#and the jc reveal could not have gone better

[wangxianficfinder]

In the mood for a Fic...

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1. hii for the next itmf do you have any recommendations for fics in which sizhui is wangxian biological son? any au or length is fine thx <3

you can have the best of me, baby by stiltonbasket (Not Rated, 9k, WIP, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Pre-Relationship, Dual Cultivation, Accidental Baby Acquisition, Sunshot Campaign, Getting Together, a-yuan is wangxian’s baby, Happy Ending)

five years gone by quillifer (E, 14k, WangXian, Mpreg, a/b/o dynamics, Alpha WWX, Omega LWJ, Breakup/makeup, Miscommunication, Pregnant Sex, consent is king, soft sad and horny, Happy Ending, Bottom LWJ, Top WWX, Hurt/Comfort, Modern AU, Unplanned Pregnancy)

🧡 Many Lan babies Series by LuckyMoonly (Varied, 414k, WIP, WangXian, Story collection, Mpreg, Pregnant WWX only, Family Fluff, Found Family, Kid fics) has several where A-Yuan is Wangxian's biological son

Nothing but your heart by airinshaw (E, 21k, WangXian, Modern AU, A/B/O Dynamics, Implied Mpreg, First Time, Getting Together, Angst and Drama, Angst with a Happy Ending, Anal Sex, Whump, Breeding Kink)

Until The End by abCEE (M, 365k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, war changes people, resulting to OOC, no pinning, Established Relationship, Mpreg, Good Uncle LQR, a little grey LWJ, a bit of JC bashing from LWJ, BAMF JYL, 16 years of yearning, mainly CQL verse but has scenes from the novel as well, LSZ is WangXian's Child, WWX Has a New Golden Core, Canon Rewrite, Happy Ending, Fix-It of Sorts)

My Pride and My Prejudices by Erbyrose, TitanPandora (T, 122k, WangXian, ZhuiYi, Father-Son Relationship, Canon Compliant, Misunderstandings, Bonding Over Dead Parents, Character Study, Sizhui calling WWX Mom, Family Drama, Survivor Guilt, Self-Harm, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Mpreg, Suicide Attempt, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Heavy Angst, Grief/Mourning, Major Character Injury, Male Lactation, but it's not sexual, REALLY LONG CHAPTERS, Attempt at Humor)

Transcendent by AkatsukiShin (M, 162k, wangxian, fantasy au, demons, half-demon WWX, pining WWX, mpreg, childhood memories, angst w happy ending, fluff, hurt/comfort, mystery, action/adventure)

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2. Hiiii! Lovely blog, you’re a godsend truly!! Anyways I was hoping that for the next itmf you’d rec some fics with identity shenanigans?

Like, it could be wwx in mxy’s body but only lwj knows so everyone else is all confused because ? Hanguanjun moved on form wwx? Impossible! Or maybe a fic where they mix it up a bit and it’s lwj that’s disguised or something like that! Basically a good old fashioned identity porn fic. Wangxian please! Thank you so muchhh

By Any Other Name by ShanaStoryteller (Not Rated, 31k, Wangxian, Canon Divergence, Crossdressing, Misunderstandings, Identity Porn, Identity reveal)

🧡 a paper friend by soft_wanning (G, 4k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Fluff, Paperman!WWX, Identity Porn, Meet-Cute, Different First Meeting)

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3. Hi! This is my first time doing this, sorry ^^. Itmf lwj kind of repeating his parents story, by marrying wxx and hiding him in cloud recesses (before he dies) and maybe putting himself in seclusion? The more angst the better, but preferably one where lwj isn't toxic, just really really worried. Idk if i should ask for more or less specific things, but thanks either way! I feel like I've read every fanfic like this (I've found like, 3) and I crave blood and tears. Thanks for the opportunity ^^

it's a webcomic and it's still ongoing, but House of Gentians by Pakhnokh on tumblr is amazing

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4. Hi! First of all I want to thank you for your hard work, I have found so many great fics through this blog. <3 And now I’m in a mood for a (preferably) established relationship wangxian fic where WWX is the one taking care of LWJ. Maybe some hurt/comfort and protective/possessive WWX? That would be my jam if any fics come to your mind~

hello my old heart, how have you been? by ravenditefairylights (M, 10k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Temporary Amnesia, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Domestic Fluff, Trauma, Unreliable Narrator, Pining, Hair Washing, Hair Brushing, Hair Braiding, Soft WangXian, A lot of prose, wangxian are MARRIED and they have a SON, LWJ Needs a Hug, Sleepy Cuddles)

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5. Hi! I was hit with the unexplainable need for some fics with ghost WWX who's searching for something (a family member or he's connected to one of his things and people don't realize it maybe), like looking for one of his siblings or for A-Yuan or one of the Wens and just like haunting everyone everywhere (or just one place), I don't know if there's even fics like that, there should cause it's a good plot in my humble opinion lol. Thank you mods! @jiangclaritybell

scatter and sunder by silversshadow (T, 15k, XuanLi, WangXian, Temporary Character Death, Canon Divergence)

💖 Ghosts Shouldn't by ShanaStoryteller (Not rated, 15k, wangxian, canon divergence, grief/mourning, angst w happy ending)

asymptotic by chinxe (T, 26k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Angst with a Happy Ending, Slow Burn, Misunderstandings, Pining)

The Ghost of Lotus Pier by daiki (G, 3k, JL & WWX, JC & WWX, ghost WWX) Its ghost wwx but for me he is more guardian angel than ghost

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6. If possible, could I also get fics with NMJ and NHS being involved in the płot or fics taking place in the Unclean Realm for one of the IITMFs? I dont wanna swamp you guys with request messages so I wanted to combine them, hope that is fine. (rest of ask in a FF)

1PB2PB3PB4 is a good author for NHS and NMJ-centric fics

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7. Hello, I hope you're doing well. This request is for the IITMF.

Fic(s) where WWX is politically powerful in the cultivation world; but not as a sect leader. I mean

He's a sect heir;

Or a head disciple, but with power and authority of the same, not as how he was canon, with only responsibility but no authority.

Only canon era please.

Please only rec fics where he's a cultivator as I've read a few where he was a non-cultivator but politically powerful.

Thank you for your time 🌼🌼 @utxqia

All Things Belong by kuroi_atropos (M, 64k, WIP, WRH & WWX, WangXian, WWX is a Wēn, Abuse, Whipping, Manipulations, Warning: WRH, Smart WWX, Possessive Behavior, Warning: JGS, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, Past Rape/Non-con)

Lynchpin by ShanaStoryteller (Not Rated, 103k, WangXian, JC & WWX, Time Travel, Fix-It, Lynchpin [PODFIC] by Opalsong, [PODFIC] Lynchpin by Gwogobo)

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8. Hello everyone can you recommend wangxian or quartet time travel fic

❤️ Tragedy is Not the End by Hobbsy3 (T, 358k, wangxian, Time Travel, Torture, Hurt/Comfort, Golden Core Reveal, Canon Divergence from Qiongqi Pass, Angst with a Happy Ending, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, Yunmeng sibling bonding, good dad wwx, good dad lwj, JZX Lives, JYL Lives, Junior Quartet Dynamics)

does the requestor know about the time travel comp? that way I don't rec stuff on it already

How Much Love Has the Inch Long Grass by Vainwyrm (M, 12k, WIP, WangXian, ZhuiLingYi, XuanLi, Time Travel Fix-It, Permanent Injury, Disability, Canon Disabled Character, Physical Disability, Non-canon disabled character, Self-Worth Issues) if the requestor is okay with ‘triplet’ instead of ‘quartet’ then How Much Love Has the Inch Long Grass by Vainwyrm has a lot of interesting things going on in it for a time-travel AU

parent trap by tongzhi (T, 23k, JL & LJY & LSZ & OYZZ, wangxian, JYL/JZX, time travel, cloud recesses study arc, humor, matchmaking)

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9. Do you know any fanfic where Lan Zhan is kind of rude to Wei Ying (or like, he rebukes all of WY's attempts to befriend him) only to end up regretting it when WY finally leaves him alone?

the earthquake in the room by phnelt (E, 39k, WangXian, College/University, Modern: No Powers, Canada, Getting Together, Mentions of lwj/others, inter-faculty romance, strangers to lovers to frenemies to lovers, mostly book characterisation)

Of Bunnies and Sleeves and All Happy Things by moonwaif (G, 3k, WangXian, two dorks, failed attempts at flirting, Lan Zhan is jealous, but he doesn't know it, unresolved romantic and sexual tension, Mutual Pining)

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10. Hello! Idk if this is the way but I’m looking for fics where lz of the past time travels to the future and finds himself married to post canon wwx. I love those type of fics but I can’t seem to find them now :’(

An Arrow Through Time by syrus_jones (M, 166k, WIP, WangXian, Crack Treated Seriously, Time Travel, Reverse time travel, into the future, Potentially a Fix-it-fic?, Mistaken Identity, WWX is a Little Shit, POV LWJ, Angst, Gay Panic, Falling In Love Humor, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Canon Divergence, Post-Canon)

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11. I’ve been playing “I say no” from heathers the musical on loop for a few Days now and now ITMF xiyao heathers-inspired? I hope someone knows one, thanks!

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12. Hello! Itmf WWX being a badass swordsman? People being in awe of how well he fights: twining through enemies, sword flashing, people stopping in awe at his capabilities (like "oh, he isn't just a badass with talismans and dark energy, he was head disciple of Yunmeng Jiang for a reason!"). Thank you! (Bonus points: him wielding other cool weapons like daggers or a whip!)

A Glimpse of Past Glory by masked (T, 1k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Swordfighting, BAMF WWX)

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13. Hi do you know any fics where Lan Xichen is called out for his hatred of Wwx because he thinks Wei Ying ruined both his and Wangji's life. Like it can be anyone calling him out, i just want to see him feel guilty about it.

When has silence saved anyone? by Vrishchika (T, 6k, WangXian, Post-Canon, LXC Critical, Gūsū Lán Sect, Not for LXC Fans, novel canon, Salt, Angry LWJ, Angry LSZ, Family Feels, WWX Protection Squad, LXC Gets Scolded, Based on Chapter 99 the Novel)

break by justdoityoufucker (T, 3k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, LXC Critical, JC Critical, Canonical Character Death, Guānyīn Temple Scene, BAMF WN, Protective WN)

💖After Truth Lies the Honest Path by Vrishchika (M, 10k, wangxian, canon divergence, truth serum, WIP)

aftereffect by justdoityoufucker (T, 3k, wangxian, LXC & LQR & LWJ, LWJ & LXC, post-canon, canon divergence, politics, LXC critical, JGY survives a bit longer)

Bitter Recompense by mondengel (M, 1k, LXC & LWJ, Angst)

Wasting Time, Asking Why by mondengel (Not Rated, 1k, LXC & LWJ, LXC & JGY, WangXian, Angst, Character Study)

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14. ITMF for something really intense and intimate. Like the fic is written so well and intense the you get overwhelmed. Preferably canonverse, but i don't mind otherwise. Please let it really be intense and intimate. @whateverweilanlovechild

Damn I wish The Roots Grow Riotous was still on ao3 for #14. Really intense and strange but beautiful with a hopeful but not typical ending. I have it if op wants to try but mind the tags. Modern au. The Roots Grow Riotous by hansbekhart (E, 104k, wangxian, modern, fashion au, garment company, casual sex, group sex, implied/referenced cheating, switching, recreational drug use, angst w/ happy ending, single dad WWX, panic attacks, implied/referenced self-harm, grief/mourning, catharsis, body horror, floral horror)

Tempo Rubato by Spodumene (E, 107k, WangXian, Modern AU, Angst with a Happy Ending, Romance, persuasion au, Separations, Mutual Pining, Depression, Miscommunication, Emotional Roller Coaster, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Reconciliation, Eventual Smut, Jane Austen Fusion, Underage Kissing)

💖 love, in fire and blood by cicer (E, 360k, wangxian, immortal WWX, slow burn, pining, arranged marriages)

Vagabond by xantissa (E, 65k, WangXian, Slow Burn, Mystery, Anal Sex, Oral Sex, Frottage, Case Fic, murders, Supernatural, Angst, Fluff, Happy Ending, extreme fluff, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, badass!LXC, top!LWJ, Bottom!LWJ)

i don't love you (but i always will) by sixstepsaway (E, 71k, WangXian, XianQing, Soulmate-Identifying Marks, Soulmate AU, wangxian endgame!!, handjobs, this ends wangxian and happy i promise, Angst with a Happy Ending, i had to give lwj an oc soulmate, Blanket Permission, Infidelity, Emotional Infidelity, Cheating, Pegging, Bottom!LWJ, top!WWX, Bottom!WWX, slight femdom!wq, Implied Consensual Somnophilia, Cockwarming, implications of consensual polyamory, undernegotiated polyamory, internalized ableism, Grief, Pining while fucking)

simple love | 簡單愛 by auberjing (E, 19k, WangXian, Modern AU, Hurt/Comfort, Slice of Life, Getting Together, Falling In Love, Strangers to Lovers, Caretaking, Angst and Feels, Grief/Mourning, Eventual Smut, Happy Ending, Hopeful Ending, Nude Photos, Nude Modeling)

lotus flowers rising from the dark mud by nu_breed (E, 122k, WIP, WangXian, WWX/Others, MingXian, LWJ/Others, JGS/LWJ, JGS/WWX, Canon Divergence, Angst with a Happy Ending, Courtesan WWX, Courtesan LWJ, Pining while fucking, Palace Intrigue, Rape/Non-con Elements, Dubious Consent, Non-Consensual Sex Work, Top/Bottom Versatile WangXian, Minor Original Character(s), Light Dom/sub, Exhibitionism, Voyeurism, Light Bondage, Hurt/Comfort, Warprize WWX, Period Typical Attitudes, Values Dissonance)

The Murder of Crows by cerbykerby (M, 101k, wangxian, slow burn, pining, yiling wei sect au, fluff & angst, dark, romance, WIP)

Turn Left by kianspo (M, 186k, WIP, WangXian, NieLan, Canon Divergence, Fix-It of Sorts, Friends to Lovers, eventually, references to child sexual abuse, not main characters, Neurodivergent LWJ, Slow Build, Lán Family Feels, specifically, Twin Jades of Lán Feels, lwj-centric, Twin Jades of Lán Dynamics, Somebody Lives/Not Everyone Dies)

If I Could Go Back in Time by Runningbarefoot (M, 122k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Role Reversal, Somebody Lives/Not Everyone Dies, Pining, Angst with a Happy Ending, Grief/Mourning, YLLZ WWX, Eventual Happy Ending, The Twin Jade Brotherhood, Hurt/Comfort, Healing, Character Study, Twin Prides of Yúnmèng Dynamics, Slow Burn)

And I Will Call You Home by Spodumene (E, 42k, WangXian, Case Fic, Post-Canon, Getting Together, Pining, Angst with a Happy Ending, Love Confessions, Canon-Typical Violence, Blood, Ghosts, Suicide, Explicit Sexual Content, Attempted Sexual Assault, LWJ whump, Original Character Death(s))

crossed the world with these empty hands by spookykingdomstarlight (E, 166k, WangXian, Modern AU, Artists, Non-Linear Narrative, POV LWJ, Established Relationship, Pre-Relationship, Getting Together, Demisexual WWX, Angst and Fluff and Smut, Happy Ending, Weddings, Separation Anxiety, Family Drama, Dysfunctional Family, Self-Worth Issues, Casual Sex, College/University, Temporary Long Distance Relationships, Relationship Pressures and Stresses, Insecurity)

The Vessel by Solmae (M, 54k, WIP, WangXian, XiCheng, Drama & Romance, Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers)

A Life Without Regrets by naqaashi (M, 74k, WIP, WangXian, Time Travel Fix-It, Angst with a Happy Ending, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Crack Treated Seriously, musical cultivation, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, Rogue Cultivator WWX, Murder Husbands, Happy Ending, PTSD, BAMF WWX, Cultivation Sect Politics, Worldbuilding, Módào Zǔshī & The Untamed Combination, No Yīn Iron, Genius WWX, Inventor WWX, Artist WWX, Musician WWX, Bad Parent JFM, Bad Parent YZY, Cultivation Theory, Sentient Burial Mounds, Dysfunctional Family, Grief/Mourning, Parent-Child Relationship, Angry WWX, Angst, No Golden Core Transfer, BAMF LWJ, Idiots in Love)

every love story is a ghost story by aisthuu (M, 59k, WangXian, Modern AU, Reincarnation, Character Turned Into a Ghost, Post-Canon, Angst with a Happy Ending, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Mixed Canon)

Alter by Solmae (E, 162k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Drama & Romance, Slow Burn, Rape/Non-con Elements, Gang Rape, Forced Prostitution, PTSD, Bottom LWJ, Top/Bottom Versatile | Switch WangXian, Explicit Sexual Content, Sexual Slavery, Angst with a Happy Ending, Implied/Referenced Torture)

We can fix that by Spindoctor (E, 35k, WangXianJue, NMJ Lives, Arranged Marriage, Oral Sex, Anal Sex, Cock Warming, Caretaking, Light BDSM, Thigh jobs, Everyone Loves WWX, Canon Divergence, Fix-It, Frottage, Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Starvation, Starvation recovery, PTSD, PTSD RECOVERY, Suicidal Ideation, Scars, Discussion of Surgery,mild body horror, discussion of starvation, body talk, cnc fantasies, Light Bondage, tender fucking, Slow Burn, JYL Lives, BAMF JYL, Erectile Dysfunction, Weight Gain, Chapter Specific Tags in Beginning Notes)

Something at the Door by Pip (Moirail) (E, 50k, WangXian, Modern with Magic, Modern Cultivation, Intrusive Thoughts, Horror, Suicidal Thoughts, Temporary Character Death, Blood, Explicit Sexual Content, Mutual Pining, Angst with a Happy Ending, Mystery, Urban Fantasy)

爱不释手; never let me go by yiqie (E, 68k, WangXian, Case Fic, Blood and Injury, Demons, Body Horror)

a small change Series by celialoveslwj (T, 92k, JC & WWX, Background WangXian, JC Centric, Angst, Sickfic, yunmeng trio, Canon Divergence, Break-off before Qiongqi Path incident, Somebody Lives/Not Everyone Dies, Dealing with sickness, Golden Core Transfer Failure?, Bittersweet Ending, BAMF JYL, Hurt/Comfort, PTSD, Grief/Mourning, Fix-It of Sorts)

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15. Do you guys have a rec list for outsider point of view stories? People reacting to the nonsense WangXian get up to is always great fun!

My chain hits my chest/When I'm bangin' on the radio by x_los (T, 2k, wangxian, modern w/ magic, case fic, competence kink, YLLZ WWX)

boom clap the sound of—Public Displays of Affection by Whispering_Sumire (E, 13k, wangxian, modern, reincarnation au, temporary character death, heartfelt conversations, crack treated seriously, outsider pov, accidental voyeurism, scheming NHS, redemption, angst & feels, family drama, panic attacks, hugging, crying, love, grief/mourning, hopeful ending)

❤️ Attempting the Impossible by Ariaste for williedustice (T, 36k, WangXian, JC & WWX, Post-Canon, Yunmeng Bros Reconciliation, Adoption, Family Fluff, Kid fic, Family drama, Fluff, [PODFIC] Attempting the Impossible by Ariaste by lunatique)

Six in one hand by deliciousblizzardshark (T, 2k, WangXian, JC & WWX, Modern: No Powers, Crack Treated Seriously, Compulsory Heterosexuality, POV JC)

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16. hey do you by any chance know ff where lwj is injured and wei ying gets in his protective husband mode? angst and gore would be preferred

silk threads and precious metal by Sevidri (M, 4k, WangXian, Canon-Typical Violence, Sunshot Campaign, Whump, Blood and Injury, WWX' Canonical Vengeful Streak, LWJ Makes A Beautiful Damsel in Distress, Non-Consensual Ribbon Touching, Protective wwx, Hurt LWJ)

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17. Hi!! I'm in the mood for a fic where jgy is put through torture (preferably at the hands of jgs or jin-furen and preferably psycological) and tossed to either nmj or lxc (or both). @halfwizardprincess

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If you didn’t get an answer to your ask here, don’t forget to make use of @mdzs-kinkmeme and MDZS KINK MEME on Dreamwidth. Authors actually do use them for ideas. You may get what you order!***Your prompt doesn’t have to be kink! Fluff, crack, whatever - it’s all good!***

[naturenaruto]

nobut literaly i love a forced???

