#YOU SEE THAT KID IN THE DONGHUA??

[heartinhyacinth]

Thinking about how Xie Lian cared about Hua Cheng when he was basically an orphaned street rat who ruined the ceremonial procession, cared about about him when he was a weak little ghost fire being sold like an object, and cares about him when he’s a king whose power and wealth is unmatched by few in all the three realms.

“If I like you, I don’t care if you’re a beggar. If I hate you, I don’t care if you’re a king. It’s all trivial to me.” (Paraphrased from the donghua because I don’t want to find that page).

I think Hua Cheng must’ve felt silly for a least a second after he was like “but gege…my heartbeat is silent…” because of course Xie Lian would not bat an eye at that. He never has.

I also think it’s funny that Xie Lian is just like ignores appearance, rumors, reputation, social status, etc., “what a neat person; I’m gonna keep them” and Hua Cheng (and banyue, etc) is pleasantly surprised each time, meanwhile fengqing, as his self imposed bodyguards and as people who do take those things with weight, are ripping their hair out at this tendency that is still very much active 800 years later. They thought they got lucky when hong-er ran away and Xie Lian failed to adopt him into their group. Little late, but it still happened haha.

Don’t even get me started on the fact that he’s a scrap god and he collects broken things and gives them a home and purpose and loves them regardless of their state.

Edit - I also think it’s funny that in book one, Xie Lian does all these tests on “San Lang” to see if he’s a ghost and what rank, which come up inconclusive, but he knows this kid is not a normal kid and is most likely the crimson rain sought flower, but like…doesn’t do anything. He doesn’t really care lol, he was just curious (which is so real). He also said he couldn’t do anything if he wanted to but I think he just…didn’t want to. Why would he? He’s hot and nice to him and helps clean his shrine.

[ghostofthepresent]

Why I think Shiguang can be canonically read as romantic

(I will only be using the donghua for reference, so no Studio Lan retweeting those fanarts (lmao) nor those especially gay manhwa panels (lmao x2) nor even the songs ("chase you to the end of the world, just to say your name once more" my beloved).

It's important to start off by saying that I'm aware Director Li said they ended up not making Lu Guang a girl because they didn't want romance to be seen as a must in Shiguang's relationship by the audience (and because he feels that "bros can have a good heart-to-heart connection with each other"). In my opinion that was a great move since it allows more freedom with how they write them than they'd have otherwise. I also think viewing Shiguang as queerplatonic is a great read too and it doesn't diminish their love for each other nor the importance of their relationship at all.

With that said, despite Director Li's words, there's been things that had me going 🤨 as someone who likes to adhere to canon relationships and read into the writer's intentions, so I wanted to share why I personally see them as romantic.

EPISODE 2

We've all seen this coming, right? Most obvious parallel ever, and in the second episode no less. We all know the similarities between both relationships, so I will just touch on those I consider the most important ones.

Lin Zhen and Yu Xia have gone to college together, and since then decided to start a business of their own - named after a mix of their names. They've been shown as being really close and having no romantic relationships. Lin Zhen also says that Yu Xia's happiness is her own, and then it's shown to us that she's gone through years of unhappiness just for Yu Xia. I believe you can replace their names with Lu Guang's and Cheng Xiaoshi's in your head without me writing all this again. And I'm not even going to get into the most obvious parallels like the special noodle recipe for each pair.

I think it's safe to say that Lin Zhen and Yu Xia are implied to be romantic. From that "one noodle" scene, to the close shot of Lin Zhen grabbing her hand, etc.

Now, I want to get into a writer's point of view and pose two questions:

1. What's the purpose of this episode, when even those which seem episodic connect to the overarching plot of season 1 (even the missing kid's case, as it leads to the involvement with the police)?

2. If we answer the previous question with the conclusion that it's meant to show us the nature/development of Cheng Xiaoshi's and Lu Guang's relationship, what does that say about it?

"Partner" in Link Click

Continuing with episode 2, what really got me thinking about the romantic intentions in their writing was the constant mention of marriage and anything in relation to it.

(may I remind everyone that the driver's comment was said when Cheng Xiaoshi was complaining about Lu Guang lmao)

They're telling us through "show don't tell" (for example, when Lin Zhen kept on eating the noodle despite knowing they'd kiss) and, also, connotations. They are presented to us as business partners, but then the entire episode goes on to tell us that there's more to them by tying their relationship to things percived as romantic. So what they want to really tell us is that beyond simple business partners, they're life-long partners.

And then, after establishing this kind of connotation to the word partner, Cheng Xiaoshi says this to Lu Guang in the next episode:

This doesn't stop at them. While it's the most obvious example, I think partnership in Link Click is intended to be seen as romantic, or at the very least dancing somewhere close to it. Let's go even further and take a look at our fully canon, heterosexual relationships and see briefly how their story is written:

1. Dong Yi and Xu Shanshan: both of them chose the comfort of each other's presence over moving on with their respective futures. Dong Yi had so much faith in their relationship and their love that he couldn't choose a life/future that didn't have Xu Shanshan - choosing to not go back to his family home nor go to that interview, and instead waiting for Xu Shanshan to define their relationship.

2. Liu Siwen and Ouyang: Siwen spent his entire life training with the purpose of getting his father-in-law's respect and marry Ouyang, going every year over and over to fight him. His perseverance and his undying love for her allowed Siwen to do the (seemingly) impossible.

3. Chen Bin and his wife: they're a tragedy. His wife understood Chen Bin the best, enduring feeling lonely because she loved him and wanted a future with him. But their relationship was cut short, so they promised each other to be together in a future life to make up for the time they wouldn't be in this one.

With this + the pictures I attached, it seems like Link Click has set this theme of "love is a life with you" for its romantic relationships, a partner that will fight to stay because they can't see a future that doesn't have their beloved. Going back to episode two, this applies even to the noodle ladies. When Yu Xia remembered what actually matters to her, she went back home - to the start, to her hometown. And, most importantly, to Lin Zhen.

So why is Shiguang romantic? Why aren't they queerplatonic, or just best friends, or bros or whatever else? Because besides what I said at the start of the previous paragraph, Shiguang's relationship mirrors a lot of the romantic ones. Each story and author writes romance and other kinds of relationships differently, portraying them in the way they perceive "this is what this kind of love is like". And beyond life-long partners, I think that the key elements of romantic relationships in Link Click are the ones I highlighted in bold above in the 3 canon relationships part - which Shiguang shares, too.

(I didn't mention this before with the het couples, but I find it a little amusing that season 2 happened because a man wanted to go to the past and get his wife back (still fuck you Qian Jin) and then we find out Lu Guang did go back to the past and got his boyfriend partner back lmao).

"Friend" vs "Partner"

So where is the boundary between platonic and romantic? What marks the difference between a (best) friend and a partner?

There is, for example, Liu Xiao and Li Tianchen's relationship. They aren't shown to have any kind of romantic undertones and there's even the very real possibility of manipulation on Liu Xiao's side. They're also never labeled as nor call each other partners, but instead Li Tianchen says he "met a new friend" and Liu Xiao says he's "going to meet an old friend" years later. So we could say for now that they have a somewhat close relationship (we see Li Tianchen go against Qian Jin to give the phone to Liu Xiao), but never cross that "friend" label.

We can even bring Qiao Ling and the boys' relationship. She's never labeled as a partner despite taking part in the side job and, more importantly, being super close to both of them. She is very important and a cherished friend to Shiguang, so why not call her partner too? I think it's intentional. Since she's been given a familial role already (calling Cheng Xiaoshi her brother when talking to Li Tianxi), she can't fill a partner role. I wonder why? because it's supposed to be a synonym for a romantic relationship. who said that.

So even best friends (Qiao Ling, arguably what Liu Xiao is to Li Tianchen) don't enter this close space that is being a partner. It's different, it's beyond platonic. Or at least that's what they've been showing us for the past two seasons.

I could go soo much more into this honestly, because I do think the little hints thrown here (the music videos) and there (tiny seemingly inconsequential details) are worth to be looked at too, but I wanted to get into the core reason that makes me go "woah so they're In Love fr". I hope I expressed myself well ^^

tldr; the series shows us a divide between having a (best) friend and a partner, giving "partners" romantic connotations.

[weeb-polls-with-pip]

Morally Questionable Anime Milfs Submission Form

No mommy's perfect.

Welcome to the morally questionable anime milfs competition, where we pit hot moms who have made controversial choices against one another.

Fictional characters only please.

The term ‘anime’ is used loosely for simplicity’s sake. Manga, visual novels, manhua, manhwa, donghua, etc. are also allowed. If you have a question about a specific character, just ask. Or go ahead and submit them anyway, and if I don’t feel they fit, I just won’t include them.

Y'all know what milf means. I don't think I need to explain that one. Do feel free to tell me about your milf's sexiest qualities though.

Not limited to biological mothers—as long as the character fills a maternal role, it's fine.

