dxwnbreak

[dxwnbreak]

"Miss Lingsha, head of the Alchemy Commission of the Xianzhou Luofu, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance - I am Diluc Ragnvindr, owner of the Dawn Winery in Mondstadt." It seemed sufficient to mention name and place, as she had done, regardless of how little context the other had for where that might be, and their importance. He had done little enough true alchemy, although the word conjured up a sense of the familiar, and he began to look at the woman in a new light, the form of her in his esteem beginning to sharpen.

He took the hand to shake, dipped his head in a gesture of courtesy, the extended his arm for her to take as they walked. "Please, I will lead the way, if you don't mind informing me of where your home is, and what it means to be head of the Alchemy Commission. I confess I do not find myself this far from home on a regular basis, and while I am very well informed of the customs of my own planet, even faraway countries, those of another world…"

He trailed off and shook his head with a chuckle that was almost self-effacing. "We'll say this is new for me."

The winding path through the station was one that he had not practiced, but his steps were confident nonetheless, remembering the direction from the numerous maps of the event center which had been provided to him in advance during planning stages. They passed by a multitude of the self-service kiosks, dispensing juices and fizzy drinks which had been selected carefully to suit the tastes of many, before reaching the larger stand which had required more careful construction.

Beams of fragrant cedar, framing a string of colorful planchettes in familiar Mond fashion, the stand itself looked more ornate, more a building in truth than a simple vendor at a cultural faire, but this was the way it was done, and Diluc would not have seen it erected in any other fashion.

"Please, this way. You've mentioned you enjoy a good red? If you tell me your preferences, I can create a custom flight for you."

oh. there's a gift bag.

[dxwnbreak]

"You have no need to apologize to me." The tone was almost amused, light and airy as the sea breeze that riffled through their hair for a moment before coming back to stillness. The sounds of motion continued on the dais below them, and Diluc canted his head, somewhat, considering.

She had grown. That much was clear, in the time separated from that dark period - he had not been alone in feeling that way, it seemed they had all been drawn into one another's orbit, by some thread of fate or something more sinister- and not merely in the way that a teenager shoots up, begins to fill out, but the set of her shoulders, the way she met his eyes despite the way she couldn't hold her hands still.

His eyes creased softly. "Of course. Introductions are in order. Forgive me, I have been known to be…rather hasty, in some matters. Collei, it is a pleasure to meet you, no matter how many times. My name is Diluc, of the Ragnvindr family, and I am the owner of the Dawn Winery in Mondstadt."

Slowly, he unraveled his hands from their tent beneath his chin, and he extended one to her - to shake, if she chose, or to refuse if she did not. It seemed clear that the gesture was one directed for her to exert her boundaries, wherever those happened to be.

"Is the tea here to your liking? I'm finding it a taste that is easier to acquire than some. But we can have them bring something else, if you prefer."

an old story, from before the tiger got her stripes

[dxwnbreak]

Diluc nearly snorted his disappointment. Of course she had been able to find a map - not only to find it, but to take it with her. Keeping his senses attuned to the movement and general signs of life out and about in the halls, and even the muffled movements on the floors directly above and below, Diluc had not heard any flurry of panic or excitement, nothing to indicate any alarm or the barest notion that there was anything off.

"It cannot be this easy," he said disdainfully, eyes raking over the map as Seele unfurled it onto the desk, leaning his weight onto one hand. "Even without the schematics, it was no more difficult than walking through a town square. I don't know how to train a prison guard that they should care."

But she was right - it was useful in determining how the big-name inmate might have escaped, even if his own entry and subsequent flight were not expected to be anything to write home about.

"This is where he was, isn't it?" His lip curled at seeing the words High Security Wing printed at the top of the sheaf, but he gestured nonetheless. "Even if the guards had done minimal rotation, there should have been all eyes here and here. Where does this lead, just out into the courtyard?"

A frown.

