merit_brush_recs | Recent Entries

I completely dropped the ball and forgot to post a reminder about the Week 3 theme. So I'm moving the themes by a week and starting Week 4 now:

WEEK 4 (19-25 September): Derivatives! (Rec remixes, podfics, translations, etc. of fanworks! Use the self-rec tag if it applies. For example, if you rec a podfic someone made of your story, or a remix someone made of your fanwork.)

sakana17

This week's theme is Throwback! Rec fanworks posted in 2018 or 2019!

(Sorry the reminder is late! Yesterday was a holiday and I forgot what day it was...)

extrapenguin

Title: Look What You Made Me Do
Creator Link(s):

findmeinthealps
Canon: Drama
Type: Fanvid
Category: Gen
Length/Size: 3:31
Characters/Ships: Ye Zun
Rating: M
Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death
Themes: character study,
Summary: A Ye Zun-centric vid, set to Taylor Swift's Look What You Made Me Do.

Why I'm Reccing This: This is excellent. Wonderful. This is Peak Ye Zun, my favorite Ye Zun vid, this is the most Ye Zun vid in existence. I love the way the lyrics work, I love the bit about being the actor starring in the bad dreams, the way Ye Zun would absolutely conceptualize all his crimes as someone making him do them instead of active choices of his own, the timing of absolutely everything.

The clip choice, cuts, and main beat timing are all exquisite. The lyrics match the action excellently, especially for the bit where Ye Zun's impersonating Shen Wei. There are also a bunch of interesting parallels, e.g. Ye Zun looking around the Palace versus Shen Wei being led in by the Regent after waking up from his dirt nap.

Fanwork Link(s): Look What You Made Me Do [Vid]

Can we have a creator: findmeinthealps tag, please?

glymr

Title: "The Titles Lie Like Shen Wei" series, which currently includes "Blind Date" and "First Date"
Creator Link(s):

PresidentPlant37
Canon: Guardian Drama
Type: Fanfic
Category: M/M
Length/Size: The full series is currently 5440 words
Characters/Ships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Rating: Teen
Warnings: Misunderstandings
Themes: AU: No powers, Blind date, AU: different first meeting, mistaken identity, (first story); mild canonical hurt/comfort, light angst (second story)
Collection: Guardian Week 2020 (second story)
Summary:

Zhao Yunlan is crushing this blind date.

Shen Wei has no idea what's happening.

Why I'm Reccing This: According to the end notes, "Blind Date" is the author's first-ever posted fanfiction. I was surprised to learn this; the story reads well and handles the setup with a light touch that skates on the edge of embarrassment squick but doesn't quite cross it. "Blind Date" is from ZYL's POV, with the reader knowing exactly what's going on while both of the characters do not. It's funny and clever, makes great use of dramatic irony, and has a satisfying ending.

The response to the first story was positive enough that the author posted a follow-up story in the same series entitled "First Date". I love the portrayal of Shen Wei in this one as someone who's never flirted or been on a date in his life and is researching the heck out of those things to try and do them "right". I particularly liked the line:

“I-that is-you-” Shen Wei stammered. “I will compose a reciprocal compliment! Give me a moment.”

Both stories together are charming and sweet, just right for someone suffering from an overload of negative news and frustrating real life situations. I recommend them as a pleasant before-bed read that will send you to sleep with a smile on your face.

Fanwork Link(s): The Titles Lie Like Shen Wei

Current Mood: relaxed

sakana17

The theme for fanworks recs this week (31 August-6 September) is Brand New! Rec fanworks posted since 1 June 2020!

sakana17

Trying something new for the month of September/October: every week will have a recs theme.

WEEK 1 (31 August-6 September): Brand new! (Rec fanworks posted since 1 June 2020)

WEEK 2 (7-13 September): Throwback! (Rec fanworks posted in 2018 or 2019)

(Week 3: I dropped the ball and forgot to announce a reminder, so we'll roll right into Week 4.)

