#no piece of clothing I've ever owned died tragically like that

[strawberry-cowmilk]

everyone say rest in peace to nana's jeans who have served me for a good 4 years

[fincalinde]

JGY! (getting in ahead of the crowd)

Ah, but of course. I have only had 3 asks for this meme so I can only assume people are sick of my whinging, so it's not like you beat the rush.

a song that reminds me of them

I'm trying to think of songs that I haven't already strip mined for fic titles and not coming up with much. So maybe this can just be a recommendation for PHILDEL, who is one of my favourite artists. A lot of her work has serious Xiyao vibes, and off the top of my head the one that might be the most JGY on his own is Glorious.

There's a place I go A place I always stand alone And need no witness to my throne Here I say my piece And have no need to be believed The bridge I built will carry me Beyond the creatures of your sea

and

Here I win my day I make my kill upon the grave And need no hero to be saved Here the light still shines Despite the odds and all the time Despite the gods and their design

—like, omg

what they smell like

He's obviously fastidious because he can't ever afford not to be, but I'd probably stage it like this:

Before his mother dies - can never get rid of the cheap sickly smell of the brothel incenses.

After his mother dies - not around much if any incense and must be as respectable as possible, smells of clean cloth and silk and whatever hair oil he can afford. He is very careful about hair oil, he absolutely must not appear to be cheap or tacky.

When he's serving the Nie - similar to the above, probably keeps making little adjustments every time he's bullied about something in a fruitless attempt to mitigate all the judgement and make himself respectable.

When he's serving the Jin - see above but so much worse.

When he's serving the Wen - very careful at first but begins to adjust to having some form of power and resource that protects him from direct abuse. Spends enough time with WRH that he smells like the same incenses WRH prefers, and his scented hair oil and the like is carefully chosen to be consistent with whatever is fashionable amongst the Wen and approved of by WRH.

When he's legitimised - see above but dialled up. He has to walk a fine line between being the same as the other Jin without coming across as vulgarly ambitious. In fic a time or two I've mentioned that he smells of olibanum incense, which I chose as something that would have been imported at great expense and seemed characteristic of the Jin. He needs to demonstrate his status and his wealth, but that said: I guarantee you that it's a typical fragrance that's used all over Golden Carp Tower, and not a scent that's considered a signature central Jin family fragrance. He wouldn't be so bold.

When he's chief cultivator - sticking with what he was doing before. He can never stop being careful.

Secret bonus scent: sandalwood because he spends so much time around LXC.

an otp

oh well let me think of course it's Xiyao. I don't think the text supports a reading where they're lovers, but I think it does support a reading where their intimate friendship includes romantic feelings and the potential for a romantic and presumably also sexual relationship. LXC is the only person who gets on the MS tier of the JGY harm pyramid. JGY is the only person who sees LXC's needs and attempts to meet them. Their relationship is a true meeting of the minds, and the secrets between them are either mutually agreed and healthy or the result of horrific external circumstances. I think I've summed it up before.

a notp

I already mentioned how repellent I find Nieyao in my NMJ response.

Honestly though, JGY with anyone but LXC is a no from me. I think his relationship with QS is sweet and tragic, but it's telling that he never once talks about loving her for who she is and how they are together. He insists he loved her and the forcefulness of that assertion makes it clear he's being sincere, but the emphasis is all on how he's grateful for the fact that she never made his background an issue. It reads to me like he loves how sweet and kind she is and how brave and loyal, but even that is not enough for a healthy and successful relationship. I'm not going to get into the incest thing as that would be a whole other post.

Based on this, I think if he didn't need a wife for social and political purposes he'd have been equally as happy to have her as a supportive friend and political ally. She is canonically not that bright, and he needs an intellectual equal for true partnership—and that's not even getting into the importance of him needing a partner who's capable of grappling with moral relativism.

favorite platonic/familial relationships

This might make @thatswhatsushesaid happy—I really like JGY's relationship with NHS before he's forced to take out NMJ and it all goes to hell. JGY deserves a didi he can dote on. NHS probably does not deserve another doting gege, but I'll allow it anyway.

I also love JGY and JL. The flashback to JGY giving JL Fairy is one of my favourite scenes, not just because it shows that JGY genuinely loves and cares for JL, but because it shows that JGY's unique background and struggles have equipped him to provide JL with comfort and support that no one else could offer.

