#madam i would like to apologize in advance

[cloudyxdel]

supper <3

[peachdues]

a little more Kyojuro, for my loves 🤍

@stuckinthewrongworld I apologize in advance, I’ll probably be in your DMs constantly about this one. Same with you, @tearmint

A continuation of the first sneak peek of my new Virgin!cop!Kyojuro x escort/callgirl!Reader fic, teased here

“I have to take you Amane General,” Kyojuro’s voice is gentle and quiet. “It’s protocol.”

Your eyes find his, watching you through his rearview mirror, his own expression that of sorrow. Remorse.

Bitterness creeps up the back of your throat. You loathe pity; you couldn’t stand to see it in the eyes of your newer clients whenever it came time for you to set out the terms of your services. There was always a hint of pity in their eyes, as you explained what you would and wouldn’t do; what their money could and couldn’t buy.

Never was their pity enough to make them walk away; go back to their families, their wives, and spend their fortunes on something worthwhile. It was only ever self-serving; a crumb of penitence that they would turn to later, if for nothing else than to ease their own guilty consciences. They couldn’t be all bad, fumbling for their discarded belts, their ties and suit jackets, if they felt a little bit of pity for the poor girl forced to be their outlet for the night.

By the time they tossed you your earnings and closed the hotel room door, they’d feel markedly lighter. Like they’d done a service, sparing a morsel of concern for some nobody. Besides, they paid well. That alone was enough to offset whatever guilt or shame they felt for dialing your Madam’s number to begin with.

It’s protocol.

Yeah, sure it is. As standard as it was for him to pull you back over the bridge’s ledge. A requirement of his job, not something he did out of any morality of his own. Just business, no different from your dealings with your clientele.

You’ve never cared for their pity, and you sure as hell can’t stand the trace of it in his eyes. You open your mouth, ready to tell him he can take his pity and his fake concern and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine, when you realize he hasn’t looked away.

The acid you’d cooked up to spit his way fizzles out in your throat. Pity, as you’d learned, was fleeting. Always subject to conditions, to limitations. Something to be chucked at the suite door, forgotten when it came time to shed clothes.

But not with Kyojuro. Instead, in his gaze remains that same undercurrent of warmth, the one that needled you into placing your hands on his shoulders, and allow him to pull you back from the bridge’s edge. One born of a genuine concern that, by all accounts, wasn’t part of his job description to give.

A kindness you haven’t known in God knows how long.

—

For the better part of an hour, Kyojuro drives and drives. He makes no effort to talk, save the odd comment about some ad on the radio, or the state of the roads. Everything is topical at best; he does not press. He does not demand. He does not expect.

Another twenty minutes pass before you realize he’s driving in circles. The bridge is only six miles or so from Amane Gen. It would’ve taken him under ten minutes to get there in normal traffic, and even less right now, while the City still slept.

He’s dawdling.

You wait until he completes his next circle around the main interstate before you speak. “Protocol, huh?”

Even from the backseat, you can still see part of his profile; how his cheek raises in a smile. “You said you liked watching the sunrise, right?” Kyojuro inclines his head to the left.

You peer out the passenger window. There, just beyond the skyline of the city, the sky has begun to lighten.

A lump forms in your throat. You’d thought he’d asked you to sit on the left hand side of his car so he could keep a better eye on you in his mirror. But here, strapped into the left passenger backseat of his cruiser, he’s given you an unobstructed view of the east.

“Any moment now.” He says. “It’s pretty spectacular from here.”

And it is; before long, the first streak of pink ripples across the horizon, followed by muted hues of orange and purple. Sleepily, the sun begins peaking over the skyline as it gently coats the city of the new light of dawn.

A tear slips down your cheek, but you do not dare look away.

Kyojuro drives his circles until the sun is well over the top of the tallest skyscrapers. Only when the last ray of pale pink and orange fades into the blue or the sky, does he finally take the exit to Amane General.

Neither of you speak; not until an ER nurse brings a wheelchair to roll you back to the examination area, and even then, it’s Kyojuro who bids you a quiet goodbye, his card pressed into your palm.

It’s probably for the best, you decide as you watch his back retreat through the throng of ER attendees. Thank you wouldn’t have been enough, anyway.

[dreamingonfilm]

✧˖*°࿐ Bruises pt. 2 | d.m

Draco Malfoy x f!reader, angst

Summary: A week after punching Draco, he finally talks to you. But he comes to realize that love isn’t always the answer.

W/C: 1.8k

a/n: thank you all for the support on the first part! i apologize in advance &lt;3

Part 1 - Read part 1 here !

Your friends laughed once more as you described how Draco’s face looked that day you punched him. It has been a week since then and you haven’t stopped thinking about it. The event still coming up a few times a day, as no one would have expected someone as kind as you to be the reason for the bruises left on Malfoy's face.

As the laughter settled down, you couldn’t help but be curious as to how Draco was doing. You haven’t seen him in a week and in all honesty you couldn’t help but wonder why he hasn’t tried to get back at you for what you did. What you didn’t know was that since the day you stood up for yourself, Draco hasn’t been able to get you out of his head. 

Immediately after you got into your common room, the boy turned completely red, his stomach erupting with butterflies as he thought about how your fist felt against his cheek. ‘I’m in love’ was all he could think as he walked to Madam Pomfrey in a daze. Each time he looked in the mirror, he couldn’t help but put his hand up to the yellow and purple bruise to try and remember what your skin felt like. 

It was a feeling that was new and confusing to him. He wanted to be mad at you, he wanted to hex you, to feel no remorse as he goes back to making your life a living hell, but for some odd unnamed reason, he couldn’t. He was completely enamored, every thought he had was of you, every time he walked into the Great Hall he would scan the room looking for your oversized robe and mismatched socks, but to his defeat you paid no attention.

On one occasion, Draco even went as far as to wait for you outside your potions class. He stood there for half an hour waiting for you to come outside, but to his dismay, you had skipped class that day to go to Hogsmeade with Harry. He walked back to his room in embarrassment after being caught lurking by Professor Snape. 

Despite his unsuccessful efforts, he knew that he would run into you soon. He put all his hopes on today.

The Slytherin vs. Gryffindor match was one that you would be sure not to miss, after all your two best friends were a part of the team. You couldn’t help but be grateful for a break from the stress of school and Draco. As you and Hermoine sat down on the stands, you couldn’t help but stare at the boy himself. He looked rather nervous, which was something unusual for someone of his caliber, as he fidgeted with the rings on his finger. His eyes moving back and forth threw the crowd almost as if he was looking for someone, that was until they landed at you. 

Letting out a small gasp you quickly looked away. Putting your head down to avoid eye contact with the boy that has made the past few years of your life a living hell. He however, couldn’t stop staring. Normally, he would be confident before a game, but today all he could think about was how you were watching. His stomach turned as he realized that you would be there to see whether he did poorly and embarrassed himself. Breathing in heavily, he tried to collect his nerves as the game started.

“Get it together, Malfoy.” he whispered to himself.

The game lasted for about two hours, the tension in the crowd was rising as the score was nearly tied, Gryffindor in the lead by only ten points. You watched carefully as your friend avoided an incoming bludger, giving you a smile before he took off again in order to find the snitch. 

“(Y/N?)” Hermoine interrupted your thoughts, looking at you with a small amount of worry in her face.

“Yeah?”

“By any chance have you talked to Draco?” She asked, giving you a small smile as you were taken aback. 

“No, no, I haven’t talked to him since last week,” you answered quietly, turning your head to look at him as he followed along behind Harry, “Why?”

“He’s been staring at you for most of the game.” 

“Wha–” you were cut off by the announcer over the speakers of the field.

“Draco Malfoy has caught the Golden Snitch! Slytherin wins!” The stands erupted with applause, cheers and a mix of boos echoing through your ears as you tried to find Draco. Your attempts being cut short as Hermoine grabbed you by the hand and led you down to where the players were.

After about twenty minutes, your friends finally came out to greet you. You gave each of them a hug and praised them for the good game. Your words of encouragement weren’t enough as the boys continued to complain about how unfair the match was, and how if McGonagall wasn’t there they surely would have given him a piece of their mind.

—--

“He’s never played like that, ever!” Harry complained once more as he took a bite out of his, now cold, steak. 

“Honestly! It’s like he was trying to impress somebody or something.” Ron agreed, running a hand through his hair as he tried to make sense of how they lost.

You glanced over at Hermione with a desperate look, but it was too late. “He was trying to impress (Y/N)! He was looking at her the whole game!” 

The boys simultaneously spat out their water, Ron choking a bit as Hermione gave him pats on the back to try and help out. They looked at you in shock, their mouths moving as they tried to come up with what to say but no words came out.

“He was not looking at me! He hates me. We all know that.” You said. Shaking your head as you tried to explain to your friends how there was no way that Draco could ever pay attention to you if it wasn’t without malicious intent.

“So you’re the reason we lost (Y/N), well I have to give it to you, you really did leave a nasty mark on Malfoy. Maybe you knocked something loose.” Ron finally managed to spit out, not before being hit on the back of the head by Hermione.

“You’re implying that (Y/N) is only likable by people who are out of their mind!” She responded while simultaneously rolling her eyes.

“Well actually,” Harry said, “I’m not out of my mind and I quite like –” but was cut off by someone clearing their throat behind you. 

You turned around only to be greeted by the devil himself. Your heart started racing, ‘this was it’, you thought, ‘he’s finally come for revenge.’ He shifted uncomfortably as he waited for someone to greet him, but finally spoke once he realized that no one was going to say anything. “(Y/L/N), may I speak to you,” he glanced over your friend's faces for a quick second before continuing, “alone.” 

You tried to respond but you couldn’t get a single word out of your mouth. Your breathing quickened in pace as you realized that you were going to be alone with Draco Malfoy once more. Surely you were going to get what was coming. 

“She doesn’t want to talk to you.”

“Shut it, Potter.” He sneered at your friend, “If she doesn’t want to speak with me then she is fully capable of telling me herself.” 

“O-okay.” You finally managed to muster out. The sooner you speak with him the sooner you can get it over with. Your friends gave you an apologetic smile as you started to get up from your seat. 

“If you need help, just call for me.” Harry whispered in your ear before you left, giving you a kiss on the forehead for reassurance. You smiled and walked off, following the blonde headed boy that was two steps in front of you.

The walk with Draco was unpleasant. Neither of you had anything to say, you both stared at your feet as you walked through the empty corridors of the castle. Looking up at him, you finally noticed the yellow and purple bruise on his jaw. While you wanted to smile, taking it as a token that you won, you couldn’t help but feel bad for the mark you left on him. 

Draco turned to look at you, feeling your gaze burning right through him, and finally spoke. 

“I just,” he started, “I wanted to apologize for how I’ve been treating you. I was hoping that we could start over.” His eyes still had those golden specks, and the wrinkles showed as he softly smiled. 

You couldn’t help but to stare at him in disbelief. Years of being harassed by Draco Malfoy, and now he decides that it’s time for you two to be friends? You were insulted. No amount of time, or therapy, could ever help you get over what he has done to you. You brought your shaky hand up before slapping him right across his bruised jaw, only this time you weren’t scared.

“If you think I can forgive you that easily, then you must be mistaken. I could never forgive you, Malfoy.” You spat out, his face full of confusion as he wasn’t expecting you to answer the way you did.

“But, (Y/N),” he spoke, “I’ve changed. Not to mention, you’re the one that punched me!”

“You deserved it! And I would do it again if I could!” You spat. Your words stabbing him a million times over. He shook it off and brought his hands over yours, your anxiety building up as you had no clue as to what he was capable of doing.

“But (Y/N), I love you.” Draco whispered to you.

You froze. You felt as if the walls were spinning around you, a high pitched screech ringing in your ears as you tried to keep yourself from falling down. He tried to help you, holding on to you, but you refused. You’d rather be cold on the ground than touched by Malfoy. Finally you brought yourself up to his face.

You stared at his eyes, those same eyes that have you captivated time and time again; you took in the way his hair fell in front of his face, the bags that he developed after not getting enough sleep unbeknownst to you that it was because he spent all night thinking of you, the healing cut on his cheek, and that damn yellow and purple bruise. 

Draco’s heart was beating out of his chest. Over the past few days all he’s been dreaming about was this moment. He wanted you. He wanted you more than he’s ever wanted anything else in his life. With a passion that could only come from the universe and stars themselves. He waited patiently for your response.

“Draco,” you began, running your thumb over the cut you left, “I could never love you.”

And then you walked away.

[wangxianficfinder]

Fic Finder

Apr 12th

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1. For the ficfinder: In the last "In the mood for", no 8 reminded me of a fic but I cant recall the one. Wwx is travelling by himself, writing letters to LZ, he stays in a town and it ends up cursed. LZ and the juniors arrive to solve the case. Wwx is acting weird and hides his letters. The juniors read the letters and find out wwx is angry and full of resentment about how he's been treated. They find out the curse resonates from him. They talk it out to resolve matters. It was written really well. Any idea? @kesterling

FOUND! i found it myself, it kept bugging me. The fic is sadly deleted but on the wayback machine: Dock of the Bay by Haysel.

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2. Hi! This is for Fic Finder. All I remember is the ending, where Yu Ziyuan had her arms cut off, and that there was a part that mentioned that this was punishment enough as she would have to live her life with no pride. Also, she had an affair with Jin Guangshan, and Jiang Cheng was his child, and she had to become his concubine, I think. Hope someone knows which fic this is!

FOUND? sounds like the deleted "OOC!" by A_flower_in_the_snow. It's avaiable on the wayback machine.

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3. Hi, once again.

I’m looking for a fic that I seriously can’t find, at all.

So it would really be a great help if you could.

Wwx was brought to cloud recesses for healing after madam yu had whipped him so bloody he couldn’t move and wa sin active danger of dying.

The disciples who brought him there did so on a donkey I think?

Anyway they asked LZ to please befriend Wwx.

The healers weren’t sure if Wwx would survive. He does.

And joins the lan, befriending LZ oh and he can’t fight with his sword anymore because of the damage and something about his heart having been weakened.

That is all I remember.

