#Bi Ming as well

[caluupin]

I'm finally AR60,, nice

[sugar-bi-scuit]

Ling Wen: Goddamn it, the printer broke while printing out Pei Ming's birthday invitations.

Shi Wudu: Well, what are they supposed to say?

Ling Wen: "Pei Ming's birthday".

Shi Wudu: So, what do they say instead?

Ling Wen: "Pei Ming’s bi".

Shi Wudu:

Shi Wudu: Works out either way.

[becauseimanicequeen]

Ming and Joe's Colors in My Stand-In, Part 1: Overview

Part 2: Black and Blue

Part 3: Red and Green

Part 4: Yellow/Gold

Part 5: Brown

Part 6: Random Color Moments

I received an ask a couple of days ago asking me about Joe and Ming's colors (which is something I've been thinking about for a while) and decided to answer that question in a separate post. So, here I am.

I have a feeling I'll have a lot to say about this (because looking at the colors in QLs I love (and I love My Stand-In) is such a nerdy thing for me), so I'm sure I'll break this up into parts. I'll start by looking into what color/colors Joe and Ming are (which I'll do in this post) and then, when I've come to my conclusion about that, I'll dive deeper into their symbolism and meanings in separate posts.

Let's dive in!

My first impression, without having looked very deeply into this, is that Joe is mostly green while Ming is surrounded by/wearing a lot of black.

However, I also feel like they are both bi-colored because I believe Joe is also yellow/gold or blue (or both?) while Ming is also red. And, if this turns out to be possible, then I have them in contrasting colors and I will be screaming about that when I get to it in another post.

Since this is such a nerdy thing for me that I love to explore, I will rewatch every episode we have available now (at double speed because I'm only focusing on the colors and Joe and Ming). So, I'll be back with images and thoughts in a couple of hours.

*speeding through 7 episodes of My Stand-In*

I'm back! That was an interesting experience. (It might've been a second for you, it's two days later for me, lol.) Anyway...

I feel like I got a better sense of Ming and Joe, and I was a bit surprised that my ideas were mainly pretty good.

Before I figure out my thoughts in this post (because writing them down is how I come to conclusions about things I'm unsure about), I want to mention the colors first.

Based on my rewatch:

Ming is black and red.

Joe is blue and green.

Yellow/gold is significant to both.

Brown also has some significance (and this is where I get into nerdy territory with color theory).

(Btw, artists can discuss pink into eternity, but for the sake of simplicity in my posts, I will treat pink as the lightened value of red. So, when I mention red-ish in my posts, this is what I'm referring to. Also, since secondary colors (like orange) sometimes are hard to separate from the primary colors they're created from, because they can include a lot more of one of them, I will sometimes use yellow-ish to refer to yellow hues that might verge towards orange.)

Also, I think it's important to note my approach to Joe before I dive in. I will treat Joe 1.0 and Joe 2.0 as the same person when it comes to the colors unless stated otherwise. I might get into a tangent if I notice that the colors are different depending on the different Joes. But, unless I do, Joe is just Joe (whether 1.0 or 2.0).

Now, let's start with Ming because I feel like he's the most straightforward out of the two.

Ming is definitely associated with black.

He's often surrounded by/wearing black and it fits his moody brooder very well (I'll get into this more in another post in this series).

But Ming is also red.

Red flag jokes aside, the red goes very well with his fiery, passionate, dominant personality.

When it comes to Joe, I feel like green is the most obvious one of his colors.

Green is a color found in nature and it suits the more "grounded" parts of his personality (again, I will develop the symbolism and meanings of the colors in regards to Joe and Ming in other posts in this series).

(That Joe and Ming are green and red means that they use contrasting colors, which is also something I will yell about in another post in this series.)

Then we have blue, which I was a bit unsure about going into my rewatch. However, I feel like it has solidified a bit more since my rewatch, and I'll explain why.

The blue is usually quite subtle around Joe even though it is there. The thing that solidified Joe being blue for me was that Ming is seen surrounded by it a lot the deeper he falls/has fallen for Joe (and let's not forget the blue watch Joe gave Ming).

The blue fits Joe well as he's both caring, loyal, and sad.

I feel like this is pretty accurate and straightforward, so far. So, let's get into more complex territory.

Let's start with yellow/gold, which is a very prominent color in this series together with green and black.

I previously stated in this post that I feel like yellow/gold is significant to both Ming and Joe, and that's because they share this color.

Joe 1.0's home bathes in warm yellow/gold/yellow-ish light, which means he's constantly surrounded by it. It's part of his home, his color palette, his life.

The same goes for Ming, as his family home includes golden details. Also, I feel like the light aspect of things (which I will write more about in a separate post) also has to do with this moment where he has his queer awakening seeing Joe's back on that billboard.

Let's forget that Ming thought it was Tong and just look at those colors. Joe is surrounded by that warm yellow/gold/yellow-ish light, which latches onto Ming out of his devotion and desire for that back.

Ming and Joe both had some aspects of the yellow/gold color before they met, but it deepened the more time they spent together (especially for Ming).

In Ming's case, it started as that little light in the background when he met Tong, became more evident the moment he met Joe, until he's bathing in it every single day in his condo.

That's how affected he was by Joe.

I will probably dive deeper into how Joe is the light in Ming's life and how Ming was the light in Joe's life in another post in this series, but I wanted to mention it here as well. And it's very evident in Ming's case considering how his new place looks so much like Joe's with all that yellow/gold light.

This is the color they share. The color Ming used to mend the broken mugs that represented their life together, their connection, and their relationship.

Honestly, so far, these are the colors I'm most sure about because they show up all the time. And call me crazy if you want (I'm giving you permission to in this particular case), but I'm pretty sure this image sums it all up:

Look at the blue-ish ferris wheel, the green plant, the black sky, the two dots of red light (right underneath the right lamp), and the yellow/gold lamp. That's Ming and Joe's individual colors plus the yellow/gold they both have. Both of their colors are summed up in this one image, which leads into a scene where Joe tells Ming that Ming has made his dream come true while Ming agrees to move in with Joe.

Go on, call me crazy.

And my crazy doesn't stop there. Because then we have brown, which can become a bit complex.

Since I've already used up the image limit (why tumblr, why do you only let me have 30 images per post? This visual artist needs visual aids in her posts, damn it!) I will have to do this part without visual aids. However, I will develop the use of brown in a separate post in this series, which will include images as well.

Anyway...

Let me first get into some brief color theory, because it matters to my view of how they use brown in My Stand-In.

There are two ways that I usually mix brown when painting. The first one (and the simplest) is to mix orange and black. This is pretty interesting considering some of the yellow/gold light that often surrounds both Joe and Ming sometimes verge into the orange (which is why I call it yellow-ish). Mixing that with Ming's black gives us brown.

The other way I usually mix brown hues is by mixing the primary colors: yellow, red, and blue. Does that sound familiar? Yellow is the color they share, red is Ming, and blue is Joe.

So, in my color-deranged mind, brown happens when Ming and Joe's colors are mixed together. And, in Joe and Ming's case, I've noticed that brown has two opposite effects. It either shows up when they feel the most grounded and relaxed or when things become "too much" between them. (I will develop this in a separate post.)

Some of their more explosive scenes actually include brown, but since my image limit is reached, I can't show examples of any of those right now, so I'll leave that for the post where I'll focus on the use of brown in My Stand-In.

Now that I've established all this (which will be the focus of my other posts in this series), it's time to move on to the next part.

Part 2: Black and Blue

Part 3: Red and Green

Part 4: Yellow/Gold

Part 5: Brown

Part 6: Random Color Moments

[muskming]

"Arrow of Eros 愛神之箭" Solo-Exhibition in EISENHERZ

Ausstellung: 1. ~ 31. Oktober 2024 Vernissage: Friday, 04. Oktober  18:00-20:00 Uhr

Eros ist in der griechischen Mythologie der Gott der begehrlichen Liebe. Ebenbürtig ist in der römischen Mythologie Amor, der als Personifikation der erotischen Begierde auch Cupido („Begierde“, „Leidenschaft“) genannt wird. Die Kunst von Musk Ming, ist wie die Pfeile der Eros, öffnet eine Fantasiewelt der Liebe und Freiheit. Nach der erfolgreichen letzten Ausstellung bei Eisenherz, zeigt Musk Ming in der neuen Ausstellung einen Überblick von seinen Kunstwerken: Federzeichnungen, Malerei, digitale Arbeiten und bis jetzt noch unveröffentlichte Skizzen und Zeichnungen. Dazu die originalen Bilder für die Musik-Covers und einige Musik-Videos.

Eros is the Greek god of love and sex, his Roman counterpart is Cupid ('desire'). Musk Ming's art, like the arrows of Eros, opens up a fantasy world of love and freedom. After the successful last exhibition at Eisenherz, he is showing an overview of his artworks in the new exhibition: Pen and ink drawings, paintings, digital works and as yet unpublished sketches and drawings, as well as the original pictures for the music covers and some music videos.

Special Guest: Shin Photography

Shin (Xin Chen) is a passionate photographer who specializes in analog photography. After a decade since acquiring his first analog camera in Madrid, he is excited to showcase his work in a public space for the very first time.

Prinz EinsenHerz Buchladen, Motzstr. 23, 10777 Berlin  eisenherz.berlin

[caliburn-the-sword]

reactions i had to spvtw:

"Watching the opening credits of Scott pilgrim what the FUCK is this cast. Chris Evans, Brie Larson, Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza, etc"

"girlie's got blue hair and pronouns"

"BRANDON ROUTH???? SUPERMAN????? RAY PALMER???"

"vegan school?? what the fuck"

"I think i've been tripping since the 30 minute mark of this movie"

"Has Scott been killing these guys??"

