ANIMA MUNDI

RP Blog for Honkai Star Rail OC 'PARADIGM' Crossover/OC Friendly 18+ Only Selective / Mutual Priority

[parastrum]

Rules | Bio | Interest Checker

Studies in: Living Philosopher's Stone / Deciding Legacy / Paradox of Life / A Living Time Capsule / Surviving Obsoletion / Surviving Extinction / Adaptation Against the Odds

[parastrum]

List of common things that Paradigm doesn't know about or understand yet:

Birthdays, since death wasn't ever permanent they weren't celebrated. Accomplishments of evolution/adaptation were celebrated instead.

Permadeath, more so coping with the fact, it is real, and not everything comes back like they have known their entire lifetimes

Any money based economic system and capitalism, though they will hate the concept.

Memes. The urban language definition, not the biology definition.

Aeons and the Paths and all of that cosmic nonsense.

What that square thing is that represents the save icon.

Vietual entertainment of any kind, including video games.

Phones, why are those square things so full of usefulness?

Sarcasm, but the second they get it, oh man it will be used against you

[parastrum]

Woke up too early for work, and figured I should have done this anyway, but here;s a slapped together Interest Checker for Paradigm.

It's not required but it definitely helps me keep track of all my mutuals information and comfort levels!

[parastrum]

Random sketch bullshit go that's going under a read more because I don't trust tumblr to be able to tell the difference between a bare back to a bare front.

[galacticbaseballcr]

*. ⊹ ✧ — Forearms settle on thighs while part-gloved hands dangle off the muscle, producing a small wrapper. It formerly contained watermelon-flavored chewing gum. Handing it over to Paradigm in hopes of acceptance of this offering.

🙶 My body does well on its own, but accelerating the healing factor could help in a pinch. 🙷 The Stellaron located in Caelus’ chest is a massive boon⋯ more of a fair-weathered symbiote than consistently helpful, though. 🙶 Sometimes I like playin’ my handheld console upside-down. Keeps me awake enough to hit a top ten. 🙷

Scenarios where Caelus may experience before or not. Including the specific one he mentioned. Bandages are worth breaching first place during slow nights, even as he fights tooth and nail against somnolence.

🙶 Right, transform. 🙷 With each second, the sofa turns increasingly comfortable. Maybe he’ll forgo his cozy bed today. 🙶 I think I’m human enough, so yes. Your species doesn’t have a name, then ? 🙷

[parastrum]

Paradigm blinks at Caelus slowly. Their head tilts even slower to the side. The end of their tail twitches. "Console...?"

They knew the word for trying to help relieve a grieving friend of sorrow but that did not make any sense in that context. Neither did the pronunciation of the word. "Do you not just sleep when you are tired?"

The confusion is briefly stopped by finally noticing what Caelus was handing them. It looked like metallic skin of some kind, but it smelled of concentrated sugar. .. but it wasn't natural. Not to Paradigm at least. Even in a weakened state, their sense of smell was incredibly keen. They have no idea it's trash when they take it. They have no idea either that they aren't meant to lick the inside of the wrapper, but the fact it gets stuck on Paradigm's tongue is surely an immediate indicator.

They temporarily imitate what a canine acts like when peanut butter is stuck to the roof of it's mouth. Purple tongue flicking out between a lot of very sharp teeth until said wrapper is down. If they were breathing, they would have coughed and sputtered.

An ear flick of temporary annoyance will have to do instead.

Back to Caelus' question. "My kin... doesn't have a name in your languages. I... will have to decide one, now that we know there was something out in the cosmos. When my home was alive, stars came to us. We did not go to them. I am the only record of us."

In layman's terms: they were never space faring people.

"I have been crystal for around a thousand centuries...not quite asleep, but not... a living thing entirely either... stasis I believe is your word, drifting in the cosmos."

[parastrum]

I need to draw things and those things are anatomy references and hhhhhhhhhh

I need you all to understand how much upper body strength they have and what those teeth do

[parastrum]

[ MARS ] when your muse gets angry, how does it show ? do they know how to control it, or do they let it consume them ?

[ PLUTO ] what is your muse's relationship with individuality ? do they feel that they need permission to be themself ?