It was becoming more and more clear where the issue lay. Diluc sighed. "Roll that back up, and let's move out. I don't expect there to be issues. We might as well just walk right out the front door."

blueprints in the night

[dxwnbreak]

The shock of the creature's appearance had rippled out gradually at first, then in increasing waves until it had hit Teyvat in sensational fashion. There were those that had assumed it was a story, some fictional account written about in penny dreadful serials but nothing more than a flight of fancy to spend time with, but there were others that had approached the tales with more gravitas.

He could not pretend to know the depths of the Knights' opinion on the matter, regardless of his personal connections, but after the city had been tipped over during the incident with Dvalin, Diluc was more inclined to tread cautiously about any news of beasts gone awry, especially if there seemed to be bits of them glowing in a manner unfamiliar.

The trip out took longer than he expected when he had initially packed for it, but the moment he landed and his boot crunched against the ice it was a familiar sensation. The paths into the city seemed well-traveled, if only in that there was the singular one, and his shuttle had dropped him directly onto it, guiding him towards the city for news before setting out onto the great expanse of tundra.

For all that news had traveled fast, there did not seem to be much of it that was useful - merely that there was a beast, and the approximate location of it. Aside of these facts, all other details seemed flexible at best.

Even its bounty posters held little in the manner of useful intel, and he could not help but stop in the street to frown at them on his way back out into the cold.

He turned at the approaching voice, unsure only for a moment whether it was greeting him so casually - but then it must have been, for who else would be spending their time attempting to gather information on this creature? The young lady seemed vibrant and eager, and not at all concerned, and Diluc's brow pinched, gaze flicking over her once, down then up, before responding.

"I am. If you mean to tell me that you're here for the creature, I should hope that you have better intel than anyone in the city does."

㏒ just two redheads hanging out in the snow when BAM! elephant jump scare

『 crystallize commission ── belobog's mystery creature documentary 』

[dxwnbreak]

Direct. Diluc's eyebrows raised a fraction, part surprise, but part amusement as well. It seemed clear, then, what this stranger had come to the faire for, and he could not help but appreciate to see an enthusiast in their given field.

"It is a service that I am well equipped to provide, and one that I am well used to. Refreshments," he clarified, gesturing to one of the nearby self-service kiosks which had a selection of soft drinks and an attachment to accept faire tokens; glancing down into his bag, he noticed that there were a handful of them, and he snorted softly. "My winery has been producing for generations, and the chance to expand even farther than my forefathers could have imagined was one I could not dream to decline."

He paused for a beat, the corner of his lips turning up, just slightly. "Although there is always the chance that alcohol could worsen latent mental illnesses, isn't there? It's a tightrope to walk, but the opportunity to present different options could lessen some of the mental strain of such a fatiguing sentinel."

That was the hope, in any case - those of the Free City found themselves in celebration, and found themselves turning to him for their libations, but this was a vastly different scenario than the cold embrace of space and a lonesome sentry seeking the comfort of a bottle. He didn't know the enforcement protocols of the space station, but he did know the regulatory hoops he was jumping through to bring Dawn Winery to the stars.

"If you would like, I would be happy to escort you to my kiosk farther in, we have some curated flights that you might enjoy. If it isn't too far off the path you came to enjoy for yourself."

oh. there's a gift bag.

[dxwnbreak]

She surprised him.

(She kept doing that.)

It was not the answer that one might have been expecting, and Diluc knew that - there were gentler ways to approach it, but that was not how he approached it, and when she did not shy away, did not even seem off-put, that in itself was more than simple politesse. The admittance, too, that she had not lost one close to her seemed a faraway dream, and there was the rueful part of him that wondered if one was truly so fortunate - not in that she had not lost, but was it that she had not loved and lost?

But then at her offer, so simple and forthright, an earnest bid to pay respects to those that she had not known nor could ever know...even if entirely innocent, there was an intimacy in the sharing of grief that Diluc could not pretend he was thoroughly acquainted with.

There was a sharp inhalation, the thick scent of the incense on the winter air wisping around him like the tail of a seelie, and he let the moment hang in the air for only that breath before he nodded.

