The Problematic of the Unproblematic

Chapter 1 - Kings and QueensPart 2

written by LalaLoop
consulting by Bunny
edited by kakashi

A few minutes into the meeting at the Celestial court and Bai Qian understood why Zheyan did not want to come. In fact, she wished she could join him in the Peach Blossom Garden this moment instead of sitting and listening to these old men spouting nonsense about how great and untouchable the defenses of their tribes were. And she was also starting to understand why Lord Donghua always looked indifferent during these meetings - indifference was perhaps the only way to maintain one’s sanity when surrounded by so much stupidity.

JoAnne: Woohoo! 200! What should we do to commemorate this historic event? I know! We'll have the universe release a bazillion new shows all at once!
SakiVI: I seem to just be watching Chinese shows except for a new Korean daily, Love to the End, where I'm cheering the Wretched on, and Let Me Introduce Her with Dad, and, oddly enough, Mum, because she fell in love with the walk-in closet in the big house.  Update: she wants us to stop watching when she is around.  Not enough closet space. 
Why do you all watch in a closet?
Panda: Stressed! I need a Jennifer in my life.
Everybody pigpile on Panda and give her hugs right now. It's not Jennifer but it will have to do.
Trotwood: I'm feeling cranky and stressed that there are so many shows coming out all at once, and upset with myself that there is this bounty in which I'm really not all that interested. I want to watch Life, but I do not have access to subs (and don't tell me about Netflix). I didn't watch m…

Chapter 52written by kakashi
edited by LigayaCroft/Panda

“There’s nobody here,” said a male voice outside.

Gun Gun shot up. His disorientation lasting only a brief moment - her body fused into his, the heady smell of their lovemaking still lingering. Soft and warm and so alluring… he very much regretted he couldn’t pick up right where they had left off.

“Mei Lin,” he whispered into her ear, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair, “Zūzu, wake up.”

SakiVI: Such a tease: YoYo TV on YouTube got the first two episodes of Shahai, the next in The Lost Tomb series of shows,  and they only put up 2 episodes. I was all prepared to watch raw too. And that is my drama issue of the week.
JoAnne: I have no drama issues this week, other than that people should probably do an intervention for me. But no, you're all enablers...
Trotwood: You got that right. I mean who else is going to help us make decisions about what to watch when there are six (SIX) new Korean dramas coming out this week. I have no idea how many countless others are populating our screens, and with some being subbed at different rates there might be old ones that will also be available in the next coming weeks. I feel like I need to hide from the onslaught, but then I keep seeing clips of Jo Sueng Woo from Life, and I get all starry-eyed. Not as starry-eyed as when I met Takumi Saito in the flesh this weekend, but almost. (yup that was a shameless plug for the upcoming …

Chapter 1 - Kings and QueensPart 1

written by LalaLoop
consulting by Bunny
edited by kakashi

(this is a continuation of Book 1 of LalaLoop's Mo Yuan x Bai Qian Fanfic)


“Pay attention!” The Fox Emperor said loudly to the pair of disciples nearest to him. “Keep your head in the game!”

Changshan turned in the courtyard’s direction, but he could not decide which one of the children had just been shouted at.

Chapter 28written by kakashi
edited by LigayaCroft and Panda

It started with a cautious tap-tap-tap, a sound that steadily quickened to a reckless, drunken rhythm, like rowdy little devils gaining increasing pleasure from dancing on the rooftops. A gush of cool air passed down the corridor, bringing with it the smell of wet dust and sand, caressing sweat-soaked bodies like a gentle lover.

“The rainy season has started,” Yue said quietly. It was more than just a statement of the obvious. It felt like the eagerly anticipated end of a long story ... and the beginning of a new one. He sounded tired, but as if to defy it, he straightened his back and smiled at her, his dark eyes reflecting the dancing candle light.

They were eyes to get lost in, but that was better done another time, another night.