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

transed??????????? jiang cheng like hear me out lmao

-his parents only married bc forced obviously so they needed a Reward from the marriage to reinforce that they did the right thing what they had to blahblah

-what is this Reward oh right a child ofc

-so they first have yanli and ofc yzy is trying sthhoo hard to reasurre that they needed one of these too and that shell make a good bargaining chip in he future just gotta give it 10-16 years hehheh..

-then jfm is like k fine ill deal BUT we had better have a baby with a PENIS next OR ELSE

-BAD NEWS! they dont get a baby with a penis

-cue yzy scrambling to come up with a way to justify a girls existence (So Difficult) bc they already have the one (1) they didnt need TWO babies w vaginas goodness no so after evaluating her state and determining that no more will come out of her own vagvag she then comes up with a brilliant plan that will get everyone what they want: trans their infant

-so they decide that since they havent declared any name or whatever Theres Still Time so they just....start telling everyone they had a son (wiiiith a penis™️) and they had already told yanli she had a little sister but oops haha kids just tend to mishear misremeber things haha nope defintly a little b r o t h e r *yzy glare* yanli: haha o yes my younger BROther haha yes can i go now

-crisis averted

-so then they just decide to raise her ahem him as a son therefore heir Everythings Fine and besides yzy: oh it just doesnt even matter i mean girls can become *just* as good cultivators as boys cough im sure with myyyy training (and genes) he'll be the best in the sect anyways not like a u know what makes any difference amirite jfm: 😒 uhyeah sure honey whatever u say😓

-so anyways jc is raised as a boy and yanli does in fact know but defers to her mother at first and then jc and so

-GREAT NEWS! jc is Perfectly Fine being a boy™️! no worries here haha

-but as it turns out even when it looks like boy and walks like a boy and talks like a boy and fights like a boy if it doesnt have that penis™️

-well

-so this is why i [hc] that jfm resents and dislikes and invalidates jc because he doesnt......see him as his actual son

-like thats why hes always secondguessing and calling him out and pointing things out and commenting on him like......he doesnt do those things to yanli bc theres. o point yanli does whats required of her and also she doesnt Really Matter but jc unfortunaltely does matter and jfm resents that a vagina could be an heir and yzy knows it and knows her husband never respected her even though shes canonically lauded as a cultivator....and knows that the only reason he validated™️ csr is bc he was fluffing her up bc he wanted to marry her....not bc he wanted a cultivation partner but bc he wanted a Wife™️

-well yzy is no mans Wife™️ so she does her Absolute Best to ensure that jc is qualified (and he is!!!!!)

-except enter wwx and all that scheming goes out the window bc now jfm has found not only an actual (re: had penis) son but csr'ssss son and he now plots to put him in front of jc even going so far as to imply that they could somehow untrans him by ~revealing~~ that oopsies he was Actually A Girl the entire time hehe but now she'lllll be married to the successor Mr. Wei so its k now

-!!!!!!

-yzy: *~~~zidian~~~* -jfm: *muffled broken screams of a man being beaten by a woman* -so blah blah blah ppl dying etc blah

-after everyones dead and wwxs gone.....jc just......was never really asked by anyone not even yanli if he was ok with any of this he just kinda said well i still have long hair the clothes are more comfortable i still wanna cultivate does it matter whats in my pants???? its all baggy anyways whos business is it! *classic jc glare* -so besides the (now very dead) wen no one knows or at the very least they pretend like they dont so its realy never an issue

-jc feels fine it doesnt feel forced the only problem was that he knows it was never meant for him and that no matter how good he got........someone with a penis was always going to be better

[fincalinde]

nice to see you back on here! if you're answering questions again, i've had something i've been meaning to ask, if you don't mind. do you have any thoughts on the things wwx and jc did for each other?

I'm never truly gone. Whenever you see a fox scurrying about its business in the twilight, I am with you in spirit. By which I mean I'm very busy but I do get a notif if someone sends me an ask.

This one has sat in my drafts for a while and it's still quite messy, but I thought I'd better just get it off the to do list and move on. So, the Twin Heroes!

I've seen quite a bit of negativity towards JC in my time, usually accusing him of all manner of iniquities that aren't actually supported by the text. To make my own position clear: I don't think JC did nothing wrong ever in his life. But I do think he's a capable clan leader and an extremely loyal brother who tried very hard to make things work with WWX.

Let's start with the biggie: WWX gives JC his core. It is an incredible act of love to be sure. Functionally it saves JC's life (he's not going to last long in that state) along with preserving the existence of the Jiang Clan itself. I don't have a problem with WWX making a unilateral decision here, because he knows JC won't agree otherwise and the stakes could not be higher. It also makes sense that the Grandmaster of Impulsive Cultivation conceals the entire thing from JC. He knows the effect the truth will have on JC, and he's just trying to get them through the current crisis and worry about the consequences later. So I think his choices are understandable in a desperate situation where there are no good options.

To be honest, what bothers me is WWX's subsequent dumbassery. My god, man, what is the point of making a monumental sacrifice for someone and then proceeding to fuck shit up for him on a regular basis afterwards?

WWX's behaviour is catastrophic for the Jiang. I understand that he's in his emo goth era and I don't expect him to make perfect decisions at all times, but the way he treads on JC's toes makes my teeth hurt. Quite probably WWX himself was never going to end up in a good place, since his demonic cultivation made him too much of a threat for the Jin (or society at large) to leave him in peace. But that's not particularly relevant to the way he undermines JC. On more than one occasion, JC is doing his best to navigate a delicate political situation and WWX clomps in with his size 13s and makes everything worse for everyone. This, as much as popular sentiment turning against WWX, is a huge driver in why they have to fake their falling out and sever ties publicly.

Meanwhile, JC makes an equivalent sacrifice for WWX—he lets himself be captured, even though it results in the loss of his core and, as far as he knows at the time, the functional extinction of his clan. This is revealed right at the end of MDZS, encouraging the reader to look back at the novel and recontextualise JC's actions throughout. JC put WWX above his own life and the continued existence of his clan. There can be no question that he made as enormous a sacrifice for WWX as WWX made for him. Their mutual ignorance of this fact for so many years is the heart of their tragedy.

But crucially, there remains a difference between WWX and JC. Because JC doesn't only come through for WWX when the stakes are high. Right up until the death of JYL, JC is the one trying to balance his responsibility to his clan with his desire to protect WWX. For a start, they fake the cutting of ties between WWX and the Jiang, when it arguably would be much less risky for JC to cut ties in actuality. JC is also the one taking further risks by allowing WWX to see JYL in her wedding clothes. He even suggests WWX gets to pick her child's courtesy name. These things show a pattern of consideration that WWX simply does not match.

Let's not forget, JC does a decent job as clan leader. He's very young, and unlike NMJ or LXC, he has to build his clan again from literally nothing. Disciples need to be recruited and trained from scratch. Lotus Pier needs to be rebuilt—without Jin gold. He's doing what needs to be done to ensure the Jiang Clan continues to exist, yet still attempting to balance that with his loyalty to WWX even as WWX becomes more and more of a liability. Yes, WWX is being affected by the resentful energy he's cultivating, but his arrogance has been present from the start. It's not that the resentful energy is creating new traits in him, but that existing traits are being exaggerated.

WWX does a lot of very admirable and brave things and he is pretty much always trying to do right by the people he cares about i.e. the Jiang and the Wenmants. The trouble is that he's fundamentally not capable of recognising the damage he's also doing. His altercation with JZX over the soup is one thing—though JC (with JGS) has to pull him off JZX and it makes a bad situation worse, it's an understandable impulse reaction to seeing his beloved shijie being mistreated. But despite the negative consequences of his impulsivity, he never learns to stop and gather more information before reacting (unlike JZX!). He continues to undermine JC by letting the whole world see that he doesn't respect his authority. This really is where I as a reader get stuck: what use is the grand gesture of the core swap when the more everyday consideration is so totally lacking?

I also think it's interesting that in the temple JGY points out to JC that if he'd stuck by WWX, no one could have done anything about it and things might have turned out quite differently. I don't think JGY is being truthful here; or at the very least, if he is being truthful then I don't agree with his assessment. It's a remark intended to goad JC and prod him where he's most sensitive, and it's successful in that regard. I'd be willing to bet that deep down JC does fear that if he'd backed up WWX then everything might have been all right and JZX and JYL would still be alive.

But it's simply not true. WWX's affiliation with the Jiang is catastrophic for them. He openly flouts JC's authority—and of course his demonic cultivation taints the Jiang by association, particularly in light of the Jin smear campaign. WWX's intervention to rescue the Wenmants is the last excuse JGS needs to do what he planned from the beginning: put a target on WWX's back. This isn't a post about whether or not WWX's actions to protect the Wenmants are moral; it's merely an observation that they put JC and the Jiang at risk by association, especially when WWX also deliberately insults the Jin in a public forum. The Jin don't exactly need to work hard to sabotage WWX's reputation: they're merely handing him the rope and he's merrily tying the noose. On a pragmatic level, an actual estrangement rather than a fake one would have been the more better option for JC if his sole priority was the wellbeing of his clan and not also his love for WWX.

On the other hand, if WWX had continued with his demonic cultivation but respected the authority of his clan leader and not undermined him in public, JC might have been more able to effectively protect him. I'm not entirely convinced by that argument, but I certainly find it more plausible than the idea that JC backing WWX would have prevented the consequences of the determined Jin smear campaign.

Essentially, my point is that I'm not splitting hairs about the degree to which JC and WWX love each other. Their love for each other is not in question. Nor is it in question that they have made equally huge sacrifices for each other. But there's the rub. What about the small sacrifices? Who is making those? More often than not, it's JC. JC has the weight of his clan's survival on his shoulders and he still does his best to remain privately loyal to WWX despite the risk it poses to his own position. He only turns on WWX when WWX's actions result in the death of JZX and JYL—JYL being arguably the only person they both love even more than they love each other. (Sorry, LWJ. You only make the leaderboard in Life 2.) Meanwhile, WWX is willing to give up his core for JC but not willing to make the effort to present a united front against political foes who are actively trying to destroy them. He loves JC, but I see no evidence that he respects him.

[stiricidewrites]

The Damage You Do: ch 30, pt 13

CN: wwx 'bout to drop baby!

More seriously, this begins a number of updates worth of wwx panicking about this and that.

Previously

~

The fact that lwj knew how much it affected him—had viscerally revealed he knew through that stupid, wonderful audio message and sneaky ass phone—was both a blessing and a curse.

It was just so easy for the man to manipulate him with those words—although wwx was sure the other man had no intention of abusing that power. Still, wwx knew that if lwj hung the promise of a thousand good boys over him, he would do practically anything to receive them, desperate for that praise as he was. wwx loved being told he was good, lwj’s tone never leaving any room for him to refuse his words. It was a balm to his soul, the small, broken parts of himself slowly mending under the tender truth of those words.

That was, in a way, terrible. lwj’s words shouldn’t be patching him up, not when wwx was sure that, were the man to disappear from his life, those patches would be torn away from him as well, ripping more pieces of his broken soul away and leaving him even worse off than he’d already been.

He’d have money, of course. Maybe that would make the ache of it better, when the day lwj was done with him inevitably came? Maybe it would soothe his breaking heart, even just a little.

The things he could give his child, the Wens—his family—with that money would be a reminder that his pain had been worth something—had changed each of their lives for the better. Those things would make the holes lwj’s tenderness would inevitably leave in him okay, probably.

wwx had always been willing to dig bits of himself out for the people he loved. How was this different from all the times before? He had turned down friend dates to spend time with his son, sacrificed sleep and food and proper clothing, so his child would be better off. He had gotten sick numerous times taking care of the Wens, when a reasonable person would have simply left soup at their door, because they cared for him in return and deserved every ounce of love he had to spare. He had smiled and bared it when jc needed someone to lash out at, because how else would he repay the Jiangs than to let their child use him as a punching bag?

It was fine.

It had always been fine.

It would always been fine.

So, why was he crying now? Nothing had happened. lwj had simply told him he was a good boy, and in his childish, floaty mind, things had gone haywire. His heart hurt, like pieces of it were already being torn away just from the mere idea that lwj might cast him aside, might throw him out. That he’d lose even this one small thing that brought him blinks of time filled with happiness.

[the-darkness-does-not-bargain]

Can you tell us more headcanons/thoughts from your transmasc!Ava AU? Without being too spoilery of course, if you want ;). It can be about Bea too.

Sure, you know I love to talk 😁

Some of this is technically spoiler-y, but I'm the author, so I decide which spoilers matter and which don't.

Since this is a No Powers au, there is no fantastical inciting incident that kicks things off. Beatrice is just a university student and Ava works in a bar. They meet when Bea and the girls go out drinking after finishing their winter exams.

Ava still grew up in the orphanage, but as a teenager he was accepted into a clinical program run by Jillian, receiving experimental surgery and therapies to restore his mobility. He never met Jillian in person, but he was inspired by her genius and contributions to science, and he hopes to meet her at some point to thank her for helping him. With his mobility restored, he was able to fight back against Frances, and actually succeeded in getting the authorities to investigate the orphanage. It still exists and is still run by the Church, but Frances and the worst of the nuns were all ousted and replaced, and there is significant public and legal scrutiny keeping them in line.

Diego is still in the orphanage, but in much better hands with Frances gone. Ava visits him often and regularly signs him out on the weekends. He's a very good big brother, and even keeps all of his tips in a special "Diego fund" that both pays for fun things and acts as a long-term safety net should Diego age out of the system without being adopted.

Ava didn't know he was trans when he first left the orphanage, and it was only after meeting JC and Chanel that he was given the space and support to realize he wasn't a girl. He dated JC for a bit before coming out, but they soon realized that they worked better as guy friends rather than partners. Chanel is his best friend by far, always only a text away for advice, fashion tips, and bullshitting. She helped Ava find get a job at the bar and let him crash on her couch until he could afford his own place.

Ava received basic schooling in the orphanage, but doesn't have the money to pursue higher education. He compensates by reading as much as he can, chasing whatever topics interest him. He has a passion and talent for languages, and becomes fluent in several. His tiny apartment is filled with grammar texts, vocabulary sheets, and books from all over the world, and he is a religious user of Duolingo. He's also interested in medicine and technology, and is always on the lookout for articles about Arq-Tech.

As for Beatrice, I haven't decided what she studies yet, but she plans to pursue a doctoral degree after graduation. Her backstory is pretty much the same (shit parents, boarding school, etc.) until she entered university and connected with the other girls. Being free from her parents and meeting her friends gave her the space to accept her sexuality and love herself, so by the time of her graduation she is much more open and willing to pursue her desires. Her goal is to get her advanced degree, start working, and then distance herself from her family. She might have siblings in this au, I haven't decided yet.

That's all I will reveal for now. Hope you like it! 😘

[llycaons]

ep50 (2/4): family time - tying up loose ends and revealing secrets

aw man :( he clearly wants to, so badly. I'm really heartened by this, actually. jc telling him not to go will only work for so long, and jl has always been rebellious. he loves wwx. I think he's gotten over a lot of his embarrassment about showing him that, too. and wwx has been freed from a lot of the guilt associated with jzx's death, so I imagine he'll be even more ready to interact. they have a relationship waiting for them in the future. that warms my heart more than almost anything else in the finale

this scene is so gorgeous. I don't care that it's full summer out there, right now it's autumn and that's relevant metaphorically! season of change, season of death, season of endings. a beautiful season

jc is mocking wen qing's last words and wwx's advice, but the thing is...yes. yes. if he wants a relationship with wwx, there's going to be pain to work through. there's going to have to be forgiveness too, on both sides. there's going to have to be gratitude. that's what it means to be two imperfect human beings who care about each other in an flawed world. and that's true for anyone jc could want to have a relationship with, not just wwx. if he persists in this, he's dooming himself to isolation

have I mentioned I love jin ling

ah, l Iove this shot. the raised hand, the threat. but he doesn't hit jin ling. I mean, it's indicated he hadn't really before either, but the framing makes it significant. this is a change. these things will fall away and be gone. the tone for this scene is so melancholy

jin ling's persistence ♥♥♥♥ him never shutting up might be a significant factor in their reconciliation. also, the other translation said 'bullshit' instead of 'lies' for his next line. I like that better. let jin ling say bullshit!!!

oh god, I'd almost forgotten. it's such whiplash to be thrown 20 years, 35 episodes into the past. months in real time. but what happened back then still matters, it still impacts the characters in the present. and jc, for once in his life, acted completely selflessly for wwx. he offered himself in wwx's place. and for all the things he held over wwx's head, he never, never brought it up to him. fuck

this is such a gorgeous shot

believe it or not, I only cried once this episode and it was here. MAN. the complicated relationship, the love and grief and bitterness and anger. the single tear. the well-wishing to someone too far gone to hear it. I'm proud of him for this. it's real growth. now if they'd only communicate...

I've seen posts positing that wwx's ending isn't actually a happy ending and in fact he truly wanted to just stay with jc, but I find those narrow-minded and simplistic. he misses LP terribly and of course he cares about jc, but the story is about moving forward, about moving onward and recovering despite the terrible things that happen. wwx needs to heal, and he needs to do it somewhere where he'll be allowed to flourish, and that certainly can't be with jc or at LP. there's been too much between them, and jc isn't ready for it

I also think it's complicated. I think you can want something, or miss something, while knowing it's not the right choice for you. if jc offered his position back to him at that very instant, I don't think wwx would have taken it. I also don't think wwx needs any one thing to be 'truly' happy, whatever that means. I don't think any one thing could guarantee it. I don't think true, uncomplicated, perfect existential happiness even exists, not in the way it's described in those posts. I think the wwx of 20 years ago and the wwx of the present day are at different point in their lives, and they need different things. I don't even think wwx's only or most important goal is his own happiness. but we do know that he likes being with lwj, that lwj supports and protects him, that he's closer now with lwj than probably with anyone else, that they trust each other mutually, that he left with lwj, and it's with lwj he wanted to stay.

speaking of which...

I do think he's happy, here. playing with his flute was something he did as a careless young master, and it's nice to see that innocent playfulness back

he's so excited to hear what lwj had to say...he probably thought lwj would confess (finally) and then seeing lzx and wen ning like UGH 🙄 always getting in the way of my lwj time, those two

I was such a mess first watching this. cried like a baby

HAPPY TEARS FOR WWX!!! FINALLY!!!!

LMAO. immediately after lwj is like 'you taught him too 🥰' he says this

oho! I have previously dismissed lsz as rather boring, but he does indeed have a rascally streak!

more soulful staring, their favorite couple activity. along with fighting

YES. after all the injustices and cruelties the wens have suffered, they can finally rest in peace, honored by their remaining family and remembered by one wen ning

also...I wish we'd been able to hear lwj and lsz's conversation bc is lsz really not angry at ALL that lwj lied to him his entire life??? but I geuss it's not relevant to wwx's journey, so

wwx offering to come might have been for his own sake as much s for wen ning's sake, but I like that wn pushes back. it's not rejection, it's reassurance. wwx, this is no longer your burden. leave it and rest. we will never forget what you did, but you no longer have to bear these lives

and this too!! I worry about wen ning being alone, but he's also not been truly independent...ever? I'm glad for him, that he'll find his own way. maybe he'll collect distant family members of the wens, or take care of kids, or grow a garden. something in a community, something that he can build. wwx brought him back to live this life, and he's going to live it no matter what kind of body he's living it with

wwx waving with his dizi 🥺 like he did with jyl all those years ago. it's sweet, it's familial it's fun. for all I said before, I think it's clear that wwx is so happy in this part of the episode

our good-byes to the wens, a central family in the plot and character arcs of almost every single major character. the only two left, off to clean their ancestral tombs and mourn their long dead. a bittersweet ending for an entire family, but not quite so bleak as it could have been. and it's through the cracks that these kinds of stories survive. compared to what could have been, two people are everything

[frizzyanya]

The Untamed Episode 46, My Commentary!

