isleofavalon | [ open ] Catch All

Entry tags:

genshin impact: venti

[ open ] Catch All

🧙 WHO: Xiao + you!
⚔️️ WHAT: Catch All
🕒 WHEN: Throughout March
🗺️ WHERE: Various
⚠️ WARNINGS: TBD

( Smoothies: options A and B )

[ Prior to this place, very rarely would Xiao partake in consuming human-prepared food. He doesn't understand the the need to combine things in a variety of different ways. Why all of this effort put into preparation? It seems like quite the waste of time and effort for a couple of moments spend consuming what had been prepared. Truthfully, he had only been passing by when the individuals selling these blended, flavored drinks seem to think that he is in need of them. Apparently it doesn't matter how much Xiao ignores them or attempt to pass by their wares, these sellers are persistent - even going so far as to shove small samples in his hands before moving on.

So, at first, Xiao merely sighs and figures that he might as well. No need to be rude. Butterfly pea-lemon tea seems to be the first flavor. There seems to be a calm that washes over him. Things that bothered the Yaksha in the past? Don't seem like such a big deal now. One can only wonder how this newfound inner peace is going to effect him. Maybe he'll try new foods! Or fall asleep in some random location... Or staring off into space.

The second flavor on the docket would be a strawberry-rose. It's a bit strong, of course, though over all Xiao finds he doesn't actually mind he cool, almost foamy and light texture of the smoothies. Don't expect him to be overt in his "flirting," if one can even call it that. Just a light touch here or there. A need to be closer than usual. When it wears off... Well. Won't that be a surprise. ]

( Bunny Café Chaos )

[ This should really be a simple task. How hard is it to poke a head into a café, scan said café for a particular rabbit, then leave? That's what his intention is at any rate. No need to linger.

Yet Xiao finds himself in a rather odd predicament. Odd for him anyway. ]

Move. [ He is telling this to a stubborn little thing that has taken the liberty to just block his exit. ] The one I seek is not here. I must move on.

[ Wait. Is he really being held captive by a couple of rabbits? Seems so! By the time anyone comes to check up on him, he's going to be covered in the furry little creatures, sort of frozen in place. ]

( Hay Fever: options A and B )

[ Originally Xiao had come along just for his own curiosity. This world does not have need for his particular skillset - not in the way that the Yaksha has always done - so he is still trying to find out where he fits in all this. Still feeling his way through. Thus Xiao thinks that it would be fine to simply observe.

What he doesn't expect is to be ushered along with other healers to perform this one-off spell. In fact, it seems as though he is about ready to argue over that. ]

I am no healer... [ "But you do have healing magic, right?" Which has Xiao making a slight noise and shift his weight. Whatever the case, he doesn't look comfortable. Looks like he might be in need of assistance in either 1) getting out of the situation or 2) being encouraged to proceed. ] That is of no consequence.

[ Additionally, all of this hay being tossed around is really stirring things up! Either Xiao or someone close at hand will soon have to contend with a next of those pesky pixies. They seem to really enjoy pulling and tugging on hair - be it Xiao's or whoever is working with him. ]

( Wildcard )

[ Obviously you know what to do either. Feel free to hit me up on discord or plurk. Or throw a comment my way on the meme! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Just Xiao? But he doesn't ask, only sets to the same task. It's repetitive and simple work. And it gives them plenty of time to talk.]

Has Young Master Xiao done this sort of work before?

[He himself has helped out on a farm or two over the last four years so this sort of thing is familiar enough.]

[ Repetitive and simple indeed. My wouldn't some of the other adepti find this situation rather amusing. the Conqueror of Demons set to doing rather mundane tasks.

In a sense he is glad that they are not present for this. ]

I cannot say that I have. My responsibilities were of another nature. You, on the other hand, seem familiar enough with this task.

I spent the last four years wandering. During times of harvest, most farmers are happy to have an extra pair of hands to help out. Though the recent surge of farming iron puppets and related machinery have made that sort of work more scarce.

[Which is causing a different problem but he won't talk about it unless anyone here wants to ask about the political and societal ramifications of industrialized farming equipment in steampunk China and the resulting unemployment and civil unrest that led to.]

What did your responsibilities involve?

Farming puppets?

[ He's not quite sure what Li Min would mean by this. Machinery? Again these are things that are a little beyond Xiao, for they are not found in Liyue. Ruin Guards and Hunters are aplenty, but one would not think to put them to use farming.

