#FATUI NATION RISE

[mayaree-darling]

mastermind

from aree: The Harbinger Trailer has consumed me yall are getting a brainrot. (I made this when the trailer first came out and have never posted it so here it is).

tw for yandere content

Yandere!Harbingers with a "darling" who is the right hand of the Tsaritsa herself. Not a Harbinger, but nonetheless important because they're the main strategist of the Fatui. I can just imagine the pain for the Harbingers because although darling is within arms reach, they're not allowed to make a move lest they anger their ruler.

Childe who first sees you akin to a younger sibling amongst the Fatui - you're no underling, on par with a Harbinger in importance if not more, protected almost as much as the Archon Herself - it would be hard not to be protective of you. And yet as you fix his wounds after another fight he started, telling him off in place of Her Majesty, giving him tips on how he could've fought better in whispers in between, his growing need for your attention consumes him. When he kisses your cheek (as thanks, he says) in front of the other Harbingers he's already looking forward to you treating the injuries they're sure to beat into him.

Scaramouche who grins when the Harbingers bristle as you walk side by side in the halls of Zapolyarny Palace - he says you should consider it an honor to walk with him, and it inflates his ego when you reply with a small nod and a smaller smile. Behind the others' backs, he follows you like a lost child, always walking behind you, gripping on to the back of your clothes like you might slip away if he's not careful. He's obsessed with the way you look at him and ask him questions about his creation. He fails to see that the adoration you hold for him is as hollow as he is.

Signora wonders if you know when she is at her lowest, that would certainly explain things, wouldn't it? She thinks she has lost her mind when she sees glimpses of her lost love when turning corners too quickly, haunting her when she lets her guard down but then you're in front of her, greeting her with a soft smile that feels all too familiar and she realizes she has gone mad in other ways (she welcomes that newfound madness like the lover that it is, finally coming home).

Pantalone who believes that one of life's greatest pleasures is to own what others cannot - to collect the rare, the exquisite and the hard to obtain - and to have you, a person of great mind and ranking, be dangled right infront of him on a piece of gold thread held by the Tsaritsa, who was he to resist the urge to make you his? (after all, he deserves only the best) The longer he does not have you, the more your worth rises in his eyes.

Dottore who initially wants to pick apart your brain (quite literally) but his interest shifts and doubles when he reaches an epiphany that what he truly lacked from the Akademiya was someone who shared his intellect, a genius to match his own. Maybe you don't share his affinity for biology, but he loves the way your conversations keeps him on his toes (if you weren't a being close to perfection for him before, then you certainly are now.)

Arlecchino who watches as you care for the children in the orphanage, checking in on them even long after they've joined the ranks of the Fatui and compares it to the frigid ways of the other Harbingers. For the first time since being a part of this cold nation, she is envious of the warmth you give (why must you have so much love to share?) She thinks that should the day come she turns her back on this frigid country, she would surely take your hearth with her.

Marionette who finds herself being drawn to the way you move around a room and hold yourself up in front of people, marveling at the intricacies of each part of your body and the way they make up the being that is you (you could trip and fall and she'd still sigh in awe). Her fascination turns you from muse to future subject. Surely such a specimen must be preserved, right? Not to mention, there would be no greater honor than to turn the Tsaritsa's best into a perfect unchanging doll.

Damselette who usually goes quiet when you're in the same room as her, always eager to hear you talk, almost hissing when a Harbinger tries to speak over you. She finds your voice is the one in her head who speaks reason to her when she gets a bit out of control (Does she listen? No, but your voice is always ever so lovely). Wouldn't it be so nice if you're the lone voice she hears always, the same way you're already always in her thoughts?

Capitano who is thankful his mask covers the fond look he gets when you turn to him - not with fear like the lower ranking Fatui or haughty like the Harbingers - but as an equal, leveling him with a gaze that leaves him fooling himself that it means something more. He's less thankful for his mask when someone calls your attention away from him and he can't control the glare he sends their way (maybe if they saw the way he looked at them, they'd finally be put in their place).

Pulcinella is quick to put you in a pedestal - you are someone to be respected and someone to be kept at a distance. And yet as he watches the Harbingers fall deeper and deeper into obsession, he takes it upon himself to protect the Tsaritsa's favorite and the Fatui's brain from whatever his co workers are plotting. As he spends more time with you (making sure the others do not occupy all of your time), the pedestal he keeps you on crumbles until all he sees is another child to keep under his wing. He fails to see he has only fallen into a different hole as the rest.

Strategist!Darling who may pretend to be oblivious to the Harbingers' feelings but is actually letting it all happen to make sure they all stay under the Tsaritsa's rule one way to another.

Does Pierro know what you're doing? Maybe. It's not like he is blind to how the Harbingers act around you, subtle as they try to be. If you spend enough time with him, you might be able to tell that he enjoys watching you play the part of a fool, dancing around the others and making them dance for you, too. He might even step in once he thinks the other Harbingers are stepping out of line, but it all depends on what he gets out of sticking into your business.

I also like the dynamic where although the Harbingers cannot make a move to claim what is "their's", darling is just as trapped. Although they always sometimes want to leave, they know as much as anyone that the Tsaritsa is the only thing standing between them and the others. The moment they try to leave the Tsaritsa's side or they lose her favor, it's all fair game for the Harbingers.

Everyone is stuck in a stalemate until someone makes a misstep.

✨ Masterlist ✨ 

Taglist: 💛@anime-allover  💛@faeriessky  💛 @prksolon 💛 @dai-tsukki-desu 💛 @wonpielle

Disclaimer: Characters are not mine and belong to their respective creators. Their portrayal is merely my own interpretation of them and may not be accurate to their intended characterization. I stake no claim to the original works, only to the ideas and plot of the fictitious stories I’ve written them into.

[shizuturnspages]

What if child reader khaenri'ah, having the magic power sealed for so long, his body will collapse and explode?? Imagine it's a lock trying to turn off the water, but BOM the water flies out of the pipe because it can't hold any more (Ignore the previous post message by mistake,error xD)

A Power Unchained

Synopsis: After years of having your magic sealed, your body can no longer contain the overwhelming power within. When the seal finally shatters, your magic erupts in a devastating explosion, sending shockwaves through your surroundings. But one thing is certain. They will never let this happen again. Pairings: [Separate] Yandere Dainsleif, Pierro, Kaeya, Albedo, Capitano x Khaenri'ahn Child

Dainsleif – The Breaking Point of Fate

Dainsleif had always known this day would come.

He saw the signs—the feverish glow beneath your skin, the way your body trembled, unable to contain the pressure of your own existence. Khaenri'ah's blood, its curse, its power—all of it had been bottled inside you for too long.

"Hold on. Just hold on a little longer."

He wasn't begging. Dainsleif didn't beg. But there was an urgency in his voice as he carried you away from prying eyes, away from Mondstadt, away from any place where your destruction could hurt someone else.

He tried. He really did.

But as he set you down on the cold grass of an abandoned ruin, your body convulsed.

Cracks of blinding blue light split across your skin. Your breathing turned ragged, eyes wild with pain as the magic—sealed for too long—finally demanded release.

"No—" Dainsleif moved to hold you down, to contain it, but he was too late.

The moment your body could no longer take it—

The explosion shattered the night.

Blue energy tore through the ruins, shaking the very earth beneath him. Dainsleif shielded his eyes, gritting his teeth as centuries-old stone crumbled into dust.

And then—silence.

When he looked again, you lay there—unmoving.

Dainsleif didn't breathe. Not until he saw the slight rise and fall of your chest. Alive, but barely.

His hands trembled as he pulled you into his arms.

"I should have never let this happen." His voice was low, dangerous.

He wouldn't let this happen again.

He would find a way to control your power. Even if it meant breaking you in other ways.

Because if your body exploded again—

Next time, there might not be anything left to save.

Pierro – The Grandfather Who Will Not Lose Again

The Jester stood in his study, staring down at the shaking form of the child before him.

You had always been a stubborn thing.

A relic of a kingdom long lost, carrying its magic even after its destruction. He had done everything to suppress it—layer upon layer of seals, enchantments that should have lasted a lifetime.

Yet here you were, crumbling under their weight.

"Foolish child." Pierro's voice was calm, but his hands curled into fists behind his back. You were failing. Breaking apart at the seams.

He knew this feeling. He had lost a nation this way.

And now—he was losing you.

The explosion was inevitable.

The moment it happened, his vision went white. The force tore through his study, sent books and scrolls flying. A shockwave rippled through the walls of the fortress, rattling even the most seasoned Fatui.

But Pierro did not flinch.

When the light finally dimmed, he stepped forward, his long coat billowing behind him.

You were barely conscious, small hands grasping at the air, body too weak to move.

"You cannot control it on your own," he murmured, kneeling beside you. His voice was not kind, but it was not cruel either.

"You need guidance. And I will not let you fall apart, not like this."

His gloved hand rested atop your head, and his cold magic sank into your skin.

A new seal. Stronger. Unbreakable.

"You will not explode again, child." His gaze darkened. "Even if I must carve my control into your very soul."

Kaeya – The Fear of Losing Family Again

"It’s okay, I’ve got you. Just breathe."

Kaeya’s voice was soft, but his grip on your shoulders was tight.

He saw it coming.

The way your magic itched beneath your skin, the way you clenched your hands into trembling fists as if trying to hold it in—

But you couldn’t.

"Kaeya, it hurts—!" Your voice cracked, panic setting in.

And then—

BOOM.

The streets of Mondstadt lit up in blue. The force of your magic sent a shockwave through the city, shattering nearby windows, knocking over carts. The explosion threw Kaeya back, and for a terrifying moment, all he saw was fire, destruction, chaos—

Just like before.

"No—no, no, no—" He stumbled forward, ignoring the ringing in his ears. You weren’t dead. You couldn’t be.

And there you were—collapsed in the middle of the destruction, small and fragile.

His heart nearly stopped.

Kaeya was at your side in an instant, scooping you into his arms, holding you close like you would disappear if he let go.

"You scared me, snowflake," he murmured, forcing out a chuckle to hide the raw panic in his chest.

You barely stirred.

He pressed his forehead against yours, breathing you in.

"I’m never letting this happen again."

No more holding back. No more pretending to give you freedom.

You were his sibling.

And he refused to lose family again.

Albedo – A Fragile Experiment on the Verge of Collapse

The alchemist had warned you.

"Your body is a vessel, and every vessel has a limit."

But even Albedo had miscalculated.

Because as he watched your body convulse, cracks of searing blue light racing up your arms, he knew—

This was not something he could control.

Your screams echoed through Dragonspine as your body reached its breaking point. The explosion ripped through the cavern, knocking over vials, shattering glass.

For the first time, Albedo felt fear.

He rushed to you, scanning your vitals, checking if your body could still hold itself together.

It could. Barely.

"I won’t let this happen again." His voice was firm as he grabbed your wrist and pressed a needle into your skin.

A new formula.

A new containment method.

He would not allow you to fall apart.

Because you were his greatest experiment.

And he would perfect you.

Capitano – The Price of Strength

Capitano had always known you were powerful.

But even he had not anticipated this.

One moment, you were struggling in training—panting, frustrated.

The next?

The ground ruptured beneath your feet.

Flames. Darkness. Pure, chaotic magic.

Fatui soldiers were thrown like ragdolls, unable to withstand the sheer force of it.

Capitano?

He didn’t move.

Even as the energy burned the air around him, he stepped forward.

Through the chaos.

Through the fire.

And when the magic finally collapsed, leaving you a trembling heap in the ruins—

He was there.

You barely register his presence, body convulsing, eyes glazed with pain.

But Capitano kneels, scooping you up effortlessly.

He says nothing.

But his grip is firm. Unbreakable.

"We will fix this."

His tone leaves no room for argument.

Because if he has to tear the world apart to make sure you never break like this again—

Then so be it.

[intothegenshinworld]

Fate’s Destiny ~ Chapter 13 || The heavens and us

You somehow, not being able to explain it, had fallen into the Genshin world you know oh-so-well. You were no new player and had explored most of the nooks and crannies of the world. When you first had woken up in Windrise you wondered; it might be a dream, after all, you were behind your screen usually, and now- here? It made no sense, and the world was keen on keeping it that way.

Warnings: Spoilers for main story.

Word count: 3k+

Auteurs note: We ballin!!

↺ PREVIOUS CHAPTER || ↻ NEXT CHAPTER || MASTERLIST

The people on the street are in a state of panic, and rightfully so. 

In the not-so-far distance, it’s becoming more obvious that whatever went on between the Jade Chamber and the rising waves had affected Liyue Harbor in its entirety. 

In between the mountains, the Jade Chamber lays in ruin. Even before hitting the ground, it has been fragmented into multiple chunks. And with no walls to keep all of its previous furniture inside, its contents litters throughout the paths in the surrounding area.

For a while longer, smoke surges from the wreckage—as the initial fall had set fire to the cloths and paper inside. Candles had been tossed over and caught whatever they could during the fall, burning all of the silk tapestries with the Creator’s face and history until it leaves nothing but dust in its wake.

The harbour doesn’t fare better under the destruction. 

The people in the area have had enough time to evacuate, but the docking boats and multiple shops are flooded, destroyed by the large waves that came crashing down not too long ago.

ㅤ

Often when reaching this point, you’d find out that the Adepti and the Qixing assisted the newly reborn geo Archon with his task of protecting his city. 

However, you will never find out why they are bound to fail.

Going south from Wangshu Inn, leads you through the Guili Plains once more. Your previous journey through this area had been relaxed, with little to none interactions from anyone aside from Lumine, Paimon, and Dainsleif. But with pandemonium reigning the nation ever since the Jade Chamber fell, you aren’t surprised to see the crowds grow thicker. 