Have a nice day/night. @ravenwithwings

NOT FOUND!🔒🧡 rain falls and soaks into the earth series by RoseThorne (T, 57k, WangXian, WIP, Near Death Experience, Attempt Drowning, Madam Yu Bashing, Recovery, No war AU)

FOUND! 🧡 Company by WithBroomBefore (T, 29k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Pre-Relationship, Getting Together, POV LWJ, Fix-It, Pre-Canon, at least to start, WWX goes to Cloud Recesses, But Not In The Usual Way, fear of character death, Everybody Lives, Hurt/Comfort, Happy Ending, Light Angst, good teacher LQR, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, brief discussion of past minor character suicide, Kitten, Not YZY Friendly)

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4. Hi!! I'm looking for a fic I can't remember the name of, a modern AU, possibly set in the UK where lwj is part of some sort of anarchist/ community activist group and wwx joins. Most people in the group already know wwx and are reallly good friends with him but lwj is super skeptical about him. Also at some point I think wwx goes missing and lwj is super worried??? I can't remember anything else... thank you in advance🙏🙏🙏 @kavlobebeki

FOUND? now to begin the road by detectorist (E, 28k, WangXian, Modern AU, Pining, Miscommunication, Misunderstandings, Getting Together, Light Angst, Food as a Metaphor for Love, Activism, Politics, Rooftop Conversations)

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5. Hi, I'm wondering if anyone else remembers a fic similar to leading tone by silencemostofall, and pastel by antebunny, but that's set in the canon era while they're at Cloud Recesses? A few details I remember was that the coloured mark that indicated Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian's relationship started to fade, and that Jiang Cheng was allowed home to celebrate his birthday, while Wei Wuxian's was completely ignored by the Jiang Sect and so he spent it drinking and was caught by Lan Wangji. Apologies that I don't have more! @flaxenhairedsamurai

Hi, I was number 5 on the fic finder on April 12. Just letting you know I found the fic I was looking for! It was Mark Me With Your Devotion by an orphan account. Thank you, and I've bookmarked it so I don't lose it again!

FOUND! Mark me with your devotion by orphan_account (M, 18k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Soulmates, soulmate AU with a twist, The twist is not a curse though, I'm sorry but everyone is kind of toxic in this, Angst with a Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort, A-Yuan is adorable, First Time, Canon-typical Sex, Cultivation Partners, Fluffy wangxian, Nothing else is all that fluffy, Night-hunting together, Their studies are different that's why they keep going on missions and not staying in Gusu much)

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6. There was this fic on ao3 I don't remember, much, but it had this part, where lwj refused to go near his child(/children??) Because when wwx was pregnant he slowly grew ill or I dunno I think there was some complications (?) and when it was finally the time of delivery, wwx fell into coma I think. And lxc was angry with lwj for not even looking at his child / children when both wc were so excited for the baby.

There is a similar wx comic on Twitter. Can you please find both of them? The ao3 fic and the Twitter comic too please?

FOUND? I don’t know the Ao3 but I do know the comic similar to the description which made by AlasseTassir in twitter and they post it on their pixiv.

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7. A while back I found and lost 😥 a fic where WangXian, I think, were smuggling Wen Ning (and probably Wen Qing) across a border somewhere and they put a fake mustache on one of the two and people kept complimenting them on how nice it looked. I think people even copied the mustache after that? Maybe even the bad Wens? That's literally all I can remember about it. I've tried every tag I can think of and haven't been able to find it. Hopefully someone will know. TIA! @lilyinthesnow

FOUND! Bloom where you are planted by luckymoonly (M, 44k wangxian, MM/WQ, Canon Divergence, Fix It, courting, Mpreg, Sunshot Campaign, Fluff, Happy Ending, getting together early, Romance, WWX giving birth in the middle of the war? Most likely than you think!, Yúnmèng Siblings Feels, Smut, Drama, Blood and Violence, Minor Character Death, There Is Only One Bed, No Fall of Lotus Pier, Crossdressing, Shotgun Wedding, Mention of miscarriage (not WWX), wangxian Have a Breeding Kink, Giving Birth, Soft granduncle LQR)

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8. hii i need help finding a fic. I remember it is ongoing it is a time travel one where wei ying travels back to the past decides not to join the jiang sect but to be rouge i remember he stole gold from the sects which made the economy go to shit the emperor got involved and disbanded the wen sect wei ying is now rich he is studying to pass some exams he has a nice house with a mini farm meets lan zhan and they fall in love and we find out from lan qiren that wei ying is a royal bc his father was a prince but he ran away to be a servant to the jiang sect and sometime near the last chapters the emperor gives permission to wangxian to marry and to take with him some princes and princesses to raise away from the palace. @wangxian4evermdzs

FOUND? Starting Over by SplitGirl28 (M, 69k, WIP, Time Travel Fix-It, Back to Childhood, Change his life, Different lifestyle, But WWX is still gifted genius, Unrestrained WWX, Living his ideal life)

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9. Hi all! 👋 I am so sorry to bother you if you’ve already found this fic but I’ve scoured across the internet all day and decided to go ahead and ask anyway! I’m looking for a fic that has Wei Ying being adopted into the Lan clan as a child, he was scared to be kicked out and became rather solemn and a perfect lan clan member, on the other hand Lan Zhan has grown to be shameless and flirts with Wei Ying every chance he gets. There’s also some Jiang Bashing, OCs, and maybe some time travel? Help🥹

FOUND? could be the deleted "Uno Reverse" by A_flower_in_the_snow. It's on the wayback machine.

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10. Hello!! I swear I just read it and now I can't find this fic- but it's supposed to be an AU where wwx stayed behind during Lotus Pier's attack and Madam Yu and JC escaped but wwx stayed to fight, and lwj heard wwx was missing and he rushes to help wwx and he runs in JC and JY also trying to save wwx? Thank you in advance!

FOUND? for as long as he will let me by RavenclawLoki (T, 8k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort, Hurt WWX, Love Confessions, Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, First Kiss, BAMF JYL, WangXian Get a Happy Ending)

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11. Hi, thanks so much for all your efforts!!

I’ve been looking for a fic and hope it hasn’t been deleted. Wei Ying, Jiang Cheng, and Jiang Yanli were mermaids but were also semi-amphibious? They could go on land for short periods and they helped fight the Wens during the Sunshot Campaign. Wei Ying is married off to Lan Zhan and he lives in the Cloud Recesses. Most of the story is centered around Wei Ying adjusting to his life on the surface amongst humans and navigating the relationship with his new husband.

FOUND? you’re a bird in the water / i’m a fish on the ground by plonk (Not Rated, 8k, WangXian, Merpeople, Canon Era)

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12. Hi, can you help me find a fic . The story goes somewhat like Lan Wangji was in a nighthunt and had taken shelter in an inn . There was a storm, and Wei Ying came to that inn seeking shelter with a few orphan kids . Those kids and Wei Ying were both from the same, and they escaped from being sold ? I think Wangji was a bit older than Wei Ying. Also, Wei Ying could use his cultivation powers without any medium like swords or instruments. 🙏

FOUND? ❤️ Seen and not heard by eatmyass (E, 51k, wangxian, case fic, no sunshot, kid fic, dadxian, strangers to lovers, found family, LWJ pov, pining, fake/pretend relationship, first time, falling in love)

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13. Helppp! looking for a fic I read awhile ago and it just wont leave my mind, So basically Wangxian had an age gap LWJ was like 16 or 17 and WWX in his 20's but like "the cloud recesses" is some sort of mansion and the lotus siblings visit them in cloud recesses. I think it was tagged E if that helps

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14. Hi! For Fic Finder. Thank you very much for your help. There’s a fic I thought I bookmarked but can no longer find.

The first fic is a dark Lans fic set during the Cloud Recesses arc. WWX and JC are betrothed in this universe. But LWJ and WWX fall in love. LWJ manipulates the environment and JCs insecurities to break them up. I believe it’s in a two part series.

Thank you!

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15. Story of Yanxi Palace based fic. WY is the empress/consort who hides in a box from Sizhui. LZ knows he's inside the box, and as a prank/punishment, he uses the box to play a boardgames with Sizhui

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16. Hi! I really am looking for this story in AO3 and still can't find it. It was about Wei Wuxian who got married to Wen Chao but Lan Zhan couldn't take it so he plans to take Wei Wuxian back by claiming Wei Wuxian each time he got (even in the wedding night of WWX and WC) and destroying the company of the Wens. As they (LWJ & WWX) continued the deed, WWX ended up pregnant and LWJ is more than determined to take WWX back. I do hope you can help me find this story. Thank you in advance!😘 @gegegeeee

FOUND? 姻緣 | this marriage was always predestinedby saccharinings (E, 43k, wangxian, Cheating, Infidelity, not between wangxian, WWX is married and LWJ persuades him to cheat on his husband with him, Dark LWJ, A/B/O, Feminizing Language, Exhibitionism, Size Difference, WagnXian Have a Breeding Kink, Stomach Bulge, Possessive LWJ, Manipulation, WWX Wears Lingerie, Rape/Non-con Elements, for one part, Hair-pulling Kink, Alpha LWJ, Omega WWX, Mirror Sex, Vibrators, Phone Sex, Rimming, Edgeplay, slight choking kink, Light Bondage, Inappropriate Use of Gūsū Lán Forehead Ribbon, LJY’s Big Fat Crush on Milfxian, Pregnant WWX, WangXian Endgame, Spanish Translation)

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17. I'm looking for this fic that's basically a bunch of drabbles in one. Each chapter title is one word and serves as the theme for that chapter. I remember it having quite a lot of chapters, but I only remember one titled "kneeling" where Wuxian kneeled before Wangji (if you need a better picture, imagine that one scene in CQL where Wuxian kneeled and put his head on Yanli's lap in that one episode) @mindaneacc

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18. Hey, I'm looking for a fic where LZ and WY are already married and living in Gusu. But they get separated from each other due to an illness/curse going through the Wen Sect, so LZ leaves to give medical aid. In the process, he ends up adopting Wen Yuan. There is a sweet connection between WY and Lan Qiren. But most importantly Wen Qing managed to assassinate Wen Ruohan. @mother-of-pigeons

I remember 18, though I can't find it either. The sickness/curse in question made people burn from the inside; it was contagious from breathing in the ashes of the people dying. There was a honestly touching scene with Wen Chao dying while Wen Ning kept him company. Wen Qing assassinated WRH because she was treating him for the illness, for which they'd finally found the cure, and he announced that he therefore would use it as a weapon against the other sects, by deliberately infecting them and holding the cure hostage. The only ones they'd allow to have the cure are the Lans, because they're the only ones who came to help. He also intended to marry WQ, as he'd lost both his sons and needed new ones. I think it might have been part of a series, with the first part showing how WangXian got together.

FOUND!🔒Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder by Titans_R_Us (T, 11k, WangXian, Arranged Marriage, Mutual Pining, Temporary Separation, BAMF WQ)

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19. Hello!! Here I am again looking for a wangxian fic. It's one that I read through here but never found again, anyway, the things I remember from the fic are: the sects transform into animals, being shapeshifters, the Lan are dragons like WWX, I also remember that the transfer of core occurred but the core has a mind of its own and it goes back to WWX's body, WWX faints and Wanji makes a soulmate connection... Those are the only things I remember!!

Note: I think Ao3 should have category filtering in our subscriptions, because I think I subscribed to the story but I already looked and couldn't find it... @sweettiebah

FOUND? sounds like "Revealed Truths Against Dragon's Fire" by Preludian_Staves. It's hidden on AO3 but avaiable on the waback machine.

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20. Hi! I'm looking for a fic with a red string of fate au where wwx jumps off the cliff, but has a moment of weakness when he looks at lwj and end up tying himself to lwj before dying... And when he wakes up he discovers lwj kept the string bc when he wakes up as mxy he can see it connecting him to lwj. He flees and tries to put as much distance as he can between them but lwj still finds him at dafan mountain... It's a multi chapter (I think) with a happy ending. Help please? 🥺

FOUND? 💖 a trail of blood to find your way back home by blackelement7 (T, 19k, wangxian, JC & WWX, what if a soulmate string au, but without the soulmates aspect of it, a reflection on the nature of marriage, WWX is full of regrets, so is LWJ, Mutual Pining, Miscommunication, JC & WWX Reconciliation, JC is trying his best but words are hard and his brother is stupid, Siblings, Canonical Character Death, but it’s just WWX, accidental 3zun feels, WWX as the most unreliable of narrators)

~*~

[transformersandturtles]

I just want to apologize in advance if you choose to read this nonsense 😭 this is based on a head canon that's been eating at my brain for the past two days about the Earthrealm Champions and their spice tolerances. Don't ask why, I don't know, but I thought it'd be silly. Anyway, this is implied Railao and Johnshi. There are a few other little head canons sprinkled in, but nothing major. This was meant for me and my friends, but I thought I'd share.

CW: Swearing, maybe spelling errors

The Earthrealm Champions had decided to go to Madame Bo's for dinner after the four had a very long day. Kung Lao was the one to recommend going, as he heard that Madame Bo had a new dish she wanted him to try the next time he came. Apparently it was supposed to be super spicy, made with peppers imported from South Carolina in the United States, the Carolina Reaper. The reason she wanted Kung Lao to try it was because she knew he practically had an iron stomach when it came to spice. He used to eat handfuls of chili peppers when him and Raiden were younger. Raiden also ate them once in a while, having a similar spice tolerance but he wasn't very fond of spicy food, preferring sweet and savory.

When the four arrived to the Teahouse, Madame Bo was happy to see the four, greeting them properly as she lead them to their usual table near the back of the teahouse, in case they had matters to discuss that the common man could not listen in on. Johnny Cage was talking on and on about something to Kenshi, holding the swordsman's hand to guide him to the table so he wouldn't bump into anything, as he didn't have Sento with him at the moment, the sword tucked away in Kung Lao and Raiden's place for now. As Johnny pulled out Kenshi's chair, Madame Bo discussed the secret menu item with Kung Lao, who seemed very eager to try the dish. Raiden on the other hand was a bit uneasy, since he wasn't sure if his wallet could afford what the Shaolin monk would eat. As the four sat down, Madame Bo left and returned with tea for the four to drink while she got the food prepared. As they waited, the four spoke about anything, nothing really specific about their duties. They were all tired from working.

"So," Johnny eventually spoke up, his sunglasses resting on the table as his eyes landed on Kung Lao who moved a stray piece of his hair out of his face. "What was that dish Madame Bo was talking about?" He asked, being genuinely curious about it.

"Oh!" Kung Lao was quick to beam, his dimples showing prominently with his smile. Raiden couldn't help but have a smitten look on his face, adoring the little indentations of the monk's features. "Madame Bo wanted me to try a new dish." Kung Lao explained, leaning back in his chair a bit. "It'll be something like Dan Dan noodles, except instead of using a chili black bean paste for the sauce, she's using imported Carolina Reapers thanks to the Shirai Ryu. She's hoping that if the dish is good and sells well, she'll try growing her own." He explained, quite excited to try the dish. This only seemed to make Raiden a bit more worried for his poor wallet, assuming the dish wouldn't be cheap since the key ingredient was imported. But his worries slowly came to an ease seeing how happy Kung Lao was to try it.

"Just be careful, please." Raiden spoke up, sipping his tea after his long silence. Kung Lao playfully rolled his eyes, grinning.

