#welcometoteyvat

[zhongscara]

can we see teyvatarrangements i need to see the dating app fuckery or zv idol au !!!!!!!! -@welcometoteyvat

ok teyvatarrangements has my middle of the night typo filled ramblings so ill just explain... JDNWJSAJJS

basically childe and scara are unfortunately friends. childe is bored and in his infinite wisdom hes like We should make profiles on this app. scaras like Youre fucking insane. but gets roped into it anyways bc hes not *that* above childe no matter what he thinks.

2 weeks later childes like Boo i just got bots ;( and scaras like lmfao you checked? bc he ignored it ever since LMFAO childe makes him check it and scara finds a message from zhongli except its a profile made by hu tao bc shes tired of him being a single old man in her house JDNWHSWJJSWJSJ (in this au shes like his niece or something. i also considered venti as the person who made the profile lol)

i do wanna show some snippets of zhongven idol au tho!!!

Kaeya scratches the back of his neck. “We’ve, well, we decided maybe the best thing to do would be to hire a new manager, y’know? Someone who can—”

“Someone who can actually get you to stop partying nonstop,” Diluc interrupts, typing out something with more force than necessary.

Kaeya has the decency to look sheepish when he shrugs. Diluc makes no such attempt though, looking at Venti angrily from behind his monitor.

“Maybe some Liyuen discipline will set you straight.”

another one

“You have 15 minutes to shower and get dressed,” Zhongli says, looking down at his phone, “You can eat your breakfast in the car.”

Venti blinks. “What happened to good morning?”

“You’ll be late for your schedule if you don’t get up within the next 5 minutes. I suggest you shower as soon as possible so you can get your hair at least half dry before we leave.” Zhongli replies, not even bothering to look at him.

Rude. Venti thinks, shuffling out of his bed anyways. This guy’s not a manager, he’s a fucking pain in the ass.

*

Once he sits down, Zhongli unceremoniously drops a paper bag in his lap. “Breakfast,” he says.

Venti opens the bag, finding an iced coffee and a wrapped sandwich. Huh. When did the old man get this?

[paradoxspaceheater]

the relationship between me and my favorite commenter on my fics that i’ve barely spoken to

[genshinpng]

Paimon's Paintings - Set 30

Thank you to welcometoteyvat for the IDs for some of the emotes!

[lionbearfox]

trick or treat! (from welcometoteyvat) (very early happy halloween to you too!) (bonus what would nahida be for halloween? matching costume???)

happy halloween!! a recently acquired blorbo for u ..... and to answer ur question i think nahida would be an aranara with a cute lil onesie and a hat :) i KNOW i've posted this concept before somewhere on this blog i'll have to dig it up lol

[luke-life]

Calling all Chongyun mains who want his character to be explored in a meaningful way

Read this fic

"Hot is The Hand that musn't Melt The Ice" by K0obub

Literally just posted today but I loved it.

Tagging you cuz I can guarantee you'll like it

@welcometoteyvat

[dkniade]

@welcometoteyvat

Okay as for the Shenhe & Chongyun fic—

After inspiration struck, I started that on a whim last autumn without any thought to a plot or how much the characters actually know.

Originally it went like this:

Chongyun invites Shenhe up a mountain to meditate together and spend some time as nephew and aunt.

I hint at how Chongyun senses Shenhe’s bloodlust and ill-fate.

Once they reach the top of the mountain they meditate on a pond.

Chongyun compares Shenhe’s condition with Xiao’s karmic debt and asks Shenhe if she knows about Adeptus Xiao.

Shenhe answers and I think there was a line or two about Zhongli giving Xiao medicine?

And then she asks Chongyun if he knows how to make the medicine to which he says yes, something about wanting to give it to Xiao personally to thank him.

And then I thought about how Shenhe’s ropes restrain her emotions and made Chongyun tell her she should not suppress them

—when in reality it’s actually Chongyun who should let out his feelings more ‘cause of the Pure-Yang Body right.

Fic kinda ends clumsily with Chongyun getting surprised Shenhe’s master is Cloud Retainer and Shenhe needing to calm him down with some Adeptal Arts.

But—

Where’s the character development? The plot? Pacing? That was yet another scene of “two characters sit down and talk about their feelings without changing” which I seem to write so often. It was a very slow scene. I felt there needed to be a second part.

