#snake polycule

Chi Cheng/Wu Suo Wei/Guo Chengyu/Jiang Xiao Shuai:

Can't I just submit the entire show here?

You see, there's 2 official couples in the show (CC and WSW // CY and JXS), but the relationships between the four of them are so entangled and messy and actually somehow poly coded is seriously insane. As the show progresses it gets stated just how much they all mean to each other. WSW and JXS are best friends, the type that teaches you How To Gay 101, jokingly flirts with you, offers you a place to stay and begs to be the first one by your side when any accident occurs to you; CC and CY are worsties, the type that will find a new partner just so they can tell you, quote, "don't forget to have s*x with my boyfriend", the one you share cigarettes with, the one you drunkenly kissed when you were younger and whom you admitted out loud was the most important person in your life. And the diagonals between them all? CY folds like a chair for SW and JXS finds CC attractive and viceversa. They're all genuinely so good together in a "I fear what would happen if anyone else was exposed to their radioactive swag". 10/10.

I now submit some posts for more details™ 

If there ever was a frenemies to lovers polycule in a live action series then it would be in Revenged Love. (but the toxic in the ship name is a content warning, they are all a bit morally grey. which is a feature not a bug. but they balance each other out)

mild spoilers ahead, but most of it is general known synopsis of the plot:

It is a complicated mix and development through 24 episodes of scheming, revenge, misunderstandings, insane plans, unforeseen feelings, support, love and friendship: Suo Wei meets the doctor Shuai who helps him back up on his feet after a heavy breakup. Suo Wei then finds out his mean ex girlfriend dates the playboy Chi Cheng now. Suo Wei and Suah come up with the ridiculous revenge plan that Suo Wei seduces Chi Cheng into breaking up with her and dating him instead (they found out that he also dated men in the past). The plan works to a point. But it wouldn't be fun if everything would go smoothly till the end :) Then there is also Chi Chengs very close childhood worstie, Chengyu, who gets openly interested in Shuai. But these two have a thing going where Chi Cheng has to sleep with every guy Chengyu is interested in. Oh yes and there are also snakes (real). Snake breeding and snake fights (cgi). Did I mention that it's complicated? But they all end up loving and supporting each other!

(fr)enemies to lovers, besties who study gay sex and seduction together, worsties who kiss and kind of share boyfriends, friends who try to get each other hooked up. Everyone flirts with everyone. Most of them are attracted to more than just one in the group. They love watching the others kiss or even having s*x. 

How it started:

How it ended:

besties/worsties who love each other:

Neil Josten/Andrew Minyard/Kevin Day:

He notices something weird is going on when Suwei starts overplaying omega traits during the table read. He’s seen his friend get defensive over his second gender. He’d even known that Suwei was planning to play his omega character more masculine. 

Things quickly get ridiculous when Shuai watches the two alphas nearly mount each other in the name of being method. It’s played for jokes. It’s funny. Everyone laughs. It’s easy for the other actors to get into their roles when the main characters are leading the way.

But Shuai knows his friend. By the time the week is over, he confronts Suwei about what’s going on. Now he knows Suwei is, once again, in his stupid era.

“Let me get this straight,” Shuai says, sitting in Suwei’s room. “Your omega ex broke your heart-”

“Yep.”

“-so you’re going to fuck her alpha boyfriend?”

“Absolutely not,” Suwei says, sitting up.

He’s dressed in a pair of white shorts, with a flimsy shawl he borrowed from Shuai, because Suwei would NEVER own such a thing. Since Shuai came in, Suwei’s been trying to snap provocative pictures with his shorts, shawl and barechest and frankly, it’s been hard for Shuai to concentrate.

Because Suwei’s legs… they’re so long, and slender in the most omega way. When he raises them to lean on the head of the bed, Shuai has to look away because this is just ridiculous.

“I’m seducing him, not fucking him,” Suwei says like there’s a difference.

Shuai scoffs, crossing his legs to find something to do when Suwei spreads his legs to take another picture.

“Do you think that makes a difference to Chicheng?” Shuai asks. “He doesn’t take no for an answer.”

“That’s a disgusting, alpha stereotype,” Suwei says flippantly as he relaxes back in his bed, scrolling through his phone.

“No, Wei,” Shuai says, grabbing Suwei’s phone. “He’s the reason the stereotype exists.” He looks at the phone. “What are you doing?” Shuai cringes as he sees that Suwei’s chat with Chicheng is open.

And there are multiple pictures in it. Pictures of Suwei’s legs, his face, his body.

“Give me that,” Suwei says, taking it out of Shuai’s hands and moving to the other side of the bed.

“He will literally ruin you when you refuse to fuck him.”

“He won’t,” Suwei says stubbornly.

“He’s done worse for less. He isn’t some toy you can just put back on a shelf. He’s a fucking alpha. He is a rich and powerful one at that. Do you really think-”

“Not every alpha is Mengtao, Shuai,” Suwei spits back.

Every cell in Shuai’s body goes inert. He looks away from Suwei to hide the anger that ignites in him, but he can see Suwei’s own anger deflate from the other side of the room.

