#all roads lead to 3zun

[wannabe-f-f-friends]

Xichen really said "A'Yao couldn't have been the one committing those crimes at night because he's been with me every night" 👀 and that 🤨 got past censorship 🧐 HOW

The only reason WWX didn't call him out is because then he'd have to evaluate his own nightly activities

[withthewindinherfootsteps]

Welcome to my blog!

I'm Skye (she/her), and I primarily write metas/analyses about MDZS, though other things do get reblogged occasionally. I love analysing characters and waxing about the structure of MDZS, though there may be periods of inactivity. Regardless, I hope you enjoy the time spent on this blog, and that it may lead you down the rabbit hole of other people's metas as well – I've linked some of my favourite analyses down below, as well as a few of my own that I'm proud of.

Info

I'm about to start a reread of MDZS, and will post about thoughts I have/details I notice under the tag #skye rereads mdzs. For the posts that get longer and more analytical, I'll tag them under relevant #meta tags as well. I will be using online screenshots, but I do own all the books, if that's a concern!

Important tags (be warned tumblr does mix them up a bit when you search...):

#my meta for my analyses

#important for important real-world things, like donation links etc (because though this is a fandom blog, it's also the biggest platform I have, and the more people these posts can reach, the better – people can decide what to do with them after they've been seen)

#[mdzs/svsss/tgcf] meta for any analyses, mine or someone else's

#translation for analyses focusing on comparing translations

#[mdzs/svsss/tgcf] fanart for fanart i've reblogged

#fav tag for others' analyses or fanworks I particularly enjoy

#not mxtx is self explanatory

#asks is self-explanatory, too!

Metas

Metas I'm proud of:

My 'WWX is not a self-sacrificial idiot' series: 1, 2 (my favourite one), 3. Also compiled into one essay on AO3, with clearer definitions and an added introduction!

NHS and the morality of revenge

Trope subversions in MDZS and SVSSS

How might NHS have found out about NMJ's death?

Yi City + 3zun parallels

JYL is a well-written character, actually (second is unfinished)

How the way the world views LWJ reflects his character arc

On LWJ remaining in the Lan sect after WWX's death

The Morally Grey Debate^TM from a different angle

On the nice, broad road metaphor and how LWJ ties into it

Any meta around or over 3k words which I'm sufficiently proud of will also be crossposted onto my AO3 account!

My favourite metas to read:

LWJ and JC being foils/the theme of "love is an action word" by @/rynne (there are two parts, they're not dealing with two different subjects)

The theme of resentment in MDZS also by @/rynne

WWX, making miracles, and what defines him by @/righteousinadversity

The development of WWX's attitude towards LWJ in his first life by @/wutheringskies

NHS, WWX and masks by @/morethanwonderful

There are many more, and this list will definitely expand as I track down them and their links. But I love all the metas I've reblogged, so feel free to scroll through the #[fandom] meta tag to see more recommendations!

With all that said, have a great day!

[eleanorfenyxwrites]

Random Idea junk drawer

So in addition to having tons of headcanons and extras about/for my current fics - and on top of the sheer volume of wips that I have actively going on - it's important to me that y'all know my mind is also constantly chewing on more ideas that I absolutely do not have the time or energy for at the moment, but that nevertheless won't leave me alone. I mostly want to start putting these on here to make sure that I don't forget about them later on down the road, but also because I'm sure that even if I don't make full fics out of them (....yet.) that y'all will still enjoy some of the concepts I've got knocking around, so! First one I'll talk about because it's been on my mind for like weeks now:

A 3zun Phantom of the Opera AU - details under the cut because as per usual why use just 5 words when 500 more are right there?

So ADHD is super fun, right, and one of my most obnoxious symptoms is that my brain obsessively grabs onto interesting things (usually music but also video games to an extent) and won't let go of them for annoyingly long stretches of time. There was a solid month (I wish that was an exaggeration) last fall where all I could think about/listen to was the soundtrack to Centaurworld. I have never seen Centaurworld. That did not stop my brain from playing the soundtrack on a constant loop after listening to it once, so I just had to listen to it on repeat for weeks on end because playing or singing anything else made me too twitchy.