-

So I did what I seemed to always do back then—throw Shenhe into a traumatic situation (a cave), because I didn’t know how to write any other emotional scenes. Thinking of it now, I really don’t want to write that kind of scene personally. And it’s wrong of me to reduce her character to that one event in her life. I should know better.

But back then, I didn’t, so:

And then I agonized over adding new characters into the scene (since Chongyun and Shenhe are too similar — both Cryo exorcists set apart from the rest of their family and have trouble connecting with people to various degrees due to how their emotions are stifled)…

…and went though Yun Jin, Hu Tao, Itto, even Childe.

Yun Jin didn’t seem suitable for an action scene, since she’s all about upholding Liyue traditions and creating new ones

Hu Tao’s sense of humour didn’t seem to lighten the scene in an appropriate way

Itto—I’ve heard from other posts—would help Shenhe but a part of me wanted an all-Liyue cast (and I also don’t know him as a character well)

and Childe— It’s not a good idea to put Childe and Shenhe in the same fight scene if we want positive development huh

-

After watching Waterborne Poetry, I liked the scene where Xiao calmly tells Chongyun that his Pure-Yang Body is a rare condition amongst exorcists. I decided to scrap the “Shenhe in a cave” scene and try focusing on Xiao and Chongyun.

…and then I toyed with the idea of Chongyun meeting Xinyan (open, expressive, doesn’t hide herself) to learn how to express himself

Maybe have him learn the flute (and attract Xiao from a distance)?

-

Eventually the plot turned fluffy: basically Shenhe and Cloud Retainer being the wingwomen to setting up a meeting between Chongyun and Xiao.

Scene 1: set up Chongyun’s inner conflict of holding in his feelings

Chongyun and Shenhe go up to the mountain to meditate and Chongyun asks about Xiao’s karmic debt

Chongyun expresses wanting to ease Xiao’s suffering and thank him for his service for Liyue

Chongyun also says he wishes his pure-yang condition would go away, and he’s willing to endure the hardships that come with exorcism as it could prove his worth as an exorcist who’s studied the techniques extensively

Shenhe is straightforward. When Chongyun mentions Xiao and his condition, and how he knows to make the medicine for him, Shenhe could urge him to meet Xiao and chat with him, confess his admiration

Chongyun then says Xiao is elusive and hard to find

Scene 2: show that Shenhe and Cloud Retainer wish to help Chongyun

Shenhe asks Cloud Retainer where Chongyun could find Xiao

Cloud Retainer says Xiao often rests at Wangshu Inn, and Chongyun could make him Almond Tofu and a Satisfying Salad as offering

Shenhe asks if Chongyun would be affected by Xiao’s karmic debt

Cloud Retainer says spirits seem to avoid Chongyun, so his condition may actually be helpful for Xiao

Scene 3:

(I didn’t think about this scene as much)

Chongyun meets Xiao and asks him about exorcism stuff while offering him food

-

But tbh I’m not sure if I’m interested in writing it at this point.

Yet still, I feel that I learned more about how to make a cast fit a scene: how character dynamics work, which characters can be foils to eachother, how it might change the mood of a scene, what themes a character would be suitable for.

(Joke: An excorcist, an Adeptus, an Adeptus, and an Adeptus’ disciple walk into an inn)

[zhongscara]

@welcometoteyvat

Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper gijinka

[genesisinversion]

These Ill-Fitting Inherited Lives for that ask-game-ish thing heh the title reminds me of an untailored suit and i like the clothing reference (?) -welcometoteyvat

AUGH thank you!! There's definitely a lot of clothing talk in it tbh, considerations about how their clothing reflects status, about how their tastes in clothing have changed consciously and subconsciously

Thank you thank you you're making me want to write more haha

[apopcornkernel]

thank you @welcometoteyvat for the tag!! tagging all my followers YES if u see this on ur dash consider urself tagged!!

rules: post the names of all the files in your wip folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them and then post a little snippet of it or tell them something about it! tag as many people as you have wips!

ohh boy. see the problem is i have a Lot a lot but okay here goes. you guys can ask for snippets of anything btw!

