LINKDING

quote: The sand underfoot was still fresh with ripples where it had been raked to hide the blood. The sea rushed in over Leris’s feet, the wave in the water meeting the waves in the sand and smoothing out, inch by inch, the remaining evidence of the first bout. “Ready?” It was the first word Gerthe had spoken all day. The sun was just shy of its peak, bearing down on the spectators and the competitors in equal measure. It would have been different, in a proper amphitheatre: the two pairs of combatants would have regarded each other from the shaded safety of the tunnels, sizing the others up and taking the time to discuss strategy. But this was the archipelago, and one of the rimward isles besides, and the closest amphitheatre was a week’s sail away on Leshin. Here there was nothing but a patch of sand, bounded on one side by temporary wooden stands and on the other by the ocean. ➤ a full novella published online for free the same way a short story would be! ➤ secondary world fantasy about two women from the outskirts of empire, who don't fit the identities their cultures expect of them but are also out of place within the empire ➤ they're gladiators in a partnership where one in a pair of gladiators takes a "swordform" and the other wields them ➤ great characters and great worldbuilding and great reflections on identity in this context! ➤ I loved Leris and Gerthe, and Ulmo too ➤ and the Empress herself and her story is fascinating, and I can see how in a different narrative her backstory would be the focus of a heroic narrative, and I love that that's not the story we get, this isn't a "monarchy is good with the right person in charge" kind of story like so much fantasy is ➤ the narrative perspective on religion is really cool too ➤ 36k words in length

Summary: <blockquote>The gang finds out that everyone has kissed Lan Wangji except for Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian has a meltdown about it and then fixes the problem as quickly and thoroughly as he possibly can.</blockquote> ➤ modern AU wangxian fic wherein wwx finds out that lwj has kissed all of their friends except him ➤ obviously he immediately goes insane about this ➤ I'm very charmed that this is a "mutual pining" trope fic wherein the two of them never doubt for even a moment that they are each other's most important person ➤ the writing is extremely funny. such good comedy bits overlapping with the genuine emotions in ways that make both parts better! ➤ 31k words in length

Summary: <blockquote>Like a fool, Jingyan had believed Lin Chen when he said Mei Changsu—Xiao Shu--was dead for the second time. In Jingyan's defense, who expected someone to fake their death twice? Wasn't it--just a little--over the top?</blockquote> ➤ a post-canon Nirvana in Fire fic in which Jingyan discovers that Mei Changsu survived after all...and never let Jingyan know. ➤ Jingyan is uh. not handling it well, the loneliness and responsibility of being emperor. and this only makes it worse! ➤ anyway it's a venue for lots of real good angst, and I definitely cried at one point! ➤ I also really appreciate the use it makes of various secondary characters who are also important figures in Jingyan's life ➤ many feels. I love these characters. there IS a happy ending. ➤ 31k words in length ➤ (not quite enough of an ending to really give space to come down from the heights of emotion, but otherwise a good enough fic that it's worth it!)

Summary: <blockquote>Shen Yuan has had a push-and-pull relationship with Shen Qingqiu for years. Shen Yuan knows that Shen Qingqiu is meant to be a villain, but he knows just as well that many of the things Shen Qingqiu was accused of in Proud Immortal Demon Way were just shitty misunderstandings, and over the years Shen Yuan has become reluctantly fond of the tsundere asshole that is his Shizun. Abusing Luo Binghe was not a misunderstanding, though, and Shen Yuan will do whatever he can to correct the fact that he wasn't there to protect Luo Binghe when it happened. / “Shizun, I already said that I like beasts best - if I can’t raise Luo Binghe to be my shidi, can’t I raise him as my pet instead?”</blockquote> ➤ this is a fic that really understands the fundamental problem with original sqq, which is that the child abuse is real but so is the tragic backstory. he contains multitudes! one feels complex and conflicting things about him! ➤ ok so the fic is a canon divergence fic where shen yuan is transmigrated in early as a disciple of og!sqq, and it's a bingqiu fic but also a fic about the master-disciple relationship between sy and sqq, and also about sy's relationship with his role as head disciple on the peak ➤ and it's so good at all of that! I love what it does, I love all the sides of sy you get to see and all the things he cares about and puts his energies into (... and what he doesn't), it's all so perfectly him ➤ and aughghhhhhh I have SO MANY FEELS ➤ I am very emotion. I highly recommend. I want to talk more about some of the stuff but I don't want to post spoilers. ➤ 36k words in length