"I...would like that. I think he would, as well."

If she would allow him, then, after this kindness to spend time at the festival proper, then he would have liked that as well.

@dxwnbreak | cont

The initial silence of her reply pulls her lips from their polite smile to something more serious. Though the circumstances of the act themselves are unfamiliar, there is something to the practiced manner with which he goes about the task that hints at a procedure with greater meaning. Though her eyebrow raises a touch at the burst of flame he conjures with his bare hand, she waits patiently as he goes about the task.

His answer ends up being as blunt as one might make it.

“I see.” She responds, watching the smoke rise and dance on the slight breeze that carries through the area. She is no stranger to grief and death. The mara-struck haunt most long-lived species from the moment they are born. Though it may not be a concern to the Vidyadhara as it is to others, she has seen what fear of losing one’s self can do to some.

Quietly, she considers the ritual, and then his offer. “I’ve been fortunate enough in my life that, whatever else I may have experienced, no one dear to me has been lost yet.” She admits. “However…if it suits you, might you indulge me in allowing me to perform the ritual for those you have lost?”

[dxwnbreak]

That the girl would react so vehemently could not have come as a surprise, and Diluc spread his hands outward in a gesture of peace, keeping his expression carefully neutral. She had been only a child when last he'd seen her, but the experiences that she had gone through would have made a beast of any adult - that she had come out the other side, even skittish, was a testament to her strength.

"Of course. My apologies, I mean you no harm, that was my mistake. In such a crowd, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed, can't it?" The excuses on her behalf came easily enough, the corners of his eyes creasing softly.

"For that matter, I'm surprised to see you here." It wasn't a judgement, merely a statement of fact. Diluc canted his head, then gestured with a jerk of it. "Come on, I have a private viewing table for the contest. I'm sure we can find another chair for it."

He led the way, taking the care not to weave through the crowd in the way that he normally would, but to stride forward deliberately, parting the crowd as he went for the girl to follow in the empty space left in his wake - the table was as advertised, on a raised side deck overlooking the stage, and he gestured for the promised seat before taking his own and pouring tea.

Steepling his fingers, Diluc considered the girl before him, flicking his eyes down toward the stage once when he heard the commencement of the main event, before speaking again.

"I'm certain that the stories being told below are culturally enriching for all present, however, I will admit the story I'm more interested in hearing right now is yours. If you'll indulge me, that is."

an old story, from before the tiger got her stripes

[dxwnbreak]

To his credit, for all that he did not relish the spotlight, Diluc did not wilt beneath it, either, maintaining steady eye contact with the ruffled man who had called out for his attention after commencement. His eyes travelled downward, only for a moment, as he lowered his head for an aide to murmur details about the contestant – Fontainian? That one? There seemed no other information about him but that he had traveled from that general direction, where his staff had managed to collect detailed records on all the others – before flicking back to meet the challenge head on.

Diluc smiled. Or rather, the corners of his mouth lifted, and he inclined his head in acquiescence.

"Very well."

Although he had been dressed to the nines in crisp darks and a tailored waistcoat, hands moved to shuck the outer layers, to roll up his shirtsleeves as he moved from his position and onto the playing field – in a metaphorical sense, yes, but in the literal sense as well, long strides putting him comfortably behind the long oak counter in the center. While it had been claimed by the more aged contestants, a look and a gesture had them lifting from their propped elbows and watching curiously.

"It may surprise you to learn, those who are not from here," he began, idly rifling through the various bottles and vials that had been spread about on the counter and shelves as he spoke, lifting some here and there to inspect, or putting them back with the barest shake of his head; "That steeped in Mondstadt's fine tradition of libation, comes quite the penchant for revelry. We are the City of Freedom, after all. Aren't we, Oliver?"

The old drunk said nothing, but grinned, as though unsure if he should but knowing that it was better to wear the attention with pride than with shame, and knowing, too, that when Diluc took over behind the bar, no matter the scolding, the drink he was about to receive would be unparalleled.

