#nie minjgue

[3cosmicfrogs]

"and doesn't he look pretty?"

from a lovely prompt by my darlingest dearest mutual @frodo-of-the-nine-fingers.

[restingdomface]

Nie Minjgue: *blatantly lying* My brother would never do that, he’s the laziest man alive!

Meng Yao: *watched NHS stalk a songbird for 3 days to catch it* :/

Sect Leader Yao: *has been stalked and threatened by NHS for the past two months and is coming to beg for help to get rid of him* …I can’t refute that…

Nie Mingjue: Good, don’t! *plans on giving NHS a new set of paints later for his service, no idea why he did it but sure it was deserved*

[thatswhatsushesaid]

I was rewatching sections of episode 10 to snag some new screenshots and ended up surprising myself! I forgot that, after nie mingjue casts meng yao out of the unclean realm, nie huaisang isn't the only one to risk speaking up to nie minjgue. jiang cheng does, too.

so we have this sad moment where meng yao is politely bowing to both wei wuxian and jiang cheng (while bleeding!! from a chest wound!! which he sustained protecting nie mingjue!!) and nie huaisang's face does that cute little thing it does when he is feeling particularly Determined about something (bless u for ur face, ji li, we are very grateful)

so he turns and rushes into the throne room with wei wuxian and jiang cheng hurrying behind him, and then:

okay huaisang that's not quite what he said, but it's not like nie mingjue is going to give him the chance to clarify anyway. (when does nie mingjue demonstrate that he is interested in what huaisang has to say about anything anyway, but I digress)

so 'sit down' da-ge says, and 'sit down' nie huaisang does, because what else is he supposed to do when on the receiving end of that look from nie mingjue? but then--and I'd completely forgotten this part--jiang cheng speaks up!! jiang cheng, who is not jiang-zongzhu at this point in the narrative, decides to be the boldest motherfucker in all of the unclean realm, and actively challenges nie mingjue's decision, right there in his throne room!

(ugh, 'childe' this, 'childe' that, I hate the default youtube subtitles, anyway ignore them, we know he's saying 'meng-gongzi' and that's what matters)

bold of you, jiang wanyin, you go jiang wanyin

and then, unsurprisingly, nie mingjue shuts down the whole discussion, which is prerogative as sect leader obviously. but I appreciated the subsequent framing of this decision, which includes close-ups of jiang cheng's expression, and wei wuxian's, and then nie huaisang's fingers fiddling with his fan.

because it felt quite clear to me that this is not a decision that even cql--the version of mdzs that so often goes out of its way to paint every decision jin guangyao makes with the 'villainous intent' brush--wishes us to interpret as being objectively the right call. because, well. it isn't.

(side note: nie mingjue did say he doesn't care where meng yao goes next, he just isn't welcome in the unclean realm anymore. so wei 'I care just so much about injustice on a small scale' wuxian really could have done something in this moment! but he didn't. just like everyone else in this story who is in a position to intercede on meng yao's behalf, and who also choose to do nothing.)

[hannigramislife]

#6 Scene from my Random Mdzs Fanfiction

Prompt: What if 3zun reincarnated in modern au?

Scene: Lan Xichen runs out after his fight with Nie Mingjue- Jin Guangyao, who had been heading there, meets him halfway. When he sees the state Lan Xichen is in, he goes to confront Nie Mingjue.

“Er-ge,” Jin Guangyao’s eyes widened at seeing Lan Xichen’s red-rimmed and swollen eyes as he walked out of Nie Mingjue’s office. He grabbed hold of the elder’s arm, halting his stride. “Er-ge, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine, Jin Guangyao.” Lan Xichen answered, and uh-oh, full name again. Jin Guangyao knew what that meant. He was only ever Jin Guangyao when Lan Xichen was thinking; about the past, their lives, their deaths. He was only ever Jin Guangyao when Lan Xichen was doubting himself, when he felt guilty about his decision to keep him in his life, when he debated whether his crimes being of a past life warranted forgiveness in this one.

Lan Xichen was, most definitely, not fine.

“Er-ge, let me help,” he asked, the pleading note in his tone not even fake. He wanted to help, he wanted the elder to rely on him again. “I’m here for you, you know that.”

Lan Xichen flinched, and Jin Guangyao knew he had miscalculated. “Excuse me,” he said in a choked off voice, wrenching his arm out of Jin Guangyao’s grip, before disappearing down the corridor.

Jin Guangyao stared at his retreating back with wide eyes, before stalking in the direction of his original destination; Nie MIngjue’s office.

“What did you do?” He stormed in, voice ice cold as he looked at Nie Mingjue sitting at his desk, face pensieve. And he knew that pensive on the former Sect Leader was as close to guilty as you could get.

“No, let me rephrase that; what the fuck did you do?”

“Get out of my office,” Nie Mingjue said, not even looking at Jin Guangyao, which served to further piss him off.

“I don’t think I will,” Jin Guangyao retorted, rage much more obvious than it had ever been in his past life. Nie Mingjue had always wanted him to be honest, after all— Jin Guangyao would hate to deprive his eldest of the anger he had so wanted to witness before. “You made Er-ge cry? What is wrong with you?”

Some of the incredulity bled into his accusations, because he couldn’t help it. Nie MIngjue had never, in either life, treated Lan Xichen with anything less than the utmost respect and care. When Lan Xichen was present, Nie Mingjue gravitated towards him like a moth to a flame— he valued his opinions, deeply respected their friendship, and adhered to Lan Xichen’s judgment. Jin Guangyao would know, as it was the only thing to have kept him alive long enough to execute his plans, back then.

For Nie Mingjue to make Lan Xichen cry? Until five minutes ago, Jin Guangyao would have found the notion unrealistic.

Nie Mingjue finally deigned to meet Jin Guangyao’s gaze, and there it was, the familiar disdain that the mafia leader seemed to reserve specifically for Jin Guangyao.

It did not sting. It didn’t.

“I believe this is none of your business,” Nie Mingjue said coldly. “Which I’m sure is something you’re not used to having to accept.”

Jin Guangyao took a deep breath to calm his own anger; it would not do if Nie Minjgue pulled him into their usual arguments. This wasn’t about them, it was about Lan Xichen.

“It is, when it hurts Er-ge.” Jin Guangyao said firmly. “I know you care not for how your words affect others, but was it worth it? Did his tears make you feel better?”

Nie Mingjue whirled around, eyes blazing. "I did not hurt him.” He said stubbornly.

"No?" Jin Guangyao scoffed. “My mistake, he was obviously crying of joy. You’re known to elicit such a reaction.”

Nie Mingjue bristled at his comment, his anger always so obvious on his face. How did Nie Mingjue survive this long in a cutthroat world wearing his heart on his sleeve? Did he never learn?

Didn't he understand people like Jin Guangyao would jump at the slightest hint of weakness?

"It's a wonder you still have people left in your life, with your attitude. How long until Er-ge's loyalty grows cold? Until Huaisang walks out because he can't deal anymore-?"

"Don't you dare talk about them!" Nie Mingjue's voice thundered in the small room as he slammed his fist on his desk, the wood shaking. "You have got a lot of nerve, talking about hurting Xichen, as if you're not the reason he's as messed up as he is!"

Jin Guangyao could not believe him.

"Tell me, Nie Mingjue," he started, scathing. "Do you hate that I messed him up? Or that I am capable of messing him up?"

Nie Mingjue took a step closer to him, all tall stature and intimidating.

"Don't push it, Meng Yao." He warned. "I mean it."

Jin Guangyao was not having it.

"Do you hear yourself, I wonder? You're talking about a lifetime ago! We're literally not those people anymore. How thick-headed do you have to be to cling to what happened then?"

"Are we that different?" Nie Mingjue snapped back. "You still lied to him, didn't you? You would still do everything the same way! We're still going down the same goddamn road! All we're missing is a set of stairs!"

Jin Guangyao's eyes narrowed into slits, expression freezing.

"So that's your basis. You just paint me in whatever shade you want, because you can't be anything but right." Jin Guangyao scoffed in disbelief. "Well, I hate it to break it to you, Mr. Mafia leader, but you're exactly like me -you lied to him all these years, you led him on, you hid your dark side from him. Tell me, in this life, how are you any better than me?"

By the end of his rant, Jin Guangyao was heaving, panting furiously as he glared at Nie Mingjue; it was almost liberating, getting to yell at the man right in his face. Getting to throw every single one of his angry thoughts at him with zero consideration. It satisfied a deep part of him that Jin Guangyao kept hidden under layers upon layers of self-control; a vicious and vindictive part of him whose rage was never quenched, that wanted to lash out at the world and damn the consequences.

Distantly, he realized that meant Nie Mingjue might not be the only one clinging to the past.

How much of it was truly past?

For a moment, Nie Mingjue had been quiet— he hadn’t scoffed or dismissed Jin Guangyao’s words, hadn’t brushed them off, but seemed to be pondering over them. He only seemed to take well to Jin Guangyao’s words when they were hurled at him in desperate anger.

Was anger the only thing the man could understand, for fuck’s sake?

Jin Guangyao breathed in deeply.

“Just tell me, okay?” Jin Guangyao asked, voice small, the facade only half-fake. “Tell me what you said to him. I can’t help him if I don’t know what’s wrong, and he won’t tell me.”

They kept their gazes locked together, the room charged with tension.

“Say that I tell you,” Nie Mingjue started, a tad bitterly. “What, exactly, makes you think you could fix it? Smart, brilliant Meng Yao— always has a solution to everything. Always calculating how to steer things to what he thinks is right, damn what anybody else wants. Have you considered he doesn’t want to tell you? He didn’t go to you, after all, did he?”

Jin Guangyao, most definitely, had underestimated the elder man— he had truly learnt how to land a verbal hit.

Nie Mingjue had had many problems with Jin Guangyao in the past; with his underhanded ways and morally dubious decisions and haughty perception of life, but he had never belittled his intelligence. Nie Mingjue had never sneered at his intelligence, never doubted his capability.

He’d never mocked it either.

As he swallowed the hurt, Jin Guangyao allowed himself all of one second to think back to that scene, a million years ago, when Nie Mingjue had been the one to defend him, not beat him down.

One second. Remorse. Move on. That’s it.

Nie Mingjue would hate that train of thought, too.

