#the untamed spring fest

[laynefaire]

I was tagged by @allwaswell16 to post five fics of mine I really like (despite her knowing how very much I struggle with self-promotion). I’m going to tag @so-why-let-your-voice-be-tamed, @evilovesyou, @a-brighter-yellow, @haztobegood,and @crinkle-eyed-boo because sharing is caring . . . .

  Live a Thousand Lifetimes (57K)

It’s 2025.

After secretly writing and producing their first album in ten years, One Direction is weeks away from releasing their first new single and announcing a world tour.

With the whirlwind about to begin again, Liam re-evaluates the last ten years - the fame, the money, the people who changed his life forever - and the person who walked away.

I don’t even know where to begin talking about this fic. It started out as something that wasn’t supposed to be more than 4-5K words, and somewhere along the way this is where I ended up. I anguished over each sentence, researched way more than I probably needed to, and cried buckets of tears when I finished. This was also the story that reminded me that I am still a writer, even if the stories only matter to me.

Let Me Be Your Everlasting Light  (12K)

Harry Styles and his partner Louis Tomlinson have been dating for four years. Over those years, he has always known that Louis' biggest dream has been to see the Northern Lights in person. Harry arranges a trip to Norway as a gift for Louis, but little does Louis know Harry is also hoping to make his own dream come true, too.

While I much prefer to write Ziam, there are a few rare occasions where a Larry fic makes it’s way out of my brain. This story was intended for @kingsofeverything​’s 28 Proposals fest in the winter of 2019. Unfortunately, between a hospital stay, a trip to England, and Live a Thousand Lifetimes demanding my undivided attention, I didn’t finish it in time. However, finish it I did, the following spring, and dedicated it to Lauren for her friendship and patience when dealing with my unreliable arse. This is another story that I did an absolute tonne of research for because I wanted the details to be as perfect as possible.  

Untamed Hearts (68K) 

It could have been the heat of the summer sun; it might have been the silvered sheen of an early harvest moon. If he dug deep enough, Liam could find every reason ever needed to explain away what happened. In the end, though, it all came down to two meddling friends, a touch of Prince, a bit of Keats, and the moon over the ocean. Its a recipe for disaster. Or love. Probably love.

I started writing Untamed Hearts in late 2013, after two of my fandom writing friends challenged me to do it. They both left the fandom not too long after, but whenever I see the posts for this story, I remember them and all the fun we had together. They encouraged me to try my hand at writing in this fandom, and if I were to dedicate Untamed Hearts to anyone, it would be them. Thank you Sam and Jesse, for always believing in me.

For Evermore (17K)

A Beauty and the Beast AU in which Liam is the Beast, trapped in a world suspended in time, and Zayn is the only one willing to look past the facade of enchantment to find the humanity of the man hidden within.

Beauty and The Beast is my favorite fairytale and my favorite Disney movie.  When the mods for Disney Direction were looking for pinch hitters, and this story was still available, I jumped at the chance.  Being able to recreate it with my OTP was was like a dream come true, and having it received well by those who have read it has been amazing. 

Shadow Dancing (169K+)

As a small child, Liam Payne dreamed of being a firefighter. He took up boxing to defend himself from school bullies, but never lost sight of his dream. 15 years later, Liam is set to be the youngest brigade watch commander in his district, and his recent boxing win puts him in line for the British national title - if he can learn to get out of his own way.

Zayn took his first dance lesson at 5, after watching his sister's tap class. At 18, when an injury derails Zayn's dream of dancing professionally, he sets it aside to attend university, but the lure of dancing proves too great to ignore. He becomes an instructor, and eventually, the owner of a small dance studio, where he encourages other dancers to chase their dreams.

When their worlds collide in a cacophony of misunderstandings, Zayn, confronted with his own biases, realizes there’s more to Liam than meets the eye, and offers to help him prepare for his upcoming fight.

While Liam learns to dance, Zayn learns the art of compromise, and along the way, they find each other.

And when tragedy strikes, Liam finds that Zayn’s love will help him face the shadows of his past, and give him the courage to believe in himself and his dreams for the future.

Shhhhhh! Yes, I know it’s not done. Yes, I know it’s been a while since I updated. It doesn’t make me any less proud of this story - what is already posted, and where it is going. Once again, a story I have done a literal shit tonne of research for - there are over 100 links in my research folder. And while yes, they do fall in love, this story is more a journey of self-acceptance, and as I have explored the dynamics in my characters’ lives, I’ve also done a good deal of introspection on the ones in my life, as well. 

#5 fics tag meme #self rec #fic rec #Live a Thousand Lifetimes #Let Me Be Your Everlasting Light #For Evermore #Untamed Hearts #Shadow Dancing

[magpiefngrl]

I posted 807 times in 2022

94 posts created (12%)

713 posts reblogged (88%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@mikkeneko

@veliseraptor

@ohnoyizhan

@lqtraintracks

@bloody-wonder

I tagged 804 of my posts in 2022

#fanart - 178 posts

#drarry - 84 posts

#wangxian - 81 posts

#the untamed - 70 posts

#mo dao zu shi - 49 posts

#to queue or not to queue - 45 posts

#i laughed - 41 posts

#writing - 35 posts

#inbox - 35 posts

#ofmd - 32 posts

Longest Tag: 127 characters

#death of the author is also not 'ignore everything that is actually in the text in favor of what you feel like saying about it'

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

9 1/2 days has updated omg

Photo credit: Andrew Hocking (this is a picture of Kennack Sands, it's a real beach in Cornwall)

Kennack Sands, chapter 7 of my Cornwall fic aka 9 1/2 days, is out. It's only been two years, no big deal lol

It's drarry, rated E, currently sitting at 54k with two more chapters to go. It's a Canon Divergence (or rather Detour, you'll see) from the events of Book 7 with Harry and Draco being stranded together after the escape from Malfoy Manor.

Link to Chapter 7

Link to Chapter 1 if you want to read from the top

My eternal gratitude to @lqtraintracks who has betaed the chapter on short notice and gave me some excellent suggestions. Love u <3

66 notes - Posted June 4, 2022

#4

Hellooo! 💕

Sorry to slide in like this, you absolutely don't have to answer this, I just have no idea how else to grab your attention 😫

Your drarry fic series 'Arthur and the Lust Leaks' is seriously one of my all time favourites, they're just so hilarious! I love the dynamic between Daphne and Draco, Arthur (of course!🐣) and the general concept is just wonderful on its own XD

The concept of magic folk getting "Lust Leaks" when they're extremely horny is actually GENIUS!! Like what, how on earth did you come up with such a clever idea!?!?

My question is how would you feel about others using the concept? So long as you're credited for the inspiration, of course!

Thank you! You're brilliant!!💖

Oh what a lovely ask! I'm so glad you like the concept and thrilled you enjoy the 2 fics! I had a ball writing Daphne and Draco and ofc Arthur is adorable <3

How I came up with the Lust Leaks. When I joined the DTH fest, I'd only published one drarry fic that I'd written non-stop and obsessively over a few weeks; a fic which had poured out of me in a torrent. With The Full Monty I was more deliberate. I had a prompt, which gave me a direction to follow, but I wanted to do more. Now, my favourite author is Astolat and one of the things I love about her work is that she always has some cool magical element in her stories. I'm a fantasy author at heart, and her inventiveness and worldbuilding truly resonates with me. So, with this new drarry fic of mine, I wanted to create a magical element that would be new and interesting and would fit with canon.

I thought of developmental stages for children. How magical kids' magic appears when they're young. I can't remember the exact age it's supposed to happen, but in my mind it was linked to the stage where kids develop ego (around age three) (ego meaning the psychological theory, not selfishness). And then I thought what's another big stage of development (adolescence, lots of hormones) and what happens then? (sexual maturity). And what if, during that tumultuous time of their life, their magic goes haywire too?

I can't remember if I came up with the concept first and used it in the story or if I came up with something embarrassing happening to Draco and decided to dig into that idea and develop it. Either way, it went: idolise astolat-> magic appears when toddlers turn into children -> adolescents have raging hormones and this could affect their magic-> lust leaks when horny.

I wanted to write more in that 'verse myself. Back in spring 2017, I'd started writing a Lust Leaks Hogwarts-era fic inspired by a throwaway line in the fic about Blaise and how everything he touched grew wings and flew. I also began a sequel of the Full Monty with the title Saving Arthur. But I had a few big fests coming up and a birthday fic to write, and they got abandoned.

Finally, to answer your question: If you wish to use the concept in your fanfiction, then I'd be happy for you to do so. The credit would be much appreciated, and perhaps even a link to Full Monty for anyone curious to see the origin? That'd be brilliant.

However, this is only for fanfiction. If you're interested in using the concept for original fiction or any kind of work commercially available, then my answer is no. But I'm assuming you want to write drarry/ HP fic :)

This was a fun trip down memory lane. Thank you for sending the ask, for your very kind compliments, and I hope you enjoy playing with my lil' idea xx

68 notes - Posted December 7, 2022

#3

Happy 10th HP anniversary, LQT!

This month my darling friend, @lqtraintracks, celebrates ten years in the HP fandom.

