#hydro pools near me

[benefits-of-hydrotherapy]

The Healing Power of Hydrotherapy: Enhancing Physical Wellness

If you've been searching for a natural way to enhance your health and wellbeing, hydrotherapy can help with aches, pains, and other common maladies. Warm water has been used for generations as a treatment for a wide range of physical and mental ailments. More importantly, how can it be of use to you?

The Physical Wellness Benefits of Hydrotherapy

Relieving Muscle Tension and Promoting Relaxation: Hydrotherapy pool, through the use of warm water immersion, can help relieve muscle tension and induce relaxation. The warmth of the water relaxes the muscles, increases blood flow, and improves oxygenation, leading to reduced muscle soreness and stiffness. Whether it's a relaxing soak in a hot tub or a soothing hydrotherapy session, the water's buoyancy and heat can work wonders for your physical well-being.

Boosting Circulation and Easing Pain:

Improved circulation is another significant benefit of hydrotherapy. The warm water causes blood vessels to dilate, enhancing blood flow throughout the body. This increased circulation helps deliver vital nutrients and oxygen to the muscles and organs, promoting healing and reducing pain. Hydrotherapy has been shown to alleviate chronic pain conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, and lower back pain.

Enhancing Joint Mobility and Flexibility:

Hydrotherapy offers a low-impact environment for exercise, making it an ideal option for individuals with joint conditions or limited mobility. The water's buoyancy reduces the effects of gravity on the body, allowing for easier movement and less strain on the joints. Hydrotherapy exercises, such as water aerobics or gentle stretches, can help improve joint mobility, flexibility, and range of motion.

Stress Reduction and Improved Sleep:

The soothing nature of hydrotherapy can have a profound impact on mental and emotional well-being. Immersing yourself in warm water stimulates the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good hormones, which helps alleviate stress and promote relaxation. Regular hydrotherapy sessions can contribute to improved sleep quality, reduced anxiety, and an overall sense of well-being.

Accelerating Recovery from Injuries:

Hydrotherapy is widely recognized for its effectiveness in accelerating recovery from injuries. The combination of warm water, buoyancy, and hydrostatic pressure helps reduce swelling, improve blood circulation, and support the healing process. Whether you're recovering from a sports injury, surgery, or a sprain, hydrotherapy can aid in rehabilitation, helping you regain strength and mobility faster.

What advantages does hydrotherapy offer?

The warm pool water promotes better blood flow to the muscles, which in turn helps them relax and reduce pain and stiffness.

The water's pressure may have anti-inflammatory effects.

Due to the water resistance, the workout helps enhance strength and muscle mass.

Because endorphins are released, it can help with mental health.

Conclusion:

Hydrotherapy offers a multitude of benefits for physical wellness, ranging from muscle relaxation and pain relief to improved circulation and joint mobility. Whether you choose to unwind in a hot tub, participate in water aerobics, or explore other hydrotherapy techniques, incorporating this practice into your routine can positively impact your overall physical well-being. Stay tuned for our next blog, where we will delve deeper into the specific hydrotherapy techniques and exercises you can try to reap these incredible benefits.

Disclaimer: It's essential to consult with a healthcare professional before beginning any new wellness regimen, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions or are pregnant.

For more information about our Hydrotherapy Pool and the Benefits of Hydrotherapy, please contact Greenfield Physiotherapy. What are you waiting for? Call us now at 02 9610 1497 to discuss our hydrotherapy treatment plan.

Source:

[yandere-heaven-nyxie]

SAGAU Imposter AU! But Reader Gets More and More Followers As They Saw How Sentient Teyvat Is To You

_________

Everything about you is different from any other being, it may not be seen at first glance but if they stare hard enough they can see how sentient Teyvat become whenever you're around it.

How the grass and flowers grows beneath your feet, each of the flowers that grown happily nears you, the sun becomes more gentle with it's everglowing ember surface, the tree shading you and the wind was singing dancing happily just from seeing you.

They knew and recognised you as their One and Only Creator's Beloved Descendants. Their Original Creator may have died a long time ago but their descendants never truly perished just like that because if they do, Teyvat would crumble in grieve and chaos.

The Imposter that claimed to be the Creator was sitting on the golden throne, with some favoured acolytes by their sides. You stood your ground because you knew you're never truly alone, Teyvat is with you. It can feel your emotions, your sadness can cause rain to poor non stop, your anger will make the skies darken and lighting strikes at anyone who dares defies you and your happiness can make the world all more brighter and much colourful than it is from before.

You went into hiding in Sumeru rainforest, that is where Teyvat can connect with you the more easily. The Aranaras surrounds your body, healing you desperately. The golden wounds on your body starts to close up, only leaving golden scars. You were woken up with a soft lullabies from the small forest creatures, "The Golden World has awaken!" it yells but not enough to make you quiver in fear. They are the creature of forest, you knew because of how close you felt to them.

"Hello little one." You smiled softly at it, holding it into your arms and petting it. "Have you found and saved me?' It nodded eagerly. As more Aranara approach you, it introduces itself "This Aranara name's is Arakunti." you giggled at how adorable it is "Hello Arakunti~"

________________

There were two Rishboland Tigers that you had decided to keep, One was named Lieu and the other was Daru.

They were so cute and Teyvat brought them to you since they knew how you liked felines, regardless if it's big or small. Since they were truly favored by you, they were blessed to ascend as a divine familiar companians for you.

You danced alongside of blue hydro fungis, there were a lot of creatures from the forest surrounding you. Surprisingly the Aranara didn't fight with the Fungis since how calm and happy they are to be with you too. Your hair was decorated with all kinds of flowers.

Nilou who was venturing in the wild for inspiration to gain the favour of her so called "Majesty" was stopped at the sight of you, you danced and sing.. So angelically.

She admires how the viparyas and sumeru roses was braided into your hair, you look just like how she would depict the Goddess of Flowers. The damp root of the rainforest tree broke under her weight, making her slip from her footing and fall out of hiding. This alerted the creatures of the forest, it immediately went into defensive mode and surrounds you protectively.

Nilou was both impressed and scared, Lieu and Daru glowered their eyes making the red haired girl quiver under their fierce hungry gaze.

"Nilou?" Your voice stuttered out..

How? How did an imposter like you, know her name when her own Creator couldn't? She sees how the soft gaze of concern filled your eyes, warmth filled her body. A feeling that feels like she was covered in a warm blanket, safely tucked in like a baby about to put to sleep. It clicked immediately in her working brain,

You are her Creator

Tears began pooling in her eyes, had it finally hit her. For how much you were hunted, tortured and almost killed. When you disappeared so suddenly, the people of Teyvat thought of how you were dead. They even cheered for your death...

"Your Majesty, it's you.." her voice broke, you hesitantly get closer to her. Hugging her being as she cries in the embrace, it hurted her so much at the fact that you were scarred. She cries in grievance and devastation, for how long has she worshipped a false copy of you when the real one was simply mistaken as it.

"Little one, why are you crying?" You voiced your genuine concerned curiousity.

________________________

Cyno, The General Mahamatra. Was at first suspicious of Nilou, why she seems distant and slowly stops trying to gain the favour of their Creator. He noticed the look she gave eventhough it was brief he still noticed it, it was pure anger and loathing. Even he was surprised at the fact that she was capable of such emotions.

Why would she have such gaze, even if he doesn't worship the Creator crazily like other acolytes but he still respect them atleast a bit. He met up with Tighnari, telling the fennec fox about Nilou. How he has a feeling she is doing something behind their back, Tighnari was thoughtful and listens to the general. They agreed to spy secretly on Nilou, recording her movement on where she was going.

Tighnari was surprised when he saw her going deeper into the rainforest, so deep that he was afraid that she might already get bitten off by any of the forest creatures. Cyno and Tighnari looked at eachother and nod, silently following the redheaded woman. Before they could even knew, Many Rishboland Tigers and large fungis surrounding them. They were cornered, at first thinking that it was best to fight them off but now it looks like it's impossible.

Cuts and bruises were everywhere on them, Nilou wasn't there but they were still concerned for the girl. "Your Majesty!" Nilou's voice was concerned but who is she calling your majesty? The animals finally stops attacking them, they were weak and tired.

That's when they finally saw you, stepping in front of the creatures. "Why have you come here?" Your eyes were cautious but it looked like you alraady knew them for a long time. "You. Aren't you the so called imposter?!" Cyno pointed out.

"Watch your mouth, Cyno! You should already know who is the real one already!" Nilou yelled at him, extending her arm in front of you. Eventhough she can't compete with the General Mahamatra, that doesn't mean she won't protect you until she dies.

'What—' he looks around, seeing how the creatures gather around you. none of them was mind controlled, Tighnari can also confirmed that. Their eyes widens at you,

Were they so blind? How long have they been fooled? Who is sitting on that throne, no they never saw Teyvat obey their commands at any point either. They saw how Teyvat goes Against what the one on the throne wanted it to be. Yet they chose to be blind.

This is how sentient Teyvat is to their Creator, Loyal and Unwavering Teyvat.

-Part 1-

(*End*)

[gejo333]

An Unexpected Match V

DILF/DBF Miguel O’Hara x Female Reader

Pt. 1 Pt.6

Summary: After much convincing from both O’Hara’s you finally agree to move in as you start to be apart of their everyday life.

18+ Warning

I am truly sorry for such a delay in updates. College and work has been taking up all my time. But I'm happy to finally get another chapter out! This one shot/ story book is no where near ending! Just wanted to put that out there if anyone was thinking I stop writing.

I apologize for any grammatical mistakes I missed.

Enjoy💕

Wc: 2.2k

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It has been three months now since you've began your relationship with Miguel and two months since he asked you to move in with him and Gabi. 

You breath out a tired sigh as you wipe the drops of sweat from your face. The punching bag swinging from the interaction with your fists.

"Mig, how do you train for hours like this everyday?" You stop, resting your hands above your head to breath better. Miguel came from behind the punching bag with a smile as he wrapped an arm around your waist, pulling you into his sweaty bare chest.

"It took a long time to get to this level of training. Now it's just part of my daily routine. Even better today that you decided to join me. It's so hard for me not want to ravish you against the bench press." Miguel gently lifted your chin as he placed a loving kiss to your lips.

"I'll definitely let you maintain your routine. I'll just stick to my basic treadmill and weights. But I’m glad to be your gym buddy every once in a while." You return the kiss, tasting the salt of sweat on his lips. Stepping away briefly you grab your water bottle and took a swing of water. Of course the large hydro flask made water spill down your neck to your chest. Bad mistake.

Lust clouded the brownish red hues of Miguel as he swiftly picked you up and laid you on the matted floor.

"M-Miguel?" Lifting your legs over his shoulders he ripped your workout leggings wide enough to see your gorgeous lips and inner thighs.

"H-hey! I liked those."

"Naughty girl, wearing no underwear. What am I going to do with you mhm?" Miguel grabbed your hips as he lowered his face between your thighs as his tongue licked up your folds to your clit.

"I-I'm doing laundry. All of m-my thongs are in, fuck that feels good, in the wash. And my other underwear makes a panty-line." Your fingers intertwine in his dark curls as you gently thrust your hips up. Thankfully your were at Miguel's home gym and not somewhere in public, cause you knew that wouldn't stop him from ravaging you.

"Amor, you taste heavenly as always. Maybe even more sweet after working out." Miguel lifted your hips closer to his mouth as he continued to tongue fuck you. You tug at his hair more which made him hum in approval against you letting a moan escape from your lips. You cover your mouth with your other hand to stifle your moans afraid to wake up Gabi.

The hand over your mouth was snatched and pinned to your side as Miguel lightly glared up at you. "Don't cover up your voice. I want to hear you."

"B-but Gabi."

"It's 6am she's still asleep."

You laid there in a pool of sweat, overstimulated after your third orgasm. You knew Miguel loved eating you out but the overstimulation was becoming too much.

"Miggy n-no more. Please." You tried to gently push his head away from your throbbing clit, but was proven unsuccessful as you heard Miguel growl from your slight protests. The alarm on Miguel's phone went off which made him groan as he finished you off before sitting up and turning off the alarm.

