#citlali. you named her CITLALI.

[klvrgavin]

Every time i think natlan can’t piss me off anymore than it has it gets worse

[snobwhimsicality]

hello chat i am going to be a hater in tags for a moment (jst finished natlan act IV)

[yandere-wishes]

༻⋆Little Red Riding Hood You Know More Than You Should⋆༺

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ Capitano recognizes your ancient name before he recognizes you. Ororon thinks it's about time to confess his feelings to his childhood friend. You just wanted to protect your homeland.

⁀➷ Warnings: Yandere Behavior, Stalking, Possessiveness, Reader has a pyro vision.

⁺₊𝄞₊⁺ Tejano Blue By CAS

⋆ ˚｡⋆ Bless your heart, make you part of my life forever ~ CAS

.✦── °❀⋆ .🔥.⋆❀°── .✦

It had started with Ororon.

With the Chrysanthemum he delicately weaved into your hair.

Red red red like the vision that burns at your hip.

Red like the boy-heart you wished to carve out.

It had ended with the Capitano.

With verglas weaving across your arms from his most intimate touch.

Blue, blue, blue like the creature that claimed to know you.

Blue like the veins that harbor such a melancholy legacy.

The chipped wood of the basket pierces your palm, tiny splinters pricking at soft flesh. You don't fully register the twinge; the pain is too silken, too delicate. Instead, you tighten your fist around the wooden handle daring the splinters to puncture, to draw blood. At least then you'd have a reason to visit Ororon, a reason to pry open his door and interrupt his precious isolation.

You'd like to forget about him.

The ignorant boy with the mismatched eyes.

Leave him to rot in his secluded cabin.  

But it's all so hard to shake the saccharine memories of the all too lanky boy who used to hold your hand as you played hide and seek with Iktomisaurs in the forest.

Granny Itztli had requested ingredients for a ritual sermon taking place two moons from now. Nightshades and Quenepa Berrys and sand from the cost. "Have you talked to Ororon recently?" Granny asks, her brows furrowed in annoyance or worry or some other emotion too masked to fully read.  You shake your head, gingerly plucking the ingredients from your basket and sprawling them across the table. "He hasn't been returning any of my letters, or even answering the tribesman's requests for his vegetables. I swear if that boy-"

You can feel her anger slipping out, the tendrils of her powers lashing at the air, slithering across the walls. You gulp, grasp tightening once more against your basket's handle. The wood scraps at your skin grounding you as you let out a shaky breath. "I'll check on him for you granny," you blurt out trying to plaster a desperate smile across your face. Citlali's eyes soften as she looks at you taking in your taut stance. "I'd always wished for him to pick you as his bride." She mused hand waving the air as if to dispel her anger like smoke. "you'd have been the perfect wife for my foolish grandson, someone to keep an eye on him and his whimsy wills of inanity." She sighs ushering you to the door. "Still I suppose it's not too late."

You turn on your heels defiance ripe on your tongue. Ororon had once been a dear friend, a brother. And while the memories are wrapped in golden velvet and honey. You'd much rather pluck the nails from your fingers than marry that weirdo. But before the protest could be launched the door is solemnly slammed in your face.

You fasten the cloak along your neck, pull the hood over your head

before making your way to the lone cabin in the woods. Skipping along the broken road swinging your empty basket.

The cabin itself is petit and serene, a pretty little heap of wood and spray paint with its renowned vegetable garden stretching the whole diameter. "Ororon," you call out, surprised at how bitter his name tastes. Rotton, almost forgotten. "Ororon," you knock at the door.

Four knocks.

Four pounds.

All accompanied by the bitter name spilling from behind your teeth.

But there is no answer, nothing outside the peaceful lull of the breeze and the distant shrikes of Yumkasaurs.

Nothing.

Well, maybe it's for the best.

You'd have shown him your blistered palm should he have answered. Shown him the blood and silently prayed he'd hold your hand and bandage your wound with all the tenderness of an eight-year-old boy bandaging his best friend's bleeding knee.

It's only when you've started back on the road, heading towards the grand stadium, that you hear something—an icy omen whispering along the horizon. You look around, greeted by nothing but Natlan's nature. Slowly, you start to leave the path, trudging through grass and marching up the little hills, following the distant chill in the air.

What was it Granny always said about straying off the path?

Something about tragedy and trouble waiting beyond the trees.

Only this time, trouble -or rather tragedy- lays behind a set of rocks, half a mile from the cabin. That's when you finally see them. The chill in the air has grown harsher here, biting at your bare arms. You pull your hood further over your head, wrapping the rest of the cape around yourself in a bid for warmth. From the rock you've concealed yourself behind, you can hear two men speak.

Ororon stands before a man, no not a man. Such a human word could not describe the terrifying thing that loomed outside the sun's reach.

Your ears perk at the low timbre of his growl. The monster spews blasphemy, sacrilege, against your dear archon. Calling her a coward for not using the gnosis, calling her inept.

You feel his words cutting through you, lacrations running deep. Your body is on fire your vision boling by your side. What's worst is that Ororon listens, humming along in acknowledgment. You can taste the molten anger stinging the roof of your mouth, feel the embers burning your tongue. Your hand covers your mouth, nails sinking into your cheek to avoid permitting the frustration to break free and blowing your cover.

You turn swiftly, using the cover of rocks and trees to shadow your escape.

Desperately dashing for the path that'll lead you back to your village. Granny Itztli and the tribe leader must hear of this. They must know that Ororon has joined the Fatui and is planning to steal the Archon's gnosis.

The problem, however, may have been the red cape you'd draped yourself in, its bright color catching the wrong sun rays at the wrong time. Luminous enough to catch the captain's attention.

You feel the world slipping, sunlight giving way to a ghoulish purple glow. Your feet hit the battered pavement of the path, right before the world turns to black.

You scream just as something pulls you away...

You've been here before, several times in fact. This is the night kingdom or at least an astral realm within the night kingdom. Your body -your real body- is probably laying limp in the grass being licked by some saurian.

"(y/n), what are you doing here?" Ororon's voice is muffled, distant. A cloud scraping across the rougher edges of the sky. His ghastly apprehension hovers behind you, you can feel his chilled breath on your neck.

You try to speak, to answer. But the words never leave your mouth. You must remember that the shadow world has rules. That you can not move with your legs or speak with your tongue. You form the words like bubbles floating in the air. Waiting for them to pop, to unleash your voice amongst the gloom.

"I was looking for you, granny's worried. Apparently, you've disappeared."

His nails scrape at your neck. Fitting the delicate bones between the cusp of his palm. "But I'm right here" he whispers in your ear, resting his chin on your shoulder. "Sorry, I wasn't there to greet you. I've been...busy".

"Ororon" The voice echoes across the cavern, loud and disturbing. You feel frost leak from every syllable. Your eyes widen as the black-clad monster marches forward body rigid embodying authority and discipline in every move.

Is this how everyone from Snezhnaya looks?

Taut and stiff and malicious?

Draped in furs and armor.

Ominous and cruel.

"This is my friend (y/n) we grew up together. Isn't she cute Capitano?" Ororon ends the statement with a mock peck to your neck. Despite its fleeting nature you still wince at the invasion.

You don't recall Ororon being so bold, so satirizing. Has the folly of the fatui bled into him? Rotted his essence and painted it anew?

"Get rid of her, we haven't the time to waste on such..." The man, no the nightmare. Stops in front of you. His bulky clothes remind you of the Tatankasaurs that roam the sandy southwest.

The captain's mask is sheer black. Murkey candance that hides his mysterious visage. But you notice the jerky way his head tilts down the way you can't escape the strange pierce of his unseable eyes.

"Do I know you" it's phrased as an order, a demnad.

Tell me what you are, what you're supposed to mean to me.

But there is no answer to greet it. Nothing apart from an unsteady silence. You can not know this ice-cold man. From behind you Ororon stiffens, "Do you know the captain." he asks, a silver of betrayal lacing his words. You only shake your head, narrowing your eyes to try and pry beyond the abyss of his mask.

Capitano's hand grips at your fingers pulling them up to his mask. Your heart stops as you see him bow his head, the cold of his helmet biting into your flesh. You hear the kiss like an arrow piercing the ever-looming eeriness of the night kingdom.

Capitano utters your name.

Rolls it around his mouth trying to savor the nostalgia.

Trying to crack open every syllabus and taste its familiarity.

"(y/n)..."

Your body lays limb amongst the grass, from atop the green hill Capitano observes your sleeping form. His eyes trace every curve and crevasse of your body jotting each detail to memory.

You look like so ethereal like this. Blood red amid the green and gold of the prairie. The humor of it all isn't lost on him after all he's partaken in more than his fair share of carnage. And that's exactly what you look like, a beautiful corpse laying in her puddle of blood. A macabre laceration layed upon Natlan's corse.

The sun beats down. Its rays too warm and treasonous.

It's only then that Capitano realizes where he's seen you before.

This exact scene, the blood pooling from beneath, the body lying amidst the grass, the sun blessing the slayed warrior in its light.

He knows you...

You don't remember waking up. Don't recall commanding your stiff muscles to move. Nor do you recall the first sight your wry eyes landed upon.

All you remember is running.

Blurred greens and reds of the scenery rushing by.

Granny must know of this.

The tribe must know of this.

Ororon is a traitor. A conspirator in a plot against Mavurika.

You're not quite sure why your heart stings when you think of this.

Your mouth is dry, ash coating your lips as Citlali glares down at you. Ororon's face flashes behind your eyes. You see him everywhere. Hear his gentle voice shushing you. Your ears are ringing, his voice whispering how much he's missed you, how much he wants you by his side once more.

Citlali says something, you think she's scolding you for traversing the pathway. She's gone in the next blink, essence lingering in a spinning room. Ororon kneels in front of you. No, not Ororon just some spectre wearing his face.

Or maybe it's his astral projection. Maybe he can't let you utter a word of what you saw.

"Just keep quiet darling. I promise this will all make sense soon." His fingers spark when they grace your cheek. Solid and spirit all at once. You try to touch his hand, to sink the sparks inside you, to feel Ororon once more. Instead, your finger collides with your own soft flesh.

The colors are chipping away.

Someone is calling your name.

Ororon or Citlali?

Maybe they've always been the same.

Why is the room spinning?

Why is it so dark...

You shouldn't be out. The sun is too harsh, merciless. You ring your palm across your basket's handle letting the friction rub the flesh raw.

Granny had warned you to stay inside. To avoid Ororon and whatever else you'd seen. But you can't let this go, the words may die upon your tongue but there must be evidence hidden somewhere. Evidence that you can present to the pyro archon, evidence that could save everything.

"Did you really miss me that much?" His voice is sharper than any arrow from his bow. Ororon stands blocking your path the captain hovering beside him.

