#shen yi/gu yun

[northofallmusic]

A chunk of a shengu WIP I meant to have finished and posted weeks ago. Yanhui Town, Gu Yun no homo-ing himself, sharing a bed allegedly because it's fucking cold. v lightly nsfw.

//

They had recently returned from scouting, slinking back into their shut-up house in Yanhui Town late at night. It was cold, and warming one room would be enough work, and so it was natural enough that they would share a bed.

Gu Yun's vision was as clear as it got, and his hearing was passable, but he was the useless layabout Shen Shiliu just now, and so he lay sprawled on the bed and let Shen Yi light the stove all the same. Watched him. His somewhat harsh profile, his hands and their quick movements. He had good hands, both strong and precise.

"Lazy bastard," Shen Yi said, giving him a sidelong look. He didn't expect a response, and Gu Yun didn't give him one. When Shen Yi came to bed, he shoved Gu Yun over to make space with less gentleness than he might have, and without a scrap of deference.

Gu Yun laughed, and turned to lie with his front pressed to Shen Yi's sturdy back.

"Your face is like ice," Shen Yi said. Gu Yun pressed his cheek more heavily against Shen Yi's neck.

"My hands are too," he said, and slipped one of them into the folds of Shen Yi's robe to demonstrate.

Shen Yi hissed in displeasure, but let Gu Yun's hand stay there, tucked against his stomach. Warmth seeped slowly into Gu Yun's fingers.

Gu Yun thought, not for the first time: do they wonder, any of the people here? Anyone can arrive in a town where nobody knows them and say that they're brothers. His looks are nothing like mine.

But if they don't think we're really brothers, that's fine. They'll think that we're—well—

Something that would really ruin any hope of his attracting beauties here.

How absurd. How absurd—to be anything like that.

After a while, Shen Yi shifted, stretched himself out in a more proper sleeping posture. The bed was too narrow for Gu Yun to comfortably follow suit, and so he stayed against Shen Yi's side. It was convenient, also, to leave his hand on Shen Yi's stomach—and it was simple restlessness which meant his fingers wandered—

Shen Yi sighed, shifted his legs apart slightly. Gu Yun rolled half on top of him, wedged a thigh between his.

It wasn't really like sex, because Gu Yun was fairly particular about sex, about how one ought to have it, the atmosphere, the proper kinds of teasing and seduction—while whatever this was could be allowed to simply happen sometimes, in the dark, in a conveniently shared bed, or pressed together in a cramped tent.

Shen Yi's hand ghosted its way down to Gu Yun's waist, and rested there, spreading a pleasant tingling feeling up and down Gu Yun's side as they moved idly.

People lived their lives like this, in soft and accessible bodies. Shelless. They had already packed their armour away, having removed it before they came within sight of the town. A change of clothes. Gu Yun letting his hair down into a style which was more careless than relaxed.

[airplane69]

[tiff-reed]

i need to see shen yi and gu yun and their shenanigans so bad 😭🙏🏻

[save-the-earthworms]

The fact that besties Gu Yun and Shen Yi have the same voice actors as donghua Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng heals my soul

[hyperboleigh91]

I love Gu Yun and Shen Yi's friendship because it's himbo squared. Two types of himbos for the price of one. I could read endless stories of their antics and bromance and be happy.

[whoisthatmovinginthedark]

Shen Yi walked over with quiet steps. He took a hold of Gu Yun’s hand which was hanging limply over the edge of the bed. When the bed curtain was lowered, Gu Yun could no longer sense people going in and out of the tent. Only now, when he felt the familiar pattern of calluses caused by handling the wind slasher did he realise it was Shen Yi who had come.

I love it how this implies that, despite the often mentioned bickering and some emotional walls, their friendship has elements of closeness and affection in such a way that Gu Yun is able to recognise Shen Yi's hand by feel like this in a camp full of wind slasher users.

[t-taxiansgf]

STARS OF CHAOS: SHA PO LANG (NOVEL) Vol. 1 by priest! Debuts in English in July

[travalerray]

frankly the most surprising reveal is that they aren't actually brothers

[lunarriviera]

under the skin meta: The Monologue™ (part 1)

[spoilers for s2 in general and ep 20 in specific—which, trust me, you really don't want to watch out of order. it's worth waiting for this one.]

if you’ve seen The Monologue, you understand. this is why tan jianci fans are somewhere on a spectrum from chronically bitter to unendingly distraught about never not yet getting to see him play gu yun in sha po lang/winner is king. if uts were a north american prestige drama, tjc would have just handily won an emmy. as it is he’ll probably just be in a bunch of romcoms and do more goofy stuff on hi6, and that’s fine too. i guess we’ll always have “wet the bed.”

where was i oh right The Monologue. this will be long but it’s possibly the most glorious moment in this entire drama so here we go.

to build up to it, tho, we need backstory: namely, season two's gradual unraveling of shen yi. we know he can’t sleep well and has ghastly nightmares about a little girl he didn’t save, mostly because he didn’t consciously know she was in any danger. in her red dress, like the little girl in schindler’s list, she stands out, tragic amidst the desaturation, and shen yi makes a variety of horrified faces about having failed her. (horrified faces seem to be his main ones this season, which is partly what makes The Monologue so exciting.)

anyway shen yi has already been pretty thoroughly harrowed by this particular case as it is, having been the one to figure out (of course) the serial murderer’s ritualistic pattern and motive. shen yi turns his most Horrified Face to du cheng to warn him that the next victim's in danger, and they have this exchange, which will be important later.

