unfxllenone

[unfxllenone]

If you want to pull it apart, I need you to do something really special with the person you're connected with…

Lumine fiddles with the string as her steps bring her closer to her partner. It’s pointless to do so, she knows – it’s not like she’s trying to break it off. Not anymore. If her blade doesn’t cut through it, nothing will, and the tugging is, frankly, a little uncomfortable. Who’s to say the person on the opposite end will be pleased with further attempts? A glance at those she passes by reveals no-one else seems to spot her predicament, so she doesn’t even bother trying for help. Though she’s wary of what, exactly, this will lead to, that second sliver of paper –

Maybe once you’ve learned how to be honest….

– comforts her a little. After all, how hard is it to be upfront? When she sees long, purple hair on the other end of the string, she realizes this endeavor might be a little harder than she imagined.

Well – even so!

“Ei?” An easy greeting. It can’t be that bad. Between their shared conversation from the festival and Mizuki’s elaborations that she’s taken to heart, she’s got some semblance of a handle on this. Nobody’s innocent, but that doesn’t mean they’re bound solely to cruelty, either. She fidgets with that string again, offering a huff in amusement. “It’s hard to believe even you can’t remove –”

And then, she promptly goes quiet. That.. isn’t Ei. At all. Though there’s an echo of the Narukami Ogosho for certain, there is far too much here that is decidedly not her. Lumine flushes at the mistake; really, after going to so many worlds, you’d think she’d be more careful.

( What an interesting facsimile it is, though. )

“Sorry – I mistook you for someone else.” A remedying statement, quickly. She holds out her hand, as if the red string is taking blame for this error, too.

"-- but, it looks like we're...."

@originsrebirth

What Dwells Within Her.

Sparkle's Scarlet Strings: Heart to Heart Raiden Mei✧ Lumine

[unfxllenone]

SCENE: LANTERNS

"The sky is absolutely dazzling tonight; each lantern representing a wish…each light a memorial. It's a lovely sentiment that warms the heart, ensuring none shall be forgotten…and a beautiful scene, wouldn't you agree?"

THE DIRECTOR appears, standing beside LUMINE in the small group of people releasing lanterns at the docks. The orange lights dot the night sky like stars, reflections glittering on the calm surface of the harbor. He greets his prospective talent with a casual smile, a piercing glint in his eye betraying an ulterior motive.

This particular actor had stuck out in the crowd… She's going places. He holds out a business card as part of an introduction, though it doesn't contain any further identifying information other than what he elaborates on next.

"Ah, do pardon the interruption…Mr. Reca, director. This is my first time on this set, but I can tell you've had quite the adventures here."

Her weary gaze out to sea, the way she carries herself as if there's a weight on her shoulders--one doesn't need to be a mind reader to see this actor has a story.

"Perhaps you could give me some local rrrecommendations, my dear?"

She's a little solemn, admittedly, after the earlier events. She doesn't voice it, because there are some feelings that go beyond words -- and, really, who is there to tell?

Instead, her gaze lingers out on the rippling tides that reflect the golden light above, and she dwells, despite herself.

( Which lantern is theirs? It's lost amongst the masses. She'd have to let it go anyway, so it's alright, but.. )

The sudden appearance at her side wouldn't normally catch her off guard in a place like this, but, given her reverie, it does. Her startled gaze finds the stranger beside her, and then his card, and, given it would be rude to leave him hanging, she takes it with both hands. The same earnest grasp that had accepted countless red envelopes. A blink, once, a slight furrow of her brow given how limited the information presented was (notably, it doesn't say where he's from), before she looks to meet a unique crimson gaze again.

"Is that so?" She offers, lips quirking with amusement. She's heard this line before. Fingers crossed it's for nothing too serious.

And it's not. All he wants are a few recommendations, and that is surely within her wheelhouse -- no matter her mood.

"I have quite a few. You must have a good eye, Mr. Reca." She returns, tucking the card into her pocket.

