#xianqing

[agendratum]

The Untamed as text posts (94/?)

[violet-petals-in-the-rain]

Why is Wen Qing X Wei Wuxian XianQing and not QingXian, Wei Wuxian is still gonna be a subby bottom even if its a hetero ship [unless I'm completely wrong about naming order matching their positions then please ignore this post]

[topxianbang]

The Topxian Reverse Bang gets close!

We are getting closer to the sign-ups, only one week left!

Sign ups will open on JUNE 15, with art submissions open until JULY 31.

More information on our carrd !

Our ask box is open and ready! 😈

[rennile]

Song: Essenger feat. Lexi Norton - Downfall

[piosplayhouse]

Editing after I read some of the notes but just to add to the co-op meta library a bit I do think the de-emphasis on wangxian's relationship in the books is, if not purposeful, a natural consequence of mxtx's conceptualization of writing. In a 2016 interview she talked a bit about why she didn't write mdzs from lwj's perspective, with the hosts asking her a few questions about what lwj's thought process is throughout the story and she's kind of just like. Idk he's too mysterious even for me. Figure it out yourself it's just the writer's job to narrate it's the readers job to interpret (LMFAO).

In a 2018 interview about whether she'd write another side couple, she mentions how even though people shipping side couples is totally fine (misinformation that she's completely against side ships still goes strong today unfortunately but this is her official statement), she thinks analyzing every character's relationships purely on a level of whether or not they felt romantic feelings towards someone "distorts" the nuances in character relationships by coloring them with a sort of ship or no ship binary opinion; she puts a lot of effort into complex and realistic character dynamics and in some ways I imagine fans trying to constrict those into binaries for shipping reasons must be pretty frustrating.

While this is mostly directed towards side ships/character analysis, I think the nuances in wangxians' non/pre-romantic interactions contribute a lot to their characters that falls to the wayside when, a la cql, "friendship" becomes a necessary substitute for "romance", so the "friendship" between the two characters has to take a big role from the very beginning as it becomes a conglomerate of a variety of complicated nuances that aren't able to come across quite as well in the format of an episodic TV show rather than a novel epic.

Back when I was watching cql but hadn't touched mdzs someone--(was this you @rhinefall?) said the show had really overemphasized the pseudo-familial, fraternal elements of the story, at the expense of wangxian.

(Which I found deeply off-putting ngl because it makes it sound like the show made up a lot of the meaty content there, which it did not. Its major invention in that area is jiang cheng's crush on wen qing.)

And it's like. Looking over them both. I can see where that statement is coming from, in that The Untamed frontloaded jiang cheng, gave jiang yanli extra appearances, and generally expanded the ratio of page/screen time for the backstory in order to let that carry more of the obvious narrative arc. Since the romance arc could not play out as in the novel, due to censorship.

But being able to compare them now, I honestly feel like what cql actually wound up exaggerating most was...wei wuxian's relationship with lan wangji???

Because. They had to take the romance out. But they also had to make them love each other or there's no point. Which means wangxian had to be friends.

Which in turn means that in the live action version teenage and young adult Wei Wuxian consistently pays attention to, focuses on, confides in, and routinely interacts with Lan Wangji very much on purpose, as part of a relationship he values, considers strong, and is making an effort to maintain.

None of which is true, in the novel.

[fatehbaz]

On the night of April 30, 1541, the Ming Ancestral Temple in Beijing was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. [...] 

[T]he fires forced the Jiajing Emperor to resurrect one of the dynasty’s most expensive, difficult, and destructive projects: the logging of old-growth timber in the far southwest of China. Disaster struck again in 1556, when fires burned the Three Halls that form the central axis of the Forbidden City. [...] Yet the lightning strikes in Beijing were also a disaster for the old-growth forests of the southwest, where the logs to build the palaces had first been cut in the early 1400s. As logging supervisors soon learned, ancient trees could not be felled on a regular basis. Officials pressed ever deeper into the gorges of southern Sichuan and northern Guizhou to find them, bringing massive transformations to the environment in the process.

