#An le

[nenan]

Daniela Melchior photographed by An Le for Vogue Portugal, set design by Carmen Barber

[emtrobarasalaplatja2]

[happypeachsludgeflower]

You know the part of Xie Lian’s history where he was the preceptor of Yong’an? And he was invited to the Gilded Banquet by the king but originally decided not to go and only went at the last minute causing him to be late and show up after the massacre had happened??

Okay so an au where Xie Lian decided to go to the banquet earlier and arrived with his majesty the king and was there when An Le started the slaughter.

The sheer drama and identity porn shenanigans possible here are endless. Imagine a scene where somehow it comes out that Xie Lian is the fallen god of the Xianle people, that HE’S their crown prince that pleased the gods.

Anyway, yea, the glorious and messy identity reveal is just bringing me a ridiculous amount of joy.

Who knows, maybe saving the Yong’an royal family would have him ascending for the third time, earlier.

[emotionaldisaster909]

Okay I suddenly find An Le’s reasoning kinda justified

Bitch this is the thing about this national bullshit

Those two assholes? They weren’t anywhere even close to being born when the drought in Yong An and the war happened

Yet this hatered that should’ve long passed was cultivated throughout the generations

But no history is an excuse for discrimination

[sidecharactersdomatter]

Thoughts I had during TGCF S2 EP 10

*furiously whispering* This was the most intense one of the season!

Previously on TGCF…

-The Gilded Banquet…

-An Le was its host

-Yong’An Palace

-The guards!

-That’s right it was Qianqiu’s birthday

-Those prejudiced Yong’An royals

-That explains the massacre, An Le faced a lot of discrimination from the kingdom’s nobility

-Qianqiu had a cousin

-Qianqiu’s mother

-Even Qianqiu’s dad was disappointed in his nephew

-He had loving parents

-The king and queen were the ones that were nice to him

-Those shady guards

-It’s all going down…

-Mengyou!

-With a red box!

-He hid it!  I wonder why?

-Dang political troubles

-It reminded him of the banquet with his parents

-Oh no!

-It tied to the last episode

-Discussing the future of both people

-Qianqiu’s dad sounds a little like Macbeth from Gargoyles, which is weird since I got back into said fandom for this autumn

-Even Qianqiu’s dad had hidden prejudice

-There he is!

-Qianqiu, his mother, and An Le

-He smiled again

-End of flashback

-That cape swish!

-This isn’t as vibrant when I go up with my fam to visit relatives

-This also isn’t like that Ba Sing Se banquet from Atla book 2 Earth

-The green veins!

-There goes their disguises

-Oh no and a child was there!

-Qianqiu still hasn’t appeared

-The music stopped

-Qi Rong’s lackeys!

-Mengyou’s still looking

-He found him!

-I freaking love their dynamic

-Qianqiu wanted to give his mother a gift!

-Oh the jewelry artist was voiced by Jill Harris

-Aw man, they still have their great bond

-Look at all that verdant carnage!

-Oh no the mother noble and her son!

-Qianqiu’s dad had the same large sword!

-An Le’s crazed look

-He has a knife!

-Qianqiu’s mother was so selfless!

-That explains it!

-Both King and Queen were slain!

-He really was allied with Qi Rong

-Because no one’s breathing now!

-More trauma

-This donghua still doesn’t mess around with the body count

-You can even hear Qi Rong’s laughter through An Le

-There go the lackeys

-It’s too late Fang Xin

-He wanted revenge as his last breath

-He ended Qianqiu’s father!

-Unpopular opinion, the Fang Xin arc was basically the “Avatar Day” episode, but done respectfully and came out compelling

-Even the noblewoman’s son

-That explained it

-Damn Qi Rong still rubbed salt in the wound

-Technically it was both of your lives

-Qi Rong’s offensive gesture

-QR was responsible for failing to kidnap Qianqiu

-That revelation

-Dang Brandon Loera delivered!

-He confessed!

-He got sliced in Twain

-And he survived!

-Dragging him by the braid

-That ain’t curry and I don’t even want any of it

-He has melted

-That’s going to be tedious

-There goes the cauldron and emptied for good

-LQQ stills wants round 2

-This reaction’s a wrap ‘cause Oh my Gods Howard Wang freaking ate it up like a 5 star full Dim Sum  Course and left! No! Crumbs!