DC/BATMAN

so i stayed in the darkness with you

love persevering (more or less abandoned)

reporterjay

ditf role reversal pt. 2

GENSHIN IMPACT

roman candle of the wild pt 2

ittsr secret rel

kjsr bday fic

landscape with black coats in snow

detail of the fire

choking gall

hunting szn!!! ylne crimson peak

jacqueline de bellefort | yelone agatha christie

yelone soulmate au

half-adeptus pantalone au

the space between the trees, swimming in gold

kcollab 🥹🥹🥹

shenjin binondo fire

killing shenhe just bc

wrioney | while i to hell am thrust

word countttt

love love or whatever (reizenguu)

thy new possessor

while rome burns

🔞 supercritical

HONKAI STAR RAIL

recuérdame (kahit isang himutok)

JINGFU VEGAS WEDDING

fifteen years au

killing jing yuan just bc

like weeds in spring

silver springs

[deolx3]

hello <3 i love your art and i hope you're doing well <3 -welcometoteyvat

Thank yooouu! I've been busy with job for a couple of months and haven't done anything about art, not even sketching, but hope to come back soon. Thank you for caring <3 I hope you're well too!!

[zhongscara]

zhongscara petnames outside of or during sex -welcometoteyvat

zhongli calls scara shit like "little wind" "风眠/feng mian" "beloved/love" "sweetheart" etc and then scara in his infinite loving and adoration for zhongli will at most call him "You." 😭😭😭😭😭😭 "old man" if he feels particularly affectionate.

[xelilow04]

ANOTHER XIAOYUN SHIPPER? god bless (this is welcometoteyvat's main blog love ur art)

YESS. NICE TO MEET YOU! They live rent-free in my head. Also thank you! ♡

[genshinpng]

(Thank you to welcometoteyvat for help with the IDs!)

New Year's WeChat Emojis - Gaming, Ganyu, Shenhe, and Xianyun

BONUS: Upscaled versions by myself. I'll upload the official high-quality versions if/when they get uploaded! Official high quality emojis are now available - see them here. I moved my edits under the read more.

[lionbearfox]

ooh trick or treat? (this is my main my genshin side is welcometoteyvat LOLOL)

happy halloween!!! have a chongyun :)

[luke-life]

(welcometoteyvat, on main) btw are you on the gaming mains discord :0

I’m not I personally don’t like discord , I’ve tried getting into it before but eh.

[dkniade]

do you have any ships (or if not, best genshin character dynamics) (from welcometoteyvat)

I’ve had this in my drafts for quite a long time and since I’ve written up the answer already, might as well post them

——

I like a few ships but I don’t think I’ll necessarily make (much) ship content myself. Most likely I’ll just write platonic stuff haha. I do have lots of platonic character dynamics I like too. 

Seems like this is gonna be long since I got inspired and wrote some snippets, and there are quite a lot of dynamics. I also have some fic recommendations here and there. Allow me to ramble about them, haha

Spoilers for some backstories ahead!

Characters and Pairs

romantic ship: Albether, KaeLuc, XiaoVen, KaeBedo, AlbeLuc

platonic dynamics: Nameless Bard and Venti; Shenhe and Yun Jin; Kaeya and Tartaglia (main team); Il Capitano and Tartaglia; Venti and Albedo; Kaeya and Bennett (main team); Albedo, Dorian (Subject 2), Fellflower, and Rhinedottir

For ships—

Albether. 

It’s fun to see how two people not of Teyvat find each other and understand each other in this quiet yet intelligent way. Albedo’s curiosity towards Aether is nice to think about. And Aether’s kindness will surely reach Albedo’s lonely heart as well, even if he doesn’t understand a lot of what Albedo is saying. Aether is the heart and Albedo is the brain, so I think he can teach Albedo what it means to be a human, patiently, and Albedo might actually listen seeing that they both are “peculiar” people, as he puts it. Plus, Paimon can join in on the conversation too. I wrote a (platonic) fic around the themes of understanding and heart vs brain, emotion vs logic.

“Clear Sediments Beneath Loneliness”

KaeLuc. 

The two have a ton of tension and complexity in their relationship. I feel that before they even start exploring the romantic side of it, they should make up and forgive each other and themselves first… Diluc should be nicer to Kaeya and give him some positive attention… The dude needs love… 

But since they’ve been partners for so long before Crepus’ death and they still kept working together after it (e.g. during the Black Fire Incident in the manga), generally sharing information to achieve their goal of protecting Mondstadt, I think they’ll be even stronger if they make up and start to work together publically again. Come sunshine or rain, Mondstadt is in good hands thanks to these two. They should also work on their possible fear of the rain and each other's elements. 

But you know, conflict is what makes stories interesting, so I’d love to see how these two personalities clash and compliment each other despite everything. This pair’s got a lot of potential in a lot of genres.