---

The foundations of Beijing were laid between 1406 and 1421 by the Yongle emperor, a junior son of the Ming founder, who moved the court to his personal appanage in north China. [...] Grasping the sinews of power that connected his court to far-flung regions of the empire, Yongle pulled one million laborers to Beijing to build his palaces. Because the weight of Chinese buildings is carried by their pillar-and-beam frameworks (liangzhu), monumental buildings required monumental trees (Figure 2). So Yongle also dispatched a similarly large labor force to the old-growth forests of the far southwest to cut the fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) and nanmu (Phoebe zhennan) that grew straight and tall enough to be used for imperial construction.

We cannot be certain just how many logs were cut to build Beijing, but the figure must have been astounding.

In 1441, two decades after the completion of the project, 380,000 large timbers were left over from the earlier construction. By 1500, these too were gone, used for repairs or too damaged by rot to be used for construction purposes.

---

In the sixteenth century [when the Jiajing Emperor resumed the project], logging officials wondered how their predecessors had been able to obtain so many giant timbers. Li Xianqing, who supervised more than 40 logging sites in the 1540s, noted that large trees could still be found, but they could only be transported out with great difficulty and at great expense. The majority had to be discarded as hollow or insect-damaged.

Even when a quality log was found, it took five hundred workers to tow a log over mountain passes.

Skilled craftsmen were on hand to build “flying bridges” (fei qiao), stone-lined slip roads, and enormous capstans (tianche) to tow the logs up slopes (Figures 3 and 4). In the remote forests of the southwest, loggers faced attacks by snakes, tigers, and "barbarians" (manyi); “miasmatic vapors” (yanzhang, probably malaria); storms, forest fires, rockslides, and raging rivers (Figure 5). Labor teams had to carry their own food and often starved. At the rivers, logs were tied into massive rafts bound with bamboo for buoyancy, towed by teams of 40 men, and then launched on the three-year, three-thousand-kilometer journey to Beijing (Figure 6). Only a small fraction of the trees reached the capital in a condition where they could be used for palace building.

---

Expeditions exceeded their budgets up to fiftyfold.

One official remarked, “the labor force numbers in the thousands; the days number in the hundreds; the supply costs number in the tens of thousands each year.”

Another saying held that “one thousand enter the mountains, but only five hundred leave” (rushan yiqian chu shan wubai). To make matters worse, logging mostly occurred within territory that was under only loose Ming control [...].

---

The Yongle Palaces were said to replicate the otherworldly atmosphere of the old-growth forests where their pillars originated. The presence of these timbers in Beijing linked the capital, materially and symbolically, to the southwestern landscape of cliffs and gorges where the trees had grown.

But ancient sentinel trees could not be reproduced on demand. The fifteenth-century logging project was a millennial event, removing the growth of hundreds or even thousands of years. Later officials were forced to come to terms with the transformations their predecessors had wrought in the ancient forests. Eventually builders had to switch to smaller, commercially available timber, using ornate artisanship and commercial efficiency to substitute for the austere majesty of the early Ming palaces, and the thousands of years of tree growth on which they rested.

---

All text above by: Ian M. Miller. “The Distant Roots of Beijing’s Palaces.” Environment & Society Portal, Arcadia (Autumn 2020), no. 39. Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society. DOI at: doi dot org slash 10.5282/ rcc/ 9133. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me. Presented here for commentary, teaching, criticism purposes.]

[444names]

Names generated from American, Chinese and Italian cities, including the letter sequence "Ng"

Aculang Alexingyan Alltang Anchang Anggan Angle Angqin Angquanghe Angshard Angta Angxin Angxing Anjing Anniang Arizhong Arlengyou Arpanshuang Aulanmiang Aversang...

