#Gunnhildr's Blades

[canonical-transformation]

me when I drug my boss so she leaves work before 8pm

[endlessskymaster]

Jeanlisa icons

[dragaliareferencearchive]

Blades Weaving Betwixt Brocade - Genshin Impact (2/2)

[hiraya-rawr]

little star — diluc 。

synopsis!! everyone knows the creator doesn't favor diluc (everyone is wrong).

cw !! gn reader, reader is peak diluc simp 😐 somewhat self-aware characters, mild sagau themes (not too much), reader is recognized as the player, reader is a little shy at first. angst with reverse comfort!

note !! the plot feels a little everywhere but i tried to organize it as best as i can, i think i got carried away eheh honestly doesn't feel up to my standards but it was pretty enjoyable to write

word count !! 2.8k something

"No, it's definitely Outrider Amber, she was the first to ever be favored."

"Are you kidding me? Outrider Amber may be the first, but sir Kaeya was definitely loved. Have you seen the sword he was gifted with?" One growls.

"It's the Acting Grand Master Jean!" Someone slams the table with his beer mug, "Twice was she bestowed with fallen stars of gold."

"I'd say that wolf boy in the woods seem lucky."

"It has to be Bennett. I don't know why but that kid has two crowns! Two!"

"You're all missing out on Miss Lisa!"

"Stop, stop! You rowdy drunks! Every vision holder in Mond has been granted favor, this is just impossible to decide!"

There was a pause. "Well. . . not every." Someone mumbles under their breath.

"Not every? Who's the poor allogene that couldn't even get the Player's favo—" Shushing sounds break his sentence, the men glare at their companion, pointing to the redhead behind the bar.

It's useless, really.

Diluc has been listening in the entire time. He can't really help it when their voices were loud enough to reach where he stood. Still, he was merciful and pretended not to hear. He's not exactly bothered by what they're saying. It was the truth, after all.

For two years, vision holders all around Teyvat were being granted favor.

It often begins with a meteor shower gracing the sky.

A star gently falling into the hands of a vision holder, embracing them in warm light.

They call the ethereal sensation as something akin to "coming home".

The favored would then be given different things; quality weapons, enhanced abilities, beautiful crowns— Some allogenes were even gifted summer apparel (Mondstadt is proud that their Gunnhildr sisters were one of the very first). Even their equipped wings would change into ornamented works of art!

It's been two years, and it seems like every allogene he knows of has received the Player's grace.

He supposed he just wasn't favored. It isn't too difficult to believe that he isn't likable.

He convinces himself it's fine.

It's fine if his summoned weapon is a cheap claymore made of scrap metal. It's still efficient to have the extra blade while he manually carries around another claymore (commissioned from Wagner as the best money could buy). Or that his abilities can only be improved through hardwork, unlike the many who broke the limits of their power through your favor.

It's fine.

As the bar goers leave for the night, as Venti and Kaeya wave around their almost divine-looking five-star weapons to show the crowd, and as he's closing up the tavern and retreating to his upstair quarters for comfort, he convinces himself that the he'll be okay on his own.

•

The arrival of the Creator was festive and grand; The day the sky parted itself and glowed as the brightest of all stars fell with grace into Mondstadt's very own Windrise.

Teyvat rejoices in the ecstatic ideal of being loved.

A meeting of vision holders was quickly held in the Cathedral, discussing immediate plans as some of the most favored (Venti, Jean, Kaeya, Albedo to name a few) went ahead to fetch the Creator from the large tree.

While Diluc was often the center of any other meeting due to his authority and influence, this was something he chose to step back from. Standing by the windows, away from the meeting, he watched on as Eula and the rest conversed around the circular table.

He isn't even sure why he's invited. Perhaps they felt it was obligatory for vision holders, regardless of favorability? Then again, he could always offer a fraction of his mountain-loads of wealth to help with the festivities.

At least he's competent at being a wallet.

As the others pull out their crowns and stars, weapons and artifacts, eager to thank the one responsible for the gifts, an unknown emotion bubbles in his stomach. It's faint, but it's there.

He tries to look away.

"Everyone, everyone! They're entering the gates!" Fischl announces uncharacteristically to the room as her eye glows brightly, undoubtedly looking through Oz's eyes from the sky.

"We should wait by the statue to welcome them, right?" Barbara chirps in, hands clasped and wavy hair bouncing with every step.

Diluc watches as people steadily leave the room, following last as they walk down the steps to greet the approaching group. Some civilians gathered to see the scene, others didn't really understand what a Player or Creator was to a vision holder, while Diluc—

Diluc stood by the steps to see them crowd around you.

You, surrounded with words of gratitude and cheerful squeals. He sees the smile on your face and feels relief that you don't seem too overwhelmed.

He leaves the area without a second thought.

•

He doesn't exactly see you around the next few days. With Mondstadt celebrating a new festival, the taverns were always full and busy with customers (both local and foreign). You were probably busy too, spending time with the different allogenes and entertaining those who came from Liyue to meet you. He's heard of a funeral consultant with three crowns (are consultants that admirable of a job to you?) and an adeptus gifted with various five-star polearms (this was understandable for the adepti, unlike the consultant).

He doesn't expect to see you at all until you leave for the next nation, honestly.

That is, until the tavern settles into a more peaceful atmosphere and Jean rushes in with several other allogenes. It's unusual to see his childhood friend in the tavern; still, he greets her amicably and asks what brings her here.

"(Name) will be coming here soon with Kaeya and a few others. It's a little impromptu, but we were hoping for a place to settle in with drinks. Perhaps try some apple cider." She smiles, taking a seat by the bar.

(Name)? Jean was already on a first name basis with the Creator?

Diluc thinks perhaps Jean truly is the favorite, she does have a few golden stars in her home.

Somehow, it's not surprising at all to know that his apple cider was famous enough to drag you in. At least there's something about the Dawn Winery in your favor. He promptly gets his employees to work, clearing a few tables near the bar, rearranging the furniture to give space good enough for a group.

Your entrance into the bar was just as lively; with your favored allogenes chatting away with you, everyone falling into place at different parts of the tavern, ordering drinks and meals.

He's glad you enjoy apple cider.

•

You're trying to play it cool, really. Trying your best not to get overexcited and glomp everyone and everything.

You're taking things step by step as you converse with Jean, Lisa, and Albedo; as you share meals with Barbara and Sucrose; as you play with Klee and Diona; tour the city with Fischl and Bennett. There's plenty of time to meet everyone and your schedule has been filled to the brim with all the fun your having.

You'll see that glimpse of red hair again— one that was lingering by the Cathedral staircase. Diluc doesn't like crowds, so it's fine that he isn't approaching you. It's also fine that he hasn't visited at least once, unlike the several raging from Liyue to Sumeru who took the journey to meet you early.

Diluc is too busy a person to meet you; whether it's because of the winery or his darknight hero duties, you wouldn't dare take his time.

— but when are you supposed to give him all the gifts you've brought for him???

Your determination to build him up in one go, from Talent levels to Constellations to Artifacts and Weaponry, all came down to this moment �� and the man was simply nowhere to be seen!

An unknowingly loud sigh escapes your lips, catching the attention of the Cavalry Captain next to you.

"Now, what's got our (Name) so down in the dumps?" Kaeya hums, glancing at your face as you stutter a response.

"Aah it's not that, it's just. . ."

Your brother is too busy, I just want to meet him!!

"I'm thirsty." You deflect, looking around for a stall. The streets of Mond were nothing like the minimized version you see in the game; with the city being ten times larger than what you remembered it to be.

"Oh! Oh! Klee suggests apple cider!" The little girl giggles, running around your legs in excitement, "Angel's Share is nearby and big brother Albedo alwaaays takes me there for apple cider!"