"I fucking love it,,, Yk other than the whole gr**ming thing"

"HE KNOCKED THE HIGHLIGHTS OUT OF HER HAIR!!" (i shouted the line the second i heard it. then i rewinded and watched it again because i couldn't believe what i just saw)

"I was just a little bicurious" "well i'm a little bi-FURIOUS". me: i wish i was bi just so i can use that line

[gayashelljatp]

Prince Charming x James Hook | Trophy Boy ChapteR

Tags :Sorta Enemies to Lovers Fake/Pretend Relationship Not Canon Compliant, Inspired by Cinderella (1997), I Wrote This Instead of Sleeping, Prince Charming is a Bi-King, Prince Charming Is Filipino, Because the actor is and I also am one so yeah, Prince Charming gets a lot of bitches but no love, Merlin Academy (Disney), James Hook is gay, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, I don't know how to tag in this fandom, No Beta Like Not Going To Castlecoming

Summary:

Charming had himself caught up in a pretty little lie, telling his parents he had a date for his birthday ball. Desperate to stop their meddling in his love life, he came up with a plan: show up with someone who’d make the court gasp—a notorious pirate at school, James Hook. It was supposed to be a quick fix: fake a romance, cause a stir, and be free from the royal matchmakers forever. But the more time Charming spent with Hook—as a person, the sharp banter—the more complicated things got. This wasn’t just about pretending anymore. He was starting to get hooked. Or The sorta enemies to fake dating to lovers between Hook and Charming no one asked for.

Content Rating: Teen and Up.

Wordcount: 5,931

Notes (Same On AO3):

Hi, I'm Ace. But I'm here posting and writing more gay shit for the Descendants fandom.

I'm one for a crack ship and these two don't even interact in the movie so you may be wondering what made me do this. Three things actually:

I'm in the Descendants editing community and I saw this edit by @jewishvarian. Hook's actor Josh pretty much showing his support to this ship has made we want to do this.

The second inspiration is Once Upon A Time ship Captain Charming my sister had a Once Upon A Time phase so I know quite a bit about them. The third thing the catalyst for this is the fanfic Stage Call by Montythecrow. (The first chapter is really good can't wait for more. Also R.I.P. DBD I never got to make a DBD fic before it got cancelled *sighs in JATP*)

Let's do some housekeeping and explain the lore because this fic grabs from fifty million things.

- The Brandy Cinderella movie or Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997) as it's also known are major inspirations. I pulled the characterization of Charming from this film and the new Descendants film and I pulled the whole of Charming's parents and his butler Lionel from this movie. (Pls watch this movie. It's really fun, campy and entertaining.)

- I also took from various Prince Charming media from Cinderella movies from Disney to non-Disney. Charming (2018)'s Trophy Boy by Avril Lavigne, Ashely Tisdale and G.E.M. is where the title of this fic comes from. It's a bad movie but this song is legendary and pop perfection. A K-pop star, a Disney star, and a rock star all in one song is crazy.

- This fic has multiple POV's for Charming focused parts 👑 emojis are used on the other hook if it's James it's this emoji 🪝.

- Finally, this isn't a GayashellJATP fic without a playlist of songs I have on that help immerse you in the universe. Spotify playlist here!!!

Now that we are done with some housekeeping. Enjoy the fic & Remember to give feedback!!! It is always appreciated.

Notes (Tumblr):

I'm trying to do better on posting on here and being on time. With being a cross platform author. I still don't know how Tumblr works pls help me. Once again I suggest you read on AO3 my formatting is way better on that.

Chapter 1: Before The Ball

👑

Charming was so screwed.

He'd been excused from class by royal summons, which only meant one of two things: either bad news or... well, worse news. Lionel, the family’s loyal servant and his assigned guardian at the academy, was jittery, practically fidgeting as he escorted the skateboarding teen to the castle. 

Lionel’s nervousness only heightened Charming's suspicion—did he tattle on him sneaking out of the academy for a late-night date? Again? Or worse—had he forgotten some royal obligation that would now come back to bite him?

Despite the comfortable life he'd been born into, Charming had a talent for getting into situations that made it... uncomfortable. Usually of his own making.

The moment they arrived at the vast, gilded throne room, the knot in his stomach twisted tighter. His mother stood. Not good. Queen Constantina only stood when something serious—truly serious—was about to be discussed. Lionel cleared his throat and began the ceremonial introduction. 

“Your Royal Highness, Prince Charming—”

The Queen interrupted with a sharp glance. “Prince Christopher Rupert Windermere Vladimir—”

“Mom,” Charming sighed, cutting Lionel off. “He doesn’t have to say it every time.” The poor man practically bowed in relief when Charming gestured for him to be seated. The full name was ridiculously wordy, one of the many reasons why "Prince Charming" stuck much more easily.

“Son, you didn’t need to dismiss him,” King Maximilian spoke up from beside the queen, kissing his wife’s hand. Charming had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. 

His parents were constantly doing that—displaying affection as if they were still teenagers in love. Any love hater would have gagged, but Charming simply tried to suppress a smirk. Even he couldn't deny they were a good match, for better or worse.

“Mom. Dad. What is it this time?” Charming asked, his voice strained but trying not to sound too impatient.

“Watch your tone, Junior,” his father said, though not harshly.

Charming forced a deep breath. “Fine. What’s the big news?” he said, layering on enthusiasm that was just short of sarcasm.

The Queen exchanged a meaningful glance with her husband before turning to her son, her posture regal and dramatic all at once. "Your eighteenth birthday in two days."

“I thought—” his father began, but a sharp elbow from his wife stopped him. “We thought it would be appropriate to throw a birthday ball.”

Charming's heart sank. "A ball?" His voice came out strained. "Father, is that really necessary?"

Queen Constantina's eyes glistened with an air of theatrics as she responded, “You haven’t shown any of your potential picks for marriage. You are two years overdue for at least a partner!” Her voice hitched as though it were a tragedy in itself.

Charming had tried, of course. He'd gone on more first dates than he cared to count, but none had led to anything serious. His royal reputation for being “charming” only went so far, especially when he wasn’t charmed by anyone.

“I’m working on it,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair. “But Mom, I don’t think a ball for my birthday is necessary.”

“Necessary?” His mother’s voice shot up an octave, her hand flying dramatically to her chest as if she were about to swoon. “Is it necessary that I should die knowing my only son will be a lonely king?!”

Charming’s eyes widened. “Mom, please. You’re not going to—"

“I might!” she countered, her voice trembling as if the mere thought of his supposed future loneliness was too much to bear. “The idea of you being all alone without a wife or family—oh! How tragic it would be!”

Charming rubbed the back of his neck, suppressing a groan. He loved his mom, truly, but sometimes her dramatics were... a lot. “Okay, fine. I get it. But… I have someone. Already. A partner.”

The words were out of his mouth before he had a chance to think them through. His heart nearly stopped as both his parents' faces lit up.

“You do?!” his father exclaimed, clapping his hands together in glee.

The Queen looked like she was about to burst into tears of joy. “Oh, my darling boy! You’ve found someone! You’ve—”

Charming quickly nodded, feeling his stomach churn with regret. “Yep. Found someone. Really great.”

His father beamed. “That’s fantastic news, son! We were beginning to wonder if you'd ever—"

“But the ball,” Queen Constantina interjected with a flourish of her hand. “The ball must still happen! After all, it’s been paid for, and all the preparations have already been made.”

Charming’s shoulders slumped. “Of course it has…”

His mother took his hands, her eyes sparkling. “Oh, darling, I can’t wait to meet this special someone of yours. Bring her to the ball!”

"Yeah. Absolutely," Charming forced a grin, though inside, his mind raced. He was so, so screwed. Not only was the ball happening no matter what, but now he had to show up with a date—someone bad enough to stop his parents from meddling in his love life ever again.

Where on Earth was he going to find that?

👑

Charming zoomed through the academy gates on his skateboard, the wind whipping through his hair as his thoughts churned. Why had he lied? It gnawed at him, the weight of a falsehood pressing on his conscience. Lies weren’t really his thing. Now, he’d have to turn that lie into reality, or it would eat him alive.

As he skated through the courtyard, his gaze caught Fay, a fairy in training and his hexalogy class partner, sitting cross-legged on the grass, her nose buried in a spellbook. She was mumbling under her breath, waving her wand with exaggerated movements as sparks of magic fizzled in the air. 

“Hey, Fay,” he called, slowing down as he rolled over.

Fay glanced up, her wide eyes narrowing with playful frustration. “Charming, where were you?” she asked, tapping her wand against her open book. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to hex yourself and then unhex yourself without your partner? I nearly turned myself into a frog!”

“Royal duties,” Charming shrugged, offering an apologetic smile.

Fay’s expression softened immediately. She knew all too well the burden his title carried. “What did the queen say this time?” she asked, her tone light but sympathetic.

Charming rubbed the back of his neck. “We’re throwing another ball.”

Fay’s face lit up. “A ball? Isn’t that fantastic—” she paused, noticing the scowl creeping over Charming's face, “—ally… impossible to enjoy?” She attempted to course-correct, her enthusiasm dimming as she realized how much the idea clearly weighed on him. Fay wasn’t the best at being negative, but she tried.

“But I’ll make it up to you. I’ll be there for the next class.”

“You better be,” Fay huffed, but her tone was forgiving. 

“The whole kingdom’s invited. Maybe I’ll catch you at the ball?”

“Nah, I doubt it. I’ll be here practicing my spells,” she said with a shy smile, already inching back toward her book. Fay wasn’t one for social events—she always seemed to vanish from them, though Charming never asked why. 

“Well, I’ll see you later,” Charming said, giving her a quick wave.

“Later, skater!” Fay called, attempting to sound cool, which earned a chuckle from Charming. She couldn’t help but laugh at herself as he rolled away.

But as Charming skated off, Fay accidentally mispronounced her next spell. Instead of reciting "double the bubbles," she muttered "double the wobbles" under her breath. Without realizing it, she had casted a spell on Charming’s skateboard, causing it to take on a life of its own. 

Charming, an experienced skater, didn’t notice anything at first. But as he glided past the group of notorious students hanging out by the courtyard's edge, the board beneath his feet began to wobble violently, as though possessed. 

His body lurched forward, trying to steady himself, but the board had other ideas. It veered, zigzagging uncontrollably, and before Charming could react, it shot straight toward a cluster of students.

In a blur of motion, Charming collided with none other than Captain James Hook—his pirate classmate, and perhaps the academy’s most infamous heartthrob after Charming himself. With a loud thud, both boys went crashing to the ground, Hook's shiny golden hook clattering against the stone courtyard as they tumbled in a tangle of limbs.

Charming groaned, disentangling himself. “I’m so sorry!” he blurted, scrambling to his feet. His skateboard had spun off and smacked into a nearby tree, finally bringing the spell to a halt.

Hook stood up slowly, glaring down at Charming with narrowed eyes. His gaze was sharp and menacing, but there was a flicker of something else—jealousy? Amusement? It was hard to tell. 

