January Catch-All [OPEN!]

[pureyang]

🧙 WHO: Chongyun and YOU!
⚔️️ WHAT: January quests!
🕒 WHEN: January
🗺️ WHERE: All around
⚠️ WARNINGS: N/A, will be adjusted accordingly!

A - Ice Fishing
[Diving into an icy-cold lake on the coldest day of January seems, quite honestly, absolutely foolish. Most people in their right mind wouldn’t do so without several layers of protection, at the very least. But that’s not the case for everyone. For those who are working with him, a certain blue-haired exorcist seems to take the quest itself in stride, diving into the water with little more than some light swimwear on.]

[Many might think him mad, or at the very least at risk for hypothermia. But after diving into the water for a while, he eventually comes up, shaking his hair out and looking a little disappointed.]

I am sorry. It’s a little hard to see down there…

[As if that’s the biggest hurdle facing him, and not the biting cold. Really, he looks like he’s just out for a casual swim.]

B-1 - Gravestone-faced: Demon Slaying
[In terms of evil spirits, whatever happens to be stalking the Dusklight Forest seems to be a nasty one in particular. Ripping souls from those who show emotion… it’s a tragic fate, for sure. Good thing Chongyun has done so much practice on that very thing.]

[Chongyun heads forward, claymore in hand and a serious expression on his face. He will look to those he is on this mission with, and though he keeps his face steady, he tries to put as much comfort into his words as he can.]

Evil spirits such as this are definitely difficult to handle. We will have to be extra cautious. But do not be afraid if it attacks you; I’ll do everything in my power to ensure you are safe.

[OoC: Feel free to have your character’s weaknesses exposed here if you’d like, or I can make Chongyun’s exposed if you would prefer! We can also talk out specific details for this prompt if need be!]

B-2 - Gravestone-faced: Astral Projection
[As a cognitive mage, Chongyun is equipped to help those who have unfortunately had their souls torn from their bodies. Perhaps you were trying to fight the strange demon in the Dusklight Forest, only to fall at its attack. If that was the case, then any wayward souls might be able to see the ghostly projection of Chongyun, floating towards them.]

It seems you have also fallen victim… Are you lost? Come quickly. I can return you to your body.

Wildcard
[Got an idea you’d like to thread out? Feel free to PM me or hit me up at pocketnoivern]

Comments

a

[concierto]

[Venti is not in the water. Actually, he is on the side of the water bundled up in what someone who properly dresses in winter dresses in. His cloak wrapped around his shoulders and his thick scarf keeping his nose warm. He has to keep his vocal cords in good shape and cold air and water are not good for that.

As Chongyun emerges from the icy water Venti can only let out a small giggle and shake his head.]

My my...! You truly are the cryo archon in disguise, dear Chongyun.

[pureyang]

[They really are dressed differently, these two; Venti is bundled up in so many layers, while Chongyun could be dressed for a summer swim. But at Venti's little tease, Chongyun shakes his head a little sheepishly.]

Ah, if only that were the case... N-No disrespect to the cryo archon, of course.

[He pulls himself out of the water, doing his best to not splash too much, but Venti might need to watch out for any stray droplets.]

It really does feel like Dragonspine out here... Are you faring okay? You may use my sweater if you need.

[concierto]

Perhaps it's because those in Liyue are just built differently? Or is that just you?

[He giggles again although his comment is only a silly observation. He knows it's because even without a vision this boy is so cryo-aspected.]

But I'm alright so far! I've been to Dragonspine a few times myself in the past.

[Ahaha... a few times.............]

You won't see me in the water, though. Ehe.

[pureyang]

Probably just me. As I said before, congenial positivity is an extremely rare condition...

[Even if the people of Liyue were built differently than the people of Mondstadt, Chongyun was definitely an anomaly. He shivers as he grabs a towel and dries himself off, but he doesn't complain too much about the cold.]

A few times? Hmm... What business would a bard have visiting Dragonspine?

[He doesn't mean it in an accusatory way, but sometimes the way he says words comes out a little flat.]

[concierto]

[Yeah... That strange congenial positivity thing. Venti still thinks it sounds preposterous. Then again he's not the one to deal with cryo visions all that often. Or weird Liyue conditions.]

Oh, you know. The snow can hold many secrets ripe for storytelling. And what is it that you're doing in this frozen lake, anyhow?

[Casually dodges the question about Dragonspine...]

[pureyang]

[Chongyun gives Venti a searching look, not fully buying the story he’s given. But he relents, moving to answer the question asked of him.]

Oh, well, you see, I was on the hunt for an evil spirit said to be plaguing the mountain. I was very determined to see it for myself and exorcise it, and thought that by spending the day at the bottom of a frozen lake, it would help to subdue my Yang spirit enough for me to get close to it.

As it turns out… it didn’t help at all. All it did was give me an awful fever for days afterwards. And the “evil spirit” I was chasing turned out to be little more than a snowshoe hare.

[The disappointment in his voice is extremely clear.]

[concierto]

[Venti blinks and lets out a small sigh as he shivers and pulls the collar of his cloak closer to his chin.]

It seems that day was not the day meant for you. Perhaps try again in the future, Chongyun. A job well done isn't always done in a single day.

[Try try again!]

And what about this lake? Why are you in this one?

B-2

[rotacalamitas]

[Bennett was too successful with his adventures lately, he knew it was going to come back to get him in a big way one of these days soon, his luck always comes up rotten in the end.

But having his soul forcefully rent from his body by the monster he was trying to deal with was not at all how he expected it to go. So this was it, huh... This was how his tale ended. He always knew a day would come when his flame would be snuffed out; he was living on borrowed time as far as he was concerned anyway, never knowing when his latest foray into bad luck would be his last. He was prepared for it, and accepted what had happened here. He could only hope the wind would carry his soul home...

But his melancholic thoughts are broken when he hears a familiar voice call to him.]

Chongyun...?

[Oh no, he looks all spirity too. Bennett's first thought is he caused this somehow.]

Oh no, this must be my fault too. My bad luck must have gotten you killed too...

[pureyang]

[Among the spirits Chongyun has helped return to their bodies, it's a shock to see the soul of someone he's come to get to know quite well here in Avalon. Chongyun's eyes widen and he pauses, surprised by the words.]

Huh? No, I assure you I am very much alive! I am using my cognitive abilities to astral-project and reach your soul.

[Did Bennett truly think he was the cause of Chongyun's presence? How unfortunate... but they don't have time to ponder such things.]

There's still time to return you to your body, though. But we must act quickly.

[rotacalamitas]

Wait... you can... get me back to my body...?

[Bennett's surprised to hear that. He could get a second chance at life?]

But... Maybe it's better if I stay like this. At least then maybe I won't trouble others with my bad luck...

[pureyang]

Yes. I can guide you back, but we must hurry.

[He didn’t know how much time he had before Bennett’s spirit was gone forever. But he has to try!]

[However, Bennett’s words make him pause.]

Huh..? Why would you say such a thing..? You deserve every right to an honest and full life as anyone else would.