#I mentioned WenZhou

[lans-rabbit-glade]

man i will forever be so very grateful that the casting team for Word of Honor took one look at Zhou Zishu, a character whose appearance is specifically described as Inconspicuously Plain and Unremarkable and Somewhat Haggard, and went "y'know who we should get to play this guy? Most Gorgeous Human Alive Zhang Zhehan"

like if i were Wen Kexing and i fell in love with a drunken hobo only for him to remove his mask and reveal that he's actually The Most Beautiful Man In The Entire World i'd probably say something dumb as all hell too

[fourseasonsfigs]

Announcement: The Four Seasons Figthusiast Blog Branches Out!

Since I'm apparently incapable of not wanting to post about cute fandom merch, I've decided that my fig blog needs...a side hustle. So while this will absolutely remain a steady daily fig blog, I've decided to periodically add a few posts about other Word of Honor / Junzhe merch (primarily dolls) that are just too cute not to share. I'll try to post an extra one every weekend, but we'll see how time and my work schedule allows!

For the inaugural post in this new series, we're going back to where it all began - the First Encounter from Episode 1 of Word of Honor.

I find these series of fan produced dolls incredibly funny and absolutely delightful! I was first introduced to this sweetly smiling Hobo-Xu by a fan that posted a video holding him out a car window and his loose hair flying madly in the wind! I burst out loud laughing and have had an irrepressibly soft spot in my heart for him ever since.

Turns out (naturally), he has a husband, but the Lao Wen that he was originally paired with ... was crying! You know I can't stand to see figs cry! Well, that goes for dolls too. So when the doll maker produced this smiling version, I obviously snapped him up right away. I love him.

I will note that these dolls came exactly this way. Lao Wen's blushies in certain strategic areas, and both of their hairstyles. I was so absolutely delighted by the idea of the doll maker lovingly putting pony tails in each doll's hair (can you imagine how long that took?!?) that I kept it exactly so.

Ahahaha! Too funny! Have I mentioned how much I love this fandom?

These are 15cm dolls, which are my favorite. I love the 20cm dolls a lot, especially because the larger size gives them more real estate for their outfits, but they become a display space issue REAL fast. And you know I need that display space for figs.

The 15cm are much more compact and all the cuter for it, I think, while still having ample space for clothing detail. The 10cm dolls are in many ways even cuter because they are tinier, but then they start running into the problem of not having enough real estate for details on their outfits. So in my mind, 15cm is totally the sweet spot for dolls.

Here's the matching outfits I bought. Oh, you can see right here what the original Lao Wen doll looked like. He's cute, just not my style, and lacks the sheer hilarity of one scrunchied ponytail off to the side!

Here's a closeup of his fashion shoot card! The outfit did not come with his hat, sadly.

All the pieces of his outfit. YES that is an adorable wooden drinking gourd!

The clothing got a little wrinkled on the transpacific journey. To be expected, and originally I thought a few wrinkles would be just fine on a hobo, but it ended up affecting the look and drape of the clothes, especially the sleeves. So out came the steamer.

I was not at all sure what the white little thing was - I mean, obviously it's a dickey, but I didn't recall that Hobo-Xu was wearing a white underrobe. I mean, it makes sense, everyone in the jianghu must have at least 3-4 layers on at all time for propriety's sake, but I could not recall it on Zhou Xu at all. BUT I would never put money on my memory vs. a doll mama's exhaustive research. That's a sucker bet for sure - I am guaranteed to lose! So of course, I had to re-watch episode 1.

Yep, he sure does have a white underrobe. Good thing I didn't take that bet against myself (did I also have to watch episode 2 while I was at it? I'll never tell!)

Next layer is his blue wrap robe.

It's a bit more oversized than I expected, but that's pretty true to the styling of this outfit on the show. Very figure covering. Amazing that Lao Wen could even see his butterfly bones, really.

Note I really, really need all of these costume pictures released in a book that I can buy, I love them so much!

Now the darker blue outer robe. Again, pretty drapey. It's quite large - you can see how it covers his little feet there.

His belt barely fits. You can see it hanging on to the very end of the velcro there - I had to really cinch it tight. This laobinggui hasn't missed that many meals!

Look at this cute little wooden gourd. I love it so much. All the little details on these sets are so wonderful!

Ahh he's perfect. I felt totally fine putting his scarf to the side since it was too hot to wear in the show anyway!

This doll outfit card makes me laugh! Also, I'm admiring how perfectly styled the doll outfit is here. Those are some crisp lines! Beautiful.

I've mentioned before on this blog and on my Twitter how much I love Lao Wen's gorgeous episode 1 outfit. I love it so much that I bought the costume for myself. I was not disappointed by this rendition - it's wonderful! It too came a little wrinkly, but nothing too bad. The flying-shoulder outer robe here is actually silk, which is all kinds of amazing.

This underrobe is really pretty. I really wouldn't mind dressing like this, except for how hot it all actually is.

And the back.

Lao Wen, you exhibitionist, do up your robes!

There we go! This underrobe is actually fairly short, as in, we can see his little feet.

So pretty. Look at the shoulders! The bamboo print. So beautiful!

Here's the back. I see I'm going to run up against the 30-pic limit REAL fast for these posts.

Looking good, Lao Wen!

Can you believe his fan is metal!?! So nice. The official Rua figs only had a fabric and/or plastic fan. This is so much better.

I tried putting his fan around his little sunshiney paw there, but it ended up being hidden by his sleeve.

Unlike A-Xu, poor Lao Wen has been skipping some meals there in Ghost Valley...his belt snugs up just fine. A-Xu, your wallet please, let's feed this man up!

Ta da! One perfect little philanthropist, coming right up!

Here they are, looking ridiculously cute! I wish Lao Wen's outfit was a bit longer so it covered up his feet, but that just means I need to put 15cm "ancient shoes" on my purchase to-do list.

And here they are on doll stands (and yep, that's 30 images right there). I do actually have my Word of Honor dolls fully/permanently dressed and on stands (unlike my Junzhe dolls with their different outfits), so this is how they are on my display shelves. Until I need to relocate them for fig expansion space, that is!

Well, what do you think? Like the doll posts? I had a blast, that was so much fun. A nice complement to my daily figs, I have to say. I'm already excited to post on the next set of dolls, so I guess this special series is going to stick around a while!

If you're here for the figs and want to see some more of that content, here it is:

[link to the Master Fig Index]

[wangxianficfinder]

Fic Finder

Dec 1st

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1. I hope you can help me find this. All I remember is one scene of WWX's parents talking about JC's birthday and that WCZ should go. He doesn't want to go and instead buys a sword to send. He thinks about how many nice things he has to buy JC and that he can't afford to buy his son. That's all I can remember. I know I've reread this but remember nothing else. Thank you for any help.

FOUND! The Young Masters of Four Seasons Manor by gaotamao (G, 91k, WangXian, WenZhou, YeRong, Time Regression fix-it, WKX raises monstrous sons, Not Jiang Sect Friendly, No Golden Core Transfer) Could #1 be The Young Masters of Four Seasons Manor? There's a couple of passages in chapter 2 that reference what the requestor mentions.

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2. Hello! I’m looking for a fic I read a long time ago. I might get some details wrong, but this is what I remember; Wei Ying gets pregnant with Lan Zhan’s child, and when Madame Yu finds out he refuses to name the father because Lan Qiren makes him feel like he’s unworthy. He basically disappears and ends up with the Wen, having A-Yuan and hiding from everyone. Lan Zhan eventually finds him and basically adopts A-Yuan before Wei Ying finally admits he’s their biological son.

(requester here) Wasn’t that one. I can give a few more details if that might help? It wasn’t a modern AU. I think Wei Ying and Lan Zhan were going to get engaged, but because of something Lan Qiren did/said Wei Ying ended up refusing to name the father when he found out he was pregnant, and Madame Yu was furious because she assumed he had been sleeping around and thus ruined the engagement. He basically went off the grid, and the only people who knew where he was were the Wens, who he ended up settling down with (though he did have his own house).