Fic recommendation. I like comforting quiet fics where characters talk about their feelings. A while ago I read “Hazy Days (Bottled Up)” by imitationicarus, a Kaeya and Diluc (relationship up to interpretation) hurt/comfort fic with 1867 words. It takes place in Angel’s Share, where Kaeya has anxiety and is hearing voices, and Diluc comforts him in his own quiet way. While I don’t read fics very often, it’s still one of my favourite Kaeya and Diluc fics because of the dialogue and inner thoughts. Here’s an excerpt:

But Kaeya would not release his fragile guard so easily. “That’s a good story you’ve spun there, but I’m afraid that’s not true. I just like the flavor.”

Kaeya met Diluc’s gaze, and for the first time, he saw something there—a fire, flickering embers not hot enough to burn, but hot enough to keep warm. To help survive in a harsh and bitter winter.

(Though, I admit, I’ve been avoiding Kaeya and Diluc stuff lately ‘cause of exhaustion and just wanting to see something different, haha)

XiaoVen. 

Recently I realized that “outcast and storyteller” dynamic I like so much is basically XiaoVen lmao. I’m not very familiar with Xiao’s character (haven’t yet gone through his quest), so apologies if I mischaracterize him… But I think Xiao’s distrust, vigilance, and darkness contrasts Venti’s friendliness, peacefulness, and overall lighthearted personality very well. 

Music is a powerful thing, so I want to see the two sitting on top of Juejun Karst, looking down at the stone forest and Liyue Harbour in the distance, with nothing but the crisp sound of a Dihua flute piercing the misty air. Or maybe Xiao can sit at the balcony of Wangshu Inn on a night with the full moon, and a cool breeze would blow through his hair accompanied by the sound of a flute somewhere. I like the idea of Xiao and Venti spending some peaceful time together under the full moon.

KaeBedo. 

How could I forget, haha. Two highly intelligent knight captains of Khaenri’ahn descent, yet one deals with lies and the other deals with the truth, both withholding vital information about themselves and having serious issues on abandonment and receiving love. Kaeya thinks if he tells the truth about himself, he’ll be rejected and abandoned, while Albedo thinks if he doesn’t find the truth about the world and himself, he’ll be rejected and abandoned. Now if they trust each other and find in each other a confidante… 

“Kaeya, you know I seek for the truth above all else. I won’t force you to tell me if you’re not ready, but if you’d like someone to listen… I’ll be here.”

“Haha, reliable as always, Kreideprinz. I’ll consider your offer. You, on the other hand… Let me tell you a secret.”

“Go ahead.”

“It’s not necessary to offer your everything in the pursuit of affection. We… are all flawed in our own ways.”

“Hm. I’ll keep that in mind.”

They even have similar colour schemes (indigo, black, white, gold) but with different ratios to reflect their morals and personalities: Albedo’s dominant colours are white and gold, Kaeya’s dominant colours are black and indigo… Plus, all the Khaenri’ah star motifs on their outfits, and the symbolisms in their eyes. Kaeya’s got a star-shaped pupil and Albedo’s eyes reflect the symbol on the alchemy table. They also have a lot to hide from their respective Pyro-affiliated sibling/sworn sibling, so that’s another thing they can bond together over, I guess? 

I have another fic recommendation:

romantic slow burn KaeBedo, “Casading (In a good way)” by Hubbleablubble, with the headcanon of (trans man) Khaenri’ahn Royalty Kaeya. Subtle hints are scattered across the fic but once the dots connect, there was a lightbulb moment for me. At 14009 words, this high quality slow burn fic from Albedo’s point of view absolutely ripped my heart out with its elegant wording and unsaid thoughts. 

You’ll find Albedo’s winding trains of thought, Kaeya and Albedo slowly getting to know each other, a beautifully described fight scene, moments of quietness and emotional intimacy here and there, and heartfelt internal monologues. Here’s an excerpt from around the beginning:

He hums his thanks, and nearly starts when he looks up to meet his fellow captain’s gaze.

He’s never seen him this close before. A lone star blazes in a pool of blue. It burns into him, the affable twinkle belying a cold intensity. Albedo’s mind supplies him with an image of Rhinedottir, who’s eyes, while a baleful bronze, were much the same.

Oh.

Well. He supposes there may be more to the quartermaster than he’d assumed.

AlbeLuc. 