"Oh, please! You know I can handle spice like a champ!" He laughed a bit, playfully elbowing Raiden after the Champion had set down his tea cup. Kenshi smiled softly as he listened to the others speak.

"If you don't mind me taking some, I'd like to try a bit." He spoke calmly, carefully feeling around for his tea cup before drinking from it. Kung Lao grinned a bit.

"Maybe, if there's any left." He joked a bit. He could spare maybe a noddle or two for Kenshi, but he wasn't willing to share much more. Johnny Cage laughed a bit at this, shaking his head a bit.

"Oh yeah? I'll definitely have to try this dish. That doesn't sound spicy at all!" He got a little cocky, thinking he had a great spice tolerance, not exactly realizing that there was a bit of a difference between what was considered spicy or not between the Eastern and Western world. Soon enough the food was brought out, Madame Bo gave everyone their usual orders before bringing out the bowl of spicy noodles to Kung Lao and she waited patiently for his reaction. Kung Lao was eager to dig in, taking his chopsticks to mix the noodles and toppings in with the sauce before getting a decent amount of noodles between his chopsticks to shove them into his mouth. After finishing the mouthful, the Shaolin monk's eyes widened eagerly, his cheeks getting a little warm but other than that he seemed unfazed by the spice.

"Like always, Madame Bo, you know how to make the best food!" He beamed, eagerly stuffing more noodles into his mouth. Raiden carefully reached over, using his unused chopsticks to take a noodle from the bowl and carefully set it on Kenshi's plate as the blind swordsman ate quietly, preferring to eat in quiet peace unlike Johnny and Kung Lao who enjoyed talking. Madame Bo was flattered, patting Kung Lao's shoulder.

"You always know what to say. Eat as much as you want, I have more I can prepare." She hummed softly. Raiden wanted to object, a look in his eyes that begged her not to but it was too late. Kung Lao's bowl was already empty and the monk eagerly nodded for more, finishing the bite in his mouth. Madame Bo hummed and soon left to get more food for the hungry man. Raiden slouched a bit, he would never financially recover from this. He sighed softly, eating quietly, afraid he'd have to pull out a loan or something just for this one meal if Kung Lao kept eating the way he did. It was like he had a bottomless stomach sometimes.

"If you aren't careful, Kung Lao," Kenshi eventually broke his silence when he finished eating his food and the noodles given to him, his face and tongue feeling warm from the spice but he didn't have much of a reaction either. "You'll end up with heart burn and bad reflux from all the spices." He warned the monk, who only seemed to laugh at the warning.

"Oh please! I'll be fine, even when I get old! Nothing can stop The Great Kung Lao from enjoying a meal!" He joked a bit, patting his stomach until Madame Bo returned with another bowl, and just as the one before it was gone within a few minutes. Raiden just shook his head, feeling his poor wallet lighten the more food Kung Lao asked for. Johnny Cage was just laughing, watching Kung Lao for a while after he finished eating his own food, before he decided to say screw it and he asked for his own bowl of the noodles. Kenshi was quick to turn his attention to Johnny, frowning a bit.

"I advise against that, Cage. . ." He knew that the actor had pretty bad heartburn whenever he ate anything spicy. The American was just asking to perish. But nonetheless, he couldn't stop him and Madame Bo soon came with the bowl for Johnny. Kung Lao was half way through his third bowl of noodles, mid bite when Johnny mixed around the ingredients and carefully used his chopsticks to shovel a massive mouthful into his mouth. At first the actor was unbothered as he chewed, but soon the heat rose to his face, starting to sweat a bit as he swallowed down the food and he took a deep breath, his face red and his tongue feeling numb. He whistled slightly, his mouth watering in an attempt to kombat the heat.

"Man, that uh. . . That's a good kick to it, huh?" He tried to play it off, taking another bite. It was clear to see the American was in pain from the spice, and Kenshi got Madame Bo's attention to see if she had anything to help Johnny. Soon enough Johnny unknowingly had tears in his eyes, forcing himself to finish his food as to not be rude, but once all that was left was the sauce, he couldn't take it. "Holy fucking shit. . . What the hell is in that dish. . . Christ. . ." The man mumbled and whined a bit, mainly complaining to himself. Kung Lao stared at the actor, snorting in amusement at his reaction.

"You good there?" He asked with a playful tone, watching Johnny set his head down on the table, his shirt stained at his armpits from sweating and he had to unbutton the collar of his shirt, trying to combat the heat and boy was he losing.

"No. . . Shut up. . ." Johnny groaned a bit, slowly regretting his life choices as his breathing got a bit heavy. Kenshi patted his back, frowning.

"And this is why you should listen sometimes, Cage. . ." The swordsman let out a soft sigh, only to get a muffled whine from Johnny. Soon Madame Bo came over with some matcha green tea ice cream. Kung Lao took Johnny's bowl, pouring the soup into his fourth bowl before chowing down on the noodles once again, eating the food like it was nothing. Kenshi had Johnny sit up and carefully felt around for the spoon and the bowl before he started to assist the actor, carefully putting spoon full after spoon full of the green ice cream into his mouth. Johnny had to admit that he did enjoy being taken care of by the blind man, and he felt a little silly for not listening but hey he got ice cream and he wasn't complaining. Matcha wasn't his favorite flavor, but something was better than nothing against the aching pain in his mouth and chest. Raiden couldn't help but chuckle a bit, amused by the situation. He watched the three other champions carefully, fixing his hat a bit on his head before sitting up when both bills were brought out. Madame Bo handed one bill to Johnny and the other to Raiden. Johnny looked at the bill and wasn't too bothered, meanwhile Raiden was afraid to even look at the bill, but he knew he had to. When he flipped it over, his heart nearly stopped beating for a moment, staring at the triple digit number. Madame Bo was ruthless with her prices, but it was to be expected. Her Teahouse needed to make money somehow. Johnny Cage noticed the look on Raiden's face, and as Raiden reached for his wallet, the actor reached over quickly to snag the bill to pay for both bills himself, a tired grin on his still red, slightly tear stained face. A bit of the makeup he had on his face got smudged, like the foundation, showing the minor imperfections he usually hid like freckles and sunspots and acne scars. He was an actor, so of course he usually hid his face from time to time, but the imperfections also weren't noticeable unless someone was very close up to his face, like Kenshi often was. Raiden looked at the actor, giving him a bit of a look.

"Hey, give that back." The lightning wielder frowned, holding his hand out for the bill. Johnny Cage gave a playful grin.

"Not a chance, Kid Thunder!" Johnny playfully grinned at him, getting out his wallet as he took the last bite of his ice cream before getting out his money as Madame Bo came by again and he handed off both bills with the cash to her. The woman took the bills and the money and walked back off to ensure both were properly paid for. Johnny Cage had a very smug look across his rose colored lips, still gathering himself back up from the mistake of eating the spicy noodles. He ran his hand through his brown hair, getting it out of his face with a tired grunt. He grabbed his sunglasses off the table and put them over his eyes.

"You're impossible, you know that?" Raiden spoke, more so in a playful manner than actually meaning it maliciously. Johnny Cage chuckled along with him, Kenshi smiling softly while Kung Lao looked confused, having tuned everything out as he finished his final bowl and drank the last of the sauce from the bowls before leaning back in his seat to burp, making Kenshi grimace, forgetting how much Kung Lao lacked in manners at the table.

[valentinesdaydate98]

The Phantomhive Butler

Word count: 1.7k

Author’s note: Please bear with me. English is not my native language, so I apologize in advance for any grammar and/or spelling mistakes. The main love interest has a name, but I try not to be too descriptive. I hope you enjoy. Thank you!

Pairing: Sebastian Michaelis x reader

With any encounter with a demon, one must be on edge. Demons are sneaky creatures, manipulative, dangerous, untrustworthy, and much more. Charlotte remained cautious until she formed a contract.

Charlotte encountered the demon when Ciel started working on the Jack the Ripper case. They were never that close. Even with his return from his kidnappers, he was distant with her. His behavior led her to become distant. So, it was shocking when she received a letter from Madam Red requesting she join her to surprise Ciel and help him with his case. She hesitated at first, but she caved in. He was family, after all. Besides, Auntie would still have ways to convince her to help.

When she arrived at Ciel’s London Townhouse, she was taken aback by an unfamiliar figure. It's a new butler. Though staff members come and go, there was something different about him. On the outside, the butler was just a competent and hard-working person. He was rather kind and helpful to her and her family. However, there is an unusual and unsettling aura around him. He completed his duties with no mistakes. Not to mention, at lightning speed. He was intriguing. She must get to know him.

Sebastian Michaelis introduced himself, and thus the nightmare began.

The red flags appeared almost immediately. Ciel had everyone in the carriage and requested that Sebastian compile a list of Jack the Ripper suspects. Upon accepting his master’s request, Sebastian went to work by jumping from the carriage while it was still moving. Worried about his well-being, she looks out the window and doesn’t see him anywhere. ‘Where did he go?’, she thought to herself.

The next thing was when he returned to the townhouse with tea ready. All before everyone else came home. She looked perplexed by him. ‘He pulled out of a long list of suspects with no injuries to his body? And he has tea ready?’, she thought to herself. Even when Madam Red questioned him, Sebastian avoided answering them with a logical explanation. It was also frustrating that Auntie didn't push for answers from the butler. But she also doesn’t push for further answers since her focus is on capturing the killer and helping Ciel.

However, despite how uneasy she felt around Sebastian, she grew to have a soft spot for him. For one thing, he amuses her. It’s entertaining to see Sebastian using his wits to tease other people besides her. Especially when the victim is Ciel or his coworkers. Ciel explained his plan to infiltrate the Viscount Druitt’s mansion and arrest him. Although she volunteered to be the one to seduce the Viscount, Ciel immediately shut the idea down. The immense guilt she felt melted away once she saw Ciel’s disguise. The huge, puffy pink dress with a million frills only made it worse when Sebastian opened his mouth. She never could contain her laughter around him.

Despite her denial, her heart flutters whenever Sebastian shows physical affection. Especially during at night when she has trouble sleeping. He walked into her room to comfort her. Not to baby her like her Auntie does, not to degrade her, but to comfort her. The gentle caresses that she requested from him. She knows deep down he doesn’t care for her. But even then, it didn’t matter. As long as she has a companion at night, it won’t matter. Even if she won’t hear the end of it.

It was just a fun game for both.

Failing to capture the killer, Charlotte experienced feelings of anxiety and devastation. She couldn’t help but cling more to Madam Red to feel protected. Her warm body and reassuring and kind words always comforted her. Her Auntie was always a strong woman during difficult situations. With her clinging on to her aunt, Charlotte had to watch her least favorite sport, chess. However, after watching Ciel and Auntie play chess, she knew he was up to something and followed him (and his butler). Whether this was an excellent decision was up for debate.

It wasn’t until the Jack the Ripper case was over that she received the answers.

Madame Red. She was Jack the Ripper. She killed all those innocent women and ruined their families’ lives. It was all too much. The shocking revelation, the blood, the fight between Sebastian and Grelle. It wasn’t until she saw her auntie strangling Ciel that Charlotte knew she had to get involved. However, despite saving Ciel’s life, her auntie stabbed her. The ultimate betrayal. Before she passes out, she looks back at Ciel. A sigh of relief once she realizes he is safe and uninjured. The darkness consumed her, and she slipped into unconsciousness.

Later that night, the rain drowned out the singing of crickets that once echoed throughout the evening. Though it usually lulls her to sleep, the events of earlier in the night plagued her mind. Not to mention the pain remains to plague her. Eventually, she fell asleep, but not before she woke up screaming before quickly covering her mouth. As she catches her breath, the dream plays out in her head. The same warm blood staining her skin, the loud cries of her family members, and the revelation of her dear aunt being a serial killer. She couldn’t hold it in much longer. In the middle of her breakdown, Charlotte failed to realize someone was in her room.

“Having trouble staying asleep, my ladyship? How troublesome. Would you like me to assist you? A soothing lullaby perhaps?” Sebastian asked with the same playful voice she’s used to hearing. She glared at his question.

“Hush you. I have never asked you to do something so childish as singing me a lullaby,” Charlotte said with a slight annoyance as she wiped her tears away.

“Oh, no? I can’t quite remember. You cling to your family members like a little child. Even to my Lord, you cling tightly.” Sebastian replied with a smirk.

“Hmph. It was a moment of weakness, but that’s just it. It was one moment. Say, how did you get into my room? I didn’t hear the door open,” Charlotte said.

“Never mind that, my lady. You have trouble staying asleep, so I made you some hot chamomile tea. My lord has informed me you are quite picky, especially with tea. He told me you like your tea plain. So, I hope you enjoy your cup.”

“Ciel told you?” Charlotte stammered as she gazed at the cup. “I didn’t think he would remember something as simple as that,” she let out a small smile. “I will have to thank him for that some other time.” She hesitated before drinking her tea. “This is quite adequate. Thank you, Sebastian,” Charlotte said as she tried not to gag. Any praise Sebastian gets from her, he becomes a cheeky bastard. What an annoyance!

“However, that doesn’t answer my question, Sebastian. I knew you were watching me. The moment I started following you both, I saw your eyes on me. So, I ask again, how did you get into my room without making a sound?”

“Now, now, my lady,” Sebastian said as he tugged her hair behind her ears. It’s been like a cycle between the two. Whenever she has suspicions about Sebastian, he uses physical affection to keep her mind occupied. Such as when she questioned how he got her afternoon tea and cake ready in a blink of an eye, a soft caress of her cheek and a compliment made her forget about her question. Often, her cheeks would turn rosy, and she would respond with a shy smile. A little touch goes a long way. However,

“Stop that immediately.” Charlotte raised her voice and scooted away from Sebastian. “Enough of your affections for now. I know you and Ciel are hiding something here. You made that long list of suspects in a short amount of time. You absolute maniac, why did you jump out of the carriage? I didn’t even hear a groan from your lips. And I swear you have super strength and speed. How?” She takes a moment to take a deep breath. “You know I saw everything, Sebastian,” she starts. “That fight with Grelle was the final nail in the coffin. You’ve been suspicious since the very beginning. So admit it, Sebastian. You’re a demon, aren’t you?” she said with a scowl.

Sebastian smirked at her revelation and chuckled. “My lady, you’ve had quite an unfortunate night,” Sebastian interrupted her. “It’s best to get some rest now. I promise you will find the answers to your questions soon enough. I’m sure your auntie doesn’t want you to stress out,” he said with a light chuckle at the end. Her eyes widened. That’s right, Auntie is no longer here.

In pure rage, she lifted her hand out to slap Sebastian, only to be stopped. A tight grip was on her wrist as Sebastian’s smirk only grew.