Hit number two: Nie Mingjue was right. Lan Xichen had, indeed, not gone to him. The opposite, actually, he had all but ran away from him.

Jin Guangyao wasn’t sure if Nie Mingjue had noticed his slight slip of control, his hesitation, because the man wasn’t all that perceptive, but he continued nonetheless.

“Where do you get off, judging what I did in this life? I never hurt you, did I? If I were clinging to the past, I would have put a bullet in your eyes the second I saw you again. If I was just like you, I would take you from him, kill you like you killed me. But I didn’t, because I knew it would hurt him!”

Jin Guangyao almost staggered back, face falling despite his efforts, because what?

“So I’m alive,” Jin Guangyao said, disturbingly quiet. “Because Lan Xichen can’t decide if he wants me dead or not. That’s it.” That's all my life means to you now.

Nie Mingjue gazed at him darkly, brown eyes unflinching and way more unreadable than his past self’s. Jin Guangyao waited, if for one delusional moment, for a reply he knew wasn’t coming.

“You,” the younger said, for the first time showing his weakness in a shaky voice. “Are an asshole, Nie Mingjue.”

“I don’t want to hear that from you.”

“Tell me,” Jin Guangyao demanded, finally done with the elder. “Tell me what you said to Er-ge, so I can get out of here and not have to see your face.”

“You can walk your ass out whenever—”

“Not without learning how you fucked up—”

“—I am warning you, for the last time—"

“—because wonder of wonders, you don’t always know the best—”

“Meng Yao, I swear to God, one more word, and I’m going to shoot you.”

Unfortunately, Jin Guangyao had long since passed the point where he was scared of Nie Mingjue.

“Go right ahead!” He snapped. “God, you’re impossible! Always stubborn as a mule, you unreasonable brute! Er-ge is truly amazing— to manage to tolerate you after everything you’ve put him through—”

“Shut up! Shut up— just shut up! I have been his friend for far longer than you, in both lives. Don’t stand there and lecture me about how he feels like you know him better!”

Jin Guangyao wasn’t sure exactly what it was that gave the elder away; it was like the information had clicked inside his brain. Maybe he still had the ability to read Nie Mingjue like an open book, like the man’s eyes alone were enough to convey his deepest thoughts to Jin Guangyao.

Back then, he had thought that was just because Jin Guangyao had needed to be perceptive in order to survive, that reading people was a skill to keep him safe. Now, he found himself wondering if it was just a Nie Mingjue thing.

Because once Nie Mingjue finished his last sentence, Jin Guangyao had figured out what the issue had been.

’He’s jealous,' the younger thought to himself, internally scoffing, half mocking and half disbelieving. ‘He’s actually jealous.'

Jin Guangyao’s mind raced to process the new information; part of him preened in satisfaction, basking in Nie Mingjue’s jealousy, wanting to take the offered knife and twist its handle until the hilt touched NIe Mingjue’s heart. He stomped down his reflexive train of thought, realizing that being vicious with Nie Mingjue was not going to take him anywhere, and if he pressed on that particular move, the elder might really shoot him, or worse, shut him out completely, and that Jin Guangyao couldn’t afford.

With a deep breath, and immeasurable effort, Jin Guangyao started to calm down. He made a show of it, too, sighing heavily, dropping his shoulders as to appear non-threatening.

“This is pointless,” he said quietly, sounding upset, then looked up to Nie Mingjue. “Er-ge is upset, and I want to be there for him. My best guess is that he’s currently on his way to Jiang Wanyin’s house, and while they’re on good terms, Jiang Wanyin does not remember our past. He can’t help Er-ge now.”

Mentioning Jiang Wanyin appeared to have been a good idea, as Nie Mingjue’s face twisted in displeasure. If he was jealous over Jin Guangyao’s tentative friendship with Lan Xichen, then he must similarly dislike the idea of a third party receiving Lan Xichen’s affection; especially when said man is ill-equipped to be there for Lan Xichen.

When Nie Mingjue’s eyebrows drew back, his face losing the edges of his ever-present scowl, Jin Guangyao marveled at how easily Nie Mingjue responded to his words. Despite the man’s insistence that Jin Guangyao was not to be trusted, he still yielded so quickly when under Jin Guangyao’s influence.

Jin Guangyao had not expected his persuasion to still work on Nie Mingjue, he almost felt the desire to pat himself on the back.

“I don’t know what exactly upset him,” Nie Mingjue started, very much looking like he would rather be having dinner with Jin Guangyao’s father. “We- I said a lot of things. I was angry. He left when I said I wished to have gone through my word, back in Nightless City, and killed you. And myself, of course.”

Jin Guangyao’s eyes widening was not part of some act; he genuinely had not expected to hear that. Nie Mingjue shifted on his feet, looking away.

“I thought he’d have been happier without us,” he said, voice low.

“That’s…” Jin Guangyao wasn’t sure what to say, where they could go from there. “Not unreasonable. What brought that conversation about?”

“Fuck if I know. You, honestly.” The elder said, as if it was given that Jin Guangyao would cause fights between the two friends. “I said he had been fine with me dying, because he had you.”

Jin Guangyao first felt the familiar stab of pain, too slight, too quick to really be processed; mostly a reaction to the reminder of his former friend’s death by his own hand. A second later, the confusion. “What do you mean, Nie Mingjue? Explain, because I still don’t understand.”

Patience was not Nie Mingjue’s strong suit. “Do you want me to repeat our entire conversation word for word? What’s not to understand?! He told me he regretted my death. I said it didn’t seem likely, considering he ignored every sign of it happening just so he could keep you. Plus, he was fine after that, so I don’t get why he’s making a big deal of it now.”

Jin Guangyao took a moment to gather himself, after that. He had thought that he’d been angry, before, when he was yelling at Nie Mingjue’s face. He had been boiling with rage, judgment clouded with anger.

That seemed pale in comparison to his current state.

Jin Guangyao was furious.

“I’ve thought a great deal of things about you over the years, Nie Mingjue,” he said, voice shaking from silent rage. “But never have I thought you to be a complete idiot.”

A stubborn fool, at best. A naive, idealistic and narrow-minded knucklehead on the worst of days, who didn’t seem to have an ounce of patience and let his temper take the better of him. A noble, proud simpleton who didn’t realize other people were not as strong-willed nor as honorable as him.

Yes, Jin Guangyao had a lot of things to say about Nie Mingjue’s personality, but he had never thought him to be so thick.

Nie Mingjue was staring at him wide-eyed, surprised at the venom with which Jin Guangyao had suddenly spoken to him.

“What are you—“

“How dare you!” Jin Guangyao cut him off, not in the mood to go through that dancing tune with Nie Mingjue again. He stalked towards the larger man, eyes blazing all the while; even if Jin Guangyao was not a man who struggled in restraining himself, all his sense of control disappeared when it came to Lan Xichen. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Er-ge struggles every day to deal with what I did to you, even in this life, and you have the nerve to doubt his feelings?”

Jin Guangyao felt like he could pull his own hair out. Once again, Nie Mingjue had everything he himself has ever wanted, he had Lan Xichen’s affections, the purest form of his love, so long-lasting that it stretched into two lifetimes, and Nie Mingjue continued to be oblivious to it. Why are always the blessed ones who have no idea of what they posses?

Jin Guangyao would have killed to have been able to stand by Lan Xichen’s side. Had killed in order to climb to a position where he had been his equal, their equal.

Nie Mingjue didn’t even have to bother, all he had to do was exist for him to receive that love.

Jin Guangyao watched Nie Mingjue’s eyes darken at the reminder of his perceived betrayal. “Well, I’m sorry that my murder gets in the way of you and Xichen’s happiness. Maybe, you shouldn’t have killed me, then.”

Oh, so he was going there, huh?

“And what should I have done, Da-ge?” He asked mockingly. “Waited for you to kill me first? Offer myself up to Baxia for things outside of my control, just to appease your ego?”

Nie Mingjue glared at him, face twisted in anger, and suddenly it wasn’t about Lan Xichen anymore. Suddenly, it was about them, and their past, and everything that they were and weren’t, that hole in their relationship that was never addressed in either life, that got buried with them in a coffin, as undead as they were.

Because there had been something between them, before Langye, before Nightless city, before everything went wrong and maybe even during.

“I never wanted your death!” Nie Mingjue thundered, almost breathless with emotion.

"And you think I wanted yours?" Jin Guangyao responded, just as unwinded. "You think it was easy for me? Did you truly think so little of me, Da-ge?"

Nie Mingjue deflated, face falling. "Meng Yao, I thought the world of you."

Jin Guangyao felt something inside himself snap.

“It’s Jin Guangyao!” He yelled back, tired, so bloody tired of hearing that name from Nie Mingjue’s lips. It always sounded lesser that it already was, coming from him. Like a confirmation that that’s all he was ever going to be. “Must you keep referring to me by that wretched name?”

Nie Mingjue quietened, losing some of his anger in the face of Jin Guangyao’s discomfort. “It is your name,” he said tonelessly. ”Why do you hate the name so much? What was so wrong with Meng Yao?"

"You know what was wrong with Meng Yao,” Jin Guangyao all but snarled, fists shaking. “Otherwise, you wouldn't have called me what you did."

Nie Mingjue’s silence only managed to further infuriate Jin Guangyao. His previous name was a touchy subject, maybe the most so, and combined with Nie Minjue, it was like stepping on a minefield. "What are you waiting for?” Jin Guangyao asked, drawling the words slowly, like they were scraping out of his throat. “Say it again, Nie Mingjue. Son of a whore. "Come on, Sect Leader, say it.”

Nie Mingjue took a deep breath, closing his eyes, a very apparent and obvious attempt to get a hold of himself, and in any other occasion, Jin Guangyao could have appreciated the elder’s effort, but not then. Not over that.

“This is pointless,” Nie Mingjue said dismissively, walking back to his desk, and that was new, Jin Guangyao had never known him to walk away from a fight. He only knew how to add gasoline o the fire, how to make a bad situation worse, he was too stubborn, why was he walking away—

“Lan Xichen will probably go to Jiang Wanyin. If you hurry, you can probably still catch him. Don’t let the door hit you.”