Weren't you always told the path would be safe?

Capitano reaches out, metal fingers wrapping around your fragile wrist he pulls you to him, dark mask peering beyond you. Trying to piece you together. From behind you feel Ororon's lips sneaking up your neck. You scream, a shriveled sound. "Didn't you come all this way just to see us?" Ororon asks between open-mouthed kisses, you writher between their bodies desperate to escape. Tears flowed from your shiny eyes.

You're so pretty when you cry Ororon feels bad for admitting that. But he can't help but admire how innocent and helpless you look, trapped between two monsters.

It's only now that he notices your red hood is adorned with embroidered Chrysanthemum, for a moment Ororon thinks it has something to do with flowers he used to braid into your hair. Back when he'd been too young to fully understand destiny and you'd been too young to understand legacy.

"I came to find evidence of your betrayal." You spit, free hand reaching into your basket to try to find your ancient name. Tears trickle from your eyes as the captain leans closer. Your fingers finally graze the forged feather and you pry it out, holding it to your chest, feeling its power coursing through you.

Your elbow collides harshly with Ororon's rib, as he tumbles backward you gain enough space to sidekick the captain. Only for it to be blocked by his iron-clad hand. The metal makes your bones ring a sharp pain that leaves your leg numb.

"You bear an ancient name?" Capitano asks, skeptical. You roll your eyes despite your better judgment. Capitano releases your wrist, instead reaching out to try and grab your ancient name. In the millisecond of freedom, you stalk backward before sprinting back to the tribe. Your basket forgotten at the captain's feet.

"she bears the ancient name Ayizu," Ororon says, still clutching his side.

Capitano swallows the information. Letting the sharp edges nick at his throat. He'd had been uncertain before despite all the parallels.

But now the shock was rolling through him like lightning bolts. That's why you looked so familiar. Not only did you bare Ayizu's name but there was no doubt in Capitano's mind that you were one of his descendants.

The captain chuckles a mirthless noise. The irony feels like a blistering burn blooming upon his rotting flesh. "She's quite loyal." he begins, blacked gaze traveling to Ororon. "She'd make a valuable asset in our quest to save Natlan. Fetch her for me will you Ororon?" It's nothing less than an order one that Ororon may be a bit too keen on fulfilling.

"Oh and Ororon, we need to start you on a training agenda. I fear you are the most pathetic warrior Natlan has ever seen."

Ororon's eyes sunken before traversing up the captain's imposing form.

"Yes sir" he mumbles, biting his lips to avoid moaning at the deliciously sharp pain you've gifted him.

It's dark again,

You let the sharp wood of your basket cut into your palm. Relishing in the familiar feeling as blood mars the wooden handle. When did your basket return? You could have sworn you'd abandoned it with your attackers,

The path beneath your feet is cracked and broken. Smeared in ice and ectoplasm. Still, you walk forward into the abyss. There's nowhere else to go.

You expected them to be there. To see their towering forms amidst the darkness. Instead, you see them lounging between the blacked boulders.

Soldiers fresh from the fight. You don't enquire about their endeavors about the horrors you're sure they've inflected upon your land. But before you can fully walk past Capitano grabs your wrist and pulls you into his lap. "Stop" You struggle to break free, only for him to grab your chin and force your eyes onto his faceless visage. "So you're the descendent of my old friend? The inheritor of his noble name." You feel bile creeping up your throat. "Don't insult my ancestor, he'd never associate with the likes of you." you spite.

Capitano chuckles and signs, pulling his mask up a smidge to reveal decayed flesh. You gasp, an opportunity he ceases to pull you into a deep kiss, teeth biting and tearing at your soft lips, his holed tongue running over your teeth. You try to scream to cry, suffocating from the floral-scented rot. When the captain finally pulls back you run your fingers over pained lips smearing the blood across your cheek and chin.

"You should smile more" Ororon teases nipping at your ear until you wince, his hands move up and down your hips squeezing every so often. He's never been this bold before. You blame the Fatuis staring down at you. Blame the Outlander and his weird ways, somehow the irony is utterly lost on you.

"Please just let me go" you beg, your body is on fire your vision pulsing once more. "You're a captain surely you must understand why I'm so eager to protect my people from you?" Ororon laughs, littering your cheek with tiny kisses. "I understand," Capitano responds, his fingers dabbing your blood-covered lips. "I'm desperate to save Natlan too." He brings the red-coated digit to his mouth, sucking softly.

"We all want to protect Natlan" Ororon chips in. "That's why you should join us, honor your ancient name." You shake your head, almost as if you're shaking the nightmare away. "There is no honor in what you're doing."

You feel something around your neck. Metalic fingers wrapping tightly around your throat. Clutching tighter and tighter. With his other hand, the Captain removes his mask.

You scream...

The room is cold, freezing.

Your calloused palm squeezes trying to feel the handle of your wooden basket. When your nails only dig into your own skin, you awaken, head darting trying to find your precious basket.

It's on the table...

You don't have a table by your bed.

Beside you, someone tightens their hold on your waist pulling you into an icy stiff chest. Captiano's breath is cold, his voice gruff with sleep as he whispers little adorations into your ear. You're only now realizing Ororon lying in front of you, his lithe fingers playing with your neck.

No not your neck. There's something wrapped around your throat, no one the cold was unbearable, this "necklace" must be made of pure cyro. "You look so pretty like this." Ororon mumbles, daring to connect his lips to yours in a sheepish, sloppy attempt at a kiss. You wrangle your head to the side breaking the pathetic kiss. Behind you, you feel Capitano's chest rumble in laughter.

"Really Ororon must I teach you everything?" Capitano pushes Ororon's head roughly until his lips are on yours, "Open your mouth" he commands. To which both of you obey not knowing who he's referring to. Slowly Ororon permits his tongue to wander past your lips and into your mouth. Satisfied Capitano begins to suckle and kiss your neck, his sharp teeth effortlessly breaching skin.

"I know you don't believe me when I say, I'm here to save Natlan." Capitano whispers. "But I helped your Ancestor defend this land once, and I shall do it again." Capitano sits up stiffly, his hand on your shoulder using ice to keep you in place. "The war with the Abyss is starting soon. You'll be safe here while Ororon and I make the final preparations." He sighs fully turning to you.

For the first time, you see the rot and decay that has marred his once gorgeous face. You gulp, swallowing your screams, letting his words sink in like the ice chaining you. Capitano pulls himself from the bed, making his way to the door. Ororon gives you a final kiss before also retreating from the bed and going to stand by the captain.

"If we survive this, I don't intend to take you to Snezhnaya. Frankly, I don't think either of you could survive the cold." He jokes, and you notice it's the first time his serious icy facade has cracked. "You will be safe here with Ororon and I'll visit you as much as my duties permit." strange how his words almost, almost sounded like 'I love you' muttered in a foreign tongue enclosed in ice. Something impossible to thaw out.

"I'm sorry about this darling," Ororon mutters as he follows the captain out. "But we'll be back soon." He offers you a soft smile before closing the door. One that makes your heart melt. Instead of a kidnapper, you see the little boy who used to own your heart.

The door closes leaving you to bask in all the glory of your doom.

.✦── °❀⋆ .🔥.⋆❀°── .✦

Apologies this is definitely not my best work but I just wanted to get something out for these two. May end up writing something better later on.

💜Tags: @definitely-asexual-volcano @fujisworld @kudoaii @savsxz @fantasyhopperhea @misscoolisback123 @army-of-inspirited-onces @lorkai @lavandulawrites @kazudare @s1mppp @onceapirateprincess @lovelive-animequeen1029 @trashpandaperson @rhain-things @milktea-coffeelady

[genshin-impact-updates]

The Vivid Night-Wind Flows, Obsidian Reflects the Heart

"I've always thought that Citlali was chief material, and that she'd take that role on eventually. But two hundred years on, and she's still as unenthused about going outside as ever! It might take a figure more fascinating than those light novels for our genius shaman to take greater interest in the real world — but is there really anyone who can do that?"

— Mavuika

◆ Name: Citlali

◆ Title: Obsidian Opalstar

◆ Stargazer of Mictlan

◆ Vision: Cryo

◆ Constellation: Patina Anavatlaca

Whenever a child starts crying uncontrollably, parents from the Masters of the Night-Wind in need of immediate relief are quick to make use of "Granny Itztli"'s name. Over the past two hundred years, many a terrifying rumor has been born from the horrendous defeats she has inflicted upon all challengers, eventually granting her prestige sufficient to silence wailing infants.

As the bearer of this title, Citlali has never sought to explain herself, as though she really is such a horrific entity.

But if you should dare set foot in her remote abode, you will find it a right mess of wine bottles and snacks, and shelves stuffed to bursting with light novels — and you would be forgiven for thinking of her less as some frightening old hag in her lair, and more as a hermit in her nest.

And in this case, Citlali will feel the need to argue as such:

"I'm not a hermit. I'm just above superficial rules of societal etiquette!"

[universetrash]

Please Stay — In which Ororon has a nightmare and their partner helps calm him down.

Content Warning — NATLAN 5.1 ARCHON QUEST SPOILERS; slight OOC Ororon; inaccurate portrayal of PTSD/panic attacks; unedited

Notes — hurt/reverse comfort; slight ooc characters; word count: 900+; Natlan 5.1 Archon Quest Spoilers under the cut, you have been warned.

No- nonono. How did it get this bad? Hundreds- no- thousands of people and saurians were dead. No Ode of Resurrection will bring them back, no prayers to the gods will bring the countless lives that were lost back. 

He’s seen the battle reports. 3782 dead. 4276 active abyssal monsters in Natlan. Ororon is sure there’s more that hasn't been recorded. This wasn’t some disaster, this was war. 

“Shit-” Ororon skidded to a stop, facing the monsters from the Abyss that suddenly came out of nowhere. It was merely a few hilichurls, but it was still something he wasn’t wanting to deal with. Not now. Not when he’s trying to get to the Masters of the Night-Wind’s territory to provide backup. He was quick to finish off the hilichurls in his path, a few scrapes and bruises littered his body. It was nothing compared to what others got. 

It took him around fifteen minutes to get to the tribe, slowing to a stop. The tribe was in utter chaos. Bodies of both the people of Natlan and the monsters of the Abyss littered the ground, blood staining the grass. The air was still and it was so… quiet. Ororon pulled out his bow and had an arrow at the ready as he slowly started to creep through the tribe, ready to take out anything from the Abyss or help any survivors. 

Ororon swallowed hard, trying to ignore the bodies of familiar faces he stepped over as he continued on through the tribe. His bow quickly lowered when his gaze landed on Citlali, who was kneeling on the floor holding onto someone’s body.

“Granny?” Ororon’s voice was quiet as he spoke up, he slowly moved towards the woman. “Granny, are you okay?” 

