#nie huaisang have a lot of fun

[glowingreads]

Somewhere in that 13 year gap before Wei Wuxian was brought back in a middle of a late night banquet every one is here Jin Guangyao as sect lider feel much more stress that he feel all his life trying to make a pacefull speech to take the attention from the room where :

Jiang Cheng: (Looking with daggers în his eyes at Lan Wangji who is the other side of the room, Zidian glowing and Jin Ling is looking scared at him )

Lan Wangji: (As stoic as ever just that everyone that it around him could see pure ice in his glare back to Jiang Cheng and knowing very well that Lan Xichen would not stay un the perfect place that if a fight start he would stop it )

Nie Huaisang:(In the back puting bets of who will snap faster and thinking how much fun it would have when he brings Wei Wuxian back)

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Thank you all for an incredible 500 days of love and support. I offer you: answers to questions that no one has asked.

(As always, more can be found in the tags <3)

[magnaflourious-nerdity]

So the ask got deleted accidentally, but @autisticharrywells asked me about SANGYAO for toxic ship bingo, and now that I have forcibly dragged them through all 50 episodes, i can at last go off---- you FOOL! you have fallen directly into my trap!!! Muahahaha

I do not know how I ended up here. I don't know WHY I ended up here, except that I'm some kind of masochist.

Like I was all prepared to be 100% team wangxian otp and read all the fic and shit, and I started out so promising. (And I do love them...) But then. Then. That little demon brought a bird to class. And the other little demon protected him during the Wen thing. The stabbing ?? The warning as Meng Yao was leaving to huaisang DESPITE actively bleeding. The pleading to Mingjue to let Meng Yao stay despite no evidence of Huaisang ever really standing up to question NMJ decisions before like that (esp in front of other clan members) (other than with things like blowing off Sabre practice) THE FAN CLENCH. MY HEART. And THEN they committed their various atrocities during which the no turning back point was hit for them so many times and yet i do believe the remorse was there and so too was some affection still, twisted as it was by time and hatred and isolation and i... I just....I slipped?

There's so much there!!! (and please keep in mind I'm mostly talking from a cql/the untamed perspective, though I have seen the donghua and am aware of book cannon, I just kinda prefer the show as the version I take to heart (with some notable jgy or Huaisang based exceptions bc i'm nothing if not willing to excuse their pretty boy mid-divorce war crimes))

These two have such a deep shared history that spans the entirety of the cannon, and their relationship is extra fascinating on rewatch as you can more clearly track the downward spiral of events.

There's also the tragedy that it COULD have been avoided, was so close to being avoided several times bc JGY is not really EVIL, (any one who says this is being super reductive imo) but he does preserve himself above all other things and people through sheer learned necessity (with the exception of xichen and isn't that also a beautiful part of sangyao tragedy?? That so clearly xichen and JGY were destined to be the tragic counterparts to wwx and lwj's relationship not nhs and jgy? That xichen was the only thing JGY ever sacrificed true parts of himself for, that huaisang knows that he could have done the same for him, but didn't? Because there was too much history with Mingjue to let it go, and also bc the devotion or affection he held for huaisang when they were both on the mountain never surpassed that point. He had too much caution to truly be himself, and Huaisang, I don't think could ever truly see past JGYs status in the way that xichen was able to since he served as his big brother's vice general and also his appointed companion to a degree. ) And where does that leave huaisang? Where he always is. ALONE. On a mountain he never fit in on in the first place. Where does it leave JGY? Stuck in a permanant customer service role to his awful father and branded further untrustable as a spy. Humilated and broken down to the point of just. So much murder. (Some of which I still maintain tain as a public service coughcoughJinGuangShancoughcough)

They are so much alike and yet so different in such key aspects, that I also have to believe they were meant to act as parallels to one another, just like wwx and jgy, or xichen and wangji. The planning and manipulation they both do (in their own ways bc i am in the camp that while huaisang is smarter than the average bear, smarter than he ever wants to let on bc it makes his life easier, he isnt able to truly outpace JGY's ability to craft a situation. What he is good at is manipulating people and social situations, and adapting his outlined plan extremely well on the fly- with the exception of maybe xichen. I dont think he meant to truly hurt xichen like that. I think that was a natural panic that if JGY was allowed to live it would mean Huaisang actually had to die at some point instead, Though I do also think perhaps there is some lingering resentment there that leads to it to bc why is JGY worth pardoning after his crimes to xichen? Doesn't this mean he inherently valued JGY over Mingjue, over Huaisang’s own pain and anguish? (he did, but not maliciously, lans are love blind we know this))

The tragedies of nie huaisang are inextricably linked to the tragedies of jgy and vice versa! Technically, huaisang, as a bastard of the clan leader with one of his concubines, (I think that's right) should be discounted as a noble son, esp considering his weaker nature and lack of talents dictated to be valuable by the standards of the nie clan. He should have the same status really or at least a status more closely similar to jgy who is constatly looked down on because of his mother's position and bastard status, despite his constant hyper competency, as we see so vividly. And yet Huaisang is given title and rank and (some) respect where JGY gets trodden into the mud and shit of life, even as he succeeds in raising the jin clans success through his actions and talents. Meanwhile, huaisang is thought to be a useless leech by others, untalented in the ways of ruling or anything that's deemed an actually respectable skill by clan leader standards. A pathetic little dude who doesn't know how to do anything, and yes, he does get cast as a headshaker in the eyes of the people, but it's never his background thats brought into question as to why he might be failing. It's considered a result of his personality, not his upbringing. And even then he doesn't get shit talked as much as JGY does. Huaisang has all the privilege that JGY was never afforded, and does that color JGYs view a bit? Does it make him just bitter enough that, when combined with his father’s looming threats and taunts, and Mingjue’s inability to ever let anything JGY does go, that he's willing to hurt huaisang in such a way, even just as a byproduct of his mission?

Huaisang’s plan is successful, bc people discount him as incompetent, yes, but also bc they still see him as a noble, as someone of enough inherent value, diminished though it may be, that he weilds that influence even when playing the fool. JGY doesn't get that respect even at his height of his power and competency as a ruler.

They are, neither of them, strong cultivators. But that factor only really affects JGY bc it means he has to fight even harder for acceptance and validation. Huaisang also gets the luxury of CHOOSING not to be a strong cultivator. Because his position in life IS secure, he can slack off. He is allowed to try his hardest to avoid the fate of his family and do his utmost not to cultivate in that manner. Which I think, too, causes some of the resentment. On both sides. Huaisang never has to work a day in his life, has barely any expectations to live up to and still gets the respect Meng Yao is constantly robbed of. And for huaisang- On top of killing his brother via musically-induced, full-bodied rage embolism, JGY is now also the reason that huaisang is thrust into a position he was entirely unprepared for way before he was supposed to be.

And we know, we KNOW that JGY is responsible for so many of Huaisang’s pretty little things. His beloved indulgences granted not by his own brother, but by his doting san-ge. Things that got burned or destroyed by Mingjue simplu for the fact that a) they were from JGY and B) they are not the type of things NMJ cosidereds respectabke hobbies or skills. A large number of his fans and painting supplies are gifts from JGY, and he stood up for and encouraged those hobbies against the person he probably fears the most at that point, Mingjue (even if he's already actively trying to kill him by then). And huaisang seemed genuinely pleased that JGY had found acceptance and was getting what he (thought he) wanted. The friendship and affection was real, just not near strong enough to withstand the crimes of the other.

And oh boy that divorce was rough and bloody and beautiful and tragic and I just love the messy nature of the relationship, how deep and how twisted it went and became. And i think, right up until the very end, JGY didn't truly want to believe that Huaisang was capable of doing this to him, I don't think he ever wanted to hurt huaisang again the way he had to when he killed Mingjue. Use him? Maybe. But not in a malicious way, not by his standards.

I am happy to read any sangyao content I can get, however! I love reading about them as companions on the mountain, growing together, bonding. Maybe young and in love? I love reading the gradual drifting apart. The years they schemed and used each other. The final divorce. And what comes after. Or what could never be. Any content, I will take, and it depends on where in cannon we are that a particular square is filled in.

Jgy had to fight for both acceptance and sheer survival, and huaisang never really had to do either. Except maybe during the ~10 years of the gap when Huaisang had figured him out, but was pretending to be useless to achieve his ends. You could argue the mindset that aside from just avenging his DaGe, he was also concerned about his own survival bc what if he became an Inconvienience instead of just the annoyance he was playing up to be? If he actually stood in Guanyao's way? It would be much easier to take him out than Mingjue, realistically. But what would be that threshold to have JGY actually do anything? Are Huaisang’s histrionics and uselessness useful to him? Or a result of guilty indulgence? Or left over fondness from a ti.e they were so close? Some combo of all? Who can say and I fucking love that uncertainty about them

Saying all that, these two are the poster child for OTP I don't want to end up together in Canon, lol. Unless it's one of the many time travel fix it aus, they simply have too much history and shared issues and rage between them to ever make sense working out. But their stories are so incomplete without the other, they are inexorably linked, and I just think they're neat!

(Please don't come for me cql fans. im sure I've misunderstood or posted an opinion that's utterly debatable on here. But like, also. I'm tired and I love them and I don't care.)

I have more to say about them that you'll probably get to hear at some point when we talk, but for now, they have BROKEN MY BRAIN.

Also, to all my fellow sangyao peeps: please feel free to send fic recs if you want. I am so hungry for the content.

