#Funnily enough this isn't even the take on Abyss that would get me the most ire from the most people!

[valeriefauxnom]

Yo, since you brought it up, what's the interpretation of Abyss's ending you like the most?

Going for blood, huh, anon? I'll bite!

I'm on the side of 'technically I think it should be Asch in Luke's body' side even if I acknowledge it's ultimately ambiguous.

The Contamination sidequest, of course, is the principle foundation for this argument, as it spells out pretty clearly: Asch will die, but Asch will assume Luke's body as a backup. Luke will remain in body but not spirit, further twisting the knife to Jade, who no longer would want his dream of 'replicas as a replacement body' to come true as he wished for Nebilim.

We also see an example of the effect with Star in Ortion cavern. The group comes back to see that the original cheagle has died, and the replica remains. But when Jade interviews the cheagle via Mieu, he finds out that it is the original in the replica's body, who felt weak, passed out, and woke up in another body.

More arguably, but I also might look to Jade's immediate response after he learns of Asch's death. He starts asking Luke about how it feels and all that, likely trying to get a gauge on what's happening, if there's any chance Luke is escaping the Big Bang, etc. He wants Luke to escape this with his life, no matter how dismal the odds even without Asch's death.

...And he doesn't seem pleased with the response he gets.

There's also his response at Tataroo itself, which, okay, very arguable, but to me is not a pleased look from Jade. I'm not claiming to be any kind of expert on reading emotions, but Jade's to me looks like one more of grief and/or disappointment than of happiness, especially in the anime, which could have more expressiveness than the original PS2 graphics in a game that had some notably poorly cutscenes.

And while yes, the mysterious figure does have more visual hints to Luke than Asch, and does reference a 'promise', I will say that to the latter both of the redheads were chucking around promises to everyone and is ambiguous. Luke's promise to Guy, to Tear, Asch's to Luke, etc.

Also, I just think it could be a unique and sad ending if Asch, who has utterly loathed replicas and the concept of one, from Van's grooming and his own trauma regarding Luke's replacement, finds himself a 'replica' in the new world, in his counterpart's body, and has to start trying to figure out what to do and who to be in the new world while puppeting around what's effectively the corpse of another person. It's just uniquely horrifying a concept that I would have loved to see explored. Heck, maybe even a postgame or game about the Jade Gang dealing with the impending fonon crisis while maybe trying to find a way to get Luke back and all the drama that could result would have been fun.

...But, as always, this is a very cursory summary of some of the most common arguments for Asch. We could dissect the Contamination Effect and Big Bang and all that all day, but to me, I personally don't see any evidence that it is not working as prescribed on Eldrant, or 'reversed' as some people argue. The one example we see is it working as intended, and Jade doesn't seem all that pleased when it seems like it's starting to kick up with Luke.

However, I'd like to throw a much rarer argument into the works as a thing to consider, just for fun.

What if it's not Asch in Luke's body or the reverse, or a merging of the two into one mind/body...But Lorelei?

To this, I'd like to point out that Lorelei has a sworn duty to answer the Grand Fonic Hymn of Yulia. And what was Tear signing right before this mysterious person popped up randomly in a field when Luke nor Asch show a particular skill in stealth? Well I mean Luke says he's good at hide and seek but still

Uh-huh, Grand Fonic Hymn. This could also explain the 'promised' quote. Lorelei is fulfilling its covenant with Yulia in heeding her descendant's call.

The mysterious person's speech and behavior, for however short we see it, is...ethereal? For lack of a better word? Detached? Both Luke and Asch are very emotional people and don't tend to speak in such a even, neutral tone. Lorelei, however, is a fonic sentience (well, so is Luke, but Luke is a mini chunk of Lorelei) and is not human at the end of the day. What few lines we do get from it in game are 'indirect' and otherwise formatted in a manner humans don't usually use when speaking. To me, the more detached 'This place has a nice view of Hod' compared to anything Luke or Asch might have said normally, even a greeting, is more aligned with Lorelei's potential behavior.

