#heardes dizi

[skeletonapricationday]

The lab

@yumeno_54_ on insta (art creds)

Warnings: porn w/o plot, aphrodisiac, dumbification-ish kink, pentration (fem receiving), gojo x fem reader, fingering, being watched while masterbating, praising and cooing, public fun, mild mention of overstimulation.

You have a natural knack for chemicals, something surprising for a sorcerer. You collect certain chemicals that curses make and see if you can weaponize them.

Today you're working with a liquid produced from a curse that claims they're "lust."

You're careful with the chemical, afterall you're still unsure of what it does. All you were told is they have one liter of it and the curse is dead. You put the pH tester into the open vile slowly making sure it can't get onto your skin. The liquid mildly vicious.

You're about to pour some onto a microscope slide and- "Hey, I heard you got a new-" and it spills all over you. Running into your pores.

"Shit!" You shout, running over to the sink. Scrubbing your skin harshly, praying the chemical doesn't effect you. "Gojo I swear to GOD!"

"I'm so sorry are you okay?" The white haired man runs over. Checking over your face. You stop the sink water when you feel the chemical can no longer be scrubbed. You're starting to feel dizy and light. "Hey don't pass out on me, what was that?!" He asks worried.

"New chemical. No antidote yet. Don't know what it does." You breath out harshly, mind starting to go numb. Unable to properly think. Gojo quickly grabs you when you stumble. Surprisingly this causes you to moan, gripping onto his jacket. "Feel so fuzzy." You pant, nuzzling your face into Satoru.

"Woah-Hey what are you doing?" He asks a little amused, but still just as worried. You don't respond just pulling yourself closer to him. Did he always smell this good? Was he always this warm? You lean up on your tippy toes, sticking your flushed face into his neck. "From what curse?"

You whine into his neck, feeling the urge to lick his skin. "It said it was lust." You giggle out. "Come closer." You beckon. Looking up into his eyes lustfully.

"Woah woah mama, calm down." He jokes, pushing you by the forehead. You whimper and bite your bottom lip. Shaking your head no at him, like you were rejecting his statement.

"Can't." You answer blankly. Clenching your thighs together not so discretly. "Hot. It's hot." You moan out. Taking off your lab coat, nearly tearing it off. You start to unbutton your blouse when big hands grab yours and stop you.

"Hey, hey its the chemical. You need to sit. I'll get someone." You grip onto his hand, stopping him from leaving. Honestly you were weaker than him, he could leave if he wanted but he doesn't. "Want me to stay?"

You desperately shake your head up and down yes. He uses his grip on you to sit you down, you do so without complaint. "Burning, burning hot." You whine. Ripping your blouse off entirely, the tattered clothes hitting the ground. Leaving you in only a sports bra. You fan your skin with your hand, acting like you're having a heat stroke. "Notepad. Notepad now." You pant towards him. You words rushed and slurred.

He rushes over grabbing it and handing you a pen. You quickly start jotting down your symptoms. 'Accidential test subject-me.' Is the first thing you write. 'Causes delirium. Hard to think.' Gojo nods at the words you write. 'Hot. So hot.' You keep going. 'Touch feels so good.' You hear a small "oh" behind you. You tilt your head and look at him with wet eyes. "What?"

"Look this isn't exactly science based but that sounds similar to the feelings people get on exctasy." You look at him with parted lips, like a light bulb went off in your head.

"Lust. Aphrodisiac." You whine out, thighs clenching harder. You slam your head down into the desk, it's getting harder and harder to think clearly. You want to reach out to Gojo this instant. Put his fingers in your mouth, maybe even his cock. God you would ride right on top of him. The only thing you would hear is the squelching of your cunt and the slaps of skin. "Gotta go. You gotta go." You cry out.

"I thought you wanted me to stay?" You reach out and grab him by the jacket, pulling his blindfolded face to yours with serious eyes.

"Leave." You pant. "Cause I want to fucking ride you." You say honestly, lips curling at the thought. Gojo seems to just stare at you, even without seeing his eyes.

He laughs in disbelief. Taking off his blind fold, his spiked hair falling down into its natural shape. When his blaring blue eyes look at you, you freeze. Holding your breath at the site. "You want to-" He puts a hand on the back of your chair. "Ride me?" He asks with a devious smirk. You stare at him wide eyed.

"Sorry toots, this ride is reserved for those in a clear state of mind." He tsks his tongue with a smile.

You push at his chest. "Just go." You whine, feet stomping like an angry toddler. "I need-i need you to go." You say bringing your own hands to your inner thighs, wanting to start feverishly masterbating right then and there. You wanted to make him watch. You bite your bottom lip and you rub your thighs, eyes rolling back at the simple touch. You let out a small mmpf.

"Wow. I never thought I'd see you come undone so quickly. That stuff is strong." He states watching you. "I'm not going anywhere." He grins.

You groan and locks eyes with him. Finally coming to terms with it you smile. "Fine. Watch." You hiss out, unable to contain yourself any longer. Unbuttoning your work slacks. Pulling them desperately down your thighs. The cold air hits your wet panties earning a whine. Gojo's blue eyes never leave your form. Doing just as you said, watching.

As soon as you can you drill your own fingers into you, you do. Ripping your panties off and stuffing two fingers inside, using your thumb to toy with your own clit. So worked up the room is already filled with the sounds of your sopping wet cunt. "Ah-mmm fuck." You moan, eyes tempted to roll into your skull. Looking up Gojo is still standing over you, eyes focused on your wetness.

"Satoru don't stare so intently- aaa it's emrbassing." You whimper, biting your bottom lip. Hips bucking against your hand. Fingers becoming less satisfying the hotter you get.

"You told me to watch." He grins cockily, leaning back against your desk. His posture relaxed unlike yours. "So I'm going to watch. Show me everything you got, pretty girl." He teases with his famous playboy smirk.

You sob a little, your walls feeling so empty. You attempt to enter a third finger but it doesn't feel any different, leaving you just as void as before. "Fingers don't work." You cry. Small tears pricking your eyes from the sheer desperation in your gut. "Pleeease." You look at Gojo, begging with your eyes.

He knits his brows and sighs. "Only if you promise you aren't going to hit me for it later." He teases, pushing you further into your frustrated edge.

You pull your fingers out with a small hic. Gripping onto Gojo's jacket again, pulling him closer with your shlick covered hand. "I'm literally begging." You say annoyed, a hint of a moan in it.

"Fine. Fine. How could I say no." He says playfully, pulling your slacks the rest of the way down your ankles. "Jeez, what a pretty pussy." He says with a grin, spanking your cunt lightly with his hand. Earning a loud mewl in response.

"Satoru more." You whine, pulling his hand closer and bucking your hips. "More." You say saliciously. Trying to tempt him.

"Hold on gorgeous I'm getting there." He chuckles cockily. Tilting his bueaitful head to the side before slipping in two of his long and thick fingers. "Is that better?" He says with a grin, pumping them at a painfully slow pace.

"Faster." You moan. Pressing his hand further into you. "I want it. Please." You beg, sounds of pleasure falling from your lips. A thin pout forming from his obvious teasing. "Don't tease. Fuck me."

"Commanding as always." He thrusts his fingers faster, thumbing your clit in small circles. "Do you really think that's how you ask for help?" He asks, lips curling into a cruel smirk. You were about to retort it got you what you wanted when he suddenly ceases all motion. "I asked a question." He says harshly, pulling his liquid coated hand away. Bringing it up to his lips and licking it clean. "Go on, answer."

"No no m' sorry, don't stop." You cry out, whimpering as your pussy clenches around the cold air. Mourning the loss of Satoru's hand. You lean forward and nuzzle your face against his hardening length. "Please." You huff. Hot breath grazing against his clothed skin.

"Now that's how you ask for help." He grins, shucking off his jacket. Pulling his belt open and dropping his pants to reveal himself. Tip pink and leaking.

"You want it so bad?" He smiles and licks his lips. "Bend over the desk." He commands and you quickly obey. Nearly tripping over your clothes on the floor to bend over the desk. "It's cute when you act so needy." He grins.

He rubs his tip against you entrance and your clit. Collecting your wetness and smearing his precum against you. "In. Inside." You command, arching your hips up further.

"Do I have to reprimand you again?" He asks, tempted to pull away despite his own arousal.

"No, no, no." You whine, reaching a hand behind you and spreading yourself open. "Please." You say between broken sobs. You don't care if you're stroking his already too big ego, you're after his too big of a cock.

"I just love hearing you beg." With that he thrusts inside, cock entering with ease due to the Niagara falls that is your pussy. He groans at the feeling of you wrapping completely around him "God- you're so tight." He moans, fucking himself in and out of you. There's no friction at all, your walls welcoming him and spasming.

"Yesh- so big n deep." You praise, legs shaking from the pure exctasy. That burning coil of a feeling easing slightly. If you weren't half out of your mind you wouldn't nearly praise him as much.

"I get that alot." He teases and thrusts harder, making the desk you're gripping onto shake. You mewl angrily at his statement. Before you can tell him off he starts playing with your clit. "Don't worry doll, it was just a joke." He laughs and grunts.

"Satoru-Satoru." You say his name repeatedly. Legs aching, back arching, and cunt clenching. Every movement felt brand new. "THAT SPOT-" You yelp loudly as his tip pounds against your g-spot.

"Oohh ho ho" He says with a smug edge. Aiming his thrusts to keep hitting it, abusing the poor pleasure button inside you. "Look what I found." He grunts and grins, grabbing your hips and flipping you over. Looking deep into your eyes as they roll back. "Fuck you're so pretty when you're going dumb."

You nod and moan. Wrapping your arms along his back. "I'm not going dumb- m' just horny." You retort, drool dripping down your jaw. He smiles and pulls you in, kissing you deep as he fucks your gummy walls. His tongue tastes like candy, which makes sense considering his sweets addiction. When he pulls away a string of saliva connects you both.

He chuckles and grins, pressing harder against your g-spot, almost hitting your cervix. "You're sucking me in so desperately though. It's like you don't wanna let me go." He lets out a small groan as you feel your legs try to clamp down around him. He tsks his tongue annoyed, grabbing your thighs and forcing them open. "You begged for this, now keep those legs open."

You nod and try to keep your legs open desperately as you feel your orgasm coming on. "Satoru- 'mma cum I'm going too-" You squeeze your eyes shut tight and feel your thighs tremble with the force of the pleasure. A coiling heat wrapping around you like a snake. "Please- don't stop, no stopping!"

"Then open your eyes and look at me." He groans and grips your jaw, forcing you to look deep into his pale blue gaze. Tears stream down your face, struggling to stay open. "Fucking." Thrust. "Cum." Thrust. "On." Thrust. "Me." And with one more thrust you come undone.

The world shatters around you as you dig your nails into his back. Looking for any kind of leverage as he rocks into you. "That's it bueaitful." He coos as you whine and whimper. "Come undone." He smiles at you. When you're orgasm is done he doesn't stop.

"Wait Satoru I just came!" You whine overestimulated. Wrapping your legs around his waist and digging your heels into his back.

"I think this pretty pussy can squeeze out one more. Don't ya' think?" He asks with a smile as he keeps rocking his hips. "Cause I haven't cum yet."

[sylviesoothsayer22]

Well Matched - Chapter 1

Lycoris radiata

When the Yiling Laozu’s spirit emerged from the Burial Mounds as a newborn Calamity, the entire cultivation world trembled in fear.

Wei Ying just wanted to find a quiet place to rest. He had no plan, so he naturally followed the strange butterfly that seemed to beckon him somewhere. What’s the worst that could happen?

“You’re adorable.”

“I thought I was charming.”

“Charming and adorable. I’m tempted to keep you.”

“….sweet-talker.”

“Rejoice, Wei Wuxian is dead!”

“Fantastic, fantastic indeed! Remind me again, who was the hero who killed the Yiling Laozu?”

“His shidi! The little sect leader Jiang Cheng!”

Everyone in the tavern laughed and declared those who have led the Siege of the Burial Mounds heroes. They all toasted to the Patriarch’s demise.

It had been several months since the news first broke out and many have not yet ceased celebrating.

A condescending snort cut through their revelry. All eyes were drawn to the rogue cultivator lounging in his seat. One youth lazily twisted his head to the man’s direction and cast his left eye on the speaker.

“Too early for that.” He rumbled. “The days of the Yiling Laozu are far from over.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let me ask you all a question.” The speaker said. Clearly pleased to have everyone’s attention. “Since Wei Wuxian wasn’t born into the Jiang sect, how many Soul-Tranquilization Rites has he undergone before his violent death?”

Almost every member in the tavern paled in realization.

“You can’t mean that he’ll come back as a ghost!”

“Even if he did, every soul within the Burial Mounds are trapped there. The amount of resentful energy alone makes it impossible for the dead to break free!”