Rushing over to Shuai, Suwei says, “I didn’t mean that. That wasn’t fair. I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Shuai. Please.”

Suwei sits beside him, wrapping his hands around Shuai and frantically rubbing up and down as he pleads. Deep down, Shuai understands that Suwei didn’t mean to hurt him. Suwei’s heart is set on this revenge that he’s pulling out anything to distract Shuai. Because on some level, he knows it’s bullshit.

He’d have told Shuai about it if he thought it was a sensible plan.

Suwei’s phone vibrates. He takes a hand away to read it and Shuai sees the message.

CC: … waiting…

“Okay,” Suwei says. “I won’t send anymore pictures. See,” he says, typing furiously. He turns the phone to Shuai.

SW: No more pics. SW: Good night.

Shuai wants to point out that’s not how it works. Chicheng is interested. He’s not going to back down just because Suwei has said good night. Mengtao never did. If he wanted pictures, if he wanted affection, if he wanted sex, Shuai had to make it available. Immediately.

When Suwei’s phone vibrates again, Shuai almost tells him not to open it so that he can pretend he didn’t see it when they meet in the morning. But Suwei moves too quickly.

Then he laughs at the message. “See?” he says, turning the phone to Shuai again.

CC: *crying emoji* CC: sleep tight CC: dream of no one but me

Shuai doesn’t understand it. Chicheng is an alpha. One with a history of the terrible things he’s done. Shuai’s been in the theatre industry for about a week and he’s snooped out enough gossip to know that Chicheng isn’t a joke. It’s hilarious that Suwei has no idea. It’s bizarre that Chicheng is relenting.

Maybe it’s because Suwei is an alpha. Maybe alphas court alphas with more reservation. Maybe if Shuai was an alpha like Mengtao, he wouldn’t have the memories he has of their relationship.

“I’m sorry,” Suwei says again. “Let’s not… I’m sorry. I didn’t even ask how you were doing. Let’s not talk about Chicheng. Please.”

Shuai nods. He wants to ask more questions. He wants to explore what this is between Chicheng and Suwei that is so unnaturally foreign. Because he doesn’t understand it. But he knows that it’s become a sore subject. If neither man wants to hurt the other, Shuai has to let it go. For now.

“How’s life in the theater world?” Suwei asks as he takes off the shawl, showing off his lean waist and beautiful back. 

Shuai feels slighted when Suwei finds a shirt and puts it on.

“It’s never boring,” Shuai says dryly. “They’re more obsessed with omegas here than at the clinic.”

As a beta, he hadn’t wasted his time. He’d spent his entire life dedicated to helping people after he got certified. But Shuai knew the rules. The moment he got his first heat, he turned in his resignation. He followed the proper channels, got his omega, severance package, signed every agreement and left, a jobless man.

“I know this isn’t the prestigious world of medicine, but-”

“Suwei, it’s fine,” Shuai says. “I was going crazy sitting at my mother’s house, doing nothing.”

Running a hand through his hair, he gets up.

“Speaking of stupid things a person might do,” Shuai says, raising his eyebrows as he looks at the ground.

“What?” Shuai asks. “Are you talking about Mengtao?”

“Aren’t you scared?” Suwei asks. “You ran away the moment you became an omega because you know what he’ll do. And then you turn around and ask to work in the theater world. You could run into him anywhere.”

Shuai laughs at that. “This is an action play,” he says. “Mengtao would sooner rip his mating glands from his neck than be caught dead anywhere near here.”

As the snob that Mengtao is, Shuai knows he’s safe at the ‘Bite Me’ camp. 

His phone starts ringing so he checks it.

“What’s going on?” Suwei asks.

“A meeting with the other managers,” Shuai says, reading the message. 

“Managers are always meeting. Do you guys ever sleep?”

“If we don’t plan for the next day, do you think your job will go smoothly?”

Grabbing Suwei’s head, he gives Suwei a soft peck on the forehead before he heads out. 

The job doesn’t pay as much as the clinic used to, but Shuai likes it. He gets to watch handsome people frolic all day while he shares gossip with the other managers. He gets to spend most of his time with Suwei too, so that’s probably the biggest plus. 

He knows that omegas are as unwelcome in the theater industry as in medicine. Because, for some misguided reason, they think omegas won’t take their suppressants. Because omegas don’t have common sense.

As if any production has ever been delayed because of an omega’s heat.

It’s stupid, outdated shit, but it’s shit omegas have to deal with. Besides, Shuai is on suppressants, like everyone else. No one knows him. No one cares enough to try. He’s safe. He’s engaged. He’s having a better time than he’d thought he’d have as an omega.

As he turns a corner, Shuai is yanked into a corridor. Before he knows what’s happening, he is slammed into the wall, his head cracking hard as he goes dizzy.

“I hired your friend so that he could tell me where you are,” a man says, sneering above Chuai. “Yet, here you are.”

Shuai’s gaze clears up quickly as he gasps. “Mengtao,” he says.

Mengtao’s grip tightens on Shuai’s shoulders as Shuai cries out in pain.

Mengtao shushes him, placing his forehead against Shuai’s. “You know how I hate it when you cry.”

“I’m sorry,” Shuai says immediately, trying to hold it in.