“My lady, how cruel. Here I thought we were getting along swimmingly.” Sebastian squeezes her hand small, delicate hand as he presses his lips on her knuckles.

“Auntie.,” she mumbled, as if it were a brief prayer. As if she called out her name, Madam Red would appear. Unfortunately, that will never be the case. Instead, she faces Sebastian, the demon butler. “So you are a demon,” she mumbled again to herself. “What are your intentions with Ciel?” she raised her voice. “Are you after his soul, perhaps? Or are you…”

“I’m only going to say this once more. Rest now, dear. You have a long day ahead of you. I need to report your discovery to my master first thing in the morning. We shall see what we will do with you soon. Enjoy your night,” he whispered in her ear as he caressed her cheek. She gasps softly at his touch. Normally, she would feel his glove touching her cheek. She glanced at his hand, and her stomach dropped as she saw his mark. The Faustian contract mark.

“Good night, my lady. I hope you sleep well. I can't wait to see you in the morning,” he said before he planted a soft peck on her cheek. A goodnight kiss, a kiss goodbye to a normal life.

“Good night, Sebastian.”

[mydisenchantedeulogy]

Dying Light [Chapter Five] Tea [Bi-Han/Sub-Zero]

A/n: I apologize in advance for the short chapter, but it was necessary. Please enjoy.

Warning(s): female reader, Bi-Han being Bi-Han, arranged marriage au, bonding over tea, revelation, mixed emotions, a tad bit of intimacy, teasing, slight slow burn.

Tag List: @genesiswrld, @cherryblossomly, @dilf-destroyer-04, @louis2gobrrn, @umbransister

No Minors Allowed!!

It is no cinch to those new to the harsh weather of Arctika, but long after sunset, the group reaches the temple, mostly unharmed. You are given no time to take in the icy scenery before you are patched up and then escorted to a warm but spacious room of your own with nothing in it but a bed, a vanity, and a closet. With most of your things lost to the snow - Bi-Han had allowed you to carry what you were able to - you have nothing much to fill the room with; a pair of warm clothes and some minor necessities are all you have to your name. 

This inevitable issue, however, will have to wait till tomorrow. You are too exhausted. A night robe is fetched for you, then once you are dressed, you crawl into bed and close your eyes.

You do not even remember falling asleep until the sound of knocking abruptly wakes you. 

Is it already dawn? You can not tell. 

Reluctantly, you crawl out of bed, groaning as your muscles hurt from the excursion of the previous day. The burn reminds you of the morning after a training session with your master. You trudge over to the door and open it, greeted by a woman with short pewter hair. Her eyes, a shade of arctic blue, gauge you. 

“Apologies for waking you, Madam,” she states. “But Master Bi-Han insisted that I do so.”

You raise a curious brow.

“Am I needed for something?”

“No, but he did mention that your things were lost. I can be of service,” she answers.

You understand. That is…kind of him, you suppose. 

“Give me a moment to redress - and possibly wake up - then we can talk.”

She nods and waits outside as you dress in one of the two outfits you hauled up the mountain. Once your unkempt hair is combed, you open the door and allow her inside.

“You did lose nearly everything,” she points out, taking a look around. 

“There were luckily no irreplaceable things aboard,” you state. 

She hums.

“Perhaps some of my clothes will fit you. If not then one of the others might have some. Trips to the nearby town are seldom.”

“Are there many women in the Lin Kuei?” You ask, raising a brow. 

The pewter-haired woman nods. 

“Aside from myself, I'm Frost, by the way. There is Cyrax and a handful of grunts.” She pauses a moment, turning toward you with a grin. “And now you, the Grandmaster’s wife.”

You frown and offer her your name. 

“I've heard about you…and your magic. Some of the grunts were talking about it,” Frost mentions. 

You have no doubt. The majority of them witnessed it firsthand, some even saw it twice. You cross your arms, feeling a bit uneasy in the spotlight. It is as expected though, you are new here, in addition to being married to Bi-Han.   

“Are you also able to do magic?”

Frost grins and raises her hand. From her mid-arm and up freezes over. You widen your eyes.

“You can do ice magic? Like Bi-Han.”

“Impressed? Master and I are descendants of the Cryomancers, a race from Edenia,” Frost states with pride.

You had never heard of Edenia before. Were there more realms out there besides Earthrealm and Outworld? And what of Kuai Liang or Tomas? Their powers are not ice-based. 

There is still much I do not know.

You hum. 

“Do the Lin Kuei keep scrolls? I would like to learn what I can about them.”

“That is a service I can not help you with,” Frost admits. “You would have to ask Master Bi-Han.”

You understand. Every clan has its secrets. Locked away, however, you do not know if you will ever see Bi-Han to ask him. This room is a clear sign he means to distance himself from you. But you do not want to be locked away like some damsel from a fantasy novel.  

“Can you show me around?” You ask with hope. You want to at least familiarize yourself with your new home. 

Frost grins. 

“That I can do.”

You are grateful.

For the next half hour, Frost shows you the temple. Aside from the storehouse, which contains the various types of weapons used by the Lin Kuei, and the training hall, you are most impressed by the shared bathhouse, built around a natural hot spring.

You were not expecting your new home to be so likable. 

Despite having to share a room, each of the fighters had a comfortable place to rest; Frost took you to her chamber to give you essentials that she could spare or no longer needed. The kitchen and spacious dining area were the final rooms she showed you before taking you back to your bedchamber. 

“If you need me, I am usually in the training hall or my room,” she mentions. 

You nod, thanking her again.

“I'll see you around, Madam,” Frost says with a wave. 

I don't think I will ever get used to that.

Putting away your new things, you decide to venture into the temple on your own. One thing Frost made clear was that the Lin Kuei took care of themselves. With makeup on, you then saunter to the kitchen for a light snack and a cup of tea. 

It takes you a few minutes to navigate the many cupboards but upon finding the electric kettle, you put some water on the stove to boil. As you are waiting, deciding on what to make, you hear the sound of footsteps approaching.

A conversation pauses mid-sentence as one or both of the brothers notice you. Kuai Liang immediately bows, followed by Tomas, much to your dismay. 

“Please, that isn't necessary. We are in-laws now,” you mention. 

“If you insist, Madam,” Tomas says in agreement. 

Kuai Liang nods, then saunters over to the cupboard, rummaging through it. 

“Would you both like some tea?” You ask. 

“If you are offering,” Kuai Liang answers. “I will fetch the bean cakes then.”

You softly smile. 

The brothers sit at a low table in the seating area as the water boils. You, in the meantime, place tea leaves in 3 cups, bringing them and the kettle over to the table.

“I’ll get that for you,” Tomas offers. 

You deny him the chance. 

“Please, allow me.” You pour the water into the cups. “If the wedding had been traditional, I would have had to serve tea to my in-laws. It feels like the least I can do.”

“Your gratitude is appreciated,” Kuai Liang states.

You are glad he thinks so. Sitting at the table with them you eat a bean cake as your tea steeps. 

“We did not have the chance to see, but did the ceremony fare well?” Tomas asks. 

“It was…nice,” you admit. And sudden. 

You honestly do not remember much about that day. Other than the apprehension.

“Steel yourself.” 

Your face heats up. It was Bi-Han’s words that eased you that day. It is ironic. 

“I wish I had seen our brother in his wedding attire,” Tomas mentions with a grin. “I imagine he scowled the entire ceremony.”

“Tomas,” Kuai Liang chides. 

You can tell that he does not mean it. There is a smile on his face. 

“Does he express no other emotion?”

Tomas laughs. 

“As Grandmaster, brother has much on his mind,” Kuai Liang points out. 

You imagine so. 

“A wife certainly does not add comfort.” 

“You are more than a wife,” Kuai Liang mentions. “He expressed this himself.”

Your face heats up. It is because of your magic, nothing more. Lifting the cup to your lips, you take a sip. If he considers you more, then why does he distance himself from you?

“Where is Bi-Han this morning?”

“With the recruits,” Tomas answers. 

You hum. So, he will be busy for most of the day. He might even miss lunch or dinner. It's your job as a wife to attend to him, is it not?

“What sort of food should I make for dinner?” 

“Rice is always a good choice and seasonal vegetables,” Tomas points out. 

Kuai Liang scolds him again, then covers his grin with the teacup. “And Poultry for muscle building.”

You laugh. It seems as though they are both eager. 

A sudden icy chill makes you shiver, despite the warmth from your teacup. Kuai Liang seems to notice something you do not. Following his gaze, you frown as you notice Bi-Han standing in the doorway. 

Is the sudden chill coming from him? 

“Brother,” Kuai Liang utters, greeting him.

“Your attention should be on the recruits,” Bi-Han points out. 

Without a word, the two brothers stand; Tomas thanks for the tea, and then the two of them leave. You sigh, rather liking their company. To avoid an awkward moment, you stand and walk over to the cabinet for another cup. 

“Would you like some tea? The water in the kettle should still be hot.”

Bi-Han hums and takes a seat at the table. You serve him and then continue to enjoy your tea. 

An awkward silence soon settles in, and you consider returning to your room without so much as a word, but a part of you does not want to leave things this way. This marriage is going to be unpleasant should you decide to ignore him at every turn. 

Why can't he be the one to start a conversation though? Is he afraid of me? 

You can not control the smile that pulls at your lips. 

“Do you frequently think of plunging people into your portals?” Bi-Han asks. 

You snort, sitting down your cup.

“Only those who irritate me.” 

Bi-Han raises a brow and looks at you. 

“Is that said in jest?”

“Perhaps,” you state. “If it gives you solace, I don't think you are irritating…just aloof.”

You can tell by the way his brows knit that he wants you to elaborate, but you do not wish to. 

“Your brothers claimed that you were busy with the recruits. How are they fairing?”

“This conversation is not over,” Bi-Han states with a sigh. He takes a drink and then sets down his cup. “They show purpose. But to learn our ways, it will require time; time we have too much of these days.”  

That is a fair assessment, though you wonder what he means by his last statement. He seems almost irritated. You hum, considering if you should ask him now about the history of the Lin Kuei. In the end, you decide against it.

Another time. 

Sliding his cup out, you take this action as a sign that Bi-Han wants more tea. You take his cup to the kitchen counter to prepare it, then you return to the table and fill it with hot water. As you attempt to return to your seat, Bi-Han reaches out and grabs your arm, halting you.

“Your grip is harsh,” you point out.

“Sit,” he orders, loosening his hold on you a bit. 

You do so, raising a curious brow.  

Bi-Han lifts his other hand and runs his thumb across your bottom lip, then examines the smear of lipstick across his skin. Your heart races. It felt nice. 

“There is no reason to wear this for me.”

An embarrassed heat spreads across your face. While it is true that you started dolling up for him, hearing him point this out makes you feel uncomfortable. 

“And if I chose to wear it because it makes me feel nice?” 

Bi-Han knits his brows. 

“Does it?”

You frown, choosing not to answer.

“There is no reason for you to wear that red jewelry bag either. We are not in the company–”

“Be quiet,” Bi-Han orders. You do so, taken off guard. “I bootlick no one. My decision to wear it is my own.”

But why? You do not know what to say to this. A strange sentiment overcomes you; fondness. Surely, he does not think more of this marriage than he lets on. 

“Forgive me. I had assumed that given our standing, you were wearing it for a public image.”

Bi-Han releases your arm. 

“I do not seek a public image; I seek combatants. This union is no more than a formality…but I admit you are more than I bargained for.”

Kuai Liang spoke the truth. He thinks of you as more of a warrior than a wife. 

“I have given it much thought, and as of tomorrow, you will train as Lin Kuei.”

Is he serious? Given your ability, you do not blame him for wanting to utilize it. So, why do you feel a bit disappointed? Is this not what you want? To be seen as more than a title.  

You sigh. 

“I understand.”

You suppose this alternative is better than being closed off in a room for the rest of your life. Is marriage even necessary now?

Resting your fingers on your bottom lip, you tighten your jaw. The intimacy of his touch lingers. Why did Bi-Han do that? Touch you in such a way. It irritates you, and not because he smeared your lipstick. Because for a moment you longed for more. 

No…just no. 

[azaleapaperpad]

Red Curtains and Chandeliers

Phantom of The Opera (Broadway version)(Merik) x GN! Reader (Part 2) WC: 1414

It had been a struggle at first, not seeing him or being around him for such a long time. Although, since returning home you reconnected with an old neighborhood friend you would play with in your youth. Upon catching up with this old friend, she had mentioned wanting to perform at the Opera Populaire, and every thought of The Phantom and the Chandelier falling came rushing back. You felt silent tears roll down your cheeks as your friend spoke. 

“Oh, dearest, are you okay? Did I say something to upset you? I’m so sorry!” Your friend apologized profusely as they grabbed their handkerchief to wipe away your tears. 

“Oh no, it’s just… I was at the Opera Populaire, and- such awful things happened! You know the chandelier came down, correct? It hit the audience! And-” You cut yourself off before you could mention the Phantom of the Opera. You didn’t want to out him, you still cared for him even though as of recently his actions have been intense, to say the least. So, you just sobbed for a few minutes and let your friend comfort you a bit. 

After you had finished, they tried talking. 

“Well, I did read about that. But, what are the chances that is to happen again?” You almost scoffed at them, but again, you didn’t want to directly out the Opera Ghost. 

“You know they say it’s haunted, right?” You said, trying to convince them to back out. 

“Oh, please. I’d like to see the ghost try to harm me. I grew up with 3 brothers, there’s hardly anything it can throw at me that I couldn’t handle” They said with a bright smile. What a fool, you thought.

There was clearly no convincing them to back down, but their determination somewhat inspired you. Of course, you knew you were already going back, but now you knew you would have a friend. A confidant, to help if things go haywire. That is, if they passed Madame Giry’s test first. You were confident they could do it though. 

It wasn’t until about 4 months later, you both were now at the Opera Populaire, that the same emotions you had that day came flowing back. Before you could get carried away in your emotions though, you felt a gentle squeeze on your shoulder. 

“Hey, cheer up! It’s going to be fine, just you wait. I’ll protect you from all ghosts, just like when we were children!” Your new best friend reassured you. You smiled at them, albeit it was a slightly pitiful smile. Oh, how naive, you thought. But before anything else could be said, you were yanked into the Opera House, and to your shared doom dorm. A minor feeling of unease settled itself into your stomach, but you couldn’t bother yourself with worries right now, not when you had to prepare for the Masquerade ball! 

You and your friend were very excited about the ball, prepping in advance by bringing the basics of your costumes, and even finishing the detailing just hours before the party. Your friend had chosen a floral design. They looked like a rosebush, all green with red and white and pink roses. Their mask was basically a bouquet of roses with eye holes cut out, with their hair pinned up in swirls to resemble roses. You would think they had an obsession with how much detailing went into their ensemble.

