#.songzhong ( headcanon )

[songzhong]

Zhongli has a type.

It’s  B r a t s .

[wise-innocence]

Does Yanfei have a personal teapot she works in ? Or does she prefer to be around people in the real world ? If she does have one, what is inside it ?

She does! Gifted to her by Madame Ping when she was younger. Yanfei is a very social person and even when not working, she functions best around people. She actively seeks out others when she has free time because she thrives off their energy. Definitely one of those people who's mood gets affected when someone else is having a bad day. With that being said, she will not have negative people in her circle as she can't afford to let them bring her down.

Because she likes to be around people so much, not a lot of time is devoted towards her teapot. Yanfei doesn't use it unless she's really overwhelmed (which isn't often) and needs to get away. The decorations are very simplistic because, once again, she doesn't use it much. There is a bench in front of a large pond and that's about it. The rest of the space is just fields and fields of flowers.

(Side note, she keeps it in her desk to take naps in during work hours lmao)

[melipetals]

9&13&15

9. Shoutout a blog/muse you’re loving lately

Just one?? Ehhhmmm okay, I'll do one for each even though it's hard because y'all lovely with such amazing muses <333

for a blog @ofhope because you're just the sweetest and I literally can't deal, over and out!!

And for a muse I can't not say @wisteriawishes Kokomi. She's just... MY LOVE, SOFTEST BABY AND I LOVE HER ♥♥♥

can I give honorable mentions? Yes I can cause this is my post. I lately discovered @songzhong and all the stuff is just A+!! ♥ ooc and ic. We haven't interacted much but I wanted to say it OK BYE-

The other one has to be lovely Jay with all of his blogs ♥ MUAH ILY @siamxshade

13. Give us a random headcanon

Alright, so HC about Lumine. I know I don't really post lots of headcanons about her. Maybe it's because even in the game she's still a mysterious character, like, out of the blue revealing things or be like 'oh yeah I knew that' and me behind my screen like: what are you hiding madam give me the infos!! - but I get this decision benefits the player experience to find out everything only piece by piece.

So, my Lumine is an immortal being, ageless, who happened to have lost her powers because of that unknown god. Piece by piece she learns all elements and when she collected all of them, her true power will return.

As you might know, when you combine all colors of light together, you get white. The color the Abyss sibling is wielding. Seven colors of the rainbow, seven nations, seven elements. Coincidence?? I think not. So I'm sure the sibling, in my case Aether, already got his powers back and is just waiting for Lumine to do the same; this is what her journey is about. Probably more than that, but this surely plays a part in it.

15. This one isn’t a question. I just want to show my love <3

ANON THANK YOU <33333 ILY2 thank you for the ask!

[songzhong]

Romance and Sexuality.

When speaking of romance and sexuality, Zhongli very much falls under the AROMANTIC and ASEXUAL spectrum.

There are two ways vishaps can be born : out of the elements and through mating. However, it does not necessarily apply the same way for adepti and Elder dragons the same way it does for mortals and the animal realm.

It was something he explored upon getting more in touch with his questioning of his own identity and curiosity or mortals’ way of life as he mingled amongst them.

Although he grew to understand the importance and impact of the physical and emotional intimacy which made mortals so fond of it, Zhongli does not, on a basic level, feel any urge for them as an adepti vishap.

He will, however, be open to partake in intimacy with friends he has come to trust and deeply respect. However, this comes as a doubled edged blade, with Zhongli potentially coming off as inconsiderate if someone too dependent wishes for more commitment. Because although Zhongli does feel physical pleasure and genuinely cherish people in his own way, he is dissociated from the primal emotion those instances may stir in someone who romantic and/or sexual.

This, in terms of label, would make him occasionally SEX-POSITIVE, as the person he spends time with must feel rather special to him. An individual he feels like he can connect with heart to heart. Although most of the time, at his core, Zhongli will see overly sexual behavior in public as upsetting and repulsive.

For those reasons, Zhongli’s attitude in bed is taking the lead, make his partner feel good and not focused on being touched back, even at times preferring not to. Penetrative sex is even rarer as he might just stay fully dressed and have the one and only instance with someone be solely intimate touches.

But if Zhongli is rather selective sexually, it is even more romantically. Romance is a very serious commitment to Zhongli, and one he sees ideally as lasting a lifetime. He does not see himself as romancing anyone all his life, and since he does not feel the need, he feels no sadness about it, being perfectly content embracing good platonic companionship spawning from mortals and immortals alike.

This makes Zhongli very much CLOSED to the idea of ROMANCE, and reject anyone who confesses to him with no exception, no matter how close he may feel to them, as he is very much aware of the impact it has on people : they are better off finding someone who can love them back the way they wish. Even if he were to say yes, he would never be able to feel the way they’d wish for him to feel.

However, there is an extremely rare case where Zhongli might bind himself romantically to someone. It would need to be someone who has everything but a conventional way of seeing and practicing romance AND can reach a deep level of intimate chemistry.

Although Zhongli and his potential partner may label one another as romantic lovers, the feeling he bears for them is most likely more akin to deep intimacy, soul-binding partnership. Having someone with him won’t make him suddenly seek out romantic activities, settings or change his goals.

