studentofstars

[studentofstars]

I can see that I have unopened messages but I can't look at them this is so FRUSTRATING

OOC:

Okay I don't know if the site is just broken, or if I've been shadowbanned, or what, but my Tumblr messages are still completely broken. The only thing that shows up when I click on them is an empty black box and I really don't know what to do. I contacted support a few days ago but I have no idea if they'll do anything.

[studentofstars]

OOC:

Okay I don't know if the site is just broken, or if I've been shadowbanned, or what, but my Tumblr messages are still completely broken. The only thing that shows up when I click on them is an empty black box and I really don't know what to do. I contacted support a few days ago but I have no idea if they'll do anything.

[studentofstars]

Layla was used to stress. Even if she may not be known for handling it well, she had experienced more than her fair share of it already.

But honestly, this took the cake.

It had started out well- Layla had received the rare opportunity to study in Fontaine for a while, in order to observe a rare celestial event and report on it. This project had the potential to impress her teachers a lot, if she was able to pull it off.

But of course, everything had quickly gone wrong. She’d been stopped on her way out of the city, and politely but firmly informed that she had to take a mandatory gliding exam.

She barely ever used her glider! And she was completely unprepared to be tested on anything today!

Layla could feel her heartbeat rising in her ears as she watched the other participants mill about and line up. For now, she simply stood to the side and observed. She really could have used some practice time in advance, but the officiants probably wouldn’t let her take to the air until her license was renewed and she couldn’t afford to get in trouble for doing it anyway.

That being said, she also couldn’t afford to fail this examination and get stuck here. Would she be forced to take a remedial class and embarrass herself? Be banned from flying while in a foreign nation?

Just thinking about it was making her feel faint…

@romaritime-flower

What Goes Up

Layla and Sigewinne | Commision Board: Destruction

[studentofstars]

💔 BROKEN HEART — is there anyone in your life you wish you had a better relationship with? if so, how come? what makes this person important to you?

Layla looks at her hands awkwardly. This is the kind of worry that keeps her up in the small amount of time she gets to sleep, so she doesn’t need to consider for very long.

“I wish I could connect with my classmates more. I’d really like to have friends in the Akademiya…just people that I could study and spend time with. I think I might understand the lessons better, if I could review them with someone else, and I …”

She sighs and droops over dejectedly. “I just really miss spending time with people. Everyone here is so smart, and I want them to think highly of me, even if I don’t exactly deserve it… I guess I’m just lonely, and care about other student’s opinions.”

She sighs again. “I don’t have much free time to spend though, and neither does anyone else here. So that probably won’t happen anytime soon.”

*✧⁎✧*

[studentofstars]

🎈 BALLOON — what is something you've created and/or accomplished recently that you're proud of?

“Oh, uh… this is a tough question… what have I accomplished recently?”

Layla tilts her head to the side, clearly thinking hard. Rarely does she dwell on her accomplishments for long- after all, the work would keep piling on even if she stopped to celebrate, and besides, there were always others who could do it better. Coming up with a reason to be proud of herself was almost as tough as an actual quiz.

“I guess… last week, I made a star chart to support my thesis, and it turned out really well! I went over it until I couldn’t find a single thing wrong with it, and my advisor actually seemed impressed! It even won an award!”

She straightens up abruptly. “It’s because I had more time than normal to review it! If I had more time to work on my assignments, I could definitely do them better!”

Then she deflates again with a sigh. “But…I don’t. I’ll just have to be happy with what I can do…”

*✧⁎✧*

[studentofstars]

What do they commonly misinterpret because of their own upbringing / environment / biases? How do they respond when realizing the misunderstanding?

Undoubtably, the thing Layla misinterprets the most would be her own talent and how she compares to her peers. She is intensely critical of herself, and not only does she constantly expect major mistakes in her work, any mistake she makes, she fixates on. Layla is a person who defines herself by the quality of the work she does, and she has yet to realize that mistakes are a natural part of learning and growing. Instead, she holds them over her own head as examples of why she isn’t good enough.