Only 2 episodes left to go! This ep shot me in the feels!

[moda365]

Naomi Campbell wearing Prada photographed by An Le, styled by Ada Kokosar for Vogue Portugal February 2016

[knittinganddrinkingtea]

Annika Krijt by An Le for Vogue Portugal August 2017

[a-state-of-bliss]

Vogue Portugal April 2017 - Sasha Luss by An Le

[hannahleah]

Sasha Luss, Vogue Portugal, April 2017 by An Le

[fallloverfic]

TGCF donghua Season 2, Episode 10 thoughts

This episode T-T T-T T-T T-T. Spoilers for the show and the book below. CW reference to suicide.

The dude being racist to An Le looks vaguely like a love child of Feng Xin and Nie Mingjue (the donghua version) roflmao. Animators have made little references to The Scum Villain's Self Saving System this season so I would not be surprised if someone snuck in a reference to the Mo Dao Zu Shi donghua, too lol And this is similar enough to at least one Meng Yao + Nie Mingjue scene that I can see why they'd do it here.

So the Xianle goons licking their lips is because, I imagine, whatever was in that pouch Qi Rong brought An Le infected them or maybe it was these actual soldiers or something. Makes it less mmm... Strange. Having seen recordings of an attempted assault on a principal government building with government officials inside and what bloodthirsty folks bent on literal murder of said officials get up to around that, I mean I guess it's not that..... strange......

Someone here let me know that the servant/friend is the same official from S02E01 who ran past Xie Lian to help Lang Qianqiu, which makes sense! I totally forgot he showed up then and wondered after S02E07 if he was An Le acting funny (though by the end of S02E09 he is clearly not). He does show up in the novel in that S02E01 scene, but he's not named so far as I can tell, and I don't think we see him in Yong'an flashbacks like we do here. It's neat to see the development of this side character, and how some officials reward people who support them in life (besides Xie Lian and Yin Yu).

Xie Lian seeing the guy nervously looking for Lang Qianqiu and then being like: -sigh- young love is such a trial. You should spend more time studying the blade!

Oh shit, we get a preview of Xie Lian's parents' suicide. Wow. Will we get the donghua that far please T-T

I'm just in love with Fangxin's cape. It's so beautiful trailing behind him.

I'm sorry but An Le screaming in the same way Nakahara Chuuya does whenever he's mid-Corruption in Bungo Stray Dogs made me laugh so hard roflmao Unexpected (and likely unintentional) cameo lol

Imma keep saying it, the animation in this episode is really good. The fight scene is wonderful. When they go back to Qi Rong cackling is good. The show is just pretty.

Qi Rong: "Why is everyone here so fond of crying!"

This man is tired. Can't you do a little mass murder and gloating in peace? Honestly. Hard times.

Qi Rong: "You want your parents? I haven't gone asking for mine yet!"

Aw Qi Rong, babe...

Qi Rong got anime slashed. Who could have foreseen??? /end sarcasm

Xie Lian having a sad moment about Qi Rong, thinking he died. I'm wondering what the crying scene is from, or if that's something new. Qi Rong did cry I think in one flashback (I think where he's complaining about something) but this looked sadder? And less "spoiled".

Xie Lian sadly reaching out for Lang Qianqiu T-T

Xie Lian: "Is the truth so important? . . . What's the use of him knowing that? If I killed a few less people, would that make my reasons more justified?"

I really do love this so much. Just... sometimes the truth isn't important. Sometimes the truth is more painful/results in a worse outcome. Being bluntly honest isn't always the answer. You could argue that Xie Lian sacrificing himself isn't the answer either, and it's better overall that Lang Qianqiu knows things, but I love how this story brings up this idea, that maybe ignorance was better. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, and Xie Lian did still intentionally murder two people, as part of a cover-up.

Also, "You'd rather be right than be loved," is something I think about a lot from personal experience. It's not Hua Cheng's intention, but this kind of thinking can lead down that path so easily.

Hua Cheng really feeling that "fucked around and found out" part of this whole thing. Like I don't necessarily disagree with his goal here, and Xie Lian's plan is kind of well... imperfect (to put it lightly). But I do think this is a nice moment of Hua Cheng realizing that yes, he is Xie Lian's #1 fan, he is Xie Lian's strongest believer, and Xie Lian clearly cares deeply for him in return, but this does not mean that Hua Cheng understands Xie Lian perfectly, or knows all his thoughts (does Hua Cheng know a lot about him? Yes. But Xie Lian hides a lot of what he thinks, and has done so throughout his life). When thinking about Hua Cheng, I often think of Sosuke Aizen's line in Bleach chapter 170: "Admiration is the state furthest from understanding."