Ten years omg! 🎊🎊🎊🎊

Ten years of passion and enthusiasm and love for drarry and the HP world; ten years of spreading joy to other fans; ten years of astounding writing (gods, I envy her so!); ten years of invaluable contributions to the community.

Lqt, the fandom is blessed to have you as a member and I feel honoured to call myself your friend. I thank my lucky stars I joined drarry when I did and got to meet you 💖

Here's a few things you should know about Lqt:

1. She's a phenomenal writer. No, I don't use this word lightly. If you haven't yet sampled her work, you're missing out. If I were you, I'd rectify this asap. Lqt's craft is a masterclass of its own: strong sentences, beautiful prose, thoughtful characterisations, scorching sex scenes, lots and lots of feels. Her writing sizzles. She's so quotable too. I can't think of another writer who has such a strong gift to write lines that the whole fandom imprints on and can remember years later. For instance: "I've fucked you in that shirt." I'm still losing my fkn mind over this line. Mention Blood and Fire, one of Lqt's masterpieces, to a reader and they'll immediately go "omg I've fucked you in that shirt!!!!!!"

2. She's a supporter of queer and trans rights in true Gryffindor spirit. Passionate and tireless, Lqt actively tries to make fandom a more inclusive, safe and welcoming space for everyone. She's an example to emulate.

3. She's a fierce, generous friend. I don't know what I've done to deserve her, but her generosity and kindness and support seem never ending. She's been there for me, esp during a tough period last year, and has listened to me vent when I felt like getting things off my chest; she's given me advice when I asked for it; and has been a relentless cheerleader when I needed a boost. She's the kind of friend who reads my fics even when they're in fandoms she's not familiar with. She might know nothing about wangxian but she will read my fics and she will comment with some lovely praise, and--I don't know if I ever told you, @lqtraintracks, but that floors me every single time. That you read and comment on my wangxian/hualian/non-HP fics. I'm a bit choked up about it, ngl

Right. *wipes tears* Recs!

My first LQT fic was Entropy to Ecstasy (drarry/ 4k/ E), a stellar example of second person POV and, er, rimming. Is this the most delicious combination or what? The longing in this fic is tangible; the UST through the roof. I adored it and still do; what a marvellous introduction to a great writer.

My latest LQT fic was Heart Like Neon (drarry/ 41k/ E) and it was one of the highlights of 2021. It's got enemies to lovers and hate sex and UST to-die-for but also excellent new magic (the Reaching! how amazing and such a Harry magic!), a large cast handled deftly, and a fantastic relationship progression. And again: so many wonderful quotes! "Being good… it’s not just one choice. It’s a thousand different choices. And that’s just one day." How do you do it, LQT????

But the fic that has carved itself in my heart is Blood and Fire (drarry/ 45k/ E). (The banner above is a realistic depiction of the state of my mind and body while reading the fic.) It's a story of second chances; of regret and mistakes; of making amends; of forgiveness. It's got agonising pining and excruciating longing; palpable tension and hot hot hot hot sex. It includes the most emotional hug of all times. It's a fic that makes me feel like "a bundle of kindling who invited fire over for dinner". (see what I told you about the quotes? She's fkn killing it!) It's a drarry classic (yes, I went there) and it's a fic that I will never, ever forget. For me, this story is up there with Donna Tartt and CS Pacat.

LQT, happy anniversary!!! May you enjoy another 10, 20, or more years in fandom! I'm so happy to know you 💖

79 notes - Posted January 14, 2022

#2

I started watching Avatar The Last Airbender (just season 1 so far) and had a look at the wikis. Can't tell you how shocked I am that the show isn't Katara x Zuko endgame. Shocked I tell you!

83 notes - Posted March 24, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

9 1/2 days is complete!

I think it's pretty obvious from the graphic that I began this fic a loooong time ago, back when we used to create collages for our fic posts :DD Trends have changed, people post some gorgeous banners these days, but this collage waited patiently for literal years for me to get my act together and finish writing, so there was no way I'd use anything else. Old school graphic it is.

******

Fic Title: 9 1/2 days

Warning: Author Chose Not to Use Warnings

Rating: Explicit

Length: 69.6k

Summary:

After the events at the Manor, Harry and Draco find themselves stranded in the countryside with a broken wand and Death Eaters on their tail. This is the story of an uneasy truce, featuring faerie forests, seaside caves, Romani camps, kind old ladies, and a shared bed in an attic.

Or how two boys fell in love in the midst of a bloody coup.

******

Thank you to the fabulous @lqtraintracks for her thoughtful suggestions in these last two chapters. The story is much better as a result. <33

Links to new chapters: 9, 10.

Read from the start

ETA: I've got some free time today and tomorrow so if anyone wants to send asks about the fic and its progress through the years, if you have any questions as to what hindered me, what spurred me on, or about what inspired me; or whatever: send me an ask! It's such a huge weight off my shoulders and I feel I need to get a lot out of my chest.

105 notes - Posted June 18, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #my 2022 tumblr year in review #Cornwall fic #I spent v little time on tumblr this past year #And was close to leaving for good #Except that the tumblr renaissance then happened #The tumblraissance #And I'm still here #some of my most popular posts turned out to be my fic updates #I finished an old WIP #It was a big deal #For me anyway

[goldenpixelcoop-en]

The Connection

Short film matinee curated by Betty Schiel (Women Film Fest Dortmund+Cologne) 02/10/2022, 3 PM Medienwerkstatt Wien Neubaugasse 40A 1070  Wien

 We attempt a thought experiment: everything is connected to everything else in a living network in which we are interdependent. How would it be if, in this new attitude, we did not place man as an exceptional being at the center of being, but tried to adopt a more-than-human perspective? This radical shift in perspective is about searching for non-anthropocentric perspectives and thus revising the nature film as a whole. What stories can be told about it? What might the films look like and what formal-esthetic approaches can be helpful in the encounter with the Other?

The experimental short film seems particularly appropriate, as it literally unhinges the visual axes with immediate emotional access. The often witty deconstruction of the animal film as a genre is pursued by the filmmakers with all the means of art, for example through the dramaturgically pointed search for the optimal camera angle on the animal object of desire, which is then withheld from us. What do we see when we look at others? How do others look back. Plants, humans and other animals only have a chance to survive if resources are equally distributed among all beings. Showing and practicing this equality in artistic attitude inspires filmmakers to new approaches, of which we collect some exciting examples in this program.

Short film program

Muttitelefon Dagie Brundert, D 2022, 5 min Power poles without wires in a field, filmed in grainy Super8 esthetics. "These poles here - where are the lines, the wires, the connection? Look - they are gone. What's going on there? I'll take a closer look." Dagie Brundert makes contact with her fellow world, drawing lines of connection and using the mummy phone to bring human delusions of grandeur to the right level. "Be a transmission tower or just shut up for a while."

blueberries -cerne jagody Maja Nagel, Julius Günzel, D 2013, 15 min The old lady knows the best places to pick blueberries and she also knows how to preserve them well. She loves the old beech tree and the area, which she knows like the back of her hand. Open-cast lignite mining is inexorably devouring the forest of the Muskauer Heide and is approaching the village of Rohne, where the two Sorbian protagonists Edith and Christian Penk live. A tragic story from Lusatia.

How to Civilize a Waterfall Hanna Ljungh, S 2010, 4 min Hanna Ljungh goes on a direct confrontation course with untamable nature. Wordy and in rocker pose, she tries to persuade a waterfall to turn into a power plant; man's paradoxical relationship with nature as a comic and passionate performance. Since we cannot communicate with nature, Ljungh states, it easily becomes an alien and alienated other - with an ever - changing identity that is impossible to comprehend.

Fahrt ins Blaue Ingeborg Tölke, DDR 1965, 9 min "The dandelion, blooms, is fertilized and closes its flowers." Ingeborg Tölke explains the reproduction of flowers in her Super 8 film. In poetic macro and time-lapse shots, she captures pollination, fruiting and seed dispersal. A male narrator's voice explains the facts. Fahrt ins Blaue is the first GDR amateur film to celebrate success on the international stage, for example winning the silver medal at UNICA 1965 in Dubrovnik.

Exercises in Being Close to You: A Story for the Arctic Refuge Krista Davis, CA 2020, 15 min The National Arctic Refuge is sacred land for the First Nation indigenous community; it is also the place where 40,000 caribou calves are born each spring. Krista Davis joins a 10-day expedition to observe the migration of caribou and explore how to critically engage with your fellow world through the camera. In her ostensible animal film, she uses a variety of artistic means to unhinge the format.

Panda Moonwalk or Why Meng Meng Walks Backwards Kerstin Honeit, D 2018, 8' Sometimes it's two steps backward. The Berlin Zoo's multi-million dollar new animal investment does not play along. Between short film and performance in public space, Kerstin Honeit combines elements of found-footage film, reportage and music video with humorous, queer re-enactments of interview passages with passers-by to create a counter-narrative. The backward walking of the panda Meng Meng becomes an act of rebellion.