“The Burial Mounds no longer hold as much resentful energy as they used to.” The cultivator informed them gravely.

“What do you mean?!”

“Speak plainly!”

“Don’t go around spreading false rumours for attention, you old fart!”

The only person who didn’t put up a fuss was the youth who was watching the pandemonium with a bored expression. The cultivator gazed at the anxious crowd in silence before loudly slamming his jug on the table.

“Silence! Do you wish to hear what happened after the Siege or not?!”

Everyone quieted and listened to the cultivator with wrapped attention as he began his tale:

“After the Patriarch’s demise, all was quiet for a while and the Great Sects believed it would be the end of it. Yet, some wandering cultivators detected strange disturbances within the Mounds. The resentful energy appeared to be constantly fluctuating. Through their observations, they saw a thick red fog emerge and cover the mountains. The wanderers notified the sects who sent out members of high rank. Those same men would come back and swear blind that they saw the Patriarch lurking around.”

“How is it that no one has heard of this until now?”

“The sects silenced as many gossipers as they could find. They did not wish to spread panic or give the demonic worshippers hope.” The cultivator cast the interrupter a slight glare. “May I continue now?” He asked dryly.

“At that point, all of the sects believed that Wei Wuxian did not pass on. Many high-ranking cultivators, sect leaders and head disciples converged on the spot where they sensed the yin energy was at its highest, believing that the Patriarch’s spirit was still recuperating. Wanting to put an end to this drawn-out battle, they rushed at the swirling mass only to stop in their tracks!”

“Thorny black vines shot through the rocky ground and held them all in a vice-like grip. They tried to hack them off with their swords, but new vines would grow in their place. The bound cultivators felt themselves growing weak. Somehow, Wei Wuxian drained them of their spiritual energy. What’s worse, the red fog surrounding the mountain hardened and formed into a barrier. By the time the cultivators realized that they had walked into a trap, there was a familiar sound of a dizi playing.”

The crowd’s eyes were as wide as saucers. The youth’s eyes were narrowed in deep thought. Many leaned forward as the cultivator continued with his story:

“A figure emerged through the fog. None other than the Yiling Laozu himself! Different, but still recognizable. When he was last seen, he was gaunt, injured and looked ready to collapse at any moment. Back then, he looked fragile but unmistakably human. Now, not anymore. His skin was as white as pale snow. The grey of his robes swirled unnaturally against the breeze like ash. The black of his clothes were so dark, they appeared to be devouring any form of light. It almost looked as if it were made of shadows. His eyes let out an eerie blood red glow. There was a vial full of -what appeared to be- ashes suspended around his neck by a red string. The strangest addition to Wei Wuxian’s appearance was the countless ghostly-green fireflies floating around him. What purpose they serve, I do not know.”  The speaker shook his head. His expression haunted.

“Everyone believed that the Patriarch was about to start another massacre. One that would overshadow what he did in Nightless City. Instead, he plays one sharp note and Wei Wuxian dissolved into a murder of crows! The crows and fireflies passed through the shield and scattered into several different directions. Everyone else was left trapped within the barrier. For whatever reason, Wei Wuxian chose to spare the cultivation world his wrath that night.”

The crowd traded panicked whispers among themselves. The speaker watched them with an amused expression.

“You make it sound as if you were there.” The red robed youth piped up, while the rest of the tavern were busy processing the Yiling Laozu’s strange new powers. The rogue cultivator looked at the youth, affronted.

“I was there, ignorant brat! It took us nearly six months to break through that damned barrier and another three to search for that devil’s weakness in the Burial Mounds!”

“How has no one heard of this until now?” A member of the crowd asked disbelievingly.

“This is now common knowledge in the entire cultivation world. It’s not my fault no one cared to inform the people in this backwatered village!”

The youth snorted and shot back “How much of this story is fabricated? Unless you can provide proof that you were there yourself, I don’t see much of a point in listening to your fairy tales.”

The crowd let out murmurs of agreement. The rogue cultivator felt a tick mark growing on his forehead. He grabbed an item that was wrapped in layers of talismans from his pocket and slammed it on the table in front of the youth.

“Here’s your proof! The jade token that was once tied to Chenqing!” The youth picked up the token and examined it. The item exuded an absurd amount of yin energy that could only belong to something powerful.

“It certainly appears authentic.” He commented. The cultivator snatched back the token from the young man’s hands.

“Bah! What would you know?” He grumbled as a he re-wrapped the item and put it back in his pocket. The youth shot him an unimpressed look.

“You mentioned that you and your fellow cultivators were looking for the Patriarch’s weakness. Did you find it?” The youth asked blithely. The rogue cultivator gnashed his teeth.

“No. The Yiling Laozu is far too cunning.” He faced the crowd once more.

“While normal ghosts can be dissipated in numerous ways or sealed with a spirit-trapping pouch, beings like Wei Wuxian can only be destroyed through the destruction of their ashes.”

“Didn’t you mention he had a vial of ashes wrapped around his neck? Why were you looking for them in the Mounds?” A member of the crowd asked, confused.

“I’m getting there!” The rogue snapped before continuing “We looked for clues on where would Wei Wuxian go to for refuge. Through our findings we found many similar looking vials and took the chance that maybe his was among them. When we started destroying every vial we could see, we realized these ashes belonged to other ghosts. The truly horrifying part? After we captured a stray soul and demanded information, it was revealed that they willingly sacrificed themselves for the Patriarch. He did not even have to use his flute on them!” The cultivator shook his head in disbelief before continuing. “Somehow, this Wei Wuxian won the ghosts' loyalty after the destruction of his mortal body. They even called him ‘our lord’!”

“Perhaps he’s building a city for the dead as we speak.” One member mumbled. Almost everyone in the tavern let out shudders at that possibility. The only ones who weren’t affected was the story-teller and the youth. The rogue cultivator snorts.

“Now who’s telling fairy tales?” He took on a severe countenance.

“If the Yiling Laozu decided to create a ghost realm, the amount of resentful energy needed would attract the attention of every single cultivator within a thousand miles. Don’t you get it, you fools? He’s in hiding! Right now, he has likely suppressed the majority of his powers to such a degree that it would take a strong spiritual weapon to detect him.”

“Do you mean that finding the Patriarch is a hopeless endeavour?” The youth drawled out in a bored manner.

“Not quiet. Remember the ghost-flies? Normal fireflies only come out in the summer. Yet, no matter the season, these creatures follow him wherever he goes. We merely have to wait for news on them.” The rogue cultivator concluded.

“How sad that the entirety of the cultivation world has to rely on mere rumours and heresy to catch one measly ghost.” The youth remarked, casually.

“Well, do you have any better ideas?!” The rogue cultivator shouted. “If you don’t, then get out of my sight! You disrespectful wretch!”

The youth shrugged and got up. He brushed past the ill-tempered cultivator and smirked in secret as he exited the tavern. Once the ‘young man’ was a fair distance away, he pulled out the token that he snatched from the arrogant cultivator. A silver butterfly landed on the item. Hua Cheng waited as the creature scented the yin signature and watched as it took off in search of the source. He continued his leisurely walk.

Wei Wuxian. He thought. What an interesting character you are.

Chapter End.

Author's Note: Lycoris radiata is the botanical name for red spider lily. The flower is typically associated with death, long journeys, sad memories and final goodbyes. Interestingly, the colour red usually means love and passion.

Omake:

WWX: *sneezes for the nth time that day*

WWX: Aish! Have I suddenly become so popular?! Why the hell are people talking about me so much?!

WQ & WN: *judgmentally staring*

WWX: *sweatdrops* Nevermind~

All three: *see something let out a silver glow in a corner* Wait. What was that?

I'll try and post the rest of this fic one chapter per-week until I eventually run out. Hope ya enjoyed it!

[wangxianficfinder]

Fic Finder

Jan 19th

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1. Hello, I have lost a fic! It was an arranged-marriage au where WWX marries into the Lan sect. During the wedding all the Lans refuse to look towards WWX which hurts him deeply. Later on LWJ explains it is Lan tradition for no one to look upon the bride until the husband has removed her veil. This was just one of many cultural differences between the Lan and Jiang that the fic explored. Overall I think the fic was kind of somber and angsty? Probably had a happy ending though. Any ideas?

FOUND? Concord by Deastar (T, 41k, WangXian, Arranged Marriage, Gūsū Lán Sect Rules, Depression, Canon Divergence, Angst with a Happy Ending)

FOUND? In Love and War by Cataclysmic_Calamity (E, 68k, wangxian, A/B/O, Canon Divergence, Alpha LWJ, Omega WWX, Arranged Marriage, Kind of a slow burn, enemies to lovers ish, rampant sexual tension, WWX is a Menace to society and LWJ is doing his best, Miscommunication, past emotional abuse, Dubious Consent, Consensual Non-Consent, Semi-Public Sex, Anal Fingering, Dom/sub, Anal Sex)

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2. Hello, I need help finding a fic. I'm pretty sure I found this fic through your blog.

It's from Lan Wangji's perspective and takes place during the early sunshot campaign before Wei Wuxian's return. Wen outposts are attacked by some unknown entity and Lan Wangji goes to investigate. The culprit is a human shaped being covered in resentful energy. After a few confrontations Lan Wangji discovers that the being is an unconscious Wei Wuxian and finds a way to free him from the resentful energy. @bluekittenfire

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3. (First part added to an itmf) I cannot remember what it is called but there was one fic where WWX loses his foot/leg and the Wen build him a wooden prosthetic that I really enjoyed and am looking for more fics like this. Where characters are dealt a difficult hand but they work through it and yeah, any recs would be much appreciated thank you!

FOUND? we’re starting at the end by Miss_Enthusiasimal (M, 92k, WangXian, JC & WWX, Time Travel, Canon Divergence, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Golden Core Reveal, Burial Mounds, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Starvation, emaciation, Cannibalism, Self-Harm, Amputation, Suicidal Thoughts, Sunshot Campaign, let JZX and WWX be friends club)

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4. Hi! I’m sorry to bother you, but maybe you can help me? I’m looking for a fic where Wei Wuxian is fighting at what I remember to be Qiongqi Path. I think Jiang Cheng makes a smart remark (something like “Are you just gonna play your flute or you going to help us?!”) and Wei Wuxian stops playing his dizi long enough to give JC the finger… only for them to realise what it means that he’s stopped playing and a flute can still be heard. Not long after LWJ pulls Su She out of the foliage with the other flute.

Vaguely I remember it being a fix it fic where less people die than in canon.

If you can help with this I would appreciate it since it’s haunted me for days now! And even if not I hope you have a pleasant day. ^^ @jestingknights

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5. hi!! i’m been looking for a fic for days. i read it forever ago but it’s during the cloud recess study arc and in it lan xichen realizes how awful the jiangs are treating wwx and tries to subtly convince him to leave tywng and stay in gusu bc he knows how much lwj likes him and he sees how talented wwx is and knows he would be a good asset for any sect to have. a specific scene i remember is that lxc would pretend to accidentally bump into wwx to talk to him. and they would go on walks and lwj saw it and got jealous. i think lxc was lowkey manipulative but in a way where he was doing it to make wwx care enough about himself to leave the jiangs. it was not jiang clan friendly at all. i kno this is so vague sorry about that. but it’s driving me crazy how i can’t find it when i know ive read it more then once. thanks for any help u can give

FOUND? If 5 isn't 🔒💖 Hoards and treasures by apathyinreverie (T, 21k, WangXian, Siblings, Family, not particularly Jiang friendly, YZY Bashing, slightly darker Gusu Lans, LXC being the best brother, Some manipulation, But with the best of intentions, and not between wangxian, Dragon LWJ, Fox WWX, Smitten LWJ, Fluff, perfect happiness, adorable WWX, Romance, Some worldbuilding, courting), it's very similar so here's hoping!

