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August recs
Once again, mostly recs for The Untamed, plus two for Guardian and one original story! My favorite five-ish fics on top, and another seventeen below.
Friendly reminder to leave a comment or kudos if you’ve got the energy, or if you’re feeling shy you can try reblogging this post on Tumblr and tag which stories you liked so more people check them out! (I also like to see what stories people agree with me on, as well *g*)
a life without sun by thankgodforpandas
A great calamity fell upon Qishan Wen. It's said that some of the Wens still live, surviving on turnips and raw hope, but Jiang Cheng has not thought of Qishan Wen in years. He has enough on his mind with securing a lecture for Yunmeng Jiang, and somehow, dealing with Wei Wuxian's nauseating affection for Lan Wangji.
Compelling AU where even with no war, there’s still a lot of Jiang family emotional damage to deal with. Fantastic Jiang Cheng character study with a very different set of challenges for LWJ/WWX.
the final cut by wildehack
A boy is going to die.
The only question is: what is Huaisang going to do about it?
I cried during most of the fic and for about half an hour afterward, so, you know, save it for a time where you're emotionally ready for that -- but it is WORTH IT. Hands down the best Nie Huaisang characterization I've read anywhere, an incredible story following him and his complicated relationship with Mo Xuanyu over the years as he investigates and gets increasingly obsessed with his revenge on Jin Guangyao. Also the richest Mo Xuanyu portrayal I've read anywhere - he's so doomed (see: the summary), but he has depth and agency, and holy SHIT the ending is STUNNING and BRUTAL and BRILLIANT, I love it SO MUCH.
Call and Response by x_los
After three years of planning, the young Lan brothers play Inquiry for their mother. Unfortunately Inquiry compels answers and prohibits lying, and Madam Lan had plenty of secrets.
This obviously leans into the ugliest interpretation of the Twin Jades’ parental relationship (which I find sadly plausible), but it’s very powerfully written, and you can see the brothers’ different reactions to the information shapes their future characters. Also the bit about LWJ’s courtesy name (and their birth names) was sharp as hell.
I’m gonna cheat and also rec The Same Cloth here (linked by a series to Call and Response but per the author, it’s not technically in continuity), in which post-canon Lan Wangji meets Madam Lan's family for the first time while traveling with Wei Wuxian. It’s still full of edges but is much more healing and sweet, and has a great set of OCs and lots of feelings about family, for both Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian.
I could drink a case of you and still be on my feet by failedcharismacheck
Looking between Lan Zhan, so clearly pleased with himself, and the orange in his hand, Wei Wuxian cannot help but burst into a fit of poorly-contained laughter.
"Ah, what a hearty meal you've provided for me, Hanguang-Jun!" he sighs as the giggles subside. As far as Lan Zhan’s drunken preoccupation with giving away food goes, this is a bit of a downgrade from two whole, extremely fresh chickens. Or perhaps Wei Ying has simply become spoiled.
(Wei Wuxian comes back from his walkabout. Lan Wangji gives Emperor's Smile another try and worries for his friend's dietary habits.)
Again, not the first story to deal with WWX wanting to stay with LWJ but worrying he’s an imposition while LWJ feels he can’t ask for things like that from WWX, but a very soft and delicate and charming way to resolve that dilemma. Featuring Emperor’s Smile and adorable-drunk!LWJ, feeding your crush oranges, and hiding under the blankets from your hangover.
Look Not With The Eyes by Spodumene
Wei Wuxian returns from his travels to join Lan Wangji on a routine night hunt, but when things take an unexpected turn, Wei Wuxian will have to fight for what he's really looking for.
In which Lan Wangji gets hit with a love spell (in the ‘everyone who sees him falls in love’ mode) while on a nighthunt with Wei Wuxian, who is, SO MYSTERIOUSLY, unaffected by the spell. *g* (Yes, I love this specific trope variation, why do you ask?) Both a well-crafted casefile and a lovely get-together.
still waters by wtf_melodie - short but perfectly drawn post-canon fic where they figure out they’re kinky.
Tripped at Every Step by brooklinegirl - Soft post-canon get-together. I’m not sure how to describe this: Lan Wangji vs Wei Wuxian’s terrible neglect for his own well-being, and subsequent bed-sharing? Lan Wangji’s patient seduction of Wei Wuxian, stymied by WWX’s self-worth issues? I was skimming through trying to pin it down but kept distracted re-reading bits, so there’s a recommendation for you. Also: very hot.
