#Fell into genshin impact and now I have a new fixation

[the-dragon-hearted]

New obsession: Godly Travelers

Okay so the Genshin rabbit hole is deep and I know I'm not the first to explore this but OH, I LOVE IT. I've been devouring genshin fics and everytime I see these things I go a lil feral

Immortal traveler who's seen millions of worlds, who's role is to witness stories and remember - it's why they were created. To travel, to witness, to tell those stories

Celestial body metaphors ARE THE SHIT: Tell me how Aether is a comet and Lumine is a star or how Lumine is the night and Aether is the sun, how they're never one without the other until they are - so the only constant universe they know is disrupted. How they've orbited each other for so long, and now they're wild and lost in a world they cannot leave.

unhealthy sibling codependence? Yep.

A traveler who cannot stay in one place. Yes, they're looking for their sibling but also, staying in one place makes the scars where their wings once were ache. Familiarity scares them. Attachment scares them. How can they be impartial witnesses once they care (but they do. They care. They don't have their sibling who they shower all their affections on, but they do have these people - these kind, wild, heartfelt people).

Tell me about this character who's eyes burn straight through the archon's soul. Who's skills and prowess impress but also terrify all who meet them. Because they may look like they belong but the world screams otherwise. Who else can carry the power of the gods but one who seeks to burn the heavens.

I want dangerous traveler - a part of them lives to fight. There is no innocence here, there's a chosen kindness.

And then give me a traveler torn in two. They want to find their twin and leave this world. They want all their friends to meet their other half. They never want to leave. They need to leave immediately. They've learned love from these people and that terrifies them. They want to attend every birthday party and festival. They know they will watch these people age and die.

They cannot fall in love, they cannot get attached, they will outlive all of these beings. That is the fate of the traveler: it doesn't matter if they choose to stay, they have to move on eventually. They have to.

But maybe for a moment that doesn't matter. Maybe they allow themselves to pretend otherwise, just for a little while... maybe they can pretend just for a little bit...

But they cannot hide the scars where their wings were or the call of the sky. They cannot fight the itch to run or explore. They cannot stop yearning for a fight - a good fight. A challenge. They cannot stop remembering.

Just... ancient-primordial-being Traveler

[fraink5-writes]

From Darkness Into the Lantern Light - Chapter 1

Surprise! It’s another fic from yours truly! I’m really proud of myself for having finished this, and I hope you can enjoy it too!

This time, in celebration of Tangled’s recent 10-year anniversary and Genshin Impact’s Lantern Rite event, it’s a Tangled AU à la Chili. 

Special thanks to @leio13 for the inspiring idea and for beta-reading!

Summary: Once upon a time, there was a cold-hearted queen. Although the Tsaritsa, as she was called, possessed her own divinity, she coveted the powers of the other Archons. Aiming to steal the Geo Archon's gnosis, she sent her strongest warriors to Liyue Harbor. But just when Rex Lapis was almost defeated, he escaped to another vessel, that of a powerless baby, and was swept away to a hidden tower for his protection.

Many years after the great fight, the young and ambitious Harbinger, Childe, arrives in Liyue to grant the Tsaritsa's desire, but, on his search for the Geo Archon's gnosis, he ends up tangled in a mysterious man's dreams to see Liyue Harbor's Lantern Rite.

This chapter can also be found on Ao3 here. Without further ado, please enjoy!

This is the story of how Rex Lapis died.

It all began many years ago in the snowy, mountainous country of Snezhnaya on the order of the Tsaritsa: take the Geo Archon’s gnosis. Having set her eyes upon that treasure, she sent her most trusted soldiers to retrieve it at the annual Rite of Descension. The fight which ensued was brutal with many Fatui losing their lives; however, Rex Lapis was defeated—almost. After being dealt a fatal blow, Rex Lapis abandoned his old vessel and fled to the outer limits of Liyue, Sal Terrae, where he still cowers in fear. 

Yeah right. Childe was still young, having only been born around the time of the great fight, but he wasn’t going to buy into such an absurd, unsatisfactory ending. Had Rex Lapis any dignity like the Tsaritsa, he would not have made the coward’s choice. Soon, however, Childe would put the myth to rest and create a new ending worthy of the Tsaritsa’s efforts; he would take the Geo Archon’s gnosis and bring it back to Snezhnaya once and for all. 