Whispering Pines 10, Chapter 1 Shana Moulton, USA 2018, 5 min Shana Moulton's alter ego Cynthia has been searching for the meaning of life and fulfillment for nearly twenty years in the video series Whispering Pines. She is helped by interactive home design, self-help guides, videos to follow, and beauty rituals. In the very first chapter, she finds spiritual liberation on the yoga mat through a blissful fusion with Mother Earth.

What a Wonderful World Anja Plaschg (Soap&Skin), Timo Schierhorn, D 2018, 2 min "I see trees of green, red roses too I see them bloom, for me and you And I think to myself What a wonderful world..." (Bob Thiele, 1967)

A beautiful day in the life of a turtle. She does what she enjoys. An animal music video with a single protagonist being handed treats. The camera stays at eye level with the heroine.

Image credits:

1) Shana Moulton: Whispering Pines 10, Chapter 1, USA 2018, video still 2) Kerstin Honeit: Panda Moonwalk or Why Meng Meng Walks Backwards, D 2018, video still 3) Anja Plaschg (Soap&Skin), Timo Schierhorn: What a Wonderful World, D 2018, video still

[rosethornewrites]

T &G Reading since 5/29

Finished

Teen:

not a lot, just forever, by anti_ela

"It's my job," Jiang Cheng says, and it feels like he's floating several feet outside of his body. If the other sect leaders and their lackeys hear, he doesn't notice. "When he goes out into the darkness, it's my job to bring him home."

Lan Xichen turns to him and opens his beautiful mouth. He must say something; his lips are moving. But Jiang Cheng can already feel the grave opening before him, and he knows, now, that Wei Wuxian was right after all: he would never learn how to love anyone but his family. That there is no safe or responsible option but this, because to do anything less would be to destroy his own soul.

-----

Or: Jiang Cheng does what he wants to do, and not what he should.

Taking Responsibility, by MarbleGlove (4th in a series)

Lan Qiren had raised his nephews to the best of his abilities, but Wangji was not getting his life arranged properly. It was possible that at least some of the problems came from how Qiren had raised his nephews. He would take responsibility.

driver’s license, by cryptenhope (reread)

Wei Ying can’t find anger in Lan Zhan for leaving. There’s no rage, no pure spite. He doesn’t need to forgive the man. Forgiveness means there was something to blame Lan Zhan for in the first place. No, Wei Ying blames himself for caring. He cannot forgive himself for still loving Lan Zhan because he does, irrevocably and undeniably.

And now?

Now, Wei Ying is tired.

(Or: the driver’s license au that has nothing to do with the song or driving)

The Consequences of Accidental Time Travel, by BurningBlueDiamond (5th in a series, 5 chapters)

Future Sizhui, Jingyi, Wei Ying and Lan Zhan went back to their time.

How will the Past and Future character react to the new information provided?

OR

The aftermath of "A Room Full of Dead People".

Yeah, this really doesn't make any sense without reading "A Room Full of Dead People" first.

A Room Full of Dead People - Nie Huaisang Edition, by BurningBlueDiamond (6th in a series)

So, this is basically a What-if of A Room Full of Dead People, sprouted by a comment by Shadowgal under How Nie Huaisang Learned to Never Skip a Conference.

What if Nie Huaisang didn't skip the afternoon of the Conference?

I advise you to read A Room Full of Dead People first

shelter, by hauntedotamatone

“They are gone,” a low voice sounds from above him, joined by the warm weight of a hand on his back. “It’s safe now.”

A-Ying carefully removes his hands from the soft fabric bunched up in his grip and proceeds to wipe away the tears and snot from his face. It’s only now that he realizes he’s smeared bright red blood all over the stranger’s nice, white robes.

The thing about people in nice robes is that they don’t take kindly to dirty hands grasping at them, let alone hands dirty with blood.

“S-sorry,” he says around the thick lump that still sits in his throat. “A-Ying is sorry.”

The hand at his back grows stiff.

“There is no need for ‘sorry’,” the stranger tells him. “Robes can be cleaned.”

General:

Whether Tis Nobler, by MarbleGlove (2nd in a series)

Nie Mingjue has known since he inherited the Nie Sect leadership after his father’s murder, that he would die horribly and enraged as his own qi destroyed him. Looking at Wei Wuxian happily dandling a toddler on his knee, makes him consider if maybe that final qi deviation was not a foregone conclusion after all.

Sect Leader Jin, by MarbleGlove (3rd in a series)

Nie Hauisang promised to get rid of Jin Guangshan in his brother's honor and is not one to procrastinate.

Jin Zixuan wants to stop being embarrassed by himself/his father/his sect, and start being able to properly court Jiang Yanli.

Jin Guangshan does not have a good day despite the lovely ladies hanging off his arms.

What's Wrong With Him?, by GrapefruitSketches

Day 11: Delicate (Untamed Spring Fest 2020)

Set during Episode 23.

Jiang Yanli rushes to her brothers’ sides after the Wen Clan is defeated once and for all. There, she has the chance to develop a deeper understanding of Lan Wangji, her closest (and maybe only) ally in protecting Wei Wuxian from the world, and himself.

Unfinished

Teen:

The Return of Cangse Sanren, by milesofheart

The dark figure pointed with his flute. “There’s the road. Be on your way and don’t come back.” His tone dismissed them, a threat threaded between the words.

Cangse Sanren was not often afraid. She had been afraid as a child on the street, before she was found by Baoshan Sanren. She was afraid when the spider demon cornered them earlier that night, and she thought she would never see her baby boy again. She wondered vaguely if she should be afraid now.

But mostly she was just irritated.

She started to yell back at him, but lightning flashed, illuminating the people on horseback: elderly, bloody and bruised, in torn robes of sun and flames. As the lightning lit up all of their faces, the flutist’s cruel expression suddenly dropped, and his eyes went wide.

When he didn’t look so vicious, he was quite handsome. Maybe even vaguely familiar, somehow.

---

(Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze return from a near-lethal nighthunt in Yiling, eager to pick up their young son from the inn and be on their way to the next town. But when they run into a dark figure with a red-tasseled flute and glowing red eyes, it soon becomes apparent that something has gone terribly wrong.)

I Hear a Symphony, by Blueroses27

It has been 13 years, 13 years since the burial mounds were cut off from the rest of the world. No one was heard from the Yiling Patriarch, not even the Jiang siblings. Most have assumed it was to amass power but after 13 years they stopped preparing and moved on; until a letter with a fox seal finds it's way on to Sect Leader Lan Xichen's desk.

Music Heals All Forms Of Misery, by idontknowwhatimdoinghalfthetime

Two years after the downfall of Jin Guangyao, two individuals are sick and tired of seeing the cultivation world hurt Wei Wuxian even after being cleared of his crimes. So they decide to show the world the truth from all sides. The beautiful and the ugly. Whether or not they are forgiven by the demonic cultivator, in the end, is to be seen. But they know this needs to happen for him to heal.

Maybe it'll be easier to digest if it happens... through song? (*ﾟᗜ˚) (－‸ლ)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GREATLY INSPIRED BY: Mo Dao Zu Shi: The Musical by ILikeReading101

That fic is AMAZING! Please go give it a read!!

MingYu, by Fino_Al_Cielo

The Jiangs are not amused when they find a highly traumatized Wei Wuxian, who also happens to be from the future. Well, that was a lovely weekend.

At least, they gained a new son...?

Chenqing: "setting forth one's thoughts and explaining one's actions", by LyzDrake

After an assassin is nearly successful, Wei Wuxian grows concerned that should it be needed, there will be no one who knows the truth. She decides to entrust it to someone honorable, and the last person she ever thought possible.

General:

Once upon a lifetime, by HuaisangsIntellect

The second he awakens, Wei Wuxian realises that he has been sent to the past, but at what cost? How will he prevent the Sunshot Campaign and make sure none of his loved ones die? And... why is Lan Wangji so different than what he remembered?

(Or: Wei Wuxian somehow finds himself back in the past and causes trouble along the way.)

#the untamed #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #untamed fanfiction #cql #chen qing ling

[pawsnread]

Untamed Spring Fest Day 11: Delicate

A little introspective piece about Nie Huaisang. This takes places after Fatal Journey, but if you haven’t seen it yet there are no real spoilers in this story.

He wasn’t anything like his brother. Nie Mingjue had been bold, brash, strong-willed, and powerful. As a sect leader, he commanded respect and loyalty because that is what he gave to those to followed him. Nie Mingjue had been a loud man, not afraid to speak his mind, and he was a just man. But he was also kind and loving; he cared deeply for his family, his sect, and his people.

And now he was gone, with Nie Huaisang left to continue on without the brother who swore to protect him as long as he lived.

Huaisang was not his brother. He was not brash or powerful. Delicate was the word most people would apply to him. He loved beautiful things - calligraphy, art, nature, music, astronomy. Most people often thought of Huaisang as meek, too weak in both cultivation power and charisma to be a sect leader. They often thought of him as dim witted, always relying on his brother’s sworn brothers for aid. And now that he had been forced to become sect leader, many were certain Huaisang would become almost dependent upon Jin Guangyao and Lan Xichen just to maintain peace within his own sect.

