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amedetoiles · 4 years

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pls tell me your thoughts about the potential for wwx-jgy friendship? i just like the idea of them having similar experiences as like: poor street kid/poor brothel kid, would kill god for the people they care about, made of knives, incredibly charming and personable. i feel like they could have Seen each other and understood each other really well, and like, things would have ended up better maybe?

Gosh. Ok, so full disclosure before I answer this: I am really not the most sympathetic towards Jin Guangyao. I am just not a fan of him in any universe where he is complicit if not directly responsible for the death of his own child to protect his own reputation (up for debate, but nonetheless Jin Rusong fucking deserved better), gaslights his wife / half-sister into committing suicide, and has a monologue meltdown about how difficult his life has been to his own orphaned and bullied nephew whose childhood he had a hand in destroying. I am glad he got kicked down the same stairs twice, and I am glad Nie Huaisang beat him at his own game. All in all to say that my thoughts on him might be colored by this. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

But let’s get into this! Jin Guangyao is a great character foil to Wei Wuxian. The circumstances of his life that shaped his morality (or lack thereof) and the choices he makes in response are tragic and understandable. I definitely think Jin Guangyao could have been a different person, a better person, if his father wasn’t such a trash heap, if society hadn’t been such a gigantic dick about his mother, and if he hadn’t needed to claw his way into achieving everything he did. Wei Wuxian says himself that he doesn’t consider Jin Guangyao a villain.

However, I hesitate to say that had they struck up a friendship, Jin Guangyao and Wei Wuxian could have understood each other easily and that this could have changed things. Don’t get me wrong! I can definitely see how influence could have been made where a friendship between these two would have fixed it all. Or at least improved things. Especially in association with Wei Wuxian, Jiang Yanli’s nonjudgemental kindness (under the condition that nobody hurts her little brothers) would have been extremely refreshing to Meng Yao.

But I also think the differences between Wei Wuxian and Jin Guangyao would have made it difficult for them to truly understand and agree with each other. And it’s these differences that ultimately decide each of their fates.

I will try to organize my thoughts on this. First, the discussion of privilege.

1. Wei Wuxian and Jin Guangyao are not on the same privilege level.

While both Wei Wuxian and Jin Guangyao are scorned in some way, shape, or form for their parents’ statuses, Wei Wuxian is still the son of cultivators. He is still the son of Cangse sanren, a disciple of a famed immortal. His pedigree and legacy are undeniable. Jin Guangyao, on the other hand, is the unwanted son of a lecherous sect leader and a sex worker. In a society where hierarchy and reputation is everything, this places Jin Guangyao in an entirely different pedigree in a way that Wei Wuxian wouldn’t be able to understand.

Wei Wuxian is also brought into the Jiang sect and given a chance to cultivate at an early age where Jin Guangyao doesn’t. Wei Wuxian can punch the heir of a rich sect leader, leading to the dissolution of his sister’s political marriage alliance, and still get nothing but a slap on the wrist because boys will be boys. He can interrupt important post-war celebration dinners to tell that same rich sect leader to fuck off with his marriage proposal and then promptly skip away without any real consequences. He can accidentally send his friend’s little brother into a murderous rampage, and his own little brother will apologize on his behalf and offer to pay reparations.

Wei Wuxian may not have the same privilege as sect heirs like Jiang Cheng or Lan Wangji, but he has far more privilege than Jin Guangyao and Su She. This is important because it is this privilege that Wei Wuxian sacrifices later in order to the protect the Wens. I am not saying Wei Wuxian doesn’t suffer. He does, a truly horrendous amount, but even without his golden core, even when his self-worth is at an all-time low, he is still supported and protected by his status in the Jiang sect until he gives it up to do the right thing. Despite Lan Xichen and the Nies, Jin Guangyao doesn’t have this same kind of backing.

(With that being said though, Jin Guangyao does become Chief Cultivator, so there is only so far one can fall back on their disadvantages in society when they have already reached the top. Being marginalized is not an excuse to be a jackass to your nephew whose parents you had a hand in killing, just saying.)

One can argue that had Jin Guangyao been raised in the Jiang sect while Wei Wuxian continued to scrape for food on the streets, their outlook on life would have been completely different. But even taking into account Jiang Yanli’s overwhelmingly positive influence on a young Meng Yao, I am still inclined to disagree because of my next point.

2. Wei Wuxian and Jin Guangyao are fundamentally different in how they respond/cope with public gossip and ridicule.

Wei Wuxian, for the most part, lets these comments roll off his back. This is not to say he doesn’t care or that they don’t affect him. They clearly do, and his actions, his self-perception, and his increasingly arrogant bravado as the story progresses reflect the deluge of verbal abuse he’s face with, largely at the hands of Madam Yu. But he copes by being loud, by being talented, by becoming even more outrageous and more unorthodox the more people criticize him. So what if people don’t approve? So what if people look down on his father and gossip about his mother’s supposed relationship with Jiang Fengmian? As long as he is true to himself and his moral convictions, he can walk this dark single plank road alone and without regrets.

