters but I'll make an exception this time and flat-out say that you don't have to worry — Lawyer Ko is not going to die. I would literally never forgive myself if I killed him xD Not to mention that you all would probably come for my head if I did. He's just too amazing to be killed off!

So, rest assured, he's not going to die :)

And there will be at least one scene with Ga On, Yo Han, and Lawyer Ko in the same room unless my plans change dramatically. Which they rarely do, but "rarely" isn't the same as "never" so we'll see. Truth be told, though, I'll probably try really hard to keep it because I totally agree — the dynamic would be SPECTACULAR. So yeah. Stay tuned for that, I guess? ;)

You've definitely read Who Holds the Devil more times than I have x'D At least in its entirety. I mean, I reread the chapters at least twice (often three or four times) but I rarely start from the beginning and read it all the way through. I did at the end of my long break last year to get back into the swing of it, but it's difficult to find the time for that since I always have to focus on the next chapter. Which is a bit stressful at times, I will admit, since it puts more pressure on me to remember things at the top of my head (or at least know where to look if I want to check any details) but I'm lucky enough to be blessed with a really good memory, so that helps.

Anyway, I'm so glad you're enjoying it 💜 I honestly didn't plan for the slow burn to be quite this slow when I started the fic, but I can't say I have any regrets. Much like you, I just enjoy it too much ;) There's something so incredibly satisfying about delving this deep into Ga On and Yo Han's feelings and slowly developing relationship. And I guess that's also why I can't help throwing out tidbits of information in the comments, since there's usually so, so much happening within this story that you readers don't see (especially within Yo Han's head).

And I'm still not sure how to handle the knowledge that some people read the comments specifically to find those tidbits. Like, I don't mind you doing so! Go right ahead! They're public and all that. But it kind of blows my mind that some of you are so interested in what I'm writing that you'll do that. It feels a bit surreal to me, but in a good way? Like I'm an ACTUAL writer or something xD

Anyway, thank you so much for this kind and supportive message 💜 I definitely needed it right now because things honestly aren't all that great. Partly because of overall exhaustion and restlessness — mostly due to work — but even more so since it's now been a month since I posted a chapter and the requests for me to please update soon are starting to come in. I swear, it happens like clockwork every time I don't post within a month. And, what makes it worse, is that it's often from people I don't see comments from when I actually DO upload more frequently. As in, they don't comment on the fic itself, only when they think I don't update fast enough. Which is pretty disheartening, not going to lie.

Tragically enough, once the month mark passes, I have to start bracing myself whenever I get a comment or ask because there's now a 50/50 chance that it'll be someone asking me to update soon. They usually try to be nice about it, but it kind of always fails.

So, again, thank you for this. Because while I know that I should take my time and update on my own schedule, it's not always easy to remember that when people start asking me why it's taking so long. This was a nice change of pace and I'm very grateful for your kindness. Thank you 💜

[bluiex]

Part 6 of Children of The Night/Wondering in The Night

I know it been a while sense I made a part but in these next parts there will be a little bit of a new functional development in Scar's biology. His brother Green also going through it, Blue being left out.

There will also be key mob characters being introduced as well, having worked with Herobrine sense before the his children where born. One being the summoner of Scar's best friend/first boyfriend. Who still very much love to interfere with his love life, and boy will you see why~

Hope you enjoy~♡

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We start up again a week or two after having explored "The Great End City" with Grian's soul mate, Scar Brine "Lord of The End". They had fun exploreing the temple based city, seeing just how many people/ender (5) worked on the project. But the way the build was made made it look like they worshipped Scar like Notch.

Now speaking of Notch, The Creator Himself, has invited the reborn cartographer, to a Ball themed around The Void. It to celebrate the coming of a new time. In a very vague way it doesn't ever say what this time is ment to be, and why it's so importent yet never named. He was skeptical as to if it was real or not, but find out quickly when trying to toss it away. It stuck to his hand like it had a binding curse, but the tags of the item had no curse.

Now Grian's location was millions of blocks away from Central where his apartment home is. He would have to travel so far to get back home, to get his best outfit, and then to the Farlands where The Void Ball is taking place this year. He also has a job, at this location he needs to finish, otherwise these people living here, millions blocks away, are never going to have a decent map for the next 2000 years.

