#gege doesn’t care about his audience or his characters

[brainrothawks]

i’m never complaining about horikoshi ever again. fuck gege akutami tho, may he never know peace

[prettypei]

hi i'm here to request again! may i have another drabble with gojo, choso, yuta, kashimo and kamo! could you please write about how he accidentally discovers that gender neutral s/o is a good singer and used to be in an award-winning school choir? thank you!!

some context: s/o doesn't like to brag or even care enough to behave like that, so he isn't aware of the fact that s/o is an all-rounder and has many hidden skills and talents! (it's all thanks to their hardworking, passionate nature but also having countless hobbies due to their curious personality)

oh i just remembered... regarding the previous request, gege once said that gojo is canonically good at everything so he doesn't want to be too involved or attached to things. i think it's safe to say that he's actually good at cooking hahaha

plot: them with reader who's good at singing; fluff

reader: gn! Reader

characters: gojo, choso, yuta, kashimo, kamo

warnings: kashi’s is a bit angsty at first

a/n: HI ANON!! Your requests are so cute to write yayaya! Fun fact: I was in the school choir in elementary! also I want to believe that gojo is vulnerable in some aspects of his character so he doesn't get too cocky LOL but I'll keep that in mind so I can write more accurate reqs :3 also for those who want to request in the future: this is the last post I'll accept with five characters since this was submitted before I changed my rules!!

✰GOJO

Normally, Gojo doesn’t press his ear to others doors, but normally, Gojo doesn’t hear a lot of amazing singers singing live. Gojo was at your apartment, and he wanted to give you a fright since he was supposed to leave 15 minutes ago, but now, he’s entranced by your voice. At first, he was shocked by your amazing voice, because, could someone really be that perfect? Attractive and a good voice? He just won in life! "Baby?" Gojo coos while knocking on the door. There's a reluctant pause before you open the door. "Gojo? Aren't you supposed to be gone?" You try to hide your bashful face with the brush in your hand. "Not the point, where did you learn to sing like that babe?" He smiles. "Well... I used to be in xxx choir.." Gojo's eyes widen in surprise as he feigns a dramatic gasp. "You mean... like the one who won the national competition?" "Yeah that's the one." You answer nonchalantly, as if it wasn't such a big deal. Gojo then wraps his long arms around you, mumbling about how "my baby's so talented" and "I have such an amazing partner". "Stop that, weirdo." You giggle while burying your face in his chest. "What else are you hiding from me?" Gojo's eyes twinkle as he says those words.

✰CHOSO

Choso should not have came here. You had reassured him that "It's fine! Go out with your family once in a while babe" but in reality, he preferred to spend some time with you. But when he brought this up to you, you said that you had something busy tonight. Busy? What did you have to do today? Animal Shelter? No, that was on Thursday mornings. Coffee Shop? No, that was on weekdays. Cheating? Choso feels guilty for even thinking about the idea of you cheating on him, but you had just disappeared so mysteriously that he didn't even have the chance to question you. So now, he's at a bar with his brother. "Choso! Have you tried the food here? It's delicious." Itadori grins while holding up a can of coke. "...no, not yet." Choso mumbles halfheartedly. "mic check, mic check!" The whole club goes silent as the manger steps up on the stage. "Hello! Welcome to xxx club! Can I hear a big round of applause from the audience?" The crowd around him erupts in cheers and Choso covers his ears. "Welcome, all! So today, xxx club has prepared a lovely guest that has been in high demand since the start of the year! Lets welcome... (name) from xxx choir!" Choso swears that his mouth fell to the ground as you waltzed onstage with a microphone. What? You're a singer? He's still in disbelief...and he loses it when you start singing. Choso had never head such beautiful singing in his life before... okay maybe it might be the fact that you're his s/o but still! The crowd erupts in cheers as you take a bow. In that moment, Your eyes meets Choso's and you give his an almost secret wink. Choso's whole face is red as he tries to hide his face with his hands. You and him were definitely gonna have a little talk tonight.

✰YUUTA

"I hate escape rooms..." You mumble while clutching onto yuuta's arm. "You were the one who suggested this for date night, remember?" Yuuta chuckled. “Shut up… and wipe that smirk off your face!” You hiss. “I’ll go find clues in this room and you go look for ones in another room, Kay?” Yuuta suggests. The bth of you split up, and you find a key. You rush to find your boyfriend, but… “BOO!” “AHHHHHH!” Yuuta falls to the ground, belly-laughing as he just gave you a heart-attack. “WHAT THE HELL?” You shriek. “You’re so-!” “I know, I know.” Yuuta smirks before grabbing the key from you. “Let’s head to the next room, shall we?” The both of you unlock the door as Yuuta starts flipping through the cabinets. “(name), I think-(name)?” He turns his head, confused to see no one. All of a sudden, he hears a creepy singing behind the door he came from. Its high and weird, like a little girl speaking, which does definitely not sound like your voice. Although the singing is good, he’s too creeped out to appreciate it, so he takes a chair in self-defense and opens the door, surprised to see you. “(name)?? B-but y-your voice-“ “I have many talents yuuta.” He shudders as you speak in that voice again. “Where did you learn how to sing like that though?” You shrug mysteriously. “Let’s head to the next room, shall we?” You tease before giving him a kiss on the cheek. Damn, he loves you.

✰KASHIMO

Kashimo doesn’t doubt you. He really, really doesn’t but when you had signed up for the national singing competition rather than the city one first, he asked you to think twice before going onstage, the biggest performance of your life happening in 5 minutes. “Kashi I’m gonna be fine!” You reassure him. “(name), I mean this in the nicest way possible, don’t go.” It was then when he knew he struck a nerve. “Kashi, can’t you just support me for once?” You mumble. “I just…” he grits his teeth as he musters out the words. “I just don’t wanna see you get hurt. I’ve done the same thing before… rushing into battle before I’m prepared… and I paid the price. I don’t.. wanna see it happen to you.” You eyes soften instantly as you press a kiss on his cheek. “Kashi, I’ve trained for a long time… plus you’ll be here for me right?” You grin. “(name)? You’re on.” A staff member pushes you onto the stage and all Kashimo can do is pray that you won’t get hurt. But as soon as you start singing, Kashimo knows, he knows that his worrying was for nothing. You sing like a bird flapping its long and delicate wings, spinning and spiriting into the wind, as if it was really where you belonged to. He watches in amazement as you channel your voice to the highest note, the whole crowd screaming as you do. And as the judges clap and the audience cheers, a certain someone pushes the guards away and engulfs you in a tight hug, to show you how much you meant to him.

✰KAMO

“Kamo! I bought your favorite…!” It’s pretty funny seeing your once stoic boyfriend be reduced to a sniveling mess, but you can’t help but feel pity for him. “Babe *sniffs* s’ okay, I can do it myself-“ “Say ahhhhhh…” you tease as you serve a spoon into his mouth, airplane style, earning a blush from him. “Shut up…” He hissed. “I’ll go cook some more chicken soup, Kay? Gimmie a sec.” You left his side to serve another bowl, and that’s when Kamo heard the most beautiful melody of his life. It was bittersweet and kind, a smooth mixture of love and…home. When had he ever felt at home before? Probably only with his mom or you. Sure, his eyesight was blurry and he has a raging fever, but he’s pretty sure that that wonderful melody is coming from you. “(name)?” He whispers when you come back. “Hmmm?” You sigh as you feed him another spoon. “Can you sing that melody you were humming again? It was…nice.” You nod as you start humming along to the tune, head bobbing up and down. Perhaps being sick wasn’t so bad after all.

[tiredhermitgirl]

Thoughts on Gege’s writing

Disclaimer: if you have not read the manga please DO NOT read this if you don’t want spoilers. If you don’t care then you can read it if you like. Just in case I am putting SPOILERS, before I start.

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

As the manga continues to go on I have been going back and re-reading jjk and there are certain plot points that I have noticed in the beginning that have me questioning where Gege is going with this manga.

I want to preface this by saying that this is in NO WAY insulting Gege nor their writing AT ALL. They know what they want and how this story is going to end, we are just not privy to it.

With that being said, the more I think about the story, the more the story seems half-done to me? Like the way Gege sprinkles things in the story but then as the story progresses those plot moments mean nothing bothers me.

One of the big ones is the overarching theme of creating a jujutsu world where jujutsu sorceres are equal to Gojo. Gojo’s reasoning for becoming a teacher and recruiting students is because he wanted to create a new age of Jujutsu Sorcerers that could keep up with him and be his equals. A new era where jujutsu sorcerers don’t have to go through the same trauma and bullshit that he, Geto, Nanami and co. had to go through. It’s why after Geto, he recruited Megumi. It’s why he took Yuuta under his wing. It’s why he became a teacher.

But at the end of the day, all of his efforts were pointless. I know that sounds harsh but looking at the story now, to me, his whole recruiting of students with potential amounted to nothing and that really there was never going to be a new age of jujutsu sorcerers at his level. And it is partly because of Gojo himself.

Tbh I don’t even know why Gege had Yuuji as the main protagonist nor Megumi either because it is clearly the Gojo show. Neither Yuuji nor Megumi come even CLOSE to Gojo’s power and tbh I think Gojo was just trying to be nice or being delulu when he said Megumi or Yuuji could one day surpass him. Because the way Gege is handling the story and characters clearly indicate that that is NOT the case. Yuuta maybe but Yuuji and Megumi? NO. And I am not going to get into Nobara because that is a whole other topic.

But the other reason is because Gege never shows their potential to surpass Gojo. We see them level up sure but it is never a level up where the audience is like “oh yeah that can definitely defeat Gojo one day!”

And when you see people like Yuji or Megumi fight and they are struggling, you can’t help but think “We need Gojo. Gojo wouldn’t break a sweat with these villains.” So even if Megumi or Yuji accomplish their goal, it doesn’t really make a dent in the goal of surpassing Gojo because Gojo is leagues ahead and it is OBVIOUS. If I were to give a comparison, it is like when Tanjiro in Demon Slayer struggled so much to defeat Rui and got a level up and sliced his head, only for it to not work and Tomioka literally swooped in and chopped Rui’s head off without breaking a SWEAT. Like yay Tanjiro got a level up but he is still WAY behind in comparison to a Hashira. But what sets Demon Slayer’s theme of Tanjiro getting stronger is that the author drives the point across that the Hashira are not invincible. They are strong as hell but the next arc Rengoku dies. The arc after that Uzui gets maimed and retires.

We never see that with Gojo. Gojo is so strong that the villains’ only option was to seal him because they acknowledged that they could NOT defeat him.

This is getting too long but I have more thoughts about this. I will probably make a part 2 if anyone is interested. But yeah these were just my thoughts about the whole story.

Again! I am NOT trying to bash Gege nor their writing AT ALL. Every mangaka is different and just because they don’t follow a certain pattern doesn’t make their writing trash! I still really like jjk I am just putting my thoughts out there on certain things.

[ohheyjudesummers]

Pride Aside - Gojo Satoru fanfic

Generally, this story is Minors DNI. 18+ PLEASE (but this first part doesn’t rightly need a warning since its set in the past while they’re young with nothing inappropriate)

Fandom: Jujutsu Kaisen (As regular humans for the most part with little to no/nonexistent cursed energy or sorcerer ability. Some supernatural abilities are present).

Character: Gojo Satoru (As he is currently in JJK221 as of right now. Meaning some spoilers as far as his *New appearance* but not regarding the office JJK plot line story and character outcomes/circumstances)

Summary: It’s always come natural for you to look out for your little brother (by a couple of short years) and even his best friend, Gojo-or at least it used to come naturally when you guys were kids. Now as Adults, Gojo is womanizing, flippant, cocky, and tends to play agitator; and while you still care about him, sometimes it isn’t the easiest being around him.

Even so, you still care about Gojo. You’ve seen vulnerable sides of him that he’s never shared with anyone and provide a listening ear to him when he needed. You wouldn’t of quite described him as a second brother, but you did feel an attachment and appreciation toward him; and you imagined he felt the same.

So, for the life of you, you can’t figure out why his behavior has shifted toward you. His smile towards you always seems to have a hidden cruelness in it, his stare, if hes not busy overlooking you, feels as if tis piercing through you when no one is looking. And when-IF-he talks to you? its feels damn near condescending. It’s as if hes trying to make you annoyed on purpose to get a rise out of you…or maybe it’s something much more personal that he’s been harboring over the years.

General author’s note: If you've read any of my previous stories or even my original works, you'll know that I typically write stories with girls of my culture in mind (even if it’s X reader) so by default, my stories are black!coded /implied. While I can’t control who reads my work and I do write for the women in my culture to be represented and be included! Not necessarily to exclude anyone.

 I’m not typically against anyone reading my stories with respect . I believe people are capable of reading and enjoying interactive literature or general writings, even if the coded/implied “Y/N" or character doesn’t look like them (Especially since girls of my own culture have had to silently use their imaginations to feel included in stories coded for lighter audiences or readers) However, I will still continue to use and include black and POC fem tags to make it easier for my people to find stories. 

Also, my fanfiction stories can be found on both Wattpad and Archive of Our Own, as well as on Tumblr (all linked on my page). Thanks so much for reading!

Also like my other fan fictions, I’m not sure if there will be a second part to this one. it depends on both my imagination and the genuine responses/interactions towards it.

As of this moment (I’m writing this 4/20/2023* this is important cause as we know, Gege could add more info to the JJK universe) we don’t really know about Gojo’s family life in depth at this moment. but even so, the info written about his backstory in this fan fiction is crafted by me *along with some other info* and is no way associated with his actual official story.

Some notables in this chapter: Black!reader, Hockeyplayer!Gojo, Jock!Gojo, slight age gap as well. Slow burn, and a bit of fluff. Think of this chapter as building a foundation for the next installment. <3

❣

*Some time ago*

Even the gloomy gray skies outside your window couldn't keep you from smiling as you admired your masterpiece in front of you.

“Finally got it right! Drew is going to love this!” You gushed, slowly spinning the revolving cake stand.

It wasn't just years and passion that made you such a dedicated and aspiring baker, but the circumstances: it was your little brother's birthday tomorrow. Even though you loved your brother to death, you knew he could be a picky eater. While he's never complained about your baking, you didn't want to give him any reason to start. 

