TELL YOUR WORLD.

INDEPENDENT. LOW-ACTIVITY. MULTI-MUSE HOYOVERSE RP BLOG. MINIMAL GRAPHICS AND OOC. SPOILERS TAGGED. NO NSFW. WRITTEN BY TSU.

[starrelics]

The First Law of Alchemy

[spidergourmet]

Outside of his interests, Albedo feels that he is not nearly as well-read as his enthusiasts believe. He is like Sucrose in that he will pore over a text that appeals to his fields, and unlike her in that he will not exhaust every spine on the shelf. A good few of the titles before them now are unfamiliar to Albedo; some of what he has read, he does spot in sistering sections of Amurta and Spantamad. Sumeru's astounding library does not disappoint. Neither does the God of Dendro's perspective on knowledge—to which he thoughtfully nods. Awareness, awareness indeed.

"Yes, somewhat. Past travels with my mentor saw us about the nation's outskirts at most," he says, words tinged with some reassurance that he is still accustomed to journeying. "It was unfortunate that our itinerary never took us into the city. You have an impressive collection."

A gloved hand gestures at the Adhigama shelves. "I'll have to appreciate as much of it as I can during my stay. In the meantime, I believe the anthology you've mentioned is...?"

The same hand drifts in a smooth arc, fingers curling to point at the upper section of one wall. Sharp eyes and happy coincidence. And from that cover of the aforementioned book, Albedo's gaze lowers slowly, very slowly, back to Nahida's unassuming frame.

"Ah..." His voice tapers off, not unkindly, before offering: "Shall I find us a ladder?"

[starrelics]

Knowledge is a currency held in high regard by the people of Sumeru and it would delight her to see that wealth spread like a chain reaction and flourish in the right hands. There are brilliant minds and talents beyond Sumeru City's borders just as worthy of carrying the future forward as those in the halls of the Akademiya. The scholars of the other nations take different names and titles - Consultant, Librarian, Chief Alchemist - yet they all look on similar horizons. The Traveler, too, continues writing a story unheard not even the stars can foretell and Nahida for her part wants to support that journey no matter the outcome.

"Oh, no need," she chirps courteously, flashing a small smile before turning to face the shelves once more.

Her eyes flicker with light, hand outstretched as the Dendro Archon floats several feet off the ground in a flurry of petals fragile as snowfall. She concentrates on the second volume in its collection and the book dislodges itself from the rest tidily, revealing an arcane starry-patterned cover as it soars towards her.

"This mentor you mentioned," she returns to the previous conversation, "Are they an Alchemist as well? Had the circumstances been better, I would have welcomed you both into the city. Better late than never, right? If you'd like, I can have our Grand Scribe compose a copy of some recent publications in the field as thanks for your time."

[tighnarian]

deck the halls with deforestation

DECEMBER '23 COMMISSION WITH NAHIDA!

[tighnarian]

what does he believe? the question is one to be mulled over, and tighnari thumbs his chin with a thoughtful nod. he answers as wholeheartedly as he would with any asker, unfettered where others may yet shrink in the presence of divinity.

"just to make sure, i assume you mean that your friends are those aranara?" she has all but confirmed their existence in her inquiry alone, if tighnari is not mistaken, but he is unchanged in his opinion.

"i think that the forest keeps plenty of secrets, even from me. that's another reason i keep doing what i do," he starts. "i wouldn't immediately write off their existence just because we're hearing about them from children. children are innocent, not stupid. besides, the aranara aren't the ones trying to hug spinocrocodiles for the kamera, so who's to talk?"

when god sings with her creations, will an aranara not be part of the choir? tighnari plucks another two figures from their box, content to position them plainly among the detangled vines. he does not have the greatest eye for beauty—that is a task more befitting of kaveh—but he trusts well enough that lesser lord kusanali will weigh in her input should she find something amiss.

"how accurate would you say these are, by the way?"

[starrelics]

Favored by the late Nabu Malikata, Tighnari's kind had been children of the desert before putting down roots in the forests, ever attuned to the needs of nature. In him, an enduring loyalty persists that spans lifetimes greater than either of them. The land always remembers those that nurture it even when memory fades.

Her smile is unremitting as time itself, fondness encroaching on the edges. She neither confirms nor denies his hypothesis, but looks pleased nonetheless by his penchant for questions, allowing him to continue uninterrupted.

