#fuluo

a fun little thing mixing two rituals together

You make a pinkie promise, you keep it all your life.

O Lady Archon! heed this song of mine:

You break a pinkie promise, I throw you on the ice.

Of judgment, contracts, human and divine.

The cold will kill the pinkie that once betrayed your friend.

The scales of justice tilt towards its god

The frost will freeze your tongue off so you never lie again.

Whose fairness waits for audience applause.

-

I think this is the most “actor who worships Rex Lapis and begrudgingly acknowledges Furina’s status” thing I’ve ever written for this fic

To the glory of that everlasting audience! To the actor’s agreement! To the contract signed by all who wish to partake in the spectacle! Burning her heart up in an offering through gritted teeth, she composes words in ecstatic praise for the Hydro Archon:

-

“surely she can’t get any worse than that” and she did (affectionate)

exactly what that lead is, I’ve yet to figure out but the vibe is there

flipping through Chasca and Childe voicelines helped too lmao

A thrilling satisfaction runs through her despite the Hydro Archon’s overbearing presense. There’s no mistake: the burn of the light locked onto a lead.

-

wrote this a while ago as an exercise (?)

Dionie: A god who holds dominion over an ideal… No, rather, I stake the claim that it is us who shape the ideal you embody. Lady Furina, you conduct yourself in the way you do… because that’s the type of god you think Fontainians want you to be, isn’t it?!

Furina: ………

Dionie: And so, the scales unanimously tip one way… and it’s an unimaginable task to tip it back. We cannot go back anymore.

Dionie: Should the day come that the God of Justice stands on trial before her people… Focalors, what is… divinity, to you?

-

Fuluo’s monologue as reverse engineered from Dionie’s (other) monologue

psychological torment, I guess

She circles the dark box room, a serpent slithering, her smile and honey-sick voice tainting her facade of peace. The spotlight burns, the ground lit on flameless fire. Dionie feels her gaze from every angle in the room: torment in stillness, her body rejecting her bidding. The click of the Director’s heels against the floor drip like water into her ears without respite. No physical evidence but the ghost that haunts the flesh of her chest, stealing heat from her feet and air from her lungs.

A confusing torment with no-touch venom.

“A name at stake in ecstasy, and madness, ritual company.”

has: toxic dynamics in religion

DIONIE remains some distance away from the overcrowded desk—and locks eyes with her sole audience.

DIONIE: Then tell me, Lady Furina… why should we keep faith in that so-called justice if our Archon forbids criticism of herself?

A name at stake in ecstasy and madness, ritual company.

Theatric justice, sacred rites shall deconstruct the blinded light.

“The actor belongs to the audience—but only during performance. Otherwise, you’re still part of the troupe, yes?”

“Professional as always, Lady Furina.” Dionie smiles to herself. “But no. Our troupe was lucky to invite you as a consultant for that production, and yet we couldn’t meet your standards for that… life-sized golden fountain flowing with iridescent ichor—an effect that could be achieved ‘by adorning the bottom with Lumitoile’, thank you for your advice.” (She’s very well-spoken for a Liyue person, Furina notes. The troupe taught her well.) “On behalf of our director, I am to deliver an apology for the way we treated you.”

[insert more mockery as “apology”]

—

This bit might not be included but it was fun to write

Director: So, a fountain as the centrepiece for act 3. That’ll be easy; virtually every Fontainian troupe has one.

Furina: Hm? Did you think I meant just any store-bought prop fountain?

Director: So long as the character’s emotions come through, I’m not too concerned about the exact apperance of the—

Furina: Wrong! Wrong, wrong, wrong! This is the Court of Fontaine! The people yearn for drama, and in a city where you could pass the Fountain of Lucine everyday, you’ll need a truly dazzling fountain to capture your audience’s attention, hehe. My request is simple: construct a life-sized golden fontain for the protagonist to gaze upon, flowing with iridescent ichor to really emphasize the people’s reverence towards it typical of our time. You could achieve the glowing effect by adorning the bottom with Lumitoile.