#but almost everyone adores wwx

[llycaons]

I'm going to sleep soon but I'm glad We Are All Love Wei Wuxian ❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️🖤

on the favorite characters tag game the other day, a lot of people said lwj, which is true, but wwx is also my favorite, and ultimately one of my favorite characters of all time! his emotional journey and the multitudes he contains, his passion and his defiance and his anger and his compassion and his courage and his commitment and his brilliance and his love for others and his pain and his vulnerability, has touched me so deeply and I'll always be grateful for him, for the untamed, and for all the wonderful people I've met over the past four years. and nothing would be the same without him!

[ninjakk]

Hey on the same note of asking your opinion about fanon things:

How do you feel about the very common thrope in modern au fics of wwx being some sort of vixen? I’ve seen it a lot, where he supposedly knows 100% he’s not straight so he goes around seducing men, sometimes for lols and sometimes for casual sex and then finds lwj and stops

Hey Anon,

Thanks for the ask ☺️

Hmm... well again, it's just so far from what WWX's character really is in canon, it's just odd to read!

I know exactly what you mean as well, as I have been unfortunate enough to come across modern au fanfic with a similar theme. The minute I see anything like that, I don't bother reading it any further. Everyone is entitled to have their own opinion of course, but when a character is so different from the original, I honestly don't see the point in using their name, as in essences it's just a totally different character.

I think when these people write WWX in such a way, they completely forget that he is a total romantic at heart. He's so sweet and wouldn't settle for anything other than a meaningful relationship. In fact, he's literally been holding out for his 'one', his soulmate, all these years. WWX is handsome and charming, there is no way he wasn't propositioned numerous times throughout his first life. Even if for some strange reason he was never directly approached by anyone, he never pursued anyone either - except LWJ on a subconscious level of course ❤️

Legends often gossiped about the YiLing Patriarch’s allegedly amorous life, but in reality, he’d never experienced such hectic feelings before.

Chapter 90 ExR

WWX even confirms he's never been interested in anyone or had such feelings before. Of course, this isn't entirely true and WWX later admits in hindsight, he's had feelings for LWJ all along.

This is the man who guarded his first kiss for 20 years, who carved sweet kissing heads on his wooden headboard above his bed and almost swooned at the romantic story of the Lan sect founder! Does that sound like a man who would have sex with just anyone?!

I think people tend to argue that it's not feasible for someone to be so sweet and save themselves for someone special in a modern au. But that's simply not true and a rather shallow way of thinking. Of course there are people who wait for someone special!

It's in WWX's character to guard his heart, because he actually values himself and what he has to offer a partner. Because he won't settle for anything other than someone sweeping him off his feet and being totally devoted to him, as he would them. Because deep down in his heart, he won't settle for anyone but LWJ.

Even if this is a hypothetical modern au, where WWX hadn't met LWJ yet, he would still be waiting for that special person nevertheless. It's in his character! So a version where WWX seduces people and sleeps around just because it's amusing to him is just the complete opposite to canon WWX. Yes, he absolutely loves having kinky sex marathons with his adoring husband at the end of the novel and in the extras. But this is with his soulmate, the person he's been waiting for his whole life.

Again, I'll let WWX say it for himself:

"...I really just like you so much I want to sleep with you. I don’t want anyone but you—it can’t be anyone but you..."

Chapter 100 ExR

He's only ever wanted to sleep with LWJ. It can't be anyone but him. WWX finally realises LWJ is the one he's been saving himself for, the person he wants to be devoted to, body and soul. LWJ is his soulmate. How much clearer can it be for people to understand WWX wouldn't just sleep around, when the character literally states as such himself.

Even MXTX has mentioned how hard it was to match WWX up with someone during the writing process. Because WWX simply refused to settle for anyone other than the first romantic interest she had written, which was none other than our beloved LWJ himself!

Just let WWX be sweet and romantic, yet kinky and seductive with his one and only LWJ- as it should be 💕

[stiricidewrites]

The Damage You Do: ch 26, pt 5

Previously

~

nhs’s subs knew what they were getting into, often coming from families distantly related to the groups—those who hadn’t fit the normal, mob life, or who had grown up in mob controlled areas. nhs also recruited from more common s*x workers, helping them get clean and offering them more profitable and sustainable—not to mention safer—work.

And therapy—nhs was big on getting his employees into therapy, never batting an eye if they chose to leave his employment as part of their treatment.

“The Sangsang I know,” lwj suddenly said, wondering if wwx had also been referring to nhs—which would potentially explain why the little bastard had suddenly disappeared on him, when they would know full well lwj should be in the market for a new sub—“is an extremely kind person. Even if I do not know what we are to each other, they are always willing to help me, and those important to me. They are, however, frustrating.”

wwx laughed slightly, although there was something strained in his voice. “Ah~ it’s good to have a kind acquaintance, even if they are frustrating. Ah… they? Is your kinda-sorta friend a girl or a boy?”

Oh, so that was it. The Sangsang wwx knew was almost certainly nhs, and wwx was poking around, trying to see how his dom felt about their gender.

“Neither,” lwj said, amusement buzzing through him when the other man visibly relaxed. “They consider themself something in between.”

“Oh~ I see, I see. I know someone like that as well. They often have problems getting people to respect their pronouns.” wwx nodded against the ground, and lwj’s mouth twitched at how absurd he looked, ass up and free with fingers inside it as they discussed gender politics.

It was cute and silly, and lwj had missed this sort of dynamic in his arrangements. So many of his subs had leaned into seriousness. Even those who nhs had assured him had a reputation for being fun often fell away into strained seriousness quite quickly. He was just too confident and intimidating, many of them had told nhs. Eventually, he had just given up on requesting fun subs. Subs who were naturally more serious and remained so, even under the oppression that apparently was his personality, were infinitely better than those who broke under it.

“My… kinda-sorta friend,” lwj said, repeating wwx’s word choice back to the man, “has had similar problems. The world we live in is not often friendly to people like us.”

“The gays, the queers and everyone in between?” wwx asked, voice soft and knowing and holding more than a little frustration. “People are just… difficult. And old school without a valid reason. Although! One of the people I know who is, like, almost accepting of Ni— my friend’s gender is actually pretty damn old. He’s a weirdo, though.” wwx’s finger’s idly tapped over the yoga mat, his ass wiggling in adorable thought.

“Oh?” lwj asked, curious about whom the other man could possibly be referring to. Granted, his sub could know more than one person who was genderqueer, but the small slip—the moment he had nearly said the person’s name—all but confirmed he was still thinking of nhs. As far as lwj knew, virtually everyone over a certain age in their world had found nhs’s gender difficult to accept. Had wwx been vaguer, he might have assumed he was referring to the Smoking Flower. However, his sub had said “He’s a weirdo”…

[r95irth]

For the salty ask list: 25 and 10 regarding MDZS

Aw thank you for playing the game with me ^^

10 - Most disliked arc and why?

I'm going to anger my beta-reader Nasha...but I really disliked the Yi city arc, for several reasons (mostly stupid ones one stupid and one more legitimate than the other) The more legitimate one...It felt ouf of the story, like different from the rest (which makes sense since it's a story that MTXT wrote in high school and decided to implement last minute), I didn't like that there was no-prexistence for XY, XXC and SZC before. I did like WWX being a teacher in this and it was fun but that's it. I didn't even really vibe with the romantic couple of the arc (sorry XXC/SZC and XY U-U) I do like XY and A-Qing a lot (and Ouyang Zizhen whom shined in this arc) but huh that's it. It doesn't help that it's a moment of the story I was struggling with the power system and didn't understand much of how WW could do this and that (it was the beginning, so I waited for an explanation that never came, used to the way western books do, which is on me).

The stupid reason is that someone put the kids in danger and nailed dead cats for that. Which automatically make them the ultimate villain for me. You kill cat you're irredeemable in my book *runs away*

25 - How would you end MDZS? Would you change the ending ?

Ah, hard question. I really loved MTXT, I wouldn't change much from it? But at the same time I would changes some things.

Maybe make the theme a little more clearer because obviously some readers didn't get it, but there's always people not reading it like the author intend to. You can't fight that. So yeah...

My author side adores the parallel between LXC and JGY and their parents (the same way LWJ and WWX mirror it) adore the first sentence being "Wei Wuxian is dead hurray!!" and you spend the whole book learning that actually, not hurray at all...And the last line "JGY is dead, hurray!!" (when really not hurray). I think though this would have needed to be more highlighted, by giving more time / more development in the extra. With the cultivation world being in trouble because now they have lost their best administrator, and they have NHS who is not a good plotter or a good administrator either and destroyed everything in his revenge path. I would have more Wangxian getting a bit held responsible for some things because I'm sorry they are not acting to righteous by hiding the truth from LXC and going in their honeymoon phase and abandoning everything else. I do love seeing them happy, and I adored the incense burner extra but huh I feel they replaced important story bit we would have needed xD I would have also loved to see the Lan sect and the Nie sect getting a bit exposed for their hypocrisy (especially the Nie sect and they almost demonic cultivation saber)

But on the other hand I also hate the way MDZS ended with that loop. (I know I'm human, I'm complicated TT) I wanted JGY to get away and survive, because I'm tired of the "commoner who rose to the top and ended up being "corrupted" (aka playing their rules) being punished and proving the point of elite that letting them (commoners) in is actually worse than letting the system as it is" I really really hate that. I would rather have him flee and prosper in another place.

OR BETTER, my ideal ending is JGY ascending. like I said on twitter and then Shiome did an awesome fix-it au art like a week later (satiating my urge to write the au) - linking MDZS and TGCF together by having JGY ascend as a god, paving that once again you don't have to be perfect to be a god (im sorry if you hadn't read tgif, know that every gods in there is guilty of something). I would have loved that type of ending because we avoid the trope and JGY ends up being a bit right and doing the middle finger to everyone (look at Shiome's perfect art!!). and make the overall theme even clearer aka, the problem is the society. think that'd be my ultimate perfect ending for MDZS U-U° (and I could write an happy ending for xiyao, since Wangxian got their, they are fine they don't need extra help).

I'm going to be a little weird again, but as much as I love JC, I would to change anything to his story. Not even Chengxian reconciliation. I do love to reconcile them in my fics, but I do like that in the book they just...Are cordial to each other and not angry anymore but not friend/back to what they used to be. I just find it more realistic. People who's been following me for a long time know I'm picky with redemption arc and forgiveness. Not all characters needs to be forgiven/to forgive, I like diversity and some not forgiving. (I like some never forgetting, forgiving, and live their life without being portrayed as resentful) which I feel is a bit the case for JC. (as much as JC can be at least).