Jin Guangyao would not allow him to walk out having the last word. Jin Guangyao would not allow Nie Mingjue to just turn his back on him, to leave as if it didn’t mean anything—

“Don’t you think”, he started slowly, the words flowing almost naturally, “that if it was going to happen, it would have happened already?” Jin Guangyao said, aware of the cruelty of preying on Nie Mingjue’s insecurity and choosing to do it precisely because it was cruel. Because when cornered, that was what he did. That was the kind of man Nie Mingjue’s Meng Yao was, and it would do him well to remember it. “You and Er-ge, I mean. You got two chances, two lifetimes, and he still didn’t pick you.”

Nie Mingjue stiffened, rigid shoulders tensing further, and Jin Guangyao’s heart continued to pound in his chest, anticipating the elder’s response.

“At the very least,” Nie Mingjue said, locking eyes with Jin Guangyao, “I can easily say my feelings were genuine. Lan Xichen knows that I care for him, and he has no reason to doubt that. The ones I love can rely on me to be there. Tell me, Jin Guangyao, how does it feel to know that all your love can do is ruin people?”

[dagesdimples]

burmese model paing tahkon as a modern nmj

ft. little kitten baxia, and his older sisters liebing and shuoyue

[bloody-bee-tea]

Bell

Nie Huaisang has barely sat down when Jiang Cheng speaks.

“I’m ready to marry,” he says without warning and watches in amusement as Nie Huaisang fumbles with the tea pot.

Jiang Cheng decides not to mention the stain he leaves behind on the table.

“What the—uh, I mean, that’s great, Jiang-xiong,” Nie Huaisang finally manages to get out and then he shifts in his seat. “It’s just that—you’re great and all, and good looking of course, and everyone would be flattered, really, but I’m not?” he finishes weakly and Jiang Cheng hides his amused smile behind his cup of tea.

“I’m not speaking about you,” he eventually tells Nie Huaisang and it’s almost comical how he sags in relief.

“Then why the hell would you tell me this, Jiang-xiong, you nearly gave me a heart attack,” he wines and finally gets around to pouring himself a cup of tea. “What brought this on?”

“My Sect is stable for now and it feels like the right time to settle down,” Jiang Cheng tells him with a shrug. “A good alliance won’t hurt either, and my Elders are getting on my case about a marriage. I figured, why not.”

“And there’s someone you like?” Nie Huaisang wants to know and Jiang Cheng nods.

There’s even someone he loves.

“I still don’t see why you would tell me about this,” Nie Huaisang says after a moment and Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes.

“I’m looking for your approval,” Jiang Cheng says and gives Nie Huaisang enough time to widen his eyes in surprise before he goes on. “I wish to marry Nie Mingjue.”

“Oh,” Nie Huaisang whispers and suddenly he seems tense and sad and Jiang Cheng frowns.

This is not the reaction he expected.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Nie Huaisang lowly says and Jiang Cheng puts his cup down harder than he wanted to.

“So I’m good enough for you but not your brother? Is this an insult to you or to me? Didn’t you say anyone would be flattered? Are you lying to me now, Huaisang?” he demands to know and Nie Huaisang flinches before he hides behind his fan.

Jiang Cheng glares at him, because Nie Huaisang damn well knows how he thinks about that.

“Of course not, that’s not it,” Nie Huaisang nervously says. “It’s just—da-ge isn’t doing so well,” Nie Huaisang finally admits and that at least Jiang Cheng can understand.

Even if a pit of worry opens in his stomach at hearing that.

“What do you mean?” he prompts Nie Huaisang when he falls silent again and Nie Huaisang’s fan speeds up.

“His qi deviations—it’s getting worse,” Nie Huaisang admits.

Jiang Cheng has seen a few of them over the course of his friendship with Nie Huaisang, mostly because Nie Mingjue didn’t seem to think twice about leaving his Sect for days or weeks at a time, always deciding to join Nie Huaisang when he came by on one of his visits to Lotus Pier.

Jiang Cheng just didn’t think it was this serious, yet.

“Worse?”

Nie Huaisang nods.

“More regular and more violent. Even er-ge—he told me—I should prepare, he said,” Nie Huaisang brings out and Jiang Cheng frowns.

If even Lan Xichen no longer has hope that his playing is doing something, then it really must be serious. The guy is a notorious optimist and for him to be pessimistic about it—Jiang Cheng doesn’t like it.

“Yeah, well, I haven’t played for him yet,” Jiang Cheng decides on a whim but a plan is forming in his mind.

He will not allow Nie Mingjue to die before he turns thirty. There’s no way in hell that will happen.

“Jiang-xiong, what do you think to achieve if even er-ge can’t help anymore?” Nie Huaisang wants to know but there’s the tiniest bit of hope in his voice.

“Maybe Lan Xichen goes about this wrong,” Jiang Cheng decides, the plan taking more concrete shape.

It would make sense if Lan Xichen’s playing isn’t having the desired effect if what Jiang Cheng thinks is true.

“Can you even play the song?” Nie Huaisang asks and Jiang Cheng grins at him.

“No, but I know a master who might be willing to teach me.”

He’s not talking about Lan Xichen, they both know it, and Nie Huaisang’s eyes go wide.

“It’s impossible, Jiang-xiong,” he then says with a shake of his head. “Even if Lan Qiren would be willing to teach you one of their secret songs, are you even good enough to learn it? And why would you think that you have more success than er-ge?”

“You seem to forget what my Sect’s motto is,” Jiang Cheng tells him and takes another sip from his tea. “Attempting the impossible is literally what I do,” he says and that, at least shuts Nie Huaisang up.

Jiang Cheng guesses it’s mostly because they are sitting in what was a burned out husk just a year ago but is now again a bustling, thriving Sect.

No one imagined Jiang Cheng would be able to rebuild Lotus Pier like this and he proved them all wrong.

He’s going to prove them wrong about Nie Mingjue’s impending death as well.

~*~*~

“Sect Leader Jiang,” Lan Qiren greets him when Jiang Cheng enters the room.

“Teacher Lan Qiren,” he respectfully gives back and Lan Qiren waves him off in the same move he tells him to sit.

Jiang Cheng settles down and waits for Lan Qiren to pour them both some tea before he speaks. He did learn his lesson with Nie Huaisang, as amusing as that was.

“I intend to court Nie Mingjue,” Jiang Cheng says and just like Nie Huaisang, Lan Qiren jerks with his words.

Jiang Cheng would be offended that this is everyone’s first reaction, but honestly, he thinks it’s more amusing than anything.

“Why are you telling me this?” Lan Qiren wants to know after a moment and Jiang Cheng gives him a winning smile.

“I need help with the courting gift,” Jiang Cheng tells him and watches as Lan Qiren’s eyebrows go up.

“What do you intend to give him that you think I’m able to help?”

“I need the Song of Clarity,” Jiang Cheng says without beating around the bush and Lan Qiren freezes.

“That’s a Clan secret,” Lan Qiren reminds him and Jiang Cheng shrugs.

“I know, but I’m counting on the fact that you care too much to deny me this,” he says. “Nie Mingjue’s death would devastate Lan Xichen and you love your nephew too much to want that to happen.”

Lan Qiren regards him in silence for a long moment before he sighs.

“If you want to marry him, it would devastate you, too. And you already lost so many,” Lan Qiren says and Jiang Cheng is surprised enough by his words that he falls silent.

He doesn’t see why Lan Qiren would care about if it hurts him, but it’s nice to know that he does.

“Which is why I won’t let it happen. But I need to learn to play the song.”

“What makes you think that you can achieve what my nephew cannot?”

“No offense to your nephew, but I think he’s going about this wrong,” Jiang Cheng says with a shrug.

“Elaborate,” Lan Qiren says, but his voice doesn’t snap like it used to in the classroom when he was outraged and Jiang Cheng counts it as a win.

“Lan Xichen is a formidable musician, but outside of a fight he’s too soft. I haven’t heard him play for Nie Mingjue but I’m guessing he’s trying for a gentle, soothing approach. It won’t work.”

“Why not?”

“Have you known Nie Mingjue to be gentle and soothing?” Jiang Cheng shoots back and Lan Qiren frowns. “Even when he cares about someone he’s gruff about it, an undercurrent of anger always there. It’s just who he is,” Jiang Cheng says, because he has witnessed it enough times to know it to be true.

Nie Mingjue doesn’t care about anyone more than his brother and even with him he can’t be gentle and soft. It’s just not who Nie Mingjue is as a person, and that’s perfectly alright. But Lan Xichen is trying to appeal to that side of Nie Mingjue, so it’s no wonder he’s not making any progress.

“What is your plan, then?” Lan Qiren inquires. “To sit on him and force him to listen instead of having him meditate?”

“Yes,” Jiang Cheng bluntly says, because he guesses that’s the only way he’ll get Nie Mingjue to listen and it would be the most effective. “The song doesn’t have an effect because Nie Mingjue is not gentle and soft, there’s nothing the song could react with. If you play the song when he’s angry and ready for a fight—it might wield more of a result.”

“You gave this a lot of thought,” Lan Qiren muses but he hasn’t yet snapped at Jiang Cheng and that simply has to be a good sign.

“Of course I did. I didn’t just wake up yesterday and decided I would marry Nie Mingjue.”

That happened a few weeks back, but Lan Qiren doesn’t need to know about that.

“Can you even play the guqin?”

“I was raised as the heir to one of the five Great Sects. We all had to learn,” he says with a shrug.

“But can you?” Lan Qiren asks again, clearly not buying Jiang Cheng’s bullshit.

“I have a basic understanding of it,” Jiang Cheng finally relents and a cold shiver goes down his back when Lan Qiren smiles at him.

“The Song of Clarity is one of the more complicated ones,” he warns him but Jiang Cheng has never met a challenge he wouldn’t take.

How hard can it be, anyway.

~*~*~

It turns out the Song of Clarity is a fucking bitch to learn and Jiang Cheng hates the song with a passion. It’s unnecessary stupid and hard and just out to make Jiang Cheng trip up over seemingly innocent looking notes and if he never has to play it again it will be too soon.

But he learned it for a reason and he did not go through all of this pain and hassle to simply never play it again.

“You’re ready,” Lan Qiren says two weeks into his lessons. “You can play it for Nie Mingjue.”

“Thank you,” Jiang Cheng says, as he bows to Lan Qiren over his guqin.

