#I am a FAKE jcs fan and that’s who I AM

[izpira-se-zlato]

JO Berlin, 12.03.24

Haphazard, incomplete, typed up for friends on discord and yeeting here in case anyone finds it interesting

I arrived at 16:10 and was number 18 for general access. Now I need to figure out how to remove the number before our business event 😂 . There was no one else for like a hour before or after

The queue was super chill. I got rid of a few more Hojans

we had doors at 19:00 for GA and the first opener started at 19:15, which was unexpected but nice

Sector5 were so much fun! And there was one (1) hardcore Fan in the audience 😂

JC Stewart made the same jokes as in Helsinki but I am easily amused so it was a good fit

while waiting for the gig to start, my friend checked her IG and saw that her favorite place to get film developed had posted a pic with Sadie... I forgot her last name again. Sink? Damon's bff. Damon and her left in a cab after the gig

I was Jance side 4/5 row. Pretty nice spot, I think

Katrina opener!! So did they drop SSOL for good?

WE GOT BARVE OCEANA

Bojan came into the crowd to have a friend sing and he was so sweaty and so close

People were so respectful and didn't touch him I think?

their outfits??

I died at Bele sanje, a Jance moment I will post which. Yeah.

there was another moment later where Jan brushed his hand through Nace's hair

Kris came over so Jan and Kris played at Nace and it was hot

Jan sat down at the piano for um and I think he actually played a note or two

no PiJanO otherwise. I don't think he played it for ew either

Bojan is getting better at the ew piano part. He actually lost his lyrics tho when he saw the fan project by the official JO discord

no bluza 😭

Bojan said the actual working title is Behind Those Eyes but for Germany it would stay Schlager (it is not a Schlager)

he was very surprised by how well we knew the lyrics to šta bih ja

we won't understand the majority of the songs on the new album if we don't speak Slovene/Serbian. Everyone cheered like mad

I actually saw Jure several times??

the stage was too small for Racik backdrop

"who's from somewhere else? I guess a lot of Finnish people? No? Polish?"

there were eight people (according to Bojan) from Slovenia and he hoped they already knew them before ESC

I think Bojan checked with Jan/warned him that he would spray him during omamljeno telo

Nace kept smirking at Jan??

no encore because everyone just. Left after the band and left the stage

the boys looked so so happy on stage

Post gig edition:

we talked to Vita and omg she is lovely. Also, I need to stop talking so much. But jfc

I got a selfie with Teya 😊 did not talk too much, also bc she had to get into her Uber that was waiting

Nace and Kris came out for pictures but left before we had a chance to talk to them

Jan came out afterwards and talked to the ten or so people still left

his fucking voice oh my god

Jan's coat is fake fur and not as soft as it looks

I gave Jan a Hojan sticker

I asked Jan if he knew what date it was and he did 😂

according to Jan, Jure doesn't come out after gigs bc he goes straight to sleep

pretty sure Bojan is sick again (still?) He took a group pic with some people to not stay out in the cold for ages, and then just waved at us to "preserve his health for the tour"

[alarrytale]

Marte, I´m wondering what is your opinion how Louis might feel that H was surrounded with JC and BW on Sunday? Sure, he was also with his very problematic friend so he´s not saint either but both JC and BW are people who were around them both since 1D days so he knows them very well and he also knows H is around them occasionally in every few months (especially JC who´s clinging on him more than his fake gfs). Do you think he tolerates them around H because he knows it��s just a business and pr or he hates them as much as we do but can´t do anything about it? You know, I´m imagining the situation when H is telling Louis "I´m going to football with JC and BW" and Louis first reaction is rolling his eyes, sigh and continue with "Okay, I´m taking N and Oli because I promised it to them, so see you tomorrow love"

Hi, anon!

It's really difficult to know what H and L feels about any of the people they surround themselves with. I'd like to think that both H and L know exactly what they're doing, what fans feels about it, and how it looks, and don't share their views and beliefs. It won't help educating them i don't think. So it must be really complicated for them.

It's also really difficult for me to talk about how both H and L are sitting in a VIP section enjoying a football game accompanied by several zino*ists and a homophobe/misogynist (++), while children are being murdered in a genocide and Am*rica is about to elect Tr*mp as president. It makes me so angry at the world. H and L are rich, privileged hypocites and it's hard to focus on the good in them when they act this way.

I know we are all happy they got to be together at the same time publicly, which hasn't happened in years. But the company they keep makes me barf. They make me so fucking mad sometimes. I wish they'd grow a backbone and publicly distance themselves from their companion's views and beliefs. It would help, at least a little.

So i'm sorry, anon, i don't really care how they try to justify any of this to each other.

[judasisgayriot]

Not to be like I’ve built my entire life around arenatour!judas’ self loathing sad gay energy but I literally have

[lansplaining]

Why do people stan JC and JGY?

We're all older/est siblings, and thus all live in a constant state of barely-suppressed rage and misdirected parental instincts. This means when we see a younger sibling like Jiang Cheng or Jin Guangyao driving their life into the ground like a malfunctioning bumper car, we have an innate need to watch this happen and both gloat about it and want to help. It's actually birth order science.

I'm very pro-torture? I think I speak for all of us when I say that when I'm experiencing media, I seek out characters who undertake actions I fully morally approve of first of all, and a big one for me is torture. Obviously Wei Wuxian also qualifies here, but he's sort of a fake torture fan lol like he does it the one time and never seems to go back to it? But there's so much space to imagine how both Jiang Cheng and Jin Guangyao spent years innovating on their torture techniques. It's practically its own form of cultivation, if you think about it! Inspiring.

This one's more personal, but as you can probably guess from my username, I am a deeply pedantic and irritating person (note: this is true). So obviously I'm very drawn to both characters' "why will no one listen to me!!!!" energy. Again, when I'm watching shows, I try to find the character whose personality seems closest to mine in ways that make me feel soothed and reflected in unchallenging ways so that I can project myself into the narrative and imagine how I'd handle things better than they would, and that's definitely something both of them provide to us humorless scolds of the world.

Maybe this one should have been first lol but I felt guilty nitpicking your premise-- we're not people? we're actually all bots haha no actual person would ever like Jiang Cheng and Jin Guangyao, who would do that to themselves

[wangxianficfinder]

Podfic Compilation

wangxian podfic recs in twitter

MDZS / CQL podfics on audiofic.jinjurly.com

💖 the field meets the wood by astronicht (T, 7k, wangxian, BAMF WWX, whump, ritualistic selfharm, canon era, blood loss) has two podfics, by semperfiona_podfic (semperfiona) and by jellyfishfire

Meng Yao vs. the Board of the Homeowner’s Association by Ariaste (M, 114k, xiyao, wangxian) have inspired a number of podfics—some stories being adapted by multiple podficcers

[Podfic of] hunters seeking solid ground by exmanhater (E, 2-2.5H, wangxian, hurt/comfort, nightmares, sharing a bed) this podficcer has an amazing voice and has recorded a ton of great wx fics

through a window softly by impossibletruths [podfic] by Rhea314 (Rhea) (T, 1.5-2H, wangxian, college/university au, neighbors, music as a love language)

[Podfic of] plant a little happiness (let the roots run deep) by exmanhater (E, 4-4.5H, wangxian, modern, doctors/physicians au, car accidents)

[Podfic] Live from New York by jellyfishfire (E, 5.5H, wangxian, snl au, slow burn, music, WIP)

[PODFIC] Quartet series by Gwogobo (T, 7-7.5H, wangxian, soulbonds, fix-it, happy ending, friends to lovers)

[PODFIC] 江山如有待 | It Seems the Hills and Rivers Have Been Waiting by Gwogobo (E, +30H, JC / OFC, slow burn)

For a Good Time, Call by ScarlettStorm [Podfic] by Rhea314 (Rhea) (E, 15-20H, only fans au, getting together, pining, porn)

[podfic] Let the Streetlights Guide You Home by jellyfishfire (M, 3.5-4H, wangxian, modern, car racing)

[Podfic] Leading Tone by silencemostofall by Beria1021 (G, 3-3.5H, wangxian, modern, soulmates, music, orchestra au, angst w/ happy ending)

[Podfic of] The Simplest Way Forward by knight_tracer (E, 7-10H, wangxian, modern, super soft fake marriage accidental baby acquisition modern AU)

[Podfic] With Absolute Splendor by kisahawklin (T, 4-4.5H, wangxian, JC & WWX, JC & LWJ, post-canon, reconciliation, wedding, wedding planning, brothers, angst w/ happy ending)

[PODFIC] Gentle Exile by DanaScully1013 & semperfiona_podfic (semperfiona) (E, 1.5-2H, LXC/SL, post-canon, canonical character death, depression, grief/mourning, hurt/comfort, angst, character study)

[Podfic] Three Months, but One Day Shy by DanaScully1013 (M, 10min, angst, gore, cannibalism, burial mounds)

[Podfic of] Covered in Bees by exmanhater (T, 45-60min, wangxian, modern, beekeeping, bee puns, meet-cute, comedy, fluff)

[podfic] Lost & Found // 有缘千里来相会 by la_muerta by sasapods (sasamelons) (T, 30-45min, wangxian, JYL/JZX, modern, meet-cute, single parent WWX, family feels)

[Podfic of] Be Gay, Do Crime by exmanhater (T, 1-1.5H, wangxian, modern, meet-cute, misundestandings, bunnies)

[PODFIC] The One-Body Problem by PolynomialPandemic (T, 2.5-3H, LJY & WWX, wangxian, possession, cohabitation)

Patient came so hard from prostate exam he kicked me in the dick [Podfic] by Rionaa (E, 1.5-2H, wangxian, doctor wwx, musician lwj, repression, humor)

Lynchpin [PODFIC] by Opalsong (not rated (I’d say T), 11H, JC & WWX, wangxian, time travel, fix-it, Mojo’s post)

[Podfic] Wangxian Tax Universe by Cass_Caelis & Jellyfishgalaxies & lysandyra (pxssnelke) & semperfiona_podfic (semperfiona) & sisi_rambles & Spinifex (T, 30-45min, wangxian, getting together, WIP)

[Podfic] a candle blown out by thirteenfiftyeight (chaoswithcake) (T, 10-20min, LWJ & WWX, JC & WWX & JYL, WWX & JFM, near death, depression, psychological trauma, justice, no war au, attempted murder, bad parent YZY)

[podfic] A Little Happiness by read by lunchee (lunchee) (M, 45, WangXian, Post-Canon, Age Regression/De-Aging, Podfic & Podficced Works, Format: Streaming, I welcome corrections for Chinese mispronunciations bc I am not Chinese, Podfic Length: 2.5-3 Hours)

[Podfic] Five People Who Never Summoned Wei Wuxian by sisi_rambles (G, 10-20 min, wangxian, 5+1, angst)

[Podfic] in your skin by flamingwell (E, 1.5-2H, wangxian, post-canon, getting together, body horror, blood & gore, angst w/ happy ending, hurt/comfort, non-consensual body modification, near-death experiences)

[Podfic] to the act of making noise by Ceewelsh & flamingwell & kisahawklin & Rionaa (G, 2-2.5H, LSZ & LWJ, LSZ & WWX, wangxian, grief/mourning, father-son relationship, music, fluff & angst, found family)

[PODFIC] long is the way by flamingwell & long is the way by MissyPJ (Not rated, 10-20 min, wangxian, angst w/ happy ending, canon divergence, LWJ playing inquiry, WWX answers)

[Podfic] Grow by jellyfishfire (T, 1-1.5H, wangxian, post-canon, de-aging, character study, Mojo’s post)

[Podfic] Forget Me Not by read_by_Sophie (Sophie) (T, 1-1.5H, WangXian,Temporary Amnesia, Romantic Comedy, Misunderstandings, Protective JC, Light Angst, Post-Canon, LWJ Needs a Hug, everyone thinks they’re married)

Podfic: A Song You've Never Heard  by raitala (G, 30-45 min, WangXian, Canon compliant, Presumed dead, Angst with a happy ending)

Tales From Bunny Mountain [Podfic] by esbielle (G, 30-45 min, wangxian, JL/LSZ, JL&WWX, so many bunnies, lan buns)

[Podfic] nothing gold can stay by Koontyme (M, 1-1.5H, Canon divergence, Golden core reveal, On the run Wangxian)

[Podfic] Second Chance Phoenix by sisi_rambles (E, 20-30 min, wangxian, post-canon, consensual non-con, spanking, no lube, rough sex)

[PODFIC] The Twin Blades of Yunmeng by Gwogobo (T, 102, WIP, JC & WWX, WangXian, ChengSong, Canon Divergence, Yunmeng Brothers Reconciliation, bamf!JC, protective!LWJ, Golden Core Reveal, Swords and Feelings, WWX Resurrection, Canon-Typical Violence, Angst with a Happy Ending, Slow Burn, Sect Leader!QS, Podfic Length: uhhhh prob not more than 20hrs? idk yet ok, Audio Format: Streaming)

[PODFIC] Attempting the Impossible by Ariaste by lunatique (T, 3.5-4H, WangXian, JC & WWX, Post-Canon, Yunmeng Bros Reconciliation, Adoption, Family Fluff, Kid fic, Family drama, Fluff)

kealdrakemna they have 3 mdzs works and they are awesome!