"It's 7 already." Miguel groaned in frustration as he licked his lips, savoring the taste of you. You sat up, leaning on your elbows as you try to calm your breathing as you lightly glare at your boyfriend.

"You know, you have a serious addiction." You huff with a pout. Miguel smirked as he hovered over you, placing a soft kiss to your lips letting you get a quick taste of yourself.

"You know you love it. So stop whining." He chuckled as he kissed you one more time before getting up and helping you up. You roll your eyes playfully as you lean up to kiss his cheek before walking to his Master bathroom and turning on the shower. Of course right behind you was Miguel as he undressed and joined you in the shower.

You tilt your head back as you let the water hit your face, clearing away the sweat. "Your making my wallet cry for how many clothes I've had to replace from your perverted self."

"Hermosa, I will gladly take you shopping for more clothes so that you won't have to worry about becoming broke. If you moved in with me that will definitely help your bank account." Miguel brushed some of your wet hair behind your ear as he placed kisses along your neck.

"If you didn't rip my clothes to shreds then I wouldn't have to worry about buying more clothes. And you know why I won't move in with you. It's too soon. Gabi was told only a month ago that we're dating. And I know she has been beyond thrilled about it. I just want her to adjust and having me move in seems too sudden."

A small pout rested on Miguel's lips from your answer to moving in. You hate to see when he was sad, especially because of you. Aching heart, you gently cup his cheek, a small gesture of affection. Miguel placed his hand over yours as he leaned into your touch.

"How about I ask her when I take her to school this morning?" Miguel offered.

"How about you ask her when you drive her home from practice. I don't want it to affect her day at school or soccer practice." Miguel sighed as his pout was replaced with a smile, happy that you took in his consideration to move in. He loved how much you cared for his daughter. He loved you.

"Alright. Sounds like a plan. But I think you and I both know her answer. I'm more curious to know what yours is. You can tell me if you don't want to move in with me. I'll understand."

You took a deep breath before looking back up at his eyes, wanting to know how you felt.

"I do want to move in with you. I'm just a little scared that by us rushing things that we'll make a mistake and- I just. My heart wouldn't be able to take the heartbreak."

Miguel’s heart ached by your words. He wrapped his arms around you in a loving embrace as he placed a kiss on the top of your head, resting it gently on top of yours, gently breathing in your floral scent from your shampoo.

“You’ll never feel heartbreak when your with me. I’ll always love you, y/n.”

His words made your heart skip a beat. You rested your head against his chest as you hear his heart beat. Even though it was the early morning his heart beat was soothing you like a beautiful melody, just for you.

After finish washing up you both got dressed and went downstairs to the kitchen. You made coffee and packed Gabi her lunch and snack in her bag while Miguel made breakfast.

“Bell peppers amor?” Miguel asked as he cracked an egg into the pan.

“Yes please.”

You heard little footsteps pattering down the stairs, in rushed the adorable little O’Hara still in her pjs and carrying her stuffed bunny.

“Y/n!” Gabi squealed in joy and excitement to see you as she ran over and barreled in your arms. Always prepared for her adorable hug attacks you easily picked her up in your arms and gave her a hug in return.

“Hey there my baby bug. How did you sleep?”

“I had a nightmare. But papa stayed with me and read me a story until I fell asleep. And then Mr. Bunny was also there to shoo away the rest of my nightmares and keep me safe.” Gabi said as she showed you her bunny before holding the stuffed animal against her.

“I’m sorry you had a bad dream, sweetie. But I’m glad Papa and Mr. Bunny was able to help.” You brushed some of the hair behind her ear as you sat her down on one of the kitchen chairs.

“Here you go princesa. Your favorite.” Miguel smiled as he placed a plate with a plain omelette in front of his daughter.

“Thank you papa!”

Miguel placed a plate in front of you before placing a light kiss on your cheek making you blush lightly. “Thank you.”

“Y/n?” Asked Gabi after taking a bite from her omelette.

“Yes Gabi?”

“I wish you were here all the time. Oh! I know! Live with me and papa! Then you’ll be here all the time! And we can have movie nights every night!”

Your eyes slightly widen, surprised and curious by the coincidence of the little O’Hara’s question that her father had once again asked earlier this morning. You glance over to Miguel with a small smile as he shrugged his shoulders, secretly saying that he had no idea.

“So you would be perfectly happy with me moving in?” You asked her to double check if she meant her words. She was a five year old after all.

“Yes! I would be so happy! Please move in with us! Please!”

Your smile widened from her happy expression as you looked to Miguel. “Well, I don’t see a problem with it. Along as your Papa is alright with it.” You asked even though you obviously knew his response.

“I think it’s a great idea.” Miguel wrapped his arm around your waist and brought you closer to his side placing another kiss to your cheek.

“Oh! And then you can get married and become my mama! And I can then have brothers and sisters!” Gabi’s words made Miguel almost spit out his coffee as both of your faces went red.

“Um princesa let’s just stick with having y/n move in first.“

“Okie dokie!” Gabi smiled as she went back to finishing her omelet.

After everyone finished their breakfast and got ready to head out to the garage where his Aston Martin was parked.

“I’ll drop you off at campus after dropping Gabriella off.”

“Are you sure?” You ask as you help buckle Gabi into her car seat.

“Of course, cariño. It’s on my way to work. Plus, we can spend more time together.” Miguel said as he got into the driver’s side with you joining on the passenger side.

After a short 15 minute drive and listening to a disney soundtrack the whole way, you arrived to Gabi’s elementary school. You got out of the car as Gabi said goodbye to Miguel before you helped her out of the car and walked her to her teacher and her classmates in the school yard.

“Bye y/n!” Gabi gave you a hug before running to her friends.

“Bye sweetheart. Have a fun day at school!”

You walk back to the car and get in as Miguel begins to drive towards your campus. Now that Gabi was at school Miguel placed his hand on your clothed jean thigh as he drove using his other hand.

“So do you want to plan to get your stuff from Stephanies? Do u need help with packing or moving anything?” Miguel asked as he briefly glance over to you before looking ahead at the road.

“Well since I temporarily moved to her place quickly and short notice I don’t have too much to pack. Everything that was mine at my old apartment is back at my parents house. But I’m not going to deal with that until a later date.” You looked out the window as you spoke. But you turned your head towards his direction when you felt him gently squeeze your thigh.

“ I know it’s none of my business. But your parents do miss you a lot and I think regret their actions with Tyler. And they wonder where you are sometimes. Of course they don’t know about us. And we can talk more about that when you think it’s the best time.”

You place your hand over the one resting on your thigh as you hold his hand and lovingly squeeze it. “Maybe give me a few days to think about it. I know it’s been a bit of time but it still hurts how they reacted that day. But I know ignoring them as punishment can’t last forever.”

“Alright, mi amor. We’ll talk about it when your ready.”

It took another 20-30 minutes to get to Nueva York University main campus. Miguel pulled his car to the side where he stopped and temporarily put the car in park.

“Have a good day. I’ll pick you up at 5?”

“Sure. See you then. Have a good day at work Miggy.”

Miguel leans over and places a loving kiss on your lips. You happily returned the kiss before waving goodbye and departing for your first class.

Unnoticed by both you and Miguel was a third party watching the two of you from across the block.

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Also thank you so much for 500 followers! I know I haven’t been as active as we all would have liked. But I will try super hard to write more. But thank you everyone! I’m so happy to be able to share my work with y’all!

💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

[waffle-spam]

Heyy is me again(≡^∇^≡)

Can you do anemo boys x Moana reader Please❤❤

Also again it's ok if you don't do it(❁´◡`❁)

I also love you writing!!

Hiii thanks for the ask! I'm still only really familiar with writing Xiao so I can't promise much for the others lol. I'm going to try to put something down for each character though

Scenario: Venti, Xiao, and Kazuha with Moana!Reader (Maybe someday I'll revisit this with Heizou and Wanderer as well)

Contents: a LOT of exposition (I tried to come up with a backstory explaining how Reader got this ability), gender not specified, fluff

---

Ok so first of all, this is different from having a hydro vision. You can't just summon/weaponize water at will. It's more like the water is its own entity and you're able to communicate with it?

Let's say that it's an oceanid thing. You don't remember very clearly because it was such a long time ago, but you first "befriended" the water when you were very little. You were playing on the beach and you wandered into a cave. You were exploring when you noticed a faint blue light. Not only is the cavern cast in a soft cerulean light, but it reflects off the small pools in the cave, reflecting patterns onto the cave walls. You followed the light until you found the source: a floating, glowing little fairy-like creature with a singular glowing eye, fin-like arms and a fish tail. It seemed to be made of water, it's colors rippling and shifting like the pools in the cave. You didn't understand it but it seemed... lost. You gesture for it to follow you and it seems to understand, letting you guide it back outside. You notice it didn't like to stray too far from the water. You lead it back to the beach where you were having a picnic with your parents to try to offer it some food. It didn't seem interested, only floating around the sandwiches and bulle fruits curiously. You hear a sound from the shore and you look over to see something rising out of the water. It resembled your small floating friend, only much bigger, towering over you. The smaller one instantly flies over to its larger counterpart -- you wonder if it's its mama -- and you watch as the smaller one zips around, practically dancing, as if excitedly retelling its adventure. The larger one observed silently, as if listening, before looking over to you. After a few moments it pivots away, returning back into the seawater. The smaller creature looks at you and does a little flip in the air before diving underwater alongside its companion.

(Basically you helped a baby oceanid return home and its caretaker put a blessing on you so that other water spirits know that you're friendly. Since there are other bodies of water in Teyvat besides just the ocean, I'm writing it so that the local water spirits wherever you go are the ones bending the water to your favor.)

Ok now for the actual character stuff

Venti:

I'm gonna be real with y'all idk what interactions would happen with Venti BUT I HAVE ANOTHER IDEA

Wisp Venti

Like in his little wind spirit form

Basically you're collecting elemental spirit friendships like they're pokemon

Xiao:

The Yaksha was in Dihua Marsh, littered with cuts and gashes from fighting off a particularly aggressive group of hilichurls

Due to expending so much energy, his karmic debt is acting up as well

Between the splashing sounds of his stumbling footsteps, he can hear vengeful echoes of fallen opponents, the ghosts of comrades and victims alike, a familiar cold presence taking eating away at his body, sapping away more and more of his strength

Before he collapses into the cold, blood-tainted water, he's lands in a certain sometimes arms

"I've told you to stop coming out to look for me." Xiao mutters gruffly, grumbling about his karmic debt and how you keep risking exposure to it, though he doesn't resist when you scoop up his weakened form.

You both noticed some time ago that you have some sort of resistance to his corruption whenever you're near a body of water, as if it's siphoning some of its strength to you. Eventually Xiao gave up trying to avoid you altogether, though every once in a while he re-voices his concern of his presence being dangerous to you and you have to reassure him that you're fine.

"The marsh wouldn't stop nagging me to get over here." You retort, remembering how the current at some point picked you up and carried you here faster than you could've run.

"The hydro spirits get grumpy when you start bleeding out into their waters, you know," You tease softly, opening up the medical kit that the water had carried over to you and was currently holding up for you to quickly find what you need.

You press the gauze against a wound in his arm before securing it in place with a bandage. As you work, you fill the silence with stories of the water spirits and their antics today, the marsh water occasionally rippling and shaping itself to illustrate what you were saying.

The entire time, Xiao is watching your hands -- not the water -- without speaking a word.

He swears he can feel his corruption fading in your presence... or maybe it was because of the water? If the water favored you and you were helping him, did the water favor him by extension?

Kazuha:

This scenario would probably be the closest to the original Moana since it involves ships in the sea

Wait you're basically like the hydro version of Kazuha. Not the anemo/hydro vision part but the way the wind is always telling Kazuha stuff

Like I can picture as you're sailing on the Alcor, Kazuha tells you what he can sense in the wind and you tell him what you can sense in the water. The different birds/fishes and what they're doing, the breezes/currents, etc

---

You can tell who the favorite is :headinhands:

[vvvrrroooomm]

An Undeserved Punishment - Chapter one

( This chapter contains...

Aether

Paimon

Furina ; mentioned

Xavier ; mentioned

Morris ; mentioned

Veronique ; mentioed

Blood and injury

Drugging

Assault

Violence

Kidnapping

Kinda bad action sequence )

Read the other chapters on ao3 here!