“Did you send an official courtship letter yet?” Lan Qiren wants to know and he frowns when Jiang Cheng shakes his head.

“No. I talked to Huaisang, who told me not to marry his brother, because he’s bound to die soon. I doubt Nie Minjgue’s answer will be different at the moment, and I’m not accepting that. Huaisang did give me his blessing to try though, so there’s that.”

“I see,” Lan Qiren says and strokes his beard. “If Mingjue accepts, you send him here, for a talk.”

That makes Jiang Cheng freeze.

“A talk?”

“Jin Ling is too young to give Mingjue a fair warning as to what will happen to him if he makes you unhappy, so I’m going to step in.”

Jiang Cheng is unable to find his voice for the longest of times, because that he didn’t expect. He knows Lan Qiren has to like him at least a little bit, otherwise he would have kicked him out the moment Jiang Cheng barged in with his outrageous demand but this—this almost speaks of family.

“Thank you,” Jiang Cheng chokes out and when Lan Qiren smiles at him this time, it’s a soft thing.

“You’re very welcome, Wanyin. And now go and court that stubborn man.”

“I will,” Jiang Cheng says and gathers up his guqin. “I damn well will.”

~*~*~

Nie Mingjue is frowning at him when Jiang Cheng refuses to take a seat in the great hall.

“Why do you have to be so contrary today?” Nie Mingjue presses out and Jiang Cheng can see it, the unnatural anger, caused by the always threatening qi deviation.

He doesn’t like it, but he will damn well use it for his own gain here.

“I’m itching for a fight, can’t you see?” Jiang Cheng gives back and bares his teeth at Nie Mingjue. “Though I doubt you can take me today. I bet the anger makes you all sloppy,” Jiang Cheng teases him, fully aware of Nie Huaisang’s nervous flutter of his fan in the corner of the room and of Nie Mingjue’s narrowing eyes.

“What do you want, Wanyin?” Nie Mingjue snaps and for this Jiang Cheng softens his smile as much as he knows how to.

“I want to marry you,” he says and doesn’t let Nie Mingjue’s surprised gasp deter him. “But not if you’re going to make a widower out of me in the week after our wedding. So you’re going to endure me playing the most boring, difficult fucking song for you, or I will force you to.”

“Force me to,” Nie Mingjue repeats and gets up. “You think you can force me to listen to it?”

“Look at you,” Jiang Cheng scoffs, though his heart is beating quicker with the threat hanging over him. Nie Mingjue is a formidable warrior after all. “Your hands are already shaking. You can’t beat me.”

Jiang Cheng and Nie Mingjue have sparred a lot when he came to visit Lotus Pier and Jiang Cheng did win a few times, but it was too rare for this kind of confidence and Jiang Cheng knows it.

He is counting on the fact that Nie Mingjue really is too far gone already to put up much of a fight.

“Fuck you,” Nie Mingjue hisses but he reaches for Baxia.

“You can, if you win,” Jiang Cheng cheekily gives back. “If I win, I will sit on you and you will damn well listen to me play.”

~*~*~

The moment Nie Mingjue hits the ground, Jiang Cheng is on him, whipping out the guqin Lan Qiren gave him as he settles down on Nie Mingjue’s back.

Jiang Cheng makes himself heavier than he usually is—using one of the many talismans Wei Wuxian came up with back in the day—and Nie Mingjue struggles under him, cursing and yelling, hitting the ground and kicking his legs.

Jiang Cheng will never get a better opportunity than this.

He starts to play the Song of Clarity, his own emotions running high from the fight and from his worry for Nie Mingjue and he thinks it might just be okay like that.

Clearly Nie Mingjue doesn’t react to the gentleness with which Lan Xichen plays for him; maybe he needs to have this song played a bit more aggressively as well.

Nie Mingjue doesn’t stop his struggling throughout the whole song but Jiang Cheng isn’t deterred by that. When he ends it, he looks over his shoulder down at Nie Mingjue who is glaring at him.

“You need me to play it again?” Jiang Cheng challenges him and Nie Mingjue huffs.

“I hate that fucking song.”

“The feeling is mutual, but you’re not getting out of this the easy way. So what will it be?” he demands to know and Jiang Cheng startles when Nie Mingjue slaps the ground, apparently in anger before he sags.

“Play it again,” Nie Mingjue says and Jiang Cheng can’t fight the rush of happy satisfaction that runs through him.

So he plays the cursed song again and then one more time for good measure, though for that last one he allows Nie Mingjue to get up and go through forms with Baxia and when he finally, finally vanishes the guqin again, Nie Mingjue’s grip is steady and his eyes are clear.

“How the hell did you do that?” Nie Mingjue demands to know once he’s done with his form and Jiang Cheng gets up to stretch his legs.

He never really was one for sitting down.

“I played the song, same as everyone else,” he gives back but Nie Mingjue shakes his head.

“Yours is different.”

“Because I don’t try to soothe you with it. I don’t want to get rid of your anger or your gruffness. I want to get rid of the death that could follow it, so I play for that.”

“Is that why Xichen’s song doesn’t work?”

“Probably,” Jiang Cheng says with a shrug and then he startles when Nie Mingjue simply drops Baxia to the ground.

There’s a heart stopping moment where Jiang Cheng fears that he overdid it, or that he did something wrong, that Nie Mingjue is experiencing a qi deviation at that very moment, but before he can move and try to help in any way possible Nie Mingjue’s hands are on his face and Jiang Cheng is being pulled into a scorching kiss.

“I don’t know what you intend to give me for our wedding, but nothing can compete with this,” Nie Mingjue breathes out when they part and Jiang Cheng darts in to nibble on his lower lip.

“Try me,” he says and claims Nie Mingjue’s lips again, because he can and there is nothing else he wants to be doing at that moment.

Judging by how they just barely make it to Nie Mingjue’s room, the feeling is mutual.

(Jiang Cheng does have a better gift at the wedding; he modified the Yunmeng Jiang Clarity Bell in a way that allows it to resonate with Baxia, to clear away resentment and to replicate the effects of the so despised song without Jiang Cheng ever having to play it again. It turns out Nie Huaisang is the most grateful for that, actually, because he started to hate the song with a passion, too.)

Link to my ko-fi on the sidebar!

[ibijau]

demon NHS // On AO3

Set after wwx freed the Wens, and a little before NHS meets his mother

The last notes hung in the air, giving the room a peaceful air it often lacked. Lan Xichen had not often had the occasion to come into Nie Huaisang’s quarters before things took the turn they had, but it had been enough to find out the other boy, trying so hard to be elegant and refined in public, hid a messy side in private. It had grown worse lately. Back when Lan Xichen started playing music to help him keep his nature under control, Nie Huaisang at least made efforts to put some order to his things.

For his last two visits, the mess had been allowed to remain. 

It was not the only sign that Nie Huaisang was struggling more and more with the situation. There was also the lack of care with which he had dressed himself, the state of his hair, the way he no longer smiled when Lan Xichen joked. And that was only what Lan Xichen himself could see. Nie Mingjue had mentioned terrible arguments between them, usually on the subject of Wei Wuxian. 

Nie Huaisang, apparently, was of the opinion that although his manners had not been ideal, Wei Wuxian had been right to interrupt the Flower Banquet and demand to be given an account of the surviving Wen's treatment, that the Jin's actions needed to be investigated, especially those of Jin Zixun. In short, he wanted Qinghe Nie to give support to Wei Wuxian. Nie Mingjue, however fair he tried to be in other matters, refused to listen in that one, arguing that the lives of some Wen dogs were not worth so much trouble, and that Nie Huaisang would do well to forget he had ever been friends with Wei Wuxian. 

In truth, a similar discussion was happening between Lan Xichen and his own brother, though with a great deal less shouting. Wei Wuxian was not a man of many friends, but those he had certainly were fiercely loyal to him. 

And yet news had just arrived from Yiling about Jiang Wanyin visiting his brother, about Wei Wuxian seceding from Yunmeng Jiang… 

"Is Er-ge too angry at me?" Nie Huaisang asked. 

His train of thoughts interrupted, Lan Xichen's gaze fell on the other man, still in a meditative position, his eyes closed. In spite of the song played to him, there was little peace to be found on his handsome face. It made Lan Xichen sad that he could not help more. They had never been particularly close before this started, and even now Nie Huaisang probably would not have called him a friend, not when he had Jin Guangyao and Wei Wuxian, but still… Lan Xichen felt an ever deepening fondness for the unfortunate young man, and wished he could have done more. 

He missed how insouciant Nie Huaisang used to be, how easily he would laugh. Lan Xichen didn't think he'd heard him laugh since his nature had been revealed.

"Who do you think is angry at you, Huaisang?" 

Nie Huaisang opened his eyes and gave him a long, tired look, as if to signify he found the question a particularly stupid one. 

"Da-ge is furious that I want to help Wei Wuxian," he pointed out. "That's why he called you here, he thinks I must be going crazy if I agree with protecting a bunch of Wen. San-ge is upset that when I yelled at his father and everyone else, I've ruined all our hard work in making me look weak and insignificant, which is why he also wants you here to calm me. And then there's everyone else who is just generally angry that I'm still around and wants me dead, but I don't much care what they think. Your opinion I do care about. Are you angry too, Er-ge? "

Lan Xichen winced at the ease with which Nie Huaisang spoke of being so hated. Sadly, it was a fair assessment. Nie Huaisang, even more than Wei Wuxian, had few people on his side outside of his sect (or even inside it). Hearing him publicly stand up for his friend had certainly not endeared him to anyone, just as it probably made Wei Wuxian's own case worse. 

"You have done nothing that Wangji did not do as well, although perhaps a little more noisily. I am not angry at him for doing what he thought was right, so I see no reason to be angry at you either."

"He's your brother, it's different," Nie Huaisang pouted. 

"We're family as well, in a sense, and so I will extend the same good will to you as I would show any brother of mine. I am not angry at you, Huaisang." 

"Unhappy then. Upset?" 

"Worried," Lan Xichen conceded. "I wish more people saw you the way your brother, A-Yao, and me see you." 

Nie Huaisang snorted in disdain, but something still relaxed in his expression and he finally stretched out of his meditation posture. 