[leatherbookmark]

making it a separate post because i’d talk forever and it’s annoying to talk forever in the replies--

gnomeicecream replied to this post:

Makes me wonder if Lan Zhan isn't 'remember that time you thought my boyfriend was evil and nearly whipped me to death? I do' then deliberately not helping. He was left alone for what, three years after?

oh dear, now that's material for a loooooong conversation i'm not sure i'm qualified for, but like. i don't think lwj blames lxc for his punishment!

considering what the punishment is for, he kind of got off lightly; on top of that, lwj says in the banquet extra that "during the years i spent in seclusion, brother would always come visit me and talk to me sincerely", implying that now that the situation is reversed, he can't do the same. he has to feel at least a bit regretful/conflicted about that.

the thing that irks me is that... lxc is just a forever afterthought. this line i just quoted is from literally a three lines long post-coital conversation that happens and fizzes out quickly (wwx then doesn’t reply and they just go to sleep). another occasion lxc is mentioned in the extra is at the beginning of part 2, in which wgxn can’t try fucking while lwj’s doing handstands because “lwj has to visit his brother”. i know the book is about wgxn and the extras are even more so -- just a chance for the readers to bask in their adorable life together -- but from my pov (i don’t really care about wgxn’s adorable life together and i’m heartbroken about xiyao) it’s just... sad.

it’s been a while since i’ve read the chapters earlier than the one with the post-burial mounds lotus pier jgy haters conference, so i don’t remember all instances of the gusu twin jades interacting, but i can’t help but think that the whole jgy business kind of... changed it in a way that i’m not sure is salvageable. what i mean is that after lwj realized wwx is back, he sort of -- yeeted him on the very top of his priority list, and forgot everything and everyone else in the process, well, save for lsz because he’s wwx’s Kid Buddy From The Burial Mounds. he trusts and supports wwx completely, even if he has no real empirical reason for it -- wwx says jgy killed nmj, so jgy killed nmj, duh. the jades have their thing with silent communication, but i don’t remember lwj even showing that he’s in any way concerned with how lxc might feel about this.

in the guanyin temple as well -- i believe they do it out of concern for lxc, but i can’t help but feel bitter when wgxn tell lxc not to talk to jgy, not to believe him and so on, when they don’t want jgy to Tangle LXC In His Web Of Lies Again. i don’t know how to put it, but it’s like -- lxc isn’t a full person in this situation? they sort of assume he’s been tricked by jgy. they treat him almost like a child who doesn’t know better, when he says it himself that it’s not that he didn’t know jgy was up to No Good, he just trusted that he was doing it because he had no other choice. no thought is given to this revelation! jgy is bad, jgy is an excellent actor and a skilled manipulator, so it’s best to just not let him talk to lxc at all.

i think that at this point, lwj doesn’t understand lxc at all. i’m not sure whether he’s aware of this, so focused on wwx. probably not. but before he leaves, he doesn’t do anything to even show lxc... anything, really? i’ll be there for you, brother? i don’t understand, but i feel your pain? anything else, just anything! but there’s nothing. and by the time lxc is mentioned next time, it’s in the context of lwj not trying to help him because “it would be fruitless either way”. doesn’t that sound just fucking bleak.

because here, i feel, is the source of the problem, lxc’s crown of the most tragic elder sibling: his little brother doesn’t even know how to help him. there’s nothing he thinks he can do in this situation. does he even have anything to say about jgy, or his relationship with lxc? does he have anything to say about how his beloved helped bring him down? is he sorry about that, does he feel bad that lxc can’t or doesn’t want to face the world?

we just don’t know dot gif.

we do know, though, that at the end of the novel wangxian agree that they’ll tell lxc the truth -- the horrible truth that might make lxc, gasp! realize new things about his friend -- when he asks. which is honestly... well, i think you can guess how i feel about it.

it’s funny, though -- we talk a lot about the yunmeng bros’ reconciliation, is it possible or not, etc, etc, even though through jin ling all things are possible so jot it down. the fact that jl stubbornly points out that jc clearly wanted to say something to wwx -- this, i think, is a hint that they will eventually talk. or at least it would be in a world that i think would make sense; in a world where wwx has relationships other than lwj and the juniors. what should be debated more, i think, is the relationship between the lan brothers. the problem of lxc is often glossed over in fics; of course he leaves seclusion and attends wgxn’s wedding as their first and main shipper&supporter, and of course he finds peace, whatever the fuck it is. but does he really? i think lxc “finding peace” primarily should mean him figuring out what he wants as a person, individual, not “sect leader lan” or “lwj’s big brother”, but he, lan huan courtesy xichen. and i think that one of these things could be... understanding. and i don’t know if lwj can offer him that tbh

[imma-bunni]

oh do you have any mdzs pacific rim au rec?

Oh my sweet anon absolutely I do! I haven't actually completed very many yet, but my currently/to-read list is large so I'll try to remember to update this list later)

So far my favorite (and the one that started it all for me) is:

The Weight of the World by KouriArashi. (one of my favorite authors ♥). It has wwx and lwj as the main pilots from the movie plot (ofc wwx is the angsty one who's past copilot died almost died, and lwj is the cold hot jade dude that no one else can drift with) , jc (wwx's injured past-copilot) and nhs as the kaiju scientists, nmj military leader and all the crew as jaeger pilots and it's all just excellent. Also I adore all the jaeger pairs and names and stuff - so awesome.

A shorter, Jiang Cheng centered one is:

Phantoms & Flames by ded_i_am_just_ded. Very good! For jc x lxc shippers (not jgy friendly). Also has some wangxian but it's about the xicheng and jc's inability to emotion here friends.

A great but un-completed one:

A Brave New World by wangjidoodle (wondoodle). I also really liked this one, but it's not completed, last updated 2020 so read at your own risk TvT It's set after the events of the first movie (but doesn't have anything to do with the second movie). I adore that it has jgy and mxy as kaiju scientists and it also has Jiang siblings jaegar which is awesome. And it also has wwx and lxc having a friendship before wwx even knows lz which I thought was cool! We love big brother Lan Xichen to everyone yes we do.

that's all my recs for now - I'll let you know if I have any more! ;)

[sentienceisoverrated]

Before I go on, I would like to reiterate that this is neither an attack, nor a praise of any of the characters in mdzs. I stand by that they all have their own reasons for the way they acted and this is precisely the reason why I’m writing this.

First things first, every single character was stuck in impossible conditions. I have read people blame Jiang Cheng for not helping Wei Wuxian, and I have read people blame Wei Wuxian for not approaching the matter better. However, both characters had loyalties they weren’t willing to give up, for WWX that was his debt to the Wens, and for JC that was his parents’ legacy, his cultivation sect. For JC to help WWX, it would have meant abandoning everything he had worked for for literal years - the Jiang reputation, the Jiang power, and above all, it would put his sister in a terrible position since she was engaged to Jin Zixuan, who was a member of the sect that opposed WWX the most.

On the contrary, while WWX could have handled it better, he was, as stated by himself later in the books, an arrogant ass with a bad temper due to the Stygian tiger amulet. He was out of control, and he was angry, and he did needlessly create conflict, but you have to remember that he was terrified at the time. He was hiding the fact he had no golden core, under scrutiny from everyone, including JC, about the lack of a sword and about his unorthodox cultivation. There was no good way to approach the situation. Rescuing the Wens was just the last straw for the other cultivation sects, and if it had been Nie Mingjue, or Lan Xichen, or even Lan Wangji asking those questions, they’d probably have been answered immediately.

I mean, looking back, even WWX felt himself cringe at his own behaviour. It was appalling, and it did not help his position, but he had been to hell and back, and after all that, he was praised one moment then labelled a war criminal the next.

(Also I’m fairly certain that Jin Guangyao admitted to influencing the negative opinion of WWX before he even left for the burial mounds, though I may be incorrect)

As stated in the original post, Lan Xichen didn’t want to believe JGY would do the things he did, because why would he? He was his sworn brother, and he had lost NMJ, and he only knew JGY for what he wanted him to believe him to be.

Post resurrection, WWX was back to (almost) normal, and Jiang Cheng was stuck, again, between his duty as sect leader and the past grudges he still held. It is stated so many times that that it is just his character, that he is so much like his mother, that he keeps grudges and stays angry and doesn’t know what to do with it and that is just who he is. After Guanyin temple (pls tell me I spelt that right), JC and WWX don’t reconcile not because neither are willing to, but because there is too much between them to make it possible. Think about it, to JC, WWX abandoned him, to WWX, JC betrayed him by allying with the other sects. It’s not that neither of them are unwilling to reconcile, it’s that they can’t. However much they may mourn their past relationship, too much had happened for it to be worth going through the pain of reconciling.

(Fanfic writers, this isn’t me telling you not to let them make up. I adore those fics and want just as much as anyone for them to be brothers again, just that it isn’t canon)

I can’t remember anything else I might have to say, but the final point still stands. The situation is a lot more complicated than what I have seen people make it out to be. All characters made bad mistakes, but in their situation, there weren’t a lot of chances for good choices. And this, paired with their personality and emotions, meant they made mistakes. Anyone under pressure (and they were under a lot of pressure) would make bad choices.

I never wanted to get involved in fandom politics but I’ve seen so many posts blaming different characters and putting others on a pedestal that I feel the need to say something.

If you think that jc or wwx or any other characters are better than the rest, undeserving of what happened to them, and that they did no wrong and everyone else is to blame, then you’ve misunderstood the fundamental point of the entire story.

We all know that mdzs is a story about class, but there’s more to that than just Jin Guangyao and Mianmian. It doesn’t just stop at them, it applies to ever character in the entire novel, and applies to every situation they find themselves in. Mdzs is a novel about how situations shape people and affect their decisions, and by saying that one character is released from that blame while others are not is wrong.

As a reader, we know information that other characters do not, and since the novel is focused around wwx pov, then we know more information about his situation than the other characters do. We know he was tossed into the burial mounds, we know that he wanted to protect his family, we know that he loved Jiang Yanli as a sister and would never hurt her. But above all, we know everything Wen Qing and Wen Ning did to help him.

Except, the other characters don’t.

(And before I say the next bit, I would like to say I am not glorifying wwx’s actions or Jiang Cheng’s. They both did horrible things to each other)

In the novel, Jiang Cheng was pretty much unconscious for the entire time after he was rescued by Wen Qing and Wen Ning. The only time he did wake up was for mere seconds before he saw the Wen uniforms and was so afraid he was literally screaming before Wen Qing stabbed him with her needle and put him to sleep. By the time wwx woke him up, they were already travelling on a boat away from Yiling, and the Wen were nowhere in sight. In addition, Jiang Cheng didn’t know they brought back his cultivation. Jiang Cheng was unconscious, and could not remember much of what happened to him. All he remembers is waking up in a Wen stronghold, and then waking up outside of it. What reason did he have to believe that the Wen Qing and Wen Ning helped him at all?

On the contrary, wwx could not tell him any of this, because that would mean admitting to the golden core transfer. Wwx did not accept help, did not ask for help, but he was at a point in his life where he went to hell and back and was being blamed for it. To tell people he lost his core would 1) alert Jiang Cheng of the transfer and 2) would actually make him more of a target of the cultivation world. Unorthodox methods x2?? Absolutely not.

Lan Xichen did not see Jin Guangyao for what he was because he wanted to see someone better. That, and he was mourning one sworn brother and he did not want to mourn the other, or to even blame him for his death. Sure, he didn’t see any of the clues, but he didn’t want to see them, and that doesn’t make him a bad person.

I could go on and on about every single aspect of each characters situations and how that affected their actions (and I might in a reblog) but this post is getting long.

The point is this: Do not rise your favourite characters to pedestals and do not incessantly blame others for their mistakes. Each character has their own motivations, fear, and was each stuck in a situation that forced them to make bad decisions.

