#my heart now as strong as wangji's love for wuxian

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Normal Friend Behaviour.

[First] Prev <–-> Next

[tossawary]

For a while, I kept periodically thinking about F/M Wangxian (Male Wei Wuxian and Female Lan Wangji) without being able to figure out why I kept being distracted by F/M Wangxian. I mean, I think different genderbending AU situations are fun to think about in fanfiction, especially in worlds where gender roles are a problem. M/M, F/M, M/F, and F/F Wangxian all change the story slightly and I think it's neat to explore why and how.

And obviously, F!LWJ would be a total babe, that's nice to think about, but why still M!WWX and not F!WWX? F!WWX would also be a total babe, though of a different type, especially as the Yiling Patriarch. But my brain kept insisting that M!WWX was still crucial somehow and I couldn't figure out why that setup.

I mean, it is funny to think about how M!WWX's unchanged flirty behavior in their teenage years would suddenly set off every single alarm bell in the Cloud Recesses due to people being able to SEE IT thanks to heteronormativity goggles. WWX with a degree of societal permission to be romantically interested in Lan Wangji? Intolerable levels of annoying. Unbearable to witness. Singing love songs under her balcony type bullshit like he wants her to start another fight under the moonlight. He's writing her poetry (clever "joke" poems bordering on innuendo and actual romantic poems) and has the gall to be good at it. Lan Qiren is barely resisting the urge to beat WWX off with a broomstick. Lan Xichen doesn't know whether to be horrified or delighted (LWJ is bluuuuushing).

I do also like the idea of WWX coming back from the dead and finding out that the common people have decided in the past decade (thanks to the heteronormativity goggles) that the noble female cultivator LWJ had a Tragic Romance with the Evil Yiling Patriarch. Poor woman! WWX: "Who had a what now?" (I do also like the idea of Wangxian actually having a Tragic Romance during and after the war. And mutually stated romantic interest and affection still didn't fix anything for them. But it's funny to think about WWX getting completely blindsided by this EPIC LOVE STORY if there was no actual relationship.)

(Sizhui is still adopted here! Noble and pure-hearted LWJ adopted a war orphan because she longed to be a mother but swore never to love again after the Yiling Patriarch broke her heart, obviously! WWX, listening to this gossip: "She what? I mean, Lan Zhan would make an amazing mom, good for her, lucky kid, and no one is good enough for her if she doesn't want to get married, but seriously, I cannot stress this enough, what the fuck. She didn't like me back! Aiyah, I bet she's still so mad at me for ruining her reputation like this.")

Eventually, I realized that the key piece of this AU that I was missing was that I wanted to write F/M Wangxian that turned into F/F Wangxian. Because I think Transfem Wei Wuxian would display (and I mean this affectionately) the most ridiculous trans egg behavior imaginable, especially because it would lean more towards one of those "I was mostly fine living as a guy, but I'm so much happier as a girl" situations. Absurd amounts of queer foreshadowing.

So, Wei Wuxian gets resurrected into a female MXY's body or something and obliviously goes, "Oh! This is nice! I've always wanted to try being a woman! Yes, I can roll with this." And eventually Wei Wuxian has to actually examine the fact that she really likes being a woman and doesn't want to "go back" to being a man in any way, but not before putting Lan Wangji through an incredible amount of new "joke" flirtation. And people who knew WWX before are like... "Hmm. Some things are making sense now."

Things like: 1) As a teenager, WWX insisted that LWJ was such a strong woman that, if they got married, LWJ could be "the husband" and "he" would happily be "the wife". There were lots and lots of "I want to live as Jiejie's spoiled wife" jokes. Consequently, at the Cloud Recesses, at least one outrageously inappropriate joke was made by WWX about LWJ knocking "him" up, because WWX's breeding kink is still very much a thing. WWX didn't know about her breeding kink when she made that joke; both she and LWJ learned something about themselves that day.

2) Wei Wuxian would frequently pull crossdressing-related pranks saying: "Wow, this is crazy. I can't believe you guys are forcing me to put on a dress and all this makeup for this prank! You guys are wild!" And Jiang Cheng would reply: "No one is forcing you to do this. No one dared you. You suddenly volunteered to crossdress for a prank that does not require crossdressing AGAIN. Also, give me that brush, I'll do your makeup because you suck ass at it."

3) WWX would frequently go on rants about how women are so much more beautiful than men, which flew under the radar as a "normal behavior for a lustful young man", but there was always something a little off about it. Like, WWX might say that women are so beautiful and perfect that everyone would choose to be one if allowed to pick before being born just to admire the gorgeous view, and JC might say, "I don't think that's quite right...?" But WWX would just say something like (like an obnoxious teenage sibling), "That's because you know that you'd make an ugly woman!" or, "Are you saying that women aren't perfect? Also, are you saying Shijie isn't the best person in the world?" And JC would have to be like, "I didn't say that! And I'd make a beautiful woman, fuck you! Also, how is that relevant to your point?"

By the end of this AU, there is at least one public love confession that is horribly embarrassing for everyone else to witness, in which Wei Wuxian has finally realized that LWJ used to be in love with "him" and that she loves LWJ back, but tearfully apologizes because she can't be the handsome man that LWJ loved anymore. Even if she could be a man again, she still doesn't want to stop being a woman, even if she's not very good at it yet. She can't perform the required husbandly duties like provide a good home for LWJ! She can't father LWJ's children anymore!

(Jiang Cheng: "Do you have to do this now?! Stop being indecent! There are children here. Also, we're all being held hostage.")

But it's all cool! Because shortly after realizing WWX was back and determined to live as a woman, LWJ speedran a sexuality crisis, flipped a mental switch, and essentially went, "I'm a lesbian now." (Or maybe LWJ was really confused about being attracted to WWX when they first met, because LWJ had only been physically attracted to her fellow female disciples up until then, so WWX seemed like the "exception", until WWX comes back from the dead as a woman and then it's like, "Ah. Not an exception after all.")

[stiltonbasket]

hi!! since you’re the nielan master, could you do nielan in one of your universes where they end up happy? thank you <3

"Diedie?" a tiny voice whispers in Nie Mingjue's ear. "Diedie, wake up."

Nie Mingjue is still half-asleep, his consciousness lost in the strange, sweet twilight between waking and dreams where he knows and remembers nothing save for his husband's warm weight in his arms—but in spite of the early hour, the sound of his son's piping voice rouses him at once.

When he opens his eyes, he finds Jingyi's round face hovering an inch above his own, aglow with a grin that reminds Nie Mingjue so much of a young Xichen that he nearly forgets to breathe.

"A-Yi?" he yawns, through a mouthful of Lan Huan's sleep-rumpled hair. "What are you doing here, baobao? Did you have a bad dream?"

"I don't have nightmares anymore. I'm not a baby," Jingyi protests. "And A-Die, you were supposed to get up at mao shi to make Ba's birthday breakfast! It's already past chen shi now."

Nie Mingjue reaches up to stroke Jingyi's chubby cheek. "Then I'll get up now, A-Yi. But you ought to go back to bed, because little buns like you should still be asleep at chen shi."

"But Ba's going to wake up before you're done cooking breakfast, so—"

"Your Ba is tired," Nie Mingjue chides, sliding out from under his husband's arm. "He might not want to get up until noon, so we still have time to make breakfast."