Delicate was how people thought of Huaisang, and delicate he was.

But that wasn’t all he was.

He stood in the middle of his room, still dressed in mourning white with his eyes flickering to all of his belongings. Huaisang silently took stock of all the items - the sculpted brushes, the carved inkwells, books upon books of poetry, the numerously displayed fans. Most he had bought himself but many were gifts given to him, and most of those gifts had been from Jin Guangyao. A frown crossed his face as Huaisang, for the briefest of moments, contemplated throwing them all out, ridding himself of the reminders of the man who had taken everything important from him.

But he tempered that desire as the gears of his mind began to move. Removing those items now would only set off alarm bells, ones he needed to stay silent for as long as possible. Let those gifts remain and instead be reminders. When the weight of his plans became too heavy to bear - and Huaisang had no doubt those moments would come often - let the sight and touch of those items remind him of why he was doing this. Let them be the grounding tools he needed to press onward and forward and keep going.

Squaring his shoulders, Huaisang reached for his favorite fan. With a flick of his wrist it opened, the painted mountains flashing in the light. At his repeated requests, Mingjue had reluctantly purchased the fan for him just before he went to study at Cloud Recesses. Although his brother had lamented at the waste of funds for such an extravagant and useless item, Huaisang did not miss the gleam of happiness that shown in his brother’s eyes at Huaisang’s delight. It was much like he was: quietly delicate but made of a strong construction. And it was all he had left of his brother.

With another flick of his wrist the fan closed. Huaisang gripped it tight, fingers aching with the effort. He knew what he had to do, and he knew it would take time. He would be patient. He could wait, for as long as it took. Taking a deep breath, Huaisang schooled his features from silent determination into mournful sorrow before stepping out of his room. The drizzle that had been plaguing Qinghe since his brother’s passing stopped, a ray of sunlight breaking through the clouds as Huaisang made his way to the receiving hall to bid his brother one last good-bye.

Huaisang had lost so many things through the years. He no longer had his brother to protect him. He didn’t have Nie Zonghui to watch his back. He didn’t have Wei Wuxian to laugh with. The world thought of him as poor, delicate, quietly incompetent Huaisang, always needing the help of his big brothers.

But he knew better. His disciples knew better. Let the world think what they wanted. It would give him the time and chance he needed to become the sparrow hunting the mantis.

For his brother’s sake, Huaisang would not fail.

#untamed spring fest #the untamed spring fest #day 11 prompt #the untamed #the untamed fic #the untamed fanfic #chen qing ling #cql fic #cql fanfic #fatal journey #fanfic #fan fic #fanfiction #fan fiction #nie huaisang #writing

[abyssvalkyrieart]

Day 14-Butterfly for The Untamed Spring fest. The idea is that Jin Zixuan would die before telling Yanli that he misses her in person but if it's by using a Jin butterfly?No problem. -_- So late again.

#the untamed #the untamed spring fest #jiang yanli #mdzs #mo dao zu shi #butterfly #lotus

[antebunny]

April 29: garden

It’s early morning when the sect delegations arrive at the Yiling Wei sect. The Lans are seated towards the back of the recently constructed pavilion, and Lan Zhan isn’t sure what that says about who was in charge of seat arrangements, or what Sect Leader Wei thinks of the Lans. Nevertheless, he’s close enough to see when the doors embedded in the side of the mountain are thrown open and Sect Leader Wei strides out.

And like clockwork, Lan Zhan’s heart flies to his throat. Wei Ying.

Wei Ying is adorned in impressive black and red robes. A black dizi hangs on one side of his belt, a sword on the other. There’s a gold headpiece atop his hair and an unrecognizable expression on his face. He’s followed by the Wen siblings, Wen Qing and Wen Qionglin. Well, Lan Zhan says follows because that would be proper, but to tell the truth they’re more by his side than anything else.

Lan Zhan knows it’s not proper, but he glances over at the Jiang delegation, seated equally far away from the top of the pavilion. He catches a glimpse of the Jiang siblings, and shares a look of mutual understanding with Jiang Wanyin.

Somehow, being trapped in a cave with the Xuanwu of Slaughter made Lan Zhan friends with Jiang Wanyin and Jin Zixuan. At least, they certainly seem to consider themselves such. Jiang Yanli insists on calling it friendship, and Lan Zhan would not dare contradict her. Though from his perspective, all that happened is that Jiang Wanyin and Jin Zixuan refused to work together until they’d yelled at each other enough, and revealed a few embarrassingly personal details in the process. Lan Zhan had no part in it. All he’d done was start crying when Jiang Wanyin mentioned his brother, and if that caused the other two to feel sorry for him, or believe they understood him or something equally unreasonable, then that was hardly Lan Zhan’s fault. And if Jiang Wanyin saying I’ve never seen him obsess over anyone as much as he obsessed over you to the darkness of the cave helped him stop crying, then it was no one’s business but his own.

The Lan sect doesn't gossip. At all. So everything that happened to Wei Ying in the brief year after he left the Cloud Recesses but before the annual conference where he failed to show up hit Lan Zhan all at once. The Burial Mounds. Surviving the Burial Mounds. Being snatched up by Wen Ruohan and married to Wen Chao in an attempt to possess the arcane powers Wei Ying is said to wield as a consequence of surviving the Burial Mounds. And, after the indoctrination camp, Wen Ruohan dying mysteriously, the Qishan Wen closing their borders, tales of revolution and coups and burning palaces.

The formation of a new sect, equal in size to its Wen predecessor due to the gain of Yiling and the loss of most of the small sects the Qishan Wen had conquered in recent years. Wei Ying as its terrifying, demonic cultivator head.

The conference drags on. Despite the tentative peace established between the major sects and Yiling Wei since Wen Ruohan died, many in the cultivation world are terrified of Wei Ying. The minor sect leaders, the ones whose sects had previously been annexed by Wen Ruohan, have nothing but good things to say about Wei Ying. But there’s no telling if that’s because they’re just grateful to have their sects back or not.

Wei Ying is withdrawn during the entire conference, smiling politely but coldly and choosing his words with the precision of a thousand scholars. He deliberately doesn’t look at the Jiang siblings even once. Nor does he acknowledge his history with Jiang Fengmian, despite the sect leader’s repeated attempts to remind him of it. To his credit, they are subtle. Lan Zhan only notices because he knows what to look for, and knows why, or at least suspects why Wei Ying refuses to acknowledge the Jiangs as his adoptive family.

“It wasn’t an accident that Wei Wuxian fell into the Burial Mounds,” Jiang Wanyin had admitted, when the subject of his brother came up. “My mother…she waited until my father left the sect, and then she threw him there. Said he was worse than useless, for ruining my jiejie’s engagement.”

He’d said it to hurt Jin Zixuan, Lan Zhan thought at the time. But the words that came out were painfully raw, like he’d been dying to tell someone, anyone, for too long.

Jiang Fengmian had all but banished Yu Ziyuan from Lotus Pier ever since. She’d only left Meishan once, for her daughter’s wedding. Then Jiang Fengmian had shut himself up, leaving his two children to run the sect in his absence.

“I’m in over my head!” Jiang Wanyin had cried, and Lan Zhan and Jin Zixuan, both heirs themselves, shared a look of sympathy. “I don’t know what I’m doing!”

At least when the news of Wei Ying’s miraculous survival and subsequent betrothal to Wen Chao reached Lotus Pier, Jiang Fengmian emerged, and, finding himself lacking a wife, took over his children’s education. Lan Zhan could not say the same about his own father.

Notably, Yu Ziyuan isn’t at this conference. Still Wei Ying does not look at the Jiangs, or the Yus, barely glances a look of disdain for the Jins. By the time the conference ends, Lan Zhan isn’t sure who’s been reassured of what.

And then a Wei cultivator approaches the Lan delegation’s table. “Sect Leader Wei wishes you to join him on a personal tour of Yiling,” she says to Lan Zhan, after greeting his brother.

Lan Xichen gives him a look that Lan Zhan knows says I know you’re going to say yes but please be careful. His brother is not one of the many Lans, or the many cultivators in general, who think that Wei Ying has become more evil than a demon of the Burial Mounds and more dangerous and powerful than Wen Ruohan. But he’s still an older brother, and Lan Zhan’s sect leader, so Lan Zhan acknowledges his concern with a look and rises to follow the Wei cultivator. On the way out, he catches Jiang Wanyin and Jiang Yanli’s anxious looks; a reminder that many relationships are riding on whether Lan Zhan can get through to Wei Ying.

Wei Ying is waiting for him on one of the many paths leading up the mountain. He’s still wearing the elaborate sect leader robes, but he’s leaning against a tree, idly spinning his flute with one hand, and when he hears Lan Zhan approach he turns and smiles genuinely for the first time today.

