#something that LXC WOULD WANT for his brother

[admirableadmiranda]

I recently read somewhere here (won't name them) that after the Guanyin Temple confession, Lan Wangji's actions were selfish. That he should have stayed there to comfort his brother who has just lost (and killed) the love of his life instead of f-ing of to screw the love of his life. The person has referenced chapter 110 (111 on some websites) where Lan Wangji says that even comfort from his brother by birth will be in vain.

I hope you will analyse that part. Because I think it is a translation issue. It doesn't sound like something Lan Wangji would say. I would have accepted that person's analysis if their post wasn't so blatantly anti-wangxian?

Well anon, the thing is that the person posting it does have the correct line. It’s not a translation issue.

The issue is their whole interpretation of the situation. Lan Xichen was not in love with Jin Guangyao, he did not kill the love of his life and this person is doing the same rude shit as a lot of people who don’t like Wangxian choosing each other over nebulous ideas of duty.

They are taking a narration line and putting it in Lan Wangji’s mouth from the sound of it, lemme grab it for you. It is from Chapter 111, right after Wei Wuxian reveals that the Guanyin in the temple looks like Jin Guangyao’s mother.

“[Wei Wuxian] turned and glanced back, letting out a rare sigh, “I don’t want to care about any of those nasty things anymore. This is it.”

Lan WangJi nodded and tightened Lil’ Apple’s reins. He continued to walk with it.

Each could only deal with their own troubles. Even if Lan XiChen was his brother by birth, Lan WangJi couldn’t do anything to help him right now. Comfort was useless. It’d all be in vain.”

Bolded line highlighted for necessary emphasis.

It’s just narration there, it’s being treated as a fact - and it is. The things that Lan Xichen needs right now are not things that Lan Wangji can provide him. Lan Xichen needs time and space to grapple with everything that he saw and his own role in all the events that came to pass. What could Lan Wangji do? Lan Xichen is confronting his own guilt both in what he participated in and what he looked aside from, things that brought irreparable harm to a lot of people including his brother and the love of his brother’s life.

How would Lan Wangji staying help anything there? Lan Xichen has just watched them cuddle through a siege, flirt and laugh and tell each other how much they loved each other. It is the one unquestioningly good thing to come out of that night, something that he wanted, for his brother to be happy. That’s the whole crux of his rant at Wei Wuxian, he wants his brother to be happy and he thinks that Wei Wuxian is knowingly toying with his feelings.

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian are already planning to elope even before anyone else gets there. They sneak off really quickly and easily. Lan Xichen is not looking for them, he’s busy telling Lan Qiren to shut up and let him think.

Lan Xichen is already filled with guilt and confusion over what’s happened, but also think about how much worse it would feel if he knew his brother set aside his own marriage and honeymoon to come sit with him, sacrificing his own happiness to Lan Xichen again, this time much more knowingly. That wouldn’t make him feel better. That wouldn’t make anyone who has a shred of empathy feel better. It is more likely a comfort to Lan Xichen to know that something good did come out of that terrible night.

They return three months later, when they are settled and choose to come back and then Lan Xichen is ready for that comfort. He wouldn’t have wanted it then. It was too soon and the cost of it would have been too high.

These brothers care about each other and know each other well and they are in their thirties. They are not helpless children any longer. Lan Xichen is not alone and suffering, he returns to his clan with hundreds of people living in it to pick up the ashes at his feet. He has solace in knowing that at least one person is happy and better off despite his actions in the matter. Let him have that.

I hate that stupid trend you reference in your post. I hate the idea that Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji have to continue sacrificing their lives and everything else to take care of the people around them first.

They have been parted by circumstance, homophobia, war, the aftermath of war and fucking death for twenty years. They have in fact actually gone through worse than most of the rest of the cast and somehow finally found their way back to each other and a happy ending. What more do people want before they are allowed to be selfish for once in their lives?

[only10th]

Thinking about a what if A-Yuan remembers being placed in the hollow tree by Wwx? What if he remembers Wwx and his family?

When A-Yuan woke up and realized he was in CR he expected for his Xian-gege to appear around the corner. It only made sense since rich-gege was there. Even tho it only happened once, A-Yuan noticed how close his Xian-gege stood to the Rich-gege, and how they moved almost in a synchronized manner.

“Rich-gege, where Xian-gege?”

There’s only silence from the Lan cultivator, eyes already watering and tears quickly flowing down his face. The reaction has A-Yuan confused. Why would rich-gege cry? He saved him and Xian-Gege from the scary people, just like Xian-gege said he would.

The child looks around, patiently waiting. He knows Xian-gege loves to play hide and seek, it’s their favorite game after all! Oh, maybe rich-gege felt sad because Xian-gege kept winning! So, A-Yuan moves closer to LWJ, softly patting his cheek and whipping the tears away. “S’okay! Xian-gege is good at playing hide and seek, sometimes he hides really good! I’ll help you find him!”

That only seems to make the man want to curl onto himself, harsh sobs being wrenched from his chest. He was holding on to something, clutching it close to his chest as if it was part of him. A child can be curious, so he tries to see what it is. He gasps when he notices the red fabric. It’s Xian-Gege’s red ribbon!

“You found it!” A-Yuan celebrates, “Xian-Gege lost it. He’ll be so happy that rich-gege found his ribbon!”

“A-Yuan…” LWJ whispers brokenly. Nothing more comes from him, but now the child is a bit concerned as to why Rich-Gege is crying so much. It reminded him of when he’d see Xian-gege crying and he didn’t like when he cried. So he tries to gather himself and give rich-gege a hug, but the man winces loudly when he tries to round his arms over his shoulders.

“Rich-gege…?” A-Yuan asks alarmed, now noticing the red staining his pretty white robes. Xian-Gege always talked about how he liked rich-gege’s robes, how pretty it made him look even though they looked like mourning robes. The stain only seemed to grow bigger, and only then is when the child starts to panic, “Xian-gege? Xian-Gege will help! Xian-gege, stop hiding, rich-gege needs help!”

“Wangji?” Someone unexpectedly comes speed walking into the room. More people with white robes come into the room, all their faces with alarm and worry. By instinct, A-Yuan stands in front of LWJ. Xian-Gege told him that Rich-Gege was the only good person he knew from the sect that wore white robes, they couldn’t be trusted.

“S-Stay away!” A-Yuan warns, his small body blocking the larger man behind him. “Don’t h-hurt rich-gege, o-or Xian-gege will be mad!”

The healers and LXC can only look at the child, perplexed at how he protected LWJ. Even more so at the term of endearment used to describe their HGJ and the late YLLZ.

LXC tries to step closer, but that only makes the child puff his chest and stretch his arms wider, just like Ning-ge had taught him. “Young one, we are here to take care of Wangji. We won’t bring any harm to him.”

A-Yuan stares at the man that looks similar to LWJ, but he can’t help but be cautious of him. The child shakes his head, “Xian-gege said not to trust anyone that’s not Rich-gege. Xian-Gege and A-Yuan help rich-gege.”

There’s clear conflict in LXC eyes as he looks at the boy and then at his brother. Has Wangji not told him the news yet? But his priority was to take care of Wangji’s wounds, and he could easily just go around the child, but that would only cause trouble. So he nods in understanding, kneeling until he is at eye level with the boy.

“You are a fierce protector, I must admire that. However, my didi needs help. His wounds… are far too great.”

“Then Qing-jie can help! Qing-jie is the best doctor!”

LXC pressed his lips together before sighing, “I’m afraid… Wen Qing is not here to help us.”

Qing-jie still hasn’t come back? But Xian-gege told him she’d come back with Ning-ge. He looks around one more time… where is everyone? Why hasn’t Xian-Gege come out of his hiding place? The boy backs up until his back collides with LWJ's chest, who instantly wraps his arms around him and envelopes him in a tight embrace.

“Rich-gege… Wh-Where is Xian-gege?”

LWJ inhales sharply and then in a mere whisper he says, “I’m sorry…”

It doesn’t make sense, why would he apologize? He didn’t like any of this… he didn’t like the sour feeling in his stomach and he didn’t like how sad rich-gege looked. “I want Xian-gege…”

“I’m sorry, A-Yuan…. I’m sorry…” LWJ repeated with grief, more tears flowing down his cheeks. He had the same expression Xian-Gege had when he woke up after Ning-ge brought him back from his trip. It was scary to see Xian-gege and Ning-ge fighting. “I couldn’t protect him… please, forgive me…” LWJ sobbed as he hugged the child tighter.

At some point, A-Yuan’s eyes started to sting with tears. He wanted his Xian-gege and his popo, and Qing-Jie, and Ning-ge… where were they…?

“Where is Xian-gege…?” He asked again but this time with tears slowly falling down his cheeks. He couldn’t take it anymore, the uncertainty. The sad look the people in white gave him and rich-gege crying.

With a shove, he escapes the safe, warm embrace and scrambles out of the bed and runs past everyone and out of the nice house. The world outside was brighter, it almost blinded him how the sky was so blue and there was green everywhere. It was so unlike the grey and darkness casting over the mountain that he called home.

“Xian-gege!!” A-Yuan screamed as he ran, ignoring the calls from the people in the house. “A-Niang! A-Niang!”

The boy ran, and ran until his little legs couldn’t carry him any longer. He hadn’t realized where he was going, but he found himself surrounded by tall trees. It was too much. He just wanted his A-Niang to come get him. So he cried for him. He cried for his family to come get him.

“A-Yuan!” Someone called desperately, “A-Yuan!”

“A-Niang…?” He swears he saw a flutter of dark robes through the trees, but once the person came into the light he realized it was LWJ. Despair and fear clouded his features as he called for the boy, and it reminded him when he got lost in the market and had met rich-gege for the first time.

Rich-gege was safe, it’s what Wwx always said to him. So A-Yuan stands from where he was hiding and runs towards LWJ, clinging to his leg just like he had the first time.

LWJ instantly crumbles, picking and hugging the boy despite the bloody mess on his back. “A-Yuan…”

A-Yuan sniffles, burying his face on his chest. Staining his robes with tears, “Xian-gege…”

LWJ sucks in a sharp breath, “Gone… Forgive me…”

So both of them cry, being there for each other as they mourn the ones they lost.

[wangxianficfinder]

Fic Finder

Dec 1st

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1. I hope you can help me find this. All I remember is one scene of WWX's parents talking about JC's birthday and that WCZ should go. He doesn't want to go and instead buys a sword to send. He thinks about how many nice things he has to buy JC and that he can't afford to buy his son. That's all I can remember. I know I've reread this but remember nothing else. Thank you for any help.

FOUND! The Young Masters of Four Seasons Manor by gaotamao (G, 91k, WangXian, WenZhou, YeRong, Time Regression fix-it, WKX raises monstrous sons, Not Jiang Sect Friendly, No Golden Core Transfer) Could #1 be The Young Masters of Four Seasons Manor? There's a couple of passages in chapter 2 that reference what the requestor mentions.

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2. Hello! I’m looking for a fic I read a long time ago. I might get some details wrong, but this is what I remember; Wei Ying gets pregnant with Lan Zhan’s child, and when Madame Yu finds out he refuses to name the father because Lan Qiren makes him feel like he’s unworthy. He basically disappears and ends up with the Wen, having A-Yuan and hiding from everyone. Lan Zhan eventually finds him and basically adopts A-Yuan before Wei Ying finally admits he’s their biological son.

(requester here) Wasn’t that one. I can give a few more details if that might help? It wasn’t a modern AU. I think Wei Ying and Lan Zhan were going to get engaged, but because of something Lan Qiren did/said Wei Ying ended up refusing to name the father when he found out he was pregnant, and Madame Yu was furious because she assumed he had been sleeping around and thus ruined the engagement. He basically went off the grid, and the only people who knew where he was were the Wens, who he ended up settling down with (though he did have his own house).

