What Do I Put Here

That's what people call "living", you know? Sedene affiliated with Gnostic Hymns.

[sedena]

do you have games on your lyre

[wind-blumes]

Ah, if this Melusine worked in the court… that would explain her insistence on keeping written records. Cross-referencing trials and such was probably much easier if you could just read all of the outcomes. Still, he preferred lyric and song to putting pen to paper - memory could be a surprisingly reliable medium.

Speaking of the library, though… he was pretty sure it was open to the public, but he usually didn’t pay attention to those sorts of details. “It should be! And if anyone gets suspicious, tell them a bard named Venti said you can be there. I’ve won the title of ‘Most Popular Bard in Mondstadt’ three times, so my say carries a lot of authority!” Naturally. “The librarian’s name is Lisa - if you’re looking for a specific set of records, she’ll definitely be glad to help you out.”

She might find the Melusine quite intriguing, he thought with a smile. 

“As for my own works,” he continued, “some of them are indeed recorded in the library! But they might not be where you might expect.”

A book of hymns, perhaps! He hadn’t written down any of them himself, but he knew some Church of Favonius members had transcribed various songs and prayers for safekeeping.

"It'll be like a fun scavenger hunt for you," he said. "Unless you have an idea of where to start looking already!"

[sedena]

“Librarian Lisa…” Sedene repeats, committing the name to memory. It would be very helpful, yes, to make sure that she addressed the librarian properly! “Thanks!”

A pause, as she processes the latter half of the statement. “Oh! You are the most popular bard in all of Mondstadt? Congratulations!” 

She nods, appraising the bard in front of her, “It is a position you deserve, yes. You are very good at entertaining, even while we are just talking! But if you are so popular, then shouldn’t it be pretty easy to find your works…?”

Then, a moment of realization. “Ah. You must use a pen name, yes. Then I will take up your challenge!”

A short diversion to learn more about the local area would not do her any harm, no, and it was still fairly bright out. But she had to be careful- the trip back was not exactly short, and if it got dark, it would be rather dangerous. “Hm… do you usually perform here?”

[jxrmngxndr]

*sighs* does it come in blue?

[jxrmngxndr]

Any other criteria turned out to be quite a few of them, but Kevin was content enough to trail along after the girl, to watch her move about the space decisively - far more decisively than he, who kept looking back at the divan that he had sat upon with the slightest downturned corner of his lips.

When she chose the piece she wanted, it was almost a surprise, and his brows raised a fraction.

It had such character. Just as she did.

His expression remained flat when he turned at her question, although the lines of it softened. Although it made sense to ask after other desires, and if Kevin thought about it, yes he would need much more to furnish an apartment, he continued to come up blank, his gaze drifting vacantly and without purpose over the rows and rows of offerings at the event.

Not merely because none of it was engineered for someone like him, but because it had never been a concern. If he were honest with himself, it still wasn't - only a thought in his mind at all for how lost in the anchoring humanity he felt.

Deliverance had no need for a couch, for a chaise longue, for a compartment ottoman.

But the man Kevin, perhaps, did.

A beat more. Then, he said, "I believe my apartment has a counter dividing kitchen from lounge. …It used to be popular to have barstools, for setups like that."

[sedena]

Sedene nods knowingly, even though, being a Melusine, anything that required a barstool to sit at would be inconvenient at best, yes. Maybe it would be better to instead say that it was intended to be encouraging, yes, or any other positive reinforcement to the man who did not have furniture in his home.

“A counter! Bar stools are popular with those, yes,” She glances around the area, searching for other sections of furniture, “If it is well-lit, it can be a nice place to work, as well!” 

There are, of course, small stools, yes, but they are too small to the point that even Sedene does not suggest he try them out, only asking if the color was to his liking, or the shape, or the fact that it could rise up and down with a push of a lever.

Technology was truly a convenient thing, even if it didn’t benefit the man that was searching right now. Sedene makes a note to herself to see if there were any seats with the same functionality that were more comfortable.

But first, “Are you planning to have guests over? If so, perhaps some sort of tea table will be necessary, yes.”

[memoriauteur]

Night of the Living Heliobi

SCENE: The Xianzhou Luofu - Fyxestroll Garden DIR.: Mr. Reca FEAT.: @sedena as SEDENE

An uptick in vandalism around Fyxestroll leads to a case of mistaken identity; possible paranormal activity. (Harmony)

[memoriauteur]

Tough audience, hm? He side-eyes THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR for her input; it appeared this adorable critter didn't know the first thing about art! THE DIRECTOR would just have to teach her. His smile beams from ear to ear.

"Of course you're an actor--this is my set! There's no need to be shy; it's a professional director's job to guide new talents, should they encounter any difficulty."

