#Wanli period

[amongdragons]

Old-school matchlock gun reproduction of the Ming dynasty item from Qingfan (慶藩). The original dates from the Wanli period. It is the first Ming matchlock gun in true sense.

Prototypes are on display at the Xuzhou Museum (徐州博物館).

Photo: ©寒光甲冑工作室

#chinese martial arts #chinese warfare #ming dynasty #ancient china #chinese history #Wanli period #wanli #matchlock #ancient weapons #ancient warfare #medieval #martial arts #chinese military #military #ancient warrior #historical

[chinesehanfu]

[Hanfu · 汉服]Chinese Ming Dynasty Wanli period (1573–1620 AD) Traditional Clothing Hanfu & Hairstyle Based On Ming Wanli period woodblock print painting

_______

Recreation Work：@-盥薇-

👗 Hanfu,Purse:@YUNJIN云今

🔗微博：https://weibo.com/3942003133/MrAxG2Q0q

_______

【About the Hairstyle 鬃髻(Zōng jì)】

The 鬃髻(Zōng jì) is one of the traditional Han ethnic woman hairstyles. It lasted from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty, and it still exists among Hakka(客家) elderly women.

We can see this hairstyle in the painting "《李端端图》" by Tang Yin(唐寅), a painter of the Ming Dynasty.Collection of Nanjing Museum

The 鬃髻(Zōng jì) can be matched with other hairstyles,like below:

Peony Head (牡丹头)+鬃髻(Zōng jì),

Ming Dynasty Green-glazed female pottery figurines,Collection of Guangdong Museum

Ming Dynasty Colored Sculpture of Jellyfish Building in Jinci Temple/晋祠水母楼明代彩塑

Qing Dynasty 鬃髻(Zōng jì),Qing Dynasty figurines

The Hakka(客家) ’s 鬃髻(Zōng jì) is divided into: 三把头(Sān bǎtóu) and 两把头 Liǎng bǎtóu)

For the most typical 三把头(Sān bǎtóu) , it divides the hair into three layers: upper, middle and lower. The part of the hair from the front of the forehead to the top of the head is called "门股(Mén gǔ)", and 门股 is divided into three parts: left, middle and right.Generally, some wigs are placed on the hair or combed the hair in reverse way to make it look fluffy.So from the front, it will have a very “full” effect of hair.

The 三把头(Sān bǎtóu) with 鬃髻(Zōng jì) of Hakka women in old photos

The part below the 三把头 (Sān bǎtóu) is generally called "髻尾". The upper, middle and lower parts of the hair will eventually tied together.

↓Schematic diagram in the book "Discussion on Liudui Hakka Traditional Clothing《六堆客家传统衣饰的探讨》"

Hakka(客家) ’s 鬃髻(Zōng jì) :两把头 (Liǎng bǎtóu) 

The :两把头 Liǎng bǎtóu) is the 三把头 (Sān bǎtóu) that simplifies the part of the "髻尾（The lower part）" , and divides the hair into two part,which is "门股(Mén gǔ)" and the "髻尾(The lower part). ※Some information says that 两把头 (Liǎng bǎtóu)  are unmarried woman hairstyle and 三把头 (Sān bǎtóu) are married woman hairstyle, but this is not the case when looking at the photos

Lastly,Twho are familiar with Japanese culture may notice that above hairstyles are look similar to some hairstyles in Japan call 島田髷.But the method of divide the hair into sections, the way that make the sideburns and the shape after tied the hair together make it to a difference effect from china.

According 日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ),Japan's 島田髷 hairstyle is beginning from the 16th century of Edo period, while the China is also on late Ming period(※usually refers to from the beginning of Wanli (1573) to the end of Chongzhen (1644)）.

Not sure if there is a connection between the japan and china. I will update if there is more information.

(Please correct me if I'm wrong🙏)

#Chinese Hanfu #Ming Dynasty #Wanli period (1573–1620 AD) #hanfu #Ming Wanli period woodblock print painting #hanfu history #chinese historical fashion #chinese historical hairstyle #chinese history #chinese traditional clothing #鬃髻(Zōng jì) #两把头 (Liǎng bǎtóu) #三把头 (Sān bǎtóu) #China #Japan #島田髷 #Hakka(客家) #Qing Dynasty #recreation #chinese art #-盥薇- #YUNJIN云今 #Peony Head (牡丹头)

[blueiskewl]

A rare blue and white reticulated gu-form vase Ming dynasty, Wanli period

35 cm.