Wandering... Why would one wander? ]

I was responsible for the protection of the land. It is an important, but not a glorious affair.

They're machines that run on ziliujin. In the past they were uses for fighting or training but recently a new kind that help with farm work was developed. It has made the work easier but has also created new problems.

[Problems that should have been expected, he feels.

Also he was wandering because he sort of ran away from home. It's complicated.]

People who have never been responsible for such a thing tend to think only of the glory.

[Even he had made that mistake when he was still a child.] Were you a soldier?

[ Innovation always creates problems... Problems there is no precedent to handle. At least this is the impression that Xiao gets, as he has listened to Ganyu from time to time. However, countries and people cannot rise to the occasion if not given the opportunity. Perhaps this is the lesson that Rex Lapis had meant to teach them all... ]

I would imagine that it would have something to do with the economy and accessibility? Or perhaps there are moral and ethical implications to consider?

[ Things are always more complicated than they initially appear... ]

Though I suppose you could say that I was something like a soldier.

At the moment it's only economic. Workers are unable to find work as it's been taken by the puppets and workers that were kept on couldn't be paid for not working. The lack of employment is pushing many to move away to where they can find work...and when that fails they end up joining up with bandits.

[He puts another bale of hay on the cart and then turns to look at Xiao with a sigh.]

It's not difficult to see where the situation is headed.

[For Gu Yun's sake Chang Geng hopes it doesn't get worse but...]

[...well. There's not much use in worrying about that while they're here, he supposed.]

Something like a soldier but not exactly a soldier? [He smiled, more curious than teasing.]

It is an issue that there would not be an easy solution for. To remove the puppets would decrease production, correct? Yet it is not so easy to obtain a new skillset if one has dedicated an extraordinary amount of years to their work. However this will have to happen if they desire an honest life. Adaptability is a human trait, is it not?

[ Things flow in this manner, Xiao has found. There will be a bit of an upheaval, but if the humans are able to adapt, then they will pull through. It has happened time and time again. Surely it will happen here too. ]

[ There is stirring going on in the hay. Xiao doesn't realize it quite yet but they had been warned about pixies haven't they? ]

I was given a contract to protect the land. It is that simple.

You say that as if you are not also human.

[Which, all things considered, was entirely possible.]

I will not make excuses for those people...but it also is a problem that has been made worse by a weak economy and instability at the borders. {And an emperor more concerned with consolidating military power through the Drumming Order rather than curbing the corruption of ministers from noble families who had eaten away at Great Liang's supports like termites in the roof beams.] Whether they did it out of a moment of weakness or because they were desperate, it falls on the government to come up with policies that address it before it gets to a point where the military needs to be used.

[After all, against farmers turned bandits the military will not even break a sweat...but it will end in disaster for the country.

[This conversation was so interesting that he almost missed the movement in the hay. Almost because Chang Geng has always been the detail oriented sort. The question was: is the movement from the wind or something else?

He pulled his picthfork back from where he'd stabbed it into a bale.]

I am very interested in asking more about that contract of yours if you would be fine with sharing, later.

[As he said that, he prodded the pile of hay with the pitchfork.]

That I do.

[ He doesn't really care one way or another whether people know he is human or not. To some he supposes it is obvious. To others, it isn't so obvious. People are allowed to make that judgement on their own, but if asked he will not deny what he is.

This human, however, speaks with sense. It is an unfortunate circumstance, but the government still needs to step in. If they continue to allow the issue to persist, then the entire country could fall into despair. That just won't work. ]

As for the contract itself, I could explain. However I doubt it will mean much to anyone outside of Liyue.

[ But now he sees it. That movement rustling in the hay. Even armed with a pitchfork he is at the ready for an attack.

Which may or may not come since a small flock ( are they a flock ) of pixies bursts out of the hay in high pitched screams. ]

[Long arms were not his preferred weapon so when the pixies burst forth he dropped the pitchfork and pulled out his sword. Iron, after all, he's told is good against the fey. But he also reaches into his pocket and pulls out...a handful of ribbons. Just cheap, pretty things he found for a bargain. He had read somewhere that these were prized among the pixies...that is, if they weren't too angry to accept a gift...or these weren't different pixies or at least ones that preferred some other frivolous finery.]

