#What they did with Natlan is like going “I like your food and the way you dance and sing and your clothes and hair. But I don’t like you”

[m4ggotm0ld]

Natlan is literally the worst thing Hoyoverse has ever created, and for so many reasons, but they somehow made it worse by k!lling off the only good character from it

[daylite-writes]

“A healers Blunt Teeth” (Pt 2) ft. Capitano x Healer!Reader

(Pt 1 here)

He did take you back to Snezhnaya with him, leaving you alone in a manor. The discomfort you feel at not having received a single letter since he departed was surely not from you loving him or anything. Surely.

cws: very mild yandere, mild cultural insensitivity (on behalf of staff), and misunderstandings.

1.6k words

~~~

You didn’t expect the… luxury.

You suppose you should have.

He was a harbinger after all. When he stepped foot in Snezhnaya—you under his arm, of course—you didn’t get the best first impression. Cold, snowy forests of pine with the ridges of icy mountains lining the horizon. But the deeper you ventured into his home, the more his influence became apparent.

Entire villages greeted the expedition with deep bows and offerings of food and housing. You slept in beds made for the cold, among rabbit fur and goose down.

He never batted an eye, but that wasn’t unusual. Be it dry dirt or luxurious bedspreads, Capitano was content.

You expected him to continue onwards with you, towards the Tsaritsa’s palace, the expedition's final destination you’d heard mentioned a thousand times in his meetings.

Evidently, you were wrong about that part, being as you were lounging in the bay window Capitano’s manor, alone except for a staff of loyalists.

As your… Partner? ‘Boyfriend’ maybe—no, that was far too juvenile. Not master either, he hated that term, and it no longer adequately described the complex relations between you two.

Being Capitano’s someone-of-significance had him deciding to dump you into a remote manor somewhere in Snezhnaya, leaving with a quick kiss and a promise to return home after his meeting with the Tsaritsa.

He dragged you all the way to Snezhnaya, and didn’t even let you go with him to the palace.

Angrily—and yes, it was anger. Not loneliness or longing or any other emotion the young maids would describe it as, accented by dreamy sighs as they theorized about you and his’ beautiful courtship—you tore the page of sheet music from the book propped in front of you.

Music was too hard and it made your fingers hurt.

You’d spent the better parts of two weeks in the manor, and it was boring. You were out of your depths, the maids knowing more about noble and elite life than you ever imagined anyone could know.

One of the maids said it herself not long after your arrival. “You’re nothing like what I imagined Capitano’s fiancé would be. Of course, none of us really know his preferences. But if not a warrior, I’d thought you may have been a noblewoman, knowledgeable about music or literature, or perhaps cooking. I once served a noblewoman who made very exquisite cuisine.”

“We’re not engaged.” You’d said, a bit breathless as she tightened the corset.

The other maids who’d been fluttering about shushed her a bit too aggressively for you to consider it noble.

You’d ignored them, until one of the shier ones spoke up. “If I may ask, my lady… how did you two meet?”

“I was a healer in Natlan working for a group of bandits. He won me by right of combat, and eventually we began… well.” You waved your hand, summing up the obvious physical and emotional relations with proper censorship but no denial. “I’m not quite sure what to call the two of us.”

The maids were stunned, and you remembered that such things as that weren’t normal in other nations. You opened your mouth, hoping to amend their opinions of you, but one of them spoke first—

“Oh so he saved you! How romantic!”

The session devolved into a series of awws. They giggled and tousled your hair as they fixed it up, rambling aloud about the romantic scenario.

It took everything in you to not take it personally. To remember that these were the daughters of affluent families who could not afford to marry off another daughters, but could land them a cushy spot working under a harbinger in a non-combatant role. Who probably spent their youths reading fairy tales instead of fighting or healing the way you had.

You rolled your eyes, letting the girls have their fun. These young women were your only friends in this new place after all. There was little point to complain.

~~~

It was clear Capitano would be coming home soon.

There was a certain buzz among the staff. Tasks that were once laxly carried out only when there was time for it were now being performed rigorously and thoroughly. Floors once mopped were now being scrubbed by servants on their hands and knees. Libraries lightly dusted once or twice a week were practically being done by the hour.

There was a buzz among your hand maids as well. They became very, very particular about your appearance. Every day your hair was to be done up in what you can only assume are traditional northern styles. The soft comfortable outfits you’d taken preference to gently batted aside and replaced with expensive tailored dresses, with beaded bodices and tulle that reached partway down your legs.

Refusing such things also made your hand maids very nervous. A lot of ‘are you sure’-s and ‘but my lady!’-s.

From this, you quickly figured out that he’d be back any day now.

So, when you spotted a horse drawn carriage trotting up the path to your manor from a window, you knew what expectations they had.

Greet him at the door, preferably warmly, probably with a kiss, and then follow him around like a lost puppy.

You rolled your eyes before going back to failing to play the violin.

“Um, miss?” One of your handmaids said softly. “Your… Lord Harbinger Capitano seems to be arriving.”

“Mm.” The violin screeched at you as you clumsily played it.

“I… alright. Miss.”

It wasn’t that you hated Capitano. Or that you didn’t want to see him. You were a bird in a golden cage, yes, but Capitano never bothered to close the door, and you never bothered flying out. It was just—

He didn’t even write to you.

The violin made quite an annoying sound as you pressed a bit too hard on the bow, its wavering screech the perfect sound to accompany the grind of your teeth.

Sure, he was undoubtedly busy, but that didn’t erase the embarrassment you’d experience every time you had to ask if any mail for you—any letters from him—came through, only to be told not so much as a word had come from his lord. Didn’t erase the feeling of being some discarded housewife while your lover galivants around the country without you—

The violin had picked up a sharp, angry tune as you played the song through all your little mistakes, not stopping even as you played incorrect notes or lost your place, you could hardly hear it through the rant in your head.

“I see you’ve picked up the violin.” Him.

Immediately, your song stopped. You hadn’t realized he’d entered, hadn’t realized you missed his voice.

“L-Lord Harbinger!” You maid squeaked, bowing. Capitano must have made some motion to her, as she left the room quickly after.

He stayed silent for a moment, and you stayed turned towards the window. “… why are you upset with me?”

“I’m not.”

“Why are you upset with me.” He repeated again, and you suddenly noticed how much closer he was to you. You didn’t hear the footsteps as he loomed over your shoulder.

“I…”

“Has the accommodations been insufficient? Was the staff unpleasant? I’ll have them dead in an instant if they were who upset you against me.” His hand, gloved, tilted your head back by the chin so you had to look up at him. Into the dark maw of his uniform.

“No Captain…”

“Then why? Why have you refused me the right to be greeted home by my woman? The right to see you as I’ve longed to? There must be something wrong, considering you haven't so much as responded to a single letter-”

“You wrote me?” You said all too quickly when you heard the words come from the man over you. Distantly, you chastised yourself for the almost desperate way you asked it. Like a woman starved for water.

He stilled, putting together the pieces easily. “Ah, so that’s what it is. Yes, I wrote to you many times, my healer.”

“I didn’t receive any.”

The hand that was lifting your face up shifted to the side, idly messing with a lock of your hair before cradling the crux of where your jaw met your neck. “I am realizing that now.”

“I thought you didn’t want to talk to me.”

“I did, greatly.”

You paused a moment, the small sparks of spite that once had you melted away partially, leaving you feeling a bit silly. “I…”

“Don’t apologize. This is someone else’s fault, I’ll deal with them later.” He said, moving around you to your front, and kneeling down before you.

The hand cradling your pulse slipped to the back of your neck, lightly pulling you into him. You kissed him through the gaping maw of his mask. It was rough, as though it was the single thing he’d been wanting for weeks. His hand tightened, pulling your hair by the roots to expose your neck. You gasped when you felt his lips on your jaw, traveling down to your throat.

It was a while before he pulled back, satisfied at the aggravated red skin his attention left. Most likely so that the staff could see it and know.

You stared at him, chest rising and falling quickly, but not scared. He seemed happy, or perhaps, at peace, as he stared back.

A polite, quiet knock on the door finally brought his gaze away from you. He spoke, loud and clear, “Yes?”

“Dinner is set for you the Lord and his Lady.”

He rose, standing to his full height before extending a hand to you. “You’ll be joining me I hope?”