He steps aside, as if inviting her to take the stage. He does not mention anything about a permit.

"You may not have your usual role in this film, but your investigative experience will nonetheless come in handy when playing a similar character. A film crew should be hiring specialists if they're hoping for any shred of realism in the script in the first place..."

He puts a hand to his chin, scrutinizing his actor as much as his creative process. It was hard to read the images at the forefront of her memory; her perception wasn't anything he was familiar with from most sentient life in the cosmos. What better way to learn than by seeing her in action?

THE DIRECTOR gestures once again to the vandalized monument, giving SEDENE a wide berth.

"Please, don't let my presence stop you. I'd love to see how you perform, Miss...?"

[sedena]

That isn’t how hiring people works, no. Wandering onto a set of a show or play doesn’t entail being immediately hired, especially if Sedene herself did not particularly intend on being an actor of any sort. Or at the very least, that’s what Sedene wants to claim, but maybe this place has incomprehensible laws and she really was hired by wandering onto the set without any contract.

How much will she be paid for this role? What are her rights? She didn’t sign any waivers- did that mean this man will be responsible for anything that happened to her during her time as an actor?

She blinks back up at him, mirroring his movement with her own- hand under her chin, head tilted. 

“My name is Sedene, yes.” She ends up saying, not moving from her position of studying- not the crime scene but the man who claims to be her new employer. “How much will I be paid for my services for your film? Or is this considered volunteer work?”

She nods, once, some form of understanding coming to her. “Is this your first work?" No wonder she wasn't provided any contract or permit! It can be difficult navigating such complicated systems alone, yes, and so maybe he didn't realize what he needed to do, "Normally, when hiring professionals, the paperwork is all the more important to ensure that their certifications are valid, yes, and they are being paid fair wages for their contributions. How will I be credited in your work?”

[sedena]

do you have games on your lyre

[wind-blumes]

“The answer to both of these questions is one and the same, my friend,” Venti said with a smile. “Along with lyrics, song carries emotion, as you noted yourself - and together they create stories, memories, legends. They get passed down from person to person, generation to generation, from today into the future. Besides, Mond was founded with song - what better way to record its history? Even Barbatos’ own words are passed down through hymns, not books!” 

He pointedly did not mention his newest hymn about wine.

“The bard’s dedication to his nation and his fellow people, and his determination in the face of adversity - his songs are full of those feelings.” Venti glanced up at the statue of Barbatos, peeking out from between buildings. “As a follower of freedom… I wish to embody those feelings as well.”

“Ah, but if you were curious,” he added, “Mondstadt does also keep written records! The Knights of Favonius’ library has quite the history collection. Old records, adventurer’s logs, transcribed songs: that sort of thing. But personally, I haven’t visited the library in a while. There are far more entertaining things to do - like this!”

He started a more upbeat tune. “Cast your gaze to the north of Mond- / Legends tell of a cider-filled pond- Hm, that'll need some work. In the meantime, were you curious about anything else?”

[sedena]

She blinks, finding some understanding in his words- it was tradition, or in other words, something that humans did repeatedly because their predecessors did. That was understandable, because in patterns it was easy to find the odd one out, and thus, figure out if someone has done something wrong.

It doesn't seem to be quite the same here, no, but it must follow at least some of the same logic! But either way, she follows his gaze towards the large statue in the center of the city. They looked very similar, yes, except one was made of stone. She wonders if he put his hair in braids like the statue because of tradition as well.

It didn’t seem really free, she thinks, if he has to.

“So it's like Fontaine, then! We have the trials, which are performed at the Opera Epiclese, and court records, which are stored... I'm always better at understanding the court records, yes, so I should go check out the library. Is it open to the public?” That wasn’t her true question, even though it would be good to know. After all, she doesn’t want to break any rules, even if this was the land of freedom. “Oh! And are any of your songs recorded in it?”

[sedena]

4th cup of coffee at 9am

[iustitians]

It appears to be a morning like any other. No trials on the schedule for today, so the day shapes itself to be a more casual one, possibly spent entirely in his office without moving anywhere until the evening. With the sun coming down strong outside, this idea sits very well with Neuvillette.

He opens the papers prepared for the day and starts going through them one by one, just as he has done for the last five centuries. The talons of exhaustion and the fangs of time both seem forever unable to reach him, even as he, on his own, completes work that would normally require an entire cabinet of dedicated officials - and faster than they would, too.

Approve local festival funding, reject a form due to lack of signature, handle the forms trying to rent out Opera Epiclese for plays and spectacles for the rest of the year, sort case records for the trial in three days - one after another, documents pass through his hands, and it only takes him a few minutes to decide each one's fate. Review revitalization project draft, approve this, reject that, send the project proposal back for further review, wait for the corresponding papers for the next case - ah, there they are. As though right on cue, there is a knock on the door before Sedene walks in, the required papers in hand.