Both Zhongli and his loved one will share a deep bond unique to them, without any premade conceptions but the both of them being true to themselves, and feeling like, at the other’s side, they are the best person they can be.

[songzhong]

AJAX as the Dragon of Water reborn a human.

( Headcanon until debunked ! ) Backstory following the Enkanomiya lore reveals. I’m a mess trying to make up the lore with friends so if anything I say here contradicts any information it’s very probably an oversight I welcome feedback ! O)-( As it is headcanon, I will never push interpretations on any direct muse involved in this interpretation of events, such as Childe roleplayers.

BUT WHAT ABOUT KOKOMI THEN ?

There is a valid theory that Kokomi is the Dragon of Water. However, I think it fits way less for multiple reasons.

First of all, the people of Enkanomiya were terrorized by the vishaps, the relationship with the people of Sangonomiya and the vishaps are ones of natural enemies, making Kokomi’s position as the Divine Priestess of Sangonomiya much more likely to be linked to Orobashi, if anything. Because Kokomi’s constellation, Dracaena, can both mean dragon or sea serpent. And the latter is much more fitting to her character.

Kokomi, to me, fits more like the Ningguang of Inazuma than the Zhongli, so to speak. Her character is much more lighthearted, with a set focus on present rather than the past or future. Despite the difficult leadership position she is in, she very much have a young acting soul with no weight of the past behind it. Just like Ningguang, Kokomi’s entire ambition is focused on her present life and the goals of the people right in front of her rather than seeing the world of Teyvat as both a bigger picture and one full of hidden history. Both characters are very representatives of the PRESENT state of their nation through civilian eyes to show the player character how the leading class live in the world.

Before the Geo Archon was revealed to be Zhongli, there were understandable theories that Ningguang might be the one related to Rex Lapis through the same type of links in her constellation and namecard that Kokomi has.

Ningguang’s namecard was the Phoenix and her constellation Opus Aequilibrium, which can easily be interpreted with a reincarnated Rex Lapis. However, this was more meant as Ningguang, as leader of the Qixing, being the mortal to guide Liyue than her being a deity. And I personally believe that this is the case for Kokomi with her The Deep namecard and Dracaena Somnolenta.

THIS IS THE SEQUEL TO THIS POST AND WILL REFER TO IT.

As the vishaps were trapped down the depths of the Abyss of Enkanomiya, they evolved to wield multiple elements, seeping impurities in them and making it impossible for the Dragon of Water to be reborn amongst the vishaps anew... a prophecy tells that the next Dragon of Water would be a human.

A mighty race of vishaps that dwell within the deep seas. That they hate light is not due to an overly fragile sense of sight. Instead, it is because they have had the selfless sunlight and the surface world taken from them that they refuse to countenance man-made light. ― Archive, Bathysmal Vishaps

(Dragonheirs of the Depths have evolved to wield the power of other elements and have hence lost their purity. As such, the Dragon of Water will no longer be born from among their ranks.) Prophecy holds that the Dragon Sovereign of Water will be born in a human form. We must not let this thing happen in Enkanomiya. ―The Byakuyakoku Collection, Enkanomiya

The name “Ajax” comes from Greek, not Russian (Snezhnaya). Whereas Khaenri’ah mostly uses German and Nordic, the time before the Primordial One, as we learn that the people of Enkanomiya used Greek naming conventions such as Helios, Abrax, Spartacus, etc. A naming convention which was then changed by the gods after the Primordial One assuming its reign and ferocious attempt at erasing cultures before it.

As it was mentioned beforehand, the Seven Sovereigns were defeated by the Primordial One as their kin would either be massacred or forced to hide below the surface and to the four corners of Teyvat.

This would also fit Childe’s title of Young Lord or Young Nobleman in all languages. As he would be a Sovereign !

This fits Childe’s boss description and the constant underlying layer that, following his fall in the Abyss, he has been given a very particular mission, possibly his master, Skirk. Since Childe’s Foul Legacy form is exclusive to his abilities given by the Abyss, and NOT related to his Vision or Delusion. Following the encounter with Enjou, it is potentially safe to assume that Childe is the same as the people living in the Abyss, and a Lector/Herald of some sort.

This bears all the marks of that fellow who gallivants as he pleases across the continent with his ever-changing combat styles. Yet, his "Foul Legacy" was not originally his. Rather, it was taught to him by that solitary girl who dwelt in the darkest corners of the universe. ―Namecard, Tartaglia

After all... “You shall ever be the eye of the storm, “And the clashing of steel shall ever accompany you. “The pitch-black memory of stepping into uttermost darkness, “Shall, at last, become the strength by which you will overturn this world.” ―Archive, Childe

It also fits how Foul Legacy is called The Devouring Deep and could put light on how and why Childe would have awakened to a Hydro vision ; either recalling memories of his past life or reliving his legacy. It also ties in to how that, yes, Childe was a child of exceptional strength which attracted Pulcinella’s attention, but as to why he got to be a Harbinger so quickly. With the Foul Legacy’s mission being so very similar to the Tsaritsa’s of “burning the old world.”