Baguangai Balang Baomobeing Batongs Batownsheng Bayang Bayidong Bazhorang Bazhuluang Beachaing Beacing Beangzhi Beapengpi Bengli Bengno Bingkou Bingzhara Binjiexing Boshong Bozhong Bridgeng Briling Bring Bringyang Cagang Cagredong Caming Cangfieng Cangyanga Carallang Carronga Cerlorgong Chaipantong Chaixing Chang Chanqinggio Chaogning Chaoyangh Chekortcong Cheng Chengyand Chenningyan Chenzhong Chijingxian Chmongzun Chriangzhou Chuang Chuangheng Cingmechou Colafreming Colaring Coling Colongyin Conggas Congjian Congkanjing Crugeng Daling Dalingzi Dangchai Dangzhou Dassong Daxinheng Denangh Dengs Dengye Dengzheng Dersang Dezigang Dingchan Dongno Dongtong Dosanyang Dujings Duntong Dunying Durhang Duying Eding Edonghen Eling Elistowuang Enang Engno Enyang Erong Euguaishang Ezigong Fangzhou Fengyetria Fengzhou Fenyuang Fieng Flongzhou Frigning Fukaimang Fuquzhuang Fuying Gangde Gaoshang Gaoyang Garbinghan Grining Guancheng Guang Guangle Guilang Guiscong Guiyangzhou Gujiangch Gujiangzhen Gunyang Guying Hanangzi Hangli Hangping Hangzha Hanyangtong Hejing Henanzibing Hengdanyang Henggang Henggeng Henglin Hengtocarra Henguaytong Henhuang Heningna Honang Hongshan Hongshe Hongzhous Houdishang Huaiyang Huang Huangchi Huangh Huigalang Huing Huitfarsong Indingchi Inguanzhou Ingyi Irviang Jaclareng Jiang Jiangchen Jiangde Jiangkou Jiangquan Jiaomong Jiaoping Jiaoyanghua Jiengzhan Jieyanjing Jingfiu Jinggeld Jingjiu Jingleming Jings Jingshamo Jingshou Jingyuan Jingzixi Jinmenang Jinyangyu Jiupalesang Jixingshu Kairvitfang Kamangler Kancong Kangs Karapersang Kokdangchen Kunchang Kundersang Kuyuangjiu Laheng Laicirgiang Laikoklang Lakengzhu Langchou Langgiamene Langhui Langjiand Langxiang Lanyangquai Lauding Leeningxia Lengjiu Lianchuang Liandriling Liang Lieling Linang Lingaobei Lingde Lingli Linglin Lingyan Lingzhen Lingzhou Lining Linning Linyang Lishang Liumxuang Liyangha Longjia Longshun Lorgiang Luanghua Ludang Luoyong Lusimeng Luxianxing Lülining Macusang Mading Matong Mcarang Meihenghan Meihuang Menghengshi Menzang Miang Miangzhou Micheng Mingfiem Mingtaiyang Mington Mingwugua Mongkou Mongyang Nahengan Nanshang Napange Nashang Nesang Niangye Ningshuang Nining Ninjiang Ninyueqing Nixinchang Noliangkou Noriangxin Nyang Nyangying Oliuquang Oviang Pading Pallewing Pankorlang Pezuisviang Phifeng Piang Pidgeng Pingarlon Pingde Pingyetton Plaiang Pomachangni Porong Portlang Pottaving Pozhong Puyangmeng Qidleriang Qihang Qingan Qingchaoa Qingkou Qingtam Qingto Qingyan Qinjiang Qinxiacheng Qinyiyangh Qinyvangle Qufeng Quffanjing Rangzhaojin Reeng Renghezio Rengkou Riang Rigolong Ringyi Rocksviang Rordongnian Rorlanchang Rucsong Ruipingzhis Rushuang Ruzhong Sangshaoyu Sangzuod Sanjingkou Sanning Saprangchou Scing Shaipingkou Shaipingqi Shang Shangshan Shangxi Shanning Shaoyuang Sheng Shielang Shitongh Shizhang Shongyumod Shoumeng Shuancong Shuang Shuazhong Sieming Singzhan Songang Songfa Songziandin Sprongluo Staixining Staong Sterang Syrang Tanghampto Tantong Terugang Tiandengchi Tiang Tielinga Tongchentan Tongto Tongxinhou Tongzhou Trangs Treng Turrang Tuxing Udeheng Udiang Ulangno Ulanjing Uliang Vangta Vegning Vengtang Verning Viling Vilingta Villergang Wafang Wangdua Weihang Weingshang Weiping Weipining Weixiang Welang Wenbaifeng Wesboiang Wictong Winconggio Worimarwang Wugengni Wujiamonge Wushaiceng Wuweing Wuxing Wuytongzhou Wuyuang Xiajiangqio Xiamong Xiang Xiangfang Xiangyon Xiangzhou Xianqing Xianzhong Xiaoqington Xiarlermong Xichengtou Xingliano Xingna Xingqua Xingyangkou Xingye Xingzhote Xinsheng Xinshuang Xinxing Xionggiu Xionglivano Xuang Yangday Yangkouting Yangnine Yangning Yinfengtong Yingrezhou Yingyins Yingzhou Yizhonghang Yongqian Yongzhi Yongzuiping Yuanchang Yuang Yuaying Yueblong Yuxing Zangkou Zariang Zhang Zhentonghan Zhiang Zhonchang Zhong Zhongjing Zhuangzhou Ziang Zibilang