In the couple seconds she needs to approach him, Neuvillette takes a moment to process a detail his mind got stuck on. Not related to any of the matters he had been processing or intends to, no...

Though his mind naturally accepted her arrival in her office, given it was both natural and expected given the circumstances and schedule, he realizes that he nearly failed to recognize her knocking. To humans, such a detail may sound silly, for who would bother with such things? Of course people can knock differently depending on the day...

But Neuvillette's ears and instincts alike tell every Melusine's way of being apart, and a single detail would be enough for him to pinpoint her identity on the spot.

This is... out of the ordinary. It is wrong, and if something involving a Melusine feels wrong, he is always quickly to react.

"Thank you," he nods slowly; his hand accepts the papers given to him, but his eyes ignore them entirely, fixed on Sedene instead.

"If you don't mind me asking... is something the matter? I had thought you only just returned from vacation, but you look more tired than you were before your break."

[sedena]

“Nothing gets past you, Monsieur Neuvillette!” Sedene chirps, out of habit, noticing how the Chief Justice had his entire focus on her for the handing of the documents. That itself isn’t unusual, but normally he’d at least scan over the documents before she heads out! Just in case she needed to fetch something or the other, or there was something she could file away in return.

She blinks at his expression, and stores it away to think about later. It was another complicated idea, she figures, and she isn't really in the right headspace to puzzle it out. “I just returned from vacation, yes, but the entire thing was a mess…”

She huffs, the equivalent of a sigh, as she places her hands on her hips and shakes her head. “I wasn’t really aware of what was going on for most of it, but there was a big mess on the place I visited, which involved somebody eventually having to send a distress signal for him and a large group of other people trapped there.”

“The entire thing is a little fuzzy to me…” Horns droop alongside her, but she straightens very quickly, realizing that she was still at work. “I feel very tired, yes. Not to worry, though! I’m sure it'll just take a few days before I get back into the swing of work!”

She blinks at him again, then says, with far less confidence, “It’s too bad, though. The place was supposed to be a relaxing resort and ended up a huge mess. What a waste of time…”

[dream-of-butterflies]

dad says it's my turn to fly. also i brought this purple girl

commission: destruction | starter for @sedena

[dream-of-butterflies]

The idea of flying still remained to be foreign to Seele, and that brought her unease despite everything she’s been through thus far. However, anything to peel her mind away from everything regarding the vacation she so failed to achieve would be welcoming.

There was something tantalizing about the way the skies graced her – her brief flight with Venti had been nothing short of scary, but exhilarating. She wanted to learn how to fly herself. It was why she stood in Fontaine today – they had been administering Wing Glider Exams, and Seele would get her license by all means necessary.

She had the balance and the dexterity, (though none the patience, and not even Seele herself would try to tell you otherwise), so she believed that maybe this would go well for her. 

Ready for her exam, she glanced around, looking for the one who would be in charge today. It took a moment, until she looked down, eyes met with a little kid in uniform. Seele’s eyes lit up, as she recognized the little one before her – “ Oh my gosh! I remember you, you gave me a red envelope at the Lantern Rite! ” 

Scanning over the little one’s outfit, Seele began to take mental note of how professional she appeared. Is it her? But she’s a kid…Then again, I’ve seen stranger things happen…Clara practically helps run a settlement. Still, ‘prolly safe to ask.  “ Are you the one administering the exam today? Is there anything I need to do before we begin? ” 

@sedena

[sedena]

It is once again time for a new wave of eager adventurers and sky-farers to get themselves a Wind Glider license to do so legally, a process that Sedene appreciates both for its prevention of accidents and for an easier registration of any mishaps that occur.

Of course, normally she does not administer the exam itself, but this particular year, one of the examiners had come down with a nasty illness of some sort, and had asked for a replacement. After a short set of training instructions, Sedene is ready to administer the exam. Probably.

“Mhm! I am Sedene of the Marechaussee Phantom, and I’ll be the administrator for your flight exam today.” Sedene pulls out a clipboard, complete with a child-sized pen, “Are you renewing your license, or is this your first time taking the exam? If it’s the second, yes, I’ll need you to fill out this form so that we may properly grant you your license when you succeed. If it’s the first, please tell me your license ID so I can note you down!”

Sedene nods, taking in the person standing before her. She didn’t look like she owned a Wind Glider license, no, mostly because those who were renewing their license would have already taken it out by now, and there was no license held up in front of her eyes.

She holds out the first-time registration form. “Let me know if you have any issues filling this out, yes.”

[bloodbxrn]

i've never made a snowman before. is it to the death?