NOT FOUND! A Fortuitous Bad Encounter by VividestList (E, 26k, WangXian, LXC & WWX, A/B/O, Omega WWX, Alpha LWJ, mild dubcon mentioned, in that WWX thinks that he used his heat to get LWJ to have sex with him, but we all know that’s a lie and he just can’t take a hint, LWJ was drunk tho, but that dubcon was also canon, mentions of mpreg, Mpreg, Misunderstandings, Mating Bites, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Kid Fic, Dirty Talk, Possessive Sex, possessive LWJ, Riding, Praise Kink, Rough Sex, Hair Pulling, Breeding Kink)

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3. Can you find a wangxian sorry Its wangxian ongoing story Its start with wei Ying being an archaeologist digging an ancient cave and finding lan Zhan's mummy. In the past life they didn't get the chance to marry so in this life theri wedding preparations is going to take place in 3 days

FOUND? The Mummified Emperor Wants To Marry Me by sweetlolixo (E, 84k, WangXian, WIP, Modern, Historical Fantasy, Royalty, Emperor LWJ, Mummy LWJ, Reincarnation, Size Difference, Archaeologist WWX, Simp LWJ)

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4. Hi I'm looking for fic I read a while ago. It's a werewolf au. Wei Wuxian is born as a special wolf (i think he was called the senna). Its a modern day with wolf packs. There is a war againt the wens. I remember wangxian doesn't get together until after the war, because lwj would have to fight his brother and wwx is trying to heal from his ptsd from the war. If you know what its called or if its been deleted, I would appreciate it. Thank you! @the-door-wizard

FOUND! Under Red Skies by AngelSpirit (E, 169k, WangXian, Soulmates, Fantasy, Alpha LWJ, Asena WWX, Wolf hierarchy, Multiple Time Skips, Canon Setting, Modern With Cultivation, Top LWJ, Bottom WWX, Fluff and Angst, Smut, Mating Bond, Scenting, Marking, Biting, Royalty, Slow Burn, BAMF LWJ, BAMF WWX)

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5. Hi looking for a fix where Wei Ying starts teaching disciples at cloud recess and than he starts teaching at the nie and jiang and Jin. It eventually leads to a conference were everybody wants to have him sit with them to demonstrate what they learn. Any help in finding this would be appreciated. @angiewriter

FOUND? Mark My Place by BenevolentErrancy (T, 27k, WangXian, WWX Protection Squad, Post-Canon, WWX is Loved, Teacher WWX, Fluff, Humor, Junior Trio Dynamics, Self-Esteem Issues, Emotional Hurt/Comfort)

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6. hello!!! this is a fic finder for a fic i’m seriously hoping isn’t deleted… ok so boom, it’s a modern au where i THINK it starts off with lxc noticing that lwj is making more purchases and buying expensive devices from looking at his bank acc. the reason lwj was buying more things was because wwx was working at a tech store and lwj wanted an excuse to see him

the main plot was that wq thought that lwj was a sugar daddy towards wwx because he kept buying him expensive presents, like watches and such, and lxc thought wwx was a sugar baby towards lwj because lwj kept buying him things.

it culminated in this huge misunderstanding with all of them in front of the daycare a-yuan attended, where i think it got cleared up from there.

im seriously hoping i’m making sense rn, thank you in advance!!!

FOUND! The Misunderstanding by kisahawklin (T, 9k, WangXian, LXC & LWJ, WQ & WWX & WN, WWX & LSZ, Modern, Misunderstandings, POV Outsider)

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7. Hello again!!! I have been following your work for over a year now and it makes my day everytime!!! Thank you for doing this!! This time I am looking for a soulmate fic where Wei Wuxian dies and travels back to the rooftop scene. The summary for the fic was along the lines of "If soulmates die without confessing they go back to the first time they met each other." I think it was also a time travel fix-it. Thanks again!! @yilinglaobunny

FOUND? 🔒 We Can See a New Start by preciousbunnynoiz (M, 127k, WangXian, XiCheng, XuanLi, Soulmates, Time Travel Fix-It, Biting, Implied Sexual Content, Implied/Referenced Underage Sex, but mentally they are adults, Making Out, Fluff and Angst, Humor, Happy Ending, PTSD, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Supportive LWJ, Communication, Soul Bond, Blood, Found Family, Parent-Child Relationship, aromantic JC, Lesbian WQ, Queerplatonic Relationships, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Verbal Abuse, Disassociate episodes, disassociating, Suicidal Thoughts, Self-Harm, Self-Hatred, Depression, Delusions, Mental Health Issues, Mental Breakdown, Attempted Sexual Assault, Therapy, Supportive JC, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Family Feels, Implied/Referenced Torture, Revenge, Self-Sacrifice, Accidental Bonding, Brotherly Bonding)

FOUND? 💖 Regrets by antebunny (G, 37k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Miscommunication, Misunderstandings, Time Travel, Fix-It, Temporary Character Death, Angst, Explicit Descriptions of Love, and other squishy feelings, Angst with a Happy Ending)

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8. Hello! I'm trying to find this one modern au fic where lan zhan called this luxurious clothing shop to book a time for him and wei ying there, and he also ask the shop to bring Cartier(i think) there cuz he wanted to look at the rings to propose wei ying. I seriously cannot remember the title. Someone help me pleaseeee

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9. Hi!! Last time no one found the fic, do I'll ask again a case someone who didn't see the last time knows the fic. I'm trying to find a fic I'veread a while ago, but I can't find it anywhere. Wy, once reborn, didn't see Lz's scars while Lz was bathing in the cold springs and he tried to steal the jade pass. Once they get together is where the plot kinda flees from my mind. I don't remember if Lz only ever had sex with Wy if he (Lz) was almost fully clothed or if he just straight up refused to be intimate. I guess Wy fearing that Lz didn't find his new body attractive and voicing that fear to Lz is what makes Lz tell him the truth??? I'm not sure tho. Anyways, in the end, Lz reveals the scars that the discipline whip left on him, and tells Wy that he's never been ashamed of his scars, but that once Wy came back and they got together, he became terrified that Wy would find repulsive how deformed the scars made his back look.

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10. Hi! This is for fic finder. I dont remember much. Its modern au where wwx is an actor. He got a role in film and then he used train to meet other actor to discuss their role. The script only contain what they are doing in this scene, so they have to improvise and they use their own name for the film. Wwx meet lwj there. I think wwx start coming early to spend time alone with lwj? Thats all i can remember. Thanks! @idontknowwhattowriteforusername

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11. Hello! I’m looking for a fic that I remember having in my history but can no longer find. It was a modern day WangXian fic with an office setting, I believe. In which Wei wuxian was trying to quit and Lan wangji, as his boss, was trying to go through all sorts of bribes in order to keep him. @misanthrope-cave

FOUND! Work-Life Balance is Not A Thing by catbrainedschemes (E, 17k, WangXian, Modern AU, Workplace Relationship, Romantic Comedy, Idiots in Love, Oblivious WWX, Oblivious LWJ, Sexual Tension, Eventual Smut, but not that eventual, Pining, Dirty Talk)

NOT FOUND🔒What's Wrong With Secretary Lan? by silverclaw (T, 5k, wangxian, LXC/NMJ, Modern, Inspired By What's Wrong With Secretary Kim? (TV), JZX and WWX are best friends, LWJ is "going through a rebellious phase")

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12. Hello! I was looking for a fic that I have already read and I kind of want to reread them. What I remember in this fic, it's about wei wuxian falls off the clip and time travels and fall into the pond of gusu lan/ Lan Zhan's arms I think. NHS was supposed to bring back the YL Patriarch (The after falling the clip) and not the before. (Welp my memories are much worser to remember simple things....) @mikaylawrites

FOUND? A Long Way Home by Morgana_avalon (T, 32k, JC & WWX, LXC & LWJ, LSZ & LWJ & WWX, WangXian, Time Travel Fix-It, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, WWX falls from the sky but not into the Burial Mounds, LXC is an experienced healer because I like him that way, Good brother JC, Bad LQR; LWJ & LXC try to solve a mystery, Recovery, Whump, WWX is without his golden core, Canon Divergence, JC is too complicated, Happy Ending, JC finally manages the impossible, WWX gets a new golden core)

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13. For the Fic Finder: I'm looking for a fic where LWJ goes to a coffee shop for a first date with Su She, but it turned out to be a prank--Su She was outside livestreaming LWJ being stood up. WWX saw the stream and raced to the coffee shop to ruin it by being LWJ's date (I don't remember if they were already friends or had just seen each other around campus). Anyway, they end up dating for real. Later, there was a confrontation with Su She on campus.

FOUND! Blooming Days by Atsushiis (G, 7k, WangXian, LWJ & LXC, LWJ & MM, Modern, College/University, Meet-Cute, First Dates, First Kiss, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, LWJ Has Feelings, Let LWJ talk about his feelings agenda, Romance, Falling In Love, Wangxian are softer than a baby bunny, gratuitous handholding, Give LWJ hugs agenda, LWJ Protection Squad, Spanish Translation Available) but it was an OC who stood LZ up rather than Su She.

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14. Hello! I’ve seen your work and I’m very I was very impressed. I apologize of adding to your workload, but I wanted to try my luck. I’ve been looking for the story for months, and I really hope it’s not deleted but… so the basic summary is that it’s a post canon, LWG is cursed (by meng Yao’s mother) with a whipping curse that basically leaves whip scars all over his body, including his face.

LWG hides for like two years and WWX finds LWG battered and scared that WWX wouldn’t love LWG and his face so they go through the process of trying to cure his curse, and get revenge for lan zhan. Really good story, I was so sad when I couldn’t find it again thank you for your help, good luck again!! @chocolateclodtreehuman

for #14, was lan zhan cursed as a baby , and was wei ying hired as the curse breaker?

