#especially jingliu and yanqing's friendship!

[pancakes-with-grounded-hazelnuts]

hsr: references to jingliu, jing yuan, and yanqing's backstories. interpretations + hcs roughly based on anything up to 1.4

(hi i don't make proper theories or analyses. i just scream my feelings into a void in a chaotic barrage of words.)

thinking about sword family again.

how jingliu’s readiness to teach anyone swordsmanship regardless of fame, talent, or circumstances transformed jing yuan’s life. i think about little jing yuan, whose passion for swordplay went against his parents' wishes, whose talent leaned far more into cunning than the blade. and yet jingliu acknowledged his desire to learn and acknowledged him as he was. even now, he still speaks of her with respect and fondness.

i then think about how jing yuan now, many years later, is mentoring a student of his own, yanqing. a boy with no known background but had a fiery passion for swordplay. how he went against public opinion to give him opportunities on the battlefield at a young age. the dubious ethics of this aside, i can see little yanqing felt his passion and abilities acknowledged.

i think of them being acknowledged by their masters, for not only their strengths and weaknesses, but their dreams. i can imagine a great sense of hope dawning on them. they will never forget it.

(extra headcanony territory) and then i picture, the student of her student, standing before her, hungry for another contest, hungry to learn more techniques from her. he knows she's deemed a criminal by the xianzhou, he knows her past is full of painful complications beyond his comprehension, but through all that, jingliu is still a brilliant swordmaster, and that's what matters to him. he will acknowledge her as she is. he will cut through her punishing memories with his sharp tongue. "what's the holdup? it's time for swordplay!" and she will smile the sweetest and most sincere smile she had for years, for there's fun to be had.

and so the cycle of hope has come full circle.

>> disclaimer: i might be too paranoid about this, but i feel the need to note that the positive way i wrote this (and other posts) doesn't mean i think what these characters do for each other is necessarily the best or healthiest (even by in-universe standards, let alone my own). i acknowledge the flaws and greyness of this world, but i prefer to read them in the context of its own setting and focus on the positives for a lot of these posts because it gives me the most joy.

#honkai star rail #jingliu #jing yuan #yanqing #text post #WOW THIS WAS A LONG ONE (hindsight: it's not that long) #don't mistake the length for additional nuance or profundity #i just have fun writing like this and i let it keep going #and that's all that really matters tbh!! #i'm learning that i love repetition #and i can't seem to write any of description or analysis without making it singsongy and narration-like #on another note. i can't believe i got more than 2 likes on my previous 2 posts #i accepted my love for their dynamics is eclipsed in popularity by romantic ships but i was still a bit saddened by it #especially jingliu and yanqing's friendship! #on the upside. it pushed me to create these posts in the first place #so i'm happy to see people enjoying them! #sword family make brain go brrr

[artheresy]

I have not forgotten the draft regarding "How I would write Clouds Leave No Trace", it still lingers its still there

Im still thinking about how my least favorite parts are Yanqing's characterization, The way the world around Jingliu treats her like she's normal when clearly she's not, The way there's such an effort into putting Yingxing and Dan Feng on the same level of guilt for every single thing that it makes Blade's desire for revenge feel nonsensical and out of no where when he has good reason for it, The way that they don't do more to play up the HCQ's dynamic especially in the normal areas thus making caring about their tragedy a struggle if you haven't done all the "prerequisite reading" (even tho the quest should make the players care more and want to read instead of requiring the opposite), The way that they literally mention Bailu and Blade crossed paths but never show us that scene DESPITE all of the importance placed upon Baiheng and Yingxing's friendship, Did I mention My Massive Problems with my boy Yanqing's characterization in this quest versus what we see of how he's affected both before and after it?

Oh and of course, to mention Jing Yuan not really feeling like he has as much significance being in this quest despite being apart of the HCQ and Jingliu's disciple because yet again, they especially don't do enough to develop on screen (but also not enough in the readable text too) his connections to the rest of the HCQ (which in general if you ask me, makes it a lot harder to be that sad at the moments they clearly want us to feel sad for him over the HCQ)

I could go on and on about the problems of Hyv not fully giving the audience a reason to care for the HCQ's tragedy by the way they are barely shown on screen, shoving it all in readables and character stories and relic lore. Even their legends get barely any screen time to build up to when we hear about the fall out.