You on the other hand, had a bit more of a subtle costume. You donned a spiderweb-like mask, and silky flowing clothes with bits of tule sticking straight out in a web-like pattern. The white underlayer had web designs stitched in black and gray. You even added some fake spiders here and there for a more authentic look. Throughout the night, you two had danced around each other, trading partners and giggling about. When everyone had started singing ‘Masquerade!’ you two joined in and suddenly…

You felt it

A chill in your spine 

The trill of the organ

The looming presence that only one entity could possess

“Why so silent good Messieurs?” A chill ran up your spine and you only knew to run and hide. He had to have known you were here now, but hopefully he didn’t know where your new room was. You and your friend were in the back of the crowd, so you slipped out once The Phantom took a few steps after his grand entrance. 

But just before you left behind a door, you looked back and realized how far down he’d gone. His crotch was at eye level. You flushed red and stared at the way his crotch curved and rounded and smoothed out. Watching him walk, watching his hips (albeit exaggerated) sway in his bold garments and lavish fabrics. You snapped out of it in a second and dashed for your room. 

Once you two were safe in your room, you took a second to catch your breath and you looked over at your friend, who seemed to be just winded, and maybe a tad annoyed? 

“Why did you drag me out of there? Now what’s going to happen? What if someone gets hurt and we could have  helped!?” They asked, almost accusatory. You looked at them in shock. 

“I just saved you, and I warned you long ago of the dangers of coming here. Everyone here knows the risks and they chose to be here, like you and I.” You stated. You shook your head and pinched the bridge of your nose before looking up to your dresser and looking around for your suitcase. As soon as you rendered it not in immediate sight, you moved from your spot and around the room to find it. Your friend looked a you with a puzzled expression.

“What the hell are you doing?” They asked. 

“Leaving. This was clearly a mistake and I’ll not ruin our friendship over it so let’s go-”

“I’m not going anywhere, darling.” They said with a stern voice, cutting you off. 

“We can fight him. I know we can!” They said, determination clear in their tone. You were far too anxious to even think about approaching him, far too scared. Your friend could feel your unease, and stepped towards you putting a hand on your shoulder to comfort you.

"I know you're scared of him, but he is just a man. I know many here believe he's a ghost, but I don't believe in such things. A ghost doesn't don red clothes and prance around making announcements to the entire opera house!" They explained. "Is there anyone here who would know more about him?" They asked, kneeling close to you to read you better. You looked up at them from your spot, kneeling next to your bed. You felt so disheartened, you really didn't want to pursue him, it felt as if the wounds were still too fresh.

"I came here to be with you, and to help you. Please let me help you..." They asked one more time. You sighed, knowing if you didn't answer them now, you'd probably have to answer them again later.

"I... think Madam Giry knows something... but she won't tell you anything." You warned. Before they could even process that last bit, they got up and headed for the door.

Dumbass was all you could think before they dragged you off towards Madam Giry, but Raoul got to her first. Your friend attempted to push through the crowd. You didn’t want to upset your friend, but you resisted moving when the crowds of people kept pushing through. Your head was turning left and right, spinning with the madness surrounding you. When suddenly, a flash of red caught your eye. Under the stairs.

You knew exactly where he was going, and unfortunately for you, your eyes gave away everything and your friend looked at you in that moment, following your line of vision and your friend caught the secret door closing, they even blinked.

“Did you see that?! We have to go there!” They exclaimed. You were about to protest, to hold your ground and tell your friend “No, I’m not going to expose the man I love-” when oops- someone tripped you and you stumbled forward. Instinct kicked in and you started letting your friend lead you, the momentum carrying you. Its almost like the author made all of this so convenient for plot reasons.

Well. You were about to face your biggest fear this century.

[cbusch]

Oh my god!! I saw this movie twice within 72 hours and trust me, it’s worth the hype.

Everything about part 1 of Wicked is perfect! From the score of the songs to the design of OZ and Shiz University to the cast itself is perfect! Pure perfection on a plate and everything that a Broadway fan could ask for.

I’ll break my review down into multiple categories: Cast/Characters, Music, Setting, and Warnings since there are atleast a couple of things you need to know before going into this musical movie. So let’s begin!

Cast/Characters: What makes this movie perfection is the use of actors/actresses with actual Broadway experience. Showing that there was a lot of respect towards the show and the legacy that the show has on past, present, and future fans of this wonderful show. I have to say, Cynthia Erivo and Arian Grande-Butera nail the roles of Elphaba and Glinda (Galinda). There mannerisms, chemistry, and voices blended perfectly with the score. We see how the polar opposites of Glinda’s perky and upbeat blends in with Elphaba’s grounded and blunt personality. Erivo plays Elphaba to a tee from the voice and mannerisms to when she’s happy that her green skin/powers are starting to be seen in a positive light to when she is at the Ozdust ball and is embarrassed by her attire, all of the strength that Erivo shows is perfection. Her simple but elegant mannerisms when putting on the hat to doing the dance made me tear up. All of the strength Elphaba has to conceal in order to not care what the other students at Shiz think is exhausting all the time. It’s unfortunate that this occurs but not uncommon for people who have a slight but significant difference feeling like they have to conceal/ blend in so that others don’t judge them. That theme resonates throughout the show/movie and Erivo defintely highlights this theme perfectly. Also, Defying Gravity and The Wizard and I are the ultimate anthems that Erivo’s voice encaptures and will get in your head non-stop, so fair warning. Ariana Grande-Butera’s portrayal of Glinda was honestly so much fun to watch. She was perky and energetic without having it be overboard. I don’t know if people know this but Grande-Buerta got her start in the 2009 production of 13. Although she has been away from Broadway for a while, it was nice to see her go back and portray such a beloved character perfectly. Her energy and range of emotions was done amazingly from the way she dances with Elphaba at the Ozdust ball, transitioning into the number Popular was breathtaking. I’m sorry in advance for talking a lot about the Ozdust ball scene during the number dancing through life (Fieyero’s song), its just my favorite moment in the movie, but more on that later. We see the expression of guilt/layers in Glinda when she is able to be under the teachings of Madame Morrible after Elphaba recommended her. It simply showed compassion and softening her hate towards her, showing her kindness after all the hate she’s been giving her and the ostracizing. Her eyes and stillness at the dance shows her guilt, looking at Elphaba and joining in. Showing the strength and vulnerability in her character for the first time. The expressions and choices every actor makes is glory.

It would be unfair to discuss this movie without crediting Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible, Johnathan Bailey’s Fieyero, and Jeff Goldblum’s The Wizard. Michelle Yeoh shows such vigor in playing Madame Morrible. The one issue I always had towards the end when Madame Morrible calls Elphaba a “wicked witch.” (Apologies in advance for spoilers) its always yelled and I understand its a theater so you can’t get away with that low threat, however for me it grates on and we get this over the top version of the line that cuts away from the intensity. However, Yeoh’s portrayal of the line in that sharp, threatening tone throughout OZ has a a balance where I can still understand the threat of how Elphaba’s life is in danger but also soft-spoken and cuts like a knife into the ever-growing tension that the scene calls for is brilliant and shows impeccable detail towards how these characters need to be portrayed. Yeoh’s interpretation was perfect because we see her poker face when it comes to Elphaba and we see how there student-professor relationships affects each of them which is something we didn’t get the opportunity to see in the Broadway version of this piece. It was intertwined perfectly while keeping the pace of the movie. Fieyero was loving and charming. The way he uses his charm to influence the students without having it feel too-culty or forced in is the way it really should be. Finally, before going on Goldblum and Dinklage added to the film because we could see layers of how there characters are affected by the actions of Elphaba in different ways. While Dr. Dillamond is pleased and overwhelmed by the compassion Elphaba shows towards him, despite everyone’s stance in Oz that animals should be seen and not heard while the wizard (Goldblum) at first is impressed but slowly turns threatened by her power and uses his influence to turn everyone against her. The depth these characters had to go in order to make the characters seem believable is impressive and demonstrates the respect everyone had while making this piece.

Honorable Mention: Marissa Bode, who plays Nessarose Thropp is the first actress to portray her in an accurate light as she is also a parapalegic. It demonstrates the respect Chu had for these characters and wanted them to be portrayed perfectly. Well done to Bode, who did a great job of representing Nessarose who just wants a fresh start but never can.

Music: First off, the score is incredible and fun fact: during the climax, Erivo sings Defying Gravity live and does her own stunts. It’s crazy but true, however we see the dedication she had to portraying Elphaba and doing the character justice in that scene. The singing is out of this world, along with the choreography to the songs, the fun these characters are having (Popular, The Wizard and I, and Dancing Through Life), but also the heartbreak they also are experiencing in certain songs (Something Bad and I’m Not that Girl). The voices each actress/actor adds to these iconic songs says a lot about the influence and respect this show has on everyone involved. Spoiler: Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel have the perfect cameo during One Short Day, which is awesome to see them pas the torch towards not only the actresses, but also the new fans of Wicked. This cameo speaks to paying homage to the legacy of what they brought to these characters, which is sweet to see and don’t get very often in musical movies (transitioned from Broadway shows, to be specific). Anyway, it’s indescribable these musical numbers and I highly recommend seeing the movie to understand what I mean. My only criticism is they didn’t need the song, A Sentimental Man as it was a very slow song and it did drag on a bit, however for the most part the songs help with the pacing of this film.

Setting: Oh my lord, the setting was so gorgeous. Every detail that went into building the world of OZ/Shiz was perfect. To the yellow brick road at the start (again, sorry about spoilers) to the different shades of green that encaptures the spirit of Oz, which makes the dedication and respect everyone on the set showed towards getting this movie adaptation right. I don’t want to give too much away but every detail from costumes to place felt like the directors were bringing us there and wanting us to experience the highs and lows of the character’s journey with them. Ugh!!!!!! This movie was amazing, I can’t go over it! However, with the amazement of this movie, there comes a few warnings.

Warnings:

1. This is a two-parter. Despite my knowledge of this, the movie doesn’t do a great job of advertising this in my opinion so be prepared that you won’t see numbers such as No Good Deed, As Long as Your Mine, and For Good in this movie. The second part will be out on November 22, 2025 (hopefully)

2. The run time is 2 hours and 40 minutes, so be prepared to sit for a long time (along with the trailers, which should take no longer than 20 minutes).

3. No singing. Despite both times this wasn’t an issue in my theater, you will get a promo that shows everything you don’t do in the theater, which includes singing. Depending on the theater, you may get the warning sign, you may not. But be prepared for the sign!

Other than the warnings, this movie is worth the watch in my opinion and recommend any broadway fan of the show or musical fan to see this movie!

Thanks for reading!

[soyforramen]

Apologies, my brain has latched onto a new fandom and just. Cannot process until I vomit this out. So buckle up babes, it's a long one. All apologies in advance.

Complete change of timelines where Madam Yu is the one to find Wei Wuxian, or rather her maids do. They're sent out to Yiling for like... cultivation things, night hunt, secret assassinations, or whatever. They find him very soon after his parents die, early enough that he's just barely on the streets for a few months. Jinzhu and Yinzhu hear about the death of a cultivator who trained under Baoshen Sanren and that her child was recently kicked out, such a shame, but who can feed any more mouths the winter after a bad harvest?

So Jinzhu slips out, finds the kid and they abscond back to Lotus Pier. As they show up they're like, wait out here kid, we've got work to do. And as he's waiting, Jiang Yanli comes up with tea for her mother and is like ??? And Wei Ying imprints on her the moment she gives him a few biscuits and tells him she makes him laugh. So when she goes into the room, Wei Ying follows her in and Jinzhu and Yinzhu are like.

Oh. Right. We found this kid and his mom is supposed to be that lady you really didn't like back in the day, what do you want us to do with him? And Madam Yu at first is like,

But then she sees how starry eyed he is over Jiang Yanli and Madame Yu has a light bulb moment of seeing him waiting for Jiang Yanli to tell him what to do and is like. Wait. And looks betwen Jinzhu and Yinzhu and is like. Wait.

She tells them she's going to adopt him and immediately goes and gets that done. When Jiang Fengmian finds out she tells him to go find his own orphan and just shuffles Wei Ying over to stay with Jinzhu and Yinzhu. (It's not like he's stopped her before, and it's not like he can now. Besides, she found him first. Don't you have a sect to run?)

So now Wei Wuxian is going to be raised alongside Jiang Yanli rather than Jiang Cheng. The twins start to train him and raise him, and eventually he tries calling Jinzhu Mom and Yinzhu Auntie in public and they're both like.

Don't call me that. We are not related. But inside they're all.

It doesn't help that he's quick to learn and sweet, and they're quick to praise him and correct him in an age appropriate way even though they're still really strict and seemingly cold to him. (Wei Wuxian had to get it from somewhere is all I'm saying.) But also they make sure he's fed and clothed and has proper training and an education.

It's constantly impressed upon him that Jiang Yanli is his sister and that he needs to protect her and she'll take care of him in return. Madam Yu especially does her best to make sure they bond, because if her daughter is to marry into Jinlintai, she's damn sure going to have more protection than just a coterie of maids and random Jiang disciples. Especially since it's becoming clear to everyone that there's something wrong with Jiang Yanli's overall health, and there's some chronic pain and fatigue that hits her every so often. So if she had someone who knew her best and could take care of her throughout her life...

Since Wei Wuxian is only five and Jiang Yanli is only a few years older than him it will be similar to how the Meishan Yu heirs are raised alongside their own bodyguards. (I have this image that the Meishan Yu Clan is like a snake, in that they move quietly and lurk in the shadows until they strike, which would also explain a lot as to why Madame Yu is called the Purple Spider.)

As he grows up, Wei Wuxian is still an absolute chaos demon, only this time the first time he tries pranking anyone and he's caught, the twins make him do twice the amount of training and subtly imply that the reason he's being punished is not the fact that he's being silly with harmless pranks, but the fact that he got caught at all.

So they train him in the Meishan Yu way, which is far more covert and focused on getting in quick and dealing with things, and in the Jiang swordplay, which is focused on speed and agility. Meaning he's good with a sword, much better than good, but he's not at the same level as he is in MDZS OG. But he's also got an extensive collection of daggers, stilettos, hidden talismans, and fighting dirty and shamelessly.

Jiang Cheng is jealous that Jiang Yanli now has another brother, and that Wei Ying is monopolizing Jiang Yanli, but both his father and his mother are focused on his training and education in becoming a sect leader, and Madam Yu isn't constantly comparing the two since they're not 'competing' against each other like she seemed to think in cannon. Instead when Jiang Cheng gets too frustrated about not figuring something out or is too hard on himself, Madam Yu throws Wei Wuxian at him to train with.

