#what makes it so unbelievably devastating is wei wuxians face like he just looks. so completely terrified and lost and heartbroken

[trans-xianxian]

always in the back of my mind there's a little projector that just plays the scene after wei wuxian and wen ning rescue jiang cheng from lotus pier and they're all in the boat and wei wuxian is holding an unconscious jiang cheng in his arms looking absolutely horrified and broken and he just slowly lifts two shaking fingers up to jiang chengs face to check if he's even still breathing.... they were pretty fucked up for that one I've gotta say

[sincerelystranger]

Author: Continuation of Friday Night Drunks. Read everything on AO3.

---

Wei Wuxian has fucked up.

He’s fucked up big time.

He watches as Nie Mingjue enters the apartment. It almost feels like life is going in slow motion. At least Wei Wuxian’s death will be quick. Nie Mingjue will probably just crush his head between those huge biceps of his.

Nie Mingjue walks into the apartment and his shoes aren’t even off before he freezes to stare at the scene in front of him.

Wei Wuxian is sat on his knees, his fists on top of each knee, already ready to beg for forgiveness… and…

Lan Zhan is crouched next to him, expressionlessly staring at Wei Wuxian with tears falling down his face in an unending stream.

That, by itself, makes Wei Wuxian want to kill himself, because Lan Zhan should never cry.

But what is going to get Wei Wuxian killed is…

Xichen on his other side, sobbing openly into his hands.

Nie Mingjue’s face darkens, his perpetually furrowed brows furrowing even further. “What did you do!” he growls.

“Would you believe me if I told you I didn’t do anything?” Wei Wuxian asks, blinking up at Nie Mingjue as innocently as he knows how.

Nie Mingjue walks towards him, his nostrils flaring in anger. “Why is Xichen crying?” Nie Mingjue obviously decides that taking care of Xichen takes precedence over killing Wei Wuxian, because he crouches down and bodily drags Xichen into his arms, patting his back gently.

“Honestly,” Wei Wuxian says, lifting three fingers to his forehead, “Xichen-ge asked me if you had a boyfriend and all I said was yes.”

Xichen begins to sob even harder, burying his face into Nie Mingjue’s shoulder.

“Da-ge,” he wails, “Who is he – is he prettier than me?”

Nie Mingjue just stares at Wei Wuxian wide eyed. Even his hand is frozen in mid-pat.

“Then why is Wangji crying?” Nie Mingjue asks after a beat, something nervous in his voice.

Wei Wuxian sighs and leans away a little from Lan Zhan’s intense stare at his face. “Would you believe me if I said he started crying when I told him I had a boyfriend?”

“They shared a beer,” Nie Mingjue hisses incredulously, “I was outside for 5 minutes. How --”

“Who is your boyfriend?” Wangji asks Wei Wuxian suddenly, carelessly interrupting Nie Mingjue, “Does he treat you… well?”

Wei Wuxian feels almost light-headed. He should never have insisted the Lan brothers join in on Friday Night Drinks. He knew they had a low tolerance but… But this was ridiculous.

Xichen sobs again, and that seems to break Nie Mingjue from whatever shock he’s feeling. He pats Xichen’s back again and shushes gently. “No one is prettier than you,” Nie Mingjue whispers.

Yeah, Wei Wuxian thinks to himself, No one except Lan Zhan.

“Wei Ying is the prettiest,” Lan Zhan says, still not taking his eyes off of Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian turns to face Lan Zhan. It’s a little unnerving because Lan Zhan is totally blank faced, except for the fact that tears are literally streaming from his eyes.

“Thank you, Lan Zhan,” he says gently. Nie Mingjue can handle Xichen. Wei Wuxian has to… fix Lan Zhan somehow.

Lan Zhan nods seriously. “Is your boyfriend… pretty?” he asks.

“The prettiest,” Wei Wuxian nods.

It’s almost laughable at how much Lan Zhan’s face falls at that. He looks so devastated that Wei Wuxian’s heart doesn’t know whether it’s hurting because of sadness or cuteness.

Wei Wuxian takes a page out of Nie Mingjue’s playbook and drags Lan Zhan into his arms. (Well more of drags himself into Lan Zhan’s arms, because Lan Zhan is an immovable object.)