[askew-d]

today i had an idea. that recess therapy channel, but make it wangxian.

teacher lan wangji, who recently adopted a-yuan, carried out his son’s desires to create a youtube channel interviewing other kids. he’s totally inept at it in the beginning, but fortunately his brother helps. and who would've thought? his son ends up making friends and he really finds children’s minds fascinating.

until their channel gets quite big. like, two million subscribers kind of big. other people interviewing him kind of big. and soon enough, his brother says, “wangji, huaisang wants to be part of one of your videos! he said it looks fun!”

nie huaisang didn’t have a large fanbase without reason. he was a well-known digital influencer with over ten million followers and a good writer. though lan wangji finds him odd sometimes, he accepts it. it couldn't bring any harm.

famous last words.

after nie huaisang, a lot of celebrities wanted to join in. lan wangji imagined it was for that facade of selling a good-hearted image inside the industry, but as long as a-yuan seemed to be enjoying, he continued.

in the two years he had the channel, he progressed to five million followers, hosted many top-tier artists along, interviewed hundred of kids — some more enthusiastic than others, that’s rather true — and received some proposals from famous entertainment companies to work with them, which annoyed lan wangji.

he continued being a teacher, a father and a host content creator for long, and one day, his son was checking his emails with him and jumped in excitement, “baba! look, look!”

lan wangji looked. it was a request from a certain wei wuxian’s agency, that, he later discovered, was one of the singer’s a-yuan and his close friends have been listening to lately. apparently, his rock band was very influential internationally, and when having a tour around china once more, he wanted to join for a video (why would his thirteen-year-old a-yuan be interested in rock music when humanity had the classical ones, he could never imagine).

lan wangji accepted, because again, it couldn’t do any harm.

well, maybe he should learn more about that expression, since wei wuxian was absolutely infuriating.

he was just a handsome, dauntless man in tight black pants and an oversized hoodie with the shiniest smile he has ever seen who got his son's favour in just minutes of conversation and could not, for the love of god, stop teasing lan wangji. lan wangji shouldn't be that affected by someone. he shouldn't be affected by the way he didn't care about social manners and plastered himself on lan wangji's side all the while he interviewed the kids as if they were intimate, but oh, what one shouldn't do truly wasn't how one acted or felt.

he found out that wei wuxian did have a good voice, although he secretly thought that he wasted it with those loud songs about rebelling against the government. he found out that he was exceptionally careful with children, withholding a balance of fun and wisdom; he had that carefree creativity and treated their worries with seriousness, struggling not to let them think he judged them childish. lan wangji was truly amazed at his character, and soon, they had recorded about four videos together.

and when it was all uploaded, the comments and views exploded. people focused more on them together than on the kids. it became the most viewed videos of his channels in no time.

"lan zhan, the numbers are growing each day! i'm so happy for that," wei wuxian said on the phone afterwards (when he proposed the idea of exchanging numbers, lan wangji was hesitant, but wei wuxian insisted that it was for them to share bunny videos, so he gave up on fighting the man, but weeks passed and they still talked more about their lives than just sharing said content). "but tell me, lan zhan, i think my amazing presence did bring some touch to your channel, won't you treat me to something as a sign of gratitude? you told me your family had a rule on being polite..."

they did have one. lan wangji told him once and it was enough to be engraved on wei wuxian's mind. he sighed and said, "mn. does wei ying want to have dinner with us tomorrow?"

wei wuxian laughed in apparent joy, and he shook his head slightly. it would be good to have someone over for dinner once in a while, beyond his brother. maybe he'd even buy some wine and meat for him, just as he said he liked.

lan wangji talked to wei wuxian some more, the other explaining about how his band would perform the upcoming sunday. they also talked about children, books and traveling. and on the other side of the room, a-yuan giggled in mischievousness.

[wifiwuxians]

Nie Huaisang :))

First impression: "Oh my god somebody with short hair, that's wild. Is he like the baby of the group or something?"

Impression now: Grrrr. It's. It's complicated, okay? Because on one hand I admire the commitment to the bit, right, and I do love me a good mastermind, and what he pulled off was admirable. But also he's a fucking snake and I can't stand how he faced ZERO CONSEQUENCE for his shit I'm sorry I can't help it. And yet I still love him anywhere other than canon because he's fun and funny and he's really pretty and Sangyao is easily like top 5 MDZS ships for me right now so WHO knows. But his position in fandom frustrates me and I think part of why is because I haven't really seen a whole lot of people acknowledge him as sinister and sneaky, but keep in mind I don't actively engage in fandom either or seek out character takes so it might be out there more than I think

Favorite moment: When he runs towards Jin Guangyao in the manhua while making kissy lips lmao despite all I've said above I really do just want them to run off into the woods together (conversely, when he keeps the hat. That makes me go insane. FERAL)

Idea for a story: I'm so boring at this point but him visiting a brothel For Inspiration for his art and ending up seeing someone with a somewhat androgynous, very fine, beautiful face, and asking him if he'd perhaps consider modeling for him for a hefty sum and the person being rather shy and averting his gaze and it's Meng Yao. Of course it's Meng Yao I tricked you into walking into my Sangyao Palace

Unpopular opinion: I think his whole grand plan was, though unquestionably, only really partially about Nie Mingjue being killed. I think it was also for himself. For his personal betrayal. I need to see him sitting at the antagonist table more often or I am going to lose it. (Don't come for me, he might not be a villain because he's on the 'good guy's' side and he brought down the 'bad guys', but his methods are antagonistic! He keeps putting people in danger and even gets some of them killed LOL)

Favorite relationship: With Jin Guangyao! Surprise! Their dynamic makes me crazy. When I think about how much Nie Huaisang must have loved Jin Guangyao and looked so forward to his visits, even going so far as to see him as the only one truly in his corner, it makes that betrayal and all that comes after feel so much more poignant. This is why I feel Nie Huaisang is a lot darker than he's really given credit for; he had to ruin Jin Guangyao so thoroughly that only ashes remained to his name. The other characters seeking revenge in this story, even against loved ones, never thought to take it that far. Don't fuck with this dude, not ever. But back to the actual relationship, I feel Jin Guangyao truly cared for him, too, which is why he never suspected of him and stayed beside him to help all those years (he also probably felt guilty). That must have brought out a lot of incredibly complicated feelings in Nie Huaisang, making his hatred grow tenfold while still somehow feeding whatever love he once had for him. Ough. For daring to make him feel that way, he really had to be blown to smithereens

Favorite headcanon: I like thinking that he no longer really knows how to feel things due to spending so much time faking. I imagine he's a very numb person inside, or at least one who struggles with genuine emotion

[monabee-draws]

Have some MDZS OCs. Yuying is the eldest, and Jingxing and Linyan are twins. Yes, they take great offence that its the non-twin brothers who have the fancy moniker. Lan Qiren's younger sister is their mom, and their dad is a Nie who married matrilocally into the Lan clan. I had a lot of fun designing these goobers who have been plaguing my dreams of late.

Individual portraits and notes below the cut:

Cool trivia, Jingxing (who is named after the ML in a historical romance/revenge novel I adore) is Lan Jingyi's dad in the canon divergence AU I keep dreaming about. Finally we know who sired this unattached child. Not all characters need to be orphans mxtx please I beg you. He also absolutely smooches Nie Huaisang and is happy when he fails his first year at Gusu Lan.

Yuying is a lesbian and has had a crush on Jiang Yanli for forever. Hence the slightly on the nose lotus shawl and more purple-y colouring to her outfit. Simp extraodinaire. Jin Zixuan you better watch out.

Linyan pushes Jiang Cheng into a lake the first time they meet and then does so again several more times over the course of their relationship. This does not stop them from falling for each other even though of his 58 conditions for a wife she does not meet 31.

[nillegible]

(Part 7 of Stay, the MY time travel fic. Well, Chronologically follows Part 3, But you can read them any which way! Read the others using: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7)

“I can take a hint, you know,” says Qin Su a few days later. “I’m not going to keep chasing you if you’re not interested, you didn’t have to tell my father to interfere.”

“I. I did not do such a thing, Qin-guniang,” says Meng Yao.

She glares at him as if to divine how truthful he was being. An interesting precaution but ultimately futile. She wouldn’t ever be able to see through him if he chose to deceive her. “I suppose I’ll believe you,” she says. “Meng-shidi should know that I had the most uncomfortable discussion with my father today. Since it’s your fault – regardless of what you told anyone – you owe me!”

“This Meng Yao has little to offer, but is yours to command regardless,” he says, sweetly.

“Then call me Su-shjie. If you’re part of my sect, you should act like it.”

“Alright, shijie,” says Meng Yao with a smile, hoping that she’ll accept it.

“Better,” she says approvingly. Then, lighter, “It is hard to stay angry, Meng-shidi’spractically weaponized those dimples.” It startles a genuine laugh out of him. She really was the loveliest person; proof that Jin Guangshan’s seed was not all rotten.

“This Meng Yao will find Su-shijie to continue our conversation later? I’m to help demonstrate muffling talismans for the junior disciples today.”

“Of course, go on! I’ll see you later!” The last is a promise, she obviously intends to see it through.

It hurts a little less when he nods and agrees, before hurrying to the class he was meant to help with. They could be friends, this time.

This time, Meng Yao wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

(This time, he wouldn’t hurt her.)

---

If everyone else is also strangely kind to him for a few weeks after, then Meng Yao doesn’t really notice, nor make the connection, until he’s following Su-shijie and two of her friends on a trip to the market. He’s being used mostly to hold packages; the girls had picked up quite a lot of novels; more than fit into the few qiankun bags they had brought with them.

“Apologies to Meng-shidi, we didn’t think we’d be stopping here,” they’d said, or something along those lines, at four different places already.

Aside from the packages, he was only occasionally consulted over the appearance or worth of some small trinkets – one of the youngest disciples had recently received a sword, and they wished to give her gifts for the occasion – but as Meng Yao’s being treated to snacks as an apology for every hour the trip extends, he barely minds. He is free for the day and it’s almost fun.

Li Feilong finds a green ribbon, almost exactly of a shade to match with official Nie robes. Huaisang would like that, he thinks, just as she says, “Oh, doesn’t this look lovely?” holding it out. She wraps it around her wrist to observe the colour.

“Feilong-shimei’s partiality is showing again,” ribs Qin Su, eyeing the other wares, and picking a midnight-blue one for herself.

“Shijie,” Li Feilong huffs, before releasing the ribbon, saying under her breath, “But he is handsome, I don’t know how he’s only ranked seventh on that blasted list.”

“We’ve all heard it before, Feilong-shijie,” laughs Lin Biao. “Well, I suppose Meng-shidi hasn’t.”

“Meng-shidi!” says, Li Feilong suddenly, whirling towards him. “You used to be Sect Leader Nie’s deputy, were you not? Come, tell me if this colour truly matches his robes,” she says, and Meng Yao steps closer even though he’s sure it is close enough.

“It would be hard to tell them apart,” he says. “Though such a light silk would be more Nie-gongzi’s style than Nie-zongzhu’s. He doesn’t know if it’s because Nie Mingjue’s cultivation was so advanced that he could not tell the weight of his robes, but his silks were heavy.

“That doesn’t matter, thanks, shidi! Auntie, may I have three lengths of this, please?”

“Three lengths, Shimei?”

“Hush, Shijie. I’ll wear it to the hunt on Phoenix mountain, next season! I can edge my cuffs with it, to match.”

