#he can pet fairy every time jin ling comes

[black-n-white-wings]

Jeezus, the bar is on the fucking floor... I love him but honestly can this man get a snack and a nap...?

can someone list three good things that have happened to jiang cheng in mdzs I literally cannot remember

[thebiscuiteternal]

Oooh what if the Juniors somehow find themselves in Qinghe and are invited to stay at the Unclean Realm? Maybe even find out that Sect Leader Nie isn't as bad as they thought him to be?

(based in novel canon, where Wei Wuxian did accidentally cause Wen Ning to kill Jin Zixuan.)

After some incorrect directions from assorted servants that he was sure he'd been given on purpose, Jin Ling was unsurprised to find Nie Huaisang in one of the gardens. "You know, even if we did end up here accidentally, it's pretty rude for a host not to greet his guests at all."

Nie Huaisang didn't turn around, attention still focused on an owl, of all things. "My apologies. I thought it had been made quite clear by my fellow sect leaders, as well as His Excellency and his husband, that my presence is no longer needed, nor tolerated."

Jin Ling involuntarily flinched at the reminder of the conference last spring.

And why the Nie Sect's head disciple had been the one to appear at all meetings since.

His ire effectively punctured and replaced by discomfort, Jin Ling watched the owl shuffle along the tree branch until it was within the Nie sect leader's reach.

"They're afraid of you," he blurted out.

"Pointlessly so," Nie Huaisang replied as he carefully stretched the owl's leg out, then poked the foot to make the toes flex. The owl certainly wasn't afraid of him, barely ruffling its feathers in response to the prodding. "Unless someone gets it in their head to disturb Da-ge again, I have no quarrel with anyone."

Apparently satisfied with whatever his examination had found, he coaxed the owl up onto his gloved arm and finally turned to face Jin Ling. "And what about you, Jin-zongzhu?"

"Me?"

"If anyone should be afraid of me or seeking revenge on me, surely it would be the one who lost the most family due to my actions."

Jin Ling scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, focusing his attention on the owl to keep from having to look Nie Huaisang in the eye. "That's... complicated," he muttered. "I mean, if I can... mostly forgive Wei Wuxian, I can't really... really not forgive you."

"It's fine if you haven't. They're the ones who did most of the raising along with Jiang-zongzhu, after all."

"Can I sit?" At the sidelong gesture, Jin Ling sank into the nearest chair. He didn't even remember how he was expecting this conversation to go when he'd been searching the halls, but it had definitely veered way off from that.

Owl still using him for a perch, Nie Huaisang went to the small table that some servant or another must have set up. "It's a bit cold, but would you like tea?"

"Please." He drained the first cup, then cradled the second in his hands.

"I don't know what to think about them anymore. I mean, I know he deserved to be arrested at the very least for the things he did. People tell me I shouldn't think about things like this, but every time I pet Fairy, I remember the day I got her. I remember he'd let me sleep in his lap even during meetings. That he never scolded me for stealing flowers from the gardens."

He looked up from his teacup. "Is that bad?"

Nie Huaisang finally shooed the owl onto another tree branch, soothing its annoyance with some treats and petting. "I think it's only to be expected. When someone treats you affectionately, it's hard not to mourn losing that warmth, whatever the reason may be," he said, expression surprisingly soft.

"Was it like that for you?" Jin Ling asked, then clapped a hand over his mouth when his brain caught up to the question.

Stupid!

And yet that softness was only tempered with something akin to pain, rather than anger. "Somewhat," Nie Huaisang admitted. "Even as he took my brother's life, even as I intentionally tried to provoke him to show his true colors, he remained sweet to me almost until the end. It's... complicated, as you said."

"How do you deal with that?"

"If I ever come up with a good way, I'll let you know," Nie Huaisang said wryly. "Now, then. Do you want to meet Meifeng?"

Jin Ling eyed the owl warily, and only got a placid stare in return.

Rather like its keeper, that.

"...Sure."