“Ororon-” Citlali looked up, turning her body towards the man. “I- Y/N-  I tried to stop them. But they wouldn’t listen.” 

Ororon stopped in his tracks, the full picture setting in. There Citlali was, cradling Y/N’s lifeless body. The vision connected to their side was dull and faded. His breath caught in his throat as tears burned his eyes, his bow slipping out of his hands. 

With a gasp, Ororon quickly sat upright in bed, his hands gripping onto the sheets of the bed- desperately trying to ground himself. His heart hammered against his chest, his grip tightening on the sheets, his desperate attempt to just calm down just wasn’t working.Ororon was oblivious to his partner slowly waking up beside him.

Y/N let out a small grumble as they reached up to rub the tiredness out of their eyes. Pulling their hands away from their face, Y/N blinked while they shifted over to face Ororon, half expecting him to be lying down beside them. Y/N’s eyebrows immediately furrowed seeing the state that Ororon was in, they sitting up with a small groan. “Ororon..?” 

Ororon’s head snapped to the side at the sudden call of his name, his breath catching in his throat as he looked at Y/N. The false images of Y/N’s dead body- their lifeless eyes and ghostly pale skin. The panic setting in further as these awful images warped reality. “No- no.” 

Y/N looked at Ororon quietly, trying to read his expression and body language. It was clear as day that he was having some sort of attack and was struggling to ground himself. So with one swift movement, Y/N reached over, turning on the lamp on the bedside table before turning back to Ororon. 

“Hey… hey, you’re okay. You’re safe.” Y/N’s pace was slow as they spoke, their hands moving to take hold of Ororon’s, giving a gentle squeeze once they had a solid grip. “Can you hear me?” 

Y/N paused, waiting for a response from Ororon, only getting a small nod in response along with the grip on their hands tightening. Y/N offered a smile before they continued to speak. “Good… that’s good.” Y/N tighten their own grip on his hands. “I want you to focus on my breathing and try to match it. Do you think you can do that?” 

Ororon glanced down at their joined hands, Y/N’s words were muffled like they were speaking into a pillow across the Stadium of the Sacred Flame. Follow their breathing… he- he could do that. Ororon glanced down at Y/N’s chest and focused on the rising and falling motion, doing his best to calm his near hyperventilating and match their breathing. His eyes eventually closed as he focused on his own steady breathing.

Y/N, noticing Ororon’s panic significantly calming down, slowly went to pull away so they could get him some water. In turn, Ororon’s eyes snapped open when he felt their hands pulling away from his. “No- stay- please.” Y/N’s lips pressed together as their eyebrows furrowed, noting the desperation in his voice and how shaky he was. 

“Okay… I won’t leave.” Y/N moved to sit down next to Ororon again, covering their mouth as they let out a small yawn. They opened their mouth to say something else but stopped once strong arms wrapped around them, Y/N letting out a sigh before wrapping their arms around Ororon’s waist, leaning up and pressing a kiss against his cheek. “Do you want to talk about it?” 

“No… can we just stay like this for a while longer?” Ororon moved, letting his head rest against Y/N’s shoulder, almost hunched over them. 

“Of course we can.” Y/N adjusted their bodies to where their back was against the headboard of the bed as they held Ororon, rubbing small circles against his back and placing small kisses against his head, whispering small words of affirmation to him. Y/N smiled once they noticed Ororon finally fell asleep. 

Unofficial tag list

@kyana-chan

[ariadnehelx]

title: KISSIN' UNDER THE MISTLETOE!

summary: two attempts mualani made to get you guys to kiss, and one that he made himself. pairings: kinich x gn!reader. tw: none. notes: ahh this took longer than expected! also i made it gn i hope that's okay! <.3

“...Everything is going according to plan.”

Mualani smirked schemingly to herself. It was Christmas time, the most festive time of the year, where every year, a great Christmas party is hosted in Natlan. This year, Mualani took it upon herself to host the big Christmas party.

It was very grand too, what with the great Christmas tree standing in the corner, oh so beautifully decorated with baubles, holly and lights, not to mention the shiny star on top. A diverse range of presents of different shapes and colors overflowed on the floor underneath, labelled with names of guests arriving today. How much fun it would be to open them! The smell of hot chocolate wafted through the air, and one couldn’t help but contemplate how much time Mualani must have spent to plan this dinner, and one couldn’t help but appreciate it all.

But for Mualani, besides all the festivities and planning, this Christmas, she had a mission. A personal goal, one could say. 

To get you and Kinich to kiss under a mistletoe.

The idea came about back in November. While at a weekly hangout with your best friends, Mualani was also there, and somehow the topic of crushes came up, and after being peer pressured into saying the name of the person you liked you slipped up and admitted to having a crush on Kinich… to which, honestly? Mualani was absolutely flabbergasted. 

But the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Kinich had always been more open with you, if at all, and, thinking about it further, Mualani realized that as she was the common friend between the two of you, perhaps she could play cupid. Since then, along with being occupied with the dinner planning, she was also planning a perfect moment for the two of you to be caught by ‘chance’ under the mistletoe (that she would hang over you), having to kiss and the lot. 

Although, you could have refused a kiss if you were feeling shy… but Mualani brushed this thought off quickly; there was no way she was going to let Christmas pass and not have you and Kinich officially dating. No way!

By this point, near enough all the guests had poured in, packing the place up with hearty laughter, Christmas carols and so on. Mualani looked to the left; Kachina was receiving presents from Chasca. Behind them stood Xilonen, who had arrived a couple hours earlier to help Mualani out with the decorations and preparations. Looking to the right, Citlali and Ororon were only arriving now. Then, behind those two, Mualani spotted Kinich entering with a fairly small gift in hand, Ajaw groaning something in his ear and Kinich refused to listen.

Then? Mualani caught Kinich staring at you from his place near the entrance. She giggled to herself, and couldn’t help but imagine how the two would look if you ever ended up together. 

Next thing she knew, Kinich had made his way towards herself. 

“Here.” Kinich didn’t smile, but Mualani could feel the warmth behind his unfazed and cold demeanor. “Merry Christmas, Mualani.”

Mualani gave Kinich a good-natured grin, touched, and then gave him a warm hug back. “D’aww, thanks Kinich! I left your presents under the tree, so make sure you check ‘em out later, okay?” When she pulled away, Kinich nodded and the two engaged in a short conversation before leaving to meet his other friends.

“Oh yeah, and Merry Christmas!!” Mualani called out from behind him, trying her absolute best to hide the blatant smirk on her face. Now that the two people she was trying to get to kiss under the mistletoe were here, Mulani’s plan began.

Attempt 1.

Whistling to herself in an attempt to look unsuspicious, Mualani crept closely towards the fireplace, hiding a mistletoe behind her. She’d noticed that both you and Kinich frequented the fireplace, and so she discreetly placed a mistletoe in the most perfect spot, although once placed Mualani did think that some other people might get their chance to kiss instead, considering how much of a common palace it was to be seen in. 

Except, at the current moment, right after Mualani placed the mistletoe, you were crouched down and warming your hands in front of the fireplace. You didn’t notice  Mualani sneakily placing the mistletoe just earlier… and by chance, Kinich was walking towards the fireplace.

Stifling a mischievous laugh, Mualani snuck away from the scene, hiding from the two of you, and watched expectantly.

She didn’t know the reason why Kinich was coming towards you, but he seemingly came there for you. However… 

Just before he could tap your shoulder, just before it was about to happen, the moment left as soon as it came. 

“Heyy, Kinich! I didn’t think you were coming, come on, let’s go have some fun…!” Some idiot guest grabbed his shoulder, before dragging him to the snack table to get some snacks.

Mualani’s anticipating grin wiped off completely, and, huffing and making a mental note to ban this person from the guest list next time (kidding she’s too sweet to do that), she understood that she needed to get creative. She had to try harder. Maybe she should get more people involved. Yes… of course, another scheme was forming in her mind.

Attempt 2.

After her first failed attempt, Mualani decided it would be best to add someone into her plot, so she went ahead and told Kachina about her plans, and of course, your secret crush on Kinich. 

“H-Huhhhh? (name) likes Kinich–” Kachina’s ears turned red when she thought about this new revelation; she was equally as shocked about this as Mualani had been a few weeks ago, and Mualani had decided to enlist her help!

“Shh! Yep, I know! I was extremely surprised too! Kachina, would you mind helping me out?” Mualani whispered. “The plan is simple. You’re going to place the mistletoe on the doorway between there,” Mualani pointed towards the hallway. “And I’ll make the two of them go over there before anyone takes their chance.” she giggled.

“Mm, but Mualani? What if they don’t notice the mistletoe?” Kachina remarked. Mualani tapped her chin in thought, but when she considered this, she had to admit it was a good point. Mualani would have to somehow persuade the two of you to go to a specific place and on top of that, notice the mistletoe. 

“I’m sure they’ll see it. You can’t miss it! You just do what I asked, ‘kay?” Kachina nodded, taking the mistletoe from Mualani’s hands and going over there.

“Okay! Now to convince them to go over there… hm…”

–

After she was able to convince both you and Kinich separately that someone wanted to meet you both, Mualani just had to watch. More watching, of course… This was getting boring now, what with all the suspense, but it would be worth it if you two kissed this evening!

You were already waiting there, having noticed the mistletoe  hanging on the door. Your cheeks turned warm as the implication settled into your mind. Maybe said person looking for you wanted to… kiss you?

If that was true, then you weren’t too sure you’d want that. After all, your heart belonged to Kinich. Your mind didn’t immediately think that it’d be Kinich, not that it was, but you didn’t want to stick around.

So, without another second thought you walked off and joined Xilonen for some Christmas karaoke. Oh boy, Xilonen can sing.

And of course, the person who “wanted to meet you” was Kinich. Yes, Mualani told him the exact same thing, that somebody wanted to meet him for something over there. But Kinich did take his time, and so when he did decide to get this over with, he saw you leaving the exact same place. Coming over there, he too noticed the mistletoe hanging on the door, which, now that Mualani thinks, only an idiot could not have noticed it. 

His heart kind of sank when he realized that if it was you who wanted to see him… maybe… you wanted to kiss him? But… chickened out last second and left. Yeah, that could be the only reason why. At least in his eyes.

Now, something only he knew at the time was that he had a soft spot for you. He’d never felt like this for anyone, in fact; when the two of you started talking he swore he was getting ill… because what was with the butterflies in his stomach all of a sudden? The desire to seek you out? Not that Kinich could accept the truth, but he was in love with you too.

Mualani on the other side of the room had watched the whole thing, you leaving, Kinich’s apparent sadness and then him leaving himself. The way she groans out of helplessness is almost comedic, but now the party's almost over. Luck had not been on her side today at all, huh?