Around you, people are both leaving and heading towards Liyue Harbor. You aren’t certain why anyone would be going towards the city in its current state, but you assume it has to do with people believing in the geo Archon and seeking shelter in times of uncertainty.

Of course, you are part of the same group, but your reasons for heading towards Liyue Harbor are quite different. 

Earlier, you had remembered an interaction with a certain someone who could give you clarity on the current situation. 

"Call my name." 

A hand holds yours in a gentle but firm hold.  The workers in Wangshu Inn had been occupied well before sunrise, but the morning remained fresh. Rays of sunlight hit the side of Xiao’s face, bringing forward the teal streaks in his hair and a golden shimmer in his eyes. 

His expression holds concern for something. You don’t ask him about it.

Xiao speaks again. His voice sounds clearer this time. 

"Call my name if you need me."

You’ve spent more than enough time with Xiao to know that he would help you if you needed it. Like when he suspected the Fatui to be a danger, or when he teleported you away when the Jade Chamber fell down—he'd always been there for you.

Another reason for you to remember him was the fact that the Adeptus would be at the geo Archon’s side. If you called out his name, he could tell you what was going on in Liyue Harbor.

However, when you call out his name, he doesn’t answer.

“Xiao?” You say it again, this time a bit louder.

You’re unsure if you should be concerned about the silence that follows. He’s proven to be capable of handling many difficult situations but something within makes you feel uneasy at the lack of response. 

The white haired pixie floats over to your side.

“Maybe he is busy? Whatever lights we saw flash out from the Jade Chamber during the fight, it had to have been elemental energy. Paimon thinks the Adepti might’ve helped during the battle.” Paimon turns away to face Lumine, who’s busy trying to keep the chaos at a distance from the three of you. 

And as you follow your eyes in the outlander’s direction, a strangely familiar carriage flies by. 

For a moment, your attention is captured. Instead of Lumine, your eyes are glued to the vehicle.  

At first glance, it doesn’t look extraordinary. It has a simple wooden base with a white frame, made out of cloth, perched atop it, keeping the contents inside hidden. And as you look at it, you realise that instead of the carriage looking familiar to you, it’s the man with fiery red hair that chimes familiarity. 

With a stern and concentrated look, he rides the horse that pulls the carriage along. The stranger’s red eyes are always focused in front of him to make sure no accidents were caused by the chaos on the roads. 

And then his eyes move to you. 

Your cloak should’ve been concealing you, but with the mass panic, you had assumed no one would be concerned about your resemblance to the creator. Everyone would’ve been distracted and no one should’ve noticed you. Unless they felt your aura. 

So, did he?

The moment passes as quickly as it came, for the carriage nor the red haired man stops to confirm your suspicions. Instead, a small hand settles on your shoulder, pulling you out of your thoughts once more.

With a smile, Paimon gently tugs the cloak down for you, and once she finishes, you return your mind to the current situation: Xiao being unresponsive as Liyue Harbor remains in shambles. 

You frown, an expression that remains hidden since no one can see your face with the fabric casting a shadow over it. At last, you respond to Paimon. “Xiao might be busy, but that doesn’t help our current situation.”

Lumine looks at Paimon and then turns to you. She seems hesitant and takes a second to speak up. “Is the gnosis still working?”

Your eyes fall upon the orange rays escaping the fingers that encase the object. A soft hum of recognition is sent in response. “I think so. It’s been pulling me along towards Liyue Harbor.”

The outlander is silent for a second. Once she makes sure the crowds are safe, Lumine walks over to you. “Is there a chance that the geo Archon still has power over it?”

Confusion makes you stumble over your first words. “No. If he could, he would’ve told me or helped me with regaining my memories.” 

Then, she explains her questions. “I think Paimon was right. It might be worth it to follow the gnosis’s pull for now.” Lumine looks at the gnosis before her eyes trail back to you. She continues to talk,

“Perhaps you did resonate with it. Your aura has been growing weaker ever since we left camp in the morning, so the gnosis might’ve been absorbing your aura so it can communicate.”

Indifferently, you nod. “Maybe. Either way, we should continue. The crowds don’t seem to calm down and we’ll never know the reasoning behind the gnosis’ activation if we stop now.”

A while back, when Paimon had expressed her theory about the gnosis needing to recognise your aura, you felt like you were one step closer to figuring out what you needed to do. 

Somehow, that feeling of excitement and relief was now gone.

If you were honest with yourself, you’ve forgotten why your lost memories were supposed to be troublesome in the first place. If the geo Archon recognised you, wasn’t that enough? You are the Creator, after all. 

But then again,

if you are Teyvat’s Creator, 

where did you come from?

As you approach Liyue Harbor,  an eerie absence invades the landscape that surrounds you. Not a single soul or creature is in sight—a stark contrast to the bustling roads you previously experienced. You halt to look at Lumine after you’ve observed the roads. 

“Where did you think they went?” You ask.

She stops in her tracks. “The people?”

You nod. 

“The people…” Lumine scans the empty streets. The treelines separating you from the wilderness of the Guili Plains are completely abandoned. No birds are flying in the sky and there are no tracks of anyone else having passed this area. 

It is just you, her, and Paimon. 

“I’m not sure,” she admits.

“Paimon knows!” Your white haired eagerly interjects. “The geo Archon must’ve evacuated them.”

Your grip tightens on the gnosis, its weight a reminder of the journey ahead. 

A despondent expression settles onto your face as you caress the metal outlines separating you from the contained geo energy within. The godly object whines at your standstill, urging you to continue now that your destination is within reach. 

Despite Paimon's optimism, a nagging doubt gnaws at your resolve. It might’ve been the pull from the gnosis, or the fact that you had no idea what just occurred, but you needed to move forward.

You hear soft footsteps move in your direction until Lumine stands next to you on the hill. Her eyes follow your gaze to Liyue Harbor.

From here, everything looks still. The smoke from between the mountains has calmed down and the waters are quiet. But however still it might look, destruction is evident the longer you look at the view in front of you. 

Somehow, with Lumine by your side, you feel more confident. And despite her own destiny, time and time again, she has chosen to stand with you. It’s something you can’t properly appreciate because it means too much to you. 

Your mind drifts to Dainsleif and your last interactions with him. 

You feel bothered about his departure. Sure, there was something peculiar about him, something you couldn’t figure out, but he made you feel at home. Despite the time spent with him being sparse, it felt like you should’ve known him—as if you had met before. 

His entire appearance and disappearance felt like a puzzle you can’t quite solve. 

Why did he leave?

But with a more urgent mystery ahead, and things appearing to be more complicated as time passes, you decide to push him and your doubts aside to focus on the problem in front of you.

“Do you have any idea why those waves emerged?” You ask Lumine. 

“No.” she moves her head sideways to look at you. Her blonde hair flies over her shoulders when a soft breeze passes you. She furrows her eyebrows slightly before they relax again. Her golden eyes shine in the golden hour. “I'm not sure. Do you think that the gnosis activating is connected to all of this?”

Without looking at it, you brush your finger over the object. Its gleam has turned into a beautiful golden colour, mirroring the sun and Lumine’s radiance, growing brighter the closer you get to Liyue Harbor. The small thing continues to be a mystery to seemingly everyone around you—even the geo Archon. Aside from saving Liyue Harbor, going back with the knowledge of knowing that you’ve potentially resonated with it…

Somehow everything seemed to be falling into place.

After a moment, you remove the cloak from your head. With ease, Lumine’s eyes find yours. “I’m not sure why, but the gnosis becomes intenser the closer we get. It must mean something , at the very least.” You respond.

Paimon chimes in from Lumine’s other side with an encouraging tone. “I’m sure we can uncover what happened in the city if we work together!”

The pixie’s smile is bright and infectious, a stark contrast to your doubt, and yet it never fails to make you feel more at ease. 

Facing away from the view, you respond.

“Let’s continue. The journey won’t be long anymore.”

Somewhere between your last stop and the waypoint that’s on the hill before Liyue Harbor, the gnosis starts to freak out. The pulsations that it produces becomes less controlled— frenzied. 

If you hadn’t felt its usually softer vibrations prior to this moment, you would’ve thought the shakes were coming from an earthquake. Unfortunately, you are familiar with this feeling and know something is about to go terribly wrong.

“Wait, we need to stop.” You stand with shaking legs upon the stone and dirt below your feet. These convulsions are not coming from the city, but your hand. 

A second after you feel it, Lumine’s hands extend to her sides as she tries to balance herself. Her eyes are wide, before they dart around, trying to make sense of what’s happening. 

You call out to her. “The gnosis, something is wrong!”

“What?” Her voice fades as the geo energy energy becomes louder. A buzzing sound gives you a headache. You watch Paimon lift her hands to her ears as she shakes in the air. 

Again, you try to call out. “The gnosis!”

Lumine tries to reach her hand out towards you. While you were travelling, you and Paimon walked behind her. Conversing while she kept her eyes open for danger. Now, you regretted the distance between you and her. 

You reach your free hand out to her, but then a deep rumble erupts followed by the ground shaking. Perhaps due to its suddenness, or the sheer power behind it, you stumble forward and then down. Your knees hit the ground first, and you brace yourself with your palms forward when the earth convulses again. 

The air from your lungs forcefully escapes your lips when Paimon lands on your back right after. She is much smaller than you are, so it doesn’t damage you any further, but it gives you discomfort and more disorientation. 

After a second of recovery, you pull your head up from the dirt. 

A short distance separated from you, you see the gnosis lying between small pebbles and rocks on the ground. Its golden glow shines brighter than the twilight sky, and then it dims again to a soft orange glow, before it radiates the same liquid gold as before. 

Something is wrong. Something is really really wrong.

Paimon is still recovering from her fall when you gather your arms below your chin. While the ground continues to shake with vigour, you’re able to get yourself up halfway with a push to your limbs, making the pixie on your back roll to the side and fall next to you.

From the corner of your eyes, you see Lumine down on the ground as well. She sits a few meters away from you with her hands stabilising her body at her sides. The outlander seems to have taken less of a fall than either you or Paimon did, so her agility must have aided her somehow. 

Be that as it may, something is wrong with her too . Her eyes are fixated on the skies and she seems to be caught in a stupor.  

Without the weight of a child on your back, you have free reign to move and grab the gnosis. You refocus your mind and you crawl over. 

While the ground shaking below makes it harder to reach, it’s only a few arm-lengths away. Surprisingly, the object itself doesn’t seem affected by the vibrations. But perhaps that shouldn’t have been surprising at all, considering it was made out of pure geo energy.

You stretch your arm forward and fingers curl around the gnosis. Soft flesh touches the metal, and right as you’re about to close your hold, it dissipates. 

Soft dust escapes your fingers and your eyes widen as your mouth falls open in disbelief. 

It doesn't make sense. How can a gnosis suddenly disappear in front of you? 

Your fingers grasp at the ground below, desperately trying to catch the pixels of what remains before the gnosis is fully gone. 

A flicker of vulnerability flashes through your eyes. The gnosis was your only current lead but it’s now lost, leaving you with an empty feeling. Then, your eyebrows furrow together, trying with all your power to cling to your composure and fight the storm of frustration and disconsolation raging within. 

You bite your lip when the corners of your mouth begin to tremble. With each passing moment, tension rises in your body, and then before you can break, Lumine grabs your arm and yanks you up. 

“We need to run!” Lumine looks over her shoulder, and when you follow her gaze—you see it.

An elongated structure was descending from the heavens to the ground below. With it came a palpable tension that suffused the air, thickening it with each passing second. The massive silhouette of the nail-like stone loomed ominously against the twilight sky, casting a shadow that seemed to swallow Liyue Harbor whole. 

As it continues to plummet, the ground below quivers beneath its impending impact, shaking in fear and anticipation of the cataclysm to come. 

Lumine's grip tightens on your arm. Her urgency acts as a silent plea for swift action. With every step forward, the weight of what is to come presses down upon you, urging you to hasten your escape despite the burn on your knees. 

Paimon too, is at your side. She flutters anxiously, her voice lost amidst the chaos as the world seems to hold its breath. 

Then, a deafening roar that could shake the very foundations of Teyvat itself echoes through the area as the object strikes the ground with an unfathomable force. The impact reverberates through the air, sending shockwaves in all directions. Dust and debris rise up from the area of impact, obscuring the horizon in a shroud of darkness as the ground trembles beneath your feet.  

Amid the chaos, time stands still. Flames writhe and twist amidst the smoke, painting the once blue and purple sky in hues of orange and red. Blow, the city succumbs to destruction. What once was a thriving and fortunate city, would be covered by dust before the end of the night. 

In this moment, a dreadful realisation settles in. 

Even if you had arrived in Liyue Harbor before this cataclysm, you never would've been able to protect its people— yourself . 

Reality itself seems to shatter under the weight of the unfolding tragedy. The sky unravels before your eyes as black streaks shatter the world. With a desperate cry, Lumine's grip on your arm falters, her strength wavering against the soundwave that hits you.

As the world blurs into darkness, a sense of helplessness grips at your very being, forcing you to face whatever may come next even as the world breaks apart around you. And despite the destruction cradling your very being, a single voice stands out—,

ㅤ

“[Y/N].”

If you liked this chapter and think I deserve a comment, please leave one behind! I appreciate it a lot and it'll make me more motivated to write in the future ♡

© intothegenshinworld. Do not copy, repost, translate or take heavy inspiration from my content. Thanks for reading.