[needtherapy]

Mao’er Makes A Friend

Wasn’t it enough that Wei Wuxian got his brother a puppy? Now Jiang Cheng wants him to LIKE her, like he likes all the other dogs. Wait. What other dogs? Lan Zhan? What does he mean “other dogs”?

Part 2 of JiuJiu Gets A Puppy

Read more Kristina Writes Tiny Stories

His eyes narrowed at Mao’er. He hadn’t seen her move, but he suspected she was plotting.

“Wei. Wuxian. Are you paying attention?” He looked up at Jiang Cheng, offended. “Of course I am. You were talking about irrigation. Do I need to give you input on irrigation?”

He looked back at Mao’er. This time, she had definitely moved. Still sitting, but sitting...closer.

“First of all, I didn’t ask for your opinion on irrigation.” Jiang Cheng sounded dangerously calm. “Second of all, that was ten minutes ago. Lan-zongzhu asked for your report on how the Yunmeng Jiang juniors are progressing.”

Oh. Oops.

Wei Wuxian dragged his attention back to the meeting he had been forced to attend at Cloud Recesses. Well, “forced” might not be wholly accurate. He had been very nicely and very firmly asked to attend by Jiang Cheng, Lan Zhan and finally, da-baizi, with full Zewu-Jun formality. And everyone else was there, so he suspected it would have been considered rude if he had declined. Although, he thought, it was very unfair that Nie Huaisang seemed to be dozing behind a fan in the corner.

It wasn’t so much that he didn’t want to be there. He liked talking about the different training curriculums, and he was the only person who regularly taught in both Lotus Pier and Cloud Recesses. But these days, being around Jiang Cheng meant being around Mao’er. And Mao’er was—complicated.

Wei Wuxian was perfectly aware that giving Jiang Cheng a puppy had been his idea. It had seemed like such a good idea at the time, and he had worked very hard to accept that dogs did not have to be the terrifying beasts of his nightmares. Mao’er had been one of Jin Ling’s prized husky puppies, so Wei Wuxian had been able to spend the first four months of her life petting her soft baby fur, feeding her pieces of meat from his fingers, and trying not to flinch when her tiny teeth playfully nipped his fingers. His heart had melted a little more every time she had rolled on her back, legs curled up for a belly rub. Jin Ling had even made Wei Wuxian teach her to sit and stay, explaining that it would help Wei Wuxian bond with her.

And oh, it had been worth it. There had been the smallest twinge of apprehension when he’d slid her into a basket to give to Jiang Cheng. But the look of hopeful love on Jiang Cheng’s face when he’d seen Mao’er for the first time had dissolved whatever trepidation Wei Wuxian harbored. It was one of the best moments of Wei Wuxian’s life, and not just because Jiang Cheng had cried.

Somehow, though, over the last year, puppy Mao’er had turned into adult Mao’er, and it worried him. No, she wasn’t big. She didn’t bite or snarl or try to steal his food. In fact, she was very well behaved, always glued to Jiang Cheng’s heel, moving when he moved, sitting when he stopped. But she was smart. Eerily smart. 

For one thing, she could sword fly. Not on her own, of course, but in a moment of weakness, Wei Wuxian had made a flat platform that expanded like a fan and hooked to Sandu’s hilt. He never thought it would actually work, but of course, Mao’er turned out to be adept at balancing. Jiang Cheng took her everywhere with him, her nose always turning up to sniff the wind as they flew. It was unnatural.

And for another, she would carefully hold anything Jiang Cheng handed her until he asked for it back. He even let her carry Sandu once, glaring at Wei Wuxian when his mouth had dropped open in shock.

Most unnervingly, Wei Wuxian was sure she watched him when he wasn’t looking.

Today, she was inching closer to him, and he couldn’t figure out why. He’d only caught her doing it once, but he couldn’t ignore the fact that every time he looked away, she did this odd sitting scoot that moved her closer to him without ever standing up.

