The Great Guardian Kink Poll

[mekare]

It's been that kind of week (also I partly blame the Iguana festival). I spent a happy commute thinking of all these options and how Shen Wei would react to the concept of kink. My main headcanon is that anything that requires trust, or expresses their mutual besottedness could be a kink for these guys.

The answer options I've chosen are not in any way exhaustive, just what first came to my mind. I do think some kinks are more likely for them than others (e.g. I can't believe that Shen Wei would enjoy any sort of pain, he's too stoic about it). It was a lot easier to come up with kink ideas for Yunlan *g*.

In the novel I believe Yunlan has a kink for BB Shen Wei's long hair? People with novel knowledge - I'd love to hear how the novel deals with kinks!

Poll #21582 The great kinky Guardian poll

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: Just the Poll Creator, participants: 19

Does Shen Wei know what kinks are?

No. Yunlan has to teach him (such a hardship...).
8 (44.4%)

No, and he doesn't understand the concept.
1 (5.6%)

Yes, he has heard of it.
6 (33.3%)

Yes, he knows about kinks because they are accepted and normal in Dixing.
2 (11.1%)

Yes, he has heard of underground kink clubs in Dixing but never been there.
4 (22.2%)

Something else which I'll tell you in the comments.
1 (5.6%)

What kinks have you encountered in fic/vids/art so far?

What kinks do you headcanon for Zhao Yunan?

oral fixation
17 (89.5%)

historical roleplay (aka Kunlun/BB Shen Wei)
4 (21.1%)

Black Cloak Envoy roleplay (maybe with powerplay)
17 (89.5%)

Professor/student roleplay
10 (52.6%)

dirty talk (receiving)
7 (36.8%)

dirty talk (giving)
13 (68.4%)

powerplay (obedience, submission)
11 (57.9%)

powerplay (playful disobedience and punishment)
12 (63.2%)

powerplay (collars)
5 (26.3%)

massage
5 (26.3%)

somnophilia
2 (10.5%)

bondage
9 (47.4%)

praise kink (receiving)
12 (63.2%)

voice kink (for Shen Wei's voice, or his Black Envoy voice)
14 (73.7%)

Shen Wei's suits (including ties and their various uses)
16 (84.2%)

body worship (optionally combined with bondage)
10 (52.6%)

shaving kink (receiving)
3 (15.8%)

knifeplay
5 (26.3%)

wet&messy
11 (57.9%)

rimming
8 (42.1%)

phonesex/sexting
12 (63.2%)

orgasm delay
9 (47.4%)

making Shen Wei blush or blink in that cute way he has by any means possible
16 (84.2%)

some other kink which I'll tell you in the comments
3 (15.8%)

What kinks of Zhao Yunlan's do you think Shen Wei would agree to (for love of Yunlan)?

oral fixation
13 (72.2%)

historical roleplay (aka Kunlun/BB Shen Wei)
4 (22.2%)

Black Cloak Envoy roleplay (maybe with powerplay)
10 (55.6%)

Professor student roleplay
6 (33.3%)

dirty talk (giving)
5 (27.8%)

powerplay (obedience, submission)
10 (55.6%)

powerplay (playful disobedience and punishment)
9 (50.0%)

powerplay (collars)
2 (11.1%)

massage
11 (61.1%)

somnophilia
3 (16.7%)

bondage
8 (44.4%)

praise kink (giving)
11 (61.1%)

voice kink (Black Envoy voice)
13 (72.2%)

suits (including ties and their various uses)
11 (61.1%)

body worship (optionally combined with bondage)
10 (55.6%)

shaving kink (giving)
5 (27.8%)

knifeplay
1 (5.6%)

wet&messy
5 (27.8%)

rimming
10 (55.6%)

phonesex/sexting
4 (22.2%)

orgasm delay
10 (55.6%)

some other kink which I'll tell you in the comments
1 (5.6%)

ANYTHING for Yunlan
9 (50.0%)

What kinks do you think Shen Wei would enjoy himself?

certain outfits of Yunlan (tight jeans and shirts....)
7 (36.8%)

powerplay (dominance)
9 (47.4%)

powerplay (submission)
8 (42.1%)

foot kink (for Yunlan's bare feet)
4 (21.1%)

praise kink (receiving)
9 (47.4%)

receiving body worship (optionally combined with bondage)
10 (52.6%)

giving body worship (optionally combined with bondage)
14 (73.7%)

giving service (household tasks, dressing, ...) maybe combined with praise
16 (84.2%)

massage (receiving)
8 (42.1%)

