Farewell, Sweet Salt

Havria of Genshin Impact | Seasoned by Luan | Headcanon-based | Please read rules and about prior to interaction. | Spoilers ahead, enter at your own risk

[sxlterrae]

ayperos​:

Coughing quietly, she looped an arm around the woman’s neck. Admittedly, she had to bend her knees quite a bit to do so, but she could barely stand on her legs as-is. “Thank you…thank you,” she whispered quietly, struggling and fighting to move with the other woman. By the time they reached the tent, the full weight of her exhaustion was dragging her down.

“Y-…you…thank you,” Ayperos repeated, wobbling.

  Havria tossed the tent’s front open with her free hand as she carried the other inside. Without any chairs, or any sort of furniture suited for this kind of situation for that matter, she carefully brought her down to the bedroll that lay spread out on the ground. The fact that she was just repeating her thanks was more than a little worrying.

  “Just... take it easy and breathe. Rest your voice.”

[sxlterrae]

salresurgentis​:

“Ah…. that was Morax. He had taken the Traveler and some others to Sal Terrae, and he took our Harvest Bumper, and Chalice and tossed them into the ocean where Osial and a few others have been sealed. I actually recovered them if you would like them.” Yan said in response to their artifacts being stolen. “He said it was both meant to be symbolic of those times being gone but also to keep anyone from getting their hands on them.” she explained calmly.

Yan sighed “We really cannot be considered the same person. My life was essentially put on pause for so long while you have gained more and more experiences in the world..” she said before giving a bright smile “SO! I have a fun idea! Why don’t you and I treat each other as sisters!” she said seeming to get really excited at the prospect of having a sibling. 

Was Yan… trying to change the topic to something more light hearted in an attempt to see Mingzhu smile? Absolutely! Did she expect the other to realize this? Of course she did. “It also sounds like you haven’t really been out in the world in some time! We should both go pay Mondstadt a visit! OH and I would be really interested in looking at Dragonspine! I never expected an Icy Mountain to have formed right next door to Sal Terrae in the years I was gone. I want to see what it is like.” she said as if trying to plan ‘family road-trips’ with her new ‘sister’.

  That was Morax for you. As irritating as it was to have some of the last relics she had from the old times cast out into the sea, she understood the dangers of having them fall into mortal hands and the necessity of leaving the past behind for the sake of the future. But... she was thankful that Yan retrieved them from the sea. “I would appreciate it greatly. However, I insist you keep one of the two. As useless as they may be for someone running a flower shop, it would be unfair for me to seize both.”

  And that was all she was going to say about that. Her new ‘sister’ was trying to move on from the heavier subjects to those with less weight in the attempt to bring levity, such as trips and the frankly practical idea of viewing one another as siblings. “I will admit, the thought is entertaining. Sisters it is, then.” The raven-haired woman smiled as she clapped her hands together.

  “If you want to visit Mondstadt, I make the journey here and there for business, so you may tag along with the next time I go. Just... keep me out of it if you choose to visit Barbatos. As for that accursed mountain... curiosity killed the cat, Yan. Between the cold that gives Snezhnaya a run for its money, the countless hostile factions and creatures, and the remains of the Abyssal dragon Durin that blight the landscape, no good comes from traveling there. If it makes no difference to you, we can visit the foot of it by Sal Terrae where the grass meets snow.“

[memeasaurus-promptus]

“Do you think...” Sentence Starters

“Do you think we’ll make it in time?”

“Do you think it’s cooked all the way?” 

“Do you think somewhere out there, there’s aliens?” 

“Do you think it’s broken?” 

“Do you think you can fix it?” 

“Do you think at all before you speak?” 

“Do you think it’ll rain?” 

“Do you think we’ll find it?”

“Do you think someone around here will have directions?” 

“Do you think they’ll be open at this hour?”

“Do you think we should leave?” 

“Do you think we should go?” 

“Do you think there’s something wrong with me?” 

“Do you think they’ll be serving alcohol now?” 

“Do you think I could eat this entire thing in one sitting?” 

“Do you think we have a connection between us?” 

“Do you think if we met differently, we’d be friends?” 

“Do you think if we met differently, we’d be enemies?” 