WEEK 4 (19-25 September): Derivatives! (Remixes, podfics, translations, etc. of fanworks --including your own or derivatives you've created from another fan's work -- use the self-rec tag if it applies)

WEEK 5 (26 September-2 October): Rarities! (Rec fanworks about rare pairs, rare characters, uncommon adjacent canons, etc.)

WEEK 6 (3-9 October): Showcase! (Rec non-text-centric fanworks such as fanart and fanvids, etc.)

* Non-text-centric fanworks also welcomed for the weeks 31 August-27 September.
* Dates are determined by your timezone, that is, when it is 31 August in your timezone, Week 1 begins.
* Which canons can be recced? 镇魂 | Guardian (novel, drama, and blended canons), related RPF, and other projects starring the lead actors, Bai Yu and Zhu Yilong.

Recs template:

extrapenguin

Title: Seeking Comfort
Creator Link(s):

sakana17
Canon: Drama
Type: Fanfic
Category: M/M
Length/Size: 10 275 words
Characters/Ships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Rating: T
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Themes: Getting Together, Undercover, Case Fic
Summary:
"I wouldn't dare ask Professor Shen to cross its threshold. No, no, rest assured, I will gallantly shield you from such a den."

Shen Wei was tempted to mention that he had been there before, just to see Zhao Yunlan's reaction, but now was not the time.

To stop a killer, Shen Wei agrees to go undercover as bait in a bar people don't frequent just for the drinks. As the case progresses, his relationship with Zhao Yunlan evolves.

Why I'm Reccing This: Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan are handling a case that has touchy elements together – and they're not yet together during it. What ensues is a wonderful journey where Shen Wei goes undercover and tries to find and attract the perpetrator, and he thinks about what he wants in a relationship while getting closer to Zhao Yunlan. The actual get-together is wonderfully gentle and caring, and despite the deaths of the case, the whole fic comes across as delightfully intimate.

Fanwork Link(s): Seeking Comfort

Can we have a creator: sakana17 tag? Thank you!

sakana17

Title: Zhu Yilong's eyes
Creator Link(s):

LovelyPlantMiao &

lovelyplant
Canon: RPF
Type: Fanart
Category: Gen
Characters/Ships: Zhu Yilong
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings apply
Themes: character study
Summary: Four close-ups of Zhu Yilong's eyes drawn in black and white with red accents

Why I'm Reccing This: A beautiful set of sketches of Zhu Yilong's eyes, capturing power and vulnerability. I found this artwork nearly as mesmerizing as watching Zhu Yilong himself. Simply gorgeous! (Check out the rest of the artist's work: there are several Zhu Yilong and Shen Wei works, and a lovely Shen Wei and Kunlun piece.)

Fanwork Link(s): Zhu Yilong's eyes

naye

Title: The end of the song is not scattered
Creator Link: 六萌星 on Weibo
Canon: Drama
Type: Fanart
Category: M/M
Characters/Ships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Rating: Not rated
Warnings: No warnings apply
Themes: Family
Summary:
A colored image of the SID team, as they take their farewell of the viewer. It was posted for the Guardian drama finale in 2018. The title of the piece is 曲终人不散, which translates to "the end of the song is not scattered" - a cultural reference that this source translates as We don't leave even when our show is over.

Why I'm Reccing This:
Because it makes the perfect piece on which to end my month of fanart recs. ♥ And because team! Because the message of the artwork is basically "the story will keep on going", and look at all the artists and writers and other creators making that true. This was a farewell posted almost two years ago, but even as some part ways other join up and fall in love with Shen Wei, Zhao Yunlan, and the rest of the SID team here.

Fanwork Link: The end of the song is not scattered on Weibo

naye

Title: You're worth it
Creator Link:

youremyfanart
Canon: Drama
Type: Fanart
Category: M/M
Characters/Ships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Rating: Not rated
Warnings: No warnings apply
Themes: Romance, Episode Related
Summary:
A digital painting of Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei from episode 23 of the drama. A line in a serif font reads I don't deserve what you're doing for me. It's overlaid by a handwritten You're worth it.

