papilio-anima

[papilio-anima]

// Oh damn this genshin rp blog still exists

// No but seriously. I know I have been on a pretty long hiatus here. But I needed to take a break and rethink what I wanted to do. Not to mention it's been overwhelmingly busy with work, family, and medical appointments around here. Sooo my focus could only be on one RP muse at a time.

That being said, I'm hoping that sometime later next month I can start writing her again and finding my muse for Hu Tao. (no guaranteed time frame yet) Just waiting for things to at least calm down before I do. I should mention that this RP blog is a secondary one and will still have sporadically low activity.

I plan to work on making some new icons, reorganize her blog, as well as do a follower clean out. (going to be more selective on who interact with) I'm not sure if I can get to all the replies I owe. It's been a while and some of the threads I have lost the context to what was going on. Sooo trying to cook something up is jdkaljakl.

I think it's best I kinda start fresh here on her blog. I apologize if that results in dropped threads. But this is the best I can offer in my situation. In exchange I'll try to add new prompts to send things to, etc.

God I really need to catch up with Genshin, too. But instead I'm binging pokemon content for my main RP blog. Anyways thanks for your patience~

[papilio-anima]

[papilio-anima]

@grislyintentions / Zhongli

"Aiyaaa...there is no need to thank me, Mr. Zhongli. As interesting as astronomy can be my knowledge obviously lies ..buried..else where" Hu Tao bemused.

Still following a map of the stars was something the director couldn't help but do as much of her time was spent strolling Liyue during the late night hours. "It's a habit a night owl such as myself may have picked up. But alas, my responsibility comes with this family business~"

Oh no. Hu Tao made a confused blink. Wait how did they get to this topic again? "Ah forgive me, my dear consultant. I've had a few other things on my mind lately. Mostly the events of the most recent Lantern Rite. Now let's see..." she scratched her head trying to dig out that fleeting memory.

Perhaps it should still stay hidden cause she made another grimace followed by an exasperated sigh. "Hold on, you were asking the definition of what a sigma was?"

Sheesh the stuff she was dragged into. "Well in astronomical terms it is a measure of uncertainty. But there is a slang term for such. How to explain this...aiya... word on the street it is used to describe someone who is both rebellious popular and aloof. Or in much more crude and simple terms...an alpha male"

Her hands ran down her face. Why this lesson??

Who would have thought those terms would be associated with astronomy?

“Fascinating,” the consultant remarks. “I thank you for your insightful knowledge. I do not believe we have ever touched upon the subject: was astronomy a topic of study you were interested in pursuing prior to your decision to take up the mantle of funeral director?”

It appears that he is learning more interesting facets of her personality the more they work together. To be able to catch glimpses of the nuances that make her who she is, is a privilege awarded only to those who have had the opportunity to befriend her. Zhongli will not take that lightly.

“More than one definition?” He raised his brows. “Could you expand on that?”

@papilio-anima

[papilio-anima]

what kind of "i love you" are you?

i love you and i wish you knew just how much

the pining, the aching, the wishing, and hoping; it's what you whisper to yourself under the cover of darkness as you fall asleep thinking of them. it's the text you've typed out and deleted before sending at least a dozen times. it's the countless pictures of them you have of them on your phone, the home screen image of their smile that you know will give you away the next time they jokingly swipe your phone. it sits restless and suffocating at the back of your throat. rip dude, i know how that is.

[papilio-anima]

★ 【COCOball】 「 🌸 」 ✔ republished w/permission ☆ follow btt’s fanart twitch stream!

[papilio-anima]

🦋 | whisper

[papilio-anima]

For a moment Hu Tao returned a quizzical expression right back at the General Mahamatra. It was until she followed his gaze down to the fallen hillichurls. Oh. A breathed chuckle escaped from her.

"Aiyaaa. How else do you expect me to protect The Border between life and death?" she musingly quipped. "Did you really think my funeral business was doing -that- poorly?"

Regardless, the issue of the corrupt priest as well as the current state of Wuwang Hill remained. Even more so, why did it attract someone from Sumeru? Was the events that happened during Lantern Rite more than just centered around Liyue? Somehow these were all connected.

The director made a thoughtful hum listening to Cyno. "My trade? Well, there had been some trouble recently. In regards to mortality rates going haywire. Death was encroaching faster than usual," she explained reflecting on that fact that the rituals performed to put a bandaid on the problem were dangerous themselves.

"As I've been predicting it seems that the trouble is far from over. More so with your sudden lapse in memory this is proving to be more of a challenge. Right, well then. Let 's take a look at those notes, shall we?"

While awaiting for Cyno to retrieve that journal, Hu Tao shook her head. "No..no payment. Your case just sparked curiosity in my own investigation. Though.." she reached into her pocket producing the ever infamous coupon "If you ever do feel the need to have Wangsheng Funeral Parlor perform any services that include actual burials we do offer an array of affordable deals~"

Too tacky? Perhaps. But hey she was simply just trying to run her own business. "It's just that it is my responsibility when it comes to matters of mortality."