The three women pick out other ribbons as well, a pretty pale periwinkle, a few yellows and roses, and some Qin-sect blues. Meng Yao finds his eyes being drawn to the green ribbon again and again. He can’t really believe that he thought that, so what if Huaisang would like it? There was no shortage of green silk in Qinghe, and Meng Yao is no longer... no longer beholden to him.

Some habits were clearly hard to break, that is all, and ‘Huaisang would like that,’ is a decade long habit, that led to him buying multiple pretty things for him. Fans yes, for birthdays, but he’d spoiled him with other things, too.

Meng Yao had always treated him like a child, and somehow missed what was right in front of his face.

It doesn’t stop Meng Yao from buying a length of it before they leave, as well as some colours of thread to go with it. He slips it all into his sleeve, and pretends not to notice the curious looks that he gets form his three companions.

“Shall we return then?” he asks.

“Just a few boxes of tanghulu for mother, and then we can go,” Qin Su decides, and they nod, trailing after her.

On the way back, Qin Su asks, voice mild enough that he’s instantly on guard, “Will Yao-shidi be wearing a green ribbon to the hunt as well?”

Wait, what? When on earth had he given her that impression?

“This shidi will of course be in Sect colours,” he says, while he frantically tries to pick out how this misunderstanding had come about. “The ribbon is for a gift.”

“Oh, of course,” says Qin Su.

“At least agree with me that Nie-zongzhu should be ranked higher, Meng-shidi,” says Li Feilong, from behind them. Meng Yao had assumed they were not listening, and when he quickly glances behind them, Lin Biao is elbowing her, trying to shut her up.

Oh?

Too startled by the byplay and its potential implications, he demurs politely, “I have no opinion on the matter, Feilong-shijie.” Then he smirks, “But I do know why the ranking is in the order that it is!”

Lin Biao gasps, and bounds closer. “You know who makes the rankings?” Conversation neatly diverted, Meng Yao spends the rest of the walk back coyly refusing to reveal his source – not that a drunk Huaisang in the future, confessing to ranking Jin Zixuan above Wei Wuxian just to see Wei Wuxian’s face, and putting his brother seventh because he had to be somewhere is much of a source – and the three ladies graciously allow for the change in topic.

If he returns to his room and skips dinner that night, well, he had been treated to a lot of snacks that afternoon. And it gives him time to try to figure out how exactly he’d convinced Sect Leader Qin that he was a cutsleeve. (He pretends that this is pressing enough that he doesn’t need to think about the green ribbon he’d bought so impulsively, and shoves it beneath his simple sewing kit.)

---

Meng Yao very very cautiously observes his disciple-siblings over the course of the next few weeks, but except for two offhand comments – quickly shushed – no one comments on his supposed inclination for cutting his sleeve. He’s a little bemused but after some thought and delicate probing, he works out the evidence for their “deduction”. In addition to his unexpected rejection of Qin Su, there was the matter of his apparent fear of Jin Guangshan; who was well known for his intolerance for such “deviancy” within his sect.

It's so absurdly sensible a conclusion to draw from the limited evidence available that Meng Yao has no defence to offer. Surely it made more sense than Meng Yao having returned from the future.

And most importantly: no one cared. They were trying to be kind.

If he didn't know better he would think he had developed a second golden core; so warm is the feeling that fills him up and settles in.

[roseclaw]

It's time for Qixi fic reveals! I wrote 6 and a half fics :D These are all sangcheng, which surprises no one. These prompts were so much fun, and I still have a few more to write.

Goose Chase

Rating: T Word Count: 8,194 Summary: Zookeeper Jiang Cheng is nervous. Princess is about to give birth, and he needs to make sure everything is perfect for her. Now if the newest zookeeper would stop walking by with a bird that catcalls him and Princess, that would make life a lot more peaceful.

Pelagic

Rating: T Word Count: 3,002 Summary: Two birders with an intracommunity beef with each other are the only guests on a pelagic trip. It's Nie Huaisang's first, and he's very excited. Until he wants nothing more than to go home.

chiaroscuro

Rating: M Word Count: 10,813 Summary: There have been so many naked people in their shared apartment lately, and Jiang Wanyin finally loses his composure about it.

petrissage

Rating: T Word Count: 2,797 Summary: Jiang Cheng's therapist suggests a massage therapist to help with his touch starvation.

and memories bring back you

Rating: T Word Count: 4,753 Summary: Nie Huaisang loses selective memories while studying at Gusu.

Pillow Talk

Rating: M Word Count: 763 Summary: silly pillow talk “So…” “If you ask me about a horse-sized duck or a duck-sized horse, I’m leaving.”

Kryptonite (Prologue)

Rating: T Word Count: 744 Summary: Superhero secret identity shenanigans :D

[robininthelabyrinth]

Lao Nie doesn't die after his sword is broken. The mad Nei leader stays in power. Huisang gets the opportunity to remember his father. Some memories are good. 🙃🙃🙃

survival (of a sort) - ao3

“You can paint, right?” Nie Mingjue asked, and Nie Huaisang hummed in something that wasn’t quite agreement, but wasn’t disagreement, either.

After all, he could paint. He was actually quite proud of his painting, really. He thought he was getting pretty good at it, and he practiced it all the time when he was alone – it was certainly a lot more fun than anything else he could be doing. He’d even gotten a few compliments from people when they saw things he’d made, though he usually didn’t let them know that what they were admiring was his own work. He never admitted anything.

It went against his principles to admit that he had any skills.

It wasn’t good to have skills.

Skills could be used, after all. Look at Nie Mingjue, who had so many skills – who was blessed, or cursed, with the ability to be good at any martial art, a talent for saber that hadn’t been seen in a thousand years, a natural grasp on strategy, tactics, and even command. He didn’t have any artistic skills, couldn’t draw a straight line or keep a tune to save his life, but that was about the only thing he couldn’t do.

He could even control that nasty temper he’d inherited.

Not that he’d had much choice but to learn that. None of them had any choice, when it came to that – the only person allowed to be angry was their father.

Their father, the Sect Leader.

Their father, the madman.

It’d all started when Wen Ruohan had broken their father’s beloved saber, Jiwei. Nie Huaisang had been quite young at the time, so he didn’t know why the other sect leader had done something like that – according to Nie Mingjue, they’d actually been pretty fond of each other before that – but if it had been meant to assassinate him, it hadn’t worked. Their father had survived…mostly.

It was that mostly that was the real problem.

If you asked Nie Huaisang, they probably would’ve been better off if the assassination had worked.

Not that anyone ever asked Nie Huaisang.

“If I asked you to paint something…” Nie Mingjue started to say, then trailed off, his expression distant as he studied the wall next to them with great interest, not looking at Nie Huaisang for too long lest someone tell their father that they were plotting together again – that had happened about a year ago, some waste of space trying to show off, trying to play on the mad sect leader’s qi-deviation-induced paranoia to make themselves seem valuable, try to climb up the ladder to power by stepping on the existing heirs. It had resulted in the two of them not being allowed to see each other for a month, two broken bones for Nie Mingjue to add to his extensive collection, and Nie Huaisang having taken his first life, though no one knew about that last one. They just knew that the bastard that had tried the little scheme hadn’t even finished convalescing from the beating the sect leader had given him for interrupting his day when someone had made their way into his bedroom in the middle of the night and slit his throat.

No one had bothered checking on who might’ve done it.

After all, the obvious assumption was that it had been the sect leader himself, out on one of his midnight walks – he didn’t sleep anymore, too red-eyed and swollen with fury to ever properly rest – having somehow remembered the poor bastard’s name and face and decided to go finish the job.

It wouldn’t be the first time.

So, really, there was no point in checking, no point in looking. The only thing that could be done was to wait until the sect leader was distracted by something else – when there was another, newer target for his rage.

There was always something to be angry about.

It was usually the wars. Or, well, it had been the wars, consistently, these past few years; war was messy and unpredictable, always good for a distraction. But with the Nie sect’s ascendancy to the position of supreme sect rapidly growing ever more steadily consolidated, there were fewer and fewer sects daring to stand against them, and fewer excuses for war. Who wanted to be slaughtered like dogs, their lives and those of their families fed to the sect leader’s shoddily reforged saber like meat to a fattened pig?

They’d started surrendering instead of fighting, picking life over dignity.

Sometimes it even worked.

That was all well and good for them, but not so good for the people of the Unclean Realm.

Here, people were starting to worry what life would be like when the sects willing to fight back ran out. The streets of the Unclean Realm were filled with whispers, people asking each other how much longer could Lanling Jin afford to pay for mercenaries, or perhaps more accurately, given how swiftly they died, how many more mercenaries would be available to be bought. They asked each other if the Lan sect was still holding strong, proud and rigid in their morality and rules, or if they’d retreated into the safety of seclusion at long last, the cost of chivalry finally too high for them to pay. They asked if the much-reduced Jiang were thinking of rebelling again, or if they’d finally learned their lesson the last time around. They asked…well, that was all they asked.

(Once in a while, someone asked about the Wen sect. They were forcibly made to shut up as swiftly as possible.)

The important part wasn’t what sect led the war against them. The important part was the war.After all, if there wasn’t a war, then what would they have with which to distract their terrible sect leader?

If he wasn’t leading a war, then he’d be at home. At home all the time.

That would be bad.

“If you wanted something painted, I could probably whip something together,” Nie Huaisang said casually. Too casually, as if he wouldn’t break his own back if it meant doing something for his brother, who never asked for anything for himself. His brother, who was the only reason they still had anything resembling a functional sect – who’d taken on all the horrible chores of sect leadership that their madman of a father was no longer capable of, the mundane and boring stuff about fixing the laundry when it broke or making sure there wasn’t a shortage in shoes. His brother, who was the only person who still spoke up to their father to stop him, as much as possible, from bringing the atrocities committed outside their borders back home.

There was a reason he had all those broken bones.

Nie Mingjue insisted, to this day, that it wasn’t their father’s fault that he was like this. He’d been driven mad by the loss of Jiwei, the rage from the saber sinking into his own soul and corrupting it, the qi deviation turning black into white – the closer he had been to someone, the more he hated them now.

If you thought about it that way, their father must have adored his eldest son.

Nie Huaisang thought cynically sometimes that he himself had gotten lucky: when the break had happened, he’d been too young to have much of a personality, and so his father’s love for him had been of a more generic nature. It didn’t exempt him from his father’s current hatred, the resentment in him seething at the mere sight of Nie Huaisang, but it did mean that his father’s memories of him were largely composed of waiting for him to get old enough to teach. Waiting for him to get down the basics of cultivation and the saber well enough that they could really start spending quality time together, so that he could pass down the Nie sect’s cultivation to him the way he had to Nie Mingjue.

