Xuebing Du
Not today Justin
Game of Thrones Daily
Jules of Nature
roma★
Mike Driver
trying on a metaphor
Aqua Utopia｜海の底で記憶を紡ぐ
d e v o n
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One Nice Bug Per Day
tumblr dot com
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
$LAYYYTER
Product Placement
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@theartofmadeline
pixel skylines
if i look back, i am lost
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@askkunithesilliest
•The Important Stuff•
Hiiiiii!!! This is Kunikuzushi, here to explore this strange but intriguing website!! I’m so excited to talk to you lovely humans (or non-humans?) and make many, many new friends! Lil sis Nahida told me that I should make a blog on here, so that’s what this is for! Please feel free to ask me absolutely anything, except gross stuff about extreme intimacy or being a bad person. (Homophobia, ableism, sexism, etc…) Thank you all for being super awesome!!!!!
ITS APRIL 13 YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS
FETCH ME NEIL
HAPPY BIG TWENTY NEIL
This was not the blog I meant to put this on
Might as well be, Elio surely appreciates this kind of content
What's your favorite genshin impact character? I need to practice drawing more, so if I have time I'll give you a sketch of them :3 (btw, ASPIRING artist aka I'm still learning and not very gud :3)
I mean…ain’t it obvious? /j
I’m a huge fan of Scaramouche/Wanderer/Hat Guy/whatever you wanna call him, it’s the whole reason why this Kunikuzushi dude exists as a glorified twin brother AU. Do what you can, dunno why you asked me specifically but I guess it’s fine lmao. I believe in you!!
soup
Soup. Soup…ah, soup. I already talked in an earlier post about which soup is my favorite. So…my least favorite soup is any soup with alcohol in it, or soups that combine super crunchy with unpleasant squishy in any way. Can’t name any off the top of my head, but you get the idea.
I am in an abusive relationship with my cat and the Herald is on her side she already gets half of her cat-roommates dinner because she is getting fat I do not know what more she wants
Uh…one, who’s the Herald? Two, is your cat getting physical with you? Three, how am I supposed to help you out…? I don’t exactly have animal speaking powers. I know it looks like I totally should, but I don’t. You should probably take this to someone with actual animal communication abilities…uh, best I can do is give her some naughty air jail time. Sorry.
so up
So up? Did you get the words of “as above, so below” mixed up?? Or…wait. Is this soup with a space typo? I am so befuddled. Uh, I like a lot of soups, if that helps…? My favorite’s probably miso soup. From my homeland, of course! Mm. Invigorating.
It is most heartening to hear of your fortunate state of good health, Columbina. I do apologize for potentially dropping a bombshell of a revelation about the other realities, I am a bit…desensitized to it all, being a roamer of these domains. But I suppose you are taking it surprisingly well, so I am not too worried about the mildly unsettling implications of it all. At least you’re intelligent- and mentally formidable- enough to not become a blabbering madman like the typical eldritch-exposed mortal. You know, the whole thing about witnessing cosmic horrors beyond comprehension and all. Haha…oopsies?
As for “K”, he’s absolutely delighted to hear that you’re doing wonderful! I have had to remind him that he’s likely thinking of his own domain’s Columbina at times, but he eventually understood. He’s a tad stubborn…as usual. Just like his brother, although he is definitely…er…worse. Ish. Sorry, I’m off on an unimportant tangent once again. I would offer to open up a handful of rifts so he could facelessly present to you his (in)famous pastry delicacies, but I’m afraid the risks of his condition must be considered first and foremost. It is with great tragedy that I must disallow such an exchange, solely to prevent the potential spread of the wretched Abyssal disease that riddles his poor, poor little domain so thoroughly. He’s…fine, being a dumbass puppet dude and all, but there isn’t a damn cure yet, so…yeah. One universe with chimeric Abyssal murder furries in it is more than enough.
That’s all I have for now. I’ll find some way to fully guarantee that the disease cannot be transmitted through dimensions, but for now? Simply savor your own realm’s pastries in place, if you can…oh, and you’re most welcome for the flattering words. You are simply too charming to remain silent in the matter, haha.
(The Part Where I OOC At You: RAGGGHHH another person who doesn’t mind my ridiculously long asks and their even stupider contents!!! Uhhhh I have NO idea where I learned most of my vocabulary from, but I did read way too many books as a kid so…there’s that!!! /silly Oh and yes yes the AU, he has a whole ask page of his own actually!! Spoiled lil self-indulgent turd. I’d go into depth but frankly that’d be like 5 separate essays in itself. Also I’m too nervous to come off anon directly, but here’s the ask page if you want to browse: @askkunithesilliest !!)
I don't mind it at all! personally, i think it's intriguing that there are other lives and other alternatives beyond the reality i live within.. And for "K", i dont mind regardless if he confuses me with the other me from his realm, it's sweet in a way, the fact that he still cares whether it's me or- well, me but you get what i mean. Though it's a shame.. i would've loved to give his pastries a try.. Alas, maybe another time..ヽ( ´ー｀)ノ
Oh, and if you're going to see him, please pass these to him as a little gift.. They're not much, but i hope they remind him of this small but sweet conversation we had. ﾟ+.ﾟ(´▽`人)ﾟ+.ﾟ
ooc: aaahh sorry for the late reply!! i got a bit busy,,, and i checked the blog + even showed it to my friend @/thekn4ve !!!! i love his design!!! hes such a cutiepie <3 and its okay if you wanna stay as an anon, i dont mind at all!!
“Thank you, miss Columbina…the flowers are so pretty, and the rock is very smooth and shiny! It’s so nice to rub against my cheeks…ah, please don’t take that weirdly! It’s a texture thing, see- like how some young children enjoy rubbing cotton pads on their face, or silk fabric between their fingers. It’s soothing. A-Again, thank you very much!”
That was his message to pass on…I believe it is safe to assume that he very much enjoyed this exchange.
(Ooc: Gahhhh I’m so sorry I meant to reply sooner but I unexpectedly lost my iPencil tip and had to wait until today for replacements and I can barely draw without it…grhrghrhr forgive me,,, also I felt it was best to reblog with his blog cause one, anons cannot image, and two, it him!!! He!!!! Anyway yeah enjoy my crappy doodle)
'' Currently researching something that caught my interest... Do you mind if I touch your 'pontil mark' for scientific purposes? ''
“My what? Uh, that better not be some kind of gross innuendo. If you can explain what you mean, and it isn’t my…no-no square or something like that, then yeah. Why not? Explain yourself first, though. Cause that sounds super weird at first.”
'' Ah, you don't know the term? Birthmark as a proof of creation, then. The crystallized life energy in a four-pointed star shape on the base of my neck, 'Mom's' Electro marking, the golden crystallized life energy star mark on 'Cretaceus's' neck... I'm investigating something fascinating about my own, and the only way to get related evidence is to test the reaction of others with similar markings. ''
“Oh- of course I don’t know the term, I’m not a rocket scientist or a…biologist, I guess! I’m a humble pastry chef to be. Anyway, yeah. Of course you can touch my birthmark. Craationmark? Ehh, whatever. The symbol on my neck’s just a tattoo she did at the end for…branding, I suppose, but my big chest mark’s basically like a birthmark. Hold on, I have to get my shirt off- there! Free to touch. Super glowy and stuff, right? Careful. I have no idea if it’ll shock you or not.”
'' ...How do you know of technology that predates the continent of Teyvat? Eh, that can wait. So it's a tattoo, not your 'birthmark.' Another variance... ''
Grabbing a notebook, Andvari scratches down a few lines of notes before raising his right hand to the chest marking. Unwilling to push his luck, though, he merely holds his gloved finger to the mark.
“Wha- oh, is that what a rocket is? I dunno, my weird friend told me it was a flying thing that was super hard to make, and that people who work with rockets are rocket scientists. It’s a really hard job, apparently, so…eh. I never gave it any real thought-…uh, there’s no arc of Electro there, bud. I think it’s safe to touch…”
[Kunikuzushi stared at the finger and the space between it and his chest, still holding his shirt out of the way so it can even be accessed. There was no arc, no static charge strengthening, nothing to signify that this spot was inherently a live wire compared to the rest of the puppet. The spot promised to simply be a fluorescent blemish and nothing more.]