"Unfortunately, you've might've missed the Wushu dance, but I can show you a few teahouses where smaller performances are being held into the evening. Should I ask which you might enjoy most, or do you want to risk me just guiding you to what I think you'll like?"

[unfxllenone]

Lantern Rite Claims

Tea Tasting // Nahida

Dragon Dance // Albedo

Lanterns // Aether

Tour Guide // Diluc

Tour Guide // Moze

Desired Prizes: 1 Talent Point + Fleuve Cendre Ferryman

[unfxllenone]

[TOUR GUIDE] On the path between Wangshu Inn and the city, one might find this crowfeathered stranger facing the marsh with an expression etched with little else but the utmost concentration. A scrap of paper in his hand flutters in the wind - some kind of map that is either ancient and out of date, or simply wrong, because it has led him to the middle of nowhere. Even an outlander like him knows that this nation's city is not so rustic as to be contained within a single treehouse. It may not be the Yaoqing, but if his brief excursion into Fontaine was anything to go by, then Teyvat's seven nations at least have a close approximation to cities.

Speaking of Fontaine, the golden haired girl he'd met while he was there happens to be coming down the road just then. Moze is pretty sure she's a local, even if he's not sure of much else, and whether she notices him perched on his rock or not, he slips into shadow to reappear once more in front of her.

"Where is this," he says in lieu of any sort of greeting, holding out the ancient and very wrong map he's somehow acquired. "I'm looking for the city hosting the Lantern Rite."

"It's you!" Lumine greets where he does not, as though she thinks nothing of his sudden appearance, little more of the brusque nature of his quandry. Of all the nations, Liyue is the most prone to having her called upon from out of nowhere, and though the one who draws near is not exactly an old friend, he's not a foe, and, though the belief may be naive, that, for Lumine, is enough.

"Let me see.." She knows, of course, where Liyue is, but given what ought to be a normally conspicuous landmark, she can't help her curiosity. What kind of map can't lead to the harbor? She takes the parchment gingerly, and glances down upon it.

....

What is this, actually? Her head tilts one way and then another, as if trying another angle might align what this map should be showing and yet definitely doesn't. Her brows furrow, studying it for another beat, before she glances back up to him.

"This map's a bit..." Wrong. "--different, than the ones I normally see. But that's fine! I know where the Harbor is, if you wouldn't mind a little company on the journey."

She smiles at him amiably, though before she hands that map over...

"Is it alright if I take a photo of this? I -- have a friend who's a bit of a historian, and I'd just be curious to see what he has to say about this. It seems like it might be from a while before things were situated at the Harbor. Around here --" She glances over her shoulder, towards where the Guili Plains linger behind her. "-- this place used to be a main city, actually, before it was attacked. I think that's what this is showing, at least? I'm a little surprised something so old even still exists."

"Oh! -- But, let's not miss the festival, alright? Right this way..."

[unfxllenone]

[TOUR GUIDE] - With as many sights to see as Liyue has, join up with a group of strangers to garner the best sights across the city and countryside!

He had been to Liyue before – a handful of occasions, some for business, some diplomatic, with only scant few for pleasure – and there were familiar paths that he had trod during his previous visits, but Diluc knew better than to think this gave him the appropriate lay of the land. It was one thing, for someone of his class and social standing, to patronize an establishment or to be guided to the supposed best spots in town, but it was another entirely to follow in the path of someone who truly knew where they were going.

"And where exactly are you taking me?" He would go regardless, the trust in Lumine well established over time and trial, and allowed her to drag him along by the wrist, the only hint of his excitement the upward curve of one corner of his lips.

If it was somewhere the Traveler deemed worth a visit, then he would not question, and would mark the sight in his memory forevermore.

"You'll see!" She chirps, guiding them through the sparsening crowd with an almost childish glee. It's not so often she catches Diluc off-work, and even less so in another nation, so the opportunity must be seized with an eagerness only befitting the rarity.

