#very nice to have another FC saviour too

[teafiend]

Oh, this was an unexpectedly nostalgic - and fun - show. I did not expect to go in and get a refresher course in “Pop Buddhism for Idiots”, nor the campy and breezy story. Neither did I anticipate the hilarity of watching Won Mi Ho (aka Lee Da Hee) run around screaming as demons chased after her in all her perfectly made up and fashioned stunning self, not one hair out of place.

It was funny, “unserious” and wacky. Just the kind of show I needed after a few heartbreaking and sobering crime/law procedural dramas.

It was far from perfect and made me laugh even when not intended, but as long as it did, I could care less whether it was fully intentioned or not. Not being a major fan of CGI or long action scenes, the less said about those on my part, the better. Overall, however, I think those aspects are acceptable for a show of this caliber.

Oh, I certainly did not expect another hot priest. Though this one is a bit too young to drool over, he is nonetheless extremely good looking and cute.

Kim Nam Gil, well, what else is there to say. ❤️‍🔥

The world-building is a somewhat interesting mish-mash of Korean shamanism, Catholic aesthetics, and “pop Buddhism”. Relatively predictable story/plot, but still had spots of surprising twists (mostly with regards to the Baeks), and moments of poignancy which I deeply appreciated.

It has been quite a while since I watched any show with an explicit world-building based on “folk Buddhism”, and that has been one of the main nostalgic factor. As was the affecting visage of Won Mi Ho in that ethereal white dress. She truly looked like “a fairy who has descended onto earth” and reminded me a lot of Joey Wang in her heyday of the “A Chinese Ghost Story”. I did not know exactly how Van felt but I was bowled over.

I know of Lee Da Hee from “I Hear Your Voice”, and always have a soft spot for her after her memorable role in that favourite of favourites. She was extremely entertaining here, with fantastic performances in many spots. She has truly grown more luminous the last time I watched her onscreen.

I completely enjoyed Won Mi Ho as a character, and given my obsession with “The Guest” and Kang Gil Young, just could not help but compare the two - in terms of stylistic/aesthetics choices between the shows - but not in any negative way. As much as I have enjoyed the more realistic, raw and gritty stylistic choices in TG (for KGY), I found myself marveling over the near flawlessness of Won Mi Ho here.

It was so entertaining to gawk at her clothes, the cars, the perfectly made up face, stylised hair etc. Won Mi Ho was fabulous in her chaebol-heir glory. (And few could carry the fashion choices like Lee Da Hee did in the show. What a body and posture ⭐️😍🤩). Also amazing as the selfless Saviour! (One dressed to the nines in couture fashion and high heels, what’s not to love? ⭐️😍🤩)

And I like her character a lot too. Lovely, adorable and easy to love!

The “almost-romance” (though it was basically full-blown romance in my estimation) was also extremely nostalgic and wonderfully moving. I am a sucker for romances of the chaste and yearning type, and they delivered here. 🥹 Roughly knowing how the ending was from lurking on socmed, I was prepared for the ending and was not too disappointed. Still, my poor babies. 😭

A show not to be taken too seriously, nor to have too high expectations of, it was overall an entertaining ride, and truly, I could not ask for more. Love it!

*Recalling the scene during the final showdown between Van and Gungtan when they were having their final “talk”, of Van’s words (paraphrased), “The only way to escape the Law of Causality is to cease to exist” made me chuckle/laugh a few times after the fact. That is basically one of the major pillars of Buddhist teachings, and he announced it as if he discovered that principle. It might be weird, but I found that assertion out of Van’s mouth hilarious.

*Won Jeong’s retelling of the parable of Angulimala was a very nice touch in the show, because I have always found that story illuminating and bittersweet, and it was indeed an important story of redemption and atonement in Buddhist lore. “Good job, show/writers!”

Edited on Sept 23, 2023:

*Read a comment describing this show as a hot mess, and won’t say I disagree, but I have enjoyed the mess, so I suppose there’s that. Especially since it felt true to what is simply a ‘fun webtoon’. There is literally little emotional core or narrative gravity to this show (or much of the original webtoon, I am arrogantly assuming) except a mix-and-match of tropes/lores, which veered from attempting to be angsty/dark to the cheesy and campy. So, I can see where the mess is. That said, the narrative was consistent and coherent, and the performers made me laugh, so I will give it credit where it is due, little as it was.

[gnosem]

Was that [WANG YIBO]? Oh no no, that was just [XIAO], a [CANON CHARACTER] from [GENSHIN IMPACT]. They are [TWENTY-THREE] years old and [ARE] aware that they are not actually from Washington DC. Too bad they can’t stray from this city for long.

