#‎ ‎‎ ╰ ‎‎‎‎ ✦ 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃 ／ ic.

[entwinefates]

about lyney! :lyney_tada:

Send me “About [NAME]” for my character’s thoughts on another character!

‎ ‎ ❝ lyney is paimon's favorite magician⸻eh? paimon knows we haven't met that many magicians! favorites are all about picking the one you like the best, yeah? well then, write this down: even if you lined up all of teyvat's greatest acts, lyney and lynette's magic shows would still rank in the top percent. once you've done that, hand over note to paimon so she grant it her official stamp of approval, hehe. ❞ ‎

‎ ‎ ❝ aw, now look at what you've done, paimon's forgotten what she was going to say! ❞ ‎ small hands fly to her forehead as she huffs, mind searching for the lost words. ‎ ‎ ❝ hm ... right! paimon's favorite trick is when he finds some mora behind her ears and let's her keep it. oh, but there's also that one show with the flowers ... oh! oh! oh! the rainbow rose trick he did after⸻paimon still needs to find out how he pulled that off. no matter how many times paimon asks he always manages to give her the slip. eh?‎ ‎ ‎ ❛ learning how it works will ruin the magic? ❜ ‎ pfft, what a load of baloney! ❞ ‎

[entwinefates]

      ‎‎ second to breathing, second to thinking, the floating fairy has always remained tethered to the traveler's side. the sun and it's moon, familiar to all of teyvat, together in perpetual orbit. when summoned, a burst of constellations will herald her arrival, and the little moon will linger no more than three steps behind. ( YET SHE IS NO TWIN STAR. DISTANCE WILL NEVER CLOSE. )

      ‎‎ by now, she ought to have anticipated it⸻as the golden sun's companion, life is naught but danger waiting latent for an opportunity to snatch a meal within it's jaws. one moment she's gleefully reaching to grasp the bright star's hand, and the next the vast azure sky has bled into burnt orange, ripe laughter replaced by wither and rot.

      ‎‎ ❝ lumine? ❞     ‎ a sharp chill sweeps over the body, shock chilling bone. the fairy reaches blindly, hoping to catch any trace of warmth, but grips nothing. drifting through the air, she repeats the name, desperation seizing her voice.     ‎❝ lumine? lumine, where are you? can you hear paimon? lumine, this isn't very funny ... lumine? ❞

      ‎‎ SHE DOESN'T REALIZE SHE'S PILFERING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINSIDE until a bird's call cuts through the forest and she realizes she's set against a tree, heaving for air. blurry memories drift into focus, crashing into her like waves. ( hazy vision. one glance over her shoulder. ruins. blue, red, red, NOT HER NOT HER NOT HER. words she cannot push past the lump that dries her throat. she's flying now⸻withered gray meets yellowed grass meets greener foliage. doesn't seem like she's trekked for long. )

yet, she must keep moving. there's no time for breathing as the little fairy continues her descent, heart grinding against bone as it attempts to escape her ribcage. claws tear against bark, against rock, against⸻

&. SCENE. you'll always end up circling back somehow.  

      ‎‎ she should have anticipated this. as glimpses of the ruined temple emerges from the treetops, all the little fairy can do is sigh as she accepts her fate. another day of being locked away in cursed ruins. a challenge she'd confidently face if not for losing her bestest friend in the entire world.

      ‎‎ she says nothing as she passes through the hollowed entrance and slumps against the nearest wall, unconcerned with the walls groans and shower her in dust.

      ‎‎ ❝ the forest doesn't lead anywhere, ❞     ‎though exhaustion has eaten away at her, she supplies the information to her team diligently. fortunately, she can registers them clearly now: a friendly face in sedene, plus her favorite magician⸻uwahh, his father's here too⸻and hm, she could've sworn she saw a head of blonde hair somewhere. was she already hallucinating?

      ‎‎ she curled further into herself. sure, it was nice to have some company but, oh, she'd fold one thousand cranes and wish upon a thousand more stars if it meant seeing the traveler again. who knows what she was doing out there, alone, without paimon?

      ‎‎ considering it for a moment, the fairy adds,       ‎‎ ❝ from now on, paimon hates boats. ❞

𔓕 @feliscus @sedena @avcnturine @balemouns

♠　⋮﹒ temple of betrayal　—　first ordinance.

　　 　　　　 　❪　event. solstice　/　requiem of season's end　❫

[entwinefates]

💐 here ya go paimon!

it's may day! send 💐 to give my muse a flower basket!

      ‎‎ ❝ ohoho, trying to sneak your way onto paimon's good side, are you? ❞      ‎‎ though unlikely to be kaveh's true intentions, the way the little fae's round, cherubic face splits into a cheery smile suggests it's working nonetheless. with her face cradled in the warmth of her palms, constellations whirl in the air as she admires the flower basket, all azure and lush and delicate petals in full bloom. as expected of sumeru's most passionate aesthete! if the sabzeruz festival ever hosted a flower arrangement competition, paimon would award every blue ribbon in her possession.

      ‎‎ ❝ WAIT WAIT WAIT ⸻ KAVEH, PERFECT TIMING! ❞      ‎‎ joy blossoms into excitement as the little fae realizes the opportunity presented to her. mindful enough to set the basket down first, paimon rolls back into a pocket of stars and reappears to the side, eagerly searching through the traveler's bag. she's a little less mindful about dumping the traveler's belongings on the ground, but eventually she discovers what she's looking for and proudly displays a hardcover book.