“Do you think there’s alternate universes out there?”

“Do you think this book is good?”

“Do you think this movie will be good?” 

“Do you think we’ll become friends?” 

“Do you think I can afford this?” 

“Do you think there’ll be a kiss in the future?” 

“Do you think we should go out on a date?” 

“Do you think I can make that jump?” 

“Do you think I could have a hug?” 

“Do you think we’re lost?” 

“Do you think a movie and some popcorn at my place sounds good?”

[memeasaurus-promptus]

"Can you..." Sentence Starters

“Can you please move?”

“Can you help me?”

“Can you stop?”

“Can you get that for me?”

“Can you shut up for five seconds?”

“Can you tell me where…?”

“Can you hand that to me?”

“Can you come here?”

“Can you see them yet?”

“Can you tell me when they leave?”

“Can you find something for me?”

“Can you even eat that?”

“Can you not park in front of my driveway?”

“Can you drive a little slower?”

“Can you really drink all that?”

“Can you fit in that?”

“Can you tell me what’s going on?”

“Can you go away?”

“Can you clean that up?” 

“Can you at least wipe your shoes before coming in here?” 

“Can you please stop dragging that around?” 

“Can you keep quiet about this?” 

“Can you at least pick that up?” 

“Can you do this for me?” 

“Can you __?”

[memeasaurus-promptus]

Some Questions Sentence Starters

“Where are you going?” 

“What are you doing?” 

“Where is __?”

“And where, do you think, are you are going?”

“Who do you think you are?!”

“Who are you?” 

“Who is that?”

“Who did this?”

“Where are my __?” 

“How on earth did you manage to hurt yourself?” 

“How did this happen?” 

“How could you?!”

“What the fuck?”

“There’s nothing between us, is there?”

“How can I fix this?” 

“Do you need a hug?” 

“Is sorry not enough?” 

“Is there anything I can do to help?” 

“It’s over, isn’t it?” 

“How can someone of your size bleed this much?” 

“It hurts, doesn’t it?” 

“Is it supposed to hurt?” 

“How can you go off without me like this?”

“You’re not happy, are you?” 

“Why won’t you listen to me?” 

“How can we stop this?” 

“Can you just shut up?!” 

“Why are you bleeding?!”

“Do you think you can help me?” 

“Can you smile for me?” 

“Why are you so sad?” 

“Are you okay?!’

“What are you?” 

?+ Add your own!

[memeasaurus-promptus]

Some Questions Sentence Starters

“Where are you going?” 

“What are you doing?” 

“Where is __?”

“And where, do you think, are you are going?”

“Who do you think you are?!”

“Who are you?” 

“Who is that?”

“Who did this?”

“Where are my __?” 

“How on earth did you manage to hurt yourself?” 

“How did this happen?” 

“How could you?!”

“What the fuck?”

“There’s nothing between us, is there?”

“How can I fix this?” 

“Do you need a hug?” 

“Is sorry not enough?” 

“Is there anything I can do to help?” 

“It’s over, isn’t it?” 

“How can someone of your size bleed this much?” 

“It hurts, doesn’t it?” 

“Is it supposed to hurt?” 

“How can you go off without me like this?”

“You’re not happy, are you?” 

“Why won’t you listen to me?” 

“How can we stop this?” 

“Can you just shut up?!” 

“Why are you bleeding?!”

“Do you think you can help me?” 

“Can you smile for me?” 

“Why are you so sad?” 

“Are you okay?!’

“What are you?” 

?+ Add your own!

[sxlterrae]

salresurgentis​:

Yan nodded “A pleasure to meet you Mingzhu.” she said before tying her own hair up as if to try and add a bit more difference in appearance where she could. “So… starting with what I know I will go from most recent and work backwards because my most recent knowledge points SHOULD be different from your own.” she said taking a deep breath.