–

Shoulders slumped forward slightly, head hung down… Mualani reflected over today. It had been fun and all, but… she couldn’t get you guys to kiss. The one thing she’d wished for this Christmas! Darn…

The party being over, Mualani and some of her friends who had decided to stay were cleaning up. Kinich would have left… probably? She didn’t know. But you, as the sweetheart you were, decided to help clean up, and it’d been a few minutes since she sent you to go get some cleaning supplies from the cupboard upstairs… Why were you taking so long?

Well, the answer to the question she’d asked in her head came quickly when she was about to enter the room and she froze right outside.

Kinich was dangling a mistletoe… over you.

Suppressing a gasp of surprise, Mualani watched on. Kinich was holding a mistletoe with one hand and his other hand had found its way to your waist, pulling you in.

Then you let out a soft gasp, because no way this was happening. Did Mualani have a hand in this? But little did you know, for all those failed attempts Mualani made hours earlier to get you both to kiss under the mistletoe, this was one attempt that Kinich was making himself.

“Are you the person Mualani told me that wanted to see me?” At your confusion, Kinich’s brows furrow. “I noticed you were running away from there before, so-”

“What? Mualani told me someone was going to meet me… oh.” Now it made sense. Mualani winced as you two came to the conclusion that Mualani was trying to do something here. Not that you two minded it.

“I see… well, now that we’re here… may I?”

Nodding shyly, you were starting to get nervous. However, before you could do anything else, Kinich leaned in, brushing his lips against yours. You relaxed quickly and your fingers slid down to the side of his face.

Mualani couldn’t help the red that decorated her cheek as she watched from afar… but… at least, her mission this Christmas had now been completed. Oh, Archons, this is too cute to watch.

[mukimokai]

okay no cuz why is every kinich ship valid smh

TW: LONG ASS RAMBLING BUT FUNNY SILLY CUTSIE I PROMISE

kinlani is kinlani. like omg have you seen them: sunshine social butterfly girlfriend and her introverted moon boyfriend that she loves unconditionally. And it's a new concept for her once abused boyfriend who thinks everything comes at a cost: who gets confused when Mualani just loves him without asking for anything in return and he just loves it so much it makes him weak for her; he'd do anything for her without asking for payment like he does with anyone else because she helped him heal and she's his darling little wife who he'd do anything for.

ajawnich (ajaw with the ability to go into human form because seriously. we NEED human ajaw in more ways than one) is your typical doomed mortal x immortal tragedy in which a dragon who is new to human emotions and thinks lowly of humans slowly starts to understand humanity over the years with his infuriating yet kind human companion. Both are emotionally constipated fools; Ajaw pining like a lovesick idiot because he's supposed to hate his companion and want him dead but when that day of death finally comes, Ajaw feels no joy or happiness: just empty as he looks himself in the mirror, touching his face, or, well, Kinich's face.

oronich (idk the ship name, but also it exists lol) is two characters who are seen somewhat as outsiders by their own tribes: Kinich, while loved by most of the children, has a negative reputation for his job while Ororon is seen as a problem child and cast out of society. The two ostracised characters coming together in a doomed "we're kinda similar, aren't we?" Eddie Munson and Chrissy Cunningham style (from stranger things, sorry chat) and forming an unexpected yet wholesome and definitely welcome bond with each other (they'd tend to their garden together).

lynich (a rarepair!! a popular rarepair is a miracle honestly) is two traumatized boys, the flirt and the flustered. One who speaks the truth outright, and one who's every word is a lie. One who thinks everything comes at a price, and one who thinks everything is a trick. When Lyney tells Kinich about his connections with the Fatui, Kinich isn't mad, surprised, but not mad. How could he be? When he knows why Lyney joined? He accepts him with open arms, Weighing the costs, befriending a member of the Fatui would most likely leave him out of their shadier affairs since Lyney would never harm him, right? Right. Even when Lyney succeeds Arlecchino, Even when he becomes a harbinger, even after everything: they're together, despite all the complications there are.

basically yeah. every kinich ship is valid rn. those are the popular ones at least-(ororon and kinich is not popular but it has more content than any others I've seen and ppl actually talked abt it at one point so it's being included)

citlali and kinich is being excluded bcz that's p3d0philia: fanbase, that was your lesson for shipping characters before we even know anything about them/before they're even released smh (/lh lololol)

-

to my unfortunate realization: kinlani is poppy and branch smh (singing killed his father and made his mother run away, okay). They're basically every cliche quiet boy and cliche loud girl duo ever in history and they have that absolutely based opposite aesthetic duo vibe going on and it's wonderful i love them to bits and pieces chat.

-

ajawnich is princess and the frog in which ajaw turns into a pixel dragon instead of a frog, or beauty and the beast in which ajaw's seal is the rose curse thingie, or both. or fluttercord, cant forget fluttercord. or billford, cant forget billford either. take your pick with them honestly.

-

oronich is chrissy and eddie, could also see it being christine and raoul from phantom of the opera in which ajaw is the phantom, kinich is christine, and ororon is raoul.

(wait that's genius, im a fucking genius chat. someone make that an AU and credit me right NEEEEOW.)

-

and lynich is kinda just there i dont really know anything else to compare it to but it's giving that one scene in tom and jerry where it's like: "I love you. *smothers in kisses* Why, you set my soul on fire. *smothers in kisses* It is not just a little spark. It is a flame; a big roaring flame. I can feel it now *smothers in kisses*" (the person doing the kissing and talking is lyney in case you couldn't tell LMAOOAO)

-

anyways yeah

basically kinich harem i guess

i love being a multishipper because i can collect ships like a bitch and fawn over so many a time whenever i want >:3

also i love the whiplash between some of these: like kinlani and oronich were so wholesome and then you have AUGHHGHG angst with lynich and ajawnich smh.

sorry for rambling lmao but yeah

[mayomio]

‎ “ porque te sigo queriendo? ya no puedo más ”

‎ ‎‎under the weather ;; kinich x fem!reader * social media au

synopsis she’d describe him as the most genuine soul she had ever come across in her entirety of walking earth, how she craved to be cuddled into his arms just to feel that warmth she once felt, even if it was just for a few seconds. that constant sick feeling of being without the person that completes you was like a disease to her, and she only wanted to get rid of it, but if it was only that easy. 

genre modern/college au, social media au, angst, crack-ish, fluff but not rlly like until the end or halfway, lovers to exes to lovers again, right person right time but uhmm . . .

warnings english is not my first language, I use (name) instead of y/n I just prefer it more, there will be some spanish used in the chapters (it will be translated dw), kinich is mexican!! (and implied hispanic/mexican reader but anyone is welcome to read it), writing from a beginner, heavy cursing, kys/kms used as a joke, sexual content (smut mayb..idk most likely not but just in case 😭) < by a minor btw..

status not started yet

tag list currently open (click here to be added)

‎‎‎‎ ‎‎" shes under the weather, or whatever " || profiles (2)

mayo enjoyers — (name), xilonen, heizou, lumine, hu tao, kokomi

hw hq — kinich, mualani, xilonen, chasca, citlali, aether

‎ ❀ for chapters with written fic

o. prologue (❀)

i. under the weather (❀)

ii. class with the blue hair girl (❀)

iii. tus ojos (❀)

iv. cheater cheater pumpkin eater

v. estas loca??

vi. gng i’m failing this

vii. my brother’s on the wrong side

viii. parking lot date (interrupted) (❀)

TAGLIST @keiiqq, @liyahbug, @wraithisd3adinside, @anqelkoz, @inelinastyle, @liimcrencx, @jiminscarmex, @mplesyrup

[mikashisus]

TOO SWEET!

SUMMARY: it's halloween, and your plans with your best friend are cut short. arlecchino, your intimidating yet friendly neighbor, asks you for a favor, which eventually leads to a startling confession.

PAIRING: lyney x vampire!fem!reader (can be read as gn tbh)

warnings: fluff/humor, slight angst, blood + blood drinking (vampire core!)

wc: 3.6k

notes: partly bullshittery honestly. also yes this was heavily inspired by 'my babysitter's a vampire' bc i literally love that show with my whole heart and i will forever be angry that it was removed from netflix. this was barely edited so i apologize for any errors 😔🙏

this is my entry for the @/stellaronhvnters halloween event! prompt: vampires!

You cursed, the line going straight to voicemail. Tonight was Halloween, and your best friend, Citlali, wasn’t answering her phone. 

She was shit at answering her phone in general, but tonight was special. Four months ago, the two of you planned what you were going to do on Halloween night, even going as far as to set event reminders on your phones.

First, you were going to go to a haunted amusement park and get scared out of your minds. Then, you were going to go see that new trashy horror movie that was supposedly only good because Fontaine’s biggest star, Furina, was starring as the main character. Finally, you were going to buy fast food and return to your house for a sleepover. 

Wasn’t like you could sleep, anyway. 

Yet, it seemed as if all your plans were going down the drain, as not only was she not answering her phone, but she was a no-show at the amusement park. You were waiting around for about an hour, but there was no sign of her at all. You debated calling her mom, your finger hovering over the contact. 

Quickly pocketing your phone and getting back into your car, you decided you’d just go back home and ask her about it tomorrow. To say you were disappointed was an understatement, especially since you’ve been looking forward to this night for months. 

As you pulled into your driveway and angrily exited your car, you saw your neighbor’s door slamming shut. You shivered. Your neighbor, Arlecchino, was a scary and intimidating woman with three children around the same age as you. Even though your families were cordial with each other, you never made the move to befriend her kids. You didn’t think you’d ever get along anyway, especially since you all had extremely different interests and belonged to different social circles. 

Before you even had the chance to make it to your front door, she called out to you. You mentally cursed yourself out and turned to face her, greeting her with a shy smile. 

She returned it with a cordial one of her own. 

“Are you just coming home from an outing with friends?” She questioned, eyeing the purse hanging from your arm. 

You let out a heavy sigh. “I’m afraid not. She bailed at the last minute.” 

“I see. I’m sorry to hear that.” 

“It is what it is. I’ll text her in the morning.” You shrugged. “Did you need something?” 

Arlecchino, although intimidating, was a lovely person to hold a conversation with. She was a businesswoman after all. Conversing with others was in her job description. 

Suddenly, you felt hungry. Deciding you’d eat after Arlecchino left, you checked your phone for the time. It was still early enough that the streets would be filled with people, so you’d have to wait another hour or so— unless you were stealthy, but knowing you and your curse of being a klutz, you’d cause a scene almost immediately. 

And you couldn’t have the entire neighborhood show up at your door with pitchforks, so you’d just have to wait until the crowds dispersed. 

“Yes, actually…” The woman in front of you noticed your frantic fidgeting and changed the subject. “Are you alright, (Name)?” 

