Drive through

[clevermanka]

Guardian/adjacent:
So. Skinny.
This Zhu Yilong article is possibly the only thing out of that GQ spread that doesn't make my eyes bleed.
I don't know what AU this is/could be, but I'm here for it.
That shoulder squeeze.
Guardian analysis in an academic journal.
Fanart: NSFW from Vian! Something more in the usual style. Little Stars! Popsicle HS AU.

Untamed/adjacent:
Fanart: Modern CQL AU Wen Qing!

So you won a vidder's auction... (besides you lucky devil, you)

Lori Morimoto is putting her book out there for everybody.

Gonna get as much writing done this morning as I can before McKitterick wakes, so peace out for now.

ETA: Does anyone, ever, in the whole show, hug Shen Wei other than Zhao Yunlan's kinda-hug(s)? 

Comments

[khellekson]

Bai Yu in his bucket hat! I have a photo on my rotating desktop images of him similarly attired, standing in front of microphone, ready to record voice-overs.

I'm loving the Guardian academic analysis! Yes!

And YEAH for Lori.

[clevermanka]

I hate bucket hats but I love his dedication to them and honestly he makes them look better than even K-pop guys do.

Hurray for good things in fandom!

[goss]

ETA: Does anyone, ever, in the whole show, hug Shen Wei other than Zhao Yunlan's kinda-hug(s)?

Just randomly commenting that it could just be a culture thing?

ETA: I was watching The King's Avatar yesterday, and there was a certain scene where I would have expected two friends to hug naturally, and they just...didn't, and it seemed strangely restrained to me that they didn't. But as a person who grew up in this part of the world, but I figured it could have been a culture difference, hence my mentioning it above.

[clevermanka]

As a person who loathes romantic PDA but is very touchy-feely with my friends this is one of the saddest things I've ever read.

Wow this makes all the touching between ZYL and SW in the show really just egregiously obvious portrayals of l-o-v-e LOVE.

It also rather negates an emotional beat I wanted to fill. Hmmm. Gonna need to figure out how to differently navigate this use of a hug. I know it's a fantasy world etc. etc. but I don't want to be one of those fic writers who just says "it's my world so I can disregard ALL the cultural norms!" especially since this is a canon-compliant fic.

[goss]

I think too, you could probably converse with someone who might be able to give a more informed idea of what intimacy in public spaces looks like in modern Chinese culture.

[clevermanka]

Good point. I've made a note in the fic to revisit that after I'm done writing the current section.

[trobadora]

I don't know what AU this is/could be, but I'm here for it.

Oh, yes, I like this one!

Also the NSFW art is excellent, and the Guardian article sounds very cool!

Does anyone, ever, in the whole show, hug Shen Wei other than Zhao Yunlan's kinda-hug(s)?

No, but I'd say there isn't anyone he'd want to be hugged by, other than Zhao Yunlan.

[clevermanka]

Well today the article is behind a paywall so OH WELL!

[plingo_kat]

Ahahaha so glad to see that another person hates the GQ spread. Like, Z1L can make anything look good, but I was Not Into any of his GQ styles/outfits.

[clevermanka]

I've yet to see someone who likes it! IT'S SO TERRIBLE. I love weirdo fashion shoots and this (like so many of his others) is just BAD.

[plingo_kat]

I've seen some positive comments on twitter who like the emo look? I can't get behind the wig tbh. (HE HAS SO MANY BAD SHOOTS, WHY, HE'S SO BEAUTIFUL, IT CAN'T BBE THAT HARD TO MAKE HIM LOOK GOOD.)

[clevermanka]

LIFE'S RICH TAPESTRY I SUPPOSE. (but oh god they're wrong they're SO WRONG)

[tinny]

I love the Bai Yu singing along video snippet. <3

The GQ article is really pretty good.

The academic journal (and the accompanying recommended reading) sound very interesting, but I can't see them (and I refuse to pay 40$ to read them).

Yay I can see Vian's NSFW art! \o/ (I was sure I needed a twitter account, but no. :D) Thanks for linking!

ETA: seconding the "talk to someone Chinese" about the hugging. I have heard two very differing opinions on this, a) that Zhao Yunlan's draping himself all over everybody is *extremely unusal and unsettling*, way more than it would be to us, and b) that it's normal for people to invade each other's personal space, just because there are always crowds everywhere, and you wouldn't blink at a stranger just coming up to you from behind and peeking over your shoulder.

I think the Guardian discord is probably a good place to meet people versed in Chinese culture who are willing to elaborate on this.

[clevermanka]

Yes the journal apparently had it marked for public access by accident and it was down when I went to read it, too! (I'll message you about it tho)

I've never been on the general Guardian discord and I always forget about it. Thank you very much for that suggestion! I think I'll wait until I'm done with the first draft to ask, because I've actually got a second question about something (spoilery) and I might as well ask any kind soul willing to help me all of them at once.

[tinny]

Thank you! \o/

I've never been on the general Guardian discord and I always forget about it.

I don't interact there anymore, even though I am still a member of the server. I only interact on glymr's server.

That said, I am pretty much constantly available on discord for private chats (while I'm not working). I like the discord interface for private chats a lot.

[clevermanka]

Is... is there a reason you don't interact on the general server? If it's not friendly, or one of those "if you don't already know all the right people..." places, I'd rather avoid (or at least know in advance).

[tinny]

I could tell you on discord (because fast) - i sent you a quick message there. but if you prefer i can also dm you on dw.

I don't think you have to be afraid, they are usually a friendly bunch, and there are some of the same faces around there than here and on twitter.

[clevermanka]

Cool, thanks!