Fontaine might just be the prettiest nation Aether has ever seen. Waterfalls create pools of waves and mist. The crystal clear water expanding around the entirety of the main town, before breaking off against lush, green grass and roving hills.

On top of being the most photogenic, it’s the strictest. Which does make sense. Focalors was the archon of hydro and justice after all.

Clockwork Meka are posted on every corner, watching for anything from petty theft to assault. It’s a little nerve wracking knowing he’s being watched every second of every day, even though he knows full well he hasn’t done anything to warrant a confrontation from the Meka.

He’s been quite sociable, already having made a lot of connections that have since sprouted into close friendships throughout his travels. It’s funny, considering before Teyvat he wasn’t the biggest talker other than when he was with his sister. Nonetheless, he loves the friends he’s made and doesn’t know what he’d do without them.

He’s currently enjoying the last moments of the Fontalia film festival. He’s ready to clock in for the night, as the day grows older and the beautiful sky darkens into a pretty midnight blue.

The festival was delightful, and he never expected the film he had worked on to win, but it was a pleasant surprise. Furina and Xavier deserved it after all their efforts.

He and Paimon wish their goodbyes to the few people still enjoying the later hours of the festival and start their walk to the hotel.

Aether takes his time on the walk back, enjoying the comforting atmosphere that came with the festival. Aether has been quite stressed as of late, and it was nice to relax for once. He takes in a deep breath of cold night air, slightly tinged with the smell of sea water.

“This was well deserved! After all this hard work we’ve been doing, some relaxation was well overdue!” Paimon says, floating next to Aether.

“I wouldn’t say it was all relaxation, though.” Aether says, “Let’s not forget Morris and Veronique.”

“It was relaxing enough! Aside from that part near the end, Paimon had a great time!”

“I had a pretty good time, too.” Aether nods at Paimon, before bringing his eyes up to gaze at the sky.

Hundreds of thousands of stars dance in the night sky, illuminating the eye catching city, only adding to its beauty. Aether remembers when he was once a part of that world, but alas, that was a part of his life that he may never return to.

He continues to wander down the street with Paimon, towards the hotel they’ve decided to stay at.

While he knew the Serenita Teapot was much bigger and much nicer to stay in, Paimon said it would be a hassle to carry around while filming. So the hotel room is basically a giant storage closet for the Serenita Teapot. Not a place for rest.

Aether walks down the winding street, letting Paimon ramble about the latest diner that recently opened nearby, as he makes a left turn onto the next street.

“Aether you dummy! This is the wrong street!” Paimon shouts in his ear, still following behind him.

“No, this is a shortcut Navia showed me. You want to go to sleep early, right?” Aether chuckles.

“Hmph! Paimon still thinks it’s creepy!” The pixie says defiantly, gesturing her hand to the dimly lit street they’re walking down, “And that dumpster smells disgusting!”

“Well, people are clearly using this street to throw away their garbage. Besides, do you really think I’d let someone hurt you?” Aether teases, “I’m quite capable you know, a couple of scoundrels are nothing to me.”

Unfortunately, as Aether soon realized, he could not, in fact, handle a couple of scoundrels. At least not tonight, of all nights.

A shadow then looms over the two, and just as suddenly, a punch was thrown at the white-haired pixie from behind, knocking her across the alleyway.

“Paimon!” Aether shouts, before someone punches him square in the jaw. His sword materializes in his hands, which is quickly tugged away by a second person. “Hey!”

He turns to the shadowed figure that’s taken his sword and after struggling for a moment, Aether fiercely kicks the attacker in the stomach. Sending his sword clattering on the concrete from his attacker's hand as they stumble back from the attack.

As he quickly goes to reach for it, there’s a sharp pain in his thigh.

“Ack!” He yells as the pain shoots up his spine, rattling his bones as the adrenaline courses through his body, as an odd substance fills his blood stream.

Aether turns to punch his second attacker in the nose, as his vision quickly starts to blur, the mysterious attacker narrowly avoids his sloppy punch as Aether begins to stumble and sway. They then grab the back of Aethers head with one hand, the other holding an empty syringe, and shove the side of the traveler's head into the nearby brick wall. 

A sharp pain pierces his pounding head as a new fog fills his disoriented mind. His ears were ringing as the figures before him turned into colorful blobs. Hot blood ran down the crown of his head, staining the cold concrete beneath him.

“Sweet dreams, kid.” The attacker who had taken his sword snickers, waving his sword around like a trophy. 

His eyes slowly start to become more and more heavy, before finally the fog in his mind takes over and everything fades to black around him.

——————————————————————

The first thing Aether can sense when he wakes up is the cold, hard ground beneath him. His brain is in a haze of disorientation and he can’t bring himself to put a coherent thought together. He tries to call out, but ends up with a messy jumble of words, instead. When he finally opens his eyes, regret filled his mind as the world seems to spin around him like a carousel. 

He has to fight to keep his eyes open, but eventually a wave of dizziness crashes into him like thunder, as sleep takes him once more.

Fuck.

——————————————————————

Once more, consciousness comes back to Aether. And actually decides to stay this time.

He’s chained to an old, rusted chair in a room so dark that he can barely make anything out at first. Eventually, however, his eyes do adjust to the unsettling darkness.

The back of his head throbs, with each passing second, as the clinking of boots against the tiled floor gradually gets louder and louder.

“Well, well, well. Look who’s finally decided to join us.” A tall man with a scraggly beard and short, unkempt hair says, slowly walking into the room.

“There is much to discuss with someone of such high caliber as you, dear traveler.” The man pulls something out of his pocket that glints in the dark, “So, where should we start?” He darkly chuckles, before Aether hears the light sound of a click.

The man unsheathed a pocket knife with an all too happy smile.

Double fuck.

[katblu42]

For that question ask- Lake or Beach?

Oooh, interesting question. Thanks for asking!

Either - for the calming effect of being near a body of water. I love taking opportunities to get out to places where I can bask in nature's various beauties, and often find myself drawn to the water.

When choosing holiday destinations I will often gravitate towards coastal areas - beaches - for sun and sand and waves, rock pools and headland cliffs, views across the breakers and out to the horizon. Beaches are almost synonymous with holidays (vacations) for me, because when I was a kid summer holidays always included a stay by the beach at Ballina. Building sandcastles, collecting shells, jumping waves, watching the trawlers head out to sea as the sun set . . .

But, I have fond memories of boat trips with my sister's family out on Lake Macquarie and the joys of dolphin spotting as they played in the boats wake. Driving towards Canberra and reaching the point where you first spy Lake George - wondering how full it will be this time. (I have seen it near empty in drought, and also seen its blue surface stretching out forever in wetter times.) And I have a soft spot for Lake Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountains - a lake that was created as part of the Snowy Hydro Scheme, and drowned the original town of Jindabyne. The new town now sits on higher ground at the lake's edge, and the area is beautiful. I have every intention of visiting there again.

Thank you so very much for prompting my random ramble of thoughts on bodies of water! I hope this adequately answers your ask! :)

[stallionmfg2]

SAHARA in Travel Trailers

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[hansensplumbingandremodeling]

How Hydro Jetting Saves the Day for Kitchen Drain Disasters

The sink is overflowing, a greasy mess pooling around your feet. The culprit? A monstrous kitchen drain clog, threatening to turn your culinary haven into a watery battleground. Fear not, fellow foodies! There's a hero waiting in the wings – hydro jetting!

Grease Gone Wild: Why Kitchen Drains Get Clogged

Unlike other areas of your plumbing, kitchen drains face a unique enemy: grease. This sticky substance coats pipes, attracting food scraps and debris, forming a formidable clog over time. Traditional methods like plungers or chemical cleaners might offer temporary relief, but for a long-lasting solution, you need a more powerful weapon.

Enter Hydro Jetting: The Clog-Crushing Champion

Hydro jetting utilizes a high-pressure stream of water to scour your pipes clean. It's like a superhero with a super soaker, blasting away grease buildup, food scraps, and even tree roots that might have infiltrated your plumbing system.

Benefits of Hydro Jetting for Kitchen Drains:

Clears Even the Toughest Clogs: Hydro jetting cuts through grease and debris, leaving your pipes sparkling clean.

Prevents Future Clogs: By removing all the built-up gunk, hydro jetting reduces the chances of future blockages.

Safe for Your Pipes: Unlike harsh chemicals, hydro jetting is gentle on your plumbing system.

Environmentally Friendly: It uses only water, making it a responsible choice for your home and the planet.

When to Consider Hydro Jetting

It's essential to recognize the signs that indicate your kitchen drain might need hydro jetting. Slow draining water, frequent clogs, gurgling sounds, and foul odors are all red flags. If you've tried other methods without success, it's time to consider the power of hydro jetting to restore your kitchen's functionality.

Hansen's Plumbing: Your Hydro Jetting Experts

If you're dealing with a kitchen drain disaster, don't wait for the problem to get worse. At Hansen's Plumbing, we specialize in hydro jetting services that can quickly and effectively clear your drains. Our experienced technicians use state-of-the-art equipment to ensure your pipes are thoroughly cleaned and free from blockages.

Kitchen drain disasters can disrupt your home life, but they don't have to. With hydro jetting, you have a reliable and effective solution at your disposal. Whether you're dealing with a current clog or looking to prevent future issues, hydro jetting offers numerous benefits that traditional methods can't match. Trust Hansen's Plumbing to provide expert hydro jetting services and keep your kitchen drains clear and functional.

Don't let a clogged kitchen drain ruin your day. Here at Hansen's Plumbing, we offer reliable hydro jetting near me for homes in Ventura and surrounding areas.

Ready to say goodbye to kitchen drain problems? Contact Hansen's Plumbing today and ask about our hydro jetting service. We'll have your kitchen running smoothly in no time.

[apexart-journal]

Jevijoe in Tbilisi, Day 24

My second day in Kutaisi, my "task" is to explore Tskaltubo, the Disneyland of spas during Stalin's Soviet occupation of Georgia. Sometimes I'm thinking that I am doing investigative journalism. Investigating the actual locale versus the general public information about that locale that is seen on social media or the internet.

Tskaltubo is a huge complex that seems to be the same size as the John F Kennedy Airport in New York. There are some spas that are still working and some that are left in ruins.

I went to Bathhouse No. 6 and had different treatment procedures, namely hydro-vibro massage in mineral water, mineral mud called peloidotherapy, and a treatment pool with mineral water. I was fascinated by their timekeeping method, the attendants still use hourglasses with sand. It was my first time to have a mud treatment, it's like volcanic mud being poured on my whole body. It was hot at first, but then my body started calming down and felt relaxed. I was warped with a plastic sheet as if I were a mummy. I almost fell asleep.

There was a perfect spot. When I was at the treatment pool, diving myself into the mineral water, the sunlight hit the glass window frame, and I saw a very vivid image of a cross, as if I were being baptized again. I had been to Catholic schools from kindergarten to college, but I never considered myself religious. But sometimes strange moments happen that remind me of the Roman emperor Constantine, who dreamt of a cross and converted to Christianity. I just wonder what the sign of the cross is all about. or maybe I just overthink it since I have seen too many crosses in Georgia or maybe a reaffirmation of my Christian faith?

After the spa, I walked towards the abandoned spa buildings. The designs are very ancient Roman, as if the "Roman empire for the masses" in Soviet style.

On my way back to Tbilisi, I have been monitoring my phone once in a while to check if I was going in the right direction, and I came across the dotted lines on the Google Maps, which indicate disputed boundaries and conflict zones, thus probably I am near the border of South Ossetia, which is occupied by Russia. I could already see South Ossetia from a distance, maybe a few miles from my exact spot. I am not sure if those houses were under construction or abandoned, but it seems empty and there are no people out there.

While I was enjoying myself and reflecting on my once-in-a-lifetime experience here in Georgia, it made me wonder that this country is definitely wonderful and a tough one that has been invaded and occupied by many empires (ancient and modern) yet still survives and maintains its distinctive identity and culture.

