#vigilant-shadow

[mcuntainbcrn]

@vigilant-shadow​ || plotted starter

The night had been peaceful only moments before a brilliant streak of light appeared, tearing across a previously pitch black sky and illuminating it and the world below as though it were day, a resounding crash splitting the air as it collided with the earth, a deep, smoldering depression left in it’s wake, followed by an eerie, oppressive silence; smoke plumed from super heated soil that now shone with an almost glassy sheen from the soft moonlight overhead, a soft, almost strangled breath issuing from within the bowels of the impact crater, originating from a small figure at it’s center.

Hot...so hot...had they set her on fire again? Everything hurt...so much more than usual...but the restraints - there was nothing tethering her down this time; this wasn’t right - they would never leave her unfettered outside her cell, and this...where was this? 

Certainly not that stark white chamber they kept her contained within when they weren’t actively torturing her - wherever this was, through the smoke, it smelled...wrong; lacking that sterile tang that barely masked the aroma of mildew and decaying tissue.

Fingers burrowed into the dirt, carelessly breaking through the glasslike surface that coated it, the snapping of bones realigning and the wet sound of displaced organs returning to their proper positions a background noise she was too familiar with and easily tuned out as she blindly attempted to determine whereabouts she was within the facility; nothing felt...smelled...sounded familiar...

...where was this place?

[birdcagcd]

@vigilant-shadow cont. from x

"It's a good job then that I'll always be here to provide the help you need, Ven. I'm sticking around through thick and thin, no matter what." It's a promise.

He doesn't care if it hurts him, doesn't care if it ends up killing him, he'll stick around for as long as he physically can. And when he can't anymore, his ghost will just have to do the job for him.

“ Let me drink then. “ He huffs, headbutting Xiaos head with his. He’s being affectionate about it, but he really.. He’s really upset. His face is red and he honestly could just cry again.

“ I don’t wanna survive sober. You’re being so unfair. “ Please. Just a little bit.

Venti isn’t himself when sober. Though, Venti doesn’t really have a self, as far as he’s concerned. He’s just an empty shell his twin brother left behind. He doesn’t even try to have his own appearance.

[celestibound]

@vigilant-shadow​​​​  ♡’d for a Guizhong starter!

Standing amongst the broken fragments to what was left of the Guili Assembly . . . a grave sat in front of her, worn over the passing years. Fingers delicately gliding across the carving of her name — stone and lapis build together into a small pile . . . an ache within her chest at such a surreal sight. How long has she been gone for? What of her companions? How much pain . . . did her death cause for those closest to her? There was no shrine in her name — she had not cared for such grand memorials to begin with . . . for if Guizhong had anything more than this . . . she would not of been able to keep her composure.

[boundlesswanderers-moved]

✦  @vigilant-shadow  cont. from here

Xiao was afraid. It wasn't something he'd admit to, of course, but, there was no denying it from the way he just stared at the ground, trembling, tense. It felt as if his karma was taking over him fast, and there was no way out.

Safe to say, when he felt his chin pulled up, only to meet those amber eyes, his own only widened, glossed over with a sheet of unshed tears. His breaths were quick and heavy, hands clutching desperately at his spear. "Lumine... You- you should run. You shouldn't be here."

Lumine hadn’t spend that much time around the other one yet, but still... in the amount of time they actually knew each other, she never had seen Xiao like that. Stubbornly trying to avoid looking at her, a slight tremble shaking his body. It hurt to see him like that, because it wasn’t anything like the Xiao she had gotten to know and the traveler couldn’t deny that she was worried about her friend. 

Closing the distance between them and more or less forcing him to look at her was a decision made purely on the emotions currently running through her, but once their eyes met, she was certain that it had been the right decision to make at this moment, even though the other one seemed to think different. 

There was something in Xiao’s eyes, something that felt so wrong, wrong, wrong and if possible her grip on the others chin got slightly stronger still trying not to hurt him while doing so. 

“I’m not leaving you behind.” she said, voice determined. It was a new situation for her, because usually it were people - her brother - leaving her behind without any explanations. Lumine was tired of running after people, so starting to run away was the last thing she wanted to do right now. 

“Whatever it is, we’ll go through it together. You’ll be fine.” 

[stxrhxir]

Closed starter for @vigilant-shadow​

     “Such a shame I have to eat all this Almond Tofu by myself~!” The traveler announces as he walks onto Wangshu Inn balcony. It is a beautiful fall night, so Aether decided to visit Xiao. He knows how hard the yaksha works himself, and how Xiao doesn’t take really take breaks.

      “Man...If only Xiao was here to help me.” Aether takes a piece of tofu and plops it into his mouth. Tofu has such a strange texture Aether will never get used to, but the sauce is amazing.

[cryoexorcist]

@vigilant-shadow asked: The yaksha had been resting nearby Wangshu inn after a particularly rough battle, still not at his fullest strength after the whole chasm mess. And while he didn't expect to see Chongyun there, it wasn't an unwelcome sight either. He gave the other a small smile, the familiar energy concealed within the other a welcome feeling after facing the memories of Bosacius. "Mhh, hello there."//For the yaksha Yun? 

Chongyun hesitantly approaches Xiao, wearing a smile. Small one, but there’s a grin on their face. Chongyun kind of remembers, but not enough details are there, and they don’t want to exactly pressure Xiao for the missing pieces.

Xiao is supposed to be resting, and Chongyun doesn’t want to add any stress to the yaksha’s life when he’d already just been through so much. But still, those missing memories are enough for Chongyun to approach Xiao, sit next to him with that smile on their face. “Hello, General Alatus,” Chongyun says quietly. “I hope you’re doing well. Is there anything I can do for you?”

Hopefully the title drop isn’t too shocking. It’s meant to be a subtle nod to Chongyun’s former life as Binarius, but Chongyun isn’t going to elaborate. Well, right now.

[risingsol]

@vigilant-shadow​ asked for an Abyss Prince 

“You’re as silent as your legends say that you are.” The story of how the yakshas had suffered in the wake of the great archon war and subsequent destruction brought on by the days of old were a tale that he was more than familiar with - recalling the dwindling energy felt in the walls of the chasms that came after the Cataclysm. The loss of kin, the feeling of hopelessness despite all your efforts, and a persistence of duties - these were all feelings that he could understand well and ones that he empathized with. To cross the other would be a dangerous error. 

“I have no quarrel with those who guard Liyue.”

[lunares-cor-a]

⤪ @vigilant-shadow​ ⊳ don’t go ⊳ accepting ⤨

--- ’ please… don’t go ‘

     ⊳ can be continued / reblogged

   “ Xiao ... ? ”  That was ...  Not something he had anticipated in the slightest.  He was hesitant,  uncertain.  Was there something wrong ?  Gaze searched the Adeptus’  features as he took a step closer instead,  reaching a hand out to gently place upon the other’s shoulder in hopes of helping offer some sort of reassurance.

   “ I can still stay a bit longer ...  What’s on your mind ? ”