'' Currently researching something that caught my interest... Do you mind if I touch your 'pontil mark' for scientific purposes? ''
“My what? Uh, that better not be some kind of gross innuendo. If you can explain what you mean, and it isn’t my…no-no square or something like that, then yeah. Why not? Explain yourself first, though. Cause that sounds super weird at first.”
'' Ah, you don't know the term? Birthmark as a proof of creation, then. The crystallized life energy in a four-pointed star shape on the base of my neck, 'Mom's' Electro marking, the golden crystallized life energy star mark on 'Cretaceus's' neck... I'm investigating something fascinating about my own, and the only way to get related evidence is to test the reaction of others with similar markings. ''
“Oh- of course I don’t know the term, I’m not a rocket scientist or a…biologist, I guess! I’m a humble pastry chef to be. Anyway, yeah. Of course you can touch my birthmark. Craationmark? Ehh, whatever. The symbol on my neck’s just a tattoo she did at the end for…branding, I suppose, but my big chest mark’s basically like a birthmark. Hold on, I have to get my shirt off- there! Free to touch. Super glowy and stuff, right? Careful. I have no idea if it’ll shock you or not.”
'' Currently researching something that caught my interest... Do you mind if I touch your 'pontil mark' for scientific purposes? ''
“My what? Uh, that better not be some kind of gross innuendo. If you can explain what you mean, and it isn’t my…no-no square or something like that, then yeah. Why not? Explain yourself first, though. Cause that sounds super weird at first.”
'' Any advice for fighting Ajax of Morepesok? I need to develop confidence in battle, and he's likely the same for our 'time domains,' so I thought I'd ask you. 'Mom' won't help me at all. ''
“Aah, shhh shhh shhhhh- don’t call out his name here…! Ah- he…didn’t come? Huh. Uh, wow. Guess it’s probably cause you’re not from here. Weird. Don’t try it a second time, though- address him as vaguely as you can, please. I don’t wanna deal with him right now…”
“…Aaaaanyway, my advice for fighting him? Uh, don’t. You’ll be sore for days if he doesn’t decide to fight to the death. I should know, we’ve had a lot of brother versus brother fights together. He usually folded me in half unless I was allowed to use my other form…eh, that’s a story for later. Point is, just don’t fight him. And don’t speak of him too many times or he might show up and crash into us from whatever tall thing is nearby. It’s his thing.”
[All Kunikuzushi can do is shudder at the very thought. He was usually happy to see Childe, but he didn’t want to accidentally witness a sparring match begin…especially not the deadly kind. Sorry, Tartaglia. Not today, preferably.]
'' ...I simply cannot die. A fight to the death is not possible. So... I will go fight the Eleventh after the Kuunrukous. What kind of tactics does he utilize? Speed? Strength? I want all the details so I can be prepared. ''
“…Crud. Okay, uh- didn’t know that, sorry. I guess the best thing I can say is watch out for the water whale. It’ll get you if you don’t run fast enough. Oh, and he uses hydro and electro at the same time. He’s super zippy, so be swift. And if you’re not fast enough, well…you better be real beefy. It’s either outrun him or outtank him. There’s no defeating him quick enough that he can’t get you, he’s way tankier than he looks. That’s…all I can think of- oh, he uses an abyss form thingy. Foul legacy or whatever. It’s annoying as hell. Makes him even more of a unit. Ugh. Good luck…”
'' Same advice as the Everlasting Lord from the other 'time domain,' fascinating. Speed, and strength. Abyssal power, that I knew... Hydro and Electro, shield or outspeeding is best... Thank you for the information. It helps greatly. ''
“No prob, I guess…still, why him? Why my poor brother? And, uh…please don’t kill him. Ever. Thank you. Again, good luck. If you ever need another partner for friendly spars, I’ll be glad to help! My finals are over, so I’m on break. It’s blissful, I swear. Hehe. Anyway! Hope that helped you!”
'' ...Because he's the Trespasser's student? He and I, Lord Sangemah Bay, the mighty Dodo-King, and Aunt Nicole, are some of the few who know of her existence. She herself is a student of Surtalogi, if I'm correct. He's one of the few humans who I can actually test myself against, as a fellow disciple of a Sinner. Your offer is appreciated, but I should face someone just as blasphemous as myself. ''
“O-Oh. Uh…forgot about that. Sorry. I didn’t know you had sparring partner restrictions, jeez. Real subtle jab at how incompetent I am in battle, dude. At least I offered, huh…hm. If anything, I should probably be begging you for the opportunity. Much like he pleads for a chance against Capitano- er…nevermind that. Just…uh…he’s at the golden house thingy probably. That’s his usual spot. Have fun.”
'' ...Did I offend you? I just meant we both use a power the Human Realm rejects, treating it as a means to an end rather than the world-shattering force it tends to be. We don't fear the Abyss we wield. Sparring with anyone else... I just don't want to accidentally inflict Abyssal Corrosion Syndrome on an innocent being nor induce Abyssal overflow. I have not sparred with you, so I dare not push your limits by accident. ''
“I mean- uh…my idea of a sparring match was just plain swords. Nothing fancy, normal ol’ metals clanging like crazy. It’s been a long time since I’ve needed to pick up the blade at all, and I figured it might be nice to invite you to try it.”
“As for Abyss powers and stuff, eh…I think I would’ve been pushed past the limits a loooong while ago if I were affected by another’s powers too much. I’m already kinda decaying day by day anyway, what’s a little more? I can handle it. If you’re really that worried though, why not jut start out slow? Not everything has to be done in the same day. I’d love the idea of a gradual progression in the matches, taking it bit by bit and seeing where we get to go and where we might want to shy away from for now. I wasn’t expecting your all-out force straight out the gate, hell no! Just…one thing at a time. But, uh, if you’re not interested in slow and mindful battle training, go hassle the ginger. He’s the fight first, think later guy. Not me. I’m too fat and sluggish for that…”
'' Any advice for fighting Ajax of Morepesok? I need to develop confidence in battle, and he's likely the same for our 'time domains,' so I thought I'd ask you. 'Mom' won't help me at all. ''
“Aah, shhh shhh shhhhh- don’t call out his name here…! Ah- he…didn’t come? Huh. Uh, wow. Guess it’s probably cause you’re not from here. Weird. Don’t try it a second time, though- address him as vaguely as you can, please. I don’t wanna deal with him right now…”
“…Aaaaanyway, my advice for fighting him? Uh, don’t. You’ll be sore for days if he doesn’t decide to fight to the death. I should know, we’ve had a lot of brother versus brother fights together. He usually folded me in half unless I was allowed to use my other form…eh, that’s a story for later. Point is, just don’t fight him. And don’t speak of him too many times or he might show up and crash into us from whatever tall thing is nearby. It’s his thing.”
[All Kunikuzushi can do is shudder at the very thought. He was usually happy to see Childe, but he didn’t want to accidentally witness a sparring match begin…especially not the deadly kind. Sorry, Tartaglia. Not today, preferably.]
'' ...I simply cannot die. A fight to the death is not possible. So... I will go fight the Eleventh after the Kuunrukous. What kind of tactics does he utilize? Speed? Strength? I want all the details so I can be prepared. ''
“…Crud. Okay, uh- didn’t know that, sorry. I guess the best thing I can say is watch out for the water whale. It’ll get you if you don’t run fast enough. Oh, and he uses hydro and electro at the same time. He’s super zippy, so be swift. And if you’re not fast enough, well…you better be real beefy. It’s either outrun him or outtank him. There’s no defeating him quick enough that he can’t get you, he’s way tankier than he looks. That’s…all I can think of- oh, he uses an abyss form thingy. Foul legacy or whatever. It’s annoying as hell. Makes him even more of a unit. Ugh. Good luck…”
'' Same advice as the Everlasting Lord from the other 'time domain,' fascinating. Speed, and strength. Abyssal power, that I knew... Hydro and Electro, shield or outspeeding is best... Thank you for the information. It helps greatly. ''
“No prob, I guess…still, why him? Why my poor brother? And, uh…please don’t kill him. Ever. Thank you. Again, good luck. If you ever need another partner for friendly spars, I’ll be glad to help! My finals are over, so I’m on break. It’s blissful, I swear. Hehe. Anyway! Hope that helped you!”
