songerein | [07] move along, move along just to make it through

Entry tags:

[07] move along, move along just to make it through

Who: Susato and anyone
Which: Open catch-all log for September + network option
Where: The Wild Harvest garden, but open to other locations.
What: Yujin Mikotoba has left Songerein.
Warnings: Will add if needed.

🌸 A. an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Sender: Susato Mikotoba
To: Everyone
Subject: Reverein's clinic

[ It's short, and to the point. Susato doesn't use the journal often to broadcast like this, but now that she is, she feels it prudent to be as direct as possible. ]

To whom it may concern: For the past couple weeks, the Reverein communal clinic has been without a proper doctor to run it. If you are in need of aid, please be patient, as the volunteers are doing the very best they can. If you have medical experience and would like to help, please let me know. Thank you. Regards, Susato Mikotoba

🌸 B. move along, move along, like i know you do.

[ Within the garden of the Wild Harvest, among the faint hissing of snakes and the lull of the waterfalls, Susato closes her journal and tucks away her pen. She takes a deep breath as she moves to stand from her favorite bench, and she walks with purpose into an area littered with stars that look like stepping stones upon the ground.

For a moment, she stops and simply stares. There it is. A blank star, waiting for a name. Perhaps it appeared some time ago. Perhaps she simply ignored it, but after digesting recent events, she has no time to wallow in the remaining stages of grief. He's not even dead, but she wonders if that doesn't make things worse.

Either way, she doesn't even need a pen. She slowly bends down, spending another moment feeling the rough surface of the starfish with her hand before she commits with her pointer finger.

The strokes appear in a glow, and the end result looks engraved. ]

御琴羽悠仁

🌸 C. wild card.

[ If neither of these fit! ]

(( ooc: Feel free to write your own prompt/starter, or if you'd like me to write a personalized starter for you, hit me up at

yammdere or via PM!

Side note: I would love to incorporate Quest #902. Hug it out if you hit prompt B. uwu ))

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[Despite her moment that he witnessed before addressing him, Susato is still the picture of a polite hostess. Zhongli can commend her for that, and he offers her a polite bow in response.]

Yes, it is my first time here. I had a moment to sample the food and drink. I am pleased to say your culinary accolades were not over-exaggerated.

[He genuinely does mean that, because the food really was delicious. His gaze turns to the stones with names upon them.]

This is a lovely memorial. I was not expecting something like this to be here, though given the nature of this realm, I can understand the desire to erect one.

[ She softens at the compliment, showing just a little bit of childish excitement that may betray her young age. She wonders what dishes he was able to try, but she sees his gaze falls onto the stones, and her expression seems to go rigid once more. ]

Yes...

A few months ago, these stars fell from the sky like hail with every rain. There were so many that we feared our roof would collapse... So we collected them, but then we needed a use for them.

I want them to be remembered, but I wonder at times if they are too much like gravestones. [ That's not the kind of implication she wants, but... ]

[He does catch a glimpse of it, even if he doesn't comment on it. Her age isn't something that should indicate a lack of success on her part; Xiangling was a renowned chef for her age, and despite her personality being difficult for him to deal with, Hu Tao hadn't become the Wangsheng Funeral Parlour's Director for no reason. If anything, it's more a sign of how humans can accomplish anything they set their minds to, no matter the age.]

[He listens carefully, turning to look at the stones. When she finishes speaking, he nods slowly.]

I see... Though a memorial can help us remember those who are no longer here, the reminder of one's inevitable demise is always a sobering thought. Still, preserving the memory of those we care for is an age-old practice, and even if those who are gone are not truly departed from the world of the living, their absence is still keenly felt by those who cared for them. A loss is still a loss, even if death is not involved.

[He speaks with the knowledge born not only from his time working as a consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlour back in Liyue, but also as its ruling Archon and god, who had built the civilization from bedrock and protected it for well over 3000 years. Whether mortal or adepti or god, the passage of time, and yearning for those no longer here, is a universal feeling.]

[After a moment, he turns to look at Susato.]

I will say, the use of these stars is a clever use of found resources, and creating something meaningful out of something that once wrought destruction. I'd say there is something rather poetic about the notion.

[ A loss is still a loss... That much is certainly true. His wise words seem to bring her comfort, at least, and as far as she can tell, that was his intention. Outwardly, it looks like whatever emotional load she'd been carrying is a little lighter. ]

Thank you. That is quite kind of you to say...

[ There's a pause. Almost a laugh, as her voice trails. Perhaps it is a touch dramatic to say the starfish brought destruction, but...... ]

I am Susato Mikotoba. I am one of the cooks here, so if there is anything further that you need, you can let me know personally.

[Zhongli is glad to see her looking a little lighter. If his words could help in some way, then he's happy for it. Hopefully, those memories of the people who weren't here remain happy, and not weigh her down.]

A pleasure to meet you, Miss Susato. I am known as Zhongli. I will certainly come to you should I need anything regarding gastronomic ventures, seeing as how wonderful the food here is. In return, I would like to offer my own knowledge should you need. I work as a consultant back in my own world, and I have trivial knowledge of many things. It's the least I can offer in exchange for the lovely meal I had.

[ There will be days that she is thankful for those memories. Days that she looks back on them and smile. Until then, she will keep making new memories, and make use of the time they have. ]

Mr Zhongli. [ Spoken as if to commit it to memory. ] I see. Well, I do not expect anything in return, however, I do admit, I find it fascinating to learn about worlds other than my own.

May I ask what sort of advice people came to you for?

Hmm... well, over the years I would say I have offered advice for many different things. Currently, I offer my services as a consultant for a funeral parlour from my world, though I have offered advice to numerous people on all manner of topics, from business, to contracts, to historical references, to proper brewing techniques for wines. I just happen to have a rather broad smattering of trivial knowledge.

