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foularcadebanana · 4 years

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Keeping Your Promise

Prompt for Day 21 ‘Rustle’ and Day 22 ‘Warmth’ for the Untamed Fall Fest 2020. Listen, I spent like two days trying to make this readable, so enjoy the feels-storm!

Summary: Wei Wuxian may not have kept his promise, but Jiang Cheng makes sure to keep his.

Wei Wuxian knew that he had lost all rights of calling Jiang Cheng his brother. He had broken the promise that had meant most to him, and so he couldn’t expect Jiang Cheng to keep all of his, even after 16 years, could he?

He knew he was too old for this particular fear, that it had been too long, so long since Jiang Cheng had protected him from it. But he hadn’t been able to help himself. His reflexes and mouth had worked before his brain had, in thinking and stopping himself.

Wei Wuxian had known his day would go bad. There was a feeling in his chest that he had learned to trust from experience. It was in the rustle of the leaves in the wind, the way all of the shopkeepers paved the way for Wei Wuxian and his posse. His posse included his gorgeous Lan Zhan, his precious son, Lan Sizhui, that one Lan Wei Wuxian adored, Lan Jingyi, the romantic, Ouyang Zizhen, his sensitive yet bratty nephew, Jin Ling, and the bratty nephew’s ‘jiujiu’, Jiang Cheng. Wei Wuxian didn’t know how he had managed to gather so many people in one place, but they were going on a night hunt.

The hunt was for a ferocious monster so none of the senior members of their teams had let the juniors go on the night hunt alone. Even Jin Ling, being a sect leader as he was now, knew better than to argue with Jiang Cheng about this. So, things were going peacefully so far. They had the Jin Clan, Jiang Clan and Lan Clan disciples with them. There had been no need for them to think that any other clans would join them, but they had been wrong, apparently.

“That’s quite the search party you have there,” A familiar voice said. As all heads turned, a figure appeared, waving a fan close to his face.

“Ah, Nie-xiong!” Wei Wuxian delightedly clapped him on the shoulder.

“It’s nice to see you too Wei-xiong,” Nie Huisang smirked. Then he looked at Jiang Cheng. “Jiang-xiong,” he said with a nod of his head.

“Huaisang,” Jiang Cheng nodded back. Nie Huaisang’s lips twitched slightly at the greeting as he stepped forward.

He bowed to Lan Zhan first. “Hanguang-Jun.” Then to Jin Ling. “Sect Leader Jin.”

Jin Ling glanced over at Jiang Cheng and Jiang Cheng gave him an imperceptible nod of the head. Jin Ling blinked and turned to face Nie Huaisang, greeting him with a bow too. “Sect Leader Nie.”

It turned out that the Nie Sect had heard about the hunt too. The monster had entered all of their clans’ territories which meant that all four of their clans had a reason to be on the night hunt. Wei Wuxian felt like the entire family was finally together, and he couldn’t be happier. Some of the rest of the people in their group didn’t seem as happy as him though.

He watched as the Jiang clan and Nie clan walked together, with Nie Huaisang chattering with Jiang Cheng, while Jiang Cheng eyed Lan Zhan and his disciples warily. They kept their distance from the Lan disciples. The Jin clan walked behind Jin Ling, who was in an animated discussion with his friends but staying in close range of Jiang Cheng. So, the Jin disciples walked close to the Jiang and Nie disciples.

Wei Wuxian observed as most of the Jin and Jiang disciples talked to each other with easy familiarity, and the Nie disciples seemed to join in with the flow of the conversation too. Wei Wuxian wished the Lan disciples could socialise too. But he was sure there had to be rules against that too, especially during night hunts.

He knew of the strict rules against men and women mingling during night hunts so it made sense that the Lans stayed separate since the rest of the three clans had no such rules and there were several women on the night hunt. Wei Wuxian also realised that he had been unknowingly drifting towards the Jiang clan. A gentle tap from Lan Zhan brought him back to their group. He swallowed heavily and shook his head, trying to pull his attention away from Jiang Cheng, and his conversation with Nie Huaisang. But then he began to focus on the discussion of the juniors instead.

“Wei Ying?” Lan Zhan enquired.

“I’m fine, Lan Zhan, it’s fine.” Wei Wuxian tried to smile for Lan Zhan, before a sound stopped him. “Wait. Does anyone hear that?”

His voice had been loud enough to silence the rest of the voices.

“Wei Wuxian, what are you hearing? Are you beginning to hallucinate now?” Jiang Cheng asked with a scowl. Well, at least he was talking to Wei Wuxian, he would take that as a step closer to reconciling with him.

“I don’t hear anything, either,” Jin Ling said, crossing his arms and wearing a similar scowl to Jiang Cheng. “You must be going deaf.”

Before Wei Wuxian could respond, he heard the sound again. His eyes widened, and he glanced over at Jiang Cheng before he could help himself. Jiang Cheng was staring back at him with an undecipherable expression on his face. “I’ll go take a look at it,” he said, his voice surprisingly soft.

“Jiang Cheng!” Wei Wuxian stepped forward, reaching out and grabbing a hold of his sleeve. “I’m coming with you.”

“Wei Wuxian—” Jiang Cheng started.

“Don’t. I’m coming.” Wei Wuxian spoke firmly.

“Me too,” Jin Ling spoke up.

“A-Ling,” Jiang Cheng tried, but to no avail.

“No, Jiujiu. I’m coming with you.” Jin Ling said, just as stubborn as both of his uncles, Wei Wuxian mused.

“Alright then, let’s go!” Wei Wuxian suddenly piped up. “The rest of you, stay here,” he added for the junior disciples’ benefit, “and wait for the signal, which will probably be one of our screams.”

With that Wei Wuxian cheerfully joined Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling, catching both of their eyerolls in the process. As they cautiously walked ahead, Wei Wuxian strained his ears to hear the sound. The three of them had disappeared from the view of the rest of the people on the hunt when they heard the sound again.

It was a sound that made fear crawl up Wei Wuxian’s spine and a cold sweat break out across his forehead. His chest rose and fell fast, his heart beating louder and faster. A dog. It was a dog’s bark. He could recognize it anywhere.

Suddenly, all Wei Wuxian could see was a dog chasing him across one of the docks of Lotus Pier, and Jiang Cheng stepping in front of him before he could fall into the water. Wei Wuxian could still remember the scolding the owner of the dog had received from Jiang Cheng. Nobody had dared to make the mistake of even being seen with a dog anywhere near Wei Wuxian after that.

Wei Wuxian had clung onto Jiang Cheng so tightly, sobbing so hard, that it had taken Jiang Cheng hours to calm him down and finally let go of his robes.

Thoughts of what the dog could do to him and the ways he could tear into Wei Wuxian and his robes, made him scream out loud. “A-Cheng! A-Cheng, A-Cheng, A-Cheng!!!” Tears welled up in Wei Wuxian’s eyes and purple robes swam into his vision seconds later. He clutched those robes tightly before he could think otherwise. “Save me, please, A-Cheng. Please! He’s going to— going to kill me. I— I—”

“A-Xian.” Those familiar arms wrapped around him, keeping him upright, and that familiar voice reassured him. “A-Xian, I’ve got you. I’ve got you. I’m here. You’re safe. You’re going to be alright, okay?”

Wei Wuxian tried to take deep breaths in as he heard Jiang Cheng ratting off instructions to Jin Ling. “Take the dog away from here. Make sure he doesn’t come anywhere around this area again and take a few people with you when you go. Take your Lan friends and the Ouyang kid.”

Jin Ling nodded his head and made a quick work of calming down the dog Jiang Cheng wouldn’t let Wei Wuxian see. But Wei Wuxian took a peek at it as Jin Ling passed by him, and the dog looked wild, with saliva dripping down it’s slightly open mouth, showing its sharp, pointy teeth. Wei Wuxian hid his face in Jiang Cheng’s shoulder, shaking again. He tried not to imagine the dog sinking its teeth into his own—

“Wei Wuxian,” Jiang Cheng said, in that gentle tone that Wei Wuxian had missed so, so much. He felt a sudden warmth in his chest. One that he had missed for months and months.

“Jiang Cheng,” Wei Wuxian replied, his tone, thankfully, not wavering. Before either of them could get another word in, they heard the sounds of several dozens of footsteps. They both looked towards the source of the sound.

It turned out that Jin Ling would not have to go to his friends to get rid of the dog, since his friends had come to him, along with the rest of the disciples and sect leaders.

“Wei-xiong, are you hurt?” Nie Huaisang asked.

“We heard your scream,” Sizhui said. Ah, his thoughtful son.

“You seem fine,” Lan Jingyi observed.

“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan said.

Wei Wuxian forced himself to stand up straight behind Jiang Cheng. “Ah, don’t worry. I’m fine.”

Jiang Cheng pointed to the dog, his gaze on Nie Huaisang as if explaining only to him. “It was a dog.”

“Oh.” Understanding dawned on Nie Huaisang’s face. And Lan Zhan’s shoulders relaxed just a tiny bit. Even Sizhui, who had a slight idea of Wei Wuxian’s fear sighed with relief.

So as the junior disciples went to go get rid of the dog, along with Nie Huaisang, who insisted on accompanying them for their safety, the rest of the people stood silently staring at each other.

Jiang Cheng cleared his throat as soon as Jin Ling disappeared from his view, turning to Wei Wuxian. “Are you better now?” He kept his face carefully blank, Wei Wuxian noticed.

“I feel much better!” Wei Wuxian said, trying for a smile, but failing. He froze as he felt Jiang Cheng’s hand gripping his arms.

“Do you mean it?” he asked, searching Wei Wuxian’s eyes. Wei Wuxian felt his heart skip a beat.

He nodded his head seriously this time. “I do. I feel much better now that the dog isn’t here. I know that the juniors have probably already chased it off.”

“Good,” Jiang Cheng replied. He tried to hide the relief showing on his face, but Wei Wuxian saw it anyway. So as Jiang Cheng cleared his throat again, let go of Wei Wuxian’s arm, and awkwardly began to walk away from him, Wei Wuxian seized the chance.

He used those few moments of openness and vulnerability that he got from Jiang Cheng to hold onto his robes. “Jiang Cheng,” he said, and Jiang Cheng stopped in his tracks. “Thank you, for keeping your promise, even when I couldn’t keep mine.”

Jiang Cheng pulled away and didn’t look at Wei Wuxian for the remaining part of the night hunt.

READ ON AO3

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wickedacefae · 2 years

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[Edit] Fanfic has been found!!

Thank you @annoyingkidpartymaker

"How To Make Harry Potter Fall In Love With You: A Guide By Ginny Weasley"

By: Yesimawriter on AO3

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SO I need help finding a fanfiction.

Here's what I remember:

● Drarry ; still at hogwarts

● Ginny tries asking Draco's help to get her with Harry

● For some reason she told Draco to eat off of Harry's plate, since he use to hate it when she'd do it.

● (I think) Harry doesn't hate Dracoo eating from his plate, and is actually just happy to see Draco eating.

Please help me find it! It's been stuck in my head since I first thought of it.

#Drarry #Draco Malfoy #Harry Potter #Ginny Weasley #Ron Weasley #Hermione Granger #Slytherin #Gryffindor #harry potter series #harry potter fanfiction #harry potter fanfic rec #drarry fanfic #fanfic

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cqlfic · 3 years

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Call Me Jiujiu

link to AO3 AUTHOR: Yesimawriter (@foularcadebanana) T, 3861 words, 1/1

RELATIONSHIPS: Jiang Cheng & Jin Ling BLURB: jiang cheng becomes everyone’s uncle

SUMMARY:

Where Jiang Cheng is so worried about Jin Ling that he unknowingly uncles all three of Jin Ling's friends, his own brother, and his brother-in-law/brother's fiancée.

good uncle jiang cheng | jiang wanyin, soft jiang cheng | jiang wanyin, worried jiang cheng | jiang wanyin, concerned jiang cheng | jiang wanyin, uncle-nephew relationshp, uncle-nephew bonding, jiang cheng decides to become everyone’s uncle, sect leader jin ling | jin rulan, jin ling | jin rulan needs sleep, jin ling | jin rulan is so soft, feels, fluff, POV jiang cheng | jiang wanyin, childhood memories, sarcasm, internal monologue, fruit, hand feeding

[link to all bookmarks]

#r:jc&jl #a:yesimawriter #a:foularcadebanana #ao3 #the untamed #mdzs #fic recs #honestly cutting up fruit for someone? someone cutting up fruit for you? that's love #refreshing to read a jiang cheng that isn't self-destructive!!#it makes sense too like ofc #he's always been more a ''homicide not suicide'' type of guy probably

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hpfluff-fest · 4 years

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🧁 HP Fluff Fest Fic 🧁

Title: Chasing Coffee

Author: Yesimawriter || @foularcadebanana

Prompt: #49

Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

Rating: Teen

Wordcount: 5680

Warnings: n/a

Summary:

Harry's service dog, Coffee, is obsessed with a certain Slytherin prat, and Harry cannot figure out why. It can't be because Harry wants to spend more time with him, right?

Read it here on AO3

#hp fests #hp fluff fest #draco malfoy/harry potter #drarry fanfic #hp fanfic

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johnlockedinkonoha · 4 years

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Drarry Fanfiction Master List

Just Drarry Me fic master list

It actually hurts - parkkate AO3

Had To Be You - lettersbyelise AO3

Starting Again - tamerofdarkstars AO3

My Hero - badluckvixen13, Inkzy AO3

Draco Malfoy, Refuse Remover - alienlover13 AO3

Six Bloody Months - JET_Playin AO3

My Hands Never Knew The Time - ea-stofnar (SinsofYouth) AO3

Breathe Again - kcstories AO3

Nine Circle Journey (The Story of the White Door) - GoldenEmpire AO3

Captive Magic - elle_wolfe AO3

Courtship - april_zephyr (April_Zephyr) AO3

Delicate - bangyababy AO3

The Proximity Problem - standalone AO3

The Best Way to Start the Day - JET_Playin AO3

Changing Tides - carpemermaid AO3

Maybe This Time - Hatsonhamburgers AO3

Consequences of Redemption - bobbirose AO3

Mark Me Yours - digthewriter AO3

One Night at the Leaky - birdsofshore AO3

You Set My Soul Alight - Anonymous AO3

Life's Melody - lyonessheart AO3

The Sleeping Beauty Curse - who_la_hoop AO3

Telling You Why (Better Watch Out!) - milkandhoney AO3

What's a Little Hate Sex Between Enemies? - chickenlivesinpumpkin AO3

The Healer and the Auror - lumos2503 AO3

The Generation Who Lived - Anonymous AO3

Quidditch Practice - Boromir AO3

The Lost Bet - Selly87 AO3

The Lives We Lost - MarigoldWritesThings AO3

Love, Harry - Anonymous AO3

Harry Potter and the Draco Malfoy Experiment - teamstarkidfanfic AO3

Skating at Midnight - loganaa AO3

Rebel Red - DisasterSoundtrack AO3

This is Never Happening Again - hpleems AO3

Per il bene di Pansy - milly_n_a AO3

Perderai la voce - Acardia17 AO3

Friend Like Me - LadyVader, fangtasia AO3

Saving Grace - milly_n_a AO3

Moonlight and Snowflakes - gnarf AO3

Mutually Beneficial Arrangement - mothermalfoy (slytherinxravenclaw) AO3

A Convenient Impracticality - firethesound AO3

Helix - Saras_Girl AO3

Unknown Pleasures - birdsofshore AO3

Hand to Hold - wendellgee AO3

Chocolate and Pastry - agentmoppet, anemonen, hdbang_mod AO3

Excellent Elixers - hazel_lannister AO3

Say it Again - bottseveryflavorbeans_jrayoh23 AO3

Tuesday Heartbreak - come_slyther AO3

Promises - MarchnoGirl AO3

Destination SPA - Selly87 AO3

Strange Bedfellows - orphan_account, ravenclawsquill AO3

Balance, Imperfect - bixgirl1 AO3

Nero su bianco - zuzallove AO3

19 Years - shilo1364 AO3

The Power of Three - Queenie_Mab AO3

Draco's Journal - Hippiebuckydrarry AO3

The last enemy - Whiterabbit11 AO3

Pokerface - Andithiel AO3

Too Good To Be Good For Me - fortunate_cookie AO3

How to Handle a Matzo Ball Soup Emergency - Blowfish_Diaries AO3

Corrupted bloodlines - SurroundedByMuggles AO3

Say My Name - Thunderbird587 AO3

papa says harry potter helps people - jilliancares AO3

I Don't Want This to Be a Mistake - maraudersaffair AO3

A Sword Laid Aside - korlaena AO3

Have yourself a kinky little Christmas - keyflight790, tsundanire AO3

All the wrong choices - Gcgraywriter AO3

Taking Chances - gracerene AO3

The Godric's Hollow Wizarding Parents Association - AhaMarimbas AO3

Pictures of You - allwaswell16 AO3

A Strong Cock-nection - MarchnoGirl AO3

Seven Minutes (in Hell) - CapricornBookworm AO3

Two Ghosts (Trying To Remember How It Feels To Have A Heartbeat) - hermione18802 AO3

Looking Like That - cottonpadenthusiast AO3

The Difference Between Dust And Soup (Is You) - gnarf AO3

Silenced by the Night - parkkate AO3

In The Leaves - the_never_was AO3

Predictable Little Curses - brightowl AO3

The Date - digthewriter AO3

Teach Me - XxTheDarkLordxX AO3

Take My Hand - gracie137 AO3

Pride (and very little prejudice actually) [HP/DM] - cassblack AO3

Carpe Diem: A Drarry Fanfic - Smashleighxoxo AO3

Light Years Away - lettersbyelise AO3

Testing the Waters - FleetofShippyShips AO3

Yule Ball - soleil_slytherin AO3

Nobody Tells You How - Anonymous AO3

Potions Tutor - slaahtrix AO3

Eternally Consistent - kitsunealyc AO3

Not Mine, Never Yours - CapricornBookworm AO3

Find Your Way Back - unadulteratedstorycollector AO3

Feelings We Can't Let Go - Sleepygallavich, marauders_wand AO3

Hope - leontina (Leontina) AO3

Little Prince, Kneel - Selly87 AO3

Ou não - LadyDragonsbane AO3

Next Time I Fall - sassy_cissa AO3

Blank Slate - sesheta_66 AO3

Cruciatus - gxldensnitched AO3

Vulnera Sanentur - dreaminginfiction AO3

Into the Pensieve - onlykatelyn AO3

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things - MarchnoGirl AO3

If My Heart Can Take It - HeyYousGuys AO3

Let the Good Lord Do his Job and Just Pray for Him - cathcer1984 AO3

Poetry In the Raw - cathcer1984 AO3

Falling for a Golden Boy - Anonymous AO3

Believe the very best - Anonymous AO3

Life Lessons - bixgirl1 AO3

Take Him to the Stars (Cut to the Feeling) - Writcraft AO3

The Honey Trap - abstractconcept AO3

Operation Dating Dads - Bbllaanncchhee2110 AO3

Burn The Witch - lettersbyelise AO3

Rainfall Reggae - gnarf AO3

Seven Minute Seduction | FanFiction

Two Sides of the Same Coin | FanFiction

Checkmate | FanFiction

Bond | FanFiction

Like a Muggle Needs Electricity | FanFiction

Into the Closet | FanFiction

Astronomy Tower - All Bets Are Off (fictionalley)

Kill Me, Kiss Me - knees_of_bees [Archive of Our Own]

How to get what you want (even if you don't know what it is) - Craftswoman [Archive of Our Own]

The Date - EerieBarbarian [Archive of Our Own]

Animagus (working title) - EerieBarbarian [Archive of Our Own]

An Unexpected Invitation - MalenkayaCherepakha [Archive of Our Own]

A Fiancé for Christmas - shadowofrazia [Archive of Our Own]

Veritaserum - orphan_account [Archive of Our Own]

Drarropoly: A Drarry Game/Fest | Archive of Our Own (2018)

VCCV’s Fiction

A Drarry Library - Rec: All Time Favourite Drarry Fic’s

capitu's Harry/Draco recs

Selly87 | Archive of Our Own

***

Kill, Fuck, Marry - lettersbyelise

How To Make Harry Potter Fall In Love With You: A Guide By Ginny Weasley - Yesimawriter

Date Blindness - dysonrules

Sew Me Back Together Again - xenadragon_xoxo

The Ties That Bind Us - Faith Wood (faithwood)

fly like paper, high like planes - harryromper

Grounds for Divorce - Tepre

you, a violent desire - alpha_exodus

Paper Hearts - DorthyAnn

IDK My BFF Hermione? - lettered

The Potter-Malfoy Problem - who_la_hoop

#drarry #drarry fic #drarry fanfiction #draco malfoy #harry potter #draco and harry #fanfiction #fanfic #fic #fanfiction master list #drarry fanficiton master list #master post #AO3 #archive of our own

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hpconsentfest · 6 years

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That’s a Wrap!

