Fic question

[extrapenguin]

What sorts of rumors do you think are circulating in Dixing about the Black-Cloaked Envoy's relationship (torrid love affair) with the SID Chief Zhao Yunlan, whom he seems to be bringing to Dixing with surprising regularity?

Comments

[lannamichaels]

There's probably rampant speculation that Zhao Yunlan is secretly Dixingian and there's a ton of betting going on about what his power is. When ZYL ends up as the guardian wick, everyone nods and goes "ah, yes, fire."

[rheasilvia]

+1! Because of course everyone knows the BCE wouldn't take up with one of *those people*.

Unless, of course, he were ensnaring the hapless Chief of the SID to neutralize him, for the good of Dixing. Such selfless sacrifice!

[extrapenguin]

Canon divergence pre-Wick, but yes, that's a very plausible speculation. What other powers do you think they'd speculate onto Zhao Yunlan?

[lannamichaels]

Matter transformation powers. It's how he always has a lollipop. Possibly some ++charisma power, too.

[extrapenguin]

And also the Dixing power of looking good in jackets!

[lannamichaels]

It's probably his skin and he's a shapeshifter. That's the only way to maximize fashions, when you can adjust in real time to trends. nods sagely

[extrapenguin]

Of course! It's obvious. nods sagely

[chaosmanor]

Gossiping about *who* ZYL really is. Secret identity scandals.

The Dixingren news services, especially the trashy ones, will be full of Royal Wedding Plans. What will the bride wear? Will ZYL bring his terrible Haixing family to the wedding? Is BCE "marrying down"? Who is pregnant?

Political intrigue in the palace. What are ZYL and BCE using their romance to coverup?

[extrapenguin]

Who is pregnant?
I am CACKLING. This fits so well I cannot believe it.

[ratbones]

Corruption! It would be very useful for a Lord Guardian who just wanted to keep the people of Dixing down (like the previous Chief Zhao did) to have the Envoy wrapped around his little finger, but it's also useful for the Envoy to have influence over the Haixing authority responsible for enforcing the treaty against Dixing. The Envoy seems worryingly comfortable threatening and even killing his own people in defense of Zhao Yunlan. If I were from Dixing, I'd be wondering who was playing whom for power. Or they might be scheming together for personal gain. Uh, this is maybe more serious than you were going for, but it's where my brain went.

[extrapenguin]

It's a bit too serious for what I have in mind (basically, someone gets the scoop on allll the Envoy/SID Chief gossip, then shares with the aforementioned Envoy and SID Chief), but, yeah. That's probably what it'd be in a work where it's used as a plot point instead of a way to make Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan's lives a bit more awkward.

[ratbones]

Yeah, I figured as much from your wording. Looking forward to the fic :D

[extrapenguin]

Spaceship Rental is now 36k, and my barebones plans call for 10k more scenes. I suspect this'll be closer to 50k...

[ratbones]

GOOD HEAVENS

[extrapenguin]

My fingers are screaming in protest at these inhumane working conditions! *g* (I have also discovered some thematic asymmetry I'll have to balance with more Da Qing. And gotten the perfect casefic idea! Wonderful timing, brain.)

[ratbones]

Uh, I'm not going to complain about more Da Qing or potential future casefic. Yes please to both! But I do feel bad for your fingers, please give them some rest. (I have a bad habit of leaning my elbows too hard on my desk while typing, and have had to purchase elbow rests to withstand long hours of ficcing XD)

[extrapenguin]

I touch type and it's mostly the balls of my hands that get stressed due to the typing position (and occasionally one of the fingers of my left hand goes :/). I don't think ~500-700 words a day average of fic is taht bad, but then again, I haven't really counted how many words I write outside of fic daily...

(Da Qing will transform into cat form and do some aggressive purring in hope of pets.)

[ratbones]

I bet you do write a lot more than that per day, if you counted everything! You're so active just in this fandom alone. I sometimes binge-write like 4k+ in a day -- there's probably no painless way to do that.

(Da Qing will transform into cat form and do some aggressive purring in hope of pets.)
yesssss YES

[extrapenguin]

Oh, no, don't get me wrong, I don't get pains *that* often (and try to do stretches etc so I won't get pains even when I'm older) - just the occasional day every few months when my hand goes ":/" .

[ratbones]

Oh, good! I don't think your fingers have anything to complain about. They're clearly in good hands. ;D

[extrapenguin]

They're clearly in good hands
That was a terrible pun and I love you *g*

[ratbones]

😘

[ranalore]

Conspiracy theorists are going to be convinced this is proof the BCE's a traitor and he and the Guardian are probably plotting to assassinate the Lord of Dixing and the Regent to take over and use Dixingren as slaves.

They're going to clash with the Star-Crossed Romancers, who think the BCE is bringing his lover with him to Dixing so often because they can't bear to be apart! The Black-Cloaked Daddy Club think the BCE's just keeping Zhao Yunlan on a short leash while he's in training, but the Hi Haixing Hotties don't think it's that serious; the BCE's just using the SID Chief for sex, and who can blame him, have you seen the guy? The Black-Cloaked Babies, on the other hand--who don't quite have the clout of the BCDC but are growing in number--argue it's the SID Chief who insists on coming down to Dixing with the BCE because he worries about him, and shouldn't someone take care of their selfless hero for once? Surely under all that terrifying badassery and those billowing black robes and the awesome power is just a man who wants love!

The Dixingren Who Dine have notes for the BCE about his wardrobe, but that SID Chief certainly knows how to wear a jacket, doesn't he? Someone top up my mimosa and pass the paté.

[maggie33]

I just wanted to say that this made me laugh out loud. Now I really want a crack fic like this. :D

[ranalore]

::bows::

Thank you. I'll be here all fandom. Tip your waiter.

[lannamichaels]

You had me at "Black-Cloaked Daddy Club" :D

[ranalore]

Club insider gossip has it there's even a chapter topside, started by a member who decided to forego former risky enterprises (read: smuggling) in favor of one of the strange Haixing institutions of "school" where she heard the BCE actually taught. Supposedly, she discovered he did not teach combat, but even so, she found many of his Haixing students recognized his natural domination and were all too happy to join her in the methodical consideration of just how he might express that domination over their Lord Guardian, whom they agreed would be overjoyed to submit to such expression.

This is, of course, mere speculation.

[lannamichaels]

:DDDDD

[extrapenguin]

This is very amazing and cracky, and I'll definitely be picking it for the briefing a character will give another about the phenomenon.

[ranalore]

::bows::

I try. Or I'm very trying. One of those things.

[tinny]

I suck at plotting, but I am cackling along! :D

[extrapenguin]

Thank you! Have a quote from after they get a pile of rumors dumped on them:
Shen Wei looked to Zhao Yunlan for guidance, but Zhao Yunlan had no guidance to give.