avemstella

[avemstella]

Hi! Out of curiosity, does Pierro know that Skirk was Ajax’s mentor? Also, I love the way you portray time in the abyss. It’s all wonky, as expected! It’s pretty interesting to think abt as well. I also wonder if Ajax ever met anyone else in the abyss besides Skirk. I feel like Ajax knows so so much more than he thinks but he’s too oblivious to put all it together. It’s ok tho, he has his moments lol. ᐠ( ᐢ ᵕ ᐢ )ᐟ

Great fic btw!

He does not! Actually, nobody (outside the Abyss) knows about Skirk training him. Ajax intentionally doesn't tell people about (they just know he fell in, was there for a bit, and somehow got Foul Legacy there). The only person post abyss he mentioned it to was Taras in chapter 24, and all he mentioned was that his master was a girl, and gave no other context haha. And Taras was drunk, so he doesn't remember (and if he did, he would just assume it's someone from the Fatui, not his abyss adventure).

I don't think it's a spoiler to say Pierro will find out eventually haha, though I don't think anyone can guess how he will find out.

But yeah, I'm glad to hear that! I love writing abyss stuff and in general weird time stuff (looks at my Istaroth fic). I obviously will not spoil if he met anyone else in the Abyss, but let's just say there are definitely things that he knows that hasn't been revealed to the reader and also stuff the abyss made him forget when he left it... example being in the most recent chapter he can't remember why he knows how to pronounce Loge (he'll remember eventually, just not yet).

Thank you!!!

[avemstella]

Chapter 42 aka the late anniversary chapter is posted! Sorry again for the delay.

[avemstella]

Regarding your SMFWTWD fic—is tartaglia going to get a hydro vision? Tbh I’m not super familiar with Genshin lore, but I don’t think it’s ever been mentioned when he got his vision (as far as I know at least). 👀

Hello! Yes, he will be getting his hydro vision :) All I'll say it's one of the most important scenes in the fic haha

But yeah, for a bit of context this fic was born out of several things, but one of the most notable is the Pale Flame Artifact set release in 1.5 aka end of April 2021. It was when we were introduced to several of the unknown Harbs at the time and I went slightly insane. Most of the big picture stuff for this fic was developed from then to when I posted the first chapter on July 20th that year aka Childe's b-day, aka Inazuma launch day haha.

So the intent at the time was for it to be canon compliment, obviously that is not remotely true anymore, but the events of the Mond/Liyue arcs will remain the same (if some of the behind the scenes' context is different), so hydro vision (Also Inazuma sort of. It came out after I posted the first chapter, but other than the Signora in the room, it lined up nicely with my plans. Especially Scara, I got that theory right. And unlike Natlan for example, I didn't set up a ton of stuff for it in the fic, so I can just use canon haha).

But yeah, back to genshin canon, you are correct! We still don't know when/where that Vision showed up. My boy Childe just continues to give us nothing on it haha. It's not in the Skirk trailer with baby Ajax, and in Childe's character stories they mention him being found post-abyss, but decidedly don't mention him having a new vision (and said character story points out his dad's rusted sword, so it's not like its all vague). So these days I feel very confident he got it while he was in the Fatui (probably while a Harbinger because of how young he had to have been when he became one because he has to be younger than 18 year old Harb Arle).

Though I will admit at the time (2021) I was slightly leaning to he got it in the Abyss, but I had the idea for the scene that I'm building towards in SMFWTWD, and so I went with post-Abyss Harbinger vision aquisition.

This was a much longer answer than you were probably expecting haha. Whoops. Thank you for the ask!

[avemstella]

Wait, Varka "I came here for the moon (Mondstadt)" Mondstadt means moon. Mondstadt is in a valley/basin/whatever, the moons rose from the earth. Mondstadt has a bunch of angel imagery (angel's share, the statue....). The expedition had previously been in Snezhnaya... Columbina is the Moon Maiden.

Is the plot of Nod-Krai everyone fighting over Columbina? Because if so I'm very excited.

[avemstella]

So that Nod-Krai trailer....