It’s been nearly 7 months since the idea of a consent themed fest was born from a discussion in the Drarry Squad discord. It’s been said before, but it bears repeating: when we the mods first began planning the fest in earnest we discussed how 5 ficlets would be a success (and that’s with two of us writing!).

After just over 6 weeks of posting, the HD Consent Fest AO3 collection hosts:

-55 different writers and artists, including 11 who identified themselves as writing in a fest for the first time

-56 submissions

-50 fics

- > 800,915 words (words embedded in comics and graphic novels not counted); average word count = 16018

-6 beautiful works of visual art, including 2 comics and a graphic novel

And these stats don’t even account for all the HYPE that followers of the fest shared—keeping the fest buzzing on AO3, tumblr, and discord via recs, chat, comments, kudos, likes, and reblogs.

Needless to say, mates, we are chuffed. You have done more than blow away our wildest hopes; you have strapped them to a rocket and shot the rock into outer space.

To everyone who submitted fic or art or both, we are staggered, humbled, and beyond grateful for all of the thought, energy, time, love, and sweat you poured into your submissions.

To everyone who read along, whether you read something every week or looked at even 1 work—thank you.

Finishing posting feels not unlike crossing the finishing line after a marathon: we’re high on fandom endorphins, elated, excited about what this community accomplished together and how much fun we had doing it, but we’re also ready for a nap!

Below is the Reveals Master List. We encourage everyone to lavish these fan work creators with love!

ART:

Breaths Against Skin by @carpemermaidtales/ carpemermaid, Mature Summary: Harry has picked up a habit of breathing "May I?" against Draco's skin.

Can I Kiss You? By @ano-ka-ba /anokaba, Mature Summary: can I kiss you?

Harry: *staring longingly at Draco's thighs*

Draco: *raises eyebrow, reaches for Harry's glasses*

Harry: *finally drags eyes up*

Draco: *pulls towards and wraps legs around*

Harry: *grabs bum*

Suits and Serenity, by @illuminatedweasel, Teen Summary: “You looked hot out there today.”

“Don’t I always?”

“Mhm, can I kiss you now?”

“I thought you’d never ask”

Worth In the Wait by @sailorslash /SailorSlash, Teen Summary: A short comic about the night of Harry and Draco's wedding.

You're the only exception and I'm on my way to believe it. By @mea-momento/mea_momento, General Summary: While stuck in a convoluted fake dating plot, the boys have to keep checking with each other for consent to do things like pretend to kiss in public for the sake of their ruse.

ART & FIC:

It's a Plan by @torrancelim /Marshview, Teen Summary: Harry and Draco are in a relationship, but Draco was raped in the past, and cannot kiss Harry on the lips or have sex. He does enjoy forehead kisses, cuddles, and showing affection. Harry understands, and gives Draco the kind of love and support Draco needs.

The Shetland Demon by @owlpostart/Owlpostart (Charlotte_Bird), Mature Summary: Draco Malfoy of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures has been sent to a remote Scottish island to handle the post-mortem and clean up of a washed up magical beast. The Scottish Auror office have also sent one of theirs, Harry Potter, somebody Draco hasn’t seen in several years, but with whom he shares a romantic history. Draco quickly finds himself slipping back into old habits while struggling to maintain his own agency and professionalism. Is it the beast’s malevolent influence or genuine yet long buried affection for Harry that’s behind their slide back into physical and emotional intimacy?

FIC:

5A by @neveranygoodupthere/neveranygoodupthere, Mature Summary: It’s his twenty fifth visit to the flat. A posh spot in midtown Manhattan with updated appliances, rooftop access, and a snooty doorman. A spot that five years ago would have been inconceivable to its resident. But war and death and time all wreak their changes.

About Time by @reginaagr0na/LadyOfTheAttic, Teen Summary: Harry opens his big mouth and must pretend to date Draco Malfoy to keep things from blowing up in his face even further.

Arseholes by@postjentacular/postjentacular, Explicit Summary: In which words and actions don't mean the same thing.

Asking For It by @gold-from-straw/Lynds, Teen Summary: Fill for post 109 on the Consent Fest: Draco tells Scorpius about his own experience of sexual abuse when teaching him about consent, and becomes involved with helping other parents teach their children about consent, and dealing with lad culture.

Beautiful Eyes and Dark Blue Skies by @foularcadebanana/Yesimawriter, Teen Summary: Everybody knew about the rivalry that brewed between the two kings living in neighbouring kingdoms and not much changed after one of them died. This surely meant that when their children met at the age of sixteen, both princes and heirs to their respective thrones, they would develop a deep all-consuming hatred for each other as well. Surely they would not happen to like one another. Surely not.

Bed Music by @lower-east-side/LowerEastSide, Explicit Summary: The new call-in sex advice show on the WWN is Very Inappropriate, Harry thinks. But he finds himself spending more and more time with Malfoy anyways. Will Draco be able to convince him of the necessity of open discourse on sex, consent, and intimacy? And what are the Greengrass sisters plotting? Caller, go ahead!

Bloody Tease by ENCHANTED_JAE, Explicit Summary: Draco wants to be sure that Harry is willing. Very, very sure.

Brick by Brick by @agentmoppet/agentmoppet, Explicit Summary: There’s something between the two of them, something that builds beneath the smoky lights of the club and grows stronger during midnight conversations held on a rooftop high above the streets of London. But Draco wants to wait.

Cherished by @acciotomriddle/leontina (Leontina), Explicit Summary: Ever since Draco was turned into a vampire he hasn’t touched Harry, and Harry desperately wants to know why. When they finally turn, surprising revelations are made.

Cold Like Fire by @queenofthyme/QueenofThyme, Mature Summary: Head Auror, Harry Potter, had no problem with mandatory consent training for his team. He’d actually been looking forward to it, that is until he discovered who the teacher was. Now, he had no idea how he was going to get through the training without throwing a hex at Draco Malfoy. Or a punch.

Come Inside by @vaguedisclaimer-ao3/VagueDisclaimer, Explicit Summary: “Can I come inside you?" Harry asks, his voice a breathy whisper.

And Draco nods, just once, ever so slightly, biting his plump bottom lip and looking deeply into Harry's eyes.

At least, that’s how Harry imagined it going.

Communication Is Key (For A Happy Ending) by @articcat621/articcat621, Mature Summary: Draco can tell that there's something on Harry's mind.

A Day in the Life by @unadulteratedstorycollector/unadulteratedstorycollector, Explicit Summary: Harry and Draco have been together for years. They have a great sex life. Great and perfectly normal. Sometimes they have sex, sometimes they don't. Sometimes it takes a little persuasion... but not really that much. Ok, barely any.

Everything That Happens is From Now On by @thusspoketrish/trishjames, Explicit Summary: After surviving a brutal assault, Draco tries to navigate the tumultuous waters of his mind, and embrace a bit of love and trust in his life. After all, the smallest steps forward can begin to heal the most fractured of souls.

A Gift for Draco by @norelationtoatticus /SquadOfCats, Explicit Summary:Though their new relationship is going well, both Harry and Draco have trouble communicating and are holding back from taking things to the next level–both emotionally and sexually. When Harry decides he is ready for more, he stumbles over how to start the conversation, but figures out a plan with the help of his friends. He comes up with the perfect Valentine’s Day gift to show Draco trust, commitment, and desire: sexy pictures of his naked arse. Thankfully, Pansy Parkinson has a camera and is willing to help…

A Hag, a Hex, a Tale of Redemption by @aibidil/aibidil, Explicit Summary: A fuck-or-die fairytale in which Draco Malfoy lives a despicable and unapologetic life — that is, until he’s cursed to die unless he can fall in love with and fuck Harry Potter.

Have Me Then by crazyparakiss, Explicit Summary: In Draco’s world, women are expected to be demure, non-lusting creatures. They are expected to be devoted while their husbands cater to base desires with women of the evening. All passions they are permitted lie between dusty, well-worn pages of romance novels. Draco doesn’t want to be that woman, but as she spends her days—unfulfilled—in the arms of a boring lover she dreams of more. Potter is so much more than she could imagine.

Highly (in)Compatible by @callingdrarry/gracie137, Explicit Summary: Draco’s been shagging The Prat Who Lived on and off for a few months when his soul mark starts to change. Draco’s had to accept a lot of adjustments to his life, but accepting that Harry Potter could be his soulmate is one step too far. It can’t be true? Can it?

I Don't Want This to Be a Mistake by @maraudersaffair/maraudersaffair, Explicit Summary: Consent can be tricky when Harry is Scorpius’ professor.

In the Ways That Matter by @FleetofShippyShips/FleetofShippyShips, Mature Summary: Falling asleep with Harry Potter mid-argument, while completely pissed, was something Draco could never have predicted happening when he returned for his repeat seventh-year at Hogwarts. But it happened. And then it happened again. And again. At some point the alcohol was gone, and they were just falling asleep side by side night after night, escaping nightmares together.

It isn't anything more than that, even if sometimes it really feels like it is.

It's Been Draco For Awhile by @oceaxereturns/oceaxe, Explicit Summary: What harm can a love potion do if you're already in love?

In which Harry finds out that it's not a love potion but it can do quite a lot of harm, and Draco finds out how fiendishly difficult it is to fend off his flatmate's advances when all he wants is to give in to them.

just drink this and we can do whatever you want by @must-love-drarry/Juh_Nunes, General Summary: Harry was tired of people trying to dose him with love potions, so he decided to create a charm to counter it. Now he only need to test it, unfortunately (or not) it doesn’t work as he was expecting.

Kiss Me on the Mouth (and set me free) by @nerdherderette/PalenDrome (nerdherderette), Explicit Summary: Finding a partner to sate his needs has never presented a dilemma for Draco. That is, until he encounters the fit and willing Head Auror.

Luck Is What You Make It by @starlillie/starlillie, Teen Summary: Liquid Luck. Warning! May cause giddiness, recklessness, and dangerous overconfidence.

Draco should really read the labels on these things.

The Magic Cat by dot_the_writer, Explicit Summary: When Harry sees Draco Malfoy with painted nails and wearing an oversized jumper covered in cat fur, his obsession from school comes back in full force. Featuring supportive friends, cute cats and lots of Harry figuring out what he wants.

Malfoy’s Anatomy by @novareblogs/Novaa, Teen Summary: Healer interns are nothing short of a bunch of little children running around with wands and severed limbs, having inappropriate sex in inappropriate places. What's the worst that could happen, really?

Missing-him-thing by @thealmostrhetoricalquestion/Thealmostrhetoricalquestion, General Summary: "Did you miss me?" Draco asks.

He’s teasing. Teasing and amused, and he doesn’t mean it, doesn’t expect a serious answer, or an answer at all, so Harry feels quite within his rights to shove Draco away, scoffing. Draco laughs, and it’s not the snide, mocking sound from their childhood, the laugh that used to make rage bubble in every delicate vein, as fierce and forceful as dragon-fire.

Did you miss me?

Every damn day, Harry doesn’t say.

(Harry and Draco teach their kids about consent, and fall in love along the way.)

Mixed Drinks and Crossed Wires by @korlaena/ korlaena, Explicit Summary: Draco is a handsy drunk. Harry is okay with it, really. They’re friends, so it doesn’t mean anything.

Oblivious by @gregqoyle/lealamalfoy, Explicit Summary: One potions class leaves Harry questioning everything. And it seems that there is only one other person that seems willing to question it too.

Orbit by @henrymercury/HenryMercury, Explicit Summary: "The classical problem of celestial mechanics, perhaps of all Newtonian mechanics, involves the motion of one body about another under the influence of their mutual gravitation."

They don't like each other. They're not friends. There's not even a ceasefire of any sort because they're fighting as much as ever—but there's definitely something different about it. An added layer of self-awareness they don't dare identify, but which colours every Scared, Potter? and Do your worst; each You wouldn't dare and Then prove it.

Perfectly Imperfect by @astronomicalblaise/pansypxrkinson, Teen Summary: What is going on with Potter? Draco doesn’t know. He’s too busy worrying about Salazar and choking on Pansy’s cucumber sandwiches. Now Potter’s owl is out for blood and Blaise has to be stopped.

All things considered, it’s hard being an investigative journalist and a crazy person at the same time.

Proper by @violetclarity/violetclarity, Explicit Summary: Draco sighs. “What kind of absolute twit has the chance to have sex with the Chosen One and can’t go through with it?” // In which Draco studies with Gryffindors, learns a new spell, and navigates the difficulty of being in a not-so-casual secret relationship with his childhood nemesis.

Purity Control by @frnklymrshnkly/frnklymrshnkly, Teen Summary: In which Harry tries to ignore his trauma with fantasy Quidditch but Malfoy's Thereness is distracting and all his classmates want to talk about is unicorns, virginity, and Muggle music.

Say The Words (Say Them Out Loud) by @goldentruth813/GoldenTruth813, Explicit Summary: When Draco gets assigned as the Auror to guard Harry Potter day and night, he is sure nothing good will come of it. But as the days go on Draco is forced to evaluate himself and things he thought to be true about Potter and relationships. Sometimes it's not love at first sight. Sometimes, first, it's miscommunication and misunderstanding. A story in which Harry and Draco learn to accept the things they want from themselves and from each other.

Show Me by @bangyababy/bangyababy, Explicit Summary: On Harry and Draco's anniversary, they decide to try something new, but Draco won't do anything he isn't 100% sure Harry wants. So Harry tells him, every step of the way.

Silenced by the night by @parkkate/parkkate, Mature Summary: After a spell goes horribly wrong, Harry has to deal with the loss of his eyesight. It’s such terrible timing, too, because how is he supposed to find out what Malfoy has been up to in the Room of Requirement? It’s not like he can ask the git, not only because it’s Malfoy, but also because the Slytherin has suddenly lost his voice. While they’re both trapped in the hospital wing, however, Harry discovers there’s so much he didn’t know about Malfoy, and it’s highly intriguing, but also a bit alarming. Where did all these confusing feelings come from all of a sudden? And what is Harry going to do about them?

Start a Revolution (From My Bed) by @untilourapathy/untilourapathy (gwendolen_lotte), Teen Summary: Harry’s coming of age starts at breakfast. A peek into the lives of the Eighth Years as they become bona fide feminists over jam and croquet. Featuring the fear of growing apart, Blur and a pink cravat.

the strength in letting go by @candybarrnerd/icarusinflight, Teen Summary: Some relationships will end. This is something that everyone should be aware of, and there is no shame in ending a relationship. These things happen, and certainly, no one should stay in an unhappy relationship. We don’t want to have people learning to maintain their suffering here—only fix what can be fixed.

In which Harry and Ginny seek counselling when their marriage is on the rocks—it just doesn’t work out quite like Harry’s wanted it to.

Teach Me by @xxthedarklordxx/XxTheDarkLordxX, Mature Summary: "If you can’t learn Occlumency, then you can’t become an Auror.”

No. All of this couldn’t be for nothing. Harry hadn’t spent so much time proving himself, proving that he was more than just a famous name for all of this to go to shite. “This can’t be the end.”

"I have someone in mind that could teach you if you are willing, but I can't guarantee he will teach you, especially considering your... past."

"You don't mean Malfoy, do you?"

Team Slytherdor by @gingertodgers/GingerTodgers, Teen Summary: Rolanda Hooch takes the Slytherdor Quidditch team to the Sheffield Central Travelodge for some team bonding.

Tell Me How You Like It by @phd-mama/phdmama, Explicit Summary: It's a beautiful sunny day, and when Ron is laid up in the common room with a broken ankle, he gets more of a glimpse into his best friend's private life than he ever might have wanted!

Ten Thousand Reasons Why Not by @lqtraintracks/lq_traintracks (lumosed_quill), Explicit Summary: Harry and Draco are stand-ins for the usual witch who gives the workplace harassment and sexual consent talk to the Auror trainees. Or, a little tale in which Harry consents to be sexually harassed by Draco Malfoy.

That's What You Get For Waking Up by @alpha-exodus/alpha_exodus, Explicit Summary: Draco wakes up in the morning hungover and with someone in his bed. He never could've dreamed it would be Harry Potter.

To Hear You Say It by @drarrymylove/jeni_andtheafterthought, Explicit Summary: Hogwarts has put together an eighth year in order to allow all students a chance to complete their N.E.W.T.'s. Harry and the other "eighth year" students come back to a much different Hogwarts. Harry could get used to a new dormitory, harder classes, even his new roommate. He could even get used to all the new rules and expectations. Making is bed? How hard could it be?

Trapped by @foularcadebanana/Yesimawriter, Mature Summary: Harry was stuck in an enclosed space with no way to get out, and he just happened to have been stuck in there with Malfoy.

Treat Your Body Like A Temple by @rose-grangerweasleyisbae/donnarafiki, Mature Summary: It hadn't been easy, and it hadn't been fast, but after many years Harry had finally gained Draco's trust. Now he woke up next to him every day, and he knew just the way to show the Slytherin how grateful he was for that.

We Sleep In Pairs by @protegototalvm/darkestbliss, Mature Summary: We do not blame flowers for their death. But when Draco’s magic dies after the War, he struggles to forgive himself, and it’s going to take far more than striking up a companionship with Harry Potter for him to heal.

When Nightmares Lead to Day Dreams by @drarryismymuse/Drarryismymuse (Hatchersn), Explicit Summary: Harry Potter didn’t want to return to Hogwarts for 8th year, concerned that the castle held too many terrible memories. Lacking any other plan, though, he agreed. He soon discovered how right AND how wrong he was.

Wing It, Baby! I Want to Fly with You by @sliceosunshine/ SliceOSunshine, Teen Summary: Harry finds him in a ditch. He never expected the life of a Superhero to be easy. But showing your enemies mercy is so hard

Still looking for more great HP fanfic? The following fests are or will soon be posting:

HP Horror Fest/@hphorrorfest (Posting April 30 - May 13)

HDS Beltane/@hdsbeltane (Posting starts May 1)

HD-Remix/@hd-remix (Posting starts May 28)

#wrap up

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justdrarryme · 6 years

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Weekly Roundup 6/5/18

Every Drarry fic I’ve read and enjoyed this week....

Me, at the start of this week: I’m not going to go on AO3 at all this week.

Me, at the end of the week: Look at all the fics I’ve read this week!