Unlike other people, Hua Cheng sets himself apart by not forcing his views on Xie Lian or trying to get Xie Lian to change to suit him, and he's realizing, "Oh shit, I fucked up with that here, didn't I," because in his quest for justice, to protect Xie Lian, he did just what he hates other people doing (to an extent, it's not nearly as bad as other folks). One thing I love so much about their relationship is how much they listen to each other, and learn from each other, and how Hua Cheng tries to see Xie Lian in ways other people don't. Even here, he's seeing Xie Lian (I really love that they focused so much on Hua Cheng's expressions here, even if he's not visually doing as much as Xie Lian, it's the little clear signs of upset that mean so much). He's not interrupting Xie Lian, he's not arguing his case (though to be fair, he already mostly has). He's trying to learn and be better. They recover from this because of that. And I love that about them.

Xie Lian: "I deserve whatever punishment I get and I can't die anyway. So why not put all the blame on me?"

T-T Crying in the club, folks. This man...

Xie Lian realizing he's being mean to Hua Cheng and apologizing got me T-T He's so scared of himself and what he's capable of - and incapable of, given all his work to try and save lives and mend old anger has come to naught, and he can't fix it. He always doubts himself before others. The scars of Bai Wuxiang are all over this episode, and Xie Lian himself, figuratively and literally. All this episode I cry T-T

Xie Lian's Chinese voice actor has done such a good job. Everyone is amazing (Qi Rong's VA doing amazing), but dang, he is phenomenal this episode. You can really feel Xie Lian's desperation and sorrow.

All in all the subs were also better this episode! They still call Qi Rong the "Green Immor" for some reason, but outside maybe one slightly awkward sentence, I think it was okay! But that doesn't necessarily mean anything cause they've been good and then got worse again lol

An excellent episode. Truly phenomenal. I think one of my favorites, particularly for this ending bit with Xie Lian and Hua Cheng talking to each other.

Other episode thoughts for season 2 (didn't start till episode 3):

S02E03

S02E04

S02E05

S02E06

S02E07

S02E08

S02E09

S02E10 (you are here)

S02E11

S02E12

[junwusbridge]

Xie Lian reveals himself to An Le

[emtrobarasalaplatja2]

[eveningharvest]

Daniela Melchior is a Vision in Vogue Portugal Cover Story

[emotionaldisaster909]

No. Nope. I can’t

I already can’t handle losing her

I already love her

Look at her

I don’t even know her name

No ,_,

AND HIM TOO NOOOOOO HE-

LOOK AT HE HE’S JUST A GRANDPA

NO THEY ALREADY ADOPTED ME

NOOO ;—;

THEY ARE SO WARM AND CARING

THE ONE WHO HANDLED COLORS AND LIGHTING FOR THIS SCENE?

AND THE OUTSIDER POV?

TO MAKE US FEEL LIKE LOOKING AT A SWEET ELDERLY COUPLE WHO CLEARLY LOVE EACH OTHER AND THEIR SON?

GENIUS. CRUEL. PERFECT.

NOT TWO MINUTES IN AND I’M ALREADY AT MY LIMIT ,_,

DONGHUA WHAT ARE YOU DOING

[sidecharactersdomatter]

Thoughts I had during TGCF S2 Ep 11

The last two reactions took a while, since I was doing a lot of sketching and writing a one shot after listing to the latest Epic livestream on Ytube now let’s get to it!

-Innocent children outside of the palace were spared from the Banquet’s massacre

-It’s the same elderly man from Ep 9!

-You know this Ep’s gonna be awesome once the animation’s upped it’s ante

-The CGI background effect!

-It’s the outer wall of Ba Sing se from ATLA Book 2 Earth, (subtle worldbuilding spoilers from The Scrap Immortal and the Avatar)

-Barren land outside of the wall…

-Hua Cheng’s wraith butterfly

-*takes a really deep inhale* HAAAAAAAH!  It’s the same butterfly from 5 Eps earlier who landed on Xie Lian’s palm as the others swarmed towards FX and MQ!  *Gasps again* He must’ve landed on XL’s hand because of the length he went to locate him in Yong’An’s area.  So if he failed to find him, the butterfly was exhausted, and since he was tired, he rested on Xie Lian’s hand

(I had to slip this in)

-Through the eyes of a butterfly

-It’s a tunnel!