Summary: <blockquote>With the Immortal Alliance Conference looming ever closer, Binghe finds his Shizun acting strangely, intent on telling him a series of tales with some lessons hidden within that he struggles to interpret. Tales of heroes doomed to an ill fate, of enchanted silence, of love, of kind demons, and demonic realms. The only thing Binghe is sure of is that his Shizun is secretly pleading for understanding and help. And he hopes maybe also… true love?</blockquote> ➤ an au where sqq does his best to communicate to lbh prior to the Immortal Alliance Conference, despite having his words held back by the system; so he tells a series of meaningful stories and hopes lbh will draw the right conclusions ➤ the fic is from lbh's pov and I love how earnestly and carefully he tries to put together the clues sqq is giving him! the CONCLUSIONS he draws!! ➤ I screamed internally with delight at multiple points while reading the fic. it's such a delightful read! ➤ 32k words in length

Summary: <blockquote>Ju Ying, a tsundere brothel-worker with a strong but underdeveloped foundation and some sort of mysterious backstory involving a dead teacher, was absolutely not one of Luo Binghe's wives. Ju Ying, with her intense gaze and her kind hands and her beautiful, calculating eyes, never crossed Luo Binghe's path in the novel. Shen Qingqiu would definitely remember. She would have been in his top five. Maybe at the top of his top five; he would have been screaming in the comments for her to get a better arc, for Airplane not to just shove her in the back of the harem to waste away into nothing. Maybe, Shen Qingqiu thought, she would have been his favorite. / Shen Qingqiu attempts to wingman Luo Binghe to himself.</blockquote>

Summary: <blockquote>the original text of babyfic as seen on twitter, archived here because who knows what will happen to twitter lmao. updated version of the fic is an ongoing project, you can read the first five chapters here. / Shang Qinghua and Mobei-jun find and adopt a baby. This has no consequences for their relationship, Shang Qinghua's emotional state, or the world whatsoever.</blockquote> ➤ I've previously saved the in progress revised edition as a separate bookmark but I just wanted to save this version too!

<blockquote>In which Wei Wuxian is cast back in time to the school at Cloud Recesses instead of falling to his death. Everyone is very confused and upset. Wen Qing fixes things.</blockquote> ➤ wwx is the one who time travels but it's from wq's pov. mostly gen but with a chill wq/lqr background relationship

<blockquote>Luo Binghe peeks up at him, eyes rimmed nearly as red as his demon mark. “Shizun won’t send me away from him?” Slowly, almost involuntarily, Shen Qingqiu's arms come up to embrace Luo Binghe in return. He’s already gone totally off-script here, what’s a little more adlibbing? He has fifteen seconds left before Luo Binghe must enter the Abyss. “I won’t,” he says quietly. “But you must be brave, Binghe. This will not be easy, but there is only one place for us to go. Shizun is sorry.” The two of them are only a few paces away from the cliff. Even without access to his cultivation, Shen Qingqiu has a height advantage, and more importantly, he has surprise on his side. It is almost too easy to clutch Luo Binghe tighter in his arms, step forward, and -- Shen Qingqiu really hopes he doesn’t die when he hits the bottom. That would be so embarrassing.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Luo Binghe develops a gap in his memory, one that is shaped specifically like Shen Qingqiu. / “Binghe, speak to this master,” Shen Qingqiu says firmly, and Luo Binghe gives him a strange look. Shen Qingqiu can’t place it and he leans forward, intending to get closer to see better. But the hand around his wrist instantly tightens to the point where it hurts, and Shen Qingqiu lets out a squawk of pain. “Binghe—!” “Why do you keep calling me like that?” Luo Binghe returns, and Shen Qingqiu’s eyes widen at the way the words are devoid of any emotion. It is nothing though, compared to the force of what Luo Binghe says next. “Who are you?”</blockquote>

<blockquote>When Luo Binghe is fourteen years old, his shizun suffers a terrible qi deviation and fever that completely changes who he is.</blockquote>

<blockquote>I'm gonna be honest, I haven't actually seen 'Free Guy'. This was mostly inspired by the trailer, so familiarity with the film is definitely not required.</blockquote> ➤ the immersive virtual reality video game one where luo binghe is a surprisingly engaging npc part two: https://archiveofourown.org/works/17041973/chapters/87835618 part three: https://archiveofourown.org/works/17041973/chapters/108442480