Too bad that Nie Huaisang was never, ever going to get the basics down.

What a good-for-nothing he was!

“How accurate can you get?” Nie Mingjue wondered, still not looking at him directly. He had a black eye again, swiftly fading – he’d probably be dead if his cultivation wasn’t as good as it was, and Nie Huaisang hated that he had to thank his father for that, for giving Nie Mingjue the foundation in cultivation he needed to survive the wreckage of their lives, survive the monster that his father had become. “I mean, that bird you did a few days ago was pretty dead on, true to life.”

“Uh-huh,” Nie Huaisang said. “Really. What type of bird was it again?”

Nie Mingjue shot him a comically betrayed look that made Nie Huaisang have to force down laughter – his brother couldn’t tell the difference between a cuckoo and a quail, with a habit of calling everything with talons a hawk, everything black a raven, and everything else divided neatly into being either a songbird or a chicken.

“I can do it,” he said again, and meant it this time. “Don’t worry about it, da-ge, I can do even better than that bird if I try. What is it?”

“Oh, just some abstract designs I think are pretty,” Nie Mingjue said. “I’ll show you sometime. No rush.”

Nie Huaisang knew well enough by now to know that that meant he ought to be fully dressed and ready to go that night at midnight, when his brother appeared in his room with nothing for light but a night-pearl and a few cloaks to help them blend in better. If they were caught by their father on his endless nighttime prowls, they would be in serious trouble – not at risk of dying, since their father still remembered that he needed to preserve his heirs, though he clearly no longer understood the reason why – and it was better to avoid that if they could. Midnight was usually the safest time. That was when their father typically went to the forges, to try yet again to reforge his saber, as if the dozens or hundreds of times he’d tried before had simply been inadequate, rather than the task itself being impossible.

It was usually the safest time.

“If he sees us, stay still and don’t move,” Nie Mingjue instructed, after giving Nie Huaisang a great big hug that neither of them had wanted to break. “I’ll go forward and get his attention. I don’t want him seeing you.”

“He’ll be less angry if it’s me he sees,” Nie Huaisang argued, but his big brother shook his head firmly. “Da-ge, please. You still haven’t finished healing from that thing two weeks ago. It’s my turn. I deserve the chance to bear the burden.”

Sometimes that worked, now that Nie Huaisang was old enough to make the argument plausible, but not tonight – Nie Mingjue was implacable.

“I want you to focus on copying out the design,” he said stubbornly. “That’s more important.”

“You going to tell me what it is you need copied so badly?”

“It’s better if you see it yourself.”

Their path, this night, led them down the spiraling stairs into the belly of the Unclean Realm, the places lower down and further away. At first, Nie Huaisang thought they were going to go to the prison that was there, to copy a portrait of some poor imprisoned soul for their family outside, but they went past that place without stopping. So next he thought they were going to go to the family shrines, the locked-away places in the deep dark caverns beneath the mountain that sheltered and backed their home, but they went past that, too.

They went deeper.

It turned out that his first guess had been the right one: they were going to a prison.

“Welcome back,” Wen Ruohan said, and bared his teeth. The few people that Nie Huaisang had found that were willing to speak of the past had said that Wen Ruohan had had the appearance of a distinguished gentleman, his clothing beautiful and his manner impeccable, his smile always urbane and refined despite the atrocities he committed, but that was then, and this was now – his father’s former friend turned would-be killer had little left of whatever poise he might have once possessed. His clothing was still of fine material, but it had gone ragged and faded with age and too many washes; it couldn’t conceal how thin he had become, nor the viciousness in his eyes, red-rimmed and marked with dark circles underneath. It couldn’t conceal the way he no longer smiled but only grimaced.

It couldn’t conceal the two stubs at the end of his arms, where his hands had been chopped off at the wrist.

“He’s an array master,” Nie Mingjue told Nie Huaisang, a short sentence that explained everything. That was why their father had butchered Wen Ruohan’s hands, their family origin showing itself after all these generations of pretending to be noble; that was why he had locked him away in this pit with little light and nothing he could use to write.

That was why they were here, now.

His brother would have done it without him if he could, Nie Huaisang knew. To this day, the mention of the Wen was the surest way to drive their madman of a father into a murderous frenzy – those surviving few who had been surnamed Wen had changed it to preserve their own lives, most of them taking on the surname ‘Wei’ after the brave couple, Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren, that had come to rescue those of them that they could from the aftermath of Wen Ruohan’s fall; Nie Huaisang thought he’d heard that they’d gone to ground in Yiling, making their own little sect, isolated by a wary world but for a distant alliance with the Gusu Lan largely formed through the strength of Cangse Sanren’s old friendship with Lan Qiren. They teetered, as far as Nie Huaisang knew, on the edge of starvation, unable to leave the safety of the Burial Mounds for fear that the mad Sect Leader Nie would come try to finish the job he’d once started – and they were right to be afraid.

Their father would kill them if he could. He’d kill anyone who had anything to do with the Wen.

Anything at all.

This thing they were doing now, this newest plan of Nie Mingjue’s to try to save people because that was what it always was, that was always the reason, was more dangerous than anything they had ever done before. Nie Huaisang knew that.

He knew, too, that his brother would prefer that he was left out of it. He always tried to keep Nie Huaisang out of things, always tried to protect him, always worried first and foremost whether he would be safe. For something as dangerous as this, something involving the Wen and Wen Ruohan in particular, he especially wouldn’t want Nie Huaisang to be involved.

But his brother couldn’t paint a straight line if he tried.

His calligraphy was called bold and vigorous, but in truth was sometimes better called nearly illegible; he could draw talismans, if he had to, forcing the scribbles to bear some spiritual energy and do more-or-less what they were supposed to, but the ones he made never worked as well as they would if made by someone with actual talent in the art.

Talent like Nie Huaisang’s.

“You trust him?” Nie Huaisang asked, curious. He assumed the answer was yes, given that they were here, but in the end this was the man who had brought all of this trouble down on their heads. If Wen Ruohan hadn’t broken Jiwei, their father wouldn’t be so obsessed with trying to put her back together.

Nie Mingjue hesitated.

“I don’t think there’s any other choice,” he finally said, and Wen Ruohan let out a hacking cough that may have once been meant as a sardonic laugh. “The wars are ending. Sooner than people think – the other sects are basically crushed already. The Jiang lost their heart with the massacre, the Jin are in way over their heads, the Lan…”

The Lan had once been the Nie sect’s closest allies, and their main sect among the ones their father had counted as his friends. The more he once loved…

Best not to think about it.

“Without a war, he’ll turn on everyone else,” Nie Mingjue concluded. “Those of us here at home, yes, but not just us.He’ll kill everyone if that’s what it takes, or at least what he thinks it’ll take to get Jiwei back. His cultivation is so high now that I can’t catch up. I can’t stop him, even if I were willing to be a patricide, so that’s not the answer. We need a different approach.”

He nodded at Wen Ruohan – presumably, the different approach in question.

“What’s the array I’m going to be drawing meant to do?” Nie Huaisang asked, a concession and agreement, and his brother was going to explain, he could see it, except there was the sound of footsteps in the hall.

“Why is he here?” Wen Ruohan asked, his face growing pale. He’d brightened upon seeing Nie Mingjue, growing lively once more, a corpse coming back to life, but now he seemed weak once more – now he seemed afraid. He should be. “Why – he barely ever comes here anymore. Why is he here now?”

Bad luck, Nie Huisang supposed. Just plain bad luck.

They had a lot of that in their family.

“I’ll go distract him,” Nie Mingjue said, pulling off his cloak. “Huaisang, Ruohan – get to work.”

He was gone a moment later, before Nie Huaisang could stop him.

So instead, Nie Huaisang turned to look at the man in the cage.

“Ruohan?” he asked archly. “Really? For my brother to refer to someone so much older than him so intimately is most unlike him…I take it you’re on very good terms with each other, then?”

“Our cultivation styles are extremely compatible,” Wen Ruohan said. He looked more tired than anything else. “He’s come to visit me any number of times, but we only discovered it relatively recently. Under the circumstances, I thought it appropriate for him to call me by name… I will answer any question you like. He has already told me to be afraid of you.”

“He did?”

“He doesn’t know to be afraid,” Wen Ruohan corrected himself. “But I knew your mother, and I can tell from the way he speaks of you that you are often underestimated. I won’t make that mistake."

Nie Huaisang didn’t trust Wen Ruohan one bit. But he didn’t need to trust him to use him.

And they didn’t have time to waste. Not with Nie Mingjue winning them time to talk, trading his body and his pain for just a little bit longer. “Tell me what the array you want me to draw looks like.”

[marshmallowwitharubberband]

MDZS x Dunmeshi AU where Wei Wuxian became the lord of the dungeon to protect the Wens. Lan Zhan (and by extension, Lan Xichen) are half-elves and their mother was the human (a lot of potential for family angst here).

Nie Huaisang would be, like Senshi, a dwarf who refuses to conform to dwarven customs and Nie Mingjue is running himself ragged trying to keep him from being expelled from the dwarf clan. Or maybe they're ogres, that would be fun

Jin Guangyao is another half-elf who is just desperate to be accepted by his elven father.

I need the Dafan Wen to be gnomes. Idk why it just kinda suits them

And the other Wen would be evil gnomes, perhaps.

The Jiangs should just be tallmen because why not. Jiang Cheng would be the one with the monster obsession due to his inferiority complex.

Maybe Wei Wuxian could be a beastkin in his first life and the whole dying and coming back could have sepparated his beast and human souls.

idk, it would be fun to explore.

[thebiscuiteternal]

Wait omg how does wen ruohan’s death go in this verse

Okay this is gonna be kind of long because I still want Meng Yao to be the one to deal the death blow so I gotta set shit up.

So.

Meng Yao enters the Nie sect much the same way he does in canon, with him being noticed as the person who's doing a lot of battlefield cleanup and placating the locals and shit and he's good at it, so just as he's about to be given a good solid logistics position, someone recognizes him as, you know, that embarrassing bastard son of Jin Guangshan.

So he gets assigned as an aide to Huaisang.

And Huaisang almost immediately likes him! Likes him enough to tell him that, no, this assignment is basically him being made fun of.

Meng Yao is understandably not happy about this, but it's better than battlefield cleanup, so he tails Huaisang as he goes among the infirmary and food tents. And it becomes clear that while the soldiers and battle cultivators may still treat Huaisang with no respect, he's started winning over the healers and cooks and other support workers because he listens and observes and uses what little power he has to make sure they're well-supplied and everything's running efficiently and rolls up his sleeves to help with his own hands when needed.