“… yes, my lord.” You took it.

~~~~~

The og is pretty far back and i am grappling with the fact i probably should make a masterlist (i dont wannaaa) but i hope ya'll enjoy this <3

[transmascaraa]

Hi! It's 🍓 anon again >_<

May I request Ga ming, Freminet, Thoma, Aether, Scaramouche + whoever you wanna add with a S/O whos kinda a depressed bed rotter?

yk, doesn't really get out of bed, doesn't take care of themselves

example: brushing their hair, their teeth, eating, cleaning (they don't know how to cook or do a lot for themselves anymore)

I've been kinda a bed rotter these months (few years) it's actually really embarrassing being in this state 😭😭

multiple characters headcannons!

bed rotter.

characters: gaming, freminet, thoma, aether, wanderer x gn!reader

author's note: hi long time no see(it's been a few days)🥰 sorry for the lack of posts lately lmfao i kinda had basically NO motivation for writing whatsoever but i'm back for this one now‼️(i was busy with obsessing over the natlan characters for half of the time yes) so like i hope you enjoy this rn lol ^^ (🍓anon you're not alone in that state😔 it happens)

✷ Gaming

-WILL take care of you if you won't

-didn't get out of bed to eat?

-breakfast in bed, dinner in bed, lunch in bed just for you.

-he will brush your hair for you. (if you have longer hair/hair that can be brushed lol and if not, ignore this lmao😭)

-don't feel motivated to get up? he'll do his best to motivate you to get you out of bed, but if it doesn't work, he'll try again tomorrow.

-he never loses hope like he's literally sure of himself that he will help you one day

-and it works because he's literally the sweetest bf ever for caring about you

-if you don't wash your teeth or something, he WILL offer to wash your teeth in bed somehow for you but sometimes that offer was literally what made you get up

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

☆ Freminet

-again, will be absolutely the most caring and understanding bf of all time

-problems with brushing your teeth? okay, you don't have to do it immediately. if too much time passes he'll motivate you out of bed.

-not eating? he's gonna cook you the best food ever and bring it to you in bed.

-and he'll even bring some really tasty food from the house of the hearth if it ends up being really good for you.

-if your room is a mess, judging by the type of person he is, he'll clean it for you.

-but he won't kill himself for you, instead, he will try to motivate you throughout doing things that make you happy like drawing in front of you if you like drawing and stuff.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

✧ Thoma

-literally will do anything and everything to make sure you feel okay

-trying to motivate you through sending you some typa tiktoks like "dancing in the rain together<3" with the caption "we should do this💕" or stuff that is very wholesome WHILE not being in bed and rotting basically

-i mean it did help quite a few times

-about the food part, you know who thoma is. he will cook for you BUT sometimes he will force you to get out of bed just to eat with him in the kitchen

-that's a really big thing actually (to get you out of your bed at all) and he's proud of it.

-will try to motivate you to brush your teeth by walking in your room while he's brushing his(i have no idea why i js think he might)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

✿ Aether

-okay YES

-y'know how thoma got you out of bed by making you come to the kitchen to eat sometimes? yeah? well aether does it ALL the time.

-literally there isn't a time he will bring you food in your bed unless you've stopped bed rotting.

-brushing teeth? he will not let you come out of the bathroom when you go in to do literally anything(might force you to take a shower sometimes as well)

-if your room is messy, he'll just quietly scold you to himself while cleaning everyone for you, then afterwards confronting you about it

-another way to also get you out of your bed is him calling you to the living room to see some random video/tiktok instead of just sending it to you(it usually works)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

★ Wanderer

-does NOT tolerate this shit

-nuh uh not in the LEAST bit

-wanna eat instead of literally starve to death? come to the kitchen yourself(the best food is waiting you there)

-not showering and/or not brushing your teeth? he will scold you and insult you(lovingly) until you get up and do everything to be clean in the bathroom.

-messy room? standing next to your door with his arms crossed looking at you as if you were his 4th betrayal hoping that you care for him enough to do something for HIM if not for yourself.

-but like deep down, which he won't admit, if you don't do something he tells you to because you feel that bad and unmotivated, he might let it slide and tell you beautiful things while you're asleep on his chest.

-he loves you no matter how big of a bed rotter you are tho

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

woah i love scara's part

anyways i liked it as a whole lol

i hope you guys like it too^^

| @mariaace <3

[kingskyless]

thoughts on natlan's arc in genshin🌋

tldr: i'm pissed off!! watch me rant about storytelling under cut. please take your storytelling seriously and with love, jesus christ

this is long btw! this is what happens when you piss me off with your poor writing choices! i crave blood!

--

these are thoughts i wrote on my private twitter but i'll put them here too, why not.

i really, really don't like being negative towards anything anymore, chosing to embrace the silliness of poor storytelling and just grab what i do love, but man did the final act for natlan piss me off

I've been waiting for Natlan since the game came out because we knew it was going to be inspired by pre-hispanic America. Aztecs. México. (i'm mexican for context) and it was!!! with the inclusion of Maori, Peruvian, Lakota, Hawaiian and Yoruba. and it was done Horribly

Natlan is still mostly inspired by México though, I made a whole video on genshin's mexican rep, when it comes to overworld, food, names, music and lore inspiration yeah, the Mexican rep is done well and very fun! but it's still mixed with the cultures previously mentioned which is bad!!

and it gets WORSE because you look at the characters, be it playable or NPCs and nothing about them is mexican (or any of the previous cultures) nothing at all, and that's when the issues start.

I literally made a tumblr post a few days ago how I didn't think Natlan's story was bad, we just didn't connect with the characters due to character design. And while it still holds truth, this final act just undoes all the build-up it had in the previous acts, leaving no true conclusion and, therefore, ruining the story as a whole. a lá game of thrones.

Natlan in its first 3 acts was actually really well done, presenting the different tribe cultures, character personalities and how they mix with one another, and they had very strong set up for more world building and Very Important Lore Reveals (the Abyss having a "heart", dragons, THE SHADES, FALSE SKY?) I really enjoyed myself playing the first acts!

But the marketing makes you distance yourself from the characters, devs decided to push back the culture of the tribes in game and delay the next acts of the story, and you disconnect!!!

going back to the first acts and it's wonderful set up, then what is the point of having all this beautiful set up, only to just - not explore it in the CLIMAX OF THE ARC. and it was very very important lore and conversations to move the story forward and raise the stakes!!!

and they ignored it or barely mention it!!! yes having all the answers shown at you is not fun, and they can totally explore these aspects of the lore later on, but by the way Natlan was written from the start it was 10000% expected to have those conversations in THIS arc.

there's also the set up that's been there since the games release. None of this is explored, we don't know who "he" is, who's the crossed out name, what was the secret of the god of war. there's nothing, this is never explored.

NOTE: that it is true the story was revisited or straight up rewritten way after this material was released, it is something that can happen during production, it partially happened with sumeru already. the thing is when you make changes like these, if you already established in previous trailers or manga certain lore, you have to be extremely careful, as the audience is already expecting something like this to happen in the story. when you rewrite this and there's no pay off it causes confusion and frustration among the audience, as you are no longer following what you set up and it creates plot holes a throw away line about the muratans or murata would've done to connect the manga with the current natlan, but there's not even that.

They establish very important new characters, but don't explain their true role in the story beyond "evil" . What is Gosoythoth? why can it become a dragon? why are there voices around it? why are the former archons so negative? . Sure, we as an audience can make headcanons about it (and some answers were partially told, not nearly enough though) but it's information that needs to be talked about in the story, but the characters never question this and it's never explored.

and we KNOW they can write compelling characters and stories because Fontaine is right there!! it explores very important lore and intertwines it perfectly with the cast and their own personal struggles, what the fuck happened in Natlan.

it just pisses me off and makes me very sad, I was excited for natlan for many years because, for better or for worse, that's my culture they're taking to tell this story, and seeing them fuck up both frustrates me.

i'll keep playing because i still want to see how they wrap it up but aaaaa, i haven't been this mad since Inazuma, and i dont think Inazuma pissed me off this bad.

the following is things that bothered me personally and not something i can criticize from a storytelling standpoint:

the entire traveler parade after beating gosoythoth made me uncomfortable to no end. really really giving white saviour. it draaaged and everyone was kissing their feet and i was PRAYING for more depth in that but no! fuck me!

if you wanted to have the corny ass parade, okay, have it, but maybe show the traveler not being as happy? or carrying mental wounds after the battle??? GIVE THEM DEPTH OR SOMETHING?????????

you couldve expanded on the four shades, expanded on the abyss, expanded on the angels, expand on xiuhcóatl, expand on fucking gosoythoth since it was literally right there???? flesh out paimon, flesh out the main cast????

and totally flesh out capitano, he did absolutely nothing and he's the first of the harbingers, we just saw him get his ass beat by mavuika in the first act and then nothing??? (cutscene was great!) im not mad at the ending he got, it was very in character, i just wish there was more to him

natlan was set up as a nation of dragons and we learned nothing of them in the main arc, it set up the abyss having a personification and we learned nothing of it

this is mostly something i wouldve loved, but they set up the shades and time manipulation as we saw from mavuika, and no mention of istaroth??? hello???????????

also how did ororon know about nahidas power????

[liviavanrouge]

Mavuika and Capitano: Just trust us, you'll be fine

Kovu: *Crosses his arms, looking back*

~~~

Capitano: Yes, I will be telling The Tsaritsa that Kovu fought back against me

Mavuika: You're willing to lie to her for him?

Capitano: Kovu...needs a real mother, not a mother who's barely there and turns her own son into an unstoppable soldier..

Capitano: I've checked on Kovu out of concern for his mental health but in the short hours he's been with you, he seems to already be doing better

Mavuika: *Chuckles* My love is fierce, like a bright flame, he couldn't fight it for too long

Kovu: *Walks over* I'm going on patrol.

Mavuika: Have fun!

Kovu: *Walks away, fixing his outfit*

~~~

Kovu: *Turns to the two* So...you went and found me my favorite food?

Mavuika: The Captain here told me all about Beef Stew and so I had someone to teach me how to make it, it was quite easy

Kovu: *Looks at the man* You...remembered..?

Capitano: Of course I did, I was the one mainly training you..

Kovu: Hm..I see, well thank you..

~~~

Kovu: *Turns around surprised* Mavuika! Captain!

Capitano: Mavuika here has been telling me about how you were one of the firsts onto the battle field with the Natlan Residents and how you've kept almost all of them alive..

Kovu: Ah...there were some I couldn't save..

Mavuika: You still fought for us and saved the lives of many with how fast you were

Mavuika: Were it not for you, we'd have had way more casualties..

Capitano: I'm proud of you, Kovu...

Kovu: *Rubs the back of his head* ...thanks..I think..

Mavuika: *Chuckles, smiling*

~~~

Kovu: The Tsaritsa told me that my Father was from Natlan, she told me how he fell in love with her and how she felt her heart thaw slightly the more she was with him...

Mavuika: *Smiles amused* Ah, I see, are you hoping for an Ancient Name since you're somewhat considered a resident of Natlan?

Kovu: N-NO!!!

Mavuika: I could have Xilonen craft you one, you've also made History my son..

Capitano: Indeed, I think he deserves an Ancient Name of his own..

Kovu: H-HEY! Come on, don't gang up on me now!

Xilonen: *Sighs* I'll get to work...

Kovu: WAIT! NO!!

Mavuika: *Laughs, smiling* Too late~

Kovu: You guys are awful!

Capitano: *Chuckles*

~~~

Mavuika and Capitano: *Looks back at Kovu*

Kovu: What?

Mavuika: Did you prank Maya by scaring her last night?

Kovu: Oh..that was actually an accident, she stepped on my hand and I shrieked then she ran off

Capitano: No wonder she was as pale as a ghost last night, my daughter scares easily..

Kovu: *Snorts, looking amused*

~~~

Kovu: I want to thank you both for being in my life..

Mavuika: Where did this come from?

Kovu: I just want to show appreciation..

Kovu: Capitano, I'm sorry for thinking that you abandoned me and for the way I've treated you before all of this, you did not deserve all those harsh words and the hostility..you were the only one who really showed me kindness after The Tsaritsa's stunt with me and my twin

Capitano: I forgave you a long time ago, Kovu..

Kovu: *Smiles slightly then looks at Mavuika* And I apologize for what I said about Natlan and you, I cannot blame my mentality for my words but I thank you for giving me a second chance to find myself...I hope..that one day I can call you Mother..

Mavuika: *Smiles at him, her expression softening, tears threatening to fall* Oh...I'll be waiting for that day, Kovu

~~~

Mavuika: *Looks away* Kovu! Be back before sunset!

Capitano: *Looks over* And stay safe..

Kovu: *Nods to the two and walks away after Mualani and the gang*

Capitano: *Looks down at Mavuika*

Mavuika: *Smiles up at him* He's safe with me...I promise...

Capitano: *Walks away* That's good, I'm officially leaving him in your care

Mavuika: *Looks away, watching Kovu go* And I'll give him the life he needs..

@queen-of-twisted

[amysgiantbees]

Genshin Issues for the Survey (2)

Having to go and pray at statues to change your power as the MC was fine in like Mondstaht when you'd just have the torch and totem puzzles. But now that every five seconds I have to switch to anemo for sand, fire or water for flowers, fire for the lightning rocks, dendro for the flowers that shoot dendro teleportation sigils and more I want to be able to scroll and switch power for the MC as long as I'm not in combat. Like, I hate running over to the wolf boss in Mondstaht just to realize that I should teleport over to Inazuma to be electro and run all the way back.