Why I'm Reccing This:
This really captures the emotions of one of my favorite scenes in the drama. The colors are beautiful, and the composition really gets the intensity of the moment across. And I want to rec it here because I've seen it everywhere - included printed on goods for sale by others than the artist - without credit, and the original really deserves an extra like or reblog. ♥

Fanwork Link:
https://youremyfanart.tumblr.com/post/181845243146/i-finally-have-an-otp-that-is-actually-canon

naye

Title: Morning kiss
Creator Link:

qwertysung_
Canon: Drama
Type: Fanart
Category: M/M
Characters/Ships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Rating: Not rated
Warnings: No warnings apply
Themes: Intimacy, Domesticity
Summary:
A line drawing of Shen Wei standing fully dressed by the bed, kissing Zhao Yunlan awake.

Why I'm Reccing This:
I adore the tenderness in the composition here, as well as the hotness implied by all the details. It feels like such a sweet domestic scene, with Zhao Yunlan lounging naked in bed after Shen Wei's already gotten up and dressed. And looking closely you can see why he might be a bit exhausted...

Fanwork Link:
Morning kiss on Twitter

naye

Title: Medicine
Creator Link: 噫! on Lofter
Canon: Drama
Type: Fanart
Category: M/M
Characters/Ships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Rating: Not rated
Warnings: No warnings apply
Themes: Episode Related, Romance
Summary:
A watercolor piece showing the scene with Shen Wei at Zhao Yunlan's bedside in episode 8, with a perspective shift (literally, through a glass of water) showing Shen Wei leaning forward to kiss Zhao Yunlan.

Why I'm Reccing This:
I adore this watercolor style, and this is such a fantastic composition! It's so both beautifully done and cleverly executed, showing a moment that maybe-was in this way. (And by showing it, makes it happen. I can see it playing out seamlessly with the canon scene in my mind.)

Fanwork Link:
https://yi207378.lofter.com/post/1f98fed4_1c7e095d6

naye

Title: Boyfriends at home
Creator Link: 我认栽了 on Lofter
Canon: RPF
Type: Fanart
Category: M/M
Characters/Ships: Zhu Yilong/Bai Yu
Rating: Not rated
Warnings: No warnings apply
Themes: Domesticity
Summary:
Colored fanart of Zhu Yilong and Bai Yu in sleepwear, reading a book together.

Why I'm Reccing This:
Look at how warm and wonderful this is! It absolutely captures the mood of boyfriends having a cozy night in. They look so comfortable with Bai Yu sprawling on a pillow cuddling soft toy, and Zhu Yilong cuddling Bai Yu. The guitar next to them and scattered slippers speak of a place where they're both happy and comfortable and I just feel a lot of love when I look at this.

Fanwork Link:
https://worenzaile.lofter.com/post/1fc945bf_12e89b48c

naye

Title: Still haven't had enough?
Creator Link: siesie_城中之岛 on Lofter
Canon: Drama
Type: Fanart
Category: M/M
Characters/Ships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Rating: Not rated
Warnings: No warnings apply
Themes: Smut
Summary:
Shen Wei as he was ten thousand years ago has his eyes closed and a blush across his face. A hand holds a lollipop that was very clearly in Shen Wei's mouth moments ago.

Why I'm Reccing This:
How can something so technically very safe for work be so incredibly hot? This piece of art is a masterclass in showing lust and desire without basically going any further than what happened on screen in the show. The expression on Shen Wei's face is absolutely sexual in a way that has to be seen to be believed, and the context makes the text in the speech bubble of something like "Still haven't had enough?" seem absolutely filthy in the best way. Taken together with that little string of saliva, this should come with some kind of warning. I'm definitely tagging this one with "smut".