[mastertradesblog]

Essential Guide to Sewer Pipe Repair Near Me: Everything You Need to Know

Sewer pipe issues can cause a number of issues for both businesses and homeowners. From foul odors to potential health hazards, a malfunctioning sewer pipe can disrupt daily life and lead to expensive repairs if not addressed promptly. Whether you're searching for sewer pipe repair near me as a homeowner, dealing with a sewer pipe problem, or a business owner looking for solutions, understanding the essential aspects of sewer pipe repair is crucial. In this comprehensive guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about sewer pipe repair, including types of issues, repair methods, and how to find reliable repair services near you.

Common Sewer Pipe Issues

Before delving into the repair process, it's important to recognize the common issues that can affect sewer pipes:

Clogs and Blockages: Accumulated debris, grease, and foreign objects can lead to clogs and blockages in sewer pipes, causing slow drainage and backups.

Corrosion and Erosion: Over time, sewer pipes can corrode or erode, leading to leaks and structural weaknesses.

Tree Root Infiltration: Tree roots seeking moisture can infiltrate sewer pipes through cracks or joints, causing blockages and damaging the pipes.

Collapsed or Cracked Pipes: Settlement of the ground, shifting soil, or heavy traffic loads can lead to pipe collapse or cracks, disrupting the flow of wastewater.

Bellied Pipes: Sections of sewer pipes can sink due to soil conditions, causing wastewater to pool and accumulate.

Methods of Sewer Pipe Repair

Various methods are available for repairing sewer pipes, depending on the severity of the issue:

Traditional Excavation: In cases of extensive damage, traditional excavation involves digging up the damaged pipe and replacing it with a new one. While effective, this method can be disruptive and costly.

Trenchless Pipe Repair: Trenchless methods, such as pipe lining and pipe bursting, allow for repairs without extensive excavation. Pipe lining involves inserting a resin-coated liner into the damaged pipe, which hardens to form a new pipe within the old one. Pipe bursting involves inserting a new pipe while simultaneously shattering the old one.

Hydro-Jetting: This method uses high-pressure water jets to remove clogs and blockages from pipes, restoring proper flow.

Chemical Treatment: Chemical solutions can be used to break down clogs and tree roots infiltrating pipes, though they may not be suitable for all types of pipe materials.

Finding Sewer Pipe Repair Services Near You

When facing sewer pipe issues, finding reliable repair services is essential. Here's how to go about it:

Research and Recommendations: Start by researching local plumbing and sewer repair companies. Consult with friends, family, or neighbors who have experienced similar difficulties for recommendations.

Online Reviews: Check online reviews and ratings for different repair services. This can give you insight into the experiences of past customers.

Licensing and Insurance: Evaluate the repair company's insurance, bonding, and license status. This defends both you and the workers in case of accidents.

Experience and Expertise: Look for companies with a track record of experience in sewer pipe repair. Experienced professionals are more likely to accurately diagnose issues and recommend appropriate solutions.

Quotes and Evaluations: Contact multiple companies for quotes and evaluations. This will give you a better understanding of the scope of the repair and the associated costs.

Conclusion

Dealing with sewer pipe issues requires timely action and informed decision-making. By understanding common sewer pipe problems, knowing the various repair methods available, and finding reputable repair services near you, you can address issues effectively and minimize disruption to your daily life or business operations. Remember that preventive measures, such as regular inspections and maintenance, can go a long way in avoiding costly sewer pipe problems in the future. So, if you're facing sewer pipe issues, don't hesitate to seek professional help and take the necessary steps to restore the integrity of your sewer system.

[parkerlyn]

touching / 37 / oisein 👀

cannot wait for more chaos & softness 🥰

(remember kids, don't fall for peer pressure and terrible friends like Oisein adfsakljl) Thank you for the asks! ❤️

putting their head on the other's chest | holding hands while jumping down from somewhere together

You try to remember how the conversation went, considering where you've ended up. How did you finally agree? Did you actually finally agree? Did you get marionetted? Were you going to have to find a way to quietly murder Oisein?

They had come to you, all teeth in a terrible grin and splotchy, glowing markings flickering with excitement.

"Absolutely not."

"Please please please please-"

"Oisein, I'm not jumping down the Saor waterfall!"

They bring their hands inward like a prayer and give their best attempt at a pout and pitiful eyes. The whole charade looks much less innocent as their long, sharp nails clack together, though. "But the pool is fuller from the recent rains and Heleen won't go without Mav and Mav won't go unless I do and I need moral support. And by moral support I mean you jumping with me."

"The base is right at the edge of the hydro pillars - what if someone from Saor is out there?!"

"We'll wear our glamours!! I was already planning on it, not trying to snap one of these," they say with a nonchalant wave to an antler. "Any mortalis will just think we're a bunch of reckless assholes."

"You ARE being a reckless asshole!"

"Oh it's not even that high, and Heleen and Mav are both elementalists-"

The rest of the conversation blurs out among the dark branches above the Sanctum, and the odd image of Oisein happily skipping away.

Which would explain your current predicament.

The raucous water tumbling over the cliff's edge sprays onto your bare legs and crossed arms, icy pinpricks kissing at your elbow and shins. Thunderous sounds echo back up to the top of the cavern and into the canyon beyond where the stone rings of Saor glint like silver bracelets, delicately detailed with the reflection of thousands of windows.

More whooping and yelling comes from below - far, far below - as what looks to be a pale mortalis woman with coiling ginger hair laughs on the bank. She leans forward, lifting herself from a grassy patch, to throw a scoop of darkened water at a thin person lounging waist deep at the water's edge, the wet sheen of their deep brown skin reflecting moonlight into your eyes. Without their sheevra forms, an unconscious part of you wants to stay out of their sight. But you will yourself to remember the prickly desert flowers of Heleen's markings as she lays back down again, and the winding orchids that normally curl over Mav's shoulders as they blow raspberries in the woman's direction.

Oisein says something next to you, but when you don't respond over the rushing water, they raise their voice.

"If you kill me now, they'll know it was you! So-"

"What?"

Oisein smiles widely next to you as you turn, their disguise more familiar. Their honeyed waves of hair, currently pulled back into a tight bun, provide some comfort alongside the earthy freckles speckling their tanned skin.

Or well, it would, if they weren't the reason you were in this mess in the first place.

Remembering that, you snap your head forward again with a huff.

They laugh - nervously, you notice - and step forward towards the edge of the stone precipice, peering down below. Their bare toes curl into the rock, shoulders rising as they hold a breath. "Okay!" they almost shout over the echoing noise. "It's a little further up than I thought it was. But that's why we're doing this together, right?" The smile turns apologetic while their eyes stay fixated on the drop, but any sympathy you have has already been washed away with the falls, plummeting into the pool below.

You glare at them again, though their edges are blurred and softened by the mist surrounding them, a faint glow diffusing from the stars in the background and the weak light of their markings.

Despite your harshly set face, they turn back to you and pause, before slowly hold out their hand. Curled fingers hesitate for a moment and then unfurl, showing you their empty palm.

You press your lips into as thin of a line as you can possibly muster, determined to glare them off the edge of the waterfall without taking you down with them.

"Can't do this without you," you read from their lips more than hear, their chin lowering but eyes still held your face. The outstretched hand still waits, though you notice a fearful shiver run from their wrist and up towards their collar.

What feels like an eternity passes before you finally give a heavy sigh and uncross your arms, stepping towards Oisein. You slap your hand into theirs, the base of your thumb fitting squarely into their palm, and they wrap their fingers tightly around your hand as you both turn outward to the open air.

The moments begin to blur like the conversation that led you here. A swallow and a flare of their nostrils. Your fingers gripping tensely against their knuckles. One more furtive look to each other and an anxious song kindling in the magic leaking out from the tense leanhaun.

And suddenly, you're flying.

A burst of air pushes you clear of the cliff as you jump, a bright chord that lifts you safely away. The wind whips and streams over your arms as your stomach lurches up into your ribs, your legs cycling through the air. Sound boils and bursts through your throat in tandem with an ecstatic screech from Oisein, muted by the roar of wind and water.

Even as you hurtle nearer to the waterfall's base, the blackened pool quickly approaching, your hands still remain tightly clasped together.

And then, you're floating. Stomach rolling downward against a pillow of swirling wind, water lapping up towards your ankles, twisting upward in lazy tendrils from the surface of the pool. You look down the last dozen feet to see Mav's hands glowing in the water, Heleen's poised expertly in the air above her face. They grin just as you look to Oisein, who laughs, loud and exuberant, water droplets floating near the loose strands of hair that glide gently around their ears.

You catch a sneaky smirk exchanged between the other two sheevra before they release their magic, dropping you the last few feet to plunge into the water.

Chilled bubbles race over your body as you break the surface, taking a quick breath and slamming your eyes shut. The water rushes in around you, weaving over your neck and surrounding you in a bracing cocoon. Muffled murmuring sounds somewhere in the distance (where the waterfall ends?) and you take a chance to open your eyes against the current. Above you the water glitters darkly, scattering the image of the night sky and and reflecting a murky outline of your body back to you.

The heat in your hand finally registers again, the only source of warmth bursting over your fingers as Oisein pulls upward, more bubbles flowing over their windmilling arm and where their feet kick below. It only takes a few seconds more to feel the tug at your shoulder, before you emerge together in a tangle of limbs and gulp in a desperate breath.

While they move backwards and help pull you from the water, Oisein is already berating Mav and Heleen, who snort and giggle together a few feet away. But despite the chiding, there’s a wide grin on their face as they fall back onto their elbows and pull you up towards them, repeating quiet questions of "You okay? You alright?" You nod, cough once, and laugh despite yourself, arms wobbly from the adrenaline and knees digging into the dirt between Oisein’s legs. As more of your senses return, you notice an unwelcome lack of warmth in your palm, but immediately brush that thought away.

The blonde sheevra goes silent eventually, breathing deeply as the wet, ivory cloth of their shirt clings tightly to their chest. They lay their head back against the grass and blink their eyes, splaying their arms out wide.

Without thinking, you collapse where your arms have taken you, thumping your soaked head face first against their chest and elbows framing their hips. There’s a small 'oof' and a laugh that shakes your head when you make contact, before your head bobs with their even breathing.

A chill comes near your body, but the worst of it is held at bay as Oisein’s hands move down to your shoulders, giving them a reassuring squeeze. When you pry your head back up there’s a smile - gentler than usual - alighting their lips. Their hands stay, rubbing warmth into your muscles and eventually resting along your upper arms.

You'd thought their breathing had settled, but you can’t help but notice the quickening pace of their heart and the way they still themself, trying to restrict the rise and fall of their lungs. They swallow, much like they did before you leaped, and you feel their legs tense against yours. Infinite seconds pass while Oisein's lips barely part, neither of you wanting to break the moment.

Which Mav happily does, whistling shrilly at your side.

Oisein scoffs and removes one of their hands to flip them off while carefully putting a little more space between your bodies, shifting awkwardly up the grassy hill. Disappointment drops rudely in your gut while they shiver noticeably again, the sudden absence of your body against theirs bringing back the full effects of the autumn night.

But in the next instant, their head turns to the side, bangs flopping unceremoniously over one of their vibrant eyes before a mischievous look twists their face.

“Wanna go again?”

