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syrena-del-mar · 3 months

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Dead Friend Forever Is More Than Just A 90s Slasher Film Imitation

Oh man, I went in thinking I would just get a whole lot of gore and murder, and instead I'm getting a buttload of social class distinction, parental issues, mental health crises, organized crime, and a highly-likely revenge plot line.

The thing about Dead Friend Forever is that it starts unassuming, almost like an copy of all other teen slashers from the 90s. A group of friends, up in a cabin and suspects to a potential murder, become hunted one-by-one. A cliche slasher plot if I ever heard one. Until it’s not. This show is taking up a very big corner of my brain, so I’m going to delve deeper into it.

If you haven't watched episode 6 yet, spoilers up ahead.

Pulling inspiration from 90s slasher re-inventor, Scream

The first four episodes really set up the expectation that DFF was going to be another slasher, seemingly particularly influenced by Scream (1996). Scream was a turning point for slasher movies, signaling a shift in from the movies of the 80s to that of the 90s. It was the first of many movies to allow for the characters to be self-aware of what genre they're working in, where the characters knew of the slasher-movie tropes and attempted to do everything right to survive. Scream is also the first slasher to truly humanize the killers, and I don't mean by making them empathetic, but rather the killers were human, so they made human mistakes. Prior to Scream, the antagonists in slasher films were usually this supernatural villain that was just murder-hungry. But in Scream, the killers are all just regular people and would often make mistakes on their way to kill the protagonists, like a normal human would. It's why Scream was scary, the killer could be anyone, it wasn't this supernatural being. And even when you're making the right choices to escape, you still end up dead.

In Dead Friend Forever, we're getting so many of the same tropes that Scream had subverted. The group is working understanding exactly what they're facing; Fluke warning to not pull out the stake inside Por, Top wanting to split up in the temple while Phee, Jin and Tan veto against it expressly stating it would be like the horror movies, White not wanting to be left behind in the cabin. They all know what they shouldn't be doing while there is a killer on the loose. Also, it's why there's these funny little moments of the killer in DFF (i.e. having to steal the motorcycle to get back to the cabin). I'm not completely convinced that there isn't any paranormal activity or at least some type hallucinogen-component at play, but the way the killer acts is very human-like. Not to mention the parallel of Barcode (arguably the most popular actor in the show) getting slashed in the first minute of the show, eerily similar to how in the opening scene of Scream, Drew Barrymore (the most well-known of the cast) gets killed immediately.

The Benefits of Series Format versus Movie Format

The series format is where I think Dead Friend Forever is really shining the most. @wen-kexing-apologist made an awesome post on the directorial direction this show is taking, particularly in how since the first four episodes we have very little context as to why the killings are occurring or even the state of everyone's relationship, we're freely able to form opinions on each character. Similarly, prior to getting to know what happened to Non, I also thought Tee was the better one of the group. But here we are, two episodes later and I find him to be the most detestable of the bunch (which says something, when Por and Top are competing in this category).

We're seeing and experiencing the absolute hell that this friend group had actively made (sans Jin and Fluke that suffer from the bystander effect) Non's life out to be. In a regular slasher movie, especially ones that model themselves after Scream, we find out why the Killer is doing what he's doing to the victims in the last quarter of the movie, but the emotional value is a little skewed. The little amount of time we spend learning about what the victims did to the Killer usually still leaves you feeling at least a smidge of pity for the victims and some joy that the Final Girl made it. Here, the mass consensus is that each and every one of them should die.

And it comes back to the luxury of spending several episodes in a flashback to what lead up to the killings after the game of cat-and-mouse has begun. We're introduced to Non as an outsider, where everyone, but Jin, has already formed a bad opinion of Non. They already have a brutal nickname for him (read @forkaround's awesome analysis on the term 'Greasy'). They already established that he's an outsider in the classroom, but they make an active point of only referring to him as 'Greasy' and Non just accepts it. We see the friend group frame him, causing him to spiral twice to point of suicide, proceed to prey on him into a money laundering scheme, get him caught in a criminal investigation, all while already undergoing mental health treatment. We're given that time to know and see the pain that Non is caused, the manipulation that he is put under, and ultimately the devastation that they've caused.

Dead Friends Forever is more than just another teen slasher, because it has time. And it's using its time wisely, giving us bits and pieces of information in the beginning before delving into something more sinister than the killer on the loose, the original five. Run-of-the-mill bullying has turned into framing, assault and other criminal activity, even murder. And yet, while Non is the one that has disappeared (or died), the other five have been able to make a life for themselves without suffering any of the consequences. It's showing exactly what they have done to deserve everything that is coming to them.

Final Thoughts

Man, Be on Cloud is truly blowing it out of the water with this show. I'm actually a bit sad that it's only barely starting to get the recognition that it deserves, because in my opinion, it's just that good, BUT I also understand why it's had a sleepy start. It's in an place, a BL in one sense, but not exactly a BL in any other. I've said it before, but no matter what you think of BOC as a management company, the stories that they tell are unique and they have the artists that are competent enough to deliver. Be on Cloud has, allegedly, allowed the writers take the reign on the show, even if this means messing with the couples, so even more chaos is going to occur. This is, frankly, exciting to see and experience the story as they want it to be told.

I said this when I first saw Barcode in KinnPorsche deliver that heartbreaking cry, that boy knows how to cry. He was a newbie and his stole that scene. Now this is his third show under his belt and his acting chops only continue to improve, I truly can't wait to see what more he is able to do here in Dead Friend Forever. I love that Sammon is also enjoying what Barcode has able to bring forth in Non and that all her worries have been eased. I truly think that Barcode is going to have an incredible career ahead of him, whether in music or in acting.

Ta, on the other hand, also deserves his share of accolades. I wasn't sure of how to read to Phee in the first four episodes, but with the information that episode 6 has given us? The picture has cleared significantly and now, having rewatched his scenes, everything makes sense on why he seemed to be conniving. Episode 6 had some of the strongest performances and yet the biggest gasp I made was in the last minute. The singular tear rolling down Phee's cheek after having to perform the two-finger method, to have Non throw up the pills, and holding him in his arms? Quite literally jaw-dropping.

Sammon has a strong repertoire of shows, so I have complete faith that she knows what she's doing for Dead Friend Forever. I hope this becomes as much of a cult favorite, much like Manner of Death and Triage.

Anyways if you need me, I'll probably be stuck thinking about PheeNon for the next week until episode 7 airs.

#dead friend forever #dead friend forever the series #dead friend forever meta #dff meta #dff the series #barcode tinnasit #ta nannakun #copper phuriwat #pheenon #be on cloud #pheejin #tabarcode #boc actors #thai bl #thai bl meta #bl meta #steph rambles

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your-local-grubdog · 9 months

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Wait actually can we talk about Leaflings real fast. Because. What the actual fuck.

Also sorry if I curse a lot more here than usual but like 90% of my genuine reactions to this topic is "what the FUCK" so uhh get used to it I guess.

Huge thanks to @saihahas for helping me with some image transcripts as well.

Major story spoilers below you have been warned. Ok let's go.

So you're able to just rise from the dead in pikmin 4. No, seriously. You can do that.

At the end of Olimar's side story we get this scene and associated line:

[Image transcript: White text on a black screen that says "But at that very moment, my life support system failed" END TRANSCRIPT]

Like. He died. His life support system failed. He DIED. And moments later, he was revived as a leafling. He died and came back from the dead. Like, what the fuck????

It even fixed up his injuries he got prior to becoming a leafling. Just a full on revival.

Image transcript (one leads into the other naturally)

Collin: By the by, Olimar, is there anything you remember from right before or after you became a leafling? Any additional details?

Olimar: Not particularly. It didn't feel bad or anything like that. In fact, it was quite revitalizing.

Olimar: My chronically stiff shoulders and all the injuries I'd sustained during my explorations healed immediately.

Yonny: Hmm... Perhaps leafification has highly restorative effects...

Yonny: This is definitely something worth looking into, eheheh. END OF TRANSCRIPT.

Now we don't know if everyone who was a leafling had to die before hand, though there is a common thread that they were at least unconscious... And had just escaped deadly situations... I think Olimar found them moments before they died and, not knowing any other way to save them, leafed them as well. Something they bear no ill will towards him for - in fact, they're thankful for him.

Image transcript:

Jin: When I was leafified, I could not stop thinking about the art of Dandori. It was like an endless meditation.

Jin: A leafling appeared in front of me after the ship crashed and I had used up all of my flagging energy.

Jin: My intuition told me they were not a bad person. I also felt as though they were determined to achieve something

Jin: I am afraid I do not recall much of what happened after that, as I lost consciousness. END TRANSCRIPT.

Image transcript:

Corgwin: I was attacked by a creature, and right before I lost consciousness, I saw something overhead. It was a leafling

Corgwin: They had such sad eyes, but there was more going on in there. Their eyes were full of determination.

Corgwin: I have to believe there is a reason why they do what they do. Turning castaways into leaflings, I mean.

Corgwin: Your time is limited, so think it through! END TRANSCRIPT.

Image transcript:

Bernard: You need anything else?

Bernard: Even when Olimar was leafed out, he was still trying to RESCUE folks!

Bernard: And there I was with my head focused on nothing but Dandori stuff. HOO, he's one tough cookie!

Bernard: You need anything else? END TRANSCRIPT.

Ok Bernard's conversation doesn't add to the "he found them in deadly situations" point but it DOES show that all of his "victims" think highly of him for the fact that he had saved them and others. (Also, side note, Olimar had sad eyes... Poor bastard thought he was never going home to his wife and kids, was visibly depressed over this, and STILL was trying to save people. Olimar is like, genuinely such a good fucking person God damn.)

Now being a leafling is undead and comes with its own slew of problems. Namely, the fact Dandori takes over your brain (probably the pikmin survival instinct) and the fact you can no longer leave PNF-404. It's not even an air thing, it's not being on the planet that causes sickness, so not even spacesuits can fix it.

But then you're able to cure yourself of being a leafling. And just. Go back? To your normal life?????? Like nothing ever happened. You died and came back. What the fuck.

And to make that point worse. One of the key ingredients is Glow Sap. Which is produced by the Luminknolls. The only other thing the Luminknolls make is uh. Glow pikmin. Which.

“Although they've been named Glow Pikmin, it's not entirely clear whether or not this species is actually a type of Pikmin. These creatures possess the same fundamental behaviors of Pikmin, like carrying things, propagating, and fighting. They also share special characteristics, such as the leaf atop their head. Yet they do not spawn from an Onion but a Lumiknoll, and they are only active at night or underground. During the day, they revert into seeds and enter a resting state. What's even more surprising is that they exhibit no signs of life. When a Glow Pikmin "dies," if that word can even be used, it does not expire in the typical sense. Instead, it just becomes a form of light-or perhaps a photon-and returns to the Lumiknoll. Putting aside my "scientist" hat for a moment...it seems to me that this creature or entity may not be a living organism at all but some manner of spiritual substance.”

[Image Transcript: a screenshot of the Piklopedia showing the very end of the above quote. END TRANSCRIPT]

And just as some icing on the cake:

[Image transcript: Louie's piklopedia notes on the glow pikmin. All it says is "Doesn't smell alive." END TRANSCRIPT]

Cool they're fucking ghosts. Sorry I can't be convinced otherwise, they're clearly some sort of supernatural entity at MINIMUM. I just think spirit is most likely. They don't have to be the spirits of dead pikmin... Although... You can convert a Glow Pikmin into normal pikmin via a candy pop bud. I've done it before, I have no video of it but you can go and try it yourself if you'd like. And if they are spirits of pikmin then that means that we can also bring pikmin back from the dead. What the FUCK.

Anyways. I got side tracked sorry. My point was the Luminkolls make two things: Glow Sap and Glow Pikmin, which have similar names and similar appearances and. Are we using ghost juice to cure leaflings???? Which is used to reverse all negatives of being leafed. Which can be used to bring the dead back to life.

I don't know how to end this. I really really don't know how to end this. I just need someone else to scream about this with because it's so. It's so fucking WEIRD like what the hell. It's not enough that they may be humans, noooo, there's also undead creatures (excluding the mushroom guys those freaks have an explanation at the very least). This game is weird as hell but tbh I love it.

#pikmin #pikmin 4 #borb screams

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adragonthatwrites · 15 days

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Okay I've finished guys! I'm done with the main story of MDZS!! (Currently working my way through the extras)

Thoughts;

Jin Guangyao did some messed up shit, no doubt about that, but also like, poor guy! A lot of it could honestly be blamed on his father, (for example, he didn't intentionally sleep with his sister. He only found out after the fact, which is just, oof), and I understand why he did a lot of what he did. I honestly don't know if I would have done better, if I'd been in his situation.

Wangxian figured it out finally, and all I have to say now is; please tell me this idiots get a safe word at some point.