This is NOT the place to submit outright abusive mothers (towards children, at least). The mom must genuinely care about their kid(s)/charge(s) and be someone who is not intentionally malicious. I would say it is alright to submit a 'bad mom with good intentions' who is trying their best, but still messing up, or a character that is a very good mother, but who's moral ambiguity arises from reasons Beyond their parenting. Example being the 'villain who's an excellent parent' trope. Just explain your reasoning to me, and I'll use my own discretion if I feel the character crosses a line.

I have not yet decided the bracket size, and will do so once I see the final submission count.

Some level of horniness in the propaganda is expected, but I will urge you guys try and keep things at a PG-13 level. Here's everyone's advisory notice now: Don't follow this particular competition if this type of content makes you uncomfortable.

Poll propaganda can be submitted through the ask box, replied directly on poll posts, or made as separate posts and then tagged with the blog name. Just be sure to keep things civil.

I'll keep the form open until June 15th. Have at it!

[user-needs-new-hyperfixation]

In the novel (as opposed to the donghua, where he seems a bit younger) Tian Sheng with the merchant caravan is about the same age Hua Cheng is pretending to be. And also calls Xie Lian "gege" and kind of hangs on his every word. And you might expect that to be a setup for some goofy competitiveness, but instead there's this little bit:

Tian Sheng continued, "If not for you, I would've gotten thrown into that pit by that bunch of ugly ghost soldiers. When I get home, I'll build you a temple and worship you." Xie Lian watched him pat his chest and make "very big, very big" hand gestures, and couldn't help but let out a laugh. He smiled. "Then thank you." San Lang was standing to the side, and he chuckled lightly for some unknown reason. Xie Lian didn't think it was because he thought a child's naive words were ridiculous.

Like. I imagine Hua Cheng sees himself in this kid, and is also just very pleased by anyone offering Xie Lian worship, and it's cute.

[robby-bobby-tommy]

Honestly, I can't stress enough how important the theme of family is in mdzs. IMO it is the main theme of the book. Of course romance and devotion is important, but there's something so special about the way families are portrayed in mdzs and how important they are. (I watched donghua and read some of manhua btw)

Let's start with sibling relationships:

The whole plot started because of love for a brother and rage for how unjust his death was. The whole Cloud Recesses arc is an amazing set up for Wangxian etc, but it also shows the complicated yet sweet relationship between WWX and JC. How they both care so much about each other, how they tease each other. IMO JC did see WWX as a brother and loved him as such. Every time he scolds Wei Ying, it's always about Wei Ying's safety. Usually it's not "How dare you use demonic cultivation, you're gonna get our clan in danger", it's " If you keep it up, I won't be able to protect you". Even during the Wen invasion, the they're still together, they sacrifice themselves to save another. And don't get me started about Jiang Yanli, she loves her brothers very much. Despite Madam Yu creating a competition between the boys or Jiang Fengmian's lack of action and even enablement of WWX' dangerous and irresponsible behavior, they still love each other. I can ramble about yunmeng trio so much, but in short despite everything they went through, they cared for each other deeply. After Jiang Yanli's death everything changes, because imo the boys fully internalized Madam Yu's last words. WWX bring pain and destruction to Yunmeng. I think I need to stop, or we'll be here all day.

Or, another example: Nie bros. Nie Mingjue had to basically raise A-sang. They do deeply care about each other, and despite everything they'll be here for each other. Yet the desire to protect NHS from sad reality of golden core and qi deviation, their relationship soured a little. But it's obvious even for an outsider like WWX, that NMJ loves his brother. He pressures NHS, because he feels that he's starting to lose it. He wants to prepare his little bro to be a decent leader and to live without him. And NHS literally makes it his life mission to avenge his Dage even if it means having a blood on his hands.

Lan brothers show a good brother relationship. Lan Xichen supports LWJ in everything he does. Even his love for WWX. He gets protective, when he thinks WWX is laughing at LWJ's feelings. Lan Zhan is deeply saddened when his brother is missing and helps him discover the truth about his best friend's death. They're almost perfect siblings. (Plus they're super funny when drunk).

MXTX deserves an award for writing so many different sibling dynamics. And that's not all, she also portrays this different parental relationship so interesting.

Like, the nephews you didn't want, but care so much about, that you don't want them to suffer like their father did (Lan Qiren and this family drama); the kid of your husband's unrequited love, whom he seemingly loves more than your own children (Yunmeng Jiang happy house), JGS and the myriad of the kids he has ect. I love this variety so much.

I just love so much how MDZS has so much themes. Every time I think about MDZS, I find more and more interesting points and moments that change my perception of the characters. Every character is so humain and has their own motivation, that I can't truly hate some of them (apart from Wen Chao, his mistress and JGS, they suck).

TLDR: MXTX is a queen of writing complex human characters.

[inconsistentartistuwu]

Part 2 of ✨me predicting what happens in MDZS donghua and pissing my friend off bc of it✨ keep in mind this aren’t in chronological order cause my brain is weird LOL

CW: Cussing, a lot of cussing lol

-Introduction to Jiang Cheng for the first time.

Me- “Why is he build like a fucking dilf?- HIS AN UNCLE?!”

Friend- “He kinda is a dilf LNAKFHSKBD”

*Sees younger Jiang Cheng and his anger issues*

Me- “YOU CANNOT TELL ME HE ISNT CHIHUAHUA MATERIAL WITH THAT BABY FACE OF HIS AND HIS ANGER ISSUES!”

Friend- “HIS FUCKING GOT TRAUMA HE CANT BE A CHIHUAHUA”

Me- “Bro got it from his mama I bet”

*Meets Madame Yun and her anger issues*

Me- “OH HE DID GET IT FROM HIS MAMA I WAS JOKING-“

Friend- “LOL”

————

-Lan Xinchen starting to suspect WWX

Me- “Oh this person for sure knows his WWX”

LWJ looking lovingly at WWX

Friend- “QUEEEERS”

————

-Yi city arc begins and meets “Xiao Xingchen” for the first time

Me- “His so fake.”

Friend: “No his not”

*Later with the reveal*

Me- “SO I WAS RIGHT HA!”

Friend- “Do you hate fun that much?”

————

-Sees Jiang Yanli for the first time

Friend- “That’s the older sister, she’s the sweetest person in this show!”

Me- “She dies doesn’t she?”

Friend- “…”

Me-“PFFT”

Friend-“…fuck you.”

————

Lan Xinchen having a bromance with Jin Guangyao

Me- “…are the Lan brothers gay?? Like both of them??Cause I feel like I should NOT be here”

Friend- “HAIFBWKD”

————

-Sees Jin Guangshan for the first time during the hunt

Me- “Bro his so pretty…”

Friend- “His a fuck boy”

Me- “Of course he is”

————

-LWJ iconic “Come to Gusu with me”

Me- “WWX STOP BEING A FUCKING EMO BOY AND SAY YES! HIS PROPOSING!”

Friend- “HA!”

————

LWJ tying WWX with his forehead ribbon and showing the juniors.

Me- “Its always the silent ones that are the freakiest”

Friend- “His even worse in the novels. Man’s a full on f r e a k for WWX”

Me- “Im immediately buying the entire set”

————

-During the raid of the Nightless City and Jin Guangyao backstabs the Wen leader.

Me- “…Oooooo his about to backstab everyone isn’t he?”

Friend- “I’m about to stab you if you don’t stop-“

————

ANOTHER bromance

Me- “ARE YOU SURE THEY ARENT FUCKING?! I KNOW THAT LOOK ON LAN XINCHEN”

Friend- “His a bit fruity-“

Me- “The closet is made out of glass bro. I cannot deal with two different couples verbally edging each other for the entire series.”

————

Granny holding up the plushie to Lan Sizhui.

Me- “Omfg I’m dumb. THATS THE KID THEY ADOPTED?!”

Friend: “YEEEEEEEP”

And that’s all I remember. I’ll ask my friend is she remembers anymore and if she does expect a part 3 LMAO I enjoy making these

[ninjakk]

A friend who, unfortunately, likes JC defended him a lot to me when I was first watching the donghua then read the novels. Perfectly honest, I thought he was a loser but my friend kept defending him for being able to pull the Jiang sect together after the LP massacre but...I don't know? Did he really? wasn't it more WWX's reputation that pulled the sect up and high? Is JC actually a good leader? I have trouble seeing that

Hi anon 😊

Ah yes, I have been there as well unfortunately!

Although I was respectful of their opinion, it seems we no longer talk haha 😆 Perhaps it was something to do with the time they claimed JC hunting down and torturing innocent people who used guidao was "just a baseless rumour" - to which I casually responded with proof it was certainly not a rumour. I mean, JC literally encouraged JL to kill them and feed them to his dog for a start 😂 I don't think that was a joke in the slightest lmao. Honestly, I didn't expect them to take offence at the evidence proving otherwise, since we enjoyed discussing the novel and debating such things anyway! But, hey-ho!

