#xinyu user

[generation24]

oiiiii será que você poderia fazer um user da xinyu + giselle do aespa por favor? 🥺

llexin

xingise

rizhou

ouaeri

zhouri

xinaeri

yuaeri

aerizhpa

zhaetrip

don’t forget to credit © generation24

like if saving

[seoriin]

⠀⏖⠀⠀ ⠀⠀˚⠀⠀　 ⠀⠀༝ ⠀⠀ triples 𝗎𝗌ᥱ𝗋𝗌 #04 　⠀⠀♡⠀⠀　　ㅤ۫ㅤ

⠀⠀⠀⠀ ˚ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ｡ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀xinyu :⠀⠀⠀⠀ 𥤃 ⠀⠀⠀⠀˚⠀⠀⠀⠀₊

  ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎　₊　 ‎ ‎⠀⠀　“　 ‎ ⠀‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ xiin.xi　 ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⠀‎˚ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎　xnyuu　⠀ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎₊　 ‎ ‎ ‎ ⠀‎   ꔫ

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎𐔌  ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎　˚　 ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎⠀　xinn_yu　 ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎₊ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎　.xin.yu　 ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎₊ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎　xn.yu　 ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎˚

[aestreaah]

𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 a beautiful night .. why are 𝘆𝗼𝘂 discouraged ?

★ Xinyu. 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓢

[whispereons]

Oracle!Reader Part 25

Masterlist - Part 1, Part 24

Warning! My au is yandere and can detail gore. This chapter doesn't but previous chapters do.

The setting sun against the soft orange and yellows of the sky was a beautiful sight.

The hot wind cooled down into a warm breeze as people leisurely walked home, while others rushed to finish last minute tasks.

Inside Xinyue Kiosk, a fairly busy staff was running around as the weekend always brought more customers. 

The only room that didn't have staff running in and out of was a VIP seating set on the top floor. A beauty for sure, but no one other than the needed servers were allowed in.

Smoke was blown into the air between two imposing figures while waiters placed a variety of foods onto the wide circular table.

“You reported a successful mission, Yelan, and even got your payment.” Another inhale of tobacco through a pipe was followed with a lazy exhale. “Yet that Oracle still walks around without fear. I don't believe the revival of the deceased is possible just yet.”

Scoffing, Yelan popped another spicy appetizer into her mouth and let Ningguang wait for her answer.

“I said they were shot off a cliff and landed with a splatter on the ground. Should I have taken a picture with a Kamera as proof too?” 

Ningguang’s claw-like nails tapped on the table as she hummed contemplatively. “I assume you'll resume your hunt to finish the job?”

“My, how perceptive of the Tianquan to guess that I, who was severely injured and recently humiliated by a foreign smart mouth, wouldn't correct my mistake.”

The glowing blue dice in Yelan's hands shatters as the strings pull it apart. The hydro particles sharpen back into string as she lazily followed it with her eyes.

Her confident and unfazed demeanor wasn't suited to her beat up appearance. Bandages hidden beneath her clothing made it bulky in odd places, while her hand was stuck in a cast after it was crushed by the Geovishaps.

“That's good and all, but are you even physically fit to track them down? I know Dr. Baizhu refused you from his pharmacy, and he's the only one capable of healing you fast enough for this.” Ningguang paused to feed herself a few bites of Tianshu meat with her chopsticks. “Not to mention, The Oracle was the one who was healed by him instead.”

“I see you enjoy rubbing salt in my wounds.” Unperturbed by Ningguang’s taunts, Yelan crossed her legs as more hydro lines wrapped around the striking scratches on her arms that were left to heal on their own.

“Not that I'm surprised by that. You always did have a sadistic streak. My rare failures are the highlight of your day.” 

Pastel pink lips with a forming purple bruise at the corner were licked despite the pain as Yelan smiled. 

“But pain doesn't stop me, you know as well as I do that it only strengthens me further. And I've had more than enough days to regain my energy.”

Concluding the conversation, Yelan pushes herself off the chair and turns away, with the snow-white coat swaying behind her.

The clink of Ningguang’s cup being set on the table was enough for Yelan to slow down. To pause just in time to hear-

“I don't want you to kill The Oracle.”

Yelan came to a full stop at that.

She had tried to ignore how calm Ningguang was throughout the whole meeting. She had tried to brush off the amount of food Ningguang ordered. 

Furthermore, she even tried to not question Ningguang's change of vocabulary from calling Y/n ‘the faker’ to ‘the oracle’.

Ningguang only smiled politely, the exact way she knew Yelan despised, as the trinkets adorning the hydro user swayed.

“And no, this isn't a joke.” She never fucking thought it was a joke.

“You'll be able to keep your payment too.” She didn't want the damn payment.

Not a trace of fear could be seen in Ningguang’s maroon eyes that stared into emerald tones that never failed to invoke a chill in enemies.

The click of Yelan's heels were the only sound heard as the tassel attached to her collar bounced.

“Then why are you requesting me to stop my pursuit?” The white and gold of Ningguang's outfit clung to her body like second skin as she took her sweet time answering.

“I was a bit too hasty in my judgment. Something greater than us both showed me my error.”

Annoying.

That's how Yelan found Ningguang at times. 

Like she was greater than the rest. As if the Jade Chamber she spent her time in above everyone else placed her above in all other areas as well.

“Are you claiming that Y/N truly is the Oracle? Can the mighty words of the Tianquin prove that alone?”

“Careful Yelan, this kind of outburst isn't like you. I said it was greater than us both.”

Ningguang picked up her cup again and nursed it delicately.

“I simply want you to at least temporarily stop you until I'm sure of what to believe. This is just business, don't take-”

“Yes, yes, I already understand. Don't take it personally.” Yelan had already cooled down at this point.

There was no use in getting worked up over this. Although it was upsetting to find that she failed this job, if the employer no longer wanted it, then she wasn't going to push for it.

Pride and personal feelings should never get mixed up in this line of work, after all.

“I'll reach out to you at a later date for your next commission.” A server placed a piping plate of Cured Pork Dry Hotpot on the table, slipping Ningguang a piece of paper. “Just be sure to give Y/N the correct instructions on how to get here.”

Yelan ignored the Tianquan’s words as she walked to the door. “While I won't take any revenge on Y/N, do not expect me to come running back for this mission when they are inevitably shown to be a scam artist.”

The thought of Ningguang of all people being scammed is absurd. The two words just didn't belong together.

“I'm not one of your employees. You're just a commissioner at the end of the day. You seem to forget that fact.” Green eyes met red as both women masked their own faces with polite sarcasm.

“Don't take it personally.” The soft click of the door being shut left Ningguang in silence, with only the outside's bustle of activity to accompany her.

Amusement was clear on Ningguangs face as she took another long inhale of the pipe.

“Yelan never changes.”

--------------------

You didn't have much time left.

The sun was beginning to get masked by incoming gray clouds that no one seemed to notice before now.

It was funny how the first droplets started to come down on the woman you were arguing with when you asked for the time.

A single request for the time devolved into an argument about how all foreigners were suspicious and that only Morax deserved the title of Archon.

It was typical that you ended up asking the local nut job for the time. What would she even be? Racist? Godist? Archonist? 

Maybe it’s ethnocentrism.

So you just blindly believed that the dinner must be soon and left to the restaurant after watching a stream of water single her out and dump her with water.

A shame you couldn't enjoy it with how your stomach was cramped up from the upcoming meeting with Ningguang. You haven't been this nervous since your first meeting with your boss back on Earth.

It made sense. Both people were powerful, mysterious and used people without a second thought. 

The chilly breeze slowed your heartbeat as Xinyue Kiosk came into view, approaching the stairs leading up to the entrance, you spotted a very familiar figure next to the waitress.

Not slowing down, you walk up the stairs as jade eyes lock onto you with malice on the verge of hatred. A tsk leaves Yelan’s lips before she turns back to the waitress while pointing at you. “This is the Tianquan’s guest. Lead them to the room.”

Nodding, the waitress waits for you as you move past Yelan who doesn’t spare you another glance. Just as you followed the waitress into the entrance, the rain began to pour without warning.

You just barely caught sight of Yelan slipping on the last step due to the rain as her wet hair stuck to her skin. The door closed before she could see your little smile at her ‘misfortune’. 

It was a shame that Teyvat couldn’t help you in more meaningful ways, but these minor instances weren’t taken for granted either.

Following the waitress past multiple tables, you looked around it curiously. Usually the game just cuts straight to the room, so you never got a good look at the restaurant itself. Most of them looked to be regular customers with tables near each other.

Farther in, you could see a shift in the layout and type of customers. Larger tables with big gaps as the customers wore fancy clothing clearly made of high quality silk and cotton. A table with blue hair caught your eye the most.

A bored looking Xingqiu sat next to an older man with navy blue hair. His hair was tied in the most pitiful ponytail you’ve ever seen, but at least his fancy suit looked nice.

It took you a bit but you finally remembered it as the skin from the 4.4 Lantern Rite event. You almost missed how Xingqui noticed your presence and excitedly waved at you before his father began to scold him.

Smiling apologetically, you gave a brief wave back before following the waitress up the stairs. Just how much further was Ningguang’s room? It couldn’t have been cheap, that's for sure…

It wouldn’t be that uncomfortable to walk all this way if people could stop staring at you. Half the restaurant had to be giving you a side eye harsh enough to kill as you walked by.

Stopping at a door the waitress pulled it open as thunder roared outside giving a brief flash of white behind the window frame. Licking your lips, you entered the room while the door shut behind you with a soft click.

“I’m glad to see you’ve made time to meet me, Y/n.” The voice of the source of your stress and anxiety was sweet, if not seductive. Moving your eyes from the fresh plates of food to Ningguang who sat at the head of the table, you smiled sharply.

“You make it sound like I had a choice in the matter.” Striding forward, you took a seat on the opposite side of the table and helped yourself to the food. If you were going to die, you’d rather it be quick and with no regrets.

“I apologize for any inconvenience my request may have caused you. I’m sure many people have wanted to speak to you after your unfortunate encounter with Yelan and Miss Shenhe.” Wow, she wasn’t even trying to be subtle.

Taking your sweet time to chew and swallow your food, you leave Ningguang waiting until finally opening your mouth. “Why don’t you skip the sarcastic pleasantries? I already know your true colors, do you think the Creator is as stupid as you are?”

Fuck being nice and polite. She wants to treat you like some dumb foreigner that has no clue on the connections she holds? Then she can handle you acting like the annoyed and irritated person you currently are.

The smiles you both wear are mirror images of each other, the slightest downward tick of her lips showing her displeasure was far too easy to mimic.

“Then that makes things easier for both of us. Do you know why I invited you here to speak with me, Y/n?”

Again, you leave her waiting for your answer as you pick a few more dishes and savor the flavors. The dishes were wonderful, no doubt about that but…

You missed the taste of the hotpot you shared with the Kamisato’s more.

“I had assumed it was an apology for sending Yelan on me like a bloodhound. But perhaps you were just after certain pieces of information that I might hold.” Your mind wandered back to Beidou who had spoken to Ningguang after you gave that prophecy to Beidou on the Crux.

Although it felt like ages ago, it’s been less than a month since you left the Crux. From what you could recall, the prophecy you gave the crew was that all the monsters, Leylines and other strange behaviors were due to the Creator returning. 

Thinking back on it, you did largely gloss over the details to avoid being caught in your lie. Maybe that’s why Ningguang wanted you alive? After all, your words couldn’t be taken lightly after what happened with the Geovishap hatchlings. But she did send Yelan after that incident so unless she was late on hearing the situation, which was frankly impossible, she must have got some new evidence-

“Well, not quite, but it’s related so why don’t you listen to me before casting any judgment?” As if she was anyone to talk but interrupting her wasn’t worth it. Not when you could potentially find something useful.

Ningguang barely touches the food as you scarf it down like a man starved. Instead, she takes a long sip of her tea, purposefully leaving you waiting. Talk about petty, you think to yourself sarcastically as she sets her cup down.

“Recently I had a very unusual dream, I’ve had it once before but in a much different context.” A plain soup is stirred lazily as she stares down at the rippling liquid, she looks pensive with eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly. “Rex Lapis appeared to me the night that Yelan reported a job completed. Now, isn’t that strange?”

You didn’t stop or slow down your chewing as your heart thundered in your chest. Zhongli really appeared in Ningguang’s dream again?! This had to have been what he was telling you earlier about thanking him.