[asilentsongbird]

ever thought about a love triangle between yan childe and yan neuvillette 🫣?????? imagine y/n being married to neuvillette—and tbf i think being married to him would be miserable…considering the circumstances (it’s less a marriage and more like eternal imprisonment), so the thought of betraying neuvillette gives you some semblance of control. it’s just, no one expected you to betray him with the 11th fatui harbinger…

I LOVE this for the simple fact that I think y/n would not understand how peaceful life is with Neuvillette until Childe takes them on.

Neuvillette is old. He's lived hundreds of years and he's insanely powerful and well liked. Sure, marriage to him is like a prison sentence, you're never leaving him, but at least he lets you wander the city and have hobbies. He's patient.

Childe though, Childe knows just enough to put on a prince charming persona and convince you that there's more out there. Sure, more means being his wife and being his pretty little thing, but you already do that with Neuvillette, surely it can't be any more difficult, right?

Childe convinces you to leave with him, to escape late at night when the timing is perfect. A bit of hope rises in you at the thought of being free, but Childe isn't going to take you to Mondstadt, the nation of freedom.

Life with him ends up being nothing like you dreamed it would be. Everything about Childe stays the same, but any agency you had before has vanished into thin air. He doesn't let you out of whatever apartment he's got set up for you on his latest mission. Childe is convinced that all of your thoughts should be about him, him, him.

It's harder to escape Childe than it ever was to leave Neuvillette. You should feel ashamed as you manage to make your way back to Fontaine, though you consider going to Mondstadt to truly gain your freedom.

But at least with Neuvillette, you have protection from a Harbinger. With Neuvillette, if you're found by him you're most likely just going to get a lecture and a light punishment.

With Childe, if he finds you, you're certain that you'll never see the light of day again.

[littlemisssatanist]

frolicking in the flowers

ganyu x cicin mage reader

you get sent to liyue on indefinite leave. you meet a cocogoat.

well hello there. i’ve come out of my hidey hole on account of ao3 being down and me being absolutely bored out of my mind. so i went searching through my notes app bc a lot of times i’m delirious and write stuff and then forget about it and found this hidden gem (?) details below split.

it’s not finished bc there’s like three sentences that were supposed to set up the anal… and uhm if y’all want that then just like. get this to 100 likes and i’ll consider it. (but probably not idk)

details

Sub! Ganyu, Dom! Reader / Dubious consent / Aphrodisiac / Hoohaw eating 🍽

You knelt down, grabbing the flower by its stem and yanking. You brought up your arm with enough strength to take out the whole root of the flower. Dirt sprayed everywhere and you made a face.

Sighing in frustration, you sat down with a soft thump, kneading the flower stem in between your fingers. The sun was at its highest point in the sky, beating down on Liyue relentlessly.

Yes, you were in Liyue. After the fiasco in Mond, your superior had sent you to the next nation over. Except the Harbinger Childe had no need for you, and dismissed you almost immediately for a ‘break.’

So now you were stuck here for however long. It was awful.

You threw the flower away, spatting in distaste. Your neck was slick with sweat. Thank the Tsaritsa you weren’t wearing your work uniform, or else you would probably be melting in the heat.

“I want a popsicle.” You mutter.

The pink dress you were wearing had a dark green stain at the hem and you frowned, annoyance rising. What you wouldn’t do to be back in Snezhnaya.

But unless Harbinger Childe sent you away or your Lady back home asked for your presence, there was nothing to be done.

“I might as well do something fun.” You muse, squinting your eyes as you tried to block off the incoming headache. “Don’t want to waste away…”

The sound of hilichurls caught your attention. Your head snapped in their direction, ears listening intently.

They didn’t seem to be in your immediate vicinity, but you didn’t want to stay near a hilichurl camp at all, especially in your tired state (who knew that doing nothing at all could be so exhausting?)

You got to you feet, dusting off your dress. It did nothing to help.

“Eeep!”

You froze. Then you sighed again, stomping your foot on the ground. How annoying. You couldn’t just leave a defenseless civilian to die by hilichurl, could you? Even the Fatui had their limits (except for maybe the Harbingers. They had no limits, they were all crazy).

But you had limits. Especially if it was a civilian who did nothing wrong, or tried to interfere with your plans (you had none anyways).

So you turned around, racing to where you heard the hilichurls from. You got to the top of a hill, looking down. There were hilichurls there, all right. Except they were all dead and a woman with light blue hair was standing in the middle. She held a bow, and you could spot a Cryo vision dangling from her hip.

You made your way down the hill. The hilichurls were beginning to disintegrate now, floating away into ashes.

As you came closer, you realized to woman had horns. Perhaps she wasn’t a civilian. You crept forward cautiously.

“Hmm? Oh!” The horned woman noticed you.

She was very pretty, you thought. Curvy, too. Suddenly, you had an idea. Admittely, a very bad idea, but like implied earlier, you were very bored.

“Hi!” You said, adopting a cheerful persona. “What’s your name?”

“Oh!” The woman said again, feeling flustered. Her cheeks turned a light pink. Cute. “My name is Ganyu.”

“Well Gan-yu.” You roll her name over your tongue. “What happened here?”

“I was sleeping…” She said softly. “And then a bunch of hilichurls attacked me! But I killed them all before they got to me.” Ganyu smiled, looking proud of herself.

“Oh, are you a Vision user?” You ask, appearing interested.

“Yes, I have a Cryo one!” Ganyu brushed it with her hand, looking down. Her head snapped up suddenly. “Do you have one?”

You giggle, hiding your mouth behind a hand. “No, I don’t. It does sound interesting though, doesn’t it?”

Ganyu nodded, bringing her hands to her horns. “Oh… I think I’m late to something.” She looks at you. “Sorry, can we talk again later? It was nice to meet you.”

“Of course. This time again tomorrow?”

She nodded, turning around and disappearing over the hill.

The next time you met up, you brought a few toys with you. Random objects you could buy separately without anyone suspecting a thing, but you had plans for all of them.

You laid out a picnic blanket, light pink with off-white dots. Then you set down your basket, waiting for Ganyu to arrive.

She appeared right on time, exclaiming softly when she saw your little display. “Oh! How wonderful!”

Ganyu sat down, tucking her legs under her thighs. She’s not wearing the same outfit as yesterday; instead she donned a soft blue dress that went down to her knees. She patted the space around her, looking eager for what would happen next.

“I brought some snacks for us!” You said brightly, bringing out a box of пирожки. They looked like normal pirozhki, if it weren’t for the little something you sprinkled in while making them.

Ganyu looked over them, fluttering her hands. “Which one should I choose?… They all look so delicious!”

“Here, take this one.” You pick one randomly and bring it to her lips. She paused for only a moment before opening her mouth and gently biting into the sweet pastry.

“Mm!” Ganyu moans, soft powder dusting her lips. “That’s so good!”

“Isn’t it? I made them myself.” A lie. You only… fixed them up.

“You’re really talented!” Ganyu says, clasping her hands together.

“Thank you.” You say, watching as a soft blush creeps up Ganyu’s cheeks. Good, it was working.

“Mmm…” Ganyu mutters. “It’s getting a little hot.”

She shifts in her seat, closing her eyes. Her mouth is open in a little ‘o’, and small puffs of breath comes out as her chest moves up and down.

“Are you alright?” You ask, faking concern. You lean over, bringing a hand over Ganyu’s forehead.

“I’m so sorry!” Ganyu says, flustered. “I feel weird all of a sudden… your hand is very cool…”

She leans into your palm, and you shuffle closer. Ganyu sighs, pressing into your figure. Her eyes are closed, and you take the initiative to trail your fingers down her thigh.

Slowly, carefully, you bring your hand to her crotch. Ganyu gasps, her eyes flying open. She tries to twist to look at you, but you grab hold of her shoulder and keep her in place.

“It’s ok… let me help you.” You purr next to her ear. You take the edge of the dress and flip it out of the way, revealing her wet panties.

Ganyu breaths heavily, watching your hand with attention. She sank into you as you touched her again, throwing her head back. “Look at you. How precious.”

You stroke her a few more times, enjoying how your fingers get wetter. Ganyu let’s out breathy moans, and your free hand travels to put a finger in her mouth. She closed it immediately, tongue swirling.

You slip your hand under the band of her panties, feeling her wet folds. Slowly you insert your middle finger into her, watching as she arches her back and whines. “Ah!”

You take your hand out of her mouth, carefully settling her body onto the ground. With your finger still inside of her pussy, the moving around makes Ganyu press her thighs against your arm. You smile.

Taking out the finger, you ignore Ganyu’s whimpers and string her soaking panties up and over her legs, one by one. You run your hand up and down her thighs, throwing her right leg over your shoulder. “You’re flexible.” You say. “Good.”

Lowering your head to be level with her pussy, you flick your tongue out to taste it. The juices start flowing harder as Ganyu cries out in pleasure. You press a chaste kiss to her inner thigh before slipping your tongue back into her folds.

Ganyu trembles as your tongue goes faster and faster, letting out noises that would embarrass anyone who came near them.

It wasn’t long until she climaxed. Her back arched incredibly, and her mouth fell open. She stayed that way for a few seconds before collapsing.

[moonsglare]

SELFSHIP LORE: SEVCHINO

master document. always stc according to new lore updates.

PAST: CHILDHOOD -> I meet Peruere and Clervie at the orphanage as the last one to join. Clervie is the one who opens up first, and where Clervie goes, Peruere naturally follows. We become a sort-of trio in the orphanage, mostly just following Clervie around since she's the more outspoken and outgoing one between the three of us. I do start to warm up more eventually, though not to Clervie's extent.

-> On a starlit night after a particularly brutal training session, Clervie assigns all of us nicknames, in a sense. Peruere is the moon, I am the sun, and she is a star. Then, she tells us both about the auroras of Snezhnaya, and we all promise to go see it one day. Together.

-> I rely mostly on Clervie and Peruere during the training sessions because I'm not the most physically capable. I am, however, an academic fucking weapon and destroy any of the academic tests that are set. So much so that by the time we turn 15, a scholarship comes in the mail from Snezhnaya for me, with the offer to study in one of the prestigious institutions in the Nation of Cryo.

-> I consider ignoring the offer, but Clervie rips into me for it. It's an opportunity to escape the Kingmaking, after all. I would be stupid not to take it, yet at the same time, I don't want to leave them. But Clervie assures me that they will both be fine--they have each other, after all. Peruere, on the other hand, makes no such promises (and perhaps, she was wise beyond her years to do so).

-> I head off to Snezhnaya in the coming week, and from then on, only communicate to Clervie and Peruere through letters. It's mostly Clervie writing, but Peruere writes the occasional paragraph or two. I treasure all the letters and keep them in a box beneath my bed at the institute. I get two final letters, one from Clervie and the other from Peruere. Clervie assures me that everything is fine, but Peruere's letter is more honest. The Kingmaking approaches, and nothing is certain. Though they both promise that when it's over, which ever way the chips fall, we'll go see the auroras together.

-> The letters stop the year I turn 17. It doesn’t take long for me to figure out why, since rumors buzz around Snezhnaya like wildfire; Crucabena, the Knave, assassinated by one of her orphans. I try and dig for more info, but everything is kept under tight wraps. I graduate at 18, and I officially won't be receiving any more letters, because I'll be dispatched as a sleeper agent to Liyue and functionally 'severing' any ties to the Fatui. The dream of seeing the auroras remains just that—a dream.

PAST: ADULTHOOD -> As a sleeper agent in Liyue, I work for the Qixing in administration. The Fatui gives all its sleepers a new identity, and as part of my own training at the institute, adopting it isn't difficult. I spend years as a member of the Qixing, and even get to watch Ningguang rise to power as Tianquan.

-> But orders arrive from Snezhnaya to work with a newly acquired 'asset' based in Liyue. That 'asset' ends up being the up-and-coming future Regrator. I become his insider in the Qixing, funneling information to him and functionally becoming his assistant. This goes on for about a year before Yelan comes into Ningguang's service, and the Qixing do a full top-down department purge of Fatui agents. Though by that point, we had already completed what we set out to achieve, so the retreat back to Snezhnaya was not one of disgrace.

-> As part of his 'team', I'm present at his inauguration as a Harbinger. But who then is also present, but as a Harbinger herself, other than Peruere? I don't take my eyes off her throughout the entire ceremony, and neither does she, but now is not the time nor the place for a reunion. Instead, she waits until a few days later, meeting me outside my temporary accommodation at the Zapolyarny Palace on a cloudless night.

-> We talk, and then with her permission, hug her tightly. She says that she looked for me, but it made sense that I couldn't be found since I was a sleeper. The aurora stretches far and wide above our heads, and I ask her where Clervie is, even though at this point, I could surmise the answer myself.

-> A few days after that, I receive a transfer order from the Knave, much to Pantalone's displeasure. I, of course, don't think twice about accepting it.

PRESENT -> I work for Peruere, now Arlecchino, as her adjutant and second-in-command.

FUTURE -> In honor of Clervie's nickname of 'star', our first child is given a name that embodies it; Estelle.

[windbornwanderer]

"Wanderer... what an exquisite name you have," she thought for a while before speaking up again. "I find it a fitting title for my guide. I assume you do plenty of travelling, so likely know the terrain well. How lucky it was for I to have come across such a person!! I do apologise for my rudeness dear Wanderer, I am Furina!"

They continued to walk in silence as Furina contemplated what she should do next. She felt a guilt rising within her that told her that she must do something to return the favour to her helper. But he didn't seem willing to take it. After all the many hundreds of years where Furina had to pretend to be someone she was not, she had also grown talented when it came to being able to tell when others were holding back too. This boy was clearly shutting himself off, attempting to create a barrier between himself and Furina. She wouldn't stand for such a thing.