Angel's Share. Bartender. A great idea has appeared!

At the excited look on your face, Jean walks up ahead of you.

"Why don't I go and inform the tavern to prepare us a space first, it would save us the waiting time."

"That would be great, Jean!"

•

You hope you aren't being too obvious.

With the way your eyes would linger on him, casting side glances and hoping he would greet you to strike up a conversation, the way most allogenes do. You didn't want to abruptly disturb his work, nor do you want seem desperate, so you waited for his initiative.

Yet, Diluc lingers just a little outside your group's circle. Your food and drinks were refilled by Charles, you've talked with nearly everyone but the person you want to talk to.

"It's getting pretty late, we should head home for the night." Someone suggests.

What?

No!

"Hm? Do you still have something in mind?" Kaeya asks. You realized you said it out loud, catching the attention of nearby patrons.

With a frantic glance around the tavern, your eyes make contact with Diluc's. He pauses as well, wondering what caused your little outburst.

You are definitely not leaving, not when you don't know when you could catch Diluc in his free time again! You'd be leaving for Liyue by then!

Hands slamming the table to stand up and with a small burst of courage, you approach the bartender who turns away from Charles. He raises an eyebrow at your approach. It's odd the way you feel flustered and nervous, finally facing him.

Pausing just in front of him, he looks on curiously.

"Would you like a refill?" He asks.

"A-ah no, I mean, yes but that's not why I'm here. I. . ." You stutter, stumbling over your words as you try not to behave awkwardly. Should you start with a casual topic?

"You seem to be quite busy." You say.

Diluc blinks. He isn't sure what you're implying. Neither is Kaeya or Jean, who stopped to look at the exchange of words.

"I suppose. . . but as a winery, we do thrive in impromptu festivities." He replies curtly before realizing, was it rude that he never visited the Creator?

"Ah, is it my lack of visit? I apologize, I would have visited but it seems that you were quite satisfied with your favorites and-"

"No, no, no," You wave your hand, cutting him off, "I understand you're busy. You don't have to visit at all! How could I take your time— wait," You pause, recalling his words.

"Favorites?" You tilt your head, "What do you mean I seemed satisfied with my favorites? What do you mean by favorites?"

"Your favorites... allogenes who received your favor. Those you have granted gifts."

Your jaw laxes. Favorites? They decided you play favorites based on how much you've built them?

"You think. . ." You say carefully, not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings, "That I offer gifts to my favorites?"

Diluc nods slowly, unsure of your questioning.

Although it would be a lie to say you didn't have your personal favorites, it would still be inaccurate that it's based on gifts. After all, you built everyone who came home by chance. As an avid player, you did your best to farm and push everyone to their full potential.

Diluc, however, never came home no matter how much you wanted him to. It can't be possible that he doesn't know how much he is loved, right?

"Then what about you?" You blurt out, "How do you think I view you?"

He stares at you oddly. At this point, many around you had stopped to tune in. Everyone knew Master Diluc never received your favor, so why are you conversing with him?

Meanwhile, Diluc wonders if you want him to admit it. Must he say it in front of everyone how he never received gifts?

"I suppose. . . I'm not one of them. It's quite understandable. I don't intend to question your judgement—"

"What?" You exclaim, a look of shock crosses your face, "You think I don't like you?" Voice raised in disbelief, you feel the eyes of many turning to watch the scene.

Diluc mirrors your confusion.

"I can't believe you would– no, that isn't it at all!" You stutter over your words, a frantic need to prove him wrong goes through you, "You— you of all people!"

"Me?" He repeats.

"I've always wanted you!"

A silence settles over the tavern. Did you have to put it so bluntly? You freeze in shock at your own words. Diluc's expression of disbelief turns flustered, face turning as red as his hair.

Explain yourself.

"I- I mean, I've always wanted you to come home. Ever since the start, really! It's just that you never did-"

"Hmm... so it implies that it's out of your control, correct?" Kaeya piqued, looking on curiously. He's been listening in the entire time. You nod your head.

"Yes! It's a game of chance for me as well. It's not to say that favor is an accident, I truly wanted everyone to come home! It's just that—" You turn to Diluc, "You never did, no matter how much I wanted you to. How was I supposed to give you your gifts?"

Diluc snaps out of his shock, blinking at you, "Gifts?"

"Yes, gifts! I've been saving them up for you, ever since the start." You pause, shyly looking away, "When I said I wanted you since the beginning I meant it. I came here for you, after all."

He looks at you in disbelief, and probably half the tavern as well. You can't help the small chuckle from your lips. With an outstretched hand, something materializes between you. It glows a blinding golden light, before settling to reveal–

"Wolf's Gravestone. It's a weapon for you."

You didn't have to say it— anyone with eyes could see how it was practically made for Diluc. With large handles and a color scheme that matches his own, Wolf's gravestone doesn't look as divine or ethereal as the other weapons you've gifted, but it looked just as powerful, if not menacing.

With a gesture, Diluc grips the handle.

"Fits like a glove." Kaeya whistles, impressed. As does the rest of the tavern who stopped to stare.

Suddenly, flames burst forth from the weapon. It sears and glows red. Unlike the common claymore that can't handle the the prowess of Diluc's flames, Wolf's Gravestone embraces it. Like an extension of his own hand.

He breaks his gaze away from the weapon to look at you.

"Thank you. . ." He mutters softly, but it's genuine. You smile.

"That's not the last of it, you know."

"What?"

With another flick of your hand, artifacts and talent books materialize. They flow around him like a dance as more and more begin to appear, lighting up the tavern like the night sky.

"I told you I brought gifts!"

All the days spent farming for him and other pyro characters finally paid off. The glimmering artifacts reflected in his own red eyes as he stares, entranced.

Favor did not come to him in meteor showers like it did to the other allogenes; rather, it came to him in your form. Proof of him being loved. The spectacle continued— after the artifacts and talent levels were the constellation (the crowd ooh'ed and aah'ed at the sight), then came the five star apparel (a nostalgic sight to him, and it changed his flames to a darker red), and the ascension materials you passed off as trinkets.

By the end of it, he had a hand over his lower face, his red bangs hid just the ends of his eyes. "I just thought I wasn't that favorable. . ." He muttered and you leaned in to peek at his covered face, wondering why he was shying away.

But it was evident to the tavern— the pink dusted ears, the flushed cheeks, and the overwhelming emotion in his eyes. Diluc Ragnvindr was flustered, and it's a sight enough to make even the drunks place down their beers for a closer look.

You bit your lip, trying to prevent the widest of smiles, "Do you believe yourself loved now?" You ask and he gives the faintest of nods.

"Thank you," He says, "For favoring me."

m.list 2 || consider supporting me on ko-fi ! || sagau m.list

note !! THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE a very short brainrot that became a fic huhuhuhu

I don't often write creator sagau themes but here we are! this is like peak diluc simpery idk ive never been this down for a man. i wrote this immediately after getting his skin i just got so excited 😅 I wanted to spoil him so bad (but i gave all his mats to thoma before he came home :< )

taglist !! @absolut-wildflower @boundedbyfate @sadlonelybagel @eissaaaa @ladycoleigh @nejibot @milkypompon @bloodreaper08 @irethepotato @x-zho @roriver @mich-cola @mxsomn @ackrylik @nicebonescomrade @starforecasts @stygianoir @yuminako @eccedentesiast-sapphic @nebulaera @nuttytani @klutzkat @shizunxie

[frieschan]

𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭. pt 2 // genshin men

➳ character/s featured: thoma, kazuha, albedo, xiao x f! reader

➳ unrequested | scenario // fluff

➳ TW: not proof-read

➳ summary: you and said character have started growing close, finally they open up to you about their personal life.

