Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)

Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
The way to have a healthy polycule is communication, so Ling Qi is already on the right track. :V
 
Xuan Shi is clearly much more in tune with his sexual aspect than Ling Qi is with her own.

At this point... I almost expect "that whole romance and sex thing" to be one of the things she abandons along the Way.
I think it is a quote from a well known story that no one admits to having read XD.
..that or someone ascended as the Great Butt Pinching Sage.
 
…Biyu crashing head over heels down the stairs while running in the halls had just left her crying in confusion rather than hurt after all. It hadn't made her mother's scolding any less severe though.

"Very well, if Lord gan will allow it," Ling Qingge said.

"Haha, of course!" he grinned as he crouched down, holding out his open palms like a platform.

Biyu zeroes in on the person who can be swiftly suckered into picking her up and swinging her around by the arms. Classic tiny extrovert child.

Gan with the Fun Uncle energy.

"This one gained greatly, without any such thing."

Don't y'all never say this man ain't got no rizz.

he, mostly in research and craftwork, her in preparing for the expedition, like Bao Qian he would by the nature of his cultivation probably be in the rear echelon, securing and fortifying ground as they took it,

Brotherhood of Husbandos Part 2:
Fortification Fraternity!

He still sounded a little choked, and was absolutely avoiding Sixiang with his eyes.

What exactly was untoward about pinching, she wondered.

Operation Sixiang Makes It Wobble, Success!
>:3

I don't think a prism cultivator will show up out of the clear sky EVERY time something slightly untoward happens while you're standing next to LQ, but I do understand the one time was traumatic enough on its own
 
I just can't see Xuan Shi as LQ's romantic/sexual partner.
Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against the guy. He is a great character and has gone a long way from Forge.
But he is still too... closed off and aimless, I guess?

LQ has become really passionate about the new Emerald Seas project she is trying to build. While XS has helped a lot (heck, his gauntlets not only saved LQ and Sixiang, him having Xuanji also prevented the White Sky from abandoning the summit); it still feels he is only there because LQ is there and he doesn't have anything else on the Sect or back home.
I would say he is the only husband candidate that doesn't have a clear, well defined purpose that they are passionate about and what to follow out of their own volition.

LQ can't keep still even if you tie her up in a chair, literally. While Xuan Shi is already, or rather still, showing the typical crafter behaviour of remaining locked in their lab for months to end.

I can't say I'm a fan of his manner of speech or demeanour, even if I understand it's endemic to the Savage Seas. It's fine from time to time, but all the time as a partner? No thanks.

I also feel like XS is the candidate Ling Qi has shown the least interest in, or the one she has shown the lest chemistry with. I'm not talking only about her finding him attractive, though that's definitely a part of it. She has had much better reactions to the advances to Meng Dan or even Bao Qian.
With XS is always more of a... passive acceptance? Like a acknowledgement that he is innocuous and non-aggresive or something? Not really romantic or anything like that.

I feel LQ needs a partner that can keep up with her. Not necessarily remaining always at the same level of cultivation, though too wide a gap would also be a problem.
I mean someone who is as involved as her in her life project of improving the Emerald Seas and protecting the lives of her family and community. Someone they can work and travel and have similar interest so they can naturally spend time together depite the restrictions of cultivation and politics.

With the Meng current situation everything is way too up in the air, but I still think Meng Dan is the most compatible partner candidate to date.
He has been the most direct and assertive with his courting, without ever being untoward. They both hold similar views on the importance of the ES's history and the path they want it to move forward. They can spend time together on liminal adventures unveiling lost long secrets of the ES.

Like, LQ and MD can build a live together in the ES I just don't see happening with XS.

And, I had forgotten to vote.
[X] I would show you along the lakefront
 
Xuan Shi is clearly much more in tune with his sexual aspect than Ling Qi is with her own.

At this point... I almost expect "that whole romance and sex thing" to be one of the things she abandons along the Way.

Nah, she's been much more open about it after her recent tribulation, she's just still a tad ignorant about it due to having avoided it like the plague pre-tribulation, not actively avoiding it any more.

One issue is that Xuan Shi also has a mind-passenger... and that foursome seems like it could get messy.

