#nyoomerr ask

[nyoomerr]

I already have a crush on the tianlang-jun in your fic. He's sooo annoying. I need him desperately

he accepts. you will regret this.

jhgjh no but i'm glad you're enjoying the fic!! there are lots of tlj-centric scenes in the next couple chapters <33

[anqelbean]

SVSSS finished fic recs

Weeeeeee, I have so many bookmarks, I gotta do something with 'em, hope you enjoy! Most are gonna be BingQiu/Yuan

two lonely souls at sunset by lilacbuddy

Rating: T; Words: 38,049; Main Pairing: BinggeYuan

“Who are you?” Luo Binghe asked coldly. Shen Yuan wanted to bury himself in the dirt. He couldn’t have made a bigger fool of himself. “I- This one is Shen Yuan, Lord Luo,” he hastily responded, dropping into a low bow to properly greet the emperor. Even after seven years in the palace, Shen Yuan still struggled with the formal speech of scholars and nobility. “Shen…” Luo Binghe whispered. Shen Yuan winced. Of course, Luo Binghe wouldn’t know who he was by name alone. “This one is Lord Luo’s fifth husband,” Shen Yuan answered. --- Or, Shen Yuan wants life to feel like an adventure, Luo Bingge wants someone to truly love him, and a magical road-trip will somehow solve both of their problems

The Employee of the Month is Actually a Virgin? by glowingreverie

Rating: G (though I'd argue it's T); Words: 2,993; Main Pairing: Bingqiu

"Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!" parody with Bingqiu. In which Luo Binghe is a sad virgin on his thirtieth birthday and Shen Qingqiu unknowingly makes him fall in love with him.

i'll be your boy backstage by nyoomerr

Rating: M; Words: 8,369; Main Pairing: BinggeYuan

Do obsessions from other worlds form a basis for a healthy relationship? Asking for a friend.

affections touching across time by miss_coverly

Rating: T; Words: 2,616; Main Pairing: BingYuan

At first glance, the most reasonable explanation was that Shen Yuan had transmigrated into some web novel set during the Feudal Era, but a quick pat down of his intact clothes and beating heart had confirmed that he was still alive. Alive—and still in his own body. He earned a lot of stares from villagers, who endlessly muttered about his odd clothes, his odd haircut. One comment always cut above the rest, though, something about looking so much like the old Peak Lord, it’s a bit unnerving. Shen Yuan wasn’t sure what to make of all that, and furthermore, the only thing he found truly unnerving was how Luo Binghe couldn’t stand him. (Inuyasha au)

Proud Immortal Dragon Way by glacierdust

Rating: T; Words: 7,408; Main Pairing: BingYuan

The day Shen Yuan found a dragon on the balcony of his apartment, surrounded by burnt vines and fire roasted tomatoes, was the day his life changed. In other words, the local disaster millennial who can’t even take care of himself adopts an injured dragon.

The Way I Dreamed Of You by straightforwardly

Rating: E; Words: 3,397; Main Pairing: BingQiu

The one in which Without A Cure turns out to have another side-effect as well. Cat ears, ahoy! Or: while trapped inside the Holy Mausoleum, Shen Qingqiu goes into heat.

Top Notes of Violence by zarasu

Rating: T; Words: 3,679; Main Pairing: BingYuan

Luo Binghe has been born with a scent defect; no matter his mood, he always smells aggressive. In a world where everyone relies on their sense of smell, this means Binghe can't catch a break. Until he meets Shen Yuan.

and in dreaming, I know you by PandaFlower

Rating: M; Words: 3,548; Main Pairing: BinggeYuan

Shen Yuan blinked, in the manner of a dreamer being both reeling with shock yet also numb to it. “Well, of course you are!” “Of course I am?” Luo Binghe parroted, arching one of his regal brows. “You’re exceedingly handsome,” Shen Yuan nodded sagely, this whole encounter made sense now, “and Luo Binghe is said to be the most attractive man in existence; naturally you must be him.” (In which Shen Yuan has a very strange dream.)

right from the start, I gave you my heart by nex_et_nox

Rating: T; Words: 11,322; Main Pairing: BingQiu

"Bro, you know how many words I wrote per day, and how many plants I created!” Shang Qinghua whines. "I can't remember them all, it's impossible." Shen Qingqiu narrows his eyes. "It was used with Wife #418.” "That doesn't narrow it down any further. I'm not going to be able to guess it, so stop punishing me and just tell me how the flower nerfed you." Shen Qingqiu grits his teeth. Obviously he wants to draw this out to punish Shang Qinghua, but it kinda looks more like he's punishing himself. There's a muscle flexing in his jaw, and if he puts any more pressure on his fan's guard, it's going to snap. Uh, actually, Shen Qingqiu kind of looks like he's in pain— “A false dragonhead is also called an obedient plant. It’s in the name—the flower forces you to do whatever you're told," Shen Qingqiu spits out.

or: Shen Qingqiu runs afoul of one of Airplane's stupid wife-plot devices...just before a mission to Jinlan City.

The Short Way Home by zarasu

Rating: T; Words: 4,008; Main Pairing: BingQiu

After leaving the Abyss and joining Huan Hua Sect, Binghe decides to take a little trip to Qing Jing Peak. He puts his recently learned shape-shifting skills to good use and assumes the form of Ming Fan to just get a little peek at Shizun. What he finds there isn't quite what he expected. Shizun, a grieving widow?

Truly The Best Worst Timing by AceOfDivineChlorophyll

Rating: M; Words: 9,962; Main Pairing: BingQiu

So maybe taking a bath in a plague ridden city late at night after meeting up with your former disciple turned vengeful protagonist out to kill you wasn’t the brightest decision. Mu Qingfang insisted it would help relax him though! And in a way it did… just… after being jump scared by the vengeful protagonist.

Catboy Blues by posthumous_vigor

Rating: E; Words: 11,403; Main Pairing: BingYuan

Shen Qingqiu has a pet cat. The disciples dote on it, jokingly calling it “Shizun” because of the haughty way it carries itself and the green ribbon around its neck. Chief among its admirers is Luo Binghe, who treasures every moment of kindness shown to him. And the cat, with its sharp green eyes and human-like intelligence, is very kind to him. Meanwhile, Shen Yuan has some complicated feelings about being a catboy.

Cold Hands, Warm Heart by Zizzani

Rating: T; Words: 16,274; Main Pairing: MoShang

“If the body can’t warm up, then things get uh, b-bad?” Mobei-jun cuts him a look that’s made for slaughter. “What does that mean?” “A-ah, it’s called hypothermia, my king.” “And you die once it happens.” Again, not a question. “You can.” When Mobei-jun makes an absolutely terrifying face, Shang Qinghua hastens to add, “But not instantly! Y-you can actually recover from it, if the hypothermia doesn’t progress too far.” “How far?” Mobei-jun growls. “There are f-f-f-five stages,” Shang Qinghua shivers out, lips numb. “The fifth stage is death.” - Shang Qinghua and Mobei-jun have their spiritual powers sealed before getting dumped in a white-out snowstorm. Mobei-jun quickly learns that humans are far more susceptible to the cold than he thought.

so you have a bad day by tagteamme

Rating: E; Words: 30,999; Main Pairing: MoShang

Shang Qinghua is not stupid. It does not take a genius to know what it means when you ask a servant where your lord has left to and they readily supply the name of an exclusive brothel in between the two realms. Especially when it's after your utterly disastrous first time together. So he goes away for a bit to clear his head. And promptly gets kidnapped.

it's you I find like a ghost in my mind by nex_et_nox

Rating: M; Words: 20,751; Main Pairing: BingQiu

Luo Binghe doesn’t mean to reach out to Shen Qingqiu. It’s a combination of instinct, the force of habit, and sheer agonized longing that causes him to do it anyway. His physical body is safely ensconced in his rooms at Huan Hua Palace, where he has recently been accepted as a visiting disciple, but his mind— His mind is on Qing Jing Peak. He doesn’t even realize it isn’t one of his own dreams at first.

or: while at Huan Hua, Luo Binghe keeps sharing dreams with his shizun, and it doesn't take long to notice that there is something very, very wrong with Shizun's dreamscape

Immortal Lamb Crusader Way by Mikkeneko

Rating: T; Words: 15,181; Main Pairing: BingQiu

Shen Yuan finds himself transmigrated into the last video game he played before his death -- the dungeon-delving, cult-building anthro hit game of the year, Immortal Lamb Crusader Way. Much to his dismay he finds himself in the role of the BBEG, the God of Death, He Who Waits -- Shen Qingqiu! Is there any way he can guide the protagonist, Luo Binghe, to level-up and victory without falling victim himself to the Lamb Crusader's blade? And why does he want to pet the Lamb's fleecy head so badly? He's not a furry, okay! He's not!