“I have come to know that the Seven who were named victor’s in the Archon War were not the end all be all of the gods and that all but two were overthrown and had their place taken by others. I know that Barbatos is still the God of Wind, but that his Gnosis was taken by the current Goddess of Cryo’s people, and I know that Morax has recently stepped down and his Gnosis is now in the Cryo Archon’s possession as well. I was made aware that the Adepti are still around and that quiet a few have had children with humans through the years. I know that there are hundreds of thousands of souls still yet to be put to rest, though a certain Funeral Director had taken to doing our… my duties in my absence.” she said sighing trying to gather her thoughts a bit more. “I know that I can feel another war on the horizon… I know that I cannot afford to let my own desires keep me from acting again… I know that there is an Outlander walking the surface of Teyvat, and a second leading the Abyss…. I know that history calls me a kind but weak goddess who failed her people… I know that I was failing my people through my unwillingness to act during the war and that was why they struck me down… I know that the king’s final words were a plea for forgives before it all went black… I know that I died but I could not shepherd my own soul beyond the gates… and I know that unlike you I do not have the physical wound from the blade.” Once she was done Yan let out a sigh “That is what I know… that I can share. There is one thing I know that I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone… and I think that includes telling another me.” she said biting her lip. This was so strange… she was trying to act like it wasn’t since clearly Mingzhu could barely hold herself together… which meant she had to be the sturdy one right now.

  “That... is a lot to process. But it sounds like you are more aware than I of all the goings on in the world.” Far more than she has in the past three thousand years. At least in Liyue. And with the overabundance of the dead, it seems Yan wasn’t lacking when it came to sources of information. Mingzhu sat there in silence as she ruminated on all that was laid out, her gaze only kept straight by a hand that supported her head.

  “I am also aware of some of those things and more, though there are a few that surprise me. I had assumed Morax was dead after the mess that was the Rite of Descension and Osial’s subsequent release from his bindings, not retired. The Adepti and their children I am aware of as well, though I keep my distance from all them. The brewing conflicts, the Fatui pushing their boundaries, the war between the Traveler and the Abyss are all things I knew of, but not about their sibling leading the latter. One thing that I discovered recently is that someone broke into Sal Terrae and stole my relics.”

  As her mind finally started to make sense of things, she sat up straight in her chair, cerulean gaze staring into the other’s eyes. “Looking back on history... allow me to tell you what I have grown to realize since. There was no failure on my part for refusing to take part in senseless bloodshed over land. That was a choice I made. And the bloodshed would have been far worse had we partook, as a few had turned the gift of salt into tools of suffering. Salting the earth so heavily that nothing can grow, shoving it into wounds to bring about more agony, using it to make explosives that could level houses, and so much more...”

  She paused briefly. “The king, while he did beg me for forgiveness, struck me down because he believed that kindness had no place in war, and sought to make an example of me while claiming that such was a mercy for me. History remembers the violence, but never the peace, which is why we are known as a weak goddess compared to the tales of the original Seven. And history twists the truth as well, so much so that some of the descendants of my people at Yinyuan Hall foolishly believe that Morax struck me down.”

[sxlterrae]

salresurgentis​:

While the Salt Goddess was wrapping her head around the idea the other had thrown out, Yan had already set to getting some chairs for the two before the other had even made the suggestion. As the comment about needing to sit down was made Yan would already have set two chairs in the middle of the shop for them. “I was thinking the same thing.” she said motioning for  the other to take a seat.

Once the two had sat down Yan looked towards the other. “I have taken up the secondary identity of Yán Zhànfàng in my new life…. do you have another name you use now? If so it may be easier for us to make use of our new names to avoid confusion.” she suggested calmly. “Once we have that settled… perhaps sorting out what we know for certain right now would be the best place to start?”

  There was little time wasted as Mingzhu made her way over to the chair to take a seat across from the Goddess of the Dead. Had she sat down any faster, she might’ve been mistaken for falling onto it. She was glad that the two of them were on the same page about the chairs. These revelations were making her head spin a little...

  “Indeed. Sharing our alternative identities and sorting out known information would be the best course of action. The people of Liyue know me as Mingzhu, one of the chefs from Liuli Pavilion or Third-Round Knockout depending on the day, as well as a merchant that meanders from time to time.” She crossed her legs in an attempt to get comfortable despite the situation, though anyone would’ve found it hard to do so when face-to-face with yourself. “I implore you to go first, Yan.”