In truth, she isn't taking him far. A parcel in her hand filled with Wanmin's specialties, her other in his, and she guides him across the bridge behind the smaller half of the harbor. Past Li Xiao's abode, there's a well-tread path to the right, illuminated by a small lantern that she follows up and around. To their left now is where the former Rite of Descension would take place, though the few guards that linger don't notice the two figures that pass behind a rock, near a tree, to linger on the minature cliffside beside it.

From here, they can see the entirety of the horizon, even so far as the Stone Forest in the distance -- the lanterns sweep across the sky, mingling with each other in the evening breeze, children run around the streets beneath, and the gentle scent of ocean and earth linger around them. Up here, the cacophony of the festival is muted into a fitting background's lull -- perhaps it's as though, through something so simple as a private location, she's offering Diluc a sample of her travels. After all, isn't he an observer, too?

Satisfied, Lumine settles in the grass, carefully undoing the bindings of the parcel she'd asked of Xiangling.

"We could've hopped the fence over there, probably--" A nod, towards the ritual site, more quietly followed by: "-- but the Millelith don't really like it when I do that, though, and the goal is not to get you in trouble."

A playful glint lingers in the gold peering up at him, favorable as the Rex coin on her person, before she glances down and opens the lid.

"Here. There's some stuff I wanted you to try, too!"

( ... mostly normal foods from Wanmin... but she does wonder how Diluc will take the specially made minty meat rolls. Should she mention Xiangling's penchant for strange recipes? It's not like the slime condensate involved is that noticeable... )

[unfxllenone]

[LANTERNS] - HE SHOULDN'T BE HERE, shouldn't be interfering with her journey, and yet Kong remains, covered by a dusty travelling cloak as he presses through the crowds to the golden hair dancing lightly on the winds like waves. It's amusing to him in a way, the sense of Deja Vu that befalls him, like he's done this time and time again in the past, and yet he knows he has not.

Still, it's eager, shaking, hands that lift the lantern to her, golden eyes that shine from beneath the hood as wordlessly the lantern is held to her in a pale mimicry of the way others hold their lantern to those they care more about. He wants to speak that terrible phrase, the words that would doom his mission to fail, and yet he can't, continuing to pose merely as a nameless, voiceless traveller until eyes are following the lanterns to the darkened skies above.

His voice is like a whisper on the wind as the crowds begin to close in around them, allowing himself to be enveloped by the awestruck peoples so that he may once more disappear into the seas before she can chase after him.

"Happy Lantern Rite... Ying"

After all the excitement of this Rite, she's eager to simply sit and enjoy the grand crescendo of it all -- the tidal wave of lanterns due to be released to the sky. Family and friends gather around her, pressing close as the crowd continues to build, and all have the delight of that warm golden glow painted on their skin as the lanterns are lit in preparation for their release.

She enjoys her role as an observer -- understands it well -- and in moments like this, she cherishes it even for as bittersweet as it is.

She she barely notices as that stranger that strides up to her, gliding through the crowd like a ghost. There's a lantern pressed into her welcoming hands, too, making her a part of this festivity, and before she can ask why, she sees who.

" Kong-- " The breathless whisper barely escapes before he does, disappearing into the crowd as though he was never there at all.

A dumbfounded moment later, and she's shoving through the clumps of bodies with desperate fervor; the lanterns break skyward, and she stumbles, clumsy, like the flightless bird she's been forced to become. She reaches forwards and fails to grasp, like their separation centuries ago. She wishes the memories she forms with him on this world would stop their near-rhythmic predictability of just can't, just missed, just beyond her, but she will not be lucky enough to break that tune tonight.

Her footfalls come to a halt at the outside of the cluster, gaze casting left and right as though she might be able to continue her pursuit, but it's pointless. He is gone. Kong is far brighter than any lantern could ever be, far more akin to the sun in the sky, and yet he evanesces with the ease of a candle snuffed. How? How?