The Black Lotus Lounge by honeylotus

Rating: E; Words: 10,633; Main Pairing: LesBingYuan

“I’m Luo Binghe. This is my place.” Shen Yuan’s eyes widen. Of all the people to take interest in her, ah!

continued by AMereDream

Rating: T; Words: 13,926; Main Pairing: BinggeYuan

> ... and also, you've started reusing old text again. Kudos to you for almost making it six chapters without using the copy/paste button! The way you described Luo Binghe reacting to AU!Shen Qingqiu is almost exactly the same as the way you described the wife of the Pale Moon Arc, Chapter 3425 to be specific. Is it really that hard to come up with another turn of phrase, or are you just that lazy? And furthermore... (Read More) >> O.o what if its deliberate tho... >> "...the same as the way you described the wife..." Uhhh Airplane? That was an accident, right? Airplane?? (or, several weeks after Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky had posted what he swore was the last chapter of Proud Immortal Demon Way, a new chapter was uploaded to the site.)

Liquid Truth by zarasu

Rating: T; Words: 5,217; Main Pairing: BingQiu

Luo Binghe and Shen Qingqiu have been married for almost four years, and Shen Qingqiu decides it's high time he told his husband his little secret. Binghe doesn't quite react as expected.

Can’t You Just Believe Me? by AceOfDivineChlorophyll

Rating: T; Words: 6,928; Main Pairing: BingQiu

Luo Binghe finally had Shizun where he couldn’t escape, tied up and at his mercy and still the man wouldn’t talk to him, wouldn’t answer any of his questions and instead kept accusing Binghe of things he didn’t do. Fine, Shizun doesn’t want to talk, Luo Binghe can fix that. He doesn’t want to believe Binghe, he can fix that too. After all, this truth serum was strong enough to work even on Heavenly Demons.

Life is (not) a Hallmark Movie by mellicindi

Rating: T; Words: 143,334; Main Pairing: BingYuan

Shen Yuan isn't lonely. He's just overseas in a new city, trying to muddle his way through a business degree, and dealing with the side effects of his stupid intestines trying to kill him. So, maybe he sometimes watches ASMR to cope with his too-quiet apartment. Maybe he has a little bit of a parasocial-relationship-thing going on with one particular cooking ASMR channel. It's 2016, who doesn't? The point is, he's content with his quiet life. And then Shang Qinghua strong-arms him into watching one Hallmark Christmas movie, and it all goes to hell. Or: Shen Yuan is a Hallmark movie protagonist, Luo Binghe is a Lifetime movie protagonist, and somehow they make it work.

instructions unclear, ghost husband obtained by aksnevv

Rating: T; Words: 25,449; Main Pairing: BingQiu

To make things clear: Shen Qingqiu doesn't believe in ghosts or spirits. At least, he didn’t. But alas, it all started when a strangely suspicious blog posted over ten years prior was read to him on one fateful day. Who knew that just five hundred poorly-typed words written in comic sans on a clearly outdated website would lead to Shen Qingqiu dragging around a living (questionable), handsome (unfairly so) ghost that happens to be the subject of the most notorious urban legend-- following him around like a lovesick puppy, cooking him breakfast and ironing his clothes? Definitely not Shen Qingqiu.

All We Can Do Is Try by corduroyserpent

Rating: G; Words: 2,962; Main Pairing: TianXi

Su Xiyan has no trouble taking deadly poison…it's parenting she's worried about.

How to Catch a Mer-Snake (No Net Required!) by corduroyserpent

Rating: G; Words: 7,522; Main Pairing: GongZhi

Zhuzhi-lang doesn’t get close—wary as he is of strangers—but he does gather the courage to sneak a tiny peek above the waves. He makes sure not to show too much of himself, only the very little needed to see what’s happening.  And what he sees is…well…it's a boy. Slightly older than Luo Binghe, with long dark hair tied back at the nape of his neck.  A human. - Was anyone going to tell Gongyi Xiao there was a whole boyfriend hidden under the ocean or was he just supposed to save a mer-snake's life and find out himself?

a touch of honey by goatpunch

Rating: G; Words: 5,366; Main Pairing: GongZhi

Zhuzhi-lang is trying to make it as a writer, but his life is interrupted by a certain (annoyingly handsome) barista at his favorite coffee spot. It doesn't help when his friends and family seem intent on setting the two of them up.

grow beyond by AMereDream

Rating: T; Words: 5,790; Main Pairing: QiJiu

It all began when Shen Qingqiu brought a baby to the twice-yearly Peak Lord Meeting. Or, perhaps it all started nine months before that, when Shen Qingqiu stumbled upon a very special plant.

some little nothings by tagteamme

Rating: E; Words: 6,986; Main Pairing: BingQiu

Luo Binghe has been acting a little strange. Well— not strange in the traditional sense. He’s not been acting moody, nor has he been acting irritable or rude or secretive. Instead, he’s been… respectful. In the way he talks, in the way he touches, in the distance that he keeps. And the fact that he’s keeping distance to begin with. While Shen Qingqiu theoretically should appreciate the breathing space, in reality it’s been sort of irritating. More than anything, he wants to know why Luo Binghe has stopped properly taking him to bed.

From the Heights by any_open_eye

Rating: E; Words: 9,222; Main Pairing: BingYuan

"Are you here to watch me bathe? That's rude." The dog huffs out a breath, sitting down in front of the bath. Shen Yuan can't resist reaching out to pat it on the head. It really is a handsome beast, once you get over the teeth and the rumbling growls. The strangely intelligent eyes. "Where do you come from, anyway? I've never seen anything like you." The dog licks his fingers. (Shen Yuan finds an injured monster high on the mountain. He brings it home.)

The Dumb Teacher Self-Saving System by Fluffy_Nightmare

Rating: G; Words: 4,263; Main Pairing: BingYuan

Luo Binghe had a hard time reading Shen Yuan. The youth's face appeared to be forged from pure and cold jade, not flesh and blood, as he never showed any emotions. From time to time the peak lord could spot disgust or contempt when the demon-king-to-be looked at him, but nothing beyond that. Shen Qingqiu never smiled, never shed a tear, but it was to be expected. After all, he was a scum protagonist of “The Bloody Path of the Immortal Demon” - a web novel written by a user Frost, the one containing more backstabbing, revenge plans and dead bodies than a history of the last hundred years of humanity. For him to show his weaknesses was unthinkable. Soon, it would change.

Welcome To My Table (Bring Your Hunger) by SpiritOfFox

Rating: M; Words: 50,442; Main Pairing: BingYuan

Shen Yuan died, woke up, then almost died again. Afraid for his life as a demon in the spirit caves of Cang Qiong he runs as far as he could... Only he didn't count on Peak Lord Luo chasing him down. AKA a role-reversal fic where Luo Binghe's secrets have secrets and Shen Yuan is in no way ready to live as a demon in the world of the hit stallion novel he transmigrated into.

the hands by which he fell by airplanelanding (TheCourtSorcerer)

Rating: T; Words: 7,513; Main Pairing: BingQiu

But he didn’t run, and maybe that was more devastating. More devastating, more soul-crushing, more heart-shattering—because he flinched. The moment Luo Binghe lifted a hand to his face, inches from touching him, his shizun, Shen Qingqiu, poised and aloof and composed and fearless Peak Lord Shen Qingqiu, flinched. And, oh, if that didn’t hurt. Or Jinlan City but Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe actually talk.

residue of yesterday by el_em_en_oh_pee

Rating: E; Words: 8,928; Main Pairing: LesBingQiu

It took Shen Qingqiu an embarrassingly long time to realize that Luo Binghe was literally there in her dreams. Her first thought was, 'This didn't happen in Proud Immortal Demon Way?!' Her second thought was, 'Luo Binghe's clearly been practicing a lot... and making quite a bit of progress.' Her third thought was, frankly, embarrassing. But as a noted fan/hater of Proud Immortal Demon Way, it was just so cool to see the protagonist acquire new skills! Skills that, when fully blackened, would no doubt lead to Shen Qingqiu's undoing. Whoops.

A Guilty Conscience by Underworld_Melon

Rating: T; Words: 1,882; Main Pairing: BingQiu

“Shizun should know,” Binghe says, smoothly caressing his hair with the bloodied hand and a voice rich like honey, “that this heavenly demon knows ways to find out if one is lying.” or Shen Qingqiu is in the Huan Hua Palace. Binghe reads his mind. It all goes very well.

wonderstruck (blushing all the way home) by sweetdreamers

Rating: T; Words: 10,143; Main Pairing: BingQiu

Luo Binghe wants to combust. His professor should be illegal. Or at least labelled with a warning. Too much exposure to one (1) Shen Qingqiu will cause spontaneous combustion. Approach at your own risk. - or, slytherin!binghe pining after oblivious potions master!shen qingqiu

dirty imbecile by plutoisgay

Rating: E; Words: 11,559; Main Pairing: LesBinggeYuan

Shen Yuan never asked questions when customers came seeking her out, even as they increasingly asked for targeted death spells or life-long, horrid curses. It wasn’t any of her business, and she needn’t get involved with the carriage-wreck that was those revenge plots. Even when she had to etch the same words ‘icy river’ again and again into beautifully carved cutlery and plates and vases, as red-faced women reached her shop in swarms as the months passed by, asking for monstrosity inducing curses, for seals that cause the downfall of kingdoms, for targeted attacks against a woman who had a better life than any of those that slithered their way into Shen Yuan’s business. Shen Yuan became experienced in carving ‘Luo Binghe’ into the tiny spots of her work, hidden by a neat handle or painted design. She didn’t ask questions, even as word reached her city that a new demon had risen to power, quickly taking control of the two demonic realms and coming for the final one left untouched. - A mysterious cultivator stumbles across Shen Yuan's home, in dire need of nurture and care. Shen Yuan calls BS. Luo Binghe, as things will have it, is not a force to be trifled with.