[windblooms]

childe scenario – after the golden house

you, an ex-fatui executive, decide against your better judgment and tend to the wounds of the near-dead 11th harbinger following his duel at the golden house.  spoilers for the 1.1 archon quest.

gender-neutral reader.  enemies to lovers  soft spot syndrome.  sfw, but contains mentions of blood/injury.  also childe briefly in foul legacy armor.  canon-divergence.  2669 words (nice).  

with the fatui’s nails so deep into the city, staying in liyue probably wasn’t your brightest idea in retrospect.  

you blame your sentimentality of liyue on the exact same thing that caused you to leave the fatui in the first place: wanting to live without fear.  while the fatui treated you well enough, as you were considerably efficient in your ranks, being part of a partially underground, partially illegal business wasn’t exactly the most liberating practice either.  it didn’t take long for you to realize that, behind their scheming and pretenses of fair economics, the fatui would have their underlings wound so incredibly tight around their fingers that their violent tasks would rapidly become suffocating. 

that is, once you were in the fatui, getting out would be akin to scaling qingyun peak with one arm tied behind your back.

the only reason you were able to?  because you ran.  you were desperate for a new life, sure, but also you weren’t below realizing when something was out of the question.  it took a few months to shake them off your trail, having to move constantly between fontaine and mondstadt, but you finally settled in liyue.

it was a quiet, peaceful city.  the governing body was fair enough with its jurisdictions, and after a year of hiding, you were able to enjoy the lantern rite festival without fear.

that is, until the northland bank sat its obnoxious ass down the street.

archons, really, once you found a place you thought was safe enough, you’d have to start moving again.  initially, you reasoned that it had been over a year, and that the fatui surely wouldn’t go hunting for a runaway executive.  hell, you weren’t even that high on the ladder.  however, a few run-ins with scaramouche and pulcinella had left you paranoid enough that, if they spotted you, they would surely put an end to your traitorism. 

honestly, you should’ve ratted them out to the knights of favonius while you were in mondstadt.  make a quick bargain, have jean toss a few coins your way, and you would be set.  it would’ve definitely been worth the trouble, now with the knowledge that the fatui were your neighbors.  

now, there’s no time to dwell on what you could’ve done.  it’s either run again, or hold your ground right under the fatui’s nose.  you might, sort of, maybe, probably do not have the funds to move for the third time in a row, but maybe counting couldn’t hurt –

no, yeah, it hurts, you grimace as you slide the coin bag back in your bedside drawer.  outside, it’s dark, and the sky seems a bit more disturbed than usual.  it isn’t usually overcast in liyue, and the blue lightning does nothing to quell your unease.  the streets are also empty, but lights illuminate each building.

from your window, a quick glance towards the northland bank reveals to you that it is uncharacteristically dark.  no lanterns, no lights.  you frown, troubled that the individuals you were so alert to monitoring, had a lifeless stronghold.  not typical of them at all. 

so, you decide while your long-time enemies are plotting (or whatever they’re doing that prompts them to close an entire bank for), now might be the best time to potentially make a run for it, light coin bag be damned.

hastily, you rid your apartment of personal belongings by unceremoniously shoving them into your bag.  if it’s one thing you were grateful for in this world, it’s archon magic.  you don’t fuss over the science behind it, but whatever made your bag feel like a bottomless pit was an actual life-saver.  packing is extremely efficient with it, and in less than fifteen minutes, you’re ready to go.

all that’s left is to write a thank-you note to the liyuen couple who let you stay while their son was out exorcising.  at the time, they assured you that you would be no trouble for you to take up a guest room, but nonetheless you tried to pay them with whatever you had left over after commissions.

you grab a writing utensil, still feeling a bit rude to leave on such short notice, and swear to yourself that you’ll visit in the future.  for good measure (after sullenly looking into your coin bag), you leave an acceptable(-ish) amount of mora on your former bed.

all right.  now, time to leave, with your foot out the door and wind scratching at your face, as if the odd overhead weather wasn’t already an omen.

you’re barely past liyue harbor, headed towards the luhua pools, when a comet shoots above you past mount tianheng.  no, not a comet, you realize as it dips from the sky, headed for landfall around a kilometer away.  a comet of water?

if a dead northland bank wasn’t the nail in the coffin, this surely is.  you’ve been around enough in the fatui to know that whatever fell from the sky has to be the work of a vision user, or some more powerful being.  turning towards where you estimate to be the crash site, you weigh your options.  you’re already outside of the city, and the fatui are probably preoccupied.  you can manage a detour for now and inspect the hydro-apparition.  regardless, you deem that the farther away you are from the water you are, the safer you might be from what’s about to happen – you look back towards liyue harbor, and nearly shudder at the rising tide and choppy waves. 

after about fifteen minutes of walking in the rain, you find yourself between the slope of the dunyu ruins and mount tianheng.  it’s vacant, save for the weathered ruins, and a sizable crater meters wide.  cautiously, you approach the edge, summoning your sword with one hand and conjuring your vision in the other.  you’re not going to let curiosity kill the cat, especially not if this turns out to be a prank by the archons.

in the center of the mess is, well, another mess.  you blink a few times, wary, as you discern that an individual lies in the rubble.  they’re actually conscious, you soon find out, as they righten themselves from the fetal position into a kneel, supporting their body weight with their arms.  their body is covered head-to-foot in dark, purple armor, and a red mask with a broken, center orb gleams faintly in the night.

it is only when you the individual looks up at you, straight at your head, do you realize that you should not be here this was a bad idea –

and then they collapse.

“shit,” you murmur to yourself, vision still pulsing in your palm, which has become increasingly sweaty.  you step back from the edge as an orb of water surrounds the armored-being, encasing him like a cocoon, before dissipating to reveal a much more vulnerable, tired man underneath.  his hair is matted to his face from the rain, yet a much smaller mask rests on his eyes; his clothes are somewhat torn (you suspect that whatever had happened, his armor absorbed most of the damage), and you can very faintly see his chest heave. 

but, ah, speaking of his clothes,

they were the colors of the fatui.

“no, no, bad idea,” you tell yourself over and over again, sword put away yet vision still bouncing in your hands.  you walk away from the crater briefly, before walking towards it again, peaking down to check on the fallen man, and then scamper back.  the whole idea was to run away, not go straight to them, as if you had managed to doom yourself after all.  

pacing back and forth, you contemplate for another minute.  he’s clearly injured, with how he’s laying on the ground and not moving, so the nice, not-so-hardened part of you wants to help him.  if he was a regular civilian, surely you’d already be down there and trying to take him back to liyue and patch him up, but he’s with the enemy.  no way someone who can transform into armor is just an underling, so he’s probably someone exceptionally powerful –

“i see you,” a voice comes from the crater, and your vision nearly explodes in your hands from your nerves.  summoning your sword quicker than you ever have in your life, you steel yourself towards the bottom of the crater.

except, he’s not holding a weapon to your face, or threatening to skewer you into a million pieces.  except, he’s not scowling at you, or demanding you assist him at once before he blows something up.

instead, he’s on his knees.  looking up at you with the desperation of a man completely robbed, crippled from something he can’t speak of yet wants to scream about.  his eyes, now free from the mask, pierce into you with a vividness that could rival the richest hues of luhua, and archons damn it do you melt. 

you melt, and realize you should run away.  you melt, all while cursing yourself, that this man might not be so kind as to spare you in the future, when he’s back at his full health.  you melt, thinking that, well, you haven’t seen him before, so maybe he doesn’t know who you are either.  you melt, even as you extinguish your vision and put away your sword, and slide to the bottom of the crater to lug his limp body back to the top, to the shelter of the ruins, and rummage through your bag for medicine.

he hasn’t said anything for the past ten minutes, and you’re thankful that there’s finally someone from the fatui who can keep their mouth shut, even if this is half-beaten to death.  “you’re not dying on me,” you insist, as if your words could will him back to full consciousness.  “not when i’m risking my life for someone like you.”

as you work on bandaging his arm, out of the corner of your eye you swear you see his mouth twitch.  is he trying to speak?  no, you want some silence for a bit longer, but pause as you notice a gash on his torso.

“this is medically consensual, okay?”  you wait two seconds to see if he objects, before unbuttoning the lower part of his coat and applying pressure on the wound.  the blood has soaked through his clothes, and just as eagerly, seeps into the cloth you’re shoving against it.  the man stirs as you continue to clean his wounds, and when his eyes open, you’re too preoccupied with your short supply of towels to notice.

when you’re aware of a gaze on you, however, you turn towards him with a hardened face.  you already know what you’re going to say.  even if he doesn’t know who you are, you’re going to make it clear that, for your own satisfaction, you won’t help him back to liyue and he’ll have to make the walk himself.

“you were out there,” you say simply, motioning towards the crater with a nod of your head.  “i’ll patch you up, but you’ll have to get further help yourself.”

the man with eyes of the deep regards you, but you busy yourself by applying gauze.  he’s propped up against a pillar, and you’re crouching at his side.  when you’re about finished, only then do you meet his eyes.

he beats you to whatever you’re about to say.  “i didn’t think,” he starts, and you’re already frowning, “that you’d come back.”

ah, referencing when you practically left him in the crater.  his words are vague enough when he says that you ‘came back’ that you aren’t too tense, and you indulge him in a bit of silence before responding.  “not like i’m used to rescuing people who fall from the sky.”

despite his injuries, the man manages a laugh.  he seems almost flustered at your statement, although you can’t understand why.  underneath his soaked bangs, his eyebrows rise, and he seems almost . . . nervous?  you can’t possibly fathom as to why, but dismiss your curiosity.  the more small talk he coerces you into, the longer you’ll spend with him.

you finish sealing the gauze, tossing the roll back into your bag before commanding it to disappear.  blood has soaked into the ground at his sides, also you’re sure that it’ll was away with time.  you’re about to stand up, satisfied with your good-samaritan duties for the day, when he stops you by locking his fingers around your wrist.

he’s in the middle of saying something, but you refuse to let him, drawing your sword and pointing it directly at his throat, his mouth agape as he releases his hold on you.  you consider each other, and when you’re certain you have the upper hand, you draw your line.

you spit the words like venom.  “do not touch me, fatui.  i’ve done what i can for you, and you won’t be getting anything else from me.”

your blade doesn’t lower from his form, and as you stand above him, you regard his hands, as if he might summon his own weapons in an instant.  if he’s smart (which you think he is yet simultaneously pray he isn’t), he’s probably plotting how to get out of your sword’s reach.  you’re not going to let him, after you’ve been so self-sacrificing, putting your life on the line for someone affiliated with the organization that suffocated the life out of you.

a tilt of the head, yet silence from his mouth.  he seems surprised that, while you allowed him to laugh mere moments earlier, you’re now pointing your weapon at him, although something in the ease of his facial features tells you that he’s not concerned in the slightest.

“i wanted to say thank you,” he breathes finally, and you look as if he’d just punched you in the gut.  “being in your position probably isn’t easy, and i’m the last one you wanted to see, but you still . . . ”

fuck, no, not this.  you don’t know if he’s a prophet, if he knows who you really are, or the ‘i’m on the run’ stamp on your forehead is that obvious, but you aren’t going to fall for the fatui’s words.  your fists clench, and you once more prepare to denounce his organization,

and you’re disarmed in an instant, sword thrown to the side and fingers restricted by his larger grasp.  archons, you couldn’t even see him move, what a deceptive bastard, feigning injury –

“stop,” he hushes, and despite your fury you register it as a plea, not a command.  the man repeats himself, before continuing,  “we won’t haunt you any more; i’ll make sure of it.”

five seconds, then ten.  you had determined that his grip was too strong to break free of, and are left in no position to move unless he releases you.  he holds your gaze without a hint of malice, even though you try your hardest to find any in his eyes.  

when he does let go of you, fingers skimming past your flesh, you run faster than you ever have before.

you run, past the ruins, past the harbor, and until you can’t see liyue behind you any more.  you run, unable to see a palace fall from the sky and crash into the ocean, and until you’re surrounded by mountains and there’s not a ginkgo tree in sight.  you run, unsure if his words are true, but certain that he knows who you are.

you won’t trust him.  as you lay on the ground, wheezing to catch the air that’s left your lungs, you once again swear to yourself that you can’t trust the words of the fatui.  

as the northland bank lights ignite themselves in welcome of its master, childe presses a hand to his bandaged torso.  a spark of your vision lingers between his fingers, and he observes it before it disappears.

he’s already hurt enough people.  he heads to the second floor, and erases your name from the fatui files. 

[imjeralee]

i request that you drink plenty of water and take care of yourself !!! ·o·b after thats done, came i pretty please get headcanons with link, Kaeya and maybe Childe about an s/o who draws them one day as a confession and gives it to them? :) (maybe they already knew and saw them drawing them before ? who knows) thank you in advance!!