      ‎‎ ❝ get this: after al-haitham sent paimon those books, she's been reading up a storm ever since! not only the advanced reading materials but inazuman light novels and fontanian detective novels too. her new favorite's this about a private investigator who⸻ ❞      ‎‎ hands fly to her mouth, starlight eyes widening.       ‎‎ ❝ eek, that's the trouble with all good books: everything's amazing, so it's hard to reveal anything without spoilers. hmm, you should definitely read for it yourself and go in as blind as possible, okay? ❞

      ‎‎ ❝ speaking of reading, that got paimon thinking and⸻hold onto your feather!⸻what if we started a book club together? we could invite everyone we know, even our faraway friends, cast our votes for a book to read together, and meet up discuss it over some delicious food. whaddaya think? ❞

[entwinefates]

💐 lumidouce bells ofc :>

it's may day! send 💐 to give my muse a flower basket!

     ‎‎ what is teyvat? ( vast, wondrous, dangerous. ) what is paimon? ( small, loud, paimon. ) what is lynette? ( quiet. famous. offering her a basket bursting with lumidouce bells. ) what is

     ‎‎ ❝ ⸻eeeeeeeh!? ❞     ‎‎ surprise would be an understatement. much like a tea kettle whistling at boiling point, the little fae squeaks as her face burst into a blazing scarlet. in a futile attempt to make sense of the situation, her eyes flicker between violet bell-shaped flowers and the aloof magician's assistant, becoming increasingly frantic with each passing second. surely her eyes weren't playing tricks on her? this wasn't the older brother, the charmer, the one who would always pull rainbow roses out of his hat and then reveal they were doves all along? lynette was the one giving her flowers?      ‎‎ ❝ whuh!⸻bwuh!⸻b-but shouldn't this be the other way around...? ❞    

     ‎‎ ❛ phew okay, so that means lynette does like you! ❜      ‎‎ amidst her frazzled mind, the thought struck like an arrow, bringing a flood of relief through her body. despite being direct⸻or perhaps because she was so direct⸻paimon always found difficulty in understanding lynette's thoughts at any given moment. in retrospect, however, it seems a little foolish. lynette is one of the travelers' friends, and that means she's paimon's buddy too, right? they're a two-for-one package deal here!

     ‎‎ regardless, the little fae is all too grateful for the gift, clinging onto the flower basket even as the weight clearly causes her to dip lower in the air.      ‎‎ ❝ but thank you, lynette, paimon will take care of these like her own, uhm, children! ❞     ‎‎ archons, she'll have to tidy out her room in the teapot to make space, won't she? there goes her afternoon. . .

[entwinefates]

"Oh dear, oh dear. I accidentally made too big a serving of Sticky Honey Roast. There is no way I can finish all of this by myself. …Whatever will I do~?"

‎‎      ‎‎ ❝ ooo paimon's ears are burning! is she hearing this right? the legendary, world-renowned traveler is in dire need of some paimonial assistance? ❞

      ‎‎ the little fairy vanished into a sea of stars before reappearing with a triumphant pose and an all-too-proud smile. ❝ well, if it's you, suppose paimon wouldn't mind cleaning off your plate~ ❞

      ‎‎ ( and any extra snacks! ) ( and especially any drinks! )

[entwinefates]

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you~ 🎵" The Traveler sang, having even brought out the harp she received from the Aranara back in Sumeru for this very special occasion.

"Happy birthday dear Paimon, happy birthday to you...~~! 🎵🎵"

Once her little song was finished, the blonde reached inside her bag, eyebrows knit into a frown.

"...Huh? What's this? Oh no! I must have dropped the birthday cake I made for you somewhere! What a pity! ...But you won't mind, right? It's the thought which counts after all!"

Lumine waited for her trusty companion's expression to change before bursting out laughing and revealing her mischievous intentions.

"Relax, Paimon! I'm just kidding! I would never lose your cake."

"Here you go! This one's all for you! And since it's your special day, you get to decide how we spend it to. We can do whatever you desire."

&. SCENE. cerulean seelies babble in celebration. the moon continues her eternal slumber. another candle blown. happy birthday, paimon!

‎ ‎‎ ‎‎‎‎ far beyond, past dandelions patches, swallow song, and wine-scented mist, sits a ruined graveyard of ice and snow. amongst the howling, piercing winds, only one memory of sal vindagnyr remains: the frostbearing tree.

‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎      ‎‎ ‎once-pearl boughs twist overhead, oozing with dragons' ichor. the roots tell it's story well: a land once endowed by the heavens. a place where, come rain or shine, people ran barefoot amid blossoms and lush soil, laughing and dancing till their faces flushed with mirth. the same clouds they prayed to cleared away to reveal an endless blue sky, and thus did a pillar of crystal descend from above. the divine nail split like a sword cleaving through stone, frost blanketing the land and sky in white, withering away all life. 

      ‎‎ ‎‎‎‎a complete devastation, and yet only a fraction of the suffering paimon endured when her dearest friend confessed to dropping her birthday cake.

