In dmbj universe, people stay in wild of far away or in tombs for days. While staying there how women and trans people deal with their periods? Like whole tomb raiding shenanigans can't be scheduled with taking care of everyone's periods nor can they text periods to come later.
[emerges from my hiatus coffin Nosferatu style because it’s time to talk about GENDER]
Ok first thanks this is SUCH a good question. If NPSS wasn’t like, so aggressively a cis man we might have a canon answer, but as it is I’m gonna extrapolate from real life and make some guesses!!
My first instinct would be to look at how people with periods cope with long distance, multi-day trekking today. This website touches on a few practices I think tomb raiders with periods would probably also use: (1) keeping used sanitary items in Ziplock bags for later disposal, and (2) using unscented baby wipes and hand sanitizer for sanitation
It’s also possible modern tomb raiders with periods use birth control, whether or not they’re worried about pregnancy, for assistance in regulating / moderating their flows + hormonal shifts
For folks in the Mystic Nine era (1933), things would definitely look different! In the late 1920s, there were some pads available, so it’s definitely possible tomb raiders with periods in the late ‘20s were using pads. If they were, they likely used Kotex disposable pads, which were quite popular at the time (though far from perfect), and were being advertised in China as early as 1928. Keep in mind, though, that self-adhesive pads weren’t around until the 1970s; to wear a pad, a person with a period would also need to wear a ~sanitary belt~ or other clothing item designed to hold the pad in place. Annoying, but probably better than a just bleeding everywhere?
More under the cut, since I had a lot to say I guess!
Alternatively, 1920s-30s folks might have used / repurposed surgical gauze; many early pads — including those Kotex ones — came from wartime advancements in surgical gauze in WW1. Plus, a tomb raiding team would be sure to have a significant supply of surgical gauze on hand! Obviously, this wouldn’t be super comfortable (if you’ve ever stuff toilet paper in your underwear as a makeshift pad, it sucks), but it might be more flexible — a noted and necessary benefit for a tomb raider, whereas the Kotex pads were known to be cumbersome.
However, as the articles cited touch on, many of these pads were problematic in one way or another — reusable ones were annoying to clean; disposable ones were inflexible, burdensome, or not sturdy. All of that sounds problematic for a tomb raider on the go; it would probably behoove a tomb raider with a period to plan, as much as possible, for their period to arrive before they enter the tomb, when disposal / care of used sanitary products will be more convenient. This could, of course, be problematic if you were trans and not out or otherwise hiding the existence of your period; while Chinese attitudes were starting to open up towards periods in the late 20s, there was still a long legacy of periods as being deeply, inherently private — which would make openly planning around your period difficult, especially in a predominantly cis male setting.
The first commercially successful tampon was marketed in 1931, so it’s definitely possible our Mystic Nine era folks were using tampons. However, I’m gonna say it is probably unlikely, and similarly unlikely for our later Paracel Islands team and South Sea King team; according to consumer polls, tampons are not the preferred sanitation product choice in China today. A cursory Google search didn’t turn up much on advertisements for tampons in China in the 1930s, either. Similarly, while a rubber cup (think today’s diva cup) was invented in the early ‘30s, it wasn’t a commercial success; I couldn’t say for sure if it was even marketed in China at the time. Another unlikely choice, though for modern tomb raiders it would have the benefit of not producing non-bio waste?
For folks prior to the ‘20s (or folks using more traditional methods), I wasn’t totally able to verify if this is accurate but a few websites mentioned that parts of ancient China would wrap sand or fiber in cloth; when the “pad” soaked through, they would toss the filling and wash the cloth. This might be slightly more functional in a tomb setting (“don’t mind me, just gonna toss my period sand over in the corner here thanks”), though I’m not sure how disposal would intersect with traditional / Confucian norms around yin and yang energy, which we see discussed in DMBJ as part of tomb raising “etiquette” or sense
Tangentially Related:
NPSS originally conceptualized XG as a (presumably cis) girl, apparently, which: would her period blood have typical Zhang powers? Also, would the Zhang clan be a matriarchy OR would the title of clan head be non-gendered OR would the Zhang clan be patriarchal and she would be an exception? How would her gender figure into her being chosen as the replacement mythical baby, and/or her having to (unwillingly, admittedly) scrounge together the shattering, fragmented remnants of a clan collapsing in on itself? 