More outfits, especially for the MC. Or at the very least stop teasing that the traveler will get a new outfit, like with Ayaka and Chiori's quests. It is SO annoying that Ayaka offers us a new outfit and we have to turn her down. It feels like the developers are laughing at me. Also, Ayaka and Ayako should at least have matching pastoral outfits.

I’m SO SICK of the male characters getting to be more clothed than the female characters on average. Also give some of the women flat shoes. I get having impractical clothes for flavour but sometimes it actively does not suit a character and makes them look incompetent. Like Ningguang suits heals and a sexy, impractical dress, she’s high society, but Beido does not. It doesn’t suit her personality and she lives on a wet, slippery ship so it’s even less practical for her than the other fighters. 

So many of the characters act more negatively towards Sumeru or the desert people and it feels uncomfortably racist coded. Like the jinn talking about how dumb the desert people are and Paimon the slime eater shitting on Sumeru food.

You should not be able to get characters you already have the full constellation for. The reward isn't good enough and wish's are frustrating enough without finally getting a character but not actually getting a character.

If you do the highest level of a domain that is providing gold materials you should at the least be receiving purple materials every time. The rewards are pathetic for the amount of effort and time required.

You should not get a notification that you've got more reputation for a nation if you're full on reputation. It's just annoying and clutters your map.

There should be far more adult characters than child ones. The game is already wildly unrealistic so don't tell me that historically child labour existed back then, so did a LOT of things they refuse to show. It's strange we don't have any characters in their 30's to 50's. Especially with now our second female character that looks like a teen but is actually very old, Citlali. The limited ages of the characters and basic backstories are getting stale. It would be fine if there was lore that these societies pushed children from a young age to be ambitious and work to get visions but there's nothing explicitly there like that, it's just them repeating character models (and if there's a tiny mention of it somewhere let me know but don't be rude about it because for one, it should be all throughout these cultures and two, considering the Dora the Explorer level of the dialogue and story telling a few subtle mentions isn't going to cut it). This is particularily egregious with Kachina. I'm sorry what do you mean our first mission in Natlan involved helping this, at best 16 year old, win a competition so she could literally go to war and die???? Truly WHAT. Part of the quest is even that she's tried a bunch and is sad she hasn't won yet. When did she start trying to go to war 12, 10?

All of Genshin's character designs are getting stale. The majority of their physically disabled characters have an eye patch. The majority of their characters are pale skinned. All of their cast is under 30 physically. They are all skinny, with not even interesting variations in body type (like Itto feels like he should be buffer and more triangular). It's all so bland and uniform.

There are too many silly names for things. Just long bizarre names I will never remember. Or things called a name that is clearly wrong, like the aphids being sweet little flying bugs that are useful and pollinate plants. THAT'S A BEE. An APHID is a PEST. Why is it called an aphid???? Or just the plants being called bizarre names, like the Brilliant Chrysanthemum, it's not a chrysanthemum.

Let me change the colour of the weapons when ever I want or leave them as their default colours. WHY do the royal weapon sets turn to blue when you level them high enough? It throws off everyone's aesthetic. It's especially frustrating that it's this weapon set that does this because black goes with everyone!

Familial abuse is not cute. I especially don't like it when people think it's less offensive when a woman does it. That's just belittling to all sexes. So I'm really uncomfortable with Citlali and Ororon's relationship.

Let people walk and talk PLEASE. It ruins the whole flow of a moment or conversation to have everyone pause talking just to run or move slightly.

I want a regular baby boar as a pet. I have a mushroom one. Why not a regular one?

Love that I can just make artifacts now with the specifications I want. But TBH I'd like it if I could use it to edit artifacts I've already leveled up. Also why can't you just stick artifacts into the machine why does it make a bottle and then you use that bottle in the machine to make artifacts? Simplify.

https://www.tumblr.com/rice-fae/757124917209808896/boycott-hoyoverse-please-i-used-to-be-a-big?source=share This user makes a great post about how Genshin trivializes and appropriates candomblé culture and mythology.

[undermine-the-instinct]

i absolutely love your bard reader series! it is practically perfect, just so well written.

my only complaint would be how much detail is put into the self insert? i wish they'd be a little more,,, vague, i guess? for premium self insert fun. but i get it, their backstory does add to the story so, and it's not a big deal to me !

anywho, here are some fun ideas for bard!reader, just cause. brainrot.

-liyue: a peking operatic, maybe with a pipa or a guzheng

-inazuma: a musical rakugo(storyteller) with a shamisen

-fonatine: a steampunk rocker with their nations newest musical invention: an electric(mechanical?) guitar

-sumeru: a ghungroo dancer (the ones with the bells!), or maybe a bharatanatyam/another classical indian dance one

-snezhnaya: a ballet dancer or even a conductor that uses their elemental powers to simulate a mini orchestra

-natlan: a griot(poet, sort of) themed after anansi, an african storyteller spider god OR a native american dancer with a flute

Bard!reader does feel more like an oc, huh? They've always felt more like their own character to me, with their own story that just needs to be told. I've had their starting story in my head, from back in Monstadt, and I felt with the situation in Sumeru they'd need to lean more a certain way, personality wise, to survive. Sumeru is not welcoming, there's heavy crowd mentality, and with their backstory I'd feel they'd act and feel a certain way bc of that. So maybe it's better to read them as an oc that you're tagging along besides.

And these ideas!!!! Put under the cut bc this gets long...

But, even though I know their story from Monstadt, and Sumeru to some extent, it was hard for me to brainstorm the other nations! A peking opera singer in Liyue? That's amazing, maybe they're working under Yun Jin, like how now they're working with Nilou at the theater! Mister Zhongli is a frequent visitor, and is an amazing source of history, telling you all about the origins of the peking opera.

They probs had to stay low in Inazuma bc of the Vision hunt decree, but maybe is secretly helping the resistance by being a rakugo, with either a shamisen or guquin (chinese instrument they learned from yun jin!!) and listening in on meetings and the like. After all in 'Second Male Lead, Enter!' Our bards says,

"I had a wanderlust. Spent a lot of time in Liyue, Inazuma was pretty interesting. I spent most of my time with a felon running from the Shogunate, whom I met on a pirate ship."

What felon do we know from Inazuma, huh?

They would play and hang out Xinyan, so they recognize the rock and roll style in Fontaine and sends her and Yun Jin (and Barbara back in monstadt) post cards and photos and lots of letters promising to go on tour with them there one day. (They all formed a performers club and promised to go on world tour together one day.)

I did a little research though, and ghungroo dancers and griots both seemed tied to religious and cultural traditions. For instance griots were typically born into the role and assisted their kings, while ghungroo/ bharatanatyam dancing was restricted to temples before it became more mainstream in response to the British and Christians trying to bash and ban the arts. And I'm still doing research for the native american dancers and flute players, but that also looks cultural and particular to certain tribes and the like?? Maybe Bard!reader meets these sorts of people, helps them out and learns things from them, like meeting other characters in a quest!

Ballet is also something that takes years to learn, but our bard has some experience, so maybe they join a school in Sneznaya, and there they meet a girl named Tonia. You two become friends and she insists you come for dinner, her brother has come home to visit so mom is making a feast, there's plenty to eat!! Only she failed to mention her brother is the famed Harbinger Tartalglia, whom you met in Liyue and wouldn't. Stop. Flirting with you. He steals the food from your plate and tries to feed you off his own, and their mother jokingly asks when's the wedding. she's not joking.

There's so many cultures and so many traditions and each have their own acclaimed spot for the arts and I think that's amazing. It's so interesting to think of exploring these cultures and arts, and our bard definitely wants to explore them all. Imaging them as part of these cultures is neat too, I'm just not sure how to write them and I dont want to disrespect or demean these cultures with mediocre writing.

Thank you for all the ideas love, and thank you for enjoying my story! You've definitely given me a lot to think about, and I hope you stick along for the rest of our bards story!

[admiringlove]

vi; honing skills.

summary. how had you gotten here? how had you gotten in the middle of this mess, filled with bitterness, and angst?

pairing. kaeya alberich x gn! reader.

warnings. physical fighting; swearing; angst; mentions of death; in-game spoilers.

word count. 3.4k.

navigation. previous, masterlist, next.

author’s note. i’m definitely not making everyone wait another chapter for what actually happens. nope :D also please notify me if any of you find any grammatical errors!! i proofread this at 2 in the morning lmfao.

How did you get here?

In the midst of all this chaos, misunderstanding, betrayal, and heartbreak—where do you stand? Where do you stand, and what do you say when someone whom you’re in love with asks you if you’ve really been disloyal to them? Do you stand there, and give them a blatant lie? Or do you speak the truth, even if it sheds apart every ounce of your relationship, layer by layer?

(Pause. Rewind. How did you get here? Ask yourself that again. Think.)

"Tell me, [Y/N], where do you live?"

"Monstadt City," you replied. A mere seven-year-old child, getting ready to leave your home to serve your country. You were proud of yourself back then, that you'd be protecting someone very important to the revolution. The man in front of you, probably in his early fifties, old enough to be your grandfather, walked alongside you as you entered the Country of Freedom through the Stormbearer Mountains. There was still a long way to go, but you hoped the journey would be fruitful in the end.

(Well, whatever a seven-year-old could hope for, anyway.)

"And what is your objective?" the man asks as you adjust your cloak. It was getting colder. You sigh, looking up at him as you say, "To protect the prince."

It took another day to arrive in Monstadt City. The man greeted the guards as if he'd been living here for a long time, even calling them by name. You assumed he had, as you walked alongside him up the stairs.

It really was beautiful here. Different aromas floated around you, some of the smoked meat coming from the nearby restaurant, some from the flower stalls down the stairs. There was a bard singing with a lyre by the fountain, her voice surprisingly calming. Windmills and cottages alike, you'd never seen anything like it before. Where you were from, all was ruins—except a few places where the people of the so-called 'lost civilization' gathered together. You'd never had the pleasure to walk on marble staircases or see a flower bloom as it did here. The man asks you to come along with him, opening a door of a small cottage by the City Circle.

"This will be your home from now," he says, "You'll pose as a relative of mine as to not raise any suspicions."

You nod as he asks you a few more questions, and as expected, you answer them all correctly.

Monstadt was one of the seven nations of Teyvat. The others being Liyue(the land of Geo), Inazuma(where the Electro Archon reigned), Sumeru, Natlan, Fontaine, and Snezhnaya. Each of these powerful nations contained their own Archons who controlled different elements—the one of Monstadt being Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, whose divine ideal was Freedom. You'd learned everything you had to be here. Sword-fighting, History, current affairs, and much more. You'd been taught with the old books and the village elders to leave Khaen'riah with only one goal. And that was to protect the prince, someone who'd also left behind everything of his own to serve his country.

The old man apparently worked as an adventurer, earning whatever he could to fend for himself. He'd later told you that he'd only been living in the city for around six years, which was why most people knew him.

You grew to love it here.

The locals, the food, the songs—everything about Monstadt was endearing. The legends about the Anemo Archon being a cruel archer who fought to bring down your country seemed false to you from the way the people of Mond talked about him. He allegedly gave everything up to fight for the rights of his people in the old war against tyrants and was known for seeking peace. It was comforting to you, the way everyone spoke so highly of their country's history.