Hmm, the whole "restoring the Jiang sect to its former glory" debate is a major source of discourse between MDZS fans! I mean, JC did join forces with the Twin Jades of Lan and launch a surprise attack on the Wens in order to secure their confiscated swords. Which I have to say, I always found so hypocritical and two faced of him to do... You know, considering he not only unjustly blamed LWJ for everything that happened to LP, but even wished WWX had left him and JZX to die in the cave prior to the attack as well! And he calls WWX shameless...

But even so, JC seems to have worked hard in the three months WWX was missing. Attacking the Wens supervisory offices and hunting down WC alongside LWJ and the respective cultivators under their command. Even WWX praised his efforts when they were all reunited. So credit where credit is due, I guess.

That being said, it works both ways! WWX's efforts should not be ignored either - which I often find the case whenever JC is praised for his accomplishments regarding the Jiang sect. WWXs new cultivation path is what helped them gain an upper hand during the Sunshot campaign, he garnered much praise and admiration during the war - it was only in the aftermath that people began to turn against him, especially seeing the obvious lack of loyalty or protection from JC. But WWXs guidao most certainly helped rebuild the sect's reputation and enticed new disciples as well. JC even gave his blessing for WWX to showcase his cultivation during the Mount Baifeng night-hunt, in order to recruit even more disciples! So I agree with you, WWX's new cultivation path was one of the driving forces in helping elevate the sect to its former glory, perhaps even beyond.

As for whether JC is a good sect leader? Honestly? No.

Evidence would suggest otherwise, in my opinion. Some like to pretend JC is the beloved sect leader of Yunmeng - but that's far from the case. He's made the sect less approachable, closed its doors to the public and scared away those seeking help on matters he doesn't deem worthy of his attention.

The general public seem frightened of him because of his awful personality and the fact they have witnessed him torturing innocent people. His own disciples seem to feel like they have to walk on eggshells around him and be careful of his famous temper. He seems more focused on pushing JL beyond his limits and imposing his own insecurities on the poor kid than actually helping others with their problems. When he's not doing that, he's off hunting down his latest unsuspecting victims to torture and do god knows what to!

So no, I don't consider him to be a particularly good sect leader, his priorities do not align with what I (or I would assume most others) would consider as such. A great leader is able to get along with others and inspire their disciples. They should also be able to secure backing from the general public by being present and approachable when issues arise.

Let's put it this way - LWJ was given the title 'Hanguang-jun' a title befitting of how the public perceive him, righteous and willing to help others. JC also has a title, that of 'Sandu Shengshou', which is in relation to a Buddhist saying regarding the three poisons - the root of all turmoil. Certainly not a good public image to have! Even the general tone of anyone talking about him isn't overly respectful - people rarely call him by his courtesy name unless they are addressing him directly. Otherwise, it's his birth name, which of course, is highly disrespectful unless you are very familiar with said person. MXTX made a deliberate choice for the public to call him 'Jiang Cheng' instead, so it is certainly significant and shows us that he is not well respected or liked by the general public and even other cultivators! This is in the first few chapters as well! All in order to set the tone of how JC is perceived. I mean, even the narrator (which is of course a stand alone entity/person and not WWX as many wrongly assume) calls him JC instead 😂

Overall, I think JC did put effort into building his sect up again, but WWX certainly deserves equal credit for that as well. That being said, it doesn't alter the fact he's not a very good leader in the sense I would consider, and I think that's been made more than apparent in the text as well.

[pastorfutureletthembe]

Down into the VORTEX: the Curve Theory

I mentioned the Curve theory in a meta before but I wanted to dive even deeper into the fuckery of it.

I'll remind you what I call a Curve so you're all up to speed (cf: Rick and Morty):

The curve basically walls off the infinite number of universes, in which INSERT CANONICAL NODE happens, from the rest of the infinite multiverse. A model often used to explain is that the definition of a Finite Curve has no set parameters; it's just wholly random and infinite therefore can be represented as a repeating, immeasurable shape modeled with a circle. A Finite Curve would then present a finite collection of dimensions.

How is it relevant to Link Click? Well, I'm glad you asked.

I argued in the past that cakes on promotional artworks could represent curves and each curve would have hypothetically 12 repeats to offer. This is a conclusion I came to after my treasure hunt for the 5th timeline (for which I keep finding daily proofs of, by the way).

For the sake of understanding exactly how it can apply to Link Click lore, let me walk you through the basis.

Rick&Morty season 6 // Link Click BREAK! PV Note: I'm using this analogy because it is the most accurate way to bring you where I want.

By the way, we kinda already saw what resembles a curve according to the LCverse

BREAK!

If you count the circles, you'll find that five different rings turn around Saturn in BREAK! PV.

This being established, since the purpose of a Curve is to put a set of timelines sharing the same parameters together, I will argue the LINK here is a canonical unchangeable node. You guessed it:

Cheng Xiaoshi's death.

But honeslty, I don't believe that CXS is supposed to die in every possible universe - and for the sake of the argument, let's assume he isn't.

Actually, when we see flashes of him dying in LG's arms, my first thought was the first one to change the timeline and die doing it was probably CXS; that's why LG freaked out when his friend took a shot for Qiao Ling.

But let's review LG's side of everything first, shall we?

LG used up 4 pictures to save his friend

LG's ultimate goal is to save Cheng Xiaoshi's life and he failed four times. Death is supposed to be an unchangeable node and LG knows that by trying to keep it from happening, he will destroy time itself. Does he care? (/rethorical)

We know little about his previous dives, except that either he never made it this far or Li Tianchen and Li Tianxi weren't part of the timelines he knew. And, CXS died in his arms at some point, giving him access to his Back In Time power, alike what happened between Li Tianxi and Qiao Ling.

Here are some theories about them though:

If the Live Action reveals itself to be canon, it could be the Prime Timeline for Lu Guang. (We'll know for sure by the end of the month, I guess.)

In the Manhua, LG is protective and affectionate around CXS, in a very melancolic way. I'm not kidding, he's so soft it hurts.

The Daily Life in Lightime happens in another timeline and we can actually point out the moment Lu Guang dives in.

This time around, LG went and met CXS earlier than in the original timeline. (//Live Action)

It could be a coincidence that Lu Guang's character is more and more bored as we go through these examples. Keep an open mind here.

Lu Guang from the LCLA has dark hair but the promotional poster show one photograph of him with white hair. Why? There are so many jokes on LG's age in the donghua but mostly: he is so frail and remains in a sitting position if he can help it. Just like in Dive Back In Time, where he's the only one not standing. The man is exhausted. I'm just saying, perhaps his white hair isn't supposed to be white and the fact we see him with dark hair only in LCLA, played by a man of flesh, could be THE clue hidden in plain sight that this version is the original.

Note: I purposefully didn't include the musical here. The repetition of the media itself is quite interesting. Every performance is unique but the script itself is the same. It could very well be a curve on its own. Just a idea, nothing consistent.

What tells us LG isn't at his first dive is the music! Now, I won't go too deep into it because I really want to craft ONE post about this particular topic. Dive Back in Time and VORTEX are the most obvious because most of us probably never skip the intro, aaaand we get it: they are doomed by the narrative.

So yeah, this is basically why I call those "chances":

Overthink

3 more to go

Qiao Ling's birthday // Dive Back In Time

If you pay attention to the titlescreen, you'll notice free spaces in the center of the circle. By the end of the opening, one is filled, hinting that this picture has been used.

There are other winks on the number 3:

Cause I'm about to lose my- Cause I'm about to lose my- Cause I'm about to lose my mind >> Dive Back in Time When my friend are holding hands, heading into abyss I ran my lungs out so I wouldn't have missed But I missed, I missed, I missed >> Keep in Mind So what's that sound sound sound Spinning all night long long long Temperature goes down down down Got my mind feelin' drown drown drown >> The Tides

Let's assume that there are three chances left at the begining of the show. We still don't know when the inner monologue at the end of season 2 happens on the timeline, but LG mentioned his "last chance" to save CXS. The synopsis for Yingdu Chapter announced CXS died, as if it was common knowlegde (I love them for their audacity).

Are those the three last chances? To be continued.

The One True Curve

All these timelines happened inside the same Curve. Now, why do I think there ARE other curves to begin with when we already had to work so hard to get this far?

The camera isn't the same depending on who, Lu Guang or Cheng Xiaoshi, is taking the picture. The reflection changing is a way to show alternative timelines, which is different from repeats. It is a common visual clue, FOX used this technique to promote their show FRINGE for example (2 different universes crashing into each other).

There are some visuals with several clocks (I'll make a post per PV one day eventually). The first one shows a lot of different broken clocks and two merged ones as the biggest, central. This is our current curve. Our three protagonists and the antagonists are fighting over it; Light against the Shadows, as bilibili's accounts often dub the artworks. This could be our time paradox. On the second screenshot, the word LEAVE is over distorded clocks, fracturing space. Also a hint on several other realities, which have probably been left behind.

