One Of My Favorites From Last Year 💜

lan xichen painted ayao four landscapes?? which ayao displayed proudly in the study off the reception hall?

MXTX protags my beloved. Prettyboy table for the win

Bonus page:

empty chairs, empty tables

No hate to cql or anything but every time I read a fic that has Lan Wangji be the Chief Cultivator I die inside. Because like. NO. That’s a TERRIBLE IDEA for everyone involved. First of all, Lan Zhan cannot communicate properly enough to be a politician, and his main priority is his husband. He is not suited for that role. Second of all, the novels’ implication that the next Chief Cultivator (if there even is one) would be Nie Huaisang is actually very important for Wei Wuxian’s character development?? Like, Wei Wuxian knows that Nie Huaisang is a lil conniving bitch who painstakingly arranged for the downfall of the most powerful man in the cultivation world, manipulating multiple people to their deaths (or at least emotional ruins) all for his own revenge. He knows that Nie Huaisang is capable of as much damage as Jin Guangyao, and that he’s poised to take over his seat of power. Wei Wuxian knows all of that and, very deliberately, decides not to give a fuck.

Wei Wuxian, who spent his entire life picking up the messes of other people, destroying himself in the process, only to have those same people spit in his face and make him a pariah, sees this potential Problem for the cultivation world and goes, “You know what? That’s none of my business.” and runs off to elope with his boyfriend. Like, Nie Huaisang probably won’t be as bad as Jin Guangyao. He’s been shown to have more human decency, at the very least. But he also spent the entire series expertly lying to everyone, so much so that we really don’t know what he plans to do now that he’s gotten his revenge. And you know what? That’s fine. He can fuck over all the four great sects if he’d like, because the cultivation world’s politics have been a corrupt shitshow for decades, and it’s their job to sort that shit out. It’s certainly not Wei Wuxian’s job. He’s done enough, and he deserves this one moment of selfishness. He deserves to get his own happy ending and settle down with the family he’s always wanted and not have to worry about saving all those ungrateful assholes. Wei Wuxian is at least on good terms with Nie Huaisang (it was awfully convenient that his old friend’s revenge scheme coincidentally involved resurrecting him and setting him up with his crush) and he trusts that he won’t fuck with him or his family.

And that’s good enough for him! Lan Wangji is similarly happy to spend the rest of his life with Wei Wuxian, and after 13 years of mourning he’s sure as fuck not gonna ruin his second chance to go play politics with the most obnoxious people in the world. The ideal ending for both of them is a happy marriage that mainly involves doing their own thing, night hunting together, fucking every day, and teaching the kids. Their calling, where other people are concerned, is absolutely as teachers, and nothing more.

Headcanon that WWX used the song Wangxian as a lullaby for himself and a-Yuan in the burial mounds. He associates it with the safety, security, and serenity that he associates with LWJ even if he doesn’t remember that’s why. He associates it with his head being cradled in LWJ’s lap, his hands carding through WWX’s hair as he takes care of him when he’s suffering the fever from the infection. He associates it with being held and cared for.

So, when he’s thrown into the burial mounds by Wen Chao, he hums that song to himself a lot when he’s feeling scared and like he needs some comfort. (Which is a lot bc he’s in the Burial Mounds where everything is trying to kill him.) Even after he escapes the Burial Mounds, he hums and sings it to himself for self soothing. A little something to keep the voices of the dead from driving him insane and remind him of how to be human.

He plays it when trying to calm spirits and fierce corpses if the other songs don’t work or he just wants to use this one instead. He pours his heart and soul and humanity into playing it so it may remind the dead just as it does him of that comfort and safety it holds in its notes. The love it offers brings him back from the edge of madness many times, so he holds the song close to his heart for when he needs it.

It is only natural then, that when a-Yuan asks him for a lullaby that he plays that one. Whether it’s notes ring out of Chengqing or fall softly from his lips, he gives this melody to the boy in hopes it will bring the same comfort it does him.

So, of course, when he’s newly resurrected, this is the song he plays to calm Wen Ning. It is a song he has long associated with calming erratic emotions, safety, security, love, and, perhaps most importantly, reminding one of their humanity.

merji and foxxian with a-yuan for @mdzs-rabbithole !!

commissions here

Lan Xichen: Uncle, you seem almost...wistful lately.

Lan Qiren: It's nothing very important. I've received some insight that has reminded me of the happier moments of my youth.

Lan Xichen: Oh? May I ask what caused this?

Lan Qiren: As you're not doubt aware, Wei Wuxian harbors so level of affection for Wangji.

Lan Xichen: Yes. Although I must admit I thought that would aggravate you.

Lan Qiren: It did. It still does to an extent. But a few days ago, I witnessed that horrible boy walk into a wall because he was looking at Wangji and not where he was walking. It reminded me of how Wei Changze acted when he first fell in love with Cangse Sanren.

Lan Xichen: Really?

Lan Qiren: Yes. In short, the guest students this year show promise, the weather has been mild, and a Wei is pathetically in love. So I'm feeling a little nostalgic

I love Zu Zhan Jin's portrayal of JGY so much. Like he's so expressive! His face! His body language is so fluid! His voice has so much emotion! And yet his intentions anv emotions are as opaque as a block of solid wood. I love Villains like that

'mine'

Poster done for Lwj birthday flower event in S Korea. A bit early, but happy birthday HGJ! 🩵