Before he left a few days ago to be with your father and his smother, he kept dropping hints at how much he wanted to try homemade Tres Leches cake topped with fruit. Most would have been annoyed with their younger sibling ‘pushing’ at them to work on their days off, you were silently grateful. Drew, as annoying as he could be, was actually quite considerate when it came to you. He had given you something to keep you occupied while he was away. Sure, you had your part-time job, but you were on break from classes and had more time to think about your late mother than usual this time of year.

Your step mother, Drew’s mom, was a nice lady and always open to you as a daughter, but she wasn’t your mom-not that you were looking for a replacement. You always found yourself apprehensive about family life as a whole. But at the same time wanting it. Because of this, you always got an array of conflicting feelings. Mainly, they consisted with being both content with being along in your apartment after Drew finished his stay (for however long he decided) and lonely when he went back home.

 Even though your dad wasn’t keen on the idea of you moving out so early when you just turned 18, he navigated through this as best as he could. He was always proactive in making sure you knew he was there and that Drew was allowed to stay over at your spacious apartment usually whenever. However, Drew’s schedule has become more rigid this holiday due to hockey practice. But now, he had some time spare and asked for a specially made cake- the perfect motivation for you to zone out  and kick you in gear.

The size you made in front of you wasn't overtly large compared to the other you had sitting in the fridge, which is fine considering this was a tester. You wanted to test the aesthetics Outside, it looked good; the perfect amount of  cream topping was added, and it didn't appear soggy. The only thing that made a frown twitch at the corner of your lips was the fruit topping, a cherry. It wasn't as if it weren't aesthetically pleasing. You actually liked the idea of adding fruit to the top; you just knew Drew didn't like cherries; he was more of a strawberry guy. 

“No worries, I’ll use the last few I have for the official cake in the fridge.” You say, lifting your spirits back up. “For now, it won't hurt to have some of this for myself." 

Just as you're about to pick up a nearby fork, a ripple of knocks comes at your front door. Your brows furrow as you take a glance at the clock: 7:30 p.m. Not inordinately late for someone to stop by, but one look outside the window would leave one to believe that not even delivery would feel inclined to go out in the sudden downpour.

More knocks come at the door, just as light but more rapidas the ones before. 

“Y/n? Are you home? It's me."

Me?

You recognize the voice.

Stepping away from the counter, you take the disposable mesh net off your head of curls, tossing it in the trash. Once you untie your waist apron and drape it on a chair, you step across your apartment's threshold to the front door. When you swing it open, you're met with a pair of piercing ocean blue eyes staring up at you.

Gojo. Drew’s best friend, and teammate on his hockey team. Drew did ask earlier this week if his friend could stay over for a bit. Even if, as a younger teen his independence was peculiar to you,  it wasn’t an anomaly for him to stay at your place shortly before Drew came by. Or to just sleep over entirely when he was here. You didn’t know exactly where Gojo’s family stayed but you  imagined it didn’t much matter since Drew did live a bit further than both of you. Because of this it was easier for Gojo to use your spot as a meeting place for himself. so, he tended to come over whenever he pleased.

On one end you didn’t mind this. But on another, Gojo’s free ability to roam wherever, was interesting from a certain perspective; a paternal one. From what you gathered, Gojo himself and his family weren’t really normal. You never bother to push on the subject. This was only because you didn’t notice any real red flags in his overall condition. His bottomless appetite *for sweets especially* you learned, was not out of malnourishment but more so gluttony (You’ve seen the size of his school lunches before. And he was always clothed and cleaned-even though he had this annoying habit of preferring to using the bath at your place. You didn’t know why at first, until you realized your favorite shea butter, honey scented body wash was depleting faster than normal. Initially you had suspected Drew but then you remembered his preference in scent was something more ‘manly’ as he put it.  

Be this as it may, He hardly seemed eager in elaborating on his mannerisms and family life. Maybe it didn’t matter much.

He always seemed in high spirits and overall fine. Much like now.

 A wide, Cheshire grin appears across his face—a typical greeting of him. 

“You’re here a bit early this time, Gojo. Drew doesn’t come back till tomorrow." You say as you observe his face. That’s when you pause. Wisps of his damp, snow white hair stick to his forehead, and his clothes are splotched with droplets. “Boy, d-did you walk here in the rain? Are you crazy? You'll get sick!"

Without a second thought, you grab his slender wrist and pull him into the apartment. You wait until you close the door behind him to turn your scolding gaze back in his direction.

“Why would your family let you walk in this weather? at this time especially? Could they not drive you?" 

“My family doesn’t care about what I do as long as I don’t skip on my studies.” Gojo chuckles, letting his backpack slide off his shoulder. 

A question edges itself at the tip of your tongue hearing him say this, but something stops you. Specifically, the sound of a soft ‘thud’ when his bag hits the floor. Actually, now that your eyes zero in on it, his bag looks rather full for more than a day or two stay like Drew had informed you it’d be.

“Why is your bag so heavy? What did you pack- Hey, what exactly are you doing?”  By the time you pull your eyes from the backpack, Gojo is no longer standing in your living room, but in the kitchen. Particularly near the counter where the Tres leches cake sits. 

Oh, you knew from previous events what he was thinking. Past experience had taught you that Gojo, like your brother, enjoyed your baking. However, unlike your brother, Gojo wasn't picky when it came to his food. Because of this, you *usually* enjoyed giving him the results of any recipes you were experimenting with, and he gladly inhaled accepted them. But sometimes it felt like feeding him had no end. That in itself could be exhausting for someone even if they liked to cook.  

“Do not touch that cake.”

“Huh? why not? It's just sitting here. Wait, is this…for me? Can I have it now?"

“Gojo, I like you, really, I do. But your sense of self-importance is beyond what I can comprehend sometimes.” you tell him, approaching his side. “You really think when I make sweets and Drew is not here that its always for you?”

Gojo's produces a ponderous, audible grunt with the tilt of his head. His gaze is fixed on the cake, and his fingers grip the stand as he slowly begins to rotate it. After a moment, he breaks from his awe-struck trance and looks over to you, “Well, not always. But this time, can I?” 

There’s  no real harm in allowing him to eat it. But you wanted it. How exactly could you explain that without sounding immature? Never mind that you two were still teenagers-you were still a little older. 

He’ll be fine this time around. it’s not like he absolutely needs it.

Even with your rationality, a thin slice of guilt swipes past you. You couldn't help it; you'd inherited a portion of your mother's nurturing mannerisms. 

At the same time, you couldn't see why Gojo couldn't just go out and buy one or have someone make it for him in his own family. This didn't apply to Drew; his predicament was different since no one in your father's household was a decent cook. You'd experienced more than one family dinner before coming to this conclusion yourself. Gojo, on the other hand, while he didn't speak forthrightly about his family dynamic, you could tell he was well-off enough to have someone buy him a cake made by the best pastry chefs in town

But you're not convinced he'd do something like that.

You'd grown to know Gojo as a confident young man since Drew introduced him to both street and ice hockey, and this was a fair assessment.

Gojo appears to be a talented young athlete, based on what you've seen so far. But that was the extent of his boasting—what he could offer in terms of physical ability. His usefulness when he was present. Not his finances . Money, could be replaced. But people—specifically, their abilities? Not so quickly. And Gojo was unquestionably of that nature.

Money, even if he hardly mentioned it, you knew it wasn't a concern for him. He always seemed to have more than he considered necessary, and his clothes were nice.

Aside from the water droplets on his clothes, his pale orange hoodie and loose black track pants appeared brand new and of high quality without even seeing the label. His demeanor was also relaxed, as if he didn't have a care in the world.

You clear your throat, pushing past the unsettling tenseness in your chest that usually accompanied with having to be firm. "No, you can't have this one. Not this time."

You expected Gojo to react with a joke or something witty. Instead, your gaze is drawn to his collapsing shoulders. And then he turns to look at you, his face a mix of uncertainty and hurt.

“But why? Drew said you usually make cakes for birthdays. Doesn't that mean I can eat this now?"

“Well, yeah. But it was a test for Drew's birthday. And I kind of wanted to eat it myself," You smile sheepishly. 

This discipline lesson was becoming far more trouble than it was worth, and his somber expression wasn't helping matters. You were on the verge of giving in and letting him have it. But Gojo shocks you with a terse head nod and a feeble smile.

 “Ok then. I'm gonna go wash up before bed. I know we have to set up for Drew's birthday tomorrow morning." Is all he says before going back into the living room to grab his bag and bolting down the hallway. 

You didn't realize the tension you'd been holding on your shoulders until you felt them sag at the sound of the bathroom door closing. 

Well, great. I feel like shit. 

Your sweet tooth had suddenly vanished, so you began cleaning up the small mess you had made in the kitchen area while cooking. But something catches your eye—a notification on your phone on the counter not far away.

Picking it up, you shuffle through some of them until your gaze is drawn to notifications from Drew that you missed earlier this morning.

I really need to be more prompt with these things. 

You sigh as you unlock your phone and read his messages.

Thnks for Gojo stay over! But do you think you can do me a huge favor? (ಠ_ಠ)

 I know it's last minute, but I'll pay you back and do dishes for the next two weeks!   before he swings l8ter today, do you think you could bake a small cake for him? When I was texting him earlier about how you make special cakes for my birthday, can you believe he asked me why? (⚆_⚆)

I thought he was joking around, but he told me he'd never done something like that in his family. something about how they acknowledge it as a hallmark in their family's history—whatever that means. But it’s not an actual moment they celebrate with or for him—they don't even give him a cake. 

I want to be there for it, but we're still driving back. Plus, today is the official day, and I want him to have something for himself. So please do me this solid! thanks! 〵(^ o ^)〴

oh..god. 

You placed your phone on the counter before clenching the area of your shirt where your heart was beating. In that moment, if it could sink, it would end up at the earth's core.

“Wait, is this for me?” His small voice of innocent curiosity-- It'd been genuine. Not out of self-centeredness, like you initially assumed. 

You wanted to give yourself some comfort by not believing someone would be so cold toward a child as to not give them a birthday celebration for the 14-going on 15- years they've been alive. You didn't want to believe someone who could literally be so sure of himself around his peers, and his abilities, was robbed of something so basic as human contact by his own family for that special day. 

But as you thought more about the matter, you realized you had to be realistic with yourself. With Gojo's mannerisms, and what little you know about his family, Drew's words about him didn't seem so farfetched. Not in the slightest.

You'd been blessed with some logical adults in your life; they'd taught you that multiple things can, on occasion, be true at once about an individual, whether they make sense to you or not. 

❣

Gojo emerges from the bathroom now wearing his pajamas after taking a much-needed hot bath. There was another special reason he felt better, in addition to the simple fact that his skin felt warm, fresh, and spotless. A small smile appears across his mouth as he breathes deeply while aiming his face at his shoulder. He presses his nose much more firmly against the softness of his shirt, to his shoulder. The scent of your body wash hits him; the aroma of flowers, sweet citrus fruit, and Honey—His new favorite scent since his visits at your house started—was delicate as well as prevalent.

It's almost like... She's hugging me. Honey.

The thought emits a dull ache in Gojo's chest. It's a strange reaction, along with the floating, warm feeling he gets whenever he's close to you. But it's not a new sensation; rather, it's been with him since the first time he saw you on the sidelines at one of Drew's street hockey games—before he knew either of you officially.

But Gojo never gave much thought into the feeling other than him appreciating your company to the point where he wanted to be around you more. Thankfully you allowed it without much question. yet, still, Gojo silently couldn’t help but feel it was a luxury he could never seem to be able to afford. Gojo loved Drew like a brother he’d never had, truly he did. But whenever he thought about Drew’s relationship with you for long, he could feel envy grip its cruel green fist around what felt like his heart. The tightness would increase Moreso when he thought about how Drew could have access to your time whenever.

Despite having more money than he knew what to do with, being applauded and acknowledged as a possible prodigy of hockey; He felt inadequate to his best friend simply because he had you. Not as an older sister, but as someone who was concerned and…loved him. But Gojo would do his best to hide this ugly side of him; always brushing it off as best he could and having a good time. Like now

Except for one difference.

For the first time since entering the corridor, Gojo noticed how quiet it was. In the past, even when it had just been the two of you hanging out, he would at least be able to hear you moving around the house.

“Y/n?” He calls for you, but gets no answer. puzzled, he steps further down the hall, just nearing the corner to round leading toward the kitchen archway-only to be stunned at the sight. 

“Happy Birthday!”

You beamed, holding a rectangular glass cake pan angled toward him. Gojo freezes at the sight in front of him. His blue eyes blink rapidly before locking back on toward the cake. It's similar to the one you told him he couldn't eat, with the whipped topping evenly spread out. Aside from being bigger, this one was thoughtfully topped with fresh strawberries along the frame of the cake. And in the middle, in red, carefully pipped lettering, were the words, "Happy birthday, Gojo!"

Even after seeing his name on the surface, Gojo, as self-assured as he depicted himself to be, began feeling unsure at the display. "I get to have a cake?”

“It's December 7th, isn't it?” You tease. “Of course, you should have a cake; today's a special occasion." Your smile widens as you set the cake down on the kitchen island. You motion for him to sit on the stool in front of the cake as you round the opposite side of the island, which he does.

Even though Gojo took long baths, you felt that the amount of prep time you had to make things to your liking was nonexistent. Granted, you already had this cake made with the intention of giving it to Drew tomorrow, so that cut time down by a bunch. But decoration wise? You wanted it to be a little more presentable with something besides a clean application of whipped topping. So, in your haste to finish the last-minute cake, you decorated it with strawberries and practiced piping a few fonts before writing on the cake itself. Everything was at least acceptable to you, but you could only find one box with a single red and white striped candle.

It'll do for now. 

You think, as you remove the candle from the box and gently insert it into the cake's surface. Gojo watches attentively as you grab a nearby lighter and angle it over the candle wick.

“You know, it's tradition to blow the candle out, but you have to make a wish first. You can ask for anything you'd like." 

“A wish...?” he repeats slowly, wrinkling his nose. “Why would I wish for something when I can just go and get it myself?"

Your lids lower.

Why am I not surprised that he would say something like that?

You fight the urge to  follow up his remark with something witty; that would be immature given the situation.

“Not everything is easy to get—that's why.”

“It doesn't need to be.” He shrugs lightly. “ I'll have it if I really want it.” 

It's so annoyingly amazing how this boy can be so innocent but at the same time so sure of himself. 

“Fine, Mr. Confident." You chuckle, lowering the lighter. “If you're so undoubtably confident that you don't need even an inkling of help from a wish to afford every luxury this world has to offer, then we don't have to—"

“Wait!” His hand clasps around your wrist suddenly. "I mean, we can still do it. For fun, I mean.”