Yunlan's hands
14 (73.7%)

Yunlan's mouth
18 (94.7%)

sensation play (no or little pain)
12 (63.2%)

rimming (receiving)
4 (21.1%)

blindfolds
5 (26.3%)

bondage (optional: with his own ties)
7 (36.8%)

some other kink which I'll tell you in the comments
2 (10.5%)

Comments

[qikiqtarjuaq]

Zhao Yunlan does indeed love Shen Wei with long hair, and Shen Wei is more than happy to indulge him. I think there was a scene where he went "show me that gorgeous long hair of yours" and Shen Wei obediently grows his hair out. Then Zhao Yunlan exclaims that Shen Wei is a "great great great beauty."

It's one of my favorite novel scenes because I can easily see it for their drama counterparts too. (And I shamelessly use Shen Wei's magical hair growth in my fics whenever possible.)

[mekare]

Oh yes, I can so see that in their drama selves.

[trobadora]

I have no idea how to answer this poll! I mean, for the first question, I think Shen Wei knows what kinks are, and he knows the kink scene exists, but those are two different things. Then, a lot of these are just things you might enjoy in the context of sex that you wouldn't necessarily think of as a kink, if that makes sense? I don't think Shen Wei would really think of them as kinks. And here are things I think Shen Wei would enjoy for himself that are only in the "for ZYL's sake" section ...

[mekare]

Sorry!I should have been clearer, question 4 is not just about kinks that he does JUST for Yunlan, but maybe kinks he wouldn't come up with for himself and which he might turn out to enjoy as well? Just maybe not in a purely selfish way? So the last question is for kinks that he just wants for himself, if that makes sense (hopefully?).

Yes, some of these are not strictly kinks but more preferences, that's true.

[trobadora]

No worries! Just, take my answers to the poll with a grain of salt, because I was dithering over almost every one. Except for Zhao Yunlan's kinks, of course, because he has them, and he would think of them as kinks, too. *g*

[extrapenguin]

With Zhao Yunlan, I imagine he has a large swath of kinks that boil down to "tool with which to poke at the psyche plus aesthetic appeal" – knives, handcuffs, bondage, etc would all fit into this niche. There's the aesthetic appeal of sexy person tied up sexily, and the psychological power trip appeal of getting someone else to be vulnerable and bring them to a desired mental state. He'd likely very much appreciate Shen Wei's healing powers as a sort of safety net plus ability to actually do proper knifeplay with someone.

In addition to those, there'd be the "random" kinks, like long hair (I haven't read the novel, but I'm always down for long hair kink) and stuff like fucking on/over the motorcycle or Jeep hood.

For Shen Wei, I don't think he has really considered kinks (Yunlan will just have to teach him), but his guiding principle would be "Anything for Yunlan, as long as it isn't too dangerous for him", so knifeplay where Yunlan stabs Shen Wei? Kinda weird, but sure, he can heal. Tying up Yunlan lightly? Yunlan's blood circulation might be cut off and he might lose the hand, Shen Wei could never do that!!! So he's willing to try lots of things for Yunlan's sake (anything except blindfolds, because he might not see something important then, and he can always teleport out of any situation) while Yunlan would be left with the hard task of trying to dig out all of Shen Wei's kinks. My personal headcanon for those is that Shen Wei likes praise, either for service or just existing, and he could really do with a moment of letting his guard down and just relaxing into it all without having anything to be in charge of or worry about. Getting him to chill and be a pillow princess would of course be the hard part...

[mekare]

Tying up Yunlan lightly? Yunlan's blood circulation might be cut off and he might lose the hand, Shen Wei could never do that!!!

I agree - anything with the slightest chance to hurt Yunlan would be very difficult to persuade him to do ( luckily Yunlan can be very persuasive)

the hard task of trying to dig out all of Shen Wei's kinks

So much this. Your headcanon is my headcanon and I wish someone would write pillow princess Shen Wei (plus the arduous lead up to that state).

[extrapenguin]

I'd imagine Shen Wei would be absolutely horrified to notice that he left bruises on Yunlan, and Yunlan would have to convince him to do whatever completely normal thing they did again. (Please don't wrap Yunlan up on cotton fluff, Shen Wei.)