[Podfic] I Don't Want to Debut! By PandaReads (DrPanda99) (G, WangXian, 6-7H, Reality Shows, Idols, Celebrity, Social Media, Epistolary Romance, Fluff, Footnotes, Kissing, Poetry, Podfic Length: 6-7 Hours, Mandarin speaking reader)

[PODFIC] this humble fox by lostsometime (T, 3-3.5H, wangxian, LXC/JGY, Canon Divergence, Creatures & Monsters, Fox Spirit WWX, Minor Character Death, Espionage, Sunshot Campaign, Scheming JGY, Scheming NHS, little dogs for NHS, Slow Romance, War, Happy Ending, Not Everyone Dies, JGY and NHS are scheming together and it's wonderful)

[Podfic] kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight by contributor-sky (deepestbluesky), esbielle was also here (esbielle), glittercracker, GodOfLaundryBaskets, jellyfishfire, kisahawklin, Koontyme, Rionaa, semperfiona (T, 7-10H, wangxian, LSZ & WWX & LWJ, JL & LSZ & LJY, Hurt/Comfort, Everyone Lives, Eventual Happy Ending, Getting Together, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, Inspired by The Parent Trap (1998), Kid Fic, teen shenanigans, two a-yuans, Angst, Fluff)

[Podfic] decay by zaffre (G, 1.5-2H, wangxian, Canon Divergence, Misunderstandings, Miscommunication, big sister WQ just wants her stupid little brother WWX to take care of himself, warnings for wwx's typical level of self-care, Fix-It, Angst with a Happy Ending, the fluffiest ending, Hurt/Comfort)

The Martial Arts Instructor Fic You Didn't Know You Needed [PODFIC] by enbysaurus_chats (enbysaurus_rex), enbysaurus_rex (M, 20+H, wangxian, WIP, modern, Martial Arts, Accurate Martial Arts, Not Canon Compliant, WWX has his own dojo, WN is assistant instructor, WWX Has ADHD, Autistic LWJ, Mutual Pining, WWX being cute with kids, Implied/Referenced Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Trans WWX, Trans WN, Trans JC, Trans OYZZ, everyone's queer because i've never met a straight, PTSD, coparenting of appliances, Slow Burn, BAMF WN, Aro WN, Queerplatonic Relationships, Chronic Illness, WWX's anxiety is almost its own character, but in a chill way, Polyamory Negotiations, Found Family, The Messiness that comes with choosing your own path and people, JC & WWX Reconciliation, Tags at the beginning of each chapter)

[Cold Read Podfic] leave all your love and your longing behind by Rionaa (E, 10-15H, WIP, wangxian, modern, Meet-Ugly, Panic Attacks, autistic LWJ, neurodivergent WWX, the neighborhood asshole dog, if you've met one then you know, Hurt/Comfort, Pining, Minor Angst, major shenanigans, Happy Ending, for everyone including the asshole dog, setting out to make the neighborhood safer for your crush and accidentally building community, Eventual Smut, switch rights, Sex Toys, horny yearning, Masturbation, the chef's assortment of partnered sex acts)

Teen Project to Change the world (PODFIC) by animeloverhomura, sandradaffodils (Not rated, 1-2H, WIP, wangxian, JYL/JZX, Watching the Show, With a bit of the Manhua and Book thrown in, BAMF WWX, Fix-It, JGS is his own warning, Attractive WWX, Homophobia, Disturbing Fluff)

[Podfic] lovely thorns and singing crows by semperfiona_podfic (semperfiona) (E, 4-4.5H, wangxian, Modern, Addams Family Vibes, LWJ has disney prince abilities with animals but the spooky version, and eats poison for fun and profit, the mystery of mama lan's disappearance gets LWJ more family than he knows what to do with, how did he move in? lan zhan doesn't know, meet cute at a funeral, WN dies sometimes (it doesn't last), LSZ sees dead people, witchy QS, wen popo's seven (7) ex-husbands, Madam Lán Lives, Light Horror, Curses, Possession, Fluff and Humor, Developing Relationship, Found Family, Weirdo4weirdo wangxian, Eventual Smut, Blow Jobs, Hand Jobs)

[gffa]

There was this viral tweet that went around about THE UNTAMED awhile back that was basically the cycle of every fan of the series that I have ever met: 1. Wtf, THIS is the show everyone is losing their minds over? This isn’t even good! 2. Well, I guess it’s not that bad, it’s pretty watchable and fun, it’s all right. 3. I would now die for these characters. So, when I swore this drama wasn’t going to be a big fandom for me, I was just going to watch the show and then fuck off again, I should have known better. Because here I am, crying about feelings about the entire cast and devouring fic and yelling at anyone who will spend even five minutes listening to me about how much I love the OTP, how much I love the Yunmeng Siblings and their Terrible Communications Issues, and the Tragic Sibling Duos and the Tragic Doomed Loves and The Cutest Juniors In The World and how I want to lock ALL OF THEM IN A ROOM until they sort out their feelings! THE UNTAMED/MO DAO ZU SHI RECS - EMOTIONAL CONSTIPATION RUNS IN THE FAMILY - YUNMENG SIBLINGS FIC: ✦ Still in the Water by airgeer, lan wangji/wei wuxian & jin ling & lan sizhui & jiang cheng, 45k    A year after Jin Ling’s early succession to the position of Sect Leader, a letter is delivered to him under strange circumstances. A night-hunt follows. ✦ no one lights a candle to remember by asravine, wei wuxian & jiang cheng & jiang yanli (& wangxian), 7.9k    “Didi,” Wei Wuxian says softly. His thumb on Jiang Cheng’s cheek is calloused and warm and burns of affection. Jiang Cheng barely stops himself from leaning in. “Didi, don’t cry because of me.” ✦ can people untie themselves, uncurling like flowers by annemari, wei wuxian & jiang cheng & jin ling & lan wangji, 19.3k    Wei Wuxian gets hurt on a night hunt. Jiang Cheng is displeased to find out that he’s been wandering around on his own instead of living with Lan Wangji in Cloud Recesses. He ends up fixing it. ✦ bark, bite by chashmish, wei wuxian & jiang cheng & lan wangji & jin ling (& wangxian), modern au, 3.4k    Jin Ling finds a dog and learns some new things about his uncles. ✦ before you stumble by ribena, wei wuxian & jiang cheng & jin ling & lan wangji & lan sizhui (& wangxian), 9.8k    “Uncle,” Jin Ling says. “Just because Uncle Wei - I mean, Wei Wuxian - just because he’s leading the night-hunt, he’s teaching, he’s not doing anything wrong, he even notified you ahead of time -” ✦ Five Dogs, One Cat by ryfkah, wei wuxian & jiang cheng & jin ling & lan wangji & lan sizhui & lan jingyi & nie huaisang, 13.4k    If you’ve ever believed me in anything, believe I want what’s best for Jin Ling, the first line of the letter reads. Jiang Cheng has to stop and take a moment before he continues on to the next line: You must come to Carp Tower as soon as you can and lavish praise on the ugliest dog I’ve ever seen. ✦ Life is Very Long by Vamillepudding, wei wuxian & jiang cheng & jin ling & lan wangji & lan sizhui & lan jingyi (& wangxian), 12.7k    Wei Wuxian is a good for nothing, possibly evil, possibly fake uncle. But he’s Jin Ling’s good for nothing, possibly evil, possibly fake uncle. So it stands to reason that when Jin Ling starts to suspect that Hanguang-jun is mistreating his husband, he immediately recruits Jiang Cheng for a rescue mission. ✦ a symbol to remind you that there’s more to see by paperminds, wei wuxian & jiang cheng & jin ling & lan wangji & lan sizhui & lan jingyi & ouyang zizhen, 9.7k    For as long as Jin Ling can remember, he has been immune to the majority of supernatural hauntings that plague the cultivation world. Or: what if Jin Ling had received his first-month birthday gift. ✦ plea from a cat named little plum blossom by rolameny, wei wuxian & jiang cheng & jin ling, 5.1k    Jiang Cheng is trying. Jiang Cheng is having a very trying day. At least the cat likes him. ✦ JC and WWX’s Get Along Sweater by newamsterdam, wei wuxian & jiang cheng & jin ling & lan wangji & lan sizhui (& wangxian), 29.6k    Convinced Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian will never reconcile of their own accord, Jin Ling takes matters into his own hands by trapping both of his uncles alone, together, without their cultivation. ✦ passed down like folksongs, our love lasts so long by finedae, wei wuxian & jiang cheng (& background wangxian), 6k    winning a drinking contest, wei wuxian finds out yunmeng has got new folklore since he’s been gone. those are the stories of the Twin Prides of Yunmeng. naturally, he has to go confront jiang cheng for doing the opposite of talking shit about the dead; this is a confession of love. ✦ sorrow waited by curiositykilled, wei wuxian & jiang cheng, 2.3k    No one gets out of the Burial Mounds alive and so Wei Wuxian cannot have been in the Burial Mounds — but sometimes Jiang Cheng starts to think it might be the inverse instead. No one gets out of the Burial Mounds alive and so Wei Wuxian didn’t get out at all. Someone, something, else crawled out. ✦ the trick is to keep breathing by alessandriana, wei wuxian & jiang cheng & jin ling, 3.4k    Jiang Cheng probably should have anticipated the assassination attempt. He’d spent the last three weeks in Lanling browbeating the more intractable elders into supporting Jin Ling before his nephew’s first discussion conference, and he hadn’t exactly been kind about it. Still, he was a cultivator– if someone was going to try and kill him, he expected swords, or curses. Not poison in his tea. ✦ the road in leaves no step had trodden black by Skadiseven, wei wuxian & jiang cheng & wen ning & wen qing, 1.6k    Jiang Cheng gets a little therapy session from Wen Ning, learns to plant potatoes, and decides he’s not giving up on something he wants. THE UNTAMED/MO DAO ZU SHI RECS - JUST STRAIGHT UP WANGXIAN OTP FIC: ✦ Fire in the Blood by Jo Lasalle (Jo_Lasalle), lan wangji/wei wuxian, nsfw, 20.7k    Wei Ying is traveling, and he gets busy. Lan Wangji knows that sometimes, Wei Ying forgets things. ✦ scapegoat by astrobandit, lan wangji/wei wuxian, 1.3k    Four ridiculous things the Yiling Patriarch was blamed for, and one ridiculous thing that was positively his fault. ✦ Content Warning: Romance by Ariaste, lan wangji/wei wuxian, nsfw, 5.9k    Wei Wuxian just wants a little warning before Lan Wangji says nice things. Lan Wangji just wants to love on his husband, thanks. ✦ Where the Lonely Ones Go by CSHfic, VSfic, lan wangji/wei wuxian & jiang cheng & cast, 23.9k    Accidental (haunted) baby acquisition ✦ devotee by tagteamme, lan wangji/wei wuxian, NSFW, 5.8k    Lan Wangji does not control Wei Wuxian. Not in the way many wish he would. But like this— ✦ nothing gold can stay by rikke, lan wangji/wei wuxian & cast, nsfw, 10.3k    Before Wen Chao can throw him into Yiling Burial Mounds, Lan Wangji finds Wei Wuxian. ✦ Wait, What? by MarbleGlove, lan wangji/wei wuxian & lan xichen, time travel, 1.5k    AKA, that time sixteen-year-old Wei WuXian showed up at Cloud Recesses, took one look at Lan WangJi and declared, “That’s my future husband!” … and Lan WangJi said, “Mm” ✦ Beyond All Reach by airinshaw, lan wangji/wei wuxian & jiang cheng & jin ling & nie huaisang & lan xichen, NSFW, 27.4k    Wei Wuxian heads back to Cloud Recesses to find out more about a curse someone has placed on him, that appears to do nothing. Until he meets back up with Lan Wangji and finds out that what the curse really does is stop them from being able to touch. ✦ Key Differences by pupeez4eva, lan wangji/wei wuxian & cast, 5.6k    Wherein Wei Wuxian ends up meeting an alternate version of himself who, much to his horror, never married Lan Wangji. Obviously he has to do something to fix this. ✦ the heart is hard to translate by vespertineflora, lan wangji/wei wuxian, NSFW, rough sex, non-con play, 10.8k    The moment comes almost out of the blue when, one relaxed spring afternoon, Lan Wangji decides that he’s ready to offer Wei Wuxian an opportunity to play out that very delicious fantasy about their stolen first kiss. ✦ Pigtail Pulling by protos_metazu_ison, lan wangji/wei wuxian & jiang cheng & nie huaisang & lan xichen, 3.7k    Wei Wuxian trips over Jiang Wanyin and sends both of them to the ground in a tangle of limbs and bruises. ✦ The Last Three Feet by etymologyplayground, lan wangji/wei wuxian & lan sizhui & lan wangji, 3.7k    A moment of down time in the Cloud Recesses. THE UNTAMED/MO DAO ZU SHI RECS - SOMETIMES YUNMENG SIBLINGS FIC, SOMETIMES WANGXIAN FIC: ✦ put your heart where your mouth is by protos_metazu_ison, lan wangji/wei wuxian & jiang cheng, 19.9k    Having lost a month’s worth of memories might have been fine if Wei Wuxian hadn’t managed to forget the part where he and Lan Wangji got engaged. If that was, actually, what happened. He hasn’t figured out that part yet. ✦ Orchids in Lotus Pier by Vamillepudding, lan wangji/wei wuxian & jiang cheng & lan xichen & jiang yanli & jin zixuan & cast, 21.6k    Against all odds, Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng become friends. It’s just Jiang Cheng’s luck that people think they’re courting. And it’s just Lan Wangji’s luck that regretfully, Wei Wuxian is also People. ✦ Deeper grows my longing by feyburner, lan wangji/wei wuxian & jiang cheng, 4.4k    Jiang Cheng stared at him. “How are you this dense,” he said flatly. “Wei Wuxian. The common people aren’t scared of you, they’re scared of your husband.“ “My what,” said Wei Wuxian. ✦ A Civil Combpaign by Ariaste, lan wangji/wei wuxian & jin ling/lan sizhui & cast, 31k    “And,” said one of the pompous ministers, “there’s the matter of a marriage to consider as well!” Jin Ling, who at the beginning of that sentence had expected to slam into the very last wall of his patience and lose his temper entirely, paused. “A what?” ✦ Being Known by dragongirlG, lan wangji/wei wuxian & jin zixuan/jiang yanli & jiang cheng/wen qing & nie huaisang & wen ning & lan xichen & yu ziyuan & lan qiren & cast, 36.3k wip    Teenage Lan Wangji drunkenly confesses his lust for Wei Wuxian during the guest disciple lectures at the Cloud Recesses and wakes up betrothed to him by way of forehead ribbon. It all goes from there. ✦ heaven and earth as witness by scheherazade, lan wangji/wei wuxian & jiang cheng & jin ling & lan sizhui, 8.5k    Jin Ling has an emotional meltdown involving Lan Sizhui. Lan Wangji predictably overreacts. Somehow, it helps Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian finally have a conversation that they should have had years ago. THE UNTAMED/MO DAO ZU SHI RECS - SOMETIMES CASE FIC, SOMETIMES WANGXIAN FIC: ✦ grow by cafecliche, lan wangji/wei wuxian & lan sizhui & the juniors, case fic, de-aged, 14.4k    Or: Wei Wuxian is cursed on a night-hunt, and the junior quartet rapidly finds themselves in over their heads. ✦ Linger in the Sun by etymologyplayground, lan wangji/wei wuxian & jiang cheng & ocs & cast, 39.4k    Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji find themselves cursed, unable to see or hear each other. They figure things out anyway. THE UNTAMED/MO DAO ZU SHI RECS - WHEN I WASN’T LOOKING, I DEVELOPED NIE BROTHERS FEELINGS FIC: ✦ Pushover by nirejseki, nie huaisang & nie mingjue & lan xichen & jin guangyao & cast, 1.9k    Every once in a while, not often, people who know them well will say that Nie Mingjue lets Nie Huaisang walk all over him. That isn’t quite right. THE UNTAMED/MO DAO ZU SHI RECS - YOUR HONOR, HAVE YOU SEENA-YAO’S PRECIOUS FACE? - LAN XICHEN/JIN GUANGYAO FIC: ✦ half cloak & half dagger by Fahye, lan xichen/jin guangyao (& background wangxian), NSFW, 13.1k    Jin Guangyao lifts his head and smiles. "I’m considering a problem.” “Can I be of any assistance with it?” He drops a kiss on Lan Xichen’s chest. With the nail of one finger he lightly traces the characters for irony on Lan Xichen’s side. “Not this one, er-ge.” ✦ Hindsight by clockwork_spider, lan xichen/jin guangyao, ~1k    Three years after the incident at the GuanYin temple, Jin GuangYao and Nie MingJue’s coffin was unsealed and their corpses, depleted of resentful energy, were finally laid to rest, their spirits released. In his dream, Lan XiChen is visited by the spectre of his sworn brother. ✦ beyond reasons by welcome_equivocator, lan xichen/jin guangyao & lan wangji, 5.2k    “a-yao,” he says, and you are almost surprised to hear it, but he is still facing away from you, “i know about the music.” ✦ Spring Dawn 《 花落知多少 》 by iskendaris, lan xichen/jin guangyao & nie mingjue, modern au/reincarnation au, 4.5k    Meng Yao is given a second chance when he’s reincarnated. He doesn’t want a repeat of the past. However destiny has a way of interfering, and he finds himself working together with student president Lan Xichen?! Really, what is this fate?! ✦ Hold the Baby by Moonsheen, lan xichen/jin guangyao & jin zixuan/jiang yanli & lan wangji/wei wuxian & jiang cheng, 6.4k    A collection of shorts: In which a chance encounter and a fussing baby causes a slight change to Jin Guangyao’s MO. ✦ Ornament by syriala, lan xichen/jin guangyao & nie mingue & lan qiren, 1.6k    He starts to go into the bow again, and Lan Xichen intercepts his movement, stops him from bowing in a move that he might have learned from Nie Mingjue, and then his brain must short-circuit, because the only thought Lan Xichen has is that Meng Yao has the perfect height for forehead kisses. THE UNTAMED/MO DAO ZU SHI RECS - EVERY OTHER KIND OF FIC: ✦ fierce corpse Jin Zixuan by EHyde, jin zixuan/jiang yanli & jin ling & cast, 10.6k    Jin Zixuan died at Qiongqi Path. Then, Wei Wuxian brought him back. But what place does Koi Tower have for a fierce corpse? ✦ The Past Didn’t Go Anywhere by FairestCat, jiang cheng & wen qing & lan sizhui, 2.3k    There are rumours going around of a woman – a healer – travelling the countryside alone. Jiang Cheng needs to know if the rumours are true. ✦ If you only knew then (the things I only know now) by Nillegible, jiang fengmian/yu ziyuan & wei wuxian & jiang cheng & nie huaisang & lan wangji & & lan xichen & jin zixuan & cast, time travel (of a sort), 34.7k wip    Yu Ziyuan receives a warning, a letter in Jiang Cheng’s handwriting, familiar, though it seems to have evened out over long years of practice. This was from her child, but not. This Jiang Cheng, grown up in ways that it hurt to contemplate, had endured the death of his family, his Sect, and his soul. ✦ partly frozen, partly flowing by astrolesbian, lan wangji & lan xichen & lan qiren (& background wangxian), 4.9k    To discourage Lan Wangji from this idea would be to discourage him from loving, and Lan Xichen has always known that to be impossible. All he could do was nod as his brother looked at him, and finished, calmly, “Zewu-jun, I accept any punishment you see fit.” ✦ Delight in Misery by nirejseki, lan wangji & jiang cheng & lan sizhui & jin ling & lan xichen (&background wangxian), 17.4k wip    For the first time in his life, Lan Wangji didn’t want to go home. (what if he had another option?) ✦ into the light of a dark black night by dragongirlG, lan wangji & lan xichen & madam lan, 3k    On a snowy night in the dead of winter, Wu Yuhua, formerly known as Madam Lan, unexpectedly spends one last night with her sons before escaping from the Cloud Recesses. FULL DETAILS + RECS HERE