With Sumeru city in the distance, she felt that the city was far more extravagant then the Fontainian one she was so used to. A city within a large tree was something that she never imagined herself to see. As they begun to near the large wooden utopia Furina realised it likely meant she had little time to come up with a plan to thank the man, he didn't seem like the type to wait around for long. She once again spoke up, in a final attempt of persuasion.

"Gracious Wanderer, if you are not in the mood for a meal that that is not something that I will argue against, however, please allow for me to do something to make it up to you for your kindness. Anything that you wish and I shall attempt to make it come true!!" - 🍂

── ⟡ ˙🎐 ̟.

When the Wanderer heard her name, the familiarity suddenly made sense. This wasn't just some Fontainian: this was the Hydro Archon. Well, the pretend Hydro Archon, if he had understood Nahida's story correctly. He had seen her once or twice from a distance while he was visiting the Knave's orphanage, long ago. With her celebrity status, she had been rather hard to miss. After everything that had seemingly gone down in the Nation of Justice recently... she was possibly the last person the boy had expected to run into.

Despite the sudden recognition, he kept his expression neutral, and his step didn't falter. While she had been surprisingly forthcoming about her identity, he guessed that she wasn't here on any official business. Otherwise, he would have known about it through Nahida, and he wouldn't have found her lost on a little jungle adventure. So, Wanderer decided to keep quiet about it.

"I know my way around."

He replied vaguely. It wasn't a lie, after all. She just didn't have to know the entire story. Somehow, she just could seem to get the hint that he wasn't in the mood to talk to her, and his patience was notoriously far from endless. Fortunately for him, they were almost there, so he bit his tongue once more. She was annoyingly persistent, he had to give her that.

Since they now neared the city, the road was getting a little more populated with merchants on their early way, aiming to set up their stalls and goods before the average Sumerian woke up. Some of them he recognized, others seemed to be travelers from more distant lands, who usually only stuck around for a few days.

He glanced over his shoulder once more, to see the lady --Furina-- now viewing the city with a look of awe clearly written on her face. The puppet couldn't help but smirk, though that expression disappeared almost as soon as it had come. Sumeru City tended to have that effect on those who saw it for the first time. The breeze seemed to pick up for a few seconds, although it died down again almost instantaneously.

It took all his effort not to snap when Furina simply refused to give up. Just when he was about to tell her to forget about it, another thought entered his mind: a person of her importance would have access to a lot of information that could be of great interest to him, especially about the Fatui. Perhaps in a casual conversation, she was willing to let something slip.

He turned to her with a sigh, his hat casting a shadow over his face, making it nearly unreadable. "Fine." he spoke with a flat voice.

"If you insist.. I like tea."

. ·········⋆༺𓆩❀𓆪༻⋆·········

[helly-watermelonsmellinfellon]

My Project Stuzha Theory | Genshin

The Fatui's Project Stuzha consists of trying to steal the power of the Frost Moon from the Frostmoon Scions so they can use Dottore's recent moon remnants experiments to create a New Moon and hopefully change the Fate of the world(based on claims from the Welkin Moon web event saying a new moon will change things after rising from the ashes).

Fatui = Fool(Italian) Their organization basically called "The Fools". So, the details of their plan, "to seize authority from the gods" must be Foolish in some sense.

Stuzha(Стужа) = Hard Frost/Chill/Cold(Russian) "Project Hard Frost" is interesting to think of.

In Childe's Collected Miscellany, Dain said that, "An icy wind is starting to blow towards the other nations. Brace yourselves, Teyvat is about to get cold." Childe is being forced to participate in this plan and doesn't seem pleased that his plans are being disrupted for it.

We know that the House of the Hearth will be forced to participate despite not wanting to. And we know that now that they no longer have any 'loose ends', Arlecchino is a lot less inclined to do as Pulcinella wants. Enough to claim that, "A crimson moon shall rise amid the frigid blizzards of winter. No demonstration of loyalty shall go unrewarded, and no sacrifice shall be in vain," should their plan come at the expense of her organization, or they attempt to take the HoH down out of fear of a loss of control.

And now with Snezhnaya's tumultuous history of colonizing Nod-Krai enough that they punish the people by not offering aid when it's needed, all cuz they don't fall in line when demanded to...

[burrat1n0]

Character Voiceovers

Voice Claim: Sapphire from Steven Universe

Purple - Locked behind Story Quest

Orange - Locked behind Archon Quest

Hello - I am Burratino, the 2nd 11th Fatui Harbinger of Snezhnaya. Though, you may use the title ‘Vera’ whenever we chat. When we are not within the boundaries of business, please, do not be so tense. Unless you are one of the people who haven’t paid their debts, rest assured I will not harm you mindlessly.

Chat: New Recruits - New recruits will come in soon… I can only hope they have some level of discipline.

Chat: Paperwork - Sigh, I just remembered the amount of paperwork piled on my desk. I forgot to do some last night.

Chat: Going Home - I always try to finish my work quickly so I may return home on time or early, as it gives me more time to spend with loved ones.

When the Sun is Out - In Snezhnaya, the sun doesn’t usually come out. So I like to soak in its warmth whenever I’m visiting other nations.

When It Rains - While we certainly don’t mind rain, our clothing does not. Come stand next to me, I can make a small dome to keep us dry.

After the Rain - Ah, the sun has come out. This would be the perfect time for a walk, in my opinion. Some rain boots are in order, though.

In the Desert - I… Much prefer the cold of Snezhnaya over this… groan Blistering heat of Sumeru’s deserts…

When It Snows - Snow… No matter the hour, it never fails to look as pure as it does. It never fails to be a sufficient backdrop for a mission, either.

When It's Windy - ... I wonder if he still watches over me, even now..?

When the Wind Is Blowing - If you listen close enough, you’ll be able to hear a friend's whispers within the wind. Maybe even a ballad.

Good Morning - The sun usually is still rising when I wake up, so I never really had the experience of being blinded by sunlight when I wake up.

Good Afternoon - Lunch time. A good time to recuperate after work, events, or just the day itself. I always like to seek company for mealtime, as I find that my food tastes better during such.

Good Evening - Traveler. Do you need something? I’m just sorting out the paperwork for some missions, and operations that are to be done and carried out… Evening? Oh. I, er, hadn’t realized time had flown by so quickly.

Good Night - Clear skies tonight, a perfect night for stargazing. Ah, ah, but I suggest that you go to sleep tonight. I’ll be fine, but you should not strain yourself. You may stargaze with me another night. Sweet dreams, Traveler.

About Vera: Polearm - A gift from years ago, back when I was younger. It was given to me by my father, after I had achieved an important goal of mine. It is something I cherish very dearly, as it holds a lot of sentimental and practical value. To maintain its condition, I only use it for battles that I deem worthy for me to use, and clean it every day to avoid staining. My right hand always marvels at how well-maintained it is, but I can assure it looked better when I first got it.

About Vera: Names - Kuval supposedly means ‘water lily’ and ‘wisdom’. At least, that’s what I remember. People in Mondstadt always complimented my name, finding it pleasant to say and hear, and how it suits me. I really only liked my first name back then, as Alberich… Well, it only reminded me of my biological father, who you know, wasn’t exactly present. I was much more comfortable being a ‘Ragnvindr’, the name of the family I felt most at ease with. But then I left even that name as well. But now, after I’ve finally had the chance to fix old bridges… I can proudly say I can take on both names. Along with… A certain someone’s last name.

About Us: Friends - I’d say after everything, we could be considered friends, no? Haha, I never really thought I’d have such a status with the almighty Traveler. Saviour of Teyvat, alongside their most trusted guide. But all jokes aside, I truly am grateful to be able to have your trust. Trust is a very delicate, but strong concept. So, in turn, you have my trust as well. Both in and out of battle.

About Us: The Stars - I’ve known for a long time that the sky of Teyvat is fake, but it does not mean that it takes away the beauty of the stars. It truly makes me wonder what the real stars are like… Even better, you say?... Ahahahaha! Well, I suppose I have to take your word for it, right? After all, you yourself have flown and traversed the stars. Maybe after the Old World has turned to ashes, the both of us can gaze at the true sky together.

About the Vision - This old thing…? While strong in battle, and while it does indeed help me in combat, I truly wish the circumstances in which I received it were entirely different. Why? Well, the story isn’t exactly pleasant, so I won’t bore you with it. Even if my vision comes from those wretched islands above the clouds… Well, won’t it be ironic for Celestia’s gift to be the reason for its downfall?

Something to Share - Whilst traversing the Snezhnayan forests, you always have to be careful. Especially during the night, as wolves or other predators usually make that time of day when they hunt. But during the day, that terror goes away and you can see some of the most adorable creatures you’ve ever seen. Foxes, deer, squirrels, rabbits, and more. The first time Childe and his family took me to see, I was absolutely starstruck. The snow just made it all the more magical.

Interesting Things: Memory - Despite my status as a Harbinger, my memory isn’t… Exactly ideal. While I am more than capable of remembering important details for a mission, and peoples faces and names and more, I can’t help but forget the small things. Paperwork, meals, the time, small errands… Unbecoming of me, I know. That’s why I always carry a notepad with me. But even with that, I still manage to forget sometimes.

Interesting Things: Children - The children of Snezhnaya are pure and untainted, like freshly fallen snow. Their smiles are innocently kind as they walk up to you and hand you a flower or treat, or ask you to play with them. It can’t help but melt your heart and indulge them just a bit. I’ve made it a habit to make small baked treats for them. But in the future… I’d more than love to have children of my own.

About Kaeya - My… Dearest twin brother. We’ve seen each other's ups and downs, back when we were younger. Always cheering each other on, always standing up for each other, always being there for the other to lean on during tough times… Always there to offer a warm hug and a ‘job well done’... Even if we haven’t spoken to each other in years, the bond we share never wavered. Not in the slightest. I suppose that even during the years we didn’t speak, we were still cheering each other on.

About Diluc - The last time I spoke to Diluc before I left Mondstadt, both of us hadn’t left any words of comfort or care for each other. I never got to hear the words he had for me until we all finally sat down and talked. About back then. Back then, all of us weren’t in the best state of mind to talk properly and hear each other out. So to finally do so and repair our bond, even after years had passed by… I had nearly forgotten how warm his hugs were.

About Crepus - For years, and years, I had always refrained from calling myself his daughter. Why would I? After I had failed to protect him, after I failed to even keep the family together after his passing… I thought myself weak, a coward, unworthy of the Ragnvindr name. But now, after all these years, of knowing his final wishes for me… I had no hesitation when I said I’m his daughter.

About Jean - Even after so many years, she still overworks herself to the point everyone has to drag her out of her office to take a break longer than 15 minutes… Yes, some things never change, but a habit like this is one of the things that need to change. Honestly, I’m surprised she hasn’t passed out yet… She has? I’m not surprised.

About Lisa - It was very refreshing to have a chat with her amidst all the work and avoiding my brothers. She understood that I was no longer the old me, and my need for quiet companionship with no questions asked. Only when we started actually talking did she start to pry. Despite her laid back demeanor and tendency to try and do as little work as possible, Lisa is smart and caring. She’s a good person, and a good friend.

About Eula - Back then, we never really talked much, but we did have some respect for each other and sparred together for training. She’s gotten stronger over the years, and more laidback, I can tell. Amber just has that kind of energy to her that rubs off even on a person like Eula. I’m just glad her old clan members don’t cause much trouble anymore.

About Varka - A boisterous man. All bark with the bite to make up for it, is also how I’d describe him. His claymore slices through the battlefield, and his voice commands the attention of his soldiers to lead them to victory. I’d like to see him again sometime.

About Venti - During the years I spent in Snezhnaya, the wind always seemed to follow me wherever I went. A light breeze comforting me, or a bustling wind guiding me somewhere. Sometimes, it even saved me. And when I stepped foot in Mondstadt again, I could already feel the gaze of someone watching me. But it wasn’t scrutinizing, nor was it judgemental. It was more… Parental. Warm, as if making sure I would be okay. It makes me happy, knowing that he still considers me a child of the wind.

About The Jester - Pierro was the one who found me in Snezhnaya’s woods, and the one who took me in and ultimately cared for me. In his own way. I was one of the lucky few to witness what he could do firsthand, and one of the few to receive his guidance. It’s thanks to him that I’m able to do what I do now. I’m forever grateful for what he’s done for me. Even if some of his decisions can be questionable at times.

About The Captain - The Captain… We spoke a few times before his passing, even gave me a piece of advice as I was practicing with my sword. But I could tell that he carried a heavy burden, a weight on his shoulders from 500 years ago that followed him to the moment he passed. Though, I never knew what… I’m… I’m just glad he finally got to find peace. For himself and for his comrades.

About The Doctor - Tsk, Dottore… A genius, but an incredibly insufferable and psychopathic one. He is the type of person that I hate to associate myself with, but alas, we are both Harbingers of The Tsaritsa… Whenever I deal with him, I always try to make our interactions as short as possible.

About The Damslette - She is strange, is what I have to say about her. Columbina always looks like she’s in a sort of daze, but there’s no denying the underlying power she has underneath that small smile and gentle voice. Slightly unsettling, yes, but she does make for good company. In a way. I guess.

About The Knave - Her heart is covered in thorns, but the thorns hide a core that ultimately cares for the children of the House of the Hearth. The Knave’s tactics may sometimes be seen as too harsh by others, or just downright cruel, and I understand why. But in my opinion, it seems to be enough. She is a complicated person, whose scales of good and bad fluctuate every day. But I find her to be a person deserving of respect.