"I guess," A-Yi says doubtfully, crawling up to sit on the pillows beside Xichen's head. "But meimei might wake him up early, so I'll stay here and keep watch while you cook."

Mingjue laughs and kisses the top of his son's head before making his way to the kitchen. His heart sings at every step, though this is now hardly worth noting—for that heart has not stopped aching with happiness since the day he and Xichen declared their love for one another, some seven months after their wedding; and its song has only grown sweeter in the passing years, beautified and strengthened by every moment he spends with his husband and children.

He goes to the pantry in the kitchen for rice flour and eggs, and then to the garden for scallions. Nie Mingjue will have to make a simple breakfast today, since Wangji and Wei Wuxian claimed the privilege of arranging a birthday lunch for their entire extended family: and he has little time besides, so he mixes dough for scallion pancakes and prepares three oiled bowls for steamed eggs by the time Jueying begins to fuss in the bedroom.

"Yingying, don't jump!" Nie Mingjue hears Jingyi yelp. "You can't even walk yet."

At that, Nie Mingjue drops his pancake dough and runs out into the receiving room, where he finds baby Jueying crawling toward him on all fours with Xichen's forehead ribbon trailing behind her. Somehow, she had managed to make her way out of the bedroom alone.

"That's my strong Ying-bao," Nie Mingjue says, laughing at the resounding slap of Jueying's tiny fists striking the floorboards. "Should A-Die pick you up now?"

The baby shakes her head and crawls right past him into the kitchen, where she takes refuge under the table with one of Wangji's pet cats.

"Bu," she crows, delighted by the sound of her own voice. No was Jueying's first word, closely followed by Ba, for Xichen and Mingjue both; and since Yingying has rarely left her parents' sight, no is still her favorite thing to say.

Strange though it might be, Mingjue adores his daughter the most in moments like these, where she furrows her small brows and refuses to listen to her well-meaning elders; for it is then that he remembers that he and Xichen brought two tiny people into the world, with precious little minds and spirits of their own. Jingyi's mishaps and misadventures, Jueying's stubbornness, their shared passion for baked sweets and dislike of anything flavored with lemon—all of it came from the love that shaped Mingjue's very life, from the day he first laid eyes on Lan Xichen twenty-six years ago.

If it were any other day, Nie Mingjue would have abandoned his preparations for breakfast and returned to his husband's side, unable to keep away from him any longer; but Jueying has already fixed her beady eyes on the heap of chopped scallions, so Mingjue rushes over to placate her with a biscuit before cooking the eggs and fried pancakes.

"You can't eat these before they're cooked through," he tells her, watching the baby nibbling away at her biscuit in the safety of Xiaolongbao's wicker basket. "They might make you ill, baobao. But after your first birthday, you can eat anything you like."

"You musn't say that, A-Jue," a soft voice laughs from the doorway. "Ying-bao might take you at your word, and then where will we be?"

Nie Mingjue's poor, ever-hungering heart crowds up into his throat.

"Xichen," he breathes, holding out his arms as his husband comes running to meet him. "What are you doing up, sweetheart? I thought you would sleep for another hour."

"Without you in the bed beside me, Mingjue-xiong? I've been awake since chen hour," Lan Xichen smiles, leaning up to kiss him. "I would have liked to sleep a little longer, but I missed you, so here I am."

He kisses the tip of Mingjue's nose, and then:

"And Yingying crawled away with my mo'e," he says, perplexed. "Where is she, my love? Wasn't she with you just now?"

A high-pitched squeal rings out from beneath the table. "There she is," Nie Mingjue says fondly, as Lan Xichen drops to his knees on the floor and gathers Yingying into his arms. "We ought to feed her soon, or she'll try to eat Xiaolongbao's fur again."

With Xichen's help, the last preparations for their meal are completed in quick succession; and before long, all four of them are sitting around the table instead of underneath it. Jueying sits in Lan Xichen's lap, chewing bits of scallion pancake into pulp between mouthfuls of soft steamed egg; and Jingyi takes the little chair between his parents, so that he can lean against Nie Mingjue's shoulder while he eats.

For his part, Nie Mingjue sits with his arm about Lan Xichen's waist, and tries not to weep at the sight of his husband and children eating the breakfast he had made for them.

Surely such happiness is too dear for mortal men to know, he thinks dizzily. Just six years ago, a life with A-Huan and the little ones would have been beyond my wildest dreams, and yet—

Where was I six years ago? Nie Mingjue wonders. He and Xichen were twenty-five and twenty-three when the war broke out, and each of them had celebrated a birthday in the midst of the Sunshot Campaign; but neither occasion brought them any joy, for the beginning of another year of life in such straits could not help but remind them that they might not endure long enough to see the end of it.

Nie Mingjue had nearly died at the Nightless City, and if not for Xichen's skill in healing, he would have been stricken down by a qi deviation in the days after the last battle.

That would have been all right, Nie Mingjue reflects. He knows Lan Xichen's mind and heart as well as he knows his own; for Lan Xichen by far the stronger of the two of them, and he would not have succumbed to grief if Mingjue had left him that day.

"Perhaps not," Lan Xichen says now, reaching backward to hold Nie Mingjue's hand. "What you said when Jingyi was born—that is, what you said you would do, when you thought the worst was coming—I would not turn to such a course, but if I lost you—"

His grasp upon Mingjue's wrist grows tighter. "There would be no joy in this world for me from that day forth, though I would never seek to depart from this life before my time," he says at last. "You must know that, Mingjue-xiong. You must."

Nie Mingjue presses his lips to his husband's forehead.

"I know," he says thickly. "I know, my A-Huan. Happy birthday."

[rayan12sworld]

🧡💜In which Lan Qiren eavesdrops and gets a new nephew (and grandnephew) out of it

By:h0peless_oblivion

Summary:

“Lan Zhan, I have something to tell you. I’m really sorry.” Wei Wuxian paused for a moment whilst he fished something out of the pocket of his black jeans. Due to the angle the two boys were sitting at, Lan Qiren couldn’t see what the item was, but he heard Wangji’s sharp intake of breath as it was pressed into his palm.

“I’m pregnant, Lan Zhan.”

For a split second, Lan Qiren feared that his heart might actually stop beating. Pregnant. Wei Wuxian was eighteen years old and he was pregnant. Any question of who the father was, was clearly answered by the fact that Wei Wuxian was here, confessing all of this to Lan Qiren’s youngest alpha nephew.

----

Alternatively:

Teenage omega Wei Wuxian gets pregnant by his alpha boyfriend Lan Wangji and is scared he's going to be disowned. Lan Wangji's uncle is not about to let that happen.

Chapter:17/20

Words:64,355

Status:ongoing

“Ah Qiren, I always knew you’d go soft on those nephews of yours,” Lan Bowen joked, “not that there’s anything wrong with that of course, it’s good that Wangji trusts you enough to ask to do things the proper way; it would be far worse for his reputation if those kids eloped together or something.” “Yes, that is a scenario worth avoiding,” Lan Qiren shuddered. If only these relatives knew just how close they had come to that scenario. No plane tickets had been purchased in the end, but Lan Qiren had definitely seen the cogs turning in Wangji’s brain in the moments after Wei Wuxian had announced his pregnancy.