She can't help but to be angry at him for that. To come here, to see her, and yet to remain so out of reach -- she couldn't even get a word in. Her older brother is a fool and an idiot, and, tonight, again, he'll make her cry.

... he's alive, though. Well enough to come see her, albeit briefly, and she can't help but be a little relieved at that whispered turn of her name from a familiar voice. Even if she'd barely glimpsed his face, his expression, for her, has always been so obvious -- she'd gathered much from it in that cursory sweep. Her older brother is a fool and an idiot, and he misses her terribly, as much as she misses him.

Her hand covers her heart where it beats achingly in her chest, and she releases a sigh tinged with melancholy.

The anger disippates quickly as it appeared, and all that is left is the prickling warmth from the one she cherishes so dearly. Even if it takes another hundred years, she'll keep her promise. She'll keep chasing. Again and again and again, until they're reunited like they should be.

Her voice is quiet in return, weary but sincere, like laying an oath to rest.

"Happy Lantern Rite.. Kong."

[unfxllenone]

[DRAGON DANCE] - Uh-oh! It seems like the main crew that would lead the dragon dance are two members short, and need two sets of hands NOW! Grab someone and help keep this dance from falling through.

The little smile he offers her from under the raised dragon's head is some parts imploring, more parts sheepish.

"It would seem they'd mistaken me for the performing type," he explains to Lumine. "Before I could get a word in, they were ushering me under this."

Sent off with the tall order of finding another partner, at that. Perhaps this was some product of the way Albedo strode into Liyue Harbor: light on his feet, quick-thinking steps, unboasting yet distinguishable whether he desired it or otherwise. Through his subduing of small threats on the journey, the locals had even gleaned an eyeful of how he swung his sword, the swanlike execution, a style of swordsmanship that could be called a dance in its own right. But was he a dragon?

"This may be a bit troublesome... but could I ask for your assistance?"

There's an attempt at presenting a sympathetic expression to the plight he's found himself entrenched in, but undeniably the smile that plays Lumine's lips is, at least in part, amused. A new predicament for him, isn't it?

( She'd be lying if she said she wasn't curious to see how he'd do. It's Albedo, so high expectations are bound to follow. )

"Poor thing." She can't help but tease; the fond sigh that escapes her follows suit, though she drops the act shortly thereafter.

"Don't worry." She assures, nodding back towards the stage from where he'd trod. Best to get some practice in while they have the chance. "I won't leave you hanging. Let's figure this out, then? Between the two of us, it should be a breeze!"

[unfxllenone]

[TEA TASTING]

Lantern Rite is a time of change and renewal, a time of honoring tradition while looking to the future. All the festival activities, spread throughout Liyue's streets, embrace this ethos, with everything from traditional arts to experimental modern advancements on display in some form or another.

Nahida wanders the streets, drinking in the myriad sights and sounds; there's so much to see, so much to explore, and she feels, for a moment, a little more like the child she outwardly resembles; a little more free and unburdened. One particular event catches her eye - a local tavern, hosting a tea-tasting event - and, even better, she spots Lumine standing nearby.

She's always enjoyed sating her endless curiosity with new foods and drinks - nothing ever tasted real, in those endless dreams, and strong, vibrant flavors have always made her feel so very alive - and partaking in the event with her First Sage, her dear friend, by her side will be all the better.

"Hey, Lumine! Want to check this place out together?"

Lantern Rite brings Lumine a familiar warmth, reminding her of every time she's had the luxury of enjoying it -- and now, more than ever, doesn't she deserve a little reprieve? Over the harbor, the guiding lights dappling the sky present a path for those dearly departed to follow, and beneath their gentle glow, the living strive to carve their own memories amongst the many festivities available.

"Nahida!" Lumine's face alights with a similar warmth and vigor when she spots the Dendro Archon in the heart of Liyue, and there and then she decides she absolutely has to add to her delight. If anyone deserves to enjoy the festivities to the fullest, it is surely this flower in bloom.