(what du cheng says is 别担心, which also gets translated as "rest assured"—like, don't let your heart be uneasy. i got this.)

so du cheng takes off to save the victim, and shen yi goes back to his office to do…actually, what does he think he’s going to do? some paperwork, a little light filing, maybe sharpen some pencils? instead he predictably goes into a glass-shattering fugue state, and imagines the little girl. this begins the monologue scene, even though it all takes place in shen yi’s head. pls indulge me by watching it again, bc i assume you’ve already seen it anyway, and my god it’s such a gorgeous piece of face journey that ALSO sets up what’s to follow.

in some ways this compressed little piece is even better than what comes after. the way he FLIES to her and FALLS to his knees, just rushes up to her stammering and devastated and PROMISING he'll save her this time. honestly it destroyed me, i watched it like 5 times in a row before i could even move on. the unheld-back generosity of this brief performance, the way he’s completely focused on her and then just FALLS APART, it snapped my heart like a carrot stick.

me, a fangirl: SHEN YI SHEN YI NO BB NO PLS SOMEONE HELP HIM me, film nerd: huh fascinating never seen an actor's lips shake before

so now he understands what he needs to do. what he MUST do. having had this revelation, shen yi shows up at the killer’s door, creepy-smiling at him and barging inside. and then he delivers The Monologue, ten solid nearly-uncut minutes of sheer batshit insanity.

shen yi rants. he raves. he paces and pivots and gestures, he thinks aloud, he surmises and expostulates and revises and reverses and exclaims and delivers each conclusion with rabid glee. he scowls and shouts and is sinister and grins and is just one thousand fucking percent unhinged.

we have never, ever seen shen yi like this before, and thank god, because he would scare people on the regular, and he’s scary enough as it is. why do you think he wears all those baggy pastels and smiles so sweetly. why do you think he tries to pass as an unassuming twink, it’s because if people knew what was really going on inside his head half the time, they’d be screaming crying passing out. (tho the beauty of shen yi is: he also really is just an unassuming twink.)

anyway there i was, like a bonehead, stupidly trying to screenrecord this scene before i realized it would be like fifty gig of fire emoji, and then my hands fell limply at my sides, bc it dawned on me what was actually happening. sort of like that moment in “free churro” when you realize bojack horseman really is going to keep giving this heartbreaking eulogy for the length of the entire episode.

because The Monologue is virtuoso. it's tour de force. this is the kind of thing they play at the oscars during your "in memoriam" clip reel. this is what undergrads copy for their audition pieces. this is some heath ledger shit. it's jack nicholson in the shining, al pacino in scarface. this is about one inch away from brando.

as a result of all this, shen yi has the serial killer (whose name is ge yutian by the way) eating out of his goddamn hand within like half a minute, absolutely spellbound—which is the entire point. if shen yi doesn’t convince him, all of this glorious sorcery is for nothing.

(the guy who plays ge yutian is good too, a perfect scene partner for this. he picks up every cue and lets tjc have all the room he needs.)

just a few more notes on the performance, both tjc's and shen yi's:

1. where it really goes off the rails is when shen yi shrieks, DAMN POLICE! and ge yutian JUMPS in alarm. this not only made me laugh (him being so bonkers that he actually frightens a serial murderer!) but is also the moment when The Monologue stops being "aw haha such a fun thing for an actor to get to do" and “…jesus christ what the fuck am i watching." look how i couldn't even get a non-potato screencap. it's from this point on that shen yi is possessed.

2. because he has to show that he identifies with ge yutian, that the killer can and should trust him because they think alike. but that’s just the old “FBI profiler eventually becomes his prey” cliché, so there’s more to it. he also has to convince ge yutian that his ideas, shen yi's, are ge yutian's ideas, from the inside out—and therefore he's the right candidate for the sheng role. and finally, that it's precisely his ability to act, to be a strong performer, that makes him the right choice. that it’s shen yi who’s most suitable, thanks to his convincing mimesis of ge yutian’s highly suspect “thought process."