Thank you anon! *looks at cup of green tea beside laptop* yep I think i’m doing well in keeping myself hydrated recently hehe but thank you :3

Anyway please see below for the ask! (it’s pretty long)

Link

He was grooming one of the ponies when he saw you standing behind a tent peeking at him curiously and when he turned round properly, you quickly scampered away and he got worried so he followed you to the room you share to see you sitting on the bed with a wine red book propped up in your lap but upon his return, you immediately hid it behind your back, smiling widely at him

He wonders what it was but decides not to pry, but he later discovers it was actually a sketchbook when he’s packing up for tomorrow and you’re taking a bath and the sketchbook drops out of your pack and onto the floor, opening at a random page

He picks it up with the intention to return it to your bag but then he sees the various drawings of him in his Ancient Armour set, Hylian and Snowquill set. They’re fully coloured and it looks like you’ve spent hours on them. He didn’t know you were this artistic and wondered why you hid this from him

The date you wrote on the bottom of the page indicates that you drew all this in one day! He’s super impressed

Then he sees the note you wrote below: “To my Dearest Link, I hope you like my drawings of you. All I can think about is how lucky I am to be able to be by your side, you’ve changed my life for the better and-”

Obv half complete so now he knows why you didn’t want to show him and he respects your privacy, so he puts the sketchbook away 

Outside, he sees Beedle and goes over to see what’s new for sale. Beedle has some cool art stuff (well, it’s more like stuff that can be used for dye but can also be used as paint) so he buys some for you as a present which he will give to you later.

Next day, you get chased by a group of Bokogoblins and the book and all your drawing supplies drops out from your bag. 

You didn’t see it drop and returned to the stable, ransacking your bag like crazy only to find your stuff missing

When you realise everything must have dropped out when you got chased, you quickly leave the stable to go back to the area but it’s thunder and lightning so Link chases after you

“Link, what are you doing? Go back, the weather’s awful.” You tell him but he shakes his head, unable to leave you alone in the rain like this

He helps you with your search and you end up locating your book and your supplies which are lying in the mud

The book has been trampled over and some of the pages have been torn out. The remaining pages are soaked with dirt and grime. Your pencils are snapped in half and your paints have been left to bleed all over the grass. All of your drawings are ruined, too. This is your worst nightmare.

Link observes you silently as tears begins to form in your eyes and you look at him, sniffling slightly.

You’re experiencing a mixture of devastation, frustration, anger and exasperation - from your carelessness to the stupid bokogoblins - and this incident infuriates you so much you throw the book to the ground angrily

Before you can march away, Link grabs your wrist 

Turning round, your gazes meet and he looks at you softly, intently.

‘What’s wrong?’ he is saying. 

“I was going to use those to confess to you!” you end up roaring out by accident. 

Link looks at you, a little stunned

“N-Never mind! Everything’s ruined!!!!” 

You’re about to storm off again when Link suddenly pulls you into his chest and gives you a hug

“!” you’re so shocked you can’t speak

He pulls away though, and leads you to the hollow of a nearby tree trunk where he gestures for you to sit down to shelter from the rain whilst he glances around, then sprints back over to where the ruined sketchbook is

He picks it up and holds it against his chest as if it’s dear to him. That’s not all, you watch as he begins to pick up the remaining pages that were torn out and once he’s collected them all he returns to you, clutching the pages tightly

"Link...” you murmur breathlessly as he he kneels down in front of you before he fishes around in his pockets to reveal a random bunch of paint pots in his hand.

You’re a little confused, but realise he has some spares which he must have bought from a merchant

it’s not much but...

he nudges it to you for your offering

You gawp at him for a few moments before you smile and chuckle and upon seeing you back to your usual self again, Link smiles and helps you back onto your own feet to stand

You thank him as you cradle the paints to yourself. You will need to restart from scratch from somehow it feels ok and something tells you you don’t need to hide it from him anymore

And you return to the stable, sheltering from the rain by sharing a large leaf together

Kaeya

Let’s begin with the fact that alongside you, there is a maid who also likes Kaeya as much as you do and she’s a bit of a sneaky bugger and you don’t show your drawings to anyone or watermark your artwork until they’re complete. You can probably see where this is going

One day, Kaeya finds out you are drawing a picture of him when he comes to your office to inform you that there’s a group of abyss mages outside Mondstadt so you hurry off to dispatch it and leaving Kaeya in your office

He accidentally comes across your drawing when he sees his face on a piece of parchment and his interest is piqued so he heads over to check it out

It’s a really good sketch!!! the amount of detail is insane! he had no idea you possessed such skill and who knew that you could create such beautiful art like this? He also finds some rough doodles and sketches you made earlier on some scrap paper you had also written on so he knows it’s you

Anyway, he puts everything back to join you in battle, but not before passing a maid along the way who is heading to your room to clean up

She comes across your drawing and she’s always fancied Kaeya herself, so for some reason other than just thinking she might be able to get away with it if she’s sneaky enough, she takes your drawing and sets off with it

Meanwhile, you return to your room after the battle, take off your coat and sit comfortably in your chair, reaching for your quill

“Ah, time to get back to my drawing of Kaeya.” you say with a smile, looking at your desk.

Wait a minute.

Something is wrong.

Very wrong.

It’s GONE!

After checking the rest of your office (and its clearly not there), you rush outside, wondering what happened to it when you see Kaeya and a maid talking in the corridor

they didn’t see you, so you quickly hide

“Please accept this, captain Kaeya!” gushes the maid, presenting your drawing to him. “I drew this picture of you to show how much you mean to me.”

What in the Samachurl shit is this? 

You’re about to storm over when Kaeya takes the drawing with a delicate brow raised, studies it intently and goes, “Oh? But I’m not so sure about that.”

“W-what do you mean, Captain Kaeya?”

“There’s no watermark on it,” he points out, “....one could’ve taken anyone’s artwork and claim that it’s theirs.”

“T-That’s - ! Ah, Captain Kaeya, h-how could you think so lowly of me?”

“I’m only just stating some simple facts, that’s all. You won’t hold that against me, will you? And I’m certainly not accusing you of anything...unless you...?”

“Oh....uh....I...I-I’m so sorry, Captain Kaeya, you’re right! I-I....please excuse me!”

The maid’s too embarrassed to proceed any further and leaves, running away.

Indeed, what in the samachurl hell had just happened? 

It goes quiet and you wonder if he’s still there; you step out of your hiding place only to go nose-to-chest with Kaeya.

He greets you with a smirk. “if it isn’t the little kitten, what are you doing here?”

“Um...uh, I....that....that drawing - “

What he said is right, there’s no watermark. How can you prove it’s yours? Would he believe you if you told him?

“Hm? Ah, yes, this drawing. I was going to keep it for myself.”

“No, wait! I mean...er...it’s not finished yet-”

“So you drew this then?”

“Yes, I did. it was me.” Though you wonder if he would believe you after everything you had just heard.

“Why?”

You lamely tell him you really like him and wanted to use it to confess to him.

He watches you for a few seconds, then hands the drawing to you. “I’ll wait until you’ve finished then.”

“Huh?” You gasp. He gave it back to you so easily despite what he said to the maid! “You...you’re not-”

“I knew it was you who drew it. I recognised your style.”

“Then why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“If I said so earlier, how else would I get you to confess to me?”

“KAEYA!!!”

(from then on he’ll want you to draw him more often)

Childe

Saw you sitting on the grassy hill near Qingxu Pool drawing earlier and because he is good at sneaking up on people, you didn’t hear him as he casually leaned over to peek over your shoulder and said, “Hey girlie, what’re you up to?”

You’re like “UWAGH!” and quickly close your sketchbook before turning round to see Childe.

“N-nothing!” you exclaim, before you get up and run down the hill, leaving a very amused Childe on his own

Later, when you’ve finished your masterpiece, you nervously approach Childe and tell him, “Um....this is for you, let me know what you think.” before rushing off in a blushing mess and Childe will open the sketchbook to see that you’ve drawn a very nice portrait of him in a battle stance, wielding his bow, surrounded by his hydro blades

Childe stands, staring at the picture

Then he sees the words ‘do you like me?’ scribbled at the very bottom

Childe staring hard now

He’s used to giving people gifts but now that he’s received something so thoughtful, he’s a bit overwhelmed. he can tell you put so much effort and hardwork into this. Ah, what is this feeling? 

He closes the book without further ado and scrubs a hand over his face

he actually wasn’t expecting you to do this. he knew you were drawing him but the result is really....something else

You don’t hear him from Childe in a few days and you are so nervous and worried.

Is this a rejection? Maybe he didn’t like your picture after all...

You’re walking in the streets and sigh and sit on the stone steps of Liyue, staring at the sea, upset and dejected

But then you hear a whistle from behind and throw a glance over your shoulder to see Childe standing on a higher step, a hand in his pocket

“Hey girlie, heads up,” he tosses a paper plane into the air which makes this little loop before you stand to catch it

Looking up, Childe has gone

You unfold the paper plane to its proper size to reveal that Childe’s drawn a little sketch of you in return and he has written: ‘Yes I do’.

[ignisaeri]

~

At that time, all Alatus could hear was the howling of the wind, and the screams of the Yakshas as they waged war against their karmic debts.

A blaze of crimson flame splits the night sky as the Pyro Yaksha shrieks, clawing desperately at scarlet locks of hair with bloodied fingernails, trying to rid herself of demons only she can see. Her eyes flash with the light of a thousand stars as she throws her head back, pleading with the darkness in ragged gasps to leave her, to go somewhere where they could not haunt her. She’s still begging as she dies.

~

The Geo Yaksha rests his foot against the Hydro Yaksha’s abdomen, using her still body as leverage to draw his sharpened blade out from between her ribs. His eyes stare into the distance, unseeing, pupils clouded over with an inky black, fingers twitching as they hold the weapon that had killed one of his oldest friends. The Hydro Yaksha only lays quietly, death caressing her form with its bony fingers, the pool of water beneath them tinged pink from blood.

~

The Electro Yaksha falls to his knees, gaze finding Alatus’ one last time, seemingly apologizing for leaving the Anemo Yaksha alone for eternity. His slender hands float over the blade embedded in his chest, then collapses onto his side as his last breaths leave him, currents of violet electricity flickering out into nothing. He dies silhouetted against the blackness of The Chasm, as silent as the sun creeping over the horizon, even as the battle rages endlessly around them.

~

Rex Lapis gazes at Alatus with such pity, such sadness, before smiling hesitantly, gold eyes meeting the Yaksha’s.

‘Sit, Ever Vigilant Yaksha. The archon war is over. Let us share a cup of osmanthus wine.”

“Alatus, I free you from your duty as a Yaksha. In the fables of another world, the name Xiao is that of a spirit who encountered great suffering and hardship. He endured much suffering, as you have. Use this name from now on.”

“Yes, Morax.”

~

The God of Freedom seeks him out one evening, when he’s resting quietly near the edge of a cliff, feet dangling restlessly off the side, imagining the faces of the lost Yakshas floating through the clouds. Barabatos’ braids glow a gentle forest green, and he inclines his head slightly towards Xiao as he nears.

“Alatus, correct?”

“Xiao,” the adeptus corrects him.

“Xiao,” Barbatos says, “Rex Lapis told me of you.”

~

“It was you with the flute, was it not?” Xiao tells Barbatos as they watch the workers construct a massive statue in Liyue’s center, honoring the late Tianquan. Ningguang’s placid face smiles down at them as the workers dust the marble, freeing it from dust and grime.

Venti bobs his head, gaze never straying from where Rex Lapis (now Zhongli) stands with arms folded, gaze dark. With Ningguang gone, the last of the Liyue Qixing has perished.

“Yes,” Venti says. “I saved you that day.”

~

Tonight, they drink, in honor of the dead. Zhongli gingerly holds a glass of osmanthus wine, a glaze lily tucked into his hair. “To Guizhong,” he says. “Havria, Ningguang, and Tartaglia.”

Venti hiccups, face the color of an overripe tomato, the glass of dandelion wine tipping dangerously in his grip. “To the children of Mond,” he choruses. “To the Ragvindr brothers, to Jean, to Lisa, to Noelle. To Klee!”

Baal is here tonight too, and she leans forward restlessly. “To Kujou Sara,” she adds. “To Kitsune, Chiyo, and to Sasayuri.”

Tonight should be solemn, Xiao thinks, as they list the names of their dead companions. Yet, nearly five hundred years after the last of them passed, he feels nothing but contentment.

Xiao raises his own glass. “To the traveler and his sister,” he says. “And to the Yakshas”.

~

Xiao watches as Venti’s fingers dance, weaving an enticing melody through the hollow sounds of his flute. He’s sitting against a rock, the cool water of the stream lapping at his ankles, washing against the outcropping where Venti stands, a face full of bliss as he plays.