[You learn a lot when you live as long as he has.]

Though my knowledge may not be quite aligned with your expectation, I will do the best I can to offer what insights I can.

[ Susato opens her mouth, perhaps to follow up with questions, but she dares not interrupt. That's a lot to take in. She doesn't know how old Zhongli is, but he definitely seems wise beyond his years. ]

That's... very impressive.

[ What he says about wine sticks out. ]

I don't know what wisdom of yours we may require, but I will be sure to call upon you when I have a chance. I have a... [ a brief moment of hesitation ] a friend, actually, who has opened his own winery and bar here...

I'm sure he would have much to say on the matter.

Is that so? Well, while I am no wine-maker myself, I do know a little bit about the history of wine distillery and gastronomy. I would not mind speaking to your friend should he wish it.

[Though his favourite was osmanthus wine, Zhongli did enjoy the bottles of dandelion wine that Barbatos would bring to him during his visits.]

Though I do not wish to keep you for too long should your presence be required elsewhere, I am curious as to how this establishment came to be. I am told that this particular establishment is one of the few run by those who come from other worlds.

[ ...On second thought, Lord van Zieks is a man of few words, and she regrets what she says almost immediately. Luckily, Zhongli doesn't linger on it too much.

She smiles. ]

You would be correct. The owner of the establishment... and the lord of this house is named Kazuma Asogi. He and I come from the same world, one called Earth.

It was just him and I at the start, along with our good friend Mr 76 when we first opened.

I see... then I must remember to give my compliments to the owner as well, if I am able to see him sometime.

[It was just good decorum to commend not only the workers, but the owner as well. Everyone worked hard to make an establishment run, and he would like to congratulate them all, in time.]

It is fortunate that you are able to have someone from your world here with you. Having a familiar face in light of a new challenge can make the experience less daunting. But judging by how well this place is run, I would venture to say that you are faring along well since coming here?

[ Susato beams at the casual compliment. In time, indeed...

If the family she found here at the Harvest stayed together long enough that someone like Zhongli could meet them all, he could consider himself lucky, as she does. There is a deep breath like she is relieved as she considers how to answer him... because truth be told, with recent events, she is not faring as well as she is outwardly letting on, but without all the support she has, she would definitely be worse. ]

Thank you. It was definitely a boon to see so many of us, but I am grateful for the new friends I have made as well. So yes, I, I would say I am... faring well enough.

Things are quite different here, but we are learning new things all the time. About the world, and about ourselves.

[He's glad to see her beam at the compliment, for he means every word of it. And it seems that her ability to adapt and find gratitude even in such a strange place is commendable. Humans were quite capable of wonderful things when they put their minds to it.]

I understand. Though it is a strange phenomenon that even I am unfamiliar with, seeing that people can still thrive in such conditions is heartwarming, to say the least.

[ She grins a quiet agreement, visibly nodding. She thinks he's described it perfectly: heartwarming. Perhaps that is fitting for what is supposed to be a dream. ]

And what of you? It seems like you have also been able to adapt quite impressively. [ It's always fascinating to get perspective from a new dreamwalker. ]

Ah, me?

[Zhongli hims in thought, a hand brought to his chin as he considers his new predicament.]

It is different than what I have experienced before, I will admit. A realm within dreams is not something I have ever experienced firsthand, but I do have experience with something similar in my world; adepti abodes are said to be quite otherworldly, like stepping into a dream itself. This world feels similar to what an adeptus's abode would be like stepping into. Though perhaps a bit more... whimsical.

[He says that last part with a hint of amusement to his voice.]

[ ......Hmm. At some point, he lost her, and she can't say she's a fan of the feeling. She tilts her head. ]

I've... never heard of such abodes. Are they something akin to extravagant mansions? [ There's a pause, but another question quickly follows. ] What makes them "otherworldly"?

[Ah... right. Zhongli blinks at her in surprise, before he chuckles softly.]

Ah, forgive me. I forget that not many people here know what an adeptus's abode would look like. It is less a mansion and more a realm of its own. A space separate from the natural world, as well as separate from the laws of nature. So, it is quite possible to have structures and landscapes completely disconnected from reality within.

[ A whole realm? Perhaps Susato wasn't expecting such a response. She looks like she is trying to assign an image to this concept, but all-in-all, she is fascinated by the idea. ]

Why, it sounds as though Songerein is one large adeptus's abode all its own. I can see why you feel they are similar, though I would assume you are able to come and go more freely than you are here.

You are correct. It is much easier to enter and exit an adeptus's abode once you find one. The difficult part of that is in finding the abode itself. Many are very well hidden and in very remote locations.

[He thinks to adepti like Cloud Retainer, Moon Carver, and Mountain Shaper, and how isolated their abodes are. Even fallen adepti like Sea Gazer's lost abode is more like a hidden dungeon now.]

Still, Songerein is quite a unique world all on its own. I am looking forward to learning more about this strange new world.

[ Certainly a sentiment she can relate to and respect. ]

I have been here close to a year myself, and I am still learning something new every day.

If you are looking for a place to start... I would recommend visting the Archives on your way to the Tree of Stories.

The Archives..? Hmm. Perhaps I will have to pay that a visit.

[He nods to her.]

Thank you for all the knowledge you have given me. I will be sure to remember your kindness.

[Remember, and do something to repay it.]

[ Susato gives him another polite bow before returning to her other duties. He's free to stay as long as he wishes. ]

If there is anything else you need, be sure to call for me.

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[07] move along, move along just to make it through

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🎀 i think we can wrap this here! thread again soon <3