Nahida finds herself largely in agreement up until the quip about spinocrocodiles, frowning for a short moment. Though it was hardly a surprise some humans engaged in such risky behavior when left to their own devices, she hoped they were not the majority.

"Hmm… Have you heard the saying '"art imitates life"'? While it may be apparent how life informs art, the reverse is equally true. Life learns through imitation. The unknowing child born into this world must look to those that were born first. Any depiction will be held up to the original for comparison, but value cannot so easily be decided." An object created for one task might better serve a different purpose than that which the maker had in mind.

The breeze tousles her silvery hair like a gentle caress, cheeks flushing with the color of spring.

"Lecturing you is not my intent, of course. What I mean is that conveying the right feeling is just as important as capturing all the details," she laughs sheepishly, stooping down low to pat the carved wood hat of an Aranara figure.

[aesthetecomplex]

kaveh listens intently, savoring every word the archon shares with him. again, he hesitates to speak, but god's encouragement finally spurs him on. "in the age of the akasha, people were drowning in information," he starts slowly. "despite that, i'd argue they were starved for true knowledge. i believe there's wisdom that can only be gleaned through experience and expression, although some scholars would vehemently disagree."

a thoughtful look settles over his features. "i suppose it's human nature to place those we admire on pedestals. we see this as an honor to bestow, but in reality, it's a disservice to that individual. the isolation that comes with it strips the person of their ability to fully engage and connect with the world."

sumeru will never accept his vision — not in his lifetime. this kaveh is almost certain of. yet despite prevailing trends, lord kusanali maintains a sense of autonomy and open-mindedness that the nation has seemingly lost. "you desire companionship. in the same vein, your citizens are curious about you...but their reverence makes them apprehensive." another pause as kaveh mulls over what to say next.

"what if...there was a way to remove you from that pedestal?"

his eyes flicker to meet hers. "with your wish in mind...art seems like the perfect medium to utilize. art humanizes its creator and enables the expression of sentiments that can't quite be put into words. what if you created something and shared it with everyone? something evocative — a piece that helps us better understand you and your dreams for sumeru. what would you create, lord kusanali?"

[starrelics]

As far as her memory lasts, she has seen Sumeru through the glistering film of a soap bubble. Of dreams that cannot be made reality. Nahida recognizes the reverberations of the era Kaveh alludes to even now. That the underlying issues plaguing the nation run deeper than corrupt Sages and reliance on the Akasha. Although she is an archon, Buer was never taught to build a nation from the ground up. Kaveh may share a god's vision, but his hands are inspired by humanity. In the world of Teyvat, some feats can only be accomplished by humans afterall. One by one, the Seven have begun to move, stirred by a force seemingly greater than destiny.

Though amenable to the idea of becoming better acquainted with her people, Lesser Lord Kusanali knows the matter is not so simple. Her personal feeings should not take priority over what is best for Sumeru.

"What I wish to communicate with everyone…" she muses thoughtfully, propping her chin in a palm and staring past him. "That's quite the question. I've never really tried my hand at art before, so I have a lot to consider. Art encompasses a great many things to begin with. I like watching Nilou dance at the Grand Bazaar. Zubayr Theatre's stage exudes a welcoming atmosphere that enhances the performance taking place and when I picture it…"

Nahida's hands curl inwards, clutched against her chest as though praying. She slowly looks up and the space around them warps into the projection of a large open-ceiling dome, flowers sprouting from nothing.

"The Temple of Wisdom."

[tighnarian]

deck the halls with deforestation

DECEMBER '23 COMMISSION WITH NAHIDA!

[tighnarian]

"so in short," tighnari shrugs with a raised palm, his other one fixing the alignment of a gilded aranara ornament, "there's no definitive answer on whether real or fake decor is the more environmentally-friendly alternative. like most things in life, the answer is just this: it depends."

that is his spiel for the day, or hour, or next ten minutes. nothing if not thorough, once tighnari is brought a debate, he oft answers in full. after all, who is he to deny god?

"i heard from a friend in mondstadt that a new market's emerging for alchemically-preserved decorations, though. we'll see how that plays out." satisfied with how his strip of shrubbery looks, he turns back to nahida.

