trobadora

A banner for the SID_Guardian comm on Dreamwidth

Hi, and welcome to SID Guardian!

sid_guardian is a noticeboard/community for:

linking Guardian fanworks of all kinds

linking to Guardian-related news (incl. info about the actors and their other roles) and meta (incl. serious meta, squee, picspams, episode reactions, writing-meta)

making Guardian recs, and

making fanworks-finder/rec-finder posts.

ETA: You can also post content directly to the comm.

Which is to say, it's for letting Guardian fans find each other on Dreamwidth. :)

Please link your Guardian-related posts here! Whether novel or drama, this is the place for it. Don't be shy, and please encourage other Guardian posters to link as well. You can also link to/rec things that have been posted by others.

As the comm develops, we hope to introduce social, discussion and/or prompt posts, but given it's December, we thought we'd start small and manageable.

To kick things off, if you feel like it, tell us a bit about how you ended up in Guardian fandom! Or let us know your favourite character or scene from Guardian, or what your power would be if you were Dixingren.

And remember, there's no tension that can’t be relieved with a lollipop. And if there is, try two lollipops.

china_shop

Our lovely fandom continues to grow beyond our wildest expectations! Comm membership has just hit ~~100~~ 98 (and we got impatient)! *shameless champagne and ballooooons*

A few small notes and reminders:

The Welcome/Intro post and the Fannish Resources post are still alive and kicking. Feel free to drop in at any time and say hi, or give us all your resource links (even the ones that might seem really obvious)!

Lurking is also totally fine, of course! *waves to lurkers*

Please tag your posts to the comm so other users can easily find what they’re looking for. In particular, it would be great if you could use the canon: drama and/or canon: novel tags, since it’s not always obvious to us mods which should apply, including for fanart or vids that use drama visuals but draw on novel elements. This is our current list of tags, and we’ll add more type tags as the need arises.

You can find the full (updated) comm rules on the profile page.

Feel free to promote sid_guardian on your journal or elsewhere. (Here's a graphic and text.)

And now, without further ado...

The SID team smiling at each other, with a banner reading "Guardian Friending Meme".

Since some of us are new to Dreamwidth, and some of us are new to Guardian, it seems like a good time for a Dreamwidth friending meme. Come and meet new people! (Re)Populate your DW circle!

To participate, just copy the text below, paste it into a new comment and tell us about yourself. (All information is optional.) Then read through other people's comments and say hi / follow them as desired.

About You
DW username: 
Languages: 
Offline location: 
Other online locations: (ao3, twitter, tumblr, pinterest, etc.)
I like: (het, slash, femslash, gen, other, poly, all of the above)

Guardian-specific stuff
Drama, novel or both? 
Fannish about canon, actors, related shows, RPF or some combination of these? 
How long have you been in the fandom? 
Where can we find your fanworks, if any: 
Other points of interest regarding your Guardian fannishness:

Posting habits
How long have you been on Dreamwidth? Where were you before that? 
What do you post about: 
Your other fandoms include: 
Post frequency: 
Access policy:

Anything else we should know about you?

Random Guardian
insert Guardian pic/gif/novel quote/thought/link of your choice here!

Post a link to this friending meme

(Many thanks to

teaotter for prettifying the banner pic! <3)

trobadora

How's it going, everyone?

Just a reminder that the 520 Day Reverse Exchange deadline is less than two weeks from now, at 11:59PM UTC on Wednesday 13 May. (What time is that for me?)

When you're ready, please post your completed assignment to the AO3 collection. We're looking forward to everyone's creations!

If you're unsure how to post, see the instructions here, and if you have any questions or, for any reason, you can't make the deadline, please let us know NOW by replying to your assignment email (please don't change the subject line) or commenting here. Comments here are screened.

General info, schedule and minimum requirements

*cheers everyone on*

trobadora

Title: Close the Distance, Lock Us In
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Relationship: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan, Zhao Yunlan & Black-Cloaked Envoy
Characters: Shen Wei, Zhao Yunlan, mini-cameos by SID members
Content tags: Episode Related, Post-Episode 4, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Zhao Yunlan & the Black-Cloaked Envoy, Protective Shen Wei, Hurt Shen Wei, Protective Zhao Yunlan, Trapped Together, Black and White Energy, a bit of Hurt/Comfort, Identity Porn
A/N: Set between the face-stealer case (episode 4) and the water kidnapping/Butler Wu case (episode 5).