Wen Ning becoming the babysitter for the Juniors is adorable, and I want like ten short stories about their adventures.

Oh, poor Jiang Cheng!!! Poor Wei Wuxian!!!!!! That's just, awful! (referring to the Golden Core reveal)

Lan Xichen! No! Baby no! Oh that's so sad! (Referring to stabbing JGY)

Nie Huaisang you little shit! I respect the hustle though.

What an incredibly bittersweet ending. As a whole it's happy; the good guys won and went on to live their lives at peace, and I'm glad for them, glad that the story came to a happy ending. And yet, I'm left with a sour taste in my mouth, thinking of all the injustices, how even the villain was, at the end of the day, just another victim. A victim of the same injustices, and the same end, as Wei Wuxian. Well done MXTX, as per the usual!

#my first read through of mdzs #mdzs #wei wuxian #lan wangji #jiang cheng #wen ning #lan xichen #nie huaisang #jin guangyao #wangxian #mxtx

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dangermousie · 9 months

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Top Dozen 2023 drama MLs so far

It's August, so not the end of the year, neither it is at halfway year mark, but why would I ever do anything like a normal person? Here my very very subjective list. I have limited myself to one dude per drama or LYF would be half the list. No order except alphabetical.

Chen Wende (Sun Yizhou in Gone With the Rain, China)

The epic troll lord stole the whole drama as competently as he stole the FL's heart. He was competent and adult and oh-so-amused by but also gone for the heroine.

Gu Jiusi (Bai Jing Ting in Chang Feng Du/Destined, China)

CFD lost steam for me halfway through but Jiusi's character remained a delight throughout and BJT gave a great performance as a golden boy who went through a bunch of hell and grew up but remained goodnatured at heart.

Han Dong Jin (Kim Young Kwang in Call It Love, Korea)

You know, he and Jing (from LYF1) really fit the same mold even if one is in a mellow realistic modern and another in xianxia - lovely traumatized people from monster families who win over heroine with a metric ton of baggage through sheer unswerving decency. I have a type.

Jang Uk (Lee Jae Wook in Alchemy of Souls s2, Korea)

I loved Uk in S1 and S2 continued that love - he's so intense, so grieving, so still in love with Naksu. LJW is always a good actor so it's such a pleasure to see him in a good role.

Kim Do Ha (Hwang Min Hyun, My Lovely Liar, Korea)

The year of surprises - Minhyun, who I found utterly wooden in AoS stole my heart here as this hopeful, traumatized sweetheart of a man.

Kim Moo Chan (Park Hae Jin, The Killing Vote, Korea)

Yeah, we are only one ep in but who said anything about this list was objective? PHJ brings his usual unsettling intensity to the role of a cop who breaks all the rules and teeters on the edge and now is set to catch a killer who really only differs from him in a matter of degree.

Lee Jang Hyun (Nam Goong Min in My Dearest, Korea)

If I had to pick a favorite ML from this list, it would be between him and Jing (LYF). This is basically if you took Rhett Butler and took out slavery and rape but gave him a sword. The character is complex and nuanced and NGM is giving his usual incredible performance.

Lee Rang (Kim Bum in Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938, Korea)

I was not a Rang fangirl for most of the original (even if he was well-acted; and he did win me over by the end) but I fell for him head over heels in this sequel/prequel/spin-off. I am so happy the man who believed he had nobody and was abandoned by everybody ends the story with his beloved brother and his beloved woman, both.

Moon Seo Ha (Ahn Bo Hyun in See You in My 19th Life, Korea)

A lot of MLs on this list have serious trauma and haunted by it and can't let go of their past love (I have a type) but even by those standards, Seo Ha was such a lovely, quiet person slowly healing.

Tantai Jin (Luo Yunxi in Till the End of the Moon, China)

Abuse victim/monster/praiseworthy king/xianxia saint/man on the brink - LYX portrayed a character in multiple timelines and many different complexities and did it amazingly. Tantai Jin may or may not win my favorite place on this list, but his performance was hands-down the most glorious thing this year.

Tushan Jing/Ye Shiqi (Deng Wei in Lost You Forever part 1, China)

If before LYF aired someone would have told me that a character played by Deng Wei, an actor I've always found eminently forgettable, would make it on this list and be in the running to win the whole thing actually, I'd have wondered what weird reality they came from. They somehow managed to make someone genuinely good and kind not in the least boring; I am ridiculously invested in the man who managed to keep his soul after all he's been through.

Yun Xiang (Chen Xiao in The Ingenuous One, China)

A schemer on a revenge quest, smarter than anyone else in the room but helpless in front of love. Yun Xiang was an adult in an adult story for adults and it was glorious.

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kthyg · 11 months

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ghoul. — (consign)

[SIXTH INSTALMENT OF GHOUL SERIES : CONSIGN]

"Kiss your clean record goodbye." Provocation or prediction.

S2 squad went to the 13th ward for a Wipe Out Operation but didn't expect to encounter an Owl in the midst of the operation.

pairing. jungkook x reader, hoseok x reader, jin x reader (ft. myg & pjm)

rating. M

genre. tokyo ghoul au, soulmate au, gore, violence, mass attack

disclaimer. this story is a work of fiction. descriptions of the BTS members in this story does not reflect nor portray them in real life. everything in this story only fits in imagination and does not apply outside of imagination.

warning. lots of bloodshed (mostly spilled from the ghouls :/), depiction of people (doves) getting killed ruthlessly by the Owl and killing methodology was described.

word count. 5k+

lexicon & profiles . masterpost . masterlist . navigation

note from winter 💌

sorry for the long disappearance </3 but er hey, a brand new banner for ghoul!! beta read by loyal beta reader @zyphqr <3 this is just a short one maybe can be counted as a filler chapter too, but it will make do. hope you guys enjoy this <33 and u lots might not notice, but i kind of changed my writing style a bit? I think consign has got to be the most elaborated fic I've ever written cause those detailed words? idk how my brain came up with that but I'm proud of this one

💌 what is winter listening to? in sequence; D-DAY, Interlude: Dawn, HUH?!, AMYGDALA. (All by Agust-D)

📑 if you want to know more about this au, you can refer to lexicon & profiles. any other questions you can refer to me !!

dedication. a gift to all of my readers.

The urban avenue of Seoul tonight was oddly still, with only sporadic leaf rustling in the soft breeze breaking the silence. The streetlights emitted a pale light illuminating the desolate pathway and generating a creepy ambience that felt unsettling. The towering edifices on both sides of the street looked imposing and austere, with dark windows and walls stained by the wear of time. In Seoul, quiet streets like this one often serve as a warning sign, hinting at the stillness that precedes a night of horror and violence.

This only served as a warning that hazards could present in any situation, even in the calmest and most tranquil circumstances.

The only sounds that interrupted the quietness were the faraway noise of cars and the faint footsteps’ echoes. A stray feline would occasionally scuttle across the street, eyes gleaming, barely visible in the low light. Despite the peacefulness of the evening, the street’s stillness felt unusual and peculiar. A strong odour of rot and other, more ominous scents, detectable only by those with heightened senses, hung heavily in the air. An enduring sensation of peril seemed to permeate the surroundings, giving the impression of being under surveillance by something lurking in the shadows. The silence was broken by the occasional sound of shattering glass or the screech of metal against metal. A car alarm would blare for a few moments before falling silent once more.

These sounds, too, added to the unease that hung in the air, hinting at the possibility of danger lurking in the darkness.

For those who knew of the existence of ghouls, quiet streets would be even more unsettling. People would be acutely aware that a ghoul could lurk somewhere in the shadows, watching, waiting for its next victim. The silence of the street, combined with the faint scent of blood in the air, would make them feel like they were walking on thin ice, with danger lurking around every corner.

The 13th ward, Seochu-gu.

The pale moonlight bathed the ward where ghouls were recently reported to be lurking in the shadows. The usually bustling streets were now empty, only to be filled in by a large group of doves - some dressed in formal KCCG attire while others were heavily armed. Operating vehicles and drones were also present, adding to the sense of preparation and anticipation in the air. As Jung Hoseok, the Chief Director of Division II, approached, the sound of footsteps echoed through the night, accompanied by the presence of bureaus.

“Alright, good evening, doves,” Hoseok spoke, his voice firm and commanding. “I, Jung Hoseok, Chief Director of Division II, will be leading today’s Wipe Out Operation that is to be conducted here in the 13th ward.”

You and another four supreme investigators stood at attention, listening to Hoseok’s every word. “Operating squad involved in this operation will only be the Supreme Squad S2 and 75 Bureaus. Other than S2 and Bureau Investigators are required to leave the scene. Failed to do so and get caught by S2 squad members, the bureaus, or me, will receive disciplinary action.” Everyone present at the scene nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. Hoseok continued, “Commencing roll call on S2 squad. Please present your weapon.”

Each member stood tall and proud, eyes scanning the surrounding area for any signs of danger. The atmosphere was tense, and they knew they were about to embark on a dangerous mission. Finally, Hoseok began calling out names; each member stepped forward to present their weapon.

“Present as always.” A soulful voice spoke with confidence.

The roll call started with Jeon Jungkook, the Branch Director of 2nd Ward, as he confidently presented his weapon, the Angel Beat, an SS-rated Ukaku type known for its incredible speed and accuracy. Min Yoongi stepped forward with a bored, unbothered expression and presented his weapon, the 13’s Jason, a Rinkaku type rated S+. 13’s Jason was one of the most potent weapons in their arsenal, and Min Yoongi knew how to use it to devastating effect.

As the roll call continued, Park Jimin, another Special Class member, stepped forward proudly with his charming smile, “Never not present,” and presented his weapon, the IXA, a Koukaku type that was rated S+.

Kim Seokjin, your fellow Associate Special Class, followed suit, responded upon his name being called and presented his weapon, the Narukami, an S+-rated Ukaku type known for its incredible range and power.

Finally, your name was called out. Your grip tightened on your quinque as you presented your weapon, the Aus, a Rinkaku-type rated S+. The Aus was a fearsome weapon known for its speed and agility, and you had spent countless hours training with it to hone your skills. As the roll call came to a close, you stood steady, weapon at the ready.

Hoseok looked around at his team, impressed by their impressive arsenal. “Total of five members. Weapon rating from SS to S+.”

He then briefed the investigators on the operation. “This operation aims to cleanse the 13th ward off ghouls. It was brought to our attention that quite a number of ghouls have been roaming in this ward. Expect every worst possibility as the data collected by the bureaus have shown that several S+ rated ghouls are hiding in this ward.”

“Movement will be in personal formation with 15 Bureaus as back-ups. I will be assisting each one of you through the earpiece and monitoring through the drones.”

The investigators nodded, preparing themselves for the dangerous mission ahead. Hoseok gave them a nod of approval. “Doves, fight with your all. Best of luck,” he said before giving the signal.

“Operation commences.”

With a nod from your leader, the five of you set out into the dark night, ready to fight for justice and protect the citizens of the 13th ward from the threat of ghouls. You moved out, determined to eliminate the ghouls that lurked in the darkness. As all of you moved through the eerie streets of the 13th ward, the tension in the air was felt by everyone. The sound of footsteps echoed loudly as if warning any lurking ghouls of the doves’ presence. Jungkook took point, his Angel Beat quinque ready in his grip. He scanned the area, searching for any signs of movement.

“Clear,” he informed Hoseok, his voice crackling through your earpiece too.

As Jungkook ventured to his chosen route, the rest of the team moved forward, staying in formation before breaking into personal formation. Your squad moved deeper into the ward, searching every nook and cranny for any sign of ghoul activity. The tension was palpable, as all of you knew that any misstep could mean certain death or injury.

To describe Wipe-Out Operation with one word would be unpredictable. This operation was assigned to the Supreme Squad for a reason. Given the unpredictability, KCCG only sent out Associates Special Class and above to prevent any unwarranted damages, and it was usually conducted and supervised by Division Chief Director, Hoseok or Namjoon, according to the wards involved. KCCG strictly prohibited any ranks lower than Associate Special and Special from participating in the operation, no matter how great and exceptional one’s skills were.

It was the experience that counted, at least according to the KCCG’s higher-ups.

“Remaining doves, split into pairs,” Hoseok commanded. “The headquarters sent a newly found vision radar of the 13th ward, and the Rc levels are increasing. Jungkook, be informed. I will send out more bureaus to your side.”

“Very well.” His voice echoed in your earpiece following Hoseok.

“Bureaus, load your Q-bullets,” he ordered, stern and commanding.

The bureaus sprang into action, their movements quick and efficient. They reached for their bullet cases, deftly loading their Q-bullets into their quinques. The sound of the bullets clicking into place was the only noise in the silent night as they prepared themselves for the upcoming operation. They stood in line as they finished loading, waiting for the following order. Each one was ready for whatever lay ahead, their minds focused and their hearts beating with anticipation.