[spockandawe]

What do you think of the reconciliation of Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng that is confirmed (post canon) in Lan Wangji's letter?

Hahaha, I think that's a loaded question you're asking me to answer, but let's see.

The measured response first. I think that the author is dead, and also that the authors, plural, are especially dead when it comes to adaptions of a story into other formats. This is a fandom where I don't care about drawing lines between adaptions, but some people do, and this doesn't apply to quote-unquote original canon, it applies to CQL. And post-ending additions to stories vary in... quality, let us say, and jkr has tried hard to ruin that for everyone (kidding, somewhat, but she's made me much more skeptical and wary about accepting whatever is tacked onto a story after the fact. this doesn't apply to fanfic or to all authors, but i'm not as stubborn about 'well it HAS to be true' as i used to be). And with mxtx, I'm already ready to cheerfully reject any additions to the original characters that don't spark joy, like the hilarious idea that liu qingge is straight. This suits me, and so I accept it, but that's not a universal and/or "correct" response, it's just what I'm doing.

BUT.

What I am actually even more pleased about than this extra is the mxtx interview where she was asked about jiang cheng, where the first translation of her words sparked.... lively conversation. And then there were later posts about the nuance of translation and the impossibility of completely capturing perfect one-to-one connotation and tone. This is the first post I was able to track down about it, so this is what I'm linking to, but the general sentiment holds even past OP. And holds in general to the character, even in the original. This is an emotional character, who inspires strong emotional responses, and emotions are steered SO EASILY by subtle tone and nuance choices. I'm not saying anyone's responses to him are wrong, but I am very tired of being told that my response is. I love reading every long post that crosses my path about the complexity of translating these books, though I also know those are a TON of work, and wouldn't demand more of bilingual fans than they're willing to write up, but it frustrates me when nuance gets forcibly ironed out of the conversation, especially when so many of us can't read the original, and I'm extra delighted to get information that inserts nuance back where it belongs.

And when it comes to this update in particular, I'm.... delighted. Everything about it was so soft and sweet, and the detail that Jiang Cheng is being noisy in the cloud recesses was so... mundane, but in a very lovely way. The sound I made when i read that, my god. And there's something I really love about it being presented by a character who is generally somewhere between neutral and hostile towards jc, towards a character who loves him. It's not fake-effusive, but still very evocative, even as a passing remark. Jiang Cheng visits. I would guess that Wei Wuxian visits Yunmeng too, but Jiang Cheng also makes the effort to visit him, whether or not he ever started getting along with Lan Wangji. Shufu is willing to invite everyone there for the midautumn festival. Lan Jingyi and Lan Sizhui are both doing better with their studies. It's such a quiet, relaxed, familial atmosphere, and Jiang Cheng and his relationship with the idea of family has been one of my favorite themes ever since I read this book, and family is a theme that's important to me in general. This is my hole, it was made for me, and i'm very, very happy right now.

[green-like-pine-trees]

Oscar or Ozpin Report

I have collected the data! This is where I expose everything related to the Oscar or Ozpin quiz, so if you haven’t done it yet, go take it! ^_^

Absolutely no one got between 0-19%! Yay! The message you would’ve gotten was: "That's uh... Volume 6: Dead End Jaune level scores right there. Thanks for completing the quiz!”

Let’s break it down! The harder questions (9, 11, 15, 17) have their own section, which is why I skip some questions.

Q. 1: Ozpin in his desk at beacon. Nobody has gotten this question wrong! Amazing! I was originally going to end the quiz with this photo again, but with a photoshopped mustache. 

Q. 2: Oscar. This is from his talk with Ironwood where it’s like “no more secrets, okay? Idk if I could handle it”, which is why the photo is so cropped. Having Ironwood in frame would’ve immediately given it away. 

Q. 3: Ozpin. This is just after the train crashes in Volume 6. 

Q. 4: Ozpin. On the train before he reveals that the relic attracts the grimm. 

Q. 5: Oscar. The Enemy of Trust, every single time he goes down the elevator, it’s absolutely ICONIC. Originally, the answer was “we don’t know who it really was” (I sure as heck am not 100% sure) but the first few test takers weren’t picking that answer, so it was quickly changed before many people saw it. 

Q. 6: Ozpin. Lighting the Candle. You can kinda see his hands crossed behind his back, which is something only Ozpin does in this scene. 

Q. 7: Oscar. Volume 5 Finale Fight just before Ozpin takes control. 

Q. 8: Ozpin. This is from the first time we see Ozpin take control of Oscar. 

Q. 10: Oscar. Lost, right before Jaune physically confronts Oscar. If you’re paying attention, after you answer, it says: “Are you sure about that?” ;)

Q. 12: Oscar. Right before they switch while in Atlas. 

Q. 13: Ozpin. Right before they switch while Hazel is torturing him and Oscar asks for Ozpin’s trust. 

Q. 14: Oscar. Falling through Atlas. 

Q. 16: Ozpin. Same scene as #12

Q. 18: Oscar, impersonating Ozpin in front of Salem. I really like the options where it’s someone pretending to be someone else. 

Q. 19: Ozpin during V5 training.

Questions 9, 11, 15, and 17 were the hardest for most people, these being the Neo, Hazel, and double image questions. 

Q. 9: Neo’s is a little harder admittedly, because the frame is zoomed in. However, I justified to myself that the background or expression would clue people into it (I felt if I included the whole frame it would’ve been too easy, and it’s not the only question that’s not a full frame). I also had shown a picture of Oscar’s model from that scene beforehand in the elevator, all bruised up. 

Q. 11: Ozpin top, and Oscar second. I forget the episodes, but I definitely remember that Oscar’s is from when he first arrives on Monstra after being held in the Hound. Probably used the same animation for both. 