As they get a bit older, Wei Wuxian is like, but is jiejie learning all this? And Jinzhu has to tell him that no, she's got a small core, besides she has you. Wei Wuxian thinks that's stupid, and says so loudly, so he goes to teach her at least the basics so she can defend herself with hidden daggers, terrifying hair pins, and talismans at the very least.

It's at that point that they realize how adapt he is with talismans, so they make the decision to send both him and Jiang Yanli off to Meishan Yu for him to train with their masters. Jiang Yanli meanwhile is sent to her grandparents and aunts to learn more about political manipulation training, management of sects, trade, logistics, etc.

It's at this point that they get the invitation to Gusu, and Madam Yu insists both her kids go. Which also means Wei Wuxian, professional rule breaker, also goes along with them. During the day he's as perfect as Jinzhu and Yinzhu could ever dream, but he immediately breaks curfew the first night because a) Emperor's Smile, and b) jiejie's in pain again, and the medicines they were sent with weren't working right, and jiejie's dorm mate said that these herbs from Caiyi could help...

Anyways, Lan Wangji is totally able to win against Wei Wuxian in strength, and breaks one of his wine jars again, but since Wei Wuxian was always told to make sure to never get caught, at least this time he had a mask on. So technically Lan Wangji can't say for 100% certain who it was who broke curfew. (Discretion, always, might have been tattooed on his forehead by Yinzhu.)

But like. Lan Wangji is like. Bro. My man. Dude.

Thus beginning his utter fascination with Wei Wuxian because of course the Head of Discipline can't let any infraction go, cause denial (whomp whomp).

Wei Wuxian is thrilled to get such a response out of someone so poised and stoic, especially since he's never been able to do that with his mom or aunt or even Madam Yu. Jiang Yanli thinks it's absolutely hilarious, immediately pegging Wei Wuxian's interest as a crush, and when Wei Wuxian dismisses that, she has to be like

Sir. I know you. I helped raise you. This is a crush. So she's super encouraging that they spend time together, and shows her true colors as an instigator when it comes to her didi. But Wei Wuxian pushes back since they won't be there long enough to form any real long term attachments.

(Actual video of Wei Wuxian during this conversation)

Anyways, Gusu Arc is similar to last time, only Wei Wuxian isn't technically a student, but he does sit in on the classes and surpringly draws 0 attention to himself, making Lan Wangji's suspicion of him even more suspicious to Lan Xichen.

This time, Jin Zixuan isn't punched. Jiang Yanli gives him a cold bow and walks away, but that night Wei Wuxian definitely makes sure that Jin Zixuan knows that that wasn't cool, cause like. It's Jiang Yanli, she's the best why wouldn't you think that? Wtf sir, why would you say anything like that? And oops, look how sharp this dagger is, and oops my talisman slipped. Again.

Needless to say, the next day Jin Zixuan has a healthy respect for staying far away from Jiang Yanli or even thinking about her, and if he doesn't even look Wei Wuxian's way? Well, no surprise there.

MianMian is totally Wei Wuxian's BFF now, though, since she's never seen anyone be able to handle Jin Zixuan so well, and that includes his mother. Lan Wangji is, obviously, jealous, Jiang Yanli continues to instigate meetings between them, and the day of the Waterborne Abyss Wei Wuxian is finally like.

Oh. That's what Jiang Yanli meant about Lan Zhan. And Wei Wuxian is just like,

This leads to further shenanigans between Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian to the point that even Lan Qiren is like. Lan Wangji, just ignore him. We have three weeks left, it's fine. But Lan Wangji is like, he gave me rabbits? But also broke 82 rules in less than 10 minutes? And also he's annoying? But why is he paying more attention to Luo Qingyang?

Anyways, they finally go home, Cloud Recess is attacked, and the Wens are like. Time for the worst summer camp ever! Jiang Yanli begs Wei Wuxian to go to the Wen Camp with Jiang Cheng to keep an eye on him. Wei Wuxian refuses until Jinzhu steps in and uses her mom voice, telling him in no uncertain terms he's going, and Jiang Yanli will be in Meishan, as far from the Wens as she can be right now.

Turtle Time! All of the disciples are essentially going:

the entire time they're there. The arc goes basically the same, only more Wangxian cuddling, teasing, and Wei Wuxian being a shameless flirt to Lan Wangji's horror.

Jinzhu and Yinzhu travel back with Jiang Cheng to save Lan Wangi and Wei Wuxian, and for the first time Jinzhu and Yinzhu show in public that the familial connection with Wei Wuxian goes both ways. The twins insist Lan Wangji stays until he's healed because they owe him a debt for saving Wei Wuxian, but mostly because they're nosy as shit about him. Wei Wuxian would not stop talking about him in his letters and when he returned, so they're like who is this?

Then they meet him, and are all. Ah. Fellow Introvert. Amazing.

We will still kill you if you do anything to our surrogate child/nephew.

Lan Wangji is like. Fair. But also what are you talking about I totally didn't write him a romantic song or anything.

Things tighten down all over the cultivation world after that, and Wei Wuxian is sent to Meishan Yu where Jiang Yanli is, and they miss out on the Lotus Pier attacks. When they get news of what happened, Jiang Yanli has to keep Wei Wuxian from immediately going back, since they both know that if Lotus Pier burned then their parents died defending it. A few days later, Jiang Cheng shows up, along with a badly hurt Jinzhu. Madame Yu forced Jinzhu to go with him since she knew Jiang Cheng would immediately be like. Nope, gonna go back to Lotus Pier to my death the minute Zidian released him.

Both of them are going through major surivor's guilt, but Jiang Cheng sneaks off to get his parent's bodies at the very least, and Jiang Yanli sends Wei Wuxian to chase him down. When they get there, Wen Ning finds them and shows them where the bodies have been moved to.

(Wei Wuxian sees his aunts body and has a major trauma moment, realizing that he's lost what basically amounted to his second mother, and almost lost his first. He decides he's not going to lose either Jinzhu or Jiang Yanli, and he'll do his best to keep Jiang Cheng around either.)

Basically it's the same progression, only this time Wei Wuxian's loyalty isn't to Jiang Cheng, but to Jiang Yanli, so he drags him back to Meishan. There, Jiang Yanli begs for something to be done to help her brother, but the healers are all at a loss.

Jinzhu, meanwhile, only wants to get revenge even though she's still really weak from the attack. All she wants to do is go on a suicidal mission to take out the Wens and Wei Wuxian is Not Having That. He refuses to let her go alone, and Jiang Yanli refuse to let Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng out of her sight. She knows Wei Wuxian would definitely sacrifice himself for Jinzhu, but he's her brother. They're far close than Jiang Cheng because they spent almost every waking moment together due to the circumstances, and by their own choice.

Jiang Yanli starts openly calling Jinzhu her aunt, putting her on the same level as her mother's sisters, and Wei Wuxian calls her mother in public, even though she fights it at first.

Eventually it becomes obvious that neither Jiang Cheng nor Jinzhu are getting better, so Jiang Yanli and Wei Wuxian decide to seek out Wen Qing, who had grown close to Jiang Yanli when they were at Gusu, and ask for her help. They come up with a plan where Wen Qing and Wen Ning are 'captured' by the remaining Jiang disciples, and brought back to Meishan.

There, Jiang Yanli finds out about Wen Qing's research into golden cores, and begs Wen Qing to transfer Jiang Yanli's to Jiang Cheng. After all, she's never been able to do anything to it due to her illness, and even as weak as it is it's still enough for him to cultivate.

Jinzhu is still trying to sneak out, and Wen Qing finally sits her down and tells her she still has a family, even though her sister and mistress are gone. The best thing Jinzhu can do now is to watch over Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli and her own child rather than trying to stay in the past. Jinzhu is not happy about this, but Wen Ning speaks up and says that since Jinzhu helped raise them, if Jinzhu left it would be like losing another parent all over again.

This, and Wen Qing's locking down of her core, make Jinzhu calm down and think long term rather than emotionally. Once Jiang Cheng, Jiang Yanli, and Jinzhu are healed enough, Wen Qing and Wen Ning are 'released' and go back to the Wens.

The Sunshot Campaign progresses in much the same way, only Jinzhu and Wei Wuxian work together to gather intelligence, while Jiang Yanli works closer with the sects in strategy and logistics behind the scenes. Jiang Cheng is still an angry butterball at this point, but Wei Wuxian isn't doing demonic cultivation, which creates problems, but they somehow manage to struggle through.

Jiang Yanli works to make sure the Dafan Wen get 'captured' very early in the campaign who have to look at the rest of the sects and be like. Y'all. They hate Wen Ruohan just as much as us. But also.

Free Healthcare.

In a war.

(NMJ is still against it, but he's overruled by literally everyone else.)

When Lan Wangji is away from the camp, Jiang Yanli and Jinzhu are both like, no, no moping Wei Wuxian. And they throw a bunch of paper at him and tell him to go do something useful. He ends up making new talismans that help with the war effort, and some that just make life easier, and hands them out to as many people as he can.

Once the Dafan Wen reach them, Wei Wuxian, once again, latches onto the orphaned A-Yuan. Jinzhu takes one look at them and immediately thinks,

and sets off to try and figure out how to adopt a grandchild. Lan Wangji is just thinking 'Yes. Perfect Husband Material' when he sees Wei Wuxian with A-Yuan.

Jiang Yanli has to be the one with the brain cell, pointing out to Wei Wuxian that he cannot adopt a child during a war. And especially not if he's still single. Seeing how Lan Wangji is looking at Wei Wuxian, Jiang Yanli seeks out Lan Xichen and tells him, this is what we're doing. Don't ask any questions. But your brother is going to marry my brother, so make sure neither of them die. Thanks.

Once they get close enough to Nightless City through the strength and power of Nie Mingjue's mustache and (insert epic war arc here), Jinzhu and Wei Wuxian sneak into Wen Ruohan's palace, and Lan Wangji invites himself along for Reasons.

When they share the logistics they've found out (time tables, the fact that Wen Ruohan is having health issues, the lack of cultivators within the walls of the city) with the rest of the war council, Wen Qing (invited there by Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng, specifically), points out to the rest of them that the medicine's Wen Ruohan takes are healthy in small doses but are also. Hella Poisonous.

And the rest of them are like, ok? Cool? But what does that have to do with us?

And Wen Qing just looks at them. You captured me, babes.

So Wen Qing 'escapes' back to Nightless city and because she looks absolutely awful (again, she knows what herbs and medicines to take to make her look tortured and miserable), and Wen Ruohan sees her and is like, my niece! You have returned to me, even though I no longer have your family to blackmail you! You do like me!

And she's like, yes, of course I do. I also brought the Jiang Sect Leader with me, and you could totally lock him up in the dungeons, or you could just. Let me keep him and experiment on him, that would be awesome?

And Wen Ruohan is like,

(Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng is the one sending information back to the Sunshot Campaign through lights in the window at night.)

Anyways, Wen Qing ends up being Wen Ruohan's doctor, again, while the fighting goes on outside, and rumors start to go around about one or three spies being inside Nightless City. Wen Qing says that they've got to rout the spies out or we'll lose this war.

Meanwhile, Meng Yao is just

Paranoia grows rampant as Jiang Cheng uses Wei Wuxian's talismans to make it seem like the spies' activities are increasing until Wen Ruohan only lets Wang Lingjiao and Wen Chao supervise and bring him his meals. So its a THING when he ends up bedbound with a poison that only Wen Qing can treat him for. And since Wang Lingjiao and Wen Chao were the only two who could have tampered with his food, and Wen Qing is above reproach being the prodigal son doctor (and the spying and the evidence of it was going on before she got there), Wen Chao and Wang Lingjiao are executed.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch Sunshot Campaign:

Jin Zixuan is still being stupid about Jiang Yanli, and he lets the same woman take all the credit for Jiang Yanli's food, and he confronts her when she tells him that no, that's from me. And Jiang Yanli just bursts into angry stress tears - but no one other than her knows that - and Wei Wuxian snaps. Jiang Yanli takes him down before he can get to Jin Zixuan, though, quicker than anyone but Hanguang-Jun has been able to.

(Jinzhu pointed out all his weaknesses to Jiang Yanli long ago, and Jiang Yanli Does Not Hesitate.)

And everyone else is just looking at her like, wtf? Then Jiang Yanli proceeds to dress Lan Zixuan down and his only thought is

Nie Mingjue continues to be a bear of a warrior and wins skirmishes and takes out Wen Xu. At this point Jiang Guangshan is looking at it and being like, ah yes. I help. Here's two more cultivators. And generally continuing to be The Worst.

Jin Zixuan and his contingent of MianMian and other cultivators collectively roll their eyes.

But Nie Mingjue's story is a completely different story with grand, overarcing themes of brotherhood, trauma, war and glory, and family trauma, but that is not what we're on about today folks.

Flash back to Nightless City where Wen Ruohan is losing his shit and Wen Qing keeps on gaslighting him, because she is a chaos demon on the same level as Wei Wuxian when given a chance. Wen Ruohan decides he can only trust like, two people besides Wen Qing, and the rest of his sect is just waiting for him to show any weakness.

Wen Qing very gently tells him that he hasn't been sleeping well, that's why he's so paranoid, and makes him some very strong sleeping droughts. She warns him not to take too much all at once, though, because when taken in large doses it's deadly. Only he doesn't realize that not only does it have a strong depressants in it, it's also full of stimulants that don't let him fall asleep.

After only a few days, Wen Ruohan is hella hallucinating and it gets to the point where his liver just. Fucks off. and he dies brutally. And since he's executed all of his remaining line, Wen Qing is the next in line for sect leader.

Immediately her first decree is that the Wens are surrendering and she throws open the doors to Nightless City and orders the remaining Wen soldiers to stand down. Jiang Chang comes out and is like, can I go home now? And Wen Qing is like,

The Jin are still like, the Wen have to pay we lost sooo much to them, wah wah wah, but this time even Jin Zixuan is like Bro-Dad. Chill.And Jin Guangshan kind of has to since he isn't able to claim Jiggy's killing of Wen Ruohan this time around.

So everyone fucks off to rebuild their sects; Jiang Cheng works on his 'new' core; and Jiang Yanli works to rebuild the sect, forcing Wei Wuxian to do a lot of the work because she's tired, man.

Eventually, Lan Xichen gets tired of Lan Wangji moping about and sends him to Lotus Pier under the guise of intersect relations, along with a letter outlining a marriage proposal because at this point even Lan Qiren just wants to marry Lan Wangji off to put him out of his misery.