So yeah. Perhaps it's Lorelei, come to Auldrant after heeding Tear's call, perhaps in its' scions' visages, attempting to honor them both by assuming elements of both now that they (or at least Luke) have re-assimilated into the greater whole of Lorelei. Lorelei certainly seems to like its scions.

In the end I can just summarize: scientifically, I think it's Asch, canonically, it's ambiguous. No matter what side of the debate one is on, I dislike people trying to insist that it is absolute fact that x happened. I think part of the ambiguity is intended to reflect the fact that the Score is gone, the future is no longer set. Notice also how all the text boxes are gone after the Score is repealed. What they're saying- what's happening is no longer has a single canonical answer. So even if I do think more of the rules of the Abyss world point to Asch, it's ultimately up in the air.

[nuttytani]

Celestia's Cruel Thesis

Fandom: Genshin Impact

Pairing: Tartaglia | Childe x Zhongli

Premise: Childe gets isekai'd to a Liyue where Rex Lapis still rules over it.

A/N: I'm cross posting my works from ao3 to tumblr. Also, please check out this beautiful parallel world zhongchi art by @karininogo. This particular art lived rent free in my mind until it compelled me to write a fic about it + this is a multi chapter fic.

Fic is also available on my ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51194101/chapters/129353446

Chapter 1: Door to a new world

“Be careful, young man. I advise you not to accept any form of apparatus that measures time… Ah yes, particularly by someone in white. It will soon be the time for lantern rite after all, best avoid all bad omens at this time of the year,” the old man said weakly.

“That’s one strange superstition! But thanks, Luo Xiansheng, I’ll keep that in mind but I'm pretty sure that I won’t be receiving anything today,” Childe replied, chuckling to himself. The people of Liyue may have been freed from the rule of Adepti, however, their superstitions still remain. 

Oh, if only Childe could turn back time and slap himself, how wrong he was to ignore the wise words of the old man.

.

“Pay your respects! Yanwang Dijun has arrived, bow down to his imperial majesty!”

“Thousands of blessings to our lord!” the crowd yelled in excitement.  

“May you always protect our lands, oh almighty!” 

Sheesh, these people sure love their Archon huh? Childe watched warily, as he stood amongst the sea of Liyuens. He pulled at his white hooded robe closer, it was of Sumerian make, not that it mattered but the cotton was of good quality. Hopefully, his unassuming getup would help keep any suspicious eyes at bay…

When Luo Xiansheng had warned him about receiving gifts related to time and particularly by someone in white– he had not expected Paimon and the Traveller to drop by his office in Northland bank. And he definitely did not foresee them giving him an old hourglass. According to them, they found it in some mysterious domain in Mt. Hulao. 

He really shouldn’t have fiddled with that hourglass, at least not before getting it checked for traps and such. Well, most of the time, he would have done just that except, for some reason, he does– well did trust the Traveller. Though he is sure that it wasn’t her fault, neither did she know the consequences of using the hourglass. 

Ah, Lumine really needs to learn not to get her hands on every random thing she finds in obviously dangerous domains. 

.

Hmph, wretched fate he has. First it was the abyss and now he’s in some strange world where Zhongli– no, Rex Lapis, Morax, still rules over Liyue alongside the Adepti. Great, absolutely lovely! 

But, on a positive note, he isn’t even sure if it’s positive or at this point just… coping. He found out that the majority, if not all, of the people in the harbour were the same from his “world”. Like Iron tongue Tian telling his stories like always, Shitou selling his mine ores, that girl who always feeds the goldfish and Chef Mao, cooking as always alongside Xiangling. But none, not a single one of them recognise him. There is no such person as Tartaglia, Childe in this world. That he is sure of. He also figured that people don’t refer to the Archon as Rex Lapis, but as Yanwang Dijun. 

This Liyue may be similar in certain aspects but still has its differences from the one he’s used to.

Funnily enough, there’s Northland Bank, in its usual place operating like any other day, (which was very strange. Though, what hasn't been strange ever since yesterday?) but he’s too scared to take a peek. What point will it serve looking at his own people, who wouldn’t even know him? As if he can come knocking at their doors and say, “Hey! I’m Number 11 of the Fatui Harbingers, Tartaglia; code name Childe!” 