“You really are a royal asshole, aren’t you?” Hook growled, dusting off his crimson blazer. His voice dripped with venom, but there was something undeniably captivating about the way he spoke. “Gunning for me, were you?”

“No! No, I swear. I didn’t mean to—I lost control of the board.”

Hook didn’t seem convinced. He stepped closer, his imposing presence casting a shadow over Charming. “You were heading straight toward me, mate,” Hook said, his tone dangerously low. His golden hook gleamed as he pointed it directly at Charming’s perfect face. “That doesn’t seem like much of an accident.”

Charming’s heart pounded as his eyes flicked from Hook’s face to the hook hovering too close for comfort. He held up his hands in surrender, his voice calm and soothing. “Whoa, easy,” he said, gently grabbing Hook’s wrist and pushing the hook away from his face. For a brief second, his fingers brushed against Hook’s skin.

For just a moment, Charming couldn’t help but notice Hook. The sharp features, the dark, windswept hair, the way his crimson blazer framed his broad shoulders. And those eyes—intense, narrowed in suspicion, but undeniably alluring. 

Charming blinked, snapping out of it. He was in trouble, not admiring the guy who was about to gut him like a fish.

Hook, however, seemed to notice Charming’s lingering gaze. His eyes flashed with something almost wild, and a wicked smirk curled on his lips. “What’s the matter, Prince? Distracted?”

“Uh, no. Not at all. Just… don’t want to get impaled, that’s all.”

Hook raised an eyebrow, amused but not backing down. “Right.” He clicked his tongue, his hook gleaming in the sunlight as he let it fall to his side. “You’re lucky I’m in a good mood today. Or else…” He let the threat hang in the air, his eyes still burning into Charming’s.

“Right, yeah. Lucky,” Charming muttered, his pulse still racing. He wasn’t sure if it was from the near-death experience or the fact that Hook was standing way too close. He hadn’t expected Hook to be so—well, so much. Why was he noticing that now?

Hook’s smirk lingered as he stepped back, finally giving Charming some space. “Try not to skate into any more of your classmates, mate. Especially not me or my crew got it?.” He turned, flipping his collar with an air of superiority, though there was a glint in his eye as he strode away. 

Charming watched him leave, shaking his head. Hook was dangerous—and not just because of the hook. There was something else there. Something he really needed to avoid.

But as he glanced back at his skateboard lying against the tree, the thought struck him: maybe, just maybe, Hook was exactly the kind of problem he needed. 

If he could bring Hook to the ball, that would surely get his parents off his back. Right? 

How would he ever get Hook to agree to that? He was really, really screwed.

🪝

Hook was seething. What a clueless little prince, he thought, his jaw clenched as he stormed through the academy's halls. Charming had to be the most oblivious royal he'd ever met. For someone so poised and charming, the prince had no idea how to navigate the real world. 

Not that Hook expected much more from royals—they were all so privileged, so sheltered, so painfully clueless. That’s what made them easy marks. Their money, their fine clothes, their trinkets—it was all just there for the taking, practically begging to be lifted.

But this? This was different. Hook’s pride was bruised more than anything. Charming had made him collide with the earth, of all things, and Hook wasn’t going to forgive the little prince for sullying his pristine, mint-condition vintage blazer. He cast a quick glance at the fabric—no visible damage, but that didn’t matter. The fact that it had touched the ground at all was an unforgivable offense. 

And worse, Hook knew his crew would never let him live this down if they found out. His reputation couldn’t take a hit like that, not when he had spent so much time cultivating it. He had to get his revenge. Teach the prince a lesson.

So, during storybook history class, Hook slipped out unnoticed. He snuck across the academy grounds to the royal dormitory— Full of one bed and customized rooms, unlike less privileged students. They weren’t allowed to deface their rooms and they had a roommate system. But Hook wasn’t complaining his roommate was pretty great.

But he wasn’t here to brood. No, he was here to act.

Charming’s dorm was up ahead, and Hook was relieved to see no sign of that bothersome butler Lionel. Of course, the little prince needs a servant to wait on him hand and foot, Hook thought, rolling his eyes. He always found it odd—off-putting, even—that Charming couldn’t go anywhere without a personal attendant. How soft and pampered could you get?

Hook approached Charming’s door, a sly grin spreading across his face. With a quick glance down the hallway, he slipped his golden hook into the lock, working it with practiced ease. Today, he was wearing his favorite hook—the golden one that added a touch of class to his ensemble. He’d have to be careful not to scratch it. The lock gave way with a soft click, and Hook pushed the door open, slipping inside.

The room smelled of expensive cologne, and everything was arranged perfectly. Typical royal. Hook sneered. He moved to the wardrobe, his eyes scanning the rows of pristine clothes. 

Charming had quite the collection—mostly royal-styled barongs and beige outfits, which made Hook wrinkle his nose. Beige? Ugh, he thought with disdain. Not his color at all. Where was the flair, the vibrancy? Not a single dark or deep color in sight. Charming had such a boring taste in clothes for someone so well-dressed.

Still, a theft was a theft. Hook rifled through the clothes, trying to find something worth taking. Surely the prince won’t miss a few pieces, he thought, tossing aside a particularly dull-looking beige tunic.

What Hook didn’t realize was how much time he’d spent browsing

But time had gotten away from him, and Hook hadn’t realized how long he’d been sifting through the prince’s belongings until he heard the unmistakable sound of the door opening behind him.

“Looking for something?” came a voice that was far too calm for Hook’s liking.

Hook froze, hand halfway through a drawer of silk cravats. Slowly, he turned around, his heart sinking as he locked eyes with Prince Charming standing in the doorway with a smirk, arms crossed over his chest. He hadn’t expected to get caught—he never got caught.

Hook blinked, trying to regain his composure. “Ah skater boy,” he began, straightening up and smoothing his jacket. “This… is not what it looks like.”

Charming raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Really? Because it looks like you’re in my room rifling through my wardrobe.”

Hook swallowed, his mind racing for an excuse. He’d been in tight spots before, but this? This was a mess. “I was, uh… inspecting your clothing choices. Offering a little… constructive criticism, you might say,” Hook replied, flashing a crooked grin, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He wasn’t used to feeling this off-kilter. “No offense, mate, but 50 shades of tan and beige? Really?”

Charming’s expression remained neutral, though there was a glint of something unreadable in his eyes. “And you thought breaking into my room was the best way to offer fashion advice?”

Before Hook could answer, Lionel appeared in the doorway, eyes wide as they flickered between the pirate and the prince. “Am I interrupting, sir? I didn’t expect a guest,” Lionel said, his voice a touch too polite, suspicion creeping in.

Charming, without losing his cool, glanced slightly over his shoulder at Lionel but didn’t shift his focus from Hook. “It’s fine, Lionel. Could you give us a moment?” His tone was dismissive but not unkind, the sort of royal command that left no room for argument.

"Of course, Your Highness," Lionel replied, a touch too formal as he bowed and quickly excused himself, but not without one last curious glance, probably wondering if he had just witnessed the beginnings of some lovers' quarrel. The door closed softly behind him.

The moment Lionel left, Hook let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He eyed Charming warily, wondering how much trouble he was in. He hated the feeling of being cornered, especially by a royal.

“So…” Hook began, his voice dripping with false confidence. “No need to make this a big deal, yeah? You’re not going to go crying to Merlin, are you?”

Charming’s lips curled into a small smile. “I’m not planning on it, no.”

Sweet relief washed over Hook, but it was short-lived as Charming took a step closer, his tone turning just a shade more serious. “But I can’t just let this slide either, can I?”

Hook swallowed, his bravado faltering for a moment. “I only did this after our little incident,” he blurted out, trying to regain control of the conversation. He gestured vaguely between them, referencing their earlier collision.

Charming tilted his head slightly, as if considering Hook’s words. “And you thought breaking into my room and raiding my wardrobe was the right way to even the score?”

Hook’s mind scrambled for a sweet escape. “Look you don’t need to turn me in,” he said, practically begging now.

Charming considered this for a moment, his gaze flicking over Hook’s disheveled form and the mess of clothes scattered around his room. Then, almost as if a thought occurred to him, his smile returned—this time, sharper. “Actually, I think I might have an idea. Meet me by the castleteria at dinner time.”

“A dinner? You’re not going to tell anyone about this?”

“No, not yet,” Charming replied, his voice smooth but tinged with mischief. “But if you don’t show up, then maybe we’ll reconsider the whole punishment thing.”

Hook’s stomach twisted. He hated feeling like he was at someone’s mercy, especially Charming’s. But something in the prince’s eyes told him this wasn’t just about revenge—it was about leverage. Hook didn’t know what Charming had in mind, but whatever it was, it couldn’t be good.

Still, he nodded, trying to regain his bravado. “Alright, Prince. Dinner date it is.”

Charming smirked, stepping aside to let Hook pass.

Hook left the room, heart still pounding, cursing himself under his breath. He’d been caught, and now, somehow, he was in too deep.

🪝

“Hook, what bullshit did you get into?” Uliana’s voice cut through the room like a whip, her tone sharp with irritation as she lounged on Morgie’s bed, her tentacles subtly shifting.

The five of them were crammed into Hook and Morgie’s shared dorm room, a small space that felt even smaller with Uliana’s dramatic presence filling the air. Hook, on the other hand, was sprawled lazily across his bed, legs crossed like he had not a care in the world, but deep down, his stomach churned with unease. 

Hook glanced at Uliana, who was tapping her nails against her belt buckle.. “Relax, Uliana. It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“Is it a date?” Morgie piped up, his eyes wide with genuine curiosity as he fiddled with a piece of parchment,

Hook scoffed. “Really, wizard-oo? That’s your question?” The brunnete pirate shot back, but he didn’t quite meet Morgie’s gaze, a flicker of discomfort crossing his face. “It’s not a date, you idiot.”

“You didn’t deny it, Hook, so that means you’re going on a date with that royal eyesore,” Maleficent added with a sly smirk, reclining against the wall. She twirled a strand of dark hair between her fingers.

Hook sat up, trying to regain his composure, his golden hook glinting as he gestured wildly. “He’s got a little rebel streak in him, sure, but a date? With me?” Hook forced a laugh, but it came out a little too harsh. “He’s too soft for that.”

