Xie Lian's canon internal thoughts consist of not infrequently calling people ugly. Can we blame him? He was raised constantly surrounded by and continues to surround himself with devastatingly attractive people. Feng Xin, canonically olive-skinned and handsome, archer's figure. Mu Qing, canonically delicate-appearing and pretty. Hua Cheng, growing up to be tall and savagely beautiful.

Meanwhile, Hua Cheng is a literal fashionista, decked out in every possible silver accessory at any given moment, jingling like a Christmas elf and fabulous while doing it. He throws money around on luxury items just because he can, and his taste is impeccable. Mu Qing straight up destroys his own statues if they're ugly, literally described as wearing luxurious robes that he probably made himself because no one could do it better. They're the divas of this operation. They're judging you, hard, and they want you to know it, so you will.

Xie Lian is the equivalent of the naturally beautiful friend who doesn't wash their face with anything but a bar of soap and comes out looking flawless. He needs absolutely zero fashion sense because he could wear a trash bag and people would think it looks high fashion. Feng Xin is the himbo friend who washes with 10-in-1, yet his skin glistens in the sun like an oiled up ancient greek olympian. He does a normal amount of working out and comes out shaped like Captain America. They're simply God's Favorite, so they don't need to try.

Basically, I picture them as the blindingly hot polycule walking around like the Cullens entering their high-school cafeteria. Hair blowing in an invisible wind. Throwing incredible amounts of shade in the communication array.

Super sexy and sweet and romantic with a touch of angst all drawn together in a fun and fresh situation (love of a good dream sharing!!)

My tags aren't working.

I am obsessed with my nymph au.

We can't wait to see what you all create! (Text version under the cut.)

(There might be hints of HuaFengLian but it’s primarily focused on the two)

A lot of their bonding time consists of dueling/wrestling with e/o. It's how initially they were drawn towards e/o trying to showcase their strength and take the other down and now it kinda serves as foreplay for the two (HC loves taking advantage of it, FX is... less aware)

HC: idk I just don't think you can pin me down FX: Oh yeah?! Well I'll just show you— *takes off his shirt* HC: ¬‿¬

Hua Cheng originally was appalled by Feng Xin's taste in humor but over time he learned to weaponize it to see Feng Xin lose it and snort in laughter. The best reaction he got was when one time he got Feng Xin to crack during a Heavenly meeting and FX was crying as he was holding back is laughter but failing.

Feng Xin creates up silly names for some of Hua Cheng's disguises that he teases him for, but some of the names end up sticking and it's a helpful identifier when FX is trying to find him somewhere and knows what disguise it is by the name, or when HC needs a random identity

FX, in their private communication array: Okay I'm at the market but I don't see you yet HC: I told you I'm wearing a yellow outer robe and carrying an umbrella FX: That doesn't narrow anything down HC: ... HC: I'm Xiao Long (little dragon) FX: Oh okay that helps

Feng Xin likes playing with Hua Cheng’s hair. The inky color always catches his eye, the length of it amazes him and all the ways HC can style such length, and the softness of it soothes him. The only problem is that FX can’t do much with hair besides a simple braid— anything else he tangles it up— so he has to stick with occasionally braiding it or asking to comb it to have his fill

On the flip side Hua Cheng can do anything with Feng Xin’s hair with ease. He's allowed to do whatever but he likes putting up FX's hair in it's usual style and he also goes out of his way to make sure it gets moisturized b/c FX is not when to often put effort in caring for it other than a simple brushing.

They wear subtle hints of their relationship via accessories. For Feng Xin it's earrings or rings Hua Cheng has gifted him or a jinbu that's styled to whatever outfit he's wearing. Hua Cheng tends to wear colors that represent FX via ribbons in his hair or on his belt. He has a special charm Feng Xin hand-crafted for him that he near wears constantly to show off what his lover made him and that he has the protection of Nan Yang to other ghosts.

