P•A•I•M•O•N

Inspired by the voicelines from Genshin Impact! CONTENT WARNING: none, ask if you need one added!

still, it's a bit tiring, all this running back and forth.

the smile he plasters on at the sight of a familiar, floating friend is no less genuine for it, though. “my, if it isn't paimon!” since their time spent together in that temple a few months ago, to find her parted from the traveler is no longer so odd a sight. it is instead the scattering of paper around her that earns the magician's raised brow as he stoops down to see what might be its cause.

‎ ‎ ‎ desire itched under her skin like fire, and she knew if she continued with this line of thought, her mind would stray to dark, unforgivable places. like savoring the taste of a bulle souffle at café lutece, jotting notes on the aquabus while a knowledgeable guide shares her expertise of the surrounding scenery, touching the hardback cover of a detective novel⸻no paimon!

‎ ‎ ‎ she shook her head ruefully and tightened her hold on the vibrant paper. bad paimon, very very bad paimon. all you have to do is send your best wishes to the sick children of the hearth, who would do anything to spend a day sitting on this very bench. archons, what would lyney think if he saw you⸻

‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ my, if it isn't paimon! ❞ ‎

‎ ‎ ‎ a strange noise escaped her throat, something between an eep and a hwuahh, and her gaze shot up to face the new arrival. widened eyes may have betrayed her bewilderment ( call her mein fräulein, as she has somehow summoned a man to her side ), but happiness soon follows: a big, cherubic smile divides her cheeks.

‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ lyney! ❞ ‎ she chirped happily. ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ street performer …? oh, no, no, paimon's definitely not cut out for the showbiz life, no siree. this is paimon's⸻ ❞ ‎ she lifted the piece she had just finished and beamed, ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ origami! ❞ ‎

‎ ‎ ‎ as she lowered her hand, she could admit it was a scuffed piece of work: rough, crinkled, with corners twisted at an odd angle, but the folded wings and bent tip near the top should at least identify it as a crane. she yammered on, placed the deformed bird amongst it's papercraft brethren,‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ it's an old inazuman art form that's recently swept the nation. paimon needs to make a thousand of these babies to make her wish come true, but she's not sure if it's one thousand per person or if her wish can collectively heal everyone … no, it should be the latter! ❞ ‎

Genshin Impact | Wallpapers from Teyvat's Special Delivery

Twins and Lumine wallpapers cleaned and upscaled by asddzr on bilibili.

Everyone's moving and she is only a handful of steps behind them, unable to drag her eyes away from Benares's thrashing body. She's as angry as she had been in Nagazora, worse maybe, and blue still. Which isn't right.

"Hey, have you seen your master?"

[2 energy] (Salon Members are active!) KIANA 8.5/10HP uses Deadly Finality Surmounted and hits all enemies. (Punch Stance triggers!) (Lavawalker’s Resolution triggers!) (-15.5HP) BENARES 143.5/200HP Time wave is active until end of round! KIANA gains 2 stacks of Descent: 2

To the sky and then down again, crashing between wings. Kiana scrambles up the dragon's neck, yelping as it thrashes. "Quit being so difficult! You remember me, right? Sirin, c'mon, she's not here anymore but she's in me still-" She realizes her mistake as Benares flings her neck in a wide arc to try and shake her off.

[1 energy] (Salon Members are active!) KIANA 7.5/10HP uses Supreme Blade, Reforged and hits BENARES (Roll 1d20 = 5 + 2 = 7 , Hit!) (Punch Stance triggers!) (Lavawalker’s Resolution triggers!) (Time Wave triggers!) (-7.5HP) BENARES 136/200HP (Benares gains 1 stack of Ignite Trauma: 1.) Artemis' Guardian roll: 1. BENARES is immobilized and cannot counterattack KIANA gains 1 stack of Descent: 3

With a grunt, her blade digs into Honkai beast scales and she clings to it, grimacing as the thing roars loud enough to leave her ears ringing.

"I just want to know where Mei is. Herrscher of Thunder, come onnn, I know you know her!! She was here earlier and- stop that!" 

Another swing of her head and Kiana's skidding to the ground, Honkai goop dripping from her sword.

"Ugh, what's gotten into her..." A flick of her blade to clean it and then a loud oof as something crashes into her and- "Oh, hi Paimon. I'm gonna go knock some sense into that thing, one sec-"

[1 energy] (Salon Members are active!) KIANA 6.5/10HP uses Supreme Blade, Reforged and hits BENARES (Roll 1d20 = 9 + 2 = 11 , Hit!) (Punch Stance triggers!) (Lavawalker’s Resolution triggers!) (Time Wave triggers!) (-7.5HP) BENARES 128.5/200HP (Benares gains 1 stack of Ignite Trauma: 2.) BENARES is immobilized and cannot counterattack KIANA gains 1 stack of Descent: 4 [0 energy] KIANA 6.5/10HP consumes 4 stacks of Descent and uses Searching Drifter, Answered (Time Flint) and hits BENARES (Punch Stance triggers!) (Lavawalker’s Resolution triggers!) (Time Wave triggers!) (-22HP) BENARES 106.5/200HP  BENARES is immobilized and cannot counterattack KIANA’S stance is automatically swapped to Moon Blade.

BENARES 83/200HP uses Upsurge and crits PAIMON. (Roll 1d20 = 19, -5HP) PAIMON 1.5/10HP. (Salon Members can't drain further!) PAIMON 1.5/10HP counters with Floating Companion and crits BENARES. (Roll 1d20 + 2 = 19, -3HP) BENARES 80/200HP.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ instead, sharp claws find purchase in the fairy's sides and sink deep into soft flesh, sapphire maw widening with the intent to devour. paimon's arms flail like mad, but her polearm returns the favor, slicing into the beast's jaw and piercing the tender tissue of her throat. the dragon bellows in agony and rage, spitting out a stream of thick ichor but keeping firm hold on her prey. in seconds, wings beat, and the wind whips against the white hair as she's taken prisoner far above the abyssal floor.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ then, just as quickly, before her heart has a second to beat, bernares dives, releasing her captive to plummet to her death.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ instinctively, her hands reach for something⸻anything!⸻and catches onto the dragon's smooth ivory tail, the length of a hundred snakes and twice that of paimon's body. gasping and heaving for air, she clings for dear life and tries to steady herself against the gale. a mantra begins in her mind: don't look down don't look down don't look down!

[1 energy] PAIMON 1.5/10HP uses Traveler's Bodyguard. PAIMON 10/10SP, FU HUA 10/10SP, FURINA 10/10SP, KIANA 10/10HP. [3 energy] PAIMON 1.5/10HP uses Emergency Food. (+5HP) PAIMON 6.5/10SP, FU HUA 10/10HP, FURINA 10/10SP, KIANA 10/10HP.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ the gods may never grace upon their favor but the stars have crowned it's own. the constellations shimmer, guiding the sky from one star to the next, until they form a curtain around the fairy. the shrieking wind eventually dies down to a quiet murmur, and the fairy is able to cry once more, her voice breaking and her breath hitching in terror:

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ everyone, ❞ she begins, polearm outstretched in front of her, tearing into the void before her,‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ catch! ❞

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ colorful wrapped candy streams from pockets of starlight, scattering like sand upon the ground for her friends to collect. she smiles, feeling safe in the company of her dear friends, but there's no time to bask in such bliss. there's a dragon to slay!

