#xianle quartet fourway-soulmarks au

[flowersdiceandlove]

Hello!!! I don't know if you're still interested in talking about your wip fics (if you aren't , then just ignore me), and I don't know if you have talked about it already, but I am humbly requesting to hear about the Xianle Quartet Fourway-Soulmate Marks AU one. I read that and my interest was INSTANTLY PIQUED, PLEASE 🛐🛐

tagging @happypeachsludgeflower bc you asked about this one too.

Okay, this one is gonna be kinda tricky to explain because I originally was just writing this out as a prompt to post and it got away from me. It got to the point where I was just like "I'm already writing this much out, I should just actually write it." So, the first like, half of the fic is written tumblr prompt style and summary with some actual scenes sprinkled in and the second half of it is mostly actual fic with some tumblr prompt style summary in it. Once I get it all down, I'm definitely going to have to go back and work on the first half. Anyway, I'll do my best to explain without getting carried away. Also, since I'm getting busy, I'm just doing this from memory instead of rereading it.

So! As the working title says, it's a soulmate au where Xie Lian, Mu Qing, Feng Xin, and Hua Cheng are all soulmates. They all have four soulmarks on their bodies, each mark in the same spots and each one representing one of them. However...they take a long time to figure this out. Like, it follows canon really closely, the poly only happening after canon. Also, it's really heavy on the MuLian.

It starts in Xianle era. As Xie Lian's servant that dresses and undresses him, Mu Qing sees the soulmarks on Xie Lian and instantly figures out the two of them are soulmates. He doesn't say anything, though, bc he's all self conscious and insecure, thinking he might be thrown out of the Holy Royal Temple and have people try to cover it up and say he was trying to seduce Xie Lian or smth. So, he keeps his mouth shut, just trying to be content with Xie Lian in this way. One day, while Mu Qing is dressing him when they're 16? Mu Qing's sleeve falls down just enough for Xie Lian to see the soulmark on his inner wrist. He grabs Mu Qing's wrist and is like "Mu Qing! You're my soulmate!? Why didn't you tell me? You had to have known. How many times have you seen me naked after all?"

Anyway, Mu Qing basically says that he's worried about people knowing and that's why he didn't say anything. Xie Lian agrees to keep it secret, not even telling Feng Xin, but they do start a little affair. It's all sweet, shy moments, chaste kisses, and blushing hand holding. They both still want to follow this cultivation path, so anything more is totally off the table, not even considered.

Soulmarks aren't actually talked about a whole lot. It's seen as being private and personal. Asking about it seen as rude, and soulmarks are usually covered unless they're in an area that's too hard to hide. Bc of this, while the four of them haven't heard of people having multiple soulmarks, they don't really think anything of it. And, since they also haven't heard of people having multiple soulmates, they just figure that some people just have more soulmarks and it doesn't really mean anything.

Honghonger-er absolutely hates his soulmarks. Fate was what gave him his red eye and his horrid luck, so why would he want the soulmate that fate also gave him? This becomes an even stronger conviction to reject his soulmate when he decides to dedicate himself to Xie Lian and even goes so far as to tattoo Xie Lian's name on his forearm over the soulmark there, covering the mark of his so-called fated with the name of his chosen. This is extra funny bc the soulmark there is the soulmark representing Xie Lian.

Feng Xin just doesn't give a damn about soulmates. He's seen couples who aren't soulmates have happy marriages together, and couples who are soulmates bicker and fight constantly. So, he doesn't let the idea of soulmates sway him one way or the other.

During Xie Lian's first banishment, Mu Qing still leaves like he does because he needs to take care of his mother. Mu Qing figures that this separation between him and Xie Lian is temporary and that fate will bring them together again in the future when they can really be together. For Xie Lian, though, he views it as his soulmate rejecting him, thinking him not good enough anymore and not wanting to be with him. All that rest still happens, but the feelings just run deeper.