~~

“He likes to keep to himself.” “Not for much longer ay. Speaking of which, Qiren; if Wangji is marrying an omega, you might become a grandpa one of these days! Wouldn’t that be nice, you old-timer.” Lan Bowen was clearly joking but Lan Qiren couldn’t help but feel a little faint at just how close this man was to the truth. He was going to be a granduncle soon. He could pinpoint exactly when he was going to become a granduncle; not some random estimate in the next few years of Wangji’s marriage, but under seven months from now. It was annoyingly ironic that the banter in the build-up to the wedding would be comprised mostly of ‘ ooh should we be expecting an announcement of a little one soon?’ when the child was already well on its way. Goddammit, Wangji, you couldn’t have kept it in your pants, could you? Was all he could think about when relatives teased him about potential future grandchildren from Wangji’s omega husband. Oh, they were going to be so appalled when the new Lan baby did arrive, but way ahead of schedule.

~~~🤣🤣 he is very funny

I don’t know. I’m sure no one out there wants to see my bump anyway--” “I want to see it.” Once again, Wei Ying was taken aback by his husband’s intense sincerity. Lan Zhan snaked his arms around Wei Ying’s middle from behind and smoothed his hands down his front, pulling Wei Ying’s sweater taut and revealing the curve of his belly as they watched their reflections in the full-body mirror. “My lovely husband, so pretty and round with our first pup. So strong, keeping our little one safe in his tummy. Wei Ying, as your alpha, getting to see you like this is so special to me.” “It is?” Wei Ying asked, straining his neck to look back at his husband. “Hm, it reminds me of what I’m protecting, who I’m working for, who I feel pride for. I see other alphas out in public and I sense how jealous they are of me for getting to have a pup with such a perfect mate.”

(Fluffy fanfic)

[i-will-cry-you-a-river]

Day 3 of @niecest-weekend-2023

“DA-GE!”

Nie Huaisang jerked up in his bed, gasping for air. His heart raced as his eyes were darting from one corner to another, finding unseen enemies in the shadows. The loud yelling outside of his apartment scared him; was the mob coming for him? Would they finish what they started so long ago?

He jumped from his bed, tripping when the sheets his feet were tangled in stopped him. A small cry was all he allowed himself, small and almost silent but it rang loud in the night. Struggling to free himself, he could almost feel the restraining hands of Su She around him. Fighting for his life, he crawled under his desk, finding shelter from the demons of his past.

A church bell rang, indicating the start of the day, and with it, the wrathful wraiths faded into nothing. The shadows of Jin Guangyao melted into the darkness, the angry screams of this qi deviating brother died and Nie Huaisang was suddenly alone in his room.

Alone, like he'd always been.

Always alone without his brother, his other half.

No matter how much he cried, how much he looked for his brother, and asked for him desperately, no one answered. No one would answer.

Pulling up his knees, covering under his desk, he allowed himself to break down.

“Da-ge,” he sobbed, wishing for those strong hands to pat his head, for his big brother to promise him he would always be with him. To lie to him.

But Nie Mingjue never came. So many reincarnations, so many lifetimes without his One and Only, and Nie Huaisang still yearned. Still hoped. But maybe he should just accept it…

He was all alone in this world.

His parents in this reincarnation cycle were nice. A bit absent now that he was a university student, but they were always there for him. Still, they could never make up for what he lost in his first life - or at least in the first life he can remember -, and he felt a bit guilty for it. His nightmares and screams for a big brother he never had were a constant companion of his since his childhood, worrying his parents. Before he learnt how to hide his condition, he was taken to many doctors and psychiatrists to find out why a five-year-old little kid had PTSD but the only answer they could come up with was that he needs medicine.

After that, he was quick to learn how to hide his night terrors and memories from other people. After all, he still remembered how it felt to be locked in the psychiatry ward for being “insane” just because he knew he was reincarnated. Nobody believed in reincarnation for hundreds of years.

Suddenly, his cellphone rang on his nightstand. He didn't want to get up, he didn't want to crawl out of his safe space under the table, but it was Xian’s ringtone.

He would always pick up his phone for the only person, the only friend he found in this life, Wei Wuxian.

The phone rang and rang until he picked it up. Wei Wuxian was the only constant connection he had to his first life; sometimes he found nobody, but most of the time he found Wei Wuxian at least. Sometimes his friend didn't remember, sometimes he did, but he always, always ended up finding his One. He always found Lan Wangji.

Nie Huaisang wasn't sure if he remembered in this lifetime or not, his friend was always hard to understand, but he didn't find his soulmate yet.

“A-Saaaang,” whined Wei Wuxian when Nie Huaisang finally picked up his phone.

“Xian…” he sighed.

“Don't be like that! I know you love me, and you love hearing my gorgeous voice as the first thing in the morning!” Wei Wuxian has always been and always will be a gremlin. His best friend, one he appreciated, but a gremlin nonetheless.

“What do you want?”

He could basically hear the pout in his friend's voice. “Spoilsport. Okay, but you know I work at the museum, right?” He waited until Nie Huaisang give an affirmative hum. “I might have met with the love of my life today, aaaaand I need you to take over me so I can go on a date with him. Pleeeeeeaseeeee?”

He expected this - well, not the situation but Wei Wuxian finding Lan Wangji -, but it still hurt. Countless lifetimes, and he was still so fucking jealous of them, for always meeting, for always falling in love at the first sight.

“When do I have to be there?” He sighed. It wasn't like he could say no to his friend. Not now, not ever.

“I knew you were the best!!! Thank youuuuu! You have to be there in- uh- ten minutes! Byeee~”

And with that, the line was dead, leaving Nie Huaisang frustrated, but not shocked. Of course Wei Wuxian would leave it until the last fucking minute to notify him. Of course he would.

A little more than ten minutes after the phone call, he arrived at the museum. A bit breathless, a lot red and sweaty from running, looking like a mess with his braids undone and jacket hanging on him carelessly, but he was there. Like in every lifetime, he wasn't an athletic type of person in this one either.

Thankfully not many people were in the museum that morning as it was a weekday, but he had to be ready for the guided tours and the odd tourists, art students and other visitors. He already knew his tasks, being at the receiving end of Wei Wuxian’s begging puppy eyes before, so it wasn't difficult to open the tiny art museum.

What was difficult, however, to face the topic of the new temporary exhibition. Wei Wuxian should have told him. He fucking should have told him.

It was fucking “The Cultivation World: Beyond the Myths”.

The fucker-

He stopped in front of the painting that haunted his dreams. The color work faded, the time left its signs on the painting. He didn't have to read the sign to know how long it took for the artist to paint it, to know its size or its title.

He felt a presence behind him. He should have been more concerned about the visitor, but he felt right. As if the person had every right to be there, to share the moment with Nie Huaisang.

He didn't dare to look back at the person. He didn't want to be disappointed. He started at the painting, transfixed by it, focusing on the past instead of the present.

The painting wasn't one of his best works. It was, however, the most emotional one. The pain, the love, the terror and the grief… the painting was a gateway to his heart. It was not something he ever wanted to see again.

It was something he needed to see. To tell his story; to share his pain.

He felt he was being watched. It wasn't uncomfortable. It wasn't creepy.

