July recs

Hello, I’m back on my Untamed streak again! I’ve got 8 Untamed recs, 1 Word of Honor rec, and 1 Nirvana in Fire vid rec. I’m putting my four favorites above the cut and everything else under, because everybody went in for extra long summaries this month for some reason.

THE UNTAMED

Always Light My Way by cqlorphan / @jingyismom

Lan Wangji looks down at his own hands, steadying himself. It is easier to think clearly when he is not looking into Wei Wuxian’s eyes. He takes the scroll from his pouch.

“Research has uncovered a method,” he says. He does not mention the forbidden nature of said research, nor does he elaborate on the method itself. He will not venture to speak it aloud. He hands the scroll over.

Wei Wuxian looks at him for a long moment as he takes it, and Lan Wangji holds his breath, waiting for him to decide. Waiting to see if he is at least interested enough in the possibility of a new core to read it.

Lan Wangji offers to help Wei Wuxian develop a new golden core via dual cultivation. He struggles to keep his feelings in check.

Exceedingly good pining-while-fucking post-canon CQL story, with some travelling battle couple action (feat. archer!WWX) in addition to some very hot smut. I’m very picky about this trope because it can easily tip into frustration with the characters being oblivious, but the author tuned this story beautifully, with LWJ’s determination not to hold on too tightly balancing against WWX’s fears of not being wanted or belonging, and the phantom of LWJ’s 16-year grief very much present.

Walking Back to You by mrsronweasley

They bring him in just before dawn. Wei Wuxian does not remember it, not really. He remembers nothing but pain.

Just some very very tasty post-canon hurt/comfort and get-together, featuring WWX’s trauma around obligation and debt and feeling useless. Mmmm, good stuff.

places under the sky by narie

Wei Wuxian braces himself for what might come next, the story of how this man died by the Yiling Patriarch's hand—at Nightless City, at the Burial Mounds, as the rest of the sects tried to bring that great villain to account. "What was his name?"

Uncle Gan sits back, twiddles his thumbs as he thinks. "Well, it'd be Wei something, of course."

"Wei Changze, wasn't it?" chimes in a new person, and if anyone agrees or disagrees, Wei Wuxian does not hear them. His wine bowl slips from his grip and the sudden clatter of it barely registers over the unexpected sounds of his father's name. Wei Changze, slipping so careless from a stranger's mouth here in small Taozi, here of all places under the open sky.

Wei Wuxian meets his grandmother. No, not the immortal one. The other one.

Wonderful WWX characterization and bittersweet in the best way, with lush and vivid prose.

hold your tongue and let me love by ilgaksu (Jin Guangyao/Lan Xichen)

There are a lot of things people don’t know about Lan Xichen. At least half of them, in Jin Guangyao’s estimation, hide in plain sight. He, as the focus of Lan Xichen’s sole and long-standing regard, is one of them. Zewu-jun’s honest opinions of his fellow gentry are another.

The joy and humor and trust of this scene in bed together, taking off their masks, becomes absolutely gutting when you think about canon, so enjoy that! But seriously, it’s a pleasure to read, to see this playful side of both of them - especially Lan Xichen.
 

( more recs this way )