#of course she'd help!!

[s2pdoktopus]

The AU will be set in MDZS Universe

Kou Empire (Huang Sect here) is one of the great Sects but they mostly interact with people outside the ancient China setting (so the Magi side of things)

The metal vessels are their spiritual tools, this time comparable to Zidian so Kou is a powerful military focused sect especially with how many of the princes and princesses have these spiritual tools (lol Kouen alone has three)

During the Gusu lectures, Kougyoku, Kouha and Hakuryuu are sent to represent Kou. Hakuryuu is a good boy, Kouha sneaks into the girls' side (no one noticed because he looks like a girl and wears girl's clothes when he does this) to tell Kougyoku the interesting things that happens on the boy's side of things (Jiang sect head disciple punched the Jin heir and got sent away lolol) Kougyoku, also does her best to not embarrass her home and cause trouble for her older brother so they finish the lectures okay.

During the Wen discussion conference, Hakuryuu and Kouha participated in the competition. Both don't specialize in archery so they didn't get many points. It's not a big deal to Kou because they are more interested in the happenings outside ancient China.

During the Wen indoctrination Kougyoku is in Balbad, Kouha is sent to the indoctrination (More like he volunteered to go) got his Leraje taken from him and with the help of the Jiang Sect, managed to get back home.

Cloud recesses burning happens. Lotus Pier massacre happens.

(During the Wen indoctrination up until the Lotus Pier massacre, Kougyoku is in Sindria, befriends Alibaba, crushes on Sinbad, gets Zephar planted in her brain. Magi stuff)

Jiang Cheng comes to Kou to return Kouha's sword and ask for their assistance in the Sunshot campaign. This is where Kougyoku and Jiang Cheng meet properly. Kougyoku finds him in the garden waiting for Kouen to meet up with him and she knows about who he is and what happened to him, he seemed sad and lonely. Kougyoku felt compelled to help him somehow (having been infected by Alibaba's kindness already) so she toughed it up and tried to cheer him up a bit.

Kougyoku's arranged marriage got cancelled, Jiang sect is ruined and it's just the perfect opportunity to put them under the Kou's mercy so Kouen offered to Jiang Cheng their help if he agrees to take Kougyoku as his bride. Jiang Cheng and his complicated relationship with his parents' marriage made him decline. Kougyoku comes to the Jiang Sect's aid anyway. Kou is still in conflict with the Reim and Sindria, it's better to not let the Wen get so strong that Kou would have to fight them too. Vinea specialized in water and there's plenty of that in the Yunmeng territory so sending Kougyoku makes a lot of sense. Plus, Kougyoku already considers Jiang Cheng her friend (lol anime logic. Kougyoku is awkward and desperate for friends) so she is more than willing to go. (They become proper friends here)

Kougyoku leaves the Sunshot campaign once the Jiang Sect is taken back.

Sunshot campaign is won. The Wen remnants problem happens, Kou civil war happens. By the time Wei Wuxian died, Hakuryuu became Kou's emperor. Then he steps down and now both Kougyoku and Jiang Cheng share the burden of carrying a destroyed Sect :D

Kougyoku tried everything to save the Kou empire, which in this au, includes being more involved with the ancient China side of things. They don't bond over this (although I want them to, lol) because they are friends. Kougyoku likes to keep up appearances around her esteemed friends and Jiang Cheng is her only living friend that she actually gets to meet at the moment. Jiang Cheng is busy with Jin Ling, there's nothing he can ask Kougyoku because they have the same problem. They do hang out when the opportunity arises, the opportunity being discussion conferences and sometimes to negotiate trade treaties and other legal things.

Alibaba comes back and helps Kougyoku just as her territory is about to get swallowed up by the Seven Alliances. Magi stuff happens (but without the Sinbad becomes god situation. What's important is Kougyoku gets Vinea again and it's a spiritual tool here so yes, it's the same old powerful weapon that controls water. I want Kougyoku to keep her magic powers XD)

Slowly, the Jiang Sect and the Kou go back to being the strong territories that they are used to be known as, although Kou turned from being known for military might to agriculture and little inventions (like the Magi version of the fridge lol)

Years go by, Jiang Cheng and Kougyoku with their thriving sects now have enough time to meet, drink tea and chat. Go on dates friendly visits, friend stuff. Jin Ling knows Kougyoku as that one auntie that can actually make his uncle smile. They like going on night hunts together because Kougyoku does love to battle (she's considered to be the strongest female cultivator here) and electric whip and water sword are a very good combo. They spar a lot too. Again. Friend stuff!