“Weapons are to be fired upon the orders of your respective formation leaders,” Hoseok instructed one last time before going off the communication system.

Suddenly, Yoongi urged you to follow him, “Let’s go (Y/N).”

Noticing the confusion on Jimin’s face, he clarified the situation by pointing out that it wouldn’t be a good idea to form a team with two associates and two special classes.

“In that case, you can take Jin,” Jimin countered, crossing his arms.

Yoongi scoffed, “Damn. Did I miss a notice stating that (Y/N) is your partner again?” He then grabbed your wrist and pulled you towards the other side of the ward, leaving Jimin fuming with anger and Jin puzzled.

As you and Yoongi turned to a corner, a loud noise erupted. The two of you stopped any movements, weapons raised as a reflex. You knew better than to speak out loud, so you waited with bated breath. Suddenly, a figure leapt out from the shadows.

It was a ghoul.

Its Kagune gleamed in the dim light and moved at a thunder-like speed, but before the ghoul could even reach the two of you, Yoongi had already unsheathed his jagged quinque. His quinque sliced through the air with deadly accuracy as he pivoted on his heel and swung, slicing through its kagune. The ghoul stumbled backwards, blood gushing from the wound on its side. Yoongi didn’t give it a chance to recover, though. He pressed forward, striking blow after blow with his quinque.

The ghoul crumpled to the ground with a loud thud, lifeless.

You stood back, watching as Yoongi wrenched the blood off his weapon and rested it on his shoulder. You weren’t oblivious to the fact that Yoongi was the most ruthless, quick-witted investigator ever to be born in KCCG. But at that moment, you wished he was anything but those. The ghoul you and Yoongi had encountered was a lone male ghoul. But it wasn’t that fact that made you hesitant.

He looked terrified. Eyes wide with fear.

It wasn’t the fear of being found by doves.

The fear in his eyes was present even before the pair of you arrived. He was about to say something before Yoongi killed him. You didn’t miss the tremble of his lips. “He was trying to tell something.” You approached the dead body.

Yoongi crouched down beside you and examined the ghoul’s face. “It doesn’t matter now.”

You frowned; you couldn’t shake the feeling that you might have missed something important. You scanned the area to see if there were other ghouls nearby, but there weren’t any. You and Yoongi moved forward cautiously. The streets of the 13th ward were silent. The moon shone down the deserted road, casting an eerie glow on the surroundings. As you and your partner walked further into the area, Yoongi suddenly stopped in his tracks, causing you to do the same.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the distance, approaching you rapidly.

Yoongi swung his quinque, ready for use, a menacing look on his face. You followed suit, grip on your weapon tightening. The footsteps grew closer, and you could see the silhouette of three figures approaching your direction with crazed expressions on their faces, ready to attack.

Without hesitation, Yoongi charged forward, striking one of the ghouls with a swift blow from his quinque. They clashed back and forth, Yoongi using his agility to dodge the ghoul’s attacks and strike back with his 13’s Jason. Each time he landed a hit, the ghoul would let out a pained growl, but it only seemed to make it more aggressive.

But it made Yoongi scoff.

He found it funny how the ghoul tried to act mighty and strong when he could easily detach the head from the neck with bare hands. Yoongi fought the creature with a clear stance and graceful movements as if he was performing a dance.

A deadly dance.

He was, after all, a killing machine masking as a delicate doll.

The remaining two turned their attention to you. The male ghoul was massive, towering over you with impressive height and a menacing expression. His kagune, a long tentacle-like appendage, whipped through the air as it prepared to attack. He lunged forward, forming his kagune into a claw; he aimed at your chest. But you quickly dodged the attack, stepping to the side and bringing your Aus up in a defensive stance. He snarled and attacked again.

Yoongi launched a powerful attack with his kagune, slicing through the ghoul’s torso and causing him to fall to the ground with a thud. He dragged his quinque painfully slow through the ghoul’s body as more blood flowed out. He lazily turned his head toward your direction. You were fighting two ghouls, but he didn’t have any intention of helping you, so he continued playing with the dead body.

You can handle them…

Probably, he shrugged.

With a swift movement of your wrist, you sliced through the ghoul’s arm, causing him to screech in pain and recoil. The second one finally jumped into the fight. She was relentless, her kagune striking out again and again, but you were unyielding, dodging, blocking, and attacking with unflinching determination. She charged at you upon seeing her friend being taken down, but again, you instinctively dodged to the side, swinging your quinque in a wide arc. She was fast, but you were quicker as you blocked and deflected her attacks while landing blows of your own. Your weapon finally made heavy contact with the ghoul’s flesh, spraying a shower of blood into the air. She howled in pain, but you couldn’t feel any sympathy; instead, you could feel a rush of adrenaline.

Suddenly, the injured male lunged forward with lightning speed, his kagune striking at you with deadly force. You looked at him with a condescending smirk, “A strong one, aren’t you?”

It was almost psychotic how your tone sounded because nothing could’ve prepared your opponents for your sudden move. Your quinque pierced through the ghoul’s flesh in a blink of an eye, and he let out a final howl before collapsing to the ground, dead.

It took the female one off guard, but you didn’t give her time to recover as you jumped over her head and delivered a powerful kick to its back. She was sent flying with great force; probably broke a few bones and damaged some areas of skin. You looked down at her spasming figure with malice and plunged your Aus into her back, ending her life immediately.

The bureaus under your command had shocking looks on their faces. They exchanged glances with each other as if realising that you were not to be underestimated. Of course, they had always heard the praises that fell from the lips of the higher-ups that you were a skilled investigator, but seeing you in action was entirely another thing.

“New recruits?” Yoongi’s voice was calm and collected, betraying no hint of emotion as he finished off the ghoul he was handling just now.

He did detach the head from the neck.

The bureaus’ complexion paled, every colour drained at the horrendous sight before them.

“Right, I forgot bureaus don’t kill all the time,” because it was clear that killing ghouls was just another day in the life of a KCCG investigator.

Suddenly, a shiver ran down your spine as you caught a glimpse of a figure moving in the corner of your eye. It has to be a mistake. A low growl echoed through the hallway, causing the team to freeze. They knew that sound all too well - it was the sound of a ghoul.

Not just an ordinary ghoul.

“It’s the Owl.”

Yoongi’s voice was the last thing you heard before the explosive sound of the Owl crashing on the ground, announcing its presence and causing debris to rain down on everyone. The heavy feelings that have been crawling on your back. The first ghoul you had encountered, the terror and fear in his eyes.

The three ghouls that were killed.

They died in the hands of doves instead of the Owl.

It was unintentional that they encountered us.

They were running away from the grim reaper but still stumbled on death’s door.

“Take cover!” You commanded the bureaus, grabbing the nearest to you by the arm and pulling them towards the most immediate cover. You and Yoongi were split as he jumped toward the right side. You positioned yourself in front of the female bureau you had pulled with you, shielding her from any potential danger.

The Owl planned all of this. None of these were coincidences.

Reaching for your ear device, you contacted Hoseok, “Emergency code red-O, triple S; Yong. Location, North–”

“Bureaus, fire!”

Upon Yoongi’s command, the bureaus opened fire on the Owl. The air was filled with the sound of gunfire and the whistling of projectiles. But the bullets seemed to have no effect on it. The Owl grew even more enraged and began to thrash about wildly. Its tentacles flailed out in every direction, knocking over walls and sending debris flying through the air.

What the fuck?

Why is he provoking Yong?!

Owls were immune to Q-bullets; sometimes, even quinque does no damage. He should know that.

“Fall back!” You shouted through the chaos, but your command fell on deaf ears. The sound of the continuous firing prevented your voice from reaching your comrades. You scrambled to dodge the tentacles and find another safe cover. You could feel the ground shaking beneath you as Owl continued to wreak havoc on the ward. The dangerous creature let out a deafening screech. Its eyes glowed red as it turned its attention toward the bureaus. It flapped its kagune and leapt into the air, swooping down towards them with incredible speed. The armed investigators scattered desperately, trying to avoid the creature’s deadly tentacles.

“Investigator Min, we need to–”

Yong pounced on a group of bureaus, slashing and tearing with its razor-sharp appendages. They screamed in terror as the beast’s relentless assault tore them apart. Some were still shooting and firing in hopes of distracting or even injuring – just a minor wound on the Owl, but despite their best efforts, the attacks seemed only to enrage the Owl further. It seemed almost invincible, unstoppable in its rage. Its attacks became increasingly ferocious, and the investigators found themselves quickly losing ground.

You turned to your partner in terror, hoping he would just look you in the eyes and bellow a command. “Min Yoongi – !” Except he was not in his spot.

The Owl turned around just in time to block your superior’s attack with its own kagune. It countered with a devastating strike that nearly took Yoongi off his feet.

“Yoongi, Hoseok is on the way. We need to retreat first!” You tried to reach him again while trying to gather the bureaus. The situation was already chaos at its finest; Yoongi definitely didn’t need to add up to it.

With a violent swing of his 13’s Jason, Yoongi charged forward once more, his quinque gleaming in the dim light of the ward. The two engaged in an intense battle, their weapons clashing with each other in a violent symphony. He lunged at the Owl, his quinque slashing through the air toward the ghoul’s head. But no matter how skilled Yoongi was, Owl was no easy opponent, and it had yet to unleash its full power.

Yoongi was not Namjoon.

Not even Hoseok.

Skills unmatched.

Yong’s eyes glowed with malice. Sidestepping the attack, it launched itself towards Yoongi; massive kagune extended, robust scale-red slashed through the air and to his abdomen. Yoongi stumbled back as blood seeped through his shirt.

He cursed under his breath, looking down at his open wound. His stamina was decreasing significantly from all those attacks and defences. But his body had long entered survival mode; he was far from exhausted. The Owl that stood in front of him, he knew very well.

The same Owl that caused a riot and havoc back in his hometown.

The very same Owl that became the reason why he was in KCCG instead of living happily with his family.

The one and only Owl that was responsible for his first ever traumatic event.

The fucking Owl that–

“Yoongi, dodge!” You slammed your body toward Yoongi without thinking twice the moment you saw his eyes go blank. You’ve seen that Yoongi way too many times. The Yoongi that would be deep in thought and stare into nothingness when you passed by his office. The only moment where he would show vulnerability unconsciously, and you knew how much he hated it– because you hated it too– but that always happened in the KCCG building and never, ever during a mission.

The collision between your body and Yoongi’s was extremely powerful that it sent him flying to the other side, to a safer side. His eyes finally met yours as his train of thought was interrupted. The worried expression on his face was the first you ever saw in your time working with him as he screamed your name with great desperation. You could swear you saw his eyes turn glossy before you were sent flying.

You pushed him just in time but were a second late to dodge the Owl’s full-force attack. Your Aus managed only to cover your torso as the Owl’s movement was too quick for your reflex. Your whole body met with the Owl’s heavy blow.

Since when does getting hit by your own quinque hurt like bitch? “S-shit…”

Your body was numb.

Hey, at least you’re not feeling pain.

Better than feeling the pain like someone was taking away your soul.

“Oh, my lady,” A voice reached your ears, although it was very faint due to the impact your body had experienced. You knew whose voice it was. “Do you recognise me?”

It was Hoseok.

You blinked twice as a yes.

“Good girl.” Weirdly you could feel his gentle stroke on your hair. His warmth reached your cold, numbing body. You wanted to close your eyes. “I need you to stay with us until you reach the hospital. Can you do that for me?”

You were tired. You didn’t think you could comply with this order.

“I know you’re tired and hurt, (Y/N), but I need you to just stay conscious. Jin will keep you company. I will take over everything from here. Take a rest, but please stay alive.”

The next thing you know, Jin was already on your side with a worried expression. “(Y/N), hang on there. The ambulance is on the way.” He stroked your hair with his rough, calloused hand – probably due to handling those heavy killing weapons. Your hands were no different. In fact, all ghoul investigators were bound to roughen their hands.

With the quinques.

And with blood.

Oh, are you regretting your decision, (Y/N)?

Never.

“Stay with us, (Y/N),” you heard Jungkook’s voice. Quinque was thrown to the side as he kneeled next to you. You swore his force could’ve injured his knees, but he didn’t seem to care at all by the looks of it. His eyes were only on you. Pupils dilated in fear. Hands and lips trembled as he spoke. “It must’ve hurt a lot, Sakura.”

Sakura.

“Yeah,” you said with minimal energy. “It hurts a lot, Koo.”

Jimin arrived last at the scene. He was out of breath from the sprinting he did when he received Hoseok’s assembly order. His eyes first landed on your half-alive body before the sight of the hideous monster caught his eyes.

Yoongi and (Y/N) couldn’t be that stupid to try and take the Owl down.

