#renascinem

"... You're not actually participating, are you? I thought we've done this multiple times already."

Dan Heng tries to avoid the topic of how this technically started with him (well actually, it started with Sampo. But also him) as he watches preparations for the next round of matches in the fight club and Dr. Dig's excited announcements make it hard for him to hear his own thoughts in some moments.

Both he and Caelus know, obviously, that no matter what he says, he'll accompany the Trailblazer if he insists. It's natural and clear to them both, and even if he sees some protesting as pretty much part of his duty related to being a killjoy the one sane guy on the Express, any insistence that he's not going and any you're on your own this time's are just him lying out of his tail.

He sighs.

"... Never mind. If you wanna go a round, we can go a round."

Snowswept StampCard 1(2)/5 | accepting

❛ Um.. yeah? I earned my title as One of the Greats through sweat and injuries. I don't want someone coming around snatching it up from me! ❜

Caelus explains in a partial tease- because he really does want to keep his name and position, even if just for the fun aspect of it, not actually like.. competitive ( if someone takes it, good on them! but he won't go down easy [ he just likes to fight sometimes, let out some built up Stellaron energy, you know? ] ). Yet it does nothing to stop the slightly-smug amused little grin that tugs at the corners of his mouth as he listens to the raven cave so quickly- and Caelus didn't even have to say anything! Double points!!

But.. that's not why Caelus really wants to participate- why he wants Dan Heng to participate with him. The real goal..? For them to just.. relax. Have fun, let loose, work up a sweat.. and just forget about all the other things that keep them up at night- the horrors they don't wish to speak of, and are far too intimately familiar with.

Hey- that's what they have each other for, right? ( And the other family members, of course. )

❛ Tell you what, if we win then I will buy you any souvenirs you want- and!! I'll even pay for your meals while we're at the festival. Sound like a deal? ❜

"Ah, Miss Furina. It has been a while since we last met."

The sight of a familiar face brings a light smile to Dan Heng's expression as he waves to her to grab her attention, approaching as he does. It would not do to shout at a museum, after all.

"I hope you've enjoyed your stay in Belobog so far... even in spite of the temperatures." He smiles faintly; Jarilo-VI's climate was indeed a far cry from the tropical resort that saw their first encounter, even if the city itself was not too bad thanks to its heating system. His gaze, then, wanders slightly off of her person, taking note of the exhibit behind her, showcasing some old technology from the Underworld.

"If you're interested in the history of this place, I could show you around... if I'm not imposing, of course. I've been here several times before, and I'm quite familiar with it at this point."

it's a small world after all. . .

THE MACHINERY OF BELOBOG LOOKS NOTHING　✧　like that of fontaine. they're both made of metal, and there is a longstanding tradition about both nations when it comes to their ingenuity, but that seems to be where the similarities begin and end. everything produced here was so. . . block-like ; for lack of a better word, it's the best way she can think to describe it without sounding too disparaging. the more she had learned about their history, the more she supposes it'd made sense. and yet, faced with a certain calamity of their own, the fontaine that'd grown under her steady hand had only become more flamboyant. like the dolorous ring of a great bell from far away and long ago, she can still hear the exact reason why.

you have inherited a doomed nation, so why not send it off in glory, with the most excellent of masquerades.

could two places give such different answers to the same question that it would come to light in their faces hundreds of years in the future? the news of their eventual end had never been kept from the people of jarilo-vi, she'd read——there was of course no way for it to be, with catastrophe coming so rapidly and spawning a bitter war of attrition against a landscape filled with monsters. by comparison, she supposes she'd had it easy. could the only reason be that they had never thought of it as something so final?

lost in her thoughts, furina would have missed the unexpected greeting from nearby if the surroundings weren't so quiet. head lifting, she turns and registers the young man, the dark hair, and the subdued smile——he's familiar, but she doesn't remember at once where they had met before, a feeling she is not unused to. was it on one of her sojourns lately into the world beyond the skies of teyvat? despite how often it happens, it's always somewhat unwieldy when she cannot completely recall someone who clearly recognizes her.

