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[sharethememory]

[ What's a Hoyo franchise without one nostalgic-loving 4D chess playing general with a closet full of dead(?) friends? ]

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Some stars are not fake

[sharethememory]

[ The Traveler and their sibling were not the first outlanders to come to Teyvat, nor would they be the last. That much was a given. However, less predictable would be the fact that the fifth Descender would not be a person or persons but actually an entire city.

Zhongli startles when he feels the presence of something ancient and powerful beyond the fake stars, ink streaking messily across parchment as the energy settles to a stop. He tenses, expression impassive as he waits for it to flare up again, for something or somethone to appear, even for the stars to rain down from the sky. But whatever and whoever it is remains quiet and peaceful, no hostility or really any sort of activity apparent for days as Zhongli stands at the very peak of Mt. Tianheng day by day, watching the skies for something that cannot be seen.

First contact is someone that looks like she could be Yae Miko's long lost cousin with her elegant dress, long ears and tail and disarming smile. A merchant and the welcoming party— or so she says. Zhongli (among others) are invited to return with them to the ship. Discreetly. As guests.

Zhongli, with a sense of responsibility that will always weigh heavier than retirement, accepts.

And thus, he finds himself on the the Xianzhou Luofu, labeled as just a ship but is as vast and varied as all of Inazuma put together. The technology is more advanced than even Snezhnaya or Fontaine, incomprehensible to Zhongli with their blinking lights and automated voices. The third glass box calls out to him, peddling its wares. It was a shame really that he had no understanding of how to complete that purchase (nor currency for that matter). They would have been nice gifts for his friends back home.

Equally overwhelmed and intrigued by the sites and sounds, Zhongli wanders. None seem too concerned about his appearance as beings of all kinds walk the city streets. Eventually, the retired Archon finds refuge in a cluster of low tables near a food stall where people are playing a game that at least looks familiar. Chess. Or at least it looks enough like chess after silently observing a few matches that Zhongli believes he can understand the rules. Perhaps it would be best to start his understanding of this strange new world here in this familiar setting.

He takes a seat across from someone seated alone, Zhongli's posture straight and hands resting on his knees in comparison to the more lax position of his new companion. A wren that looked like it was going to make the next move in the game titters before hopping up to rest on Jing Yuan's shoulders, beady eyes fixed on the new challenger.

Zhongli smiles faintly, raising one hand in greeting. ]

I do hope that I am not interrupting anything. Do you mind if I step in for the next match?

[eepy]

[ the helm master had initially reported it as an anomaly, a strange world that's suddenly appeared on their radar like no other. and after centuries of being at war, cases like these would've raised an alarm in the arbiter-general, relaying their findings to the rest of the hexafleet. but other than the fact that it's a bubble world that doesn't seem to be at all aware of the xianzhou or anything beyond its skies, jing yuan stays his hand.

for now, that is.

instructions are given, and he allows yukong to take charge, to send someone to the planet if need be. business as usual, he tells her, for exploring the galaxy and discovering worlds is nothing new for those who walk the path of lan. and if they were to find an aberration in this world, then it's also business as usual in reporting to the rest of the hexafleet.

as for jing yuan, his work awaits, a growing mountain on his desk. it's only after the scrolls have been cleared that he finally slips away from the seat and goes about his day, eventually settling at his usual table in the exalting sanctum where the crowd gathers around those who play starchess.

the man who takes a seat across from him is an outworlder from the looks of it, surprisingly well-mannered than the usual xianzhou native. jing yuan inclines his head in greeting, allowing the bird to nest in his hair. ]

Not at all, so long as you're familiar with the game.

[ he gestures at the board before them. ] There are very few Outworlders who know how to play, you see.

[sharethememory]

[ Zhongli glances down to the board again, brows furrowed as he looks over the pieces once more. It certainly looked like what he was familiar with— the pieces, the layout, and the movements that he had observed from the other tables. The light buzzing of light and energy were different but surely not difficult to adapt to even for an old soul like himself. ]

I cannot claim complete proficiency, but if you would humor and correct any— shall we call them house rules— that differ from my world to yours, I would greatly appreciate it.

[ And so Zhongli gathers what he believes to be his pieces, eyes widening in surprise as merely touching one of the pieces brings it back to his side of the board. ]

How fascinating.

[ Finally content with his initial set-up, he raises his head to look back up at Jing Yuan, bowing his head once in respect to the match that was about to be played. There's perhaps just a hint of teasing lilt to his otherwise formal countenance: ]

Being an Outworlder is a new experience for me. I hope that I do not disappoint.