EDIT: It has come to my attention that Jiang Cheng was, in fact, aware of what Wen Qing and Wen Ning did for him prior to wwx’s death. So, I was incorrect in that regard.

However, Jiang Cheng was under great scrutiny by the cultivation sects, had just rebuilt Lotus Pier and its reputation, and then suffered the blow of wwx leaving. I do believe that his actions were a result of all that pressure being put on him.

[featherfur]

I am Thinking about Nie Huaisang who doesn’t care. Nie Huaisang who honestly doesn’t know if Wei Wuxian is actually evil or not, if he actually became a demon. Nie Huaisang who willingly took a gamble being well aware that Wei Wuxian could come back wrong and twisted and lay death on Jianghu and decided that was fine.

So many thoughts seem to hinge on NHS being almost completely certain that WWX isn’t actually evil, didn’t actually lose his entire soul to demonic cultivation. I’m here for Huaisang who’s spent the last ten years in absolute terror of being killed because he’s not obedient enough, in absolute terror of being found out, in absolute terror of never being able to even just find his brothers body.

Who’s pushed to the brink because of that terror, because of that anger, that heartbreak, that agony. And he decides he doesn’t give a fuck how Wei Wuxian returns.

If he’s still the Wei Wuxian that Nie Huaisang remembers then great! Wonderful! His plan will work perfectly, probably! But if he’s not? If he’s a tormented destroyed soul of resentful energy and absolutely nothing else? If he really is the mass murderer everyone calls him and comes back with that same killing instinct?

Then Nie Huaisang will dump the oil in front of him to lead that fire straight to Koi tower first and accept his fate of being burned with the rest of the world. Because he is Tired, he is Scared, and he is so very very Angry.

One way or another he will burn the world that Jin Guangyao created at the expense of his brother. He will burn it down to the ground with rivers of blood and the flames of war if he has too. He has nothing left, he is not adored by the Nie Sect, his only other friend is a broken man on the other end of Jianghu who spends his time only with his nephew, his second brother doesn’t care to look at Jin Guangyao with anything but affection, and the man who he once lived beside has his hands coated in the blood of Huaisang’s big brother. He has nothing, he has nothing. And he will make sure Jin Guangyao dies with nothing too.

[vrishchikawrites]

Post-post-post cannon Wangxian being completely in love in the cloud recessess as teenagers who time travelled back to their own 16-17 year old bodies on accident.

In love. Wangxian are in love. In love. Just smooph and fluff.

Like they're effortlessly in love. (No matter how much Jiang Cheng yells and ties to control Wei Wuxian, Wei Wuxian casually refuses to hear any of it, as he'd been ignoring Jiang Cheng's homophobia and hate forever by the time they both came back by accident. )

Also wwx doesn't hide his genius and every one around him is like senpai *heart eyes* (honestly he's almost forgotten how to hide his effortless genius.)

(Just FYI, don't have to include this: this Wei Wuxian has long since come to terms with all his war and Sunshot and Shiji related trauma— just FYI.)

I just want to read as much of the smooph, smushy fluff and love you can stomach writing please.

Extra points if you can show them both just effortlessly and absentmindedly flirting.

(You don't have to incude this, but: They just take like a weekend off and go raze the main Wen family to the ground casually— back late with Starbucks— "We were night hunting. What do you mean the Wen family died? So sad. We feel so bad. Don't we feel bad?" " Mm. Feel bad.")

Thank you so much for existing in this fandom. I love your fics. I love you. 💖

Xichen is proud of his brother but he can't deny that he is sometimes concerned for him as well. Wangji is a dedicated and accomplished disciple but he is isolated from his peers. Xichen has friends and confidants but Wangji is simply content to be by himself.

That is concerning, even for a Lan.

He had hopes that incoming disciples would manage to shake him up a little but that hope didn't last long. Year after year, Wangji continued to remain aloof, not expressing any interest in the disciples.

But something has changed this year. Xichen didn't even know what was going on until a few weeks into the introduction of the guest disciples.

He spots them by chance. Young Master Wei is cheerfully waving at a vendor, his smile wide and bright, ensnaring the old woman's entire attention.

Wangji is right by him, Bichen in one hand but the other…

The other is placed on the small of Wei-gongzi's back.

Xichen watches as they move on from the vendor. He sees how Wangji seems to shield Wei-gongzi from the crowd, angling his body slightly to ensure his companion can walk freely.

It is a gesture of protectiveness. It is a gesture of possession.

Xichen studies their body language carefully. Wangji seems content to follow Wei-gongzi around, his expression closed but gentle. There are no frosty glares or pursed lips. His brother, for once, looks entirely relaxed. Everything about him is loose and easy underneath all of his Lan elegance. His shoulders slope gently, his spine isn't as rigid, and his walk is steady.

The First Jade has never seen his brother look so settled.

Wei Wuxian seems happy too, his smile incandescent and lovely. Almost as tall as Wangji, the boy is the very antithesis of his brother. While Wangji is sedate and content, Wei Wuxian is nearly bursting with energy and joy. His silver eyes sparkle in the sunlight and his long hair sways with every movement of his body.

Xichen's heart softens at the glimpse of such open beauty. There's certainly something alluring about Young Master Wei. He seems to suffuse his surroundings with happiness.

There's something in the air around them.

Despite his lively mind wandering from one stall to another, Wei-gongzi always finds his way back to Wangji, looking at him with a hopeful smile and a cheerful comment.

His brother's expression is unfamiliar to him. Wangji looks like his entire world is smiling up at him.

'Is this love?' He wonders to himself as he watches his brother gently pull Wei-gongzi out of a running child's way. He doesn't miss how the touch lingers, fingers curling slightly around the slender wrist before pulling away.

There are many eyes following Wangji and his friend, and all of them have indulgent expressions. The people of Caiyi town have seen Wangji since he was a child. They know him and his nature well enough.

Xichen suspects they're just as happy to see Wangji roaming the markets leisurely as a pretty butterfly flutters around him.

"Is that Lan Wangji?" Nei Mingjue observes, stepping up beside him.

Xichen nods, "And his friend, Wei Wuxian."

"Hm," his friend says, "I've been hearing that name a lot recently. They say the only reason Jin Zuxian beat him in the rankings is because of his looks."

Xichen chuckles at Mingjue's tone, "Ah, Da-ge, you must hate that."

His friend rolls his eyes, taking a sip of his tea. "How do looks matter when you're facing down Fierce Corpses?"

"From what shufu says, Young Master Wei is Wangji's equal in many ways." Shufu had been wary at first, wondering what sort of chaos the son of Cangse Sanren would bring to Cloud Recesses. So far, Wei Wuxian has proven to be a mischievous but brilliant student. "He challenges shufu in class. They end up having loud, angry debates," Xichen chuckles because he knows his uncle, despite all appearances, loves being stimulated, "He mentions the boy often." There's a comment about Wei Wuxian almost every time he has tea with his uncle.

He looks at the two younger master's thoughtfully, "I didn't expect this."

"Are they courting?" Nei Mingjue asks bluntly, "Because your little brother is acting like a husband already."

Xichen stills and looks at the pair again. That is what's off about their body language. They move around each other confidently, not like a young couple in fresh blooms of love.

There are no tentative glances, awkward touches, and hyperawareness. Wangji touches Wei Wuxian like it is his right. Like he is confident that his touch is welcome and desired.

For a moment, he feels a pang of worry. Xichen looks at Wei Wuxian, studying him carefully to see if there's any sign of strain or distress.

He finds nothing. Wei-gongzi responds to every gesture of affection like a flower blooming under the Sun.

"Ah." He realizes, "You think…?"

"Strong bonds form quickly between cultivators with matching potential." Nei Mingjue observes, "It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility. Your brother looks a little too enamored for this to be a teenage fancy."

Well, isn't this an interesting development?

---

"Your hair looks nice," Nie Huaisang says, hiding a smile behind his fan. Wei-xiong always looks good but there's something particularly radiant about him now. He seems to stand a bit taller, carry himself with a bit more confidence. His gestures seem stronger, somehow carrying more authority than before.

But the hair intrigues him. There's a glittering silver hairpiece in it and the strands of ebony are tied up in a neat style.

Neater than Wei-xiong's usual style. While Huaisang is certain Wei-xiong is perfectly capable of making himself as elegant as the Jades of Lan, he usually doesn't bother.

This was done by someone else's careful, loving, hand.

Jiang Yanli isn't at Cloud Recesses and Jiang Cheng would rather burn his own hands than show even an ounce of love towards his shixiong - something pricks when he thinks about that.

So there's someone else, someone willing to comb Wei-xiong's hair until every strand is glossy and straight, before tying it up with a silver and jade pin that looks expensive.

Wei-xiong is courting- no, he corrects himself, watching his friend wave enthusiastically at Lan Wangji, 'Wei-xiong is being courted.'

Wangji-xiong bows to his brother and walks towards Wei-xiong, his gaze softer than usual. His friend is smiling widely and immediately dissolves into excited chatter. Wangji-xiong doesn't seem bothered, just nodding occasionally and watching with indulgent patience.

There's something entirely lovely about the way Wangji-xiong's eyes remain fixed on Wei Wuxian's face. It is like nothing else is more important to him than Wei-xiong's smile and cheerful voice.

Standing together in the courtyard, both clad in white and glowing under the warm light of the morning sun, they look stunning. Huaisang's romantic heart sighs at the sight.

"What is he doing?" Jiang Wanyin hisses and Huaisang looks at him, startled by his icy tone, "I can't believe he's making a nuisance of himself again!"

"Jiang-gongzi-"

"Wei Wuxian! What are you doing, messing around?"

The loud voice catches almost everyone's attention. Wei-xiong looks over his shoulder and Wangji-xiong's expression turns frosty, all warmth draining from it immediately.

"Aiya, Jiang Cheng," Wei-xiong grins but it doesn't have that sheepish, placating quality that Huaisang had seen before, on those rare occasions he visited Lotus Pier with his da-ge. This grin was full of confidence and almost... dismissal. "Why are you angry now?"

Was that tone... mocking?

Huaisang's lips twitch as Jiang-gongzi swells further with rage, "Wei Wuxian! How can you be so shameless? Imposing yourself on Lan Wangji, always trying to distract him. Think of our sect's reputation for once!"

"Do not speak for me." Wangji-xiong's voice is icy and it cuts Jiang-gongzi's rant short immediately, "Wei Ying is free to seek me out whenever he wishes. No one may stop him."

And that seems to be that. Wei-xiong laughs and Wangji-xiong guides him away gently like he's someone delicate and not the strongest cultivator of their generation.

But, Huaisang muses, even strong people deserve gentleness.

---

"Da-shixiong! Show us that one again," A Jiang disciple demands and Wangji looks up from his work. He has clear sight of the training ground from where he's sitting. Wei Ying is standing in the middle, surrounded by a few Jiang and Lan disciples.

They're all looking at him in adoration.

Wangji feels a flood of amusement and sets his work aside, content to take a small break. It is always a treat to see his husband in his element; teaching people and nurturing young minds. They may be back in their teenage bodies, but their soul is much older.

Wei Ying, with his natural ability to charm juniors and his hard-earned wisdom, is the perfect teacher.