"are you having any trouble detangling the vines?" while tighnari would extend his aid in the form of his vision, he realizes how silly of a picture it paints—offering to help the lord of dendro with the very tool enbodying her. / @wisdomtold

[starrelics]

The query isn’t a test to gauge the depths of his knowledge. Tighnari’s name and expertise carries weight in Akademiya, specifically for up-and-coming students of Amurta who can only dream of replicating his successes.

“Thank you for the explanation,” Nahida murmurs dreamily, turning an Aranara carving in her hands, its likeness remarkable for a vision crafted through the secondhand accounts of children. 

She drifts away from him to kneel at the foot of Gandharva Ville’s sloping, dirt paths that travelers must inevitably tread to enter Sumeru. It is the first sight they will happen upon when emerging from the caverns connecting the land to Liyue, and she wishes nothing more than for that sight to be a welcoming one, something that imparts the fondness she feels for her nation to foreigners at a single glance.

"No, I am quite alright."

Her eyes glow, blossoming in shades of green, and the vines snaking around along the roads recede into the ground.

"These figures," she starts, conversationally, "I'd like to show them to my friends. As you know, they do not readily show themselves. Some think them no more than folk-tale. What do you believe?"

[aesthetecomplex]

a part of him expects critique, yet lesser lord kusanali proves to be as kind as they say she is. no tongue-lashing, no rebuttals. instead, she simply listens. unlike the arrogance that plagues so many in sumeru, the god of wisdom remains unwaveringly unostentatious.

it's not the confession that surprises kaveh. his analysis of the sanctuary has confirmed those suspicions already. rather, it's the archon's transparency that disarms him - or rather, the mention of companionship. he's reminded of his dear mother's diary, and for a brief moment, smiles to himself in quiet wonderment. to think that her advice would apply to the god of wisdom herself...

"i won't pretend to know what it is you've been through," he says finally, choosing his words carefully. "but...i can understand. my mother once said that the only way to alleviate suffering outside of one's life as a creator is to form connections." easier said than done, of course. certainly the archon recognizes that much herself.

as for the compliment - well. that much is undeserved. he's unsure if lesser lord kusanali is capable of peering into one's heart, but does his best to mask the guilt buried within. he gives her a quick, dismissive shake of his head and deflects.

"i have a suggestion, if you'd be open to it."

[starrelics]

God hums softly, taking a breath she does not need. Nahida can pass for human and walk alongside them for all of their short lives yet the human experience escapes her still, but she does not need to see herself in them to love Sumeru. Just like Kaveh, she bestows cares and offers comfort even without knowing.

The warmth in his words spreads to her. Wisdom passed from an era to the following one serves as the foundation of Sumeru and, as its proud Archon, she takes as much pleasure in being its vessel as she does a purveyor of it.

"Irminsul has ties to every nation in Teyvat through the leylines. You could say the strength of those connections contribute to the Great Tree's significance to this world, that they even play an essential role in sustaining life."

She has tried time and time again to unravel the mysteries scholars believe to be housed in its roots and comb through hundreds of thousands of silver branches in search gold for a friend, her very first for what feels like an eternity.

Her eyes scan him with a child's curiosity, eager to learn and add to her collection of knowledge, "Please continue, Kaveh. I wish for you to speak freely in my presence."

[hxllowedpuppet]

-- ONE OF THE (MANY) annoying things about Buer was that when she smiled, she actually meant it.

She sounds so genuinely pleased with the situation for reasons that the Wanderer cannot, for the life of him, place his finger on. She seems so determined to be sickeningly good that he fumbles with the delivery, with the intention of stopping the conversation at a curt 'yes, well, and if that's all'.

" Uh, " he says, and then immediately curses himself for being unprepared. He pauses, gathers himself up, and tries not to look too much the fool. " Celebrate? Please, " he huffs. " I'm not a child, I'll have you know. Celebrating every momentary change of pace is a waste of energy and resources, " he waves a hand flippantly. " If you want an excuse to hang out with the Traveler and Paimon, you don't need to drag me into it. You're welcome to do as you please. "

…or so he says, but he does have the sense about him to feel at least a little bad at how over-eager she had sounded. Dammit. Maybe this was her plan- she certainly had proven herself capable of underhanded methods to get what she wanted from him in the past, even if she didn’t possess all personal recollections of such actions. 