Marriage By Proxy by x_los

Rating: M; Words: 5,464; Main Pairing: BingQiu

Peak lord Shen Qingqiu has been officially betrothed to the demonic prince Su Binghe via an intermediary. Prince Binghe's chamberlain is attentive, comely, and absolutely not the man Shen Qingqiu should be falling in love with.

murder cat sword only likes its wielder's boyfriend by PandaFlower

Rating: T; Words: 5,039; Main Pairing: BinggeYuan

Instead of being found by Huan Hua Palace disciples, Luo Binghe meets a Wan Jian disciple who instantly falls in love with his sword. No, not that sword. Xin Mo.

It's Just A Matter Of When by ritualist

Rating: T; Words: 4,326; Main Pairing: BingYuan

“So I’ll need to be direct,” Binghe says. “Got it. What else?” “I’m not helping you,” Shang Qinghua says. “You haven’t even got his number and you’re already being unbearable about this.”

[stiltonbasket]

I know Nyoomerr wrote a mini fic where Shen Yuan dotes on Bingge’s kids, before I sent you the prompt also, but listen… I want many cakes!

There are so many possible cute OC Bingge kiddos Shen Yuan could dote on, and so many ways the Binggeyuan drama outside said doting could go! I’d happily read a million different versions! ♥️

In spite of having three older siblings to play with, and three nominal mothers and four nursemaids to raise him, Luo Shunlei was a very lonely child.

Unlike his brother and his two elder sisters, Shunlei was rarely allowed to see his own mother. Muqin spent most of her time away from his father's palace in the human realm, for she was Emperor-Father's most trusted lieutenant as well as his wife, and could not be spared from the various battlefields Father left in his wake for more than a single season out of each year.

That life suited his mother, Shunlei knew: and he was being looked after well enough, since Mother Ning doted upon him just as tenderly she cared for his sister Suoxin. But he hated to go to her when he fell while playing cuju in the garden, or felt lonesome for his absent Muqin, for Mother Ning cried so often when she thought her children were out of earshot that Shunlei could not bear to add to her troubles.

Nor could he go to Mother Liu, for Mother Liu was Luo Nianzu's mother, and Nianzu clung to her like a baby fire-horned monkey because his birth mother had died before Nianzu ever knew her.

(The less said of Mother Hua, the better, Shunlei thought. She was not unkind to him, but she made no secret of the fact that she was jealous of the favor Muqin received from Emperor-Father; and since Shunlei was Muqin's son, Mother Hua had never liked him very much, either.)

But then, late in the spring of Luo Shunlei's fourth year, Mother Liu brought a man into the hougong's central garden and announced that he was to be Suo-jie and Ying-jiejie's new Shizun.

"He will be your Shizun too, in time," she said to Nianzu, "as soon as you learn how to read more than a few characters."

"What about me?" Shunlei asked anxiously, plucking at the hems of her sleeve. "Shunshun wants to study, too."

At this, Mother Ning looked up from her account-book and kissed the top of his head.

"You can join this year if the taifu says you may," she assured him. "You're very bright for your age, Shun'er, but there's no need to rush. Mingyan gave Zhu-laoshi a twelve-year contract, so he won't leave the palace until the year you turn sixteen."

Sixteen sounded dreadfully grown-up to Luo Shunlei, who had yet to celebrate his fourth birthday. And if the new taifu really would be staying for the next twelve years, it hardly mattered that Shunlei wouldn't begin his studies until after he turned five.

But the taifu was more than happy to teach him, though Shunlei had only managed to learn the three characters that made up his name—and by the first week after lessons began, Shunlei had affixed himself to his new Shizun like a barnacle clinging to the hull of a boat.

Zhu Qinglan was, strangely enough, only the second man that Shunlei had ever met. Imperial Father was the first, and Shunlei had seen some of his demon lackeys from afar; but they were forbidden to enter any part of the inner court save for Father's private palace, so he had never actually spoken to them.

"Are all men from the human realm like you?" Shunlei asked his Shizun once, not long after Imperial Father returned from his latest campaign in the North. "If they are, why doesn't Father make friends with them instead of fighting?"

Shizun laughed and put out his hand to steady Luo Shunlei's grip on his writing brush.

"No," he replied, after the brush picked up its pace again. "Your Shizun is very old by now, that's all. I had to spend eighty years wandering the wilds alone before I learned how to hold my temper properly, and my Shizun was long gone by then—poor shifu! If your Imperial Father had met me when I was a young man, he wouldn't have wanted me as a servant, let alone a friend...or as his children's taifu, I suppose."

Luo Shunlei pouted. "Shizun can be my friend."

"Mm, then this teacher is very lucky. Oh, Shun'er, not again—you mustn't touch the scroll at all, remember? See how well da-gongzhu is writing."

It was true that Shizun was scolding him, Luo Shunlei reflected—smudging his copy-work as he thought, to Shizun's great distress—but he did it so gently that Shunlei wriggled with glee, feeling very much like a wilted flower that had suddenly been thrust into the full light of day.

Shizun treasured Luo Shunlei, just as he treasured Da-jie and Er-jie and Gege; and since he belonged to all four of them, he loved them equally. Mother Ning loved Da-jiejie the most, and Mother Liu loved Gege the most; and though Mother Hua loved nothing in the world other than Er-jiejie, Shunlei was certain that his Muqin loved Imperial Father far more than she loved him.

Zhu Qinglan loved no one at the palace better than he loved Shunlei, and that feeling was so dreadfully new to him that he burst into tears the next time Shizun entered the schoolroom with a bowl of his favorite sweet sesame cakes.

"Why are you crying?" Shizun demanded, bewildered, as Luo Shunlei let out a wail and scurried over to bury his head in the long skirt of Shizun's white robe. "Are you ill?"

He passed the cakes to one of the maids and lifted Shunlei onto his hip, feeling his cheeks and brow with the back of his rough hands.

"His little highness doesn't have a fever," Shizun muttered, "but we can't take chances, so run for a taiyi as quickly as you can. This one will stay with the little prince until the doctor comes."

"No," Shunlei bawled, rubbing his face against Shizun's shoulder. "I'm happy, Shizun."

"Happy?" Shizun asked, more puzzled than ever. "Why?"

Luo Shunlei laid his cheek on Shizun's soft neck and wept, too overwhelmed to explain that no one had ever made anything specially for him to eat before.

His siblings were only passingly fond of sesame cakes, though they refrained from saying so to save face for their Shizun. But Shunlei likes Shizun's cakes even more than the ones Father sometimes makes for their weekly luncheons, and yesterday, Shunlei had finally worked up the courage to ask if Shizun could bake them again.

Shunlei's lessons were canceled that morning, since Shizun and Mother Ning's taiyi said that he needed rest; and so, he spent the rest of the day being carried about the palace on his teacher's back, and fed another handful of sesame cakes whenever Shizun remembered he was there.

By the third month, Luo Shunlei decided that he loved his Shizun more than anyone else he had ever known, except for Muqin and his Suo-jiejie—which was why he bit off the left half of his Imperial Father's nose when Father told him that he meant to take Shizun into the hougong as a bride.

"You can't have Shizun for your wife!" Shunlei screeched, incensed. "He's ours!"

Imperial Father only raised his eyebrows at him.

"If you ever do that again," he drawled, conjuring a mirror to make sure his nose was healing properly, "I'll send you to the North to fight ice demons with Hualing, and I won't bring you back until you're too old to need a taifu anymore."

Luo Shunlei growled and kicked his little feet until he heard the satisfying crack of one of his Imperial Father's ribs snapping in half.

"You can't," he insisted, as Father let out a gasping wheeze and put a hand to his chest. "You have thirty wives already! That's too many. You can't have my Shizun, too."

Father's right eyebrow climbed a little higher up his forehead. "Everyone under the sun belongs to me," he said. "If I want your Shizun, he'll be mine eventually. There's no more to be said about it."

"But Shizun doesn't want you," Luo Shunlei scowled. "Everyone knows that."

For some reason, Father's face fell so quickly that Shunlei almost regretted his unkindness.

Only almost, though.

"It doesn't matter what he wants," Father said at last, after a long silence—and after his broken rib had healed, much to Luo Shunlei's frustration. "But he—he will want me some day, even if his heart lies elsewhere now. You'll see."

Luo Shunlei squinted at him. "I'll go tell Shizun what you're planning," he threatened. "Then Shizun can run away, and I'll go with him."

"Do you really want to visit the North so badly?" his father said idly. "Everything that lives there could eat you up in one bite."