Train Trail // XETROVerthink

About that, the Vortex concept can be associated with a way to travel from one curve to another. Lots of science-fiction tvshows use this tool (Star Gate or SLIDERS).

The general idea is that, in the center of another curve the unchangeable node is different: Cheng Xiaoshi is the one trying to save Lu Guang's life.

There is of course, another explanation, just as valid as the Curve Theory: they are repeating this cycle of saving their friend over and over again. Once they run out of repeats, they die and the other go back in time to save them, completely unaware of the repeats; turning the hourglass over once again. The biggest clue for this one is... Well, the hourglass, for obvious reasons.

Link Click BREAK! PV // XETROVerthink

In XETROVerthink, we have LG appearing in the hourglass, probably in a bad shape, drowning perhaps, and CXS is swimming to him to save him; it's his turn. They are both unaware of their predicament.

By the end of BREAK! CXS's hair also turns white. It implies that he, too, went through many repeats to change their fate.

~

That's all folks! Of course I'm not close to other theories. I find the Curve Theory pretty cool. I would like to see them fight to actually get out of this canonical node, and find a place for themselves when they live their best idiots life.

I also have many additional thoughts about all of it: (Edit: you can find the meta here)

Some character presentations also hint at more than five repeats. Five repeats would be the current score for Lu Guang but Cheng Xiaoshi would have a higher number.

Some PVs enlight V for Lu Guang but X for Cheng Xiaoshi.

Some promotional posters or even VORTEX show LG and CXS as each other's reflection, as if separated by glass or water.

I'll will post more about it but 'nough said for now haha

[moononmyfloor]

Dashing Youth Ep 15-16: Master Li

So I have some thoughts about Master Li and need to compile them, please note that I have only seen BoY and all the available eps of Dashing Youth, but none of the donghuas or the novels. This commentary is purely based on the observations from the drama, I might change my thoughts in the future and those who know the canon, please don't spoil me on his character arc!

I actually "love" Master Li's character, as in I really appreciate seeing a properly done grey character. Actual morally ambiguous characters are quite hard to come by.

He's all fun and games and nice and kind, but only if he feels like it.

He explicitly stated he doesn't give a damn if the kids who are participating in the entrance exam for his school are in mortal danger, he doesn't really care if unauthorised people infiltrated the premises because such is the nature of martial arts world anyway.

Like, wow.

He couldn't care less when two students dissappeared right in front of his eyes, and the only reason he waited for Ye Dingzhi was because Dongjun wanted to wait, and he wanted Dongjun, because Dongjun was a student who wasn't grovelling at the feet of him in respect and that piqued his attention. (His older students have repeatedly commented on this before, that the Master only keeps intriguing disciples and not necessarily the most talented. And he especially seem to like kids who don't give him much importance, such as Xie Xuan, because it makes him go like: How? Why?)

Upon finding about Dingzhi's identity, I feel like he decided to help safely escort Dingzhi out of the city not because he really cared for the kid, but because he wanted to reassure Dongjun and keep him away from the trouble plus if Dingzhi was captured, the unrest from years ago might potentially repeat and that would be headache-inducing.

When he told Dingzhi that he should be stronger and return to save Wenjun, it WAS the truth, yes. But did he necessarily wanted the poor girl to be saved? I don't think so. He just wanted to convince Dingzhi to leave and Wenjun to let Dingzhi go. (And not to mention just how borderline creepy and unempathetic it was of him to circle around that imprisoned young girl and say "I can see why men thirst over you, if I was 100 yrs younger I'd be the same.")

When Dingzhi and Dongjun had their reunion and were spouting promises of youthful optimism and future heroisms, he stood by side shaking his head about the pointless sentimentality.

When Dongjun was asking Lei Mengsha why Shifu was always busy doing this and that and not teaching him, Lei Mengsha answered that you learn things on your own, by being your shifu he only bestowed you the privilege of being able to boast that you were his apprentice in the future, it was simply the cherry on the top to this character's design.

That last scene in ep 16 was

A

M

A

Z

I

N

G

But you basically sealed the fate of martial artists with that hubris 🥲 It was badass but incredibly unwise. You angered the Emperor and now the future generation will have to deal with the repercussions.

He's not your quirky fun grandpa who will always have your back when you are in danger. He's a bored af immortal who's humanity and heart is slowly eroding away and will only help you not really out of kindness but because he thought you were amusing enough. Jeebus. And this actor plays him to a tee, unassuming sagely old man at first glance, apathetic and insufferable on closer inspection.

In fact, it was sad to see how these young martial artists, full of hopes for adventurous futures do not have any adult who actually care about their troubles (Dongjun does, but they are back at home. Changfeng's shifu is lovely but he's a recluse), except for those who find they are amusing/want to use them for their own agendas. The only people who care are some more kids who are only a little bit more older than them. 🫠

[fairyfantasma]

i'm on a mission to read the 70+ books/series on my tbr so this list will probably change and evolve but here are some of my current favorite characters of all time ! (lmk what some of yours are !)

part 1: book characters

Lucie Herondale (Official Art by Charlie Bowater, The Last Hours series by Cassandra Clare): she's so me, she's silly, she's a writer, she writes borderline erotic fanfiction about her best friend, she sees and controls ghosts, she's the daughter of my favorite characters so she is my favorite character ^3 (cubed) (herongraystairs) <3.

Princess Leia (Art from Star Wars #12 by Stuart Immonen. "Leia, Princess of Alderaan" by Claudia Gray): i love leia in general but in this book my love for her grew x10000. she was 16 and so so angry at everything and the way she grew into her role as a rebel was >>> plus her dynamic with amilyn holdo was delightful. hot take: they should have kissed...

Xie Lian (Image from Heaven Official's Blessing Donghua Adaptation, TGCF aka "Heaven Official's Blessing" by MXTX): The only male character i've ever said HES SO MEEE to, largely cause he's a cancer zodiac like me <3 ascended at 17, went from a crown prince to the god of misfortune and scraps :'(, a virgin for 800+ years, abandoned by everyone except his 1 believer, was banished from the heavens TWICE but ascended three times, cursed, hit rock bottom and then hit it again and then hit it again, nevertheless he chooses to be kind, just wants to help people, he never knows whether to laugh or cry, he's suffered more than jesus, he's so tragic i love him.

Inej Ghafa (Official art for SDCC by Kevin Wada, Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo) : also a cancer zodiac like me hehe (automatically if a character's sign is cancer they get promoted in my brain it seems...) she endured unspeakable horrors and survived, she's a spy, skilled with knives aka the best weapon, she still has faith despite it all and she's so determined to live the best life she can, she's kind !! but also deadly!! so in conclusion, thee best character in the grishaverse + she's called "wraith" aka ghost and ghosts are kinda my thing <3

NEIL JOSTEN (Art from Dazzlingbookishshop special edition cover for The Foxhole Court by @polartss, AFTG series by Nora Sakavic): *SCREAMS* he's my everything. another character who has suffered more than jesus. no one gets him like i get him. most main character to ever main character. i love you paranoid characters who are always running but find a reason to stay <\3. i love his selflessness and his intelligence and his cockiness and his desperation. i love a bunch of aftg characters (most recently jean) but neil is neil. best thing to ever happen to me. no further comment. i can't think of anything else to say i just LOVE him. (and yes him and andrew are the epitome of love)

Annabeth Chase (Fan Art of Annabeth Chase by @madicanart, PJO series by Rick Riordon): ANOTHER ONE (cancer zodiac) my first love. i wanted to be her so bad as a kid. she had curly hair and i have curly hair so i was like YES she's me (she + hermione were my idols). i wore owl-themed jewelry for years cause of her. another smart, kind, and not to be messed with character <3 she was afraid of spiders, and often too prideful, and was always wanting to make her mom proud, and had a complicated relationship with her father. all of that hit a little too close to home :') + her wanting to be an architect in order to build something permanent .. shatters my heart to this day.

Citra Terranova (Scythe Official Bookmark art created for @milleetunlivres_box by @kat_adara, Arc of a Scythe series by Neal Shusterman): her character arc is probably my favorite character arc to this day, she went from a somewhat bratty girl with low empathy to the most empathetic scythe. smart, kind, and strong-willed, she said "i vow to become the change that could have been" and then she did !! seeing how much she grew as a person from book 1 to book 2 was incredible. book 3 was a bit of a letdown but citra's character was still the highlight for me.

Blue Sargent AND Ronan Lynch (Official Art from The Raven Cycle Graphic Novel Adaptation Art by Sas Milledge, The Raven Cycle Series by Maggie Stiefvater): i tried to only pick one character per fandom but they're a package deal for me !!! I LOVE THEM SO MUCHHHHHH !!! they're the most characters to ever character, where else can i find an amplifying half-tree manic pixie alt girl from a family of psychics and a eldrich horror gay catholic farmer. don't get me wrong, i love all of the raven cycle gang but these two spoke to me deep in my soul. like i need to be their friend so badly, i would give anything !!