[1 energy] (Salon Members are active!) PAIMON 5.5/10HP. PAIMON 5.5/10HP uses Floating Companion and hits BENARES 71.5/200HP. (Emergency Food Triggers! +10 additional damage) (Roll 1d20 + 2 = 10, -12.5HP) BENARES 59/200HP. (Roll 1d2 = 2, dodge fails.) BENARES 59/200HP counters with Absolute Zero and misses PAIMON. (Roll 1d20 = 3, -0HP) PAIMON 10/10SP. [1 energy] (Salon Members are active!) PAIMON 4.5/10HP. PAIMON 4.5/10HP uses Floating Companion and misses BENARES 59/200HP. (Roll 1d20 + 2 = 3, -0HP) BENARES 59/200HP. (Roll 1d2 = 2, dodge fails.) BENARES 59/200HP counters with Absolute Zero and hits PAIMON. (Roll 1d20 = 16, -1.5HP) PAIMON 8.5/10SP. (Roll 1d3 = 3) KIANA 9.5/10SP.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ the spear plunges deep into the scales of the giant monster, puncturing her tail and drawing ichor. benares screeches, flicking and writhing to fling the fairy off her back, but the tiny fairy clings stubbornly. only when she pulls her polearm free does she mistime her move, allowing benares to twist away and slam her into the domain's invisible barrier. the impact suspends her in the air, and she plummets, grasping for the air to slow her descent.

one ought never to trust silence. only their own senses when the shadows descend.

all at once, the stars are blotted out. her gaze shoots up just in time to see something massive. "it's here!!" scrambling with a scream, she throws herself sidelong, hitting the ground with jarring impact that shakes and shudders under the landing of the enormous beast. it's roar dampens all other sound in her ears as she hurries to flip over onto her back, eyes wide at the mechanical array of white and wide-flared blues, the eyeless head that nevertheless swung in threat towards each of them in turn.

"wh. . . what is it," she whispers, shell-shocked, to no one in particular, too soft to be heard. a giant lizard——a dragon? those wings. . . it resembles the tales of the mythic beasts said to roam the corners of teyvat abandoned by history, feeding and growing to abnormal sizes on the corpses of the old gods.

energy roll ,⠀3.   FURINA uses SALON SOLITAIRE.  　　↳⠀SALON MEMBERS are summoned to the field!   　　↳⠀(4)⠀no energy recovered.

"s-salon."

her trusted three, at least, do not know fear——constructs of water and heart as they simply are. they form a quick shield before her ; and not a moment too soon as the beast releases a blast of arctic hoarfrost with a rear of its head, sweeping blisteringly around in her direction.

FURINA hits BENARES with SOLOIST'S SOLICITATION ( 8 ).   　　↳⠀furina's normal attacks are infused with hydro.  　　↳⠀(-1.5)⠀BENARES 198.5/200HP and affected by hydro.  BENARES misses FURINA with ABSOLUTE ZERO ( 2 ).   　　↳⠀(-0)⠀FURINA 10/10HP.

still not on her feet yet, all she can do is throw an arm over her face with a shout, weathering the worst of it at a fortunately safe distance. but a haze of numbing cold still creeps up her legs at its edges. if nothing else, this spurs her into urgency, climbing rapidly to her feet to stamp the feeling back into them, summoning that iron pipe to her hand again with quickened breath as her entourage once more takes up their places. "you must do this, furina. then it'll be over. you must do this. just once more."

flashing blades appear out of nowhere, curved and sickle-like, carving straight for her blind spot ;

SUNFROST hits and hits FURINA with RETURNING FROSTWHEEL. 　　↳⠀(-1.5, -1.5)⠀FURINA 3/10HP. 　　↳⠀(crystallize triggers!)⠀SUNFROST 2/2SP.

sharp gasps burn as cryo slices white-cold, barely giving her time to think of how she could've easily had a limb severed, only wide-eyed as she backpedals, startled at how easily this one had gone unnoticed.

he'd been waiting for her to fall back. it was obvious from how quickly he'd swept in to prey. he'd expected it. had noticed her habits. her fear. the thought struck her numb. but it's swept away by the next motion in her periphery while everyone was distracted:

"no!"

STONE ENCHANTER uses SPLITROCK SLAM. 　　↳⠀(3) (-0)⠀misses furina. FURINA 3/10HP.

unfortunately not much of a warning——bubbles buoy her suddenly up, forming from adrenaline overtoned, an outpouring of seafoam taking her past the ferocious slam of the enchanter's powerful attack sending ripples of broken earth out in all directions ; arms covering her face render her blind to the impact she'd escaped until she lands again in the next instant, whirling around in disbelief. the others——

of them the most capable looked no worse for wear, but paimon seemed winded.

she thinks she can understand. her legs are threatening to fold beneath her weight, and there is nothing nearby to sit or hold onto ; this has gone on for so long without end, and she is tired.

but she cannot give up. she——what had she nearly been saying before? the eye of all waters gleams again, flaring with the mismatched blue inset beneath diamonds of ivory white ; "everyone, stay strong. tell me what you need ; my salon can also replenish your strength. please do not hesitate." after all, she could not make it through this without them ; she couldn't even hope to endure a moment.

the twin forces of pneuma and ousia collide, bursting once more in a spectacular cadenza of waves: in fanfare that takes the mind instead of the ear, playing a tune of silent revelry.

energy roll ,⠀4. FURINA hits ALL ENEMIES with LET THE PEOPLE REJOICE.   　　↳ (-4)⠀SUNFROST 23/60HP and affected by hydro;⠀(-4)⠀STONE ENCHANTER 22/90HP and affected by hydro. 　　↳⠀all allies enter UNIVERSAL REVELRY. fanfare:⠀2. FURINA hits STONE ENCHANTER with SOLOIST'S SOLICITATION ( 10 ).   　　↳⠀furina's normal attacks are infused with hydro.  　　↳⠀(-2.5)⠀STONE ENCHANTER 19.5/90HP.  STONE ENCHANTER hits FURINA with SINGLE SLASH ( 12 ).   　　↳⠀(-1)⠀FURINA 2/10HP and affected by geo. fanfare:⠀3. FURINA hits STONE ENCHANTER with SOLOIST'S SOLICITATION ( 12 ).   　　↳⠀furina's normal attacks are infused with hydro.  　　↳⠀(-2.5)⠀STONE ENCHANTER 17/90HP.  STONE ENCHANTER misses FURINA with SINGLE SLASH ( 3 ).   　　↳⠀(-0)⠀FURINA 2/10HP.

to this, she finds the will to raise her iron pipe, thinly shaving off the incoming blow from the eremite who's found her again. the reverberation of his shield nearly knocks her bones, it feels, right out of her arms.⠀(⠀desperation. it is desperation. a feeling——a motivator——she is old friends with now.⠀)⠀"hyah!"⠀(⠀in it, there's a boldness not too far from madness. because the alternative is erasure.⠀)

‎ ‎ ‎ speaking of friends, a surge of cool water washes over paimon as she awakens to furina illuminating the chamber with light. the actress's motions are delicate and graceful, truly a sight to behold, but the desperation beneath the surface is palpable; there was only so much a person could do before agony and exhaustion claimed their final act. the fairy stumble at first, but before long, she's floating once more, pulling the actress aside and allowing their skilled members to carry them through the scene.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ furina, ❞ the fairy hisses at the start, but the lecture quickly dies on her tongue as her cherubic face scrunches into a tight ball. her instinct was to seize her by the shoulders and rattle off a thousand questions about what the devil she thinks she's doing or why in the archon's name she thinks now is the time to practice stuntwork, but … something about the sweat on furina's brow, the way her hands have shook and trembled throughout the ordeal, leaves the words stuck in her throat.