Should you thank him with a smile or a slap for making things more complicated? It’d be easier to decide later.

With Ningguang’s expectant ruby eyes on you, you shrugged your shoulders with an easy smile. “Is it that strange? The Oracle of the Creator that we all worship had just been shot down by the orders of the Qixing that are from his own region. It would be an insult to the Creator to not step in.”

An amused hum leaves Ningguang as she listens to your words. Still not touching her soup, she set her utensils down to fold her hands. “Rex Lapis did not speak to me the first time he appeared to me. But this time he did, only saying one sentence. Can you guess what it is?”

The urge to roll your eyes at the predictable question was strong but your self-control was stronger. “It would be confirmation of me being the Oracle, of course. Anything else would be blasphemous.” 

“Do not be bewitched by novelties.”

The absurd and out of place words earned Ningguang your undivided attention. Your mouth opened to portray your shock and confusion, but your lips quirked to the side at the last moment in a disbelieving smile.

“Are you trying to say that, that sentence is what the Geo Archon said?”

“It is indeed.” Oh, you were going to smack Zhongli after this, screw the consequences! “I believe it’s safe to assume that he was talking about you.” A black gloved hand with gold claw like pieces attached were outstretched to you as she smiled down at you. 

“It’s just as you said, ‘It would be an insult to the Creator to not step in’ when someone is claiming to be connected to our All Mighty Creator only to be proven false. ‘Anything else would be blasphemous’ no?”

Wow, you were right to hate Ningguang. Her smile became as sharp as her nails as you relaxed back in your chair. You couldn’t give her anymore ammo. Any sign of hesitation, nervousness, or even a waiver of emotional instability is all she needed to corner you. 

In fact, this could all be a bluff! Zhongli truly believed you to be the Oracle, after all. Chances are that Ningguang altered Zhongli’s message to test you. Zhongli wouldn’t betray you, he wouldn’t…

Would he?

“And how am I supposed to blindly believe your words? After all, the first time Morax came to your dream you claimed that despite how much you wanted to tell him, you couldn’t say a single word.”

But it seems your reply was just a tad too late, as the heavy pounding of boots on wood flooring came from behind you. Pulling your eyes from blood-red ones to the Millelith guards now behind you, a hand grabs your hair and pushes you down.

The crack of the plates breaking and cutting into your jaw is only overshadowed by the food smearing your mask and skin. The humiliation is what really gets you riled up, but you swallow it down in favor of looking back to the modernized embodiment of mora herself.

“Is this really necessary? I wasn’t even getting up from my seat.” There’s a slight growl to your words that you don’t bother to mask as Ningguang lets her gaze move from you to the guards.

“They have a point. Release them, I only told you to use force if they display hostility.” Ningguang’s tone of voice is even, and not the usual professional kind. The soldier’s grip tightens for a brief, painful moment, before finally letting go and stepping back.

“My sincerest apologies for my misconduct, Lady Ningguang.” The soldier that touched you bowed to Ningguang as you glared at him. “But I implore you to take my reasoning into consideration.”

Pushing away the now destroyed dishes as a few servers cleaned up the mess, you listened halfheartedly to the soldier. “This person - no, this thing is the one responsible for the kidnapping and subsequent death of the most vulnerable children in this region.”

Blatantly, you sneered at the soldier while wiping off the food from your face. How dare he, a full-blown soldier no doubt trained to protect Liyue Harbor, accuse you of being the kidnapper when you were the one who saved them?!

Every soldier that you met when information gathering was more useless than the last!

Ningguang knew the truth, Xingqiu and Chongyun both told you how the Qixing were aware that you were the actual hero. Whipping your head to her, you stared at her to see just what answer she would give.

“Even still, disobeying my orders is enough cause for punishment. Return to the Ministry of Civil Affairs and have them send a different guard who can follow orders rather than emotions.”

The guard slumped at the scolding and glared bitterly at you, as you flipped him off in return. While watching him stomp away, you cursed Ningguang out internally.

She definitely knew the truth but was purposefully keeping her statements vague. Almost as if she was entertaining the idea of you being the one responsible. 

“I want you two to guard the door so Y/n doesn’t escape during this conversation. Do not make the same mistake as Zhenhai.”

It was her.

Ningguang’s the one who spread that rumor that’s messing up your reputation. You should have guessed it earlier. Only she could have the intelligence to figure out the truth, the connections to spread her lie, and the power to make it have a physical effect.

But why? What did she gain from it?

Lost in thoughts and possibilities, you didn’t notice how Ningguang observed you. Beige strands rest on her shoulders to flow down her back till the ashen tips pool on her seat. Yet the blood-red of her eyes shine with something akin to fascination as she watches your fingers thrum against the wooden table.

What a delight for the eyes.

The silence is interrupted by the door opening and fake cat ears come into view. A new soldier closes the door behind the Yueheng before standing guard as she takes a seat without asking.

“I hope I’m not too late. It seems my invitation to this crucial dinner got lost in the journey.” Keqing began with a pointed look at Ningguang.

Smiling, Ningguang greeted Keqing in a pleasant but professional manner. “What an unfortunate result. At least you were able to attend now, hm? They are bringing out golden shrimp balls soon too.”

Judging by the slight twitch in Keqing’s demeanor, you can tell that she was simultaneously both annoyed and grateful. What a shame, you could have used her annoyance towards Ningguang.

“A pleasure to meet you once again Y/n, Yun Jin was very thankful for your quick and efficient help.” Smiling once you’re addressed, you nod and squeeze your hands together under the table.

Yun Jin’s name still shot a vague feeling of displeasure through your body. And Keqing acting like it was nothing only further enhanced it.

“Her show was magnificent. I’m glad she was able to successfully perform that day.” Waiters and waitresses brought out some more drinks and refilled Ningguang’s tea without interrupting as you began to speak.

“Let’s not beat around the bush any longer. Keqing, you joined us here to help conclude whether I’m truly an Oracle or not, right?”

Ningguang watched coolly as Keqing’s smile relaxed into nothingness, while her stare became firm. “That is correct. But please, focus on what Ningguang brought up first concerning her dream gifted by Rex Lapis. I’ll be making my own judgment by the end of this dinner.”

Nodding, you shrug your shoulders and twirl your cup without looking at it. “That seems fair. The outcome will be the same regardless.” The confidence behind your eyes is shown in the way you smile and relax into your seat.

“Ningguang, you still haven’t answered my question as to why I should even believe your dream even happened and if so, whether those words are what Morax said. But I’ll let it go for now and focus on something else for the moment.”

Jabbing a thumb behind you at the silent guard, you speak with a mock curious tone. “Just why in the world are people assuming that I’m the one that kidnapped the children when I was the one who saved them?”

Magenta eyes meet red before both pairs turn to you. “And please don’t treat me like a fool.”  Resting your cheek on your palm, you sweetly spoke with a threat lingering in your words. “I already know that Ganyu couldn’t convince you both to think it was her who saved them.”

Ningguang sighs as if disappointed in your demeanor while setting her cup down. “The official details on the commission you took on are under wraps, just as the contract requires.” She looks down on you with her calm refusal as she finishes. “The Liyue Qixing isn’t responsible for what circulates and twists when it comes to word of mouth.”

You refuted her excuse just as fast. “I wasn’t asking the Qixing or the Tianqiuan. I was asking Ningguang.” Using your fingers, you begin to count the different instances of hostility.

“I’ve had people insult me, ignore me, discriminate against me, gossip behind my back and just as you saw before, even go as far as to be violent. If I went to Yanfei with this case against your personal guard Zhenhai I’m sure I could get a good settlement and put some bad light on you. Not anything serious, but surely annoying for you and the Qixing.”

Ningguang cleverly disguises her huff of irritation as her blowing steam off her tea, but you were just a little more observant than she gave you credit for.

“Should I even bring up how almost every medical equipment possible was either sold out or out of stock? The coincidence of it happening just as I was released from Bubu’s Pharmacy is a little too much to believe-”

“You’re still doing that Ningguang?” Keqing cuts you off accidentally to send an exasperated glare at Ningguang who only looked at her coldly in return. It seems you found something interesting to use. “It’s one thing to make my favorite dish out of stock, but it’s another to keep a medical necessity out of reach.”             

“So I was right to believe that this was also your doing Ningguang?” You said with a laugh as Keqing looked confusedly between you and Ningguang who nearly glowered at you. “You didn’t tell Keqing either? Isn’t that just swell, I’ll fill her in on it while you prepare your excuse.”

The way Ningguang bristled at your insult filled you with spiteful pleasure. Turning to Keqing who gave you a wary look, you began to explain with a smirk. “It seems, while I was being hunted down by Yelan under Ningguang’s orders, the high and mighty Tianquin took it upon herself to ruin my reputation with her lies. You do remember interrogating Ganyu about who rescued the kidnapped children?”

“Yes…” Keqing answers with a suspicious glare as the servers placed fresh food on the table. Just how many damn servings did Ningguang order? “How did you even know-ah it must have been those boys.”

Knowing exactly who Keqing was referring to, you just nod while piling more food onto your plate. “Well the rumor about me being the one to spread it was being perpetuated during my absence and truly came to a head when I finally returned to Liyue Harbor. I have a certain Lady Ningguang to thank for it.”  You sneered while pointing at her.

Keqing’s eyes widened as she listened to you, certain things must have been made clear to her too. “That explains why so many people came asking for an explanation on the Geovishap Hatchling incident.” Holding her chin with a pensive expression, she continued. “It also provides a good reasoning as to why you pushed me to give that public response even when our evidence was still shaky.”

… Why did you get a bad feeling at that?

Just what kind of statement was released? 

With a fixed forced smile you stare at Ningguang who frowns at you before chuckling. “There isn’t any more reasoning for me to stay silent on the matter. Calm yourself Keqing, you as well Y/n.”

Folding her hands on her lap, Ningguang stared you down as she began. “Yes, I did create and encourage the rumor of you being the true mastermind behind the kidnapping. You were already beginning to become well known by the people considering how close you are to certain people and due to the false prophesy you shared with Captain Beidou.”

“Not false, my prophecy is very much true-”

“And while I am happy to have the children saved, we can’t let you walk around spreading lies about your identity, position and relation to the Creator. Especially after the Geovishap Hatchling incident showing just dangerous you are.”

“I didn’t have anything to do with the hatchlings. I was just as stunned as everyone else.” It’s a weak argument with no evidence showing otherwise, but you couldn’t let them slap that offense on you.

“The statement released about you was connected to the hatchlings.” Keqing cut in with a grimace. “From what we can gather based off your past actions and achievements, you having the ability to puppeteer monsters is the most likely outcome, and we told the public as much.”

Shit.

They were so far off yet closer than anyone else.

“I can’t and didn’t command those Geovishaps. Even if I could, what would I gain from ordering them to do so? It puts suspicion on me. I have no motive, and it was defamation to single me out and slander me in such a way without evidence.”

Turning back to Ningguang you asked with clenched fists nearly trembling with anger. “You haven’t explained everything. What was your goal in mind with vilifying me? Just damaging my reputation is not reason enough to spend precious time and resources on me.”

The food was beginning to grow cold, but you didn’t have the appetite to eat anymore. Ningguang didn’t look at you, but the humor she previously had was nowhere to be found.

“It’s a shame that someone as sharp as you is using their skills for such sad and disappointing reasons.”

“There is nothing to be ashamed of by being the Creator’s Oracle, no matter what trial and tribulations I must face.” Wow, you even impressed yourself with how serious and authentic you sounded.

“So you say.” Lithe fingers took out her pipe and leisurely left you waiting as you stared at her. Only after blowing it into your face did she finish. “What do you think would have happened if the foreigner with such a charismatic presence was suddenly found dead after rescuing children? How do you think the public would have reacted?”

Mind racing at her words, the surrounding setting seemed to fade away as your ears only picked up on Ningguang’s words. 

“Now imagine they appear back in the city, injured but alive to tell the tale. Influential people and the like come to visit as their good deeds are spread within the city. A fresh face on the scene with information that even extended to knowing about private conversations I’ve had. How many people with grudges too high and old to handle alone would come, offering a helping hand, a mutual beneficial contract that could help the ‘wronged’ foreigner?”

“Haha… Hahaha!” You’re laughing before you know it. A hand on your mouth, grinning so wide that it could break your face in half. Keqing’s surprised expression as she eats and Ningguang’s stoic expression are barely processed as you keep laughing.

It’s all so funny.