[sxlterrae]

salresurgentis​:

“if…. if that were the case then would that not mean that YOU are Havria and I am a copy made by you in a moment of fear and desperation? That would mean all my memories and feelings and what I feel makes me who I am are not truly mine, but yours… that I shouldn’t exist….” she said looking down trying to wrap her own head around the concept. “But… Morax…. when he saw me here… he recognized me… he saw no difference…  then…” she muttered shaking her head. 

“Do you still see the spirits of those passed? Do you still see the door we lead them through?” she asked  thinking that she knows what the truth of the matter was now… Havria shed death from herself in that moment… The girl before her was the Goddess of Salt, and yet she herself… the one born of the flower… while still tied to Salt… her duties were as the guide for the dead. “If not…. then I think I know who I am…. I am Havria, but not the Goddess of Salt… I think… I maybe the Goddess of Death… the duty you left behind to survive.”

  “Come to think of it... no. I have not heard from the departed or seen the doorway in so long that I forgot that those were duties of mine entirely.” Yet she still retained the knowledge of preserving. Enough so that she used it as part of her daily life among the people with dried and cured food. Though her thoughts would briefly bounce back to some very specific words that came from the youthful woman before her; Morax recognized her here. But the shop was new to Liyue as far as she was aware...

  “... I think I need to sit down for a moment, and you likely do too.” The two of them... two of herself? Her and her other half? What even would be the proper way to address this? “Once we are supported by chairs, let us try to process this together calmly and work this out so more confusion will not arise between us. Does that sound like a plan?”

[sxlterrae]

salresurgentis​:

“The first one we would come to is Feng Hua, they were a tailor’s daughter who had a crush on the Lionfang Knight from Mondstadt and was training in her free time with a bland near where Wangshu Inn is now standing.” she said in response to the others claim to prove her point. “If you are telling the truth…. If you are me, but you claim that you did not die that day… but I KNOW I am who I say, and that I was reborn from the blossom of the Sal Flore left the spot I died… Then tell me what do you think that means?” she said no longer looking to argue with the other, but rather assume they were telling the truth. Argument’s lead to a desire for more conflict which would bread contempt and lead to violence… she did NOT want that she would sooner submit to the idea that she was a liar than let this continue on it’s current course if that was what it took to avoid conflict.

  “Something is amiss here...” She readjusted her dress to conceal the scar once more. “The Sal Flore was left there from the shock of being run through with the blade, as I believed I would perish. After removing the sword from my body, I recall filling the wound with salt in an effort to mend, though it is entirely possible that some of it mingled with the Sal Flore. Or... perhaps some part of me was left behind in the moments before I succumbed to unconsciousness...” Then, a revelation half-dawned on her. While she lacked a full answer, an educated guess could explain this curious case.

  “This sounds like utter lunacy. However, the truth may be that, as I wandered all this time, you were ‘reborn’ from that blossom and whatever remnants I left behind following that tragedy. In a strange turn of events, we both are Havria, albeit with differences due to numerous factors.”

[sxlterrae]

salresurgentis​:

So…. it was this then? An Adeptus? The Abyss? Whoever this was clear was on the level of the gods… but.

Crytsaline scales of salt formed over her body as her true Deity form was shown, draconian eyes looking at the other. “I told you who I really am. Goddess of Salt and Guide to the Dead. The Goddess who was stabbed in the back by her own people because I failed them.” she said not liking this escalation of force, but neither one had made a violent act yet… it was more just trying to prove a point. “Are you one of Morax’s Adepti? Perhaps the Abyss trying to prey on me because of the tales of me being a weak god? Regardless please do not continue this charade I dislike taking this form but it is clear that I must to prove my words true.” she said as if begging the other to stop lying before things got taken a step to far.

“Now…. who are you? And do not say that you are me. I can take you to Sal Terrae right now and show you where I was reborn if that is what it takes to get you to stop this game.”

  So this was the way the other sought to assert herself as the real one. Unexpected, but not completely so.

  “I speak the truth. To call me an Adepti of Morax, one whom I have not spoken to since the days long since forgotten, or some twisted visage from the depths of the Abyss is an insult. Weak, I am not.” The ancient deity turned her back to this bold one, pulling down the back of her dress to show the salt-embedded scar that haunted her back.