Spoilers, and several big emotional reveals, and it was all just so perfect!

Ohhhh JGY/QS’s son had to die or it would have turned out messed up like Joffrey then. Got it.

Yikes, everyone wants to kill JGY now. This is all too easy, isn’t it? Something feels off…

Someone is setting this up in order to take power afterwards, it seems like?

Can we go back to the pier and see happy scenes with WN and his baby Yuan?

YIKES

JC not cool.

WWX went to pay his respects to his late adoptive family, and JC told him he didn’t belong there. JYL would be soooo ashamed of you.

They’re trying to walk away and JC keeps attacking with the Zidian. This sucks.

Wow, WN is so smart, I did NOT give him enough credit. If JC can unsheath WWX’s sword, THE MOST IMPORTANT REVEAL OF ALL TIME THAT I’VE WAITED FOR FOR MORE THAN 16 YEARS WILL HAPPEN.

Lordy, LWJ is holding WWX’s lifeless body with a beautiful flowered tree behind them. It’s a gorgeous shot and yet somehow it’s not at the forefront of my attention span because this scene has so much.

So WN told JC while WWX was unconscious nearby in LWJ’s arms. This is some good shit. 

I’m getting high off it.

Okay and here we have intermission.

It’s a flashback to WQ/WN on the mountaintop doing the magic that gave JC WWX’s golden core. 

Please don’t mind me while I PAUSE THE SHOW JUST TO STARE AT HER.

I MISS HER SO MUCH.

THE BEST CHARACTER THERE EVER WAS.

SHE’S JUST SO GORGEOUS ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND JUST THE MOST BADASS.

Okay I’m gonna hit play. Back to the show we go!

Hahahahaha JC’s questioning his whole identity and understanding of the universe. 

This is GREAT.

I’ve needed this for so long.

He’s devastated and in shock and angry and does NOT know how to process.

WN did a very good job of making sure that he believed him though!

OMG LWJ IS CRYING OVER WHAT THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE DID FOR JC.

HE’S LIKE YOU ARE TOO KIND AND PRECIOUS AND JC DIDN’T DESERVE FOR YOU TO DO THAT BUT I LOVE THAT YOU DID ANYWAY AND I’LL PROTECT YOU FOREVER DON’T YOU WORRY ABOUT NOT HAVING YOUR OWN GOLDEN CORE, I’LL PROTECT YOU AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THAT IN ONE SINGLE TEAR, BRAVO WANG YIBO.

Fifty points to Wang Zhuo Cheng for JC’s epic performance here too.

LWJ looks ready to kill JC, but in JC’s defense, he never even knew.

HAHAHAHAHA

I know this is a serious scene, but they’re doing the thing again where an unconscious person can walk if you just put their arm over your shoulder for support and like THAT’S NOT HOW BEING UNCONSCIOUS WORKS.

WN is waaaaaay smarter than I thought. 

Aaaaand now LWJ has WWX across his lap in a boat and for the second scene in a row, all I can think is “well damn, that would make a nice computer background.” (WN is in the boat too, but he’s not in the shot. The videographers know what we want to see.)

Omg WN and LWJ are talking about Yuan!!

Awww WN didn’t tell LSZ the truth because he didn’t want him to be sad :’(

LWJ’s scene saving Yuan has awoken my cold dead heart. GAAAAAAHHHHHHH

And of course WWX is still unconscious, so he knows about neither secret! So it’s like a bonus that he’ll get to learn about this later and I get more epic big reveal scenes!

Okay so more all caps coming because LWJ found out the process was painful and there was no anesthetic and WWX had to be awake through it and LWJ is like YOU DID ALL THAT AND WENT THROUGH IT ALL BECAUSE OF LOVE FOR A BROTHER YOU ARE SO PURE AND KIND AND PERFECT AND I JUST LOVE YOU SO MUCH I’M GOING TO CRADLE YOU IN MY ARMS LIKE THIS FOREVER UNTIL WE BOTH DIE OF OLD AGE BECAUSE I’M NOT LETTING ANYTHING HURT YOU BEFORE THAT EVER AGAIN DEFINITELY NOT BECAUSE ILYSM

LWJ IS ABOUT TO BRING WQ BACK FROM THE DEAD TO MURDER HER BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY A FIFTY PERCENT CHANCE OF THIS AWFUL PAINFUL PROCEDURE WORKING ANYWAY AND HOW COULD ANYONE RISK HIS BABY WWX LIKE THAT

LWJ literally can’t even make eye contact with the now awake WWX because he’s feeling ALLLLL of the things and can’t risk WWX seeing the stakes are just too high.

Awwww poor baby WWX just got caught up in a daydream about JYL, the only person he’s ever felt that level of familial love from. I felt his pain there so much.

Sometimes I don’t think WWX actually understands the depth of LWJ’s love for him, because he’s frequently caught off guard by LWJ caving and giving him what he wants and like, as the viewer it’s simultaneously sweet and infuriating to see him kind of in the dark.

OMG THEY’RE EATING ALL OF THE LOTUS SEEDS. 

Not like 1-2. Literally all of them. Brilliant.

Straight out of that Parks and Rec meme. “Just give me all the bacon and eggs you have. Wait, wait. I worry what you just heard was ‘Give me a lot of bacon and eggs.’ What I said was ‘Give me all of the bacon and eggs you have.’ Do you understand?” But this time lotus seeds. Because LWJ first said no, and then he caved and was like MY BBY CAN HAVE ALL THAT HE WANTS ALWAYS BECAUSE THIS POOR THING IS AN ANGEL AND DESERVES ALL OF EVERYTHING.

[somereaderinblue]

(YZY &JC stans, don’t clown my post.)

Unpopular opinion: YZY shouldn’t have died at the Massacre of Lotus Pier. Why?

Because she deserved to suffer even more.

Maybe this is just me feeling particularly salty today but I also feel ready to bash my head into a wall after seeing way too many posts stanning YZY as some tragic martyr when to me, she is a shit stain that should’ve never touched Yunmeng Jiang to begin with.

This revolting woman abused a child who was left to starve and fight against wild dogs on the street, simply because he’s the son of a dead woman who allegedly used to have a thing with her husband (whom she also abuses verbally & emotionally) that she forcibly married. Who hurts him because she knows she can damn well get away with it.

This pathetic womanchild went out of her way to make this child’s life miserable simply because he had the audacity to exist under the same roof as her. Who can hold power over him, when she could never mean shit to his mother.

This insufferable woman, who has a position & power she absolutely does not deserve, becomes nothing but a poison that erodes not only her own family, but an entire sect, hell, an entire legacy altogether.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy for WWX. I am so proud that he never let this womanchild beat him down and that he’s perfectly capable of letting go of the past to enjoy his (much-deserved) content future with his husband. Hell, him deciding to let go of his life involving YZY so easily was probably one of the best middle fingers to give to the woman who always screamed at everyone about her supposed grievances.

But personally, the salty vindictive voice in my head can’t help but wish she had faced worse consequences. 

It would’ve been so satisfying if she could’ve also been present during the Golden Core Reveal scene so LWJ & WN could also give her the much deserved ‘reason you suck’ speech. It would’ve been satisfying seeing her forced to watch the child she resented oh so much achieve the happiness she can never have. It would’ve been cathartic to see JGY, the ‘son of a whore’ call her out on her classist views and remind her that if it wasn’t for her family name, she’d be no better than WLJ. It would’ve been glorious for WWX to walk away from her because she no longer holds any power/authority over him & any ‘debt’ remaining between them is moot.

Alas, canonically, she’s dead. She’s gone and she can’t hurt anyone anymore. She’s gone and eventually, she’ll fade away and her memory will die like the insect she’s named after. Saltiness aside, I can live with that too.

[angstymdzsthoughts]

Sect leader wcz after wwx dies protecting JC

Wwx returns as a ghost. Not at the age he died, mind you, but at the age he qas when he came to Lotus Pier. He's small and happy and WCZ weeps. He keeps asking where his mom is, he clings to everyone and laughs in ways WCZ hadn't heard in years.

No one has the heart to banish himm what would be the point, he doesn't hurt anyone.

Well, not in the beginning.

The more time passes, the more quiet spells happen. Long moments when the child looks into the distance with a gaze too old for his face. When WCZ hugs him and he is surprised, when he's suddenly cold towards his shidis

Truth is, wwx never got a soul cleansing ceremony, nor did he die a death to be proud of

He turns resentful. He turns resentful and starts to haunt them

WCZ has to watch his child die again, and it doesn't hurt any less the second time

Wei Wuxian dies and all of Lotus Pier mourns. Cangze Sanren returns for the funeral and then tells her husband that she would not be returning. Jiang Cheng falls apart in guilt. It is revealed that the second young master of the Lan sect had been courting Wei Wuxian and is heartbroken. Wei Changze feels numb to all of it. His son is dead and the world is dull and colorless now. He can find no joy and no warmth.

And then his little boy comes running up to him and hugs his legs one day at the market. Wei Changze had thought he had finally lost his mind to grief, but everyone else reacted to Wei Wuxian, so clearly he was not the only one. The two of them made quite the spectacle that day. A sect leader sobbing on the ground while a little ghost clung to him and asked what was wrong.

Things got better after that. Wei Wuxian was both there and gone at the same time. Little Wei Ying was a soothing balm oh everyone's hurt hearts and he thrived under the attention everyone lavished on him. Wei Changze was only truly happy when his son was by his side. He treasured every laugh and smile his sons spirit gave him.

Then he received a letter from his estranged wife. Cangse Sanren told him to put their sons spirit to rest and warned him that only heartache and misfortune would follow if Wei Ying lingered too long. Wei Changze had thrown her letter in the fire, enraged. She leaves him with nothing and then tells him to get rid of their son?! She doesn't know what she's talking about! Maybe she would understand if she actually came home and saw Wei Ying- heard his voice and laughter and could see how happy he was- but she let her stubborn anger at him stop her.

As if her words had left a sour note in the air, Wei Ying began asking for her the next day. Wei Changze didn't know how to reply to him. He didn't want Wei Ying to feel like Cangze didn't want to be here because of him. He told his son that she had a very important night hunt and will come home soon.

Things began to slowly decline after that.

Wei Ying smiles less. Hides away more often. His laughter becomes rare. People start having nightmares. Accidents begin to happen around Lotus Pier. He tries to talk to Wei Ying but things just get worse. 

Jiang Cheng is injured one day. Wei Changze doesn’t react well and yells at Wei Ying.

“You just love him more!” Wei Ying yelled through his tears. “You want Jiang Cheng to be your son!”

Wei Ying runs away and between one blink and the next, disappears, before Wei Changze can do something to comfort his son. That night at dinner all of the food in the kitchen had spoiled and rotted.

[plan-d-to-i]

Hot take I never really see in the fandom, but Lan Jingyi is a bigger supporter of Wangxian than Lan Xichen. Lan Xichen just wants Lan Wangji to be happy whether that involves Wei Wuxian or not. He literally calls Wei Wuxian Lan Wangji's biggest mistake. Of course that's protective big brother mode being activated, but still seems like there is some resentment against Wei Wuxian. Lan Xichen also denounces Wei Wuxian at Nightless City. He tells Lan Wangji that Wei Wuxian essentially committed unforgiveable crimes and that Wei Wuxian is wrong like right after he finds out about Lan Wangji being in with Wei Wuxian. It's never stated if he was at the siege or not, but if he was after knowing Lan Wangji's feelings that's not exactly supportive. He'll always be civil to Wei Wuxian because he's like that with everyone, even people he hates. Also it would greatly upset Lan Wangji if his brother hated his husband. I don't think Lan Xichen hates Wei Wuxian, but that doesn't mean he likes him either.

Totally agree about JingYi!!! I love him so much.

LXC was not at the siege LQR was.

I honestly never gave that much thought to what LXC said to WWX by the temple pre fandom because he didn't let it affect his actions. To me clearly LXC's devotion is firstly to LWJ's safety, wellbeing and happiness. I've seen people say: how come LXC isn't blamed as much for what happened to WWX as jc hypocrites >:-/... LOL because LXC didn't grow up together with WWX?! LXC had JGY pouring poison into his ear about WWX's heart changing AND jc- the guy who was supposed to be closest to WWX- visits the Burial Mounds and comes back saying he's a traitor to the Clan, the YunmengJiang Clan will have nothing to do w him and he's the enemy of the entire cultivation world? What was he supposed to think? LXC spoke up for the Wens more than jc did and his home was burned down by them, his father died, and he was never helped by WQ and WN??!!? He didn't try to ban LWJ from bringing WWX into the Cloud Recessed to be healed in his second life, even after his identity was revealed; or from sheltering him and helping him and leaving with him. The guy has just gone through some harrowing days. He's found out his sworn brother killed his other sworn brother and made him into a jigsaw puzzle and did all this other terrible stuff. Now he's sealed his power and taken him as hostage. His little brother's boyfriend shows up and acts like he doesn't even know he's his little brother's boyfriend! LXC is holding on by a thread. Now none of this would be an excuse if he'd truly acted heinously BUT the reason I find his anger forgivable is that he didn't shut down communication. He doesn't tell WWX to go to hell and die or try to hit him etc. He actually explains everything and lays it out for him so WWX can finally understand what's happening. He calls him LWJ's only mistake, which may not be the nicest thing to hear but it makes sense in the context of LWJ protecting him ended in 33 strikes of the whip that kept him injured for three years...

"ZeWu-Jun had always been an image of grace and carried himself with a mild temperament, but when it came to his younger brother’s affairs, he could not help but lose his calm. Yet, upon closer inspection of Wei Wuxian’s reaction, his anger dissipated slightly, and asked again, “Was your memory…damaged?” (chapter 98)

I think people don't quite realize how impressive it is to still retain one's logic and relative calm in a situation like this. LXC is upset over something so personal: the wellbeing of his little brother. He could have so easily prioritized making himself feel better by just venting out all his frustrations and anger of these many years on WWX but instead he holds his anger in check and prioritizes his little brother's happiness by trying to clarify things and untangle any misunderstandings between WangXian:

Lan Xichen replied, “Whatever Wangji did then, if you can’t remember it yourself, then I’m afraid he would never bring it up in this lifetime, and you wouldn’t ask him either... Very well then, I shall tell you on his behalf.”

I don't get why fandom thinks he was so brutal?! He's not shown being mean again to WWX after things are finally settled between him and LWJ. He seemed to like and approve of WWX in his time studying in the cloud recesses. Now that the misunderstandings have been cleared up I can't see why it wouldn't revert to that. When the two bunnies are playing around him and LWJ, LXC says it's not bad to be boisterous, etc. Like jc's most heinous actions are perpetually excused w "omg it's sibling love" -EW no and LXC who actually shows a nice example of protectiveness and love gets dragged.

[franniebanana]

CQL Rewatch - Ep 20

Iconic. Seeing Wei Wuxian back and better than ever is so satisfying! That flute playing that probably we’ve all forgotten about since the first two episodes becomes a repeating leitmotif throughout the series. It’s just as iconic as Wei Wuxian himself. And what I love about this shot here is how the light hits his eyes, and from this specific camera angle, it looks like a mask on his face! I just thought that was super cool. Whether it was intentional or not, I have no idea, but I like to think it was. I guess it’s like a reverse mask in this case—everything is hidden except his eyes.

It’s amazing how I only went without Wei Wuxian for like half an episode, yet it felt like so much longer. The emotional weight that he carries is so great that from all the characters searching for him, it feels like it’s actually been three months, instead of more like twenty-five minutes. And I think that’s something that we can feel in CQL but we can’t really feel in the book. Since the book is written in third person limited, we only see Wei Wuxian’s side of the story (I think that’s accurate, but it’s been a few months since I read it). That being the case, we never leave Wei Wuxian’s side, we never get to miss him being there. Of course the story is framed totally differently in the book and not in chronological order, even—lots of flip-flopping, which is fun but also a little confusing when you’re trying to keep track of a timeline.

I think part of what makes Wang Lingjao so creepy here is that her garish makeup is totally gone: her face is pale and ghoulish, with just the bright red blood trickling out of her nose, mouth, and cut on her cheek. I think they could have made her even more ghostly, but I like what they did for her apparition. It’s fun to see how fast Wen Chao cracks, though. He’s very much all bark and no bite—honestly, such a coward. On the one hand, it’s satisfying to watch him lose it, but on the other, it’s quite disturbing. I toe the line between enjoying it and being disgusted by it, but I love that CQL at least kept in this part of Wei Wuxian’s character. It’s like revenge, no matter how bloody, is okay in Chinese tv, but not the main character being kind of bad. I don’t get why they had to nerf his character to the point of absolving him of all guilt with everything that happened. I like a character who makes bad choices, but feels guilty for it, because that shows depth. Someone who bad things happen to because of the “real villain” aren’t as interesting to me. I think also that Xiao Zhan would have been amazing as the real Wei Wuxian from the book, had they adapted him that way. I also would have really, really loved to see the scene that is only really described to us (I think by Lan Xichen) where a distraught and delusional Wei Wuxian rejects Lan Wangji. Ugh, that would have been so heart-wrenching! Maybe in the donghua…sigh….

So this is important, I think. There was a point in the last episode where Jin Zixuan tells his cousin not to let the crows peck at the dead bodies of their enemies. In other words, don’t desecrate the bodies, even if they are the enemy. Of course, Jin Zixuan didn’t hold any personal grudges towards any of them, at least that we know of. Jiang Cheng certainly does. So even though Wang Lingjao is already dead by her own hand, he whips her with Zidian. Jiang Cheng is becoming more and more twisted by his anger and grief, which he never deals with in a healthy way. He wants revenge against those that have wronged him and his parents, and he really never stops seeking revenge throughout the story. First it’s against the Wens, and then it’s against Wei Wuxian. It’s a fairly slow descent, I think, over years, but I quite like watching him twist like this. While it’s fun and interesting watching someone repent and have a redemption arc, it’s also interesting watching them go the other way.

Lan Wangji seems to know, or at least suspect, that the person who has killed everyone in the Supervisory Office, including Wang Lingjao, is Wei Wuxian. A talent for using talismans (one of which Lan Wangji used himself to escape the Wens), someone who is seeking revenge against the Wen Clan—these things point to Wei Wuxian in his mind. He doesn’t want to say this to Jiang Cheng, he doesn’t even want to admit it himself, but he’s putting the pieces together. I think this is a frightening thought for him. On the one hand, he would be happy to find Wei Wuxian alive, but on the other, what state would they find him in? And what does it mean that he’s killed all these people singlehandedly? This isn’t the Wei Wuxian that Lan Wangji knows and cares so deeply about. This isn’t the man that Lan Wangji was ready to die for. I think his heart is very much filled with dread in this scene.

Jiang Cheng’s line is interesting too—basically, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Solid, really, but it does come with some problems in reality. The enemy of your enemy just might stab you in the back later. It’s a very simplistic view, but I think at this point, Jiang Cheng is just happy to see the Wens dead. There are a few he wants to kill himself, but he seems satisfied if they just die out, regardless of who does it.

I like seeing Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng team up for these few episodes, because it’s fun seeing how they each approach the situations. Jiang Cheng relies heavily on his heart and emotions, which I can totally identify with. He wants to find Wei Wuxian and he wants revenge on Wen Zhuliu and Wen Chao—those are his two priorities. And then Lan Wangji is definitely more of a logical person—he wants to get to the bottom of these deaths and find out who is the person with so much wicked energy that is doing all of it—and also, that person is probably Wei Wuxian, who he is very interested in finding. Here Jiang Cheng wants to rush after Wen Zhuiliu, just as he did when he went back to Lotus Pier. He’s very rash, while Lan Wangji is much more calm and collected. I mean, if it were me, I’d want to see if they would give up any information before I killed them.