“Stop looking at my dog like that,” Jiang Cheng snapped, and Wei Wuxian blinked up at him, surprised by the sharp tone. It had been a long time since Jiang Cheng had seemed this upset with him.

“She’s moving toward me,” Wei Wuxian tried to explain, but it sounded ridiculous even to him.

“Of course she is.” Jin Ling smoothly interrupted Jiang Cheng’s growing annoyance, patient as always when it came to dogs. “She adores you.”

“But why?” Wei Wuxian asked, trying not to whine and failing. Next to him, he felt Lan Zhan’s tiny sigh. 

Jiang Cheng was less subtle. “I can’t imagine,” he snorted. “But she’s trying to win you over. She did it with Huaisang too.”

Wei Wuxian grimaced, thinking Mao’er might have been more successful with Nie Huaisang if she hadn’t eaten so many fans when she was teething.

Jiang Cheng misinterpreted the expression and splotchy red indignation bloomed across his face. He stormed across the room, followed by Mao’er, to stand in front of Wei Wuxian, hands on his hips. 

“How can you still be afraid of her? You picked her out! You trained her! You even got to name her! And you were never afraid of anyone else’s dogs until Fairy. Why is it just mine?”

The room got very, very quiet. Again, Wei Wuxian sensed Lan Zhan’s reaction, tension this time.

“What other dogs?” Wei Wuxian asked, confusion knitting his brows together.

Jiang Cheng exploded, shifting into outrage in the blink of an eye. “What do you mean, what other dogs? You live in Cloud Recesses with the country’s most famous dogs, and I have never once heard you complain about them!”

It did not seem possible, but the room got even quieter. Wei Wuxian felt the blood drain from his face as he turned to look at his beloved husband who would never, ever lie to him.

“Lan Zhan? What dogs?” Wei Wuxian’s voice cracked, and he could not believe the guilty look on Lan Zhan’s face. It was not possible.

“Wei Ying, I did not know you were afraid of dogs before...” Lan Zhan trailed off, a flush creeping up his neck. “Before you came back. You were here numerous times and did not seem bothered by them. But once I knew, we made sure you never had to be around them.” 

The tone in Lan Zhan’s voice was almost like pleading.

“Laodie, the pekes live all the way over in Mengshi,” Jingyi added unhelpfully, as if Wei Wuxian had any idea what Mengshi was. “In the last four years, they’ve never caused you any trouble, so what difference does it make?”

Wei Wuxian shot out of his chair. “Show me. Now.”

Lan Zhan clearly did not want to, so in the end, da-baizi sighed and beckoned for Wei Wuxian to follow him down a twisting path toward the edge of the great forest. They ended up at the gate of a house he’d only ever seen from a distance and had always thought was empty. There were half a dozen golden, furry logs galloping around inside a fenced courtyard, their flat black noses snorting with enthusiasm. It wasn’t a particularly graceful or elegant run like Mao’er’s, more of a rolling waddle, and Wei Wuxian had a hard time believing these were dogs.

A Lan disciple was sitting in the yard with them, throwing a small wooden ball and ruffling the long hair of the animals whenever they got close to him. Wei Wuxian knew that disciple.

“A-Yuan?” Wei Wuxian didn’t yell, but he didn’t have to. 

Sizhui glanced up and froze.

“Adie,” he started, jumping to his feet. 

Wei Wuxian pointed a finger at him. “Don’t ‘adie’ me! You knew? This whole time? I thought pets weren’t allowed in Cloud Recesses!”

Sizhui paled and looked around nervously, waving his hands at the yard.

“Wei-qianbei, don't say that. These are not pets. These are Lan-laoshi’s award-winning Pekingese. Lans have bred Pekingese for so many generations, they are considered members of the family. Lan-laoshi has been teaching me the art of bloodlines and traits for breeding.”

Sizhui smiled fondly at one of the ridiculous things that had come over to pant on his feet. Wei Wuxian surrendered immediately, swayed by Sizhui’s obvious pride and affection.