➳ AN: part 1 with ayato, diluc, childe, and zhongli here.. part 3 with cyno, alhaitham, tighnari, and kaveh is coming soon :)

—THOMA ; protector from afar !

TRUST LVL. 4 ; about y/n

"y/n? she's quite a helpful hand here in the Kamisato estate! Though she isn't an official worker, she does as much work as me around here when she gets some free time from being a shrine maiden!"

TRUST LVL. 6 ; about lover

"ahh heheh.. you've heard about my lover? F-From Yae Miko?! Godd... That's just embarrassing.. y/n is my girlfriend, I love her till the end of time but I tend to avoid visiting her since she'd be at the shrine and a certain Fox lady would be there.. If you get the chance to pass by the shrine, could you tell y/n that I want to eat hotpot with her?"

YAE MIKO ; about Thoma's lover

"oh? y/n? she's quite an adorable lady.. she works so hard at the shrine! I sometimes wish she would have worked my publishing house instead, pity. She could always lend a hand at the publishing house but, all her spare time is spent on her boyfriend, Thoma. Such a cute couple, don't you think?"

—KAEDEHARA KAZUHA ; scarlet leaves pursue wild waves !

TRUST LVL. 4 ; about y/n

"y/n is a very reliable pirate aboard Beidou's ship, a true comrade of the ship. At the time I was wanted, I was being followed by groups of patrol soldiers.. That's when I witnessed the strength of the right hand woman. She truly is never afraid to pull out her sword in the face of injustice."

TRUST LVL. 6 ; about lover

"Hm? my lover? Ah, y/n is my lover. You look quite surprised traveler.. I thought it was quite obvious... You had your suspicions? Ehe.. I can't help but admire beauty. y/n is very dear to my heart, everyday I ask myself just what I would be doing at this moment if y/n wasn't here.."

BEIDOU ; about Kazuha's lover

"y/n.. that little devil is quite a handful when we're at sea! Even when she's such a rascal, I'm grateful that she is here on this boat.. Always tending to the crew, especially Kazuha. Young love, ey? Best you keep this between us though, lest you want the crew to have swords at Kazuha's throat for 'stealing y/n' hahahaha"

—ALBEDO ; kreideprinz !

TRUST LVL. 4 ; about y/n

"The second daughter of the Gunnhildr clan.. She holds the title 'blade of snow' with how much of her time is spent here.. With that, me and her hold a close relationship.. Another part of that is Klee always looking for her...."

TRUST LVL. 6 ; about lover

"You've heard rumors of me and y/n being engaged? That is something I cannot deny, you have already seen the ring on our finger. She holds a place in my heart, she is just as special as Klee actually. Sucrose and Klee adore her very much.. they always seem disappointed when she is busy and cannot visit. I can't help but be disappointed too.."

KLEE ; about Albedo's lover

"y/n is the best! She always plays with me! I don't get why Albedo always pulls her away, I wanna play with her too!"

—XIAO ; vigilant yaksha !

TRUST LVL. 4 ; about y/n

"y/n? her presence is far more comforting compared to other mortals, though there is something very odd about the aura she exerts."

TRUST LVL. 6 ; about y/n, truth

"It seems as though y/n isn't mortal afterall, she is adepti. How could I have missed this..."

TRUST LVL. 6 ; about lover

"What is it that you want with y/n, traveler? y/n as my lover..? just who has told you this information... tsk, mortal lives can't help but meddle in the business of others so it should be expected. So what if she is my lover? Though, I sometimes worry if I really will be able to protect her from the horrors and years of pain I have endured. No matter, I know that you will protect her also."

GANYU ; about Xiao's lover

"lady y/n? I have heard the fellow adeptis mentioning her every once and a while.. but from what I have experienced with her, she is a very gentle and soft-spoken lady.... I have just learned recently that she is the lover of Xiao! I wonder what it's like to be with her.. I can't help but be a bit envious of Xiao, lady y/n seems to be such a goddess!"

copyright © 2022 | frieschan

reblog or like if you enjoyed!

[deathbxnny]

◇《Honkai: Star Rail Masterlist 2》◇

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》Masterlist Navigation

》Honkai Star Rail Masterlist 1

》Honkai Star Rail Masterlist 3

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》Started: 07/06/2023

》Finished on: 19/08/2023

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》General headcanons:

Hsr men with a reader, who's scared after they watched a scary movie together.(Jing Yuan/Blade)

Hsr men with Reader, who has a niche phobia.(Jing Yuan/Blade)

Hsr characters with a stressed out reader!(Kafka/Yanqing)

Hsr men with Gunnhildr clan leader reader!(Jing Yuan/Blade)

Stellaron hunters with an Alice Bosconovitch-like!Reader.(Blade/Kafka/Silverwolf)

Hsr men with a reader who dies protecting them.(Blade/Jing Yuan/Welt/Dan Heng)

Hsr MC's x Genshin Impact MC!Reader.(Caelus/Stelle)

Hsr men with a Elsa-like!Reader.(Jing Yuan/Blade)

Stellaron hunters having a crush on you!

Hsr men babysitting your child.(Jing Yuan/Blade/Sampo)

Stellaron hunters with a reader who has a smooth voice!

Hsr men choosing between the world/their goals and you.(Blade/Jing Yuan/Welt)

Hsr/genshin men with Elysia-like!Reader.(Blade/Kazuha)

Blade/Jing Yuan/Welt/Dan Heng stopping their s/o from unaliving themselves.((TW!SUICIDE/SUICIDAL THOUGHTS))

Astral Express crew with a Genshin Impact Mc!Reader.

Stellaron hunters + Himeko with a girlboss reader!

Hsr men watching Disney movies with you!(Blade/Dan Heng/Jing Yuan)

Hsr men with a Sirin-like!Child!Reader, who's having a nightmare!(Blade/Welt/Gepard/Dan Heng)

Jing Yuan and Yanqing with a Yanqing's younger twin!Fem!Reader.

Stellaron hunters with a reader who rizzes up all their enemies.

Stellaron hunters with a Kenny-like!Reader.

Hsr women with a reader, who has a resting bitch face!(Asta/Kafka/Silver Wolf)

Hsr men with a quiet reader, who's loud when their little brother is around.(Jing Yuan/Blade/Dan Heng/Gepard)

Stellaron hunters with a Veliona-like!Platonic!Reader.

Astral Express crew with a Teen!Reader, who just completed their first mission on their own!

Self-aware characters watching you write fanfics about them!(Blade/Serval/Caelus/Yanqing)

Hsr men with HOHE!Elysia-like!Reader, who dance after a sparring session together.(Blade/Jing Yuan)

Yanqing and Jing yuan with a Senti-like!Reader.

Hsr men with a Ruby Hoshino!Reader.(Dan Heng/Blade/Jing Yuan/Gepard)

Hsr men with a reader who has Tachycardia!(Luocha/Jing Yuan)

Hsr men with a Nene Kusanagi!Teen!Reader.(Blade/Jing Yuan/Dan Heng/Gepard)

"No thoughts, head empty for silence." With hsr men!(Jing Yuan/Blade/Dan Heng)

Stellaron hunters with a Teen!Reader, who turns back time after dying.

Stellaron hunters with a Stocking-like!Reader.

Hsr men with a s/o that's like Millie from Helluva Boss!(Sampo/Blade/Jing Yuan)

Astral Express crew with a warm and kind healer reader!