Benji Ovich (Fanart of Benji Ovich by painacotta, Beartown by Fredrik Backman): the newest edition to my fav characters list. beartown made me cry so much my tearducts no longer produced tears and i got a dehydration headache. i'm not yet done with the series but he's the tragic type of character that i know is going to wreak my psyche and destroy my spirit. raised by women, has a bear tattoo, described as "the boy with the most handsome face, saddest eyes, and the wildest heart they've ever seen". my heart is already broken for him.

sidenote: MORE PEOPLE NEED TO READ BEARTOWN AND DRAW FANART, WE'RE STARVING

runner ups: julian blackthorn from the dark artifices series, PERCY JACKSON !!!, tarisai from raybearer, & zoya nazyalensky from the king of scars duology

& special mention for my resident insane girls: pip fitz-amobi from agggtm, mara dyer from the mara dyer series, lissa dragomir from the vampire academy books, & juliette ferrars from shatter me

[canary3d-obsessed]

Restless Rewatch: The Untamed, Episode 36 part two

(Masterpost) (Pinboard)  (whole thing on AO3)

Warning! Spoilers for All 50 Episodes!

Breakfast Al Fresco

After a nightmare about falling into the burial mounds, Wei Wuxian wakes up all misty.

I guess this is supposed to be sweat, but sweat is usually not distributed in a fine spray over the surface of a person’s face like this, at least not the kind that happens while you sleep. My fellow menopausal people can attest to this.

For the first and probably last time in their lives, Wei Wuxian is up for breakfast before Lan Wangji. 

This means that we, not Lan Wangji, get to watch him eat. 

What? I’m a simple woman with simple interests.

(more behind the cut!)

I Sit And Watch the Children Play

While he eats his breakfast, Wei Wuxian watches a group of kids playing “Sunshot Campaign,” complete with shooting toy arrows at a kite that represents the sun. A reference, presumably, to that kite that Wang Lingjiao used as an excuse to attack Lotus Pier.

Doing things I used to do They think are new

Wei Wuxian smiles with genuine pleasure, watching these small fry play-acting the central trauma of his and his peers’ lives; only the mention of Jin Zixuan’s death brings his mood down. 

He appears to carry his damage very lightly, but we know that this bright morning began with a nightmare. Perhaps every morning begins that way, but he is an expert at clearing his mind and embracing The “Now” of Wolf Thought the  present moment. 

Seeing kiddie Hanguang-Jun and Jiang Cheng cheers him right back up again. Kudos to whoever was in charge of casting kids in this show. I particularly love baby Nie Mingjue’s big boss energy. 

BBNMJ: Don’t make me shank you

The kiddos do a good job of embodying the conflicts of the cultivation world, roleplaying a bunch of guys trying to be in charge while smack-talking the other guys who want to be in charge. 

Wei Wuxian politely asks the kids where’s Yiling Laozu? which sets up a gag in which their...nanny? shows up and hollers at them and they call her Yiling Laozu and run away. It’s funny and it does illustrate Wei Wuxian’s ongoing bad reputation. 

It misses an opportunity, though, to show us a cute baby Yiling Laozu like the one we see in the Donghua. 

There’s Got To Be A Morning After

Lan Wangji finally emerges from the inn, and proceeds to have more facial expressions in 60 seconds than he usually has in an hour.

Wei Wuxian has a good time teasing him about his drunkenness, while managing not to actually tell him any of the things that happened, other than their discussion about rabbits. 

Note that this conversation is even more entertaining if you mentally substitute the word “ass” for the word “rabbit.” 

Trust Me

Wei Wuxian mercifully changes the subject, asking Lan Wangji if he recognized the Ghost-Masked guy’s sword style. Lan Wangji doesn’t remember anything from last night except the sword fight, which is very on brand for him. He loves: sword fighting, rules, and Wei Wuxian, not in that order.

Wei Wuxian, because he has a perception bonus of +10, noticed that the dude put a spell on his sword to disguise it, meaning that he and his sword must both be well-known cultivators. He also noticed that the dude knew Lan Clan sword moves. Wei Wuxian very gently asks if the guy is someone that Lan Wangji knows. 

Lan Wangji thinks for a moment and says No. Wei Wuxian accepts his answer so readily that Lan Wangji is taken aback, and thinks that WWX doesn’t believe him. 

He asks if Wei Wuxian trusts/believes/believes in him, using the same word,信, that we looked at in Episode 33, and that will come up again in a couple more places. 

Wei Wuxian reassures him, although his reasoning--that Hanguang-Jun has never spoken a lie--is not 100% correct. Unless we think he really was night hunting in Yiling all those years ago. 

At this point the Qiankun bag of Plot Convenience tells them to mosey along to scenic Yi City.

An Inauspicious Place

When they approach their destination, we get to see the more mellow side of their camaraderie; their interaction has a lot of the flavor of their first road trip together, but with more maturity and mutual respect. As in the old days, Wei Wuxian handles the social interactions, talking to a dude by the road to get directions, while Lan Wangji hangs back. 

In discussing the name of the place, Lan Wangji listens with interest while Wei Wuxian explains the layered meaning of the name, and we’re reminded that Wei Wuxian was a formidable scholar before his life went to shit. 

Wei Wuxian 2.0 has some catching up to do, both in cultivation and in reading, to be a match for his 30-something boyfriend once again, but his fundamentals are strong as hell.

When they reach the gate of the city they take a moment to share some unnecessary eye contact. They probably think they’re about to have a fun low-angst adventure. 

They start walking through the almost-deserted town, which has random paper funeral swag rolling around. The whole town was apparently focused on funerals and making funerary offerings, which seems like an unreliable basis for an economy. 

Everything is covered in a haze that makes things difficult for sword dudes and gifmakers.  They’re led a little ways into town by a mysterious running person, who is A-Qing running at breakneck speed, presumably to hide from Xue Yang while she also tries to make contact with the newcomers. 

A little more running, and Wei Wuxian find a whole crowd of juniors, including all of our favorites. Bright boy Sizhui immediately figures out that if “Mo Xuanyu” is here, Lan Wanji must be here too. Jingyi immediately fangirls about Hanguang-Jun, recognizing Bichen’s sword light through the haze. 

Jin Ling has never had a cool teacher in his high school, so he doesn’t get what the fuss is about.

Wei Wuxian encourages the kids to dump a heap of exposition about why they are here. They are here because the plot wants them to be here. 

Then they start squabbling, because they are a bunch of teenage boys, and Lan Wangji, who is not anywhere in sight, silences them with the Lan silencing spell. Despite the fact that they’re all lost in a fog in a strange, inauspicious place. Fuck safety, amirite?

Naturally the next thing that happens is a bunch of zombies come up behind Wei Wuxian and the kids try to warn him, but without speech they’re reduced to impassioned pointing. Don’t bother drawing your swords, you useless twits. 

Wei Wuxian temporarily stops the zombies with a finger snap, but then they start up again. Lan Wangji shows up and guqins them into oblivion, accidentally poisoning a random selection of juniors in the process. 

The adults figure out that there’s a Yin Tiger Seal in operation, but it’s not Wei Wuxian’s. Wei Wuxian takes this opportunity to brag about his superior corpses.

Lan Wangji: I know, dude; I distinctly recall one of those fuckers slicing my Wei-Ying-catching arm open

Then the ghost-mask dude shows up to fight, making the most of the low visibility and his uncanny ability to not actually be in the scene for most of the fighting. 

Camera Operator: sword fighting while I hold this camera sure is difficult

Lan Wangji elegantly goes after Ghost Mask guy, heading over the rooftops to have a smoke a prolonged offscreen fight while Wei Wuxian handles things in town for the next...hour or two? However long it takes to make congee, anyway.

Wei Wuxian leads the kids to find a house with a functioning kitchen so he can cook up a remedy for the poisoning. 

He tells the juniors that getting poisoned is good because it’s an experience they can talk about when they’re older. By that measure, Wei Wuxian has had the best life of anybody ever. 

They find a creepy house with a creepy lady who has corpse lines on her neck, which is as good as things get here in Yi City, so Wei Wuxian talks his way in.

 He’s very polite but he shows the juniors that he’s got the door blocked with his foot so that he can push his way in if necessary. 

Sizhui lights a candle and all of the kids freak out when they see the full-size paper servants hanging from the rafters, even though paper servants would be a pretty normal thing to see in their lives, and they are all, like, professional ghost and monster hunters. 

Wei Wuxian, looking fine as hell, steps into the creepy lady’s room to ask her permission to use her kitchen. He notices that she’s working in the dark and sees the lines on her neck, but he’s not prejudiced against corpses so he doesn’t comment. He uses his beautiful hands to thread her needle for her before going to cook fire congee for the juniors. 

Soundtrack: As Tears Go By, by Marianne Faithfull or by The Rolling Stones, take your pick; There’s Got To Be a Morning After by that girl in The Poseidon Adventure. 

Further Reading: The “Now” of Wolf Thought is a reference to Elfquest, which is an awesome comic book series that launched back when I was a teen. You can read all of them for free at Elfquest.com without registering or anything. 

