Love Song in Reverse
is a Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi fanfic written by timetoboldlygo on Archive of Our Own.
Wei Wuxian completely loses his memory when he gasps back to life, so based on what surrounded him when he woke up in this filthy shack with a bloody array under him, he concluded he was Mo Xuanyu. He had to be Mo Xuanyu, this was all he had.
Well, that and Hanguang-jun.
Lan Wangji, for his part, is still busy mourning for his great love. In all his grieving and searching, he didn’t expect to find another.
Contains the following tropes
- Adaptational Wimp: Mo Xuanyu cannot remember he's actually the Yiling Patriarch and as such won't use advanced necromantic techniques.
- Amnesiac Lover: "Mo Xuanyu" is fully aware his head is completely empty from memories, but not that the man he's currently crushing on is his former husband.
- Asshole Victim: After learning of Mo Xuanyu's abusive circumstances, Lan Jingyi and Sizhui outright declare the Mo family deserved to die. Note that Lan Wangji doesn't even protest, while Mo Xuanyu angsts more about the fact he did it with demonic cultivation.
- Entertainingly Wrong: Lan Wangji concludes Mo Xuanyu's attempt to get revenge against his abusive relatives was responsible for the cursed arm's rampage and his memory loss.
- Wei Wuxian accidentally pulling a Dead Person Impersonation is based on him taking in the surrounding clues and coming to the wrong conclusion.
- First Girl After All: Lan Wangji finds himself falling in love with Mo Xuanyu... who's actually the amnesiac Wei Wuxian.
- His Heart Will Go On: Lan Wangji's family really wants for him to move on from his thirteen-year depression over Wei Ying's demise, encouraging his relationship with Mo Xuanyu because of this.
- Identity Amnesia: The whole premise is Wei Wuxian resurrecting without any memories and believing he's Mo Xuanyu as a consequence.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: The reason why Lan Xichen and Sizhui are so supportive of Mo Xuanyu in spite of his sketchiness — Lan Wangji actually enjoys his company.
- Kick the Dog: Jiang Wanyin bluntly and nastily tells Lan Wangji that no matter how much he wants it, Mo Xuanyu will never be Wei Wuxian.
- Mistaken Identity: After waking up without any idea of his true name, Wei Wuxian assumed he was Mo Xuanyu and is treated as such by people he interacts with.
- The Mourning After: Lan Wangji lost his husband thirteen years ago and he still mourns him as strongly as he did the first year. Mo Xuanyu comments it's the most romantic and saddest thing ever.
- Parent with New Paramour: Lan Sizhui very much roots for his father giving him a new stepdad.
- Replacement Goldfish: A deconstruction. Everyone knows that Lan Wangji feels attracted to Mo Xuanyu because of his similarities with Wei Wuxian — Lan Wangji is disgusted and ashamed of his own unability to see Mo Xuanyu as his own person, while Mo Xuanyu is depressed by the fact he's a mere substitute.
- Right for the Wrong Reasons: Mo Xuanyu is left to believe the Yiling Patriarch was responsible for Wei Ying's demise. Nobody actually explained him they weren't separate people.
- Shipper on Deck: Lan Xichen and Sizhui openly support the possibility of a relationship between Lan Wangji and Mo Xuanyu because they think the amnesiac cultivator could make Lan Wangji happy after his thirteen-year-long mourning.
- Tragic Keepsake: Lan Wangji is wearing Wei Wuxian's clarity bell on his belt.
- Tranquil Fury: When Hanguang-jun truly loses his temper, he will look at you without raising his voice — and that's terrifying as shit.
- Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: Even without his memories, Mo Xuanyu still is terrified by dogs to the point he faints when Jin Ling's Fairy tries to sniff him.
- Wistful Amnesia: "Mo Xuanyu" occasionally remembers bits of his past (such as his sister) but cannot keep a firm grasp on them. It frustrates him a lot.