Since Rex Lapis’ death, many great diplomatic efforts had been made to improve the relationship between Snezhnaya and Liyue. “There is no evidence that the Fatui were behind the assassination of Rex Lapis” was the official word—when they, in fact, were—but it allowed Childe to saunter down the streets of Liyue Harbor without issue. Any other Fatui would relish this immunity as a chance for clandestine operations, but not Childe—he was itching for a fight.

The dirt path to the Golden House was desolate as it curved away from the city. It was guarded by haunting lanterns and looming, rocky hills. It was almost boring. Not a single person was curious about the secrets which the famed pavilion held? Not even Childe’s accomplices…

Normally as a Harbinger, Childe could command whomever he liked, but, for this particular quest, the Tsaritsa insisted he teamed up with agents already established in Liyue, which left him with employees at Snezhnaya’s Northland Bank. With no interest nor combat abilities, they were essentially useless. But it was fine; Childe wanted to do all the fighting himself. 

The giant pavilion, its golden tiles shimmering, stood amongst the dark foliage and stony walls as a bold testament to the power of Rex Lapis on the Earth, even many years after his passing. For such an occasion, it was only fitting to walk through the front door. 

1, 2, 3, 4… There were approximately 20 Millelith guarding the outside and probably half the number inside. No biggie. Behind Childe, Andrei and Ekaterina gripped their borrowed knives, and the first two Milleliths seemed equally as unprepared as their visitors. They probably hadn’t seen combat in over a decade, having been paid to simply stand still. Knocking out the two guards drew the attention of the other guards, who came rushing over. Childe gave them time to throw their punches—maybe 18-on-1 would make an interesting fight—but their punches fell like autumn leaves, and they swiftly accumulated in crumpled piles besides him. The guards inside dropped just as quickly.

Finally, the main feature: the Exuvia. Childe scanned the waves of mora across the floor that hadn't felt a ripple in years. The Exuvia was raised above them like an altar of death. The gold scales of the torn and bloodied dragon had lost their glimmer.

"So this is the dying body of the exalted Rex Lapis. Hah." Childe scoffed. Although, truthfully, he was disappointed. The great battle had ended many years ago, and he was just a grave robber. Nevertheless, for the Tsaritsa, he would stoop as low as to mangle an old corpse.

He plunged his hand into the cold body. Nothing. Amidst the dried up organs, there was nothing out of place. 

“Master Childe, please hurry!” Ekaterina’s voice echoed from the entrance. “More milleliths are coming!”

“Tch.” Childe groped deeper in the wound.

The rush of synchronized boots signalled that time was up. “...Ahh—!” A short-lived shriek pierced through the hall.

“Dammit!” Childe muttered under his breath while breaking into a sprint. There was nothing all along. The Exuvia was nothing but an empty carcass. 

After Childe pushed through the swarm of grabbing hands and pointed weapons, Andrei’s voice broke desperately through the chaos. “Master Childe?!”

Without stopping, Childe flashed one reassuring smile to his captured subordinates. “Use your immunity! It’ll be fine!” Then he took off at an even greater pace.

Childe had to admit that getting caught and leaving behind his subordinates was an uncharacteristic, poor move, but he had just failed to get the Geo Archon’s gnosis, and having put his country’s relations in deep peril, he could not stop until he held the gnosis in his hand. 

After charging through Liyue’s crowded streets and arriving at a great stairwell, Childe stopped beside a statue to figure out just where exactly he had gone. No stranger to navigating foreign lands, he quickly oriented himself: Liyue Harbor was to the south and the ruins of Guili Plains to the north. Oh. Without realizing it, he had ran in the direction of Sal Terrae. 

He looked up at the towering statue of Rex Lapis. His muscular abdomen, lounging posture and hooded face displayed power untainted by concern for mortal affairs—even the irreverent crimes of the man right below him who had disfigured his body. 

Rex Lapis, I hope you’re in Sal Terrae and we can fight just like this.

Without lingering a second longer, Childe started for Sal Terrae with a renewed desire to meet Rex Lapis. 

***

Sal Terrae was an interesting place. Although technically possessed by Liyue, it was more apt to think of it as no man’s land between Liyue and the northern country of Mondstadt. The only residents were the occasional monster or abyss mage. If Rex Lapis—or now-wanted-man Childe, for that matter—wanted to hide, this would be a good place to do so. 

