stellafortunalogs | JANUARY MINGLE

January Mingle: A Ballad in Goblets
Welcome to Teyvat - a vast magical world of adventure.
You open your eyes to an unfamiliar sight. A cool breeze flits through rustic buildings and sunny streets, carrying the smell of flowers and wine. The very air itself seems charged with mana, the warm pulse of the land palpable beneath your feet. This is a new world, a world where the elements compose all of reality. Before you is a bubbling fountain, and a key is entwined between your fingers. And that weight on your hip? A sparkling bauble that you've never seen before, yet it feels natural, as if it had always been there.

Asking around nets you the name of this world - Teyvat - and the name of this city - Mondstadt, blessed by the Anemo Archon, Barbatos. Your new home is accessible with the key placed in your hands, though this also brings to mind another question. How will you get money? Food isn't free, after all.

Luckily for you, there's plenty of jobs available for the enterprising Traveler. Be it taking requests from the Adventurers' Guild, or working part-time at one of Mondstadt's many food establishments, Mora is to be had when hard work is involved. The cuisine of Mondstadt is best paired with its wine, served at bars or enjoyed in private with a few friends.

And about that shining gem. locals will tell you that it is a Vision, a sign of favour from Teyvat's elemental gods. With the Vision on hand, you find yourself capable of commanding one of the seven elements. What will you do with this newfound blessing? Use it for good... or for evil?

Mondstadt's liveliness doesn't diminish when night falls. Bards sing through the wee hours of the night, and the lights of the city help keep most evildoers at bay. All seems peaceful, a pastoral idyll of a life that seems more at home in a storybook. Yet for those Travelers who venture out beyond the city's walls and into the ruins dotting the landscape, they may discover hints of a bloodier past now forgotten.

Glancing at any of the calendars in the city will tell you the current date. August 10th was the day you arrived. As soon as the last minute of August 16th slips away, the world around you changes. A blink, and time itself rewinds by seven days. Looking outside, the mown lawns have regrown, the windmill needs fixing again, and the well is once again full. Just what is happening here? It seems only you, Traveler, remembers the week that never was.

State of the World

For the first two weeks of the game, IC time will be looping from August 10th to August 16th. It's currently late summer in Mondstadt, and the trees are just beginning to turn out their autumn colours. The weather is cool and pleasant, with light showers on Tuesday (11th) and Friday (14th). It's also a good time to go out gathering berries and nature's bounty from Mondstadt's forests and valleys.

These two weeks will let us trial out our commissions and regains system and craft improvements for February onwards. There will be no activity requirements for January, so all threads started during this time period can be used for regains!

For all questions regarding January's mingle and events, please head over to our OOC post.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Zhongli. [ he smiles with a nod of gracious acknowledgment of the introduction! ] Seo Hwi; it's good to meet you.

[ --oooh, my goodness, he is peering with decided intrigue as Zhongli returns with the plate that smells ungodly ~~heh~~ delicious. h-he's salivating already... ]

This smells amazing... I truly owe you. [ and he's honestly just sitting here real grateful right now... ??? like there's the kindness of strangers, and then there's this... it's A Lot??

..........also, so maybe he's deciding he needs to pass by this place more often. --WITH MONEY next time!! this looks reaaaally good, picturesque even... and he definitely wants to reward Zhongli for his kindness. ]

[ Maybe Seonho will tell Hwi that Zhongli saved his life one day. But it is refreshing to live without the weight of his deeds, and he's content with Hwi knowing him as a part-time chef/waiter combination at Good Hunter. It's better to be ordinary, for it makes things easier for others to try and relate to you. ]

You owe me naught; this is merely something I wished to do.

[ It's one of his money spending whims, except luckily he's spending his own money this time. Even if he technically hasn't earned it yet. ]

How do you find Mondstadt?

[ Sara might stare at him meaningfully soon but he'll try to have his conversation for as long as possible before that. ]

[ Zhongli really is a kind-hearted individual, isn't he? Hwi's smile softens as he picks up the utensils... a tad awkwardly... and gets to work eating his graciously gifted meal.

