Both Bingqiu and Moshang undoubtedly have toxic/questionable aspects to their relationship, but when looking at why I think Moshang works, and Bingqiu just doesn’t, I mainly point to how the “abuse” of their partners is handled.
When SQQ is abused by Binghe, Binghe plays the victim. Instead of being straightforward and serious, he cries and pleads, making HIMSELF the one in need of comfort, and causing SQQ to feel bad for being the ACTUAL victim. Moreover, Binghe is FULLY AWARE what he’s doing when he hurts or manipulates Qingqiu. There isn’t an excuse there.
Meanwhile, with MBJ and SQH, there’s a clear reason for their miscommunication: an issue of culture. While Binghe was raised in human society, Mobei-jun is very much attuned to demon culture - and has blind spots. But unlike Binghe, when he becomes aware of the harm he’s doing, and how it’s being perceived, he doesn’t play the victim:
He sincerely apologizes to Shang Qinghua
He offers a way of “correcting” it
He then tries to do what Shang Qinghua had told him would be better understood, showing that he cares more about Qinghua’s feelings than tradition.
Mobei-Jun isn’t mean, like I see a lot of fanworks imply. Mobei-Jun sincerely does NOT WANT to hurt Shang Qinghua, and when he realizes he is, he stops. Binghe hurts Shen Qingqiu knowingly, and when he does, he plays the victim or guilts Shen Qingqiu. This is why Moshang, in my eyes, just works.
@acanthusbloomed’s art is so fire <3
This is us.
please and thank you ❤️😇
drew this whilst we were writing I Need Some Lovin', so whilst it's not exactly accurate to how their first kiss happens in the scene, it's very much inspired by it :)
I think that there should be more hybrid AUs that have this misunderstanding specifically...
Bonus!!
Hello again tumblr. You seemed to like my previous yaoi. Therefore, I offer another.
and SQH then just has to deal with these two grumpy little cats knocking things over and warring for his attention and being brats
sqq sits at sqh’s desk while he’s writing and bites him whenever he forgets a plot point. meowbei-jun gets mad and smacks sqq onto the floor so forcefully with his big kitty paws that sqq gets knocked out, and mbj just proceeds to turn and make big eyes at sqh like “im juft a kitjy cat,,,, see i am so innocent and smol,,,,”
mbj just does not consider that cat injuries translate to human injuries and so spends their entire time as cats smacking the shit out of sqq and then is very confused when sqq is heavily concussed and maimed back in human form. (no one knows to this day if this was another courting attempt or simply meowbei jun being a dick)
sqh also would start a tiktok acc just filming his cats then suddenly one day have to explain why the cats are gone and two inhumanly attractive men are sitting in his apartment looking like they just were in a barfight
imagine Mobei-jun and Shen Qingqiu end up out drinking together, and eventually SQQ gets drunk enough that he breaks and goes on a tirade about how much he likes Shang Qinghua and all the great things about him. Mobei-jun is just like “vry understandable finally someone sees the vision. Wanna babytrap him.”
Somehow, they work out a plan for this, but they’re both terrible at flirting that all their plans to get Qinghua to sleep with them for babytrapping purposes are just awful. neither has any clue what foreplay is or flirting is. They’re too hot and autistic for it. So sqh is ends up confused and a little scared.
But how do you improve a skill? Practise, obviously. So, reluctantly, MBJ and SQQ begin practising… with each other. SQH somehow learns and is like “oh well im happy for you!”, and that’s when they panic, bc “NO THIS ISNT- WE WANT YOU CARNALLY THIS WAS PART OF THE PLAN” “WAIT. PLAN?!?!?!” “Qingqiu is pregnant.” “WHAT.”
Everyone is shocked. Mostly Shen Qingqiu. But also the maid who was passing by and is extremely confused. Either way, this pregnancy is clearly SQH’s fault. And since he created the world, he’s basically the father, so he should take responsibility. As should MBJ, of course. Wouldn’t it be a shame if they all had to get married because of this? Such a damn shame…. (Cut to Moshen high-fiving under the table)
The babies! Now animated by me! 💚💜
They/them • sangcheng enthusiast 💚💜 • useless artist
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