"Back long before the Four Winds, before Vennessa broke her chains, there was only the field, and the mountain - " it was a common start to a story, or at least the ones he had heard of a time that was before the before, " - and to seek protection from the wilds, or perhaps to harness it, who knows, those who lived in the field made the trek up the mountain, and collected herbs along the way."

As though in demonstration, Diluc plucked a few sprigs of green, pungently aromatic already, even before he tossed them into the shaker and muddled with lemon and mint. Even though they were on the grounds, and out of doors, the bright, earthy, sweet, unmistakably green scent seeped through the air and caused those at the judge's table to perk up with interest.

He continued, reaching now for decanters of liquid, pouring in a manner that was so practiced it seemed almost careless; "Although the ritual could have been called prayer to a divinity they did not understand, it could just as easily have been called what it was: raucous celebration, and lasted days, and even weeks on end. To welcome the spring season, to gather the strength of the world around them into their arms and harness it for the coming year."

A few ice cubes plonked into the shaker, then a few aggressive shakes, and the interest of all around seemed fixated entirely on Diluc's movements, even more than his words.

And then, as though it seemed unavoidable - if the delicate grimace on his face was any indication - Diluc reached for a bottle of SoulGlad and cracked the top, pouring into a selection of glasses, and topping with a jigger of the mixture he had just shaken. He then did the same with a bottle of SoulJoy.

With a hand, he gestured for the judges to come take their share, and with a smirk of the cat that got the cream, he gestured for the contestants to help themselves as well.

"To commence, may I introduce: the Master of the Forest. I daresay they would not have had this ingredient to hand, once upon a time, but who knows. Perhaps if our fair ancestors were here today, they would approve of the body it lends."

you want a rum and what?

[dxwnbreak]

Lantern Rite 2025

Asked:

Lumine

Clorinde

Venti

Answered:

Lingsha

Sampo Koski

Baizhu

Albedo

Kokomi

[dxwnbreak]

[BURNING INCENSE] - Even with all the raucous celebration, it is always important to find a quiet moment and remember those who now belong among the stars. i goofed and forgor to include this ignore my first ask but also dw about this one too if it's too late to get to hahaha

"I see you've joined in the festivities as well."

Oh? Amidst the sea of wicking stalks, already lit, it would seem he had not been the only one who had stolen away for a moment of quiet.

The end of the holiday grew nigh. Glowing cherries in the night, accompanied only by lantern lights below and the moon overhead, the fragrant incense illuminated the faces of two Mondstadtians. Most of the pots had already been spoken for, staked full save but one.

"Mr. Diluc." greets Albedo, a wisp of a smile—and could that be a pinch of humor?—playing across his lips. Just a few unlit sticks jutted out from his grasp; he raised them, accompanied by a gesture of tilted head. "I don't suppose you'd have a match on you?"

He heard the footsteps echoing in the hall as the night had begun to wind down, all the louder as the hall had gone from quiet to silent as most had trailed out to find the last bit of merriment that they sought from the festival.

It was a surprise, then, when the voice that accompanied those steps was one he not only recognized, but held with the high regard of...well, if not friend, then friendly, at least.

His nod was short, but not curt, and his eyes flicked to the side to watch as Albedo settled beside him. "I have made myself known about the Rite."

The pot which held his final stick of incense had the room for one more, and with a gentle curve of his lip and a small huff of laughter through his nose, amused, Diluc gently pressed the tip of his fingers to light the ends of Albedo's offerings.

They sat in companionable quiet for a moment while the smoke curled upwards, joining the many others who had come to pay respect, before Diluc tilted his head at the young man.

"You should enjoy the time that remains here. I believe things are almost over."

[dxwnbreak]

[BURNING INCENSE]

Even in the midst of a celebration of change and renewal, of life in all its beauty, death finds its place. Kokomi had known, somehow, that she'd eventually find her way to this particular event; that it's now, as dusk falls on one of the last days of the festival, seems particularly apt. She lights her incense and bows her head, and begins to whisper her list of names.