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15. hiii im looking for a post-canon fic where each chapter is told from the perspective of someone who liked lan zhan and later found out he was with wei ying. i remember one of them was from the nie clan, and also there was one chapter where a lan clan healer thought wei ying was being abused because of the amount of healing salve he used, but it was just sex marks. @ashxi-wx

15 is familiar, but I couldn't find it in my bookmarks. Not the requester, but if it's the one I'm thinking of, it was kind of a 5+1 style. I want to say the juniors were involved, something like "5 times someone flirted with LWJ" but could be mixing it up with another fic. I hope someone knows this one, because now I want to read it again too!

FOUND? Criteria by incendir (T, 10k, LSZ & LWJ, WangXian)

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16. Hi! I'm looking for a fanfic based on From (a television series). WWX and LWJ arrive at a town from which they can't scape (because they always end up in the same town if they tried to leave) and people have to hide in the night because monsters appear to kill and eat them. I cant remember a lot of more, I dont know if you can help me, but anyway thanks you for your big job!!❤️ @dratin-dragonadetinta96

FOUND? Down comes the night by danegen (E, 67k, wangxian, Alternate Universe, Canon Era, inspired by From, Horror, Sharing a Room, POV LWJ, no jiangs, a whole village of OCs, tiny mention of past wwx/omc, Happy Ending)

FOUND? A Glimpse of Us (hoping i'll find) by scarletwanlian (M, 165k, WangXian, Modern with Magic, Case Fic, enemies to lovers dynamics, Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Slow Burn, highschool sweethearts, (except they never dated), Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Trauma, Childhood Trauma, Child Neglect, Dysfunctional Family, shadows as a metaphor for- [static], self-hatred (lwj), Character Study, Violence, Minor Character Death, Blood and Violence, Blood and Injury, Mental Health Issues, Child Death, Past Child Abuse, Ghosts, Graphic Description of Corpses, Nightmares, Pain, PTSD, Bruises, Victim Blaming, Estrangement, Character Bashing, the jiang parents are not good people here, Magical Realism, Second Chances, Mutual Pining)

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17. Fic finder request - Not sure if this was part of a collection or a twitter thread, but the story was from an outsider POV. A group of cultivators were determined to curse Wei Ying and did everything in their power to try to get rid of him, but each one backfired.

Each time they tried, the curses/arrays used were bigger and cost more energy. Soon, the group shrunk cause each time they tried something, it would just bring a positive change to Wei Ying. I cannot remember everything they tried, but the last curse they tried, the biggest, final attempt was something about "Never experiencing fatherhood" or something along those lines.

The story ended with a discussion conference in Cloud Recesses, and both Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian were greeting people at the entrance, and Wei Wuxian was visibly pregnant (and, of course, not upset at all about the prospect).

I do remember it was on AO3 and was a one-shot (iirc). I have tried to find it myself, but after a week of searching, have admitted defeat. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you very much! @genavere

FOUND!🔒 chapter four: The one where WWX is cursed of Twitter Threadfic Archive by aubreyli

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18. Hello! Im looking for a fic where wwx essentially transmigrates to the cloud recesses bc he and lwj are soulmates and after spending a year together lwj comes back with him to the modern world

FOUND? Wrong Turn, Right Place by diamondbruise (E, 71k, WangXian, Time Travel, kind of, it’s more reality travel but there’s modern wwx and cultivator lwj, Mutual Pining, Angst with a Happy Ending, Jealousy, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn, Misunderstandings, Cultural Differences)

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19. Hi! for ficfinder, I think this was already on itmf before, but it was wangxian Mama mia Au. (Could've sworn i had it bookmarked) I can't find it anywhere! @bubwly

FOUND? The Winner Takes It All by YilingSani (M, 46k, WangXian, Modern AU, Single Parent WWX, Old Friends, One Night Stands, No Smut, Angst with a Happy Ending, PTSD, Panic Attacks, Forgiveness, Second Chances, Inspired by Mamma Mia! (Movies) Teen Pregnancy, Mpreg, mention of miscarriage, Birth Trauma, amniotic fluid embolism)

FOUND? Double Happiness by vesna (mrsronweasley) (T, 14k, JL/LSZ, WangXian, Modern Cultivation, implied mpreg, Mamma Mia AU, wedding fic, Reunion Fic, Fluff, Ridiculousness)

FOUND? happy birthday, our son by AkatCuties (T, 14k, WangXian, LSZ & WWX, Moderng, Inspired by Mamma Mia! (Movies), Light Angst with a Happy Ending)

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20. Hello, sorry to bother you

I don’t know if you have already found this fic for something else, but I am looking for a fic where Wei wuxian has blackouts when he gets hungry after the burial mounds/ other food related issues @scrumptiouseclipseponyllama

FOUND? a kind of emptiness by ScarlettStorm (E, 11k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Established Relationship, Eating Disorders, Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, Eating Disorder Recovery, low angst, Happy Ending, seriously in spite of the tags this fic is very soft, Tender smut, Frottage, Praise Kink, Additional Warnings In Author's Note)

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[mtkay13]

Lord Zhou and the Ghost Valley Master Cross-posting because i'm just that wild, hah! /jk More about the art below! --and a little talk about WenZhou and their relationship to power (+ some meta).

So hum, it is no secret that I enjoy a bit of "spice" in WenZhou's dynamic and at times am very prolific on my nsfw twitter account.

Collars and leash stuff have been on and off, and I was recently enabled for more of that by friends going wild about ZZS on a leash, etc, etc. LBR: I don't think you need any reason to go feral about that kind of stuff--but seeing how I myself seemed to regress to the state of a wild horny beast while making this painting, I felt like I may need to adress it a little. Here are some of my thoughts about WenZhou & power:

WKX and ZZS are both men who are/were in a position of extreme power. Both rose to that position of extreme power, but from very different starting points and motivations.

ZZS was, from what we know from how he describes himself in TYK and from how he behaves in QY, a very smart, cocky, ambitious kid, who probably deliberately sold his services to HLY to keep rising. There were probably ideals mixed in that, but point is, ZZS desired that power, that influence, and was encouraged to reach it. Becoming a sect leader so young was probably a shock, but nothing indicates that this position wasn't wanted. ZZS also mentioned not having a physique as advantageous as ZCL's when he was a child; so he probably had to work hard to reach his goals. Point is: the power was desired and strived for.

WKX has, without a doubt, needed the power, without ever really showing any pleasure nor satisfaction in having it. Surviving in the GV =/= reaching the top; if anything, becoming the GVM put the largest target on his head--but it is likely that reaching the position of GVM was necessary for him to execute his plan (find the key, pull the right strings, obtain his revenge). WKX was a little genius who didn't want to study, and probably wasn't dreaming/aiming for power. Conclusion: the power was a necessity and a tool. Many various characterisation points/analysis/dynamics can be pulled from this, and it is quite interesting to explore how, later, their relationship to power can evolve, both re:the rest of the world and each other. For the following personal analysis, I also worked with the following points from the book:

ZZS admires WKX's strength and power

WKX seems to have multiple fantasies of control and domination

ZZS seems receptive to many of them (including the biting, the somno stuff, and the cnc suggestions)

WKX admires/envies/resents ZZS' freedom

ZZS has fun becoming a subversion of his past self (swearing, being gross, being ridiculous, being openly cocky)

WKX is a control-freak and is very patient

ZZS is a bit conservative

WKX quite the opposite

Now how does that bring me to ZZS on a leash for the GVM?

(note that this is my current conclusion, not the conclusion)

I like to think that on the one hand, ZZS is that man who sees himself as a man and enjoys a lot of things about masculinity. The power that he likes for himself, he also enjoys seeing it in someone else's hands--he likes fighting for it, but (and this is a very personal interpretation) I like to believe he gets the most thrills from being overpowered; because it shows how strong the other is, bc it subverts whom he is himself. The power he's fought to get, has had all his life, but ended up leaving him alone at the top, feels good when taken from him--or when there's someone strong enough that he isn't alone up there anymore. On the other hand, I feel like although WKX would benefit from relinquishing some control and power, he does enjoy using it in a personal, pleasurable way, rather than by necessity. While he probably likes toying with presentations, with appearances, and doesn't mind being perceived as the wife, as the more submissive one in their fake-traditional relationship play of husband and wife, having the power, holding the leash---simply out of pleasure and mutual satisfaction is, I think very cathartic and arousing for him.

But then, why precanon? For the aesthetic bc I'm a simp for TC!era ZZS. And because showing him so strong, so powerful, yet leashed, is kind of a reminder that... It's not about real power. It's not about who, between them, is the strongest, the most powerful, the winner or whatever. It adds that thrill, the aknowledgement that this is out of freewill and choice and pleasure, I guess.

On top of that, man, I'm sorry, but peak TC!ZZS right post-QY canon after he's become the most powerful man in the country but is completely jaded by what happened in the end? On a leash? For a man he respects?? ugh

Anyway TLDR; I think it's hot and all of that gibberish barely has anything to do with my actual motivations to draw this.