Also again, not kidding about Jingliu and the world's perception around her. She is described solely in the beginning as bringing a chill to the room, but she's clearly very intimidating, if you ask me she seems very clearly unstable as well and yet when they waltz around in a populated area with no attention getting drawn to them or suspicion or anything. I also call Massive Bullshit on Bailu being like "Wow but she seems so normal and kind, there's nothing about her at all that could make me think she's marastruck 😲!!" When if you ask me, that whole scene could have been used in a much more meaningful way to make a connection between Bailu and her resemblance to Baiheng Specifically in a way I will further elaborate on in my full post about it BUT YEAH Jingliu deserved so much better with this quest, so so much better

And even just small details get me like Jingliu leaving first from Scalegorge Waterscale, then Jing Yuan, Yanqing and Ren leaving? Like if you ask me, let Jingliu leave with Jing Yuan and Yanqing like they're escorting her (idc about any "She was already turning herself in!" There are a number of reasons to be cautious, not solely of her, and keep her in their view) and then talk to and have Ren leave last.

I am still thinking about it, that post still haunts me daily, I have grown to like the quest but my problems with it are so strong and so clear that it's like AHA I CANT STOP THINKING ABOUT IT

#I have so many opinions on this quest #And a clear vision in my mind #I still don't know why it exists in its own little bubble #Why is Yanqing acting so odd in this quest but then goes right back to his normal consistent point of character regarding his failures afte #Also even with the argument of it being Jinglius biased words #Having NO mention of Dan Feng while talking about Yingxing's fate at all is wild and weird #Not even a “His stupidity and loyalty to you got him turned into a monster” kind of thing #Where it doesn't even have to be explicitly all the fault on Dan Feng but treating it like he wasn't at all involved in that transformation #It's crazy to me #But yeah uh #I bet if I wasn't obsessed with Blade and the HCQ #To the point of going through the readables and little quests with any mentions of them and their character stories #That I wouldn't be as emotional as I was during Clouds Leave No Trace because they really don't do enough to give reasons to care #The reason I cried for Blade when I played it is bc I read VotU knew what Baiheng meant to him & the ChrStr to know what they meant to him #The game should do more to tell us those kinds of things upfront if they want us to be more likely to have the reaction they seek #ALSO #NOT ENOUGH FLASHBACKS #SERIOUSLY ADD SOME MORE !!! #Even just snippets and add little lines and moments or views of the past overlaid on the prescent? #Hsr #Honkai star rail #Jingliu #Baiheng #Dan heng #Dan feng #Yanqing #Jing yuan #Yingxing #Hsr blade #high cloud quintet

[everlastiingiimmortals]

@resolutepath asked:

"I hear the generals have been called together. Is that something that happens regularly..?" It is a cautious point to start on, though Welt already has suspicions as to the nature of his answer. The response is likely unfavourable and almost certainly a harbinger of an ill omen on the horizon. Still, it pays to keep those opinions unvoiced until after the general has disclosed his own. If they are in accord, then there will at least be chance to set plans in motion before it is too late. "And will you be taking your young charge with you, or leaving him to handle matters here at home?"

"It is not uncommon," Jing Yuan supplies evenly. It's not a lie; the Alliance exists through war, and regular communications between the Marshal and the rest of the Arbiter-Generals is to be expected. Any major criminals are regularly brought through the same process Luocha and Jingliu are to go through, and the number of those is not small for the age and strength of the Xianzhou. For all intents and purposes, especially given the track record of the Alliance, this is routine. Still, what Welt is prying into is sensitive information; he trusts that Dan Heng would have not leaked much to his comrades, but for the Nameless before him to ask...

Jing Yuan studies the younger man with a hard glint in his eye, though his gentle smile never leaves his face. "Mr. Yang, I am sure you are aware that the Alliance is a faction that knows little rest. Our constant search for our next quarry calls for regular meetings between the heads of each ship when necessary; the formalities of such often require that I attend such meetings alone. Contrary to popular belief, Yanqing is not high-ranking enough to be privy to all of the Luofu's affairs, let alone matters pertaining to the rest of the ships." He chuckles lightly, as if he'd made a joke. "He will be enjoying some free time without my incessant fretting, I imagine.

"...I appreciate the friendship and support of the Astral Express, but please; do not concern yourself with the internal affairs of the Xianzhou, Mr. Yang. Understand that my position requires I do not disclose matters pertaining to the Arbiter-Generals to outsiders, friend or not."

#//everlasting; (IC) #//the dozing general; (JING YUAN) #resolutepath #SO SORRY WELT HE'S WARY OF YOUR PRODDING #made it its own text post in case you wanna turn it into a thread :0