And he gradually wins over Meng Yao too, to the point Meng Yao opens up about his wishes to work his way into his father's sect eventually.

Well, there's no way he'll earn enough prestige in his current position, so Huaisang offers to send him to be a bodyguard to his younger brother. If Mingjue is the one talking about how smart and brave and hard-working he is, then people will actually listen.

Some of Nie Huaisang's sneaky people skills have clearly rubbed off on his little brother, because as soon as ten-year-old Nie Mingjue reads the 'recommendation' letter from Huaisang, he's all in on the plan.

Things go relatively well for about six months, until Meng Yao and Nie Mingjue (who weren't supposed to be listening in) find out that Wen Xu (not dead yet in this timeline, though Wen Chao is) managed to capture Huaisang in an ambush and is headed to the Nightless City to present him to Wen Ruohan (and to keep him alive for his own reasons but mostly that).

Distressed that no one seems to care about getting his brother back, Nie Mingjue begs Meng Yao to do something.

Meng Yao is not stupid enough to go engaging fucking Wen Xu and however many cultivators he has with him in open combat, but he is very good at blending in where he shouldn't be and picking off a few of the raiding party to steal their clothes and disguise himself as one of them. Huaisang recognizes him immediately, but wisely keeps his mouth shut, passing him info about his captors via secret hand signals, and Meng Yao uses that info to continue picking off enemy cultivators all the way to the Nightless City.

(Wei Wuxian is also on the rampage by this point, which effectively disguises his efforts further, as everyone is terrified and paranoid and chalk up their dwindling numbers to the fierce corpses and the like.)

He doesn't manage to kill Wen Xu before they wind up in the throne room, and the sheer power Wen Ruohan radiates is nauseatingly frightening.

But, fortunately, all of their attention is focused on Huaisang, and none of it is on him.

And as we've already established, he is very, very good at using that to his advantage.

[ibijau]

I have written a thing! It's a three part xisang timeloop with a lot of people repeatedly dying, because that's what's good and fun about time loops. All three parts are already on AO3 because this was for an exchange, but I'll post it one chapter at a time on tumblr warning from some mentions of violence (mostly offscreen) and an offscreen suicide (it doesn't stick)

1. Even without the Song of Clarity to both calm and irritate him, Nie Mingjue still died on the same day. In his final moment of rage, he did not recognise his own brother until Baxia had already decapitated him. Lan Xichen, who had come running to his friend’s aid, stopped in his tracks as Nie Huaisang’s head rolled to his feet, blood and tears staining it. A pang of twisted satisfaction coursed through Lan Xichen at the sight of that little snake being punished for crimes he would now never commit. A short-lived glee; Nie Mingjue roared as he realised what he had done, and collapsed over his brother’s corpse.

2. “Enough excuses!” Nie Mingjue snarled, still shockingly angry for a man to whom Lan Xichen had played the Song of Clarity daily. “I warned you that you’d pay if Xue Yang wasn’t punished for his crimes!”

Jin Guangyao was shaking with fear, pleading for more time, trying to explain his side of things, begging their Da-ge to understand his position, but Nie Mingjue refused to listen. Baxia was unsheathed. Realising the situation was getting out of control, Lan Xichen tried to step between his two sworn brothers, only for a terrified Nie Huaisang to grab him by the sleeve, restraining him with surprising strength. Lan Xichen glared at him, letting his hatred shine through. Nie Huaisang, startled, released him, but it was already too late.

Jin Guangyao laid in a puddle of his own blood, unmoving.

3. Warning Nie Mingjue of Jin Guangshan’s plot only made things worse. Lan Xichen had taken such pains to explain that Jin Guangyao had been pressured into it, that he was truly innocent, another victim of his father. Nie Mingjue refused to see things his way.

The attack on the Jins, however justified, started a new war which decimated what was left of the cultivation world, including Jin Guangyao.

4. Warning Jin Guangyao that Lan Xichen knew of his plot did not work either. Jin Guangyao apologised, yes, and he begged for forgiveness, explained in detail how awful his life was in Jinlin Tai, how he was not given a choice. But he refused to take Lan Xichen’s offer to stay with him in Gusu where he would be safer. He was after all the heir apparent of the Jin sect, as he pointed out once he realised that Lan Xichen had no intention of revealing his plot to Nie Mingjue. And he was likely to remain so, since none of his father's other bastards had any real skill for cultivation, and Madam Jin was past the age to bear children. He couldn't give up on that.

The two of them argued for the first time that Lan Xichen could recall, certain tragic events of his first life aside. No matter how good Lan Xichen’s arguments, Jin Guangyao found ways to turn them around to suit his opinion. Meanwhile, over the course of the day, Jin Guangyao grew increasingly frustrated with Lan Xichen’s refusal to bend to his side, the way he’d always done before. Unable to reach a decision, they agreed to continue talking in the morning.

Left alone for the night, in the silence of the Hanshi, Lan Xichen found his resolve wavering. After all, Jin Guangyao had done such good for the world as chief cultivator before. Maybe they really could ensure that he would be again, and without killing Nie Mingjue this time. There had to be a way, if Lan Xichen helped him.

And he would have helped, truly, but he died in his sleep that same night. 

5. Lan Xichen couldn't make sense of his death in the previous loop. He knew his health to be excellent at this point of his life.

A lesser man might have suspected Jin Guangyao, but he refused to consider the thought. Even in murdering Nie Mingjue, Jin Guangyao had been a victim of circumstances. He'd had no choice. If he had really killed Lan Xichen… But no, that was impossible. Jin Guangyao would never hurt him. He'd said so, once. Jin Guangyao would never have hurt him, not on purpose. 

All the pain he'd caused had been accidental. 

Lan Xichen clung to that conviction.

He tried, again, to warn Nie Mingjue, and he was more careful in his words, trying harder to hide Jin Guangyao’s part in the plot, so both his sworn brothers might survive.

He failed. There was a war again, but this time it was Nie Mingjue who failed to survive it.

6. Another attempt to make Nie Mingjue understand.

Another failure.

7. One more attempt.

Nie Huaisang was there when Lan Xichen spoke to Nie Mingjue, for some reason.

He’d refused to leave his brother alone for the entirety of Lan Xichen’s visit. His presence was irritating, as always, but Lan Xichen ignored him. Nie Huaisang wasn’t worthy of notice at this point in his life.

He would never be worthy of notice.

He was just a coward, a liar, a little snake manipulating better men to spill blood for him.

Lan Xichen focused only on Nie Mingjue, on making him realise that his life was in danger while still protecting Jin Guangyao, so he could become the man he should have been.

One more attempt.

One more failure.

8. One more.

9. One more.

10. One more.

16. Sometimes, almost Lan Xichen wondered how he had become friends with Nie Mingjue in the first place. This unbending man, always so sure that he alone knew what was true and what wasn't. Stubborn, irritating Nie Mingjue, without any mercy in his heart.

This time either, Jin Guangyao couldn’t be protected once Nie Mingjue guessed the parts of the story Lan Xichen was trying to hide from him.

27. It wasn’t that Lan Xichen wanted to see Nie Mingjue die again. But he was growing frustrated with his inability to fix things, when it should have been so easy. He knew that Nie Mingjue and Jin Guangyao used to be friends, so why couldn’t they be again? Why must one always kill the other?

Why couldn’t anyone ever make things easy for Lan Xichen?

He was so tired.

He was also running out of ideas.

That was why he didn’t try to change anything in this new loop. He allowed events to follow their natural course, hoping to gain new insight. Jin Guangyao changing the song after one last humiliation. Nie Mingjue losing his mind after another perceived betrayal. The Qi deviation. The slaughter.

Lan Xichen didn’t try to change anything.

Something still changed.

There must have been a mistake somewhere, something he didn’t notice he’d done differently.

For whatever reason, Nie Huaisang didn’t run to his crazed brother in this loop, and Nie Mingjue continued his slaughter until he found Jin Guangyao.

They both died this time.

That had never happened yet.

Lan Xichen fell on his knees next to the corpses of his sworn brothers, choking on tears he couldn’t spill. For the first time, he wondered if trying to fix things hadn’t been a mistake. If he had accepted their deaths, if he had accepted his own mistakes… But as he thought this, his eyes fell on Nie Huaisang, watching the three of them from a few feet away. 

Nie Huaisang, with his face red and shining with tears, but his eyes as hard as the day he’d re-buried his brother.

Nie Huaisang, who watched with cold curiosity, seemingly more interested in Lan Xichen than in the dead men.

Nie Huaisang, whose absence at a critical moment had caused this tragedy.

Nie Huaisang, whose irritating personality had made things so much harder for Nie Mingjue even before the loops.

Nie Huaisang, who had hated Lan Xichen enough to use him as a weapon.

Nie Huaisang, without whom Lan Xichen wouldn’t have had to see his two only friends die again and again.

Nie Huaisang, whose cold curiosity turned to pure terror when Lan Xichen launched himself at him to choke him.

Nie Huaisang, whose neck snapped with such a terrible noise, just as surviving Nie disciples pierced Lan Xichen’s chest in an pointless effort to rescue their late sect leader’s brother.

28. Lan Xichen went into seclusion.

The irony was not lost on him.

But he couldn’t bear to see either of his sworn brothers die again, and he knew he was powerless to save them. Perhaps if he hadn’t been so blind, if he’d accepted that only one of them could live, if he’d been a better friend…

But things were what they were.

It was better to stay out of this, until the loops drained away what was left of his life.

29. Lan Xichen went into seclusion.

He now realised what he hadn’t in the previous loop, that he would always know when one of his sworn brothers had died because he would be sent back to the first day. But as long as he didn’t see it happen, as long as he wasn’t there to smell blood, knowing hurt less.

At least, that was what he tried to convince himself of.

30. Lan Xichen went into seclusion.

36. Lan Xichen went into seclusion.

42. Lan Xichen went into seclusion.

He closed the door of his house behind him, turned around, and startled when he noticed someone standing inside his home, waiting for him. Lan Xichen nearly ran back outside, but he refused to be scared, refused to lose again.

“How did you get in here, Huaisang?” He calmly asked.

The young man shrugged, hiding an embarrassed smile behind a fan.

“Oh, you know, I managed,” Nie Huaisang said in the light, somewhat whiny tone he used often. 

The tone he had used at that temple, when Wei Wuxian had confronted him.