The man who hired Grian calls himself CubFan, he said his bestfriend called him Shmook as a joke once. But sense it just a way to flirt without flirting. Grian can only guess at the reason he was told any of that. It could be because he's a true Watcher or it has something to do with Scar. Possibly both.

Grian sits up in a tree over lookingbthe area to make one of the most accurate map he's ever made. His extra eyes have helped in so many ways, starting and end with his perspection. And his wings have maked it easy to get to higher points to get details that he had to leave out in the past because of time crunches.

Tonight will be the first time he stays up into the early night to see if the dark will hinder his ability to work. If it doesn't he'll have to be careful on how long into the night he'd works. Because he'd work on and on without sleep if he could. So if like before that it does hinder work, we'll we already know what happens.

Well night falls and it's still as bright as day for Grian, so he easily finds himself loosing track of time. Scar appears by his side, not expecring him to be awake so late into the night. Still drawing the area around, with great such detail.

"Star Bird, you normally don't say up past the 20th hour of day. It's 10th hour of night now, whats got you up still?" Scar sounds so concerned for Grian, thinking something may be bothering him.

"I'm sorry, my guardian. I knew this would happen if my new vision made it possible to work into the warped hour of the night." Grian puts everything aside to cuddle into Scar's side, feeling a bit ashamed for not paying closer attention to his clock. "I had almost forgotten it was night with how bright everything seems. It's amazing to be able to work threw a night or dark forest."

Scar sighs at in relief that Grian is just exploring possibilities of his power. He's pretty sure the lesser watchers didn't even know they can see in the dark. Given they think, they're already all powerful with no need to test for limitations. You can only guess why so many get removed before the next year starts. They are pompous assholes!

As Grian and Scar sit together vaguely talking, they agreed that tonight Grian would stay up to get a proper night sleep the next night, and hopefully not make this a habit. Scar is already work around the clock to keep people safe at night. Grian shouldn't be runnung himself ragged aswell.

The night has a lot of Scar pop in and out, as his brother's basically yell at him with private messages in the chat. They often being callout on Hacker locations, base and current attacking groups. It was funny to see them pop up all of a sudden. Especially when it was a random message from one of the other family members he hadn't seen or spoken to yet. But one imparticuler is from Notch, written out in the infinitely scrolling text, that no normal person could read. It had reminded him of the invite, and right there deside to briefly bring it up.

"I got an invite to this years Ball. I honestly wondering what I did to be invited." He said it almost softly, and a little to quick.

While planning to move on, Scar's response is immediate and Unsettlingly truthful. "It's becaise I had mentioned of you to him in these past weeks. He even told me, it is rare I show such intrest in someone." His laugh is soft, and wicked, but not threatening. "You know the endermen have stolen and replicated your work for years now. I had talked about your work to Notch many time. So he can tell the difference in the conversations after I met you. You'll be surrounded during the party, your are the first invited on my behalf."

The smile gracing Scar's face is taunting in a way, get just to get a pout out of Grian. Pout Grian does, but the look paired with the best set of puppy even seen. He got Scar to be miffed with himself, for setting up a pourly made trap, that he now realizes will backfire in the worst way for both of them.

They started talking about outfits for the ball, it's about Dresses for Grian, and Tuxes for Scar. But Scar is complaining about always wearing a Tux to the event, making Grian realize how little he wears suits. Even his Watcher Garbs is a dress. He starts thinking of Tux options asking Scar what he think would look best. Scar Ask the same for Dresses from Grian.

They now had a plan for The Ball, and it should keep them together, as they'd be a matching set from start to finish.

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This spawned from the fact the Scar in Dresses isn't done enough, we always get Grian in a dress. Now we should get more Scar in dresses I mean they look so good on him in so many art works. I'd love to see scar in one of my dresses.

I'll be tagging you Bluiex with the dresses and suit tomorrow, and everyone can decide the dress and suits for the two. Because I can't deside what I like better on Scar and Grian.

-From The End's Queen, Pink~♡

AAAH! A BALL! I love balls in fics. literally the best- cant wait to read that

!! I will be looking out for those tags

[sohaveyoubeento-blog]

V is for Vietnamese & Vintage

Us three ladies had always played it pretty safe by way of our lunch dates. Not to say the local deli isn't absolutely kick ass - it's very tasty and very enjoyable every time we go, but in much the same way as I struggle to go to the same country more than once on my holidays (excluding India, you can never have enough India) I couldn't help but think that life's a bit too short to sit in the same eatery every time we meet for lunch, given that the whole day is ours, and within reason, travel is no issue.