Astrological Headcanon Meme [Accepting]

Anger is an emotion that takes up a lot of energy. Thus it is dependent on Paradigm's energy levels. The main telling signs that show consistently, are how Paradigm's eyes look, and then making some form of sound that doesn't fit their body. Paradigm's eyes change to a black sclera, white iris and red pupil to help filter light. Assuming Paradigm feels fine, they typically give off a low, threatening growl that sounds like a beast a lot larger than the body producing it. The more energy Paradigm has, the easier it is to manage and simply show disdain for whatever is making them upset. They move with fluid motion and may show physical signs of displeasure, such as pinned ears and narrow eyes.

When in low energy, critical survival mode, Paradigm turns into a full eldritch horror. Their eyes look somehow distorted, and the sounds they produce are seemingly random frequency, reverberating sounds with terribly paired pitches that is meant to cause as much unease as possible. It is also made to diffuse any other noise so that no one can call for help. The mindset is similar to that of being in a Beloathed state: get rid of what is causing the emotion as efficiently as possible. Movements are erratic, like watching an animation that is missing key frames in it's motions. Kill it, get rid of it, destroy it, and feel better.

---

If you told Paradigm that people in the modern age feel they need to conceal themselves on a personal level, they would find it impossibly unrealistic. Permission to be yourself? Preposterous. They come from a culture that no matter how many cycles you live and die, no matter what form you change from or in to, you will always be you. Your instincts and memories will follow. To need permission is shackling one's self, perhaps even suffocating it to a metaphysical death.

Paradigm will always have a strong relationship with individuality, even more now that they are likely the only one of their kind left. Perhaps some of their old wisdom can help others feel as strongly about themself. Paradigm would be confused about how some of the reincarnation process of certain species worked if given the time to study it.

[underesources]

ASTROLOGICAL HEADCANON MEME.

some various character analysis questions based off of space &&. the bodies that inhabit it. feel free to edit as you see fit.

[ MERCURY ] is your muse good at communication ? can they hold a proper conversation, or are they always finding an excuse to avoid small talk ?

[ VENUS ] how does your muse handle love ? do they believe themself to be deserving of it, and how capable are they of loving others ?

[ EARTH ] how grounded is your muse ? are they logical and straightforward, or are do they always have their head in the clouds ?

[ MARS ] when your muse gets angry, how does it show ? do they know how to control it, or do they let it consume them ?

[ JUPITER ] how does your muse see morality ? what do the words good and evil mean to them ?

[ SATURN ] is your muse all work and no play ? do they let responsibility consume them, or do they allow themselves breaks from time to time ?

[ URANUS ] can your muse handle change ? do they accept it with open arms, or will they try anything they can to make sure things say the same ?

[ NEPTUNE ] does your muse dream frequently ? if they do, what kind of dreams (or nightmares) do they have ?

[ PLUTO ] what is your muse's relationship with individuality ? do they feel that they need permission to be themself ?

[ CERES ] does your muse take care of themself ? do they neglect their needs to put others first ?

[ PALLAS ] how perceptive is your muse ? can they pick up on things other people don't ?

[ CHIRON ] what does your muse do to cope ? are their coping mechanisms healthy, or do they lean into bad habits to get through tough times ?

[lovesfolly]

     There was certainly a lot to go into when it came to the vidyadhara. The lineages, their pact with the Xianzhou – there was so much that Eros wasn't sure he could go over it all in the span of just this one conversation. Any questions they had, he'd answer, of course, but there was no way to get through everything that came to mind.

     “ ‘m not quite sure I know what y’mean there… s' jus' what we've always called it. S' somethin' that we c'n learn, but – magic tends t' be from what I've experienced. At least – with th' things I've learned from m'people. ”

     Besides, Eros wasn't entirely sure of all of what happened and why. He still didn't know why his abilities were so different than those of others. Didn't know why he had always been on a different level than any other user of terrahymn he remembered meeting. Suppose that was something to focus on another time.

     “ We do certainly look different. Many people don't know there are other descendents of th' Permanence, so they tend t' jus' think of th' one. ”

     Most people barely even knew about the vidyadhara if they'd never been around the Xianzhou.

     “ Close t'? ”

[parastrum]

Paradigm wouldn't pry too much more of poor Eros then. It seemed it was just the way of his world that he accepted. Refining their questions to ask Eros was going to come with some thought. Interrogation made anyone weary.