#A rare blue and white reticulated gu-form vase #Ming dynasty Wanli period #vase #ancient artifacts #history #history news #ancient history #ancient culture #ancient civilizations #ancient china #chinese history

[yebreed]

Extreme Baroque: Iron Temple On The Rice Mountain

Grotesque images from the Buddhist Iron Temple (鐵佛寺).

Located on the Rice Mountain (��山), Mixi (米西村) village, Jincheng, Shanxi, the temple is of an unknown construction date. The earliest record on the stone pillar in the main hall dates back to the seventh year of the Dading (大定) period of the Yuan or Jin dynasties. There is evidence that the temple was reconstructed in the third year of Wanli (1575). However, in the county annals, it is mentioned no earlier than the Qing dynasty.

These astonishing, presumably Ming statues owe their creation to the proximity of an iron ore. Iron frames made it possible to give the clay figures intricate poses and frilly decor.

Photo: ©大关沿路拍

#ancient china #chinese culture #chinese mythology #chinese art #chinese architecture #yuan dynasty #jin dynasty #chinese temple #statues #sculptures #scultpure #buddhist temple #buddhist #buddhist deities #religious art #buddhism #ming dynasty #qing dynasty #statuary #religious imagery

[moorishflower]

"De Profundis" for the wip game 👀

Hello hello! De Profundis is my next continuation of the Hierarchy of Needs! :D Hob goes to a party! Dream has some revelations!

"I am expected. To host a delegation from Hell. To foster better relations between our realms." All of those words mean something, Hob thinks. Individually, anyway. Host, all right, the gathering, a delegation, makes sense, there have to be people to host...and then his brain gets hung up on the word 'Hell' and stops, and refuses to go any further. Hob clears his throat. When he tries to speak, his voice still comes out as a weak little croak. "I'm sorry," he says, "but you said 'Hell'? As in, fire and brimstone, nine layers, the devil?" "The nine layers are something of an authorial embellishment," Dream says. "But. Yes." "I see," Hob says, and then he just sits for a few minutes, because doing anything other than that seems a bit beyond him. Bless Dream for his oddities, he doesn't try to make Hob talk or ask him questions, but sits quietly with him, and periodically he slightly moves his hand, so Hob can feel he's still there. Hell. Hell. Actual, real Hell, which Hob had decided was irrelevant to him as soon as he'd really internalised that he wasn't going to die, and which he'd almost stopped believing in entirely sometime during the Enlightenment after he'd read Hume's Treatise. There'd always been a little part of him, though, which had thought that if things like his stranger existed, if there were beings out there who could bestow immortality with a word, then who was to say that the Devil didn't actually exist? Who was to say that Christ wouldn't someday return and usher in a brand new world? He doesn't actually know exactly how long he sits and processes this. Well, 'processes' is probably a generous word for it, but he compartmentalises, and that's what's key at the moment. It must be longer than ten minutes, though, because when Dream finally squeezes his hand hard enough to bring him out of it the chicken kiev is no longer steaming. "Ought I have informed you of the guest. Before I asked you to intend?" he asks, and Hob smiles wanly at him, trying to shove down the part of himself that remembers being very concerned with his immortal soul sometime in the early 1400s. He doesn't want to lie to Dream, but... "It...would've been appreciated," he says, and then quickly adds, "I would've said yes anyways! Of course I would. It's just...it's a bit of, uh, a shock."

#ask game

[pwlanier]

Blue and white Sanskrit small bowl, Ming dynasty, Wanli mark and period (1573-1619).

Courtesy Alain Truong

[arthistoryanimalia]

#FrogFriday:

Frog-Shaped Pouring Vessel (Kendi) China, Ming dynasty, Wanli period (1573–1620), late 16th–early 17th c. Porcelain painted w/ cobalt blue under transparent glaze (Jingdezhen ware) Dimensions: H. 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm); W. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm); D. 5 3/8 in. (13.7 cm) The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 2009.107

#animals in art #Chinese art #Asian art #East Asian art #kendi #ceramics #porcelain #Jingdezhen ware #decorative arts #16th century art #17th century art #Metropolitan Museum of Art New York #Frog Friday

[moononmyfloor]

Hi Producer (正好遇见你) Infodump

Disclaimer: I have no idea about the accuracy of the information shared in the drama, I'm merely transcribing for future reference purposes. Proceed with caution!