(Shunlei's mother had taught him what to do in case anything ever ate him, so he could survive perfectly well in the Northern Desert if he had to.

Naturally, he said nothing of this to his father.)

Shunlei reached up and tugged sharply on his father's hair.

"Shizun won't like you if you send me away," he sniffed. "You can't be stupid if you're an Emperor, Imperial Father. Shizun said so."

Father sighed and tucked Luo Shunlei under his arm. "Would it really be so bad if Qinglan joined the harem?" he asked. "He'd still be your Shizun, and you'll still get to see him whenever you like. Nothing will change for you and the other little ones."

Luo Shunlei said nothing.

"And," Father said softly, "you can call him muhou after he and I are married. I plan to make him my empress, so he'll be your Imperial Mother as well as your Shizun."

"Imperial Mother...?"

Shunlei had never had an Imperial Mother before. Officially, every woman in the harem was Father's legitimate wife; the sole difference in status between them was that only the five inner wives—or four now, after the untimely death of Luo Nianzu's birth mother—were allowed full courtyards of their own and the right to raise children.

None of them were allowed to call themselves empresses, only consorts and wives: not even Mother Ning, who had reputedly been Father's favorite wife since his childhood on Cang Qiong Mountain.

But if Father meant to take Shizun as his Empress, and if that meant Shizun would be Shunlei's Imperial Mother, then...

"Then if you do marry Shizun," Shunlei ventured, plucking at the yaopei dangling from Imperial Father's belt, "can Shun'er have a little sister? Or a brother?"

Suddenly, Luo Shunlei felt his father's body go cold.

"No," Father said brusquely. "You may not."

"But why not?" he persisted. "If Shizun becomes my Imperial Mother, won't he be allowed to have his own Shun'er? Like Muqin and Mother Ning and—"

"No," his father repeated, more harshly than before. "After your Nianzu-ge was born, I vowed that I would never father another child. Don't ever mention such things again."

Luo Shunlei stared at him. "But I'm smaller than Gege," he said uncertainly. "Didn't Father break that vow already?"

"Enough," Father hissed. "Listen to me, Luo Shunlei. I nearly killed your Mother Ning by letting her give birth to Suoxin, and I as good as murdered your late Mother Qin by fathering Nianzu upon her. If Hualing had tried to give birth to you the usual way instead of molding you from our mingled blood, she wouldn't even have lived long enough to bring you into the world. Would you have me risk killing your Shizun, too?"

Shunlei's eyes burned.

"No," he said in a strangled voice. "Put me down."

So Imperial Father set him down on the ground, looking very much as though he could not bear to stand in Shunlei's presence for another moment.

"Don't you dare mention any of this to anyone," Father said wearily, as Shunlei rubbed his fists across his smarting eyes. "Otherwise, I really will send you up North to your mother."

Luo Shunlei nodded, somehow contriving to hide his tears until he made his way out of his father's courtyard; and then he staggered off to the Bamboo Palace where Shizun lived, hoping against hope that Shizun was at home and not out on another beast-trapping trip with Mother Liu.

"Shizun," he sobbed, beating on the gate with his tiny fists. "Shizun, Shun'er is here!"

And then Shizun was there, bundling Shunlei into his arms and draping a warm cloak over his shoulders before bringing him into the Zhugong's little kitchen for cakes and hot tea.

He fed Luo Shunlei and washed the tears from his little nose; and then, after his sobs began to slow, Shizun wrapped him up in a soft blanket and took him to Mother Ning.

"No," Shunlei wailed, as Mother Ning came running out of her own palace with worry all over her face. "Mother Ning, Shun'er wants to stay with Shizun."

Mother Ning blinked. "He didn't make you cry?"

"No!"

"Then who did?"

Shunlei frowned and burrowed into his Shizun's coat. "Nobody. But Shun'er is staying right here."

"All right, all right," Shizun said soothingly. "You can stay with Shizun for as long as you want. Lady Ning, if you would..."

Mother Ning nodded and promised that she would send a maid to the Zhugong with a bag of clothes for Shunlei.

"You can send him back for his bath, if he needs one before bed," she fretted. "But if he'd rather stay with you, then that's all right, too."

Satisfied, Shizun bowed to Mother Ning and whisked Shunlei back to the Zhugong, where he was made to drink two more cups of medicinal tea—though he did not mind this, since Shizun had already fed him all the fresh-baked sesame cakes he could hold—and put to bed on the pretty lounging chair in the front room.

"Go to sleep," Shizun told him, stroking his hair. "And don't look at this teacher with such big eyes. I'll still be here when you get up."

Luo Shunlei's lip trembled. "Do you promise?" he whispered. "You won't go away while I'm sleeping?"

"Of course not. Has your Shizun ever broken his word? Look—I won't even let go of your hand. You can hold this one, and I'll use the other to write while you nap."

So Shunlei finally let himself drift off; and when he opened his eyes again, some two hours later, he found that Shizun had fallen asleep at his desk, with his head on the erhu score he was copying and his left hand still clasped about Luo Shunlei's.

Suddenly, Luo Shunlei's heart felt very full. But then he remembered that Shizun would leave one day, whenever Father deemed that Shunlei and Nianzu and their jiejies had no further need of him, and then...

And then Shizun wouldn't belong to Shunlei anymore.

His spirits sank. He squeezed Shizun's palm, not knowing whether he wanted his teacher to sleep on or wake up and comfort him.

But at that moment, two words shaped themselves upon Luo Shunlei's lips; and before he could bite them back, he found himself saying them aloud.

"Imperial Mother?" he whispered, hugging his Shizun's arm. "Muhou, Shun'er is...is...."

And then—like a ray of white sunlight spearing through a blanket of clouds—his Shizun smiled, though he had not woken, and kissed Luo Shunlei's pudgy hand in his sleep.

"Hush, my baobao," he breathed, already sinking back into his dreams. "Don't cry. Mother is here."

[sunshine-dies]

I BROUGHT FOOD!!!!!

just read @nyoomerr's new drabbles today and they inspired me to draw this lovely coquettish little Bingwife. read them, they're super good!!!!!

[ID: Scum Villain fanart of original Luo Bingge standing in a modern kitchen and wearing a frilly apron, turning back to look at the viewer with a flush as he asks, "Could I be your wife?" The art is done in cool blue with dusty pink accents. End ID]

[decaflondonfog]

a week’s worth of reading [apr. 14 - apr. 20]

here’s what i read last week, in case you’re feeling uninspired, overwhelmed by choice or just too tired to scroll through your marked for later/many opened tabs!

[❣️ marks a personal favourite, 💦 a particularly hot one, ⚡ is for when you want your heart kicked, and ☁️ for a soft and gentle hug]

a full feast (over 40k)

if you don't have your own boyfriend, rented is fine by @nyoomerr [svsss, bingqiu, M, 86k]

After being turned away by the nice Shizun of that other world, Luo Binghe finds himself in the modern world where he can find a new nice Shizun for himself. Instead, he finds Shen Yuan, who could not possibly be who he's searching for - he's crass, and inelegant, and looks only vaguely related to Shen Qingqiu. Luckily for both of them, Shen Yuan mistakes Luo Binghe as a cosplayer for hire, and asks to rent him out as his very normal new boyfriend.

a nice long meal (over 10k)

❣️ and when it comes to you by @orionauriga [aftg, katekevaaron, T, 18k]

Kevin Day and the terrible, horrible, no good, incredibly torturous road trip third wheeling the best friends he’s in love with who are probably already in love with each other. …on the bright side, they aren’t making him drive.

💦 meet your heroes by kevjean [aftg, kerejean, E, 20k]

Kevin and Jean share a mutual admiration for Jeremy Knox. Then they share Jeremy.

tea and a handful of biscuits (over 1k)

❣️ a simple exam by @nanatsuyu [aftg, kandreil, E, 8k]

"Tell me if something hurts." The harsh surgical glare of the lamp leaves spots in Neil's eyes when it's abruptly tilted away. Andrew leans over the examination table and into Neil's view. The spots smatter Andrew's face in a sky of twinkling freckles. "I know you won't hurt me," Neil says with more confidence than he expects.

☁️ 12:54 AM by @pumpkinnsoda [aftg, kerejean, G, 1k]

Jean wonders when Kevin was last held. The Nest was a terror they both lived, and they found sanctuary in each other, even though it was never acknowledged. Fingers dragging over wrists, steadying hands on biceps. Hugs where no one could see. Trojans dole out affection so easily. Jean highly doubts the Foxes would do the same. ——— AKA: Kevin spends the night with Jeremy and Jean. Their new home is too cold and Kevin is too tired: they’d end up cuddling one way or another.

Rachel for Leah by x_los [svsss, bingqiu, E, 2k]

Emperor Luo Binghe understands almost immediately that his fifty-second wife's miraculous recovery from the brink of the death is not what it seems. It takes him longer to work out how lucky he's gotten.