Alright so this one was specifically due to @/brotato_chibs and @parvaillust on Instagram for making lots of nice AlbeLuc art. (Please check them out! Chibs also does a lot of Albedo in general along with Subject 2!) Rather than forcing romance onto the two, their AlbeLuc is portrayed with mutual respect, stability, and kindness (though not without some friendly teasing). It’s very cute… 

I like the sense of formality from both Albedo and Diluc… It’s a very quiet but stable kind of trust, knowing that despite their pasts, they’ve found someone they can rely on. Of course, if Albedo is corrupted and goes against Mondstadt, I don’t think Diluc can take that seeing he’s already gone through a betrayal from Kaeya…

ALRIGHT NOW FOR NON-SHIP DYNAMICS— There’s a lot! Please bear with me!

I like platonic versions of the ships I just mentioned, but also—

Nameless Bard and Venti.

When I say “outcast and storyteller” I mean I’m very weak for the idea of “I’ll tell your tale for all to hear so you’ll always be remembered” and I think these two started that love for the trope. Symbolism and remembrance in names is a very meaningful topic for me… I like that the nameless bard doesn’t have an official name, so fans can come up with whatever symbolic names they’d like. The idea of Venti taking his friend’s appearance to “travel the world in his name and image” and the whole “when they praise the Anemo Archon’s name, it’s you who deserves it all, not I” is also very dear to me. 

Recommendation: This comic by @popping-greenbean’s expresses that pretty well, featuring a shapeshifting Morax, subtle expressions, and flowing pencil strokes as free as the wind.

I want to see Venti write ballads praising his friend… But speaking of, here’s another recommendation:

The Venti fan song “Last Words” by Circus-P, featuring Fukase and Len Kagamine. The tale of a young bard, of fallen tyranny, and of the bright lure of freedom carried on by the archaic winds. Stay until the end of the song for a surprise. I’m pretty sure this was a huge push in my starting the game. Here’s the refrain:

May the winds carry forth

My soul when I’m gone

May the harsh of the storm 

Never linger for long

May the birds ever fly 

Where their journey leads them

May the lands and the skies 

Be ever blessed with freedom

Shenhe and Yun Jin.

Outcast and storyteller, Liyue immortal/mortal version. More legends, more isolation, more faithful storytellers. When I first watched the PV for “神女劈观” (”The Legend of the Girl Who Split the Altar”, officially known as “The Divine Damsel of Devastation”) I nearly felt like crying over the music and lyrics and visuals, especially at the extended chorus which I didn’t expect. I’m weak for extended choruses with a key change and new lyrics… I can’t really say much about the characters’ dynamics because I don’t know them well, but the idea of a Yun Jin who holds onto tradition while wanting to append a new verse onto an old tale to give Shenhe the happy ending she deserves is very nice… Also, I like that visually, Yun Jin’s design is very colourful and eye-catching while Shenhe’s design is more black and white and gives off a more solitary air.

Kaeya and Tartaglia.

The potential they have together in my main team because of their high positions in their respective organizations and their clashing personalities of hidden agendas vs head-on fights is interesting! A scheming and manipulative strategist amidst the ranks of the (at least outwardly) righteous Knights of Favonius contrasts the confident and outgoing warrior within the shady ranks of the Fatui, but it just wouldn’t be as fun if they both take the style of their respective organizations… They’re both “outcasts” from their organizations, so maybe they see their colleges in each others’ personalities, in a way. Though, I wonder would Kaeya make a better Fatui Harbinger, and Tartaglia, a Knights of Favonius Captain, haha… 

Tartaglia: Ah, Captain Kaeya! I’ve seen him in battle. His mastery over the Cryo element is truly amazing. But instead of using that power, he always hides behind the scenes, thinking about whatever plans he’s got in that head of his… I can never understand him well. Whatever. I’d gladly fight for him, whether he needs me on the front lines or not. As long as he doesn’t directly oppose the Tsaritsa, I’ll follow him into battle anytime.

Kaeya: Tartaglia… He’s willing to follow my plans, no questions asked. How interesting… But he is rather impulsive. Still, he’s quite obedient towards me… for a Harbinger. I wonder, just how far is he willing to go for the Tsaritsa, and how far is he willing to go… for me?

Il Capitano and Tartaglia. 

Something about a lower-ranking Harbinger being eager and going (in Capitano’s POV) “Pwease fight me, s-sir!!” to the menacing-looking Harbinger in a helmet is so funny to me. It really puts into perspective how much Tartaglia stands out against the rest of the Harbingers in his methods and personality! And how he’s the youngest.

Venti and Albedo.