Just because the relationship with Six became romantic would not likewise necessitate the same with Xuan Shi's passenger. There are parallels, but they certainly don't need to be absolute.

Like, LQ and MD can build a live together in the ES I just don't see happening with XS.

Why not? Him deciding to stay is pretty likely IMO, and almost certain to be allowed by his clan given his somewhat low status within it. I agree he's perhaps a tad aimless at the moment, but that could easily change, and him helping Ling Qi with her projects is demonstrably something he's willing to do. Meng Dan is certainly a perfectly reasonable candidate, but I don't buy that Xuan Shi isn't.
 
Like, LQ and MD can build a live together in the ES I just don't see happening with XS.

The problem with choosing Meng Dan is political.
Yes, he has the best chemistry with Ling Qi, despite being the opposite of her type (muscular macho Man), that we have seen so far BUT Ling Qi is most likely going to become a viscountesse at minimum, countess most likely, marquess if we make very good rolls and choices and duchesse in a 1 out thousand chance. While the Meng are already steady allies (the reformers) and are in political hotwater at of this moment, i don't see what their marriage can really bring to Ling Qi but legetimacy for her clan, but she get that with every other old count clan too, and greater ties to an already tight ally.

Xuan shi on the other end is very mild, i agree that his lack of greater goal and visible drive makes him less interressting as a character, even with his lonely orphan background, like i feel sorry for him but not too much after all he is still a ducal who received the best possible ressources and education. Still he could act as a support, a rock for LQ, both emotionaly and materialy.

Bao Qian seems like the best option so far, with ties with the richest count clan of ES, has his future path already somewhat figured out, can support her in a element she's not too interested in. Has more drive than XS but still feel down too earth despite his background. The only problem is the lack of chemistry which can come as they slowy construct their relashionship (engagements between nobles can last decades).

I think the 2 Bai's vassal could eventualy become potential candidates if LQ get more time with them but only the violet one seems compatible with LQ, the other seems too soldiery/boring for her.

Well maybe yrsillar will add new candidates yet.

[X] I would show you along the lakefront
 
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[X] I would show you along the lakefront

I am Team Turtle and Team Coin myself. Meng Dan is not a bad dude, but the -6 in-laws make a relationship with him too risky.

Let's give him a chance to impress in front of Snowblossom, maybe the Lake can convince Zhengui to relax a bit on the subject.
 
[X] I would show you along the lakefront

[X] We could could walk the hill trails, and see the geysers

Even with typos, can't go wrong with Turtle Time
 
xuan shi is a very viable candidate and is my favorite so far. But people are right in that he is aimless and passive. For now. I think he is still the most interesting candidate out of the possible love interests so far. Beyond that, I think his passive and closed off nature will change. He is like ling qi, needing time and insights to grow out of his shell. I think the high stakes arcs that are coming up will lead to huge changes in his character. And I also think these arcs will lead to huge changes for many characters, not just him.

I find Xuan Shi's struggles and arc the most interesting, though that's not saying that much when I feel bao qian is boring and I don't even remember how meng dan acts.
 
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Xuan Shi isn't passive, in the sense that he lacks the drive or interest to make overture's to Ling Qi.

Xuan Shi matches Ling Qi's pace, because he knew Ling Qi before she started her romance character arc. Back then even making his interest known used to severely distress her, so he turned over the reigns to Ling Qi.

This is extremely important to remember, because Xuan Shi has his own romance character arc that's been happening in the back ground. Specifically, Xuan Shi entered the sect with romance novels on his mind. He was looking everywhere for "love", Renxiang, etc. His favorite series is a romance/adventure novel, and the quest Ling Qi went on with him was one of the "trials" it contained.

Between Renxiang, his extremely embarrassing trial, and Ling Qi he seems to have learned that looking for love from others is unhealthy. Since then he seems to have found a secure self-Love, which is why he accepts what Ling Qi is willing to give and doesn't push for more. He has matured tremendously over the course of his appearances.

I encourage people to reread his interludes and appearances, there is a lot more depth to Xuan Shi and his relationship with Ling Qi (platonic and romantic) than a casual look will show.
 
Not sure either way but I guess we already had a whole lake thing with Meizhen and better to keep our dates original.
[X] We could could walk the hill trails, and see the geysers
 
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