“How did I miss this?” he asked, turning to Lan Zhan for some kind of answer. But when he was immediately distracted by the dark pools of Lan Zhan’s eyes, the slope of his nose, and the faint curve of his lips, he remembered that perhaps he didn’t spend quite as much time observing his surroundings as watching his husband’s face. 

Jingyi patted his shoulder consolingly. “So now you know. Who cares?” He muttered under his breath, “They’re barely dogs anyway. Not like the Nie mastiffs.” “Yeah!” Jiang Cheng was annoyed again, and Wei Wuxian was confused again. “You aren’t afraid of the Nie dogs either, and I know you see them all the time!” 

“Nie Huaisang doesn’t have dogs?” He heard the question in his own voice.

Everyone turned to stare at him except Jiang Cheng, who grabbed his arm and dragged him over three decorative bridges, around one large koi pond, and down the hill to the Gusu Lan stables.

“I thought those were small horses,” Wei Wuxian exclaimed, peering at the shaggy animals Jiang Cheng pointed at. 

Granted, he’d never looked at them that closely, but now that he thought about it, it was very strange for horses to be rolling around on the ground. And those did look more like paws than hooves. 

But no.

Wait.

No.

“They have saddles. I’ve seen the saddles. I’ve seen your son ride them,” he accused Jiang Cheng, who did not look even remotely repentant.

“You didn’t think it was weird that Chifeng-Zun had miniature horses in his war room?” Jiang Cheng thundered, and Wei Wuxian looked at him blankly.

“No. Not really.” Everyone knew the former Nie zongzhu was crazy about horses.

They all paused for a moment until da-baizi laughed, the light music of his voice breaking the silence.

“That is exactly something Mingjue would have done,” he agreed with a wry smile.

Something occurred to Wei Wuxian, and he slumped heavily to the ground.

“Jin Zixuan’s dog statues? Those were real dogs, too?” 

He didn’t even bother to look up at their reactions. Of course they were. Those fragile-looking sculptures with the silky crested ears that sat on decorative pillows had been alive, and he’d just never noticed. He shuddered. Thank the gods he’d never tried to touch one.

To his surprise, Jiang Cheng sat down next to him, bumping his shoulder.

“You really didn’t know? This whole time, all these years, I thought…” Jiang Cheng swallowed audibly, and Wei Wuxian looked at the damp corners of his brother’s eyes with dawning horror.

“I thought it was just me. That you just didn’t like dogs and you made a fuss because you didn’t want to live with them.” Jiang Cheng’s voice was low and hoarse. “I mean, it was fine because you were more…”

Wei Wuxian cut him off so he wouldn’t say something that would make them both cry in front of everyone they knew. “I really didn’t know.”

He felt something cold and wet under his hand and he moved his fingers, absently scratching a soft nose and velvety ears, thinking about all the stupid misunderstandings of the past. Would he ever stop finding things he needed to apologize for?

He looked back at Jiang Cheng, ready to say he was sorry. But Jiang Cheng was looking past him, a soft smile on his face. Wei Wuxian followed his gaze to his own hand resting on Mao’er’s head, a wide-open doggie grin on her face. 

As soon as his eyes met hers, she licked his face and laid her head on his lap. He had to laugh. He had to. She had finally won.

He looked up into Lan Zhan’s face, overwhelmed by the love he always found there.

“Lan Zhan, I think we’re going to need to get a dog.”

Notes:

As always, thanks to @wangxianbunnydoodles​ for always having the best names and for the very good beta read.

猫儿 Māo'ér means kitten 猛室 Měngshì means fierce house.  大伯子 dà-bǎizi means husband’s elder brother 老爹 lǎodiē is a respectful way of saying grandfather, but as this is Jingyi, it is a little less respectful.

