Merit Brush Recs

Title: Dream
Creator Link(s): goss
Canon: Drama
Type: Fanart
Characters/Ships: Shen Wei
Rating: General
Warnings: None
Themes: Character study
Collection: drawesome's Drawtober 2020 challenge
Summary: Shen Wei asleep for ten thousand years.

Why I'm Reccing This: this piece is breathtakingly beautiful and complex: as a character study, the drawing internalizes shen wei's dream by placing it inside the outline of his body, under the "surface" upon which life seems to be going on while he is magically asleep. the dream itself appears to be composed of his memories and impressions that look like they're swirling through him thanks to the zentangle style of the artwork. there's a stylized image of the candy wrapper, design elements of the hallows turned into patterns that are sort of echoing through him, and these threads of his life woven through his subconscious create an exquisite contrast with his face - young, beautiful, relaxed in sleep. (his eyelashes, SIGH.)

there is also a wonderful contrast between the peace above ground and the lively intensity below. i love the gradient in the color of the sky that visually separates it so clearly from the magical dream under the surface. and yet, there is something rather dreamlike about life above ground as well: the vague silhouettes of trees, the temple which appears to be built upon his heart, and the figures of a couple standing together near it - they are too small to be identified, but they could be shen wei and zhao yunlan as our dreamer might have conjured them up. the proportions are surreal too: shen wei is not a slumbering giant upon whom the landscape shapes itself following the lines of his profile; but the very greatness of his love and loss, his thousands of years of loneliness (softened though they are by sleep) feel immense and elemental, closer to being a part of nature and earth's lifespan than to the range of a human life. also, his role in the relationship between the people of dixing and haixing, of underground and overground, is tremendous enough to make this portrait of him feel true. it's a heartbreaking moment in the story, but this artwork makes it feel layered and rich and comforting - full of hope, as his heart is full of love even while he sleeps. ♥

Fanwork Link(s): Dream

Title: Guo Changcheng drops his dice in Chu Shuzhi's room
Creator Link(s): Amara1783
Canon: Drama
Type: Fanfic
Category: Gen
Length/Size: 3K
Characters/Ships: Guō Chángchéng, Chǔ Shùzhī, Lín Jìng, Zhù Hóng, Wang Zhang, Dà Qìng, Zhào Yúnlán, Shěn Wēi
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: None
Themes: Characters Play Dungeons & Dragons, Families of Choice, Fluff and Humour, Friendship
Collection: Sundial Exchange Lunar New Year 2020 (Guardian Drama and Related Canons Fanworks Exchange)
Summary: Set during episode 7. After a long shift Guo Changcheng bumps into Chu Shuzhi. Literally.

Why I'm Reccing This: I love lighthearted slice of life/team downtime stories, and this one delivers tons of comedy and insight. Chu Shuzhi's POV is a brilliant choice for presenting an introduction to Dungeons and Dragons, which starts sort of accidentally with Guo Changcheng and then involves others at the SID until it becomes a group activity. Amara's characterization is spot-on as the non-human team members offer a range of reactions to the idea of a game about fighting monsters - all the more hilarious since they literally fight monsters on a daily basis. And everybody is delightful!

The fic is gen with very gently implied relationships. Lao Chu's perspective provides insight into his changing impression of Xiao Guo; it's not my ship, but the touch of tenderness and respect in his thoughts feels very true to canon with room for further interpretation, if one were so inclined. Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's chemistry is depicted in a perfect nutshell, and again, feeling very canonical. Come for the comedy, stay for the team feels!

Fanwork Link(s): Guo Changcheng drops his dice in Chu Shuzhi's room