#/and/ it's during the lantern rite event so it works

[violetsareblue-selfships]

good morning!! <3

[kc-art-stuff]

mahjong game 🀄

this is probably the most detailed thing ive ever drawn i feel so insane,, keep reading for some of the details you might have missed!!

first the shelf:

1st layer: shenyu and ganyu framed childhood pics

2nd layer: suspensus somium mechanism (furniture from xianyun's sq), the cloud retainer pet, the windmill thing from xianyun's trailer, the one she gave ganyu

3rd layer: scrolls and books one of them labeled "baby pics"

4th later: sunglo tea (the tea xianyun bought during the lantern rite event)

the side of the shelf has postcards from chenyu vale, and the kite shenhe and ganyu made leaning on it

ganyu dlsu grad pic AHJKSDF its a chinoy au now,,

for the calendar, there's no reason why i chose september 2023,, its just bc its the only reference i could find for this type of calendar. also the date encircled is sept 7 which is chongyun's birthday (重云 is written on it)

shenhe on the lower left corner bringing them tea, a fan is on the lower right corner. a vase of glaze lilies instead of guizhong huhu sorry

i tried my best to make the game as accurate and detailed as possible, ping is winning only waiting for the 三萬 tile (which is the one xianyun is discarding), ping also has a kong which is more points afaik (ty for the info poppy <3) mountain shaper is losing bc he has no consecutive tiles or 3 tiles of a kind. zhongli and ping also have flowers which also gives them extra points. this is all based on how me and my family would play mahjong so if its not accurate,, idk HADFAJSDF also i didn't count all the tiles bc there are 144 and i want this piece to be detailed but not THAT detailed,, anyway THAT'S ALL <3 i spent around 3 days working on this it's kinda insane.

[allfearstofallto]

If Childe’s darling got injured and lost her memory, would he just roll with it? Diluc seems a lot more hesitant due to his guilt, but would Childe see it as a good thing? Like “yup we are married and u love me! Mwah!”

I WROTE MORE THAN I WAS SUPPOSED TO FOR THIS 😭

Yandere! Childe x Fem! Reader

Forced Marriage AU

The man in front of you made you flustered. Almost to the point of silence. As he eyed you over cautiously, you were eyeing him as well. Taking in his unfamiliar features, his handsome face, strong jawline and big hands that felt you all over, checking you for more injuries. Did you know this man? Internally, you hoped you did, and he was sure acting like he knew you. His face was so close to yours, you could feel his breath against your lips. And it excited you.

His palm pressed to your forehead, a look of curiosity on his face, "You don't have a fever," he muttered beneath his breath, "Why is your face so red, love? Are you hurting anywhere."

Love?

Well, that solidified your mind that there was something happening between the two of you, making your heart beat excitedly in your chest.

"Just a little confused," you said back. Even your voice was foreign to you. This being the first time you'd spoken since you woke up in this large, oranate room. In a bed so plush and warm, you were getting buried in blankets and soft pillows. Next to a man so handsome and charming, you were sure he was some sort of model.

"You hit your head pretty hard out there. I told you to pace your steps when walking on ice. You don't have to try and keep up with me, I won't leave you behind," as he scolded you gently, his hand cupped the back of your head. His fingers gently caressing a knot that you didn't know you had, making you wince in his hold.

"I'm sorry?" You weren't sure what answer he wanted from you. Weren't even sure who he was or what you'd done wrong, but you felt like apologizing was the best option. Although, when you looked up at him once more, you were met with a frown and furrowed eyebrows.

"You're...sorry?" He questioned with a hum and you nodded, a little too quickly. Your head began to hurt again and you groaned from the throbbing pain.

He sat next to you, hit bottom sinking into the mattress. His touch, while gentle, seemed hesitant. He reached forward, eyeing you the entire time like he was waiting for you to snap and bite with a sudden change of heart. When you didn't, the orange haired man held your hand, rubbing his thumb over the back of your palm before pressing a kiss to it. The entire time gauging your reaction with those blue eyes. He saw the way you flushed from the affection and his lip quivered ever so slightly.

"Who am I to you?" His question had a hint of malice behind it, but you truly couldn't tell.

"My- my boyfriend?"

"Your husband," He corrected with a smirk, pulling you a little too harshly into his firm, built chest. You hugged him back, squeezing him in an embrace that was supposed to be comforting, yet it felt so wrong. So unfamiliar to you.

Your husband's name was Ajax, although, everyone called him Childe. The two of you met in Liyue, where you were from, during an event called the Lantern Rite. Those words triggered something in your mind, a sense of familiarity that you hadn't felt in days. A sense of excitement and the smell of fireworks and greasy street food. When you looked to your husband, with a big beaming smile, telling him that you thought you remembered the event, he frowned.

"Don't force yourself to remember anything you don't need to," he said while patting your head. Words that were supposed to be spoken in comfort had such a dark foreboding energy to them, one he couldn't mask even if he tried.

Ajax worked as a trader of goods localized in Snezhnaya. That's why he typically was away from home. When asked what you did for work, he just gave you a signature smile and cupped your cheek in his hand, "Look pretty for me." You giggled bashfully as you were pulled into another one of his dominating kisses, sinking into his touch. He always kisses you like this, he told you, with his tongue in your mouth, lapping away as if he were trying to devour you whole. He always kisses you like that and you loved it. Even if your fight or flight always felt triggered when he approached.

But was that the truth? The maids, they whispered often about how different the lady was acting. You were the lady of the house weren't you? Ajax assured you that you were always like this. Yet, he seemed less and less honest as the days went by.

Coming home late at night with the coppery smell of blood on him and a dark, hollow look in his eyes. He was just trading butchered meat, that's all it was. So why couldn't you believe him?

And his touch, was just so cold, to a scary degree. Why did you flinch every time he touched you? And why did he seem to stare into your soul when you did? Like he was waiting for something, but when it didn't happen, he would just smile and pepper your face in kisses. Like he was trying to distract you from the part of yourself that needed to remember.

You lay awake at night next to Ajax. He'd long since fell asleep, but you couldn't get your heavy eyelids to stay shut. You'd been having nightmares, but you didn't tell him that. Nightmares about him, that felt more like a memory than a dream. He'd noticed that you'd began to pull away at each passing day and that only made him pull back harder. Your hands trembled as you thought of just what you were getting yourself into. When you looked over at the portrait of you two on the wall, a wedding painting you assumed. You and him, dressed head to toe in white. You looked at it and wondered if there was a reason why you weren't smiling in the painting? Why you looked scared instead?

[nogenderbee]

♡˗ˏ✎*ೃ˚ 𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕓𝕚𝕕𝕕𝕖𝕟 𝕞𝕖𝕖𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 ₊˚ˑ༄

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ @vodka-glrl request: UMMMM GA MING GA MING GA MING!!! CAN WE GET A GA MING X READER OUT HERE!? So the whole thing is the reader comes from a rich family who kinda doesn't approve of her (yup fem! Reader if you're comfortable) and ga ming dating so they don't allow her to go watch gaming perform during lantern rite so gaming is just so sad during the whole performance but the reader sneaks out of the house so she could go watch him!! :3

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ HIIII!! Omg yes!! I really hope I got Ga ming somehow right because gosh I adore this boy but then again, I dorn have experience with writing for him yet.

Fem!reader wasn't really any problem so hope you like it! Also one-shot format because I felt like it's better like that!

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ fluff

It was finally day if the Lantern Rite and Ga ming was bouncing from excitement when he thought of tonight's performance! Not only because he loves pe forming but also and mostly because his beloved will come to watch him!

You said yesterday that you'll do your best to come, in fact you promised you wouldn't miss it for the world! He knows how your parents are and he knows he should probably not have this much hope... but somehow he just couldn't. It's like your presence was sure already and he wanted to make it the best performance of his life yet so you'll be only proud of him! Who knows? Maybe he'll even steal a kiss or two for his good work?

But when he finally entered the area and jumped high above the audience, looking for you. He didn't saw your eyes, your hair, your clothes, nothing! You didn't come after all... Big smile on his face was washed away for a second. But it was quickly replaced with sadder smile, he may be disappointed but he won't make this moment sad to others because of his own feelings!

"(Did her parents really were this forcing? It's just one performance... and on Lantern Rite... I made sure to practice this play thousands of not millions of times too!)"

You on the other hand, had your stealth mission! You could see in distance lights of Lantern Rite and hear loud music, accompanied with cheering of the people. You knew you were running late.

With even more motivation, you finally jumped from the window onto the tree nearby and carefully for down with it's help. And when you did, you ran towards the event like you never did before. You honestly didn't care if your hair will get messy or if you get sweaty, all you wanted right now is to see your boyfriend's performance and not make him feel like you abandoned him on this special day!

"(Oh please let it be a long show... so I can come at least for the ending..!)"

Performance kept going, Ga ming had many glimpses at crowd, hoping he just didn't notice you and you're actually there somewhere! During one of these peeks... at the very end of performance when he almost lost his hope, he noticed you in the crowd! He noticed how you were panting from tiredness but also smiled brightly upon hearing him perform, leading to bright and honest smile return to his face.

It was a big part now... and he made sure to catch up for precious part of the performance and make it the best part yet! He didn't thought much of it at the moment but he probably wanted to help you see what you missed too! And maybe get some praise after the show~

When it was over, he carelessly took his costume off and ran towards the crowd, looking for you.

"Y/N! You came in the end!"

He immidietly hugged you upon seeing your face. His embrace contained all emotions he felt, being both happiness and expressing how much he missed you.

"Of course! My parents tried stopping me but there was no way I'd miss your performance! It was just so great! I felt the shivers on my body... in a good way of course!"

You then leaned to give his cheek a little congratulations kiss. He deserved it and you wanted to show a bit of affection after being so late too.

He for one squeezed you tighter in response for a short while before letting go to not hurt you accidentally. And this night is not over yet so he wanted to get out of this as much as possible!

"Alright~ Why won't we go get some dim sum since we're together now? My treat!"

"Oh absolutely! You know I can never say no to that!"

Both of you were eager to spend time with each other and probably a bit hungry so you arrived in no time! Of course holding hands on your way, as well as inside of the restaurant~

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

@bleachtheidiot @vodka-glrl - come get your dim sum lover!

[sailorstar9]

So, this is my Part Two of this: https://www.tumblr.com/sailorstar9/766356285336764416/as-fate-has-it

A/N: Implied off-screen meeting between Neuvillette and F/N.

Warning: Dialogue taken from the 'Hustle and Bustle' Event during this year's Lantern Rite Event

Five thousand and five hundred years later, at the Rite of Descension...

“The hour is upon us..” Ningguang stepped up. Summoning her Geo crystals, she sent them into the large censor in the middle of the offering table. A continuous beam of Geo energy shot up into the skies, summoning Rex Lapis' Exuvia from a tornado of clouds.

Suddenly, said Geo dragon fell down from the skies, slumped over the offering table.

“Rex Lapis has been killed!” Ningguang barked out orders. “Seal the exits!”

“Quite a bit of dramatics, aren't you Morax?”F/N teleported beside Zhongli who was viewing the spectacle from Mt. Tianheng. “The others' reactions would be... rather interesting. Tea?” she offered, pouring out Chenyu Brew from an enchanted tea pot.

“You do not seem surprised.” Zhongli took the offered tea cup.

“You are not one to do something like this with no reason.” F/N stated matter-of-factly.

“The time of the Adepti is ending, and the time of mankind is slowly dawning.,” Zhongli reminisced.

“Is this the reason for your decision?” F/N questioned.

“Perhaps.” Zhongli answered.

“Well then, I suppose I should pay Streetward Ramble a visit since I'm here.” F/N dusted herself off. Turning into her phoenix form, she flew off.

“is this the result you desired, Rex Lapis?” F/N asked the 'retired' Geo Archon.

“I decided that a test was needed in order to determine if us, the Adepti, is ready to leave the leadership of Liyue to its people.” Zhongli explained. “I am very satisfied with the end result. The Gnosis I had kept for so many years suddenly seemed to have lost its meaning.”

“Now, this makes me wonder what the Tsaritsa's plan entails.” F/N pondered.

In Qiaoying Village after the main Lantern Rite festive...

Shortly after arriving in Qiaoying Village, the Traveller heard a familiar yet distinct voice yelling from the slopes of tea plants.

“What are they doing here!?” Paimon exclaimed, spotting Navia and Clorinde. “Navia! Clorinde!”

“Well if it isn't my dear partners!” Navia turned. “Are you guys also here to catch the festivities? Oh, and that reminds me, Happy Lantern Rite!”

“Happy Lantern Rite.” Clorinde nodded.

“Happy Lantern Rite to you too!” Paimon responded. “ Wait, if you're here for Lantern Rite, then what are you doing on top of this deserted mountain?”

“That's just what mountain climbers do, right?” Navia asked. “After all the hard work it takes to make it to the top, as you stand on the summit looking out at the vast scenery, it's not easy to resist the urge to release those emotions. Anyway, why don't you two give it a try? Shout anything you want. It's a real stress reliever!”

“As long as Paimon has clothes on her back and food in her belly, Paimon doesn't think there's any stress that needs relieving.” Paimon stammered.

“No need to be shy!” Navia encouraged. “Even Furina was shouting from the top of this mountain earlier.”

“Furina's also here in Qiaoying Village?” Paimon was surprised. “Seems like you caught her in the middle of some stress relief as well.”

“Was she alone?” the Traveller inquired.

“I think so?” Navia gave Clorinde a look. “We ran into Neuvillette on the way here as well, but he was already on his way back and he had a lady in red with him, so they probably weren't together.”

“Neuvillette was here too?” Paimon gaped. “What was he doing here? It couldn't have been for vacation.”

“I think it just might have been, actually.” Navia related. “But apparently, he only stayed for half a day before heading back. He's a very busy man. Didn't Charlotte publish an article on the Liyue tea industry recently? Maybe he was inspired to come buy some tea after reading that article. You know, just like you were!”

“My situation is completely different.” Clorinde defended. “I'm here because I was asked to accompany you. The tea purchase is simply an added bonus of this location; I lost a bet with Wriothesley, and now I have to buy him something.”

“That reminds me.” Navia recalled. “You guys said you only came up here because you heard my voice, right? I hope it didn't put you out — you must have other plans for the day?”

“Paimon's not seeing things, is she?” Paimon instantly noticed the trio. “Is that Furina standing between Zhongli and Hu Tao? Good afternoon, Hu Tao, Zhongli, and Furina!!” she called out.

“Aren't you a sight for sore eyes!” Hu Tao grinned. “Seems like our luck just keeps on growing!”

“That we were able to meet you both without prior arrangement must mean that this is quite the serendipitous meeting indeed.” Zhongli agreed.

“So both of you are acquainted with Traveller and Paimon then.” Furina was surprised. “ I must admit, I'm a bit surprised to see you here, Traveller. But seeing as you're a hero who's been all over Teyvat, it makes sense that you would be well-travelled and well-connected. Since we have found ourselves in each other's company within this fertile land, allow me to take this opportunity to wish you a happy Lantern Rite.”

“Happy Lantern Rite!” the Traveller responded.

“It appears you have been to Fontaine then.” Zhongli noted. “Given your proclivity to spread good deeds wherever you go, it's no surprise that you would make the acquaintance of a celebrity as illustrious and celebrated as Miss Furina.”

“That's quite high praise.” Furina blushed. “Although I've built up a certain following within Fontaine, it is no reflection of strength or wisdom. I stand before you right now as nothing more than an ordinary traveller in search of beautiful scenery and creative inspiration.”

“Aiya, you're no common tourist.” Hu Tao chided. “I simply won't have you talk about yourself that way. You may not have heard, friends, but Miss Furina is now one of my esteemed clients!”

“Did, uh, something... happen recently, Furina?” Paimon asked worriedly.

“What do you mean?” Furina was puzzled.

“You know, with you enlisting the services of Wangsheng Funeral Parlour and all...” Paimon prompted.

“Miss Hu Tao is simply helping prepare some props for my film.” Furina explained. “Not too long ago, I read a collection of horror stories from Liyue. The content was spectacular. Now that Fontaine's biggest star has returned to the stage, I figured it's about time the industry enjoyed a breath of fresh air!”

“Paimon sees!” Paimon nodded. “That makes a lot of sense. So did you come to Liyue just to enlist the services of Wangsheng Funeral Parlour?”

“Not exactly...” Furina admitted. “My original plan was to just relax and enjoy the sights. But then I ran into Miss Hu Tao and Mr. Zhongli, and well, you know the rest. I suppose it was meant to be.”

“It was a fated meeting indeed.” Zhongli agreed.