(Fast-forward a bit. Fascination can only do you so much good.)

You were trained by the old man this time, not by the village elders. Spending mornings in your home mugging up about Monstadt's history just in case someone questions you about it, afternoons outside the city walls sparring, evenings strolling the city, and sleeping peacefully during the nights, only to repeat everything again the next day. Every week, a raven would arrive on the window of his room at the brink of dawn, and it’d contain a letter with a seal they used back home. He’d write back a reply; it mostly being about your progress and such. This continued for a few years, the older man giving you a constant reminder that this was not your country. That these were not your people, however kind they may be. That this God was not yours, that you didn't have one. That you were not one of them, you were only posing to be.

"Tell me something," he'd asked you one day, "If this was your God, would he have destroyed your home?"

Your reply was something along the lines of, "Monstadt is my home now."

Which also resulted in punishment. And some threats along the lines of sending you back.

You learned one day that you had to join the Knights of Favonius when you were fourteen or so. You didn't think much of it till the man took you along to clear some monsters near the infamous Dawn Winery one day. And as he talked to an older man who seemed to be an orderly, your eyes landed on people around the same age as you near the lakeside, sparring with one another. One wielded a sword and the other a claymore. It was interesting to watch as the sword-wielder moved on his feet swiftly, dodging the slower claymore attacks but then getting hit once in a while.

As you turned away to head back to the city, the man whispers, "The one with the sword is the Prince."

"Why does he live here, in the Diluc manor?" you ask, your eyes wide from the revelation, "Why not in the city?"

"The city is more dangerous," he says, "Rumors are that the King knowingly left the Prince at the Winery so he can grow with a powerful family like the one of Ragnvindr. The other boy is Diluc, the son of Master Crepus."

"Why would the King leave his own son alone?" you mutter. This earns a chuckle from the man, "Sometimes you need to sacrifice your own family in order to save your country. The King did the same."

"The King sure has his priorities set straight."

(That was the time you saw him for the first time, wasn’t it? Think—what were your goals back then? What was the intention? Keep going. Keep searching.)

A couple of weeks before your Knights exam, the old man went out for commissions. You'd warned him to bring a weapon along, just in case he's ambushed by either Treasure Hoarders or monsters of any kind. He'd shaken the thought off, saying something like, "I'll be fine. I'm the one who taught you how to fight anyway."

You'd narrowed your eyes at him, telling him that his age was getting to his head.

An adventurer from the Guild knocked on your door in the dead of the night that day. You weren't asleep, just finishing up dinner as the sudden knocks made you flinch. You placed your plate in the sink slowly before opening the door. It was raining that day, thunder crackling in your ears as lightning made an appearance ever so often. The adventurer was out of breath, explaining to you about some injury near the Stone Gate, and you immediately took off with a sword and cloak in hand.

Beads of water dripped down your forehead and cheeks as you ran. They gave you a horse instead of a carriage so that it would be faster, and you made sure to get there as quickly as possible. The hood of your cloak stayed put through the rain, the back flowing aimlessly with the wind.

When you got there, the monsters were gone. The old man you considered family was gone too. But no matter how hard you tried, your eyes wouldn't cry. You hated yourself for that. How come you respected him, gave him the title of your teacher, but somehow still couldn’t mourn his death properly?

You'd gone back after burying him nearby, finding the biggest stone you could find to carve his name onto, then placing it on top of the grave. You headed back now, and when you got back, the people from the Guild seemed to understand what had happened from your solemn expression. You'd walked into your home that day, body dripping with the rainwater as your hair stuck to your face like glue. You unclipped your cloak, letting it fall to the ground as you continued walking towards your room. Your fingers then found themselves at the belt of your sheathe, undoing it and letting the sword clang to the floor as well before you close the door.

Why didn't you feel anything? The only emotion that was even closely lingering on your mind was guilt, but that was because you can't find it in yourself to feel dejected. Sure, the man was like a father figure to you but how come you didn't mourn his death in any way?

That's where the remorse comes from.

If anything, you're relieved that there wouldn't be anyone there to correct you when you treat Monstadt like your home. Rumor had it that the Prince would be joining the Knights, which was why the man was forcing you to sign up for the exam.

Things were going to get interesting, after all. 

(Yes, they certainly did. Fast-forward more, keep looking. How did you get here? What’s the answer to your questions?)

(Pause. This is it. Start playing again.)

You felt the eyes of all the city folk on you the day you walked out carrying your sword and wearing your armor for the Knights exam.

Some gave you a nod, a few children greeted you as they went along to play. You could do nothing but give them a straight-lipped smile, holding not much emotion as you climbed the steps to the Headquarters for the first time. You were to meet in the library first with the other applicants, along with the resident Librarian who would later instruct you on how the day was going to be scheduled.

The first round—ten training dummies to be destroyed all at once. Which meant that this was going to be painstakingly easy. Watching people fail at it was hard, though.

A few failed, a few barely passed, and two people caught your eye the most. One with a vision, the other incredibly talented. In one fell swoop with a claymore, the first knocked out every single training dummy using his vision, earning a few displeased groans coming from the other candidates who failed, few muttering something along the lines of "this isn't fair". The second, however, wielded a sword. He kept it aside, however, picking up a polearm from the weapon rack, and in almost a blink of an eye, the training dummies were scattered on the ground.

You were called up last.

And you were sure you'd seen a faint smirk on the blue-haired boy's face when you'd knocked them out with just your sword.

Exactly as you predicted, things did certainly get interesting.

In the reconnaissance mission, you managed to get every single target down without getting detected, and the numbers of the candidates decreased even further this time. Only around twelve to fifteen were left, and it was finally the last round.

You were all called to outside city grounds for this round, which was for sparring with other candidates—just a way to show skill and strength, and you were sure you'd come out on top.

(You had even higher self-confidence than when you started, and it probably got to your head.)

Diluc Ragnvindr had been called out first. He defeated his opponent almost too easily(which seemed unfair at first, but he hadn't used his vision this time). You were called around the middle this time, your name ringing loudly in the air, "[Y/N] [L/N]!", along with, "Kaeya Alberich!".

(Why did it seem like everything was on your side? Not that you minded it, of course.)

There seemed to be a glimmer in the blue-haired man's eyes as he kicked up his sword and approached the circle. People seemed intrigued now if they weren't before. A slight smirk played on your lips as you unsheathed your own weapon, before getting in your stance. Judging the look on his face, and the way he carried himself, you could tell he wouldn't swing first.

And you were right. He didn't. The grass underneath your feet twisted as you swayed your sword to the right, aiming for his side. He deflected it quickly though. Almost like a swan in the water, he fought with his mind, thinking more and moving only if necessary. He twisted and turned as if the fight itself were a dance.

Too bad he wasn’t the only one who can do that, though.

Cheers erupted from the few candidates standing off to the side as you parried almost every one of his attacks, turning as you gave him a toothy grin.

"You're going to have to do better than that," he scuffled. He was quick on his feet, you'd give him that. And he fought with only one hand, switching if necessary. There was a grin on his face as you made your moves swifter, blocking every single swing, dodging every blow, and him doing the same just makes the two of you more agitated. You’d grinned when you parried an almost unexpected jab to your abdomen, repeating his own words back to him, "You're going to have to do better than that."

"Funny," he rolls his eyes. This time, he moves around more, moving further away from you as he walks in an almost circular motion, his free hand guarding as you do the same. He goes first this time, reversing his hold on the hilt so he can attack you from behind. He spun in a nearly instantaneous way, but you duck just in time. It carries on like that, taunts getting thrown back and forth, "ooh's" and "aah's" escaping the crowd's lips, constant parrying and dodging as if this were nothing more than a game. The invigilator stops the fight now, calling it a draw. You sigh, shaking Kaeya's hand before heading back to your spot. You see the claymore wielder give Kaeya a knowing smile, shaking his head as they stand together waiting for the rest of the selections to finish.

The remaining selections take place before everyone heads back to the Headquarters to receive their titles and their reporting times. You head home after that, but you don't really notice the lingering pair of eyes on you as you walk out of the double doors.

It's mid-afternoon now—the sky is an azure shade, thin clouds look as if they've been painted on by a brush or a ball of cotton dipped in the lightest orange or a titanium white. You close the door behind you and head straight for your room.

(That evening was very important, if you recall correctly. The beginning of very efflorescent friendships, one might say.)

You'd changed into a more casual shirt, and boots before you headed down to the tavern. You'd been there quite a few times with the elderly man before, getting a fruit drink instead(seeing as you weren't old enough to drink yet). The music calmed you, the ambiance made you feel detached, and the atmosphere was soothing(if you could call a bar with drunkards soothing, that is).

It was sort of an instinct—maybe a salutation to your dead mentor, that you're doing it. You're fulfilling Khaen'riah's dreams. You've made it into the Knights and slowly and surely, one-by-one, each of the pawns and pieces on the table will fall.

The moment you step in, your eyes brim up with opportunity.

(You'd talked to him for the first time here. It's hitting you like a brick, now, as the memories flash before your eyes.)

"Well, if it isn't the person who almost lost to me in the sparring round today," the voice rings out loud and clear, as you blink a couple times looking at the boys in the seat next to the counter. The one with scarlet hair rolls his eyes, scoffing as the one with blue looks at you directly.

A smirk. That's what played at your lips as you replied for everyone to hear, "I thought it was the other way around. I was pretty sure I was beating you very badly until the draw was called."

The man behind the counter laughs—you can only think it's Master Crepus as he shares an obscene familiarity with his son, whom you offer your hand to, "I think you're the one with manners."

"You've got that right," he grins, taking your hand and shaking it as you sit down, "So, Kaeya, was it?"

(Go a bit faster now. Think.)

Time passed by pretty quickly after that. The three of you somehow clicked together like a three-piece puzzle. Granted, Diluc became the Cavalry Captain almost too quickly as you and Kaeya climbed the ranks. Missions were spent in tandem, and it's almost like you three worked faultlessly together. Executing everything perfectly as you went along.

You got your Vision in one of these missions. If you remember correctly, you were sixteen. A ruin hunter injured Diluc as Kaeya tried to patch him up. You stood with your sword as a distraction, but at the last moment, it targetted the two of them. Inching closer and closer to the two of them as you run, your footsteps and breath both getting heavier as you make a leap for it a glow appears in your sword and eyes—it's purple, and stronger than ever as you stab the ruin hunter in its eye.

It was a happy night at the tavern. Diluc was resting in his home as you and Kaeya celebrated in his absence, planning more missions ahead. You'd been writing the reports back home as well, but something never sat right with you about them.

Years pass in the blink of an eye, containing memories of missions with Kaeya injuring himself multiple times, getting yelled at by Diluc as you mend him up. And then, it happened.