"It is amusing to see you so smitten," Wangji looks up to see his brother smiling at him, "Wei-gongzi must be very special, yes?"

His brother probably aims to fluster him, he is so fond of teasing Wangji. But Wangji had been Wei Ying's husband for more than a decade before an accident sent them back in time. He is no longer flustered or overwhelmed by his feelings. "Very special," He agrees, unable to help glancing back at his beloved, "Very lovely."

Xichen chuckles, "He is indeed lovely." His expression turns sly, "Do I need to speak with Uncle? Betrothal negotiations may be complicated in this case."

Wangji remains unphased, "You may," He says calmly, much to his brother's surprise, "Wei Ying will marry into the Lans. Give no concession to the Jiangs. He is just their Head Disciple, not the part of the family."

"Wangji," His brother breathes, "You're that invested?"

"Un. Will marry Wei Ying. Give him a better life. A life of dignity, freedom, and respect. Free of unnecessary debt that no one should foist on a child."

That is enough for Xichen to understand. His gaze turns solemn and he looks at Wei Ying carefully, "If that is what you wish, brother, you will have it."

---

Wangji feels his heart still when he steps into the library pavilion. He gazes at the scene before him, feeling the stiff formality of his expression melt away.

Wei Ying is beautiful, sitting there and reading peacefully. The evening sunlight envelopes him, giving him an ethereal glow. He traces his husband's features, feeling something akin to desperate love. It has been so since he saw this face and this body. Mo Xuanyu didn't lack beauty and Wei Ying's radiant personality had only added to it.

But this is Wei Ying's true body.

Helplessly drawn, he steps forward. "Xingan."

Wei Ying looks up, startled to hear such an endearment aloud. Immediately, his face is aglow with a pretty blush even as he laughs teasingly, "Lan Zhan! Don't be so bold!"

He walks towards Wei Ying and settles down by him, closer than truly appropriate but this is his husband. "Research?"

Wei Ying smiles, drawing Wangji's attention to his lips. There's no one in the library so Wangji permits himself the touch, reaching forward to gently caress them, "Such beauty." He whispers.

Wei Ying blushes again, "Er-gege," He protests, "Have mercy on my heart."

His fingers slide under Wei Ying's jaw, drawing him in gently. His husband is sweet and compliant as Wangji kisses him, an innocent brush of lips and nothing more. "My Wei Ying." His voice is low, heated in ways Wei Ying recognizes. He watches as those enchanting silver eyes brighten with passion.

His Wei Ying buries his warm face in his neck with a moan of protest, "Mercy, husband. You're so cruel to tease me like this when you can't take me to bed."

It is indeed a challenge to not have their 'everyday' but Wangji can be patient. Xiongzhang is already working on it.

For now, he is content.

They sit like that for a long time, Wei Ying leaning against him, trusting and calm. No one disturbs them and Xichen only stops by once, smiling knowingly in their direction and pointedly ignoring Wangji's restraining hand around Wei Ying's waist, stopping him from pulling away.

They spend the rest of the evening exchanging soft murmurs and softer kisses.

Nothing will stand in their way this time.

[winepresswrath]

I need your thoughts about the AU in which WWX accidentally kills JC and can’t bring him back in any way while JYL is still alive and has just lost JZX to WWX :) I literally adore JC but I want the AU where he and JYL swap places in the narrative so badly it hurts :) like in her mind JYL knows that WWX didn’t do any of that on purpose and still loves him but he still killed her baby brother and husband and there’s gotta at least be a lil tiny piece of her that is never going to forgive him for that :p

She's got many of the same problems Jiang Cheng has (keep Jin Ling alive, try to understand why happened, cope with almost everyone you've ever loved dying horribly, figure out how to deal with someone you love killing other people you love before they themselves die) but a wildly different personality and skillset. She's also a lot more personally invested in Zixuan, and he's the person who Wei Wuxian is most responsible for killing, even if I can't imagine her being thrilled with Wei Wuxian losing control of his powers and hitting Jiang Cheng with a zombie before massacring a bunch of their disciples.

As you said, it's going to be relatively easy for her to decide that Wei Wuxian would never do anything of the kind either deliberately or as a consequence of a lack of care for their family, but I think that does maybe lead her to blaming the demonic cultivation, especially if she extrapolates backwards from what happened at Nightless City and concludes that the problem is that Wei Wuxian was not in control of his power. She doesn't have Jiang Cheng's temperament or his resources but she knows how to work the system to get what she wants and I do think she'd feel responsible for her family unleashing something dangerous and easy to abuse on the world, so she's up to something. The Jiang probably do lose their place as a great sect and the Jin are absolutely trying to or succeeding at locking them down as a vassal sect and trying to use Yanli to do it, but maybe she has more direct communication with and influence over them if they're not seen as a threat? Honestly I can see her being one of the avenues Huaisang uses to attack Jin Guangyao, because if she finds out her brother in law is doing demonic cultivation in her son's house she's going to do something about it. So I'm thinking subordinate(ish) Jiang Sect where she acts as a kind of unofficial liaison between them and the Jin, and there is a complicated web of loyalty going in both directions where she's working with them to achieve some of her public safety goals and promoting their interests when she can but she's still not quite one of them anymore. Enter Wei Wuxian!

One of the fun narrative tricks MXTX comes back to a lot is people behaving unreasonably towards Wei Wuxian in situations where some degree of anger or suspicion would actually be very reasonable. People tend to either forgive him unconditionally, be too busy being evil to have legitimate concerns, or handle their anger in a way that makes it reasonable for him to simply peace out and refuse to engage. I do think Yanli would forgive Wei Wuxian, especially if they managed to talk it out, but I don't think he can avoid something of a reckoning with her when he comes back to life because he does actually owe her an explanation more than he owes anyone else and he doesn't have the (reasonable) excuse of being more on stabbing than speaking terms with her. Whether he actually tries to deliver that explanation I think depends on whether we're talking novel or drama- he has technically already tried once and it didn't go well. CQL Wei Wuxian makes a good faith effort but is thwarted by the plot, Novel WWX I think tells himself it's futile and pointless and she's probably over it so he'd just be reopening old wounds until she's right in front of him like what the fuck A-Xian. It is not actually a comfortable or fun experience for him in either scenario no matter how much she forgives him because he does feel profoundly guilty and he's not distracted by being mad at her. I also just think he'd handle Jiang Cheng dying on a battlefield shortly after he hit him with a zombie very badly. Like he handles Yanli very badly also, but it's a different subset of bad. Not necessarily worse, but that's his shidi he promised Madame Yu and Jiang Fengmian to protect and he tore himself open for and then he went and hit him with a zombie and maybe permanently disadvantaged or imperilled the Jiang and it's just a different scenario if he can't come back and at least be like "well the Jiang are prospering so that one thing worked out and I don't have to feel shame or obligation about it."

[bloody-bee-tea]

Wei Wuxian

Finally, my first Bingo! Also this is not very WWX friendly, so take that as your warning.

Jiang Cheng is sitting with his planner open on his lap, studying it with the cutest little frown on his face and Nie Mingjue just wants to kiss him silly.

He knows Jiang Cheng would grumble about it though, especially since Wei Wuxian is there as well, so he only presses a kiss to the top of Jiang Cheng’s head and patiently waits for him to figure out where to put their date.

“Saturday,” Jiang Cheng finally decides. “For lunch, at 1pm and then we’ll see?” he asks and looks up at Nie Mingjue.

“Sure,” Nie Mingjue easily agrees, because it’s not like he has anything to do that’s more important than Jiang Cheng anyway.

“Please don’t be late,” Jiang Cheng says, even though Nie Mingjue has never been late to any of their dates ever.

“I won’t,” Nie Mingjue promises him, because he knows where this is coming from and he can already tell from the look on Wei Wuxian’s face as he watches their interaction that he’s gonna chime in any second now.

“And if you are late or if you somehow can’t make it—” Jiang Cheng trails off, unsurely biting his lower lip and Nie Mingjue threads their fingers together.

“Then I’ll call to let you know,” Nie Mingjue says and he tenses when Wei Wuxian leans forward.

“Aiyo, A-Cheng, what’s with all this scheduling stuff?” he wants to know and Jiang Cheng’s shoulders immediately go up. “It’s not like you do all of that with me, is Mingjue-ge really that unreliable?”

“Shut up, Wei Wuxian,” Jiang Cheng snaps, protectively cradling his planner to his chest.

“We can plan if we want to,” Nie Mingjue chimes in, because he doesn’t want Jiang Cheng to have to defend himself for something that is perfectly alright.

And especially not if the cause of this whole planning is asking these stupid questions.

“Of course you can, it just seems stupid and unnecessarily boring,” Wei Wuxian says and flops back down on the couch, checking his phone for the thousands time to see when Lan Wangji will finally arrive.

“Only you would think so,” Jiang Cheng grumbles and Nie Mingjue has to agree with him.

“Lan Zhan thinks the same,” Wei Wuxian tells them and Nie Mingjue winces when he remembers the time he had to witness a fight in the Lan household when Lan Wangji simply stood up during dinner because Wei Wuxian decided he had time that moment and wanted to see Lan Wangji.

Neither Lan Qiren nor Lan Xichen were particularly pleased about the fact that Lan Wangji simply left for his boyfriend right that instant and the ensuing fight had made Nie Mingjue absolutely uncomfortable. He really wants to tell Wei Wuxian about that, but it’s not his place and so he keeps his tongue.

“It’s fine that we plan, right?” Jiang Cheng suddenly asks Nie Mingjue, sounding unsure and it’s just another reason to send Wei Wuxian a glare.

Not that he notices with how he is still glued to his phone.

“Of course it’s fine, Wanyin. I like to know when I’ll see you next,” he tells him with a little kiss to his cheek and Nie Mingjue thoroughly enjoys the red dusting his cheeks.

“Okay, then,” Jiang Cheng whispers and releases his death grip on the calendar.

Nie Mingjue smiles at him for that and for now, that has to be enough.

~*~*~

Friday afternoons are off limits for anyone and Jiang Cheng has been adamant about this for almost a year now. It’s not a problem at all for Nie Mingjue, because everyone is entitled to their own time and he never felt the need to probe Jiang Cheng for his whereabouts on that day, especially not since Jiang Cheng is very secretive about it.

He almost desperately tried to assure Nie Mingjue that he’s not doing anything bad, that he’s not cheating on him or anything, and it had taken a long while for Nie Mingjue to make him understand that he didn’t even think about that.

But, the point stands, Jiang Cheng is doing something every Friday afternoon that no one knows about and that is fine.

At least for everyone but Wei Wuxian, it seems.

“Come on, let’s do Friday,” he whines, hanging off Jiang Cheng’s shoulder and Nie Mingjue fights the urge to simply pluck him off.

“I can’t,” Jiang Cheng says, not for the first time and he seems deeply uncomfortable, not that Wei Wuxian would notice.

“Why not?” Wei Wuxian asks and before Jiang Cheng can start defending himself yet again, Nie Mingjue steps in.

“Because he said so,” he tells Wei Wuxian and shoulders him out of the way, to hug Jiang Cheng to his side. “You should respect that.”

“He should just tell me what he’s doing,” Wei Wuxian mutters, clearly unhappy about being pushed to the side, but Jiang Cheng leans into Nie Mingjue’s side and that’s all that matters.