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6. Hello! I’m looking for a modern AU where WWX lives in and runs a theater, I believe LWJ is hosting his orchestra there for practice and for an event??? And it’s important that it’s successful to keep the theater open. I believe at some point, someone throws a rock or a brick through the front doors, and I believe the jiangs show up in the end and WWX confronts that. Im having such a hard time finding it or remembering more about it, and I’ve been looking for it for so long 🥲 @takemitchyleaps

FOUND? Talisman by Witch_Nova221 (M, 192k, WangXian, Modern AU, Eventual Romance, Theatre, Rock Band, Childhood Friends, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Implied/Referenced Spousal Abuse, Implied/Referenced Drug Use, Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Fluff, Stalking, Minor Character Death, Friends to Lovers, Mutual Pining)

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7. Hi! I hope doing this right, can tou help me find a fic ? I remember that the sects start making alliances because they notice how the Wens are acting. The Jiangs and the Lans are going to ally through marriage, the choice is up to LXC, but because he is jealous of LZ, thinking he never had it difficult, when WY is offered to the Lans, LXC decides to marry him to make LZ suffer, knowing LZ and WY like each other. LXC is the one whose core is melted and LSZ is LXC and WY's biological son. @old-rose-peonies

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8. There's a fic I vaguely remember reading, and I don't know what it's called. There's a scene where Lan Zhan is trying to help Wei Ying eat again (residual starvation stuff), and there's an NSFW scene with honey where Lan Zhan is trying to help Wei Ying associate eating with Good Things. That's the extent of my memory. If you could please help me find it, I'd greatly appreciate it! Thank you! @amynchan

Oh oh! I know exactly which fic this is because it was written based on a post of mine! It's actually WWX helping LWJ and was written by the wonderful InTheGreySpaces (thank you again for writing this beautiful fic~) 😊 Though I could be wrong so please let me know if this isn't it 😅 - Mod C

FOUND! 🧡 Sustenance of the Soul OR Five Times Lan Wangji Refused to Eat and One Time Wei Wuxian Convinced Him To by InTheGreySpaces (E, 9k, WangXian, Grief/Mourning, Angst, Pining, Eating Disorders, LWJ Has an Eating Disorder, and WWX is going to help him get past it, Inedia, Inedia used in the wrong way, LWJ's 33 Lashes Punishment, referenced as the cause of his eating problems, Submissive LWJ, Sort of?)

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9. Hello! I'm looking for a specific fic that I'm afraid might've been deleted. It's a modern au set in the 90s in California (possibly). The Spotify playlist "LWJ DJs your life 1999" goes with it. What I remember is that LWJ is both a goth club DJ and a cello player, WWX drives a terrible car, and the gang is looking to buy the perfect huge house to collectively live in. It might've been part of a series, there's a Halloween party bit where LWJ dresses up at a classic style gothic vampire and curates an extensive party playlist. Thanks for the help! @aceaviatrix

FOUND? The Quiet Room by trickybonmot (M, 39k, WangXian, Modern AU, 1990s, Goth LWJ, Cellist LWJ, College Student WWX, House Hunting, Dating, Clubbing, San Francisco, Implied/Referenced Past Child Abuse, Mental Health Issues, Academic Disaster Aftermath, Getting Together, Repressed Teen Crushes to Strangers to Lovers, Homelessness, in the form of couch surfing, background NieLan)

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10. For the next fic finder: I'm looking for a longer fic where the wens find shelter at the nie sect. It was part of a way bigger plot and some wangxian shenanigans, but wen qing and nie mingjue end up sleeping together, mainly because wen qing is cold and is like "might as well". I do remember that nie mingjue was trans, also. Anyone have any idea what fic that was?

FOUND? 💖 Uninvited by WithBroomBefore (M, 13k, wangxian, canon divergence, fix-it, hurt/comfort, sect leader jyl, sick fic, happy ending) specifically chapter 3

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11. Hi! I need help in looking for a fic where Nie Huaisang was the one who sacrificed his body and soul to summon Wei Wuxian back to life. Thank you @etutb

FOUND? Crowded by nirejseki (G, 1k, NHS & WWX, WangXian, WangXianSang, Canon Divergence, Different Body Offering Ritual, Atypical Relationship Dynamics, sentient sabers) this is a nhs sacrifice summon (gone sideways) fic

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12. Hello. I am looking for a fic where there was a finger trap? You know, the “thing that traps the victim's fingers (often the index fingers) in both ends of a small cylinder”? Anyway i cant remember if it was a tweetfic or a fic on ao3 but wangxian had their fingers in this 🥲🙏

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13. Hi, I don't normally lose fics but I lost this one: Post-Canon, Jiang Cheng basically goes round all the clans and tells them what was wrong with their defences during Sunshot and what they could do better. He also has some unkind words to say about Lotus Pier's organisation. It sounds like he's making enemies but he's really not. Any ideas, please? @solo----

FOUND? 🔒 The Cold Wind of Harsh Truth (or How We Nearly Lost the Sunshot Campaign): A Treatise by Icarus (T, 13k, wangxian, Post-Canon, Humor, Angst, JC digs and keeps digging, Zidian lore, Fun with talismans, JC-centric, Competence Kink, Strategy & Tactics, Cultivation Sect Politics, Arranged Marriage, Trauma, Logic, POV JC)

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14. Hi, I am looking for a fic set post-canon (I think). I remember Wei Wuxian maybe living in the jingshi, possibly teaching classes, but definitely going into Caiyi with Lan Wangji and during a festival Wangji wins a game and the prize is this ugly turtle statue that Wei Wuxian adores. They go on to prank Lan Qiren with the turtle statue. I loved this scene but I can’t remember what fic it came from, please help!

FOUND! I think 14for the fic finder is from the actual book. It sounds like the last extra chapter. / Not saying there isn't a fic involving it, but #14 sounds a lot like the Yunmeng extra in book five, as well. Ring toss, ugly turtle statue, and Wei Wuxian considering pranking Lan Qiren included. The only difference is the location. Your searcher may have mistaken it for fic, especially if they read translations online. / #14 is one of the extra chapters from the actual novel (Extra 7 in the official English translation)

I found a few similar fics with a turtle statue if you want to check them out ^^ - Mod C

The Turtle in the Lanshi by Brierilee (G, 1k, WangXian, Post Canon, POV LJY)

Jin Ling and the No Good Very Bad Terrible Year of Cloud Recesses Bullshit by cringewerewolf (T, 2k, WangXian, Juniors)

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15. hi!! looking for this funny fic based on a silly story. Lwj rejects wwx on a dating app accidently right in front of him, i think they're on an airport? they end up talking obvs and it's cute and funny @ilyweiwuxian

FOUND? Ticket to Ride by mistresscurvy (E, 18k, wangxian, Modern, Online Dating, Road Trips, Service Top, Phone Sex, Dick Pics, Wedding Banquet)

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16. Hey was hoping you guys may be able to help, I've been look for a fic I read awhile back idk if it got deleted or something but. It is a modern time wangxian fic with tattoo artist wei ying, his parents are alive too. But he ends up renting a boyfriend/ Lan wangji off a boyfriend renting site. They have misunderstandings but get through it, he even gives lan Zhan a lotus tattoo like his own and they get together officially in the end. @yilingpatriarchsimp

FOUND! Rent a Gege by wayward_wing (E, 12k, WangXian, Fluff and Angst, Smut, Bottom LWJ/Top WWX, Bottom LWJ, Top WWX, Getting Together, Older WWX, Younger LWJ, Mention of wangxian with others, WWX’s parents are alive, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Happy Ending, Blow Jobs, Riding, Skinny Dipping, eating ass, Anal Fingering, Anal Sex)

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17. I have lost a fic where Wei Wuxian is a catfish for sale and he helps jilted lovers get back at their exes. Su She hires him to target Lan Wangji but Wei Wuxian falls for him instead. Please help me find this fic!

FOUND! I'm pretty sure this one is we'll get him falling for a stranger (or a catfish) by sweetlolixo (T, 38k, wangxian, modern, College AU, Catfish AU, Eventual Happy Ending, Crossdressing WWX, Rich heir LWJ gets catfished by pretty Weiying online that's it that's the fic, LWJ learns how to text with kaomojis, Gossipy aunties NHS and WWX: canon, sometimes LWJ gives you secondhand embarrassment, this fic is on crack, Pining LWJ, Fluff, Humor, lwj is a grade A+ SIMP, Identity Porn)

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18. lan xichen is driving after drinking at night and hits Jiang yanli and she dies. Plot twist ended up she committed suicide, but they didn’t know that before. The lans and jiangs had a fight and somehow lan wangji ended up getting married to Wei wuxian. Wwx is significantly older then lan zhan in this fic.

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19. Hello! I was wondering if I could get help looking for a fic. It’s a doctor AU where LZ and WY are both surgeons. It starts with WY being late to a presentation and showing up right in the middle of LZ’s presentation time. Then WY eventually ends up working on a research project or something like that with LZ? Wen Ning gets hurt at some point in it too and WY and LZ save him against LQR’s orders. I’ve been looking for this for forever and can’t seem to find it. Thank you so much!

FOUND? Anginal Equivalents by fakeplasticlily (E, 23k, wangxian, Modern, Medical Residents AU, Childhood Friends, Mutual Pining, Oblivious WWX, WangXian.mp3, Sexual Content, Podfic Available)

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20. Hi Peeps! Thank you so much for your dedication to this page, I'm a big fan! I'm looking for a specific fic: there's a cultural show being put on by the whole gang and Wei Ying is specifically doing a dance for it but he needs to have body paint and LZ graciously volunteers for it. He ends up writing characters out of an ancient poem that Huaisang tells him is LZ basically marking him for his own. It's not idiots in love, though that one was great as well. Thank you in advance! @nebuluscharlie

FOUND? Out of the Bin and Into Your Heart by Alaceron (T, 27k, WangXian, Modern AU, Fake/Pretend relationship, Oblivious WWX)

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[essekknits]

Story idea I’ve been thinking about:

The fragments of Wei Wuxian’s soul.

We don’t know where Wei Wuxian’s spirit was these thirteen years between his death and resurrection. So what if his spirit fragmented? Little pieces that splintered at particular points in time, points that were especially important or especially painful? Stuck at the point in time they splintered?

I want Lan Wangji, freshly out of seclusion and still very much grieving, going out into the world to be where the chaos is, going on a hunt for what at first seems to be some canine beast, just from the noise it makes. Instead, the sounds follow the sobbing ghost of a terrified little boy, begging the dogs not to bite him.

I want him to go around, slowly and carefully collecting the broken shards of Wei Ying’s soul. He can’t find one before the previous one was found, and every piece is a new revelation.

And then, one day, after he finds the final piece, the piece that is trapped in the moment of his death…

All of them disappear.

That very same night, he hears the sound of a dizi, playing a song only one soul ever heard.

[juliluvhz]

tutor

warnings :: adhd reader

tasm!peter Parker x reader

_

“i don’t get it”

you said dryly, clicking your pen as peter groaned

“what do you mean you don’t- I’ve been through it like 3 times now”

Peter sighed, snatching the pen off you to end the constant clicking, now it was your turn to sigh

“I don’t wanna do math”

you lay back on peters bed, your legs leaning up the wall as you kicked your legs back and forth against it

“your the reason my neighbours hate me”

“Well maybe i hate your neighbours, whad’ya they think think of that?”

You heard petet shut the text books that set next to you and pushed them onto the floor, then grabbing your legs so they were on his lap now instead of the wall

“your lucky your parents pay me ya know”

you nodded, not really listening as your eyes darted across peters cracked ceiling

“your ceiling is really cracked.. oh! you know my friend lina? she fell in a pothole the other day and broke her ankle”

you spoke as if it was nothing. It was silent for a second

“Oh, that’s.. relevant”

Peter said hesitantly, a little confused of how random you are at times

“oh my god!”

you yelled sitting up excitedly

“what what!?”

Peter asked, jumping as you sat up

“now im dizzy”

you held a hand to your head, waiting for the diziness to subside

“okay i feel better”

you said, sitting up straight now

“what were you saying, princess?”

Peter said, trying to remind you of what you were speaking about before, but all he reminded you of was the butterflies in your stomach

“oh i forgot”

you shrugged your shoulder, grabbing the books from off the floor

“Teach me maths, we have a quiz tomorrow”

you said and grabbed your pen back, waiting for Peter to get his

“but i-

“Shut up and teach mee”

—

that was pretty boring guys

[motivationisdead]

*Writing Prompt*

“Why? What did we miss?” Wei Wuxian asks blithely.

Lan Qiren stares at them disbelievingly. Lan Wangji stares back unblinkingly.

Lan Xichen steps in to say delicately, “It appears that while you two were… gone-” He does not say ‘on your honeymoon’, smile somewhat stiff. Understandably he doesn’t seem to know what to make of his baby brother eloping with a boy he’d known for fifteen minutes, if that. “-Wen Ruohan and his family suffered a… tragic accident.”

“Wild timing,” Wei Wuxian says, spinning his new dizi.

Lan Xichen had not been aware Wei-gongzi was a musician.

Lan Qiren squints at him suspiciously. “… Indeed,” he says at last.

Lan Wangji just nods serenely at this news. “We should send our condolences.”

Wei Wuxian bursts out laughing like that’s the funniest thing he’s ever heard.