One was a half-ghoul, and another one was pure human.

“Oh, Yong Owl,” Hoseok had left your side, hands stuffed in his pockets and walked towards Yoongi, ordering the other fellow Supreme Squad members to follow him with bureaus at the ready. “It’s been a while, don’t you think?”

Yong Owl.

That name caught Jimin’s attention. When Hoseok commanded him to come here, he wasn’t informed which Owl was at the scene; only his rate was told. Jimin pushed back his hair from his forehead. He so badly wanted to burst into a loud laugh. He let his hand stay on his face longer but couldn’t contain the vicious smirk tugging on his lips at the realisation. Of course, it wasn’t you that could be so stupid in this situation.

You were the result of Yoongi’s stupidity.

Yong wasn’t some random Owl. Of course, he wasn’t, even for KCCG. But Yong was especially not some random Owl for Yoongi.

Jungkook hesitated to walk away from you but got on his feet and stood next to Jin with a concerned face for a few seconds. You were, after all, a Jeon. He couldn’t bear to see his family in pain and let the assaulter run away. He was torn between staying by your side or taking down Yong Owl. Jimin slung his hand on Jungkook’s shoulder, pulling the younger with him heading towards the Owl.

Yong was the murderer of Yoongi’s family.

“We’ll be right back, (Y/N),” Jimin sent you a wink. A smirk followed shortly after as he continued. “After this, no more danger you can’t take on will come your way.”

Silly Yoongi, but thank you for the opportunity, soulmate.

“Didn’t expect to see me?” Hoseok smiled. “I know you wish to have encountered Namjoon instead because he always lets you go unscathed, worried for his teammates.”

Yong took a step back as the Chief Director took a step forward. Hoseok was known for his ruthlessness, and that fact was well-learned even for ghouls, even for Owls. While he seemed like the most gentle and caring person, the fact was that he was still a ghoul investigator. His motto in KCCG was to kill with passion. He has worked for KCCG for the longest among everyone. His entire bloodline was born only to serve KCCG for the betterment of the world.

Most Owls have their own hideouts that were undetectable by KCCG; hence it was unlikely for Owls to bump into the doves. Moreover, Owls always stayed lowkey.

“But things work differently for me. You bark, I bite.”

A bureau walked towards Hoseok to hand him a quinque suitcase. Jimin whistled at the sight. He knew what was in that. Heck, it even looked different than any other quinque suitcase.

It was the legendary quinque.

It was the quinque imported from CCG, Japan. Previously wielded by Kishou Arima, the legendary ghoul investigator before he died, since then, the quinque has been stored in CCG’s top secret room. It was only recently an evaluation was done to hand over the quinque to worthy hands and make use of it. Hoseok was invited to take part in the evaluation and easily scored the highest. The quinque was named Owl, created from a kakuhou torn out of the Non-Killing Owl during the battle against Arima. Crafted with precision and designed for devastating efficiency, it possessed an air of elegance despite its deadly purpose. It was the only known SSS-rated quinque and the only one known to be created from a living ghoul.

“Unlucky for you; you hurt my favourite person.” Hoseok shook his head in disappointment as he was just scolding a child for his wrongdoing. He activated the suitcase, and immediately, it transformed into the Owl.

The Owl quinque was a masterpiece of engineering, combining intricate craftsmanship with advanced technology. Its appearance was both captivating and haunting, resembling a pair of oversized metallic wings. The wings were adorned with intricate patterns and etchings, reflecting the meticulous attention to detail put into its creation. The surface of the quinque gleamed with a metallic sheen, hinting at its superior strength and durability. The blade of the quinque was razor-sharp, capable of easily slicing through flesh and exoskeleton. Its edges were finely honed and meticulously maintained, ensuring maximum combat-cutting efficiency.

But it was not just its physical attributes that made the Owl quinque so formidable. Within its core lay a unique and deadly mechanism. With a simple flick of a switch, the quinque would unleash its true power. The wings would unfold, revealing hidden compartments and mechanisms, each serving a specific purpose in enhancing combat capabilities. The Owl quinque was known for its incredible speed and agility. It allowed its wielder to move with astonishing swiftness, striking down enemies in a flurry of precise and lethal attacks. Its versatility was unmatched, enabling the wielder to seamlessly transition between offensive and defensive maneuvers, easily adapting to any situation.

Moreover, the quinque possessed a unique ability to absorb and manipulate the kagune, the potent weapon of the ghouls. It could absorb the kagune’s energy and redirect it with devastating force, turning the enemy’s own power against them. This ability allowed the wielder to effectively counter even the most formidable opponents, turning their strength into their downfall.

The sheer power and elegance of the Owl quinque made it a symbol of Arima’s skill and prowess as a CCG investigator. Its reputation preceded it, striking fear into the hearts of ghouls and admiration in the minds of fellow investigators.

It was a weapon of legend, capable of rewriting the course of battles and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

Weapon at ready, Hoseok began again, “I don’t want your death.”

In the hands of Arima, the Owl quinque became an extension of his own being. It embodied his relentless determination and unwavering resolve in the face of darkness. With each swing and strike, he delivered justice with chilling precision, carving a path through the ghouls that dared to challenge him, and it was about to be the same for Hoseok.

The legend of the Owl quinque would be relived in his hands.

“Your scream when I extract fragments of you in Cochlea sounds more satisfying.”

And he would start by painting the blood of Yong on the quinque.

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mikuni14 · 2 months

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Dead Friend Forever - Ep 9

(I wanted to eat a cake when the episode started and I ended up sitting through the entire first scene holding it in front of my open mouth like a 🤡, it was so embarrassing when I caught myself doing it. Yep, DFF everybody! I was so invested that I couldn't watch and chew at the same time)

This is the 9th episode of this series that I rated 🔟, this series is really something else. There are still 3 episodes left, the series is devoting more and more time to what is happening in the present time and I'm starting to worry whether... 3 episodes is too much? Won't the endings get dragged? Will it stick the landing? My anxiety is 📈.

I love how this series is run, how natural it flows, how it jumps smoothly in "time and space" without being chaotic and incomprehensible. The narration, editing, pacing are 10/10. (But unlike the plot, my thoughts are very chaotic, as seen below lol)

It's amazing how everything that happens can be described as the butterfly effect. How Top's stupid smashing of the camera set off a chain of events that ended in the destruction of the entire family and a heartbreaking tragedy. I like how sharply focused Tan is (I'll just call him Tan, I'm lazy), how he's fully willing to sacrifice EVERYTHING, how he makes sure that Phee doesn't desecrate Non's memory with a new relationship.. It seems to me that Tan doesn't tell Phee everything because 1) someone stretched the wire that killed Deng 🤔 2) he doesn't seem particularly concerned about Por being dead 🙂

I like how in Phee's relationship with Jin, Tan makes Phee feel guilty, treating him as Non's boyfriend and how Phee does it to himself too. I once heard someone say in regards to romantic relationships, that it is impossible for new feelings to be born without the death of old ones. And this is another thing I love about DFF: they show the complexity of human feelings, including something as complicated as the fading of an old love and the emergence of a new one, the feeling of guilt associated with it, the feeling of having to hold on to the flame of memory and feelings towards the old love that has not ended normally, that could have been hurt, that could have been a victim, so these feelings are somehow "obligatory" for that old love, plus a sense of guilt and agony, because there is a probability that the new love could have once hurt the old love…

We can also say that the series explained why it all took 3 years. As predicted, it turns out that they couldn't get anything out of the boys, who usually just cut off their conversations and left. Then they all finished school, Phee and Tan had no results (because they're also, only boys, Tan couldn't do anything on his own, and Phee, well, he was distracted) and they simply went away to their studies, maybe different universities and the catalysts that accelerated the events now were: 1) the traumatic death of Tan's parents, which left him with nothing to lose, he probably also went a little crazy 2) Jin leaving the country 3) a unique opportunity of gathering everyone in one place

What I also really like is the realistic approach to the tiring, old trope that lying to loved ones "for their good" or for some "secret mission" that is supposed to bring happiness to everyone actually ends badly - unlike some series I have watched recently 🙄 DFF approached it realistically and clearly showed that people lied to by their loved ones, suffer a lot and feel betrayed to the point of not wanting to continue contact with someone who "wanted only good for them."

Questions: Photo of Non and Keng - they are in the clothes from their kidnapping, so the photo must have been taken then and only now given to the press/corrupt police to mislead, or it is photoshopped. Anyway, these are not new photos, and Keng looks safe and sound, the photo is taken from the back and he doesn't look like someone after a car accident. How did Tan get into school? After all, a student has some papers from the previous school, no one suddenly appears at a school and starts going there??? The series shows Tan under the influence of his psychedelic drug, with him having blurry visions and acting obviously drugged. However, when they are in the house and also under the influence of drugs, they act quite normal and only have clear visions, and surprisingly everyone has similar visions (except Jin, who also sees Keng). But apart from that, no psychedelia, strange colors or blurred image. And why would White also have a vision of the masked killer?

Finally, two comments: The sex scene - my jaw dropped, I didn't expect it, I didn't expect them to go all the way. This scene (as well as the entire series so far) shows how incredibly compatible and harmonious Phee and Jin are. (Now there are no more excuses that a decent sex scene can't be done in other BL series lol) I'm vibrating seeing how Tan is happy with what's happening even with Por's death. This is real, pure hatred, I hope they won't fuck it up and Tan won't "convert to goodness, love and brotherhood" and become "good" and "forgiving" and "a better person than them". I like how the show shows action and reaction and sticks to it. The entire logical progression of events is shown, from that stupid camera through Non's fall, the tragic deaths of Non and Tan's parents, ending with Tan standing with a smile over the chaos unfolding before his eyes. And yes. Including the fatalities. I'm vibrating.

My favorite moment, no surprise 😍

Forgive the quality of the photo, but Ta has such a great body, muscular, but in a natural, casual style 😍

#dead friend forever #thai bl #bl drama

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drama--universe · 2 years

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Injury caused love?

Requested by anonymous: hi hi lovie!! i love your writings so much!! they are so freaking good!! could i make request please? can i request a jiang cheng x fem!reader who’s a healer from the lan clan? she mainly is brought along on most missions, acting as the head doctor/healer of most of the clans; almost as good as wen qing. reader interacts with jiang cheng a lot bc jin ling is always getting injured. reader has the motherly/older-sister vibe; always taking care and letting some of the students (mostly sizhui and jingyi) sneak into their infirmary at night for snacks or comfort. jiang cheng and reader? OBLIVIOUS HOPELESS ROMANTIC AND TSUNDERE. nie huaisang, lan xichen, jin guangyao, and wangxian all bully them for their stupidity </3 even the juniors try getting them together,,, jin ling accidentally calls the reader auntie in front of jiang cheng,,, so soft for jiang cheng…i love

Pairing: Jiang Cheng x fem!reader

Word Count: 2706 words

Warnings: none

A/N they don't get together in the end, if you want I'll make a part 2 where they get together, but only after I've finished all other requests :)

You stared at the boys in front of you, trying to wrap your head around the story they just told. Mostly you were confused at how Jin Ling happened to be the victim since the boy was usually the one to not get injured. Nonetheless, you quickly told them to sit down before grabbing everything.

"Alright. Sizhui, hold this on his arm and put a lot of pressure on it. I have to get some herbs first, I'll be back in a few minutes." You said as you handed the towel to Sizhui before walking out of the room.

You looked through your stash, not much further from your practice and got the necessary herbs before walking back too your practice, only to be stopped halfway by Xichen, Mingjue and Jiang Cheng.

"Clan leaders." You bowed your head at them and Xichen gave you a warm smile.

"This is (y/n), she's our most skilled healer." He explained to the other two, who nodded in response.

"I apologize, but I have to goo back to my practice. Jin Ling got hurt." You said, the last part a bit more to Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng didn't seem to react at first, but it seemed to hit him afterwards at what you said.

"Jin Ling got hurt?" "Yes, I don't remember the whole story though. Something happened with a sword and a cliff, I couldn't follow well." You explained before quickly bowing and running off.

You entered your practice again, staring at the boys who were eating snacks.

"You stole my food stock..." You mumbled and Jingyi smiled happily.

"You're lucky I like you guys." You commented to which they all smiled brightly (except for Jin Ling, who was still in pain of course). You stepped closer to Jin Ling and crouched in front of him as you started to inspect and treat the wound quickly.

"Will it scar?" Jingyi asked and you nodded shortly as you continued to wrap the bandage around his arm.

"Definitely. You should start making up a story to tell to others." You joked as you looked up to Jin Ling.

"Battled a giant demon dog!" Jingyi shouts and you can't help but laugh.

"Those don't walk around anymore, a-Yi." "But it'd be awesome!" He commented again before taking a bite of his (your) food. You rolled your eyes as you finished up the bandaging before getting up.