I would be interested in writing pillow princess Shen Wei, but I have no idea how to lead up to it! I suppose sleepy morning sex might be one aspect of it, but there'd have to be so many conversations and attempts to get Shen Wei to try something other than being a service top/service bottom and maybe chill and just enjoy a bit that would have to be written, and I have no idea how to approach that. Uh. Halp?

[mecurtin]

I can see that there's sort of a consensus that Yunlan is sexually self-aware and has done a fair bit of experimenting, and he has quite a few kinks and enjoys them.

The real trick, for him, is finding out what Shen Wei's kinks are, when Shen Wei doesn't know himself. And when Shen Wei will go along with almost anything Yunlan suggests.

The one kink I can see Shen Wei having that might be new to Yunlan is somnophilia. Specifically, that SW wants to fuck ZYL while the latter is asleep.

And SW's biggest unspeakable desire is for praise, the way "Kun Lun" did in the past: not just saying he's beautiful, but also saying he's the best person, the most noble and selfless of character.

[mekare]

I wouldn’t call 7 people a consensus (yet) but I suspect that’s where the majority will end up.

And when Shen Wei will go along with almost anything Yunlan suggests.

You know, while I was drawing up the poll, the same thing occurred to me, shen wei probably has a problem with boundaries reagrding Yunlan (he only ever shows them when it’s about Yunlan's safety). There is a lot of potential for masked consent issues and misunderstandings there if they went the kinky route.

I totally agree that praise would be his shameful secret desire which would take Yunlan a LOT of time and effort to suss out.

[rheasilvia]

I think I am in the minority in that in my headcanon, Zhao Yunlan is neither very sexually experienced nor particularly kinky. :-) I do think he would be open to and interested in exploring a large variety of things if his partner wanted, since he is pretty much shameless. He'd also likely come up with quite a few experiments over time, but most of what I'd imagine isn't really in the realm of kink, and more regular shaking things up.;-) I don't see him going for anything that involved giving or receiving pain or injury.

Shen Wei does know what kink is in my headcanon, and isn't ignorant of the twists and turns sexuality can take. Is he interested...? I could see him being dominant in some ways. He'd agree to many things if Zhao Yunlan wanted it, but not anything, and not pain or injury, either. And BTW, this goes the other way around, too - Zhao Yunlan would also agree to a great deal if Shen Wei wanted, and might actually be far more likely to push his own boundaries than Shen Wei's.

That Shen Wei likes praise and needs to be pampered? Zhao Yunlan knows that already! :-) And he'd probably be very quick to catch on to Shen Wei's slightest hints in body language, and realize what his lover wants before Shen Wei knows himself. :-)

[lynndyre]

I agree with you. I think Zhao Yunlan talks a lot! And is super forward! But he does a lot of flirting and not a lot of consummating, until he gets to Shen Wei.

I also don't think he'd be much for pain or injury - and especially after episode 23 anything that hurts Shen Wei is going to be a serious no. OTOH, I think he might be more likely to try blindfolds after being blind- giving over and trusting himself in Shen Wei's hands is nice.

Shen Wei's kink is Kunlun/Zhao Yunlan. Liking him back. Paying attention to him. Loving him, touching him- 10,000 years of touch starvation and he was desperate for loving contact even before that. Praise kink, for sure. Being seen for who he is, instead of what he's pretending.

I think Zhao Yunlan has pinned those down- the one he's refusing to see is how much Shen Wei will give over to Zhao Yunlan's choices/commands/decisions. That aspect of Shen Wei frightens Zhao Yunlan, so he keeps laughing it off or using it to get food, but if he ever took hold of it I think Shen Wei could end up melted into the bed very easily.

[mekare]

OTOH, I think he might be more likely to try blindfolds after being blind- giving over and trusting himself in Shen Wei's hands is nice.

Oh headcanon accepted!

[rheasilvia]

especially after episode 23 anything that hurts Shen Wei is going to be a serious no

I agree completely.

And yes, I could see the blindfolds! They might well both enjoy that a lot. :-)

Shen Wei's kink is Kunlun/Zhao Yunlan.

YES to all of this! That's exactly how I see it, too. He wants to bask in Zhao Yunlan seeing him for who he truly is, and loving him for it, and being as close as possible in every possible way.