[bluemorningsoup]

Mentions of WenZhou’s Clothes and Colours in TYK

Zhou Zishu

Ch. 1 — scholar’s robes in sapphire blue

Ch. 2 — some farmer’s robes (stolen)

Ch. 18 — luxurious robes provided by the Gao family

Ch. 76-77 — black clothes (Scorpion’s disguise)

Extra 5 — black robes

Wen Kexing

Ch. 2 — grey robes

Ch. 69 — dark robes tied with a dark red belt

Ch. 75 — dark red robes

Extra 5 — deep red robes

Hence, I propose that WenZhou are more of a red/black couple than a traditional red/blue couple. In this essay I will

[momoliee]

Here Is Why You Should Read Priest’s Modern Danmeis :

As much as i love priest’s period novels, i absolutely adore her more recent, modern novels even more. You can tell that her writing style has completely changed as she grew and gained more experience, giving an edge to her work. I definitely believe her modern books NEED to be as popular as her wuxia ones cause COME ON?

(i’ve written in depth reviews on my page for each title i mention)

First, my absolute all time favorite, one of my top 3, Mo Du :

I’ve read this series a total of two times so far, and I’m about to read it a third time cause it’s just that good. And here’s the thing, i almost NEVER reread or rewatch stuff ok.

Fei Du is one of the most complex characters that i’ve encountered in my reading experience, with the worst type of mental trauma that i could come across. His relationship with Luo Wenzhou is one of the most enjoyable and perhaps, priest’s best written romance. Theyre both equally flirtatious, equally bold, their back and forth bickering is full of sexual tension and their progression from enemies to lovers is IMPECCABLE.

And the plot? PHENOMENAL. The BEST mystery and thriller detective series that I’ve ever encountered, with each book having it’s own individual mystery, and no two mysteries are similar. From child trafficking to serial killers to drug dens and even terrorism….you name it. Each arc is well crafted, and by the end, you’ll truly be able to sigh in satisfaction. For priest to be able ro make you enjoy both the romance and the plot equally…shes a genius. a 27/10.

Trigger warnings: this book discusses heavy topics such as pedophilia, rape, drug abuse, suicide, self harm, and a lot of similar topics

Next: Can Ci Pin:

Her most underrated work and i cant even begin to understand why. I mean yes it takes place in outer space in a futuristic society where people live for around 200 years across the span of 8 galaxies (not there are no aliens, but there are concepts such as ais and robots) but like….you’ve all read sha po lang with its steampunk theme and you all KNOW just how good priest is at world building. Dare i say, priest is the best danmei author when it comes to world building.

Yes, this is perhaps her slowest and longest piece of work and i get why so many would get bored after the second book. But here’s the thing, ccp has one of the most complicated worlds and plot. the plot is actually one of the most confusing and heavy plots that i’ve encountered. so in order for the story not to fall apart, it was very necessary for priest to spend the first two novels and half world building as well as slowly laying out a proper foundation for the plot. That way, when she starts speeding up the pace, you are basically a pro who doesn’t need to backtrack, reread or double check anything. By the time i was done with the third novel, i felt like i knew everything about space politics, wars between galaxies, Ai and microchips, and everything in between. And that’s saying something cause im an IDIOT when it comes books and shows politics ok.

In this series, priest has seriously invested into every single side character, even those who’ve been dead since before the series even started. With extensive backstories, each and every single character grows on you as much as the main pair if not more, and you fall in love with the found family priest created as well as all the characters who are only talked about in flashbacks and past tense. Another favorite part about this series.

Now the main characters and the romance….chefs kiss. Lu Bixing has one of the BEST character arcs that i’ve come across. He starts off as this bright sunshine boy, goes through hell, becomes this depressed cynical man then finds his way back to his old self again all in the span of the novel itself. Being able to go through the pain with him then watch him heal, makes you very attached to this baby. Li Jingheng my all time cold prince biggest crush ok i love him. Their romance was SOO entertaining cause EVERYONE was rooting for them and everyone played matchmaker and wingman with them it was HILARIOUS. The comedy was top notch, the second hand embarrassment was real, but it made the reading experience feel much more organic idk i just enjoyed myself so much and laughed so hard. 20/10

Trigger warnings: human trafficking and experimentation, self harm and suicide

Third : Lie Huo Jiao Chou

Xuan Ji’s wings of flame are the highlight of the series ok. Almost every single scene has him whipping his wings out just to show off and his boyfriend eats it up everytime ok.

I absolutely love the amnesiac plot line where two past lovers meet again and yet are unable to recognize each other. Yet, slowly, as they spend more and more time together and one of them starts regaining his memories, the pining and longing begins. And oh does Xuan Ji YEARNS in the most beautiful way possible. And once they BOTH regain their memories in full, the angst is just the cherry on top. Being unable to resist each other yet still trying to pull away, the tension, trying to hold back…delicious.

The plot is so easy to keep up with and enjoy too. Both the story taking place 3,000 years ago and the one in present time are equally entertaining, where we see scenes of war and tomb raiding and investigations and a little bit of magic too. The visuals are fantastic, and the contrast between the two parallel settings is new and refreshing as a concept. 8/10

Trigger warning: main characters experience severe child abuse and neglect

Fourth : Guardian

Guardian is the most popular out of priest’s modern novels so i dont feel the need to say much.

Guardian discusses heavy topics such as death and what’s beyond. With an element of mystery where an investigation team search after where dead souls are being stolen to or why some souls are being sucked out of living people, the premises has an element of horror and goth that gives it this edge. Coolest ghost story around.

The main cast is also a hilarious bunch, and you sort of grow attached to the entire office especially a fat black talking cat. 7/10

Trigger warning: death and murder

I hope this is enough to convince you all to check out more and more of pipi’s work. Yes, sha po lang, lord 7, faraway wanderers and fuyao sect are amazing…but if you haven’t read priest’s modern work then yall are missing out ok. that’s it for now xxx

[badass-queer-couples-battle]

Gay wrongs tournament, round 2 of the losers bracket

Propaganda:

For Vegas and Pete:

Evil babygirl & stealthily evil babyboy. Vegas, known committer of atrocities, and Pete, who didn't rise up the ranks of being a mafia bodyguard for nothing. Never forget how Pete brutally shot and killed his coworker who dared to shoot Vegas in front of him.

I mean. They both kill people all the time. They even have evil gay BDSM sex. It's all right there.

it's plainly obvious to anyone even looking in their direction how murder husbands they are. both have canonically killed multiple people, often on screen. Not to mention the onscreen scene of Vegas literally torturing someone. 

For Wen Kexing and Zhou Zishu:

you've got the founder of the fantasy ancient Chinese CIA and the leader of what is essentially the mafia and then they're soulmates and in love. they're both willing to kill anyone who dares hurt the other while also just wanting a soft domestic life together

Zhou Zishu is an assassin and spymaster who put the current Emperor on the throne, and then quit his job by faking his death (kinda, hes still dying but not as fast as he was supposed to). Had done A Lot on his old job, including murdering children (more than one, and at least one of them in a way I can't even describe without several trigger warnings), exterminating whole families, war crimes (and i dont mean this in a buzzword way, i mean "organized a public execution of foreign diplomats during war time")… btw he doesn't feel particularly bad about any of this, because he believes it was necessary. Like he wouldn't do it for fun, but he thinks the ends (putting a good Emperor on the throne) justified the means (all of the atrocities). As a retiree, he definitely cut down on the amount of morally reprehensible murder, but not murder in general. He still routinely kills ppl, he just doesn't go out of his way to kill more. Wen Kexing, meanwhile, is the Ghost Valley Master - Ghost Valley being a place where the worst of criminals are exiled. Even in such a place, he has reputation as a complete lunatic, owed partially to the fact that he either skinned a man or fed him his own flesh or both at one point, and partially to him having a rule where he would kill anyone who came closer than 3 meters to him. But in truth, everything he'd done was to survive the Ghost Valley and eventually take revenge for his parents, who were brutally murdered when he was only nine. By the start of the novel's timeline, he put his plan in motion - the plan that would drown jianghu in blood, but also deliver poetic justice to all responsible for his parents' deaths, as well as all who'd commit the same crime given the chance. And these two men, these two murderers and schemers, meet - and unexpectedly, find in each other the person who /understands/. The person who is just as ruthless and whose hands are just as bloody, but also the person who knows standing at the top of the world is not worth it, who seeks the same freedom of leaving it all behind, and who is still, underneath it all, a human, with human heart seeking connection. So you have this couple who understand each other with barely a word, and who want the same things - who are so hungry for domesticity and for people they can just goof around with when all their lives they had to measure every step and word - but ALSO where one half a couple is like "i gotta go murder hundreds in revenge" and the other half is like "ok pick you up at 6". (This btw is why I'm submitting novel's iteration of the couple in particular. Show wenzhou with their ridiculous breakups over morality could Never.) Also they were both hiding who they are when they first met, and later flirted about having figured each other out. Finally, I'll leave you my favorite quote that just. perfectly sums up their relationship: "And just like that, they fell asleep in each other's arms, steeped in the smell of blood."

