More Pet Peeves!

Wei Wuxian – a troublemaker, a genius, a beggar

So, another thing I've seen come up quite a lot is a penniless Wei Wuxian. This is more prevalent in modern AUs (in my experience). And like, I see where you people are coming from, the whole "sugar daddy Lan Wangji" is quite appealing, however! Why put Wei Wuxian down for it? In the novel, Lan Wangji has no trouble spoiling Wei Wuxian regardless of his financial standing and the money is actually never brought up as an issues. The whole "Am I your charity case, Lan Wangji?" is just not a thing. In the extras Wei Wuxian has access to Lan Clan's money, making him filthy rich once again, but Lan Wangji keeps on spoiling him and Wei Wuxian lets him, because he knows it makes Lan Wangji happy.

Also, why would Wei Wuxian be broke to begin with? The only instance he actually struggled due to tight finances was when he was secluding himself with the Wens on the Burial Mounds. Because, how is Wei Wuxian supposed to earn (a suptential amount of) money to begin with when he is shunned by the whole cultivation world? (The one that holds all the power?) And has to care for 50+ people.

Wei Wuxian is very smart. Not just book smart, but also street smart. He is a genius in all fields. He says in the novel that "back then" (in the days that he was a rich young master) he always had money on him ("to buy gifts for girls" ...yeah right). So, he is very resourceful. If, in a modern AU, he somehow found himself in a bad financial situation (the cause of which is very often Yu Ziyuan throwing him out) then, first of all, he most certainly would have seen that coming and would have prepared. Second, seeing that he is a genius, I don't think it would have been hard for him to earn enough money to live (comfortably) on his own quickly.

So, what do I mean by "putting Wei Wuxian down"? Well, there are two types of fanfics when it comes to this trope (this is called a trope, right? Idk), one where the writer does their best to portray Wei Wuxian with his canon characteristics (even though I still don't think he would struggle financially) and the one where Wei Wuxian is some oblivious idiot with a shit load of insecurities. So, this fanon Wei Wuxian refuses any help from everybody (be it his sister (or brother🙄), Lan Wangji or a stranger) because he "doesn't want to be a bother and make trouble" and will struggle silently. So this then leads to our hero of the day, Lan Wangji, 'tricking' Wei Wuxian into accepting his help. How more cliché can this be?

Wei Wuxian, why are you acting like my mum?

Why do opinions of some random people matter to him more than those of his loved ones? This one always comes hand in hand with "insecure Wei Wuxian". He develops self-esteem issues because of all the crap Yu Ziyuan throws at him (even though he doesn't in canon, but who cares about canon nowadays?) And thus, miscommunication and misunderstandings with Lan Wangji ensue, because "Why would this god of a man want a rat like me?" Or when they are ALREADY dating, he overhears people shit-talking him and starts putting distance between himself and Lan Wangji because "Lan Wangji deserves better" and needs constant reassurance from Lan Wangji. This... this is just so insulting to their characters and their relationship, I have no words.

...Maybe I should stop trying my luck and instead get to the mountain of books that is my TBR (≡・x・≡)?