Something I Don’t Want to Stop by lq_traintracks (lumosed_quill), traintracks (Explicit, 16 K)

Summary: It's Harry and Draco's eighth year, the Houses have been all but demolished in favor of unity, and they're being forced to room together. How ever will they cope?

Etoile des Neiges by BloodyFlammable (Mature, 32 K)

Summary: Potter was leaning against the doorframe, feet bare, jeans low on his hips, ear pierced, nose red from the cold.

He was smirking as if the sole purpose of his existence was to drive Draco crazy.The eighth years spend the holidays in a French ski resort and Draco comes to terms with his feelings.

A Soulmate is hard work by gnarf (Teen and Up, 4 K)

Summary: Brewing a Soulmates Potion in Slughorn’s class wasn't that hard; testing it on themselves, however, was.The hours passed as more and more students felt the impact of the potion, and Harry was sick of it.That is, until his own potion reveals his grumpy soulmate—then it’s game on!Now, he only has to find a way to make him speak to him again.

Harry Potter Can’t Sleep (And Neither Can Draco Malfoy) by QueenofThyme (Teen and Up, 5 K)

Summary: Harry Potter might have the key to help Draco Malfoy sleep, and if Draco Malfoy sleeps, maybe Harry Potter can finally get some sleep too. The answers lies in Harry Potter's pillow covers.

Wands Away by lq_traintracks (lumosed_quill) (Explicit, 2.9 K)

Summary: Harry and Draco are in Auror training and it's time for a little hand-to-hand... which gets a little out of hand.

You know what? There are slowly but surely starting to be quite a lot of @lqtraintracks fics in my bookmarks. Just read them all.

Advanced Charms by Paraphilia (Explicit, 7 K)

Summary: Awkward first time is awkward.

The Partner, The Rival, and The Very Big Case by oceaxe (Explicit, 24 K)

Summary: When Harry and Nott are paired up to go undercover as fake boyfriends, Draco is disappointed not to get the assignment. It's just professional jealousy that's making him feel so upset. Obviously. He's engaged to be married to Astoria, after all.But when he walks in on Nott kissing Harry for 'practice' and has a wild magic outbreak, he starts to think that something else might be going on. Is Nott right? Is Draco a homophobe? Or is there... just possibly... another explanation?

Blue Roses and Other Impossible Things by Cassiara (Explicit, 40 K)

Summary: After Harry saved Draco from the Room of Requirement there was a moment when Draco gave Harry a look. Harry didn’t know what to make of it, and he had a war to fight so he ignored it. Now though, they’re back at Hogwarts sharing a dorm and Harry is obsessed with seeing that look again.

A Year in Training by Omi_Ohmy (Mature, 25 K)

Summary: Harry is finally living his dream and training as an Auror, but nothing seems to be going right: he’s just so angry all the time. And Draco Malfoy’s presence on the programme really isn’t helping with that, either.

Patterns of Recurrence by deesaster (Explicit, 31 K)

Summary: Harry and Draco have never thought they would become friends after the war, but they are proven wrong when a project in one of their Eight Year classes requires them to work together. Their newfound friendship can only evolve when, after visiting his father in Azkaban, Draco wants to learn the Patronus Charm, and Harry offers to help him.

Waiting By An Open Door by Femme (femmequixotic), noeon (noe) (Explicit, 29 K)

Summary: Draco starts following Potterwatch secretly during the War. He wishes Potter would come save him too. But that sort of thing only happens in fairy tales, and Malfoys don't get fairy tale endings, do they?

How To Make Harry Potter Fall In Love With You: A Guide By Ginny Weasley by Yesimawriter (Mature, 17 K)

Summary: In which Harry and Ginny break up, and Ginny tries to get Harry back by any means possible. Or the one in which Ginny tries to seduce Draco and pretends to date him, and Harry gets jealous.

#drarry #m #drarry squad #ao3 #fanfiction #fic rec #fanfic #harry potter #draco malfoy #draco x harry #harry x draco #harry potter x draco malfoy #hp

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foularcadebanana · 4 years

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Food, Fights and Brotherly Love (Part 1)

Prompt for Day 20 of the Untamed Fall Fest 2020 is ‘Spice’.

Jiang Yanli stood in the kitchen in Lotus Pier, watching her brothers fighting out of the window. Just as she put the spices into the lotus root and pork ribs soup she had prepared; she remembered all of the times Wei Wuxian had attempted to prepare Yunmeng’s traditional dishes in the past years.

It had begun, as most quarrels between them did, with something insignificant. Wei Wuxian may have given Jiang Cheng a tug too many or Jiang Cheng pushed Wei Wuxian away one too many times, but the next thing Jiang Yanli knew, they were fighting each other and shouting at each other.

Their words started off meaningless, not really hurting each other, until they did.

“Why do you always act so foolish?” Jiang Cheng asked, pushing Wei Wuxian roughly on the ground, against the grass. “You’re always messing around, not taking anything too seriously.”

Yanli knew that it had been a particularly strict day of training for them both, and the sun had been unrelenting, its rays heating up the ground and shining straight on her brothers’ heads. Yanli knew how restless and irritated Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian got when they had trained especially hard or when it was humid around them, and this was one of the days when it had been both.

“Well, maybe if you were competent enough to actually get things done, then I wouldn’t have to behave that way!” Wei Wuxian replied. And even Yanli could see, from as far as she was standing, the immediate regret and guilt that shown on Wei Wuxian’s face.

Jiang Cheng staggered backwards, the pain and hurt clearly showing on his face in a few seconds of vulnerability and openness. For a few moments, Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng just stood there in shock, silently facing each other.

Then Wei Wuxian stepped forward, reaching out to his brother. “Jiang Cheng,” he softly spoke, his voice cracking on the name. He knew that there was no coming back from this.

Yanli watched Jiang Cheng’s eyes widening as he stepped backwards, flinching at Wei Wuxian’s words. Tears welled up in his eyes and he ran faster than Yanli had ever seen him run in his entire life. Wei Wuxian couldn’t hope to follow him that fast.

Jiang Yanli walked over to Wei Wuxian after giving him enough time alone. “A-Xian.” She gently laid a hand on his shoulder.

Wei Wuxian was trembling, sobbing hard. “What should I do, Shijie? I hurt him so badly. What can I do to make things better? I shouldn’t have said those things. He hates me now. He’ll never forgive me. I’m the worst brother ever!”

“A-Xian, A-Cheng doesn’t hate you. You’re his brother. He will forgive you. We are family, aren’t we? Just go apologise to him.” Yanli told him, rubbing a reassuring hand on his back.

“No. It’s not enough. It won’t be enough. I have to— I have to do something more. Like maybe bring him a gift. What does he really love? Just as much as he loves dogs?”

Yanli watched her cute little brother pout, deep in thought. Sure, he wasn’t a child anymore, he was a teenager now, 13 years of age, but to Jiang Yanli, Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng would always be children, no matter how old they got.

“Oh!” Wei Wuxian’s face suddenly lit up. “I know. Shijie, can you teach me how to make A-Cheng’s favourite dish?”

Yanli smiled and nodded her head. That was something she could do.

By the time their meal was prepared, Wei Wuxian had several cuts and bruises on his hands. He had never cooked before; he only entered the kitchen when he was hungry and wanted to steal some food from the cooks, or when he wanted a taste of Yanli’s famous soup.

But today, he had insisted on doing all of the work himself, wanting his apology to Jiang Cheng to mean something. Yanli was happy that Wei Wuxian had worked so hard on his apology for his brother, although she was concerned about how red the food was looking. Wei Wuxian had most certainly added too much spice to the meal, but she wasn’t going to tell him that.

As Wei Wuxian carried the food out of the kitchen, with Yanli right behind him, he stopped at the entrance to the dining hall. Yanli knew it was because he was searching for Jiang Cheng. He brightened up when he spotted Jiang Cheng, running up to his brother, who was sitting alone at a table, staring into nothingness.

“Jiang Cheng!” Jiang Cheng tensed up at the sound of Wei Wuxian’s voice and looked away quickly. Wei Wuxian stumbled close to him and kept the meal in front of Jiang Cheng. “Look what I made for you, Jiang Cheng!”

Jiang Cheng peeked at the meal from the corner of his eye, still frowning as he looked away again. Wei Wuxian poked Jiang Cheng. “Jiang Cheng! I cooked your favourite food for you. Look. Look at my hands, look how much I cut and bruised them trying to make your favourite meal for you.”

At this, Jiang Cheng blinked and turned to face the meal. “You made this?” He asked his mouth now in a straight line.

“Yes! I felt so horrible, and I knew you’d hate me and never forgive me, and I’m so sorry for what I said, A-Cheng.” Wei Wuxian blurted out all at once. Yanli shook her head fondly at her brothers.

“You are?” Jiang Cheng was poking at the food with a fork now.

“Of course, I am! I didn’t mean any of the things I said to you. I don’t know why I said them.”

“You didn’t?” Jiang Cheng stopped poking at the food and was frowning at it. “Because you were right, you know. Maybe if I was as smart and intelligent and strong as you, then I wouldn’t—"

“No! That’s not true,” Wei Wuxian immediately shut him down, wildly gesturing around him. “You’re the most competent person I know, Jiang Cheng. You’re going to become the best Sect Leader the world has ever known when we grow up. Everyone is going to know your name, and they’re going to know better than to mess with you and the Jiang Clan. That’s how good I know you’re gonna be.”

Jiang Cheng played with the food in front of him. “You’re just saying that because you don’t want me to be mad at you anymore.”

“I’m not. I really mean it, I swear!” Wei Wuxian spoke sincerely.

Yanli watched as Jiang Cheng’s anger immediately melted. He turned to Wei Wuxian and nudged him. “Did you really cook this? Or are you taking credit for A-jie’s work again?”

Wei Wuxian dramatically clutched his chest and gasped, “Jiang Cheng. How dare— Shijie, tell Jiang Cheng who made this tasty dish for him.”

Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian both faced Yanli. “It was A-Xian, A-Cheng. He felt terrible about what he had said to you and he wanted to give you a gift as an apology.”

“See! I told you.” Wei Wuxian crossed his arms and smirked at Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng didn’t say anything for a few moments, searching Wei Wuxian’s eyes for something, and then he dug into his food. He wordlessly scooped up spoonfuls of the meal, downing it so fast that Yanli felt worried for him. She knew how much spice Wei Wuxian had put in the meal, but she hadn’t had the chance to warn Jiang Cheng about it.

But Jiang Cheng didn’t seem deterred from eating the food for even a moment, he ate it all until his plate was completely empty. Wei Wuxian waited impatiently, tapping his foot as he stared at Jiang Cheng.

“What?” Jiang Cheng asked, irritated.

Wei Wuxian blinked at him expectantly. “Come on. Tell me how it was? Was it good? It must have been good because you finished it all so fast.”

Jiang Cheng scowled, looking down at his empty plate. “It’s the best meal I’ve ever had,” he said, his cheeks flushing.

Wei Wuxian’s jaw dropped. “Even better than Shijie’s soup?” he dared to ask.

Jiang Cheng chanced a glance at his sister before looking down at his hands, his cheeks tinted darker. He nodded his head.

Wei Wuxian’s eyes turned comically large before he threw himself at his brother.

“Wei Wuxian!” Jiang Cheng screamed as he toppled backwards.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, Jiang Cheng! I love you so much. You’re my favourite sibling, you know that? Sorry, Shijie, but I love Jiang Cheng the most.” Wei Wuxian exclaimed, wrapping his arms tightly around Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng melted into the hug, not pushing Wei Wuxian away as he hid his reddened face in Wei Wuxian’s shoulder, and Yanli could hear Jiang Cheng’s muffled mumble. “You’re my favourite sibling too.”

#foularcadebanana #Yesimawriter on ao3 #untamed fall fest #untamed fall fest 2020 #the untamed fanfic #the untamed #mdzs fanfic #mdzs #jiang yanli #wei wuxian #jiang cheng #yunmeng bros #yunmeng siblings #yunmeng bros feels #spices #comfort food #cooking #fighting

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foularcadebanana · 4 years

Text

Call Me Jiujiu

I've written the Day 13 & Day 14 prompts for the Untamed Fall Fest 2020 together since I knew this was going to be a big one. Day 13 Prompt-Fruit, Day 14 Prompt-Savor.

This fic got so long and this idea had been itching at the inside of my brain for way too long. I have been screaming internally about this one for like two days...so I'm going to go breathe in some fresh air now.

Summary: Where Jiang Cheng is so worried about Jin Ling that he unknowingly uncles all three of Jin Ling's friends, his own brother, and his brother-in-law/brother's fiancée.

READ ON AO3

Jiang Cheng sat in the throne room at Koi Tower, on Jin Ling’s right, with a stack of papers he had to look over for the discussion conference that was to take place a week later, and a paper bag with a few fruits and a cutting knife. He had been summoned to the room along with Jin Ling’s friends, which had meant that Wei Wuxian had inevitably followed under the pretense of not wanting to be left out, but secretly because he had wanted to help.

Wei Wuxian following the juniors had led to Hanguang-Jun trailing alongside his husband, fiancée or whatever they were, Jiang Cheng really couldn’t care less. What he cared about however, was Jin Ling. He had been working hard for the discussion conference that would be taking place in Koi Tower, and he was required to arrange a night hunt before that with the rest of juniors, which was why he had called them to the throne room as well.

Jiang Cheng hadn’t wondered why he himself had been called there. He would have broken Jin Ling’s legs if he hadn’t called him. This was A-Ling’s first discussion conference, and there was no way he was letting Jin Ling carry the load of arranging it all himself. Heavens only remembered what a disaster Jiang Cheng’s first discussion conference in Lotus Pier had been like, and he had still had a lot of help from the various sects close to Yunmeng.

He knew how Jin Ling got when he had a goal or an aim that he had to achieve. Jiang Cheng had watched with worry, how Jin Ling had aimed to be the best archer in all of their combined sects. He had strived to achieve that goal with hard work and lots and lots of practice, and Jiang Cheng had proudly watched him achieve the goal.

But Jin Ling had been so single-minded in successfully reaching his goal that he hadn’t eaten or slept, or at least he wouldn’t have, if Jiang Cheng hadn’t been there to feed him or remind him to rest or drag him away from archery practice. He had been there to bandage Jin Ling’s hands when they had almost bled from overworking himself at the training grounds.

Jin Ling had become more careful, however, when during one of his afternoon practices, he had fainted on the training grounds with the sun beating harshly above him. Jin Ling had woken up in the physician’s room with Jiang Cheng clutching his hand desperately and crying softly to himself.

He had apologised to Jiang Cheng and had promised to take better care of himself. Jiang Cheng knew he couldn’t blame the kid. He got his stubbornness and single-mindedness and every single other quality from Jiang Cheng after all. Every other quality, that is, except for the blatant lack of self-care and self-preservation. He blamed that one on Wei Wuxian. Never, even during the darkest of times, had Jiang Cheng ever neglected his hunger or sleep or hygiene.

The sheer thought of how his sect would be able to survive if he didn’t take care of himself had kept him going, and thoughts of young Jin Ling having one less uncle because said uncle had been dumb enough to not take care of himself, had driven him forward. Why Jin Ling couldn’t do the same…

But, as Jiang Cheng thought more about it, he realised that perhaps this was something Jin Ling had acquired from him too. He vaguely remembered times in the past when he had been so overwhelmed by his work and his duties that Jin Ling had often complained that Jiang Cheng wasn’t paying attention to him or that he looked tired, and then using one reason or another, he had pulled Jiang Cheng out of his room and into the fresh air.

Sometimes they would end up at the private docks and sometimes up on the roof. Sometimes they would walk outside and go to all of the food stalls Jin Ling randomly pointed at to try some new food. Jiang Cheng remembered one time when Jin Ling had been a child and Jiang Cheng had rejected all of Jin Ling’s requests to take a break.

Jiang Cheng had often bought fruits from stalls which he knew contained the fresh stock before Jin Ling had been due for his visits to Lotus Pier. He had known that growing children were required to eat fruits for proper physical and mental growth. So, he would make sure that he cut the fruits into equal slices and fed them to Jin Ling in the intervals between their daily meals.

Jin Ling had been constantly distracted and very impatient as a child, so it had been difficult for Jiang Cheng to make him sit down to do anything at all. But as soon as Jin Ling used to spot Jiang Cheng arriving with cut up pieces of fruits, he used to sit down immediately, all ready for his uncle to feed the slices of fruits to him. He used to eat them dutifully, without a single complaint, and Jiang Cheng always used to wonder why.

That day Jiang Cheng had been particularly busy and had been rejecting all of Jin Ling’s offers to spend time with him in the hopes that Jin Ling would leave him alone to complete his work. Jin Ling had instead disappeared for some time and had come back holding a plate with an apple and a knife in his tiny hands.

“Jin Ling, what are you doing?” Jiang Cheng had sighed, running a hand over his face. He had been incredibly exhausted that night.

“I’m going to cut this apple for you. Like you do when I need a break,” Jin Ling had said, sitting down some distance away from Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng had tried to blink away his tiredness to register what was happening, but it had happened so quickly that he could not possibly have done anything about it. One second, Jin Ling had just been sitting with the plate containing the apple and the knife, and the next, he had taken the knife into his own hands and was trying to cut the apple.

“Jin Ling!” Jiang Cheng had exclaimed, but by the time he had reached him, Jin Ling had already accidentally cut his finger. Jiang Cheng had quickly taken the knife into his own hand and put it down before pulling Jin Ling into his arms, trying to calm the crying child down.

“I’m sorry, Jiujiu. I was trying to cut up tasty fruits for you, like you do for me when I haven’t eaten for too long. You say that they are healthy and help us grow strong and focus on our studies. I thought it would help you focus on your work better,” Jin Ling had said in between his tears.

Jiang Cheng had shaken his head fondly, feeling a familiar warmth growing in his chest. This kid. He had still been slightly concerned about the blood falling from the cut to Jin Ling’s finger. But Jiang Cheng had lightly taken the finger and put it into his own mouth to cease the flow of blood and give Jin Ling some relief.

“I’m sorry, A-Ling. This isn’t your fault. I should have paid attention to you. Come on, shall we go outside to the Pier? I’ll get another knife and cut the apple into slices, okay?” Jiang Cheng had responded, and he had felt Jin Ling nodding his head on the top of his shoulder.

So, he had lifted Jin Ling up and walked out of the room without a backwards glance.

Now here he was, and Jin Ling wasn’t aiming to achieve a simple goal, he was planning an event. Jiang Cheng observed the dark circles under the kid’s eyes and the way he blinked faster than usual. The way he turned to the side and tried to stifle his yawn, and his tired smiles. The kid looked as though he might faint at any moment, and Jiang Cheng wondered how many hours he had stayed awake for, and how long it had been since he had eaten anything healthy or solid.

Jiang Cheng would need to have words with his elders and whoever was supposed to be taking care of Jin Ling because they were clearly failing at their one simple task. Jiang Cheng had been expecting this, really, and therefore was here to prevent exactly this.

Jin Ling still, despite being a teenager and a sect leader, behaved exactly the same as he used to when he had been a child. When it came to accepting fruit slices from Jiang Cheng, that is. He obviously didn’t let Jiang Cheng feed him anymore, but whenever Jiang Cheng kept the plate in front of him or knocked on the door to his room, Jin Ling dutifully stopped whatever he was doing to go sit beside Jiang Cheng and eat all of the slices with a patience and devotion that Jin Ling never showed with any other food item. It was always swallow first and chew later with the kid.