[jasontoddiefor]

Absolutely begging for the trans WWX who’s living her best life as Lady Mo, I’m obsessed with this au

(Also I just want you to know there is now a crack version of this incredible au in my head where upon meeting “Lady Mo” playing Wangxian for Sizhui, Lan Zhan has a full on falls to his knees clutching WWX’s going “you’re as beautiful as the day I lost you” alla HTTYD 2, gets a dramatic (to Sizhui, read confused for WWX) “Lan Zhan!?” in response and the Lan Zhan (in an actual miracle of being able to communicate) goes “I raised A-Yuan all of these years for you, I’ve raised our son into a wonderful cultivator” (the miracle has ended, and WWX is currently bluescreening trying to connect the dots of teen I am traveling with is baby I loved what do you mean our son ooo wait Lan Zhan thinks I’m pretty!)

And thus creates the misunderstanding for Sizhui that “Lady Mo” is actually his apparently not-dead mom who’s apparently been vibing as a wandering musician for the past 13 years. Sizhui goes through the five stages of grief before settling on “I can work with this” as a-niang starts showering him with affection and apparently thought he was dead and thus began Sizhui’s grand scheme of luring his incredibly oblivious mother into marriage with his father and it becomes “unstoppable force vs unmovable object, second times the charm on baby trapping, right?” adventures.

This doesn’t matter but it’s important to me that you know this popped into my head. This au is absolutely incredible and there is so much comedy gold. NHS has been left alone in the group project but he still manages to scramble together enough to pass decently, good for him)

1 (Ao3) | 2 (tumblr)

aaah I'm flattered to hear that!! and tbh, it's not so much that NHS has been left alone in the group project but that he decided on the project and then didn't call anyone to do their parts. never got to write it but i figured the whole reveal would go sth like this:

Gusu doesn't look like Wei Ying remembers it, but it has been decades since her attendance. After the war, well, for all that Lan Zhan had asked her to visit, she'd never accepted it.

And look at her now! Going to the Cloud Recesses voluntarily, accompanied by Lan Zhan's little juniors. They're good kids, polite and inquisitive and opinionated and so very alive. She wondered how much Lan Zhan must have changed in the last years to raise them this well.

What if Wei Ying doesn't recognize him at all? No, that can't be. Lan Zhan was too memorable for Wei Ying to ever forget a single detail about him.

"Just ahead now, Lady Mo," says Lan Sizhui. "I'm not sure if my father is home. He's taken to traveling more...."

He trails off, his face splitting into a smile as he looks ahead. "He's there!"

Wei Ying expects some unfamiliar Lan, but no, standing there is Lan Zhan. He looks older, refined, and happy at their return.

Oh, thinks Wei Ying. I always want him to look at me like that.

Playing the dizi isn't always for pleasure, especially chenqing, summoning all kinds of evil, but the song Lan Zhan taught him is like homecoming. Wei Ying watches in delight as Lan Zhan's eyes widen in recognition, she thinks.

The juniors look at her in wonder, but Wei Ying pulls the dizi from her lips with a smile.

"Lan Zhan!" she calls, "Lan Zhan, I heard you're walking around, clearing my name!" And then, just for pleasure, just for herself, she calls his name again. "Lan Zhan, I've been traveling! I've seen the world and it's alive."

I'm alive, I'm here, won't you ask me to come with you a final time?

Wei Ying can't place Lan Zhan's expression until it breaks into something hopeful, something grieving, something lost.

"Wei Ying?"

[grumpygreenwitch]

The Witches and Wizards Job 39-40-41-42-43

THIS IS IT.

As always, thank you so much for coming along for the ride. It always makes me wriggle a little in goblin-glee to see the little like and/or reblog notifications.

If you made it this far, and you have the patience to answer a few questions, I would appreciate it. If not, that's fine. Just please, bear in mind that reblogs heal my soul, and they cost you nothing. Also, you get a cookie if you can guess what creature the Dredgers are modeled after.

Favorite scene? Favorite OC?

AO3 Link

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Remember: Tumblr has no algorithm. Reblogs give me life.

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THIRTY NINE

I woke up on a relatively soft surface, which was more than I'd expected. Someone had put a pillow under my head, and there were quiet voices nearby, much louder ones further away. The warmth of Mouse against my leg and on my stomach was a welcome presence, and I reached down to rub his ears. He licked my hand and I heard his tail thumping against something soft. "Did we win?"

"Harry." Parker's voice was nearby. She moved closer and my breath caught. She'd put on the spider gown, an exquisite half-sheath of peach and gold and salmon tones, she'd done up her hair and put on make-up. She looked like a bona-fide, invited, certified guest of the party. In the darkness of the room she gleamed faintly, like a fallen star, the spider silk reacting to my presence. Lights, blue and red and white, flashed through a nearby window.

"I take it the cops are here."

"Well, yeah, but we called them," she specified, sitting next to me. "They're keeping the news people out. Everyone's all over that tidal wave that came out of nowhere and no one can explain." She gave me a tiny, wicked, utterly delighted look. "That was magic. And I was there to see it."

"It was, you were," I agreed. It was hard to get down on myself when there was someone around who so wholeheartedly approved of what I was, what I could do, all the glory and the violence of it, the grit and the beauty. "Nothing else was strong enough to maybe kill the dragon."

"Oh, it did," she assured me, then gestured with her hands to mime something being torn in half. She even made a squelching sound.

I had to laugh, and found that, overall, I wasn't terribly sore or hurt. Bone-tired, yes, I felt like I'd scraped a bottom to my magic I didn't even know was there. But nothing was burn, broken, or bleeding. "The Blackbird? Grandmother?"

"We've got them. Nate said to wait for you, though. Can you stand?"

"Oh, for this I can stand, dance and run a marathon," I told her, sitting up. I rode out a wave of diziness and got to my bare feet, felt them sting a little. My mouth tasted of the sea, and I could feel salt and sand in places best left unmentioned. I was suddenly starved, and I would have loved to wash my mouth if nothing else, but I didn't care. I wanted to see how it ended between Koschei and Baba Yaga.

I'd been lying in a bed that dominated a small room, probably a guest bedroom. My duster had been tossed at the feet of it, and I snagged it as I went, Mouse jumping down lightly to follow Parker and me. On top of a chest of drawers that matched the bed were the rest of my things, and I gave her an amused look. "All together in the same place?"

She grinned at me. "Amateurs. Oh." She rushed back into the room, grabbed a small bundle from the bed, and brought it back to me as I shrugged on the duster. "Nate said you should have this."

I looked down at a familiar bundle wrapped in a plain tablecloth and a lot of duct tape, and a few things made sense. "Fried your bud when you read it, didn't it."

She nodded.

"I should've thought of that."

"Harry, we all should've thought of that. We didn't. I should've got a mirror piece anyways, but I didn't." She shrugged easily. "It still worked out. I stole your earclip," she informed me lightly as she opened the door. My staff was resting by it, and I grabbed it as I followed.

We stepped out onto a hallway and golden light; just past the door, Eliot and Hardison were talking to a man with ash-brown hair cut very short and sharp eyes, dressed casually except for the Red Sox jacket and the discreet bulge of a gun, and a woman with long blonde hair, keen blue eyes and strong, mobile features, dressed as if she'd thrown on the first thing she could find when she'd jumped out of bed, her badge and her gun worn on her belt. Both of them had that unmistakable set to their shoulders of a cop on the trail of something important. He asked them something in the thickest Boston accent I'd yet heard of anyone, and all four of them chuckled low.

Hardison handed him Wattsford's little black notebook. Eliot handed her the sheaf of folders.

"That him?" The man shuffled through the notebook, his face going hard, before he looked up and pointed at me, back to his casual, easy manner. Parker, ironically, didn't get more than an admiring look from both of them, and why should she? She wasn't wearing the skin-fitted black of a thief, she was dressed like someone who'd come to a party.

"I didn't do anything," I replied automatically.

"Yeah, that's him," the woman confirmed with a touch of dark humor to her voice.

I sputtered, vaguely insulted. What's the point of proclaiming your innocence if no one's gonna even pretend to believe you?

"Harry is a consultant," Eliot told them both mildly. "He'll be going home soon, and hopefully we won't be getting him in trouble for a while."

"Like you never get me in trouble?" the man shot back, all amusement, but they all shook hands and parted ways amicably enough.

Eliot and Hardison came over to meet us. The hacker could barely take his eyes off Parker, so it was the hitter who offered me his hand, his eyes dancing, his smile warm as ever. "Sir."

"Sir." I shook his hand back. "I swear I didn't do any of it on purpose."

"The hell you didn't." Eliot snorted in amusement. "I'm glad you're on our side, Harry."

"Til the day I die," I assured him.

"May it be long in coming," he replied as if he were reciting a prayer. "Now come on. Time to finish this."

I followed them down the hallway to the main area of the mansion. "So the van did work, or did you and my dog run all the way across the grounds?"

"I absolutely don't doubt Mouse could run the distance and carry me," Hardison admitted. "I don't run if I can help it, it's undignified. The van did work, it's still working, actually. As much as a seven hundred pound computer made of cathode tubes can be said to be working."

"Those were the original computers, no?"

"No! What I made was better, stronger and capable of carrying you around without fritzing or exploding, capable of hacking into the security cameras so I could see where to go without running into the security people, capable of gagging the electrical system without actually frying it so we could pretend you were being all magic-like while I did my job." The hacker looked entirely too pleased with himself. "You brought me a dedicated, single system OS and I hacked it."

"You hacked magic?"

"I damn well hacked magic."

I couldn't very well refute him. Aside from the spider's phone, every single bit of on-site tech had worked because Hardison had strong-armed it into working, no more, no less.

"You did not," Eliot protested wearily, face scrunched up.

"I did."

"He did."

"Don't enc- Harry, don't encourage him."

"But he did."

"He did not - you did not hack magic, man."

"I absolutely did. Tell me how I did not."

"I -" The hitter shot me a look.

I could only shrug. Eliot looked at Parker. "He kinda did a little," she murmured sheepishly, much to his wounded indignation, and we all went into the main receiving room.

FORTY

"Where's everyone?"

Nate turned from inspecting the small, elegant little clavichord in the room, sipping on a cup of very strong coffee, and examined Leverage's consulting wizard. There were deep shadows under Dresden's eyes, and his hair was going every which way, salt hardening it into peaks here and there. His clothing was singed and still faintly damp, and he smelled of the sea. Not for a minute did the mastermind doubt that he was ready for round two, three and twenty, if that was what it took.

Nate didn't believe in people, not overmuch. He believed in his people; he'd worked with them, he'd seen the steel in their souls often enough to know it ran true to the core of them. But of the average person he expected very little, or nothing at all; he'd seen them crumple far too often under the burdens of the world. He didn't hold it against them, not ever. He himself had crumpled once before, like cheap tin. It had been a labor of years to re-cast himself, to find his own steel. In Dresden, that core ran through and then some. What Leverage faced together, relying on one another, the wizard faced alone. His horrors weren't faceless or nameless; they were solid, real and truly monstrous, even if sometimes those monsters were on his side. Harry Dresden had drawn a line on the sand and he would defend it to his destruction, or that of his enemies.

Then again, he'd seen much the same thing when he'd accidentally Soulgazed the wizard. That, and more. For a while after Nate had kept looking down at himself, expecting to find himself spattered to the neck with blood and perplexed that, every time, he wasn't.

"Gone. None of them wanted to stay to talk to the police," he told Dresden. "We asked mister Stone to keep back only the ones that weren't liable to eat anyone." Over one shoulder he looked at a corner of the room. "And the ones that didn't want to leave."

As if summoned by those words, Classy and his people, six in number, rose from where they were sitting or slouching and drew lazily closer. "We're runnin' a legitimate business here," Classy told Nate mildly; he had never put his jacket back on, or rolled down his sleeves. "Ain't got no reason to run from no fuckin' terriers."

"Yes, well," the mastermind agreed in the same even tone. "You do have to admit that's not a common attitude."

Classy shoved his hands in his pockets and snorted in amusement. "Yeah, alright. I'll be fuckin' honest," he added, tipping his chin and grinning maliciously. "I woulda stayed to see how that ends, police or not." His people muttered in agreement.

Dresden turned to look at what Classy had pointed out. Koschei was sprawled on a chair, asleep, snoring faintly. There was a single, long, thin silver chain binding him to the chair, hardly looking like it would keep him there. What might do the job, however, was the immense bird-like creature hovering just behind him, long neck twisting this way and that, a woman's face at the end of it, its eyes a rich, dark gold with black pupils, like a bird's. She was stout and exceedingly fluffy, each feather three colors, red, black and white-tipped, her train made of iridescent black feathers. She was clucking cheerfully to herself like a contented hen.

All around them, the wizard suddenly realized, were the portraits, eight in total, seven fakes and one copy. "Did you have to bring them all?" he asked Nate.