The three of us decided that we would try different cuisines every week, and with the girls (Laura and Dani) living in the quieter, leafier suburbs of Otley and Burley in Wharfedale, with me (Alex) living in what I frequently describe as the bronx, 5 minutes from central Leeds but gloriously populated by some of the best food joints in the country (confirmed) they usually end up meeting at mine and then we go into town to try somewhere a bit off the beaten track. Invariably, being three mums of young children, we eat at the speed of rabid dogs and end up having a bit of time to go explore some local weird shop or two, never anything mainstream like a department store. Oh no. We like vintage shops. You know the type, they smell like damp and the inside of your nan's wardrobe, and we prance around pretending to overlook the fact that we are just in a well laid out, slightly more selective charity shop without the undertone of giving. Usually there's some blue haired student with a headscarf and a faint stench of Bobby Orange pawing through piles of shirts and jumpers that are deemed as retro, when they've actually some of them originated in C&A - we remember that place the first time round,depressingly. The whole vintage scene is a bit ironic and try hard and a bit sad at times, but the one thing that it does offer is the piece you are often looking at, generally is one of one only in the store. The same goes for charity shops, generally. We like stuff that can't be bought in bulk.

Dani owns Deluxe Blooms, and is a luxury faux florist, and very good at it too. Laura is a nail technician and spray tanning afficionado, and the owner of Maibella Nails and Tanning. I own a salon called Lexa Hair, and the three of us work together frequently. The ridiculous thing is though, that work is going really well for us, and while in the past we may have dug around in charity shops for a bargain simply to be economical, now it has begun more of a habit. And you know what they say, old habits die hard. We don't have to eat streetfood on picnic tables anymore, and we can shop anywhere we want, but at least just for me, I don't like extravagance and I'm not impressed by labels or price tags. I like pieces that are unique,with a story behind them. My two accomplices sort of get dragged in to it I think, but they seem on board with most of it. I hope.

And street food is the best food on earth, everyone knows that.

We kicked things off with a visit to a fairly new (maybe a year old I think) Vietnamese place on North Lane in Headingley named VietBaker. Inside it's very wooden looking, quite industrial and urban, stained wood everywhere and dark red leather chairs. It smells like the rice cooker that's chugging away in the corner, mixed with plenty of garlic and of course, the fresh baguettes that are stacked up in a glass cabinet above the front desk.

We opted for a sharing platter for £9, and from the menu us Yorkshire ruffians requested spring rolls (the deep fried ones, not the fresh, healthy ones obviously), prawn toast, and 'rustic chips'.

This was skin on chips with salt and pepper (well cooked and so tasty) and the prawn toast was understandably made of baguette slices. It made for a much heavier slab of prawn toast and therefore an even more unhealthy treat but man alive, was it good. The spring rolls were pork, prawn and the usual crispy vegetables inside. Not floppy or soggy, totally crispy and served with a really light and watery sweet chilli dip that's more sweet than chilli. It was all very lovely.

I've personally eaten from here a number of times and I think the Vietnamese have got it absolutely nailed when they make sandwich. Or a Ban Mih. Laura and I opted for one each, chicken for her and pork for me. Dani went for something off the new part of the menu, the fusion section, which even featured a take on beef bourgignon, Vietnamese style. She tried the Shanghai pork belly, served with rice. Her whole bowl was piled high, and we're not talking a polite, peanuts size bowl. More like a ‘free ceramic crunchy nut cereal box’ bowl, with the with tokens on the back of the pack, that you’d send off as a kid. It was huge. The second bowl was just plain rice, which worked really well as the pork alone was…. alot. It was sticky and tangy and rich and all those other wanky words that just mean amazing. I'm trying so hard to limit the wankiness. I like writing and eating, combining the two is hard work though. Bear with me. The slow cooked pork made me feel a bit gutted I went for a sandwich until I got stuck in.

Vietnam was a former French colony, and much like their neighbour Cambodia, found their local best offerings being bastardised to accomodate the 'local palate'. The nice version is that the baguette was the French's gift to the Vietnamese, although I imagine it was more a case of 'put your lovely meal in my baguette for me or you're in deep shit.'