Some time later this comic thingy happens. Kougyoku reveals that, surprise! Her eldest brother, Kouen is alive! That's a secret though because they told everyone he's dead and it'll be a problem if it's found that he isn't dead. Kougyoku wants him to meet her brothers, yes, even Hakuryuu whom Jiang Cheng hates because Hakuryuu did all that then left a ruined sect to Kougyoku and he's also petty enough to hate for someone important to him. But Kougyoku wants them to formally meet and all, this is still a wedding which she always dreamed of doing even if it's just for convenience. Kouen brought up Jiang Cheng's problems with arranged marriage and the rejected offer once upon a time but Jiang Cheng says that this is something him and Kougyoku agreed with and they have been friends for this long already. He thinks they will be fine. Kouha approves of him (way better than Sinbad he said, which earned him an embarrassed smack from Kougyoku) and since Kouha, the one protective of Kougyoku approves, Kouen and Koumei found no other issues (being tied to a great sect is not bad too)

(They shop clothes together a lot and write to each other about fashion :D fashionable grape and Kougyoku whose hobby is fashion and beauty care. They exchange skin care and hair routines too! Shopping clothes with your homie is a very friend thing to do!)

Wei Wuxian comes back to life, MDZS stuff happens. Kougyoku comes to Jiang Cheng's side as soon as she gets the news. Jiang Cheng cries about it (of course) the fact that he was used as an instrument to his brother's demise, the golden core situation, everything. Kougyoku can relate, she was also used by Sinbad which led to her brothers losing the civil war and her brothers exiled from their homeland. They finally bond over their similarities while wasted. Kougyoku tells Jiang Cheng how amazing it is that he managed to get the Jiang clan back to being as, if not, more powerful than it once was, while she needed her just revived friend to get hers back. Jiang Cheng tells her that he'd never wish for her to go through that alone and that it's good she has friends to help her. They apologize for not reaching out when they needed each other the most and laughed at how silly it is to say sorry about it now, when it's over. (Jiang Cheng also felt like he should apologize to her for insulting Jin Guangyao's parentage, knowing her own status as a child of a prostitute and feeling belatedly that it's almost as if he insulted her too, Kougyoku doesn't really get it (she wasn't in the temple and they are both very drunk) but she says it's ok anyway. Kougyoku, while she doesn't like Wei Wuxian at all (this is the girl who fought a god like being, and the one who first damaged the thing just because it hurt her brother and friend, I believe she'd be petty enough to dislike Wei Wuxian although she'll keep her opinions to herself) still tells Jiang Cheng about how she forgave Alibaba for not telling her about the brainwashing despite knowing about it. That Alibaba didn't say anything to protect her and maybe it's the same for Wei Wuxian.

They get married, it's a pretty big celebration. They managed to sneak Kougyoku's brothers in but since they are supposedly in exile, Jiang Cheng had to do his bows to Hakuryuu and Hakuei. He hated it. Kougyoku did hers to Jin Ling as Jiang Cheng's only remaining living relative. They would've invited Wei Wuxian but they didn't know where to send the invite. (Now both brothers can lament over not being invited to weddings)

Some time later after they get married this happens

Jiang Cheng: (deep in thought)

Jin Ling: What's wrong JuiJui?

Jiang Cheng: Your Aunt... I think she found her true love.

Jin Ling: Aunty HongYuis cheating on you?! I knew it-

Jiang Cheng: I said she might've found her love. Listen to what people around you say A-Ling. I wouldn't want you to be the same as those gossipers outside.

Jin Ling: B-But, you're married?

Jiang Cheng: It was a marriage of convenience. (Sighs in frustration) I should've known that this would happen. ('Is this what mother felt like. How do I break off our marriage. I don't want to chain her in a loveless affair)

Meanwhile, Lian HongYu

Alibaba: Hi, HongYu, how's your marriage doing?