'' ...Because he's the Trespasser's student? He and I, Lord Sangemah Bay, the mighty Dodo-King, and Aunt Nicole, are some of the few who know of her existence. She herself is a student of Surtalogi, if I'm correct. He's one of the few humans who I can actually test myself against, as a fellow disciple of a Sinner. Your offer is appreciated, but I should face someone just as blasphemous as myself. ''
“O-Oh. Uh…forgot about that. Sorry. I didn’t know you had sparring partner restrictions, jeez. Real subtle jab at how incompetent I am in battle, dude. At least I offered, huh…hm. If anything, I should probably be begging you for the opportunity. Much like he pleads for a chance against Capitano- er…nevermind that. Just…uh…he’s at the golden house thingy probably. That’s his usual spot. Have fun.”
'' Any advice for fighting Ajax of Morepesok? I need to develop confidence in battle, and he's likely the same for our 'time domains,' so I thought I'd ask you. 'Mom' won't help me at all. ''
“Aah, shhh shhh shhhhh- don’t call out his name here…! Ah- he…didn’t come? Huh. Uh, wow. Guess it’s probably cause you’re not from here. Weird. Don’t try it a second time, though- address him as vaguely as you can, please. I don’t wanna deal with him right now…”
“…Aaaaanyway, my advice for fighting him? Uh, don’t. You’ll be sore for days if he doesn’t decide to fight to the death. I should know, we’ve had a lot of brother versus brother fights together. He usually folded me in half unless I was allowed to use my other form…eh, that’s a story for later. Point is, just don’t fight him. And don’t speak of him too many times or he might show up and crash into us from whatever tall thing is nearby. It’s his thing.”
[All Kunikuzushi can do is shudder at the very thought. He was usually happy to see Childe, but he didn’t want to accidentally witness a sparring match begin…especially not the deadly kind. Sorry, Tartaglia. Not today, preferably.]
'' ...I simply cannot die. A fight to the death is not possible. So... I will go fight the Eleventh after the Kuunrukous. What kind of tactics does he utilize? Speed? Strength? I want all the details so I can be prepared. ''
“…Crud. Okay, uh- didn’t know that, sorry. I guess the best thing I can say is watch out for the water whale. It’ll get you if you don’t run fast enough. Oh, and he uses hydro and electro at the same time. He’s super zippy, so be swift. And if you’re not fast enough, well…you better be real beefy. It’s either outrun him or outtank him. There’s no defeating him quick enough that he can’t get you, he’s way tankier than he looks. That’s…all I can think of- oh, he uses an abyss form thingy. Foul legacy or whatever. It’s annoying as hell. Makes him even more of a unit. Ugh. Good luck…”
'' Same advice as the Everlasting Lord from the other 'time domain,' fascinating. Speed, and strength. Abyssal power, that I knew... Hydro and Electro, shield or outspeeding is best... Thank you for the information. It helps greatly. ''
“No prob, I guess…still, why him? Why my poor brother? And, uh…please don’t kill him. Ever. Thank you. Again, good luck. If you ever need another partner for friendly spars, I’ll be glad to help! My finals are over, so I’m on break. It’s blissful, I swear. Hehe. Anyway! Hope that helped you!”
'' Any advice for fighting Ajax of Morepesok? I need to develop confidence in battle, and he's likely the same for our 'time domains,' so I thought I'd ask you. 'Mom' won't help me at all. ''
“Aah, shhh shhh shhhhh- don’t call out his name here…! Ah- he…didn’t come? Huh. Uh, wow. Guess it’s probably cause you’re not from here. Weird. Don’t try it a second time, though- address him as vaguely as you can, please. I don’t wanna deal with him right now…”
“…Aaaaanyway, my advice for fighting him? Uh, don’t. You’ll be sore for days if he doesn’t decide to fight to the death. I should know, we’ve had a lot of brother versus brother fights together. He usually folded me in half unless I was allowed to use my other form…eh, that’s a story for later. Point is, just don’t fight him. And don’t speak of him too many times or he might show up and crash into us from whatever tall thing is nearby. It’s his thing.”
[All Kunikuzushi can do is shudder at the very thought. He was usually happy to see Childe, but he didn’t want to accidentally witness a sparring match begin…especially not the deadly kind. Sorry, Tartaglia. Not today, preferably.]
'' ...I simply cannot die. A fight to the death is not possible. So... I will go fight the Eleventh after the Kuunrukous. What kind of tactics does he utilize? Speed? Strength? I want all the details so I can be prepared. ''
“…Crud. Okay, uh- didn’t know that, sorry. I guess the best thing I can say is watch out for the water whale. It’ll get you if you don’t run fast enough. Oh, and he uses hydro and electro at the same time. He’s super zippy, so be swift. And if you’re not fast enough, well…you better be real beefy. It’s either outrun him or outtank him. There’s no defeating him quick enough that he can’t get you, he’s way tankier than he looks. That’s…all I can think of- oh, he uses an abyss form thingy. Foul legacy or whatever. It’s annoying as hell. Makes him even more of a unit. Ugh. Good luck…”
'' Any advice for fighting Ajax of Morepesok? I need to develop confidence in battle, and he's likely the same for our 'time domains,' so I thought I'd ask you. 'Mom' won't help me at all. ''
“Aah, shhh shhh shhhhh- don’t call out his name here…! Ah- he…didn’t come? Huh. Uh, wow. Guess it’s probably cause you’re not from here. Weird. Don’t try it a second time, though- address him as vaguely as you can, please. I don’t wanna deal with him right now…”
“…Aaaaanyway, my advice for fighting him? Uh, don’t. You’ll be sore for days if he doesn’t decide to fight to the death. I should know, we’ve had a lot of brother versus brother fights together. He usually folded me in half unless I was allowed to use my other form…eh, that’s a story for later. Point is, just don’t fight him. And don’t speak of him too many times or he might show up and crash into us from whatever tall thing is nearby. It’s his thing.”
[All Kunikuzushi can do is shudder at the very thought. He was usually happy to see Childe, but he didn’t want to accidentally witness a sparring match begin…especially not the deadly kind. Sorry, Tartaglia. Not today, preferably.]
I saw Durin today, and he looked extra sweet so I took a photo of him. I got permission, don’t worry! He was all like “Uncle Kuni, look! A butterfly! Take a photo, take a photo!!” So like any good uncle, I did just that. Haha.
A strange 5'6'' being in a brown cloak approaches, the hood pulled up over his head. It has openings, however, for the prominent dark gray horns protruding from his head. Behind him, large wings with the patterns of a Brownwing Falcon are neatly folded. The top of the wings are more dragon-like, with red and blue crystals at the 'wrist' joint. The stranger, face framed by ashy hair fading to pale blond, has eyes of purple and crimson and yellow like a sunset. Gazing at Kunikuzushi, those pale pink circular pupils hint at the source of his blood.
'' Mister, you look like my 'mom' if h–'she' was without the power to destroy islands. ''
As he speaks, one might notice that he possesses fangs instead of incisors if they pay close attention.
'' Could I have a sample of your blood? The other power within you is not one I know of. ''
He seems rather cheery for one who just said a stanger looks like his parent and asked to take a blood sample, yet his expression... it lacks the childish enthusiasm present in his every word. There's a cold curiosity there, the kind possessed by those in pursuit of understanding of all things. If the puppet chef knew 'Gold,' perhaps he'd recognize the look... The strange person patiently waits for an answer as he studies the other coolly, swaying cloak a indication of the presence of a tail.
< @specula-mercurius >
[Startled by the unexpected appearance of someone Kunikuzushi did not know, the chef took a moment to study the stranger’s general appearance. He noted the signature hallmarks of an inhuman entity, though he thought nothing of it, having been deeply desensitized to the supernatural- he was technically one of those himself. While it seemed he couldn’t figure out what exactly the stranger was, he didn’t really seem all that pressed to pursue an answer. He quirked an eyebrow, maintaining eye contact despite the fact he had to crane his neck up a little. The cons of being a mere 5 foot nothing tall…]
“Ah…is that so? Well, your mother sounds awfully interesting. Can’t say I know any mothers that look like me, though…well, any competent ones that would actually harbor more children. Do I happen to know you from anywhere? You seem…oddly familiar, yet completely foreign at the same time. Kind of creeping me out actually, hahaha.”