Anyway. This month's music obsession is the Phantom of the Opera movie soundtrack, and of course it got me thinking about fic because everything does, so here's what I have so far for characters/roles:

Meng Yao as the young, beautiful, talented but supremely undervalued chorus dancer. He was orphaned at a young age and brought to live full time in the opera house ballet dormitories, following in his late mother's footsteps (she'd already started teaching him when he was young, so he was able to integrate well enough into the professional ballet troupe).

Nie Mingjue as the betrayed, bitter, angry genius trapped living in the catacombs beneath the opera house who falls in tragically possessive love with Meng Yao. Nie Mingjue is willing to be absolutely ruthless in pursuit of him, but kind of softens at any hint of affection from him.

Lan Xichen as the wealthy young lord who becomes the patron of the opera house and reunites with Meng Yao, who saved him from a runaway carriage once when they were younger. Lan Xichen had been there on a childhood trip into the city and Meng Yao had become his best friend during the summer Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren had lived in the city for Lan Qiren's work.

Nie Huaisang as the too-knowing ballet master who looks out for his brother down in the catacombs and ensures that no one ever finds out he survived the attack from Wen Ruohan that was meant to kill him as a child but instead left him severely maimed and a little insane. He also ensures that Nie Mingjue's pursuit of Meng Yao is allowed to flourish despite the danger it puts so many people in, because in his mind the world has turned its back on his brother and left him with virtually nothing, so why should he stop Nie Mingjue from taking what he wants when it's only one person?

Jin Zixun (or Jin Zixuan, I haven't decided) as the obnoxious but just-talented-enough-to-keep lead tenor, whose tantrums and posturing lead to him storming out of the opera and opening the way for Meng Yao's immediate rise to fame - with Nie Mingjue's help of course, because he's seen and nurtured Meng Yao's talent from the beginning.

I think the plot would mostly follow the actual story of the show, just with some changes to maybe accommodate some of the Jin family dynamics. Like if I'd want to make Jin Guangshan the owner of the opera after having taken it over from Wen Ruohan then that would mean that he's not a new owner seeing as his family should already be long-involved with the opera to have the roles they do. I suppose I could have the Jiangs be the ones to buy the opera instead, but Yu Ziyuan would absolutely storm down into the catacombs herself to find this 'Phantom' and stop all the haunting nonsense once and for all as soon as she and Jiang Fengmian get there so 🤷🏻‍♀️ but as usual I'm more here for vibes than accuracy to anything, despite my love for making AU's inspired by other media lol so who knows.

OOOOO WAIT what if Wangxian - nouveau riche off Wei Wuxian's scrap metal business that he roped Lan Wangji into - buy the opera together and that's why Lan Xichen decides to patronize it??? Intriguing. Very intriguing. See this is why I need to write these ideas down to think through them lol, that Wangxian idea just happened in real time.

Oh! I've also thought of a title too: 'The Bridge Is Crossed', which is pulled from The Point Of No Return (best song in the show, I will not compromise on this) where Christine and the Phantom have just started singing in duet and their full first line together is, "Past the point of no return, the final threshold! The bridge is crossed so stand and watch it burn." Which as a moment is just. ✨Chef's kiss✨. The emotion of it, the passion. The resigning yourself to having just destroyed your lives, but you're on the other side of the bridge together so you can hold each other and watch it all burn knowing that you've seen the worst of each other and there's nothing to hide anymore. It's a Vibe that makes me want to chew glass every time I listen to it (which is Frequently).

Anyway, those are my thoughts on it for now! I have so many projects and I know I always say that I won't start on more then I do, but I genuinely don't have plans to do anything with this idea until I have fewer projects to sit around feeling guilty about not working on in favor of tearing down my animal crossing island to start it over AGAIN. (remember the bit about being obsessive about video games too? lol.)