JoAnne:  My. Giant. Puppy. Is. Not. Ugly.  Also, and probably unrelated: I ranted a little.
Trotwood: You know I'm with you here. Our Climbing tree puppy is so NOT ugly. I'm not sure where that is coming from. (kakashi: me?) I also don't think he's ugly in this show. I feel like I'm not watching much. Doing some rewatching to reduce anxiety (random eps of Weightlifting Fairy and Someone Like You--wow I forget how good Kingone Wang looks in this). I've also been reading the translations of Addicted Heroine from the Chinese. A LOT more violent than the show (a LOT, so I don't know if I will finish). I'm amazed that fans translated over 200 chapters after the show got banned. Also didn't realize that one of the main actors who also got banned for awhile is the lead in that Foxes show everyone was talking about.
SakiVI: Haven't been able to settle on anything since Secrets of The Three Kingdoms ended. Sand Sea, the latest from Uncle 3 is coming with…

Trotwood: I entered this episode with so much rage. Then I spent most of it in tears.
Panda: I entered with Hope and left in defeat. And anger.
kakashi: It was around 3am when I watched this episode, so I honestly don't remember. I don't think I had such strong feelings. But I did (and do) wonder why Best Boss had to die.

Chapter 15. No more permanent than a wave rising on the oceanwritten by Bunny and LalaLoop
consulting/editing: Le, LalaLoop, LigayaCroft, kakashi


“Shifu—PUT ME DOWN!” Bai Qian screamed, her body squirming like a fish out of water.

The pair of eyes stationed right above her head were staring down with inscrutable steeliness. Unwilling to back down, she glared back, feeling more and more emboldened by the liquid courage sloshing around in the empty walls of her stomach.

“I am perfectly capable of walking on my own!”

Moyuan’s arms readjusted to rein her in tighter as she continued to fight him. Carrying her as though she weighed nothing as he walked along that dirt corridor, retracing the steps she had taken just now when she ran through the back gardens. The rain was starting to fall in rods all around them. And the fireworks overhead showed no sign of dying down. Water and fire spilling from the sky.


“Capable, indeed,” he said. “It’s not any wonder I found you lying in a puddle of yo…

Chapter 27written by kakashi
edited by Panda & LigayaCroft

“It doesn’t look half-bad,” Zhe Yan remarked after studying Mo Yuan’s head with the air of an expert. “But how do we know it doesn’t mean ‘This Man is the Biggest Idiot That Ever Lived’?”

“No, Celestial High God,” Yue said, sounding quite offended, “it’s the pattern of a champion, it is sacred!”

“The High God was jesting,” Yu Dian hastily explained to the guard in a low voice, “he is trying to lighten the mood.”

JoAnne:  Ohhh, my goodness, it's hot here in the States. Too hot. So hot my glasses fog up when I get out of my car. AT EIGHT AM. I live in New England, not Hell. This is ridiculous!
Trotwood: So hot that I probably make tea inside my car. I sent people home early from work on Monday because it was over 90 in the office with fans and AC sorta.But relief seems to be on the way, at least where I live. I know people on my twitter feed where it's 115 degrees F!
kakashi: Wasn't it just yesterday you guys complained about the cold?
Hush. Couldn't we at least have something that isn't EXTREME?
Panda: I have always preferred cold to hot weather so I am doubly pissed. I was cooking on the 4th block party we had.

Note:  This conversation is pre-empted for a statement from, well, everyone:

HOLY COW LAWLESS LAWYER WAS SO GOOD
OMG!! WE MEAN REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY GOOD
Oh, so I should watch now?  
JoAnne: Who knows who the boy was who played the mute glue sniffer in this week's final Hammurabi episode? Is he an idol? Was that really him singing? I wondered if he was an idol before they ever went to the karaoke simply because he was so handsome...I can't even find images from the episode online.
Trotwood: It feels weird writing this right after you since I had lunch with you less than 24 hours ago and now we are far apart again. People, Jo is as funny in real life as she is here, but she is also so warm. I feel like I can skip a whole bunch of therapy sessions just after being with her. I'm only watching two Korean dramas right now, but I think I'll be settling in for some rewatches and some Thai dramas and finishing some projects during this new month of some hopeful rest. An…