Master Crepus fought Ursa the Drake, but passed away in the process. It was a big controversy in the Knights. The higher-ups didn't want the general public to know that a monster as powerful as Ursa the Drake was defeated by a mere civilian. Diluc left the Knights, and on the day it happened, Kaeya showed up at your home with a Vision in his hands and wounds all over his body—most of them being burns.

They weren't on speaking terms anymore. Everything fell apart one by one, and this news even shook the elders back home. How could someone from Khaen'riah obtain a Vision? You hadn't told them about yours, keeping that a secret for yourself. They told you to keep a closer eye on Kaeya from now on, which you did.

Kaeya stayed at your place for a while, taking up the spare room for some time until he found a place of his own in the city. It wasn't too far from your home either, so you'd make sure to visit him once in a while to make sure he wasn't drinking too much.

You'd helped him set it up. Although he didn't really spend much time in there anyway, so it was just a waste of furniture mostly. Years pass like this, his drinking habit growing bigger, climbing the ranks in the Knights until the two of you are finally Cavalry and Intelligence Captains.

(And somewhere along the way, you'd started hiding key bits of information from your superiors while sending letters back. For the sake of him.)

(One of the key bits being that you'd fallen in love with him.)

And now here you stand, watching as everything you’d decided to put in your past creeps up to you, finally, as you let out a sigh. 

Watching Kaeya Alberich’s flirtatious grin turn into wide eyes, slightly parted lips and complete dread-filled in his head makes you close your eyes in defeat. His voice is barely audible, but when it’s pin-drop silent, you’re bound to hear him anyway. 

“Y-You’re from Khaen’riah?” he asks. His voice is low—soft, a whisper, almost. You hear it, and you’re sure Diluc does too. Because you hear his footsteps coming closer behind you until he’s standing almost next to you, but you stop him with your arm, extending it and applying the slightest bit of pressure. 

Kaeya’s voice rings out louder this time, “Answer me, goddamnit!”

“Yes,” you blurt out as you flinch at the sudden volume, “Yes, I am.”

(You speak the truth. Even if it sheds apart every ounce of your relationship, layer by layer.)

© all works belong to admiringlove on tumblr. plagiarism is strictly prohibited.

[archonanqi]

consequence / pt i

⛔️ Warning: This is an exploration of Zhongli’s manipulative tendencies that we see glimpses of in his archon and story quest. Absolutely no part of the relationship depicted here is healthy or consensual. Please proceed with caution. 

🔖 [info] [next]

—

pt. i of iii

Looking back, you should have noticed that something was wrong the moment Zhongli had insisted on treating you and Aether to dinner. 

You and Paimon tried to stop him, of course — far too many of his shopping sprees in the past had ended with the Millelith involved or your pockets emptied of Mora (usually both, really). Yet today, he’d produced a wallet lined with gleaming coins, and any protests died quickly on Paimon’s lips. 

“Wow, that’s enough to buy—” she marvelled, staring as intently as though her gaze itself could start pocketing the Mora, “at least… TEN Golden Crabs from Wanmin Restaurant!” 

Zhongli chuckled, the sound still sending pleasant shivers down your spine even after all the months you’d spent traveling with him. “A little more than that, Paimon, but a good guess nonetheless.” He turned his amber gaze to you and your brother, who had not strayed a foot away from you since the Abyss released its hold on him. 

Aether had kept an easy smile on his face for the past few days, but you’d known him long enough to pick out the signs of guilt, despite your reiterated reassurances that what the Abyss did to him was not his fault. It would take a long time for him to feel alright again; and you’d be there for him for as long as it took. 

“And as for you two?” Zhongli continued, “will Wanmin Restaurant be agreeable? Though of course, if you believe that such a momentous reunion demands something a little more extravagant, I’m sure that Xinyue Pavillion is still taking reservations—”

“No, that’s not—” you weren’t sure why you were hesitating. So what if he mysteriously found himself without enough Mora by the end of the meal, and you ended up having to foot the bill as usual? It stung a little to think about, but it wasn’t as though you’d have any need for Mora after tonight. “That’s not it. After everything you’ve done for us during our travels, I couldn’t possibly accept more from you, Zhongli.”

Couldn’t possibly bear sitting at a table with Zhongli, knowing that it’d be the last time you’d ever see him. This was why you’d always tried to leave each world with a clean cut. This was why, at the break of dawn, you and Aether would leave without telling anyone — not Jean, not Cyno, not Dainsleif, not Ajax. Not even Zhongli, with whom you’d spent the bulk of your past year.  

“Oh, no,” Zhongli replied, brows arching upwards, “I’ve told you, have I not? The pleasure of our travels were mine to enjoy.” 

“Er... well. I’m sure Aether is also tired and wants to rest,” you prompted, squeezing Aether’s hand. Aether nodded quickly — no matter the world, you’d always been able to count on him to pick up on your nuanced signals. Though he might not know why, he knew that you were uneasy with going to this dinner, and that was enough.

“Hmm,” Zhongli pondered this shortly, then turned to your brother. You’d seen that look of calculated determination on his face before, in front of basha stalls and souvenir stores across the continent. A look that meant Zhongli would get what he wanted. “I had rather been looking forward to getting to know the sibling of my favored travel companion. Are you certain? Wanmin Restaurant is quite the gem of Liyue Harbor, and I’m certain that the food here will be a fair few notches above what the Abyss Order has been able to offer you.” 

There was a slight, amiable smile on his face, but bringing up the Abyss was a painfully low blow and you had no doubt that Zhongli, the lord of contracts and negotiations and everything in between, knew it. You watched in mute horror as the guilt and regret danced on Aether’s face, before he finally gathered it all back into an apologetic smile. “Of course, Mr. Zhongli. Far be it from me to refuse a dinner with the former Geo Archon himself, especially with all the trouble I’ve caused you...”

—  

Even after traveling the seven nations, you’d never once stopped pining for the savory, hearty flavors of Liyue cuisine. The spice of the black-perch stew that Xiangling taught you to cook had kept you warm through many a Snezhnayan blizzard, after all. Basking in the familiar scent of Wanmin Restaurant with a stomach full of hot food, and watching Paimon devour skewers of meat five at a time, you began to feel much better. 

The anger you’d felt at Zhongli’s manipulation of your brother had also since faded into contentment. After all, negotiation, you found, came as naturally to Zhongli as breathing; he had likely meant nothing by it.

Maybe it was okay that you spent just one more night with Zhongli. Maybe it would turn out to be the closure you need. 

You glanced at the man in question; he was teaching Aether how to use chopsticks, of course, and you were grateful to see that the haunted look in Aether’s eyes had given way to exasperation for now. By the time your brother had snapped his third pair of wooden ones, he was smiling and Paimon was just about rolling around on the ground in glee. As you stifled your own laughter, Zhongli set two small bottles of wine on the table.

You tried not to let yourself think about how the string lights of Chi’hu Rock glinted like stars in his eyes. 

“What’s this?” You joked, referencing Zhongli’s anger from the one time he’d seen Venti get you drunk. “Are we all to become disgraces to the arts tonight?”

Zhongli’s lip curled into a small smile. You couldn’t remember when his smiles had started coming more and more frequently, but you’d learned to savor each one. “Ordinarily, I would not condone such strong drink, but today is the most special of occasions, no?” 

As you watched, a goblet began to form between his fingers, golden, black and resplendent. You’d seen similar ones before, buried deep within the Domain of Guyun Stone Forest — an Archaic Petra Artifact, a Goblet of Chiseled Crag. According to Zhongli’s stories, the very same ones that he had created for the Seven to drink from in celebration, before all but two of them had vanished from this world. 

The cruel irony was not lost on you. 

“Besides, this is nothing like the watered down Mondstadt alcohol that that young bard partakes in,” Zhongli said, gloved fingers masterfully plucking the cork from the first bottle and pouring it into the goblets. “These two bottles contain the finest wu’liang’ye spirit that Liyue has to offer. They’ve been aged for well over decades with a technique passed down from the goddess Guizhong, whose mastery over grain and crop transcends even my own today.” 

“We’re—  flattered,” you bowed your head. The matter of Guizhong, the late Goddess of Dust and Zhongli’s good friend from when the Archon War still ravaged the land, was but one of the many things that you’d wanted to talk to him about. If only you had more time. “Thank you, Zhongli.”

He passed you the first goblet, then the second to Paimon. “Please, let’s forgo the formalities tonight. You are a dear friend to me, and so, by extension, is your family.” The second bottle was opened, its contents split between Zhongli and Aether. “Let us drink, to the happy reunion of loved ones, to the fruitful friendships you have forged in this world, and to all the triumphant adventures to be had still.”

The wince you hid was only partially from the burning drag of liquor sliding down your throat.

It had not escaped your notice that Zhongli had been staring at you all night — more intently than usual, and that was saying something. 

“y/n, I think—“ he began, as you met his gaze. By the Archons, the way he said your name—

“ Paimon thinks there should be less talking, more drinking! Ganbei!” Paimon screeches, downing half her goblet and immediately falling down to the cobblestone road, spluttering and choking at the heat. 

“This is… very strong, Mr. Zhongli,” Aether was the first to speak after. “Wonderful liquor. What gives it its mild bitterness?” 

“Bitter?” You asked, letting the drink roll on your tongue, “where’s the bitterness? It tastes mostly sweet to me.”

Aether took another long drink, thoughtfully. “Definitely bitter. Here, try a sip?”

You took his goblet, but as you pressed it to your lips, you felt it begin to violently vibrate. Quickly, you pulled it away from your face just in time for it to shatter in your hand, gold and black shards falling to the floor as what little drink left in the goblet splattered across the table. 

“Goodness,” Zhongli said, after your surprised yelp brought Paimon stumbling back to your side, her cheeks still stained scarlet from the liquor, “I must apologize. It’s been quite some time since I’ve had to construct something so small and intricate — I am out of practice, it seems.” 

“Oh! That’s quite alright, I drank most of it already—“ Aether glanced over your shoulder, “by the Archons, Paimon has a knife!”

As you watched Chef Mao try to wrestle his knife back from a cackling, red-faced Paimon, you recalled the crystal hairpin Zhongli had forged two months ago — when you’d complained of the Natlan desert wind blowing your hair into your eyes. It had been just as intricate as the goblets, and much, much smaller. One of the few belongings you were planning on bringing with you.

You wondered what reason Zhongli had to lie. 

— 

“Maybe it was a good thing your goblet shattered,” you told Zhongli, prodding Aether with one of your chopsticks. He had stopped even groaning in response. And though Paimon was still conscious, she looked as though she would much rather not be, sitting forlornly on the table with her head in her hands. “Look at them. Drunk as skunks.” 

“Maybe,” Zhongli replied, “though I did not expect these two to have such low tolerance to alcohol. It was a miscalculation on my part.” 

“Paimon’s always like this —you know, remember that bar in Snezhnaya?— but Aether’s usually better at holding his drink,” you sighed. “I should probably get him back to Wangshu Inn.”