It was familiar; safe. The visitor came closer, his steps slow but loud as they echoed in the room. His heart quickened.

It was time.

For what, he didn't know. But he felt like all of his lifetimes, all those years of grief and hopelessness were about to end.

Taking a deep breath, he turned around, his eyes immediately finding the person.

Oh.

It felt like he was punched in his chest.

“Didi…” A whispered sound, not louder than a sigh. Was it the person or was he hallucinating?

He must have been hallucinating.

The person was staring back at him, his deep eyes full of longing. His hair was black, long and braided, his mustache made his handsome face stricter, more stern.

Nie Huaisang felt his mouth dry.

“Da-ge,” he breathed. Legs buckling beneath him, the only reason he didn't fall was because of those strong and safe arms he dreamt about for so long.

“I've got you, didi. I got you.”

Nie Huaisang wept.

He was finally whole.

[loosingmoreletters]

🌩️ and/or ☔ for the wip game please!

☔Is there a fic concept you have that you'd like to just explain and share because you're not sure you'll ever write it? If so, what is it?

Oh gosh, I have too many fic ideas for MDZS but here is one: funky gender and pregnancy ahead.

LWJ returns from his travels with a beautiful woman. She’s strong and smart and when he asks permission to marry this Wen Ying, both his uncle and brother are unwilling to give permission.

You’re too young, she’s a Wen and worst of all - no Lan will have a fox bride.

But, well, LWJ is stubborn and his love dejected.

“I should’ve expected it,” they say. “I can turn myself into a woman, have Wen Qing adopt me into her sect and follow all those rules, your uncle barely took more than one look at me before he said no.”

What a fool Wei Ying had made of himself, thinking he might have a chance. But, well, Lan Wangji is stubborn, so in the morning, LXC sends out disciples to find his brother and his runaway fox bride, but for all sense and purpose, they’ve vanished into the wind.

Three years later, LXC sees his brother again, as he marches into the Lan camp with a Wen General’s decapitated head.

“They burned down our village when we refused to fight,” says LWJ, Hölle like he’s never been. “They killed my spouse and child.”

LXC pulls his brother close.

At the other war front, Jiang Cheng meets the brother he should’ve had. The last time JC had thought of him had been when rumors of the second Jade of Lan eloping with a fox broke through. His father grew sad then, spoke of the boy he couldn’t save. JC feels inadequate as a sect leader, but he hopes he can do his father proud in this. Wei Wuxian is a walking nightmare, has cultivated six blackened tails from the resentment of the dead. “Wen Chao took the three I had,” Wei Wuxian said. “I want his head and heart for my dead spouse and son.”

Jiang Yanli looks at him and thinks WWX needs help, JC thinks that perhaps he can do his father proud if he offers WWX a place in their sect, something to live for.

And then, there in the heart of Qishan, is Wen Ning. He lacks confidence, most of the time, so people think him incapable of lying, but he was taught to lie by the greatest performer of all. He does not remember the day his mother came home with an injured boy and offered him a place to stay, but he does recall the day WWX asked for etiquette lessons, and the day he returned home again with his fiancé and asked if they could hold a wedding there in Dafan, the money WN and his sister put aside for a marriage to Gusu Lan instead used for travels, and later fixing up a cottage to live in until the child would be born. The point is this: WN lies well when the situation demands it, so he lied about the child he pulled from the charred remains of his best friend’s home, claimed the kid as a direct cousin, instead of an adopted nephew. Now all he needs is to get him back to his parents.

Or: I really wanted a fic wheee wangxian meet early and wanna get married but there are enough objects for LWJ to leave his sect, but it escalates into “how long can two characters think they lost everything they loved.”

🌩️ Share something funny/cracky from your WIP.

From an Omegaverse, somehow T rated fic about bitching.

“The quicker you accept it, the easier it’ll be to deal with,” Jiang Cheng advised like a wise old mentor and not the younger brother he actually was.

Entirely unacceptable.

“I can fix this,” Wei Wuxian insisted.

And, despite knowing better, Jiang Cheng asked, “How? Lan Wangji can’t bitch you—”

Wei Wuxian paused in his splashing and raised his head just to see Jiang Cheng’s horrified expression. He couldn’t tell if that was because his brother refused to think about Wei Wuxian’s sex life, which was also what Wei Wuxian preferred, or because he’d hit the nail on the head. Wei Wuxian cackled.

[simon-says-nothing]

tagged by the wonderful @dwarfsized! sorry for doing two ask games in a row im just finally at my computer haha!

How many works do you have on AO3?

9!

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

141,123!

3. What fandoms do you write for?

bg3 currently! also used to write for the untamed, and unforchies vld!

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

1 - Staring at Eternity - (magnus bane/alec lightwood) (please this was in 2015.)

2 - don't make purple - (keith/lance) VLD

3 - fire on fire (wei wuxian/lan wangji)

4 - overcome the sirens (sigh. once again. i was in hs. but. todoroki shouto/midoriya izuku)

5 - the bane of my existence - (its fucking cassie clare again )

5. Do you respond to comments?

always!! mwah

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

ah, probably burden , my wyll/karlach (wyll grand duke ending) fic. tis a small oneshot abt them being long distance pining, n i uh. was gonna write a happier part two but. shrug!

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

probably don't make purple haha, the only longfic i finished and definitely the happiest one :,)

8. Do you get hate on fics?

ah, i have a few times, not often! most notably someone calling my t4t wangxian. homophobic. bc they are trans men. lmfao.

9.Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

i have haha, in my wangxian fic, but its not my strong suit for sure. eager to get better at it one day!

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

i have not written any but i'd love to!

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

not that i know of!

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

not yet!

13. Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

mmm no but writing w @sweetsuke in the doc will always feel like a fun collaborative process :))

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

oh man, i as leetle am a multiship bitch but. wangxian, wwx/lwj, has a rlly special place in my heart forever. love those dudes. they live up here in my brain forever.

15) What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

i swear to christ i will finish fire on fire. i will finish you wangxian fic. has it been. 2 years? yes. do i still think of them ? yes. one day.

16) What are your writing strengths?

hm, i think! im good at dramatic one liners. and character work, for Some characters but not All. sigh.

17) What are your writing weaknesses?

describing things without feeling like the most boring encyclopedic shit is my personal hell. i suck at adding a little life a little flavor to It is a room. boom.

18) Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

i like it if it tracks for the character and the authors done research!

19) First fandom you wrote for?

its 2013. i am on quotev. i upload legolas/authors note (i have not learned the internet lingo yet and i thought authors note was the same as reader)

20) Favorite fic you’ve written?

right now my darling is reflection , my wyllstarion one-shot, first fic in a long bit that i didn't harass myself over every sentence haha and! surprise! when you don't beat yourself up the words turn out better. insane!!!

i tagg @the-neon-pineapple @sweetsuke if ya want!

[lynpheas]

dunno if anyone has or would catch onto this, but in my fic “all the petals fall,” i lowkey based helia’s reaction to flora using witch magic on a wangxian dynamic !! hehe… oh to transcend the rigidity of your moral scruples through an inciting incident by someone you deeply love… romance.

examples under the cut:

“One against two, Lan WangJi still refused to back off. He gazed at Wei WuXian, “Wei Ying, for cultivating an evil path you would eventually have to pay. Throughout time, there has not been a single exception.” Wei WuXian, “I can pay.” Seeing how unconcerned he seemed to be, Lan WangJi lowered his voice, “The path would not only damage your body, but your heart as well.” Wei WuXian, “Damage or not, how much damage, I know it the most. As for my heart, it’s my heart after all. I know what I’m doing.” Lan WangJi, “Some things you cannot be able to control at all.” Displeasure flashed across Wei WuXian’s face, “Of course I can control it.” Lan WangJi walked a step closer. He seemed to be about to speak again when Wei WuXian closed his eyes, “After all, on the topic of how my heart is, what could other people know about it? Why should other people care about it?” Lan WangJi paused. He had suddenly been angered, “… Wei WuXian!”

excerpt from

grandmaster of demonic cultivation 魔道祖师

mo xiang tong xiu | translation from exiled rebels scanlations

“Lifeblood is dark, Flora,” Helia insists. “You saw how you were out there. You were bloodthirsty. It controlled you.” “I never lost sight of myself,” Flora argues. “I swear to you, I never did. If I had, those wizards would be dead right now. I would’ve ripped their arteries from their bodies and taken their hearts as spoils of war. But I didn’t because I was only using my power to save my friends. My friends and you, Helia, the man I love!” “Do you even hear yourself right now, Flora?” Helia says, bewildered. “All this talk of blood and murder — I never thought you to be capable of such morbid affairs!” He pauses, “No, wait, I did. You and the Winx are strong, you’d be able to do anything for the sake of the universe. I just never thought I’d see you take such joy in it.” “Lifeblood is life, Helia,” Flora says, exasperated. “Dark and light are not as diametrically opposed as you think. They’re codependent. One would not exist without the other. In the end, they’re both morally neutral — what matters is the wielder’s choices.” “Morally neutral by whose standards?” Helia queries, resigned. “Mine? Or yours?”

excerpt from

all the petals fall (of the flowers that bloomed in my heart)

lynpheas | ao3

[inexchangeforyoursoul]

time for some actual blogging bc why not

So anyway, I read that gay Chinese zombie book. I have not read an actual book since forever and was doomed, when originally writing this, to wait out the arrival of the rest of the series that I've promptly ordered, and you know what? Let's write a review is what.

For the dry tl;dr we are talking about a strong 8.5 for the first volume, and even that is because of display A, me not being interested in 80% of the school flashback chapter, and display B, the kajillions of similar names that get spiced up with the 2-4 fancy titles of the big shots which get used interchangeably as per demand. Not my demands, but probably good manners' which I'm a stranger to. The short bios of people in the front are a blessing if you want to follow who's who early on; obviously, I didn't savor it as if it was some holy scripture, but for the first chapter you also don't even need it.

Speaking of content, this was not something I expected with my main previous information source being random osmosis via internet. In fact, all I knew is that a main character comes back from the dead, there's other dead people, everyone is wearing pretty much traditional clothes and it's allegedly some good gay shit.

But this wasn't much of a preparation. See, that info was out of context mumbo-jumbo, much like what I'm trying to tap together right now to avoid spoilers. This isn't a fantasyfied period piece or a love story despite one of the main characters working a whole ass pine plantation. (Wonder how long it will take Wei Wuxian till the yuan drops, really. Current gayness rating is 3/10 btw as apart from his body having belonged to an outed twenty-something year old and him playing it up for either giggles or strategy, there's not much else to it.) What I'm trying to say is that man, when I bought the paperback seeing it was 50% off for roughly 5 'Murrican bucks I certainly wasn't expecting a supernatural action detective story with an enjoyable cast and a cliffhanger I wanted to punch a wall over. Color me intrigued. But there's another point I'd like to make.

The point being that the book is funny as hell. Of course this doesn't say much as my sense of humor is pretty niche, but I digress.

Wei Wuxian is a feral gremlin. A very professional and kind-hearted one, but a menace nonetheless. The number of times he's willingly done something irresponsible or stupid followed by regret .5 seconds later is on par with the number typos I've found in my translation. Which isn't a whole whole lot, but it's weird it happened as many times as it did. I'd ask how he's still alive, but, y'know…

The straight man to his antics (lol), Lan Wangji, is usually as interesting as a freshly whitened wall but when he isn't he's amazing. Also has the best scene in the whole volume, hands down. I was reassured there's more of the same to come and I'm filled with giddy anticipation because it had me thriving.

The Lan boys are sweethearts, I hope they'll stick around. They have their own little shenanigans and even if you aren't big on them you'll still look forward to their unexpected appearances once you realize that they are an indicator of shit hitting the whirling device and whipping up a whole entire storm in the very foreseeable future.

Wuxian's uh… nephew? I think it's his nephew. (He's called Jin Ling. I recognize it already, but haven't memorized it yet.) He is very punchable but obviously also a kid and I'm starting to worry for him, man. Either way, he has a demonic hellhound. Name's Fairy. Nuff said.

Then this new Xiao dude is fascinating me for a number of reasons, but even if he wasn't he had the funniest line in the book about 5 pages before things became wild and I was slapped across space-time and jail bars on the face with a to be continued.

The fact that this is a longer story that allows you to dwell on and theorize about stuff is also something I greatly appreciate as a One Piece and Homestuck fan. Theory crafting for an ongoing series is half of the fun, really!! (Ok, it's not ongoing, but I'm forced to treat it as such.) How will we get rid of Wen Ning's shackles? What even is he like when conscious? How long will it take for people other than Wei Wuxian's contemporaries to realize who he is? Will he drop the act himself seeing it's only a question of time until the info spreads? How close is Jin Ling to realizing that his uncle was right? Will he turn on Wuxian entirely or is he invested enough to stick around? Will he turn out to be a respectable cultivator later or be sacrificed for an especially tragic plot twist? What about Wei Wuxian's chances of survival in his current position? For that matter, will all the Lan boys live till the very end? Was the blind man pulling the strings all along or was he tricked into the murder and turned to the forbidden arts in desperation?? Are we fighting for our very lives or merely being tested right now?! Either way, the overpowered zombie talisman is nearby, the plot thickens!!!

So much to think about, I love it!

And although the whys and hows of the logistics are a total question mark, since about halfway through the volume, I have been about 80% convinced of who the unalive person we're on a quest to reassemble is. It's low-key worrying for a number of reasons, but whatever. But this is just a theory. A literary theory.

…

The next volumes can't arrive soon enough, man. (Before I posted this, they already did. Brb I need to rehydrate.)

[hetaoren]

Lan Qiren frowns, not liking that Jiang Wanyin doesn't know he is carrying Wei Wuxian's golden core. On the other hand, he can understand that decision. He knows the Jiang pride and he knows Jiang-zongzhu's love for his shixiong, or rather former shixiong, he would never have accepted the golden core and without one, the Jiang Sect would never have risen from the ashes. Who would follow a sect where the sect leader lacks a golden core? Few. Very few. No matter the reason for the lack of said core. Eventually, the older man nods. "Very well. I will not tell anyone. However, I do suggest you let Wangji know." With Wei Wuxian here and under their protection, and with what Qiren himself will give him, Wangji will never let him be. As much as Qiren dislike it, Wei Wuxian seems to be his youngest nephew's fated one.

