Sundial Exchange Love and Friendship meme!

[sundial_exchange_mod]

Happy March or Happy Leap Day, depending on where you are in the world!

We’re still glowing from the lovely energy that the exchange created, thank you all so much for making it such a wonderful experience for everyone! It exceeded our wildest expectations in both number of fanworks and type of fanworks, and we are so honoured to have been able to create a space to make that possible 🥰🎉✨

At asya_ana’s suggestion we are hosting a Love and Friendship meme for Guardian and Guardian-related canons. You can use the form in the textbox below if you like or go wild!

<strong>User names:</strong> <strong>Pronouns:</strong> <strong>Language(s):</strong> <strong>How did you first get into Guardian fandom?</strong> <strong>What is one thing you love about the show?</strong> <strong>What is your favourite terrible special effect?</strong> <strong>What is (one of) your favourite relationship(s) on the show (either romantic or friendship) and what do you like about that relationship?</strong> <strong>Do you have a favourite character?</strong> <strong>Do you have a favourite villain?</strong> <strong>Talk to us about one (or more!) of your favourite Guardian-related canons:</strong> <strong>Do you like RPF?</strong> <strong>Do you have a favourite ad campaign (such as Bai Yu's rentboy photoshoot or Zhu Yilong's ReFa ads)?</strong> <strong>What other fandoms are you in or have you been in?</strong> <strong>What are some of your general fanwork likes:</strong> <strong>Where can we best find you to squee more about this thing or other things?</strong> <strong>Anything else you want to say?</strong>

There is also an ongoing Guardian fandom friending meme over at sid_guardian, for more of your meme needs✨

Comments

[umadoshi]

I love how much love the fandom has for Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing's relationship. *^^*

[wrote_and_writ]

Hello Friend!
I think they skimped on the makeup budget because Zhu Yilong and Bai Yu don’t need it, and blew most of the rest on Zhu Hong’s excellent lipstick and eyeliner.

[wrote_and_writ]

The. Mechanic. Photo shoot. Edvknfe vjefnkvemck
I waited til a sensible hour to read this, but *grabby hands* friend!

[wrote_and_writ]

I agree with everyone who is down for ZYL and DQ’s relationship. They’re excellent foils for each other.

[marycrawford]

I love how many of us insist Zhu Yilong MUST have a twin brother that plays Ye Zun, because he's just that unbelievable talented. XD

LOL yes I should have read all the other entries first! But it really is startlingly plausible that he is two people, when you see him in those scenes. I remember how amazed I was and how much I doubted my own eyes when I saw Ye Zun for the first time (I am bad at facial recognition to begin with - the Envoy did not declare himself to be Shen Wei, to my unspoilered eye - and then the villain was the same guy again, no seriously?).

I think the show alone might not fill all of my needs for these but the fandom definitively does. (For instance, I feel like the show offers h/c opportunities but doesn't unravel and make us savour them the way fanworks do).

Oh you're absolutely right, thanks for that addition! Sometimes the show does bring us that leisurely, fannish, satisfying approach (ep 8) but sometimes also very much not (the Bench scene in ep 33) and we have to fix that with all the love and words.

[marycrawford]

Awww yes, and one of the most enduring ones to my mind - literally sailing off into the afterlife together, my HEART. Sigh.

[naye]

Special is the correct word for this effect, yes! I'm so glad I'm not alone in finding that it...has an effect.

Ye Zun and hairballs...!! XD

[cyberbrain]

User names: stanweilan, cyberbrain, cyberbrained

Pronouns: she/her

Language(s): English, my mother tongue which is rare, so I won't include it, Russian (I'm better at understanding than using it oops), Japanese (except I haven't used it in about a year so it's probably deteriorated badly), am currently self-studying Chinese

How did you first get into Guardian fandom? One late night I was browsing MyDramaList and came upon somebody's recommendations list, clocked the poster for Guardian (oo pretty ❤️❤️) and clicked. Reading the plot summary was an experience because it basically described the perfect show I'd been craving. Then I saw the tags "bromance" and "adapted from a novel" and, having had some experience with Chinese BL, I set out to find out whether the novel was originally a BL. Found it, it was BL, I lol'd at my amazing detective skillzz and added the show to my list. I then inexplicably started watching it that same night and was awed. But it wasn't until I reached episode 7 that I fell hard.

What is one thing you love about the show? This is a hard choice–there's so much to pick from! Hmmm... let's go with the background characters. By that I don't just mean the SID team but also the random people met during cases. Most of them get a satisfying story or come back later. E.g. Xiao Jun, the water manipulation guy from episode 5, who returned just to ruin things in episode 37. Or Li Qian, whose life was terrible but then she came out on top instead of just disappearing after two episodes. I think it's cool the writers didn't forget the side characters.