In that case, maybe she expected him to refuse? She knew him well enough, unfortunately. Yes, a scoff in the face of situations like this was far more in line with his usual antics. She likely prepared for this, expected this, and wanted it. In that case:

" But if you're going to be such a drag about it, sure, sure, " he shrugs, sighing over dramatically. " Far be it from me to piss our oh-so-wonderful god of wisdom off. If it's a celebration that tickles your fancy, then, alright. But I'm not going to be the one paying, " he adds with a raised eyebrow.

[starrelics]

Nahida is no saint, but she has learned the patience of one a century at a time. For them, time does not hold the meaning it does to mortals whose hourglasses only carry so much sand. As with most worthwhile endeavors, understanding the mechanisms of his mind is still a learning process. A challenge she has every want of meeting. Divinity allows her to wait out his storms, to live long enough to see them eventually pass.

And when his thoughts reach a natural conclusion all on their own, Nahida's smile remains despite the detours taken to arrive there.

"It wouldn't be right to ask the guest of honor to pay," she concurs, nodding in agreement. "I will see to the arrangements myself."

Slowly, her expression grows contemplative. She raises both hands infront of her and Dendro energy sprouts from the tips of small fingers, constructing a uniform network of lines that cross each other in a simple pattern. The design frames his face like a viewfinder when she turns it on him, "What does your ideal celebration look like?"

The Sabzeruz Festival would be Nahida's answer, however she is not so conceited to believe he must share that same view. Though there are other means of extracting the information she'd like to know, she does not wish to give him yet another reason to be guarded. As a rule, she does not pry into minds for entertainment simply because she can. (Not since he'd caught her during The Akademiya Extravaganza at least.)

"I'm sure the Aranara will want to join in the fun once they catch wind of the party. Uh, I hope that is alright with you. It doesn't have to be a large gathering, if you'd prefer…"

She appears a touch sheepish at that, green eyes just shy of pleading. Like Nahida herself, the Aranara have few opportunities to engage in festivities in Sumeru. They, too, are certainly grateful for the errands Wanderer runs on behalf of their sovereign, resulting in less work for everyone involved.

[starrelics]

@aesthetecomplex continued from here:

She traces the design of his thoughts line by line, avidly following at Kaveh's artistic vision. It is a satisfactory answer. There was no right or wrong one, of course, but the assessment leaves little room for argument considering the purpose it served for the past hundreds of years.

"I see" is all she says at first, sounding more contemplative than pleased.

Indeed Lesser Lord Kusanali had been confined to the sanctuary for some time. Only after being freed by the Traveler could she identify her truest feelings on all that had transpired. Umbrage as anger, sadness as an offshoot of loneliness. Perfectly reasonable emotions to experience given the situation.

"That would definitely make this place more lively."

Nahida tries to visualize it. Silent, she allows her imagination to take flight. In dreams, she has glided through skies the color of the earliest Padisarah flowers and swam alongside birds. Children seldom dream of the mundane, of comfortable homes and the simple lives many adults yearn to return to as they grow older.

She smiles finally, picturing the Sanctuary of Surasthana as a setting akin to the Grand Bazaar. Fantasizing about ordinairy people making merry and dancing in the house of a god.

"It is not often I have the privilege of entertaining guests. Archons are sought for protection and guidance, rarely companionship." The admission contains traces of disappointment she does not disguise. "Thank you for indulging me nonetheless, Kaveh. You are a kind soul."

[starrelics]

@hxllowedpuppet continued from here

A seedling will not bear fruit simply because she wishes to see it.

"Oh?" she says, intrigued, though it might sound ironic coming from anyone else. And even the smile she adopts could not be more genuine. "I am glad to hear that."

The last part, however, gives her pause. Nahida does not need to guess at how he saw himself not long ago. What little regard he'd had for his own life when he'd been prepared to blot his entire existence from the world tree.

The situation has changed significantly, but she knows he is still finding his footing, learning to appreciate everything with new eyes.

"Let's set the name thing aside. I think we should celebrate your decision. What may seem trivial in the grand scheme of life is a tremendously valuable experience. We can prepare all your favorite dishes and invite the Traveler and Paimon as well!"

[frostblades]

birdsong.