"I am, but the Lan Sect is strong enough to stand against the Jin Sect. The Jiang will not oppose and I think the Nie will stay silent too." If not, Xichen could talk to Mingjue, as could Huaisang, he and Wuxian had been close once. "The Wen brought pain and destruction to the Jiang Sect. They burned it. They melted Jiang Wanyin's golden core. Yes, you have killed hundreds and you will not go unpunished, but killing you will not bring anyone back, just cause more blood shed." Lan Qiren sighs, thinking a moment if he should continue to talk or not. Then he does. "Wei Wuxian, I am tired of fighting. I am tired of blood shed. I want peace. I am helping you because you came here willingly and have agreed to get cleansed and stop walking the ghostly path. I am helping you because as a Lan, life comes first and you are still alive." For a moment, he closes his eyes and then turns his back towards the young man. "You are a frustrating man and you have show me and my sect a lot of disrespect, but you are skilled and I know you have a good heart. My nephew... Wangji... he, he also finds you special." That took a lot for him to say, but it had been said now. All done.

Turning back, facing Wei Wuxian again, he meets his gaze. "So allow me to do this. You will rest now. Get fed and bathed. Wangji will talk to you. In a few days, I will return and we can begin the cleansing. Agreed?"

IT ALMOST MAKES HIM SQUIRM, to hear such a judgement. Before the burial mounds, the acknowledgement never had the chance to sink in — it was supposed to be easier than this, to live without a golden core. He could've managed, somehow, he could've adapted, if it hadn't become a matter of survival. But not Jiang Cheng — ever so prideful, with a sect to rebuild, he needed it more than Wei Wuxian ever did and there's nothing more to it. It's not worthy of admiration. ❝ He doesn't know, ❞ he says at last, wincing just barely at the words. ❝ I would prefer to keep it that way. Nobody else has to know about this, not even your nephews. ❞

When the cat is out of the bag, who knows where it'll run off to. He is in no position to make requests. A prisoner can plead or beg or laugh in the face of his captor, but this, whatever this is, is nothing but pure confusion — he came here to die, he confessed to make Lan Qiren reconsider his generosity, and yet...

It almost felt like a fitting end, to die where his heart is, so close yet so far, just outside these walls. Still, a promise of rest takes a load off his shoulders. The promise of talking to Lan Zhan again, seeing him at least once more — if something could keep him grounded amidst the confusion and the uncertainty, it's him. There are still some secrets the Yiling Laozu can keep.

❝ You're putting your sect at risk, xiansheng, ❞ a smile tugs at the corners of his mouth, it's not too bright, but it's untainted by bitterness. Some things are just too good to be true, and who could blame him for raising the defences one last time? ❝ I brought nothing but pain and destruction to the Jiangs, I killed hundreds of others, so why would you help me? ❞

[sadakocchi]

I almost couldn't believe myself

I just thought this;

In the past, having your favorite character died was a really big no for me

I'm dyingcharaphobia, yes, I just made up that one

But now after I read MDZS—

I got to see one of my lovely favorite character, Jiang YanLi, died for 5th times in a different medium

[robininthelabyrinth]

Art trade with @yakultyeet who requested an extra for Initiative (the NMJ/JYL fic), potentially involving Nie Rulan

ao3

“Are you sure you should be exercising?” Wei Wuxian asked for about the fifth time, because he could be a terrible nag when he wanted. “What if you get hurt?”

Jiang Yanli was a good, virtuous, and loving older sister, so she didn’t roll her eyes at him. Neither did she smack him on the head, or ruffle his hair, or anything like that.

“Hypocrisy doesn’t suit you,” she teased instead. “Aren’t you and Hanguang-jun getting a name for yourselves as ‘always being where the chaos is’? If anyone should be worrying about anyone, it’s me for you!”

Wei Wuxian flushed pink, which was a new development that had first appeared on this particular visit to the Unclean Realm, and one that Jiang Yanli hadn’t expected. She’d remarked to Nie Mingjue just the night before that if she hadn’t known that he was only traveling around with Lan Wangji, she might have assumed he’d developed an infatuation for someone, or even lost his heart.

Her husband had blinked owlishly at her – it had been late, both of them long since tucked into bed, and his mind mostly on other things, including the current contents of her swollen belly – and he’d asked if there was a reason she was discounting the possibility that he had.

(“Obviously if there’s some history there, I wouldn’t presume to say anything,” he’d assured her as she had, in turn, blinked at him as if he’d lot his mind. “But the way they interacted during the war was always so emotionally charged, I’d assumed there was some attraction there at the very least, and it wouldn’t be that surprising for comrades-in-arms of a that particular inclination and orientation to eventually discover the other’s presence and potential after the circumstances are no longer so pressing…”

“Inclination?” Jiang Yanli had asked, still blinking. “Orientation? What?”

“…isn’t Wei Wuxian a cutsleeve?”

“What? No, of course not. He flirts with girls all the time.”

“A-Li, from what I’ve seen, he flirts with everyone all the time. What does flirting have to do with who he likes? Some people are just born flirts – look at Huaisang.”

Jiang Yanli had had to concede the point, and thinking back on it, she really couldn’t say if Wei Wuxian had ever actually expressed serious interest in any girl. Was it possible…?)

It certainly seemed a lot more likely now.

“Ah, me and Lan Zhan, that’s nothing, nothing much,” Wei Wuxian said, still pink, and then he shook his head purposefully. “Anyway, it’s different! You’re taking care of two instead of one!”

Jiang Yanli’s eyes curved with laughter. “Why, A-Xian, are you saying you’re not taking care of Hanguang-jun…?”

“Shijie, don’t be mean –”

“You’re the one who doesn’t have a golden core,” she reminded him, and he winced, even though they’d all already shed all the tears and done all the yelling they could possibly have done on the subject back when it had first been made clear to them. “And you’re out there night-hunting and doing all sort of wild things, left and right, every day. I’m just sitting here at home. There’s no need for concern.”

“I still think that lunk of a husband of yours ought to be taking better care of you,” Wei Wuxian grumbled.

“My husband is taking excellent care of me. Should I tell him you think he’s a lunk now?”

“No!”

Jiang Yanli giggled. She knew exactly how much Wei Wuxian admired Nie Mingjue – more and more, these days, really. That advice he’d given him about making a new name for himself had really changed his life, and Wei Wuxian’s respect for him, always strong, had turned into something near to hero worship, though naturally Wei Wuxian would never admit it.

It’d only gotten worse after Nie Mingjue had gruffly told both Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng that, on account of them all being in-laws now, they might as well both join Nie Huaisang (and Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao) in calling him da-ge. He’d meant it primarily as a means to make clear to the world that no one should even think about messing with either of them lest they have to deal with the maddened fury of the Nie sect, but apparently a reliable big brother was something right out of a fantasy for both of them. Her delightfully silly brothers, each one worse than the next…

“Anyway, you really don’t need to worry,” she said. “I see a doctor every morning, the training-masters are always monitoring my training, and training the saber during the middle stages of pregnancy is completely normal here – firstly because it provides me with a good bit of exercise that isn’t too stressful, given the low grade of the basic routines I’m practicing, and secondly because it’s good luck. Supposedly it means that my child with have a good affinity with their saber.”