“Zhongli sure loves his lofty turns of phrase.” Hu Tao remarked. “But if you ask me, it's all thanks to that man who stopped to ask for directions.”

“Who was it?” Paimon was intrigued.

“It's someone you know.” Furina sang. “Wanna take a guess?”

“It was Neuvillette, wasn't it?” the Traveller wasted no time in answering, before recounting their meeting with Navia and Clorinde.

“Paimon never thought Neuvillette would be the type to get lost.” Paimon noted.

“I'm sure he didn't get lost.” Furina assured. “Even I was able to find my way to this place without any trouble. He was already getting ready to leave by the time I arrived. He just wanted to ask someone about the quickest way to get back to Fontaine.”

“Speaking of your friend,” Hu Tao started. “He doesn't get out much, does he?”

“No, he doesn't.” the Traveller confirmed.

“No wonder!” Hu Tao nodded. “He was stiff as a board and way too polite... I would have never guess he was here on vacation if you hadn't told me.”

“All in all, he was only here for half a day.” Furina related. “I'm pretty sure he's the only one who would consider that to be a vacation.”

“This gentleman you speak of must keep a demanding schedule.” Zhongli noted.

“I'm sure he does.” Hu Tao mused. “You didn't see him, but he was dressed like he was about to attend some important meeting. It wasn't anything like what someone would wear on vacation.”

“Is that so...” Zhongli pondered.

“You didn't see him, Zhongli?” Paimon was puzzled.

“Unfortunately, no.” Zhongli responded. “At the time, it appeared as if Director Hu and Miss Furina were having quite the productive conversation. I know matters of business can take much discussion, so I decided to fetch some tea for them.”

“ What a shame.” Hu Tao tsked. “That gentleman seemed like a sophisticated sort of guy. I actually think you two would have hit it off!”

“Is that so?” Zhongli cast his superior a sceptical look.

“That reminds me.” Furina recalled. “If you get the chance, you should try and talk Neuvillette into loosening up a bit. Just tell him the Palais Mermonia isn't going to fall apart if he disappears for a few days. He shouldn't keep himself cooped up all the time. If he's really that much of a stickler for protocol, he can fill out a leave of absence request. He'd have to approve it himself since he handles that sort of thing now, but you know what I mean.”

After biding everyone farewell...

The Traveller found Neuvillette at the Erinnyes entrance to the Fortress of Meropide.

“It's you.”the Hydro Dragon Sovereign spotted his visitors. “It has been some time since our last meeting. Few people frequent this location. Since I was able to conclude my work early for the day, I thought I might take a walk and avail myself of this area's peace and quiet.”

“You call this early...?” Paimon exclaimed. “Do you always work this late, Neuvillette?”

“Strictly speaking, that depends on the agenda for the day.” Neuvillette reasoned. “ I am hardly bereft of time, however, so working late is of little consequence to me.”

“If you have so much time on your hands, then why did you only go to Qiaoying Village for half a day?” Paimon was confused.

“First, I should clarify that I was referring to my lifespan rather than the time at my disposal on any given day.” Neuvillette explained. “Second, I was unaware you possessed knowledge of my trip to Qiaoying Village. I see.” he nodded after the Traveller gave him a brief rundown. “Thank you for informing me.” he then related his meeting with Wriothesley.

“So that's what you were doing in Qiaoying Village!” Paimon realized.

“Indeed.” Neuvillette nodded. “Of course, while I was there, I also took the opportunity to taste the local spring water. The aftertaste is much purer than what I have delivered to me in Fontaine. It stands to reason that the long-distance transport has a tendency to imbue the water with extraneous emotion.I f you want to experience the true flavour, you simply have to go the source. Perhaps I should organize some time off to do the same elsewhere.”

“You know you don't have to justify a vacation, right?” Paimon pointed out. “You can just take one. After all, you're hardly 'bereft of time'. You can do whatever you want.”

“You're quite right.” Neuvillette conceded. “I suppose I suffer not from a lack of opportunity but rather a lack of inspiration. However, after reading a few articles about Liyue's holiday traditions, the idea popped into my head and made itself quite at home. Seeing as I was free of responsibilities for the morning, I decided to depart at once.”

“ And how was it?” the Traveller prompted.

“Refreshing. And rather... intriguing.” Neuvillette admitted. “My spontaneous outing seemed to inspire quite a few other spontaneous decisions as well. Take, for example, my foray into ceramics. At first, soil from the ground is granular and unforgiving, but add the right amount of water, and it becomes soft, moldable, and able to take shape. In the past, I never thought about how quotidian vessels were crafted. But now, I have participated in their very making and met with a very amiable young lady in the process...” he let out a wistful smile. “This is also something I made today.” he recollected himself and took out a blue ladle he crafted.

“That reminds me.” the Traveller then proceeded to convey Furina's request.

“Approve a leave of absence request for myself...” Neuvillette pondered. “That sounds like it could easily lead to a vicious cycle of self-indulgence, something which couldn't be in further violation of protocol. But, I suppose I understand her point. My proclivity to refrain from personal outings does, in part, originate from a sense of responsibility toward my duties. But it is also due to a lack of desire to engage in the human world.” he produced the enchanted red feather his new female acquaintance had gifted him. “But now I see that the human world is indeed full of many interesting places to discover.”

“Is that...” the Traveller breathed in astonishment.

“A feather from the Phoenix Queen herself?” Paimon exclaimed.

“Oh?” Neuvillette raised an eyebrow.

“We never met her.” the Traveller explained. "We only heard of her from Xiao; she's the leader of all the bird Adepti Clans. Mountain Shaper explained bird Adepti feathers are special, especially those imbued with their powers. And for someone like her to give you one of her feathers as a parting gift... you must have made an exceptional impression on her, Neuvillette.”

[kyogre-blue]

Finished this year's Lantern Rite. It........ was good.

I am so reluctant to say this, but it was indeed good.

There's definitely details I could nitpick (imo, the ritual being an existing thing instead of something Cloud Retainer airdropped in at the last moment would have been a little better), and I already raised by complaints that some of the relationships they use as pillars (particularly Hu Tao's friendship with Xiangling and Yun Jin) have never been built up. But like.... they still got me. I was still getting a bit teary over a couple scenes in the third act (I am SO weak for heroic sacrifices and meeting a loved one at the border of life and death), and I smiled during some of the post-script scenes in the fourth act (yeaaaah, Ning and Beidou flirting, old people banter, etc etc).

Some of the characterization was quite nice too. Hu Tao glosses over things a lot, but she still wants to ask her dad and grandpa if they're proud of her efforts, and I can only admire how bald-faced she is about lying to everyone that she'll totally be fine, for sure. I like Yun Jin having a general sense that things aren't right, and while Xiangling's character feels quite different from her story quest, it's still distinctive in its own way. She's surprisingly pragmatic and no-nonsense.

It's just a seasonal event, so I'm not saying the story was something exceptional, but it was good for its intended purpose (cute Hu Tao, Liyue lore). Hu Tao stocks definitely went up, and Lan Yan was cute too. Nice to hear more about Liyue's ghost problems, though I'm kind of side-eyeing how many times they mentioned that "something similar happened in Natlan recently" and the implication that there might be other incidents that follow. Is this setup for future events or the supposed filler year?

Aside from the writing, they definitely worked their hearts out for the visuals. For once, they tried to be as creative as they could instead of just leaning on flashy pre-rendered scenes. There was a lot of character motions, the camera moving with the dialogue and scenes, good use of panning over scenery, etc, but also attempts to make the more interactive portions feel varied, stuff like the two slow walk scenes, the options to interact with things in front of the tree, etc.

It's mostly top of mind because of the complaints in regard to HSR 3.0 and also I just did the last section of Luofu and dang. They do have some motions there, but they're the kind where you can't advance text until the slooow nods and head movements are done, and something Lantern Rite felt much better to actually play.

But yeah, I guess I'll have to call this the best Genshin event. I'm marginally annoyed about just how easy a sell I actually am, emotionally... This is it, this is all it takes. And to think, if this was Mond, I would be howling from the rooftops. I can only hope they can keep up this energy.

[chickenkupo]

Treasure Hoard

Summary: As Neuvillette returns from his spontaneous trip from Liyue and delivers some gifts to Wriothesley, the duke starts to notice odd things happening around their shared living space. More objects keep appearing in their bedroom, treasures that don't make sense to Wriothesley such as shells, trinkets, gemstones and even various different type of tea cups. He swears up and down he hasn't been the one to purchase any of these goods, and when questioning Sigewinne about it, she's just as lost as he is.

What exactly is going on, and why does Neuvillette seem so pleased with himself?

Recommendations before reading: This little short story is a continuation of I Promise and Now For the Next Act. But, if you don't feel like really reading those, just know that Wriothesley and Neuvillette are mates, and they live together in a little sanctuary in Fontaine that was created for Neuvillette specifically by the Focalors.

Also, I'd highly suggest playing through the Lantern Rite event. I did most of it tonight and it was amazing and the adorableness of Neuv and Wrio was just MMMMM.

Warnings: This is a tame work, a little cute fluff treat. I told ya'll I'd be keeping you fed the week of Valentine's, and I meant it, so take this as a little sweet treat for you all. A Tumblr exclusive, if you will. You all have been wonderful to me here, and I'm glad to bring some entertainment to your days.

NOTE: This has not been beta-read, and I'm literally just typing this up on the Tumblr page thingie so it's gonna be a mess, but we are going to have some fun.

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Wriothesley scratched his head as he took in the sight before him. In their shared bed lied a copious amount of seashells, scattered in every direction. Some were small, others almost comically large, but all of them unique in their vast differences in coloration and patterns. In fact, a lot of these shells were ones that he had never seen along the shores of Fontaine before, so he began to wonder just where exactly did this come from, and who would have done this.

Okay, let's be real. Neuvillette would have torn up anyone that had dared crossed into their chambers that wasn't himself or Sigewinne. Wriothesley had already confronted the Melusine about this, thinking that this must have been some sort of prank against him after he told her about how much tea Neuvillette had brought back, as well as the stone slate that contained a legal codex. It confused the man at first, but taking into account how loyal Neuvillette was to his position and status, it took a moment or two for him to realize that such a gift from Neuvillette was a great thing. Hence, why he did make a little section of his office in the Fortress of Meropide to house it, something that he could stare at everyday to remind himself that he was always on Neuvillette's mind.

So, Wriothesley concluded the only logical answer was that for some reason, Neuvillette had began to hoard all sorts of trinkets he must have found on his now random outings. The duke and the traveler made sure to convince him to take more breaks and to go out and see the world as much as he can, and it looks like the mighty dragon took their words to heart and had started doing just that. Only, it seems that for some reason, Neuvillette had begun to bring back all sorts of things he found during his outings. The young man only prayed that Neuvillette would break out of this mood soon, but didn't mind allowing it for now, just as long as the dragon was happy on his adventures and seeing Teyvat for what it really was, in all of it's mysteries and splendors.

As much as he wanted to daydream about how his man would look during different locations, such as the grassy hills of Mondstadt, the electrifying peaks of Inazuma, or even how the Sumeru sun would reflect beautifully off of the elegance that was entirely Neuvillette, he had to bring himself back to reality.

This was all getting ridiculous. The shells on the bed covered it almost completely, and he had no real room to put them in, maybe some storage containers they had from where Wriothesley's belongings had to be moved once he began residing there. The duke sighed as he grabbed an empty container, getting to work and putting the myriad of shells into it, tired from the work of the day and just wanting to relax in bed for a bit for a quick nap. He made sure to keep the box of shells close by, knowing that it would crush the dragon if he had tossed whatever he had decided to collect.

Yawning, Wriothesley removed his coat and clothing, stripping down and getting dressed in a pair of simple black boxers, before he snuggled underneath the soft sheets of their bed. He had been craving a nap all day, no amount of tea drinking seemed to deliver enough caffeine into his body to keep him awake. Surely a small nap wouldn't harm anyone, right? Besides, if he slept in too late, he knew that Neuvillette would wake him up and demand attention from him in one form or another.

Yeah, a nap sounded pretty good right now.

º

º

º

As the young man started to awaken from his slumber, he began to stretch out his limbs with a loud yawn as he normally did, until both hands and legs seemed to crash into something, the sounds of various things falling off the bed as he continued to stretch out his limbs. This startled the duke who immediately woke up in a state of confusion, causing his limbs to turn and twist more, causing even more items to fall, crashing into the floor.

What the hell was going on?!

The man arose, being careful not to make anymore sudden movements until he could gather exactly what was happening. His eyes widened in further confusion and panic as he saw just how stuffed the room was now. Sure, the area where the water surrounded the bed was clear, but the pathway out of the bedroom and around the bed itself felt like some sort of ancient loot hall from a temple of old. Dozens of gold and silver trinkets littered the floor, statues and plates, necklaces and gemstones of various colors and details. There seemed to also be random boxes of tea scattered around, as well. Some were new boxes that Wriothesley had become recently familiar of since the Steambird's articles began releasing after the Lantern Rite event. Others seemed like old brews that were, at this point, probably more for show than for actual consumption.

There were other goodies laying about as well. Books that dealt with true crime or laws of old, scrolls that were in languages that Wriothesley was very unfamiliar with, but there was one thing that seemed to stand out to the duke. It appeared that the bigger gold and silver pieces were placed near or on the bed, as if he were the one that was sleeping in a treasure vault and taking joy in all of the splendors, the further away the goods were from Wriothesley, the less vividness and preciousness the items seemed to hold. It was as if Neuvillette kept his closest valuables towards Wriothesley, with the duke himself seemingly being the most valuable one.

As Wriothesley was about to get up and try to figure out what to do with all of this, he heard the door connecting the bedroom to the living room open, Neuvillette walking through with even more goods in his arms. This time, it appeared to be various fruits and wrapped baked goods, a large smile appearing on his face as Wriothesley took in the scene, a slight glare in his eyes.

"Neuvillette, what the hell are you doing?!" the young man growled out, still stuck in place as he was afraid to move and make anymore of a mess.

The dragon put the items down in one of the few free spaces still left, his eyes never leaving his mate, as he tilted his head in confusion.

"Oh? What do you mean? I saw how happy you were when you received those gifts from Clorinde and I, and I couldn't resist. I was awful before, never thinking to shower you in actual physical possessions, because of my ignorance and fear of leaving my position for any sort of leave. Now, however, I have all of the time in the world to make up for it. See, here even, I ventured out all the way to this bakery on the outskirts of Fontaine, the breads appear to be truly delectable, at least that is what Furina told me. Here, you can see-"

"Neuv! Honey, you don't need to do this you know!" Wriothesley uttered out as he shoved away the trinkets and treasures near him, so that he could create a path for himself to reach his ridiculous lover. Neuvillette merely paused, blinking in confusion as the duke wrapped his muscular arms around his dragon, hugging him tightly and sighing.

"W-Wriothesley?" the dragon questioned, obviously welcoming the hug as he began to return the favor, wrapping his own arms around the broad chest of the man, as best as he could.

"You can be such a big idiot sometimes, you know that? You know every law of the land, every crime with every punishment to match it, laws old and new never forgotten by you. But you just don't get the simple stuff sometimes, do you?" the young man asked, kissing Neuvillette on the cheek, which made the dragon blush, still blinking with questioning eyes.

"Listen, Neuv, love, I don't need all of these things. Sure a gift here or there is nice for anyone, but I never held it against you that you didn't really do that before. We're both busy men with schedules that drive us insane sometimes. Look, just being able to come home to you and spend time with you and being able to look into those eyes of yours every night before I drift off to sleep, and waking up to look into them too, that's the best gift I could ask for, okay?" Wriothesley relayed to his mate, in such a calm manner that it almost seemed like a whisper.

The dragon's eyes widened as he listened to his lover, holding him tightly as his mate continued explaining. In a shocking show, small droplets of tears started to form at the edges of his eyes, before a few started to roll down his cheek, which Wriothesley wiped away, smiling softly and understandably at his mate. As much as Neuvillette was such a stoic and strict man, Wriothesley knew that he was starved for genuine love and appreciation, and even though his life was forever changed by this man and his want to keep him at his side forever, it was now more of a blessing to him than a curse would ever be. If he now had an eternity to live, then he would spend every waking moment of it showing that Neuvillette is appreciated and loved dearly, in return.

"Now, let's try to clean up this mess so one of us doesn't trip and break our necks just trying to get out the door, okay?" Wriothesley chuckled, planting a few more kisses on Neuvillette's cheeks, loving the way that his man's blush would deepen with every kiss received.

Neuvillette merely chuckled as he smiled a most gorgeous, heartfelt smile that he had ever mustered, in all of his centuries of existence.

"Of course, my most precious treasure."

[ridl]

Gen question what made u ship ganqing so much?