  “That attempt on my life failed, and while my consciousness did fade for days, I pried myself off the sword that sank deep into me before crawling myself out of the ruins filled with the unfortunate souls that suffered the consequences of one man’s choice. For over three thousand years, I have persisted by blending in amongst the people in every corner of Teyvat, hiding to prevent another attempt on my life from the seven. I dared not to even come back to Liyue after the horror stories I heard of Morax’ actions and those of the Adepti. And when I finally did, the Rite of Descension happened. If I have to travel back to Sal Terrae and list the names of every deceased mortal there by heart just to prove a point, I will do so.”

[sxlterrae]

salresurgentis​:

With a swiftness that only the eye of another god could follow ‘Yan’ had locked the door to the store and closed all the blinds in what seemed like an instant. “Very well… though I think discretion is key here… my true name is Havria, Goddess of Salt. Now… may I ask who I have the pleasure of speaking too? Given you have a strikingly similar appearance to myself it is an answer I look forward to hearing.” she said her tone still kind as if wanting to give this person the benefit of the doubt.

“I hope that whatever the answer we can come to a resolution about this confusing predicament we have found ourselves in.”

  With a simple flick of the wrist, the interior handle for the shop door was engulfed in salt crystals as jagged as shards of broken glass. While the other displayed the swiftness expected of a fellow deity, one that dared to claim to be her, ‘Mingzhu’ showed her dominion by preventing any sudden escape attempts that ‘Havria’ may make following her revelation.

  “I am Havria, the Goddess of Salt and once-patron deity of the ruined, flooded city once known as Sal Terrae. You are a bold one to claim that you are me, but I do hope we can come to an understanding as well, even going as far as you have. Now, explain yourself. Who are you really?”

[sxlterrae]

salresurgentis​:

@sxlterrae​ discovers the Salt of the Earth Ring ding the bell of the flower shop rang out calling the owner to the front to greet the customer.

“Hello and welcome to Salt of the Earth Flower Shop! My name is Yan. Please if there is any way I can help you today do not hesitate to ask.” she chimed smiling before opening her eyes to be met with…. a mirror? No no… that wasn’t a mirror… that was. “W-what…. what’s going on here.” she said looking at someone who aside from a few differences and looking a bit older maybe… looked like her. “Who…. who are you?”

  Mingzhu had heard of the flower shop in passing mentions from people on the street, but when she finally chose step through that door to see what all the talk was about, she wasn’t expecting... this. Whatever this was, she was looking at. Was this store themed after her and run by someone aiming to look like herself from all those ages ago? Was this the work of an Adeptus trying to honor her? Just who was this stranger and why did she look like her?

  “... I should be asking you the same questions, Miss ‘Yan’. And I think you should answer them first.”

[memeasaurus-promptus]

Some Questions Sentence Starters

“Where are you going?” 

“What are you doing?” 

“Where is __?”

“And where, do you think, are you are going?”

“Who do you think you are?!”

“Who are you?” 

“Who is that?”

“Who did this?”

“Where are my __?” 

“How on earth did you manage to hurt yourself?” 

“How did this happen?” 

“How could you?!”

“What the fuck?”

“There’s nothing between us, is there?”

“How can I fix this?” 

“Do you need a hug?” 

“Is sorry not enough?” 

“Is there anything I can do to help?” 

“It’s over, isn’t it?” 

“How can someone of your size bleed this much?” 

“It hurts, doesn’t it?” 

“Is it supposed to hurt?” 

“How can you go off without me like this?”

“You’re not happy, are you?” 

“Why won’t you listen to me?” 

“How can we stop this?” 

“Can you just shut up?!” 

“Why are you bleeding?!”

“Do you think you can help me?” 

“Can you smile for me?” 

“Why are you so sad?” 

“Are you okay?!’

“What are you?” 

?+ Add your own!

[ohnoarno]

“It’s been raining for days.”

“Looks like the rainy season is finally here.”

“Shall I put on a pot of tea?”

“Turn up the heat/put another log on the fire, the rain brought a chill.”

“Close the window, you’ll ruin the flooring!”

“You’re sopping wet.”

“What on earth were you doing out there?”

“Fine, you can come in, but take off your shoes.”

“I don’t need you tracking mud everywhere.”