“He can do things for himself and he doesn’t have to tell anyone about them,” Nie Mingjue shoots back and presses a kiss to Jiang Cheng’s forehead.

“You don’t mind at all that he’s keeping a secret from you?” Wei Wuxian asks and immediately Jiang Cheng stiffens in Nie Mingjue’s arm.

“Wei Wuxian—” Jiang Cheng starts, but Nie Mingjue squeezes him reassuringly.

“He can keep as many secrets from me as he wants,” he tells Wei Wuxian who doesn’t seem to feel the same about Jiang Cheng keeping secrets.

“No,” Wei Wuxian decides. “Just tell us what you’re doing or do you want Mingjue-ge to think that you’re cheating on him?”

“I’m not—“ Jiang Cheng is clearly lost for words in front of his brother’s demanding nature, just like he so often is, and Nie Mingjue does not like it one bit.

“I would never think that he’s cheating on me,” Nie Mingjue says, more to reassure Jiang Cheng than to really answer Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng gives him a thankful smile.

It seems like Wei Wuxian wants to get into this some more, but when Lan Wangji arrives, he seems to forget about their current discussion, much to Nie Mingjue’s relief. Jiang Cheng’s too, if the way he melts into Nie Mingjue’s side is anything to go by.

It’s only when Nie Mingjue drops Jiang Cheng off at his apartment that some nerves seem to creep back into Jiang Cheng.

“Do you really not mind that I don’t tell you about Fridays?” he asks and Nie Mingjue bites back a sigh.

“We’ve been over that, Wanyin,” he tells him as softly as he can. “I don’t. It’s your time and you can do with it what you want. Of course I’m curious, because I want to know what clearly brings you so much joy, but I’m not dying over the fact that I don’t know.”

When Jiang Cheng frowns at that, Nie Mingjue chuckles and cups Jiang Cheng’s cheek in his hand.

“You’re always so relaxed and happy on Saturdays, so clearly whatever you do on Friday must bring you great joy. And I’m happy you have something like that.”

“It’s—” Jiang Cheng starts, but Nie Mingjue interrupts him.

“You don’t have to tell me.”

“I know. But I want to,” Jiang Cheng decides and he seems so determined that Nie Mingjue doesn’t have the heart to stop him.

“I go to the local shelter on Fridays to walk the dogs,” Jiang Cheng rushes out and that makes so much sense.

Of course only animals—and especially dogs—could make Jiang Cheng that happy.

“That’s wonderful. I bet they love you,” Nie Mingjue says, though he still doesn’t fully understand why Jiang Cheng would keep it a secret.

“I think they like me alright,” Jiang Cheng gives back, which of course means that the dogs are over themselves whenever he comes around. “It’s just—Wei Wuxian’s phobia is—he’d feel betrayed by that.”

Nie Mingjue doesn’t understand that at all, because it’s not like Jiang Cheng is forcing Wei Wuxian into the vicinity of any dogs, but he bites his tongue.

Jiang Cheng’s and Wei Wuxian’s relationship is complicated as it is, and he’s not going to meddle with it.

“Thank you for telling me,” Nie Mingjue says and pulls Jiang Cheng for a kiss.

“Do you—want to come, one day, maybe?” Jiang Cheng hesitantly asks and Nie Mingjue nods immediately.

“Of course.”

He doesn’t just agree to see the blinding smile on Jiang Cheng’s face, but it might just overshadow any other reason.

~*~*~

It all comes to a heat just a few weeks later, when Wei Wuxian shows up at Jiang Cheng’s doorstep just as he’s about to leave for the shelter, Nie Mingjue in tow because it turns out the cats adore him. So while Jiang Cheng is being tasked with walking the dogs and playing with them, Nie Mingjue vanishes into the cat area to dote on them.

It’s a system that works very well for all of them.

At least right until Wei Wuxian shows up and demands Jiang Cheng to go with him for some fries.

“Jiang Cheng,” Wei Wuxian whines when Jiang Cheng resolutely tells him no and Nie Mingjue is very proud of him for that.

“I can’t, Wei Wuxian, you know that.”

“But you won’t even tell me why! And anyway, it can’t be more important than me!”

“It’s a commitment I have,” Jiang Cheng tries but Nie Mingjue can tell that it’s futile.

“Jiang Cheng, I will not leave until you tell me what it is you do that’s so much more important than going to eat with me.”

He positions himself in front of Jiang Cheng, arms crossed in front of his chest, and even before Jiang Cheng sighs, Nie Mingjue knows that he’ll tell him.

Just because Wei Wuxian is a little brat who can’t stand not knowing things.

“I’m going to the shelter,” Jiang Cheng says, keeping his answer vague for now and Nie Mingjue wonders if Wei Wuxian’s phobia is really so bad that he can’t even stand to hear about dogs.

“So don’t go today.”

“They are waiting for me,” Jiang Cheng hisses. “I have a commitment there, and they rely on me.”

“What could you even be doing there?”

“I’m—walkingthedogs,” Jiang Cheng rushes out and Nie Mingjue only has a second to be proud of Jiang Cheng for actually saying it, before he notices how Wei Wuxian turns pale.

“You’re what?”

“You heard me,” Jiang Cheng says but he’s already curling into himself, clearly expecting whatever is coming next.

“How can you betray me like that?” Wei Wuxian howls. “You’re going to walk these—these beasts? And you’re choosing them over me? You know I’m afraid!”

“I can maybe—” Jiang Cheng starts and Nie Mingjue knows where this is going.

He’s going to offer to call the shelter to tell them he can’t make it today and Nie Mingjue has had enough.

“No,” he says and reaches behind him to open the apartment door, pushing Jiang Cheng inside before closing the door again.

“Now listen here,” he says as he turns back to Wei Wuxian.

“What are you doing?” Wei Wuxian asks, taking a half step back.

“I’m giving you a piece of my mind,” Nie Mingjue says and he pulls himself up to his full height, crossing his arms in front of his chest and glaring at Wei Wuxian. “You are going to change how you speak to Jiang Cheng.”

“Why should I?” Wei Wuxian scoffs. “He’s my brother.”

“And you’re hurting him with your behaviour,” Nie Mingjue shoots back because he is so over this entitled behaviour. “I know it’s all fun and games for you, but you are hurting him.”

“With what?” Wei Wuxian wants to know, but he still seems way too self-confident for Nie Mingjue’s liking.

“Just now, for example. He kept this from you, deliberately, because he knew you would react like this. Not everything revolves around you. You’re not in the vicinity of the dogs and he didn’t ask you to be. He’s not betraying you. He’s doing something he loves and tries his best to protect you from that. Don’t you think he’d want to tell you about it? But he knows he can’t and rightfully so because you just twisted it all around. It’s not about you, Wei Wuxian.”

“But he’s walking the dogs!”

“As is his right. It has nothing to do with you,” Nie Mingjue snaps at him. “If you could be a little less self-centred you’d see how you’re fucking him over! He has to keep a harmless little thing that he loves from you, can’t you see how fucked up that is?”

“But I’m—”

“I don’t give a fuck what you are,” Nie Mingjue cuts him off. “This is not about you. It’s about him and what he likes to do, and it’s his damn right to spend his time doing something he enjoys. You should count yourself lucky that he didn’t adopt one of them yet.”

“He would never!”

“No, he wouldn’t. Because he knows you’re afraid. So this is the next best thing he can do, without actually involving you and if you say one more word about this, I’m going to forget myself,” Nie Mingjue threatens.

“Fine,” Wei Wuxian amends after working his jaw a few times but Nie Mingjue is not done yet.

“And another thing. You’re going to stop making fun of him for planning everything,” Nie Mingjue says, much to Wei Wuxian’s confusion.

“What? Why? It’s funny as hell, especially since he gets so defensive about it.”

Nie Mingjue really has to reign in the urge to punch Wei Wuxian in the face, but he reminds himself that Jiang Cheng wouldn’t want that. So while he can’t do that, he can still step forward and fist his hands in Wei Wuxian’s shirt and shake him.

“It’s not funny, and it’s especially not funny because you are the reason he does that!”

“What is that supposed to mean,” Wei Wuxian wheezes out as he tries to get out of Nie Mingjue’s grasp, which of course doesn’t work.

“You are literally incapable of making plans and sticking to them! You say you’re going to meet and then you forget or simply decide that you have better things to do and then don’t even inform him. You show up at the most random times and demand that he makes time for you only to rush away a second later,” Nie Mingjue growls out.

“That’s not—” Wei Wuxian starts, but Nie Mingjue doesn’t let him speak.

“Tuesday,” is all he says, because Wei Wuxian was supposed to meet Jiang Cheng for dinner and promptly stood him up.

Wei Wuxian seems to at least remember that now because he winces.

“Lan Zhan called,” he gives back as if that could ever be an excuse.

“And of course your brain is so small that you forgot how to operate a phone for anything else. You couldn’t even be bothered to let Wanyin know that you won’t be coming. You are the reason he likes to plan things out, because he needs that stability and he sure as hell isn’t getting it from you,” Nie Mingjue snaps and pushes Wei Wuxian away.

“And now you will get out of my sigh and you will not contact Wanyin until you thought about what I said for a good long while,” Nie Mingjue tells him and for a split second it seems like Wei Wuxian wants to argue with him.

He seems to think better of that though, because he nods and slinks away, under the threatening glare of Nie Mingjue.

Nie Mingjue waits until he’s fully out of sight before he sighs, deliberately shakes out his shoulders and then turns around to go back into the apartment.

Jiang Cheng is waiting for him, because of course he is, and Nie Mingjue knows by the look on his face that he has heard every word.

“I’m not going to apologize,” Nie Mingjue immediately says, because he’s been sitting on all of that for way too long but instead of arguing with him, Jiang Cheng pulls him into a kiss.

“I love you,” he says, and he sounds distinctly choked up.

“I love you, too. And it needed to be said,” Nie Mingjue tacks on, because he hopes Jiang Cheng understands that.

“I know,” Jiang Cheng agrees with a small nod. “It’s just—no one bothered before.”

It makes Nie Mingjue angry all over again—mostly at Jiang Yanli because she could have said something, too—but he tries to breathe it away. He said his piece and it has to be enough.

“He deserved it. Now. Are we still going?” Nie Mingjue wants to know and takes Jiang Cheng’s hand in his.

“I’m not sure—”

“We should go,” Nie Mingjue interrupts him. “Wei Wuxian can suck it.”

It startles a laugh out of Jiang Cheng, but he also agrees to go to the shelter, so Nie Mingjue counts it as a win.

His little outburst will most likely have some consequences—the relationship between Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng will be strained and Lan Wangji will probably give him the cold shoulder for a while—but Nie Mingjue maintains his point.

It needed to be said and if Wei Wuxian doesn’t get over himself, then he shouldn’t be around Jiang Cheng anyway.

Nie Mingjue will not allow him to hurt his heart any more than he already has.

“Let’s go pet some dogs,” Nie Mingjue says and presses a kiss to the back of Jiang Cheng’s hand.

Because right now, what they really need, is to be buried under some animals. And off they go.

Link to my ko-fi on the sidebar!