[The chef chuckled wryly, sighing after his attempt to lighten the situation for his own sake. He didn’t fail to notice the fangs or the faint giveaway sway of a hidden tail, having his fair share of past attempts to hide those very things…back when he was still in the Fatui, that is. But that’s another story. Unfortunately, the closest he gets to knowing “Gold” or even just “the look” is Albedo, and…well, he wasn’t too inclined to speak up about the way it unsettled him. The blood sample request, however…that hit a certain spot of unease.]
“Er- you sure you want my blood, buddy? It’s pretty dangerous, and I’m not exactly a fan of bleeding. I mean, if I gave you my blood, it would have to be obtained through a manner that does not involve needles. I- uh…w-well…to put it simply, I don’t stay all that friendly when getting poked with a syringe gets involved. Besides, my curse thing is super infectious. You can’t come into contact with my blood or other body fluids in a way that risks getting inside your system. I’d explain it, but that might take forever. So, I’ll sum it up real nice and brief- my dna in your body equals turning into monster like, most of the time. It’s kinda iffy, but best not to risk it. Hey, why do you even need my blood, anyway? You better not be getting any ideas about forcing some poor person to transform.”
A curious head tilt accompanied by a rather bird-like chirp, the stranger shrugs. His wings relax slightly, tail falling still as he answers the questions with ease.
'' I do look somewhat like my brothers through "Mother," if you know of 'Cretaceus' who lives in Mondstadt. "
At the mentioned properties about his own blood, the stranger takes a small notebook out of a coat pocket and writes something down with a pen. Closing it with one hand, he provides his reasoning for the rather unexpected proposal.
'' Now I need a sample, that sounds really interesting. I have so many questions... ''
His tail begins wagging, wings fluttering as his eyes sparkle. From his throat comes a distinctly inhuman trilling sound, an expression of joy at the thought of engaging in the process of discovery and experimentation. A complete shift in behavior, yet just as authentic as his prior manner a mere few minutes before. If not in relation to taking a blood sample, this enthusiasm might come across as endearing...
"Brothers...hrm. I have no idea what or who 'Cretaceus' is, sorry. I know a decent number of people in Mondstadt, but that name isn't ringing any bells for me. Maybe if you described some characteristics, I might know someone that way. Nothing too detailed, though- my eyesight isn't what it used to be. Funny how I have four eyes yet they're still terrible at seeing..."
[Kunikuzushi awkwardly laughed again, having quite the habit of using weird humor to cope. He did tilt his head slightly away for but a moment, glancing around with unease. However, he spoke up again when the stranger seemed to become excited at the thought of experimenting with the hazardous properties of his cursed blood. That really freaked him out, enough to fully bypass the weird maternal instinct that the would-be-adorable enthusiasm from the stranger was activating in him. A shame, this peculiar person doesn't get to witness the horrors of a very motherly Kunikuzushi.]
"Woah, woah, hey-! Didn't I say not to get any ideas, dude?? I'm not giving you my blood if you're gonna use it on living creatures. You're creeping me out. The world does not need more variants of the Abyssal Harvester species...thing...alright? I'll give my blood to you if you're thinking about making a cure or something, but I won't let you make more monstrosities. It's a miserable life, and most people don't even get to keep their humanity like I did. I got lucky because I'm a puppet. Just...take it easy, buddy. Who are you, anyway?"
He recalls what he's seen of the Chief Alchemist from afar. His tail thrashes a few times, an expression of frustration regarding the one who killed his own predecessor of soil...
'' Pale blond hair, white lab coat, thigh-high boots and shorts, blue shirt. Well-known in the field of alchemy. Made of chalk, though that's... not as well-known. ''
He listens attentively, ears twitching and eyes widening at the mention of an Abyssal lifeform he has never heard of before. A puppet like his 'mom,' a being immune to the cognitive effects of the Abyss, physically contaminated by its power?
That certainly would explain the vague familiarity. Abyss recognizes Abyss, especially in the Human Realm where it is tantamount to reality–corroding poison that eats away at the computronium that sustains all matter. He raises his right arm to show his hand, fingerless glove highlighting the tiny Riftwolf-adjacent talons where fingernails are typically present. His canid brethren are a frequent sight in remote areas of Inazuma, so these claws should make clear their shared connection to the Void Realm's power.
'' I won't use it on others, I promise! A cure is not possible for one who has it so deeply rooted in their being, though. It'd be like... dissolving the glue that keeps one together. ''
He knows this very well from his research on himself and things he has overheard. Once the Abyss latches on, it will spread slowly and replace other matter within the body. At a certain point it becomes too dangerous to absorb or annihilate with equal computronium, leaving holes where it had been. Even with himself, it is naturally integrated into the very structure of his form...
'' I'm the Vogelprinz, nice to meet you! ''
He decides to withhold his name for now, given its Khaenri'ahn roots. The title he picked should suffice as an answer, revealing little about himself beyond what he already chose to share. 'Mom' has said all Raiden Shogun-type puppets, prototypes or not, as synthetic lifeforms, are sharper than they often seem and thus, caution in how much is said is the wisest approach. He and the Melusines share in that, their child-like mannerisms leading others to incorrectly assume naive innocence of the experienced. He won't make that sort of assumption, given how annoying it tends to be...
“Pale- chalk…ah. I knew I recognized that hair color you have. You’re related to Albedo, aren’t you? That chief alchemist dude from the Favo-mouthful of words that I do not want to say? Stupid long names…why’s everyone like their long names, anyway?? Anyway, we’re technically very distantly related then. Albedo is the boyfriend of Kaeya, whom is the half-brother of my boyfriend Alstroemeria. Albedo is essentially the uncle-in-law of my kids, so…yeah. I think, anyway. Human relationships were never my strong suit. Then again, Elynas is related to Albedo…and so are the Melusines, which are my adoptive sisters. Which makes Albedo and I…brothers-?? S-Sort of…??? It’s…complicated…”
[Kunikuzushi groaned and rubbed his forehead momentarily, already getting a headache just thinking about the overly complex family tree that he had unintentionally wrought upon the entirety of Teyvat. Not to mention, Diluc and Kaeya are brothers, and Diluc is married to Childe, and Childe is Kuni’s adoptive brother…oh, Archons. It’s a disaster. And he didn’t do it on purpose, he just really likes to have a family he can trust. A replacement for his stupidly incompetent mother (in his opinion, anyway), though he perhaps hoarded a few too many parents and siblings to fill that aching need for familial love in his soul…oopsies.]
[As for the Abyss’s influence on them both, the stranger’s canid claws sparked some recognition in Kuni’s mind. He quickly put the pieces together, recognizing why he smelled Abyssal taint now- this kid’s just like him. Corrupted. Sort of, he doesn’t actually know the specifics, but he can at least infer that those claws aren’t supposed to be there. A relatable experience, especially since a singular badly timed swing of his sword led to a tainted bite wound right on his rump and doomed him to the fate of being a glorified Abyssal demon fursuit come to life. He sighed through his teeth- er, fangs- squinting at this weirdo with scrutiny, before finally giving up.]
“Okay, fine…I’ll let you have some blood. Looks like you got corrupted by the Abyss too anyway, so you should probably be immune to the parasite or whatever. And you did say that you wouldn’t use it on anyone, so…just keep your promise, kiddo. I’m…sad to hear that there’s no hope for a cure, though…I still had a little bit of hope left. Guess not anymore. Ugh.”
[The chef sighed in defeat, a smidge of the sparkle in his eyes fading away after being told that there was no hope for a cure. It’s hard not to foolishly yearn for a better ending, even for a puppet like him who shouldn’t be able to have the same hope that humanity does, but even the most optimistic person must have their moments of despondency. He exhaled while scratching the back of his neck, not quite sure what to say- until the stranger suddenly introduced themselves. He brightened back up ever so…not at all subtly, launching himself into the instinctual self-introduction.]