“The sound of rain is so nice.”

“You’re going out? In this?”

“You can’t go out there, it’s pouring down rain!”

“I like the rain and all, but being stuck inside is so boring.”

“The day would be a lot less boring if you learned how to sit still.”

“I cannot believe we’re stuck in this!”

“Maybe we should find somewhere to take cover until it stops.”

“Does it ever stop raining here?”

“Oh no! The rain ruined our picnic.”

“Want to go for a walk in the rain?”

“Can I have a blanket?”

“Sorry to intrude. This rain came out of nowhere.”

“Look at the sky! The lightning is insane.”

“It’s getting pretty intense out there.”

“A rainy day, warm blankets, a cup of tea, and a book to tie it all together.”

“Let’s go for a walk in the rain.”

“Here, this should warm you up.”

“Come in here before you catch a cold.”

“Ugh, that’s just a silly old wives’ tale.”

“I pity the poor souls caught out in this.”

“Aren’t there any books to read?”

“Rains smells so different in the city.”

“The rain smells better in the countryside.”

“Nothing like the sound of rain to go with a good book.”

“Careful, the tea is still hot.”

-draws on the fogged up windows-

-Flips loudly through book-

-sighs- “It’s so cozy in here.”

[ohnoarno]

“It’s been raining for days.”

“Looks like the rainy season is finally here.”

“Shall I put on a pot of tea?”

“Turn up the heat/put another log on the fire, the rain brought a chill.”

“Close the window, you’ll ruin the flooring!”

“You’re sopping wet.”

“What on earth were you doing out there?”

“Fine, you can come in, but take off your shoes.”

“I don’t need you tracking mud everywhere.”

“The sound of rain is so nice.”

“You’re going out? In this?”

“You can’t go out there, it’s pouring down rain!”

“I like the rain and all, but being stuck inside is so boring.”

“The day would be a lot less boring if you learned how to sit still.”

“I cannot believe we’re stuck in this!”

“Maybe we should find somewhere to take cover until it stops.”

“Does it ever stop raining here?”

“Oh no! The rain ruined our picnic.”

“Want to go for a walk in the rain?”

“Can I have a blanket?”

“Sorry to intrude. This rain came out of nowhere.”

“Look at the sky! The lightning is insane.”

“It’s getting pretty intense out there.”

“A rainy day, warm blankets, a cup of tea, and a book to tie it all together.”

“Let’s go for a walk in the rain.”

“Here, this should warm you up.”

“Come in here before you catch a cold.”

“Ugh, that’s just a silly old wives’ tale.”

“I pity the poor souls caught out in this.”

“Aren’t there any books to read?”

“Rains smells so different in the city.”

“The rain smells better in the countryside.”

“Nothing like the sound of rain to go with a good book.”

“Careful, the tea is still hot.”

-draws on the fogged up windows-

-Flips loudly through book-

-sighs- “It’s so cozy in here.”

[memeasaurus-promptus]

“Do you think...” Sentence Starters

“Do you think we’ll make it in time?”

“Do you think it’s cooked all the way?” 

“Do you think somewhere out there, there’s aliens?” 

“Do you think it’s broken?” 

“Do you think you can fix it?” 

“Do you think at all before you speak?” 

“Do you think it’ll rain?” 

“Do you think we’ll find it?”

“Do you think someone around here will have directions?” 

“Do you think they’ll be open at this hour?”

“Do you think we should leave?” 

“Do you think we should go?” 

“Do you think there’s something wrong with me?” 

“Do you think they’ll be serving alcohol now?” 

“Do you think I could eat this entire thing in one sitting?” 

“Do you think we have a connection between us?” 

“Do you think if we met differently, we’d be friends?” 

“Do you think if we met differently, we’d be enemies?” 

“Do you think there’s alternate universes out there?”

“Do you think this book is good?”

“Do you think this movie will be good?” 

“Do you think we’ll become friends?” 

“Do you think I can afford this?” 

“Do you think there’ll be a kiss in the future?” 

“Do you think we should go out on a date?” 

“Do you think I can make that jump?” 

“Do you think I could have a hug?” 

“Do you think we’re lost?” 

“Do you think a movie and some popcorn at my place sounds good?”