The song is one that Xiao wished to hear, one that he had first heard from the cart of a passing merchant shortly after the end of the Archon War.

The notes seem to float away into the air as he listens, chasing away the darkness in his soul, and he closes his eyes, reveling in this small moment of peace.

~

Sometimes, when Xiao sleeps, he dreams. He dreams of a woman wreathed in fire, eyes burning tears down her cheeks. He dreams of a not-truly-there man, standing with his blade buried in the chest of a woman floating limp in blood-tinged water. He dreams of purple lightning dying as a man takes his last breaths deep within The Chasm.

~

He knows, of course, that he cannot run forever. One day, he will become engulfed by his karmic debt, like the Pyro Yaksha, or go mad and disappear, like the Geo Yaksha.

That day comes sooner than he thinks.

~

Liyue is burning. The city is just as Xiao remembers, a perfect place of beauty. If he concentrates, he can still barely remember the night of the Lantern Rite, thousands of years ago. He closes his eyes and wishes to see the light of a hundred lanterns, instead of the light of fire the buildings shudder and succumb to the roaring flame.

Zhongli stands in front of him, something akin to pain in his gaze, one arm thrown to the side to keep Venti from rushing forwards. The Anemo Archon’s eyes are wide and wild, hat askew and bow grasped in shaking hands. Baal stands straight, weapon drawn, sorrow dotting her gaze.

Fontaine’s archon, the God of Justice, flits around the backdrop of burning flame, hurriedly trying to save as much of Liyue as she can. Her hands wave, spilling waves of water over the temples and buildings, undoing the damage that Xiao caused. The Dendro and Pyro Archons are busy, pulling screaming mortals from the wreckage and destruction.

Three torches and three exploding barrels, compiled with Xiao’s anemo attacks, had set all of Liyue aflame.

There is distant screaming in Xiao’s ears, sounds he knows only he can hear. Deliriously, he recalls the Pyro Yaksha howling at non-existent demons millennia ago and wonders absently if the same will afflict him.

The karmic debt has finally taken over, and it seems to favor the path the Geo Yaksha had taken. Xiao almost laughs as he realizes this, feeling trapped within his skin as he wields his polearm, pointed unwaveringly at the archons.

“I am sorry,” he rasps. There is darkness at the edge of his sight, and the screams only intensify. He can hear individual voices now, hissing and howling and wailing, crying for mercy and death and blood.

“Do not apologize,” Zhongli says. “It is not your fault.”

“What is this?” Venti gasps, the sound echoing in Xiao’s ears. “Xiao, what is happening?”

Baal answers for him. “It is the fate of a Yaksha.” Electricity begins to crackle around her shoulders, eyes darkening to violet as she calls the power of the storm.

Xiao wants to weep at how much she reminds him of the Electro Yaksha.

Maybe, he muses, he will see his fellow Yakshas again. Maybe he’ll meet Aether and Lumine too, in the place that lies after death. He may finally meet those who used to belong to Mond, the ones that Venti talks of so adoringly.

Zhongli finally draws his polearm, an earthen pillar appearing before him, casting protective gold around the archons. Xiao knows why.

He can feel the wind gusting around him, responding to calls he does not remember sending out. Leaves swirl in the gale, and trees rip their way out of the ground. The pain in his head intensifies as the number of screaming voices triple.

Xiao meets Zhongli’s gaze. Sometime, somehow, over the years, the archons had become his closest confidants. Yet, Zhongli was always his oldest companion, so now, Xiao asks Zhongli to do the impossible.

“Morax,” he croaks, using a name that hasn’t been spoken for ages. “You must.”

Zhongli’s gaze is pained, yet resolute, and that is how Xiao knows that Morax will kill him to save the world. Baal seems to sense this too, and lightning strikes the ground not too far away, anxiously awaiting her command.

It is only Venti who has not yet seemed to grasp the situation. He frowns at both archons. “What must you do, Zhongli?”

Zhongli only shakes his head, and Xiao knows it pains him to be the one who will have to kill the last Yaksha. So he answers Venti, limbs shaking as he desperately tries to contain the whirlwind threatening to tear from his chest.

“He must kill me. If he does not, I fear I will destroy Teyvat. I have lost control over my body, Venti.”

Barbatos’ eyes flash green, and Xiao is yet again reminded of the power of the archons. “No,” he says simply. “You cannot die. To live for thousands of years, to drink with us, all this time? You cannot die like this.”

Xiao loses concentration, just a tiny sliver, yet the gust of wind that tears from him shears the top off of a nearby mountain. He groans, harnessing the gale yet again, even as the action forces him to his knees.

“Morax,” he says again. “Please.”

Zhongli looks at him, and the archon’s eyes are glistening in the light of the dancing flames, as wind whips his hair into his face.

“Alatus,” he says, and his voice is full of hurt and resignation. “It has been an honor.”

Yes, Xiao wants to answer back, but he cannot force his mouth to move. He just nods, shaking his head as if he can jar the wailing into silence.

Venti starts towards Zhongli, power thrumming at the edges of his fingers, seemingly ready to resort to battle in order to prevent Xiao’s death, and that is when Baal moves. She slams into Venti, pushing him into the ground, even as wind starts to whirl around them - Venti’s magic, not Xiao’s. Her element locking curse comes a second later, binding itself around Venti, even as he hisses at her in protest.

“Xiao,” Venti cries, twisting as if he can escape the curse. His hat is lost, blown away in the wind, and his hair has come loose from its braids, flying around his face.

“Barbatos,” Xiao whispers. “I never thanked you, for saving me that day.”

Venti pauses, for a second, stunned into silence.

“Thank you,” Xiao says, over the voices in his head. “Thank you.”

Baal only looks at him solemnly, and Xiao stares back at her. They exchange no words, but Baal just nods, once, the simple gesture conveying everything he needs to know.

Xiao holds her gaze for a few more seconds, turning back to find the point of Zhongli’s spear resting above his heart.

Zhongli's face is twisted in grief, yet his blade still hits true, sliding into the hollow space between Xiao's third and fourth ribs.

Xiao chokes, the whirl of wind around him finally dying out. His legs buckle and he falls ungraciously, feeling gentle hands grasping at his clothes as he does.

Somewhere, Venti is screaming his name.

The wailing inside his skull is dissipating, and near the edges of his sight, Xiao can make out swirls of color. At first, he thinks they are the archons, and his failing body cannot see the details of their faces. Then, he recognizes a blue that does not belong to those in the present.

“Rest,” Zhongli whispers, as Xiao fades. “Rest, Alatus.”

And Xiao does, letting himself fall into the embrace of the Yaksha's, who are only becoming clearer, even as Xiao dies.

~

637 years later, a scholar strolls through the bookshelves of Sumeru's most famous academy, searching for a piece of information that could support her thesis.

She turns into a lane labelled Mondstadt: The City of Freedom, and begins to scan the titles, careful to replace everything exactly where she finds it.

There are two other travelers within the small space between the bookshelves, and they're talking to each other, quite loudly.

The scholar frowns. No matter how foreign these travelers are, the rule of silence in a library should be universal.

The first traveler, a tall man with golden eyes and umber hair that falls to his lower back flips another page in his book, completely ignoring his companion. A jade spear is strapped across his back, and the scholar thinks idly that the weapon looks more like a piece of art, with great wings of green jade shattering outwards from the main spike.

The tall man's companion is quite short, with yellow cat like eyes and evergreen tufts of hair, a pink pearl necklace slung loosely around his throat. His boyish grin seems quite misplaced.

It only takes the scholar a few moments to figure out why.

A few months ago, the scholar had studied ancient folklore of Liyue. Among them was a tale of several Yakshas, the last of whom had supposedly been buried beneath a statue of himself, on the highest peak in Liyue.

The man standing before her looks exactly the same as the grainy photo in the text. However, in the scroll of lore, the last Yaksha had worn a fierce scowl across his features, nothing like the one that stands before her now.

"Come, Zhongli," the should-be-dead Yaksha says, tugging on his friend's sleeve. "Baal is waiting for us."

"Baal can wait a while longer," the taller man says, turning the page of his book a while longer, which the scholar now sees is a copy of The Ruling System of Mondstadt: Grandmasters and Cavalry Captains.

"You said you wanted me to learn more about Mond, didn't you?" the taller man continues. "Besides, I am quite intrigued as to exactly who this 'Kaeya' is, the one you keep referencing."

The yaksha frowns. "Kaeya," he says. "Diluc's brother."

At his companion's blank stare, the yaksha says. "I'll remind you later," he chides. "We really must be going, Zhongli."

The scholar startles, embarrassed that she eavesdropped for so long. However, she still hears what the tall man says back.

"Fine. Let us go, Venti."

[interstellarre]

Delve In The Depths. Prologue

Word count. 0.6k

a/n. I had so much fun writing this! Hope you enjoy this series. I gave the hydro adeptus the name Indarias, the pyro, Menogias, the electro, Bonanus, and the geo, Bosacius as their names and identities haven't been connected yet.

Trigger Warning. Mentions of death

Series Masterlist 

Prologue I.

The flickering flames seemed to mock him.

Xiao clenched the edge of the wooden seat while his knuckles paled. His disheveled appearance a harbinger for the foretelling of the destruction of Yakshas.

Rex Lapis' face showed no emotion as the footsteps near Xiao grew louder.

Xiao raised his head to find his God's tattooed arm soaked from the rain pour.

"He's gone"

Prologue II

The pyro yaksha raised her flask and gulped down what Xiao thought was an excess of alcohol. Indarias scowled at the vulgar liquid dripping down her chin.

"Seven Archons, Meno, calm down."

Menogias raised her brows and proceeded to send the hydro user a foul glare.

"Your presence has yet to cease to exist," responded Indarias, "The Qingxu Pool have kindly sent their regards in collecting the water you stole for your selfish beverage consumption."

Meno playfully punched her in the arm while Indarias let out a soft snicker.

Xiao silently cursed his refusal to accompany Bonanus to Dihua Marsh that past dawn.

"I have yet to see you on the battlefield this week, Indarias. It appears that there has been a geovishap outbreak in Dihua. Be a dear?" drawled a deep but playful tone.

Ah, speak of the the electro adeptus

"Bonanus."

Menogias whipped her head at the sounds of the tall, many armed man and groaned.

"Why must I be bothered with your presence in the wake of my misery?" monologues Menogias with dramatic gasp and an arm falling back on her forehead.

The geo adeptus tilted his head and stepped out of the shadows

His lionlike face sticking out even among the likes of this odd group

"Now, now, Menogias," chuckled Bosacius, "I'm sure Bonanus has had an eventful day. We can continue this in the evening no?"

Menogias placed a hand on her heart. "Oh, you wound me Bosacius, I was merely teasing." but still put an end to her light hearted teasing when Bosacius stepped in. Bosacius knowing full well that Menogias would not have the time to tease her companions for some time when night came.

"But since you mentioned it before, I'll make myself useful and handle the geovishap outbreak in Dihua Marsh." The fiery adeptus quipped before sauntering off, reducing their numbers to what it was before.

Bonanus gently gripped Indarias by the shoulder and led him farther away from the group so they might talk in private.

Leaving Xiao alone with Bosacius

Xiao looked up at Bosacius, far taller than himself

"So, I take it that you'll be retiring for the evening?" asked Xiao

Prologue III.

He saw their faces.

Gasping from the temporary slumber he fell into, he pulled himself up. Still shaking from the memory of the souls he took.

Clawing and screaming. Those voices kept him awake.

The guilt ate him alive.

He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he failed to notice a certain hand slowly, not hesitantly making its way to rest upon his shoulder.

"Tough night?" asked Bosacius, whose eyes seem to fill with pity

Prologue IIII.

Many enjoy nitpicking every nook and corner of history, rebuking facts, debating on the moralities of kings, changing our views of the past world.

Despite this, none can dispute the last guardian Yaksha's gaze on the past 2000 years of Liyue.