However, it seemed that someone had already claimed the place as their own. On the region’s main island, a bizarre tower had been erected. The roof had hexagonal eaves as if to say “hey, this is still Liyue,” but other than that, the tower was not much more than a jagged pillar of stones, unbefitting for any region. From his perspective, Childe could make out one open window towards the top. 

Hopefully no one’s home, he thought and began climbing the walls. 

When Childe clambered through the window, the first thing that caught his eye was how homey the inside looked, but, as he had hoped, no one was there—definitely not Rex Lapis. He sighed. “Thankfu--“

***

The creature that had scaled the walls and entered his home was a complete mystery. Upon first inspection, the mask on the side of its head would suggest that it was a hilichurl. However, although messy, the bright orange hair did not cover its entire head. Instead, it had soft skin and normal lips. Then perhaps it was a human. According to his mother’s information, it would be better if it were a hilichurl because they are lacking in intelligence and thus easier to deal with. But it was too late for hoping. The thing had already entered his home, and only its inevitable awakening would reveal the kind of threat it posed. 

However, that did not mean precautions couldn’t be taken.

***

The first thing Childe noticed when he came to was stringy irritation coiled tightly around his body. ...Hair? The black restraints pressed him into a chair and stretched out indefinitely from there: into the corner, up the wall, across the ceiling, arching across to another corner… Was there no end? Finally, Childe’s eyes fixated on a point—or rather a person—right in front of him. The man’s sharp features were impeccable; his glowing amber eyes betrayed no sign of weakness. Even the frying pan in his hands, poised to strike, looked like an actual weapon. And the hair came impossibly but undeniably from his head. No matter how many odd situations Childe’s experience as a harbinger had led him to, none had prepared him for this. What was this man planning? Torture? Something a little more… involved?

“Speak,” the man demanded.

Perhaps Childe could talk his way out of this one, after all. “Yeah… hi...”

The man’s posture loosened for a split second before becoming even firmer than before. “So, then you are a man?”

“Yep, that’s right.” Childe feigned a bashful smile. “Just an ordinary man. So I think there may have been a misunderstanding here—”

“Why did you come here?” The man’s tone only grew harsher. Negotiations were failing.

“Here? Oh, completely by accident. I wouldn’t have…”

“You didn’t climb the wall by accident.”

“No, you’re right. I did not. That is true.”

“Why did you come here?”

“Look, you’re right, okay. Climbing the wall was not an accident, but I only happened to find this place. I didn’t think anyone would actually be up here, but, haha, I was wrong.”

“You weren’t expecting to find me?”

“Should I have been? Your hair is quite… exquisite, but—”

“Flattery won’t work. What do you know about me? About this place?”

“Aside from the fact you tied me up to a chair, absolutely nothing. I’m not even from this country. Look, I am extremely sorry for trespassing on your private property. If you let me go, I will leave immediately, and we can both forget I was ever here. Capiche?”

“I will let you go under certain conditions.”

“Excellent, negotiation’s back on the table.” Childe smirked. “I take it you want me to swear not to tell anyone about you or your tower?”

The man sighed. “That would be ideal, but unfortunately, I cannot trust you. So you must let me accompany you.”

Huh?

“Wait, why would you want to come with me?”

“In order for you to have found this location, you must be an experienced adventurer, are you not?”

“You could say that.”

“Then, you came here in search of something.”

“Not necessarily.” Childe shrugged. 

“I have not encountered a single other person; no one stumbles upon this tower by accident.”

Childe’s casual facade crashed as he stumbled over the other man’s words. “Wait, hold on.”

“You can’t lie to me. I know you are looking for something.”

“Yes, okay, but, wait—”

“I will help you find it if you uphold your end of the contract.”

“‘Contract?’ Wait, hold on, what did you say before?”

“I know you are looking for something.”

Childe shook his head.

“I want you to take me with you.”

Waiting for the man to repeat the words was pointless. Childe sighed. “Did you say you haven’t encountered another person?”

“Will you or will you not agree to the contract?”

Childe groaned in resignation. “Is that the only way I’m getting out of this chair?”

The man nodded.

“Alright, alright. I’ll do it, but let me out of the chair before we discuss the details.”