"I wanted to make a point," the mastermind explained, giving him time to take in the rest of the room. Off by the bar, Vanya Fedorov and Nick flanked the woman from the portrait, who'd wrapped an exquisitely knotted blue shawl about her shoulders; it glowed like a piece of the night sky, dark blue studded with tiny winking dots. Grandmother herself looked far more put together, less fragile and wounded, though still as delicate as the cup full of tea in her hands. Nick had found a garishly colorful shirt and a pair of shorts, and no one had forced him to put on shoes, so he looked absolutely delighted at the proceedings, even if there were none currently ongoing to delight him. Next to him, holding onto a glass of something strong she had yet to sip, was Jessamine Lochlin.

By the door to the main drawing room, never taking his gaze off the shark, stood Stone. He was wearing a plain shirt that barely fit him, and his somewhat bedraggled pants, but otherwise looked implacably unharmed.

"What happened to Fedorov's uncle?" Harry asked quietly.

"Fedorov called his father. Hard to tell which one of them was angrier at the betrayal," Nate replied in the same quiet undertone before pitching his voice to carry. "Sophie, go ahead and wake him up."

Beautiful and radiant still despite the night's shenanigans, the grifter came close to the Russian wizard and pulled from his black hair a lacquered comb - the same comb Parker had originally stolen from the Blackbird's pockets. "That better be enough, I'm not kissing him," she warned Nate dryly. Classy and his people snickered, and the leader of the Dredgers cleared his throat with a muttered apology he absolutely didn't mean.

Koschei roused with a snort and a start, tried to lunge out of the chair, and nearly fell. The alkonost clamped a taloned foot on the back of the chair and forced it back down, and the wizard went with it, seething. He opened his mouth and snarled something, paused… and looked utterly stunned when nothing happened.

"Yeah, that." Nate saluted him with his cup. "I wouldn't bother."

"Release me!"

"Uh, no. Not yet anyways. I've got a couple of questions I was hoping -"

"Release me!"

"- you'd answer before we trade you for your heart."

Koschei went white, though it was hard to tell if it was fury or panic. "You cannot imagine what I can do for you, for all of you. All you know of magic is what that brute Dresden has shown you."

"Ouch," Harry muttered without heat.

"Release me. I will grant you anything you desire."

"Yeah, you already made that offer," Nate reminded him mildly. "You already got your answer. Or do you mean them?" He gestured to the Dredgers with his cup. "You guys want anything from the Blackbird?"

"His guts on a platter, his head on a bowl," Classy growled. His people hissed and chattered agreement, all of their eyes burning with a lambent red light. "His fingers and toes to bite and gnaw."

"Um. Need him alive. Sorry."

Classy shrugged, seamlessly going back to his easy mood. "No harm. Figured I'd ask just in case."

"Stone," Koschei began.

"I was fool enough to make one bad bargain with you, wizard. I will make no more," the golem replied calmly.

"You should ask Fedorov," Nate suggested. "I'm sure you've got many things he thinks he wants."

Koschei said nothing, glaring furiously at the mastermind, and Nate sipped at his coffee. "But it's not so easy, is it, to tempt a man who knows that what he wants and what he needs are two different things. Who knows that those things aren't always going to agree with one another." He pinned a level look on the Russian enforcer. "Or is this because he already made his choice, and there's some sort of prohibition between the two of you?" He gestured lightly at the hand gently squeezing Grandmother's shoulder. "When a Royal chooses one of you, the other can't interfere?"

Koschei exploded into profanities in Russian, as well as a couple of other languages that made Eliot's brows climb nearly to his hairline. Grandmother reached out to pat Fedorov's hand, but the enforcer looked nothing if not confused.

"You don't look like the men in your family," the mastermind told Fedorov. "I mean, obviously that's not an absolute, like genetic testing, but it's pretty telling when you don't look at all like any of the men in your family. We looked them up. Not one. You look like your mother, though. Same eyes, same hair. All the way back seven generations or so. The Sagorovs might have taken you in, but you're not a blood-relation."

"Yes, but -" Vanya hesitated. "My mother was… a casualty of the family's business. They made amends by taking care of me. What does that have to do with anything?"

"She wasn't a casualty, she was the target. His target." Nate gestured at the frothing wizard. "It left you alone, vulnerable at a young age. But then the family stepped in, and he saw the potential for an even bigger payout if he just waited. A high-ranking member of the Russian mafia and a Fyodorov? You don't find a lot of those lying around these days."

Fedorov pressed his mouth to a thin line.

"That's the problem with paper records," the mastermind pointed out mildly. "They tend to stick around for a long, long time."

"How did you know?"

"The invitation," Sophie murmured. "The coat of arms embossed on it was for the Russian Tsars. It just took me a little while to remember it, it hasn't been used for so long."

"I am not this thing. I am me. I am my own man."

"You just saved Grandmother from her greatest enemy in pitched battle." Dresden's voice was very calm, in spite of the surprises rolling out to smack everyone in the face. "Heroes do that. Princes do that."

"Do not call him that," Baba Yaga's voice crackled through the tension in the room. "He has chosen to be prince of a different empire, and that is his choice. As it should be." She leveled a cool, disappointed glare on Koschei. "How can this lesson not sink in after all these centuries, Kostya? We do not choose them, they choose us. Always."

"I don't have the patience for your maudlin beggary. They are mortal, and weak, and flawed. They are tools to be put to use, nothing else. They are power. My power."

"And you wonder why no one likes you," Fedorov commented, then crouched by Baba Yaga. "All I have ever wanted to be is my own man. I do not ask for favors easily." He shot Nate a look. "The price is always far more than one is willing to pay. I would ask only one thing of you, Grandmother." He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a bundled handkerchief. Unwrapping it, he offered her the small, oddly shaped, carved wooden cup, a chicken bone tucked neatly inside it. "I would know what you think of me."

She gasped, and took the cup with wrinkled fingers. Then she looked up and smiled at him. "You already know, little prince. I think you are more than worthy. I think any path you choose should be proud to have you." She touched his cheek lightly and, Russian enforcer or not, he flushed faintly under her praise.

Koschei strained against his bonds with a high-pitched, strangled howl, before going limp in the chair. "So," he growled at Nate. "You win. You would make an enemy of me for all the days of your miserable mortal life. I hope it was worth it."

"Sort of," the mastermind replied. "See, Dresden is supposed to just be our consultant. Answer questions, provide information, that sort of thing. Things, eh, escalated, but he still made time for the information bit, and one thing he made real clear is that you like to carry grudges. You really do. So part of doing all this was also making sure you can't do that to my people, or to him."

"And what will you do, kill me?" Koschei laughed darkly at him.

"We could, I suppose, but we really don't kill people unless we have to."

"I am immortal," the wizard laughed.

"No," Dresden countered. "You just hid your heart so well even death couldn't find it. But then you went and dug it out." He rapped his staff lightly on the floor, and one of the portraits began to glow faintly, as if illuminated by a light behind it. "Worse, you went and dug up the keys to open your little magical lockbox, the same keys where you trapped your death. You might not be a necromancer, but man," Dresden shook his head. "I've walked the edge, and I thought I was close, but you make it look like I was hiking fifty miles from the Damocles Doom."

"A feeble threat from a feeble pack of feeble old men."

"You've been out of the loop. They've got women and everything in the Council these days. Real modern of them."

"You don't have the keys, I stole them back from Dresden's home."

"You made the most basic of mistakes." Sophie came up behind Koschei, just close enough to purr against his ear with Ekaterina's Russian accent before she straightened up and abandoned the persona altogether. "You forgot the first rule of the grift: always keep your eyes on the mark." She moved to stand by Nate.

"You kept looking for heroes," the mastermind sipped at his cup, "because you're used to fighting heroes. But the one hero you found, you kinda. Well. Brought him on yourself." He saluted Fedorov with his cup before giving Koschei his attention once again. "But we're not heroes. We're conmen. And you just fell for the oldest con: the shell game. " He moved to his feet and reached into his pocket, pulling from it the plastic chess piece. "In a tower."

The frame of the portrait began to glow with its own light, as it had back in the vault of the MFA. There, among the gilt and the filigree in the ancient wood, Nate found the carving of the tower, pressed the chess piece against it, and was unsurprised at last to see it sink in seamlessly.

"In a box," Eliot said, reaching for the box of matches Harry had thrown at him so carelessly. It had a treasure chest painted on top, and it was still half-full of matches. The little drawing led the hitter to the right place on the frame.

"I stole those from you," Koschei sounded strangled.

"Did you?" Nate asked casually. "Because we had a set at the safehouse, a set at the pub -"

"A set in Lucille," Hardison pointed out.

"And in the u-Haul," Eliot added, stepping aside for Parker, who frowned minutely at the frame until she found the carving of a rabbit missing a foot, and grinned victoriously as she did magic all on her own. "Inside a rabbit."

Hardison came up behind her. "You look absolutely glorious doing magic," he murmured, blindly shoving the duck-shaped whistle at the frame.

She beamed at him. "I do magic all the time," she replied just as quietly. "Pay at- Hardison, pay attention!"

"Hardison!" Eliot hissed, forcing the hacker to actually focus.

"Alright, ok! Messing up my rhythm here," he grumbled. He was one of the few people present who could reach the top of the frame and return the duck to its graven, flying flock.

"You see, our consultant explained something to us called a Mirror-Mask. When you bind several items together to make it look like they're all the real thing." Nate looked pointedly around. "I think you might have heard of it. Of course you were going to try and steal the keys, that's just common sense. All we had to do was make you think you'd succeeded. Make it, ah," he glanced at Dresden, "believable."

"The real set was never together, not after the first time," Sophie told Koschei mildly. "The best way to keep a magical item from being tracked is to have it always on the move. Harry taught us that too." She grinned at him. "And your own magic to hide the items did the rest of the job." From her purse she pulled the egg, and pressed it lightly to the bottom of the frame.

The painted emerald brooch burst into radiant color, bright enough to dazzle everyone present for a moment. Sophie brought out the key and bit her lip. "Are you sure, Harry?"

"You won't damage it," the wizard assured her.

She lifted the key and put it lightly against the brooch. It sank into the light as if into a lock. The grifter tested it one way, then the other, and slid it around a quarter turn, then another, before pulling it out.

With it came a black velvet bag the size of a man's head, secured with a golden cord, weighted at the ends with cabochon diamonds, each as big as a quarter, one pure, one black. Eliot caught the bag by the strings before it could drop from the key. "Heavy," he commented, his expression full of uncertain anticipation.

Sophie reached for the bag, hesitated, reached again and then took a full step back. "Parker."

"Dresden," Nate added.

"Mister Act," Harry said at once.

"The hell d'yer want me for, wizard?" Classy exclaimed, caught completely by surprise.

"To find out if it's booby-trapped," the wizard replied evenly.

"… Oh."

The bag was set on a small lacquered table, and all three bend down to stare curiously at it. Classy sniffed it lightly. "Dust. Time. Magic. No poison, no bugs, nothin' that bites or stings." He leaned even closer and licked the black velvet, then spat off to one side. "Night's breath and rowan ash. Their power's wore off with time, 's nothing but crap tea and soot."

"No hexes, no curses," Harry agreed. At Classy's dictum he gingerly laid a gentle hand on the velvet, then pulled it back, wriggling his fingers.

"Don't trust me, wizard?" Classy challenged.

"I do," Dresden replied evenly, then shrugged in the direction of the bar. "But I just spend a whole evening sneaking suppression potions into people's drinks. I made sure not to get you or your people, but you say rowan ash and I get paranoid."

The Dredger stared at him open-mouthed before he started cackling. "The Witchwell. That's how you made it work."

Parker ran her hands smoothly over the rich velvet. "There's nothing here but the one thing." She untied the cord and reached in.

The jewel filled both her hands. The emerald was immense, the same vitriolic green of its owner's eyes, flawless, shaped into an oval and set into a frame of platinum that made one dizzy if stared at for too long. Parker turned it this way and that, held it up to the light. Behind her, Sophie breathed out in disbelief. The thief suddenly shuddered and put it down abruptly. "It's wriggling," she declared tightly.

Sophie put her fingertips to it. "The Emerald Heart of Koschei the Deathless," she murmured. She could just feel the faint tremors of a heartbeat against her skin. "It's real."

"And untouchable," Koschei told them smugly. "Go on. Ask mister Stone to break it. Ask Grandmother to grind it up in her mortar. Ask. You do not have the final key, you did not find it, did you. You cannot touch me."

"We did not find it," Nate admitted readily. "We're just conmen. But you brought a hero into the mix," he told the Russian wizard mildly. "And he did find it, rattling around inside a chicken bone. Or what, did you think when you stole it, that we somehow miraculously found another chicken bone with a needle in it?" The mastermind's tone suddenly went to lethal ice. "Dresden."

Without hesitation, Harry pulled off the pin secured to the top of his shirt and flicked off the little mirror shard at the top.

"You cannot kill me." Koschei's panicked voice was a wheeze. "Your Council will murder you for it."