Lian HongYu: Bad, Alibaba, I think I may have fallen in love!

Alibaba: Didn't you just marry a while ago?

Lian HongYu: Yes.

Alibaba: ... Who did you fall in love with this time?

Lian HongYu: My husband!

Alibaba: I don't understand?

Lian HongYu: It's supposed to be a marriage of convenience!

Alibaba: Well, isn't that convenient?

Liang HongYu: No!!

Jiang Cheng and Lian HongYu

Lian HongYu: A-Cheng, I have a confession to make.

Jiang Cheng: this is it, she's going to tell me she found her true love and--

Lian HongYu: I have fallen in love with you.

Jiang Cheng: -she wants to break off the What?

Lian HongYu: I'm sorry, our marriage is supposed to be of convenience but I'd gone ahead and fallen for you, I promise this wouldn't change anything or if you're uncomfortable we can break off our marriage-

Jiang Cheng: I think I love you too.

Lian HongYu: ... You do?

Jiang Cheng: I do think I do.

Lian HongYu: (laughs) well, that is convenient!! I'm glad.

Jiang Cheng: 'I'm glad too.'

And they live happily ever after :DD

Here's some more of them!!

Another AU involves MDZS being set years and years and years after Magi ended so it's in the new world. The last king vessels assimilated with their Djinn and became spirits. Kou empire turned into the Jianghu and was fragmented into sects. Kouen's territory is occupied by the Wen, Hakuei's territory is occupied by the Lan, Kouha's is occupied by the Jin, Hakuryuu's occupied by the Nie and Kougyoku of course is with the Jiang. So in the years of Wei Wuxian's death, and Jiang Cheng being left behind and mourning, Kougyoku, the now spirit of sorrow and isolation awakens. She shows up to Jiang Cheng in her djinn equip form (insert Jiang Cheng getting flustered because an almost naked lady appears from the river, here) Kougyoku gets some proper clothes in Jiang Cheng's insistence and... They hang out. Kougyoku reveals that she was once the empress of a united Jianghu, she muses on how things have changed and she tells him about the former lords of the land the other sects rule over. She helps him rebuild, having done this before and saying that there's no shame in it! She was helped by a dear friend too, once upon a time.

Just a water spirit who doesn't act like one and a lonely young leader hanging out.

Cringetober Day 9: Crossover ship

I may have gone overboard.

This is for the very small overlap of Jiang Cheng enjoyers and Kougyoku lovers: me.

[bklily]

Baking a cookie of her boyfriend because she misses him :( he's only away for a week visiting family

(based on that one draw your ship format on twitter)

[letsplaythermalnuclearwar]

tbh I think Calypso views herself as Odysseus's rest and reward. like, she's the comfort in a hurt/comfort fic. she's the therapy saga. and honestly, a lot of her actions make sense when you look at it like that.

Odysseus is traumatised and scared and hurting. and she understands that. she's so understanding that she doesn't take it personally when he yells or screams or begs -- trauma makes it hard to regulate emotions, after all. he'll calm down in a little bit.

she's so understanding that she's not even hurt when he rejects her advances. he's been alone for so long that he's scared of intimacy now. but she doesn't let that discourage her. he'll get used to the idea eventually.

she's so understanding that she doesn't give up on him, even when he talks and talks and talks about his wife and son. obviously he wants to go back to them, but what he wants isn't what's good for him. that's fine, he doesn't need to know what's good for him yet. that's what she's for.

she's so understanding that she doesn't even let it upset her too much when Ody stands too close to the edge and stares out at sea below like its calling to him. it's okay. she can catch him if he falls.

sure, they're relationship isn't what she's dreamed about for centuries -- real relationships never are that perfect. her Ody has a lot of healing to do. and she'll make sure she's with him through it all.

[to-be-a-dreamer]

Not to get too involved in discourse but “Agatha is a deeply traumatized person who is acting out of a place of hurt and deserves sympathy for the pain she's had to endure and understanding that the majority of her wrongdoings were committed out of desperation for survival” and “Intention doesn’t erase outcome and her pain doesn't undo the trauma and horror she's committed against others; her victims don't owe her forgiveness before redemption and it is reasonable for people who know nothing about her past to distrust her based on her reputation and the persona she displays” are both true statements that can coexist.