About The Rooster - Pulcinella is someone I always like having a chat with, whether it be about the weather or Snezhnaya’s politics, I always find myself with a small smile during our short talks. He is one of the more enjoyable Harbingers to be around, in my opinion.

About The Marionette - Weird, but at least she isn’t like Dottore with all his segments. Eccentric, yes, but her inventions are truly fascinating to look at. And I must admit that her wardrobe is in both ways elegant and cute. It always amuses me slightly to see the top hat her robot has. Mm, speaking of her inventions… She truly is dedicated to them, that’s for sure. So dedicated she shuts herself inside her office most of the time.

About The Fair Lady - I respected her, she… Kind of respected me, and that was that. It took a while for us to hold a normal conversation, as she most likely looked down on me. But when we did have those small talks… They were always pleasantly nostalgic. I could tell she still had some sort of fondness for Mondstadt, and for children. But she always seemed to be yearning for something, something she couldn’t quite reach… Nevertheless, I hope she managed to find what she wanted in her passing. But I do wish we got to talk more.

About The Regrator - I only ever talk to Pantalone about the Northland Bank and other business related things, as he is rather… Shrewd. It’s hard to put into words, but he seems to have… A lot of pent up emotion inside him. Though, I don’t really talk to him outside work, so I can’t say for sure.

About Tartaglia - We’ve been married a few years now, and known each other longer than that. It all started when I was training when I first joined the Fatui’s ranks, and he approached me out of pure curiosity. And to look for a spar. We talked after training, and kept talking. We’d spar, take a break, spar, and talk while eating. Then we’d see each other out of uniform, I’d visit his family, and we would talk more. It was there I saw a side to him that not many got to witness, walls broken down… Including my own. Ah, I’ve rambled on about that again… My point is: I’m happy to have met him.

About The Tsaritsa - Gentle. Caring. Compassionate. Understanding. Almost like how a mother would be like. But she always has this… Sadness to her, in the way she speaks. As if weighed in with guilt, guilt that I don’t know about. Despite her ice cold hands, the freezing temperatures of the Palace, when she held my hands in hers, she was… Oddly warm. And yet I could feel the power she held as Archon, and my respect grew ten times that day.

More About Vera: I - Oh, you’d like to know more about me? Well, I don’t really see much issue with that. It’s natural to want to know more about someone. Especially someone like me, hehe. Perhaps we can chat over some snacks?

More About Vera: II - When I first joined the Fatui, a Mirror Maiden named Rowena was among my seniors. She helped me with training my control over my vision immensely, and how to utilize it in battle. Over the years, as I rose in rank, she was always there supporting me through it all. And in the end, after I had been granted the ranking of Harbinger, I asked her to become my right-hand. Now, she helps me manage my work. Whether it be debt collection, paperwork, or simply taking a break, she helps me through whatever I need help with.

More About Vera: III - Me and Tartaglia are married, but we haven’t held a proper wedding yet. Due to our positions as Harbingers, we aren't able to hold the grandiose celebration we want due to safety concerns. That, and with The Tsaritsa’s grand plan.. And familial concerns, it did not seem like the right time to hold a wedding. So, we made a pinky promise to each other. A pinky promise to live long enough to be able to hold the wedding, and be properly wed to one another.

More About Vera: IV - My vision is born from a big fight. Years ago, around the time my father had passed. I refused to leave the area he had died in, and only when I heard the distant sound of fighting did I leave. Only, when I arrived at the scene, I saw my two beloved brothers fighting each other with no restraint, with Kaeya having miraculously gained a Cryo vision with the cost of his eye. Not able to stand the sight, I ran in between the two to block their attacks, wherein my Hydro vision manifested and repelled the two. But I felt nothing for it, I even hated it for some time. After all, who would want a constant reminder of their family breaking apart?... Oh, please, do not fret, that was long ago. I’ve more or less come to terms with what happened, so don’t worry.

More About Vera: V - My ancestry goes all the way back to Khaenri’ah. Back to the founders of the Abyss Order… Ahahaha, really not a good omen, is it? More than once, during my fights with the Order, have they brought up the ties I have to their founders. More than once have they tried to sway me to their side with superficial dreams and half-baked lies. More than once have they tried to guarantee my heart's desire. And more than once, have I struck down each and every deal, along with any of them who stood in my way. I will not deny my ties to Khaenri’ah, but I refuse to let it shape my entire life and future. Because, no matter how great a nation it was, Khaenri’ah is now in the past. Why should I grieve a nation that I have never seen, after all?

Vera's Hobbies - I have taken up crocheting over the years. I can make scarves, cloaks, hats, gloves, and other clothing accessories. As well as little trinkets suitable for gifts or decoration. I find it incredibly calming, just mindlessly moving and making something out of it too.

Vera's Troubles - I have problems sleeping properly throughout the night, which in turn makes me lose rest, and in turn makes me more irritable throughout the day. Which isn’t the best thing to be as a Harbinger. On the occasion I have nightmares, it gets even worse. I’ve had to start taking medicine that helps me sleep better, and it’s been working. Enough.

Favorite Food - I’m not much of a picky eater, but if I have the choice, I like meals that are easy to eat. Though when I’m on certain missions, I don’t really have the option to be picky.

Least Favorite Food - I don’t like foods that are hard to eat and chew. It just makes eating tiring, and sometimes even feels like I’m eating a big rock. But if it’s the only thing on the table, I will eat it.

Receiving a Gift: I - Delicious, simple as that. I have heard of your culinary prowess, and I am more than pleasantly surprised. Surprised enough to ask for a second portion to take back home.

Receiving a Gift: II - It tastes good. The flavors go well together, and the dish looks nice. Good work, Traveler.

Receiving a Gift: III - Uhm, this is… This is not palatable, I’m afraid. Perhaps you can, er, gift this to someone else. Thank you.

Birthday - Happy Birthday to you, Traveler! The day you are born is always a momentous day to celebrate, because it means that you’ve persevered to live another year despite the hardships you’ve faced. I’ve prepared for you a cloak made by myself, it should be suited to your tastes and keep you warm from Snezhnaya’s winters. Traveler, I hope that you will continue to live a life with minimal difficulty. Even if you do encounter a stump… Please know that you are not alone. Happy birthday, Traveler.

Feeling about Ascension: Intro - One step forward is a step nonetheless.

Feeling about Ascension: Building Up - Fascinating, how much a person can learn and grow… Either in years, months, or even days. Maybe even hours.

Feeling about Ascension: Climax - This power… Is unlike any other. And trust me, I’ve seen my fair share of power.

Feeling about Ascension: Conclusion - The time we have spent journeying together is an experience I will never forget, Traveler. I have learned much, seen much, and witnessed much. I have learned from you as much as you have learned from me. For that, you have my thanks.

[i-am-literally-deranged]

Alright, I'm finally ready to talk about how THIS GUY

Kaeya Alberich, is not only an Anghel lookalike, but ALSO is EXTREMELY Yuuya coded.

So first of all, this is written very specifically for an audience of established Hatoful Boyfriend fans who know next to nothing about Genshin Impact and its characters. If this finds its way onto the dash of a Genshin fan who is unfamiliar with Hatoful Boyfriend and you decide to read it anyway, just know going into this that you will be lost, and there will be serious spoilers for Hatoful Boyfriend. I do heavily suggest playing the game for yourself, as it is short, phenomenal, and best enjoyed without spoilers.

As for my usual Hatoful audience, there will be spoilers for Kaeya's backstory. However, this isn't especially significant to the overall plot of Genshin, so I don't think these spoilers would seriously affect anyone's enjoyment of the game. These are only spoilers for the backstory of one out of the (as of right now) 72 characters, which is entirely optional to encounter anyway. But still, if you would rather not be spoiled on anything in Genshin Impact, then here is your warning. 

So to start this out, here is a quick rundown on who Kaeya is, and what his story is all about for context. Essentially, here are the spoilers. 

The country of Mondstadt is currently in a cold war with an organization called the Fatui. There is another nation, Khaenri'ah, that was previously wiped out. They don't like Mondstadt either. Kaeya is one of the few remaining Khaenri'ahns left, and his father leaves him in Mondstadt as a young child to be a sleeper agent, with the intention that he will rise to a high position, and one day Khaenri'ah will come calling on him to betray Mondstadt. He is left on the doorstep of the Ragnvindr family, who are something of small time nobility in Mondstadt. He is adopted into the family, and so acquires a father, Crepus, and a brother, Diluc. Kaeya and Diluc are close until their father's death. When their father died, Kaeya, wracked with grief, confesses to having been a spy. Diluc blames him for their father's death, and identifies him as a threat to Mondstadt, and so turns on him and attempts to kill him. Kaeya escapes, but their relationship is destroyed, and with it his reputation as well. He carries on as the city's local shady fop, distrusted by all, despised by some. All the while working in the shadows to continue to support Diluc, and tearing himself up over his torn loyalties. And that is Kaeya Alberich, abridged for your convenience. 

    The core thing that a person needs to understand about both Kaeya and Yuuya, is that they are people who define themselves by their devotion. Their identities are tied inextricably to the idea of "belonging to" a certain person or purpose. Both of them struggle with really having an identity of their own, and finding direction for themselves. So instead, they outsource that to someone else. They wholly devote themselves to something to give themselves direction. Instead of introspecting and figuring out what they really want in life, they live in service to something else. A person, an organization, an ideal, whatever. Something that they can give their lives to. You don't need to think about what you're doing if the answer is always "Whatever is best for _____" and this is how Kaeya and Yuuya both manage themselves. They give themselves a sense of purpose this way. For Yuuya it's a way of justifying himself and coping with his guilt. If it was all for something, then it's okay. He can cope with it if it was all in service of Sakuya. He can justify carrying on if it's for Sakuya. For Kaeya, it's because he was quite literally born to serve a purpose. He was told explicitly "You exist to serve this purpose" and even once he moves on from the purpose he was made for, he doesn't know any other way to live. Kaeya only knows how to exist in service of others, and not for himself. Also like Yuuya, Kaeya suffers under an immense sense of guilt, and copes similarly by giving his life in service of something. It's somewhere between  "justification" and "repentance." Yuuya tells himself that it's okay for him to carry on living and to do bad things if it's to protect his brother. Kaeya tells himself that he has to keep on living to do enough good things for his brother to make up for what he's done wrong. Both of them have abysmally low self worth, and are coping with that through this devotion complex. 

   Kaeya specifically struggles with a lack of personal direction for himself. In the beginning, he was told that his purpose was to infiltrate Mondstadt as a sleeper agent, in service of Khaenri'ah. His purpose was to restore Khaenri'ah, and he was dutiful in fulfilling this. Hw worked hard to establish himself in Mondstadt. He was good, and he was loyal to his mission, for a while. But at some point, living with a loving family overwhelmed the initial loyalty that he had to his blood father who abandoned him, and to this home country he had never lived in. It clicked in his head that no matter what he did, he would be a betrayer. It was no longer simple to just be good, and be loyal, and obediently complete his mission, because to be loyal to his blood father would be to betray the father who loved and raised him. But to betray his mission to remain loyal to Mondstadt and to his new family would mean forsaking the purpose he was born for, and more importantly forsaking Khaenri'ah. The last words his blood father ever spoke to him were "You are our (Khaenri'ah's) last hope." So the guilt of that weighed heavily on him. Eventually though, he did decide that his loyalty lay with Mondstadt and the Ragnvindrs. Please note that this is considered contentious and unproven in the Genshin fandom, but there absolutely is proof of this, that I will touch on later. Kaeya is often framed as a sort of villainous figure, and this is both intentional and misleading, but a few too many people fell for this framing and believe Kaeya to be genuinely malicious rather than self depreciating. So to get back to my current point, which is Kaeya's lack of personal direction, we'll need to talk about Diluc for a moment. 

    In the comparison between Kaeya and Yuuya, a comparison must also be drawn between Diluc and Sakuya. Both of them were raised from a young age with the expectation that they would one day be leadership figures. They are both extremely headstrong and possess an incredibly impressive drive. When they set their minds to something, that something will be done, one way or another. They're smart, capable, and kind of a pair of assholes. Their view of the world was very heavily shaped by their fathers, who they respect above all others. Although I would never suggest that Crepus Ragnvindr, legendarily good father, is in any way comparable to Monsieur Le Bel. Diluc also has a bit of a penchant for xenophobia, but trust me, it is nowhere NEAR the degree of Sakuya's straight up racism. And crucially, they are the brothers that Kaeya and Yuuya have their dysfunctional relationships with, where both of their lives sort of orbit around this one person that they have placed on a pedestal. These are the people that they have devoted themselves to, and the way that Kaeya and Yuuya relate to their devotion is the core of their similarities, as it is also the core of their identities. 