#antebunny's april prompts #spring fest 2021 #mdzs #the untamed #not my art #my writing #part one of two #i'll write part two tomorrow #probably #i mean the title does say garden #where are they hiding huh #i only wrote this today bc i'm procrastinating writing the climax of my other fic that i said i was going to write today :)) #wangxian

[luna-lina]

Untamed Spring Fest:

                             20. Fond

#the untamed #untamed spring fest #theuntamededit #mdzsedit #wangxian #cql #chen qing ling #mdzs #mo dao zu shi #wei wuxian #wei ying #lan zhan #lan wangji #a yuan #wen yuan #grandmaster of demonic cultivation #the founder of diabolism #陈情令 #mine: mdzs #nothing to see here #just lwj looking fondly at his husband and son ╥﹏╥ #please DON'T repost!!

[cloudsrecesses]

UNTAMED SPRING FEST 2020 // [day 7] - pastel

Lan Zhan, shall we set a lantern together to make a wish, since we’ve been through life and death experiences together?

#the untamed #theuntamededit #fytheuntamed #untamed spring fest #wangxian #lan wangji #wei wuxian #*mine

[kolpis]

maaaaybe I just wanted to paint a pretty face 

day 2: blossom

#mdzs #untamed spring fest #jiang cheng

[sweetlittlevampire]

Untamed Spring Fest 2020 10: Rainbow  🌈

A rainbow is often associated with the peace and calm after a rainstorm. Symbolically speaking, this makes Lan Sizhui the personal rainbow for Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, their personal little piece of happiness in this world, shining ever brightly, no matter what happens.

(Not sure how visible the rainbow effect is on everyone’s screen; it’s in the lower right corner.)

Lan Sizhui / The Untamed / Mo Dao Zu Shi © Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

#Sweet is drawing again #untamed spring fest #Lan Sizhui #The Untamed #MDZS #CQL #Fan Art

[bi-the-wei]

Untamed Spring Fest

Day 26 - Nest

Wei Ying spends a few days without his husband and this is what the honorable Hanguang Jun comes home to.

#untamed spring fest #Wei Ying #Wei Wuxian #Mo dao zu shi #mdzs #My Art

[linxuelian]

Untamed Spring Fest

Day 26: Nest

Sizhui, cheep cheep! 🐣🐣🐣

#untamed spring fest #wangxian family #lan wangji #wei wuxian #lan sizhui #mdzs #utsf day 26 #mo dao zu shi #fanart #drawn with my phone lol #has nobody noticed that WWX is the scruffiest bird there?

[bloody-bee-tea]

if you're still taking prompts, #22 for wangxian please?

22. “I’ve seen the way you look at me when you think I don’t notice.”

This is also for the Untamed Spring Fest Day 2 and the prompt was “Blossom” which is only barely mentioned here but shhhhl

Lan Wangji is panicking. He tries not to let it show, but it must be obvious, he’s sure of it.

But Lan Wangji doesn’t know how to deal with these stupid blossoming feelings inside of him, and it’s making him panic even harder.

He had thought the fluttering in his chest whenever Wei Wuxian smiles at him is nothing. Had chalked it up to maybe even being sick, though he rarely catches anything.

But lately Lan Wangji’s entire being trembles when Wei Wuxian smiles at him, and he goes hot all over when Wei Wuxian drapes himself all over Lan Wangji and it’s worst of all when Wei Wuxian is all serious and still for a moment, because then Lan Wangji can’t help but notice just how beautiful and clever and radiant Wei Wuxian is.

At least when he’s moving and talking Lan Wangji can try to tell himself that he’s also annoying and stupid, though those arguments are half-heartedly at best.

Lan Wangji is in big trouble and he fears that everyone must see it.

Fears that everyone can see just how much he loves Wei Wuxian. 

It’s a stupid thought, Lan Wangji knows that, because he is known for being unreadable, but it’s hard to remember in the face of a smiling Wei Wuxian.

Everything is hard to remember when faced with his crinkled eyes and the biggest smile and his happy laugh.

Lan Wangji can hardly be at fault here.

Lan Wangji is helpless against Wei Wuxian and some days he curses the day he stepped into Lan Wangji’s life.

But then his eyes fall on Wei Wuxian, slouched over his book, pencil spinning in his hand and his mouth moving along with what he reads, or maybe already expanding on it, and Lan Wangji can’t find it in him to mind all that much.

His life is richer for it, after all.

Wei Wuxian’s head suddenly snaps up as if he felt Lan Wangji’s gaze on him, and Lan Wangji turns back towards his own studies, resolutely ignoring the way his ears burn. He hopes Wei Wuxian can’t see it in this light.

Lan Wangji reads the same paragraph three times, but the words just won’t make sense.

This, too, is a common occurrence for Lan Wangji these days. Wei Wuxian’s presence makes it hard for him to concentrate, makes it hard to study and honestly Lan Wangji is just waiting for the day one of his grades drop.

It hasn’t happened yet, so neither Lan Xichen nor his uncle have taken notice of his distractedness so far, but Lan Wangji fears the day it’s going to happen.

He doesn’t know how to explain to them that he was distracted by a boy, of all things.

“Hey, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian whispers and pokes Lan Wangji with the pencil.

Lan Wangji tries to ignore it, but he knows from experience that Wei Wuxian will get him to pay attention to him sooner or later.

Lan Wangji has always been weak for him.

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian whines next and drapes himself over the table, half over Lan Wangji’s book, and he peeks up at him from under his long lashes.

“Lan er-gege, won’t you pay attention to me?” Wei Wuxian sighs out and Lan Wangji can feel his ears go hot again.

It’s not fair.

“Mn,” Lan Wangji says, and it’s already enough to have Wei Wuxian beam up at him.

“You know, Lan er-gege,” Wei Wuxian starts and Lan Wangji immediately tenses.

That tone never bodes well for him.

“I’ve seen the way you look at me when you think I don’t notice,” Wei Wuxian says and Lan Wangji freezes completely. 

He blinks once, then twice, and suddenly he can move again. And he’s moving in a panic.

“Oh,” Lan Wangji says and rather rudely pushes Wei Wuxian off his book so he can stuff it into his bag.

Lan Wangji realizes his mistake now. He shouldn’t have worried if anyone else could read him. He should have worried about Wei Wuxian being able to read him, and that oversight is biting him in the ass now.

Lan Wangji is dimly aware that Wei Wuxian is trying to say something to him, but he can’t make out the words through the rushing in his ears, and he doesn’t stop packing his things either.

He has to get away.

So he leaves Wei Wuxian there, at their table, staring after him, and almost runs out. 

And then he stays away. For days. Because he’s in love with the most radiant person on campus and he knows that Wei Wuxian just barely tolerates him and even that only because he finds it highly amusing to annoy Lan Wangji.

And besides. Lan Wangji can take a few days off. His grades are still good enough for that.

“Wangji, won’t you tell me what happened?” Lan Xichen asks, not for the first time, when Lan Wangji yet again doesn’t leave the apartment all day, but Lan Wangji simply shakes his head at him.

He can’t explain. Wouldn’t even know where to start.

Thankfully, his brother lets the matter rest, though Lan Wangji notices his worried glances all day long.

That, at least, is better than the pity he would probably get were he to explain.

It’s the third day of Lan Wangji trying to hide away from his problems when it suddenly rings at their door. And not just once or twice, but whoever is on the other side of it is ringing up quite the storm, and Lan Wangji knows exactly who it is.

“Brother,” he starts when Lan Xichen walks over to the door, but when he doesn’t elaborate, Lan Xichen opens it.

Lan Wangji is not too proud to admit that he hides in his room.

He distantly hears Wei Wuxian’s voice, and Lan Xichen’s much calmer one answer him, before there’s a knock at his door.

“Wangji, Wei Wuxian is here to see you,” Lan Xichen says, as he carefully pushes the door open. 

Lan Wangji can see that Wei Wuxian followed Lan Xichen right up to the door, and Lan Wangji wants to ruffle his hair.

He doesn’t of course, but he sends a pleading look at his brother.

“Wangji, is it okay?” Lan Xichen inquires and while Lan Wangji is still contemplating if shaking his head in panic would be too drastic a reaction, Wei Wuxian has already pushed his way into his room.

“It’s okay, Xichen-ge, thank you,” Wei Wuxian happily says as he firmly plants himself on Lan Wangji’s chair. “Lan Zhan and I are just gonna have a quick talk.”

Lan Xichen eyes Lan Wangji warily, and he knows that if he should say the word, Lan Xichen would make sure that Wei Wuxian leaves right now, but Lan Wangji nods at his brother.

It’s okay. He knew he would have to face Wei Wuxian sooner or later.

Lan Xichen leaves them to it, afterwards, but Lan Wangji can’t bring himself to turn around and look at Wei Wuxian. 

Looking at him brought him this mess in the first place.

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian starts but cuts himself off with a sigh when Lan Wangji won’t turn around to him.

“You didn’t come to classes,” Wei Wuxian eventually settles on when Lan Wangji doesn’t move or speak. “I was worried.”

“I’m sorry,” Lan Wangji finally says. “I’m alright.”

“I can see that,” Wei Wuxian gives back and Lan Wangji hears him move so he braces himself.

And not a second too soon because Wei Wuxian drapes himself all over Lan Wangji’s back.

“Won’t you look at me, Lan er-gege?” Wei Wuxian whispers into his ear and a shudder runs down Lan Wangji’s back.