“You’re my boyfriend, Lan Zhan,” he says, “Why are you crying?”

Lan Zhan is still as stone in Wei Wuxian’s arms.

“But I’m not the prettiest,” he whispers finally, sinking just a tiny bit into Wei Wuxian’s embrace.

Wei Wuxian leans back to look at Lan Zhan’s face. “Lan Zhan, are you saying that I’m a liar?” he asks, pouting as if his feelings were hurt.

Lan Zhan’s eyes widen. His hands come up to cup Wei Wuxian’s face. “No,” he whispers, “Wei Ying is not a liar.”

Wei Wuxian leans into Lan Zhan’s touch. He bats his eyes at Lan Zhan.

Lan Zhan seems enthralled. His tears have stopped, but he’s still staring dazedly at Wei Wuxian’s face.

“I’m your boyfriend?” Lan Zhan asks, his voice soft and unbelieving.

“My one and only,” Wei Wuxian answers, scrunching up his nose because Lan Zhan just looks so cute.

Lan Zhan’s eyes are bright and heady on him. He looks extraordinarily pleased by Wei Wuxian’s words.

“One and only,” Lan Zhan whispers back.

Ah… Drunk Lan Zhan is so easy.

“You good?” Nie Mingjue asks, breaking Wei Wuxian’s attention away from Lan Zhan.

He turns and sees that Nie Mingjue is standing and Xichen is holding onto him like a baby koala, his face still buried in Nie Mingjue’s shoulder.

Xichen is not a small man by any means… but he looks very small holding onto Nie Mingjue like that. And Nie Mingjue…. Is just… standing there… looking down at Wei Wuxian as if a fully grown man is not clinging to him like a child.

Wei Wuxian can’t decide whether making the Lan brothers drink with him was a good idea or a bad idea anymore.

Lan Zhan must decide that Wei Wuxian has averted his gaze away from him for too long because he physically forces Wei Wuxian’s face into his chest.

“You are not qualified to look at Wei Ying,” Wei Wuxian hears Lan Zhan say.

There’s a beat of silence where Wei Wuxian thinks Nie Mingjue might be weighing the pros and cons of smashing Lan Zhan’s head between his biceps.

“Next time, only Xichen drinks,” Nie Mingjue says finally.

Wei Wuxian can hear his heavy steps lead towards Xichen’s room.

He pushes his head out of Lan Zhan’s embrace. “That wasn’t very nice,” he says.

Lan Zhan looks at him, his brows furrowing just a little bit. “Wei Ying does not like it?”

Ugh, please, please, please.

“I like it,” he says, climbing onto Lan Zhan’s lap, tucking his head in the crook of Lan Zhan’s neck. “I like you.”

Lan Zhan’s arms come around him automatically. Securing him safely on his lap. “Wei Ying likes me the most,” Lan Zhan says, “Wei Ying likes Lan Zhan the most.”

Something about Lan Zhan’s words sound strangely familiar… Whatever.

“Mmn, yeah,” Wei Wuxian says, resting comfortably in Lan Zhan’s arms. This wasn’t the typical Friday Night Drinks, but he found he didn’t mind it. He could always drink his fill of Emperor’s smile next week.

“Lan Zhan, I think we should probably get you to bed,” he says, making to move off of Lan Zhan’s lap.

Lan Zhan tightens his grip around him and just stands.

Wei Wuxian will always be impressed by Lan Zhan’s weird monster strength. Impressed and turned out.

“Wei Ying will…” Lan Zhan trails off, but Wei Wuxian has dated Lan Zhan long enough to get the gist.

“Yeah, I will,” he says, rubbing his cheek against Lan Zhan’s shoulder, “Let’s go to bed.”

The final verdict on whether getting the Lans drunk is up for debate.

More testing is needed.

[trans-axian-archive]

If The Untamed had gotten one (1) wangxian kiss scene, where you put it? (ignoring like any other canon of course) Personally, I say either like during that snowy scene in LWJ's mom's house OR Lan Wanji just kissing Wei Wuxian at Carp Tower when Wei Wuxian had just been rediscovered as alive. You know, to shove it in Jin Mengyao's face.