Your brow furrows at the sudden change of heart. You're almost tempted to question him about it, but you quickly dismiss the idea. It didn't matter right now. 

The vivid orange flame peaks from the lighter with a soft 'click' and ignites the wick.

"If you need a second to think of your just-for-fun wish, you can give yourself a little time."

“I don't have to say it out loud either, do I?”

“You don't," you confirm with a kind smile. “Just close your eyes, think really hard about what you really want, and then blow out the candle.”

Even with your genuine patience, you can't help but notice the way his eyes fidget back and forth between you and the flame on the candle. Regardless of whether it's a harmless superstition that he claims he doesn't believe in, his body language towards this part puzzles you. Then, a faint pink rose to his cheeks. It's almost as if he feels embarrassed or protective of his superstitious beliefs being reveled to you.

Maybe he actually does have something unobtainable that he wants, but can’t admit it —boys are so stubborn. 

You think humorously. 

It wasn’t so hard to believe. you distinctly remember overhearing him and Drew once talking about some rare hockey trading cards weeks ago. 

But you weren't going to poke fun at him about it-even if it was a silly superstition, this was a moment—a hallmark for him...

His long, snow-white lashes flutter close as he leans forward slightly. His chest inflates slightly as he takes a breath, and he expels the flame in one whisk of breath. 

…cause in that innocent instant, neither of you knew how much of a hallmark that moment was and how it set off a butterfly effect promised to intertwine your lives for the long haul. 

❣

End note from the author:  I enjoy and appreciate comments, likes, reblogs (on Tumblr), and kudos (on AO3). I don't always have the spare time to respond back or properly view in a timely manner, but please know that I appreciate the interaction purely because I love sharing my imagination with people who enjoy the escape from reality <3 also, heres a pic of the vision I had of the budding hockey start Gojo

©JUDESUMMERS. Please do not copy, Translate, Plagiarize, or repost (sharing via link is excluded). This story is only uploaded on Tumblr, Wattpad and AO3. Anywhere else under any other name besides JUDESUMMERS is prohibited

[psychewritesbs]

Megumi, a character trope analysis because I should be adulting

This is in response to @we-are-living-graves:

Thanks for your patience. I vomit too many words for the Tumblr chat function so... you get a whole post to answer your question.

Come be a nerd with me below the cut...

Ah I just did the thing...

I compared Sasuke and Megumi because they share the same trope...

A trope is a literary concept meaning the repetitive use of a word, plot device, theme, image, or figure by an author. (source).

From a literary perspective, I like to think of a trope as a figurative metaphor for something that repeats itself in different media. 

Like... Sasuke and Megumi sharing superficial qualities about their characters.

The short answer to your question:

When it comes to Megumi, his temperament is defined by the trope, but his personality is very well-thought out and developed.

What trope?, you ask.

You know... THE trope...

THE trope

I’d say that at least in anime and manga, this character is defined by being quiet and aloof deuteragonist-kun (Aki from Chainsaw Man)...

This character is typically introverted and oftentimes possesses superior and natural talent or intelligence, especially when compared to the protagonist’s lack of talent and more extroverted personality (Kageyama Tobio from Haikyuu!!).

But more importantly, this trope is about a dynamic.

In other words, in this trope the character in question is the yin to the protagonist’s yang or vice versa (Nine and Twelve from Zankyou no Terror)...

Basically, their personalities are contrasted to one another.

As you might have seen, even the dark hair color appears to be a defining trait for this character trope.

But if you take the defining characteristics of the trope (like having black hair and an introverted personality) and create a character that fits this trope so that it is something an audience can easily recognize, but break the character mold by giving him a unique personality... that’s how you bring the character to life...

That’s how the character becomes a distinct sea-urchin head human with a distinct personality.

Because if you don’t break a character mold, well, that’s how you end up with a cliché--a one dimensional character that is strictly defined by the basic characteristics of THE trope (Gray from Fairy Tail)...

The difference between Gray and Megumi + the other characters I mentioned above, is that Gray doesn’t have a distinct multi-dimensional personality. His personality is THE trope: quiet and/or aloof, dark hair, introverted, the whole 9 yards... 

Ok, I do have to be honest, I never saw more than one episode of Fairy Tail so I really don’t know much about Gray’s personality other than he seemed like a 1-note character to me.

Compared to the above examples, Grey is not well-developed enough to think of him as a human.

But more importantly, there’s nothing distinct and fresh about Gray because Gray sticks to the trope’s boundaries.

On the contrary...

Aki proves that he can be quite a jerk and its because he’s a hard-worker who is so determined to reach his goal and even becomes the very thing he hated the most

Kageyama is incredibly naturally talented and ambitious, a bit on the anti-social spectrum and needs to learn to work with others while also being true to himself. Also, he sucks in academic matters

Nine is incredibly dry and appears to be unfeeling when in reality he truly cares about the people closest to him. He’s also a wickedly smart mastermind capable of manipulating behavior and other impressive feats

Megumi is... well... Megumi is Megumi

Megumi breaking the mold is in the little details and psychological

I think Gege is approaching characterization through a Psychology lens because he’s really good at expressing personality--the ego self.

So you’ll find that Gege reveals the sense of self that a character has through their behavior, thoughts and what they say just as much as they are defined by their character trope.

So, yes, Megumi is quiet and aloof and cares a lot (like the trope), but have you noticed what moves Megumi’s heart?

And how he shows he cares?

Sometimes he even acts mean and somehow it still manages to show how much he cares...

It may not look like it, but Megumi is a softy.

And even though he is naturally talented and possesses a superior intelligence (just like the trope), have you noticed how much he second guesses himself?...

Compared to what he looks like and how he behaves when he re-defines his sense of self and realizes that he can accomplish more than he thought was possible...

Honestly, I’m having such a hard time explaining this because Megumi is THE trope and yet he breaks the mold by not being defined by it and by being unequivocally... Megumi.

He has a distinct personality and will simultaneously always remind you of that one other character with the same trope (i.e. I’ve heard a name from the HxH manga a lot but am not familiar with the character, is it Kurapika?).

Gege gets it.

Megumi isn’t just introverted, Megumi’s introversion is a metaphor for his Cursed Technique--he hides parts of himself in the shadows.

And the way he crawls out of the shadows when you least expect him to?

It’s kind of nightmarish and I love him all the more for it.

He is also surprisingly nosy and childish...

And at the same time he’s incredibly mature for his age.

Or how in the beginning of the manga, his Divine Dogs can be considered metaphors for his polarized, black and white thinking until White Dog is destroyed and is absorbed by the Black Dog. 

Emblem XLVII The Wolf from the East and the Dog from the West savaged each other. (Source)

And how Kon, a synthesis of the two Divine Dogs, appears to channel Megumi’s emotional self. 

Not to mention that Kon is an alchemical metaphor for the process of turning Gold into Lead (I may be using the wrong terminology). So on top of everything I’ve shared about Megumi, Kon might say a lot about how his character changes and grows.

Emblem XXIV  The Wolf devoured the King and, cremated, restored him to life. (Source)

And like this... there’s so many more examples.

Honestly, I’ve always loved how multi-dimensional Megumi is while still getting a coherent sense of what his character is about.

Maybe what I’m trying to say is that Megumi is both predictable and unpredictable as a character.

What makes him predictable is the trope that defines him.

And what makes him unpredictable are the little details about how Megumi behaves, what he says, how his backstory defines who he is as a person in the present moment, and how he navigates his life as a result of the events that defined his way of interacting with the world.

Anyways, in the end, everything I wrote about Megumi is headcanon. Someone might have a different interpretation of his personality based on how they perceive the world, and yet we’d both agree on one thing... 

Megumi is quiet and aloof deuteragonist-kun.

Ah, I really do hope that made sense! And thanks for your patience while I got around to answering your question.

I also wasn’t sure of how much you know about literary tropes so I went ahead and included the bit about that anyways.

[gojo-kisser-9000]

Yeah that’s why I appreciate Gege making Gojo a little racist and apologizing immediately for it. He has always been very critical of Japanese society and I like that he’s trying to teach his audience how to not be racist using a popular character.

Straight up manga and anime is usually very racist. Especially against black people. I get jumpscared a lot. The only other popular manga series that has acknowledged the plight of black people against racism is Baki the Grappler. So I really have to give props to Gege for this.

And boy howdy do I know how racist Japan is. I went to Hawaii for a vacation once and of all the nationalities present, I was exclusively racially harassed by the Japanese tourists. I was like exotic wildlife to them. Never experienced anything like it. Straight up I prefer slurs over it. 💀

Gege is an INCREDIBLE writer when it comes down to it, sure there are some iffy things, but that just comes to the territory of writing, especially with the tropes that are popular for the audiences you mainly write for.

Do I agree with a some of the things Gege has done with JJK? Absolutely not, but here’s the other thing, the full story isn’t finished, so I’m not going to judge it as harshly as I would with one that’s finished. But the topic of racism, for the audience it was intended for, was written beautifully. And I appreciate it so, SO much that Gege is using their writing to advocate for change within societal norms, even if it isn’t blatantly spelled out.

However I see a lot of people, specifically people who are not black saying that Gojo wasn’t racist in that panel. Which brings me to my problem with a lot of the JJK fans I’m seeing:

They don’t actually read Jujutsu Kaisen. They don’t take in the words being said, everything about a character is ignored until it’s convenient for them to bring up. What most of these people I’m seeing do is read it without reading.

And what I mean by that is that they don’t take the time to process anything being said, they don’t take the time to critically think about what Gege is doing.

Ex.: the people complaining about Sukuna running a gauntlet in the modern era. Yes, it is repetitive, but that’s the beauty of it in the same breath. You see so many people fighting him, for their own reasons. But one reason stays between them all, to save Megumi.

Which leads me to this, back when 251 dropped people complained about Megumi having a reaction to his body being used to kill the people he cared most about. He’s human, and a CHILD. Of course he would say it’s enough, he wouldn’t want to be save after that because in his mind, he doesn’t have anyone to return to.

And people insulting Gege’s current art style, specifically whenever i see someone say “Yuji Eatadori”. Sorry that he doesn’t look like a twig anymore?? He’s literally built as an average person and people CANNOT handle it. It just. Makes me so upset.

Back to the topic of racism however, (apologies for the side quest), people have it so normalized in certain places that they don’t even think they’re capable of it. And when called out, they won’t apologize because in their head, “well I didn’t say this, this, and this, so I can’t be racist.”

I do have my own thoughts on tourism to Hawai’i, but that is solely because I am of Hawaiian descent and never got to be on the islands except for when I was an actual infant. Won’t get into that here because. I think it would upset people if they ever saw this post.

[musicalcompanions]

Sorry that came off as standoffish. I do see where you’re coming from. I should’ve rephrased.

Gege wants Jujutsu Kaisen to end soon. But he also wants it to end in a way he likes and will do whatever he can to get there quickly. He probably doesn’t care what we think.

Oh don’t worry, sorry if I misread your question.

But I agree with you. Gege wants it over quickly and doesn’t care about what we want.

I actually think this is part of what made JJK so good and popular in the first place: Gege was never afraid to take risks and kill off beloved characters if that suited the narrative regardless of what the audience might think.

That’s completely fine for an author to do, it’s his work, he can develop it however he wants and shying away from audience interference can be great at times, but that doesn’t mean we can’t point out if we have issues with the current story and characters progression, including if it feels like the author is racing to the end.

I guess all we can hope for is a good ending atp… and by good I mean internally consistent with the world building so far, because I don’t think many people are getting what they want :’)

[highpriestessofjogan]

Every once in a while I’m not in the mood to write fiction...

Sometimes I like to do literary analysis for funsies, or, surprisingly enough thanks to the content of this post, music analysis as well.

When I first watched Guardian, there was one song that stood out to me more than most of the others from the OST.  It was always used in the scenes with more emotional weight, and was so haunting that it lingered in my mind long after the scene had passed.  Once I was able to hunt the soundtrack down on Amazon (a feat that was much more difficult than it should have been imho) I came to learn that this song was actually Shen Wei’s theme.  Shen Wei’s theme was in all of the emotionally hard hitting scenes and haunted me for long after the show had finished.

One day I was driving to work and I was just looping it over and over for my entire commute.  It’s an hour long commute ya’ll.  Just that song, over and over and over (and I’ve played it for several hours on a loop before and I have no doubt I will do it for many more times to come, this song is beautiful and haunting and I love it to death).  As I listened I started to make some realizations, and as those realizations came to light it left me even more heartbroken than originally.

The Shen Wei OST is a perfect character journey.  It tells his story in a way that words simply could not come close to.  I’ve tried to sum up my best analysis of this song and what it means, and I’m sure I don’t even come close to what Luo Kun intended when he composed the song, but I hope that he would at least agree I have parts of it right.

I’m going to put the actual analysis beneath a “Read More” so please, drop me a line if you like what you read or if you want to discuss it further.  I’d love to chat about this!  It’s broken up into five distinct movements that I think relate to different points in Shen Wei’s life, and I should mention that this is looking at the character purely from the perspective of the drama.  At some point I might go back and see if I can tie it into the novel at all, but that has not been taken into consideration here.

I’d like to state above the cut that my thanks go out to @elvencantation and @eirenical for looking over my initial drafts and giving me their opinions and helping with musical instrument identification.  I might come back and clean this up someday, but for right now, I wanted to get something out there for everyone to read.  I hope that you enjoy it.

Part I. Gege (0:00 - 0:35)

There is a very melancholy feel to the song, but it also has the quiet grace and strength that the audience can always associate with Shen Wei.  This is the beginning of his journey though.  This is a young boy caring for his brother.  A boy who tries to protect and is cast aside, thrown down to the dirt, and returns too late to save the one remaining person still precious to him.  The beginning of this song paints the picture of a solitary figure against the horizon, short in stature from age and inexperience, a blade much too big gripped in too small a hand.  The piano solo here emphasizes his lone search for his brother and hoping against all hopes that he might one day find him and the two of them could be reunited. 