Dresden seemed to consider that. "True. Hey, Fedorov -"

"Wait!" Koschei shrieked. "What do you want, you must want something, everyone wants something. There is always something!"

"There is," Nate agreed, and gestured to the painting. "Tonight you were going to lock Grandmother in there with your heart, and finally do what you couldn't pull off all those centuries ago. You'd taken all the tools she uses for her magic, the mortar, the pestle, the shawl - left her her house, though, that's nice of you." He nodded at the alkonost who curtsied gracefully back. "You were going to lock her in there, and let the curse on the heart do what it was always meant to do. Sell the painting and wash your hands of her fate while you stole her power. So, instead, you're going to step in that cage. We're going to throw your heart in with you and we're going to lock the door. And then that lovely lady over there," he pointed at Jessamine, "is going to take you back to her museum. And if you're lucky, by the time you get out, your heart will have left you enough magic to fill up a thimble." He leaned back, once again the harmless, slightly rumpled, friendly man he could pretend to be so flawlessly. "But you'll be alive, though."

"There must be something you want," Koschei croaked, his eyes gone to rolling green pebbles in his corpse-white face.

"Probably lots of things," Nate admitted. "But I know the difference between what I want and what I need. And since we dosed you with a full suppression potion before we started this conversation, I don't think you're in any shape to offer me either."

FORTY ONE

The Dredgers boxed up the portrait after Dresden pulled the keys back out, and Eliot and Parker carried it out for Jess. The hitter excused himself discreetly, and both young women stared uncomfortably at anything but one another in the dark next to the u-Haul van.

"So you're a thief?"

"Sort of."

"Were you gonna - 'cuz I mean. I never got that vibe from you, that you were using me to steal from me."

"No!" Parker exclaimed. "No, I was, I wanted to work with you, 'cuz it was fun, and you were fun, and we could make plans, and then take 'em apart, and that was so much fun and that's what you're supposed to do with friends, have fun, except now I ruined everything and, and-"

"Alright!" Jess threw her hands out to try and stave off the deluge. She chewed angrily on her lip. "You don't have a lot of friends, do you."

Parker shrugged. "You just met them all but one."

"Oh my gosh," Jess tugged on her curling hair. "I mean, I'm not saying it wasn't fun, but you lied to me. Like, big lies! Important lies!"

"I know. I just… You wouldn't have wanted to make friends with a thief."

"Well… No, I guess not."

"But it was fun?" Parker asked tentatively.

Jess, flustered, wriggled uncomfortably in place. "So what's your real name?"

"Parker."

"Parker what?"

"No, just Parker."

"Well, there goes your free membership," Jess told her sternly.

"Ok, that's fair," the thief agreed, crestfallen.

The silence lingered and grew.

"So you're an art thief."

"Thief-thief, mostly."

"You wouldn't happen to know, you know. The Dutch Gallery."

"I know who did it, but they don't have them anymore, they sold them."

Jess let out an irate little squeal, stomping a foot. "I don't suppose that you'd want to. Do like a. Counter… heist?"

Parker's glum expression shattered under a burst of sunny, delighted surprise. "Would I ever."

"Well, good!" Jess nodded stoutly, then offered a hand. "Hello. I'm Jessamine Lochlin, and I've got a proposition for you."

Parker reached out to shake the young curator's hand. "Hi. I'm Parker, and I'm all ears."

FORTY TWO

"Wizard."

I turned to find myself nose to chest with Stone. "Oh, good," I said in a tone that implied the golem's presence was anything but.

"We made a bargain, you and I, back at the boat-house. That the building is no longer there is not a valid excuse to welsh on it."

"I'm not welshing on it. I'm just not keeping up all that well with local events. The boat-house's gone?"

"You tore multiple holes into the building and then called up a tidal wave, wizard," Stone gave me a look as deadpan as his tone. "What did you expect would happen to it?"

I shrugged. I hadn't exactly been planning ahead beyond getting rid of the zmei. "Come with me. Hey, Ford, a word?"

The mastermind turned to look at me, then up at the golem. "I don't know that I have the energy to deal with your friends tonight, Dresden," he declared wearily.

"Well, you're in luck because this one actually is a friend. Did Eliot and Hardison ever talk to you about the moonlighting I did with them?"

"Yes, briefly. But they also mentioned it was not likely to happen again once you go home."

"To you, no. You're human. But it occurs to me, what if you had a group of non-humans doing what you do?"

Ford opened his mouth. He said nothing, closed it. Looked up at Stone.

"I don't follow," the golem admitted.

"Ford and his people run a small operation. Very neat, very tidy, very challenging," I explained, hoping the mastermind would catch the emphasis on the last word.

"We help people," Ford jumped in. "We help people who have lost the war. We come into a situation when the odds are entirely against us. When our customers have had hope and spirit crushed out of them by companies, by governments, by forces that seem too big, to powerful for any one person to challenge, let alone defeat. Our monsters aren't solid," he gestured at the painting, "but they are real. And so are the challenges."

The golem looked most definitely intrigued. "I don't see how this applies to me. Are you offering me a job?"

"Not exactly," Ford demurred. "You see, while we were working on Grandmother's case, a couple of people approached us. One was a seal-woman."

"Looking for her skin?"

"Looking for her fourteen-year-old daughter's skin."

The golem straightened up sharply. "Was it found?"

I liked him for asking that question. Never mind what he might say about ethics or morals, Stone still had, somewhere under the granite exterior, an awareness of right and wrong.

"We did, and we also managed to sneak in some information to the authorities that won't compromise any other potential seal-women out there, but that will make the lives of the men involved very, very difficult." Nate gestured. "Abstract enemy. Lost fight. We still pulled a win. But… they aren't going to come to us anymore."

"You're human," the golem said thoughtfully.

"You aren't," the mastermind pointed out. "We could, in theory, provide you with the infrastructure, with training, with advice come from our experience fighting these fights. While you, and your team, can reach out to Boston's supernatural community in a way we can't. You can provide them with the… leverage they lack."

Stone was silent a long, long time, looking deeply thoughtful. "I have no team. I would not involve my security people in this matter. They are good at what they do, but that is very much all they are good at."

"Can I make a suggestion about that?" I raised my hand.

"This was your idea and your bargain, wizard. Suggest."

"Nick!"

The shark, who'd been demolishing what was left of the buffet, came trotting over. "Wizard! Tell me you have more fights to offer. This has been the best night since I came to your world."

"No," Stone said stiffly.

"Uh, well, you know," Ford spoke before I could. "Nick's the one who sniffed out Dresden for the seal-woman. He's been nothing but good about following directions tonight, on nearly no notice. And you know he'll never be afraid to call you out if he thinks you're going about a job the wrong way." His eyes strayed to Sophie. "Personal experience talking here, that is incredibly important to the job."

Stone looked down at the niuhi, frowning. Nick beamed up at him, then at me. "Lots of seal-women out there who need help, Nick," I told him casually. "Lots of other people, too, and no one's helping them."

The shark snorted. "You think I could help anyone, wizard? Biting makes as many problems as it solves!"

"Untrue," Stone said. "Biting can absolutely solve many problems without creating more, as long as they are the right problems."

"I'm not very good at telling the difference."

The golem sighed. "I am." He faced Ford. "Perhaps we should speak after all, you and the shark and I."

The three of them walked away and I breathed a sigh of relief. Was the night over yet? I wanted nothing more than a blessedly hot shower, a fresh change of clothes, and a bed, any bed. Maybe just a couch. A sleeping bag. Or a couple of blank-

"You got somethin' of mine, wizard."

I turned. Classy had approached me alone, and I knew his people well enough to recognize the respect and deference he was showing me. Unfortunately, that didn't help me understand what he was saying, and I stared at him with what I knew was a blank, dumb expression on my face. "I do?"

The Dredger stopped playing with the thin silver chain he'd loaned Ford to contain Koschei. It looked like nothing but a silvery piece of jewelry in his hands. He cocked a brow at me. "Ford said you had it."

"He did?"

Classy peered curiously at my face, and broke into low snickers. "Long night, wizard?"

I could only groan in reply. "I feel like I've been put through a wringer and run over a few miles of bad road until all the soft bits are raw -" It hit me then, with the unpleasant mental image. "Oh, I do have something of yours!"

"There you are, found the one thinky bit ain't fallin' down tired," the Dredger cheered me on as I groped around inside my trenchcoat.

"You guys coming out alright out of this one?"

"Well enough." He shrugged, then pointed to where Sophie was having an animated conversation with his people. "Learning about this thing called a Zanzibar market. Humans are fuckin' brilliant, wizard. You think you got one up on them and they're a fucking dozen steps ahead already. Ah, there's my beauty."

I handed over the Burning Witchwell. "You know the thing's nearly empty, right?"

"I know. Blackbird promised he'd empty it for us, lying crow's arsehole. Ain't in the business of killing me own fuckin' customers, wizard. The Witchwell's what I want, not the poison innit."

"Well, hell, if that's all you want I can empty it for you."

"Right?" The Dredger brightened up. "What's yer fee?"

"You know the Bag of Winds Ying Ying Amarin wanted?"

He grinned and winked at me. "You want a stitch or three should come loose on it?"

"That sounds perfect, unless it's gonna get you in trouble."

He cackled. "Caveat emptor, wizard. We're Dredgers. We find what's not to be found. We get into places and things we don't got no business puttin' our hands an' our mouths an' our teeth on. Ain't no one better'n us at what we do. You do business with us at your own risk an' peril." He gave me a yellow-toothed grin and offered me a hand to shake.

I took it without hesitation. "You mind if I do it tomorrow after I get enough sleep to maybe not kill myself and everyone else around?"

He laughed merrily and walked away.

FORTY THREE

The morning of the day after the party broke sunny, warm and beautiful, the sort that promised a hot, breezy summer noon, a perfect day to head down to the beach. Boston stirred under the clattering of the T and the scent of hundreds of little coffee shops, and the tidal wave was no longer the biggest bit of news.

Nate and Hardison met Stone on the steps of the Back Bay Station. Hardison handed the golem the spider's phone. Stone, once again dressed impeccably in a custom-tailored turtleneck and dress slacks, took it with care and tapped his thumb lightly on it. His surprise when the screen actually lit up was very obvious. "I was unaware such a thing was possible," he admitted. "You're giving me a very rare treasure, mister Hardison."

"You're gonna need it. At least until you can get a different setup. You can do tech and magic, you just gotta be willing to, you know. Compromise."

"You do understand this is temporary?" Nate told the golem. "We're not going to handhold you. You don't answer to us. We'll help you set up, but the job's yours, you and your people."

Stone seemed to think very carefully on his answer. "I have worked for someone or another for nearly all of my existence," he explained. "My security firm is the first attempt I have ever made at others working for me, and yet… it was still me, working for someone else. I think this opportunity you offer me, mister Ford - I think it is everything the wizard promised." He smiled thinly. "And I do have the shark to keep me honest."

Nate couldn't help but be a little amused at that. "In that case, here's something to remember today by." He handed over the plain plastic chess tower.

Stone stared at it, then pocketed it. "It will be kept safe as long as I can do such a thing."

Across the Concourse, Harry Dresden, professional wizard, was staring at the growing rivers of people coming and going, a trickle quickly turning into a flood. Boston was beautiful, alive, a city as worthy of attention and devotion as any other.

He couldn't wait to go home.

"Wizard," Classy's rough voice called out, and Harry turned. The Dredger, flanked by two of his people, came up to the wizard sedately, blinking a bit in the bright morning light. The wizard offered him the wrapped-up bundle of the Witchwell, sans duct-tape; Classy dug the small cylinder out and shook it. "Not a fuckin' drop. You do good work, wizard."

"Well, you know. When someone's not trying to kill me."

Classy chuckled. "All said, I'm glad this ain't your turf. Don't fancy the fight if we had to go up against you."

"Nicest thing anyone's said about me in a while," Harry assured the Dredger, and they shook hands. "Stay alive, mister Act."

"Same, mister Dresden. Safe travels and all that crap." The Dredgers turned and walked away, pausing briefly to nod politely at Sophie as they crossed paths.

The grifter was leading Parker and Eliot, and she hugged Harry without hesitation. "Oh, I feel like we ought to keep you here for a month, just to give all those bruises a chance to heal," she protested mildly.

"Believe me, I'm going home in one piece. That's more than I usually get," Harry assured her sheepishly.

"I really did mean it, you know. You were only supposed to be a consultant."

"I did consult," he replied with a lopsided grin. "This is the easiest consulting I've ever done. You told me everything I needed to know, you let me sleep, you fed me. Watered me. Watered me a lot." She had to grin at that. "Hot showers every day, dang. Doesn't get much better than that."

She pulled away, and Eliot offered his hand. "It's all the hot showers, huh?"

"I have no idea what your water heater's made of, but you should invest in the company."