[bloodbxrn]

He squinted in response to the accusation that he be too warm for the wine - it could not have been an accusation, but somehow everything thrown his way felt like one anyway - and prepared himself for further passive aggressive comments that he couldn't respond to, just like he had at every base Fire Moth had called home in living memory. 

Or no, it wasn't living memory any longer, was it? Just memory, and only his, for all that lent credibility. 

Kalpas laughed at that, out of nowhere and incongruous with the statement that the kid – Sedene, she just told him her name, without any preamble or hesitation – had said to follow, to guide him to their partnership. 

"Sorry," he said, realizing that she hadn't said anything funny, that the humor was only in his head – and he almost laughed again, but shook his head instead, snorting a little puff of steam into the chill of the mountain air. 

"Hadn't planned to make anything. But...we can if you want...?" His hands had not necessarily been made for creation, and he knew it, and he looked at them now as though unaware that it was something that they could do. A frown pinched at his brows, though Sedene couldn't see it. 

"Sorry," he said again. "I'm Kalpas. I didn't know this was a thing," a gesture to the gathered knights, and the cheerful crows who had already begun building their snowmen. "But if you want to win, I can flatten all of these punks for you." 

[sedena]

“Um, I think that’s against the rules!” Sedene informs him cheerfully, glancing at him to determine whether the idea was a joke. It didn’t seem like it, but even so, maybe he just hadn’t been informed yet, yes! It isn’t good to assume the worst. “We’re supposed to make our sculpture without sabotaging others, and then get judged at the end!”

Undeterred by his admission, however, she reaches up to take his hand and finds it a mote too high, so she instead gestures for him to follow. “I’ll lead you to our ice block. Seems like a shame not to try at least once, no? You’re already all the way at Dragonspine, after all. Not a place many people visit!”

Speaking of, the mountain itself was coated in blood, mixing with the snow to cause a beautiful pink hue, one that she knows that humans couldn’t see. If they knew, maybe they’d be less keen on playing with the icy powder. The ice for the competition must have been grabbed from elsewhere, though, as it was beautifully clear! 

Each step of her fiery partner melts a little of the snowy exterior of their path, and their approach to the contest was greeted with both relief from those who struggled to chip away at the ice and annoyance from those who found carefully carved surfaces begin to melt.

If he doesn’t mind, Sedene doesn’t either, continuing onward.

“This one’s ours!” A gesture toward a yet untouched block, nodding to herself. A few tools lay at its base, human sized, of course, and she picks one up experimentally, using both hands to stab it into the ice. It leaves a small dent and bounces off, and she frowns. “Well, maybe we can do something simple…”

What was simple for an ice sculpture, though?

[sedena]

do you have games on your lyre

[wind-blumes]

Venti couldn’t help the fond smile that spread across his face.

“Yes, he wrote quite a few, and some even survive to this day; he quite enjoyed singing about the beauty and freedom of nature - I’m told,” he hastily tacked on. “But in leading the war effort, the bard’s life was tragically cut short - as Mond’s people finally triumphed over their tyrant, he succumbed to his wounds.” 

Yes, he still remembered it - the boy wrapped in Amos’s arms as he took his last breath, then the sudden surge of power as Venti himself was granted the title of Archon. The strange sensation of a tangible body, the boy’s imperfect twin, and the feeling of tears as he wept over his corpse.

“And with the tyrant’s demise, the Anemo Archon ascended to godhood and released the people of Mondstadt from their windy prison! That’s my history lesson for today, ehe. Apologies for the rather lengthy tangent.” He idly plucked at his lyre. “I’m not much of a historian, but us bards often draw inspiration from stories of the past - we keep them alive through song. It’s a big part of how we remember our history.”

[sedena]

“Wouldn’t it be better to write it down?” Sedene puts a hand to her chin. Songs, being a form of art, wouldn’t be able to record all the details, nor would it be a particularly concise way of keeping information. “Though I guess if you do both there’s no harm done. But this song was very nice, yes. I can tell that you played with, um…”

She hesitates, searching for the correct word, hoping she didn’t misattribute it to the definitions in her head, before settling on a safe, neutral option.

“Emotion!” 

She nods to herself- emotion was a good way to cover all bases, yes, as humans often had many at once. She had learned that recently, though that simply made the already complicated situation even more so. “What makes this song your favorite?”

[romaritime-flower-deactivated20]

Two Meulsines and a Shopping Spree

Sigewinne and Sedene

[romaritime-flower-deactivated20]

There was one thing Sigewinne made a point of doing every month, getting her sisters to take a break. It wasn't easy, Melusines were Monsieur Neuvilette's familiars after all. Of course they'd share his mannerisms.

Luckily for her, a select few actually knew how to relax. Like Sedene! Even if Sedene had her own paycheck, Sigewinne was still happy to cover the costs. Anything to get her out and about!