Part II. Xiao Wei (0:36 - 1:08)

At 37 seconds in the strings make their entrance.  I like to think it was a deliberate choice to have Zhao Yunlan pick up the violin during the Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi case, because I firmly believe the strings in this soundtrack are supposed to represent Zhao Yunlan just as the piano represents Shen Wei.  These 32 seconds represent the Shen Wei that we see during episodes 34 and 35 in Ye Olde Haixing Era.  A bright eyed energetic young warrior who cares about his men despite his position.  He hides his fear behind a mask, under a hood, and does what he can to help in the war.  But here is also when Kunlun arrives.  A famous general who miraculously takes an interest in HIM.  And what has he done to warrant such attention? The kindness that he is shown here helps to shape him, mold him into a stronger warrior, a stronger person, but it will be millennia before he will learn why Kunlun saw him for the person he was rather than the blade and power he wielded.

The strings here do not try to overwhelm the piano here, even though they easily could.  Instead they seem to try to entwine with the notes from the piano and guide them.  It’s a graceful dance between the two that represents the close partnership that Shen Wei and Kunlun shared during the war.

Part III. The Black Cloak Envoy (1:09 - 1:39)

This part of the song is particularly interesting to me.  The piano is still present, but the tune has changed, the same for the strings, but now the sounds of a woodwind have joined the other two.  It’s at this point Shen Wei has woken up after 10,000 years.  He’s thrust into a new world that he must learn, and a Dixing that is far worse off than he ever imagined it would be.  He is a legend, but he does not try to take power.  His duty is still his to fulfill, but he does not seek to take power aside from that.  This is the new life that he forges for himself, from who he was as a boy, to who Kunlun helped him become, but this is something he creates to survive in a world that is unfamiliar to him.  

Now he is not needed as just a blade, although he will be that when it is necessary.  Now he can pursue his love and inherent gift for learning.  This is the man who emerges from the ground and takes up bioengineering as a field of study.  This is the person who befriends Cheng Xinyan and probably has more than one or two study sessions with her.  This is the college student that I’m sure was dragged to at least one karaoke night to blow off some steam, and may have discovered his aversion to alcohol that same night.  This is someone who lived.

Part IV. Professor Shen (1:40 - 2:11)

The woodwind fades out and we are left with the string and the piano once more.  The string though is more like the tide, pushing and pulling against the piano, but that is very fitting for the section of the song, and Shen Wei’s life, that Zhao Yunlan is introduced into.  The strings surge forth and ease back, pushing Shen Wei for answers, but also easing back when he seems ready to break.  The piano has returned to its tune from the first two movements, and it’s probably due to the uncertainty that Zhao Yunlan has brought into his life.  Why has Kunlun suddenly reappeared and why is he acting like he doesn’t know who Shen Wei is?  Why does Da Qing not remember him?  In the face of these questions he retreats to who he was before, until he can determine what the best course of action to take is.  If Kunlun is testing him or doesn’t remember too he doesn’t want to risk the chance that the man will not recognize him.  This could be why we see the fond smiles and confused blinks, aspects that are so inherent to his character.

Part V. Shen Wei (2:12 - End)

I’m not going to lie, it was coming up with this part that really broke my heart.  The strings remain, but fade to the background and are only faintly known.  The piano has returned, and is at the forefront once more with no question as to who the lead is.  Through all the changes in his life, he has come to realize who he truly is.  He is a brother who is afraid he has failed his twin.  A warrior and leader afraid he has failed his people.  A man afraid that he will lose everything, but willing to make that sacrifice to save his friends and family, to keep the man he loves safe.  He is no longer just a blade to be used.  He has a purpose, one that has not been forced on him but that he has chosen for himself.  

This is the Shen Wei who decides to use the light energy from Zhao Yunlan to make himself a living bomb.  The man who decides that if his brother cannot be made to stand down then he will force him to.  This is the man who looks into the eyes of his lover as he lays bloodied and broken on the ground, who sees all that they could have had in their lives, and silently begs forgiveness even as he makes the ultimate sacrifice.  

And then the song fades out with the slowing piano notes, just as Shen Wei’s life ends with the slowed beating of his heart...

[handlewcaare]

Cruel and Mean: A literary analysis between Gege and ONE

(⚠️⚠️⚠️spoilers for JJK and the OPM webcomic ahead⚠️⚠️⚠️)

So, after spending most of my winter break reading Jujutsu Kaisen and catching up on the latest chapters, I can wholeheartedly say that it is one of my favorite horror stories—key word: horror—since Junji Ito’s works. The reason as to why I would say that is because Gege is fantastic at disarming you.

When you initially read JJK, you think it’s going to be a normal Shounen: the MC is going to become this overpowered wizard with the nine-tailed Curse King locked inside of him and he’ll overcome his trauma of swinging on a lonesome swing set with the power of friendship. I mean, what with its pace and its comedy being borderline hilarious / mob psycho-esque; it should be at least merciful!

It is not.

That’s why, when a character unexpectedly dies or sustains fatal wounds, it’s absolutely gut-wrenching. Gege’s cruel reminder—one that slices open your tendon when you let your guard down—is that this is not a Shounen story, but a horror one. It’s what makes JJK gripping and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Even for characters seemingly invincible like Gojo or Yuji, there is always a risk in this Russian roulette, but it’s always for the betterment of the character.

As sweet as Junpei was, he was—unfortunately—the beaten white cat that essentially teetered Yuji’s development (for better or for worse). He was just the tip of the iceberg in which Yuji realized that there is little to no mercy to behold onto those who will be cruel to you, regardless of your honest intentions. Even if you beg a cursed spirit to help you heal your friend, he will refuse and mock you. Even if you tell a cursed spirit that you just want to exorcise them, they will kill you and your loved ones without a second thought.

You are no longer human in his eyes.

Then you have ONE. His reminders aren’t necessarily cruel as they are mean. Such example lies within MB’s survival in the latest chapter in the Webcomic or how Garou didn’t end up being split apart by atoms from Saitama’s punch.

a necessary punishment for you to do better.

In the case of MB, ONE’s punishment is a practical slap on the wrist / a horrible sense of foreshadowing by Gege. Had he never wrote it, MB would have been a horrible reminder to not simply blaze through your opponents and if you did—you would die or, worse, become a cyborg without a sense of autonomy.

The closest I’ve ever seen ONE become cruel was during the Mogami arc in mp100. It placed Shigeo in an environment eerily similar to JJK where he lived in a powerful world without an increment of his incredible powers. He was berated, bullied, beaten without the assuring presence of Reigen or Ritsu or Teruki.

Relentless cruelty

The difference between the Mogami Arc vs the events that transpires in JJK is how ONE allows Mob to get back up. Suddenly, after he tells Minori he doesn’t care about what her father will do to him, he gains this sense of courage that only accumulated and bubbled over when he finally got fed up with Mogami’s charades. He could have snapped at any moment, let his ESP surge through the illusion and give the old bastard a run for his money. However, he didn’t because of those closest and dearest to him; the constant reminders that he was not Mob because he was powerful, but because he was... well... Mob!

Take some notes Gojo.

Even when ONE is cruel, he gives his protagonist some room to breathe and additionally blossom from what troubles they face. Mob still managed to save Minori and it shows a true determination of his character and how enriching Mob Psycho is when it comes to providing hope in usually hopeless situations.

To add, you see similarities between Yuji and Nanami’s relationship and Mob and Reigen’s. Reigen and Nanami consistently remind them that they should not be held accountable for adult responsibilities. Mob shouldn’t have to resort to belligerence if he would want to talk them down first. Just as Yuji doesn’t have to be subjected into killing cursed spirits.

In the case of mp100, it is respected and adhered to. In the case of JJK, it is repulsed and punishable. They both teach the audience the same lesson in the end, but how the character responds to that change is what is effective in both works. Be it that you sprout a little courage in your heart or you swear to be just a cog in a cruel machine.

[adhd-wifi]

MDZS Modern AU Fic Tips (Names & Stuff)

So I asked a while back if anyone was interested in some fic tips for writing Chinese modern AUs, and y’all seemed enthusiastic. But...when I tried putting it all in a single post it got...really...really long...

So I split them into a bunch of posts (Yes I copy-pasted this intro on all of them because I’m lazy)! Here are the links:

Names & Stuff (You are here)

Modern Chinese Cultural Stuff

Superstitions & Beliefs 

Festivals

Living in China

Anyways, these are based off my experiences living in Singapore and China, and I hope these posts are helpful. On to it. 

Names & Stuff

Always try to use at least two character-names (at least two syllables). Go with “A-Yuan”, “WuXian”, “Jiang Cheng”, and not things like “Yuan”, “Wei”, “Cheng”. It’s weird. Please don’t. I have literally never met a Chinese person with a single-character name in my entire life.

Please don’t use “Sanren” as a surname. It’s a descriptive title that isn’t in use anymore. Make up a family name for CangeSe Sanren and BaoShan Sanren if they’re modern people in your fic. (Though if BaoShan Sanren is still immortal in your fic you can use it.)

“OuYang” is OuYang ZiZhen’s surname. Two-character family names are pretty uncommon, especially in modern times, but they exist. I’m mentioning it cuz I was asked about it a “few” times lol.

On the courtesy VS birth names thing, try to pick one or the other for general use (preferably birth names since they actually sound like names you would give babies lol), or simply make your modern AU have courtesy names as a thing. Personally though, I think it’s not really a big deal as long as the audience knows who you’re talking about. Most fic readers don’t seem to care too much.

It’s perfectly normal for Chinese people nowadays to refer to each other without the family name if they’re acquainted with each other, so “HuaiSang”, “WangJi” etc is fine. If they’re strangers though, use full names. (Friendly parties sometimes still use full names to be polite though. Classmates & colleagues might use full names.)

I would still recommend you use the character’s full names when it’s the narrator talking, unless your fic is in first person

Try not to use “Shijie” or “Shixiong” or anything like that in a modern AU. Stick to “jiejie / a-jie”, “gege / ge / da-ge”, or just use “brother/sister” etc. I’d also recommend using “gege” when Lan Zhan is referring to Lan XiChen, simply because it’s more normal nowadays, but you can use “xiong-zhang” if you want to show their family’s strict & traditional formalities. Assuming you’re using pinyin in the fic. 

On a related note, “Da-ge” (Eldest Brother) / “Er-ge” (Second Brother) etc is usually only used when there’s more than one brother involved within the family. However, you can refer to a non-family member as “Da-ge” on his own. Same thing with “Da jie” (Eldest sister).

BTW, as far as I know, (Mandarin) Chinese doesn’t really have a casual gender-neutral word for a single sibling. So if you have characters who use gender-neutral terms just stick with writing it all in English (or whatever language your fic is in). That being said, keep in mind that I am (probably) a cis person who doesn’t live in China full time, so there may be some Chinese gender-neutral terminology I’m not aware of and/or can’t find because I don’t actually go on Chinese social media much. :X 

Keep in mind that if you use pinyin in your fic, don’t type “Miss/Ms” as “xiao jie” in casual settings with women the characters don’t know. While it’s not TECHNICALLY an incorrect translation, in some parts of China, calling a stranger-woman “xiao jie” is sort of slang-speak for calling her a prostitute in a derogatory manner (at worse). For example, if you call for a waitress by saying “xiao jie”, it CAN be considered really rude for this reason. There are acceptable and polite ways to use “xiao jie”, but honestly please just use the English “Miss/Ms” to be safe

[aspiratixxn]

POV for the no excuses writing meme if you want to!!

POV: something that’s already happened, retold from another character’s perspective

[Writing meme]

This is from Ink Spills! Specifically in Chapter 5 when WWX draws LWJ. I hope you like it!  [AO3]

Xian-gege is really happy today. He sings when he’s making dinner and dances around in the kitchen, even though he tells A-Yuan not to. It’s okay though, A-Yuan likes seeing him happy. It’s much better than when Xian-gege has sad, droopy eyes and not-smiles on his face.

A-Yuan likes talking with Xian-gege. He likes talking about his day and telling him about how Li-jiejie and A-Ling and him made bread together and how it was fun sitting and watching the dough rise to be thiiiiiis big. “I made a turtle! And A-Ling made a flower except it kind of looked like a ball and jiejie made a much prettier flower but it’s okay because A-Ling’s flower tasted really good.” A-Yuan likes seeing Xian-gege smile and laugh. It’s better than when Xian-gege looks tired and sad.

Xian-gege hefts A-Yuan up onto his hip, carrying him around as they talk. A-Yuan used to be confused when this happened, especially because it seemed to happen the most when Xian-gege was tired. But Xian-gege always reassured him that it was because he wanted to keep talking but also hug and cuddle A-Yuan. Sometimes Xian-gege couldn’t stay still and A-Yuan understood getting the twitchies.

A-Yuan half yanks Xian-gege when the door sounds. “Is A-Ling here?” he asks, absolutely mortified because if A-Ling was coming over he should have known and wore his little onesie that Li-jiejie made so they could match and if they’re not matching then A-Ling would be mad and-

“No, it’s not A-Ling,” Xian-gege laughs and kisses A-Yuan’s forehead. “This is gege’s friend.”

A-Yuan knows that Xian-gege has a lot of friends because he has a lot of jiejies and geges who come to take care of him. “Is it Qing-jiejie and Ning-gege?”

Xian-gege just shakes his head and opens the door.

“Rich-gege!” A-Yuan cheers, already extending a hand out. Rich-gege looks a little taken aback for a moment but he cautiously gives over a hand and allows A-Yuan to grasp it, pulling him in. Xian-gege sets him down on the ground, ruffling his hair and gesturing them in. “Rich-gege come see!”

A-Yuan tugs the tall man forward as his Xian-gege retreats to the kitchen. He has so much to show to new gege, everything from his favorite toys to his doodles he was working on before dinner. Rich-gege clumsily sits on the floor and A-Yuan plops himself right into his lap, explaining how Xian-gege and him were designing a pretty musical tattoo. Rich-gege doesn’t say much but he murmurs questions once in a while and A-Yuan likes listening to him speak.

It smells really good. Sweet in the air and A-Yuan pushes himself up, earning a somewhat forceful exhale from rich-gege beneath him. “Xian-gege!”

“A-Yuan,” he greets while closing the fridge.

“Can I help?”

“Actually I think it’s time for bed A-Yuan?”

A-Yuan pouts but after studying the clock fiercely, he relents. “Okayyyy.” He gives his little grabby hands and Xian-gege gives him a giant hug, nuzzling his cheeks until he giggles hysterically. A-Yuan is a good boy so he wanders off by himself to the bathroom. He picks up his favorite strawberry flavored toothpaste and brushes diligently, letting a little sand timer run until the top is empty. With a mouthful of foam, he giggles before spitting and rinsing his mouth with water.

“Xian-gege! Tell me a story!”