Hear me out. Albedo is a talented artist, Venti is a bard whose appearance honours the Nameless Bard, put the two together, and I’m sure the artist and the model would get along. And the Traveler or maybe Master Diluc will pay for the portrait.

“Oh, the talented Master Albedo! Won’t you please draw a portrait of me?”

“Of course. But… Why the sudden request?”

“Ehe, isn’t wanting to see a portrait of me sketched by the best artist of Mondstadt enough of a reason?”

“‘Best artist’… You speak of me too highly, Master Venti. But very well. I will do a sketch of you.”

“Is it ready? Lemme see!”

“Here. I tried to capture the effect the flowing wind had on your braids and cape. As always, the winds are ever changing, so I couldn’t sketch out all the details. Please forgive the looseness of—”

“It’s beautiful… You’ve truly captured his— I mean, my visage well.”

“Is that so…? Your form is elegant, Master Venti. I merely sketched down what I saw.”

“You did a great job. I’ll treasure this sketch, Master Kreideprinz~”

But at the same time, the God of Freedom and a homunculus from the land of sinners who had little autonomy for most of his life… It could be a comforting thing.

“Kreideprinz, the one born from chalk… Your Art of Khemia is formidable, and of course I grant the people of Mondstadt the freedom to do whatever they’d like, but…”

“I understand. Should I lose control one day… Can I ask you to stop me?”

“Well, let’s just enjoy the present peace, shall we, Albedo? Your freedom is yours. What would you like to become?”

“…”

“Is the great chief alchemist at a loss for words?”

“I’m afraid… I don’t know the answer to your question. I’m sorry.”

“No, it takes time to find who you are. Some people are still searching, to this day.”

“And is that allowed?”

“Of course. Everyone should live their life the way they want to live. To live for someone else’s dreams… can sometimes be a painful thing.”

“…”

“What’s on your mind, Kreideprinz?”

“I didn’t know I was allowed to do so.”

“To do what?”

“To live life… for myself.”

Kaeya and Bennett (main team).

Here’s the thing. I think Kaeya sees a lot of his younger self in Bennett (misfortunate, casted aside from his peers, has father figures, self-deprecating while lifting others up, etc) so I believe he’d be a great team captain and encourage Bennett, telling him how important his role in the team is. They’ve got pretty similar swordsmanship in their Normal Attacks too, so I like the headcanon that Kaeya taught Bennett swordsmanship too. 

Bennett makes self-deprecating jokes and Kaeya finally realizes how he might’ve been to others when he slipped up and made jokes himself in the past, so in that sense, he can care for Bennett and indirectly improve himself and his confidence.

And now, angst. Bennett brings misfortune, right? He’s a Pyro sword user who blames himself for rain, right??

Kaeya. Pyro sword. Rain.

Now imagine the fear and panic that surges through Kaeya as the sight of a blurry figure with a flaming sword in the rain triggers his past trauma from his Vision fight against Diluc. That’s what I’m talking about!!! He panics, he steps back, he tries to cover up with jokes, but Bennett senses it and internalizes the blame onto himself. The hurt. The misunderstanding. And to a kid nonetheless, not Kaeya’s own peer.

Kaeya, how are you gonna react to this conflict in the rain for the third time? And how are you gonna mend it?

Albedo, Dorian (Subject 2), Fellflower, and Rhinedottir.

DID YOU THINK I WASN’T GONNA TALK ABOUT THESE FOURRR HHH cries

The setting and ideas stirred up by Shadows Amidst Snowstorms!! Hear me out!! The one-sided rivalry between Albedo and Dorian as the unknowing perfect version and the “failure” prototype… THE WAY THE REVEAL WAS FORESHADOWED IN THE STARSILVER QUALITY LINES AND ALBEDO REPAINTING THE TRAVELER’S PAINTING OF PAIMON IS SO GOOD. THE SYMBOLISM. GOD I love it.

And Rhinedottir… DAMN IT, RHINEDOTTIR. THINK. What did she have to do for Albedo and Dorian to turn out like this? A highly intelligent recluse who fears rejection, and another one who straight up refers to himself (under the guise of talking about Starsilver quality) as useless??

“There’s something I’ve always wanted to ask you, but feared rejection and disappointment…”

--Albedo, “Something to Share”

“Useless things should be disposed of at the outset.”

--Dorian, “The Snowy Past”

…Y’know, a lot of things can be interpolated from a character’s well-written dialogue, both in what they say and what they leave out.