Thinking about how fanon has a tendency to apply a dichotomy to Qishan Wen being evil vs Dafan Wen being good and how it was spawned from CQL canon instead of book canon. But do u know what tickes my brain? WWX protecting ppl who are ACTUALLY war criminals. The haunted look in his eyes when he recognises one of WQ's cousins and KNOWS they did some shit, perhaps by their own volition, perhaps under duress. And him knowing he, himself, is no better in his own conduct during the Sunshot Campaign. And they are now both here in a foresaken land, WQ looking at him, pleading him to look away this once because he is my family, please spare him and WWX does because he doesnt exactly hate her cousin, but he's not fond either. But he owes WQ so much debt that perhaps only his life will ever pay for it. Yet WQ's cousin tells him, one of your corpses killed my sister.
And oh, what can WWX say to that, should he be regretful, should he apologise, but he doesnt find it in himself to be sincere about such things, not when he didn't know and not when it was either kill them or let them kill his peers, his shidimei, Jiang Yanli, or Jiang Cheng who was on the frontlines with him.
Jiang Cheng who he gave up his golden core for, Jiang Cheng JiangCheng JiangCheng Jian-
Then uncle Four tells him, I have killed for my clan as well, some of your shidimei, perhaps.
WWX has nothing to say to that, but WQ's cousin goes rigid with fear as his eyes pass between WWX and Unclr Four. They are in a room with people who have done bad things, killed each other's families. Uncle Four is pouring WWX his homemade fruit wine, and WQ's cousin is peeling the radishes he grew - ones that they are surviving off - and WWX is tinkering with another talisman for the wards for their home. They can't look at each other in the eyes when clink their mugs of wine and drink, every gulp equal parts sweet and bitter on their tongue.
Burning and burning down their throats.