Hades, who had been lounging in the corner, arms folded and his fiery blue hair flickering lazily, chimed in with a smirk of his own. “I dunno, mate. You see those blue streaks he’s rocking these days? Kid’s got a little fire in him. You pick them well, James.”

What did the prince have in mind for him? Why had Charming asked him to meet at dinner? He was good at handling himself, but this was different. Royals had a way of twisting things to their advantage, and he wasn’t sure he’d come out on top this time.

Uliana’s tentacles flexed, her eyes narrowing. “This better not blow back on us, Hook. You get tangled up with that prince, and we’re all screwed. I’ve got enough on my plate without cleaning up your messes.”

Morgie, ever the optimist, gave Hook a hopeful smile. “Maybe it won’t be so bad? You two could, you know... find common ground?” He shrugged, completely oblivious to the heavy glares that Uliana shot his way.

Hook grimaced, rubbing the back of his neck. “Trust me, I don’t belive in common ground I’m a pirate after all. The seas are what matter,” he muttered, but even as he said it, he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that Charming wasn’t as simple as he’d like to believe. Whatever the prince had planned, Hook had no choice but to play along—for now.

👑

Lionel watched as Charming’s fencing movements faltered, his usual grace replaced by distracted, half-hearted parries. The clanging of their swords echoed through the gymnasium, but the prince’s mind was clearly somewhere else.

“Sir—I mean, Christopher, what’s the worry face for?” Lionel asked, lowering his sword slightly, his tone a mix of concern with playful scolding. “Your mother would say frowning is terrible for the face.”

Charming winced and laughed, “Ouch. Thanks for that reminder, Lionel.”

Lionel tilted his head, eyeing the prince with the same scrutiny one might give a misbehaving child. “Having love problems, are we?”

Charming hesitated mid-lunge. “Sorta… kinda... undetermined.” He shrugged, trying to mask the uncertainty in his voice with nonchalance.

“I’ll try to make sense of that, sir,” 

Charming straightened up, tossing his sword onto the nearby rack. “I do have a problem,” 

“And what may that be, Your Highness?”

“I lied to my parents,” Charming confessed, running a hand through his streaked hair. “I told them I had someone to bring them for the ball, but... I have no one.”

Lionel gasped theatrically, hand flying to his chest in mock horror. “Oh dear! The end of the world!” 

Charming grinned, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Don’t panic. I’ve got it under control. I think…”

“Is that why there was a handsome pirate rummaging through your wardrobe this morning?” he asked with a pointed look. “Is he part of your grand plan?”

Charming blinked, caught off guard. “He’s not that handsome,” he blurted out, the words leaving his mouth before he could stop them. Lionel’s amused smirk only deepened. Charming’s cheeks flushed. “I mean—he’s alright,” he backpedaled quickly, though Lionel’s knowing look said it all.

Lionel chuckled softly, tapping the flat of his sword against the ground. “What would your parents think of him, then? A pirate at the royal ball?”

“They did say every suitor in the kingdom that doesn’t exclude male or pirates. But they’d be terrified,” 

“And here I thought you were planning to bring a princess,” Lionel mused, shaking his head with fond exasperation.

“Well, ‘pirate’ does start with a P,” Charming quipped, unable to suppress his grin. “Might be close enough. Don’t ask for permission ask for forgiveness.”

“The ball’s happening no matter what, Christopher. Your parents are set on it,” Lionel reminded him, though there was no judgment in his voice. He was used to the prince’s antics by now.

Charming nodded, tossing his fencing jacket aside. “Yeah, well, might as well make it a little more exciting.” 

“If I’m going down, I’m going down singing.” The prince sang.

Lionel chuckled, stepping forward to ruffle the prince’s hair. “You’re always causing trouble. But… you're going to be fine, you always are.”

Charming laughed, a bit of the tension easing from his shoulders. “Thanks, Lionel.”

"Just... try not to start a royal scandal this time," 

"Can't make any promises," Charming shot back with a grin.

👑

The night had settled over Merlin Academy, and the castleteria was buzzing. On the lower level, students from various backgrounds sat together, some attempting to eat in peace while others whispered and laughed in tight-knit groups.

The second level, however, was a different story entirely—a separate, glass-enclosed space designed for royal students, a consequence of the infamous "Ariel incident" from freshman year. Uliana, the sea witch, had stirred up a food fight with the sophomore Little Mermaid herself,  (A girl her older sister bullied aswell)

which ended with food flying and a lot of egos bruised. Now, extra security stood guard, and Charming hated it.

It drained his social battery to be so isolated. He used to enjoy mingling, making polite conversation with his peers, but now he found himself perched in this sterile room, looking down at the rest of the academy through the glass window like he was in some kind of fishbowl. 

It didn’t help that Lionel, who usually provided some form of company, was off handling royal duties whenever it was mealtime. So Charming sat alone, poking at his food, waiting.

Well, not exactly alone. He was expecting someone. Or rather, a pirate . The word "victim" had crossed his mind, but that sounded too cruel, and blackmailee was just unpleasant. So, pirate it was.

Charming’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a scuffle outside the door. Voices—loud, irritated voices—drifted in, and he didn’t need to guess who it was.

“Let go of me! Easy on the coat!” came the familiar accent, sharp and indignant.

The guards were clearly manhandling Hook. Charming sighed, standing up from his seat and making his way to the door. He opened it just in time to see one of the guards tugging on Hook’s crimson coat, and Hook, true to form, looking royally pissed off.

“Stop it!” Charming barked, a little more forcefully than usual. “Let him go. He's with me.”

The two guards immediately released Hook, straightening up as they realized their mistake. One of them, the taller one with a stern face, glanced at Charming apologetically. “Apologies, Your Highness. We didn’t know he was—”

“Yeah, clearly,” Hook cut in, brushing off his coat like he’d just been dragged through the mud. “A real fine welcome, I must say.”

The other guard, younger and more nervous, muttered, “We thought he might’ve been here to, uh… cause trouble, Your Highness.”

Charming sighed, rubbing his temples. “He’s not here to cause trouble. I invited him.” He shot a look at Hook. “Sorry about the mix-up.”

Hook crossed his arms, glaring at the guards. “Way to go, Prince. You invite me, then forget to tell your people I’m coming. Real nice lad, aren’t you?”

Charming gave him a sheepish look, stepping forward and placing a hand on Hook’s shoulder—more of a placating gesture than anything. “I said I was sorry.”

Hook immediately shrugged off his hand, the familiar click of his hook against Charming's wrist. “Easy on the coat. You and your lot have already helped it deteriorate faster than it should.”

“Shall we?” he said, gesturing toward the table.

Hook huffed in response but said nothing, striding past the prince and into the dining area. His eyes scanned the lavish room, taking in the gleaming chandeliers, the velvet-lined chairs, and the royal setup. For a moment, Charming saw a flicker of appreciation cross his face—just for a second—before Hook’s usual facade of nonchalance slipped back into place.

“Nice place you’ve got here,” Hook said, though the casual tone didn’t quite match the look in his eyes. “Bit excessive for a meal, don’t you think?”

Charming smirked, crossing his arms as he followed Hook inside. He could see through the pirate’s act. “If it hadn’t been for that food fight with Ariel and your friend during freshman year, none of this would’ve happened.”

“Yeah, well, she was pretty awesome for that.”

Charming rolled his eyes, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Right. Let’s just sit and eat before you start a revolution in here too.”

They settled into their seats, a tense silence hanging between them. Charming could feel the weight of Hook’s gaze, sharp and calculating. This wasn’t some casual dinner. Both of them knew it, even if neither wanted to admit it.

The dinner had been silent for too long. Hook, never one to let tension sit without poking at it, decided to break it “So, what are your intentions, Your Highness? You’re a popular bloke around here. Getting lonely?”

Charming’s fork paused mid-air before he set it down, carefully. “I have friends.” His mind flickered to Aladdin and Jasmine, who often joined him for meals, bringing stories of their magic carpets adventures.

Then there were Ella and Bridget, after the two got together they always found time to drop by with baked treats—often enchanted with strange, unpredictable side effects, like turning his hair fully blue or making him float for a few minutes. 

Zelly, ever the life of the party, would bring her chameleon Pascal, and they’d all end up doing karaoke. After all, the royal dining area inexplicably had a karaoke machine tucked in the corner.

“So it’s not loneliness or complete boredom, why have me here?” Hook pressed.

Charming hesitated, trying to maintain a mysterious air. He knew Hook was too clever to show his cards too early. “I have something to ask,” was all he said, keeping his tone casual.

Hook leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips as he lounged in the velvet chair, clearly amused by the prince’s attempt at suspense. “What’s this all about, then? A royal invitation for little old me? You're not planning on throwing me in the dungeons after dessert, are you?”

Charming chuckled, though there was a hint of nervousness behind it. “No dungeons. Just… an arrangement.” He felt Hook’s guard go up instantly, the pirate’s smirk hardening into something more defensive.

“Arrangement?” Hook’s brow arched in mock curiosity, though there was no mistaking the sharpness in his tone. “What sort of arrangement would a prince want from moi ?”

“I need you to be my date,” Charming said, the words slipping out before he could fully gather his nerve. He paused, seeing Hook’s expression shift, and hurried to clarify, “Not in the traditional sense.”

Hook’s face didn’t change much. He leaned in slightly, his gaze sharp, like he was toying with a fish on a hook. “You went to so much trouble to impress me,” Hook said with snobbish amusement, “I’m flattered, but you’re not my type.”

Charming felt his face flush but pushed on. “My parents are throwing me this stupid ball, and I hate it. It’s all about me, and I just—” He suddenly found himself unraveling, words tumbling out in a rush. “I blurted out that I had a date, thinking it would stop them from pressuring me, but now it’s just worse, and I don’t know how to—”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold your horses, Prince,” Hook interrupted with a bemused smirk, holding up his hand. “That’s a lot of whining for me.”

Charming blinked, startled by Hook’s bluntness. Somehow, those few words snapped him out of his spiraling rant. He let out an embarrassed laugh, the tension easing from his shoulders. For a second, he found himself thinking Hook looked oddly…kinda hot. 

The pirate, for all his snark, had an air of control about him that made Charming’s stomach twist in a way he didn’t quite understand.

But Hook was getting up, clearly looking like he was about to leave. He couldn’t let him just walk out, not after coming this far. Desperation flickered in his chest, and he scrambled for a last-ditch effort.