Hsr men with a Momoe Sawaki s/o!(Blade/Jing Yuan/Yanqing/Caelus)

Hsr men with an Asuka!Teen!Reader.(Blade/Jing Yuan)

Hsr characters with a s/o who has a dendro vision!(Himeko/March 7th/Welt/Caelus)

Hsr women with a princess-like!Reader.(Kafka/Serval/Fu Xuan/Silver Wolf)

Stellaron hunters with a Ray-like!Child!Reader.(TW!ATTEMPTED SUICIDE)

Stellaron hunters with a Teen!Vampire!Reader.

Yanqing and Jing Yuan reacting to you being pregnant!

Stellaron hunters with a Ai Hoshino-like!Teen!Reader that dies the same way.

Hsr characters having a duel with a HoHE!Elysia-like!Reader, that ends in a dance.(Kafka/Dan Heng/Welt)

Hsr men with a Klee-like!Reader.(Dan Heng/Blade/Jing Yuan/Yanqing)

Jing Yuan and Yanqing with a twin!teen!Reader, who joined the Stellaron hunters, only to be betrayed by them.

Hsr characters with a child!Reader, that follows them around and acts like them.(Himeko/Gepard/Jing Yuan/Blade)

Hsr men with a s/o, who's the travellers (from genshin impact) older sibling!(Blade/Jing Yuan/Gepard/Luocha)

Astral Express crew with a youngest member!Teen!Reader, who has robotic limbs.

Platonic!Hsr men with a Mafuyu!Reader.(Jing Yuan/Blade/Welt/Dan Heng)

Blade and Jing Yuan with a Khaenri'ahn!Reader.

Yanqing's mom!Reader being attacked with her child and nearly dying!

Hsr men with a HoF!Reader!(Welt/Dan Heng/Jing Yuan/Blade)

》Jing Yuan:

Jing Yuan with a reader who smacks him over the head daily.

Jing Yuan marrying Yanqing's mother!Reader.

Jing Yuan simping for a Yanqing's mom!Reader, who defended themselves unexpectedly.

Jing Yuan with a Yanqing's mom!Reader, who was wrongly executed by him.

Jing Yuan with a Yanqing's mom!Reader, who was reincarnated, after being wrongly executed.

More shenanigans with Jing Yuan and Yanqing's mother!Reader after marriage.

Jing Yuan with a fem!Reader, who's pregnant with twins, but won't rest.

Jing Yuan taking care of the reader during their period.

Jing Yuan adopting Jingliu's child after her death.

Jing Yuan with Yanqing's mother!Pregnant!Reader, who nearly gets assassined.

Jing Yuan with Yanqing's mother!Reader, who gives birth to his daughter, whilst he and Yanqing are gone!

Yanqing being "Kidnapped" and Jing Yuan nearly declaring war over it.

Jing Yuan finding out that Yanqing was Kidnapped by some cultists.

》Blade:

Blade with a Mitsuri-like!Reader.

Blade with a God-slaying!Entity!Reader.

》Yanqing:

Yanqing breaking his swords for you out of sheer jealousy!

Yanqing with a HoT!Reader.

Vidyadhara!Yanqing with a hibernating reader.

Yanqing with a Muichiro-like!Reader.

Yanqing with a Lin Zhaoyu!Reader.

Mind controlled!Yanqing accidentally hurting his s/o!

Mind controlled!Yanqing killing his s/o!

Yanqing with a reader who has a hydro vision!

Yanqing with a reader who's vision got taken away!

Yanqing having to put down his lover, who was striken by Mara.

Yanqing with a horror enthusiast!S/O.

Yanqing with a twin, who betrayed him for the Stellaron hunters.

Yanqing returning home to you!

Yanqing with a s/o who was Kidnapped by the devil archers!

Yanqing with a dimension traveling reader!

Yanqing with a dying nature deity s/o!

Yanqing with a crystal gem!Reader.

Yanqing and fem!Reader meeting their future kids!

Yanqing with a pacifist!S/O, who secretly can protect themselves.

Yanqing with an Aeon-like!Reader, who sacrifices their physical form for him.

Yanqing who gets mind controlled and forced to betray everyone by Kafka.

Yanqing being killed by Reader after they get Mara-struck, Jing Yuan then putting down reader.

Yanqing with a Vidyadhara/Dragon-like!S/o, that nearly dies from his ice abilities.

》Welt Yang:

Pinning!Reader who's worried that they'll burden Welt with their troubles.

》Gepard Landau:

Gepard with a Dimension traveling!Reader, who saved his sisters life!

》Dan Heng:

Dan Heng with a sibling reader!

》Luocha:

Luocha's s/o being in a coffin and getting robbed from him, after he gets jumped.

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[ffxivxd]

Bozja dates back to the Third Astral Era, where it was born out of various civil wars from groups in Ilsabard. While united under a single queen named Gunnhildr, her royal guard dubbed Gunnildr's Blades ensured their independence even against the Allagan Empire.

[voidsentprinces]

Here have an extra edition. So many factions in this fucking game. Probably still missed a few people would enjoy.

[autumnslance]

Hey there! I saw there were entries on the Ivalice raid locations— are there any more interesting Dalmasca tidbits from them that we haven’t gotten before?

Hihi! And there's not really too much new on Dalmasca; they clarify that Noah van Gabranth ordered the aerial bombardment of Rabanastre in response to the liberation of Doma and Ala Mhigo, to thwart the rebellion factions still loyal to the B'nargin dynasty who were inspired to rise up once again. It was a drastic measure, and the few survivors of the city's destruction fled to oases scattered across the desert.

Nothing new on Lessalia, just summary of "the Lexentales and adventurers found it and fought Lucavi."

Ridorana Lighthouse they go a little more into its construction. The Dalmascans operated the main lighthouse part to warn ships away from the cataract, but 30 years of Garlean occupation has seen the lighthouse abandoned. There's water drawn up the tower and then its downward movement back to the sea powers things...somehow, but no one's quite sure how it works.

It was the WoL's party who figured out how to get to the floating islands and upper reaches, to the ruins of Goug. Wind Crystals were utilized to create the landmasses, and arrays of vanes to harness wind power for the city are all over, as opposed to the water-based power below.

For Orbonne and Mullonde, they go a bit more into the legend of Ajora, a hero who claimed to be the son of gods, who led rebellions against the corrupted officials in the later years of the Holy Ydoran Empire. Mullonde was destroyed when Ajora, in desperation for victory, performed a forbidden summoning and the being called forth unleashed devastation. Jenomis cen Lexentale's The Zodiac Brave Story is mentioned, as a telling of those myths and Ramza Beoulve's victory over Ultima, but he admits it's a fiction not in line with facts.

Of The High Seraph herself, the text for her claims she was simply a force of pure ruination at first; it was the terror people held of her shifting to a reverent fear that eventually affected her enough to quicken self-awareness. How much of that is true given what's learned in Pandaemonium later is debatable. Once again, the lorebook leaves a lot open to interpretation given they are "set" in times where the transcribers don't have all the facts, allowing things to change in later plotlines.

And since they're related...

There's a nice picture of Bozja before the disaster, all local brown stone and geometric decorative patterns; both the nation and its capital shared the name, and they detail a little more the devastation it suffered, the crater of the "Firelight Coffin," the previous site of the Lunar Transmitter tower and the center of the city, the crystallization waves covering the rest of the buildings.

The fortress of Alermuc to the north of the city, and the buildings near it, survived the disaster. Alermuc means "Eagle" in the Bozjan tongue, and it was mostly abandoned by Basch van Gabranth. His son Noah, however, used it, and renamed it Castrum Lacus Litore (lakeside) as it also is at the side of Igalj Kelo, the region's largest salt water lake.

Not really anything new about Delubrum Reginae, the old royal palace of the Queens, mostly summarizing the battle to get through the tempered and transformed Gunnhildr's Blades to try to stop the primal Queen.