Fanwork Link:
https://ainowedge.lofter.com/post/1f1ab7f9_12c7c346c

naye

Title: Don't move
Creator Link: 郭小天 on Lofter
Canon: Drama
Type: Fanart
Category: M/M
Characters/Ships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Rating: Not rated
Warnings: No warnings apply
Themes: Intimacy
Summary:
A duo of colored artwork of Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan on a bench. In the first they are both dozing in the sun. In the second, the street light has come on and Zhao Yunlan is resting against Shen Wei's shoulder.

Why I'm Reccing This:
Because I have been looking for the original artist for this piece for nearly two years! The two pieces make for fantastic lockscreen & homescreen wallpaper, and that's how I used them back when I first got into Guardian. But I'd gotten it off a random search and not knowing whose art I was using made me so antsy I moved on to other wallpapers. Today I finally, finally found the artist's Lofter and I'm so happy! Especially since what I can make out of the artist's note says to go ahead and use it as a background, just don't remove the credit. So that's what I'm going to do! And then I'll get to smile at the slight shift between the two images - from the distance between them in the first picture to how Zhao Yunlan's taken over all of Shen Wei's personal space in the second, and that fond smile as Shen Wei watches him sleep and doesn't move. How could he, with Zhao Yunlan so peaceful and comfortable against him? ♥

Fanwork Link:
https://wazxtsky.lofter.com/post/329a9c_eead7f72

naye

Title: Cozy autumn evening
Creator Link: LJ on Pixiv
Canon: Drama
Type: Fanart
Category: M/M
Characters/Ships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Rating: Not rated
Warnings: No warnings apply
Themes: Domesticity
Summary:
An animated color illustration of Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei having a quiet evening together with Da Qing on their balcony.

Why I'm Reccing This:
I love how cozy and atmospheric this is! The animation is super smooth and really impressive - the artist apologizes for the small size in the note so if anyone is curious there is a bigger version here (with more bonus domesticity). But I really love how the falling leaves makes it seem like a chilly breeze is creeping in, and that just makes the tableau warmer in comparison: Shen Wei reading quietly, Zhao Yunlan dozing, and both of them still holding hands because they are just that in love.

Fanwork Link:
https://www.pixiv.net/artworks/73159572

naye

Title: Nose action
Creator Link:

takkyb1,

tak_ch
Canon: Drama
Type: Fanart
Category: M/M
Characters/Ships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Rating: Not rated
Warnings: No warnings apply
Themes: Intimacy
Summary:
A shaded and a lineart version of the same illustration, showing Shen Wei nuzzling a startled Zhao Yunlan's shirt up to bare his midriff. It's cropped so that only Shen Wei's face shows, but their relative positions indicate Zhao Yunlan is standing and Shen Wei is kneeling.

Why I'm Reccing This:
I'm a huge fan of Tak's art, and this piece is so full of goodness! Shen Wei's expression as he leans into Zhao Yunlan's body, the bit of stomach showing, the fact that Zhao Yunlan did not seem to have been expecting this - it's a really wonderful moment to dwell on. I love how the spare coloring in the shaded version draws the viewer's attention right to the center of the composition.

Fanwork Link:
https://takkyb1.tumblr.com/post/189168459610/i-hope-arranging-two-pictures-like-this-would

naye

Title: Life
Creator Link: 碌碌无为. on Lofter
Canon: Drama
Type: Fanart
Category: M/M
Characters/Ships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Rating: Not rated
Warnings: No warnings apply
Themes: Domesticity
Summary:
A piece of colored fanart with Zhao Yunlan hugging Shen Wei from behind. Da Qing sits on Zhao Yunlan's shoulders. The title in Chinese is 生活.

Why I'm Reccing This:
One of my favorite types of fanart are the ones depicting Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei having a happy domestic life and this one makes me glow with joy. Look at Zhao Yunlan's delighted grin! Look at how Shen Wei is closing his eyes and relaxing into Zhao Yunlan's hug! Look at how offended Da Qing is at having to witness this PDA! It's all so incredibly adorable.