It’s all so fucking absurd.

You weren’t even greatly physically impacted by the lies. It was more like drops of water into a bucket for you.

But that bucket was already on the verge of overflowing and there was no hole for you to drain the water.

The fact that Ningguang needed to lie and make such stupid leaps of logic to libel you just so that the aftermath of your death wasn’t a hassle was simultaneously hilarious and pitiful. Adding in the extra benefit of it forcing you into a corner where no one would be willing to help you was just that to her. 

An extra benefit.

Maybe normal people would fall for the lies and not want to associate with you, but people of higher status would know better. They could tell when someone is being purposefully lied about. It was like an invisible mark on you, telling everyone that trying to help you was making an enemy of Ningguang.

That would explain why Xingqiu and Chongyun were suddenly pulled away by their families. All to corner you to being forced to meet Ningguang, forced to accept whatever accusation she wants to slap on you.

“You really are a piece of shit.” You said with a grin once your laughing slowed to a stop. 

Ningguang really mustn’t have expected it as her face visibly contorted into shock and her pipe slipped from her fingers. It’s understandable.

Most people in your position would already be begging for mercy, but even those who had more pride and fight would just go on a tirade and rage. To any outsider, you were far too calm for your position.

Besides, who would ever dare disrespect the Tiantquian not only to her face but right in front of the Yuheng too?

“Since you finished saying your piece, I’ll begin saying mine too. It’s clear that you don’t want to see reason or the truth for what it is.” Standing up, you push your seat away as the guards suddenly come to attention. “Since you don’t want to admit that I’m the Oracle, why don’t we focus on Liyue as a whole?”

With hands behind your back, you casually walked around the table closer to Ningguang as she put her hand up to stop the guards. “Let’s start with the kidnapping case. Not only were the soldiers useless in almost every aspect, both within and outside the city, but they also can’t even distinguish petty problems from the serious ones.” 

Stopping behind Ningguang you looked straight at the guards as you asked. “What’s more important? Chasing down rouge kidnappers or chasing a musician without a permit?” Both soldiers opened their mouth to answer, but Ningguang stopped them with a wave.

“This has nothing to do with the topic on hand. Stop avoiding your own faults and sins, Y/n.” She raised her cup to her lips as she looked at you with a turn of her head.

“Oh, but it does. It has everything to do with all the points you brought up.” Your hand snatched the cup from her opposite side as she glared indignantly at you. Keqings muffled laughter only made you grin wider as you returned to your seat. “This city has a lot of problems, but I am not one of them.”

“The fact that no one was willing to help me aside from Xingqiu and Chongyun, who both know me to be the Oracle, truly says a lot on how you and the Qixing run this city.” Sitting back down, you place the cup in the middle of the table, just out of her reach.

“So how could I not find it insulting that I, the only person to accept this commission, the driving force behind the operation, ended up the one taking the blame for it all. All for what exactly? To corner me when you didn’t even have proper reasoning to corner me in the first place?”

“We have every right to-”

“Shut the fuck up.” You snapped with a clearly disgusted face. Ningguang wasn’t as shocked this time and sneered right back at you. Honestly, you envied Keqing the most, who was pleasantly eating the golden shrimp balls while watching you both.

“You heard multiple varying information about me and continuously chose to listen to the ones that painted me in the worst light possible. Yet instead of conducting your own investigation, instead of relying on chance encounters, you sent out Yelan to deal with me, basically leaving her to deal her own judgement on me.” Throwing your hands up in the air, you nearly yell at Ningguang. “Who the hell fed only the bad information on me! Did you even tell her about how Beidou vouched for me? Or about how Beisht listened to me?”

“Yelan has all the skills, qualifications, and experience necessary to do a thorough investigation and choose an accurate judgement. You’re free to take it up with her if you want to continue pleading your case.”

This wasn’t going anywhere. It was like talking to a brick wall. A very judgmental and snarky brick wall.

It seems you’ll have to resort to it after all.

“Yet out of all the crimes you could possibly pin me with, it’s the one on the case that I solely took on that you chose? Is it because you knew that no one in this damned city would give a shit about them? Because you knew that while no one wanted to take on the responsibility of acknowledging and helping the homeless, everyone would be more than happy to blame someone tangible for it?”

Ningguang faltered at that, it was brief but present.

“Or do you really hate your origins to that extent? Do you loathe the homeless that you once stood beside?”

Thunder roared outside as your words were spoken. The look on her face veered off the edge of hatred and into murder. The metaphorical slap your words provided weren’t to be taken lightly after all.

Perfect straight teeth dug into her lips as her nails dug into her hands, uncaring for how the blood stained her black gloves till even her gold pieces shined with it.

What a delight to behold.

“How dare you bring up this topic-”

If you can’t reach her level of perfection. 

“Spreading this level of nonsense, just how-”

Her level of composure.

“Do you feel no shame-”

 “Do you not feel any shame? I’m not the one who left and never looked back.”

Then you’d simply need to drag her down to yours.

“I have done no such thing!” The table shakes when Ningguang slams her hands down on it, making Keqing quickly lift her plate off as the more precarious plates fell off and shattered.

Grinning, you point and laugh at her, blatantly mocking her as she flushes with embarrassment. 

“You really are shameless, aren’t you? Floating around in your mobile home like a constant beacon of wealth and success. How do you think people feel when they see you up there? Do you think they look on with awe and envy?”

Standing up too, you rest your hands on the table to lean closer. “Or are you aware how all they can see is a symbol of the selfishness and a reminder of how mora can change a person?”

“It bothers you that no one even acknowledged how much of it sacrifice it was to you to give up the first Jade Chamber. Let alone be willing to do it again with its successor.” 

Ningguang’s shaky breath before she sits back down as you mirror her actions is as satisfying as you imagined it. Especially when she no longer focuses on the main topic to instead defend herself. “I’m not and will never be ashamed of my beginnings. I have always kept the past in my mind and actions.”

“Then why did it take an outsider like me to accept the commission to save a girl to save a whole group of homeless kids that we were what? Not missing? Not important enough for the Millelith to get involved in?”

“Should I even mention the underbelly of the docks? Where all the shady deals, vagrant and poverty-stricken people live?” Clapping slowly, you finish with a sarcastic tone. “I have to hand it to you, you really know how to hide them from the public.”

If you were completely honest, you knew Ningguang wasn’t that bad of a person. She was the epitome of a capitalist, and it wasn’t her responsibility to care for every homeless person in Liyue Harbor. 

Some people really did put themselves in their situations after all.

“There's nothing I can do for those who do not wish to be saved. Even if they aren't accepting of my help, I still do my part as the Tianquan to keep Liyue running for those who do want to accept my help.”

Food sitting forgotten on the table and Keqing discreetly ordering another plate of golden shrimp balls, not a soul dared to intervene in the growing argument between you and Ningguang.

“So by fixing the problem on the surface, your job is done? The ones who actually need help and want to better their lives are shoved in a corner to rot with the actual bad apples for the next Tianquian to deal with?”

“Twisting my words and shoving even more in my mouth to ‘win’ this argument isn’t the best idea.”

“Don’t get so offended Ningguang, all leaders are like you. Some even worse.” A few political figures from Earth flash in your mind as you speak. Sighing, you refocus back to Teyvat, knowing that your words would be too confusing if you tried to use anyone from Earth.

“Take the glorious Raiden Shogun or whatever other titles she uses.” Sarcasm coated your words as you spoke with a drawl. “Vagrants, the Nobushi and Kairagi are suffering from addictions, diseases and more without aid. Once well respected samurai that fell for one reason or another are left to suffer and commit crimes. Dying by their diseases, stealing from the poor and worse crimes are committed with the only outcomes being to die by the hands of defenders or by Tenryou soldiers.”

In your eyes, Inazuma was a mess. So many people died on the islands separate from Narukami Island. The vagrants were a constant and growing threat, most of the actual problems were solved by the traveler, yet the shogun picked a needless war that resulted in nothing but pain.

 Just how did this conversation derail from being about you being the oracle to this? It was tiring and at this point you nearly wanted to give in and just leave.

“Are you saying that you find Liyue better simply due to how it treats its people?” Ningguang asked, the slight smile on her face made you suspicious.

“Liyue isn’t better. Liyue is a standard, and Inazuma is just failing horribly in comparison. But who knows? Maybe in a few decades, it can compare to Sumeru who only recently got their God.”

“So what of the people in Inazuma? Are the Tri-Commision as bad as the Shogunate?”

“Despite the obvious bribery in both the Tenryou and Kanjou Comission, they do, do their damn job, The Yashiro Comission even goes above and beyond in comparison. They’re the reason Inazuma hasn’t lost its entire population.”

“So if you’re really the Oracle then how do you plan to help them?” Ningguang asks it in an analytical tone. As if she plans on judging your ‘plans’ when she’s the fucking Tianqiuan.

“I don’t need to make any plans. I don’t have a position in Teyvat.”  The retort comes with a little bite to your tone.

“You seem so certain that you’re the Oracle that I wanted to hear what your plans were for having that position.”

Did she believe that you made up this position for your own benefit? Well yes, yes you did, but certainly not for the financial benefit she seems to be imagining. “Let me straighten something out for you, Ningguang, Cause for as high and mighty you believe yourself to be, you don’t know everything. I’m not the traveler. My job isn’t to bend over backwards to do your job, it’s to prophecy about matters concerning the Creator. If the Creator told me about Liyue’s destruction and ordered me to stay silent, I would happily do so and watch every citizen drown without batting an eye, understand?”

Whatever reaction you were expecting didn’t happen as Ningguang began to laugh. But it wasn’t the mocking or condescending laughter she had before. Instead, she seemed truly amazed or even relieved.

“I understand now. I can now accept you as the Oracle by my own judgment, too.” 

The confusion and slight perturbation at her words must have been on your face as she slowed her laughter to a mere chuckle.

“I apologize for what I’m about to tell you. You remember the dream I had concerning Rex Lapis? Well, I may have twisted his words for my own cause.”

You were fucking right, but you couldn’t even enjoy it, since it took you nearly an hour to get to this point in the conversation.

“If you weren’t the Tianquin, you would be in some serious legal trouble Ningguang. I can name at least 3 different laws you almost broke.” Keqing surprisingly spoke up at this moment. Honestly, you had forgotten about her, not that she seemed to mind.

“You can scold Ningguang after she enlightens me to what his true message was. How much mora should I bet that he was confirming me as the oracle?” Ignoring the snark, Ningguang clears her throat before snapping her fingers and motioning to the dirty plates on the table. The workers took the plates away before she dramatically rested her elbows on the now cleared table.

“Not every bewitching novelty is meant to cause harm, some lead to everlasting contracts.”

Maybe you should still punch Zhongli, what kind of help was that supposed to be?! Couldn’t he be direct rather than poetic?!

“That message was vague but clear enough for me to link it to you. Thus, I decided to invite you here to see if you really did deserve the title of Oracle and whether we could trust you or not.”

What a load of bullshit-

“I agree with Ningguang on this. While many things seemed suspicious concerning you, this conversation was helpful for us to see your real motives and future actions.”

And of course Keqing had to agree with the smirking vixen, making you calmly nod in response. This whole dinner felt like a haze to you at least point. 

Not only did you have to prove that being an Oracle was real, attack Ningguang on several personal points and proceed with many, many leaps in logic. Just to find out, that she fucking knew the truth all along!

You weren’t even going to get compensation for all the troubles she caused, either.

It was clear to you why no one wanted to mess with Ningguang outside the usual bankruptcy. She was too annoying and petty as hell for anyone to want to deal with.

“I recognize that I did you a disservice by having Yelan investigate you before this dinner. For that, I do apologize and even have an offer for you.” 

If it wasn’t money or connections, you didn’t want it.

“I’ll provide you with monetary compensation as long as you give a detailed speech and answer questions about the Creator’s return in my ‘mobile home’ as you called it.”

“If you didn’t know or remember, my presence and journey here is supposed to be discreet-”

“How does 5 million mora sound to start?”

… Maybe Ningguang wasn’t that bad after all.

“When do I have to give this speech? If it’s just the members of the Qixing, I’ll do it, but not publicly.”

Distantly you can hear Keqing sigh as Ningguang smiled pleasantly at you but you couldn’t hear it over the imaginary clinking of mora coming into your bag.

Money is what forced you to accept Ningguang’s offer for dinner. Much like on Earth, money is power.