And the reveal is…Wen Chao is fucking disgusting! I didn’t even want to screencap one of the close-ups, because I felt like I’d have to do a trigger warning for blood lol. Not really, though, because I never do, sorry. I love the looks on Jiang Cheng’s and Lan Wangji’s faces, though. Jiang Cheng is so horrified and Lan Wangji is just mildly shocked. I think the real thing is like, who are we dealing with here? Who is this monster who’s been murdering everyone in all these different ways? Who has made Wen Chao look like this? Is this friend or foe? Like I said, Jiang Cheng keeps saying that as long as the person is killing the Wens, he’s fine with it, but I think even he is bothered by this level of mutilation, even against someone he loathes.

It’s hilarious to me that Wen Zhuliu uses this tactic with Wen Chao. Oh, you’re going to insult me? I’m useless? Okay, bye! LOL. Also very amusing that this is really the last conversation they have with each other: this bickering that they’ve probably done over and over off screen. Wen Zhuliu stays by Wen Chao’s side, though, because he’s indebted to Wen Ruohan, of course. It would have been a neat twist to see Wen Zhuliu defect. And you still could have had a dramatic scene where Jiang Cheng chases him down.

I love it! I love it I love it I love it! The flute! This part is so well done (it’s still a little campy, of course, but that’s part of the charm)! I mean, as the audience, we all know who it is by now, but I love that they keep up the mystery because Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng still don’t know. They didn’t see him walk in. I just love this.

And shock. Jiang Cheng looks significantly more surprised. It had never crossed his mind that the person doing all this was actually Wei Wuxian, the very individual that he’s been searching for. Lan Wangji, on the other hand, doesn’t really look surprised. He looks a little surprised, okay—I’ll give you that. But I think most of what he’s feeling right now is the deep dread of being right. He wanted to be wrong, even when everything pointed to Wei Wuxian. I don’t think he wanted to believe that Wei Wuxian was capable of this, no matter how much he wanted to get revenge for what happened at Lotus Pier. I think there’s disappointment there too—how could he do such a thing? And I’ve giffed this scene with this quote: “He started to estrange her…And they became strangers who knew each other’s heart, so broken as they drifted apart” (Ana Claudia Antunes, Pierrot & Columbine). I think the realization here and a bit later for Lan Wangji that Wei Wuxian has become some other person is quite heartbreaking. He’s like a stranger to him, and that feeling of betrayal when you thought you knew a person inside and out—that hurts. It’s a deep-seated betrayal that Lan Wangji feels throughout this scene.

Oh, what I also like about this part is that when Wei Wuxian appears, neither one of them can look away. They are solely focused on him at this point.

He finally gets his revenge on Wen Zhuliu. And it’s great. They jump through the roof and he strings him up with Zidian. I can’t really say anything about it—Jiang Cheng needed to do this or he never would have been able to move on from Lotus Pier and his parents’ death.

WWX: Have I changed?

JC: No, not exactly.

I love that these lines are exchanged while the camera is on Lan Wangji. Lan Wangji already sees how Wei Wuxian has changed: the flute, the wicked energy, the almost senseless killing—none of these things are like the Wei Wuxian he’s come to love. And yes, I think love—and it hurts more because there is love. Lan Wangji wanted to walk the straight path with Wei Wuxian together, and he feels betrayed by what Wei Wuxian has done. Despite that, he still wants to help him. He implores Wei Wuxian to come back to Gusu with him so that they can help him and bring him back to the right path.

This whole scene feels like Lan Wangji isn’t even in the room, it’s like a private conversation between Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji just happens to overhear. He says nothing. He lets Jiang Cheng ask a hundred questions while Wei Wuxian calmly answers them. Wei Wuxian smiles and laughs, he seems himself, and yet he isn’t. There’s something wrong and Lan Wangji grows more and more perturbed by it as the seconds pass by.

The tension in this scene is palpable. It’s painful, it’s sad, it’s really hard for me to watch. And yet, this is one of my favorite scenes. Lan Wangji is feeling a lot, and he’s held it all in until this moment here. He calls him Wei Ying, and then Wei Wuxian in turn addresses him first as Second Master Lan, and then as Hanguang-Jun, both very formal names. It’s not Lan Zhan anymore—there is no familiarity on Wei Wuxian’s part. I think part of that is his attempt to protect Lan Wangji from any association with him that might actually harm Lan Wangji and his reputation. He’s setting a boundary—a wall—between them. And then when Lan Wangji bites back, Wei Wuxian changes tack: he stars being informal with him again, he brings up how they were good friends, classmates, etc. But that’s not going to work because Lan Wangji is feeling pretty upset right now.

Lan Wangji is desperate, scared, and worried for Wei Wuxian. Sometimes when we’re feeling all that, it can come across as anger, and that becomes worse when someone is dismissive of those feelings. Wei Wuxian is definitely dismissive here. In their interactions, Lan Wangji rarely shows this much emotion, and instead of paying attention to that, Wei Wuxian brushes it off. Jiang Cheng shows that he cares by hugging Wei Wuxian, but Lan Wangji is different—he’s thinking ahead, he’s seeing what Wei Wuxian has started to mess with—demonic cultivation—which can destroy a person’s mind, and he’s terrified. His only thought is to take Wei Wuxian away and try to change him for the better. Of course, just like what his father did to his mother, this cannot work. Even if Lan Wangji manages to force Wei Wuxian to come with him, he won’t be able to control him. All Lan Wangji can really do is try to persuade him.

The intensity of Lan Wangji’s gaze here is something else. This is a man who is desperate to save the person he loves. He is really looking out for Wei Wuxian’s best interests here and is getting no support from Jiang Cheng. I don’t really know what’s going on in Jiang Cheng’s head right now, but he’s definitely finding Lan Wangji’s behavior offensive. He doesn’t understand that Wei Wuxian’s actions will lead to his ultimate destruction, while it is very clear to Lan Wangji. But all I can do here is bring up how they viewed the person who was killing all the Wens earlier, before they even knew who it was. Lan Wangji felt very unnerved by it: he was disturbed by the talismans and disturbed by the various manners of death, while Jiang Cheng’s stance always was that it didn’t matter because the person was clearly on the same side—a dead Wen is a dead Wen no matter who is behind it. And his opinion doesn’t change even after he finds out. It’s not important to him how Wei Wuxian was able to kill all those people. He asks the questions, but he isn’t interested in really hearing the answer. On the contrary, I think Lan Wangji is very interested in those answers, but he wants to hear about it in a controlled environment. He doesn’t want Wei Wuxian to go back to Yunmeng, where he will essentially live with free-rein without boundaries.

As for cinematography, I love how Wei Wuxian holds up his flute here, setting up a literal boundary between him and Lan Wangji. Not only do you have Jiang Cheng creating that wall with his sword, you also have Wei Wuxian. What I mean is, it’s not only Jiang Cheng who wants to keep Lan Wangji out. Wei Wuxian is drawing a line here too: he wants Lan Wangji to stay out of his business. And this morphs into, what happens at this place is not Gusu Lans’ business—it only concerns Yunmeng Jiang Sect.

We all know Wei Wuxian is an arrogant person, but his arrogance and ignorance here is truly stunning. Lan Wangji tells him point-blank that he won’t be able to control this energy if he uses demonic cultivation, and Wei Wuxian does everything but laugh at him. I enjoy this and I hate it at the same time, because Lan Wangji is just fucking worried, you know? And maybe he doesn’t express himself well, but he’s shocked to see Wei Wuxian here, shocked that he’s responsible for all this—he can’t stay calm and collected under these conditions.

In just a few minutes, Wei Wuxian says that he and Lan Wangji are good friends and that Lan Wangji should treat him better, as well as “Who do you think you are? What I do is none of your business.” I’m paraphrasing, but that’s the gist. This scene here, with their faces so close to each other, kills me. This is absolute betrayal for Lan Wangji. It’s as if everything they had built together—all the respect, the affection, the comradery—is gone. The Wei Wuxian that he knew is gone.

I love the way this shot is framed, with Wei Wuxian staring after Lan Wangji, and then Wen Chao pleading, “Forgive me, forgive me.” So apt, because I think Wei Wuxian does feel bad here, I think he feels guilty. I think part of him really missed Lan Wangji and wanted to see him. I think he even knows that what Lan Wangji is doing is out of concern for him over anything else. But I also think Wei Wuxian’s pride gets in the way of that, and his desire for revenge, and even his desire for things to go back to normal. More than anything, Wei Wuxian wants to return to Yunmeng, to his shijie, to be able to live normally again, whatever that really means, because of course everything has changed. Nothing will ever be as it was again. More importantly, he has changed, and can never go back to the person he was before, the person who played so hard, the person who shirked his responsibilities and fooled around in classes, the person who shamelessly teased and flirted with Lan Wangji. That Wei Wuxian is gone. I think Wei Wuxian knows he’s hurt Lan Wangji and does feel bad about it, but he knows he has to push him away to protect him. He doesn’t want to drag Lan Wangji down with him, he feels it’s better this way. And I think, even though CQL!Wei Wuxian does have feelings for Lan Wangji quite a bit earlier than in the book, you can see the one-sided love here, in Lan Wangji’s aggressive behavior as he attempts to save this person he loves. Lan Wangji isn’t willing to give up on him, whereas Wei Wuxian is more prepared to let him go—to push him away to protect him. That’s love too, I suppose, but it’s a love that is meant to be from afar—a sad love, not a passionate one, not a desperate one, not the one that Lan Wangji feels for him.

This is so heartbreaking for Lan Wangji, in part, because they had such a special relationship before. Prior to this, Wei Wuxian prided himself in that he and Lan Wangji went on night hunts together—the clan didn’t matter, whether that was unorthodox or not. And now to see him use his clan as a barrier between them…it’s quite a betrayal. Lan Wangji feels so hurt, so at a loss—he wonders what could he have done differently to prevent this, he blames himself.

This is one of my favorite episodes because of this reunion scene. What you expect is some great reunion, the hugging between Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian, maybe a smile from Lan Wangji because he’s really happy to see him. But instead, you get pain. You get a Jiang Cheng hugging Wei Wuxian, but Wei Wuxian not even returning the hug (he only raises his arm to signal that he wants to break apart). You get a heated confrontation between Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, one that is “fondly” thought of as their break-up scene. I love the drama, I love the pain, I love the angst, I love the dichotomy between Yunmeng Jiang and Gusu Lan, I love that this is the start of more tension between Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji, I love everything about it. The “us and them” dynamic that starts here is so great, and then to see it slowly unravel throughout the next ten episodes, to see Wei Wuxian’s and Jiang Cheng’s relationship fall apart, while Wei Wuxian’s and Lan Wangji’s relationship begins to strengthen again--I eat it up. It’s like my candy. Anyway, I’m excited for what’s to come, excited to talk more wangxian and how it compares to the book (from my dwindling knowledge, that is)! Happy that you all are coming along this ride with me!

Other episodes: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |

[creativeashproductions]

An Unwitting Sanctuary // Luke Patterson

IN WHICH: Reader finds herself dropped kicked into a  whole new world void of demons but filled with ghosts. Having grown up in a top secret religious Order it’s quite the adjustment temporarily stationed in a world less dangerous. But with the help of a trio of teen ghosts and a girl whose throat was nearly slit the transition isn’t fought.

Warnings: Swearing, violence, blood, demons, wounds, angst, and fluff

Words: 5.6k

A/N: Just another fic that I periodically worked on. This is a crossover with the Netflix original series Warrior Nun which I highly recommend.

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Masterlist

It all started a decade ago when you lost your mother to an illness that had desiccated your family's happiness. Your father failed to find peace at the bottom of a bottle before he was a great father. In his last attempt to be a father, he made the tough decision to give you up to save you from watching his self-destruction and so he wouldn't hurt you.

That's how you found yourself numb on an airplane heading for Spain where you had been taken in. Tear tracks slowly drying on your pale cheeks, you tried to find what you did wrong for your parents to leave you.

"Hi." A sweet voice spoke from beside you. A girl with light brown hair in pigtails said with a bright grin, "I'm Ava."

A faint blush appeared on your cheeks at her words, but with one mention of your favourite show, you couldn't help but ramble. The woman beside Ava, her mother, smiled at how easily Ava could make someone happy. Ava and her mom remained by your side, even getting off the plane.

"It was nice to meet you." Ava beamed, revealing a missing tooth. Ava tackled you in a hug tightly, "You're my bestest friend in Spain." 

Your little hand waved as Ava's small stature disappeared out the airport entrance with her mother leaving behind a forlorn little girl. A stoic woman using a cane slowly made her way to you emotionless as she glanced at a photograph in her other hand.

"Y/N Y/L/N? You may call me Mother Superion," The Nun questioned, resting both her hands on the head of the cane with such intimidation, "Follow me. You're very fortunate Cardinal Duretti and Father Vincent found you.

"Why do you wear robes?" Your innocent question was taken by Mother Superion with little regard. Mother Superion questioned if the Order could afford having a child in the midst of the Order members' sworn duty.

"It is my habit. It is an outward sign of my religious' consecration to God." Mother Superion spoke, leading the way to an unmarked black vehicle idling for the stoic Nun and the little child. A vehicle that would transport a small American child to a place devoid of parental love and nurtured guidance.

Now at eighteen years of age, you had seen more than most people saw their entire lives; you were no longer the bright-eyed little girl longing for her father's hug. You were a girl who matured beyond her years, dedicating her life to a mission civilians had no clue about. It was a hard life among your fellow Sisters, yet you were closest to the Warrior Sisters you had been assigned to. Mary, Beatrice, Camila, Shannon and Lilith; Mary being your closest friend given you both were part of The Order of the Cruciform Sword but not Nuns, having never taken the vows. Lilith had grown colder and bitter when Sister Shannon was chosen for the Halo, so it was often hard to be around her now.

Mostly when she was gunning to retrieve the Halo from the resurrected formerly quadriplegic teenager girl. A girl that would most likely lose her life if Lilith succeeded and you, along with Mary, made it your mission to stop Lilith. Which led you to a warehouse where Lilith was on a screaming Ava, the Nun so gone you had absolutely no doubts Lilith would any anything for the Halo.

"-and you can't even appreciate that." Lilith hissed in the other girl's ear, "Your loss."

The Divinium blade stabbed into the middle of the Halo, sending severe pain through the Bearer's body. Her echoing screams joining the mystical sound reverberating from the golden glowing Halo itself.

"Enough!" Mary shouted, sprinting as Lilith started to carve the Halo out of Ava's back. In an unspoken decision, Mary tackled the Sister while you scrambled on your knees. You wrenched the knife from Ava's backsliding the blood-soaked blade in your combat boot.

"Ava, you need to get to the side. If Lilith comes, use the skills you gained from the Order." You told the teenager as you helped her up before running to join the combat.

"Fuck off!" Ava shouted, scrambling over to her unconscious friend JC. Another example of why relationships and friendships were impossible, a casualty in the work against the demons.

Your closed fist slammed Lilith's left cheekbone sending a splatter of blood from her lips; you dropped into a defensive crouch. Gracefully twirling, you avoided the hard kick from Lilith while Mary wiped the blood from her face. Lunging back from Lilith, you kicked her thigh, getting distance from her.

Lilith was about to slam her boot into your midsection when a familiar sound echoed in the warehouse. You all went still scanning the room for the unfortunate Tarask that would appear after a portal opened.

"Mary?" Lilith breathed, focused on the golden ripple behind the operative, who slowly turned as the screech grew louder. You stepped back beside Lilith as the Tarask entered the dimension just as terrifying as the last time. 

Slipping one of her shotguns, you raised it just taking a shot when it aggressively hit Mary, sending her halfway across the warehouse into a windshield. The shotgun in your hand started blasting at the increasingly pissed off demon.

Lilith was slowly unslinging the Divinium Sword from the scabbard on her back. Your eyes flicked from the movement to the Tarask towering in the room. It didn't take a genius to understand Lilith felt the need to prove herself as the rightful Bearer. 

"Lilith, no." You sternly spoke, flinching when the Tarask flipped a car towards Ava and the boy. The horrendous Tarask stopped as Mary joined in, shooting him as your shotgun clicked empty. 

Ava was stumbling back, keeping the boy behind her as the Tarask stalked her lifting one of its razor-sharp appendages. Lilith lunged in front of Ava in a moment of redemption as you tried to push Lilith away, but something lifechanging happened. 

A twin gasp filled the area as you felt something enter your body from behind. Glancing down, you saw the appendage had impaled your lower stomach right after it went through Lilith.

"No!" Mary screamed as you choked on the pain flooding your system. Sound faded as you could feel rather than hear your scream. A dribble of liquid slowly ran down the corner of your mouth, the copper taste bitter.

Red hot pain came from your midsection along with a deep cut oozing blood from your arm where Lilith had sliced your skin open with the Sword. Lilith slumped onto your back as she screamed, which had you literally slide off the Tarask's appendage with the lubrication of your own blood.

Your body connected with the floor having a first-row seat as Lilith whispered something that aided Ava in fighting the Tarask. With the swing of the Sword, the Tarask burst into flames vanishing through a portal with Lilith still on it.

Your eyes fluttered as Mary limped over your prone form. Maybe now you could join your mother in peace.

"No! Keep your eyes open," Mary demanded, struggling to lift you with her leg. A thin bead of blood-stained your cheek as it ran a path from the corner of your mouth.

Your eyes shut completely faded into a painless sleep.

The next time you woke up in the medical ward where you would stay for weeks after miraculously surviving what should have been fatal. Things changed for you, leaving doctors unclear; even Jillian Salvius' scientists and herself couldn't figure it out. Things got better, but the whole teleporting and you could see the demons once hidden from you.

There were other things you do, but that wasn't as important as the current moment deep in the catacombs of Vatican City. Soon you left Warrior Sisters to help Mother Superion in keeping the Reject Nuns from stopping your mission. After the last one fled, you watched as the entire area grumbled, Beatrice must have to blow up part of the tomb to retrieve Ava from whatever she'd found. You were proven right when Father Vincent carrying Ava appeared.

The Sisters recounted what happened, leaving you shocked. Ava had managed to phase through the twenty feet of solid rock to steal Adriel's bones. Instead of a pile of bones, Ava had found that the supposed Angel had been waiting for her. 

"He was alive?" You breathed, taken aback as Ava dropped the bomb that Adriel was alive and very much not an Angel. 

"He's a devil." Ava's words proved correct when invisible forces shoved the line of people far across from you. Unlike anything, you had ever seen before in your life.

A dark-haired man strode down the middle confidently with one wave of his arms, sending people flying away and dust from his lost robes. The man was dressed entirely in black and oozed darkness. His eyes gazed at Ava before meeting yours with a smirk. 

"Perfect."

Your eyes widened at his blunt statement issued directly at you, "Why is he looking at me like a prized possession?" 

"Stay here." Father Vincent spoke, pushing in front of everyone to make his way to the man who should have never been let out. Something deep in your stomach felt wrong; Father Vincent sent your heightened instincts flaring. 

You could hear a whisper in your head as somehow words reached across the great distance in Father Vincent's voice. 

"My master." Father Vincent verbally revealed his betrayal, leaving you breathless. He was one of few people that raised you from childhood, and he was evil. Adriel whispered to Vincent's ear, he was no Father, before stepping around him. 

"I admit my doubt laid in if you could be brought." Adriel's cultured voice spoke, staring at you, "My first step involved finding a capable human, 'A child's awakening born from despair. A child brought from a different part of the world'" 

You hyper-focused on the approaching man, barely noticing anything else, even the glance between Ava and Lilith. The entire group began fighting the man cleanly and professionally, you were drenched in blood from close combat.

In a lull, two girls came close together, each with a heavy heart at the short conversation and plan they had made. Lilith had had a dream that the only way for you to be safe was teaming up with Ava and it meant possibly never seeing you again.

"This is what you dreamed?" Ava demanded her former enemy. Lilith shook her head. 

"Not this exactly." Lilith murmured back, "It has to happen now. It's the only way, Ava." 

Ava squeezed her eyes shut as memories from a much happier time came into her memory before all she knew was heartache. 

"Ava, introduce yourself." Seven-year-old Ava looked up at her mother, "She looks sad." 

Ava nodded her small head-turning to the other child next to her, "Hi. I'm Ava." 

