One, two, three, four...

   “Ow– owowow–”

   She had obviously missed the memo – that being that everything in the gallery is out to hurt you, and the warning not to bite into her food (made with so much love, and this is how it treats her?!) had come very late. As it is, Lynne seems to be nursing an awful stomachache, pleas coming through with a hiss through her teeth.

   “Does anyone know where to get an antidote? Or an aspirin? Whatever you take for this?!”

She holds up a basket of herbs in offering.

𝄢 There’s an encouraging nod that follows her question as he makes his way over to her, maneuvering the kite to follow along. He was making sure to keep it afloat just in case she didn’t know how to get it up into the sky. 

𝄢 ❝ of course! Just make sure to keep it steady and don’t tug on it too hard.❞ He’s already handing the kite off to her as he speaks, not really processing her request just yet. He had almost forgotten how believable he could be at times. Quirking a brow as he tried to stifle back a laugh. The wind was strong but he doubts that it was strong enough to carry her off. Yet her genuine concern had hit a soft spot and he found himself easily giving in to her request.

𝄢 ❝ If you think you can keep the kite up with just one hand I’ll be happy to hold your free one. Aha, don’t worry even if the wind does pick you up ill make sure to grab you before you go too far. Plus flying isn’t as frightening as it looks however clouds aren’t as soft as they appear to be either ❞ He tries to be as reassuring as possible in his own special way. Although he seems a bit disappoint while relaying such information about clouds. But it was always good to instill some lessons into activities no matter how random the information may appear to be. 

“Thank you, mister.” Both for the kite, and his kind offer to hold her should she ever do fly away. At least for now, she can relax knowing that this nice person has her back and can just enjoy the pretty kite without worry of flying away.

This companion of hers does seem awfully knowledgeable though, Qiqi notes. He even taught her something new about clouds! She’d make a note of it in her notebook straight away, but she doesn’t want to let go of the kite. Maybe in a little bit, if she still remembers.

“... Clouds... Aren’t as soft as they look?” That, combined with his comment about flying not being so scary has her curious. “Have you flown before... Mister?”

   Ah. She’s a younger one than Lynne had initially deduced, or at least younger in mind. She hadn’t thought about it, really; she called this young, unattended girl her sister for the same reasons she did Kamila, and with the same mindset that one pretends to know a stranger in a dangerous predicament. It’s easy, establishes an importance beyond just a passersby getting involved in something they shouldn’t, and cuts explanation down to a minimum. It establishes the facts: there is someone else in the equation, and they will not hesitate to make a scene where the victim won’t.

   What a scene this was. Thank the gods she hasn’t scared her away. A Qiqi, if her 3rd-person questioning is to be trusted. Lynne smiles, taking a knee to better match her level and have a better look; what a curious girl!

   “In a sense,” She says, still chipper, but with a sober tinge. “We don’t know each-other, but some people can be scary, or mean you harm, and it’s no good for them to think you’re all alone out here. It’s just a little white lie, okay? So, Qiqi – is that your name? My name is Lynne, and I’m honored to be your big sister for today!”

   To begin with – should she ask for parents? Parent, singular? Any type of guardian? In her experience, young children often come without. That’s one drawback with Spirale arrivals– families arriving together in any capacity are few and far between, and get separated far too easily.  

   “Now let’s get you where you need to be. Is anyone looking for you?”

A white lie...? Admittedly, she’s a bit disappointed, at first. Even knowing this person is likely a stranger to her, she was still kind of hoping she’d managed to find an older sister...

...This disappointment doesn’t last long, fortunately, and her eyes brighten up when she’s informed that Lynne will be her ‘big sister for today.’ It’s only for a day, she notes to herself, but that’s one more day with a sister than she’s ever had before...! She’s just going to have to make the best of this day with her temporary big sister.

Yet, it seems even Lynne is concerned about her. She can’t blame her for being concerned about a lost looking little girl, but once again she can’t really give an affirmative answer. She’s alone here, yes, but she doesn’t want Lynne worrying for her sake- She doesn’t think Lynne need worry about a zombie like her. (Surely her efforts would be better placed on a living young girl!)