Zadnor in the northeast was chosen because of the ancient Allagan armaments thought to be buried there. A little about the construct Saunion, whose fusion of a traditional ceruleum engine with a unique crystal reactor to manipulate aether is said to be an example of the IVth's independent research and innovations. The Diablo Armament is thought to be a vessel for a Diablo-class voidsent gifted to Emperor Xande by the Cloud of Darkness back during their partnership, and would have been used against the ancient Bozjans, until the Fourth Umbral Calamity buried the thing.

So it's mostly a clarification and compilation of little bits we got in game, some new ways of presenting it, some placement of geography and where things are in relation to one another. It's mostly summary of the WoL's adventure in the region, though there are new, small tidbits like those outlined above, which is handy for those who haven't done the content nor unearthed every little secret lore tidbit scattered between the instances and zones and NPC lore dumps.

[dandelion-wings]

2 times Jean Gunnhildr was nothing like Eula's upbringing had led her to expect, + 1[...]

Thank you for the prompt! With the confession that I kind of slid off it of somewhere in part 2 and never quite managed to remount. XD;; Also I didn't manage to get it much shippier than pre-slash, alas, though you can take whatever implications you like from the ending of part 3. I did enjoy writing it, though, and I hope you enjoy the results regardless! <3

---

1.

"I would think you of all people would understand the importance of reputation, Lady Eula."

Inspector Eroch's smile reminds Eula very much of her uncle's. The oily, insincere politeness is different. Uncle Schubert never saw much cause to be polite to her, at least not once she began rebelling against her family's strictures. But the patronizing air of superiority is irritatingly familiar.

"I have renounced my titles from within the Lawrence Clan," she says sharply. "I will not pretend I am not of noble blood, but should you call me by the incorrect title again, you will pay for the error."

"Miss Lawrence, then. But I'm afraid you're only demonstrating why I cannot allow you to take the knight trials." The Inspector spreads his hands before him, shrugging as if helpless to change his own ruling. "The reputation of the Knights of Favonius would suffer from permitting a member of the Lawrence Clan into our ranks. Perhaps if you were willing to change your name, and enter anonymously...?"

"I will do no such thing!"

"Then there is nothing I can do for you, Miss Lawrence. I'm afraid our interview is at an end."

Behind her, the two knights who had escorted her into the building step forward. Eula clenches her jaw, fighting the urge to reach for her blade. To assault knights who are following their instructions within the Ordo's headquarters would only make her case worse. Both of them already have their hands hovering near their swords, insultingly eager for an excuse to draw. Chin high, Eula turns on her heel and marches out.

She can hear the whispering as she strides through the foyer to the door, almost as loud on her exit as it was upon her entrance. The knights escorting her grin and nod to those who have paused to see her paraded out. One of them gives a thumbs-up to a knight by the door, who chuckles. Anger spears through her at the sound. Eula takes a deep breath, lets it out, and refuses to look at any of them, looking straight ahead and refusing to acknowledge the whispered jeers.

Her steady stride is checked on the steps by someone else coming up. Eula freezes mid-step at the sight of Jean Gunnhildr. She knows the other girl only distantly; her uncle had pointed the Gunnhildrs out to her when they had attended the same parties in her youth, but that clan would never dare associate directly with the Lawrences. Sir Jean must, though, know Eula's face as well as Eula knows hers. And so would the Ragnvindr sons behind her, at whose family parties most of those passing glances had been exchanged.

Amber thinks well of Jean. But then, Jean has no reason not to be kind to her, and even Eula's uncle admits that the Gunnhildrs are always gracious to commoners. Their so carefully-maintained reputation requires it. But by the same dint, their reputation as champions of the people will require cold condescension to a Lawrence like her.

"Lady Eula," Jean says, looking equally taken aback for a moment. Then she recovers her poise. "Amber did say you were going to apply to next week's knight trials. Will you be joining us?"

There it is. Both the insult of the rejected title, and the pretense that Jean wouldn't know exactly what Eula's grinning escort means. Eula draws herself up, taking full advantage of the extra four inches of the higher step to overcome the half-inch of height Sir Jean has upon her. Behind Jean, Diluc Ragnvindr puffs himself up in response, scowling.

"I will not," Eula tells her, keeping both the fury and the disappointment behind it from her voice by sheer force of will. "Your Inspector is too much a coward to risk allowing a Lawrence to so much as try. He claims it would embarrass the Ordo. I must presume that means your knights are so weak that I would humiliate all of them in the trials."

Jean, unexpectedly, frowns. "He refused your application on *those* grounds? If your application wasn't sufficient, that would be one thing, but if you qualify, you should be allowed to try out. Did you appeal to the Grand Master?"

Ah. "I wasn't offered the option."

"That isn't right. I could submit it for you- no, that would also go through the Inspector...." Jean's frown deepens, as if she's thinking through a puzzle. Behind her, Sir Diluc looks equally puzzled, and even more so when Jean suddenly brightens. "I know what you should do. Come to Windrise this Friday. The Grand Master will be training with the captains."

So they can mock her for the arrogance of going over the Inspector's head? But there's no mischief on Jean's face, not even the hint of amusement in her eyes. She looks wholly, unnervingly sincere.

"And you believe he will hear me out?"

"You will have to get his attention first. If you can demonstrate your bladework to his satisfaction, I'm sure he'll listen to your appeal in person. We should arrive at noon. If you're there before us, you can issue a challenge when we arrive."

"Jean," Sir Diluc starts to say. His brother elbows him and hisses something that makes him subside, though he still scowls at Eula. She keeps her attention on Jean, refusing to acknowledge his glare.

"I doubt that the Grand Master would bother accepting a challenge from a Lawrence."

"*I* will. I swear to you, if you challenge me, I will meet it, and the Grand Master will be able to see your prowess in person. If you're half the swordmaster Amber claims, he will be impressed enough to take a personal interest, and I know he'll override the Inspector."

She studies Jean closely, looking for any sign of deceit. Perhaps she only wants the opportunity to show off to the other officers by defeating Eula personally. But there's only the sincerity, and a hint of concern that's even more unnerving coming from one of the Lawrence Clan's ancestral enemies. The thought that a Gunnhildr might *pity* her burns.

"I won't go easy on you," she warns. "And if you give me any less than your best out of some idea that you're helping, then mark my words, I will make you pay for the presumption."

Jean smiles, bright and warm. "I won't."

"Very well." Eula steps aside, starting down the steps around Jean and her entourage, raising her chin high again. "I will be there, and I will give you my best, so long as you do the same. And the next time we speak, I expect you to call me *Sir* Eula."

"I look forward to it," Jean says.

Eula doesn't look back, only continues onward, leaving her boggling escort behind. She refuses to be warmed by those words. But the anger that had been grating in her chest has melted away all the same.

---

2.

"Captain Eula," Sir Kaeya calls, waving far too casually--though as a captain himself, Eula will concede he doesn't owe her a salute--as he passes her on the steps of Ordo headquarters. "Back from your mission already?"

"Captain Kaeya," Eula answers, inclining her head. "We finished in better time than we were allotted."

"No surprises there. And it saves me a detour on the way to my next mission. I'm supposed to let you know that Master Jean wants you to report to her office when you're finished with the Grand Master."

Eula doesn't trust his casual tone. She narrows her eyes, looking for some sign of what he's about. He doesn't bother to hide his amusement, which only grows stronger when she looks at him with mistrust. Clearly there's something afoot.

Nothing he'll tell her about, though. She knows Sir Kaeya's tricks too well. She gives him another nod. "Thank you for telling me."

"It's no problem." Sir Kaeya winks at her, then goes on his way, strolling along as if he has not a care in the world.