     ‎ ‎‎ ❝‎ lumine, you tease! ❞      ‎‎  round cheeks puffed with indignation as little fae folded her arms against her chest, tilting her head up with a hmph. it wouldn't be the first time she's fallen for such an old trick, and given the traveler's penchant for jokes, she suspects it wouldn't be the last.      ‎‎  ❝ and on paimon's birthday too! ❞

      ‎‎ ‎( ‎‎ ‎‎warm smiles and bubbly laughter, like sunlight seeping into the ocean.‎      ‎‎  ‎‎❝ here you go! this one's all for you! and since it's your special day, you get to decide how we spend it to. we can do whatever you desire. ❞ )

‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎      ‎‎ one starlight eye peeked open, glancing with curiosity at the blonde's words. not one second later, pride melted into childish glee as the little fae rolled into starlight and barreled into the traveler's chest, already pratting away:

‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎      ‎‎ ❝ anything anything? you really mean that? there's no take-backs once you agree! wait, wait, is this traveler-does-everything-paimon-wants coupon only valid for today? 'cause goodhunter's about to roll out the GO FOR GOLDEN chicken burger challenge in a few days. we can order a burger that's twice the size of a standard one, free of charge if you clean your plate but double the price and double the shame if you can't. with your determination and paimon's stomach, we can beat out that challenge tens times over. ooo, paimon even thinks the winner get a complimentary picture! ❞

‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎      ‎‎ the little fae paused, chest swelling as she takes in a deep breath,‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎ ‎‎ ❝ because if not, it's been forever since you last promised paimon we could watch the sunrise! ❞

[entwinefates]

💐 He heard from Ganyu that Qingxin flowers are rather tasty so why not giving some to the traveler's loyal companion?

it's may day! send 💐 to give my muse a flower basket!

      ‎‎ one seldom finds quiet in the little fae's presence. perhaps, at the very moment of her creation, motion was woven into the fabric of her cosmos-freckled cape, sealed with a promise she would always be accompanied by laughter and the night sky wherever her journey led. but just as a leaf could veer off course in midair, so too can paimon be swept away by the unpredictable nature of life.

      ‎‎ so, he might as well have knocked the golden tiara straight off her head as the vigilant yaksha appears to offer a basket of qingxin flowers.

      ‎‎ ❛ FOR ME? ❜      ‎‎  is all the little fae can mouth as a blush dyes her face crimson. dumbfounded would be an understatement. after the years spent together, paimon understands xiao is simply more reserved than what she's accustomed to, not as cold or intimidating as a first impression would imply. however, a gift for her⸻not the traveler, her⸻is leaps and bounds away from what she's expected for another millennium, and her mind goes into overdrive, rifling through every cabinet labeled 'xiao.'

      ‎‎ ❛ there's no way he'd accept a gift in return, ❜      ‎‎  her mind supplies as she reaches for the flower basket, too preoccupied with her thoughts to realize how the weight causes her to dip in the air.      ‎‎  ❛ but it'd be seven shades of messed up not do anything in return, right? augh, but xiao's super smart so he'd definitely be wise to any sneaky tricks. but maybe, he would⸻WHAT ARE YOU DOING, PAIMON, SAY THANK YOU?! ❜

      ‎‎ frantic appreciation hurries from her mouth, one right after the other,      ‎‎ ❝ wait, before you go, thank you so much for the qingxin! paimon will take extra-special care for them, okay? oh, and thank you for saving the traveler when the jade chamber fell that one time! wait, no, thank you for everything you've done, not just for me but all of liyue really . . . ❞  

      ‎‎ ❝ . . . and thank you, for being one of paimon's bestest friends! ❞  

[entwinefates]

‎ ‎ ‎ after a few moments of gently heaving, the cradle of constellations holding the moon fairy aloft faded, leaving her slouched on the cool domain floor. from above, the world is a blur of colors and sounds, a never-ending whirl of metal clashing against metal, the sharp crack and pop of bullets striking skin, and flame burning away flesh. she really should give kiana and fu hua their dues, hm? although they had just recently met, she already felt safe in their presence. they were kind, strong, and reliable⸻why couldn't all her friends be like this? it seemed like no matter where she landed in teyvat, there was always someone boasting candy-colored attire and a nest of quirks to deal with.

‎ ‎ ‎ speaking of friends, a surge of cool water washes over paimon as she awakens to furina illuminating the chamber with light. the actress's motions are delicate and graceful, truly a sight to behold, but the desperation beneath the surface is palpable; there was only so much a person could do before agony and exhaustion claimed their final act. the fairy stumble at first, but before long, she's floating once more, pulling the actress aside and allowing their skilled members to carry them through the scene.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ furina, ❞ the fairy hisses at the start, but the lecture quickly dies on her tongue as her cherubic face scrunches into a tight ball. her instinct was to seize her by the shoulders and rattle off a thousand questions about what the devil she thinks she's doing or why in the archon's name she thinks now is the time to practice stuntwork, but … something about the sweat on furina's brow, the way her hands have shook and trembled throughout the ordeal, leaves the words stuck in her throat.

‎ ‎ ‎ in the recesses of her thoughts, a quiet and soft voice asks, "doesn't furina deserve her dues too?"