“Oh, okay! Nice to meet you, Vogelprinz! I’m Kunikuzushi. Raiden Kunikuzushi, though I very much prefer just being called Kuni. My connection to that foul Electro Archon is minimal at this point. That being said, I’m known by a few different titles: the former 6th Harbinger- specifically the lesser of the twins, the annoying pastry chef student, the one who shouldn’t be named out loud, the weird cheery twin of that shorty war criminal with the bad hair, bowlcut guy, random son of the Iudex, local favorite son-in-law of the Tsaritsa, that guy who keeps making everyone part of his family, and…many more. It’s kind of a problem, actually…j-just call me Kuni. Please. Or Kun-kun, I don’t mind. By the way, what’s a Vogelprinz?”
'' I am a child of 'Gold' Rhinedottir like 'Cretaceus,' yes. I don't like him though, he's mean to soils and doesn't think we're people. A brother I don't want to be around. ''
As the other considers the proposal, Andvari absentmindedly digs a handful of soil out of his pocket and creates a branch of Atropa belladonna with many ripe berries via Abiogenesis. He picks one of the dark spherical objects and studies it for a moment, then tosses it into his mouth with a hum of approval. His tail wags at the mild sweetness of the plant flesh and acrid taste of atropine, a flavor profile he quite enjoys. A shame he can't share this particular treat with others...
Hearing the Allogene accept the blood sample idea draws another bright trill from the alchemist. Indeed, the corruption should not affect him, though he will take great care to verify that in a controlled setting. He nods at the mentioned promise, knowing the fear of corrupting others is a concern for most who simply seek coexistence.
As the puppet—Kunikuzushi—introduces himself with unexpected energy, Andvari finds difficulty in following the many names and referential statements he lists. Once the chef finishes with the preferred nicknames, Andvari bows respectfully after dispelling the sprig in his hand.
'' It means 'bird prince' in Mondstadtian, Mister Kuni. I was a partially Consecrated Brownwing Falcon only a few months ago and my wings are mostly the same, just larger, so the title suits me well. ''
To demonstrate, he fully extends his left wing to show off the plumage. It does indeed match the species of Liyuese falcon he claims to have been previously, various shades of brown in overlapping layers.
“Mean to…soils…? What’s a soil? Do you mean the dirt or something? Last I checked, Albedo hadn’t gone loopy enough to start abusing the very ground he stood on. Heh- that would be something, though. Could you imagine that guy, losing his mind and calling the snow bad names while stomping on it or whatever? Hilarious.”
[Kunikuzushi barked with laughter, easily amused by the ludicrous. You severely overestimate his intelligence…he’s more of a simpleton than one would expect. Well, not really- it’s just that a lot of scientific jargon goes right over his head. He’s more aimed towards generic terms, but he’s at least sharper than the average human. Probably proves this by being one of the few not to go insane from the concept of the multiverse being factually proven to him time and time again. It’s actually quite interesting to him, because he usually ends up meeting people he becomes fond of. He once met Boothill by accident, for example. Don’t question it.]
[The chef did notice the spontaneous growth of life, blinking in surprise once he recognized the twig as a little bundle of…deadly nightshade-!? He choked on his false breathing, about to question the poisonous berry snacking, when he realized that maybe the Vogelprinz had a good stomach for it. Kind of like how Ikimono is super poison resistant due to the extreme scavenger nature of the Abyssal Harvesters. He shut his mouth, staying silent despite his urge to fuss about how dangerous it is to eat literal poison. Once a parent, always a parent. This kid already reminds him of his sweet little Ira…that reckless blind brat. How many energy core palpitations has he had because of his poor child’s complete disregard for self-preservation…!? D’oh…and please, do not think too deeply about how he could possibly have biological children. I’m not explaining that dumpster fire.]
“Huh. Had a feeling that it was a ‘something prince’ or whatever. I can kind of just guess that prinz is prince, but vogel was lost on me. I don’t speak Mondstadtian well enough for that. I mean, I know bits and pieces, but not much. The common Teyvatian tongue’s usually enough for me…not so much for my poor sibling Ikimono. Ha- they’re stuck with nothing but Teyvatian Sign Language, Abysstongue, and a dream. Somehow has a thriving career as Chiori’s little fashion underling nonetheless. It’s admirable, really. B-By the way, the birdie wings are cool. I’m not gonna question how that even works, just gonna assume it was something similar to Durin…anyway, how do you wanna collect my blood? Anything but the syringe, please. I…I will be running away screaming if you try that. Can’t help it. Much…”
'' No, no. Soil as in the material I'm composed of. Elynas, Durin of 'Humus,' Rifthounds of 'Alfisol,' the Bakunawa, the earlier Primordial Humans "Mother" made... All 'soils,' the first stage of alchemy. 'Cretaceus,' as chalk and the 'perfect' homunculus, is of the second stage and thus, the 'superior' specimen to which none who came before can compare. He doesn't think of us as people since we're flawed in the 'wrong way' or something. Very rude. ''
Andvari crosses his arm with a sour expression, distaste towards the chalk-borne impossible to miss. Even his wings fidget with agitation, tail wildly whipping around. An Abyssal groan rumbles from his chest, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife.
He sighs, then, noticing the distress that flickered on the other's face as he ate the poisonous snack. Arms return to his sides, tail coming to rest. It takes a moment to find the right wording, something that gets the point across without being altered by that Elynasian speech that limits him...
'' Glycoalkaloids like atropine seem to have no effect on me and I have a resistance to poisons like my Melusine 'sisters.' I would offer you one, considering that puppets are also immune, but you may have a different 'anatomy' than my 'mom.' ''
He takes in the deluge of details, intel that he as 'Akakatos' may need to use if 'mom' tasks him with observation of this puppet variant. As Kunikuzushi circles back around to his fear of needles and syringes, Andvari considers his options carefully. It is the most efficient and sterile method, a syringe, but it isn't the only way to obtain blood. A small wound could work, with proper preparation. It isn't likely that Kunikuzushi has regeneration like the Bakunawa, after all, as that comes from corrupted kuuvahki.
'' I could draw blood with my pocket knife? I always keep it sharp and stored sterilizing wipes in my little storage space in the Void Realm. It's not as effective in infection control, but with proper preparation the risk will be greatly reduced. Besides, puppets can't get sick and Abyssal life like us tend to have robust immune systems. Don't tell big sis Sigewinne about this, she'd be so upset! ''
“Ohhh…huh. That is kind of rude, yeah. You need me to talk to him about that or something-? Hey, speaking of Durin, have you seen that rascal anywhere? I’m technically supposed to be babysitting him, but he got all huffy and demanded he be set free to go adventure somewhere. I can’t find him, and I really don’t want to be pulverized by my twin’s black hole stomp. Oh man, I’m so doomed…”
[Kunikuzushi sucked in a breath as he realized how shitty he was at babysitting all of a sudden…then again, he was helpless at the time. The puppy eyed begging that the dragon had pulled off was impossible to say no to, and he had figured that the kid would be back soon…nope. Apparently not. He’s just like his mother, isn’t he…but at least he’s actually LOOKING for the damn kid. Unlike her. He groaned, his hand subconsciously landing on the Vogelprinz’ head and doing a ruffling motion, before he caught himself and pulled away speedily.]
“Ahh, sorry, sorry- habit…uh, I hope you didn’t mind that. You just…gah, you remind me of my son. A little too much for comfort, actually. Anyway, er- ahem, I’ll pass on the berries. I think I had one once, and my nutrient absorption chamber- that is, my “mechanical stomach”- did not like it. At all. Alcohol has the same effect, actually. I’m technically part Abyssal Harvester because of the curse, so their constitution blended with mine. Turns out, both Harvesters and living puppets have a reeeeaally bad time with booze. Doesn’t help that I get the Asian glow after…and then become absolutely shitfaced. And that’s from like, a single sip of firewater. It’s bad.”
[The chef has gone off on yet another completely unnecessary tangent, spewing out even more frivolous nonsense that nobody actually cares about. Well, okay, maybe someone cares. Not me, though. Shut up, Kuni. Anyway, he blinked in acknowledgment, stretching his arm out in offering.]