.

Ep 1: Filigree Inlay

One of Eight Beijing Imperial Handicrafts, it's a traditional Chinese craft to deal with fine gold that has been passed down for over 2000 years. It originated from metal inlay of bronze casting technology as early as in pre-Imperial China. It dates far back to Spring and Autumn period and Warring States period, peaking in Ming and Qing dynasties with exquisite craftsmanship, aesthetic pursuit and sumptuous styles.

It uses gold threads and slices to decorate utilitarian objects such as bronzeware and weapons. With the development in the Sui, Tang, Song and Yuan dynasties, Filigree Inlay was increasingly applied in jewellery making.

.

The terms Filigree Inlay refers to weaving gold thread into jewel and inlaying with different jewels, starting with Thread Drawing, Shaping, Laying and then Filling.

.

Gold Chalice of Eternal Stability

In the second year of Jiaqing, it was made in a workshop of the Internal Affairs Department of the Qing Dynasty. Carved with Baoxing flower patterns, with pearls, rubies and sapphires on the stamens. On every New Year's eve, the court would hold Kaibi ceremony to celebrate children's first day at school. This was the drinking vessel for emperor's praying.

.

Ming Dynasty Empress's Crown

Inlaid with thousands of pearls and hundreds of natural gems. Besides Filigree Inlay, Tian-tsui craft was also used in a complicated pattern.

.

Ming Dynasty Gold Thread Imperial Crown with Wings

Unearthed from Emperor Wanli's tomb and now stored in Dingling museum, all the weaved parts have no joints or fractures to be seen. The remarkable consistency makes it the representative artwork of Filigree Inlay craft. 518 gold threads were used in the original work with the thinnest threads being less than 0.2 mm wide, many masters attempted to replicate it but with a much higher numbers of threads.

.

More Hi Producer Posts

#chinese history #cdrama #chinese drama #fashion history #Hi Producer #Filigree Inlay #Gold work #正好遇见你

[newhanfu]

Restoration of Female Attire - Late Ming Dynasty, Wanli Period

@Pi Ka Yao De Ning Shi (皮卡瑶的凝视)

#hanfu #hanfu girl #chinese clothing #ming dynasty #female dress

[driftward]

Dreamtime: Zoissette and Keith

((...Does Nyx Dream?))

Zoissette held up her shield, ducked behind it, as Keith came in hard, several swings, blocking even as she pointed to various spots in his form where he could do better.

Odd. She did not remember him being a regular at training. Or at all. In fact, had she gone to training herself these past several moons?

The training room was otherwise empty, except for an exuberant G'raha Tia on the sidelines, waving a fist in the air and cheering periodically. The seat next to him was empty, with just a cup of tea in it. Odd. She was fair certain he preferred juices or alcohol. She smiled wanly at him before turning her attention back to Keith.

A few more practice passes, and then he grappled her, grabbing her shield, and she was flying through the air, and her body did not slam so much as it whumpfed down, with great force but no hardness at all, into a plush lawn.

She sat up, smelling meats and veggies grilling, and looked over to see Keith standing over the grill, grinning broadly at her. A familiar dark staff twisted around a purple orb leaned against the house nearby, seemingly left by its owner.

Keith picked a sausage off the grill, and put it onto a plate, holding it out to her. On his side, G'raha wrapped his arms around him, and gave him a hug before leaning up to kiss his ear, and he laughed.

She heard laughter, and she turned to look to see G'khenna running around to circle around the two, and Keith picked her up.

She grimace grinned and took a half-step back.

"Not interested in a little miracle, Zoissette?" asked Keith conversationally as they hiked up the side of a mountain.

Zoissette was bewildered. "What is going on, we hardly know one another," she protested. She looked further up the trail, and saw G'raha, that big youthful smile on his face, as he waved an arm at them to encourage them forward.

"Yeah but you know G'raha! And he's a friend of yours. We should be friends too."

Keith was pumping out squats, and she was right next to him, matching him, keeping up with him. G'raha stood in front of Keith, facing him, giving him small encouraging gestures while he counted off Keith's reps, and Zoissette looked, and nobody was counting off hers for her. She groaned. She could keep track herself.