Eliot, who wasn't about to tell Harry the water heaters at both the loft and the safehouse had been replaced three times, merely beamed at the wizard as they shook hands. "Sir."

"Sir."

"You're a good man, Harry. Violence doesn't make you a bad man." He shrugged a little. "It's just a thing we have to do sometimes. You're not responsible for other people's choices, no one is but them."

The wizard's grin stuttered. "You make it sound like it's easy."

"Hardest thing in the world, my man," the hitter admitted. "Because you gotta convince yourself of it every day, every time you get up and look in the mirror. Just remember: forehead to nose, not nose to nose."

"Elbow, not wrist," Harry repeated dutifully, his grin returning. "Or I just hit them with magic really, really hard."

Eliot laughed. "Or that." He bent down to ruffle Mouse's ears and ruff roughly, much to the young dog's delight, while Parker came to stand before Harry.

"Are you really going to be alright?"

"I mean, I'm probably gonna get some version of yelled at for not reporting the Blackbird thing," he admitted, punctiliously honest with her as he'd tried to be all along. "Are you? With Jess, I mean?"

"Oh, yeah, we're good. We're gonna be - we've got plans. We're good. Harry? Thank for you asking."

"Thank you for accepting me. Me, and what I am."

"But it's magic," she protested. "Who wouldn't?"

The wizard didn't say anything, he merely cut his gaze to one side. She turned and looked. "Oh. Right."

Nate and Hardison joined the little group, and the hacker offered his hand with a grin. "Mister Hacker," he said solemnly.

A snort of laughter burst out of Harry, and he offered his hand. "Mister Wizard," he replied.

"I am," Hardison agreed. "And you are. You know, I had the theory in my head, the thought that we were just two sides of the same coin. I'm glad I was right."

"I am super envious of everything you can accomplish," Dresden admitted readily. "Let's start there. But mostly I'm also so mad that we can't do more. If you ever figure out how we can work together without me frying all your equipment, I'll be the first one there."

"Holding you to that, Dresden."

"You bet."

Nate stared very levelly at the wizard. Harry stared just as levelly back.

"Walk with me, Dresden."

"My train -"

"- doesn't leave until Hardison lets it."

The two men walked across one edge of the Concourse, with the mastermind lost in thought. After a few moments, he reached into his jacket and offered Harry a plain white envelope. "Your pay. Plus incidentals, and so on."

"Jeez," Harry stared at the envelope, then pocketed it inside his duster. "Thank you."

Nate stopped and turned to face the wizard. "You did magic."

"I did."

The mastermind shook his head. "You know, after the MFA, Sophie was explaining it to me. She described it as being sheep in a pen facing a man with a shotgun."

"It's not… entirely wrong. But also not completely right."

"No?"

Dresden smiled thinly. "Sometimes the sheep have shotguns, too."

Nate made a faintly amused sound. "Sometimes the sheep hire a wizard."

"And now you know where ninety percent of my work comes from. Congratulations, another puzzle solved," Dresden teased.

"Yes, but -"

"But you don't like the shape of it?" The wizard shrugged. "Neither does most of the world. Give it time, Ford. In a few months you'll be looking for explanations, twisting your memories into things that fit your reality better. In a year you won't think twice about it."

"You make it sound so easy."

"That's because I've seen it happen most of my adult life, and all of my professional life."

Nate thought very carefully on that. "I don't like that. I don't like thinking that the only way this works is if I lie to myself. I'm not interested in being comfortable, or I wouldn't do what I do. I don't want, I don't need the world to be in order, Dresden. I need it to be fair."

"That's our job, not the world's," the wizard replied simply. "We make it fair."

Nate chewed on that. "So it is."

"Besides, I doubt Parker's gonna let you forget that magic's a thing that happens. And hell, there's Sophie right there with you, Ford. If you don't look at her and see what she does is magic, I'm not sure I can help you. I'm not sure anyone can."

That did make the mastermind grin, however crookedly. He turned and offered his hand. "Pleasure doing business with you, mister Dresden. Can I add your number to our Rolodex?"

Harry shook it amicably. "Absolutely. Unless it's Portland."

"Worse than Boston?" They started walking back to the team.

"You have no idea. Besides, you'd have local help there if you needed it."

"Another wizard?"

"No." Harry gestured vaguely, as if to organize his thoughts before he spoke. "Do you happen to know what a Grimm is?"

[bnnywngs]

in a world where lan qiren is a good teacher, wei wuxian has extra classes for advanced knowledge in basically everything, and has music tutoring class with lan xichen.

after the first class, before they ended the class itself, wei wuxian was rushed to lan qiren's office with his dizi in hand.

"xichen? what is the meaning of this?"

lan xichen, looking baffled with his own xiao in hand: "wei-gongzi is a music genius."

"a genius?*

"yes." lan xichen nodded "i haven't taught this song yet. wei-gongzi, please play it after i finish."

lan qiren looked at them with slight suspicious and serious curiosity.

the lan heir started with a soft note, beginning a famous gusu lullaby that was mostly known only to their people. wei wuxian payed attention, moving his head with the rhythm.

after lan xichen finished, he nodded to wei wuxian so he could begin to play too.

and play he did. no note out of place, exactly as lan xichen played just a moment ago. as if he already knew or had the music sheet in front of him - but, alas, he has his eyes closed almost in concentration.

"and he did not know this song previously?" lan qiren asked in shock.

"no, xiansheng..." wei wuxian answered almost shyly.

"i see."

lan xichen nodded "he needs another teacher."

"he does. as you said, he is a genius."

"ah..." wei wuxian looked slightly uncomfortable, a light pink shade on the bridge of his nose that wasn't there a second ago.

"you are also a genius in cultivation, as i've heard." lan qiren continued "more advanced than i thought you were." he sighed "we will be shifting you to other classes, please continue to pay attention and ask us for anything if you need help."

"th-thank you?" wei wuxian looked confused, but excited.

he was released after that, free of any schedule for the rest of the day as his teachers were set to meet and talk about him to find better ones for minds like his.

"what did yunmeng jiang did until now that no one has heard of his work?" lan qiren sighed.

"shufu... i fear he is stifled by the madam. from what i've heard from wei-gongzi himself."

"mn." lan qiren stroke his goatee "at least we have a time with him where we can nourish his mind. ideally, we should ask for him to stay another year."

"wangji would be happy." lan xichen chuckled.

"yes..." lan qiren's voice got a light tone of calculating "he would."

[katealpha]

Art by Art by @Dizy Wata ToonS

—-—————————————-

Halloween 2024

After the pervious stream, Nina went completely radio silent outside of social media. Other than posts about her condition and other topics, her only major announcement was that she would be staying home for the 31st, saying that the serpents in contact with her believed that leaving the house at the current point in gestation would put her in serious danger.

The newest stream began at 6 pm. The camera activated, pointing into the penthouse’s kitchen before Nina slowly waddled around the camera and into frame, wearing a rather seductive hollow dress. One that was commonly depicted in memes as of late. She was noticeably bigger than the week previous, but not drastically. Immediately it could be seen that she was in a dower mood, pouting and looking rather distracted.

“Ugh…hey everyone…thought I’d dress up for Halloween…yaaaay…” Nina moaned as she waved her hands weakly. “Sorry I’m not smiling, but I feel so fucking bloated right now, I can’t even be bothered. I was gonna eat candy on stream, but I….ate all of it throughout the day. I think all that chocolate did something inside, because I haven’t had a single craving since…I wanna say three hours. My guts have just felt like complete crap…one sec.”

A rumble audibly passed through her body and she forced out a deep, loud belch.

“BOOOOOOUUURP!!!”

Nina waved her hand in front of her face. “Blegh, too many butterfingers. But uh, I hope you all like the dress. It was the only thing I really had laying around that my belly would fit inside comfortably. Not even my lobster onesie. Honestly, I just can’t wait for these things to get out of me.” She sighed and began to stroke her hand over her belly. “It was a little fun, and I’m not gonna let the money I get from this go to waste, but I have never felt so internally…off…than I do right now. Like, I’m growing aliens in my body, and it feels like yesterday I was skinny. It’s all gone so fast for me, and I want my body back to myself. If any of yall out there watching wanna go and do it, honestly, it’s not the worst thing you can do to get money quick, but don’t do what I did and stay home. Stay on the damn ship so you aren’t spending over 5,000 on food. I’m not kidding, all 5,000 of that went right in here to my b-“

As she was rambling and complaining about her condition, a sudden but ominous rumble visibly quivered around her belly. It made her stop and look down, a pained wince crossing her features.

“H-hold on. That didn’t feel right…they’re staring to really squirm in there…”

Nina’s lip scrunched up as she began to poke and prod her belly. But then, her stomach did more than just quiver. It quaked under her dress, another deep rumble bubbling up. Nina gasped loudly and she staggered where she stood.

“Oooohh!! Oh…oh my god…that hurt so bad…was that a…aaagghhhhhh!!!!”

With another quake from inside, Nina grabbed her belly with her hands and tried to move forward from the counter, only to lose her balance and slam down on her side into the camera’s tripod, knocking it over. The camera fell to the floor where all sight of Nina was lost. Only capturing the hardwood floor of the kitchen, the actress was panting and trying her best to speak through the intense contractions she was feeling.

“Aaaaaagghhhhh!! If you can still hear me….it hurts!!! Nina hissed and moaned. “My water just broke…oh my god…I can’t get my phone, and I can’t get up! Someone!! Someone help!!” Nina cried out, her voice strained and panicking. Internal rumbles were heard, alongside Nina’s moans of pain, which were turning into frightened sobs. “Why did I do this to myself…I don’t wanna die like this!! They’re moving so much! I think I’m gonna- oh my god I think I’m gonna…explode!! Somebody please help me!!”

After that last pleasing die help, the sound of a door breaking open was heard. Several feet and pairs of legs were seen crossing the view of the camera, followed by swaying thin black tails with pincers on the end. They spoke in identical, modulated voices.

“Brood Volunteer located! Inducing stasis!” One of the alien creatures called out.

After a brief moment, Nina’s panting went silent. Another alien spoke with a slightly deeper pitch.

“The human should consider herself lucky we were already on our way to bring her to the Annihilator for larval removal. She could have died just now.”

The other serpent spoke up.

“She should be alright now until we bring her to sick bay. Prepping her for extraction now!”

The camera was then picked up by a third serpent who looked directly into the camera. The alien had skin as black as charcoal, with a mouth full of silver teeth, slit nostrils, and a reflective membrane dome where the eyes should be. It grinned softly.

“The human was logging herself on this device. It is still recording. It appears to be broadcasting live.”

In view over the serpent’s shoulder was the other two carrying the massively pregnant across by her wrists and ankles towards the back porch where a bright light was shining through. One of them nodded its head towards its other comrade.

“Deactivate it. She will not be returning for hours.”

After that, the serpent turned the camera around towards the now fluid covered kitchen floor, ending the stream.

Shortly after, eyewitnesses reported seeing a small alien transport fly from the LA skyline towards the massive saucer ship hovering just above the cloud layer.

[mytalemyworld]

I will say this, one thing I hated in Uzak Şehir that I’ve notice in other dizis, for example when the plot for Gizli Bahçe came out. When you have a single mum (often the baby daddy is dead) and the ML is the uncle to the kid, never meets the kid until now but demands to raise the kid and acts like they will raise them better than the mum. I heard in GB that the plot twist was the single mum was also the aunt. But the point remains. Like the plot point of the ML trying to take away a good mother’s child from them for no good reason. I hate it.

I haven't watched Gizli Bahçe and I don't know its plot but yeah, it's really annoying. But this is the main point in Uzak Şehir. The show tells this is not okay. Like, you just sympathize and understand the kid's mother, not the other people. Uzak Şehir exactly does that. The viewers love watching how far a mother can go for her child.

I may write a post about Sadakat Albora's -evil mother- plan later. I think it's a little complicated than "we can take care of the child better" thinking. In UŞ, this is not the matter. But of course it's still wrong and cruel.

[sylviesoothsayer22]

Us Outcasts Oughta Stick Together, No? (Teaser)

Wei Ying x Xie Lian

Premise: What if child!XL caught a glimpse of Heaven's Only Death God? WWX dies like in canon, then became a ghost, performed an outstanding feat, resulting in him promptly ascending. He later befriends XL post-first ascension and becomes his staunchest ally and more....

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a planned multi-chapter crack!fic that has already been outlined. Here's a little sample of what to expect.

There was an odd, cool sensation forming in his fingertips, crawling upwards to his wrists, elbows, shoulders, reaching all the way up to his neck. Draping over him like a blanket. 

The little prince’s eyes fluttered open, confused. 

Strange. He was covered beneath layers of soft fur, all the windows were tightly shut to keep the winter chill at bay, the flames within the fireplace still crackling away. 