NOT FOUND! A Fortuitous Bad Encounter by VividestList (E, 26k, WangXian, LXC & WWX, A/B/O, Omega WWX, Alpha LWJ, mild dubcon mentioned, in that WWX thinks that he used his heat to get LWJ to have sex with him, but we all know that’s a lie and he just can’t take a hint, LWJ was drunk tho, but that dubcon was also canon, mentions of mpreg, Mpreg, Misunderstandings, Mating Bites, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Kid Fic, Dirty Talk, Possessive Sex, possessive LWJ, Riding, Praise Kink, Rough Sex, Hair Pulling, Breeding Kink)

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3. Can you find a wangxian sorry Its wangxian ongoing story Its start with wei Ying being an archaeologist digging an ancient cave and finding lan Zhan's mummy. In the past life they didn't get the chance to marry so in this life theri wedding preparations is going to take place in 3 days

FOUND? The Mummified Emperor Wants To Marry Me by sweetlolixo (E, 84k, WangXian, WIP, Modern, Historical Fantasy, Royalty, Emperor LWJ, Mummy LWJ, Reincarnation, Size Difference, Archaeologist WWX, Simp LWJ)

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4. Hi I'm looking for fic I read a while ago. It's a werewolf au. Wei Wuxian is born as a special wolf (i think he was called the senna). Its a modern day with wolf packs. There is a war againt the wens. I remember wangxian doesn't get together until after the war, because lwj would have to fight his brother and wwx is trying to heal from his ptsd from the war. If you know what its called or if its been deleted, I would appreciate it. Thank you! @the-door-wizard

FOUND! Under Red Skies by AngelSpirit (E, 169k, WangXian, Soulmates, Fantasy, Alpha LWJ, Asena WWX, Wolf hierarchy, Multiple Time Skips, Canon Setting, Modern With Cultivation, Top LWJ, Bottom WWX, Fluff and Angst, Smut, Mating Bond, Scenting, Marking, Biting, Royalty, Slow Burn, BAMF LWJ, BAMF WWX)

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5. Hi looking for a fix where Wei Ying starts teaching disciples at cloud recess and than he starts teaching at the nie and jiang and Jin. It eventually leads to a conference were everybody wants to have him sit with them to demonstrate what they learn. Any help in finding this would be appreciated. @angiewriter

FOUND? Mark My Place by BenevolentErrancy (T, 27k, WangXian, WWX Protection Squad, Post-Canon, WWX is Loved, Teacher WWX, Fluff, Humor, Junior Trio Dynamics, Self-Esteem Issues, Emotional Hurt/Comfort)

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6. hello!!! this is a fic finder for a fic i’m seriously hoping isn’t deleted… ok so boom, it’s a modern au where i THINK it starts off with lxc noticing that lwj is making more purchases and buying expensive devices from looking at his bank acc. the reason lwj was buying more things was because wwx was working at a tech store and lwj wanted an excuse to see him

the main plot was that wq thought that lwj was a sugar daddy towards wwx because he kept buying him expensive presents, like watches and such, and lxc thought wwx was a sugar baby towards lwj because lwj kept buying him things.

it culminated in this huge misunderstanding with all of them in front of the daycare a-yuan attended, where i think it got cleared up from there.

im seriously hoping i’m making sense rn, thank you in advance!!!

FOUND! The Misunderstanding by kisahawklin (T, 9k, WangXian, LXC & LWJ, WQ & WWX & WN, WWX & LSZ, Modern, Misunderstandings, POV Outsider)

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7. Hello again!!! I have been following your work for over a year now and it makes my day everytime!!! Thank you for doing this!! This time I am looking for a soulmate fic where Wei Wuxian dies and travels back to the rooftop scene. The summary for the fic was along the lines of "If soulmates die without confessing they go back to the first time they met each other." I think it was also a time travel fix-it. Thanks again!! @yilinglaobunny

FOUND? 🔒 We Can See a New Start by preciousbunnynoiz (M, 127k, WangXian, XiCheng, XuanLi, Soulmates, Time Travel Fix-It, Biting, Implied Sexual Content, Implied/Referenced Underage Sex, but mentally they are adults, Making Out, Fluff and Angst, Humor, Happy Ending, PTSD, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Supportive LWJ, Communication, Soul Bond, Blood, Found Family, Parent-Child Relationship, aromantic JC, Lesbian WQ, Queerplatonic Relationships, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Verbal Abuse, Disassociate episodes, disassociating, Suicidal Thoughts, Self-Harm, Self-Hatred, Depression, Delusions, Mental Health Issues, Mental Breakdown, Attempted Sexual Assault, Therapy, Supportive JC, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Family Feels, Implied/Referenced Torture, Revenge, Self-Sacrifice, Accidental Bonding, Brotherly Bonding)

FOUND? 💖 Regrets by antebunny (G, 37k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Miscommunication, Misunderstandings, Time Travel, Fix-It, Temporary Character Death, Angst, Explicit Descriptions of Love, and other squishy feelings, Angst with a Happy Ending)

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8. Hello! I'm trying to find this one modern au fic where lan zhan called this luxurious clothing shop to book a time for him and wei ying there, and he also ask the shop to bring Cartier(i think) there cuz he wanted to look at the rings to propose wei ying. I seriously cannot remember the title. Someone help me pleaseeee

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9. Hi!! Last time no one found the fic, do I'll ask again a case someone who didn't see the last time knows the fic. I'm trying to find a fic I'veread a while ago, but I can't find it anywhere. Wy, once reborn, didn't see Lz's scars while Lz was bathing in the cold springs and he tried to steal the jade pass. Once they get together is where the plot kinda flees from my mind. I don't remember if Lz only ever had sex with Wy if he (Lz) was almost fully clothed or if he just straight up refused to be intimate. I guess Wy fearing that Lz didn't find his new body attractive and voicing that fear to Lz is what makes Lz tell him the truth??? I'm not sure tho. Anyways, in the end, Lz reveals the scars that the discipline whip left on him, and tells Wy that he's never been ashamed of his scars, but that once Wy came back and they got together, he became terrified that Wy would find repulsive how deformed the scars made his back look.

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10. Hi! This is for fic finder. I dont remember much. Its modern au where wwx is an actor. He got a role in film and then he used train to meet other actor to discuss their role. The script only contain what they are doing in this scene, so they have to improvise and they use their own name for the film. Wwx meet lwj there. I think wwx start coming early to spend time alone with lwj? Thats all i can remember. Thanks! @idontknowwhattowriteforusername

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11. Hello! I’m looking for a fic that I remember having in my history but can no longer find. It was a modern day WangXian fic with an office setting, I believe. In which Wei wuxian was trying to quit and Lan wangji, as his boss, was trying to go through all sorts of bribes in order to keep him. @misanthrope-cave

FOUND! Work-Life Balance is Not A Thing by catbrainedschemes (E, 17k, WangXian, Modern AU, Workplace Relationship, Romantic Comedy, Idiots in Love, Oblivious WWX, Oblivious LWJ, Sexual Tension, Eventual Smut, but not that eventual, Pining, Dirty Talk)

NOT FOUND🔒What's Wrong With Secretary Lan? by silverclaw (T, 5k, wangxian, LXC/NMJ, Modern, Inspired By What's Wrong With Secretary Kim? (TV), JZX and WWX are best friends, LWJ is "going through a rebellious phase")

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12. Hello! I was looking for a fic that I have already read and I kind of want to reread them. What I remember in this fic, it's about wei wuxian falls off the clip and time travels and fall into the pond of gusu lan/ Lan Zhan's arms I think. NHS was supposed to bring back the YL Patriarch (The after falling the clip) and not the before. (Welp my memories are much worser to remember simple things....) @mikaylawrites

FOUND? A Long Way Home by Morgana_avalon (T, 32k, JC & WWX, LXC & LWJ, LSZ & LWJ & WWX, WangXian, Time Travel Fix-It, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, WWX falls from the sky but not into the Burial Mounds, LXC is an experienced healer because I like him that way, Good brother JC, Bad LQR; LWJ & LXC try to solve a mystery, Recovery, Whump, WWX is without his golden core, Canon Divergence, JC is too complicated, Happy Ending, JC finally manages the impossible, WWX gets a new golden core)

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13. For the Fic Finder: I'm looking for a fic where LWJ goes to a coffee shop for a first date with Su She, but it turned out to be a prank--Su She was outside livestreaming LWJ being stood up. WWX saw the stream and raced to the coffee shop to ruin it by being LWJ's date (I don't remember if they were already friends or had just seen each other around campus). Anyway, they end up dating for real. Later, there was a confrontation with Su She on campus.

FOUND! Blooming Days by Atsushiis (G, 7k, WangXian, LWJ & LXC, LWJ & MM, Modern, College/University, Meet-Cute, First Dates, First Kiss, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, LWJ Has Feelings, Let LWJ talk about his feelings agenda, Romance, Falling In Love, Wangxian are softer than a baby bunny, gratuitous handholding, Give LWJ hugs agenda, LWJ Protection Squad, Spanish Translation Available) but it was an OC who stood LZ up rather than Su She.

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14. Hello! I’ve seen your work and I’m very I was very impressed. I apologize of adding to your workload, but I wanted to try my luck. I’ve been looking for the story for months, and I really hope it’s not deleted but… so the basic summary is that it’s a post canon, LWG is cursed (by meng Yao’s mother) with a whipping curse that basically leaves whip scars all over his body, including his face.

LWG hides for like two years and WWX finds LWG battered and scared that WWX wouldn’t love LWG and his face so they go through the process of trying to cure his curse, and get revenge for lan zhan. Really good story, I was so sad when I couldn’t find it again thank you for your help, good luck again!! @chocolateclodtreehuman

for #14, was lan zhan cursed as a baby , and was wei ying hired as the curse breaker?

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15. hiii im looking for a post-canon fic where each chapter is told from the perspective of someone who liked lan zhan and later found out he was with wei ying. i remember one of them was from the nie clan, and also there was one chapter where a lan clan healer thought wei ying was being abused because of the amount of healing salve he used, but it was just sex marks. @ashxi-wx

15 is familiar, but I couldn't find it in my bookmarks. Not the requester, but if it's the one I'm thinking of, it was kind of a 5+1 style. I want to say the juniors were involved, something like "5 times someone flirted with LWJ" but could be mixing it up with another fic. I hope someone knows this one, because now I want to read it again too!

FOUND? Criteria by incendir (T, 10k, LSZ & LWJ, WangXian)

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16. Hi! I'm looking for a fanfic based on From (a television series). WWX and LWJ arrive at a town from which they can't scape (because they always end up in the same town if they tried to leave) and people have to hide in the night because monsters appear to kill and eat them. I cant remember a lot of more, I dont know if you can help me, but anyway thanks you for your big job!!❤️ @dratin-dragonadetinta96

FOUND? Down comes the night by danegen (E, 67k, wangxian, Alternate Universe, Canon Era, inspired by From, Horror, Sharing a Room, POV LWJ, no jiangs, a whole village of OCs, tiny mention of past wwx/omc, Happy Ending)

FOUND? A Glimpse of Us (hoping i'll find) by scarletwanlian (M, 165k, WangXian, Modern with Magic, Case Fic, enemies to lovers dynamics, Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Slow Burn, highschool sweethearts, (except they never dated), Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Trauma, Childhood Trauma, Child Neglect, Dysfunctional Family, shadows as a metaphor for- [static], self-hatred (lwj), Character Study, Violence, Minor Character Death, Blood and Violence, Blood and Injury, Mental Health Issues, Child Death, Past Child Abuse, Ghosts, Graphic Description of Corpses, Nightmares, Pain, PTSD, Bruises, Victim Blaming, Estrangement, Character Bashing, the jiang parents are not good people here, Magical Realism, Second Chances, Mutual Pining)

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17. Fic finder request - Not sure if this was part of a collection or a twitter thread, but the story was from an outsider POV. A group of cultivators were determined to curse Wei Ying and did everything in their power to try to get rid of him, but each one backfired.

Each time they tried, the curses/arrays used were bigger and cost more energy. Soon, the group shrunk cause each time they tried something, it would just bring a positive change to Wei Ying. I cannot remember everything they tried, but the last curse they tried, the biggest, final attempt was something about "Never experiencing fatherhood" or something along those lines.

The story ended with a discussion conference in Cloud Recesses, and both Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian were greeting people at the entrance, and Wei Wuxian was visibly pregnant (and, of course, not upset at all about the prospect).