Bruised apples by @tartadxfresa [trc, pynch, E, 6k]

The bike rumbles to a halt just before the steps of the main house, and for a moment Ronan thinks maybe he’s hallucinating. Heatstroke. Delusion. One of those weird Barns dreams that still creep in the mornings. But then Adam pulls off the helmet, and he’s real. His hair is dark with sweat, plastered to his forehead. His shirt is damp at the collar. Faded green cotton stretched across his chest. His arms are golden from the sun, freckled like someone painted them by hand. The last time they saw each other was six months ago. Adam kicks down the stand and swings a leg off the bike, helmet tucked under his arm. He carries nothing but a backpack and a look in his eye that says don’t ask. And Ronan doesn’t. He can’t. His tongue feels thick and stupid in his mouth, and his body is suddenly too aware of itself, his sweat, his stink, the way his jeans stick to his thighs. “Parrish,” Ronan says, because it’s the only word that comes out. or: Adam comes back for the summer and stays at The Barns. They’re not dating. They don’t talk about it. Ronan prays and bites into an apple.

bitesized nibbles (ficlets, drabbles and micros)

☁️ Strawberry Bobo Milk by iodhadh [mdzs, songxuexiao, T, 896 words]

“Zichen and I are getting boba after class,” Xiao Xingchen says. “You should come.” Xue Yang squints at him suspiciously. Xingchen beams back, guileless. He is, as near as Xue Yang can tell, entirely sincere. “What do you want me crashing your date for?”

✨ check previous reading lists here ✨

[gaywarcriminals]

hello! how are you going? do you have any svsss fic recs you enjoyed?

Aside from the usual Horrors, I'm quite well!! I hope you are too ^^

Oh wow, It's a bit hard to pick just a few because I've read a lot of SVSSS fics in the past few years, but here's the ones that came to mind/ I've been thinking about recently! (I'm excluding ones that I already recommended this week for the ask game, you can check out my "ask fish" tag to see those. Edit: I made a "fish recommends" tag too.)

Qijiu:

"i bury my voice for you" (series) by lithali. Space opera AU, Shen twins, everyone is aliens, intense qijiu longing, SJ’s unending font of angsty internal dialogue, and kinky qijiu sex feat transmasc SJ. I need more people to read this one!!!!!!!

"Palimpsest" by Azzandra. YQY loses his memories and tries to piece together how SJ fits in his life from what others tell him. I adore this fic, it's a really interesting examination of both their characters and why they love each other intrinsically. 

"You Were You, And I Was I" by MissMegh. Deaged qijiu being feral, clinging, and horny teenagers. Super cute and funny!

"what thing it is (that people most desire)" by Jinxed_Ink. A vaguely medieval AU based on an Arthurian legend where SJ disguises himself and blackmails YQY into marrying him for Revenge. SJ has Absolutely No Other Motive There. I didn't know how much I needed this particular brand of qijiu marriage shenanigans until I read it.

"I'm just as exposed (when i take off my clothes)" by owoxian. Qijjiu being weird and horny (as they deserve), being misinterpreted as abuse by accidental voyer MQF. 

"The Sect Leader’s Husband" by AMereDream. Canon divergence where YQY came back for SJ on time, and instead of becoming the QJP head disciple, SJ married YQY and became the power behind the throne. Cute power couple qijiu!!!

"The Heart Is A Sword" by Moonsheen. A-Su, a boy who is a sword, the emperor's weapon, is appointed personal attendant to the emperor's new consort Shen. PIDW post-canon.

Bingqiu:

"Rehearsal" by Prim_the_Amazing. Binghe, fresh from the abyss, uses a dream realm to run through all the ways his reunion with SQQ might go. This one is basically pure angst but it's SO good.

"How to Meal Prep - Household Tips, Recipes, and Ideas for a Better-Organised Life!" By x_los. Character study of 17-year-old preeminent housewife Binghe. It's cute, it's weird, and it's terribly tragic on account of the Dramatic Irony.

"Futility in Practice" by TGP. Time loop fic with a REALLY cool style of story telling. Repetitive but iterative text from Binghe, the non-looping character's POV as SQQ desperately tries to find the right answer to end the loop. Very angsty!

"it's not gay if you don't touch my ass ... unless?" by azunshi. Modern AU, SY wants to have sex with Binghe but ofc that would be gay, so instead he puts a cocksleeve up his ass for binghe to fuck instead. This fic is so deeply stupid (positive/complimentary), I love it, it's the exact brand of unhinged this whole fandom is slowlyy becoming.

"Songs of a Wayfarer" by foxflowering. Ballet AU with young prodigy LBH and his teacher SY! 

Binggeyuan:

"to find an intended (a bit unintentionally)" by nyoomerr. This is the classic. Wandering cultivator SY accidentally doms Bingge into being a good boy. 

"broken glass, swept away" by aaeph. Modern AU, SY buys a home only to find it haunted by the centuries old ghost of a demonic emperor. Bingge tries so hard to push SY away over and over, but SY is a stubborn man.

Jiuyuan:

"Jump To The Left" by ValiantBarnes (Cimila). I'm not sure quite how to describe this one without spoilers, but essentially, older Shen Yuan finds and saves SJ in the era he was following WYZ. SY takes SJ as a traveling companion/sort of disciple. CW for mentions of incest/psuedo-incest (no actual incest though).

"Immortal Shen Does Not Do Online Deliveries" by Anonymous. SY, a young cultivator and scholar, goes to ask the reclusive immoral master SQQ for an elixir. SQQ toys with him a little <3. Mean SQQ and flustered SY.

Gen/ No Ship:

"Rat Trap" by Azaisya. LQG & SJ. LQG and SJ are kidnapped, they get truth serum-ed, and they're forced to confront their different background and conflicting morals and methods that stem from that. I think this is my favorite execution of "LQG learns SJ's backstory and Has Regrets", because their conflict is explicitly framed as a class divide rather than just misunderstandings, and it addresses the flaws in both their resulting worldviews to some extent. 

"Sit With Your Soul" by Tossawary. SJ & SY. This is a fusion with His Dark Materials, but no knowledge is required. Basically everyone has an animal companion that's connected to and represents their soul, and SY transmigrates into SQQ's. 

[bloopitynoot]

What I read This Week: 01/05/25

I am a librarian, and unrelated to stereotypes about my profession, I do read a metric shit-ton in a week. Most of it is fanfiction but hey, I thought maybe it's time I share my reads?

This is what I read this week:

1. Heaven Official's Blessing by MXTX Chapter 8-13

Summary: Born the crown prince of a prosperous kingdom, Xie Lian was renowned for his beauty, strength, and purity. His years of dedication and noble deeds allowed him to ascend to godhood. But those who rise, can also fall…and fall he does, cast from the Heavens again and again and banished to the mortal realm.

Eight hundred years after his mortal life, Xie Lian has ascended to godhood for the third time. Now only a lowly scrap collector, he is dispatched to wander the earthly realm to take on tasks appointed by the heavens to pay back debts and maintain his divinity. Aided by old friends and foes alike, and graced with the company of a mysterious young man with whom he feels an instant connection, Xie Lian must confront the horrors of his past in order to dispel the curse of his present.

I've finished book 1 and am just into book2. I'm reading about a chapter a day and live blogging the experience. you can follow along on the Bloopitynoot reads TGCF tag

NO SPOILERS PLS.

So far I am loving it!

2. if you don't have your own boyfriend, rented is fine by nyoomerr (86,177)

Summary: After being turned away by the nice Shizun of that other world, Luo Binghe finds himself in the modern world where he can find a new nice Shizun for himself. Instead, he finds Shen Yuan, who could not possibly be who he's searching for - he's crass, and inelegant, and looks only vaguely related to Shen Qingqiu.

Luckily for both of them, Shen Yuan mistakes Luo Binghe as a cosplayer for hire, and asks to rent him out as his very normal new boyfriend.

The miscommunication is juicy in this.

There are a lot of cringe moments- but there really wouldn't be without these two anyways.

Lots and lots of character growth- on both sides!

A solid read.

3. pride is not the word I'm looking for by Tossawary (408,442)

Summary: Shang Qinghua goes to take a self-indulgent peek at his baby protagonist son and gets a kick to the shrivelled heart for his troubles. He gave up on changing the story years ago! Yet he finds himself helping his protagonist son's adoptive mother anyway. Just this one change won't matter too much, right?

One little change leads to more. Shang Qinghua never meant to care, but he becomes invested in making sure that his new family survives the looming plot. With the changes to the world cascading around him, with his position as a traitor pulling him between his sect and a certain ice demon, and with the protagonist growing up so quickly, how is one displaced author meant to ensure that everything turns out all right?

A Pre-Canon to Canon Divergence story.

This is truly an epic! This part is just over 400K and the first of a long series

Super cool premise- less bingqiu and more moshang, which did make me hesitate BUT there looks like there could be a bingyuan budding relationship (I don't want to spoil anything!)

totally recommend it was an incredible read, the author is a talented writer!

4 Fruition by sami (15, 695)

Summary: "One day I will conquer all England and grind their ruling classes beneath my heel," Arthur said.

Legend records that Arthur was the noblest of princes, the greatest of warriors, and the manliest of men.

He wouldn't lie about something like that.

okay I know this is a weird summary for an mdzs au but TRUST.