A pair of aether goggles were on the floor in front of her, sat on top of a starlens. She frowned at that, and stopped at the bottom of her next squat, reaching out a hand for them

And falling over, tumbling through the void. Keith swam next to her, G'raha clinging to his back, holding on. The goggles, the starlens, the staff, the tea cup, all fell around her, spinning in the dark.

And then she landed, all the stuff falling around her in a pile. Keith sat in a chair nearby, hugging G'raha in his lap. Both of them looked over at her, then turned to one another, and kissed, deeply, passionately, Keith holding G'raha close and G'raha practically clinging to the Hyur.

Zoissette got up, gathering all the things around her, and walking in the house, putting each back where it belonged.

"You can stay, you know! Maybe you should ask," said Keith cheerfully.

She had just about had it.

"I most certainly will not," she said heatedly. "I will help, I will do what must needs be done, and and I will stay the hells out of the way."

She stood, fists at her side, and looked between the two.

"I am very happy for both of you, however," she said stiffly, and she stormed out of the house, taking care to not slam the door behind her. That would be rude.

Keith was waiting for her outside, and he smiled at her.

"What are you afraid of?" he asked.

She glared at him.

"Come on! We're not that different. I mean, okay, I'm stronger-"

"Debatable."

"And you're way smarter-"

"Debatable."

"But look, we're happy!" he said, holding out his arm, and G'raha walked into him, and tucked neatly into his side. "You can be happy too," he said, smiling.

She glowered at him, as he and G'raha clasped their hands together, then held them out and opened them up at her, revealing a large black carnation nestled up next to a smaller black carnation. Two silver spheres rolled off the edge of their hands, and two silver chains connected to them unfurled as they fell, coming to a stop, hovering in the air.

You can too, echoed in her mind, and she stared.

She turned, and opened the door, and walked away.

(( thanks for the ask <3 )) (( As for your other question, there is one way to find out... ))

#answer hours #biot answers #g'raha tia #keith summers #g'raha x wol #zoissette vauban #dreams #ask meme

[outofeverythingthisnamewasleft]

Carved wooden model depicting the punishment of 'li jia' (standing in a cangue-cage). A male offender was kept standing inside a wooden cangue cage with his head exposed above. As the cangue is taller than the offender, he would need to raise his heels. He was punished by not being able to sit down and also by dying slowly in public. This method of punishment was first used in the Wanli period (1573-1620) of the Ming dynasty. Inscriptions written on top of the cangue in black ink indicate that he is a serious offender from Taizhou, Zhejiang province.

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/object/15.57/

[chinesehanfu]

Winter solstice

【Historical Reference Artifacts】:

[Hanfu · 漢服]Chinese Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) Traditional Clothing Hanfu Based On Ming Dynasty Relics & Paintings【 冬至 数九消寒 亚岁迎祥 】

————————

The overall is the style of the Jiajing Emperor(1522-1566 AD) to Wanli Emperor(1573-1620 AD) period, woman fashion.

————————

【冬至/Winter solstice】

It is the 22nd solar term in China's 24 solar terms(二十四节气) and one of the eight astronomical solar terms. 

Solar terms originated in China, then spread to Korea, Vietnam, and Japan, countries in the East Asian cultural sphere. Although each term was named based on the seasonal changes of climate in the North China Plain, peoples living in the different climates still use it without changes.

This is exhibited by the fact that traditional Chinese characters for most of the solar terms are identical.On December 1, 2016, the solar terms were listed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of China.

冬至 is also a traditional ancestor worship festival in China. It is regarded as a big festival in winter. There is a saying in ancient folk that "the winter solstice is as big(important) as the new year". The customs of the 冬至 vary in content or details due to different regions.

Traditional Custom Including:

“画九/Huajiu ”

The so-called Huajiu is actually a diagram for calculating the date of warm spring after the 冬至/winter solstice. The Ming Dynasty's "Emperor Beijing Scenery/帝京景物略" contains: "On the day of the 冬至/winter solstice, draw a plain plum with eighty-one petals,dye a petal every day, when you dye all the petals, the spring is coming." The "Nine-Nine Cold Dispelling Map/九九消寒图" has three schemas, which are characters, circles, and plum blossoms.