“Wait!” Charming stood quickly, his hand brushing against Hook’s arm as he reached out. “I haven’t told you the benefits yet.”

Hook paused, turning halfway with a knowing gleam in his eyes. “Alright. I’m listening.”

Charming exhaled, thinking quickly. “You’ll get lots of opportunities being seen with me. The ball is in two days. You won’t have to pretend for long. You’ll get to live lavishly, and you don’t have to worry about me telling anyone about your… thieving incident.”

Hook’s eyes flickered, but instead of biting, he turned fully away, stepping toward the door. Charming felt his heart sink. He'd blown it. This was going to be harder than he thought—time for Plan B, whatever that was.

Then, Hook stopped, glancing over his shoulder with a smirk that made Charming’s pulse quicken. “I’ll do it.”

“What?” 

“I said I’ll do it,” Hook repeated, turning fully now, his expression unreadable. “I’ll be your boyfriend. For rent, of course.”

Charming bristled slightly. “That doesn’t sound very nice.”

“Well, that’s the reality, babe,” Hook teased, the last word slipping off his tongue like a taunt. The prince stiffened at the word. He didn’t like the way it sounded coming from Hook’s mouth. Or maybe he liked it too much, and that was the problem.

“Fine, we’ll talk tomorrow, lay down the ground rules. We can discuss everything over breakfast.”

“Blah, blah, so boring. You don’t need so many pleasantries to fake-date me, you know. We’re not writing a treaty.”

Charming stepped closer, his face inching into Hook’s space. “I’ll pick you up in the morning. We’ll discuss the plan then.”

Hook gave him a mocking grin, eyes flicking down between them before meeting Charming’s gaze again. “You just love a good scheme and a meal, don’t you? That’s pathetic—and kinda cute, actually.”

Something inside Charming snapped at that last line. “Who are you calling pathetic?” he growled, stepping even closer until they were face to face.

Hook’s eyes danced with amusement, but there was something else beneath the surface, something unreadable. For a brief moment, they stood there in awkward silence, close enough to feel each other’s breaths, their hands grazing.

The bell rang suddenly, cutting through the moment and pulling them back to reality. Charming took a step back, clearing his throat. “I’ll see you tomorrow?” He asked, his princely demeanor slipping back into place, though his voice was quieter than before.

Hook smirked, already slipping toward the door. “You know where to find me, Your Highness .”

Charming was still screwed how was he going to pull this sham? But he did make some progress he just hoped the pirate didn’t cause too much trouble.

👑

Notes:

Hope you enjoy the fic & Remember to give feedback!!! It is always appreciated. The fate of this fic is in y'alls hands its up to all of you whether this continues. (And if you reading this on tumblr. Thank you so much for giving this a read.)   Request go here on my tumblr.

[noahsbookhoard]

🐉The Radiant Emperor Duology by Shelley Parker-Chan🐉

(Damn, those covers are gorgeous)

Zhu Chongba had nothing, was nothing, just the overlooked daughter of a poor family made of only her father and brother. When they both died, she finally had the chance to rise above her fate. Assuming her brother's identity she joined a monastery as a male novice with a purpose: she will get the greatness a fortune teller once said her brother was destined to. Zhu Chongba will become Emperor.

I can't remember where I've first heard about She Who Became the Sun, but the Gods of Literature really wanted me to read it because it popped on the shelves of my public library AND in English! It was a 2023 read, and a huge book crush: I was impatient to read the sequel but I had to wait for it to reach my library. He Who Drowned The World was technically supposed to go in the March review but it was the occasion to talk about both book together!

For clarification, in this post I'll use shortcut for the titles: SWBTS for She Who Became the Sun and HWDTW for He Who Drowned the World (as much as I love those titles they are just too damn long). No spoilers but I might hint at some plot elements out of context.

I know very little about China's culture but I was curious with this setting: China on the eve of the Ming Dynasty (that is to say, mid-14th century). I am growing a bit bored with European medieval fantasy setting so this was a refreshing change of pace. I felt transported, even with few prior notion, the description are vivid enough to bring the setting to life.

Although as far as I know it is pretty historically accurate, it bends on two points. 1) there is some supernatural elements: the legitimacy of a character to rule (the Mandate of Heaven) is physically incarnate in a light they can make appear around them and there are ghosts, clinging to living characters that only the people with the Mandate of Heaven can see. As well as 2) it is based on the premise that the founder of the Ming Dynasty was a woman disguised as a man.

That leads me naturally to the queer representation! There is a main gender non conforming character, a lesbian main couple, bi and gay characters... It isn't an all accepting setting, there's some heavy internalised homophobia but the novel is unabashedly queer and discusses this queerness.

Gender especially is a central subject, every one of the main point of view character has a different view of their masculinity and homosexuality and it is central to their journey as a character:

Zhu's gender ambiguity is really well handled: the characters who know she is a woman use she/her, the others use he/him and the transition is seamless. She is a woman, she just assumes a male identity to survive but at the same time taking her brother's name and fate means she has to believe that she IS her brother to fool fate. This evolves as time passes but it is a journey of self-discovery in which she is helped by her wife, Ma Xu.

Ouyang is an eunuch, castrated as a child which means he has a prebusbescent body that is often perceived as feminine. He struggles a lot with self esteem in regards of his lack of masculinity, but also because he is desperately in love with Esen, his master turned best friend, who is also the son of the Mongolian lord who killed his entire family. I identified with him much more than Zhu, I don't know why. He isn't nice, none of them are but I was really hoping he would get his due, even if it would mean a lot of blood.

Wang Boaxiang is Esen's half brother and a scholar. Their father disapprove of his son's disinterested for anything war like, his love for beautiful robes... He is more of a secondary character in SWBTS but in HWDTW he comes more into focus and we also see his struggles with sexuality as he seduces the Emperor's son.

The duology is heavily politic and character driven. Zhu, Ouyang and Wang Baoxiang are central but there are many more characters, all with intricate relationships. Their fate and aspirations mean their paths frequently collide, dynamic evolves (Ouyang and Zhu swing from enemies to begrudging allies to enemies again, Wang rises and falls in influence changes allegiances several times). The different ethnicities in China are also a factor of conflict as they don't all have the same status. This part was more nebulous to me, I had to Google it a couple of times, but it adds a very interesting dynamic to the plot.

Important to mention if it wasn't clear before: it is dark, really dark. From the start Zhu's future is grim; she loses her entire family, the monastery she joined is ransacked, she loses an arm, a best friend, all in the pursuit of her fate. Ouyang's entire family has been assassinated and is torn between is love for Esen and his revenge; once he makes his choice he is haunted by it. Wang Baoxiang has to plot and sacrifice a lot, even his own pride, to keep his status and influence...

On top of those personal plots, this is a war for the Emperor's throne: there will be ruthless plotting and violence. I enjoyed it immensely because it was never gratuitous and the character growing more desperate and violent made sense as the stakes heightened. Fair warning, tho: do not read this if you want to see good guys and compassion and empathy (except Ma Xu, the series' moral compass. I love you, you are the goat and never did anything wrong ever).

I was slightly disappointed with Ouyang's ending: he deserved to give them hell, I was 100% rooting for him, so the conclusion of his journey felt anticlimatic to me. However I loved it for Zhu Chongba to finally use the disability that she was made fun of for to get what she wanted. And as sad as I was for Wang Baoxiang (HWDTW does a great job at making me empathise with him when he left me quite indifferent at the end of SWBTS) it felt like it had to end this way.

In conclusion, The Radiant Emperor is a new favorite of mine and a sure reread at some point in the future. Although it is not categorised as grimdark, it has most of what I like in my dark fantasy without the most grim aspects that I dislike. The characters are deep, cunning and ferocious, the different points of view made for an intricate political plot in an original ancient China setting.

And did I mention the book covers? Please just look at those book covers. The phoenix/dragon staring contest, the colors, the waves and clouds... I love them.

I really recommend it but before diving in, be warned once again that it IS violent and some of it is physical and graphic. Trigger warnings list below, courtesy of the author on Goodreads.

SWBTS

Dysphoria

Pre-existing non-consensual castration

Misgendering

Internalised homophobia

Life-altering injury (amputation)

Ableist language

Non-graphic depictions of death by torture

Major character death

Offscreen murder of a child

Scenes depicting extreme hunger/starvation

Graphic depiction of a person burning to death

HWDTW

Self harm

Suicidal ideation

Marital rape

Pregnancy loss

Drowning

Torture (not overly graphic)

Child harm and death (young teen)

Internalised homophobia

Ableist language

Mutilation (Pre-existing)

[save-the-data]

(07/???) Completed: Reunion: The Sound of the Providence

Love me some DMBJ. Nuff said. Great cast, fun adventures and our ultimate bromance of the iron triangle with our PingXie along for the ride. And yes the second season will be completed as well, it's a work in progress almost as long as Eagle Flag. XD.

:: MUST :: LIKE :: SHOULD :: S-TIER

Reunion: The Sound of the Providence (2020)

Chinese Drama - 2020, 32 Episodes

Native Title: #重啟之極海聽雷

Genres: #Adventure  | #Mystery  | #Horror

Tags: #Bromance | #Tomb Raiding | #Adapted from a Novel | #Dao Mu Bi Ji

Cast: #Zhu Yi Long  | #Chen Ming Hao | #Huang Jun Jie | #Baron Chen | #Liu Chang | #Fan Yi Ze

Links:  GAGA | Viki | YouTube | iQIYI | WeTV | Youku | Tencent

Catalog: Episode GIF sets | Chinese Drama | Bromance Dramas

[wen-kexing-apologist]

A much smaller, much faster, much shorter analysis of the color red (and other colors too) compared to the behemoth of a post I just made about Heart.

And by that I mean, this isn't really an analysis I just wanted to continue from my post yesterday about Heart finally being lit with red light after multiple episodes of being lit in only blue.

I really like that the lighting designers/colorists in this show have chosen to wash the household scenes completely in blue or red for Heart and Li Ming. So much of the lighting in Heart's house is a cool blue color giving the impression of...well coldness. Li Ming's house however, has a red wash to it giving the impression of warmth. And while this house has not been warm to Li Ming of late, Li Ming is warmth to Heart, and therefore Li Ming's house is also warm.

