balemouns

[balemouns]

had she not known better, this frigid tundra would've felt just like her second home, the frigid north with its aurora-blanketed ice called snezhnaya. ( technically, it wasn't home, either. but she belonged there just as much as she did anywhere else. ) but no -- this place was unquestionably different, even with the climate, even with the bronzed technology and stone-coated pathways.

how had she arrived here, exactly? that was really the question of the day, more so than where exactly this place was. someone would tell her where this is eventually. she'd already spent some time wandering around on the surface, between blistering wind that stung as it carried fine crystals of ice off the top of the snowdrifts -- and entered the town unassumingly, somehow finding herself drawing very little attention from the locals. perhaps that's also part of what made her arrival here feel strange; she felt almost invisible, where her presence seemed to command attention involuntarily in the court of fontaine.

but almost everyone here seemed unassuming enough. quite normal, really. she'd even overheard as she made her way underground that there was a search for lost relics... maybe something anomalous in what these people were searching for could explain what had happened? ... so, arlecchino set off this way, following her gut -- until it brought her behind someone else who... seemed a little out of place.

"excuse me." maybe this time, she'd found someone worth asking a question or two. eyes scan the tall woman carefully -- there's something uncanny here, not unlike the feeling of something just slightly off that she'd felt in proximity to others bearing curses before. "you wouldn't happen to be on the search for some artifacts too, would you? I've been searching quite a while on my own and haven't had any luck."

de la mancha.

belobog artifact hunting featuring @octoboltflash.

#octoboltflash #𝖎𝖓𝖛𝖎𝖙𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓: acheron. #de la mancha #wiggles around in place hoPE THIS IS OK

[balemouns]

father why do you use master childe's TCG card and not mine. father do you have favorites be honest (she is holding out a new lynette cardset to arlecchino) father do you choose meta over family

"these are just the cards one of your brothers gave me. I suspect he's been pawning off the ones he doesn't want... is tartaglia actually 'meta'?"

meta... so this card is... potentially self-aware? if that was the case, then childe would know by now that this genius invocation trading card game card of him has passed through many hands among the youth of the house of the hearth. "and your card is not 'meta', I take it?" she accepts the card being offered -- perhaps better to keep that one on her than childe's, if that was the case.

#𝖎𝖓𝖛𝖎𝖙𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓: lynette. #phantomiaou #HOW DO YOU PLAY THIS GAME !!!!!!!! #( I knew at one point but she has never really known )

[balemouns]

you have any room to adopt more children, father?

eyes narrow sharply. 'father'... from a stranger? perhaps the children had been a tad too forthcoming with sharing the title for who they answer to lately. would have to deal with that later...

"my apologies -- do I know you? young adults such as yourself should know better than to ask people they have just met such personal questions."

#trailblczed #𝖎𝖓𝖛𝖎𝖙𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓: caleus. #oh caelus.......... #gonna get lyney and lynette in trouble

[balemouns]

one elbow slides over to prop on the arm of the chair she's in, and she leans in the direction of that hand to rest her chin on it -- what had the children said about this game? if she didn't know any better, she'd think this was meant to be like a game of dueling solitaire. but... "I have only a vague understanding of this game. so... why don't you remind me of a few more rules, hm?" a slight smile, and gaze stays focused on the other -- is furina getting more nervous?

"I do know how a coin flip works, however. you flip, I call -- heads." ( always heads. how did one side of a mora coin come to have that name, she wonders? ) arlecchino watches as the coin comes to settle between them after the other flips it -- looks like her instinct had won out, with her chosen side facing upwards. she leans forward slightly, then outstretches her other hand to scoop up the dice on her side -- "oh... does that mean I go first, then?"

　✧　WHITE QUEEN⠀/⠀BLACK KING

　　 　　　　 　　 　 　　❪　comm. bloom　/　TCG　❫

#fanfaire #white queen / black king #𝖎𝖓𝖛𝖎𝖙𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓: furina. #🌒 🌓 🌔 🌕 🌖 🌗 🌘 everlasting as the moon ( ic. ) #trying to be terrifying while sounding perfectly innocent to any bystanders like: #smHHHHHHH

[balemouns]

"those who parade their own virtues often do the most evil. we are not like them."

or: how is mel interpreting what happened in arlecchino's story quest? obvious heavy 4.6 spoilers follow.

have you played arlecchino's story quest and come away with the impression that she's a goodish, surprisingly benevolent harbinger who would never actually harm the children in her organization?