"How about a wolf instead?" You commented as you started to wash your hands in the bowl of water while listening to Jingyi whine. You could hear Jin Ling cuss at Jingyi while Zizhen just laughed and you saw Sizhui shake his head with a smile.

"Don't come back here too often." You said with a smile as you put everything away again.

"Now, out." You said with a smile, pointing at the door. They all quickly ran out, Jingyi managing to grab some food before leaving.

Despite that, they somehow managed to land in your practice every week. It was mostly Jin Ling who got hurt and you learned that Jin Ling was extremely unlucky and unhandy. A combination that usually doesn't go well. You spend way more time with the junior quartet, because they also came by just to hide from lessons or just to get some snacks (which you now bought double from what you usually bought).

Having Jin Ling in your practice constantly also meant that Jiang Cheng came over more often, usually to bring Jin Ling home/to his room since Jin Ling always fell asleep at the practice. Sometimes, he stayed a bit longer and you got to talk to him a bit more.

You then, of course, started to develop a crush on the man.

You were sure that it was obvious, the snickering of Jingyi said enough. Even Sizhui couldn't help but smile every time Jingyi was snickering while Zizhen tried to make them quiet down.

But of course, the visits didn't stop. Jin Ling was back again every week, joined by his friends of course. But this week was the worst.

Jin Ling was laying on the bed, leg propped up as you tried to stop the bleeding while trying to talk to Sizhui about what had happened.

"We were practicing and the sword broke." Sizhui explained and you turned your head while holding pressure on the leg.

"You got a sword in his leg?" You asked and Sizhui nodded before you turned back to Jin Ling.

"Ever heard of practice sword? You know, the wooden one." You said and he looked away in shame, not answering the sarcastic remark. You started to remove the pressure before getting a needle.

"Sizhui, go get his uncle." You said as you started to stitch the wound, after putting a cloth in Jin Ling's mouth so he wouldn't break his teeth. It took awhile and Jin Ling had passed out from the pain earlier, you couldn't blame the poor boy. Jiang Cheng arrived just as you finished the stitching, eyes cast on the cut as well as all the blood on your hands.

"Good, you're here." You said as you got up, cleaning your hands once more in the basin of water, which had already turned red. Once your hands were clean, you took bandages from the table and started to wrap it around his leg.

"He won't be able to walk for awhile, so please make sure he doesn't. I know how stubborn your family can get. He'll also need to take certain medicines every 2 hours or so for 3 to 4 days." You said before glancing at Jiang Cheng, who was still staring at his nephew and you could spot worry in his eyes.

"He's fine, don't worry too much. You're free to stay until he wakes up." You got up again when you finished wrapping Jin Ling's leg and Jiang Cheng sat down near the bed, eyes now cast towards the broken sword pieces that you had pulled out of the wound.

"What happened?" "The sword broke and hit his leg. These boys don't seem to know the consequences of practicing with actual swords." You replied with a chuckle as you grabbed some tea, offering a cup to Jiang Cheng who gratefully accepted it.

"Is getting hurt also something that runs in your family?" You asked and he looked up, shrugging softly.

"I mean, you got hurt pretty often as well. My teacher healed you quite often." You joked and you could see the wheels turning in his head before it seemed to click.

"You were that girl always watching from the side?" He asked and you nodded, smiling brightly at the thought that he remembered you. You continued to talk and for the first time, he actually tried to hold up the conversation as well.

From then on, everything seemed to take a turn.

Jiang Cheng would greet you if he saw you and sometimes he would converse in conversation , but those conversations weren't very long most of the time. Sometimes his friends (especially Huaisang and Wuxian) were with him and they often gave you a smile, but you could see the twinkle in their eyes. Sometimes the other leaders were with him, Xichen and Guangyao often gave you a sweet smiles, and you couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy every time. Even their smile seemed to hide a certain mischief. You were well aware that they all knew by now, after all Wangji's blunt comments about 'you staring at Jiang Cheng like a puppy in love' (and Wuxian and Huaisang's snickering after said comment) usually did the trick.

Now, they would always approach you while dragging Jiang Cheng behind them. They would start a conversation, trying to get Jiang Cheng to join the conversation at all cost while trying to not make it obvious (and failing miserably in your opinion). Jiang Cheng didn't seem to notice however and just curtly answered the questions thrown his way. He didn't seem particularly happy when he was near you, frown permanently shown on his face as he stood near you as he waited to leave the conversation. It was something you were quite annoyed by. Not because of him, but rather the fact that he was forced to meet you by his friends. So you asked them to stop and they did, much to their annoyance.

But you did see him a few more times again, mostly for Jin Ling's checkups. He'd just sit in the corner, staring as you cleaned his nephew's wound.

"A-jiě?" Jin Ling spoke in a whisper and you glanced up to him, giving him a small nod.

"What is it?" You whispered back and he glanced at his uncle before getting a bit closer to you.

"Uncle is staring at you..." "Don't be ridiculous A-Ling." You said, flicking his forehead softly with a disapproving chuckle before continuing to clean his wound. The boy couldn't help but smile a bit, something you couldn't help but smile in return to. Seeing the boy smile was still something new and it didn't happen that often, so you were always happy when you did see him smile.

"I'm sure about it, a-jiě. He has that look in his eyes." Jin Ling said and you looked up again, hands freezing in place before you took a glance at Jiang Cheng as well. His gaze was focused to the two of you, but you suddenly did notice his eyes shifting to you every few seconds as they lingered on your form.

"Well, a-Ling. You might be right for once." You commented, a small smirk appearing on your face to which Jin Ling smiled again.

When you finished cleaning and rebandaging Jin Ling's leg, you asked Jiang Cheng to wait for a second while Jin Ling limped out.

"You know, Jin Ling told me something." You said and he looked at you in confusion, waiting for you to continue.

"He said you were staring at me. I don't think so.... Unless you were?" You teased, eyes moving to his figure and smiling slightly when you noticed how his ears had turned red slightly as he stared in front of him.

"I'll see you later, I have to collect some stuff." You said before walking off, leaving the man standing in front of your practice.

You didn't see him for a few days after that and you couldn't help but feel a bit weird about it. Nonetheless, you continued with your routines. Taking care of some of the younger disciplines, clean your practice and getting ready to have your practice raided by the junior quartet. The food that you had gotten was gone by the end, most of it by Jingyi, and that was even after you bought extra.

"I just went to the market and you already ate all of it?" You asked as you looked in the cabinet and Jingyi gave a cheeky smile as he ate the last candy, happily eating it.

"A-jiě, when are you and clan leader Jiang getting together?" He then asked, receiving a shove from Jin Ling before looking at Sizhui for help as he tried to block Jin Ling's attacks.

"A-Ling!" The boys paused and you sighed.

"If you're going to hit him, do it where no one sees." You commented and you saw betrayal flash in Jingyi's eyes while Jin Ling just smirked before he started pocking the elder in the ribs. You just shook your head at the two before continuing your stitching on Jin Ling's robe. Then you could suddenly hear shouting and frowned, laying down your work and peaking your head out of the door. You could see Wuxian walking around, Jiang Cheng hot on his heels with an annoyed look. You were then pulled back by Jin Ling.

"Don't tell them we're here..." He begged and you looked at them, all a bit afraid of the consequences of sneaking out, and you scoffed with a smile before nodding and walking out of the practice.

"What's wrong with you two?" You asked as you looked at both men, but only Wuxian stared your way.

"Have you seen Sizhui? Or the others?" He asked and you could hear he was quite concerned.

"Why, what happened?" You returned and Jiang Cheng stepped forward.

"Some disciplines say that they saw them being dragged off and Wuxian is paranoid." He said, receiving a glare from the other (which Jiang Cheng gladly returned).

"I'm sure they're fine, a-Xian." You said and he huffed.

"You two should get married, makes bullying me much easier." He grumbled and you rolled your eyes with a laugh while Jiang Cheng just rolled his eyes.

"Very funny. You're just not thinking rationally. We both just acknowledge that." Jiang Cheng said and Wuxian just huffed again.

"You two fit each other." And then he just walked off, leaving you and Jiang Cheng alone. You looked at him and found him already looking your way, ears red once more.

"Don't be too hard on him, he's just worried." You said and Jiang Cheng nodded shortly.

"Are you not?" "Jin Ling can defend himself, he'll be fine." He answered curtly and you flicked his head harshly, making the man flinch before looking at you in shock.

"That's your nephew, at least act like you care." You commented angrily before walking back to your practice, seeing 4 pair of eyes stare at you intently.

"What?" You asked and Jin Ling spoke up first.

"You and uncle sound like a married couple..." He said and you felt your face heat up at the comment. But then you saw the terror in their eyes and turned your head, Jiang Cheng standing in the doorway with a stoic expression.

"We'll be on our way then..." Sizhui commented before dragging the other 3 with him and past Jiang Cheng quickly before they all broke into a sprint.

"Bye, auntie." Jin Ling shouted and you saw Jiang Cheng frown as he watched his nephew run out with a smile before he turned back to you.

"You lied about seeing them." "I never said whether I saw them or not nor did anyone give me the chance to say it." You said as you sat down, grabbing Jin Ling's robe up again.

"Is that Jin Ling's?" "Yes, it is. He tripped again and it ripped, so I'm stitching it. You should buy him some new clothes, some have over 20 stitch-spots. I'm losing all my thread on these, I'm tempted to use a different color to make it noticeable." You joked and Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes again, grumbling something under his breath.

"What are you grumbling about? Asking yourself how you'd fallen for me?" You teased, watching his ears turn red again and you smiled again while looking back at the stitching. You looked up when he stayed quiet, seeing that the blush had reached his face and you frowned.

"You alright there?" You asked and he snapped out his trance and nodded coldly before he turned to leave.

"You're leaving?" You asked and he turned his head around to face you. "I mean, it's pretty boring here and you chased my previous company away before I could finish..." You said and you saw him sigh again before he sat on a chair a bit further from you. Even with his annoyed expression, you couldn't help but smile that he took your joke serious enough to stay. You continued your work, glancing at him ever so often as you tried to talk to him (not to much avail). You stopped, however, when you noticed that his eyes were closed and his head was falling down ever so often before he straightened himself up. You smiled and stood up, walking his way and crouching down before gently poking his shoulder. He woke up in and instant and you flinched with his sudden movement, surprised at how close his face was to yours now.

"You should go to your room to sleep, otherwise your neck will hurt." You said as you stood up again, pulling him up with you. It was clear that he was still somewhat sleepy, eyes almost threatening to fall shut again.

"Come one, get out." You laughed and he finally looked awake at the statement, blinking a few times before looking at you.

"I apologize-" "Ah, stop it. I invited you in, no need to be so formal." You interrupted him, which startled him slightly before he simply shut his mouth.

"Feel free to drop by again." You said and he nodded, but you stopped him just before he left.

"And I don't mean with Jin Ling."

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mdzs-owns-my-ass-i-guess · 1 year

Text

Finding

Part 3 to this

Part 2 here

Part 4 here

The next morning, Lan Zhan gathers up enough courage to leave his room - lonely and cold as he felt - to check on Wei Ying. He knocks three times, and enters when he is granted permission.

He finds Wei Ying already dressed, admiring himself in the large mirror of the room. "I didn't expect to look so much like myself in this new body. I think I look quite pretty!"

Lan Zhan allows himself to come up behind Wei Ying, maintaining a bit of distance between them so as not to frighten him or push his boundaries in any way. If he had lost the Wei Ying that loved him, at least he did not want to lose all of Wei Ying completely.

Lan Zhan glances into the mirror, watching Wei Ying. He seems fascinated with himself, tracing his features with his fingers in childlike wonder before moving on to admiring his clothing.

"You are very beautiful, Wei Ying."

"Thank you!" A little blush, "These robes such good quality, Lan Zhan!" And he does a half twirl. "I don't even remember the last time I wore something so fancy! Silk, embroidery, you must be spoiling me rotten!"

"Mn. I am."

Wei Ying turns to look in the mirror and begins messing with his hair. "Say, how do I usually style this?"

"Up, but sometimes you let me braid it."

"Then do you think you could braid it for me today?"

"Mn."

Wei Ying takes a seat at the vanity and is about to hand Lan Zhan a red ribbon, but he reaches to undo his forehead ribbon instead.

"That... means a lot to you."

"So do you. You always have."

"You used to get angry when I'd play with it."

"I've changed my mind."

Wei Ying hums, then silence blankets them. Lan Zhan allows himself to be absorbed with his task, carefully crossing sections of Wei Ying's hair in a simple, loose braid.

"Can I ask you some questions, Lan Zhan?"

"Mn."

"How did I die?"