[littlesmartart]

Now I’m curious, what songs do you aggressively assign to xiyao and 3zun? (Only somewhat related, have you ever heard the song “Heart of Stone” from the SIX soundtrack? Excluding one line (without my son your love would disappear), I feel very passionately that it is a Yanli talking about Zixuan song.)

under a cut because this got RIDICULOUSLY long haha

okay okay so XIYAO... first of all, let's get this tragic shit over and done with -

Burn from Hamilton (I drew a comic here)

Sympathy by Kyla La Grange is a guilty JGY reflecting on their relationship (A lead weight for your open palm / And a white shirt over your bloody heart / To think I thought I was all you are / I was missing from the start / Couldn't let you cradle my head or stay / Let you waste your wonderful words / In my sleep I circled your heart with red ink / When I woke you were already hurt)

Broken by Jake Bugg is Xichen towards the end of canon (For you have become / All I lost and all I hoped for / But I must carry on / Always one, never broken / Run to the lobby where I saw you try / Don't give a damn for your reasons why)

Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want, specifically the Muse cover because of how jarring and discordant it is, is JGY having his breakdown in the temple and cry-yelling at Xichen (Haven't had a dream in a long time / See, the life I've had / Can make a good man bad / So for once in my life / Let me get what I want / Lord knows, it would be the first time)

Mr Blue by Catherine Feeney being JGY at the end of canon because colour symbolism (Mr. Blue / I told you that I love you / Please believe me / Mr. Blue / I have to go now, darling / Don't be angry / I know that you're tired / Know that you're sore and sick and sad for some reason / So I leave you with a smile / Kiss you on the cheek / And you will call it treason)

aaaand then for some happy stuff because you know in any universe they'd be the soppiest most heart-eyes chin-hands motherfuckers at each other. I think that really you could apply a lot of [dreamy sigh] [lovesick smile] [deep yearning] ballads to them tbh?

Somethin' Stupid, and I'm going to recommend the Robbie version because that's the one I have and I legit like it so shut up. I think this would be mostly how everyone outside sees them - as two people who are being so weirdly anxious whilst also desperately embarrassingly and obviously mutually pining 🙄 (I know I'd stand in line / Until you think you have the time / To spend an evening with me / And if we go someplace to dance / I know that there's a chance / You won't be leaving with me / Then afterwards we drop into a quiet little place / And have a drink or two / And then I go and spoil it all / By saying something stupid / Like I love you)

My Guy by Kele Okereke because it's just!!! so soppy and romantic and this cover was made specifically for an album of queer wedding songs called "Universal Love"!! (I've got sunshine on a cloudy day / When it's cold outside / I've got the month of May / Well I guess you'd say / What can make me feel this way? / My guy / I'm talkin' 'bout my guy)

Atlas: Two by Sleeping At Last - I found this song through a gorgeous Wangxian video but I think it works really really well for Xiyao too, because they also have that mutual Let Me Take Care Of You Forever Please love language (I know exactly how the rule goes / Put my mask on first / No, I don't want to talk about myself / Tell me where it hurts / I just want to build you up, build you up / 'Til you're good as new / And maybe one day, I'll get around / To fixing myself, too)

Yellow by Coldplay because that colour symbolism!! Xichen @ JGY (And your skin / Oh yeah, your skin and bones / Turn in to something beautiful / Do you know / For you, I'd bleed myself dry / For you, I'd bleed myself dry)

3zun is a little more complicated but I do have some!