"I'd love to." She assures, a hand over her heart, though she's offering the restaurant a contemplative glance. The tea is fine -- perfect, really -- but if she can get them a table around the back, won't they have a view of the Wushu dance going on below? No, wait -- Nahida would probably prefer to see that up close, so why spoil it? And they could pick up a lantern from Granny Shan, too. And stop by Wanmin, maybe, to try another one of Xiangling's creative recipes. Oh! And --

( Better not think about it too hard, if she wants to keep this surprise a secret. )

"-- and I know just the place I'd like to take you after, too!" She looks back to Nahida, flashing a grin -- before pausing, thinking, and then more sheepishly offering --

"Well -- assuming you don't already have set plans..?"

[unfxllenone]

✰ LANTERN RITE 2025 ! – reblog & send to earn Peace Talismans.

[XINYUE KIOSK] - Back again, Xinyue Kiosk’s keeping up the competition, offering sweet treats, savory dishes, and even refreshing veggies for all those looking to share a snack.

[TEA TASTING] - Third-Round Knockout is once again bringing the new year on with plenty of new tea options for all those caffeinated connoisseurs that want to branch out. Including, for the first time in quite a while, specialty imports all the way from Natlan!

[DRAGON DANCE] - Uh-oh! It seems like the main crew that would lead the dragon dance are two members short, and need two sets of hands NOW! Grab someone and help keep this dance from falling through.

[KAMERA BOOTH] - Liyue is as scenic as it is busy. Several Kamera’s are set up on the docks, surrounding mountains, and some of the best balconies in the area. Make a memory with someone important to you, or keep the lens' attention for yourself!

[LANTERNS] - Like a sea, lanterns float up and flood the night sky. Meaning often dictated by color, they contain our hopes for the new year. Gather with those most cherished and wish for blessings.

[FIREWORK SHOW] - While noisy, fireworks are an incredible display of beauty and color. Make your mark on the new year with a bang!

[JADE HEARTS] - A popular shape for a popular stone in the land of Geo, these Jade Talismans sold quite well. Now, they’re made as a profession of love and desire to ring the New Year in with the company of another.

[BURNING INCENSE] - Even with all the raucous celebration, it is always important to find a quiet moment and remember those who now belong among the stars.

[TOUR GUIDE] - With as many sights to see as Liyue has, join up with a group of strangers to garner the best sights across the city and countryside!

[GIANT JENGA] - While not necessarily a Liyue classic, a recent uptick amongst the younger generation has brought this classic game to the port, and with blocks bigger than ever! Will you best your friend, or will all the pieces come crumbling down? 

[RED ENVELOPES] - Customize your own envelope as a gift to those most cherished. Whether you slip in some mora or a confession of love, even the smallest of envelopes can be life-changing!

[SNAKE PETTING] - As the mascot animal of the year, an exhibit has been set up with several non-venomous and super friendly snakes, if you’re not afraid of these scaly babies.

[JADE MYSTERY] - Shitou is running a special promotion! Guess the correct Noctilucous Jades to find out what it is, just don't gamble all of your mora away...

[unfxllenone]

Injuries are natural over the course of battle -- a when, not an if, and yet Lumine still cannot help the outrage that grips her when an ally (a friend) finds themselves on the receiving end of a brutal blow. Her surprise matches Kokomi's own as the thing simply jumps the distance to the general, disappearing only for so long as it took to blink, though the slash it deals her sets it up for its own demise. Thank gods.

As the lackluster firework marks the creature's end, Lumine breaks into a brisk jog to sooner come to her companion's aid. As if she can offer much: six elements, and still no healing in sight.

"I'm fine." She returns quickly, gaze settling on the slowly-closing cut on Kokomi's forearm. Deeper than she'd like it to be, but at least it'll be better soon enough; it doesn't wipe the frown off her face. "Are you okay? You really saved me back there."