Lan Zhan's fingers pause in Wei Ying's hair. "You never shared specifics, you just told me you became overwhelmed with resentful energy when trying to destroy the amulet. Why do you ask?"

"I had a... dream. Or a memory, a vision, I don't know. I wanted to see if it was true. Looks like it is."

"What else did you... see?"

"A ghost hand, Wen Ning, you... it was all convoluted, I couldn't tell you exactly what was happening, but it was a lot..."

"Would you like me to tell you?"

"Is it... okay for you to do that? I may not remember much but I can tell you're... devastated with whatever's happened to me that has me like this. You don't have to push yourself."

"I am not, it's alright." A lie, but Lan Zhan can't stand to see Wei Ying so confused and fearful anymore. Maybe he'll even remember some things if Lan Zhan recounts them to him.

"Okay, then tell me. What happened to me in all of these years?"

And Lan Zhan does. He tells Wei Ying about the ghost hand and Mo manor, about how he took Wei Ying to the Cloud Recesses so he wouldn't fall victim to sect leader Jiang's whims, about what happened in Yi City, about Nie Mingjue and Jin Guangyao and Guanyin Temple.

About the first time he drank and how much Wei Ying delighted in teasing him, about their song, about Sizhui and the other juniors, about their confession and their wedding and their honeymoon.

He has long finished braiding Wei Ying's hair, but he has done and undone it all throughout the story, more or less consciously, desperate to have even the slightest physical contact with him. Lan Zhan struggles so much with not being able to touch Wei Ying, to kiss him, to feel his body clinging to his own that he's going to take up every opportunity he can get to do so.

As the story ends with yesterday events, Lan Zhan finally weaves his forehead ribbon through Wei Ying's braid and lets go.

"Our life sounds like a fairytale." Wei Ying says, a dreamy lilt to his voice. "I can't believe this is how it turned out for me in the end."

Lan Zhan wants to kiss him and he wants to cry and he's so overcome with emotion -love, grief, desperation- that his breath stutters with it. Wei Ying places the braid on his shoulder and traces his fingers over the ribbon in it.

"There is something I saw in my... visions from last night that you haven't told me about."

"Hm?"

"I saw... you had scars. On your back, many of them. A discipline whip."

Lan Zhan exhales and closes his eyes.

"I used to have scars like that too." Wei Ying continues, his fingertips inevitably drawn to the ribbon, finding comfort in it subconsciously. "When the Wens invaded Lotus Pier, Wang Lingjao demanded I be punished for disrespecting Wen Chao. Madam Yu whipped me with Zidian to appease her. The scars never got to heal because I then gave my core to Jiang Cheng, so I had them all throught my... first life."

That knowledge has Lan Zhan unable to refrain from wrapping his arms around Wei Ying, enveloping him from the back like a shield against lashing that has long happened.

Wei Ying tenses a bit, but does not push away. Lan Zhan is relieved with it, and allows himself to squeeze Wei Ying a little harder, hiding his face in the space between his neck and shoulder.

"After Nightless City, I sought you out to take you somewhere safe and run away with you. Even if you kept pushing me away, I never let you go. But my sect found us hiding and demanded I hand you over. I refused and a fight broke out. I injured 33 elders and should have been executed, but brother and uncle pleaded that I be spared. So I received 33 lashes with the discipline whip as punishment. It took me 3 years to heal, but within months after, I came looking for you when I was told you were dead. That's how I found A-Yuan."

Wei Ying feels two matching droplets fall on his shoulder, and turns his head to leave a fleeting kiss on Lan Zhan's cheek. It's almost involuntary, he doesn't think of it when he does it, and it surprises them both.

"Wei Ying... you don't have to- for my comfort-"

"I want to. I think... I think I've always wanted to." A shy smile. "I never had the time to really think about... love, with everything that happened. But I think I've always loved you, I just never knew that the way I felt about you was called that."

Wei Ying finally stands up and turns to his husband. "When Wen Chao threw me in the Burial Mounds, I used to dream of you, sometimes. We would be in the library and you'd silence me while you worked so I'd write the rules, or you'd catch me sneaking wine in, things like that." A small laugh. "It made living there a lot easier. Just the thought of you gave me hope. It does even now. I don't know if this can be fixed, and while I've done a lot of impossible things, it's never a guarantee I'll succeed this time too. But just knowing you're here with me is enough to make me want to try regardless."

"Wei Ying..."

"Even if I don't remember a lot of things, I know that I love you, that I feel safe with you, that you're my home and my future and my everything. And even if I never get my memories back, I'll just make new ones with you!"

Lan Zhan can't stop himself from kissing Wei Ying now, and he's yelling at himself in his head about it, about overstepping boundaries and losing Wei Ying because he can't control himself.

But Wei Ying kisses him back and all those doubts fade away.

Eventually, they break apart, breathless and teary-eyed.

"I know I'm not your Wei Ying right now-"

Lan Zhan cups his face, caressing his cheeks with his thumbs. "You are. Always have been, always will be, no matter what happens. You're mine and I'm yours."

Wei Ying burrows in his husband's arms, holding him tight. "I wish to never forget this again."

#mdzs #mo dao zu shi #wangxian #writing attempts #theres one more part. i say. with no suspicious intent.

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hanakihan · 8 months

Text

I’ve been having a fever, so have a bit of jinchul meeting AB and becoming their successor

a small warning tho, there’s not really graphic description of gore and abstract decaying descriptions as well as AB being cryptic and Jin-Chul having near hysteria

Everything smelled of rot here.

Jin-Chul remembered hot searing pain, the cracking of his own bones and muscles tearing like an old cloth that wasn’t needed anymore. Before losing consciousness to darkness from shock of pain, he saw his own limbs twisting in ways they clearly shouldn’t be for a human.

To think he was killed like an unwanted doll some child got bored of and decided to see how long it will take before it falls apart. Well, he did expect death as one of endings to his extremely stupid decision of coming to double dungeon Hunter Sung fell a victim to because of course it’s his job to jump after S ranks when they do something. He doesn’t regret his own death, now that he thinks about it (he’s able to think?), but dragging others with him leaves him with a strong taste of bitterness on his tongue (his own blood?).

What he didn’t expect is to still be able to open his eyes after them supposedly falling out of his sockets from pressure. And he does wish his sockets were empty still because light that meets his is painfully white, even burning in its brightness. He instinctively closes them and frowns, bringing up his shaking hands to his face only to feel his cold fingers and lack of equipment. As he moved, he heard a really loud scrapping noise and crashing of metal pieces in absolute silence around him, feeling how some weight disappeared off him.

Jin-Chul took a long minute to stay with his eyes closed, trying to listen to what happens around him and wondering why he’s still alive.

Then again, is he truly alive or is it some agony hallucination he’s having as his mind went into shock from pain?

He really doesn’t want to think about it too much, not in his last minutes before he completely succumbs to agony and finally dies. Maybe he should think about something nice, but then again when something nice happened in his life?

Still facing down, he slowly lowered his hands, and opened his eyes. First thing he notices is a cold white marble floor he’s been sitting on this whole time, so stark white under his dirty bloody suit pants. He’s barefoot for some reason and it’s freezing, he can’t see his toes but he feels dried crust on them. Trying to move only made crust crumble a little and intensify bloody smell that mixes with already strong rotting scent.

(Was he rotting or is there something else that’s been rotting?)

Then he looks at his shaking hands, so pale and almost bloodless, cold to touch and so artificial to his own body. At first he didn’t even notice white ruined shirt he’s wearing but then same dark red crust (was it his own blood?) on torn sleeves made it look like his own hands were torn off and attached as an afterthought.

(He starts to feel like an old reattached doll more and more and he doesn’t like it.)

His hair is a mess from what he feels, but at least this messy curtain hides him from blinding light and need to face his surroundings right away, and he’s grateful for that. There’s also a dull pain in his forehead and he frowns once again, but this time he also feels crust crumble here too, and then warm blood leaks down his brow and in his eye, so he wipes it off with his hand. It’s disgusting and definitely not how he usually would’ve done it, but right now he doesn’t really care. He’s dying anyway so at least he’ll die in small comfort he can find.

(Curse this damned statue and it’s ridiculously giant stone book—)

There’s still that strong smell of rot around him but he’s not really bothered by it. It doesn’t make him gag and want to cover his nose. It’s sickeningly sweet and foul, with hint of wetness and dust to it. He awkwardly wonders if it’s actually his own scent.

「To think that a mere human can find their way into my grave.」

Jin-Chul twitches and goes completely still, holding his breath and staring down at his own hands. In silence a myriad of voices, male and female, elderly and childish, worldly and outwordly was an explosive cacophony that left his ears ringing. It was everywhere and nowhere at the same time, so close yet so far, embracing him fully but also staying away. He knew that something was addressing him, but he was too stunned to even react as echo of words danced around further and further into nothingness. He must’ve stayed silent for too long for the voice (voices?) to speak up again.

「You shall not fear, human. Rise your head up and face your God properly.」

Jin-Chul really wanted to go hysterical right now, because at the end of the day facing a God (is it truly a God, though?) in his dying moment absolutely wasn’t on his list. He really would’ve preferred to stay like that, facing down and just waiting for eternal nothingness, but something commanding in this voice (voices?) and looming shadow over him made him slowly rise his head.

He almost screamed seeing a gigantic white figure looming over him.

A man (woman? something?) with long, snow white hair that fell around them in a silky pool, almost merging with marble in color. Jinchul was partly glad that it blocked most of searing light from above and hid him from whatever was happening outside. Some of loose locks fell on Jin-Chul too, like a small waterfall, on his shoulders, arms and legs, as if he’s a stray butterfly that got caught in a spider web. A figure had empty glowing eyes, and staring back in them Jin-Chul saw sea of stars, so bright and vibrant in their long lived glory, yet so dangerous and distant.

Both kept staring at each other, none making a move or speaking up for a long time. That’s exactly when Jin-Chul noticed that his heart isn’t even beating and that all this time he wasn’t breathing. Realization didn’t terrify him as much as he would’ve expected.

Rotting scent intensified with this figure looming over him, and Jin-Chul, unable to hold eye contact any longer, lowered his eyes. This time he noticed that this being had several wounds in their chest, all empty see-through holes with golden crust around them. There’s white nothingness instead of meat or muscles, but marble ribs are visible, covered in golden cracked roots with blooming glowing flowers on them.

Looking down even more Jin-Chul absentmindedly notes that he can see their marble spine laying on floor further back with what was left of their flesh and robes. That would explain the rotting scent mixed with flowery sweetness.

‘So… the God can also die?..’

And then Jin-Chul snapped his head back up, staring in same unchanging eyes in fear. Can a God read minds? Did he offend them? Devoid of any emotion face didn’t tell him anything, instead proceeding to stare back.

「Humans truly are fearless creatures. To think you’ll dare to openly stare at my body and have such thoughts, yet We feel no offense in that. No wonder He decided to chose a human as His successor.」

Words traveled further into nothingness without leaving a God’s closed mouth. Jin-Chul kept sitting here unmoving, feeling how something cold and liquid touched his hand. His gaze unwillingly lowered, surprised to see a pool of liquid gold slowly accumulating around him and this being, flowing from holes he previously saw. It’s cold, yet at the same time it eases a subtle pain in places where it touches. Jin-Chul states in wonder and uneasiness as gold on his hand erases old ugly scars and eases pains in knuckles.

「We and you are dying, human. Tell Us, do you wish to perish with Us into nothingness or continue your existence?」

So he’s truly dying.

Jin-Chul wonders if it would be easy to just perish. To forget all this pain, and agony and just rest?

But then he’ll leave others alone. To die. To die painfully just because of his awful decisions. He’s afraid of death, he’s afraid of what comes after it. He remembers how Hunter Sung described death to him, out of nowhere when they were drinking tea.

Oh and tea and all small comforts that make life enjoyable and good. He remembers all warm greetings and sweet goodbyes, he remembers all those connections he formed in his life, bad and good, wrapped around him just like silky waterfalls he’s tangled in now. It hurts in all best ways, the memory and feels of what it means to live and be a human, and intensity of it is enough to make his heart beat one more time and for him to take a shaky wet breath to give a proper answer.

He stares back into golden universe, with certainty and no fear, eyes wet with unshed tears and lips quivering in crooked smile.

‘Yes.’

All it takes is a mere second of nothingness before figure above him hums in some sort of satisfaction and allows themselves to smile. And then skin on this beautiful face starts to rot in ugly charred black, as if being burned like a piece of paper, leaving behind marble bones and gold. Body falling apart as if a stone statue being broken to pieces, hair burning into decaying flower petals and gold flowing in waterfalls, drowning Jin-Chul in it. There’s no more bitterness and rot on his tongue, as flowers bloom in his mouth, filling it with sickening sweetness and making him drunk.