So here he was with a bag of fruits leaning against his knee. Jin Ling was angrily ranting about a problem they were going to discuss at the conference. Jiang Cheng had long since stopped listening because he had realised that he would not be required to speak up today. Jin Ling had the rest of his two uncles and his friends to take care of his problems, and Jiang Cheng knew they were more than capable of solving them. That wasn’t what Jiang Cheng was there for.

Luckily for him, things were going according to plan. Wei Wuxian piped up ever so often with suggestions, with Hanguang-Jun agreeing or adding a word or two to his suggestions, making Wei Wuxian smile so widely, Jiang Cheng was surprised his lips didn’t permanently stay that way. Then there were the juniors. They actively took part in the discussion, especially when the topic of discussion turned to the night hunt they had to prepare for.

Here was what irked Jiang Cheng though. He could understand why Jin Ling looked like he did. He knew his kid too well. But why did the rest of the juniors seem to be in similar conditions? Jiang Cheng hadn’t been in Jinlintai to take care of Jin Ling, but surely Lan Sizhui and the loud-mouthed brat, Lan Jingyi, had been taken care of in Gusu. What were idiotic Wei Wuxian and his stupid husband doing in Cloud Recesses if not taking care of their son and his best-friend? And why did they look just as tired as all of these kids?

Ouyang Zizhen’s father was a bit old, sure, but he was quite capable of taking care of his son. What was wrong with all of the adults in these children’s lives? Why weren’t they taking care of their children for fuck’s sake? Jiang Cheng was done with all of them.

He grumpily pushed away his paperwork, hoping that Jin Ling would continue to pay attention to the rest of the people in the room so that Jiang Cheng could be successfully ignored. But the moment he thought that—

“Jiujiu! Are you even listening to us? I didn’t call you here so that you could brood over your paperwork and avoid helping me for the discussion conference and the night hunt. You said that you would help! And yet here you are, ignoring me,” Jin Ling snapped. He looked hurt as he crossed his arms and glared at Jiang Cheng.

If Jiang Cheng hadn’t been busy worrying over the kid, he might have felt guilty for not participating in the conversations that had been taking place and failing in helping Jin Ling.

“I’m listening Jin Ling. But the rest of your uncles and your friends are making great points, so I have nothing to add. Why don’t you continue the discussion and I’ll just…join you when I have something to add to the conversation,” Jiang Cheng spoke, trying to keep his expressions neutral as he put his hand into the fruit bag.

“Jiang Cheng, are you alright? This isn’t like you.” Wei Wuxian said, his brows furrowing slightly, and Jiang Cheng sighed. This was perfect, really. The one time Jiang Cheng did not want to get noticed had to turn out to be the only time he did get noticed.

Jin Ling narrowed his eyes at Jiang Cheng, and Jiang Cheng could see the gears turning in his kid’s brain. “What are you up to, Jiujiu?”

Jiang Cheng pulled his hand out of the bag and pushed the bag behind him as fast as he could. He tried to be subtle about it, but he could tell that Jin Ling had noticed the bag. “What is that?” Jin Ling asked. He stood up and began to walk over to Jiang Cheng. Shit. Abort mission. ABORT-

Jin Ling reached behind Jiang Cheng and pulled the bag out in front of everyone’s view.

“What’s in that?” Lan Jingyi asked, the nosy brat.

Jiang Cheng tried to muster his scariest look. He was the Sandu Shengshou after all. “Jin Ling!” He scolded the kid, but Jin Ling had already opened the bag and was staring inside wide-eyed.

Something about the look on his face made a soft tenderness appear in the middle of Jiang Cheng’s chest.

“Come on, tell us what’s inside,” Ouyang Zizhen said all of a sudden. Jin Ling looked at Jiang Cheng and swallowed heavily. He gave the bag back to Jiang Cheng.

“Jin Ling, what does your uncle’s bag contain?” Lan Sizhui asked politely.

Jiang Cheng could tell that they were all dying to know what was in the bag, but Jin Ling did not say a word. Instead, he sat down next to Jiang Cheng, just like he had all those times when he had been a child, just like he had continued to do as he had grown up.

Jin Ling looked up at Jiang Cheng expectantly, a soft glint in his eyes. Even his features had changed, becoming more relaxed and brighter somehow. Jin Ling, in his entirety, was practically glowing.

“Can either of you just talk to us and tell us what is in that bag?!” Wei Wuxian dramatically exclaimed. But neither Jiang Cheng nor Jin Ling payed any attention to him or anyone else.

Jiang Cheng took an apple out of his bag. Jin Ling already had the plate in his hand, and he set it down on the table in front of him and Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng smiled softly to himself as he held the knife in his hand. Jin Ling watched patiently as Jiang Cheng cut up the fruit and kept it on the plate.

“Here kid,” he said, ruffling Jin Ling’s hair and patting him on the back. “You’ve done a good job so far, with the conference and this night hunt, and I’m proud of you.”

Jin Ling looked to be on the verge of crying, but he held it in, nodding his head and holding a slice of apple in his hand. “Thank you, Jiujiu.”

Jiang Cheng then looked up at the rest of the tired faces and proceeded to pour the rest of the fruits on the table in front of him. He sliced them all in quick succession and took a large plate over to the three juniors.

“I know all three of you have been working extremely hard for the hunt but overworking yourselves won’t get this event set up any faster. It will only exhaust you and make you work slower. So, take care of yourselves. I’m sure the rest of the Sect Leaders will appreciate all of your efforts just as much as I do,” he told them.

Then he took the second, medium-sized plate he was holding over to Wei Wuxian and set it down in front of him and Hanguang-Jun. “I don’t know why the two of you haven’t been sleeping properly or taking care of yourselves, but there is no excuse to be made for it. Take care of yourselves, but most importantly, take care of your kids,” Jiang Cheng paused and pointed at the two Lans who were staring at him wide-eyed, their mouths gaping open. “You cannot hope to take care of them if you don’t take care of yourselves first,” he said and stood up, walking back to Jin Ling.

Jin Ling had almost finished eating the apple slices, so Jiang Cheng put the rest of the slices on the table on Jin Ling’s plate. “Eat all of this,” he said. But instead of nodding along like Jiang Cheng expected him to, Jin Ling protested.

“You should have some too,” Jin Ling said. Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes at his stubborn kid.

“I already had some in the morning, along with a heavy breakfast unlike the rest of you, so eat up,” he stated to the room.

“Uhm, Sect Lea— I mean…what are we supposed to call you?” Lan Jingyi was at a loss for words. Ha! Fucking ha! Jiang Cheng seemed to have done the impossible.

The rest of the juniors seemed to be stunned speechless too. They seemed to be looking at Jiang Cheng as if they had never seen him before, as if they did not know how to react. Had nobody ever fed them apple slices during their childhood or showed them any concern? It wasn’t as though Jiang Cheng was doing something weird or unique, was it?

“You can call him ‘jiujiu’ too,” Jin Ling responded cheekily to Lan Jingyi.

Jiang Cheng glared at him, but before he could say anything, Ouyang Zizhen spoke up as though directly from his heart. “Thank you, Jiujiu.” Jiang Cheng stared at him stunned, but the next second—

“Thank you, Jiujiu,” Lan Jingyi piped up sincerely.

“Thank you, Jiujiu,” Lan Sizhui said, and his voice cracked a bit. Jiang Cheng could swear that he also saw a few unshed tears in his eyes.

“Thank you, didi,” Wei Wuxian said, following their lead.

Jiang Cheng would have spoken up if his throat hadn’t suddenly clenched up. He was not overwhelmed by emotions, dammit! How dare all of these juniors call him ‘jiujiu’? And how dare Wei Wuxian think it appropriate to call him ‘didi’ again?

Jiang Cheng opened his mouth to speak up again but was interrupted by Hanguang-Jun this time. “Thank you, Sect Leader Jiang.” He stood up and bowed to Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng almost dropped his jaw at the respect shown to him by Wei Wuxian’s fiancée-husband. He was referring to him by his title, instead of his courtesy name or nothing at all. Jiang Cheng was in absolute shock.

“We are all grateful to you for reminding us of our duties and how important it is to take care of ourselves,” Lan Wangji said, nodding at Jiang Cheng in approval and acceptance and then sitting down.

Jiang Cheng didn’t know how to react. He hadn’t done anything other than giving out pieces of cut fruit and telling everyone to take care of themselves. He did this with Jin Ling all the time. It was not really a big deal. But everyone else in the room seemed to think that it was.

He watched Jin Ling throwing him the biggest smile he had seen in a while as Jin Ling ate a slice of a pear. It was as if he was proud of Jiang Cheng, and fuck, when had that happened.

As the rest of the people in the throne room shifted their attention to the fruits on their plate and began to eat, talking to each other in hushed voices, Jin Ling shifted closer to Jiang Cheng and muttered to him. “Jiujiu, do you think you could feed me? My arms feel numb from all of that writing and planning, and it hurts to lift them up to eat.”

Jiang Cheng smiled to himself, flicking Jin Ling on the head. “Ow, Jiujiu!” He said, rubbing his head.

“Brat! You think you can make excuses and lie to me like this? You realise I can still discipline you even though you’re a Sect Leader now, don’t you? Just like I can feed you apple slices despite it.” Jin Ling started out scowling at Jiang Cheng, but he ended up grinning sheepishly at him.

As Jin Ling rubbed the back of his head, clearly feeling embarrassed at getting caught with his lie, Jiang Cheng took a slice of pear and held it in front of his A-Ling.

“Jiujiu.” A sudden call out to him made Jiang Cheng turn to his side. He realised that it was Lan Sizhui who had called out to him. The Lan junior had turned a bright shade of red. “Could you— Could I— Can I be fed the fruits, too? I— My arms hurt, too.”

Jiang Cheng blinked in surprise at the request. He was even more surprised when the rest of the two juniors followed Lan Sizhui’s request with their own.

“Me too, Jiujiu.”

“Ah, my arms hurt so much, Jiujiu.”

Jiang Cheng turned to look at Jin Ling, who seemed to be glaring daggers at the three of them. “Shut up! He is my jiujiu. He can only feed me.” Jiang Cheng’s lips twitched and the hand that wasn’t holding the sliced pear reached up to ruffle Jin Ling’s hair affectionately.

Jin Ling flushed and quickly opened his mouth to bite the pear.

“I want a pat on my head too!”

“Me too!”

“Could I get one too, please?”

Jin Ling looked as though he were about to explode, and Jiang Cheng knew this meant that his nephew’s friends were in danger of being shouted at, so he spoke up. “Well, what are you waiting for? Come here, then! Let me feed you and pet your hair.”

The three juniors looked as though they had just discovered the secrets of the universe and scrambled to get up. Jin Ling, on the other hand, looked away from Jiang Cheng and all of his own friends. Jiang Cheng tried to hold back his fondness as he looked at Jin Ling. This kid.

“It doesn’t matter what they call me, A-Ling. Even if they do call me ‘jiujiu’, you’re still my kid, alright?” Jiang Cheng said, quietly, as he picked up another slice of pear. You’re my son. You’re irreplaceable, kid.

Jiang Cheng looked up as Jin Ling caught a hold of his wrist. “And no matter how many uncles I get, you’re still my adult— my guard— my parent.” Jiang Cheng forgot how to breathe. “So, I’m still going to need you to be present here, and to actively participate and help me no matter how many other people speak up, okay?” You’re my dad. And my mom. You’re everything to me.

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes and breathed out heavily, trying to hide his tears as he spoke softly. “I’m always going to be here for you, A-Ling. You’re my kid, after all.”

PS: After feeding the fruits to Jin Ling and the rest of the juniors, and giving them all the hair pats they deserved, Jiujiu sent them all to their rooms and ordered them to get some sleep. Then he had a talk with Wei Wuxian and Hanguang-Jun about how sleep>sex.

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foularcadebanana · 3 years

Text

The Guide to being a fun-er and cooler uncle by Jiang Cheng (or how to become more like Wei Wuxian)

Finally I have finished writing the fic for the last prompt of the Untamed Fall Fest 2020. Day 31-Wei Wuxian. I know I’m late, but this fic was huge and the idea was a big one. I still haven’t done one for the Day 1 prompt and the idea I have is similar but at the same time very different for that one.

Thank you so much @fytheuntamed for arranging this amazing fest. I had so much fun participating in this and writing so many different fics. I feel like writing a fic every day for a month had really helped me grow as a writer. So here is the fic. I hope you all enjoy it!

Summary: Where after having an argument with Jin Ling, Jiang Cheng decides to become a much cooler and more fun uncle. Or the one where Jiang Cheng decides to become a better Wei Wuxian than even Wei Wuxian could ever hope to be.

READ ON AO3 (This is a really big one guys)

It began during an argument with Jin Ling of all things. It wasn’t even an argument. Jin Ling was being a particularly insolent brat on that day of all days. Ever since he had become a Sect Leader, he had started to talk back to Jiang Cheng and disagree with him more and more.

Jiang Cheng wondered how people could think they were alike since Jiang Cheng had never dared to speak up against his parents when he had been a teenager. But then again, he had never really had the best relationship with them, and he liked to think that his relationship with Jin Ling was better and that they were a bit close, if nothing else.

All of that changed during that one argument. “Why not?” Jin Ling asked, and Jiang Cheng could tell he was resisting the urge to stomp his foot. “Lan Sizhui’s going and so is Lan Jingyi, even Ouyang Zizhen’s dad is letting him go.”

“You’re not like them though, are you, A-Ling? You’re a sect leader now, you have more responsibilities,” Jiang Cheng tried to explain through the headache he was getting.

“I know that, Jiujiu, but can’t I go just this once?” A-Ling asked, and Jiang Cheng sighed. “I’ll be back as soon as—”

“That’s what you said the last time, and the time before that, and the time before that. You can’t keep making excuses to get out of Koi Tower and avoid your responsibilities and duties to the sect. If you tell your friends, I’m sure they’ll understand and change their plans.” Jiang Cheng replied, keeping his tone firm.

He couldn’t let Jin Ling wander off wherever he wanted and let him have his way every time. He needed to understand that things changed when you became a sect leader, and you had a duty to protect your sect and its people. He wished that things could have gone differently for Jin Ling, and Jiang Cheng was trying his best to not let too much burden fall on Jin Ling’s shoulders, but Jin Ling had to try too.

Jin Ling crossed his arms and pouted like a child. “I’m sure if I’d asked Wei Wuxian, he would have allowed me to go. He lets Sizhui go anywhere he wishes whenever he wants. I’m sure if he had been my guardian he would have wanted me to go have fun.”

Before Jiang Cheng could get the chance to respond, Jin Ling stomped away from Jiang Cheng’s office, closing the door behind him a bit too harshly. Jiang Cheng couldn’t muster up the energy to shout at him for it.

He wanted to go behind Jin Ling. He wanted to pull him back and order him, ask him to please take back his words. If I’d asked Wei Wuxian, he would have allowed me to go. If he had been my guardian, he would have wanted me to go have fun.

A knot formed in Jiang Cheng’s stomach and he tried to swallow the lump in his throat. But he wasn’t there for you, A-Ling. He was dead for sixteen years while I— I suffered. I tried my best for you, but I guess it still wasn’t good enough.

It had never been like this with Jin Guangyao, it had been different with him. With him, Jiang Cheng had never felt the pressure to compete, to be the best uncle he could be because he had known that he already was.

Jin Guangyao may have had the emotional sensitivity that Jiang Cheng lacked, and a way with words. He may have had his advantages, but Jiang Cheng had known that the way Jin Ling had called out to his ‘jiujiu’ was never the same as when he had talked about his ‘xiao-shushu’.

Jiang Cheng had seen the way Jin Ling had brightened up every time he had been in Jiang Cheng’s presence. He had never mouthed off to Jin Guangyao the way he had to Jiang Cheng, and still did.

People had always said that Jin Ling behaved like Jiang Cheng, his personality, and the way that he acted being remarkably similar to Sect Leader Jiang’s. Jin Guangyao had never stood a chance.

Wei Wuxian, on the other hand… Jiang Cheng had once loved him dearly (still did, even if he denied it profusely) and had always been competing with him for his entire life. For the affection of his father, for the satisfaction of his mother, he had competed against Wei Wuxian with everything he’d had, he had worked so hard and practiced and practiced until he had been a bleeding mess on the floor, but it had never been enough.

And then Wei Wuxian had taken everything from him, including his free will. Now here he was, promising to take another important part of his life. One that Jiang Cheng had been growing and cherishing for sixteen years. Wei Wuxian hadn’t even done anything really, and yet, here Jiang Cheng was, already losing this battle of acquiring nephew’s affections. How long had Wei Wuxian been back and alive for?

Didn’t Jin Ling hate him? Or at least mildly dislike him? Jiang Cheng couldn’t lose to Wei Wuxian already. Sixteen years, dammit. He was going to win this competition against Wei Wuxian. He was going to come out on the top and be a better uncle than Wei Wuxian. The cooler uncle. The best uncle he could possibly be!

He needed to be a better Wei Wuxian than even Wei Wuxian could ever hope be.

Jiang Cheng stared into the mirror, looking at himself properly. He wasn’t going to start dressing like Wei Wuxian, obviously. He wasn’t obnoxious enough to wear all black, and he quite liked his purples and navy blues. What he was going to try though, was to smile like Wei Wuxian. So, he looked into the mirror, staring at his mouth.

But no matter how much he stared at it, he could not turn his frown upside down. He sighed and pressed his lips together, glaring at the mirror. How did a person smile, again? He tried turning the edges of his lips up…UP. But they just wouldn’t move. He groaned. What was he supposed to do? He couldn’t even smile like Wei Wuxian could. How could he hope to become a better uncle than Wei Wuxian if he couldn’t even smile for his kid?

This was a great start.

It was just a week later that he found himself in the Cloud Recesses. Jin Ling was going on a night hunt with the rest of his friends and Jiang Cheng was going to spend the night in the Cloud Recesses after a meeting with Hanguang-Jun.

So, he stood outside the entrance of the Cloud Recesses with Jin Ling, who was about to leave for the hunt. Jiang Cheng knew what he had to do. Project WWWWD (What Would Wei Wuxian Do) was about to begin.

“A-Ling,” Jiang Cheng said, his hands twitching at his sides. He was sweating and red in the face, wasn’t he? He was sure Jin Ling was giving him a weird look. Jiang Cheng could do this. All he had to do was lift his hands and give Jin Ling a hug, just like he’d seen Wei Wuxian give all of the juniors. Jin Ling had avoided his. But he wouldn’t avoid Jiang Cheng’s hug would he?

Jiang Cheng lifted one hand. Jin Ling looked at it. Jiang Cheng swallowed and cleared his throat, putting the hand on Jin Ling’s shoulder and patting him. “Have fun,” he said, just like Wei Wuxian had said earlier. He tried to smile like he had practiced in the mirror.

“Jiujiu, are you okay?” Jin Ling was staring at him worriedly. Jiang Cheng nodded his head, letting his hand drop and a frown settle on his face. He expected Jin Ling to say ‘goodbye’ and ‘see you soon’ before sprinting off to join his friends, but instead he waited, as if expecting Jiang Cheng to say something more.

Jiang Cheng gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to ask to check Jin Ling’s pouch and ask him if he had carried all of the necessities with him, his clarity bell, and the flares and…

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Cheng asked, “Is there a problem, A-Ling?”

Jin Ling seemed to search Jiang Cheng’s features before he shook his head. “No. I guess I should get going.” The kid had his lips pursued as he turned around and walked slowly over to his friends.

Jiang Cheng watched him take a few steps forward before he swore under his breath and gave up. “A-Ling!” Jin Ling turned back with a hopeful expression on his face. “Take care and stay safe.”

