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established #xicheng
(twisted) hanahaki au (based on @_santal idea)
& #39;Love me until you kill me& #39;
Jiang Cheng throws up marigold petals and he instantly knows he’s fucked. At least he is not at home so there’s no chance of his husband seeing any evidence of his imminent doom.
(twisted) hanahaki au (based on @_santal idea)
& #39;Love me until you kill me& #39;
Jiang Cheng throws up marigold petals and he instantly knows he’s fucked. At least he is not at home so there’s no chance of his husband seeing any evidence of his imminent doom.
He cleans all the evidence of this mishap as best as he can and returns to his work. For the next eight hours, there’s no time to dwell on this, his clients needing all his attention
Jiang Cheng has opened his law firm two years ago. It’s a small practice – he and only three other lawyers – specialized in counseling for victims of domestic violence.
They work long hours, the weekends are few and some cases don’t let him sleep at night, but he’s happy.
They work long hours, the weekends are few and some cases don’t let him sleep at night, but he’s happy.
Only when driving home does Jiang Cheng realize the gravity of what happened in the morning. He threw up flowers and everyone knows what this means: hanahaki.
It’s not a rule, but there are cases where when people love someone and think their love is unrequited, their object of affection starts throwing up flowers.
Despite not being highly prevalent, everyone knows about it because the consequences are most of the time terrible.
Despite not being highly prevalent, everyone knows about it because the consequences are most of the time terrible.
The object of affection doesn’t only throw up petal flowers. No. Inside the person, trunk and flowers are sprouting, while roots grow on the one who loves’ heart.
If there’s no change – if the feeling doesn’t stop – eventually the object of affection will die due to the flowers growing inside them.
The solution? Either a change of heart from one of the involved parts or surgery to remove the roots from the person who’s pining.
The problem is that most cases end with the object of affection dying, the pining one too afraid of the surgery high risks.
The problem is that most cases end with the object of affection dying, the pining one too afraid of the surgery high risks.
Now that the day is weighing on Jiang Cheng, he feels the fear pumping through his veins, but he tries to remain calm.
He knows that the person who’s pining for him has to be someone with who he has contact
He knows that the person who’s pining for him has to be someone with who he has contact
Studies are showing that the probability of hanahaki increases the longer you socialize with the other.
While anyone Jiang Cheng interacts with is a potential suspect, from the barista to his neighbor, he knows there are two main suspects:
While anyone Jiang Cheng interacts with is a potential suspect, from the barista to his neighbor, he knows there are two main suspects:
Jin Guangyao
Lan Wangji
Lan Wangji
Two of his law practice colleagues – the third one is his older brother Wei Wuxian.
While everyone has been expecting him and Lan Wangji to start a relationship, the years pass and they remain only friends.
While everyone has been expecting him and Lan Wangji to start a relationship, the years pass and they remain only friends.
The possibility of Lan Wangji being the one pining for him is worrisome because Jiang Cheng has been married to his older brother for four years now.
Lan Xichen, who cannot even imagine what’s happening. Lan Xichen will try to fix everything but also worry to death that he’ll lose Jiang Cheng.
Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji - the brothers who lost their mother to hanahaki.
Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji - the brothers who lost their mother to hanahaki.
This would destroy his husband, the knowledge that there’s someone out there that may kill Jiang Cheng because they love him too much.
He knows that even if Jiang Cheng were to figure out who the person pining for him is, there are only two solutions:
He knows that even if Jiang Cheng were to figure out who the person pining for him is, there are only two solutions:
surgery or the person stopping loving him.
The third option, reciprocating their feelings, it’s completely off the table.
The third option, reciprocating their feelings, it’s completely off the table.
He can’t imagine a world where he doesn’t love Lan Xichen.
But he knows the other would stay away if that ensures a higher chance of survival.
But he knows the other would stay away if that ensures a higher chance of survival.
As Jiang Cheng finally reaches home, he tries to dispel any thoughts of this matter.
The house lights are on, signaling that Lan Xichen is already home and yes, Jiang Cheng is almost an hour late to their usual dinner time.
The house lights are on, signaling that Lan Xichen is already home and yes, Jiang Cheng is almost an hour late to their usual dinner time.
That night Jiang Cheng tries to simply enjoy his time with his husband.
When Lan Xichen comments on how late he is, that Jiang Cheng should take better care of himself, Jiang Cheng smiles in response.
When Lan Xichen comments on how late he is, that Jiang Cheng should take better care of himself, Jiang Cheng smiles in response.
On most nights that type of comment is the start of heated discussions, Jiang Cheng not hearing the words of worry, perceiving an accusation instead.
He also doesn’t go to his office right after dinner, to try to put in some more hours of work, instead opting to stay with Lan Xichen and asking him about the new book he’s reviewing.
He doesn’t remember falling asleep or being carried to their bed, but it’s where he awakes. With marigold scent teasing his nose.
Fortunately, there are no petals. Not that day nor the next. He almost believes that it was nothing more than a hallucination.
Until the petals return one week later.
Until the petals return one week later.
** this is my new 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔪" title="Hocho" aria-label="Emoji: Hocho">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔪" title="Hocho" aria-label="Emoji: Hocho"> xicheng baby, based on this tweet: https://twitter.com/_santal/status/1484718348239720448?s=20&t=927SBbVLBca08hx9pQB6fA">https://twitter.com/_santal/s...
Santal is a great artist @santalart and has great ideas! Thank you so much for letting me use this one.
I& #39;ve made some changes, namely the disease only appearing when you love someone and feel that your love is unrequited.