Now, it was time to share about themself. "I have the knowledge of my home planet in my vitsang. I can change into home's many forms, and the Tetriarch's many creations, energy willing... but the me of now is a shadow of it's former self."

They turn and address the exposed side, where glistening red met paler clay colour. "I have been crystal so long that parts of my skin did not change back. My eyes were not always red, skin and hair, pale... for my kind, I look very mismatched. Perhaps some other details were forgotten while I was not awake."

They gesture to the patch under their chin as well, before letting their arms fall, and curling back up into their sitting position.

"As such, if one is not completely recognized in the mirror, you choose a new name. That is how my kind work. Life is always new, and death just changes the state of it."

[parastrum]

Woke up too early for work, and figured I should have done this anyway, but here;s a slapped together Interest Checker for Paradigm.

It's not required but it definitely helps me keep track of all my mutuals information and comfort levels!

[galacticbaseballcr]

*. ⊹ ✧ — Ah, blood.

A substance so precious that many a cautionary or horror tale depicts blood-consuming characters as substitutes to primeval evil or taboo, or is said villain. Caelus finds more fault in the Antimatter Legion whose existence entails destruction, not survival—what occurs to the Trailblazer are obstacles. Paradigm isn’t one.

Conjuring an amethyst-colored light, he permits its appearance to linger besides his temple, descending slowly. Only functional as a impromptu nightlight in tight corners; control over his Stellaron hardly at a rudimentary level still.

🙶 I see, 🙷 Caelus answers with a scant drawl. Tiredness settles in, stretching his arms and legs simultaneously. Reverting to his relaxed stance soon enough as the crystalline luminescence besides Caelus makes itself scarce. 🙶 Well, good news. There’s plenty of that to go around. If you’re up to lickin’ wounds after I bust myself against an enemy or get my ass kicked, that is. 🙷

Peculiar offer from the peculiar vessel. But if Caelus wasn’t on the precipice of danger, he’d make a rather passive Trailblazer, and such passivity is unbefitting.

🙶 We’re all human or human-passing. It’s not my place to expand on what human-passing means for the others, but you won’t see anyone transformin’ into a Trotter anytime soon. 🙷

[parastrum]

The information doesn't seem to bother him. Either he puts on a brave face... or perhaps this person has faced horrors that make the information pale in comparison. Given the explanation of getting into conflicts that cause harm, the latter was likely the reason.

Paradigm goes to speak but is stopped by the spark of purple luminescence near Caelus' head. Their head cants to the side until it vanishes into nothing, similar to the way a cat would look at the spark of a laser pointer, but no energy to chase it.

"I could lick wounds." They respond in seriousness. "My vitsang can be used as medicine for any other life form and provide rapid healing... if I have drank theirs first. Though randomly licking others without their consent is not appropriate."

Such gestures could only be reserved for close friends and family, and those romantically bonded with.

"I'm not sure what a trotter is... but I can... transform - "That was an appropriate word, right? "- into things other than crystal. Seems that it's not a common trait with... hu-mans. Is it your place to call yourself a human?"

the question, while perhaps worded in such a harsh way that was oblivious to Paradigm, was genuinely simple curiosity. "They didn't call me such things on... station."

[parastrum]

Paradigm's sleeping habits depend entirely on how much energy they currently have. It's an easy way to tell how well they are doing by exactly how they sleep:

Like a Corpse - Completely still, cold, doesn't react to any stimuli except moderate levels of touch. Absolutely no breathing whatsoever. Completely limp, shows literally no life signs. Eyes may be slightly open and cloudy.

Death's Doorstep - Nearly Completely still, hypothermic levels of heat, minimal reactions to stimuli. Manual breathing debuff. Stiffer than normal, delayed response to all stimuli but touch. Responses are quick to touch. Eyes shut. Body as compact as possible.

Charged at 50% - Minimal movements, moderately warm, sluggish reactions to stimuli. Subtle breathing, not as stiff as weaker states. Appropriate responses to stimuli. Often found clinging to something or as hidden as possible.