I think a big reason why she holds such a strong self-deprecating view is that she went from living in a small community where she was looked up to as the most talented to an environment filled with the very best, with little preparation for the differing atmosphere there. And she holds a sort of internalized expectation that talented people never actually struggle. So being surrounded by peers and mentors who do immensely difficult work and not seeing them struggle with it has given her the mindset that the reason why she has difficulties is because she just isn’t up to par.

It also needs to be mentioned that other people don’t actually see her that way. The general view of Layla among her peers is that she’s an “eccentric genius”, and the fact that people (somewhat ironically) view her as one of the most talented students leads them to set higher expectations for her than everyone else. She doesn’t realize that her classmates aren’t being held to the same standards, because her conviction of her own inadequacy has become so deeply ingrained that the idea that other “geniuses” may think of her as someone especially talented would never occur to her. And even if someone does tell her that, she won’t believe it, because her self-doubt is completely internalized.

And, ironically, this misperception of herself and its incongruousness with other people’s opinions of her is what leads to her isolation. The other students either consider Layla an “eccentric genius”, as previously mentioned, and shrug their shoulders at all her strange behavior before leaving her to her work, or they actively resent her. As her story quest shows, there are students who find her irritating because she seems to be constantly stressed and falling apart at the seams but somehow still gets top marks on every assignment. In their eyes, she’s a superior student and has no right to complain so much when she’s not even struggling. They don’t realize that her fear and stress is genuine.

As for how she would resolve the misunderstanding- keep in mind that this hasn’t actually happened in cannon yet, as she’s currently a static character. (Though with the new Traveler Tales, we may finally be getting somewhere! I’m loving the new Layla content in Mizuki’s anecdotes.) I believe it would take time to build up to the realization that she isn’t the only one struggling. In my opinion, the best way to get her to realize her own self-worth would be if she actually managed to make some friends in the Akademiya and study with them, so she could see that other people are struggling too and have some time to process that. Right now, she believes that the reason why she struggles so much is her own lack of talent and that other students don’t, so seeing that disproven would do her a world of good.

And it would probably take some time, but I think eventually, Layla would look around her one day and realize, oh. I’m really no worse than everyone else is.

And it would be a big revelation for her, because most of her problems stem from being too caught up in her own head. But what she really needs is to gradually build her own confidence and see more of how her peers are living. Then one day she’ll be able to realize that she’s not alone after all.

(Realizing that she’s actually a prodigy and dealing with the Blessing of the Stars would be a whole other ball game though…)

Anyway, thank you very much for this ask! I had a lot of fun with it, if you couldn’t tell. Sorry for writing you an entire essay, and I hope it was worth the wait. (If you were wondering why it took so long, I was overseas for an extended period of time and didn’t have my laptop to write on. Sorry again for the delay).

*✧⁎✧*

[studentofstars]

IN CHARACTER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS .

send an emoji/series of emojis for my muse to answer any of the following questions in character! for some questions, there are fields italicized and bolded for you to fill in with the name of a person/place/event/etc in the muse's life. please remember to fill in these spaces in order for the question to make sense! each emoji is described in case you can't see them, and they are listed alphabetically. ♡

✈️ AIRPLANE — have you traveled anywhere that helped you discover something about yourself and/or about the world?

😠 ANGRY FACE — how easy or difficult is it for you to express your emotions? if you find it difficult, what do you think is holding you back?

🎨 ARTIST PALETTE — what are some hobbies that you like to partake in? do you think they're just to pass time or to distract yourself, or do you believe some of them potentially have therapeutic outcomes for you?

🎈 BALLOON — what is something you've created and/or accomplished recently that you're proud of?

🖤 BLACK HEART — what would you say is the darkest thought you've ever experienced? what do you think caused you to have that thought? have you ever planned on or fantasized about acting on it?

🏹 BOW AND ARROW — if there's something from your past that you'd give anything to go back in time and redo, what is it?

💔 BROKEN HEART — is there anyone in your life you wish you had a better relationship with? if so, how come? what makes this person important to you?

🎄 CHRISTMAS TREE — what is your favorite holiday and why?

🌙 CRESCENT MOON — what would you say is your current biggest dream and/or career aspiration and why?

❌ CROSS MARK — how would your life be different if [name of person] had never been in it? would it be better or worse?

