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What’s one random headcanon about your muse that people mightn’t know? (for both Chongyun and Kami)
for chongyun
i wouldn't say it's not well known, but it doesn't get the attention i WANT it to get. but chongyun has an earring! i really liked drummer!chongyun aesthetic, especially the tassel earring he's got. so, i took that earring and applied it to any verse i shove chongyun into. he has an earring, and i also headcanon that when he and xingqiu traded tassels, they also made sure both tassels were earrings.
chongyun also, blog canonically, has hair long enough to pull into a ponytail. it's not a super long one, but it's long enough that there's enough hair to pull back and keep out of his face! (he also has mini fangs because i said so.)
for kaminari
kami is a HUGE reader. he loves getting lost in a good book. but even further than that, if kami favors a person well enough, and they have a favorite book, his love language is taking that book and getting it rebound to something far more extravagent and beautiful. he probably did that for cyno and cyno's 'king of invocations' book, at least the first one.
kami doesn't show very many ways in which he does care, still having several walls up. but there ARE little ways in which he's like "you mean something to me, have a special edition book."
"And when's the last time you slept?" (for Chongyun)
What's he supposed to tell Hu Tao? They're not used to being confronted so directly over what should have been obvious from the beginning ― even if Chongyun would rather they never said anything.
"Uh." Chongyun blinks slowly at her, before lifting a hand and glancing downward, to PHYSICALLY count his fingers. "Two...nights ago?" Two days, really, as Chongyun has the unfortunate habit of working through the night. "I napped," he continues to explain, hastily. "Please don't yell at me, I know this is a terrible habit. People just keep commissioning me, and I hate to let them down."
Chongyun makes a mental note to sleep later, or at least take an extended nap. He has a feeling that if not Hu Tao, then Xingqiu definitely would.
Chongyun probably shouldn't have insinuated she'd yell. He's used to getting on the wrong side of people though, or perhaps that's just his own perception of the world. Hu Tao is really easy-going on a good day, and at worst, she expresses disappointment. Time to trip over his words, on TOP of being tired.
"Not yell, exactly," Chongyun tries to explain. "Maybe that'd be more Xingqiu? I don't know anymore. I just know I feel guilty when I push myself. I know I shouldn't? But sometimes I forget."
He pauses to wipe his mouth. Not that he's doing anything gross, but his mouth feels dry, and Chongyun wonders if he's thirsty. No, he DEFINITELY is. It's been over an hour since he had a drink, and he can feel slightly shaky.
Chongyun also feels the yang energy pulsing dully in the back of his mind. It's suppressed for now, but it probably won't be forever. "I'll take a break, I promise. I just need to get something to eat, and then I'll probably go take a nap just outside the city, where it's grassy and cool."
He should probably go sleep in his own bed, but ― the thought of getting under his bedding and getting unnecessarily warm doesn't sound appealing to him.
"Thanks, Hu Tao." He offers her a smile. "I'm glad you understand me better than others."
@oficeandwind / Chongyun (cont.) "I napped," he continues to explain, hastily. "Please don't yell at me, I know this is a terrible habit. People just keep commissioning me, and I hate to let them down." Chongyun makes a mental note to sleep later, or at least take an extended nap. He has a feeling that if not Hu Tao, then Xingqiu definitely would.
Sure it was on a whim that she wanted to visit the exorcist. After all, Chongyun was a close friend. It was upon arriving she noticed those signs. Dark circles under the eyes. A hasty, jitteriness in his mannerisms. The slow finger counting. Hu Tao scrunched up her face slightly knowing very well how exhausting insomnia could be. She saw it in her clients who experienced restlessness nights due to either a haunting or unpleasant nightmares.
"Two nights???" while her voice didn't exactly raise, there was a hint of concern from the funeral director. Her expression soon softened and she let out a sigh. "Aiyaaa…What makes you think I'm going to yell at you?" she asked. The question almost sounding rhetorical.
With that Hu Tao took a spot to sit beside him. In truth, she had been feeling tired herself. The idea of not wanting to let others down was too relatable. "I would be an absolute hypocrite if I told you to stop staying up so late at night. But still, you should at least give yourself a break once in a while. Those commissions can wait, right?"