“Let him sober up a little here. It’s a long trek to the inn, and you don’t want him making a mess of his dinner on the way back.” Loathe as you were to admit it, Zhongli was right. It seemed that the fates were demanding that you spend a little more time with him, after all. He stood up, his tremendous height still a little startling to you. 

“Will you walk with me for a little, y/n?”

It wasn’t fair, really, the way he said your name. “Where are we going?” 

“I’m not sure,” he answered. “The harbor for a breath of fresh air perhaps, or Bubu Pharmacy to fetch a remedy for Aether. Does it matter to you, where we go?”

Going anywhere with him was a pleasure, one that against your better judgement, you yearned to partake in one more time. “No,” you admitted. “Let’s go.” 

--  

“It’s been so long since we’ve walked through Liyue — a year, almost. Do you remember? It was my birthday, and we walked for hours through the harbor.” Zhongli chuckled, the sound a deep rumble through your bones. “You wouldn’t let me buy dinner that time, either.” 

The nights of Liyue, its rolling hills and monumental mountains, were a peace you’d never known before coming to Teyvat. The city was uncharacteristically quiet tonight, and by the time you got to Yujing Terrace, you realized that it was the emptiest you’d ever seen it. The usual evening crowd of kids out of school and elderly taking strolls were nowhere to be seen — not even the Millelith guards usually standing by the gate were there. 

“ That time ,” you corrected, swallowing your unease at the silence of the city, “you didn’t have a single Mora to your name.” The strides you had to take to keep up with Zhongli’s long, long legs were huge, and you struggled to stay by his side. “Look me in the eyes and tell me that I wouldn’t have had to pay the entire bill if we’d actually gone to Wangshu Inn for dinner that night.” 

You immediately regretted it when he turned his golden gaze upon you, and it took everything within you to not avert yours. “Perhaps that may have been the case,” Zhongli allowed, “though I would have returned your investment tenfold over the next week. Have I not proven as much throughout our travels?” 

His vast knowledge of valuable gemstones and herbs — and more importantly, his uncanny ability to get any deal he set his mind to — had kept you and Paimon fed for many a week during your trek through the caves and jungles of Sumeru. You had to give him that. And that wasn’t not even counting the number of boulders, traps, swords and ravenous winter wolves that his shield had protected you from—

“Fine, I’ll admit, it was nice to have you around, you bourgeois parasite,” you said, playing on his joke back from when you’d first met. Then, after a brief silence, “Zhongli, in all seriousness, thank you.”

“Hmm?”

“I know that you’ve accompanied many adventurers on their journeys,” you explained, “but you — you dropped everything and journeyed with me, and you’ve done more for me than anyone else. I could never have found Aether without you.” Zhongli was being uncharacteristically quiet, and so you hurried along to fill the silence, “We— we made a great team together. And I will never forget everything that you’ve done for me. So, thank you.” 

“A great team together...” he repeated, voice lower than a whisper. “y/n, this sounds like a farewell.” 

Your breath caught in your throat. Even in silence, you were breaking the most important rule you’d learned throughout all your travels. Never let them know you’re leaving.

Zhongli turned to face you, and his full attention is a force that you had not yet learned to endure. So instead, you turned your attention to the koi darting about among the lotus reeds as he continued, “I’ve noticed that you’ve been more careless with your Mora lately. And as for your hard-earned weapons, artifacts, and resources, you have given them all to the Knights of Favonius, correct?” 

“I gave some to the Millelith too,” you objected quietly.

“You know that is not what I meant,” Zhongli said. You did know. “Are you planning on leaving this world, y/n?”

“I have to,” you heard yourself say, “we don’t belong here.” 

As though he heard the waver in your voice, the Lord of Contracts honed in on it like a Sumeran jaguar. “Do you remember the first Lantern Rite you partook in? Though you had just arrived in Liyue, and though the Millelith, Qixing and Adepti each gave you reason to distrust them, you still chose to spend the festival helping people.” 

“I didn’t help that many—” 

“Twenty-six people,” he corrected, and you cursed yourself for not thinking that he would remember. “A dozen more, if we are to count the young and elderly of Qingce, whose lives were brightened by the festivities you brought to the village. And hundreds above that, if we acknowledge every person in Liyue Harbor, whose Lantern Rite would have been ruined had you not stopped the thief who tried to steal the Mingxiao Lantern. Am I correct?” 

“I did it for the compensation,” you retorted, determined not to let yourself think about the people you’d helped. Who would help them after you left? 

“Hmm.” Zhongli rested his gloved fingers against his chin, and you could tell that he didn’t buy your bluff, not for a moment. “Anyone else, I may have believed. But you, y/n, who have begged me to stay my hand against fleeing Hilichurls? You, who could not bear to attack the Mitachurl that sits alone on Mount Tianheng and watches the harbor? You, who gave it a name ?” 

“Okay,” you finally relented. “Okay, I like helping people, and I don’t want to go. But that doesn’t mean I can stay. It’s— it’s not good for Aether to stay here, after what this world has done to him.” 

“With time, I believe your brother can adjust—”

“Don’t make this harder than it has to be, Zhongli,” you begged, and the tone of your voice finally made him take notice. He regarded you for a moment, and you thought you saw his eyes glow bright. 

“The last thing I wanted,” he sighed, reaching into his coat, “was for it to come to this.” 

Your first reaction was to reach for your weapon — it wasn’t there; you’d given Festering Desire to dear little Bennett just before you’d left Mondstadt. Still, you felt the bright burn of shame when the only thing Zhongli pulled out was a piece of parchment, folded into a perfect square. How could you think that after everything, Zhongli would ever hurt you? 

“Do you remember this contract of ours?” Zhongli asked as he carefully unfolded the paper, handing it to you. You stared down at the neat lines of calligraphy, punctuated by your name in your own handwriting. 

Of course you remembered: the moment you had approached Zhongli at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, after your expedition into Havria’s domain. The day you’d asked him to join you on your travels.

“ Oh? A new contract? I'm still on leave, but I can accompany you for a while. ” Zhongli had mused, as though he hadn’t just sent butterflies soaring through your insides. “ What name should I use on the contract? I have a great many names, though when on leave... I tend to go by Zhongli. And you, Traveler? What name will you be signing on this contract— ?” 

The following contract had been quickly printed in his swift brushstrokes — simple terms: he would lend his strength and knowledge to your endeavor of finding Aether, and you, in turn, would simply keep him in good company. 

Even at the time, you’d wondered what was in it for Zhongli — the terms of the contract had seemed rather imbalanced, but in your euphoria at having gained Zhongli as your new travelling partner, you had not thought more on it. 

—

The same terms stared back at you now, and you were quickly realizing what was going on. 

For thousands of years, I have made countless contracts. If the deal was of no benefit, then I certainly would not be inclined to agree to it. 

The day you discovered his identity, Zhongli had said this to you. He’d never signed a contract before that did not benefit him wholly; and you were a fool to think he would’ve made an exception for you. 

“By keeping you in good company,” you said, numbly, “you don’t mean— forever ?”

“In the circumstances that the duration of a contract’s term is unspecified—” Zhongli held out his hand for the parchment. Briefly, you debated tearing it up and scattering it to the koi, but you knew well enough that it would not void the contract — one of the hundreds of thousands that Zhongli had undoubtedly seared into his memory. You handed it back to him silently. “Well, it would be fair to say that you are obliged to uphold it, until I personally release you from it, no?”

The first thing you felt was: fear, deep and chilling. You hadn’t truly believed that Zhongli would hurt you — until now. Until a contract had come into play. Until you realized you were poised to break one.

“You can’t be serious,” you said, but you’d known him long enough to know that he was. “I found my brother. I’m not from this world, and so I have to leave. I have to go home.” 

“Has Teyvat not provided you enough of a home? You have made friends here, allies who would die for you in a heartbeat. And as for Liyue — Liyue will always be as much of your home as mine. You have your own room in Chi’hu Rock, you are on a first-name basis with the Qixing and the Adepti would spar with you as though you were one of their own—”

You could feel your resolve trembling, but it was not enough. You would not ask your brother to compromise his wellbeing in a world that had not been kind to him. “I’m sorry,” you said, and you understood fully what was coming. “I can’t stay.” 

“After everything we have gone through, my friend, you would leave... me?” And there it was. In that moment, the former Archon — the oldest being in the world — looked so lonely that you almost broke down, almost apologized, almost reassured him that you would never once again put him through what he’d gone through far too many times: the loss of a friend. 

“I’m sorry,” you repeated. “My family comes first. I can’t stay.” 

Zhongli’s expression became unreadable. He closed his eyes, and for a moment, there was a peaceful silence that you savored. You had a feeling that it would be the last one you’d ever have in Liyue. The seconds crawled by, and briefly, you let yourself hope that Zhongli might relent, might make an exception for his close travel companion. 

“Well then, my friend,” Zhongli finally said, holding out his right arm. Sparks of energy gathered in his palms, forming a wicked, golden spear. The Vortex Vanquisher. You’d seen it countless times, marveling each time at its beauty and strength. You never thought you would one day be staring down the end of it. “You must know what comes next.” 

—

On your journey, you’d witnessed many a broken contract between Zhongli and other people — an Inazuman merchant whose greed for an extra trinket got the better of him; a Sumeran scholar who just needed to grab that last book from the hidden ruins; a Snezhnayan soldier whose loyalty to the Tsaritsa transcended his gratitude to you saving his life— 

None of them had escaped unscathed.  And each time, after delivering the punishment required of the situation, Zhongli would ask you the same thing, uncharacteristic frustration in his voice: 

“ To get people to abide by a contract, and act in accordance with the guidelines set out within, is simply to ask them to respect the concept of fairness. It is not a large request. How are there those who still do not understand such simplicity? ”

Each time, after you’d cheered him on in his reckoning of justice, you would nod and agree sympathetically. None of their contracts, you thought, had been particularly difficult to uphold. And each time, you would thank the heavens that you had more sense than to break a promise between yourself and the God of Contracts. 

It seemed that today, you were going to learn of what happened when you did. 

You took a step backwards as Zhongli took a slow, calculated one towards you. Having closely watched him rain destruction down upon your foes for the past few months, you knew with certainty that you, lightheaded from the wind and the still exhausted from your fight with Aether, would not be able to keep up with his speed and technique. 

And even if you weren’t, how could you even hope to compete with six thousand years of experience in war and strife and carnage? No; fighting him was not an option.

“Come on now, Zhongli,” you pleaded, taking another step and discovering, to your horror, that one more step backwards would have you falling into the koi ponds. You had nowhere else to go. “Aren’t we friends?” 

Even as the words left your mouth, you knew that they would fall on uncaring ears. Friendship had never stayed the hand of the victor of the Archon war.

Zhongli took another lazy stride forward. 

“Are we really going to fight in the city? We’ll destroy half the harbor.”

“While I appreciate your concern, I am quite confident that it will not come to that,” Zhongli said, the ‘because I would long have you pinned under my spear before then’ unspoken but tacit. “And besides, most of Liyue architecture is of stone. It would be nothing that I could not easily fix.” 