This is part of sami's ridiculous future bullshit series that follows the time travel fix it series the Same Moon Shines; all of these are AMAZING.

Pls this is the most historically nerdy thing I have ever read in my life. It is so damn good.

Also the wildest triad pairing i really don't want to spoil- it makes sense in the context of the future bullshit story

Honestly everything sami posts is amazing <3

5 ever wonder if the person in the puddle is real by Tossawary (6, 842)

Summary: Pre-canon Shang Qinghua from a Canon Divergent AU meets post-canon SVSSS Shang Qinghua. It's kind of weird to see where he started versus where he ended up.

A non-canon extra for "pride is not the word I'm looking for".

Part two of Pride is not the word I'm looking for

we love an au of an au

a small little ficlet centered on Shang Qinghua that is so good- I love it when they meet their alt selves in svsss

6. you had me at hello by Tossawary (5,153)

Summary: In which Luo Binghe bumps into someone else with a lot of questions about Su Xiyan at the third Immortal Alliance Conference.

A non-canon extra and Canon Divergence AU for "pride is not the word I'm looking for".

part three of Pride is not the word I'm looking for

Another canon divergent au of the part 1 au but binghe's pov

I am unsure if more was written for this au, but I hope! It has such a solid ending.

7. forgiveness for whose sake? by Tossawary (47,726)

Summary: Luo Jiahui's life is going so well, until a figure from her past pays an unexpected visit, and then she ends up even more unexpectedly meeting with the abusive family she left behind. She never wanted her past to become present like this, but she hopes she's grown enough to handle it.

An extended epilogue / multi-POV look into the world of "pride is not the word I'm looking for" several months after the end of the main story.

Part 4 (canon continuation) of Pride is not the word I'm looking for

The growth in this fic is so good. I also truly love how the author handles familial relationships- especially not so good ones.

This was truly such a warm coming into yourself type of fic.

definitely recommend (provided you've read part 1 or you'd be very lost).

8. Ghosts Shouldn't by ShanaStoryteller (15, 236)

Summary: Wei Wuxian's spirit lingers.

holy shit this fic. I sobbed ngl, but it was very much worth it.

this was rec'd to me by my pal @futuretimelord-468.

I dont even want to say more in case I spoil it, but happy endings all around :'3

I do wish that this universe had more because I love everything about it.

9. love to the ones I've never met by Tossawary (82, 834)

Summary: Shen Qingqiu and Shang Qinghua are doing their best to prepare for the protagonist's vengeful return from the Abyss, only to be visited by a strange woman seeking their help. Her name is Luo Jiahui, adoptive mother to Luo Binghe, and she's terribly lost. This isn't her world.

An extra for "pride is not the word I'm looking for" in which SVSSS meets PINTWILF.

Last part, Part 5 extra of Pride is not the word I'm looking for

This was such a solid fic; I love when universes collide on svsss fics. Especially when it makes both worlds better

You definitely need to read part 1 to know what's happening in this story.

Heartwarming/hopeful ending :'3 for both universes

[muqingapologist]

Can I ask your top 10 fav fics ever (from any fandom, if you don't mind)?

Also, just curious, is there a story behind your name "muqingapologist "?

i go through phases with fanfiction, wavering between never reading any and then reading it consistently over a period of time. so my ao3 account only has bookmarks from the last year or so, so i’ll just include those! i did read some reeeally good fics for pairings that i was really into in the past, but i won’t include them here

as for my username, i used to have the apologist format with another character for my finsta, and i because obsessed over mu qing in my recent read through of tgcf. so i’ll defend him from the haters heh.

ok fics. no particular order.

1. Resurrection by heyholmesletsgo

one thing about me is that im going to eat up every songxiao fix-it fic i come across. this one i think follows the logic of the untamed rather than just mdzs, but i don’t think it’s a big change either way. this fic is so beautiful i thought about it for weeks afterward. it’s pretty short, but the slow, gentle pining as xiao xingchen returns to the world, the way they figure out communication, it’s all so good.

2. some new beginning by liesmyth

i got into good omens after season 2 being released this past summer, and i have to say the fics have been very hit or miss for me. the characterizations in fics are always some strange combination of characterizations of season 2 crowley and season 1 crowley and book crowley. this is post-season 1 though so this isn’t really an issue. i loved this one. i think my favorite form of aziracrow is when they’re both just idiots following the momentum of their feelings without really realizing the significance of their actions until, well, they live together hahah. highly recommend this one for that dynamic! it’s also pretty short.

3. Protagonist Rehabilitation Programme by cinnamonsnaps

this one i actually read entirely on my flight from japan last week after randomly stumbling across it. it’s an SVSSS AU where the original luo binghe transmigrates(?) into shen yuan’s world. im not usually a fan of AU fiction because i think much of the time, the events of the source material are very much what shape the personalities of the characters, but this one works for me. it’s so good at matching the tone and writing style of mxtx while being funny in its own way too.

4. hometown comforts by nyoomerr

this is another bingqiu one, post-canon, and it’s an identity reveal. it’s my ideal identity reveal fic because it’s incredibly low stakes and binghe is just curious about shen yuan’s world. no system warnings and stuff. just bonding. im a simple gal.

5. still waters by marichen

went through a beefleaf phase where i read a bunch of fics. this was the best one by far. unmatched. beefleaf, imo, is a very difficult couple to write for. there’s so much to unpack. it’s hard to make their relationship feel genuine because so much care needs to go into shi qingxuan trusting he xuan again. in this fic, it is the classic he xuan lingering around, but also we see sqx building his own life back up on his own, as well. it’s he xuan pov. so good so good.

6. Bring it back, bring it back [don’t take it away from me] by wednesdaisy

another good omens fic, also post-season 1, aziraphale pov. in this one, crowley fucks off to new zealand because he thinks his relationship with aziraphale is fantasy and it’s too painful to keep seeing him after everything they’ve been through. and aziraphale tracks him down and has to convince crowley that he does indeed want him in his life and loves him and ah, it’s really sweet.

7. the round moon by orphan_account and the hazy sun by orphan_account

this is a 2 part quanyin fic (pre-canon qyz for part 1, post-canon yin yu pov for part 2). i’m also incredibly picky about quanyin fics. this one was so beautifully done. it didn’t make quan yizhen feel overly-childish as an adult like many others do, and it made yin yu’s conflicting feelings about him so vivid and believable. highly recommend for quanyin nation out there.

8. This Is Me Trying by Piper_Emerald

another post-canon identity reveal. this one is a little more angsty than the one above but also so well done! a deep part of me needs an identity reveal to happen for them at some point hahaha…like binghe is smart ok…he suspects already.

9. some good mistakes by Lise

everyone forgive me for not really having any wangxian recs. my post-untamed fic phase was on my old ao3 account i can’t find. anyway, i remember this one being really good. wei wuxian goes missing. jiang cheng pov, teaming up with lan zhan to find wwx. post-canon untamed. personal preference but i love post-canon untamed wangxian fics the most because i just reading about all the ways they might get together.

10. Not Easily Conquered by dropdeaddream, WhatAreFears

(i keep getting error when i post the link but it’s on ao3)

i’m including this one because i’d be lying if it wasn’t always in my top 10. i never think about stevebucky these days and cannot stand marvel, but damn this fic holds up like 8 years later!! 3-parter, AU where steve never gets frozen but bucky is still the winter soldier. told over decades. some cringe US cold war propaganda but ignoring that…a beautiful story. if you ever carried any attachment for these two, worth the read.

so that’s my very inaccurate too 10 fics. thank you for asking so i have an excuse to discuss hahaha.

[levitatingbiscuits]

my favorite lines from my favorite fics that i read in 2024

Theseus' Ship by LifeOfMystery, LittleLovelyLizard, TrenchcoatRats, Zyla_SweetBean

"I removed all of the symptoms of your human affliction. I replaced your blood and sinew with circuits, your so easily hurt body with metal, your very mind with code. You will never have to worry about being damaged ever again, little one. You will suffer no disease, no affliction, not even a cut or a scrape. You will be safe, secure with me, forever."

