BUTTERFLY DREAM.

"... i cannot claim to have had much opportunity to find enjoyment within snowy regions i fear." most such endeavours amounted to battle or business after all. perhaps another aspect to add to the retirement bucket list. "furthermore, i fear my knowledge centres more around the latter areas than the former. historical knowledge of snow covered regions bear no relevance in the practical execution of play. to think that the snow is capable of maintaining shape even without the support of a base. most intiguing."

“But there’s support.” she could tease him for his manners but instead, she chooses a gentler approach. to enjoy life could mean different for one than another, and Hu Tao rarely agrees with opinions that are against her views, it still never stops her from doing what she can. “Imagine like it Liyue Harbor, it stands strong because of all the people that came together. Snow is not that different from rock.”

"forgive me my hastiness, director hu. i fear i have not oft had the chance to indulge in such leeway. this lack of knowledge is an error in my expertise, so by all means enlighten me as to the art of traditional snowman construction."

“Hey, Zhongli... I got a question.” ignorance is bliss, even if they are far away from Liyue after all. “Have you ever had fun in doing this before? I’m no expert but surely, you know you can use your hands for this. Not everything needs pillars or giant rocks.”

Paimon out! she's not blowing any secrets.

“I see, I see! I had heard about them but how curious you are ignoring the other numbers... and focusing a lot on a specific Archon. Could it be you are hiding something? Wonder what could it be... that reminds me, did you hear Zhongli is around?”

"for building a snowman, i presume an adequate foundation is necessary. should this suffice?"

“I believe it would if we were in Snezhnaya. Well, then how about we make one in the more so-called traditional way? And without any pillars.”

sorry guys, it's bad news — they said no more Archon Wars".

“Oh? That would imply there are Archons in this land? How interesting.”

"the mortals here are still as confusing as before with their strange terms..." no, he doesn't know what a babygirl is. do not enlighten him.

“Strange terms are all abound, will you accept them as part of us?” an attempt of poetry but the teasing is very much genuine.

" Wouldn't Link also be 'babygirl' ...?"

“Is this Link the definition of all that everyone is saying?” Hu Tao whispers, intent unclear apart from the mischievous glint in her eyes.

@spiritsbloom

“But since this is no obligation or duty, how about friendship? I promise to not make you eat anything that will upset your stomach. I can always bring it to a certain friend of mine. She can devour anything you give her before you can blink.”

❝ Who said anything about spirits here? Those things are actual creatures, you know. ❞ at least from his own experiences with no other reason to believe otherwise. ❝ My hypothesis is they simply think Mehrak is of their kind given its mechanical nature. ❞ crossing his arms, he at least sets that down, far from gulliable in this capacity. ❝ Well, I guess today isn't so bad, given everything. It seems yours is going swimmingly. ❞

“And how do you know they are not in the wrong? Looks can be deceiving.” no offense to her consultant but blind she is not. her eyes shine before she returns the answer with a gentle laugh. “What about your friend? I’ve never seen one as such before.“ she leans down to the briefcase, the smile returning with softer intentions. “Your name is Mehrak, right?”

❝ The creatures here are unique and don't seem harmless, but... should I be worried they seem to believe Mehrak as one of their own? ❞ not far off, a gaggle of boombirds seem far too enthralled with the briefcase, seeming all too delighted at the attention with a little happy face lighting up across its surface...

“I heard that the spirits here can do many great and terrifying things~ Careful or you’ll be the next!” her devilish grin swiftly disappears into a more cheerful one at the curious briefcase. she strolls without a single care and waves a hand to it and the boombirds. “Oh! Hi, how are you today?”

「 I agree. 」 that much she can agree on, returning the smile briefly, especially in light of how open she seems on the topic. 「 It's why I wanted to make sure she was okay when I realized she was back. But I guess that only made things worse for the ones still here, didn't it... 」

silence is not a word commonly associated with Hu Tao, she likes to express her in vivid colors and sounds. too loud, too blunt but people forget she never reacted with candor to her grandfather’s death. she reacts in the same way, eyes thoughtful to what the stranger is telling her. “Not everyone is comfortable with what they do not understand. It is a difference in perspective.”

"I suppose so; this world needs both humans and non humans." Still, something about this woman's words was rubbing her the wrong way.

“Of course it needs more for that to happen, not only people meeting half-way but spirits too.” her smile turns more mischievous, almost humored. “A challenge, you can say. Not everyone will accept it.”

"There are many strange individuals here, and just as many strange youkai." Or were they even youkai?

“Strange individuals will always exist. Life would be dull if it was followed only by the rules.”

「 Are most people here scared of spirits? 」 she asks this innocently enough. though the expression on her face betrays that something, no matter how unfortunate, from earlier seems to have prompted this question...

“Unfortunately, it appears so. I find it rather unfair, spirits deserve if not more respect than the living.” she has always been fond of the former, but the years have taught her that not everyone is as easy-minded.