She can't help the trepidation as she dismisses her company and heads to the Grand Master's office. Her report to him doesn't worry her; despite some of her knights' reluctance to obey her orders, the mission had gone well. But there should be no reason to have to report to Jean as well.

That uncertainty may make her a bit more brusque, perhaps, than she really should be while giving her report to Grand Master Varka. At least he doesn't seem bothered by her clipped words. He only smiles, and nods along to her report, and ends their interview with loud congratulations and a slap on the back that Eula manages to brace against well enough to keep from staggering.

She's still tense as she leaves his office. The knights in the hallways look at her askance, their eyes as full of concern and suspicion as they've always been. It seems her successful first mission as captain has helped not at all. Eula refuses to acknowledge the burn of disappointment in her breast.  It had been foolish of her to hope that it might be so easy.

It had seemed that easy for Jean. Once she had rooted out the traitors within the Ordo, everyone had agreed she should be made Master of the Knights without a breath of doubt or hesitation. Of course she would be fit for it, just as she'd been ideal for the work of finding those traitors in the first place, came all the whispers--she was a Gunnhildr, after all, wholly devoted to the Ordo, famously incorruptible and trained to achieve a level of competency no other knight could match.

Even Eula's family will admit to the Gunnhildrs' stringent moral standards, although 'stiff-necked' is their description of choice.

Eula can't disagree with it either. Everything she's seen of Jean suggests that she's just as upright and noble as the rumors claim, and devoted wholly to the course of justice. In that light, though, Eula can't take her arranging Eula's entry into the Knights as any sign of *personal* favor, nor her insistence upon sparring with Eula herself when no other knight would train with her, nor even the friendly demeanor she's adopted whenever they speak. Her devotion to the principles of the Ordo requires her to treat Eula as she would any other knight in good standing.

That graciousness could no doubt extend to arranging for any reprimand or demerit to take place in private. Particularly if she's concerned with continuing to counterbalance the prejudice of the other knights. Eula doesn't know what error she could have committed in merely preparing her new company and departing for her mission, but if there was one, plenty of knights would have leapt to report it as soon as she was out the gates.

Another knight gives her a look that wavers between concern and outright fear as Eula passes him. She deliberately ignores his stare. It's only after she's rounded the corner that she realizes she has her sword in hand, drawn from its scabbard and held in a defensive slant across her chest.

Embarrassed, Eula pauses at the door to Jean's office to sheathe it again before she knocks.

"Come in," Jean calls, and rises from her chair, smiling, as Eula enters. "Welcome home, Sir Eula. I heard that your mission went well?"

"Of course it did," Eula says, keeping her back straight and her chin high and refusing to let the 'home' of that greeting either prick or warm her. No doubt it's simply typical phrasing for Jean. "My knights performed admirably, and I made sure that not one of them were injured when we made our assault."

"I heard about that, too. Some of them seemed very impressed at how ready you were to come to their defense."

So Jean went out of her way to speak to Eula's company while Eula was giving her report to the Grand Master. Investigating whatever matter she called Eula here to reprimand her on in the first place?

"Please, sit down," Jean says, gesturing to a chair set in front of her desk. "Will you have some tea with me?"

Eula wants to be offended at this blatant softening of impending criticism, but it's exactly the kind of gesture she would expect from Jean, and too gracious and well-meant to refuse without giving insult herself. Still stiff-backed, she lowers herself into the chair and lets Jean pour her a cup. Jean pours the tea properly, of course, just the right angle of the pot for the stream from its spout to flow quiet and interrupted, filling the teacup exactly as much as she should and no further.

Tense as she is, Eula has to admire the propriety of it. She accepts the teacup with well-trained grace and takes the requisite first sip of a guest being served, while Jean waits with her own cup held correctly in front of her. *No one* in the Ordo, or for that matter the rest of Mondstadt, holds their teacup as Eula was taught. It doesn't surprise her that Jean does. The Gunnhildrs are aristocrats themselves, after all.

"A fine tea, well-brewed," she declares, lowering her own cup. "The bitter edge to the flavor comes out clearly without overpowering the floral notes."

"I'm glad that you like it," Jean says, and her pleased smile seems genuine. "This is a Tianheng oolong from Liyue. Our new Librarian recommended it to me, and showed me how to brew it properly."

Jean does like to disclaim her accomplishments by playing up others' contributions. At first Eula had thought it was for appearances, another way the Gunnhildrs keep the favor of the common people, but she's come to realize that it's less calculated than that. Jean really is that gracious. It rankles, just a little, that such graciousness comes to her as easily as do all other aspects of command.

Hearing her praise the Librarian rankles for another reason. The woman looks at Eula all too knowingly whenever they happen to be in the same room. Eula *knows* she's read all the books in that library, including those that list off the Lawrence Clan's many atrocities. That she's developing such a friendship with Jean that she can recommend teas to her, and may even know already what error Jean has called her here to discuss....

Eula wants to simply *ask* and get it over with. But Jean is acting with aristocratic propriety, and therefore, she must do the same.

"This may be an indelicate question, Sir Eula...."

Here it is. Eula sits up straighter in her chair, bracing herself. "Don't beat around the bush."

"Did all of your knights listen to you and obey you on your mission?" Jean leans forward, anxiety shining in her eyes. "I tried to speak to any I was concerned about before you left, and I transferred Sir Reina and Sir Jacques to your company because I trusted them both to behave professionally and reinforce that among the other knights. But if anyone did give you trouble, I would like to know, so I can deal with that as the Master of Knights. I very much want you to succeed in concert with your knights, not despite them."

She'd wondered about the last-minute transfers--and suddenly, some whispered by-play in the camp that had confused her at the time is explained. As does what she had thought was trust she had earned herself. Eula is startled by how very hurt she feels. "You mean to say you didn't trust me to handle them myself? I'll make you pay for that interference!"

"What? No!" Jean flinches and raises a hand. "This wasn't a matter of trust in *you*, Sir Eula. I expected you to do an excellent job, and it's clear that you did. I was simply trying to keep you from being undercut by insubordination."

The hurt still sits heavy in Eula's breast and pricks at her eyes, but she blinks fiercely, unwilling to let it show. "I knew that not all of my knights would be happy to be commanded by a Lawrence," she says, letting her voice go crisp and cold to keep anything else from showing. "I had intended to prove myself to them by my performance. If you did not trust me to do that, you shouldn't have backed the Grand Master about making me Reconnaissance Captain. Not undercut me *yourself* by stacking the deck."

"I-" Jean's eyes are shining with more than anxiety, Eula realizes, though she blinks just as hard as Eula had to press the tears back, and swallows hard before she speaks. Her voice comes out calm and composed in a way that Eula can recognize all too well. "I am so terribly sorry to have done that to you. I only wished to help you, but I can see how it would offend you not to be allowed to succeed on your own merits."

A sincere apology should be accepted, and Eula has no question that this one is sincere. "I guess it is your duty as Master of the Knights to ensure that missions run smoothly. I'll save my payback for another time."

"I am sorry," Jean repeats, as if Eula's words haven't registered. "It was inexcusable of me. You are working so hard to redeem your family's name, and I should have respected that instead of trying to interfere."

Guilt at her own outburst softens some of Eula's ire. "Don't apologize for doing your duty."

"It isn't truly my duty, though. The Master of the Knights is only supposed to handle discipline within a company when a captain requests it, or if they're unable to maintain it themselves. You're more than capable of that. I simply... I admire what you're doing, and I didn't wish for your own knights to be as cruel to you as I know some in the Ordo have been. But meddling with your company wasn't appropriate, whatever my reasons."