It feels like a ridiculous question, but she still asks anyway. That, alongside:

"...I'll take it you haven't seen one of those things, either?" A displeased huff, though the frustration's directed elsewhere. Her gaze flits around alongside it, seeking out even the slightest stirring nearby; outside of a bird flitting from a tree, it seems they're safe enough. For now.

Ma! There's a weird looking (???) outside!

Commission: Crystallize ✧ Fontaine's Antimatter Legion Kokomi ✧ Lumine

[unfxllenone]

❄️ (blehh)

EVEN HAT GUY? (just kidding she will pelt him back its fine)

Realistically, there is no winning against him -- not in this game of flurries and ice. An untiring puppet built for battle does not a weak snowbrawler make. Granted, it's not that serious! She can take the snowball to the face and be done with it, or drop a comment that's a carbon copy of his to end this in a huff: Since when did you participate in something so childish? comes to mind.

... But she's having fun, unfortunately, and, ever the optimist, Lumine believes she can find a silver lining despite the loss that she will surely wind up with.

Her acting skills come into play, donning an expression of confusion as she points out a tree. The branches are spindly, though some sections hold snow. Hat Guy doesn't seem to grasp what she's gesturing at (which is the point, considering nothing's there), and all it takes is a claim of Maybe only I can see it..? (because something requiring her magic sight or touch or whatever else is part and parcel of her journey) before she's clambering up the tree in a careful, practiced manner, managing surprisingly well despite the ice that covers the branches. She pretends to be inspecting something on the thin showing of bark very closely before her gaze drops to the ground below, and she gestures as though something has fallen, urgently requiring him to grab it. He's not foolish enough to walk beneath the branches she's on (smart, even if they weren't locked in a winter wonderland's combat), but he is still foolish enough to walk beneath the tree, and that is all it takes for her to play it to her advantage.

A jump has her latching onto another branch nearby; it creaks with her weight, but the only part of it that falls are the lumps of snow once caught between forked branches.

Satisfyingly, right onto his head. Hat.

She snorts.

Vindication is surely due, and she knows there's only so much leverage the tree can give her -- but even so, the smug grin she gives him surely conveys she's pleased with the outcome regardless.

[unfxllenone]

"The animals around here usually keep to themselves... I'm surprised they'd come out so far." Lumine muses, sparing a glance over her shoulder to the great Spine above. No movement can be seen from here upon the snowy cliffs, a facade of serenity in the biting, chaos-begetting cold, but maybe the frosty winds that blur the mountains simply hide any foul actors from view. Wouldn't be the first time. "Though, if you were unlucky enough to run into a wild boar, it would probably charge straight at you. That much hasn't changed."

Her glance turns back to the path in front of them.

"That's alright." She assures, a soft laugh. "You'd normally be in the right place for a little solitude, if it's any consolation. It's kind of you to offer a helping hand anyway." "Leave the guiding to me. It's just right this way." A gloved hand rises to point ahead, gesturing to a path between a few barren trees. Their branches, dense and mangled as they are, still make it hard to see the houses just beyond the other side, the guiding tracks on the ground camoflauged by the shadows casted on snowy terrain.

( The houses should have fires going... that's not a great sign. Maybe these packages are more urgent than she'd anticipated. )

"I take it you haven't been around Dragonspine much? It's a lot prettier when it's not crawling with emergency preparations, I promise."

Ab Abysso Ad Cor

Swirl, Nov, Lumine + Welt

The Heart of Dragonspine, a mysterious source of heat amidst the perilous cold, has begun to garner some unsavory attention...

[unfxllenone]

january plotting call

Admittedly, I'm a little overwhelmed on threads with Lumine, so I'll probably only be grabbing one or two threads! That said, I'd really love to get going with a Sea of Quanta muse for the following commission thread:

⟡ The reality of work at the Herta Space Station is that the researchers, who hail from all across the universe, rarely ever have an opportunity to visit home and celebrate whatever festivities their nations traditionally enjoy. Hardly surprising that some of them become a little homesick. A group decides soon to put together a faire, where they can share elements of their culture while learning about the beauty of others. Guests who wish to broaden their horizons, or perhaps even share their own, are of course more than welcome!