@adeptusart​

♫ “Hm… Are you lost, little girl?” The child looked like she was walking around without aim, and considering her post Barbara was not one to ignore such a sight without literally extending a hand to help.

“I guess this isn’t Mondstadt though… Is there an equivalent to the Knights of Favonius?”

She’s used to being asked if she’s lost, by now. It’s a question she gets just about everyday... Probably doesn’t help that she does in fact frequently get lost. Sense of direction isn’t the easiest when you’re a little zombie in a strange city.

The names ‘Mondstadt’ and ‘Knights of Favonius’ that the other girl lets slip do sound familiar though, and Qiqi flips through her notebook rather than immediately answering. Once she finds what she was looking for, she looks up intently at the older girl.

   You find yourself in apothecary shops very often, as of late. Who can blame you? You’re a doctor, after all, fascinated & bewildered by all the new ways one dispenses medicine and the uses of science for the more potent products. If Ms Nightingale can adapt to such advancements, so can you, although you’ve had a lot of questions for the poor souls manning the counters, not all of them answered.

   Your latest tutor (in the loosest sense possible) seems happy enough and more confident in indulging you, at least – until your conversation is interrupted with the sound of a bell set against the door, and someone entering. You turn a glance, and blink – that is a small child carrying a colorful assortment of herbs towards the counter, some of which you know should not be handled by anything but the cautious hands of an adult. You perk up in alarm and move to intercept, coming down on one knee to better match her height and plant yourself firmly in the way.

   ( She could just sidestep you. You need to be more flexible on your feet – but you don’t want to to frighten or tower over her unnecessarily. )

   “Where is your guardian, young miss?“

@adeptusart​  liked a starter call!

Picking herbs for the Bubu pharmacy is pretty much all Qiqi knows. Being a zombie, she can only really act on orders, and she’d ordered herself to be a herb gatherer. That hasn’t change now that she’s in Spirale, and so gather herbs for a pharmacy she continues to do.

It’s a sizable bounty she’s gathered; this place has all kinds of interesting herbs! She tried her best to identify what she could using what she had written down in her notebook, but everything here is so strange.. Qiqi opted to pick what she can, hoping some of it will at least be of some use. And that they’re safe. She’s not a very good judge of that, considering her undead nature, but at least it means she doesn’t have to worry about endangering herself. (hopefully whoever works here has the good sense to sort out what’s safe or not.)

She’s attempting to deliver the goods when suddenly an adult, human woman kneels in her way, stopping her. Qiqi stops herself and stares up at her with stoic eyes.

Ah... This question again. If Qiqi had a mora for every time someone asked her where her guardian is... She’d be able to by all the coconut milk she wants. 

     Everything is certainly odd, for lack of a better term. The city is not Liyue, though that much is obvious. From the frankly bizarre yellow vehicle that had transported him here, to the gaping hole he finds himself standing before soon after, wherever he is is no place of familiarity, though no doubt is it bustling.      It would be a disconcerting situation to most, but not entirely to Baizhu. Rather, he observes with some amount of intrigue as he begins to wander through what’s nearest to him. The place is far more advanced than any he’s been in Teyvat, and naturally that leads to pondering of the placid sort. Is there a reason behind his visit? Changsheng doesn’t seem to know, nor does she seem to want to know; she’s ducked herself into the sleeve of the overcoat on his shoulders for the moment being. Expected of her, really, Baizhu notes with faint amusement. The vibrations of the crowd must not be particularly enjoyable for the small, white serpent.      Roaming about isn’t all for naught, however. He eventually happens upon familiar form near a water fountain, to his own relief – perhaps to stay cool, he wonders? The weather, as he’s noticed, seems a tad too warm for the liking of the little zombie.       With a chuckle, he addresses her fondly.

     “ Why, if it isn’t my little Qiqi. I’m glad to find you here, safe and in one piece. With such an unexpected arrival to… wherever we are, I couldn’t help but wonder if you were by some chance still at the pharmacy. ”                                                                ——    @adeptusart​;   s.c. !

Qiqi never did like the heat; not as far as she can remember, anyway. She has no idea how she felt about it at as a human, living being, but in her current undead state the heat is just far too uncomfortable for her liking. Zombies and heat just simply do not mix.