I do remember it was on AO3 and was a one-shot (iirc). I have tried to find it myself, but after a week of searching, have admitted defeat. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you very much! @genavere

FOUND!🔒 chapter four: The one where WWX is cursed of Twitter Threadfic Archive by aubreyli

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18. Hello! Im looking for a fic where wwx essentially transmigrates to the cloud recesses bc he and lwj are soulmates and after spending a year together lwj comes back with him to the modern world

FOUND? Wrong Turn, Right Place by diamondbruise (E, 71k, WangXian, Time Travel, kind of, it’s more reality travel but there’s modern wwx and cultivator lwj, Mutual Pining, Angst with a Happy Ending, Jealousy, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn, Misunderstandings, Cultural Differences)

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19. Hi! for ficfinder, I think this was already on itmf before, but it was wangxian Mama mia Au. (Could've sworn i had it bookmarked) I can't find it anywhere! @bubwly

FOUND? The Winner Takes It All by YilingSani (M, 46k, WangXian, Modern AU, Single Parent WWX, Old Friends, One Night Stands, No Smut, Angst with a Happy Ending, PTSD, Panic Attacks, Forgiveness, Second Chances, Inspired by Mamma Mia! (Movies) Teen Pregnancy, Mpreg, mention of miscarriage, Birth Trauma, amniotic fluid embolism)

FOUND? Double Happiness by vesna (mrsronweasley) (T, 14k, JL/LSZ, WangXian, Modern Cultivation, implied mpreg, Mamma Mia AU, wedding fic, Reunion Fic, Fluff, Ridiculousness)

FOUND? happy birthday, our son by AkatCuties (T, 14k, WangXian, LSZ & WWX, Moderng, Inspired by Mamma Mia! (Movies), Light Angst with a Happy Ending)

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20. Hello, sorry to bother you

I don’t know if you have already found this fic for something else, but I am looking for a fic where Wei wuxian has blackouts when he gets hungry after the burial mounds/ other food related issues @scrumptiouseclipseponyllama

FOUND? a kind of emptiness by ScarlettStorm (E, 11k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Established Relationship, Eating Disorders, Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, Eating Disorder Recovery, low angst, Happy Ending, seriously in spite of the tags this fic is very soft, Tender smut, Frottage, Praise Kink, Additional Warnings In Author's Note)

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[r95irth]

Do you know those posters to help your mental health? Someone shared one with a small racoon and my brain went "we can make a 3zun version of this" but in the end i made a Lan Xichen - Jin Guangyao, xiyao version, an implied Wangxian, Twin jade feels, and a Nie bros feels.

Anyways give JGY time to sleep and NMJ something to munch over and also LWJ a hug (don't worry LWJ you'll get your crush back one day)

The last panel really gave me trouble,

at first i wanted to draw LXC in his seclusion time, but someone pointed out that LXC never stinks...And also it broke my heart to give him his canon ending and i had no idea how to make a shower look better (he would just be drowning under the water...)

Then next i wanted to draw Wangxian, with WWX being the one who hated himself and LWJ washing him in the second one...But WWX is (hopefully) not hating himself anymore at the end of canon and i didn't want to make put some sadness in his happy ending (because even if i don't speak much about wangxian lately i do like them a lot x))

Finally I went for Twin jade feels thanks to suggestions and i don't regret it. I liked drawing LWJ popping bubbles underwater while his brother comb his hair. (Besides it's hopeful as he will get his crush back, eventually, we all know this...)

anyways. If you feel like everyone hates you, like A-Yao, sleep.

If you feel like you hate everyone, like Nie Mingjue, eat.

And if you hate yourself, get a shower.

(Might look for therapy too, if the shower is not enough...)

Have a nice evening :)

[mdzs-owns-my-ass-i-guess]

MDZS modern AU, highschool setting, in which, tired of seeing his little brother friend-less, LXC decides to find him a friend himself

So he looks around the school yard one day and picks literally the loudest, most social dude around (WWX, obviously), pulls him aside and is like "i'll pay you 100$ weekly to be friends with my brother who's juat transferred here and is not very social."

WWX is iffy about it bc it's absolutely unfair to do that to someone - but he's, what, 15, Madam Yu is already harping on him about paying rent and making friends comes second nature to him - so he says yes.

He gets a name and a picture and he's off on his mission.

What luck that this new LWJ kid signed up for a music class elective where WWX has also just secured a spot. Sweet, they already have something in common!

Turns out, WWX does actually enjoy being LWJ's friend a lot, teasing him and getting reactions out of him and everything. He doesn't need the money LXC gives him at all, so he gives back as much of it, as quickly as he can after getting a job - after all "I don't need money to be friends with someone I would have wanted to befriend anyway!"

Time passes, it's wangxian and they fall in love, even plan to move in together after high school and marry after college.

Except, one day LWJ hears some people talking about how "Lan Xichen must've raised Wei Wuxian's pay by a lot now! Pretending to be Lan Wangji's boyfriend must be a lot harder than just acting as his friend!"

LWJ doesn't believe it and doesn't care about gossip.

But he thinks of how suddenly he and WWX became friends, of how he and LXC sometimes talked alone like they had a secret, how it always felt a little too good to be true.

Who should he go to first? His brother, who bought out someone for LWJ to spend time with because he didn't think LWJ able to find someone himself?

Or his boyfriend, who's been lying to him the whole time in exchange for cash?

[shanastoryteller]

Happy Birthday grandma! How about BFF WWX LXC and NMJ? Or female!MXY? Your choice🌻🌻🌻🌻🎉🎉🎉🎉

Ps. Made it?!?!

a continuation of 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

Lan Xichen arrives to his brother and Xuanyu in the middle of an argument.

They’re surrounded by corpses, Xue Yang inexplicably among them, and the missing Xiao Xingchen is standing there huddled against Song Lan’s side, looking strangely small, while a blind girl stands on his other side.

Sizhui and Jingyi are staying several steps back in an attempt not to get caught in the couple’s argument.

He almost regrets leaving A-Yao behind with the rest of the disciples. It had made sense at the time, with the low but present chance that they’d run into trouble, but now he wishes he could be the one dealing with their siblings instead of him.

“-not just going to – XICHEN-GE! GET DOWN HERE!”

The disciples, who’d demanded to come along, cringe away and even send him sympathetic looks.

She only calls him Xichen-ge when she wants something. He’s pretty sure A-Yao taught her that.

He descends, jumping off his sword, and frowning when he gets a closer look at her. She has wounds around her waist and shoulder even though they seemed to have stopped bleeding and there’s a variety of colorful bruises on the bits of skin he can see on her, which means there’s even more hiding beneath her robes. “You’re injured.”

“It’s nothing,” she says dismissively. Wangji’s eyebrow twitches. “I want Song Lan, Xiao Xingchen, and A-Qing to accompany us to Koi Tower.”

He assumes A-Qing is the blind girl. “Ah.”

“It’s not proper,” Wangji says, enough irritation bleeding though that this is clearly not the first time he’s said that.

She sends him a scathing look. “We can’t send them back to Cloud Recesses, Lan Qiren will eat them alive, and we can’t leave them alone. Look at them! Look around! They need help.”

“Ah, Madame Lan,” Song Lan says tentatively, “you’ve already done-”

“Shut up,” she says and his mouth snaps shut. Lan Xichen stares. He’s encountered Song Lan many times and has never seen him act like this. “Where are you going to go? What are you going to do? You deserve rest, all three of you, and while I would hardly call the Jin restful, it’s at least better than having to watch you back on the road.” She frowns. “Also, what’s with Madame Lan? I told you to call me Xuanyu. If you fight an army of the undead together, you don’t have to use titles. It’s a rule, or something.”

Wangji’s eyes narrow and Song Lan smiles at Xuanyu before he catches sight of Wangji’s expression and then his lips thin out into a straight line.

Lan Xichen can already feel a headache building.

She’s only been missing for a few hours. How did any of this even happen?

If he wants to find out, then he’s going to have to give in to her. She won’t tell him anything otherwise, he assumes, because A-Yao definitely wouldn’t. Besides, he has no reason to deny her. She is Madame Lan and Lady Jin and she’s more than entitled to add people to their traveling party and to invite wandering cultivators to Koi Tower.

“The rest of our party is nearby,” he says finally. “We’re happy for you to join us.”

His brother glares at him, but what does he expect him to do? She’s Wangji's wife.

[wangxianficrecs]

Rewind 2023 - Part I

WangxianFicRecs - Rewind 2023

Part one of our favourite stories published in 2023. If you also want to give a shout-out to a story, submit an ask and we will share it in an upcoming post featuring Follower Recs and Proud Author Spotlights.

~*~

Call again

by apathyinreverie (@apathyinreverie)

T, 5k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: “Brother?” Lan Zhan picks up the call, voice sleep-rough from being woken so late. There is a pause. “Well,” an unfamiliar voice replies, notably cheerful, though overloud and the slightest bit slurred in a way that identifies the speaker as likely not being entirely sober, perfectly matching the loud music and din of voices in the background. “Not quite, actually.” (Or, Wei Ying meets a drunk LXC at a bar. They promptly devolve into being chaos gremlins together.)

~*~

Fight Me?

by Witch_Nova221 (@witchnova221)

G, 5k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: A tidied up version of this original threadfic Nurse Wei Ying has an interesting encounter with a patient on his night shift who is intent on starting a fight with him.

~*~

💙 Paths untaken

by apathyinreverie (@apathyinreverie)

T, 6k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: The thing is, the Cloud Recesses are big and Caiyi is even bigger. (Or, Lan Zhan chooses differently at Qiongqi Path.)

~*~

Kintsugi

by sortablue (@yinyangbuns)

E, 2k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: Wei Wuxian had thought he was more well-adjusted; or, at least, that the thing that would set him off would be a little more impressive than a broken tea set. How funny that out of all the things that haunted his nightmares, this was the thing that chose to ruin his perfectly good day. (Or, Wei Wuxian’s treatment at Lotus Pier at the hands of Madam Yu has lasting affects that he previously had not thought to consider.)

~*~

💙 Su She Eats his Heart Out

by KizuKatana (@kizukatana)

T, 16k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: The (bitter) third party pov of the epic college romance between Wei Ying and Lan Zhan, as told from the pettiest NPC to ever exist. - - - - - A new student transferred into the university in their second year, and Su She was gleeful to see how much Lan Zhan was irritated by him from the very first day that the student (Wei something) showed up late for class with a ratty hoodie pulled up over his head and proceeded to sleep through lecture. Finally, someone else would be the butt of everyone’s jokes as they watched Wei Ying constantly try and fail to get Lan Zhan’s attention. When midterm grades came out, Su She was expecting the guy to be humiliated. That was… not what happened. Worse still, Lan Zhan was now actually turning his head to look at the guy when he spoke. And... wait, was Lan Zhan… putting his hand on the guy’s ass?! No. Su She does not accept this.

~*~

Into the murk

by MissCellophane (@misscellophane-ao3)

G, 1k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: Wei Wuxian is dead. Lan Wangji wouldn't believe those words until he sees it for himself.

~*~

Sit Properly!

by Nightfeather18

T, 1k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: It started innocently, just a note to tell Wei Wuxian to sit straight, it did not stay that way.

~*~

💙 at first sight of the sun

by sunflowersfield

T, 3k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: “There are days,” he says slowly, choosing his words with care, “when I do not feel like speaking. Or, I simply do not have any words. It is…difficult to explain,” he admits. Wei Ying nods. “I think I understand,” he responds thoughtfully. “But Lan Zhan,” he adds nervously, “you know I was just joking about the daily compliments, right? I don’t really expect you to do that!” Or: Lan Zhan is a researcher at a forest preserve, and Wei Ying has just been hired to work at the front desk.

~*~

The Moon Reflected Upon Two Springs

by Rubberduckieassassin (@rubberduckieassassin)

M, 2k, Wen Ning | Kay's Rec

Summary: In many ways, this part of Wen Ning’s existence has felt like winter. Winter is the most Yin of all the seasons. It is a time of stillness and quiet reflection. Remembering how to ‘live’ again as best he could.

~*~

Happy That Way

by airinshaw

E, 7k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: Lan Zhan has allowed Wei Ying to move in with him when he has nowhere else to go. But it does mean that they'll have to share one bed.

~*~

mirror, mirror

by hauntedotamatone (@hauntotamatone)

G, 1k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: Some people take him at his word, believing that they must have heard wrong about the child Jiang Fengmian had taken in all those years ago. They haven’t exactly heard wrong, but he isn’t lying either. The first time Jiang-shushu had introduced him as the son of Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren, he had thought his face would split from the force of his smile. No one had argued with the sect leader, but Wei Wuxian is not a sect leader, and those of Gusu Lan do not seem to take kindly to any sort of correction. At least, if their esteemed teacher and acting sect leader is anything to go by. or; Wei Wuxian attempts to sneak into the Cloud Recesses for a very different reason.

~*~

turn a little faster, the world will follow after

by dottie_dramas (dottie_wan_kenobi) (@dottie-wan-kenobi)

E, 5k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: “Lan Zhan here really surprised me. When we first met, I thought ‘now here’s a guy who could probably bite my head off if I annoy him,’ but then he didn’t? You know, all of our friends in Seoul would say I’m the shameless one, but I have no idea what they’re talking about, like, have they met Lan Zhan? Gege, you’re kind of crazy.” “Mn,” says Wangji, sounding very pleased. “It’s okay though, I like crazy. Hey, Xichen-ge—can I call you Xichen-ge?—anyway, do you mind if I add a little something to my tea?” “We do not imbibe alcohol in this house,” Shufu seethes. “It’s not alcohol,” Wei Ying corrects like he expected to hear this at some point. Xichen glances at Wangji, who’s making an expression Xichen has never seen before: unbridled exasperation and fondness. Then Wei Ying pulls out a pack of what Xichen is pretty sure is chili powder. -- Basically a modern AU where lwj and wwx both take a semester abroad while in college. They were originally in different colleges and never met before. They meet in this new college and being the weirdos they truly are, fall in love and get married within one semester.