You’ve probably already had submissions for them but I’ll add on. One of them founded an assassin’s guild and killed a staggering number of people. His malewife is the leader of a sect of insane murderous outcasts, and he attained his position by proving to be the most crazy and murder happy of them all. Most of the plot involves him wandering around watching his schemes get more people killed. Together they adopt a kid that was only orphaned due to said scheming (oops). They’re terrible and I love them.

[dustedash]

i'm having a blast reading Mo Du right now, the dynamic between Luo Wenzhou and Fei Du is such an attention grabber i just can't put down my phone. AND THE CAT?? love the cat, adore the cat, and the fact lwz keep comparing fei du to it to the point he mention him as the second cat, omg so cute

[mlmshipbracket]

ROUND 4: POLL #1

ROUND 4 POLLS [HERE]

PROPAGANDA BELOW

Wen Kexing/Zhou Zishu:

Murder husbands! You've got the ex-founder of the CIA and a mob boss and the two of them are far more obsessed with each other than the treasure hunt thing going on with everyone else. It's the world's most insufferable man and the man who has decided to suffer him. They're literally insane for each other. I think about them all the time. Wen Kexing identified Zhou Zishu by his shoulder blades alone

Siffrin/Isabeau:

I've put mid paragraph spoilers in || brackets || and paragraphs of spoilers make "spoilers ->"

I should mention that them having romantic feelings for each other is a partial spoiler?

What if. A silly little he/they guy. But! He's really messed up emotionally and mentally. Like. Constantly puts others first to his own detriment and calls himself manipulative kind of messed up. Also he's in a time loop. NOT a fun one. But! There's this jock in his party that he can joke with. And they looove making him smile! And! That jock is head over heels for our tiny hero. But! Neither of them can admit their feelings! ||Even if they know the feelings are mutual!!|| AND THE JOCK DOESN'T KNOW HE'S IN A TIME LOOP!!! AND LITTLE GUY WON'T TELL HIM! CAUSE THEY DON'T WANT HIM TO WORRY!!

I love them sooo much! They are my favorite he/they x ||trans masc|| couple <3

Siffrin is soooo insecure and I'm 100% sure Isa could fix him if he wanted to. They love telling each other just the worst puns and jokes imaginable.

[SPOILERS] -> Isa was a big nerd before he decided he wanted to be a huge jock and now he wants to design clothes now that he saved his county (along side his other friends)

Siff is just a little guy (literally)(he is short) who loves the stars abs doesn't remember a lot about his past. He constantly worries if he's being enough for the rest of his companions and always tries his best to make sure they're happy. He has soooo much trouble seeing value in himself and prioritizing his own needs and it makes me soooo sad :( he deserves to have someone like Isa.

[SPOILERS] -> Siff knows that Isa wants to confess after thier battle w the bbeg, but siff can't get Ida to say it no matter what they try :(

[cosmic-carpals]

several years late to this meme, but

misery - fei du, disassociating after locking himself in the bedroom where his mother hanged herself 7 years earlier (he had the house arranged to look exactly like it did the day she died) because his friend who he didn’t really like all that much but still spent time with was stabbed to death in front of him (he trained himself in the basement with emetics, electric shocks, and gory videos to react badly to blood so he wouldn’t become what his father tried raising him to be) and his situationship (the cop who investigated his mother’s death, who he is in love with but won’t sincerely say so because he’s been planning to die for a long time and is scared to get a reason to keep living beyond his revenge) left him alone there

CPR - fei du, literally 10 minutes earlier, climbing into said situationship’s lap to make out with him so he wouldn’t ask annoying questions like “are you okay?” and “don’t you usually throw up a lot after seeing blood?” and “nothing in the kitchen is expired, how often do you stay in this haunted-ass house?” and “uh, i seem to remember your dad changed the place up after your mom died, why does it look like it did back then?” and “why are you so calm about getting strangled?” and “hey, you’ve been maintaining that she was murdered for years, what do you mean you know how she died?” and “what the fuck happens in your basement??”

reese’s puffs - luo wenzhou going on a side quest to find ingredients and also some wire so he could cook a healthy meal (hot noodles are good when you’ve been throwing up!), pick the lock to the bedroom door, drag fei du down to eat, avoid mentioning the basement, and then drag him to work to do overtime

[lynne-monstr]

QZGS Fanwork Rec Bingo 2022 (Roundup)

In late 2022, the QZGS fandom had a rec event. I posted each rec in its own post, and now two years later, I finally have a masterlist.

I added some new recs in addition to the original set. These were in my notes at the time, but I didn't get myself in order in time for posting. I'm very glad to be able to include them now.

Rec guidelines: I tried to limit myself to one fic per author. I did not always succeed. This list is heavily biased towards yuhuang and Blue Rain because that's where my fannish interest lies.

NSFW recs or fics with content warnings will be indicated on the rec itself.

Fanworks under the cut

Pre-canon - That Dream, Passing On by kaleidastra

Author’s summary: Fang Shijing celebrated Blue Rain's first championship; along with someone he never expect he'd meet again. Rec notes: This fic makes me so happy!! It’s chaotic and funny and emotional all at once, and manages to have a lovely emotional resolution while still sucker punching you in the face in the best way. I love all of FSJ’s internal narration. And have I mentioned it’s funny! Adaptation: Novel/Donghua Characters: Fang Shijing, Wei Chen; gen No content warning

A work from before 2020 - they're never hiking ever again please and thank by andthenabanana

Author’s summary: “This,” Zheng Xuan says between heavy breaths, “is not bonding.” Rec notes: Ahhhh this fic is so wonderful. Blue Rain goes on a hike and there are Shenanigans. Full of teasing and team bonding and Huang Shaotian being the best vice captain. This fic brings Blue Rain to life and gives great warm fuzzies. Adaptation: Novel/Donghua Characters: Blue Rain; gen No content warnings

Rare Relationship focused - One big exhale (never did me no good) by UndeadRobins

Author’s summary: Different players need different incentives to help them improve. It doesn’t take long for Xiao Shiqin to figure out what Sun Xiang needs. Rec notes: The xsq/sx fic of my dreams! Their live action dynamic was begging for a fic like this, and this one delivers!I love how the dynamic between them creeps up slowly until it fills the entire page. Truly a gem of a fic. Adaptation: Live Action/Novel Characters: Xiao Shiqin/Sun Xiang Contains: light D/s, rated m

Glory focused - china's sword and curse by snoflakesun

Author’s summary: It… it could’ve been a fluke, or just a lucky moment. This was what most of the audience thought. Perhaps he had seen Yu Wenzhou’s screen, or maybe the mic didn’t pick up what he had said. But all of the pro players knew, this definitely wasn’t something that happened by chance. Rec notes: They’re partners your honor!!! Um I love everything about this. Fun banter, teamwork, and Huang Shaotian gets to trash talk as much as he wants! So much fun! I am a sucker for yuhuang synergy and fun battles and this delivers on everything. Adaptation: Novel/Donghua Characters:/Ships: Yu Wenzhou, Huang Shaotuan, Sun Xiang, Zhou Zekai; Yuhuang No content warnings

A fic longer than 10k - Memorable by Saxifactumterritum

Author’s summary: Huang Shaotian’s retirement is announced to the world at the last moment, right at the end of the season, but Blue Rain know about it a long time before that. Huang Shaotian retires, everyone expects him to stick around Blue Rain, but he doesn't. And then it's sad. Rec notes: Sad retirement fic 😭😭😭. My favorite thing about this fic (besides all the feelings and character stuff and friendships and OCs and everything else) is the very realistic look it takes about what happens when people move away. It’s so easy to pretend nothing will change but the truth is that it does, and it takes work to maintain those connections at a distance. The journey Huang Shaotian (and Blue Rain) take when Huang Shaotian leaves is, in turns, sad and sweet and funny and it feels like getting punched in the gut in the best way. Adaptation: Live Action Characters/Pairing: Huang Shaotian, Yu Wenzhou, Blue Rain; background yuhuang No content warnings

One of your favorite tropes - my baby brings heat like a mama does by wolframvonbielefeld

Author’s summary: GLORY FORUM POST #89566: huang shaotian is NOT in love with yu wenzhou. false alarm. Rec notes: A bit “idiots to lovers,” a bit “didn’t know they were dating,” and a whole lot of mutual pining and also friendships! This fic is just so much fun! Bonus for one of my all time favorite visual moments with huang shaotian getting caught (bewildered) holding a massive tub of lube. Brilliant, a masterpiece. The fic is unfinished, but I believe it’s just the epilogue that isn’t posted, and the existing fic delivers on emotional resolution. So even if you avoid WIPs, I still recommend this one. Adaptation: Novel/Donghua Characters/Ships: Yu Wenzhou/Huang Shaotian, various pros Contains: NSFW (Rated Explicit), sexually explicit, omegaverse