Super smooth. Yeah right. He’d get immediately kicked out for 1) disrespecting the organisation 2) telling blatant lies. Heck, he isn't even sure if Harbingers exist in this world. Hopefully not, he would loathe to look at his colleagues… probably ex colleagues now. Though he is adamant on that status to be temporary.

.

Childe and the locals have been waiting for a good half an hour now, though people have started cheering now, he wonders when “Yanwang Dijun” would arrive. Talk about punctuality! Standing around and doing nothing has made his appetite worse. He finished off all the grilled tiger fish he bought, and there’s not even an inch of space for him to move to buy a few more because of the crowd. 

Slowly, a single yellow petal landed on his nose– just when he tried to blow it away, another fell on his hair then his shoulder. Now it was raining thousands of petals. 

Before he knew it, the tanggu rang loudly thrice. With a flourish many officials emerged from behind a silken golden embroidered door. They arranged themselves in two orderly lines and bowed their heads like a puppet would. 

The people around him followed suit and bowed as well, while Childe in his confusion just stood there dumbstruck. Until some A-yi grabbed hold of his arm and whispered, “Such blatant rudeness! You may be a foreigner but the least you can do is respect our lord.” 

He quickly lowered his head down and replied to the A-yi in haste, “I’m sorry! Was a bit surprised, I have no ill intent, promise.”

That seemed to be the right answer, as the A-yi smiled back and nodded to herself and pointed discreetly upwards. “Keep your eyes and ears open, for he will be arriving any second now,” she spoke in a hushed tone. 

It was like a fever dream, Yujing Terrace was filled with excited cheers and words of worship but now it was deadly silent, except for the bated breaths of those around him. Childe included. There was something about the presence of divinity that brought about certain feelings– of what? He wasn't sure.

Childe dared to take a peek, and the moment he did, those bright cor lapis eyes looked down on the crowd. For a moment it felt like those very eyes looked directly at him. The same eyes Zhongli had at Northland Bank… While handing over his gnosis. He barely faced Childe during the entire meeting. As if he didn’t even exist. Not a single word from Zhongli even after several days. He felt his reality crumbling. Is this really his life right now? Perhaps this was all just a cruel joke played by the gods or a morbid dream that he needs to wake up from. 

But no, it’s real. 

He tried sleeping it off yesterday, hoping to miraculously wake up in the bed of his apartment. His disappointment was immeasurable when he woke on the steps of Heyu Tea House. Once morning came, he received looks of pity from people passing by. Tea master Liu Siu even gave him a few mora meat. He wasn’t poor by any means in this new Liyue, he still had 3 large pouches of mora on his person, but he definitely wasn’t going to reject free food. 

Number 1 priority for now would be to look for a place to stay. He wasn’t keen on being a bother for other businesses. 

.

“So, how can I talk personally with Rex– uhh…. Yanwang Dijun?” Childe inquired Lao Guai. He has lost count of the number of people he’s spoken to regarding this question. 

The people of Teyvat always say that the Archons and Celestia have the answers and solutions to all mortal problems, so surely, Yanwang Dijun can send him back to his original world? Or at least know a few ways on how to send him back.

“Yes of course but ah.. There is one issue…,” twirling his beard between his fingers, Lao Guai drawled on his words. 

“And that is?” Childe quirked his brow, he has a feeling where this is going. 

“Dear boy, it’s Mora! Obviously.”

.

A heavy pouch was dropped onto Lao Guai's lap. Seemingly satisfied, he started talking. And it was the same beat up words, as if reading from some script. 

Get an appointment from the Qixing. 

The damned wrinkly Lao Guai even dared to say, “the fastest way to personally meet with Yanwang Dijun is by becoming his…. bed warmer.” He waggled his brows and continued, “and if I do say so myself, you would scrub up quite nicely with proper clothes.”

Childe prayed for Raiden Shogun to strike this old fart down with her famed Musou no Hitotachi that very moment. But he really shouldn’t. After all, you should pay respect to your elders. 

“I am being serious, young lad,” Lao Guai added sweetly. 

Maybe except for this particular weirdo. 

.

“No, I cannot let you in,” Baiwen replied in a very exasperated manner. 