⚔️ CROSSED SWORDS — do you have any skills that you are absolutely grateful you have and that mean a lot to you? how do you usually use these skills? would they come in handy if someone you cared about was in trouble?

🔮 CRYSTAL BALL — what is a core memory from your childhood that you think defines you today?

🗡️ DAGGER — what is something or someone you know you can't afford to lose? how far are you willing to go to make sure you don't lose it/them?

💧 DROPLET — are you grieving something or someone? do you feel like you lost something or a part of yourself with it/them?

😶‍🌫️ FACE IN CLOUDS — is there something you're hiding from the people you love? if so, how urgent is it for them to hear it? what's holding you back from sharing it?

🍂 FALLEN LEAVES — how would you metaphorically describe your life and the journey(s) you've been on?

👻 GHOST — is there someone or something that you feel is missing from your life? do you know if there's any way to find it/them?

🩶 GRAY HEART — what kind of friend do your friends consider you to be (mom friend, uncle friend, funny friend, etc) and why? what do you think this says about your personality?

🤝 HANDSHAKE — do family or platonic relationships mean more to you? or do they mean different things to you?

❤️‍🔥 HEART ON FIRE — what angers you the most? what triggers this anger, and how do you cope with it? what does this anger feel like, if you had to describe it?

💋 KISS MARK — if you had to share a romantic kiss with a loved one, where would you share that kiss and why? are you thinking about giving this romantic kiss somewhere other than the other person's lips?

✝️ LATIN CROSS — are you a religious person? did you grow up religious? does your faith mean anything to you today?

🩵 LIGHT BLUE HEART — what do you fantasize about the most often (generally/sexually/etc)? are there any people that are significant to or that you can see in this fantasy and why?

⚡️ LIGHTNING BOLT — how has [significant event in muse's life] impacted you? what has it made you realize about yourself? about others? about the world?

💄 LIPSTICK — have you had any romantic or sexual experiences that made you realize something about yourself?

🪄 MAGIC WAND — would you describe yourself as a superstitious person (someone who believes in superstitions)? do you believe in luck?

❤️‍🩹 MENDING HEART — how strongly do you experience your emotions? does it depend on who you're interacting with and/or the context of the situation?

🎶 MUSICAL NOTES — what song lyrics do you think most accurately describe you? your journey through life? who you are as a person?

🫂 PEOPLE HUGGING — generally speaking, do you feel very supported by the people in your life? how strong and cohesive is your support system, if you have one? do you often feel like you're at the front of the line or pushed to the side by the people in your life?

❤️ RED HEART — what is/are your love language(s)? how do you use it/them to communicate your feelings about others?

💞 REVOLVING HEARTS — who and/or what are you most grateful for in your life?

🎀 RIBBON BOW — how confident are you with your physical appearance? is there anything about it that you are insecure about? is there anything about it that you are happy about or gives you confidence? how do you think people perceive you based on your physical appearance?

🧪 TEST TUBE — if you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what is one thing you absolutely have to resolve and/or do before then?

🤔 THINKING FACE — what three emotions tend to dominate your mindset? do you know why they do?

💭 THOUGHT BALLOON — is there something or someone you find yourself thinking about more often than other things? if so, why do you think you do this?

💀 SKULL — how has [name of person] 's death influenced your outlook on life, if anything?

☀️ SUN — would you describe yourself as more of an introvert or extrovert, or are you somewhere in between? how come?

🪽 WING — if you could choose to have one superpower for a day, what would it be and why? what would you do with it?

✍️ WRITING HAND — what is one thing you wish you were better at? this can be a tactical skill, social skill, hobby, etc.

[studentofstars]

WEIRDLY SPECIFIC BUT HELPFUL CHARACTER BUILDING QUESTIONS

What’s the lie your character says most often?

How loosely or strictly do they use the word ‘friend’?

How often do they show their genuine emotions to others versus just the audience knowing?

What’s a hobby they used to have that they miss?

Can they cry on command? If so, what do they think about to make it happen?

What’s their favorite [insert anything] that they’ve never recommended to anyone before?

What would you (mun) yell in the middle of a crowd to find them? What would their best friend and/or romantic partner yell?

How loose is their use of the phrase ‘I love you’?

Do they give tough love or gentle love most often? Which do they prefer to receive?