Something Unpredictable by airinshaw - in which teenaged Lan Wangji has prophetic dreams of post-canon Wangxian, specifically how they are obviously in love yet his future self keeps letting WWX leave? A neat plot device for a very sweet and careful get-together.
OTHER POSTCANON
your name, safe in their mouth by astrolesbian - in which Sizhui gets injured on a nighthunt, Wei Wuxian comforts his A-Yuan, and then they trip over 16 years of being separated and having to figure out their new dynamic. Good h/c, great family feels.
cranes flying west by noelia_g - Wen Qing lives!!! On the premise that if JGY faked Wen Ning’s death, why not Wen Qing, most talented doctor of her generation, as well? The latest story is a WIP, but the first few stories are great.
Still in the Water by airgeer - excellent Jin Ling centric casefile, featuring his growing friendship with Sizhui, the shadows of the Sunshot Campaign, and plenty of dangerous fights in which he is Definitely Not Worried About His Resurrected Uncle.
RARE PAIRINGS
This side of paradise by greenfionn (Wei Wuxian/Wen Qing) - platonic WWX/WQ smut at the Burial Mounds. Both very hot and very full of stifled grief & despair & not wanting to die a virgin. Their strong friendship really shines in this, as well.
Marry for Love by tuesday (Nie Huaisang/Jiang Yanli) - outsider POV timetravel fic, wherein Nie Huaisang fixes things partly by way of marrying Jiang Yanli, and accidentally ends up making them both happy.
Warm in the Sun by 50artists (Jiang Yanli/Wen Qing) - AU where Jiang Yanli and Wen Qing end up in an arranged marriage, and Yanli gets to be a badass with the power of her love, her kindness, her emotional intelligence and diplomacy. (And some strategic stabbing.) Especially love how this shows the subtle effects of her parents' emotional abuse, and how Wen Qing is 100% Not Okay with all that.
Cultivation No. 6 by Irrelevancy (Song Lan/Xiao Xingchen) - adorable modern plant shop AU with a touch of reincarnation bittersweetness. (But mostly soft pining, plus A-Qing getting in fights about dandelions!)
AU WANGXIAN
and so my heart beats wildly by lilywinterwood - modern AU where cultivation has turned into a worldwide/Olympic sport; extremely creative action that nods at canon but goes in its own direction. Wei Wuxian was at the very end range of my suspension-of-disbelief for his obliviousness, but there’s so much to love about the worldbuilding and the story and the eventual Wangxian resolution that I didn’t mind.
Love wakes me by dea_liberty - modern coffeeshop AU that tapped directly into my tropey id. Very sweet and charming with a splash of angsty backstory.
VIDS
Young and Menace by Katharija - Wei Wuxian’s downward spiral. Great song choice and editing. I can’t believe this is her first vid?!? Go give her praise!
Despicable by ifshehadwings - Wei Wuxian’s self-worth issues in vid form. Sharp and heartbreaking. If I were you, I wouldn't love me neither, indeed.
OTHER FANDOMS
(original) The Fox's Grief by nirejseki - this feels very Cdrama influenced in the best way: sort of a rom-com historical murder mystery with political intrigue, from the POV of the emperor’s spymaster, who is Very Annoyed by the dashing masked detective who’s determined to seduce him, even though he is very boring and old. (spoilers: he is neither! I love him) Fun novella-length read. I wanted a BIT more resolution for their relationship, but it’s delightful anyway.
(Guardian) ready, set, game on by synonemous - long, charming professional video gamers AU. Identity porn! Competence! Fluff!
(Guardian) If Life Was A Movie We’d Have A Better Soundtrack Than This by galaxysoup - I definitely need to go back and read this again (and leave a comment! shame on me and my 2AM reading habits) once I’ve finished the series, but it’s a wonderful no-magic AU casefile, and I love how it translated Shen Wei’s backstory in the modern mundane world.
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So many of these I haven't read yet! Thank you!
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Back in the day, it was a little out of the norm to silently friend, so I'm also saying hi! I've fallen head over heels into MDZS and am trying to be more active here on DW, so that's why I've decided to subscribe.
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*waves hello* Thanks for saying hi! I can't say I'm very active on DW, but I do like it here - I miss threaded conversations being the primary way to talk in fandom. Oooh, and you have so many recs on your journal! Whyyyyy am I on a roadtrip... but I'll have so much to read when I get home!
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I mostly enjoy vids that are either extremely flashily edited OR extremely meta, very little in between haha.
That's the one thing I like about Twitter -- even with the char count limit, at least there are threaded comments!!