We’re talking early 1900s — how strong would she have to be to rally even the small amount of main line Zhangs that canonically have XG as their patriarch? Would her gender be weaponized against her, or seen as “proof” of her illegitimacy? If the Zhangs were inherently a patriarchal clan, would she be othered from her gender in the same way XG is (presumably) othered from his Tibetan heritage (acting under the assumption that XG’s mom is not Han Chinese living in Tibet; I haven’t read Tibetan Sea Flowers, so feel free to correct me if I’m wrong!)?
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I heard the sweet, dulcet tones of acting meta on this post and could not resist her call, so @xcziel, @foxofninetales, this one is for you.
THE LIU CHANG DMBJ CHARACTER META: WANG CAN vs LIU SANG
So first of all lemme just say I love these bitches, and what’s interesting about Liu Chang is that he plays them on opposite ends. There’s not much he can do about the fact that, y’know, he’s the same-ass person, but there are some very distinct differences between Liu Sang and Wang Can, which we will be talking about now.
I’ve talked about body lines before! But now we get to look at it from the same actor in two different characters! As a recap, straight lines are strong, sturdy, confident, and straightforward; curved lines are weaker, but more interesting and more dynamic.
For example!!
We got our bitch Wang Can here!! This is our first look at this slimy man, and look! He’s like a square!!! All straight lines, all ups and downs. Him body a square!! The costume people also do a great job of boxing him up bc of the tailoring of his jacket, and the two neutral color palette. There’s no embellishments, no decor. This is a straightforward man!! He’s not hiding anything except exactly how much of a bitch he is
(Also notice that his hands are showing and in fists. This will be important in a minute.)
Next, we have our favorite boy Liu Sang, showing up for the first time (ignore the differences in angles):
Oho! He’s a curvy motherfucker!! Aside from the fact that his clothes are now tailored correctly to demonstrate his natural curves, this mans is also curving himself! His arms! Are loose! And bent!! His head and neck aren’t nearly as emphasized! And! AND!!!! His hands are in his fucjing POCKEEETTTSSS. That indicates FURTIVENESS! That indicates MYSTERY! We’re going to find some things OUT about this boy and we’re gonna like it!!!
In comparison, look at Jiang Wu:
LIU CHANG U BEAUTIFUL BITCH. He fucking BENT HIS ARM. He kept one straight and BENT THE OTHER!!! Oh joyous occasion!! We have a DYNAMIC BOY!! but not too dynamic—peep that hidden hand! Also I love this bc it was TWO DIFFERENT LIU CHANG CHARACTERS IN THE SAME SHOW!!! :D see!! Here’s Liu Sang again!
THIS IS A CONFIDENT LIU SANG!!!! He is CHANGED! He is capable of expressing emotions now! Look at just how much body language he has going on, while in comparison, Jiang Wu and Wang Can are like creepy Wood Baby Puppets. His body shape is boxy again, but that’s bc he’s the protagonist of this one. The plot hinges on him, he’s gotta be sturdy.
WHAT WE HAVE DETERMINED SO FAR:
Wang Can is straight lines, no hidden agenda (which is funny cause he’s a Bad Guy)
Liu Sang is dynamic lines and movement, and alludes to mysterious ✨secrets✨
Jiang Wu is a mix of the two and also a dumb dork (that’s not from the body language, I just think he’s funny)
PART TWO: HAIR, BABY!
Once again I owe my life to costuming people. Someday I’ll write that Mystic Nine costuming meta but today we’re focusing on Liu Chang and, specifically, his HAIR PEOPLE!!! I love them and would die for them literally
Once again, ladies and gentlemen and all my glorious they/thems, Wang Can:
OOOOOH I hate his slimy RAT FACE lemme AT EM. Ahem. Regardless, let’s take a look at this BITCH, shall we? We have: straight line face angles!! Very standard shape, BUT this is all accented by the fact that his hair is S C R A P E D back to within an inch of its life, like. Ahem. Sir. Please. Also this man’s got CONTOUR on. If u look at literally any pics/videos of Liu Chang out of character he is NOT this angular. His head is just as rectangular as his body, and the pulled back hair emphasizes his face, which is interesting as he doesn’t do a whole lot with it.