It's done, it's finished and I'm even more tired then before. My last chapter was when my semester was ending and my new chapter is just as my semester is going to start. Please blame my job, my bills and Sandrock for the reason behind why this one took so long. I've been writing small things, mostly on Wattpad since it's just easy, but I feel like my writing style is constantly changing. Or it's just me again. But whatever the case, I've just been doing that to not get too rusty. Ningguang is hard to write for, mostly in relation to the reader rather then with other people. Not sure why, it just feels that way. It was a struggle to end the conversation with her but ultimately it works. Ningguang is just too canonically powerful to not have the upper hand in every way. Even still this chapter was also hard to write because I had to use so much thinking and planning to keep things consistent not only to the game but also to the other chapters. My au isn't one of extreme violence so I'm aware that it's harder to become engaged or see how threatening this version of Teyvat is. Quick update before I post, I either will answer everything or nothing as my youngest cat might need to go into surgery soon. The little vacuum ate metal while I was at work and the vet already said that if he does get surgery he might not make it.

Taglists is open as always and hopefully won't be struck down by Tumblr! [Tumblr made some changes to the tagging system so I'm not sure if it's working like before. If your name is there and not in italics yet you weren't tagged then let me know.]

@vvyeislazzy, @nikqi, @the-dumber-scaramouche, @etherisy, @yourlocalstranger123, @ra404, @iruiji, @goldenglow149, @haru-tofuu, @lsleepysimpl, @bebobeboben, @yuyuzi-ling, @amidst-the-tempest, @resident-cryptid, @mxd1zzy, @mochicurls21, @nervouseaglelover, @thedevioussmirk, @yumuramma, @kwqsla, @undecidingfate, @ehjane, @game-savvy, @akiramirae, @liansh3ng, @fluffy-koalala, @formacoon, @sxftiebee, @khxii-i, @ursinaw, @chuuya-brainrot, @sweetbills, @kazuchaos, @snowfoxnix, @bluebelony, @shellofthewell, @pencil-of-ashes, @ghostlyintervention, @taiformaifoe, @goaudduck, @carminerin, @maddysflowers, @zenith-of-all-zenith, @crazydreamcat, @leafanonsforest, @grimreapersscythe, @leylanx, @sapphireknown, @help-whatdoimakemyusername

@zhonglisfruityass, @mer0n37, @victoria1676, @mochinessss, @sinnful-darling, @emilymikado, @pix-stuff, @esthelily, @luxie963, @emmbny, @starsofabundance, @kbar1013, @xxblackroses623xx, @chxrlxtteee, @aludicpoet, @yandematic, @atrcclovsxoxo, @0lshadyl0, @esthelily, @t-rex-red, @ck123, @steadybreadbluebird, @118gremlin, @stratonia, @time-shardz, @farelady-fate, @valeriele3, @francisnyx, @byakuren100, @waveto-earth, @flyingpansaurus, @silverstarred, @iamapotatoe, @ghosthii, @beloveddroplet, @uchihaeirin, @ibelieveinsleep, @idk098, @thefirstonetoeverlikemeback, @toramune, @haaaaaades, @horologiumwise, @melovaaaa, @alittletiredcry, @aphxdea, @atsukawolfcat, @desirabletravel, @pinkpainc, @eccedentesiast-sapphic, @yuyuzi-ling, @hyperfixationwhore

@juuuuuj101010, @avalordream, @kurayamioterasu, @tottybear, @koiikuno, @lynx-of-skies, @quacking-simp, @synthe4u, @kascar-chronicle, @hug4helios, @hug4helios, @silverstarred, @koiikuno, @ithoughtthinks, @remiivx, @lemonade7255, @melpomenelurks, @average-yandere-enjoyer, @mnhao, @fuji-sen, @altumsomnum, @hehothrowawayfae, @unofficialabortive, @magnum0pus2231, @xxnessinessiellexx, @multiliker, @intpessimistic, @kitsunelivesyet, @extremelytoastybread, @mercy-not-merci, @silvermoon617, @evaline-ethan, @fallintothechasm, @imgonnaeatthatglitter, @bunniotomia, @3noa3, @astro-stars, @beary-kalkus, @yourfavepookiebear, @original-person, @alexx197197

[shibuinni3]

DOAÇÃO COM GG!

Após alguns meses da minha outra doação, eu retorno com mais uma, novamente, completamente focada em Girl Groups! Alguns dias atrás pedi recomendações de ships, então, com base na maioria deles, eu produzi DEZOITO capinhas! Desta vez com o detalhe que são todas completas e exclusivamente saficas!

Regras;

1. Me seguir no spirit; ★

2. Ter mais de 4 meses de conta;

3. Uma nova adoção poderá ser feita após a postagem da primeira capa;

4. Não há qualquer alteração além de user;

5. Palavra-Chave: Rose;

6. O conteúdo deve ser sáfico, caso contenha romance (não precisa ser o foco);

7. Terá 6 meses de prazo, depois que o prazo passar, sem nem um aviso ou pedido de extensão para mim, ela será retirada e passada para uma redoação;

8. O mínimo de palavras é: 300;

9. Meus créditos devem estar nas notas finais ou iniciais;

10. Não é por ordem de chegada;

11. Peça sua capa; ★

12. Cronograma da doação; ★

13. Boa sorte!

Capas;

Tokyo Trip (Juria + Hinata, XG) - DISPONÍVEL.

A Neve Que Lhe Assola (Jeongyeon + Sana, TWICE) - DISPONÍVEL.

Body Bang (Harvey + Maya, XG) - INDISPONÍVEL.

Loucuras Feitas Por Amor (Momo + Sana, TWICE) - INDISPONÍVEL.

Água de Coco (Julie + Belle, KIOF) - INDISPONÍVEL.

Cho Miyeon, Você Cantaria Para Mim? (Miyeon + Minnie, (G)-IDLE) DISPONÍVEL.

I Wonder If You Hurt Like Me (Ningning + Winter, AESPA) INDISPONÍVEL.

Gone With The Wind (Julie + Soyeon, KIOF G-IDLE) DISPONÍVEL.

Meu Deus, É Um Encontro! (Sohyun + Xinyu, TRIPLE S) INDISPONÍVEL.

A Rua Em Que Andamos (Moonbyul + Wheein, MAMAMOO) INDISPONÍVEL.

Valeu A Pena? (Hyeju + Gowoon, LOOSSEMBLE) DISPONÍVEL.

Boiando No Amor (Belle + Haneul, KIOF) INDISPONÍVEL.

Ugh... Jayun! (Yoon + Sieun, STAYC) INDISPONÍVEL.

Seu Mundo É O Meu Mundo (Yel + Riina, H1-KEY) DISPONÍVEL.

Sensations Of The Year (Ina + Emma, BADVILLAIN) INDISPONÍVEL.

Saindo Do Armário (Hyori, MIMIIROSE) INDISPONÍVEL.

Na Palma Da Minha Mão (Hwasa + Solar, MAMAMOO) DISPONIVEL. Collab: @maluyoongi

Face Eyes Body Go Wild (Lisa + Jisoo, BLACKPINK) DISPONÍVEL. Collab: @maluyoongi

[welcometoteyvat]

things i personally would like for ga-ming because i'm biased:

him and yun jin as long distance friends/acquaintances; for one they're the two poster children of liyue traditional performing arts, and for another they both seem to like tea. i hope yun jin teaches him how to get more customers/paying clients bc OTL mans lion dance troupe is struggling. hc that gaming brings her new tea shipments fresh from yilong port/chenyu vale :3

him and chongyun. somehow fandom (ie at least 3 ppl) has collectively had the same delusion that he and cy will interact and im here for it. them vying for xiao's attention or being claymore training buddies or whatever i just need them to have voicelines together

on a similar note if gaming likes spicy food. HAHAHAHA another person who triggers chongyun's yang energy...........

but from what we know of xinyue kiosk's cuisine style + the fact that gaming's canto, it seems unlikely that he'll prefer spicy stuff (maybe a seafood special dish????). so maybe they'll be ok having dinner together

they already look like they're plugging gaming and xiao interaction but IT WILL COME TRUE. TRUST. the whole "donning/taking off a mask" parallel, lion dances bringing good luck vs xiao's task of subduing evil during lantern rite, and his concept art waving at xiao and calling him senior/adeptus or whatever, anyways I need this to be in game. it would be SO FUN because this means xiao is literally just collecting pyro kids (hu tao, xiangling, now gaming) who've simply decided to like him. he could bring a lantern rite performance to wangshu inn since he travels anyway and xiao doesn't like the crowds

xiangling gives him free food and guoba likes him. don't have much thought behind this one i just want the pyro users to hang out and idk lion dancers should get free things i think. she provides cabbages for him during his shows (she swears on this kind of thing for wanmin's good luck and growing fortunes)

idk what else. i just need him to get integrated into liyue 6ang (xinyan xiangling hu tao chongyun xingqiu yun jin group)

i'll be thoroughly shocked if any of these actually come true but i can daydream

[sociologyonthemove]

Connecting and Isolating: The Dual Role of Mobile Technology and IoT in Urban Life by Xinyu Lu

At four in the afternoon, I began my leisurely stroll in front of John Lewis along The Hayes. The sunlight, gentle and generous, spilled across the ancient street, paving a golden path that seemed to beckon me to explore the city. In my hand, the smartphone appeared as a key to the city's secrets; I activated it to check the time, then summoned the map app to review the locations and operating hours of various shops before turning off the screen. As I lifted my gaze, I found myself locking eyes with an Uber Eats delivery rider. He had parked his bicycle securely against the exterior of the Cardiff Central Library, his head bowed as he deftly navigated his smartphone. His focus was intense, perhaps confirming the next route on his navigation or checking the details of an order. After about two minutes, having gathered all the necessary information, he swiftly mounted his bicycle and rode off into the city's clamour, continuing his delivery journey.

I have settled in this city for over two years now, gradually becoming a devoted user of food delivery platforms, often opting for this convenience to save on travel time or to avoid the complexity of cooking. In this digital world, a plethora of dining options and enticing discounts are merely a tap away. As noted by Chen(et al. 2022), for those whose time is a costly commodity, opting for food delivery can eliminate the inefficiencies of waiting in restaurants, allowing them to devote their precious moments to more productive pursuits. Food delivery has become a microcosm of the city’s relentless pace. Ledford (2007) points out that as the city expands, innovation must accelerate to sustain population growth, necessitating that urban dwellers quicken the rhythm of their daily lives to accomplish more. Yet, amidst this swift flow, I have also witnessed moments of slow living. At the entrance of a bar, two middle-aged women wearing sunglasses bask in the gentle evening sun, occasionally leaning in to catch each other's whispers against the clamour of the busy streets, as if pushing the surrounding noise away, pausing time in that very moment. Their contented smiles seem to convey a message, echoing Parkins (2004, cited in Shang et al. 2020), that ‘slow’ becomes an answer to ‘fast’, transforming into a longing for meaningful moments. In this corner of the city, various paces of life intricately weave together in the same fabric of time.

I stride through the crowd, brushing past a kaleidoscope of passersby, merging and parting in the same breath. A girl with headphones lightly presses her phone against her cheek, smiling as she speaks. Meanwhile, a young man with large strides, his ears enveloped in music from over-ear headphones, hurries across the intersection, a messenger bag slung across his back. Coming towards me, a mother and her son catch my eye: the boy clutches his phone, maintaining a distance from his mother who is anxiously engaged in a phone call. Realizing the gap, the mother tries to bridge it, gently tugging at the boy's shoulder. This scene stirs a deep sense of loneliness within me, as if the city's air is threaded with invisible lines weaving through the crowd, connecting distant souls while simultaneously isolating those side by side. On this street, we speak into the unseen microphones of our phones as if whispering to ourselves. We share intimacies with the air, seemingly indifferent to who might hear our voices or the intricacies of our surroundings (Turkle 2017 p.16). The web of network signals has enveloped the entire world, and standing on the fringes of this city, I ponder whether the entanglement of technology brings us closer together or pulls us further apart.