Jin Ling’s face brightened, and to Jiang Cheng’s surprise, he walked back to Jiang Cheng, pulling his pouch out of his robes. “I will, Jiujiu.” He opened his pouch in front of Jiang Cheng with a serious expression on his face. “Here, look. I’ve packed everything……”

After Jin Ling had finished showing Jiang Cheng all of the items in his pouch, had pointed to his clarity bell, attached to his waist, and had shown Jiang Cheng his supply of flares, he was gone with his friends waving and enthusiastically saying goodbye to Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng watched Jin Ling disappear and sighed. He had failed in the first step of his project. He hadn’t even been able to chill out like Wei Wuxian and let Jin Ling have fun. He’d had to check up on him. Well, he would not anymore. He turned to look at Wei Wuxian, who was sat on a rock, looking up at the moon.

As Jiang Cheng passed by him, Wei Wuxian’s head whipped around to look at him. “Do you think we should go behind them? I think we should trail behind them for this hunt, just in case.” Wei Wuxian said, and on the surface, the words seemed innocent and harmless enough. But Jiang Cheng knew better.

He narrowed his eyes at Wei Wuxian. Subtly trying to steal his nephews love and earn the spot as his most favourite uncle was one thing, but this. This was too much.

“Oh, haha, Wei Wuxian. Very funny. Let’s make fun of Jiang Cheng for being concerned about his nephew and being cautious. They’re teenagers, you know, and even if they don’t think so, they still need someone to look after them. That includes Jin Ling, even though he’s a sect leader now. So, I don’t appreciate you making fun of me for that,” Jiang Cheng answered and stomped off after he had finished his rant, ignoring Wei Wuxian’s calls to him.

Phase two of the plan to win Jin Ling back and be the cooler uncle involved going to Koi Tower. Jiang Cheng took the day off and went there late into the morning. As soon as he opened the door to Jin Ling’s office, he was greeted with a surprised “Jiujiu!”

Jin Ling stood up and rushed over to Jiang Cheng, who tried not to eye the messy pile of letters Jin Ling had left on the table. “A-Ling,” he said, greeting Jin Ling with a nod of his head, and a slight curve of his lips. He was trying, okay? At least Jin Ling seemed like he was glad to see him. That was a start, right?

“Jiujiu, what are you doing here?” Jin Ling asked. Jiang Cheng understood why. He didn’t really come visit Jin Ling at Koi Tower unless there was a meeting, a conference, some type of a celebration, or if Jiang Cheng believed that Jin Ling needed his help with something, or Jin Ling called him over for an emergency.

One of these things happened at least once a month and Jin Ling visited Lotus Pier often enough, so it wasn’t as if Jiang Cheng needed to casually go over to check up on the kid. But he was there now, for an extremely specific reason, and Jin Ling was curious.

“Well, I was hoping we could go out and do something fun,” Jiang Cheng said. Take that Wei Wuxian. Who’s the fun uncle now?

Jin Ling’s entire demeanor changed as he straightened up and gave Jiang Cheng a serious look. “Is this some kind of a test, Jiujiu?” A test? Jiang Cheng frowned. “Because I’ve been working very hard on the upcoming night hunt I have to arrange for all of the elites in the Jin sect. The elders have been on my back for weeks, and if you’re wondering why I haven’t responded to the letters, it’s not because I’ve been wandering around with my friends. I’ve just been so busy—”

“I know,” Jiang Cheng interrupted, feeling guilt gnawing at his insides. Was this the kind of uncle he was? One that put Jin Ling into such an anxious and frustrated state even when he suggested doing something fun? He swallowed the lump in his throat. “I know how hard you’ve been working, A-Ling. I’ve never doubted you. That’s why I was thinking that maybe we could get away from here and do something fun. It’s up to you, we can do whatever you want.”

Jin Ling stared at Jiang Cheng. He seemed to be searching Jiang Cheng’s eyes again, or maybe searching for the right words. Jiang Cheng didn’t know what he had said to make Jin Ling turn speechless. Did Wei Wuxian not speak like this to Sizhui? Or Jin Ling? He didn’t know. He was betting it was something much, much more sentimental.

Jiang Cheng scowled at the thought that Wei Wuxian had one-upped him in this too. “Jiujiu?” Jin Ling was biting his lower lip, deep in thought. “Could we maybe do that later?” Jiang Cheng blinked. What? “First, could we— well, now that you’re here, I was hoping that you could help me with arranging the Jin hunt. Please, Jiujiu? I’ve been working so hard and—”

“Alright, let’s take a look at it,” Jiang Cheng agreed. Jin Ling’s whole face lit up as he practically dragged Jiang Cheng to his worktable to take a look at what he had come up with so far.

Jiang Cheng blinked and listened as Jin Ling spoke rapidly, ranting to Jiang Cheng about everything all at once. Everything Jiang Cheng had missed so far, everything the elders had told him, everything Jin Ling had incorporated into his arrangement of the hunt so far, and all of the things he planned to do.

To Jiang Cheng, Jin Ling looked not like the capable Sect Leader that Jiang Cheng knew he had become, but like the tiny child who used to pull Jiang Cheng through the entire Lotus Pier to look at a flower he had seen or a bird or a butterfly, anything that had caught his attention, really. He reminded Jiang Cheng of the Jin Ling who, every time he had come to Lotus Pier from Koi Tower, would hold Jiang Cheng’s hand in his pudgy, little one and go off on a rant, rapidly recalling everything that had happened at Koi Tower.

And maybe, phase two of his plan had failed too, maybe it hadn’t. Jin Ling had said that they could go have fun after they had arranged the night hunt, but Jiang Cheng was sure that A-Ling really couldn’t care less about it.

Maybe that was Jiang Cheng’s problem. He was too hard on the kid. Maybe he should ease up, loosen his leash, and show a little more trust and belief in Jin Ling. Like Wei Wuxian tended to do.

“Jiujiu, you should come with us.” Jiang Cheng blinked as Jin Ling looked at him. Go with them where, again? He had almost dozed off while Jin Ling had been having a conversation with Jiang Cheng and his friends, and of course, Wei Wuxian.

Jiang Cheng felt like he somehow got less sleep as he became older, and surely enough there would come a time in the future where no one would let him get any sleep at all.

“Hmmm?” Jiang Cheng casually asked.

“To the lake nearby!” Jin Ling said, clapping his hands excitedly. “We could go for a swim.”

Jiang Cheng just wanted to get some rest, but he turned to look at Wei Wuxian. WWWWD—What would Wei Wuxian do? Wei Wuxian was nodding at the plan approvingly which meant that Jiang Cheng would have to do the same.

He tried to hold in his sigh. “Sure. That sounds like a great idea.” Jin Ling blinked and narrowed his eyes at Jiang Cheng, as if he had said the wrong thing. But Wei Wuxian seemed pleasantly surprised.

“Are you sure, Jiujiu? You look tired, and I saw you kind of dozing off in the meeting earlier.” Jin Ling said. Damn that kid and his observation skills. Maybe he could blame that one on Jin Guangyao?

Jiang Cheng searched for a response. What would Wei Wuxian say? “Ah, A-Ling, it’s fine. I’m fine. I can sleep after we come back, but I wouldn’t want to miss this.” A smile. Jiang Cheng should go for a smile right about now. He felt his lips twitching upwards, but he couldn’t see himself, there was no mirror around. Was he smiling?

Jin Ling’s eyes widened, and he looked stricken. Was that the kind of response people got when they smiled? Was he doing this right?

“We…should go,” Jin Ling said.

As they reached the spot near the lake, Jiang Cheng noticed the shade under the trees. Maybe coming here had been a good idea after all. Jiang Cheng could get some rest while the boys had some fun. Wei Wuxian was there to keep an eye on them, or not. But Jiang Cheng most certainly wasn’t going to pay them any attention. Just like he had promised himself.

He could also get to spend some time with A-Ling like this, and he wouldn’t keep bugging Jiang Cheng to try to meet up with Wei Wuxian. He was in his presence now, and that would have to be enough.

Spreading out a blanket for himself on the grass, Jiang Cheng lay down under the shade of the trees and closed his eyes. He had kept the picnic basket which contained warm food a bit of a distance away from him, but still on top of the blanket.

Jiang Cheng let himself relax. He felt the breeze gently caressing his face and his hair, and he allowed himself to finally fall asleep….

“Jiujiu!” Jiang Cheng startled awake.

“Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng!” Wei Wuxian called out, and Jiang Cheng heard the urgency in his voice.

“What is it? Who’s hurting you? Where’s the dog? What’s wrong?” Jiang Cheng immediately stood up, alert.

“It’s Jingyi and Sizhui. We were just playing in the lake and they both got hurt and almost drowned, but Wei Wuxian and I saved them.” Jin Ling told Jiang Cheng. While Jin Ling’s tone remained calm, Jiang Cheng could see the worry and concern on his face. “They need your help, Jiujiu.”

Wei Wuxian, on the other hand, could not seem to stand still, hopping from one foot to the other and hovering around the two boys. As Jiang Cheng walked towards them, he noticed that the boys were both sitting upright and coughing. Ouyang Zizhen seemed to be rubbing their backs, the smart kid.

“Do something, Jiang Cheng,” Wei Wuxian said in a panicked voice. “Look at them. I almost lost Sizhui a second time! I think they might have a concussion. Jingyi’s looking a bit pale—”

“They’re going to be fine, Wei Wuxian. Stopping jumping around and help me.” Jiang Cheng snapped, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. This was great. Wei Wuxian was acting like a child. He felt like the only adult around. At least he could still count on Jin Ling to help.

Jiang Cheng saw that Sizhui’s knees were scratched up and immediately pulled out a few creams and lotions along with a bandage from his pouch. The lotions would help Sizhui’s sea sickness and help clear both the boys’ lungs of water. Lan Jingyi did not have a concussion, but he had a bruise on his forehead. Jiang Cheng pulled out a pack of ice for him before closing his pouch.

After tending to both the boys and giving them instructions, with Jin Ling sitting right next to him and adding a few pieces of advice of his own, and Wei Wuxian still hovering around them, Jiang Cheng thought it would be best to go back to his blanket. He had done what he had been asked to do. That was enough, right?

Jiang Cheng felt almost proud of himself, as he pulled warm food out of his picnic basket for everyone. He hadn’t even given the boys a single lecture. He was getting the hang of this cool, fun uncle thing.

“Jiujiu,” Jin Ling said. He standing next to Jiang Cheng and conveniently blocking out the sun. Jiang Cheng watched him as he looked down and fidgeted with his fingers. What was wrong now? “I’m sorry.” Jiang Cheng stared questioningly at Jin Ling. “You were right. You’re always right. We should have been more careful. I didn’t know Sizhui couldn’t swim, and the tides were very strong. It was stupid, Jiujiu, and I know that I was being irresponsible. It won’t happen again.”

Jiang Cheng blinked up at Jin Ling. He hadn’t even lectured Jin Ling this time, but he had somehow still received an explanation and an apology. He hadn’t even said anything and yet, here A-Ling was doing the talking for him, saying words in response to everything that Jiang Cheng wanted to say to him.

Sighing exasperatedly, Jiang Cheng tugged on Jin Ling’s arm, making him sit down beside him. “It’s alright, A-Ling. I’m glad you’ve understood your mistake, and I’m sure you’ll be more careful from now on.” There. His response had been short and sweet. Wei Wuxian could get wrecked!

What was Wei Wuxian doing anyway? Jiang Cheng looked over at him. Wei Wuxian seemed to have gone mad, making wild hand gestures as he spoke loudly. Sizhui seemed to be trying to placate him, as if the idiot were angry at the kid and not concerned for him. Jiang Cheng scoffed. Who was the cooler uncle now?

Looking back at his own nephew, Jiang Cheng was puzzled by the hidden disappointment he found in Jin Ling’s eyes. “Jiujiu, why aren’t you getting angry at me?” Jin Ling softly asked.

Jiang Cheng was even more confused now. Hadn’t Jin Ling wanted this? Hadn’t he wanted Jiang Cheng to be just like Wei Wuxian?

What would Wei Wuxian say? “A-Ling, you are a grown-up now. You’re managing to look after an entire sect all by yourself, aren’t you? Then it wouldn’t do for me to treat you like you’re still a child, to shout at you or get angry with you. You’re a responsible and mature individual now, and I’m sure you can take care of yourself. You don’t—” Jiang Cheng cut off and cleared his throat, immediately looking away.

He swallowed the emotions threatening to spill over. You don’t need me to take care of you anymore. You have Wei Wuxian here with you if you need a fun, cool uncle to spend some time with.

“A-Ling. Why don’t you call your friends and your idiotic uncle over to have some food before it goes cold?”

Jiang Cheng found himself going on a night hunt with the juniors and Wei Wuxian soon after that. He knew that this would be difficult. It would be hard for him to keep his cool and stay calm if a monster came at the kids, especially at Jin Ling, but Jiang Cheng would try. For A-Ling.

He was even keeping his distance, walking right next to Wei Wuxian, who was at least a few steps behind the juniors. Jiang Cheng sighed, tightening, and loosening his grip on Sandu. He wanted to ask Wei Wuxian how he did it, how he made everyone like him so much. How he inspired the loyalty and devotion of the people around him instantly.

Maybe he got it from his parents, or maybe he got it from Jiang Cheng’s parents. Either way, Jiang Cheng hadn’t acquired that particular personality trait. Maybe it was the smile that did it. That bright, blinding smile that made people instantly melt, no matter what had just happened. Then it made sense, because Jiang Cheng had never learned how to smile like that, had he?

A sudden gurgling sound tore through the silence of the night and Jiang Cheng instinctually looked over at Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian was looking back at him. He gave Jiang Cheng a quick nod, and Jiang Cheng could feel Zidian slowly beginning to flare up, could feel the itch in his hands to unsheathe Sandu. But he straightened up, took a deep breath, and decided to watch as the juniors handled the monster by themselves.

It was after all just one monster. They would be able to handle it wouldn’t they?

“Jiujiu!” Jin Ling called, his eyes flashing over to Jiang Cheng. Be supportive. Trust him. Tell him that you believe in him.

Jiang Cheng gestured with his hands and gave a small smile. “It’s alright, A-Ling! I believe in you.”

Disbelief flashed in Jin Ling’s eyes before he joined the rest of the juniors in fighting the monster. There, it seemed like Jiang Cheng had done a good job. Now all he had to do was stay away from the fight and let Jin Ling and the rest of his friends handle it. Easier said than done.

“Jiang Cheng, what are you doing?” Wei Wuxian hissed. Jiang Cheng blinked and turned to him. Wei Wuxian had a desperation in his tone and this look in his eyes that Jiang Cheng hadn’t seen since he had been resurrected. “Why aren’t you helping them?”

Jiang Cheng scoffed. Was Wei Wuxian serious? Was this some kind of a trap to knock Jiang Cheng down a few pegs so he could never achieve the title of a cool, fun uncle? Well, Jiang Cheng was not falling for that. “Why don’t you go help them?”

Wei Wuxian gave Jiang Cheng the same look of disbelief that Jin Ling had.

“You’re the one who has Sandu and Zidian. Why would I use Chenqing on a single monster?” Wei Wuxian asked. Jiang Cheng could not understand what was wrong with him. Why was he acting like Jiang Cheng had to be the one to handle this hunt? The juniors were handling it just fine, weren’t they?

“There are four of them, Wei Wuxian. I’m sure they can handle a single monster,” Jiang Cheng replied, pointing at the monster, who was apparently already dead. “See, I told you.” Jiang Cheng felt like the coolest, fun-est uncle ever in that moment.

But before Wei Wuxian could respond, a second monster ran into the clearing, and Jiang Cheng held his breath as he realised that it was going straight for Jin Ling. Jiang Cheng was ready with his sword and Zidian, he was ready if he felt like Jin Ling was in even the slightest bit of danger. But the kid looked at the monster running towards him, unsheathed his sword smoothly, and in one clear move, pierced the monster straight in his heart. Jiang Cheng couldn’t have felt prouder.

As Jin Ling pulled the sword out from the monster’s chest, blood spurted all over his face and body. He groaned. “This is just fucking great!” He exclaimed, lifting his hands up in the air.

“Nice aim, Young Mistress.” Lan Jingyi said. As the rest of his friends gathered around Jin Ling, Jiang Cheng suddenly remembered how to breathe again.

“That was close,” Wei Wuxian muttered, with another expression Jiang Cheng didn’t remember seeing on his face since the resurrection, or maybe since Guanyin Temple.

Too close, Jiang Cheng thought as he rushed over to Jin Ling.

“A-Ling—” Jiang Cheng said, and something throbbed in his chest as Jin Ling’s expressions turned grim and more serious.

“It’s all right, Jiujiu. I’m okay. You don’t need to— You were right. I can handle these things myself,” Jin Ling said, his voice a little harsh as he walked past Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng stayed frozen in place. Jin Ling had never spoken to him like this before. What had gotten into him? A small voice in Jiang Cheng’s mind said that this was the way Jin Ling spoke to Wei Wuxian. So, was it really a good idea to try and be more like him?

But it’s what A-Ling wants. A-Ling likes him. Jiang Cheng sighed. He didn’t understand what was wrong. What had he done wrong?

‘A-Ling, what’s wrong?’

Something was wrong with Jin Ling. Jiang Cheng knew that. Ever since they had gone on the night hunt, Jin Ling had been acting different. More distant. And Jiang Cheng didn’t know what he had done wrong.

It had been a month, and Jin Ling hadn’t come to visit him in Lotus Pier. He hadn’t met him or found a reason to call him to Koi Tower, and Jiang Cheng just wanted to know what had happened. What had Jiang Cheng done wrong? He had tried to be like Wei Wuxian. He had tried to be fun and laid back and cool. Was that still not enough? Was Wei Wuxian still a better choice than him? Better company than him?

Of course, he was. Jiang Cheng didn’t know what he had been thinking. Trying to be like Wei Wuxian had only confirmed one thing for him, that he could never be him. No matter how hard he tried, he could never evoke the same sense of loyalty and devotion as him. Jiang Cheng had never been and could never be likeable or fun or cool or anything good.

He just had to surrender the title and spend the rest of his life knowing that he would be Jin Ling’s angry, temperamental, strict uncle. That Jin Ling would only come to him because he had to. When he had no choice.

‘If I’d asked Wei Wuxian, he would have allowed me to go. If he had been my guardian, he would have wanted me to go have fun.’

And now that Jin Ling was a Sect Leader, he didn’t have to come to Jiang Cheng anymore. He had a choice, and it was even better now because he had Wei Wuxian. Another uncle. A better uncle.

Jiang Cheng sighed, putting his head in his hands. Fuck all of this, he missed his kid.

He missed having Jin Ling around, walking into his office to interrupt his work every once in a while. He missed Jin Ling pulling pranks on him, and Jiang Cheng getting so angry that he would threaten Jin Ling by pulling out Zidian. Jin Ling would retort by mouthing off to him.

He missed having the kid insist that they sit together for lunch and dinner and all of their meals, and having him insist that they go to the training grounds to train together or because he wanted Jiang Cheng to teach him a particular technique or to show him something he had recently learned.

He just missed his A-Ling. Jiang Cheng rubbed at his eyes, roughly wiping away his tears.

“Jiang Cheng!” A sudden voice called out, making Jiang Cheng look up as his office door banged open. It was Wei Wuxian. What was he doing—

“You need to come with me to Koi Tower. It’s Jin Ling.” Wei Wuxian was a mess, and Jiang Cheng’s heart was in his throat.

“A-Ling, what—” He’s alive. He has to be alive.