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ good, ❞ the word struggles out past the frustration threatening to choke her, ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ goodjob, furina, have some cake! ❞

PAIMON rolls 3 energy. [1 energy] PAIMON 10/10HP uses Traveler's Bodyguard on FURINA [2 energy] PAIMON 10/10HP uses Emergency Food. (+5HP) FURINA 7/10HP. (Furina gains 2 stacks of Fanfare: 5.)

‎ ‎ ‎ on cue, starry midnight reveals itself, and a velvet-ribboned box falls into paimon's eager grasp. she hands the package to furina as her stars begin to curtain her, offering the fontainian a moment's reprieve to enjoy the cake slice within. she can only hope they reach to the bottom floor soon enough so everyone could enjoy a tea party under a yellow-yolk sun instead.

𔓕 ‎ @taixuandream @voidrifter break an arm or however it goes i've never taken theater class

✧　HOW THE MAN-MADE HEART BEATS.

spiral abyss, team two⠀∶⠀floor two.

[entwinefates]

　　flames burst forth from the summer goddess, a roaring inferno of rage and agony engulfing the prison she's created. the faerie's cries drown out to the deafening roar of flames echoing through the hallowed grounds, sealing away lord arlecchino and mr. gallagher. aventurine's golden shield, her only salvation against the carnage wrecked by the goddess, remained brilliant against the onslaught. speaking of aventurine…

PAIMON rolls 4 energy! [2 energy] PAIMON 10/10HP uses Traveler's Bodyguard on LADY TATSUTA. LADY TATSUTA 8/8SP and is immune to incoming Imaginary damage.

　　paimon's gaze remains fixed on the goddess as she raises a finger to where she last saw lady tatsuta and refreshes her shield. she knows herself well ( or at least she believes she does ), and she knows her knees will buckle immediately if she discovers any of her friends aren't in ideal condition. it's not often someone places their trust in paimon, and she won't let the moment go to waste.　　❛ mr. aventurine knows what he's doing, mr. aventurine knows what he's doing, ❜　　she chanted to herself as she darted onto the field once more.

[1 energy] PAIMON 10/10HP hits BETRAYAL TRANSCENDENT 36/50HP with Floating Companion [Roll: 12, (Pinion's Aria activates!) -3.5HP]. BETRAYAL TRANSCENDENT 32.5/50HP. [Roll: 1] PAIMON dodges BETRAYAL TRANSCENDENT's counter attack!

　　the dance remains the same, but the tempo shifts dramatically; there's an anguish to lady summer's performance now, a raw desperation as her wings flare out to their fullest extent. bathed in the heat of the merciless sun, the two exchange blows, one of visceral rage, the other of resolution. paimon may be feeble, but she's faster, bobbing and weaving through the battlefield with agility belied by her size. however, even she knows better than to underestimate a goddess's strength⸻so, she dives into starlight, just in time for lady tatsuta to land a vicious blow, gale cutting through the fabric of air.

　　the tiny faerie ducks into a secure place close to her friends and covers her ears, hoping in vain to muffle the agonized shrieks of lady summer. though she does not care for the immortals, her heart twist and pulls at the sound of suffering. she does not dare to open her eyes to see the devastation, knowing every glance will only cause suffering.

　　the world doesn't care for a petty little fairy's sentiments, however. it continues to spin on it's axis as the battle rages unabated, song and steel combining in a symphony of pain and destruction. all the while, paimon clasps her fingers in prayer, clinging to the hope she would be able to guide them to safety. it's all she can do.

& SCENE. fourteen lay beneath a black heaven of stars. the crackle of pyres draws it's final breath. goodnight dear sister and farewell to you, o goddess of summer.

Over and Over, Like a Tune—

˚ʚ [waning sun x temple of betrayal crossover woo ] ɞ˚

[entwinefates]

‎ ‎ ‎ brows furrowed into tight creases as she pinched the multicolored paper in place, small hands moving in ritual once again. the hustle and bustle of fontaine's street life had dulled to a hum as she sat there on her usual bench, gaze intensely fixated on the paper littered across her lap. she was smart, yes, to move her work outside the stuffy teapot room and enjoy the city's vibrant atmosphere but, on the other hand, threats to her concentration lurked in every corner.

‎ ‎ ‎ desire itched under her skin like fire, and she knew if she continued with this line of thought, her mind would stray to dark, unforgivable places. like savoring the taste of a bulle souffle at café lutece, jotting notes on the aquabus while a knowledgeable guide shares her expertise of the surrounding scenery, touching the hardback cover of a detective novel⸻no paimon!

‎ ‎ ‎ she shook her head ruefully and tightened her hold on the vibrant paper. bad paimon, very very bad paimon. all you have to do is send your best wishes to the sick children of the hearth, who would do anything to spend a day sitting on this very bench. archons, what would lyney think if he saw you⸻

‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ my, if it isn't paimon! ❞ ‎

‎ ‎ ‎ a strange noise escaped her throat, something between an eep and a hwuahh, and her gaze shot up to face the new arrival. widened eyes may have betrayed her bewilderment ( call her mein fräulein, as she has somehow summoned a man to her side ), but happiness soon follows: a big, cherubic smile divides her cheeks.

‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ lyney! ❞ ‎ she chirped happily. ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ street performer …? oh, no, no, paimon's definitely not cut out for the showbiz life, no siree. this is paimon's⸻ ❞ ‎ she lifted the piece she had just finished and beamed, ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ origami! ❞ ‎

‎ ‎ ‎ as she lowered her hand, she could admit it was a scuffed piece of work: rough, crinkled, with corners twisted at an odd angle, but the folded wings and bent tip near the top should at least identify it as a crane. she yammered on, placed the deformed bird amongst it's papercraft brethren,‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ it's an old inazuman art form that's recently swept the nation. paimon needs to make a thousand of these babies to make her wish come true, but she's not sure if it's one thousand per person or if her wish can collectively heal everyone … no, it should be the latter! ❞ ‎

‎ ‎ ‎ she moves from one subject to the next in the blink of an eye, barely able to catch her breath.‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ lyney, do you want to take a crane home with you? they're for you, so it's not a problem, otherwise, ❞ ‎ she gasped before shimmying wildly, making room on the bench and eagerly patting the open space. ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ you can make one with me! ❞

　one thousand cranes take to the sky.

🌢　▪ ▪ ▪　[  vaporize  ]　lyney & paimon

[entwinefates]

      ‎‎ for all of the marvel and wonder her very existence inspires, paimon is a remarkably simple creature in mind and soul. it takes very little to tip her emotions from wrath to sorrow to fear, but like a wind-up toy, she'll return to her carefree mood soon enough. if her expression fails to reflect her mood, wait a moment, for she will surely open her mouth and yammer on before anyone has the chance to inquire. one can always be sure that tomorrow the sky will be blue, the grass will be green, and paimon will be paimon, forever.

      ‎‎ unfortunately for her, the guuji is not a simple creature.

      ‎‎ with hesitancy, midnight eyes darts between the blossom-haired kitsune and the newly-acquired vanity box, flinching slightly when catching sight of pristine, sharpened teeth. from an outsiders perspective, excercising caution would be a waste, given the priestess' lighthearted mood⸻and what utter fools they would be! from experience, paimon is all too aware it'd take one slip-up for the fox-lady to snap up the fae in her jaws like a delectable afternoon snack. underneath her honeyed words, yae miko proved to be capable of being a brutal beast if need be.

      ‎‎ ( ❝ so, let me get this straight, pal. you're frightened of guuji yae, same here, but you're still heading ov'r the shrine today? ❞       ‎‎ ❝ hmph, that's exactly why paimon's going up there. paimon's done some growing up since the last time miko's saw her, and she needs to know she can't mess with paimon anymore. once she catches sight of this stone-cold poker face, she'll take paimon seriously now! ❞       ‎‎ ❝ uh-huh. ❞ )

      ‎‎ after much deliberation, small hands reach out, clumsily plucking a pocket-sized, glittery eyeshadow palette from the vanity box. the action is slow and hesitant, paimon realizes mid-grab, and the perfect window of opportunity for yae miko to pull one of her sneaky tricks!

      ‎‎ ❝ we should⸻no, need to go with this one. ❞      ‎‎ desperate to control the situation, the little fae scrunches her brows into the most serious expression she can muster. no matter what, no matter how, she will not be made a fool again.       ‎‎ ❝ because it . . . it has a little brush, so it'll be like painting! ❞       ‎‎ a perfectly respectable hobby for a perfectly respectable flying companion!

╰ ❀ ˖ — eye of the beholder

[entwinefates]

      ‎  there's an unusual phrase her golden traveler would muse as they playfully flicked her forehead: "curiosity killed the cat," warning her against snooping around where her nose doesn't belong, but in her own defense, paimon didn't quite reach the curiosity stage before ending up here. her small hands were on the doorknob before she'd ever noticed the cool metal in her palm, and the door swung open to reveal a familiar but haunting corridor of stars.

      ‎  ❝ abyss...? ❞ ‎ face scrunched in confusion as the fairy glides further down into the room, surveying every inch for a hint of something amiss, anything that might hint at where she is or why she was brought there. she was accustomed with the hellscape, clinging tight to the traveler's clothes when they first discovered the island and having read further about it from the comfort of a library, but she had long since abandoned the idea of joining the party in battling monsters. her combat strength is only a recent skill, and as she ducks back from the assortment of mechanical monsters whirring dangerously about the circular chamber, she realizes she'd still rather be doing anything else right now.

      ‎  ❝ f-furina! ❞ ‎ nervously collecting her polearm from a pocket of stars, the little fairy then waves at the familiar sight of a blue tophat crowned in jewels. among her are two strangers: a golden flame woman adorned in armour and a mysterious sword-wielding violet woman paimon swears she's seen somewhere before but doesn't risk further investigation. her focus must be on the enemies; after all, the only thing worse than being in the abyss is dying in it. she gestures to them wildly, ‎ ❝ we need to make these suckers go boom, crash, pow as soon as possible, okay? here, take this! ❞

PAIMON rolls 5 energy. [1 energy] PAIMON 10/10HP uses Traveler's Bodyguard on FURINA. FURINA 2/2SP

‎ presenting the gift of a ( admittedly dinky ) pale blue shield flickering with stars, the little fairy floats off, weaving through the air to deliver a blow against one of the odd-looking mechas.