Since 1882, the Duck of Wellington pub has stood within a landmark red-brick edifice. As a stranger in these parts, I often capture these region-specific scenes on my phone, sharing this distant charm with loved ones who have never left home. At the entrance, I notice a couple capturing memories with a selfie in front of the pub. In my interactions with this city, mobile devices act as invisible extensions of my body, expanding my sensory boundaries and swiftly bridging geographical divides through the magic of communication technology, facilitating an instantaneous sharing. Photographs become precious memory cues that awaken and preserve our experiences (Henkel 2014 p. 396, cited in Deocampo & Hudson, 2003; Hudson & Fivush, 1991; Koutstaal, Schacter, Johnson, Angell, & Gross, 1998; Koutstaal, Schacter, Johnson, & Galluccio, 1999; Schacter, Koutstaal, Johnson, Gross, & Angell, 1997; St. Jacques & Schacter, 2013). The calls of seagulls and pigeons intertwine in the air, blending with the wafting aromas from the restaurants and pubs along the street. The scents of coffee, fresh Vietnamese noodles, the malty fragrance of bread, and the rich cheese of pizzas weave together in the air, creating a sensory tapestry that no camera can capture.

As I wandered into the Market, threading through its narrow passageways, I took a deep breath, seeking respite from the pungent fish scent wafting from the entrance. My eyes then caught the hanging signs above the shops, especially one named "The Flower Chapter," its sign adorned with Instagram and Facebook handles, alongside a phone number and a website link. Rounding the corner of this shop, I came upon a closed storefront, yet three flyers left on a table still offered a way to connect, providing social media contacts and other methods of communication. This piqued my curiosity about the shop and showed me how to reach out to them.

As the day’s commerce wound down, the rich aromas of food slowly dissipated, and the bustling sounds of trade softened. The shops seemed to fold into themselves, transforming into mere business cards, becoming threads weaving through the digital realm, continuously spreading in a parallel universe of information. Social media has utterly transformed how businesses connect with the market and society, opening a new world filled with possibilities and challenges. Indeed, social media has become an indispensable part of the modern network of relationships (Aral et al. 2013 p. 3). Passing by "Kreme of Cardiff," the sign indicating temporary closure still hung in its place, the shop veiled under a grey cloak of silence amidst the noisy marketplace. Regrettably, apart from the sign of temporary closure, I found no further information.

Around five in the afternoon, as I crossed Trinity Street and approached the junction of St John Street and Working Street, a slightly panicked shopkeeper stood at the threshold of a small goods store, peering anxiously outward. Through the glass, I could see the darkness inside; the lights had all gone out. As the shopkeeper turned back into the gloomy interior, his voice faintly echoed through the dim space, "Our cash register system has stopped working, we cannot proceed with checkouts, but feel free to continue browsing." With the power outage severing the lifelines of communication technology and internet-supported services, the craft store was thrust into a sudden stillness. Though some shops were still able to manually record transactions and accept cash, this did little to soothe my panic. During my years in Britain, I had scarcely carried cash, relying mostly on smartphone payments and credit cards. As technology advanced at a breathtaking pace, even my grandparents had started using QR codes to trade vegetables at village markets in China. The efficiency of market transactions relies heavily on the fluidity of payment systems (Blommestein and Summers 1994 p. 15). Now, with the payment systems halted, the economic activity of most shops was frozen. The once bustling commercial street resembled a guitar whose strings had snapped mid-play, plunging into silence. On both sides of the street, shop workers popped their heads out, eager to grasp what had happened.

This sudden blackout shattered my usual expectations of urban order as I stood at a crossroads near the castle, gazing at the traffic lights that had ceased their blinking guidance. Vehicles moved cautiously, inching forward, while I, without the guidance of light, anxiously navigated through the slowly moving stream of cars. As technology evolved, traffic control at intersections became increasingly flexible. The Internet of Things plays a crucial role in the fabric of smart cities, where communication and collaboration between vehicles introduce innovative technologies and applications to the intelligent traffic systems (Ni et al. 2017 p. 339). The smart city, like an invisible breeze, only truly made its presence felt when everything came to a standstill due to the outage. I relished this convenience and had grown accustomed to this new order, yet the sudden power failure stirred ripples through my complacency. Behind the routine operation of the traffic system, numerous devices continuously gather data to support all this, applying the information in various ways to manage the city—predicting traffic congestion, adjusting traffic lights, or optimizing traffic flow (Fernández-Ares 2017 p. 164). Nearby, a bus stop sign was submerged in darkness, as if forgotten by time, yet the transit app on my phone still displayed precise synchrony, providing me with a sense of order and safety. In this moment of pause, the city's arteries were revealed, subtly and profoundly linking technology with daily life.

Crossing the shadows of an ancient castle, I entered the verdant fringes of Bute Park. In the soft glow of the setting sun, layers of trees cast dancing shadows upon the path, stirred by a gentle breeze. The park's gate stood as a portal to a secret realm, where time seemed to slow its pace and ushered me into another dimension. On the grass, people gathered or dispersed, basking in the warm sunlight and the freshness of the air. A lively black dog frolicked freely along the path, joyously chasing a ball tossed by its golden retriever's owner—a lady with a gentle smile, watching the dogs play with tender eyes. Beside her, the black dog's owner, engrossed in his phone, suddenly realized his pet had fallen behind and turned to call it back. Near a grand tree, pedestrians paused, raising their phones to capture the agile squirrels leaping between branches. Nearby, a young woman shared the moment's beauty through a video call on her phone. Signs of CCTV were ubiquitous along the street, reminding me of the invisible net of surveillance covering every corner of the city. Facing personal cameras, I truly felt the reality of being watched and a longing for privacy. The surveillance system, a subtle presence woven into the urban fabric, transfers real-time or recorded video data across various devices (Troisi et al., 2022, p. 74). Vast data and artificial intelligence algorithms actively track and analyse emergencies, disasters, or criminal activities, providing essential information and resources for response (Troisi et al., 2022, p. 78). This granted me, once a solitary wanderer on the darkened streets at night, a profound sense of security; the presence of surveillance systems served as a deterrent to criminal activities.

Stepping out of the embrace of Bute Park, I soon found myself approaching the Glamorgan Building. In contrast to the bustling city centre, the surroundings of the academic structures were bathed in the tranquillity of the evening, where even during peak commuting hours, a serene hush prevailed. This quietude drew my attention to the subtle sounds around me—the gentle scrape of bicycle tires against the pavement, the whisper of clothing rustling in the breeze. Traveling along College Road to reach Park Place, the atmosphere shifted noticeably. Here, the streets thrummed with the vibrant energy of academic life, teeming with students navigating their way through the clustered array of colleges. Back in my first year, I relied on Google Maps to decipher the scattered layout of these institutions and to chart the most efficient paths for my daily commutes. Across from the Main Building, inside a Greggs store, several patrons—mostly students—were nestled in corners, their fingers dancing across laptop keyboards, seamlessly blending nourishment with study or work. The use of information and communication technology has transcended traditional boundaries of when and where work is conducted, expanding both time and spatial dimensions (Towers et al. 2006, p.593). Mobile devices enable us to interact with various locales across vastly different realities (Towers et al. 2006, p.597). They effectively dissolve the barriers of workspaces and introduce fluidity into urban rhythms and spaces. This expansion has ushered the challenges of balancing work and life into the public consciousness, redefining how we engage with our urban environment.

Methodological Note

Walking has become my unique way to explore the city, as I weave through its bustling streets, perceiving the world in a state of contemplative silence. Drawing upon what Mills (1959) termed the "sociological imagination," I link my personal experiences of meandering through urban landscapes with broader societal phenomena (Rose, 2020, p. 215). In this paper, I narrate an integration of observation and personal introspection, exploring how mobile devices and the Internet of Things invisibly weave into the fabric of urban living. This inquiry not only addresses how efficiency and connectivity shape the frenetic pace of city life but also examines the dual impact of digital connectivity on enhancing interpersonal closeness and protecting personal privacy. Springgay (2018, p. 4) outlines four central themes of walking research: place, sensory inquiry, embodied experience, and rhythm. By selecting routes of daily commutes, my study spans multiple settings—from shopping centres to markets, from parks to campuses—linking walking with place, and bridging the body with environment and locality. This mobile experience activates hidden technological traces within the environment, examining how communication technologies and the Internet of Things function in interactions among people and between people and their surroundings. Throughout my observations and engagements, I document this journey through photographs, field notes, and sketches of my walks (Rose, 2020, p. 215). These records emphasize sounds and scents, encapsulating emotions, movements, and memories, thus enriching and deepening walking as a research practice (Bates and Rhys-Taylor, 2017, p. 2).

My walks through the city began not merely as strolls but as quests to unearth the hidden veins of mobile technology and the Internet of Things entwined within the urban fabric, contemplating how they reshape the lifestyles of city dwellers and the interplay between agency and passivity that emerges. Beyond merely excavating the technological forces driving urban infrastructure—such as the Internet of Things, a network of interconnected devices communicating and exchanging data (Graham, 2023, p. 4), which underpins intelligent systems like smart traffic operations—this exploration also delves into the varied technological choices. I scrutinize the disparities in social media engagement among different stores, the choices between online and offline social interactions among diverse groups, and the potential inequalities engendered by technology in urban living. Those without access to digital resources find themselves at a disadvantage in a world where mobile devices gatekeep vital information (Wessels, 2013, p. 25). Rhythm analysis emerges as a profound tool for perceiving and understanding the cadences of daily life across different locales and scales (Lyon, 2020, p. 122), serving as my primary method to analyse the interrelations between technology and urban life, and the interactions between people and their environments. Through my walks, I engage the senses to reveal the city's concealed technological narratives, while rhythm analysis connects these insights to shifts in contemporary lifestyles, setting the stage for further discourse.

References

Aral, S., Dellarocas, C. and Godes, D. 2013. Introduction to the Special Issue: Social Media and Business Transformation: A Framework for Research. Information Systems Research 24(1), pp. 3–13.

Bates, C. and Rhys-Taylor, A. 2017. Introduction: Finding Our Feet. In: Walking through social research. New York: Routledge. pp. 1-11.

Blommestein, H. J. and Summers, B. 1994. Banking and the Payment System. In: Summers, B. The Payment System :  Design, Management, and Supervision. Washington, D.C: International Monetary Fund. pp. 15-28.

Chen, M., Hu, M. and Wang, J. 2022. Food Delivery Service and Restaurant: Friend or Foe? Management science 68(9), pp. 6539–6551.

Fernández-Ares, A. et al. 2017. Studying real traffic and mobility scenarios for a Smart City using a new monitoring and tracking system. Future generation computer systems 76, pp. 163–179.

Graham, D. 2023. Introduction to Smart Cities. In: Integrated Electronic Payment Technologies for Smart Cities. 2023. Cham: Springer International Publishing. pp. 1-12.

Henkel, L.A. 2014. Point-and-Shoot Memories: The Influence of Taking Photos on Memory for a Museum Tour. Psychological Science 25(2), pp. 396–402.

Ledford, H. 2007. Big cities need a fast-paced life to grow. Nature.

Lyon, D. 2020. Sensing rhythm. In: Mundane Methods. Manchester, England: Manchester University Press.

Ni, W., Wu, W. and Li, K. 2017. A message efficient intersection control algorithm for intelligent transportation in smart cities. Future generation computer systems 76, pp. 339–349.

Rose, M. 2020. Pedestrian practices: Walking from the mundane to the marvellous. In: Holmes, H. and Hall, S. M. Mundane methods: innovative ways to research the everyday. Manchester, England: Manchester University Press. pp. 211-229.

Shang, W., Qiao, G. and Chen, N. 2020. Tourist experience of slow tourism: from authenticity to place attachment – a mixed-method study based on the case of slow city in China. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research 25(2), pp. 170–188.

Springgay, S. 2018. Introduction. In: Walking Methodologies in a More-than-human World: WalkingLab. Routledge, Taylor and Francis. pp. 1-16.

Towers, I., Duxbury, L., Higgins, C. and Thomas, J. 2006. Time thieves and space invaders: technology, work and the organization. Journal of Organizational Change Management, suppl. Space and Time and Organisation Change 19(5), pp. 593–618.

Troisi, O., Kashef, M. and Visvizi, A. 2022. Managing Safety and Security in the Smart City: Covid-19, Emergencies and Smart Surveillance. In: Visvizi, A. and Troisi, O. eds. Managing Smart Cities: Sustainability and Resilience Through Effective Management. Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 73–88.

Turkle, S. 2017. Alone together : why we expect more from technology and less from each other. Third edition. New York: Basic Books.

Wessels, B. 2013. The reproduction and reconfiguration of inequality: Differentiation and class, status and power in th dynamics of digital divides. In: Ragnedda, M. and Muschert, G.W. The Digital Divide : The Internet and Social Inequality in International Perspective. Oxford, UNITED KINGDOM: Taylor & Francis Group. pp. 17-28.