Actually Hu Tao knew that it wasn't too easy to solve. She could sense his yang energy had just crashed or was about to. "I do understand your work is important, Chongyun. But you can do it effectively if you push yourself too much"
"Oh!" Chongyun's eyes widen at the mention of his popsicles. He'd completely forgotten about them ― they're probably all a melted mess right now. Quickly, he's bending over to rummage through his pouch, and in dismay, finds that he'd guessed correctly. "They melted," he tells her dramatically. It IS dramatic, considering how tired Chongyun is right now. It's never a huge deal in the first place, but in Chongyun's current state, it's easier to play around a little more for those sympathy points.
"I'll come with you. I'm not so far gone that I can't walk." They're taking their pouch off their waist and holding it in their hands. With the liner inside, Chongyun isn't worried about the contents inside leaking, but it's still better to keep it off their clothing just in case. "What are you thinking as far as food?" They're even tipping it over to let the liquid inside spill out.
If they can avoid Wanmin Restaurant, Chongyun will be pleased. He's only eaten Xiangling's cooking a handful of times; he knows her pechant for creating spicy dishes. Chongyun is too tired to play 'guess the outcome' where anything outside his comfort zone and yang energy is concerned. "Maybe rice? Pork fried rice. Fish." They're definitely hungry. As if the naming of food isn't enough, Chongyun's stomach grumbles. "―I haven't eaten for a few hours, either," they admit. "Not that I haven't had food, I mean. I ate fruit and nuts, mostly."
He moves closer to her, wearing a more genuine smile. Feeling slightly more awake than before, too. "You are being a good friend. Thank you for helping, Hu Tao, I appreciate it."
Fortunately an expression of disappointment from the funeral director was never with ill-intentions. Most of the time it was merely a firm request for the other to take better care of themselves. "As much as I would love the support for my business...." her voice trailed off slightly before she tch'd out a short laugh.
"Funny enough the Yuheng herself was going through her own bouts of insomnia a few months ago. And mostly for the very same reason. Overwork."
Regardless, she knew Chongyun wasn't doing any of this on purpose. More that it was a difficult habit to get over. She took pushed herself, even taking on jobs that she could have just handed to her undertakers.
It seemed that the pure yang energy was both a curse and gift. That's how she interpreted as. As for herself, while it wasn't exactly pure she did display qualities of having the contrasting yin. Usually she could go with the flow and be open to any changes. However, when it was too much she became more lethargic and often isolated herself.
She turned to the exorcist "Oh? Did you run out of those popsicles you usually carry around?" She had noticed the signs of both thirst and hunger. She made a soft hum. Liyue was mostly known for its spicy dishes. Or at least ones that were cooked hot. Still, she wasn't just going to sit there and do nothing about this.
"I can go find ya something..." His next compliment might have caught her off guard for a moment. She breathed out a small smile in return. Her hand moved to scratch absentmindedly at the back of her head. "Aiyaaa...isn't that what a friend is for? ~"
"ah, the teahouse!" chongyun's head lifts up with widened eyes. he LOVES the teahouse ― how he'd completely forgotten about it in his state is beyond him. the atmosphere is infinitely more calming than most other locations in liyue. while still bustling with activity, chongyun still enjoys the stories; they distract him from everything happening elsewhere in the city. plus, the staff there had always taken care to cater to his needs by often serving him lukewarm at best tea. "the teahouse is a good idea. maybe we'll hear a story while we're there."
"i also like the thought of grilled tiger fish." chongyun nods, the thought of food doing more to perk them up than anything else had previously. the nap is still on the table, but hu tao is doing an excellent job of reminding chongyun about all their options. how is it that they've lived here all their life and still struggle to remember even the most basic commodities? too much time outside the harbor, that's for certain.
"and for the record―" chongyun lifts a finger, tilting his head at hu tao. "my yang energy isn't taking control right now. i'm too tired for that." he stops advancing when he sees the expression on her face. the blush. part of chongyun feels bad, like maybe he'd overdone it a touch, but then again, maybe she's not used to receiving such compliments. especially from him.
chongyun really should be nicer to his friends, shouldn't he?
"i meant what i said," chongyun says, feeling awkward now. they're rubbing at the back of their neck, glancing downward briefly. but movement catches their eye, and chongyun is glancing back up in her direction. hu tao is smiling and reaching her own hand out. "oh!" the grin is back on their face, and they clasp her hand.
"i meant what i said," they repeat. "you are a good friend to me. but uh. ah ― i'm hungry. we should get going."
"Melted??" Oh she was indeed perplexed at this outcome. She leaned over examining the contents of his pouch. Or rather what was left but the watery remnants of a few popsicle sticks. "And here I was thinking you used some of your cryo vision to keep them cool somehow." That was totally how it was done, right? Unless there was another way..