"Okay, so." She held a small notebook in her hands of places to stop. "Cafe can be for lunch. So, we could go to the beauty shop." Sigewinne gasped in excitement. "Or the boutique! When was the last time you got a new outfit?"

Pink eyes looked at the other Melusine with expectancy. It was a day full of shopping for the duo, and she would make it the best one of this generation.

@sedena

[sedena]

Sedene was as much a creature of routine as anything else, yes, and that meant routine breaks. They weren’t common, but when they came around, there was no reason to spend it working! It was meant to help her productivity, after all. Sometimes, she is lucky and her break comes across one of the rare times Sigewinne comes to the surface. Today was one such day.

Nodding along to the other Melusine's suggestions, Sedene blinks as she is addressed with a question.

“Hm… last year?” Sedene puts her hand to her chin as she thinks. Assuming she doesn’t mean new uniforms, then that would be the last time Sedene remembers buying a new outfit. “I usually wear my uniform, so I don’t need a lot of other clothes, no.”

Then, clapping her hands together, “We also should check out the clockwork shop, yes. I’d like to see if they have anything on a discount! It’ll be nice for you to bring something down with you, wouldn’t it?”

[aevitium]

✧ ˖ — between tealeaves

vaporize ... chenyu vale tea harvest

[aevitium]

"It depends on who you ask," she hums. "A dear friend of mine would certainly insist that tea can only be truly enjoyed when one can taste their own accomplishment in properly preparing it. Oh, but the other would call you an idiot for thinking it tastes any different in a cup made of porcelain than it does straight from the kettle."

Human ego peers back, the colors of her iris dancing like gentle waves with mirth. Such questions are the very axis of her existence, all that she has lived by from the moment of her birth to each of her deaths. Hope is just a word put to an idea that spans hundreds, that is boundless. It knows no shape, hope, limited only to that which its beholder can see it in.

"Ah, but the sunrise isn't hope itself." Elysia wags a teasing finger, giggling to herself. "You see, when the sun sets there is darkness. Throughout it, in the absence of light, there is hope. Hope is the knowledge that no matter how long the night, the sun will return again and there will be light once more. The sunrise is the evidence of that hope."

The girl seems a methodical one, a logical one. "Hope has a routine, too, just a strange one. A long one, a sometimes unpredictable one, but it is always the same. Where there is tragedy, there is hope, and where there is hope there will be good once more."

With careful fingers, Elysia plucks a leaf from before them. 

"And where there is hope and good and the sun, there will be debates on whether or not it flavors one's tea!"

[sedena]

Sedene is pretty sure there is some deep meaning she is meant to glean from this conversation, yes, but she is also pretty sure that most of it had gone over her head. Her understanding of humans was still something she struggled on- and not for lack of trying. Still, gears turn as she takes these new phrases and slots them into this nebulous concept of hope, trying to get a clearer definition beyond words.

Maybe that was why humans would use so many analogies to try and describe things. Right now, Sedene blinks up at this woman as much of an eager student as a conversationalist, absorbing any information given to her.

“Hm… I’m not sure I understand, but I trust you!” Is her final verdict. She is pretty sure the sunrise has nothing to do with hope, except for whatever someone attributes to it, but maybe that wasn’t true. She is also fairly certain that there was a connection to be made between this conversation and the prophecy from a while back, yes.

“If hope is a form of knowledge, then it shouldn’t change the taste of your tea unless it’s psychological, no? I can’t tell if a leaf was plucked with hope or anything else.”

As if to demonstrate, she pulls two leaves off two separate plants and holds them up. “Can you tell what I was thinking while picking these?”

[sedena]

4th cup of coffee at 9am

[sedena]

To the common people of Fontaine, Sedene returns from her vacation relatively normally. She heads to her home with her luggage as soon as she enters the city; she buys a coffee the next morning and greets her coworkers as she goes to stand behind the counter in the Palais Mermornia.

Throughout the her time in the morning, she speaks to visitors and halts intruders- at most dealing with a lighter workload to ease her back into the flow of things. When there is no one around, she continues to work diligently, sorting case documents from a small backlog- seemingly pleased that her absence didn’t cause too much of an issue!

To her sisters, it didn’t seem like she had gone on vacation at all. Her trip was apparently not particularly restful, but Sedene is diligent, and returns to completes her work on task on time. She murmurs something about changing the date of her yearly vacation when alone, but that is all that is odd. At most, she is tired, yes, and nothing else.

In a moment of quiet, Sedene finds a few documents that needed the Chief Justice’s review before any further approval- not one to waste time, she gathers them up, and knocks on his office door. All as usual… if only a little subdued.

“Monsieur Neuvillette, I have something for you.”

starter for @iustitians

[sedena]

plotting!