"then i have to thank you ; you're very kind to offer. to tell the truth, the cold here isn't so bad, though i have also been told that it does get much worse at other times of the year."

He doesn't know this lady well, but he does recall the face - they met briefly once, in Liyue, where they shared a prayer during the Lantern Rite. It would seem that she took the opportunity that presented itself to also see the world beyond their planet's sky barrier.

He wonders if seeing another type of such a barrier is what she had in mind when she came here.

"Could you imagine for yourself, living underground for years?" He asks her idly, looking up at the show of lights that the people of the Underworld used to put up to create an illusion of a starry sky. "Back when my companions and I visited Belobog for the first time, there was a major conflict between the citizens of this layer and of the surface, and for years, this was the only reality many here knew." He nods. "They have since resolved those issues... though some wounds continue to heal to this day."

#GHSnowswept2025 ー Robot Settlement

She had read of it from the newspapers, the conflict between the Overworld and the Underworld, the heroic deeds he and his companions have done for Belobog. No… even without the newspapers, Sara was sure to have learned about it sooner or later, anyway.

They were everywhere, after all, in the stories the Underworlders still told with such enthusiasm: A Trailblazer who bravely defended strangers against danger, of a big brother who would play hide and seek with the kids, a cheerful young woman whose cheerful voice could light up the whole of Boulder Town…

They were heroes. More than that, they were saviours who had managed to reshape their world.

And to think, for years until their arrival, this had been their life. Living under a sky of cold metal, with stars painstakingly crafted from lenses and lamplight, hung up to paint constellations only very few could name. Sara tried to imagine herself underneath such a cold starry night, and found that she couldn’t. She could hardly fathom the courage and strength it must have taken, to carry on living under such a harsh reality.

Her heart had always felt heavy from the moment she stepped into Belobog’s Underworld. Now it finally made sense why.

Sara could never imagine herself among these resilient people. Could never even imagine herself as one of their heroes who had set them free. How could she, when she had been the one to enforce such rigid, stifling rules amongst her people back at home? The heartless soldier who merely followed her orders. An oppressor, never the liberator.

Closing her eyes, Sara took the final step closer to the man, offering a cup of warm tea to him.

kiss roulette (6/8 collected) 4. a kiss to the top of the head

Of course it was another nightmare. After Penacony, when is it not? Doesn't help that his exhaustion is at an all time high, likely thanks to obtaining a third aeon's blessing, and the entire.. Trailblazer Legacy thing. It has left his brain on loop every few days or so since he first donned the hat. But, that's a story for another time. Right now, all Caelus really wants is some company, and his first instinct is to go to Dan Heng.. Caelus has come across Dan Heng having his own share of night time terrors, so it isn't entirely surprising that he's the first one the silver thinks of. Plus, it makes it easier to seek help when someone can relate to the struggle ( one of the rare few things Caelus can actually have in common with his living family members ), then he doesn't have to explain as much either. Sometimes it is nice to simply sit in silence, let the tension fade and then quietly ignore it.

Not entirely the best way to deal with trauma, but- Caelus is distracted from his thoughts at an unfortunately familiar sound as he gets closer to the Archives. It seems he wasn't the only one having a bad night. Once the door opens Caelus quietly steps inside, eyes scanning around in the dark for the person he was looking for. There is the light glow of the floor, providing a faint blue hue along the walls as the boy takes step after careful step closer to where he estimates where the couple of steps were at.

The tip of his toe bumps into the incline of the first step, the silver gingerly lifts his foot, easily followed by the other, until he's at the top and awkwardly shuffles his way over to the bedroll where he knows his companion to be. There Dan Heng is, laying on his side, completely unaware of Caelus' presence as he groans and mumbles something unintelligible.

It's always an uncomfortable feeling in his chest watching someone suffer through something yet being unable to do anything to help. Well.. he should try, at the very least.

❛ Dan Heng..? Dan Heng. ❜

The lad tries to call for his friend quietly, lightly grabbing onto the raven's shoulder before giving it a small shake. No response. Caelus' frown tugs at his mouth while his brows pinch together with his growing concern. The silver gets down on to his knees before giving a more firm push at the man's arm, once more calling his name though a tad louder ( almost sounding desperate ).