Bonus: Beautiful Hanguang-Jun

[ultramarine-spirit]

Hi, I heard that the donghua Athy will have prophetic dreams instead of being a reincarnated person and that Lucas will probably remain in his adult form all the time( I hope this is not true I want to see baby Lucas but considering the first pv, i think it will probably be true, hopefully not). I fear that their dynamic will change and Lucas is gonna catch pe*o allegations now 😭 even though they were two adults pretending to be kids.

The first thing is pretty much confirmed, going by the donghua's summary, but the details are unclear. I don't know if the "LP timeline" was only a vision or something more, it's too early to tell. As for Lucas only staying in his adult form, I don't know what makes you/people think that?

Lucas was introduced in his adult form in the novel and manhwa, and he is wearing the same outfit in the PV, so it seems to me that that'll be his introduction scene. I guess we'll have to see if he keeps his younger form, but the donghua's summary confirms that they will fall in love, so I doubt the chinese team will suddenly make it weird? (Especially when chinese media is heavily censored, which is likely the reason the plot was adapted to be less violent). Let's also remember that Lucas used his adult form multiple times in the manhwa, so if people disliked that, um, it's nothing new?

I know you mean no harm, but part of me feels like I shouldn’t even address this possible "discourse" because it's way too dumb. Some people have called novel and manhwa lucathy problematic before, for multiple reasons, all of them idiotic, so I'm sure they'll find a reason to dislike the donghua version too. I don't care, and you shouldn’t either.

We should just cancel Claude for the 1000th time.

Almost all isekai/time travel manhwa have an odd aspect since more often than not the protagonist is (mentally) way older than her love interest. No matter what, that's an element the writer can't avoid, but I think lucathy is one of the few pairings where this doesn't happen, because of their circumstances (Lucas slept for centuries so his body's age and his mental age are very different, plus he is a magician. There's no reason to think this will be different in the donghua. And Athy has her whole reincarnation thing. We'll see how that plays out.). Despite all of this, you have no one calling athykiel or other manhwa ships (I could give plenty of examples but I'd rather not) problematic because Athy/the FL is (at least) a (mentally) 30+ yo woman thinking a teenager is attractive. That's because manhwas are not that serious. Unless we are talking about the Princess Mint one. That one was weird and I don't like it.

[travalerray]

Chengxian for the ask game?

thanks for the ask!

Well you know. This goes without saying.

What made you ship it?

Since I started with the donghua, I would say the hyperspecific scene in the Xuanwu Cave right after Wei Wuxian has gotten branded and everyone's going "fuuuuck", and Chengxian exchange a very meaningful look and Wei Wuxian says, "I have gotten hurt in Lotus Pier before too. When have I not swim the fastest?". The way they looked at each other altered my brain chemicals <3. (Also yes, lmao, the donghua is very funny because it decides to make Jiang Cheng this mega softie in the first flashback and even adds this extra dialogue during the Waterborne Abyss where they are fighting the water ghouls where he tells Wei Wuxian "we have got it" when in the novel Wei Wuxian's narration is like "as usual, Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian were competing". Heartbreaking how they completely dropped the ball after the XiYao conversation in S2 E1). The one that did solidify my stance is the famous choking-crying scene because......yeah, I won't say it. It is always heart breaking to see children lashing out in the moments of grief, especially this one that highlights how they deal with it—Jiang Cheng angry and lashing out, Wei Wuxian putting a hand over his eyes, both not wanting to show that they are crying, the rain starting—the cinematography is beautiful.

What are your favorite things about the ship?

*gestures* Everything.

It's about the grouchy "why do you have to always play a hero (for the others, just be mine)" as an act of love, it's about walking away as an act of protection (duty is the death of love, honour is the death of love), it's about the mourning for thirteen years, it's about missing your home no matter where you go, no matter who you are with (because it can never be enough—it's always a convenient excuse), it's about acts of self sacrifice as a love language, it's about the "raging ecstasy" and "vengeful wrath" when faced with your childhood "sweetheart", it's about broken promises, it's about childhood dreams and always wanting to stay together and failing always. But most importantly, it's about a lot of yearning disguised as angry barking (Jiang Cheng) and joking around (Wei Wuxian).

It's also about how no matter what Wei Wuxian is narrating, Jiang Cheng filters into his thoughts. Oh, the kids are flying a kite? Jiang Cheng is there. Wei Wuxian is eating? Jiang Cheng is there. The reverse is true too—they are too intimately connected and impossible to be separated.

Above all, it's about Jiang Cheng bringing Chenqing to the Guanyin Temple in perfect condition and throwing it to Wei Wuxian. Above all, it's about Jin Ling being threatened and in that brief moment of confusion, they start yelling at each other, using "the same voice they used as children".

Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

I don't think I know enough about the popular opinions to say? Considering the popular opinion people have going on half the time involves arguing on how much Jiang Cheng's actions were justified (what did he do. He didn't do a single thing until Jin Zixuan died and we see him at the Pledge Rally and he doesn't even get REALLY upset until Jiang Yanli dies. Is the problem with the fake duel??? Which is admittedly something you would only see these two come up with, because yes, the only way to avoid a problem is to publicly fall out with your martial brother. But I have never seen anyone express a problem with this detective novel levels of drama, so maybe it's the first siege???) but I don't think most of the shippers have a problem with that? But if this question means unpopular opinion in general, well—Chengxian is an unpopular opinion in general, I think. But otherwise, I will leave this line here:

[there's so much he could be talking about here. Come back Wei Wuxian. Why is it so purposeful. Hello. "I don't want to"? Wei Wuxian????]

[olderthannetfic]

Jeez, this entire drawn out convo is embarrassing and done to death. BL is romance. It's bound to the same romance tropes as MF and FF, id-driven as many of them are. If you don't like how a male character is written, that just means you don't like the story; move on. A lot of romance and horror both function on the premise of "romanticizing" and "fetishizing" things that wouldn't be desirable in real life. Yes, horror movies do portray murder as something fun for the audience. That's why people like slashers flicks from the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. It even became a trend that people would watch the intro of the slasher to see which teenagers are the most annoying, so it's fun when Jason or Freddy or Michael Meyers, or whoever kills them gruesomely. That's why we love the Final Destination films! That's why we like Saw! It's why we like The Evil Dead! It's why we like Wrong Turn! It's why we like Scream! Friday the 13th, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Child's Play, Halloween! They're tropey horror slashers with elaborate, gorey murder scenes that become such spectacles of themselves that by the end of the franchises, there's so much blood and viscera that the scenes are parodies of themselves. They're beloved all over the world. And people cheer for the murders in theaters! People love cheering for Freddy Krueger and Michael Meyers, and Jason when they disembowl some 15 year old who was probably just off drinking illegally with their friends. People love cheering for them so much, that there're are crossover films so we can cheer as they fight each other. These are such well-known tropes in horror that they've become cemented in popular culture, so movies like Cabin in the Woods are made. It's popular, extremely so, and I don't know how someone can go 20 years of life and not realize this. Just like how people like reading Twilight wherein Edward basically stalks Bella. Women don't want to be stalked in real life, but they like Edward because it's just a story. No one wants to date a man like Christian Gray in real life, but he's hot in a story. No one wants a guy like Ryouma Ichijou in real life, but it's fun in a tropey BL. The audience is supposed to like him because they want the main couple to get together. If it's not your thing, just don't watch it and move on to something else. The world will keep spinning.

And a lot of people like stories from the antagonists' perspective because it's interesting. This doesn't appear often in things made for children because it's for children, so it has some small responsibility of modeling behavior... because it's for kids. Things for adults don't have all these restrictions because as an adult, you should be able to judge right from wrong in real life, so you can just relax and watch Hannibal Lector abuse and manipulate Will in Hannibal without having an existential crisis about the moral fabric of society decaying. If you can't handle it, you should leave the training wheels on because genre fiction for adults will not always hold you hand--because you're an adult, and you should have common sense to know "murder/sexual assault/stalking/harassment/etc is bad in real life." Children below the ages of 4-5 aren't supposed to watch things like Spongebob for this same reason: they can't tell the difference. If you're an adult, you should be capable of that much, at least.

BL studies is an established academic field that discusses and examines BL across the world in different media forms: manga, manhwa, manhua, anime, donghua, live action, etc. from different countries. Read articles from professionals. Learn about BL and geicomi since apparently it also has to be reiterated that the characters in BL--yes, even the thin, waifs--look like straight men in East Asia. They're ikemen. There are different stereotypes of what queer men look like all over the world, wild concept, I know. The stereotype of what gay men look like in E. Asia are chubby bears, like plumbers, or super ripped men, like the body types typically featured in geicomi, the stories made by men for a male target audience.