Free Space - Out With the Old and in With the New by smallspace 

Author’s summary: Everything is swapped! The avatars are playing a slice of life tabletop roleplaying game where they are the players and the esports pros are the characters. But not everyone wants to play the same character forever. Here is a series of snapshots of avatars changing their characters. Rec notes: What a fun idea! The way the TKA storyline is adapted for the swap is so clever, and the humor is top notch. I laughed all the way through (except for the knife part 😭😭) Adaptation: Donghua/Novel/Live Action Characters: avatar and player ensemble; gen No content warnings

Post-Canon - at the edge of a new leaf by GeniusCactus

Author’s Summary: Wang Jiexi and Yu Wenzhou bond over tactics and good quality tea Rec Notes: The power of teamwork!! This fic is such a lovely quiet moment between Wang Jiexi and Yu Wenzhou, and filled with all the things I love: friendship, introspection, parallels, the occasional pun, and people being stronger together than apart. Also tea metaphors! Bonus for both Tiny Herb and Blue Rain having a very strong presence in the fic despite not appearing in the story. Adaptation: Novel Characters: Yu Wenzhou + Wang Jiexi; gen No content warnings

Missing Scene - The Old Man and the Dream by Dayadhvam

Author’s summary: During Season 10, Wei Chen goes to All-Stars for the first and last time. Or: a brief sojourn down memory lane ft. one Troubling Brat. Rec notes: My heartttttt alksjdlksjfsd. It’s fine I’m fine (that’s a lie I am NOT fine I am drowning in feelings). I love them, I love them, I love them. I have so many emotions about Wei Chen’s conflicted feelings over Blue Rain and Glory and Swoksaar, and where he fits into it all. This fic packs so much of a punch and I love every second. Characters: Wei Chen + Huang Shaotian; gen Adaptation: Novel/Donghua No content warnings

Female character focus - lightning strikes thunder(clap) by afincf_tirwer

Author’s summary: Dai Yanqi knew they were wrong. She knew where Thunderclap’s strengths lay, and it wasn’t solely Xiao Shiqin’s burden to bear. It rested on everyone’s shoulders, everyone who played, to support each other and cover for where others lacked. And right now, they were lacking Xiao Shiqin. Rec notes: Dai Yanqi tactician fic!! Love this glimpse into Thunderclap without Xiao Shiqin, and Dai Yanqi finding herself and her place and growing up. I particularly love the balance between her as a serious player and also having a happy, shiny personality. Get a girl who can do both! Adaptation: Novel Characters: Dai Yanqi, Thunderclap; gen No content warnings

Made you laugh - my captain, my tortoise by Fayah

Author’s summary: “Sun Xiang, don’t you have any pride at all? Even a tortoise is more professional than you are! But saying that is an insult to my cute little pet tortoise!” Huang Shaotian gets a bit too carried away with his trash talk in Blue Rain’s match against Excellent Era and accidentally reveals that he is secretly raising an illegal pet tortoise. Rec notes: this didn’t just make me laugh, it made me howl, it’s so funny omg. Top notch humor, 10/10 amazing. Beautiful. The live action turtle fic of my dreams. RIP Huang Shaotian, he’s trying his best. Blue Rain, best team. Adaptation: Live Action/Novel Characters/Ship: Blue Rain, yuhuang No content warnings

Comic or Fanart - the adventures of tiny swoksaar by saxifactumterritum 

Rec notes: This isn’t a traditional comic format, rather a series of art across two tumblr posts depicting a tiny Swoksaar breaking out of his snowglobe to seek a tiny snowglobe Troubling Rain.  The art is so rich with details, I really feel like I am getting a glimpse of Huang Shaotian’s living space and all the knickknacks he owns. All the poses are so dynamic and full of motion, and the facial expressions are fun and evocative. And the story it tells is adorable! Bonus for live action-based art, which is particularly rare and brings me endless joy. Adaptation: Live Action Characters/Pairings: Swoksaar/Troubling Rain No content warnings

Art link

Alternate Universe - A Life Given, A Life Restored by NR_Red

Author’s summary: Yu Wenzhou was a cyborg, and sometimes he thought he may have forgotten what it was like to be a ‘complete human’. Rec notes: A yuhuang meet cute AND super cool worldbuilding! All the rich details make me feel like I am getting a glimpse into a much larger world. The contrast between Yu Wenzhou’s matter-of-fact acceptance and Huang Shaotian’s enthusiasm is just as wonderful here as it is in canon. Adaptation: Novel/Donghua Characters/Pairing: Yu Wenzhou/Huang Shaotian No content warnings

Team focused - Initial Actions (Not Initiations) by Syncogon

Author’s summary: Team Blue Rain welcomes their newest member. It’s a great time! Almost no regrets are had whatsoever. Rec notes: I admit I am biased on this one because this fic was gifted to me for secret santa but also it’s amazing so i am in fact not biased at all. Rec Notes: I love this both for the team dynamics (new player traditions! Spicy noodles! So much teasing! They’re a family!!) and how all the players get distinct personalities, and the individual character moments (Zheng Xuan!! And the tiny hints of Yu Wenzhou and Huang Shaotian’’s history glimpsed around the edges). This gives me such happy warm fuzzy feelings and I love it every time I read it. Lu Hanwen’s outsider POV on the team is a constant delight. Adaptation: Novel/Donghua Characters: Blue Rain; gen No content warnings

Crossover/Fusion - Lu Hanwen and the Wizard of Oz by SeiryuuSuzaku

Author’s Summary: Lu Hanwen is now the Captain of Blue Rain and trying to do his best to lead his team. But he has his doubts and his impulsive indulgence in chicken is going to give him a very strange dream that night. Gods of Glory are everywhere; Even in your dreams (●'▽'●)ゝ Contains: no content warnings Rec notes: Whimsical and delightful but at the same time, such a lovely character study of Lu Hanwen as captain of Blue Rain. This is exactly the kind of humor/crack I love, with just the right amount of seriousness woven into the shenanigans. And so many hilariously funny visual descriptions! I snorted out loud several times!  Adaptation: Novel/Donghua Characters: Lu Hanwen; ensemble No content warnings

Made You Cry - somebody that i used to know by BlueberryAsh

Author’s Summary: “I’m not him,” she says. “Nobody can ever be him. But I’m here. Ye Xiu, I’m here. Let me help.” Set within the confines of s01e35. Rec notes: I’m starting off my recs with an easy one, because this fic came immediately to mind when I saw the prompt. There’s just so much packed into all 533 words of this fic. I love the vibe of it—so much history and emotion and nearly none of it is said out loud and it doesn’t need to be. One of my favorite parts of this is that Su Mucheng and Ye Xiu are in this together, and there’s such a heavy weight to their history that comes across in the fic. And also it’s sad pegging, which I think is great. Pairing: Su Mucheng/Ye Xiu, past Su Muqiu/Ye Xiu Adaptation: Live Action Contains: pegging, angsty pegging, nsfw, canon character death

A non-english work or translation - 夜莺 by 青山为雪 (Verdancia)

Author’s Summary: L向群星致意。(t/l: Greetings to the stars) Rec notes: i have sadly only read this via machine translation, but even with the clunky “translation” this fic is gorgeous and I love it deeply. A lot of the story is told in flashback,and follows Astronaut/explorer Huang Shaotian and his relationship with Yu Wenzhou over the years. A series of partings and reunions set against the backdrop of a mystery in the current day. There’s some cool funky stuff the author does with time and perception that eventually rips your heart out in the end, but it’s worth it. Adaptation: Novel Pairing: Yu Wenzhou/Huang Shaotian Contains: There is major character death involved but it’s a bit of a twist that unfolds as the fic progresses. If I were to tag it as if it were my own fic, I would use “Choose Not To Warn.”

Prequel Era - This rec is a 2-for-1. Art and fic!

Fic: not yet by saxifactumterritum

Author summary: just a little moment before ywz is captain, before he and hst are in a relationship, before they've quite got to friends. anyway they're dancing in a dark room instead of doing chores. Rec notes: ASLKJSDFLKJS! One of my favorite things about this fic is how it says so much in so little. It’s a tiny slice of life moment but it’s also a silent turning point for Yu Wenzhou and Huang Shaotian, the shift from two people towards a real partnership. It’s quiet and soft, like a liminal moment made real. Characters/Ship: Yu Wenzhou, Huang Shaotian; pre-relationship Adaptation: Live Action No content warnings

Art by bienmoreau

Artist caption:  “I’m glad you found me.” “I nearly didn’t.” Rec notes: There is so much life in this art that it blows me away every time I look at it. The poses, the facial expression, the amazing use of light and dark. I feel like this art just reached into my brain and scooped out the fic and brought it to love. It’s so gorgeous and amazing and absolutely stunning.