Zhao Yunlan is very careful not to push Shen Wei, I think, because he respects Shen Wei's boundaries and issues. I see that in canon in a lot of non-sexual ways, and I think it carries over.

And since Zhao Yunlan knows that Shen Wei sees himself and his wishes and needs as unimportant in some very deeply ingrained ways, I see him as trying to build Shen Wei up and teach him that it really *does* matter in the sexual realm, too. (NO, Shen Wei, not just because Zhao Yunlan enjoys himself more when he knows you *like* being covered in raw eggs, but because you should be enjoying yourself for your own sake. :-) )

[mecurtin]

Zhao Yunlan is neither very sexually experienced nor particularly kinky. :-) How does your headcanon get there from "shamelessly flirting 30-something"? I'm not doubting you, I'm just asking for your headcanon backstory about how ZYL could be "not very sexually experienced" at his age.

A lot of us look at how relaxed he is in his body and think he probably worked out his basic sexual issues years ago, through dedicated experimentation.

[rheasilvia]

This got very long, for which I apologize! :-)

Age is not in itself an indicator of sexual experience, so it never really entered my mind as a factor. As for the shameless flirting: Zhao Yunlan doesn’t actually flirt with anyone but Shen Wei. He does often try to charm people, win them over, invite them to open up to him, or tease them – but none of this is flirting, let alone flirting with intent. Take his behavior with Minister Gao in ep 12 as an extreme example; this kind of behavior is charming/ingratiating, not flirty, even when it occurs in less massive form. ;-)

There are multiple instances of Zhao Yunlan being called „cold“ – clearly a reference to his impenetrable heart, because he is not cold at all in any other way. Most importantly, Zhao Yunlan himself says (in ep 20) that he was born with a lack of love, which is his fate that he’s submitted to. This means that Zhao Yunlan has never been in love. Someone who has never fallen in love can certainly have had plenty of sex, of course. Since Zhao Yunlan is not the kind of person who would carelessly break hearts by dallying with people who have feelings for him, I am convinced he has never been in a relationship of any kind. So that leaves one-night stands and other purely sexual encounters.

It’s certainly possible that he goes this route. However: Not *once* in the entire series does Zhao Yunlan ever look at anyone (except Shen Wei) with sexual appreciation. I use the word „appreciation“ because I’m not talking about actual interest – I mean that there is not even a sign of awareness that this or that person is attractive. Not even before he truly grows interested in Shen Wei.

This, combined with the lack of other indications that Zhao Yunlan is having sex / has had sex with anyone in the past, gives me the impression that he is not very concerned with sex in the usual run of things, and perhaps not particularly interested.

So as comfortable in his own body as he is, and as free of hang-ups and inhibitions, I simply don’t see a lot of interest in seeking out casual sex – and by extension sexual experimentation - in him.

(In fact, to take it one step further, my own favored theory is that he is demisexual. But this answer is long enough already, and I kind of think I should make a post on that in my own journal rather than hijack mekare’s post. ;-) )

[mekare]

Zhao Yunlan is neither very sexually experienced nor particularly kinky.

I can definitely see a version of Yunlan like that. It's just, that my favourite headcanon has him experienced and kinky. But him starting to explore thinsg along with Shen Wei is also very appealing.

He'd agree to many things if Zhao Yunlan wanted it, but not anything, and not pain or injury, either.

Agreed.

[rheasilvia]

Experienced and kinky is definitely an interpretation I can go with, too! I have the impression that most people tend to go with that version of Zhao Yunlan.

But him starting to explore thinsg along with Shen Wei is also very appealing.

I do think so! :-) And this way there's also the possibility that the time-loop means they not only both fall in love with a version of the other that already loves them, but that they both have their first sexual experiences with a version of the other who already knows just what they like. :-)

[teaotter]

I don't have a firm headcanon for Shen Wei at this point. One of the views I think I see a lot is that he's basically demisexual and fell so hard for Kunlun that he's never really had any other sexual relationships. But even then, he might have a very vivid and potentially kinky masturbatory sex life. Who knows what he and Kunlun have gotten up to in his imagination?

[mecurtin]

The way he stares at ZYL while he's asleep, I'm 98% convinced he had somnophilia fantasies. Just sayin'.

[trobadora]

But even then, he might have a very vivid and potentially kinky masturbatory sex life. Who knows what he and Kunlun have gotten up to in his imagination?