[goldboyfour]

weird...

In the dubbing database, VA's are listed for English, Ukrainian, Russian, Turkish, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), etc... Except for Chinese, Japanese and Korean. I can't search for Korean or Japanese since I don't speak the language, but I can at least find the Chinese VA's.

Here are the ones I've found:

Uzi and V are voiced by Ji Xianqing (霁弦青)

J is voiced by someone on bilibili (basically Chinese YouTube) whose username is "夙溯不吃素" (Susu is not a vegetarian) Susu is either her real name or nickname.

These next two, I'm not certain

Cyn is voiced by someone on bilibili that likes to go by "阿鸮" or "鸱鸮" (Owl). (Username is "火星乱葬岗" (Mars Mass Graves))

N is voiced by someone else on bilibili with username "蔡士家主" (Head of House Cai Shi) (Cai Shi is his name/pen name)

that's all I've found.

Half of the Chinese VA's have just faded into obscurity

Someone better at me than Chinese find the rest of them

[brocbroc]

Tags: i was literally thinking about this post this morning in the context of wondering why DOES Wen Qing have a fanon rep for being That Bitch when is she actually ever bitchy or domineering to anyone? just because of that one time she scolded WWX for getting the toddler’s only clean set of clothes muddy and raised an eyebrow when he tried to get off laundry duty by claiming it was women’s work? this is the real reason XianQing could never sail as a ship despite the Sexy Mad Science Compatability it’s because WQ knows she’d end up doing 90% of the housework while WWX played Fun Dad with the kids and she’d end up poison needling him to death wen qing: im gonna treat myself right im gonna hold out for a man with big doe eyes and a little wasp waist and most importantly a penchant for filing our joint taxes on time the untamed chengqing

In happier, unrelated ChengQing thoughts, I was trying to decide which one is the Fun Parent and which one is the Discipline Parent, once they get around to having kids, but it quickly became clear that both Jiang Cheng and Wen Qing are the Discipline Parent, because they’re each too responsible to foist the duty of enforcing rules off on each other. They are both gonna be SO stern-but-loving, their kids are going to have all the structure and consistency a child could ask for, and they will make an amazing team while wrangling the logistics of family vacations. But also, no one is getting away with anything, in that household.