A-Yuan loves this time of night. It’s story time and that’s his favorite time because Xian-gege tells the best stories, full of wonder and heroes and villains and family. A-Yuan especially likes how they’re all painted on Xian-gege’s skin in beautiful, bold dark lines. Today he has a bigger audience, with A-Yuan and rich-gege listening. A-Yuan has probably pointed to every single tattoo on those arms but somehow the stories are always different, always intriguing. His favorites are about Hanguang-jun, who lives in the mountains.

Today he points to the phoenix. He likes those stories a lot too, even though they’re always a little sad. They remind him of something though he doesn’t quite know what. Xian-gege is a good story teller. Every detail makes A-Yuan’s face contort with vivid emotion, tiny hands grasping rich-gege’s pants tightly. But of course Xian-gege always has a happy ending in store and A-Yuan is smiling soon enough, leaning back against rich-gege with a big grin. When the story ends, A-Yuan makes sure to clap loudly because he wants Xian-gege to know how much he loved listening. He tries to clap loud enough to make the sad slump of Xian-gege’s shoulders go away. Maybe he should have picked another story tonight.

Xian-gege gives him a smile but A-Yuan doesn’t believe it. Still, he giggles at the barrage of kisses Xian-gege peppers all over his face as he’s lifted into those comforting arms. A-Yuan makes sure to give Xian-gege back just as many kisses, on his cheeks mostly but trying hard to get to his forehead and landing sometimes on his chin.

A-Yuan’s not sleepy but he’s a good boy so he quietly gets tucked into bed. Xian-gege doesn’t often sing but when he does, A-Yuan always sleeps a little better. He holds out a hand expectantly and Xian-gege takes it in his own big one, the warmth ever comforting as A-Yuan closes his eyes and lets himself be lulled to sleep by the soft, rough melodies that Xian-gege hums. He hopes that tomorrow he can make Xian-gege feel happy too.

[yilingradishfairy]

Chasing Chaos (2631 words) by SakuraKage Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: 魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù, 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī/Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn Characters: Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī, Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Lán Yuàn | Lán Sīzhuī, Lán Jǐngyí Summary:

This fic is about Wei Wuxian, Bringer of Chaos, and Lan Wangji, Chaser of Chaos. Or two times Wei Wuxian unintentionally calls the Chief Cultivator to his aid, and one time he did it intentionally. (Also, a Birthday Surprise for Lan Zhan ^_^)

Written for Wangji Week 2020

Day 4 – Wherever the Chaos Is

So, I recently learned what a 5+1 fic is!  This … is not that.  Well, I guess it is, if you squint at it and also you’re bad at math.  But hey!  Two plus one equals three which is always better than none, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  It’s a little confused, but it’s got the spirit lol

The first time that Chief Cultivator Lan heard that Wei Wuxian was stirring up trouble, he set off immediately to lend assistance.  To which party, his Council was not privy to, but they could guess.   “Wei Ying?” “Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying’s head popped out from the dirt mound, his hair tangled and clothes in disarray.  Lan Wangji noted the way his eyes lit up upon recognizing his beloved and hoped that Wei Ying could recognize the same elation in him.  Three months had truly been too long.   Wei Ying led him behind the dirt pile, calling out, “Hang on, Lan Zhan!  I’m almost done with this!” Lan Wangji watched patiently, interpreting each of the talismans that Wei Ying was arranging.  The seal array was intricate, but not demonic in nature.  As usual, the rumors appeared to be much nastier than the truth.   Finally, Wei Ying fully emerged from the dirt heap and bounded over to Lan Wangji.  “So, what is the illustrious Hanguang Jun doing in a place like this?  Shouldn’t you be busy doing Chief Cultivator stuff?” “Am doing,” Lan Wangji agreed with a curt nod.  “Investigating.”   “Investigating what?” Wei Ying asked, leaning forward to bump his shoulder against his beloved’s.  Lan Wangji looked down in surprise at where their shoulders had touched, amazed at the wave of longing that passed through him.  How he missed the easy touching that Wei Ying always instigated.  But his beloved must have misinterpreted the look, because he hastily pulled back, apologizing, “Sorry, Lan Zhan, I’m a mess right now.”   He patted his clothes down and pushed his hair messily behind his shoulder, as if that would help.  Lan Wangji felt his lips twitch into a fond half-smile, and he reached out to tug the twisted hair ribbon out of his beloved’s unruly hair.  “Ridiculous,” he judged, as Wei Ying willingly turned around at Lan Wangji’s silent request.   Wei Ying barked out a laugh.  “Yeah, I guess I look pretty ridiculous.”  He waved his arms around to encompass his disheveled form, from the ripped clothing to the layer of mud to the hair he was currently fixing.   “No,” Lan Wangji clarified, carefully tugging the hair into his favored style.  “Your words are ridiculous.” “My words?” he questioned.  He tilted his head, unmindful of the ponytail Lan Wangji was trying to tame his hair into.   “Wei Ying is always a mess,” he replied simply.   “Ahahahaha!” Wei Ying doubled over in laughter, pulling away from the knot Lan Wangji had just finished tying his hair ribbon into.  “Lan-er-gege has developed a sense of humor in the months I’ve been away.  How unfair that I have missed it!”   “Mn,” Lan Wangji murmured, ignoring the flush he could feel crawling up his ears.   “I guess Chief Cultivator Lan needs it, having to deal with those old windbags all day!”  Wei Ying straightened, and Lan Wangji’s eyes were drawn to the ponytail that was still defiantly askew.  “Speaking of, I can’t believe your Council lets the Chief Cultivator come out to random night hunts, all alone and unprotected.  Surely the cultivating world wouldn’t survive a day without you to lead it,” Wei Ying grinned impishly.   “Can survive,” Lan Wangji assured him.  “Needed to verify rumors about Wei Ying.” "So you dropped everything and traveled all this way for this small matter."  Wei Ying shook his head.  “So this is what they meant about chasing the chaos,” he muttered under his breath.  "How did you hear about this?"   "Lan Sizhui's report," Lan Wangji answered.   "Oh, right.  The Zhangs' servant probably…" Wei Ying trailed off, the gears in his mind turning rapidly in a way that had always uniquely enchanted Lan Wangji.   "The whole thing got blown up out of proportion, anyway.  You see, Lan Zhan, the daughter had run away, and the cousin got in a bit of a bad spot with a demonic cultivator, who somehow ended up finding…" Wei Ying rambled, detailing the convoluted Zhang family drama as he led Lan Wangji back to the Zhang Manor.   After checking with the family and verifying that everything was taken care of, Lan Wangji asked where Wei Ying was headed to next.   He hurriedly shook his head, assuring him, "Oh, Hanguang Jun doesn't have to worry about me!  Your Wei Ying is safe and happy, traveling the world."  Not as happy as I would be with you, goes unsaid, but they both understood.   Lan Wangji disputed, “Always have to check on Wei Ying.”   Wei Ying shook his head again and reiterated, “Lan Zhan, really, you don't have to trouble yourself anymore.  You're the Chief Cultivator!  You can't just hop Bichen for every far-flung rumor!" He playfully admonished.   "Bichen is fast." Wei Ying just laughed sadly.  "I know.  Still, you have people for that!  You need to go rest or attend to your thousands of duties or whatever you need to do.  Don't you worry about me.”   Lan Wangji stared into his earnest face.  He hardly wanted to walk away from him after seeing him again for the first time in three months … but it looks like the Zhangs’ issues have been resolved, and he should probably head home to his piles of work.  “Wei Ying is certain?”   “Yeah,” Wei Ying smiled sadly.  “Chief Cultivator is a big responsibility.  Everyone else needs you more than I do.”  

---

The second time that Chief Cultivator Lan heard that the upstart Yiling Laozu was back at it again, he absently wondered if it was intentional.  After all, night hunting is the only activity during which he, as Chief Cultivator, can come down from the Council and mingle with the common people.  And it's the only activity during which he and Wei Ying get to see each other.  His Council did not particularly care if the Yiling Laozu was baiting him or not, but they were certainly sending along chaperones bodyguards from now on.  Even if the only volunteers they could get this time were Hanguang Jun’s own son and his best friend.   "Wei-qianbei!" Lan Wangji watched his son jump up in the middle of their meal to rush through the crowded inn and greet Wei Ying.  Lan Jingyi raced after his best friend, and Lan Wangji began rearranging the food on the table for a fourth person.   “A-Yuan!  Lan Jingyi!  What are you two doing here?” he heard his beloved ask them.  “Are yo- Lan Zhan!”  Wei Ying finally spotted Lan Wangji at the corner table.  Time seemed to slow down as they drank in the sight of each other.   Wei Ying recovered his speech almost immediately though.  "Oh, Lan Zhan, it's so good to see you out and about again!  How did the busy Chief Cultivator get out of his duties this time?" He teased, rushing over to sit by him.  "Looks like the Elders wisened up and sent along some fierce bodyguards to protect you.  Not that the mighty Hanguang Jun needs protecting."   "Mn," Lan Wangji agreed absently, busily fixing Wei Ying a cup of tea.  "Did not like my being alone last time." "So now you've got help," Wei Ying accepted his tea with a smile before turning to appraise the juniors curiously.  "What are they helping you with?" "Ah, we're chasing the chaos, Wei-qianbei!" Lan Sizhui happily announced, sitting next to Wei Ying.  "And it looks like you're the chaos!" "Who, me?" Wei Ying widened his eyes comically and set down his tea cup in mock affront.  "Why, that doesn't sound anything like me!  I haven't caused any chaos in a whole day!"   Lan Wangji raised a single eyebrow.   "Oi, don't be like that, Lan Zhan," Wei Ying pouted, bumping his shoulder into his.  "Lan-er-gege is too cruel.  Has the esteemed Hanguang Jun really come all this way to hunt down the wicked Yiling Laozu?" He teased, the words spilling out in an effusive rush.  Lan Wangji wondered how he had gotten used to not hearing his name a thousand different times, a thousand different ways all in one breath.  He absently wished he could always hear himself being called thus by Wei Ying.   Lan Sizhui hid an amused smile behind his sleeve, but Lan Jingyi pressed forward.  "So it really was you?  You have been harvesting souls and forcing them to wreak havoc here?" "That was most definitely not me!” protested Wei Ying indignantly.  “That’s my brainless copycat."  Wei Ying scowled.  "I caught him this morning.  Jerk.  He’s been parading around as the Yiling Patriarch and sullying my good name."   “What good name?” Lan Jingyi asked dubiously.   “Ah, why are you so mean!  Don’t be so blunt!” Wei Ying leaned away from Lan Jingyi and turned beseeching eyes on Lan Wangji.  “Lan Zhan, defend me!”   “No talking while eating,” Lan Wangji dutifully responded, pushing some food toward his beloved.  However, Lan Sizhui, who had already finished eating, was able to ask, “Wei-qianbei?  Did you say you caught him already?"   Wei Ying nodded seriously and motioned toward the stables.  “He’s out there with Little Apple.” "Should we take him back to Gusu now?" Lan Jingyi asked reluctantly, looking toward Lan Wangji.   "Ah, if you have to go quickly, I can go fetch him right now,” Wei Ying set the food back on the table and began to stand.  "You must be so busy…" Lan Wangji reflexively grabbed his hand to stop him from getting up.  "Not busy," he refuted.  He motioned toward the untouched food with his other hand.  "Eat." "It's really no trouble," Wei Ying protested weakly, but he settled back into his seat.  The hand that was caught under Lan Wangji's turned in its grasp to squeeze back.   "No talking while eating," Lan Wangji repeated, heaping food onto Lan Sizhui's empty plate and pushing it toward Wei Ying.  

---

The third time that Chief Cultivator Lan heard that Wei Ying was making mischief, he left without notifying his Council.  They have been exceptionally needy lately.  They disapproved whenever he left for a nighthunt, even the ones that were not related to the Yiling Laozu.  They didn't seem to understand that he always offered his help unequivocally, and he liked to be present for the particularly tricky nighthunts.  But he did take particular care to always be on hand for matters relating to Wei Ying.   “Lan Zhan.”   Lan Wangji turned around to see Wei Ying walking up behind him on the busy street.  He granted him a beatific smile, and Lan Wangji could not keep delight from turning up the corners of his mouth.  “I knew you would come for me.” “What is the danger?” Lan Wangji asked, scanning him for signs of distress.   “Always straight to the point,” Wei Ying laughed.  “Don’t worry; there’s no danger today!” Lan Wangji furrowed his brow.  “The reports…” “Ahaha, you can’t believe everything that you read, Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying admonished playfully.  “Those reports may have been a teensy bit exaggerated,” he admitted.  “I swear to you, I pose no danger to anyone here.” Lan Wangji considered him pensively.  “And Wei Ying is not in danger?” he confirmed.   Wei Ying nodded earnestly, pledging, “I am neither in danger nor a danger to others.  You, however, are.”   “Me,” Lan Wangji repeated dumbly.   “Yes, you.  Look at yourself,” Wei Ying chided.  “You need to take proper care of yourself!  That must be one of your three thousand and some rules, right?  If it isn’t, it surely needs to be.  You’re not getting nearly enough rest!  What happened to the strict nine-to-five?  When was the last time you took a break?” “A break?” Lan Wangji echoed, still surprised by the turn of events.   “Oh, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan,” He sighed, turning serious.  He reached out to graze the dark circles under his eyes.  “You look so tired.  What is it like?  To carry the whole world on your shoulders.”   Lan Wangji instinctively leaned into his beloved’s touch, and he reached up to grasp the hand that so gently stroked his face.  Wei Ying unthinkingly tangled their fingers together and continued on.  “I have it on good authority that you’ve been unreasonably busy recently.  What is your Council thinking?  How can they expect yo-” Wei Ying rambled on, inadvertently riling himself up with each successive thought.   “Authority?  Who?” Lan Wangji interjected, latching onto the possible security breach.  He tried not to feel flattered about the implication that Wei Ying cared enough to place an informant to update him about Lan Wangji, but a potential spy in the Cloud Recesses cannot be tolerated.   “Ah, he asked for you to not be mad at him,” Wei Ying prefaced.  “But I told him since he just wants to take care of you, you couldn’t possibly get mad at him.”   “Lan Sizhui,” Lan Wangji realized.  “He ran into you during a night hunt.”   “He’s been so worried about you,” Wei Ying admitted, smiling fondly.  “You raised such a good son.  A-Yuan told me about the birthday treat he was trying to arrange for you, but …”   “Your son, too,” Lan Wangji interrupted.  His caring heart, he doesn’t say, is yours.   Wei Ying grins, “Yeah.  Our son.” “But why?” Lan Wangji pointedly glanced around the street and at the space between them.  Why are you here?  He doesn’t say.  Why am I here? “I know we agreed to part ways for the moment, so you could take care of your duties as Chief Cultivator,” Wei Ying began hesitantly.  “But I couldn’t watch you work yourself into the ground.”  He looked up stubbornly.  “The Council asks too much of you, too much for any human to handle.  They couldn’t spare you even a day to celebrate your birthday.”   “So you orchestrated … this?” Lan Wangji repeated, dumbfounded.   “Well, if there’s no other way to get you to take a break, I had to improvise,” Wei Ying grinned impishly.  “I’m rather good at that.”  He handed him a hand drawn map.  “This leads to a little abandoned farm house.  I’ve been repairing it off and on, but I want you to use it for the day.” Lan Wangji took the map, still silently waiting for him to continue.   “Take the day off.  For your birthday.  No clan, no council, no cultivation world.  Just a relaxing retreat,” Wei Ying explained.  “Surely the world can spare you… for one day.  For this day.”  He smiled hopefully up at his beloved.  