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for these hard-working authors if you like – or think others might like – these stories.)

[angstymdzsthoughts]

LXC and NHS have a kind of "discussion" post canon and LXC aks NHS why he didn't let JGY faces justice.

"Justice? For that you help him again out of it?"

NHS looks at LXC, right in his eyes "he killed my brother, direspect his body and soul and now he can't neither reincarnate! It's like he this monster killed Dage THREE times! and you still dare to protect him? You ask why i never told you? Because you'll still find hi ma excuse and you would have done to him telling him everything. I'm sure i would be dead then after a mysterious…accident."

LXC wants to say something but he sees tears in NHS's eyes and realize that yes, he had abandonned both brothers.

He let NHS alone with his grief.

To the point he planned THAT alone to have justice.

"I'm sorry"

"Being sorry will not restore my brother's soul. It will not give him a possiblity to reincarnate!" NHS sighs, defeated "He really loved you you know? And you still defending his murderer. If he had did to your brother what he did to mine, would you still forgive him?"

NHS wipes his tears "i don't regret what i done. My friend is back to life and your brother is happy and mine is avanged! I know that Dage wouldn't approve what i done but nobody would have bothered to avenge him. YOU never suspected anything about what happened to him. I realize it just after his death, knowing a lot less that you about the songs!"

LXC can't find a answer.

Say "i'm sorry" again?

He really deserves to be in seclusion.

For have been so blind.

For have abandonned NHS and his own brother.

.

[lwjsbedtime]

I tried to make gifs of this because it reset my brain a little, but it didn't work out, so... 🤷

No thoughts, dancers Wangxian:

...Okay, some thoughts:

I'd like to think WWX and LWJ first got paired together as part of a scholarship program. Something about 'nurturing great talent' and 'investing in the future of the arts', which basically just amounted to classically trained danseur LWJ being designated babysitter of the chaotic WWX during their first year at Cloud Recesses School of the Arts.

LWJ is, quite naturally, a little furious. He's worked hard to excel and earn his place at his family's academy without relying on nepotism, and yet here this...boy is - no talent, no skill, no drive. His only apparent accomplishment is succeeding in driving LWJ to madness.

Finally, after WWX weaves him a flower crown in some strange attempt at mockery, he has enough. LWJ asks to be assigned a new partner.

LXC refuses: kindly, but it's still a refusal. He assures LWJ that WWX is a once in a lifetime genius. LXC would know; he's on the auditions committee and has to approve every incoming hopeful's application. And he was very impressed by WWX.

LWJ wonders if his brother was ill on the day WWX auditioned, or if he's confused the boy with someone else. All WWX knows how to do is jump around, and put his hands on LWJ's waist while they stumble through their choreography.

And smile.

And laugh.

And look at LWJ with those stormy eyes while drawing close-

...The point is, LWJ isn't convinced WWX knows how to dance at all. And since he's swindled his way into Cloud Recesses somehow, he might as well learn. However, for all LWJ knows his art inside and out, he's not a certified teacher.

Surely then, the honour of tutoring WWX should go to someone more qualified?

"Wangji," LXC says, and LWJ's brows tick downward at the laughter glimmering in his brother's eyes. "Just give him a chance. I have no doubt you're the perfect fit for one another."

"Yes, brother."

Seeing no other option, LWJ concedes - for now. He leaves his brother's office, throwing one last reproachful glance over his shoulder to ensure LXC knows he still doesn't like the situation.

LXC, infuriatingly, only looks more amused.

----

Little does LWJ know, his brother isn't lying about WWX's talent. Sure, he's a little rough around the edges - and secretly very nervous - but his skill, once observed, cannot be denied.

WWX grew up with the Jiang, a traditional family who enrolled him in martial arts lessons as soon as his adoption papers were signed. But before that - before the pain and the hunger, and the brief stint of homelessness - he was Wei Ying, son of CSSR and WCZ, reigning king and queen of the international ballroom scene.

WWX's earliest memories are of his parents wrapped in a loving embrace, dancing with him held between them. They moved to the music crooning out of their staticky little radio like water following the path of a stream - effortless, and joyful.

They were so, so happy.

For the first five years of his life, WWX accompanied his parents all around the world as they danced in competitions, and performed live shows - and even acted, on one memorable occasion!

WWX's greatest dream was to follow in their footsteps, but then tragedy struck and he was left alone. When he was taken in by the Jiangs, he thought perhaps...

...But Auntie Yu scolded him harshly every time it seemed like he was finally coming out of his shell. WWX didn't want to think how badly she would have reacted to him asking for dance lessons. He knew he'd have to keep his passion secret in her house, or lose it forever; lose his parents with it.

For years, he practised in secret, locked in his room at night, or on the roof of his school building during breaks. WWX wasn't certain what he thought he was doing, or why, but in the moments he was dancing, he truly felt free.

And then, he saw him and everything made sense.

During the last year of high school, when everyone else had chosen the path their futures would take, and WWX was still unsure of his own, JYL suddenly handed him two tickets to the ballet.

"I'm sorry it's short notice, but Jin-the person I was going with cancelled, and I don't think I would like going alone," his sister said, her expression heavy with sadness. "I thought maybe you could take a date? Or a friend?"

WWX flushed at the idea of taking a date anywhere, but accepted the tickets. Clearly, his sister couldn't stand the sight of them. Whoever cancelled on her had a lot to answer for.

But also...the idea of seeing others dance - professionals, at that - sparked something small and bright in his heart.

"Thank you, jiejie," he said, his words more sincere than JYL would ever realise.

----

WWX hadn't asked anyone to accompany him in the end. He wasn't interested in dating, and his friends weren't the type to enjoy spending three hours watching 'grown adults prance around a stage' - a direct quote from JC, several years earlier when WWX made the mistake of looking too delighted by the performance of The Lady of the Camellias advertised in the paper.

Even if anyone had wanted to come with him, he wasn't certain he'd be good company with how his heart was hammering in his chest.

Arriving at the theatre, he took a deep breath and stepped inside. He'd arrived early (for once) so he had plenty of time to bounce his legs and look around anxiously before the seats filled up around him and the lights bordering the stage dimmed.

WWX looked straight ahead, his eyes riveted to the stage as the curtains drew back. From the pit, the lonely cry of a trombone sounded, soon accompanied by the rest of the orchestra.

The set was revealed slowly - the painted backdrop of a grand home. In a chair, a man was sleeping while beside him-

WWX's breath caught in his chest. Beside him danced the most beautiful, most graceful, prettiest fairy, bathed in the glow of silvery light.

The fairy's steps were light and playful as he bounded across the floor, the stones sewn into his costume glimmering like stars in the night sky.

WWX watched him, rapt; all his attention honed in to each soft, supple movement of the fairy's limbs. His heart fell when soon the dancer bounded off stage, replaced by a second, distinctly less lovely man.

For the rest of the performance, WWX could think of nothing but that graceful fairy, his entire being tingling whenever the boy again appeared on stage. There was something about the dancer's steps - the precision and joy of his movements - that brought a slumbering piece of WWX back to life.

After the curtains fell, WWX found out - through no small amount of internet sleuthing - that the fairy was in fact Lan Wangji, of the Lan family. The very same Lan family that ran Cloud Recesses School of the Arts - which coincidentally LWJ would be attending the next year.

WWX submitted his application the very same evening. By the time Auntie Yu kicked him out for rejecting the university she'd decided he would attend, he'd already been accepted into CR's very generous scholarship program.

All this to say, when WWX was matched with LWJ, he was 1) very surprised, 2) slightly nervous, and 3) halfway in love.

Surprisingly, none of these complex emotions interacted very well with one another. In fact, they made WWX worse.

And now LWJ thinks he's a good-for-nothing phoney, albeit with very large, very warm hands.

(WWX is not aware of this opinion, or else he might try to change it.)

As for what does make LWJ change his mind...

LWJ also studies musical composition. He's very practical like that. He won't be able to dance at his current level forever, and music is another passion of his - one less taxing on the joints. If push comes to shove, he wouldn't mind becoming a music tutor.

In truth, he might even prefer it. A part of him dislikes being the centre of attention, as well as the constant travel that comes with performing. Ballet is freeing, and it makes him feel closer to his mother, who was also a dancer. But music makes him feel at peace with himself. Safe. Warm. Home.

He's practising on his guqin one night when a shadow catches his eye from outside.

There, on the balcony of the neighbouring dorm, is WWX. And he's dancing - dancing properly to LWJ's music.

LWJ's fingers trip over the strings for a single moment before he manages to overcome his shock. WWX is good. Very good.

Which begs the question: why is he trying to sabotage their performances?

----

He resolves to confront WWX the next day but never quite manages to find the words to express his frustration.

Instead, he drives WWX into a corner, performing increasingly complex moves until WWX is forced to step up his game.

Surprisingly, it works, to an extent. However, there's no quick fix for inexperience. WWX is not a ballet dancer; naturally he's thrown off when LWJ slips into the solo from his last tour.

He falls back, watching slack jawed at the fine control demonstrated by LWJ; the quiet strength held in his lean body. He's so beautiful WWX can't look away.

It takes far too long for LWJ to realise he's gone off their choreography. Embarrassed with himself, he slips back into the routine they're meant to be practising, hoping the burning in his ears isn't noticeable.

WWX shakes himself into motion, falling into step with LWJ once more. But LWJ is growing increasingly frustrated. Unlike before, when LWJ was testing him, WWX keeps hesitating. He's back to playing the clumsy fool.

With something akin to anger thrumming in his veins, LWJ pins a flustered WWX against his body. He grabs the boy's hips, showing him how to move them properly.

"Like this," he all but demands.

WWX's answering hum is a little strangled, but surely he can be forgiven for that? The poor boy's experiencing a very sudden awakening, with his crotch pressed against LWJ's soft stomach.

LWJ continues to manhandle WWX through the steps until WWX is certain he's going to do something embarrassing. Pulling himself free, he chuckles.

"Ah, LZ, you know I don't usually do this sort of dancing."

LWJ stares at him. "This sort of dancing?"

"You know, with a partner."

LWJ continues to stare, hoping it will convince WWX to expand upon that. His audition sheet said he specialised in ballroom dancing. How could he not be familiar with partnered choreography?

Thankfully, WWX has never been reticent, and helpfully explains. "I kinda had to learn in secret, so I never really had the chance to dance with anyone else. Until you."

Inexplicably, LWJ's heart picks up. That explains some things then.

Feeling somewhat foolish about how unreasonable he's been acting, he moves his hands back to WWX's hips.

"I will teach you," he promises.

And then he proceeds to do just that.

For some reason, WWX's cheeks turn red.

"So kind, er gege," he jokes. "I'm in your hands."

Yes, LWJ thinks, his fingers flexing. You are.

----

Over the next few weeks, WWX and LWJ grow closer, their dance sessions turning into shared lunches, and lazy afternoon walks through campus. On the weekends, LWJ shows WWX his favourite spots in Caiyi, while WWX entices LWJ to try new - terrible, spicy - things he'd never dared to before.

By the time break comes around, LWJ thinks they've become friends.

LWJ, as always, plans to spend the break at his family manor, hidden in the forest behind campus. WWX...has only just realised he has nowhere to go. When he left home, Auntie Yu told him not to expect to be allowed back.

He sighs, frowning down at the untied laces of his booties, and wonders what he's going to do until classes start again.

LWJ, noticing how downcast WWX seems to be, asks what's wrong.

"It's nothing," he replies with a crooked grin that makes LWJ's heart skip a beat. "Just...I have nowhere to go during the holiday."

LWJ's brows furrow in understanding. Though he's unaware of the situation with the Jiangs, WWX has mentioned before he was orphaned at a young age.

LWJ does not like to see his friend look so dejected. He does the only thing he can possibly do. He invites WWX home with him.

At first, WWX almost refuses, but he likes LZ too much, and will miss not seeing him everyday otherwise.

"Okay, er gege," he agrees. "Take me home with you."

WWX's smile is so disarming, the next thing LWJ recalls is entering his family home with his partner in tow, the sound of luggage wheels scraping over concrete following them.

"Wow..." WWX says. "LZ, just how rich is your family?"

"Wealthy enough to run a private academy," he replies, just barely refraining from rolling his eyes.