Jin-Chul remembered pleasing coldness, the cracking of his own bones and muscles sewn together by golden roots. Before losing consciousness to embrace of gold sea from relief, he saw a God giving their last gift before being reborn.

#solo leveling #woo jin chul #jinchul on his way to wake up jinwoo but failing the quest #surprisingly enough he was able to end up in AB’s dungeon #aka throne cathedral room where he’s been rotting for eternity #AB is emotionless and lacks understanding but he’s kinda mad at Rulers #AB literally was surprised someone managed to enter this place #so he’s like ‘well I will fucking die anyway may at least make everyone’s life harder’#imagine Jinwoo hunting down Monarchs while Jinchul is this close to hunt down Rulers #listen AB was really angry okay

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thekpopgossip · 6 days

Text

HYBE and Min Hee Jin Round 3...

Things are getting really messy between HYBE and ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin, who is getting sued by her employer. She did a press conference today, playing the victim and showing her bruised ego (which seems to be the main cause of this whole fiasco). It was embarrassing to the point of me feeling bad for her lawyer, who tried to stop her from talking nonsense and hurling insults at everyone.

Apparanetley her trying to go independent and backstabbing HYBE, while simultaneously accusing all the sub-labels of copying her ideas, wasn't bad enough, we now know she really is dumb trusting shamans to advise her on business deals. She was crying during the press-con saying: “I feel like they all want me to die. If I suddenly die, will everyone be happy? That’s honestly what I think. I don’t read all the articles and comments. If I do, I can’t live. I wonder if anyone can handle this much distress in a short period of time.” She added, “I am also human, and it’s not confirmed that I’m guilty. I think I’m innocent.” Mind you, she caused all this mess herself and is now getting sued by HYBE who will likely destroy her.

To this point, HYBE is not innocent in this debacle either, they gave her a label, gave her 20 % company shares, gave her Source Music trainees, gave her free control over NewJeans and are now also acting like victims. Those guys enabled her behavior and are now surprised she would try to go independent. Min Hee Jin also addressed some HYBE accusations, like her saying BTS copied her ideas. “Everything that HYBE is saying is a lie. I’ve never said BTS copied me. I want to ask HYBE why they made everything like this and try to ruin me”. Because you tried to go against the company?

I believe that part though, HYBE is playing dirty games here trying to get every fandom to attack her, but again, she caused this herself, when she publicly stated that ILLIT was a copy of NewJeans (which is true, but you don't say that ish out loud).

She also said, she had nothing to do with Source Music disbanding G-Friend, which I also believe. That was a money decision, they wanted a new group that could become a million seller, so LE SSERAFIM was born, and since BTS was going on army hiatus, they needed new groups quick to fill the void. However, pedo Min Hee Jin wouldn't be herself without also mentioning that NJ Minji was the only Source Music trainee she liked (the others were too old), and that she was even prettier when she was younger. She makes it so easy to hate her. MHJ was also majorly pissed that LE SSERAFIM debuted before NewJeans, which became a huge issue internally in the company.

In the press-con she also repeatedly called herself the mother of NewJeans, and that she gave birth to the group. “NewJeans and I have something more than what you would know. They always tell me that they thank me and love me. Hanni told me that she’d come over to me. Haerin is usually like a cat and doesn’t speak a lot, but she called me and told me that she couldn’t come up with the words to text me. She said that she just wanted to hear my voice. Haerin cried for 20 whole minutes” Min bursts into tears. “She told me that she thanks me so much because I helped her through hard times. She said that she wants to tell everyone what happened. The members’ mothers are so worried that I’m going to kill myself. But why would I? I’m going to say everything that I have in my heart. Do you know what Park Ji-won said to the mothers? He said that he’s not going to talk to them, just to ADOR. And they say that they care about NewJeans? I don’t care whether they sue me for libel.” - She's so fucking creepy, as if she didn't make the girls sing "Cookie".

She also went full egomaniac, saying: “It’s not me that turned my back on HYBE, it’s HYBE that betrayed me. It used me to the fullest and now wants to take me down because I don’t listen to them. No one has done what I have done during the 30 years in K-pop. But HYBE is trying to kill someone who’s done what I have as the head of a subsidiary. I’m the only one in the history of the entertainment industry to have reached such results in 2 years, my only crime is being good at my own job.”

At this point, I just feel bad for the idols and staff caught in between all this. HYBE is greedy and wanted their own NewJeans and MHJ tried to backstab her own bosses - now things are falling apart. NJ has a comeback in May too, no idea how this will end for them and whether they will stay at HYBE or go with "mom" MHJ.

#min hee jin #hybe #ador #kpop #newjeans #le sserafim #illit #bts #Bang Si-hyuk

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the-badger-mole · 8 months

Text

No Sound But Silence: Derecho

If anyone had asked Katara what kept her going over the next few weeks of school, she would have told them she was running on pure spite. Her accident, and the subsequent revelation that it had been something a bit less than accidental had raged all over the school. It turned out that an attempted murder had superseded the scandal of her pregnancy, and rather than treating her like a pariah for being a teen statistic, her classmates and teachers were treating her a delicate glass sculpture of a victim. Neither was preferable to Katara because in either case, it was clear that few expected her to finish out the school year.

"Screw 'em!" Toph declared as she escorted her friend from literature to civics. She waved her white cane imperiously in front of her. "You're smarter than just about anyone in this school. Teachers included. And you're handling this whole teen pregnancy thing like a champ. You deserve to finish this on your own terms. I'm frikin proud of you!"

The support of her friends and family helped too, Katara reflected. Since Meng and Aang were still not speaking to her, she was down to three friends in the entire school where she had just the year before been voted most popular. But the support of Toph, Jin and Song was strong enough to counteract the whispers and stares from everyone else. After hearing that she had been deliberately pushed down the stairs and that the culprit hadn't been identified, they hadn't even needed to be asked to serve as Katara's bodyguards. Toph's term, not hers.

Toph's first two classes were next to Katara's, so she escorted her friend for the morning. Even blind, everyone knew that the feisty sophomore had a violent streak was not to be trifled with. Jin was in Katara's next class, and then they all had the same lunch period. The afternoon was a bit more complicated, as that was when Katara had her AP classes. Toph's classes were all on the opposite end of the school, so Jin and Song split escort duties by which teachers would care the least about them being late. Song took Katara to her fourth and sixth classes, since neither her art nor gym teachers cared about attendance in general, and since Jin usually skipped her fifth period class anyway, she took over getting Katara to and from science lab.

"Won't you get in trouble?" Katara asked her friend.

"Please," Jin scoffed. "I'm skipping shop. After that incident with the jigsaw, my teacher is thanking me for not showing up."

In between, they were all trying to figure out who had been responsible for pushing Katara down the stairs. Piando, despite his initial concern for Katara, hadn't been the most helpful in figuring out who had done this to her. He'd turned over the video to the police, but there was little they could do. So the girls had taken it upon themselves to solve the mystery over Katara's protests.

"It had to be Azula," Toph insisted. "Who else has the right mix of crazy and entitlement to push a pregnant woman down a flight of stairs. You said yourself that her dad is pissed that you're carrying his grandchild."

"Azula is too smart to do something so impulsive," Katara sighed, rubbing her temples. She willed the lunch bell to ring. Or for her friends to pick up a different topic.

"But she hasn't been caught," Toph pointed out. "She wouldn't do something like that with witnesses, but she waited specifically until there were no witnesses, and did it where she could easily slip away."

"Well, what about Mai?" Jin suggested. "She still thinks Zuko is her rightful property. I mean I had one date with the guy after they broke up, and she practically threatened my life. She absolutely would push you down the stairs, if she thought it would help her get Zuko back." Katara looked up at the clock and groaned. There was still another twenty minutes left in lunch, and there's no way her friends would let her slip away on their watch.

"You know..." Song piped in, hesitantly. "Meng was pretty upset. You don't think she could've...you know..." The table went silent and the four friends turned to the empty seats where Aang and Meng should have been. Katara wasn't sure where either of them had been spending their lunch periods, but they were nowhere to be seen.

"No way," Katara said mostly to herself. Then she turned back to her friends. "No way. I mean, Meng was upset with me, but she isn't capable of that." She expected a chorus of agreement, but was met with uncomfortable silence.

"I...I'm sure you're right," Jin said at last. "After all, she became a pacifist after Aang told her he was. She wouldn't do anything to make Aang think that she is capable of hurting someone. Not after seeing how upset he was after you told him you considered abortion." Still, the unsettled feeling didn't lift. Katara cleared her throat and picked at her meal.

"It's pointless to speculate," she told her friends for what felt like the hundredth time. "We have no way of knowing for sure, and all we're doing is making ourselves paranoid for no reason."

"I wouldn't call you being shoved headfirst down the stairs no reason," Toph snorted. "But maybe we should put a pin in this. At the rate we're going, we'll be adding Aang to the list of suspects next."

"It's not as big a stretch as you think," Jin said archly. "He did go full on Nice Guy on Katara. You know those tend to be the ones who snap and snap hard."

"Stop it," Song chided. "He's our friend."

"So is Meng," Jin pointed out.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-

At home, there was little reprieve from the hunt for her assailant. Hakoda, Zuko and Iroh weren't as blatant as her friends, but Katara knew from the hushed conversations that ended abruptly when she entered a room that they were no less interested in finding the culprit. It wasn't that Katara wasn't interested, but she knew that none of them had anymore idea than she had about who it could be, and it was causing her more frustration to have this guessing game played around her than it would have to just not know.

"Can't we get a copy of that security video?" Katara heard Zuko ask her father. "I know it's grainy, but Piando doesn't know all the social circles. Maybe one of our friends would recognize who it was." Katara sighed and walked into the kitchen. The conversation, of course, came to an abrupt end.

"I have twelve weeks of school left," she told her father and fiance. "Can we please just get me to the finish line with no more drama?"

"Of course!" both Zuko and Hakoda had solemnly promised.

For a while, that promise was kept, but it turned out, that no more drama was easier said than done. Katara, through a campaign of begging, pleading, and turning the conversation back to potential baby names and plans for a combination baby and bridal shower, was able to get her friends off the hunt for her assailant. At least during their lunch break. But a bit over a month later, Katara opened her locker and a plain white envelope fluttered down somewhere near her feet. Jin scooped it up helpfully and handed it to her.

"Weird," Katara said. "You get one?"

"Nope." Jin shook her head. The bell rang, and Katara tucked it into a textbook. She needed to get to her science lab. The envelope could wait.

Katara was home before she remembered. She and Zuko were studying together, and they had set up at the kitchen table while Hakoda prepared dinner. Zuko spotted the envelope poking out of her science text book and tugged at it.

"Letter from your secret admirer?" He joked.

"Maybe," Katara said, sticking her tongue out at him. Inside the envelope was a piece of pink construction paper, and for a moment, Katara thought it actually was a card or something. The note, though, was made of letters cut out from magazines and newspapers, like a ransom note from a movie. A thrill of horror went through Katara as she read the first line.

I know who pushed you down the stairs...

Part 1.... Part 28, Part 29

#atla #zutara #no sound but silence #THE YEAR OF CONTENT!!!!

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curio-queries · 3 months

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Run BTS: 042 | Sports Challenge

Original Air Date: 27 FEB 2018 Episode Length: 25:27 Total Parts: 1 YouTube English Subtitles: Yes Title Song: Blood Sweat & Tears

Synopsis: Various challenges at a sports complex

Production: I actually really liked the bike challenge. Perfect type of game for the show. Hear me out, I think the ropes course was actually kinda a bad call for the show. Fun to do in person, but they obviously struggled with the edit. it absolutely kills the momentum of the episode, especially when we keep cutting to the other 6 literally laying on the ground, bringing up how long the other person is taking. There's some great moments, but it needed a better edit to keep the energy up. Overall, I still think it's a good episode, just needs a little work to be excellent.

Endearment: Excellent episode for showing their charms. The guys are always a little more elevated when they get to do something physical, but them in a competition against each other and it's amost a guaranteed success.

Winner: JM

Loser: JH

Best Cheater: none

Member Moments:

RM: RMs comments during Jin's run on the ropes course were gold, my favorite was Vicarious Satisfaction

JN: Jin's height makes that final jump look tiny lol

YG: We've seen it before but one of Yoongi's best qualities is how unbothered he is when he's not the best performer. He absolutely owns his inability to be the fastest in a way that doesn't make him seem like a victim. Such a great role model.

JH: Hobi's absolute excitement when the punishment hat doesn't work to the instant sadness when he starts getting wet is so beautiful.

JM: Of course Jimin is the one to start the artistry bit on the ropes course!

V: V mentioned the safety song and i couldn't get those visuals from their commercial out of my head...

JK: I love how absolutely no one bothered him during the bike chalkenge, and he still got it wrong! they knew! lol

Bonus Content: Is this a rare V solo karaoke clip? He usually only does it if some of the others join him.