“Da-ge’s mother must have done nothing but practice,” Wei Wuxian said, and Jiang Yanli laughed in agreement. “And Nie-xiong’s must have done none at all.”

“Based on what I’ve heard of her, she wasn’t the saber sort,” Jiang Yanli agreed. Nie Mingjue had recounted, to Nie Huaisang’s laughter and Jiang Yanli’s delight, how he had had to sit around and make pleading puppy eyes to convince his Second Mother to take a few rounds with the saber for the good of her own health – apparently Nie Huaisang had come by his laziness quite honestly. “Though actually you’ll find that his affinity with his saber is perfectly all right.”

Wei Wuxian looked disbelieving.

“According to him, his saber’s dream is to be a paperweight.”

Wei Wuxian sniggered. “All right, that I’ll believe!” He shook his head, then glanced at her sidelong. “You’re really happy here, aren’t you?”

“I am,” she said. “I’m very happy. Why do you ask?”

“No – no, it’s nothing. It’s just interesting, that’s all – it’s so different from home here.”

Jiang Yanli nodded solemnly. “Oh yes,” she said. “It’s very different, but it’s something you get used to – something you grow to love. It’s easier than you might think.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. It’s easy because you love the people that are there so much, and the places they grew up shape them, so you see little pieces of them in everything. The training grounds, the forests, the streams…” She glanced at Wei Wuxian, who was nodding along thoughtfully. “Are you asking because you’re thinking of marrying out?”

“Shijie!”

“It’s quite all right if you do, of course. Though since you’re both men and there’s no likelihood of children, maybe you could split your time between the Lotus Pier and the Cloud Recesses equally –”

“Shijie! How did you know?”

“A big sister always knows,” Jiang Yanli lied through her teeth, and turned a grin on him. “So, are you going to finally stop trying to hide it from me? Tell me everything!”

He laughed. “All right, all right – there’s not much to tell, not really –”

[rayan12sworld]

🧡Come Around and Stay

By:trippednfell

Summary:

Lan Wangji is a trauma surgeon single father with way too many things on his plate. Wei Wuxian is a computer genius who moonlights as a music teacher and loves musicals. They meet when Lan Wangji is late picking up his son from school.

Turns out there's more than one type of trauma, and some types are easier to fix than others. It will take a lot of patience, support, found family, and love but they'll get there in the end.

Chapter:35/35

Words:160,555

Status:completed

world changed, all at once, with no fanfare or warning. Oh, thought Lan Wangji. So that’s what it means to fall in love. He expected it to take longer. But it was so brief - one heartbeat he didn’t know he loved Wei Ying, and then in the next beat he knew he did. It was a tipping point - the moment of anticipation, the electric silence before the lightning strike, the arresting moment right before a scalpel slices into skin, the last desperate inhale before a kiss. He fell in an instant and everything changed and it seemed so incredibly unfair that nothing else seemed to mark the moment - Wei Wuxian still sat on the couch, A-Yuan excitedly pointed at something on the screen - Look, Xian-gege! It’s the lantern her Mom and Dad made!, Lan Xichen still washed dishes in the kitchen, Nie Mingjue spoke on the phone. All of them continued their own lives as if Lan Wangji’s life had not irrevocably changed in this one beat of his heart

~~

And if it wasn’t bad enough - you have Lans protecting you now. It has been made very clear, in the social circles, that no one by the name of Jiang or Jin is to talk to you unless you initiate it.” Wei Wuxian turned to look at him. “What? You’re making that up.” He had to be. There was no way that was true. Jiang Cheng shook his head. “Oh I’m not, trust me. The Jins were disinvited from the Lunar New Year gathering because you were going to be there. And a week before the party, Lan Xichen had a lunch meeting with Father where it was insinuated, quite politely mind you, that if we ran into you at the party it would be best if we did not try to approach you.” Wei Wuxian felt his mouth drop open. He just stared, like an absolute cliche of a shocked person. Completely speechless. “And after you left the party with Lan Wangji and your son, I had to be cornered by Nie Fucking Huaisang and very calmly told that if I ever laid another hand on you I would disappear and my parents would have to mourn for decades without laying me to rest because my body would never be found.” Wei Wuxian took a moment to process. “A-Yuan is not my son,” he said. And it was easily the most ridiculous response. Of all the things to object to, he called Jiang Cheng out on calling A-Yuan his? “Sure,” Jiang Cheng snorted. “He runs to you and clings to you after being chased even though his father is literally standing right next to you, but he’s not yours.”

I don't read modern fiction alot but I definitely liked this one so much💕. It's about healing trauma and family

Only wounds from survivors are allowed to scar,” he said. “They are proof you are a fighter. They’re proof you are strong. They are as beautiful as every other part of you.”

~~

“You made a space for me?” he said. His voice shook, but Lan Wangji responded by holding him even tighter. “I’ve carved space for you in my heart already, what is a room in my home compared to that?”

~~

He would hold him. He would hold him forever if he asked. So you love me? How long had he wanted him to ask a question like that? To give him the opening he craved, to tell him exactly how he felt? How could he have doubted it? Lan Wangji felt like his love for Wei Wuxian sang out in every action, every word, every look, every single thing he did.

[amokslime]

MDZS fencing AU! They're on different teams, they fence Epee, and they're utterly insufferable because they only care about outdoing each other.

I'm physically restraining myself from writing a big info dump about fencing. Here's some AU info instead:

I'm basing everything off of the fencing environment in my country/region, just because that's what I know best. I don't have a good grasp on international fencing because I never did it. But if you do, I'd really love to hear your thoughts!

Ok, here's some general background info: Each of the sects is a different local fencing team, either at private schools (Gusu Lan, Lanling Jin, Qishan Wen) or at independent fencing clubs. (Yunmeng Jiang, Qinghe Nie) Everybody sees everybody else repeatedly at tournaments and they all live in the same city, so there's team or personal rivalries that range from friendly to vicious. Many of the characters including Wangxian are aiming for college scholarships, the national team, or even the Olympics so things can get rather fraught and intense. Of course, you've got characters like JYL who are fencing just for funsies, characters who got gatekept out of the sport by their horrible dads (JGY) as well as former champions turned refs and coaches. (LQR, YZY, NMJ)

Wei Wuxian

Affiliation: Yunmeng Sword Club

Main Weapon: Epee

Wei Wuxian started fencing in middle school, shortly after being adopted by Jiang Fengmian. JFM and YZY are both former olympic fencers who started their own fencing club. They do not get along but both refuse to yield the club to the other. This creates a chill and healthy environment for everybody involved! They also compete by proxy through WWX and JC, so that's fun.

Despite this, WWX truly loves fencing with all his heart. He's a natural talent with an intuitive grasp on fencing strategy. He tends to goof off at tournaments unless he's actively in a fencing match. This earns him a reputation as a slacker that he doesn't truly deserve. One time he spilled a bag of skittles on the floor while watching a match and they rolled all over the strip. So now LQR, who was reffing that match, permanently hates him.

He's aiming for the national team! He loves winning and wants to see how far he can go. Attempt the impossible and all that.

Lan Wangji

Affiliation: Gusu Lan Private Academy

Main weapon: Epee