Lan Wangji was just about to nod, to give in and accept this thoughtful birthday gift, when Wei Ying started to walk away.   “Wei Ying?” Lan Wangji asked in bewilderment.  Why would he craft the most elaborate plan to get them alone together and then walk away? Wei Ying paused, turning back to him.   “Will you not stay?” Wei Ying gave a slight laugh.  “Only if Lan Zhan wants me to.”  He fidgeted and looked away.  “I know I’m not really relaxing…” “Stay.”  He interrupted forcefully.  “Please.”  Lan Wangji stared intently into his beloved’s eyes, hoping his own beseeching eyes would communicate what his words could not.   “Oh, Lan Zhan.” He nodded in understanding and smiled blissfully, crinkling his eyes at the corners.  “Okay, Wei Ying will stay with you, but you have to rest.  Do you hear me?” he ordered playfully.  “This is a restful birthday retreat, and I want nothing but resting from you.”   Lan Wangji felt his mouth twitch into an answering smile at the sight of stern and protective Wei Ying.  He knew that tomorrow he would have to return to Gusu and give account to the Council.  He knew he probably would not see Wei Ying again until the next time he caused some chaos (or conveniently happened to be there anyway).  But this day, this perfect day, was a birthday gift he would treasure until the time he can lay down his Chief Cultivator title.  Then, maybe, everyday will be like this. The first time that Chief Cultivator Lan heard that Wei Wuxian was stirring up trouble, he set off immediately to lend assistance.  To which party, his Council was not privy to, but they could guess.   “Wei Ying?” “Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying’s head popped out from the dirt mound, his hair tangled and clothes in disarray.  Lan Wangji noted the way his eyes lit up upon recognizing his beloved and hoped that Wei Ying could recognize the same elation in him.  Three months had truly been too long.   Wei Ying led him behind the dirt pile, calling out, “Hang on, Lan Zhan!  I’m almost done with this!” Lan Wangji watched patiently, interpreting each of the talismans that Wei Ying was arranging.  The seal array was intricate, but not demonic in nature.  As usual, the rumors appeared to be much nastier than the truth.   Finally, Wei Ying fully emerged from the dirt heap and bounded over to Lan Wangji.  “So, what is the illustrious Hanguang Jun doing in a place like this?  Shouldn’t you be busy doing Chief Cultivator stuff?” “Am doing,” Lan Wangji agreed with a curt nod.  “Investigating.”   “Investigating what?” Wei Ying asked, leaning forward to bump his shoulder against his beloved’s.  Lan Wangji looked down in surprise at where their shoulders had touched, amazed at the wave of longing that passed through him.  How he missed the easy touching that Wei Ying always instigated.  But his beloved must have misinterpreted the look, because he hastily pulled back, apologizing, “Sorry, Lan Zhan, I’m a mess right now.”   He patted his clothes down and pushed his hair messily behind his shoulder, as if that would help.  Lan Wangji felt his lips twitch into a fond half-smile, and he reached out to tug the twisted hair ribbon out of his beloved’s unruly hair.  “Ridiculous,” he judged, as Wei Ying willingly turned around at Lan Wangji’s silent request.   Wei Ying barked out a laugh.  “Yeah, I guess I look pretty ridiculous.”  He waved his arms around to encompass his disheveled form, from the ripped clothing to the layer of mud to the hair he was currently fixing.   “No,” Lan Wangji clarified, carefully tugging the hair into his favored style.  “Your words are ridiculous.” “My words?” he questioned.  He tilted his head, unmindful of the ponytail Lan Wangji was trying to tame his hair into.   “Wei Ying is always a mess,” he replied simply.   “Ahahahaha!” Wei Ying doubled over in laughter, pulling away from the knot Lan Wangji had just finished tying his hair ribbon into.  “Lan-er-gege has developed a sense of humor in the months I’ve been away.  How unfair that I have missed it!”  

“Mn,” Lan Wangji murmured, ignoring the flush he could feel crawling up his ears.   “I guess Chief Cultivator Lan needs it, having to deal with those old windbags all day!”  Wei Ying straightened, and Lan Wangji’s eyes were drawn to the ponytail that was still defiantly askew.  “Speaking of, I can’t believe your Council lets the Chief Cultivator come out to random night hunts, all alone and unprotected.  Surely the cultivating world wouldn’t survive a day without you to lead it,” Wei Ying grinned impishly.   “Can survive,” Lan Wangji assured him.  “Needed to verify rumors about Wei Ying.” "So you dropped everything and traveled all this way for this small matter."  Wei Ying shook his head.  “So this is what they meant about chasing the chaos,” he muttered under his breath.  "How did you hear about this?"   "Lan Sizhui's report," Lan Wangji answered.   "Oh, right.  The Zhangs' servant probably…" Wei Ying trailed off, the gears in his mind turning rapidly in a way that had always uniquely enchanted Lan Wangji.   "The whole thing got blown up out of proportion, anyway.  You see, Lan Zhan, the daughter had run away, and the cousin got in a bit of a bad spot with a demonic cultivator, who somehow ended up finding…" Wei Ying rambled, detailing the convoluted Zhang family drama as he led Lan Wangji back to the Zhang Manor.   After checking with the family and verifying that everything was taken care of, Lan Wangji asked where Wei Ying was headed to next.   He hurriedly shook his head, assuring him, "Oh, Hanguang Jun doesn't have to worry about me!  Your Wei Ying is safe and happy, traveling the world."  Not as happy as I would be with you, goes unsaid, but they both understood.   Lan Wangji disputed, “Always have to check on Wei Ying.”   Wei Ying shook his head again and reiterated, “Lan Zhan, really, you don't have to trouble yourself anymore.  You're the Chief Cultivator!  You can't just hop Bichen for every far-flung rumor!" He playfully admonished.   "Bichen is fast." Wei Ying just laughed sadly.  "I know.  Still, you have people for that!  You need to go rest or attend to your thousands of duties or whatever you need to do.  Don't you worry about me.”   Lan Wangji stared into his earnest face.  He hardly wanted to walk away from him after seeing him again for the first time in three months … but it looks like the Zhangs’ issues have been resolved, and he should probably head home to his piles of work.  “Wei Ying is certain?”   “Yeah,” Wei Ying smiled sadly.  “Chief Cultivator is a big responsibility.  Everyone else needs you more than I do.”  

---

The second time that Chief Cultivator Lan heard that the upstart Yiling Laozu was back at it again, he absently wondered if it was intentional.  After all, night hunting is the only activity during which he, as Chief Cultivator, can come down from the Council and mingle with the common people.  And it's the only activity during which he and Wei Ying get to see each other.  His Council did not particularly care if the Yiling Laozu was baiting him or not, but they were certainly sending along chaperones bodyguards from now on.  Even if the only volunteers they could get this time were Hanguang Jun’s own son and his best friend.   "Wei-qianbei!" Lan Wangji watched his son jump up in the middle of their meal to rush through the crowded inn and greet Wei Ying.  Lan Jingyi raced after his best friend, and Lan Wangji began rearranging the food on the table for a fourth person.   “A-Yuan!  Lan Jingyi!  What are you two doing here?” he heard his beloved ask them.  “Are yo- Lan Zhan!”  Wei Ying finally spotted Lan Wangji at the corner table.  Time seemed to slow down as they drank in the sight of each other.   Wei Ying recovered his speech almost immediately though.  "Oh, Lan Zhan, it's so good to see you out and about again!  How did the busy Chief Cultivator get out of his duties this time?" He teased, rushing over to sit by him.  "Looks like the Elders wisened up and sent along some fierce bodyguards to protect you.  Not that the mighty Hanguang Jun needs protecting."   "Mn," Lan Wangji agreed absently, busily fixing Wei Ying a cup of tea.  "Did not like my being alone last time." "So now you've got help," Wei Ying accepted his tea with a smile before turning to appraise the juniors curiously.  "What are they helping you with?" "Ah, we're chasing the chaos, Wei-qianbei!" Lan Sizhui happily announced, sitting next to Wei Ying.  "And it looks like you're the chaos!" "Who, me?" Wei Ying widened his eyes comically and set down his tea cup in mock affront.  "Why, that doesn't sound anything like me!  I haven't caused any chaos in a whole day!"   Lan Wangji raised a single eyebrow.   "Oi, don't be like that, Lan Zhan," Wei Ying pouted, bumping his shoulder into his.  "Lan-er-gege is too cruel.  Has the esteemed Hanguang Jun really come all this way to hunt down the wicked Yiling Laozu?" He teased, the words spilling out in an effusive rush.  Lan Wangji wondered how he had gotten used to not hearing his name a thousand different times, a thousand different ways all in one breath.  He absently wished he could always hear himself being called thus by Wei Ying.   Lan Sizhui hid an amused smile behind his sleeve, but Lan Jingyi pressed forward.  "So it really was you?  You have been harvesting souls and forcing them to wreak havoc here?" "That was most definitely not me!” protested Wei Ying indignantly.  “That’s my brainless copycat."  Wei Ying scowled.  "I caught him this morning.  Jerk.  He’s been parading around as the Yiling Patriarch and sullying my good name."   “What good name?” Lan Jingyi asked dubiously.   “Ah, why are you so mean!  Don’t be so blunt!” Wei Ying leaned away from Lan Jingyi and turned beseeching eyes on Lan Wangji.  “Lan Zhan, defend me!”   “No talking while eating,” Lan Wangji dutifully responded, pushing some food toward his beloved.  However, Lan Sizhui, who had already finished eating, was able to ask, “Wei-qianbei?  Did you say you caught him already?"   Wei Ying nodded seriously and motioned toward the stables.  “He’s out there with Little Apple.” "Should we take him back to Gusu now?" Lan Jingyi asked reluctantly, looking toward Lan Wangji.   "Ah, if you have to go quickly, I can go fetch him right now,” Wei Ying set the food back on the table and began to stand.  "You must be so busy…" Lan Wangji reflexively grabbed his hand to stop him from getting up.  "Not busy," he refuted.  He motioned toward the untouched food with his other hand.  "Eat." "It's really no trouble," Wei Ying protested weakly, but he settled back into his seat.  The hand that was caught under Lan Wangji's turned in its grasp to squeeze back.   "No talking while eating," Lan Wangji repeated, heaping food onto Lan Sizhui's empty plate and pushing it toward Wei Ying.  

---

The third time that Chief Cultivator Lan heard that Wei Ying was making mischief, he left without notifying his Council.  They have been exceptionally needy lately.  They disapproved whenever he left for a nighthunt, even the ones that were not related to the Yiling Laozu.  They didn't seem to understand that he always offered his help unequivocally, and he liked to be present for the particularly tricky nighthunts.  But he did take particular care to always be on hand for matters relating to Wei Ying.   “Lan Zhan.”   Lan Wangji turned around to see Wei Ying walking up behind him on the busy street.  He granted him a beatific smile, and Lan Wangji could not keep delight from turning up the corners of his mouth.  “I knew you would come for me.” “What is the danger?” Lan Wangji asked, scanning him for signs of distress.   “Always straight to the point,” Wei Ying laughed.  “Don’t worry; there’s no danger today!” Lan Wangji furrowed his brow.  “The reports…” “Ahaha, you can’t believe everything that you read, Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying admonished playfully.  “Those reports may have been a teensy bit exaggerated,” he admitted.  “I swear to you, I pose no danger to anyone here.” Lan Wangji considered him pensively.  “And Wei Ying is not in danger?” he confirmed.   Wei Ying nodded earnestly, pledging, “I am neither in danger nor a danger to others.  You, however, are.”   “Me,” Lan Wangji repeated dumbly.   “Yes, you.  Look at yourself,” Wei Ying chided.  “You need to take proper care of yourself!  That must be one of your three thousand and some rules, right?  If it isn’t, it surely needs to be.  You’re not getting nearly enough rest!  What happened to the strict nine-to-five?  When was the last time you took a break?” “A break?” Lan Wangji echoed, still surprised by the turn of events.   “Oh, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan,” He sighed, turning serious.  He reached out to graze the dark circles under his eyes.  “You look so tired.  What is it like?  To carry the whole world on your shoulders.”   Lan Wangji instinctively leaned into his beloved’s touch, and he reached up to grasp the hand that so gently stroked his face.  Wei Ying unthinkingly tangled their fingers together and continued on.  “I have it on good authority that you’ve been unreasonably busy recently.  What is your Council thinking?  How can they expect yo-” Wei Ying rambled on, inadvertently riling himself up with each successive thought.   “Authority?  Who?” Lan Wangji interjected, latching onto the possible security breach.  He tried not to feel flattered about the implication that Wei Ying cared enough to place an informant to update him about Lan Wangji, but a potential spy in the Cloud Recesses cannot be tolerated.   “Ah, he asked for you to not be mad at him,” Wei Ying prefaced.  “But I told him since he just wants to take care of you, you couldn’t possibly get mad at him.”   “Lan Sizhui,” Lan Wangji realized.  “He ran into you during a night hunt.”   “He’s been so worried about you,” Wei Ying admitted, smiling fondly.  “You raised such a good son.  A-Yuan told me about the birthday treat he was trying to arrange for you, but …”   “Your son, too,” Lan Wangji interrupted.  His caring heart, he doesn’t say, is yours.   Wei Ying grins, “Yeah.  Our son.” “But why?” Lan Wangji pointedly glanced around the street and at the space between them.  Why are you here?  He doesn’t say.  Why am I here? “I know we agreed to part ways for the moment, so you could take care of your duties as Chief Cultivator,” Wei Ying began hesitantly.  “But I couldn’t watch you work yourself into the ground.”  He looked up stubbornly.  “The Council asks too much of you, too much for any human to handle.  They couldn’t spare you even a day to celebrate your birthday.”   “So you orchestrated … this?” Lan Wangji repeated, dumbfounded.   “Well, if there’s no other way to get you to take a break, I had to improvise,” Wei Ying grinned impishly.  “I’m rather good at that.”  He handed him a hand drawn map.  “This leads to a little abandoned farm house.  I’ve been repairing it off and on, but I want you to use it for the day.” Lan Wangji took the map, still silently waiting for him to continue.   “Take the day off.  For your birthday.  No clan, no council, no cultivation world.  Just a relaxing retreat,” Wei Ying explained.  “Surely the world can spare you… for one day.  For this day.”  He smiled hopefully up at his beloved.  Lan Wangji was just about to nod, to give in and accept this thoughtful birthday gift, when Wei Ying started to walk away.   “Wei Ying?” Lan Wangji asked in bewilderment.  Why would he craft the most elaborate plan to get them alone together and then walk away? Wei Ying paused, turning back to him.   “Will you not stay?” Wei Ying gave a slight laugh.  “Only if Lan Zhan wants me to.”  He fidgeted and looked away.  “I know I’m not really relaxing…” “Stay.”  He interrupted forcefully.  “Please.”  Lan Wangji stared intently into his beloved’s eyes, hoping his own beseeching eyes would communicate what his words could not.   “Oh, Lan Zhan.” He nodded in understanding and smiled blissfully, crinkling his eyes at the corners.  “Okay, Wei Ying will stay with you, but you have to rest.  Do you hear me?” he ordered playfully.  “This is a restful birthday retreat, and I want nothing but resting from you.”   Lan Wangji felt his mouth twitch into an answering smile at the sight of stern and protective Wei Ying.  He knew that tomorrow he would have to return to Gusu and give account to the Council.  He knew he probably would not see Wei Ying again until the next time he caused some chaos (or conveniently happened to be there anyway).  But this day, this perfect day, was a birthday gift he would treasure until the time he can lay down his Chief Cultivator title.  Then, maybe, everyday will be like this.