"I was another power awakened with the loosening of the seal. Too weak to reincarnate, but strong enough to possess a human body.” ―Azhdaha, No Mere Stone

And from all hydro-related animals, Childe has to be a narwhal, whereas whales are underwater mammals seen as the dragons of the sea, and one with a literal horn (tusk), with Childe’s mask bearing horns with a shape also similar to Qilin mustaches.

It would also tie in to Childe summoning Osial, who might have just recognized his Water Sovereign and attacked Liyue.

Childe is also uniquely gifted towards his usage of Hydro, to a higher level of other vision through the sheer unique usage he has of it. He also is proficient both in Hydro and Electro, and his Elemental Burst description, atop of the region he is from, makes allusion to his particular relationship with Cryo. The three elements the Dragonheirs of the Depths have lost their purity (making their Sovereign be reborn a human) to by adapting to them.

Rushing waters are rarely seen in his snowy homeland. Perhaps his ability to command water is due to his understanding of just how precious it is. ―Havoc : Obliteration, Tartaglia’s Elemental Burst

Something which ALWAYS itched me is how it truly felt like no coincidence that, from all the Harbingers, Childe was the one sent to Liyue, where he’d meet Zhongli who would teach him about the illuminated beast and, in a way, indirectly about the times before the Primordial One. As mentioned in the other post, I do believe that there is no coincidence either with how the Tsaritsa treats Zhongli in a more diplomatic way and how Zhongli goes along with her plan very peacefully and patiently.

If this not EXACTLY this instance, I believe it is mighty close.

[songzhong]

ZHONGLI WAS NOT ONLY THE NAME HE CHOSE TO USE AS A MORTAL, IT IS HIS VERY FIRST NAME.

Pure headcanon until debunked ~ !

Guizhong’s influence, his affection for her and her ideals echo everyday in Zhongli. It shows through the objects he use for the Rite of Parting, his preferences for things such as feminine, mature perfume (which could also, tragically, be his favorite because it unconsciously reminds him of Guizhong’s scent) and his name.

The Guili Plains are named after the two Gods who first shepherded humans in Liyue. It is not Morax or Rex Lapis who did so, but Zhongli, given that the “Gui” 归 part is Guizhong, and “Li” 离 would be his. Zhongli took this name today because it is his very first birth name, the one who wasn’t given to him by godly followers, but the name he bore as a man, a person. The one who loved and fought and, ultimately, discarded the name for thousand of years so he could protect what she and he stood for.

He did not choose the name MORAX or REX LAPIS. Mortals bestowed this name upon him as their guide. Before he was one, he was only Zhongli. And, given how little time he had before being thrown into war atop of being the only one left alive from so far back, no one but him knows of his very first name.

Guizhong spent so long talking to a Zhongli who had a hard time grasping the concept of emotions and empathy about how precious mortal life is. Now that peace has set upon Liyue, he can finally wear the name he was born with to live simply as the person he is and experience the precious life she told him about.

[songzhong]

Enkonomiya was an absolute trove of worldbuilding but Goddamn I wanna know more about Zhongli’s birth to know where to EXACTLY put him in there.

Like when was he just one vishap who grew stronger ? Did he know the dragon-lords ? He is several millennia old, Zhongli says that he has “lived 6000 years” however, he doesn’t say that he is 6000 years old.

 It is now clear that Zhongli cannot speak of Dainsleif to the Traveler and many things because of his contract with Celestia, or else he will basically meet the same fate as Orobashi. So he could be waaaaaaay older than that.

The only thing I can know is that Zhongli was not a dragon-lord because Azhdaha calls him a usurper, which to me refers to him being the Archon after the dragon-lords were dethroned.

And now I keep thinking about the Primordial One’s love for humanity and I keep thinking about Istaroth and how WAS GUIZHONG ONE OF THE FOUR SHADES ????? She is only mentioned as the God of Dust and has fantastic technological capabilities as she easily navigates around Khaenri’ah technology.

NEVER IS GUIZHONG EVER MENTIONED TO BE ADEPTI, ONLY THAT SHE WAS HELPED BY THE ADEPTI.

IF ZHONGLI WAS AROUND WHEN THE FOUR SHADES WERE GUIDING HUMANITY AND WAS SO CLOSE TO ONE THIS GIVES EVEN DEEPER LAYERS. The layers of Guizhong loving humanity, but being from somewhere that damned humanity. What if Zhongli took more her moral priorities and developed more of a personal relationship with her, believing that helping the Abyss people would fit her morals despite the Primordial One being clearly against just everything that would want to dethrone it.

Then you got the other side. Ok. Celestia is bad. But what did they want to stop. Sure, there was a conflict of governing powers, but we do not know if there was something more that forced their hand to ultimately choose war and massacre.

I just O)-(

WHAT IF INSIDE GUIZHONG’S DUMBBELL THERE IS SOMETHING TO BRING DOWN CELESTIA OR ABOUT CELESTIA SIMILAR TO THE BOOK OF SUN AND MOON AND THE WAY TO UNLOCK IT IS IF SOMEONE BRINGS CERTAIN THINGS TOGETHER TO KNOW THE TIME HAS COME I’M.

[songzhong]

AZHDAHA, SOVEREIGN OF GEO. GUIZHONG, PRIMORDIAL SHADE. LIYUE’S “TATARIGAMI”.