It's almost hard to tell if it worked or not, as he can't entirely see Dan Heng's face. But if the sounds the man letting out getting quieter was anything to go by, he's at least making progress. So, Caelus repeats the gesture of rattling Dan Heng's arm a smidge gentler, even his voice lowering so he doesn't accidentally startle the man now that Caelus has seemingly started to pull him out of it.

He hears his friend's breathing remain heavy and uneven, but he is able to see teal-ish jade eyes looking up at him, likely confused and trying to reorient himself. Caelus offers a sympathetic smile before moving his hand down to hold Dan Heng's while he waits for the man to process, briefly squeezing his hand in an attempt to comfort him.

❛ You too, huh? ❜

Caelus takes a few moments to contemplate what he should do next. He of course isn't going to just leave now that he woke the poor guy up, even if he was trying to help Dan Heng out. Plus, the silver had come here seeking comfort himself, so he has no desire to leave in the slightest.

Now, Caelus knows not everyone is as touchy-feely as him, so he tries his best to restrain himself when he can. However, the sight of the shackling prison as a background, an uneasy look on a companion's face, and his hand being taken hold of without him having to initiate the gesture makes him feel at least a little more confident that what he's about to do isn't going to be an undesirable act.

Caelus shoots his knees forward before he lays down on his side, facing his companion as he reaches to adjust the covers to better cover the two of them awkwardly. Then, he shimmies himself up enough to where he can gently pull his friend close, making sure Dan Heng's head is tucked under Caelus' chin before moving an arm around the archivist's shoulder before using the other to comb carefully through the dark locks.

That probably would have been sufficient enough, but a wave of affection and worry crashes over him, making him feel as if he hadn't done enough yet to be helpful to his best friend. Caelus just cares so much for the man now nestled against his chest, just as he cares so deeply for every one of his Express family members. He doesn't ponder too long about it before giving a tender press of warm lips against black hair as a feeling of completion settles in his gut.

❛ Don't worry- I got you. ❜

Sending off lanterns wasn't much of a tradition in the Luofu, if only because it wasn't exactly practical - or safe, for that matter - with starskiffs flying around. To commemorate those who were lost, the Alliance also released floating things to the sky, except they were, well... starskiffs.

Such is life. Where you gain one opportunity, another closes off.

Dan Heng can be found standing by one of the teahouses, silently staring off into the distance at the myriads of colorful lanterns slowly drifting off into the unknown. He doesn't immediately notice that someone has approached him, only stirring when he catches the hint of moment beside him.

It's unlike him to let himself get distracted like that.

"General," he greets softly, with a faint smile. "I didn't know you were also here."

Catching one of The Nameless, especially one he was most familiar with, was certainly a surprise. "Dan Heng," he would greet openly. His stride does not change even as he finds Dan Heng's attention. A wave to catch his gaze, then a nod once he found himself beside the young man.

"Yes, well, it is important to build relations and to indulge in other cultures, and what have you," a dismissive wave not too worried about the why of it all. It was an excuse, after all.

His eyes would gaze upwards, a gentle grin as lanterns rose above the stone harbor.

"Is it not beautiful? These lanterns commemorate so many things, yet once they get high enough into the sky, they all look the same. Desires of good graces or letting go of the sins of the past, they all become the same hope after a while, do they not?" A shrug, his gaze shifting back to Dan Heng again.

The serpentine animals have attracted quite a lot of attention from visitors young and old alike. With this year having been dedicated to them, some come to simply pet and play with the snakes, while others, more devoted, wish to offer them their prayers and blessings.

For Dan Heng's part, he was simply curious, really. It was little more than one of the attractions prepared in Liyue for the celebration, and he wanted to check it out. It has proven quite entertaining, though; multiple snakes approached him, almost as though they sensed a kindred soul, and wrapped themselves around his arms.