“Just a minute, please. I only need to speak with him!” he pleaded, growing increasingly desperate with every word and this damned lady was not making it any easier. The two of them were arguing for a good while now.

Childe was at his breaking point. It had been weeks of trying to schedule appointments with “Yanwang Dijun” but he was turned away with the same excuses each time. 

“His imperial majesty is currently busy.” 

“He’s occupied with another appointment.” 

“The Adepti are meeting with him.” 

“Yanwang Dijun is currently in a deep slumber.”

And they dared to say the last one while he saw the Archon walk lazily out of that overly embellished golden screen door. 

Baiwen grimaced, whatever professional facade she had on was crumpled and you could see the deep furrow between her dark eyebrows,“I simply cannot.” 

“Why not? At least give me a reason, and not one of those same reused excuses,” Childe snapped. He’s not going to back away this time. He’s had enough and today he will meet with Yanwang Dijun. 

Perhaps what he said struck a chord with her, Baiwen was glaring at him with what he assumed… disgust. 

“There is no way I’d let such a suspicious person enter Yiyan Temple. Look at your attire! What on Teyvat are you wearing?” with a huff of disapproval she turned away but not before haughtily adding, “and furthermore, his imperial majesty is an incredibly important and busy person, he has no time to converse with nobodies like you.” 

“Now please, be off before I personally call upon the Millelith and get you removed from these sacred grounds.” 

With a resounding smack, Baiwen closed the heavy auburn wooden door, in front of Childe’s face. The impact caused him to stumble backwards, almost falling to the ground. Did she really smack the door on his face? But more importantly, the entire time, the officials didn’t let him in because he looked like a suspicious person? What? These officials sure sit on their high horse and someone really needs to pull them down. 

“Bastards,” he grumbled under his breath, frustration starting to seep into his mind. For people who act all sweet and nice, they sure knew how to get under someone’s skin. These officials need some training in humility. Heck, even the fatui have better manners than them. 

The “attire” he wore was a loose plain grey cotton inazuman-style outerwear, with a tie lying on the side of his waist with some baggy black pants underneath it. He always wore the white hooded robe on top, to hide his bright hair, otherwise people would keep staring at him. The hooded robe however, didn’t work as well as he’d thought, the locals would steal sneaky glances at him every time he’d pass by. 

“Suspicious my ass, just say it’s because you’re too concerned about status and hierarchy.” He looked menacingly at the door. Childe stepped back, his body slumping in resignation while mumbling, “you could have saved me all the trouble by telling me the truth, from the start.”  

He kicked the ornate door. 

A beat of silence passed. 

He kicked it once more, now with more force. 

Another beat of silence.

“How irritating.” 

Right when he was about to give up, Childe took a glance upwards and saw a lithe hooded figure passing by the long corridor. At first, he thought it was just another official, but he saw those amber tinted locks of hair fluttering in the wind as the figure walked. 

That’s him. Must be him. 

Childe immediately braced himself. He slowly crouched and leapt against the solid ground, forcing his way over the tall door and onto the long yellow corridors. He landed right in front of the hooded figure, on his knees and one hand as support. There was a cracking sound, probably his poor joints. He really shouldn’t be doing such stunts, but desperate times call for desperate measures. 

The Millelith had their spears pointed towards him, but he didn’t care. Rising from his position, Childe grabbed the hooded figure’s robes and pulled him close. He looked straight into those cor lapis eyes, devoid of any emotion. 

“Zhongli! Do you recognise me? It’s Childe, Tartaglia,” panic laden on his every word, Childe pulls his own hood down to reveal his face. Those golden eyes slightly widen at the sudden actions. 

He took his chance, and continued, “Please you must help me, only you can send me back to my original world.” At some point, his hands ended up grabbing onto the slope of Zhongli’s shoulder, pulling him even closer. The brunet stared questioningly into his deep abyssal eyes, they were so so close, he could feel the warm breaths on his own lips.

Before he could say any more, the cold rod of a spear was digging into his adam’s apple, pushing him back. One, two, three.. No, Five spears were pointed towards his body. Locking his every move. 