Making Rice Wine/酿米酒

The traditional Gusu(Now:Suzhou) family will making rice wine on the night of the 冬至/Winter solstice.The Glutinous rice or yellow rice is used for brewing wine in winter, and sweet-scented osmanthus is added for brewing

【What do people eat on 冬至(Winter solstice?】

汤圆(Tangyuan)/Glutinous rice balls

Eating Glutinous rice balls is a traditional custom of the 冬至/Winter solstice, especially in the south of the Jiangnan. "Tangyuan" is a must-have food for the 冬至/Winter solstice. " 圆 Yuan" means "reunion 团圆 " and "completeness 圆满 ". There is a folk saying that "you will be one year older after eating glutinous rice balls".

Dumplings(饺子)

In many parts of northern China, there is a custom of eating dumplings on the winter solstice every year. In the northern part of China, dumplings are eaten on this day because dumplings have the meaning of "eliminating the cold". There is still a folk proverb that "if you don't serve the dumpling bowl on the winter solstice, your ears will freeze and no one will care about you".

羊肉汤/Mutton Soup

Every winter solstice, people in Chengdu, Sichuan like to eat mutton soup.

_______

Recreation Work ：@吃货娃娃  

🔗Weibo：https://weibo.com/1868003212/MkJA10yrw

_______

#Chinese Hanfu #Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) #Hanfu #冬至/Winter solstice #24 solar terms(二十四节气) #画九/Huajiu #Making Rice Wine/酿米酒 #汤圆(Tangyuan)/Glutinous rice balls #Dumplings(饺子) #羊肉汤/Mutton Soup #hanfu history #hanfu accessories #Chinese Culture #chinese traditional clothing #china #chinese #Chinese Costume #chinese style #吃货娃娃 #漢服 #汉服 #chinese food #Chinese custom

[blueiskewl]

Two blue and white 'dragon and phoenix' vases Ming dynasty, Wanli period 

Height 11¾ in., 30 cm.

#China #Two blue and white 'dragon and phoenix' vases #Ming dynasty Wanli period #archeology #archeolgst #ancient artifacts #history #history news #ancient history #ancient culture #ancient civilizations #ancient china #chinese history

[wuxiaphoenix]

Worldbuilding: Dragging in a Dragon

Here’s another case where I have a detail I want in the story. Yet said detail means I have to work backward from it to find out what the consequences are and what else I need to change in the setting background or timeline so events work out to the situation I plan my characters to end up in.

The detail: I want an actual black dragon to be involved in the Imjin War... which was so named because 1592 was the year of the Black (Water) Dragon.

The problem: In the original Imjin War, the Japanese invasion devastated large swathes of Korea all by themselves. On top of that the Ming Chinese response, while in some ways helpful, was also vicious in multiple ways, from abuse and straight-up murder of some of the locals to secretly plotting with the Japanese to divide up the Korean Peninsula under the cover of peace negotiations. The loss of population and farms gone to ruin dealt a blow to Joseon it took literal centuries to recover from. And I want to dump a dragon in on top of all that?

Not to mention that in this altered timeline Korean forces grabbed a much larger chunk of Yuan territory; a large chunk the Ming intended to have all to themselves. Yes, that would have happened over two centuries before the Japanese fleets landed. From what I’ve read of history, that means the Ming courtiers probably brought it up only once a year or so. So the Wanli Emperor would have been even more reluctant to send troops than in real life. And far more likely to try for a territory grab in the process. Nasty.

So. Are there any mitigating factors already in the setting that could change either the forces that were involved or the Korean ability to toss out the Japanese without so much Ming, ahem, “help?”

Actually, yes. This world has cultivators, seafolk, and dragons - and the dragon’s own requirements make it very unlikely that the guy who was in charge of Japan at the time would let it stick around. It eats noble maidens. That makes it a direct threat to the Imperial Court, and the shogun cannot tolerate that.

Which implies that Hideyoshi, allied with the dragon, is not the shogun. Given in any world he still wants power, and one of the main problems in this time period is a whole lotta wokou raiding coasts... Hideyoshi, pirate lord of uncivilized seafolk, anyone?

Still piecing together fine details, but this might work....

#creative writing #worldbuilding #colors of another sky

[the-honey-bear]

Silk and Fire

Title: Silk and Fire

Ship: Kaeya/Diluc

Rating: M

Chapter: 1/?

Summary: The young master of the Dawn Winery has gone missing, and Adelinde enlists Kaeya's help to find him. The only clue are the words scribbled on a scrap of paper: "Zubayr Theater."

Kaeya travels to Sumeru and finds the theater troupe, and there meets a beautiful red-haired dancer...