Q. 15: This is a little tricky, so I made a gif pinpointing where the two images are from. Oscar’s picture is taken from the frame right after they switch. 

Q. 17: Hazel. In the question, Hazel is with Emerald before the lamp, standing on her left. He’s putting his arm out to guard her, because he’s always kind of looked out for her. In the scene with Emerald and Hazel!Oscar, Oscar is standing on Emerald’s right. Here’s a pic of Emerald and Oscar, Emerald being the one in control and guiding him. 

Anyways!! Over 200 people have taken my quiz, which is incredible! Thank you guys so much! Here are a few of my fave responses: 

We need more oscar/oz smiling :(  (JC, 73%)

I thought I was an Oscar fan but you've proved me wrong. how dare you ?

We've been tricked, we've been backstabbed and we've been quite possibly... bamboozled

hhhhhhhhh my boys deserve better

Nope

Man this was hard

AAAAAAAAA IM A FAKE FAN IM A FAKE FAN . OSCAR MY SON I HAVE BETRAYED YOU. i am impressed by the ones i was able to get correct tho. oh god i love these two too much also thanks for this quiz very cool 11/10

Damn I'm terrible at this EBSKSVKDJD

This is why I need the vocal cues I stghuh

Aaaah

[k1201a]

I wonder what would happen if say I am (metaphorically) a jc stan, from the west testing out waters in Chinese part of the fandom (as in Wb, lft, etc). How different is the Chinese diaspora & descent people brought up in western narratives (since in their country pride is a thing and all) when it comes to let’s say Chinese xchng and chngxn fans and Chinese side of the jc fans? I wonder if the narratives on Chinese jc fans are the same as the jc stans on the west (who made me uncomfortable because i have to see their takes all the time on twt and I just immediately block everyone on sight except artist) (I am not a jc stan, but I am just curious about this since he is an interesting character as a villain, flawed and all but I wanna wonder if the Chinese part of the fandom will ‘excuse’ jc’s treatment and said ‘it’s within his right! It’s how ancient China is.’ And gave the same excuse to the Jiangs by saying the same ‘it’s Chinese culture‘ rhetoric and claims of Madam Yu as an actual tiger mom and the ‘more competent’ parent compared to JFM (Hint : none of them are competent parents)

you wouldn't see takes about "cultural norms" in the chinese fandom because they're all chinese. wwx stans are chinese, jc stans are chinese, they know their own culture, no one would be fooled by some fake takes about "cultural norms".

chinese fandom don't talk about the parents. i actually have a question for western fans, why do they discuss about the parents so much? they're minor characters, they died quite early on the story except lqr

joy of life fandom hate on the emperor as a father, it's the fandom hobby. if there's a main villain in the story, that's him. the hate is justified. in mdzs, no parental figure is an important character

western fans devote so much energy on minor characters i don't get it.

the most contentious point about jc in the chinese fandom is should he blame wwx. all the "cultural norms" arguments, "core transfer consent" discourse are totally a western fandom only thing.

jc isn't even a villain imo, he didn't contribute to the plot in the same way a villain does. he did do some shady stuff like torturing innocent but whatever he did in his torture chamber had no relevance to the plot. his main purpose was to have personal drama with wwx and played the role of "sheep" or "conformist" to highlight one of the story's themes. after wwx's resurrection, jc didn't have a solid role in the story. he continued to pester wwx, but his pestering didn't have effect on wwx's arc this time like how he's forced out of yunmeng in his previous life.

[missputotyra]

Digimon concept : More Clarifications on Wangxian stan and JC digimon

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve Explained myself on the Internet and was met with a reaction that wasn’t really warranted

Imma take this moment To clarify things from the Now privated post

https://missputotyra.tumblr.com/private/668155691203280896/tumblr_2fYC2AS5aUmNUByZo

I am what some would Call a JC Fan I’ve never really Hated a fictional character it’s more “ oh You exist kept doing your job “, So I don’t Get why it’s such a Big deal that JC has a big Fanbase sure some of them are Delusional and stupid . But to me JC is a character that shouldnt warrant Such outcry just cause of Fanon in my personal Opinion. The Donghua , Fandom and Other media are just. filling in the blanks that MXTX Left in JCs personality.

so the Reason I even had look up anti Jiang Cheng opinons was basically due hitting a brickwall with Wangxian Stan to make her more fleshed out , Yes I tried asking people but no one responded.I was never the best Essay writer so I guess it would be confusing if you didnt attempt to search my blog. If I was Bashing I would’ve been much much more Cruel please look at my previous post complaining about Anti JC and Rabid Stans than Adapting the zknowlegde I got into Character whose Job it was to be Immature and annoying.

I’ve been think about how this Mindset Originated ,

I know I kept a Post talking about How someone didn’t like JC because he Reminded them of thier faults .

many were just tired of seeing him

some thought that Fanon was going too Far or thought they were witnessing death of the author

of Course to someone who hasn’t seen any other post about Wangxian stan / Fujoshi They would assume I was just making an excuse Bash Anti JC Opinons . Wangxian stan isnt really being Used to bash just Anti JC rather Toxic Mindsets like That in General that anti jc and rabid stans encourage . - Judging others based on how they like or view a Fictional character

- like saying All JC Stans have Toxic personality they project on to JC

- calling them a stan if they have a Postive view or calling them an anti if they share anything Negative.

- linking Peoples random Account encouraging Targeting the Account and

- Saying your cleansing The fandom

- not willing to see other perspectives

- Black and White thought

- Explaining horrible Actions = Excusing Said horrible actions

- no I’m not excusing that JC hurt WWX by say YZY hurt Jiang Cheng too .

— no I’m not excusing Bakugou‘s bullying of Deku because of his character development . Im just noting that he’s a farcry from the bullying asshole Bakugou .

- No I’m not sayinf YZY Isnt responsible for the Lotus pier being attacked but That Wen is way smarter than you all think they are and wouldve attack anyways .

- general stubbornness

And Many more

In the original Post I had the Idea to give the blogs I got Info for fake names to avoid some of the trolling they suffered in the past . I even made a reblog blog for any interesting points I came across because rabid JC Stans would probably come after me. I Realize this Was Ignorant and rather stupid Of me to do without thinking about it and Deleted the Blog And Im sorry If it seemed like stalking, I really wasnt trying to look like a stalker. Even in this Post I decided to hide that Original users name and not be lazy for once.

The ooc relationship is something I just didn’t get , It cant be an ooc Relationship if it’s Jiang Cheng Interacting with character he wouldnt have interacted otherwise plus I often call him JC Digimon meaning his Programmed from the data of Various depictions of JC Meaning the resulting Personailty is going be so different . Unlike Shotaro and Philip whose Personalities have been Consistent through most adaptations . Basically JC Digi is a Frankstein version JC.

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji arent going to Wangxian Stan Anyways . Lan Zhan Digimon is going to Egdy tryhard and Wei Wuxian is planned to go with Trust issuses ( Cause CQL has a phone game )

Lastly this Person said something that means a lot cause they Really shouldn’t be comment on a Digimon related post without no interest in talking about this digimon idea I was putting my heart and soul into. There was no real critique about Wangxian stan or MC other than it was confusing so I have to assume they never never looked into why this was the case all they saw was a Chance to Criticize and Demonize another “ JC stan “ for being Delusional. Anti will probably lt still shame me for trying to make “JC a Dynamic characters Hes not “ and And most will still Not accept Or see my apology . Who cares I got this off my Chest.

[aurora077]

Intervention

Summary: Lan Xichen’s seclusion had gone on long enough, in Jiang Cheng’s opinion. It was time for an intervention. Fem!JC

Author's Note: This work is set in jiucengta ‘s haunting legacies au (https://archiveofourown.org/series/1716682)which I suggest you check out. Jiang Cheng is female and was married to Wei Wuxian before shit hit the fan. The relationships are not explicitly stated here, it's very background. I just had this idea and wanted to get it out there. I may or may not do another fic very similar to this one but not set in an AU, just post-canon instead.

-----------------------------------------

Two years had gone by since the fateful Guanyin Temple incident that rocked the cultivation world. Two years (a little more really) since Jiang Cheng’s erstwhile husband had returned from the dead. Two years (a little less actually but who’s counting) since she lost her widowed status and gained an extra love to boot somewhere in the middle. And two years since Sect Leader Lan had gone into seclusion, punishing himself for his blindness and mourning the loss of both his sworn brothers.

Normally Jiang Cheng would not stick her nose in other sects’ business. But Gusu Lan had become more than just another sect to her; it was important to those she loved and so, it was also important to her. And even if things hadn’t turned out the way they did in her personal life, Lan Xichen is someone she would have wanted to help anyway. During the thirteen years her husband had been dead he had been one of the few to show any open support for her.

She would never forget that fateful discussion conference-- the one where she’d been dubbed Wife of the Yiling Demon after she rebuffed Jin Guangshan’s attempt to pressure her into marriage (brokered by him no less-- undoubtedly trying to get her to wed one of his own relatives...control over the Jiang could only work in his favour). Loudmouthed Sect Leader Yao would have turned things even uglier for her had it not been for Lan Xichen’s timely intervention on her behalf. His steady support had helped her in more ways than one over the years despite the fact that they were not ever particularly close. With Gusu Lan seemingly in her corner, the voices that would (and initially, did) loudly decry a young female Sect Leader were forced to whisper instead.

That was why she found herself sitting opposite the man, sipping on a cup of tea as he gazed inquisitively at her.

“Sect Leader Jiang,” he greeted, sounding weary, voice containing only a trace of his former warmth, “What brings you here? As you know I am still in seclusion, technically, I should not be having visitors. Is there something urgent that you need my help with?”

“Yes,” she said, and continued bluntly as was her way, “I’m here to convince you to leave it.”

His eyes widened slightly. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

It spoke to the measure of self control the Lan’s had that he didn’t simply kick her out of the hanshi.

“I beg your pardon but I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

She cleared her throat and tried to measure her words more carefully; she didn’t want to be asked to leave before she had made her arguments and she tried to remember that this Lan Xichen had been hurt too deeply to retain his former magnanimity.

“You may not know it Lan Xichen, but outside these walls you are sorely missed.”

His lips twitched, as if he wanted to smile but couldn’t quite make it.

“I’m aware my family may miss me, Sect Leader Jiang, but I had no idea that you harbored such strong feelings towards me that you now miss my presence.”

She sputtered slightly, not expecting him to joke about it when he looked like he could keel over if she spoke too loudly. “I…” her face turned red, “That wasn’t what…”

Taking pity on her he waved her protests away, voice becoming more solemn, “Why don’t you tell me why you think I should leave my seclusion. You of all people should understand why I need to do this. It was your family hurt the most by my ignorance.”

She drew in a breath to steady herself, “Did you hold me responsible when Wei Wuxian did all the crap that he did?”

“That’s different, he was manipulated,” he frowned.

“Nobody knew that until recently Zewu-Jun. And manipulation or not he still made choices that led to a lot of harm. So I ask you again, was I to blame? Should I not have been able to stop my husband? Is it not, therefore also my fault? Maybe I should join you in seclusion since his demonic cultivation was partly because he gave me his core and had no options left.”

He looked pained, “I have never blamed you for his choices. You couldn’t help what you didn’t know. None of us knew he didn’t have a core.”

“And none of us knew Jin Guangyao was a megalomaniac either. So how can you be blamed for his choices? If you are to shoulder the blame then so should all the rest of us.”

“The rest of you weren’t his sworn brothers!” he almost shouted.

“Mingjue knew. He warned me not to trust him so many times. I dismissed him. I thought he was paranoid and misjudging A-Yao like so many others. If he could see it, why didn’t I? I wronged Da-ge in the worst way because I thought I knew better than him,” His breathing was coming out ragged, “I thought A-Yao was the one who knew me best. Who I knew best.”

It spoke to his state of mind that he even let all of that out in front of her.

“Sect Leader Jiang, the man I considered my closest companion is the man most hated by the cultivation world and reviled as a monster. How do you think I must look in comparison? I am sure there are those out there wondering if I had known and if I even helped him with all of his plans. There are people who will speculate as to the bounds of our relationship. If I did not go into seclusion they would say I had no shame, look what his sworn brother did and he’s out and about like normal. Then there are those who look at my decision to seclude myself as an indicator of guilt and may accuse me of complicity. Or they will look at my mourning and see someone who mourns a monster and who does that? Why mourn a monster? Sect Leader Yao even openly criticised your young nephew for crying at the coffin of his uncle who also helped raise him. A parentless child who saw one of his only remaining close family members die brutally after being exposed as a serious criminal, who even threatened him with bodily harm, could not grieve him without censure. What of a grown man, and a Sect Leader at that!”

“With all due respect, so what?”

“E..excuse me?” Lan Xichen was torn between being confused and insulted.