Great question! Prepare for an essay tho hhhh

I played Genshin at launch but got bored quickly and stopped before I even met Keqing or Ganyu. I learned abt their existence thru fanfics, while looking for some wlw fiction to read. “Cornerstone” in particular is a fantastic fic that was being updated at the time. The author put a lot of care and effort into treating those characters seriously, and fleshing them and their dynamic out, which the game generally fails at.

Their dynamic just instantly captivated me. The way they went from being at odds, with their clashing beliefs, to reaching a mutual understanding. To caring abt each other. And it was never just pure hate, but something much more complicated and nuanced.

Back then it was just voicelines abt each other, and both characters had barely any screentime in general, but it was interesting enough of a basis. I started playing again, missed Ganyu's og banner but was lucky to win my 50/50 on Keqing's once-in-a-lifetime limited banner lmao. And the more I learned about them, the more I liked them.

I not only love ganqing, but I also love both characters individually, their personality, story, design, gameplay, they somehow just have everything that’s interesting and appeals to me.

Keqing is the Yuheng of the Qixing, meaning one of the leaders of the country, approved by Rex Lapis. She’s very pro humanity and believes that humans should fare for themselves, rather than rely on the archon. Not many ppl dare to think this, much less say it to Morax's dragon-adeptus face during the rite of descension. So she’s seen as controversial and disrespectful, and Ganyu as a devoted follower who worked closely with Rex Lapis for thousands of years just doesn’t understand Keqing. Rex Lapis absolutely approves of Keqing’s belief, and Ganyu cannot comprehend it no matter how much she respects and trusts him. It’s a very interesting conflict, that eventually gets resolved, giving us the basis of their potential romantic relationship.

Keqing and Ganyu are both very devoted to Liyue, so they’re both similar but also different. They complement each other. Keqing with her modern approach, quick and efficient, straightforward and bold. Ganyu with her old approach, with her opinions and strength hidden, not very straightforward. A confident human who knows what she’s about, and half-qilin that feels lost between the two worlds. But after Morax’s passing, they manage to find understanding, they go thru character development now just in terms of their relationship, but also them individually, and in relation to Morax. They can change each other too. They can learn so much together, from each other. Keqing how to be more patient and deal with uncertainities, while Ganyu how to be bolder, voice her opinions more and just live more for herself.

Ganyu is no longer bound by her contract, but she remains with the humans. She’s working alongside Keqing, in this new human era of Liyue. And while their limited screentime is locked behind time-limited events, it really shows that change, it shows how they care about each other. It shows Keqing’s relations with the adepti and how interesting it is considering her beliefs, and especially with Ganyu’s mother figure.

You could technically just sum them up in popular tropes like “enemies to friends to lovers”, "mortal x immortal" or “opposites attract”, but I think it’s so much deeper than that. I find ganqing's relationship very interesting and unique bc of their personalities, relations with each other and other ppl as well as their country, the setting, their stories, their identities, the conflict and character development they go through.

The game only gives us crumbs, but it also gives so much space and potential for this pairing. It’s never fully explained how it all changed between Ganyu’s voiceline how she started understanding Keqing a little, and their interactions in moonchase/lantern rites, where they’re clearly on very good terms. But I think that’s fine. It gives us freedom to truly flesh them out. Genshin’s storytelling is pretty crappy in the first place lol, so I think it’s cool to just take the interesting ideas, and make something much greater out of it.

And if you’re interested, ganqing related links:

Some fic recs (limited to canon setting): - (Chuminder has written 4 fics that are technically seperate, but they work very well as a series so i recommend this order) Blue the Color of a Goodnight, Cornerstone, Taproot, Passage - Heartbeat of the world - In the wake of - She, with the scent of flowers and lightning - A Better, Brighter Light

My chaotic compilation of bigger and smaller crumbs, including some stuff abt those characters individually:

It’s just things I find interesting, or that could be used in describing their dynamic and relationship, or just official images. They’re underrated characters, both by the fandom and the game itself imo.

Also an excellent thread, with similar idea and better screenshots (lol) i saw on twitter: https://twitter.com/gqlovebot/status/1672183539973111808

[kaeyachi]

First off... HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!! Got the new clothes on and a feast prepared (avoiding the tikoy because of what happened last time...)

and now back to our regular genshin talk

THIS LANTERN RITE MADE ME SOB

whats up with the clickbait title lmaaaoo (but no seriously i started sobbing like a baby, which is fine, until i point out the fact that i did it during my lunch break AT WORK)

-ok need to put this out of the way...but SHIP TALK because DAMN

-Xiao x Traveler fans rejoice. Over protective Xiao as always 🥺 The way he thought for as sec if he could complain about Ningguang TO NINGGUANG LMAAOOO. This was during the time he was talking to Yelan (aka Xiao being lowkey pissed at Yelan and Ningguang for sending the traveler to rescue HuTao, LanYan, and Qiqi) Ily so much Xiao

- Beigguang fans YOUR GIRLS ARE MARRIED AS ALWAYS. Got a moment where I wondered if Ningguang proposed lmaaaaaoooo. Beidou telling Ningguang to use her money to buy a new hairpin, then Ningguang not buying one and using the excuse of not wanting to buy it without Beidou agreeing to what it looks like, leading to Beidou inviting her to a stroll to finally get that hairpin 😭 I missed them pls

-Cynari has spent over a week in Liyue by now...what is this? a 2nd honeymoon?? anniversary date?? (the computation is that they have appeared in day 1, then there are 2 days per quest, and they appeared by the 6th day walking side by side) and like...the other pairs stated their reason of visiting...but these 2... (pls consider Cyno used a week long leave again and spent the entirety of it with Tighnari only unlike the previous events we got)

- the fatui lovers being talked about in canon?! THE ENTIRETY OF LIYUE ALREADY KNOWS I BET LMAO

- damn...lantern rite really is an event for lovers huh? Eulamber got to visit together because their rest days matched (everyone say thank you, Jean!) Candehya is going around Liyue as well (everyone say thank you to the people that convinced Candace to take a break to be with Dehya for a couple of days! Dehya buying a necklace for Candace ehehe).

-ok enough ship talk...THE PLOT?!

- HOYO KILLED HUTAO. HOYO KILLED HUTAO OH MY ARCHONS. THEY KILLED HER. THEY DIDNT JUST KILL HER, THEY GAVE HER A SERIES OF DEATH FLAGS FOR THE FIRST AND SECOND QUEST! I SOBBED WHEN SHE STARTED TALKING TO YUNJIN. MY GIRL WAS DEAD DEAD

- oh? what is this? a traveler loophole! yipee!! we get to bring her back by forcibly pulling her out of liyue purgatory! (she was so close though. girlie was a backflip away from reaching the doors to liyue afterlife lmao)

-ok but bringing back the entire sequence of her saying her goodbyes to everyone...i figured something was gonna happen to her since quest 1... but damn...the moment quest 2 arrived, I knew hoyo was gonna pull this card... still, it was painful to see her do her goodbyes

- the xiangling and the yunjin ones were painful. These two were not involved with the upcoming plan, and yet that makes it worse because they could tell that something worrying was happening within their friend's mind. They got hutao making promises she thought she wouldnt be able to keep...

- and then we get the zhongli and hutao scene...you could tell by zhongli's demeanor that he dislikes what hutao is telling him. it must have been horrible to hear hutao, still a young woman, basically voice out her last will and testament to him and make zhongli her heir... idk if he knew of the traveler leyline loophole thing at this time (he could know, or he could have also just connected the dots after the traveler confirmed that he isnt recorded in the leylines) but it doesnt make what hutao was telling him any less painful

- can i just say that i am absolutely overjoyed at seeing the ENTIRE LIYUE CAST for this lantern rite? the previous 2 lantern rites were fun, but this lantern rite? it feels like home (well, 2nd home. i still mentally live in mondstadt after all)

- i definitely still have more thoughts, but i had to work overtime today, then i had to prepare for chinese new year, so I'm exhausted. might edit this in a couple of hours!

[persicipen-archive]

Tbh i feel genshin has been watering down some quests mainly because the cast had been increasing. There are too many characters atp.

But regarding each nation, we do get liyue content every year with the lantern rite and event mondstadt has some smaller events. They keep having itto festivals idk whyy, and literally a rock n roll festival without xinyan was absolutely illegal.

Sumeru was anyways overdue for the sabzeruz festival, and it'd be stupid for them to not do it. Sumeru feels like home mostly because of the way the characters interact with each other. As a south asian myself i might be a bit biased here, but i feel in the other nations, some of the characters are still like strangers to each other (inazuma bec of the war, fontain because of the work they do but ig that's been changing after the archon quests).

Now with natlan the abyss is become the centre stage again. We saw them bring back the traveller's purification abilities, and some abyss related lore in kinich's tribe quest. So i guess we're finally gonna be back on track with our main objective! So let's hope they play it out well 👾

hii, i love whenever i see you in my inbox ready to discuss things <3 and sorry for taking a few days to reply, but i’ve been busy and couldn’t gather my thoughts properly! beware of long yapping below the cut ₊ ˙ ⊹ .

i’m not south asian, but sumeru does feel like home. i must say that some earlier mondstadt events had the same vibes because they used to feature most of the cast interacting with each other, but it’s been a long while since a proper mondstadt event.

so, with natlan i’m really torn. the quests are overall well done, but at the same time not meeting my expectations. but that’s a topic i already wrote essays about when talking with my friends. in short, i don’t think natlan is a good representation of the nation of war. i’m not talking here about cultural aspects, but just the premises genshin itself promised to deliver. and i think they failed. inazuma is still leagues above when it comes to that grim and heavy atmosphere of war — in terms of world quests and exploration, not in archon quest and character interactions, though. i entered natlan feeling like i’m walking through a summer map, dancing, singing, sunbathing, without an ounce of fear that the abyss may suddenly attack.

but yes, the cast for now has quite solid interactions among each other and they feel very human, albeit more serious than just being friends — they are warriors fighting for the same cause. i can’t wait to hear them talk more and do stuff together!

the watering down quests issue is disproportional, kinda — i wouldn’t expect the same amount of personality exploration from, for example, xinyan, who’s just a girl trying to get her local neighbourhood to listen to new music, and mona, who can literally peek into someone’s fate and is affiliated with the hexenzirkel witches. but yes, music festival without xinyan was criminal. so many young and mortal characters have to fight for screentime with centuries old characters that know teyvat’s most guarded secrets.

we had multiple events focused on itto, who’s basically just a neet with an interesting oni legacy going on in his past (that wasn’t even brought up besides his story quest, a pity), but barely any focus on pretty much any other inazuma character. there’s also candace, who’s a direct descendant of king deshret and doesn’t even have a hangout yet — we got a few meaningful scenes with her only now, during sabzeruz festival. fischl and rosaria are from early genshin patches and don’t have their hangouts, too, although fischl had an amazing arc during the second summer event (no longer accessible for most players, a pity, again).

the beginning of fontaine quests was more like navia’s story quest than her actual story quest, and she’s present throughout the entire fontaine chapter despite being “just” a mortal — she’s in top characters with most voicelines, and it’s been barely a year since her introduction. good for her! but other mortal characters in just as influential positions (if not more) are so easily forgotten — keqing, ayato, jean, kokomi, and such. sara is the right hand of the shogun herself, and she doesn’t have a hangout, either. her appearances in events turned her into raiden simp and that’s all lmao

i do have some gripes because hoyo should rethink releasing fodder characters if all they plan to do with them later is to abandon them because they’re just… a guy LOL unfortunate to be the fan of these characters </3

[violetsareblue-selfships]

good morning!! :3

[intogenshin]

The Symbol of the City

I’ve noticed some interesting things in Fontaine that I want to share, but I haven’t had time to play any quests besides the main storyline so I’m doing it with the understanding that some of it might fall through. All corrections are welcome though.

This post will cover:

Fontaine history

The relationship between music and technology

The meaning of technology according to German philosopher Martin Heidegger

The influence of the 1927 silent film Metropolis in Fontaine’s narrative

How the Bible plays into all of it

Music & Technology

Firstly, the Fontaine symbol looks like 2 things:

A fountain and a retro futuristic city design.

At the same time, the design of the fountains in the city resemble a musical organ. The melusine named Blathine outside Opera Eclipse mentions that the pillars of water formed in the fountains are “like the music that plays in the background during an opera”, most likely referring to an organ.

On the other hand, a city works as a high expression of technological advance.

These two elements are closely tied to the history of the region. Remuria’s empire centered its development around the arts and intellectual fields (especially music), while Fontaine does it around machinery and engineering.

Music and technology are thus introduced as companion concepts.

It’s not the first time Genshin relates the two though: back in last year’s Lantern Rite event, it was revealed that madam Ping (alias Streetward Rambler) used to have a rivalry with Guizhong over the authenticity of music that is composed and played on an instrument and that which is produced by a mechanical invention.

In Guizhong’s opinion, while mechanisms were no substitute for human composers, they were yet capable of producing simple but fine melodies. But Streetward Rambler believed music to be an expression of the soul, an emotional enterprise that could never hope to be replicated by machinery. —Story Teaser: Echoes of the Heart

Eventually, Madam Ping changes her mind: Guizhong’s memory lived on through her invention, and madam Ping was able to express her feelings of grief accompanied by the tune in the bell she left behind.

But Streetward Rambler did not acquire [Guizhong’s bell] from Rex Lapis for the purpose of producing further funerary tunes. No, each time she rang it, it was to play the tune that Guizhong composed on it. The two once clashed over their beliefs about the meaning of music, who would have thought that with Guizhong’s passing and Streetward Rambler’s mourning, two tunes composed in discord would eventually become one harmonious composition?

That which is expressed through an instrument is not that different from that which is produced by a machine. While the musician uses their instrument to project their emotions as an extension of the soul, an engineer uses machinery to project their intellect as an extension of the mind.

Estelle: Truth be told, letting someone as feeble in body as I serve as a blacksmith is the main point of this machine. Estelle: Humans can use tools, and exquisitely-designed tools can make the impossible, possible. Estelle: Some say that all automated forgings are hollow and soulless. But if you ask me, the machine is just as much of a tool as a regular smith's hammer. Really, I would love to see those smiths knock metal into shape with their bare hands... —Semi-Automatic Forging quest

Music was the defining trait of Remuria’s identity as a nation, and technology is one of Fontaine’s.

Technology & Domination

King Remus built multiple fairways (perhaps like the pipes of an organ?) that he used to rule his nation, either literally or metaphorically with music, and conquered neighboring tribes in order to have full control of Remuria and avoid its prophesied demise:

The King, resting peacefully at the heart of the palace, listened closely to every melody and every note coming from every corner of the empire. Upon hearing any discord, the God King would correct it immediately with a pluck of his strings, bringing perfection to the symphony of his empire. To spread the harmonious symphony throughout the world, he built far-reaching fairways, which conveyed the melodies as never ending ripples from Capitolium to every corner that sat above the high waters.With his immortal fleet, Remus conquered all the islands on the high waters. Even the great dragon beneath the abyssal depths submitted to his power. Those were the best days since the end of earliest peoples, and eternal prosperity seemed so near at hand. He believed that as long as all the cities echoed with this greatest of songs, they would escape the judgment of fate and at last reach the land of eternal bliss. —The history of the decline and fall of Remuria

Fontaine is currently doing something similar, just that instead of conquering other people through the symbolic force of music, they’re asserting control over the land through first - the allegorical climate change they’re not preventing, and second - the developing of technology at the expense of the integrity, health and life of their own people:

Sir Arthur: Disaster! Disaster! At a recent public exhibition, the Babich Automated Analysis Engine suddenly exploded in a shower of gears, causing great injury and death to onlookers! Sir Arthur: Mr. Babich himself was severely injured and remains unconscious! Sir Arthur: Analysts' Guild President Marco Borja has opined that this tragedy was nonetheless an inevitable step on the path to progress, and that the Guild expresses its deep sympathies and condolences.

Musical instruments in Remuria function the same way machinery does in Fontaine, they are technology developed with the purpose to control by forcing the enemy tribes into submission or as a justification to exploit their workers.

Allegorical (or not so much) imperialism and capitalism, if you will.

These are precisely the dangers that German philosopher Martin Heidegger warned about technology in 1954 with his essay The Question Concerning Technology.

The Question Concerning Technology

Heidegger centered his work around the concept of “being” not as isolated sentience, but as a result of the relationship between a subject and its surrounding environment. He thought, for instance, that the term “ousia” (known as “essence” in philosophy) had been misinterpreted by previous philosophers and lost its real meaning, which he attributed to the conflicts of the modern era due to forgetting what it meant “to be”.