When Xie Lian ascends the third time, he figures that Mu Qing still wants nothing to do with him, knowing how much Mu Qing values his godhood and reputation, thinking he'll only muddy it and drag Mu Qing down. Mu Qing doesn't bring it up bc feelings, and thinks that Xie Lian is the one that doesn't want him as a soulmate, and that Xie Lian continuing with his life and not bringing their soulmate status up is him rejecting Mu Qing. Because Xie Lian thinks Mu Qing doesn't want him, when Hua Cheng enters the picture, he doesn't exactly stop himself from catching feelings for him. Mu Qing is having a very angsty time watching his soulmate, love of his life, falling in love with someone else, and then the cave of ten thousand gods...and hualian being all...hualian... He is not doing well. But, they've both lived hundreds of years without each other and don't want to go back to that. So, they try to make it work. Think: divorced couple trying to still be able to interact and be civil and friendly but also move on from the love they still hold. Xie Lian is doing better since he found a new lover.

When Hua Cheng returns from being away for a year as they're stripping down and making out getting ready to have sex, Hua Cheng sees the soulmarks on Xie Lian, freaks out from happiness, and shows the same marks on himself. They figure out they're soulmates and are happy about it, but Xie Lian is also confused bc Mu Qing's his soulmate. When Hua Cheng finds out about Mu Qing, he barges into the Heavens and Mu Qing's palace while Xie Lian's asleep. He almost strips Mu Qing in his front hall in front of his junior officials to check that he really does have the same soulmarks and he wasn't faking it, but Mu Qing, knowing what he wants and that he can't stop him, convinces him to at least take it to a private room just the two of them, wanting to preserve at least some dignity. So, Xie Lian and Hua Cheng know that the three of them are soulmates, but don't tell Mu Qing about Hua Cheng bc Hua Cheng is refusing to admit it and it doesn't really change anything. Xie Lian and Hua Cheng are still choosing to be with each other, promising themselves to each other. Mu Qing...tries to deal.

post-canon, the Xianle trio get together once a month for tea and snacks, trying to work on becoming friends (f-f-friends). Mu Qing knows he's in love with Feng Xin, and he's pissed about it (he's known for centuries). Xie Lian knows he's still in love with Mu Qing even though he chose Hua Cheng. Feng Xin is fucking oblivious. To all of it. Feng Xin and Xie Lian think that their feelings for each other are Totally Platonic.

Eventually Mu Qing just Can't Do This anymore and blows up at Xie Lian that he's still in love with him and that Xie Lian is the one who rejected him and chose someone else. He says that he can't be friends with Xie Lian anymore, that it hurts too much, and that they need to just end this. Xie Lian doesn't go after him when he leaves because he did choose someone else and he's still committed to Hua Cheng. He does feel horrible though and curls up crying about how much he hurt Mu Qing without even realizing.

Hua Cheng had long clocked the fact that Mu Qing and Xie Lian still loved each other and knew this was coming. He didn't want it to, but knew it would eventually. He'd also never want to hold Xie Lian back, so he hugs Xie Lian and tells him it's okay, that he can love Mu Qing too. Xie Lian goes up to the Palace of Xuan Zhen the next day (after repeatedly checking with Hua Cheng that he's really okay with this) and is basically like "You told me yesterday you still love me and want me, so I'm not leaving until you agree to be my lover again. Yes, San Lang knows and is the one who told me to come; he won't kill you for this, I promise." So, Xie Lian and Mu Qing become lovers again.

...They still have major communication issues. They'll get better though! But, as of right now, Xie Lian still thinks Mu Qing doesn't want anyone knowing about them like he did back in Xianle, and Mu Qing doesn't exactly correct him, and he is a private person, just not worried like he was. Also...they don't really have a conversation about sex. They both know Xie Lian's doing it with Hua Cheng, but Xie Lian still thinks it's off the table with Mu Qing like when they were younger. Mu Qing takes a while, but does decide he wants to with Xie Lian.

I don't really know how to explain Hua Cheng and Mu Qing's dynamic without writing out paragraphs and paragraphs about it, but maybe like ex-husband and new boyfriend, but they're both still with Xie Lian, and Hua Cheng's a super supportive husband and Mu Qing is Resigned. Also they're falling in love. Just starting to, though. They're in the...friends?? stage at this point. Oh, yeah, when MuLian got together again, Xie Lian told Mu Qing about Hua Cheng being their soulmate also. They don't talk about it, but Xie Lian has made it clear he's okay with them getting together if they wanted (they're both repulsed by the idea).