Ava felt happy when she managed to bring a smile to the girl beside her spending the next few hours talking. Ava hoped she would get to see you again, but life had other plans when the car accident happened. Ava would see when you were both jaded and cynical to the once innocent world they both knew. 

Grabbing Lilith's hand as Beatrice engaged the combat, Ava, with the Halo's power and the changes in Lilith, opened a portal. A single tear fell from Mary's eye as she slammed her boot into the armour of your combat outfit. 

"NO!" You screamed as the portal closed you from your friends, your team, your Sisters. You only caught sight of all them stalking towards your enemy.

The room, a garage of some kind, was modern with plants set in the glass wall with a well-used piano situated in front of it. The room was quiet, thankfully, as you hit the floor at a fast speed, still screaming. The thud echoed around the room as you laid on your side in the fetal position. 

"Please let the stitches be fine." You prayed, pressing your hand against your lower right quadrant. Your hand came back wet and sticky as you shouted in pain.

The black clothing hid the blood from your wounds, Adriel's blood and blood from your opened wound. You army crawled on your back towards a material, grabbing the dark sweater you screamed as you pressed against the wound. The pressure almost sending you unconscious.

"It's a killer song." 

Your breath hitched at the sound of a stranger, an American stranger too. You shuffled into the corner, unaware of the drops of blood you trailed.

"With Julie's voice, it will be great." Another voice spoke, faltering before speaking again, "Reggie? You okay, you've gone pale."

"Alex? Is that…is that blood?" Reggie, the guy that first spoke, whispered, looking at the drops leading to where the piano was situated. The two guys walked closer to where a small puddle of red liquid was smeared, "Yeah, that is definitely blood."

"Check on Ray and Carlos. I got Luke." Alex spoke, sharing a very concerned look with his bandmate. The two disappeared, unaware of the girl lightheaded intent on staying quiet.

With the room empty, you set about struggling to the bathroom for a mirror, the bruised skin barely shocking you. It came with being a Warrior Sister. Your hands shook as you washed the blood off, stilling at a door opening.

"Blood?" A feminine voice questioned. Peeking around the corner stood a Latina teenager with one of the boys from earlier, "Are you sure?" 

"Yes. Deadly. No pun intended." Reggie spoke, leading the exasperated teenager to where the piano was; congealing was the bright red fresh puddle of blood, "Your family is fine." 

"So is Flynn." Alex spoke, appearing with Luke beside him, "Luke was at the Orpheum.” 

It seemed your body decided to betray you with a jump in your heart rate and a flutter in your stomach. You winced, removing the pressure from the dark sweater shuddering as the black shirt pulled away from the wound.

"That is a lot." The newcomer, Luke, spoke, coming to a stop in front of the puddle frowning as he double-checked his guitars were safe. Julie's voice made the boys ashamed when she noticed something they didn't. 

"Did you happen to see there is a trail of blood as well?" Julie spoke, gesturing to the drops leading to the bathroom, "Whoever it is-"

Julie cut herself off with a scream as you lunged at her swinging a long sharp knife at her face; Julie stumbled, flailing as you glared at the terrified teenage girl. You didn't care who she was other than your mind was screaming danger. It was Julie being clumsy that was saving her life and you being weak.

"Oh my god! Julie!" Luke shouted at the sudden attack on his new friend and bandmate. All three were about to protect her, even though the sense of touch was still off and on.

You groaned, slumping to the ground once more, breathing heavily, and e/c eyes rolled back in your head, "Fuck." 

"She's a ninja!" Reggie yelped, ushering the group away from the girl in agony. His eyes taking in her youthful appearance and the dark black combat outfit. He didn't miss the bruises and cuts on her paling face.

"She almost killed me!" Julie shouted at the bassist, "In case you didn't see?! That knife came very close to slitting my throat!"

Tears filled your waterline as a feeling of being weak flooded your body in such a way you had never felt. You couldn't even protect yourself. The sense of despair taking most of your pain away as a sob broke through.

"She's crying!" The panic in the messy-haired boy voice broke through your tears. Tilting your head to see the very terrified teenagers, the despair was taken over by guilt.

"I'm sorry." You spoke, leaning up, "For…uh attacking you?” 

"Greatly appreciated." Julie sarcastically countered with a roll of her eyes, "Who are you?” 

"No, Julie, what are you?" Reggie inserted, pointing towards you with his index finger, whereas Alex was intently watching your movements.

"I'm in America. Wow." You chortled, collapsing into a fit of laughter, "Just when I thought life couldn't get more surprising! Oh, wait, I dropped out of a portal in the middle of a fight." 

"Can you explain why you're in our studio bleeding…oh, you're bleeding." Alex choked, bouncing on his feet as he frowned at your obvious pain. His eyes looking at the abandoned sweater you had been using against the wound, "If you promise not to attack can I get a first aid kit?"

You hesitantly nodded graciously, appreciating his kind offer, "Get a needle, thread and a lighter." 

Luke and Reggie reluctantly helped move you to the couch, with Luke grumbling about stains; he didn't like that a bleeding girl would be on his couch. You wheezed sitting on it, Luke's eyes widening as you started removing the tight black leather. 

"Uh, what are you doing?" Luke nervously questioned, scanning to find his friends. Julie had joined Alex in collecting your requirements, and Reggie was getting a bucket of water. 

"Removing my armour?" You spoke, sending him a weird glance wincing when the layer pulled the remaining stitches—a curse slipping out of your full lips. 

"Oh, that is disgusting." Luke grimaced, leaning away from the wound, still oozing blood and glancing at your chest with a deep blush. 

With the other three joining with the items, they watched as you cleaned the area with a wet towel revealing more of the gore. A sharp gasp when you shifted to check the entrance wound on your back, deeming it okay, you inspected the exit wound. 

"Okay, stitches tore only. That's good. I didn't want to deal with scrambling my organs." You chortled, removing your utility belt to fold and clench between your teeth. 

Doctoring the wound took your mind off your friends' survival, but the thud of a body brought you back to the here and now. Reggie, having seen you about to pierce your skin with the needle, had fainted. You raised one eyebrow before looking at the other three. 

"Uh, maybe look away?" You spoke, temporarily removing the belt from your mouth. Returning back to the task, you grunted as you stitched the wound as best as you could. By the time you finished, you were sweating.

"I fainted." Reggie groaned as he sat up, seeing that you were taking clothing from Julie and the first aid kit put aside, "I didn't think ghosts could faint." 

Julie and the Phantoms went silent as Reggie revealed their biggest secret to someone new. Julie groaned, putting her face in her hands while Alex shot the same annoyed and exasperated expression at the bassist. 

"Ghosts? Better than demons." You muttered with a sigh, "Can I use the shower?" 

Julie mutely nodded as she took in both the lack of response and your retort. Fifteen minutes later, a very different version came out of the bathroom. You were swamped in the flannel Luke had offered and the shorts from Julie, but you kept your thick combat boots. It was odd seeing you so feminine and free of blood. 

"Thanks." You smiled gratefully at the four teens, "So ghosts? Are all of you ghosts?"

"No. They died in 1995, I'm alive." Julie shrugged, taking a look at her newest best friends that had helped heal a part of her. Helped bring her back to music again, "I'm sure you may have heard of the band Julie and the Phantoms."

"No." You blankly replied, "Look, I was literally just at the Vatican an hour ago….which Beatrice partially blew up…"

Your words trailed off as the situation finally hit you full force because there was no way you were in Italy. Thinking back to the moments before you felt into a portal, you vaguely recalled Lilith meaning another dimension. 

"I need a phone." You demanded, quickly retrieving the one Julie offered to type in the phone number ingrained in your memory. One of the many things that Mother Superion had beaten into you literally.

"Andalusia, Spain's Authentic Castle Tours. How can I help you?" The voice asked, located in Spain at a desk in a business building near a deteriorating church. 

"Is Cardinal, I mean, a man named Duretti available?"

"I'm sorry, but we have no one in our employment by that name. Can I have a name, please?"

"Never mind." You gruffly replied, ending the call as you tossed the cellphone back to Julie, "I really did get transported. Stupid Vincent and Adriel."

A month was spent finding your bearings in a new dimension with people so far from your regular life it was astounding. Even though you had threatened Julie with a knife, at first, you had bonded with the girl. You were most peaceful when you were in the studio with Luke across strumming on his guitar to a new song. You had quickly become part of their friend group as time went on, and to be honest, you didn't really want to go back.

"What do you think?" Luke asked you, meeting your gaze, "Is it too soft?” 

"Aren't you the expert?" You smirked as he disappeared and popped up beside you on the couch with a smile. You weren't like typical girls Luke had known back in the '90s.

"Are you okay?" Luke questioned, turning his entire focus to give you a perfect view of his gorgeous eyes you could never distinguish between brown, green or even blue.

"Yeah. It's weird not having Mother Superion judging my moves or training with Beatrice, but it's okay." You half-smiled, recalling the people that had been in your life every day for years, "I miss them. They were my family."

Luke understood more than Julie ever would, and he knew more about your history than the others, "I get that." 

"I had a normal life. Parents that loved me and some friends I loved even at six years old. Memories of my mom are faded, but she got sick when I was five and passed a year later. My dad…he was struggling. His last good parental deed was putting me up for adoption." You admitted slouching to place your head on Luke's shoulder. His heart fluttered at the movement, "I never could make myself look him up. Hurt too much." 

"Yeah. I understand the feeling." Luke breathed through his nose, leaning his chocolate mess of hair on yours. The warmth flooding your systems.

The studio was empty other than you and Luke while Julie was at school. Reggie and Alex had left right after the living singer. You guess Reggie had found Ray at the site for his current photography appointment. Alex had a few places he could be at.

"Y/N!" The faint call of your voice in the distance startling you. The harsh yet feminine voice of one of the Sister Nuns bubbling hope in your stomach.

"Did you hear that?" You asked the ghostly guitarist, who frowned in confusion. Your eyes flickered around the studio frantically, "What the- "

"Y/N!" The voice grew louder in the room, with only it heard by you. Your body moved without thinking to the barn doors.

The doors opened with a gentle push as you followed the smoky wisp to the backyard and Luke behind you. Laughter sounded miles away from Julie and Reggie coming down the cement steps. Alex trailing behind only to halt watching your movements and Luke's questions falling on deaf ears.

"Come on! You said it would work!" The grit in the voice that had a life just as difficult as you in losing people. The smoky wisp flashed into a glowing portal as shiny as a frozen pond in the winter.

"I'm a little new at this, Ava! Opening dimensions isn't something that comes with a manual!"

"Lilith? Ava?" You breathed, reaching one hand out to the portal displaying a scene of two of your friends. Each wearing their combat outfits and grimaces as Lilith raised one hand up. 

"What in the hell is that?" Alex demanded, reaching to pull you back when your hand disappeared from the fingers to the wrist. Alex stumbled backwards at the sight of your hand being gone. 

"The portal," Luke interjected as you became mesmerized with the portal that had your life, your mission in life waiting. 

Glancing behind you, the four people that became just as important watched vigilantly as Ava and Lilith fell into the portal. The two girls quickly stood up in defensive movements scanning the surroundings.

Ava shoved Lilith off her to roll onto her stomach than her feet with a scowl. Ava's brown eyes clashed with your wide, shocked ones with an unmistakable look of relief. Ava's foot shoved the hand of Lilith's as her hand shoved Ava's calf. 

"Did that just…did she just-"Reggie struggled to make sense of the two girls appearing out of completely nowhere. His light eyes frantically moving between the people in the vicinity.

Striding up to the two girls, you punched Ava in the face with a hiss as a splotch of blood splattered your cheek.

"Ow!" Ava shouted, holding her cheek from the force of the hit with a frown.

"That's for sending me to another dimension!" You exclaimed before tugging her into a hug that left both of you uncomfortable. Her growing up in an orphanage and you in the Order had very little physical affection, "Vincent?" 

"Missing. Camila's been searching." Lilith interrupted, brushing the dirt from her clothing with a tentative smile. It was silent for a mere second before the formerly cold Nun lunged to hug you tight, "I'm so glad you're okay."

"Can someone please explain?" Alex questioned, flinching when Lilith made direct eye contact with the blonde drummer.

Her dark eyes staring the male down unflinching before her eyes found three other strangers standing around.

"Alex, this is Sister Lilith and Ava. We're teammates." You slowly admitted having kept some parts of the story from them.

They knew what you came from, a different world very different from theirs and worked for a secret organization. They didn't know much more than that as the Order's status as a secret.

"Teammates? Why are nuns involved in your group?" Luke asked, crossing his arms with furrowed eyebrows. Distrust sparkling in his hazel eyes for the first time since you first appeared in his life, and it hurt you.

"We're-” 

"Ava!" Lilith hissed, narrowing her eyes at the American girl hellbent on breaking all kinds of rules. Ava's scathing glare, in return antagonizing her further, "The only reason you know about the Order is because of the Halo."

"Because I would still be a dead formerly quadriplegic girl!" Ava snapped, glaring down the person that became a frenemy after the Vatican, "This thing in my back is the only reason I'm alive!" 

"I am so lost," Reggie mumbled under breath as the oddly dressed teenagers sparked into a rushed argument. His eyes caught Lilith's hand turning into a fist while Ava got all in the other girl's face.

Your eyes moved between the volatile duo that had brainstormed together to keep you safe. Without their secret plan, it was a wonder what Adriel would have had in mind with you. The memory of his fascination with your very being and the way it appeared he had somehow manipulated arrival to the Order. But how could he when he was trapped in a long-forgotten twenty-foot concrete tomb?

"Ava!" You commanded her full attention, "Stop. We have bigger things to worry about. Is there a plan to find Vincent?"

Both girls solemnly shook their heads in sync, "No."

"Let's get inside before Mr. Molina finds two strangers in his backyard." You ushered the two girls into the studio. Lilith scanned the building's interior, no doubt looking for threats as one would with the lives you had lived.

Ava was swift to take the kevlar upper body armour off her body, leaving a thin black long sleeve shirt. It was tossed onto the couch among the notebook you had been using for anything to do with your other life.

"What have I missed since Mary planted her heavy ass boot in my chest?" You demanded, recalling the painful feeling of Mary's kick. The tough girl didn't hold back in anything she did combat wise "How does she even walk in those cement traps?"

Julie and the guys found seats in the room around the three alien world individuals who spoke as if they were alone. They heard mentions of someone named Adriel and Areala with the odd mix of words they didn't comprehend.

"So we go back, and we kick his ass." You snapped, crossing your arms, "I didn't even get to use my new-"

"Are you forgetting he hit me, sending me a few feet in the air? How six of us, five being highly trained individuals, failed?" Lilith retorted, mirroring your stance, finding an ally in Ava's unstaggering support.

"They all threw daggers, Camilla unloaded her crossbow, Mary beating him with the shotguns and even shooting him? That barely left a dent! For fuck sakes, he took an arrow to the neck, and he still got up!" Ava completely snapped with a heated glare in her milk chocolate eyes with hints of dark chocolate.

"That goal wasn't to end him; it was just to kill seven minutes for Ava to recharge." Lilith uncharacteristically softened her tone. Her dark eyes lightened in both comfort and sympathy, "We almost didn't make out of the fight. Adriel brought his wraith demons-"

"Like the pussy he is." Ava scoffed, rolling her eyes at the look she earned from Lilith, "What! Just because you're a Nun doesn't mean I can't swear!"

"Question," Reggie spoke, raising his one hand in the air, receiving the Warriors' attention. She shrivelled under the glares of the Nun; your frown proceeded the sharp punch to Lilith's arm for her action.

"Don't be mean to him." You stepped closer to the band that had grown to be close with you despite the rough introduction. The arm of Luke's chair bumped your waist, knocking you off balance. Luke's warm hands settled on your hips to steady you.

"I only just got used to ghosts," Alex whispered to himself, pushing his hands through his hair. His expression solely of confliction and emotional agony.

"I'm sorry, but did he just say ghosts?" Lilith questioned, staring at the blonde-haired drummer, "Better question, why are you hanging around with them?"

"Because after I was so kindly shoved into another universe, they welcomed me in." 

"After you nearly slit my throat too." Julie inserted, climbing to her feet to station herself beside you. Her face stoic, staring down the two females opposite to you and her.

In a moment of unison, the dead boys all stood up to match Julie in her support. Luke's hand brushing against yours momentarily before his pinky wrapped around yours. Lilith and Ava didn't miss the small movement.

"Lilith, Ava, these are my friends. Julie and her band of ghost boys." You softly spoke, nodding towards the Puerto Rican teenager with a smile, "This is Luke, Reggie and Alex."

Alex lifted his hand shoved it into his jean jacket pocket with a happy smile that belied his anxiety and confusion. Reggie's flushed cheeks squished as he beamed at the new people while Luke was more cautious. 

"Ghosts?" Lilith questioned once more, with her stance becoming combative and distrusting. Her greying hair peeking out under her black combat veil, a testament to her time in the dimension where the Tarask took her.

"Relax. Lilith." Ava spoke, straightening up with her lips pursed together, but she refused to relax. The room had waves of tension from the people inhabiting the building at the moment, "We just came to grab you."

The residents all slightly stepped in front of you, Luke's one arm behind him as he kept his pinky intertwined with yours. While the whole story hadn't been revealed to them, they knew that whatever waited in your homeworld was much worse than a pesky Broadway wannabe ghost in vintage wear.

"I don't know the full story, but she is not returning with you. There's a reason why you sent her here." Luke passionately spoke, glancing at the two girls with ulterior motives to dropping in for a casual conversation.

Your finger squeezed the messy-haired guitarist's own finger before you stepped around the wall of four musicians. Your name whispered behind you as you stepped up to the Warrior Nuns in front of you. The room filled with tension.

"Lilith, unlike you and the other Nuns, I didn't choose this life. Neither did Ava. We both got handed a really shitty hand of cards that ultimately placed us in the path of the Order." Your hands reached out to grasp the older girl's hands.

Luke sent a look to his bandmates with a sick feeling sinking in his stomach as he anticipated your decision to leave. It physically ailed him as if it hadn't hit him before that this world wasn't the one you were from. Why wouldn't you want to get back to your own world with your family?

"-But you can't come back." Is the words Ava spoke that had Luke coming back to the present. A certain light feeling took over him.

"Not yet, at least." You murmured with a bittersweet smile placed on your pretty features. Despite ignoring it, Lilith and Ava had already known from the moment they saw your interactions with the band what the outcome would be.

This was your home. At least for now. Lilith couldn't blame you, not after what happened, and that was okay. It was safer with you here until they could figure out a plan about the havoc in their own world.

"If you want, you can stay here for the night." Julie offered with a small smile, "That way, you can catch up properly. My dad would be cool with the guys bunking in the basement." 

After the Orpheum, the boys had developed the capability to be seen when they wanted, and Ray was informed of certain parts. Ray knew much about them, but he wasn't privy to the tidbit that the guys were dead.

"We have to head back. You're completely sure you don't want to come with us? Things may go bad, and we won't be able to get you back. You'll be stuck." Lilith warned you with a faint smile upturning the corners of her lips.

"I'm not stuck. I think this is where I was always supposed to be, even if it's only temporary. In this life or the next."

"In this life or the next." Ava and Lilith echoed back before they opened the portal to your former world. The portal closed behind them, leaving you with a bittersweet feeling in your very soul.

A single tear trailed down the apple of your cheek as the life you once had closed, and who knew it you could return to that chapter. Calloused fingers brushed the tears off your cheeks before a pair of lips lingered on your forehead.

"You good?" Luke murmured against the warmth of your head. His heart ached for you because while his parents didn't know he was dead, he had the opportunity to visit them.

"I will be." You whispered, tiptoeing to press your lips against his soft pink lips. Luke sharply inhaled at the action before he melted into it.

Yeah, you would be okay.