Alternatively, Liu Sang:
This is a nice boy!!! This is a nice soft boy!!! Look his face has CURVES that are emphasized by the glasses (which also draw attention to his eyes, which is good bc that’s where he does the most work, which we’ll get to later) and the HAIR!!! His hair is soft!! It’s flowy! It’s curvy! He conditions!!! This boy is approachable and will Not shoot you One Million Times with a Machine Gun. This also works with the Liu Sang Signature Ponytail, as he leaves thick-enough bang pieces out to also give the illusion of curves around his face. Also his nose and cheekbones are NOT as strongly contoured, so the angularity of his face is softened as well
WHAT WE HAVE DETERMINED SO FAR
dmbj hair and makeup people were doing the absolute most
Wang Can’s hair gives us the most access to The Face, giving him a slick, straight look, and also something else which we will discuss next
Liu Sang is Soft and Curved bc of the hair and glasses, primarily
Oh speaking of fucking which you know who else is soft??? Huang Junjie. That’s the softest man I have ever seen. His xiaoge is my favorite bc it’s perfectly believable that he’s Butter Inside based solely on his Cheeks (again, it’s the hair people doing the Lord’s work)
PART THREE: IT’S ALL IN THE FACE
The face is the actor’s best friend, and Liu Chang definitely uses his well. We know him as being sort of stoic, more on the Xiao-Ge end of things than the Wu Xie side, but if u compare Liu Sang to Wang Can, LS is going HAM with the facials.
Let’s take a look!
Fuck me UP!!!!!! Look at him!! This is one of the earlier episodes too so we haven’t even gotten to the real good stuff but!!!! Look at his eyebrows!!! Look at how wide his eyes get (once again, the glasses are jumbotroning the peepers)! Look at his unhappy lil mouth!! That’s a whole REALM of facial expression, and so early on in our journey!
Meanwhile, Fuckboy Prime:
(Pardon the garbage screencap, my laptop broke on me this week and I am Suffering)
This is at the very end of Wang Can’s time with us; he’s fighting and he’s going to die and he KNOWS it, but this bitch doesn’t even draw his eyebrows together. Mcwhomst???? Bitch u GOTTA give us more than that I’m BEGGING u
The other interesting thing about their differing facial expressions is that Liu Sang emotes mostly with his eyes, and Wang Can emotes mostly with his mouth. This is very obvious in the clip @xcziel posted, esp when he starts doing the whole gesturing-with-his-chin thing, but it’s prominent throughout.
These two screenshots were taken like fifteen seconds apart. He does a whole face journey, but only with his mouth. His eyes stay fixed; they move, sure, but they don’t get any wider or anything like that.
Liu Sang, however is always doing stuff with his eyes. For example (I couldn’t find an image of it quick enough but I know that @kholran has this gifset), the sacrifice scene where he looks up at Wu Xie with the biggest, most pleading and questioning eyes imaginable?? Kills me. The DEPTH in those bad boys. Fuck me UP.
This also checks out when we remember the glasses. Since they emphasize the eyes, we’re drawn to that part of Liu Sang’s face, so it makes sense that the majority of his expression would happen there. This is also prominent with his hearing abilities; whenever he’s trying to focus them (or get us to focus on him), he not only turns his eyes away, he SHUTS THEM, which means we as the audience know that there’s something going on underneath the surface, and really highlights the fact that this is an unusual and cool power!
With Wang Can, however, the structure of his face and absence of Hair Curves directs the eye to his mouth, so we watch that to tell what’s going on in his head. It’s all about directing the eye, and Liu Chang is very good at knowing where people are going to be looking!
SO: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
Liu Sang, Wang Can, and Jiang Wu are all very distinctly characterized through their body language
The same actor becomes different characters by using their toolkit (the body) to its full potential
Hair and makeup people are Wizards
Wang Can is a Whole-Ass Ho and I do not miss him even a little bit
Liu Sang’s body dynamics change over time and I love that for him!!
Hey, question. Do you watch any AvenueX videos? You can learn some really interesting things in those, like how reboot ershu's actor has been in an LGBTQ film. Years ago, admittedly, but like. I'm sure that could fit into ershu's backstory somehow. >.> the film is Lan Yu, if you want to look it up. Apparently it did pretty well internationally at the time.