To put it simply, the phrase “I think, therefore I am” proposes the act of thinking is the essence of what it means to be, but Heidegger believed there had to be a state prior to the generation of that thought for the thought to be generated in the first place. A being exists with its environment, and that relationship between the subject and object is the essence of what it means “to be”.

However, it is hard to realize this reality of “being”. For example, when you’re doing an activity for long periods of time like writing or hammering a nail on the wall, you will eventually forget the existence of the pen or the hammer in your hand. At that point, it is not part of your reality even though it very much exists. Life in the modern era is the same, we become blind to certain parts of our existence in doing routinary tasks to survive until we interact with those parts.

So everything we perceive or interact with becomes “unconcealed”, but it’s a reality that’s defined by our own individuality, not an objective truth.

In this sense, the “essence” of technology is not anything technological, it’s not the machines or what’s produced with them, but something that goes deeper into its relationship with humanity.

Heidegger thought the essence of technology was neither a means to an end nor a human activity, but a way to reveal (or “unconceal”) reality.

Technology embodies a specific way of revealing the world, a revealing in which humans take power over reality. While the ancient Greeks experienced the ‘making’ of something as ‘helping something to come into being’ – as Heidegger explains by analysing classical texts and words – modern technology is rather a ‘forcing into being’. Technology reveals the world as raw material, available for production and manipulation. —Future Learn, The Technological View of the World of Martin Heidegger

Heidegger draws attention to technology’s place in bringing about our decline by constricting our experience of things as they are. He argues that we now view nature, and increasingly human beings too, only technologically — that is, we see nature and people only as raw material for technical operations. Heidegger seeks to illuminate this phenomenon and to find a way of thinking by which we might be saved from its controlling power —The New Atlantis, Understanding Heidegger on Technology

Machine-like People

The danger Heidegger warned about had to do with becoming a society that understands all aspects of reality through the technological lens: that both nature and people would be treated as nothing but resources to be used, like pieces of a machine.

All things increasingly present themselves to us as technological: we see them and treat them as what Heidegger calls a “standing reserve,” supplies in a storeroom, as it were, pieces of inventory to be ordered and conscripted, assembled and disassembled, set up and set aside. Everything approaches us merely as a source of energy or as something we must organize. We treat even human capabilities as though they were only means for technological procedures, as when a worker becomes nothing but an instrument for production. Leaders and planners, along with the rest of us, are mere human resources to be arranged, rearranged, and disposed of. Each and every thing that presents itself technologically thereby loses its distinctive independence and form. We push aside, obscure, or simply cannot see, other possibilities. —The New Atlantis, Understanding Heidegger on Technology

Fontaine has adopted this general worldview not only in relation to the workers, but also in the way they treat court cases as spectacles.

If Sumeru explored the question of what it means to be or what can be accepted as a living being (through stories like that of Karkata, Benben and Wanderer), Fontaine on the other hand seems to be asking what separates a living being from a machine when interpreted through the lens of technology, where workers are exploited as disposable objects and people’s tragedy is commodified for entertainment.

For King Remus also, those within his borders had to be controlled, and those outside had to be conquered.

Both Fontaine and Remuria are cities whose culture has become technologically driven.

When society adopts the technological lens —whether technology itself is involved or not— to understand themselves, their humanity is stripped from them. And do they not become just like a machine?

Gontharet: Those who always work and work will find themselves little different from clockwork machines. It is only through constant questioning and asking that we can forge a new path! Gontharet: Our history and present are all proof of this.

"All I have to do is put on my helmet, shut out the background noise, and carry out my orders." Freminet began to see himself as an unfeeling clockwork toy. —Freminet’s Official Introduction

Freminet, alongside Lyney and Lynette, is a member of the House of the Hearth, a secret Fatui organization composed of orphans who work for the Harbinger Arlecchino, who they call “father”, doing missions of espionage and other not so legal activities that more often than not risk their safety. It is unclear what exactly is Freminet’s role, but by the looks of it, he seems to feel less like a human and more like an automaton when carrying out his missions.

The City As A Symbol

(or: let’s get biblicaI)

There is no doubt that Remuria is based on the Roman Empire, but there’s another aspect to Fontaine that’s very intrinsically influenced by the Bible: the city as the epitome of human virtue and decadence.

God’s kingdom is represented as a garden. Adam and Eve are said to have wandered in the wilderness after they were kicked out. When their son Cain became jealous of his brother Abel, who was receiving God’s favor, he murdered him and was marked as a sinner.

Cain further isolated himself from God by running away and establishing the first city. A city in ancient times was just a group of homes, but what characterized it was the tall walls Cain erected as a means to protect himself from retaliation for his crime.

Cain’s city, much like Jerusalem and Babylon later, breeds a culture of violence and abuse, but also of man-made inventions like animal domestication, arts, and metalwork —aka, technology.

Those in power (starting with King David) always end up succumbing to their lowly desires, impulses and vices in Jerusalem. Babylon (which enslaved the Israelites) goes on to become not just a single city in its historical period, but the metaphorical and almost cyclical condition in which humanity condemns itself over and over again through the symbol of the city.

There are two main ways to deal with humanity becoming corrupt in the Bible: a flood or a messiah (mr Jesus The Christ for the Christians). The flood reboots everything and the messiah solution is more about accepting the city for its virtues and defeating sin through death and reincarnation, then God brings his garden into the world, so it’s like a Hannah Montana situation with the best of both worlds.

Anyway, let’s go back to Genshin:

After the first civilization was nuked with a flood, the survivors lived in the wilderness:

When the tide receded and the earth was revealed again, no cities nor civilizations now stood above the high waters. Survivors and the newborn alike lived amidst the forests and rivers, shorn of all knowledge and wisdom. Human lives were no different from those of wild animals on the earth or in the sea, driven on by the laws of nature — muddling through time with neither beginning nor end. Civilization and order were finally restored to the land named Fontaine the day the great king Remus descended upon Meropis in his golden Fortuna. He taught people how to farm and raise crops in the land, and built temples and cities with giant rocks to house the people. Most importantly, it was he who spread the beauty of music and art, which differentiated humans from other living things, causing them to see themselves as masters of all things. —The History of the Decline and Fall Remuria

Remus taught the people of what would become Remuria good things, but also reintroduced arrogance. And the cycle of Cain’s city was fulfilled again, with the nation causing their own destruction.

Remuria also is described with some kind of tower at its center, just like Babylon. And from the story of the Tower of Babel, this tower can be understood as the symbol of the city itself, the expression of human ingenuity.

I want this to be understood not as a direct reference to the biblical stories, but as a narrative parallel to an ancient story about the dangers of technology.

A city is an isolated concentration of humanity’s sins and virtues, surrounded by tall, imposing walls. A city gives rise to arts and technology, and it also breeds hedonistic desires and dangerous machinery.

I’d say the tall walls of Fontaine aren’t just to make the city look like a dam and annoy players who want to climb. And its technology seems on the right track for devastation.

Technology is not the enemy though

I said in the beginning that Fontaine’s symbol resembles a retro futuristic city. More specifically, both the symbol and the design of the city itself remind me of the futuristic envisioned city in Metropolis, a 1927 silent film by director Fritz Lang that has influenced the sci-fi genre to this day.

Metropolis is divided into two classes: the elite that lives on the surface, and the workers who live underground and produce the energy that powers the city.

(Sound familiar?)

The movie makes a point of depicting the workers moving mechanically, in a zombie like state, when they walk towards the machine they operate and while they work on them, as if they were parts of the machine themselves.

The son of the city’s master, Freder, ventures into the underground tunnels and discovers this reality for the first time. When a worker fails to operate the machine correctly, it suffers a malfunction that causes an explosion, leaving many victims behind. Freder is hit by the explosion and has a hallucination where the machine turns into Moloch, a pagan god in the Old Testament that had to be fed human sacrifices, while a group of slaves is being forced into its mouth, and then the workers behind them walk into it voluntarily.

A woman called Maria promises the underground workers that a mediator will eventually help them, as Maria believes the “head” (upper class) and “hands” (workers) just need a “heart” to communicate with each other. This mediator turns out to be Freder, who voluntarily takes the place of one of the workers and suffers the horrors of working in the machines in the flesh.

When Freder’s father finds out, he asks his local mad scientist —who has been working on a robot with human faculties— to give his creation the appearance of Maria, and orders this robot-Maria to twist the beliefs of the workers so they’ll antagonize the real Maria. Robot-Maria also shows up in the city as the figure of the Whore of Babylon, and inspires the upper class men to give in to their desires and vices.

Meanwhile, the workers are encouraged to revolt and destroy the very machines they’re enslaved by, against Maria’s ideology of unity. This destruction causes a flood that almost kills the workers’ children, but they’re saved by Maria and Freder.

The workers burn robot-Maria in the stake and later realize it was just a machine. Freder also fights the mad scientist at the top of a building from where the latter falls and dies.

At the end, Freder acts as a mediator between his father and a representative of the workers.

Ok but why was that whole summary necessary?

In essence, Metropolis is both a dystopian cautionary tale about the dangers of technology that we’ve discussed in this post, and also an allegory for the Bible (yes fr).

Maria is a Virgin Mary expy and Freder is the figure of the messiah (the “mediator”), Jesus Christ. He descends from the paradise above and suffers the pains of the people in the flesh. The mad scientist is a stand in for the devil, and Freder’s father represents the kings that continuously become corrupted in the history of Jerusalem.

Maria is who preaches true belief, while robot-Maria represents an idol of false belief that the workers are fooled by and also the sins and desires the upper class are enslaved by.

The flood that’s caused by the workers’ revolt is pretty much self explanatory in the biblical sense, you know what that is.

In the context of the industrial revolution, the narrative of the false belief aligns with what Heidegger would later address as the danger of technology, the inhuman lens through which the reality of the modern man is interpreted. The desire and sins the upper class is seduced by are of course capitalist interests.

Maria doesn’t condemn technology itself, she even tells the workers an altered version of the story of the Tower of Babel in which the tower couldn’t be finished because the intellectuals who designed it and the slaves who were building it just didn’t understand each other. The tower itself was an accomplishment of human ingenuity in her version.

Likewise, the movie closes with the hopes that this new understanding between head and hands will lead into a better, more fair society.

The figure of the messiah is not what’s important, but the ability to conciliate the power of governance and the working power in order to redirect the course of the city into an enterprise that serves humanity instead of using them like a machine.

Now, in the context of Fontaine, the energy that fuels the city and belief are more closely intertwined than in Metropolis.

The city is powered by Indemnitium, a form of energy which is produced by the belief in justice extracted from trials. We’d have to wonder, then, whether the integrity of this belief remains truthful, or if it has been replaced by the false idol of spectacle.

We know that at least one person in the city harbors discontent for the work, the spectacle and the Indemnitium energy:

Message in Cafe Lucerne’s board:

”For future generations, for our descendants, we must refuse work, refuse the trials, and oppose Indemnitium!”

King Remus in Remuria attempted to avoid the fate of their destruction, Fortuna, by conquering other tribes and establishing control over his people through a shared government, yet he ended up fulfilling the prophecy and condemning himself with those very decisions.

So I wonder if Fontaine might be in danger of self fulfilling their own prophecy should the workers of the city revolt against Indemnitium, since the members of the Narzissenkreuz Institute came up with it as a means to avoid their impending fate. And whether the people of Fontaine will survive their prophesied flood just like the children of the workers in Metropolis survived the flood the workers themselves caused.

[kiliinstinct]

Of Rumors and Almond Tofu

Series: Genshin Impact Pairing: Aether/Xiao ( m/m )  Rating: T for Teen - slight spice at the end but its super minor Setting: Canon Setting - During Lantern Rite 2023 A03: [ link ] Connected to This Art: [ Tumblr Post ]

I said I was going to Post for Genshin and now I finally am! I have literally been on and off working on this one-shot since February. @genavere beta'd it for me. (Bless her confused soul, she's never played the game and had no idea what was going on.)

Enjoy! - fingers crossed tumblr doesn't make the text goofy

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The multitude of colors and decorations that collectively dressed all of Liyue Harbor during the Lantern Rite never failed to fill Aether with a childish excitement that thrummed inside his chest. Even being his third year visiting for the Rite didn’t diminish the wonder he felt each time he took a glance at the MingXiao lanterns. 

Unfortunately, with circumstances as they were, the Traveler from another world found himself blind to the world around him—face buzzing in an embarrassed heat—distracted by his thoughts for most of the afternoon.  The Funeral Parlor was his destination, but heavy footsteps took him in the opposite direction. In his absentminded haze, he moved towards the fishmongers instead, struggling to process the morning’s events.  

He could hear Paimon titter behind him. Commenting on the details of the City decorations, waving towards the denizens who excitedly welcomed them back. Aether paid them no mind. Not deliberately, but the citizens of the harbor were used to Paimon speaking for him by now.

“Is he doing okay?” Aether vaguely recognized a voice that might have belonged to a Millellith guard as they passed. Rather than respond, he trusted Paimon to wave the man off, chirping her eager reply. “Oh, he’s fine!” 

His shoulders relaxed. Yes, he could leave it all to her while he mulled over his actions at Mt. Aocang. How could he have assumed his time at the Rite wouldn’t end in complications one way or another? 

His clung to him like a second skin, still damp from the cool waters of the morning. The face of disappointment Xiao had fixed upon him affixed itself in his mind like a blaring sign. How humiliating … Aether bit back a whine of shame. How was he going to face the Vigilant Yaksha again?

He briefly wondered if he could offer Paimon up as a sacrifice. A silly thought he knew wouldn’t pan out. Not only would Xiao refuse, but it would only serve to tease his floating companion. A terrible, vindictive part of his mind  thought the prank would do wonders for his mood. Was he feeling petty that Paimon’s dubious plan to feign drowning had turned out so horrible? Yes. Yes, he was, but he knew better than to place all blame on her small shoulders. 

After all, he could have said no. 

“It’s really not a big deal.” He heard Paimon speak to one of the kids who often played Pirates with her friends, and caught the tone of mischief too late to interrupt, “He’s just upset because his crush had to save him from drowning, that’s all!”

What.

Aether stopped mid-step. Finally registering just how far from their targeted destination they were. In the course of five seconds his heart sank to the pit of his stomach and bounced right back into the back of his throat, choking him of any and all words. 

“Oh, Mister Traveler has a special someone?" Little Lulu’s eyes glistened in wonder. "That’s so nice!” “Yup!” Paimon laughed, eyes twinkling, appearing unaware of the danger lurking behind her as Aether gawked, fingers twitching at his side. “But don’t go telling anyone else. He gets really embarrassed about it.”

He sprang into action, grasping the back of her clothes and yanked her back to his side. Mind working overtime to form the words that spilled from him too fast for his mind to keep up. “Paimon! What are you doing?”

If she was put out by suddenly losing her free flight, Paimon made no comment, opting to laugh behind her hand instead.  Her eyes glinted in amusement, “Just fielding questions. You weren’t responding to anyone so Paimon did it for you. Like the best traveling companion should, you know!” Aether couldn’t be bothered to respond, frantically looking back to Little Lulu, but it was too late. The girl had already run off to join the two boys she played with, shouting enthusiastically at them without a care in the world.  His earlier humiliation bloomed again and he noticed the surprised expressions of her friends as they glanced in his direction. He rounded on Paimon in consternation.   “Who else?” He demanded. Paimon had the audacity to look confused, “Hm?” “Who else,” he asked again, teeth gnashing together. Aether desperately wanted to stay calm, but was failing, “did you say that to?”

“... not that many.”

“How. Many?”

Rubbing her chin, Paimon hummed in thought, eyes glancing to the sky and all around them as if taking careful stock of every interaction she’d held within the past hour or so. “Including Little Lulu, just a couple more? Maybe three? I’m not sure, Traveler, you’ve been ignoring people quite a lot today.”

His expression was anything but amused. How distracted had he been? The morning was full of conversations, planning, and the gentle hope they could solve the mystery behind a mystical savior. Not only had they learned more about the old Adepti of the Past and the relations between them, he had also visited Madam Ping with Cloud Retainer, hoping to breach the subject of her music without touching on the old wounds of the past. All in all: he was exhausted and still had much to do before the concert that night. 

Ignoring the embarrassment of Xiao dragging his body out of a lake with Shenhe worriedly looming over the two of them, Aether felt the day had been full of social interactions. Could Paimon really blame him for being lost in thought?

Though, now that he had a better look of his surroundings, he couldn’t help feeling sheepish. “Zhongli has been waiting an awful while.”