Eula goes still, taking a moment to absorb that. Her first instinct is to reject it as pity--but it isn't, not when the truth of Jean's admiration is right there in those too-sincere eyes. She wants to accomplish her goals on her own merits, but it's unkind to castigate Jean for making a genuine attempt to support her. Especially when Jean looks so uncertain. Not at all the calm, polished figure she cuts when handling affairs in public.

She isn't in public now. Eula looks again, more critically, at the tea set and desk before her, reading the lay of the land as she should have when she first came in. Paperwork has been piled away in the corner, there's a little plate of sweets off to one side, and the tea set is just a little worn, the lid of the pot chipped, suggesting that this is a personally beloved set rather than one put out for formal show. And Jean had called her 'Sir Eula' even when first greeting her, not the more formal 'Captain.'

Now Eula is almost embarrassed to have reacted so impulsively. Sympathetic, at least, and the indignation fades away as she looks at Jean sitting just as tall as she is, back just as straight and stiff, holding onto her composure with the same amount of effort. She's no untrusting superior, as certain of her own competence and judgment as everyone around her. She looks, for once, just as out of her depth as Eula sometimes secretly feels.

Everyone looks at Eula and expects the worst cruelty and depravity that the Lawrence name calls to mind. It occurs to her only now that those same people are looking at Jean and expecting the righteousness and justice that the Gunnhildr name calls to mind, as well. Even Eula herself has been doing it.

If Jean is willing to overlook Eula's name and treat her as a knight in need of support... Eula's dignity demands that she do the same.

"So long as you don't do it again, I'm willing to put the matter behind us," she tells Jean. "But I still have no choice but to pay you back for your condescension. Next time we meet, *I'll* brew the tea, and I'll be able to tell you how well my company has performed under my command, without your interference."

Jean is too well-mannered to sigh aloud, but her next breath is long, if quiet, and the smile she gives Eula is bright with relief as well as pleasure. "I look forward to it."

Eula raises her teacup to her mouth to hide the small smile that tries to slip out in response. She thinks, from the way Jean's expression softens, that Jean sees it anyway. Eula decides that she doesn't mind.

---

3.

"I cannot give up," Jean says, low and grim and breathless, quiet in the still night air behind the Ordo.

She shouldn't be here. Not at this hour, and certainly not after they day they've all had. Neither should Eula, but her company has spent the last month stalking evildoers through the dark, and she can't sleep easily at an hour she's been so long awake. Jean, though, has express instructions from the Deaconess to stay in bed, healing, for at least the next day.

Creeping silently closer is, likewise, something Eula will attribute to the habits of the past month. She certainly has no intention of *ambushing* the Acting Grand Master. But if she's to share the training ring, shouldn't she determine the circumstances beforehand?

Jean is going through the steps of her attack sequence, each swing and thrust and footfall so familiar that Eula could close her eyes and still follow it in her mind. It derives from the same ancient base as Eula's own bladework, even if the particulars of how it's delivered differ--aside from the differing weight of their chosen weapons, the Lawrences have woven it together with their customary training in dance, while the Gunnhildrs have put all of the art in it aside in favor of efficiency of movement.

This sequence, though, doesn't quite match the well-memorized one in Eula's mind. Jean is trying to shift something about the last movement, the lunging swing that flings lighter enemies away. Less force in the lunge, and the sword low, instead of high; the movement should catch the foe's feet, if they have any. Eula can guess that the intent is to trip them without flinging them forward. Something that would have helped today, when Jean had flung the chief of the Treasure Hoarders they were fighting off a cliff and inadvertently enabled his escape through a secret tunnel they'd only later found at its base.

The premise makes sense, but Jean can't apply the weight of the movement in the way that she wants. Her sword isn't long or heavy enough. It doesn't fit in with the sequence in any case; she makes the low swing again, tries to bring it up into her traditional ending stance, and nearly catches herself in the face with it.

Eula waits until she's recovered to step out of the shadows and into the ring. "Acting Grand Master," she says, giving Jean the appropriate salute.

"Eula?" Jean jumps, which is another sign that she's overtired. "Of course it's you. Are you here to train? There's room enough for us both, though I'm afraid I cannot spar tonight. I have my own drills to do."

"I saw as much."

"You did?" Jean's cheeks color.

"Your blade isn't heavy enough for that kind of low sweep," Eula tells her. "You need either force, as from a greatsword, or leverage, as from a polearm."

"I know. But... I must find some way of disabling opponents even when the terrain is not ideal. We spent hours more than we should have, and far too many Ordo resources, finding that Treasure Hoarder again. I am grateful for the help of the Reconnaissance Company in that effort," she adds quickly, though Eula hadn't thought of taking offense. "But it was because of my error that you had to call them out to help us, when they should have been resting after your mission."

"He would have tried to escape down tunnel regardless," Eula told her. "He was already making for the edge of that cliff when you caught up with him. If it had been anyone else, I'm sure he would have jumped off instead. You might as well blame the Reconnaissance Company for not having caught the tunnel the last time we scouted the area."

"I wouldn't do that!"

"Then how are you any more at fault for not having information we didn't give you than we are for not finding it?"

Eula frowns at Jean, drawing herself up to her full height to better look down at her. Not that it does much good without higher ground; Jean is that one half-inch higher, and she straightens, too, in response to that frown. Her eyes are wide, glimmering greyish-pale in the moonlight, and her face is drawn with exhaustion and an anxiety that Eula doubts she would let anyone else see.

"As the Acting Grand Master, all operations of the Knights are my responsibility," she says quietly. "And any that I involve myself in personally are even more so. I *must* perform to the best of my abilities, at all times. And if my best isn't sufficient, then my only choice is to improve. You understand."

She looks at Eula, wide-eyed in silent plea. Eula can hear what Jean doesn't say aloud, beneath the talk of being Acting Grand Master. No one would expect even a Grand Master to be always perfect, to be always ready, to never fail--but that *is* the burden of an aristocrat. A Lawrence must drive herself onward to perfect her dance even when her feet bleed; a Gunnhildr must drive herself onward to perfect her swordplay even when her breath goes unsteady and her face pale. Their upbringing allows them both no less.

Her chest aches. A name is a heavy burden, and one that neither of them can set down. It's far more painful to see how Jean stumbles under the weight of hers, though, unchosen duty as it is, than it is to feel the weight of her own on her shoulders when she knows she could at any point set it down and wash her hands of her unredeemed kin.

"I understand," Eula tells her. She reaches for the hilt of her blade and pulls it free. "But I won't accept the insult of refusing to spar. You *will* accept my challenge."

"Eula, I must-" Jean begins to protest, then pauses, giving her a faint, weary smile. "Of course I will. What are the terms?"

"If you dare to defeat me, I'll train with you for an hour in the greatsword, so that you can try such a sweep with a weapon suited to it. But when I defeat you-" a veritable certainty, with the state Jean is already in "-you will permit me to escort you to your rooms, where I will see you to bed with whatever potions the Deaconess and our Librarian have left you."

"That isn't necessary."

"Of course it is. How am I meant to fulfill my vengeance upon the Knights if the Acting Grand Master is ill from exhaustion? There's no triumph in defeating my ancient enemy if she refuses to meet me at her best."

"...Very well," Jean says, but the smile lingering on her face belies her sigh. "I will accept your terms."

Jean takes a ready stance, and Eula falls into her own. They both bow, and then, as they straighten, Eula rushes in to make her first attack. Jean's eyes go wide, and she falls back, startled; she's tired indeed not to have caught the signs that Eula meant to go immediately on the offense. This isn't a terrible position for her, as she fights far better on the defense than Eula does. But Eula can see the holes in her guard by the second parry.

She telegraphs her third attack as normal just to be certain that those holes aren't a feint, and sees Jean's arms shaking far more than the effort of turning her blade aside requires. Then she spins about on her toes, comes in low, and sees Jean react sluggishly, stumbling back, gripping her sword far too tightly when she raises it to parry the follow-up. It flies from her hand when Eula puts the full force of her motion behind the strike.