Miscellaneous Senyuu AUs by floofboy

“-Shut up,” hisses Ros. “I already know what you’re going to say.” His voice shifts to a falsetto. “Ah, but Ros, what if you die for me again? I don’t care that I’m making you live in a living hell as long as I don’t feel guilty about it.” “What do you mean by living hell?” Alba demands, a note of panic staining his voice now. “This entire world!” “Is… is this world that bad?” says Alba, voice going quiet. “A world where I can’t call you an idiot without becoming a social pariah is not a world I want to live in,” Ros says primly.

ship-to-ship combat by pomeloquat

Wait. Fuck. “Uh, Lois,” Clark says, almost dropping his mug on the floor in his rush to walk back to his living room as fast as he can without using super speed. “Actually, the laptop- if you could give me a minute- I was- um. Watching porn? And I don’t-” "Clark. What the hell is this," Lois asks, staring at Clark's Bruceman WIP folder. Clark's first instinct is to fly away, but that would still leave his fic on display for her to see. His second instinct is to blast a hole straight through his laptop screen with his heat vision, which isn't much better. He’d have to do like fifty commissions to buy a new laptop. Also then he’d have to explain to Lois that he’s Superman and that would be the biggest problem of all. “Nothing!” he says, sliding across the hardwood floors to slam his laptop closed. “Just some stuff for work, you know how it is-” Lois silences him with a harsh shush. “Clark Joseph Kent, why are you writing Real Person Fiction about Bruce Wayne and Batman?”

pleased to meet you (hope you guess my name) by BogStandardOtaku

She wasn't Maria from the game, was she? She was just Maria. She wasn't a heroine. She wasn't perfect. Even though, somehow, that made her more perfect to Katarina.

raised by winter winds by nyoomerr

Maybe if he had been there, he could have stopped things before they started. Shen Qingqiu never would have abused a child - not one that Shen Yuan would ever have to know about. Maybe he still would have done everything else - neglecting his disciples at large, isolating Shen Yuan, being unduly cruel to people that have yet to do wrong to him - but that one major crime could have been avoided. Maybe Shen Yuan still would grow to resent Shen Qingqiu, but he could avoid this hatred. That isn’t the world that Shen Yuan lives in, though. He lives in a world where Luo Binghe had already been scarred by the discipline whip long before Shen Yuan had ever met him, where Luo Binghe’s cultivation had nearly been crippled before he’d even been given a chance. You’re supposed to hate an abuser like that, and so Shen Yuan hates Shen Qingqiu. And yet…

onward, lonesome hero (carry on, carry on) by hoebiwan 

“Do you make a habit,” Batman asks, “of getting tortured?” “I would say it’s more an occasional weekend hobby than a habitual occupation,” Superman says. “Who tortured you?” Batman asks. “That’s kind of a personal question,” Superman says.

To Tell the Truth by Mithen

"I've hated you for a long time," snarled Wayne. "But I've never been afraid to say it out loud. Until now." Which didn't make a lot of sense to Steve, but he was too worried about the way the two of them were glaring at each other to puzzle it out. He was a little worried one of them was going to throw himself at the other one, the way they were almost panting with rage. Steve Lombard was feeling very uncomfortable.

Because I Say So! by Nihes

Leia's mother sighed again, but this time it was a sigh of defeat, and Leia knew exactly what would happen next. She had enough. "Oh don't worry," Leia snapped. "She's always on your side, she would even continue to sing your praises and make excuses for your awful behavior if you murdered a bunch of children right in front of her eyes." That actually seemed to hit its mark because her mother stiffened and her father whirled around so fast Leia was surprised he didn't get whiplash.

The Seduction by ikkiM

Enough was enough. “Yes. I want to go on a date with you. And you want to go on a date with me. I can tell.” He knew he’d hit that mark when her eyes widened, like a sexy doe poised for flight.

In Which Uraraka Ochako Decides to End the World by ijustwanttodestroy

Ultimately, she decides that she will end the world because she simply has to end the world. This is not a matter of want. Ochako can’t remember the last time she really wanted anything. What this is, is a matter of utility. Ochako simply has to do it because Ochako understands innately—like how a butterfly understands that it has to fly—that this is something she simply does. It’s what she was made for, because it’s what she can do.

The substitute by Olor_a_Azufre

Furina is a siren, and he is a fool craving to be drowned by her entrancing voice. He desires ruin, madness, depravity if it’s her hand what debauches him. A sovereign kneeling to a human, baring his throat, slitting his chest open with the desperation of a deranged beast, showing her the void space where his heart should be, shaped in her form. And so, Neuvillette claims her. In front of the whole audience, the whole opera—their opera—, under the sleeping gaze of Celestia. He gives her a part of his soul and blends them together. Bound to one another until the last breath leaves her tender lips and he devours her. And then he flees, like a criminal.

All Your Years For Naught by daoguang_yongheng (antsinabox)

Oh, Furina. Dear, perfect Furina. Too divine to be selfish even once in five hundred years, too human to survive the touch of the Primordial Sea. Fontaine - and Focalors - had never deserved her to begin with. She closed her eyes. She hadn't fooled the Heavenly Principles at all. There she sat, weeping alone on her throne, as the storm ravaged all that was left standing. There was only one thing left to do, she supposed. Feed the dragon's grief. If all of Teyvat was to be judged, so be it.

a few drops go a long way by SafelyCapricious 

Although none of these instructors ever throw a boulder at her head, still she’s taught the intricacies of politics, which feels like rather the same thing.

The Blackfish and the Dragon by ama

“Do you realize next month it will be three years since we met?” she asked. The corner of her mouth tilted up. “You called me a peasant.” “I was hoping you had forgotten that.” “I forget nothing.”

Isn’t It Wonderful by smiled_at_you

Rengoku’s smile, his unruined eye shining, but Tanjiro could smell the regret and despair through the stench of blood. “You were sad, even though you s-smiled. You kept a brave face, but you didn’t want to die. You were – You were so scared,” Tanjiro manages. Fresh tears and snot drip down his face. He curls inwards, choking back a sob. “I never told anyone that you were scared. Not even your brother, or your father.”

Lying In Wait by Cogni_Diss

“As already stated, the earth itself is ours to shape,” The kami outstretched their right hand, palm lifted toward the sky. “invigor,” Between their fingers, the lights of the camp flickered about unaware of the one now gazing upon them. “drain,” With a flick of their hand, the further separation of their fingers saw very maws of the earth itself open wide. The horizon cracked beneath the camp, shaking everything beneath their feet in growing intensity as the crevice grew to engulf every possible hint of life. “And break as we see fit.”

Alternate Methods for Restraining Unruly Captives by Ashen_Serpent

With all the flair of rescuing a cat with its head stuck in a tissue box, The Collector plucked Arkin from the razor wire and then slammed him down onto the floor with a weak “thud”. He then picked up the weighted blanket and laid it flat on the floor, maneuvering Arkin onto it while ignoring his murmured swears.

[captainkirkk]

✩ WEEKLY FIC ROUND-UP ✩

All the fics I’ve read and really enjoyed in the past week-ish. Reminder: This list features any and all ratings and themes.

What We Do in the Shadows

Death or Enthrallment by SoonToBeCyborg

“So, just to clarify,“ Guillermo said though gritted teeth. “My options are death or possible brain damage. The third option— the people I’ve come to think of as my family decide to trust me— is not on the table?” “No,” Nadja said sharply. “‘Fraid not, chap. Too risky.” Guillermo looked to Nandor. “Master?” Nandor held his chin high, even as his eyes wavered. “It is death or enthrallment, Guillermo. But we are letting you choose.” (A season 3 canon divergence in which Guillermo has approximately 7% more self-respect and leaves the vampires in episode 1. He only goes as far as Ashley street, but it’s a start.)

DC (Batman)

1-800-ROBIN by spqr

“Gotham Youth Mental Health Hotline, this is Jason speaking. Can I ask who I’m talking to?”

There’s a long silence on the other end of the line, and then a small voice says, “I, um. Sorry, I don’t know why I called. This was a mistake. I’ll just hang up now.”

“Hey, wait.” Jason drops his feet to the floor, sitting forward in his shitty cubicle. Suddenly his heart is racing and he’s not sure why, but he can’t let this kid hang up. “You don’t have to tell me your name. That’s okay. Just – why don’t you tell me why you’re calling?”

two against the world by carolinaa

“I’m Tim,” he says, though introducing himself to a puppy makes him flush in embarrassment. “Are you hungry?”

The dog blinks at him, all scared eyes.

“Where’s your family?” Tim asks. “Did they leave you?”

(Or: Tim Drake finds a friend.)

The Martian

#BringHimHome by MelRows

Mark Watney will need to buy a lot of people beers.

A collection of in-world oneshots cataloging the world's reactions. From the news to social media and from regular people to NASA rover techs.

1: Fox vs. an 80 year old Bill Nye 2: John and Hank Green, Crash Course Mars 3: A NASA rover tech at Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station 4: The WatneyWatch app and how to tell your child their hero is going to die in an invisible dust storm on Mars 5: Tattoos, music, and what is likely to amount to the largest simultaneous worldwide traffic jam 6. 78 hours of vlogs are released, the Ares 3 crew returns home, and Mark goes on The Tonight Show

SVSSS

and judgment is just like a cup that we share by Kieron_ODuibhir

The blob finished rotating into place in a way that wasn’t quite compatible with geometry as Shen Qingqiu understood it, and cleared a throat it didn’t seem to have.

“Greetings,” it said, somehow clearly addressing him in particular more than the room as a whole despite its total lack of features other than blueness and translucency. “I’m here on behalf of the Hyper-Celestial Peace and Order Enforcement Bureau. Crime scene secure, proceeding to interviews. Beginning with Subject One: You are Shen Qingqiu, formerly Shen Yuan, also known as Peerless Cucumber?”

grief, hope, and other forms of sickness by nyoomerr

After the Immortal Alliance Conference, Shen Qingqiu qi deviates. The deviation itself isn’t bad, but it allows Without-A-Cure to spread far further than it did originally, disabling Shen Qingqiu by a non-insignificant amount.