It’s so weird because Lan Wangji was the hardest character for me to, like, get in the mind of while watching MDZS, but my first three fics in this fandom have been from his pov.  Irony.  

If you enjoyed this, please let me know what you thought!

[katekatharos]

Nirvana in Fire Post Ending Fic Recs (ENG)

Updated: 20th April with six fics

Nirvana in Fire Fanfiction Recs (English language) From the wailing and gnashing of teeth on tumblr it seems there’s a new crop of brave souls venturing into Nirvana in Fire. Hello all! Please remain hydrated throughout the ride. 

 I’ve put together a rec list of post-ending fics to support you when you’ve finished. There be SPOILERS under the cut, so please only read if you’ve finished the drama.

If anyone knows of any I’ve missed please feel free to add :) 

 Canon Ending Compliant - During the End Fics 

 Because sometimes you just want to twist the knife and read about Mei Changsu dying.

I will be with you, until the very end.

(1043 words) by gixi_ninja

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: Major Character Death

Relationships: Lin Chen/Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe

Characters: Lin Chen, Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe

Additional Tags: Death, Angst, palliation, Not for resus

Summary:

All physicians know the signs of an impending death. There is a change of colour to the skin. The muscles go slack and weak. The pattern of breathing changes.

The night has grown deep. In the darkness of the tent, a single candle sputters. Lin Chen closes his eyes and counts Mei Changsu’s breaths.

(Lin Chen takes care of Mei Changsu in his last moments.)

This fic feels - very small, very claustrophobic, and yet very painful. It’s all about the breaths, and two promises Lin Chen has made.

Added April 20th

drift (10632 words) by gooseberry Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: 琅琊榜 | Nirvana in Fire (TV) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Meng Zhi & Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe Characters: Meng Zhi, Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe, Lin Chen, Lie Zhanying, Zhen Ping, Yan Yujin, Xiao Jingrui, Fei Liu Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Mortality, Major Illness, War, Friendship/Love Summary: Meng’s messages to Jinling and Jingyan are short and carefully edited. He writes about the skirmishes that lead to battles and the battles that lead to stalemates. He writes about the snow, how it drifts in the valleys and low places, how it melts beneath the sun and freezes again during the night. He writes about his generals, his lieutenants, and his captains. He writes about his strategist.

He writes, Mei Changsu is a skilled tactician. His insights have led to profitable battles with low casualty rates. He silently mouths to himself, He can no longer ride a horse. I don’t know how he will travel back to Jinling, and then writes, With Mei Changsu’s assistance, we will win this war quickly and with lower costs than anticipated.

He says to himself, “Mei Changsu is the cost,” and then covers his mouth with his hand, the scales of his gauntlet pricking at his skin.

---

Meng spends a cold winter caught in a war with two fronts--the Greater Yu army on one front, and a dying strategist on the other. It's basically ten thousand some-odd words of Meng-feels, Meng&Lin Shu bromance, and the slow breaking of a man's heart as he watches his best friend die.

This fic. This fic. This fic sliced my heart open, its Meng struggling to come to terms with the fact that Xiao Shu is dying, Meng struggling to win the war, and the cold. The cold is a character in its own right, it permeates the fic, hangs over everything. This fic took me by the hand and said “you think you already love Meng Zhi and know what it did to him to have to watch his friend die? let me show you.”

winter (if you must leave)

(6021 words) by winchilsea

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Major Character Death

Relationships: Lin Chen/ Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe

Characters: Lin Chen, Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe

Additional Tags: Minor Canonical Character(s), Meiling, Canon Compliant

Summary:

Lin Chen and Mei Changsu talk about love without ever using the word. A series of scenes at Meiling.

Reading this fic is like stabbing yourself over and over again. But it is so beautiful, and painful, and satisfying somehow like - of course it would hurt exactly THIS much, and in THIS way. It’s Mei Changsu dying but it’s also all the other ways that being at this second Meiling hurt Lin Chen as well, and yet he chooses to be there, because Mei Changsu is there. It’s all the history between them, all the love, and all the hurts and both are equally real and present. Read with a tissue to hand.

stay awake, don't close your eyes

(2734 words) by besanii

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Major Character Death

Relationships: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe/Xiao Jingyan

Characters: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe, Xiao Jingyan, Lie Zhan Ying, Zhen Ping, Fei Liu, Consort Jing

Additional Tags: Grief/Mourning, Canon Compliant

Summary:

“You’ll make a great Emperor one day, Jingyan,” he murmurs. “You’ll do great things…create a Da Liang that we can all be proud of.”

“And you’ll be here to watch me do it,” Jingyan reminds him. He tightens his grip on Xiao Shu’s hand. “I always keep my promises, Xiao Shu. So you must keep yours.”

Or: Prompt #77 "Mei Changsu dies in Jingyan's arms.”

This fic sets out events slightly different to how they are implied in canon, but it is canon compliant in all the most important ways. All the most painful ways. I finished this not knowing if this way was better or worse but definitely knowing that I’d been well and truly stabbed. Jingyan :(

A promise to return

(663 words) by gixi_ninja

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe/Xiao Jingyan

Characters: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe, Xiao Jingyan

Additional Tags: Angst, Reference to character death, yet another reaction to ending type of fic, Dreaming, Ficlet

Summary:

It has been a long time since Jingyan has been here. He is the Crown Prince of the East Palace now, and his duties fill his days. There has been no need or desire to go to visit his old manor house - until now.

Jinyan smiles as his fingers unhook the latch that leads to the old hidden door. Even though it has been - months? a year? - the lanterns in the tunnel are still lit. His smile widens. He had heard that Mei Changsu - Xiao Shu - had returned. His old friend must be expecting him then.

Oh this one is exquisitely painful. I don’t know how to say more without spoiling it so - just read.

What is then left behind

(2731 words) by gixi_ninja

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Major Character Death

Characters: Lin Chen, Fei Liu, Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe

Additional Tags: Angst, Grief

Summary:

“Ah, Xiao Fei-liu - ” The words die in his throat as soon as he sees Fei-liu’s face. A heavy stone sinks to the pit of his stomach. Something is very wrong.

“Su-ge ge.” Fei-liu’s eyes are rimmed red and there are suspicious streaks of wetness down his cheeks. “Su-ge ge won’t wake up.”

(the aftermath of the ending of LYB)

This fic really, really doesn’t spare the knives :( Fei Liu’s reaction to his Su-gege’s death and Lin Chen’s helplessness in response is so so heartbreaking and there are no easy answers. 

 Ending AU which MAKES IT WORSE. HOW. WHY.

(Added 08/02/17) In the distance fading

(10352 words) by Nerdanel

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Major Character Death

Characters: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe, Xiao Jingyan, Meng Zhi, Mu Nihuang, Consort Jing, Princess Liyang

Additional Tags: I'm so sorry, but not really, AU, Hurt No Comfort, Grief

Summary:

Jingyan never finds out just how close Xiao Shu was to him, all this time, and the consequences thereof.

Okay so confession time. I haven’t actually read this fic. Look at the summary! Look at the tags!! My heart is fragile and just can’t take this level of pain. However I have read the first few paragraphs while squinting in between my fingers and I can confirm it is beautifully written. Also multiple people who are stronger/more masochistic than I have read it and told me it is amazing so. If you want to be EVEN SADDER go forth and stab yourself. 

Updated April 20th

In the distance, ceasing

(5711 words) by

eikyrona

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Characters: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe, Xiao Jingyan, Lin Chen

Additional Tags: Hurt No Comfort

Summary:

Lin Shu makes a deal. Mei Changsu pays for it.

Some people just like their knives. This is so very very much something I could see Mei Changsu doing. This is another hard one to rec without giving away fundamentals of the plot so lets just say the knives are bright and shiny and Mei Changsu is perfect and all the other characters are as well, especially Lin Chen. Read if you want to be even sadder/ want to think ‘well, MCS could have made it so much worse!)

 Canon Ending Compliant - Moving On 

 Crying can help the healing! And also its nice to imagine the other characters finding ways to grieve and cope and recover. (projecting who me?)

Still Here (With All I Hold Dear)

(10865 words) by marvelist

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Major Character Death

Relationships: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe/Xiao Jingyan, one-sided Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe/Lin Chen, Xiao Jingyan & Lin Chen, Fei Liu & His Snacks

Characters: Fei Liu, Tingsheng, Xiao Jingyan, Lin Chen, Meng Zhi, Lie Zhan Ying, Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe

Additional Tags: Grief/Mourning, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Heartbreak, Male Friendship, vaguely described panic attacks, Bromance, Angst, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Lin Chen being a troll, Banter, Pining, Major Character Death warning refers to canonical death of a character in episode 54, No further deaths in this fic, Spoilers for Episode 54

Summary:

Jingyan misses Xiao Shu in all the ways that matter but he cannot fall apart.

Surprisingly enough, Lin Chen can relate to that.

This is one of my favourite fics. Jingyan’s grief is so powerful and real and he is determined to be a good Emperor and live up to Xiao Shu’s belief in him, but it is so painful to see how he is falling apart. I love his developing friendship with Lin Chen, and the way they are able to come to support each other, and Fei Liu looking after Jingyan as well! 

Added April 20th

In good company

(1418 words) by cease

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Characters: Xiao Jingyan, Lin Chen, Meng Zhi, Lie Zhan Ying, Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe

Summary:

Lin Chen answers the questions Xiao Jingyan doesn't ask. Xiao Jingyan thinks Lin Chen should learn to use the door.

Really, really good Lin Chen and Jingyan supporting each other through the grief. Jingyan’s questions broke my heart, because aren’t they the same things we tell ourselves for happy ending AUs?

Added April 20th

A Matter of Time(2866 words) by romantic_drift

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Characters: Princess Liu, Xiao Jingyan, Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe

Additional Tags: Character Study, POV Outsider, (kind of), Canon Compliant, canon pairings - Freeform, (so Xiao Jingyan/Princess Liu), (on the same level as the show), (and Xiao Jingyan/Mei Changsu), (if you squint), (or let's be honest if you don't squint), Arranged Marriage, Grief/Mourning

Summary:

They had called her Lady Liu.

Now, they call her Crown Princess.

In time, they will call her Empress.

This fic focuses in on a really, really minor character - who will not be a minor presence at all in the world post drama. I love the way this fic builds her character up from the little we see of her in the drama, the way it layers rumour and history and reality. I love that it doesn’t shy away from the inequality between Jingyan and Lady Liu, but that it shows them both awkwardly doing their best and coming to a place of contentment in the end. 

Jingyan Deserves a Dog

(2343 words) by Katharos

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, No Archive Warnings Apply

Characters: Xiao Jingyan, Lin Chen, Fei Liu, Original Female Dog Character(s), Meng Zhi, Tingsheng, Eunuch Gao

Additional Tags: Jingyan deserves nice things, like a support network, and a dog, Lin Chen is a troll who can spot a prime trolling opportunity when he sees one

Summary:

Lin Chen gets Jingyan a dog.

Okay fair warning this is my own fic but I wanted to throw it in here. Lin Chen decides to get Jingyan a dog. Because I love Jingyan and I just wanted him to have a dog to cuddle and make him smile. Jingyan’s dog is the Best Dog and all (most of) Jinling agrees. 

 AU Ending - it’s happier than canon! (Limbo under the low bar)

 Fics where MCS is still dying of a terminal illness but at least he’s able to live a bit longer with those who love him. (MCS may argue with whether these are ‘happier than canon’ but he doesn’t get a vote)

Lin Chen and Lin Shu's Excellent Adventure

(7853 words) by Lanerose

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Characters: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe, Lin Chen, Mu Nihuang, Xiao Jingyan, Fei Liu, Consort Jing, Yan Yujin, Xiao Jingrui, Mu Qing, Yan Que, Xia Dong, Nie Feng

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Fix-It of Sorts

Summary:

The AU in which the last thirty minutes of canon don't happen, and instead, Lin Chen and Lin Shu actually take the trip that Lin Chen had planned. Fei Liu and Nihuang can go, too.