LWJ has been fencing since early childhood. He's good at all three weapon types. He's one of those people you kinda despair to face off against because he's strong AND fast AND his guard is good AND his attack is good AND he parries really hard AND when you shake his hand after the match it's not even sweaty. He's aiming for the national team because it's expected of him. Being from a fencing family, it never really occurred to him to do anything else. But fencing against WWX ignites his passion for the sport (for the SPORT) and he finds himself really, really wanting the victories he used to take for granted so he can fence (with WWX) as long as possible.

Gusu Lan is a famous private school with an excellent reputation & tons of resources. So Lan Wangji is an immovable object born out of the combination of privilege, hard work, and talent.

[ninjakk]

Hi! I really like your Metas about MDZS. I want to hear your opinion about this one in particular. When LXC was revealing all that happened at Nightless City, after the "Get lost!" scene, it mentioned that WWX's eyes reddened. I'm quite at a loss on how to interpret this. Was he mad or overwhelmed with emotion that he was about cry? Actually curious of your thoughts on WWX's feelings fluctuating since JGY started mentioning LWJ's pining.

Hi Anon,

Thank you for the ask! I'm glad to hear you're enjoying my meta 🥰

I'll answer your questions in chronological order as it appears in chapter 99, or it might get a little confusing for everyone ☺️

During the scene you are referring to, WWX was as you said, overwhelmed with quite complex emotions. As we know, WWXs emotions were already extremely raw before he even went near Guanyin Temple that night. WWX had just had a huge misunderstanding with LWJ not that long ago. He was absolutely heartbroken, assuming LWJ did not return his feelings and thought he had taken advantage of him while apparently still drunk.

After WWX was caught at the temple alone without LWJ, LXC and JGY were perplexed as to why LWJ is not with him. Ironically, it was JGYs words that sparked a tiny bit of hope within WWXs heart. Obviously I don't think this was JGYs intention, it was more of a way to manipulate WWX by distracting him enough to lower his guard and simultaneously cause him distress. As we know, JGY is a master at using words as a weapon. But I can't help think JGY was also just being a bit nosey and wanted WWX to spill the tea as well 🤣

Jin GuangYao, “Of course not. I just had to comment. HanGuang- Jun spent so many years in yearning, and even today he hasn’t gotten his happy ending yet. Not only does Sect Leader Lan have a good reason to feel impatient, even an outsider can’t bear watching it.” Wei WuXian whirled around, “What yearning? What happy ending?” Hearing this, both Jin GuangYao and Lan XiChen seemed surprised. They examined his expression carefully, as though trying to see if he was purposely pretending to be oblivious. Wei WuXian’s heart suddenly began to pound, like something that had been dead for more than half the night suddenly bursted alive in his chest again. He forced himself to be calm, “What do you mean?

Although WWX was being held hostage, hearing JGYs words instantly made his heart pound - probably from a mixture of excitement, anxiety and worry. WWX was anxious and excited to find out if LWJ felt the same way about him. He wants nothing more than to hear this finally confirmed! But he is probably also feeling a little worried at how LWJ must be feeling right now, if his feelings are indeed returned. After all, WWX brushed off their romp as nothing more than 'guys helping each other out' because he thought LWJ had just sobered up (he sobered up long before) and regretted the situation. He's so desperate to know the truth, his mind is probably frantic at that moment, full of strong emotions.

Hearing that LWJ might actually return his feelings, he pressed LXC to the point he got uncharacteristically angry. WWX was in quite a lot of emotional distress while LXC had his infamous rant. Which I have to say although rather harsh, was only because LXC cares for his younger brother very deeply.

When we arrived, you sat blankly on a rock within the cave. Holding your hand, WangJi was giving you spiritual energy. He kept on whispering to you. But throughout the whole time, you repeated the same two words at him. “Get lost!” Wei WuXian’s throat was dry. His eyes were red as well. He couldn’t say a single thing.

WWX eyes reddened because he was so upset, in so much emotional pain, he was indeed holding back tears. He's just realised how deeply LWJ loves him. He's just found out LWJ saved him and went against his own sect to try and protect him. He's just been told that after all of that, he said nothing more to LWJ than 'get lost'. Obviously WWX was catatonic and wasn't even really aware what was going on, or what he was saying at the time. I've covered this in a previous post, in case anyone wants to read more into the scene - so I won't go into it too much.

WWX has also just found out that he is the indirect cause of the discipline whip scars on LWJ's back. And finally, the thought of all the pain he has inadvertently caused LWJ (both physically and mentally) over the span of both his lives, is too much for him to bear. Not to mention the pain he must be feeling from trying to recall events that have caused him deeply rooted trauma. So it's no wonder poor WWX is close to crying - something which he very rarely does usually.

It's an incredibly emotional chapter and there are lots of feelings flooding to the surface. But at least we know LWJ and WWX do indeed get their happy ending together at last 💞

[miixz]

Lan Wangji for the Ask

He!!!!! I love him so much.

He was actually the first character I related to in MDZS (though I loved Wei Wuxian from the beginning it took me a little more to relate to him). I marked him as the best character, but please know I'd mark the same for Wei Wuxian, they share the first place in my heart, I cannot choose between them. 

Not everyone but me is wrong about him, but I see his character being interpreted in ways I disagree with often. Either as someone who is cold and aloof as Wei Wuxian first assumed, who needed Wei Wuxian’s presence in his life to become kind and socially conscious, or as naive and sheltered, as well as stifled by his family and their rules. I don’t see him as any of those. Lan Wangji is introduced to us as a quiet, but strong willed figure, standing up to Jiang Cheng through his actions while staying utterly silent towards him. He is then kind to his juniors, who were already shown to hold him in high regard, and also respectful to “Mo Xuanyu” who is standing there awkwardly in dreadful makeup, looking by all means like the lunatic he is said to be, though both Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji know that he is not. I think that says much of what we need to know about him really, he’s kind, respectful, gentle with those he cares about, and though he doesn’t go after conflict, he is strong willed and will stand by his beliefs. 

Although our impressions of him are at first colored by Wei Wuxian’s wariness and misinterpretations, it’s the kind of thing I feel some people get too stuck on, when we were supposed to discover Lan Wangji with him, not believe those initial assertions when they came from several unfortunate misunderstandings and a general lack of knowledge that allowed some biases to form.

We then soon proceed to learn some about him as a teenager, and see that he is as upright as he is now, but also awkward and full of feelings he doesn’t know how to deal with. It’s endearing as the reader to see how flustered he is in the face of Wei Wuxian’s teasing, and how much Wei Wuxian has liked him since then. I just! Love them both so much!! The cutest babies.

I loved getting to know Lan Wangji better through Wei Wuxian’s eyes throughout the whole book and discovering how his first impressions may have been wrong and where they were right, as well as picking apart all the ways Lan Wangji has been expressing himself through the things he does rather than his words. Although even then, because that’s another pet peeve of mine, he is also very direct with his speech, concise but very informative to his thoughts and feelings as well. I’ve spent a lot of time overthinking his way of communicating for fic writing purposes and I just think it’s all very interesting. 

He and Wei Wuxian are just perfect to each other, and I love Lan Wangji as a character all by himself too, with all the ways he surprises us and Wei Wuxian along the way.