Side Story: Wei Wuxian absconds with the rest of the Dafan Wen who have all looked at Nightless City and been like, nah. I'm good. And Wen Qing is like. Same. Especially since

So the Wen are disbanded as a sect officially as a condition of surrenduring (and she didn't want to lead the remaining Wen soldiers, they super suck).

Instead she goes to Nie Mingjue, since the Nie's were the only sect who didn't have majorly damaged land during the war, and Nie Huaisang and her got on famously, and rolls up like, Yo. NMJ. I want to build a medical pavilion, and he's like. No.

And NHS is like. Bro. Please, let me handle this. Wen Qing here's a nice spot just outside our home, and here's some money to train medics and learn about our terrifying cultivation methods, thanks.

Side Story Time!

Wen Qing and Nie Mingjue end up in a hate/fuck relationship, playing a long game of chicken until they end up married. Wen Qing is able to cut back on the resentful energy of the Nie Cultivation methods through a combination of Wen medicine and Lan musical cultivation to extend his life in a 'You can't die yet, I need more funding,' sort of way, and Nie Mingjue agrees to her methods because 'I'm still suspicious of you."

Everyone else is like, please use better silencing talismans Sect Leader we are begging you.

Nie Huaisang is currently commissioning three seperate plays dedicated to Wen Qing Alone.

Back at the plotline: The Phoenix Mountain Hunt still goes on as planned; Wei Wuxian still throws a flower at Lan Wangji; only this time he spends the entire opening ceremony at Jiang Yanli's side, who is there more in an official pseudo-sect leader capacity rather than at Madam Jin's invitation.

Madam Jin is still like, My son's a dick, yes, but marraige maybe?

Wei Wuxian snarks at this underneath his breath, and Jinzhu discreetly stabs him with a hair pin and reminds him to behave. Jiang Yanli tells Madam Jin that the Jiang Sect is willing to honor the marriage if the Jin are since their sects are so close, but only on the condition that Jin Zixuan is the one wanting to enter the marriage. Otherwise, if he is still against it, they should dissolve the marriage since the Jiang's have already taken so much insult from him personally.

Before Madam Jin can protest too much, Jiang Yanli steers the conversation with the other sect leaders around them to matters of trade, adeptly putting to use the more intensive training of a sect she received at Meishan to use.

A few hours into the hunt, Wei Wuxian gets fidgety, and Jinzhu chases him off to check on Jiang Cheng to keep him out of trouble. On the way, he 'finds' Lan Wangji and at some point in their walk, Lan Wangji looks as if he wants to confess something, but they're interrupted by Jin Zixun's appearance, along with Su She and a few other reprobates.

Wei Wuxian manages to be polite enough, and waits until he and Lan Wangji are walking off to slip a few talismans Jin Zixun's way so he can't reasonably be blamed. Su She, ever the sycophant, still blames him, claiming that he saw Wei Wuxian do it. And Lan Wangji is like, I was right right next to Wei Ying and I saw nothing.

Jin Zixuan stumbles upon them, along with Jiang Yanli, presumably on a walk together, with Madam Jin and Jinzhu behind them. Jin Zixun whines about it to his cousin until Lan Wangji pushes him for proof of a talisman. Surely there would have been a paper or ashes or something left to prove that there was ever a talisman to begin with.

(Knowing full well Wei Wuxian has come up with a talisman that leaves no trace.)

When Jin Zixun turns to Jinzhu, thinking that surely one of Madam Yu's maids knows just what Wei Wuxian gets up to, she just turns to face him and stares, letting the numerous scars on her face scare him off of it.

As they return to the pavilion, they all have to watch as Jin Zixuan is awkward and weird around Jiang Yanli, and Wei Wuxian can't help but make faces about it. Jiang Yanli catches him and points out, to his utter embarassment, that he's worse around Lan Wangji, and since she's had to deal with it for the last ten years, he can deal with it for one hour.

That's more than enough to keep him quiet until the banquet that night, though it doesn't help to keep Lan Wangji from looking too smug about it.

[qzwrites]

Bastiaan at the Brothel pt 1

AUs of my own S2B2 stories? It's more likely than you'd think!

In which Lennart gets to speedrun the virgin-to-dedicated-kinkster pipeline.

---

Bastiaan woke to someone knocking insistently on his door. He squinted at the clock next to his bed. He hadn't even been asleep six hours. "What?" he shouted, annoyed.

"I need to speak to you," came Lennart's voice.

How had Lennart gotten into the brothel when it was the middle of the day and everyone was asleep, Bastiaan wondered, but then realized his favorite customer, as a mercenary, probably knew how to pick locks. Well, as long as he'd locked the door behind him, it was fine; he'd been a regular for long enough now no one would worry too much about him wandering around unsupervised. They'd all know he was there to see Bastiaan anyway, since he never hired anyone else.

"Just come in," Bastiaan called. It wasn't as though he locked his own door once they closed.

Lennart came into the room, shutting the door behind him. "I apologize for waking you," he said as he crossed the room. "I don't have much time."

"If someone's going to get me up before noon, I suppose I'd rather it be you," Bastiaan said, stretching.

Lennart approached the bed while Bastiaan stretched, then sat down on the edge of the mattress facing him. He barely even looked at Bastiaan's naked body peeking out from beneath the sheets, which Bastiaan supposed was another piece of evidence in favor of this being urgent. Without any more preamble, Lennart said, "I've been offered a job."

Bastiaan blinked. Lennart didn't usually tell him much about his work. Bastiaan didn't tell him that much about his, either, except when he thought it might be something Lennart would enjoy hearing. He was too groggy to have a conversation, even with Lennart. "And?"

"It's not a mercenary contract," Lennart said. "It's a...long-term, stationary job. As a combat instructor at the academy out past Halkilde."

"Oh," Bastiaan said. That was far away. Halkilde was nearly the other side of the country. "I take it you'd be travelling less," he said.

"Yes," Lennart said. "I don't know how often I would be able to come through Polnas."

"Oh," Bastiaan said again. He sat up. He felt as if he was weighted down, his body slow to respond to his commands. He recognized the feeling, as it was similar to how he felt after his family was killed. "So we'll be seeing less of each other."

"Yes," Lennart said, and Bastiaan doubted anyone in the world apart from him knew Lennart well enough to tell how sad he sounded. "Unless you come with me."

"What?" Bastiaan asked.

"I asked the Headmistress if I could bring a romantic partner," Lennart said. "She said yes."

"You--Lennart," Bastiaan said. He was painfully aware he was blushing. He'd been a whore his entire adult life and he was blushing because his favorite customer called him a romantic partner. Not even that, really; suggested he might be. But Bastiaan liked Lennart enough that the suggestion of a possibility flustered him more than any sexual advance had in years.

"I understand we have not spoken about anything like this before," Lennart said. No, Lennart had been much more considerate of the reality of their relationship than most customers who were so obviously smitten. He went on, "And it is a significant change. But I...would be foolish to turn down this position, which is well-suited to my skills, as well as considerably safer and more steady than mercenary work." He reached for one of Bastiaan's hands, and wrapped his own around it. Quietly, he said, "But I don't want to not see you."

"Lennart," Bastiaan said. He took Lennart's other hand in his free one. "I don't want to see you less, either," he admitted. They already saw less of each other than Bastiaan would have liked. He wasn't entirely sure how Lennart afforded so much time with him anyway, on a traveling mercenary's pay. Bastiaan hadn't quite dared to suggest to Madam Louisa that they offer Lennart a discount, even though that wasn't so unusual for regular customers. Lennart traveled so much that his high-priced visits were less frequent than any other customer to whom they extended a discount.

And, quite honestly, Bastiaan had been worried she would tease him. He'd spent his entire career voicing his confusion that some of his colleagues found it difficult to keep from getting attached to customers, and now Lennart was the highlight of his days.

Bastiaan glanced again at the clock. "How much time do you have?" he asked.

"The carriage east leaves at two," Lennart said. That was well before the brothel opened. Bastiaan wouldn't even always be awake by then, depending on how late he'd stayed up the night before. He supposed Lennart had little choice but to wake him, if they were to have a chance to talk at all.

"Then why don't you buy me a meal at Ada's and tell me the details?" Bastiaan suggested. Ada's wasn't far from where the carriage-house was, and her cooking was excellent.

"Yes," Lennart said.

Bastiaan got dressed, and managed to restrain himself from pulling Lennart into bed or pushing him against a wall. It was an effort, since it had been so long since Lennart's last visit, and since he had just suggested Bastiaan move across the country to be his kept man.

Until he met Lennart, Bastiaan hadn't really understood the people who left the brothel to be someone's mistress. Yes, you got more free time in exchange for less work, and often perks like clothing and lodging, but it left you so vulnerable to the whims of a single person. At least the people who married their patrons got some legal protection out of it. Yet Bastiaan found the idea less puzzling these days. In fact, Bastiaan had considered several times how pleasant being Lennart's kept man might be.

Probably because Bastiaan was in love with him.

Bastiaan wouldn't even mind not fucking anyone else, which was usually one of the stipulations of these arrangements, if he got to see Lennart every day. Not that Lennart had ever seemed to care at all that Bastiaan had sex with other people. For all that they had spent a fair bit of time together over the last not-quite-two years, what little Lennart said about himself was not especially illuminating. Even when it was informative, it tended to be confusing, simply because Lennart was so unconcerned with what society expected of people. He worked alone, which Bastiaan was pretty sure the mercenaries he knew would have considered somewhere between foolhardy and suicidal; Bastiaan didn't know why he worked alone, apart from the obvious. From what Lennart knew of noble politics and manners, he had to have spent time in a noble house. Both of his parents were dead, like Bastiaan's, but if Bastiaan had read between the lines correctly, Lennart had killed his own father after his mother died. Usually when they had enough time to talk, Lennart asked Bastiaan about himself.

Lennart was strange. Other people tended to find him off-putting. Bastiaan, on the other hand, felt like he'd before never gotten along so well so quickly with anyone. When Lennart didn't understand Bastiaan, he said so, then listened to the explanation, instead of coming up with some kind of reasoning on his own and acting as if that was the truth without bothering to check with Bastiaan.

Ada already had stew and fresh bread ready to serve, so Lennart and Bastiaan took their food to a corner table immediately. As Bastiaan ate, Lennart told him about the school. It had enclosed grounds, indoor plumbing, and meals served three times a day. He was unsure if there were any unfilled positions in the school itself, but there was a village not far outside the grounds. There was even a brothel in the village, though Lennart hadn't asked if they needed any additional help.

"However, you needn't work if you do not wish to," Lennart said. "With room and board for two included in my position, I can support us both. But I will be busy much of the time. I wouldn't want you to get bored."

Plenty of people weren't so considerate of their mistresses' desires when setting up these arrangements, Bastiaan knew. The fact that Lennart thought ahead to not only whether or not Bastiaan might be bored, but what potential occupations he could find at or around the school, was quite endearing. "Are you sure it would be all right?" Bastiaan asked. "I doubt the headmistress thought your proposed romantic partner was a whore."

"I don't see why it would matter," Lennart said. When they first met, Bastiaan would have taken such a statement for naivety, but now he understood it was best to take Lennart at face value whenever possible. Lennart didn't understand why Bastiaan's profession would affect anyone's feelings for him, or opinion of their relationship, because it was not something Lennart found at all relevant. Bastiaan loved that. He loved that Lennart was such a straight-forward man, and he loved that Lennart treated whores like he treated anyone else. "If it does," Lennart went on, "I believe I would still be able to afford to rent you a room in the village. It would be less convenient, but certainly better than having you be a two week journey away."

"You've put a lot of thought into this," Bastiaan said.

For some reason, that made Lennart blush. "Yes," he said, and busied himself with his stew.

"It'll probably take me a few weeks to get everything settled here," Bastiaan said. Lennart's head jerked back up to look at him fast enough to make him splash stew on the table. Lennart hunched into himself, embarrassed, and mopped up the spill with his napkin. Bastiaan said, "But I think I can trust you're not going to get tired of me and strand me on the other side of the country."

"Never," Lennart said, frowning up at Bastiaan. "I could never get tired of you."

"Good," Bastiaan said. "Because otherwise this would be very foolish of both of us." He reached across the table, smiling, and Lennart took his hand.

[morphofan]

Travels With Tech: Dinner And A Show

Took Little Tech to dinner and a show a few weeks back. #TravelsWithTech #TechLives

"Apparently, this is quite a renowned eatery, though I know not what either 'tacos' nor 'tequila' are."

"Well, I must say, they are very generous with the water!"

"This is a chip. Not an inhibitor chip, one that you consume with a concoction of chopped indigenous fruits and vegetables which goes by the name 'salsa.' The varieties of salsa offered here, according to my assistant, are 'Mild,' 'Medium,' 'Hot,' and 'Dayum.'"

"Wait... this candle is... electronic? How extraordinary, I did not think this planet advanced enough to create such a thing.

"Ah! Is that the 'tequila,' as mentioned on the placard outside?"

"How *hic* fascinating. It would seem that others from *hic* my home galaxy have had an impact on this planet's culture.

"Good to *hic* meet you, fellow travelers. I righly hecommend the *hic* tequila, gentlemen and lady."

"Keeping a *hic* deceased human on display at an eatery seems *hic* unsanitary, even if she is attired in compliance with the *hic* dress code.

"Drunk, ma'am? I am *hic* NOT drunk, I had less than *hic* half a jigger of tequila.

"Yes, said 'jigger' was the size of my *hic* cuirass... what is your point? *hic*"

Do you *hic* come here often, Madame?

"Apologies. My assistant *hic* has insisted that I *hic* 'work the room,' in order to 'sober up' before the show."

"Tacos. *hic* Chicken tacos, or 'el pollo,' in the proper tongue. Accompanied by a large, clay-like slab of another local fruit called 'avocado.'"

"Very *hic* humorous, ma'am. As I said already, I am no longer intoxicated. You may *hic* release me.

"Am I tasked with chip delivery amongst your guests, then? I do not believe that is the purpose of this loop on the basket."

"Plantains? Intriguing. On most planets, fruit is a dessert course, but here, fruits are used in both sweet and savory dishes."

"Time for the theatrical performance!

"Oh dear. I do not believe I will be able to traverse this motorway in the time allotted by the glowing symbol across the way. Please pick me up, ma'am."

"Now then, kindly make like a plant and depart.

"What? Oh yes, make like a plant and 'leave'. That is, indeed, funnier. Very good."

"Here we are at the Theater, or, 'Theatre' as it says on the building."

"AHHUGH! Oh dear, how very embarrassing. May I implore you for a bit of assistance, ma'am?

"No, this is NOT due to the tequila, my foot simply slipped...."

"I am NOT being a 'worry wart,' ma'am, whatever that may mean. Yes, the likelihood of a fire is low, but if there IS a fire, would you not feel safer with someone who has thoroughly perused a map of the escape routes?