Soldiers of Watatsumi, fallen under her command, or lost to the Delusions the Fatui had distributed.

Soldiers of Narukami, slain by her hand and word.

Vision-bearers, cut down as they attempted to flee or fight.

Sailors, sent to a watery grave by the storm-wall the Archon had summoned.

The smaller resistance cells on other islands she'd sent what aid and supplies she could, only to watch them fall.

The innocent townspeople of Yashiori, who she'd failed to save from the tatarigami outbreak.

Kokomi can't remember every name - and isn't that it's own tragedy? So much blood on her hands that she can't even quantify it. Such devastation she has wrought, that it all blends together. On the dark nights, when all that haunts her seems so very real and present, she wishes, more than anything, that she could forget.

And yet, who will carry the burden of remembrance if she will not? Who will count the cost, and bear the scars? This duty, the last duty, is one she will never set down, no matter how it pains her.

She's not the only one sitting by the small altar. But she's been here, reciting her list of the dead, long enough for several people to arrive, complete their own ceremony, and leave. And now, someone else has joined her vigil. She wonders, privately, how long they'll stay for.

As long as there was life, there would be something to mourn. It was an unspoken truth that Diluc held close to his heart, hyperaware that for every life fought for there would be a life lost, due to any number of things but ultimately due to the very limitations of being human. There were times, even, when it was a beautiful thing, to be cherished - to hold those moments close so that when the time came, the passing would be easier.

Or perhaps that was naive, perhaps it was the duty of those who lived to bring vibrancy to every lost moment, not to drag them around like the weight of a tombstone about their neck but to breathe such life into those moments, and the people who had made them, that it might seem like they'd never left at all.

He shook his head with a soft snort. No, that was naive.

Diluc realized that he had spent more time than was strictly necessary, or even seemly, in the hall of the lost, and knew that the scent of incense would cling to him wherever he went, a badge of his mourning, and he found that, while not proud necessarily, it was not something he would be ashamed of.

He was not the only one here, not at any moment, for no stretch of time, and in spite of the implication the notion was almost...

A frown pinched his brow. Not comforting, but perhaps calming was the better word. That there could be so much solidarity amongst people who had never met, and would never again.

Though footsteps paced in and out of the hall, one presence ever remained, steadfast and unchanging, murmuring underbreath in a language he did not understand, a staccato rhythm that rocked the air around her like water, lapped at his mind and tugged him into the current with her.

It occurred to him, then, that it might perhaps be a list, and it occurred to him, then, that his was not so long as hers, merely a single name repeated over and over like the tattoo of his heartbeat against his ribcage. If he were to keep a list, it was not of those he respected and wished to pay dues to.

He had paid them something rather different.

The cadence of her murmurs did not shift over time, did not seem to slow or grow shallower, no matter how many she seemed to pull from the depths, and while Diluc could not claim to know who, or where, or how, or why, he knew that what he could do for this stranger was sit in the quiet of the hall in prayer alongside her.

Sometimes, he knew, it helped not to be alone in a sea of the dead.

[dxwnbreak]

[LANTERNS]

"Mr. Ragnvindr? It is a pleasure to meet you in person."

Baizhu had only heard of the fame and renown of the Master of Dawn Winery, yet he was surprised to find out that not only was he visiting Liyue, but he was also taking the time to watch the Xiao Lanterns float into the sky, carrying the hopes and wishes of the people as they celebrate a new year.

The doctor himself was holding one of those red lanterns in his hands, getting ready to set it off into the sky. A paper slip with two sets of handwriting scribbled on - one messier than the other - was taped onto the lantern.

"If you're interested, there's a toy seller on the way to the docks that sells lanterns." He smiled at the man in dark clothes.

Although the tradition was not one that they had in Mondstadt, it was one that he enjoyed thinking about - a tangible, visual representation of hopes, dreams, wishes and prayers for the people to latch onto for a moment before releasing. It might have stemmed from the rules of a contract, as all things Liyuean did, but there was a certain freedom in it as well.