You let out a nervous chuckle. “I’m fine, I just haven’t eaten much today, so…” 

That was a lie. You haven’t had your fill in over a week, and your cravings were continuously getting worse. If you waited even a night more, you might just pass out. 

She hummed in understanding. “I see. Well, I was hoping you were free to watch my darling children tonight,” she said, “Clervie and I have dinner plans, and our usual babysitter canceled due to a family emergency. I’d greatly appreciate it if you could look over them for us while we’re out. I’ll pay you handsomely for your trouble.” 

You were more than surprised at her proposal. Any chance to gain easy cash was a welcome one in your book, but you were also confused. Weren’t her kids your age? Why was she asking you to babysit them if they could take care of themselves? 

You knew Freminet was younger than you, and that was understandable if she wanted you to watch him, but Lyney and Lynette too? Weren’t they also eighteen like you? 

Noticing your confused stare, she elaborated. “Lyney and Lynette decided to blatantly disobey my rules a few nights ago. As a result, I’ve deemed them unable to watch Freminet on their own. That is why I have asked you to do it instead.” 

She sighed, placing a hand to her temple, and you knew that look– it was the expression your mother wore every time you did something to piss her off. 

“Sure,” you answered, shrugging, “my plans were canceled, as you know, so I don’t mind.” 

She sent you a tight-lipped smile. “You have my thanks. There’s plenty of food in the kitchen, and you can find all our drinks out in the garage. Please, help yourself.” She placed a delicate hand to the small of your back and led you into her house.

Now that you thought about it, you’ve never been inside her house before. Maybe you have, once when you were still young, but you didn’t recall it. So, in your mind, this was your first time entering the old house you always considered to look like a haunted mansion on the outside. 

You sent a quick text to Citlali, hoping she’d answer, though you knew at this point that your night together wouldn’t be able to come to fruition. 

The house was loud as you entered, with Clervie, Arlecchino’s wife, arguing about something with who you presumed to be Lyney. In the living room, the tv was on, with an old classic horror film playing. Freminet was seated on the couch, his legs crossed, and his eyes glued to the tv screen. Lynette was lying next to him, her feet sitting on his lap and her head dangling over the armrest of the couch as she scrolled through social media on her phone. 

In another room, you could hear the voices of two more children. Weird, you thought, I thought they only had three kids. As if reading your mind, Arlecchino answered your question. 

“We’re housing foster children at the moment. They’re sweet children, you’ll find them to be cooperative.” 

With a nod, you continued following her into the kitchen. There, as you suspected, sat Lyney on one of the barstools, arguing with his mother. Clervie was dressed to the nines in a long, white dress that hugged her curves and had a sweetheart neckline. A necklace with a skull sat around her neck, and her hair was pulled up into an elegant updo. 

“I told you, this is because you broke me and your Father’s trust,” she scolded her son with a pointed look, “now, we must be going.” She picked up her purse as soon as you entered, and headed straight for your direction. 

She sent you a smile, and it was then you wondered if she was an angel sent from heaven. She embraced you excitedly, holding you tightly. “You’ve grown so big! Thank you so much for taking these rascals off our hands for us.” 

You returned her smile, finding her way easier to talk to than Arlecchino. “Of course, it’s not a problem.” 

But there was going to be a problem if you didn’t eat soon. The more you dilly-dallied, the more your hunger increased. 

Clervie thanked you once more, promising to pay you as soon as they returned from their outing. She pressed a quick kiss to Lyney’s head and bid her farewells to the other children before her and Arlecchino were out the door, leaving you standing idly by yourself and a dumbfounded Lyney. 

You turned to him, only to see him staring at you wide-eyed and his jaw slack. Lynette (you didn’t even know when she appeared) was standing beside her brother, a way calmer expression on her face than her brother’s. She blinked at you, before waving politely. 

“When Father told us she was going to find a last minute babysitter, you were not what I had in mind.” She told you bluntly. 

Shrugging, you eyed the bowl of apples on the island and made a beeline for them. “Trust me, I was just as surprised as you. I wasn’t expecting to be babysitting tonight, I was supposed to be getting high with my best friend.” 

Taking a bite out of the apple, you let out a sigh of relief. This would have to satisfy your hunger for now, just until you could slip away and quickly grab a real bite. 

Lynette shared a look with her brother. “Citlali, right?” 

You nodded. “Yeah. Nerdy, know-it-all, has an obsession with the school’s lab.” 

She hummed. “I’ve partnered with her a few times before on a project.” 

“Yikes, sorry.” You chuckled, knowing how hardcore your best friend could be when it came to projects. 

“It’s fine. She’s cool.” Lynette shrugged halfheartedly and reached for an apple. 

Lyney, who had been staring at you this whole time as if he’d seen a ghost, finally cleared his throat and brought your attention to him. “So, uh… sorry Father dragged you into this. It’s our fault you’re here right now.” 

Lynette nodded, agreeing with her brother. Truthfully, you were a bit upset you were here instead of in your bedroom watching Coraline or Halloweentown, but you were also glad you didn’t have to spend the night alone. Your parents were out, your younger sister was trick-or-treating with her friends in another neighborhood, and your grandparents were on a vacation in Mondstadt. 

“We kinda forgot to watch Freminet a few nights ago when Father and Mother were at Heloir and Foltz’s choir concert,” Lyney continued, looking away bashfully, “and when Mother found out, we were in for a stern talking-to.” 

Lynette sighed softly. “Forgive us. Please.” 

You smiled at them. “It’s fine, don’t worry about it. I would’ve had to spend the night alone otherwise.” 

Checking your phone, you could feel your hands shake. You needed to eat, or else you’d collapse within the next hour. That, and you had a bad feeling about your best friend’s lack of response to your texts. Usually, she would’ve responded by now with an explanation, but there was none. She didn’t even open your messages. 

Did she even have her phone on? You checked her location, only to see she was in her house. Odd. She definitely should’ve responded by now. You were getting a bit worried. 

“But uh, I need to go.” 

The twins gave you a confused look, and Lyney quickly hurried after you as you bolted for the front door. “Wait, wait. Didn’t you just say—“ 

“Look.” You turned to them with an agitated expression. “I’m hungry, and my best friend isn’t answering her phone, and I’m worried something has happened to her. You guys are completely capable of watching your brother on your own. You don’t need me.” 

Lyney seemed to deflate like a balloon at your words. “But what about Father? She’ll be pissed if she finds out you bailed—“ 

“Then I’ll get back before she gets home.” You stated confidently, swinging the front door open. 

The twins watched you sprint down the driveway and down the road. Lynette turned to her brother. “Idiot. You scared her away.” 

“What!?” He slammed the front door shut and followed his sister into the kitchen. “How’d I screw this up??” 

“Because you were gawking at her like she’s a full course meal,” she picked up her phone and opened a bag of chips, “seriously, you need to get over her and stop drooling. It’s sad watching you fumble.” 

Lyney pouted. “Lynette…” 

She looked up at him briefly. “I’m just stating a fact. She’s way out of your league.” 

It was true that Lyney had a big fat crush on you. Ever since you moved in next door when you were children, he has had feelings for you. He was perfectly content to watch you from afar during elementary school and middle school, but ever since your first year of high school, he had enough of that puppy love. 

He wanted to get closer to you, to befriend you and maybe turn that friendship into something more. Yet, you never acknowledged him. You never even looked his way. It seemed as if he was nothing to you, just another student attending your school. He was jealous the first time you got a boyfriend, and he was devastated when the one time you did talk to him, you completely forgot who he was the next day. 

Now that you showed up at his house, he had some hope. Hope that he’d finally get to befriend you. But… you walked off, and he wasn’t sure you’d ever speak to him again. He lost once more. 

He pouted like a kicked puppy, and Lynette could only ignore his whining for so long. Finally, when she had enough of his self-pitied sighing, she leapt off the barstool and grabbed her jacket. “Let’s go.” 

Lyney perked up, raising a brow as Lynette threw his jacket at him and pulled on her sneakers. “Where are we going?” 

“After her,” she said as if it was obvious, “duh.” 

Lyney shuffled after her, pulling his own shoes on. He tossed a glance towards Freminet, who was too engrossed in the movie he was watching to even notice his siblings getting ready to leave. 

“But what about Freminet, Heloir, and Foltz?” 

“They’re fine. If we left them alone before and they didn’t burn the house down, then now shouldn’t be a problem either.” 

Lyney sighed. He loved his sister, but she was a handful sometimes. Even more so than he was, on occasion. With a small whine, he followed her out the door, shutting it behind him. 

The streets were mostly empty. You were lucky you left when you did, otherwise no one would be on the streets. You didn’t like feeding directly off of someone, but you were left with no choice. 

The vendor you usually bought from was away on vacation this weekend with his family, so you were unable to get your fill from his wares. 

He warned you, you thought, he told you weeks ago he wouldn’t be here on Hallows Eve. And yet… you still forgot. 

“Feed from an animal.” Your mother told you, but you outright refused. 

You refused to touch animals. They didn’t deserve to be harmed simply cause you needed to feed. When you told your mother that, she didn’t understand. 

“So you’d rather harm a human?” 

You never answered her question, but she already knew the answer, so there was no need. 

You spotted a man riding his bike and decided he would be your food tonight. Although you hated feeding from men (their blood didn’t taste as good— in your opinion), you’d rather them than an innocent woman. 

In an instant, you had him down on the ground, your fangs digging into the side of his neck. You kept one hand over his mouth and the other on his shoulder to keep him from running. He clawed at your hands, leaving scratches that hurt like hell, but you knew they’d heal up later, so you didn’t care. 

A loud crash startled you, and the now unconscious man was left on the sidewalk. You wiped the blood from your mouth and glanced at him. He’d live. You only needed a little bit of his blood to satiate you until the vendor returned in two days with a whole month’s worth of food for you. 

You eyed the alleyway closest to you with narrowed brows. “Who’s there? Show yourself.” 

Just in case there was a witness, you weren’t afraid to also feed from them. You couldn’t have the entire city after your head, after all. Imagining your neighbors showing up to your door with pitchforks in their hands did sound a bit amusing. Though, pitchforks were too outdated. 

Maybe they’d show up with guns instead, who knows. 

It was silent as you waited for whoever was behind the dumpster to move. The more you waited, the more impatient you became. Your eye twitched. You took a step forward, ready to go to them yourselves, when two people stepped out from behind the dumpster— two familiar people. 

Your eyes widened. “Lyney? Lynette!?” you stared at them in surprise, your jaw falling slack as you tried to string together your own thoughts. 

Lyney could feel his heart pounding against his chest. There was blood on your lips and around your mouth, shiny and fresh. He could see the body on the ground behind you, and he could spot your fangs protruding from your mouth. 

Were you… a vampire? 

He had his suspicions when he got a quick glimpse of your fangs an hour ago, but he also didn’t want to jump to conclusions so quickly— it was Halloween, after all. In the end, his gut feeling was correct, and now he wasn’t sure whether he should run for his life or interrogate the hell out of you. 