Summary:

The Black-Cloaked Envoy slammed down into the nondescript little flat like a thunderbolt from the heavens, not a moment too soon.

Zhao Yunlan and the Black-Cloaked Envoy, trapped together early on: how much of a difference can it really make? Turns out, a surprising amount.

trobadora

Zhao Yunlan sprawled on a couch, grinning at his phone. The background shows a purple sky with stars. Text reads, "Slo-Mo Rewatch. Guardian - half an episode per week @ sid_guardian.dreamwidth.org"

Hi, welcome back to our Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch! Watch half an episode a week, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!

Here is the first half of episode 14. On to the second half!

Episode 14, from 21:05:

Summary: Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan meet with Minister Gao, and a flashback reveals how Zhao Yunlan persuaded Shen Wei to join the SID (not without first putting his foot in it, that is). Minister Gao brings up Zhao Yunlan's father, and Zhao Yunlan reacts badly. Shen Wei steps in to redirect Minister Gao towards the actual topic of the meeting, which turns out to be Cong Bo. On their way out, Vice Minister Guo invites Zhao Yunlan for dinner, and Zhao Yunlan invites Shen Wei along. Cong Bo spies on the SID with bugs and drones. Chu Shuzhi trains Guo Changcheng. Vice Minister Guo has dinner with Zhao Yunlan, Shen Wei and Xiao-Guo, and wants Xiao-Guo to leave the SID. Shen Wei drops his chopsticks, and they leave uncle and nephew to talk it out. Da Qing talks to alley kittens, asks about Kunlun and wonders why he can't speak cat. Chu Shuzhi accosts a spying Cong Bo. Zhao Yunlan takes Shen Wei to eat street food with the SID team and introduces him as their new consultant. Later, in the hallway between their flats, Zhao Yunlan tells Shen Wei to come to him if he's too excited to sleep. Cong Bo is spying again, recognises Shen Wei from the wedding, and decides to investigate.

Zhao Yunlan reacts to Shen Wei shaking him off

Quote:

Zhao Yunlan: "Is he Dixingren?"

Minister Gao: "He's more terrifying than Dixingren! That Cong Bo is a professional professional paparazzo and online reporter."

Detail:

One of my favourite underrated little details in an episode that has so many fantastic moments:

When Zhao Yunlan introduces Shen Wei to the team, everyone claps - except Zhu Hong, Lin Jing and Chu Shuzhi. Chu Shuzhi even pointedly takes a drink from his bottle while everyone is clapping! Zhu Hong just looks put out. *g*

Questions:

What is your favourite part of this half-episode? Any favourite lines? How great is that little bit of flashback about Zhao Yunlan convincing Shen Wei to join the SID? (Do you have any thoughts on why this is only revealed now, rather than included in that scene?) Is Minister Gao right about Cong Bo being more dangerous than Dixingren? Does Cong Bo already know about Dixingren, or is there some other reason why he doesn't seem to react to seeing Dixing powers at all? Before this, did Shen Wei have any idea there was something wrong between Zhao Yunlan and his father? Why does Shen Wei drop his chopsticks at the restaurant? What's Shen Wei's opinion on the street food on offer at the SID? What do you think about the team's reaction to Shen Wei becoming their consultant? And finally, any thoughts about how any of this compares to the novel?

(These are all just conversation starters - feel free to answer all, some, or none, and to say as much or as little as you like! You don't have to be keeping up with the rewatch to join in!)

Here is our schedule for the current batch of episodes - please do sign up to host a post if you can!

china_shop

Zhao Yunlan sprawled on a couch, grinning at his phone. The background shows a purply sky with stars. Text reads "Slo-Mo Rewatch. Guardian - half an episode per week @ sid-guardian.dreamwidth.org."

Hi, and welcome back to the Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch. Watch half an episode a week, at your leisure, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!

Here are the previous weeks' rewatch posts.

Episode 14, up to 21:05

Summary
Zhu Jiu escapes out the SID window. Zhao Yunlan picks up the Hallows and collapses again. When he wakes, the whole SID (except for Wang Zheng and Sang Zan) is there, as well as the Envoy, Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi. Changcheng intercedes on Zheng Yi's behalf, but the Envoy is seemingly determined to hold her responsible for her crimes. Zhao Yunlan doesn't try to interfere. The Envoy takes her away. When Zhao Yunlan later leaves the SID, he sees Zheng Yi and Tan Xiao together in the street, happily waving at him.