Jin Guangyao, on the other hand, desperately and reverently wants to be included. He wants to be accepted, to be liked. He wants to be in the room where it happens. He takes every single comment to heart, carries every disdainful remark on his back like an open scar. He is both someone who loves and respect his mother and who hates her for the constant shadow she casts over him and his place in society. He will build a Guanyin statue in her likeness, in her honor. He will wear a hat because she once told him that a gentleman always wears hats. And yet, he will spend everyday of his life trying to rid himself of his connection to her.

Where Wei Wuxian recklessly cares too little about appearances and what people think of him, Jin Guangyao cares far too much. Wei Wuxian doesn’t give one flying iota about politics, about status and acclaim. He was perfectly fine with being a lotus farmer on a mountain. Even if Wei Wuxian had never been taken in by the Jiangs (and managed to survive the streets), I genuinely think he would still have been largely the same – a child who is kind, open, curious, and holds few grudges. I am not sure I can say that even under the best circumstances, Jin Guangyao wouldn’t have . It destroys him. .

This ties into my last point.

3. Wei Wuxian and Jin Guangyao have completely opposing priorities and beliefs on the worth of others.

Wei Wuxian will throw himself in front of anybody if his moral compass tells him it is the right thing to do. He is a genuinely open-hearted person who cares deeply about others and thinks it is morally corrupt to do nothing when something can be done. He is idealistic and optimistic, oftentimes to a fault. Jin Guangyao, as a result of his childhood and circumstances, is incredibly pessimistic and cynical. It is every person for themselves out here. The world is a crooked shitshow, conflict is inevitable, and he has to come out on top no matter what.

This leads to him sacrificing pretty much everyone in his life in order to maintain his own reputation. Like I do genuinely think Jin Guangyao truly cared about Jin Ling! I think he also in his own way cared about Lan Xichen, Nie Mingjue, and Nie Huaisang! But I also think a large portion of that is because he enjoyed how they made him feel. He enjoyed being liked and being depended upon. And we see clearly what happens when those benefits cease. Whereas Wei Wuxian would rather throw himself off a cliff than hurt any more people he loves, Jin Guangyao would rather push his own people off the cliff if it means his reputation and appearance remain intact. And if that’s not possible, he would rather set them on fire along with him.

This has become an entirely too long rambling essay to say that while Wei Wuxian and Jin Guangyao share similar experiences, their primary priorities are so different and opposing that it is hard for me to come up with a way in which a friendship between them could have changed things. Sure, Jin Guangyao could have benefited from Wei Wuxian’s unabashed and staunch defense of his friend. Anyone who talks shit about Jin Guangyao’s mother will get punched in the face, and it would maybe have made Jin Guangyao feel less alone in the world, less like he only had himself and his manipulative ways to seek acceptance.

But what happens when Wei Wuxian being Wei Wuxian runs around causing social and political uproar to do what he thinks is right? Is Jin Guangyao going to help and support him, or is he going to throw Wei Wuxian under the bus to protect his own reputation? Personally, I think the importance he places on public perception would ultimately be too great. It destroys his relationships, and it destroys him.

#陈情令 #the untamed #mdzs #wei wuxian #jin guangyao #i love wwx so much and he deserves so much #mdzs meta #!mine #!meta #gosh this really got away from me #i'm so sorry for writing a gigantic rambling mess for your question anon #i'm not even sure i answered the question????#ahhhh ds;gk;ldg #but as much as i like the parallels between jgy and wwx i think their differences are too great #more than wwx tho i think if anything jyl would have been a very positive influence #if she had been allowed to get her claws in during her brief time at koi tower #like her unending kindness could've certainly brought him around to some better choices #and softened his need for validation and acceptance from his father #but idk that wwx chaotic gremlin personality and lack of care for reputation and opinion would jive very well with jgy #i think much better would be the jin siblings finding some happiness and acceptance with each other #by plotting the murder of their father together!#revenge brings a family together!#[ ask eve ]#anonymous

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tentative-wanderer · 5 years

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Grandmaster of Legal Cultivation 律道祖师

Law Students + Flatmates AU. Enjoy!

The Exam Life + A Whole New World

“Lan Wangji.”

Pin-drop silence.

“Lan Zhan.”

The person in question remained as immutable as an ancient stone statue of the Buddha.

“Second Brother Lan~”

“WEI WUXIAN!” Jiang Cheng roared, slamming his evidence law notes onto the table.

Slightly cowed, Wei Wuxian gave him a sheepish glance, but mumbled: “I wasn’t calling you...”

“I don’t care if you were calling god or the devil; if you don’t shut the hell up, I swear I will stuff this book down your throat.”