!!!!! I have never seen them, no! Thank you so much for the recommendation! I will definitely look up both of these videos!! 🥺🥺
Also, yes, I am pretty firmly in the camp that Wu Erbai is queer (whether gay, or bi, or even ace, I leave to individual interpretation). I think it opens up a lot of interesting thoughts about his character, his ruthlessness, and his approach to family:
Adds valence to how much he demands or expects of Wu Xie, in terms of Wu Xie sacrificing his self for the family (after all, hasn’t he? If we see him as someone who is queer, and who has denied that part of himself either consciously or unconsciously in order to serve the Wu family, of course he expects Wu Xie to do the same. To be a Wu is to sacrifice.)
...Though to the point above, that makes it extra interesting that he himself never actually married, doesn’t it? How far does sacrifice go?
Which — would marriage to a woman have made his life easier? Is there an additional component in his interactions with his nephew of needing Wu Xie to carry on the family line, but also perhaps desiring to protect Wu Xie from the rumors and dismissal and loneliness that has dogged Wu Erbai’s life?
All this to say: does Wu Erbai see himself in Wu Xie? Does that please him? Scare him? Both? How does that (especially if we read them both as queer) carry into their interactions as uncle and nephew — interactions that are so deeply and richly painted with love, and care, and control?
Is their a “right” way to be a queer Wu, in Wu Erbai’s mind — and what does he feel (anger, frustration, jealousy?) when Wu Xie denies it?
@canary3d-obsessed made a comment in one of their lovely TLTR outfit posts about Wu Xie’s sweater when he visits Wu Erbai showing that he is “someone else around his family” — for queer folks, this might particularly resonate. But what about the inverse? Is the Wu Erbai who greets Wu Xie the same as the Wu Erbai who runs his empire alone in his office? Is the Wu Erbai who humiliated rivals the same as the Wu Erbai who wears his reading glasses in bed? How and in what way does his queerness filter in? How does he experience his own self? We don’t get to see this, but I wonder how much of the Wu Erbai we know is construction (just as so much of the public Wu Xie is, ESPECIALLY after Sha Hai. The difference is that we see Wu Xie in private, with the veneer stripped away. We don’t see Wu Erbai in this way, because to Wu Xie he is inherently functioning “in public.”)
Explore with the Note | I loved this scene for a LOT of reasons, including
Classic example of extremely hot headed baby!Wu Xie
Early glimpse of Pangzi’s mediating role in the Iron Triangle, as the person who is practical when ZQL gets too caught up on his quest and WX gets too caught up on trying to save ZQL from said quest.
Also, Pangzi reminding WX that this must be important to ZQL, even if WX doesn’t get why (and a reflection of the role Pangzi plays in WX’s life not only as a friend, but as a mentor and guide as well)
“I’ll stick with you to the end” — and it’s interesting that WX breaks out the self term “Xiao Sanye” here? I’ve never really heard him refer to himself as such, and it implies a level of formality in this promise he makes that I find interesting
WX insisting he won’t let anything bad happen to XG - and when has anyone cared all that much about XG’s well being for his own sake? Just because they don’t want him to get hurt? Not because they need him for something? - but also XG’s look of utter disdain in response
Which leads to perhaps my favorite thing:
ZQL is pissed. He is not fucking happy with WX here. He does not appreciate WX’s stubborn, arrogant insistence that he knows better than anyone how to keep ZQL safe. WX may feel like he’s won the argument (going off his face in the final 3), but he hasn’t actually even scratched the surface. And I love the tension this builds in, the reality that WX’s belief and faith and love can be both liberating and restraining; that his naïveté can be and is a real hindrance in many ways?
I watched a BTS where the iron triangle bullies liusang but it was actually Liusang annoying Pangzi and viceversa, and wuxie and xiaoge joining in to back up Pangzi. And I thought what if Liu Sang annoys Pangzi to get his attention? Pangzi is a rain of sunshine, I wouldn't be surprised if liusang was attracted but I've never thought about them romantically 'til now. I'm actually intrigued now. What do you think? Have you ever thought of them that way without wuxie and xiaoge in the mix?