“The knife sounds easiest to me. I don’t really care too much, just as long as you don’t start cutting into my inner wirings. The surface flesh can heal easily, tahnks to the one thing my mom did right…weird magical seals and stuff ensuring my longevity. However, my mechanical innards are basically impossible to perfectly replace. Those won’t regenerate, ever. Cut as deep as you need, but stop if you feel something metallic or otherwise just not fleshy at all. You probably hit an electro fluid tube if you feel something like that. Please don’t make me bleed out the actual “blood” that keeps me alive…thanks. The like, blood blood is just part of the freaky skin suit. It’s absolutely part of me, but non-essential to my survival. My mom went kind of crazy after her sister died, which is…y’know, about the time she made me. So I’m the result of a series of grief stricken meltdowns. Har har. Anyway, anyway, sorry. I won’t tell sister Winnie, I promise.”
As he had suspected, this was not his Teyvat. Likely one of those 'isolated time domains' like the one his 'mom' said they are part of. His 'time domain's' Draco Rubedo is in Nod-Krai with 'Cretaceus' and the Traveler, not in Sumeru. The offer is appealing, but this Kunikuzushi's 'Cretaceus' does not need to know that an alternate 'time domain' exists where his older brother lived and inspired a falcon to become a homunculus.
'' It's alright, I'm not from this Teyvat if your little Durin is here in Sumeru instead of Nod-Krai. Your 'Cretaceus' will likely try to kill me, given my family's tendency to try to replace him. I can't die, Aunt Tuonetar made sure of that, but it still hurts to be killed. ''
Andvari takes a step back after Kunikuzushi reaches between his prominent horns to ruffle his hair, heeled boots clicking on the stone. This is not his 'mom,' clearly, and such affection is unwanted as a result. At least he didn't try to touch his wings, that would have gone poorly.
'' Perhaps your child and I, son of an alternate you, have the same 'role' in a general sense? ''
As the other again goes on a tangent, Andvari begins writing in his little notebook again. So this 'time domain' produced puppets with low alcohol tolerance, and the unique Abyssal lifeforms he mentions share that trait. A notable difference from his 'mom' and mechanical uncles, who have high alcohol tolerance and poison immunity. Certainly something he'll need to examine further in the future. He notes the internal differences too, this puppet lacking the automatic self-repair system.
Pocketing the journal, Andvari opens an Abyssal rift to retrieve a sterilizing wipe and nitrile gloves. It appears like the Golden Wolflord's large rift, ever-present on Tsurumi Island, only on a smaller scale and with minor visual differences making it unique. The wavering edge is silver instead of dark gold, the black opening appearing to have dark starry Anemo spiraling towards a distant point.
It closes after his hands return to the Human Realm, a pair of blue gloves adorning them as he plucks the small folded knife from his pants pocket and uses the wipes to clean the edge. He uses another to wipe down Kunikuzushi's arm at the site he will cut, pausing for a moment to let it dry as he creates a small vial and cap. Lining up the blade and glass container, he quickly slices the flesh and watches as the crimson blood similar in color to his own rolls down and gathers at the lip of the vial, hesitating before gravity overpowers surface tension and pulls it down...
'' It doesn't crystallize once it hits a non-organic surface... That's a property unique to Abyssal alchemical lifeforms, neat! ''
“Well, I have no idea where Durin went off to. I can’t find him anywhere here in Sumeru, so maybe he did go to Nod-Krai…I have this funny feeling that he did, considering that’s the one place I can’t teleport to yet. Gotta have gone to a place already first before I can teleport to it, and…yeah, I haven’t been to that place yet. I probably should, but I hear there’s this crazy mechanic kid who might try to scrap me for parts. Probably not, but…doesn’t hurt to be cautious. Besides, I have yet another culinary exam this Tuesday…”
[Kunikuzushi groaned, rubbing his forehead yet again in exasperation. He didn’t seem all too surprised about the whole “not from this universe” thing, having grown to expect it after the aforementioned encounters with outsiders. He’s also choosing not to question who Tuonetar is…for now.]
[When the Vogelprinz pulled away from the chef’s touch, he winced at how it seemed to put the kid at unease. He quietly regretted the subconscious action, grimacing subtly until he pulled out a thin sheet from his pocket. The sheet was a photo of his two twin children. He brandished it at the kiddo, cracking a fond smile at the thought of his dear little rascals.]
“I don’t know if you have the same role or not, it’s just that you remind me of both my kids. You’re like if you had the habits of Ira, with the personality of Yuri. It’s…adorable.”
[Kuni chuckled happily, caressing the photo right before pocketing it. He quirked a brow at the sight of the Abyssal rift, humming in thought as he stared at it. Eventually, it came time to harvest the blood. He braced himself, hissing under his breath at the cold sting of the wipes. Though that was nothing compared to the pain of the actual knife cutting into his flesh. He bit back a scream, the interwoven pain receptors going exceptionally haywire in him. He had to grip his clothing as a brace, turning his head away to try and ignore the agony. His eyes- all four of them- were squeezed shut, but he kept responding the best he could.]
“Ah- blood is supposed to crystallize when it hits the what now? I’ve never heard of any blood doing that…it used to be human blood, y’know. My mom was freaky- she used the corpses of some poor schmucks to make my brother and I’s creepy skin suits. Like I said, grief does weird things to people.”
'' Ah, Aino. She is a genius for a pre-pubescent human. She does have a habit of, ahem, borrowing screws and bolts from her creation, Ineffa, if needed. She is unlikely to do so with a mechanical lifeform covered in flesh however. ''
A significant variation. His 'time domain's' puppets are purely inorganic, with adaptable exteriors carved from the Sacred Sakura. His grandmother's original and second bodies were wood made of pure Electro, after all, and she did want to make her replacement from the same sort of material. No organic remains were used in his 'mom's' creation, he's seen as such on the blueprints his parent keeps on himself at all times.
It is better if he mentions his aunt the Ruler of Death as little as possible, given that all living beings fear her as part of her law. Even using her Hyperborean title is pushing his luck in a 'history' where she does not know him.
'' Interesting... I do have horns and wings and a tail, as well as a natural connection to the Abyss. Pointed ears too. I would ask the version of "Mother" in this 'time domain,' if I was her child. It will remain unanswered for the time being, unfortunately. Best to avoid drawing the attention of the Ruler of Life. ''
Andvari finds the reaction to such a relatively small wound rather telling. Not one who engages in combat unless absolutely necessary, if the low pain tolerance is any indication. This is the kind of shallow cut one might use to tempt nearby predators, certainly not a dangerous opening. At the reasonable question, the homunculus considers how to respond...
'' Has big sis Puca never shared her red crystals with you? Those are crystallized blood droplets of Elynas. The same sort of rock exists at the corpse of Durin of Humus, Scarlet Quartz and Crimson Agate being his blood. Mine exhibits the same properties, since it is just the blood of Elynas straight-up. ''
“Hrm…noted. I guess a visit to Nod-Krai might be in order soon. Just as long as I have the time to take a boat there and be back at the Akademiya before my next classes start…so probably a Friday night-? Bah, I’ll plan it later- are you done collecting my blood yet? I’m…kind of holding off some of my regeneration here…”
[Kunikuzushi notably hissed in further discomfort, involuntarily baring his fangs for a fraction of a moment. A peculiar inkling of the curse’s faint effects on the peripherals of his mind. He has a majority immunity, but he is in fact prone to having a few animalistic quirks surface every now and then. Mostly the tendency to purr, hiss, or otherwise produce some kind of emotive vocalization that is abnormal in humankind. His unease was indeed borne of a rather shitty pain tolerance, his body generally too…plump and squishy to toughen up easily. That, and he was built with faulty pain receptors, those having a habit of going berserk for the most ridiculous of reasons. Ugh. So inconvenient. At least he’s kind of used to it. And no, he doesn’t fight very often. It takes a lot out of him, and he’s very domestic anyway. He’s more fond of staying indoors if he can…or finding the most peaceful way to deescalate a situation. Which usually involves his not all that famous baked goods.]