“I can’t imagine anyone let you in,” Lan Xichen insisted.

“I didn’t need it. You gave Da-ge one of those jade tokens that lets him freely come and go, so I borrowed it,” Nie Huaisang admitted with an awkward giggle. “I wasn’t sure it’d work since I’m not Da-ge, but it’s about the token, not the person. I came in last night and this morning, when you went to talk to your uncle about your seclusion, I slipped inside the house. It was really easy, Er-ge,” he added with a pouty frown. “You really should put some protections around your home. What if I had been an assassin?”

An assassin would have been a less unpleasant surprise, Lan Xichen thought, glaring at the little snake that dared to disturb him again. But quickly, another more important detail struck him.

“How do you know I’m entering seclusion?” Lan Xichen asked, frowning. “I haven’t told anyone except my uncle.”

Courtesy would have demanded that he inform his sworn brothers, especially in such troubled times. But courtesy mattered little, and in three weeks, none of this would have happened in the first place. Lan Xichen could afford to be rude.

Nie Huaisang shrugged again. “You’ve done it like that the last few times,” he said, his voice trembling, just as his hand did, barely keeping his fan in place. “So I thought you probably would again, and I thought… I thought I should finally try to find out for real.”

Lan Xichen stared at the young man. Nie Huaisang was smiling, but his lips were spasming from the effort it took, and whatever good humour he was trying to convey failed to reach his eyes, already shining with the threat of tears.

How many times had Lan Xichen seen him like that? Poor little Nie Huaisang, incompetent sect leader if there had ever been one, so awkward as he asked Jin Guangyao for help. And it was always Jin Guangyao he’d bothered with his problems. Lan Xichen had only ever been involved as an afterthought. He used to be bothered by that, he vaguely recalled, because there had been a time when he had sincerely liked and pitied Nie Huaisang, when he had wanted the younger man to rely on him more. Lan Xichen used to wish they could have been friends. He knew better now. He knew that all of Nie Huaisang’s tears had been false, more like rouge on a courtesan’s face than a genuine display of emotion.

“You’re not making any sense, Huaisang,” Lan Xichen scolded. “If you want something, say it clearly. Otherwise, go home. I don’t care if you’ve had another argument with your brother…”

“But I haven’t!” Nie Huaisang cried out, lowering his fan and taking one step toward Lan Xichen.

He froze, his eyes glancing in terror at Lan Xichen’s face, then took two steps back.

“Er-ge, I have been so good the last few times,” Nie Huaisang whispered, lowering his eyes. Shedding a tear, even. Pathetic. “After what happened the last time you came, I realised it had to be my fault. That’s why you’ve been like that toward me since this started, right? It must have been my fault. So I behaved. I did everything Da-ge told me. I trained as hard as I could, until there were blisters all over my hands. I meditated when he told me to. I helped with the sect’s daily affairs even when it gave me headaches. I… I tried so hard, Er-ge!” He sobbed, heavy tears falling on Lan Xichen’s floor. “But he still… every time, he still… I don’t know what to do…”

Lan Xichen took a sharp breath, finally starting to understand what Nie Huaisang was trying to say. But it was impossible. Lan Xichen had started those loops. He should have been the only one aware of them. 

“Please Er-ge, you have to tell me what to do!” Nie Huaisang begged, as whiny and demanding as he had been during the years after his brother’s death. 

Lan Xichen had trusted him then, his heart aching every time. He now watched Nie Huaisang’s despair without emotion. None of it was real, so why should it touch him?

“Er-ge, I just want to save Da-ge!” Nie Huaisang insisted. “It’s fine if you hate me, but if we work together, won’t we have a better chance to save him, and San-ge too?”

“You want to save A-Yao?” Lan Xichen scoffed, something in his voice startling Nie Huaisang out of his tears.

The young man stared at him with the terror of a mouse cornered by a snake. Then, slowly, almost carefully, he nodded.

“Even though Da-ge hates him?” Lan Xichen insisted.

Nie Huaisang blinked a few times, some last few tears falling on his cheeks. Then, another nod.

“It’s like you’ve said,” Nie Huaisang whispered. “It’s not really San-ge’s fault. I… I don’t understand all of it. And I… I don’t like that San-ge could even think of obeying his father about this. It’s… it’s wicked of him. But I don’t think… I don’t think San-ge would actually do that, anyway. He wouldn’t go through with it. He’s so nice, he wouldn’t. I’m sure he would have stopped in time, but I… because I always make Da-ge angry… San-ge couldn’t guess that I’d make Da-ge so upset, and… I hate that Da-ge blames him for everything. I just want everything to be good again, and for all of us to be friends.”

Lan Xichen pinched his lips. During the early loops, Nie Huaisang hadn’t been there when Lan Xichen would tell Nie Mingjue in detail about the plot against his life. By the time Nie Huaisang made himself unavoidable, a few loops later, Lan Xichen had figured out it was wiser not to let Nie Mingjue know that Jin Guangyao had already started poisoning him, so he only spoke about the murder scheme in a vague manner, as something that had been ordered but not yet put into action. Omissions were not really lies, were they?

Lan Xichen had despaired that his efforts to protect Jin Guangyao would convince anyone.

He despaired all the more, knowing they had only convinced the wrong brother.

“I’m not sure this can really be solved,” Lan Xichen bitterly said. “Short perhaps of you killing yourself to see if it solves something…”

“No, I’ve already tried that,” Nie Huaisang cut him, hiding again behind his fan. “It wasn’t enough. There’s got to be something more we can do, Er-ge.”

It had to be a lie. Lan Xichen almost shouted at the young man, who even at this age thought he could be easily fooled. But he realised, suddenly, that the previous loop had felt… oddly short. It was hard to tell the time when he was in deep meditation, so he hadn’t thought much of it.

He didn’t want to think about it. 

“I find it hard to believe you’d be brave enough to try that,” Lan Xichen replied, clinging to his understanding of Nie Huaisang as a selfish coward, a man without honour who never saw fit to avenge his brother until it became easy for him. But if it was true, if Nie Huaisang had killed himself… of course that would have precipitated Nie Mingjue’s death, in his unstable state, ending the loop early.

“I had to see him die so many times, after you stopped coming,” Nie Huaisang said, averting his eyes. “I couldn’t… it wasn’t being brave. I just couldn’t see it happen again. And if it could save Da-ge… But it didn’t really work. I still woke up at midnight again, like the other times. And I… you’re right, I’m not brave. I didn’t mean to come see you at first. I just ran away as soon as I woke up. I just couldn’t stay home to watch him die again. Why did you stop trying, Er-ge?”

“Nothing I did was working,” Lan Xichen replied, more honestly than he intended. His heart clenched at the despair in Nie Huaisang’s voice, the accusation in his words. Nie Huaisang was the last person who had any right to judge him.

Nie Huaisang was, perhaps, the only person with a right to judge him.

“How long have you been aware of what was going on?” Lan Xichen asked.

“I don’t know,” Nie Huaisang sniffed, and Lan Xichen winced at the too familiar answer. But unlike his time as a sect leader, Nie Huaisang didn’t leave it at that. “A while? Maybe from the start. The very first time Da-ge died, I tried to stop him and he wounded me with Baxia. But then I woke up in my bed, without so much as a scar, so I figured it was just a bad dream. Only, you told San-ge to stop playing that song for Da-ge, and a little while after Da-ge still had a Qi deviation, and this time he killed me.” Nie Huaisang paused and brought one hand to his throat. He started crying again. When he spoke again, his voice was weak. “After that, it was San-ge who started dying many times. But I could tell… I could tell even whenever he won against the Jin, Da-ge was about to have another Qi deviation. I always woke up at the start of the cycle before it happened, but I knew. I could see it.”

Lan Xichen shivered. He’d been so focused on his horror over Jin Guangyao’s death every time that came to pass, he’d forgotten to worry about the effect of another war on Nie Mingjue’s health.

Or had he simply not cared?

He’d become so frustrated with Nie Mingjue’s stubbornness. Had Lan Xichen really cared anymore what happened to Nie Mingjue once Jin Guangyao couldn’t be saved anymore?

Had he cared even when he started those loops? Had he cared before, when Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian had offered proof that Jin Guangyao was a murderer? Or had everything he’d done been an elaborate way to protect his last friend from the consequences of his actions? Lan Xichen had so desperately wanted to believe Jin Guangyao could have been a good man, had he not murdered their sworn brother. He’d found so many excuses for him, so his complicity would weigh less heavy.

As if Nie Mingjue hadn’t been a good man as well.

Infuriating and stubborn and unbending, yes, but good as well, and a steady friend for as long as he’d lived.

And Lan Xichen had helped kill him.

Lan Xichen fell to his knees, bile burning the back of his throat, tears drenching his face. He distantly heard Nie Huaisang’s cries of concern, and then felt the young man’s presence at his side, hand hovering near his shoulders, never daring to touch him. 

Nie Huaisang who didn’t know yet that Lan Xichen was a murderer.

Or didn’t he? Lan Xichen had killed him once with his bare hands, had watched him die another time with cruel glee, had wished horrors upon him countless times. All that for the crime of doing what Lan Xichen couldn’t have done, for avenging Nie Mingjue with what weapons he had at his disposal: tears, and the sympathy of others.

It was no wonder that Nie Huaisang had used him as his weapon, that night. It was all Lan Xichen was good for. That, and making excuses for murderers. Like his father, he was so much like his father. Too much like his mother, too. Ruining lives and hiding dirty secrets. 

“Er-ge, should I get someone?” Nie Huaisang asked, his voice appearing to come from so far away. He had gotten over his terror of Lan Xichen and was holding his shoulders now, trying to comfort him perhaps. “Er-ge, please, I don’t want to watch someone die again. Please calm down, please. I’m sorry I came here, I won’t do it again! I’m sorry for whatever I did to make you angry. Please calm down, please don’t die.”

The request startled Lan Xichen. He opened his mouth, wanting to reassure the young man, only for blood to pour out of his lips. A hand brought to his eyes, his nose, made it clear he was bleeding there too.

Lan Xichen would have laughed, had he had the breath for it.

What a fitting punishment for his failings, to die the way he’d allowed Nie Mingjue to die.

He wondered, briefly, if perhaps this would finally break the unending cycle he’d created, if they would all be free once he died.

He could only hope.

43. Lan Xichen went into seclusion.

Nobody came to visit him.

Days and weeks alone, waiting for the moment everything would start over again. He did not meditate this time, wanting to ensure that days flowed normally, that Nie Huaisang had not tried anything radical again to protect his brother.