He gazed upon Guizhong as her body went cold buried in the glaze lilies

His eyes went wide at Menogias', no Meno's, one last shrill cry

His throat went parch at the sight of Indarias' limp corpse under the shadow of Bosacius

He cried out as Bonanus fell to greater depths than many could imagine

He was in temporary disbelief at the news of Rex Lapis' death

He choose to step aside and watch as Liyue has entered it's next era

An age which no longer needed him

@ddarker-dreams​

[wesimpforxiao]

Say My Name and I’ll Be There: 8.1

Author’s Note:  As for the next few or possibly several chapters, give me some time to write them.  I want to write the Lantern Rite chapter perfectly and in order to do that I need 1. for us all to experience the in-game event so I can capture it accurately and 2. to catch up on my schoolwork because my college goes by the 10-week quarter system and we are smack in the middle of it.  Apologies for the inconvenience, but I refuse to give a sub-par Lantern Rite chapter as I believe it will be the most important in this story!!  The next one or two chapters should be released by the end of next week.

......

Only on the eve of the Lantern Rite, several days before the celebration, did Xiao come to appreciate the hours of hard work you were putting into practicing music.

He had slaughtered a band of mitachurls, hilichurls, and lawachurls near Lihua Pool when he fell into darkness.  He collapsed to his knees, struggling for breath, spots filling his vision beneath the mask.  While he had dealt with karmic debt for two thousand years, this time had to be one of the worst falters.  He knelt beneath the somber moon that bore witness to his shortcoming.

The waves of pain drove him mad and the voices drowned out the singing of the crickets and frogs.  Xiao clutched at his chest in an effort to rid himself of the agony as he wondered if it was finally his time to die and join the fallen yakshas.  His mask disintegrated as he fell to all fours.  It's fine, just breathe, he reminded himself.

It was then when he heard the tune.  

"B-Barbatos?"  The yaksha groaned despairingly as he forced himself to raise his head toward the sound.  He was being saved by the wind god for a second time--No.  That's her, he realized when he recognized the all-too familiar tune.  But the way you were playing this time...had he only heard a fraction of your practice sessions? You carried the notes so well compared to last time--

Xiao rolled over so he lie on his back, eyes meeting the glints of the stars that shone down upon him.  It was like the pain had knocked the wind out of him.  No matter.  At least he would die listening to you.  The idea was peaceful to think about.

...miss...love you...

Your faint prayers that accompanied the moonsong somehow broke through the crowded shouting of the damned and eased the heavy knot in his stomach while he gasped for air.  The tune continued to build until Xiao could only compare your talent to that of the wind archon.  It was beautiful, soft, and it fit you perfectly despite your stubborn personality that was accentuated by the harbinger's shenanigans.

The image brought a faint smile to his lips, the expression slowly widening as you played on.  Your selfless nature; the need to protect a yaksha from harm's way...Your daring eyes when you butt heads with Childe...The honey-sweet grin you reserved only for Xiao and Xiao alone.  It was  the way you carried yourself in battle, the way you interacted with strangers.  How and when you prayed to him.  Your light humming accompanied your music.

Archons, you were remarkably stunning in every way imaginable.  The yaksha failed to notice how big his smile was as a few of his tears slid down the sides of his face.  It was his own longing for you that manifested and whirled around in his chest.  Beautiful, he thought as the music continued.  So, so beautiful.  It was as if the music described yourself.  For how could he give up and die now, after falling for you?  Maybe...just maybe...Xiao allowed himself to sit in the fluffy cloud of human 'compassion' as he listened to you play.  He wouldn't dare call the emotion for what it truly was.  Not now.  Not yet.  You had to understand something before he could allow himself to love you.  Er, to care for you.  Y-yes.  That's it.  Xiao refocused his attention on your music to avoid thinking any deeper on the subject.

Yet though his mind listened to your moonsong, his heart entertained the possibility of finally admitting his lo--er, compassion for you.

He didn't notice that the pain had long faded, that the spots in his vision had cleared and that the voices of the vanquished silenced themselves.  He drifted to sleep right there in the middle of the dirt road as you played into the night, and for the first time in a long time, he slept with mind and body in peace.

................................

"Morning, Mezzetin," Childe greeted you with two mugs of hot chocolate in his hands.  He gave one to you before indulging in his while he leaned against your door.  "Sleep well?"

"I did, surprisingly.  The pain was pretty bad until I started practicing."  You rubbed your bleary eyes and let out a long yawn.  "Why do you ask?"

"You didn't call for him."

"Hm?"

"You've yelled for the yaksha every night you've been here.  You were quiet last night."

"How would you know that? Are you just constantly sitting outside my room like a creep?"  Your quip brought a smile to Childe's lips as he sipped at his mug.  

"Well then, since you're feeling well enough to banter with me, I guess I have no need to reward you for your cooperation..."

"Huh?  What do you mean, 'reward?'"  You perked up when he faked reaching for the door handle.  "Tartaglia?"  In your effort to get him to explain, you jumped out of bed and subsequently spilled your drink all over the sheets.  A jarring pain shot through your bones, but you ignored it.

"The Tsaritsa has requested I return to my post in Liyue Harbor to...discipline a few underperforming officers during the Lantern Rite.  Since I am in charge of you, I requested that you accompany me.  Her Majesty agreed."

"W-what?!"  Your sudden shout made him jump slightly.  "You...she...you're letting me return?"

"Temporarily, yes, and it is for business reasons.  We figured it would aid in your...dilemma."

"I..."  Your gaze fell to the half-empty mug in your hands.  

"You don't want to go?" The harbinger raised a brow in surprise.  "Why, I thought you'd jump at this opportunity."

"It's not that..." you trailed, your finger absently circling the rim of your cup.  "Would I...be able to roam around by myself?"

"Depends on where you want to go."  His eyes narrowed slightly and he set his cup atop your bedside table.  "You won't be able to visit Qingce Village, nor the Wanshu Inn."  He watched your shoulders drop in disappointment before continuing.  "But I will allow you to enjoy the festival."

"...Am I allowed to talk to them?  My adventure team?"

Childe let out a small sigh before nodding.  "I think it would be good for your health to see them."

"Why are you allowing me?"  It was your turn to narrow your eyes in suspicion against the harbinger.  "Wouldn't this be, you know, a risk for you guys to let me see them?  Aren't you worried about that?"

"There will be several Fatui agents in Liyue during the festival; even if you're 'alone,' one of us will always be nearby.  I don't take you as a complete idiot," he admonished.  "Besides, Mr. Zhongli knows more about adeptal blood than we do at this point.  If you manage to gather more information, that would be a plus."

"I'm not gathering information for the likes of you," you retorted, crossing your arms much like Xiao does.

"I'm not asking you as your superior, nor your captor.  I'm suggesting it as your comrade in arms."

"Ha!"  You couldn't help but let out a full laugh at the set of statements.  "You really expect me to believe that?  All you guys do is manipulate and deceive.  I don't trust a word that comes out of your mouth!"

"Even if you learn something and keep it to yourself, do it for yourself, Mezzetin.  I've realized something after you joined us."

"Oh? What could you have possibly realized?"  You rolled your eyes and returned your gaze to the window, not particularly caring about his side of the conversation and instead wishing he would just leave already.

"I realized some of my actions were not for your wellbeing, but for mine."

........................................

It was sprinkling when Childe, the Eleventh of the Fatui Harbingers, finally tracked your rescue team down in Fontaine.  It really didn't take much of an effort, which was highly disappointing considering the harbinger loved to play cat-and-mouse with his foes.  Oh well.  At least Mr. Zhongli was here; the plan wouldn't work if he hadn't accompanied Aether and the yaksha.

The harbinger stood in the shadow of a nearby tree and scouted the sheltered camp.  Besides Aether, Zhongli, and an apparently-unconscious yaksha, there were two more opponents.  Childe recognized one of them to be the wine master Diluc, but couldn't name the other one.  Maybe he was one of Mondstat's knights, judging by the way he carried himself?  Then again, he seemed to be drinking pretty heavily...

Childe glanced back a ways where a few Fatui agents were waiting for his return.  This wouldn't take long; he knew two of the adventurer's tricks, and the knight didn't look like he'd pose much of a challenge.  All he needed was to speak with Zhongli.

"I have to admit I'm disappointed for finding you so quickly," the harbinger made his presence known and stepped out of the shadows.  A chill ran down everyone's spines.

"I still can't believe you were naïve enough to get involved with the Fatui," Diluc sent an admonishing look Aether's way before summoning his broadsword.  "And hid it from me, no less."

"We're sorry!"  Paimon squeaked with her hands in the air.  "We didn't trust him completely!"

"It was my fault for allowing this to continue without your knowledge, Aether."  Zhongli rose from his seat and manifested his polearm.  "Allow me to make amends."

"I assume you're the one we're after?"  Kaeya unsheathed his sword and stood side-by-side with Diluc, much to his bro's dismay.  Despite all the wine he had consumed, he remained unusually composed.

"I've come to speak with Mr. Zhongli," Childe answered, both hands raised semi-defensively while the expression on his face was no less than that of a sly fox.  "And to retrieve the yaksha."

"We don't think so!"  Aether charged first and swung his blade through the air.  It collided against the well-known hydro blades of the harbinger before parrying off.  

Next was Diluc, whose flaming weapon created steam as it sliced through Childe's blades.  His attacks were slower than Aether's, but the amount of power coming from them nearly made the harbinger flinch both in hesitation and in excitement.  It was then that Xiao's eyes had opened slightly before he lost consciousness again.  Kaeya lunged forth and used his skill to send a burst of ice at the harbinger in an effort to freeze him in place.

Childe barely dodged, one blade freezing over.  "Tch."  The last thing he needed was to deal with a cryo user in this weather.  He was already at a disadvantage by wielding a hydro vision in normal circumstances.  His hydro burst threw everyone backwards, and he switched to his delusion.  

Electricity surged through the camp as everyone got to their feet and readied themselves for an onslaught of electro attacks.  None came; instead, the harbinger stared straight at Zhongli, who remained reserved and unbothered as he pointed the tip of his lance at him.  "This is your only warning, Childe," the archon spoke in an especially deep voice.  "Return her to us, or suffer the consequences."

"I only came to speak with you, Mr. Zhongli," Childe's eyes narrowed beneath his mask.  "As much as I'd love to indulge in a fight, I came here with a proposition.  Would you hear me out?"

Everyone's eyes turned expectantly to the archon, and he returned their gazes before allowing his polearm to disintegrate.  "Lower your weapons," he ordered much to everyone's dismay.

"But Zhongli!  He could trick you!" Paimon reappeared before the consultant.  "You can't--"

"Relax, Paimon," Zhongli quietly assured.  "I may not have a gnosis, but a harbinger is still by no-means what I perceive to be troublesome in battle."  He followed Childe a few meters away so the group was unable to hear them.

Childe shifted his mask to its resting place on the side of his head.  "There may be a way to retrieve her," he started in a quiet voice.  "But it would only be possible if you declare war against the Tsaritsa."

"Tell me, Childe, why should I trust you after you breached our trust?"

"You can't, but I trust that we all have our comrade's best interests in mind, no?   If you're able to rally the people of Teyvat, the Tsaritsa may yield.  Her Majesty has no interest in declaring war against the mortals as you are already aware."

It was a fitting task for the God of War; declare a world war against the Tsaritsa, and she'd yield without calling his bluff.  Even so, the former archon was not convinced.  Childe would need to up his charming façade.  He was only lying for your own safety after all; he'd back you into joining the harbingers, and you'd be free of the Fatui's grasp in the outside world.  You wouldn't be hunted for the rest of your life; you could live freely in your captors' backyard.  The suffering you were being thrown into now would last a lifetime if you continued to resist.

Some part of the harbinger knew it was a twisted form of compassion--dare he call it love--for you.  He needed you to free yourself both of the Fatui's and Xiao's grasps.  The only way to do that would be to recruit you, but you weren't so easy to convince.  You wouldn't be in danger of getting hurt by his subordinates his way.  You wouldn't hurt yourself by chasing after Xiao if Childe stepped in either.  He didn't care that it was selfish of him to step between your struggling romance.

What better way to keep you safe, mentally and physically, than to break you into submission?

The two opposing forces continued their hushed discussion for twenty more minutes before Zhongli broke away from Childe.  He was about to fill the group in on the details when Childe attacked him from behind.