Fortunately for the kids, Wei Wuxian exists! And he has alllllll the dirt on Jiang Cheng. Every lotus pond raid, every sneaking-booze-into-the-Cloud-Recesses, every time kid-or-teenage Jiang Cheng ever broke a rule, Wei Wuxian has a story about it—(Jiang Cheng: why do you remember all this, when you forget so much else? Also, you were there for all of this, too, Wei Wuxian! It was usually your idea! You’re not exactly one to talk!)

The kids then apply to Wen Ning to find out if HE has any stories like that about Wen Qing. Wen Qing’s all smug because she knows Wen Ning doesn’t. She was so well-behaved as a kid. I mean, it was because if she set a foot out of line in Nightless City the consequences would have been dire, but the important part is that no, her little brother doesn’t have any stories like that. Hah!

Wen Ning: your mom was pretty well-behaved from what I can remember. Sorry.

Wen Qing: 😏

Wen Ning: Oh, but she did commit treason that one time. That’s breaking the rules, right?

Wen Qing: …you—you were there for that too! A-Ning, the treason was YOUR IDEA—

[razzthetic]

❝ 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄! ❞

♡ ᴍᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ xɪᴀɴǫɪɴɢ ɪᴄᴏɴs ғᴏʀ @heartologys !

꒰ 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐠 𝐗𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐤𝐢𝐧/𝐢𝐝/𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐊𝐞𝐪𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐟/𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 !! ꒱

[xinnamoon]

Keqing character analysis

also known as “ Why I don’t ship Keqing with Zhongli, Ningguang, and yes, even Ganyu” (Also note: this is how I interpret these characters and everyone is allowed to interpret them however they want. Also no hate to the ships, they are just not personally for me)

For a while now, I felt guilty. Why was I feeling guilty? I just couldn’t find myself shipping Ganqing yet I will happily ship Chonqing, which is kinda a crackship since they never interacted. It didn’t make sense. Ganqing had all the making of a great ship yet I wasn’t feeling it. Then after Keqing and Xiangling quest, I began to realize why. Only now after much reflection can I put it into words. And it due to how I interpret Keqing. 

See, I have come to realize I view Keqing as the kid at the adult table. She highly competent, she’s mature, she works hard, and all the adults love and respect her for that. But don’t forget; I called her a kid. Sure she can talk to an adult, but put her in front of kids her own age and she doesn’t know what to do. I think people tend to see Keqing as completely adult like mid to late twenties because most of her interaction is with people such as Ningguang and Ganyu, and less with what most would call the kids of Liyue i.e. Xiangling, Xinyan, Xingqiu, Chongyun. But after her story with Xiangling, it kinda clicked in my head that “Oh, Keqing just an awkward kid.” She doesn’t hang out with the kids not because she doesn’t want to, its because she doesn’t know how. And we all know kids like this. The kid who’s the teacher pet or every adults favorite but you never really see them hanging out with other kids because they are seen as “too mature” for the others. But in reality, they want to hang out too but being surrounded by adults all the time, they never had a chance to. Never had a chance to goof off and actually be a kid. As seen in the story, Keqing wanted to be Xiangling friend but was scared of being disliked until Xiangling proved her wrong.

So I will now be discussing why I don’t ship the more popular Keqing ships due to this interpretation:

Zhongli x Keqing: It just feels like a kid who didn’t like this one superstar but got around to them after watching interviews and listen to them sing, and became a stan but won’t admit it. Its just a crush on a celebrity and plays into the fantasy “Hey, what if this celebrity actually likes you?!”  I just don’t like these types of dynamic in general.

Ningguang x Keqing: It has kinda a mentorship relationship. Ningguang is teaching Keqing the ropes, and Keqing happily learning. But Ningguang comes off as teacher figure, not really a romantic on to Keqing.