I always assumed Jin Chan and his little mob of thugs have parents who are a political threat to JGY within the Jin, or how else would they have the guts to harass the heir who will one day rule over them? So there's a lot of layers here for JGY, who has to navigate a delicate political situation while trying to do what he can for JL. I just think it's a beautiful moment where JGY cannot do what I'm sure he wants to do and deal directly with the source of the abuse, and so he does what he can. He knows better than anyone else that sometimes you can't make the abuse stop; but it still matters if you can help someone bear it a little bit better.

a headcanon that is popular in the fandom but that i disagree with

I mean, how much time do you have? I have no patience for the ubiquitous bratty power bottom JGY bossing around 'service top' (vomit) LXC, and I also have no patience for the I think less ubiquitous now but still worth mentioning sadist dom JGY who fantasises about cutting lines into LXC. Those are probably the most common base types I've seen around, but the list, it goes on. I could write another few thousand words joylessly debunking what seems to get people off on AO3, but I really do spill enough ink already on highlighting how inconsistent these portrayals are with the JGY we see in canon.

I'm not saying every single word I personally write is blessed by the angels and incontrovertibly in line with the translated text of the novel, and obviously we are all here at the end of the day to have fun. But it does baffle me that this is so inescapable, because if you want those sorts of dynamics then there are so many other pairings out there to choose from.

the position they sleep in

This probably varies but he must be an extremely light sleeper and probably never sleeps with his back to the door.

a crossover au i’d love to see them in

Can I bring up my ATLA AU yet again ... yes, I am shameless. Or how about the theoretical X-Men AU I raised in the last post? The trouble is that this would have to be a setting where being a mutant is desirable and he has a weak mutation that he exploits to the maximum and perhaps later is able to strengthen.

my favorite outfit they’ve ever worn

Since THAI COVER JGY was already taken, I'll pivot and say I really love what he's wearing in his official artwork. Look at this man! He is elegant and wealthy and powerful and classy and a skilled diplomat and administrator and yet there remains an air of danger about him. Precise! Deadly! Polite! sorry i think i got possessed by lan xichen there for a moment

[pyonyonmomo]

May fate bring us together again

Part 1

➻ Synopsis: A couple lived in the middle of a bustling village 2000 years ago. They own a clothing store and have been dubbed a sweet couple by the villagers despite their differences in personalities. Their lives were tragically cut short one day, and the couple died together.

Timeskip , Two people cross paths 2000 years later and feel as if they know each other. That their meeting was not by chance, but due to Fate.

[ Shu Itsuki x Gender Neutral Reader ]

One vast village has such a busy afternoon. Adults were working, children were playing, and despite the hot weather that had descended on the village, no one seemed to mind

As another customer enters the clothing store, the doorbell jingles. The costumer gaze in awe as they are stunned by the beautiful suits and dresses on display for the public to see whenever they enter the small store. "Ma'am, what can I do for you?" you inquired of the customer who had just entered; " Oh ! I remember you. You did order a dress to be made for you weeks ago, correct? ", Remembering the costumer's appearance, you recall them placing a costum order for a dress made entirely for some time ago.

"Why Yes ! I'm here to pick it up. I’m invited to this grand party , and wearing something formal yet fashionable is a must! “. After they've told you their name and given you the receipt, you go to the back of the front desk and look for a bagged dress that matches the description on the receipt. Unfortunately, you appear to be having difficulty finding the dress. With so many orders coming in and out, your mind goes blank whenever you have to recall the more detailed information you have discussed with the client about the dress prior to its creation. Having so many dresses in similar colors doesn't help either; it just confuses you.

" You're the store owner's partner, right?" ", you replied with a ‘yes’ without looking at them; focusing your attention on finding the costumer's dress. " So it is true ! I've been curious about your love story with your dear partner. Is it true he confessed his love to you at the village's mountain peak, quite the romantic spot if I say so myself ~” queried the customer, who was quite loud. It wasn't the first time you'd been asked about your love life. Ever since the public became aware of your and your partner's relationship, they have been eager to learn the full story. From the way he confessed to how long you'd known each other.

They were simply taken aback to learn that the eccentric fashion designer had finally found love, and that it was you. To be honest, the repetitive questions were bothering you a lot; day after day, a person or two would ask the same question; "so how did you two meet? ” , “ where did he actually confess ?” , “ how much do you love him ?” . You know better, so whenever they ask questions like those, you tell them it's a “long story” and try to escape them

The lady costumer today was asking the same question as to those who had asked before , and just as you were about to reason with them to how that question couldn’t be answered; someone from behind you grabs the dress wrapped in clothing wrap

“ The dress has been completed! Small bows and puffs add personality to the Paisley yellow fabric, and the sleeves are finished with a sewn piece of light fabric. When the owner moves, it gains a lot of mass. Giving it a gentle feeling”. Shu Itsuki, the owner of the clothing store and your beloved partner, gently places the packed dress on the counter. "Your order has been completed, thous you no longer have any business with us". Given Shu's intimidating demeanor, the costumer pays up front, without bothering to request a change, and leaves with their dress. You laugh at how quickly the customer left when Shu appeared. "You didn't have to scare them away like that, dear? ", slightly playing with shu, you take the payment left behind by the customer and place it in a box containing all assets from the clothing store.