3. to really pull this off, even as shen yi builds him up (cf. ge yutian clapping enthusiastically, enthralled by this flattering vision), he also has to tear him down. so he plays two roles at once: ge yutian and an unknown theatre critic—who’s also shen yi, because he’s still the righteous officer of the People’s Police, here to inform ge yutian that his vision is sick and twisted, and not anything his gentle-hearted lover would have wanted, not her way of being in the world.

4. finally i would argue that shen yi's admittedly shaky s2 state here suddenly seems a lot more bolted-on. a few viewers have worriedly described The Monologue almost as some kind of psychotic break but honestly i read it as so very controlled and so very deliberate. while he’s desperate (must save victim this time. must not fuck it up again.) he’s not deranged. he absolutely knows what he’s doing.

i'm sorry to say part 2 will follow. but to conclude for now:

• actors are witches. • 16:9 can no longer contain tjc’s talent this man needs 1.85:1 • you hardly ever get to see someone just NAIL IT TO THE WALL like this, what a time to be alive • (and these were long takes too. there wasn't that much editing. that was all him. and you can see three uncut minutes of it here) • pls watch under the skin for some unexpectedly fine acting as well as ofc crime drama, ensemble comedy, weird art historical facts, and captain du cheng (jin shijia), who alternates between being a giant goofball and an aloof occasionally scary badass. also they’re in love.

[ihavedonenothingright]

An Update to the Shendex

Hello all!

A little while ago, I made a post asking people to send me a list of main characters or love interests in danmei with the surname "Shen" in order to create a comprehensive list. That received a bit more traction than I thought it would, but not much in the way of new Shens. I am happy to announce, however, that I have googled the hell out of this and found an additional 20+ Official, Honorary, and Supporting Character Shens to add to the prospective Shendex. Here is the list (at present).

The Current Shendex

Seven Seas Danmei

Shen Shiliu/Gu Yun (Stars of Chaos)

Shen Qiao (Thousand Autumns)

Shen Qingqiu/Shen Yuan (The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System)

Shen Wei (Guardian)

Shen Zechuan (Ballad of Sword and Wine)

Novel Updates

Shen Ci (Vase Cannon Fodder Is Pampered by the Group Again)

Shen Gurong (Transmigrated Into The High-Risk Profession Life As A Master)

Shen Jin (After Being Moved to Tears by the Sworn Enemy’s Pheromones)

Shen Jin (Agreement Mark)

Shen Jue (A Hundred Ways To Kill A Heartthrob)

Shen Junci (Insights of the Medical Examiner)

Shen JunXi (Transmigrated into the Pastoral Scenery)

Shen Ke (Dandy Escapes From Marriage)

Shen Kong (The Professional Three Views Rectifier [Book Transmigration])

Shen Li (After the Accident, My Boyfriend Got Straight)

Shen Lin (Welcome to the Game Room of Supremacy Luck)

Shen Mofeng (No Money)

Shen Qi (Applaud for Happiness)

Shen Qianling (Everywhere in Jianghu is Wonderful/The Jianghu is Full of Local Tyrants)

Shen Qingcheng (Please Stop Pretending To Be a Cute Newcomer!)

Shen Ruo (Turned out I am a Scheming Little Cannon Fodder)

Shen Tanqi (The Male Lead Ran Away With My Ball)

Shen Tingzhou (I’m a Family Doctor in a Domineering Boss Novel)

Shen Ye (Accidentally Marked The Archenemy)

Shen Yu (Silent Concubine)

Shen Yunxing (Pregnant With The Pup Of A Wealthy Old Man)

Shen Zhixian (It's Not Easy Being a Master)

Honorary Shens

Fu Shen (Golden Terrace)

Lu Tian Shen (Dramatic Fake Young Master Holds the Group’s Favorite Script)

Luoshen (Let Me Go, I’m Not Pregnant)

Tang Shen (The Kingdom That Never Sleeps)

Xu Shen (Transmigrating to 1983)

Supporting Character Shens

Shen Jiu (The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System)

Shen Xingtang (Genius Mechanic)

Shen Yi (Stars of Chaos)

Shen Yuanting (Transmigrated as a Cannon Fodder Who Married into a Wealthy Family)

Now Onto Business...

Now that I have enough Shens to justify the existence of the Shendex, the question becomes how to format it. I'm not the best with this sort of thing, so anyone who wants to help is completely welcome (just DM me). As for how it should look... let's put it to a vote.

My aim is for every entry to include the characters used for each entry's name, a picture if possible, and a quick description of their story as well as a link to it. This could take a while, so I think I'll update it in bits and pieces. As always, you are welcome to send in a Shen if you please---just make sure to stick to danmei because otherwise this thing is going to get looooooong.

See you all next update!

[northofallmusic]

spl fic: within the war (shen yi & gu yun, gu yun/shen yi-ish, t, 1900 words

prompt fill for lianzi: shen yi and gu yun having weird charged moments in adolescence and young adulthood.

pre-canon relationship study; unexamined kinda romantic feelings which will be staying unexamined; gu yun being hard to look after.