   To the directionless Kaeya, Diluc's headstrong nature provided an invaluable sense of purpose. Diluc always knows exactly where he's going, and what he's doing. He's driven and opinionated, and this allowed Kaeya to slide easily into the roll of follower. When they were growing up together, Diluc would set his mind to something, and Kaeya would make it happen. Diluc would get them into trouble, and Kaeya would get them out of it. Kaeya essentially made himself into Diluc's sidekick, and that was what he was most comfortable being. He didn't need to forge his own identity, or decide on direction for himself. More than that, by backing up and supporting Diluc, he had a way to repay the family that took him in. Kaeya could sort of pay rent in the space he took up, by protecting Diluc. Beyond that, He loves his brother, and This is the way that Kaeya loves. However, Diluc's nature is also exactly what led him to turn on Kaeya. Decisive and justice driven, he views the world in very staunch black and white terms, and he doesn't hesitate to violently enforce this worldview. Diluc is an actual vigilante nowadays, but the seeds of that were always there. And when Kaeya did something that he saw as evil, he saw as a betrayal of their family and their home, he immediately brought down his personal justice upon him. It was a personal justice that Kaeya had previously supported, and encouraged. And it is a personal sense of justice that cost Kaeya his eye, and his home. After their father died, and Kaeya confessed to being a spy (more on this later) Diluc tried to kill him. And with that, Kaeya's sense of direction was completely gone in an instant. He could no longer follow Diluc, or substitute Diluc's direction for his own. This is the way that Diluc is what Kaeya has always oriented himself around, and how being deeply protective of Diluc was something of a coping mechanism for Kaeya. As we already know, Yuuya's path in life was also rather abruptly derailed by an act of violence between brothers. Then his life after that was shaped by dedicating himself to Sakuya. Very similarly, being deeply protective of Sakuya is a kind of coping mechanism for Yuuya, and Yuuya orients his entire life around Sakuya. 

  After Kaeya and Diluc's relationship fell apart, Kaeya couldn't stop caring for him. Although Diluc had completely severed all ties with Kaeya, and in every interaction they had since the falling out he would verbally abuse him, Kaeya continued as he always had. Orbiting Diluc, cleaning up his messes, and getting him out of trouble. All behind the scenes. The way that Diluc talks about Kaeya perfectly echoes the ways that Sakuya talks about Yuuya. It's the same sort of brutal character assassination for both of them. Yuuya spends his life working behind the scenes to protect Sakuya. To get him out of trouble. To make sure that he can keep living the good life that Yuuya paid so dearly for him to have. It's a dynamic where one brother outwardly hates and resents the other, openly insulting them, while living a life that is propped up on that brother's willing and loving sacrifice, made out of a mix of both genuine love and care and desire for him to be happy, and out of a sense of self loathing and pinning their entire personal worth on how happy their brother is. 

  That self loathing doesn't only manifest in actual sacrifice that benefits someone else, but also in an intentional sabotage of their own reputations. If anyone here remembers when we talked about Yuuya's reputation for being a playboy, and I brought up that I think he spread that rumor about himself, Kaeya behaves the same way. The same way that Yuuya will intentionally cast himself as the villain, and will outright tell people that he's an untrustworthy easy-come easy-go here today and gone tomorrow kind of fella. It's him pushing people away, and it's self sabotage, and it's a self destructive behavior born from his poor opinion of himself. People like Ryouta, who believe what they're told, have dirt low opinions of Yuuya. Kaeya is in the same situation. Kaeya intentionally makes himself look bad. He has this persona as a sort of villainous schemer, that you never know what he's really up to or whose side he's really on. In this case, Amber is his Ryouta. Amber is a nice girl. Amber is a girl next door type. Amber trusts people, and generally believes what they tell her. Amber will absolutely brutally shit-talk Kaeya like it's nothing. She repeatedly suggests that Kaeya is either just not doing his job, or else is out doing something actively malicious, in situations where we know that Kaeya was quietly working behind the scenes yet again. Amber doesn't say anything bad about anyone else, except for Kaeya, because everything she is passing along is accepted fact. Everyone knows that Kaeya is a no-good villain. Everyone will tell you not to trust him. Kaeya also very similarly to Yuuya will pose this image of himself as some kind of slutty playboy, but we never once actually see him flirt with anyone. It's all a mask that they wear. It's part of the persona they put up to both protect themselves and hurt themselves. 

   I think that a specific place that this reputation destroying behavior comes from is their self image of themselves both being that of a dirty traitor. Kaeya somehow managed to betray both Mondstadt and Khaenri'ah. Yuuya betrayed his unborn half brother. They have these deep feelings of guilt looming over them. It is precisely because both of them place such importance on the concept of loyalty that they feel like they are somehow disloyal. That they aren't loyal ENOUGH yet. And so they are traitors. Kaeya and Yuuya both have these moral codes with loyalty at the very tippy top, and see themselves and their own difficult situations as being morally reprehensible. While their sense of identity is pinned on their dedication to their brothers, this self loathing is also central to their sense of identity. Kaeya and Yuuya both think that they are dirty betrayers, and that that's the worst thing a person can be. You see this a lot on Yuuya in his self-sacrificial tendencies. Also in his outright refusal to defend himself when people insult him to his face. Kaeya does a lot of that too. He tends to just take insults and agree with them, and then complain about it in private later.

Yuuya and Kaeya are both compulsive liars. Whether it's a matter of destroying their own reputations with false rumors, or deflecting from their secrets, every word out of their mouths is a falsehood. They lie constantly. They put up personas, wear masks, deflect with humor, anything at all before being upfront with anyone. They're running from themselves, and they're running from connection with other people too. It's a necessity to protect these massive secrets that they are guarding with their lives. Yuuya's entire life has been shaped by safeguarding the secret of what happened to the egg, and Kaeya's entire life has been shaped by hiding the fact that he was an enemy spy. It's driven them apart from others. I think both of them have forgotten by now how to stop lying. It's been a necessity for them for so long, that they can  no longer turn it off. And so we have Kaeya and Yuuya's compulsive lying.

I've always said that the key to understanding Yuuya is to invert everything he says about himself. If Yuuya says ANYTHING about himself, it's lies. So you know that the truth about Yuuya is anything but that. Kaeya is the exact same. You cannot trust a single word he says about himself. Kaeya is a compulsive liar, and he actively seeks to destroy your opinion of him self-destructively. The only way to understand Kaeya is to invert whatever he says about himself. One of the few trustworthy descriptions of Kaeya comes, somewhat ironically, from Diluc. When asked about Kaeya his response is "You can only trust half of what he says... at best." And that's about the only description of him that you can really take to heart. 

So getting back around to where Kaeya's loyalties truly lie, and why I don't buy it for a second when people think that Kaeya is still on the fence about his loyalty to Mondstadt. First of all, we know that almost everything he says are lies. So every time he tells us to our face that he is dangerous and untrustworthy, is a lie. But the real thing that seals the deal for me is that if Kaeya had ANY intention to remain a spy for Khaenri'ah, then telling ANYONE about that would be throwing his mission. ESPECIALLY Diluc of all people. So if he was still seriously on the fence, then why did he confess? What reason could Kaeya have possibly had to tell Diluc that he was a spy, if not that he was defecting. And it was Diluc's hair-trigger temper and extreme black and white worldview, paired with the fact that his father had died in his arms mere hours ago that led him to be so reactive and interpret Kaeya telling him that he had been a spy as meaning that he was still a spy. That's the sort of mistake that only a person like Diluc would make. If someone confesses to you that they are a spy, why would you EVER think that that means that they still have intentions to betray you? In that moment Kaeya showed his whole hand. He had all the cards on the table with Diluc. That's a show of loyalty. Then the fact that he has continued to look after him and protect him even after Diluc took his eye in retribution (and disinherited him. And made him homeless at 17. And generally destroyed his life. What Diluc did to him was really fucked up, actually.) While Yuuya might be kind of a crummy spy who makes it really obvious that he's a spy, that isn't something that he shares with Kaeya. Kaeya is a brilliant strategist, and he was able to keep the fact that he's a spy under wraps for a good eight or so years before he confessed. If Kaeya didn't want anyone to know, then no one would know. Kaeya is actually really good at keeping secrets. That's part of his undoing actually. Kaeya is so good at keeping secrets that he keeps them from the audience too, and so a lot of people fail to see what's really going on inside of his head. If Kaeya doesn't want you to know something, you won't know it. So then why did he tell Diluc that he was a spy? If Kaeya had ANY intention of completing his mission, why did he make sure that Mondstadt's greatest protector knew about it? It's simple. He wouldn't. No matter how you slice it, him coming clean to Diluc means that he never intended to complete his mission. Even if afterwards he grappled with his decision more because now loyalty to Mondstadt felt sort of pointless since he no longer had the people in his life who made him care about Mondstadt in the first place, he was never going to complete the mission. Kaeya's decision was made from the moment he confessed to Diluc. And it's a decision he has been backing up ever since then. From returning Diluc's vision to him after he gave it up, to exacting vengeance on the man responsible for Crepus's death, to painstakingly sabotaging every attempt to uncover the identity of the masked vigilante ensuring that he will be able to continue protecting Mondstadt, to how much of a home he has made for himself in Mondstadt. Kaeya has sent a very clear message of where his loyalties lie. And I know that I am contradicting myself here somewhat by citing something that Kaeya directly said, but six years after the falling out with Diluc when far away from Mondstadt, Kaeya ALSO confesses to the player about being a spy, and he says that while he used to be very torn up about this, but has long since moved on and accepted that Mondstadt is his home. Again, Kaeya is showing his hand in a way that he definitely doesn't need to, to a powerful person who would intervene if he were ever to turn on Mondstadt. If Kaeya was actually planning to betray Mondstadt, Diluc and the player character would be two of the worst possible people to know what he was up to. But those are the two people he chose to confess to. I just can't believe that Kaeya would do something that stupid. 

Another thing that, to me, speaks to Kaeya's loyalty to Mondstadt, and specifically to the Ragnvindr family, is the way that he has kept Crepus's legacy alive. Diluc is deeply and personally haunted by his father's death. But I find that in an odd way, Kaeya is doing a better job of doing what Crepus would have wanted. After Crepus died, Diluc ran away from Mondstadt and went on an extended trip hunting down and killing Fatui agents to avenge his father's death. Crepus had always wanted his sons to join Mondstadt's Knights of Favonius, and they did. But when the knights covered up Crepus's murder to save face, Diluc quit on the spot to dedicate himself to vengeance full time. Kaeya stayed behind, remaining a knight, and personally rooted out the corruption that caused that to happen. He got rid of the knights who were personally responsible for the cover-up. Crepus was a big supporter of the knights. When they proved themselves unworthy of that respect, Diluc turned on them. Kaeya stayed and made the Knights of Favonius into what Crepus had believed them to be. Crepus loved both of his sons, and would have wanted them to take care of each other after his passing. Kaeya has continued to dutifully look after Diluc all this time. Diluc permanently disfigured Kaeya and kicked him out of the house. Crepus was the kind of person who had his doors open to everyone, and you can see that clearly in the fact that he adopted Kaeya with no questions asked. Kaeya has carried this legacy on by being really personally involved in taking care of the children of Mondstadt. From adopting Klee (She is technically a ward of the Knights, but Kaeya has been shown to be her primary caregiver, and has also been referred to as her guardian on two separate occasions) to potentially having taught Benny sword fighting (Benny shares Kaeya's attack patterns, and the sword he carries in his official art was formerly Kaeya's). There's also little things like Kaeya sharing Crepus's passion for wine, while Diluc dutifully carries on the family wine business but hates the taste of wine himself. Diluc looks like Crepus. Diluc killed the people responsible for his death. Diluc carried on the family business. But Kaeya is the person who really carried on Crepus's spirit. He did the things that Crepus would have done if he had been here. That doesn't sound like the actions of a traitor to me. And to be honest, the way that some people believe that Kaeya is still a spy for Khaenri'ah makes me angry at how badly they have misinterpreted him, and have fallen for the negative talk that you hear about him. Kaeya is a liar, not a traitor, and spending just one minute listening to his actions rather than his words will tell you that. 

Kaeya and Yuuya's arcs both pretty heavily feature the loss of fathers, but their relationships to those fathers is very different between the two of them. Kaeya's birth father used him, and abandoned him. Yuuya's birth father seemed to be a good man, and Yuuya loved him. The nobleman who adopted Kaeya after he lost his birth father loved and cared for him, and set him on the path to become the man he is today. The nobleman in Yuuya's life…… well, the less said about him, the better. But in both cases, they have the death of a good father looming over their heads, and somewhere out there still living is a father that they resent to the death. And in both cases, it's difficult to tell just how much influence their dead fathers have over their identity today, but that influence is clearly there, to whatever degree. Another one of these parallels that exists but sort of only in name, is their spy careers. Kaeya was a sleeper agent, and his arc is about his split loyalties and defecting to the group that he was originally sent to spy on. Yuuya turned to being a spy as a way of escaping from his situation. Both of them lose themselves to the role a bit, and use it as yet another crutch to get around forming a solid identity. But their spy careers are pretty different. Kaeya was very very good at being a spy, until he decided to stop. Yuuya kind of sucks at it a little, but he's definitely no turncoat. So it's a little hard to say who is the worse spy between them. 

I feel like I have a lot more to say, but also like I'm starting to run out of the energy to properly expound upon my points, so we're going to do a lightning round of comparisons to rush through all the points that I felt are important, but I'm struggling to really organize my thoughts about. Yuuya's arc feels like it should be described as a redemption arc, not because Yuuya actually did anything he needs to be redeemed for, but because Yuuya himself is seeking forgiveness and redemption for his guilt complex. But it's really ambiguous who exactly it is that he is seeking forgiveness from, if it's Sakuya, the universe itself, or his own forgiveness. I talked about this in my big Sakuya essay. Kaeya's story is also a redemption arc, but not for crimes he has actually committed. It's hard to say WHAT exactly it is that Kaeya is so overwhelmed with guilt for, other than like, once upon a time having had bad intentions towards people who he learned didn't deserve it. And it's even harder to say who he is trying to seek forgiveness from, because it's distinctly not Diluc. Kaeya very much feels that Diluc owes HIM an apology, and not the other way around. Which, to be fair, he's definitely correct about. Again, reminder that Diluc disinherited him, kicked him out of the house leaving him homeless at 17, disfigured his face, attempted to kill him, and made him into a social pariah. It might be that he feels like he feels like he took advantage of Crepus's kindness, and feels a need to repay him for that. To be totally honest, I don't think even Kaeya knows who it is that he wants this forgiveness from. He just knows that he feels crushed by guilt. He hides all of his good deeds as best he can, and seems to feel that being widely hated by his peers is a kind of repentance. Very Catholic of him tbh.

