If One Were To Ask HIM, He'd Agree That Rizz Sounds Negative. Therefore, He Hopes Ren Has All Of It.

if one were to ask HIM, he'd agree that rizz sounds negative. therefore, he hopes ren has all of it.

"you continue to flatter me," kami says, lowering his gaming device. it's quickly shut off and put away, with attention once more being directed to aventurine. "if i didn't know any better, i'd say you were trying to butter me up for your own purposes."

getting to his feet, kami glances around the hotel, not nervously, just still not wanting to attract a lot of attention. though if they're going to stay here, he might as well remain on his best behavior for the time being. he still doesn't like being out in the public eye, for fear of someone, or something spotting him. though that's not something aventurine is aware of right now. HOPEFULLY.

returning the bow, kami offers him an almost mischievous grin. "lead the way, my friend. those drinks sound rather delicious right now."

while kami isn't sure of how this night is going to go, he can't deny his eagerness to actually get to know aventurine more, and figure out why exactly kafka had an issue with him. they both come with secrets, it seems, and kami is eager to learn them.

　Though the plan for this date was initially a countermeasure to the shenanigans that arose against him, he would be lying if he said it was not an interesting prospect to look forward to.

　The idea of hanging out with a stranger he had nothing to negotiate with was normally met with reluctance, yet this time around the other had seemed to keep a good match to his back and forth at an entertaining degree. Plus it was only fair that he kept his word after being spared from getting iced (boy, was he lucky!).

　A text provided him the location he needed to arrive; and with a last inspection to ensure everything was in place―his outfit a change from the usual uniform, accompanied by his trademark pink shades and white fedora―the Stoneheart went on his way to arrive at last in the lobby of the Reverie, to search for his date.

　A quick glance around was what only took to spot Kami, who remained fairly unasuming in a far corner, clearly avoiding any more attention despite being well dressed up for the occassion. He approached him with a charming smile plastered across his features.

　"Hiding away while wearing such a ravishing attire? I take you're self-aware of the attention you'd bring to yourself, looking good like this." It wasn't an empty compliment, for the other truly was of beautiful complexion in his own right.

　His hat was placed against his chest as he bent for a little polite bow. "Aventurine here at your disposal, a pleasure to see you again, my friend. Shall we go to the V.I.P area for the promised drinks?"

chongyun browses the menu, not sure what sounds more appetizing. jade parcels had always looked tempting, but as they contain the jueyun chilies, chongyun also isn't willing to risk it, especially not when he's already not at his peak right now.

"i think i'll get the mooncakes and the lotus crisps," chongyun says, setting the menu down on the table. "and cold tea." that's still a fair amount of food, but chongyun is hungry, and eating that much is going to help give a return of some of the energy he is missing.

"you really don't have to pay for this, but thank you." TECHNICALLY, hu tao isn't paying for it. her funeral home is paying for it, which still isn't a huge deal. though chongyun can see mr. zhongli being confused about the expenses later on, maybe.

"to go back to your earlier statement―" chongyun almost hesitates here. it's not that they can't get the words out, or that they're afraid hu tao wouldn't understand. chongyun's just never been vulnerable with friends very much, too independent and even lonely to realize how healthy relying on others can be.

they suppose this is a good time as any to trust their friends a little more.

"― it's not that i can handle things on my own. it's more that i've never really learned how to rely on others." there's an awkward pause after this, even more awkward when the server comes back to ask for their orders. chongyun gives his, before waiting for hu tao to order.

"there's a lot i tend to keep to myself, because i never really learned how to open up. my parents never really..." chongyun waves his hand around. "i don't know. taught me to work with others?"

"How  can  I  not  worry  about...~"  her  voice  trailed  off  mid-protest.

She  couldn't  blame  Chongyun  for  finding  humor  in  her  state  of  concern.  Immediately  she  straightened  up  hearing  his  polite  decline  for  help.  "Ahem..Right,  of  course.  You  always  could  handle  stuff  on  your  own,  haven't  you?"  she  remarked  as  she  continued  walk  along  side  of  him.

Such  an  idea  was  something  she  learned  overtime  when  hanging  out  with  the  Liyuian  exorcist.  Partly  from  her  own  mistakes  even.  Hu  Tao  knew  he  wanted  to  be  trusted  with  what  he  was  capable  with.  Especially  when  it  came  to  his  work  and  fighting  skills.

As  always  the  sites  around  Liyue  Harbor  had  both  an  invigorating  and  yet  calming  effect  to  the  funeral  director.  If  the  winds  blew  just  right  you  can  almost  taste  the  sea.  Similar  to  Chongyun,  fish  based  dishes  were  always  a  favorite.  Then  again,  the  teahouse  was  just  as  good,  if  not  a  bit  better  with  its  ideal  atmosphere.

The  mortician  elicited  a  soft  hum  as  Chongyun  relayed  his  own  experience  with  yin  and  yang  as  well  as  his  training.  "I  think  I  get  what  ya  mean.  Not  only  is  it  your  own  way,  but  it's  one  you  want  to  prove  is  just  as  good.  "  Right  that  made  sense.  Her  face  scrunched  up  slightly.  Was  she  giving  unwanted  advice  again?  Much  more  sounding  strange?  It  almost  wasn't  like  her  to  be  stumbling  over  her  own  thoughts. 

"Nearly  everyone  expects  me  to  act  and  behave  a  certain  way.  The  belief  got  to  my  undertakers.  They  barely  speak  a  word,  because  of  how  others  perceive  our  business.  I  respect  those  traditions.  Really  I  do."  Again  another  pause.  It  was  a  selfish  mix  of  trying  to  relate.  Yin  and  yang  energies  were  something  to  be  balanced  like  the  concepts  of  life  and  death.