This fountain she’s found, however is... Somewhat cooling, at least, and she finds herself drawn to it, her thoughts occupied with how she really ought to have just stayed at home where it’s nice, and cool, and dark and... Certainly much better than this pestering sunlight.

This concentration is broken by a voice, one that sounds... Somewhat familiar? She turns around to see who is addressing her, only to be met with confusion. That face... She doesn’t think she’s seen it before. Yet, there’s something so distinctly familiar about this man that she just can’t place...

That’s until he mentions the pharmacy, anyway. Then everything clicks into place... She may never recognize his face, but she certainly can’t forget the owner of the Bubu Pharmacy!

“Doctor Baizhu...” she starts, “I’ve been here a little while now... A few months I think?” She pulls out her notebook. “...Six months. Was beginning to think you’d never show...” She remembers appearing in this strange city and looking for him, to no avail. Yet suddenly here he is, standing right here before her. Had she somehow missed meeting him...? Or is he only just now arriving...?

Starter call for Qiqi! Soft capping at around... 3? Genshin Impact castmates are exempt, though.

She’ll be participating in:

Beware the winds! 

Bug Eat Bug World (get ready to fight some slimes)

Intra-Scavenger Hunt 

➤ @adeptusart​  ❥ starter

𝄢 ❝…and that should do the trick..!! ❞ the young man had exclaimed rather enthusiastically as he held up a hand-crafted kite, loosely decorated with painted images of rabbits. He hummed softly in appreciation of his handy work. Although he was an inventor by heart he also very much enjoyed dabbling in small crafts such as these. Considering he had taken note of the lack of individuals that were after his head he had allowed himself the liberty of finding joy in quote-on-quote childish antics. Shifting the kite to one hand he dug around in his pockets in search of something. Smiling cheerfully when he had located the paper slip. He began to hum a small tune as he placed the talisman upon the back of the kite. It wasn’t long after that, that he set off on the motions to get it up in the air. He had flown his fair share of kites in his youth so it didn’t take long for it to reach the sky. 

𝄢Yet there seemed to be something different about this kite. Leave it to Wei Wuxian to find a way to draw attention to himself even with the most mundane of activities. The kite appeared to be leaving a trail of luminescent butterflies in its path. They appeared only as shapes of light, rather than physical objects. Wei Wuxian could already hear the strangely familiar voice in his head scolding him for wasting such important items and partaking in such silly tricks. Though at this moment he really couldn’t locate a single damn to give. 

𝄢  ❝Hm..? Oh..!! Would you like to try?❞ he had noticed the young girl’s fixated gaze upon the kite.   ❝ You just need to be careful and promise to hold onto it tight ok? Or else it’ll lift you right off the ground. ❞

Qiqi has seen many a kite back in Liyue, but never has she seen one as pretty as this one. She can’t help but stare in awe at the pretty shining butterflies or the cute painted on bunnies. In fact, she soon finds herself staring at it, completely entranced by the sight...

Until she gets spoken to by the man holding the kite, anyway. She... Honestly hadn’t expected for him to even take notice of her, so she’s surprised to be addressed. Normally other people just carry on about their day around her (When they’re not worried about a ‘lost’ child anyway.) Yet he’s being very kind to her...

“Could I really?” she asks shyly.

Still, his whole comment about being lifted off the ground concerns her... She normally worries about the wind blowing her away, so she doesn’t doubt for a second that she could really go flying off with a kite. 

     On the other side of this conversation, Hu Tao was excited to find Qiqi. She liked to joke about sealing her away, being a zombie and all, but she wasn’t actually that cruel. It was just funny to see her make that rare reaction of disdain!

     “Aiya! Would you really push your big sis Hu Tao away? I’m just thinking of what’s best for you, you know!?”

“Th-That’s not what’s best for me!” She just can’t help but get so worked up from Hu Tao, a strange feeling when normally she feels so little. She just doesn’t get her jokes, and she mostly certainly doesn’t find them funny. 

@adeptusart​

     “Heehee! I sense someone who needs to be sealed~! Does sealing work here? I guess we’ll need to try to find out!”

Of all the people for her to recognize in this strange city...! Qiqi thought she wouldn’t have to see Hu Tao here, but to her disappointment Hu Tao has evidently found her way here too.