Pursing his lips, Wei Wuxian surveyed the web-like blood vessels spreading across the whites of Jiang Cheng’s eyes and his tattoo-like eyebags. “I think you should take a break. If you keep this up, your mum is gonna bring a claim against the uni for inhuman and degrading treatment.”

Wei Wuxian didn’t think it was possible for any more blood to drain from Jiang Cheng’s pallid face, but Jiang Cheng managed it. “Shit, what article was that again? And what’s the relevant case...” Rubbing a hand wearily across his eyes, Jiang Cheng dragged his laptop towards himself and started typing. “E-C-H-R...”

“Article 3, Gafgen v Germany.” The glacial presence at the table finally broke his silence.

“Unfair! You answered him but not me, even though I was practically begging.” Wei Wuxian sprawled across his notes, his cheek on the paper.

“Focus,” said Lan Wangji, a hint of reproof in his tone. The exam on Thursday was looming over their heads like a storm cloud, yet Wei Wuxian didn’t seem to worry about whether or not he had an umbrella.

“I’ve been focusing for hours, it’s my break time now.” Wei Wuxian turned and prodded Jiang Cheng. “You two should stop for a while too. Especially you, zombie man.”

“If I stop now, I will sleep and never wake up again in this lifetime,” said Jiang Cheng darkly.

“I would offer you some coffee, but I’m afraid any more of that will kill you. Bubble tea instead.” Wei Wuxian got up and stretched like a cat, the line of his back a graceful arch. He met Lan Wangji’s quiet gaze and threw a mockingly sultry look in his direction. “Wanna come with me to...get some?”

Lan Wangji knew Wei Wuxian was talking about tea, but his brow creased slightly anyway, to Wei Wuxian’s delight. Still, Lan Wangji refrained from expressing any admonishments as he tidied his books and papers and stood up.

“Look how far you’ve come,” said Wei Wuxian approvingly as he ambled down the street, Lan Wangji at his side. “Just last year you would have called me ‘pathetic’ if I so much as twitched the wrong way. Now you can even tolerate innuendoes.”

Lan Wangji lowered his gaze. “Mm.”

“Speaking of coming so far, I can’t believe we’re already approaching the end of our second year. Have you figured out your plans after this degree?”

“No,” said Lan Wangji. But he knew Wei Wuxian had. Wei Wuxian was going to become a barrister, and an incredible one at that. Lan Wangji was sure of that. No one could tear their eyes away when Wei Wuxian gave his speeches in debates and moot competitions. He was confident, eloquent, and excellent at thinking on his feet. Furthermore, he was sociable—a soft skill that Lan Wangji had never realised was crucial for life and for most employment prospects in the field of law until he was in his late teens. By then, Lan Wangji was already an ice cube. An ice cube who was unsure if he was cut out to be a lawyer. Lan Wangji was a stoic and single-minded worker, not a socially adept energy-filled multitasker. That was Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian, Wei Wuxian. Wei Ying, who barged into his room on the first day and proceeded to shamelessly make himself comfortable on Lan Wangji’s chair, in Lan Wangji’s life, in his thoughts and dreams.

Had Lan Xichen not coerced him into renting a room in a shared flat instead of a single room in a student hall, things would have been so different. He wouldn’t have had the chance to listen to Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng’s surprisingly witty bickering at mealtimes, watch Jiang Cheng wrestle the last muffin from Wei Wuxian’s claws (“If you eat more you’ll explode! I refuse to clean your guts off the floor.”) and grumpily push it towards Lan Wangji, or be dragged out by Wei Wuxian to plays, pubs, tourist spots and social events. He wouldn’t have had the chance to hear Wei Wuxian ramble, sometimes randomly and sometimes earnestly, about his ideas, opinions, and ideals, and be bugged until he shared his own.

It would have been a dreary world.

“...Lan Zhan? Earth to Lan Zhan!” Startling out of his reverie, Lan Wangji turned to face Wei Wuxian. He realised that Wei Wuxian had extended a finger, presumably to poke his cheek, and now that finger was closing rapidly.

Wei Wuxian’s fingertip brushed against his lips.

“...Oops.” The culprit removed the offending appendage sheepishly.

It was only a brief touch, but it made Lan Wangji feel something that lasted longer than a careless brush should.

Lan Wangji wouldn’t put it past Wei Wuxian to quickly follow up with an offhand tease, but Wei Wuxian unexpectedly remained silent as they resumed walking.

EDIT: there’s a new ficlet for this AU :) click the #my mdzs fic tag to read it

#魔道祖师 #the founder of diabolism #grandmaster of demonic cultivation #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #my mdzs fic #wei wuxian #jiang cheng #lan wangji #wangxian #it’s hard to write LWJ #BC HE HARDLY TALKS #i admire mxtx for managing a character like him

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