‎ ‎ ‎ in the recesses of her thoughts, a quiet and soft voice asks, "doesn't furina deserve her dues too?"

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ good, ❞ the word struggles out past the frustration threatening to choke her, ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ goodjob, furina, have some cake! ❞

PAIMON rolls 3 energy. [1 energy] PAIMON 10/10HP uses Traveler's Bodyguard on FURINA [2 energy] PAIMON 10/10HP uses Emergency Food. (+5HP) FURINA 7/10HP. (Furina gains 2 stacks of Fanfare: 5.)

‎ ‎ ‎ on cue, starry midnight reveals itself, and a velvet-ribboned box falls into paimon's eager grasp. she hands the package to furina as her stars begin to curtain her, offering the fontainian a moment's reprieve to enjoy the cake slice within. she can only hope they reach to the bottom floor soon enough so everyone could enjoy a tea party under a yellow-yolk sun instead.

Always protecting others. Yeah, Fu Hua really hasn't changed at all. 

Of their remaining enemies, the two men are mostly unscathed. It's their third-- the pretty girl with the braids-- that looks to be their weak link. Picking her off should be easy, and two against four should be much easier.

[0 energy] KIANA 10/10HP consumes 4 stacks of Descent and uses Searching Drifter, Answered (Time Flint) and hits DESERT CLEARWATER. (Vaporize triggers!) (Fanfare triggers! +4 additional damage) (-10HP) DESERT CLEARWATER 17.5/60HP    DESERT CLEARWATER 17.5/60HP counterattacks with Agile Thrust and misses KIANA. (Roll 1d20 = 2) KIANA’S stance is automatically swapped to Moon Blade

Time slows to Finality's call, lets her step easily past Fu Hua and Furina and Paimon, brush by the tallest of their enemies, and circle her target. Dramatic effect isn't really her thing, generally, but showing off every now and then never hurt anyone. ( And maybe Fu Hua's little remark has gotten to her head. ) The moment resumes just as her trigger finger squeezes, and the girl swings her blades wildly looking to bite back. Kiana hums, unscathed.

[1 energy]  KIANA 10/10HP uses Supreme Blade, Reforged and hits DESERT CLEARWATER (Roll 1d20 = 19 + 2 = 21 , Critical Hit!)  (Fanfare triggers! +4 additional damage) (-9HP) DESERT CLEARWATER 8.5/60HP (Desert Clearwater gains 1 stack of Ignite Trauma: 3.) Artemis' Guardian roll: 1. DESERT CLEARWATER is immobilized and cannot counterattack KIANA gains 1 stack of Descent: 1.

Her gun is holstered, hands freed for her sword in its stead. Its blunt end is knocked hard into the girl's chest, sending her stumbling backwards. Blades clatter to the ground, disarming her entirely. Kiana darts around to her back, moves as though she intends to catch her, and knees her between the shoulders instead.

[1 energy]  KIANA 10/10HP uses Supreme Blade, Reforged and hits DESERT CLEARWATER (Roll 1d20 = 8 + 2 = 10 , Hit!)  (Fanfare triggers! +4 additional damage) (-6.5HP) DESERT CLEARWATER 2/60HP (Desert Clearwater is at maximum stacks of Ignite Trauma) DESERT CLEARWATER is immobilized and cannot counterattack KIANA gains 1 stack of Descent: 2.

"Sorry, can't have you hitting my friends." It's sincere, and she's empathetic enough to grimace as the girl falls face first to the ground. Eyes turn skyward as she buries her blade somewhere in the other's back. 

[1 energy]  KIANA 10/10HP uses Supreme Blade, Reforged and hits DESERT CLEARWATER (Roll 1d20 = 19 + 2 = 21 , Critical Hit!)  (Fanfare triggers! +4 additional damage) (-9HP) DESERT CLEARWATER 0/60HP  Desert Clearwater has been defeated.  KIANA gains 1 stack of Descent: 3.

By the time she looks down again, her body has disappeared and left only a smattering of crimson on Kiana's clothes. It's hard not to feel bad-- dream or illusion or what, that was a person. A hand wipes at the blood on her cheek, undoubtedly just smearing it more.

"Just two more to go!"

‎ ‎ ‎ banishing thoughts of a certain oni's face twisted in agony, paimon takes a moment to collect the paper cups she's left laying around, stopped inches short by the sound of ice and wind building in front of her.

SUNFROST 42/60HP uses Returning Frostwheel and hits and hits PAIMON. (Roll: 2d20 = 8, 6, -1.5HP, -1.5HP) PAIMON 6/10HP and affected by CRYO. (Furina gains 1 stack of Fanfare: 5.)

‎ ‎ ‎ the starry portal closes just in time for a wheel of frost to barrel right for her face. with a shriek and an ill-conceived plan to protect her drink, the small fairy drops the soda bottle onto the floor, glass and orange liquid splattering on the carved stone, and takes the hit for herself. ice bites through her garments and deep into her flesh, chilling her from toe to crown as if she had jumped into an snezhnayan river. it's not the first time she's been attacked by cryo⸻that nasty cheat la signora encasing her entire body in ice comes to mind⸻but such agony does lessen with experience.

PAIMON 6/10HP counters with Floating Companion and hits SUNFROST. (Fanfare triggers! +5 additional damage) (Roll: 1d20 = 6, -6.5HP) SUNFROST 35.5/60HP.

‎ ‎ ‎ she swallows the pain, calling her polearm to her side and accepting another slash of biting frost as she closes the gap between herself and the assailant. the polearm is almost weightless in her hand, drawing blood from one shoulder and slamming hard into the eremite's side. the man grunts and falls back, allowing her to catch breath and dissappear into the starry ether.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ m-my fonta ...! ❞ as if grieving a lost friend, the fairy sobs as she reappears, head lowered in defeat. ‎ ❝ paimon saved up her allowance to buy that limited edition bottle ... augh, curse those awful eremites! ❞

[1 energy] PAIMON 6/10HP uses Floating Companion and crits STONE ENCHANTER. (Roll 1d20 = 19, Block triggers!, -0HP) STONE ENCHANTER 70/90HP. (Roll: 1d2 = 1) PAIMON dodges STONE ENCHANTER's counterattack!

[1 energy] PAIMON 6/10HP uses Floating Companion and crits STONE ENCHANTER. (Roll 1d20 = 20, -3HP) STONE ENCHANTER 67/90HP.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ VENGENCE WILL BE MINE⸻! ❞ her scream is a harsh wail that pierces the air, accented by the crackling of stardust as she races forward to attack once more. the stone enchanter intercepts the fairy's spear with his lance, and they begin to spar in earnest. despite his quick reflexes, the weight slows him down, and the agitated fairy becomes his match, swirling and dodging across the chilly, chamber floor. with luck, her polearm slices his exposed side and he staggers back, hissing and spitting in pain.

(Roll: 1d2 = 2, dodge fails.) STONE ENCHANTER 67/90HP counters with Single Slash and hits PAIMON. (Roll 1d20 = 12, -1HP) PAIMON 5/10HP. (Crystallize triggers!) STONE ENCHANTER 2/2SP. [1 energy] PAIMON 10/10HP uses Traveler's Bodyguard on PAIMON. PAIMON 7/7SP.