Sorry for disturbing you. If you would take these as payment we would rather not fight.

[He sounds nice enough about it but he's also...not putting his sword away either.]

[ He very much sees the weapon in the other's hand. Yet he is not entirely quick to use it now is he? Since he seems to have an idea of how to proceed, Xiao does commit to any certain action just yet. Rather, the Yaksha watches as he pulls out the ribbons. The pixies themselves seem to consider this, wildly chatting amongst themselves in high pitched nonsensical tones.

The ribbons are nice and a few seem to accept this particular gift. However... A few are not satisfied at all. They see something nicer -

Li Min's hair. ]

[Since he had allowed the pixies to get closer so he could give them the ribbons it was a little hard to react in time when some of them decided to go after his hair...which he didn't seem particularly upset by even while one particularly pixie gave a lock of his long hair a rather painful tug.

He only sighed a little.]

As always, sometimes diplomacy doesn't work.

[But the pixies are behind him and too close and too small for him to fight them like this. He looked to Xiao.]

If you would be so kind as to dispatch them? It's rather difficult for me from this angle.

[How a person can be so calm while pixies are pulling his hair is anyone's guess...]

[ He doesn't really know what sort of thing could work to get rid of pesky pixies. They aren't like pure sprites or anything like that. Xiao's healing magic likely isn't of any use. ]

Not to those that are determined to remain hostile.

[ Xiao isn't going to jab his spear near someone's head either. Instead he reaches up and plucks one of the pixies up by the wings. Then walks over to a bucket of water, ready to drop the thing in it. ]

We mean you no ill will, but a haystack does not make for the best of homes.

[Honestly, he'd be fine with someone jabbing a spear near his head. He's relatively certain that as long as he isn't fatally wounded he can probably heal it...besides, he knows how to dodge.

Still, he doesn't mind going with a more diplomatic approach. With one of the pixies gone, it's easier for him to grab at the other one, though he seems to be gentle about it, his grip is firm and unyielding.

He smiles but he also joins Xiao at the bucket...though he's not certain what dropping a pixie in might do since they can fly but dunking them...well, hopefully it won't come to that.]

The haystack will have to go. That's been decided already and I doubt that is something that will change even if you refuse the ribbon or attack us.

[ Xiao is thinking that, perhaps if their wings are too soaked, then they will not be able to fly properly. Kind of like brushing the powder off of a butterfly's wing or a month's. ]

I would listen very carefully to what he says. You can either use his gift to create a new home or find yourself homeless.

[ The Yaksha doesn't necessarily mean to sound threatening or menacing. Intimidating, perhaps. ]

An opportunity is being afforded to you that others will not likely be given.

[Against those arguments, the pixies had no rebuttal...nor did they have a way to retaliate when held like this. So even though they struggle and look decidedly unhappy they do stop struggling.

Chang Geng waits before turning his hand so when he lets go the pixie is sitting on his palm instead of falling.

He holds out the ribbon again.]

Next time, it may be wise to build your home away from the farms.

[ Xiao then also opens the palm of his hand open for the creature to sit on when it becomes obvious that there will be no retaliation.

Rather, the pixie just kind of looks put out, crossing arms and looking rather huffy. Or embarrassed? Xiao isn't sure how to read those emotions either. ]

There are plenty of other suitable locations. Finding another should be a simple task.

[ Should they offer to help? Xiao isn't sure... ]

[They're not required to offer to help further than this but somehow it felt like he should.

The decision wasn't motivated by pity. But when one is able, shouldn't they offer help?]

There's some wood left over from when my housemates and I did some repairs on our home. If you want, I can help you build a shelter. [Perhaps, if Gu Yun and Walter are amenable they could allow the pixies to set up a home in their garden somewhere.

It never hurt to make more allies.] I'm sure I can provide something more comfortable than a pile of hay.

[ They are taking away the pixie's home even if they shouldn't have claimed the spot in the first place. Since they are being rather peaceable about it now... Why shouldn't they offer to help? ]

I would take him up on the offer. At least then you would have a secure place of your own.

[ The pixies themselves seem to form a circle to debate this. ]

[He was content to leave the pixies to debate among themselves.]

Young Master Xiao seems well-versed in negotiations.

[Can threatening pixies be called negotiation...?]

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I think we can just about wrap up here?

Sure sure

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