( Headcanon until debunked ! ) Backstory following the Enkonomiya lore reveals. I’m a mess trying to make up the lore with friends so if anything I say here contradicts any information it’s very probably an oversight I welcome feedback ! O)-(

As it is headcanon, I will never push interpretations on any direct muse involved in this interpretation of events, such as Azhdaha or Guizhong roleplayer.

At the beginning of times, dragons emerged from the very elements, immense predators with absolute power all creatures would cower at the very sight. Those dragons will be come to known as the Seven Sovereigns. And their reign was absolute. Amongst them, the Dragon of Water and, most of all, the Dragon of Geo. Retuo. Azhdaha.

As the Primordial One descended upon Teyvat, it shed its four shades to help him guide the humanity he had fought for and cherished, for whom he created heavens and earth. Amongst them, Istaroth would held dominion over wind and time.

And, amongst the glaze lilies, the shade of Dust and Wisdom would meet a qilin. A stern and powerful warrior who only knew the harsh ways of his kin and ruled over mountains. She approached him with no ill intentions, and the qilin listened to her. She spoke of her people and their will to live, their fragility and the beauty in them, similarly to how the qilin would silently cherish those glaze lilies, which bloomed to the shade’s soft voice.

"...In the beginning, when the people assembled to farm the land... A god named Guizhong descended, whose dominion was over Dust, and whose reach shrouded the skies for thousands of miles around..." ―Soraya, Treasure Lost Treasure Found

This qilin’s named was Zhongli. She presented him a dumbbell, as a sign of good will.

"Those little people are as small and fragile as dust." "Because they are so small, they know not when they will lose their lives to disaster or strife, and so they are afraid." "Because they are afraid, they try so hard to become more intelligent. This I understand." "So I thought that since there is such a gulf between us in strength, I should use technique and wisdom instead." "With your brawn and my brains, this city would surely become a great one."

"This is the mark of our pledge, and it is also my challenge to you." ―Guizhong, Memory of Dust

1. "To unite in ambition is to be steadfast and immovable for all time." 2. "Wisdom is like water, it nourishes all those who receive it and in it is a reflection of the truth."' 3. "Fortify the bones, that movement be supple when the time comes." 4. "Virtue grows tall like a tree, though there be shade it will flourish forever" ―Jade Plates, Treasure Lost Treasure Found

Those would be the commandments of the Guili Assembly, under Guizhong, the God of Dust, and Morax, the God of Contracts.

An enormous dragon as ancient as the mountains themselves. In an age that has all but faded from memory, he stood shoulder to shoulder with one who ruled over a harbor of stone. ―Archive, Azhdaha

Retuo, in all his knowledge ( ज्ञता ), wished to avoid any more violence for both his vishap kind, all other illuminated beasts and humanity. And so, Morax bestowed Retuo with parts of his power so he could see the world humanity cherished. They would ally against any threat to their home. Amongst those threats, Osial would be against compromises with humanity, which forced Morax’s hand.

...Rex Lapis overcame the Chi, but the Chi could not perish in its entirety. Thus did Rex Lapis conquer each of its facets in turn: its spirit was bound in the north, its bones were pinned in the south-east, its flesh was incarcerated in the north-west, its soul was fettered in the north-east, and its form was crushed in the south-west... ―Incomplete Writing at Qingce Village

Retuo leading the vishaps, Morax the illuminated beasts and Guizhong humanity... but the Primordial One would have it another way.

For to keep their dominion intact, the Primordial One’s heavenly principles would dawn on the world an its immortal beings Erosion, for them to slowly lose memories prior to the Primordial One’s reign... and this meant having the Seven Sovereigns defeated. None of them could walk the earth, a living reminder of times the Primordial One could not allow to survive.

As he watched his friend’s very being crumble, Morax did all he could for his companion to retain his sense of self, carving, using the same power he used to bestow sight, so he would not crumble apart as the fate of other Sovereigns, such as the Dragon of Water, was a cruel one.

Seeing as he may lose himself completely if all attempts would not work, Retuo and Morax made a contract : if the Lord of Vishaps would lose his sense of self and become a threat to all they fought for, Morax would have to end him.

The Primordial One had not gone unnoticed of Guizhong’s betrayal as she fought against Retuo’s fate and thus its Heavenly Principles. And so as they realized she was to reveal their weaknesses, they had her struck down.

"...and there they fought upon the Guili Plains, where black dust choked the heavens and a thousand rocks splintered..."

The black dust was so it devastated the lands, annihilating the fields of glaze lilies, turning people mad and poisoning the land. Amongst others, the God of Salt Havria was one of the casualties, killed by her very own people as they were driven to madness.

This would not be the first time such phenomenon and execution would occur ; in Inazuma, Orobashi was also struck down, leaving the black mist known as the Tatarigami.

However, the God of Stoves Marchosius sacrificed himself so the land would not remain poisoned. His friends could only watch as he weakened, to the point where he could not even speak nor comprehend them anymore...

To fight the rest of the black dust and the evils it spawned, Rex Lapis gathered the original Yakshas to protect Liyue. However, they too would become affected by what they would call, in place of the Tatarigami curse, Karmic Debt.