...wow, this really is as delicious as it smells, and his eyes light up upon the first appreciative bite-- thankfully, he will demonstrate manners and not answer until he's swallowed. (it should be noted that Hwi does not demonstrate these manners for just anyone, please feel blessed, ty) ]

It is taking some getting used to, [ UNDERSTATEMENT, ] but the people here have been very kind to me. [ a look like :) that means you, too :) Zhongli :) ] And you? Are you new to town as well?

[ Giving assistance to those who need it is something Zhongli takes to heart, and something that he has done for his many many years of life. He strives to correct things when others are suffering, even if it meant that he ends up spending a lot of other people's money. ]

In some ways, yes. Teyvat is my home, but I live in neighboring Liyue. I came here to visit an old friend.

[ If only he wasn't so weak now, Venti might have enjoyed the experience of being yeeted by a pillar yet again ]

[ zhongli and money, name me a more influential couple... i'll wait

oh, well that answer is interesting - he's the first person Hwi's met who is from this world, but not this town. he's looking up and hesitating before taking his next bite. ]

So you're native to this world? [ wow... and he's not getting generic responses like Hwi gets from most of the townfolk!! this is progress!! ] Then, would you know anything about what's happening? [ like why they're here, for starters? because as much as he appreciates a delicious meal... his little sister is waiting for him. ]

[ Zhongli expected this question, so his answer is immediate and without hesitation. ]

You refer to the appearance of individuals from other worlds? I am afraid that such things are also entirely unfamiliar to me.

[ It's kind of ironic, really. He too is trapped in Mondstadt, which isn't even his own territory. Never mind that he's already retired from his position as Archon, but. ]

I know it must be difficult for you to not have a way home. I have been slowly investigating the matter.

[ he tries to hide the sinking of disappointment - it was hardly Zhongli's fault, after all. ]

It must be troublesome to you too, having these strangers dropped into your home. [ he sympathizes with the people here; it was their lives that were being disrupted as much as the 'Travelers.' ] I know it might be much to ask of a stranger who's already done me a favor, but... would you tell me if you hear anything?

[ information was priceless in a situation like this, but he would do his best to find a way to repay Zhongli for it all the same. ]

[ It really do be like that sometimes. Zhongli doesn't fault Hwi for being disappointed, either. Mortals hardly have the patience or breadth of view that Archons do. ]

It is no trouble. After all, just as you wish to return home, I too wish to aid in setting things right.

[ Stoically ignoring Sara's intermittent staring at him now... ]

I will let you know if I come upon any clues.

Thank you. I really appreciate it. [ his gratitude is obvious. even if he didn't end up sharing his information, it was worth a shot, right?

hey so, on an unrelated note - his getting-stared-at-by-a-woman-radar is going off,

and so he's leaning in a bit and dropping his voice conspiratorially, ]

...By the way, did you know you have an admirer?

[ All will come to light in due time. It is this belief that lets Zhongli remain patient - he wouldn't have agreed to being trapped here without a very good reason. Even if he has become unaware of the terms of his contract, he trusts in the judgment of his past self. After all, his shrewdness has never failed him for the past six thousand years. ]

Do I?

[ He blinks, turning around to see if anyone is looking this way. Everyone seems to be focused on their conversation or their food, except the other waiters who are continuing with their duties. Maybe Zhongli has been standing here for too long... ]

[ Hwi can literally FEEL that look... does Zhongli really not know the creeping dread of a Woman's Wrath...

he's leaning in a bit more, nudging his head subtly in Sara's direction, and keeping his voice low: ]

Is that your wife? If so, I think you are in trouble.

My wife?

[ Zhongli turns around, sees Sara glaring at him with intense eyes... it seems his status of being immune to the timeloop won't save him this time round. ]

I will be back in a few moments, rest assured. [ He's definitely overstaying his time outside of the kitchen... back to Hwi now: ] I would be glad to chat more when we are both unoccupied.

[ After all, he'll keep an eye on Seonho's friend (?). ]

[ great, now Hwi thinks Sara and Zhongli are definitely married, this is his headcanon now, ]

Of course. Thank you again; I'll be sure to return the favor one day. [ if not with food, then... in some way!! so just accept it!! ]

[ Zhongli is in reality married to his work and still mourning the death of his wife. ]

Till next time. Take care.

[ Back in the kitchen he goes, like a good employee. He won't be getting much pay today, but he'd gladly exchange a full day's Mora for the opportunity to network. ]

JANUARY MINGLE

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