I& #39;ve made some changes, namely the disease only appearing when you love someone and feel that your love is unrequited.
I also wanted a thread in which xicheng is already established and let the world burn https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤭" title="Gezicht met hand voor de mond" aria-label="Emoji: Gezicht met hand voor de mond">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤭" title="Gezicht met hand voor de mond" aria-label="Emoji: Gezicht met hand voor de mond">
I hope you& #39;ll enjoy this and I plan to have updates at least once per week. **
I hope you& #39;ll enjoy this and I plan to have updates at least once per week. **
It doesn& #39;t matter that Jiang Cheng has only thrown up marigold petals thrice until now, he has this lingering sensation that there& #39;s a petal stuck on his throat all the time.
And people have started to notice it.
And people have started to notice it.
Not the petals, but that he& #39;s been clearing his throat more frequently, as well as drinking water more often.
Jin Guangyao has even asked him if everything is fine with Jiang Cheng, "do you want any allergy meds? My throat also kills me every spring"
Jin Guangyao has even asked him if everything is fine with Jiang Cheng, "do you want any allergy meds? My throat also kills me every spring"
He smiled in response and kept working.
He& #39;s still not closer to figuring out who& #39;s the one in love with him. It keeps him awake at night, reliving the last few weeks, months, trying to figure out if there& #39;s any clue.
He& #39;s still not closer to figuring out who& #39;s the one in love with him. It keeps him awake at night, reliving the last few weeks, months, trying to figure out if there& #39;s any clue.
"I can hear your thoughts, grumpypants" his husband complains, reaching for him in their bed.
"Oh yes, and what was I thinking about, my gentle knight?"
"That if you keep me awake, this gentle knight will finally start looking his age"
"Oh yes, and what was I thinking about, my gentle knight?"
"That if you keep me awake, this gentle knight will finally start looking his age"
"What do you mean? It& #39;s possible for you to look older than you already look?" Jiang Cheng controls his laughter, thankful for this man that helps him forget his conundrum.
"Not all of us can look like we& #39;ve just reached eighteen, grumpypants" he replies holding him closer.
"Not all of us can look like we& #39;ve just reached eighteen, grumpypants" he replies holding him closer.
A few minutes pass before Lan Xichen adds:
"You know that you can count on me, right? My sweet grumpypants, I& #39;m here for whatever you need".
Jiang Cheng considers telling him - isn& #39;t this what a relationship is?
"You know that you can count on me, right? My sweet grumpypants, I& #39;m here for whatever you need".
Jiang Cheng considers telling him - isn& #39;t this what a relationship is?
The exchange of your fears and worries with someone you know will be by your side?
He imagines how Lan Xichen would react, how he would worry and try to find a solution. He thinks about telling him but chooses silence.
He imagines how Lan Xichen would react, how he would worry and try to find a solution. He thinks about telling him but chooses silence.
Jiang Cheng doesn& #39;t even give any indication that he heard his words, hoping for Lan Xichen to believe he fell asleep.
The next day when he wakes up, he has the confirmation that Lan Xichen knew all along he was awake: there& #39;s a small note next to his side of the bed saying +
The next day when he wakes up, he has the confirmation that Lan Xichen knew all along he was awake: there& #39;s a small note next to his side of the bed saying +
+ "when you& #39;re ready, I& #39;m here".
And he thinks that he& #39;ll tell him. As soon as he figures out how to explain to the love of his life that he& #39;s dying, Jiang Cheng will tell him.
Soon, he hopes.
And he thinks that he& #39;ll tell him. As soon as he figures out how to explain to the love of his life that he& #39;s dying, Jiang Cheng will tell him.
Soon, he hopes.
But he still feels guilty for keeping Lan Xichen away, and those feelings follow him to the office.
Fortunately, his work is a good distraction, so he lets himself drown in it.
He& #39;s only disturbed almost at the end of the day by Lan Wangji.
Fortunately, his work is a good distraction, so he lets himself drown in it.
He& #39;s only disturbed almost at the end of the day by Lan Wangji.
The man is looking intently at him, eyebrows furrowed.
"Do you need anything?", he asks, not really waiting for a response. His brother-in-law seems troubled and he tends to opt for silence when that happens.
"Do you need anything?", he asks, not really waiting for a response. His brother-in-law seems troubled and he tends to opt for silence when that happens.
But this time, he does talk:
"Do you think it& #39;s easy to fall out of love?"
Jiang Cheng grows suspicious at the question.
"Why do you ask that?"
"That& #39;s not an answer"
"Do you think it& #39;s easy to fall out of love?"
Jiang Cheng grows suspicious at the question.
"Why do you ask that?"
"That& #39;s not an answer"
"Of course, I won& #39;t answer that, I don& #39;t have any idea about it".
Lan Wangji stares at him, eyes never wavering:
"Don& #39;t you?"
And Jiang Cheng leaves the room, not really sure about what& #39;s happening but feeling that he& #39;s too close to finding something he doesn& #39;t want to.
Lan Wangji stares at him, eyes never wavering:
"Don& #39;t you?"
And Jiang Cheng leaves the room, not really sure about what& #39;s happening but feeling that he& #39;s too close to finding something he doesn& #39;t want to.
Later, when he returns to his desk, there& #39;s a note with neat handwriting:
"Do you think it& #39;s easy to fall out of love with my brother?
He feels the petals suffocating him.
"Do you think it& #39;s easy to fall out of love with my brother?
He feels the petals suffocating him.
** leaving this here :) **
