#if you like lqr so much why don't you just join the lan sect then?????

[crossdressingdeath]

(1/12) So a while ago I *think* someone on your blog brought up an idea making JYL take sides in a post-SSC AU where neither JC nor WWX lost their cores, WWX wanted to marry LWJ, and JC refused. I've been thinking about this in more detail, and I am very unlikely to write it, but I still wanted my thoughts to be Out There (and I don't do twitter so I can't make it a twitter fic), and I hoped you would enjoy the idea as well.

(2/12) Wen remnants are not an issue bc idk since JC didn't get captured and lose his core, WN couldn't have connected with WWX in the aftermath of that, so he tries helping WWX in a different way that ends up with WQ going with him, her branch splitting off and fighting with the SSC, and the sects agreeing to (and actually doing so, supported by both LXC and NMJ) leave them alone afterwards.

(3/12) Post-war, JYL married JZX, leaving WWX and JC alone together. WWX starts night-hunting a lot bc he finds he doesn't actually want to spend that much time with JC without a buffer. He ends up teaming up with LWJ a lot, who still goes where the chaos is, and obviously falls in love with him. They confess, are very happy, and go to LXC, who is very happy.

(4/12) Then LXC approaches JC about a marriage. JC is not happy. JC is like, they're both men! you think that's acceptable? no. and even if it were acceptable, WWX is my 2IC, I need him here. if he wants to get married, I can find him a woman who will stay with the Jiang.

(5/12) LXC is a little shellshocked, goes to tell WWX and LWJ what happened. WWX goes to ask JC what the fuck. JC goes off on a rant, tells WWX he promised to stand by him so he has to stay *home*, with JC. he's not allowed to just *leave*. does he seriously want to abandon the sect that took him in off the streets and raised him and taught him?

(6/12) and what, does he think LWJ will be willing to marry into the Jiang, for *WWX*? the Lans would never go for their sect heir leaving the sect to marry someone of lesser status. and besides, Lotus Pier is still rebuilding, so the Jiang wouldn't be able to put together a proper bride price for the second jade of Lan. it's not going to happen.

(7/12) WWX, depressed, goes to JYL for comfort. JYL is shocked at JC's decision but not sure how to handle it. JZX very awkwardly tries to comfort WWX, starts establishing himself as best brother. Eventually WWX goes back to Lotus Pier because he *is* loyal, but he's torn between nighthunting and maybe encountering LWJ again, which would be painful, or staying in Lotus Pier with JC, which is also painful.

(8/12) They stay in this holding pattern for a while until the next discussion conference, when LQR corners WWX to be angry at him for breaking LWJ's heart. WWX, depressed and angry himself but still polite because he *doesn't* badmouth JC in public, explains that his sect leader is unable to spare him and they could not ask the Lan to spare LWJ, everything JC ranted to him about, etc. 

(9/12) LQR, who had basically convinced himself that JC would only have said no if WWX hadn't actually wanted the marriage (because why the hell else would he turn down a great match and good alliance like that) and that WWX had just been playing with LWJ, is shocked. he can see really clearly that WWX is miserable but filial, and JC really is the problem here. LQR now respects WWX's filial piety, is angry that he respects anything about WWX, and still wants to make his nephew happy.  

(10/12) Cue a pro-marriage conspiracy. JYL has been writing back and forth with LXC about options, so LQR joins their discussions. NHS, who heard about what happened and likes WWX way more than JC, invites himself along. JZX offers the support of the Jin, because he's finding he likes one BIL much better than the other (and JGS is out of the picture somehow; maybe JGY got fed up and murdered him already) and it would make JYL happy if WWX were happy.

(11/12) So while LWJ is miserably fighting chaos somewhere and WWX goes to visit the Wens and daydream about him and LWJ adopting a-Yuan and giving him a good future, everyone else goes to confront JC. LQR emphasizes the match and the alliance, JZX agrees it would be good for Lotus Pier and the post-SSC political landscape generally.

(12/12) NHS pokes at JC's insecurities and is like, WWX is indispensable here? you are incapable of functioning without him? and by the way, that promise you want to hold him to -- didn't he say that he would support you like his father did yours? didn't his father *also* leave to get married? and the whole time, JYL is sitting there, very obviously taking WWX's side. JC caves, because of course he does. WWX and LWJ get to get married and adopt a-Yuan and WWX only rarely has to see JC again.

Oh, that’s fun. I especially like the bit where NHS uses JC’s pride against him by pointedly calling him out on being incapable of functioning without WWX. Very good politicking. I’m imagining NHS with all wide-eyed innocence just being like “Oh? You truly can’t manage without WWX’s help? Weren’t you trained to run a sect? Can’t you find a new second-in-command for the sake of your brother’s happiness?” and basically just pushing and pushing until JC has to either let WWX go or admit that he’s incapable of doing his job without a loyal mega-genius doing most of the work for him.