“You heard me. So. What?” she started, “So what if they think these things? Does that make it true? If Sect Leader Yao thinks that you’re an incestuous troll would that make it true? If Sect Leader Ouyang says ‘hey did you know that Sect Leader Lan likes to visit brothels in secret’ would that make it true? Just because people think something does not make it a reality. Your sect certainly does not believe you are responsible for the actions of Jin Guangyao and would stand by you if anyone insinuates otherwise. You have your brother and your uncle who love you and are worried about you. Your sect has thrived under your leadership and undoubtedly they all miss you too.”

That Lan Jingyi kid couldn’t shut up about how much he missed Zewu-Jun. And she knew Lan Zhan missed his brother and lamented that he could not do more for him. He and Lan Qiren were working themselves ragged trying to pick up the pieces. He’d hardly had time to come back to Lotus Pier and she and Wei Ying missed him dearly. They’d had to make up so many ‘official’ reasons to find themselves in the Cloud Recesses so that they could spend some time together. So yes on the one hand it would be good for them if Zewu-Jun were to leave seclusion but she wasn’t simply doing it for that reason. It was because if anyone could understand what Zewu-Jun was going through, it would be her. And she didn’t think that seclusion was going to help anything. All it would do is make him ruminate on his mistakes over and over again until he likely went mad himself.

“You said that the man you considered your closest companion turned out to be a monster. Gee, I wonder what that feels like? You said that people will wonder if you helped him with his plans, oh gee, I wonder what that feels like?” Zewu-Jun had the grace to look abashed at that.

She continued, softer, “You said people will talk about what kind of person mourns a monster. But you’re not mourning a monster, are you? When A-Ling cried over his coffin, did you blame him for it? Did you think ‘why is this child mourning when he should celebrate the end of the one who fractured his family?’ like Sect Leader Yao did?” Zewu-Jun shook his head but didn’t say anything, letting her continue.

“A-Ling was mourning the loss of the uncle he knew. And you are mourning the loss of the companion he had been to you. The world will only ever view him as a monster because the world never knew him. But you did. Maybe you didn’t know everything about him, but not everything about him was fake. I hate Jin Guangyao, I will not pretend otherwise. But I was there, Zewu-Jun. I was there, and I could see that he truly did care for you and value you. Not everything he showed you would have been fake. You of all people probably got more sincerity out of him than anyone else. And so you, of all people, have a right to mourn the man he was, the same way A-Ling still mourns the loss of the man who gifted a lonely child a dog. Not everything had an ulterior motive. Even monsters can love can’t they? Even monsters had people who loved them. I would know. So if you need to mourn him… then just mourn him.

Who gives a damn what people will say about it? People will always talk, Zewu-Jun. It doesn’t matter what you do or don’t do, people will believe what they want to believe. So why let their opinions force you into repenting for something you didn’t even do? Let them think what they want to think. It is not a crime to be deceived. We all were. Why take the world on your shoulders when you don’t actually have to? And again, with all due respect Sect Leader Lan, if I, a family-less, alliance-less woman whose husband was the most reviled personage in the jianghu, who suffered the scorn of the cultivation world for over a decade, could raise my nephew on my own and build my sect back from literal ashes into one of the strongest and most respected once again, then you, who have a strong sect and people who love you, who believe in you and will support you no matter what… you can manage to live too.”

“Sect Leader Jiang…” Zewu-Jun was at a loss for words. What could he say? It only sounded selfish and petty to claim that he suffered more than she did, because he truly didn’t. She was right after all. Sect Leader Jiang was a remarkable woman. Life had not been kind to her. And...her words struck something within him. He felt ashamed. He hadn’t even thought about what it was like for her before this. He’d never offered her any support, but here she was trying to get him to live his life again without guilt. She, whose family most assuredly suffered because of his inaction, was here telling him to let it go, to not take responsibility. But how could he do that so easily?

“How did you do it? Sect Leader Jiang...” his voice cracked, “Can you ever forgive me, for the harm that my inaction caused you and your family?” Maybe if he heard it from her, maybe he could begin to forgive himself.

She sighed. “On my part, there is nothing to forgive Zewu-Jun. And so I can’t grant you forgiveness because you haven’t done me any wrong. But there are a few people who do deserve an apology from you. And your seclusion is a self-imposed punishment that you feel you deserve but at the end of the day, it does not actually do anything tangible when it comes to making amends to those who have been hurt.”

He was silent for a moment, stunned by her words. He hadn’t considered that his seclusion might have been causing others even more harm than he’d already done to them. Sect Leader Jiang was wise (she would disagree...she’d just learned from bitter experience in her opinion). He felt like he’d done her a great disservice all of these years, by not making an effort to reach out to her.

“Please, tell me. I.. I confess I no longer trust my judgement. I thought I knew A-Yao. I thought I was a good judge of character. I no longer know how to tell what is up from down. All I know is that I was so, so wrong about A-Yao. If you say that I have not harmed you then I am glad. I would hate to be the cause of more pain. You said that I am not responsible for A-Yao’s actions, and though it isn’t easy to believe that just yet, if there are those who I have truly wronged then please...please tell me. I still don’t know if I am ready to leave seclusion, if I even know how to, but I need to atone for my actions.”

Jiang Cheng nodded, “That’s the right attitude at least. So to start with I’d say you need to have a chat with Huaisang.”

His eyes widened, “I… I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Sect Leader Jiang.” His face darkened slightly. He wasn’t pleased with Huaisang at the moment. It felt like he never even knew him.

“And why not? Out of everyone, it’s Huaisang that you unintentionally hurt. And I don’t mean because of not listening to Nie Mingjue. His death was not your fault.” He was about to protest but she cut him off. “It wasn’t. I told you, stop taking responsibility for what isn’t your fault and own up to what is.”

He sighed heavily, “If it’s not about Da-ge then how did I wrong Huaisang?”

“Well for one, you’re still his Er-ge. Yet you seem to have forgotten that in lieu of what happened in the temple. Huaisang… has lost everyone. He may have been acting like a shady shit for the past however many years but… do you know what it’s like to be the last one of your family, Zewu-Jun? To have nobody beside you except subordinates?” He inhaled sharply. “I.. I hadn’t thought of that,” he said mournfully. How much did he just not consider? What kind of a person was he that he resented Huaisang for his deceit but yet did not consider for one moment that Huaisang may have done those things because he thought he was all alone and could not come to him for help? What kind of brother was he that his little brother could not confide in him? He should have been there for Huaisang, instead he had thought so highly of Jin Guangyao, even dismissing da-ge’s claims, that Huaisang had not dared to approach him with his suspicions.

Sect Leader Jiang was being very understanding however, “Zewu-Jun, I know you’re not pleased with Huaisang. I know there are many things that he’s done that are not right. I know there’s a possibility that he lied and forced your hand at the end. Believe me, I know the feeling...more than anyone, I know what it feels like to be deceived by someone you love...to kill someone you love. I know what it feels like when everyone praises you for it. Like you did such a great thing and you should be happy and celebrating with everyone else, except you can’t because your heart has shattered…has been ripped to shreds.

As someone who once loved a so-called monster...as someone who as good as killed that person with their own hands, I understand better than anyone what you’re going through. What Huaisang did was cruel, even though I’m glad Jin Guangyao is dead. It was cruel to have you be the one to end him. Huaisang likely knew that Jin Guangyao valued you. He knew it would be the worst end for him to be killed by your hand. I can’t speak for Huaisang, but I don’t believe he did it to hurt you, even though that’s inevitably what happened anyway. He did it to hurt Jin Guangyao. But even though it was not kind of him to have you be the arbiter of justice, he still deserves to have his Er-ge in his life.

She paused remembering the pain of losing her husband and sister all in one night.

She didn't have to imagine how Huaisang would have felt at losing the last member of his family at the hands of someone he cared about.“You and I aren’t the only ones who were deceived by someone we loved. Huaisang loved Jin Guangyao too, didn’t he? He loved and trusted him. When Nie Mingjue was getting worse, didn’t Huaisang trust and rely on both you and Jin Guangyao? It wasn’t a front. You were both dear to him. He loved him. He loved him and was betrayed by him in the worst way. And then yes, he orchestrated a whole convoluted plan to have him exposed and killed.

But you and I can both attest that justice, and even revenge, doesn’t stop the pain does it? Huaisang avenged his brother, but he lost another in the process, the same way you did. Don’t let him lose you too. You said you wronged Nie Mingjue by not listening to him. I think you’d wrong him even more if you left his little brother alone, without anyone to call family. You don’t have to forgive Huaisang right away, or at all if you don’t want to, but eventually you should at least try and reconcile with him. You’re his big brother... the only one left. And you know, Huaisang would have had the realisation that he was fooled by Jin Guangyao all on his own. But you don’t have to be alone.

Huaisang and you share the experience of being blinded by him. It would be much easier to talk to someone who has gone through the same things, no? Huaisang is there. And I am here. You don’t have to endure this on your own. We may not be very close Zewu-Jun, but we can understand each other, not so? So I’m here if you need someone to confide in. And Huaisang...Huaisang must be waiting too. For his Er-ge. You both owe each other apologies.”

By the time she was done speaking there were tears rolling down his face. She didn’t think it was quite appropriate given their positions, (though she was sort of his secret sister-in-law so really, he counted as family) but she moved over to his side and embraced him. If he was surprised he didn’t show it, only moving to cling to her more tightly and sob with a ferocity that had her a bit surprised. She wondered if this was the first time since the temple that he’d allowed himself to fully grieve what he had lost, without the guilt of letting his sworn brother die, killing the other one, and feeling bad for mourning for someone who he should hate.

Everyone praised him for killing Jin Guangyao however, it was something he didn’t want to be praised for. But what could he say? That he hated the fact that he killed him? He was right about one thing, if he ever said something like that people would most assuredly say he was complicit and probably want to implicate him. Jiang Cheng of all people knew how hard it was to listen to people praising you for a deed you were not proud of. And so she was the only person who would understand. The only person who would, who could, acknowledge the hurt it would have caused him to do what he did, especially if he was tricked into it.

His feelings about Huaisang would be complicated, but it wasn’t too late to reconcile as long as they were both alive.

She rubbed his back consolingly and just let him cry. It must have been no more than 15 minutes, but it felt much longer, before his tears slowed. When his sobs petered out he tried to compose himself. She let go of him and he embarrassedly turned away, sipping his tea. He cleared his throat, “I’m sorry Sect Leader Jiang, that was unbecoming of me.”

“Don’t mention it,” she waved off. She was there to help after all.

“I will give your words due consideration. It was remiss of me to forget that I was not the only one affected by A-Yao’s schemes. I truly regret not thinking of how Huaisang would have felt when he first found out. You are right. I have done my little brother a disservice,” he said, voice croaky from his bout of sobbing.

“You said that there were people I needed to apologise to. Who else have I wronged?” he continued. His respect and admiration for Sect Leader Jiang had grown exponentially since the start of this visit. He would take her words under advisement if he could.

“Oh Zewu-Jun,” she sighed, “What you’re doing with this seclusion, doesn’t it remind you of someone? Because it sure reminds your uncle.”

Zewu-Jun looked as if she had slapped him.

“Nobody would begrudge you needing time to grieve and to come to terms with what happened, it is human nature. It’s understandable. We were all blindsided. And I understand the wish to seclude yourself because I wish I could have as well, though I didn’t have the luxury,” she said, not unkindly but it made him wince anyway, “But it’s been too long. A few months would be okay, though grief will last longer than that, but more than that is just being unfair to others. You are the Sect Leader. Your uncle has already had to watch his brother shirk his duties and seclude himself from the world for the rest of his life.

Your uncle has had to pick up the slack. He raised you and your brother like a father would, while taking care of sect matters. None of those things were his responsibility yet he did it. And now… now he has to go through it all over again. Master Lan is elderly though and he cannot keep up with all of the duties required of an elder, teacher and now Sect Leader once more. And so that leads me to the last person that you have wronged.

Lan Zhan is Chief Cultivator now, did you know? His duties are myriad and yet he has to come back here and help Master Lan run the sect. It pains Master Lan to see history repeating itself. A younger brother once again has to take the reins from his older brother and he does it without complaint, because he loves you. But it is unfair to A-Zhan. He can’t live his own life because he’s too busy living yours. He’s barely managing to keep up with both sets of duties, but he’s doing it for you. It has been two years, Zewu-Jun. He worries so much about you, as does your uncle. It pains them to see you this way. And so Sect Leader Lan,” she pointedly used his rank, “I beg of you to consider leaving your seclusion. You have people who love you waiting for you. Your family needs you.”

His eyes were glittering once more, but no tears were shed this time. He swallowed thickly. The past few months it had seemed as if he was living in a fog. He’d barely managed to keep his routine up, it was only through decades of strict routine that he’d gotten himself off the bed and eaten his food and meditated everyday on his shortcomings. But it seemed that while he was doing that he’d missed quite a few. Because she was right wasn’t she? He hid himself away like a coward and didn’t even think about how it would affect Wangji and Uncle. He hadn’t even considered how hurt his uncle would feel to see him go down the same route as his father.