From close behind him, he hears WWX laugh.

----

The next several days pass by like a dream LWJ is still half-afraid he'll wake from. Due to Uncle inviting some of their relatives over during the break, WWX has been relegated to sharing LWJ's bedroom with him. Which means LWJ wakes each morning to the sound of WWX's breathing, and falls asleep each night to his laughter.

During the day, they're inseparable, spending almost every spare waking moment in one another's company. It is...doing something to LWJ, and he isn't sure yet whether that something should be encouraged, or cut off at the root.

He thinks it would hurt him to smother the feeling, more than it would hurt to nurture it.

From across the kitchen counter, WWX smiles and asks him a question, and LWJ brushes all thoughts of strange new emotions aside.

Later that night they sit together in the lounge, cups of hot chocolate warming their hands. Uncle left earlier with LXC to pick up their visiting relatives, and so for now LWJ and WWX have the house to themselves.

There's something sizzling under LWJ's skin, and across the room, there's a DVD player connected to the TV that wasn't there before.

WWX has been quieter today than usual - almost melancholy. LWJ had asked if he was alright, to which his friend had ruefully admitted that it was the anniversary of his parents' death.

LWJ had been momentarily horrified for bringing it up, but WWX had looked up at him with an expression of guarded hope, and asked if LWJ would like to see them.

"Of course," he agreed instantly.

And so now here he sits, as WWX navigates the menu of a homemade DVD.

"I didn't have anything of theirs from before, and I wasn't really allowed to talk about them once I was adopted," WWX admits, almost carelessly. "But I found these online a few years ago. Turns out my parents were pretty popular."

He shoots a grin at LWJ as he presses play, looking very much like the little boy he must once have been.

On the TV, a disembodied voice announces the arrival of WCZ and CSSR to the floor, and LWJ's eyes widen as the couple steps out.

Wei Wuxian.

Wei Changze.

Wei Ying is the son of CSSR and WCZ?

He glances at his friend out of the corner of his eye, taking in the expression of longing on his face as the couple begins to dance.

Popular is an understatement! WWX's parents were lauded for their accomplishments. Even Uncle, who had something against CSSR in particular, used their choreography as examples in his class.

And WWX had barely had the chance to know them - hadn't been allowed to.

LWJ's fists clench around his mug. He'll look into the school's archive later. He's certain there's footage there WWX hasn't yet seen. If anyone deserves to watch CSSR and WCZ's famous dances, it would be their son.

"Weren't they great?"

LWJ startles, the sound of WWX's voice drawing him from his musings.

"Mn," he agrees, his throat tight. "They were wonderful."

He watches the rest of the video in awed silence, his arm brushing up against WWX's as his friend shifts about, eyes glued to the sight of his parents gliding across the screen.

LWJ is little better. He hardly registers the TV dimming as the video ends, engrossed as he is in the dancing.

It's once again WWX's voice that startles him back to full awareness.

"Hey, why don't we try doing that?"

LWJ looks up at WWX, uncomprehending. "Mn?"

"The last dance." His hand reaches out for LWJ to take, but he's facing away, as if shy. "My parents' dance. It looks fun."

LWJ feels himself flush. The last dance performed by WCZ and CSSR was...quite romantic.

But it would make WWX feel better, and LWJ is not entirely against being close to him, so...

"Mn," he agrees, placing his hand in WWX's waiting palm.

WWX turns to him with a grin so bright it must hurt. "Really?"

He pulls LWJ up from the couch.

"Mn," LWJ replies again, looking up at WWX through his eyelashes. Hesitantly, he places his free hand over the boy's chest. "Let's begin."

They're so close, he can feel the erratic beating of WWX's heart under his palm.

"We don't have music," WWX murmurs, as if afraid speaking any louder would break the tension suddenly palpable between them.

LWJ bends to collect the remote, presses play, and returns it to the table. On the TV screen, the host announces WCZ and CSSR again, and music begins to filter out into the lounge.

"Now we do." His voice is hushed as WWX's own, as he draws even closer.

"So smart, LZ," WWX says, his hands moving to LWJ's waist. "What would I do without you?"

"Many foolish things," LWJ replies, wrapping his own arms around WWX's neck.

WWX breaks out into a quiet chuckle, his hand tightening on LWJ's waist.

"So mean, er gege."

LWJ blinks up at him. Last week, WWX tried to catch one of the pheasants on campus, and almost got pecked to death. "It is true."

WWX sighs, leaning forward so their brows press together. "...It is."

In the darkness, LWJ smiles.

They rock together in the middle of the floor for a few moments, before WWX speaks again.

"This isn't the dance."

"It is not," LWJ agrees.

On the TV screen, WCZ and CSSR are sweeping across the floor. LWJ can't remember if they danced a tango or not. His mind has been utterly overtaken by the thought of 'Weiyingweiyingweiying' cycling through his head.

"I still like it," WWX admits.

LWJ kisses him.

He startles, shocked by his own boldness, and starts to pull away, but WWX kisses him back.

They stand, swaying - kissing - in the middle of the living room until they break for air.

"Lan Zhan-" Wei Wuxian begins, his eyes turbid with emotion.

LWJ grabs the remote again, turns the TV off, and pulls WWX closer, steering them both towards the door.

"Your parents should not see this," he says.

The way WWX's eyes grow darker sends a shiver down his spine.

----

LWJ wakes the next morning to the sound of WWX's breathing, exactly as he had the days before. However, the strange fluttering in his chest has quelled, replaced by a near-dazzling warmth.

WWX's arm is around his waist, his lips pressed to LWJ's scalp. LWJ rolls over to stare at him.

He brushes a stray strand of hair from WWX's brow; counts his eyelashes; lays a kiss to his chin.

"We will learn the dance," he whispers against his lover's skin, before rising to go about his day.

And, eventually, they do.

They dance. They kiss. They go on to take the world by storm for a very short time.

Several years later, LWJ retires from dancing professionally, reserving all his future performances for his husband, alone. In turn, WWX learns how to play the flute, so he can join LWJ in his love of music.

He continues to perform for a while longer, before taking up a teaching position at Cloud Recesses alongside his husband. His students are all very small and chubby-cheeked. WWX has never been happier.

Eventually, WWX and LWJ have a child of their own - a boy as happy and playful as any ever was. WWX looks at him and remembers the days of his early childhood, when love flowed freely, and the laughter never stopped. LWJ recalls his mother holding him, teaching him how to dance as she'd once taught him to walk; encouraging him to smile; reassuring him it was safe to experience big emotions.

Together, they think of their future ahead of them - a future of light and happiness, and so much dancing. Looking into one another's eyes, they see nothing but pure bliss.

----

...That was a lot more thoughts than I expected a modern AU to bring tbh. 😅

Seriously though, the video: those lifts. The chin tilt. I am not normal about this.

[homoerotic-swordplay]

(personal) CQL/MDZS Age List

okay so i love THE Masterlist by TheWickling and i refer back to it a lot for remembering stuff but a lot of my personal headcanons conflict with "canon" ages (or as close to canon as the whole community has gotten) so I just wanted to write down my own with some side commentary to explain my choices.

It's not really canon breaking, just some slight tweaks for my own mental sake. (if you ever read my fics this would be the ages i would follow even unspoken). just add or take off a year depending if you wanted to be specific about birthdays cause i didnt lol

this follows a kind of mashup of the drama and the books timelines, because i like how they include a-yao more in the drama :)

anyways - ill put it under the cut

Character - Cloud Recesses - End of SSC - 1st Siege - 2nd Siege

Wei Ying - 16 - 21 - 23 - (MXY is 26, WWX would have been 36)

I think him being a year older than JC and having waited until his brother could go to cloud recesses is very him, also him being older than LWJ before his death then younger after is very funny to me

it also makes his teasing calling LWJ "gege" even more teasing

Lan Wangji / Jiang Cheng / Wen Ning - 15 - 20 - 22 - 35

nothing to really say here, this is canon ages for this group, applies to most other side characters present at CR schooling

Nie Huaisang - 18 - 23 - 25 - 38

mr "maybe ill graduate this year" is on record as having repeated schooling at CR on more than one occasion. I really like the idea of him lying about his age because he has a babyface but everyone knowing he's full of bullshit

Jin Zixuan / Jin Guangyao - 19 - 24 - 26 - 39

im in the "born on the same day means exact same day" camp, also the alternative of a-yao being still in his early teens but being a confidant to Wen Ruohan during the war and that doesnt seem like something he'd to tbh

i know this doesnt make much sense for JZX and being at cloud recesses so late but it's the only piece that doesnt fit so- again, creative license here. It matches up to everything else except that.

Jiang Yanli / Wen Qing / Lan Xichen - 20 - 25 - 27 - 40

JYL and JZX parents were "pregnant around the same" doesn't really read as "five years apart" but i know that she's older than him.

LXC is still "junior age" but like- he's cutting it close. Older than JGY and younger than NMJ so we're all good there

also bonus points to the power thruple for all have older siblings that are the same age lol

Nie Mingjue - 22 - 27 - 29 - (died at 30-31)

i think this is a good bridge for his and his brothers ages, in the movie they dont really look only 1-2 years apart in age, but definitely not like 6-7 years so having NHS be older than his canon age makes more sense to me again

Jin Ling - x - 0 - 2 - 15

canon age *shrugs*

Lan Sizhui / Lan Jingyi / Ouyang Zichen - x - 3 - 5 - 18

i like these three being the same age and Jin Ling being the runt of the quartet, kind of a reversal of the JC/WWX/NHS/LWJ quad

also just a side note, A-yuan talks way to much to be only 2 during the burial mounds arc LMAO (yes i know the actor was 7 but like- hes similar in the other works)

[symphonyofsilence]

WWX stans saying he would have been the best uncle and Jin Ling's favorite uncle like we didn't see the man see Jin Ling go through the most horrifying event in his life and witness his uncle (who was also one of his two guardians) painful, traumatizing death after the said uncle was dismembered and after some really earth-shattering truths being unraveled, and LEAVE THE BOY THERE CRYING WHILE STARING AT HIS UNCLE'S COFFIN to go fuck in the bushes with LWJ. Like not an hour after the incident, or even a quarter of an hour. no. right after that whole shitshow happened!

(And JL accusingly asked JC why he let them go! JL...my boy... the real question is why did THEY choose to go?! When WWX had a traumatized nephew & a literally and figuratively bleeding brother to take care of, and LWJ had a traumatized brother who seconds ago WAS WILLING TO DIE WITH JGY and LWJ hadn't yet made sure that LXC's willingness has ceased since!)

And then WWX didn't even go to check on JL after that! While JL was a 15 y/o sect leader dealing with the power vacuum left after the scandals of the previous sect leader who was also coincidentally the Xiandu, & going through a power struggle with one of the worst sects out there.

WWX asks after Jin Ling from the Lan Juniors instead of going to see him himself! When he next sees JL it's said that the news of his struggles had reached Wangxian in Gusu, meaning that WWX hadn't dropped by to check on JL to hear of these from JL himself and he hadn't dropped by to check in on him even after hearing these news! He was only there bc JL had invited the Lan Juniors for a field trip!

WWX shows his love with drastic, big, dramatic, sacrificial acts like giving his golden core to JC or transferring Jin Ling's curse to himself, but since he himself loves to run away from his traumas and his responsibilities, he's not someone who can be counted on to help his loved-ones with their traumas and responsibilities. He didn't do it with Jiang Cheng and he didn't do it with Jin Ling. He never even talked to Wen Ning about Wen Qing and the Wen Remnants. (Or how WN feels about being a zombie forcefully brought back to life in a world that hates and fears him)

Maybe diplomacy is not his strength and he'll only make things worse by trying to help JL with his sect leader duties, but it wouldn't have taken anything from him if he had only stayed by JL at least for the night after the Guanyin Temple, not even doing anything, but just being there. (And I understand that narratively it might have been a point in the story where some readers might want to see the main couple sail off into the sunset together, but all it would have taken for the main couple to be shown as less of a dick was adding a phrase like "the next morning..." or even "later that day" or something like that before writing about them disappearing into the sunset...or the bushes.)

I love Wei Wuxian, but post-resurrection Wei Wuxian was really...not particularly an ideal family member.