[3 energy] PAIMON 10/10HP uses Charged Attack and hits AUTOMATON HOUND. (Roll 1d20 = 8) AUTOMATON HOUND 13.5/15HP. (Roll 1d5 = 3, Imprisonment fails.) (Roll: 1d2 = 1) PAIMON dodges AUTOMATON HOUND

      ‎  unfortunately, she moves with neither grace or flourish as she loudly whacks the robot's side, followed by a nervous giggle as she evades it's incoming blow. chains of constellations wrap around its metal form, but as she makes a brave swing and fails her next blow, her attempts to cage the opponent shatter and crumble into dust.

      ‎  the little fairy all but grumbles. she said it once and she'll say it again⸻paimons were not build for combat!

𔓕 @fanfaire madame president your 2pm swordfighting as usual?

✦ ‎ IN THE ABYSS. STRAIGHT UP "CRUSHING IT"

and by "it", haha, well. let's just say. spiral abyss team 2 / floor 1

[entwinefates]

‎ ‎ ‎ RIDDLE ME THIS: when do one feel like a doll trapped in a dollhouse? perpetually, when one is as small as paimon, and irritably, when one is fastened to the bed like she is.

‎ ‎ ‎ it's not the most clever riddle, to be sure, but the little fairy can't help it. as she lies thrashing in her heavy velvet sheets and a searing, scorching pain cuts through her skull once more, all she can think about is flinging herself into the nearest ocean and instantly dissolving into its waters. but even that would involve a tremendous amount of willpower, and she realizes with a frustrated whine that she can't even muster the strength to tear off her covers, let alone fly anywhere.

‎ ‎ ‎ ❛ paimon's going to bake here, ❜ ‎ she thought to herself miserably. ‎ ❛ she's going to bake in this death oven and turn into a delicious moon pie, devoured by a pigeon, and it'll be the travelers' fault because they HATE her and left her here to ROT. ❜

‎ ‎ ‎ it's not true in the slightest, she knows, but doesn't she deserve some melodrama for all her suffering? oh, paimon could see herself as the poor ingenue, weeping on stage alone, waiting for a great golden hero to rescue her from this flaming prison of cushions and blankets. alas, it would seemeth her destiny-eth was to remained chained to a bed for all eternity, forced to merely dream of being released from suffocating weight.

‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ as if that would ever happen, ❞ ‎ paimon muttered under her breath, kicking her feet against the blanket. between sputtering coughs, she vehemently swore, ‎ ❝ if tr-traveler thinks they can just leave paimon here then they've got another thing coming! paimon, escape dash! ❞

‎ ‎ ‎ with a twist of the covers and a great deal of effort, the little fairy managed to roll off the bed, unraveling as she went and falling unceremoniously onto the ground with a loud thud. she groaned aloud at the impact, stars exploding behind her eyes as the throbbing pain pulsed around her skull. a small price to pay for freedom, she reasoned as she continued to flounder on the floor, rolling and sliding across the dark wood like a member of the shuumatsuban. heh, once she got out of here, maybe ayato could hire her as a spy…

‎ ‎ ‎ unfortunately, paimon's dreams of grandeur were cut short by the sharp clicking of heels and the twist of a doorknob. the little fairy, delirious from fever and exhaustion, vision spinning with dark blotches and her head throbbing, wheezed and sputtered as the guest finally unveiled herself.

‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ ch-chiori? what are you doing here? ❞

✦ ‎ TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS

[entwinefates]

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ the questions float within her mind, like little fish swimming through the ocean, or an eel in a pond of mud.‎ ‎ ‎ ❛ it's name is⸻her name is bernares? you know this creature? ❜ ‎ but the words don't part from her throat.

BENARES 83/200HP uses Upsurge and crits PAIMON. (Roll 1d20 = 19, -5HP) PAIMON 1.5/10HP. (Salon Members can't drain further!) PAIMON 1.5/10HP counters with Floating Companion and crits BENARES. (Roll 1d20 + 2 = 19, -3HP) BENARES 80/200HP.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ instead, sharp claws find purchase in the fairy's sides and sink deep into soft flesh, sapphire maw widening with the intent to devour. paimon's arms flail like mad, but her polearm returns the favor, slicing into the beast's jaw and piercing the tender tissue of her throat. the dragon bellows in agony and rage, spitting out a stream of thick ichor but keeping firm hold on her prey. in seconds, wings beat, and the wind whips against the white hair as she's taken prisoner far above the abyssal floor.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ then, just as quickly, before her heart has a second to beat, bernares dives, releasing her captive to plummet to her death.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ instinctively, her hands reach for something⸻anything!⸻and catches onto the dragon's smooth ivory tail, the length of a hundred snakes and twice that of paimon's body. gasping and heaving for air, she clings for dear life and tries to steady herself against the gale. a mantra begins in her mind: don't look down don't look down don't look down!