That also leads me to my next point about their reputations, both Kaeya and Yuuya deeply long for social connections but push everyone away as hard as they can. Then through the persona they play in public, they take on this big gregarious hyper-extroverted character, and they are ridiculous, and make a clown of themselves for attention, and use flirtation as a sort of social crutch. They flirt, but it's empty. They are big and loud and colourful, yet somehow sort of detached. There is so much distance between who they are and the character they play that no amount of social interaction they might get through that mask ever actually reaches them. There's this deep and aching loneliness to them. They're so far away through these layers of walls and deception and personas that no matter how bright and warm they might act, it's cold inside. None of that warmth ever reaches into their genuine core, which is freezing and so so desperate for genuine connection to another person. Also they both play characters that are way more outgoing and extroverted than they actually are. Yuuya might actually be an extrovert, just less OVERWHELMING extroverted than the character he plays, but Kaeya is definitely not. The real Kaeya is 100% an introvert, and the loud, silly, playboy persona is a complete fabrication. The moment the spotlight is off of him, he's quiet. He likes to sit back and let other people do the talking. Kaeya never knew how to talk to people. When he was younger he was content to let Diluc do 100% of the talking to other people, and would just follow his lead. It kind of feels like the persona he plays now is meant to cover for that. Kaeya doesn't know how to talk to people, so he pretends to be someone who does. He fakes being someone who is confident and extroverted and vibrant, to cover up for the fact that he's kind of out of his depth having to deal with people on his own, and not having a home base person to go back to anymore. Kaeya knows how to manipulate people. He knows how to fill a stage, how to keep an audience. He knows how to make you think what he wants, or do what he wants. To call him "socially incompetent" wouldn't exactly be accurate. But Kaeya has no idea how to connect with others, or even how to interact on like a basic level, when he isn't playing some game, or trying to get something from them. Kaeya's social skills are invested 100% into deception and manipulation. And now he can't hold a basic conversation without being in character as this or that. Kaeya has forgotten how to just be Kaeya. It's just this weird mix of introversion and loneliness that leads him to pretend to be the most extroverted person in any room that he enters, and it reminds me so much of Yuuya. They use the exact same crutches to fill this gulf of loneliness caused by their compulsive lying and secret keeping. Yuuya plays the role of a suave James Bond type spy, and Kaeya that of a swaggering swashbuckling pirate.

Another common theme between the two of them is the question of whether or not self sacrifice is, in a way, a selfish act. You're forcing this burden of debt onto someone without asking them. Sakuya has no say in owing Yuuya a life debt. I talked about this before, the resentment that Sakuya feels in regards to owing Yuuya as much as he does, and how Sakuya was sort of robbed of his agency and his ability to forgive Yuuya on his own terms (or to NOT forgive him) because now he owes him to much and if he doesn't let him back into his life, he would be a huge asshole. Diluc is constantly trying to escape from Kaeya's support to stand on his own, but every single time he falters, he finds himself being caught by him again and again, and he seems to kind of resent that. In both cases, they are being so self sacrificial partially for selfish reasons. It's to satisfy their own need for martyrdom, to quell their self-loathing. But the objects of their devotion didn't really consent to this, and they are both the proud kind of person who hates owing anyone. And now this debt has been forced on them. Yuuya and Kaeya are simultaneously selfless and selfish. They don't care about whether or not their brothers actually want their help or their sacrifices. They will do it regardless. They also have completely outsourced their identities and sense of validation to their brothers, who never agreed to being the crux of their entire self image. 

Another comparison point is the topic of race, and how the people around them tend to brand them as some form of "dirty" because of their parentage, and they sort of implicitly accept this because they view themselves as dirty as well. There's this theme of filth, both moral and physical. Yuuya is constantly harassed by Sakuya for being a "mongrel" for being a commoner, for being some form of bird mixed race. Because Sakuya is racist. Khaenri'ah is literally a cursed bloodline, and the fact that Kaeya is only half Khaenri'ahn is actually somewhat plot relevant. Kaeya is mixed race and as a result is literally cursed by his filthy blood. And Diluc has some xenophobic tendencies, and ALSO makes some bigoted comments about Kaeya. Both of them let this behavior go completely unchecked, because 1. They never defend themselves from slander, and 2. They seem to have internalized this stuff to some degree, specifically because it jives really well with their self loathing tendencies. They WANT reasons to hate themselves. So there's a confirmation bias at play here that's making them be just the tiniest bit racist, but only towards themselves. 

The last comparison point I wanted to touch on is actually a notable contrast between the two of them. Yuuya seems to have ended up as a bit of a pacifist since the egg incident. He always runs rather than fights back. Kaeya is very much not like that. Yuuya has this terrible gentleness to him, but Kaeya has this almost sadistic streak. But it is also through Kaeya's much more aggressive stance that some more of his true loyalties shine through. Like the fact of just how truly fucking vindictive he is towards people who have been a threat to Mondstadt or to his family. He fucking destroyed the knight that covered up Mr. Ragnvindr's murder. When he found another child sent into the walls of Mondstadt to destroy it, just the same as he was, he almost MURDERED A LITTLE GIRL WITHOUT HESITATION. The only reason he did not kill a child to protect Mondstadt was because someone intervened. And while that's definitely something dark about him, it's also really telling. It's telling of his true loyalties, and telling of how deeply protective he is. And it also makes his nonviolence against Diluc speak that much louder. In contrast, Yuuya's gentleness is sweet and endearing, but is also so fucking stupid. Yuuya is bringing Vash The Stampede ethics without bringing Vash skills. And of course, every single Hatoful Boyfriend character is morally wrong for not having murdered Shuu with their own hands by now. Every single one of them (except for Nageki) bears that sin, but Yuuya especially. So like, on this one specific trait I feel like Yuuya is good (derogatory) and Kaeya is bad (affectionate) and it's another way that I can't help but see them as mirror images of each other. 

In conclusion, Kaeya Alberich is for the Hatoful girlies. 

[notthemonthbutmarch]

Uhhh new Genshin theory kinda?

If you haven’t seen the 4.1 Trailer or played any of the Archon quests, I recommend looking at those first.

I originally sent this as a text to @thatonegreyghost so credit to them for me posting it here.

Furina is gonna die. That, or she’s going to be dethroned as the hydro archon in some ways.

Reasoning

1.) Arlecchino

This woman is insane. All that see her “true crazy self” die. And as I mentioned, in the trailer Arlecchino and Furina seem to have a one-on-one where our Fatui Knave calls her out for being a bad archon, to which Furina responds by saying “Please don’t kill me!”

2.) The Traveler

When you look across all the nations, the Traveler’s kit is a less powerful version of the archons. However, Hydro Traveler is different. After watching Neuvillette’s kit-reveal-thing, his kit matches up almost completely with Hydro Traveler. This could mean that Neuvillette is more fit to be the Archon than Furina is, and if she dies the role of Archon will fall to him.

3.) The Prophecy

This always bugged me. The prophecy states that one day all the citizens of Fontaine will be dissolved into water and that the Hydro Archon will be left weeping on her throne. That’s all good, that sounds legit, but when you look at how Fontaine has functioned regarding weather, it puts Furina in an odd spot. We do hear her crying in the Fountain, but we know that the Fontaine is the origin point of all water. The Fountain is far more linked with the people and the machines of Fontaine, not the weather— much like the other machine of her origin, the Oratrice. However, Neuvillette is associated with weather because of the Hydro Dragon myth. When he cries, it rains, and when it rains, the water rises. If anyone should be left alone on a throne weeping, Neuvillette is a better fit.

4.) The Sin of Fontaine

Within the 4.1 Trailer, the people of Fontaine seem to be revolting. They are saying that they shouldn’t trust the Melusines and they group Neuvillette in with them. They no longer wish to listen to Neuvillette and his justice, probably now that the Oratrice has voted against him. The people of Fontaine are so disillusioned that they’re willingly listening to a show pony and her machine, while the real Justice is being silenced. The people of Fonatine are cited to not know what their sin is, it’s very possible that their sin is that they’re following a False Idol. Whether Neuvillette knows that is unclear, but I think that Furina is very aware that she’s not supposed to be the archon.

[resolutepath]

⛄: for our muses to build a snowman together (tartag and vautrin bc the image popped into my head and i simply had to)

Snezhnaya had been an inevitability with the nations left unvisited dwindling on their worldwide traversal of Teyvat, and though there was still much left unexplored, the holiday season had ended up being the perfect segway into taking the once captain home to the tundras and plains of glistening white. He had been uncertain at first, but fortune had meant the local festivities had left them far from Fatui operations bar his odd meeting that he disappeared for and left Vautrin in the care of his family, and the buffer of his company meant that his mother and father had been more cordial than usual in his presence.

The most joyous event, however, had been seeing the captain interact with Teucer, Tonia and Anthon. The three youngest loved the captain; Tonia convinced him to dance, Teucer asked to learn swordplay and Anthon quizzed him every question under the sun about Fontaine. It had been enough to warm his heart, giving him a chance to step back and smile softly, glad that they approved of his companion.

At least until Teucer had noticed his inactivity, and demanded they all square off in a snowball fight.

The fight itself had been a majestic display of both chaos and skill. There had been delighted laughter and fierce chuckles filling the space, and for once there had been a sense of peace that had surrounded the homestead. It had come at the penalty of a well-aimed snowball to his left cheek, and the shuddering sense of sleet slipping down his back as Vautrin organised the three into a surprise attack, but it had been worth it to see them all looking so very happy. To see Vautrin with flushed cheeks and a joyous expression of his own, fitting in with the antics that he often left in his wake.

Eventually the three had been bundled inside, though Childe did not follow, waving off the offer of hot cocoa to instead remain in the cold that he could no longer feel so starkly and begin rolling the snow methodically. It does not take him long to see that the Fontainian has not followed into the homestead and he looks to him with a smile.

"You don't have to stay out here if you don't want to. The fire's inviting..." Lips curl into an accommodating smile, but it does not reach his eyes, less so than his usual expressions. He already knows what awaits him should he wander inside, the furtive glances from his mother as if waiting for the monster that wanders in her son's skin to bear its fangs, his father's coarse words that mean little to him as he continues to reach new heights. No it is easier to stay away.

But Vautrin shows no signs of moving, stubborn man that he is. Instead he offers but a simple enquiry as to what the plan is next, so Childe sighs and rises to his full height, readjusting the red scarf at his throat. "Snowmen, a whole army of them. To immortalise our fight until they melt or the animals get them. Just something for them to enjoy." Something to keep me out the house.

He does not expect anything else, it is a juvenile project that will leave his hands stinging red and his body exhausted, yet Vautrin surprises him again. It is not long before they are rolling the snow together, pushing and sculpting, crafting a beautifully intentioned scene of snow blobs. He wraps his scarf around the tall one in the centre and plucks the hat from Vautrin's head for the other commanding the small snow troops. Lopsided smiles are added in pebbles found from the perimeter of the house and shining eyes in larger stones. The quick snap of sticks and and a makeshift duel as they were wrestled from branches provided arms and soon the two men could step back and view their well-intentioned work. It is a little clunky, Teucer's leaning heavily to the left, Tonia's head is a little too big and Anthon's looking precariously close to collapse, but all the same it exists.

A hand slings around Vautrin's shoulders as Childe leans into him with a smile, laughing heartily even as he shivers, finally feeling the cold trickle in. "I'd say we did a good job, what do you think? Time for something to warm us through?" A wink follows and a nudge of the hip, before Childe disentangles himself and leads the way back to the house where they might gather themselves.

He stops on the threshold and surveys their work, a smile sitting on his lips as he replays their actions through his mind. Chatter begins to slip from his lips, asking preferences for drinks - warm or cold, fireside or blankets or both, stories or songs or silence - and something peaceful settles in his chest. And just for a moment, those oceanic hues glint with the warmth of life that hasn't been present since he fell into the depths of The Abyss.