Yes, many popular youtubers/breadtubers say convertly puritanical talking points in their videos. Few, if any, actually have media literacy. And few are actually transgressive or nuanced in their discussions of fiction or fandom. If they were, Google wouldn't promote them. You should try reading up more about radfem/TERF theory to recognize these talking points. Everyone who thinks these things isn't walking around around with a neon sign. You should know, since you actually share many of their harmful beliefs, but I doubt you'd call yourself a TERF or a radfem. Read Nancy Friday books like My Secret Garden to learn more about taboo sexual fantasies are how normal they are.

Read BL studies articles to actually learn history, read some Nancy Friday books to get over this weird projection of morality and kink in fantasy, and actually listen when people are correcting you because there's decades if not centuries of research refuting all your "points." No one is saying you have to like these stories for yourself, but you do have to realize the world doesn't revolve around you, and other people will always like different things and that's fine. These stories and discussions have always happened and they're fueled by misogyny and homophobia, as well as a desire for censorship. Read some Oscar Wilde essays too or even more recent BL manga/hwa/etc. BL anime doesn't get produced often because animation is expensive. It's 2023. Why are we pretending that Love Stage is representative of current trends in BL across different countries in different mediums, genres, magazines/publishers since Love Stage came out in the early 2000s?

--

[kanene-yaaay]

Headshaker (Tickletober Day 3)

Kanene's Notes: OK, I am like, fighting for my life with this one because I want to post it like immediately like right freaking now but I want to at least read it one more time to correct any absurd mistakes and. I don't know which part will win so rip me I guess. jhgfghjikolkijuhyg Writing this fic was so fun I am in looove <3 <3 Mingjue and Huaisang's interacting was a challenge since I only saw them on the donghua and Mingjue kind of uh dies v quickly so. ther's that. oijhgfuytrfghjuik

Day 3 - "Prank" (Tickletober) and "Starligh" (mxtxtober)

Warnings: Lots of tickling! Also some light angst sprinkled here and there, but nothing too complex. Ticklish!Huaisang and Ler!Mingjue. Around 2.500 words.

[~*~]

“HUAISANG!” The roar shook through the entire Unclean Realms and Nie Huisang yelped, hastily putting his paints on their place (he would never let those hanging around after all the trouble he had gone through to get them) and jumped through the window, running hastily away from the loud footsteps that sounded already so close to his room, under the amused gaze of the few guards that were on watching duty tonight. 

The stars looked so beautiful today, a sea of darkness and light dancing together in a lovely contrast that itched his soul to find a poem that talked about it, awaiting for a sharp mind to properly appreciate them. It was a pity it was the last time he would be able to see it before he died.

The footsteps turned the corner and suddenly got much closer. Huaisang let out a high pitched scream, no needing to look behind to see who was his pursuer.

“Brother! It wasn’t my fault, it wasn’t my fault!” He jumped to the side and scrambled when a large hand swiped to his right, his voice getting quicker and hysterical the more he got tired from the exercise. “Please, brother! Have pity, have mercy! It wasn’t my fault, I didn’t do anything!”

“Then who did?!” Came the roar.

Huaisang squeaked loudly, screaming more as another hand almost gripped his shoulder. 

“I don’t know! I really don’t, brother!” Where was Meng Yao with his always trustful back where he could hide behind? But no one but Mingjue and the stars heard his cries. “Maybe it was someone good! Someone who was worried about how much later you go to bed! Maybe they’re annoyed from dealing with your cranky mood from lack of sleep. Maybe they just want to help, brother!”

“HELP?! You locked me in my personal chambers after dinner where I had to spend an entire SICHEN to get free and had to call my guards to help me!!” Oh no, he was embarrassed. It took everything from the younger one to not snicker as he remembered the talisman he commissioned from his good friend Wei Wuxian for this sole purpose. “Do you think I have nothing to do, not a sect to run? Or do you think I also have all the time in the world to lay lazily around the house and ignore my chores?”

Ouch. Huaisang didn’t even have time to pretend offense as he was bodily crashed on the ground, screaming cutting off into grunts as he tried to squirm and free himself enough to scutter around and win a few more minutes of life. Being unsuccessful, he did what he does best.

He looked at his brother straight in his eyes and made his shine with glistering tears, hands holding Mingjue’s sleeves and hands before they could cuff him on the head. 

“Brother…” he whimpered.

Mingjue, knowing him since he was a kid and therefore plenty aware of his every tactic to escape trouble, looked entirely unimpressed and unwavered by one his best acts, face contorted in an angry sneer. “Where are those ridiculous books and fans of yours? I am going to lock them on my chambers and see how you like it when I throw them all into the fire.”

“No, brother, please!” As the older made a move as if to get up, Huaisang threw his arms around him in a hug, body completely slack like a dead weight to at least discourage him. Mingjue complained, but didn’t let him fall.

“Maybe they really did want the best for you. Maybe they just worried.” There was enough truth on it to make Mingjue deflate and huff, still annoyed, but less so.

“Then you should’ve come to me and said it, not run around with your schemes and expect me to suddenly understand it. Use your words, Huaisang. I know you have them.”

Huaisang didn’t hum in acknowledgement, simply continued with attentive eyes. “You’re going to sleep now?”

He saw the deny before it even existed, in the furrow of his brother’s eyebrows and the way his body twitched an inch away, mouth twisting downwards. When he opened his mouth, though, there was hesitation. 

“I still have paperwork to finish today. But tomorrow I will.” Huaisang still pouted, but his efforts weren’t really in it and the older one could see the smugness clear as water in his eyes. In a blink he sent his knuckles to rub on the top of his head. “And when I go to my quarters, tomorrow, I better not find any other talismans, am I clear?”

Huaisang quickly nodded, shouting and whining in despair. For the tune of his voice, one could think that Mingjue was full on throttling him. “You are, da-ge, you are! Stop, stop, you’re hurting me!”

He kept trying to squirm away from his hold, being as unsuccessful as the first time. It was Mingjue’s turn to feel smug. If his little brother ever bothered training or even showing up with his saber to his classes he would have enough strength to put up a fight. 

Wait.

Nie Mingjue stopped and Huaisang quickly pushed his hand away, protecting his head with his palms as he turned to the other, about to complain. 

When he saw the other’s calculating eyes, he froze, mind running. 

He noticed it, he noticed it. Shit, shit, shit-

“What are you doing awake, Huaisang?! You have saber practice right earlier in the morning!” At the younger’s wide stare, Mingjue only scolded further, irritation flaring hot in his veins. His words grew louder, quicker. “Or are you planning on running away from it again? Should I go to your room to drag you by your robes in the morning to it and watch the class myself to make sure you won’t run? That you even will be there for once?”

“I am going to the practice, brother, I really will! I just need to find my saber first…”

“You lost it again? We are warriors, your saber is a part of you. It should be by your side all the time-”

“But it’s so heavy! I just need to find where I put it before class, nothing more.”

It was their same fight. Like every day.

Mingjue took a breath and prepared to shout his thoughts and…

And he deflated, tired. Suddenly very, very tired. 

Maybe those days without sleep really were getting to him. He pictured Xichen’s calming songs and Meng Yao’s kind smile and thought twice, shallowed the words, gritted his teeth and tried.

(You have your words, A-Jue, use and mean them.)

“I won’t always be here for you, Huaisang. We were in a war. If that didn’t convince you how much you need to make your core stronger I don’t know how I can-”

Huaisang squeaked, then gasped, then pressed his hands firmly on his mouth. Mingjue looked down, to his finger that was poking the other’s stomach, right above where his golden core should be.

Then he remembered.

“Brother…”

That is right. His didi was horribly ticklish. Memories of their childhood began running across his mind and he could help but smirk. It’s been so long. He really had forgotten.

Their eyes found each other and Huaisang felt a bolt of electricity run across his spine, hands automatically coming in a poor attempt of covering his torso, his traitor mouth already trying to curl up in a wobbly smile. It was too late for him.

“Da-ge! Please, da-ge!” Mingjue simply smirked bigger, a clawing hand slowly descending towards his belly. “You can’t, please da-ge! I will train! I will strengthen my core! It’s true, da-ge, I really will!” His words were coming out faster, stumbling on each other as his brain spit every card in his hand, anything that could lead to him getting out of this tickle attack. The giddy sensation inside was too strong for him to even think before more and more words just kept falling. “It will be the strongest golden core you’ve ever seen! Our tutors will be out of things to teach me. I will cultivate straight to immortality if only you don’t kill me right now, it’s true! Please, please, da-GEEE!”

“I am not even touching you yet!” 

“You’re going to!” Nie Huaisang felt his face prickle with heat, but his hands were the only thing between Mingjue’s offending wiggling fingers and his poor unprotected tummy. And he was plenty aware that his “protection” was simply an illusion, one that at any time that his brother decided that he wanted to go straight to the point he would, no matter the obstacle. Besides, Mingjue wasn’t known for his infinite patience, or procrastinating. So, yes, he was already giggling. “And you know I can’t stand it, I really can’t. Please, brother, I won't survive this attack! I am dying, I am dying!”

