#genshin impacted

[toasteaa]

You know what I like to think about? Neuvillette regaining his memories, but they're not just "his" memories.

They're the memories of the first Hydro Sovereign, who lived in the world once ruled by dragons and died with a rage that would follow them into their next life.

They're the memories of Egeria, who was formed of the same essence as himself and was cursed with the knowledge that her sin would be the reason her people would be destroyed.

They're the memories of Focalors, whose love rivaled that of her Archon's and whose justice went so far against Celestia itself, that she dedicated her entire existence to righting the wrongs of her predecessors.

And they're his memories, collected and experienced after 500 years of existence in this world that he is and isn't a part of. A world that accepts him as much as it rejects him and has become more of a home than he could ever imagine it having been.

It's a beautiful thing, to me at least, to then see how these differing views, these conflicting emotions, these thought provoking memories have all made him realize one thing; a memory is a proof of one's existence. Memories are unique; experiences may be similar, but the emotional responses engrained in each memory is specific to each soul it has been inscribed onto. As familiar and foreign as they are to him, they are not truly "his" memories. But...they are a key that spurs him forward to continue making his own.

[definitely-a-plant]

This one is my favorite Aranara. Sleepy and with a cute little sunsettia hat. He's so precious.

[toasteaa]

I'm still here mentally btw

[toasteaa]

Thinking about that throwaway moment from Sigewinne's SQ that shows that the melusines are actually much stronger than they look and that some of them might still struggle with controlling that strength in menial amounts. Like breaking open a door, but trying not to shatter the entire door. Or maybe learning how to shake hands with a human, but controlling how much pressure to put on their hand so that they don't accidentally cause any injuries. Little things to help them fit into this world alongside humans - things that Neuvillette most likely had to show them. Show them how to be gentle and careful with their hidden strength and picture human hands as lumitoiles so that the melusines would know to treat both with the same measure of strength.

But then I started thinking...who taught Neuvillette to show the same restraint? How much trial and error did he have to go through before he learned what measure of strength was appropriate for use in this new world he'd been thrust into? How many pages were ripped simply by him trying to read? How many people winced when he shook their hand, trying to mimic the same action he'd seen them do with others? How many sets of robes were torn in frustration as he wrestled with the various clasps and fastenings and expectations from humans that he'd had no prior concern for?

I don't exactly know where I'm going with this...I just like to think on Neuvillette trying to become the Chief Justice and the lonely frustrations that came with it versus the genuine care and attentiveness he shows towards the melusines so that they wouldn't have to experience those same gnawing feelings of ineptness that he once had.

[toasteaa]

Rambling because I want to put the thoughts down somewhere and these are thoughts that will probably be disproven the second I look back at the genshin wiki but WHATEVER, I'm having a thought -

Something about the idea of visions putting an elemental stream inside of their wielders or a way for them to connect with the elemental flow of the world around them...like yes, I know the visions are physical manifestations of their holder's ambitions and dreams, but it's never really addressed how this actually works. We know if someone's vision is taken away or destroyed, it's like a physical part of them is also removed/destroyed. We also know that when a vision holder dies, their vision also fades. It can be understood then that visions are more like conduits for their holders to connect with an elemental stream and channel elemental abilities.

But that doesn't explain *where* the elemental energy is coming from.

I like to think all beings - human or otherwise - are able to connect to the elemental energy flowing throughout Teyvat, but there's a difference in having the ability to do so versus gaining the means to do so. Beings that are native to Teyvat - which are, without going into extreme detail, literally all elemental beings and creatures except humans - are inherently in tune with the waves of elemental energy that makes up their world. It's why they don't need visions to use elemental abilities. Think of creatures like slimes, regisvines, vishaps, etc.

Humans on the other hand can gain the ability to tap into this greater pool of elemental energy, but aren't inherently able to connect to it from birth. But just like each elemental being has a specific element that they can connect to, visions grant humans the ability to connect to one specific elemental stream of energy - which is why you have seven different vision types. When a human is given a vision, it's also like a door is opened or a pipe is unclogged and allows the elemental stream to pour inside of them. When they use their elemental abilities, the pool empties and has to take a short amount of time to refill - such is the same with native creatures of Teyvat on a similar but different scale (see pyro slimes that go out for a bit vs a pyro user having to wait a recovery period before using their elemental skill again).

Remove someone's vision and you remove their ability to connect to this elemental stream. However, it does not close the door that was already opened - once the vision is returned, the vision holder can resume using it as if it was never lost. Though I also think, unlike elemental creatures that constantly have an inward and outward flow of energy, this can cause a buildup of excess elemental energy that the human body cannot regulate. Overabundance of any form of elemental energy in a human body runs the risk of driving them mad, turning them into a "lesser" elemental being or, potentially even worse, cause them to be reabsorbed into the elemental stream as a whole.

We, of course, have never seen this happen to anyone in game but...idk, it's just something I'm thinking about at the moment and needed to get out of my system for now.

[toasteaa]

hello toastie <3 any lewd thoughts about the ordainer of inexorable judgment monsieur neuvillette today?

Can...can we um. Can we talk about dr...draconic features that start showing themselves the needier he gets? Is this a safe space to talk about tongues too long to be human pleading for entry against soft lips and f-fangs nipping appreciatively when that entry is granted and um...a-and claws raked lovingly over plush thighs and pensively interested hums teetering on deep, rumbling growls in his chest and and how he pulls himself away to try and rein his control back in place but those dilated eyes are full of an ancient power and a deep seated need and his hips move move before he can stop them and --Archons, he's so hard and so big -- and the sound in the back of his throat is barely human and -- *explodes*

[toasteaa]

Cannot stop thinking about Neuvillette being asked, hypothetically, what it was like when he was reborn. An innocent enough question, one that (correctly) presumes he was not born in any conventional way by way of human standards, yet it's still one that makes him pause. Silent and rigid, a kind of melancholy sinks into his features. A flash of anger, of anguish. A stray cloud darkens the seaglass windows of his office; a distant rumble heralds a storm. But the threat of rain dissipates when he closes his faraway eyes and sighs.

Silence stretches for eons in his office. Ticking clocks eat away the years; the slow peeling of grey clouds from the sky takes three minutes.

When he opens his eyes again, there is a rare weariness in them. A deep set, solemn exhaustion that betrays his age, reminds those around him that the Iudex is not human. Not entirely, at least.

But it's his voice that betrays him the most. The words tremble lightly when they leave him, like lingering raindrops shaken away by a evening breeze.

"I...", another pause, another moment to pull himself away from those memories, gather himself back into the present.

"It was...excruciating."