UGH okay I have a few ideas!! those are both v good options esp since I think Something definitely happened after that snowy scene (there's actually a fic that I really like that explores that concept right here).. other good placements include:

- in the last ep when they're going their separate ways on the cliff. like very comfortable and tender and familiar, implying that this is not their first kiss or a love confession - they are going to be apart for a little while and they love each other and this is just what they do. just a soft sweet little press of the lips like "I'll see you when I get back, take care, I love you" not meant to be like a big heavy monumental moment just... they love each other and they know and have acknowledged this so they're giving each other a kiss

- the boat scene!! maybe just after wei wuxian wakes up and he's lying in lan wangjis lap n they're just like. gazing at each other lovingly... maybe after lan wangji picks the lotus pod for wei wuxian. the only issue w this option is that this scene is just so like,, tender and intimate that I imagine it being a little more passionate than just a lil peck on the lips and wen ning is like Right there 1) he's already third wheeling so hard in that scene I don't want to put the poor man through any more that he already has to, and 2) wangxian would definitely be shameless and physically affectionate around people but I don't think that (at least in cql canon) they'd just like. Make Out in front of people esp their friends/family? n there are some.. uncomfortable implications that go along with that anyway

- if we'd like to get Sad with it then the scene when they're parting after lan wangji visits wei wuxian in yiling (there is literally a child right there so it wouldn't be anything particularly Intense). it both makes their fight at nevernight all the more tragic and makes the years wei wuxian was dead more devastating for lan wangji because he would Know with confirmation that wei wuxian loved him back in the same way but... they missed their chance and it would probably make lan wangji feel even more like he'd failed wei wuxian. it also makes the implication of that scene and wei wuxian telling a yuan that lan wangji probably isn't coming back because "everyone has their own path to walk" feel more tragic and finite. by having them kiss right before they go their separate ways it's like wei wuxian is saying goodbye for good, like, "I wanted to do this, to say this one thing, while we still have the chance to. goodbye, I love you" its a goodbye kiss not in the sense of "I will see you again" but a goodbye kiss in the sense of "I will never see you again" like kissing somebody right before you die as they hold you in their arms

- in yi city Right after they say goodbye to song lan n they stare after him and look at each other like we are so fortunate that we got to find each other again... they both sorta just realize at the same time that they cannot waste this second chance that they have, unbelievably, been given. it's a sacred thing and it would be disservice to not do all of the things they want to do and say all of the things they want to say. I think this option has the best opportunity for a pre kiss conversation... maybe this is the moment they outright say "I love you" and like.. I'm glad I get to be with you again. this is also probably the scenario with the most intense kiss potential (aside from koi tower but we'll get to that in a moment) because they are yknow,, completely alone and can kiss each other soundly against a pole or something

- like I said I think the koi tower concept is definitely the most Intense kiss option. firstly because if they're saying fuck you to jin guangyao and everyone else, might as well make it a Big fuck you like... they're gonna make it count yknow. a sweet lil press of the lips doesn't quite carry the same weight as them kissing Soundly for a solid 20 seconds in front of a bunch of people who are prepared to stab them and think that any loyalty and affection for the Evil Terrible Unforgivable Yiling Laozu is a horrible crime. secondly that moment is already just like. incredibly emotionally charged and I cannot imagine a kiss following "the feeling of walking a single log bridge til it's dark is indeed not bad" being a brief peck on the lips. wei wuxian tells lan wangji that if everyone knows he protected and went around with wei wuxian Knowing it was him all along, lan wangjis reputation will be ruined forever. lan wangjis following speech that may as well be a love confession is not Only a love confession but also him telling wei wuxian that he doesn't care about any of that and he will follow wei wuxian wherever he goes and stay by his side not matter what. lan wangji kissing wei wuxian in front of all those people drives that home even More like... "I don't care about what any of these people think, let everyone watch as the righteous hanguangjun kisses the wretched yiling laozu, let them see how much I love you"