[tonin-terets]

TikTok LIVE - Promotion Video - GamingOnAir from Anchor on Vimeo.

To celebrate TikTok incredibly passionate gaming community and all the exciting gaming industry moments throughout the month April, TikTok launches #GamingOnAir event to educate users on how to level up your rewards through the #GamingOnAir Event page.

Client: TikTok

Scriptwriter: TikTok

Producer: Larry Lim

Animation Lead: Chan Xinyu

Storyboards: Chan Xin Yu, Lydia Fransisca

Illustration Design:Lydia Fransisca, Chan Xin Yu, Evelyn Hendry, Intan Permatasari Khengdro

Animators: Jin Xian, Chan Xin Yu, Evelyn Hendry, Lydia Fransisca

Sound Design: Mark Toh

[mamunur51]

The demands supported are:

Let Meitu Xiuxiu stop infringement and set the interactive action parameters that trigger user jumps in compliance with regulations (acceleration is not less than HE Tuber 15m/s², rotation angle is not less than 35°, and operation time is not less than 3s).

The company compensated Zhang Xinyue’s data traffic loss of 1 yuan .

The court held that according to relevant industry standards, apps should ensure that users do not mislead or force jumps when users are walking, riding in cars, picking up and putting down mobile smart terminals, etc. in daily life, unless the user actively triggers the jump.

The video evidence submitted by Zhang Xinyue showed that Meituan Xiuxiu jumped to the shopping app while she was walking and sitting down.

Therefore, "Meitu Xiuxiu" has related behaviors of deception, misleading, and forced clicks, which infringes on the right of independent choice.

Zhang Xinyue proposed to cancel Meitu Xiuxiu’s “shake” advertising format, but the court rejected it. Because there are no industry regulations that clearly prohibit shake advertising.

At the same time, the mobile phone sensor information is not sensitive personal information, and the use of this information does not require individual consent. Meitu Xiuxiu has not violated the security of Zhang Xinyue’s personal information.

Looking at it this way, the lawsuit is won, but not much. How about the deterrent effect on the bandits ? I don't feel like there's much.

For example, the negative reviews are just a hindsight. This verdict was issued in April last year, but during last year’s 618 and Double Eleven, everyone still remembers how rampant the Shake ads were.

Regarding this matter, I also consulted a lawyer friend and a doctor of law. Let me sum it up: it is still difficult to cure the problem.

First of all, our country is a civil law system, and the source of law is laws and regulations, not precedents. Judges cannot cite historical judgments when making decisions.

Although the Supreme Court regularly issues some guiding cases, which are mandatory, similar cases with similar facts should generally follow the guiding cases.

But this case is an ordinary case and a reference case.

Everyone knows what "reference" means. If you don't understand, look at the instant noodles packaging.

Therefore, even if there is this case, how to decide subsequent similar cases mainly depends on what other judges think.

To put it to the extreme, if there is a 99% similar case later, in the hands of others, there may be another way of judgment.

One advantage of such cases is that lawyers can submit them to the court to set a certain example. Because now we are pursuing the same judgment for similar cases and the same judgment for similar cases, but there is no coercive force.

The above is the first point. Your rights protection may not be successful.

The second point is that the cost of safeguarding rights is too high.

The greatest cost of prosecution is time and energy.

For example, during the filing stage, the court will find a way to mediate your case, which will take a long time.

In addition, the prosecution process is also very complicated.

Zhang Xinyue in the above case is a law student, and she is very familiar with this process. But for us, just getting started makes you give up.

In 2022, courts across the country accepted a total of 33.723 million cases, of which 75% did not involve lawyers. In other words, when most people sue, they can only write materials, negotiate, litigate, and argue in court alone to complete a whole set of processes. Even if you spend money to hire a lawyer, there are still various problems waiting for you, such as it is too difficult to file a case.

The required materials are too complex, and if the case is difficult to handle, the case closure rate will be affected, and the case will be "stuck" and the court will not be held for six months to one year after the case is filed. For example, this lawyer friend I consulted had a case that he couldn't close for half a year.

Therefore, we ordinary people actually have no energy to go to court to litigate for "Shake Up Advertisement" to protect our rights.

Of course, I am not saying that if it is difficult to maintain, we should not maintain it.

Like the case mentioned at the beginning of the article, what is more important is actually its declarative significance. You see, she only claimed 1 yuan. She was not seeking any benefit, but was safeguarding her rights and pursuing justice.

This has a very positive impact on society, not only helping to defend the effectiveness of the law, but also encouraging everyone to fight for their rights.

You see, without this case, there would not be today's hot search for " App redirecting ads without consent is suspected of being illegal ", and everyone would not see that a society governed by the rule of law is still - "the evil does not prevail over the good"!

To be honest, I have written the ShakeShae commercial several times, and I am already tired of it.

As long as it is triggered by "shaking it", not many people will object. The key is that it is not at all, it is more sensitive than bombs.

From the perspective of these apps, if I tap the little black fat guy on the shoulder and the little black fat guy’s flesh shakes, they will also say: The little black fat guy shakes! Shake it!

You may be curious about this kind of advertisement that users do not actively click on. It has no conversion, so why are people still investing in it?

I think there are two points.

One, the promotion department and the operation department of many large companies are separate, and each is in charge of its own business. The promotion department only needs to complete their own KPIs. The more jumps, the happier they will be.

As for the low conversion rate, that is a matter for other departments.

Another reason is that some small businesses have no experience and have been cheated by the platform.

I have observed some advertisements that are easy to accidentally touch. Many of them are small and medium-sized businesses selling snacks and daily necessities.

A friend who works in e-commerce told me that it is not the merchants who want to place such ads, but the platform that encourages them to enable off-site advertising and place open-screen ads in other apps. Although it is in another app, the platform can charge promotion service fees or gain traffic exposure, which can also benefit.

So the victims of this kind of advertising are not only consumers, but also businesses.

Back to the matter itself.

From the previous rumors of "Apple cracking down" to today's "Jumping ads without consent is suspected of being illegal", these topics have become hot searches as soon as they come out, obviously because————

Everyone was numbed by the shake advertisement.

Although now, some mobile phone manufacturers have launched some functions such as sensor permission management, which allow us to deal with it reluctantly. But in the final analysis, this is the last resort, a kind of "can't you avoid it if you can't fight it?"

The current situation is that everyone is holding their heads up, hoping that an unparalleled hero will appear and take good care of these bandits. So whenever there is any disturbance, everyone will click in and take a look.

Although, we have been waiting for this day for a long time, and if you don’t like to hear it, we may still be waiting for this day.

But I believe that as long as more people stand up to defend their rights, the sooner this day will come.

Pictures and data sources :

China Youth Daily WeChat official account: A college student sued Meitu Xiuxiu for randomly jumping on "Shake", and the court awarded 1 yuan in compensation!

CCTV’s Weibo: “I answered the phone and my phone almost bought me a computer.”

Southern Metropolis Daily: Is it annoying to accidentally touch the "Shake" to open the screen advertisement? Wuhan University student sued Meitu Xiuxiu and was awarded 1 yuan in compensation

Thanks to the lawyers and legal scholar friends who provided help.

[sailorjisunq]

oi amor voce poderia fazer users da xinyu ou da sohyun (triples) por favor 🪻

aqui tem um post da sohyun amg 😊

[generation24]

hii can u make triples' xinyu + hyeju or heejin users? plss🥹

hyeyu

hyexin

yuhye

heexin

xinjin

jinzhou

heezhou

jinjuxin

don’t forget to credit © generation24

like if saving

[baeksu-krp]

Nome: Liu Xinyue Faceclaim: Zhao Lusi, Atriz Data de nascimento e idade: 09.11.1997 — 26 anos Gênero: Feminino Etnia e nacionalidade: Chinesa, China

Moradia: Yongsan-gu Ocupação: Bartender, 1987 Rooftop and Lounge Qualidades: Calorosa, Determinada Defeitos: Orgulhosa, Impulsiva User: @bks_xinyue

TW: Menção a acidente fatal, morte

Poucas coisas foram tão significativas para os Liu quanto a espera do primeiro filho, um desejo adiado por mais de uma década em prol do bem estar da família recém-formada. O jovem casal, igualmente apaixonado e ambicioso, decidiu trabalhar incansavelmente até conseguir recursos suficientes para colocar os sonhos em prática, iniciando a construção de Nuage, a pâtisserie, com o apoio de amigos próximos e familiares. A aposta foi um tiro no escuro, exigindo o investimento de todas as economias que acumularam ao longo do tempo. Felizmente, cinco anos após a data de abertura, estariam brindando em comemoração à abertura de uma nova franquia, numa região nobre em Hangzhou.

Aquela seria a primeira vez em que a família experimentava a sensação de estabilidade, um descanso merecido após tantos sacrifícios pessoais. Seguros de que conseguiriam proporcionar uma boa velhice aos pais, os Liu finalmente entenderam que seria o momento de se permitir realizar alguns luxos, começando por uma viagem em família, que agora contava com uma nova integrante: Liu Xinyue. A escolha de Seoul como local de destino se deu por uma junção de fatores, mas o desejo de aproveitar o crescimento econômico local para expandir as fronteiras da pâtisserie era um grande motivador. Assim, fizeram as malas e partiram, nutrindo um carinho em particular pela capital após conquistarem contatos importantes no ramo.

Em um gesto de apoio, mesmo diante das incertezas, os avós de Xinyue tomaram a iniciativa de encarar o desafio e fazer morada no novo país, assumindo os cuidados da neta para que o casal pudesse focar exclusivamente em deixar o patrimônio encaminhado na China. A partir dali, Xinyue ficou sob seus cuidados, crescendo influenciada pela cultura sul-coreana e retornando à Chengdu somente em período de férias. Da infância à adolescência, o contato com os pais estava restrito à chamadas telefônicas e encontros periódicos, até que, ao completar 18 anos, o avião em que estavam desapareceu no oceano sem deixar rastros. Anos depois, encontrariam apenas pequenas peças da aeronave, sem um sucesso considerável na busca por respostas. O caso foi arquivado e encerrado sem maiores detalhes.

Lidar com a perda, especialmente sem um desfecho, não foi fácil. Dois meses depois, a vida parecia estar voltando aos trilhos, mas a dor era tamanha que, antes mesmo de Xinyue notar, o trauma se encarregou de resolver por conta própria, apagando as memórias de infância quase completamente, junto com uma boa parcela da imagem dos pais. Xinyue beirava o desespero temendo esquecer o cheiro do perfume, o som das risadas, o calor do toque... pequenos detalhes que guardou como se fossem pedaços seus. E no fim, até o medo foi apagado. Aquelas memórias perdidas nunca voltaram, mas aos poucos, entre um registro e outro, Xinyue foi encontrando forças para seguir em frente, determinada a tornar sua própria vida na maior homenagem que poderia fazer para ambos. Essa seria sua promessa.

Visando recuperar a liderança da pâtisserie para os Liu, Xinyue resolveu cursar administração e se graduou em 2021. Reconhece que ainda precisará estudar bastante até que possa participar dos negócios, e para tal, conta com o apoio dos sócios que se responsabilizaram na ausência de seus pais, sempre dispostos a guiá-la pelos melhores caminhos. Ciente da sorte de ser amparada por pessoas boas em um momento tão crítico, decidiu que agarraria a oportunidade e se recusou até mesmo a tocar em qualquer centavo da empresa, aplicando para diversas vagas de emprego na intenção de juntar uma boa quantia para investir na formação por conta própria. Foi assim que conquistou a vaga de bartender no 1987, seu primeiro emprego, onde permanece há dois anos.

Durante o dia, quando não está trabalhando, Xinyue está dando assistência aos avós na nova moradia em Yongsan-gu ou fazendo algum curso em específico para acrescentar ao currículo. Embora tenha planos de atuar na área de formação, está confortável com os rumos que a vida tomou e planeja seguir assim por mais algum tempo. Enquanto isso, nas horas vagas, busca replicar as receitas de maior sucesso da Nuage, mas é como se o azar caminhasse bem ao lado, fazendo com que a Liu falhe miseravelmente em boa parte das vezes. Talvez tenha sorte em algum momento? Talvez a culinária seja seu maior pesadelo? Talvez ela seja o problema? Xinyue até cansou de se perguntar, só faz as receitas e tira a sorte pra tentar encontrar cobaias corajosos que a ajudem nessa missão. De toda forma, independente das circunstâncias, seguirá tentando se aproximar do sonho daqueles que a trouxeram a esse mundo para honrar o nome que recebeu. “Fortuna” e “lua”. Os mesmos amuletos que seus pais usavam no dia da inauguração.