I did not call this “Crouching Mastiff, Hidden Pekingese” although I was very tempted

[silviakundera]

even more recs!! (honestly, if anyone is unsure about jumping into the fandom, the volume of decent fanfic alone should entice you)

MDZS Centric Recs

I Dreamed of You at Nighttime

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20647796

A confrontation after a tense war meeting, and kisses stolen on a bridge in the dark. Sunshot Campaign fic!!!!! Why isn't there more of this? It's such the perfect setting for MDZS!Lan Wangji to finally stop acting like he hates his bb Wei Ying for a minute.

Hold Me Down When I Fall Apart

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19456828

Not your typical AU set up. In this one, Jiang sect was attacked by the Wens far earlier and Wei Wuxian becomes a demonic cultivator before they are ever invited to Cloud Recceses. Lan Wangji meets him for the first time during the Sunshot Campaign while hiding out (in Yi City of all places).

These next 2 are novella length post-canon MDZS fics where WangXian are settling into their marriage and solving supernatural mysteries together w their juniors. If you haven't read the novel and the night-hunting Extras, the tone & style may feel quite different than what you expect. I think it makes them really interesting.

The Painting of Hei Caihong

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22884454

Married post canon WangXian, their intimacy, their pet bunnies, the nature of Gusu, golden core reforming, teacher Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, the junior disciples trying to solve a problem, and lastly a tragic backstory for a ghost..

The Envy of the World

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18537901

A report of a minor but inexplicable misfortune brings Wei Wuxian and a troop of six young Lans to a small town. Yet while an outing with their favourite teacher is as enjoyable as always, the juniors are disappointed with the results of their investigation; nothing out of the ordinary seems to be happening.

The author has said, in comments, "my aim was to make the setting recognisably Chinese (although it is the fairy-tale China), more Taoist than Confucian, and to show the characters, their inexperience notwithstanding, well on the way to emotional maturity."

The Untamed Centric Recs

I hope you will come and meet me

https://archiveofourown.org/works/23113045

"The second time Lan Zhan said Wei Ying, come back, Wei Wuxian did." Post-canon Getting Together fic, all soft with bed sharing and tender looks over breakfast like the fandom gods intended

a blue love (to live and to die for)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22094818

Post-canon futurefic - the days leading up to Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji's wedding. I'm normally not a fan of big wedding fic, but there's a lot of other things going on here. There are some beautiful character moments.

To Wing Your Soul With

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21829438

Post-canon, paperman WWX keeping LWJ company before they can settle down together. LXC is INTERESTING here, with edges.

Three Days and a Morning

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21682984

Wei Wuxian conceded the point. “This has to be against at least one of your rules,” he replied.

Lan Wangji looked suddenly serious. “There are no rules against love.”

Between the lines of episodes 42-43, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji return to Cloud Recesses and finally figure things out.

Senseless

https://archiveofourown.org/works/23247979

Wei Wuxian will leave Cloud Recesses to wander the great wide world, and in a year or two, he'll return with a head full of stories so he can tell Lan Zhan all about the interesting places and people of the world he's missing while he's cooped up as Chief Cultivator.

That's his plan, anyway, truly.

He just doesn't actually seem to be managing to get any farther away.

the hidden source is the watchful heart

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22439386

Post canon, Lan Wangji is certain that Wei Wuxian loves him but he grapples with uncertainty about what their future should be and if this love will ever be paired with bodily desire.

The Dragon's Bride

https://archiveofourown.org/works/23636668

Look, every fandom needs a good Beauty & Beast AU and this is ours.

and I'll end with a long, excellent Jin Ling POV case fic. Established WWX/LWJ. Jin Ling, Lan Sizhui, and WangXian investigate a mystery together. (if you have WangXian extended family feels, this is probably up your alley)

Still in the Water

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22705339

A year after Jin Ling's early succession to the position of Sect Leader, a letter is delivered to him under strange circumstances. A night-hunt follows.