The post-reveal tea scene!! Zhao Yunlan refuses to pretend nothing happened, and at last Shen Wei concedes, saying it's tiring to lie all the time, and that they've always been friends -- which raises more questions for Zhao Yunlan. Changcheng writes in his diary that the Envoy let Zheng Yi go; the whole SID knows. Ya Qing checks up on Zhu Jiu and scornfully eats an apple; Zhu Jiu is furious and humiliated at being hurt by a mere human. Changcheng unknowingly meets the Merit Brush and writes a new sign for Wang Xiangyang's fruit stand. (At the SID, the other Hallows get all excited.) A serious, reserved Shen Wei and an irrepressible Zhao Yunlan meet in the hallway between their apartments and drive to the Department of Supervision.

In the car, Shen Wei side-eyeing Zhao Yunlan and telling him not to talk.

In the car, Shen Wei side-eyeing Zhao Yunlan and telling him not to talk.

Zhao Yunlan sings and asks questions, but Shen Wei doesn't want to talk. When they arrive, they meet Changcheng's uncle. Shen Wei has ~~done Zhao Yunlan's homework for him~~ written a self-criticism on Zhao Yunlan's behalf. In the Department of Supervision's lab, an experiment fails, and Professor Zhou sighs that Shen Wei would do better, which annoys his colleague Professor Ouyang. In the hallway outside Minister Gao's office, Shen Wei backs into a corner, out of sight of a CCTV camera, and uses his dark energy vision. Then Zhao Yunlan comes to get him, to meet the minister.

Quote
Zhao Yunlan: Okay, fine, I’ll let you choose a topic.
Shen Wei: We can just not talk.
Zhao Yunlan: Dun-dun dun-dun-dun-dun dun-dun... Well, you didn't say I couldn't sing!

Detail
I'm going to cheat and mention two details:

When Zhao Yunlan wakes up in the SID, Da Qing says, "So capable. On your own, you were able to take back the Sacred Items?" and Zhu Hong says, "Zhao Yunlan, you are something! How dare you shoot me!" They're both using the same word, 可以, one approvingly, one sarcastically. *pets Zhu Hong*

The morning after, Shen Wei is quiet and reserved. This is a Shen Wei who’s been up half the night writing a probably quite cathartic account of things Zhao Yunlan did wrong -- the self-criticism -- on Zhao Yunlan’s behalf. I like to think he wrote a blistering twenty-page version to get the worst of it out of his system, then threw or tucked that away and wrote the official/helpful one, partly in an attempt to control the narrative about the part he himself played, as far as the Department of Supervision is concerned. (Quoting myself here from the "singing in the car scene" discussion post. I really love that scene.)

Questions
When Tan Xiao staggers back from Zheng Yi, is that the girl pushing him away with her power, or the Envoy with his? Did the Envoy tell Zheng Yi and Tan Xiao to wait in the street to wave their thanks at Zhao Yunlan, or was it coincidence that he saw them? (How long were they waiting there?) Do you like Shen Wei's choice of sweater for the post-reveal tea-drinking scene? The original subs say, "I was cheated by you for so long, and my heart hurts. I will feel so upset unless I get my compensations," while the VIKI/Solo subs say, "But I was cheated by you for so long and my heart suffered great trauma. You can't just brush me off with a few words. Right? It's not appropriate." Which version do you prefer? Changcheng writes in his diary about the Envoy letting Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi stay in Haixing -- do you think Shen Wei intended the rest of the SID to know, too, or just Zhao Yunlan? How did Chu Shuzhi react when he heard? What's with all the manikins with missing body parts in the Haixing lab? When Shen Wei uses his dark energy vision in the hallway outside Minister Gao's office, what is he looking for?

Did you see any parallels in these scenes with other parts of the drama? If you're familiar with the novel, any thoughts about how the drama adaptation compares, if at all?

(As usual, these are all just conversation starters - feel free to answer all, some, or none, and to say as much or as little as you like! You don't have to be keeping up with the rewatch to join in. We'd love to hear your thoughts!)

