#my top 3 jc ships are chengqing. chengNING. and chengsu

[aoxue]

Let's give you some for your man Jiang Cheng uh CHENGYAO?? Chengqing. Cheng. Lan. Imagine (song lan)

Ask game

Ah, my man! Let me preface this by saying that what follows is largely about CQL!Jiang Cheng.

Ship: CHENGYAO

Ship it? Not… really? It's amusing but I don't really spend time considering it seriously

1) Why don't you ship it? In thinking through this, a few things, I guess. I think it's because there's a single point that gives these characters any sort of deeper connection than just being work colleagues who see each other at conferences occasionally: coparenting Jin Ling. Which is substantial! I think they could have funny and potent divorcee energy, which might be funnier if they never were in a relationship. Or it could be nice if they got along really well, actually -- until JGY's shadow activities come to light, JC explodes, and nobody has a good time. I also just feel more strongly about Jiang Cheng (and other characters in this ask) than I do about Jin Guangyao, which makes it harder to get invested in the ship.... I also think the draw of 3zun permutations seems a little more obvious for JGY. Still, it's not a hard no!

2) What would have made you like it? Again, it's not that I dislike it, more the of compelling cases I've seen made for them. (I know they're out there; I haven't spent much time looking.) So seeing them stuck in more scenarios together, in canon or in fic, probably. Exploring more layers of connection besides just Jin Ling. I do not have the additional mental energy to do all the imagining myself lol

3) Despite not shipping it, do you have anything positive to say about it? Like I said, I think there could be some fun and interesting dynamics! JGY's amicable, smooth approach to social situations could be a really nice counter to JC's temper. Both of them are younger brothers who are very aware of their shortcomings in their fathers' eyes (one of them dealing with that considerably more and more harshly than the other).

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Ship: CHENGQING

Ship it? I do…

1) What made you ship it? Again, CQL-verse -- but they really tried to make it something, and it landed, for me. Jiang Cheng's little looks of admiration and fondness at Gusu summer camp…. They both carried around that silly comb for a silly amount of time, and it meant something to them, and they could have been something if they weren't in the roles they were in the time they were.

2) What are your favorite things about the ship? They end up on different sides of a war, but they have so much in common. The profound love and dedication to their brothers and their clans. Having to be aware of how others perceive them and their families at all times. Both clearly driven and talented at what they do. And it's the things that make them similar and drawn to each other that ultimately keep them apart. Neither one will abandon their clans, as much as they want to keep the other person safe, and the world they're living in forces them to choose one or the other. :/ I also love a strong woman who could keep Jiang Cheng and his temper in check, whom he adores. What can I say

3) Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship? Maybe less of an unpopular opinion and more a critique of the ship itself, but yeah, it'd have been nice for JC to show more gratitude to her and Wen Ning. I get why he couldn't DO more to help them, but like. Say hi and thanks while you're visiting Burial Mounds, maybe. Show her beloved brother a little more respect.

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Ship: CHENGLAN (? songcheng??)

Ship it? LOL NO I SUPPOSE NOT

1) Why don't you ship it? They... live in different worlds with different priorities and people who are important to them! In CQL, Song Lan is a cool role model to bright-eyed teen JC, and to older JC, he's a reminder of more simplistic days that now seem sour; in MDZS, Song Lan is just some talented kid to him? I think a little teen hero crush on SL from JC might be the most interesting and cutest of these, but… Song Lan is not a man who gets into a relationship unless he's really serious about it, to me. It wouldn't go anywhere. He is also spoken for lol

2) What would have made you like it? Xiao Xingchen not existing, idk

3) Despite not shipping it, do you have anything positive to say about it? There could be some really interesting explorations of both of these guys being on the receiving end of secret nonconsensual organ/core donations from people they love a lot. Also being the (near) sole survivor of having their whole sect/temple wiped out. I don't know, maybe they could get acquainted and develop something post-canon. Who knows