[1 energy] PAIMON 1.5/10HP uses Traveler's Bodyguard. PAIMON 10/10SP, FU HUA 10/10SP, FURINA 10/10SP, KIANA 10/10HP. [3 energy] PAIMON 1.5/10HP uses Emergency Food. (+5HP) PAIMON 6.5/10SP, FU HUA 10/10HP, FURINA 10/10SP, KIANA 10/10HP.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ the gods may never grace upon their favor but the stars have crowned it's own. the constellations shimmer, guiding the sky from one star to the next, until they form a curtain around the fairy. the shrieking wind eventually dies down to a quiet murmur, and the fairy is able to cry once more, her voice breaking and her breath hitching in terror:

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ everyone, ❞ she begins, polearm outstretched in front of her, tearing into the void before her,‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ catch! ❞

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ colorful wrapped candy streams from pockets of starlight, scattering like sand upon the ground for her friends to collect. she smiles, feeling safe in the company of her dear friends, but there's no time to bask in such bliss. there's a dragon to slay!

[1 energy] (Salon Members are active!) PAIMON 5.5/10HP. PAIMON 5.5/10HP uses Floating Companion and hits BENARES 71.5/200HP. (Emergency Food Triggers! +10 additional damage) (Roll 1d20 + 2 = 10, -12.5HP) BENARES 59/200HP. (Roll 1d2 = 2, dodge fails.) BENARES 59/200HP counters with Absolute Zero and misses PAIMON. (Roll 1d20 = 3, -0HP) PAIMON 10/10SP. [1 energy] (Salon Members are active!) PAIMON 4.5/10HP. PAIMON 4.5/10HP uses Floating Companion and misses BENARES 59/200HP. (Roll 1d20 + 2 = 3, -0HP) BENARES 59/200HP. (Roll 1d2 = 2, dodge fails.) BENARES 59/200HP counters with Absolute Zero and hits PAIMON. (Roll 1d20 = 16, -1.5HP) PAIMON 8.5/10SP. (Roll 1d3 = 3) KIANA 9.5/10SP.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ the spear plunges deep into the scales of the giant monster, puncturing her tail and drawing ichor. benares screeches, flicking and writhing to fling the fairy off her back, but the tiny fairy clings stubbornly. only when she pulls her polearm free does she mistime her move, allowing benares to twist away and slam her into the domain's invisible barrier. the impact suspends her in the air, and she plummets, grasping for the air to slow her descent.

𔓕‎ @taixuandream @voidrifter @fanfaire someone please catcha the babay (or don't. mondstat's a free nation 2x)

✧　ONE CORNER OF THE SKY.

spiral abyss, team two⠀∶⠀floor three.

[entwinefates]

      ‎  ‎whispers and wisps of starlight drift through the frozen air, a rare disruption for the campsite settled deep within the snowcapped graveyard. amber flames lick and crackle from their kindling, casting shadows 'pon a small silhouette shifting in the corner. hands clasped behind her back, the fairy sways in the air, feverishly muttering to herself. when is he coming? will he come today? he will, he will, of course he will, paimon can feel it in her bones.

      ‎  ‎fortunately, it's not long until her patience is rewarded and her ears catch the crunch of snow beneath leather boots. in an instant, she's whirling through the sky, stars trailing after her as she welcomes the long-awaited brilliant alchemist.

      ‎  ❝ albedo! oh, paimon's been waiting ages for you to get back. bet you're surprised to see her here all by lonesome, huh? you see, paimon usually doesn't venture into dragonspine alone but⸻ ❞ ‎ like milk left to boil inside a sauce pan, the words bubble and spill from the fairy's mouth, too fast to follow or even comprehend. before she can continue, she holds up a finger, and then rolls back into a pocket of stars.

      ‎  after snatching a newspaper from a nearby table ( next to a fruit basket she may or may not have brought as a gift for the alchemist, but wound up snacking on while waiting for him ), moments later, the fairy reappears and presents the paper with a flourish.      ‎   ❝ ⸻there are some things worth freezing for. take a look at this. ❞

❛ the steambird was founded to recognize excellence in the ordinary world, which is why we are proud to announce hopeful authors from all four corners of teyvat are welcome to compete for the semi-annual bluecrown prize. for a chance to win a 100k mora prize and publication, submit a nonfiction composition centering upon a one-of-a-kind figure... ❜

      ‎  to give herself credit, for once paimon had dutifully reviewed the lengthy list of prerequisites and criteria for entry listed below. however, based on the unmistakable widening of her eyes and determined furrowing of her brow, it was evident her brain halted at the word "mora." like a treasure-hunting seelie, her love for the gold coin would lead her to any place, including a frigid mountain.

      ‎  with devil-may-care confidence, the little fairy eagerly launched into her sales pitch. ‎ ❝ as paimon's smartest and coolest friend, you've probably already guessed where she's headed with this. paimon may not have rubbed shoulders with fontaine's elite writing circle yet, but she knows more interesting people than she can count, and you are amongst mondstat's seven greatest mysteries! ❞ ‎ she made up that part just now, but she's certain if she were to write such a list, the kreideprinz would be on it. ‎ ❝ can't you already see the headlines? ❛ THE HIDDEN GEM OF MONDSTAT UNVEILED! ❜ with you to capture the hearts of fontaine's public, and paimon's command of the pen, we'll make steam rolls out of the competition! ❞

      ‎  a pause. ‎ ❝ so, what do you say about sitting down for an interview? we can even, um, split the reward if you'd like. ❞

      ‎  ( paimon hopes she laid the compliments on thick enough for albedo to accept, because truthfully she did not have a backup plan if he didn't. )

𔓕 @spidergourmet pretty please with slime condensate on top?