First of all, Heart was wearing a pink shirt this episode and all I could think about when I saw him wear it was he Professional Life Ruin-er Formerly Known as "@respectthepetty"'s post about color swapping in Moonlight Chicken. It's important for me to note that Heart was looking at pictures of him and Li Ming right before this, and this is after the confrontation with his mother so it's totally possible Heart thinks he might not get to see Li Ming anymore, but he's wearing the closest thing he has to Li Ming's color, regardless.

And then at the New Year's Eve celebration with Li Ming, Li Ming puts him in a red hat.

Stripes my beloved!!!!!!

Li Ming has a blue confetti popper (blue being Heart's color) and Heart has a red one, because of course they do.

On the subject of color swapping, Li Ming does not wear any blue in this scene, however the blue light from the entryway is behind him.

And then I just want to commend the way they shot the kiss scene real quick and I'm putting this here because red is still relevant. Even though Li Ming is wearing almost entirely white, his red is still present on his shirt that says "Tomato Sauce" and he is still matching Heart here who has a giant white stripe going across his shirt.

I love the way these scene turns from general celebration into something soft.

And I didn't really get a picture of it, but I do have to point out that the confetti that Li Ming is pulling out of Heart's hair is also white. Which like, if you want to get a little silly, goofy about it, Heart having white confetti on his head can act as symbolism for Heart having Li Ming on his mind.

I'm putting this picture in a second time because I originally intended to use it here to talk about the little eyebrow raise he does to basically ask Heart to kiss him. I love that Heart catches on to it too, which makes sense, these two are honed in on one another, it doesn't take much at all for them to understand what the other one means.

Listen, we're all gay here, right? What gay doesn't love a good hand imagery moment? Holding hands for this couple also feels especially powerful because this is how Heart and Li Ming communicate.

And forgive the quality of this screen shot, but come the fuck on, the fucking fireworks in the background when they kiss? The red fireworks above them when they kiss? Like???? Talk about visuals representing the feelings of the characters...Jeez. Also, continuing along the color train, there is still so much red in this scene. Heart's hat, the fireworks, the garland in the top right corner, the banner above the television, the tapestry under the banner above the television. RED. (and also a little blue hat next to the TV to represent Heart's place in Li Ming's world)

And then my favorite moment, blissfully unaware that they had been seen, we get to watch them play again. Li Ming teasing Heart by repeatedly trying to kiss him in overly exaggerated motions, tickling his chin, the wrestling. And we get to see that lovely bi-color again. The blue at the front of the house, calling. And the warm light inside the house, where two people who understand each other, are free to play.

AND STRIPES!

[feathers-little-nest]

This is becoming a series, so let's call it Piórko's fav moments

Piórko's fav moments presents: The Beauty's Blade

Ik that it's a very unpopular book but I loved it so idk maybe check out my reactions to the first few chapters to judge if you'd like it? Idk idk

Anyways I really loved this book, the intrigue was so well written, romance was heavily... touch driven? It was mostly expressed through actions, which was super cool. Two MCs are much deeper than the first few chapters show, you don't stop learning new things about them up untill the end :D

w każdym razie do brzegu

my fav moments under the cut (spoilers ofc)

TW: self harm, death

- chapter 1, OH SHE HAS A JADE THUMBRING DID YOU KNOW THAT IT ORIGINATED AS AN ARCHERS- *gets shot*,

- this book uses many smart words guys,

- Yu Shengyan from QQ and this Yu Shengyan have exactly the same name, like the same characters, it'll take some time to getting used to,

- Fu Wanqing is making tier list for the most unworthy of Yu Shengyan people lol,

- she's insanely possessive for someone who has never seen their crush,

- so she's like a fiery red rose, we need to remember that. there's no the beauty's blade's Wiki to save our ass during drawing fanarts,

- chapter 2, lol, Yu Shengyan is just so done,

- damn Fu Wanqing is a quick progresser. she really heard some stories about Yu Shengyan and went I WANT THIS ONE and here she is, on their first meeting, sitting on her lap. iconic,

- Fu Wanqing is a type of person who would bite a glass just to check out how it feels or jump over a bonfire until they fall into it. mood.

- “hersay” girl you DID throw a thousand gold away to win a woman,

- chapter 4, I think previous notes include chapter 3 as well, I'm just good at missing chapters in my notes,

- she uses silk to wipe off blood. fucking. silk. what a bourgeois,

- 👀👀👀

- chapter 5, pretty privilege at its finest huh,

- Zhong brothers' descriptions, important for fanart,

- chapter 6, those chapters are pretty short and I like it,

- A TRANS ICON??, also description of the Third Young Master,

- lol they're progressing quickly. also, is Yu Shengyan starting to show some teeth..?

- chapter 7, well that's some fun family dynamic huh,

- chapter 8, T^T THEY WENT ON A CUTE DATE

- OH MY GOD SHE MADE HER A FLUTE I'M CRYING THAT'S SO CUTE

- chapter 9, oh, interesting, so Yu Shengyan is godlike... now that is giving me ideas

- chapter 10, YU SHENGYAN SMILED!!

- shout-out to Chun Fengxiao for being a bi icon,

- but you couldn't charm Fu Wanqing, this girl fell HARD,

- I swear this translation is some kind of twisted vocabulary test. what the hell is trepidation.

- chapter 11, ok so the guy is wearing changshan. I'm trying to figure out in what clothing I should imagine them in,

- chapter 12, Hu Qing has a big ass scar across her face,

- I think I'll have to draw a map of connections between these people lol,

- PFFF SHE FOUND SOMETHING MORE INTERESTING UNDER HER LAPELS,

- chapter 13, ok the flute is now even cuter,

- I love Yang Wumin, she's just a girl with bpd who likes to beat people,

- chapter 14, uuu we have a beef with gays,

- Third Young Master slays yet again, they use a fan, they have to be my fav now. that's the law.

- chapter 16, ooh, I did not expect Fu Wanqing to be not fond of extravaganza,

- “Warm as jade, with clothes whiter than snow — the Junzi Sword, Shen Shengyi”,

- warm as Jade cold as Jade is there something that is not as Jade? /lh

- oo casanova,

- ok so he's also wearing jade pin-crown,

- chapter 17, I am so confused by the setting, they read Ming books, wear Qing clothing and wear jade pendants. I'm trying to mash it up together in my brain but it's harddd,

- chapter 18, Guo Ju just had an epic entrance, falling for the sky just to dirty Shen Shengyi's robe lol,

- I ship SSYxGJ,

- Guo Ju is so fucking fruity I can't,

- chapter 19, we have another new pal, Zhang Zongyi, an elderly monk in red robes,

- chapter 20, my fav chapter so far!!

- chapter 21, Guo Ju femboy confirmed,

- chapter 22, this awkward moment when you say a ton of nonsense and meet someone who actually replays to it lol; and suddenly you're the shy one,

- chapter 23, another name to remember, Yue Qingtian. So far I remember everyone, I'm getting better at names!

- chapter 24, Guo Ju is really my fav side character now, also I'm curious about that not acting like himself part,

- chapter 25, Yue Qingtan – blue clothes, “cloud-and-water sleeves”, looking like a lady from a rich family, but also a lone wonderer

- I don't think “shes better because she doesn't care about her eeviiiil disciples” is the argument you think it is man XDDD,

- Yang Wumin now wears a veil, noted. could've expected that,

- chapter 27, woah woah this suddenly got serious,

- GUO JU IS ALSO TRANS? T4T ROMANCE? IN MY BAIHE? OMG???

- “Wine… makes people drunk.” such an enlightened quote from Yu Shengyan,

- god Guo Ju is so cute, sitting all night next to the Third Young Master just to make sure that she's safe... even though the tavern is full of the Third Young Master's people... first sunrays falling on her chest is another thing I'd love to paint,

- ok so I think Guo Ju is more leaning into cis woman forced to be a man. still not sure about the Third Young Master tho, what kind of gender fuckery is happening here,

- chapter 29, I can't get over how much their flirting is physical. very often they don't say many loving things but kiss each other, hug, lay on each other, play together... it's all so cute and betrays their emotions in a way words never could,

- SHE FUCKING BIT HER LMFAOO I LOVE YOU FU WANQING

- chapter 30, woah woah Gu Yu got so roasted she turned into a tiny coal piece, that was a bit uncalled for,

- it's so funny to me that they all think that Yu Shengyan is a good person while she only cares for her moral code, not other people,

- LMFAO SHE JUST BULLSHITED WITH CONFIDENCE I LOVE YOU FU WANQING x2 but like true, why would you believe this asshole XDDDD

- chapter 32, well, Yang Wumin has some point about Fu Wanqing, she isn't exactly... an honorable person XD,

- I love this uncaring (chaos) x uncaring (peaceful) energy lol,

- chapter 33, can Yu Shengyan fucking stop destroying books please,

- chapter 35, it might sound dumb and I would usually hate this, but I love that in this book we just get new characters introduced all the time, even now, well over the half mark,

- Liu Zhishang has a rectangular face and bright eyes, noted,

- Guo Lingtian is mostly angry and has thick brows,

- Yang Yifei looks young, wears green and looks like a scholar,

- I can't, Liu Zhishang just heard his kid saying that he wants to marry Yue Qingtian and already treats her like his daughter, that's so damn cute,

- about Yue Qingtian: “She was akin to a plant without roots, having no sense of belonging wherever she went.”,

- chapter 36, ok, I like Wei Xian, the guy is just doing his best and is basically responsible for taking care of the whole Creed bcs ysy isn't interested in it and lkx is not the sharpest tool in the shed,

- chapter 38, so we get Yue Honghua of the Limitless Palace, she hates being called that tho, especially by her sister,

- also she called Third Young Master a Third Sister so is she Yue too? or is it just a title,

- I like that even when dumb things happen in this book, like poisoning of Yu Shengyan, there are exactly the type of dumb things these characters would do,

- chapter 39, and who the fuck is Fu Rong,

- Zhong Li Yu Xiu 钟灵毓秀, I like it,

- chapter 40, OHHH SHES ZHONG'S DAUGHTER LMFAO

- the moral of the story is clearly that the only competent people are women and you know what I can't disagree,

- new name!! the Ghost Doctor is Ye Xueqing, she's also blind btw,

- chapter 41, another new name! Jiang Huailuo, white-haired woman,

- ok I love Ye Xueqing and Jiang Huailuo's dynamic, amazing food for fanfics,

- that honestly read like the last chapter but there's still 9 to go lol,

- chapter 42, HEY WHERE'S MY SEX SCENE, I was in the mood today :( but more seriously, this book was teasing with all this touches and kisses to just skip a sex scene, I am a little bit disappointed,

- I wonder if Fu Hui is getting tired of being played by his daughter all the time lol,

- I love Guo Lintian so much omg he's so fucking sweet,

- chapter 43, ok so face of Yue Honghua is covered in a web of scars left by Yue Qingtian,

- ok I'm still not sure what is Yue Qingtian's part in all of this tho, am I missing something?