‎ ‎ ‎ unfortunately, there's no time to rest on her laurels. before paimon can flee, the lance slices quickly, sending her sailing across the chamber once more. this time, though, she lands on a soft bed of constellations which wrap and bind around her form like gift ribbons. her breathes comes short and shallow, yet she is able to shakily lift her thumb from the floor. don't worry, she'll be okay.

Paimon's already found the side of their injured, and Kiana's already moving as she snatches the cookie from the air. Garuda's heat rolls over her skin, a spectacle of light and fire being made of that big lizard-thing. Flamescion draws around from behind, unbothered by the embers that bite at her skin. At Fu Hua's call, she strikes.

KIANA rolls 3 energy [1 energy]  KIANA 7/7SP uses Supreme Blade, Reforged and hits SPIRIT OF OMEN: STONE DRAKE 10.5/30HP (Roll 1d20 = 10 + 2 = 12 , Hit!) (Emergency Food triggers! +7 additional damage) (-9.5HP) SPIRIT OF OMEN: STONE DRAKE 1/30HP (Stone Drake gains 1 stack of Ignite Trauma: 1.) Artemis’ Guardian roll: 2. Unsuccessful. SPIRIT OF OMEN: STONE DRAKE 1/30HP counters with Drill Charge and hits KIANA. (Roll 1d20 = 11, -2HP) KIANA 5/7SP KIANA gains 1 stack of Descent

Her blade is thrown downwards, skewering through stone scales and into the ground beneath it. The beast thrashes, neck jerking upward and jaw snapping furiously. It catches her calf, digs in and holds as Kiana tries to pull away. Crimson smears its teeth and her skin, earning a hiss where she sucks in a sharp breath. Two hands on the grip of her pistol, Kiana pulls the trigger.

[1 energy]  KIANA 7/7SP uses Supreme Blade, Reforged and hits SPIRIT OF OMEN: STONE DRAKE 1/30HP (Roll 1d20 = 17 + 2 = 19 , Critical Hit!) (-5HP) SPIRIT OF OMEN: STONE DRAKE 0/30HP Spirit of Omen: Stone Drake has been defeated. KIANA gains 1 stack of Descent

Bullets bury between the gaps in its face and the beast goes limp. With a groan, her leg is pulled free of its jaws and blade retrieved from its belly as it disappears. The wound has already stopped bleeding, cauterized itself and left only a charred bite mark in its wake. 

"Glad to see you too, by the way. Love the new look." Decidedly, she's not going to linger on how everyone looks so damn different now when she's stayed the same since the whole moon thing. Eyes flit to Furina. "Can you walk? Don't rush it if you feel dizzy or anything, we've got your back in the meanti-"

A sharp edge digs into her shoulder, Kiana pivots-

[1 energy]  KIANA 7/7SP uses Supreme Blade, Reforged and hits DESERT CLEARWATER 55/60HP (Roll 1d20 = 20 + 2 = 22 , Critical Hit!) (-5HP) DESERT CLEARWATER 50/60HP (Desert Clearwater gains 1 stack of Ignite Trauma: 1.) Artemis’ Guardian roll: 2. Unsuccessful. DESERT CLEARWATER 50/60HP counterattacks with Agile Thrust and hits KIANA. (Roll 1d20 = 18, -1HP) KIANA 4/7SP KIANA gains 1 stack of Descent

Her gun fires, knocking her assailant backwards. "Like that."

PAIMON rolls 3 energy. [3 energy] PAIMON 10/10HP uses Charged Attack and hits STONE ENCHANTER. (Roll 1d20 = 16, -1.5HP) STONE ENCHANTER 84.5/90HP. (Roll 1d5 = 4, Imprisonment fails.) (Roll: 1d2 = 1) PAIMON dodges STONE ENCHANTER's counterattack!

‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ furina, take care, okay? ❞ for once, the fairy takes the offensive, foregoing the shields and gathering as much starlight as she can into the tip of her spear. she'll let the others deal with the annoying hydro eremite, instead slamming the weapon into the enchanter's side, hoping to throw him off balance enough to encircle him in a cage of stars. she makes her escape into the midnight ether while her constellations tug and twist around his arms, locking them at his sides; yet, he is stronger, and with the taut of his muscles, he shatters the chains into sparkling stardust.

‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ okay okay, paimon probably should've asked this way earlier but do any of you have any food allergies? ❞ she reappeared from behind the party, running across the open air and hurriedly searching through the snack hoard. she could almost hear the traveler's voice gently nagging her for deciding to clean and separate things now, but their own backpack wasn't any better, so they can personally shove it!

‎ ‎ ‎ ( she doesn't mean it, of course. can they come to rescue her, please? )

SURINTENDANTE CHEVALMARIN hits WRAITH WARDEN. 　　↳⠀(time wave triggers!) (-6)⠀WRAITH WARDEN 11.5/35HP and affected by hydro. GENTILHOMME USHER hits WRAITH WARDEN. 　　↳⠀(time wave triggers!) (-6)⠀WRAITH WARDEN 5.5/35HP. MADEMOISELLE CRABALETTA hits WRAITH WARDEN. 　　↳⠀(time wave triggers!) (-6)⠀WRAITH WARDEN 0/35HP. WRAITH WARDEN IS DEFEATED.

in simultaneous blasts of water, the remaining survivor crumples to their knees, then hits the ground face-first, dissolving into shadows to leave not a scrap behind. furina feels a little grateful for this ; the way that things had cracked and groaned when fu hua and kiana had surged into the fray left her somewhat uneasy, even if these were in the end no more threatening than a vivid night's reverie.

"i'm all right for now," she answers her ally's question without pausing to think who it was meant for, but her attention is on the edges of the ring ; after earlier, she's not so quick to imagine their trial might be so easily concluded. and as new shade-wreathed figures emerge from the dark, her intuition is proven right. her hand tightens on the hilt of the rusty pipe more from renewed adrenaline than bravery. when would they stop?

alarm pings in her head and she twists around, one arm thrown out calling again her attendants to her side——

energy roll ,⠀3. FURINA uses SALON SOLITAIRE. 　　↳⠀SALON MEMBERS are summoned to the field! 　　↳⠀(1)⠀1 energy recovered. FURINA hits SPIRIT OF OMEN: STONE DRAKE with SOLOIST'S SOLICITATION ( 16 ). 　　↳⠀furina's normal attacks are infused with hydro. 　　↳⠀(-2.5)⠀SPIRIT OF OMEN: STONE DRAKE 27.5/30HP and affected by hydro.   SPIRIT OF OMEN: STONE DRAKE crits FURINA with DRILL CHARGE ( 20 ). 　　↳⠀(-4)⠀FURINA 6/10HP and affected by geo.

but not fast enough to dodge the wide-snapping jaws of something massive hurling itself at her up through the ground. her scream rings through the abyss, and in a fit of panic she lashes out blindly at the armored creature: flat, four-legged, and eyeless, covered in a plate of sandy scales. she feels her blows connect, but it barely registers past the blood seeping through silk and taffeta and her own haste to get away rather than fight.

