𓆝 𓆟 Fishie 𓆝 𓆟

"VIII. Vers" is a post-canon scene: SQQ finally letting Binghe bottom. It's the end of the cycle because at the end of SVSSS Bingqiu have defeated the narrative of the stallion novel but SQQ had mentally replaced it with the BL narrative and kept acting out the role of shou, and he is only just beginning to fight against that new narrative in the extras. (See essay for details.) Only when he finally accepts that both he and Binghe don't have to follow those rules will the main themes of SVSSS be resolved. That's the only one where I colored in their skin and hair, because SQQ finally fully sees both of them as real people with full agency beyond their narrative roles.

"VII. Dream": This is the moment in the Deep Dream extra where SQQ sees Binghe's memory of caring for SQQ's corpse and saying "Shizun, if you don't wake up soon, I don't think I can hold on for much longer."

But Luo Binghe would hold that ice-cold, lifeless corpse and hold on for almost two thousand more of these days and nights. His heart ached with an overwhelming pain, so much so that it exploded within his chest. Shen Qingqiu saw a hand stretching forward, futilely trying to touch that stark-white face of Luo Binghe’s. He watched that hand as it trembled, unable to touch anything, then suddenly realized, with a shock, that it was his own.

Acknowledgements

Thanks for the super helpful art tips to @lavendrya, @kamikazeworld, @herbofthyme and @cumplanecrash, to @fothetinyotter for the initial idea and encouragement, to @folding-fan for drawing the Jin Lan City scene because I literally couldn't see it in my head before that art, and to everyone who voted on the sketch poll!

Why this?

I think "SQQ reaching out to Binghe" is a good way to chronicle their relationship

because he does it at so many pivotal moments.

because he kinda treats his transmigrated life as a 1st person videogame

because he doesn't realize he's also part of the world, not actually separated from it by the 4th wall, not hidden behind the camera - but he can't stop reaching out towards Binghe anyway!!

because him reaching out towards Binghe is the most important part of SVSSS! That's what changes the narrative!

Will there be more?

I'd love to add a #0: SY reading PIDW. Visually, I think him opening a physical book would be prettiest. But realistically it should be him reading on a phone or angrily typing on a keyboard, right? But like I have NO idea how to make that visually appealing?

I might draw some suggestive post-canon scenes in this format and might accept suggestions...

Did I miss any important canon scenes? Feel free to remind me!

I'm also working on a Bingqiu Tarot series, any Tarot nerds wanna talk about that?

Thanks for reading this far💖