“Oh, yeah. Paimon tried to get your attention about that, but you were so lost in thought that you paid no attention when Paimon tugged at you!” She circled his head, lips pursed in the tiniest of pouts, huffing. “If Paimon wasn’t so understanding, Paimon would demand you make it up with a grilled Tiger Fish!” Aether blinked, mystified. Was his thoughts on Quizhong’s life and Xiao’s expression of worry that distracting? Clearing his throat, he turned his back to the gentle, harbor waters, quietly hoping he could claim the heat of the sun was the culprit for his flustered face. “We should go then, before I make you into Tiger Fish, instead.”

“H-Hey! Why would you say that to Paimon?” “I can think of a few reasons,” He muttered, patting the top of her head, “Telling people I have a crush is certainly at the top of the list.” “Please- It’s not as if anyone is going to remember” She scoffed, dismissing him, “the Lantern Rite is tonight!”

Aether made a mental wish to the stars that Paimon was right.

She wasn’t. 

Not by a long shot. 

In fact, Paimon had been so wrong that by the very next day, with the sun barely rising and the lantern rite winding to a close, Aether thought he had misheard the local gossip. During the time he spent with Ningguang in the Jade Chamber, he was made all too aware of how fast rumors spread from the citizens of Liyue. Even Beidou’s warnings of the Qixing keeping watch on his comings and goings rang in the back of his mind like a siren. 

Despite this knowledge, he wasn’t prepared for the offhanded statements that followed his every move. They flew about him in all directions well into the afternoon. 

“That’s the traveler, isn’t it?”

“It is!”

“Didn’t you hear?”

“He almost drowned yesterday.” 

Aether never considered spending his attention on the background noise, all too accustomed to it after the last few years. He felt a stutter in his heart when that embarrassing reminder came back to snipe at him. 

So, they heard of his fake drowning attempt after all, albeit a little inaccurately.

“Doesn’t he know how to swim?”

“Of course he does, but things are strange at the Karst…”

“Is that why he was saved?” “By who?” “His lover!”

If he had been paying less attention, he would have toppled right off the pier and into the sea. Instead, he choked loudly on his own spit, face flaming a brilliant red as Paimon tittered around his head, fingers covering her mouth to hide her surprised squeal.

“Um, P-Paimon never said you had one of those!” She squeaked incredulously when Aether fixed her with his horrified gaze. “Wow, they really goofed it up, didn’t they?”

He couldn’t manage a reply. The words were gone, frozen in the back of his throat while fingers twitched and apprehension spread through all his nerves. Shut them out. It’ll blow over in a day or two. It had to. Right? Resisting the urge to throttle Paimon for the cough she faked to hide her laughter, he made a hasty retreat to Wanmin Restaurant for breakfast. 

An impossible task with whispered rumors and curious, mystified expressions following his every move. The rumors grew more exaggerated from person to person and Paimon failed to dissuade a few onlookers from spreading their overdramatized versions. 

It was too late. 

The world loved its gossip too much to be convinced of the misunderstanding. He could only quietly thank Chef Mao for allowing him to eat his breakfast in peace inside the kitchen, rather than stand among the crowd that couldn’t shut up about his non-existent love life. 

Unfortunately, that didn’t stop him from hearing tidbits each time a customer called upon the Chef for a tasty order..

Paimon had to choke back peels of laughter when they heard the list of ‘suspects.’ No one received a name, thankfully, but that left each new gossiper a question with no answers. 

Who was the traveler with? Ningguang? (“Can’t be, she wouldn’t be in Jueyan Karst during the Lantern Rite, would she?”) 

Perhaps the Yuheng, Keqing? (“She never left the harbor either!”)  

No, obviously Ganyu. (Aether hid his face in the palm of his hands at this one, quietly distressed.) Yes, Ganyu had become the popular choice among the many and Aether desperately hoped she’d be far too busy to catch wind of it. 

How could he explain this to her? Let alone anyone else? And keep Paimon from eating her foot any further than she already had while he was at it.

“Well, at least they were smart enough to realize Ganyu had been with us yesterday,” Paimon interjected between bites of her mostly finished breakfast. “Those other options were so far from the truth though. Talk about crazy. Paimon wonders what they’d do if they knew it was Shenhe and Xiao who-”

“Paimon.” His voice pierced through her rambling, far more intense than the roiling, desperate emotions simmering inside. The desperate stare he gave  his floating friend was enough to snap her mouth shut, effectively cutting her off..

“Sorry,” she amended, voice lowering a few notches as she floated beside him. “But, you have to admit, it’s crazy. They’re not even getting the gender right…”

Aether said nothing, letting his expression do the talking for him. 

He would thank his lucky stars that Chef Mao knew to be discreet, despite being a bystander to this conversation. When they left, the Chef sent them off with a cheery wave and a box full of jade parcels and lotus crisps to snack on. 

Paimon was ecstatic with the gift and Aether wouldn’t be surprised if they were all consumed before lunch.

Leaving the Harbor until the evening was the best way to save Aether from the crowd and it’s ever growing rumor mongering. By the time they’d escaped to Pervases’ temple, the gossip had grown so out of hand that Aether wasn’t sure what it would evolve to upon his return. Paimon continued to chitter her apologies, claiming time and time again that she never expected her jab towards his ‘crush’ to explode as it had. 

“It’s not even a crush,” he groused, setting incense at the temple while laying out a freshly grilled Tiger Fish in honor of the long-gone Yakshas. He treasured the peaceful quiet of the hall Wang Ping’an happily kept his distance, keeping watch at the door for more visitors. (Aether doubted more would come. The temple was always depressingly empty when he visited.) He ignored Paimon’s dramatic roll of her eyes and clasped his hands together in a customary prayer pose. 

Oh, whatever well wishes I give you now, Pervases, he thought dismally, please find a way to swallow Paimon up with me when these rumors take me out.

Paimon barely took the time to perform her own prayer, swirling about Aether’s head in agitation. “Oh sure, not a crush, you say, as if Paimon would believe that!”  

Tune her out, tune her out! 

“You were practically tripping over your feet when he pulled you out of the pond yesterday and don’t think Paimon didn’t notice you pouting when he left.”

It was getting harder to ignore her. 

“You looked like a kicked puppy who was denied a treat-”

“I did not!” 

Paimon’s expression was smug, staring at him through her lashes as she floated superiority over him. “And the blush on your cheeks is because…?”

His blasted body betrayed him by growing hotter at the question. He cleared his throat, turning his attention back to the Adepti monument, shoulders slack as he gave up. What use was there in lying to Paimon, anyway? She’d been by his side for so long, she was bound to pick up his tells. Almost as much as Lumine could rat him out…

Aether sighed, defeated. “It doesn’t matter, anyhow,” he muttered. “That’s a road better left empty.”

A crush? Certainly not. Whatever feelings he’d bottled up inside his heart for the last three years had grown far deeper than that. In the expanse of his own mind that twisted and turned around every possible mystery of Teyvat, all in his attempt to reunite with his sister, even Aether couldn’t lie to himself for too long. 

Xiao had certainly slotted into a place in Aether’s heart that he never knew existed. And in time, he couldn’t pretend it wasn’t there. A strange relationship that teetered back and forth along a thin wire. There was a tension between him and the Conqueror of Demons. A tension Aether couldn’t put a name to. Whether he fell or not, there was no knowing what falling off that wire would do to him.

In fact, he was determined not to find out. 

“Is it because you don’t think he feels the same?” Paimon cut through his reverie, slowly drifting to his side rather than staring down her nose at him. “Because Paimon thinks he looked really worried and upset yesterday so maybe he -”

“Paimon.” Aether’s stare was pleading. “Please, stop.”

“Oh- ok.” Her voice dropped to a tiny, disappointed whine. “Sorry.”

He knew she meant well. In fact, the thought of him holding feelings for another must have sparked an idea into her  head well over a year ago. What reason would he have to leave Teyvat in the end, if he fell into a relationship, after all? She must have taken his broiling emotions as a sign of weakness. A sign he could be persuaded to stay, but it was better not to hold onto false hope. 

That’s what he told himself.

Besides… muttering a final prayer to Pervases, Aether turned to leave, content to enjoy the outdoors until dinner with Hu Tao. He wasn’t certain how many the Director had invited, but the prospect of seeing old friends at a - hopefully - peaceful supper, helped ease his worries.

  It wasn’t as if Xiao would try and keep him here. The Yaksha had his own duty and that didn’t include convincing otherworldly beings into staying once their own was completed.  

That thought was enough to sober Aether from the many rumors of the Harbor.  He took in the air, smelling the sweat flowers and mints in the area as they soothed his aching heart. 

This world was beautiful. He would never stop thinking that. Even when it was nothing more than a memory.  With that thought in mind, Aether was positive he could tour the harbor once more, enjoying its festivities no matter what rumor trailed behind him.

A lover? Pfft, let them talk. Let them wonder. He knew the truth of it and that’s all that mattered. Even if the truth sank into the pit of Aether’s stomach like a pile of cor lapis. 

Aether would begin questioning all his decisions the moment he set foot in Xinyue Kiosk for Hu Tao’s big dinner plans.. 

Meeting all his friends in one place for a free dinner was more than enough to bring Aether joy and Paimon’s own squeal of delight. To sit alongside Xiangling, Chongyun and Xingqiu brought a light feeling to his chest and the sight of Hu Tao and Zhongli strengthened it. While they had seen the latter two only a day before, the prospect of a friendly dinner was enough to ease most of his worries. 

It didn’t matter what rumors still spread through the harbor. Earlier, he overheard a couple mention him ‘slipping’ into the water with his supposed ‘lover’ for a moment of intimacy. A mental image that made his face grow redder than the tomatoes sold nearby. 

How much crazier were these rumors going to grow before the townsfolk became bored?

Aether’s friends, young and old, seemed none the wiser, or at the very least, saw fit not to bring it up over dinner.  A fact Aether would forever be grateful for. At least, that’s how it should have gone, but the appearance of Xiao sent Aether’s mind into overdrive. Hu Tao’s mysteriously proud grin was the precursor to a meal he never expected. After refusing to enter the Harbor the previous Lantern Rites, seeing him a day after the traveler’s poorly executed ‘drowning’ attempt, set his heart thudding against his ribcage.  Not only was the Yaksha willingly in the harbor during Festival Season, but he’d been ushered to sit beside the other as if that had been the plan all along. 

The assumption wasn’t too far off. If Hu Tao’s knowing smirk was anything to go off of.

He felt his body turn to stone, heat rising along his neck at the proximity between them and he desperately hoped that Xiao’s penchant to ignore mortal matters would keep him far away from those embarrassing rumors. The adeptus always had a strong presence, not just from his inhuman energy, his intense gaze and stance always drew Aether’s attention. Now, however, it was difficult to keep himself from watching Xiao through his peripheral vision. The strong want to study his profile left Aether struggling to swallow, forcing his gaze ahead of him to keep his calm facade. “... is this, okay?” He was surprised, stunned out of his thoughts when Xiao’s pointed question struck him down with the faintest hint of insecurity. His confusion must have been obvious as Xiao, eyes averting back to the table, made a grumble of frustration toward repeating himself. “You are tense. I wondered if my presence was bothering you.”

Oh. 

“No-!” Aether snapped, voice far louder than he intended.  Gulping down as much water as he could manage, he ignored the raised brows of his peers and shook his head enough to feel dizzy. “It’s not that. I’m actually really-” Really what? Pleased? Excited? Flustered over nothing? Aether looked to Paimon for help as the words became sludge in his mouth. Her answering grin was sinister and he knew he made another mistake. 

“The traveler is actually really happy you’re here, Xiao!”  She hid her mischief behind her hand and giggled, “It’s almost like one of his wishes had been granted-”

Oh, if he wasn’t going to turn her into food yesterday, he certainly was now.  The glare he shot her was seen around the table, and he could feel the knowing, if perplexed expressions of the others who witnessed the scene. Zhongli, ever the silent observer, sipped his tea and turned his golden gaze towards Xiao instead, but Aether noticed the slight curve of the former Archon’s lips; and felt his lungs constrict further. Oh stars above, he knows.  Maybe he should have skipped out on today's dinner and called it an early night. Maybe he should have taken on an extra commission or a-

Xiao’s pointed stare froze him. The golden glow of the Yaksha’s eyes filled his shoes with cement before the gaze turned towards Paimon, and gave the briefest nods in acknowledgement to her. 

If Aether hadn’t been lost in his horror, he might have noticed the slightest hint of red dusting the tip of Xiao’s ears, but he couldn’t attend to that. Instead, he swallowed thickly, watching as Xiao considered his companions' words and resumed his stare at the table. “Hmm,” The non-committal grunt said so much and so little at once. It made him want to scream. “I see.”

The awkward tension in the room shattered like glass and chatter erupted around the table once more. Aether spared Paimon of a rueful glare in lieu of sighing in relief. It was easier to fall silent and listen, all while buzzing from the very presence of Xiao by his side. Talking was difficult and observing the other’s conversation removed all pressure from his soul. The respite was welcomed. Though it did not last long as chaos incarnate, the winds of Barbatos himself, saw fit to crash the party. If Aether had known he’d be in the presence of not one, but two Archons that evening, he would have mentally prepared himself better. 

Venti was a whirlwind of trickery and slid himself into the gathering with ease, as if he’d always been there. Upon his windy entrance, blowing open the doors with a giggle, the sudden tick at Zhongli’s jaw spoke of a quiet irritation. Hu Tao’s sudden interest in the new arrival gave Aether the strange feeling that the funeral parlor’s director was all too aware of the true identities of the feigning mortals at the table. A matter Aether tucked away to explore later. Much later. When there wasn’t the Lord of Anemo and Geo vying for most passive aggressive compliments the world of Teyvat had ever seen flying over his head. If Aether hadn’t known any better, he would have sworn Venti and Zhongli were divorced lovers. 

The mere thought made him cough back an amused snort that was waved away when Paimon sent him a questioning glance. The ‘I’ll tell you later’ went without saying. He’d rather enjoy the chaotic chatter while it lasted, enjoying his meal and observing the others around him. If his eyes happened to stray one too many times towards Xiao, he pretended not to notice. 

“Uhh-“ Though, noticing the stiff poise of the Yaksha beside him, perhaps it was a good thing he kept his attention on him. Xiao kept his hands under the table, fingers fidgeting at each new barb the Archons threw across the table. Each lie to cover up their identity made his body tense, as if becoming petrified wood would save him from the conversation. 

“I- uhh..” Xiao struggled to interrupt the onslaught of passive aggression, shoulders tensing by the second.

Aether frowned, and realized Xiao was not enjoying this. Brows furrowed together before he made a decision. It wouldn’t do to chase Xiao off from functions like this in the future. Anything to help the Yaksha relax and settle into the banter. 

With a careful glide of his hand beneath the table, he grasped Xiao’s twitching fingers with his own. The speed in which Xiao’s eyes flickered to him made the Traveler wonder if he’d made a mistake, an apology already formed upon his lips. 

But Xiao didn’t withdraw. Citrine eyes stared intently for a moment, as if looking for Aether’s inner thoughts. Coming up with nothing, he glanced to their adjoined hands before giving Aether’s an experimental squeeze, fingers sliding between his own. Aether had to bite back the surprised exhale that ran through him.

‘Are you okay?’ He wanted to ask, but that would garner everyone’s attention, breaking the spell weaved between them. Instead, Aether smiled and resumed eating. Almost like a child, Xiao’s grip tightened, ignoring the meal in favor of watching the others.

Like Aether, Xiao observed, but unfortunately, Aether’s actions were nothing more than a bandage for an issue far deeper than nerves. Venti and Zhongli were still in the limelight, spreading their flowery language from person to person. Even Hu Tao joined in, eyes glittering in mischief.

“Ah such lovely compliments my guests have for each other on this fine day.” The director curled her lips as she eyed everyone over the rim of her glass. “It’s so nice to see everyone getting along.”

Something in her tone spoke a different language to Aether. A niggling instinct that pricked the back of his neck, whispering tiny assumptions about Hu Tao. There was always something about her and the way she looked around the room that hinted to a knowledge vastly greater than she let on. Alarm bells rang as he witnessed her excited eyes glance from Zhongli to Venti, enjoying their banter like an afternoon play. It was a wild thought, Aether realized, but maybe the only ones unaware of the Archon’s identities were the other three guests, watching the spectacle in stunned silence. 

Paimon’s excited squeal and Xiao’s grip becoming tighter yanked Aether from his reverie. His flying companion had received seconds in the form of Xiao nudging his plate to the side and spared no second to curb her enthusiasm. The interruption gave way to more chatter along the table, pulling the attention off the archons for a short period.

“While I’m not partial to it, one could almost feel elated enough to have a glass of wine,” Zhongli said, taking it as a chance to once more explain how he was truly the one honored by everyone’s presence that day.