Okay it's late for me right now, maybe I'll give more my thoughts later, but I must share my funniest reaction to that video. So other than screaming about some of those design reveals (I'm shocked I'm digging Alice's and Colombina's outfits---I'd already knew I would probably like Durin's (and it does look like he's fused to a degree with og Durin which I like) and while I'd prefer old man Varka, this Varka is not too bad, helps he looks older) and Scaramouche and Albedo interactions????? (Scarabedo being real in 2025 is wild, they truly bonded over co-parenting Durin), my favorite moment for me, is when Varka was being dramatic my only thought was:

"VARKA WHERE IS MY BOY, THE MOST DIVORCED MAN SEAMUS PEGG!!!! I know u are trying to fight the moon or something, but where is the like 50 year old genshin pope boy, where is he?????(and also Thoma's cool sudden knight mom)"

Yeah I know what I want, and it's Genshin's messiest parents that Varka stole from Mondstadt (I'm still miffed that the most divorced woman in Genshin, Frederica Gunnhildr, was sent to Dornman Port, denying us of the most awkward interactions ever, though maybe there is hope).

[avemstella]

Happy Birthday Childe and SMFWTWD! Wild that it has been 4 years of writing, just insane.

But yeah, if it isn't obvious, sorry guys, the chapter isn't ready yet 😭I tried real hard, but I have just been super busy lately (especially this last week, between my birthday and some other stuff I was all over the place), and it did not work out. Though I am mostly done, so it should be out relatively shortly! There's one scene I need to finish typing (I write in a notebook first like a crazy person), and I skipped a scene because I wanted to write a different scene, so I need to go back and actually write that scene. Tbh I could possibly power through and finish it tonight (though my sister couldn't edit it until at least tomorrow), but I don't want to rush it. Or I could split it, but I think u would all kill me for where I would cut it off lol. Tbh I also don't want to do that for a very specific reason that I will not spoil haha.

Honestly it's a perfect anniversary chapter, so I'm very excited to share it even if it's a little late! Thank you all for your patience (and for always being super lovely, love u guys!)

[avemstella]

So yes I have been losing my mind over the Interlude Teaser. So many thoughts, but I'm going to focus on one in particular, My New Favorite Theory.

Istaroth just is Venti.

Not a child, not a fragment, not some other relation, just is Venti. We know he has transformation powers, he used them to take his dead friend's form. Basically, he just lied to us about being a singular wind spirit. Not sure if the nameless bard knew or not, but I'd like to imagine Venti just took the form of a wind spirit to get away from all the shades stuff. And then they befriend the bard and co, get caught up in the rebellion, and when their friend dies, they take his form.

And along the way, they start to really enjoy being Barbatos, being Venti. Slowly but surely, Mondstadt stops worshiping time and only worships the wind. Yes occasionally they have to meet up with the other shades as Istaroth, and it's a miserable sad time, but then when she gets to be Venti, just a little guy, he is having a great time (for the most part).

... I see you 🏳️‍⚧️

Genshin would never do a proper trans version of this, but one can dream. But even beyond that, soooooo much drama potential. Maybe during the cataclysm Tsaritsa found out that Venti was secretly upper management and got suuuuuuppper pissed hence their falling out. Istaroth as Time is probably the cause of Errosion, which effects even his fellow gods. They probably did some nasty things for the Heavenly Principles. The traveler asking about the Unknown God, and Venti going "yeah definitely don't know her, she's definitely not my sister (?) or something noooooooo"

Also during the teaser Istaroth is like, "does Asmoday need to be here... maybe she swapped sides, let's stop talking about her...." There's the theory that the Asmoday was sealed away, and Venti probably has some kind of sealing magic... (also the sustainer is dying from that one line that was translated kind of wrong so most don't know that lol). Ista what did u dooooooo. Or they are on the same side, and she's covering for her, that is also a possibility. But Istaroth being a little traitor stabbing her sister(?) in the back is funnier to me.

But yes, back to specifically Venti being Istaroth, here's a fun piece of evidence. While the webtoon is dubiously canon, I still find this fun:

Oh hello there three suspicious figures. The other three shades perhaps... god Venti being the rebellious runaway sibling is sooooooooo compelling to me. Absolutely miserable as a Shade, as Istaroth, but finds joy in humanity and fights to protect their freedom. AHHHHH the best of boys.

[avemstella]

This is a sort of bonus to my Dottore Father's day art. A doctor and his creations.

[avemstella]

Oh yeah little late random thoughts about the Skirk quest:

Incredibly wild how close I got to canon Skirk as a kid in my fic. Like white haired (with purple tint) red eyed girl who was a wild child always running away from her teachers, wanting more from the world. And because of her habit of running away, she just so happened to be out of her house when her people got destroyed. Insane how basically identical canon is to my fic in that regard. Obviously the surrounding context is wildly different, and due to that and other factors canon!Skirk and my fic!Skirk end up incredibly different as adults. But considering at the time I created my Skirk we had basically nothing on her, insane how close in some ways I got.

