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waterscrollIn drama-verse, I'm currently up to episode 18 and feeling a little bemused at how it looks like Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei have settled into what looks like a more or less functional established relationship. Which is nice to see and I'm happy about, although a little bracing myself for the next thing coming. I'm also feeling a bit of emotional whiplash since I don't know quite *how* they got there from a couple of episodes of power games and emotional brinksmanship after lots of episodes of pining and lusting. But that's ok, there's fanfic to help me. I'm appreciating china_shop's in particular.
I feel like I should have something to say about Zhao Xinci in episode 17, but all I really have to say at this point is that I completely felt for him. Which was maybe not what I was supposed to be feeling, maybe I was supposed to be watching more from Zhao Yunlan's perspective. But somehow I keep caring about the tragedies of Zhao Xinci's life, which does seem very tragic. I gather that there are major spoilers involving him and serious things that I don't understand yet, so I think I'll stop there.
In novel-verse, I am trying to slowly reread at least the shippy parts. I am up to chapter 31 and okay, I'm really enjoying Shen Wei in this universe.
From chapter 13
...I am so here for this. Both Shen Wei being a terrifying not-god not-ghost and Zhao Yunlan being completely not afraid of him and seeing him as just a guy.
And then in chapter 31, the first time we get to see Shen Wei going full-on pining, it looks like this:
I just love this piece, and how it swings wildly from sweet (just watching...maybe thinking about kissing his eyes) to terrifying (devour?) and then over the top intense (dying person longing for hot soup is *quite* the image)...and then back to sweet again, because he's happy just imagining it.
I feel like this one quote makes sense of why he's all stalkery and obsessive instead of just asking the cute reincarnated god out on a date. Because if the choice is between pining and devouring, pining and stalking start to seem like good and ethical choices. Knowing that he is eventually going to find another option makes me very happy. And yeah, as I recall from my binge-read (and will have to go back and check) his sexuality is in fact somewhat dangerous, but they work it out in the end and it's fine.
china_shop's in particular. I feel like I should have something to say about Zhao Xinci in episode 17, but all I really have to say at this point is that I completely felt for him. Which was maybe not what I was supposed to be feeling, maybe I was supposed to be watching more from Zhao Yunlan's perspective. But somehow I keep caring about the tragedies of Zhao Xinci's life, which does seem very tragic. I gather that there are major spoilers involving him and serious things that I don't understand yet, so I think I'll stop there.
In novel-verse, I am trying to slowly reread at least the shippy parts. I am up to chapter 31 and okay, I'm really enjoying Shen Wei in this universe.
From chapter 13
This slayer of souls is neither a god nor a ghost, and to say he is an ascended ghost would not describe the whole of him. Legend says he was formed from the strong winds and evil spirits of the deepest layers of hell, the details of his beginnings are sparse and inauspicious, but the winds formed into a blade that according to the tales could know good from evil and see the intention of a man’s heart – because of this blade he was called the Soul Slayer
From the thirty-three heavens to the eighteen hells, if he has cause, whether mortals or gods or ghosts, anyone could be slain by his blade.
Maybe it’s because of this that everyone is afraid of him — except for Zhao Yunlan.
...I am so here for this. Both Shen Wei being a terrifying not-god not-ghost and Zhao Yunlan being completely not afraid of him and seeing him as just a guy.
And then in chapter 31, the first time we get to see Shen Wei going full-on pining, it looks like this:
In the dim light of the night, he keeps watching Zhao Yunlan quietly, like he wants to continue til sunrise. Shen Wei has restrained himself for far too long. He can't help but indulge in desire. He lays close to Zhao Yunlan, and his thoughts come gushing out.
He wants to extend his hands and embrace that warm body; kiss his eyes, hair and lips, taste and devour him in whole, and possess his everything.
Shen Wei’s breathing trembles; his desire and longing are that of a dying person longing for a hot bowl of soup in the freezing cold. But he doesn't move, it's as if... he is satisfied just from having imagining it.
I just love this piece, and how it swings wildly from sweet (just watching...maybe thinking about kissing his eyes) to terrifying (devour?) and then over the top intense (dying person longing for hot soup is *quite* the image)...and then back to sweet again, because he's happy just imagining it.
I feel like this one quote makes sense of why he's all stalkery and obsessive instead of just asking the cute reincarnated god out on a date. Because if the choice is between pining and devouring, pining and stalking start to seem like good and ethical choices. Knowing that he is eventually going to find another option makes me very happy. And yeah, as I recall from my binge-read (and will have to go back and check) his sexuality is in fact somewhat dangerous, but they work it out in the end and it's fine.