Actually Okay - Light stimuli is ignored. Reactions are quick and include vocalizations. Body is warm and completely relaxed and may be twisted in weird ways, or found clinging to a comfort entity. Breathing is steady and deep, may include rumbling or perhaps purring.

[galacticbaseballcr]

*. ⊹ ✧ — Life essence ? There’s nigh-infinite possibilities here. Caelus settles on another topic instead of recounting the numerous ones—diving into one’s culinary preferences a subject for later. The spectacle before him counts as a current interest.

And presently, a microexpression of surprise crossed the Trailblazer’s face. While Caelus’ palate borders ( if not directly ) on the niché, this went beyond acquired taste. If Pom-Pom whines about the occasional slovenly condition of his bedroom, maybe his personal Trash Catcake wouldn’t have be the sole dedicated vacuum status.

His astonishment relaxed from the crinkling and tearing noises, gilded irises focused on the prehensile tail. Back to the ravenous behavior. Thank goodness the Astral Express found them. Alternative groups of interest might’ve enforced unsavory experiments or situations—after all, the Data Bank had zilch about the species encountered.

An introduction is in order. Caelus follows accordingly. Impish grin and mischief abound as the prime troublemaker of the Express for his wayward behavior and bizarre train of thought.

🙶 I’m Caelus. Someone who’d need medical attention if I dared swallow a package whole. 🙷 Followed by a chuckle, he paused the cheerines for now with a sagely nod. 🙶 Trick Snacks are pretty good if ya want something to tide you over until a proper meal. It is candy, though, so any ’fit would start disagreeing with your figure if you’re not careful. 🙷

[parastrum]

Well, they didn't swallow the package whole, but the entire thing was in their mouth when Caelus introduced himself. They pause, glance over, and swallow the rest of the food before shuffling and turning to physically face Caelus.

"Um... my body breaks down anything I consume into it's base components so my diet is not necessarily restricted... so no... medical... needed." They answer, tilting their head at what he could have meant by figure. "I do have to consume... blood and arborblood as a primary source of food but...food still helps, just not as potent."

Given how pleasant Caelus was being, perhaps he hadn't seen the files from the station. Not that there was a lot they left behind, but they snuck away with some of the research. Sorry Caelus, those other groups already performed a lot of unsavoury things on them for being an unknown species.

"You can call me Paradigm."

For as strange as Paradigm was being, Caelus didn't seem to mind, at least for now. Perhaps the blood commentary was going to change his mind. Back to the figure comment.

"By the sounds of it... shape shifting is not a common trait among species of this time."

[galacticbaseballcr]

*. ⊹ ✧ — Crystallized ? A certain friend comes to mind; she of the Six-Phased Ice; camera-toting, perky. But the figure presented besides him⋯ entrapment their only commonality.

Arms fold over chest, backside meeting where it should belong on the luxurious seating. One slender leg crossed above the other. Pensive, sharply exhaling. Caelus finds himself relaxed, even when someone else is under duress. Hoping it’d disarm the apprehensiveness carried by newest addition to the Express.

🙶 You may go ahead. Sometimes, imposing is necessary. 🙷 Without the Nameless’ interference or guidance, there would be several failures on Caelus’. 🙶 ⋯I mean, if comfort allows in your case specifically. 🙷 Even if there’s currently an impasse, he’d wait patiently.

Sifting through his pockets, Caelus offers his beloved Trick Snack. Unopened and fresh—a gesture of camaraderie ( a contingency plan in case his companion dislikes or cannot indulge themselves with such, ) as sharing comes difficult with his beloved junk.

[parastrum]

They could impose? It may have been necessary but on instinct, that is what got you killed. It would be wasted effort, but Paradigm didn't feel like fighting... or perhaps this person meant something else entirely with his tone: a more welcoming subtext.

"Life essence is what I need but that is not something others are willing to part with for a stranger. I understand the caution."

The sound of crinkling makes an ear perk up, and a head tilt. A hand raised with something in it: a packet glossy and metallic with bright colouring on it. An image that was manufactured and eye catching for advertisement.

All concepts lost to Paradigm for now.

Neither arms reach out for the offering, but their tail does instead. The end of it revealing that not only is the tail prehensile, but the crest on the end isn't for show: it works as much as a hand does. It curls back to Paradigm and sets it to their lap before taking it in their hands.