Fanwork Link:
https://psycho47.lofter.com/post/1d0f0b2e_ef172722

naye

Title: Nap
Creator Link:

funpmai710
Canon: Drama
Type: Fanart
Category: M/M
Characters/Ships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Rating: Not rated
Warnings: No warnings apply
Themes: Domesticity
Summary:
A color image of Zhao Yunlan asleep with his head on a pillow in Shen Wei's lap.

Why I'm Reccing This:
It's a beautiful piece of art, and I love their expressions. Zhao Yunlan looks absolutely relaxed, in that sleep-vulnerable kind of way. And Shen Wei is so fond and has a hand raised as if he's about to stroke Zhao Yunlan's hair.

Fanwork Link:
https://twitter.com/funpmai710/status/1242081518106763270?s=20

naye

Title: Weilan kiss
Creator Link:

suya_n1ra2
Canon: Blended
Type: Fanart
Category: M/M
Characters/Ships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Rating: Not rated
Warnings: No warnings apply
Themes: Romance, Intimacy
Summary:
A color image of Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei (who has long hair) kissing.

Why I'm Reccing This:
Suya makes a lot of really, really lovely artwork - her style has an almost watercolor softness, and the warm intimacy between Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan absolutely radiates from it. This particular piece I love because it's such a beautiful close-up of their faces as they kiss. And, of course, I can never resist Shen Wei with his novel-canon long hair! (Neither can Zhao Yunlan - look at how his fingers are twined with the strands of hair by Shen Wei's temple.)

Fanwork Link:
https://twitter.com/suya_n1ra2/status/1243972862672658434?s=20

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Merit Brush Recs

November 2023

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Page Summary

sakana17 - New theme week: Derivatives!
sakana17 - September theme weeks: Week 2
extrapenguin - Fanvid: Look What You Made Me Do by findmeinthealps
glymr - Fanfic: "The Titles Lie Like Shen Wei" series by PresidentPlant37
sakana17 - September theme weeks: Week 1
sakana17 - September: weekly themes!
extrapenguin - Fanfic: Seeking Comfort by sakana17
sakana17 - Fanart: Zhu Yilong's eyes by LovelyPlant
naye - Fanart: The end of the song is not scattered by 六萌星
naye - Fanart: You're worth it by Youremyfanart
naye - Fanart: Morning kiss by qwertysung_
naye - Fanart: Medicine by 噫!
naye - Fanart: Boyfriends at home by 我认栽了
naye - Fanart: Still haven't had enough? by siesie_城中之岛
naye - Fanart: Don't move by 郭小天
naye - Fanart: Cozy autumn evening by LJ
naye - Fanart: Nose action by tak_ch
naye - Fanart: Life by 碌碌无为.
naye - Fanart: Nap by funpmai710
naye - Fanart: Weilan kiss by suya_n1ra2

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Merit Brush Recs

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New theme week: Derivatives!

September theme weeks: Week 2

Fanvid: Look What You Made Me Do by findmeinthealps

Fanfic: "The Titles Lie Like Shen Wei" series by PresidentPlant37

September theme weeks: Week 1

September: weekly themes!

Fanfic: Seeking Comfort by sakana17

Fanart: Zhu Yilong's eyes by LovelyPlant

Fanart: The end of the song is not scattered by 六萌星

Fanart: You're worth it by Youremyfanart

Fanart: Morning kiss by qwertysung_

Fanart: Medicine by 噫!

Fanart: Boyfriends at home by 我认栽了

Fanart: Still haven't had enough? by siesie_城中之岛

Fanart: Don't move by 郭小天

Fanart: Cozy autumn evening by LJ

Fanart: Nose action by tak_ch

Fanart: Life by 碌碌无为.

Fanart: Nap by funpmai710

Fanart: Weilan kiss by suya_n1ra2

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November 2023

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