-It’s the secret tunnel from ATLA Book 2

-Lang Qianqiu and Mengyou!

-He’s staked Fang Xin into his tomb

-The reason Qianqiu never removed Fang Xin’s mask is because he never knew who he was behind it all is life…

-What was that coffin cover made out of?!

-Back to Yong’An to finish grieving and keeping the kingdom in tact

-Getting staked in a stone coffin is a whole lot worse than being trapped in a Iceberg for a century

-The blood is spreading like vines and branches

-How long was he in that coffin???

-I can see why people in the fandom wrote fics about his recovery from the Yong’An crypt.

-Another intense and long cold opening

-“SAD CHILD!!!” still got chills from the last episode 

-Damn

-“NO!�� It’s my fault!  Everything is my fault and I’ve only made it worse!” There’s that raw emotion

-Still want dessert after the delivery last episode.  Great!  Now I’m craving egg custard tarts and red bean buns, dim sum dessert!!!

-Hua Cheng took accountability for his actions

-He sat down next to him!

-“You did good” that’s exactly what I need to hear right now

-There’s always a cost

-Howard is still eating it up in the next ep!!!

-Comfort him!

-History’s still repeating to this day…

-Lian Cheng Ci’s playing again!

-It was no one’s fault!

-He finally removed his mask!

-XL had a chance to end An Le right there

-Thank you HC!

-No XL you’re not a worthless insect, I actually see you as more of an adorable rodent and so does Hua Cheng

-He destroyed the weeping statue!

-It took him that long to stop his breakdown???

-“As you wish” has James Cheek read the Princess Bride?

-Ghosts and Humans are fleeing the mountains

-And Qi Rong’s goons easily folded under Hua Cheng’s thumb

-Did anybody else hear Broadway from Gargoyles in the large purple goon? Kictor and Stitch said he sounded like Patrick Star

-Let’s just say Hua Cheng always does his homework right

-Aww the animation when Xie Lian caught up to the Crimson Rain

-Hong Jue once more!!! YEAH!!!

-They’re outside the mountain!

-His small laugh!

-“Idolizing someone for afar is understandable, but once you get close, when you really get to know them, that perfect image of them you made will shatter.  When that happens it just hurts.”  That is a really good and inspirational quote

-“For some the mere existence of a certain person in this world is hope.” Another great quote!

-“San Lang, who are you?” He said it so softly!!!

-“Don’t tease!” Oh yes he will~!

-He’s starting to realize!!!

-Whoever did this season’s soundtrack really deserves a raise

-They got cut off!

-Hi Qingxuan

-She’s so slay

-Hi Feng Xin

-Just imagine a montage of Qingxuan and FX trying to role the right number to XL’s location

-The way he summoned his arrow!

-It’s a standoff!!

-XL’s facepalm!

-HC just tugged his sleeve again!

-What’s she doing?

-Are they acting?

-The eye contact!

-He’s talking about Ming Yi

-You got that right on the rescuing, he carried XL off in style!

-Literally how you send an email and update in the online message board

-“She gets it” that means they’ve bonded

-QX gets close and FX moves like 6 feet back

-She knows his weakness

-And FX’s frantically waving his hand 

-The snap!

-*Qianqiu has left the chat*

-I know who the minor official is

-Even FX dissed Qi Rong

-It took him that long to realize???

-The family ties are really something, Qingxuan

-That anime spiral on the thumb!

-Hua Cheng roasted Feng Xin

-He is egging him on

-Hua Cheng roasted Heaven again

-Another standoff!

-Aiaigasa!  It’s Aiaigasa people!!!

-And Qingxuan casually backs up

-IT’S RAINING WET KETCHUP!!!

-Really weird weather they had tonight

-Now XL giggled!!!  It added 3 more years to my lifespan!

-FX looks like he got a bowl of marinara tossed over him

-Qingxuan it’s not a mop!!!  It’s a cultivator whisk!  It took me a long time to realize it when I bought the first novel

-You two aren’t helping!

-Have you seen HC help fix up your temple?

-He knows him so well!

One more Ep left!