And here is our schedule -- if you can, please sign up to host a post!

trobadora

Hi, welcome back to our Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch, we're back in business! Watch half an episode a week, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!

Here is the first half of episode 13. On to the second half!

Episode 13, from 21:44:

Summary: Chu Shuzhi has (needlessly) rescued Guo Changcheng from the Snake Tribe. Ying Chun tells Shen Wei that there's a Yashou traitor in play. Shen Wei enters the sonic lab to find Zhao Yunlan there instead of Tan Xiao. Zhao Yunlan confronts him about his secrets, but they're interrupted by Zhu Jiu, who takes Zhao Yunlan hostage. Shen Wei transforms into the Envoy and offers to take his place, but no dice. Ying Chun goes after Ya Qing, and they have a fraught confrontation. Zhu Jiu decides Zhao Yunlan to get into the SID for Tan Xiao, so Zheng Yi will give him the Hallows. Lin Jing and Da Qing are searching for Zheng Yi. Chu Shuzhi finds Zhu Jiu's lair, but no Zhu Jiu, and Shen Wei runs into him there.

Overhead shot of Zhao Yunlan, Zhu Jiu and Zheng Yi entering the SID

At the SID, Zhao Yunlan enters with Zhu Jiu and Zheng Yi, and shoots Zhu Hong. Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi are reunited. Shen Wei arrives, confronts a hypnotised Zhao Yunlan, and is seemingly shot - but it's a fake-out because he realised Zhao Yunlan has been faking it. Zhao Yunlan shoots Zhu Jiu and reveals that he's been wearing anti-hypnosis earplugs.

Quote:

Shen Wei: "Were you pretending from the start?"

Zhao Yunlan: "Yep! How else would I have got you to disclose your identity?"

♥ ♥ ♥

Detail:

This is a half-episode with a lot of fabulous things going on in it, but my absolute favourite detail has always been the way Shen Wei, having realised that Zhao Yunlan isn't actually under the influence, easily and smoothly lets Zhao Yunlan know that he knows, without giving anything away to Zhu Jiu. All he says is, "You actually killed Zhu Hong," and Zhao Yunlan, who knows he did no such thing, knows. :D

Questions:

What is your favourite moment in this episode? Your favourite line? What do you think about Ya Qing's introduction? How gorgeous is her outfit? Do you ship her and Ying Chun? What does Chu Shuzhi think when Professor Shen turns up at Zhu Jiu's lair? How great is the Envoy reveal? Do you also go :D :D :D every time you watch that moment when Shen Wei rises and he and Zhao Yunlan turn towards the camera/Zhu Jiu? Any thoughts about how any of this compares to the novel?

(These are all just conversation starters - feel free to answer all, some, or none, and to say as much or as little as you like! You don't have to be keeping up with the rewatch to join in!)

Here is our schedule for the current batch of episodes - please do sign up to host a post if you can!

trobadora

If you signed up for this year's 520 Day Reverse Exchange, you should now have received your assignment email. (If not, check your spam folder!)

What to do next:

Reply to your assignment email now, so we know you've received it. Please don't change the subject line.

If you have any concerns about your assignment, let us know ASAP by replying to the email. (Again, please don't change the subject line!)

Create a fanwork for your assignment. Make sure it fits your recipient's requested canon(s), media, pairing(s) or character(s), and rating(s), and doesn't include anything they've said they don't want. Remember that specific scenarios and prompts are optional. Have fun!

Post your completed fanwork to the AO3 collection by 11:59PM UTC Wednesday 13th May! (What time is that for me?).
- On the AO3 collection page, click "Post to Collection" at the top of the page.
- Enter your recipient's AO3 name under "Gift this work to".
- Please keep any creator's notes or other commentary positive.
Keep your assignment secret! If you need to host fanart or podfic on a different site, make sure it's not visible/searchable on that site before reveals on 20th May.

To make edits to your work after posting, you can access it via your AO3 Statistics page.

If something comes up that means you can't complete your assignment by the deadline, please contact us ASAP so we can discuss an extension or, if necessary, find a pinch-hitter.

All entries will go live on Wednesday 20th May (520 Day). Please keep your assignment a secret until then!

General info, schedule and minimum requirements

We hope you enjoy creating for your assignment, and we can't wait to see what you come up with! *\o/*

trobadora

You may have noticed that we've taken a break from the rewatch for a bit longer than originally planned, but we're ready to get back in the saddle!