This place attracts monsters corrupted by sinister energy. According to Xiao, their mutation might be connected to his karmic debt... ―Karma-Heavy Cavern, Guili Plains

However, unbeknownst to the Primordial One, Guizhong had left Morax the very knowledge she had been struck down for long ago.

"All my wisdom is hidden within this stone dumbbell." "If you can unlock it—" ―Guizhong, Memory of Dust

―you will have what it takes to change the world yet again. Were the last words Guizhong would have said before her body crumbled at the hand of Morax himself, as was planned so he could keep the Primordial One’s trust and protect the people of Liyue. Because it always had been for them. For the shade loved humanity as much as her creator, and her Wisdom told her that, no matter how much she and the Primordial One cherished those people and this world, the day may come where change may be inevitable.

At the end of the war, Rex Lapis would be given one of the seven divine seat.

Later on, Retuo’s mind eroded, making him forget about Morax’s face and their alliance to protect Liyue. All he could see was his Sovereign kingdom being trampled upon and destroyed by invaders.

>Do you mean Rex Lapis? Hah... That usurper? Humans... They care only about history since the dawn of the age of mankind... Are people really happy to just draw a line under the litany of atrocities humanity's ancestors are responsible for, call it "ye olde worlde," and just get on with their merry little lives? Well, I hope that anyone who willfully indulges in this fantasy world of false prosperity will be consumed by it, and thus get what they deserve. ―Jiu, NPC dialogue at the Dragon-Queller

It was only because of the remaining of Retuo’s consciousness being willing that Morax was able to seal him away, unable to himself bring down the friend he had fought so hard to  retaining the original Lord of Geo’s form so he could, maybe, someday, like it was written about The Dragon of Water...

But now that the Bathysmal Vishaps have evolved in this manner, they have lost their purity. As such, the Dragon of Water will no longer be born from among their ranks. Prophecy holds that the new Dragon of Water will definitely descend in the form of a human. ―Archive, Bolteater Bathysmal Vishap Hatchling

“If it is fated, Morax... we will meet again.” ―Azhdaha, No Mere Stone

However, despite the Primordial One’s desperate, drastic attempts, remains of the times prior to its dominion remain, just like the dumbbell.

As the new Cryo Archon becomes affected by the truth of this world and the Love she harbored for her people turned to Grief. And so, the Tsaritsa contacts the Geo Archon as part of her plan to burn the old world. It is then that Rex Lapis will sign a contract with her, one which is set in motion when she sends one of her hand-picked Harbinger to be guided through Liyue by a consultant to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

But no any of her Harbingers.

After all... “You shall ever be the eye of the storm, “And the clashing of steel shall ever accompany you. “The pitch-black memory of stepping into uttermost darkness, “Shall, at last, become the strength by which you will overturn this world.” ―Archive, Childe

[songzhong]

ZHONGLI’s birthday is on December 31st.

As one of the oldest being in Teyvat, Zhongli was amongst mortals the notion of the CALENDAR was bestowed to calculate the time passing by through the cycle of seasons. As such, the calendar was created to have his birthday mark the end of the year, so a new cycle can begin anew after his birth.

This is pure headcanon until debunked, and only based on the fact that, alongside a complicated history, tl;dr use of the calendar dates back to the Roman Empire, aka where Celestia’s aesthetic dips in the same way Liyue and China. And how the timeline of Teyvat is based around the Archon War, where Zhongli was prominently present atop of being, to me, too much of a coincidence.

[songzhong]

No mora ?

Mora can only be minted by Rex Lapis using his Gnosis. With Gnosis now gone, Teyvat finds itself unable to produce any more Mora. And, most likely, the Tsaritsa won’t be minting any with said Gnosis, as this would tell the world (and it cannot be hidden forever) that the currency would get out of Snezhnaya, thus telling that the Fatui are hunting down Gnosis.

This is even more significant than currency simply being gone, because Mora is used as an alchemical reagent, like to upgrade weaponry or anything that has to do with alchemy. It is a vital ingredient every alchemical recipe is based on.

Meaning that it’s value will never go down, since it is used as something more than monetary. Even if Liyue were to create a new form of currency (aka paper currency if we base ourselves on the real world), it would drastically still cause some form of panic, if having to switch currency wasn’t already enough of a dire thing.

The matter is, people in Teyvat do not use technology, but elemental manipulation (alchemy) to create complex matters and alchemical tables, although are not cheap, can be accessed by anyone who wants to like a complex crafting table. The Gnosis made in the past that no one could replicate Mora. However, making a new currency in Teyvat would be incredibly challenging, so its recipe is unable to be replicated by alchemically breaking it down to see its composites, or by workers who produce it since it doesn’t come from a single God anymore.

Liyue has no choice but to create a new currency AS FAST AS POSSIBLE or else this won’t be the Great Depression. This will be the Bloody Ultimate Depression. But before that they would technically have to INVEST ALL THEY HAVE INTO ALCHEMY to LITERALLY REMAKE THE WHOLE ALCHEMICAL PROCESS CREATED UNTIL NOW so it doesn’t depend on Mora.

tl;dr Teyvat will recover eventually but it’s gonna be chaos. Also alchemy is fucked.

[songzhong]

WARNING ! Massive brainrot.