Fair enough. You switched gears, praying that two millennia of walking amongst the mortals had given him some vestige of human empathy. “Please, I need to go back and check on Aether. What if he woke up and found himself alone? Who knows what Paimon’s done to him by now.”

“Aether,” Zhongli said, “will not wake up for another day or two.” 

You pause, letting that register. “What?” 

The first bottle: you and Paimon. The second bottle: Zhongli and Aether. You remembered how carefully Zhongli handed you the first goblet, though Liyuenese etiquette would have mandated that he pass the first drink to the guest at the table. The way the goblet had shattered suddenly rang clear in your mind’s eye. His lie. How adamantly Zhongli must have been trying to keep you from drinking from Aether’s cup— 

“The herb I placed in his drink was but a very mild… sedative. He will almost certainly not die from it, but it can take mortals up to two days to regain consciousness.”

“ What ?” You could barely breathe. “You’re joking. You drank from the same bottle he did.”

“You need not concern yourself about me. My body has always been much more resistant to poisons than that of mortals.” 

The rage made your throat tight; it had been a long, long time since you had been so angry. “Congratulations, you know that there’s absolutely no way I’m staying now, right?” 

“Even before our confrontation today, I could tell that your mind was already made up,” he explained, as nonchalant as ever, as though he hadn’t just poisoned your fucking brother . “Naturally, the next course of action was to prevent you from breaking your contract by any means necessary, so that we could further negotiate. I did not want—” 

You would never learn what Zhongli didn’t want, because the fury in your lungs erupted outwards in a burst of elemental energy. You reached out, grabbing one of the last swords in your arsenal — a dull blade that you had been keeping around for enhancement fodder — but it didn’t matter, didn’t matter didn’t matter didn’t matter. All that mattered in that moment was making Zhongli pay . 

The familiar warmth of the element you were attuned to channeled through the sword, and you swung it as hard as you could in the direction of the former Archon. A wake of hardened earth ripped through the stone brick of the terrace, circling Zhongli in a jagged cage of rock and crystal. A little too late, you realized your folly.

Zhongli absently reached out, resting his gloved fingers against the earthly fangs you’d entrapped him within. Even through the haze of your anger, you could see a smile — a kind you had never seen on him — forming between his cheeks. “How ironic,” he said, “that you would use the powers that I granted you against me.” 

You could see the glow of Geo flowing from your constructs towards his outstretched palm. Vaguely, you knew that you had to run . 

“And how endearing—” he continued, and you could hear the rumbling beneath your feet, even as you turned to flee, “—that you truly thought it would work.” 

From behind, a shockwave of Geo more powerful than anything you’d ever felt smashed into you, throwing you off your feet and slamming you against the wall behind the pond. You crumpled like a paper lantern, cheek hitting the cool stone floor. As you struggled to keep your eyes open, the last things you saw were Zhongli’s intricate boots, gleaming in the moonlight before you.

[yostresswritinggirl]

I simp for Zhongli real hard but Diluc will always have a special place in my heart and I couldn't write a birthday fic for him when his birthday came around cause I was busy. Here's something I wrote on short notice. It's a female reader insert but it has elements of an unfinished Genshin OC of mine and a dash of self-insert. kek. -🍺

--------

"I must thank you again Traveler for helping me, if it weren't for you I wouldn't be able to come out of there unscathed", the lady hums as Lumine could nod along. Paimon eyed the lady they, more like Lumine, had saved and took note of her clothing. It wasn't close to anything they have seen in Mondstandt and Liyue and they doubt she could have been from Inazuma. A past elbow length blouse with sleeves made out of thin material draped by a pañuelo of the same thin material. Her flowy skirt only reached her knees and what wasn't covered by her skirt was covered by her knee length brown boots.

"I must say, Mondstandt is such a wonderful place to spend the summer, much cooler than Natlan", she hummed Lumine and Paimon were jovial to meet someone from another nation. Paimon really was just excited to find out about the food.

"Oh! I remember, how can I repay you?", The lady asks and Lumine was about to decline the offer until Paimon spoke up, "How about you treat us to dinner with food from Natlan?", Lumine sent an exasperated look towards Paimon. " I don't mind cooking but how about we seek a place to rest, I know somewhere we can rest just a bith farther now", the lady encouraged and quickened her steps with the Traveler and Paimon following after.

As they near the said place, Lumine noticed it was the Dawn Winery the lady was talking about. "Oh you know someone here?", Paimon asked and the lady hummed. "Yes indeed, though it hasn't changed much since I was last here", she giggled.

Now if the lady was already mysterious to Lumine, she became moreso with the workers greeting her and calling her 'Madame'. Maybe it was just the way the lady carried herself, like an aristocrat. The small group neared the mansion which made Lumine and Paimon even more curious about her.

The doors to the winery slammed opened and all of them couldn't help but jump back a bit. Diluc was the one who came out followed by Adelinde, "I must go to her, keep the mansion in tact and make sure her injured escorts see to their recovery", rather than his composed resting face it has a tinge of worry but as he turned around it was soon melted away when he saw the Honorary Knight and a familiar person behind her.

"Actually continue preparations for dinner Adelinde", Diluc spoke and the head maid nodded and went back inside. "Traveler, it seems I must give my thanks to you for saving her" Diluc spoke calmly once he managed to gather himself, the Traveler and Paimon looked behind them to see the lady and noticed how she had a soft look in her eyes when she saw Diluc.

"But it alsk seems we need a bit of introduction aswell, it seemed to slip past your mind my dear", Diluc clearly intended the last part for the lady and as she walked passed by Lumine and Paimon. She stood next to Diluc and laid her head against his shoulder and the Uncrown King of Mond couldn't help but wrap a gentle yet firm arm around her waist.

"This is my fiancee, (Name), a writer from Natlan whom I met long ago. Thank you once more for saving her", Diluc gave a short squeeze at her waist, "It seems it did slip my mind about that, as repayment for saving me and apologies how about dinner and a rest to stay here for the night, hm?", (Name) offered and Lumine nodded. As they entered the Dawn Winery after the couple, Paimon spoke up as realization struck upon the fairy.

"I guess Diluc doesn't hold the title of Mondstandt's Most Eligible Bachelor anymore",

-------

It was short but it was kinda sweet.

[thatringboy]

Me to me: Nooo don’t make an Inazuman oc you already have two OCs from Liyue and Natlan who you said you’d revamp and besides, you’re probably going to lose interest in this one soon Also Me, getting way to invested in Inazuma lore: HEY EVERYONE COME MEET MY NEW OC HIIRAGI YORICHI, A HYDRO SWORD USER WHO’S AUTISTIC LIKE ME

Link to picrew used for profile

Buried Beauty

“My duty is first to the people of my homeland, then the Kanjou Commission. Make no mistake, Baal must be stopped, but not at the expense of the people.”

The firstborn son of the Hiiragi Clan who’s name means “first gift”. He grew up in Sumeru Academy, but has returned to Ritou to take up his father’s yoke over the Kanjou Commission

General Information

Name: Hiiragi Yorichi

Age: 28

Affiliation: Hiiragi Clan

Birthdate: January 17

Starsign: Capricorn

Constellation: Thesauros Sepultus

Weapon: Sword

Vision: Hydro

Voice Claims

CVA: Zhang Jie

JVA: Tasuku Hatanaka

EVA: Kyle Phillips

Voice Lines

Good Morning: Hmm? Oh, yes, greetings Traveler and Paimon. Sorry, I didn’t see you there… I’m not much of a morning person

Good Afternoon: Did I miss lunch again? Eh, oh well. Traveler, wanna run by Miss Ryouko’s to get some food?

Good Evening: If I don’t get back soon, Chisato will certainly send someone out to find me

Good Night: Can you get back on your own? I’m afraid that I must return to Ritou for the evening

When It Rains: Quickly! The rain will cover our tracks!

When It Snows: Huh? Wow it got cold fast! Better go find some shelter before I accidentally freeze us

When It’s Sunny: Be careful, our enemies can see clearly in broad daylight

Favorite Food: Mmm, I could go for some Mondstat Grilled Fish right about now… I had it once during their Ludi Harpastum Festival that my Senpai took me to one year and I’ve just fallen in love with the flavour!

Least Favorite Food: Is… is that cabbage? No no, there’s nothing wrong, just don’t expect me to eat any. Why? Well… I don’t like the texture at all! Eating it feels like slime going down my throat which closes up my airways and then that sensation makes my brain feel like someone shoved a wet blanket between my ears and wrapped it around my brain! Please… never make me eat cabbage…

About: Vision: My Vision? How did I get mine? Well, since you asked so nicely, it appeared to me in a dream during the end of the first year of the Sakoku Decree. I had cried myself to sleep because of the anguish I felt coming from those who had their Visions stolen - those who I had sworn to protect as a Clan Heir - and I cursed out Celestia for allowing this to happen. In my dream, I appeared before seven giant thrones all glowing with elemental magic. In the blue throne sat a woman who gave off so much power that I could not gaze upon her. Yet, her words always resonate in my heart: “Your loyalties may change, but never change your principles. Do no harm to others, but do not let harm fall upon you and those you love.” When I woke up, the Vision was tucked under my pillow!

About: Kanjou Commission: One day, it will be my duty to oversee the Kanjou Commission. Am I ready? Probably not. Do I have a choice? Also no. I just want to make everyone proud… but how can I do that when father has already deemed me an embarrassment to the Hiiragi Clan simply because of who I am?

About: Sumeru Academy: The Academy? I grew up there! Fourteen years I spent roaming the halls absorbing all of the knowledge I could! *Sigh*… maybe if the Travel Ban gets lifted, I’ll show you around my old stomping grounds!

About: Ritou: I’m friends with some of the guys at the Outlander’s Trade Association. What do you wish to see? Want to head by a jewelry shop? Get some food?

About: Interests: Wanna know a secret? Deep down, I’m an alchemist at heart! Anything alchemy related, I’m sure I can be of use! It’s my special interest! Did you know that the luminescent spines of a firefly can—wait wait no I’m sorry. Father says that people get bored of my ramblings, my apologies for wasting your time…

About: Swords: You may have noticed that my sword technique is different from the samurai of Inazuma. That is because I learned how to use my blade at the Academy. I forged this blade myself when I turned twenty. Would you like to hold it?