"A pleasure," Diluc parroted, inclining his head at the man who had greeted him - he was used to being recognized, even if not so far away from home, but it did not often put him on his back foot. "You are the proprietor of the Bubu Pharmacy, aren't you? Mr. Baizhu, if I am not mistaken."

His network expanded beyond the Free City's borders, and while it was the first time he had laid eyes on this man, the description of him was unmistakable, if only for the ever indelible detail of the white snake that garlanded his neck.

After a moment's pause, Diluc nodded a hello to the snake as well, unsure of the etiquette, but erring on the side of caution.

His own lantern had yet to be released into the sky, but it rested in his hands, meticulously crafted but still somehow off, different from all those made by hands used to the rite.

The next statement piqued his interest, and he considered a moment as he tossed the lantern into the sky.

"Is that so? Perhaps I will pay them a visit, to see if there might be an arrangement we can come to, to import some for the children of Mondstadt as well. Wind conditions would be more difficult to navigate, but I imagine we could find a way to make it work."

[dxwnbreak]

[JADE HEARTS] - A popular shape for a popular stone in the land of Geo, these Jade Talismans sold quite well. Now, they’re made as a profession of love and desire to ring the New Year in with the company of another.

"Ahem. Excuse me!"

Just a little tap on the shoulder, if that's alright. Sampo hoped to gain the redhead's attention. And should he succeed in such an endeavour? Ah! But what a show then awaited...!

Knelt behind him, head inclined, heart-shaped box in hand, Sampo Koski held the gift aloft, toward Diluc. Eyes a-glimmer, smile as affable as he could manage, he cleared his throat again.

"Would you indulge me a moment, sir? Pretty please?"

Oh dear. A small crowd had begun to gather.

The box gently lifted open, revealing none other than... oh my! T'was none other than a particular, quite specific sort of jade talisman... ...!

"I would be ever so delighted if you might accept this token... though..." He sniffled, wiping away a tear that was definitely totally one hundred percent there. "... I would be remiss in not mentioning that the one whose attentions you've captured is not I, Sampo Koski, myself...! No, sure, you're handsome n' all, but it is on my friend's behalf that I present you this Jade Heart."

Please take it. Don't just leave him hanging, bro.

"He's just a little shy is all, you see... But he surely means well. I had hoped to help in establishing a link between the two of you..."

Whether or not the box had been duly received, Sampo rose with a twirl into a flourish, before standing himself next to Diluc, somewhat conspiratorial as he whispered:

"Look, that's him right over there, near the Xinyue Kiosk. The fellow with the short, dark hair, and the black, white, and teal outfit... His name's Dan Heng! (@renascinem) Why don'tcha go say hi, friend? Mmm?~"

And woooosh!

Time for Sampo Koski to make good his escape, hehehe~!

The thing about being a wealthy and prominent figure is that one got approached for cons, swindles and otherwise tomfoolery with some frequency - there were those less canny than himself who had run afoul of those who might make a fool of them, and certainly during an event as crowded as the Liyue Lantern Rite.

This stranger, this Sampo Koski, did gain Diluc's attention - the slide of his eyes, first, to the spot on his shoulder that he had tapped, then after a beat to his face, watching the movement of his expression and the flick of his eyes with a stony focus. His eyes narrowed as the crowd began to gather, the line of his lips growing a tad more pinched as the case was extended to him, but while this stranger was all energy, Diluc provided him with nothing but watchful stillness.

He did not, notably, take the case, indeed forcing it to be placed before him on the ground as the man rose, all flutter and flourish.

The man made his escape, such as it was, but not without Diluc noting the length of his gait, the direction he had gone in, and every detail of his physicality that could not be easily changed in a public space. If it was a problem, then he would pursue.

Then, finally, after a long moment, hearing the jostle and nudge of the crowd around him, he dipped to pick up the case, and moved toward the Xinyua Kiosk, where the dark-haired young man stood, none the wiser.