Please remember that "morally gray" means a person is neither good nor bad. Please do not reduce this incredibly complex character to entirely evil or entirely innocent because she is neither. She has done truly terrible, unforgivable things and is also a victim of cruelty and injustice. Let her be both.

[slymanner]

this was smart <'3

[0809sysblings]

Amane actually 'caused' nothing because she waited until Mahiru died to kill Shidou, paralleling how she only killed her mom after her mom killed the cat. in this essay i will

[mewkwota]

You are merely toys for Him to play with.

Following after my previous ponderings between Hien and Juno in particular, I have a less-goofy interaction. So if it wasn't clear, I do not think they get along At All. I get the image of someone forced into a group project with people they can't stand but you need the grade.

But besides that, why did I pick (on) Hien? In addition to him being a human, Hien's actions were driven by his jealousy of Hiryu. So there must be a hint of inferiority hiding in there, no?

What a great mix with something that has no regard for living beings.

[kraviolis]

no one has explored the idea of darius and camila co-parenting hunter enough. like where the hell are the fics about darius calling camila asking if hunter left his derby uniform at her house or camila personally going to drop off hunter at his dad's house and sharing a cup of tea with him while she asks about hunter's grades at hexside and darius asks about hunter's sleeping habits and if she had any human alternatives to sleeping nettles that might help him sleep without the dream-enhancing side effect.

what about camila inviting darius to stay for dinner when he comes to drop off hunter at his mom's house and darius asking for the recipe and then asking the kids what ingredients he could substitute and which ones have to stay the same. or camila specifically adding three more lines to her phone plan-- one for vee, one for hunter, and one for darius so that they can keep in contact more easily. or hunter getting in trouble at school for picking a fight with boscha but when principal bump calls, darius is extremely busy with work so he calls camila and asks her to handle it.

maybe darius gets in an argument with hunter and he cant tell where he went wrong and calls camila and she listens and gives him her advice as someone whose been a parent for fourteen years vs. his own eight months. or camila opens up to darius about her own struggles with losing her husband and he opens up with his own grief over losing his mentor. or they talk on the phone for hours and gossip with each other. maybe darius comes over to hang out with camila and binge watch a new show with her while the kids are at school

[cherry-treelane]

I find it so ironically funny when hardcore Debbie defenders use the defense that she was just a victimised teenage girl (agreed) and then proceed to slander Fiona and express their hatred for her character and lack of sympathy

as if being an adult magically absolves an individual of the horrifying trauma that precedes them and screws up their mentality and actions

funnily enough these people get mad at others for "expecting Debbie to be an innocent angel and hating on her for acting out as a result of trauma" (also agreed, debbie does deserve more sympathy, she can't be expected to grow up to be a perfect saint when she's been through so much) yet seem to hold Fiona to the same unattainable standards and put her on a pedestal as if she wasnt a child that was forced to intensely grow up while never actually being raised

like lets put this into perspective and remember that fiona grew up surrounded by corrupt morals and insanely screwed up behaviour yet still emerged as messed up, yes, but surprisingly good considering the situation she was in??? she had to navigate basic things such as morals and being a good, responsible person on her own. imagine how difficult it must be to lead a bunch of kids, including yourself, with no previous role model or good example of your own to follow. most of the time, she always tried to do what she thought was best and would have the most desirable outcome

[rafyki]

Wanna write a fic about the others noticing the rings on Jack and Joke's fingers and be various stages of shocked (bc isn't it too soon??) and happy (bc they've all been waiting for them to get together for too long and have had enough of them and their suffering lmao)

[flamestar126]

Someone has a crush 😗

[cinematicnomad]

watching the docuseries about that grey's anatomy writer who faked having cancer and a bunch of other insane lies and it is WILD and unbelievable and i cannot wrap my brain around the fact that anyone would do this, but also, apparently she was the one who wrote alex karev's goodbye ep and so now i'm like. raising my hand, i too feel personally victimized by regina george 😂

[flightfoot]

Do you think that Marinette is fit to be a hero given that she just broke down and cried when she lost miracle box despite being experienced holder?