[red-garden]

Making my hyperfixations kiss so here’s WB for an MDZS Star Trek AU

🌞 The position of head cultivator would obviously have to go to the captain. The great sects would be the various sections (engineering, security, opps, med, etc) with the sect leader as the chief officer. For first officer I think it has to be a Spock situation where they’re head officer of something else and also just besties w the captain

🌞 Jiangs: Science

🌞 Lans: Medical

🌞 Nies: Security

🌞 Jin: Operations

🌞 Wen: Command

🌞 smaller clans like the Yao, Ooyang, Su, etc would be smaller divisions like communications, stellar cartography, xenoanthropology, etc

🌞 WRH captain, JGY first mate -> JGS captain, JGY first mate -> JGY captain, LXC first mate

🌞 WRH and the command division started going against the will of the rest of the crew resulting in some casualties and several court martials. The Wen Remnants were command division officers that didn’t actually do anything wrong but were lumped in with the rest of the division and were going to be court martialed, but WWX stole a ship and “held them hostage” so they couldn’t be dishonorably discharged.

🌞 the ship (tentative name “Jianghu”) would be one of those TOS era painfully human crews. I want to avoid the “one family as one alien species” thing I see a lot in fics. It would make since for the Nie brothers to be mixed Klingon- specifically for the health issues that could result from unpredictable biology and the chronic rage rather than having evil swords. JGS would be a Kirk type and 80% of his bastards are from aliens. Jiggy specifically would be half Orion since Orion women have the reputation of being pheromonal sex fiends. MXY would be half betazoid, since betazoids also have a reputation of being sexy fiends (god forbid a culture be generally sex positive 🙄)

🌞 Wen Ning does not become a zombie, I think he gets Borged and WWX figures out how to control borg hive minds (instead of demonic cultivation), and he deprograms WN a la Hue.

🌞after the mass court martialing of the Wen controlled command, its just miscellaneous red shirts filling the division

🌞 the juniors are Westley Crushing it before they go to Academy

🌞 the Yi city gang would be ex fleet who travel on and independent ship helping the common people of the galaxy (and raising this little “blind” andorian girl they found/ this little freak academy dropout human)

[wangxianficfinder]

Fic Finder

Aug 24th

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1. Hi! For 3 grueling days I've been on a hunt for a fanfic where Lan Wanji and Jiang Cheng go back in time and change everything! I remember that at one point that WeiWuXian is exposed for hurting himself after Jiang Cheng yells at Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan for bing shitty parents and runs off crying where he is later joined by Jiang YanLi and WWX. Also that YZY immediately regrets everything along with JFM. And then a disciple says that he's never heard heart wrenching sobs before. Please help. It's a wonderful read. Thank you!!! @makkachinno

FOUND? Brother-In-Law’s by Loveable_Psychopath (M, 332k, WIP, JYL/JZX, wangxian, JC/WQ, canon divergence, time travel fix-it, Memories, Butterfly Effect, Sexual assualt, Self Harm, Self Doubt, BAMF JC, Fluff, Angst with a Happy Ending, Rape/Non-con Elements, Rape Recovery, Threats of Rape/Non-Con, Everyone Lives au, PTSD, good parent YZY, Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms, Depression, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Canon-Typical Violence, Warning: JGS, Emotional Manipulation, Manipulation, Second Chances) chapter 29 for the screaming part and the cying is the next chapter

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2. Hi!! For this fic finder :

Its a fic i read long ago , wangxian was alr an established couple, It was after the canon series had ended i beleive and wwx has an identity crisis abt being mo xuanyu and theres a recurring theme of the burial mounds haunting him and it talks abt his ptsd (specifically I remember of cannibalism? The fic was maybe dead dove too..)

Wwx wld sleep walk aswell and during one of his sleepwalking episodes he didnt recognize the juniors and thought he was a teenager.

In the end i think he revists the burial mounds?

Thank you for the work you put in for the fandom!💗💗 @jnxi839

FOUND? Mud on Your Feet by AvoOwO (Not Rated, 59k, WangXian, JC & WWX, Nightmares, Sentient Burial Mounds, Burial Mounds, Possession, Panic Attacks, Night Terrors, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Good Sibling JC, Hurt WWX, Soft WangXian, Feels, Blood and Injury, Hallucinations, Delusions, JC Loves WWX, Insomnia, Good Sibling WWX, Sleepwalking, Sleeptalking, LWJ just wants to sleep with his husband, Protective JC, WWX Sees Dead People, LJY pulls through, POV LWJ, Cloud Recesses, PTSD, Post-Canon, YLLZ WWX, resentful energy, Fluff, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Thirteen Years of WWX’s Death, WWX’s Three Months in the Burial Mounds, Angst with a Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort, WWX is tired, LWJ literally just wants to sleep with WWX again is that too much to ask for??, Soft JC, Yunmeng Siblings Feels)

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3. Please help find fic

Wei wuxian cursed to be close to Lan wanji and stops feeling pain. Open ending. Curse gets progressively worse as fic goes on. They have to stay at an inn during the fic because wei wuxian hurt his foot. @opalkittencat

FOUND? Tether by Annerb (M, 161k, WangXian, Cursed LWJ, Canon Divergence, Post-Sunshot Campaign, Hurt/Comfort, Slow Burn, Angst with a Happy Ending, Pining, Family Feels, Yin Iron, Temporary Character Death, Canon-Typical Violence, aftermath of a war)

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4. hi!! i’m looking for a fic and it’s driving me crazy bc i’ve read it more then once. but it’s a modern au and it starts with llan zhan going on a random date and getting stood up. and wei ying pops up to sit with him and make him feel better since he’s alone. and immediate wangxian love ensues. and at one point point they overhear the guy talking and basically being like “haha that guys so boring i told u he would go out with me. i didn’t even show up.” or something like that. ofc that’s a complete paraphrase but that’s the general vibe of what the guy says . i don’t think the fic was very long. oh! lxc is also very protective in it but i can’t remember how. so sorry this is so vague i rly cant remember more of it. hoping anyone could help 😖 but totally understand if this is not enough info to find it. also tysm for all u do! this blog is so helpful!

FOUND! Blooming Days by Atsushiis (G, 7k, WangXian, LWJ & LXC, LWJ & MM, Modern, College/University, Meet-Cute, First Dates, First Kiss, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, LWJ Has Feelings, Let LWJ talk about his feelings agenda, Romance, Falling In Love, Wangxian are softer than a baby bunny, gratuitous handholding, Give LWJ hugs agenda, LWJ Protection Squad, Spanish Translation Available)

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5. so I remember this ff- it was on Wattpad (idk if y'all do Wattpad) if it was a sort of modern au with WWX as a teacher, one of his students have a crush on him, but he leaves and a sub (Lan Sizhui) is covering for him, I really remember that the class took a field trip to cloud recesses, where they found out about WWX and LWJ. Sorry if it was not so specific. and it is totes find if y'all cant find it, but the cover was sort of a Wangxian modern fanart, if that would help? @bitter-lemonzz

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6. I have been searching for the fic for so long but cannot find it. It was about Wei Wuxian accidentally being pushed into a pond by Lan Wangji and then it's angst. I think Madam Yu was a supportive figure for WWX in this fic. (⁠◕⁠ᴗ⁠◕⁠✿⁠) @yilinglaobunny

FOUND! i won’t say i’m in love by kazzywx (E, 18k, WangXian, rape/non-con, A/B/O, Arranged Marriage, Miscommunication, Angst with a Happy Ending, Omega WWX, Alpha LWJ, skippable NSFW scenes, wwx’s is basically meg from hercules with his “i wont say im in love” shtick, Hurt WWX, Boypussy, WWX Has a Vulva, Intersex WWX, Dubious Consent, Feminization, Mating Bites, Vaginal Sex, Vaginal Fingering, WWX Has a Fear of Dogs, Mpreg, WWX & WQ Friendship, WWX & WN Friendship, Possessive LWJ)

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7. Hey, someone told me that you could help me find this fic. It's a short story...might be a one shot where after the canon wwx sets wen ning up on various dates and at the end wen ning finds 'the one' that he tackles (if I'm not wrong) because of some misunderstanding. Also I think the final male character that wen ning shows interest in is from another famous fandom. It's all sweet and cute. Please if you know this story or can find this story, let me know...I've been searching for a long time. Thank you so much! You are doing an amazing job❤️ @madarmy

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8. Hi! I am looking for a specific canon au fic where soulmates are announced by an angry goose. Like, literally, when soulmates meet a goose pops up out of nowhere and heckles them until they recognize (? fall for?) each other. I think it was during the Cloud Recesses Lectures and Lan Qiren kept getting interrupted because geese kept popping up between the students. I remember honking geese breaking the quiet and calm of Cloud Recesses :D

FOUND? 🔒💖 No Matter What I Do I Feel The Pain (With or Without Goose) by Trickster_Angel (T, 3k, WangXian, Soulmates, The Soulmate Goose of Enforcement, Crack, Not tagging animal abuse but they have to fight off the geese, Not Serious, Humor, First Kiss)

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9.Hi! So, I've looking for this fic that take place when wei ying is in the burial mounds with the wens and decides to end his life, and wen ning is the one that tells lan zhan of it, and he has a panic attack? anxiety attack? and it leads to everyone helping the wens while they grief ... (sorry if there is misspelling, second language) @belenleal2111

FOUND? To Offer a Heart by WhiteCrane (M, 111k, WIP, wangxian, major character death, Sad WWX, Hurt WWX, YLLZ WWX, soft wangxian, Cinnamon Roll WN, WWX Whump, WQ is a good sister, WN is a good brother, everybody loves wwx, yunmeng siblings, Triggers, Suicidal Thoughts, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Fluff, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Heavy Angst with a Happy Ending, Taking care of WWX, Give WWX a break, Canon Divergence, Disturbing Themes, Changing Perspectives, Eventual Smut, Eventual Romance, Grief/Mourning, Temporary Character Death, Getting Together, Redemption, Sibling Bonding, Marriage, Marriage Proposal, Brotherly Bonding, Brotherly Love, Brother-Sister Relationships, Parent-Child Relationship, Sad and Sweet, Tragedy, BAMF WWX, BAMF JC, BAMF JYL, BAMF WQ, Slow Burn, Slow Build, Everyone Needs A Hug)

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10. hello! I hope you're doing well 🌷 I'm looking for a fic where female! WWX is getting married to the second son (Lan Zhan) of the esteemed Lan family who are well known tea merchants. Nie Huaisang is female too. Uncle Jiang arranges this marriage for Wei Ying. The fic starts with Uncle Jiang saying "Wei Ying, I accepted a marriage proposal for you you're getting married next month". Jiang Cheng keeps saying UNKIDNAPPABLE! because that's why the Lan Clan extended a marriage proposal to Wei Ying cos she's impossible to kidnap. WWX and LZ don't know each other prior to this. They have a summer wedding and the makeup auntie puts 3 layers of thick white face powder on WWX's face and tells her not to touch her face after which wei ying immediately feels the need to scratch her face off. Lan Zhans hand is a bit damp when he helps WWX into the palaquin cos it's hot as balls and he's sweating under 3 layers of robes. Wei Ying said she can't wait to become a dowager cos she'll get to wear clothes that are her style (darker). Someone tells wwx to not stand up too straight and she folds into an exaggerated slouch and then yelps and straightens up again when MianMian (her handmaid) slaps her butt. Sorry, that's all I remember! Thank you please help me find this 🙏🏼 @darkchocobun-blog

FOUND? a harmony between qin and se by Alaceron (E, 62k, WangXian, Gender Changes, Historical, Female WWX)

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11. Hi Mods! I am looking for a wangxian fic with these details:

-YilingWei Sect wangxian AU

-WWX takes MXY and his mom (Mo WeiYa) away from Mo manor to keep them safe but he has to go to Koi Tower for some reason about Meng Yao...

-Mo WeiYa imprints on JGY and makes WWX take him back too and treats him like a kid

-there was also a part where WWX said something about taking MXY under his wing and LWJ assumes he's gonna marry his mom and adopt MXY but ofc he was wrong

-JGY later becomes his deputy in his sect despite WWX trying to find a different one...yes JGY was corrupt before and WWX doesn't trust him.

-it was a multichap (I think) and complete (I think). Help?