What is your favourite terrible special effect? To answer unironically, I really liked Zhu Hong's tail and Wang Zheng's legless ghost form, wish there had been more of those. Specifically Zhu Hong's tail is an interesting element of her character; she hides it because of a random comment Zhao Yunlan made a long time ago. This is neat, kinda relatable, but she could have used it after their talk, or even before that when she's sure Zhao Yunlan wouldn't see.
Funny answer: the icicle was cool :) You know, that one.

What is (one of) your favourite relationship(s) on the show (either romantic or friendship) and what do you like about that relationship? Weilan is my lifeblood. They are just so, so, so nice and neat and cool and supportive and strong and aaaaaaa!!!!!!
But to say something more interesting, Zhu Hong and Lin Jing's friendship; Shen Wei's relationship with his students.

Do you have a favourite character? It's really hard to pick between Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan. Also, I love Lin Jing SO MUCH, like you can't give me a computer nerd in a show and expect me not to love him.

Do you have a favourite villain? I love Ye Zun a lot but I also really love Zhu Jiu and how awkward he is.

Talk to us about one (or more!) of your favourite Guardian-related canons: I've watched Detective L, Granting You a Dreamlike Life, Memory Lost, Fairyland Lovers. I've also watched a Zhu-Yilong-only cut of My True Friend and a Bai Yu cut of The Fraud Love Group (actually, I'd love to watch the whole movie but I can't find it. Someone help me, please?). Started Suddenly This Summer but dropped it after the high school arc. Can barely wait for Lost Tomb Reboot and To Dear Myself.
From all these, Luo Fei, Luo Fusheng, and Bai Qi are my biggest favorites. I ship Jing Ran with Yang Xiuxian and I really wish there was more content about them. (This means I should get to writing some hmmmm.) I'm also fascinated by Bai Qi/Ying Ji, they're obviously perfect for angst but fluff can work for them too.

Do you like RPF? BIG YES.

Do you have a favourite ad campaign (such as Bai Yu's rentboy photoshoot or Zhu Yilong's ReFa ads)? Definitely the two mentioned as well as Pizza Hut Man Bai Yu, Zhu Yilong's Time Engraver, his thermos ads, his ad for 新倩女幽魂 (whatever the official English name for that game is). Speaking of 新倩女幽魂, I'm so fascinated by it, every time I watch it, it fills me with ideas. Those cute little characters he almost walks into are just–– aaaaa cuties!!!!!

What other fandoms are you in or have you been in? I'm pretty monofannish. In the last few years I've been into Shingeki no Kyojin, MCU, specifically Captain America and Thor, and MDZS. Used to be into some jrock/visual kei bandoms before that.

What are some of your general fanwork likes: I really like fic. Like, all fic. Plot-heavy, smut-heavy, doesn't matter, I'll like it anyway. But to get more specific: pining, angst (happy ending preferred), identity-porn, fake dating, fluff, hurt/comfort, competent BDSM, aftercare of said BDSM, and casefic get me to click 99% of the time. Generally, I love emotional scenes, both the loving and hurting kind.

Where can we best find you to squee more about this thing or other things? Anywhere that has the ability to give me phone notifications. Which means twitter, discord @ hermit#0485 (message me if you send a request though), tumblr. Here is fine too, after all, I did make an account specifically for Guardian but I haven't yet gotten into the habit of checking dw often.

Anything else you want to say? I know I can be long-winded and I've already banged on so much but, oh man, I've been lurking in the fandom since the moment I started watching the show last summer and now I'm wishing I'd engaged sooner. Also, apologies for my still pretty empty journal, I promise to post stuff.

[yantantether]

Hello!

They are just so, so, so nice and neat and cool and supportive and strong and aaaaaaa!!!!!!
MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY

It would have been cool to see more of Zhu Hong's tail, if only the SFX budget had allowed. And it is great that Li Qian got to play a role later on, and her character wasn't just dropped after the first storyline.

[goss]

Late to the party... HI GUYS! :D

User names: goss
Pronouns: she/her
Language(s): English

How did you first get into Guardian fandom? I think I'd seen people on my network and flist squeeing about it, and then mekare started drawing fanart for the show. One of them happened to be bb!Shen Wei, and I was just like...OOOOH WHO IS THIS? ♥___♥ I checked out the Pilot and was SOLD. (that was sometime last year January, I think)

What is one thing you love about the show? In a general sense, I really love how it hits so many fannish tropes. It just reads to me like a fanfic brought to life. So hard to choose one particualr thing I love about the show. Zhao Yunlan sprawling on every available surface. The ever present lollipop. Shen Wei's intensity. Their CHEMISTRY. The SLEEVE GARTERS. ZLY's legs in those jeans. *g* The SID set design. Found family. EVIL TWIN. Time travel. Soulmates.

What is your favourite terrible special effect? Ahaha. All of them? <3 Awww, they did their best.

What is (one of) your favourite relationship(s) on the show (either romantic or friendship) and what do you like about that relationship? I love Da Qing and Zhao Yunlan taking care of each other. I love how affectionate and physically comfortable they are with one another, how they have each other's backs. There is an ease and effortlessness to their bond that's really endearing.