"Useless and foolish and only good at getting in trouble, that's me!" 

"Clever when you feel like it and devoted to the people you care about," Lan Xichen countered. "I will not contest that you are rather good at getting in trouble, but lately that's only because people around you are unreasonable." 

A weak smile found its way to Nie Huaisang’s lips. 

"Er-ge is too kind." he sighed. "I wish Da-ge and San-ge saw this the same way as you do. I'm glad they finally agree on something again, I just wish it weren't on how much I messed up." 

For some reason, Lan Xichen felt an impulse to pet Nie Huaisang’s hair or hug him or just do something to comfort him. It was just so wrong for him to be so melancholic. But it would have been improper for Lan Xichen to be so informal with him when they weren't that close, so he restrained himself. 

"I'm sure they're just worried, like me," he said. "I will be going back to them now. If they are just worried I'll scold them for not showing it more kindly. If they are angry… I'll try to deal with that for you." 

Nie Huaisang broke into a large, happy smile, and thanked him profusely for that promise. For a moment he looked almost like the cheerful boy he used to be, and just that would be worse the headache Lan Xichen was sure to get while trying to get his sworn brothers to calm down. 

-

"Of course I'm angry at him," Nie Mingjue huffed while Jin Guangyao poured tea for all three of them. "That little idiot, losing control over something like that!" 

"He did not lose control," Lan Xichen protested, smiling at Jin Guangyao when he handed him a cup of tea. "In fact, I remember him backing off the instant you ordered him to." 

"Storming off and going after Wangji and that girl who defected is not backing down."

Lan Xichen frowned, but before he could protest, Jin Guangyao intervened. 

"It was really bad timing, and I wish Huaisang had kept quiet. Now people will certainly think that he is associated with what Wei Wuxian is doing with those Wen cultivators. Our Didi's reputation did not need that."

Jin Guangyao sounded genuinely worried, as he always did when their conversation were about Nie Huaisang. Lan Xichen dared not imagine what his sworn brother must have heard when Nie Mingjue was not around to keep people quiet.

"Did you investigate what was going on in that camp?" Lan Xichen asked. "Was there any truth to Wei Wuxian's claims?" 

"Some of the guards were at times a little rough," Jin Guangyao conceded with a sigh. "But nothing more than a little bullying, a few unkind words here and there. Jin Zixun swears that the incident Wei Wuxian described also never happened, and as we know, Wei Wuxian could have a grudge against him." 

"Jin Zixun is not the most trustworthy person out there," Lan Xichen pointed out. 

Jin Guangyao froze in the movement of sipping some tea, and flashed him a pained look. "Er-ge, do you think I took him to his word? I asked others as well, of course. I know how my cousin can be when he gets upset, and I double checked." 

Lan Xichen felt embarrassed for having doubted his sworn brother's zeal. After such accusations, it was normal that Lanling Jin would have made sure that nothing wrong had happened within its ranks. Certainly Wei Wuxian had sounded very sincerely upset, and Nie Huaisang seemed to fully trust him, but… Jin Guangyao would not have lied to them.

"Go tell that to Huaisang then," Nie Mingjue said. "Maybe he'll stop moping around like a molting hawk if he just hears that he was wrong."

"Huaisang doesn't listen to anyone these days," Jin Guangyao sighed. "Me least of all, since I have nothing to say that he wants to hear." 

Nie Mingjue reluctantly nodded to that, glaring at his half empty cup of tea as if it were responsible for the unease between him and his brother.

"I think he's bored," Lan Xichen hazarded. "He's been very isolated since this all started, and now he can't even write to his best friend. You can't fault him for being upset." 

“Then perhaps Huaisang needs more… appropriate friends,” Jin Guangyao suggested. “I know Jin Zixuan is organising a Night Hunt in a few weeks with a few others. I think if I asked him, he would agree to invite Huaisang.”

“A Night Hunt?” Nie Mingjue grunted. “Isn’t that going against everything you’ve been telling him to do for over a year?”

That was Lan Xichen’s thought as well. They had worked so hard to make it clear that Nie Huaisang was harmless, it would ruin everything if he started slaying monsters. Besides, even before the truth came out, Nie Huaisang had never enjoyed Night Hunting, so this seemed like a rather poor way to find him friends.

“Don’t worry, Da-ge,” Jin Guangyao said with a pleasant smile. “It is not the sort of Hunt you would go on. As I understand, quite a few young ladies have been invited, most of which just so happen to be either engaged to Jin Zixuan and friends of his, or hoped to become so in the future. The boys are going there to show off, the girls are going there to admire them. If Nie Huaisang stays with the girls during the actual Night Hunt there’s no risk at all, but he’ll show again how tame he is. It had worked quite well during the Phoenix Mountain Hunt, right?”

“I don’t like it,” Nie Minjgue insisted. “I’m not worried about fierce corpses and monsters, I’m worried about what would happen if someone decided to take their chance and attacked him.”

“Then send a few trusted Nie disciples with him if you’d like. But you needn’t worry. Jin Zixuan would not allow any harm to come to him. In fact, since Nie Huaisang has so openly declared himself in favour of Wei Wuxian, it is likely that my brother, put in his presence, will try to befriend him even without my prompting him to do so. After all Lady Jiang will be there and he is still very eager to impress his fiancée.”

Even with this promise, Nie Mingjue looked unconvinced, so Jin Guangyao turned to Lan Xichen for support, silently pleading for his help. On any other subject, Lan Xichen would have quickly sided with him, but for once he felt uncertain.

“Wouldn’t it be simpler to organise an occasion where he could meet with Jin Zixuan and chat with him alone?” he suggested. “I think Huaisang could get along with him if he tried, but I’m less sure about the crowd that usually follows him. Would Jin Zixun be there?"

"He sees Wei Wuxian in every shadow these days, so that's very unlikely," Jin Guangyao explained. "As for your idea… Er-ge, it is possible for my father to allow Nie Huaisang to join a Night Hunt if Jin Zixuan requests it, but meeting in private would be too much considering the current… situation. Otherwise, I would not have suggested an activity Huaisang dislikes this much."

It made sense, sadly. Jin Guangshan had never directly taken sides against Nie Huaisang, but he had also made no effort to silence those who did. Yet with how fond he was of his only legitimate child, it might work if Jin Zixuan started arguing in favour of Nie Huaisang. 

"I suppose it might not be bad," Lan Xichen admitted. "He looked very unhappy earlier." Like a caged bird with clipped wings, he thought. Like a flower cut and displayed in a vase, starting to wilt for lack of roots. "He can't stay in his room for the rest of his life, Mingjue."

Even with the most logical of arguments, Jin Guangyao could never have convinced Nie Mingjue. Yet now that Lan Xichen approved it, the plan was instantly less distasteful. 

"I'd be sending him with the best disciples his age," Nie Mingjue warned. "And he'd be taking his sabre." 

"It would be odd if he didn't take it," Jin Guangyao replied with a note of amusement. "This is a Night Hunt in name at least, and it would be unseemly for a cultivator of his rank to appear without his weapon. The same goes for him having companions. He is the Second Master of Qinghe Nie, of course he cannot travel alone. Da-ge, I also want Huaisang to be safe ! Tell me all your conditions, and as soon as I return to Lanling, I will talk with Jin Zixuan to see if he agrees to help. Everything will be fine, Da-ge.”

Nie Mingjue looked unconvinced, but started naming his demands, which Jin Guangyao listened to without a single protest.

It would be good for Huaisang to be around people again, Lan Xichen told himself. It would force him out of his melancholy, and it might make him a little more reasonable in his views of Wei Wuxian if he could just have other people to talk to.

It would be good for him.

And yet, Lan Xichen couldn’t help feeling at least as worried as Nie Mingjue was.

[starshinegoblin]

Is It Broken?

@ruensroad - I wanted to make a gift for you and I hope it’s okay that I used your Witch au again! Here’s you some NieYao with a kiss because of the world ending or at least feeling like it.

—

“A-Yao, it’s going to be okay.” Nie Mingjue said trying to calm his husband. Who is currently in his familiar form burrowing into his chest as he was driving them back home. He can feel the little huffs, anxious shaking, and he doesn’t need to check to know there are several scratches too. Nie Mingjue doesn’t blame him though. The call he’d gotten from Jiang Cheng letting him know that a terrible storm had passed through while they were gone at the convention. His mind remembering the call that led to this.

Nie Mingjue grunted in displeasure at the sound of their phone in their room at the inn they are staying at ringing. Blindly he reached out grasping the phone. “Yes.” He sleepily growled, the sound stirring his husband. Meng Yao nuzzled his chest, eyes fluttering open as he tried to wake up.

“Sorry to disturb you Mr. Nie. We have a call from a, Mr. Jiang that says that it is urgent.” the concierge informed him.

“Put him through.” Nie Mingjue ordered, gently running his hand in slow motions up and down Meng Yao’s back to get him to go back to sleep. Blearily, he can make out the alarm clock that read that it was just a quarter after five in the morning. No, reason for him to be up too. Feeling the other huff in sleepy compliance he knew that it was working.

“I am sorry, Nie-ge, I normally wouldn’t bother the both you but I tried your cell phone and that didn’t work. I wanted to let you know that we got a bad storm in the area last night. Since you were out of town, me and A-Huan went to check on your shop. You might want to come home. One of the trees has fallen onto your home.” Jiang Cheng informed, blessedly not beating around the bush. He didn’t have time to say anything before his husband shot up suddenly.

“WHAT? Where did it fall?!” Meng Yao demanded clearly upset and no longer sleepy. Of course he would have been able to hear the conversation with his enhanced hearing.

“Near the back over the solarium.” Jiang Cheng answered him not needing to repeat the question, “The shop in the front looks still intact though.”

“Thank you, Jiang Cheng.” Nie Mingjue replied, his eyes on his husband. Through their bond he could feel the fear and anxiety rising in the other. The location of the tree was awfully close to Meng Yao’s beloved music room.

“No problem. If you need help let us know.” Jiang Cheng stated before ending the call.

“We have to go home.” Meng Yao stated hurriedly tossing back the sheets, getting up.

Nie Mingjue was stirred from his memory at the feeling of Meng Yao moving underneath his sweater. His tiny clawed paws crawling up to a more comfortable spot on Nie Mingjue’s shoulder. He didn’t come out though and Nie Mingjue understood. If he saw how badly the weather had gotten in other places Meng Yao would get even more upset.