<blockquote>Xie Lian isn’t particularly worried about the progress of his relationship with Hua Cheng. After all, Hua Cheng seems to be fine with just kissing and hugging for now; wouldn't it be weird to ask for something else? Maybe one day they’d do more, when Xie Lian is ready. He wants to be ready. Then, Xie Lian has a nightmare.</blockquote> ➤ post canon, figuring out sex when both of them have issues to get over about it

<blockquote>It’s not one of his finer moments of inter-sect diplomacy. Lan Jingyi lunges and they both go spilling onto the thankfully padded rug. Jin Ling flails and manages to slap him across the face, but eventually Lan Jingyi gets him pinned to the floor, knees on either side of Jin Ling’s torso, each of his wrists held down by his head. “Hello, Sect Leader Jin,” Lan Jingyi pants, trying to catch his breath as Jin Ling struggles like a weak kitten. “This humble one is grateful to be welcomed to Jinlintai. Now, if you’d kindly tell me what the fuck is going on.” / When Lan Jingyi receives two cryptic messages from Jinlintai, a conversation many years in the making starts to unfold.</blockquote> ➤ BABIES

<blockquote>No one in their right mind would ever seriously try to woo Lin Ronghu, the Emperor's infamously ruthless (if unofficial) spymaster. Not that that's stopped the local legend, a (self-described) beautiful detective with peerless martial arts. His crush is a major inconvenience - at least until there's a murder that puts Lin Ronghu's most hated political nemesis straight in the frame. Since Lin Ronghu can't believe that anyone would be that stupid, he decides that maybe having a private detective around might be good for something after all...</blockquote> ➤ original fic that rather reads as nif fanfic

<blockquote>Hi, Greg.</blockquote> ➤ lots of fun and very interesting, consisting entirely of posts to a message board about komarran music, but doesn't ever actually like..... have an emotional arc about Gregor. but that's fine it's still real fun to read! Love that he gets to have a hobby.

<blockquote>Shen Yuan wakes the way he wakes every day, lately: with an odd sense of dislocation, and his hand reaching out to the other side of the bed, surprised and disoriented to wake with the sheets cold next to him. He pulls his hand back, flushing, even though there's no one here to see him—what? Reaching out for a dream lover? Ridiculous. The strange feeling follows him throughout his morning routine, as he plops a packet of oatmeal into the microwave to prepare his breakfast, some sense insisting that someone should be cooking for him. char- In which Shen Qingqiu and Shang Qinghua accidentally reset the universe, and Luo Binghe and Mobei-jun transmigrate after them. Also, Luo Binghe runs a food truck.</blockquote>

<blockquote>A wife plot hits Luò Bīnghé and Liǔ Qīnggē at the same time. Shěn Qīngqiū... can... save them? The plot thickens.</blockquote> ➤ series consists of: Playing Possum Solitary and Nomadic Ready-Made Burrow ➤ good lqg pov in ready-made burrow

<blockquote>They did not want to accept me into their elite universities. It did not matter that I succeeded on every entrance exam I took; not only was I a woman, the first mark against me, but I also came from a nation that the fine people of New England regarded as “semi-barbaric,” to quote from one of the letters of rejection. But I persisted—more to the point, perhaps, my father’s connections and cheque book spoke eloquently on my behalf; and in the autumn of Meiji Year 41, or 1908 by European reckoning, I was invited to enroll at Norcross College.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Lan Zhan is—everything. Wei Wuxian looks at him, and he aches. And somewhere near the base of his neck, wrapped around the white bones of his spine, the little hitchhiking ghost whispers: wouldn't it be nice, if we had him all to ourselves? Wouldn't that be nice? That's the crux of it, really. Lotuses bloom for half the year. The sun sets in the west. Wei Wuxian wants Lan Wangji. And the ghost, too, wants Lan Wangji—but it wants much more than Wei Wuxian is willing to take. / Wei Wuxian picks up a parasite on his travels. It wouldn't be such a problem if it didn't listen to him so much.</blockquote> ➤ I love that lqr is who is able to help in the end!

<blockquote>Shen Yuan's first thought is, cool cool cool, glad to be fucked over by omega hormones again, never mind that he’d been ill for so long in his first life that he’d had maybe three shitty irregular heats before his body noped out of that. His second thought is: HOLY SHIT OMEGA SHEN QINGQIU IS CANON???!</blockquote>

<blockquote>Alternatively the 'Game of Thrones' AU? Wherein Shen Jiu is the bastard son of the lauded Shen family.</blockquote> ➤ part 2 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/17041973/chapters/108442984

<blockquote>In which Meng Yao, later Jin Guangyao, sets his heart upon the most unlikely of targets. (five times Jin Guangyao tricked Lan Qiren into hugging him, and one time he didn't have to)</blockquote> ➤ I love this vision for them both!!