FOUND!🔒 if you can’t beat them, recruit them by moeblobmegane (T, 228k, Wangxian, NHS & WWX, WWX & WQ, Time Travel Fix-It, Conspiracy, Spies & Secret Agents, Team as Family, Found Family, Burial Mounds, Temporary Character Death, Canon-Typical Violence, Pining, Morally Ambiguous Character, Rumors, Politics, Developing Friendships, Good Uncle LQR, Demonic Cultivation, YilingWei Sect)

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12. This is an odd ficfinder request, but I remember there was a VERY long fanfic I read a while ago on AO3 where the author gave the Meishan Yu a motto that went something like "We remember what is owed." I thought it was "Things to do with Flute During Wartime" but I can't find it in there. Anyone have any ideas? Thank you for ALL you do, mods! <3 <3 <3 @kimboo-york

FOUND! could be any of a few by stratisphyre but is likely the exploration of a courageous heart (all this unexpected glory) by Stratisphyre (T, 54k, JYL/LXC/NMJ, Canon Divergence, Not Everybody Dies, (but some canonical character deaths), Childhood Sweethearts, Arranged Marriage, Threesome - F/M/M, Kidfic, Hurt/Comfort, JYL Best Jiejie, Friends to Lovers, Sibling Feelings, Not JFM friendly, Enormous Amounts of Head Canon, Multiple Pov, Canon Typical Violence, Implied Past Abuse)

NOT FOUND! the other long stratisphyre fic with that Meishan Yu motto as a line in the fic is in stillness, clear water to the bottom by Stratisphyre (T, 40k, CSSR/WCZ/LQR, LQR & Madam Lan, LQR & WWX, Sect Leader Nie/NHS's Mother/NMJ's Mother, Canon Divergence, Time Travel Fix-It, Mourning, Hurt/Comfort, Canon-Typical Violence, Threesome - M/M/F, Getting Together, Friends to Lovers, Everyone lives, (mostly), (not you QHJ), Family feelings, Madam Lan lives, references to past rape)

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13. trying to find a specific fic! it's a modern au roommates-to-lovers. the most specific thing I can remember is that Jin Zixuan is the one who asks Lan Wangji to let Wei Wuxian stay in his spare room. thanks in advance! @strinak

FOUND? ❤️ the best of you by sysrae (E, 41k, WangXian, XuanLi, Modern AU, College/University, Angst with a Happy Ending, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Hurt/Comfort, Mutual Pining, Getting Together, slightly undernegotiated kink, but in a very soft and consensual way, Nightmares, Panic Attacks, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, JFM and Madam Yu’s A+ parenting, Dysfunctional Family, Mental Health Issues therapy is good actually, the most tender of railings, Reference to animal attacks/animal cruelty, descriptions of past violence)

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14. Hi! In 2021 (approx) I read a fanfic where Lan zhan tries to save, (through a simulation that has Wei Ying's soul) wwx but always fails in the attempt, it is not until Wei Ying becomes aware of this and both confess to each other, that they manage to save everyone and wangxian stay together until old age and the time of his death as companions. However, this occurs within a simulation and wangxian says goodbye. The fic ends with Lan zhan leaving his seclusion but with his mind at peace knowing that he had a chance to be at peace and happy with his love and is ready to raise a-yuan.

I remember reading this on Wattpad and in Spanish. But I always wondered if it was on ao3 and it was actually a translation. Please, if you have any information I would be happy to read you. Saludos

Pd: Sorry for Google traslate

Enviar comentarios @ppninonom

FOUND? my apple tree, my brightness by trickybonmot (E, 5k, WangXian, Science Fiction, Angst, Not A Fix-It, Not a Time Loop Either, sweaty sex, sweat as lube, Come as Lube, But don't worry they're cultivators, LWJ's Regret, LWJ in Seclusion, Hopeful Ending, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Not a ton of comfort but some!, Grief, Healing, [Podfic] my apple tree, my brightness by shash_reads (sunkitten_shash), [Podfic] my apple tree, my brightness by nonminus (nonplussed))

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15. Hi. I saw this ao3 fic on twitter but it refreshed before I could save, I only remember a few tags it was a wangxian case fic where they look after three ghost children, I guess it was The Untamed post canon fic. Can you help? Thank you.

FOUND? a home carved of love by omegawangji (T, 12k, WangXian, Case Fic, Post-Canon, Child Abandonment, Past Child Abuse, Accidental Baby Acquisition, wangxian adopt ghost (corpse?) babies, Soft WangXian, Family Fluff, Domestic Fluff, Pining LWJ, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, WangXian Get a Happy Ending, Good Parents LWJ and WWX, Found Family, Getting Together, First Kiss)

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16. For fic finder: Hello! I am looking for a canon-au fic where Wei Wuxian was able to use demonic cultivation to create shadow copies of himself, kind of like Naruto shadow clones. He used this to fight in the Sunshot Campaign and there was a cool scene where he took down a Wen supervisory office all by himself by having a ton of hims fight each Wen soldier. There was also a scene where he dueled with Jiang Cheng and Jiang Cheng had to cut down all of the clones before finding the real Wei Wuxian. I think this technique caused his soul to shatter after death, but I could be wrong/confusing multiple fics. Thank you for your help!

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17. Fic finder request plz!! It’s a fem Wangxian in an omegaverse setting where Alpha NMJ has Alpha LWJ visiting and they invite WWX over. I remember at the end, LWJ came into the kitchen to get fancy water for WWX and wanted to know what snacks she liked. I can’t remember anything else. 😭😭😭

FOUND? good friends by plonk (Not Rated, 11k, NMJ/WWX/LWJ, WangXian, Modern, Gender Changes, A/B/O)

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18. Hi!! It's my first time asking here!! I've been trying to find a fic where wwx makes the cultivation world forget abt the wens and him, and by consequence the baby lwj is pregnant with!! I will be so grateful if u guys could help me find it!!

FOUND! could be this threadfic (locked to followers)

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19. Hi, there's this one canon divergence fic I read where WWX inevitably becomes part of the Burial Mounds and has become pretty vampire-adjacent and he thinks of himself as a monster. When LWJ finds out, there are multiple times in the story where he cuts his hand/arm and pours the blood in a bowl so WWX could "eat."

At some point in the story it's revealed that WWX was transported to Diyu before he died and yeah. At Wangxian's wedding he invites the overlord(?) of Diyu and even tho he didn't go, he was amused by the invitation and sent someone else to be there for him LMAO 😭😭

Can you please help me find this fic? I also highly rec it! Thank you!

FOUND!🔒A Heart Undying by NonsensicalRambling (M, 114k, WangXian, Undead WWX, Canon-Typical Violence, canon-typical dead things the burial mounds, Fix-It of Sorts, Canon Divergence, Eventual WangXian, No Yīn Tiger Seal, Morally Gray WWX, Animals Eating People, WWX's questionable choices, Morally conflicted LWJ, Oblivious WWX, WWX Creates a Sect | Yiling Wei, YLLZ WWX, Sect Leader WWX, LWJ & WQ have an Understanding)

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20. fic finder req: a really sad post canon fic. it's a hurt/no comfort sick fic, where lwj falls ill with what eventually turns out to be a terminal illness (maybe a blood curse of some sort?). I think lwj falls unconscious at some pt, and they use the incense burner to spend lwj's last moments tgt with family and wwx. wx tries and fails to find a cure for it, and only succeeds many years after lwj dies, working closely w the gusu healers. the fic ends with them meeting in the afterlife, where lwj has been waiting for wwx. I've tried all the tags I could think of, but it's lost among my countless bookmarks... i haven't been able to find it and I'm worried it's been taken down. please help!

FOUND! I will be gone by seachronicles (M, 28k, WangXian, Angst, Sickfic, Hurt LWJ, Hurt WWX, Sick LWJ, LWJ Whump, WWX Whump, Hopeful Ending, Hurt/Comfort, but a lot of hurt, Post-Canon, Established Relationship, Grief/Mourning, Reincarnation, POV LWJ, POV WWX, Sad WWX, Sad LWJ, Married WangXian, Major Illness, Implied/Referenced Sex, Implied/Referenced Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, but very briefly)

~*~

[lgbtlunaverse]

Just read your post about Nie Mingjue not understanding Jin Guangyao’s excuses not to throw Xue Yang out of the Jin window. I love your insight!!!

May I ask what, in your opinion, was Lan Xichen’s view on all this? Because he is the peacemaker, he seems to side with jgy always, but also can’t possibly know about the demonic cultivation…

(that’s the post, btw. Don’t know if you’ve made more than one) https://www.tumblr.com/lgbtlunaverse/744152124570697728?source=share

I'd argue that lan xichen doesn't really always side with jin guangyao, and related to this exact incident we can later hear him telling jin guangyao not to "provoke" Nie Mingjue anymore, while assuring him that things with da-ge are fine. He's a peacemaker, like you said. His ideal solution is getting everyone to just be nice to each other. And because Nie Mingjue is the one most outwardly angry, his first instinct in any fight is to get him to calm down so they can have a civil discussion or, even better, just drop the subject and pretend it never happened. Since jin guangyao is usually also eager to drop the subject, this means they end up agreeing. But it's more of a sign that their methods of conflict resolution are compatible than a sign that they always agree. (There are certainly times lxc genuinely agrees with jgy and disagrees with nmj! But i'd say it's not as universal as fandom makes it seem)

Indeed, since Xichen also doesn't know about the demonic cultivation, I kind of believe Xichen sort of agrees with Nie Mingjue that Jin Guangyao could get away with killing xue yang– he just thinks da-ge's way is the wrong way to go about asking that of him– because as far as xichen is concerned, jin guangyao actually was planning on killing Xue Yang!

Remember, after the fight, jgy tells nmj that he'll bring him xue yang's head. To Xichen, this is a satisfying solution, because it gets da-ge what he wants so he can calm down, which is always xichen's goal. If he believed doing this put jgy in serious danger, he might have objected a bit more. But he evidently thinks the risk is minor enough to be worth it for the ultimate sake of peace.

Him stopping nmj is about just that, making sure no one gets killed. And reminding nmj that jgy's family mistreats him, in that light, sounds less like an argument that he can't do it and more of a plea to give him more time to figure things out. (Again, Xichen is always eager to delay or avoid confrontation)

To Xichen, here's what happened: Jin Guangshan refuses to kill xue yang, nmj got really mad at a-yao over that, xichen de-escalated the situation, and a-yao promised to kill xue yang, he just needed time to do so. Yay! Solved! Except then da-ge died. (Yes, jgy killed him, and was never planning on killing xue yang, but xichen didn't know that) And xue yang was freed, but a-yao and he were busy grieving their oldest sworn brother! They kind of had other things going on! And then, some amount of months later, Jin Guangshan died, A-Yao became chief cultivator, and promptly killed xue yang! (He wasn't dead, but xichen didn't know that) Everything worked out in the end, it's only an unfortunate tragedy that da-ge died too soon to see that a-yao really was dedicated to him. 😔

We don't know what his exact reaction was before the nieyao stairs confrontation, but it was probably in the rough shape of xichen very politely asking jgy if he could at least try to convince his dad, and jgy saying he would but he wasn't sure if it'd work. That seems like something they'd do.

[thatswhatsushesaid]

do you think NHS will ever be satisfied with the way things have turned out in the end? or is he already? I've seen polar opinions on this one and honestly can't decide which one I like more

oooh, what crunchy questions, anon.

short answer: I think he thinks he's satisfied.

the tl;dr answer: I don't think it's possible for us to know with any degree of certainty how nhs feels about anything post-canon, because the text gives us almost no insight into his interiority outside of wwx's speculation in the aftermath of the guanyin temple sequence. but I think we can make some educated guesses based on what we do know about his character.

rather than just rewrite stuff I've already written on this subject before, I'll drop some links to previous posts that I think are relevant to your ask:

nhs took so long to enact his revenge quest because he could not make up his mind about what he wanted to do. also this one, which includes discussion of his cql performance as well. indecisiveness is as core to nhs's character as his desire for vengeance, and I think that extends to his feelings about his situation post-canon, too.

this is definitely more within the realm of headcanon and speculation but I went deep on this the magnus archives-mdzs fusion reblog speculating on why I think nhs would be an avatar of the hunt, and a big thing about the hunt is that once the hunt is over, the hunters... don't really know what to do with themselves. womp womp.

now on to the point I don't think I've spilt much digital ink on yet:

nhs is, and always has been, a people person. this is extremely obvious when you dip back into the gusu lan summer camp for wayward young cultivators chapters, where nhs is at his most effervescent when he is bopping around the cloud recesses as wwx and jc's bubbly tag-along, lamenting how much lwj and lqr clearly hate wwx while cheerfully offering to give wwx more porn to make up for what he's lost. (it was nhs's porn, too! he'd be justified in being a bit cheesed off about it, but he really isn't!) if he sees a didi-shaped hole in a prospective friends' group, he sees an opportunity to make himself lovably indispensable as the court appointed littlest brother no one asked for, and quite frankly who could blame him? he loves to be spoiled and doted on, but imo there's some clear self-awareness and reciprocity at work in these dynamics that goes beyond a desire just to be pampered and looked after. I suppose an uncharitable read on teen!nhs would be that he's lazy and manipulative and finds easy marks to do the heavy lifting for him so he can sleep and paint and catch birds for his private collection, but tbh I think that interpretation does his character dirty. most people who end up spoiling and doting on nhs in the text are clearly happy to do so and seem to get something out of making life easier for this charmingly incompetent dandy. good for him--and for them!