[iudiex]

downpour  masked  the  first  harbinger’s  heavy  footfalls  ——  sky  above  consumed  by  dark,  grey  clouds.  from  his  stay  here,  capitano  learned  that  rainfall  was  rare:  some  speculated  it  contributed  to  the  rising  water  levels.  a  shame,  truly.  fontaine’s  advancements  were  remarkable,  even  to  this  aging  knight.  sandrone  and  dottore  already  have  graced  the  nation  with  their  presence,  whether  it  be  via  the  institute  or  the  adventurers’  guild’s  katheryne.  as  he  neared  the  palais  mermonia,  the  fatuus’s  path  suddenly  veered  to  the  left  ——  heading  around  the  building  and  towards  the  back,  where  the    (    now  defunct    )    aquabus  line  resided. neuvillette’s  presence  was  simultaneously  formidable  yet  gentle,  as  if  the  merciless  waves  crashing  into  cliff sides  could  be  considered  such  in  the  same  vein.  nearing  him,  capitano’s  arm  lifted  and  so  did  his  coat  ——  holding  it  over  the  judge  as  protection  against  the  rain.  even  his  own  shadow  dwarfed  the  man,  but  then  again  very  few  have  ever  come  close  to  capitano’s  size.      “   i  have  been  looking  for  you,   ”      the  harbinger  says:  voice  low,  rumbling  from  his  chest.  a  slight  echo  from  under  that  peculiar  helm  of  his.  head  tilts  down  ——  as  if  he  could  see  neuvillette’s  drenched  form.  when  was  the  last  time  capitano  needed  sight  to  navigate  the  world? “   you  should  be  inside,  basking  in  comfort.   ” / @vigloria

         𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭   𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲   𝐡𝐚𝐝   𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭   𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬   today?   what   human   transgression   had   made   the   hydro   sovereign   ache?   too   many,   of   course.   too   many   things.   it   left   him   all   unrepentant,   when   the   burdens   became   too   much   -   chief   justice   slipping   away   to   a   little   alcove   behind   the   palais,   if   only   for   a   moment   of   peace.   there   was   always   something.   always   someone.   and   always   more   to   grieve.   oh   his   heart   ached,   as   it   always   did,   in   the   wake   of   trials   and   tribulations   -   but   it   was   bad   today,   and   though   tear   tracks   did   not   stain   his   cheeks,   he   knew   this   particular   rain   was   of   his   own   making.   

         he   hears   capitano   before   he   sees   him,   the   knight's   hulking   frame   somehow   complementary   to   the   tumultuous   downpour.   neuvillette,   of   course,   is   soaked   through   -   but   he   does   not   mind.   water   is   his   natural   state,   even   if   the   way   white   hair   sticks   to   his   behind   is   somewhat   pathetic,   even   if   the   thigh   high   tightness   of   his   spats   chaffs   uncomfortably   against   his   leggings.   lilac   hues   tilt   upwards   towards   the   harbinger   -   peering   at   him   through   rain-dampened   lashes   as   the   deluge   subsides   beneath   the   warmth   of   that   cloak.   

         ❝   ⸻   i   do   not   deserve   the   comfort.   ❞   he   grouses,   rather   pathetically,   and   yet   even   so   the   droplets   have   slowed   somewhat,   as   if   this   man's   hulking   appearance   had   eased   his   despondency.   indeed,   neuvillette   leans   into   him,   head   pillowing   briefly   upon   a   warm   chest   before   he   realizes   that   they   are   in   public   -   and   he   is   a   fatui   harbinger   -   and   despite   his   impartiality,   such   things   were   best   for   private.   ❝   you   do   not   need   to   be   getting   soaked   on   my   account,   mon   chevalier.   come,   let   us   warm   ourselves   by   the   fire.   ❞   his   office   would   be   toasty,   he's   sure,   as   always   thanks   to   the   attentive   melusine.   and   neuvillette...   bless   him,   takes   the   first   harbinger   by   his   great   hand,   tugging   his   haunting   being   inside   -   careful   to   lead   capitano   wide   of   any   dangers   he   might   bump   into   (   not   that   he   needed   the   help   ).   

         only   when   the   door   his   locked,   does   he   brace   his   hands   upon   the   knight's   shoulders,   pushing   lightly   until   he   might   seat   himself   on   the   chaise   in   front   of   said   gilded   fireplace,   uncaring   of   the   dripping   wetness   that   soaked   royal   blue   velvet.   ❝   tell   me,   ❞   the   sovereign   murmurs,   one   gloved   claw   tenderly   finding   it's   way   over   his   helmet,   stroking   ever   so   slightly   at   cool   metal,   ❝   does   the   rain   aggravate   your   pain   ?   ❞

[express-archives]

Hestia's Introduction —✧

"Ah, that one... I never got along with her or her master, but as long as she doesn't get in my way, I don't intend on getting in hers. I can respect her loyalty and strength of body and mind, at the very least. Other than that, why should it matter to me what she does? It might matter to the other Harbingers, but it doesn't to me." —Childe

◆ Name: Hestia ◆ Gender & Pronouns: Female, she/her ◆ Age: 24 ◆ Affiliations: Fatui (formerly), none (currently) ◆ Nation: Variable ◆ Heritage: Snezhnayan ◆ Vision: Pyro ◆ Weapon: Catalyst ◆ Constellation: Phoenix Ignis ('Phoenix Fire')

Hestia was a mere child when the one known as the Fair Lady discovered her and her sick father, huddling together for warmth in a worn-down home in—what seemed to be and felt like—the middle of nowhere. With the promise of a more secure life for him and his child, the ill man agreed to allow his child to join the Fatui.

What had been a simple recruitment, nothing more and nothing less, spiralled into far more.

Across the years, La Signora observed the growth of the child she saved from a safe distance, quietly stepping in every now and then to guide their training, as she often did with other young recruits. She pretended to never notice their wide and awe-filled eyes when they gazed upwards at her. ...But she was not made of stone, no matter how strongly she insisted that she was, and she unwittingly opened her impenetrable heart to the little girl she recruited off of the streets.

(She swore up and down that her perceived closeness to Hestia was a mere consequence of how efficient a soldier she was; Hestia rarely made errors and completed her objectives with swiftness and accuracy, therefore the Fair Lady quite liked her. That was all, she insisted.

...Though, virtually anyone could see the truth.)

It was when Hestia's father succumbed to his ever-worsening illness that she was reborn at the hands of her lady. At the tender age of sixteen, she began her life anew.

"You will leave your past life behind," La Signora had said, gripping their chin with the gentleness of a mother and tilting it up so that Hestia might be able to meet her eyes. "From this day forth, you will be known as Hestia, child. Cry no more. This pain will follow you forever, but you must go on in spite of it. Am I understood?"

Despite the harshness of her words, her tone was gentle, and La Signora kindly patted Hestia's face dry with her other hand.

A part of Hestia died with her father, but from the ashes of her death, she would rise again.

"...Yes, my lady."

"Very good."

Hestia could only wonder when La Signora had been cruelly subjected to a pain such as this. She held far too deep a familiar understanding with grief...

...But these were not questions for her to ask. Instead, Hestia's eyes fluttered shut, and she basked in the warmth of the icy Harbinger who had saved her life and provided her with the resources to extend her father's.

La Signora's life, however, was not to last, and nor was Hestia's joy.

Hestia recalls the day the ship carrying her Harbinger's ashes docked. She recalls the grief, the anger, and the overwhelming sadness that engulfed her entire existence like a towering wave crashing down upon the beach. A part of herself died with the Eighth.

But, it was as the Fair Lady had said all those years ago:

'This pain will follow you forever, but you must go in in spite of it.'

And that day, Hestia knew she could no longer remain a part of the organization that neglected to protect its own. The Fatui now meant nothing to her. She did not need them anymore. From the ashes of her death, Hestia rose once again, and she would continue to do so as many times as needed.

That day, she resolved to burn away the world's ugliness herself. She would finish what her master had started.

The Fatui was taking far too long to do so for her liking.

PERSONALITY

◆ Hestia is a quiet and withdrawn soul, preferring to keep to herself and her work. She hesitates to allow people too close, as she does not wish to risk losing another loved one—first her father and then her mother figure... it is hard to blame her for behaving so distantly, knowing this. Hestia, however, is not rude or unnecessarily mean; contrary to popular belief, she is quite kindly and compassionate. It is hard to know what she's thinking, really. One moment, her warmth shines through like a that of a savior's, but she will return to her distant self the next. Perhaps this is an act of self-preservation; the world cannot hurt her again if she does not give it the opportunity to. In a way, she has grown to be very much like the woman who raised and taught her.

[deiscension]

﹄ ◇ ; @melodicbreeze / BALDUR'S GATE 3 STARTERS

❝ you’re plotting something, aren’t you? come on then - out with it. ❞ let him in on it!!

      ⌜◈⌟    ▌ ── "𝐌𝐞? 𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠? 𝐖𝐡𝐲, 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫! This respectable lady doesn't plot, she strategizes." Normally she would snap her fan open to shield the flush rising on her cheeks from view. Shame, that simple yet elegant motion would cry, shame that you would dare presume this ancestor a schemer! But the caverns of Liyue's mountains have long since swallowed that once-beloved spiritual device. She only has her mug of sparkling cider to make do with. Holding it like a scholar warming their hands with a cup of tea, she lowers her voice to a more conspiratorial level.

      "𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬' 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞. There's going to be agents dispatched in other nations attending, catering from esteemed restaurants across Teyvat, and the drinks will include plum wine from Inazuma that nobody, not even Her Excellency the Raiden Shogun, has ever tasted before. Now, I'm not one to fraternize with the enemy. Perish that thought before you even have it. But," a finger taps against the tabletop, "looking at this strategically, it's an excellent opportunity to get some insider intel. For example, what reasons they have to still be idling about in Mondstadt. And I mean the real reasons, not all those political amends excuses."

    𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢'𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨. Two masked men with Fatui insignias emblazoned on their lapels talk over a shared meal. One gestures broadly while the other offers an occasional nod, both evidently unaware of the attention they've drawn. "According to that Mister Novikov over there, his fellow 'diplomatic envoys' have grown bored of their own company. And no," she interjects despite Venti not having had the chance to get a single word in yet, "I was not eavesdropping. He's just a very loud conversationalist. Back to the point." She pauses to take a sip from a sparkling cider and internally lament the fact that it's not sparkling champagne instead. When the mug lowers, a mischievous smile has painted itself across rose-stained lips. "I know what that's code for. He wants a gorgeous stranger on his arm. Someone who will stroke his ego by laughing at all his jokes and asking him about his accomplishments. I guess the same could be said for someone higher up on the pecking order too, because that Mister Novikov also mentioned limited invitations for unaffiliated guests. I don't have to spell out what I'm getting at, do I?"

      𝐒𝐡𝐢 𝐐𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟. "I have the charming good lucks." Her finger pokes Venti squarely in the chest. "You have the silver tongue. Between the two of us there's insurmountable wit to be had. We'd have at least one of those cronies blabbing within the first hour. So, are you in?"

[praeteritus-memories-muses]

Name: Rex Lapis / Morax / Zhongli

Series: Genshin Impact

Continuity: Video Game

Age: 27 (physical appearance)

Height: 6'2"

Birthday: December 31st

Birthplace: Liyue

Orientation: Pansexual

Species: Sovereign Geo dragon

Occupation: Geo archon (formerly) Funeral parlor financial consultant (currently)

Bio:

Originally the geo dragon sovereign who gave up his rights as a dragon sovereign of Teyvat to follow the rules established by Celestia overtaking all nations, Zhongli would be crowned the role of Rex Lapis as the geo archon of Teyvat.

Zhongli one of the oldest living Archon in all of Tevyet. Wanting to rule justly and orderly over the newly forming nation of Liyue, he would create contracts. Binding words of agreement between people, often with payment but to him a contract is a vow never to be broken.

He created a contracts with multiple beings with higher power he named Adepti to protect the nation of Liyue from any harm that may come from monsters and corrupted Archons, including five sub-Gods he calls Yakshas to protect from malevolent spirits that the Adepti can't be bothered with.

Every year, he would ascend to the people of Liyue to give them financial advice for the next year, as he wishes for nothing but the people of the country he rules over as Archon to be the best and happiest they can be. Yet he slowly realizes over time that Liyue shouldn't rely on the word of a God in order to prosper.

He trusts and believes in the people of Liyue to continue centuries of prosper without him, as he believes the time of Archon rule is over for humanity to rise above challenges on their own.

He steps down from Godhood, faking his 'death' as Rex Lapis in order to live life as a mortal. Yet living 'mortal' life has it's setbacks. He still cannot die as an Archon, blessed with immortality, it meant he got to live as a mortal while everyone else would age and die without him.

This slow and saddening accepting of death often leaves Zhongli in a somber mood. When he's alone, he'll often still mourn the hundreds and thousands of mortals who all died over time which leaves him trying to help those who are still alive.

Yet it's difficult to help others. Although Zhongli is a fantastic financial advisor and works as the advisor to a funeral parlor, he quite literally has no money to his name. As a Archon, he often used to just make money from nowhere as part of his powers, but now that he relinquished all that power - he's flat broke. He has no grasp on the fact that he's broke and instead puts tabs or just asks someone else to pay for things instead, not realizing that no one else can make money come out of nowhere like he used to.

Though his current contract has made his ridiculous spending habits a little easier. He works with the Fatui and gave hid Godhood gem to the Archon of Ice for a contract, the details he won't share but he believes it'll help the people of Liyue.

He currently stays with Childe, an ambassador for the Fatui who gives Zhongli the funds he needs for business. Though 'business' is in large quotes, as he often buys things that aren't needed for funerals at all and instead he uses money to help others.

He once heard about a poor man who's wife was sick and desperately needed medicine, so he pawned off his late mother's hairpins to buy the medicine. Instead of walking away, Zhongli purchased the hairpins and gave the man a large sum of money so he and his wife would live healthy and comfortably while returning the hairpins back to him. He may spend too much, but he only ever does it for the sake of helping other people. He'll even refuse buying food for himself unless he has someone else to eat food with.

Zhongli is quiet, charitable and incredibly intelligent. He has knowledge on all things of the upper class and gives incredible advice in economics. Though practicing what he preaches is actually quite hard. If he likes someone, he'll become far more talkative. Even if he's just talking about business and higher end things.

Though he isn't a God anymore, Zhongli is still and incredibly powerful fighter. He has the power to manipulate rocks and earth at his will, fighting along side a spear to pierce opponents.

People say that even though he drains people of their wallet, Zhongli is a wonderful person to be around. No one, aside from a tiny few, knows that he is alive and that he is Rex Lapis though. He would rather Liyue go on without him, as he wants to prepare them for a world without Archons someday.