The Slo-Mo Rewatch will continue next week with the second half of episode 13. Upcoming:

Ying Chun and Ya Qing!
"I thought we were friends."
ENVOY REVEAL :D

Which means now is the perfect time for all of us to catch up, especially on the first half of the episode with THE WEDDING SCENE and the "I just work out a lot"!

(I'm so looking forward to revisiting this episode! :D)

Here is our updated schedule - please consider hosting a post if you can:

Weekend of 10 April - episode 13 from 21:43:

trobadora
Weekend of 17 April - episode 14 up to 21:05:

china_shop
Weekend of 24 April - episode 14 from 21:05:

trobadora
Weekend of 1 May - episode 15 up to 23:56
Weekend of 8 May - episode 15 from 23:56

awanderingcoyote

This is the fanworks round-up post for March! Please link in the comments to any Guardian (or related fandoms) fanworks you created or enjoyed last month.

all kinds of fanworks are welcome – fic, art, vids, picspams, etc. - including those made for exchanges and events
new chapters of WIPs count
meta or discussion posts, too
whether or not you've already linked these in a post of their own, we still want them here!

If you're linking to fanworks you didn't create yourself, please clearly mark these "REC", so there's no confusion about authorship/creatorship.

(And please still do link your fanworks, meta, etc. separately, in their own post, at any time!)

So ... what Guardian and related fandoms works did you create or enjoy in March?

trobadora

If you signed up for this year's Guardian Reverse Exchange, and you haven't yet made your requests, just a reminder that part two of sign-ups is underway! Please go to the Requests post before 11:59PM on Friday 3 April UTC (What time is that for me?) and follow the instructions there to make your requests.

Requests post
General info/rules/schedule

If you have any questions, or if anything isn't clear, please comment here or on the General info/rules/schedule post.

trobadora

Guardian Reverse Exchange 2026. Image shows Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan facing each other, gripping the Sundial between them.

General info/rules/schedule post - please go there to ask questions if anything isn't clear.

Offers are closed!

This is the second part of the 520 Day Reverse Exchange sign-ups. If you made an offer on the last post, this is where you make your requests. (If you didn't make an offer on the last post, you're too late to sign up, sorry.)

You'll find our anonymous participant ads in the Google doc linked at the bottom of this post.

What to do:

Read the instructions fully before you make your requests.

Choose 3 writers/artists/fanwork creators from the anonymous participant ads. (Try not to choose yourself!)

Copy and paste the request form from the text box below into a comment, and fill out your request for each of your chosen ads. There are guidelines for the questions below.

Important: You can only request things (pairings, ratings, etc.) that your chosen writer/artist/fanworks creator has offered. If a request doesn't fit the offer, we'll ask you to rewrite and resubmit.

Participant ads will be removed from the Google doc when 3 requests have been received for that creator. Please refresh the doc and check that all three of your selected creators are available before you post your comment.

Comments are screened so only mods (

china_shop and

trobadora) can see them.

All requests must be made by 11:59pm UTC on Friday 3 April. (What time is that for me?) Then the mods will assign one of your chosen writers/artists/creators to create your gift. You'll receive your assignment by Wednesday 8 April at the latest.

( Make your requests here! )

If you have any questions about requesting or the exchange in general, please comment on the General info/rules/schedule post.

trobadora

Quick reminder that this year's 520 Day Reverse Exchange sign-ups close in three hours. If you've been meaning to sign-up, this is your last chance! :)

trobadora

Time's almost up! Sign-ups for this year's Guardian Reverse Exchange are only open for another 24 hours. If you haven't yet - now's the time. :)

Sign-ups are open until 11:59pm UTC on Friday 27 March 2026. (What time is that for me?)

Thanks to everyone who's already signed up! Come and join us - sign up with your offers now!

General info/rules/schedule

And if you're on Discord, Twitter, Bluesky, Tumblr or elsewhere for fandom, please help get the word out by promoting the exchange there. We have a tumblr post you can reblog, a promo graphic and text on the General info post, or you can make your own.

trobadora

Sign-ups are open until Friday for the 520 Day Guardian Reverse Exchange, a multimedia exchange covering the Guardian drama, the novel and RPF.!

This is a reverse exchange with a two-part sign-up process: first you make your offer, and then you choose from everyone else's anonymised offers to make your requests.