“Hm. You do also look a lot like my kids. Honestly, I think they both would like to meet you. I’m not gonna bother them right now, of course- they’re…really fond of their privacy, ‘specially my sweet little Ira. That basement devil, I swear. They love it down there. I still have no real idea why, I’m not allowed to interfere with whatever science experiments they conduct so noisily down there. All I know is it’s definitely something alchemical. The bubbly noises make that obvious enough. Hah, it’s impressive, because they were actually born blind. But they’re perfectly capable! My dear son, so smart and independent…ahhh, it warms my hea-…core.”
[Kuni grumbled out the last word, apparently having an odd habit of forgetting he doesn’t have a real heart. It was almost hilarious in a way, seeing how grumpy he becomes when he has to say his core instead of his heart. Although he could just say heart anyway, it’s…more of a principle of not lying to people. That, and taking words literally. He does that a lot. At the mention of someone…new, he hummed in surprise, his brows creasing as he tried to figure out who “Puca” was. He was hoping he wasn’t just plain dumb or something.]
“Uh…who’s Puca? Is that one of the Melusines? Archons, I’m sorry if it is- I can never remember all of their names. There’s like, what? At least a hundred of them? It’s a lot to keep track of…also, those agate things are Durin’s blood!? I collected one as a souvenir, I-I had no idea…! Is that why he looked so nervous when I showed him the shiny rock? I just liked the way it sparkled…oh, geez. I really do suck at everything- okay, maybe not everything, but a lot of things. Apparently. Anyway, your blood crystallizes? How come crystallized blood is such a common thing for you ‘soils’? Did…did I say it right?”
'' ...Best avoid Nod-Krai if our times align. The Rächer of Solnari will get back inside, and he's already as strong as my 'mom.' Once he munches on the light of my dead moon, he'll be too strong. ''
Andvari watches the vial fill as he advises the fellow Abyss-bound being, lowering and capping it once it is full of the thick liquid. He can smell the Void Realm's power, dark and cold, bitter yet captivating. After a moment of observation, he pockets the glass container and refocuses his attention on the conversation.
A fellow alchemist? It would be advantageous for them both to meet. The dragùa has struggled greatly in the potioneering field, a new perspective may very well enlighten him. In exchange, he could teach the other to use the Abyss to scan his surroundings without infecting the Ley Lines? A useful ability, especially when navigating darker areas of the Abyss.
At the questions about one of his older 'sisters,' a head tilt is followed by a confused chirp. Was it truly that difficult to remember all of the Melusines and their interests? It seems puppets here lack the same form of memory processing, if names could be forgotten.
He brightens up at the curiosity regarding his blood, however, getting out a second small notebook and flipping through the pages quickly before turning it to the other with a grin. There are tables and illustrations and notes in an older form of Inazuman script, measurements taken of blood samples from humans and Elynas and Melusines and Durin's dormant heart and his own blood. It is written in scientific phrases that make little sense to the other, mentions of control groups and elemental capacity and oxygen content...
'' Indeed it does! It's really cool, I've analyzed the composition to understand why. It's rather barebones since I don't do well with potions, but I do have a working theory that has yet to be proven wrong. It's probably because we're made of Geo, or more specifically, Geo created via Chaos Permutation, and so, once our earthy blood is no longer touching us, it returns to an inorganic state. It still has Abyssal energy linked to its source being though, since beings of weaker wills that ingest it become connected to the source lifeform. It's so fun learning all of this! ''
“The…who of what now-? I…uh…o-okay, then. I won’t go there…for now. You make it sound like it’s the end of Teyvat itself, you know. I’m just hoping that’s not what it is.”
[Kunikuzushi mused softly, seemingly growing nervous at the foreboding words. Though, he also generally didn’t understand- he’s not in the know about the happenings. Anywhere else, he would probably have a pretty good idea of what’s going on- you can thank his weirdly abundant friendships with the Archons for that…but Nod-Krai’s completely lost on him. A shame.]
[As for the vial of blood, it swirled a sickly red that smelled of death and decay in a manner so potent it might cause one to vacate the contents of their stomach. The flecks of rotten flesh that lost the enchanted seals withered within moments, having experienced 500 years worth of decomposition in an instant. Gross. So gross. The chef had to turn away and gag, fighting to keep down the artificial bile rumbling in his mechanical stomach. He…he can make more of it. Don’t worry too much about it. But, Archons…somehow, the decay alone smells worse than the Abyssal influence. It’s diabolical. And to make matters worse, Kuni has a nose as sharp as an average Abyssal Harvester, which…is basically just a cat nose like, half the time. So basically a super sniffer. Yiiiiikes, man.]
[But of course, he also felt rather ashamed of being so…faulty. Just as a puppet in general, honestly- he should have impeccable memory and other flawless qualities found only in the most functional of robots. But he doesn’t. He’s faulty, a little rusted in the joints, and his hardware is essentially held together by two pieces of (metaphorical) duct tape and a hazy pipe-dream. That’s just what comes with being the firs-…second prototype of a crazed goddess who really should not be a mechanic whatsoever. Dangit, he keeps forgetting about that bratty Kioku. That’s another problem with him- he forgets things. It sucks. Sure, it makes him way more human-like, and he enjoys being human-like, but still. It’s annoying to forget things that matter! Ugh.]
[The chef then noticed the way the Vogelprinz lit up with joy, surprised by how happy they were to start dumping boatloads of baffling scientific jargon on him. He tried to speak up, to say anything at all- but he found himself swept away by an ocean of words. Instead of annoying him, he just smiled and listened intently. Almost imperceptibly, his…weird lightning-shaped pupils thickened a little, like the stylistic version of a round pupil expanding. The human pupil can expand in size by up to 55% when looking at something it loves…ahem. In other words, he is feeling inexplicably maternal at this moment. Perhaps there really is such thing as universal parallels. Ah, the humor in the twin brother of this world’s “version” of the Vogelprinz’ “mom” feeling a parental instinct to protect the child…might the opposite happen one day? Could one of this odd ex-Harbinger’s kiddos end up in the wrong time isolation and encounter the affections of the “wrong” Kabukimono? The possibilities of the multiverse are endless, with the irony and amusements even more vast and fascinating. Don’t you agree?]
“That’s…a real nice theory. Sounds about right to me. I mean, Geo is really connected to the very ground, the soil- I’d bet big mora on your theory being correct. I don’t really understand much of the alchemical world, bud, so you do you- but keep on, uh…doing it. You’re a good guy in my books. And a real eager little kiddo, too. Though it is still super weird how you’re taller than me, yet way younger. At least, I think you’re younger. Uh, how old are you? I’m over 550 years old. I think. I kind of lost count after the Shouki no Kami thing my twin pulled.”
'' I hope so too. Another issue is the upcoming Kuunrukous, when the Frostmoon is closest to Teyvat. Kuuvahki, as a form of Light, doesn't get along well with the Abyss. It's strongest during the festival. ''
Flipping to an earlier page, Andvari presents a simple illustration of how the two interact. If there are equal computronium and Abyssal particles, they annihilate. If there is more Abyssal energy, the computronium's data is 'devoured' and turned into more Abyss that has the properties of both forms of power. If there is more Light, a similar event occurs. All data is converted into computronium, then the dataless particles are destroyed.
'' I have both kuuvahki and Abyssal power so it just becomes part of me, passive for the most part, but for you who has none... It will likely hurt and weaken you. ''
He finds the other's reaction to the scent fascinating. It smells relatively fine to him, deathless decay and dust. The puppet must have more sensitive olfactory receptors, if he finds the odor so repulsive as to trigger a gag reflex. Yet another variation.
Not a single harsh thought crosses the youth's mind regarding the prototype before him, the comparisons to his own 'mom' a mere matter of limited experience in forays across 'time domains.' His 'mom,' up to now, has been the only example of a puppet he's learned about. As far as Andvari is concerned, these two are entirely different 'species' of puppets that should not be measured against each other. It would be like assessing the dragùa next to Albedo, entirely different in nature and thus not truly comparable.
The willingness of the chef to listen to his enthusiastic explanation, even if it flies over his head, doesn't go unnoticed. The pale pupils ringed in a slightly stronger pink widen like a cat's as he goes on, taking the knife back out of his pocket and slicing his palm after removing his glove. The thick crimson liquid leaks from the wound that is visibly healing before their eyes, a faint blue shimmer and flickers of purple static within the depths of the beading fluid. Surrendering to gravity, the droplet hits the light gray stone where it quickly forms a pale red crystal. Red wisps swirl around it, a vibrant scarlet glow within pulsing steadily.
