#i can't even conjur up the ambition to draw in the first place

[tsams-and-co-memes]

That moment when you have an idea for a new Sun OC, but you have no clue how to draw robot gore

[reveltica]

The Rundown

part i

him

“No time to lose, I have to run you through your situation and your purpose for being here.” The "person" said, not giving her enough time to question anything. He grabbed her arm and harshly pulled her away somewhere safe.

She was stunned by this person. He was tan and dressed in elegant dark clothing. His hair has such an iridescent glow, from her artistic eye, it suited him very much. If they were in any normal situation, she would swoon! She was a sucker for these looks.

But they weren't in any normal situation, more likely they were in danger. He led them inside a hollow tree. The tree big enough to house them both. She was smart enough to keep quiet when she heard the Hilichurls rumbling down their path and past their hideout.

Once the coast was clear, she immediately backed away from this beautiful stranger, unfortunately. 'Who are you and what is going on? How did I get here? And I sure know there wasn't any character from Genshin who looks like you!?' she whispered shouted.

'Unless they updated the game...' she added later on.

'You deserve every right for an answer.' the stranger started. 'I am Dantalion, a Great Duke and The Keeper of The Forbidden Library. Much like you, I am also an "outlander" as one would say'. Dantalion informed, dusting off his sleeves and readjusting them before continuing. 'Your situation might be unbelievable but we are inside Genshin. In Mondstadt to be exact−'

'Mondstadt?!'

'Yes, as I was saying. You are here for a reason. And a reason I am involved with. I excel at most things especially ambitions for me and my people. But my peers and I don't see eye to eye, so I decided to leave them for me to achieve my goals and desires. They're very boring and dull that they can't even perceive the sparkling future I am seeing through my eyes.'

She listened to him ramble on. It was quite a long introduction. He was sure full of himself, she thought. 'So, were you suspended from your position?' she concluded. Observing that he is so sure and seemingly arrogant, she was pretty sure his "peers" had enough of his obnoxiousness and other deeds worthy of this suspension.

Silence.

'I, wasn't, no that is not the case my dear. For I am a Great Duke! How dare they punish me?!' he raged, tone laced with venom. But he immediately composed himself and continued.

'Unfortunately they blocked all portals going in and out of this world. Basically we are stuck here, but I have devised a solution!' Dantalion conjured up a book, only its pages were missing. It was very elegant like himself. Golden edges and a crest in the middle of the dark cover. The crest was hollow and it seemed to indicate that there was something that belonged there in the first place.

'Document every elemental power, draw every powerful weapon, and the magic gathered in that book would be powerful enough to conjure a portal. You'll be back home, scot-free and I have another collection for my library and therefore, earning my redemption. What do you say? Its a pretty good deal if I say so myself.' He chuckled, mostly to himself.

She just sighed and kept quiet. Everything was going on so fast and questions piled up in her head every passing second. Any questions, uh, I'm sorry I haven't gotten your name yet?'

She was still admiring the covers of this cover when she was asked for her name. 'Oh, my name is−'

'Oh tut, not your real name. I already know.'

Then why'd you asked for my name?!

'It's also mundane and boring. How about I pick one for you?' boisterously speaking, Dantalion turned around. She was getting rather irritated by this man and looking defeated, she sighed. 'Alright then, what it'll be?'

Dantalion hummed and smiled and summoned yet another book. He flipped through its pages. The cover is pastel pink with green vines adorning it and instead of a hollowed crest on the middle, a flower was in its place.

' IRIS. That'll be the name you'll be using here.' He declared. She made a shrugging gesture, hinting that she would go with it. She kind of liked it, since she also agreed to his notion about her name. Plain and small, was what she thought.

'Now!' Dantalion slammed his book shut and it poofed out of existence. 'Any questions Iris? suggestions or violent reactions? I may be a Great Duke but I also value my companion's concerns.' he continued.

Even though she was info dumped by Dantalion, she caught on pretty fast. What must be done in haste but also questions lingered.

'But why specifically me?' she started her barrage of questions. 'My peers gave me a few options on who'll accompany me in this journey. I chose you since you seemed to be knowledgeable on the lore of this world.' He replied.

'And you're good with arts, which I am very proud of, so our job of documenting would be fairly easy!' Dantalion had this excited spark in his heterochromatic eyes.

'Me? Knowledgeable?' Iris scoffed. 'But I haven't even personally played the game yet. I'm pretty sure there are others who would be far more cultured about Genshin and have played the game.' She explained. Because, honestly!

'Dantalion, this is where your plan would inevitably fail. I only know snippets of this worlds lore and story. The players know more than I would. I may be good at art, but there are also players who are exceptional.' Iris proclaimed, hands crossed while looking up at him, his face contorted in realization.

'Say, did you really thought of your plan thoroughly?' Iris turned towards him. His face has darkened and his arms crossed. She could've sworn she saw a vein pop.

Dantalion sighed, his tense shoulders slumped and walked towards her.

'Look, they haven't given me much of a choice of what I should do to get back and who will accompany me.' He said truthfully, Iris thought that he was.

'You and I both don't want to spend another second in this world−'

'Oh, I don't mind actually.'

'I− what?'

'Yes, I don't really mind. I kind of think it as a... vacation from reality, you know? And I don't mind documenting for your "Forbidden Library."' she respondedadding air quotes. 'Feels like I'll be contributing something big.'

Dantalion was taken aback by Iris' eagerness and nonchalance. Earlier she was questioning every detail, and he bet she would ask for more later, about her being there with him.

But this caused Dantalion to smirk in amusement. 'You are quite interesting−'

Suddenly, they heard cracking and crushing of something. They both looked up and saw that their hideout had been pulled out of its roots and revealed themselves to their pursuers. They see the Hilichurls have recruited more of their kin and what's worse is, there's a Berserker amongst them.

'Run.'

part iii