Childe watched in mesmerisation as the man slowly untangled him from his long, jet-black hair with cautious but graceful movements

Childe was not a stranger to contracts; he wanted to dictate how this one was written. “The contract will be a simple one. I will lead you to your destination. You don’t get to question the routes and detours I might take. Yes?”

“Of course. I am grateful for your guidance.”

“Exactly! In exchange, when we reach your destination, you will tell me all you know about my target. And that’s it. You go back to your tower, and I go on my merry way. Never to see each other again.”

“So long as you don’t say a word about me.”

“Yes, of course. I figured you would care about your privacy. So how about this: during our time together, neither of us will ask any questions about the other, and when we part, we won’t breathe a word about each other. How does that sound?”

“It sounds agreeable.”

“Oh yeah, one more thing, if you change your mind about your destination after we’ve begun travelling, you still owe me the information as payment for my time.”

“That’s only reasonable. But, may I ask you a final question?”

“That depends.”

“What is your name? I need to know in order to finalize the contract.”

“You can call me Childe.”

“Childe, I swear by my name, Zhongli, to see this contract to completion.”

“Man, you really take this contract thing seriously, huh. Alright, I swear by the name Childe too.”

[azulann]

5,13, 23, 27 for the ask game!

Character Ask Meme

Sorry I’m so slow to answer! Weekends are busy for working (and I spend all my free time on Genshin rn SDASDADS RIP)  

5. What is a secret they have?

Yura likes to hum rather idly. She would do it all the time when she was younger, using it as a way to distract herself during her time alone, occupying her mind rather than allowing the silence and the solitude to get to her on the days her father was busy. However, after her departure from Ishgard, the habit began to slow somewhat and following the loss of her mentor, she quit doing so all together. While her stopping was initially unintentional and a result of much of the trauma she had come to face, she soon came to view it as a detriment to her own hardened persona, not wanting to appear childish for such a habit. As she begins to recover her confidence and her idealism, she begins to slip into this habit of humming once more, but does so often subconsciously and unintentionally, and is liable to not only become extremely embarrassed by the habit but deny it outright, no matter how many might bear witness to her habit. She doesn’t have a bad voice, she simply feels a sense of humiliation at the prospect of being caught as she fears being seen as childish for it. Because of this, she tries to keep from this habit and keep it as on the down low as possible, though it clearly doesn’t always work.

13. What is something that makes them uncomfortable?

The concept of the supernatural, especially the living dead, disturbs Yura more than a little. This is not due to her fears of the supernatural, but rather entails her discomfort at the thought of the departed not being allowed their rest. The idea that even death may not provide a final peace disturbs her, and she fears for those she has lost and what her future may hold at the thought of it.

In an extremely different and less grim vein, Yura is also made very uncomfortable when her age and stature are brought up, as she despises being underestimated due to appearance. While she takes comments about such subjects rather harshly, she has proven that they are rarely actually impactful due to her proving her extreme skill and ability time and again. It has developed into more of a joke among friends to tease her than anything serious. 

23. What do they want most in life?

If someone were to ask Yura what she wanted most in life, she wouldn’t be able to answer properly at first. She has spent so much of her life letting her fixation on her past and her focus on others dictate where she went in life, she has rarely, if ever, truly considered what she wants for herself. The thought of her own desires would eventually ring her to realize what she really wants, and likely the reasoning for doing everything she has, is peace of mind. In her head, she pictures a simple home, out of the way of the world and surrounded by a garden grown by her hand. She seeks simplicity and peace in a world where she has felt she has experienced everything but. 

27. Do they have any cool scar stories?

As a warrior, Yura has been privy to more than her fair share of scars, and does not take any of them for granted. She views them all as lessons to be learned, mistakes that have been made, progress that has been achieved, and lives that have been saved. Each scar to her is proof that she has been stronger than what has knocked her down. Of course, there is one she holds in a higher esteem than all the others, though she isn’t always liable to talk about it. 

A deep cut on the left side of her forehead, sitting barely visible at her hairline marks her first scar, a mark obtained in her youth, perhaps at 6 summers old at most, after she fell off a stool and cut her head. What made such a simple childish mistake stick with her so strongly? As her father attended to her, full of worry, Yura was proud to tell him that now she matched him, “I’m just like you dad,” a man worn by battle and the man who had given up everything to raise her right. With every new scar, she feels ever more grateful to him, always aiming to take care of others as well as he had taken care of her.