Under a readmore because it's long. I'd like to prioritize Jade and Sedene interactions this month as they don't have a lot of threads under their belt but know that I am insane about Su all the time. Or something

Sedene (you are here)

Wind Glider Exam taken by Seele!

She is also open to other ideas or any needed Teyvat comms! She's a little low on active threads.

Su ( @arboriter )

Natlan (Needs Teyvat Muse) - Su is interested in information of all kinds, and that includes the history of Natlan. He'll go into this completely blind (haha), so preferably done with a Natlan muse or at least someone somewhat familiar with the area. (Note: Muse knows nothing about Natlan. Literally nothing)

Tsurumi Island - taken by Shenhe!

Paperfold University - taken!

Empyrea - i want to discuss outright about what happened on empyrea with somebody i am willing to double on this prompt as much as possible somebody please get this man to admit he was supposed to kill someone

Jade ( @desireigns )

Tsurumi Island - I'd like this to start in media res- our muses have already gotten lost on the island for one reason or another, and now we gotta figure out how to get out, hopefully without losing too much time!

Paperfold University - taken by Kevin!

Empyrea - taken by Yelan!

Other ideas? Contact me! Preferably over discord, but I'll also take tumblr messages on this blog. Jade in particular needs to get started with threads :D

[dukemeropide]

Three Men and a Baby (Melusine)

Revelation | Around the Clock - Wriothesley, Zhongli, Sedene, & Welt Yang

[dukemeropide]

The seriousness with which Zhongli advises him toward the old ‘with age comes experience’ adage catches Wriothesley off guard and he turns to look at him with raised eyebrows and amused smile. Truth be told, that sounded like another ageless old man he happened to be acquainted with, and in the split second that it takes for him to gauge whether or not his partner really believes that he aspires to be a professional darts player, he decides that it shouldn’t have come as so much of a surprise. When he thinks about it, the two don’t seem all that different. On the surface, at least.

So Wriothesley opts for a good-natured laugh.

”That certainly looks to be true for Mr. Welt.”

He glances toward the board as the older man begins taking down his throws, among which had been a near-bullseye. The other team had been steadily gaining on them, and now with this recent collection of points, had finally surpassed them.

”Looks like we’re going to need to step it up a notch.”

Maybe it’s his concentration, or the fact that he and Zhongli don’t have quite as tight of a hold on the lead as he’d thought, but when Wriothesley takes the darts from Jaochim and throws them just as he had the last few times - one after the other - they make a messy, scattered array on the board.

Roll 1: 2 Sector: 12, regular, 12 pts Roll 2: 8 Sector: 20, regular, 20 pts Roll 3: 2 Sector: 5, regular, 5 pts

With a sheepish chuckle, Wriothesley takes them down and passes them off to Sedene.

”Or maybe this has all been a ploy from the start to teach me to respect my elders.”

Team Welt/Sedene: 249 pts Welt Misses: 1 Sedene Misses: 0 Team Wriothesley/Zhongli: 236 pts Wriothesley Misses: 0 Zhongli Misses: 0

@sedena

[sedena]

The conversation (that Sedene listens to, kicking her feet while she waits on a barstool for her turn) seemed to say that being older meant more experience, and thus, being better at darts. Frankly, Sedene doesn’t see the connection, but she doesn’t say anything out loud- after all, wasn’t it the Duke who had hit the center of the target the most?

She takes the darts with a cheery thanks, hopping down to take her place in front of the board. A cheeky, “That’s not a bad lesson to learn!” 

Is tossed over her shoulder before she prepares to throw.

Roll 1: 4 Sector: 16, outer ring (x2), 32 points Roll 2: 4 Sector: 11, normal points Roll 3: 2 Sector: 17, normal points

With Welt’s last showing, their team was now in the lead- but not by much. Sedene’s own throws are scattered across the board, still struggling to hit the upper half. At least the point values were high (though even she can admit that was more luck than any skill).

It did make taking the darts out of the board much easier, though, and she deposits them in front of the next of the three gentlemen. (Older gentlemen, their words seem to indicate.)

Team Welt/Sedene: 189 pts Welt Misses: 1 Sedene Misses: 0 Team Wriothesley/Zhongli: 236 pts Wriothesley Misses: 0 Zhongli Misses: 0

@jadeshielded

[sedena]

[S'MORES]

S'mores, they had been a snack that Yelan had heard about in passing. A roasting of marshmallows, marshmallows that are sandwiched between chocolate and crackers. 

Such a confection was not appealing to one who held a disdain for sweets. Yet, the act of making it itself seemed fun, juvenile. It brought reminders of childhood, despite that childhood being nothing but a phantom memory, a mirage created from present day experiences on an adult who wonders 'what could be' rather than remembering 'what is'. 