“He’s got a fever, and he’s calling for you. Please. I don’t know what to do,” Wei Wuxian pleaded, looking helpless in a way that he had never seemed before.

Jiang Cheng relaxed slightly as Wei Wuxian’s words sunk in. He already had Sandu unsheathed and was marching outside with Wei Wuxian. “How long has he had the fever? Why didn’t anyone tell me? How did you get here?”

“He just got it this morning, but he didn’t tell anyone because he thought it was nothing. We only noticed when it spiked this afternoon. It’s a good thing I was there at Koi Tower with the rest of the juniors. I came here on Suibian as fast as I could.”

Jiang Cheng looked at the sky as he stepped outside the entrance. It was evening now. He swallowed and hopped onto his sword, pulling Wei Wuxian onto it before he could protest.

As they flew into the sky, headed towards Lanling full speed, Jiang Cheng swallowed. “What were you doing there?”

“Oh,” Wei Wuxian seemed hesitant to speak. “Jin Ling needed some help with some things, so he called me.” Of course, he did. Why would he call me when he has you? “It was no big deal, Jiang Cheng. He knows that you’ve been busy and he just didn’t want to cause you more stress.”

Jiang Cheng snorted. That was easy for Wei Wuxian to say. Everyone actually wanted him around. He was everyone’s first choice. So where did that leave Jiang Cheng?

They flew in silence for a few moments before Jiang Cheng remembered what Wei Wuxian had said as soon as he had burst into his office.

“You said that A-Ling was calling for me,” Jiang Cheng spoke. A knot tightened in his stomach at the thought. He imagined a feverish Jin Ling calling out for him, and for a moment, he couldn’t breathe. They had to go faster.

“Yeah, he— he had a high fever and he kept murmuring your name in his sleep. Kept saying he needed his jiujiu, even after he woke up. We found him fainted in his office in the afternoon, y’know.” Wei Wuxian said.

Jiang Cheng gritted his teeth, clenching his fists. This was all his fault. He should have been there for A-Ling. He should have visited him. He should have—

Koi Tower appeared in Jiang Cheng’s vision and he almost leapt off his sword.

“A-Ling!” Jiang Cheng pushed open the door to Jin Ling’s room. “A-Li—”

“Jiujiu,” Jin Ling spoke. He was sitting up, leaning against a soft pillow. He seemed fine. Jiang Cheng’s posture slumped slightly. “What are you doing here?”

Jin Ling looked surprised. As if there was no need for Jiang Cheng to be there. Well, fuck that.

“What do you mean what am I doing here?” Jiang Cheng asked as he strode over to stand to Jin Ling’s side. “Am I not allowed to enter my nephew’s room? Who are you to demand answers from me when you cannot even take care of yourself?”

Jin Ling blinked at Jiang Cheng, and a tenseness that Jiang Cheng hadn’t even known Jin Ling had been holding in his shoulders, disappeared. “I—”

“I don’t show up for a few weeks and you forget you have another uncle!” Jiang Cheng knew that he was getting worked up over nothing. It was just a fever; it was supposed to be nothing. But he’d had enough. Jin Ling not taking care of himself was the last straw and all bets were off.

If being Jin Ling’s temperamental and strict uncle would mean that Jin Ling wouldn’t get hurt and that Jiang Cheng could protect him, then Jiang Cheng would happily take that title back. “You forget you have another home and just decide to not come visit Lotus Pier. Not only that but you don’t even write me letters! You think you can get rid of me that easily, you brat?! Huh?

You think you can just keep things from me and not have me find out about them? Well that’s too bad because I’m going to find out anyway! And I’m going to come nag you about them. I made a promise to your mother and father to take care of you, and I’m going to keep that promise!”

“Jiujiu,” Jin Ling looked at Jiang Cheng with a soft look in his eyes, and as he coughed, Jiang Cheng was reminded that the kid was sick. He had a high fever.

Jiang Cheng sat down with a frown on his face, taking the wet cloth lying beside A-Ling and dipping it in the cold water kept in a bowl. Gently squeezing the cloth, Jiang Cheng kept it on A-Ling’s forehead. He touched the back of his hand carefully to Jin Ling’s neck and his cheeks. The kid was burning up.

“Jiujiu,” A-Ling said a little more meaningfully. He grasped Jiang Cheng’s hand in both of his own and held on.

“A-Ling,” Jiang Cheng whispered softly. He swallowed the bile rising up his throat. “What were you thinking? Why didn’t you call me here?”

“I thought—” Jin Ling looked away from him.

Jiang Cheng used his sleeves to wipe the sweat off of Jin Ling’s cheeks and neck before keeping another wet cloth on the neck. “You though what?”

“That you didn’t care anymore,” Jin Ling muttered. What?!

“What?” Jiang Cheng gaped at Jin Ling. What had given him that idea? “What made you think that?”

“You— you started acting really weird, Jiujiu. You didn’t ask me to stay safe and take care during night hunts anymore and you didn’t tag along on this recent one until I asked you to, and told you that Wei Wuxian was coming too. You didn’t demand to see what I’d kept in my pouch or check if I’d packed the flares and tied my clarity bell around my waist. You came over to Koi Tower to visit me but you didn’t ask about the elders or how my sect leader duties were going. I had to ask you to help me instead.

When we went out to the lake to take a break, instead of keeping an eye on us or joining us, you just fell asleep. When you found out that Sizhui and Lan Jingyi were hurt, you just tended to them and walked away. You didn’t even ask if I was okay, you weren’t even mad or angry at me, and you didn’t even shout at me or tell me to be more careful. You just— You just didn’t care!”

“A-Ling—” Jiang Cheng’s heart hurt to see his kid in so much pain. There were tears in Jin Ling’s eyes and he had gone red the more he had spoken. But he wasn’t done yet.

“And then during this recent night hunt, you didn’t even come to help us. You just stood there and watched! Even when that second monster was about to kill me.” Tears fell from Jin Ling’s eyes and he turned to look away from Jiang Cheng, but Jiang Cheng firmly held Jin Ling’s face in his hands. He wiped away Jin Ling’s tears with his thumbs.

“It’s like you don’t even care about me anymore.” Jin Ling brokenly whispered, and Jiang Cheng wondered how they had gotten here. How had they reached this point of almost no return?

It was because Jiang Cheng was a fool. “A-Ling, that’s not true. You know that. You know how much I care about you. You’re the most important person in the world to me.” Jiang Cheng said softly.

“Then why were you acting like that?” Jin Ling demanded. “Why were you acting like— like Wei Wuxian?!”

“Hey!” Wei Wuxian protested, but neither of them paid him any attention.

“I thought you wanted me to act that way,” Jiang Cheng said, and Jin Ling blinked at him confusedly. Jin Ling looked so tired that Jiang Cheng just wanted to pull him into his arms and sing to him until he fell fast asleep. “You told me to, remember, when we fought a while ago. I didn’t let you go out with your friends so you said that Wei Wuxian would have allowed you to go. You said that he lets Sizhui go anywhere he wants and that you wished he were your guardian. So, I— I tried to be…more like him.”

“What?!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed. “Jin Ling you wanted me—”

“No!” Jin Ling almost shouted. “That wasn’t what I meant. Jiujiu, I was angry and frustrated. You never usually take me that seriously. What happened this time?”

Jiang Cheng tried to hold back the tears that sprung into his own eyes. “I just…I just wanted to be the fun and cool uncle that you wanted me to be, A-Ling. For once. I wanted you to— I didn’t want you to—” choose Wei Wuxian over me “—hate me because I couldn’t be as amazing as Wei Wuxian.” Jiang Cheng let out a sharp breath, feeling like a shard of broken glass was stuck in his chest. Breathing hurt.

“Jiang Cheng…” Wei Wuxian spoke, but Jiang Cheng didn’t want to hear it. He didn’t want to hear the pity in his brother’s voice.

But he didn’t have to, because Jin Ling spoke up in response. “Well, I was lying you know. Wei Wuxian lets Sizhui go wherever he wants but only because he goes with him. Just like he follows us on night hunts and brings out his flute any time anyone so much as breathes. He says it’s because he wants to teach us things, but he just makes us do things on our own and plays pranks on us. And he’s a shitty teacher, Jiujiu. He’s nowhere near as good as you are.

And every time anything happens to any one of us, even if it’s a scratch, he just freaks out. Especially if it’s Sizhui, cause Sizhui always gets hurt. He tries to reassure Wei Wuxian, but it just ends up with the both of them hugging each other and saying they love each other.” Jin Ling made a disgusted face.

“And if, unluckily, any one of us gets hurt so badly that we start crying, then he begins to cry too, and then so does everyone else. I’m the only one who just sits there wishing that you were there too. Because I know if you’d have been there with us then you wouldn’t have cried, you would have actually done something to help us.” Jin Ling scowled as he looked at Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng had never loved the kid more than he did in that moment. Without even thinking about it, Jiang Cheng hugged Jin Ling tightly. “I missed you so much, A-Ling,” he admitted.

He heard Jin Ling swallowing heavily. “I missed you too, Jiujiu.”

“I’m sorry I made you feel like I didn’t care. That promise I told you I made, to take care of you and always protect you. To never let any harm come to you. That wasn’t just a promise that I made to your parents, A-Ling. That was a promise that I made to myself first. And I intend to always keep it.”

Jin Ling brushed away more tears as they appeared and leaned in to hug Jiang Cheng again. “I’m sorry too, Jiujiu. I never should have said those things about Wei Wuxian. You are a fun and cool uncle. At least for me, you are. And I don’t care what anyone else thinks about you, they can fight me if they want. I don’t want you to change, Jiujiu. I don’t want you to stop caring about me. You’re the best uncle. Wei Wuxian is the lame one.”

“Hey!”

“I will never stop caring about you, A-Ling.” Jiang Cheng promised. He pulled the kid into his arms and softly caressed his hair. He was hot with fever, and they were surrounded by Jin Ling’s friends, and Wei Wuxian, but Jiang Cheng could care less. “Sleep, A-Ling. I’m here. I’ve got you and I’m going to take care of you, okay?”

Jin Ling melted into Jiang Cheng’s embrace, closing his eyes and sighing softly. “Okay, Jiujiu. Goodnight.”

“Night, A-Ling.” Jiang Cheng murmured.

“You know,” Lan Jingyi spoke up. “I think Sect Leader Jiang is a really cool uncle, too. Remember when he patched us up at the lake, Sizhui? Wei Wuxian just stood by and did nothing.” This Lan kid was really starting to grow on Jiang Cheng, he wouldn’t lie.

“I remember,” Sizhui spoke up with a smile.

“And I’ve heard tales of Jin Ling having fun at Lotus Pier, so I think he might be a really fun uncle too.” Ouyang Zizhen added. Had Jiang Cheng mentioned what a smart kid he thought the Ouyang heir he was before?

“Hmm, he might be,” Sizhui agreed, making Jiang Cheng narrow his eyes. He could spot the slight smirk on the kid’s lips. “We’ll just have to see proof of that then, won’t we?”

Jiang Cheng blinked at that. Had Lan Sizhui just invited himself to Lotus Pier that easily? Wei Wuxian really had been the worst influence on the kid.

“What is happening here? Are you forgetting that I’m the fun, cool uncle here?” Wei Wuxian dramatically said

Jiang Cheng shook his head and smiled to himself.

“Oh my god, look at that. Sect Leader Jiang is smiling.”

“He is. How nice.”

“He looks so handsome when he smiles.”

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes, his cheeks flushing at the comments made by Jin Ling’s friends. As he looked down at his nephew, who was fast asleep in his arms, he realised that the last part of his project was complete. He could smile like Wei Wuxian after all, and charm those around him.

He had already inspired the loyalty of an entire sect, the Yunmeng Jiang sect, and the utter, complete devotion of his nephew somehow. Jiang Cheng supposed he had just been too blind to notice it until now.

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foularcadebanana · 4 years

Text

Some things are never meant to change

The Day 12 Prompt for the Untamed Fall Fest 2020 is ‘Change’.

Summary: Jin Ling walks through the corridors of Koi Tower, missing the various people in his family. His jiujiu (and his clarity bell) is there for him.

Jin Ling roamed around the corridors of Koi Tower, distant memories of his childhood flashing before his eyes. These were the corridors where the maids assigned to Jin Ling used to run behind him when he had been just a child. He walked through another corridor where Qin Su had sat him on her lap and told him that she was pregnant, that her and Xiao-shushu were expecting a baby. This had meant that Jin Ling would become a big brother, she had told him.

A third corridor had been where Xiao-shushu had told Jin Ling about the importance of diplomacy in politics. He had been older, then. The event had been more recent, about three years ago. It had almost been as though his xiao-shushu had sensed that he would not be in the world for much longer and had decided to impart a bit of his knowledge and wisdom onto Jin Ling.

Tears slowly began to fall from his eyes. Was it wrong of him to miss the man who had betrayed everyone, including Jin Ling. To wish that the man who had been the true reason behind his parents’ death, wasn’t dead? He hoped that his parents wouldn’t hate him for it.

As Jin Ling entered his room, he looked at all of the items kept there. The gifts he had received from people he hadn’t even known for his birthdays, the bracelet from Qin Su, he really missed her sometimes, his father’s sword, his mother’s protective charm that he tied to his waistband whenever he went out on night hunts, and Wei Wuxian’s talisman that he had given to Jin Ling to use whenever the need for it arose. Jin Ling snorted to himself, as if he would ever need to use that.

Overwhelmed by emotions of all that he had lost and found in the span of just a few months, or maybe his whole sixteen years of life. He sat down on his bed and squeezed his eyes shut, letting tears stream out faster. His eyes opened though when he heard the familiar sounds of his clarity bell.

It was tied around the waist of his Jin robes, and it had rung out loud when Jin Ling had heavily sat down. Jin Ling always had it on him. He kept it closest to him, wherever he could reach it first. Sometimes, Jin Ling even held in tightly clenched in his fist when he fell asleep. It drove his nightmares away. Jin Ling had begun sleeping with it more often, almost every night, since the Guanyin Temple incident.

Swallowing the bile rising up his throat, Jin Ling wiped his tears roughly with the sleeves of his robes. Breathing unevenly, he untied the clarity bell from his waist and held it in his hands. Inscribed on the bell in beautiful calligraphy that he knew to be his jiujiu’s writing, were the words: To the one I love most, my nephew, my son, Jin Ling. Never forget that there is always someone who loves you unconditionally and is always there for you. From, your Jiujiu.

His jiujiu had gifted it to him during what was supposed to have been Jin Ling’s one-month ceremony. It took a long time to make clarity bells and even longer to have them custom made, but Jiujiu had been planning for that particular gift since he had found out Jin Ling’s mother had been pregnant.

At first, the bell had only contained the inscription of his name, but after Jin Ling had lost both of his parents, Jiujiu had inscribed the rest of the words onto the bell. He had changed them slowly as the years had passed, adding more words to it, and as a result, more meaning into the important of the clarity bell for Jin Ling.

Jin Ling remembered Jiujiu telling him the story of how Jiang Yanli had been carrying Jin Ling in her arms when Jiujiu had gently kept the edge of the bell in Jin Ling’s tiny hands. Jin Ling had immediately grasped the bell with both of his hands and hadn’t let go. Just like he held it in both of his hands right now and refused to let go.

When he woke up from his nightmares, with his heart pounding and the shadows cast in the darkness of his room scaring him, during those times, he clutched tightly onto his clarity bell, wishing for his Jiujiu to be present so he could hold onto him as his fear of the nightmares slowly passed.

He wished to hear soft and familiar reassurances from his jiujiu, and words to songs Jin Ling had been listening to from his childhood. He wanted those strong adult arms to hold him, those soft and long fingers to caress his hair. He wanted to feel safe and secure and at home. But instead all around him, he felt the presence of strangers and an indescribable unfamiliarity.

Jin Ling wished to go back to Yunmeng, but he knew that was impossible to do now. He was a sect leader and the Jin sect was in the midst of an inevitable collapse. Jin Ling had to act like an adult and be responsible and mature, like the adults in his life had taught him to be.

He didn’t move from his bed, still clutching onto his clarity bell, the inscription blurred in his vision due to the tears welling up in his eyes.

“I wish you were here right now, Jiujiu. I need you so much.” Tears rolled down his cheeks again. He felt ashamed of how weak he was. How could he possibly hope to become a strong sect leader like this?

The door to his room opened, with a quick knock beforehand. Jin Ling shot up from his bed, startled. He was about to wipe his tears again, but he didn’t need to. Inside his room stepped his jiujiu, looking around with mild interest.

“So, this is your room now, Jin Ling? It isn’t too bad, for a Sect Leader’s. Still, I think you might prefer the one you have back in Yunmeng. I hope you don’t mind me barging into your room. One of the disciples told me you were here, and I was just around the area for…work reasons. I thought it wouldn’t hurt to check up on you.” Jiujiu stopped speaking as he finally took a look at Jin Ling’s face.

Jin Ling trembled where he stood. “A-Ling? What—” Jiujiu seemed alarmed as he glanced at him.

“Jiujiu!” Jin Ling ran, throwing himself at his jiujiu, with his arms around his jiujiu’s neck.

“A-Ling— oomph!” Jiujiu staggered back a little as he was hit by the full weight of his nephew. He hugged his nephew back and lowly whispered in Jin Ling’s ear, “Who hurt you?”

Jin Ling hugged his jiujiu closer to himself and cried harder. “I missed you.”

“Jin Ling,” Jiujiu’s voice cracked dangerously as he spoke. “Tell me who did this to you. Who—”

“Nobody,” Jin Ling tried to convince him. He didn’t know how Jiujiu did it, how he knew and just appeared whenever Jin Ling needed him, even for the smallest of things. But Jiujiu did. He always had Jin Ling’s back, and Jin Ling hoped his jiujiu knew that Jin Ling would always have his back too.

Jiujiu pulled away slightly and wiped away Jin Ling’s tears with his thumbs as he snorted, similar to the way Jin Ling had earlier. “Clearly.”

Jin Ling looked down, reflexively holding onto Jiujiu’s sleeves as he stopped wiping Jin Ling’s tears and cupped his cheeks. “I need names, A-Ling,” Jiujiu said with fire alight in his eyes.

“I just missed them,” Jin Ling responded quietly, and he felt his jiujiu tensing up. “Qin Su and Xiao-shushu and my parents.”

“Oh, A-Ling,” Jiujiu said, holding Jin Ling close to his chest. Jin Ling let go of his jiujiu’s sleeves and gripped onto the back of his robes instead. He still held his clarity bell in one hand. “I miss them too, you know.”

“You do?” Jin Ling asked, blinking into Jiujiu’s chest. The purple robes were a soothing sight for his sore eyes, and the familiar smell of Jiujiu helped to slowly relax him to his core.

“Of course, I do. I miss your mother every single moment of every single day.” Jin Ling let out a breath at that. “What are you holding in your hand?” Jiujiu suddenly asked, and Jin Ling froze. Jiujiu sat them on the bed and loosened his arm around Jin Ling as he used it to bring of Jin Ling’s hand in between them.

The one Jin Ling was holding his clarity bell in. “It’s my clarity bell,” Jin Ling said, softly. Jin Ling watched as his jiujiu stared at the inscription on the bell.

Jiujiu took the clarity bell from him and slowly rubbed a thumb over the inscription. “I meant every word,” he said, “and I still do.”

Jin Ling knew that. Just like Jin Ling knew that no matter where he was, how old he turned, or who he became, his jiujiu would always be there for him whenever he needed him. And if for some reason he couldn’t be there, then Jin Ling would always have the clarity bell his jiujiu had given him, and the words written on it to reassure him and remind him of his jiujiu.