How far are we? Meng Yao asked, the first words he’d spoken for miles. Not since he had a panic attack half way back transforming into his sugar glider form. Too on edge to shift back he’d stayed that way and crawled under Nie Mingjue’s sweater through his sleeve.

“We will be there in about ten minutes. Do you think you can shift back?” Nie Mingjue asked. Their town had been hit hard. Debris from trees, businesses, and homes littered everywhere. He hoped that Jiang Cheng’s Cafe was okay.

Maybe. Meng Yao answered sheepishly.

“It’s okay, babe, if you can’t.” Nie Mingjue reassured him leaning over to press a kiss on the bundle beneath the sweater on his shoulder.

I love you. Meng Yao replied.

“But you love your boxes more.” Nie Mingjue teased, earning a nip on his shoulder from tiny teeth.

Not true. Meng Yao argued but they both knew that Meng Yao’s greatest treasure besides his husband was the boxes. They are the literal physical manifestation of their love and devotion. Each one is unique with the exterior and interior designs, songs they play, and sheer size. In his familiar form he is able to be inside the boxes comfortably and move around.

“We are here.” Nie Mingjue announced as the shop came into view. Jiang Cheng had been right. The front of the shop looked good, but the back of the house had fallen prey to the Willow tree from the neighbors yard. Nie Mingjue sighed as he carefully parked in the parking spot in front of the store front.

The small weight he’d felt on his shoulder disappeared as a golden shimmering smoke lifted out of his sweater moving to take human form in his passenger seat. The moment he was materialized, Nie Mingjue reached over taking his husband’s hand. A thin smile on his face letting Meng Yao know that he was proud of him for being able to shift back.

“Let’s go.” Meng Yao said letting out a shuddering breath before the two of them got out of the car. They went through the store front, locking up behind them, before heading into their private residence behind. The living room was a mess of leaves, water, tree limbs, and glass on everything. The two looked up to find the tree protruding from the skylights but the beams were holding strong to keep it from crushing in.

Nie Mingjue was about to say something to his husband when the sound of the music boxes playing their songs started. He looked back to find his husband standing still with his eyes closed. In his human form he had to concentrate more to get the boxes to play like that. Suddenly, his eyes opened wide, tears starting to form.

“NO!” Meng Yao cried out, staying in his human form darting past Nie Mingjue into their house.

“Wait!” Nie Mingjue called after him knowing where the other was going. Fear setting in his bones, their bond feeding his worries. They didn’t know what the rest of the house looked like and in his mind he knew that if any of the boxes are broken that he could fix them.

Meng Yao shoved the door open not caring about the state of the room. The windows were blown out, water and glass all over the floor. Most of the boxes were fine but the ones closest to the windows were askew and a few on the floor. His mouth dropping open in fear as he spotted his seashell music box busted open on the floor at the edge of the carpet.

“A-YAO!” Nie Mingjue called after him watching his husband rush into the room. By the time he got to the doorway, Meng Yao was on the ground cradling what looked like the seashell music box. He glanced up seeing that the ceiling looked stable as he made his way over to his husband. Sure enough that’s what it was in the other’s arms when he moved to his side. The music box was about a foot and a half tall crab shell. It was decorated with hand painted gold leaf starfish laying on the shell with rubies and diamonds with mechanical swimming fish.

“A-Yao, is it broken?” Nie Mingjue called to his husband wrapping his arms around him.

“Yes.” Meng Yao whimpered holding it up to him. The mechanized fish were broke off and the starfish was gone, keeping the lid closed. He peered inside checking to see if the clam that held Meng Yao’s hoard was still there. It was but the remaining pieces such as the laying rock and a lot of the inner mechanized fish were gone. In its glory, Meng Yao would slip inside lay on the rock and watch the fish dance to the lovely song set while the clam opened up to allow him to put his treasures in.

Of all the boxes to break it had to be the the first one and the only one that didn’t have a pendant. It just opened magnetically. Nie Mingjue knew that he should have pushed more to let Meng Yao allow him to modify it to accommodate the others. This one was even more precious because it housed the first thing that he’d hoarded from Nie Mingjue. The peach pearl that had supposed to go into a ring meant for him. He reached in tapping the clam. It opened up easily revealing that the pearl and the ring. A small smile spreading across his face that they were both still there.

“It’s okay, my love, it’s not the end of the world and I can fix it making it even better.” Nie Mingjie said trying to comfort his husband, taking the music box out of his hands setting it aside. He cupped Meng Yao’s face, tilting his head to look at him. Meng Yao gave him a thin smile leaning into his touch. Nie Minjgue smiled brightly, leaning in kissing his husband in promise that he’d keep his word.

[plotdesigner]

Hi! if you're still taking Qs for the MDZS : Your three favorite characters? , What’s your OTP? , You can bring one character back to life, but you must pick someone else to die in their place. Would you do it? How would this affect the story? and If you could make one major story change, what change would you make? Why?

I still am! if very belatedly! Please excuse how long this took  xD

1. top three characters

nie huaisang, wen ning, and nie minjgue!

2. otp

this is really hard, since there’s so many good ships but - I’m attempting to cobble together a raft for Sangning, despite them not really interacting in canon, on account of:

> looks like a cinnamon roll, could kill someone meets could kill someone, looks like a cinnamon roll. they both disagree on which one of them is which cinnamon roll.

> little brothers who go hard RIGHTS

>  imagine the potential hilarity of if they had an ill advised hook up at the cloud recesses or the wen indoctrination camp, half out of a mutual thirst for wei wuxian that neither of them was having luck with and half out of a mutual fuck you wen chao alliance, which they promptly realize they can never talk about or their siblings’ reactions will be more disastrous than the upcoming sunshot campaign

> which means wei wuxian only learns about the ghost general lost half of his virginity to nie huaisang when he finds them six months post canon, letting the juniors take over a fancy restaurant in qinghe and getting along much better than he ever anticipated

“nie huaisang, did you fuck my best friend??”

“i mean, you didn’t?” 

(putting the other two under a cut for major spoilers)

3. bring someone back and kill someone else off

i know that mo xuanyu is the thesis statement for the ongoing theme of ‘who lives who dies who tells your story’, and the ambiguity of how much he knew and how much he was involved in the overall endgame is part of many ambiguities that invite the reader to know more - but on the other hand, i am wildly curious about what he was like (and love seeing every variation of him there is!)

as for my mxy: he’s the best babysitter in koi tower until he gets kicked out, on account of your dinner is ice cream and your bed time is never for his beloved nephews, who he spoils immensely. an isolated childhood with the mos and going straight into koi tower to learn from jgy and xue yang have given him a very loose grip on morals but a very firm grip on loyalty, and although the only life he ultimately takes is his own, he’s devoted to his chosen family and to art of demonic cultivation and his decision to summon wei wuxian is in pursuit of those things.

nie huaisang ends up befriending him on account of ‘holy shit this teenager is this close to a qi deviation what the fuck’ when mxy ends up getting hit with side effects from demonic cultivation,  and they end up hitting it off as cutsleeve artists, and later as the fuck you jgy club. he ultimately gets kicked out of koi tower in a grieving rage after rusong’s death, when he decides to try and take out jgy early and. it does not end well.

and so when he’s trapped in his own hometown by his abusive family, mo xuanyu decides that if he’s doomed, he’s taking people with him - and nie huaisang, despite knowing the costs,d espite knowing he would be losing his dear friend -

jin guangyao knows how to recreate the yin tiger seal, and there’s at least one working copy of it floating around. they know that much from mo xuanyu’s time as a jin demonic cultivator. if they want to defeat jin guangyao without massive casualties - if they can’t get it from him, then they need someone who can. someone who can counter the tiger seal.

so, if his ritual...somehow ends in him AND wei wuxian alive - on the one hand, jgy may find out that people are out to get him much sooner, since wwx can’t hide beyind mxy’s name, and there’s the complications of if mxy and nhs can keep their collaboration quiet -

on the other hand. jin ling gets his disaster uncle to clumsily worry over. the juniors get mildly terrorized by two demonic cultivator teachers. xue yang vs mo xuanyu teacher-student bickering while they try and off each other. two demonic cultivators in the lan libraries!

(and mo xuanyu gets his happily ever after. and a little mo family murder as a treat!)

as for kill? su she, probably. “who the fuck is su she” meme, but also - if he’s gone, does jgy have someone else he’s befriended into being his loyal minion? are there other people he would have cultivated a relationship with? or were the circumstances of their friendship unique?  su she’s devotion to jgy is obvious and a little heartbreaking, (something something parallels to wen ning), - and jgy obviously likes him enough to rescue him in the temple, but how much of that is because he’s useful and how much is because of genuine friendship?

4. one major story change

more on the mxy and nhs team up! there are already some fantastic fanfictions about what exactly was there, but like. hell yeah. (though i do prefer them as a sibling relationship to a romantic one, so we can have yet another traincrash sibling bond broken for parallels. also nhs losing two siblings to jgy... and giving him a good reason to sic his brother’s arm on the mo family other than for The Plan)

alternatively - more on what the wen sibs were doing during the war. we get an implication of punishment in the live action and nothing about consequences for meddling in lotus pier in the book in the book - were they caught at all? were they suspected? what was wen qing like as the supervisor in yiling? was there a field hospital she ran?? did wen ning snipe people as an archer or was he full time doctoring??? I HAVE QUESTIONS

[antiquecompass]

Untamed Winter Fest Day 11: Believe

Meng Yao (Nie Yao now--legally speaking) often found himself in disbelief upon reflection allowed in his rare quiet time to himself. Disbelief over his current life--his marriage, his career, his home. Disbelief over how some small changes and one very big one had resulted in his current happiness. Disbelief that he’d gone from a high-class Boston penthouse rubbing elbows with New England’s elite to a farmhouse in Western Massachusetts, rubbing elbows with the farmhands here at their home and the bodyguards at Springfield Security.

Disbelief that at nine at night on a Saturday, he was in the barn brushing tangles out of his favorite horse’s mane instead of at some party or in some club, letting a pathetic excuse for a man flirt with him in order to gain information. His life now was an entire world away from trying to bring down the fall of his father and his father’s business empire.