[llycaons]

pt 2: wwx and lotus pier

LP is so gorgeous...look at that sunset. they nailed this in the show I think, even if they probably had to lean on cgi at least a little

and it's really neat that they have all those structures planned out. I know an insane amount of work goes into animation, but crafting real objects, buildings, clothing, and weapons then making real places into fantastical backdrops for epic tales of love and war is an entirely different beast

this is so gorgeous! all the lotus themes, even the lamps. I used to think the jingshi was super minimalist, but actually this is looking quite spare as well

what even is this I love it

wwx!!! he gets his own header and multiple pages, detailing all his outfits and weapons. I picked this one because it's so obviously posed it made me giggle

you see how pale he is in this nightless city shot? I remember reading that they used white makeup to make his face almost glow in that scene. it ruled

omg jyl is so pretty!!! I've always loved her costumes

she and everyone else, including jc, get only on page each. I'm not posting the jc one because it's an outfit everyone'a already seen before and I think dark purple is a really ugly color :/ it looks good on him objectively and is very ornate but I just don't like it

incidentally, it's impressive to me how popular jc is despite it looking like he was supposed to be a more minor character than lwj (who has the same multi-page spread as wwx). I consider jc just as important a character as lwj and I'm not the only one. some ppl seem to consider wwx and lwj the 'actual' two protags which like. don't get too excited there lmao this is a trifecta with wwx on top if anything

but in the books he was definitely not as significant. it must be something between wcz's performance, his softening in the show, and small changes that made the siblings more tight-knit and himself more sympathetic, because people adore show jc like they don't adore novel jc. I wonder when this book was published...looks like was available in 2020, so not long after the show aired

and there's jfm, who I'm only posting because good god sir that is an ugly sword. bad color. bad shape also. L all around. sandu is far superior and I'm not a particular fan of sandu. wait except for the frog love the three poisons detail and the frog is GREAT.

I fucking love physical book companions to shows. behind the scene shots, details of sets and props, interviews, fun facts....it's so cool

[ninjakk]

Our first glimpse at how deep WWXs feelings for LWJ truly were

I just adore the archery competition flashback, where WWX meets LWJ a year after his short-lived stay at the CR. When I first read this scene, my heart ached a little at WWX's subconscious pining for LWJ and the cold shoulder he seemingly received. Obviously, poor LWJ doesn't mean to be so cold with him, he just doesn't know how to express, or even comprehend his own feelings for WWX at that moment in time. I think this scene really shows the reader how deep WWX's latent feelings truly are. It also gives quite an interesting insight into WWXs psyche, as he lies to himself about his own feelings and tries to downplay his affection for LWJ.

Chapter 45

Yawning as he walked toward the hunting grounds, he suddenly caught sight of a handsome boy with a fair face and a cold demeanor to the side of him. He wore a red round-collar robe with sleeves that had tight openings and a belt of nine golden rings. This was the uniform attire of all of the juniors who came to the Qishan Discussion Conference. On him, it looked exceptionally good. He had a dash of elegance, a few traces of vigour, but a whole lot of good looks. One couldn’t help but brighten up at the sight of such a boy. The boy was in the middle of trying out his bow, carrying a bundle of arrows with white-feathered fletchings. Brushing past the bowstring, his slender fingers made it sound as though it were a guqin string, strong yet beautiful. To Wei WuXian, the boy felt a bit familiar. After he thought for a while, he finally remembered and greeted the boy with enthusiasm, “Hey! WangJi-xiong, it’s you!”

WWX is momentarily blinded by LWJs beauty. He then goes on to lie to himself about taking a 'while' to realise who he was. WWX has already hinted that he knew exactly who he was when he mentioned a guqin string - which is what LWJ plays. Not to mention, 'handsome', 'fair face' and 'cold demeanor' is literally a description of LWJ! He's trying to downplay his excitement at meeting him again, especially as he was so entranced at seeing him and very clearly extremely physically attracted to him.

At the time, it had already been a year since Wei WuXian studied at Gusu and was sent back to Yunmeng. After he arrived at Yunmeng, he told the people there all about what he had seen in Gusu, especially things such as how although Lan WangJi’s face looked nice he was so stiff as to do this, so boring as to do that. Not long afterward, he had forgotten all about his days at Gusu and continued to fool around in the lakes and mountains. In the past, he had only seen Lan WangJi in the plain “mourning clothes” of the GusuLan Sect’s uniform, never in such a bright, eye-catching outfit. Along with that overly-pretty face of Lan WangJi’s, now that they met again, Wei WuXian’s eyes had momentarily been blinded by his looks, failing to immediately recognize him. On the other hand, as soon as Lan WangJi finished testing his bow, he walked away at once. Awkwardly, Wei WuXian turned to Jiang Cheng, “He ignored me again. Huh.” Jiang Cheng glanced at him with indifference, also deciding to ignore him.

Here WWX is trying very hard to reason with himself for the emotions and attraction he just felt. It's rather like: "Well I haven't seen him in such a long time and I had almost forgotten all about him... So of course I was staring at him. I was so used to seeing him in the 'mourning clothes', he just attracted my attention for a moment because of the vivid colour (that everyone else is wearing!) I should go say hi.."

He's trying to justify his excitement at seeing him. At first, WWX acknowledged he did indeed talk about LWJ... Quite a lot when he first got back, from the sounds of it! He then goes on to contradict what he just claimed earlier about him taking a while to remember who LWJ was. It seems that under the surface, he's actually quite flustered at seeing him again after so long. His thoughts are all over the place! Again his mind wanders towards how good looking LWJ is once more - he's got it bad bless him. His reaction and his contradictory thoughts are enough of a hint to the reader not to take WWXs claims he 'forgot all about his days in Gusu' as the truth. There's so much internal conflict about his feelings for LWJ and the heteronormativity that was embedded in him from a young age, that his thoughts are a little erratic. Simultaneously admiring LWJ and trying to justify his wandering thoughts about him at the same time.

It isn't until the Lotus Seed Pod extra that we actually see the true extent of WWX's lie to himself back at the archery competition. This extra chapter is one of the sweetest. It shows WWX, and later LWJ, essentially pining for each other around the same time (possibly the exact same day). In the extra, it's been a year since they've seen each other, but WWX is still bringing him up in conversation and thinking about him back at Lotus Pier. So we can safely assume that the Lotus Seed Pod extra is set just before the archery competition, as both are a year later from when he left the CR.

There were more than twenty entrances to the shooting range; each sect was different. As Lan WangJi walked toward the entrance of the GusuLan Sect, Wei WuXian sneaked over before he could. Lan WangJi shifted to the one side, and he shifted to the side as well; Lan WangJi moved to the other side, and he moved to the other side as well. In short, he simply refused to let Lan WangJi pass. In the end, standing where he was, Lan WangJi raised his chin slightly. In a serious tone, he spoke, “Excuse me.”

LWJ tries his best to ignore him, possibly due to his reluctance to face his feelings and because it seems he finds it hard to communicate with his crush. But, WWX just wants his attention and will do anything to get it! Which is exactly what he does next, the little minx!

Wei WuXian, “You’re finally gonna talk to me? Were you pretending that you didn’t know me or that you didn’t hear me?” Not far away, the boys from other sects all stared at them. Some laughed, some exclaimed. Jiang Cheng clicked his tongue impatiently. With arrows on his back, he walked toward another entrance. Lan WangJi raised his eyes coldly and repeated, “Excuse me.” A faint smile by his lips, Wei WuXian raised his brows and turned to the side. The arch door of the entrance was rather narrow. Lan WangJi could only brush by him as he walked in. After he entered, Wei WuXian shouted from behind him, “Lan Zhan, your forehead ribbon is crooked.” All disciples from prominent sects took great care to maintain their appearances, especially those from the GusuLan Sect. Hearing this, Lan WangJi reached to adjust it without a second thought. Yet, the forehead ribbon was clearly as proper as always. Turning around, he cast an annoyed look at Wei WuXian. The latter only laughed as he turned to the YunmengJiang Sect’s entrance.

So as usual, WWX resorts to his 'teasing' in order to get LWJ to look at him. WWX even blocks the GusuLan Sect's entrance LWJ has to use, and only moves once LWJ has finally looked at him. Succeeding in getting LWJ to look at him, he turns to the side, allowing him access through the arch - but only if he brushes past him. It's such a small moment, but it's so cute how much WWX can't stand to be ignored by him. The sexual tension in this scene, just screams off the page to me. I think you can really feel all those hormones raging - especially once you read the LPS extra as well. It's his little smile and the way he raises his eyebrows as he makes LWJ brush up against him. He's just such a flirt with him! He knows LWJ doesn't like physical contact with others, but he does this anyway. He hasn't seen LWJ in quite a while and must get some form of interaction with him however he can.

I love how WWX only laughs when he's walking back to his Sect entrance where JC and the others are waiting. To me, this small and simple sentence is very telling. It helps the reader understand WWX's feelings, probably better than he did at the time. WWX didn't laugh in LWJ's face - in the past he has, but this time he doesn't. He didn't do it for entertainment, he didn't do it to amuse himself or others. From the text, it seems he didn't smirk or grin either. He stood in the archway without any of his usual cheeky expressions when teasing LWJ. In fact, he seemed pretty flat - not the usual vivacious WWX we all know and love. He just stood there taking it all in, watching LWJ walk away, before shouting to him and waiting for a reaction. It almost feels like he wound him up, not only to get a reaction, but because he felt dejected and was slightly hurt. This tiny moment has such a delicate hint of melancholy to it, and it makes my heart hurt a little every time I read it.

It's obvious from the above text, WWX has actually made a little bit of a scene! Other disciples were watching from afar, some amused and some surprised by the commotion in front of them. But he was so desperate for LWJs attention, he didn't even care at that exact moment. WWX only laughs once he heads over to his own Sects entrance. As if he has to cover up what he just did with bravado. Making it out he was just being a 'lad' and winding LWJ up... WWX didn't get upset LWJ wouldn't give him attention, forcing him to brush up against him and then teasing him to get one last reaction and a look from those cold sexy eyes of his before he left... Noooo, that's not what just happened at all. Just bros, being bros here... He definitely wasn't fawning over the second most handsome young master of the cultivation world. Nope.

The subtext in this scene actually escapes some people and they don't see the chemistry or absolute flirtatious tension between them - especially on WWX's behalf. They just see him winding LWJ up. But I pose this to those that don't see WWX's actions as flirting - would you think the above scene was WWX flirting, if LWJ was a girl instead? If he was paying the same attention to a girl, forcing 'her' to brush against him - would you not think he liked 'her'? Of course you bloody would! You'd think he had a mad crush on them!

A little while later during the archery competition, WWXs encounters LWJ once more.