As a young lady dressed in purple comes closer, however, a yellow snake resting around his right and stretches out its neck towards her. With a hint of amusement on his face, Dan Heng huffs quietly before stretching out his arm, to allow the animal to move towards the newcomer and wrap itself around her shoulder in turn.

"They're quite friendly," is all he says.

While most of Liyue is full of cheer and joy of celebration for this occasion, the place for burning incense in the memory of the departed is somewhat secluded from the rest of the festivities, more solemn and quiet, to allow a peaceful prayer for those whose hearts need it.

Though Dan Heng has no one in particular whom he mourns at this time, he does nevertheless take the moment to visit the stall and participate in the rite, taking this opportunity to reminisce about everything he had gone through, and all that which he lost and gained.

Seeing someone else approaching - a tall lady with a tengu mask attached to the side of her head - he offers only a light, quiet nod, before taking a step off to the side to allow her whatever space she may need.

⁀➴ LANTERN RITE 2025 !

Just as the kind stranger greets her with a nod, Sara returns one of her own in gratitude as she takes her place by his side. From her person, she extracts five thin sticks of incense and lights them at once with fire, holding them out, bowing once, twice, thrice, before finally rooting them into the incense burner before them.

In Inazuma, incense sticks are mostly lit only during funeral rites and Obon, both to pray for the deceased’s coming and going. Sara, too, would always have no one in particular whom she could mourn for during the summer festival. Although an adopted daughter of the Kujou Clan, she knew enough not to act as though the clan’s deceased were truly one of her own and knew little to none of her true family—whether they were alive or deceased, whether they even existed—to welcome their spirit’s arrival with horses sculpted from cucumbers and bid them farewell with cows made of eggplant.

But she had lit enough incense at funerals to know there were still those whom she could pay respects to. For those who fell during the rebellion, be they members of the Tenryou Commission, the Watatsumi Army, or vision holders who stood against them during the Vision Hunt Decree, Sara prayed, her head lowered and her eyes shut.

She remembers every one of their name—ridiculous of a notion it may be—because she thinks it’s only by remembering them that she can begin to atone for her sins. She prays for her men, thanks them for their service, and whispers an apology for having failed to protect them. She commends those of the Watatsumi Army for fighting for what they believed was right, and for standing firmly on their ground until the bitter end. And…

She bows her head further as she thinks of the vision holders, hoping that at least, in the life beyond, they have found their aspirations once more.

A quiet sigh leaves her when she is done, her heart squeezing bitterly from the memory, yet somehow lighter than before. She watches in silence as the incense smoke curls ever upward, hoping that it will carry her prayers to all those she has wronged. That it may soothe their spirits, and remind them that she shall forever remember them and their sacrifices.

She pauses just as she turns to make her leave, and gives the man beside her a final, respectful bow. His silent presence had been a comfort—different from those who would often watch over her in Inazuma’s shrines.

Obscure Sorrows - Accepting

WAKING FROM THE PENACONY DREAM HAS BEEN UNWELCOME for several reasons. As much as Welt adores the Nameless of the Astral Express, they can never be a replacement for his friends and family in Sol, not when the ghosts of the past have left him shaken in ways he cannot begin to admit. Seeing Himeko, Sirin and Joyce alive and well after so long has left him with a homesickness that nothing can cure, even if he knows that by waking he has once more had to bury them six feet below the ground.

He's taken to wandering the halls at night, unwilling to allow himself to sleep in an attempt to mimic humanity, lest he find himself burying them come the morn once more. It's become harder and harder for him to meet Himeko's eyes in the wake of the Dreamscape, unable to look past the ghost of the past that clung to her shoulders, demanding his attention. It's part of the reason he's so willing to separate from the Nameless for a time, traveling to respond to the director's invitation before them, if only to burn a pyre high into the night in remembrance of the departed.

It's a deep and profound sorrow within him, to climb high beneath the stars and loosen the grip on all that grief and rage he'd barely contained for the past few months. Its amusing to the Herrscher in a way, to see himself renege on every lesson passed onto Bronya in a single split second as snow finds itself pulled and twisted until only frozen soil remained in the wake of the black hole that had faded out of existence just as fast as it'd entered the world.