As an extra tiny bonus, I will link the podfic I did for this fic. Advance apologies for my pronunciation. I can only hope it doesn’t overshadow the vibe of the fic. (Is it tacky to link my own podfic? Perhaps, but this fic is so great that I want people to be able to read it in multiple forms)

A fic shorter than 1k - Curse or gift by UndeadRobins

Author’s Summary: Swoksaar knows curses. After all, he’s a warlock and there’s no one knows curses better than a warlock. Rec Notes: Short and sweet and right in the feels. I love the matter-of-fact tone that gently eases from statements of facts and into feelings. And bonus for avatar fic <3 Adaptation: Novel Characters/Pairings: Swoksaar/Troubling Rain No content warnings

Meta - Raindrops to a Downpour by TheDefenestrator

Author’s Summary: How could two people so different ever make an effective combination? Rec Notes: While not technically meta, this fic gives me cool meta vibes so I'm going with it. Meta in a fanfic hat, perhaps. Anyway, I love the thread of mirroring and parallel that runs through the fic. Under the surface of fast vs slow lies something much deeper and more complex Adaptations: Novel/Donghua Characters/Pairings: Yu Wenzhou + Huang Shaotian; Yu Wenzhou/Huang Shaotian No content warnings

A “Comfort Food” work -  What do you want? By Saxifactumterritum

Author’s Summary: Huang Shaotian meets Sun Zheping by accident. He's a little bit overwhelmed by how cool Sun Zheping is. This is going to be very fun.  Rec Notes: This fic is so fun! Huang Shaotian swooning over Sun Zheping is so adorable. And huge bonus for all of Huang Shaotian’s other friendships in the background - with Ye Xiu, with Zhang Xinjie, his relationship with Yu Wenzhou that’s mostly in the background but no less strong for it. At it’s heart, this is a getting together fic but all the various friendships breathe so much life into the story. Also, Sun Zheping’s jacket is super cool. Adaptation: Live Action/Donghua Characters/Pairings: Huang Shaotian/Sun Zheping; Yu Wenzhou/Huang Shaotian (polyamorous relationship) No Content Warnings

Minor Character Focused - I (don’t) wanna be the very best by jellysunfish

Author’s Summary: Zheng Xuan's season 8 quest to find Zhang Jiale and make him un-retire himself so Zheng Xuan doesn't have to carry the burden of being the GPA'S #1 Spitfire. How stressful. Rec Notes: Another fic where I’m maybe cheating because this fic was gifted to me. But is it not in the spirit of a gift exchange to love your gift? So perhaps it’s not cheating after all. This fic is such a delight, I reread it all the time and it never fails to make me laugh. Zheng Xuan is so relatable in his search to not work too hard or get too much of the spotlight. And I appreciate him gleefully throwing his teammates under the bus in his efforts. I cackle so much at all the shenanigans! Adaptation: Novel/Donghua Characters: Zheng Xuan, Zhang Jiale No content warnings

And that's a wrap! If you made it this far, please give the fic authors and artists some love <3

[sirenofthegreenbanks]

Okay first of all, I like that your ask-box is called briefkasten! And then for the thingy

🍓🧃🔪🐚🕯️

endlich!!!!! wird es gewürdigt!!!!!! danke dir djkdaj also i love that you call it the thingy. see, that's why your way of speaking reminds me of my sister

🍓: how did you get into writing fanfiction?

once upon a time, there was wenzhou.

i never meant to write fanfiction, tbh. fanfiction was my path back to ,, being more passionate about characters, i guess? at the time, i hadn't written anything in years (original work) and i felt way better since making the decision of setting down the pen.

but then. an idea entered my brain. and it wouldn't leave me alone. and i was like: why not????

wellllll. i've regretted that decision more than once since then. i still do, even now. but writing fanfiction has also ,, paved the way to being an active part of fandom and carving out my own niche, i guess?? to being creative again. and, it's true that i've come to rediscover my love for it (writing in general). the way it is now, i enjoy it. but. i mean. sometimes i wish i could travel back in time and . change things

writing is so . consuming. if you know what i mean. it's only been, what, half a year? since i learned to set clear boundaries AND respect them. i used to sacrifice myself for writing, and hated it at the same time, but i couldn't stop either. it was compulsive. just thinking about that makes me want to peel my own skin off brrr

🧃: share some personal lore you never posted about before

hmmmm. i mentioned more than once that i adore horsies, but did you know i learned to do gymnastics on a horse?? in full gallop!! hah! the only thing i never managed was to get into the saddle without help. they're so fucking tall. i'm dreaming of learning to spring up on a horse while it's in full gallop, without a saddle or anything. that would be so cool

🔪: what's the weirdest topic you researched for a writing project?

du fragst mich Sachen!!!!!!!! woher soll ich das denn noch wissen shjhsadjhdjsah hast du ne Ahnung, wie lange ich schon im kreativen Schreiben tätig bin ajshjhdsj die richtig weirden Sachen hab ich zu meiner Zeit des original writing geresearched, i guess. zurzeit researche ich nur respektable (ehem) historische Fakten und kulturelle Aspekte.

i mean. i guess i could say that i educated myself on male sexuality and The Penis and such, but that's probably only something i feel weird about because i'm not mature enough. but it's, like, the only thing i can think of rn. god, maybe i'm really boring.

ich wette, mir fällts ein, sobald ich das hier gepostet habe!!!!! wollen wir wetten!!!!

🐚: do you like or dislike surprises?

there are two answers to this question. i love surprises because i love discovery, and a surprise is a positive discovery. but. i have the emotional landscape, worries, and reactonary speed of a trapped prey animal

🕯️: on a scale from 1 to 10, how much do you enjoy editing? why is that?

12. because!!!! gonna pharaphrase @aiyexayen who said something along those lines in the tags once: it's about cleaning up what's chaotic and messy and making something cool and shiny out of it.

i used to think that drafting is my most favourite part of writing. drafting is a lot like oral storytelling when you're a pantser, and oral storytelling is where my love for creating stories comes from. but it's still a different medium after all, and i've changed too. revising is a lot like ,, using the material you've lovingly gathered and building something cool out of it

truth or dare ask game for writers! (don't mind double answering!)

[notfreetoday]

China's censorship of Justice in the Dark - some FAQ

photo cr @ 白夜飛行家 on weibo

Also known as The Abyss/Mo Du/Silent Reading (link goes to a great carrd made by a Mo Du fan) by Priest, the same author who brought us Guardian. The show was dropped on Youku China on the 18th of February and is now on Youku International (VIP needed from ep 3 onwards). 8 episodes have been released. There is no official release schedule yet, though the rumour is 5 episodes every Saturday at 10am China time. Total of 30 episodes, ending on the 11th of March (Yes rumours are this specific).

The English subs are AI generated, and they are not great. I hope they improve the subs as the show gains traction. (I watch on the China ver of the app, but I'll post any egregarious subbing errors if I come across them)

Changes made from the novel

The title, character names and premise has been changed. The ages of the some of the side characters/victims have also been changed. It's clear that scenes have been re-edited and re-dubbed, because some dialogue doesn't match the lip movements (WOH flashbacks anyone?) This is all to get pass censorship. A lot of the story, including the dialogue, has been preserved, and the changes aren't jarring.

Seems like there was a lot of uproar regarding the changes?

The show has been trending on weibo every day since it dropped, for good and bad reasons. Many book fans were upset with the changes on Day 1 and didn't bother watching pass the introduction of the premise, and there were complaints about the suitability of the actors' looks. By Day 2 the comments turned to "hey this isn't so bad??" And now everyone is just badgering youku for the next few episodes, cause they've literally released nothing else about the show since they dropped the episodes.

Has the story been sacrificed to pass censorship?

After watching 8 ep, I don't believe so. The novel covers sociopathy and the darkness of humanity - the show uses a "nuclear accident" as a reason for "genetic changes" in 1.3% of the population - causing these people to lose the ability to empathise with others. This is actually a very smart move because by blaming everything on a fictional, genetic mutation, the show can actually get away with showing the darker, more questionable parts of humanity, without having to censor it too much. The first case of the show mentions drugs and even has a short clip that heavily implies someone seizing from an overdose (you'll miss it if you aren't paying attention). There are underaged victims, and if they continue in this vein there will be more trigger warning worthy scenes from the book included. These things just don't get shown or talked about in c dramas - even if we don't talk about the BL, it's pretty crazy they managed to get this stuff out after the recent censorship changes.

Is the BL still.... there?

There are 8 episodes out so far and to me, it's working. We're not talking WOH level of chemistry here, but ep 3 onwards is when our CP starts paying more attention to each other. There is more than enough "candy" to find if you know what you're looking for. That said, it is not and will never be BL, just an adaptation.

Ok what am I looking for?

Glad you asked! Take for example the show's name change - from 深渊 (shen yuan) to 光•渊 (guang • yuan).

深 - deep 渊 - deep (often referring to a pool, so a deep dark pool, like in a cave) Shen Yuan comes from the novel and is translated as The Abyss, and represents Fei Du (Pei Su in the show)

光 - bright light Guang•Yuan is not a proper term by itself - it's a mash up of the words for bright light and deep pool. The light represents Luo Wenzhou (Luo Weizhao in the show), the one beam of light that penetrates Fei Du's darkness. Hence the English name "Justice in the Dark" is a pretty good translation.