- bonus not kiss idea but: when wei wuxian is taking care of drunk lan wangji and they're having their little moment, lan wangji Trying to kiss wei wuxian, but wei wuxian is a gentleman and wouldn't take advantage of lan wangji like that so he just sort of very gently turns him down like nonono you are Not in a state to be doing this right now lets talk in the morning. then in the morning wei wuxian is like No You Didn't Do Anything Last Night What because right here on the street is Not the time or place to have this interaction. this could then tie into my yi city idea.. after they have their little we are so fortunate that we got to find each other again moment wei wuxian tells lan wangji what happened when he was drunk n they have their lil talk n smooch

I think with the jingshi scene a kiss actually works better Afterwards just because with the way all of it plays out, shoving a kiss inbetween any of the existing little moments kinda ruins the flow? so that would involve not adding To a scene but adding On a scene which is why I didn't elaborate on that concept. I think adding a kiss to their lil moment on phoenix mountain would both fit well into that scene/be like... narratively valuable And be a big fuck you to mxtxs weird gross unconsensual kiss. the only thing with that tho is that putting a kiss So early on changes the tone of the entire rest of the story n fucks with the plot at least a lil bit so having the kiss be there requires a lot more editing than the other scenarios for it to be successful and make it/the rest of the story still make sense

[mightysnowflakestuff]

Fatal lies

Link to AO3

Jin Guangyao was trapped. In his own house nonetheless. Most of the guests had already left so there were few to witness his misery. A glimmer of hope filled his vision when the younger Twin Jade walked past the open living room door tailing the never stopping chatter flowing from Wei Wuxian’s mouth. However, this hope was short-lived when after a quick glance at Guangyao’s state Lan Wangji kept moving onwards but not before throwing a quick grin towards the troubled man. A grin! From Lan Wangji! Unbelievable!

As the front door clicked shut, Guangyao came to a dreadful understanding. He was trapped and there was no one to help him. Trying once more to free himself, he placed his hands flat against the soft fabric and pushed with all his might. Still, he was no match to the crushing mass on top of him.

The man groaned loudly as he lowered his head backwards against the sofa’s backrest. Was this it? He was just gonna sit here the whole night? He had a meeting to attend tomorrow morning for goodness sake! A sigh escaped the lips.

However, it didn’t belong to Guangyao.

A moment later the sky blue clothes draped over the immobilised man shifted and a pair of drowsy eyes looked up at the dark gold ones. A moment of silence passed as the heavy head rested on Guangyao’s chest but the intense gaze seemed to be full of life. Good. Maybe Guangyao didn’t have to spend the whole night sitting there in someone else’s house and later complain about his stiff back while running late to work.

Raising his only free limb, Guangyao patted the right hand on the sturdy shoulder urging the other to wake fully. “Hey. Would you move aside a bit? I gotta get up now.”

The nudging made the other man react and Guangyao felt his left arm be freed as well. Only for a pair of foreign hands to wrap themselves around him.

“No.” The grip securing him in place strengthened quite a bit leaving the smaller man borderline breathless.

Guangyao straight up stared at the fussy man on top of him. “Excuse me?”

Silky hair brushed over his torso as the older man nuzzled his head into Guangyao’s chest, not unlike an attention seeking cat. “No, you don’t.”

Of all things waking up today Jin Guangyao didn't expect that attending his new coworker’s birthday party would end like this. The birthday child squeezing the life out of him while firmly stating that actually Guangyao didn’t have to go anywhere. Ridiculous!

Golden eyes glanced at the many glasses on the low table. The closest to them was still half full. Who would have known that such a big man like Lan Xichen had such a low alcohol tolerance. Even his little brother tolerated the alcohol much more elegantly! The guy had neatly made his way towards the front door by himself even after all the shots that Wei Wuxian had personally served him. Other than that grin everything looked perf-. ...Actually, now to think about it, that facial expression was too much after all. For Lan Wangji at least.

Hah! Guangyao would have chuckled at the seemingly only weakness that could break the brothers’ usual solemn mask if only his lungs wouldn’t have been compressed at the moment. Instead, he let out a pitiful wheeze and gently attacked the others head. “Please, Xichen, I can’t breathe!”