What fact do they excitedly tell everyone about at every opportunity?

If someone was impersonating them, what would friends / family ask or do to tell the difference?

What’s something that makes them laugh every single time? Be specific!

When do they fake a smile? How often?

How do they put out a candle?

What’s the most obvious difference between their behavior at home, at work, at school, with friends, and when they’re alone?

What kinds of people do they have arguments with in their head?

What do they notice first in the mirror versus what most people first notice looking at them?

Who do they love truly, 100% unconditionally (if anyone)?

What would they do if stuck in a room with the person they’ve been avoiding?

Who do they like as a person but hate their work? Vice versa, whose work do they like but don’t like the person?

What common etiquette do they disagree with? Do they still follow it?

What simple activity that most people do / can do scares your character?

What do they feel guilty for that the other person(s) doesn’t / don’t even remember?

Did they take a cookie from the cookie jar? What kind of cookie was it?

What subject / topic do they know a lot about that’s completely useless to the direct plot?

How would they respond to being fired by a good boss?

What’s the worst gift they ever received? How did they respond?

What do they tell people they want? What do they actually want?

How do they respond when someone doesn’t believe them?

When they make a mistake and feel bad, does the guilt differ when it’s personal versus when it’s professional?

When do they feel the most guilt? How do they respond to it?

If they committed one petty crime / misdemeanor, what would it be? Why?

How do they greet someone they dislike / hate?

How do they greet someone they like / love?

What is the smallest, morally questionable choice they’ve made?

Who do they keep in their life for professional gain? Is it for malicious intent?

What’s a secret they haven’t told serious romantic partners and don’t plan to tell?

What hobby are they good at in private, but bad at in front of others? Why?

Would they rather be invited to an event to feel included or be excluded from an event if they were not genuinely wanted there?

How do they respond to a loose handshake? What goes through their head?

What phrases, pronunciations, or mannerisms did they pick up from someone / somewhere else?

If invited to a TED Talk, what topic would they present on? What would the title of their presentation be?

What do they commonly misinterpret because of their own upbringing / environment / biases? How do they respond when realizing the misunderstanding?

What language would be easiest for them to learn? Why?

What’s something unimportant / frivolous that they hate passionately?

Are they a listener or a talker? If they’re a listener, what makes them talk? If they’re a talker, what makes them listen?

Who have they forgotten about that remembers them very well?

Who would they say ‘yes’ to if invited to do something they abhorred / strongly didn’t want to do?

Would they eat something they find gross to be polite?

What belief / moral / personality trait do they stand by that you (mun) personally don’t agree with?

What’s a phrase they say a lot?

Do they act on their immediate emotions, or do they wait for the facts before acting?

Who would / do they believe without question?

What’s their instinct in a fight / flight / freeze / fawn situation?

What’s something they’re expected to enjoy based on their hobbies / profession that they actually dislike / hate?

If they’re scared, who do they want comfort from? Does this answer change depending on the type of fear?

What’s a simple daily activity / motion that they mess up often?

How many hobbies have they attempted to have over their lifetime? Is there a common theme?

[studentofstars]

Introduction

"She always says that she's overwhelmed writing her thesis and drawing star charts stresses her out, but she's more resilient than anyone, and refuses to fall behind... Why do I know her so well? Hehe..." -A mysterious girl who calls herself "The Stars' Blessing"

Hello there!

You can call me Hazel. I've been obsessed with Genshin for around three years now, particularly the lore and characters. I'm majoring in English, and I thought this blog would be a good way to get some creative writing practice while doing something fun.

Now for the important stuff.

NSFW- I'm an adult and comfortable with mature topics, and I don't have any triggers. That being said, I'm not likely to initiate anything of the sort and anything that needs a warning will be tagged appropriately.

Shipping- I'm also comfortable with ships, but I do ask that there be some romantic build-up before anything major happens. Layla is not the type to jump into a relationship headfirst.

Contact- If you're trying to reach me, I would prefer to be contacted here directly or on my other blog.

Art- Any art I post here will either be from official sources or drawn by me. Sometimes I take in-game photos too.

If anyone wants to know, Layla's birthday is December 19th. She'll probably wish her friends happy birthday too.

I look forward to interacting with all of you!