<blockquote>“It’ll be all right,” Nie Mingjue murmured to Nie Huaisang, who was curled in his arms, shaking and terrified. "It’ll be all right. We’ll manage, somehow.” He didn’t believe a word he said, of course. How could everything be all right? Their father was dead. Murdered – Wen Ruohan had put him down like a rabid dog, wringing his neck and tossing him aside. He’d then announced that Nie Mingjue and Nie Huaisang, now orphans, would be brought back to the Nightless City and taken into the Wen sect to be his wards, to be appropriately reeducated and brought up well. Brought up properly. Nie Mingjue didn’t know what to expect when they arrived. He didn’t think it would be anything good.</blockquote> ➤ the one where nmj becomes everyone's da-ge and that makes all the difference (by everyone I even include wen chao and wen xu!!)

<blockquote>In the end, the decision was easy. "I've come to tell you I have accepted a position at Yiling University." Qingheng-jun's attention drifted back to his phone. "Not very prestigious is it?” "I am taking the professorship. I am also taking the boys." After the death of their mother, Lan Qiren removes his nephews from Cloud Recesses to Yiling.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Accidentally cursed, Lan Qiren is forced to live within Wei Wuxian's mind for days, experiencing his every thought and sensation. Much as he disapproves of demonic cultivation, resistant as he is to every excuse, he can't help growing to understand the young cultivator. After leaving Lan Zhan to his important work as the Chief Cultivator, Wei Wuxian travels the world. Adventuring, righting wrongs, and developing new talismans is great fun, but what he really wants is a home.</blockquote> ➤ tbh I wish there was more of wwx and lqr interacting after the curse was broken? but I also did love what the fic actually did instead too

<blockquote>This is intended as an educational manual and potential guide. If you are considering courting a human, the information here may give you pause. The barrier between human and demon cultures means that you may have expectations of your human partner that they cannot or will not fulfill, and they may have expectations of you that you will find distasteful or actively repellant. However, it is possible to make a human-demon relationship work, if you are both willing to cooperate and consider non-traditional possibilities. Or: Shang Qinghua and Mobei-jun pursue a political marriage. There is definitely absolutely nothing they need to unpack about this.</blockquote> ➤ cultural misunderstandings

<blockquote>Jingyan falls in love with Xiao Shu in the spring. Hopefully he'll get his man by winter. A "Marquis Xie's Chiyan-Meiling Plot Fails" AU. (The working summary of this travesty was "Xiao Shu channels Art of War to get Xia Jiang. Jingyan channels Art of War to get Xiao Shu", but a more accurate summary would be "Xiao Shu channels Art of War to get both Xia Jiang and Jingyan, and Jingyan has no brains".)</blockquote> ➤ canon divergence au where the chiyan plot fails, and wow this vision of what a young and unembittered Lin Shu is like is incredible

<blockquote>It is a truth universally acknowledged that a stallion protagonist must be in want of a horse girl.</blockquote>

<blockquote>"Pop some bread in the toaster for me?” Wei Ying asks. Lan Zhan has one, a chrome thing with dials and buttons. A pause. “This isn’t a relationship,” Lan Zhan says. Wei Ying blinks. It’s such an incongruous thing to say. At first his brain says, that must be code. It’s almost like listening to two spies talk in a drama. The handler would say something like ‘the duck swims at midnight,’ and the spy would say, ‘purple is the loveliest colour’ and they’d both nod to each other and know that the prime minister was about to be assassinated, or something. That’s all he can think of, at first. Because of course this isn’t a relationship? This was a fun night. So Lan Zhan must be saying this for a reason. There’s some response he’s supposed to make now, but he’s lost the script if he ever had it. “Okay…” he says. Then it clicks. Lan Zhan means: you should leave. / Maybe Wei Ying shouldn't have hooked up with his hot neighbour two days into his exchange semester, but everyone makes choices in life.</blockquote> ➤ I loved the way the friendships and family were integrated into this fic, and the beef been jyl & lxc over their brothers was perfect and beautiful, and the way wwx got hung up on toast as a metaphor is perfectly integrated