After all, his jiujiu was like his dad to him, too, and he trusted him and loved him unconditionally, too. That was something that would never change.

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#foularcadebanana #Yesimawriter on ao3 #untamed fall fest #untamed fall fest 2020 #the untamed fanfic #the untamed #mdzs fanfic #mdzs #jin ling #sect leader jin ling #jin ling feels hurt and lost #jiang cheng #soft uncle jiang cheng #jc is there for him #clarity bell #change

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foularcadebanana · 4 years

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Always find your way back home

My next entry for the Untamed Fall Fest 2020, though it’s a little late. Day 3 prompt is ‘Harvest’.

Summary: Jin Ling and his jiujiu sit on the rooftop at Lotus Pier and look at the stars in the sky.

Harvest time was always Jin Ling’s favourite time of the year, and he spent it in Lotus Pier with his favourite uncle each year. Jiujiu always took a break from his sect leader duties around that time to take Jin Ling somewhere special, and they always had so much fun. Jin Ling also got to drink lots and lots of lotus root and pork ribs soup, which was his favourite soup.

He loved to swim in the lake and watch the disciples pulling lotus stems from the water. They always gave Jin Ling lotus seeds to pop into his mouth. But what Jin Ling loved most about harvest time was when his jiujiu would take him up to the roof at night to look at the sky, the moon and the stars, and as they lay across the roof, Jiujiu would gently caress Jin Lings hair and sing softly to him. Jin Ling would already be leaning into his jiujiu, falling half asleep as he begged his jiujiu to sing him his favourite lullaby.

Jin Ling did not understand why his jiujiu didn’t sing more often and in front of more people. He had such a great voice and Jin Ling wished he weren’t the only one fortunate enough to hear it (although he did secretly delight in the knowledge that this was something his jiujiu only shared with him. He was the only one who knew about Jiujiu’s talent of singing beautifully).

Tonight was one of those nights. It was peak harvest time, according to what Jiujiu had told Jin Ling, and he sat on the roof on Jiujiu’s lap. His head was resting on his jiujiu’s chest and he could hear his heartbeats, loud and clear. Jiujiu’s heart beat rhythmically, soothing Jin Ling and making him feel safe and protected. Jiujiu meant home and happiness, although he also made Jin Ling feel sad and angry sometimes, and he also made cry.

But Jin Ling knew that his jiujiu loved him and that was all that mattered.

Jiujiu hummed quietly as he held Jin Ling close to his chest, staring straight ahead. The rise and fall of his chest and the thudding of his heart lulled Jin Ling to sleep. He woke up a little when his jiujiu shifted and sighed, kissing Jin Ling on the top of his head.

“Jiujiu,” Jin Ling called out.

“Hmmm?” Jiujiu responded, carding his fingers slowly through Jin Ling’s hair.

“Can you show me which star in the sky is my mom and which one is my dad?” Jin Ling asked softly.

Jiujiu straightened up slightly and pointed to the brightest star in the sky. It shone right in front of them. “That star right there is your mom, my a-jie.” Then he pointed to the one that shone next to it, not as bright but still bright enough that Jin Ling could see it. It was the closest star to his mom. “And that one is your dad.”

“And they are watching over me?” Jin Ling asked.

“They are,” Jiujiu confirmed.

“And they love me?” Jin Ling questioned. He had asked Jiujiu these questions before and he knew the answers, but sometimes it was nice to hear the them again. They made his jiujiu smile sometimes and Jin Ling loved watching his jiujiu smile.

“Of course, they do,” Jiujiu reassured. “I do too!” Jiujiu had stopped carding through Jin Ling’s hair and he held Jin Ling again and turned him around so that he was facing Jiujiu. “You know that don’t you, A-Ling?”

Jin Ling nodded his head. “I do.” He watched as Jiujiu let out a relieved breath and sighed.

“Can you tell me one of your stories? About my mom, you, and Wei Wuxian?” Telling those stories always made Jiujiu laugh, and Jin Ling loved watching Jiujiu laugh even more than he loved to watch him smile.

This time however, Jiujiu frowned. He looked up at the sky and spoke softly, “Wei Wuxian loved to sit on the roof and look at the sky. He was just like you A-Ling. His parents died when he was very young, so he always sat here with me and we tried to point at the different stars and guess which ones were his mom and dad.”

Jin Ling wiggled around on his jiujiu’s lap and turned around to look at the sky. “Did you find out which stars were his parents?”

When Jin Ling got no response, he turned to his jiujiu and found that Jiujiu had tears in his eyes. Jin Ling blinked. He hadn’t expected his jiujiu to get so emotional over a memory like that. Jiujiu usually became angry when he thought about Wei Wuxian because he had killed Jin Ling’s parents. Jin Ling knew that he was supposed to feel angry too, but Jin Ling hadn’t really known his parents or Wei Wuxian. He knew Jiujiu though, and he felt angry on his jiujiu’s behalf.

“Yes, we did,” Jiujiu finally responded. He pointed to two stars in the sky which semmed nearest to the ground, and the closest to the roof. Jin Ling was convinced that if he reached out, he could pluck them out of the sky. “He said that whenever he felt lost, those two stars always guided him and showed him the way home, to Lotus Pier, where he belonged, with me and A-jie by his side.” A tear fell from Jiujiu’s eye as he continued to speak. “I never should have left him. I never should have let him go.”

Jin Ling felt alarmed as Jiujiu suddenly dropped his head and began to sob. “Jiujiu?” Jiujiu’s hold on Jin Ling grew tighter, pressing him closer to his chest as Jiujiu cried harder.

Jin Ling didn’t know what to do, how to make Jiujiu stop crying, so he did the only thing he could. He gripped Jiujiu’s robes and climbed up a bit to reach his face. When he could, Jin Ling patted his jiujiu’s face with a tiny hand. “It’s alright, Jiujiu. It’s okay. Look up there at the sky. There are so many stars out there. One of them is Wei Wuxian, and he is watching over you. He’s looking out for you and he loves you.”

“A-Ling,” his jiujiu said, pressing his forehead against Jin Ling’s. He was still crying.

“Don’t cry, Jiujiu,” Jin Ling said, wiping his jiujiu’s tears like Jiujiu had wiped his numerous times before. “I love you, too.”

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foularcadebanana · 3 years

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Letters to an old friend

Prompt for Day 23 is ‘Letter’ and Day 24 is ‘Gather’ for the Untamed Fall Fest 2020. This can be seen as a romantic ship or friendship.

Summary: It starts with a formal/personal letter from Nie Huaisang to Jiang Cheng, and then Jiang Cheng writes back. Letters fly back and forth with messages, and things start to slowly change. Jin Ling helps.

- - - - - - - -

Dear To Sect Leader Jiang Cheng,

I have heard that you have arranged for the funeral of your sister to be held in a week and I’m so sorry wished to ask for request your permission to attend it. I am truly sorry that I wasn’t able to be there for you stop save Wei Wuxian was too late for your loss.

From,

An old friend Nie Huaisang

- - - - - - - -

To Nie Second Young Master Nie Huaisang,

You have my permission to attend the funeral. I was going to invite you anyway I wanted to tell you let you know I expect you to be there on time. Thank you for caring for wanting to be there for me

From,

Your friend Jiang Cheng

- - - - - - - -

To Jiang Cheng,

Don’t listen to Sect Leader Jin Jin Guangshan, he’s always been a little bitch stupid fuck slutty tramp bit unruly. I think that you should keep your nephew in Lotus Pier forever as long as you want can possible. He deserves to be a part of both your life. He is just as much a Jiang as a Jin and we both know that this is what Jiang Yanli would have wanted for her child she would have wanted the right thing to do he needs to know that. Don’t I know you won’t give up on him. You’re going to be the best uncle for him, I know it. He’s going to love you as much as

Best Wishes,

Nie Huaisang

- - - - - - - -

Nie Huaisang,

Stop writing to me Can you not irritate me I know better than to listen to that asshole fuckface shithead man. I wish I could keep him here indefinitely for longer I shall keep my nephew here until everything settles down at Koi Tower. He is a Jin and a Jiang, and anyone who forgets that will get whipped by Zidian face my fury wrath be hung naked at the entrance of Koi Tower have to face the consequences. Of course, I won’t give up on A-Ling! He is my blood family nephew, and I will be the best uncle I can be. I’ll try my best Thank you for giving me advice trying to sending me this letter.

Yours Sincerely,

Jiang Cheng

- - - - - - - -

Listen Jiang Cheng,

That fucker Sect Leader Yao may have had his eyebrows on fleek, but everything else (especially his clothes and his shitty opinions) was not.

Sincerely aggravated and scarred for life,

Nie Huaisang

- - - - - - - -

Alright Nie Huaisang,

Let’s get one thing straight. I am not His eyebrows were not on fleek. Also, don’t get me started on his hideous robes. First that ugly pattern (he said he was trying something new, but at that age and with that pouch he calls a stomach…no), and then with that monstrous belt (he was definitely trying to hide his stomach). Does he not have enough time to get a custom-made outfit or designer? (I don’t believe it since he certainly has enough time to idly gossip.)

I am rage-pacing around the room now.

Jiang Cheng

- - - - - - - -

Jiang-xiong!

You forgot the worst part. The hair. I couldn’t stop staring at it. Even the thick web of lies he weaves during the discussions wouldn’t hold back his disastrous mess of hair. I cannot believe he wore a hairnet. A hairnet, Jiang Cheng! Save me. I am pulling my own hair just thinking about it.

Your nearly insane companion,

Nie Huaisang

- - - - - - - -

Huaisang,

You must stay strong. Believe in yourself as much as Sect Leader Ouyang does in his cane every time he walks.

Jiang Cheng

- - - - - - - -

Jiang-xiong!

I am cackling! How dare you?

Huaisang

- - - - - - - -

Huaisang,

If it makes you feel any better, my disciples just freaked out and asked me why I was grinning. They’re trying to persuade me to see the physician. They think my face is permanently stuck that way. Even Jin Ling’s asking me what wrong. Take responsibility for your actions.

Jiang Cheng

�� - - - - - - - -

Jiang-xiong,

I’m more than willing to take responsibility for my actions, but that would require me to come to Lotus Pier to make it up to you, and Jin Ling, and I don’t think you are ready for that responsibility.

Your dear friend and innocent correspondent,

Nie Huaisang

- - - - - - - -

A-Sang,

Try me.

PS: We both know you are many things, but innocent is not one of them.

Jiang Cheng

- - - - - - - -

A-Sang,

Jin Ling enjoyed your company. Thank you for coming and staying in Lotus Pier for a few days. You’ve spoiled him so much that now he wants ‘the-pretty-uncle-with-the-good-hair’ to get him a similar looking fan and more ice cream. If I try to be strict with him, he tells me, ‘that’s not how pretty uncle Nie would treat me, he would give me ice-cream’.

Jiang Cheng

- - - - - - - -

A-Cheng,

I enjoyed spending time with you and Jin Ling too. It was a lot of fun. Jin Ling was so adorable and well-mannered. He is truly ambitious, and just as hard-working and passionate and stubborn as someone I know. Also, if he wants ice-cream then just give him ice-cream! Stop being so difficult.

A-Sang

- - - - - - - -

A-Sang,

Oh, so I’m the one being difficult here? Unbelievable! I have to deal with two children over here.

A-Cheng

- - - - - - - -

A-Cheng,

First of all, yes. Second of all, also yes. I am baby, okay? Da-ge takes good care of me!

A-Sang

- - - - - - - -

A-Sang,

I know that you probably don’t want to talk right now. I wouldn’t either, but I hope you’ll allow me to come for the funeral. Jin Ling wants to come too, but I told him we should wait for your response. If you don’t want us around, I’ll understand.

A-Cheng

- - - - - - - -

A-Cheng,

Come, please. Bring A-Ling with you.

A-Sang

- - - - - - - -

Huaisang,

I know there is something you are keeping from me. I know that look in your eyes. I’ve known you for years, you can’t keep things from me. But if you don’t want to talk, then I won’t make you. I know it has something to do with Jin Guangyao

Jiang Cheng

- - - - - - - -

A-Cheng,

If you truly wish to know the truth, then I will tell you everything. Don’t keep Jin Ling at Koi Tower, have someone look after him in Lotus Pier. Don’t bring him here. I know who killed Jin Guangshan and my brother

A-Sang

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#foularcadebanana #Yesimawriter on ao3 #untamed fall fest #untamed fall fest 2020 #the untamed fanfic #the untamed #mdzs fanfic #mdzs #nie huaisang #jiang cheng #epistolary #letters written back and forth #pettiness and gossip #jin ling is mentioned #this was so much fun to write #sect leader jiang cheng #supportive nie huaisang #good friend jiang cheng

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foularcadebanana · 4 years

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I'm Sorry for Hurting You

I’ve merged the Day 15 Prompt ‘Golden and Day 16 Prompt ‘Bundle’ together again today. It took me so long to write this one after the last fic, but I'm back on track now.

Summary: Wei Wuxian wakes up early in the morning to receive Jin Ling and the rest of the juniors into the Cloud Recesses.

Wei Wuxian woke up at five in the fucking morning as were the rules of Cloud Recesses. As much as he loved spending time with Lan Zhan, he hated spending it with him in the Cloud Recesses. It was like his own personal hell, still. His hatred for all of the rules here still remained after two decades.

Lan Zhan usually let Wei Wuxian sleep until late, but today Wei Wuxian himself had woken up early. He could not sleep for too long due to his excitement because today was the day all of the juniors were due to arrive in the Cloud Recesses. Jin Ling and Ouyang Zizhen would be arriving to attend the famous Gusu Lan lectures that would be starting a few days later.

Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi and Ouyang Zizhen had gone to Koi Tower to visit Jin Ling for a few days before the lectures began, and they had gone on a night hunt last night, one which they were all due to arrive from this morning. Wei Wuxian could not wait to receive them all, especially his nephew. He hadn’t met Jin Ling since the Guanyin Temple incident.

He had heard from Lan Zhan and Sizhui that Jin Ling had stayed at Lotus Pier for a few months before he had gone to Koi Tower with Jiang Cheng to take his rightful place as a Sect Leader. Jin Ling seemed to have been given his rightful position by the elders, but Wei Wuxian had no doubt that Jiang Cheng had used his skills of ‘light persuasion’ to get Jin Ling the seat to his throne.

As Wei Wuxian sat on the roof above his room, he was met with the sight of the sun rising slowly from the horizon. His eyes immediately widened, jaw dropping slightly as the golden rays of the sun began to spread across the stretch of land that lay beyond the Cloud Recesses. Wei Wuxian kept his eyes on the sun as it rose higher, casting shadows of trees all around him as the sun rays finally hit him.

Before Wei Wuxian could register the beautiful scene before him, he felt a familiar presence next to him. Lan Zhan.

“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan said, sitting down next to Wei Wuxian.

“Lan Zhan. It’s beautiful, isn’t it? The sun?” Wei Wuxian asked, turning to look at Lan Zhan. The golden rays fell on Lan Zhan at an angle that made him look ethereal and forever young.

Lan Zhan blinked at the sun and then faced Wei Wuxian. “It is,” he agreed.

“So are you.” The words fell out of Wei Wuxian’s mouth before he could stop himself. He saw Lan Zhan’s eyes widen fractionally, but before he could begin to panic, Lan Zhan held his hand. Wei Wuxian forgot how to breathe. Was breathing even essential for him right now?

“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan said, and Wei Wuxian could not stop staring into his eyes which looked golden because of the sun. He could not stop thinking about the warm hand holding his, or about Lan Zhan’s beautiful skin and his soft, pink lips. “You are more beautiful than the sun.”

Wei Wuxian blinked, trying to let Lan Zhan’s words sink in. Lan Zhan thought Wei Wuxian was more beautiful than the sun?

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian said, leaning in slowly towards the man he loved so much. But before he could be granted his kiss, he was interrupted by a clearing of the throat. Several clearings of the throat, actually.

Wei Wuxian turned to the voices and discovered that he was facing the four juniors. They had arrived already! How had Wei Wuxian missed this? He jumped from the roof and landed right in front of Jin Ling. Jin Ling had been looking at Wei Wuxian with nothing short of disgust on his face and he was now looking at him with a bit of irritation.

At least it wasn’t anger, nothing Wei Wuxian couldn’t handle. Lan Sizhui stood next to him with a soft smile on his face, like the dedicated son that he was, and next to him stood Lan Jingyi with a grin on his face. On Jin Ling’s other side stood Ouyang Zizhen, who waved at Wei Wuxian enthusiastically. Wei Wuxian waved back at him.

“Ah, here is my favourite nephew!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed, putting his arm over Jin Ling’s shoulder. “How have you been, my dearest Jin Ling?”

“Get off me!” Jin Ling responded. “I’m your only nephew by the way, and I’m fine. If I was really your favourite then you wouldn’t have run away from me at the Temple and you would have come to visit me at Koi Tower at least.”

“Well, you see Jin Ling, I was actually— I mean I had to go because— I was sure you had a lot on your plate so I wanted to give you some time to get adjusted with your new Sect Leader duties,” Wei Wuxian tried to make up a reason. But from the expressions on Jin Ling’s face, he continued to remain unconvinced. “Anyway, I missed you, kiddo.”

“Right,” Jin Ling stared at Wei Wuxian unblinkingly, “and don’t call me kiddo. I have a name. Also, here. Jiujiu packed some spicy food and said to give it to you cause he knows how much you hate the food here, and because you refuse to visit Lotus Pier.” Jin Ling gave Wei Wuxian a packed bundle and Wei Wuxian could feel its warmth on his hands even through all of the packaging. He could feel the warmth spread all the way to his chest.

“You met Jiang Cheng before you came here?” he asked, directing the question to Jin Ling but looking at all of the juniors.

They all nodded their heads as Jin Ling spoke up. “Yeah! I wrote to him telling him about when I would be coming here, and he said to go meet him in Lotus Pier before that. I wasn’t expecting the surprise visit from these guys, so I went home to Yunmeng with them. Jiujiu had like a whole bunch of things packed for me. He said I could share it with all of my friends.”

Jin Ling finished his short rant with a satisfied smirk on his face. Wei Wuxian swallowed his emotions as he looked at the bundle in his hands. “And your jiujiu said to give me this?”

“Well, not exactly,” Jin Ling said, sheepishly grinning. “But that’s what he meant! He said: Here is some food from our kitchens, I told them to make it extra spicy. So, if ‘someone’ is done with his travelling and happens to be in Gusu, and if he feels like having some of Yunmeng’s food, tell him I asked the cooks to prepare his favourites.”

Wei Wuxian’s heart caught in his throat. “My favourites?” He couldn’t think or speak. Jiang Cheng had asked the cooks to prepare his favourite dishes with his preferred level of spice. Did this mean…?

It felt a lot like Jiang Cheng was offering him an olive branch. Wei Wuxian wanted to accept it so badly, it was unreal.

“Yes, did you not hear me the first time? Also, what is wrong with you?” Jin Ling asked, grumpily. “I don’t care if you don’t want to visit me, but why would you not visit Jiujiu, especially after everything that happened at the temple. Do you know how much Jiujiu is hurting because of you?”

Wei Wuxian blinked in surprise. “Jiang Cheng wants me to— to come back to Lotus Pier? He’s hurting? Because of me?”

It seemed as though even when Wei Wuxian wasn’t present in Jiang Cheng’s life, he still gave him grief and pain, and he still hurt him.