good. that was the judgement you were supposed to leave with.

everything about her story quest, with a few small exceptions, was carefully planned by her to weave a narrative for you and the more loyal children: the anticipation of clervie's interference growing to be disruptive enough to turn a small group against her, the move to poisson to make monitoring this group easier, when to make a point of meeting with neuvilette to request social supports for children who have consumed bottled flames, extending a duel to make children feel they've worked for and earned their mercy, and ultimately making a show of offering it with many witnesses.

there were two wildcards in this that she didn't plan for: the traveler and horrer. both actually wound up being advantageous for weaving together the narrative she wanted her loyal children ( most prominently ) and also the traveler ( conveniently ) to leave with. it's why she never suggests the traveler and paimon leave, even as the conflict within the family grows increasingly dire and undermining of her authority -- having someone your children trust take away the same conclusions they did actually can't hurt.

horrer is an interesting case. he's clearly someone who's consumed bottled flames -- and one of the few "executions" who had someone on the outside that'd likely be willing to catch him and help him build a new life after all his memories were gone ( his love interest ).

but he's the only one we see: all the other people we have seen in the list had vaguer reasons on why they left, and no idea how they are doing now, especially considering arlecchino has just now asked neuvilette and the palais to provide a safety net for former house children with memory loss. would a responsible father just let you leave with no plan, no skills, no identity, no one to catch you?

most likely, prior executions -- all the ones that were all handled privately, individually -- those would've been figured out on a case-by-case basis. children who wanted to leave purely out of resentment to the house and with no one outside to support them may not have been as lucky -- turning those children loose with nothing would've been quite irresponsible.

but you're not supposed to think that. not with an entire group confronting her in the ruins of the old arena, not with her proposal to neuvilette now in place, not with this show of enforcing the rules through loopholes ending with convenient mercy, not with devout house members standing next to those who want to leave and have taken the words of a confused, sentient shadow to justify that sentiment. being confronted by a group in this manner is something arlecchino has planned for over a long period of time with the bottled flames being developed some time ago, something she's always seen as a possibility; this outcome was clearly the first case of extensive use, with heloir just now learning what those dangerous potions were for.

think of the metaphor she provided for neuvilette: water has tension to it, tends to hold together. to cut out the impurities but conserve as much of the clean water as you can, you don't want to disturb it with a violent splash.

which makes this grand gesture of mercy all a show of virtues for a specific purpose: to reinforce the trust that exists with the children who are loyal, to strengthen those bonds and loyalties. sure, everyone knows there's now a way out, but... are these children who'd want to leave by erasing everything about themselves anyway, their skills, their bonds, their memories, their sense of self?

that answer will probably always be no. but the illusion of choice makes people happier with what they have. arlecchino likes it when people have the wrong impression of her: that we can undoubtedly believe.

#🌑 eclipse cometh. ( ooc. ) #not even going to get into everything with this re: how warped some of the choices are #but. this is a good starting point for understanding how i'm writing her ig #tldr is arle good or bad? eh

[balemouns]

Goodness, what a lovely spider you've got. May I see it up close for one moment

"no."

#spidergourmet #rhinedottir please come get your abomination #this boy you orphaned isn't even house of hearth material ma'am.

[balemouns]

there's always been a fascinating deepness in the eyes of the younger twin; what it reflects exactly, she can't say. perhaps its nothing more than a simple quirk of genetics, like the ears that crown her head -- but eyes always say more than words alone. her own study lynette's carefully as she comes to take a seat, and arlecchino listens without interruption.

for telling us the truth about the house... it wasn't exactly a choice. truth, in some part or whole, became necessary when an echo of her past and predecessor insisted upon disturbing the balancing act of running this family with little context or clarity for children to interpret. but it was meaningful to lynette, to freminet, to lyney, to all the children who had stayed -- so it had done its job. she didn't need to hear it from lynette to know that was the case, but confirmation was confirmation.

a pale brow raises when lynette continues; the teacup in her hand sets down against its ceramic saucer with a quiet clink. how many times must lynette have rehearsed this, the phrasing, the tone? lyney is capable of succeeding you -- said as though there was some hope that she would still consider alternatives. but arlecchino doesn't stop her there either; it was a rare occasion, hearing lynette with this much to say. may as well let her continue.