“I think--,” he starts and has to swallow when Wei Wuxian’s breath ghosts over his cheek. “I think I’ve looked enough,” he weakly finishes and wants to break Wei Wuxian’s hold on him, but he won’t let him.

“No, you haven’t,” Wei Wuxian says and then shakes his head. “And you didn’t listen to me either.”

“Listen to you?” Lan Wangji can’t help but ask and Wei Wuxian flutters his lips over the shell of Lan Wangji’s ear.

“I told you I don’t mind,” Wei Wuxian whispers and Lan Wangji jerks at hearing those words. “I told you I have been looking as well.”

“I didn’t notice,” Lan Wangji presses out and Wei Wuxian laughs.

Lan Wangji itches to turn around and look at him, see how the corner of his eyes crinkle and how his eyes spark with mirth.

“I’m much better at doing it secretly,” Wei Wuxian tells him and then turns Lan Wangji around with two strong hands on his shoulders.

“Won’t you look at me, Lan er-gege?” Wei Wuxian asks again and Lan Wangji is helpless to do anything but look at him.

“There you are,” Wei Wuxian beams at him and then rests their foreheads together. “I have missed you,” he whispers, like it’s a secret only meant for the two of them.

“Missed Wei Ying as well,” Lan Wangji admits and dares to settle his hands on Wei Wuxian’s waist.

Wei Wuxian doesn’t seem adverse to that, and instead presses closer until they touch from head to toe. Lan Wangji feels breathless.

“Won’t you kiss me, too, Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian then asks, and they are already close enough that Lan Wangji almost feels the words against his lips.

It’s almost too easy to lean forward and close the last bit of distance between them. And it’s so, so easy to get lost in Wei Wuxian.

When they part, Lan Wangji isn’t the only one who is blushing, much to his delight.

“Wei Ying,” he whispers and brushes his lips over the red dusted on his cheeks.

“Aiyo, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian whines, as if he’s suddenly embarrassed and Lan Wangji allows himself a small smile.

“Wei Ying wanted my attention,” he whispers and kisses his way down Wei Wuxian’s cheek. 

“I did, I did, I do,” Wei Wuxian gives back and slings his arms fully around Lan Wangji’s neck.

“Wei Ying has it,” Lan Wangji goes on and readily meets Wei Wuxian in another kiss.

Wei Wuxian has all of his attention, and Lan Wangji doubts he could ever look away again.

#bt writes #the untamed #mdzs #wangxian #untamed spring fest #getting together #modern au #pining #oblivious idiots #misunderstandings #Anonymous

[carolyncaves]

It’s been three days since I posted a ficlet, but that’s because my hand Really slipped this time and I wrote a canon divergence ‘post-Burial Mounds Wei Wuxian actually goes to Gusu’ fic. I’ll call this Day 19: Journey, but it also includes days 17 and 18 Rest and Breath for bonus points. 3680 words, WWX, LXC, LWJ, JC. Alcohol, vague mental illness (it’s post-burial-mounds wwx), strong undercurrent of wangxian (it’s lwj), angst, tenderness, golden core reveal.

also on ao3

“You do not necessarily need to take up the sword at once,” Lan Xichen called after Wei Wuxian, perhaps too desperately, but it mercifully stopped him in his tracks. “You can come to Cloud Recesses and simply consider it further there.”

“So instead of agreeing to take up the sword, Zewu Jun would like me to agree to agree to it in time. A grand distinction.” Wei Wuxian tipped his head back and drained the rest of the jar of baijiu. When he drew it down and looked at it, the rigid arrogance etched into his profile was mixed very briefly with a desperate despondence. Lan Xichen might not have noticed it, were it not for his conversation with Wangji.

Wei Wuxian had been somewhere terrible for three months, and he was not well. Wei Wuxian needed help. Wangji was forbidden to come, so Lan Xichen had to do this in his place, and please, Xiongzhang, you must get him to agree to come to Gusu, whatever it takes.

After what he’d seen so far of Wei Wuxian’s state, Lan Xichen was not sure it would be within his power. But Wangji had placed his trust in him.

“You will not be required to do anything, if only you will come.”

“I do not recall when Zewu Jun gained the authority to require things of me.”

That hostility could bring them to failure. Lan Xichen needed to shift to his reserve approach. He thought, given the circumstances, Wangji would consent. “To speak even more plainly, it would please Wangji very much to see you. You were correct when you said so yourself. He has been anxious since the close of Sunshot, and lonely at Cloud Recesses. I am asking you for this favor, as his closest confidant, for the sake of my brother’s happiness – so I will not be easily discouraged.” Those words were all true; it had become clear Wangji’s happiness depended very much on Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian’s expression softened once again, this time toward affection. Lan Xichen gave his words time to sink in, and then followed them with a wager: “It will be an opportunity for you to rest.” Despite Wei Wuxian’s bright smile and earnest greeting when they’d met on the street, Lan Xichen had sensed underneath it that Wei Wuxian was haggard and worn.

Wei Wuxian finally turned and looked at him again, and his agitation had fully melted back away. Lan Xichen felt the gentle lift of hope.

“I’m a member of the Jiang sect, aren’t I?” Wei Wuxian asked. “My brother has been named Sect Leader, and needs me now more than ever in his life. How can I go to Gusu with you?”

“Please allow me to ask him,” Lan Xichen said immediately. “On my own behalf, please give me your leave to request of him that you come visit us.” He did not mention, and only barely allowed himself to think, that if Wei Wuxian was here in town drinking baijiu in the middle of the day, he was probably not giving his brother the support he needed regardless.

Wei Wuxian stared at the floor for a very long time. He gave a hollow laugh. “All right. If Jiang Cheng gives you his blessing, I’ll go to Gusu with you.”

Lan Xichen had swayed one immovable stone, only to find another in its shadow.

/

Jiang Cheng received him almost immediately in Lotus Pier’s Sword Hall. He sat on the carved lotus seat, looking every inch a Sect Leader despite his youthful face. Wei Wuxian stood slightly to one side, looking carefully at the opposite wall instead of either of them.

“Take Wei Wuxian to Cloud Recesses?” Jiang Cheng kept his voice even and respectful, for now, but his features clearly displayed his incredulous irritation. “And you want to go, I suppose,” he added, much more acidly, to Wei Wuxian. “You’d like to run off and see Hanguang Jun, nevermind Yunmeng Jiang.”

“Zewu Jun has asked it of me,” Wei Wuxian said lowly. “Should I just refuse him out of hand?”

Jiang Cheng’s eyes narrowed, and Lan Xichen could almost hear his rejoinder – So you make me do it instead? “Have you been drinking? I needed you today. Look at you.”

“Sect Leader Jiang, I am asking this of you as a personal favor,” Zewu Jun said, hoping to coerce Jiang Cheng into discussing it with him instead. “I’m hopeful spending a measure of time together at Cloud Recesses will be beneficial for both my brother and yours.”

“Hanguang Jun is more than welcome to come to Yunmeng,” Jiang Cheng countered.

“Currently Wangji has sect matters he is required to attend to,” Zewu Jun answered, before immediately wincing.

“And Wei Wuxian doesn’t?” Jiang Cheng snapped. He looked incensed with a fire more furious than this one conversation would ignite, implying Wei Wuxian’s truancy today was not an isolated incident; this request was precisely the fuel to grow a smolder into a blaze. “Not that he’s been doing them. Are you planning to stand by my side and help me at any point, Wei Wuxian? Have you no sense of responsibility?”

Lan Xichen saw those words hit Wei Wuxian like a blow, but he was surprised when Jiang Cheng flinched as well. Perhaps he had not intended the second meaning – the implication of blame, as well as duty.

Jiang Cheng took a breath to recover, and apparently that gave him the time he needed to reconsider.

“Forget the thing I just said. You should go with him.”

Wei Wuxian looked right at him, then, for the first time in that conversation, and his face was masked with slow confusion and hurt. “Jiang Cheng …”

“Don’t argue with me! Go cheer up Lan Wangji and yourself, and come back. You’ve been impossible and stubborn since you got back from wherever on earth you were, and I need you to get your head back on straight.” Wei Wuxian’s face had gone blank again during that tirade. Jiang Cheng snorted in exasperation and added, “Don’t forget to take your sword with you, and see if you can come back riding it.”

Wei Wuxian stiffened, and Lan Xichen was briefly terrified the situation would collapse mere inches from success. He stepped forward, clamped a hand down hard on Wei Wuxian’s shoulder, and said, “We will bring the sword with us.” He hoped Wei Wuxian would remember the assurances Lan Xichen had given him, so he wouldn’t have to repeat them in front of Jiang Cheng. “Where is it, Wei-gongzi?”

/

Lan Xichen escorted Wei Wuxian to collect the sword and some personal effects from his room – thankfully, Jiang Cheng remained behind. Suibian was tucked behind a chest of drawers, where Wei Wuxian would not see it as he went about his daily life. Wei Wuxian retrieved it and stared at it like it was alien in his own hand, in contrast to the dark flute he held as at his side as an extension of himself in the other.

He thrust his arm toward Lan Xichen.

