"WILL YOU CHANGE??"

Aaaaaa what could have been!!

Suguru once was Satoru's scale to tell justice from wrong. So righteous and loyal to his own ideals until he wasn't. And when he finally broke down, the light he used to shine to show Satoru the right path was gone with him.

i actually admire lan wangji's character development a lot more when i acknowledge that prior to wei wuxian's death, he isn't actually as "righteous".

teenage lan wangji is regarded highly because he is upper class, has strong cultivation, and obeys his family and society's strict expectations. his rigidity and responsibility are more guided by the idea that his duty (the "right thing") is rule-following rather than doing actual good, even against those rules.

he's not a perfect stickler for the rules. he can be stubborn and petty, but even the few times he does transgress (e.x. kneeling before the gentian house) he doesn't get very far.

anyway... even with all his manpain struggling-- maybe even because of it, and because of his own lack of political power compared to people like lan xichen or lan qiren-- young adult lan wangji was honestly pretty entitled, even with his genuinely good intentions towards wei wuxian.

instead of doing the more difficult (yet right) thing of speaking up against those persecuting wei wuxian-- calling out his elders and the other clans as wrong, unjust, unrighteous, and acting against them (see jiang clan motto "do the impossible", which wei wuxian embodied very well)-- lan wangji was constantly trying to get wei wuxian to change himself and fall in line with society's expectations to avoid dying.

true, he eventually fights 33 of his family members... but by the time nightless city even happens, once jiang yanli dies, it's far too late.

yes, resentful energy is dangerous, and yes guidao is deeply misunderstood, and yes lan wangji didn't know about the golden core transfer. but even without knowing wei wuxian has no alternative, lan wangji knew that others were incorrectly labeling wei wuxian as evil. he knew the major clans kept attacking and provoking him, and while harder to realize, he could've reasonably seen how wei wuxian's actions are always twisted to demean him as a servant's son.

lan wangji wanted wei wuxian to come back to gusu so he could keep him safe, lock him up. but what would that have even helped in the end? love is a sympathetic cause, but locking up the one you love and never truly addressing why they're in danger is a selfish sort of love that doesn't reach the heart of the issues at hand.

only after wei wuxian's death is lan wangji able to let go of that. wei wuxian owed him nothing, not even change. lan wangji intentionally, purposefully chose each and every single day for thirteen years to remember wei wuxian by embodying what the man stood for, and acting accordingly. despite his grief and pain, he truly does become a good and righteous person.

contrast that with jiang cheng's reaction after wei wuxian's death. of clinging to everything he felt wei wuxian owed him. of vocally, violently demanding retribution after wei wuxian comes back to life. how dare you, why did you, you should've, you must... cattily justifying his aggression with equal parts resentful indignation and unhealthy "love" of their imbalance, of what they used to be.

lan wangji does none of that. by the time we reach the present day storyline, lan wangji, like wei wuxian, lets the past stay past and chooses to do good. even if that means going against the grain of society and expectations. he's a phenomenal person and character. i love him so much

✨ MXTX’s boys Polaroids ✨

Can you imagine the awkwardness that would ensue if LWJ and WWX are playfully sparring and LWJ manages to knock WWX onto his back and pin him down.

So, of course, WWX’s legs automatically open up.

The training ground is silent. People’s faces go red. Everyone avoids eye contact for the next week after that.

I really do think the fandom underestimate Xie Lian's own values and kindness while kinda overestimating the kindness the guy who gave him the Bamboo hat in the scene in the rain.

Don't get me wrong, the Bamboo hat is important and the fact that someone went to help him is also important. But it's just the excuse. Xie Lian decided by himself to lie in the rain and gave humanity another chance first. He was trying to convince himself that he didn't believe in the kindness of people anymore while still giving them another chance. He was probably going to lie in the rain until someone, anyone gave him that kindness anyway.

The Bamboo hat is the excuse as to why Xie Lian didn't turn into Jun Wu, but the actual reason is that Xie Lian had the strength to stand in the rain and wait for someone to show him he was right. A thing Jun Wu never did.

Lan Wangji: “he’s too close! And too naked! Quick! ACT NORMAL”

*bites

Based on this post that has been stuck in my head for ages- the three straightest guys lmao

And also their husbands having a similar conversation

Guys I'm so normal about all of these books don't @ me lol

Jiang Cheng: *filming Wei Wuxian standing near the dinner table with a bottle of sake in his hands and a wine glass that’s getting suspiciously full* A-Niang finally agreed that Wuxian can join us at the adults table this New Years.

Yu Zuyuan: *head in hands* And he’s about to lose that privilege if he fills up that glass any higher.

Jiang Yanli: Oh come now, A-Xian, you don’t want to end up back at the kids table again, do you?

Jiang Cheng: Yeah, then you’ll be talking about Jin Ling’s latest playground drama, AND tipsy.

Wei Wuxian: *downs half the glass in one go* You know? I might just decide to hang out with them anyways. I could teach them how to trigger the microwave to set on fire every time Uncle uses the defrost button.

Jiang Fengmian: I knew you had something to do with that :/

Jiang Yanli: A-Xian, your husband is at the adults table this year.

Wei Wuxian: And my son is at the kids table. I’m torn, really. I can’t choose between them. If I told Lan Zhan we were leaving right this second if I couldn’t have them both at once-

Lan Wangji: *looking pained because he agreed to get along with the Jiang family this year* I… would agree to join you at the children’s table?

Jiang Cheng: Oh my god he’s such a simp 👁️👄👁️

Jin Zixuan: I’m not that bad… right?

Jiang Yanli: I don’t know, A-Xuan, I kind of want to join them there too.

Jin Zixuan: …okay…

Jiang Cheng: I’m both disgusted and impressed.

Pretty Wei Ying is always good - bunnies only make it better