"... Hmph." The General raised an eyebrow, glancing down again, at the fallen hilichurls. For someone tasked with taking care of the dead, this girl surely had all the necessary skills to make the dead herself. Was Liyue running low on the main material?

A funny joke he hoped he could remember later, when he'd go home and share this story with his friend. He was sure he could elicit at least a groan out of Tighnari.

"I do not remember what brought me here. Though I assume that if I did indeed ask for your guidance, then your trade may have had something to do with it." Cyno said. He took note of the absence of his traveling bag. He had to have left them behind at a camp, or maybe an inn nearby. "I don't like the idea of leaving an investigation suspended, but maybe checking my personal notes in my journal could help me jog my memory."

The General paused, preferring to keep the rest for himself for now.

"... Mind if I ask you why you're so inclined to help me? Do I owe you payment?"

[papilio-anima]

(x)

[papilio-anima]

‘ oh no. don't tell me it's locked. ‘

PROMPTS FOR THE FORCED PROXIMITY TROPE @electric-ecclectic

"Locked? Don't be silly I just propped a door sto..." the director's voice trailed off seeing that their own form of exit was now indeed closed off.

Somehow the small crate that was used to keep it open was now inside the funeral parlor storage room along with both Hu Tao and Signe. The former did her best to not show too much of a guilty expression.

"Aiyaaa...not to worry my dear client," she added in a hopefully reassuring tone. "I'm sure our delightful Ferrylady would realize we have been back here just a bit longer than expected."

She was sure Signe would be crossing her fingers. After all, being stuck in a room full of seemingly empty caskets and other funerary ornaments? The sun was starting to set and only a little bit of light filtered through the dusty glass panes. The room itself wasn't too small. Still they were going to be stuck there for an undetermined amount of time.

It totally wasn't her fault she didn't carry a key on her person. Or rather forgot it. "You know, this isn't the first time I have experienced such. Happened quite a bit when I started working here. Although sometimes it may have been purposeful on my behalf~," she joked in admittance.

[papilio-anima]

PROMPTS FOR THE FORCED PROXIMITY TROPE *  assorted dialogue for the moments and circumstances that force two characters to spend time together, adjust as necessary

who said i agreed to any of this?

i said i would help you. i didn't say i would be nice to you while i'm helping you.

you scratch my back and i'll scratch yours.

oh no. don't tell me it's locked.

i was hired to protect you. that's my job.

i'm actually starting to tolerate you, believe it or not.

i don't want to be stuck here with you.

i'll work with anyone but you.

i'm not letting you sleep on the floor.

they're forcing me to work with you and i don't like it.

how long do you think we'll be stuck here?

is that the only tent we have?

i think we're snowed in here. we'd better find a way to stay warm.

it's going to take a few days for them to reach us.

you sleep in that room, and i'll take this one.

you can't get rid of me that easily.

i'm just going to come right out and say it - i hate being here just as much as you do, but we have to make this work.

don't get any ideas.

i'm going to see if they'll switch my room.

until you came along, i had this under control.

if we're going to survive this, we'd better work together.

why did they sit me next to you?

i'd like to be as far away from you as possible.

out of all the people in the world, i had to get stuck with you.

guess you're just gonna have to get over it.

i thought you were worse than this.

i'm not going anywhere, and neither are you.

you're not exactly my favorite person to be around.

well, get used to it. i'm not leaving.

i told them i don't need a bodyguard.

i never wanted to spend this much time with you.

all this time spent together has really opened my eyes.

you're not as bad as i thought you were.

we might as well try to get along.

i guess i should learn a little bit about you.

i think that means we're the only ones left.

there's no way i'm sharing a room with you.

you again? i've seen enough of you already.

i thought [name] was coming. why are you here?

they're counting on us to save them.

since we'll be here for a while... might as well make the best out of it.

i think we can set aside our differences for two minutes and work this out.

honestly, i think i was wrong about you at first.

there's absolutely no way i'm working with you.

fine, but you're sleeping on the floor. i'll take the bed.

as your bodyguard, i'm supposed to stay with you at all times.

i think we're snowed in for a while.

you could always sleep on this side of the bed.

we have to at least pretend we like each other.

the whole point in having a bodyguard is for me to keep you safe.

i don't like asking for your help, but here i am, asking.

you and i are the only ones who can deal with this.

you don't have a say in the matter.

looks like we're stuck here.

just sleep in the bed with me. i'll even make a pillow wall between us.

i'm not sharing a tent with you.

i need you to stay out of my way.

could you at least "guard" me from over there? why do you have to stand so close?

[papilio-anima]

(x)

[papilio-anima]

Wholesomevalues.