Bonus also in another insanely funny twist of fate, I got something insanely right about Vedrfolnir that I tragically cannot explain because it's a spoiler for my fic. All I can say is in my desperate attempt to fit him into my fic's convoluted Khaenri'ah character chart by pure accident I accidentally created an insane parallel to canon that still has me reeling. And I can't explain it ahhhhhhhh. Sorry I probably shouldn't tease this, but I just can't get over that it happened by pure accident because I wanted him to have a place (beyond being Dain's bro) in my convoluted Khaenri'ah drama haha.

[avemstella]

Nature versus Nurture (a dream of a childhood where your path diverged)

[avemstella]

Happy Father's Day to my favorite questionable father! Including some bonus extra Harbingers babysitting.

God I'm obsessed with Dadtore, yet somehow haven't been able to draw a ton of it. We might be getting both Dottore and Alice in Nod-Krai, I'm being 100% delusional, but I'd like to believe. Genshin u have the opportunity to be so fucking funny please.

[avemstella]

So yeah this is all I'm thinking about for the next forever. MY BABY BOY LOOK AT HIM. Also did Skirk get him new clothes because how the fuck is his outfit still white and looking so nice after everything lol. But yes my dead eyed little son.

Also.... no Vision in the flashback. Thanks king for still giving us nothing on when you got that thing.

[avemstella]

Vedrfolnir!!! My design for him has been sitting in my wips for ages. Fun fact I gave him glasses before the reveal about his eyes being gouged out, so strangely apt that design decision lol.

[avemstella]

Hey look at that, smfwtwd's chapter 41 is out! It's 11k, it was not supposed to be 11k but like just works out like that haha.

Also, Venti fic should have an update in the next week or so! It's done, just in editing mode. That one is way shorter than 11k but also has a bit of a lore bomb that was not supposed to come up yet but Istaroth was being very chatty lol. So that will be fun (also it's the start of an "arc" that will be a bit familiar hehe).

[avemstella]

Genshin 5.6 really giving me everything I want. Albedo lore (Kaeya probs too), Hexenzirkel, Dahlia, Vakra????, if there's Varka maybe some expedition lore, give me Seamus Pegg and Frederica Gunnhildr my favorite divorced parents. Obviously Venti is going to play a role. And then in a wild twist Remuria???? I was prepared vaguely for everything else but Remuria really did come in with a metal chair lol. Did Genshin just read my brain and go "you get it all!"

There was so much going on that I missed Neuvillette getting stabbed lol

[avemstella]

dfnisknskdjfnsdkjfnadkjfnskjdfnsjsmadmaijsfiasjnfa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YEAH MONDSTADT BABY!!!! This shouldn't exactly be a surprise but Mondstadt is my favorite region (sorry Fontaine u are a close 2nd and Snezhnaya and Khaenri'ah are disqualified because they aren't out yet lol, and even if they were Mond is hard to top). I've been patiently waiting for more Mond stuff, ahhhhh I'm so excited. Natlan... has been a very mixed bag for me, so I needed this! Also how did they manage to put basically all my most anticipated Mondstadt lore characters in one image lol. Albedo and Kaeya are obvious, khaenri'ah lol. Jean give me more of your parents' lore, u gave me a heart attack when your birthday letter casually mentioned your mom being back.

And of course my beloved best of Archons (except Furina), VENTI!!!! Why are you in the dark, looking incredibly sus? What are you doing there, most sussy of all genshin characters haha. Will we finally get your 2nd character quest? Who's to say (though probably not this time).

But yes, sorry lost my mind a bit at this poster. Anyway, random fic updates, next main fic chapter is written, but before you get your hopes up, it's only half typed and needs some insane revisions. So, getting mostly there, I imagine the chapter out early next month? Though don't want to promise anything.

I'm very excited for the next main fic chapter to write, because I'm finally getting into the main reason I wrote this arc lol. But considering it's coming up on a year since posting the Neuvillette fic, I might focus on that. Also, this event makes me really want to write Venti pfft. God I genuinely want to work on all of them, tragically time is a too valuable resource. We'll see what you guys actually see first haha.

Also I have a bunch of random drawing wips I should finish and post lol. Like way too many Dottore and Klee stuff I never posted, and some other random stuff. That's also on my to-do list.

But yeah! This was my excuse to squeal about Mondstadt and give a little update.

[avemstella]

Diluc's future in my fic... or more likely it's because it's once more April Fools baby!