CQ Rank: 4

youtube

(CQ Eval Date: 07 JAN 2024)

Check out this post for my Masterlist of all episodes and descriptions of how I'm evaluating these.

Previous Episode: 041

Next Episode: 043

#bangtan sonyeondan #jeon jungkook #youtube #park jimin #bts #kim seokjin #kim taehyung #jung hoseok #kim namjoon #min yoongi #run bts #ep.042

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popontomarlie · 3 months

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i don't really like making theories for two reasons: one, i like to let the creators tell me a story and consume it without interrupting first and then analyze it; two, i don't really like to make assumptions on so little data, six episodes are not enough there is soooo much room for surprises left.

however i do want to articulate my thoughts on phi and jin because my brain's been rotting about them since the trailers. and i like jin for whatever subjective reason. also, i do want to be wrong about everything because i want to be surprised!

i want to summarize everything they showed us in the trailer, flashbacks, flashbacks of the flashbacks and current timeline scenes.

we know that phi and jin used to be fwb and jin apparently does not have feelings for phi. however phi kept lurking at jin and asked him about moving to usa and just leaving everything behind. maybe he didn't mean their past relationship but their connection to non. maybe non is dead or maybe he moved, and phi and jin became close because they both were in love with non? or maybe phi and jin became close and then jin realized that phi was plotting something and broke things off? and he was easy for phi as he said himself, maybe this is why he can't stand phi now?? because he let phi use himself so phi could get closer to others? but jin does not stop him because he also wants his friends to be punished??

i believe that jin is not just a victim here and somehow behind all of this too. that smile in the end of episode 4?? he is not that simple. what if he somehow blames phi? like, he had a crush on non, then he knew that phi and non were fwb/bfs, and he wondered why phi did not protect non until it was too late?

there is also a chance that they're working together.

now let's focus on pre-release trailer, which has no plot just vibes but things like this usually have a lot of hints. it's obvious that it's phi who is beating someone behind the glass door. so, i believe this hints that phi is gonna take revenge. jin is filming this, so this might mean that he is with phi/plotting something on his own, but he won't be haunted like top, por and tee. and his smile in the end? this boi is definitely up to something!

while talking about pre-release trailer, tee is gonna suffer a lot, this is what i think. to think so, por was just an asshole, top was a bigger asshole, liar, coward and every curse word that exists. but tee? he got non involved into money laundering. he is gonna be the last to be murdered and it is gonna be painful.

i still don't know what to think about scenes with por, he is probably dead already, but maybe he is haunted/regrets his actions while in high school? (upd: was too occupied with phijin that i forgot about the moment when por sees janga in his camera! boi is gonna be haunted since hs!)

also don't know about white for sure. it's understandable why he has scenes with tee in pre-release trailer, but that scene where he hugs jin, and then they shove each other, and then white appears in the mirror near jin? white surely doesn't know a lot but what if he takes jin's side by the end of the series?

also! i do believe or at least i want to believe that it is not just a person killing them, but this janta god is haunting them. what if non sacrificed himself so his offenders are punished? what if jin did something in that temple? remember that in the first scene we saw non and jin running in the woods.

(i have some wildest guests about the teacher and possibility that jin killed him protecting non/making sacrifice; or maybe non, jin and the teacher went to that temple and something happened to the teacher and that's why non and jin were running in the first scene?)

#dff the series #dead friend forever #i've definitely watched pre-release TOO many times #i remember all cuts second by second #this show makes me crying screaming throwing up

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twilightarc-gm · 1 year

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Repeating Themes in MDZS, a Headcanon for Jin Guangshan

Have you heard of Human Cauldrons?

Caibu (采补) can be translated as “Plucking to Nurture”. The idea was that a person could greatly increase their cultivation by plundering the vital energies of their partner during sex. A male doing this to his female partner (as was usually the case) was said to be “Plucking Yin to Nurture Yang” (采阴补阳). It added a connotation of rape to dual cultivation, since it was victimizing and especially since young girls were seen as prime targets to “plunder”.

You kind of see similar concepts to this in other xianxia that delves more into "Evil Ways" (Mo Dao). Basically, the taking of vital energy from a human unable to defend themselves to increase the power of the user.

Things we know about Jin Guangshan:

Appears to be between 30 and 40.

Handsome.

Fucks around alot.

Is very interested in unorthodox ways to gain power.

At the time of his death, he looked sickly.

Other things we know from MDZS.

With proper addition of radicals, a spell can be reversed from its intended purpose.

Jin Guangyao had access to Wei Wuxian's work and would know this.

Jin Guangyao held some responsibility for pulling his father from the whore houses, so had means to know where Jin Guangshan was and what his preferences were.

All that being said, what's my heckin' point?

My headcanon is that Jin Guangshan was using working ladies as Human Cauldrons to keep his own vitality up and increase his cultivation. I further headcanon that this technique he probably used is a secret of the upper echelons of the Lanling Jin, and like all taboo-adjacent techniques, parts of the whys and how-tos may have been lost over generations, as mastery diminished due to secrecy.

Additional supposition:

Jin Guangyao likely had access to a lot of secrets around Lanling Jin. Maybe even access to some manuals about sexual practices to keep Jin Clan Leaders healthy and going for a long time.

Anyway, it would make sense that Jin Guangshan would spread his favor around so that it's not obvious what he is doing, as the working ladies may begin to look as if they have aged faster. Yes, he's probably also naturally fickle, but both can be true and feed on the other.

Madam Jin honestly dodged an arrow on that one, though I am not sure she was entirely unaware. If he spends all his time politicking, partying, and fucking, then when does he cultivate? 🤔 I like to headcanon for her that she suspected him using unorthodox practices. We know she "struggles with depression" for a few years before succumbing to her own death. Given that she didn't seem to have a lovely relationship with her husband, potentially her misery might include sympathy for the girls Jin Guangshan tried to consume in his own efforts to cultivate.

Hey! But what about the way Jin Guangshan died?!

Part of this headcanon includes Jin Guangyao reversing Jin Guangshan's sexual technique. Maybe with hidden seals on the bed. Maybe with women wearing robes with reversing talismans in them. Jin Guangyao seems resourceful enough to be able to plan for his father to make contact with certain women in certain leisure houses.

The reversal would obviously distress Jin Guangshan, but these are regular women so the amount they can affect him would be minimal. Jin Guangshan would start to lag. He would start to become more irritable. He would start to weaken... become "sickly," if you will. He would possibly fuck around more trying to get back to normal.

And due to this technique being--possibly--inherited practice, Jin Guangshan may not realize every aspect about it. Maybe he convinces himself that there's diminishing returns. Maybe Jin Guangyao played the long game and made sure he would think that? 💛Jin Guangyao💛 does play an altered song for Mingjue for quite a bit before Mingjue succumbs to it.

Anyway, by the time we see the old stallion rut his last, he is already in such bad shape and Jin Guangyao brings in specifically older women to finish the job. Older women that would take a greater share of Jin Guangshan's vitality, by the simple nature of the deficit they have in vitality, due to age.

And they were likely energized by Jin Guangshan, so much so that they apparently go twelve (12) rounds with him before noticing he had succumbed to his fate.

I like this headcanon as it seems even more fitting for how those who practice Evil Ways are inevitably the architects of their own downfall. If Jin Guangshan had just stopped what he was doing, he would have lived.

((Well, until he's killed some other way, oops!))

#jin guangshan #jin guangyao #lanling jin #mdzs #headcanon #cultivation mechanics #twi posts #tw rape

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lryghe · 9 months

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MDZS thoughts; jiang cheng

I have been meaning to talk about Jiang Cheng for a while considering he is a very special character and someone that I love thinking about. Because he’s just so interesting to think about, and his closeness to the main character of the story is probably why he’s so highlighted despite the fact he doesn't contribute to the plot the same way all other characters are that have been explored in depth (e.g. Lan Wangji, Nie Huaisang, Jin Guangyao). Yes, this post will contain spoilers, but not just from the novel this time, I would like to incorporate elements from the live action (despite my dislike of it). This may end up being not nearly as thought out as I usually am with my posts, to which I apologise for in advance (also for those who may eventually expect the second half of my MXTX themes and conventions post, you will never get it. I lost inspiration and my thought process deleted itself so I have nothing for you).

I saw a post the other day and it was exploring the idea of characters that are driven by grief and rage, characters who devolve over the length of the story, characters who change, but never for the better. And my first thoughts were like Azula, or maybe Sasuke, but then I remembered that my favourite fictional character of all time, Jiang Cheng is Right Here and he’s so interesting to analyse. Because he is that character that is driven by grief and rage. He has been fighting since he was like 17 and became Jiang Sect Leader at the cost of everyone around him. He is the character that devolves over the length of the story, because he’s so strong for the majority of it, but 13 years of mourning and a revived brother who turns his whole world upside down again is so so damaging to him. And he is that character who changes for the worse, because young Jiang Cheng was always so willing to go along with his older brothers schemes, always so desperate for the approval of those around him, but decades of grief have worn him down to his very foundations, and he is a husk of grief disguised as rage. He no longer needs the approval of the Sect Leaders around him because he is the fearsome Sandu Shengshou, the three poisons.

I refuse to assume a pitying role with Jiang Cheng though. I see a lot of people saying he did nothing wrong, that he was the victim in the entire situation but I seriously despise when people say this about him. Because he has very clearly done bad things, and sometimes he has no excuse. Sometimes he was just a bad guy, and that’s okay. The live action went on this whole narrative about how Wei Wuxian was a total victim in everything that happened and people have started applying this type of narrative to every other characters, which is so silly in places because MXTX creates these characters to be criticised. They are well rounded and whole characters, and there is a whole spectrum of grey in regards to their actions and motivations. You are definitely allowed to feel bad for characters though, who am I to tell you what to do, but remember to be objective in analysis. Jiang Cheng ‘tortured’ demonic cultivators because he hated his brother so much (allegedly), he abandoned his brother when he was the Yiling Patriarch, he is harsh and cruel and he’s always able to find the one thing to hurt those around him (even to Wei Wuxian, who is notoriously good at not being hurt by what others say to him).

And to ignore this would be a disservice. Jiang Cheng is forever a part of Wei Wuxian’s backstory, forever the character in MDZS that does not get their redemption, forever Sandu Shengshou, a poison to those surrounding him. And it’s so interesting to think about this concept of poison in relation to Jiang Cheng because objectively, it's like. Kind of true. Literally every other Jiang is dead, even the unofficial Jiang, Wei Wuxian. No one likes Jiang Cheng very much, and he’s purposefully left out of the big 3 ‘zuns’ of the cultivation world, a very informal alliance between the Lans, Nies, and Jins. Even geographically so (in reference MXTX’s presentation of where the sects would be on a real map of China) Yunmeng is isolated from all other notable sects, the only notable place nearby being the Qishan Wen and the Burial Mounds, both not being very happy places to be. His nephew Jin Ling embodies all the outward traits that people don't like about him, brash and arrogant and refusal to admit one's faults. In all senses of the world, Jiang Cheng really is a poison to everyone around him. And this idea of poison is so cool because Jiang Cheng is a background character objectively. His screen time is mostly just to further the emotional plights of Wei Wuxian but he’s such an important antagonist (of sorts!).

The time skip is both a wonderful and fearsome thing in reference to this thought, because we can only guess what happens during those 13 years where he doesn't have screen time, and although there are parts mentioned of what happens (e.g. Jin Guangyao becomes sect leader, Nie Mingjue dies, Lan Wangji goes wherever the chaos is) we don't know the details, specifically in regards to Jiang Cheng. Those 13 years is where he is pushed out of the narrative spotlight, and he’s not relevant until the whole golden core fiasco near the end, which is good because it keeps him as a background character (being otherwise would be detrimental to the themes of the novel), but scary because it takes away so much power from the other characters.

I just want to end this by saying that I actually love Jiang Cheng and that manifests in writing long posts about how horrible and complicated he is because it's completely fine to be a bad person, that's what makes some of these characters so interesting. He is my favourite out of all of MXTX’s works, right up there alongside Luo Binghe and Xie Lian. So if you ever see me ‘dissing’ these characters, it is born from a love that compels me to analyse them.

Also I wrote this instead of revising for an assessment worth 30% of my overall grade literally an hour before said assessment worth 30% of my overall grade.

Words: 1091

Reading time: 4 mins

#no regrets if i fail its fine anyways (cryinh)#mdzs #mo dao zu shi #mxtx #jiang cheng #jiang wanyin #sandu shengshou #lan wangji #the untamed #cql #wei wuxian #luo binghe #xie lian #tagging every character mentioned because im silly like that #expect a vicious mbti analysis of him in the future ft me dissing the fuck out of literally every pdb poster on the mdzs profiles

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