[dxwnbreak]

[BURNING INCENSE]

She's certain that if she had wandered here with someone more familiar at her side, there would have been an easy joke to make. Of course she would find her way to where the incense was.

Her company is not that familiar, but still appreciated as she examines the sights. The myriad of smells are prepared with a sort of reverence that one seldom sees when preparing them for medical purposes. There is care, of course, but it is different from how things are being handled here.

"It seems as though there is quite a tradition involved here." Turning to Diluc, she smiles politely and nods her head towards a nearby burner. "Are you familiar enough with it to explain?"

That he might see her again, this time in somehow a more mundane and yet all the more fantastical setting, was not something that Diluc had considered. The Lantern Rite was famous, of course, but he could not have known that it was so famous as to reach those far beyond the ken of many of his countrymen.

That he might find her in a moment of quiet, this he expected even less.

Diluc did not reply at first, lighting the taper carefully with his own innate power, a pinch of his fingers against the end before pressing it to the tip of the stick of incense, watching it smoulder before leaning forward and gently blowing it out. His fingertips came together in prayer as though on instinct, the fan of his hands a practiced gesture, the squeezing shut of his eyes to block out all of the surroundings but for the echoing screams in the back of his mind, the stark panting of breath before the final shuddering rattle.

Finally, without opening his eyes, he said, bluntly, "It is meant to respect the dead."

He would not offer further, if she did not press, and after a breath in, out, he opened his eyes and brought his gaze to hers. "If you have someone that you would like to light one for...I will wait while you pray."

[dxwnbreak]

Ever since the Shackling Prison break, tensions and anxiety among the Luofu guards have been high, what with their inability to properly stop the borisin put on full display. Among the devoted soldiers, no one cares that their leader was freakin’ Hoolay in the flesh - as far as they’re concerned, they still should have put up more of a fight. Before long, it is decided: a new boot camp and training regiment is in order. Now, all they need is some skilled trainers and instructors who are willing to impart upon them new skills and knowledge, put them to the test and prepare them to face the big bad wolf should there ever come a next time. Of course, your efforts will be properly compensated. (starter for @dream-of-butterflies)

He didn't even think that he needed to wait until nightfall, if he were being honest.

The guards' shifts were laughably easy to predict, moving slowly from point A to point B with little variation to their internal clocks, slaves to their own poor habits as they sought the relief of entertainment, or food, or company. Anything except doing their jobs, it seemed, content even now to believe that the reinforcements of the prison would keep their charges in line.

Pathetic.

Diluc was able to slip from view without much effort, and to scale the walls unnoticed with even less. His footsteps traced in tandem with his escorts' shadows, silent against the stone and gone before they could turn to face him and see that he was more than mere wind in the eaves. Perhaps if he got just a little closer, stuck a sign on each of their backs, they might notice him.

But then, maybe not, for after just a few moments of ghosting, slipping keys from hanging hooks and following well-trod paths, he found himself in the office of the warden himself. In was easy, now what about out? That was the conceit of the plea for help, wasn't it? That a threat had gotten out, right under their noses, in spite of the prisoner's infamy.

If he were anyone else, he suspected that the presence behind him might have gone unnoticed, but there was the gentlest shift of the wind and the quietest click of the doorknob as the door closed behind her that alerted him to the entrance of his partner in this endeavor.

Eyes flicked to her, unused to the need for a second but not unwilling to work with her - she had proven herself capable so far.

"What have you found?" His tone indicated he wasn't expecting much.

blueprints in the night

[dxwnbreak]

✰ LANTERN RITE 2025 ! – reblog & send to earn Peace Talismans.

[XINYUE KIOSK] - Back again, Xinyue Kiosk’s keeping up the competition, offering sweet treats, savory dishes, and even refreshing veggies for all those looking to share a snack.

[TEA TASTING] - Third-Round Knockout is once again bringing the new year on with plenty of new tea options for all those caffeinated connoisseurs that want to branch out. Including, for the first time in quite a while, specialty imports all the way from Natlan!