- chapter 44, and now we got some Zhang Zongyi, I think this is the last new person in the book tho,

- chapter 45, rip Yang Yifei,

- I love that Liu Wei is trying to get a divorce at a wedding, queen shit,

- chapter 46, bloodstains could also indicate that Fu Wanqing disappeared by herself because she is fucking mental,

- Yu Shengyan carrying Fu Wanqing in a bridal carry, while the latter is wearing torn bridal clothing... another cool thing to draw,

- chapter 47, I get that Fu Wanqing wanted to drive Yang Yifei mad but I'm so sad that she harmed so many people to achieve that, it matches her character but still :< I liked Liu Wei,

- god Yang Yifei also killed Madame Fu, what a shithead,

- ok but Yu Shengyan and Fu Wanqing being cute revenge wives, so adorable,

- chapter 48, ““You once showed me a lot of drawings at Goldmelt Grotto.” Yu Shengyan raised her brows, expression unchanged. “You want to try all of them out, Lady Fu?”” WHAT A QUOTE OMG

- chapter 50, AWWW?? SHE DOESN'T WANT TO DUEL ANYMORE BCS YU SHENGYAN DOESN'T LIKE IT. THIS WOMAN WHO NEVER GAVE UP ANYTHING FOR ANYONE WITHOUT A GRUDGE IS JUST. TRASHING ONE OF HER DEEPEST DREAMS. AWWW!!

- epilogue – how is it an epilogue and not chapter 51? the story isn't complete without this epilogue at all,

- god damn poor Shen Shengyi, this little white lamb, this revelation will so fuck him up lol,

- SHE WAS JUST LYING LMFAO WHY THESE PEOPLE JUST KEEP BELIEVING EVERYONE <- is not better,

- I hope that Guo Lintian didn't fuck up in the past :< I like him,

- Ok I really like this ending :3

- extra: IS GUO LINTIAN'S ONLY CONCLUSION FROM ALL THAT THAT HE WANTS TO RETIRE I really love this man omg,

- the Zhong brothers' arc is also quite wholesome

[legallyhermione]

Hi....If you don't mind, can I ask, what are your top 10 (or top 7) favorite media (can be books/ manga/ anime/movies/tv series)? Why do you love them? Sorry if you've answered this question before......Thanks....

Ooooof this is such a hard question!! Thank you for the ask, I love this kinda stuff!!

Without further ado, and in no particular order, here they are!

1. Any of MXTX’s content (I’m counting them as one because I love too many things 😭): For me, these novels and adaptations were my first foray into danmei and Chinese media. I also discovered them at a time when I was questioning my identity and coming to terms with the fact I’m queer (which is…not really accepted in my family). I watched The Untamed first, then read fan translations of the novels before they started being officially translated, and I keep coming back to them because I find them so thought provoking. I like that none of the characters are presented as perfect people; they’re all flawed humans, but we love them anyway.

2. Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty: found family, Sherlock Holmes-like detective skills, spies, political machinations, food as a form of love? What more could I ask for! I just love this show. Haven’t gotten to read the novel it’s based on yet, but I’m hoping to soon!

3. Yuri on Ice: one of the first anime I ever watched, and it’s just so sweet and lovely. Definitely one of my comfort shows! Plus there are some crazy good fics. Still hoping one day we’ll get the movie!

4. Harry Potter: I struggle with this one a lot, because I very much dislike JKR’s transphobic rhetoric. But the fan spaces of Harry Potter provided me with support and escape I needed many times throughout my life, and for that the fandom of Harry Potter will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s been a part of my life nearly as long as I can remember.

5. Thousand Autumns: another one with some very morally grey characters! I love thinking about who and what is right and wrong, and this novel definitely makes you think about it. Lots of political world building as well, which I love.

6. My Cousin Vinny: a fantastic movie that I have many fond memories about. The jokes and digs about the south vs the north in the US always make me laugh, and as someone who has lived many years in both of those areas, those scenes make me giggle.

7. Haikyuu!: another one of my comfort shows! It’s just happy and fun and adorable. I love this one. I watched it sooooo many times during lockdown.

8. BBC Merlin: was morgana my bi awakening? I shan’t tell! Suchhh a good show, I miss it so much. Another fandom that has some incredibleeeee fanfics. Y’all writers are so talented.

9. Our Flag Means Death: I think this was maybe my first piece of media that explicitly included multiple queer characters but the entire storyline wasn’t only about the otherness and pain of being queer (or just a stereotyped role). This show made me feel seen in ways no other media had before. Plus, the show is gay pirates. It doesn’t get much better than that!

10. Avatar the Last Airbender: me and my siblings all loved this show, and we still watch it together often whenever we’re together. It’s so good. Zuko’s character development is still quite possibly the best redemption arc I’ve seen. I love it.

Phew. It was so hard to choose 10! I’m glad you didn’t ask me to pick one because I’m afraid that would’ve been impossible for me! What are your favorites???

💚

[becauseimanicequeen]

Do you think Joe and Ming are color-coded? If so, what colors are they? I can't seem to figure them out.

Hi, Anon.

Interesting question! It's something I've been thinking about for a while and wondering if I'm going to try and collect my thoughts about it in a post. And receiving your question has me seriously considering it. But, I will do that in a separate post.

However, to give you some kind of answer here, even though it may be vague...

In short, I don't think they are traditionally color-coded, for example like Donald Duck's nephews (whom I don't know the names of in English, lol). Joe and Ming might be more bi-colored. And, I'm pretty sure there are contrasting colors involved (and I love that shit so I might nerd out about it, lol).

But, again, I need to collect my thoughts about this. And I will. I'll get to that post ASAP (but it might not be ready and publishable until this weekend, so keep your eyes open).

I'll add a link to that post here as soon as I've published it.

Edit: Well, that escalated quickly and turned into a 6-part series, lol. Here are the links:

Part 1: Overview

Part 2: Black and Blue

Part 3: Red and Green

Part 4: Yellow/Gold

Part 5: Brown

Part 6: Random Color Moments

Thank you for your ask (and the content idea).

[muskming]

Musk Ming: "18+ Goodbye to Puberty 成年禮 (18 Years in Berlin)"

Solo-Exhibition in EinsenHerz Berlin (Motzstr. 23, 10777 Berlin)

Exhibition: 01. ~ 31. July 2023 Vernissage: Saturday 04. July  18:00-20:00h

Musk Ming, in China geboren, lebt und arbeitet seit 2005 in Berlin. In den letzten 18 Jahren, kombinierte Musk Ming alte Traditionen der chinesischen Malerei mit den modernen, neuen Techniken, seine Arbeiten visualisieren die Sehnsucht nach einem aufgeschlossenen China. In dieser Ausstellung gibt er einen Überblick von seinen Kunstwerken der letzten 18 Jahren: Federzeichnungen, Malerei und digitale Arbeiten, sowie Kunst-Shirts und Tassen mit ausgewählten Motiven. 18 Jahre wäre die Zeit, dass man nach der Kindheit erwachsen wird. Zurückschauend zeigt er auch einige frühe „Baby-Arbeiten“ aus seiner Heimat. Es ist eine Retrospektive, die seine Entwicklung und Geschichten aus der Welt von „muskboy“ bis Musk Ming, wie ein paar Seiten aus seinem Tagebuch, zeigt.

Musk Ming, born in China, has been living and working in Berlin since 2005. In the last 18 years, Musk Ming has combined old traditional Chinese painting with contemporary techniques and Western aesthetics, his works reflect a longing for a world where sexual diversity is celebrated. In this exhibition he presents an overview of his artworks of the last 18 years: ink drawings, watercolor/acrylic paintings and digital works, as well as art shirts and mugs with selected motifs. After 18 years of creative art, Musk Ming says: “Goodbye, puberty”. Looking back, he also shows some early "baby works" from his homeland. It's a retrospective, showing his development and stories from the world of "muskboy" to Musk Ming, like a few pages from his diary.

https://csd-berlin.de/programm/kunst-von-musk-ming

https://www.siegessaeule.de/termine/kultur/goodbye-to-puberty-18-jahre-in-berlin/

https://www.maenner.media/regional/blu/kunst-von-musk-ming-bei-eisenherz/

[anotherblblog]

Cheating McChicken Episode 5 Thoughts

I knew Wen was a messy gay! I knew it!

Alan: why’d you sleep with me? Wen: because I felt sorry for you. Alan: well feel sorry for me again!

Not knowing the inciting whatever that turned Wen off Alan is gnawing at me but maybe Wen and Jim will share those things with each other soon

That first year anniversary into the present cold war was a doozy

Ummmmmmmmmmmmm so is Gong bi representation or just a strong ally?

Ok so I think Gaipa’s mom dies and then Jim inherits the land? Is that what’s potentially being set up…

Also Gaipa get a first date or honestly first fuck and a commitment before offering a man a deed

I really wanna know more of Li Ming’s thoughts on Jim’s dating life

I wonder if Li Ming like Leng just wanna see Jim happy and Li Ming has seen Gaipa fail long enough for Li Ming to throw his support behind Wen who he probably heard him and Jim doing the moonlight.l chicken dance

Wen fonding over the baby gays was totes adorable, it’s reminding me of TanBunn and their lil baby gays

We need more queer friendships and mentorship in our bl’s

Now the Alan Wen cold war has a brief skirmish against the isolationist nation of Jim

Return to me what you took

Honestly Jim could have said, the pen chose me back and really gagged Alan (and ruined his chance to save his business but the drama might be worth it)

Listen jobs and capitalism make us do a lot of things but idk if I could help the person my ex/estranged living partner is interested in

But to Wen’s point, it wouldn’t make Wen not like Jim

Soooo I know I’m not the only one who thought Gong was 🌈

Wen: If you don’t wanna take my calls, fine I’ll come back to your place/my maybe sometimes place of employment

Ooooof that “this is really over”/no need to rekindle the fire lmao

Like it wasn’t subtle and that’s hilarious and camp and also painful

She took that ring off

See what happens when Mark Pakin isn’t in the episode a lot. People get re-dumped, people have motorcycle accidents, parents get the dressing down of the millennium

Like they’re baby gays so I’m sure they’re trigger shy but Fourth’s face on that overlook was screaming kiss me

It feels like it’s been a while since we’ve had a really bad bl parent so shout out of Heart’s parents cuz damn they suck. It’s sad and not fun.