Just as he was thinking about what would happen if he shot with his other hand, suddenly, something drifted to his face. Softer than even the touch of catkin blossoms carried by the wind; the object made Wei WuXian’s cheek itch. Turning around, he saw that Lan WangJi had somehow already walked near him. With his back facing Wei WuXian and front to a paper mannequin, he was in the process of drawing his bow. The ends of his forehead ribbon danced in the breeze, gently brushing against Wei WuXian’s face. He squinted, “WangJi-xiong!” With his bow already in the shape of a full moon, Lan WangJi still responded after a short moment of hesitation, “What?” Wei WuXian, “Your forehead ribbon is crooked.” This time, Lan WangJi refused to believe him again. As he released his arrow, he replied without even turning around, “Ridiculous.” Wei WuXian, “It’s true this time! It really is crooked. Just watch if you don’t believe me. Let me straighten it up for you.” He proceeded as he spoke, grabbing the ribbon tail that kept on fluttering in front of his eyes. Alas, however, his hands were simply too unruly. In the past, he made a habit of pulling on the Yunmeng girls’ braids. Whenever he touched a strip-like object, he’d have the urge to tug it. Thus, without a second thought, he tugged it this time as well. However, since the forehead ribbon was already slightly askew, a bit loose, now that he pulled on it, it fell from Lan WangJi’s forehead at once. The hand that Lan WangJi held the bow with immediately gave out a shiver. He only managed to turn around after quite a long while. Slowly, his eyes finally locked into Wei WuXian’s. Wei WuXian was still holding the soft ribbon in his hand, “I’m sorry. It wasn’t on purpose. Here, you can tie it up again.” Lan WangJi’s expression was darker than ever.

So WWX is claiming it was an accident.. but this is obviously not the case. Just before this all happened, he hinted to us he was getting rather bored of the competition. He started to think about using his other hand, because he wanted to find it more of a challenge. Then he notices the tall glass of ice cold water that is LWJ was just behind him... WWX goes on to tell LWJ his forehead ribbon is crooked once more and offers to straighten it for him. Apparently it was, but that's not the point here. He literally pulls at it! Then he pretends it was an accident! But his thought process at this point is rather telling as he states he got into the habit of pulling girls pigtails when he was younger. Why would he think such things and pull on LWJ's forehead ribbon if it wasn't intentional at least on a subconscious level. So to some extent he definitely knew what he was doing and it wasn't an accident. Again, I think this is partly because he just needs LWJ's attention. It's also show how he truly think of LWJ once more. The classic pulling on pigtails, a favourite pastime of young boys who like to tease girls. WWX is around 16 now I think, yet he's treating LWJ like a little girl who has hurt the ego of the little boy that still resides inside him. It's quite sweet really.

Also, let's not forget the fact he has admitted elsewhere in the novel, that he still remembers many of the CR sect rules after copying them so many times. But funnily enough, he's managed to forget this one... * Exaggerated eye roll * Suuure...

I just love how MXTX adds layers of meaning to past chapters, by leaving tiny breadcrumbs throughout the book for her readers. I think this might be my favourite one to be honest. We don't fully understand how truly head over heels they both actually are for each other at the above point in time, until the LP extra hits us in the face with such a touching revelation and we piece it all together ourselves.

I also wrote a post as to why LWJ might be acting so cold towards WWX in the above scene. For anyone who is interested it's here.

[stiricidewrites]

The Damage You Do: ch 17, pt 4

Previously~

Extra long, cause I was having difficulties writing yesterday and forced myself to make up for it >_<

CW: more consensual noncon, mentions of hitmen and generally bad consequences of working for the mob

~

“Nn—” wwx bite out, trying to tell lwj off, each of his brutal thrusts forcing a new word out of him. “That— ’s— not— what— I— meant!” he cried, voice almost wobbly to lwj’s ears—almost. The sound wasn’t quite right, though. It was too forced, too fake to be real distress—real tears threatening at his eyes—and suddenly lwj wanted nothing more than to make the man cry, to see those beautiful silver eyes filled up with tears because lwj had taken and taken and taken from him until he sobbed out for relief—until he broke. Then he could wrap himself around his adorable sub as much as he wanted—as much as he was afraid to admit he needed. He enjoyed taking care of his subs—both in the general and aftercare sense—but this, wanting wwx in his arms as he floated back to reality…

One of his first subs had actually hated being touched during aftercare, preferring to be tucked into a fluffy bed and left to come back up with only the occasional check in. Another had barely even wanted aftercare, only really tolerating it because he was being paid to sit there and let lwj wash his hair, and the tension that caused between them had been too much for the relationship to last. Another had loved aftercare, but never truly been soft—never truly been dependent on lwj to protect him, to keep him safe until he came back up.

wwx needed that. wwx needed to be held and caressed and lwj was quite sure that, did he not have a child who required his attention and physical existence, the man would be perfectly content to live in his lap. And oh, how lwj loved him there. He would happily let wwx spend the rest of his days there if he could. Soft and malleable and open about himself to the point of stupidity. It really was lucky for the man that his pseudo-grandmother had shown up to tell lwj about his past with the Jiangs before he accidentally let it slip. He hadn't yet, of course, but lwj was sure it was just a matter of time. Just a matter of time before wwx slipped up and mumbled about his so-called brother and sister, about whatever horrific abuse he had suffered at the hands of Madam Yu—whatever thing it was that had driven him out of their home and family.

Whatever thing—whether it be a scandal or death or anything else—it was that lwj would find himself fighting against when it came out that the two of them were now associated. Would the Jiangs let things lie? Be glad wwx was permanently out of their hair and entwined with the Lans? Would they start a war? Demand recompense for whatever had happened, for raising him—or perhaps for losing wwx as a member?

There were so many ways that—the revelation that lwj had permanently attached himself to wwx—would go. Every family had a different way of handling their affairs, the members who left their groups. The Lans rarely let anyone go, preferring to simply assign them to less important tasks or keep them under their umbrella as regular workers in their empire—most everyone who worked at one of their restaurants, law firms, or whatever else they happened to hold at the time were fully aware they were working for the mob and would never be allowed true freedom ever again, although they were far more free than either ex-Jin or Wen members were.

The Wens killed those who even thought to leave, body parts laid strewn across the city as a message to the world: Once a Wen, Always a Wen.

The Jins killed a fair few of their ex-members as well, although they were more likely to be officially allowed to leave, only to show up dead a few weeks later—or worse, disappear altogether. No death had ever been tracked back to the Jins—unlike the Wens, where it was an open secret Wen Zhuliu was their top hit man and the cops just couldn’t get enough evidence to convict him. No one who disappeared ever reappeared—but there were rumours. Rumours of sales into slavery and prostitution and transplant rings and heaven knew what else.

Everyone knew the Wens would kill you if you left; everyone suspected the Jins would make you wish you were dead.

The Nies, on the other hand, tended to simply let their members go, seemingly with nothing but a fond farewell—lwj had long suspected that nhs had a hand in keeping those who left quiet and obedient, however. Many people—both of their elder brothers included—tended to look upon the younger Nie boy as flighty, content to run his wh*res and party all day long—lwj was not so stupid. nhs had his hand in practically every pot, and lwj had taken great efforts through the years to maintain his passing friendship with the man, generally finding subs through him, and sharing secrets with one another. Speaking of which, nhs had yet to respond to his request for information on the Jiangs and wwx. It wasn’t exactly uncommon for the man to take days—and occasionally weeks—to respond, but someone lwj had a feeling the man was avoiding him (nhs had responded to a request for a sub by someone lwj had referred after his own message had gone ignored).

As for the Jiangs… no one really knew. It was so rare for someone to leave, and as far as lwj knew wwx had been the last to do so—something that had been completely secret for over a decade. He was fairly sure his sub’s father, Wei Changze, had effectively left the group sometime before wwx was born, however little detail of that was available on that either, and he knew for certain that the man had returned several times before his apparent death to do work for the Jiangs. He had found several similar occurrences over the last few decades during his research into the group, following the Smoking Flower’s visit. Members left, disappeared from public view, only to reappear and then vanish again. So perhaps no one ever truly left the Jiangs, which meant…

“Hey~” wwx whined back at him. “You’re doing it again! What’s the point of doing this if you aren’t paying attention!” he added, and oh. This time he truly did sound close to tears and lwj wanted to see it—the tearing welling in his eyes, the way his lips wobbled and his jaw clenched—the hand he had been using to hold wwx’s hips rising to twist the man’s face towards him.

wwx blinked watery eyes back at him and lwj had to will himself not to come at the sight of the man’s beautiful, wrecked expression, his nose blushed over in cold and embarrassment and distress that lwj wanted to worsen, the sadist inside him preening at the reality that he had done that. He had made his bratty, impatient little sub break, not by r*ping him in the woods, but by ignoring him while he did it.

“What’s wrong?” lwj asked, leaning in to press his lips to one of the tears sliding down wwx’s cheek. “Does Wei Ying not like being used as a hole to keep my cock warm while I think?”

wwx shuddered, his hole clenching erratically around lwj’s girth as he shook his head and nodded it in turn. “No!” he said, eyes fluttering shut as he tugged against lwj’s grip. “No!”

lwj hummed, hauling wwx backwards into his chest, the change in angle dragging a moan out of the other man. “Too bad. Wei Ying makes the perfect home for my cock.”

[admirableadmiranda]

One of the most bogus interpretations of LWJ is that he initially looks down on WWX because of his lower social statutes and needs to come to terms with it, thus, WX could not be together in WWX's first life 🤨 Where does it even come from??

People who either don't understand that Lan Wangji never looked down on Wei Wuxian, but had trouble dealing with his massive crush, or who don't like Lan Wangji for being amazing and beyond reproach.

There is a weird, saddening trend of people insisting on various things to bring down one or both of Wangxian to the level of the antagonists. Morally Gray Wei Wuxian, classist Lan Wangji, other various arguments all meant to try and make them look worse because the fact of the matter is they are better than almost everyone in the book, with good hearts who see to the truth of the matter and are able to set aside personal grudge or history in order to do the right thing time and time again. Not everyone can do that! It's a very admirable trait.

But for some reason them being so good is a problem with a chunk of the fandom. They insist on ascribing that which is not there for reasons even I cannot fathom. Why do they need to be toppled? They have some of the harder lives of the characters in the book. Wei Wuxian fucking died and was only resurrected so that Nie Huaisang could get his revenge. It baffles me why.

There is also a trend going on of insisting that Lan Wangji is a poorly socialized princess in a tower who has no idea how to interact with people because his family keeps him locked up. Which is blatantly contradicted by the story itself, but that hasn't stopped people before. He doesn't struggle with communicating himself or talking to people.

Just on applying that to talking to his crush when he's busy flailing and being the most adorable tsundere since Li Syaoran.

Thanks for the ask!

[wangxianficrecs]

Follower Recs

~*~

Hello Mojo, hope you're doing well and that you had a good break! I wanted to signal boost the MDZS May Diaspora event collection on AO3, and point out my favorite fic from there: 归心似箭 | Longing to Go Home by dragongirlG! It's both tender and bittersweet and it features such mature writing. The author got some hate for it when it initially got posted so I wanted to counter that and give it some love instead! [Who would do such a thing?!  @dragongirlg-fics I’m sorry that happened to you, and here, have *so many hugs!* I’ll try to do a thing just for the diaspora event, but meanwhile, I’ll just treat this as a follower rec.]

归心似箭 | Longing to Go Home

by dragongirlG (M, 8k, wangxian)

Summary:  The destruction of the Yin Tiger Seal does not kill Wei Wuxian; it ages him instead. He takes shelter in a cave expecting to die, but instead he lives, slowly learning to embrace life with each new day.

Thirteen years later, a young man with a Lan forehead ribbon stumbles into the cave. His name is Lan Sizhui.

