Serena

"The sea cradles the moon in slumber, and ships ride the waves home." When you've sailed long enough, you'd come to realize that the sea isn't always tempestuous at night.

The wind shatters the moon's reflection in the water, carrying soft ripples to whisper in my ear, as if sharing endless secrets...

You want to hear what the sea breeze confided in me? Very well, come closer, and I'll whisper it to you.

Mob, having already basically made peace with the fact that koyama and sakurai have worked hard to change bc of the world domination arc and how they went and fetched him when he was in a 100% emotional state and took him to reigen: "oh hey. It's you two."

Ritsu, known for not letting go of anything ever in his life, having last seen them get their asses handed to them by shimazaki: 😶

koyama and sakurai, very much remembering how violent mob was when beating up those random claw members in the middle of downtown and then him later taking on the person they had previously considered the most powerful esper in the world and winning: 😶

Koyama, finally putting together just how close he came to being in real mortal danger that one time in the alley: "buy.... buy one, get one..."

Mob: "i only want one."

Koyama: "oh, then--50% off"

Ritsu: "there's no signage for the sale."

Sakurai: "on the house."

Ritsu: "i don't think it is."

Koyama fishes 1000yen from his pocket and sets it on the counter: "my treat."

Mob is perfectly happy not questioning this. He takes his stuff and leaves.

Sakurai: "have a good day."

And then right by the door Ritsu lingers where he knows they can see him and spends a moment staring intensely at the garbage can that's over there like he's deeply considering throwing his snack away. As if the whole interaction was contrived to make both former claw members uncomfortae and get koyama to pay.

But he's, like, what? 12? That would be silly!

Mob, already somewhere outside, calls for him--and Ritsu's eyes whip-crack snap to the former claw members. He smiles his most politest boy smile. It doesn't match the unmistakable chill in the atmosphere. It's like the moment right before a jumpscare you know is coming--and then he follows his brother out of the store.

Sorry to keep you waiting, my dear Archon 🍃

RUNNING IN LAST MINUTE BUT HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAHIDA!

Just nahida and her little aranara below the cut:

was trapped in her own cage for 5 centuries by her own people

struggled with self-esteem, believing that she could never compare to rukkhadevata

was neglected on her own birthday

yet despite the horrible mistreatment she got from the sages, she continued to help the people of sumeru from the inside out

comforted dunyardzad in her most desperate and dire most in need

also comforted exiled scholars who have lost sanity in the desert

never stopped trying to find a way to save irminsul and find a cure for elezar

indirectly helped the traveler and paimon get out of the weird dream time loop

guided setaria to find her true purpose and realize there's a far better job and life for her than just being the sages' secretary

even though she was incapacitated by the sages and dottore, she still managed to help the traveler in the desert archon quest by protecting them, their friends, and isak through isak's "grandpa"

was forced to delete her role model, rukkadevata from existence to save irminsul and teyvat, and forgetting her entirely

successfully lied and manipulated dottore into deleting all of his clones in exchange for dishing out one of the most important pieces of lore in teyvat (i don't remeber this part but i believe she did this by blatantly threatenting dottore that she would awaken the heavenly principles via destroying ei's gnosis.)

gave scara another chance in life to redeem for his mistakes and guided him to find a new purpose in life, recovering his memories even though he deleted himself from irminsul.

gave the children of the desert proper education for them to learn

actually gave the sages another chance by learning to be forest rangers even though they have mistreated her for the past 5 centuries

was the first archon ever to give the traveler and paimon actually useful information regarding the descenders and their sibling despite being born after the catacylsm

bonus!: saved the dendro sovereign, apep, from illness despite the sovereigns' known hatred for the archons

in conclusion, nahida is the best and i wish her the happiest of birthdays and a happy sabzeruz festival! 🥹🥳🎊😭

Wanderer finding people who care about him despite knowing every facet of his past like Nahida. Or despite his grouchy, straightforward personality like Sethos. And finding purpose and sense in his own existence one step at a time by attending the akademiya, by participating in sumerian festivals.

sumeru is his home guys!!