One marshmallow had finished roasting -- it was perfectly golden brown in color, it's texture solid but liken to give when bitten into just slightly. Something that would pair with the crunch of the cracker and snap of chocolate. Of course, Yelan couldn't allow herself indulgence in sweets without adding hints of spice -- the chocolate she used had bits of Jueyun Chilis laced within the very form of the sweet. She was excited to try it, much to her own dismay. This is why sweets are dangerous.

But, as she sat there, creating her little sandwich of sweetness, she had spotted another figure, one small in stature. In her few trips to Fontaine, Yelan had seen these people, melusines here and there. Then, she looked at her finished s'more, and the chocolate and marshmallows she still had remaining. It wouldn't hurt to share, right?

She looked at the melusine, her eyes and lips forming a smile. "Want one? Careful, it's a bit spicy." 

Sedene liked sweets like many of her sisters did, but she wasn’t particularly fond of the campfire. Hot, and dry, and a safety hazard, especially with the number of people crowded around it. So she busied herself with passing out the sticks with marshmallows upon them for others to roast and occasionally scolding an overeager child or two- that way, she could stay a ways away from the fire, and sometimes someone would come back with one for her!

Just like now, yes. 

Sedene blinks up innocently at the human who approaches her, sticky sandwich in hand. Spicy… She didn’t mind spicy food, no, or at least, what humans labelled as spicy food. Tasted about the same, either way.

“Yes, please!” Another marshmallow is placed on a skewer and then carefully laid out for the next participant while Sedene heads over to her reward. “Thank you.”

She bites into the sandwich, careful not to get crumbs anywhere. As expected, it tasted the same as the ones previous. There was a little kick of savory flavor, though! How fun. It must be like the popular combination of sea salt and caramel, she muses, looking at the human's reaction for guidance.

[sedena]

[WINDOW SHOPPING]

Castorice walks among the streets, two bags in hand. One held a bouquet of sunflowers, as well as a single Lilly of the Valley sprout. The second held various local candies, a gift for Tribios.

She was talking to herself (and Pollux) when the dragon hopped off her head and went for a young creature with presumably her lunch.

"Pollux-!" She yelled, chasing after her tiny (but way too fast) dragon.

Picking it up by it's scruff, a few Okheman curses whispered under her breath, she looked at the person Pollux had ran to.

"I am so so sorry. It doesn't get out much, let alone in this form."

Castorice gather her dropped bags, taking a lollipop in a swiring rainbow out and sliding it over to the other.

"Here. As an apology."

Huh? Sedene takes a bite out of her sandwich, the other half safely wrapped next to her as she hears the sound of what is presumably a name. She looks up, yes, but apparently she should look down as a small blur in her peripheral vision reveals itself to be a little reptilian creature. It manages to snap up a few of the toppings sliding out from the bottom before they hit the ground before being snapped up itself by a humanoid. She blinks up at the harried owner, confused but otherwise unphased.

“Have you considered getting a harness? It could keep your pet close to you without restricting them to just being held in your arms.” She says with a tilt of her head. Normally she would put her hand on her chin, but it is presently occupied with a sandwich that is slowly falling apart.

Then, blinking again when a lollipop is slid toward her as an apology, though she doesn't pick it up. “Thanks! I don’t know why you’re apologizing, though.”

It doesn't feel fair to get something without giving something in return, no, so she nods her head toward the other half of her sandwich on the bench. "Feel free to give this to... Pollux, yes? It seemed to enjoy it, haha!"

[dukemeropide]

Three Men and a Baby (Melusine)

Revelation | Around the Clock - Wriothesley, Zhongli, Sedene, & Welt Yang

[dukemeropide]

“Spend too long warming up those old muscles, Mr. Welt,” Wriothesley quips as he accepts the hand-off, a faux politeness to his tone and a playful glint in his eye, “and the game will be over before you know it. That goes for all of you.”

This, he sweeps over the rest of their little gathering. Zhongli has returned to his chair and his drink already, and Sedene waits by hers for her upcoming turn. Were they all quite significantly his seniors? he wonders. Sedene, of course, surpasses that of half of the cozy bar’s customers combined, but the other two— His glance lingers for a split second longer on his own partner, who seems ageless. He hadn't considered that he might perhaps be more like Furina than he'd first though. The thought doesn't last long, and he soon turns back to the board.

A subtle smile plays across his lips as he holds up the first dart at eye level and tests his aim.

”Getting older isn’t looking too good. I’ll have to give up the dream of ever winning another game of darts.”

As before, Wriothesley’s throws are quick and decisive. One after the other, the darts hit the board. The first lands just off from the bullseye, the second goes a little farther off course, but the third corrects itself and hits the spot right alongside the first in the same kind of pattern Wriothesley had started the game with.