...and then, post-canon, he is a people person without any people around him. sure, we can presume the existence of some unnamed nie sect subordinates who are stuck dealing with a sect leader who allowed his sect to languish and decline in the years after nmj's death, but I think if any of those unnamed subordinates were inclined to be people nhs could rely on to fill the 3zun and/or wwx and jc-shaped voids in his life, we'd at least know their names. I think it is telling that we don't, and that the last meaningful interaction we see between nhs and the characters who used to be his closest friends in the text amounts to an interrogation. whatever affection wwx used to feel for nhs has clearly withered on the vine and has been replaced by mistrust and suspicion--to say nothing of lxc's dead-eyed silence as soon as he begins to put the pieces together.

also: the last glimpse we get of nhs in the text before he disappears from the story altogether is him picking up jgy's hat and walking off with it. why does he do this? why is this the very last thing we see him do in the story? there are a few different possibilities:

"he's taking the hat to keep as a trophy!" I mean. maybe? I suppose I can't entirely rule out this possibility, but it is the least interesting one to me because it glosses over the complexity of nhs's pre-existing relationship to jgy.

"nhs doesn't know why he picks up the hat and takes it with him. he just does it." this is the idea I vibe with the most because it is most consistent with my read on his character--namely that he is never 100% sure about anything (except what qualifies as good erotica). but I think the part of him that still cares about jgy (it's there! it's tiny and shrivelled and warped by his transformation into the wuxia version of montresor, but it's still there) does not want to see his hat abandoned in the mud and dirt, and also does not want to interrogate his feelings about why he feels that way that closely.

"nhs can't abide littering! he's doing his part to keep the city streets clean." doubt.jpeg

[robininthelabyrinth]

My third prompt, which I just think would be Neat: He Kexin didn't die when lxc and lwj were young, and instead it was their father who passed away on a night hunt

A Significant Difference - ao3

Lan Qiren wouldn’t have thought that there was much difference between being acting sect leader and raising one’s nephews because your brother was in permanent seclusion and being acting sect leader as regent for one’s underaged nephews because one’s brother was dead, but apparently there was.

A significant difference.

He meditated on this difference for a while, then went to He Kexin precisely on schedule. It was the start of the month, half a month of time from Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji’s monthly mid-month visits, and it was the first time he had visited since he had broken his scheduled visits with his sister-in-law to inform her of her husband’s death. When he had done so, she had stared at him blankly, dull as if with shock. She had asked, firstly, how it had happened – the official answer was a night-hunt, and the true answer not too far removed from that, only the object of the night-hunt had been festering internally rather than pursued externally – and then, blinking rapidly, what that meant for her.

At the time, Lan Qiren had told her that he did not know, but that she should assume that nothing would change for the immediate moment and that he would inform her promptly of any developments.

He was fairly sure she had listened to him, but he was still cognizant of the fact that there were some differences in her demeanor when he arrived this time. She had been increasingly ill the past few months, her vivaciousness fading like the bloom come off a rose towards the end of summer, and although they had never spoken on the subject, Lan Qiren knew that her illness was not wholly physical, having more to do with the doctor’s too-blunt revelation that she was unlikely to bear more children to accompany her in her seclusion for a few too-short years than it did with any real disease. Now, however, she seemed both better and more anxious, which he could understand.

“Are you really going to make me go through the small talk first?” she asked as he started preparing the tea, and he sighed quietly to himself – He Kexin had never had much appreciation for etiquette, something his brother had found charming and which Lan Qiren had found irritating, finding her manner suggestive of a fundamental selfish disinterest in anything that got in her way rather than merely a careless desire to not waste time with that which seemed to her to be unimportant, the way it was for Cangse Sanren. Though perhaps he was simply biased in favor of the woman who was his friend, and who hadn’t murdered a member of his family and ruined his life.

“I am not,” he said. “But I would prefer to have some tea prepared in advance of this discussion.”

“Why? What’s the reason? Is it bad news?”

“There is no news. Nothing has changed since the last time we spoke, other than that I have investigated the impact of recent events on your situation and have come to you to hear your views on the subject before any decision is ultimately made.”

“Slow and steady, always contemplating,” she said, tone biting and scathingly provocative as always, but her shoulders relaxed. “Why the tea, then, if no decisions have been made?”

“I am making tea,” Lan Qiren said, rigidly controlling himself as always, “because l have observed that you like to have something to sip whenever you don’t want to respond to something I’ve said. I thought it polite to provide the option.”

As always, He Kexin looked taken aback by the notion that someone might do something for someone else when there was no benefit in it for themselves – for the longest time she’d been convinced that Lan Qiren had some sort of infatuation with her, and it had taken considerable time and effort to dissuade her from both the belief and her occasional attempts to take advantage of what she believed he felt. By now he was fairly sure that she had accepted that Lan Qiren genuinely disliked her, lacked any sort of attraction to her whatsoever, and that he would nevertheless advocate for her interests just as stridently as if he loved her, and yet he was also aware that to this day she did not understand why he would do such a strange and pointless thing.

At least she waited with more or less grace until the tea was ready.

“Well?” she asked. “Have your elders decided that I’m officially useless to them now that there’s no hope of any more heirs? Are they going to make me drink poison or order me strangled or something?”

Lan Qiren’s eye twitched. “You read too many novels. And before you ask, no, that isn’t a prelude to me cutting off your access to them.”

“You say that as if you didn’t cut me off from that traveling opera troupe I liked that one time,” she sniffed.

“Firstly, I did not cut you off from opera troupes in general, merely that one in specific. Secondly, I did that because it turned out that they were thieves and the entire purpose of the troupe was a means of gaining access to the Cloud Recesses to scout out our defenses.”

“Thieves or no thieves, they put on a damn good opera.”

Lan Qiren suppressed another sigh.

“The elders are not advocating for your immediate execution,” he said instead. “On the contrary, the situation has shifted in a material manner, which is why I wished to get your thoughts on the subject. If you are amenable?”

He Kexin pointedly took a sip of her tea instead of answering.

Lan Qiren wished that he could be petty and respond in kind, making it clear that he was equally willing to sit in silence for as long as He Kexin’s limited patience could hold out, but he was viscerally aware – he was never not aware – of the power dynamics that underlaid all of their interactions. However unwilling he might be, he was He Kexin’s jailor, and the power was always on his side. It was therefore incumbent upon him to keep his temper on a short leash and to be as obliging as he could be, no matter how obnoxious or deliberately provocative her behavior might be.

“I will assume that you are,” he said neutrally. “Although, as always, if you wish for this conversation to end, you may say so at any time and I will depart at once.”

He paused, but she said nothing – more desperate for company and news than disdainful of it, no doubt. He had tried several times over the years to find a way to allow her some company that she might prefer, perhaps someone of her own gender and age, unburdened by the history between them – someone other than the servants she disdained – but he had never had any success convincing the elders of the necessity. Even his own visits had been hard-fought victories, premised entirely on his insistence that to properly raise his nephews he needed the input of their mother.

It had never sat well with him.

“Very well,” Lan Qiren said, moving on. “With my brother’s death, the role of sect leader has now devolved unto Xichen, although naturally he is too young to accept the role. As a result, I am now officially regent in his stead.”

“Does that change anything?” He Kexin asked, and she sounded genuinely curious.

“It does,” he confirmed. “Before, my role was that of a temporary caretaker –”

“Temporary? For ten years?”

“For as long as it would have taken, yes. As long as my brother lived, he was Sect Leader, regardless of where he was or whether he carried out the duties of the position –”

He ignored He Kexin’s mumble of “Well, that’s bullshit”, even though he privately agreed with the assessment.

“– and as only a temporary caretaker, my ability to implement change was heavily prescribed by tradition, in order to forestall the risk that I seek to take advantage of my brother’s absence.”

He ignored this second “Bullshit!” as well, though he appreciated it.

“However,” he said, trying desperately to get to the point as quickly as his rigid manner could manage, “as regent, my status is different, and so is the scope of my jurisdiction. I have all the rights and powers of a true sect leader, able to implement my will on behalf of my nephews.”

“That distinction makes no sense at all.”

It did if one looked at the historical background behind each type of position, but Lan Qiren didn’t allow himself to be distracted by an academic debate He Kexin wouldn’t care about in the slightest.

“Regardless of how much or how little sense it may make, it means that I have more flexibility in arranging sect matters than I did before,” he said. “Including in regard to sect discipline and justice.”

He Kexin paused with her cup halfway up to her mouth.

“What does that mean?” she asked sharply. “Don’t talk around the subject. My fate was sealed long ago – if I leave this house or break my seclusion in any other way, I die. Is that not still the case?”

Lan Qiren looked at her steadily. “The sect leader has the ability to commute punishments for conduct that he was not involved in, as long as justice remains served.”

She exhaled. Hard.

“You have several options,” Lan Qiren said. “I could lighten the terms of your isolation, whether by allowing you more company here or by allowing you to live in the female quarters of the Cloud Recesses; as you know, men and women are separated here, with the exception of married couples. You would be permitted to see your sons more often – every afternoon, if you so wished.”

He Kexin pursed her lips. “What’s the catch?”

“That approach would only be a lightening of your original punishment. You would still be confined to the Cloud Recesses, and your sentence of execution would still be applicable should you ever depart from our home.”

“An expansion of walls,” she murmured, then frowned. “You said ‘that approach’. What’s the alternative?”

“I could change the nature of the punishment entirely,” he said. “I cannot simply lift it, you understand – you murdered an honored teacher, perverting the rules of both justice and hospitality, and no matter my sympathy to you in regard to the matter of not being permitted to see your sons, my nephews, that does not change what you did. You were wrong then and remain wrong now. To refuse to punish you would be for me to fail in my duty to my ancestors.”

“You’re stepping around the subject,” she observed. “That’s unlike you. What’s the second approach? What would the new punishment be?”

Lan Qiren took a breath, steadying his nerves. “Exile.”

He Kexin blinked, and then she started to smile. “Exile? You mean, leaving this place, never to return, that sort of exile?”

“That is correct,” he said, and before the joy had fully entered her face, he added: “Your sons would, however, remain here.”

Her smile faded.

“That seems unfair,” she said after a moment. “I’m their mother, after all.”

“They have already separated from you and entered the men’s quarters, and their surname is Lan,” Lan Qiren said, a touch censoriously. “They are the heirs of a Great Sect, with all that attends that. You cannot expect to simply take them with you as if you were the rogue cultivator you once were.”

Nor would he permit such a thing. Bad enough to have one Cangse Sanren out there, a rogue cultivator who took husband and child along with her to face whatever dangers there were out there by her side, but his nephews? He would rather die than risk them getting lost or hurt in a moment’s carelessness.

He Kexin tapped her cheek thoughtfully. “Would I still be able to see them at all if I took that option?”

“You would be able to see them outside the Cloud Recesses. Naturally we could arrange something in which I would escort them outside for the purpose of seeing you…assuming you were within reasonable distance.”

It wouldn’t be every afternoon, though. It might not even be every month, the way it was now – not unless He Kexin wished to live near the Cloud Recesses, which Lan Qiren assumed she did not.

He remained quiet after that, drinking his tea and waiting for her to think it over. He knew what type of choice he was presenting her with, and he disliked it, though he did not see any other path forward. For his nephews’ sake, he hoped that she chose the first option, or at minimum a delayed exile, choose to stay within the Cloud Recesses until her sons were of age, or at least a little older than they were now – that Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji might have the benefit of their mother for a little longer, and the way they should have had her all along, a constant presence rather than a rarely-seen figure hidden away. Even if it meant that he himself would have to suffer her presence more often, have to look upon the woman who had destroyed his dreams every day rather than merely twice a month, it would be worth it, for their sake.

Yet for her own sake, he felt he had to make her the offer of freedom now. For all that Lan Qiren saw himself firstly as his nephews’ guardian, then as a member of his sect, and only lastly as an individual, He Kexin was in a different situation. She had never wanted to marry his brother in the first place, and she’d borne two children as much for the company they’d given her as because she’d actually wanted them.

She was a person, not merely a mother. She was the one who had to make the decision. Lan Qiren could not decide for her, not even if he believed one choice to be better for his nephews than the other.

“If you would like to think about it for longer, you may,” he said. “Overnight, or even for a few days…”

He Kexin put down her cup with a definitive thunk.

“I’m not a slow plodder like you lot are,” she said, head held high and voice scathing as ever. “I know how to be decisive. I know what I want.”

Lan Qiren braced himself.

“Well?” he asked. “What have you decided?”

She told him.