Hua Cheng realizes how much his and Mu Qing's relationship has changed first when, while MuLian were spending the night together (also, Hua Cheng literally commissioned Mu Qing a wing in Paradise Manor for him and Xie Lian to sleep in together when Mu Qing spends the night. like I said, super supportive husband), and Mu Qing grabs hold of Hua Cheng's ashes. Hua Cheng feels it, knows that's not Xie Lian's hand holding them, knows there's only one other person it could be, and is...okay with it. It shocks him, but, he trusts Mu Qing. He knew he did because he trusted Mu Qing with Xie Lian, who he values more than his own life, but it's when Mu Qing holds his ashes that he realizes that he trusts Mu Qing with himself also.

Xie Lian doesn't know that Mu Qing did this, and there's even a scene earlier where Xie Lian instinctively bats Mu Qing's hand away when he reaches for the ring. It's only after that Xie Lian realizes what he did and apologizes saying "A gift from San Lang... I'm very protective of it." Mu Qing drops it, but does feel sour because Xie Lian literally never takes that thing off, even when they have sex, so it's kinda just...between them. Always. A constant reminder of Hua Cheng. That's why Mu Qing grabs it one night while Xie Lian's too out of it to notice, and just holds it in a tight grip. He doesn't take it off of Xie Lian, just holds it in his hand. It's kinda like "haha! You may be his husband and get to love him, but I'm the one with him tonight. Not you."

Anyway, Xie Lian is completely oblivious that Mu Qing touched the ring, and Mu Qing doesn't know that it was Hua Cheng's ashes, just that it was a gift from him. Hua Cheng doesn't say anything about it. He knows that Xie Lian, even if he trusts Mu Qing, wouldn't let him touch his ashes bc it should he Hua Cheng's choice on who should be allowed to do that. And he also knows Mu Qing has no idea what he did because he's acting way too normal for someone who knowingly grabbed his ashes. And, like I said, Hua Cheng's fine with it, with letting Mu Qing touch and hold his ashes.

This is to where I've written, and it's at 46,589 words. I'll keep going, telling you my plans:

Hua Cheng, by this point, has become a lot less hostile towards Mu Qing, and after realizing the ring thing, he doesn't even pretend any more, just going with it. They're relationship doesn't completely change, but there's no chance of a fight breaking out between them and Hua Cheng is more...indulgent to Mu Qing, not holding any ill-will towards him. They're both aware that Xie Lian really wants them to get along (and that's why they've been trying so hard up till this point), so when Hua Cheng starts being nicer to him, Mu Qing tries too, and they slowly get on even friendlier terms. Xie Lian is ecstatic, but they also know he'd really like them to get together. And watch. Or at least have them both at the same time even if they don't do anything with each other. That, though, is something that Mu Qing and Hua Cheng were clear that they are not comfortable with because they hate each other and they're barely getting along just sharing a lover separately.

But, that was before. This is now. So, one year when Xie Lian's birthday is coming up, Hua Cheng goes up to Mu Qing like "Hey...so...Gege would probably really like it if we took him to bed together... What do you think of that for a birthday present?" Mu Qing's gut reaction is NO WAY! but... He's comfortable with it when he really thinks about it. So, they come to an agreement, that they'll both be in bed with Xie Lian, but won't do anything with each other, just spoil Xie Lian for his birthday by having both his lovers at the same time.

It is, by far, one of the best nights of Xie Lian's life bc of how happy he is. He has both his husband and his lover with him. He can't think of anything he'd have liked more.

The next morning, Xie Lian is still asleep and Mu Qing wakes up, finding Hua Cheng already awake and still in bed, gazing at Xie Lian. They have a Soft Moment talking about why they agreed to do this for Xie Lian's birthday and feeling a deep understanding with each other. And, they can't help but just kiss, feeling like they're being drawn together and it's unavoidable. And it is. Because they are soulmates, and they both know it. They've felt the soulmate draw to each other all this time even if they pretend that they don't, and they've been softening to each other. And now...after last night, watching the other make love to and dote on Xie Lian, loving him, being completely open in front of one another for the first time, they can't feel any reason to not just kiss each other.

Xie Lian wakes up to that scene. Of Mu Qing and Hua Cheng kissing over him, and smiles widely at it, watching. It takes HuaQing a long moment to realize Xie Lian's awake.

Anyway, the three get together and it's all happy and they're all good! Yay!