Her words were like a splash of cold water. It seemed to wake him up; it got him out of the daze he was in. If this woman before him could raise a child and a sect from the ashes all alone after going through more tragedy than a hundred people in one lifetime would...he could get himself in gear and do what he had to do. He felt ashamed in front of her. She was right that she didn’t have the luxury to seclude herself. But he did. He did, and he took advantage of the support system that he had to take time for himself. More time than he should have.

She said it was understandable, and maybe it was, but she was also right that it should not have been going on for this long. He had no desire to be Qingheng-Jun the second. But if she hadn’t come here today… if she hadn’t said all that she had said… He would not have even thought of those things. He was too busy thinking of himself. It was likely that he would have stayed for years in his seclusion, just ruminating on what went wrong and what he could have changed. It was all too easy to get caught up in could-have-beens.

“Sect Leader Jiang,” he said, devastated at the thought of his uncle, the man who raised him when he didn’t have to, who did his best to prevent them from turning out like their father, thinking that he had failed when it was Lan Xichen who failed, “I’ve heard you loud and clear. But…”

“But?”

“But I don’t know if I even know how to go about being Sect Leader anymore. I feel like the decisions I make would be questionable now. How can I trust that I will do what’s best for the sect? I have already failed in so many ways. Now I have failed Wangji and Uncle too.”

“What did I tell you? You’re not alone Zewu-Jun. You don’t have to leave seclusion immediately. You don’t even have to start doing everything right away. Ease back into it. Your family will be there to help you. I’m offering to help you. If you need to talk about things that you can’t with them, you can write to me. Master Qiren should not have to be taking on these responsibilities any longer and A-Zhan needs to have time to breathe...his own position is challenging enough. Besides you haven’t failed, you’ve just had some setbacks is all. Failure would be wallowing in self-pity forever and leaving everyone else to do your duties indefinitely,” she looked at him pointedly. He got the hint.

“Okay Sect Leader Jiang. I shall take you up on that then. But I do have a question if you’ll indulge me,” he said.

“Shoot.”

“I mean no offense at all, in fact I’m actually extremely grateful for your concern, but I am curious….why do you even care? You didn’t have to do any of this. I’m well aware that you have your own duties and worries. Why bother about mine?”

She smiled for the first time since she walked into the Hanshi. He was struck by it. It had been a long time since he’d seen her smile... truly smile. In fact, the last time he’d seen a smile as bright as that on her face was probably right here in the Cloud Recesses when she was a student.

“You may not remember it, Zewu-Jun, but there was a time Jin Guangshan sought to marry me off. It was your words of support for me, against that awful Sect Leader Yao, that saved my skin, though they still called me Wife of the Yiling Demon after that. But at least I was only his wife. I will be eternally grateful to you for that. It was thanks to your words that nobody else tried to make me marry. I was able to focus on my sect in relative peace. It was a kindness that I have never been able to repay until now, though you shouldn’t think that it is only because of repayment.”

She got up and dusted off her clothes perfunctorily.

“I shall take my leave now, Zewu-Jun.”

“Please, call me Xichen,” he said, thinking that after all of the things that were said that day, she might as well.

“Well then, Xichen you may call me Wanyin. Thank you for hearing me out and please forgive me for barging in unexpectedly. I have intruded upon your hospitality long enough.”

“It is no matter,” he said, and for the first time in a long while he was able to manage a weak smile, “I was honored by your company. If you did not give me so much to think about, I would offer you some more tea.”

She laughed, “Thank you Xichen, but I will be missed soon anyway. I do not need to cause an uproar in Cloud Recesses if they can’t find a Sect Leader. Plus the scandal that would happen if someone other than A-Zhan or A-Yuan finds me in here will not be pleasant.”

“A-Zhan?” he raised an eyebrow, “Is there something I should know about, Wanyin?”

She snorted and threw him a cheeky smirk, “If you want to find out you’ll have to come to Lotus Pier.” And with that she saw herself out, leaving nothing but the scent of lotuses behind her.

Huh. Well then. How curious. He’d thought that Wangji had gone off with Wei Wuxian, who he’d been in love with since he met him. How did Sect Leader Jiang factor into this? As far as he knew they didn’t even particularly like each other. It seemed like he missed quite a lot while he was in seclusion. Was his little brother in a love triangle? It would explain why Wanyin said that he shouldn’t only think of her visit as repayment to him. It wasn’t the purest motivation but huh maybe he would leave seclusion after all. His brother might need support in more ways than one. Sect Leader Lan leaving seclusion because he was too invested in his brother’s love life was a hilarious thought, and for the first time in two years, he chuckled mirthfully to himself. Maybe he would be okay after all.

[acloudkat]

Gossip Girl 2.0

So. . . I was unsure of whether I was going to talk about this or not but… in the end, here we are!

I shall be talking about the Gossip Girl Reboot.

Now quick disclaimer and mild *excuse you* to HBO, please find ways to make your content accessible to Europe because there are those of us that are interested and unfortunately your "Max" service is US only and honestly i see no reasonable logic behind it. Therefore my means of getting access to this content shall not be discussed.

Extra disclaimer, there will be spoilers. Doi.

Now I am a big die hard fan of the original GG series and despite the outdated (to today’s standards) comparisons and slang, some of the topics hold up even today. For anyone curious or questioning my opinion, based on my generation, I am mildly in the middle as a Zelenial at 23. I did not grow up with GG, I learned about it when I was 14 but watched it for the first time when I was 19. Since, I have watched it up to 14-17 times; more than 10 for sure. So you can do with that as you please. The main reason I mention this is due to some articles and comments pointing out that maybe it’s a “Gen Z only media” or that “Millennials are just bitter cause it’s not theirs”. Keeping that in mind I will be as per usual showing the ups and downs of the show (so far and later on) from my own personal perspective.

After watching ep 1. (& now 2 which will be in a separate post after this) I have a few questions, comments AND concerns. So let’s get into those shall we :)

So let's do a little round up of our characters.

We have newcomer Zoya Lott that is moving to NYC on a Constance scholarship! But little did anyone in the show know, it was all a plot to get to be with her *half sister*. WHAT?! So the tldl on that is that Zoya and our other main character, Julien Calloway, share a mom! Mom, that i quote "left Julien's dad for Zoya's dad and the dads hate each other" because of which hate, they had absolutely forbidden their daughters from communicating. One thing led to another, a friend request was sent and this is basically the parent trap. . . . but for the kids. . .and they're aware of it cause they made it. . . I suppose? The parents haven't really been mentioned to matter in their plan, however, they do keep bringing up their middle names as "Zoya Jane and Julien Elizabeth" as clues left by their mother? Now some rumours around the web have connected the names to the Pride and Prejudice novels and while that would be extremely Gossip Girl-esque to do, and I am entirely up for that, hell yea!!! I'm wondering if it's as simple as... their mother's name was Elizabeth Jane... but maybe GG will be the one to discover that secret first? Other than that, Zoya is very much a very trusting "innocent type" character that probably has more past than we know about so it will be quite interesting to see how that elaborates going further into the series.

Then there is self-made influencer Julien Calloway. She is the new version of queen at Constance but as stated, they "don't do the patriarchy anymore". While she appears all smiles and kindness, personally i feel as if JC is kind of fake? She has things she cares about yes, but the moment someone or something interferes with her followers and her social standing or Obie (more on him later)

"the gloves come off and the claws come out" - Serena Van der Woodsen

When it comes to Julien I am honestly more curious to see who she is once you take away the followers and the media. Will she be an actual person or just a shallow obsessed spoiled brat? I just hope it won't be the typical story of "have to be perfect and have to have everyone like me because my mom left" ie. has mommy issues. That is how that cliche goes after all. So I am greatly hoping that's not going to be it for this one.

Obie Bergmann! We get introduced to Obie as Julien's boyfriend. Throughout ep 1, the things we learn about Obie are that he is basically the richest in the group, and lives in Dumbo. (irony from original GG for anyone that can guess it). He appears like a super nice and kind dude, a supportive boyfriend, kind of bland and tired of the relationship but the main thing that bothers me about him so far is his impossible to ignore "white guilt syndrome". For anyone unaware, "white guilt" is "remorse or shame felt by a white person with respect to racial inequality and injustice". While it's not a bad thing trying to make up for the in-equality in the world, here's hoping that's not his entire character cus that would get old quick.

Then we have the bestie, Audrey Hope. Audrey. . . is cold but to the point. Very analysing and observing. Definitely the type of character that would take all the info first and decide what to do after. I both like and am confused by her? Her cold mannerisms are quite enjoyable among the masses of drama and emotion I won't lie. However, i do predict a juicy threesome between her, boyfriend Aki and one Max Wolfe. Honestly, I am highly interested in how their relationship evolves.

Aki Menzies is kind of a mystery as of the moment. As to be expected with just 1 episode, we won't know too much about all the characters. He is the very supportive boyfriend that tries to keep the peace between everyone.

Max Wolfe on the other hand appears like the much more flamboyant version of Chuck Bass, if Chuck Bass had a supportive family environment and no limits on who he's dating. That's more or less for him but kuddos for his 0 hesitation to basically have a pic of his dick sent to everyone. I will never not find that hilarious. But again, between these three is my prediction for some juicy interactions. Cause to be fully honest, the chemistry is undeniable.

Monet de Haan. Ah. She is honestly the savage that we need around here. She is the control and the power behind Julien's brand honestly. I am curious how come she helps Julien with her brand rather than have her own? If we go off anything said in the episode, she is more feared than adored so maybe that's why? But Monet honey, fear can also have a following, just . . a different one.

And then there's Luna La, "The stylist" while we don't know much about her, some of her one liners are actively giving me life. Her and Monet are definitely a package deal and i wonder if there is juicier gossip there that we don't know yet.

Lastly, we have our new Gossip Girl. Young teacher, Kate Keller. I won't lie, i did not see us knowing who GG is from the get go. I am however wondering whether this will drag her down to the level of highschoolers (besides the fact that she looks younger than some of them xD) Something that is bothering me in the reboot however, is that technically, characters that represent adults, spying on minors??? Like they even make the point that "i shouldn't have these, i should be in jail" in regards to having almost naked pictures of the kids. Like it's not really okay??? In the original yea no one knew who GG was but they always knew it was someone their age. The teachers didn't care at those times. But they do now and I am not fully sure how okay it is.

And of course, the extras like some of the other teachers behind GG and the parents. We however, don't know too much about them as of now so we shall see soon. If any new characters are introduced they will be addressed but for now, onto the episode!

The half sisters plot is definitely interesting so I would love to know where the whole middle names thing will go. The story line I'm most interested in at the moment however is between Audrey, Max and Aki. I want to see that unwind into something horrendous but then beautiful! It has so much potential in my opinion. In terms of character development however i want to see who Julien is without all of her fame and followers. When the focus is not the media and the attention. I want to see that Julien.

The first episode definitely introduced us to a lot of things at once so far that is my take on them. I'm sure that in the future both the teachers and parents will be a bigger part but one thing is abundantly clear. Unlike the OGGG, there won't be more than maybe 2-3 seasons depending on the ages of the students. The teachers won't follow them onto college will they? Or will things drastically change along the way? It was rather amusing seeing them talk about all the old characters however, and reference the OG Gossip Girl. I am vaguely offended that they categorised twitter as "a glorified chatroom for memes for people over 30". Like dude. . . that hit me hard. I am happy that FB was never even mentioned as existing tho! Cause let's be honest that is not the "hip" thing anymore. But the rules they put down at the party definitely made my head spin. Had to listen to them twice to even get what was happening.