“Stay away from his imperial majesty! Someone of your stature should not touch him so. How dare you get your filthy hands upon him,” the young Millelith who had his spear on Childe’s neck yelled, trying to pull him back from Yanwang Dijun, but his body was immovable, as if his feet were embedded onto the flooring. 

Childe didn’t care. Status and rules be damned. It was now or never. Uncaring of the throbbing pain on his throat, he pressed on and desperately resumed his plea, “I, the 11th of the Fatui harbingers, Tartaglia, personally sent by her majesty The Tsaritsa to wreak havoc in Liyue by releasing Osial from his confines. I played as the scum villain for a test orchestrated by you, to relinquish your duties as an archon and hand over your gnosis. So that you could live a life as a common mortal.”

Maybe the Archon will take pity on him and solve his problems. Maybe he’ll order for the spears to be put down, maybe he’ll ask for them to release Childe and just maybe he might recogni–

“Looks like he’s out of it, come on now, this isn’t a place to be role-playing. Take him away!” All the Millelith around him laughed like crazy, as if they heard some really funny joke.

But it wasn’t a joke. He wished it was. Or some fever dream he’d have to wake up from. If it was a dream, why wasn’t he awake yet? Why is he still in this strange world with cold faces? Why is it so that he misses the tedious act of doing paperwork for the bank? He misses the way Xiangling would holler at him to have lunch with Guoba by her side waving at him enthusiastically. He misses the annoying lectures of Ekaterina. He misses the bickering between Vlad and Nadia. He misses those weekly sparring sessions with Lumine. 

He misses the feeling of those warm amber eyes looking at him with amusement. 

He misses his Liyue. 

Ah. 

He’s homesick, Childe realised. 

His thoughts were interrupted as he felt the Millelith dragging him away by his arms. His rock bottom reputation in this Liyue is ruined anyway, go big or go home.

“Please send me back to my world, can’t you gods solve everything?! Listen to this poor mortal’s troubles, I beg of you, send me back, Yanwang Dijun!” Childe kept yelling as he was dragged away by 2 Milleliths holding onto him. Both sighing at him.

“Quit your yapping, we get it! Just shut up and get outta here.” One of them smacked his head as the pair of them dragged his body down the corridor. 

“I’ll shut the fuck up if you release me. Send me back to my world! Unhand me! I’ll keep coming back if you don’t listen!” He struggled and trashed in their hold, craning his neck to look back at the stunned figure, now looking smaller and smaller as he was roughly taken away.

They kicked him out of the same red door. The damned heavy ornate door. He hopes that Zhon– Dijun somehow feels pity for him and does something, anything really. He contemplates and starts to aimlessly walk away from the temple. 

.

Meanwhile, Yanwang Dijun’s eyes followed the resigned boy’s figure move away from the entrance. How intriguing, he thought. He had never met such a strange human in his entire 6000 years of life. But his words did shock him. He was aware of the fact that different worlds do exist, though he never ventured deep into that knowledge so as not to stumble upon any forbidden knowledge, lest he caught the ire of Celestia. 

He is broken from his trance as Ninnguang, quietly speaks under her breath who was watching the entire scene unfold right behind him, “I wonder what that was… Weird fellow.”

“Your majesty, are you… Unharmed? Should I call for the healers?” Ganyu asks in concern, who was also next to Ninnguang. 

Very sweet of her to care for his health, however, it would be quite impossible for any mortal man to cause even a scratch on his face. “I’m quite fine, my child. Not to worry,” he says before a pause and inquires, “Ganyu, are you aware of any man named as… Childe or Tartaglia?”

Her blue hair whipped back and forth as she shook her head, “I’m afraid, I do not know, my lord. I have never heard of any one going by those peculiar names,” she replied, looking at him with confusion. 

“I see.” 

Peculiar name for a peculiar boy indeed. He does believe in this “Childe’s” story, contrary to the children surrounding him. After all, there is no one in this world, alive, who would know of his true name, Zhongli. 

It's been centuries since anyone called him by that name. Not even many of his immortal friends know about it. 

A small smile graced the Archon’s lips. Things were about to get interesting in his mundane life, it seemed.