Mingjue snorted, then scoffed to hide it. “You love being tickled, stop being so dramatic! Don’t you remember running after me everywhere, pulling on my hands when I was heading training or laying on my lap when I had to take care of the sect correspondence and asking to play tickle fight every single time?”

Why must Mingjue torture him like this with all the memories of his childhood? His brother was really merciless, just as ruthless as everyone painted him to be. To remind him of when he would throw himself in his arms and get tickled only to shriek “again! again!” as the older complained about needing to work! Nie Huaisang couldn’t even hide his face from this embarrassment.

Thankfully (or not), before he could turn himself into a bird and fly directly into the sun by the sheer will of his mind, his wrists were snatched away and the hand collided on his belly. Everything else exploded in a white light, unimportant and infinitesimal in the face of the feeling of those clawing fingers, scribbling and skittering anywhere they could reach, sneaking to his sides and drumming on them, spidering to his hips and squeezing until there was not even a hint of hope of Huaisang holding back any of his reactions, much less his laughter.

“NAHAHAHAHA B-BROHOHTHER! LEHEHET GO!”

“Not until your golden core gets stronger. Since you’re not going to practice, let’s see if this training interests you better.”

Nie Huaisang shook his head, trashing and curling to his side only for those offending hands to keep spidering and finding his back, running tickles across his spine and drilling on his back ribs until he was arching and crackling, unable to turn back and protect the new attacked ticklish spots. Laughter rang loud and strident across the yard, childish screeches and squeaks escaping from his mouth every time a wave of pokes hit his skin or wiggling fingers found a good spot to focus on. 

It was interesting, really, how much he looked like Mingjue when he was being tickled. His voice was loud and unashamed, clear in his words, thoughts getting out from their usual place behind his fans and spilling from him in an honest message, arms, legs and entire body gesturing, flailing around, not caring about how much attention or space it would claim. It was endearing to see. Maybe Mingjue really had spent too much time without properly tormenting his little brother, to feel so fond of seeing it again. He should catch up.

“IHIHIHIHI CAN’T BRHEHEATHE!” A hand scrambled to take over the opportunity and pinch and scratch at the skin behind his knee, pulling a loud snort that would’ve mortified the smaller if he had a clearer mind. HIs laughter slowed from a loud shrieking to a hysterical snickering, legs kicking in protest, as if demanding attention. At this, Mingjue chuckled. Well, no one could really blame him as he stopped scribbling his fingers over his shoulderblades (his didi was truly ticklish everywhere) and held one of them so he could focus on squeezing and clawing all the way from his calves to his kneecaps over and over again. 

“I ahahahaham DYIHIHIHIHING, brohohohother! You’rehehehehe kiliHIHIHIHIING MEHEHEHEHE, you reheheheahahahaha arehEHEHEHEHE! STOHOHOHOHOP going theHEHERE!”

Ah, there was the squeals, he was starting to wonder when they would come. 

“Tickling Here? Right here?” He kneaded the thigh with energy at the last word, huffing in amusement when Huaisang threw his head back, laughter rising once again uncontrollably only to dim into never-ending, high pitched giggles when he went back to spidering his hands under his knee. “No moving. If you can still be dramatic, then I can still tickle you even more.”

Huaisang seemed to have registered only half of his words, shaking his head, squeaks and snorts mingling with his words. “Gehehehet out of theheheREHEHEHE, GEHEHHEHET ohohut!” A hand came and began swatting down on his. Mingjue grabbed it and pulled until it was above the other’s head. Wide, teary eyes and a giant, wobbling smile found his face. He drummed on his unprotected armpit before Huaisang could protest.

“There! Should I stay here, then?”

Huaisang felt like his every nerve was under attack, shaking and sending tiny ticklish shocks all across his skin, following each touch, tingling in ghost sensations where he already had been tickled, where he was currently being tickled and even where he thought his brother would attack next, his mind running on top speed, squirming with all his might to escape the wiggling fingers and the silly sensation only to be completely overtaken by it, freeing all his most childish reactions and sounds straight to the wild. There was laughter, there were yelps, shrieks, snorts, squeals and giggles running and escaping everywhere.

Tears fell from his eyes and hiccups began taking over his cracking when Mingjue finally decided to stop. 

Huaisang continued laying there, hugging himself and almost becoming a ball with this, the rest of his giggling coming muffled as his big, way too telling smile was hidden in a pretense of hidding. Mingjue laid a firm hand on his head, fondly, and looked up at the sky, watching the stars twinkling as if they were sharing the same amusement, the same joy between them, and the high point the moon was currently at.

“Perhaps I will actually head over to my bed, when we get inside. It’s already way too late to work.”

And the betrayed, absolutely in disbelief expression that Huaisang sent in his direction made him snort, then fall in loud, booming laughter.

What a beautiful night.

[silvantransthranduiltrash]

Going back to the post about Muriel and finwe fighting to the death (but not really). Do you have more headcanon about how they would react when they meet once again. Also I personally feel like Muriel would drag indis by the hair for how she tried to take finwe away from her and how she treated feanor.

Also I was also wondering if you had any ideas on how Muriel and feanor would be once they meet each other. I feel like she would be proud and disappointed at the same fime. She would so probably love her grandchildren.

So, obligatory disclaimer: this is specifically about my au

Miriel would just show up out of the blue. No fanfare, no announcement, just one seconds she’s there. You know what? Maybe Miriel’s already swinging her blade at him.

And the moment Finwe notices her, notices that she’s here, in front of him, alive? It’s as if color returned to him.

These 2 haven’t seen each other in millenia, that is a lot of pent up emotions (and don’t get me wrong, they are angry at each other as well for what happened) and they just go at it. No explenation, no nothing. They’re going feral on each other. Maybe they’re also cursing each other out/flirting while their at it.

Everyone who did not know their dynamics is really concerned and baffled.

It’s not a short or small fight either. They’re going at it for hours, days even, and so mich crap gets destroyed in the process. Entire rooms have been layed to waste and they’re covered in blood by the end of it.

And then they fuck.

Luckily, no one’s around by the time it gets to that point.

But it’s really animalistic, feral, raw in a way the elves have forgotten.

In regards to Miriel and Indis:

Here’s the thing, their families had a bit of a lowkey fued going on since the lake (please see other posts i’ve made on this au) but this takes the cake. It does not help that indis is a bit of a bitch (and Miriel’s still lowkey highkey pissed at finwe’s enabling of her behavior)

Have you seen the mdzs donghua, specifically the scene where madam you humiliates and slaps the shit out of yoayoa? Yeah, miriel is dragging indis through the metaphorical and literal dirt. And indis is pissed too bc she did not want miriel to come back at all. Miriel doesn’t comment on finwe’s other kids though bc she’s not gonna torment the child for the sins of the parents.

It should be noted that Miriel herself has a good number of supporters as well that went more or less dormant when she died, but the moment she’s back up and running? Ho boy, her supporters are tearing through the throats of the indis supporters like starving dogs. (Not literally).

Here’s the thing about feanor and miriel’s reunion:

Miriel’s very aware that she wasn’t there to raise feanor and that she doesn’t really know how to mom as a result, so while she’s very eager to hug the crap out of her baby, she’s also pretty blunt in saying “hey, ngl, idk how to do this, so i’ll probably mess up a lot, and i’ll probably not be the mom you expect me to be (especially with the “Miriel was only a weaver propaganda shoved down everyone’s throats 😒”) but no matter what, know that i love you, and know that i will try my best to be the mom you always should have had.

I don’t feel like (this au) Miriel would actually be that disappointed. I mean she’s no angel either. But furthermore, she gets it. Does she approve of some of feanor’s erratic actions? No. But she’s intimately familiar with the drive and passion that caused it. In all honesty, she’s just sad it happened the way it did. She’s obviously very proud of her bby i mean look at him! LOOK AT HIM!

N e way, yeah Miriel loves her grandkids.

She’s actually staying with feanor right now to 1. Repair their relationship, and 2. She’s reading finwe the riot act, he needs to do some serious groveling before she gets back with him (even though they already fucked kissed)

Of course then there’s the drama of indis and her family, and Miriel lowkey gets it (i mean who would want to be kicked out of the life they’ve been living for millenia?) but also, indis poisened her when she was pregnant with feanor and she had to give her life’s essence to keep him alive to give birth to him, that and some other factors are what resulted in her death in the first place so….🖕.

Also Indis(who is ingwe’s sister in this au)’s dad is still lowkey obseessed with Miriel’s brother so she’s just NOT in the mood to sympathize with her.

And of course Miriel’s dad, who’s the only one with her bc he’s the only one who got killed and went to the halls (since none of miriel’s other family went with her on the great journey) (L), is absolutly delighting at the chance to “clean house” (aka: beat up his SIL, his mistress and said mistress’s family, as well as exterminated any and everyone in the way of his kid’s happiness.)

All in all, Miriel’s come back is simultaneously really bloody and also pretty straight forward.

(Also, Ingwe shows up half way through the brawl and is just cheering his aunt on)