"Yes, I am aware that you will need to carry me to prevent my being stepped upon in the ensuing panic, but I can still guide the way."

"The set of this theatrical piece is a stage, UPON a stage. A play within a play.

"I must surmise that this particular play has something to do with doors...."

"We will be observing the performance of a theatrical piece on the subject of the performance of a theatrical piece. How droll."

"I wonder if I may be permitted to take a closer look at the stage?

"I say there, Miss...!"

"Rather uncomfortable piece of furniture. The young lady in charge told me I may sit here, but that I am forbidden to touch or move anything. Each item, or 'prop,' has a specific place to be."

"The stage manager said something about 'sardines'? My assistant has confiscated my datapad for the evening, but I shall research the meaning of 'sardines' later."

"Very amiable folks manning this operation. I look forward to observing the theatrical piece entitled, 'Noises Off.'

"...Off of what?"

[stingslikeabee]

@ivory-paragon . from here

The madame's replies were of the non-verbal kind - a soft press over his arm and a smile for Rufus, although it was an entirely genuine one rather than something done as part of their own little theatrics. But underneath it all, the woman's heart was agitated - it was a night of firsts for Melissa in many forms, including the next steps. While she was used to extracting information out of the average man who did not think honeygirls did much beyond spreading their legs and giggling at their jokes, their 'rat' was a different one.

It all pointed towards a reclusive soul, likely not too fond of socializing, and someone of high intelligence. Their act needed to be played perfectly or they risked losing track of that potential lead - with all the dire circumstances it entailed.

Once the couple left their box, Melissa made an effort to act like most of the girls around them did with their dates: enthusiastic about the performance of the first act, holding to the arm of their beau and not shying from the attention of their peers. It was a sea of differently colored dresses and jewelry on display and the Turks had outfitted the madame splendidly - while at the Honey Bee Inn she looked like the owner of the establishment, at the opera house she was easily lost among many other equally fashionable ladies.

Slowly, but steadily, they moved through the crowd while looking for the individual from earlier - and spotted him at the bar, waiting for his order. As the duo advanced, a server handed over a glass to their target - and judging by the coloration, one would imagine it to be wine. However, Melissa had read enough about the surroundings to know about their prized cherry productions, so potentially that could also be some local brandy.

Well - no matter; that glass was about to stain his white shirt in a couple of minutes.

Pulling some hair over a shoulder and ensuring the earpiece was well-hidden from view, Melissa politely detached herself from Rufus' arm with a cheerful exclamation about fetching them something to drink - and promptly made a beeline to their man, blaming their collision on a sudden twirl caused by her flamboyant excitement. The entire idea was for the madame to draw their little rat in - she had the unknown face and, for all they knew, the right gender for the experiments conducted in the past. The more the president remained in the background (as an observer), the better.

"I am so sorry, sir - please, allow me to help," and with that, Melissa's own performance started. The brunette looked genuinely mortified with the scene caused, then promptly started to go through her own purse for a handkerchief she could use to wipe the moisture away while apologizing to him. As the entire thing developed, the woman also tried to get the best look she could at the man...

...And it reminded her of the sketch that Shinra had managed to get done. It was a good match.

"It must have been the excitement - I was too eager to finally see a version of the Mythril Enchantress at the city where the play was created," Melissa carried on, talking in a way that was aimed to convey just how much she had been enjoying the opera - one of Kalm's creations inspired after the legend of an enchantress (or ghost) that had roamed the mythril mines nearby and which was featured in several accounts from former workers. The opera had fashioned it into something much more dramatic, as these often did... But if their suspect was one fond of the craft, perhaps talking about it would yield enough proof of his identity?

And maybe it had been luck (or just sheer preparation with the Turks), but it worked - the man's eyes moved from his shirt to Melissa, and he seemed oddly interested in the lady fussing with his clothing all of a sudden. Craning his head a bit, he asked:

"Is this your first time seeing this one, miss...?"

"Isabel Avelar," the madame replied easily enough, flashing a smile to the stranger and then stepping back to gauge the effectiveness of her attempt of cleaning him up from the brandy, "Yes, it is my first time. I adore the classics and I have seen too many adaptations of Loveless, but coming to Kalm for this local gem had been on my dream list for ages. My fiancé was kind enough to secure the best tickets... There is no best place to enjoy it but from a box and undisturbed by the chatter, wouldn't you agree?"

[juuheizou]

Hello there!! Hope you're doing good! I love your writing for juuzou and mutsuki so i wanted to ask two ir more questions,,, 1.what would make juuzou genuinely upset/angry in an relationship and how does he act when he's angry/upset? and 2.what is something that would bring juuzou to tears and how does he's particularly sad? would he cry in front of anyone? how does he accept help and comforting? Ty in advance!!💕

Hello! You have no idea (well, you might once you read the full paragraphs below haha) how excited I was to answer your very important, deliciously angsty questions! Honestly I've been wanting to write some Suzuya hurt/comfort for aaaages, because I definitely see both of them having their moments though I know I tend to actually post my writings of one side more than the other. I hope I provided the insight into the inner workings of Suzuya Juuzou that you're looking for, anon!

1.what would make juuzou genuinely upset/angry in an relationship and how does he act when he's angry/upset?

Although we see him become a much more forgiving person in :RE itself and I say this as someone who adores him as a character, a lot of things make him angry. He is the type to have big anger over small missteps, especially those that make him feel like the offender is judging him. Little things that could come with good intentions from a partner, like messing with his doom piles, commenting on his snack choices, or trying to tuck in his shirt that he left untucked on purpose will flip his anger switch just as much as something truly heinous. As far as how he acts, he doesn't get mad. His eye might twitch or he might get a little more fidgety than usual when something upsets him, but for the most part, he just gets even. Now, getting even isn't always crashing someone's shiny new motorcycle or getting violent. It can be as quick and easy as making a hurtful remark back at the person who can't believe he's unwrapping a piece of candy before dinner or hiding something precious to the partner who messed up a pile that he had organized his way and seeing how they like it. He might have come a long way and forgiven Big Madam of all people, and he might actually let some slights against him go once he's had a chance to cool down, but he still holds grudges sometimes and can easily relapse into the vengeful soul he was before. Mutsuki's accepting nature protects him from this side of Suzuya a lot of the time because he doesn't try to fix or change people no matter how different they are from him. He even respects people who are disrespectful to him, but early in their relationship he probably did earn Suzuya's vengeance a couple of small, petty times just wanting to help with things he didn't completely understand. The first time, he apologizes and just takes whatever petty revenge Suzuya throws at him. The second time, the revenge is less petty and he's grown a little more assertive so he doesn't accept it and he's like "that was mean. Why did you do that?" Actually thinking about it instead of just acting makes Suzuya realize he cares about Mutsuki more than cares about making him pay for the initial offense, so they end up talking it out and from then on, Suzuya is better at asking himself if his first impulse is worth potentially hurting Mutsuki before he does whatever act of revenge he had in mind. The answer is just about always no. Gods help whoever makes him angry by hurting Mutsuki in any way, though.

2.what is something that would bring juuzou to tears and how does he's particularly sad? would he cry in front of anyone? how does he accept help and comforting?

Suzuya doesn't cry often, and he's more likely to cry from overwhelm than from sadness. He's more listless and may shut down in situations where others who express themselves differently might cry. Going quiet, staring off into space, not getting out of bed, vacantly trying to roll snacks towards his mouth so he moves as little as possible while comfort-eating, that's how you know he's sad. He would cry in front of anyone and everyone, because if he's at that point, he's beyond controlling his reaction to whatever drove him to tears. As we saw in the Owl Suppression Operation, if something strikes the right chord to make him cry, it's messy and out of control. Screaming in anguish, hammering fists on his surroundings, destroying things or hurting himself, curling up into a ball, it's a tempestuous fit to release the overload of whatever brought him to that point in any way he can. Considering his junior partner doubles as a personal care aide, he's actually pretty good at accepting practical help. Comfort, on the other hand, he often doesn't think to seek in other people. It's not that he doesn't want or need that sometimes, but very rarely does he recognize what he's feeling enough for the idea to occur to him. He's more likely to find distractions on his own until either the sadness passes or he can't handle it alone anymore. He's a hard person to read even for people who devote themselves to offering him their support, and often the first sign that he's in need of comforting is when Shinohara, Hanbee, Mutsuki, or someone close enough to have the opportunity finds him heavily self-soothing to comfort himself. Unless there is self-injury or damaging stuff involved, there's often no way to know if what he's doing is working and he just needs space to let it work or not except letting him know you're there and giving him the chance to do what he will with that information. Most of the time, Suzuya will eventually stagger to wherever Mutsuki is and wait quietly to be invited in for healing hugs, usually taking his sadness ball of blankets/plushies/etc with him, plus or minus venting to him about what's wrong.

[spectre-ship]

What is it about the Victorian era that interests you the most? Specific decades, and also things like technology, social and intellectual movements, fashion history, etc. What do you wish was more well-known about the Victorians?

This is such a fun question! I've made two passes at this and they both turn out essay length, so apologies in advance for the beast of a post here, haha.

The overarching thing that I'd say fascinates me is that to study the Victorian era is to ingest a heady blend of modernity and antiquity--in so many ways the people of the 19th century were the architects of the modern day, and I'm continually surprised by the tiny ways in which the Victorian era feels so much closer than ~150ish years ago. And yet it's also so distant in so many ways, and particularly early in the period or in rural areas, the rhythms of life are quite alien to us. Madame Bovary is a novel about the wife of a doctor who mounts his horse to make house calls; the pharmacist in it keeps a jar of arsenic on his shelf; yet it's also a book where I thought "I know someone exactly like this" about pretty much every character. That to me is the fascinating thing about history generally, but especially about the 19th century, so far and yet so close.

I think this extends to pretty much everything. The books of the 19th century use mostly familiar words and the same punctuation as today, but across genres and authors there's such a distinct 19th century tone and style and word choice. Technologically the century is full of so many interesting first passes and middle chapters; the steel pen superseded the quill but is generally obsoleted today by the ballpoint, as an archetypal example. The list goes on.

In more specific terms: one thing I love is Victorian print culture. I'm a printing and typography nerd; I love the neat hairline strokes of 19th century body text typefaces, the wild maximalism of the era's display fonts. I love the seven column broadsheets that jam as much news as possible into four pages with zero pictures; I love the magazines and periodicals lavishly illustrated with steel and copper engravings. I love to imagine what they would have felt like to read when they were first printed, try to put myself in the shoes of the people of the past, get in their heads. (As my writing style probably indicates I have read far too many old books and newspapers, and as a result Victorian sentence structure and phraseology has irreversibly seeped into my brain.)

Fashion history is another big interest of mine. My big interest is in men's clothing, particularly around midcentury—the pinched waists and long hair, the puffy shirts and narrow pants. I like 19th century clothing generally, of course, and I like the Regency tailcoats and breeches, and the boxy sack coats of century's end, as much as the next guy; but something about that midcentury style is just my favorite. I don't have too much philosophy or deeper meaning on this one, if I'm being perfectly honest; I mostly just like the look, here. But I think fashion and textiles history is a pretty interesting field and well worth study in its own right. Learning what exactly broadcloth is, for instance, helped me understand much more intimately why one of the underpinnings of the Industrial Revolution was the textiles industry.

There's a lot of artistic and literary movements that I'm interested in; Victorian medievalism is always fascinating, I'm fond of Romanticism, and, well, maybe not quite so much Gothic proper, per se, but the post-Gothic echoes of Victorian literature, The Signalman and In A Glass Darkly and The Picture of Dorian Grey and Dracula, anything by Poe, the 'golden age' of ghost stories c. 1890-1920.

I could list off a great many other things that interest me—I'm fascinated by the early history of socialism (now and then lately I've been reading Karl Marx's correspondence and his old New York Herald articles,) I'm of course always interested in that historian's holy grail of Trying To Better Understand Everyday Life, I like architectural and art history, maritime history is a perennial favorite—but to write down every last thing would be to make this absurdly long post even longer, so I'll have to make this highlights reel suffice.

Things I wish were more well-known... I think this is maybe one of those topics where I know enough that my idea of what the "average person" knows is skewed, so I might have to sit on that one for a while before I can think up something interesting; I encounter a lot of odd and interesting misconceptions at work, but none of them are fresh in my mind. I suppose a classic go-to would be that 19th century clothing (and, honestly, historical clothing more generally) is way more comfortable than it looks.

[back2bluesidex]

I apologize for the madness that's about to be unleashed.

Here is my live reaction read for "Like Crazy" :D

"It all started as a bet"

"Jimin hyung’s charms” Jungkook smirked." the kid needs walloping (-_-) who asked him to be THIS problematic?? Unprompted???

Taehyung groans as if he is very much disappointed with the younger’s advances, “Jungkook, are you a dick head?" THANK YO- "Is that even a reasonable bet? Jimin can fuck her tomorrow if he wants.” Now it’s the time when Jimin smirks." fuck the three of them (-_-) they're literally the worst

“She’s pretty but the question is… is she easy?”

"For the next twenty days Jimin kept on following you everywhere you went. He totally enjoyed the shocked expression your face would produce every single time you crossed paths with him." when he's a stalker 🥵👌💦💋

"What would they say if they knew a girl from nowhere had been shaking off Park Jimin’s advances." men ☕ wHO DOES HE THINK HE IS

"So Jimin doesn’t miss the chance when you try to get away from the annoying guy." he should look in the mirror more (-_-)

"As soon as your bodies touch, he got to inhale your scent and fuck you smell spicy." spicy?? miss madam had a bit of a jerk chicken? (T-T)

"It was a daydream but seeing it taking the shape of reality is completely different." right?! like you sit and think in your head how wonderful would it be for something to happen and then when it does you're like "no thank you"

oN THE CAR?! Like heathens?!

so he's p*nty sniffing now? ok joe goldberg go off 🙄

he put THAT in her MOUTH? y'all need jesus

"Now who are you to deny Park Jimin?" queer and annoyed (-_-) is who I am, this man needs to be HUMBLED

anyway, happy to see the sequel is out, I'm going to fistfight this Jimin next to a trashcan 🥰

Okay sooo......

I am spell bound.....

The live reaction is better than the story itself... Dang! I enjoyed it more than I enjoyed writing the story. 🔥

And about Jimin... 🌚

Lemme tell you that Jimin's character is actually a bit cocky, a little self-obsessed and a tad bit spoilt. Sooooooo..... Yeahhhh.... He needs to be humbled........ He will be humbled him if I continue this as a series. Let's see...

Also, thank you sooooo much for reading my stories and taking your time to send me this ask. It makes me sooooo damn happy. 😭💜