Do you have a favourite character? YES INDEED. LOL. I have a *type*. And it is always the serious, competent one (that usually plays off of the wild, chaotic one. *g*). ♥SHEN WEI♥ :b

Do you have a favourite villain? Um...probably Ze Yun? Honestly, I don't usually find myself attracted to villains on a show (maybe it's my inability to relate to their behaviour? idk), unless it's where there's potential for some sort of enemies-to-lovers dynamic going on. And in this case, my attention revolves around shipping the two heroes, so the villains all become part of the background to me. :X Anyway, Ye Zun is at least the Prettiest one, and Zhu Yilong plays him so well. ^___^

Talk to us about one (or more!) of your favourite Guardian-related canons: Er...I haven't really watched any as yet, except for an episode or two of Detective L. But! I have seen lovely screencaps of both Bai Yu and Zhu Yilong in long hair and period costumes looking all tragic and beautiful, and read fic, which was intriguing. And hot. I look forward to more of these. *g*

Do you like RPF? *stares into camera* YES, I DO INDEED. Recs welcome, always! :D

Do you have a favourite ad campaign (such as Bai Yu's rentboy photoshoot or Zhu Yilong's ReFa ads)? Um. Ahahah. Zhu Yilong's harp/dildo thing has broken us all.

What other fandoms are you in or have you been in? The Untamed has taken over my life. I'm also a fan of HIStory3: Trapped and Nirvana in Fire. I still enjoy other older fandoms like MCU, DC comics, Teen Wolf, Merlin (BBC), Doctor Who, SGA, Harry Potter. My first fandom was Smallville. I am still sentimental about all things Clark/Lex.

What are some of your general fanwork likes: I love humour and banter, magical AUs, shenanigans. H/C. Pining. Protective mode. Angst with happy ending. I love mash-ups and crossovers. So creative!

Where can we best find you to squee more about this thing or other things? Here on DW at goss, and on AO3 at goss. But mostly right here. :D

Anything else you want to say? I am not much of a talker when it comes to articulating why I love my fandoms, but I LOVE just being amongst fannish people. I get bouts of shyness and can go into lurker mode sometimes, but I am basking and rolling around in all you guys' fannish enthusiasm. *throws sparkles at you* <333333

[yantantether]

I love that it was bb!Shen Wei that dragged you in (and how could he NOT? 😍)

[goss]

*looks at your icon*

Nawwww, what an adorable woodland elf. ^___^

[goss]

I also love Resonant's Brian/Bender fic (Breakfast Club) and Transfigurations

YESSSSSSS TO BOTH! :D

I feel like I've probably read hundreds of H/D fic, but Transfigurations is basically the only thing that comes to mind if anyone asks for a rec. *g*

[goss]

I love the Guardian novel a LOT and am unbearably excited that the translation is almost finished!

Ohh! I haven't read any of the novel, but am SO CURIOUS. I've been waiting on a complete translation to begin though. So glad to know that it's almost done! :D

[goss]

a Luo Fusheng super-cut

Please do! I would love to know more about this character, but am reluctant to sit through the entire show to do so. :b

[clevermanka]

*happy clapping* You're the only person I know who's read those Breakfast Club stories without me recc'ing them! And yeah, same on Transfigurations (except I never read much HP--I only started Transfigurations bc I was already familiar with Resonant's stuff. and then I read the whole thing in one day.). It's SO GOOD.

[goss]

*cackles*

XD

[clevermanka]

I have never felt this way about a show or characters before, and never participated this actively in a fandom
Same! Isn't it amazing? I never dreamed I'd write fic, but...

Same on the RPF, too, for the same reasons. I'm so happy the RPF AUs here are in good supply!

Less enthusiastic "same" on the health stuff. That sucks, bb. There's a few of us in this bar. Not a club I'm thrilled to be in, but at least the company here is good. *hug*

[asya_ana]

I can't say it's my favorite, but it does illuminate ZYL in such complicated ways. :D

[clevermanka]

the ReFa stuff has me in hysterics, so I hope that counts
I think they're all that count rn, tbh

[asya_ana]

In my defense, they were a lot! :D

[asya_ana]

I'm still blaming and loving you for falling into Guardian -- thank you so much for pulling me here! <3

[goss]

Heh. Regardless of fandom, I will read ANYTHING that Resonant writes, and fall in love with it! :D

Same for Speranza and Astolat. ^___^

[clevermanka]

the random people met during cases. Most of them get a satisfying story or come back later.
This is a good point! It gives such a lovely, intimate feel to the world of the show. And of course I love how Qian turned into such a badass.

[asya_ana]

I loved what you said about the show's sense of morality. I like the way we glimpse the backstory of the characters to understand how they became the way they did, and I love Ye Zun and Shen Wei coming back together at the end. (Of course SW after settling YZ somewhere immediately returns to ZYL OBVIOUSLY.) Guardian arrived for me after years of not really feeling that fannish, so I identify with your sentiment of the delightful surprise of how fun it is to be in this fandom!