gradually, she leans forward on the bureau as she listens, one elbow braced against it to prop up her chin in one palm. between the lines of this, where her thought started, and where it goes now... a request. perhaps in a simpler family, it would just be as though a daughter was asking her father to start reading to her again at night, even if she was well past an age where such a thing was necessary. ( lynette could read on her own now, couldn't she. )

why, then? she's almost certain of the answer to that, but... "you're welcome to train with me whenever you'd like, lynette. but I don't know how much more I have to teach you; you're quite capable as it is." arlecchino pushes back her chair, takes her cup and saucer, then walks over to a kettle staying warm by the hearth in her office -- fresh, steaming water pours over a half-empty cup. "so. what is this truly about? after everything you learned lately... you can't think there's some unspoken competition."

your father is only your father until one of you forgets.

✖ how else to learn / home is a hunter ★

#phantomiaou #𝖎𝖓𝖛𝖎𝖙𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓: lynette. #your father is only your father until one of you forgets #4.6 spoilers #just casually refilling a teacup that isn't finished yet like a sociopath nbd #🌒 🌓 🌔 🌕 🌖 🌗 🌘 everlasting as the moon ( ic. )

[balemouns]

at some point, her presence here in mondstadt city was bound to draw the attention of people other than the diplomats renting out the entirety of goth grand hotel up the hill from this tavern. but she was waiting -- depending on a few agents returning from the field and reporting here to those very diplomats. ( those fools were burning time. and it was her division that deserved being thrown into experimental projects? maybe it was time for someone else to draw the spotlight. )

but for all the time they burned, she too needed to wait; arlecchino finds herself staring at a drink menu at the bar for a few minutes too long, only to settle on a glass of standard red wine of a respectable vintage. seems like no one is in the mood to persuade her otherwise, even with the drink specials that had been advertised by the caller outside angel's share.

a low hum fills the establishment --- she hadn't actually taken note of just how busy it was in here until now, glass in one hand as she navigates through patrons standing and talking to one another in dense clusters around the main floor. probably should find somewhere to sit.............

a gliding pace weaves through the crowd as arlecchino makes her way to the back of the tavern, glass held above her shoulder to discourage an unfortunate encounter with a stranger's shoulder. she spies a free table further back, and sighs with a momentary relief as she makes her way towards it; just need to burn some time here until those agents return.

that was who she needed to wait for, to expect to eventually appear; who shows up instead next to her table several minutes later is certainly not one of her agents. crimson-cut black glances up, over the girl; somehow, she looked far more out of place here than she did herself. is she going to say something...? what is that in her other hand? gaze flicks back down almost as quickly as it had scanned over the other -- she needed somewhere to sit, that much was clear enough.

"well. are you going to stand there staring forever, miss...?" a sip. eyes stay diverted. "I'm sure the culture here in mondstadt isn't so hostile as to forbid asking to share a table." quite the opposite, from what she knew -- a sense in her gut wonders if the younger girl is even more unfamiliar.

any news from the other provinces?

bloom — teyvat — @balemouns

#5point1 #𝖎𝖓𝖛𝖎𝖙𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓: silver wolf. #any news from the other provinces #arle vc U GUNNA SIT OR WHAT (not remotely hostile) #🌒 🌓 🌔 🌕 🌖 🌗 🌘 everlasting as the moon ( ic. )

[balemouns]

　❥　sleep in peace 　　　 do not edit. like / rb / credit to use.

#self. #god love love LOVEOVEE THIS trailer

[balemouns]

this was starting to become....... interesting. a small part of her wonders still to this day if the other had recognized her after that night; every encounter with the former archon seemed to carry an undercurrent of increased anxiety. lashes lower; arlecchino reclines further back in the seat as she places the elemental die back with the others at the center of the table. "miss furina -- take a seat." this behavior is unbecoming. unnecessary; it isn't a request.

as she waits for the other to listen, arlecchino takes out the dinky little box decorated by jean-henri and opens it to remove her deck. "...you truly have nothing to be concerned about. do you think I have the time to become some sort of world-renowned genius invocation trading card game champion? hardly. the children just... give me these." come to think of it, what even was in here? she takes the character cards first and spreads them out-- an abyss herald, an oceanid... and... was that childe?... how bizarre.