OOC: +18 Triggers: N/A Temas de interesse: Todos

[eternxlstar-archive]

@mathcs​ like for a starter from lumine

;; ~ It was one of those peaceful days. Barbara, Shenhe, Lumine, Keqing, and Ganyu ended up meeting one another for a friendly get-together. Though it was never anticipated that in this so-called get-together they would end up in one of the strangest problems ever. Keqing as the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing found herself putting together a nice lunch at the Xinyue Kiosk.

Ganyu who was working on Lady Ning’s paperwork ended up finishing early and was allowed to leave for a lunch break. The traveler and Barbara entered Liyue only to be stopped by Millelith whom bowed their heads and asked for both to meet lady Keqing at the said location. This of course left Shenhe, the misunderstood Cyro user whom was walking around Liyue at the time to bring back food to her teacher, the one and only cloud chaser only to be asked to show up, just as the others had.

Each found themselves being asked to head to the well-known and famous restaurant in all of Liyue. Once they all showed up however Each took a seat and greeted the Yuheng. They all enjoyed a wonderful meal together talking about certain ideas and rumors they heard all across Tyvat. Though their fun, however, was short-lived. A stranger about the height of Ganyu ended up walking up to the group and interrupted their conversation.

They insistently begged for the girl’s help, a child who was barely the height of the chair the Traveler sat in, was kidnapped by a group of treasure hoarders, they held the girl in a cage made of bamboo just on the outskirts of the city of contracts. And despite this being a time of leisure and fun. The traveler agreed to help, Treasure hoarders were the worst of the worst and they refused to sit back and watch a young child be captive.

Lumine made her way to the location. though when they got there something extremely strange happened, there as no treasure thief’s, there wasn’t even a girl in a cage it was all .. just blank canvas world.  A strange portal Appeared behind them blocking the way out. “the Child stood behind her before transforming into a hillchirl..”

“Magic!... Oh no.. Paimon It’s a trap!” Lumine called out before a bright light filled the area, blinding the Female from her floating companion at this point.

A terrible shaking began to commence as the hero soon found herself vanishing. Lumine vision blacked out and the spinning feeling began to replace everything before finding themselves Outcold.  Unsure about where or what was happening. 

[jeriafterdark]

813, The Reprise, - Part 6/? - ZHANG ZHEHAN SPEAKS

Masterpost here

Everyone, it's New Year's Eve for me, New Years for fellows across the ocean. Uncle Li has posted an audio interview of him speaking to ZZH, giving him opportunity to refute all that's happened. I'm not sure if there are more, but this is the first one. Thank you to all the twitter translators that I will be citing down below:

TW: suicide, long post

I cut down part of LXZ, Uncle Li's, introduction to make it fit onto tumblr:

Source on Weibo

From this twitter user and this twitter user:

I cleaned up the text and grammar a bit-

Uncle: I want to ask you, about your incident, from CAPA boycotting and punishing you, it’s been 4 months. Because of my suspicions of CAPA, it's created a lot of discussion. We believe you have been framed, but we want a sincere and honest answer from you as well. In 2018, when you went to Japan, the jgss photo, the background, is that jgss?

ZZH: I can say definitively that it is NOT jgss [OP note: I think this refers to Yasukuni Shrine’s worshipping hall?]. Because at that time, I went to Japan with friends to see the sakura [blooms] during sakura season. The itinerary was arranged by my friend. We were just walking and taking pics of sakura as we walked. I am very sure that the background of my photo is not jgss, and I never entered jgss. Never visited, even more, have never worshipped. What was posted online were rumours. And I believe the public, after knowing the truth, will be able to come to a good conclusion.

Uncle: That's good. This time, you have gotten the support of many legal workers, so many people are willing to help you. Everyone thinks they aren't just helping you alone, they feel this is not correct. You are a chinese citizen, you went to japan once, just because of one photo, they called you a traitor, a spy, this is too overboard. We can't not mention your incident when we bring up the problems with capa. Now there is another photo that incited some controversy, the one of you with Lady Dewi. I've checked, lady dewi, she is not anti-chinese. This is my feeling - she has never insulted the chinese. Since she is Japanese, I can't be sure. But I have found out that Lady Dewi has taken photos with our premier Zhou Enlai. When you were at your friend's wedding and took photos with this person, do you know what were the motivations for it? Did you know her or understand her?

ZZH: At that time it was my friend's wedding, my friend introduced her to me as an entertainer/artist in Japan. My friend also knew I was an artist in China. So he suggested, would you take a photo with this elderly lady? So for me, because I’ve been brought up in this tradition of respecting the elderly, I agreed to take a photo with her. Actually i don't know her at all, I have no way of communicating with her. So I had no understanding of her, I didn't know her at all. And because I’m born and bred in Xinyu, Jiangxi, both my mother and father are party members, I grew up in the embrace of the party and the motherland. Actually towards jgss and such things, I went to japan simply for a holiday, I absolutely did not care and did not want to know where jgss was. But because since childhood we have been educated on how the Japanese caused massive losses for us chinese in the war, I have always remembered our history. Even on my Weibo in the past, I've posted many times about how we must remember our country's history, protect our country's dignity.

Uncle: Yes, yes, loving the country, i have seen many of your posts.

Uncle: Ever since your mother has written that letter it has raised the attention of everyone. Through your mother (we) found out that this thing has brought a lot of cyberviolence on you. The cyberviolence, what were the most specific ones on you, could you tell us briefly?

ZZH: I entered a very panic-stricken/terrifying state, don't dare to go out, including my mom, (it) entered a very panic-stricken/terrifying state at home and a sort of self-doubt. (What I mean is), because I personally am a youth who is very patriotic (I feel). Then suddenly this thing/incident happened with people online scolding me "traitor/han jian",

including saying that my mom is the mistress of a Japanese [person], and saying my father is so-and-so. Actually my father passed away in 2016. (They) fabricated this sort of false information, and causing me to doubt myself. I lived in this terror, didn't dare to leave the house. My mom many times said, "What should I do, should I jump down from this floor and die, then I can prove my innocence." Sometimes I would also think, could it really be that only after I die or after I take my heart out for everyone to see, to prove that I'm a red heart (ie. patriotic) [heart is bleeding red/patriotism]. I was seriously/heavily doubting myself. Including people sending wreaths to the tea shop, I saw large amounts of people photoshopping deceased/funeral pictures, cursing my parents, cursing me. And our family also received investigations regarding their job posts, if my family had Japanese relatives etc, but the people in my family are all Chinese people. And (we) also don't have any relatives of foreign nationality. (We) are Jiangxi Xinyu people who were born and grew up in Xinyu.

Uncle: And also your parents are party members and your grandfather (maternal) is too, right?

ZZH: Yes.

Uncle: And also, I saw/read about your family relations, many of them are party members. Then at this sort of state like this, with (this kind) of public discussion/opinion and CAPA pinning/determining this problem on you, before resolving it through legal routes, I still hope that you'll stay strong. You must believe that our country is under the leadership of the CCP, is a socialist-ruled country, it will through the law understand this situation, the truth clearly, you have to believe the truth. Right? Because I've always not talked about (it) from your position/viewpoint, I'm solely calling for procedural justice. I also definitely believe that you also wish to have a chance to defend (yourself).

ZZH: Yes. I also believe in our country, believe in our motherland, believe in our party/ccp, believe our legal professionals (those in the legal industry), that they definitely will be able to give me an investigation chance including a chance for myself to defend myself, give a fair and just judgment.

Uncle: Today, I invited you, because there are so many lawyers, and I want you to see there are over 10 members from the NPC [National People’s Congress, gov. body] representing, they all wish they can speak to you face to face. Since online there are still a lot of disputes, we decided not to show your face, but to just have some real contact. I believe in the future, you will have a chance to be treated right by the law, you will pass the test of history, and will receive [fair] treatment. So we must believe that this era is wonderful, any country or era will have this kind of abnormal phenomenon. so when we run into problems, we must believe in ourselves, be strong (jianqiang), persist with our youth and life, this is the basis for solving all problems, if you don't have these, there is no meaning. We won't talk too much today, when the time is right, I will contact you again regarding judicial organizations, legal workers, who will discuss opinions on processing your case effectively, lawfully, and following proper legal procedures. Let more legal workers come into this case. Solving your case is not just for you alone. It's for all of the public, our citizens. It's a problem of our system of values, our worldview. So many people are waiting for the truth of this matter. We hope that the truth is beneficial to you. As long as you truthfully did not go to jgss. I have said many times, I am not standing on your side, I will not whitewash you, but I believe you have been framed. If in the end, after going through legal judgment, you have gone to jgss, then you must accept any punishment you get.

ZZH: I understand. Thank you li-laoshi for giving me the chance to speak and appeal. And thank you to the public, netizens, and people in the legal world who have been paying attention to this situation. I am willing to undergo investigation, willing to accept questioning. I hope my innocence can be restored.

Uncle: Ok, we believe justice and the truth will come.

OP notes so far: What a New Year's Eve. First, X-mas Eve had ZZH get his case accepted by the police, and now, we can finally hear his voice. He's been through so much, he sounds so calm. He's good at sounding calm, but the emotion always shows in his face. I'm a little glad Uncle Li decided to withhold it from view, I don't know if I could've looked at his face while he was describing all the awful things that have happened to him. I know that ZZH/Uncle Li have to stress that they are super patriotic and are only interested in a fair/just legal decision, so that's why it's so emphasized in each and every one of Uncle Li's posts. China expects utmost patriotism from its citizens. As an American, it's a bit removed from me, that kind of patriotism, but I keep that in mind that this is a necessary step for ZZH to clear his name. This is only the beginning, to a new 2022.

The sun is coming out, brighter and brighter

[dmbjexchange]