This is not meant to influence any Genshin characterization whatsoever. Just brainrot from a nerd when speaking on discord with friends about the Statues of the Seven. And apparently hey! this could make a nice blog post for those who likes Mao content.

Again, I hope this is readable although I don’t structure this outside giving tidbits. This is only the surface, I could give many other points about why my thoughts associate the statues with those when comparing to the character they portray histories but we’d be there all night. This is not something I particularly want to debate about if it’s true or false, this falls under mihoYo’s creative team’s creative process. This is meant for FOOD FOR THOUGHT and if you guys are interested and look into good sources for the history of those sculptures and what they symbolize (because again if I started on that this post wouldn’t end gka;kgjfighf), I do encourage you highly !

I do think that, at least, there is INFLUENCE, but if they were targeting any particular, this I cannot know.

Again, this is BRAINROT. Interesting miscelaneous. No claim to canon. copy pasted discord messages pfnfsuaidnsaiudaj.

The Sevens Statues references.

I personally picture the statues being for the ingame universe like the Michelangelo statues and other amazing historical works. This would be supported by the details in Venti’s veiled clothings and, yes, Rex Lapis’ muscle details down to the nipples. While retaining an “anime head” which is the reality the characters in Genshin are made of, their anime appearance is not a cartoon to them, it’s reality.

Plus given that the statues were made to look like the perfect representation of beauty to the place where it was made, I can mostly assume that given Genshin deities are real, the appearance, unlike the historical figures we got, that Zhongli does look exactly like his statues underneath his clothes. (Thus again my thought that he feels like a rock to the touch, very little body fat, his nickname of being the bedrock and all of this.)

I do think that Zhongli's ass is a cocky reference to David because Zhongli is the "adonis" of the Seven (while Barbatos would be more akin to the archangels given his wings and all) but I may be reading too much into it hahahaha !

Barbatos statue makes me think of La Victoire de Samothrace. The statue has lost limbs but you can picture how it was when fully done. Which is also called "The Winged Victory".

I'm gonna make a wild guess and say that someone like either the Tsaritsa or Baal would look like the statue of Venus. Given that both are more or less mentioned like Ethereal beauties. (Baal’s leaked statue might just be changed as it is not very detailed so far)

It may just be me but I like picturing the Tsaritsa with a veil on her face, but again they could make a veil and have her have any pose. I was mostly thinking the Veiled Virgin (at first, but there are plenty of wonderful veiled sculptures).  Veil in marble is just mesmerizing to look at.

Would be great given the grief thematic mentioned of the Tsaritsa if we got the pieta reference (Jesus dying on Mary's lap).

The veiled marble statues are always so melancholic, sorrowful, grieving... but also romantic (love). I thought it'd fit her perfectly.

I don't really have any clear like thought (like Venti's) on what Rex Lapis' statue could be, but I got a theory although its arguable. I think it'd be of Moses’. I thought of the Thinker at first given that Zhongli is looking at a puzzle he’s trying to solve, but I find the throne and more “king-like” position to different from it.

Both sitting in cloth, and while Moses holds the 10 Commandments tablet in his right hand which has God's wisdom, Zhongli holds Guizhong's dumbbell which holds all of Guizhong’s wisdom. Both Moses and Zhongli were individuals who didn't want to lead but were thrust their duties to protect their people from misery. Moses' commandments are also a contract he executed his own people for if they didn't follow it. Moses and Zhongli were both also not particularly scholars before they became the leader they are pictured as. Moses was known for his athleticism. So was Zhongli being known as the brawl of the Guili Assembly. But both were given the duty to spread God's (Guizhong's) wisdom to save their people against all odds.

(For me) It adds up with Moses' history to me a little bit too much to be like "Oh they were both raised to a deity symbol it's a coincidence".

I don't think all of this would affect any characters’ portrayal but more like a wink at art to how they designed the Sevens' statues which is like IRL statues, an interpretation of people seen nearly as Gods. Given how mihoYo is thorough in their research for their games and make many many references far more than anime into both Honkai and Genshin !

―the end Thank you for coming to my ted talk.

Have fun with the game y’all ! Anyone is welcome to reblog that brainrot, just be nice really it’s just my brain spinning for the funsies !

🚪 🚶‍♂️

[songzhong]

A GUIDE TO WHERE DOES MAO’S ZHONGLI LIVE ? part 1 : outdoors

I personally headcanon that Zhongli lives on a level above the Funeral Parlor, just like Hu Tao, as he has never mentioned having a residence of his own. Since adepti technically don’t have to eat or sleep, it is most likely not used too much as Zhongli usually prefers to mingle amongst his people.

I picture traditional sliding doors for the quarters and administrative office (whereas ingame there are no doors, only walls since the buildings are more for scenery purposes) and wooden doors for the rest.

In my mind, the ground level of the parlor are where most professional activities are done, then on a floor above, one can find tons of shelves filled with scrolls with the parlor’s records, alongside Zhongli and Hu Tao’s desks and the meeting room where he gives lectures to the undertakers. On the other floor above, a door gives to Hu Tao and Zhongli’s quarters, which I personally picture are like two large condos with two floors, two doors giving to one or the other’s place as you go up the stairs.