This is the first chapter of a new multichapter fic featuring cross-dressing and silliness and old feelings blooming in a new land!! Hope you enjoy.

Read on AO3 or go under the cut 

That morning, Kaeya tendered his formal leave request.

The Acting Grand Master expressed interest and surprise; it was not like Kaeya to take such a long period off. He told her planned to travel to Sumeru, and hinted that he planned on enjoying the Sumeran wine and meeting some beauties. Jean smiled wanly at him and told him not to have too good a time.

It was a lie. But it beat telling the Acting Grand Master that he was going there to look for his brother, of all people.

As far as he was concerned, Diluc could handle himself. But Adelinde had begged him, and who was he to say no to a pretty girl?

“Isn’t it normal for Master Diluc to vanish on these mysterious trips?” he asked her.

“Yes, but not like this,” Adelinde said.  “Three months ago, he pretty much ran into the room, told me to pack his suitcase, because he was going to Sumeru City. Well, I packed for him, and within an hour he was gone. I’ve heard nothing from him since then. Now I’ve got vendors and clients waiting for him to return, and I don’t know what to tell them.”

“It’s not like Diluc to leave things in a disarray,” he admitted.

“Precisely,” he said. “Please, Master Kaeya, will you go and find him? I worry he may have gotten himself into some sort of trouble. I didn’t know who else to ask.”

Kaeya raised his eyebrows. “So you asked me?”

She replied with an imploring smile. With a theatrical sigh and wave, he agreed.

“I suppose I may as well. Since you asked so politely.”

Not that he was worried about Diluc, or anything.

So, having handed in his leave, Kaeya packed his bags, and headed off  west.

*

Kaeya made it through the jungle unscathed, with the help of the forest rangers, and arrived safely in Sumeru City.

Before he’d left the Winery, Kaeya had stopped by Diluc’s office to look for clues of his whereabouts. On his desk he found a scrap of paper with two words: Zubayr Theater.

It wasn’t much, but it was something. Enquiries with the locals directed him to the Grand Bazaar, where he found the theater troupe themselves practicing onstage.

They were fabulous to watch, with flurries of silk scarves and fluid movement that ran like water. Nothing at all like the formal waltzes popular in Mondstadt. His eye was drawn to a beautiful red-haired girl. She was a little hesitant and shy, but her eyes were like fiery amber. She was also surprisingly ripped, with chiseled abs.

Have I met her somewhere before…? He wondered. He was known as a womanizer in Mondstat for a reason; even he would admit he didn’t recall all the names of the girls he’d spent the evening with.

“That’s a wrap, everybody! Take five.” Another redhead with her hair split into twintails clapped, and the theater troupe began to disperse for a break. She noticed Kaeya watching, and descended the stairs to speak with him.

“Our performance is in an hour, if you’d like to see the finished thing,” she said with a bright smile.

“I’d love to,” Kaeya said, replying with a dazzling smile of his own. It was time to get some information. “I wondered if you could help me. I’m in Sumeru looking for someone.”

“I wondered if you were a traveler,” Nilou said, taking in his outfit. “Are you a knight of Favonius, by any chance?”

“So our name and illustrious deeds have spread this far!”

She laughed. “Well, actually, a new girl joined the troupe not long ago from Mondstadt. She was telling me a little about her home.” Nilou nudged her head to the redhead with the passionate eyes Kaeya spied earlier. So that was why she looked familiar.

Kaeya was sure he met her at the Angel’s Share. What was her name… Cecilia… Claudia?

“I think I may actually know her,” Kaeya said with a smile.

“Is that so? What a small world. Well, if you’re looking for someone from Mondstadt, she would be the best person to ask.”

The girl from Mondstadt was packing up, her back facing Kaeya.

“Hey. Fancy meeting you here gorgeous,” Kaeya said, leaning against the wall, his voice full of schmooze.

If she was the girl Kaeya was thinking of, the things she could do with her tongue and a family sized tub of banana yogurt. Me-ow.

The girl snapped round, glaring fiercely, her eyes narrowed into points.

Wait, had he got the wrong girl? It wasn’t like him to make this kind of faux pas.

Except the longer he looked at her, the more familiar she looked. Although she was glaring fiercely at him, her cheeks were slowly filling with colour.

At last, he sputtered out, “D-Diluc?”

“Don’t you. Dare. Say a word,” Diluc demanded.