Venti jumped upon the self-indulgence without a second thought. Sitting straighter in her seat to hold his cup in the air, ignoring how tea splashed from the cup. “This MUST be a great occasion, indeed, for one as esteemed as yourself, huh?”

Aether held back the urge to roll his eyes. Paimon didn’t.  

He registered a shift in the man next to him. The tension was back and the Yaksha’s grip was crushing. Xiao had reached his limit. 

“I- I uh, I think-" It felt wrong, Aether decided, watching as Xiao struggled to put words into sentences. Words were difficult. He understood on a deeper level than most, but this was new territory. Attempting diplomacy when forthright honesty was more his style. Before Xiao could finally put his thoughts into verbal communication, Aether struck.

“Wow, I have eaten WAY too much,” he chirped, glancing at Paimon as he made a show of patting his stomach. The action released his hand from Xiao’s, causing the Yaksha’s eyes to widen and arm jerk from the motion. Ignoring Paimon’s confused hum, mouth still full of fish, he turned back to Xiao, “I think I need fresh air. Come with me?”

If anyone needed it. It was Xiao. Who eagerly accepted the out, eyes worriedly searching Aether for any further sign of discomfort. Convincing Paimon to stay behind was a harder task. Her shock and betrayal garnered everyone's attention, making his face grow heated.  He couldn’t blame her. After what happened in Sumeru, how could he? The Sabzeruz Festival was not so easily forgotten. Not half as easy as what was erased from Irminsul at least.

With a few well thought out words, and some added help from the others, she relented with a threat to eat his food along with her own if he took too long. He smiled fondly at her, patting her head as he left the table. A lost meal was a consequence he was willing to take.

Now that the opportunity was made available, Xiao was too oblivious to his ruse. The Yaksha stood by the double doors, arms crossed and shoulders so tense, Aether feared he’d turn to stone. His fingers tapped against his vision as barely contained impatience brimmed in the bright gleam of his eyes. He all but ran out the door the moment Aether swung it open, reveling in the fresh air and sunlight that greeted them.

“Are you all right?” Xiao demanded as soon as he was paced away from the building, posture far more relaxed now that they were free of everyone's gazes. “I should be the one asking that,” Aether replied, an eyebrow raised in concern. Somehow, words were easier when it was just the two of them. Simple. Upfront. 

Xiao’s eyes couldn’t stay focused, glancing from Aether’s face, before they swept around the street, eyeing every passerby as if a demon hid amongst them. When he deemed their location private enough, Aether witnessed the tension slowly bleed away as the seconds passed. Not to the extent the Traveler would have preferred, but it was something. He sighed in relief and was content to wait as Xiao answered, opening a line of conversation that was more relaxing than the cacophony inside. 

When it came to conversation. Xiao was often short lipped, but time after the Chasm incident must have changed him. With his willingness to speak of matters of the past and his own discomfort, it was clear their previous meetings had opened Xiao’s heart more than anticipated. A welcome surprise that created a gentle smile to cross his face. 

Unfortunately, relishing in the light conversation Xiao provided was not an easy task when beside one of the busiest roads in Liyue Harbor.

“Who's that with the Traveler right now?”

“That can’t be the one, can it?”

Aether cursed as a couple passing by whispered far too loud to keep their conversations secret and a mortified heat began to creep along the back of his neck. Oh no. No. No. No. Not now.

He trailed off lamely, distracted from their conversation. He assumed Xiao would notice and think something was wrong, possibly assume the worst, but curiously, the adeptus tilted his head, eyes gleaming in confusion. Something had caught his attention. Enough for his eyes to rove over the crowd on the streets before fixating back on what was now a very disgruntled traveler. 

“... What is- “ Xiao tested the words on his tongue as if his question was foreign to him. “Traveler, what is dating?”

At that moment, Aether wished he could curse in all the languages he’d heard in his travels, but he didn’t have the time to recall them all. Or the energy to speak them. What had Xiao heard to ask that? Aether worked through the palpitations of his own heart to consider the question, mouth running dry as the words jammed in his throat. 

“Why-?” 

No, dumb question. Xiao didn’t ask about human customs much, questioning it now may cause him to withdraw entirely. Aether didn’t want that, did he? “You don’t-,” a moment of insanity passed through him as he wished Paimon had followed along after all. She could handle this question better than him, right? 

Then again, catching the stares of a Millellith soldier across the road made him grimace. Never mind. Paimon would definitely have made everything worse. “You haven’t heard the term before?”

That.. was a safe response. 

He hoped. 

Xiao considered the question, nose scrunching in a way that made Aether’s heart twist. The curiosity the Adeptus held for humans despite his claims otherwise endeared Aether to him each time he was blessed to witness it. Despite the embarrassing context of the question, he clung to the visual to hold in his memories for later. Just as he had with all previous interactions he had in the past. 

“Mortals talk incessantly,” Xiao said after a few beats of silence. “Perhaps I have heard it before, but I never bothered to pay it any mind. The customs of mortals are… odd… to me.”

Somehow, that answer was very… Xiao.

Aether grinned, “Have you heard of courting then? Suitors?” What other words could he think of that may ring a bell… Aether was about to explain in further detail when recollection lit up in Xiao's eyes.

“How uninformed do you think I am?” He snapped, clicking his tongue derisively. 

Once upon a time, Aether would have suspected annoyance, but the hint of red he spied at the tip of Xiao’s ears spoke more to the truth than any words the Yaksha could say. 

“A mortal passtime to find a lover and pass on their legacy through their progeny. Of course, I know what that is-" He paused blinking. “Ah, so that is dating.”

“Words change over time,” Aether stated, still amused by his obvious discomfort.

“Ridiculous.” The retort came swift like a gust of wind before Xiao’s attention pulled back to the crowds behind them. His silence became a palpable curiosity that filtered through in muted measures. Aether wondered what was going through his mind in that moment, but chose not to ask. Whatever it was, Xiao would ask if he wanted. Something spurred the Yaksha to grumble, words muttering under his breath that Aether couldn’t catch. Watching him through his lashes, Xiao frowned, a strange irritation filling him. “So, then you -" 

After a few seconds of no follow up, Aether broke his silence. “So, I…what?”

Xiao shook his head. “Nothing. Just forget it.”

Silence befell them. When Aether realized Xiao wasn’t going to continue, he cleared his throat, thinking back on their earlier conversation. Steering the topic back a few paces would be ideal and the more he looked down the street, witnessing the onlookers slowly grow in number, the more Aether regretted his decision to escape the others in the first place. 

But something was bothering Xiao now, he could tell. Xiao’s gaze flickered from the street and back to him, brows furled together in thoughts that he refused to verbalize. Had he heard something else? The Traveler couldn’t be sure, but just when he had a mind to ask, the door to the kiosk swung open and both their gazes met Xiangling’s as she approached, lips bitten insecurely.. “Sorry!” She said swiftly, her smile felt out of place, far too timid for the cook’s usual expressions. “Am I interrupting anything?” “Not at all,” Aether answered in reflex, barely catching the quiet ‘tsk’ that escaped Xiao. This was the perfect change of topic. Already the tension from before bled away as if it never existed. “Were we taking too long?”

And off the conversation went with Xiangling beckoning the two back inside. Though, Aether made sure Xiao gave his due thanks for Xiangling’s efforts in bringing him an almond tofu, and winced when Paimon’s despondent waiting was brought up. As irritated as he was over the whole rumor debacle, he truly hadn’t meant to leave her alone for so long. Not since the Sabzeruz. He still remembered her terror at being left behind. It was a horror he felt in his bones and understood all too well.

Perhaps now was the best time to end their conversation, either way. They’d been invited to dinner. It wouldn't do to avoid the whole thing now, would it? Aether was certain Xiao would fare better a second time around and with the night still young, he wanted to bask in the social atmosphere a little longer before finally considering the years Lantern Rite officially over. 

When all was said and done, Aether could honestly say he never expected Xiao to invite him back to visit at Wangshuu Inn. “If you have need of me, call my name, but-…come to the inn, if you’d like to talk more.”

Somehow, it truly felt as if Xiao had changed. The events in the Chasm had opened the Adeptus in ways Aether could only dream to witness. Not obviously to most people, but just enough for Aether to feel as if he’d stepped through many doors that had been locked tight before. 

“Maybe those rumors will get it right now.” Paimon huffed that evening, stuffed full from the dinner and finally alone with Aether once again. “You two stayed out and away from Paimon for so long, everyone should have a good guess at this rate.” Aether cleared his throat, facing Paimon with a deadpan stare. “You get a pass. Just this once.”

Eyes lighting up in mischief, Paimon giggled, ecstatic, “Really? What’s the occasion?”

“It’s my apology for making you wait so long.” He ruffled her hair as he teased her. “I couldn’t believe it when Xiangling said you’d hardly touched your food. Maybe you’re sick? Is something wrong with my emergency food?”

“Oooh! Paimon’s had it to here with you! Paimon deserves more than one pass for that, mister!”

He laughed. Maybe, if he was lucky, he could put the gossip behind him. They were bound to die out the further from the festival it became after all, and he didn’t have the energy to stress over it further.

With the sun fading below the horizon, Aether decided that after all was said and done, it was an almost perfect night. This world may not be his, but in that moment, he felt just a little bit closer to home. 

Xiao’s offer wouldn’t be taken for another two days when Aether found himself in the area, exhausted from a day of commissions and curiosity burning in his veins. Would Xiao be there waiting? Or would he come to chat if called? It was enough for him to decide to stay for the night before making his way back to Sumeru. There was some time yet before he would travel to the region Fontaine, so there was no reason he couldn’t make a few more detours, right? 

“Three Hundred… Four Hundred… Five- “ Counting his recent payments, Aether’s eyes lit up, “Five hundred mora! Add that to the rest of our funds and we should have more than enough to stay at the inn. No camping tonight!”

“Didn’t we already have enough before you were paid? You’re practically a workaholic, you know,” Paimon said.

He shrugged, smiling unapologetically, “And I never hear you complain each time another bag of mora comes our way, do I?”

Paimon didn’t bother denying it and pouted instead. Their back and forth would continue all the way to the Inn, with Aether falling silent partially through their conversation, settling into their usual pattern.. If he were honest with himself, the Lantern Rite had burned his ability to socialize to an almost non-existent flame, and he relished Paimon filling the air with her chatter. On days like this, he could forgive her of the embarrassment days prior. 

After all, rumors from Liyue Harbor wouldn’t spread this far out into the Dihua Marshes. Of that, he was as certain as he was of the sun rising each morning. 

Skipping the elevator of the Inn, Aether prolonged Paimon’s prattling by climbing the stairs; enjoying the wind as it whistled through his braid, the view as the sun gleamed across sparkling waters, and the sounds of chatter from the many guests chattering throughout. Second to Mondstadt only, the locals of Wangshuu Inn never failed to fill Aether with a calm peace. 

It was a source of security, anchored down by the presence sheltered at the rooftop. A fact Aether refused to admit outloud, and certainly not in front of Paimon. 

Lantern Rite had been good to the Inn. Approaching the main Lobby, they spied Verr Goldett surrounded by a line of customers. Catching the gleam of Aether’s golden hair and Paimon’s crown, she waved pleasantly to them; her smile crinkled the edge of her eyes before she turned her attention back to her waiting guests.  There would be no conversation just yet, but that was okay. Aether wasn’t worried about finding a place to sleep. The Boss Lady of Wangshuu Inn always had a room available to him when asked.  It was a mystery he never quite understood how she managed to do it. “Okay!” Paimon’s voice shrieked closer to Aether’s ear than intended, pulling him from the unsolved riddles of the inn.. He flinched, ears ringing, but Paimon paid that no mind. Sadly, he knew it wouldn’t be the first time, nor the last. “Paimon is going to see Yanxiao for some food, you go on without me.”

Aether blinked, one foot on the stairs to the upper balcony and the other grounded in place. Raising one brow, he observed his Fairy companion silently, uncertain of her motive. Hadn’t she been angry at him for leaving her behind just a day ago? 

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t look at Paimon like that. You wanted more time to talk to Xiao, right? Paimon will join you later.”

Something about her tone raised alarm bells in his mind, but he couldn’t put words to it before she held out her tiny hand, expectant.

“But-”

“Bag please!” Her smile was devious. “Paimon has to pay for our meals somehow and you keep all the mora on you.”

“Is this your way of sneaking yourself an extra helping without supervision?” Regardless, the small bag he’d saved from the day was snatched from him as soon as it was offered.

“Paimon will make sure there’s still enough for a room, don’t worry.”

Aether couldn’t resist. “Too late.”

“Oooh,” she seethed, opalescent eyes sparked in anger. “Go up and see your Adeptus boyfriend already!”

With her loud exclamation, Paimon shot her way to the kitchens, leaving Aether flustered and frozen in place as every eye in the lobby turned towards him. 

Oh no. Not again! Paimon, I swear to all Archons who hear me and beyond, I am going to EAT you one day!

Noticing the all-knowing eyes of Verr Goldett on him, Aether attempted to wave off the eyes with a sheepish smile. Already he could hear the quiet murmurs spreading through the crowd.The Boss Lady of Wangshu Inn understood his quiet plea, lips curving in comradery.

“Come now, who's next? My husband won't be back for a few more minutes, so allow me to assist you.”  Beckoning for the line to move on, her voice rose above the chatter, calling attention towards herself as she laughed. “As if an Adeptus would be at my inn of all places. Could you imagine?”

And that was enough to break through what Aether could see as an all-new rumor spreading. Verr Goldett was true to her job, keeping the mystery of the rooftop—and who lived upon it, as secret as the day she’d met Aether. The ‘gentleman’ of the balcony would not be named and she made sure all visitors knew better than to ask. Feeling ashamed of their eavesdropping, the nearby guests cleared their throats and looked away, keeping their chatter to themselves. Relieved, Aether mouthed a tiny ‘thank you’ from the stairs and resumed his trip up, two steps at a time. He didn’t miss the glitter in her eye. No doubt, she’d expect a return favor in the future.  That was a problem for the future, he decided, and quietly he vowed to make Paimon help when the time came. 

The highest balcony of the inn never failed to leave Aether breathless. The view of the marsh and distant mountains gleamed with the waning sunlight with stars already beginning to sparkle above. The skyline of the towering peaks of Jueyan Karst and the lonely mountain, Dragonspine, framed the view from left to right. Ginko leaves scattered about the wooden deck, flowing with the wind around the lone figure watching the land below him. Aether gawked, stunned by the silhouette, illuminating Xiao’s outline, as flecks of teal reflected the light in his hair. 

For the first time in months, Xiao had waited for him. Aether’s mouth became dry as he struggled to greet the other, but there was no need. Even with his back turned, Xiao knew who had come to join him.

“So,” he began, head barely tilting to acknowledge the other, “you came afterall.” 

Words tumbled off Aether’s tongue in a rush, “Didn’t you invite me?”

Xiao hummed in confirmation, gaze still piercing the clouds above them, watching as another star began to shine. Aether took the opening for what it was and crossed the deck to stand by Xiao’s side. His own gaze struggled to choose between watching the scenery or admit the profile of his companion. 

“Then, why wouldn’t I come?” he asked when the wind ceased and the rustling of the tree above them came to a halt. Xiao answering blink gave Aether all he needed to know, cracking a grin as the Adeptus slowly accepted his reply. “You come when I call, don’t you?”

“That’s-!” Xiao paused, catching himself before his tone resumed its careful, quiet timbre. “That’s different. I promised to protect you.”

His smile grew. “And we agreed that it was time to let friends take care of their friends.” He chuckled as Xiao broke his gaze to stare towards the trees, the hint of an ear tip dusted in pink peeked from behind his hair.  “What sort of friend would I be if I ignored your invitation?”

“I-” He cut himself off.

“Yes…?”

Xiao sighed, the barest hint of a smile curving at the edges. “I still don’t understand you.”

Mirroring him, Aether leaned against the railing, enjoying the gentle breeze that weaved through his braid. “Then I’ll just have to keep visiting until you do.”

It was easy to talk or fall into companionable silence, after that, something Aether always appreciated. Words weren’t easy, especially in Teyvat. The language had proven difficult and confusing when he’d first began his journey. Xiao’s ability to listen and enjoy the moment without words was a small reprieve. Once upon a time, Aether knew the Adeptus would have disagreed with the sentiment, but he wasn’t so good at hiding his true emotions anymore. That or Aether had learned to read him easier. The slight hint of a smile, the soft tone of his voice as he wistfully encouraged him to speak or be silent. It was a small comfort. One Aether relished. He could only hope Paimon would stay in the kitchens, bothering the cook for all the food she could muster. Perhaps, she’d eat until she was too tired to join them, dozing blissfully in a corner by the innkeepers. 