I don't see why her breaking down and crying at that point would mean she was unfit to be a hero? Of course she panicked and was devastated, that was a major blow. She's 14, it's unreasonable to expect her to be completely unfazed no matter what disaster occurs. Heck, it's unreasonable to expect that of even adults.

[victorluvsalice]

Valicer Not-Incorrect Quotes, Valentine's Day Edition

Alice: [seeing a Valentine's Day display in a store a couple of days after New Year's] Ugh, really?

Victor: [looking over] Oh -- uh, that is a bit soon, isn't it?

Smiler: [also looking over] Hey, it's not as bad as it could be -- Valentine's is only a month away! It's not like they're promoting St. Patrick's, or Easter.

Alice: True, but still -- you'd think they'd give us some sort of a break between holidays. [rolling her eyes] Of course, Valentine's Day is just an excuse to sell people terrible chocolate and useless tat anyway. Do we really need a whole holiday that says "oh, if you don't bury your partner in flowers or drag them out for an expensive dinner, you don't really love them and you should--"

Alice: [stops as she notes Smiler and Victor both looking very awkward]

Alice: ...you two like Valentine's Day, don't you?

Victor: [weak smile] I -- uh -- well -- i-it's nice to have an excuse to make a bit of a fuss over you two?

Smiler: I have an ugly sweater and everything.

Alice: ...you know, I really should have guessed.

--

Smiler: [dressed in a black sweater covered in bands of yellow and purple hearts, presenting a pink-wrapped box to Victor with a big grin] Happy Valentine's Day, Victor! I come bearing gift!

Victor: [dressed more soberly in a blue sweater, smiling and offering Smiler a yellow-wrapped box in return] Happy Valentine's Day, Smiler. Here's your present.

Smiler: Thanks! [takes their box and nods to the one they gave Victor] Go on, open it! It's a weird little novelty item, but I'm sure you'll like it!

Victor: [chuckling at their enthusiasm] All right, all right. [opens the box and blinks] What -- is this --

Smiler: A phone shaped like a piano? Yup! Found it online -- I know nobody uses landlines anymore, but I figured you could put it on your desk, maybe use it as a paperweight.

Victor: [grinning, pressing the keys] Oh, this is fun -- thank you so much! [a little shyly as he nods at Smiler's present] I-I hope you like yours -- I found it online as well, and t-thought it would be perfect for you!

Smiler: Hey, I'm sure it's great! [opens up the box -- and stops dead, staring]

Victor: [leaning over] So, ah, this is an antique alchemy set -- it's got all the original bottles, though I'm pretty sure none of the ingredients are any good anymore, and all the original measuring tools and such. And a really tiny grater, which I thought you'd think was funny. I just -- I know i-it's probably too expensive, but I really wanted you to have it, and --

Victor: [suddenly noticing Smiler's face] Are you crying?!

Smiler: [hastily wiping their eyes] No?

--

Victor: [with Alice now, handing over a smaller, thinner blue-wrapped box a touch awkwardly] Happy Valentine's Day, Alice. I, uh, I got you something.

Alice: [wearing a red sweater because she's not totally immune to dressing up a bit for the day, smiles and reaches into a bright red bag] Happy Valentine's Day! I got you something too. [pulls out a navy plush dragon with a turquoise underbelly and gold-colored head fringe, ear fins, and claws] Taa-daa.

Victor: [eyes light up as he sees the dragon, accepting it with a bright smile] Oh! Alice, this is lovely! Do they have a name?

Alice: Well, the Douglas Toys website called them Aragon, but you can call them whatever you want. I remembered you liked dragons from those stories you told us about imagining having "Blue Ben" from Klive as your friend as a child, and stuffed animals are the one traditional Valentine's Day gift that I myself like, so... [little shrug]

Victor: [hugs the dragon] It's wonderful. Thank you. [shoots a slightly-nervous look at his box] I-I hope you like mine just as much.