What does one do when they find out their neighbor of all people is a vampire?  

There isn’t really a handbook for this stuff. There should be, he thought. 

Lynette was more composed, but Lyney could tell she also harbored a bit of fear in her heart too. Judging by the way her eyes were blown wide and her shoulders were tense, he could tell she was prepared to book it at a moment’s notice. 

“I… I promise this isn’t what it looks like—“ 

“Are you sure about that!?” Lyney interrupted you, pointing to the unconscious man behind you. “Because it sure as hell looks like you just drank that man’s blood! Like… like a vampire!” 

You sighed, cutting to the chase. The clock was ticking and you were tired. “Y’know what? Whatever, it is what it looks like. I’m a vampire.” 

The nonchalance of your words threw the twins for a loop. They sputtered, opening and closing their mouths like fishes out of water. You stared at them, waiting for a whole slew of questions to be thrown your way. 

They didn’t come until a few moments later, and you were glad the silence was finally broken. Any more of that awkward silence and you likely would’ve cried. 

“How— what!?” 

Your stomach rumbled, and you cursed under your breath. How were you still hungry? That man’s blood should’ve been enough to satiate you. You checked your phone, and to your relief, Citlali finally replied to your worried messages. 

The contents of her texts made your blood boil. A growl involuntarily escaped your lips and the twins flinched at the sound. 

“Listen,” you spat, pocketing your phone, “I’m hungry and my best friend just texted me saying she got bit by my ex-boyfriend. I don’t have time to sit here and explain shit to you!” 

Your voice raised each sentence, and your apparent anger was making your hunger worse somehow. “If you want the full sob story, ask me tomorrow! But tonight is an overall shitty night for me, and all I wanna do is get back to my house, with my stomach full, and go the fuck to bed.” 

You turned on your heel, your chest heaving, and began speed walking down the sidewalk back to your house. You tried calling Citlali, but she wasn’t answering, and now you were even more furious than before. 

“Wait!” Lyney called out, catching up to you. 

“I don’t have time for this!” You yelled back, about to fly away, but the next words from his mouth startled you into a halt. 

“Y-You can drink from me! As much as you need!” 

You kept your back to him, mulling over his pleas in your head. Was he seriously offering himself up on a silver platter? 

Usually, you were vehemently against drinking blood from anyone unless your vendor was out of stock or like now, on vacation and you couldn’t reach him. It went against the promise you made to yourself when you first became a vampire— when your idiot ex didn’t take your feelings into account and turned you without caring about the consequences it’d cause for you. 

And now he turned Citlali, too, and quite frankly, you felt a little more than just betrayal. First he turned you, and then the person you cared the most about. He really wanted to make your life miserable, didn’t he? 

With a sigh, you turned to face the twins, who were giving each other an uneasy look. Lynette placed a hand on Lyney’s arm. 

“Are you sure about this, brother? What if you die?” 

“I would never kill someone,” you stated firmly, “I only drink until they go unconscious. I never drink to kill, only to satiate my hunger until my vendor returns to town with his blood supply restocked.” 

Lynette was still wary, but she slowly lowered her arm and nodded curtly in understanding. 

You shifted your gaze to Lyney, who was fidgeting ever so slightly. You could hear his heart hammering against his ribcage and you could sense the fear he was trying so desperately to hide with a neutral expression. 

“Are you sure, Lyney?” You questioned, raising a brow. 

He swallowed the lump in his throat. “Y-Yes, I’m sure.” You could hear the obvious stutter in his voice, but you chose not to comment on it. 

If he was sure, then who were you to refuse free blood? 

You stepped closer to him, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. “This’ll hurt,” you muttered, watching the way his lip trembled a bit, “thank you.”

Your fangs sank into his neck, and the sweet taste of his blood hit your tongue.

notes: this was supposed to be longer but i got lazy and everything was starting to not make sense so i decided to just cut the rest and stick with this.

© 2024 mikashisus. do not plagiarize, copy, repost, feed to ai, or translate my works to any other platforms.

[kimbapisnotsushi]

Hajime’s nineteenth birthday is the first he spends without his best friend.

They’re far from each other and far from home. It’s strange, Hajime thinks, to no longer be confined by mountains and farm fields. Not that California doesn’t have those things—it’s just . . . different. The air is different. The sunshine is different. The way Americans call him by his first name is different. The fact that the driver’s seat is now on the left side of the car instead of the right is different.

Not having Oikawa Tooru by his side is different. 

It wasn’t like Tooru hadn’t tried. He’d sent Hajime a birthday text at the stroke of midnight, and then they spent two hours FaceTiming each other until Hajime had shooed Tooru off, because he knew that Tooru had practice in a few hours and needed at least some shut-eye. And then Hajime had laid there, in the dark of his apartment, wishing and wanting and aching for something a million miles away.

Five thousand and five-hundred thirty-nine miles, to be specific. Not that Hajime is counting. Not that he’s keeping track of every minute that passes between their time zones, because that would be all kinds of pathetic, and Hajime likes to think he's coping with Tooru's absence much better than that.

Anyways. His nineteenth birthday. Off to a great start, obviously. 

It’s also the first birthday he spends with Ushijima Wakatoshi. If you had told Hajime last year that he’d run into Ushijima at a university in California to speak with Ushijima’s father about internships, he probably wouldn't have believed you. If you had told him he’d be stuck in the backseat of a minivan with Ushijima, cruising through the southern Californian desert to watch the stars on his nineteenth birthday—American pop music cranked high, hot wind grazing his shoulders, the van floor littered with chip crumbs and empty boba cups stuffed in the cupholders, with people he’s barely known for the better part of a week—he definitely wouldn’t have believed you. 

But here he is. Munching on shrimp chips, listening to Ushijima’s friends belt out Fall Out Boy. 

Ushijima’s UCI friends are . . . something. Riding shotgun is Kevin Nguyen—he’s what Ushijima calls a “frat boy” and a “gym bro”, but Kevin seems nice enough, if not overly familiar. Selene Hiraishi wears dramatic eyelashes and nails, and her family has been friends with Utsui since he moved to California, so Ushijima’s known her for some time. Citlaly Torres has about a dozen piercings in her ears and graciously offered to drive for the three-hour trip to the park from the university. Avery Cherent, Hajime was happy to discover, is a fellow Godzilla nerd with short silver-dyed high-top curls. Jaesung Han is never seen without their black bomber jacket and a pair of ripped jeans, and—Hajime has noticed—keeps their eyes on him more than the others seem to do.

They’ve taken to Hajime like ants to a cookie, and Hajime is grateful for it, really. He's grateful for anything that can distract him from that empty, aching tug in his chest. From knowing that he'd wake up lonely, and that today would have been a lonely day if it weren't for these plans.

The road is bumpy, and honestly—Hajime is hesitant to even call it a road. It’s more like a wide stretch of dirt that’s been cleared for cars. Joshua trees—the park’s namesake plant—dot the landscape far into the horizon, sharing ground with desert brush and craggy boulders. Outside the open windows, the sky looks like it’s been brushed with watercolor; deep oranges and purples and pinks bleed from the setting sun like the branches of a river.

Citlaly turns into a pullout, kills the engine, and twists around to grin at everyone. “Made it in one piece. What did I tell you guys?”

“You almost crashed into that Honda Civic right off the freeway,” Kevin says. “‘One piece’, my ass.”

“The One Piece is going to be a far greater treasure than your ass, Kev,” says Avery loftily. “They haven’t gone through six hundred and twenty-eight episodes just for that.”

Jaesung claps Kevin’s shoulder as they clamber out. “Don’t worry, Kev, I think you have a great ass.”

Kevin beams. “Aw, Jae! I think you have a great ass, too!”

“Your friends are weird,” Hajime remarks while he and Ushijima hop out the backseat. “Nice, but weird.”

Ushijima smiles. Before today, Hajime hadn’t even known that was something the guy was capable of doing. “They are, aren’t they?

-- an excerpt from wherever you go in this world (i'll come along), an iwaoi bday fic i really really wanted to finish today but perhaps later this week???

[lyss-sketchbox]

Have you played through Natlan a little bit yet? Because I love it except for one thing. Does the Archon quest feel...off to you? At least the first act. Specifically the character introductions and character acting?

Funny thing actually i JUST finished it last night!

Well uh spoilers ahead

I think its... alright-ish? Act 1 basically sets you up with the basics, the characters, the culture, the traditions, and lore so we know whats up. Cool. We are literally being fed information because we are tourists and i can excuse that.

Idk how to feel about traveller and paimon literally going 'ah look, an opportunity has arised, its time to do our thing and help with this major event'. I mean yes thats how its always been but mentioning it doesnt... help... it just points out a flaw.

The characters are fine enough imo. I really expected Mualani to have this super hyper attitude and squeaky voice we usually get from an 'everyone loves me' character but shes suprisingly mellow and i appreciate that alot. (May change with Citlali though and im not looking forward to it)

I do not like how it is very Tell not Show. Because you know what keeps being shown? The fact that Kachina is A CHILD. Maybe she's not an actual child who knows but hyv is clearly infantilizing her. Case in point:

The chief of the tribe literally asked you for ID because you are strangers hanging out around her. He literally said 'a good feeling isnt gonna be enough for your parents to trust these people'

After the chief knew who the traveller is, he said he could trust Kachina to go to the Stadium to sign up and not get into trouble. She HAS to participate because she has an Ancient Name and you can barely trust her to go to the stadium???

Kachina mentioning how she can't keep excusing her age for being a bad warrior. So she KNOWS shes young and either she or other people in the past has excused her for her performance because of her age.

The genuine actual side by side of her first match up. You know a child vs a massive buff man. Maybe it's just me but her kit is clearly not made to DPS and hyv making us fight these opponents with only her kinda makes it feel so much like a drag.

Everyone around her keeps saying oh shes actually really good, she almost made it last time, shes super powerful just lacking confidence. Well we dont really... see it. When the tournament started and we play as mualani and kachina all i can think about it 'yeah mualani is gonna do all the fighting here' and it adds to the idea that kachina literally did the bare minimum. But then suddenly we get a really cool cutscene of her defeating a 3 times winning veteran. It is not believable to me.

Also now that she's won we are literally sending her off to fight the abyss where she has a REAL CHANCE OF DYING but we gotta be ok with it because she can get resurrected? Are we not supposed to be concerned that we are sending a child to war with a real chance of her dying?

It is such a tonal shock and the traveller or paimon barely says anything about it so WE are supposed to be fine with it too? It probably is culture shock but like... SOME people still sees Clorinde as a killer despite doing her job as a duelist, how do you think those people will think seeing THIS tradition.