The new names of the characters are Pei Su 裴溯 and Luo Weizhao 骆为昭. See the last character of each name? Su has the radical 月, for Moon in it, and Zhao has the radical 日, for Sun in it. The moon is considered Yin, and the sun is Yang. Together, they are Yin and Yang.

Hey maybe you think that's pushing it, but welcome to the life of a BL adaptation fan 🤣🤣

[mtkay13]

And yet.... another..... Face reveal illustration.

And of course, another long post, LOL.

More thoughts on the passage below!

This illustration is born from a hyperfocus of mine on this sentence:

Ah-Xu... [...] Did... did I tell you that I like men?"

他忽然发现，其实对方一辈子都不将那易容卸下来，在自己心里，也从来就应该是这样一副模样，如今看到他长得竟如自己想象中的感觉别无二致，就像是……已经认识了他很久很久一样。 [Wen Kexing] suddenly realized that, should [Zhou Zishu] have kept the mask on forever, this was the face he'd have pictured in his heart. Now, seeing this face that exactly matched the one he had pictured, it simply felt like.... meeting again with someone he'd known for a very, very long time.

This, to me, feels like the comforting familiarity of knowing, of understanding a friend, feeling at ease despite the years, the distance; the feeling of meeting a friend IRL for the first time despite knowing them for years, and yet everything clicks--

To me, the beauty in this passage is in how the mask... never really did anything, change anything. Wen Kexing became friends with the person behind the mask, felt this deep connection for this man regardless of what he could look like, and seeing him, now, his face revealed, is that comfort of, yes--I recognize you. It's you.

What I really enjoy in TYK is Wenzhou's companionship, the way they understand each other so profoundly, and their friendship. The fact that they liked each other as people first, that they connected so well despite the odds. This connection between them makes a lot of the feelings mutual, and I feel like this sentence above, part of it is felt by Zhou Zishu as well; and removing his mask, although it is for practical reasons within the context of the story, showing his face to Wen Kexing is a way to affirm trust, both ways. I trust you with my own face, but you can also trust me--because I show you, I welcome you in. This passage... almost feels like a greeting. "Hello again, friend." except they've been tagging along for a while, now.

I used to wonder if Zhou Zishu was nervous about Wen Kexing seeing his face, as I do think he's a bit self-conscious about his frail body and struggles to understand Wen Kexing's big declaration of attraction to him--sort of like, "will he still like me, what will he think of my face?". I don't really stand by that anymore, because my understanding of ZZS has changed since then. It really feels more like, it's fine, we know each other, we're friends anyway now whether I like it or not. I wonder, is he a bit happy that he gets to greet WKX with his real face? He mentions having counted on keeping his mask until he dies, but... ? It's pretty obvious that at this point in the story, ZZS is already deeply fond of WKX, so I can't help but feel like he is happy, deep down, that he gets to make that connection.

For WKX, it must be comforting, but also quite bittersweet. His appreciation, his growing love for ZZS, only comforted by this familiarity, this acknowledgement of companionship, of ease together, while he is so deeply aware that ZZS is condemned... I feel like at this moment, he must want to hug him, to keep him close, and think, I wish I could have him longer, I wish he could stay; for he's the only friend he's ever had, for he never connected with someone like that before.

Now to adress the elephant in the room and jump onto the next topic, I keep saying "friend", "companion". Needless to say that I am well aware that wenzhou have a romantic+ bond, but I just feel like this part highlights this aspect of their relationship that I profoundly cherish. And thus we reach WKX's very famous line:

It's hilarious, perfectly timed, but I especially love how I feel like, rather than highlighting how gorgeous or attractive ZZS could be, this is yet another way for WKX to lighten his own mood, to detach himself from the deeper feelings, the longing, the fondess, the comfort--given how untimely this all is. It hurts, to feel attached to ZZS as a person, because he's going to die soon, while joking about fucking and being gay always works, and it has the benefit to make ZZS flustered.

So yeah, point is, I'm obsessed with that scene.

Also, obligatory reference to the past versions, which I noticed make sort of a nice movement? haha.

I'm not really standing by the first one anymore, but it works in that context!

[web-novel-polls]

Priest (Author) Character Tournament

[“Anti-propaganda” is not allowed. Please only give reasons to vote FOR a character, and please be courteous in the notes.]

Yan Zhengming from Liu Yao: The Revitalization of Fuyao Sect 

"I've grown into this age, but other than this face that my parents had birthed me with, there is nothing on my person that holds any sort of value. What right do I have to change the thousand-year tradition of our sect? In any case, even if the sect tradition makes no sense whatsoever, it's still something left behind by our master."  - Yan Zhengming, The Revitalization of Fuyao Sect, Chapter 38 

[No propaganda submitted]

The “Narcissist” from the description - “A cultivation story about how a declining sect is restored by a narcissist, troublemaker, meanie, idiot, and wimpy kid.”

THE prettiest princess; he’s literally referred to as Niangniang (a term for an imperial concubine) at least once

He is such a materialist who is even described as caring more about money than life, but "When he thought of Cheng Qian, he suddenly felt like there was nothing else that he desired in this life" (Ch.56). 

Wu Xi from Lord Seventh / Qi Ye 

Submission: 

My beloved snake boy!! He goes as a hostage to a foreign land at eleven years old in order to maintain uneasy peace between his country and the empire that colonized them (and on that note, his initial language struggle was so good), then he manages to help keep his love interest safe from thousands of kilometers away via peerless potions skills, then he goes and *wins his nation's freedom* via martial might and court negotiations, and then he heals his man and gets him home. Like bulletpoint by bulletpoint I think he might have actually managed to accomplish the most out of the cast by the end. (Qi Ye is a palace intrigue novel btw, so it's amazing that the one character who had zero patience with palace intrigue was the one who accomplished so much lmao.) And all this while being a 20-something borderline-yandere ML obsessed with his first love. What a man. What a legend. Not to mention his epic healer skills were the reason Zhou Zishu survives Faraway Wanderers. Wenzhou get their happy ending because of him! Also, he hand-raised the most lovable animal sidekick of all time (sable!!!!!) before said sable defected to his husband. Vote for Wu Xi to make sable happy.

[stayuntilthefoglifts]

Little rambling about Justice in the Dark/Silent Reading in 3..2..1...

To be honest, despite having read numerous novels that were later adapted into Chinese dramas, like Kaleidoscope of Death, Guardian, and Faraway Wanderers, which I consider my top three bromance adaptations, I never felt like these were the novels I would read more than one time, as I always do when I truly like the book.

When Justice in the Dark was released, the characters, the actors, and the scenography were reminding me of Guardian, so I gave it a go, and all I can say is that I was INVESTED. Then I saw that it only had 8 episodes, so I looked it up and found the novel and decided to read it as I wanted to know more about characters. Initially, I was hesitant about committing to a series with six books, and to be truthful, I kept putting off reading it. Yet a month ago, once I finally started, I was captivated. I never anticipated being so drawn to the plot, the characters, and the descriptions. The only long series that I was able to reread was Harry Potter, and whenever I heard people rave about other series, I often felt overwhelmed by the number of books and gave up early on. Yet, Silent Reading was a series I devoured in just three days, completely absorbed in the story. I was literally eating dinner and reading it because I wanted to know what comes next, what the characters will do in this difficult situation, and how their relationship will change. As I said, it was a long way when it came to actually reading it, but I don't regret it even a tiny bit. My friends know me as a devoted Potterhead, someone who could talk for hours about the characters and my affection for that series. Lately, I've been the same way about Silent Reading.

When it comes to characters, while it may not be evident in the drama, but Wenzhou is incredibly caring and loving; he would go to great lengths for his friends and for Fei Du, willing to break rules just to ensure their happiness and support them. At the beginning, he wasn’t the character that I would be truly interested in, but starting book 2, I fell in love with him as I started to understand why he is acting towards Fei Du as he is. I mention that this might not be apparent in the cdrama because a friend of mine was surprised to learn just how precious and nurturing Wenzhou is; he’s truly an angel.

As for Fei Du, I believe his portrayal in the cdrama is spot on, capturing his struggles with his parents beautifully, just as depicted in the novels. To be honest, I started watching Justice in the Dark just for Steven Zhang, my favorite chinese actor; his facial expressions alone can convey to the viewer the feelings that accompany the character he plays, and this has always been something that I loved about him. His casting as Fei Du was a brilliant choice; he masterfully portrayed the character's grief for his mother, his resentment towards his father, and the flirtation that might initially seem irritating but, upon deeper understanding, reveals his fear of loneliness. He has friends, don’t get me wrong, but were they truly friends or just people who he would spend time with just to be with someone? When I watched the cdrama, I first thought that he was an ass, a little overconfident boy, but then I understood why he did all that when I read the book.

I truly believe that if the drama wasn't canceled, it would be the best cdrama I've ever watched, as Silent Reading, apart from HP, was the best series I've ever read.

Little ss of the novel (I tried not to spoil anything) just a bit of how caring and cute they are.