Traveling for work was nothing new, and neither was the prospect of traveling alone. It afforded him some peace and quiet, though it had a tendency to bore him. What entertainment he found on the road from Mondstadt to Sumeru was, more often than not, of his own making, and the silence presented too much opportunity for his mind to wander. There were moments when Kaeya struggled to stamp down a thought before it could take root, turning his attention to whatever new or exciting thing he could find. Suffice it to say that traveling alone was a pain he would have rather avoided.

Not that it was all bad.

The verdant forests of Sumeru were plentiful with a cacophony of life, lush and overgrown and wild. Birds and insects joined together in a compelling orchestra of song he couldn’t help but hum along with, and the scenery itself was truly something to behold. It wasn’t Kaeya’s first time in Sumeru, but his trips here were few and far between, a rarity that he enjoyed. Mondstadt had its own merits of course, but there was nothing like traversing the unexplored, especially when it was so vibrant and alive.

Perhaps that had something to do with why he had volunteered himself to inspect the safety of the trade routes.

Dirt crunched underfoot as he came to a stop, eye catching glimpses of sunlight glinting off of blue-green feathers. Kaeya hummed thoughtfully — and then he whistled.

“♪… hey, little birdie, don't feel down, come and perch on my shoulder ♪…” / @wisdomtold !

[starrelics]

Sumeru City is but a single plot in the Dendro Archon's garden. Even now she does not meddle in their affairs any more than she has to, hesitant to influence the direction their society might grow in. Still, there are times a guiding force is needed. Sometimes humanity strays, succumbs to greed and chases short-sighted gains, wields knowledge as a well-honed tool against an environment that cannot defend itself from this stripe of predation.

The Forest Rangers have sworn themselves to its protection, assembled settlements in the trees and become guardians of verdure, of the lifeblood of the land, and the creatures the inhabit the wilds. Before them, it had been the Aranara who watched over the woodlands, serving a higher being lost to time.

Her eyes close in the sacred palace she has resided for five-hundred years, drinking in unearthly quietude as her mind drifts further out. She meanders through dense underbrush on the four paws of a Rishboland tiger and stalks her realm, breaking into a run swifter than the finest athletes. Large, furry ears perk up with attention at once, tail abstractedly swishing behind her.

Suddenly, Nahida is lounging on branches, sharp talons curled around a thin perch of bark. She tests her newfound wings, flapping both experimentally and does not utter a sound. Higher up, a true dusk bird soars off after being startled. Skittish things, they are.

Feathers rustle as she cranes her head to peer down at the curious man beckoning. Hopping along a tree limb, she approaches cautiously where the others have fled, maintaining eye contact all the while.

"What brings you here, traveler? Are you lost?" queries a sweet-sounding, girlish voice.

[starrelics]

The First Law of Alchemy

[spidergourmet]

You shall not interfere with human evolution. You shall not tamper with life and death. You shall not delve beyond the universe. You shall not investigate the origin of words. You shall not revere gods without acts of devotion. You shall not divulge secrets without a hint of fear. The nation of Sumeru has six sins, six sages, six darshans, and one creation they are hosting that might defy them all yet.

Albedo straightens his stack of papers with a soft rustle atop the podium’s edge. Students and professors alike disperse from the hall, the occasional straggler bidding the good chief a passing pleasantry, or minor question easily answered. Last of them all, however, commands his full attention.

"Lord Buer," he addresses in like kind, offering a short nod as greetings. "Please, Albedo is fine. I'm happy to hear my prattling was amenable to the scholars. There is infinitely more subject matter on the Ley Lines, but naturally I condensed what I could for the purpose of one lecture. According to all known laws of alchemy, such a program would be insurmountable indeed..."

When it comes to his areas of interest, his assistants never fail to remind him about his tendency to exhaust a topic. Spantamad has either gained a new pupil or lost five others.

"You honor me with your praise," answers Albedo, a gloved palm hovering over the own hollow of his chest. "Certainly. Allow me to accompany you, then."

Buer is no fool, and the least of them all he is willing to bet. Has she grasped his nature yet, Albedo wonders? The longer he lingers, the easier it becomes a matter of when and not if.

Still, Albedo does not quite mind. If there is one thing he can surmise of a rethroned god, it is that they too have once known a forsaken existence. It is a gamble, with wisdom's god in particular—a deity so enigmatic, and intimate with the great mother of Ley Lines—but were Albedo unwilling to risk it, he would not have come now.