Roll 1: 9, 25 pts Roll 2: 4 Sector: 2, regular, 2 pts Roll 3: 9, 25 pts

Collecting the darts, he notes his score and hands them off to the melusine.

“To you, Miss Sedene.”

Team Welt/Sedene: 374 pts Welt Misses: 1 Sedene Misses: 0 Team Wriothesley/Zhongli: 297 pts Wriothesley Misses: 0 Zhongli Misses: 0

@sedena

[sedena]

“Thanks!”

Sedene is not normally competitive, no. She knows that winning a game makes humans ‘happy’ most of the time, and that generally it makes them ‘disappointed’ if any of their competitors went easy on them, regardless of the result.

However. However, she is a member of the Marechaussee Phantom, and it felt like a poor showing would reflect badly upon her training. 

“Make sure to warm up properly, then,” She chirps as she steps up to the plate. “I’ll pull our weight until then, but you’d better make it up to me!”

Roll 1: 4 Sector: 11, normal points

The first hit is nothing special, only notable to her in its shift from the bottom of the board to the side, yes, which means she’s getting closer on target. But, focus! Getting distracted means that she’ll miss.

Roll 2: 10, 50 points

And… there! Straight in the center. Sedene doesn’t waste any time, no, on celebrating or point it out, simply picking up her last dart and sending it flying.

Roll 3: 4 Sector: 8, normal points

Off again, in a similar area. Maybe she was overcompensating for her last round…

“And it’s back to you, sir!”

Team Welt/Sedene: 305 pts Welt Misses: 1 Sedene Misses: 0 Team Wriothesley/Zhongli: 297 pts Wriothesley Misses: 0 Zhongli Misses: 0

@jadeshielded

[sedena]

[MAN’S BEST FRIEND] -

The Soaring Heights district was quite busy this time of day. The sun was shining down directly overhead, symbolizing the time to be around noon. The Lunch hour rush had hit the district, which had many tourists and locals alike come to indulge in the many food stalls that were available, and Moze was no different. Having already collected his food and ducked away from the large crowd to a bench a little ways away to enjoy his meal in solitude. 

Moze lifts one of the fries out of the bag he was given, about ready to take a bite, when he hears the flap of wings and a cooing sound. Pausing, he looks up only to be met with the yellow beady eyes of a pigeon. Its feathers and body, a deep ebony color that has small hints of green on its neck. It tilts its head up at the silver haired man before it flicks down at the fry in his hand. 

He blinks and stares for a moment. Bewildered at the unexpected audience that had managed to get the drop on him. The assassin tilts his head back at it, trying to gauge as to the reasoning behind why the avian’s undivided attention was on him before he follows its gaze down, and an amused huff escapes.

Of course.

He sits there for a second, debating with himself, half-tempted to shoo the scavenger away, but, ultimately, decides to indulge it. Rewarding it for its ability to get the drop on him, he throws the fry a little ways away, watching as it scrambles after it with its wings flapping. He shakes his head and begins, again, to dig into his meal. 

Until, he hears the sound of cooing once more. Looking to his left, reveals another pigeon, this time with a pure white body that looks at him the same way as the other. Eyeing the fry with an intensity.

“No. I’ve already indulged in this foolishness." He glares at the bird. "Now shoo." Lifting his arm to scare it away, but freezes as he spots another. Then another, until there was a whole flock of them surrounding him. He sits there, shocked, and doesn't dare move a muscle. Knowing how that if he were to even attempt to leave, he would be quickly swarmed by these small, ravenous beasts. Darting his eyes around, he, eventually, makes direct eye-contact with a stranger, eyes pleading for some assistance.

That’s a lot of birds, Sedene thinks, enjoying a drink that she recalls was called the ‘Empyratte’. It tasted like coffee with milk, and the hint of something floral, though she wasn’t really sure what. A bit sweeter than she would like, but an interesting flavor nonetheless!

Even passively, her sight notices the very slight movement near the swarm of pigeons from the man that most others seemed to have assumed was feeding them. He was, she notes to herself, the crumbs on the ground looking the same as the stuff in his hands- but more importantly he seemed to have a bit of an issue.

Was that the emotion distress? Fear? She wasn't sure. Oh, well.

She’s not on the job, no, but that wouldn’t mean she won’t help a humanoid in need. Sighing, she sets her cup (lidded, thankfully!) on the neighboring bench before walking into the flock undeterred.

“Go away, go away. You won’t get anything else here, no.” After a little bit of shooing, most of the pigeons have gotten the message, yes, or at least determined it wasn’t worth waiting here for food when there were other poor tourists to harass.

She walks up to the victim and pats his knee, as one might a child’s head, and nods. “There! The birds are all gone.”

Walking away to pick up her drink, she puts one hand on her hip. “Be careful about feeding the wildlife, next time!”