He had very few regrets over the turn his life had taken, even surrounded by the stench of horseshit and having to fight each morning with stubborn, spoiled chickens.

He had brought down his father, granted with much help, but it was a life-long goal since he was ten, and it had succeeded. He’d never really planned for a life after--he didn’t want Jin Enterprises, never had despite the accusations lobbed at him from so many different directions. He simply wanted what was due to him, his mother, the other Jin bastards, and to see his shitstain excuse of a father cut-off at his knees, his pleas for mercy denied like he once denied his son’s pleas for attention and help.

Goal set, goal achieved, the victory of it all still tasted so sweet, even years later.

“Oh, no, that’s the evil smile.”

He lifted his head to find his husband leaning on the stall door. He hadn’t even heard him enter the barn.

“Is Moonshadow about to get the most stylish haircut this side of the county? Finally putting Westbrook Farms to shame?”

“Moonshadow is gorgeous as she is,” he said, stepping down from his stool. “And those charlatans over at Westbrook deserve whatever’s coming their way.”

He put the stool away and gathered the brushes while Mingjue distracted Moonshadow with some carrots. He’d just closed the stall door when his world titled as Minjgue picked him up.

“At least have the decency to give me a warning,” he said as he wrapped his legs and arms around Mingjue, truly not bothered at all. “Some people find this emasculating, you know.”

Mingjue pushed him up higher, so that Meng Yao was looking down on him.

“Do you feel emasculated, my little fox? Should I put you down so you can stumble through the yard in the dark, getting your designer boots in chicken shit?”

Meng Yao leaned down and kissed him, refusing to admit any sort of defeat.

“Carry on,” he ordered.

Mingjue’s eyes cut towards the side.

“No,” he said, gripping the back of his husband’s neck. “Back to the house. You are not rolling me in the hay again.”

It’s not that he didn’t enjoy it at the time, but he remained itchy for days after. He wasn’t ruling it out again for the future, but it was December, and nighttime, and their nice, warm, house called to him.

“But,” Mingjue said.

“House,” he insisted. “Besides, I smell like horse and you smell like your client’s horrendous cheap perfume.”

“Not that your judging,” Mingjue said as he shifted him and started towards the house.

“Her taste in perfume is as good as her taste in musicals,” he said, squirming down until he could rest his head against Mingjue’s shoulder.

“Some people like Love Never Dies,” Mingjue said as he carried him towards their home, easily navigating the yard in the dark. “Of course, those people also don’t often go on hour long rants about how between The Phantom and Raoul, Christine should’ve picked Meg.”

“My point stands,” he said as he opened the back door for them.

Once they were inside, Mingjue finally set him down on the bench of the mudroom. Now indoors, he could see how tired his husband truly looked. He shook his head. Mingjue shouldn’t be working jobs in the field anymore. There was no reason for it. And it was the one thing they kept fighting about, their equally matched tempers and stubbornness clashing over this one point. Yes, Mingjue was still fit and in fighting form, but he was an owner, and nearing forty, and had no reason to keep working jobs when they had a staff of younger, capable, competent bodyguards.

“I know,” Mingjue said. “Next quarter I’ll take myself off the rota.”

“Thank you,” he said. “This doesn’t mean you’ve won,” Mingjue said as he cradled his face. “Just that I’m agreeing that you’re not wrong.”

He stood up on his tiptoes and kissed Mingjue’s cheek. “So very kind of you. I supposed I won’t wave this particular victory flag in your face.”

“Thank you,” Mingjue said.

Meng Yao took his hand and pulled Mingjue towards the kitchen. “Dinner, bath, bed.”

Mingjue scooped him up again, laughing at his surprised squawk.

“May I interest you in kitchen table, guest shower, dinner, bed?”

“We agreed no communal spaces,” Meng Yao reminded him of last month’s family meeting. Both sets of brothers agreed upon it after seeing too much, collectively, of each other. “Though I am open to negotiations.”

“Guest bedroom it is,” Mingjue said.

It somehow all still felt like a dream. Like something that could be snatched away from him. That he was bound to wake up at any moment, back in the penthouse he knew was full of hidden cameras and bugs and various things tracking his every movement. Back to a life lived constantly on edge, waiting to attack or be attacked. Back to when his only true escapes were to his mother’s home and dance studio, where they only knew him as Meng Shi’s son. Back to bitterness and loneliness and the pain of loving someone he couldn’t have, not in the way he truly wanted him.

The rings on his fingers were real. The man who held him, cradled him, like he was something precious, was real. The shared laughter of his youngest brother and his brother-in-law, spilling out of the movie room, was real. And Meng Yao wouldn’t, couldn’t believe otherwise.

[unbrokenpride]

Are we cut from the same cloth my sworn brothers? 

Jin Guangyao is resolute with the inner truths of his character. Can he be so undaunted with the principles of others opinions? He sees even now with his rightful place in the Lanling Jin clan how they look at him. How they look with their pettiness and their envy. What does a son of a whore mean to them? Nothing. Dress him up in fancy garments, pure white robes of splendor and still he is dirt beneath the shimmer. 

He could accept his fate honorably. Allow them to belittle, bully and slander him as he is. Oh but that is weakness to pacify those who deem him unworthy. Instead he is cunning. The coil of the serpent hides amid the soft, favorable petals of personage. 

They see him adept enough. Minjgue did. He once stood for him. Then he turned an eye away. He never looked at Yao quite the same. 

Why should he have let his hand stay that blade? What good would a foul commander do? Deserving of his fate is what Yao plead by but he plead another way to Nie Mingjue’s face. Death might have suited him. Now power calls him home. 

Ah gracious father who hides his stain of filth on the clan you grant me this. You come with no regret allowing me to become one finally with my right of birth. Lanling is mine. With your suffering in time. 

Who takes the rule now? A son of a whore can rise to the occasion. A stray feather out of the ashes. A serpent rises in place of the phoenix tonight. 

He wonders as he gazes over the starless sky. Beautiful. Almost as beautiful as he once thought Qin Su. Though as beautiful as the gallantry of Gusu....Xichen. 

“Forgive my wiles my brother. It hurts to play the game with you. But I must be what I truly am.” Yao speaks only to himself but he hopes it can reach Xichen somehow. Even if he does not wholly feel remorse for his actions. There must be some semblance of regret. 

Even he cannot know if real or not. Most nights he suspects himself lost to his own villainy. Welcome to this life he sought so hard to gain. There is no turning back. There is only moving forward and it is done with a cordial, innocent smile. 

[ge]

thinking about nie minjgue i love you nie mingjue so much u r so sexy nie mingjue let me take you out on the town and buy u things then when the night is over let me lead u to a secluded field underneath the full shining moon... let us look tenderly into each others eyes then i will dip u low and kiss u sweetly beneath the stars have i mentioned i love you nie mingjue

[theoneyouneed]

Hnnnngggg fuck I read three separate fan fictions and I think it would be neat if they were all combined because I’m a slut for drama and angst even tho it never really works out when I write it.

Anyway: wei Wuxian returns in the body of mo xuanyu with amnesia. But this future is different than canon because: wen qing and jiang Cheng were married, thusly saving the Wen refugees from being executed; ie absorbing them into the jiang clan. It’s also different because of course jiang yanli and Jin Zixuan will survive of fucking course is that even a question?

So everybody lives, no body dies... except...

With the Wens protected and wwx dead. The Jins, the Lans and the Nies are the three most powerful clans left. The Jiang clan made itself vulnerable by accepting the Wens, they made themselves an easy target. The marriage between Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan is really the only thing holding them together.

That and the Jins said they would back off if the Jiangxi agreed to turn over wwx things. Which they agreed to. Jins wanted it for research for Xue Yang and Mo Xuanyu to figure out how to mend the Stygian tiger amulet. They probably have more people working with them but those are the main characters.

The Nie clan will be the next under the bus, because JGY is pulling the strings and he likes Lan Zichen. and he sees Nie Minjgue as a threat. He’s been asking to many questions about the old Wen land, which he is neighbor to by the mountain range, and why so many Jins have been doing experiments in the area.

Wen Ning, brother of wq who married jc is by association is pretty safe. But not that safe unfortunately... a few years after wwx death he goes missing.

Jgy wants to harness the fierce corpses wwx had. They steal wen ning. They kill song Lan. They try to raise the core melting hand from death. Something goes wrong. It backfired on the other person working with xue yang and mo xuanyu. Mo xuanyu freaks out, he doesn’t want to die like that, this is crazy, he quits he’s out, he doesn’t want to deal with this crazy bullshit anymore. And if they’re not going to let him leave then he’s going to reveal everything they’ve been doing.

JGY stages an accident, and mo xuanyu is dishonorably exiles from the Jin clan, sent to rot in his families shed for the last years of his life.

They kill nie minjgue, with the original Qi deviation plan. And they try to make him a fierce corpse too. But there’s only two left, and neither are willing to sacrifice themselves to do it, they both have their own goals, to valuable in their own minds to pay that price. They decide to go get Mo Xuanyu to do it.

But when they get to him, Mo xuanyu is already gone, and in his place is a very confused and amnesiac wwx, whom they capture and enchant with needles in his head. He can still think, he can sometimes remember. They need answers out of him and they need him to cooperate.

By puppeteering wwx to raise the dead and control the fierce corpses, they’re unstoppable.

Until he’s recused by his tender loving family

[starshinegoblin]

The Lyrics Trapped in My Mind

Writer’s Note: This is my second attempt at writing MingXicheng and I wrote it for #XichenWeek2020, This is a soulmate au where if one gets a song stuck in their head it’s because their soulmate is singing it. ♥

—-

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes as he set down his brush. The sound of his older brother’s loud annoying flirty voice coming through the closed door of his bedroom to his boyfriend over the phone made him cringe. There was no way he was going to be able to work and listen to that nonsense. He walked across the room to his desk grabbing his airpods connecting them to his cellphone.

As he walked back to his easel he went through his playlists wondering what he wanted to play. It didn’t take him along after he glanced at the painting to give him inspiration. He went to the one song that’d been stuck in his head since Wen Ning had sent him the link to Advance Bravely. The mind plaguing song was Everything Will Say GoodBye by Jason Zhang Jie. He tapped on it and put it on repeat before stuffing the phone in his back pocket. Jiang Cheng felt a renewed sense of inspiration as he started singing the lyrics while he continued to paint. 