[DRAGON DANCE] - Uh-oh! It seems like the main crew that would lead the dragon dance are two members short, and need two sets of hands NOW! Grab someone and help keep this dance from falling through.

[KAMERA BOOTH] - Liyue is as scenic as it is busy. Several Kamera’s are set up on the docks, surrounding mountains, and some of the best balconies in the area. Make a memory with someone important to you, or keep the lens' attention for yourself!

[LANTERNS] - Like a sea, lanterns float up and flood the night sky. Meaning often dictated by color, they contain our hopes for the new year. Gather with those most cherished and wish for blessings.

[FIREWORK SHOW] - While noisy, fireworks are an incredible display of beauty and color. Make your mark on the new year with a bang!

[JADE HEARTS] - A popular shape for a popular stone in the land of Geo, these Jade Talismans sold quite well. Now, they’re made as a profession of love and desire to ring the New Year in with the company of another.

[BURNING INCENSE] - Even with all the raucous celebration, it is always important to find a quiet moment and remember those who now belong among the stars.

[TOUR GUIDE] - With as many sights to see as Liyue has, join up with a group of strangers to garner the best sights across the city and countryside!

[GIANT JENGA] - While not necessarily a Liyue classic, a recent uptick amongst the younger generation has brought this classic game to the port, and with blocks bigger than ever! Will you best your friend, or will all the pieces come crumbling down? 

[RED ENVELOPES] - Customize your own envelope as a gift to those most cherished. Whether you slip in some mora or a confession of love, even the smallest of envelopes can be life-changing!

[SNAKE PETTING] - As the mascot animal of the year, an exhibit has been set up with several non-venomous and super friendly snakes, if you’re not afraid of these scaly babies.

[JADE MYSTERY] - Shitou is running a special promotion! Guess the correct Noctilucous Jades to find out what it is, just don't gamble all of your mora away...

[dxwnbreak]

The reality of work at the Herta Space Station is that the researchers, who hail from all across the universe, rarely ever have an opportunity to visit home and celebrate whatever festivities their nations traditionally enjoy. Hardly surprising that some of them become a little homesick. A group decides soon to put together a faire, where they can share elements of their culture while learning about the beauty of others. Guests who wish to broaden their horizons, or perhaps even share their own, are of course more than welcome! (starter for @crimsondragcn)

There was nothing that could have prepared him for going off-world for the first time, no reassurance from Adalinde nor the strongest dandelion wine he offered, neither of which he could have stomached in any case. It was only meant to be for a few days, a trial expansion for his wine into the stars and beyond, or however it was being advertised, as an ammenity for those who spent their lives in vigil of the cosmos.

Or however it was being advertised. Diluc had never had issues with providing comfort to those who needed it, and in spite of everything, he did not think that he could comprehend the isolation of deep space.

Stepping onto the skybridge leading into the conference area, seeing the vastness before him, he still didn't think that he could comprehend it.

The area itself wasn't packed insofar as people went, but the stalls themselves were fitted tightly in neat rows, organized to make most efficient use of the space with stalls advertising herbal scented hand warmers, art and art supplies, local literature from many different localities, and others, including his own product, in little popup vendors installed here and there. He did not even, necessarily, need to be present, other staff happy to take on the burden of labor, but even still he had taken the journey at Adalinde's prodding, the gentle crease of her eyes as she told him, "It might be good for him."

Straightening his posture as he entered the brightly lit space, adjusting the lanyard about his neck and clipping the attached name placard to his lapel, he stepped forward.

"Welcome! Please, don't forget to take your complimentary gift bag! Enjoy the faire!"

He nodded his thanks, sighing only when the owner of the voice had turned to address another as he surveilled what was inside the bag. Trinkets, knick knacks mostly. Diluc kept his face a polite mask, turning to nod at the woman who appeared to have arrived just before him.

"What a relief that the glitter is complimentary," he said before he could help it, then shook his head and added, "It is a nice thing, they are doing for those stationed here. It must get very lonely."

oh. there's a gift bag.