About Ayaka: Miss Kamisato? I’ve met her once and she seems nice, but I still feel uneasy around her. But maybe that’s just me

About Raiden Shogun: You want to know why I refer to the Shogun as “Baal”? Well, that’s because I didn’t grow up in a place that calls her the “Raiden Shogun”. I’m used to my peers referring to her as “Baal” and I’ve yet to drop the habit. Also, I don’t have much respect for her, but don’t tell anyone that

About Ayato: Never met him, but his description gives me the creeps! Never appears in public, leaving his little sister to do all the work? The nerve of that guy! O-oh… that sounds like me? Ehe-he… oops

About Yoimiya: Oh Miss Naganohara! She makes the best fireworks! She and I are actually a lot alike. What, you don’t see it? I guess that comes from me spending a lifetime hiding my inner enthusiasm while she never quite grew up. We should go to the next firework festival to see her, I’m sure she’d love that! But… from a distance please. The popping noises from the fireworks hurt my ears

About Kaeya: The Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius, huh? I’m curious to see how the pieces fall into place… what was that? Oh, it’s nothing… just gossip from some old colleagues

About Diluc: Diluc? Who’s that? Owner of the Dawn Winery? The Ragnvindr Clan? Nope, doesn’t ring a bell. The Darknight Hero? Of course! Why didn’t you just say that?! Yeah I know who you’re talking about now! What? He’s got a Vision too? I guess that guy’s just full of surprises

About Childe: So, that weasel is actually a Fatui Harbinger? Why am I not surprised... O-oh when did I meet him? After I graduated from the Academy. Did I sound too surprised about his identity? Sorry, when I knew him, he used a different name

About Albedo: Ah… the son of Rhinedottir. His master actually attended one of my lectures when I was younger in secret. I think they were using an alias during that time but I spoke to them in private. It was interesting to learn different things about ancient alchemy techniques from another land. I think Albedo is currently an alchemist in Mondstat, right? I’ll visit him when the Travel Ban is lifted to exchange notes

About Klee: Klee, daughter of Alice? Eh, I haven’t heard good things. I’m not a big fan of explosions... but that doesn’t mean that she’s a bad kid! I’m sure if I met her, we’d be friends

About Lisa: Minci-Senpai! We worked together a lot at the Acadmia! Why did I call her senpai when I’m older than her? Well, because she’s the Grandmage!!! Everyone knows how smart and powerful Minci-Senpai is! Once, she tasked me with finding ways to preserve pure Electro organisms. So, I coated the inside of a jar with Hydro Slime condensate so that her Electro roses can continuously be charged by the Hydro energy… Sorry, I’m getting carried away

About Mona: What, do you think that all Hydro users who practice magic know each other? Well, I do know Miss Megistus, but you can’t assume that! I met her and her master once during a lecture on fortune telling with the use of elemental abilities. Now that I have a Vision of my own, I will see if I can implement their techniques into my own practice

About Sara: To be perfectly honest, I’ve never met her. We may be the heirs to our Clans and our respective Commissions, but I’ve never had a conversation with her. Naturally, as a Vision holder and she as the spearhead of the Tenryou Commission, I am her enemy. However, as the heir to the Hiiragi Clan, I must keep up formalities. Besides, my dear sister Chisato is being courted by another member of the Kujou clan, Kujou Kamaji, and I don’t want to do anything to ruin that. You won’t turn me and my Vision in to her, right?

About Cyno: Ah, Master Cyno, one of the smartest members of the Academy. I owe a lot of my development to him. I don’t think I would have finished my Thesis paper on the eighth nation without his guidance

About: Names: You know, my name means “first treasure”, but despite such an endearing name, my father has yet to reveal my face to the public and claim me as his heir. He was also the one to send me away when I was a boy to Sumeru because I was not like other children. Was I meant to be gift to my family? To the other nations? Was I an unwanted gift? … Oh, sorry about that. I don’t usually get dark like that! Tell me, Traveller, what does your name mean?

About: Politics: Ugh… Sakoku Decree this, honor the Commissions that, I don’t understand any of it. If I’m ever left in charge, I’m sure that I could handle the bureaucratic side, but the people side? I get overwhelmed when talking to people I’m not comfortable with. I shut down mentally, fumble over my words and eventually I end up having a panic attack and Chisato has to pull me from the room. My father thought that I would have grown out of those outbursts when I got older, but I’ve only found a way to mask my behaviors. But you’re different, you haven’t looked at me like a child nor spoken less of me simply because I’m different, why is that?

About: Family: My mother passed away while I was gone, my father Shinsuke is the head of the Kanjou Commission and my younger sister Chisato is his main assistant. When my father gets upset, Chisato is always the one who has my back and in turn, I’ve begun escorting her secretly to Kondo Village to meet with her secret lover, Kujou Kamaji. I guess that’s what siblings do for each other, we protect each other from everything because no matter what we go through, no matter what arguments we have, we always will have each other. Ah, Traveler! I didn’t say anything to make you upset, did I?

About: Khaenri’ah: … You ask a lot of questions, don’t you? What do you think I know about that cursed place? Yeah, I wrote my Thesis paper on Khaenri’ah, but that was a while ago and I’ve learned my lesson. Now, the only connections I have to that place are hearsay from lecturers, rumors at the Academy and the plucked plume of a proud peacock.

About: Time Gap: Huh? Oh yeah, I went to Sumeru when I was seven and studied there for fourteen years. Uh… what did I do for the missing five years of my life before returning to Ritou? Ehe-he… I don’t think I’m allowed to say everything, but I can tell you this: that’s the time that I met a disgraced Knight, a bloodthirsty child and learned how to wield a sword. I was able to travel with them while writing my Thesis paper. Ah… how time flies when working with like minded people

This is the most thought I’ve ever put into an OC, I hope you like him!

[wherearemyglassesbro]

ooh ooh!! can you do more characters in your genshin au?

Yeah!! ;-; I’m surprised y’all like it alsjalsksk thank you for humoring me :)

Sadik: Pyro, polearm, *

Yells a lot in his voice lines and despite having a whole polearm, he still uses his hands in combat as well. He switches attacks from a good ol polearm whack to a full on sucker punch. Such a variety

Sadik is the best chef at the finest restaurant in the Pyro region of Natlan

He runs the kitchen with an iron fist, nearly making his chefs cry cause he’s like...A muscular Gordon Ramsay. But he will soften up if he actually sees tears

Because of this discipline, his restraunt has 7 stars...When 5 is usually the best of the best. The food there is above and beyond! And only the richest can really go because it’s $5,000 for one serving of spiced chili slime secretions...it tastes better than it sounds

He has full sleeves of tattoos on both arms which show ingredients, dishes and scenery from all of the regions he studied in. His ink pretty much tells his life story so far. Once he runs out of room on his arms he’ll move on to his back

He does interviews for the newspaper and the reporters are like ‘how do you cook so well?’ And he looks at them and goes ‘I don’t burn it’ wow fantastic insight

He isn’t really into combat but he’s a playable character anyway! We have a (soon to be) playable nun so anything is possible

Abel: Pyro, claymore, *

Another hard hitting character who tends to be on the slow side cause of his weapon but his power move would inflict a lot of damage

Abel is a pro bounty hunter, hired by all kinds of people from the varying regions of Teyvat. He gets paid a lot but his line of work is scaryyyy he takes on like 3 ruin guards at once sometimes. His skin is littered with scars from hilichurl claws, burns and stab wounds. He doesn’t care. He looks super cool

His cabin is tucked away and it’s location is unknown to the general public. Only his brother and sister know but they aren’t allowed to go unless it’s an emergency. Whenever he meets them it has to happen at night within the walls of a city. He doesn’t want criminals or monsters finding out he has siblings

He has a map of each region tattooed somewhere on his hand or arm instead of using a paper map. Fire powers and paper dont go well together

Lilli: Geo, catalyst, Springvale Mondstat

She’s a healer and her attacks consist of meteors flying out of the sky and hitting enemies! Best used when enemies are not right up in her face cause she literally can’t do hand to hand combat at all so that’s her only drawback

She’s still a kid but her brother trains her to be the best she can be! Vash is visionless but he expected to get a Geo vision. He didn’t, his sister did. So he’s helping her get stronger and learn about her power. She is so grateful for him :’)

She goes to school as she should and does all of her work and on her days off, she practices out in the fields with her brother. Vash throws rocks at her and she uses her powers to stop them in midair and hurl them back in his direction. She’d never ever hurt him and if she did she’d literally stop using her vison forever

Her idle voice lines are mostly about her brother or getting home before sundown “Hm...I wonder what my brother is doing right now” “The sun is setting! We better get moving” “Ah...The breeze feels nice tonight...” “Let’s get moving! There’s so much to see out here!”

If she dies from fall damage or something her ‘death’ voice line is “Big brother...Please...Dont forget me...” OUCH

Raj: Geo, longsword, his ship

Super fast and attacks jump from one enemy to the other super quick!! Downside is that it’s hard to focus on one enemy if there’s multiple around you cause his attacks go from enemy to enemy

Raj is the captain and owner of a huge cargo ship. He has a crew of 40 strong fighters, all with visions. He carries cargo back and forth from Liyue to Snezhnaya and Inazuma. He carries minerals, food supplies, textiles, anything that pays well!

His sword looks super old and that’s cause it is! It belonged to his great grandfather and has been passed down allllll the way to him! He wields it proudly even though it needs a bit of fixing up here and there every other month

To pass the time while traveling by sea, he plays his flute and his crew sings songs! It warms his heart to see everyone get along

You could hold up any rock and he’d tell you what it is. He has studied up on everything he sells and I mean...He is a Geo vision holder so he takes rock knowledge seriously

Xiao-Mei: Dendro, archer, Liyue

Fast attacks that will knock enemies over for a few seconds, giving you time to run up to them and land a blow while they’re down

Xiao-Mei is a jewelry maker! She and her mother run a small shop under the docks of Liyue harbor. The placement of the shop is actually beneficial cause as ships dock, the crew will hurry in to buy something for their lovers before seeing them on the streets above! Very slick :)

Xiao-Mei works did metal and makes her own beads for her pieces. She incorporates a lot of shapes or colors from natire, often inspired by flowers like glaze lillies :)

She wears tons of necklaces, rings and bracelets at all times!! If someone likes something she’s wearing, she’ll sell it to them!

Antonio: Hydro, longsword, *

Attacks tend to focus on one enemy at a time and isn’t good for multitasking... Groups of hilichurls are his weakness but he’ll excel during big boss fights since it’s just one to focus attacks on!!

He has really flirty voice lines though jeez sir calm down...

Toni is an entertainer!! A sword fighting entertainer! People place bets on him and his opponent and it’s exhilarating work! Is it legal? Maybe! Maybe not! Everything is technically legal in the woods right?

He flirts with the ladies in the crowd and thinks he’s so slick but his pick up lines are just the worst “I’ve got a hydro vison :) I can make you...hehe...wet” STOP-

He tends to stay within the borders of the hydro region(Fontaine(?)) but will venture to other regions if his ‘career’ requires it!

He isn’t the smartest so he has a lot of moments where you’re like ‘wow...theres not a thought behind those pretty green eyes’ so...I mean he’s kinda a comic relief :)

Michelle: Hydro, catalyst, Raj’s ship

One of her power move things is a water shield!! She can shoot through it but things can’t hit her for like 30 seconds! Then the shield can be deployed again and can be used on other characters on your team

Michelle fishes and cooks for Raj and his crew! She was picked up off a beach, lost and disoriented. She’s made a family out of the ship crew and thinks of Raj as an older brother :)

She is a very talented chef but always makes more than needed so they have a lot of leftovers :0

She buys something from Xiao-Mei’s every time they dock in Liyue :)