[aline-the-cat]

Wei Wuxian trembles, in his panic, a few terryfied sobs escape his lips, making the dog's his husband's ears and tail drop even more, in this form is even easier for Lan Xichen to read his brother, and he looks down right miserable

Xichen sighs, resigned to not get his brother back today.... or any day of this month probably

"Wuxian" Xichen says softly, even so the man winces and whimpers, the dog that is his brother looks like he wants to cry "It's okay, we can try another day..." Wei Wuxian darts behind the first jade, hiding from the view of his cursed husband, Wangji's body grows tense and Xichen can see how hard he is containing the jealous growl as to not scare Wei Wuxian more, Lan Xichen sighs again

It's been a few weeks since the couple returned, the juniors that went with them walking with the massive white dog next to them, Wei Wuxian nowhere to be seen

"Hanguang-Jun has been cursed" Sizhui explained, referring to the animal next to him "Senior Wei told us to come first while he investigated more"

Xichen vagely knew that Wei Wuxian was scared of dogs, but he didn't know the full extent of that phobia until a few days later when Wei Wuxian, the Yiling Patriarch, ran from the Jingshi where Wangji was resting with panic, screaming apologizes and crying (our of fear, frustration or both). Since then, his brother in law dedicated himself to research the curse and find a way to break it, and the irony of the cure almost made Xichen laugh in bitterness

The curse was, of course, a love curse, placed by the ghost of a resentful woman who was abandoned to die by a pack of wolves by her husband, so while the ghost itself had been taken care of, she placed the curse on the cultivators, transforming Lan Wangji in the animal Wei Wuxian loathe and fear the most, and the only way to break it, was for the loved one to overcome their fears and place a kiss of true love on their cursed partner.

After finding the cure, Wei Wuxian was determined to get his husband back, but every time he tried his fear drown him, rendering him unable to get closer than half a li. Wangji seemed to understand this and only lay down on his stomach, trying to make himself as smaller as possible, quite the challenge considering how big the dog is. After a month of this "trying" sessions, Wei Wuxian gives up for now and flies to Lotus Pier and he remains there for a whole month

Lan Wangji is miserable that month, Xichen takes a look at the depressed figure of his brother and can't help making a few comparisons to his time mourning Wei Wuxian, not even Sizhui can help him cheer up this time

After the month ends and Xichen starts to resign himself to never see his babu brother as a human again, Wei Wuxian comes back, Sect Leader Jiang and Sect Leader Jin following him closely behind. 'Ah! ' Xichen realizes, of course if theres someone willing to help Wuxian with his fear is his shidi and nephew. Lan Huan is glad that the relationship with them has become better with the years

"Wow, you really weren't kidding" Jiang Wanyin mutters when they see Wangji sitting in front of them, Xichen can see his brother containing the way he wants to bounce and pounce and lick Wei Wuxian and the growl he wants to aim at the sect leader, he most definetly doesnt want to cause more distress to his husband, even so, the first jade can see him practically vibrating in place

"C'mon, you already pet fairy, this is the same, just that is just husband" when Wuxian makes no movement from where he is petrified, Jin Ling tries again "Think of him as a giant bunny" the words do get a short laugh out of the Yiling Patriarch

Wei Wuxian takes a deep breath and starts walking to Wangji, he closes his eyes and, shivering, he bends to press his lips to the fur on the dog's head. The curse breaks, leaving a thankfully clothed Lan Wangji sitting gracefully on his knees

"Lan Zhan!!" Wei Wuxian cries as he hugs his husband, tears of joy, fear, exhaustion and concern spill from his eyes

Xichen turns to the other sect leaders, a clear relief under their twin irritated expressions, they have must been worried about Wei Wuxian, he considers

"Sect Leader Jiang, Sect Leader Jin, may I invite you a cup of tea?" He might as well ask, seeing as the lovebirds wont be out of each other's embrace any time soon, Xichen is glad they at least did this in the back hills to give them some face (not that they arent shameless on their own)

Both of his companions nod, Jin Ling going to invite Sizhui as well, leaving the lovers to their much awaited reunion

Prompt 50: Like in Fairytales

Lan Wangji gets cursed, and has been transformed into one magnificient, giant white Dog. The only way to reverse it is a True Love’s kiss.