Zhongli and Hu Tao’s quarters have access to different roof balconies with a view on the harbor. Albeit it is empty ingame for performance purposes, I picture it with a small plum blossom trees, flowers and a benched stone table the same we see elsewhere in the harbor. With the balcony being hidden from the main street, it is a tranquil, intimate rest spot, with a refreshing shade during the summer heat. (I like picturing Hu Tao not giving a fuck and using the roof directly as a fun spot near the signature large plum tree while Zhongli has a properly fenced one)

The back entrance/exit of the parlor on the level I picture Zhongli’s office to be also give to the red balconies which bridge multiple buildings together, most likely for business and traffic purposes. The same way I picture every building have some bits of furniture for the staff to rest, the funeral parlor does the same. As the parlor is both at the farthest corner from the busiest commerce and the staff mentioning ingame (the parlor on the shots being on the far right here). It would be Hu Tao and Zhongli’s spot to have a break and, to an extent, also Childe’s when he goes to the parlor to have tea or lunch with Zhongli.

The parlor is also right against the Northern Bank (they actually have joint plants at their windows(?) so they are possibly joint from the inside too or simply part of the same building with entrances being outdoors). With one being able, if they’re enough of a Snezhnayan jackass, to jump onto the tiled roof to go from one place to another instead of taking the red fenced pavilion route, making even more reasons amongst others as to why Zhongli is the Fatui associate in Liyue, or why he would eat lunch in the weekend (such as in his character tale) with Childe : both technically work in the very same immediate area.

Bonus : Ajax can be found on top of the Northern Bank.

[songzhong]

art link.

I’m saving this here at an ungodly hour don’t perceive me.

[songzhong]

ReZhong.

(This is just me copy pasting discord messages out of context again because I thought this was cute)

I do consider [Azdaha and Zhongli]’s relationship to very romantic, but not necessarily in the.  Kiss kiss boyfriend way.

I do think of Retuo and Zhongli as platonic soulmate, at least (the rest is like, you know, self-indulgent shipping which is all good and fine ~). In the adepti way, similarly to how I described Zhongli’s relationship with Guizhong.

Unlike other adepti who Zhongli helped but had their own life, separated from him, Zhongli took Retuo as his life partner. For someone who always acted on his own relatively recklessly into battle, it means a lot.

Like the rock dog jokes work because I do think that. Retuo was devoted entirely to Zhongli. And Zhongli just loved him as much back and was absolutely devastated when he had to seal him away. Someone he took pity on and granted them a fulfilling life, only to fail into protecting them, broken between keeping the good memories they had, but with its tragic end. And they never had time to say goodbye, because Retuo already went mad by the time Zhongli had to put him down by force. So to have Retuo come back as Kun Jun. And tell Zhongli that he loves him. And that he is not mad at him. I really think that when the Traveler left Zhongli after the quest chain and Zhongli said that he wanted to be left alone with the epitaph. Not a grave in honor of Retuo, but a warning sign about how dangerously mad the spirit sealed there is. He might just have cried. The faces Zhongli makes in this quest chain are so much more expressive than we had ever seen before. It really gets to him.

During all the Liyue quests. Zhongli has a very serious neutral expression, he doesn't smile. The only other times he did is when the traveler is being kind of cutely aloof. But the second Kun Jun walks in and start showing him gem, he has the faintest smile the whole time nerding about rocks with him.

The facial expression also doesn't show directly here, but just being around Kun Jun has him crack some cute chuckles too.

Plus I mean that face... this is really getting to him.

HE ALWAYS HAD THAT LITTLEST SMILE EVEN WHEN HE'S ABOUT TO DISAPPEAR...

[songzhong]

Zhongli’s name is written in Chinese as 钟离.

钟 can mean (hour) bell, clock, timepiece. 离 can mean without, to part, to leave, to depart.

In China, there is a saying :  送钟 sòng zhōng. Which translates to “Gifting a timepiece”, “Giving a clock”, etc.

Sòng zhōng sounds exactly like saying “To pay one's last respects”, “Attending a funeral ritual”. It is considered to be bad luck to gift people clocks and watches.

Zhongli is man who has lived a long, long time, works at a funeral parlor and organize the parting rite of all his departed friends.

[songzhong]

I love wine and was talking to my friend who plays Diluc and doesn’t know things about alcohol and was like. Why not just copy paste that too and make a really basic 101 of wine for Diluc RPers who don’t drink ? It is a bit vulgar as it tries to relate to people who just do not drink so they can picture it on their take on characters. ANYONE IS MORE THAN WELCOME TO REBLOG THIS or idk share this with your DILUC RPERS/LOVERS if you liked it ! Let’s get to it.

This really is a guide that gives up quick basics so you can really flavor your RP threads with this even without being an expert !

Thank you @noctuxcellus​ for the cute Diluc and wine bottle icon, this post is dedicated to you ~.

TYPE OF CLASSIC GRAPE WINE AND THEIR MOST COMMON PAIRINGS

Red wine is full bodied and heavier. Think like drinking a natural juice vs a cheaper concentrate. It's thick and has a strong sweet flavor. So it pairs well with meat as the fat brings out the unique flavors and appetizers or by itself because of the fancy flavor profile.