　✧　WHITE QUEEN⠀/⠀BLACK KING

　　 　　　　 　　 　 　　❪　comm. bloom　/　TCG　❫

#fanfaire #white queen / black king #🌒 🌓 🌔 🌕 🌖 🌗 🌘 everlasting as the moon ( ic. ) #𝖎𝖓𝖛𝖎𝖙𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓: furina. #hot potato hot potato better keep that word limit sHORTER #mono hydro deck for arle leTS GOOOOOOO #also yes she's not up on how to abbreviate the game's name smh

[balemouns]

someone was coming to her door. of that, she was absolutely certain.

maybe it's just a sixth sense. a gut feeling combined with what the young ones thought sometimes were all-seeing eyes, all-hearing ears ( both were quite keen, but. she's not that omniscient ). but there's also patterns, predictability, routines and trends... and lately, something had been off with the members of a familiar trio around the house of the hearth.

( files and forms sit neatly piled at one side of a wide bureau, untouched as gaze stays focused on a cup of hot coffee. best not get to work when someone was coming, even if the visit is unannounced. )

and of course something is off. not too long ago, they'd been in a position to question everything they knew about their home, their family... but what's less than acceptable about the instinct is how this sense among them has persisted. the sound of lynette's voice alone at the door when the knock finally comes reinforces that theory; she's left her brother elsewhere else for a reason.

"come in," a simple instruction; lynette knows those well enough, has heard them hundreds of times before. one dark hand gestures to the seat across from her, separated by a boundary of chestnut wood. "what do you wish to discuss, lynette?" arlecchino sits back as she leaves the floor open, even though the other's presence here alone already suggests what the topic of discussion might be.

your father is only your father until one of you forgets.

✖ how else to learn / home is a hunter ★

#phantomiaou #𝖎𝖓𝖛𝖎𝖙𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓: lynette. #🌒 🌓 🌔 🌕 🌖 🌗 🌘 everlasting as the moon ( ic. ) #your father is only your father until one of you forgets #something something asking questions u already kinda know the answer to bUT ................................................. #may as well go through with the formality!!!!!

[balemouns]

there was only so much work that could be handled from within fontaine's borders; she wasn't fond of leaving, but... sometimes, it was required. especially if an agent from the house had been quiet for a little too long. did that mean this trip had to be entirely about business, however? of course not. and as she passed the cat-themed tavern earlier, noted the name of a game she'd heard mentioned a few times between the children on the board... hm.

... a shy, soft young one named jean-henri had been bringing her all these cards for the game lately, and kept insisting on adding them to a childishly decorated box. why? what gave him the impression that this was the kind of thing she'd want? -- ( "I think you'd like this game, father." that was all he said about it. over, and over, and over. )

long, ash-black fingers pick up one multicolored die and idly toss it back and forth between sharp nails as she sits at the assigned table -- a tournament was a stretch, perhaps. but no one in the house could now claim she hadn't tried. red-crossed eyes raise up from the table as arlecchino hears an unexpected familiar voice. "... lady furina? are you here in mondstadt to play cards?"

　✧　WHITE QUEEN⠀/⠀BLACK KING

　　 　　　　 　　 　 　　❪　comm. bloom　/　TCG　❫

#fanfaire #𝖎𝖓𝖛𝖎𝖙𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓: furina. #🌒 🌓 🌔 🌕 🌖 🌗 🌘 EVERLASTING AS THE MOON ( ic. ) #white queen / black king #250 words rai said. short rapid fire replies rai said

[balemouns]

bloom missions.

hey y'all! I'm super excited to get things going with arlecchino. though I'm still working on and parsing through lots of things with her ( man. her lore alone? man... ) but I'd like to hop in with a few ideas for the bloom missions.

mondstadt is a fatui hotbed. it's very easy for her to show up there unannounced! if you're interested in running into her while helping out at angel's share, well... she's not much of one for helping out, but might have taken an interest in the discounted drinks.

as a cursed teyvater who kinda has a vibe that she's not really supposed to be here, she may be especially well-suited to unexpectedly appear in some of the sea of quanta missions. perhaps belobog or penacony? why not? she may not have a good explanation for how she got here, but........ you don't need to know that, now do you.

fontaine gang rise up? I'd love to do some plotting with her canon relations and maybe a few threads unrelated to the missions too. if you'd like me to roll over to you to figure out some directions we can go in, just reply to this post and i'll dm you.

#🌑 ECLIPSE COMETH. ( ooc. ) #ALSO WAILS............ in the spirit of dropping diluc going to angel's share would be nice! #as always please hit me up on discord for fastest communication heh

[balemouns]

arlecchino ♡ when the hearth-flame goes out

#self.

[balemouns]

test. test. test.