As for the bit where we go with mualani while we wait for kachina to come back from war, it was... alright i think. But the manufactured 'chillness' is there, like you can tell theyre trying their hardest to potray this tribe as the chill surfers one. Its also obvious they want us to like Atea. While she looks a lil overbearing i appreciate that they were being subtle about her 'my life isnt gonna last long so i am doing this dangerous task', they had to explain it anyway for mualani but i think them not stating out right at first that 'woah you werent going here because you can use the hotsprings again!' is a good choice, that is a good show not tell i think.

For now though the entire thing simply feels off because i feel like there's no stake at all for us. If kachina loses? Then she doesn't get sent to the war, thats kind of a good thing seeing how she did ended up 'dying'. We've met the archon but for some reason hasn't asked about our siblings or anything and the only reason we are staying is because its the right thing to do. Thats it. I think it's just... alot offered to us but none with actual value to the traveller personally.

While you can argue that fontaine is exactly like that, that we only stayed to help lyney with his trial and everything else because its the right thing to do. Lyney is fatui. Neuvillette is a dragon. And furina is an absent archon. Theres an air of mystery around how fontaine works and these people have MASSIVE connections. You almost want to stay to see how it'll turn up, what information will show up.

Natlan on the other hand revealed basically everything to us in the first 2 acts. Natlan gets abyss attacks because they dont have strong leyline connections. The fatui wants the gnosis and literally will just fight the archon for it. The archon is chill and kind and is the reincarnation of the original archon because we were told that. The facking traitor from night-wind is obviously the Ororon guy lmao. So what IS left to speculate? To look out for?

Like wow she's gonna carve us an Ancient Name? Why lmao. What for? We can purify the abyss we are not dying in the Night Kingdom.

Shrugs idk feel free to fight me on this. I am just a lil jaded because i literally cannot take the archon seriously when shes literally just called 'Archon' with no special title or anything

[hellobitchlet]

Thoughts on Natlan act 3 and 4:

Act 3-

- there is seriously no point to giving Traveler an ancient name. They're very obviously just being given one bc the writers want to show off how amazing they are at everything again. If the whole point of ancient names is that it's solely a Natlan thing, then there's no point in Traveler getting one. Why were they and Paimon scrambling to get one? You're already being praised and given new abilities constantly, you don't fucking need it.

- that aside, Xilonen gave a decent explanation of how ancient names and the night kingdom work. I didn't feel like act 1 or 2 explained anything properly beyond "it sure exists and is important to the super special archon's plans", but Xilonen explaining that deeds have to happen inside of Natlan and be recorded and acknowledged by the Wayob (who will only acknowledge ppl from Natlan) was easy to understand and made perfect sense. My only problem here is that it should've been explained this cleanly back in act 1, before we started using ancient names for drama. Because, you know, maybe I would've cared more about it then?

- the Ororon stuff would've been much more interesting and tense if it wasn't introduced by... being randomly told to you. In the middle of an unrelated plotline. And then spending the whole fucking time assuring you that he's a great person while you follow a trail. And doing nothing else except experience Citlali's inner thoughts. That was literally the entire build up to meeting him.

- despite it being handled in the most boring way possible (and god, do I want to emphasize that they handled it in a boring way), I do like the plotline between Citlali, Ororon, and Capitano. It's a lot more interesting than the basic ass saving Natlan plot, which is about as much of a stereotypical hero plot as they could've made it. I honestly adore Citlali and Ororon now, they're definitely my favorites of the Natlan cast. Like, they had actual on screen conflict with one another for a few minutes! They care sooo much about each other and it was shown through their actions and interactions with each other instead of just monologuing it to Traveler. The bar is below the fucking ground...

- I especially enjoyed seeing Citlali getting drunk and accidentally spilling about her problems. However... it's funny (read: annoying) to think about how long it's taken for this to actually fucking happen when Kaeya and Venti have been here since the beginning, and about how much Kaeya and Venti have been shit on for being alcoholics. It was probably one of the best character building moments I have ever seen from Genshin, but man, a newly introduced Natlan character should not have been the first one to do this.

- "we've only known each other for a few days, right? What would you think of me if I were to start dumping all my complaints on you after we've only just met?" Oh thank god she has some actual self awareness. I wish other characters (playable and npc) would stop infodumping their entire backstories the moment they're introduced. Ultimately, the awkward telepathy moment that they're probably never going to explain served the same purpose. But that wasn't something she was doing on purpose, so I'm willing to forgive her for it and pin it on the writers instead.

-it really sucks that they're being so confusing about Citlali's age. You know it's because of Hoyo's refusal to make playable characters that aren't 1000% conventionally attractive. They're seriously trying to give us a teacher/student relationship in which the teacher is supposed to be significantly older than the student and NOT give her a single wrinkle. She also kept saying stuff that implied she would age to be hundreds of years old, so I want to be interested in that, but it just got caught up in the confusion of "wtf is her age?!"

- I got increasingly annoyed every time Traveler shared the Capitano stuff with others. You fucking idiot!!! He specifically told you not to do that!!! You barely even doubted Mavuika even though you barely know her and she's mostly just been standing around going "trust me on this bc I know what I'm doing" this whole time!!! Are you sure you even care about what he had to say?! Because he specifically said he would tell you if you actually fucking listened to him, which you are going out of your way to NOT do!!! Just a few real life months ago you were acting all buddy-buddy with Arlecchino!!! Can you be consistent about your opinions on the Fatui for one second!!!

- they were really trying super hard to make Capitano wanting to save Natlan mysterious, and make him have ulterior motives (like literally every other harbinger since Scara), but like... First off, this is the last gnosis the Fatui doesn't have, and second, he directly said that Mavuika failing would be bad for the rest of Teyvat as well. He already had perfectly good reasons. You don't need to make yet another harbinger have ulterior motives.

- I almost liked the Chasca and Chuychu moment. But I say almost because... there was no fucking point to it except to tell you that the Fatui found an ancient relic. You were just stuck in dialogue box hell that made a weak attempt at pretending there was gameplay by putting a timer on single dialogue options (not even being given multiple options? really?). That whole thing should've been a sneaking sequence with Traveler. There's literally no reason why it wasn't one. It wouldn't even require good writing to add that. Just have Mavuika say that someone found a large Fatui camp, and have Traveler volunteer to sneak in to check it out. Then, you could've had Traveler finding the relic, and maybe finding Capitano and Ororon and follow them to the domain while they discuss their plan. There you go. That would've saved you a lot of time stuck in dialogue boxes, by removing this sequence and the Ororon memory sequence and replacing it with an extended period of gameplay.

-However, the role reversal and the actually showing how good the sisters are at working together improved their characters a lot for me. Chasca doesn't feel as much like a Shenhe copycat when fighting with Chuychu. But even then, it was very annoying when it turned into "don't worry, we don't actually mean what we say! We're just stubborn!" immediately after their sequence. I could fucking tell, Genshin. I'm not a child.

Act 4-

- ...in theory, initially fighting with Capitano and eventually convincing him to help us is an okay storyline. But none of this felt like fighting him! We literally spent the whole fucking time following him and his troops around and debating what his intentions are! And no, a single fancy cutscene unrelated to Traveler doesn't count! We never got to hear his side of the story until after he failed, and he just had a 10 second spat with Mavuika, revealed that he's from Khaenri'ah, and reluctantly agreed to Mavuika's plan within 5 minutes.

- also, after Fontaine offloaded the majority of Furina's backstory onto an inner monologue in act 5 that just reiterated what we already knew about her, I am not a fan of poor Ororon getting a similar treatment in the end. It's not as bad bc it served a purpose in the story besides "look at how sad he is!", but suddenly becoming one of the special heroes his super special archon wanted and having no objections was a really boring ending to what started off as the first on screen playable ch vs playable ch conflict we've had since like... Childe in Liyue I think? Hoyo is lucky that it has cultivated fandoms that see monologues and sudden info dumps as good writing.

-I'm glad that seelies are finally confirmed to be angels, and that we're getting more proper Celestia lore, but once again, Hoyo is lucky that it has cultivated fandoms that see monologues and sudden info dumps as good writing.

- I have mixed feelings about Capitano's backstory and intentions. On one hand, I like that he's from Khaenri'ah, and I'm very glad that he knows the abyss sibling and Dain. I really like the Khaenri'ah related parts. On the other hand, I'm not a fan of the Natlan parts of his backstory. As I've said before, I'm really fed up with Genshin tailoring harbinger backstories so that they're part of the lore of the nation they show up in, instead of Snezhnaya. And I'm even more fed up with them making every harbinger have different goals that are unrelated to the Fatui. I've talked about this before in this post.

-going back to the point about his goals, his backstory can still perfectly serve as an explanation for why he's helping the Tsaritsa, with or without the Natlan part. You still didn't need to pull any of the special motives stuff. It would've made perfect sense to say that Capitano (+ Tsaritsa as well maybe) was afraid that the destruction of Natlan could interfere with their plan, so Tsaritsa has been sending him and some troops to deal with the situation and try to get the gnosis in the process. But, of course, Mavuika would fight back and be a powerful opponent, so this mini war between them has been going on for a while, which would tie back to Varka's letter from Weinleslfest first mentioning him going to Natlan 2 years ago.

-...oh, wait. That Weinleslfest moment and Mika's backstory was probably just to remind you that he and Varka existed and foreshadow him being in Natlan and didn't actually mean anything. I know this isn't related to Natlan at all, I just felt like saying it. We don't talk about Mika enough, okay?

- with all that being said, after how much I hated Arlecchino, and Dottore being used as a scapegoat to make playable harbingers look better, I had little interest in Capitano initially. But I do actually like him now. Maybe even just as much as I like Citlali and Ororon?

- speaking of the Fatui, I have to mention how weird it is that the pyro gnosis being the last gnosis the Fatui doesn't have isn't treated like a big deal at all. The idea of Capitano even bringing the gnosis to the Tsaritsa is barely even mentioned. We're literally going to Snezhnaya next, and the Fatui screen time is STILL not focused on the Tsaritsa's plans?! There is no worry about what will happen if he succeeds in getting the gnosis? No talk about what the Tsaritsa's plans could be? No talk about what it could mean for Natlan or the rest of Teyvat? No connecting this story to the overarching plot beyond a few lore reveals? Nothing??

- Genshin is seriously bad at stakes. THAT WASN'T A FUCKING WAR, THAT WAS A SINGLE BATTLE! It just... suddenly sprung up, and it took about 10 minutes, but I almost started feeling tense. There were actual corpses all over the place, and I was fighting non stop instead of being stuck in a dialogue box, even if the mobs themselves were fairly boring, and then... Chasca suddenly became one of the special heroes and everything was over. All of that was like... half an act of fighting? Literally any other game would have at least finished the 'war' at... the end of the story? Obviously? We couldn't have at least waited to finish this in act 5?? Seriously?? This whole thing was just a vehicle to quickly make Chasca one of the heroes, finish the 6 heroes plot point, and then show a hint of the false sky??