FURINA crits DESERT CLEARWATER with SOLOIST'S SOLICITATION ( 17 ). 　　↳⠀furina's normal attacks are infused with hydro. 　　↳⠀(-5)⠀DESERT CLEARWATER 55/60HP. DESERT CLEARWATER crits FURINA with AGILE THRUST ( 20 ). 　　↳⠀(-2)⠀FURINA 4/10HP. 　　↳⠀(crystallize triggers!)⠀DESERT CLEARWATER 2/2SP.

then a second shadow lunges, leaping over the reptile's back, blades flashing out at her——furina twists away, but the cold bite of pain explodes through her torso, pushing her hard onto her backside. the rusty pole skitters and spins out of reach, and her breaths come quick and shallow as she scrabbles, one hand pressed to throbbing middle, thinly aware of a creeping cold that collects beneath her skin where it hurts most. "fu hua——fu hua——" she stammers, calling for the first name that comes to mind.

but its a cannon of water that saves her, bursting against the advancing eremite⠀(⠀eremite??⠀)⠀with enough force to knock them well back out of range, drenched and staggering in shock. chevalmarin appears, dorsal fin fluttering and both pectorals fanned to either side, puffing up large in defense of her mistress.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ which is what she would say if her heart rate hadn't spiked into the quadruple digits as lady furina was battered like a punching bag mere seconds into battle. swiftly approaching the actress's side like a comet streaking across the night sky, she pauses to thank sir chevalmarin for his protection before diving into the food stash.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ furina, furina, furina, furina, ❞ ‎ ‎ the fairy practically spits the last syllable out as she stuffs as many macarons as she can into the woman's mouth. despite snarling the other's name, frustration towards herself clawed at her insides, anger flashing white-hot for not acting sooner. starlight is summoned to her fingertips, and the intent of a fairy's protection presents itself once more, constellations assembling and binding into a pale sky blue shield.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ hey kiana, catch! ❞‎ ‎ ‎ with the last cookie in hand, paimon tossed it to the gunman, whose expression from the previous time indicated she thoroughly enjoyed the delicious sweet. this makes sense; navia's macarons were an unforgettable delicacy. starlight snapped and bound around her shape, and with kiana's attention, paimon raised the empty box into the air.‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ freeze and chrystallize are going to be annoying to deal with, right? so let's focus on the gator and her, okay? ❞ ‎ ‎

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎although she hadn't thought to ask yet, neither girl struck hdd as sumerian, and possibly wouldn't recognize who "desert clearwater" was. to illustrate who she meant instead, the small fairy reared back her arm and flung the box into the air like a cannon. such a throw would have been impossible for most… but she wasn't "someone," she was paimon, summer harpastum toss critical hit champion. the box hit its target dead on, but was blocked by the chrystallize shield, tumbling unceremoniously to the floor and eliciting an indignant snarl.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ behhhh, ❞‎ ‎ ‎ paimon taunted, pulling her eyelid down and blowing a raspberry at the female eremite. that's what you get for being so cruel!

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ unfortunately, her insult was stopped short by the sensation of water slicing her cheek and warm blood seeping through her fingers as she nervously raised her hand to inspect the injury. the eremite had hurled one of her own katars at the fairy and was now dashing towards her with the other to complete the task.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎wuh woh.

there wasn't a moment to wonder. as if her words had triggered a mechanism, the floor beneath them jolts, then tilts precariously. her sword clatters to the ground, the sound swallowed by the volcanic rumble of the space around them and startles cries, by the split-second panic to look for anything to grab onto, any possible way out——

before it shatters beneath their feet.

it's the second time in the span of some weeks that she's tumbled, or felt like she's tumbling, wild freefall into darkness that bore no end and no beginning, no direction or destination. her hands wheeled before and all around her, flipping head over heel and limb over foot, waiting for a dreaded moment of inevitable impact and wondering if this might be what finally woke her up.

(⠀what was it they said about dreams of falling?⠀)

no, no——there had to be something. maybe there was something she could do. in a fit of desperation, she calls to the still-newfound power of hydro: no longer a mask but a true force brought beyond the waters of fontaine to clothe her in righteous belonging and vindication ; if anything might save her, there was no other. in a brilliant flash of oceanic tide, their landing is illuminated:

energy roll ,⠀5. FURINA uses SALON SOLITAIRE. 　　↳⠀SALON MEMBERS are summoned to the field! 　　↳⠀(4)⠀no energy recovered. FURINA hits ALL ENEMIES with LET THE PEOPLE REJOICE. 　　↳⠀(-4)⠀MARA-STRUCK WARDEN 35/39HP and affected by hydro ; AURUMATON SPECTRAL ENVOY 44/48HP and affected by hydro ; WRAITH WARDEN 31/35HP and affected by hydro. 　　↳⠀all allies enter UNIVERSAL REVELRY.

a rotunda not dissimilar to the first, a second floor down, bathed in lapping waves like a starlit stone shoreline. in the instants before collision, rising bubbles break her freefall, buoyant and bendy, bouncing her one by one down to the ground level until she landed——as though she were always meant to land——on her feet with only a minor stumble.

she's breathless. too breathless even to sweep a bow⠀(⠀and paimon still carries her top hat, anyway⠀),⠀and only then notices the foam-like shapes of her attendants floating down to join her, having, she assumes, likewise manifested as some point on the way down. but just as soon as they gather, they each all vanish again, pulled toward some distant point on crusade. which must mean. . .

FURINA crits MARA-STRUCK WARDEN with SOLOIST'S SOLICITATION ( 20 ). 　　↳⠀furina's normal attacks are infused with hydro.  　　↳⠀(-5)⠀MARA-STRUCK WARDEN 30/39HP.  MARA-STRUCK WARDEN misses FURINA with SAWING EVIL: CHOP ( 2 ). 　　↳⠀(-0)⠀FURINA 10/10HP.

hairs prickle at her neck and she whirls around, not a moment too soon before a blow rattles up through her arms with force, deflected off something she'd raised in her hands without realizing. some sort of——rusted pipe? the eye of something golden and faceless bears down, and she swipes out with a shout, only intending to fend it off, but in her panic underestimates the heft of the thing in hand as it cracks against the assailant's face, splintering off a section of its stone-like visage.

"there's more here!" she calls out to the others, heart in her throat as she hurries to put more distance, not yet ready to take her eyes off the thing she'd just sent leaping back to check where they'd landed.

‎ ‎ her small hands frantically seek purchase⸻the top of a head, the heel of a shoe, a bare shoulder⸻but grasps only bubbles and seafoam. fortunately, she realized with a relieved sigh, the actress had summoned her stage of waves, slowing their descent to a gentle drift.

‎ ‎ ❝ well, if paimon had to put mora to mora meat, ❞ ‎ ‎ as the fairy floats down, she attempts her explanation once more, ‎ ‎ ❝ we're somewhere in the northeast of m⸻EEK, LOOKOUT THERE'S MORE! ❞

PAIMON rolls 4 energy. [1 energy] PAIMON 10/10HP uses Traveler's Bodyguard on KIANA and FU HUA. KIANA 7/7SP, FU HUA 7/7SP. [2 energy] PAIMON 10/10HP uses Emergency Food. KIANA and FU HUA are already at full HP.

‎ ‎ prattling must be saved for another time it would seem. as furina leads the charge against the new wave of enemies, stardust gathers and binds to form two shields around fu hua and kiana.

‎ ‎ ❝ you two! quick, emergency snacktime! ❞ ‎ ‎ the void is once again sliced through, allowing paimon's prized macaron box⸻a present from a certain spina di rosula president⸻to fall into her clutches. she shoves the cookies into the ladies' hands and quickly sneaks a bite for herself before pocketing the remaining ones and disappearing into the midnight along with it.