Okay so there’s one chapter but its a long chapter and it feels like it works as a one shot (although I’m SO glad there’s going to be more!) This is an excellent, lovely, ensemble fic - it manages to pack so many characters in and they all gang up to lovingly bully MCS into taking better care of himself which is just my favourite thing ever. It’s so great to see them all together, there is excellent Nihuang and Jingyan, Consort Jing manages to bang some emotional intelligence into MCS (a miracle!!). It feels light hearted and genuinely funny but there is still a twist of very canon pain throughout the whole thing because Mei Changsu is still Mei Changsu and is Terrible at feelings.

Added April 20th

Even to the Edge (7487 words) by soera Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: 琅琊榜 | Nirvana in Fire (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe/Xiao Jingyan Characters: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe, Xiao Jingyan Summary: Whether as Lin Shu or as Mei Changsu, there's something obvious about Jingyan that he's missed.

[a.k.a. the one where Mei Changsu didn't know that Jingyan was in love with Lin Shu.]

This fic could also be called ‘Mei Changsu is the stupidest genius ever’ and I love it. It starts early in the series with a slight divergence which builds and builds over the series until we end up in a very different place. Mei Changsu just keeps digging himself deeper and deeper into his hole but he finally gets his head on straight just in time and I sniffled at the ending I’m not going to lie. 

Episode 54

(7300 words) by hallo catfish

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Characters: Lin Chen, Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe, Fei Liu, Gong Yu, Zhen Ping

Summary:

An alternate ending where Mei Changsu, Lin Chen, and Fei Liu go on their promised trip. Schemes are made. Parties are ruined.

Lin Chen manages to drag MCS off on the trip as promised but MCS’ time is still trickling away. But it’s a wonderful trip! Lin Chen has all kinds of wonders planned (which are beautifully described and I want to go to all these places now!) Sadly Mei Changsu is determined to live up to his reputation as a party ruiner. Lin Chen just wants him to. Stop. Scheming!! This is a fic that made me laugh through my tears. It’s very focused on Lin Chen, Mei Changsu, and Fei Liu but we also get to see some key faces from Jiangzuo Alliace, some canon some not, and this fic really gave me a feeling of Mei Changsu’s life in the Jianghu.

With Splendour Fading

(2165 words) by jusrecht

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe/Lin Chen

Characters: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe, Lin Chen, Fei Liu

Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Alternate Reality, Spoilers, i love the ending i really do, but sometimes i just want something more, and not sure whether to tag this as linmei or not, can be seen as platonic i suppose

Summary:

The Trip happened. Post-series. SPOILERS.

This is a single, deceptively simple scene which is so beautiful. You can almost feel the early morning sun. It’s Mei Changsu not knowing how much longer he was left but, finally, valuing that time. With some help from Lin Chen. 

 AU Ending - Fix It Fics 

 For when you just want to move to Egypt and read about Mei Changsu living and getting cuddles from Nihuang/Lin Chen/Jingyan etc.

(Added 08/02/17)     in price, a pearl (9096 words) by soera Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: 琅琊榜 | Nirvana in Fire (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe/Xiao Jingyan Characters: Xiao Jingyan, Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe Additional Tags: Supernatural Elements, Fix-It Summary:

Jingyan swallows. He’s heard of spirit stories such as these, of course; who hasn’t? But they’re meant to be pure myth, tales told over evening fires to capture the attention of new recruits.

The price of a life isn't easily paid. Jingyan will pay it anyway.

This fic is just lovely. It could be called bittersweet but Jingyan is happy so I am happy! It blends supernatural spirits and boons with the canon universe beautifully - it opens with young Jingyan (pure noble water buffalo) saving a stranded water buffalo calf and being offered a boon in return. I don’t want to say too much more about the plot for fear of spoiling but it features 1) frustrated man-of-science Lin Chen, 2) protective Lie Zhanying 3) doting besotted Mei Changsu 4) Stubborn and happy Jingyan, and these are all four excellent things which you should go enjoy for yourself right now!

Book of Songs [洞仙歌 ENG]

(10471 words) by merlin, soera, honou

Chapters: 31/31

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe/Xiao Jingyan

Characters: Xiao Jingyan, Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe

Series: Part 1 of

Book of Songs

Summary:

An Emperor stumbles. A man mourns.

[English translation of 洞仙歌 by 擂文]

This fic is front loaded with heart break and follows new Emperor Jingyan trying to cope with his responsibilities while grieving for Mei Changsu/Lin Shu, and everyone else worrying over him. Super good if you like Jingyan suffering and are feeling salty towards MCS for sticking him with a crap job. It’s a Chinese language fic that has been beautifully translated, and has lots of lovely side stories as well.

The Next Life

(17376 words) by julad

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe/Mu Nihuang

Characters: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe, Lin Chen, Mu Nihuang, Xiao Jingyan

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, canon-typical triggers, what the fuck was I thinking, to write a story with a challenge deadline, about a man with three identities having an identity crisis, AND FROM HIS POINT OF VIEW

Summary:

Such a cold response comes as a shock. He'd expected impassioned pleas from her-- he had been steeling himself to endure them. Instead, he is left to consider, with a sudden sense of foreboding, how formidable Nihuang could be as an enemy.   Post-series, alternate ending. Lin Shu ends his engagement with Nihuang. Nihuang lets him. Jingyan finds this unacceptable.

Ugh, this fic is so good! Lin Chen saves Mei Changsu’s life. Mei Changsu is Not Happy about it. Mei Changsu proceeds to piss of absolutely everyone who cares about him and have a massive identityy crisis and be miserable until he manages to pull himself out enough to accept the support everyone is pushing at him. Everyone is just so GOOD in this fic, especially Nihuang (who is justifiably furious at MCS, and gets to be angry at him which is super satisfying given what he puts her through in the series and in this fic) and Jingyan who is completely willing to wield his imperial power in order to force his best friend to get his head out of his own arse..

Peerless [倾国 ENG]

(8827 words) by ofsevenseas, Leilyue

Chapters: 3/49

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe/Xiao Jingyan, 靖苏

Characters: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe, Xiao Jingyan

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Post-Canon, It's basically NiF 2, Translation

Summary:

This is the story of how Jingyan, now Emperor, visits Langya mountain three times to find out if Mei Changsu is alive, and manages to keep him, against all odds.

Another amazing translation - we are so lucky in this fandom <3 Okay warning that this a WIP but I wanted to include it because it is amazing. It looks like it is going to be very slow build and satisfying and Mei Changsu’s issues have issues so it’s going to take awhile. But worth it!

Old Friend [故人 ENG]

(10198 words) by merlin, soera, honou

Chapters: 9/9

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe/Xiao Jingyan

Summary:

In the chill of spring, Jiangzuo rings with the sound of galloping hooves that kick up mud and snow.

[English translation of 故人 by 山远淡失巅]

Another wonderful translation! Mei Changsu lives - but is refusing to admit it. Jingyan finally manages to hunt him down and force Mei Changsu to admit to it. There is some really beautiful descriptions, and Jingyan getting his man. Also poor Meng Zhi catching the fall out from these two idiots.

 pearl richer than all his tribe

(886 words) by ofsevenseas

Chapters: 1/1

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe/Xiao Jingyan

Characters: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe, Xiao Jingyan, Lin Chen

Additional Tags: Mpreg

Summary:

A pre-emptively jossed ficlet from when we were tossing ideas around for the last part.

So mpreg warning but this is so beautiful and soft and hilarious and Lin Chen’s awful glee is just delightful.

lay your burdens down (let me carry you)

(19448 words) by Tammaiya

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe/Xiao Jingyan

Characters: Xiao Jingyu, Xiao Jingyan, Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe, Mu Nihuang, Meng Zhi, Lie Zhanying, Lin Chen

Additional Tags: Mpreg, Sorry Not Sorry, it was literally mpreg or death, and I think this fandom has had enough death for now, i certainly have, so MPREG IT IS, this was supposed to be short and fluffy, it is neither of those things, feelings happened, Happy Ending, Lin Chen living his best troll life, Pining, the epic history of all the many times Jingyan has carried Xiao Shu, accepting responsibility from birth

Series: Part 1 of

The Chronicles of Xiao Yingzhu

Summary:

There are a number of recurring themes in Jingyan's life, and they all come down to Xiao Shu.

Another mpreg warning! The poison of the bitter flame is a very useful thing. So the majority of this fic is beautiful pre-series fluff about the main times Jingyan carried Lin Shu around but the end is the cutest fixit ever. 

 Canon Compliant Ending - with Ghosts 

 Yes, there's enough of these to give them they’re own category! MCS just can’t mind his own business, even when he is dead.

Something Strange in Wuying Hall

(7041 words) by merlin, soera, honou

Chapters: 16/16

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe/Xiao Jingyan

Characters: Xiao Jingyan, Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe

Summary:

Who're you gonna call?

[English translation of 宫里的苏阿飘 by 帆过十洲]

Another awesome translation! Mei Changsu is haunting Jingyan - who is now Emperor - and who to start with can’t see his ghostly visitor. Which leads to some fantastically hilarious images of what ghost MCS gets up to :)

Ten Thousand Years | 万岁

(1947 words) by Tammaiya

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Major Character Death

Relationships: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe/Xiao Jingyan

Characters: Xiao Jingyan, Lin Chen, Meng Zhi, Consort Jing

Additional Tags: Bittersweet, Post-Canon

Series: Part 1 of

Butterfly Lovers | 蝴蝶梦

Summary:

Emperor Jingwu-di falls ill in the winter of his 36th year.

It’s impossible to write a rec for this series without spoiling the first story so - if you want to read it unspoiled go now! 

 So Mei Changsu is a ghost! Being his emotionally constipated idiot self. But Jingyan is also a ghost. Because he dies :( And the first story is absolutely heartbreaking but the rest is bittersweet but also hilarious and I spent the entire time cheering ghost!Jingyan on because somehow Mei Changsu is even more Terrible at Feelings when he is dead.

even if you cannot hear my voice

(2327 words) by Alaceron

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Characters: Lin Chen, Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe, Xiao Jingyan, Fei Liu, Lie Zhan Ying

Summary:

The ones we love never truly leave us.

This is somewhat truer for Lin Chen than most.

(Ghost!MCS)

Ghost MCS is much more… ghostly here but still manages to torment Lin Chen (who’s not a hundred percent sure whether or not he’s imagining it but…) And even beyond Ghost MCS it’s just a really lovely look at Lin Chen and Fei Liu living together at Langya Hall. Also Lin Chen discovering that Jingyan, in the words of Antony J Crowley, is ‘just enough of an asshole to be worth liking.’ I LIVE for Jingyan and Lin Chen becoming friends and supporting each other okay. 

 Time Travel Fix It

[一世真 ENG] In Time, Once Again

(121188 words) by katiirabbi

Chapters: 47/47

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe/Xiao Jingyan, 殊琰

Characters: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe, Xiao Jingyan, Meng Zhi, Fei Liu, Mu Nihuang

Additional Tags: Time Travel, Translation, Do-Over, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Friendship

Summary:

When Xiao Jingyan finds himself transported back to his nineteen-year-old self after living a long life as emperor, he is determined to stop the Chiyan conspiracy from happening. But in the attempt to change the wheels of fortune, what will he lose and what will he gain? This is a story of perseverance, love, and sacrifice.

This is a wonderful translation of a truly epic fic and one of the first I read after finishing the series. Read this if you love Jingyan suffering and also want to show Lin Shu just want you put Jingyan through!! Even if this Lin Shu technically wasn’t the one lying and scheming and encouraging other people to hate him. The other thing I love is that even through there is no way Jingyan is going to let this Lin Shu go through the suffering that created Mei Changsu he still loves and misses Mei Changsu - and Mei Changsu’s memory has a strong presence all through this fic.

Added April 20th

Ripples

(4632 words) by jusrecht

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Lin Shu/Mei Changsu - Relationship

Characters: Lin Shu | Mei Changsu | Su Zhe, Xiao Jingyan, Xiao Jingyu

Additional Tags: idk where this came from, I'm so sorry, should i tag the name twice, how to tag rip

Summary:

Mei Changsu was a pale, delicate-looking scholar with a gentle smile and a smooth, mellow voice, the kind that stirred the worst of Lin Shu’s scorn. (time travel AU)

I love this fic so, SO much. It never actually becomes clear if this is post ending fic or not but I really like the uncertainty. It’s a close Lin Shu POV, who is absolutely AMAZING, a beautiful disaster, who is so loved, has such a wonderful family around him, and then there is Mei Changsu. Lin Shu’s view of Mei Changsu is the best thing about the fic and I don’t want to say too much for fear of spoiling but it is SO good. 

[ao3feed-tgcf]

by IceBreeze

“I’ll become someone worthy of you,” he’d said. “I’ll become someone you can be proud to call your Husband.”

“I don’t care about things like worthiness and all that crap, Gege. I just want you.”

“That’s sweet San Lang, but you deserve so much more. You deserve the world, and I will bring it back to you.”

And so Xie Lian steps out of Hua Cheng’s life, leaving behind a man who was missing most of his heart, leaving behind a promise broken and a promise made. Xie Lian left, and in doing so commits the first mistake of many to happen over the course of this story. Xie Lian left with his eyes on the sky, a heart full of love and ambition but a mind empty of the kind of sense or access to TV Tropes that would make him think, Oh hey, maybe this is a bad plan.

Needless to say, dear reader, Xie Lian does not bring back the world. In fact, he doesn’t bring back anything. It’s kind of hard to bring things when you are dead

Or: The princess bride au in which Hua Cheng get's to be a Prince for once, Xie Lian is rather active for a dead man, He Xuan is suffering, and Pei Ming ruins all the authors plans with the magic power of bread.

Words: 17161, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: 天官赐福 - 墨香铜臭 | Tiān Guān Cì Fú - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Huā Chéng, Hè Xuán, Xiè Lián, Péi Míng, Líng Wén, Jūn Wú, Mèng Yáo | Jīn Guāngyáo

Relationships: Hè Xuán/Huā Chéng/Xiè Lián, Huā Chéng/Xiè Lián, Hè Xuán/Huā Chéng, Hè Xuán/Xiè Lián, Péi Míng/Mèng Yáo | Jīn Guāngyáo, Líng Wén & Péi Míng

Additional Tags: Princess Bride AU, Alternate Universe - Princess Bride Fusion, He Xuan is 5ft tall, short He Xuan agenda, Pei Ming and Bread are the true OTP, Found Family, Violence but not that graphic and no worse than canon, Genderfluid He Xuan, Minor character death in that people die but they're not major characters, Minor Decapitation