But that's probably enough of me babbling on about this xD If you want to find this on an apparently dying type of media, here's my blog post about it as well lol: https://acloudkat.wordpress.com/?p=960

[leatherbookmarking]

LARATTDMA (long ass ramblings about things that don’t matter, actually)

“why does jin ling flinch in cql if jc allegedly has never hit him?”

well what... were you expecting him to do? let’s start with that. jin ling is a cultivator in training, and it’s a profession where quickness of reflexes can decide on whether you live or not. is he supposed to stand still? i know he got himself caught in a man-eating tomb but cut him some slack

(why does no one make this kind of analysis about lwj surprise attacking wwx with a sword to his throat, repeatedly, i wonder)

BUT ALSO:

i don’t know, it’s weird. why was there a closeup on jin zixuan making a weird face when lxc was forced to drink alc in jinlintai? why is xuanwu turtle’s tongue wiggling so sensually? why is xue yang, judging by his facial expressions, clearly daydreaming about having a very fun orgy with everyone present during his way to/stay at the unclean realm? i do not know. why did jc even raise a hand in that moment? in earlier episodes, he didn’t bat an eyelash when jin ling was being more bratty than that. watsonian explanation: they both just got through an emotional wringer, repeatedly, so while it’s not the coolest thing about their very last appearance in the show, one kinda can excuse slightly “ooc” behaviours because... trauma. loads of it.

no, honestly, i’ll need to rephrase that: T R A U M A jiang cheng’s life in particular is one long trauma festa and it super doesn’t whip my cream when people act understanding towards wwx but hate jc for how they dealt with it. it’s not as simple as ‘well wwx got fucked up and he was a gentle loving soul, meanwhile jc was a cunt’. no, bro, wwx’s suffering didn’t make him kind, wwx’s suffering made him aggressive, distrustful, and self-harming. i understand that in our world it’s noble and virtuous to set yourself on fire so others can grill their sausages, but aside from that, i feel it’s important for us to know that it’s not good. i often say ‘learn to internalize it like a normal person’ but this is because i, too, am fucked up and trying to be funny about it. hurting yourself instead of hurting others isn’t a BETTER coping mechanism. they’re both bad. they both suck ass. is that clear

doylist ponderings:

in general, though, this is an example of things the show does that would probably make more sense in the novel, but not exactly in the show itself. here, jiang cheng raises a hand on jin ling, jin ling covers his face, and jiang cheng slowly drops his hand. this would make sense, but only if:

jiang cheng has been repeatedly shown hitting him before, giving us a theme, a pattern that would break in this scene, and

jiang cheng, for some reason, was prone to forgetting that jin ling is his sister’s son.

because what do we hear, very briefly? the yunmeng siblings/jyl theme. hand raise -> the theme -> hand drop. if you ask me to compile things jc is aware of 100% of the time, “jin ling, the son of his sister, is his only remaining family” would be the first thing on the list, and “shijie and wei wuxian were the most important people in his life and take a closer look at how that ended” would be the second. sure, jc is rough around the edges, but as it’s been actually established, his threats are empty. he’s rough in everything, also showing affection.

maybe it’s the difference in upbringing (of the fans), but i’ve never even considered that his threats of leg breaking had a sliver of sincerity in them. both wei wuxian and jiang yanli know that. idk, it’s just... a really familiar thing to me, not only in my family but also in my surroundings, and i’ve even heard it from more laid-back teachers, and again: everyone was aware it was a joke. i’d have to be given additional context to hear something like “just try catching a cold and i’ll strangle you” as anything other than a display of care and fond exasperation. and it doesn’t have to be visibly, audibly fond for it to work! it really doesn’t! it’s the matter of knowing people. i’ve had teachers turn their stern gazes upon me and ask what are you saying? and i knew it was a joke, the teacher’s way of saying now this doesn’t make a sliver of sense. see: the wonderful scene in lotus pier w/ pretending to throw up the soup in episode 24. so again, when jin ling says his uncle never hits him and his threats of leg damage are only talking, i have no problem believing him.

all in all, it’s a difference of approach. if you decide jc is an abusive, toxic asshole who vents his self-loathing onto poor jin ling, then no matter where you look, all you find is the proof for that. similarly, if you think jgy is a lying, manipulative rat, his tears will look fake and his explanations will be nothing but cheap excuses to you. and like, i’m not objective either because i, for one, relate to jc a lot and it’s easier for me to understand him and his behaviours (in case it wasn’t clear lol) but like. we remember what the moral of the story was, right? that nothing is purely black or purely white? rings a bell? yyyyep

[angieschiffahoi]

do you think any gay ship will happen on the show? the producer was really selling it tho, saw some stuff on twt. but i honestly doubt they actually will

I’ve read some of the interviews and I see how anyone would be skeptical. I mean, they did what everyone does in these cases: tease a possibility without giving away too much. Which is better than saying “Yes!” and then just... not doing it.

Ava is too good to pass up as a bi lead in my opinion. Teen shows are about to lose Clarke and if these people are smart enough, they’ll know gays tend to flock and migrate.

BUT:

There’s a fundamental problem, regarding the main characters as they are now: they’re very religious (except Ava) and they have taken the vows (except Mary) and that means abstinence, gay or straight. So, unless they are a different type of nuns and they’re not the “married to Jeaus” type, I don’t see neither Beatrice nor Lilith ending up in relationships (Ava & Mary could though), unless they renounce their vows (which is totally accepted by the Church). I don’t see Beatrice doing that. BUT in case we find a way for them to have relationships, I’m going to talk about two scenarios I see possible, the first I think is more realistic than the second:

- Beatrice is going to get a girlfriend and Ava is going to get a boyfriend (I doubt they’re bringing JC back, since he wept like a little baby when the Tarask attacked and she just ditched him). The good part about this show is that we do have Beatrice, who is canonically gay. So, if we put aside the fact that she’s a nun (and that could happen in a number of ways), she could get a love interest that is female besides Ava. But let’s remember that having carnal relationships while being a member of the Catholic clergy, especially nuns who are litterally married to Jesus (and therefore God), equals to cheating.

- The writers realize that Ava & Beatrice have a really strong chemistry, that fans have picked up and are interested in seeing. Having the main character be canonically bi and in a gay romance (in the long run) wouldn’t cost them that much, since they probably alienated half of the super-religious fanbase anyway, with all of the swearing and, well, the blasphemy. This show treats Catholicism as fantasy realm and I’ve seen nuns lose their shit for waaaaay less.

One thing that makes me believe they do not have a fixed idea on Ava’s possible love story with a guy as epic and endgame (maybe, idk, a prophet, an angel, a demon etc.) is the fact that they dropped the JC storyline after the first few episodes. It wasn’t a love story and Mary shoves it in Ava’s face after three minutes of her ditching his scarred-for-life arse. The first four episodes were always about Ava and her journey to find herself - she didn’t want to be a warrior nun, she just wanted to have fun and they showed us that. They looked like the stereotypical endgame hetero romance (meet cute, star crossed, eloping, etc.), but then they all just dropped that storyline so fast, by the end I forgot it existed in the first place. And if they have something else planned, they would’ve hinted at it, but I get the feeling that they want to focus on characters and not romance (or they wouldn’t have made a show about nuns!).

So, yeah. I can see something happening in the future, but they need to solve some things first. I am not sure Beatrice is ever going to renounce her vows (since she is so respectful of the Church and its rules, but also feels like she has a great amount of Faith) and that could be a problem. But Adriel made a whole point about Catholicism being fake, so either he was bluffing or Bea can get a chance at non-platonic love through the plot itself.

[I haven’t read anything about the comics, so I don’t know if some of my questions get answered in them or if the nuns get love interests, because they are different than ‘normal’ nuns]

[purplesurveys]

1183

survey by xflirtykaosx

Alphabetti Spaghetti (1/3)

And we will fall in love with shooting stars. - A

Have you ever seen an Aardvark? I don’t think so.

Were you ever abandoned in a public place as a child? Where? Abandoned is a pretty harsh word lol. My parents did like playing pranks on me and hide whenever I’d get distracted at the grocery or department store. They’d let me get nervous or even tear up for a bit until showing up again.

What accent do you have? I guess just your standard Filipino English accent that’s common among people who were able to take up English studies. I don’t really know how to describe it.

Is there someone in your family addicted to something? What is it? I don’t think so.

Have you ever been under general anaesthetic? What were you having done? I think so? When I had a tooth extraction done on me two years ago I was told I was going to be injected with anaesthesia, but I didn’t feel as if anything changed throughout the procedure. Either my dentist told me fake news lol or he’s just really good at his job for me to not notice anything.

How do you show the ones you love affection? It depends on the person. Around my friends, I know I’ve had taken a liking to them once I start getting especially talkative with them. For people I have even deeper relationships with, I like...buying them gifts, I guess. Getting them things that remind me of them. I would also bend over backwards to do nice deeds for them, like driving them to their destination even if I find it far.

Are you more passive or aggressive? I tend to be very passive aggressive in the way I deal with things.

Do you like the band Aha!? Not in particular.

Do you know anyone called Aidan? What are they like? Nope.

Ever heard of the band Ajax? No but I know that’s a brand of like cleaner or something. That’s close enough to ‘band’ haha.

Do you know anyone called Akash? I don’t either.

Do the sound of fire alarms scare you? They would obviously be scary if it rang for a real reason. Who wouldn’t freak out over a fire?

Do you live in America? If so, which state? If visited, where'd you go? No, and I’ve never visited either. I’d love to take a trip to cities like New York, New Orleans, Portland, and Chicago one of these days.

Have you ever had an ant infestation in your house? Only when there’s food left out accidentally.

Aora - did I spell that correctly? I don’t even know what you’re referring to, so I can’t tell you if you’ve spelled whatever it is right.

Do you have a preference in Apple? What type do you prefer? I don’t quite get this question - like a preference within Apple products? I mean, a phone and a laptop are essentials for me, and generally I do prefer having an iPhone and Macbook over other brands; but I can live without an iPad, an Apple Watch, iMac, Apple Pen, etc...if this is what you mean.

Are you an Aquarian? Is anyone in your family/your partner/best friend? ...You mean Aquarius? No. I don’t believe in astrology nor pay attention to zodiac signs either, so I wouldn’t be able to name Aquariuses that I know right off the bat.

Have you ever worn any type of armor? Which type? I don’t think I’ve ever had to, no.

Do you use the word ass a lot? Kinda, but it’s usually part of a longer word, i.e. asshole, asshat, deadass, etc.

Have you or your family had an attorney? What for? Not to my knowledge.

Is your car/family’s car an automatic gear or manual? Automatic.

Are you interested in aviation, piloting and aircrafts? Just the slightest bit. I would love to learn how to fly a plane, and I would be willing to pay for lessons. It’s just the type of activity that’s super hard to squeeze into an already-hectic schedule of mine.

What was the last award you recieved for? A academic distinction in college.

Axl Rose - like or dislike? Like, but I’m nowhere near a passionate fan. I just don’t have any reasons to actively dislike him.

Do you like air being spelt ayre or ayer in rap or hiphop or is it nasty? I don’t care.

Is the sky outside Azure? If not, what shade is it? No, it’s pitch black.

Belle amour (we've been here before). - B

Do you call anyone baby? Is it sweet or an overrated name for affection? Just my dogs. I find it sweet; it’s my preferred term of endearment if in a relationship.

Bby - does this shortened version bug you? No; my friends and I use this with each other.

Do you know what BC in terms of time stands for? Before Christ, but I prefer using BCE.

BDf - For or against? I don’t know what this is referring to.

Do you prefer beach breaks, city breaks or winter breaks? Why? Beach breaks. Winter break is an immediate cross-out since we don’t even have winter; and I already live and work in an urban area as it is. Beaches are my way to go if I want to escape life for a bit and completely unwind.

Do you spell out boyfriend properly or put bf in texts/online? I can use either depending on what I feel like typing out. It’s not that serious haha.

Do you know what bg is short for? Upon reading this question I immediately thought ‘background,’ but if this question had another meaning in mind I wouldn’t be aware of it.

Do you know anyone with the last name Bhays? No.

Have you ever been bird watching? What did you see? No, doesn’t sound like my kind of hobby.

Do you like Bjork? Not in particular, but just like the Axl Rose question I don’t have anything against her either.

What does this read: bk 2moz miss u lyk fk. Doesn't this text speak annoy? No one types like this anymore at least among people I know, but I imagine it would lowkey bother me a bit.

Do you like BMWs? They’re whatever. I don’t pay attention to cars much.

What is the nearest book to you called? How many times have you read it? There aren’t any books here up on the rooftop.

BnQ - gone there? What did you buy? Idk what that is.

Are you more brainy or brave? I wanna say brainy, if anything? I’m pretty jumpy lol.

Did you like the BSBs (Backstreet Boys) as a kid? How about now? No, I’m a little too young for that generation of artists and groups.

Burgers, Hot Dogs or Salads at a Barbecue? We don’t really practice ~barbecues~ here. But at Filipino parties I would usually flock to lumpia and fried chicken, hehe.

Do you have a Byro? No, because I also don’t know what that is.

Cold eyes and filthy lies all leave me petrified. - C

Do you have a Cactus (Cacti)? No, I don’t like plans.

Do you know what a CCTV is? Yes...?

How many CDs are in the room you are currently in? None where I am right now but I have all of Beyoncé’s albums save for Lemonade in my bedroom. I also have Paramore’s self-titled album and Hayley Williams’ Petals For Armor. My CD collection is about to experience a revival because of BTS, though. My plan to get all versions of all their albums is rock solid, lmao.

What's your favourite cereal brand? Cookie Crisps.

Do you like children's TV shows still? Which one(s)? I’ll revisit an episode or two of shows I watched as a kid at a given time for old times’ sake, but I don’t regularly watch children’s TV shows anymore. I haven’t for a very long time.

Cinnamon - Yum or Yuck? I’m actually kind of in the middle about it. I feel like too many desserts have been banking on cinnamon, so the taste of it can be a little tiring. It’s delicious if I haven’t had it for a while, though.

Do you know anyone with the initials and or name CJ? Quite the opposite; I know PLENTY of JCs, even my sister is one. I know one or two CJs but that’s it.

Have you ever met a self professed clairvoyant? What did they do/say? No.

Do you watch CNN News? What's your prefered news channel/show? I don’t tune into the channel but every once in a while I will encounter a CNN link on social media that I’d actually click on and read through. As for preferred news sources, I don’t have one as there are matters to criticize about 99% of them lol; but I am most likely to trust articles I from AP or Reuters. Just things you pick up as a journalism student. 