Eula pulls the blow before it can carry on into Jean's flesh, spinning away and letting the weight of it drive her through a complete spin before the point comes to rest on the stone between them. She looks at Jean, grey-faced now and panting from even that small exertion, her sword not yet recovered.

"I think we can call that my victory," she declares, sheathing her blade, and then rushes forward to catch Jean with a hand on her arm as Jean tries to bend to retrieve her sword and wobbles alarmingly. "Which means that *you* must pay the forfeit we agreed."

"I did agree," Jean says, straightening slowly and sheathing her blade with trembling fingers.

She sounds rueful, but Eula feels her shoulders sag with secret relief. Eula shifts her grip to take a bit more of her weight.

"As I still find myself more awake in the evenings," Eula tells her, as she begins to conduct Jean into the building and up the stairs towards the officers' apartments, "I will be training tomorrow evening after moonrise. If you join me then, I'll condescend to give you a rematch. On the same terms. If you've recovered enough to defeat me, you'll have my help in training."

"Thank you, Eula," Jean says. Her smile is still weary, but the gratitude in it is, as always, sincere, and so is the quiet warmth that warms Eula's breast in turn. "I look forward to it."

Eula shifts her grip again, an arm around Jean's shoulders as they step into Jean's rooms. "*If* you've recovered enough to defeat me. I'll have to see you all the way into bed to ensure that you're well-rested enough to give me a satisfying fight."

This time, Jean doesn't tell her that isn't necessary. She only leans into Eula's arm. "Of course. I wouldn't want to disappoint."

"No, you wouldn't." Eula doesn't bother to tell her that she never does. False reassurances won't satisfy either of them. Only meeting their own standards will, and upholding the honor of their names. Jean respects her drive to do so; the least she can do is respect Jean's in turn.

And if she steals the chance to support Jean in that, now and then, well, it's only fair payback for all the times that Jean has done the same for her. Eula looks down at Jean's tired smile, soft and fond around the edges, and doesn't try to hide the smile arising in return.

[tritoch]

reading lore for something else and was reminded of the facts that:

bozjan seers who had the echo used its power to alter people's memories as a form of therapy using crystal foci

employing their technique and one such focus is how you enter cid's memories to view the gunnhildr's blade relics

using the focus with the warrior of light's echo enables someone else with the echo to see your echo vision

also the storyline implies you can possibly intentionally trigger your echo when using the focus

ancient bozjans used crystals extensively for archiving memories for many purposes, including passing down martial techniques (which are the fragments you use to acquire bozja-specific actions like seraph strike or flare star)

most of the relic storyline involves finding other memory crystals (which appear to implicitly draw into themselves the memories of those who die near them, or are manifested on death) or revisiting memories of your past exploits and placing them into these crystals, and gerolt then using their aether (which we know is a major component of memory) to reinforce the relic

later stages involve you drawing out raw emotion into crystals using a similar process. these crystals are said to be very different, contain raw emotion or something akin to the power of prayer, and are either again created by you in pitched battle or are said to manifest from the strong emotions of warriors in conflict in zadnor. these crystals also require a different process and reagent to properly bind the emotion to the weapon.

knowing what we know now, those crystals are definitely full of dynamis and that whole part of the relic chain can be interpreted as gerolt working out a way to infuse dynamis into a weapon.

also the weapon save the queen itself (which i still want a replica of for glam) can hold the most aether and dynamis to empower it because it's made from auracite, much like the heart of sabik

also this is unrelated to anything but mikoto namedrops moenbryda which always floors me. i love that she knows all the archon scions (she's literally a student of baldesion) and they've never once mentioned her. she's so "theoretically lore-important character only appearing in this anime movie and never in the series"-coded.

this is all perfectly straightforward in the relic quests but i have to be honest i don't pay attention when mikoto or gerolt are talking and the way bozja was delivered didn't really work for me. writing it all out in plain text like this makes the lore feel absolutely wild

[endlessskymaster]

Official Jeanlisa art from 4.5 Genshin Impact lifestream.

[dragaliareferencearchive]

Blades Weaving Betwixt Brocade - Genshin Impact (1/2)

[mor-and-more]

I am so NORMAL about gunbreaker lore

That I can't reblog the "the funniest thing is the FFXIV etymology of GUN" post

Because I start frothing at the mouth at the fucken part in the chain where the person "explained" that the Garleans invented gun

WRONG

I can forgive Gunnhildr misspelling but not forgetting that anything bad or good probably can be traced to Allagans

Radovan was VERY clear about the history of gunbreaker ffs

He loves telling the stories about his order!!

And so it was Gunnhildr's Blades the Queen's bodyguards>their weapons are called "gunblades"

Allagans are allaganing and inventing a projectile weapon that looks similar to gunblades. But those are not blades, so they are just GUNS

It was fucken eras ago

Garleans just picked shit up where the Allagans dropped it. As is their habit

...and yes the bodyguards developed a strategy to cut through the lines straight to those guns and destroy them to limit the death toll - thus getting named "gunbreakers"

I'm so normal about it

[terendelev]

Calian Thorne... Warrior of Light, Azure Dragoon, Gunnhildr's Blade and Eorzea’s Errand Boy (x)

[deathbxnny]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING MY REQUEST and again can I request hrs ( again ) x gn or male genshin impact reader the reader is the leader of Gunnhildr clan and older sibling of jean and barbara and being leader of the clan they have to be a perfect leader so there clan sadly puch him on his limit and he does not have a good child hood because there parents divorce and his not close to his siblings because they never talk to them that much and in the past before his relationship with hrs men he have a past relationship and it didn't end well his s/o in the past got killed by assassin and his afraid to reveal his relationship because he think if they found out they will send assassin again and kill the hsr

And pls take care of yourself drink, and eat

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A/N: Hello! I was a little confused on what exactly I was supposed to write about here, but I tried to piece something together for you. You also didn't really specify which characters you wanted, so I just chose two for this! Thank you for the request!<33

Featured characters: Jing yuan, Blade

Content: Established relationship, angst, fluff, mentions of assassinations, talks of estranged siblings, talks of divorce, sfw

Reader has no set pronouns!

((Not fully proofread))

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》Jing Yuan

Jing Yuan was impressed by your rank as a clan reader and even more so, after he heard of the many sacrifices you had to make. He knows how hard it must've been for you growing up with the divorce of your parents and also the fact, that you don't talk to your sisters anymore due to your circumstances, which is why he reassures and comforts you alot.

He'll try helping you out with your duties and perhaps even rekindle your relationship with your sisters, if that's what you want. He'll never push you to anything however and is very patient with you. Whatever you want, he'll do.

You don't have to worry about Jing Yuan getting assassinated either, considering who and how powerful he is. If anything, the assassins are the one's who should be worried.

-----♡

》Blade

He never admits it, but he finds you quite admirable for the hard and endless work you put into your clan. He may not really care for it, but he can still appreciate the sacrifices you've made. With that said, he doesn't want you to dwell on the past much and often tells you to just move forward and to never look back either. It's not worth it, when you have so much on your hands as is.

He won't push you to rekindle the relationship with your siblings and generally will just not ever bring up your past. He thinks it's best to just forget it and move on. He's not good at comforting either, but if you need someone to depend on, then he'll be there for you, even if he won't ever verbally tell you so.

You don't have to be worried about him getting assassinated either, as he is not only immortal, but won't hesitate to put someone 6 feet under, if they dare to cross him. And surely no one has that much of a death wish.

-----♡

A/N: Alright! I hope that was okay! Thank you again for the request!<33