This disturbed Lan Xichen, the way Wei Wuxian seemed actively averse to the sword’s presence, but he said nothing; he was on the verge of achieving his mission. All this could be discussed in the fullness of time once Wei Wuxian was safely at Cloud Recesses. He took Suibian in his own hand, for the time being. He would bear this person and his sword to Wangji.

Wei Wuxian was slow and lethargic in his movements, some combination of mood and intoxication. It took all of Lan Xichen’s discipline not to rush him. It felt as if every moment that elapsed could bring some unforeseen stimulus that would knock Wei Wuxian off this vital and fragile course. Eventually he was ready, and as soon as they had sky over their heads, Lan Xichen took him on Shuoyue and maneuvered them into the air.

Lan Xichen relaxed, since they were now underway, which seemed a significant milestone in making this more difficult to stop. Wei Wuxian clung to him in strange desperation with the arm that wasn’t holding Chenqing. He stared down and around and out, face wide and wild as they climbed into the dusky sky, and as the minutes passed he began to shake. Did he feel unsafe relying on someone else to maneuver the sword? Had something happened that had instilled in him a fear of heights?

“Hide your eyes, if you would be more at ease,” Lan Xichen told him. “I assure you, Wei-gongzi, I will deliver you safely.”

Wei Wuxian’s fingers tightened ever so slightly in Lan Xichen’s robes, like he was hesitating, fighting a silent battle. Finally, his head collapsed onto Lan Xichen’s shoulder, his face angled into the side of his neck. Otherwise he said nothing, and did nothing. It was so far distant from the buoyant young man who had come to Gusu for lectures and even the sharp, bright, terrible one he’d seen glimpses of during Sunshot. Wangji had been correct. Wei Wuxian was deeply not well. Lan Xichen had been moderately convinced by the end of their conversation at the inn; now he was beyond certain.

The flight was long, but at the end of it, the patch of garden in front of Wangji’s jingshi came up to meet them, and Lan Xichen set them safely down. Wei Wuxian had made the journey.

///

Lan Wangji heard a sound he quickly placed as Xichen maneuvering Shuoyue, and he was out the door of the jingshi as quickly as he could physically manage it. First, because Xichen would not maneuver the sword within Cloud Recesses if he were not on some urgent mission, and second, because Lan Wangji would not have been able to hear him if he were alone and unburdened.

Sure enough, he was met with the sight of Xichen ushering a rigid Wei Ying from the steel onto the grass. A relief so intense it threatened to send him to his knees expanded through Lan Wangji.

“Wei Ying,” he said reflexively, closing the space between them.

Wei Ying turned to him with glazed, hazy eyes.

“He may still be intoxicated,” Xichen said, “and he has been harrowed by the flight.”

Lan Wangji stopped just before he touched Wei Ying, remembering him step away from him at Yiling Supervisory Office, turn away at the cliffs at Nightless City. This time, Wei Ying let him slowly move in and take him by one wrist. It was hope, and forgiveness, and a plea.

“Let’s get him inside,” Xichen said, which meant Lan Wangji had to release him. He followed as Xichen escorted Wei Ying up the walk. By the time they reached the open doorway, Wei Ying had recovered some of his senses, and he pulled himself out of Xichen’s hold.

“You don’t have to … you didn’t have to,” Wei Ying said coldly. “I shouldn’t be here. I should go back.”

Lan Wangji’s stomach sank, but Xichen just said, “Wei-gongzi, surely you aren’t suggesting I fly you back to Lotus Pier by sword this very moment.”

Wei Ying flinched, even as he scowled at himself for it.

“You must at least take dinner with us, and stay the night,” Xichen continued. “We can discuss it further in the morning if you like. You’re no prisoner here, just a welcome guest.” Xichen extended his arm, gesturing for Wei Ying to continue into the jingshi.

At length, he did.

Wei Ying stopped in the center of the room, standing aimlessly as Xichen and Lan Wangji came in around him. “I’ll go have someone prepare us a meal,” Xichen said. He held out Suibian, which for the first time Lan Wangji noticed he was carrying.

Wei Ying stared at him. He made no move to take it.

Xichen smiled sadly and went to set the sword at one of the places at the table.

Lan Wangji said stepped forward and took Suibian from his hand. “Xiongzhang,” he said, bowing formally with Wei Ying’s sword clasped in his hands, “thank you for bringing Wei Ying here. Now I will speak with him.”

Xichen briefly looked taken aback. Then his gaze floated from Lan Wangji to Wei Ying before returning. “I told Wei-gongzi we would not force him to take up his sword if he came here. That we would not require anything of him if he was unwilling.”

Lan Wangji imagined how the conversation must have gone, for Xichen to make that assurance. “Thank you,” he said again, and he hoped Xichen understood him.

Xichen nodded. “I will have the meal sent over for you.” Xichen acknowledged Wei Ying and left, surrendering Wei Ying into Lan Wangji’s custody.

Wei Ying was here. He had come to Gusu, however tensely. Lan Wangji was not helpless any longer. He could do something. He looked at the sword in his hand. Wei Ying’s wild Suibian. “I will play Clarity for you until the dinner comes,” he said.

“Lan Zhan, you can’t help me.”

“You said you would allow me,” Lan Wangji pushed back, pacing around Wei Ying to face him. “You came here.”

“No, Lan Zhan. You can’t help me.” Wei Ying looked up at him, expression gaunt. He was still thin, from wherever he’d been when he was away. If he was intoxicated, it was the morose kind. “You can play Clarity for me until your fingers bleed. I still won’t take up the sword again.”

“Why not?” Lan Wangji bit out, clenching Suibian in his grip. “What happened, Wei Ying?”

Wei Ying’s gaze was heavy on the sword in Lan Wangji’s hand. He thought for a great, long silence. “You have to believe me this time,” he said, swaying a little on his feet. “If I tell you, you have to believe me.”

Lan Wangji had not believed him when he spun a tall tale about a book and a cave with a dark, haughty grin. He had been afraid to believe him when he mentioned the Burial Mounds with a smile. Now, with Wei Ying standing empty in the jingshi, a silent tear rolling down his face, having relented and left his home so Lan Wangji could help him, Lan Wangji was prepared to believe anything he had to say. Lan Wangji nodded.

“It’s a secret,” Wei Ying pressed instantly, and more tears followed the first. “You need to swear to me you’ll keep it a secret. From Zewu Jun, from your uncle, from everyone. I would die rather than have it be known. Do you understand, Lan Zhan? It’s a secret I was going to die to keep.”

That image, the one of Wei Ying dead, frightened Lan Wangji more than anything had previously in his life. A year ago, it would have seemed impossible – his overloud, overfamiliar other, taken by death. Now, it seemed possible. Now, Wei Ying was barely held together by resentful energy and thin wire.

Lan Wangji raised his head, decided. He crossed the room, to the sword stand where his own Bichen stood. He put Suibian to rest alongside it. Then he turned. Wei Ying had turned to watch him.

Lan Wangji held out his hand, palm up. “Then tell me. We will keep it together.”

Wei Ying looked at his hand like a man going to his death. He looked at it like a man who wanted to be saved. He barely took his eyes off it as he took the three steps sideways necessary to walk over and place Chenqing on the corner of the table. Then he took the three steps back – toward Lan Wangji – and Lan Wangji’s hand in his own.

He drew it toward him and pressed it against his lower abdomen.

It took Lan Wangji a second to process this strange action, and another to follow its implication. He controlled his spiritual energy, reached in to touch Wei Ying’s spiritual core.

Nothing.

Lan Wangji’s hand clenched, pulling in a handful of Wei Ying’s clothes. He could feel his own breath begin to accelerate. Wei Ying’s cultivation was a match for Lan Wangji’s own. How could Wei Ying lack a golden core?

Wei Ying had bit his lip so hard he bled. Lan Wangji raised his other hand instinctively, to wipe the blood and tears away.

“Hanguang Jun,” came a voice from outside, and the door slid open.

The junior disciple holding the tray with their dinner froze on the threshold. Fortunately, Wei Ying was facing away from the door, so the tears on his face would not be visible. Lan Wangji could not begin to imagine what his own showed.

The disciple opened her mouth, then closed it again.

“Place it quickly and go,” Lan Wangji said, his voice harsh even in his own ears. The disciple leapt forward to obey, practically diving across the room and setting the tray on the table. Her sleeve brushed against Chenqing as she withdrew, sending it clattering to the floor. She winced and reached for it.

“Leave it,” Lan Wangji commanded. The disciple gave the quickest bow he had ever seen and fled the jingshi, banging the door closed behind her.

Wei Ying gave a wet laugh. Lan Wangji’s hand was still on his face. “Lan Zhan, that disciple surely thought you were in the middle of ravishing me. By morning, every junior in the Lan sect will be talking about Hanguang Jun and his secret lover.”

Lan Wangji drew Wei Ying into the circle of his arms and crushed him to his chest.

“Wei Ying,” he said into the side of his head. He clutched at him, dug one hand into his hair. “Wei Ying.”

“It’s all right, Lan Zhan, really,” Wei Ying said, voice hollow. “It’s not so terribly bad. I’m practically used to it at this point. But you see why I can’t take up the sword anymore.” Wei Ying was still babbling. “Do you see, Lan Zhan?”