Just the thought made Aether giggle, catching Xiao’s attention and breaking the silence between them. He recalled a time when the Adeptus admitted to wanting to know all of Aether’s experiences in an attempt to learn and understand more about himself and mortals. This thought could be added to countless others as their conversations often began anew and moved on to so many topics he could hardly remember them all. But just when he was about to settle in to speak of his recent adventures in Sumeru, Aether finally noticed the small two-tiered box to the side, sitting beside one of the potted plants. “What's that?” He interrupted his own thoughts, head tilting to point out the curiosity. Xiao didn’t bother to look, already aware of what was around them. “Almond tofu,” he said, voice monotone as he raised a brow. Aether considered this and scrunched his nose. “That’s like.. Two servings more than you usually eat.” He pointed out. Xiao hummed noncommittally. “I .. still hadn’t finished what Xiangling made for me,” he admitted, glancing to his feet in a way that brought to mind a guilty child. “But then Yanxiao made my usual amount and I… I couldn’t eat it.”

The mention of the chef made it all clear. Of course. Yanxiao wouldn’t have known that a different cook all the way from the harbor had made the Adeptus an offering. Following routine explained the extra portions and the traveler made a decision. Breaking away from Xiao’s presence, he brought the tiered box to him. “Well, it’s only going to go bad if you keep leaving it out here so-”

“You should have some too.”

Aether froze. “What?”

There was a careful expression on Xiao’s face. Jaw tense, head tilted just enough to keep the shine of his citrine eyes from revealing any thoughts in his mind. If it were any other person, Aether would have sworn they were nervous, but Xiao.. nervous?

“You don’t have to,” he said a beat later. “I just…Thought we could share. You can tell me more of your travels. I’ll listen.”

Nothing else needed to be said. It was an offer that Aether was more than happy to take. 

Opening the tiers, he found spare chopsticks inside—silently noting the extra pair, but spared Xiao the embarrassment of being called out, and pulled them out. Handing one tier to Xiao, Aether sat his own share against the bannister and hummed pleasantly when he popped a piece of the textured pudding into his mouth. Sweet, but not overly so- with a sticky syrup that clung to his tongue. …with a…bit of spice? “Xiangling made this one, didn’t she?”

Xiao nodded, absentmindedly eating his own. “I didn’t dislike it. But it is different.”

“Not bad.” Aether agreed, but mischief seized him a second later as he added, “I like the one you make best though.”

Xiao uncharacteristically choked, grunting as he looked away again. He was doing that a lot lately, Aether noted. And he thought he caught the phrase ‘yours is better’ pass the Adepti’s lips, but couldn’t be sure. Laughing at his successful mission to fluster the mighty Yaksha of Dihua Marsh, he popped another piece into his mouth. 

“You grow less timid each time we meet,” Xiao stated, keeping a careful gaze on Aether as they enjoyed the dessert together. “Do you speak to your lover like this, as well?”

And just like that, Aether felt the entire world drop out from under him. His own bite of almond tofu lodged itself in his throat as his heart threatened to burst from his chest and attempt to fly off to worlds unknown. Coughing, he thumped his chest a few times to calibrate himself, not noticing when Xiao stepped closer, setting his own plate aside in concern. “Lover?” He gasped through another bout of coughing, eyes wildly searching Xiao’s for an explanation. “When have I ever- what…why would I-”

Somehow, Aether just knew, this was all Paimon’s fault.

“Traveler, are you-” With a hand raised, intent to possibly slap Aether’s back to help stave off his choking, Xiao reconsidered the action and watched the coughing subsided, his brows knitted together, perplexed. “Did I hear wrong, then?”

“Hear what?” Aether pressed, covering his face to hide the assured blush splashing across his cheeks and burning down his neck. He couldn’t face Xiao, not like this. Shame filled him. So smooth a second ago, only to have it torn from him by an almond tofu assassination attempt. “Please. Explain.”

“It…” Xiao paused, considering his next words, eyes whirling in quiet anticipation. “At the harbor. I heard… many things. The people there are convinced you have a lover. Are they mistaken?”

“Yes!” The embarrassed groan that escaped Aether could be heard across the marsh, hand smacking into the almond tofu, knocking it from the railing as it clattered to the balcony below. He’d have to apologize to Goldett later. “So…you...you heard all that?”

Xiao blinked, head tilting in a curious way that Aether had to ignore lest he be distracted by the cute action. “They were very loud about it. Did you not?”

Aether nodded, too flustered to voice the words in that moment. Of course he had. He’d hoped a silly Adeptus wouldn’t pay it any mind! “Ugh, I did, but- it was Paimon’s fault. She said something and rumors began to spread and I just-”

“Ah.” Realization gave Xiao pause as Aether trailed off, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Anxiety gripped him, uncertainty filled his lungs and he felt, in that moment, that he needed to leave. To hide. Camp outside. Anything other than feel Xiao’s gaze as he processed this development. 

But he couldn’t. Not now. Not like this. Not while Xiao stared at him with a molten gaze that glued his feet to the deck. 

The tension in Xiao’s brow relaxed by the second as a sudden curiosity gripped him. His own plate was set aside, much more elegantly than Aether’s and he approached the traveler with a caution befitting an animal observing its surroundings. Once within the other's proximity, Aether’s mind shut down when Xiao’s gloved hand gripped his own, tugging it gently from his face. 

“If I’m not mistaken,” he began, voice low and considering, “while often false, rumors also grow through seeds of truth.”

Jaw slack, Aether gaped, the words whirling through his mind struck greater than a hurricane, but not a sound escaped. Nodding vaguely, he nervously gazed from Xiao to the potted plant behind him, examining the giant green leaves and the intricate designs along its holder. 

“Then…did you…” Conflict flickered in Xiao’s eyes and Aether noticed the signs before the Yaksha would often deny his own questions and leave. Despite the fast rate of his heart and mental shrieking, Aether felt the panic rise in his throat, the impending urge to ask him to stay boiling on the tip of his tongue. The flicker of doubt passed and Xiao pressed on, unaware of how it continued to rob Aether of his voice, “Feign drowning again, despite my reprimand?”

A second passed. Then another. Aether blinked in time with his own heart, puzzled. “Why would I have—I didn’t.” Had he missed a step somewhere? Xiao’s train of thought was moving quicker than his own, unable to focus. “Why-”

“If you hadn’t, Traveler,” Xiao continued, voice darkening with an edge Aether only heard when he was serious. “Then one could only assume the so-called lover that saved you was not, in fact, a mystery person, but myself. Correct?”

Aether’s mouth went completely dry and what blush he had quickly faded as the blood rushed from his face. He felt a chill down his spine, crawling along his arms down to the very tips of his gloved fingers. Another nod and he felt foolish. Why wouldn’t the words come, now when he needed them?

And why was his hand still firmly grasped by Xiao’s? He couldn’t think straight. And the intensity of Xiao’s narrowed eyes, glowing from the low-light of the sunset, made his skin crawl in ways he couldn’t begin to explain. 

“What is the truth?” Xiao spoke again, pulling Aether from his derailed and panicked thoughts with a gentle squeeze of his hand to ground him. “What did Paimon say to cause such bold claims?”

The dam in Aether’s lungs burst and before he could control himself, he answered. “I-I know it’s ridiculous to consider us together like that, but don’t be too angry with Paimon. She’s just full of mischief.” 

His eyes stung, but he blinked it away, pressing on in hopes to ease whatever wrinkles Xiao foresaw. “It was my fault anyway, I was so ashamed from worrying you that I left her to talk to everyone for me and she told only a few people that my crush had-”

He paused, eyes widening as he looked to Xiao, whose expression turned blank through his ramble. Aether couldn’t read it. Not this time. Wait, did Xiao understand what a crush was? “I’m sorry, I’m not making much sense-”

“You’re right. The thought of us together in a romantic capacity is ridiculous.” His voice was sharp, measured, but Aether felt as if acid had been flung at his face. He winced as Xiao’s grip tightened. “What an unnecessary passtime, spreading falsities over mere hearsay.”

Everything shattered. Aether’s bones. His very heart. He felt it cracking into millions of pieces. It wasn’t difficult to damage an already broken heart, desperately searching for the one person who could patch it back together again. Lumine’s absence always felt like knives when he stopped to think, to consider the implications throughout his journey and now… his throat felt swollen, robbed of breath: broken all over again. Xiao was always harsh when he wanted to be. His words sharper than daggers when he made a point. 

Don’t cry, Aether. Not here. Not now. He smiled a watery, broken grin, eyes blinking repetitively as his arm hung limply between them. Calm down. Don’t act as if you’ve been rejected when you weren’t even going to ask-

There was no masking Aether’s reaction. No time. His emotions were out on his sleeve, dangerously hanging over the edge. He couldn’t remember a time when he’d allowed himself to be so close to others until this world, and now every reason he and Lumine agreed not to in their younger days came spiraling back to the surface, screaming ‘I told you so’ repetitively in his mind. “Hah, y-yeah…Well, it’s just how we are.”

His voice was hollow, hoarse even, struggling to mask the tumultuous tsunami encompassing his entire being. Inside, he was tumbling down and further down, but his body didn’t move. Neither did his hand. Xiao’s grip was still strong. 

Xiao’s grip… Aether focused on it, blankly recognizing that despite the Yaksha’s words, his actions spoke differently. No longer meeting Aether’s eyes, his attention grew fixated on the bits of syrup clinging to his glove. In a moment of insanity, he realized Xiao must not have seen his obvious change in tone, a chance to bar his heart again. Lock it away and mask himself as he’d done before. Smile. Smile, Aether. Everything will be fine if you just smile. 

Contradicting the storm brewing in the traveler’s heart, the wind gently pressed against the two: soft and strong as it whistled through the branches above. The view of the night sky was a brilliant kaleidoscope atop the Wangshu Inn, but Aether couldn’t attend to it. Not now, when his gaze fixed firmly behind Xiao’s shoulder, desperately blinking back the emotions that threatened to drip. If he could manage to look unaffected, perhaps everything could revert to normal, but Aether wondered, amidst his mental struggle, what was normal? 

To stand back. Keep his distance. Treat Xiao as a weapon? No. The mere thought elicited an immediate rejection. Aether could never, not even when they had first met.  Even then, he was in awe of the adeptus. Xiao was the perfect mixture of belonging to the world, yet standing outside of it. Untouched by the world's changes as he valiantly struggled nightly to defend it. How could he see him as anything less?

“Fascinating,” Xiao’s voice broke through Aether’s spiraling thoughts, his grip tugging and lifting his hand towards him. Swiftly, Xiao shattered Aether all over again as his tongue swiped a patch of syrup from his glove, tasting the syrup. “You should remove this before it stains.”

What.  Aether couldn’t keep up, face blooming a brilliant red before he could catch himself. Covering his face, he met Xiao’s golden gaze, piercing into his own and struggling to breathe. 

“X-Xiao,” He choked, wrenching away his hand before another rug could be swept out from under him, “You really sh-shouldn’t -”

“Hm? Shouldn’t what?” The Yaksha blinked, considering his prior actions, and his own ears dusted a light pink. “Ah. Am I making you uncomfortable?” The space between them grew and for a wild second, Aether almost pulled him right back, but grasped the railing instead, grounding himself. 

Yes, he had to admit, he was very uncomfortable, but not for the reasons Xiao would think. “I’m fine! You just, can’t… well, if anyone saw, then those rumors would …”

Aether glanced towards the balcony entrance, relieved that no set of eyes could be found looking on upon them. Paimon was keeping her word, giving Aether space and the inn residents down below off to their rooms to prepare for sleep. They were as alone as they could be and Aether wondered if he preferred that over the alternative. His body was hot and broken, a confused combination that struck a headache behind his eyes.

“Are you ill?” 

Aether cursed as his broken movements were finally observed by the other. Shaking his head furiously, Aether turned his back on the other, leaning over the railing to judge the distance of the deck below, carefully considering a route to escape. He couldn’t go far, not without Paimon, but if he  moved quick enough he could-

Xiao was beside him before he could move further, hands hovering over his shoulder with eyes wide in alarm. Aether could see the way his hands wavered, questioning his own next move and, once upon a time, he would have found the action endearing, but now guilt settled in his gut and he swallowed back an embarrassed whine. “Traveler are you trying to-”

No. No. Don’t ask. Don’t-

“Aether.” 

He froze, the earlier panic settling in his bones melted away at the sound of his name. Unspoken in the world for so long, unsaid by voices he desperately wanted to hear. The memory of the chasm, the desperation he felt at Xiao’s sacrifice and…A whisper of his true name to a world that would never know it.

Xiao kept his promise to hold Aether’s name in secret, to allow just one person to recognize who he truly was. Funny, how hearing it sent his heart soaring and crashing down all at the same time. He was frozen in place far better than any elemental reaction could achieve, glancing back at Xiao in earnest.

Xiao had called for him by name. Xiao had.. 

“Xiao?”

The Yaksha looked upon him in trepidation, eyes glancing to the rail and back to Aether again. His expression was near unreadable as he crossed his arms: creating a barrier between them.  Aether knew the action, something Xiao would never admit, but often used to keep the space. Recognizing this obvious sign of Xiao’s pushing him away, he swallowed the desperate whine that threatened to escape him. Despite the multitude of emotions broiling through him, Aether read the Adeptus loud and clear: Xiao was conflicted.

The Yaksha in question considered his words carefully, striking eyes never leaving Aether’s as they wavered between unspoken words, fingers clenched tightly as he sighed, frustrated. “I told you. Speak my name, Adeptus Xiao, and I will be there for you.” 

Aether blinked. What was Xiao getting at?

“Likewise,” he continued, brows furrowing. “You said that heroes can take care of each other…that I can rely on my friends.” Realization slowly came to Aether, sensing the direction Xiao was taking them. “So then… if something is wrong. You can tell me…unless you are trying to spare my feelings?”

“It’s not like-” Words died in his throat as Aether tried to explain himself, but what could he say? He was stuck, lost in the murk of his own, confused, tired emotions.

“If my Karma is affecting you then just say so.” Xiao finished and everything exploded. Aether couldn’t take it any longer, biting back a humorless laugh as he shook his head, wildly flinging his braid behind him as he went. 

“You think that’s- Xiao, no. I’m fine. Really.” He pushed, urged the Yaksha to look beyond his Karma. It was slow progress, one he had seen with each visit, but he couldn’t let Xiao believe his actions had anything to do with the darkness that threatened the Yaksha’s sanity every day. At Xiao’s disbelieving expression, he pressed on, “I was embarrassed, Xiao. You really shouldn’t just lick syrup off of anyone like that-”

Xiao’s retort was as swift as his polearm, “Why would I ever do that to just anyone? Is this another mortal thing I’m unaware of?”

Aether was dying inside. The awkwardness was too much. Far too much. “It’s not something casual friends would do, Xiao. People - not just mortals- can and will take it the wrong way.”

At Xiao’s deafening silence, he felt the nerves crawl up his back and he shivered, unable to stop himself now that he started. “You know the rumors? If it’s so ridiculous for us to be together, isn’t performing something that could be misinterpreted as intimate going to muddle things up?”

Something lit in Xiao’s eyes and the Yaksha looked away, throat clearing as he gazed at the stars as if looking for some answer to a mystery that couldn’t be solved. “Humans believing a Yaksha deserving of a mate… a significant other, is ridiculous. Much less with a traveler who must journey onward and leave them behind.”

How many times could one have their breath stolen from them? Ice cold, metaphorical water, dumped itself over his shoulders, eyes widening at Xiao’s reply. Too many words wanted to sail through him all at once, but the winner came out, ringing clear as a sunny day and forceful. “Karma or no Karma, Xiao, you are more deserving than you give yourself credit.”

Like going in circles. How often had Aether thought the same thing about himself? He was on a journey, his sister and the mysteries of the abyss his top priority. How could he have time to romance? What happened after his journey? There were too many unknowns, too many questions, but to hear those same worries from another was surreal. He’d given too much of himself to Teyvat already. His time. His care. His strength, and to Xiao, he gave his name. A part of him would always be here, there was no escaping it, but Aether would be damned if he let Xiao continue to think himself unworthy of anything. 

Ignoring the broken pieces of his heart, he breached the barrier of Xiao’s crossed arms, pulling them apart despite the Yaksha’s confused grunt. There was a brief second where Xiao tensed, refusing to move, before giving in and letting him close the distance, almost furious in his attempt to hammer the self-doubt away. “Yan Fei is half Adeptus,” He rambled, thinking about the harbor's legal consultant, “She’s proof that a non-human can be with another." 