[1 energy] PAIMON 10/10HP uses Floating Companion on AURUMATON SPECTRAL ENVOY (Fanfare triggers! +2 additional damage.) (Roll 1d20 = 16, -3.5HP) AURUMATON SPECTRAL ENVOY 40.5/48. AURUMATON SPECTRAL ENVOY cannot counterattack.

‎ ‎ ❝ PAIMON'S STELLAR SEABREAKER! ❞ ‎ ‎ with the crack of metal against metal, the fairy reappears in a burst of starslight, slamming a newfound weapon against the armored inazuman's chest, forcing them back. with a satisfied huff, she pulls back, clumsily twirling the oceanic polearm sized for her height.

‎ ‎ ... she probably should have checked her weapon stash properly instead of noticing this one peeking out from her snack stash, but that's okay!

𔓕‎ @taixuandream @voidrifter double-income no kids aunts please unleash the reckoning of vaporize

"Uh... what are you doing here?" No, she's definitely the one that has somewhere else to be, but if Mei didn't yell at her for it then Hua probably won't either. Speaking of- "Have you seen Mei? She was just-"

Heat distorts her vision, rushes over her in waves that she has to shield her face from. That's Fu Hua alright. "...never mind."

KNIGHT 8.5/21HP uses Piercing Strike and hits KIANA. (Roll 1d20 = 7, -1HP) KIANA 3/4SP. KIANA 9/10HP counterattacks and hits KNIGHT (Roll 1d20 = 9, -1.5HP) KNIGHT 7/21HP (Kiana gains 1 stack of Descent.)

The sharp end of a lance narrowly misses her arm, knight and steed watching Kiana with the same soulless eyes as any other Honkai beast. It bounces harmlessly off of her shield, and she raises her pistol to fire a round straight into the weird horse-thing's shoulder. It rears in pain, and she ducks away before its front legs can hit the ground again.

"I'm doing what I always do," comes her reponse, a glace shot towards the still flaming back of Fu Hua. And she's doing what she always does, which is standing in the line of fire like it's going to keep Kiana out of it. "I've got this, relax. You look like you've seen better days yourself." 

Her shoulder knocks the Phoenix's as she steps past, a grin tossed back before she's darting for the enemy again.

KIANA rolls 5 energy. [1 energy] KIANA 9/10HP uses Supreme Blade, Reforged and misses FROST GUISARMIER (Roll 1d20 = 1, -0HP.)  FROST GUISARMIER 1/22HP counterattacks with Sickle and misses KIANA. (Roll 1d20 = 2, -0HP)

Steel arcs through air, past the Honkai's body. Kiana whistles only to suck in a breath as its scythe follows suit. Pivoting just out of reach, her skin prickles where the blade's frigid breath just reaches it. Time slows like an invitation, her reflection in the sickle glittering before her still.

Kiana wraps fingers around the snath, Flamescion's heat unbothered by bitter frost. In a motion as easy as breathing, she seperates weapon and wielder.

"Not so scary without this, are you?"

[1 energy] KIANA 9/10HP uses Supreme Blade, Reforged and crticially hits FROST GUISARMIER (Roll 1d20 = 19, -3HP.) FROST GUISARMIER 0/22HP. Frost Guisarmier is defeated.  KIANA gains 1 stack of Descent

One good throw sends the weapon right back home to its master, sharp end skewered through the hollow chest of the Honkai beast from which it came. Kiana dusts her hands off, turning on her heel. 

[1 energy] KIANA 9/10HP uses Supreme Blade, Reforged and crticially hits BLAZING CHARIOT (Roll 1d20 = 19, -3HP.) BLAZING CHARIOT 13/25HP  KIANA gains 1 stack of Descent [1 energy] KIANA 9/10HP uses Supreme Blade, Reforged and misses  BLAZING CHARIOT  (Roll 1d20 = 2, -0HP.)  BLAZING CHARIOT 13/25HP  [1 energy] KIANA 9/10HP uses Supreme Blade, Reforged and hits BLAZING CHARIOT (Roll 1d20 = 6, -1.5HP.) BLAZING CHARIOT 11.5/25HP  KIANA gains 1 stack of Descent

The last of their big threats stands largely unharmed-- one of those massive, lumbering things. It had swung for Hua before, but she could take it. A different target and they might not be so lucky. Pistol retrieved and spun thrice around her finger for good measure, Kiana takes aim.

One bullet from the left, buried in its flank.

Another from its right, which disappears into the endless sky of stars beyond.

A third from above, right between its eyes

[0 energy] KIANA 9/10HP consumes 4 stacks of Descent and uses Searching Drifter, Answered (Time Flint) and hits BLAZING CHARIOT (-4HP) BLAZING CHARIOT 7.5/25HP 

The beast bellows, an angry noise that shakes the ground beneath it and offers the perfect target. A round into its throat for good measure, which cuts the cry to a rather abrubt end.

"Not much left of this one! Just watch for its feet-"

‎ ‎ which, if her teammates weren't getting bruised and battered every second, would be much easier to accomplish. upon regaining her energy and exacting her retribution on the strange blue scythe-wielder, the small fairy allows kiana to take the initiative and retreats back towards the flamed woman, puffing her cheeks into a pout as she grumbles.

‎ ‎ ❝ ‎fu huaaaa, ❞ ‎ she whined, gesturing madly at the burns which had begun to scar along the woman's hands. ‎ ‎ ❝ paimon's grateful and all but don't you think that fighting style of yours needs a little adjusting? if this keeps up, paimon's going to start calling you 'bang snaps!' ❞ ‎

PAIMON rolls 5 energy. [1 energy] PAIMON 9/10HP uses Traveler's Bodyguard on FU HUA. FU HUA 4/4SP. [3 energy] PAIMON 9/10HP uses Emergency Food. FU HUA 6.5/10HP.

‎ ‎ with a stroke of her polearm, she tore the space above them like fabric, revealing glimpses of an unseen starry midnight world, letting the red bean mooncake she'd stashed away this morning falls into her palm.

‎ ‎ ❝ scarf this down, ❞ ‎ she demanded, shoving the snack into fu hua's hands. with that said, she flutters away, sparing one last glance to conjure up another pale blue barrier to envelope her teammate, warning, ‎ ❝ and don't forget to be more carefu⸻AH! ❞

[1 energy] PAIMON 9/10HP uses Floating Companion and hits KNIGHT (Roll 1d20 = 13, -1.5HP) KNIGHT 5.5/21HP. (Roll: 1d2 = 1) PAIMON dodges KNIGHT's counterattack! ‎

‎ ‎ of course, there are penalties for both prattling in the thick of battle and failing to pay attention to where one is flying. one of the monsters, an almost alien-like creature upon horseback, had snuck up upon the small fairy, huffing in indignation. the swipe of paimon's staff cut before she'd even realized what she had done, and with a squeal rolled back into her safe haven of stars.

‎ ‎ with a burst of glittering starlight, she reappeared further behind the team, panting for breath and clutching onto the hilt of her weapon for dear life. ‎ ❝ c-careful, like that. ❞ ‎

"Mei, are you alr- huh?" 

There's no Mei here. No shy boy or rude one either. Brows furrow-- she doesn't recognize any of these people. There's a girl with her blade drawn before a Honkai beast, ( a Honkai beast??? ) a little floating one, and... "Fu Hua?"

Pushing herself to stand, Kiana surveys the situation beyond her new allies. These are familar faces, though not exactly comforting ones. A whistle underbreath. No time to waste, then.