Feng Xin is very cautious of touching E-Ming, not b/c he's afraid of getting hurt, but b/c one day FX wanted to be courteous and polish up his lover's special spiritual sword and when he does any type of maintenance or polishing for a weapon he's very thorough... the chain reaction of that incident left him limping for a week

Feng Xin casually said one day that none of his temple statues looked like him and Hua Cheng thought he was bluffing, but after looking through every. single. statue. he realized FX wasn't and had a crisis about it

HC: I don't understand how none of them don't even look like him! You would think that with all the prayers he gets about Ju Yang they would also know his basic facial features! XL: It is very surprising HC: Someone has to do something about it, it's simply an embarrassment for him to have XL: Yes, someone could... HC, in denial: He should get his deputies to take care of it, but knowing them they'd get a subpar craftsman to take care of it— HC later, halfway through sculpting one statue with another stone block already in the works: ...Goddamnit

Hua Cheng usually calls Feng Xin gongzi in bed, but his favorite when he's really domming is didi (I'm a bottom FX fan alright)

In reverse however, Feng Xin calls him didi

It shuts Hua Cheng's brain down when Feng Xin places his hand on his lower back and guides him around. The warmth from his hand is all HC can focus on in the moment

In reverse it dumbfounds Feng Xin when HC holds his hand. Those elegant hands can be doing something else, holding someone else, but here they are caressing his knuckles. They're both whipped your honor

Somehow they created a roleplay scenario they love doing where Feng Xin disguises himself and acts like a righteous young lord causing a fuss at the gambling den and HC swagers up to "take care of him". The ghost denizens know what they're doing and they are many emotions about it

If they were together during the events of canon they're both actively screaming at each other in their communication array about the decisions they're doing with XL and panicking

Feng Xin getting absolutely choked to death at night by his three Rapunzels' long-ass hair

Related: Hua Cheng, Xie Lian, and Mu Qing waking up once with their hair in a literal knot and Feng Xin being the one to carefully pick it apart (Mu Qing braids their hair every night thereafter)

Whenever Hua Cheng is sick of Feng Xin's yelling/arguing or whenever he's just bored, he shape-shifts into a female body to freak him out (Mu Qing absolutely eggs this on)

Of the four of them, surprisingly, Xie Lian can make Mu Qing blush the easiest (his secret is carefully guarded and Mu Qing will NEVER sate Feng Xin's nor Hua Cheng's curiosity)

As a canonically beautiful group of men from possibly the most pretentious nation on current history, they are judgemental as FUCK and support one another in this. "I don't want to be mean," Xie Lian begins, followed by Mu Qing saying, "No, no, you're right. That man is hideous."

Feng Xin Practicing Archery Watch is a carefully unspoken and blatantly objectifying ritual amongst Xie Lian, Mu Qing, and Hua Cheng. Feng Xin is the only one blissfully unaware (Hua Cheng: Say a single word, Ming Guang, and your temples are done for).

Mu Qing and Hua Cheng silently and pettily fight frequently over who gets to comb Xie Lian's hair at night. Xie Lian pretends not to notice and keeps a straight face as he hands Feng Xin the comb whenever this happens.

Early in their relationship Hua Cheng, Xie Lian, and Feng Xin routinely come up with careful plans to get Mu Qing to accept affections and gifts without either spooking him or making him question their genuineness (this takes like 300 years to get over).

Ghost City goes through decades of cyclical gossip as to WHICH of the three Hua Cheng is actually in a committed relationship with before settling on the idea that their king just has a harem.

E-Ming is insanely jealous of the other spiritual weapons, but especially Zhanmadao, who isn't even sentient. It's a sword thing.

Feng Xin and E-Ming's relationship is kind of like a dog-person dad forming a bond with the house cat. Begrudging acceptance, then begrudging affection, then full on cat dad behavior while still arguing that he is a dog person.

On days they are feeling particularly synchronous, Feng Xin, Mu Qing, and Hua Cheng bond by talking shit about Qi Rong. And sometimes beating up Qi Rong if he deserves it (he usually does).

Hua Cheng quietly makes sure that Cuo Cuo and Jian Lan are taken care of, and Feng Xin is quietly grateful.

One time, maybe for Hua Cheng's birthday, Mu Qing and Xie Lian agree to re-create their performance for the God Pleasing Festival. Feng Xin participates by happily pushing Hua Cheng over a railing (knowing full well that Hua Cheng let it happen) so Xie Lian can catch him.

Ruoye will randomly curl itself into Hua Cheng's (around his side ponytail in his San Lang form), Mu Qing's (in his ponytail), and Feng Xin's (in his bun) hair

The answer is maybe.

HUAXIN YURI.

For the thrid? Time. Idk man they work as girls sue me.

Contort vs concubine who's winning?