~*~

Hi Momjo!!! I recently read the most *adorable* fic, and I loved it so much that it dragged me out of seclusion (read: social anxiety cave) to rec it. It's called 'Covered in Bees' by ScarlettStorm in which the Cloud Recesses is an apiary, and Wei Wuxian has suddenly found himself host to a swarm of bees. ~ @akyra-talanoa

Covered in Bees

by ScarlettStorm (T, 8k, wangxian)

Summary: “Cloud Reccesses Apiary,” says a toneless, deep masculine voice, with zero question in it. Wei Ying doesn’t care, because whoever possesses that voice is probably going to come save him from bees like a fucking hero while wearing like, a suit of armor. That’s what you wear to catch bees, right?

“I have like, so many bees outside my front door right now,” he says, mouth running out ahead of him before he can even begin to think about reining it in. “It’s like a sandstorm of bees out there. There are so many bees. I got out of my car and there were just bees and I don’t want these bees. Do you want these bees? Please tell me you will come get these bees. I can’t leave my house and I have enough food for maybe a week but then I’m gonna have to learn how to cook dry beans and no one wants that, especially not me.” Wei Ying runs out of air, takes a breath, and belatedly adds, “My name is Wei Ying. Hi.”

Or: The beekeeping AU that no one asked for.

~*~

Hi, you are a bless to this fandom. Your blog feels like a library, so thoroughly arranged and always within hand reach. [Thank you, wow!]  Recently, I was going through Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn is a Wēn tag and came across a fanfic, it has 3 chapters till now and is so intriguing that i thought to recommend it to you. I don't know if I can recommend or if you have already checked the story, The legendary Phoenix and his Dragon by Devipriya. I am in love with this story. I hope you will enjoy it too, do check it out

The legendary Phoenix and his Dragon

by Devipriya (T, 7k, wangxian)

Summary:  Wen Wuxian, the essence of who he is, he is a naughty child, a prankster, an enchanting dizi player, a graceful dancer, an irresistible lover, a truly valiant warrior, a ruthless vanquisher of his foes, a man who left a broken heart in every home, an astute statesman and kingmaker, a thorough gentleman, a righteous individual of the highest order, and the most colorful incarnation.

He has been seen, perceived, understood and experienced in many different ways by different people. Different people saw different facets of who he is. For some, he is God. For some, he is a crook. For some, he is a lover. For some, he is a fighter. He is so many things.

But the phoenix, seen from the eyes of time was just a playful man. A man who plays with his awareness, with his imagination, with his memory, with his life, with his death. An individual who does not just dance with somebody. He dances with life. He dances with his enemy, He dances with the one he loves, He dances even at the moment of his death.

To taste an essence of who is Wen Wuxian, be with me in the journey of exploration, NO! playful exploration of life of a playful man.

~*~

Hi! Thanks for running this blog, it's helped me find so many fics. For your next follower recs post, I wanted to rec "This love like a flood, a fire, a fear" by natcat5. Its summary is vague (which I suspect is why it isn't better known) but it is a beautiful retelling of canon from LWJ's POV with slight canon divergence. I love the author's characterization of him and the prose is gorgeous. It is easily my favorite fic in the entire fandom, and I don't say that lightly. ~ @nyanja14

This love like a flood, a fire, a fear

by natcat5 (M, 57k, wangxian, lan wangji & lan xichen)

Summary:  “I will love you as misfortune loves orphans, as fire loves innocence, and as justice loves to sit and watch everything go wrong.”   - Lemony Snicket

~*~

i came to this ask to rec this baseball one called "Waiting for Spring" by thievinghippo on ao3. It somehow made me care about baseball soooo 'nough said ~ @scifikimmi

Waiting for Spring

by thievinghippo (E, 131, wangxian)

Summary:  “It is a well-known fact across the major leagues that one does not smack Lan Wangji’s ass.”

Wei Wuxian rolls his eyes. Everyone smacks everyone’s ass in baseball. It’s how the game is played. Lan Wangji does not get to be exempt from this most sacred of baseball traditions.

Wei Wuxian will make sure of that.

Or, a Major League Baseball AU

~*~

hi mojo! i wanted to rec Something Good by boxoftheskyking (a loose sound of music/canon divergence au) and also MDZS: The Golden Engine by iffervescent (immortal wangxian modern au where they gotta solve a mystery and save china, featuring jiang cheng/lan xichen)

Something Good

by boxoftheskyking (T, 43k, wangxian)

Summary:  "That Wei Wuxian, you know he used to be such a promising cultivator. Head Disciple of the Jiang Clan, can you believe it? You see, juniors, the punishment for traveling the path of demonic cultivation. No golden core, not so much as a whisper of spiritual power."

As a punishment for real and imagined crimes, Wei Wuxian is sentenced to work at Cloud Recesses as the lowest of servants. When a surprising reassignment lands him with eleven children to care for, everything changes again.

A Sound of Music AU

MDZS: The Golden Engine

by iffervescent (E, 82k, wangxian, xicheng)

Summary:  In the modern era, immortals Lan Zhan and Wei Wuxian return to Gusu. New evil and old friends + new friends and old evils.

~*~

Hi Mojo! First of all let me just tell you that you are amazing and this blog is like a gift from the gods! Bless you and your endless patience and hard work. [Oh, thank you so much!]  I know that you have just accepted follower recs and I have missed miserably but I still wanted to write and bring attention to a writer by the pseudo Xiao_Hua on ao3, I think they are quite good and I just recently found the account with so much content. If you do have the time to check them out, I'd rec catfish, my fox or the red ribbon.

The Red Ribbon

by Xiao_Hua (M, 21k, wangxian, TGCF crossover)

Summary:  Wei WuXian died but not before saving HanGuang-Jun and A-Yuan, leaving so much more behind than just his ribbon.

My Fox

by Xiao_Hua (E, 13k, wangxian)

Summary:  Once he headed to YiLing that all changed for him. His priorities have been mingled with and ordered in complete disarray even without him noticing as he was left heavily influenced by a creature.

Or one where Lan WangJi is a dragon-spirit and he finds his mate in the form of a fox.

Catfish

by Xiao_Hua (E, 15k, wangxian)

Summary:  Wei WuXian has a common sense that believes it has a nine-to-five job while Lan WangJi finds that incredibly hot.

Or one where two catfish realise that neither of them truly catfished.

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Hi Mojo i'm recommending this amazing fic it is called song of joys and regrets. it's a time travel AU it's amazing. And your Blog is a Godsend Thank you! [Aw, you’re so sweet!]  ~ @highgoddess

Song of Joy and Regrets

by HelloKitten (not rated, 59k, wangxian, WIP)

Summary:  The Archery competition at Qishan this year has hit a snag. As the Sects face the wrongs perpetrated by their future selves, Wei Wuxian finds himself adopted by half of the cultivation world who are determined to save him from himself.

Baby Wangxian suffers. Adult Wangxian's job here is done.

"I'm starting to see a pattern to all his plans..." "Do they all involve him being bait?" "Yes" came deadpanned responses.

~*~

Here’s a 2021 Reverse Big Bang entry, in time for Father’s Day; [Oops, my bad, sorry!]  Under a Blanket of Black Wings, by ChaoticAndrogynous (#31398395); LWJ, recuperating from the 33 lashes, tells A-Yuan a series of fairytales about a heroic monster and the brave little boy he befriended. Vampire! WWX (in the framing story as well as the story-within-the-story); happy ending.

Under a Blanket of Black Wings

by ChaoticAndrogynous (T, 19k, wangxian)

Summary:  Lan Wangji tells A-Yuan a bedtime story about a beautiful monster and the brave little boy who was his friend. Thirteen years later, the monster returns.

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Hello Mojo! Have you read ‘Key Differences’ by Pupeez4eva? Its a MDZS!WWX meets CQL!WWX and its really good! [It’s on my list!]

Key Differences

by pupeez4eva (T, 6k, wangxian)

Summary:  “I don’t understand,” Wei Wuxian said, while his alternate self continued to stare at him with almost a look of hurt in his eyes. There was longing in there too, which Wei Wuxian would have easily recognised if he paid enough attention. “How could you not get together, after everything. What even went on in the Guanyin Temple if you didn’t confess?”

“The Guanyin Temple,” Wei Ying repeated incredulously. “You’re asking me if I confessed at — honestly, a lot went on that day. It was a life and death situation. There was no confessing.”

Wei Wuxian stared at him, appalled.

(Wherein Wei Wuxian ends up meeting an alternate version of himself who, much to his horror, never married Lan Wangji. Obviously he has to do something to fix this).

~*~

Hey Mojo i would recommend this fanfic if you already haven’t, it’s called “ take me back to a time “ by DizziDreams. It’s sooooo good

take me back to a time

by DizziDreams (T, 144k, wangxian, 3zun)

Summary:  Wei Ying has a lot on his plate right now.

It’s finals week -- which isn’t so bad. He’s never had to study much to do well in classes. But that just means that things are that much more tense with Jiang Cheng, who, as far as Wei Ying can tell, only takes study breaks long enough to glare at Wei Ying where he sits on the couch playing video games.

It’s not studies that have Wei Ying stressed out. It’s everything else. It’s the recruitment for the research trial he’s coordinating. It’s jiejie and her impending marriage to His Royal Douchebag Jin Zixuan. It’s the volunteer work at the palliative care facility. It’s Wen Ning’s worsening condition. It’s Wen Qing working herself thin to care for her brother and Wen Yuan. It’s the way Wen Yuan never seems to have enough food.

So, yeah. There’s enough on Wei Ying’s plate already, meaning it’s not entirely welcome when he comes home and finds a man standing in his bedroom. A man in extravagant white robes, a ribbon tied around his forehead, long hair gathered into a topknot, fist clutching a sword at his side, who asks him, “Where am I?”

~*~

Idk if this has already been rec’d (I’ve been off the grid for a while now), but there’s this absolutely incredible fic called Restitution by an anon on ao3 people should definitely check out!

this one?

on restitution

by Anonymous (M, 78k, wangxian, jin ling & wei wuxian, lan sizhui & wei wuxian, WIP)

Summary:  When Wei Wuxian regains consciousness, he is in a bed. A real, proper bed, not the slab he called a bed in his cave in the Burial Mounds.

Jiang Cheng is glowering above him.

Wei Wuxian doesn't die during the siege of the Burial Mounds. Rather, he is captured in secret and confined at Lotus Pier. Things change accordingly.

~*~

Hi momjo! I feel like every time I come to your blog there's twenty more new and amazing fics for me to read. Thank you for everything you do for this fandom!  [Thank you, sweetie!  And yes, I think there ARE 20 new fics every day out there in the fandom.  It’s amazing!] Today I come bearing my own rec to you. I've recently read this and it's IMO one of the best fics out there. It's called Lapsteel by carriecmoney and it's a modern stormchaser AU featuring country songs and coming home. ~ @manaika-chan​

Lapsteel

by carriecmoney (T, 42k, wangxian)

Summary:  Now and then, I think about you now and then...

It's been thirteen years since Wei Ying ran for the prairies, leaving behind a family in shambles and a secret on the Pacific wind. What happens when the storm he swirled catches up to him?

Modern AU with country music star Lan Zhan, stormchaser Wei Ying, and shared crossroads.

~*~