Alice: I'm sure I will. You know better than to get me something ridiculous. [opens up her box...and just stares for a moment]

Victor: [shyly, still hugging his dragon] So, um, I found out about this blacksmith who recreates all sorts of weapons, and I commissioned them to do your Vorpal Blade. T-that's why I was so intent on drawing it before -- I w-wanted to make sure I had it just right when I sent it on. I -- I know i-it's probably a bit m-much, but -- I know how much W-Wonderland, and that blade, m-means to you, and when I realized I could g-get you a real one, I just --

Alice: [leans over to silence him with a finger on his lips, a little teary-eyed but smiling] You have absolutely no sense of proportion and I love you.

Victor: [blushes]

--

Alice: Hey, Smiler?

Smiler: What's up?

Alice: I had a question -- is it usual for metamours to exchange gifts on Valentine's Day?

Smiler: Depends on the relationship, I'd say! I don't think there's any hard and fast rules -- some people might consider it too much, some people wouldn't. It's all about the vibes!

Alice: I see.

Alice & Smiler: [look at each other in silence for a moment]

Alice: [produces a yellow gift bag]

Smiler: [produces a heart-paper-wrapped box]

Alice: [snorts] Right, I don't know why I was worried... Anyway, happy Valentine's Day! [offers the bag]

Smiler: Happy Valentine's Day! [trades the box for the bag and looks inside] What -- oh! [pulls out a little plush yellow-banded poison dart frog] Where'd you get this little guy?

Alice: Found it online -- I very much wanted to get you a plush frog, but as you might imagine, most of them are green. So I started looking for someone who did them in more unusual colors, and happened to stumble across that. Very lucky accident, that.

Smiler: [petting it with a couple of fingers] Very lucky indeed -- thanks! Now open yours!

Alice: [does just that, pulling the paper off the box to reveal] A checkerboard cake kit?

Smiler: Yup! I know you like cake, so I was going to get you a basket of cake mix and frosting mix and sprinkles -- but then I happened to see this while in the store and thought it was definitely your thing! After all, you've got a chess-themed land up there to go with all the card stuff!

Alice: [smiles] I do -- and I've seen checkerboard cakes before, and always thought they looked amazing. Could never figure out how they did them, though -- now I guess I've got the chance to find out!

Smiler: Exactly! [winks] See, it's not all useless tat.

Alice: [sticks her tongue out at them] Yes, yes...

--

Alice: [walking to Victor's bedroom with Smiler] So -- an entire antique alchemy set?

Smiler: Yes, it's fucking amazing, I really gotta show you later. And he seriously got you the Vorpal Blade?

Alice: Commissioned it from an actual blacksmith -- I'll have to show you later. [shakes her head] Just -- it's incredible, and I love him so much, but -- it does make me feel a little bit bad for spending under forty dollars US on his present.

Smiler: Hey, no, don't be like that. I didn't spend that much on his either, but I'm sure he liked it. This isn't a contest we have to win. [small smile] Which is good, because he's the one with money and would win easily.

Alice: [laughs] I know, I know. But -- well, it would be nice to have a little extra reassurance that he liked mine too, you know?

Smiler: Yeah, I suppose I wouldn't mind that my --

Smiler: [stops as they come to the open door of Victor's bedroom]

Alice: [raises an eyebrow] What?

Smiler: [beckons her to stand next to them]

Alice: [does so, looking inside]

Victor: [is sitting at his desk, setting up his new dragon so their front claws are resting on the keys of their new piano phone, beaming]

Victor: [feels eyes upon him and turns around] Oh! [blushes a little, rubbing the back of his neck] I -- B-Benny wants to play the piano too.

Alice: [smiling warmly] So I see.

Smiler: [also smiling warmly] Good for Benny. [smile turns a little -- predatory] Though it's a good thing he's looking away, because I don't think we're quite done giving you presents yet...

[suranastair]

Esteri Ingellvar 💀

🟢 Age || 39 🟢 Lineage || Elf 🟢 Pronouns || She/Her 🟢 Identity || Hetero/Demisexual 🟢 Class || Mage 🟢 Specialization(s) || Death Caller 🟢 Faction || The Mourn Watch 🟢 Romance || Emmrich 🟢 Besties || Bellara & Lucanis 🟢 Frenemies || Neve

[alicepao13]

Wouldn't it have been fun if Sarah had been the one to choose Charlie's undercover outfit for S04E07 "A Stab in the Dark Web"? Because he doesn't really look like he can put together that outfit without some help.