KIANA rolls 5 energy. [2 energy] KIANA 10/10HP uses Deadly Finality, Surmounted and hits all enemies. -1HP  KNIGHT 20/21HP, BLAZING CHARIOT 24/25HP, RANGER 17/18HP, FROST GUISARMIER 20/22HP KIANA gains 2 stacks of Descent

Finality leaps skyward, arms outstretched. There's no moon here, but she carries it with her in unfurling wings, dragging it from sky to earth as she comes crashing back to the ground. The arena's stone floor cracks beneath the force, becoming an uneven sea of jagged edges. 

[1 energy] KIANA 10/10HP uses Charged Attack and switches from Time Flint to Moon Blade

Steel cools the heat that burns beneath her skin as her gaze alights upon the scythe wielder's open back. Past its shoulder she can see the face of its challenger-- determination bright in the eyes behind her blade-- and Kiana smiles to herself. "Hey, incoming!"

[1 energy] KIANA 10/10HP uses Supreme Blade, Reforged and misses FROST GUISARMIER (Roll 1d20 = 2, -0HP) FROST GUISARMIER 20/22HP counterattacks with Sickle and misses KIANA. (Roll 1d20 = 3, -0HP) KIANA gains 1 stack of Descent

In what is supposed to be a really cool display of teamwork, she leaps forward to thrust her own sword clean through the enemy. Maybe ( evidently ) announcing herself had been a stupid choice, as the monster's head swivels and it feints out of the way just in time to leave Kiana stumbling from the momentum of her own attack. Tongue clicking on the roof of her mouth ( and cheeks warming in embarrassment ) she skids to a halt.

"Uh... let's try that one again."

[1 energy] KIANA 10/10HP uses Supreme Blade, Reforged and hits FROST GUISARMIER (Roll 1d20 = 18, -1.5HP) FROST GUISARMIER 19.5/22HP. FROST GUISARMIER 19/5/22HP counterattacks with Sickle and hits KIANA. (Roll 1d20 = 19, -1HP) KIANA 9/10HP KIANA gains 1 stack of Descent

It's definitely not as cool this time as it was supposed to be, but the end of her sword finds purchase in frostbitten skin and drags through it until a clean gash has been left in its wake. Thank god Honkai don't bleed. "Ow-"

She does, though. The scythe bites into her side, scoring an ugly tear in her jacket and the flesh beneath it. Cold cauterizes the wound just as it forms, only for ice to be melted away by her own body heat hardly a heartbeat after.

[0 energy] KIANA 9/10HP consumes 4 stacks of Descent and uses Searching Drifter, Answered (Moon Blade) and hits all enemies. -3HP KNIGHT 17/21HP, BLAZING CHARIOT 21/25HP, RANGER 14/18HP, FROST GUISARMIER 16.5/22HP   

The space before her becomes like glass for a moment, frozen just long enough that she can swing her blade through it and watch where it cracks and shatters. The Honkai beasts wail and groan as Kiana sheathes her weapon.

      ‎  excuse her language but it's all frankly hogwash. how can she be expected to "enjoy the present" if the present could be anything else? this could have been her enjoying her favorite delicious, fresh-out-of-the-oven sweet madame at a good hunter's table. or the soft, warm sunlight caressing her skin as she tucks into her bed for a peaceful sleep. anything other than a second wave of monsters are you FOR REAL RIGHT NOW⸻!

      ‎  ❝ um, yes, thank you for saving us, miss. ❞ ‎ lips press into a thin line, the beginning of a whine creeping into her throat as she eyes the strange creatures, but manages to swallow it down. even fontaine's resident diva, furina, wasn't losing her cool about the situation ( well, she is screaming higher than a opera singer but paimon's in no position to judge ), and she certainly didn't want to appear weak in front of the woman slinging flames everywhere. fu hua, huh? a liyueren name if she's ever heard of one, but nothing about her attire suggests any particular affiliation. just what was happening here?

      ‎  ❝ you can call me kiana. ❞ ‎ spoken prematurely, it seems, for a moon-white ponytail arrives, the girl's smile carefree and undisturbed. strange doors, strange monsters, strange girls, suppose just anything happens in the abyss these days.

      ‎  ❝ paimon's paimon and⸻ ❞ ‎ her usual introduction cuts short as she realizes the traveler obviously isn't by her side. which is fine, it's fine, she's completely fine about it. ignoring the dread clawing at her insides, she pivots, ‎ ❝ you should be more careful! ❞ ‎

PAIMON rolls 4 energy. [1 energy] PAIMON 10/10HP uses Traveler's Bodyguard on KIANA. KIANA 4SP.

[3 energy] PAIMON 10/10HP uses Charged Attack and hits FROST GUISARMIER (Roll 1d20 = 16, -1.5HP) FROST GUISARMIER 15/22HP.

      ‎  with a curtain of stars to veil the newcomer, the fairy darts through the chamber and raises her polearm high, striking one of the monsters directly on the forehead. her favorite move! she watches it topple back, hissing and groaning as constellations wrap around it's slender body.

(Roll 1d5 = 3, Imprisonment fails.) (Roll 1d2 = 2, Dodge fails.) FROST GUISARMIER 15/22HP counterattacks and hits PAIMON (Roll 1d20 = 10, -1HP) PAIMON 9/10HP.

unfortunately, her second attempt to cage a monster fails omce avain, with the shackles snapping and shattering into brilliant stardust. unlike the second time, however, this beast is faster, swinging the scythe hilt firmly into her chest and sending her skidding across the floor.

      ‎  ❝ paimon's s'okay," she mutters weakly from the ground, shakily raising a thumbs up. nothing fatal but she can feel her pride begin to bruise. ‎ ❝ just, ugh… paimon's going to stay down for a bit. someone else can take the next move. ❞ ‎

Reaching for that blue shirt, all she can grasp is the collar. Everything slows, it always slows down. That deep, navy coat, she just needs to be a little faster. Faster... Shining talons curl in the face of annihilation, throwing the girl to the side as the blast envelopes her, swallows her, only to be spat back out, smoke trailing off a burnt body.

Even fire can still scorch a Phoenix.

Skipping like a rock across the lake that is the floor, her back slams into a column, sending a jolt through the Phoenix's body. Sharpness, then paralysis, unable to move. Shoulders slink down, breathing restricted, a faint grunt trying to muster the strength to get back up. Blunt-force trauma would be a new way to go, though... Stiffness hinders her rise.

A sharp inhale again, shaking off such an impact a bit slower than she'd prefer to admit.

FU HUA rolls 3 Energy.

Definitely not as incendiary as the initial entrance, but that doesn't stop the kindling flame. A steadier approach, as the current squabble is… quite sad, truly. Embers burn away at pained knuckles.

[2 Energy] FU HUA uses Awaiting Dawn in the Long Night on AUTOMATON BEETLE A. (-2HP). AUTOMATON BEETLE A 1.5/19HP AUTOMATON BEETLE A cannot counterattack. [1 Energy] FU HUA uses Normal Attack on AUTOMATON BEETLE A. (Roll 1d20 =13, -1HP). AUTOMATON BEETLE A cannot counterattack. AUTOMATON BEETLE A 0.5/19HP

Even through pain, the Empyrean's fist sings. Uppercutting the robot and making it stumble, just to plant another fist right into the top light it had. This damn thing didn't wanna die though.

"C'mon, let's get you up..." Voice low, it's clear that the pain weighs each movement down. Taking the stranger's palm, it's an easy lift. She'd kneel over with hands finding purchase on her own knees. Soft panting, then a tired chuckle. "That hurt a lot more than I wanna admit..." that same, impossibly intense gaze finds the last two robots.