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[findopulencerp]

𝖗𝖊𝖓𝖆𝖎𝖘𝖘𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖊 𝖋𝖆𝖎𝖗𝖊: day three

residents come together at the faire to feel safe after fifteen residents have been taken. notable occurrences include: minho, mariah, micah, jc and bella sitting around awkwardly in the hopes of things getting better, minho and micah give each other eyes, mariah and jc bond through exchanged glances, rankle returns from his mission to walk minho home, bella accidentally reveals a secret about mariah and nicky attacks, only to be calmed by the vampire girl and his brother.

please note: we have not scanned this event for trigger warnings but no drastic warnings stood out during play through to mods. no spell check has been done on this, the idea of these events is for fast group interactions, not perfect grammar or spelling. however if you have only used pronouns in a response, one will be changed to your characters name and bolded to indicate who was writing.

if you have a continuation thread, feel free to tag #opulenceevent

The leaders of the town and various members of the ERT had been gone for quite some time. No one really knew if, when the sun rose the following day, if the event was still happening. Certainly many booths had been taken down, but the mayor had assured everyone on the morning news that actions were being taken, that the town had a plan in place to end this once and for all, those who wished to be with their loved ones were welcome to come to the tourney fields, that everyone could remain home if they wished, but that the town would be providing food and drinks to those who simply wished to be amongst their friends and companions, it was told to all residents however, whether they stay home or come to the fields to keep their wrist bands on, anyone who did not have a band could request one and a member of the ERT would bring as many as needed to their homes. They had every intention of bringing home their loved ones.

Bella hated being alone at the best of times, and so had in fact had come to the tourney fields. Small plate in hand she sat on a large pink blanket she had laid out for anyone who might want to sit with her.

Mariah was usually one to steer clear of danger. She had always been a runner, fleeing rather than fighting. However, when a colleague from Supernaturals had described to her in visceral detail what had happened... the vampire felt compelled to show some support for the town that had given her a fresh chance at life. And so, scowling as always, the tousseled haired blonde appeared. She spotted Bella before she saw anyone else she recognised and she inhaled deeply, steeling her resolve to not be a bitch at a a time like this, and she went over to Bellamys picnic blanket. "Hi... you all right?" she asked.

Nick was in wolf form that day. After speaking to a few pack members, he and a couple of others whose change took more than a few seconds to complete, had decided to stay alert. So, the almost six foot, dark chocolate wolf was doing his best to look at ease while he trotted around the perimeter. He was eager to get back to Bellamy's side, but had left her to do his job, and he knew a pack member wasn't far from the vampire.

Minho had already taken a seat close to Bellamy on her pink picnic blanket, holding a plate of his own, but his plastic fork was just stabbing at the little bit of food he'd put there. The Ren Faire had been so much fun these past couple of days and it was disappointing to have it end this way. Not to mention frightening. So, he had hardly left his friend's side, adamant to not let her be alone through this difficult moment the entire town was going through. Luckily, his sister was safe at a seminar far away from the faire grounds, so at least that was something he didn't have to worry about. Sitting there quietly, a heavy tense silence stretching all around even though the place was surprisingly still packed full of people who'd come not to be alone or give their support, he looked up when a stranger approached. Not reacting much because Bella and the other blonde woman obviously knew each other, he gave the newly joined vampiress a weak, polite smile in greeting.

Bella didn't really understand why Nicky couldn't stay with her, but once it was clear Ryden was not there, that he had left with the other leaders she did understand a bit better. With Ryden gone, Nicky was essentially in charge. Bella softly leaned against Minho, trying to offer him some comfort. "I'm okay," she assured Mariah, gesturing for Mariah to sit, unless the scent of hers and Minho's food bothered her. "I just couldn't be at home alone, knew I would freak out. I even brought Boss with me but..." Bella's puppy was playing with some children and some other dogs, all who did not understand what was happening.

Rankle was off with the leader of the sirens, moving through the caves of the Allied Beaches but he had left Minho a message. "Apologies I did not get to defeat you today. Perhaps we can have our own tournament upon my return."

Smiling at the feel of Bella's shoulder against his, Minho did indeed feel a bit better, glancing between the two women as they conversed, an especially sympathetic expression passing his facial features when Bella admitted that she couldn't be home alone through this. Thoughts drifting away as he returned his gaze to his plate, he let out a very soft, almost inaudible snort, recalling the voice message Rankle had left for him. Their own tournament? What ever would that mean? So willful and overconfident... But it still made his lips quirk a little at the challenge the message held.

Mariah nodded in greeting to Mihno. "I understand." she said, though she didn't. Why on earth would a vampire stay at home at a time like this? Where was Bella's fight? Mariah noted how the blonde leaned on the fae, and she wondered if that might be her snack for the day. However, her attention was gripped by the dogs playing. Mariah may not have liked many people or things, but she liked animals. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she reluctantly accepted a space on the picnic blanket. "Thanks. Which one is Boss?" she asked gesturing towards the playful mess of children and pooches.

Nicholas was rounding the corner just then. His wolf could smell Bella, and the food she had on display, and though it was tempting he knew he had a job to do; a town to try and protect. Still, the wolf trotted over to the group and plonked down next to Bellamy. He only had a few minutes to spare, so he placed his large head over her shoulder and nuzzled into her ear, his dark canine eyes assessing the group. He could smell the faerie who was sitting so close to Bellamy, as well as the stoic looking vampire whose English accent did not go unnoticed. She was trouble, he knew that much, and the wolf gave a soft whine that suggested he was unhappy. He hated the thought of leaving Bellamy in such company.

"He's the beagle who is being attacked by that small girl," Bella pointed, the young girl was blonde and there was every chance that Boss thought it was Bella because he was a bit of a dummy. "They seem so...confident?" Bellamy pointed out though, the fact that they were almost assuring people that things were going to be okay. "Do you know who went? I've only noticed Ryden is missing." She said it as Nicky placed a head upon her shoulders, Bella reaching up without thought and starting to scratch at the top of his head. "You hungry?" she asked the wolf.

Minho was perfectly content to just sit there and listen to the two talk, but when a humongous wolf trotted over, nuzzling close to Bellamy, he had to scoot away a little to make some room. “Oh, hm, pardon me…” He apologized softly, shuffling away from Bella. Aside from feeling a little awkward, he didn’t seem in the least perturbed that there was an oversized wolf acting like a literal pup around his blonde friend. It was obviously a werewolf and those were normal occurrence in town. When Bella pointed out her dog, he glanced that way, watching the pets play with the children with mild interest of one having nothing better to do at the moment.

Mariah smiled her signature wonky smile in the direction of the beagle who was being rough housed by a small girl. She was no fan of children, but even she had to admit it was a sweet sight to see. Still, her attention was immediately seized by an oversized dog. Her mouth watered instantly, she had developed quite a taste for werewolves, but his blood was familiar. She had fed on his bloodline, she could tell that much. "I'm uh... I'm going to see if anyone..." the British vampire flailed for a moment as she looked for an excuse to depart. "To get blood" he said at last, flitting to her feet and all but disappearing as she flitted from the scene.

Nicholas appreciated the fae's haste to make room for him, but he felt bad. Clearly he was a friend of Bella's, and when Nick upped and left again, it would be the fae who stayed by Bella's side. At Bella's touch Nick's eyes squinted as he appreciated the affection. He shook his head, declining food, though his eyes did exchange a long, rather mournful look with one particular sandwich that looked 80% meat.

Bella didn't quite notice specifically how Mariah was looking at Nicky, feeling bad his presence had made Minho move. "It's not my food anyway," she told him, like that indicated it was somehow not good enough to be eaten by the werewolf. "I did bring some sweets though, would you like some?" this time her question was directed at Minho though, fingers still scratching at Nicky, nails moving from his head, around his throat and beneath his jawline, trying to coax him into staying as Mariah seemed to stand in search of a meal.

 Minho didn't seem bothered, gazing away at the lovely scene of kids playing with puppies, a little bit of careless innocence amidst all the chaos the town was in. When Mariah declared that she'd leave, he looked up, giving her a little wave even if it was overlooked. Head whipping around to look at Bella when she spoke, he smiled, offering his plate for her to fill with the sweets she mentioned. "Yes please, thank you."

Micah had not taken the advise of the ERT and stayed at home because he felt he needed to do something, anything to help those who remained. So he had been walking the faire grounds, taking it upon himself to make sure people had wristbands and were being safe and directing them to ERT members when they didn't have wristbands or who were just needing some information. It felt strange to keep the faire open after what had happened, admittedly most of the events were not going forward and booths stood vacant but there were still some people walking around, perhaps trying to find some semblance of calm after the chaos. He found himself approaching the fields where the tournament would have been held and gravitated towards a group of some familiar faces. "Hey, you guys all doing okay over here?"

Nick snorted in amusement at Bella's snobbery about the food. The wolf ate pretty much anything, so while Bella's food made up a large portion of his dreams, he also would revel in greasy fries and pizza from a take-out. His low growl was one of contentment at Bella's touch, but he reluctantly forced himself to his four paws. At Mica's arrival, Nick's tail flicked by way of greeting, before he turned to look down at Bellamy. He nuzzled into her neck and licked her cheek good naturedly before taking his leave.

Mariah was relieved to have found one stall still providing blood, and she grabbed a large bottle of wolf's blood. The urge to feast on fae's blood was strong, but she needed to keep her wits about her. Getting tipsy on fae blood when there might be another attack on the town, seemed foolish. The blonde swigged from the bottle and soon appeared back at the picnic blanket, now that Roman's tasty smelling son had left. "Hi" Mariah greeted Micah who had arrived only moments before her. She offered a wonky smile and stayed standing so she could keep her narrow green eyes on their surroundings.

He despised being on his own, despite most of his kind being the opposite, the moment darkness had decended upon the Faire Jean-Claude had immediately burst into hysterics. The cloying darkness that smothered the senses had sent him back to being buried underground, slowly decaying until he turned to stone. That's why he wondered what was left of the weekend affair, unable to sit still lest the shaking kick back in. The vampire looked like shit, not having changed our of yesterday's rumpled outfit, makeup smeared in a fashion most unbecoming. A group of familiar faces was gathered and J.C joined them with a wave and an unconvincing smile. For once, he didn't talk, he just lingered.

Bella pulled back as he went to lick her, feeling him taste foundation and immediately becoming concerned he had licked it off, hand coming up to her face. She always brought make-up with her but didn't think she could apply it in front of people. "Uh - it's the food is in my bag," Bella said, keeping her hand to her cheek as she drew her large bag towards herself with one hand, opening up the bag and pulling out a container of personal strawberry tarts she had made, a dozen of them, half a dozen on a top layer of the container and the rest on the bottom. "Would you also like a tart, Micah?" Bella asked him.

 Relieved to see a friendly face, however messy, Mariah flitted to stand at Jean's side. She didn't say anything, but offered him the bottle of wolf's blood she was drinking from. He looked like shit, and while nothing beat blood from the vein, bottled was better than nothing.

"Oh, no thanks," Micah said to Bellamy after she offered the tarts, they did look good but he couldn't be sure they were vegan. The mood among everyone here definitely felt rather abysmal and even he wasn't sure what to do or say to try and turn the tides.

 Minho looked up when yet another person appeared – this man he had recognized as a fellow performer – he had performed on the ren faire’s stage on the first day and was quite skilled and good at the type of music they did. So Minho had made a note of that inwardly, mildly curious. More people approached and it was starting to get crowded, the fae blinking around at everyone standing from his low vantage point where he sat, feeling a little awkward at his position. Noticing Bella fiddling with the bag, he put his plate down and moved to busy himself with helping her take things out so people can help themselves.

Bella smiled at Minho when he helped her, aware she probably looked silly clutching at her face but she couldn't help it, she didn't want people to see the skin beneath. "Come on, the food they're serving is mostly cold and barely seasoned, have one," Bella insisted. "They're just strawberries, unless you're allergic, no milk and dairy, no eggs, though I couldn't get them gluten free so I don't know if you're siliac...," Bella was standing as she spoke though. "I will be back in a second, I just need to fix my face." Her hand grabbed her bag and moved towards the bathrooms.

Micah did look interested as Bellamy explained that the treats were actually vegan. "Oh, sure then. Thank you," he moved a bit closer and then knelt down so he could retrieve one of the tarts, now closer to the other male who had been helping pull things out of the bag. "Hey, I'm Micah," he greeted since it would be awkward not to now that they were in close proximity.

It wasn't that kidnappings or killings bothered Jean-Claude, who usually found such events interesting. It was that there was something larger, and more powerful, that could simply control things on a whim. That was terrifying. Maybe he should move out, the vulnerability it had revealed in him making J.C feel shocking. The smell of blood hit his nostrils and he looked over at Mariah who offered him a bottle of the red stuff. Wolf blood, not great but...he couldn't afford to be picky right now. "Merci," He replied, taking a swig and rolling his shoulders before handing it back. "Wanna bet how long it takes them to find the missing?" The question was directed at Mariah, disinterested in food however, others were free to chime in. It wasn't exactly appropriate, nor funny.

 Returning Bella’s smile quietly, Minho started picking up the tart containers and disposable spoons packed up with them so he could start handing them around to those who'd like some. The performer from the ren faire stage crouched down to help himself and greeted him while at it, so Minho smiled politely. “Hello, Micah. Pleasure to meet you. You were delightful on the stage the other day. I enjoyed it very much.” He added, glancing after Bella as she retreated to the bathrooms.

 A grim smile pulled at the edges of Mariah's lips at JC's words, though her eyes were on the group, and then following the other blonde vampire as she made her excuses to leave. Mariah, personally, hadn't worn any make-up since leaving her sire. She felt, that as a vampire, with superior flawless skin and a supernaturally striking face, why bother? She rolled her eyes and took a swig of the bottled wolf's blood. "I'm not betting that they'll find them" Mariah said a grim smile "I'll bet you, none are found?" she counter offered. 

"Thanks, I appreciate that," Micah said to the fae's compliments though felt like that first day of the faire with his band's performance and the night at the pub had been an entire lifetime ago with so much having happened since then to now, it felt strange to recall it even though it had been only two days prior. He was just about to bite into the side of his tart when he overheard the side conversation between the two others nearby and he shot them a dark look on his otherwise rather positive expressions, to those who knew him, it would perhaps be a surprise to see that his eyes could look that venomous but he was capable of displaying a severity in tone and aura that mixed with the ghostly essence of his deceased sister perhaps felt like it reverberated into the earth and may elicit a chill or shiver to go down someone's spine.

The speakers throughout the tourney field cracked with static, stopping the low classical music that had been playing. A cough coming over them drew the attention of most on the field, eyes lifting up. Though no one could see him the voice of the mayor began. “The first groups of leaders have returned with residents and some of the culprits taken into the custody of the ERT. If you are related to…,” a series of names were listed, some recognized as waitresses or managers of local businesses, some gardeners, others members of packs and covens, and others unknown. “You may head to the hospital to greet them, no one has sustained major damage presently, please be patient, we believe in the return of all our Opulence ERT members and group leaders, more will return soon. Do not flood the hospital if you are not the immediate family of these people, you will not be let in. That includes the newspaper. Start celebrating, Opulence, things are getting better.”

Rankle had returned with some of the other leaders, dirt coating his shoes and blood across his cheek the dark skinned man in a dirty formal shirt and pants, wandered into the crowd. A few people looked in his direction but, given the man's predilection for the dark, no one approached him. He didn't mind, steps slow as he sought out the person he was meant to have been protecting, hands in his pockets. The fae seemed to be eating tarts with a collective of people. "Enjoying yourselves?" the man asked, a gentle chuckle, he wasn't upset but he was amused at how people dealt with things.

Not one to miss anything, Mariah caught the sharp look afforded to herself and JC for their insensitive conversation, and she flashed her sharp teeth in a broad smile that was devoid of any real mirth. She might have said something then, about people handling tragedies differently to others, but was distracted by the overhead announcements. Despite herself, Mariah felt some relief for the creatures who had been rescued. She may have been a bitter vampire, but she was not devoid of her humanity, and she was happy for the survivors and their friends and families. Her green eyes moved over the crowds and spotted the fae named Rankle. Of course Rankle's group actually managed a successful rescue.

Nicholas heard the announcements, and from his spot at the edge of the event, he watched as some of the town leaders returned. The wolf threw his head back and gave out a loud, celebratory howl. (edited)

 Minho's always tender smile widened a little then faltered as he let out a soft 'oh', hugging the tart containers in one arm as he extended his hand towards Micah. "I am so sorry, I am a little distraught today. My name is Minho. Once again, plea..." But the man was shooting a particularly vicious glance at the other two behind them, whose conversation Minho had decided to ignore unlike Micah. A chill ran down the fae's spine at the expression of the other man and he shrunk his hand away, delicately clearing his throat. Then, the speakers positioned around the faire grounds crackled and a voice spoke up, bringing in happy news. Minho released a relieved sigh, hugging the tart containers to his chest a little less tightly. Then a familiar voice joined in, Minho looking up only to see Rankle in a state. Eyes going wide, for a moment he was at a loss for words - he'd never seen Rankle as anything but impeccable. "Oh, sticklebacks! Was it that horrid?! You look like you've been through a mole's den!"

He was about to raise that bet, unaffected by the glare as death took on a different meaning and reaction when one lived through countless of them. Sometimes, J.C felt torn between what he truly felt and what he thought he should feel. Though he was never afforded a bet back as a voice coming from the various loud speakers announced the captured had been found, and the captures as well. "Shit out of luck," Jean-Claude tutted at Mariah, sneaky half smile on his face.

Mariah smirked. She was glad she hadn't actually bet any money, since she was shit out of luck, and shit out of coin. "Luckily for them" Mariah said quietly, her dark green eyes glinting.

Rankle had returned to the faire, not just for Minho, but to inform the mayor of what had happened, to keep him in the know. Eventually he would have to go back to the ERT station, to give them his statement but for now he intended to remain around Minho, perhaps escort him home when needed. "It was...," Rankle looked about the group and only felt comfortable telling Minho since none of the others were fae. "Different than I imagined it would be. I am fine however, as is everyone we found, traumatised I'm sure but physically only surface harm." He didn't really want to sit on a blanket so remained standing. "How are all of you?"

Bellamy stepped out of the bathroom, face fixed and intending to return to the group but decided first to seek out Nicky, to see if Ryden had returned. Purse in hand, and fresh make-up upon her face she followed the sound of Nicky's heart - hope Ryden had returned falling when she could not sense the natural beat of the alpha's.

Nick continued to pad around the perimeter of the town event, passing a pack member as he did so. With his sensitive hearing at its full potential in canine form, Nick listened to the town's fae leader speaking with the group on the picnic, Bella seemed to have moved on from. If the wolf could frown, he would have. Instead, he bristled with concern and picked up his pace, searching for the snowy blonde beauty.

 "That... is a relief." Minho sighed, finally feeling silly for hugging all those tart containers, so he placed them down on the blanket. He glanced about, looking like he wanted to inquire further, but wisely decided against it, lest anything overheard potentially induced panic or further unease in an already tense atmosphere. "Things here have been well, albeit understandably tense. Ah, wait a moment..." He took the liberty of rummaging through Bella's bag, finding some napkins and a bottle of water. He stood with those items then, uncapping the bottle and carefully soaked a few stacked paper napkins with the water from it. "Here, for your face." He offered it to Rankle, ready to even pour some water into his hands if he'd like to wash up like that too. 

Bella found Nicky, still in his wolf form, and reached beneath his chin to once again scratch at it softly. It had been so long since Bella had been able to be around someone in their wolf form with such ease and it was strange how much it calmed her. "Ryden's not back yet but some people are and who is tougher?" she asked, aware Nicky couldn't actually answer her. "He'll be back soon, and the pack has you," Bellamy swallowed hard.

Rankle nodded, his eyes shifting from the fae to Micah, the aura to him slick with that feeling of death, one that Rankle hadn't noted on a person in some time. Deep swollen brown eyes lingering on him for longer than they should have, not aggressive but certainly...observing. "Thank you," he said at the bottle and the napkin handed to him, beginning to clean up his face. "Did either of you need to feed?" Rankle offered both JC and Mariah.

 Nick whined when he saw her, and he ran over to her eagerly, his big paws leaving little imprints in the grass behind him. At her statement Nick could only blink. Ryden was the toughest creature Nick knew, or so he believed, and he believed it with all of his heart. If anything ever happened to the people Nicky cared for, he'd want Ryden leading the rescue mission. The wolf stared confidently into Bella's eyes, then bowed his head. Ryden would return, he was a badass, and had a badass Priestess at his side which was a bonus. The wolf pressed his large, soft head into Bella's outreached hand in an attempt to reassure her, the hard swallow indicating that she wasn't feeling as confident as she sounded.