If you'd like to have our muses meet and chat, please feel free to send me a dm or ping me in the server! I'll probably need a little guidance as I'm only so familiar with HSR BUT I'm a quick learner ♪

[unfxllenone]

December Review

Commissions: Crystallize Kokomi / AntiMatter Legion Fontaine (Ongoing) Childe / Storytelling in Liyue (Ongoing) Caelus / AntiMatter Legion Fontaine (2)(Ongoing) Venti / Storytelling in Liyue (2) (tbd) Still-Ongoing Commission Threads Welt / Swirl - Dragonspine / Ab Abysso Ad Cor (Ongoing)

Threads (General) Wanderer / Reverberations of an Ode (Ongoing) Neuvillette / What Is Shattered, Still Remains (Ongoing) Childe / Winter Amidst the Seventh Snow (Ongoing)

Asks Obscure Sorrows / Watashiato Snowball Fight / Diluc Home Decoration / Kaveh Home Decoration / Welt

1 Talent Point Gained!

[unfxllenone]

❄️‼️

Did you just snowball me bro

The squawk Lumine makes in response to the ice that hits her back is both tragically and comedically comparable to the sound of a falcon's cry. Just.. Far less dignified, far higher in pitch. Far more surprised, too, than a bird of prey ever should be.

Her hand covers the spot that's been bitten by cold, excess snow fluttering from her shoulder with the motion, and her incredulous glance snaps over to the only other person within a feasible vicinity to pelt her with a snowball.

Red and black and sticking out like a sore thumb at the foot of Dragonspine. Doesn't he look pleased?

There's another beat, as if to process the situation, the outcomes, the consequences that are clearly due -- and then, she rights herself, wraps her scarf up nice and secure around her neck from where it'd been freely billowing before. The motion is nothing short of determined, same as that glint in her eye.

And there she goes.

"Diluc... so you've chosen war?" She tugs at the fabric one last time, ensuring it's unmoving (for now), before crouching and hastily making her own harmless projectile for retribution. Not much prompting needed for her to engage in this battle, is there? Despite the seriousness with which she tries to present her words, that note of amusement still rings clear. "You're about to find out that I'm a very scrupulous foe."

( In which: she will chase him across the hills and slopes of Dragonspine bearing the full force of Cryo without resonation, or she will tumble into the icy waters trying. )

[unfxllenone]

"Childe." A lilting singsong return to his greeting; of course he's easy as ever to spot. Maybe that muted gray he dons blends him to the earthy background, spirited away with browns and blacks and greens, but that scarf of his is always a beacon in the same way her own surely must be. Her steps come to a halt, waiting for him to reach her.

"Did you?" Her brows raise, only slightly -- guess she can't be surprised a Fatui network spreads information so fast.

( She wonders what they say. What's being conveyed behind those closed doors, now that she's come so far? They know her arrival in Snezhnaya will soon come to fruition, after all. )

"Well -- then you know I met the Captain." Lumine wants some cards to keep close to her chest, but when she's in the presence of Childe, it's less lofty secrets of the world to be concealed and more simple affections. Even so, she spares a light touch to his arm, a squeeze; the brief but familiar sort of contact that says it's good to see you and just checking on you and you look okay, so I'll let you off (for now), all at once. He might still be hard pressed to get her to agree to that spar, though. "We talked about you, just a little. Doesn't compare to getting to talk to you, though."

She grins, something amused, before letting her hand fall back to her side.

"Didn't think I'd find you in Liyue next." She muses, nodding to the city around them. Her eyes narrow, but it's an inquisitive thing, head tilting just so. Curious. "You really want to enter this story contest, huh? No cold feet or anything?"

@whaleschild

Tell Me, Tell You

Commission: Crystallize ✧ Liyue's Storytelling Competition Childe ✧ Lumine

[unfxllenone]

send ❄️ to throw a snowball at my muse