- gameplay wise, why did the handle the 'war' like that? What was with the slow ass hot air balloon I was forced to use 3 times- but was allowed to teleport to places the rest of the time? Why was I forced into a situation where I couldn't leave, when I was literally just in Natlan and not a domain? Why did we suddenly switch to a different dialogue box just for a few minutes?? Someone PLEASE explain to Hoyo that adding new stuff doesn't automatically make it good. Or, I guess 'novel', as their surveys put it.

- Chuychu was the closest I've ever come to actually being sad for an npc's death. Probably because I actually saw someone react to it, instead of Genshin just expecting you to care because Paimon is telling you to. Because of the Chuychu stuff, I'm actually starting to like Chasca, and I'm glad for it. Liking a character in theory despite canon is much better for rewriting stories than disliking them entirely and not knowing what to do with them (*glances at Fontaine*).

- I'm starting to see that the 6 heroes plot is probably just their current ploy to place the focus on the characters who have come out this update, or are coming out next update. Act 2 has Mualani becoming a Special Hero, because her first banner was up at the time. Then act 3 and 4 had Ororon and Chasca becoming Special Heroes, because Xilonen already is one and they're coming out next update.

- that being said- I feel bad for Kachina and Mualani. Kachina was the obvious 'main character' of act 1, with Mualani and Kinich as supporting characters. But then in act 2, the focus was shifted over to Mualani, because she's a 5 star and her first banner is happening, so they need to convince people to like her. And in the process, Kachina was screwed over in what should've been her plotline, becoming a supporting character whose role is to prove how good at The Power of Friendship Mualani is and introduce us to the 6 heroes stuff. ...and then both are screwed over in the very next update because they're already out and don't have anything else to do.

- I know that she'll presumably get more screen time when she comes out, but it's greatly worrying me (for reasons that should be obvious) that Iansan is barely being given any screen time. I am so worried that they're trying to pull a Xinyan or a Candace with her, because of course they would.

- literally what response are you expecting me to have to Xilonen slowly dying for Traveler to get an ancient name when it's revealed in the randomist and calmest way possible?? It's obviously supposed to be cheap emotional fuel, but both Xilonen and Citlali are being so calm about this random reveal that I didn't end up caring either. I don't care so much that I almost forgot to mention it in this post.

Overall, not impressed at all, but there are a few tiny gems in here that will be good for when I eventually have to get to it in my rewrite lol.

[transcendant-flames]

"Humanity excels at living in the present, but too often, we forget the past and neglect the future."

A competition as fierce as a roaring inferno, and a clash as dazzling as a cascade of iridescent gems. On a hallowed night, the sparks ignited by warriors fall like stars, converging into the triumphant return of the sacred flame.

The Master of War and the Pyro Archon of Natlan, Mavuika has gone through many hardships, one of them being the invasion of natlan by the abyss for thousands of years, and she believes that Natlan is trudging close to destruction and It won't be that long

for she has won many battles and each war adds another flame to the igniting fire that shines within the nation of pyro

she goes by lady haborym, archon and her ancient name "Kiongozi" after the events of the war in natlan there were many casualites and many people lost, due to using a huge amount of power she is set to. . .die soon

[5.1 Spoiler Alert!]

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Tags

#Everburning Flames 🔥- General Posts

#Behind the Ancient Name 🕯️- OOC Posts

#Beneath the Teyvat Skies 🌌 - Mentions/Interactions with Traveler

#Turnfire Hunt 🌿- Mentions/Interactions with Kinich

#Splish Splash Wavechaser 🦈- Mentions/Interactions with Mualani

#Nazatcayan Braveheart 🌟 - Mentions/Interactions with Kachina

#Nightsoul's Blessing 🌙 - Mentions/Interactions with Natlan

#Flowerfeather Peacekeeper 🌸- Mentions/Interactions with Chasca

#Overseer of Fate 🔮- Mentions/Interactions with Citlali

#A Fragmented Soul 🦇- Mentions/Interactions with Ororon

#Fair Captain ❄️ - Mentions/Interactions with II Capitano

#Sunlit Elegy ☀️ - Mentions/Interactions with other Genshin RP Blogs!

[more tags coming soon as Version 5 progresses!]

Notes from the Moderator

This blog will contain spoilers about Version 5.0 and natlan archon quests so be advised! Some things will not be accurate as mod is procastinating on doing natlan archon quest this blog may be ooc sometimes :)

Info is up to date as of 10/16/24, more will be added very soon as she becomes a playable character later

Mod also runs 3 HSR RP Blogs @emanator-of-nihility , @diamond-of-purity, @obsidian-of-desolation

my format is mine and not plagiarized as part of this format is different and can be changed from time to time

Thank you for reading!

[c6jpg]

natlan act 3 and 4

act 3

i feel like i liked this act if i just. ignore everything closely related to the main plot LMAOOO

idk everything about natlan's main plot just feels very like. unfocused and wishy washy??? mavuika's plan sucks, capitano's plan sucks, the backup plan sucks, despite everything i'm not really feeling the urgency of the crisis either???

the writing in general just feels like they needed the plot to move in a certain direction but they didn't really know how to execute it so everything just feels half-assed

in short the plot sucks and they're just trying to cover it with spectacle

but i think i enjoyed act 3 just because i like the characters more in general. citlali was a pleasant surprise i quite like her so i didn't mind that it focused on her and ororon, unlike the everyone loves kachina nonsense we got in the first 2 acts

that being said ororon's whole thing for me was like... i can see the bones of an interesting character there but his reasoning/actions didn't really feel believable it was just convenient for the plot at the moment

his intended gap moe also didn't really work imo like it was oscillating too much between serious angst and the soft boy granny shit lol. the khaenrian possessing him for a sec was just so fucking random too

the whole infiltration scene with chasca and chuychu would have been good if we could actually.... play it.... it felt rather pointless otherwise. like we can run around as mavuika but not chasca???? it's not like we're doing anything with a kit here!!!!

i also really liked the sister dynamic between those two. chuychu should have been playable damn it and i feel like she would have been if not for. well. the next act

capitano idk. i cannot take him seriously he just feels so goofy cartoony villain but not actually to me lmao

act 4

i can't say that act 4 redeemed the natlan archon quest, but it was significantly better than the previous 3 acts, specifically because of the invasion part

the circumstances that led to the fatui and us joining forces still feel silly and wishy washy to me but now that we're over that we can actually get to the meat of the plot

i'm still gonna shit on capitano being a goofy character for me but he was better in this act

the invasion part was by far my favorite, the map intel thing was an amazing mechanic. it had me super immersed AND emotionally invested - it was really cool being able to see who was doing what where, and each fight and update just got more and more distressing and heartbreaking

i kept harping in previous acts about how the stakes did not feel like they were there and how the abyss didn't really feel like a threat but they sure damn did here

one of the few instances it felt like genshin was really showing, not telling, and it worked

also fucked up that chuychu dying was necessary for chasca to awaken her ancient name they should have given her playable character plot armor

anyways the entire invasion arc was fun. i don't have much to say about it otherwise since it wasn't really a lot of plot just a lot of action.

i'm gonna be real with you all though i really don't care for mavuika she feels very nothingburger of a character to me. compared to the other archons she feels incredibly flat and one-dimensional even my goofy friend capitano over here is more interesting at the moment

that one shot of the false sky was hype though like GIRL WHAT THE FUCK IS THATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

[genshin-impact-updates]

Swellrider of Perennial Springs

"There's not a spot in the whole of Natlan this girl couldn't reach if she wanted. So why does she come asking if it's an auspicious day for an outing, every... single... time? Oh well, now that I have read her fortunes for a whole decade in advance, I finally have some peace and quiet..."

— Citlali

◆ Name: Mualani

◆ Title: Splish-Splash Wavechaser

◆ Meztli Guide

◆ Vision: Hydro

◆ Constellation: Phoca Neomonachus

In terms of how well they know Natlan, perhaps even the birds that gaze down upon this land from high up above would fall short of the guides from the People of the Springs. Long, long ago, their forerunners once measured the world with their feet, transforming the winding, perilous paths they walked into networks of orderly lines on their maps.

As a member of the People of the Springs' new generation of young guides, Mualani has already established an eminent name for herself throughout Natlan. With her to lead the way, you'd be sure to experience the spectacular sight of volcanic eruptions, breathe in the refreshing natural fragrance of Embercore Flowers, even witness spontaneous performances put on by packs of Koholasaurs. But likewise, if there was an emergency or you just needed to be somewhere urgently, she'd find a shortcut to get you there as safely, soundly, and smoothly as possible.

"Everyone knows the routes," Mualani herself would tell you. "But timing's the key. You can't just set off whenever you feel like it — that would be extremely unlucky!"

[razorblade180]

Hiya, hope ya funds for Citlali are growing bountiful. I got a lil curious and am now wondering how if a possible GI x HSR crossover would occur, how would your Traveler and Trailblazers would reqct to one another's living arrangement and relationships?

Honestly the express could notice a distortion in space and it’s actually the crack that Mavuika put into the fake sky. They go to explore it and boom, crossover.

There’s also something incredibly funny about multiple Star Rail characters ending up in Teyvat and the main objective is to send them back. Teyvat is would only bring out the best/worst traits in certain characters. All you need is a scene of Ruan Mei walking to Dragon Spine to understand she needs to go. 😂

There could be a cool establishing scene of Fontaine and a grand performance about to take place; only for the curtains to open up and Sparkle is on stage. I don’t think anything good comes from Luocha talking to Dainsleif. For the express it’s an interesting crossover, for Teyvat it’s like literal harbingers of an apocalypse have arrived.

I don’t know what’s funnier: Chongyun unfortunately bumping into Jingliu, or Yanqing running into Shenhe without her ropes.

I feel like Stelle and Caelus are open to the idea of trading March for Paimon for a while; or part of the entire crossover is somehow Paimon did end up with them and March is with the Traveler. Paimon is stressing out while March is trying to get her own teapot and enjoying being one of the toughest people around.

Welt leaves for ten minutes and just happens to come across Raiden Ei. Honestly if he saw Daine or Venti, he might want leave because he doesn’t want to deal with the mental gymnastics. Hoyo could be funny and have Himeko meet Mavuika, or have Welt ask if Paimon’s name is Kiana the first time they meet.

The entire community could collectively be upset if this limited event gave a version of the traveler that actually switched weapons and was a cracked out unit. Or worse, it’s for the Trailblazer unit. That might actually break people. 💀

If a crossover did happen, I’d genuinely want both twins and trailblazers in the event. That’s four different flavors of clowns with too much power and not enough patience.