Author’s Notes for Chapter 1

[1] Someone in white - The colour white is known as one of the unluckiest Chinese colours because it is associated with funerals.

[2] Apparatus that measures time - In China, it is considered inappropriate to give a clock to someone as it sounds similar to bidding farewell to them on their deathbed. This cultural belief associates giving someone a clock with sending them off to the afterlife.

[3] Luo 罗 - Common chinese last name.. it means: gauze, to collect, to gather, to catch, to sift

[4] Xiansheng - Mister (in this context)

[5] Yanwang Dijun - Rex Lapis’ name in CN

[6] Tanggu- Chinese drum

[7] A-yi - Middle aged lady/ aunt

[8] Lao Guai - Old Guai

[9] Guai (name) - Weirdo/strange (so basically the name Lao Guai means weirdo old man)

(A huge shout out to my fav jiejie helping me with the CN part of this fic, you’ve no idea how many times I badgered her for different ways of addressing people.)

[10] Baiwen - Ninnguang's secretary in genshin.

[11] Childe’s attire so this was the closest robes I could find to what I had in mind ( Which was more commoner like and roughed out in texture) but make it grey like his in-game uniform.

Though, in Karin san’s art he’s wearing super loose robes that expose his chest, which is covered by white bandages and is also wearing some dark choker with a little tassel in the middle. Karin san also mentions that Childe is partially cross dressing? Perhaps the attire he wore was a bit more on the feminine side shrugs. In that context, I do suppose Childe being refused to enter would make more sense. But I opted for the status/commoner/nobody route.

[12] So before you guys get confused with the constant switching between Childe saying: Rex Lapis, Yanwang Dijun or Zhongli. To summarise, he says yanwang dijun when he’s talking with people of this parallel world Liyue, but when it’s him thinking or talking to himself in his mind, he says Rex Lapis or Zhongli. Probably says Zhongli when he feels emotional or remembers stuff.

[13] Yiyan Temple - A huge yellow/golden building you will see in Yujing Terrace, people come to worship and give offerings to the Geo Archon here. You will see an NPC called Bu’yun (Jade chamber guide) right next to it in the game.

I decided to make Yiyan Temple as Dijun’s home/place of work because it made sense, even though initially I wrote Jade Chamber but… For that, Childe would need to learn how to fly because no way he could reach the sky from a jump…this isn’t a xianxia story :”D

[14] Isekai - I’ll be roughly explaining this because while writing this fic, I was confused if this was even isekai in the first place? So let’s break it down! Isekai itself basically means “another world” and there are two types of isekai (which I’ll explain soon) and the new world could be anything! From parallel worlds, fantasy world, a video game, a novel, you name it.

a) Isekai tensei = in which the protagonist is reincarnated into another world (that’s the literal translation btw) by… well dying xD cause of death is usually by our favourite!! Truck-kun!! If not, many other reasons e.g. choking on a dumpling, being murdered, falling down a 3 storey building, etc. So there’s actually a sub-genre of this particular isekai, in which, after death, the soul of the protagonist occupies the body of another living being from the new/other world. This is called transmigration. Though some people consider transmigration to be a separate type of isekai on its own.

b) Isekai ten’i = in which the protagonist is either summoned into the new world or is teleported to it (again, the literal translation) via some item or channel that connects it to the new world. In this type of isekai, the protagonists don’t die. It’s something like sneaking into your uncle’s wardrobe and walking into some snowy plains of narnia.

[15] NPCs - all of the side characters that are in this fic are all in game characters and NPCs. You’ll find them if you search them up. At first I thought linking the NPCs to genshin wiki would be cool but then my author’s note would become incredibly long…er than it already is TT I’m sorry.

Alright, my comrades, I hope my unnecessary rambling in the author’s notes wasn’t so boring. You will see me with another chapter… I already have the second chapter outlines, just need to write it out. But it's currently exam season and I've been busy so next update might be around late November. Check me out on my twitter / ao3 / wattpad if you're interested! I go by @nuttytani for all :DD

(also unsure if anyone actually wants to get tagged for this multi chapters fic, if you are interested, let me know!)