Shen Yi and Gu Yun and the things they are to each other: four scenes from the early years of Gu Yun's command of the Black Iron Battalion.

read on ao3 ➢

[anqelbean]

Chang Geng, after finding out Shen Yi is actually a general: Right now, even if Yifu turns out to be Marquis Gu Yun, I wouldn't be surprised ( `−ㅿ−´)

Gu Yun: *is revealed*

Chang Geng: (¬､¬)

Gu Yun: Eh? No reaction??

[tiff-reed]

shen yi & gu yun 🙁🫶🏻

im trying to figure out what scene this could possibly be,,,

[flower-of-the-desert]

Favorite scenes from Stars of Chaos vol 3

I finished the 3rd vol of spl and I'm soooo obsessed with changgu rn, it's taken over all the brain space in my head. And since the 4th vol also just came out yesterday (very IMPATIENTLY waiting for it to arrive in my greedy little paws lmfao) I wanted to put down my favorite scenes so far in no particular order. Under the cut for spoilers obviously if you havent read this part yet.

First place winner goes to Gu Yun casually dropping a marriage proposal like a few months after their first kiss?? I love a man who knows exactly what he wants. Also Gu Yun has been such a delight1 He kept surprising me as I was reading with how romantic and devoted he became once he realised his feelings.

Their first time having sex kasdhskjdkls chang geng's yifu kink becoming full on canon was so sexy and just everything about that moment was so good, how vulnerable they both were, how passionate and possessive of each other ("from now on this person is mine" 🔥🔥🔥🔥)

Chang Geng's nightmare of Gu Yun rejecting him because he's become a ruthless person who seeks only power (such a good way to show us Chang Geng's fears and what goes on in his mind!) and then the real Gu Yun showing up and promising to protect and support Chang Geng and make sure he wont go down a bad path. Also Gu Yun getting PISSED when Chang Geng tried to leave and said he'd go back to the prince Yan estate like pls that was so so hot. Gu Yun is so damn possessive of his little prince and he wont tolerate Chang Geng leaving his side.

The city wall kiss and the way it sparked so much delicious relationship development between them! I love desperate we might die so I want to feel this at least once kisses 😍

Gu Yun finding out about the whole Chang Geng backstory and the curse. I was so excited for this moment since I started reading spl and it did not disappoint! Gu Yun's barely contained rage over what Chang Geng suffered and his anguish when he realised the day they met for the first time Chang Geng was probably trying to end his life in that storm (I also hadnt realised the implication until this moment so I loved the way it hit me and Gu Yun at the same time). And then his immediate determination to take care of Chang Geng always and make sure he's safe and healthy 🥺🥺

Gu Yun thinking about how he always knew how his life would end - defending the borders, dying in some fight with their enemies, bringing glory to his family name like he's supposed to except now that he has Chang Geng, he wants /more/, wants to give the rest of his life to Chang Geng and decides to start taking care of his health so he can have more time with him. My favourite Priest thing is characters who have given up on live and want to die suddenly finding the love of their life and wanting to live for them (zzs, gu yun, fei du - MY BELOVEDS!!)

Chang Geng's struggle between wanting to hide the ugly parts of himself from Gu Yun and not let him see how ruthless he can be and wanting to show Gu Yun /everything/ so he realises what kind of person Chang Geng is (in his own eyes - a bad one).

Learning more about Shen Yi's backstory and his home life was nice and it makes more excited for his romance with the badass doctor Chen (whom I looooove).

The last fight between Gu Yun and Chang Geng and how Gu Yun didnt hold back in calling Chang Geng on his bullshit and Chang Geng's responce being to get horny about it lmfao

[hyperboleigh91]

Shen Yi: "I don't approve of your relationship."

Gu Yun: "Because you're in love with me?"

Shen Yi: "What?! No!"

Gu Yun: "How could you say that? I'm very attractive."

[save-the-earthworms]

SPL Highlights (volumes 1 and 2):

Gu Yun playing the xun horribly.

Ge Pangxiao pissing on a barbarian soldier's face.

Gu Yun's one-sided beef with Liao Ran.

Chen Qingxu playing a pipa in the middle of a battle.

Gu Yun stealing a wooden flute made by Chang Geng from a little girl and keeping it for five years.

Cao Niangzi learning Japanese after hearing it for a few minutes.

Ge Pangxiao's glow up.

Shen Yi falling in love with Ge Pangxiao's messenger birds.

ChangGu's drunken makeout.

Chang Geng straight up confessing his love for Gu Yun and Gu Yun insisting it's just a phase.

Gu Yun adopting a rat.

The fact that there are western people in this story.

The steampunk sea monster.

Gu Yun.