✦ ‎ EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!

[entwinefates]

&. SCENE. ‎‎ beasts of fire and frost draw their last breath. squeals of victory. ice chrystals safely tucked into shoes. the beginning of a third act.

‎‎ ‎‎a proud smile accompanied by a shaking palm outstretched. ‎‎❝ aw, don't worry, sedene, your big sis paimon can lead you through! ❞ ‎‎ ‎‎the melusine accepts after switching the candle to her free hand.      ‎‎❝ ok, paimon! ❞

      heartbeat drummed 'tween her ribs as the cool hand gently slipped away, leaving her to bask in the new sights the new chamber brought. a similar but rough canvas, yes. midnight eyes swept across the unfamiliar space⸻no more deadly monsters, fortunately, only carvings, and pillars, and candles⸻but the true spectacle lied in the ceiling above. with a spin, she twirls into the sky, faraway conversations merely echoes in the distance.

&. SCENE. ‎‎a carving identical to those around you, yet a care taken in this one not found in the others. two phoenixes circle one another chasing each other’s tailfeathers. for the first time, you see that strange golden blood sedene keeps talking about. the birds are painted with it, and they are beautiful.

     melancholy pools in the hollow of her throat, yet her eyes refuse to tear away from the artwork. time crawls to a halt as she floats suspended in the air, recalling golden hair, golden eyes, and her dear, dear friend. have they grown closer or farther away? her hands, unthinking, extend to stroke the paint⸻

     ⸻only to startle into focus when she hears many chirps and whistles. archons, what could have possibly happened when she wasn't looking!?

‎‎ paimon, once again rendered speechless by this adventure, peeked from her perch in the air, befuddlement replacing sorrow. the blonde stranger, ( er, aventurine. if they've fought together then the least she could do is commit name to memory ) silently looked over a newfound fluffy little bird in his posession. it's feathers were singed with flames, and despite the man's at most indifferent stare, the bird continued to trill happily.

‎‎ finally, aventurine sighs.‎‎     ‎‎ ❝ and that was just the first of the ideas i had. all right then, it's something. think it talks? ❞      ‎‎  he peers closers.       ‎‎❝ who are you? ❞

      ‎‎ the bird chirps back⸻interested, almost like it understands⸻but no words. rather, the little thing sticks it's beak up towards the ceiling and makes a cooing sound for an answer. instinctively, paimon's gaze flits back too, thoughts sliding into place like a puzzle. a bird covered in ash and flames. surely, this couldn't be the...?

‎‎ arlecchino steals her attention away, adding,     ‎‎ ❝ ... can’t say i’ve met a bird in teyvat that does so, at least not intelligently. ❞

      ‎‎ sedene‎‎ chimes in, hovering her hand before the bird,       ‎‎❝ who are you? ❞     ‎‎  in response, the bird blinks and trills, as if attempting to communicate in a way she can understand.

      after a beat of contemplation, arlecchino muttered ‎‎❝ ... sky? ❞

      sedene blinks, placing a hand on her chin.     ‎‎ ‎‎❝ can you answer yes or no questions? ❞     ‎‎ fortunately, the bird nods.

      ‎‎ sedene waved paimon over with her free hand, and the little fae does as she asked, confused thoughts swirling in her mind as she flits down.     ‎‎ ‎‎❝ maybe if we ask some questions we can figure out what's happened here, yes? ❞

     ‎‎ directed to the bird, arlecchino remarked, louder this time,     ‎‎ ❝ i believe mr. aventurine and i, ❞ she gestured towards the blonde man,     ‎‎ ❝ saw some of your memories. shall we call you something that has to do with the sky? ❞

     ‎‎ as the bird nodded, trilling particularly happy in response to the man, arlecchino continued.     ‎‎ ❝ sun, dusk, dawn… those all seemed like happier times. ❞

     ‎‎ aventurine let out a two-tone whistle.      ‎‎ ‎‎❝ think that's the closest i can get to its name. ❞

      ‎‎ the edges of the harbringer's mouth curved slightly.     ‎‎ ❝ watch out, mr. aventurine. it might just prefer whatever you want to call it. ❞

      ‎‎ as the two continued their conversation, ( ‎‎❝ what's that supposed to mean? ❞ ) paimon takes the opportunity to shake the bottom of her boot, catching a few ice crystals as they slipped out. she doesnt like this place one bit⸻the destroyed carvings, the soot-stained alter, all of it.

      ‎‎ but the poor thing's probably really really hungry, and she didn't pack any bird snacks!

      ‎‎ unfortunately, the little thing curiously pecked at the rocks before recoiling, clearly not a fan. with a sigh, she casually asked as she pocketed the chrystals:     ‎‎ ❝ so, paimon isn't not sure about how this whole pheonix thing works, but you had a little friend with you, right, birdie? ❞

     ‎‎  the bird nods, eagerly at the mention in fact, then makes a rather sad cooing sound.

     ❝ huh? ❞     ‎‎  despite asking, the little fairy is clearly taken aback, brows knitting together in distress. friends shouldn't be seperated.

♠　⋮﹒temple of betrayal　/　how we walk our yesterdays .

　　　　　 　　　❪　requiem of season's end　—　week ii　❫