BASICS

Full Name: Xiao, Mountain Demon

Aliases: 

Guardian Yaksha

Nuo Dancer of Evil Conquering

Alatus the Golden-Winged King

Conqueror of Demons

Species: Adepti

Age / Birthday: 23 (physically), 2,000+ / April 17th

Pronouns: He/they

Height: 5′6 / 172 cm (i know this aint canon but i refuse)

Fandom: Genshin Impact

FC: Wang Yibo

Likes: Very few things, pretty landscapes, solitude, doing his work, routine, sweets

Dislikes: Most things, people (for the most part), demons, socializing, someone/something breaking his routine,

Positive traits: Hardworking, loyal, effective, straightforward

Negative traits: Grumpy, edgy, extremely reserved, melancholic

Weapon of choice: Polearm / Staff

Abilities: Use of his Vision (wind based attacks), parkour and climbing, martial arts, mediumship.

                                                ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ ⋆✦⋆ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

BACKGROUND / CANON LORE

“ One of the mighty and illuminated adepti guarding Liyue, also heralded as the "Vigilant Yaksha. Despite his youthful appearance, tales of his exploits have been documented for millennia.”.

Xiao was enslaved in his youth by an evil god that made him do cruel acts on his behalf like devouring the dreams of his victims.

He was saved by Morax (Zhongli) and received the name Xiao. He has stayed loyal to his saviour since then.

He was turned into a Yaksha and got the job of fighting demons and evil spirits, but the hatred and bad energy from the old gods and demons slowly started killing the other Yakshas until it was only Xiao and another Yaksha that disappeared.

Time passed and even when his services weren’t as needed, he kept his contract with Zhongli and has been getting rid of demonic forces until this day. These demonic forces though, have originated from his own bad energy and so, as long as Xiao lives, his duty will continue.

Almost died in the past victim of the negative energy weighting on his soul, but Venti’s song saved him.

He is afraid of interacting with humans because of his past and of how many allies he has lost. He secretly wants to connect, but doesn’t know how.

PRESENT

Completely aware that he’s not from Washington, Xiao has been growing stressed about not being able to go back to his homeworld. He has already tracked other people from his world but hasn’t approached to all of them. He’s currently working as bodyguard and medium, but is usually a freelance job, something that doesn’t force him into a schedule that makes him interact with people at all times. He enjoys the medium work too because it allows him to explore human emotions from a comfort zone.

how long has your character been here

Six months that feel like an eternity.

where has your character been pulled from in their fandom

From the last point in the story. He’s still hunting demons.

has any magic affected your character

Not at all! He just gets headaches when he tries too hard to think about how to go back to Tevyat and he feels his energy revolting chaotically around him.

CONNECTIONS

People he has worked for,

His occasional encounters. People he is secretly fond of and help him connect.

Maybe someone he saved in the past.

Neighbors/People that work by - he lives in a rather secluded place like a warehouse or an apparently abandoned space that is actually really nicely decorated inside.

People that has had problems w him because of his straightforward attitude.

Someone who cooks/bakes really nicely and Xiao is weak for their food.

[foreverycung-blog]

WANTED CONNECTIONS

SOME OF THESE MAY REQUIRE YOU TO READ THE INTROS OF THE MUSES!

HONEY

FATHERLY LOVE: doorman at the hamptons fontaine who looks after honey in a very fatherly fashion

THE BEST FRIEND: honey’s best friend. the intelligent ying to her ditzy yang. possibly a little manipulative as honey is rich n dumb but loves her best friend more than anything.

YOU FUCKED MY MOM?: a close friend who’s returned from travelling who’s slept with her mother.

THE GIRL GANG: two girls who are close with honey and her best friend and together make one little party crew

EVIE

FATHER: the saviour of her life. he took her from her abusive moms lifestyle that was making her abuse substances. he got her into therapy and took her in and protected her.

THE EX BOYFRIEND: evie was once the blair waldorf of the upper east side and she had a chuck but when she moved in with her dad she abandoned everything but when he stumbles upon her working in a book store hiding behind a comic….questions arise!

THE EX BEST FRIEND / BAD INFLUENCE: not quite enemies but this girl does not like that evie just stopped being queen b and in turn, took her position down with her. this girl wanted evie to go back to her bad girl self and encourages it non stop.

YOU RUINED MY LIFE: evie ruined your muses social life in high school and you’re ready to rip through evie but…she’s so different and is she reading marvel? once enemies turn into fast friends.

THE FOREVER BFF: best friends during the queen bee phase and she stayed when evie found herself. these two are inseparable.