Fortunately  such  heavy  thoughts  were  whisked  away  when  the  empty  table  was  pointed  out.  "I'll  definitely  consider  visiting  your  home,  but  until  then  I  must  admit  I've  been  starving  quite  a  bit,"  the  director  said  as  she  sat  down  on  one  of  the  rounded  chairs.

It  wouldn't  be  long  before  a  server  dropped  off  a  pair  of  menus.  As  expected  there  was  a  plethora  a  tea  listed  included  the  popular  chenyu  brew.  As  well  as  complimentary  dishes  including  lotus  flower  crisps,  jade  parcels,  rice  buns,  and  full  mooncakes.  All  of  which  looked  appetizing.

One  item  in  particular  caught  her  attention.  "Ah!  They  are  having  crystal  shrimp  dumplings  here  again  ~  I  mean  of  course  you  should  order  what  you  like.  And  don't  worry  about  the  cost.  I'll  put  it  on  the  funeral  parlor's  tab  to  cover  it"

Okay so I tried to piece things together in a coherent manner but it’s been exhausting, but after thinking about this for the better part of 2 weeks, here at long last, is my headcanon on Chongyun’s family/family history.

I first started doing research when I noticed Chongyun’s affiliation changed from Liyue harbor to Tianheng Thaumaturges. After doing some research and trying to piece together lore, I have decided that Chongyun’s clan can trace their lineage back to when the Guili Assembly was still very much in use. Thaumaturges established their presence by helping to forge the blackcliff catalyst. (and thus where the blackcliff weapons came from)

From there, I can only gather that the thaumaturges started using their magic for exorcisms, since it all seems to go hand in hand in general. The clan grew and spread out, keeping their residence near Mt. Tianheng, or perhaps moving into the city of Liyue once that came into existence.

Since Chongyun mentions briefly that there are relics in their family that can be traced back generations, and there is an established hierarchy in said clan, I can assume that they have somewhat decent standing, especially considering they’re ‘renowned’ throughout Liyue. I refuse to believe that one becomes renowned without having some level of fortune/high class citizenship.

Also to branch off a bit, I feel like Chongyun’s half the clan wasn’t really present when Shenhe’s story happened. Perhaps the elders all agreed collectively to let each individual family do their own thing for the sake of exorcisms and demon hunting, we don’t know. But since they’re part of the same clan, it’s easy to assume that Chongyun did grow up on stories of Shenhe and everything that happened.

Going back to where I think the clan stands in society: I firmly believe they have money, and lots of it. They may not be as well know or super high class as say, XQ and his clan, but Chongyun’s family does have importance and is treated with respect. They would have to have money in order to obtain and upkeep a large family, storage for all their relics, weapons, talismans, charms, probably spellbooks even. I can also assume that they pay for private tutoring/weapons training and training in general. And for Chongyun personally, there’s probably a need to keep mora handy for ordering and commissioning customized clothing/fabric to keep Chongyun comfortable. Not to mention, the cost of importing food from different nations.

For Chongyun especially, in the game it’s stated that people mistrust him because of how powerful they are, but I honestly don’t buy that. The notion to be honest is ridiculous to me. Chongyun has performed hundreds of exorcisms, with a 100% success rate, I really doubt that putting in that much effort for an ungrateful people makes no sense. I can buy confusion and curiosity, but to say that Chongyun has to actively apologize to people upsets me, so I wish to disregard it.

I also think, since it’s stated that Chongyun is heir to the clan, that he is either an only child, or the eldest child and is set to take over as clan leader when his parents/elders no longer can run it. It’s not a responsibility they want exactly, but Chongyun will readily accept it because they do care for their clan/family and do not wish to see their traditions and practices fall to the wayside.

But ultimately, the clan as a whole has a presence that is well established and well known since the founding of Liyue. They’re influential, but not powerful, but are also rich enough to afford a lot of things.

sources:

one

two

"maybe i'll let you guess." kami grins as he wiggles his finger around. it hurts, but not so bad that he's going to complain about it. he did taunt her, after all.

"you have permission to bite to your heart's content, i'm not going to help you with anything or give you suggestions." he sits down opposite her, with a smirk on his face. "stopping a raccoon from biting should be illegal, after all."

@oficeandwind replied to your post :

"who says i'm stopping you?"

─「エデン」─  " so you do want me to bite you ? are you going to tell me where ? or do i have to guess ? " she had no problem guessing by biting until she got it right, of course.

this is still spoilers i think, but headcanon for chongyun:

how often does chongyun go to chenyu vale to do their job? the world quest you get with the area literally talks about thaumaturges and exorcisms right off the bat. this is literally SCREAMING chongyun specialty!!

i know hoyoverse won't ever actually do anything with chongyun, but i'm gonna say that chongyun travels there a lot to do work for a decent amount of mora. and even if not mora, then chongyun definitely gets paid in decent food.

we also already know chongyun and gaming are at the very least acquaintances, if not friends, so i'm going out on a limb and saying chongyun regularly meets up with gaming every time he goes to chenyu vale. either before they have to go exorcise something, or after, so chongyun can rest and unwind and even have a nice chat.

I HAVE. SO MANY FEELINGS. ABOUT CHONGYUN THOUGH.

i am forever bitter that hyv refuses to actually use the backstory they gave chongyun. there's so much lore and in-game potential, but he's treated like a side character when he's got main character energy, right here.

anyway.

chongyun loves chenyu vale anyway, and constantly goes there, even if just to enjoy the calm/eerie setting and take notes on the history of the area. and he's friends with gaming.