Ganyu x Keqing: This one is gonna be the most controversial but I see Ganyu and Keqing having a more sisterly relationship. When Keqing and Ganyu talked in Xiangling master chef story, it felt less like a shipping thing and more like an older sister interrupting her younger sister’s date with her crush (aka Xiangling) because their mom was there being weird. Also Ganyu voicelines gives off a more “This kid don’t know shit” to “Hey, this kid’s alright.” Keqing voice meanwhile is “screw you, i don’t respect your opinion” to “yeah, might gone overbroad. Sorry bro.” Instead of a romantic relationship, I see Ganyu and Keqing have a sibling relationship where Ganyu is a cool big sis and Keqing trying to be stand out and not be compared to her cool big sis. 

Now here’s a Keqing ship I actually really like (beside Chonqing of course): Xiangling x Keqing. 

That’s right, this whole analysis was actually a front to get more people behind this ship because it works so well but people are too into Ganqing to realize! After the Keqing and Xiangling storyline, it so clear that they like each other. And if I have to be even more controversial, I think its stronger than Ganqing because the two both give depth to one another. I feel Ganqing is kind of a flat ship as aside of “UWU soft cute gfs”, no one likes giving it more depth, which is completely possible but only a few have actually explored it. With Keqing and Xiangling, they balance each other out and make each other better. Keqing makes Xiangling more grounded while Xiangling makes Keqing more openminded. They are so cute whether as just friends or something more. It’s a shame too because they have a very solid friendship and strong dynamic and no one talks about it because once the story is done, its no longer needed. Beside the actual story, Xiangling and Keqing are really compatible in battle, and I know that’s a good reason to ship. 

Overall, this is all up to interpretation and speculation. I don’t know what Keqing real age is and I know people who ship Keqing with Zhongli, Ningguang, and Ganyu see her older than I do. I know they have their reason to ship them, and I respect that. I have shipped for way less reasons, so everyone should have fun. This is my personal take and is not meant to be set in stone. (It’s just a headcanon guys, chill out.) 

TLDR: Keqing is the kid at the adult table. Sure, she may be mature, but she are still a kid. She should be part of the Liyue kid gang but isn’t because she’s awkward. 

[salamander-joe-jones]

Wen Qing is unhinged master list:

Is the personal doctor/henchwoman for her uncle, a maniacal evil overlord who killed her parents.

Immediately betrays him with very little back up plan because her little brother gave her puppy eyes

Does an unprecedented organ transplant in a cave on a mountain with no running water or like. Any help other than her little brother. She had to kidnap one of the patients.

It takes three days and she doesn’t sleep the entire time.

The surgery is a success.

Rejects a marriage proposal that would have given her personal safety after the dude rescues her from prison because her brother is not in her direct line of sight and therefore fuck long term planning

Crashes a fancy people party full of people who want her dead after apparently wandering the land listlessly looking for her brother

Becomes the personal doctor/henchwoman for a different Dark Lord in exchange for personal safety.

Gets too attached

Sacrifices herself and her brother for the only person not related to her who followed through on promises and did their best for her

In Conclusion: Wen Qing is not a bland mother hen. And you can respect that even if you don’t ship her with anyone

Honestly I think she and WWX have STRONG ‘complicated ex who I no longer fuck but is Family Now’ energy.

[transfagore]

Thinking about xianqing. About chengxian. About ningxian. About xuanxian. So many good ships. C'MON

People really sleep at any wwx ship that isn't wx, isn't

[mmag-translations]

Twitter

[missmayhirai]

Burial Mounds Parents AU with XianQing Part 2, sequel to that comic I did way back when. Burial Mounds Found Family is getting bigger!! Now we got more moms/aunties/big sisters and uncles and cousins! 

Song Lan thinks that Wei Wuxian and Wen Qing are a couple because they act like one. I ship XianQing as my canonically platonic married couple especially during the time they were at the Burial Mounds. But I guess in this AU they’re married as stated in this comic. But WQ might be getting a harem with the way these comics are going. 