Now, you're probably wondering where Feng Xin fits into all this. Well... I thought I knew. But, then I was writing this next part out and was like "Actually...maybe this would be better..." so I'm not exactly sure anymore. Uh oh. I'll figure it out when I get there. But, as for my ideas. 1) HuaQingLian are all happy together, and one day Xie Lian are leaving Mu Qing's palace and Feng Xin sees Xie Lian kiss Mu Qing goodbye. And, Feng Xin is shook. He goes up to Mu Qing like "What was that??! Why did His Highness just kiss you!?!? Hua Cheng is going to kill you!!!" and panicking and stuff. Mu Qing just rolls his eyes and is like "Relax. It's fine. Hua Cheng already knows. Has for decades." "Decades?" "Yeah." "You and His Highness are like actually together? For decades?" "Yeah. You didn't notice? Idiot🙄" "And Hua Cheng allows it?" "Yeah." Feng Xin is having a whole paradigm shift. "...So you two just...share Xie Lian?" "Basically. But we also--" "That's an option!?" Mu Qing snaps his mouth shut as he watches Feng Xin having a total internal crisis. He suddenly realizes that Xie Lian is an option and that he maybe kinda wants him actually. ...And maybe Mu Qing too. He's still reserved about Hua Cheng, but that'll come in time.

Now 2) which is the one I'm kinda leaning towards right now (but it could change in the future) is that HuaLian realize that Mu Qing has feelings for Feng Xin. Because they're already in a poly relationship, they have a talk about it, and HuaLian tell Mu Qing that they're okay if he wants to pursue Feng Xin. Mu Qing doesn't think he should because they've never really gotten along and he doesn't want to mess things up when their relationship is already so fragile. While they're talking, Xie Lian raises his hand and says, "Um...I think I might like Feng Xin like that too..." MuLian talk about it more and decide that they'll both try to court Feng Xin. Hua Cheng is just being #1 Supportive Husband/Lover and helping his two loves with whatever they need. Despite this, and Xie Lian being pretty obvious with Feng Xin about what he wants, it takes Feng Xin A While to figure out that the two of them like like him and want a relationship with him (himbo Feng Xin my beloved). And he's like "Wait, that's an option!?" bc that's the only way I can picture him reacting to it. And, then he realizes, huh, you know what? I can get with this. Me and Xie Lian have always had a good relationship and gotten along. And, I guess I do like Mu Qing like that too...

Anyway, it doesn't take long for MuLian to get Feng Xin to agree to get into their bed at Paradise manor. They strip him first, and he's more than happy to let the two of them take the lead--always the follower. But once they have him naked, they both pause, staring at his body. They turning this way and that, seeing his soulmarks. Feng Xin is thoroughly confused. Mu Qing screams, and punches something. When that proves to still not get his feelings out, he storms out of the room to go beat something up in the training hall that's built to withstand the three of them's powers. Xie Lian just breaks out laughing. Feng Xin still doesn't know what's going on and is confused about how things went from sexy time to this.

Hua Cheng, seeing his lover storm past him, goes to the bedroom to see what's going on. Xie Lian is still laughing hysterically, bent over and clutching his stomach. Feng Xin is still standing naked (or mostly naked) getting even more confused. He looks up at Hua Cheng when he enters, wondering if he might know what's going on. Hua Cheng sees the soulmarks, puts their reactions together, and just sighs, putting his head in his hand. It takes a long while for anyone to explain it all to Feng Xin.

So yeah. ...I don't know how HuaXin get together. I figured I'd figure it out when I got there. I still have a ways to go when I write to figure it out. But, yeah! That's that! Before the Feng Xin thing, HuaQingLian thought they had this soulmate thing in the bag, not knowing that four soulmarks means four people. They were so hitting themselves over the head feeling like idiots that they didn't realize it sooner. Especially Mu Qing.

I left a lot of little things out bc there's no way I could fit it all into a post like this. If I tried, it'd just be the og post that turned into a fic all over again 🤣

I'm getting busy, so I don't know when I'm gonna work on this. I just noticed that you both asked this a while ago and looked at what was coming up for me and decided I should just answer. I have another wip ask that I'll be answering hopefully soon. Hope you enjoyed this! :) And, if you want to know more about it or have questions about it, you can ask. I don't know when I'll be able to get around to really talking about this more, but I always welcome asks! Fandom is about talking with each other and sharing ideas after all, right? 😄 💕