"Thank you..." They trail off. "I... do not quite remember what you called yourself in my mind haze..."

It doesn't smell like anything yet, so they do what they do best in this situation: bites the bag. The top comes away easily, but the remains of the top of the bag aren't any different from the food inside. It's in their mouth before the other can say anything.

They notice the seeds inside afterwards. No regret about eating part of the bag though, as one hand goes in, takes one, and puts that in their mouth.

Paradigm jumps when it hits the roof of their mouth with a very quiet squeak.

A pause, and a swallow. "The insides taste better than the outside."

[parastrum]

"People keep saying the ocean is a soup."

They are very serious.

"Yet when I try to drink it, they get mad."

They are being so serious right now.

[galacticbaseballcr]

*. ⊹ ✧ — The parlor car’s ambience soothed Caelus’ mind. A previous mission which involves hordes and hordes of individuals downed. Muscles now relaxed after a much-deserved shower, regarding the passenger with a nod.

🙶 You seem kinda lethargic, that’s all, 🙷 he responds, arms stretching skyward and yawning. Sleepiness befalls the Stellaron vessel. 🙶 The sofas here are pretty top-notch for takin’ a nap. Since we’re short on cabins and all. 🙷

A certain Aeon whose tenure as a Nameless the culprit of this lack. And yet, the silver rails never changed their trajectory as the cosmic train retraces its steps, or on special occasion, lay down non-extant ones: new detours and aids to other space-faring organizations.

🙶 Or do you want somethin’ else ? We’re not exactly wanting of most things. 🙷

[parastrum]

Lethargic. They remembered this word. It was very accurate to their state of being. Their movements were very limited, almost statuesque. Paradigm looks at the other and stares for a bit longer than they want. Not out of anything malicious, just thinking a moment too long of what to say.

"I am." They affirm. "Being a crystal in stasis for..."

What was it now?

"...almost one thousand centuries with no... food, does that."

Ignoring waking up to machines clawing at you from the outside, trying to get in. Someone else was looking in to that.

Their tail curls around their sitting self, tucked as far as the couch corner will allow. Making themself as small as possible was the universal sign of not wanting to be a bother, not wanting to be anything impactful on their new surroundings.

What they want is an entirely different story. "I want... to understand better. I don't understand the vessel and I don't want to impose more. The fact I am here is gracious enough of your family."

[lovesfolly]

     It certainly makes sense that they wouldn't be as familiar with magic as most others would. Some days, Eros was still finding things that he could tell them about. Things they didn't know or understand. And furthermore – not everyone had even been to the Yuque to see Terrahymn in either use that it could be held with.

     He gives a nod as they sound the word out and try to find the menaing. An easy enough task, at the very least.

     Sitting back in his chair, his rests his hands in his lap as he looks them over. Everything should be working properly, he'd never had an instance where his magic didn't work. Well – save on a certain old man from the Express crew.

     “ Not all vidyadhara have this kind and not every vidyadhara can use magic at all, but it is a tradition and a power that we've been given. I am of th' vidyadhara descended from th' terrestrial dragon, so others like me inherit terrahymn. Other ‘hymn’ magic exists within the other lineages as well, this s' jus' th' one afforded t' m'specific branch. ”

     Would it be overwhelming to go through all the lineages and their specific magic? It felt like too much information to give them right away.

     Better, he thought, to just focus on his own lineage. The things he knew more intimately.

[parastrum]

So not all vidyahara were created equally by the sounds of it. Perhaps it had to be a learned skill. It seemed every speck of the cosmos had their own entire world's worth of understanding to accomplish. It made Paradigm dizzy to think about.

"Magic is a common word. It's definition is too vague for me to grasp, but I know it as a word to explain something that happens without much explanation. This does not seem to apply here so I'm having difficulty understanding. You seem to know exactly what happens and why."

Science, magic, all Paradigm knew was the more alchemical methods of either of those things. While they find a space to sit across from Eros, they move their claws, and scrutinize every movement, applying pressure to the crystalline looking flesh to make sure the bones were in the correct spot.

"I heard a passing whisper say I looked like a vid... one of those people. I look very different from you though."

Eros did mention they were capable of shapeshifting, but they weren't referring to that.

"This is simply close to what I looked like before stasis."