"I don't wanna take another explosion. You think they're gonna explode again? I really don't wanna take another explosion." Even while those unforgiving eyes lurk back and forth between their opponents, warmth can be found in the drained smile. As quickly as it was there, it was gone, still focusing on the objective. Like she reminded herself not to get too confident, not after the past 5 minutes.

Automaton Spider A is defeated! (Self-Exploding Module. (Roll 1d20 = 14) Hits Paimon! PAIMON 8/10HP. Automaton Spider B is defeated! (Self-Exploding Module triggers!) (Roll 1d20 = 20) Crits Paimon! PAIMON 4/10HP.

      ‎  BOOM. all it takes is one poorly timed flight for paimon to be blown away like a cannon ball into the sky, the impact sending her careening across the floor, followed by another far greater explosion that rocks her body like a thunderclap. ears ring and pain lances along the back of her head as the world around her becomes a swirl of colors and sound.

      ‎  with nothing else to do, she sharply gasps, "jerks," as she lies clutching her throbbing side. she could've turned her into a paimon pancake! although the insult does little heal her wounds, the sheer indignity outweighs her agony by tenfold. that hurt! those stupid robots! that hurt! that hurt! that hurt!

PAIMON rolls 5 energy! [1 energy] PAIMON 4/10HP uses Traveler's Bodyguard on FU HUA. FU HUA 2/2SP.

      ‎  ❝ it's okay, miss, paimon's got this, ❞ ‎ as the fairy rises to her feet, the words do not flow naturally as she had hoped, instead slurred like an out of tune song. she perseveres, however, gifting the flame-woman a shield as she floats onwards to the remaining mekhas.

[1 energy] PAIMON 4/10HP uses Floating Companion and hits AUTOMATON BEETLE B. (Roll 1d20 = 18) AUTOMATON BEETLE B 6/19HP. AUTOMATON BEETLE B cannot counterattack. [1 energy] PAIMON 4/10HP uses Floating Companion and hits AUTOMATON BEETLE A. (Roll 1d20 = 14) AUTOMATON BEETLE A 0/19HP. Automaton Beetle A is defeated! [1 energy] PAIMON 4/10HP uses Floating Companion and hits AUTOMATON BEETLE B. (Roll 1d20 = 4) AUTOMATON BEETLE B 5.5/19HP. AUTOMATON BEETLE B cannot counterattack. [1 energy] PAIMON 4/10HP uses Floating Companion and misses AUTOMATON BEETLE B. (Roll 1d20 = 1) AUTOMATON BEETLE B 5.5/19HP. AUTOMATON BEETLE B cannot counterattack.

      ‎cursing as she lifts her polearm, she repeatedly whacks the idiotic robots, reducing the weakest into scrap metal. steam and smoke rise in plumes where she strikes them but she continues the massacre, arms tiring with each overhead swing. she exhales as her final attacks misses, and glides down to the floor like a leaf next to the fallen, shattered mechanical components. breaths come slow and labored now, the exertion leaving her exhausted.

      ‎okay, maybe she doesn't have this.

      ‎  ❝ abyss...? ❞ ‎ face scrunched in confusion as the fairy glides further down into the room, surveying every inch for a hint of something amiss, anything that might hint at where she is or why she was brought there. she was accustomed with the hellscape, clinging tight to the traveler's clothes when they first discovered the island and having read further about it from the comfort of a library, but she had long since abandoned the idea of joining the party in battling monsters. her combat strength is only a recent skill, and as she ducks back from the assortment of mechanical monsters whirring dangerously about the circular chamber, she realizes she'd still rather be doing anything else right now.

      ‎  ❝ f-furina! ❞ ‎ nervously collecting her polearm from a pocket of stars, the little fairy then waves at the familiar sight of a blue tophat crowned in jewels. among her are two strangers: a golden flame woman adorned in armour and a mysterious sword-wielding violet woman paimon swears she's seen somewhere before but doesn't risk further investigation. her focus must be on the enemies; after all, the only thing worse than being in the abyss is dying in it. she gestures to them wildly, ‎ ❝ we need to make these suckers go boom, crash, pow as soon as possible, okay? here, take this! ❞

PAIMON rolls 5 energy. [1 energy] PAIMON 10/10HP uses Traveler's Bodyguard on FURINA. FURINA 2/2SP

‎ presenting the gift of a ( admittedly dinky ) pale blue shield flickering with stars, the little fairy floats off, weaving through the air to deliver a blow against one of the odd-looking mechas.

[3 energy] PAIMON 10/10HP uses Charged Attack and hits AUTOMATON HOUND. (Roll 1d20 = 8) AUTOMATON HOUND 13.5/15HP. (Roll 1d5 = 3, Imprisonment fails.) (Roll: 1d2 = 1) PAIMON dodges AUTOMATON HOUND

      ‎  unfortunately, she moves with neither grace or flourish as she loudly whacks the robot's side, followed by a nervous giggle as she evades it's incoming blow. chains of constellations wrap around its metal form, but as she makes a brave swing and fails her next blow, her attempts to cage the opponent shatter and crumble into dust.

      ‎  the little fairy all but grumbles. she said it once and she'll say it again⸻paimons were not build for combat!

‎ ‎ ‎ it's not the most clever riddle, to be sure, but the little fairy can't help it. as she lies thrashing in her heavy velvet sheets and a searing, scorching pain cuts through her skull once more, all she can think about is flinging herself into the nearest ocean and instantly dissolving into its waters. but even that would involve a tremendous amount of willpower, and she realizes with a frustrated whine that she can't even muster the strength to tear off her covers, let alone fly anywhere.

‎ ‎ ‎ ❛ paimon's going to bake here, ❜ ‎ she thought to herself miserably. ‎ ❛ she's going to bake in this death oven and turn into a delicious moon pie, devoured by a pigeon, and it'll be the travelers' fault because they HATE her and left her here to ROT. ❜

‎ ‎ ‎ it's not true in the slightest, she knows, but doesn't she deserve some melodrama for all her suffering? oh, paimon could see herself as the poor ingenue, weeping on stage alone, waiting for a great golden hero to rescue her from this flaming prison of cushions and blankets. alas, it would seemeth her destiny-eth was to remained chained to a bed for all eternity, forced to merely dream of being released from suffocating weight.

‎ ‎ ‎ ❝ as if that would ever happen, ❞ ‎ paimon muttered under her breath, kicking her feet against the blanket. between sputtering coughs, she vehemently swore, ‎ ❝ if tr-traveler thinks they can just leave paimon here then they've got another thing coming! paimon, escape dash! ❞

‎ ‎ ‎ with a twist of the covers and a great deal of effort, the little fairy managed to roll off the bed, unraveling as she went and falling unceremoniously onto the ground with a loud thud. she groaned aloud at the impact, stars exploding behind her eyes as the throbbing pain pulsed around her skull. a small price to pay for freedom, she reasoned as she continued to flounder on the floor, rolling and sliding across the dark wood like a member of the shuumatsuban. heh, once she got out of here, maybe ayato could hire her as a spy…

‎ ‎ ‎ unfortunately, paimon's dreams of grandeur were cut short by the sharp clicking of heels and the twist of a doorknob. the little fairy, delirious from fever and exhaustion, vision spinning with dark blotches and her head throbbing, wheezed and sputtered as the guest finally unveiled herself.