“Everything will say goodbye, sometimes calm like the water…” Jiang Cheng sang not caring about being heard, that is until he heard a sharp loud knock on his door. He took one of the pods out, “Yes?”

The door opened to reveal his brother. “So, Lan Zhan, A-Sang and I were wondering if you wanted to join us for dinner and  some drinks?” Wei Wuxian asked, eyes fluttering in a plea for him to say yes . However, Jiang Cheng really wasn’t in the mood to deal with an intoxicated Wei Wuxian or Nie Huaisang (who’s a clinger and a crier at the drop of a hat) in public. Nope, Lan Wangji could deal with that gremlin on his own and though he felt awful for Mo Xuanyu, the man was dating the little beastie, Nie Huaisang.

“Nope.” Jiang Cheng reaffirmed.

“Please? It’s at House Koi. I know you like it there.”

“You’re allowed to go back? I vaguely remember that you got drunk and punched the owner. Who specifically told you that you weren’t welcome on the premises. And that was putting it lightly.”

“It was the one time and I stand by what I did.” Wei Wuxian replied, firmly. The memory of seeing Jin Guangshan leering at his little brother had made his skin crawl. He never told why he’d been banned but didn’t regret it. Jiang Cheng smiled hearing the protectiveness in Wei Wuxian’s tone. “Besides, it’s under the new management of the peacock and Yao-ge.”

“I still say no.” Jiang Cheng replied, turning back to paint. His mind trying to focus on the music still playing in his one ear. 

“Oh come on, didi!” Wei Wuxian begged, leaning against the doorway of Jiang Cheng’s bedroom of their shared apartment. “It will be good for you!”

“What part of no are you not understanding?” Jiang Cheng sighed, serving his older brother a glare that was dull as a baby spoon. Despite his expression the both of them knew that he was right. Jiang Cheng needed to get out and see everyone. It’d been so long since they’d seen him. The whole breakup with Wen Zhuliu had gone to utter shit leaving Jiang Cheng in shambles. But that was nine months ago and while he was making great strides with painting again, going on his morning runs, and picking up Jin Ling from day care for their sister and the peacock, Jiang Cheng mostly stayed in their apartment. 

Wei Wuxian wasn’t going to let him isolate himself anymore. If his little brother was going to be free of that loser then he needed to get out. He didn’t want to truly make him angry because it would ruin his, Lan Wangji’s, and Nie Huaisang’s plan. He schooled his face into his best pout and pleaded again leaning on something that only he knew as his brother. 

“Besides I heard from A- Sang that Xichen-ge and Mingjue-ge will be there too. Xichen-ge got back last night from Tokyo.” Wei Wuxian stated, grinning from ear to ear when Jiang Cheng actually paused mid stroke the paint dripping a bit onto the canvas. Jiang Cheng’s normally pale neck tingeing red. 

Jiang Cheng’s heart started to race at the mention of their names. He had the biggest crush on both of them since he was in high school and that spark of attraction to both of them never faded. Damn his brother for knowing his weak spot and using it was a weapon to manipulate him. 

“Fine.” Jiang Cheng grumbled, even though he was actually starting to feel excited. His mind accepted the idea that it would be nice to get out with the added bonus of seeing Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen.

“YES!” Wei Wuxian yelped, suddenly across the room,  wrapping him up in a tight hug, “You won’t regret it, didi! ” 

“Hopefully.” Jiang Cheng sighed, as Wei Wuxian bounced towards the door probably to go call his boyfriend and brag about his victory. Jiang Cheng shook his head, putting his pod back in before trying to save his painting. He’d have just enough time to finish and get ready for dinner.

“I knew that we shouldn’t have watched that series.” Nie Mingjue complained as he stepped into the living room of his shared apartment with his boyfriend. The theme song of the show continued  playing in his mind as he spoke. Lan Xichen chuckled from where he sat on the couch relaxing with a cup of fresh tea in his hands. His hair down and wearing his glasses for once. He looked warm and cozy in Nie Mingjue’s forest green henley over his t-shirt and jeans. 

“I’m sorry, I can’t get it out of my head too. Can you imagine listening to Director Wu going on and on with that song on repeat.” Lan Xichen chuckled, as Nie Minjgue lifted his legs up by Lan Xichen’s calves so that he could sit down on the couch with him.

“It’s alright.” Nie Mingjue smiled warmly at his adorable boyfriend and soulmate as he put the man’s feet in his lap. His hands moved to gently massage his feet. 

“Since we agreed to meet A-Sang and the other’s for dinner later. Perhaps it will finally go away.” Lan Xichen laughed, making Nie Mingjue laugh. 

“Or at least distract us for a little bit.” Nie Minjgue replied hoping that it did work. The song was good but he needed a different song to think about when working on his logistics reports. 

“A-Xian said that they would be here in a moment. They just pulled in.” Nie Huaisang informed them, looking up from his phone. A smile on his face as he looked at his older brother and Lan Xichen. Since finding out that Nie Minjgue was his soulmate in high school, Lan Xichen knows that something is up. That type of smile always meant that Nie Huaisang has a plan cooked up. Lan Xichen only hoped that it wasn’t tonight. Nie Mingjue was in a good mood. 

“It’s alright, A-Yao, hasn’t come back yet.” Lan Xichen replied. Meng Yao had left the table to take care of something in the kitchen. That’d been about fifteen minutes ago.

“If he’s any longer Xichen-ge, I’ll go back and save him.” Mo Xuanyu stated as he took a sip of the sparkling pink chardonnay that Meng Yao had brought him. Nie Mingjue gave a nod. Meng Yao had been working tirelessly with his older brother to get the exclusive restaurant back to its former glory. Their careless father had left it bankrupt when he forcibly retired. 

The restaurant is a two story tea house that had been remodeled after years of neglect. The first floor contained the bar, kitchen, restrooms, and a dance floor with a koi pond beneath it. Where they are on the second floor, is where the private booths and rooms are. Tonight they were occupying the second largest room, The Room of Fragrance. Meng Yao and Jin Zixuan had gone with the minimalist but elegant accents to decorate the room. Lan Xichen’s favorite thing about the room is the chandelier hanging above their low table. It’s design being branches from a plum blossom tree dangling down from the ceiling and the blooms giving light to the room. 

“There they are.” Nie Huaisang said happily waving his hand at them like he’s not seen them in years, stirring Lan Xichen’s attention, as the shoji door slid open to reveal: Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian, Meng Yao, and Jiang Cheng.  He felt Nie Mingjue suddenly reach over resting his hand on his upper thigh, and he knew that he wasn’t the only who’s breath had gotten stuck in their throat. Jiang Cheng looked good no, damn good. 

His black hair that’d been kept short during his previous relationship was now long enough that he was able to braid it off to one side showing off his stunning sapphire eyes and that long neck. As he took off his pea coat, it revealed he’d chosen a black turtleneck with some very well fitted jeans. He looked healthier than he’d been in the past few months that Lan Xichen had seen through Wei Wuxian’s social media accounts and occasionally Wangji’s instagram when Jiang Cheng was with them. 

“We are sooo glad you decided to join us tonight, A-Cheng!” Nie Huaisang declared way too cheerfully, making Jiang Cheng flush as he turned around. Which of course made Lan Xichen’s heart skip a beat and by the squeezing of Nie Mingjue’s hand he knows the other is feeling the same as him. 

“I just bet you are.” Jiang Cheng bites out teasingly as he rounds the table to sit in between Nie Huaisang and Wei Wuxian.

“Oh we are.” Nie Huaisang teases, bumping Jiang Cheng’s shoulder as the latter sits down directly across from Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue. Which of course makes it click in his mind why Nie Huaisang had been insistent that they sit where they are now earlier when they first arrived. His gaze flickering from Jiang Cheng to see the wide cheshire grin spreading across his boyfriend’s little brother’s face. 

“That little…” Lan Xichen hears Nie Mingjue grumble but fade out as Jiang Cheng gives them both a soft smile making Lan Xichen’s brain check out for a few seconds till Wei Wuxian loudly exclaims that he is starving. Then they are all passing around the tablet to order their food.

They are halfway into their dinner when Nie Huaisang says, “You know what I heard today from one of my patients? I heard that when a song gets stuck in your head. That it is because you can hear your soulmate singing it.” 

“Then didi's soulmate has blessed with him non stop singing Everyday Will Say Goodbye, because he’s been singing it for two weeks now.” Wei Wuxian teased Jiang Cheng, making the latter flush and nudge him sharply with his elbow, not seeing how both Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue had stilled across from him. 

“Then Lan Wangji has been blessed with your horrible belting of No Feelings.” Jiang Cheng teased back. 

“Hey, Lan Zhan loves my singing.” Wei Wuxian sticks out his lower lip in a pout,  dramatically turning to look at his boyfriend and soulmate with puppy eyes. Lan Wangji’s small smile and soft nod only makes Wei Wuxian preen turning back around with a smirk and sticking his tongue childishly out at his brother.

“Spoiled.” Jiang Cheng says rolling his eyes despite the smile on his own face. He reaches out for his glass when he notices that Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen are staring at him with a look that makes him still, hand hovering in the air. He blinks looking down at his glass. His cheeks flushing a deeper shade of red that had nothing to do with the wine he was drinking. 

“You’ve been singing Everyday Will Say Goodbye?” Lan Xichen asked, a smile spreading across his face as Jiang Cheng nodded. 

“It’s this opening song to a show that A-Ning sent me.” Jiang Cheng explained.

“Good song.” Nie Mingjue replied, sharing a knowing look with Lan Xichen. It made more sense now. While the two of them love each other deeply. It had always felt like there was a missing piece. Their other half hadn’t been with them but now he’d been found. 

“Yes it is.” Lan Xichen agreed, gaze shifting back to Jiang Cheng. 

----

Refs: 

Idea for prompt from this post by  3rdgymbros

No Feelings by Wang Yibo - https://youtu.be/7dG4yShmxIM

Everyday Will Say Goodbye by Jason Zhang Jie -  https://youtu.be/QI6WHyiFLdc

House Koi is based loosely off the japanese restaurant Gonpachi that was used in Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)