Another “serious enough for a hospital visit but not lasting or impairing the actor” bl wound

Jim kinda doesn’t stand up for Li Ming. But Li Ming is clearly responsible for the accident but idk dude, defend in public and dress down in private. Like Jim publicly implicates Li Ming and idk, I don’t like it even though I get that Li Ming is wrong or appears to be wrong in these scenarios. It’s like dude you treat him bad and then wonder why he’s distance.

Oh Wen, literally making yourself homeless to get a man. Brava you messy drama queen, Brava.

[gegeenthusiast]

AO3 Wrapped except I didn’t wait for asks

from this post

How many words have you written this year? Published online, at least 35,249 words for fics (I ignored one chapter because I’m too lazy to get it) and 36,876 words for original fiction.

How many works did you publish this year? 10 fics so far, with 2 I have to finish for exchanges this year...

What work are you most proud of (regardless of kudos/hits)? Once I too was young! It’s straight up one of the works I’m proudest of in my life, actually. A big step in a direction I hope to make more progress in.

What work of yours has the most hits? Ah it’s... an old SVSS fic I’m not that fond of anymore.

What work of yours got more feedback than you expected? This Really Shouldn't Count As Scum Gong Anything. I started writing it back when DPUB didn’t really have a vocal following that I know of, so I largely wrote it for my friends. I was really surprised that so many people not only read it, but also commented.

Favorite title you used Just Dig the Hole, Hole-Digger. Yes it’s a Ghost Stories reference I’m not even sorry

If you use song lyrics, which artist’s songs did you pull from the most? I don’t use it much lately, I mostly lean towards using poems... In which case it’s basically a pretty even toss-up between Li Shangyin, Arseny Tarkovsky and Rumi.

Pairing you wrote the most for this year? By word count, Dong Bi Long Zhu/San Xian Tuo Gu Yu, but by frequency, I guess Chen Lang & Chen Zhen?

Favorite pairing you wrote for this year? Dong Bi Long Zhu/San Xian Tuo Gu Yu... with Cui Yuanzhi/Chen Xi as a runner-up

What work was the quickest to write? Oh that’s hard, because I rarely write anything in one go, and I don’t really count the time... I guess the one smut I did, because I always struggle to maintain energy levels for smut LMAO. the wine of timelessness.

What work took you the longest to write? I’m going to answer this with a one-shot-only, because I still have a lot of WIP longfics... 

How many WIP’s do you have in your docs for next year? A lot.

What’s your longest work of the year? In terms of “written only this year”, for fics it’ll be Once I too was young: at 15k, and The Mirror of Dawn for original work at 18k.

What’s your shortest work of the year? you explained the infinite. I don’t generally publish drabbles (less than 1k words), so this is one of the rare ones.

What WIP are you taking into next year with you? I do still plan on finishing This Really Shouldn't Count As Scum Gong Anything........

What’s your most common “Additional Tags” tag? Slice of Life, apparently?? Only in 2 works though.

Your favorite character to write this year? Dong👏Bi👏Long👏Zhu👏

The character that gave you the most trouble writing this year? URhguhguhghhgh WEI YANZI AND GU YILIANG. It’s for a WIP though.

What’s one pairing you want to explore next year? Cui Yuanzhi/Chen Xi to be honest... or Ming Yuechen/Gua Yelian.

Which work of yours have you reread the most? ...Once I too was young:. But also, For February's Rain.

How many kudos in total did you get this year? This is actually hard to know because AO3 doesn’t keep track of ONLY kudos you get this year, only ALL kudoses of works you still update this year (regardless of when that kudos was given, or when the fic was started) but in the stats page it says 158 and I ain’t about to question it much further.

Which work has the most comments? This Really Shouldn't Count As Scum Gong Anything at 47?

Did you do any collaborative works this year? No... I don’t really do writing collabs.

Did you write any gifts this year? Do exchanges count? Because if yes, well, I joined 3 this winter alone.

Did you receive any gifts this year? See above!

What’s your most common category? M/M... I do write a bunch of Gen though.

What do you listen to while writing? I can’t focus while listening to songs with lyrics. It’s either silence or instrumentals like 1 hour guqin stuff.

Favorite work you wrote this year? Since it’s already abundantly clear for fics, I’ll just say that I really liked A stone in you and star, flaws and all. 

Favorite line/passage you wrote this year? There was a naivety in Shadow of a Thousand Faces that Dong Bi pitied— he had believed, to a degree, that there was a world of light somewhere. A section of society that was pure of corruption, that was untainted by greed and politics. There wasn't. Once Dong Bi too had that kind of faith. But all those ideals that had put him on this path were illusions of his own making. And now though Dong Bi could no longer claim they were real, they had been ingrained too deeply within him, because they were born in his heart. An abbot once looked at him and said that he was a creature of deep obsessions, and ought to meditate on the impermanence of the world. All life is suffering, and to fixate on justice and injustice in human life is an endless source of misery. Dong Bi was not afraid of pain.

Biggest surprise while writing this year? Uhh..........????

[theoreticalconstruct]

OC list.

This was once on my sidebar but editing it from there is a pain, so I'm going to see if I can pin this on my regular journal instead.

Linking to the tag for their screenshots (if they exist) on my gaming screenshot blog, or to any art I’ve done/had done of them.

In progress because I'm moving it and updating links, disambiguating the few characters who have similar names across fandoms, et cetera.

Fandoms: FFXIV (once I add them,) SWTOR, Fallen London, City of Heroes.

Permissions:

SFW art/headcanons - OK NSFW art/headcanons - Ask me first Fic/RP/interactions with other OCs - Ask me first

FFXIV

Baroouse Ironeye: Male Sea Wolf WoL, large friendly man who's really good at hugs and punching things, but not at the same time. Poly and aromantic, very close to lots of people. (Short list: Ran'aa Mihgo, Leih Ariapoh, Ysayle, Haurchefant, Cirina, Hien... I'll make a long list later.)

Quizzie Slagheart: Female Highlander WoL, a short pirate with a minor chip on her shoulder and a big heart. Has a soft spot for Ishgard thanks to a man who took care of her after she and her father fell out. Very close to her fellow Scions.

Mirek Ajerenii: Male Helion WoL who escaped the fall of Bozja because his mother saw trouble starting and sent him away with his Lost uncle. Generally very confused; things go over his head a lot. Still figuring out his relationships (he's probably bi, I'm fairly sure he misses a lot of advances because he just doesn't understand social cues, but he definitely had a fling with G'raha Tia and another with Jannequinard de Durendaire.)

SWTOR - Republic - Ge-ming: Sith Pureblood, exiled Sith heir turned Jedi knight. SF - Captain Zvedza: Twi'lek, smuggler and pilot, has taken over her mentor’s Republic business while he tries to diversify. SF

SWTOR - Empire - Lord Fupan: Zabrak, Lord of the Sith, Marauder, hunter of traitors and generally not great at this Sith thing. SF - Darth Molutsk: Sith Pureblood, Lord of the Sith, Expansion and Diplomacy (but mostly Expansion,) old gay ritualist and loving dad. SF - Bexamushu: Rattattaki, Sith apprentice and scientist, head of research for the Expansion Institute. SF - Drogo Rist: Human, Former Alderaanian statesman in self-imposed exile, Lieutenant in the Imperial Navy. SF - Jonna Wolfe: Human/Cyborg, Defected Republic Spec Ops operative, current Imperial Specialist. Doesn’t like relationships but loved her parents and siblings/nieces/nephews, to the point that she defected after they were killed by Republic inaction. SF - Ja'ghar: Chiss, Ascendency-born and exiled at a young age, eventually adopted into Clan Kelborn. SF - Fixer 42 AKA Baroouse: Mirialan, former Fixer for Imperial Intelligence who got brainwashed by a Sith. The brainwashing failed thanks to a convenient shipwreck. Has reached a point where he has two fairly stable personalities that are aware of each other - one his fixer personality and another a "civilian" personality who's basically a handyman.

SWTOR - Cross-faction/Underworld - Captain Lay'zor: Human. Ace pilot (in several respects,) smuggler and underworld boss. SS/SF - Koushonbe Phopee: Nautolan. Skilled mechanic and quick fighter who can't seem to sit still. SF - Hargath Desop: Mirialan. Adoptive father of Phopee and skilled doctor, he is hiding from a dark past that took the lives of his family and his husband. SF.

Fallen London - The Pliable Operative: Profile. A Rubbery Man and former companion of Markov (see below.) After Markov's disappearance under mysterious circumstances, they were dreadfully worried about their good friend and decided that they were going to do what they could to search for them, and to that end worked to integrate themselves into the Great Game. Despite the prejudice against them as a Rubbery Man, they are doing surprisingly well. - Lt. Bogdan Leonidovitch Markov: Profile. Little is known about him so far, save that he was certainly some sort of officer in the Russian Imperial Army, and that he came to London to keep a promise to one of his superiors. Has a long-standing fear of falling upwards into the sky, which is partially why he gets along so well in the Neath. A generally decent sort who believes in helping the common man and shows kindness to the marginalized - the Rubbery Men, the Urchins, the Clay Men - whenever he can. - Nikole Dupuis: Profile. A dangerous lady and former privateer, who came down to the Neath to avenge her brother. In doing so she lost her soul and, for a while, her reason for living - but she has found another, with her new dedication to the anarchist cause.

City of Heroes

Ranger Bruno Jones: Old man whose powers manifested late in life. Lived most of his life as a park ranger, but gained the power to speak to and command both plants and animals, as well as becoming very large and strong and near-indestructible. This happened after he retired and years after his wife had died, and he decided to embrace his powers and become a hero. His adult children are nervous about this, but so far he's doing fairly well.