General info/rules/schedule

Come and join us - sign up with your offers! Sign-ups are open until 11:59pm UTC on Friday 27 March 2026. (What time is that for me?)

And if you're on Discord, Twitter, Bluesky, Tumblr or elsewhere for fandom, please help get the word out by promoting the exchange there. We have a tumblr post you can reblog, a promo graphic and text on the General info post, or you can make your own.

facethestrange

( You're about to view content that the poster has advised should be viewed with discretion. )

china_shop

Hi, and welcome back to the Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch. Watch half an episode a week, at your leisure, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!

Here are the previous weeks' rewatch posts.

Episode 13, up to 21:44

Summary
Zhao Yunlan & co. break Da Qing out of his frenzy with the help of Lao Li's dried fish. Looking for Tan Xiao, Zheng Yi causes mayhem at the wedding, and Shen Wei arrives and stops it. Zhao Yunlan arrives and intervenes before Minister Gao can blame Shen Wei for any of it, but in fact, Minister Gao is grateful. Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei go head-to-head about Shen Wei's secrets again, neither able to concede. They're called out to the street, where Da Qing and Lin Jing are trying to calm a frenzied Cong Bo. From him, they learn Zhu Jiu and the Crow Yashou have a boss. Zhao Yunlan hints again that he wants to work with Shen Wei, but Shen Wei leaves. Human-form Ya Qing and Zhu Jiu fight in front of Zheng Yi, who just wants her Tan Xiao. Chu Shuzhi stomps through the Snake forest and rescues Guo Changcheng. Tan Xiao has a nightmare and wakes up in the lab, where Zhao Yunlan finds him.

Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei facing off in the Li family's parlour.

Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei facing off in the Li family's parlour.

Quote
Shen Wei: Did I bring you trouble?
Zhao Yunlan: If you are the trouble, I'll take it by the dozen to bother my whole life.

Detail
Ya Qing delivers a message from Ye Zun to Zhu Jiu. Does that mean she's travelled to Dixing as their go-between?

Questions
Dried fish brings Da Qing back to his senses: what would work for some of the other characters? During Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's standoff in the parlour, who do you sympathise with the most? Is Zhao Yunlan demanding answers in his capacity as chief of the SID or on the basis of their personal relationship? Is it okay for the SID to go around sedating members of the public without first checking their medical histories? What is Zhao Yunlan thinking as he watches Shen Wei leave the alley? (He looks so serious!)

Did you see any parallels in these scenes with other parts of the drama? If you're familiar with the novel, any thoughts about how the drama adaptation compares, if at all?

(As usual, these are all just conversation starters - feel free to answer all, some, or none, and to say as much or as little as you like! You don't have to be keeping up with the rewatch to join in. We'd love to hear your thoughts!)

And here is our schedule -- if you can, please sign up to host a post!

trobadora

Sign-ups are still open for the 520 Day Guardian Reverse Exchange, a multimedia exchange covering the Guardian drama, the novel and RPF.!

This is a reverse exchange with a two-part sign-up process: first you make your offer, and then you choose from everyone else's anonymised offers to make your requests.

General info/rules/schedule

Come and join us - sign up with your offers! Sign-ups are open until 11:59pm UTC on Friday 27 March 2026. (What time is that for me?)

And if you're on Discord, Twitter, Bluesky, Tumblr or elsewhere for fandom, please help get the word out by promoting the exchange there. We have a tumblr post you can reblog, a promo graphic and text on the General info post, or you can make your own.

china_shop

Poll #34373 Clothes

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 15

View Respondents

How emphatic are your opinions on Shen Wei’s Haixing clothes?

View Answers

Not (clothes are clothes)
1 (6.7%)

Not with a few exceptions (accessories)
0 (0.0%)

Not with a few exceptions (outfits)
1 (6.7%)

Somewhat
2 (13.3%)

Very
7 (46.7%)

Extremely
3 (20.0%)

I will fight you!
2 (13.3%)

I didn't use to, but fandom has made me care
1 (6.7%)

How emphatic are your opinions on Zhao Yunlan's clothes?