LIGHT

THE ONLY PERSON TO TOLERATE HER: a best friend of sorts, someone who can handle her dark but can also bring out the light in her ( heh ) light is weak for giving them what they like because they are a positive light ( heh ) in her life.

THE SWEET BUT DUMB EX: he was so sweet…but so dumb! light fell hard for grant and left him quickly. he always put up with her attitude and for what! her to leave him for nothing? she’s even meaner as a defence but she harbours a lot of guilty about it. ( seven months ago )

SCORNED COUSIN: cousin on her mothers side, she’s grown up with the girl…until they were fifteen. your muse received acceptance to a prestigious writers camp and light took the letter and hid it from your muse for a year. when it came out it was a huge fight and their bond broke. recently they’ve been running into each other. they miss each other but they’re both too stubborn to move past it.

THE ANGELIC EX GF: this girl was too good to be true so naturally light dumped her when things got too deep after an “i love you” from your muse. light just can’t. ( a year and a half ago )

TABBY

THE BEST FRIEND: tabby is a lot to handle, she’s bossy and at times difficult. she needs a best friend with a good sense of humour, the ability to get their hands dirty when tabby is off doing something insane but also a balance of reigning her best friend in. someone 18-21 preferably. gender is open. really anyone who isn’t super soft.

THE ROMANCE: this is up on the main but i’d love someone with bde who has the ability to kind of chew tabby up and spit her out. tabby’s so used to being in control and dominating and manipulation every situation. i think it would be exciting for her to meet someone who was super unimpressed by her and made her work for it. maybe someone gritty, bad girl/bad boy vibe? basically, i want tabby to be the reacher for a while and kind of feel a little school girl-y over them, since it’s so out of her comfort zone.

THE FRENEMY: someone she attended school with and perhaps fucked over with her old website “the secret bitch” but they play nice with tabby because of fear of what else she could release but they’re not exactly on great terms.

THE SCORNED: someone who isn’t entirely soft who tabby released a secret of a few years back and she felt pretty shitty about and has made moves to make amends but it hasn’t really worked.

EYES & EARS: someone she relies on to relay gossip to her from a source she’s not tapped to. this can be more than one person!

NEIGHBOUR: they would live next door to the delucas, or at least mallory’s mother and tabitha and maybe pick up some of the slack in helping out when mallory & tabs mom was a wreck. she’s not wealthy so it’s a crappy apartment complex.

ROSIE

FAMILY ( found on the main )

( twin sister ) and they must be ( 19  ) and look like ( liana liberato / ella purnell / zoey deutch / any suitable fc   ) and the details are: ( fraternal twin sisters, rosie has always been the golden girl and her sister the “bad girl” since moving to new york  ) — you SHOULD contact me.

(OLDER SISTER  ) and they must be ( 24+ ) and look like ( phoebe tonkin / nina dobrev / crystal reed / any suitable fc ) and the details are: ( the eldest sibling who moved to new york with them despite being old enough to do as she pleases. close to the family but everything else at your discretion. ) — you SHOULD contact me.

ROMANTIC ( found on the main )

( BACK AND FORTH HOOK UP ) and they must be ( 21+ ) and look like ( aria shahghasemi  / daniel sharman / chloe bennet / ask player ) and the details are: ( kind of a magnetic kind of ship where they fight a lot and change their minds on one another but tend to keep going back to each other. ) — you SHOULD contact me. 

PLATONIC

PLEDGE SISTER; someone she pledged with last year and have remained close with!

DITCHED: someone she kind of ditched for her shiny new friends and it’s kind of awkward

GOOD INFLUENCE: someone who sees her bad decision skills and tries to reel her back

BAD GIRL: someone who is much wilder than her and she’s the one who tries to keep them from going too far

HOOK UPS: anita & open! rosie’s heart is taken with her wc but every now and then she hooks up with someone particularly cute.

KITTY

THE BEST FRIEND: probably a more intelligent muse, preferably female 21 and under. kind of a sanity to kitty’s lack of smarts.

THE EX BOYFRIEND: 18-21, they broke up in a blaze of glory after dating for a few months. he cheated, she caught him, she was heart broken.

IT WAS ONE KISS: a girl she kissed as revenge on her boyfriend but kind of liked it so she was kind of mean to the girl following it

PROTECTER: kitty…ain’t smart so someone who kind of pities her and looks out for her.

OLDER SISTER & BROTHER: they got into colleges based on their own smarts but it didn’t hurt that their dad was on the admissions board.

COUSIN: a less well off cousin family, their parents got into raging battles with kitty’s parents over money when kitty’s parents tried to offer a hand out with conditions and they’re forbidden to be friends so they fight on their parents behalf

FLIRTATIONSHIP: she flirt flirt