The ten year-old boy sat up on his bed, groggily rubbing away the sleep from his eyes.

It didn’t…. it didn’t feel oppressive or scary, so not a nightmare.

Then…?

A low, melodious tune drifted into his chambers. Xie Lian felt goosebumps erupting all over his body. The sound had a soft and ominous feel to it. 

Climbing out of bed, Xie Lian cracked one of his windows open and peeked outside.

The music was coming from the palace’s courtyard. 

Beneath the moon’s glow reflecting on the snow covered ground, the little prince could make out the figure of a man, playing an eerie lullaby with his dizi, swaying to the music, dark robes fluttering with the night breeze in a soothing rhythm. Numerous ghost-fires swirled around him in a slow-moving whirlwind of emerald flames. 

Xie Lian watched, entranced as one-by-one the ghost-fires crumbled away, like ashes in the wind….not dispersed, but gone . 

To Xie Lian, it appeared as if they were no longer a part of this plane of existence. 

The little prince had heard so many sinister tales about Heavens’ Only Death God. How he can only be seen by young children and the dying, how he always brought revenge for those whose lives ended unjustly, how he possesses strange powers that can break the strongest of minds and drive them to insanity. 

But to Xie Lian, he resembled a night siren. Meant to soothe troubled minds and lull them to sweet dreams. 

Pretty…. The child thought, eyelids becoming heavy from the melody, ready to sleep while standing as the god’s song reached its end, movements slowing to a stop. 

The figure suddenly turned around, facing the boy that had been staring at him throughout the whole ritual. 

A handsome face, glowing with the widest of smiles looked back at Xie Lian, moonstone eyes crinkling. The god titled his head to the side, curious.

Xie Lian could only smile back and wave! 

The god paused. Slightly startled at the action. 

Normally whenever a child saw him and recognised Wei Ying for what he was, they would start crying and screaming for their mothers. 

The Death God hesitantly waved back before dissipating into a murder of crows. The whole flock flying away to one direction, never once breaking formation.

What a weird kid…. Wei Ying mused. 

800 years later…

It started as weak, barely noticeable tremors, growing into violent quakes, impossible for the average mortal to remain standing, ultimately escalating to the skies of the very Heavens shattering with lightning.

Many gods, old and young, watched. Most in anticipation, some in irritation at all the ruckus.

But they all couldn’t deny their inquisitiveness, it had been a while and they were curious about the new addition. 

“What a fuss! Just hurry up and ascend already!”

“Any idea on who it might be?”

“No, but whoever they are, they must be strong!”

The blinding light finally died down. Allowing the impromptu crowd to get a good look at the new god.

“Is this some kind of joke?!”

“Why is he here?!”

“This must be a mistake!”

Xie Lian didn’t pay any mind to the sneering crowd of displeased gods. Golden-brown eyes rapidly scanning everyone gathered there, desperately searching for that one familiar face. 

Suddenly, a horse barrels through the mass! Its rider shouting at everyone to move out of the way, dammit!  

The horse looked off and completely out of place beneath Heavens’ brightness. The creature was a deep midnight black with a greyish-green mane, glowing emerald eyes, mist puffing out its nostrils with every breath, the white bones of its ribcage completely exposed through the gaping holes in its sides, as if a great beast had taken a few bites out of it and left it like that. 

An Undead! How could such a foul thing even set foot here?!

The thrice-ascended god let out a cry of relief once he locked eyes with the unholy creature’s rider. 

“Ying’er!”

“Husband!”

“.....”

What?!

Since when did Heavens' Only Death God marry the laughing stock?!

..........

[definesanity]

Authentic, Artificial, & Everything In-Between.

Osmanthus wine, to be given credit, is rather nice.

Despite how oft Morax mused on it, you also have to admit the flavour never gets old to you.

And it's a wonderful distraction from small disagreements from the others.

"All I'm saying is that machines can replicate music, and could help others without musical talent." Haagentus, known by others as Guizhong (and, to you, Dearest Dust), once again tired to explain to Streetward Rambler, gesturing to the small device next to her; a recent creation, able to simulate the sounds of instruments, had also been the cause of the tense smile on Rambler's face.

"And I am saying that it would be fruitless; it wouldn't allow people to grow as individuals, and it has no feeling behind it."

"...One is surprised that you have yet to say a word, Dusk."

Dusk Shrouder: So you gave yourself such a name, for you bridge the gap between Day and Night, using a form mortals have dubbed the tiangou; of course, you were named Dusk and Dawn Shrouder, but depending on the cycle of the year, wherein either the day is longer or the night is, your name is changed accordingly.

"I would be incorrect, Retainer, in both the fact I would be more than a bit biased in Guizhong's favour, and my own instrumental technique."

"Oh? I did not know you played an instrument, Dusk Shrouder." Morax's smooth voice entered the wind, as calm golden eyes met yours. "Pray tell, might I ask more on it?"

"Of course, Morax." You had known the God of Contracts for far longer than you wished to admit; it was strange, seeing the once bloodthirsty God become who he now is but, well, time is a strange thing. "A multitude, from the konghou, to a dizi, to even the pipa... at the very least, those are the ones that have captivated me so.

"As for the bias; my pipa, for example, has a small creation I and Guizhong have made in order to create sounds otherwise impossible for it; say, I wished to make a lower noise, then I would merely..."

Trailing off, you flicked a small switch on it, and plucked a small song you heard, once; with the device, it was able to assist you in deeper plucks.

You didn't realise you played the full three minutes of song, until you came back to the sound of applause. "...I did it again."

Guizhong giggled, gracefully moving towards you. "You did it again; and wonderfully so, I will add. I dare say you could even give Rambler a run for her Mora."

"..." the lady let out a long sigh. "I'll admit that they match me; I am not one to admit superiority, much less give it to others."

You rolled your eyes. Of course, of course...

-----------------

Eventually, you all retired, and you returned back to your abode; it was fashioned after a mortal domain, and even possessed rooms similar to one.

Minus, of course, the God of Dust on your bed.

"Baobai~" her private nickname for you, and one you loved dearly. What was new, however, was the odd pose she was in.

"...Dearest Dust, I am afraid to admit I am lost."

She was on her side, propping her head up on her hand.

And, after a moment, she fell down.

Still, you smiled.

You could only pray that Time will be kind to the both of you.

[dark-dimare]

I wonder if there’s any stories that I just haven’t found- set in canon time, mind. Not modern- of WWX raising JL?

Like, JYL was obviously not entirely mentally stable when she ran into the battlefield that resulted in her death. Her precious brothers fought each other- which resulted in one with a broken arm and the other stabbed and casted out of the sect-, had to sneak out in her wedding robes to visit the brother that couldn’t be there because everyone else hated him, she had just married into a new sect, gave birth, had her husband killed on a day that was supposed to be celebrating their child, heard her brother was the one to kill him, learned that there was now a siege against said brother, and that her other brother was part of the group leading it.

Shit be crazy. But what if she brought JL with her. Maybe she unintentionally did it, like heard of the siege and rushed there regardless of what she was carrying- her baby- or maybe she did it on purpose- unable to trust those around her who kept claiming her A-Xian a bad person or thinking that his presence would calm the siege faster. She knew it would at least help calm WWX, who at that point hadn’t been able to even see his nephew let alone hold him.

Then she gets hit by a corpse. She’s now injured with a baby in her arms. WWX-and maybe JWY, depending on which version you base this is- are now trying to stop the corpses and make sure she’s alright, when she suddenly pushes JL into WWX’s arms and shoved them away, causing WWX to barely avoid getting hit by a sword but causing her to be fatally injured.

Her last words- instead of trying to tell him that she never blamed him- were instead to keep her baby safe.

WWX, also mentally unstable due to the previous incidents that he was present for now even worse because he feels like he just killed his Shijie, panics and leaves with JL. She asked him to keep JL safe, and it is not safe in a battlefield. He disappears further into the Burial Mounds- possibly picking LSZ on the way for some extra family feels, possibly not which results in LWJ finding and raising him instead- and is never found again. Alongside the never found, is WWX’s dizi and sword.

Timeskip forward- maybe at Mo Manor, maybe at Dafen mountain- a boy (or two) and his Dajiu (and dad) start helping the sects solve some wacky mysteries and ohp- looks like it’s JL and WWX. Surprise!

[guqinstrings]

-ˋˏ🌥 ┈┈ @ghcstchild inquired ; ❛  it's nothing.  ❜

   IT’S ALWAYS NOTHING with him when it comes to his own health. That was something learned throughout their shared history. It was always something that brought him irrevocable pain to still think about. Apparently, it never crossed his mind that all he continued to think about were those THIRTEEN YEARS he spent without the other because it was nothing. Still, even now it seemed, Wei Wuxian continued to fail to realize all he had to do was ask for help. 

   When the world stood against him, did he still not realize that Lan Wangji was determined to stay by his side? Regardless of what the Cultivation World threw at them, all he wanted was to protect the man who was currently telling him it was nothing. 

   There are many words that Lan Wangji can say, many that would fit and would even be heard. Despite how much he failed to listen to warnings, he listened at the very least to the words when Lan Wangji spoke. He might not heed the warning, but he listened. However, as many gathered in his throat just as many found themselves choked down. Having the words to say and being able to speak them didn’t always go in tandem with Lan Wangji. He could fill an entire memoir with the words he had for Wei Wuxian, but they would struggle to fall from his lips. 

   So instead of saying them he knelt in front of the other, undoubtedly getting grass stains on his white robes. He would drench them in much more and had for the Cultivator across from him. Reaching his hand out he gently took hold of the thin wrist that held onto the Dizi, tugging it over toward him and turning it so he could look at the cut across his arm. With his Cultivation not what it used to be, Wei Wuxian was much more susceptible to wounds and infections. He was by no means weak, he would never consider this man weak, but he didn’t recover as quickly as Lan Wangji did. 

   Still, to some extent, he was right. The wound wasn’t that bad and he had more than enough supplies on him to take care of the wound. A simple cleaning and bandage would patch the other right up. 

   Letting go of Wei Wuxian’s wrist he reached into his robes for his Qiankun pouch and opened it up. Fetching out the jar of cream and a roll of bandages, he sat both down beside him. Tucking the pouch back away he held his hand out for Wei Wuxian’s own again. He will not force him to let Lan Wangji patch him up, but his heart would be eased and honored if the other let him. 

   “Even nothings require some treatment, Wei Ying.”

[ghcstchild-a]

rumor has it hanguang-jun was manipulated by the yiling laozu... that somehow he was swayed by the music of the yiling laozu's dizi and decided to support him instead of standing firm with the cultivation world... i also heard that the yiling laozu brutally murdered his shijie and jin zixuan... leaving young master jin ling without much of a family...? how horrifying! the yunmeng jiang sect was right to banish him entirely!

RUMORS — always accepting.

DARKNESS SWIRLS WITHIN, a landslide long forgotten amidst the shallow tranquility this new life offered. He's used to this by now, allowing the rumors to run their course, paint him as a villain again and again, until the very idea of him was reduced to this — a tale to scare the children with, a faceless monster so despicable, he deserved it, every last bit of it, torn flesh and broken bones, the Yiling Laozu had it coming.

( but he did, he did, they are dead because of him, shijie's broken smile would haunt him to his last and final grave — didn't she know he loved her the most? )

Oh, but where was their righteousness and pious words when his throat bled from all that screaming? When he crawled out of hell all alone, knuckles bruised and ribs broken, when he shattered, when he lost his mind? They only came to set his world on fire, until the pain of the most horrid death felt better than the cries of those they didn't spare, and he couldn't even scream anymore.

❝ Aren't you forgetting something? ❞ a hollow laugh that comes out of him is a hoarse bark, half-petrified, half-amused, eyes an open wound that never really stopped bleeding — he relishes in the blessing of forgetfulness sometimes, but the horrors, the faces come back to haunt him every night, soothed with an embrace that grounds him in this joke of a reality. Heart aching for the one swayed by the diabolic waltz of Chenqing, ready to tear itself open once more rather than stain his good name with the BLACKNESS of his own — Wei Wuxian wouldn't even dare bleed on the pristine whites of those robes, exhausted from talking to the void again, screaming into it as if it could finally learn how to listen. It wears him out. The memories of home he'll never find his way back to. The raw stench of blood and rotten flesh. It's easy to forget how feeble this body can be sometimes, how fragile. Fingers rub the bridge of his nose, weary and mindless, pointless, as he forgets the name of his accuser, indifferent as he speaks. ❝ The Yiling Laozu also bathed in virgin blood and put horrifying curses on honorable cultivators, summoned demons from beyond the grave and abducted little children. Maybe I put a spell on Hanguang-jun, bound him to my will because I liked him. Do you wish to know what happens to those I do not like? ❞