Xiao attempted to interrupt, but Aether shook his head, pressing on. “A Yaksha is different. I know. Believe me, I know, but…isn’t she still proof that it’s possible? Those with visions can be around you, Xiao...you don’t…You don’t have to be alone. You can be with someone. Anyone.”

He laughed, hollowly, knowing he was pushing through so many barriers, and it was crazy how his earlier feelings of rejection came second place to ensuring Xiao understood his own worth. Distantly, he realized his fingers were squeezing into Xiao’s forearms with a force strong enough to bruise a normal person, but he couldn’t bring himself to stop. Not just yet. Not now. 

“And Xiao…” He continued, voice filling in with a tone of finality, “Anyone-and I do mean anyone- would be honored to be chosen to stay by your side…if you wanted it.”

He clenched his eyes shut. Waiting for the scoff. For Xiao to push him back, to disperse into the anemo particles he controlled and leave him there, empty and alone. 

Yet, none of that happened. Xiao’s earlier grip returned, mirroring Aether’s hold. A blush of heat and warmth spread over his cheeks, realizing the Adeptus had closed the distance, stepping closer as a soft press of lips brushed along his skin. Not wanting to break the spell, to open his eyes and see reality, Aether held in a breath and waited. 

Seconds ticked by, but the presence never left and Xiao shifted, muttering against Aether’s ear, “...Am I allowed to want, Aether?”

Aether recalled a time when Xiao had claimed to have no desires, no aspirations, nothing. This question wrapped the pieces of his heart together and shattered them all over again. So many things about Xiao caused Aether a pain he couldn’t describe, often pushed back in response to other, pressing concerns. And yet those simple words left him weightless, arms wrapping around Xiao to hold him close, to bury his nose into the Yaksha’s shoulder, shaking from the force of his emotions. Was he allowed? How cruel this world could be, to leave someone so afraid of their own wants that they must ask to receive them. “I can’t give you permission. No one can. It’s your choice, Xiao. It always has been.”

Xiao was tense, uncertain where to place his arms, hesitantly they rested against his waist, allowing Aether to pull him tighter in, unaware of the way Xiao melted against him. 

A monumental shift had begun between them, one that left Aether breathless and unsure, but there were many things he didn’t know. That didn’t matter. As a traveler, he loved to explore the unknowns and this, this was as unknown as anything else in the world. To him and Xiao both. But the way Xiao’s next question put another piece of his heart back into place made Aether almost lose his footing. “Am I allowed to want you?”

Perhaps those rumors wouldn’t fade away, after all. Perhaps they were about to find a new addition to stoke the flames instead.  Aether expelled the air he was holding inside himself and knew the question for what it really was. They both knew the end of his journey was full of unknowns, they both knew he might choose to leave one day and yet - he tightened his hold and laughed through the tears welling in his eyes.

“I thought I was the one who asked dumb questions. He sniffled and blinked back the moisture, refusing to cry into Xiao’s shirt. “You can want anyone, but, is it okay for me to want, as well? I still haven’t brought Lumine back, and my journey is far from over, but-”

A shock of pain shot through Aether’s neck and he belatedly realized Xiao had nipped him with a sharp fang, effectively silencing him. The action was so strange and new that he couldn’t figure out where to begin. 

Satisfied by his silence, Xiao withdrew, eyes blinking owlishly as he examined Aether’s red-rimmed eyes. “Your questions are just as ridiculous as always, Traveler. Are humans not allowed to love, even if their goals lead them far away?”

Aether wanted to argue that he wasn’t half as human as many thought, but the argument was cut short, interrupted by the Yaksha pressing their foreheads together, eyes closed. “You can’t promise you’ll stay, just as I can’t promise my karma won't take me eventually. This is… fair enough.”

And it was, Aether realized. It really was. It would take time to process the whirlwind of a conversation they’d just gone through, but in Xiao’s arms, that didn’t seem too daunting a task. For now, they had the time, and the night was still young, with rumors still freshly spreading throughout the inn as Paimon finished her meal and blabbered on to Verr Goldett about one thing or another.  

Looking back to the night sky, he sighed, feeling a secure safety wrap itself around his heart, a certainty that despite all the unknowns of the world, he could at least have this. Xiao, just as silent, but comfortable, joined his gaze upward and sighed. “Perhaps,” he said after a time, voice breaking through the atmosphere of their shared emotions, “we can continue our earlier conversation. You said you had many stories about Sumeru. Could you tell me?”

Aether’s answering smile made his cheeks sore, but his eyes glittered in the starlight. And if their conversation continued well into the night, to be spotted by a few onlookers from the decks below for more gossiping rumors to spread along the harbor and beyond…

So be it.  Aether couldn’t bring himself to care anymore.

[genshinemblem564]

Intermission I: Festival

Occasionally in my stories there will be chapters called intermissions, where the focus will be on interactions between characters and are used to move the story along, as to not linger too long at a certain point. As a rule, intermissions hold no plot points, but that doesn't mean that the points brought up won't be touched upon later. Essentially, these can be seen as filler. Intermissions are formatted like headcanons for the sake of efficiency.

Hilda x Marianne ship hinted at

Childe and Tartaglia used interchangeably

Not proofread

• Once Xinyan started playing, everyone was in awe. You had tried to explain rock to them before but could never find the right words, and it was made abundantly clear why from this performance.

• Hu Tao spent a great deal of time listening to Mercedes's ghost stories, enamored by the feeling of a chill running down her spine from words alone.

• Xiangling was having the time of her life. Not only was Raphael willing to taste test almost anything, but Dedue was more than willing to share some Duscur recipes.

• Ashe and Xingqiu hit it off almost immediately. How could they not while they both hold a burning passion for literature, chivalry, and justice? They've both commented on how the other seems like a hero from a story they read, one of noble birth and one of humble origins.

• You already know but I'm going to say it anyway. Felix and Childe got into a fight. It was actually closer than you'd think, Childe still won but he was so impressed that someone without a vision could do so well against him. Offered to be Felix's sparring partner again in the future.

• Beidou, Catherine, Jeralt, and Alois are now drinking buddies.

• You shared your reward money with the others, not having much use for the sheer amount and also knowing you wouldn't regret it as Ningguang has already discussed a meeting schedule with Alfonse and Sharena to discuss a currency exchange rate.

• Dorothea, Manuela, and Yun Jin discuss how operas of their respective worlds differ, the two divas hoping to give the current opera singer any pointers they can. She likely doesn't need any, but she's so curious that she wouldn't say that out loud.

• Hilda, finally having some mora thanks to you, decided to try on some fancy Liyue dresses, and Hilda's fashion choice combined with Liyue's style of clothing left Marianne a blushing, stuttering mess.

• Ferdinand was enthralled by Teyvat's many weapons. Even just the polearms had a variety of designs and it sparked his collector's flame, and when he heard some people had signature weapons unique to them, without being sacred artifacts or heirlooms, he wanted to explore all of Teyvat at that point just to see these weapons.

• Seteth, Flayn, and Rhea were interested in Liyue's religion and history, but not wanting a glorified children's tale they asked around and were led to Ganyu, who was surprised but thrilled that someone outside of Liyue's devoted was so interested in its history to the point of wanting the facts without the fluff.

• If you thought Shamir and Yelan would get along, you were wrong. They don't hate each other, but Yelan can't stand how blunt and work focused Shamir is. It's more of a one-sided thing as Shamir actually doesn't mind Yelan's "outgoing" attitude. (I had to close the game because I was not expecting this woman to whisper in my/Aether's ear during the last Lantern Rite event.) However, they both have mutual respect for each other's efficiency. Their interaction was brief, so they didn't really get to know each other.

• Dimitri, Edelgard, and Yuri wished not to offend any Liyue citizens and to not be cheated like the tourists they are, leading them to Yanfei, who was more than willing to teach someone about Liyue's laws and how to avoid scam artists.

• Claude wants to learn about Liyue's culture. Being the idealist that he is, he hopes it'll help him find a way to convince Almyra and Fodlan to stop fighting. This leads him to ask around, starting conversations with countless familiar faces.

• The two Byleths were keen to bring Sothis to a food stall, as the goddess has only recently attained a physical form thanks to being summoned. The two were met with a fist to the gut each after commenting on how cute she looked while eating.

• Arval, being in a similar position as Sothis, is also accompanied by the two Shez's. However, they seem more interested in physical activity like dancing or making their own lantern.

• Hubert, while keeping an eye on Edelgard from the shadows, was scared half to death when he realized he was being watched by a masked spearman. While their face was covered, he could feel a glare that threatened to pierce his entire being. Truly, none can escape the eye of The Vigilant Yaksha.

• Lorenz could be found trading poems with Xingqiu or Hu Tao.

• Jeritza was accompanying Mercedes and was practically being harassed by Tartaglia's requests to spar after hearing about him from Felix.

• The Traveler and Paimon met Constance and Hapi. They were kind of put off by Hapi's seemingly uncaring tone, but it was cute how her tone would shift when talking about her Coco. Constance was bosting about house Nuvelle as usual. When the two groups parted, Paimon couldn't help but comment on how familiar Constance's behavior was, but she couldn't explain why.

• Ingrid had lost sight of Sylvain, and when she found him, he was talking to Shenhe. Assuming the usual was taking place, she grabs Sylvain by the ear, apologizes, and drags him off, leaving Shenhe confused, as they were just talking about flowers.

• Monica is attached to Edelgard at the hip, constantly trying to get her to wear some accessories she thought would look nice on her.

• Bernadetta, still on the boat, decides to paint the harbor as the lanterns lit up the city enough for her to see it, and her window gave her the perfect view.

• Linhardt tried getting books from Wanwen bookhouse, but he couldn't tell fact from fiction, as in he couldn't read Teyvat's writing. Due to language not being a topic of interest for him, he gives up.

• Caspar and Ignatz had left the city. Caspar had too much energy to stay in the harbor, and Ignatz wanted to paint Liyue from a good angle. Both had a chance encounter with Kazuha, who complimented their respective qualities.

• Balthus had told everyone about Genius Invokation and suggested it to them as well

_______________________________________

If someone is absent from this, it means I couldn't think of anything involving them. My knowledge of certain characters is limited( I had to dig for Lorenz's poetry bit. ). Also, I know Yelan isn't really like that, but I put that in because I thought it might get a chuckle out of some people.

[gnostichymns]

With the calm breezes of Spring relenting to the blistering heat of Summer, thousands across the stars are all in search of one thing: a relaxing getaway!

And that is exactly what you have found, or at least you think so. In every harbor in Teyvat, ships have appeared with promise of the Perfect Summer Escape! If you ignore the strange expressions of the crew, you'll find the voyage quite amiable. Its end destination is a cluster of islands with beautiful golden beaches and just-right seas, perfect for a week of relaxation! Even among the stars have rumors spread of this place, with buy-one-bring-a-friend-free tickets being handed out like candy for this once in a lifetime experience!

Only once you have arrived and settled in, sampled the refreshments, and kicked up your feet does realization strike: your ship has vanished. Rest assured, it will be back for you! (Probably...)

Welcome to the celebration of Summer never-ending!

From every walk of life, people have gathered upon these islands to celebrate the season and enjoy time away from work and responsibility! For the month of June, muses within Gnostic Hymns may just find themselves to be among them. Here's what to expect:

The commission board has a new look for the month! Since everyone is here, there's no need to split the crowd. You'll find the prompts have no requirements for specific-game muse participation! Don't worry, though: threads from the last board (Bloom) can still be started throughout the month if you didn't get to them already.

The masterlist will also be releasing an ask meme within the first week for participating muses to reblog for shorter, faster-paced interactions.

But that's not all! A field has been set up for a good old-fashioned game of Harpastum Toss! Never played before? That's okay! Take a closer look and sign yourself up to participate! (Signups end at 11:59 PM EST on 06/04 - event runs from 06/06 - 06/09)

And for those of you that wish to delve deeper into the mystery that surrounds these islands, or perhaps just wish to find your way out of here, groups have begun to gather with plans of venturing to the islands' peaks. Consider joining them, you never know what you might find... (Signups end at 11:59 PM EST on 06/06 - event runs from 06/09-06/30)

Like during our Lantern Rite event, participating in the Solstice event will earn your muse Shiny Flotsam, a currency that will be exchanged for prizes!

Each interaction from the Solstice commission board and event ask meme will earn 1 Shiny Flotsam!

Participation in our Harpastum Toss will earn 2 Shiny Flotsam, and participation in the Requiem of Season's End event will earn 3 Shiny Flotsam.

A total of 5 Shiny Flotsam can be exchanged for one Solstice Weapon and your choice of 1 additional talent point or 1 crown. Please link your interactions/participation in an ask to the Masterlist detailing your choices before July 7th!

Don't forget to tag all posts related to the event with #GHSolstice2024 !!

[symphonic-scream]

Sorry that I slipped back into Genshin brainrot but I finally finished the Fontaine Archon Quest (I know. I just didn't feel like doing it for a while) and Arlecchino's Story Quest and. God

For context, I've been playing Genshin off and on since 1.0, literally the beginning. I have all my areas at 100%, and I even do those world quests that are unvoiced and way too long

And. Let me just say, Fontaine is now my favourite nation. For so long it's been Liyue, and as someone who really hates the French (Canadian, I'm Canadian), man. Fontaine fucking rocks

Long post ahead.

Sumeru's Archon Quest was, tedious. I didn't connect to it at all so it was not exactly a chore, but if given the chance, I wouldn't replay it. The region was torture before the layered map existed. I kept getting lost. The skin tone thing is an entire other issue as well, but. This nation loses a lot of points for the racist genie bottle fuck that quest

Inazuma was almost too much for me, in a way. I wasn't a fan of the locked progression, and the enemies and puzzles were frustrating. This nation brought in needing commissions to get all the quests too, which I STILL HAVENT GOTTEN ITS BEEN TWO YEARS GOURMET SUPREMOS FUCK YOU. I did like the touch that while you were wanted, if a guard saw you in Inazuma City youd get removed that was fun. DONT GET ME STARTED ON ENKANOMIYA.

Liyue felt like the right step after Mondstadt. Getting to beat up Childe is an extra plus. The way it also led into Inazuma was great too, I hope they do something like that for Natlan. The story had a natural build up to me, and it flowed well. The Chasm, while frustrating, felt like a meaningful addition to the nation. And, I am swayed by Lantern Rite. Best event every year, hands down. And, I love Chenyu Vale!

Mondstadt was the perfect starting nation. I go back every now and then to test out builds in progress and team comps, but that's about it. The City is the highlight by far, but the Archon Quest was near perfect. Venti used to be my favourite Archon, too. I got him on his first banner, he's fun to play and I wish he'd finally get his Story Quest chapter 2 IVE BEEN WAITING YEARS FOR MORE VENTI

Anyways. So, let's talk Fontaine

It didn't hit me right away. I loved the first part of the quest. Meeting the twins at the port, Furina showing up and making her grand entrance in such a showy manner, it was perfect. It was hard to see how the second part really fit in, and I will say I am a little tired of Navia crying, but. By the time the Finale happened, I was satisfied. The Fortress part was excellent too, and. The Finale

The twist about Furina was perfectly executed to me. Especially since her erratic behaviour in the trial is used to show how seriously she took her assignment from Focalors. She *had* to make sure they kept believing in her, otherwise,

Didn't like that abrupt cut in the whale fight. That part didn't wrap up right to me, but oh well

And, this nation has had so many wonderful characters. There's not one that I hate, and that's huge. Everyone feels whole and interesting to me, just. Amazing

I love Arlecchino. The Hearth siblings. How dare this game make me care about the Fatui?? I was doing so well, I didn't like any of the other Harbingers or operatives so far and BAM. Hot lady dad and her three French kids. Stole my heart

Neuvillette plays perfectly as the "higher being that's become enamored by humans", and the way Sigewinne contrasts his emotional investment with her more "detached" (used loosely) fascination works so well. There's Wriothesley, and Navia and Clorinde, who both highlight the grey side of Justice, in different ways. Charlotte and Chevreuse are also there

And. Fucking Furina

I actually cried during the Archon Quest, in her little mind bit. I wasn't her biggest fan on launch, but. Now I'm obsessed. To me, this accomplished much more than what Scaramouche did, with a similar premise. I can't stand that twink, but Furina perfectly captured my attention and heart

All in all, Fontaine was so excellent. The water mechanics are some of my favourite in the game now, and all the new creatures and birds and enemies were perfect. The Bygone Sea was a perfect added area, and. I may be biased as a musician, but it really outclassed Chasm and Enkanomiya

There's only about two Fontaine updates left before Natlan. Hopefully I'll enjoy the region that will be the closest from repping my culture (native Canadian. Latin America is, close enough for me I guess), so. Here's hoping

This was all opinion. I felt like writing it all out, since I've had so many feelings about the game lately