WOW UH HELLO THIS IS A NEW SHIP I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT I NOW N E E D
First, enemies to lovers speed run
We know Liu Sang is a feral cat, and Pangzi is like. The embodiment of home. I wouldn’t be surprised if part of why Liu Sang is so hissy is that he sees that and wants it and doesn’t know why
(And maybe getting Pangzi’s attention, even his annoyed attention — maybe it makes Liu Sang feel warm, and happy, and safe, and maybe he isn’t ready to think about it too hard)
Also we KNOW Pangzi is a sucker for bright young things 😭 I think he would be begrudgingly intrigued by Liu Sang’s competence, and honestly all it would take is Liu Sang trying to sacrifice himself one (1) time for Wu Xie before Pangzi imprints
(Very Swiftly Tilting vibes)
Honestly ask this is really making me think of Liu Sang in @s1utspeare’s amazing pingpangxiesang fic (CLICK ME), and how of all of them, Pangzi is the one Liu Sang sees as safe
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I've always thought that Sanshu was trying to defend Wuxie and to shield him by all the stuff the mystic were plotting but after reading your last chapter of supplication, I might have misjudge him..? I've to say that I still haven't watched TLTreboot seasons, so maybe that is an important step for Sanshu's charatcer. Is it there where we find out what is he up to and his real reasons behind his shady behaviour? thank you!
Ok to be fair, I am the literal conductor of the Sanshu hate train!! Not everyone hates him like I do.
So speaking for my biased ass specifically, the biggest revelations around Sanshu’s Shady Shit Emporium are in TLT3: Ultimate Note. Far from shielding Wu Xie, Sanshu is actively manipulating and using Wu Xie as a key pawn in the Wu’s plan to extricate themselves from the Wang Family.
Sanshu is interesting, in some sense, in that he himself also has little choice in how he gets involved in removing himself from It’s control. And I think there are questions we can raise around him — does he care about Wu Xie, beyond Wu Xie’s role as an essential pawn in the Wu and Xie family plots? Does that matter? Why or why not?
Anyway, fun meme: drop the scene that made you hate Sanshu in the replies :)
So I just watched the post-gas-bomb scene that a gorgeous gifset by @stebeee is based on (I keep trying to link the actual gifs but tumblr mobile Will Not), and I’m having a LOT of PingXie feelings!! I personally saw Zhang Qiling’s role in this scene as slightly different from OP’s take so buckle up boys...we’re going meta.
More than anything, I read this scene as about Wu Xie, for the first time, accepting that it’s “time” for him to go (a bit ironically, since he wakes up and cheats death again). In the past, every time he’s been threatened or had his pending death dangled over his head like a brand, he has always insisted that he can’t die yet, that he has something left to do.
I feel, in the post-gas-bomb dream scene, that Zhang Qiling represents these things left to do, namely, the deepest ties holding Wu Xie to life. Not just because Wu Xie is in the middle of actively searching for ZQL when this scene takes place, but also because of the deep emotional (romantic?) bond they share.
When Wu Xie first turns around and sees ZQL at the dream campsite, his reaction isn’t joy. He’s devastated. He visibly chokes up. His face contorts.
I think he’s scared to leave ZQL behind, emotionally and physically. He knows ZQL is physically stuck right now, potentially relying on Wu Xie’s plan to save him. But also, Wu Xie knows that deep in ZQL’s heart it’s only Wu Xie. He’s ZQL’s “connection with this world;” he’s the person ZQL comes back for. Yet here he is: leaving, for good. Seeing ZQL now is a reminder of all the loose ends he is leaving behind (and too of the love they hold for each other that will be left one sided, with one point snuffed out).
What really gets me is this next facial expression, though. Wu Xie smiles. You can track exactly when his gratitude and joy at seeing ZQL again, here at the “end” (to say goodbye, to say something more, to do or be something more?) takes over. What a fitting send off, right? He told ZQL he would “accompany [him] to the end,” and now ZQL has accompanied him to his.
How does ZQL respond to this? He smiles, and he nods. He tells Wu Xie, it’s ok, you can follow them. You can go.
He absolves the strongest tie Wu Xie has to staying alive. Not out of meanness, not with bitterness, not with regret...but with love and understanding.
And Wu Xie?
He softens, gentles his posture...and turns back around. He is prepared to go, for the first time in the entire series. And ZQL has paved the way for that. It’s bittersweet, I feel.
In the end, it’s not ZQL who brings Wu Xie back. It’s ZQL who tells Wu Xie it’s ok to go.
And that is just as much a testament to the love between them.