How many cousins do you have? I have 9 first cousins. I lose count by the time I try to go beyond that since I don’t even know all of my dad’s cousins, which makes it hard to track who my second cousins are.

Do you still draw with crayons? When was the last time you did? Drew what? I don’t remember anymore.

Do you know what a CSS feed is? What is it? I’m familiar with the term but never bothered to learn about what it is.

Do you like cycling/biking? What type of bike do you have? ...I don’t even know how to ride a bike.

Do you really like it, is it is it wicked. - D

What is the most dangerous animal you've petted/held? I can’t decide between snake or crocodile.

Do you like Death Metal? If so, which band(s)? I wouldn’t say I do.

Did you ever keep a diary/journal? I did a million attempts to keep a diary when I was younger, but I was never able to keep up with any of them and I ended up having 4598358395 notebooks with one or two entries each at most. Having a Tumblr page for surveys has so far been my most successful streak at keeping some type of journal.

Do you prefer small, medium, large or no dogs? I prefer all dogs.

Do you know what DP stands for in porn? Yes.

Have you ever dressed up as a celebrity for a party/Halloween? I went as my favorite female wrestler once. I wouldn’t strictly call her a celebrity, but she’s a very well-known personality in the wrestling industry so she’s popular in that right.

DS or Wii? Why? Wii. I was able to make more memories with it.

Does dust make you sneeze or cough? Sneeze, usually.

How many DVDs do you have all together? Idk, I don’t buy DVDs anymore.

Do you dye your hair regularly, sometimes or never? I’ve never done it.

Every love lies sometimes . . . - E

What's something you refuse to eat? Most fruits.

Don't you think the word ebb is so pretty? I’m neutral about it. I don’t use it a lot.

Do you like Chocolate Eclairs? I love eclairs in general haha. Chocolate eclairs in particular sound delicious.

Ever tried edible paper? Yeah, with the White Rabbit candy.

Eevee - pretty name or too Pokemon-y? Definitely very Pokemon-y. 

Do you sometimes mix up the spellings/meanings of affection and defection? Erm, no? They have completely different spellings and meanings, so I personally have never switched them up.

Do you have a big ego, low self esteem or somewhere in between? I think I’m somewhere in between. I’m insecure about some things about myself, but I don’t really put myself down 24/7. I feel like that would put such a strain on my mental health, which I certainly would never need.

What Element does your starsign fall under? I think earth? My co-workers were just discussing this last Friday, but I couldn’t really butt in since I can’t bring myself to care about astrology. I know they mentioned Taurus being an earth sign though.

Do you show your emotions easily and freely or hide them? Depends...I can do either depending on the situation.

What is your favourite form of entertainment? Korean reality shows are quickly becoming a favorite of mine at the moment. I also like compilation videos on YouTube.

What will they write on your epitaph? I’ve honestly hadn’t put much thought into this yet, and I don’t plan to anytime soon. It just seems like a super grave thing to think about lol.

Estimate/guess what number we are on now? Maybe 60s or 70s?

Do you know basic social etiquette? I mean etiquette will always differ per country or culture, so what is basic in other countries might not be here, and vice versa. I think it’s hard to measure.

Does your country use the Euro, Great British Pound, Dollar or other? Other.

Do you still get excited on Christmas Eve? Yes. Mostly for the free food and the opportunity to see relatives I really only ever see every December 24.

What animal/creature that is extinct do you wish wasn't? Those that went extinct from human activity.

What colour eyes do your parents have? Black/dark brown.

[ramblings-of-a-mad-cat]

Okay. I passed Y6CHR45, and... I want to say that this is very bad. I mean, that... This plot twist with Merula is very illogical and obvious. I'm not a fan of Merula, but. First, why it's obvious. Because in the storyline, Merula is our rival, not our friend. How many nasty things did she do MC, etc. Well, it's too obvious that in the future they will try to make her our enemy. Second, why it's illogical. Merula has very different goals. Don't be the same as your parents, take revenge on Rakepick and kill her, become stronger and more powerful. There is not a single point in being with 'R'. Why would she want to work with someone she wants to kill? I think it would be logical if Merula joined the Death Eaters. She and her aunt had been threatened by the Death Eaters. This is what Merula said in Y5CHR28. And Andre was talking about the mark on Merula's hand in year six, when Bill taught us the Barrier Spell. Still, I think Merula was framed by someone. Merula was still ready to drink the Truth Serum. And one more thing. Won't the MC say anything about it? Not to the professors, not to Ben, not to Jacob, not to anyone about what they saw in Knockturn Alley? Hey, JC, we have a Muggle Studies class on Y7, and there will be Merula. MC will just forget about it or what? It's just stupid. I apologize, I have nobody to express this misunderstanding of the JC logic. 🤨 And one more thing. I don't think Merula is a mole. In fact, I think the mole is Penny. Because it's very logical! 'R' could have threatening and blackmailed her, like... They could steal Beatrice, or threaten to kill her, if Penny didn't follow their instructions. Penny, in her fifth year, said she would work with anyone to save Beatrice. And if you add it up in this form... I mean, Penny is the most logical option. She's the most popular girl at Hogwarts. She knows every rumor, she knows the secrets of many students. No one will even think about it! How can you think of one who is very kind, helps everyone, understands Potions, etc? This is my theory, and honestly, I still stick to it. Knowing the character of penny, for the sake of Beatrice she would betray even MC.

I don’t know, I don’t think of it as being that illogical. I suppose it was rather obvious, but in a sense, those two ideas are in conflict with each other. If a plot twist is logical, it can be predicted. If it’s not, then it won’t be, but that’s a whole different problem. In any case, this got very long, so I’m putting it under a cut.

Was it obvious?

She has been our enemy from the start, but her character arc seemed to suggest that was changing. In a way, this actually made her a less obvious suspect. At least to me. She was the primary antagonist of Year 1, but we quickly got used to her nonsense. Stopped taking her seriously. Meanwhile, the story gave her depth. Many players grew to care for her, many pitied her, but even the ones who didn’t no longer saw her as a serious threat. At the same time, the scale was gradually increasing. By Year 5, Merula wasn’t the antagonist anymore, not just because she had been deconstructed, but because the story was darkening, and the times of a school bully being the villain were long over. Hell, by Year 2 we knew about R, and by Year 4 we had Rakepick to wonder about. Year 5 not only brought Merula’s character arc to the point where she became more of a friend (but no less prickly and combative) it also fleshed out the game’s Big Bad to the point where it became clear that this was much bigger than MC, or anyone in their year. Year 5 also exonerated Ben, and later unceremoniously killed the “Rowan is R” theory by having Rowan be imperius’d like Ben was. 

No one took Merula seriously anymore, people felt sorry for her, and we felt as though we understood her completely. That nothing she did could surprise us. This was capped off by the betrayal of Rakepick, compounded with her using the Cruciatus Curse on Merula. Because MC was betrayed, but not by any of the students. But by their mentor, who was always shady in the first place. Merula was put in a horrible position where even her greatest Antis surely felt a twinge of pity for her. Anyone left who suspected her probably wouldn’t have after that night. What’s more, it played into the idea that we understood Merula perfectly. Because she reacted exactly as one would expect her to. She regressed. Year 6 depicted her as someone firmly on our side, but predictably not someone who would be nice about it. From her jabs about Rowan, to her fawning over Jacob, people were annoyed with her, but no one suspected her. The game practically taunts the player, in hindsight, with the veritaserum scene. Because that’s just it - no one thought she would betray MC. They were worried she would go rogue, but no one doubted her loyalty. 

Why did she do it?

As for the logic of her decision, I likewise disagree. I believe Merula had every reason to join R. I don’t think that the Cabal and the Death Eaters are so different that one would make sense for her to join, and not the other, if that makes sense. She could have gone either way, but at a guess, Merula doesn’t think very highly of the Death Eaters. She refers to Voldemort by his name without a care in the world. If they really were threatening her, I feel like she wouldn’t want to cave in, but she might be attracted to joining a rival faction that could provide her (and her aunt?) with protection. If there’s one thing we know about R - it’s that they have a history of making enticing offers to children, provoking them to “prove” themselves to be accepted into the Cabal’s ranks. The description of them being her new “family” gives me cult vibes, and it really sheds some light on why Merula might have been drawn to them. She was lonely, she was angry, she wanted power...and R came along to offer her everything she wanted at the time. Whether she wants to leave now is uncertain, but if we assume that she’s been the mole since the very beginning, it’s probably way too late for her to just walk away. R would not allow that.

As to the sequence of Rakepick torturing her, we don’t yet know what was going on in that scene. Though I am feeling somewhat vindicated in the knowledge that there was more to that scene that meets the eye, just like I was sure there had to be. Perhaps Rakepick and Merula planned that whole thing, perhaps it was staged. Which would mean that Rakepick faked the spell, and Merula pretended to be tortured, and that her entire vendetta against Rakepick has been a facade. Or maybe the curse was real, but Merula agreed to it beforehand. Or maybe she knew the betrayal was coming, but Rakepick went off-script by turning her wand on Merula. Either way, if Merula’s vendetta was real, I don’t think it’s out of character for her to want revenge. Who cares if it’s someone on her side? This is Merula we’re talking about - I don’t think that would stop her. Now, if we assume she was not yet an R mole at the time (I think she was, but for the sake of argument)  then perhaps R reached out to Merula, apologized for Rakepick’s torture and promised that they did not authorize it. Promised that there would be consequences, and Merula could be the one to inflict them, if she agreed to join them. It’s a longshot, but I guess it’s possible. 

The Future.

The existence of this twist doesn’t really create any holes, I don’t think, and while it may put the writers in a tricky position moving forward, that’s not the same thing as them screwing up the continuity of the past. They’ll have to find a way to make this work, and until we see the ramifications, I’m willing to wait on judging how this arc plays out. MC will have a choice to make, certainly, in how they handle this. I can’t wait to see the dialogue. What they do next remains to be seen. Do they confront Merula? Turn her in? Or...if we want to be really sneaky, what we should do, in my opinion...is act as though nothing’s changed. Spread the word to people like Moody and Ben, but...do not let Merula catch on that we know. The way to salvage this situation, from a purely tactical perspective, is to let R believe they still have a spy at Hogwarts...but begin to feed her misinformation. Lead them astray. This is quite literally a war tactic, because hey...this is a war. Now, the issue with that is that Merula will likely face punishment once R figures out that she’s being misled...but hopefully we can save Merula before that point, and to the players who despise her - or even feel like she’d deserve it for her treachery...they probably wouldn’t care anyway.

I don’t think we can really judge based on the Muggles Studies classes, or anything that we know about Year 7. I also don’t expect Jam City to consider what we “know” and in all fairness...I mean, they don’t have to. That is unreleased content. Nothing in the data-mines is, strictly speaking, canon, or part the continuity. With the way that scene ended, it suggests that Merula won’t be returning for Year 7. Maybe. The data-mines contradict this, but data-mines don’t provide the full context. They aren’t released content, and anything could change. There were once data-mines that confirmed Skye as being in MC’s year, as well as suggesting that Murphy felt embittered about his disability. Both of these things were cut. So they’re not canon. In general, I think Jam City has a terrible approach to dealing with hackers, but one thing I will say in their defense is that they aren’t required to write their scenes based on what the fandom has discovered in the data-mines. If we’re confused, well, that’s kind of our own fault. But I’m sure everything will become clear eventually. I hope.

Penny. 

For meta reasons, I don’t see them pulling a double twist and revealing a second character to be the “real” mole, but it’s not impossible. And I’ve said all along that the Year 1 characters were the real suspects. MC unknowingly being the mole was my theory, mostly because Moody is shady as all hell. But Ben is shady too, it’s just that he had a rock-solid alibi in the form of Rakepick trying to kill him, since she couldn’t have known that Rowan would intervene. Setting aside Merula, since I’ve also said from the start that she isn’t a good liar...that leaves Penny. I really don’t think Penny is shady. I’ve never thought that. I’ll admit that she does essentially approach MC out of the blue to befriend them, but I mean...so does Ben. This happens on a much larger scale later on with Alanza. I can believe Penny would go to the ends of the earth to protect Beatrice, and maybe when she was imprisoned in the Portrait, R contacted Penny and strong-armed her into this deal. The issue is, Beatrice is safe and sound as of sixth year. The Black Lake incident is still a bit spotty, and perhaps that was R going after her again...but I just don’t think there are enough hints for me to believe it, personally. If this were true, why was Ben the character who insisted on coming to the Portrait Vault instead of Penny? She could have demanded to come along too, and no one would have blamed her. Everyone would have understood. Not to mention, Penny has severe tells when she’s stressed. She does not act like herself. She’s mostly back to normal in Year 6, and her behavior reflects that Beatrice is safe now, just pulling away. If Beatrice was still on the hot-seat, I feel like Penny would not be keeping it together. Finally, that raises the question of how much Beatrice is aware of all this. Does she know about this deal? Because I find it hard to believe she wouldn’t tell anyone.