View Answers

Not (clothes are clothes)
1 (6.7%)

Not with a few exceptions
1 (6.7%)

Somewhat
5 (33.3%)

Very
6 (40.0%)

Extremely
2 (13.3%)

I've papered my bedroom with screencaps of him in that grey sweater and distressed jeans
2 (13.3%)

What does Zhao Yunlan find sexiest about the Envoy? (check all that apply)

View Answers

mystery
10 (66.7%)

super-strength
6 (40.0%)

other powers
4 (26.7%)

authority
9 (60.0%)

mercy
9 (60.0%)

mouth
10 (66.7%)

eyelashes
9 (60.0%)

those slight, faint-hint-of-amusement smiles
12 (80.0%)

weapon
3 (20.0%)

the fact that Zhao Yunlan's father would strongly disapprove
6 (40.0%)

other (please specify in comments)
1 (6.7%)

Which of these best describes you?

View Answers

I speak/read Mandarin well / It's my first language
0 (0.0%)

I'm learning Mandarin
4 (26.7%)

I'm learning Mandarin because of Guardian
2 (13.3%)

I've picked up a few words
8 (53.3%)

I don't know any Mandarin but I'd like to learn
1 (6.7%)

Don’t know anything, languages are haaard
2 (13.3%)

No Mandarin, but I know (an)other Asian language(s)
2 (13.3%)

Other
1 (6.7%)

trobadora

Sign-ups are closed now. Thank you, everyone!

What is the 520 Day Reverse Exchange?

General info/rules/schedule post - please go there to ask questions if anything isn't clear.

If you're on Discord, Twitter, Bluesky, Tumblr or elsewhere for fandom, please help get the word out by promoting the exchange there. We have a tumblr post you can reblog, a promo graphic and text on the General info post, or you can make your own.

How do I sign up?

You will find the sign-up form below. Fill in something for each point, giving as much info as you like. All comments are screened so only mods (

china_shop and

trobadora) can see them.

Please read this post, including the 2026 sign-up form, fully before you sign up. You will need to check back at this community between Saturday 28 March and Friday 3 April to make your requests. This sign-up form is the first of two steps.

Sign-ups are open until 11:59pm UTC on Friday 27 March 2026. (What time is that for me?)

What happens next?

On Saturday 28 March, mods post the info from the sign-up forms as anonymous participant ads on this comm.

You choose 3 ads from the list and make a request for each. (We'll remove each ad from the list when we've received 3 requests for that offer.)

Mods assign one of your requests to the relevant writer/artist/creator.

You receive one request made for your offer. This is your assignment.

The sign-up form

( under the cut! )

All comments here are screened (i.e. only visible to mods). If there is a problem with your sign-up, for example if you've missed any important info, we will reply to your comment or email you to sort it out.

Go forth and sign up!

Currently signed up:

amedia,

awanderingcoyote,

china_shop,

echo_ph0enix,

ehyde,

event_kosch,

facethestrange, flamingwell,

fuzzytale, Gatoveja,

hideyseek,

lacommunarde,

marquisguyun, MeatOffTheBone,

oracularmayhem,

plingo_kat, ryoulan,

tehfanglyfish,

tinypinkmouse,

trobadora,

velithya

Current Mood: excited

trobadora

520 Day Reverse Exchange General Concept

As the name says, this is a reverse exchange, also known as a Choose Your Writer/Artist/Fanwork Creator exchange. Instead of making your request and that request being assigned to a writer/artist/fanwork creator, here:

You sign up with the kinds of things you enjoy creating - media, ships, tropes, etc.

You choose three writers/artists/fanwork creators based on anonymised ads, and you make a request of each of them based on what they enjoy creating and what you want to receive.

You are assigned one request to create for, based on your offers.

You receive a gift from one of the creators you chose.

The 520 Day Reverse Exchange covers the Guardian drama, the novel, and real person fanworks about the actors. You can offer and/or request fanfic, fanart, icons, vids, podfic, meta, a remix of an existing fanwork, or fanart for an existing fanwork. Or any combination of the above! If there are other media you'd like to offer, please discuss with the mods by commenting on this post.
(Note that meta will need to be sufficiently transformative to meet AO3's rules, i.e. not simply a collection of canon facts.)

Hopefully this means you get an assignment that fits you like a glove, and just the gift fanwork you're looking for!

Participants who are under 18 must request and offer works rated General or Teen And Up only.

( How it all works )

( Schedule )

( Promotion )

Any questions? We're here to answer them. Ask in the comments to this post!