Theres A Reason Lan Wangji Said, This One. This One And No Other.

There’s a reason Lan Wangji said, “this one. This one and no other.”

Guys, I’m reading the Wen Indoctrination Camp flashbacks in the MDZS novel and yes, there were parts added in the TV series that very much benefit the narrative and I love them. But still, there are some rather good bits character bits in here - especially important because the novel is an Unreliable Narrator situation where you cannot always trust Wei Wuxian’s perception.

Seeing that he seemed like he wanted to go over to Lan WangJi again, Jiang Cheng pulled Wei WuXian away, “What’s wrong with you, now?! You still dare provoke him? You really are digging your own grave!”

Wei WuXian, “I’m not going to provoke him. Look at his leg. He’s been on the go for so many days—the state of his injury must’ve worsened. It became noticeable probably only because he really couldn’t hide it any longer. If he walks on like this, it’s likely that he won’t ever be able to use his leg again. I’m gonna carry him.”

Jiang Cheng pulled him even closer, “It’s not as if you’re familiar with him! Don’t you see how much he hates you? You’re going to carry him? He probably doesn’t even want you a step closer to him.”

Wei WuXian, “It’s alright if he hates me—I don’t hate him. I’ll get him onto my back the second I get hold of him. Could he possibly choke me to death while on my back?”

Jiang Cheng warned, “We aren’t even able to care for ourselves; how do we have the time to care about the trivialities of others?”

Wei WuXian, “First, this isn’t a triviality. Second, things like this, somebody will have to care about them, sooner or later!”

This, right there, is the irreconcilable difference between Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng. It’s right there at the heart of why their relationship becomes so fraught. JC will never understand why WWX cannot just stand by and shut up, don’t make waves. WWX cannot fathom how a person would not be compelled to act. As they mature out of childhood, their increased agency and power makes this differing worldview create more and more conflicts. Ultimately, Wei Wuxian was never going to end up a loyal subordinate of Sect Leader Jiang Cheng, despite growing up believing that is his rightful place. The breaking point was inevitable. The fact that they were raised together and love each other can’t fix this, just makes it more tragic.

It’s key that in the novel, at this point Wei Wuxian truly believes Lan Wangji dislikes him at (and he authentically has good reason to think this - there was no joint pledge about Yin Iron and LWJ has shown no evidence of tolerating WWX even a little). So he MEANS IT, that he wants to go assist someone who loathes him, who might attack him when he tries to help.

‘Why would you even care if someone who doesn’t like you will never be able to walk again? Whatever bad happens to him isn’t our buisness!’

WWX: ’…. does not compute’

**

MianMian knew that if she was hung up, she probably wouldn’t be able to come back down alive. She tried to run away, but wherever she fled, the people dispersed around her. Just as Wei WuXian twitched, Jiang Cheng held him firmly down.

Followed by WWX distracting Wen Chao with his own sect’s rulebook and taking him hostage, like the Troll 4 Justice that he is.

The novel has him think, “In such a situation, it was almost impossible to care for oneself only and hope that no blood would be lost!” and he expresses this like it’s such a certainty - except it’s clearly all too possible, as many others are finding very easy to step away from the situation.

And that’s the thing about Wei Wuxian. He can be crude and insensitive. He’s reckless as hell. The guy is a ginormous dick but when axe comes down… He’s going to be the one to throw himself between you and the blade. When it really counts, he won’t let it be someone else’s problem.

Underneath all the self-protective bluster and defensive displays, he has a deep well of compassion that is rare in their peers.

He will do things when there is no benefit to himself. Not to curry favor or obligation or renown or cultivation power, but because he sees it needs to be done.

And so you can GET IT. Yeah, teenage Lan Wangji had a terrible bb gay crush on this hot sunny-smiles boy. But you just know that it’s shit like this that made him actually fall in forever love. Because Lan Wangji has been PAYING ATTENTION to the hot unobtainable boy, so eventually he’d notice. And think oh. oh no.

You’re a mimic. You were disguised as a chair in a dungeon when an adventurer decided to take you as loot. You’ve actually enjoyed your life ever since as furniture in a jolly tavern. So when some ruffians try to rob the now-elderly adventurer’s business, you finally reveal yourself.

@wuxiaphoenix

Writer Block First Aid Kit

We’ve all been there. Some people have it all the time. Some say it doesn’t exist. I class writer’s block as anything from lack of motivation to not being able to solve a plot problem. Whatever it is, here’s a list of activities to try and get those creative rivers running. 

Move. Pick up your laptop and go to a different room. They say a change is as good as a rest and this can be true with writing. Move to the kitchen. Write outside. Go to a coffee shop. Sit in the cupboard under the stairs and block out the world. Just change up the scenery. 

Swap Medium. If words just aren’t doing it for you make aesthetics, mood boards, draw maps or characters. Victoria Aveyard once said she designed book covers and let the plot stew in the back of her mind. 

Write Something Else. Working on other projects can give you inspiration for what you’re working on now. Find some prompts. Write irrelevant short stories or character studies. Write about your characters as kids or at defining points in their lives. 

Plot. Hands off the keyboard, open up one of those many unused notebooks I know you have and start scribbling vague, half formed ideas. Allow yourself to write things you might discard later. Allow yourself to try and work through an idea you like but don’t understand yet. Try and work out the next 10 steps. 10 things you want to cover. 10 scenes. 10 days. Whatever it is, just write it down. 

20 Minutes Rule. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. Sit your butt down in that chair and write for 20 minutes. I don’t care if it’s trash. I don’t care if you’re going to delete it all later. I don’t care if it’s nonsense. Do it. 20 minutes of writing nonsense is still more productive than 20 minutes staring at that wall. After 20 minutes if you still don’t want to write, leave it, but you just might find yourself inspired. 

Finally, Take Time Off. If none of this is working, it’s likely a sign of burn out. Take some time for yourself and just do nothing. “Write every single day,” yeah sure if you wont to be a machine who pumps out words instead of art. Sometimes you need to recharge before you move forward and that doesn’t just mean getting a good nights sleep. Look after yourself and be kind. This isn’t a race against the clock, you have your whole life to publish a book. 

[If reposting to instagram please credit my insta account @isabellstonebooks]

She was Awesome, and she obviously had great taste in men.

It just occurred to me that from the mediocre world’s POV, MianMian is a Witcher who married her bard.

This dude was like “fuck my shitty retail job I’m gonna follow this immortal magical mercenary around and mind the kids while she battles evil.”

Paulina becomes the new school psychologist. After her experiences, she wants to make no one else can use that to screw up kids. Her reaction to seeing Dash, Dani, and Danny?

“My office is sacrosanct, and more classified than a confessional, boys. Or I set Manson and Fenton the First on all of you.”

Short DPXDC Prompts #468

Danny is a Chemistry teacher at Gotham Academy. His favorite student is Tim. He shocks the students by teaching and creating a Fear Antitoxin for the kids to learn as part of their curriculum.

The thing no one tells you about being autistic, you have friends at work, but you don’t hang out. Part of that is you, because you don’t want to go out. You spend years thinking you’re an introvert, but not quite. You’re alright around people, parties are fun but you aren’t going to go if you have a choice.

what no one tells you about being autistic is people just don’t like you. maybe you make friends, but they get tired of you fast. even if you’re not actively bullied, your peers just…. don’t pay attention to you. something about you is offputting and weird to mostly everyone, and you literally cannot stop it no matter how hard you try.