Yes, A-Qing gets adopted by Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen because she’s pretty much their child. No, Xue Yang doesn’t get adopted by them because he got taken in by WWX and WQ earlier. Though SL and XXC do babysit for them occasionally. 

Again I don’t know the timeline so apologizes again!! 

[changyang-cloud]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: 魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Major Character Death Relationships: Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn & Wēn Qíng, Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn/Wēn Qíng, Jiāng Chéng | Jiāng Wǎnyín & Jiāng Yànlí & Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Wēn Níng | Wēn Qiónglín & Wēn Qíng Characters: Wēn Qíng (Módào Zǔshī), Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Jiāng Yànlí, Jiāng Chéng | Jiāng Wǎnyín, Lán Yuàn | Lán Sīzhuī, Wēn Níng | Wēn Qiónglín Additional Tags: Queerplatonic Relationships, Canon Compliant, like MOSTLY. technically its different but... fate doesnt change, Bad Ending, Canonical Character Death, Implied Sexual Content, The Author Regrets Everything, no one asked for this and they're about to feel terrible anyway. sorry Summary:

It started as a desperate need for comfort in the unrelenting chaos of their lives. It became... does it matter what it became? It was over far too soon.

"I'm sorry. And thank you." "I don't hate you." I love you.

 The first time should have been the last, Wen Qing thought. She had promised herself it would be. But it was so easy to slip back into that cave at nightfall, to pull Wei Wuxian away from his frenzied work and lead him to the bed. Some nights it was easy to push the boundaries, push each other as far as they could bare. Most nights it was easy just to be like that, an unmatched comfort in the touch they both longed for, but couldn’t have in the ways they wanted.

 So she kept going back, and Wei Wuxian kept letting her. Time passed like that, beneath their noses. They built houses and planted crops, and still struggled to get by, but every night Wei Wuxian would pull her to lay in his arms, or she’d let him lay his head on her lap, and they could both feel okay for a moment.

 It was naive to think she could stand to tear herself away from that.

 “Try A-Xian?” Wei Wuxian posed now, lying behind Wen Qing. She couldn’t have seen his face even if he had been in front of her, in the pitch black of the poorly-lit cave.

 Wen Qing grumbled, feigning an annoyance she really didn’t feel, and said lightly, “A-Xian.”

 Wei Wuxian was still for a moment, then snorted, shaking his head. “No, no, that’s not right either…”

 They had been at this for an hour now - that was, if you included all the times they got distracted from the matter and wound up in a completely new position, both breathless and lightheaded.

 Wen Qing sighed, turning over so her forearms were pressed against his chest. She reached up one hand, flicking his nose. “You’re never going to be satisfied.”

 Wei Wuxian laughed. “I’m sure there’s something! Hm, maybe we aren’t looking in the right place. What about… Xianggong?”

 “I am not calling you--”

 “A-Qing,” he whined, and he was really too charming for his own good. “Please?”

 “If you don’t shut up I’m leaving,” Wen Qing warned, pushing away from him slightly to show she meant it.

 Wei Wuxian held onto her wrists, complaining, “It’s too cold in here without you, A-Qing, don’t go!”

 “I won’t go if you just stop talking,” she said calmly, letting him pull her close again after a moment of silence. She buried her face firmly against him, grumbling, “Childish.”

 The chuckle that Wei Wuxian let out was warm, and Wen Qing could feel the sound bubble up in his chest. “I am. You don’t hate that about me.”

 “I don’t,” Wen Qing agreed, wrapping one arm around his waist. “I don’t hate you, in general.”

 “I don’t hate you either,” Wei Wuxian said as if it was the most earnest thing in the world.

 Wen Qing couldn’t stifle a laugh. “Go to sleep, you dork.”

 “Ah, maybe that’s the one?” Wei Wuxian exclaimed obnoxiously.

 Wen Qing shoved him, and it wasn’t much longer before they got both distracted again.      You and that mouth of yours, Wei Wuxian.

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