“What do you think this is?” Jin Ling asked, pointing to the bundle of food. “He wants you back. If you hurt my jiujiu this time, though, I’m never forgiving you.”

Wei Wuxian had difficulty speaking as tears welled up in his eyes. “I— I…”

“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan said from besides him, and Wei Wuxian felt a gentle yet firm hand fall on his shoulder. He noticed that Jin Ling wasn’t speaking anymore, he was simply glaring at Lan Zhan.

Wei Wuxian pushed past the knot in his throat to speak to Jin Ling. “I would never hurt Jiang Cheng again. I wouldn’t— I need to go. I have to go.” The food was burning a hole in his hands despite only being slightly warm. Wei Wuxian turned to Lan Zhan. “Lan Zhan, I’ll write to you, okay. But right now, I need to— Jiang Cheng is hurting. I have to go.”

With those words, Wei Wuxian sprinted away from the juniors, determined to reach Lotus Pier as fast as he could so that he could apologise to his didi for not understanding him and for taking so long to meet him. Wei Wuxian would also promise never to hurt him again for as long as he lived, and this time, he would keep his promise.

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#foularcadebanana #Yesimawriter on ao3 #untamed fall fest #untamed fall fest 2020 #the untamed fanfic #the untamed #mdzs fanfic #mdzs #wei wuxian #lan wanji #lan wangji x wei wuxian #jin ling #grumpy jin ling #jl is done with wwx and jc's shit #mentions of jc #the juniors #are there too #wwx is brooding but he doesn't know it

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foularcadebanana · 3 years

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A Thousand Rules More

Day 29 Prompt for the Untamed Fall Fest is ‘Carving’. This idea came to me like a flash of lightning and I have been so, so excited to write this fic, so I hope you all enjoy it!

Summary: Everyone always wondered the true reason for the Gusu Lan sect rules to have increased from 2,000 to 3,000. They suspected almost everyone, but only Lan Qiren knew who the true culprits were. It was the pair of uncle and nephew that no one seemed to suspect. Jiang Wanyin and Jin Ling.

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Lan Qiren knew his disciples had theories, that they suspected the increment of the rules from 2,000 to 3,000 had been in part due to Wei Wuxian, and then Wangji. There were other theories too, mostly about him. That Lan Qiren was so strict, that he hated to see his disciples having fun to such a degree that every time he saw them following the rules and having fun, he just put up new rules. That Professor Qiren was actually a sadist, he loved dishing out punishments.

There were theories that in another few years, there would be 4,000 and then 5,000 rules. The disciples would be forbidden to even breathe without being punished. Fingers had been pointed at every single person who resided in the Cloud Recesses, had lived there in the past, or had even stepped foot there.

Everyone from Jin Guangyao to Nie Huaisang was a suspect. Even the deceased Jin Guangshan and Nie Mingjue. Although what they may have done remained unclear. And some of the theories, Lan Qiren would rather not listen to.

There were only two exceptions. Two people who the figurative finger had not been pointed at, and those just happened to be the two people most responsible for the addition of an extra thousand rules to the Gusu Lan sect. Sect Leader Jiang and his nephew.

Lan Qiren had known Jiang Wanyin since long before he had begun to attend lectures at the Cloud Recesses. He still remembered a tiny Jiang Cheng toddling towards his father during their meetings held in Lotus Pier. Jiang Cheng had been an adorable child, truly kind and well-mannered. This had been before Wei Wuxian had become a part of their family.

Lan Qiren had been to Lotus Pier only once after Wei Wuxian had begun to stay there. He remembered walking along the docks, hearing the laughs and shouts of threats of two voices in a distance, until one of them had knocked into him.

“Who are you?” the bushy haired kid had asked, with curiosity and a smile that could melt the coldest of hearts.

He had been nudged by his brother, elbowed in the stomach, and that was when Lan Qiren had laid his eyes on Jiang Cheng again. He had grown taller, not a tiny child anymore, but still a kid, and he’d had a hand placed on his mouth, to muffle his laughter and cover up any signs of a smile.

“That’s Sect Leader Lan,” Jiang Cheng had whispered, “You need to bow to him, and you can’t be so rude. You need to be more polite when you ask people that.”

With that explanation, Jiang Cheng had bowed dutifully in front of Lan Qiren, and bushy-haired kid had followed.

“And you might you be?” Lan Qiren had asked the bushy haired kid, although he’d had an inkling of who he might be.

“I am Wei Wuxian, Sect Leader Lan. The son of Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren.” The kid had bowed again respectfully, and Lan Qiren had immediately decided to forgive him for being rude earlier.

Lan Qiren had nodded his head and patted Wei Wuxian’s head. “I used to know your mother.”

Wei Wuxian had blinked, brightened up at that response. “You did?”

Lan Qiren had nodded, but before he’d had a chance to respond, Jiang Fengmian had called out to him. He had turned back to the boys only to notice that the boys had continued to run and chase after each other, their conversation with him already forgotten.

The next time Lan Qiren had met Jiang Cheng had been during the lectures held in the Cloud Recesses. He had been just as polite, kind-hearted, and obedient as he had been during his childhood. But even then, Lan Qiren had spotted the streak of independence in him that was needed to become Sect Leader, as well as an emotional sensitivity that Lan Qiren hadn’t expected to come from the boy.

Most people who had seen the two brothers roaming around had identified Wei Wuxian as the independent soul, as the more emotionally sensitive of the two, but they had been wrong. Lan Qiren had known better, having had to keep an observing eye on the two teens during their time at the Cloud Recesses because he had known that Wei Wuxian tended to get himself into trouble.

Lan Qiren had known even then that it had been Jiang Cheng who had been the more independent one of the two, who had carried the burden of being a future sect leader with ease, as though the title had belonged to him and he could be willing to put in the hard work required to deserve it. He had been the more emotionally sensitive of the two, always wanting and working to keep his family together and out of trouble, always getting into trouble because of it, but also staying happy because of them.

Lan Qiren had always admired the boy. He had achieved the impossible and become the kind of sect leader that Lan Qiren was sure his parents would have been proud of. So when it had finally been time for Sect Leader Jiang’s first visit to the Cloud Recesses after it had been newly built, after the unfortunate deaths of his sister, brother, and brother-in-law, Lan Qiren had only hoped for the same kind of behaviour to carry on then, but he could not have been more wrong.

All cups, and most of the rest of the utensils kept in the Cloud Recesses were glass, and hence, quite easily breakable. If Lan Qiren had been able to see the future, or atleast sense it, then he most certainly would have carved the rule out on stone a lot earlier.

After greeting all of the rest of the sect leaders who had arrived for the discussion conference in the Cloud Recesses, as well as Lan Qiren himself, and Xichen, Sect Leader Jiang, who would always be Jiang Cheng to Lan Qiren, sat down in his assigned seat for the conference. Lan Qiren shouldn’t blame himself, it wasn’t his fault, nobody could have foreseen it, and yet, Lan Qiren thought to himself that he really should have known better. He truly should have known better than to give Sect Leader Jiang the most delicate and pristine glass-made cutlery.

He had heard of Jiang Wanyin’s reputation as Sect Leader Jiang and the Sandu Shengshou. He was known to have a short temper and to use his whip on the daily. Lan Qiren had thought nothing of it, and he still thought nothing of it until 25 minutes into the conference. Sect Leader Jiang and his disciples sat next to Nie Huaisang, who had just newly been appointed as sect leader, with his disciples.

Sect Leader Jiang was holding a porcelain cup when it happened. Exactly 25 minutes into the discussion conference, Sect Leader Yao opened his mouth and spout out an incomprehensible amount of trash. Before anyone could even hope to react to Sect Leader Yao and his words, a clear ‘crack’ing sound was heard, and echoed throughout the silence of the discussion hall.

As the sound slowly tapered off, Lan Qiren registered that the crack had sounded suspiciously like the breaking of one of the cups from his favourite porcelain cups set. His eyes surveyed the hall and came to rest on the person responsible for the cracking noise. Sect Leader Jiang held the broken shard of the remain of the porcelain cup, glaring at Sect Leader Yao hard, with Zidian unfurling and flaring up at his side, a pure purple colour that matched his robes perfectly.

All eyes were on Sect Leader Jiang, as though expecting an outburst, but all Lan Qiren could think of was how his porcelain cup set would now be incomplete. Turning to one of his disciples, he ushered them in closer and told them to get Sect Leader Jiang another porcelain cup.

Sect Leader Nie blew his fan into his face as he looked at Sect Leader Jiang with amusement in his eyes. If they had still been teens, Lan Qiren would have taken that as a sure sign than Nie Huaisang was up to his usual mischief. A Lan disciple bowed down to Sect Leader Jiang and replaced his broken cup with a second one.

It was another hour into the conference, when Wangji, who had recently come out of seclusion, and been persuaded by his brother to attend the conference, spoke that it happened again. Another crack.

Wangji had spoken out against a point that Sect Leader Jiang had made, one that Lan Qiren had personally agreed with and hadn’t known any solid reason for Wangji to speak up against. Lan Qiren hoped he was hallucinating, seeing, and hearing things that were not really happening. He wished that the cup in Sect Leader Jiang’s hand, his second porcelain cup, was not really broken, into precious porcelain shards. Again.

“Bring him another one,” Lan Qiren demanded from another disciple. Break another one, Lan Qiren dared Jiang Wanyin internally. Break another one and I’ll make this into a rule and carve it into the stone with my own hands.

Everything had been going well. Lan Qiren had been happy that the conference was about to end. The conference was about to end, when Sect Leader Ouyang called out to Sect Leader Jiang and asked him about the marriage proposals. The marriage proposals Sect Leader Jiang stopped receiving because he had been blacklisted by all matchmakers. Everyone knew about this.

Lan Qiren’s heart stopped beating. Cold sweat broke out across his forehead. He was only seconds away from thrashing Sect Leader Ouyang with his flute. He was milliseconds away from qi-deviating on the spot. Jiang Wanyin was holding Lan Qiren’s third and last replaceable cup. His favourite, most precious—

The crack that resounded through the halls was one that Lan Qiren felt in his chest as his heart broke. Along with his last and only porcelain cup.

Lan Qiren clenched his fists around his flute before he roared. “That is it! All of you, out!”

Everyone’s attention shifted from Jiang Wanyin to Lan Qiren, startled by the fury and rage they saw on his face and the tenseness in his posture. Even Xichen and Wangji blinked.

“Jiang Wanyin,” Lan Qiren’s voice lowered and softened only slightly. “You stay.”

Jiang Wanyin looked like a deer in the headlights as he nodded and was forced to stay. Lan Qiren spotten Nie Huaisang mouthing a ‘good luck’ to Sect Leader Jiang, but when he realised that Lan Qiren had seen him say it, he sheepishly smiled at him, hiding his face behind his fan, and quickly walking away.

Lan Qiren gave him a two-hours lecture where he told Sect Leader Jiang exactly how he had come across the porcelain cups and how he had acquired them, how they had been so precious to Lan Qiren because they had been one of a kind, how Jiang Wanyin had broken three of the those cups in a span of just a few hours, and how now, Lan Qiren had three less porcelain cups than he'd had before their conference had started.

After his lecture ended, Jiang Wanyin profusely apologized for what he had done, and maybe Lan Qiren might have a bit of a soft spot for the boy because his heart immediately melted at the sincerity he saw in the Sect Leader’s features. Still, he wasn’t going to let it go so easily. He had made a promise to himself, and he intended to keep it.

Accepting Jiang Wanyin’s apology and resisting the urge to pat him lightly on the back as he had done often in the past, Lan Qiren let the Sect Leader go. He had no doubts that Sect Leader Nie would hear about all of this in great detail.

The next day, all of the disciples of the Cloud Recesses, and Lan Qiren’s own nephews, watched as Lan Qiren stood near the large block of stone where all of their rules were written, and began carving another one. It had been decades, hundreds of years since rules had been added to the stone, but there Lan Qiren was, carving out a new one.

‘No breaking of any cups or utensils shall take place in the Cloud Recesses, porcelain, glass or otherwise. It is forbidden!’

The next time Sect Leader Jiang visited the Cloud Recesses, he came with his nephew. Jin Ling was a little toddler, barely out of the crib, and he had clearly just learned how to walk. His tiny hand tightly clasped onto Jiang Wanyin’s fingers, walking unstably towards Lan Qiren, and Lan Qiren mused on how similar he looked to the tiny Jiang Cheng he had seen during his visits to Lotus Pier. He’d had that same expression of determination and a slight frown set into his features as Jin Ling did now, as if all of the kid’s concentration was going into putting one step in front of the other.

Jin Ling toddled around the room where the meeting was taking place, blubbering, and chattering nonsensical syllables with his mouth as he did so. Jiang Wanyin looked as though he wanted to pay attention to the meeting, and he was, but Lan Qiren found his eyes wandering over to his nephew every few minutes.

The meeting seemed to be commencing smoothly, there was not a single breakable cup or any other utensil in Lan Qiren’s sight, when suddenly there was a slight knocking sound. Lan Qiren didn’t pay any attention to it and neither did Jiang Wanyin, but his head whipped around sharply as Jin Ling’s cry cut through the air.

“Jiujiu!” The toddler cried. He was sitting on the floor, his hands holding a bleeding knee. Jiang Wanyin reached his nephew before Lan Qiren could even blink.

“What happened, A-Ling? Who did this to you?” Jiang Wanyin roughly pulled Jin Ling into a hug, glaring at everybody present in the room with them.

Jin Ling sniffled and pointed to somewhere in the room. Within the span of another one of Lan Qiren’s blinks, Jiang Wanyin stood in front of the offending object with Zidian slowly unfurling from the ring on his finger. Lan Qiren stopped breathing for a moment. The object Jiang Wanyin stood in front of was an enormous flower vase that had been gifted to Lan Qiren by a close friend from another sect. A friend who was now dead, of course.

Lan Qiren knew what was about to happen, but he still thought not the vase, not that vase, please not the—

Jiang Wanyin whipped Zidian and the beautiful vase shattered into numerous pieces, almost unrecognizable now. Lan Qiren willed himself to take deep breaths. It was fine. Everything was—

“There you go, A-Ling,” Jiang Wanyin spoke. “Your jiujiu destroyed the vase, okay? Are you alright now?”

Jin Ling made grabby hands at his jiujiu and the Sect Leader walked over and scooped Jin Ling into his arms in one smooth motion.

“Don’t worry, A-Ling. Your jiujiu will always protect you and never let any harm come to you. He will whip anyone who tries to hurt you with Zidian,” Jiang Wanyin added, and let his threat hang and spread in the silence of the room.

Lan Qiren felt the start of a headache creep up on the edges of his consciousness.

Two more rules were carved in after that incident.

‘The use of Zidian or any similar weapons is prohibited in the Cloud Recesses.’

‘Breaking of any object or damages to any object is strictly prohibited and will lead to severe punishments and consequences.’

Nobody needed to know that Lan Qiren had let Jiang Wanyin get away with it, and the Sect Leader had visited Lan Qiren again the next day with an exact replica of the vase. The only difference was the words etched on the inside of the vase, at the top.

‘To Professor Qiren,

I’m sorry for breaking your vase. Thank you for making an exception and deciding not to punish me. You always were my favourite professor while we were studying at the Cloud Recesses. I promise to not cause you any more trouble.

From Jiang Wanyin.’

Lan Qiren still sometimes stopped to look at those words and smiled. After all, Jiang Wanyin had been Lan Qiren’s favourite student as well.

The third time Jiang Wanyin arrived was not for a meeting or any such formalities. He had been called for the anniversary of the fall of Cloud Reccesses. Again, his nephew had come with him. This event was a sobering one, so Lan Qiren knew that nothing would go wrong this time, and no more new rules would be carved out, right?

It happened after the ceremony had taken place. Sect Leader Jiang and his nephew had disappeared, and Lan Qiren found them an hour later, cuddling up against rabbits. Lan Qiren felt a soft smile growing on his face as he watched Jiang Wanyin gently caressing and holding a rabbit in his hands. He sat close to Jin Ling, whose brows were furrowed as he tried to copy his uncle’s movements.

“Jiujiu, they’re so cute and cuddly!” Jin Ling exclaimed, and Jiang Wanyin warmly pulled Jin Ling closer to him, gently keeping a rabbit on his lap. Jiang Wanyin had a few on his own lap. “Oh, it tickles, Jiujiu,” Jin Ling giggled and Lan Qiren found a familiar warmth spreading through his chest as he watched them.

He watched the young sect leader gently push the rabbits off of his own lap as he pulled Jin Ling onto it. “It tickles, does it, A-Ling?” Jiang Wanyin asked with a tone of mischief and mirth in his eyes.

“Yes, Jiujiu,” Jin Ling said, smooshing a rabbit’s face against his cheek.

“Does it tickle like this?” Jiang Wanyin asked, his fingers creeping around Jin Ling’s waist as they tickled him.

Jin Ling squealed, almost dropping the rabbit in his arms. “Aaah, Jiujiu. No, no! Stop, that tickles. Jiujiu!”

The Sect Leader laughed uninhibitedly. “What was that, A-Ling? I couldn’t hear you?”

“Jiujiu!” The child screamed with laughter, and although it was louder than was allowed in the Cloud Recesses, Lan Qiren found that he didn’t mind it, just this once. Jin Ling wiggled in Jiang Wanyin’s grasp and Jiang Wanyin finally stopped tickling his nephew.

Lan Qiren watched as Jin Ling slowly relaxed into his uncle, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he took quick breaths. Jiang Wanyin’s fingers brushed through his nephew’s messy hair as Jin Ling’s eyes drooped.

“Jiujiu?” Jin Ling called out.

“Hmmm?” Jiang Wanyin responded.

“Can we play catch with the rabbits?” Jin Ling asked. Lan Qiren’s eyes widened, but he forced himself to relax. Jiang Wanyin was an adult and a Sect leader now, he was a responsible, mature individual with common sense, surely he would not—

“Sure, A-Ling.” Jiang Wanyin said, and Lan Qiren looked on with his heart in his throat as Jiang Wanyin walked away to increase the distance between himself and his nephew. Jin Ling stood up.

Lan Qiren saw Jiang Wanyin gesturing to Jin Ling to throw the rabbit, and Jin Ling prepared himself for the throw, before he actually threw it. Lan Qiren was sure that the screech he had emitted could be heard throughout the Cloud Recesses.

‘Throwing of rabbits around the Cloud Recesses is forbidden. They are not objects or your personal playthings. They are animals. They are delicate. Treat them as such.’

The next time Sect Leader Jiang came to the Cloud Recesses, he had a more grown up child trailing behind him. A miniature version of himself. Lan Qiren had already picked the space where he would be writing the new rules, and he was ready when it happened.

‘Threatening to break a child’s legs or to feed anyone who hurts them to a dog or any kind of animal is forbidden.’

‘Screaming at a child or chasing them through the Cloud Recesses and disrupting the lessons is also forbidden.’

With each visit to the Cloud Recesses, the rules only grew, but Lan Qiren was the only person who knew why, and he refused to tell anyone else (gossip was forbidden in the Cloud Recesses, after all) or to punish the uncle or his nephew for their wrong doings. They had faced enough hardships in their young lives and been punished for faults that had not been theirs, perhaps they deserved for their mistakes to be overlooked once in a while.

#foularcadebanana #Yesimawriter on ao3 #untamed fall fest #untamed fall fest 2020 #the untamed fanfic #the untamed #mdzs fanfic #mdzs #lan qiren #jiang cheng #jin ling #gusu lan sect rules #the cloud recesses #lan qiren is so done #jiang cheng is angry and trying his best #jin ling is an adorable little baby who has done no wrongs ever #read this

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