I've never been to Vietnam but having visited Cambodge a few summers back, I remember being astounded at the gorgeous, light, dairy free Asian cuisine that had been shoved in a crusty, warm baguette. Whoever's story was true, it's the absolute bollocks.

They cut this freshly baked baguette open and spread it with patè on one side and on the other mayonnaise (already weird but hang in there) - add a ton of crispy green leaves, cucumber, pickles, coriander and fresh chilies, and add some meat into what little room is left. Enough meat to give you meat sweats. It. Is. Superb.

The pork was very finely sliced, dark and sticky again (here she goes) and you can bang on a fried egg, too, if you're an absolute wrong un. No thanks.

Laura had the chicken which was a milder flavour but none the less tasty and flavoursome. I noticed Laura pulling bits off her sandwich and delicately chewing away at them, while I picked it up and ate it like I'd been sleeping in the dark arches for the last month. I even had to be asked to wipe my face. Sorry, not sorry. No messing with a Ban Mih. Especially not this one.

The bill was a very respectable £11 a head, and they threw in a free set of spring rolls for us, which was a nice unexpected surprise. The place had a steady flow of traffic, and although wasn't packed, I've been on an evening and I think it's safe to assume that's the bulk of their trade. It was fantastic food, very reasonable and highly recommended. Great staff and great location. We'll be back!

Afterwards we drove for about 3 days to find a parking spot anywhere near Hyde Park, so we could check out the newly (ish) renovated (OK sign replaced and possibly ownership changed) Vintage something or other in Hyde Park.

I forget the name, and if I'm brutally honest I can see why. It's alright, but it used to be alot better. The last time I went in there was alot of very old apothecary style wooden drawer units, some weird taxidermy, and unusual pictures in frames that would look incredible in the lounge. This time there was quite a bit of formica, and some hideously orange stained TV units that I guess in some context would be deemed as cool again.

The music collection seemed to be where the most effort had been made. The clothing was actually quite 'quirky' in the sense that you wouldn't actually wear alot of it, there was a whole department that seemed to have been handed over by the owner of the late knob head Jimmy Saville, shell suit after shell suit in every colour of the rainbow, in that non breathable fabric you'd get a two man tent in. Hideous. Still, there are some absolute finds in there. I would encourage people to bear in mind that these shops have a high stock turnaround and in their uniqueness, and ability to replace items based on sales, any vintage shop can be a complete bag of shite one week and a total gold mine the next. Its the luck of the drawer, I love that about them. That and the fact that we call them vintage shops. The three of us refer to them as shit shops, but potato patato.

I find it depressing that as I mentioned before, alot of the 'retro' stuff is just normal stuff we, in our 30s, encountered in our youth. There was a 'vintage phone' that was £15 and I'm pretty sure my gran has it now. It's literally a BT £10 phone still in argos, but clearly it had lived with a heavy smoker, adding to the aged facade.

Some of it was very authentic, some of it was broken crap, but the general feel of the place is a good one. There is more 70s stuff than anything else which is quite cool, but like I say, stock changes very frequently. Dani bought an oversized T shirt with a University football team logo emblazoned across it, and to be honest I would have too. There was a vast array of university related large varsity based sweaters, some unnecessarily cut in half width ways (why?!!!! Serves no purpose now, you fools) and that's the kind of thing I would have liked to look at. But as I was in charge of a one year old who was bombing around the floor, doubling as a human sweeping brush and coming back with more dust on him than the inside of the V6 after the attic stairs have been tackled, I gave it up as a bad job and put my bank card back away. No spending for mum today. Gutted.

The shop is pretty fabulous, on the whole. They do know how to charge when it comes to furniture, but the clothing is far more reasonable. It's not all one off pieces, a couple of items make an appearance a few times and that kind of ruins it for me, I start picturing some huge factory in China making hideously outdated clothing and leaving them in a damp garage for a few years, chucking a bit of tea down them and wearing the cuffs and collars down, before exporting the newly knackered pieces to us dumbasses in our 'quirky vintage shops'. Who knows. It's well laid out, and pretty cool, and although not my favourite, I imagine the next time I go it'll be a whole different experience. Swings and roundabouts with these places. It was an interesting look, and if Parker hadn't been doing his best ferret impression I would have definitely bought a jumper. Well worth a look.

Until next week!

Laura, Dani and Alex X

VietBaker, Headingley

https://www.thevietbaker.co.uk

Vintage Boutique, Hyde Park

https://vintageboutique.com