They venture out the doors and along the stone ramp. The House of Daena is not too far off, and he idly asks: "Might you have duties there next, or will you be perusing the shelves? I've heard it to be the largest collection of texts in Teyvat."

[starrelics]

To the scholars who dedicate their entire lives to the cultivation of knowledge, titles are a matter of importance and pride, the symptom of success in a competitive ecosystem. But the Chief Alchemist is a child of Barbatos, patron of song and freedom. From ballads they derive unreasonable joy and the arts flourish in a way that Sumeru has not permitted for centuries.

Sumeru's deity turns an angelic smile on him, nodding along to show understanding, "Alright, Albedo."

With her authority, Lesser Lord Kusanali could have assigned the task of retrieval to anyone. Curious glances of Akadedmiya students follow the ascent up the winding ramps leading to their destination. She sets the pace in small, leisurely paces that amount to a fraction of the strides he is capable of given their height difference. Beneath them the hustle and bustle of Sumeru can be heard and some part of Nahida aches for how lively it feels compared to the Sanctuary of Surasthana where even wind does not blow.

"The House of Daena is always growing," she tells him thoughtfully as stained glass doors swing open like arms held wide in a welcoming gesture. "As is the knowledge in Teyvat. Reading the same book twice can yield a different understanding when the reader possesses awareness."

For all the wisdom at her disposal, there are truths yet a god cannot know. She can make predictions based on the information available to her, anticipate the likeliest course of action that will be taken and sometimes that is all it takes to spare a lost soul. Other times, she cannot even make use of it to reunite a pair of estranged siblings.

"The Scroll of Streaming Song, contrary to anything its epithet might suggest, is actually a compilation of stories from the desert. Though my interest being a personal one, I didn't feel it was appropriate to ask someone else to fetch it on my behalf."

Nahida's feet fall against the smooth tiled floors steady as rainfall. A confident stride delivers her to the shelves containing academic journals.

"Is this your first time visiting Sumeru? We do not receive many alchemists here because of the exhaustive screening process. I hope the journey from Mondstadt wasn't too hard on you."

[starrelics]

Teyvat's Funniest Home Videos [Sumeru]

Gnostic Hymns Open Starter

[starrelics]

In theory, Nahida is welcome at every one of the events staged at Sumeru's distinguished Akademiya, but her appearances have always been few and far between. It has never been a question of fondness. A majority of the time, she simply can't bring herself to intrude on their world. Wilts at the reality her presence makes even those who sing the praises of Lesser Lord Kusanali within the household behave awkwardly and struggle to hold longer conversation.

However it isn't just natives to the land that the Akademiya has opened its doors to tonight. Children and foreigners who happen to be passing through Sumeru city have been invited to take part in the festivities as well. Identities are blurred by the colorfully elaborate costumes and face masks donned by guests, allowing unimpeded freedom to stroll the halls of Rtawahist.

Occasionally stopping to admire decor along the way, she adjusts the comically large brim of a hat cast in the likeness of a floating dendroshroom. Nahida hoists herself up and onto the fountain's edge, fingers forming two straight edges of a viewfinder which slowly pans the length of the wide room.

A pair of energetic children wearing Hilichurl masks race through into the hall, too engrossed in their game of tag to be concious of their surroundings.

"Oof!"

The collision of two bodies sends archon and a youth no older than seven careening into the water, displacing the lanterns bobbing along the surface in a deluge that splashes against marble flooring.

Beside her, Nahida registers the stilted sniffling of someone struggling not to cry before the dam holding tears back bursts.

[starrelics]

The First Law of Alchemy

[starrelics]

Intrigue stains the blooms of her eyes, curiosity pruned into a subtle, unassuming shape. As a god, it is imperative to remain impartial lest she elevate the ideas of one Darshan above the others. Guest speakers have become increasingly commonplace within Akademiya's halls since the termination of the Akasha System and Nahida can only hope that someday Sumeru will understand her decision when the loss in their minds does not feel so fresh. Student attendance of such lectures has even improved slightly after administration began to offer extra credit to those who sit in on at least three at the end of the academic year. However even the title of Chief Alchemist succeeded in drawing a rather modest crowd of faculty and students studying in Spantamad with a vested interest.