Up In Flames by Coldplay with that sense of slow inevitable destruction (So it's over / This time you're flying on / This time I know no song / Can stop, its slowly burn / Can stop, it's slowly gone / Up in flames / Up in flames / Up in flames / We have slowly gone)

Safety Of Distance by Lior - this one is specifically about NieYao reconciling and 3zun coming back together, be that in a happier AU or in a fierce corpse AU post-canon (And all the colours will return to these hills / Where the dust of despair takes hold / One day they will drink from these now still waters / Where there's a will there's a road / It won't bring back lovers and friends, / But it might make for a happier end)

Coming Down by Halsey (I drew a comic here)

Gone Gone Gone by Phillip Phillips and this one is perhaps more Xichen @ NieYao than 3zun mutually, although in an AU where they've reconciled it work (When you fall like a statue / I'm gon' be there to catch you / Put you on your feet, you on your feet / And if your well is empty / Not a thing will prevent me / Tell me what you need / What do you need? / I surrender honestly / You've always done the same for me / So, I would do it for you, for you / Baby, I'm not movin' on / I'll love you long after you're gone)

Keep Moving by The Boxer Rebellion - a general sense of inevitability but clinging to each other in the time they have (One by one / I know we have seen some things / That could have torn us apart / Threaten what we have been / And I have asked myself / What could be more then this / And if you left me tomorrow / It is all I know I'd miss / But I know... / Keep moving with me now / Keep moving with me now / We have seen / The way its gonna be / The way its gonna be)

[fortune-maiden]

For mdzs ask- 1,2,4,7,8,10,11

so many!! Thank you :D

1.which adaptations have you seen/watched? which one do you like best and why?

I've seen CQL & the Donghua in full (+ MDZS Q). For the Novel, I've read the first English volume (eagerly awaiting the next), but also various scenes and extras as needed for my fic.

I think CQL is my favorite, partly because that's how I got into the series, partly for the actors/costume designs, and just partly for all of the added character moments. Not all of the CQL changes worked (Wen Ning is totally not dead guys >.>), but some of them did really well! I loved the expanded roles for the ladies. Jiang Yanli showing us exactly why WWX & JC love her so much. Wen Qing and her tragic romance with Jiang Cheng that could never be. Mianmian the Jin cultivator!

So yeah, CQL is my favorite, warts and all. Maybe once I read the full novel it'll supplant it, but I will always hold a soft spot for CQL.

2. top 5 favorite characters? what specifically do you like about each one?

Not really in order

1. Nie Huaisang - Our Headshaking Director Nie <3 From the moment he appeared with his smuggled bird, I knew I was going to like him. Originally he's the comic relief - nice guy, but kind of dumb and silly, and a bit fopish. But looks can be very deceiving... :)

2. Nie Mingjue - DA-GE!!! I love how strong and righteous he is, even if his uncompromising morals and ideals do put him into conflict with others. He's doing his best! He did a great job leading his sect since he was a teenager and he's a great older brother to NHS! Also just... look at him.

3. Jin Zixuan - My type is idiots who are actually quite noble underneath. He is a good boy and a pure lotus. He deserves only nice things. And an occasional smack on the head.

4. Wen Qing - Cool aloof lady doctor, soft for one (1) little brother? Yes please! I just love her a lot. Both her tough prideful Novel/donghua version and the softer more tragic CQL version. All Wen Qings are good! (she deserved better ;-;)

5. Lan Xichen - Er-ge! <3 He is the #1 most eligible cultivator for a Reason. He is a peacemaker who really means well and wants to support his loved ones, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions... he needs a hug ;-;

4. top 5 favorite (non-wangxian) ships?

Xisang, Sangxuan, Sangning, Mingqing, Chengqing

more platonic than romantic, but *shrug*. I'm more interested in character dynamics than romance for any ship in general ^^"

7. favorite popular fanon au(s)?

10. what character did you end up liking way more than you thought you would?

7 & 10 Answered Here

8. three headcanons: one that you believe so strongly it’s pretty much canon, one that doesn’t make much sense but it’s very dear to your heart, and one that you don’t think is close to canon at all but would be interesting if it was.

8 Answered Here

11. what group of characters (ex, the yiling family, the juniors, etc) do you like the dynamic of best?

3ZUN + NHS! :D

They are a mess and I love them!

[wannabe-f-f-friends]

Wei Wuxian: Do you have any idea who this disembodied torso might belong to?

Xichen: Well it's familiar... Let me try something

Xichen: rests his head against the chest

Xichen: It's Da-ge