Yeah, I'm completely with you on that! I think he's spent a lot of time thinking in great detail about what he wants to do to and with Kunlun when he finds him again. :D

[rheasilvia]

Interestingly, it's Zhao Yunlan who is demisexual in my preferred headcanon. I do know I am in the minority, though. :-) I could also see it for Shen Wei, though in his case it really might simply be that he fell in love and has been waiting for Kunlun ever since.

he might have a very vivid and potentially kinky masturbatory sex life. Who knows what he and Kunlun have gotten up to in his imagination?

I absolutely agree! Even if he didn't have sex with other people (which he might still have done), that doesn't mean Shen Wei's lived the life of a virtuous monk while waiting for Kunlun. Shen Wei does give good bambi eyes, but that doesn't have to mean he's a shy, innocent flower. ;-)

[teaotter]

I tend to see Zhao Yunlan as... gosh, I may be using the term wrong, but demi-romantic? That he's just never been in love with anyone, never had any crushes, nothing. Sure, he likes people okay, and sex can be fun, but his heart is a compass that's never pointed anywhere.

Until he meets Shen Wei, and for a while he has no idea what he's feeling (or what to do with it).

I don't necessarily see that as a lack of sexual interest, but I could see him giving up on sex at some point because having to extract himself from the emotional attachments gets to be too much trouble.

(Whereas I read Shen Wei as someone who had multiple heavy crushes at various points, but Kunlun was the first person who returned his feelings.)

edit: definitely using the term wrong, whoops!

[galaxysoup]

For me, a lot of these boil down to 'it would depend on how it's written'. I tend to think of Shen Wei as someone who has become very divorced from his own needs and desires, so I think that while he may be aware of the existence of some or all of these things, I'm not sure he would have ever considered them as they might relate to him. I feel like some of the simplest ones would have the biggest and most unexpected effect on him, like the touch-based approaches (sensation play, massage, body worship, etc.) since he's probably touch-starved. Those might be the best starting point.

I feel like he'd have the easiest time trying out ones in which Zhao Yunlan is the focus, because he's become so accustomed to providing service and he has an instinct to take care of Zhao Yunlan in particular. The ones in which he is the focus I think might make him confused or uncomfortable at first, just because it's not a dynamic he's used to. And I think that the ones that play with identity (Kunlun/bb!Shen Wei, teacher/student, Black Cloaked Envoy roleplay, etc) would be very difficult for him. Not that he might not enjoy them eventually and genuinely, but I think that since his life and his self is in some ways very separated out - and a lot of his roles have such a heavy weight of responsibility or history on them - it might be hard for him to be able to shift his thinking into a more playful or sexual context. There are a lot of ways in which he doesn't really see himself as a person in the way that he recognizes other people as having personhood, so I think the idea that a facet of his self (bb!Shen Wei, his roles as Envoy or teacher) could be alluring or valuable would be hard for him to grasp.

But again, like I said, it would depend a lot on how it's written! Shen Wei, to me, is a pretty cerebral character, so anything that took his psychology into account would probably come across as reasonable and genuine. And I agree with all the things other people have said about how Shen Wei's lack of boundaries when it comes to Zhao Yunlan would have to be negotiated carefully. As long as he thinks it's what Zhao Yunlan wants (and isn't something that would be harmful - he does notice and push back when he thinks Zhao Yunlan is making bad choices for himself) he would probably agree to it, no matter what it might do to him or make him feel in the process. That in itself could make for an interesting story, actually.

[extrapenguin]

I would like to +1 this comment. Shen Wei has made himself into a weapon, so the humanness of sex and sexuality would be very alien and uncomfortable to him. (Do knives have sex? No.) The way away from "weapon" in a sex context would probably be "tool" – Shen Wei turns himself into a tool for Zhao Yunlan's pleasure, and then Zhao Yunlan would have to try and mental judo him into maybe trying to enjoy stuff for his own sake.

I also think that any sex fantasies bb Shen Wei would have had pre-Kunlun would've contained some sort of "excuse" for why he's having sex, and most likely contained his narrative kink of heroic sacrifice. "Cthulhu is menacing my men, and to get it to go away, I must heroically sacrifice myself! After Cthulhu has captured me, I get tentacled up." (Half the time the fantasy would probably stop at the heroic sacrifice.)