White wine is more acidic. Think as like drinking clear light limonade vs that thicker fruit juice. It is lighter on the palate and is more about subtly complementing a dish than being the star of the show. Think about how PBJ sandwiches and other type of food like this are not the same at all because one cancels the other's less pleasant aftertaste. White wine goes well with seafood dishes as it clears the mouth from the fishy aftertaste and pasta so your meal doesnt feel as heavy.

Grapes are typically what are used to make wine. However, nearly anything can be turned to wine or mixed in with the grapes.

There's a large debate about also making drinks which dilute wine, whether it is like innovative or absolutely unethical.

QUICK AND DIRTY LOOK AT THE DISTILLATION PROCESS

Wine are put in barrels and ferment that you surely know. What happens is that just like coffee or pulled noodles, the taste and texture will be entirely different depending of the altitude, the pressure in the barrel, the wood used for the barrel, the amount of fruit juice put in the barrel, what the fruits are, the soil the fruit grew in and what they were given, the humidity of the basement they are put in and its light exposure, the materials the building they are in is made of and the local climate.

This makes for wine to become extremely expensive and sought after when being recognized because it means you just cannot get it anywhere else, with all those parameters being a heavily guarded trade secret.

THE LEGAL PROTECTION OF RAGNVINDR WINE

The Ragnvindr wine is also legally protected from what I got since merchants who tried to reproduce the wine were called out as impostors from saying they are selling Mondstadt wine. If it wasn’t legally protected, anyone who uses the same fermentation techniques as in Mondstadt could call it Mondstadt wine. However, the Ragnvindr family probably paid extra to whatever is the wine guild of Teyvat so their label can only be put on bottles made by them and in the region of Mondstadt. This simply raise the price A LOT due tot the exclusivity and greatly helps Mondstadt economy which relies on the winery.

An example of something legal protection in real life alcohol trade like this would be:

Scotch and Whisky are the same thing. Only you cannot call your whisky a scotch if you didnt make it in Scotland.

Just like you cannot call all sparkling wine Champagne unless your brew comes and has been officially labeled by the Champagne region in France.

You probably know indirectly the mainstream notoriety of champagne because to celebrate people never say they’re getting sparkling wine. They get champagne. The clever marketing makes it so people assume that sparkling wine is of a lesser quality than champagne. It is often due to people who make sparkling wine knowing it wont sell unless they make it champagne so they pay hard to have it approved. (technically the label of champagne has been loosened but for our purpose I won’t go about it)

DILUC’S WINE EXPERTISE AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUE

Diluc can 100% run the winery without liking wine himself since he is knowledgeable about it and can differentiate a good or bad brew even if it is not to his personal liking, thus I imagine his distaste increasing because once his scientist brewers say "Ok this passed all the requirements time for the boss to approve it".

When you sample one you dont drink it. You gurgle and spit it. So Diluc doesn’t have to ever get drunk or even actually drink any wine.

Ideally when sampling wine, you have an empty stomach and have drank crystal water to not have any bias during tasting. You smell it, shake it to bring out the aroma. Then you slurp it in. Hard. Loudly. Because you want the liquid to coat all your tongue and stick to the back of your throat. You then gurgled it a bit around and then spit it out. Rince your mouth and repeat the process.

By doing so an expert sommelier can identify multiple parameters in wine (which ones is a constantly different depending on how the wine is processed) like which fermentation process the drink went under, the fruits in it, its age, etc. because they are so good they can identify each layers of how the wine was made. Compared to lets say a casual drinker who didn’t do all that tasting stuff and can just tell the fruits. The tasting process may sounds and look funny to others, but it is a highly respected practice that is not exaggerated in its process.

MASTER SOMMELIERS AKA THE WINE EXPERTS

MASTER sommeliers are very sought after in restaurants. To get your master sommelier credentials you need to go through a LOT of wine tasting. Identify the label of the bottle, its ingredients, describe the aroma accurately, which region it was made it, etc. All of this blindly. If you miss one, you’re out. Some people spend years and years preparing for evaluations process to be selected amongst other candidates as a master sommelier. When you get your credential ? Massive bucks. It could definitely be valid to say that Diluc got a master sommelier credential due to the high importance and respect of his family winery heritage.

MASTER sommeliers are highly respected since there are so very few, since you can be a sommelier randomly in a restaurant and just not be too good. In our world, Master sommeliers make 150K a year, making them one of the top earners industry experts.

A sommelier's job is to evaluate wine from the industry brewing it and/or restaurant. When you go to a high end restaurant and ask for wine, the sommelier, who can be found in the wine cellar at times visible when sitting at the restaurant to show off the selection, will come to your table and give you a recommendation based on your meal. He also is the one who decide which brews the restaurant will serve according to the menu. He's an expert the owner hires.

A very vulgar way people who dont know about it call a sommelier someone who just drinks wine and tell you which bottle you should buy even if you cannot tell the difference between two.  That is what you have Master sommeliers. You KNOW they are the REAL experts who know their shit spend all their life mastering the aspects of wine.

A GOOD HEADCANON MEME

Kaeya never spat the wine when sampling, he always swallowed it and got drunk. ( Its always a meme in the tasting industry just like ice cream tasters who eat it instead of spitting it. Or actors who always eat their food on set even after the 15th take instead of spitting with everyone in the bucket. )