'' The coolest part about mine is how kuuvahki influences it. It takes on the color of red Unipolar kuuvahki, while it has a glow pulsing in the color it would be without lunar power. Oh, oh, check my pulse and watch the glow! ''
His hand has fully healed, which he now extends to Kunikuzushi excitedly. If his tail wagged any harder, it might just fall off.
'' Soul age, flesh age, blood age, age as a homunculus including the time I spent in the training realm, or my age as a homunculus in the Human Realm? It depends on which you're referring to. ''
“…O-Oh. Uh, okay. Well, when’s the best time to go to Nod-Krai like, ever? Should I even go there? I have heard things about it being just as hostile towards the Abyss as Natlan, and…well, to put it simply, my poor sibling Ikimono nearly got forcibly drowned by some teenage girl while out vacationing with the…ginger Harbinger. I’m not allowed to say his name or he can and will invade this conversation through an incredibly inconvenient teleportation fiasco. Anyway, poor Iki can’t swim, so it was a big deal. They almost died- like, died died. Poor thing. But you get my point, yeah?”
[Kunikuzushi stated with a bit of concern and frustration, feeling a bit upset that humankind felt it was necessary to slaughter the innocent, especially when they were beastly or just plain different. And they pick favorites, choosing to be kind to the yokai and the half-animals and all the cute, extremely human-presenting creatures. But never the ones who appear more than just a little supernatural. Those get shamed, ridiculed, shunned…or even plain hunted down for sport. Granted, it’s tough being a member of a species with diabolically bad rep- Abyssal Harvesters are notoriously dim and hellbent on devouring anything that breathes- but there’s still room for the friendly exceptions. Apparently not enough room in the heart of humans, though. It truly is a crying shame. A deep wound that festers with hopelessness.]
[Speaking of wounds, Kunikuzushi observed the Vogelprinz’ self-inflicted cut, cringing with worry for a moment until he quickly noticed that the cut was already healing. He exhaled a bit, patting his chest over where his core was like that weird thing humans do where they pat over their heart after being spooked. He hummed in thought while observing the blood, his brows shooting up when the kiddo explained what the colors meant. He oohed and aahed in response, genuinely quite impressed by the mystery moon magic. He’s just…not really sure what kuuhvaki is. Yet. He’s figuring it out, he’s just not very sciency. He’ll get it…eventually. When his own wound sealed up with a mottled glittery red hue, he reached out and gingerly took the Vogelprinz’ hand into his own, trying to watch the pulse’s glow as instructed.]
“Huh. Well, I still don’t know what kuuhvaki is, but I guess I know now that it will weaken me. Hm. So the kuuhvaki is what makes your blood all glowy? That’s neat…how do I watch your pulse, though? It seems like your wound is already sealed. Is it just my bad vision, maybe? Is there actually a clear way to watch? Archons, I feel so dumb.”
“Oh, by the way, I meant the age that you, like…feel like. You feel young, you feel old? You feel childish, you feel mature? That’s kind of what I meant. But, if that’s too vague, then I guess your birthday…uh, the one that starts at the moment you went from birdie to human-presenting. That’s probably the closest to a human lifespan, considering I’m talking about the range from the very beginning of your human-like life all the way to now. How’s that?”
'' The Wild Hunt has hurt too many people, and even my Riftwolf siblings help out Mister Rerir. I left once things got too scary for me. Maybe stay away until the New Moon rises and Mister Rerir is defeated? It should be safe then, as long as you don't lose control. ''
Andvari says, although the Elynasian speech chose to be particularly frustrating... The cruelty towards non-humans is something he is well-aware of. Throwing beans at oni, the stereotypes of kitsune as cunning foxes and nekomata as thieves... Humans even form biased ideas of the humans of other nations and subregions. The class divide of Fontaine, the reputation of Eremites as unintelligent warmongering mercs-for-hire among older scholars from Azar's time as Grand Sage... It baffles him that humans can be so arrogant towards others of their kind.
Pulled from his thoughts when the other takes hold of his hand, the dragùa struggles to hold back an amused bark of laughter. 'Watch' his pulse? He doesn't know how to check for a pulse, which utterly amuses the young prince. The other looks like a chef, surely he must have some knowledge of first aid?
'' That's not how you check a pulse. Put your index and middle fingers here, on the side of my hand just past my thumb, and move them around until you can feel pulsing. Don't put your thumb against my hand though, it creates unnecessary vibrations that interfere in locating the pulse. ''
The curiosity regarding his age is something that gives Andvari pause. He isn't quite sure what his maturity is equivalent to in humans... He is an adult bird, an ageless creature, and an alchemical dragon child in the general form of a young human man. Approximately 4.5 years in experience as a humanoid, though to the rest of the Human Realm he was 'reborn' only a few months ago at the end of July. He certainly doesn't act like a bird that only became a sapient humanoid lifeform a few months back, but it is the 'age' that lines up with the intel others have on him. Best use that so the puppet finds no holes in his story if he investigates him.
'' I was 'born' just a few months ago at the end of July. ''
“Mm…okay. I still don’t know who Rerir is, but maybe I shouldn’t know. Hey, how’d you know about my thing where I could lose control-? Are you some kind of spy, or is that just another thing you can sense? Oh, crap- hold on.”
[Kunikuzushi reached into a rather large pocket on his person, pulling out a mundane bag of jerky bites and popping one into his mouth quite urgently. Seems that’s how he manages the eternal starvation and manic urge to slaughter every so often. Or, uh…the more tamed version he has of those things, anyway. Puppets don’t need to eat, but the curse does. It’s…complicated. And really fucking annoying for this poor schmuck.]
[When the chef finally realized what thr Vogelprinz ACTUALLY meant by “check my pulse and watch the glow”, he turned bright red in the face. Actually, red with a tinge of glowing purple- yes, he was that embarrassed. He groaned under his breath, just choosing to silently suffer through the pulse-finding instructions for now. Afterwards, he muttered something about hating the lack of clear borders between words to take and not take so literally. At least, in most conversations. People are so complex all the time…sometimes it can actually be irritating. This isn’t even just a puppet thing, this happens to neurodivergent people all the time. He’s one of those people himself, actually.]
“Urgh, I hate when I misunderstand words…why’s it never clear enough what I gotta take seriously over what I don’t? Words are hard. And don’t get me started on those unspoken societal rules, I mean- it was almost impossible to learn back when I was merely a Kabukimono! I’ve got some grasp now, but it’s still really tricky when the rules shift and flow almost endlessly. I swear, society is meant for a certain way of thinking and functioning, and apparently it’s not the one I have. It pisses me off…uh, why can’t I find your pulse-? I’m looking, but I can’t…oh, there it is. Found it.”
[The chef grumbled, but lit up when he found the damn vein he needed. He held his fingers in place, watching and feeling the blood flow with intent. But, he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to be observing through this…the pulse was a bit weird to him, but he was still hung up on the fact it was supposed to glow-? How does a pulse glow? He could see the blood glow earlier, yeah, but he can’t really see the glowing all that well through the skin, could he? He was rather baffled…and still kind of embarrassed from earlier.]
[But at the mention of the Vogelprinz’ age, he quirked a brow in amusement. Only a few months old? That is one well-articulated baby. Then again, Durin was a similar way, so he wasn’t too surprised. If anything, it just made him feel weirdly maternal yet again. Protect child…cherish baby boy. He, uh- he wasn’t going to act on any of those very parental desires, don’t worry. He just seems to care a little more than the average stranger. Sorta. It’s not weird to feel this sense of adoration, is it?]
“Hmm…you’re a bit young, kiddo. Pretty knowledgeable for a guy who’s only a few months old, huh? That’s okay, I guess it just means you’re a quick learner. And a quick grower. I can’t believe a kid who isn’t even a year old has outgrown me by a whole 6 inches already. It’s pretty audacious, hahahaha! I’m joking, I promise. Anyway, anyway- I’m gonna keep calling you kiddo, then. Seems about right to me.”
