I've made a lot of promises in my life. Even kept a few of them, though I don't make a habit of it. What's the harm in telling someone what they want to hear?
The possibility that keeps him up at night is that Meng Yao came into his service an honest man, and over time changed into what he sees before him now. That, as his ambitions rose and his world grew grander, he reshaped himself and discovered the things he was capable of, all the while looking like his familiar self, but transforming under his skin into something Nie Mingjue could hardly recognize.
The Brides have their hooks in Jonathan, less pleasurably than before. Written for Elise, prompt "naked".
When the time comes to transfer a golden core to Jiang Cheng a different choice is made.
“Do you understand what this means? For me?” he asks, eyes flicking back and forth as he searches her face. “And you approve?”
She smiles as she reaches out and cups his chin. “Our XianXian is very brave,” Jiang Yanli says, not quite answering his question yet. “I knew you would find a way to save him but you cannot make this sacrifice.”
He shakes his head…
When the time comes to transfer a golden core to Jiang Cheng a different choice is made.
“Do you understand what this means? For me?” he asks, eyes flicking back and forth as he searches her face. “And you approve?”
She smiles as she reaches out and cups his chin. “Our XianXian is very brave,” Jiang Yanli says, not quite answering his question yet. “I knew you would find a way to save him but you cannot make this sacrifice.”
He shakes his head. “There’s no one else,” Wei Wuxian says, tears already forming in his eyes. “I promised I’d look after him.”
“You cannot look after him if you don’t have a core,” Jiang Yanli says, gently. “But I’m not doing much with mine.”
Janet is there for the trial, and afterward.
Jack gets sick. Phryne puts him in her bed.
He's letting him in. He'll use this like he's used every scrap of information Andrew has given him. This is a mistake.
(Fletcher walks him home from the jazz club. Andrew invites him in, to talk.)
Adventures in keeping power in a country that would rather you stepped down, or: Prunella still has a few tricks up her sleeve.