“ Tsk !” , He places his hand on the edge of his brow, looking agitated. "Those ordinary folks should know when to mind their own business. Our relationship is none of their concern, Non !! who do they think they are? Asking all about it , especially in our precious clothing store. No respect !", you can tell he was irked by how many people were curious about your and Shu's relationship. It's a pain, but you're relieved that it didn't have a significant impact on your clothing store's sales too much

You held his hand, hoping to calm him down. "Fussing about it won't get us anywhere; we're still swamped with orders to fulfill." Your touch in his hand did the trick, and he gives you a small and bitter smile. With no time to waste, he summons his assistant, " Kagehira! Get my sewing machine ready! ”. Mika Kagehira , A young man with mid-length tousled black hair and two different colored eyes peers his head at the end of the staff room, “ on the way teach !!”. Mika, the assistant, went to the supply room. He tilts his head toward the almost empty cabinets for fabric, expecting to see it there. With so many orders coming in and having to assist Shu with his work, he overlooked to notify him that there was little to no fabric left to be used. “ hehe, Oshi-saaan!-”

Shu sighs visibly after Mika tells him that they don't have any more fabric and that he forgot to inform him sooner. He was quite strict about such things; not having fabric, especially when they were swamped with orders, was unacceptable. So he had decided to order more fabric from a material shop he trusts after giving him a few lectures. Mika will look after the store and Mademoiselle.

" I'll join you!" you said as Shu wore his glamorous hat. He had intended to leave you behind with Mika to keep an eye on the store, but who is he to turn down your offer to assist him? You both get to spend quality time and work together! a win-win situation.

“ then let’s be off. The sooner we come back , the sooner we can work on the orders “. Your face lights up with delight as he welcomes you to join him in acquiring additional materials. You dash to get your umbrella in order to shield yourself from the blinding sunlight, and you both quickly exit the store.

During the walk, there were definitely people giving you and Shu looks and whispers. You'd be lying if you said you didn't mind being talked about because of a stupid Rumor. However, in your case, you and Shu's special relationship isn't just a rumor. When you look at Shu to see his reaction towards the glances and whispers, you see him wear his usual confident and stoic expression. He wasn't bothered by the stares because, as an eccentric labeled by the public , he was used to people staring or even talking about him. But it was quite nerve-racking for him to deal with it right away, you chuckle. He gives you a puzzled look, but dismisses it as he begins enlightening the walk with his plans for the ordered dresses and suits.

When the two of you arrive at the sewing material store, you join him in ordering the color, size, and texture of fabric he had planned to order ahead of time. You carry a few items, some of which are light weight fabric and white thread. Shu looks around as you both approach the silk fabric station, glancing at each fabric as if he was already planning how he would use its soft and shiny fabric for his wonderful creations. "wisteria colored silk fabric, on the top left. One roll of it," he told the store employee. The worker instructs Shu to wait for them at their spot as they are going to retrieve the fabric from another room, leaving him and you after they have finished talking. You wondered why shu would order a wisteria colored silk fabric, given that there were no orders indicating the fabric color was wisteria. " What’s the fabric for? " you finally asked, casting a curious glance at Shu, who was still looking around the room filled with various colors of silk fabric.

He lets out a short chuckle and says, without looking at you, that he wants to create something with it. "Art has no boundaries, and I'm ecstatic to see how my creation turns out," he said. You didn't understand what shu said, and you wished Mika was here to translate what he had just rambled about

After a few moments of waiting the worker returned to Shu with one roll of the silk fabric he had requested. He finishes their fabric shopping and pays, satisfied with the quality. There was no way you could both carry the amount of fabric you had just purchased back to the store in one go. So you both only carried the ones that are frequently used, while the rest would be delivered to your store the next day.

When you and Shu return to the store, Mika greets you with a welcoming smile. He assists you in transporting all of the items you both purchased to the supply room. Shu returns to his workstation to continue working, and while he was distracted, you went to Mika to inquire about something.

“ ehh? Wisteria colored silk fabric ?”. He seemed to know something about the fabric you had asked about based on his reaction. Wisteria was a color you adored, so why would shu suddenly request it when it wasn't required at the time? Unless..“ ohhh! Someone of noble rank approached Oshi-San earlier and asked him to make some fancy clothes. He most likely didn't tell you because it was requested of him only recently~~”.

“then how come you know about it ?” , you sigh as you thought of it no longer. It wasn't uncommon for people to approach Shu personally to place in an order, so you didn't dwell on your curiosity anymore. Instead, you began to work on a crochet part of the sleeves, creating detailed floral patterns that matched the theme of the dress a costumer had ordered.

Shu sighs in relief behind the wall where you were working. In his mind, he was slightly praising Mika for covering up the secret surprise he had arranged.

“So even though all my creations are flawless, yours would be the most exemplary one I've ever made” ,

He smiles slightly, feeling the wisteria silk fabric on his table, before opening his sketchbook and continuing to illustrate his next masterpiece

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