"Mr. Albedo," she addresses warmly, hand over the empty cavity where no heart beats. "I'd like to thank you for traveling all this way. I am told your presentation was a success. Although I managed to catch just the tail end of it, that demonstration you performed with the leyline line branch was remarkable."

Alchemy is the extraordinary language of the elements, pushing the boundaries of human understanding to higher peaks. Through alchemy, even life can be mimicked, which has long been considered a sin across Teyvat. Yet she cannot deny that the power of Dendro is to execute similar feats, to create from nothing.

"If you have the time to spare, would you care to accompany me to the House of Daena? I was headed there myself, so it wouldn't pose any meaningful inconvenience."

@spidergourmet

[starrelics]

krepkiy​:

   This was delectable. Childe loved riling people up, and Scaramouche was always so easy to agitate- in his defense, the redhead was always pushing buttons he really should not have been ( but it was oh so fun to ). One hand barely hovers over his own hip, ghosting over the blue gem hanging there as Childe not-so-subtly flashes the other a devious smirk.

             “ You’re acknowledging that Her Majesty does adore me! Really, I’m flattered!                             But tell me, is that a threat or a promise… Scaramoomoo~? ” 

“Y-you brat,” he mutters a laugh in disbelief. Tartaglia’s arrogance knew no bounds other than his own stupidity. “It’s about time someone taught you the pecking order around here, Eleventh. Just this once, I’ll set aside time from my busy schedule to teach you a lesson. You want me to play with you so badly? Grab a sword.”

[starrelics]

everwinters​:

The Sixth of her Harbingers is a peculiar one; not mortal, yet almost heartbreakingly human. But, like the others, he is an irreplaceable piece of her court, though she will admit to herself in favoring some over others.

“ Your loyalty is a credit to you. ”

“ Speaking of which … ” The Tsaritsa motions with a wave of her hand for the guards to vacate the room, her gaze settling on Scaramouche behind a sheer black veil. She waits until they are well and truly alone before she continues. “ I have a mission for you. One that requires the utmost secrecy, even from the other Harbingers. As you know, I am sending Signora into Inazuma to obtain the Raiden Shogun’s gnosis. I would, however, like to send you as well under the guise of supervising the creation of delusions. Your real purpose there will be to obtain the gnosis, should Signora fail. ”

There is a nagging thought in the back of her mind that acquiring the gnosis from the Electro Archon would not be as easy as it had been with Barbatos and Morax.

His loyalty is false as the sky hanging overhead. Scaramouche has no qualms with lying to gods or men. He will bend at the knee and even draw a hand over the cavity of where an absent heart should be, swearing fealty he does not mean because the favor of the Tsaritsa may be worth something afterall. At her command, the extras depart the scene, leaving just the two of them to their business. A summons from Snezhnaya’s highest authority is reserved only for people of import and holding private audience with Her Majesty means she values him. 

“I should hope more than my loyalty is a credit to me,” he jests, confident of his place. The Harbingers belong exclusively to her, performing on the world stage. And though he still doubts Tartaglia has any uses outside of being a weapon of war, the group she has assembled are without question competent in their respective fields.

The placid smile on Scaramouche’s face takes on a more wistful note. “Inazuma, huh...” His brows furrow ever so slightly, gaze turning inward. While the Tsaritsa’s veil offers her privacy and distance, he has no secrets from her. Kunikuzushi was no better than a broken doll - a toy discarded, transferred from one archon’s hands to another’s. 

“You have never been one for worry.” His delivery is carefully crafted, observant rather than judgmental. He has no desire to cross her, yet. Instead he considers the parameters of this mission she sees fit to entrust him with. “Although, I can’t say I don’t understand your concerns. Baal isn’t Morax and a clash may be inevitable. Of course, you knew that already. Just as you know I’m the best suited to observing the situation in Inazuma, intervening as needed. While it’s obvious why The Eleventh was left in the dark in Liyue, may I inquire as to what benefit there is in not informing Signora of my presence? What do you have planned?”

[starrelics]

everwinters​:

@enblightening​​ asked: if one more ignoramus asks me if i can do the fandango, i’m packing my bags and moving back to inazuma

          “ Well…can you? ”

“The matter isn’t whether I can or can’t, Your Majesty, it is if I want to... though were you the one asking, I’d have no choice in the matter, would I?”