“Enough talking,” Lan Wangji said. His mind was beginning to seek causes and effects. “Wen Zhuliu?”

“I thought you said enough talking,” Wei Ying deflected.

The Wen soldiers had said things that hadn’t made sense to Lan Wangji. They’d said the heir to the Jiang sect had been burned down into a mediocre person. The pieces rearranged themselves, and Lan Wangji spat, “Jiang Cheng. Wen Zhuliu, and Jiang Cheng.”

“Enough talking,” Wei Ying whispered, but his hands finally came up and wrapped around him. He finally took hold of Lan Wangji. And he began to cry. It was quiet. Listless. Unlike everything Wei Ying was.

Lan Wangji held him until he stopped.

He didn’t realize tears were on his own face until they dampened Wei Ying’s shoulder and he felt the coolness.

When eventually they pulled back, Wei Ying was barely on his feet. Lan Wangji walked him over to the table. He food had gone cold, but he needed to eat. Wei Ying picked up Chenqing and placed it back on the corner of the table with a shaking hand. Lan Wangji sat beside him instead of across from him, an arm still wrapped around his waist. He did not know when he would be willing to let go of Wei Ying again.

When Wei Ying finished eating, he realized he would have to.

“I will play Clarity for you,” Lan Wangji said, though it came out more stifled than he intended.

Wei Ying shook his head ruefully. “I’ve taken you too off-guard, Lan Zhan. I’m sure you could if my life depended on it, but you don’t need to play it tonight.”

Perhaps that was best. Lan Wangji did not feel even remotely clear himself. He shifted so he could draw Wei Ying back against him, back pressed against Lan Wangji’s chest. As if it were possible to hold him close enough to make this all right.

“Ah, Lan Zhan, I didn’t know you were going to be quite so possessive of my spiritual power,” Wei Ying said – joking even now, joking already. He tipped his head back on Lan Zhan’s shoulder, showing his exhaustion. “Ah, well, now you know the truth. You can send me back to Lotus Pier tomorrow with a clear conscience.”

Lan Wangji shook his head. Slowly, several times. How could Wei Ying say such false things, even in jest? Lang Wangji cupped a hand under his chin, angling his face up slightly.

Wei Ying stared up at him. “Lan Zhan …”

Lan Wangji leaned down and kissed him.

It was brief and light. Lan Wangji could taste the whisper of baijiu on his breath. Then it was over.

Wei Ying stared up at him, eyebrows furrowed in confusion, lips hanging ever so slightly agape.

“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji said. “You said you would allow me to help you.”

“Oh,” he said, as if he were truly surprised. His chin drifted back down, and he stared across the jingshi unseeing in thought. Then he took one of Lan Wangji’s hands in both of his own and raised the back of it to his lips. “Thank you, Lan Zhan.”

It was barely seven thirty, long before even the Lan sect’s curfew, but soon Wei Ying was starting to drowse in his arms. Lan Wangji wanted to continue to hold him, but he had been exhausted even when he stepped off Shuoyue. He needed to rest.

Lan Wangji might have carried him to the bed, but he woke and was already pulling himself up before Lan Wangji could arrange it. Instead, he walked at his side, supporting him.

Wei Ying slept the sleep of the bone-weary. Lan Wangji sat beside him and watched. This was worse than anything he’d imagined. But now he understood, and he could stop wasting energy on the false problem and help Wei Ying with the true one.

Wei Ying had dark circles under his eyes and alcohol in his blood and no golden core, but he was safe in Lan Wangji’s bed at Cloud Recesses. As long as that was true, hope was not gone.

part two

#untamed spring fest #the untamed #cql #mdzs #fanfiction #i struggled to figure out what lxc and lwj would call everyone in their internal narration #i decided not to have lxc think 'wei-gongzi' every other sentence and only used it in dialogue #that was hurdle one #then i got to lwj's pov which i've apparently never written before #and i'm like does he think 'xiongzhang' every time he things of his brother? i'm not used to reading that and it seems awkward #so that one went dialogue-only too #then there was 'wei ying' #i've been having wwx think 'lan zhan' when i write his pov bc they're close and that's just how he thinks of him #so 'wei ying' got narration status #is that at all sensical? we just don't know #more whimsically i decided lxc was the kind of guy who would think in semicolons #so i sprinkled in a few #as a treat #anyway the overbearing concept behind this fic was that the main stumbling block in canon #is wwx (feels like he) can't tell anyone why he's put down his sword and picked up demonic cultivation #bc wwx is a mental illness/depression mood #so i wanted to take an 'accepting help when you're struggling' crack at it #long fic long tags that's enough rambling #my fic #wwx #lwj #wangxian #lxc #jc

[pawsnread]

Untamed Spring Fest Day 24: Gentle

A short WangXian piece for today.

Also posted on AO3.

The soft sigh seemed loud in the still summer night as it echoed through the dimly lit jingshi, interrupting the gentle symphony of crickets and bubbling streams. Amongst the soft sheets of his bed, Lan Wangji lay quietly, eyes closed and body relaxed. Moonlight danced over the skin of his bared back, casting shadows over the muscles and scars. He let his mind empty, attention focused on those hands running through his hair as they undid the intricate knots.

Wei Wuxian’s hands were gentle as they shifted through dark hair, untangling the strands and combing them smooth. He hummed quietly to himself as he worked, the corners of his lips quirking upwards with Lan Wangji’s content sigh. Agile fingers deftly swept the dark curtain of hair aside before beginning to move in warm trails down pale skin. Wei Wuxian’s smile fell a touch as he felt the rope-like scars; no matter how many times he saw them, touched them, it still sent a pang through his chest.

Inhaling deeply, he continued to hum that quiet, soothing melody as his fingers began to gently knead at Lan Wangji’s back. Each time Wei Wuxian encountered a tense spot, he would careful work to relax the muscle, easing the tension that built up during the day. Being the Chief Cultivator wasn’t easy, and Wei Wuxian didn’t envy his husband’s position. Lan Wangji did his work diligently, with careful consideration and fairness. But that didn’t mean the position never took a toll on the ever stoic HanGuang-Jun. Nights in the privacy of their shared rooms and under Wei Wuxian’s gentle hands were the moments Lan Wangji looked forward to and completely relax.

“What would the other sect leaders think?” Wei Wuxian murmured quietly.

“About what?” Lan Wangji asked without moving or opening his eyes.

“The esteemed HanGuang-Jun laying defenseless beneath the blood-stained hands of the Yiling Patriarch.” There was a mixture of amusement and sadness in Wei Wuxian’s eyes despite the smile on his face and his steady voice. “What would they say?”

“They can go.…” The rest of Lan Wangji’s words were mumbled low, but Wei Wuxian thought he heard something about ‘swords’ and ‘shoving’ and sensitive anatomies. The hands on Lan Wangji’s back suddenly stilled as the humming ceased. For a moment, there was no sound except for the crickets and a night breeze rustling the trees.

“Lan Zhan, what did you say?”

Rather than responding, Lan Wangji pressed his lips together. He never spoke in such a crass manner, but he had been relaxed and the words had just slipped out of his mouth. He knew Wei Wuxian had heard him and had no intention of repeating himself.

A sudden bark of laughter sounded. Lan Wangji slowly opened his eyes; without moving his head, he turned his gaze towards Wei Wuxian, who leaned over him, face flushed from trying to hold in his amusement.

“Wei Ying?”

“I can’t believe it!” Wei Wuxian took a moment to compose himself, wiping away some tears of humor. His shoulders continued to shake with his barely restrained laughter. “My Lan Zhan, speaking in such a manner. What would your uncle think?!” He broke off into loud, uninhibited laughter. His body shook so hard with is amusement that Wei Wuxian toppled over, right into Lan Wangji’s arms who had turned to catch him. It would be a few more moments before Wei Wuxian calmed down again, releasing a sigh as he relaxed into the hands rubbing his back. “Am I such a horrible influence on you, Lan Zhan?”

“No.” The answer was emphasized with a kiss to Wei Wuxian’s crown. Lan Wangji remained still as Wei Wuxian shifted, bracing himself on his hands to stare down at his husband.

“Lan Zhan, you’ve always believed in me, right? No matter what?”

“Yes.”

“You love me, right?”

“Always.” He felt a lightness in his chest at the brilliant smile that formed. Cupping Wei Wuxian’s face in his hand, Lan Wangji drew him forward as he raised his own head. Halfway they met into a soft, gentle kiss. “Always, Wei Ying.”

Once again, Wei Wuxian released a quiet sigh as he laid his head on Lan Wangji’s chest. It was his turn to relax, listening to the hum of their song and give into the feel of gentle hands smoothing down his back as the summer night wore on.

#untamed spring fest #the untamed spring fest #day 24 prompt #the untamed #the untamed fic #the untamed fanfic #chen qing ling #cql fic #cql fanfic #fanfi #fan fic #fanfiction #fan fiction #post-canon #wangxian #wei wuxian #wei ying #lan wangji #lan zhan #writing