It gave him time to think about things, really think about them, for the first time since he’d seen Nie Mingjue’s headless corpse blindly attacking juniors, and Wei Wuxian hinted at a possible murderer.

Lan Xichen had made mistakes. Believing Jin Guangyao had been one. Being kind to him… he could not regret being kind, even to a man who had abused his trust. Even a murderer deserved to have his pain soothed, and Lan Xichen refused to think he’d been wrong to show mercy to Jin Guangyao that terrible night. But he could see better why it would have enraged Nie Huaisang, pushing him to reveal himself by pushing Lan Xichen to murder.

Looking back on it, Lan Xichen disapproved of the methods, but he pitied the desperation.

Poor Nie Huaisang, whose only remaining friends had been his nemesis and an accessory to murder. Could Lan Xichen really blame him for lashing out and hurting so many others, when he had done the same during those hellish loops?

It was odd, to have anything in common with Nie Huaisang. Lan Xichen remembered, distantly, that Nie Mingjue used to encourage him to befriend his little brother, saying they were more alike than they seemed. He couldn’t have known that their greatest common trait was a tendency to be vicious for the sake of affection, but Lan Xichen didn’t think Nie Mingjue would entirely disapprove either. Not when he’d gone to such length to avenge his father.

Maybe that was why Jin Guangyao had failed to truly fit in with them. If he had killed for love instead of ambition, like the rest of them, Nie Mingjue might have liked him better.

44. Lan Xichen did not go into seclusion.

Instead he stepped on his sword and flew North, toward Qinghe.

Alone, he had failed to save his sworn brothers. But he did not have to be alone.

First, he would apologise to Nie Huaisang, for his mistakes in their first life, in all of the horrifying loops he’d inflicted to the poor boy. He would tell him the truth, as much of it as could be shared without hurting him more.

And then, if Nie Huaisang was still willing, they would work together to break the loops.

[kanene-yaaay]

Headshaker (Tickletober Day 3)

Kanene's Notes: OK, I am like, fighting for my life with this one because I want to post it like immediately like right freaking now but I want to at least read it one more time to correct any absurd mistakes and. I don't know which part will win so rip me I guess. jhgfghjikolkijuhyg Writing this fic was so fun I am in looove <3 <3 Mingjue and Huaisang's interacting was a challenge since I only saw them on the donghua and Mingjue kind of uh dies v quickly so. ther's that. oijhgfuytrfghjuik

Day 3 - "Prank" (Tickletober) and "Starligh" (mxtxtober)

Warnings: Lots of tickling! Also some light angst sprinkled here and there, but nothing too complex. Ticklish!Huaisang and Ler!Mingjue. Around 2.500 words.

[~*~]

“HUAISANG!” The roar shook through the entire Unclean Realms and Nie Huisang yelped, hastily putting his paints on their place (he would never let those hanging around after all the trouble he had gone through to get them) and jumped through the window, running hastily away from the loud footsteps that sounded already so close to his room, under the amused gaze of the few guards that were on watching duty tonight. 

The stars looked so beautiful today, a sea of darkness and light dancing together in a lovely contrast that itched his soul to find a poem that talked about it, awaiting for a sharp mind to properly appreciate them. It was a pity it was the last time he would be able to see it before he died.

The footsteps turned the corner and suddenly got much closer. Huaisang let out a high pitched scream, no needing to look behind to see who was his pursuer.

“Brother! It wasn’t my fault, it wasn’t my fault!” He jumped to the side and scrambled when a large hand swiped to his right, his voice getting quicker and hysterical the more he got tired from the exercise. “Please, brother! Have pity, have mercy! It wasn’t my fault, I didn’t do anything!”

“Then who did?!” Came the roar.

Huaisang squeaked loudly, screaming more as another hand almost gripped his shoulder. 

“I don’t know! I really don’t, brother!” Where was Meng Yao with his always trustful back where he could hide behind? But no one but Mingjue and the stars heard his cries. “Maybe it was someone good! Someone who was worried about how much later you go to bed! Maybe they’re annoyed from dealing with your cranky mood from lack of sleep. Maybe they just want to help, brother!”

“HELP?! You locked me in my personal chambers after dinner where I had to spend an entire SICHEN to get free and had to call my guards to help me!!” Oh no, he was embarrassed. It took everything from the younger one to not snicker as he remembered the talisman he commissioned from his good friend Wei Wuxian for this sole purpose. “Do you think I have nothing to do, not a sect to run? Or do you think I also have all the time in the world to lay lazily around the house and ignore my chores?”

Ouch. Huaisang didn’t even have time to pretend offense as he was bodily crashed on the ground, screaming cutting off into grunts as he tried to squirm and free himself enough to scutter around and win a few more minutes of life. Being unsuccessful, he did what he does best.

He looked at his brother straight in his eyes and made his shine with glistering tears, hands holding Mingjue’s sleeves and hands before they could cuff him on the head. 

“Brother…” he whimpered.

Mingjue, knowing him since he was a kid and therefore plenty aware of his every tactic to escape trouble, looked entirely unimpressed and unwavered by one his best acts, face contorted in an angry sneer. “Where are those ridiculous books and fans of yours? I am going to lock them on my chambers and see how you like it when I throw them all into the fire.”

“No, brother, please!” As the older made a move as if to get up, Huaisang threw his arms around him in a hug, body completely slack like a dead weight to at least discourage him. Mingjue complained, but didn’t let him fall.

“Maybe they really did want the best for you. Maybe they just worried.” There was enough truth on it to make Mingjue deflate and huff, still annoyed, but less so.

“Then you should’ve come to me and said it, not run around with your schemes and expect me to suddenly understand it. Use your words, Huaisang. I know you have them.”

Huaisang didn’t hum in acknowledgement, simply continued with attentive eyes. “You’re going to sleep now?”

He saw the deny before it even existed, in the furrow of his brother’s eyebrows and the way his body twitched an inch away, mouth twisting downwards. When he opened his mouth, though, there was hesitation. 

“I still have paperwork to finish today. But tomorrow I will.” Huaisang still pouted, but his efforts weren’t really in it and the older one could see the smugness clear as water in his eyes. In a blink he sent his knuckles to rub on the top of his head. “And when I go to my quarters, tomorrow, I better not find any other talismans, am I clear?”

Huaisang quickly nodded, shouting and whining in despair. For the tune of his voice, one could think that Mingjue was full on throttling him. “You are, da-ge, you are! Stop, stop, you’re hurting me!”

He kept trying to squirm away from his hold, being as unsuccessful as the first time. It was Mingjue’s turn to feel smug. If his little brother ever bothered training or even showing up with his saber to his classes he would have enough strength to put up a fight. 

Wait.

Nie Mingjue stopped and Huaisang quickly pushed his hand away, protecting his head with his palms as he turned to the other, about to complain. 

When he saw the other’s calculating eyes, he froze, mind running. 

He noticed it, he noticed it. Shit, shit, shit-

“What are you doing awake, Huaisang?! You have saber practice right earlier in the morning!” At the younger’s wide stare, Mingjue only scolded further, irritation flaring hot in his veins. His words grew louder, quicker. “Or are you planning on running away from it again? Should I go to your room to drag you by your robes in the morning to it and watch the class myself to make sure you won’t run? That you even will be there for once?”

“I am going to the practice, brother, I really will! I just need to find my saber first…”

“You lost it again? We are warriors, your saber is a part of you. It should be by your side all the time-”

“But it’s so heavy! I just need to find where I put it before class, nothing more.”

It was their same fight. Like every day.

Mingjue took a breath and prepared to shout his thoughts and…

And he deflated, tired. Suddenly very, very tired. 

Maybe those days without sleep really were getting to him. He pictured Xichen’s calming songs and Meng Yao’s kind smile and thought twice, shallowed the words, gritted his teeth and tried.

(You have your words, A-Jue, use and mean them.)

“I won’t always be here for you, Huaisang. We were in a war. If that didn’t convince you how much you need to make your core stronger I don’t know how I can-”

Huaisang squeaked, then gasped, then pressed his hands firmly on his mouth. Mingjue looked down, to his finger that was poking the other’s stomach, right above where his golden core should be.

Then he remembered.

“Brother…”

That is right. His didi was horribly ticklish. Memories of their childhood began running across his mind and he could help but smirk. It’s been so long. He really had forgotten.

Their eyes found each other and Huaisang felt a bolt of electricity run across his spine, hands automatically coming in a poor attempt of covering his torso, his traitor mouth already trying to curl up in a wobbly smile. It was too late for him.

“Da-ge! Please, da-ge!” Mingjue simply smirked bigger, a clawing hand slowly descending towards his belly. “You can’t, please da-ge! I will train! I will strengthen my core! It’s true, da-ge, I really will!” His words were coming out faster, stumbling on each other as his brain spit every card in his hand, anything that could lead to him getting out of this tickle attack. The giddy sensation inside was too strong for him to even think before more and more words just kept falling. “It will be the strongest golden core you’ve ever seen! Our tutors will be out of things to teach me. I will cultivate straight to immortality if only you don’t kill me right now, it’s true! Please, please, da-GEEE!”

“I am not even touching you yet!” 

“You’re going to!” Nie Huaisang felt his face prickle with heat, but his hands were the only thing between Mingjue’s offending wiggling fingers and his poor unprotected tummy. And he was plenty aware that his “protection” was simply an illusion, one that at any time that his brother decided that he wanted to go straight to the point he would, no matter the obstacle. Besides, Mingjue wasn’t known for his infinite patience, or procrastinating. So, yes, he was already giggling. “And you know I can’t stand it, I really can’t. Please, brother, I won't survive this attack! I am dying, I am dying!”

Mingjue snorted, then scoffed to hide it. “You love being tickled, stop being so dramatic! Don’t you remember running after me everywhere, pulling on my hands when I was heading training or laying on my lap when I had to take care of the sect correspondence and asking to play tickle fight every single time?”

Why must Mingjue torture him like this with all the memories of his childhood? His brother was really merciless, just as ruthless as everyone painted him to be. To remind him of when he would throw himself in his arms and get tickled only to shriek “again! again!” as the older complained about needing to work! Nie Huaisang couldn’t even hide his face from this embarrassment.

Thankfully (or not), before he could turn himself into a bird and fly directly into the sun by the sheer will of his mind, his wrists were snatched away and the hand collided on his belly. Everything else exploded in a white light, unimportant and infinitesimal in the face of the feeling of those clawing fingers, scribbling and skittering anywhere they could reach, sneaking to his sides and drumming on them, spidering to his hips and squeezing until there was not even a hint of hope of Huaisang holding back any of his reactions, much less his laughter.