Kaeya hadn’t expected to find Diluc so quickly, and certainly not like this. But despite mistaking him not just for a woman, but a woman he’d slept with, Kaeya quickly regained his equilibrium.

“Now why would I do something like that? This is so much fun. I never knew you had this kind of hobby, Master Diluc,” he teased him.

His brother’s glare could melt glaciers. “It’s not what it looks like.”

“I’m not judging you. I actually think this suits you,” he said. He picked up a tassled sleeve, feeling the silk between his forefinger and thumb. “You should wear silks more often.”

It was a rare day in their adult life Kaeya could embarrass Diluc. But despite Diluc’s cold composure, even his earlobes had turned red. What a wonderful day this turned out to be!

Nilou called over to them from up on the stage. “Diluna, it’s nearly time! Will you help me with the set dressing?”

Kaeya raised an eyebrow. “Diluna?”

“Coming!” Diluc called over to her. He turned back to Kaeya and said, “Fuck off Kaeya.”

As he stomped off to help with the set, face as red as his hair, Kaeya wondered how on earth he’d mistaken him for a girl.

Having come all this way, Kaeya thought he might as well watch the performance.

He thought it would also infuriate Diluc, which was a bonus.

As he wandered the Grand Bazaar waiting for the show, he pondered what he’d write in his report to Adelinde.

Sorry, Adelinde, Master Diluc has snapped and run off to become a cross-dressing dancer in Sumeru. Ciao~

Except that he knew Diluc better than he knew anyone, and that if Diluc was posing as cross-dressing belly dancer, there would be a reason for it. It’d probably be a boring reason too, like the upheaval of tyranny, or something. Having travelled this far, he might as well stay and help him.

The five dancers stepped on stage to the beautiful blend of mandolin and sitar. The girl, Nilou, was the star of the show, but Kaeya’s eyes drifted towards Diluc. Had Diluc always moved like this? If Nilou was like water, graceful and gentle, then Diluc was fire. Shy and hesitant at first, he was a flickering flame that built, growing fiercer, bangles clashing at his wrists and feet as he whirled about. He was bright and blazing, and impossible to ignore. Face flushed, sweat dripping down his abs as he moved with the music. There was an intensity to him that was hypnotic.

Kaeya couldn’t look away.

At that moment, Diluc spotted him in the crowd, and stumbled.

Kaeya inhaled sharply.

Diluc glared at him, his eyes burning coals, and picked himself up, slipping back into the dance flawlessly.

Skirts and veils twirled as the music hit the crescendo. Kaeya didn’t blink once.

*

The performance met with rapturous applause. Diluc stepped down from the stage to find Kaeya, and pulled him aside with a sharp yank at his elbow.

“Why are you still here?” he demanded, ice incarnate.

He was flush with sweat that beaded and rolled down his neck. It was distracting.

“Master Diluc, you never told me you could dance like that,” Kaeya said. “All these years turning down invites to the Mondstadt socials, and look what we were all missing!”

Diluc looked at him sourly.

“Come now. I travelled all this way for this sort of greeting?” Kaeya said.

Diluc shot him a quizzical look. That was progress. It was the first time today he’d looked at him with something other than utter disdain and annoyance. “You came all this way for me?”

He couldn't blame Diluc for his surprise. It wasn’t like they chose to spend any amount of time together. Well, not since…

“Adelinde asked me,” Kaeya said quickly. “You know I can’t say no to her.”

“Oh. Of course,” said Diluc. His expression was complicated. Kaeya wondered for a moment if he saw something like disappointment.

Kaeya’s mouth twisted up a semblance of a smile. Of course, that wasn’t possible.

“Please apologise to Adelinde for me, but tell her I can’t come home yet. I have something important to do here.” He folded his arms across his chest.

Kaeya glanced down at him. “Oh, clearly.”

“I don’t have to explain myself to you,” Diluc spat. “Your appearance here compromises me. I… appreciate your concern, but it’s unnecessary. Go back home.”

He whirled away, and strode back up the stage. Kaeya wondered how long his brother had been able to walk in heels.

Naturally he ignored Diluc, and that evening Kaeya found lodging in Sumeru, and paid in advance for the week.

#kaeluc #luckae #my fanfiction

[pwlanier]

An important and rare cloisonné enamel rectangular 'dragon' incense burner,

Wanli six-character mark and of the period (1573-1620).

Courtesy Alain Truong