The funeral director made a thoughtful hum to herself. "Actually when we needed to keep things cool at the funeral parlor we often used mistflowers." It wasn't much of a suggestion but it was better than none at all. Regardless, Chongyun was certainly being successful in garnishing sympathy points from her.
"Ah! Are you sure you can walk?" she asked once he had made the offer to tag along. Sure he claimed he wasn't 'too far gone', but in a profession such as hers it was always a habit to not take any slight ailment too lightly.
"I think it would be best to find something nearby," she paused placing her hand under her chin as she tried to recall the various restaurants as well as keeping in mind of the exorcist's favorites.
"There's that place over by Second Life that does sell grilled tiger fish. Not much places to sit nearby. Sooo the next bet would be Heyu Teahouse. Their food is still the warmer side but it won't be spicy like at Wanmin. I admit I like going there cause I can always catch one of Yunjin's performances from time to time . What do you think?~"
Just near the end of her informative ramble about food she had noticed Chongyun had moved closer to her. This was pleasantly different than what she was use to. Most would have done the opposite and edged away from the funeral director. There was an attempt to hide to pink shade that cascaded over her cheeks.
"Aiyaaa. I don't know if that's just the over abundance of yang energy talking or not...but really it's the least I can do," she remarked with a returned smile. With that she slowly stood up more extending out her hand toward Chongyun.
chongyun laughs a little at her concern. not that it's funny, but because chongyun isn't used to people caring so much for them. at least, not in this kind of way. "i'm well enough," they reassure hu tao. "don't worry about me." as tired as chongyun is currently, they're not so tired that they're on the verge of collapsing right then and there. maybe they were, but going to the tea house sounds like precisely the thing they currently need to let their body rest first before resorting to sleeping.
"and..." chongyun puts a finger to their chin as they follow along, taking in the sights and smells of the harbor. everything smells delicious, though chongyun is still hung up on the idea of eating fish. nothing else sounds quite as good. "if you want to learn more about yin and yang, i can teach you what i know sometime." not now ― that is a lesson chongyun is going to need notes on themself. even with their own yang energy, chongyun never fully got the hang of what exactly it is. those particulars had simply gone right over their head, like most teaching. the only lessons that really stuck were the physical training and the mantras.
"i don't know much about them myself, but i know bits and pieces," chongyun continues. "everything my parents tried to teach me went over my head. i was always more interesting in learning how to fight and how to use my claymore, over any ailments i was born with." there's another sheepish expression on his face. "i know we still have books at home, if you'd ever like to stop by sometime. i plan on staying here for awhile at least, before i have to pick up and get back to work." leaving liyue harbor for several days.
"but we can enjoy the rest of today, i'd rather not force my brain to work too much if i can avoid it." he points at the teahouse. more specifically, chongyun is pointing out a still empty table that the pair can sit at.
"The teahouse it is then!" she affirmed with a smile. The director maay had been hoping he would choose that option. It seemed this was another thing she had in common with Chongyun. As well as their love for a good story.
"Maybe we can actually hear a conclusion to those usual cliffhangers~" Hu Tao mused in reference to the storyteller's habit of forgetting where they left off. Not that she minded. She found the quirk rather fun and endearing, hence her frequent visits to the teahouse.
Moving back to the present moment, she found there was a lingering closeness between the two. Not to mention a sense of awkwardness. And yet, she didn't instinctively back off. Of course the exorcist was being nothing but genuine in their sentiments toward her. She knew that. Still he was correct in his thoughts that she wasn't use to such kindness in general.
"Ahh..I suppose I have bit more to learn about those yin and yang energies," she remarked letting out a soft sigh. "You really are much too kind, Chongyun."
With that she grasped onto his hand helping to pull him up onto his feet. She didn't doubt what he had said. Not at all. The exorcist had always been such a kind friend. Even since they were kids.
The mention of food did elicit her own stomach to growl slightly. Yep, she was hungry as well. Though her face did scrunch up with a bit of embarrassment that she simply overworked herself she forgot to grab something to eat earlier.
"Come on. The teahouse isn't too far from here. Just right past the funeral parlor even" she began to tug at him in an effort to lead but then paused turning her attention back toward Chongyun. "You are well enough to walk there, right? I mean here.." she stepped a bit closer over a shoulder for him to lean on in case there was such a need.
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"