“NAHAHAHAHA B-BROHOHTHER! LEHEHET GO!”

“Not until your golden core gets stronger. Since you’re not going to practice, let’s see if this training interests you better.”

Nie Huaisang shook his head, trashing and curling to his side only for those offending hands to keep spidering and finding his back, running tickles across his spine and drilling on his back ribs until he was arching and crackling, unable to turn back and protect the new attacked ticklish spots. Laughter rang loud and strident across the yard, childish screeches and squeaks escaping from his mouth every time a wave of pokes hit his skin or wiggling fingers found a good spot to focus on. 

It was interesting, really, how much he looked like Mingjue when he was being tickled. His voice was loud and unashamed, clear in his words, thoughts getting out from their usual place behind his fans and spilling from him in an honest message, arms, legs and entire body gesturing, flailing around, not caring about how much attention or space it would claim. It was endearing to see. Maybe Mingjue really had spent too much time without properly tormenting his little brother, to feel so fond of seeing it again. He should catch up.

“IHIHIHIHI CAN’T BRHEHEATHE!” A hand scrambled to take over the opportunity and pinch and scratch at the skin behind his knee, pulling a loud snort that would’ve mortified the smaller if he had a clearer mind. HIs laughter slowed from a loud shrieking to a hysterical snickering, legs kicking in protest, as if demanding attention. At this, Mingjue chuckled. Well, no one could really blame him as he stopped scribbling his fingers over his shoulderblades (his didi was truly ticklish everywhere) and held one of them so he could focus on squeezing and clawing all the way from his calves to his kneecaps over and over again. 

“I ahahahaham DYIHIHIHIHING, brohohohother! You’rehehehehe kiliHIHIHIHIING MEHEHEHEHE, you reheheheahahahaha arehEHEHEHEHE! STOHOHOHOHOP going theHEHERE!”

Ah, there was the squeals, he was starting to wonder when they would come. 

“Tickling Here? Right here?” He kneaded the thigh with energy at the last word, huffing in amusement when Huaisang threw his head back, laughter rising once again uncontrollably only to dim into never-ending, high pitched giggles when he went back to spidering his hands under his knee. “No moving. If you can still be dramatic, then I can still tickle you even more.”

Huaisang seemed to have registered only half of his words, shaking his head, squeaks and snorts mingling with his words. “Gehehehet out of theheheREHEHEHE, GEHEHHEHET ohohut!” A hand came and began swatting down on his. Mingjue grabbed it and pulled until it was above the other’s head. Wide, teary eyes and a giant, wobbling smile found his face. He drummed on his unprotected armpit before Huaisang could protest.

“There! Should I stay here, then?”

Huaisang felt like his every nerve was under attack, shaking and sending tiny ticklish shocks all across his skin, following each touch, tingling in ghost sensations where he already had been tickled, where he was currently being tickled and even where he thought his brother would attack next, his mind running on top speed, squirming with all his might to escape the wiggling fingers and the silly sensation only to be completely overtaken by it, freeing all his most childish reactions and sounds straight to the wild. There was laughter, there were yelps, shrieks, snorts, squeals and giggles running and escaping everywhere.

Tears fell from his eyes and hiccups began taking over his cracking when Mingjue finally decided to stop. 

Huaisang continued laying there, hugging himself and almost becoming a ball with this, the rest of his giggling coming muffled as his big, way too telling smile was hidden in a pretense of hidding. Mingjue laid a firm hand on his head, fondly, and looked up at the sky, watching the stars twinkling as if they were sharing the same amusement, the same joy between them, and the high point the moon was currently at.

“Perhaps I will actually head over to my bed, when we get inside. It’s already way too late to work.”

And the betrayed, absolutely in disbelief expression that Huaisang sent in his direction made him snort, then fall in loud, booming laughter.

What a beautiful night.

[tbgkaru-woh]

I love your Nie Huaisang, he's so pretty!! I love the scheming pretty man so badly. Are there any Huaisang ships you like? I don't necessarily ship Wei Ying and him but I do think they got drunk and made out at least thrice

thank you ♥♥ the usual SangCheng was a ship i really enjoyed alongside chengxuan, jiang cheng has two hands and all that (well, actually i don't really do poly-shipping, it's more that i like those ships for him in different periods of time or scenarios, for someone who doesn't seek or like romance, jiang cheng is BOOKED.) just nhs pulling jc out of his shell, jc begrudgingly following nhs or listening to his wet dreams or something equally ridiculous, nhs being the same loud but compassionate presence that wwx used to be. them getting lcose during gusu days and then parting and then later down the line, with everything that happened, huaisang is still there, still the same, the one stable thing that hasn't change and jc would just kinda fall into his arms for an ounce of comfort, knowing nhs won't tell or make it weird. i really enjoyed wwx and nhs' friendship and they have big fuckbuddy energy before they go in their respective directions (wwx to lwj and nhs just stays free but "occupied" with different partner each time). really enjoy the shameless cockiness of them, i had a fic planned that's basically just big orgy of everyone to "strengthen" the alliance bonds and seeing as there's members like lwj, jzx and jc, wwx and nhs were the ones to brea kthe ice and get it all going :D i had a lot of fun with that idea but sadly it didn't get far as i'm already neck deep in near-done WIPs I can't seem to finish :')

i've never quite gotten into niecest and not because i'm against fictional sibling ships, i don't see the IT factor in the dynamic on a romantic way despite really enjoying them being protective of each other and understanding the visual appeal. I guess I enjoy them more where each of the brothers have their quirk, one is this playful slut (/postiive) and one bagged the forbidden fruit that is lxc, it just makes up for a fun dynamic :'D but i think i may be convinced if someone brings up a good idea

i also like nhs and jgy in their dnyamic BEFORE nhs learned about jgy's schemes, i liked jgy being the only peer for nhs and being gentle with him, even though nhs is this little lordling and jgy is basically their servant of sorts (SORRY IF I MISUNDERSTAND THE CANON DYNAMIC BUT THIS IS THE DYNAMIC I LIKE) and nhs talking to him like peer-to-peer and opening up and them covering for each other from nmj etc. i really enjoy that ;v; nhs needing jgy more than jgy needs nhs but it's fine, jgy is a giver. going from this comfort to how they grew apart, with jgy gone nhs's quarters grew quiet and cold and then jgy not acknowledging him much once he made it into jin's high status, nhs learning of jgy's crimes later on, it's just the good kind of heartbreaking.

my guilty pleasure is also nhs and jzx, not only because i love zixuan, but also because i enjoy the idea of the two lordlings meeting up since childhood for pleasantries and nhs always giving jzx's bad behavior the benefit of the doubt because not only is he not judgmental, but also he can understand where jzx is coming from. nhs trying to loosen jzx up as someone who's his peer and not "beneath" him, be open with him and often poke at his prudish inexperienced side when it comes to relationships :') nhs slowly including jzx into his problem trio (wwx-nhs-jc), him and wwx making jzx do something illegal during their gusu days and then having a laugh riot about it. idk, i feel like nhs is greatly compassionate when it comes to this and also i think he could acknowledge jzx's qualities or his good looks. publicly, in front of his friends, often.

[zombubble]

In Memory; In Truth chapter FOUR, wherein we expand our scope just a bit:

Nie Huaisang chuckles, now. His relationship with Wei-zhenjun is decidedly different. Where Mo Xuanyu has chosen to put his faith in the god and treats him accordingly, Nie-zongzhu still treats him like an old friend. They’re casual with each other. Familiar. Nie-zongzhu finds it amusing that Wei-zhenjun ascended, but not in a malicious way. He does not worship Wei Wuxian, but has been kind enough to make offerings regardless. A favor to a friend, he says they are, and a way for him to repay Wei-zhenjun with offerings and merits, if only a little. Yawning, Mo Xuanyu looks at Nie Huaisang. “It’s so early. They’re really supposed to be here, soon?” “Lan-er-gongzi wakes at sunrise,” Nie Huaisang says. “Wei-xiong doesn’t have to sleep. We need to eat breakfast same as them. They might as well get here early.” “You want an update as soon as possible, too,” Mo Xuanyu points out. Nie Huaisang looks at him, his smile shifting into something a bit more shrewd. The thing about Nie Huaisang is that he’s foppish and whiny, incompetent and absolutely unsuited to his position. The real thing about Nie Huaisang is that’s exactly what he wants you to think, and all of that covers a calculating mind and a frankly terrifying sense of determination and a willingness to justify the means with the end, regardless of what they are. Interestingly, he’s a lot like Wei-zhenjun in some ways.

New players on the scene!!! Yes, in this AU Mo Xuanyu lives! I've been having so much fun writing him. The Mo Xuanyu I created in my brain (because we have so little of him in canon) is fun and kind and determined and willing to fuck someone up in unsavory ways if that's what it takes.

There's some stuff I haven't written yet with him that I'm really looking forward to..... once I get through the scene I've been chewing on for the last few days. Progress is being made, though, and I'm almost at the end of draft number one.

Thanks to @thewalrus-said for helping me choose which bit of this chapter to post, though admittedly I did know this would likely be the final outcome once I sent it.

Thanks to all of you for reading, and I will HOPEFULLY have this weekend free of Moving Bullshit, but we'll see!

[thememecrown]

A little preview of what's coming today 👀

"Are you sure Huaisang? Really? That he looks like that me?" Lan Xichen said with a desperate note in his voice, still kneeling clutching Nie Huaisang's robes as he fanned himself and looked at him happily.

"Oh er-ge, he'd be a fool not to look at you that way, and who wouldn't look at you that er-ge? Only fools wouldn't do that... There's just one little matter to settle... I trust you will take care of it er-ge, otherwise I won't be able to help you."

This work will piss off a lot of people, both those who support Lan Xichen x Jin Guangyao and those who support Lan Xichen x Nie Mingjue :D

Even for those who love brotherly relationships.... this work is not about that.. Not even remotely :)

So don't get mad, i'm warning you that this might piss you off, it's just me enjoying taking Lan Xichen apart before his full analysis (THAT'S NOT TRUE. WASN'T THAT FUNNY OKAY?... LOOK AT NORA EVERYONE, SHE LEFT ME THIS IDEA IN MY FILES )

⚠️This will not be a complete character analysis, just pieces of it!!!!!⚠️

So yeah... We have fun?