Mariah's brows twitched upwards at Rankle's question. Why was he asking? Surely he wasn't offering? Confused, but respectful of the man's position in town, she didn't respond as sarcastically as she might have done so had he been just another resident. Instead, the blonde lifted the bottle of blood she was still drinking from and gave him a grim smile. "We're... fed" she said, because to state that she was fine, or remotely satiated would have been an outright lie.

The newest individual who approached seemed to be someone in a particular place of power considering how others reacted to him. Micah did not know or recognize the male and other than catching the lingering look afforded to him, did not think twice about him. It did however feel like this was not the place for him to be, something in him, maybe the ghostly essence of his sister wanting to draw him away from danger, made him stand and proceed to leave the group of people. He might text Sofia to make sure she was okay since he had partly hoped to find her somewhere along the faire grounds and had not yet seen her.

 Minho stepped back then, retreating when Rankle shifted his attention to others, capping the bottle of water he held. He knelt back onto the blanket to put the bottle back into Bella’s bag where he’d found it in the first place and sat back on his heels, ready to hand over a tart container to whoever wanted one next. Micah leaving quietly got him looking up and he blinked somewhat worriedly, because he'd caught Rankle watching the man as if he were a specimen to observe. Must've made the other uncomfortable. The fae sighed quietly. Today was a really unsunny day. (edited)

J.C nodded in agreement with Mariah, not sure if the disheveled fae was offering to be dinner. Or - maybe they would be allowed to feast on the perpetrators? Fae blood was like a drug to him but still, he declined. "Already full,"

Bellamy's nails continued to scratch at his throat as he swallowed, aware at least of his general intention, leaning down and placing a soft kiss a top his head. "I know he's strong and I shouldn't worry but I'd worry even if he was indestructible," Bella kept her nose against his, breathing in his scent. "I will go back to the group, it won't look good for you if I keep distracting you," Bellamy commented, which was...well, perhaps true, but also it probably did show to at least some of the pack that even if Nicky had been 'waiting on the sidelines' he cared about Bella and she cared about him.

"Farewell," Rankle said to Micah, watching him as he stood to leave, water and napkin in hand before he looked to Mariah and JC. "Good, I wouldn't want anyone forgetting to feed with all this happening," he mused, started to wet the napkin and whip at his face. He hadn't intended to bother Micah, death to Rankle was very different than it was to others, he didn't think it was bad, he thought it was curious. "Perhaps I should return to the mayor but I will escort you home when you intend to leave Minho."

Nick's wolf gave a breathy snort, signalling his reluctance to leave her. At a time like this, it felt wrong to leave her, and yet right to fill in for his Alpha. Love could be as sweet as it is painful. Noticing the newly applied make-up on her cheek, Nick did not opt to lick her cheek this time - though he wanted to - instead he pressed his furry face against her forehead - gently though, as not to disturb the immaculately applied paint. Nick then stepped back, refusing to walk away until he saw her safely returned to the picnic. When he spotted the vampires there, he resisted the urge to grumble. Despite Bella's human façade, she was in fact vampire, and he had a feeling the demon blood in her made her a vastly superior should the fangers present any trouble. Still though, he staunchly waited for her to return, so he could get a feel for the atmosphere in the group before returning to his task of watching the perimeter.

Mariah licked her sharp teeth and arched an eyebrow at JC signalling that she too was curious of the fae creature looking out for their... appetites. She was a deeply suspicious creature, and while she enjoyed her new life in Opulence, and respected the leaders who governed it, that didn't mean she trusted them... and besides, plenty of towns people had interesting notions on feeding vampires.

Sandra || Ryden & Minho — 06/12/2022  “No need at all, I am fine.” Minho’s head snapped up when Rankle offered to escort him home. “Do not neglect your duties on my behalf, please.” He then picked up the tart containers again as if to show that he was managing just fine, stood and offered one each to the blonde vampiress and the slightly distraught-looking vampire standing next to her. “Would you care for some? Unless you do not partake in anything other than vitae. If so, my sincere apologies, I did not mean to offend.” He was especially looking at JC, Minho's empathic personality sensing that the man wasn’t handling the whole ordeal quite as well as he tried to show.

mina | j.claude, ophelia. — 06/12/2022 J.C was less suspicious however, running a hand through his short curls and meeting Mariah's gaze all the same. That fairy was a curious sort. He still didn't understand their rules. One had tried to explain the difference between the courts once and it was abysmal. The other one who'd been fiddling about with food pipued his attention momentarily, how that other fairy looked right through the vampire unnerved him slightly. He didn't need to be analysed by some stranger, and wondered if that was his power. "No," Jean-Claude even made sure to keep his hands in his lap, not wanting to eat something he didn't need and then see something he didn't want to see. "Trying to keep my figure,"

Mariah caught Minho's gaze. Despite the rather harrowing look he had shot her and JC earlier, he now looked sweet and earnest, like he really cared. The need to be polite and inoffensive usually irritated Mariah who had long since rejected the compulsion to be socially palatable - no doubt half the reason she had very few friends. However, there was something kind of vulnerable about Minho's desire to not cause offence to two dead predators. So, she was polite back. "Thank you, but no..." Mariah responded, her soft southern English tones sounding less harsh with a slight edit to her tone of voice. "I'll get someone to eat later" she offered him a wonky smile. Being friendly was not her forte.

 "A fine figure indeed, so it's perfectly understandable." Minho offered a beamingly tender smile to JC, instantly schooling his expression to a friendly, open one, ready to pleasantly socialize if such interaction was desired and accepted. If not, he would retreat with equal ease. Turning his innocent, almost doe-wide eyes to Mariah, he nodded, perfectly understanding and not in the least offended that she too had declined. "As lady wishes, my apologies once more. Ah, how rude of me. My name is Minho. Pleasure to meet your acquaintance. Yours as well, sir." As he said so, he opened one of the tart containers himself and juggling the multiple items in his hands, somehow still managed to scoop a spoonful and bring it to his mouth. "I... must admit, I am usually quite good at this however it seems highly inappropriate to speak of random, mundane things like the weather at a time like this." He said with a tired sigh, after swallowing a mouthful of strawberry tart.

The way in which Minho spoke reminded Mariah of the way characters spoke in some of her historical novels. It was funny, how natural it was for her to read those interactions, to hear it in films and TV shows, but hearing someone speak out loud in real life like that was... honestly it made her want to giggle. But she wasn't cruel, she was perhaps just young - only sixty-four years-old after all - and a little immature. Any trace of amusement, Mariah kept off of her face, but she did avert her gaze from the fae, not wanting to be set off. He was sweet after all... perhaps it was a fae thing, she thought, and far be it from her to insult someone's culture by laughing at them.

Minho was usually so very good at reading the mood so right now he felt like a little fish out of the waters, losing air a bit. It was really very peculiar to him, he usually could capture people's attention and make people feel at least somewhat at ease with his bright, bubbly personality. Perhaps the mistake was in letting his true age and fae nature show... The one mouthful of strawberry tart after another came in quicker and quicker, Minho now struggling to cover up the awkwardness he felt building up. His cheeks almost puffing with now much of the sweet treat he took in, he swallowed hard, then glanced about for Rankle. "I, ahem... I may have to retreat soon. After all, I am somewhat holding a friend up from doing his duty, so best I... not be a... hindrance..." He trailed off, giving Mariah an uneasy look which he did his best to turn into a smile.

Rankle had made his way to the mayor's private tent, standing outside however and speaking with one of the attendants outside but keeping his eyes on Minho the entire time.

"Hug goodbye?" Bella asked as she returned to the blanket she had laid out, Mariah and Minho it seemed the only ones who remained and Minho intended to depart. It was probably good, Bella hadn't got much of a chance to speak with Mariah since their argument months before.

Bollocks... you scared him One of Mariah's more scathing voices resounded in her head and the blonde huffed, which may have looked like a response to Minho."It was nice meeting you" the blonde said, her green gaze finally meeting his as he nervously retreated "I'm Mariah by the way. Sorry, I - I should have said earlier. Stay safe"When Bellamy returned, asking for a hug goodbye, Mariah had to force herself to stare at the Tupperware containing disgusting human food, so she could avoid rolling her eyes.

 Minho's fretful eyes found Rankle some distance away and their eyes met, Minho's clearly reading a cry that he was ready to go home now. But Bella was back and he exhaled a small sigh of pure relief. "Yes, darling. Please take care, always remain in someone's company through this." He leaned in, giving her a sunshine warm hug. "These are delicious, by the way." He said of the tart and definitely brought what he was carrying with him. The other blonde vampiress then spoke up and although at first he had looked warily at her, her offer of a name and telling him that it was nice to meet him did bring a genuine smile to his lips, mood flipped like a switch. He gave her a small bow of his head. "Likewise, Mariah, please take care. Long days and pleasant evenings to you." To Bella, he delivered an airy kiss to her cheek. "Bye, love." Then retreated to where Rankle stood, tart containers in hand, the two now inseparable. 

Bella held Minho as tightly as he did her, feeling the warmth of what he was before releasing him. "I definitely have no intentions of being alone," she assured him, sinking down as he bid farewell to Mariah, watching as he walked off. "Two vampires left, dangerous combination," she joked a little, aware Minho had taken her tupperware and tarts with a little chuckle.

Mariah's sharp green eyes met Bella's golden orbs and she offered a pursed lipped wonky smile. "No intentions of being alone huh?" Mariah asked, trying to sound as natural as possible, but her thoughts raged in wildly opposite directions. Something about the other vampire's perfectly sweet disposition just rubbed Mariah the wrong way, but now was not the time to be focusing on her disdain. She was there in case the town needed an extra set of sharp teeth, she was not there to repeat the scene the two had made in Bellamy's kitchen.  "Was that wolf I saw earlier yours? He definitely smelled tasty" She said it with the intent of opening up a friendly dialogue about Bella's current meal on paws, and assumed that for all Bella's human pretences, the two might be able to laugh about food.

"They've taken vampires before, seems reckless to be alone," Bellamy pointed out, not willing to allow Mariah to make her feel poorly for wanting to be safe. Mariah and her certainly had their own views on being vampires but Bella would defend herself. "I'm sure I mentioned the last time we spoke, I have a lot of wolves that would summon to my call. Nicky is my companion." Since she did not want to break his desire for whatever they were to become defined only once he had spoken to Ryden about his intentions. "I have not fed off him if that is your actual question."

 Bellamy's response hadn't exactly been friendly, more so it seemed, it was was defensive. Mariah shifted in her position, looking uncomfortable. Half of her thought she should apologise, but what was she really sorry for? Talking to a vampire about a fairly common topic of discussion? Hardly. Besides, she had thought she had given her a compliment. "Yes, I remember very well how many vampires you suggested would come after me if I hurt you" Mariah said acidic ally, not a fan of the memory for two reasons; one she had never threatened to hurt Bella, and two, she remembered how cruel of a reminder it was that Mariah herself was alone in comparison. "That's a shame... His father was an all right snack" Mariah said with a small shrug. She really was trying to be friendly. "I'm glad you're not alone anyway. I know this thing seems to have no restrictions when it comes to taking creatures, but at least if you have company, you won't die alone" The English vampire had considered her own demise a lot since she had began to take note of what was going on in the town, and she was depressed to accept that she would no doubt, be very much alone in death. 

Bellamy had wanted to be friendly but she didn't want Mariah speaking about Nicky the way she had Kemper, and didn't want to feel small that her attentions had moved on so quickly. Mariah insisted they had so long before but forever didn't feel like it meant Bella could slow down, it felt to her like she had to work it out because otherwise she'd feel lonely forever. "You bit his father? His father would have to be...at least sixty," Bella was a bit off but it was still odd to hear, not even she had gone that old when it came to dating, though maybe she'd simply fed. "I wouldn't die regardless," Bellamy stated with such confidence. "I stopped that man in the caves, the one who died."

Mariah snorted at Bellamy's reference to Roman's age and she flashed her a rather wicked looking smile that showed all her teeth. "Probably. He was the first bite I had when I got to town..." she thought briefly of the human under Bella's employment that she had almost killed and altered her statement "Well, he was the first bite I had that didn't need hospitalisation afterwards... he tasted good, though the man himself is rather cunt like". Bellamy's confidence wiped the smile right off of Mariah's face. Bite her her thoughts urged but Mariah had more control of herself these days so she simply pursed her lips. "I don't know of any man in the caves... what happened?" She was curious to know more, as much as it sounded like once again the other vampire was bragging

Matthew had been staying in his apartment for the most part, knowing as a human that he was likely more vulnerable to whatever threat was lurking and of the belief that less people wandering outside making things more complicated for the ERT the better but Nicky hadn't been responding to his texts. He supposed it might be because his brother was in wolf form but still he couldn't shake the unease that settled in his gut and so he now walked through the faire grounds in search for him and while doing so walked directly by two blonde vampires, "Belle," Matthew greeted the shorter of the two, "Have you seen my brother?" He offered a glance toward Mariah and a quickly muttered greeting, "Hey, been a while."

Wow. Did Mariah literally only think about herself? Bella couldn't fathom being so disconnected from the town. Almost thankful when Matty showed up so that she didn't have to consider Mariah hurting well...the man who had approached. "Nicky, your brother wants you," Bella said, a spike to her tone so it hit the wolves ear with more ease than if she had simply said it. She was aware he'd be, at least in part, listening for her, and was probably aware of Matty's arrival, but casual talk was probably white noise to him, so the high spike was intended to differ her tone from the rest. "She told me something about biting your Dad..," Bella stated, looking up at him, surprised Matty had not mentioned this to her.

Matthew's brow piqued at Bellamy's words and his expression hardened immediately as he turned to look at Mariah, "What the fuck? When?" Not recently? After his heart attack? Despite his current conflicted emotions regarding his father he felt this very strange and overwhelming protective nature he hadn't anticipated and that as well struck him with a confusing resonance that only seemed to make him more mad. 

Mariah stared at Bella with wide eyes. What the fuck was this vampires problem? The wolf was alive wasn't he? Mariah actually liked Matthew, had briefly liked him a little too much, and so having Bella drop her in it was more than a little irritating. Sighing loudly, Mariah turned to look back up at Matthew. She wasn't sorry for feeding on his father, she had had not ties to Matthew at the time, and still didn't really, besides the fact that she had kind of hoped the two could become friends. "No, not recently. My first couple of days in town... months ago" Mariah said pointedly, lip curling with disdain as she glanced back at Bellamy. "Roman consented to a bite, mostly, it wasn't like-"

Nicholas had heard everything. As soon as Bella's pitch had altered for him, he had began heading back towards the group, his keen ears strained to listen. As he passed a werewolf in his pack who was not in wolf form, he snapped his teeth, indicating for the werewolf to take his spot while he dipped out to greet his brother - every intention of launching at Matty, pinning him to the ground and smothering him with wet wolf kisses. Any good mood however was wiped out when he heard the subsequent conversation. Nicholas had never struggled with anger management as a wolf, he had taught meditation and breathing techniques to help other, newer wolves with controlling their emotions, but Nick rarely had reason to get angry. This however, was a trigger for him. The thought of a lecherous fanger feeding off his old man - his currently very vulnerable old man. Suddenly hot with fury, Nicholas ran on all fours to the group, his large sharp teeth chomping at the bit, until he could finally grab her by her cold dead neck, and rag her.

Matthew's attention drew away from Mariah's explanation of having bitten his father a few months ago when he heard the hard pounding of pawed feet against the earth, eyes widening at the sight of his very large and very angry brother running full speed. "Fuck," he swore under his breath, recognizing the sight of the anger that glimmered in his eyes and moved as quickly as he could to get between Mariah and Nick before something could happen that would make Nick regret his rash actions. He knew his brother wouldn't hurt him but there was no denying that his heart pounded roughly against his ribcage and the rush of adrenaline that flooded his veins from standing between a werewolf and his intended prey.

Bella didn't notice, Nicky looked sweeter around her, sure, but most of the time wolves looked angry, right? They were driven and purposeful, so the bounding purpose with which Nicky moved - especially reckless with the town on edge and ready to protect all who remained - seemed simply wolf like.

 The speed at which Nicky was running made the sudden halt especially difficult, His paws dug hard into the grassy floor as he tried his hardest not to collide straight into his brother. Damn it Matty! Was all Nicholas could think as he skidded to a halt only an inch from his brother's body. The man was human for god's sake and he was throwing himself between two supernaturals? The wolf wanted to scream at his brother, but limited as he was in wolf form, Nick could only snap his teeth in frustration and paw angrily at the now muddy floor beneath him. His dark canine eyes met Matthew's round human eyes, and his gaze was unblinking as he silently pleaded with his human brother to move.

Mariah had stopped mid conversation, the minute she heard the wolf's paws on the floor. She immediately flitted to her feet, and was surprised to see Matthew stand in front of her. The blonde made to move Matthew out of the way, not eager to see one of the few creatures she liked being made a snack out of. However, when she saw the wolf desperately sliding to a stop, she froze, her narrow green eyes trained on the wolf's face.

Oblivious even as Nicky came to a sudden halt in front of Matthew Bella was able to read the shift in Nicky's throbbing and large wolf heart and the way he snapped his canines at Matthew. Mariah's movement so silly, to try and protect Matthew from his brother. There was no world in which Bella thought this brother would hurt the other brother, at least not in this context. It didn't quite make any sense to her why Nicky was suddenly upset, unaware he'd heard the conversation but even if she was not thinking it anything more the disgusting. So rather than stand to shove Matthew out of the way Bella watched the scene with a verbalisation that... "I don't know why you're all being so dramatic, Nicky wouldn't shame his alpha by doing something so reckless in front of the entire town," Bella rubbing her hands against her lap. "You want to rest, baby?"

Matthew met the scowling gaze of his brother and simply offered a mocking one back now that his brother had halted and jutted his chin out in Bellamy's direction, "Yeah, Nicky. Go sit. Cool off."

Nick stared at his brothers insolent expression and for a brief moment, all was quiet except for the wolf's angry breathing. He may have only stood at six foot while in wolf form, making him a few inches shorter than Matthew, but beneath his glorious fur was all muscle, impossible strength, and of course long, razor sharp teeth. He glowered at his brother while Bella offered him her lap and Matthew taunted him. The wolf was shaking with rage, as he glanced over Matthew's shoulder to see a rather skittish looking blonde with exposed fangs. With an angry snort Nick retreated a couple of steps. He could sense a couple of wolves heading in his direction. Their presence, combined with Bella's insistence that he wouldn't behave like an idiot, forced him to swallow some of his rage.

The blonde could tell that the wolf was retreating, and it dawned on her that the wolf was Bella's wolf from earlier. She sniffed the air, at once recognising the common blood, that the two were brothers, and she felt something akin to guilt. But not quite. "I'm sorry about your dad" Mariah muttered under her breath to the back of Matthew's head. She then turned to narrow her eyes at Bellamy, but unlike the hot headed wolf, she knew better than to attack in public. Mariah was smarter than that. Then the blonde flitted away from the scene, gone in a blink of an eye; the only remaining sign that she had even been there was a bottle of wolf's blood that had been dropped to the floor, and it's contents was now saturating grass floor.

As he was human, Matthew needed to turn his head to confirm that Mariah had fled the scene and when she did he let out a relieved breath and felt the tension in his shoulders relax now that the source of his brother's anger had departed. "You fuck," Matthew threw a hard punch at his brother's large and fur covered side, "Scaring me like that. I've been texting you. Glad to know you're still alive. Just wolfed out."

Bella intended to gesture to her lap, to suggest Nicky sit in it but, like with Ryden, Bella presumed Nicky had wanted to tell his brother in his own time and in his own way, allowing her words to simply come across as the two being too close as they always had been. "Ryden had to go after those people," Bellamy offered as some explanation as to why Nicky was in his wolf form. "Like all of the leaders have, only a few have made it back so far..."