As if only now understanding the situation, the other released a surprised gasp and instantly loosened the grip. Finally, Guangyao felt relieved with the oxygen filling up his lungs once again. Even when the arms stayed put around him. One victory at a time he guessed.

His brain being able to function properly once again, Guangyao observed the man on top of him a bit more carefully. Thanks to the alcohol Xichen’s mind seemed to be in a very different state than usual. Instead of the modest and respectful coworker he was looking at a man whose actions could be deemed as childlike even. Interesting. Guangyao decided to try another tactic.

“Did you know that I was once a fairy?” The melody of the question was light but the golden eyes gave it a chilling serious quality.

“Really?”

Guangyao met the astonishment with a pair of honest big eyes. “Yeah. Didn’t you know?”

The Lan silently shook his head, his mouth uselessly agape.  

“Mm. Yes. I got big shiny wings and wherever I flew fairy dust would always trail me.”

Nodding enthusiastically, Xichen listened intently while his eyes wandered over Guangyao with a seeming purpose. Probably looking for fairy dust because the next time he opened his mouth Xichen sounded rather disappointed.

“But I don’t see any fairy dust...”

Guangyao sighed theatrically, gaining the other’s worried attention. “In the beginning I had nothing against people wanting to touch my fancy wings or the sparkling dust. But after some time I discovered that the more hands stroked my wings the more damaged they became.” Looking to his side then, Guangyao put on a hurt expression that Xichen couldn’t help but cradle in one of his hands.

“I asked people to stop touching my wings but they didn’t understand why they should as before I’d allowed them to do so. In the end, my fairy dust vanished alongside my wings...”

The thumb that had been stroking Guangyao’s cheek stopped abruptly and a moment later Xichen sat up freeing Guangyao in the process. Tears started pouring from his terrified eyes before they were hidden behind a pair of quivering hands.

“I destroyed your wings! Because of me you can never fly again!!”

Guangyao watched the grown up man cry over his coworker’s lost wings and sighed deeply. What an evening. Still, even though he was free now and able to go home he couldn’t dare to leave Xichen in such a state. Who knew what the man could do while still influenced by alcohol.

Therefore, Guangyao stood up but lowered his hand on Xichen’s back to rub reassuring circles there. “It’s all right.”

“No it’s not!” The shout had been unexpected and left Guangyao gaping at the now red eyed face looking up in his direction. He hadn’t intended for his obvious lie to wreck Xichen that much!

“You told me to move but I didn’t! And now you have no wings or fairy dust! It’s all because of me! I’m such an awful person!”

Guangyao hadn’t definitely expected such a reaction. Making a mental note to never let Xichen drink again if he could help it, Guangyao bowed down a bit to see the devastated man face-to-face and took a hold of the broad shoulders.

“Hey. It’s really alright. Look at my face. I’m smiling.” With some effort, Xichen dared to look the other in the eye and then moved his gaze downwards to the widely smiling lips. Assessing them a bit, the Lan looked up again with his sad eyes though the tears had stopped flowing now. “But you can’t fly anymore. Because of me...”

Before the tall man could drown into his own tears once again, Guangyao shook the shoulders still in his grasp and stated firmly. “Yes. I can’t fly. But I don’t need to fly! There are so many options for me to choose from! I can take a bus or train or even call a taxi! Or you could give me a lift with your car when I’m in need, right?”

Evaluating all the possibilities available for Guangyao, Xichen finally started to calm down before he nodded decisively. “Yes. I can give you a lift!”

“That’s good to hear.” Guangyao smiled, this time less widely but more sincerely because the situation seemed to be solved for now. “But not today,” he added, back still bowed downwards. “Today I want to go home by myself and you promise me that you will go to sleep now.”

For a moment it seemed that Xichen was about to argue but then he probably remembered the earlier story and decided to honour Guangyao’s decision. “Alright. I promise.”

Relieved, Guangyao closed his eyes for a moment before giving the forehead before him an approving peck. “Good. I’ll see myself out now.” Wide eyes followed him as a hand slowly rose to touch the spot where Guangyao’s praise had landed.

Before disappearing behind the corner, Guangyao looked back for a moment before continuing on his way with a tiny smirk gracing his features. He was very curious how much of this his coworker would remember tomorrow.