Rarepair Exchange Guidelines

With a great deal of thanks and appreciation to @10yearpromise for letting us use their guidelines and instructions here and on AO3!

~~~

Welcome to the DMBJ Rarepairs Exchange! This is a fic and art exchange for the fandom rarepairs, which we’re defining as any DMBJ ship which currently has less than 3% of DMBJ fic authors who have posted English-language fics for it on AO3.

In this exchange, participants will be anonymously matched to create gifts for one another during a two month creating period.

This exchange is open to all the DMBJ canons - if it’s DMBJ, then it’s eligible! It will take place on AO3, so you need an AO3 account to participate--if you don’t have one, you can request an invitation code here. If there isn’t enough time, no worries - contact the mods at dmbj.fic.exchange@gmail.com or here on tumblr (preferred) and we can send you an invitation!

Please read this post carefully before signing up.

Schedule

September 5: Signups open

September 11: Signups close

September 17: Assignments out

November 30: Assignments due

December 10: Fic and art reveals

December 17: Creator reveals & treats deadline

Guidelines

Your creation must focus on your recipient’s requested ship (or one or more of their requested ships, if they have nominated multiple ones). While unrequested background ships - including background ships which weren't eligible for Rarepair Exchange themselves - are fine (unless listed as a Do Not Want), the focused ship/s must be one or more of the requested ships. 1a. In polyamorous ships that comprise of a ship that would not be eligble on its own plus additional character/s, the focus of the requests and the works created for them must lie on the overall rarepair ship (for existing relationship works) or on addition of the new character/s, not on the non-eligible ship/s of the polycule (for example, a work created for a request of Baye/Zhang Qishan/Yin Xinyue must either focus on the three as a whole, or focus on Yin Xinyue becoming part of the relationship. The Baye/Zhang Qishan relationship must not be the focus).

You will be expected to create a gift matching your recipient’s request. Filling any specifying prompts is not obligatory, but try to create something you honestly think your recipient will enjoy!

You must not include anything that your recipient has listed as a DNW (Do Not Want).

The minimum requirements for the gifts are 300 words for fic or one sketch on unlined paper for art (traditional or digital; no manips).

After the matching is done, all the requests will be made visible to everyone to allow for treating! There are no minimum requirements for treats (but remember to mind your recipient’s do not wants!). You can also create manips and fanvids for treats.

This is an anonymous exchange: refrain from discussing your assignment in public. After the works are revealed, there'll be one week anon period when the creators remain anonymous before the creator reveals.

If at any point you need to drop out, just click on the “default” button on your AO3 assignment page (https://archiveofourown.org/users/YOURNAME/assignments); we’ll find a pinch hitter to create a gift for your recipient instead. If you need an extension to finish your gift, contact the mods before the deadline.

After the reveals, comment on your gift.

Most importantly: be excellent to each other!

Eligible Ships

An eligible ship for the Rarepair Exchange is any DMBJ ship which currently has less than 3% of DMBJ fic authors who have posted English-language fics for it on AO3. You can see how many authors are currently writing for each ship here.

For the 2022 exchange, this means that all DMBJ ships are eligible apart from the following:

* Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling * Hei Xiazi/Xie Yuchen * Wang Pangzi/Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling * Liu Sang/Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling * Wang Pangzi/Zhang Qiling * Baye/Zhang Rishan * Kan Jian/Liu Sang * Wang Pangzi/Wu Xie * Liang Wan/Zhang Rishan * Baye/Zhang Qishan * Er Yuehong/Zhang Qishan * Liu Sang/Wang Pangzi/Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling * Hei Xiazi/Huo Xiuxiu/Xie Yuchen * Liu Sang/Wu Xie * Liu Sang/Zhang Rishan * Wu Xie/Xie Yuchen

These ships are all covered by other exchanges, such as the @10yearpromise / @pingxie-exchange, HeiHua Exchange, and Small-Med Ships Exchange.

Sign-Up information

Sign-ups will take place here on AO3, starting on September 6th. There, you can fill out details about your request and offer. You can edit your sign-up at any time until the sign-ups close on September 12th.

When signing up, you will be able to choose fandom and genre tags, as well as specify any additional details.

You will have to select the DMBJ canon you’re interested in creating and receiving a gift in:

Novels: Daomu Biji / The Grave Robbers’ Chronicles (including spinoffs, side stories, and extras)

TV: The Lost Tomb 1

TV: The Lost Tomb 2 Explore with the Note

TV: The Lost Tomb 2.5 Heavenly Palace on the Clouds

TV: Ultimate Note

TV: Sha Hai (and spin off movies)

TV: The Lost Tomb Reboot/The Sound of Providence (and spin offs)

TV: The Mystic Nine (and spin off movies)

Movie: Time Raiders

If you’re interested in a canon that is not currently a tag on AO3, such as the South Sea Archives, Moonfall Echo, or the donghua, you can say in your request details that you would like something in one of these canons. Please be aware, though, that the more obscure your request, the harder it will be for your gifter.

This does not mean that you’re limited to requesting or creating a work during the canon timelines for those series/books. It’s just to mark which canons you’re familiar with to allow for easier matching: some participants might have a preference for a particular canon era, some might not be familiar with all the versions. You still have to choose your preferred canon eras even if you want to create or receive an AU.

You will also have to specify genres you’re interested in:

Action/Adventure

Angst

AU

Canon Compliant

Canon Divergent

Dark

Domesticity

Fluff

Humour

Crack

Hurt/Comfort

Porn With Plot (only select this if you’re 18+)

PWP (only select this if you’re 18+)

Request

In this section, you describe the gift you would like to receive.

Fandom - you have to choose at least one. If you’re willing to receive a gift in any canon era, you can just click “Any”!

Characters - you have to choose at least one character that you would like your gift to be about.

Relationships - you have to choose at least one rarepair that you would like your gifter to write / draw for you.

Genre/Additional Tags - you have to choose at least three tags.

Optional Details - here’s where you can go into more detail about your perfect exchange gift!

If you run out of slots in the Relationships section (there is a limit of 20), you can list additional potential rarepairs here. Also, if you don’t have a specific ship in mind, but would like any ship involving a particular character, you can say that instead (e.g. ‘Liu Sang / any’, ‘Pangzi / any’, etc.)

You can also include:

General Likes: your creator may, but doesn’t have to, include them. This isn’t a place for detailed prompts, just general themes you enjoy, like getting together or established relationship.

Please note that fics featuring QPRs, ace, and/or aro characters are absolutely valid things to request in a ship exchange. You may also request a fully platonic relationship if you wish.

DNW (Do Not Wants): things that your creator must not include - squicks, triggers, characters or things that you simply don’t like. Remember that you don’t owe anyone an explanation about why something is a DNW, and that DNW are not meant to be taken personally. Just list the things you don’t like, “DNW: X, Y.”

Prompts/specific ideas: if you have any prompts, you can also put them here! You can be as general or as detailed as you’d like, but remember that while your creator will try to make the best gift for you, filling a specific prompt is not obligatory. You can include a crossover prompt (with other DMBJ verse or other canons), but make sure it’s not the only prompt you have.

If you run out of space for your prompts, you can write a prompt post on another platform like Dreamwidth, Tumblr, GoogleDocs, etc. and put the link in your sign up.

If you chose novels as one of your fandoms, you can use this field to list the ones you’re familiar with, such as ‘Books 1-4′ , ‘main series only′, ‘main series + Southern Archives’, etc. If you're interested in receiving a Buried Tree Devil - Book 3 Donghua gift, you can also mention it here.

The requests will be made publicly visible after matching is done, so that others will be able to create treats (additional gifts) based on them!

Offer

Fandom - you have to choose at least one. If you can create works for any canon era, you can choose “Any”!

Characters - you have to choose at least one character you're willing to write about. If you're happy to write for any character, you can choose "Any".

Relationships - you have to choose at least one ship you're willing to write about. If you're happy to write for any ship, you can choose "Any".

Genre/Additional Tags - you have to choose at least three.

Optional Details - in this field, you can tell us more about the kind of works you like to create, for example if you really prefer established relationship, feel best with certain kinds of AUs, or like writing darkfic. We’ll take it into account when matching! By the same token, if there’s something you really don’t want to write, let us know here as well.

This includes any additional rarepairs and/or characters if you hit the 20 item limit abot, or relationship types that you particularly do or do not want to write for. If you list a preference about rarepairs / relationships to not for, we will endeavour to match you to a giftee who has not requested those things. If you do not specify a pairing to write or not write for, we will assume that you are okay with giving anything a shot!

If you chose novels as one of your fandoms, you can use this field to list the ones you’re familiar with, such as ‘Books 1-4′ , ‘main series only′, ‘main series + Southern Archives’, etc. If you’re interested in creating a Buried Tree Devil - Book 3 Donghua gift, you can also mention it here.

In the optional details of your offer, you can also name anyone you don’t want to be matched to, for example your regular beta, and we will do our best to avoid matching you!

The offers will only ever be visible to the mods; never to anyone else.

Your assignment

You will be matched to create a gift for someone who requested at least one of the fandoms that you offer, with as many similar genres/likes as possible. This exchange will be hand-matched, after using AO3’s matching algorithm to first generate the potential matches.

If you have any issues when you receive your assignment (you have a question about it or think there’s an issue with it), contact the mods as soon as possible. Do not contact your recipient on your own.

You will have to create a gift for your recipient, fulfilling the minimum requirements of fandom, genre, and ship, and avoiding any stated "do not wants". Filling exact prompts is optional, but try to create something matching your recipient's likes that they will enjoy!

You will have to post your gift to the exchange AO3 collection before the due date (November 30th), using the "gift this work to" option to give it to your recipient. Your work will remain in the collection only visible to you and the mods until the reveals happen. Remember to tag your work appropriately or use the "chose not to warn" warning.

Treating

Treats are additional gifts for the participants! To allow for treating, the requests will be made visible when matching is done. You can create treats at any time until the creator reveals! There are no minimum requirements for treats, and in addition to fic and art, manips and fanvids are also allowed. As with assignments, you have to respect the recipient’s Do Not Want, and while the optional details are optional, try to create something fitting the listed likes. One treat can only be gifted to one person.

Pinch Hits

In case someone needs to drop out, we will look for a pinch hitter to complete their assignment. Pinch hits will be posted to this tumblr and the DMBJ Yu Cun Discord.

Extensions

If you think you can finish your assignment, but you need a day or two more, you can always ask the mods for an extension!

Multi-chapter Fics

If you are writing a multi-chapter fic for the exchange and don’t want to drop the entire fic at once, these are the posting guidelines for it:

Multi-chapter fics that are assignment fills must be fully written and at least the first chapter posted by the assignment deadline, ready for the fic reveals on December 10.

From December 10, at least one chapter is to be posted daily.

All chapters of the fic must be posted by the time of author reveals and end of treating on December 17 (If the fic is more than 7 chapters long, then this will mean that multiple chapters will need to be posted on some days).

Multi-chapter fics that are treats can begin to be posted at any time before December 17, but must also be fully posted by December 17.

Other important information

Make sure to check the email you use on AO3 frequently during the exchange, as it will be the primary means of communication. We might contact you if there is an issue with your sign-up or if your gift creator has a question for you.

If you’d rather we contact you on your twitter or tumblr, please leave your handle in the offer section of your sign-up.

Follow us here to avoid missing an announcement or a deadline!

If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to contact us at dmbj.fic.exchange@gmail.com or here on tumblr (preferred).

[stellcluceats]

@mixandmatchupmuses​ - Starter | Falling into Night Ravens College |

;;~ It was one of those peaceful days. Barbara, Shenhe, Lumine, Keqing, and Ganyu ended up meeting one another for a friendly get-together. Though it was never anticipated that in this so-called get-together they would end up in one of the strangest problems ever. Keqing as the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing found herself putting together a nice lunch at the Xinyue Kiosk.

Ganyu who was working on Lady Ning's paperwork ended up finishing early and was allowed to leave for a lunch break. The traveler and Barbara entered Liyue only to be stopped by Millelith whom bowed their heads and asked for both to meet lady Keqing at the said location.  This of course left Shenhe, the misunderstood Cyro user whom was walking around Liyue at the time to bring back food to her teacher, the one and only cloud chaser only to be asked to show up, just as the others had.

Each found themselves being asked to head to the well-known and famous restaurant in all of Liyue. Once they all showed up however Each took a seat and greeted the Yuheng. They all enjoyed a wonderful meal together talking about certain ideas and rumors they heard all across Tyvat. Though their fun, however, was short-lived. A stranger about the height of Ganyu ended up walking up to the group and interrupted their conversation.

They insistently begged for the girl's help, a child who was barely the height of the chair the Traveler sat in, was kidnapped by a group of treasure hoarders, they held the girl in a cage made of bamboo just on the outskirts of the city of contracts. And despite this being a time of leisure and fun. Each agreed to help, Treasure hoarders were the worst of the worst and they refused to sit back and watch a young child be captive.

Each of the respectful vision holders made their way to the location. though when they got there something extremely strange happened, there as no treasure thief's, there wasn't even a girl in a cage it was all .. just blank canvas world.  A strange portal Appeared behind them blocking the way out. "It's a trap!" Lumine called out before a bright light filled the area, blinding everyone at this point.

A terrible shaking began to commence as the group soon found themselves vanishing. their vision blacked out and the spinning feeling began to replace everything before finding themselves in a strange room filled with.. floating...coffins?! The Room flashed with a bright light as 5 illuminated figures laid before the front looking quite confused. 

Keqing, Lumine, Shenhe, Barbara, and Ganyu all found themselves looking at one another and soon after at the room. "What... just happened?" They all said in unison. “Stop copying me.” They said again. “No you stop!” Each began to slowly stand up as Keqing and Barbara glared at one another, for copying the same words. “Stop it!” They called out together as well.

The argument came to a abrupt halt as Lumine took a deep breath. ”Ok ok enough, we have no clue where we are or why we are here, I don’t think now's the time to be arguing over who’s copying who here.”

Ganyu sighed as well as she crossed her arms under her chest.  “The traveler is right.. maybe we should take the time to figure out where we are first and how in the world we ended up here in the first place..”

Barbara nodded her head as well. “We were all tricked, the person who asked to help must have been working with the abyss, I’ve heard strange rumors that the abyss can mimic others from their voice and looks.”

Shenhe sighed before looking around. “So this might be a abyssal lair? I so we might want to cautious. Though this looks to nice to be anything that is involved with the abyss order.”

Keqing stood there in silence as she thought about if for a moment. “For now keep our guard up, I don't think this has to do with the Abyss but could be wrong. We should however take the proper method to figuring out where we are and how we get back, my suggestion would be go through the doors and ask for directions.”

Though as these words were said each froze up as they heard the door opening up with a click.