[papilio-anima]

"You looked surprised," the director teased judging by Cyno's confusion expression when he saw the defeated hillichurl laying upon the ground. Though the body was still twitching involuntarily, at the moment it posed no threat. It would have been quite the spectacle if this actually all was part of a trap.

"And before you ask..no, I wasn't in cahoots with our sudden friend either. My job is to simply bury those who have already passed on." As she spoke her eyes darted around the surrounding woods as looking for an other signs of malicious activity. Since the last lantern rite Wuwang Hill hadn't been feeling the same at all. Even someone who was well acquainted with the area like herself still had to take precaution.

With that thought in mind she turned her attention back to the General Mahamatra. "To be fair, I could be saying the same about trusting you." Hu Tao may have been knowing for her playfully eccentric nature, however, she too knew how to get a good read on others.

She did vaguely recall he had been pursing a dangerous person. A priest a matter of fact as she soon learned. Things were starting to make sense. Of course he would have thought a funeral parlor would have worked aside a corrupted one. Somehow he had made his way to Liyue in pursuit of him. So why here of all places? The forest seemed dead quiet while she gathered her thoughts, and the feeling of time standing still felt more prevalent.

"I see. So then it is best to try to retrace our steps, no? Aiyaa..this is certainly a predicament. Tell me, what is the last thing you do remember?" she asked.

"...!" His armed hand had turned to strike at the presence suddenly creeping behind him, but to his own surprise, he was anticipated... not to be attacked at the back by the funeral director, but to be rescued. His posture straightened as he looked down on the collapsed hilichurls.

Of course, there was always a chance that this could also be a part of a trap... but Cyno knew from experience that hilichurls made for very poor actors. Or comedians. Or a comedian's audience too, for that matter. All tried and tested personally.

Their intelligence aside, he figured a group of bandits would have been a far better suit assistant in setting up a false rescue to earn his trust. Hilichurls were far too stubborn to be instructed like that.

"... Very well. Maybe it is true that you can be trusted." He said, casting a more careful look on the girl. "... Restless spirits or not, the man I'm pursuing is a dangerous priest. I had to be prepared to take a few risks, if it meant unmasking one of his minions. But you might not be one."

He paused then, frowning in frustration. After a few seconds of quiet, he shook his head once more.

"... I still do not recall following you, or anyone else to this place..." He confessed bitterly. Just... how had he even made his way to Liyue? He was so far away from Sumeru.

[papilio-anima]

(x)

[papilio-anima]

a tender glimpse beneath the surface

❝ i'll always protect you. ❞

❝ i never meant to get this close, but now that i have i can't let you go. ❞

❝ i live for the moments when you look at me. the rest of the time i'm just existing. ❞

❝ i don't like how you make me feel. but i like not being around you even less. ❞

❝ i wish you wouldn't look at me like that. when you look at me like that i...it makes me wanna do things i shouldn't ❞

❝ there's no line i wouldn't cross for you. don't you realize that? ❞

❝ i did this for you. no one else. ❞

❝ i don't like it, but i'll do it for you. ❞

❝ i wonder how much of myself i'll have to give to you—how much i have to lay bare—before you realize how much you're taking. ❞

❝ i'm not trying to fix you. i'm just trying to be your friend. ❞

❝ i'm not um, real good at thank yous. or sorry's. but if you ever need me, i'm there. i owe you one. ❞

❝ i've seen you at your worst and i'm still standing here. ❞

❝ you've seen me at my worst but you're still here... ❞

❝ you can be mad at me, i can take it. i'd rather you be angry than shut me out. ❞

❝ i'm not angry, i'm just scared. ❞

❝ i know you love me, but do you like me? ❞

❝ do you think i'm a good person? ❞

❝ do you think i care for you so little that betraying me would make a difference? of course i'm helping you. ❞

❝ tell me what i can do to show you how i love you. i will give you anything you ask for. ❞

❝ you don't have to keep apologizing. just be here. day in and day out and prove that you're gonna keep showing up. that's all you have to do. ❞

❝ i only sleep well when you're next to me. ❞

❝ i don't want an apology i just want to understand. ❞

❝ i could actually use a hug right now. ❞

❝ i want everyone else to go away, but you can stay. ❞

❝ i actually do care what you think about. you're probably one of the only people whose opinion matters to me. ❞

❝ you always seem to know what i need. ❞

❝ you always seem to know just what i need to hear. ❞

❝ i want you to call me when you need someone. i want to be here for you. ❞

❝ you're the one i wanna call when i need someone. ❞

❝ seems like i always want you around when everything feels all fucked up. guess that means something. ❞

[papilio-anima]

(x)

[papilio-anima]

★ 【壱珂】 「 胡桃 」 ☆ ✔ republished w/permission ⊳ ⊳ follow me on twitter