So when Huan Hua calls for Shen Qingqiu’s imprisonment in Jinlan City, Without-A-Cure makes it very clear that Shen Qingqiu can not be held in the Water Prison away from the medical attention he needs these days.

Instead, Shen Qingqiu is allowed to return to Qing Jing, provided he takes Luo Binghe back with him.

purely eyeshine by sunson

In a world where, at the last moment, the System does not force Shen Qingqiu to push Luo Binghe down into the Endless Abyss, things are fine. Things are great, even.

Until the demon puberty sets in.

you are who you love by kitschlet

Shen Qingqiu gets hit by an amnesia wife plot that selectively erases Luo Binghe from his memories. Luckily, the cure is simple: Luo Binghe just has to make him fall in love all over again.

Just Like A Monkey (I've Been Dancing My Whole Life) by millepertuis

Shen Qingqiu is supposed to wake in his new body after he self-destructs.

It’s not what happens.

[cooliogirl101]

*vibrates intensely* Did you say Scum Villain's Self-Saving System????!!! Wpuld you like recs of any kind??? I have bookmarked 1,024 svsss stories (of varying qualities) and I would be happy to reccommend any based off anything you want to read. Long, short, a specific trope or idea- odds are pretty decent I can think of something, but I won't shove reccommendations at you without asking ^^;; But either way, ahhhh!!! Welcome to SVSSS!!!!

I have already gone through an embarrassingly large number of fics on ao3, including all of esama’s fics, all of nyoomerr’s fics, and many more, but I’d love to hear about some of your favorites!

(Also fics where Shen Yuan manages to make Shen Jiu’s life a little happier, either by rescuing him as a kid or just providing support somehow because fuck is that dude’s backstory tragic. Doesn’t excuse his future actions, of course, but I admit I have a weakness for fics where Xiao Jiu becomes a bit of a better person and manages to obtain happiness in the end. Read a few fics where they’re brothers or something and I just love their potential dynamic).

[kasasagi-eye]

SVSSS fic recs - UPDATED DEC 21

I decided to make several rec lists this year. Since @veliseraptor asked for SVSSS recs, I'm starting with these. I'm not good with descriptions but I can guarantee that everything on this list is amazing.

Also I tried to sort it into pairings, most of which inlcude some version of Binghe and some verison of SQQ, but sometimes the lines between bingmei and bingge and even sy and sj are made blurry by fics, so please take this division with a grain of salt.

EDIT: I originally comliped this rec list in March 2021 and am now updating it in December 2021. For those fics I’ve added now I put (NEW) in the list.

Bingqiu:

High Mountain, How I Long by Minimalistless.

Huan Hua palace divergence

honesty is such a lonely word by chrysaliseater.

truth serum, trial (!) fic Songs of a Wayfarer by foxflowering 

An absolutely stunning ballet AU. Reads like Virginia Woolf if she were into danmei.

(NEW) Deluxe System 2.0: Co-op Mode! by kitsunealyc

What if Shen Jiu’s soul never left his body, and he and Shen Yuan had to cooperate. The perfect fix-it for SJ. Qijiu as side-ship. 

(NEW) Unfinished Business by kitsunealyc

Bingge gets back to his teenage self and gets a system. Shen Qingqiu is Shen Jiu but he was Shen Yuan in between and got therapy. Interesting SJ/SY character blend. (WIP)

(NEW) dew over by ataratah

After self-destructing, SY comes back as rogue cultivator Peerless Cucumber. He and LBH start a casual relationship while LBH pines for his “dead” shizun. Cue SY being jealous of himself (that gotta be one of my favorite tropes). SJ also makes appearance (with hints of qijiu).

Bingjiu:

Shadows can bleed by SenZen_Travers

my favorite fic in this fandom. LBG resurrects SJ and tries to change him to his liking.

Не в нашей власти by Ликующий Октаэдр.

After his death, Shen Jiu returns to the time when he suffered his qi deviation and tries to change his fate. Amazing strategizing. (Russian, WIP)

point of view by acernor

SJ and LBG changes places, super hot hate sex ensues

(NEW) the taste of blood, the claim of love by newamsterodam

the one where lbh makes sj his advisor. it works very well.

(NEW) Там, где нас никогда не было - Nuoba

very hot fix-it with foot fetish

(NEW)  only want love (if it's torture) – Chesra

A lovely AU where LBH engages in a demon courtship with SJ

(NEW) faithless love (the only hoax i believe in) – Chesra

SJ puts LBG under a love potion. Delicious plot twists. (WIP)

(NEW) more delicate than the golden blossoms by xiaolongbaobei

LBG changes his treatment of his prisoner. beautifully evocative language, the best description of LBH’s demonic court ever. (WIP)

(NEW) from your knees by persicae

assassination attempt as foreplay. bingjiu at their finest

(NEW) Proud Immortal Demon’s System by Queen_Buster

Bingge relives his disciple days with a mission from the System to make himself a kinder shizun. Interesting plot; a satisfying read. (WIP)

Bingyuan:

How to Handle Laundry when Traveling Inter-Dimensionally by hoarous

hot washing machine sex

to love another (and to learn yourself) by nyoomerr

LBG kidnaps SY (who was never SQQ and only read the novel), then re-learns how to be human. sweet.

(NEW) pay no attention to the man by PandaFlower 

SJ is reborn as SY (but still in xianxia setting), LBG forces him to marry him. (WIP)

(NEW) the best luo binghe by neery

LBG roleplays himself where SY roleplays SQQ. Cue hot and emotional CNC.   others (NEW) voluntary victim (tie the noose) by technorat     

bingliujiu the most delicious sj whump

(NEW) recovery by moonsheen

qijiu, sj is rescued by sy and co and nursed to health

(NEW) The Quest To Happiness by karrot

shen jiu/everyone. A funny, feel-good omegaverse fic

blowing my own trumpet

鬼火|ghost light

bingjiu. LBG manipulates SJ’s memory to make him think they’re married. (WIP)

a point of honor

liujiu. Liu Qingge rapes Shen Jiu during his qi deviation and tries to make amends. (WIP)

don’t let them throw me away

liujiu with side bingqiu. human stick! sj gets transported into the world of svsss, where he ends up in lqg’s charge (four finished instalments, two more to come)

I’ve got more SV fics but am too lazy to create so many links so you’ll have to look at my AO3 for that.

[nyoomerr]

Dumbass question but could Liu qingge do a sonic rainboom?

i feel like i'm entitled to emotional compensation for the way this ask was sent to me with the assumption that i would understand the reference well enough to provide an informed answer

i did in fact understand the reference, so: probably not, because lqg is not associated with a rainbow, and his own version of the effect would reflect him in some way

if sonic rainboom-adjacent effects were written into PIDW they'd be done in whatever way produced the coolest or most extreme effects for the audience to enjoy

as such,

[nyoomerr]

scum viewers omniscient reading system

smartass reader who wifes up his favorite emotionally unstable dog of a protagonist and whose default solution to any inconvenience is to die, all while going the entire story without realizing their great (positive) influence on the people around them.... their similarities are truly great. that said,

sqq: what, you need a skill to repress your feelings? noob. kdj: and you never even tried to figure out how to dismantle your controlling system? coward.

[nyoomerr]

I am so maddeningly obsessed w your binggeyuan "hate is just another word for love" fic dude I'm insane about this. I've read it like. 8 times. Xin Mo shattering at the end finalizes everything so neatly but God I cannot help but wish there was more. Beautiful beautiful stuff. I would elect you Governor if I knew what they did

before you stands a normal plush doll. there is nothing wrong with him. he is only a plush and so he does not have feelings, but even if he did, they would be very normal feelings with nothing wrong with them, too :)

fdkjgh i'm glad you like that fic so much though, thank you! i really do love bingge best when he's so fucked up it's pathetic... <- normal opinion

i don't have any plans to write more for that au, but i can promise that there is an absolutely batshit insane bingmei-ification plot awaiting them both in that world lmao. good luck sy you really got this bingge especially fucked up and you didn't even know he was real !

[nyoomerr]

octomerbinghe being massive puts the idea of him just. picking up shen yuan.

Shen Yuan's boss comes to the lab in a bad mood and snaps at Shen Yuan? Woosh. No more shizun for you. Binghe is lifting him up away from you. Shen Yuan privileges revoked.

AHAHA "shen yuan privileges revoked" is especially funny to me XD

luo binghe is definitely capable of pulling himself up and out of the tank, too, so nowhere is safe... he's in that tank to humor shen yuan and shen yuan alone, so everyone had better treat shen yuan right!

other mischief that giant octomer!binghe might get up to:

stealing lab equipment and stretching his tentacles up and juuuustttt out of reach so it can't be retrieved when shen yuan is around in order to tease shen yuan for being small

steal lab equipment and letting it sink to the bottom of the tank when shen yuan is NOT around, in order to get someone to call shen yuan in to work as the only person lbh allows to dive into his tank

he tries to go for people's phones too but he always ends up ruining them with water before he manages to use them to call his shen-ge :(

(the octomer!binghe drabble that this ask is referring to)