Nick grumbled moodily in response to his brother's punch. Usually, he would have gotten his own back, but his mood was foul. He couldn't wrap his head around the fact that his dad had been fed on? His idealisation of his badass father was taking a serious hit. Roman having a  heart attack  Roman being fed on. Nick didn't want to think what was next. Roman was fast becoming too vulnerable for Nick to mentally handle. Deciding to take a moment to himself, considering the revelation, Nick padded past Matty, his head low as he made his way over to Bella. Around his brother, Nick felt no need to keep things secret. Matty, unlike him, was not a gossip, and was unlikely to spill the beans to anyone before Nick could talk to Ryden. Nicky trusted him implicitly. Besides, he wasn't necessarily thinking clearly. So, he felt no concern when he plonked down next to Bellamy, lying on his belly and dropping his heavy head into her lap. Only later would Nicholas remember the two wolves who had seen the almost commotion, would have definitely seen their second in command drop his head into Bella's lap.

Bella felt Nicky's heavy head almost take up the entirety of her lap, warmth of him against her thighs and making her smile softly, glad Nicky had made the smart choice, got control of himself and stepped back from the situation. "I am anticipating Mariah informing me of your father was news?" she asked Matthew, nails scratching at Nicky's ears so as she said it he stayed as calm as he could.

For the moment, Matthew remained standing, idly toeing the fallen bottle of blood that Mariah had dropped before she left and nodded silently in response to Bellamy's question before continuing verbally, sounding entirely exhausted when he said, "Everything about that man is news," because it certainly felt like it, especially lately. Finally he sat down on the ground beside Nicky and Bellamy and gently laid his against his brother's wolf form, a familiarity in the companionship that it seemed was now also extended to Bellamy. Nick was right to assume Matthew wouldn't talk about it to anyone, it wasn't his business to share and he didn't entirely know the full story so what was there to tell. "Can the world just calm down for two seconds?"

Nick grumbled and huffed moodily in response to Matty's comment, his breath no doubt feeling hot on Bella's thighs. Matthew wasn't lying, every day it felt like Nick was learning something new about his dad. Not all of it, he was too happy with. Offering up his vein to a vamp? Gross. Nick thought about it for a moment, his canine eyes glancing up at Bellamy for a moment before he looked back down at the floor. No, with Bellamy, if it did happen... which it wouldn't... but if it did, it would be different. Nick loved her. From what he had heard of the British fanger, it had been anything but love... When Nick felt Matt lean his hand against him, the wolf felt himself relax a little. At least for the time being, he was squished between his two favourite people. His tail flicked behind him contentedly.

Nicky's hot breath on her thighs made her smile, wishing she could simply lean down and place an affectionate kiss upon the top of his head, but she didn't instead she breathed in deeply herself, imply to taste the air, and looked to Matthew. "Perhaps after all of this it will but...usually it does not," Bellamy voice to Matthew, fingers running around Nicky's throat, scratching along the length of his jaw, back and forth. "At least you have each other," she offered. "In my experience parents are simply...baggage."

"Baggage actually sounds like a good description," he responded with a sigh, looking down at his brother, watching the deep and steady rise and fall of his ribs with every breath. Then he looked up at the way Bellamy's hand moved over his brother's fur with every indication she was entirely comfortable with the act. Nicky wasn't entirely coy when it came to letting people near his wolf form but Matthew couldn't help but feel a tinge of... jealousy. His protective nature over his little brother not entirely keen on sharing. "So you two? When did that happen?"

"We're friends," Bella said, quick, probably too quick - this was why she was a bad liar. It didn't stop her fingers from playing with him either, wanting the angry wolf beneath her fingers to relax enough that he could return to the pack without anger in his heart. "Nicky's a bit worried about it," she offered quietly, so the wolves even closest could not hear, assuming if what she said was wrong Nicky would snap at her for the words. "Because of Kemper having been in the pack."

Nick's ears had began to flatten back against the slope of his head as he began to relax, his anger dissipating. Their little bubble presenting the wolf with a minute's peace. However, Matty's question caused his ears to twitch in recognition, and his eyes widened a little as he became slightly more alert. Bella's lie was so abysmal he wanted to laugh. As she explained Nick's reasoning for keeping it quiet up until recently, the wolf looked up at his brother. If anyone would understand Nick's loyalty to the pack, it was Matthew. Matty knew Nick well, had watched him grow into himself as a member of Sumerki-Orda, and knew just how highly Nick valued his standing within the pack, especially with relation to how the wolves trusted him.

Friends. Sure, he'd buy that, because being friends with your ex-packmate's ex-girlfriend was enough to warrant secrecy and not for any other reason that would explain a closeness between the two. "Sure, friends, we'll go with that," he said to her, withholding the fact that Nicky had already told him and had been asking him for advice regarding being with a vampire since Matthew had a wealth of knowledge in that regard but going with it for the simple reason that if Bellamy didn't know that he knew then there was a reason for it and Matthew wasn't prone to revealing much information to others anyway. "How've you been dealing with this whole ordeal anyway?" He asked Bellamy, shifting the conversation topic away from their apparent friendship.

Bella nodded, a bit disappointed that Matthew didn’t attempt to encourage Nicky to the contrary. Once more considering how Nicky reacted to certain things, his head in her lap being one of them. Maybe Matthew’s lack of a desire to share came from the same place as Nicky’s need to keep Bella close to himself. “I…I know Ryden, I know what’s in him and it’s not like any other wolf I’ve met, they’ll have a hard time dealing with him, just like that had a hard time dealing with me.”

Sensing Bellas shift in mood Nick lifted his heard from her lap and looked into her eyes. He listened to her describe a little of what Ryden was and whined at the threat of her own power. He didn't like the idea of her coming close to danger but he also liked to hear her sound so confident in her own abilities. The wolf looked at his brother then and flicked him with his tail. If Nick could have smiled, it would have been smug.

Matthew didn't know what she meant by them having a hard time dealing with her as well, unaware she'd had her own fight as lately he'd been too preoccupied with his own familial issues to pay much attention to the town news. He felt the tail flick from Nick and patted him between the shoulders. "Yeah, Ryden is a force to be reckoned with," because that at least he could agree and understand. He'd come here mostly just to check on his brother and wasn't planning on lingering for much longer and could feel his phone buzz within his pocket from an incoming text. "Excuse me," he said as he pulled it out and then moved to stand, patting off the wolf fur that affixed itself to his trousers.

Bella hadn't told Nicky about the caves but couldn't tell if he'd noticed her slip, Matty, it seemed to her, had not. Bella resisted, as Matthew spoke, the urge to kiss Nicky's nose. Instead, as Matthew stood and moved. "You should get back to the pack," she whispered to Nicky, hopeful he had calmed by now. "I'll wait here until it's nightfall and everyone leaves." Bella wanted him to ask her to stay with him, would have simply waited for it to, but Nicky had the good fortune of being unable to speak and so Bella's usual expectations lowered for communication ability. "Can I stay with you tonight?"

Nick would have smiled if he could. His thought stereo similar to Bellas own, he would have to leave her and return to his post. He liked that she knew and respected his position, even anticipated it. With a huff Nick rose to his four paws but lowered his head so he could keep eye contact with her. Her question reminded him of the first time Bella had met his wolf, so he offered her a heavy paw, hoping she would understand that this meant yes. When the wolf did eventually leave the blonde beauty, he very smoothly ducked his head and charged at his brothers lower legs, effectively knocking Matty's legs out from underneath him. He loved his brother, and appreciated his help that afternoon, but that didn't mean he'd miss an opportunity to knock him on his ass.

Matthew landed on his ass with a definite 'oof' escaping his lips and he tucked his phone away, now distracted from the text and instead opting to grapple his brother's hind legs and started to wrestle him much like when they were kids, ignoring the fact that his brother was a wolf.

Nick growled as his brother grasped his hind legs and quickly turned to wrestle back. At times like this, Nicky pitied those without a beautiful brother in their lives. It didn't take long  for Nicky pin his Matthew to the floor  and he made sure to slap his brothers face with his long wet tongue a good few times before bouncing off of him. He snorted by way of saying goodbye, then turned on his heals and took off towards his post.

Matthew let out a sound of utter disgust at the slobbering tongue that assaulted his face and wiped the excess off with his shirt, pulling the bottom hem of it up, exposing his abdomen briefly as he cleaned off his face and once done smoothed down the front of his shirt and called after the form of Nicky bounding away, "I'll get you back! Dick," and went back to texting as he started to head back to his apartment.

[crossdressingdeath]

I realized MDZS really focuses on what people do with their second chances at things.

JC had a second chance with a golden core, but instead of being grateful that WWX sacrificed his chance to meet BSSR, he used that core to turn against WWX. Then when he had a second chance to do right by WWX when he was revived, he tries attacking him again and again.

LWJ had a second chance to stand by WWX, and did just that while trying harder to make it clear he won’t turn on WWX like what happened with everyone else.

XY had a second chance to be a better person towards XXC, and he didn’t realize it until it was too late and he already ruined it all.

JGY, even though he did feel pressured by his father to be accepted, had chances to walk away but was so focused on that approval and even when JGS was dead and gone, even when JGY did some good he also still remained a class traitor to keep his status and killed off people or had people turn against them to get them out of his way.

WWX’s whole story is about his second chance being to learn to want for himself and that he’s allowed to be happy and doesn’t owe people anything.

Even WN uses his second chance to stand by WWX better in a way he couldn’t before and even risked WWX being angry at him for revealing the core transfer because he didn’t want to see WWX treated so horribly by someone that was supposed to care about him.

It’s interesting to see what people did with their second chances, sometimes third or fourth, and who actually tried to be better and who continued to be destructive.

Yeah, there’s a strong thing where it’s like... it’s always important to give people a second chance, but what they do with it is up to them and you don’t have to keep giving them more chances if they prove they’re taking advantage of your kindness. Note that the characters who don’t use their second chances to do better (JC, JGY, XY...) do not get happy endings. Everyone should get a second chance, but if they waste that chance there’s no reason to keep giving them chances. JC wastes his second chance to be good to WWX? WWX cuts him out of his life. XY wastes his second chance at a happy life? LWJ kills him. JGY wastes his chance to try to make up for what he did after JGS’s death? He’s the villain of the story and gets killed by someone who couldn’t accept the terrible things he did. You could say one theme is “you have to use your second chance to improve or you’ll end up suffering for it (and it will be all your fault)”.

[uzunofu]

I looked through the chapters with the incidents you mentioned in this post, @crossdressingdeath. Brace yourself, it will be a long post.

First, "the one time [JYL] claims WWX as family (something which as far as I recall she does at no point before or after, certainly not where other people might hear) is also the one time where not doing so might negatively affect her".

She says it three times during that scene. The first two are in relation to her demand for Jin Zixun to apologize.

"A-Xian is a disciple of the YunmengJiang Sect. He grew up with my brother and I, and so he’s as close as a brother is to me. Calling him the ‘son of a servant’—I’m sorry, but I won’t accept this."

...

Jiang YanLi’s voice was soft, “Madam, A-Xian is my younger brother. Him being humiliated by others, to me, isn’t just a small matter.”

The third time:

Madam Jin raised her brows, looking Wei WuXian up and down. Her gaze was somewhat cautious, as if she was feeling displeased, “A young man and a young woman—you two can’t stick together all the time if nobody else is present.”

Jiang YanLi, “A-Xian is my younger brother.”

— ch. 70

To me, this last one sounds like a politely incredulous, "I just told you he's my brother and you're still insisting on this?" It's not a "no-no-no, it's not like that!", it's a "are you being serious right now?"

You are right in that she never does it before or after, but in this particular scene it's not about saving face.

You are also right in that she drops her demand for an apology, but JZxun literally stormed away, and then there was the Epic Confession from JZX and things got derailed. Did it seem like sweeping things under the rug at WWX's expense? Well, yes. But also, would it have done him any favors if she kept at it? I really don't know. It could've made things better, it could've made them worse.

Then, "stealing food from a guy who grew up STARVING ON THE STREETS even though JC had almost certainly already eaten".

“Fooling around again! Your sect leader, I, has already poured you a bowl and put it outside. Kneel for me to express your gratitude and go drink your soup outside.”

Wei WuXian skipped outside before he turned around and came back, “What do you mean by this, Jiang Cheng? Where’s the meat?”

Jiang Cheng, “Finished it. There’s only lotus roots left. Don’t eat them if you don’t want to.”

Wei WuXian attacked with his elbow, “Spit out the meat!”

Jiang Cheng, “No objections. I’ll spit them out and let’s see if you’ll eat them!”

Seeing that they started to argue again, Jiang YanLi quickly interrupted, “Okay, okay. How old are you two, fighting over some meat? I’ll just make another jar…”

— ch. 71

WWX doesn't generally seem food-conscious. This is reiterated later on in this chapter when the narrative mentions that when he first came to Lotus Pier, he was careful not to take too much or draw too much attention because he was afraid to be judged a burden. It's possible to read it as a confirmation: see, the soup incident several paragraphs earlier was serious for WWX even though neither JC nor JYL realized it. But I'm reading this in the opposite way: WWX used to be like that but not anymore. I also can't help but remember Xie Lian eating a steamed bun he picked up from the ground and saying that it's edible, it's still good, why waste food? We never see stuff like that from WWX.

JYL here doesn't take JC's side. In fact, she doesn't take anyone's side, she just wants them to stop bickering. Again, it's possible to say that JC is in the wrong here and WWX is in the right, so her not taking a side means silent agreement with JC. But really, I just don't think it's that serious.

A few chapters later, during LWJ's visit to the Burial Mounds, Wen Qing carelessly sweeps away WWX's things to clear a seat for LWJ. WWX goes, "Hey!", and Wen Qing also doesn't take him seriously. But no one tries to point at her and go, "See, she doesn't respect WWX, and she never apologizes for that." It's banter. Later on, it stops being banter between WWX and JC, but at this point, it's just shenanigans.

Then, the incident with the dogs and the tree:

Seeing how worried he seemed, Wei WuXian took the initiative, “Relax. I won’t tell Uncle Jiang. I only hurt myself because I suddenly wanted to climb a tree last night.”

Hearing this, Jiang Cheng sighed in relief. He swore, “You can relax as well. Anytime I see a dog, I’ll chase it away for you!”

Seeing how the two finally made up with each other, Jiang YanLi cheered, “That’s the spirit.”

— ch. 71

She is happy because they made up and because this exchange seems like a tentative start to a friendship: "I'll cover for you" returned with "I'll protect you from your fears". Yes, JC used that fear against him in the first place — but he apologized and promised to make up for it. WWX falling from a tree wasn't directly JC's fault anyway; he didn't chase him up that tree and then push him down so that he'd get injured, he only told him to stay out of their room. It was a childish tantrum that led to unfortunate consequences. Not many children would willingly admit to a wrongdoing.

I also want to note that we don't actually learn WWX's leg was broken in this chapter. JYL says it isn't broken, it's probably not even fractured, and later on it's mentioned that the doctor cleaned and bandaged their injuries, but her assumption of his leg not being broken isn't refuted. We only get confirmation that it really was broken in chapter 87 when he shares this story with LWJ.

Finally, "JYL gets upset at WWX for breaking [JC's] arm".

Jiang YanLi, however, noticed [Wen Ning's] awkwardness. She asked him a couple of things and began to chat with Wen Ning outside. Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng stood in the yard.

[...]

After he drank a mouthful, Jiang Cheng spoke, “How’s your wound from last time?”

Wei WuXian, “It healed a long time ago.”

Jiang Cheng, “Mn.” With a pause, he continued, “How many days?”

Wei WuXian, “Less than seven. I told you before. With Wen Qing, it was nothing difficult. But you really did fucking stab me.”

Jiang Cheng ate a piece of lotus root, “You were the one who smashed my arm first. You took seven days, while I had to hang my arm up for an entire month.”

Wei WuXian grinned, “How could it seem realistic if it wasn’t hard enough? It was your left hand anyways. It didn’t hinder you from writing. It takes a hundred days to heal a wound to the bone. It wouldn’t be too much even if you hung it up for three months.”

— ch. 75

So: she wasn't even present during that conversation. After this, they part ways.

JYL doesn't really seem to have much of a role in WWX's life apart from comforting him and being placed on a pedestal. She mostly comes off as lacking because of the obvious comparison to Wen Ning. Even though he is just as gentle, he also stands up for WWX during the golden core reveal and does it spectacularly. JYL wields her social position, Wen Ning wields his physically indestructible nature (JC lashes him with Zidian, but since Wen Ning is a corpse, he can just keep talking). The circumstances, however, are different. Wen Ning has years of resentment built up, both for himself and for WWX, but to JYL Jin Zixun is a non-entity. The golden core reveal takes place in private and whether Wen Ning keeps going or stops, it can't make things any worse, but the Phoenix Mountain scene is a public almost-scandal and had she insisted, it could've gone two ways: either people back down because WWX has someone in his corner (unlikely, because JYL is a woman and JC, his sect leader, isn't in his corner) and admit that he didn't break any hard rules, or they use this as further ammunition against him.

I think WWX was right in the falling-from-a-tree-into-LWJ's-arms scene: JYL wasn't strong enough, so could she have caught him?

[flower-of-the-desert]

LWJ’s reaction to the golden core reveal is so much. It’s intense and emotional and deep and honestly if you somehow didnt know this guy was in love before, this would be your wake up call.

Even leading up to the scene itself, he’s showing so much of his true feelings like I dont think we’ve ever really seen since WWX fell? It’s because he just got married to his soulmate in from of his parental figures so he’s in honeymoon state of mind cough

He’s 2 seconds away from throwing hands with JC right there in the ancestral hall so much WWX has to physically pull him back. Then when WWX starts feeling bad, LWJ doesnt try to hide his panic - all he wants is to take WWX away from there and care for him till he’s all better and JC just wont stop getting in their way and making WWX feel worse and LWJ has reached a breaking point because he yells at JC to get lost and I think that part is the one that made me go O_O the most because LWJ? Raising his voice? Again, something that we’ve seen him do only when WWX was falling off that cliff?

Just imagining what was going on inside him for him to react like that. I still havent picked up my jaw off the floor.

And then when Wen Ning (bless his precious soul) tells the truth about the core transfer, LWJ’s face is just sdgfhgjhklokdnirhn

There’s so much naked emotion - shock, utter disbelief at first, then giving way to devastation and heartbreak - he’s openly crying at this point - and finally the anger and rage (I’m 99% convinced of he wasnt holding WWX in his arms right then Bichen would not have hit the ground but something else instead) that Wei Ying, his Wei Ying, his soulmate had made such a momentous unimaginable sacrifice, had always always been just so good, and the world had paid him back with his own blood. And part of that anger is probably also directed at himself because he’d blame himself for adding to that, however small, however well-intentioned he had been, even if he hadnt known the truth.

And during all of that, Wen Ning and JC’s confrontation, the reveal, the emotional devastation, he doesnt take his eyes off WWX. He keeps looking at him as Wen Nning talks, as his tears fall one after the other - his eyes stay on the only thing that matters to LWJ.

Seriously, if there hadnt been a vulnerable unconscious WWX in his arms, LWJ would have probably just gone on a goddamn murder spree and I support him.

And it doesnt end there, because LWJ cannot not know now. It might just kill him to find out the full extend of WWX’s suffering but he needs to know so he asks Wen Ning if it was painful because, he says, he’d thought Wen Qing would have found a way to at least take the pain away for WWX. His last foolish hope that maybe it wasnt as bad as he thought, maybe by some miracle his Wei Ying could have been spared at least a little bit of pain. But the hope dies as Wen Ning describes how they had to keep him awake during the whole procedure and painkillers were of no use and it lasted 2 days and a night.

So yeah, after all that LWJ is going to steal some lotus seeds for WWX. He’s going to buy him anything he wants (well, more so than he’s already been doing). He’s going to adopt more babies with him. He’s going to let him do anything and everything he wants, Lan clan family rules who now? He’s going to murder the next asshole to looks at WWX wrong. He’s going to burn the world to the ground if it will make WWX smile. Because the world never deserved WWX’s smiles and kindness and goodness so LWJ is going to make sure this time the world knows its damn place.