[It's late in the morning. The water stays relatively calm around the harbors of Liyue, the quiet bustle of the markets echoing against the docks. Perfectly normal.
At least, until the air seems to snap, depositing a squawking young man straight onto one of the fishing boats floating idly out in the water.
One moment, Lutha had been out in the bitter cold of the mountain slopes, buzzing with anxiety under ever step of snow, momentarily lost from the rest of the camp... and the next, his world had shifted with the smell of salt and the warmth of a southern coast. His body hits the wood of the deck with a hard thud, birds scattering as the water ripples unsteadily. There's a groan, a shuffle of limbs as he shoves supplies off himself and tries to right himself... only to instantly lower back down to a crouch on his hands and knees when the surface under his feet rocks.
He's on the water. He's out in open water.
What the HELL.
---
Wherever Ana might be coming from, when she passes by the docks, she might spot a familiar flash of red hair, still wrapped in his winter garb, trying and failing to get the little fishing sloop back to the dock without having to touch the water or, spirits forbid, jump out and swim. For the time being, he's awkwardly trying to reorient himself with one of the oars, reaching the long piece of wood towards the nearest deck in hope that he can hook against something and pull himself in.
He is failing miserably. But he looks exhausted, and from how some people are ignoring him and others are watching with hushed whispers, it seems he's already caused a bit of a fuss - enough, at least, to get otherwise pleasant people to let him figure it out for himself.]
[Ana has become accustomed to wandering along the pier, a childhood of living in the mountains meaning she was drawn to the water - always enjoying the view of the large expanse of the ocean. It had just been any other day since arriving in Liyue, wandering along the docks before she notices... something. Or rather, someone.]
Lutha...? [The people either ignoring or watching but not, is enough to tell her that whoever it is had quickly worn out any good will. So she flaps her wings and flies herself over to the little boat, brows shooting up to her hairline when she sees it really is him, uncaring that her approach has caused more eyes to land on them.]
Lutha? What the fuck, where the hell have you been? [She doubts he actually knows, but it still comes out as she gently lands, making sure not to jostle anything. She remembers his... less than stellar reaction to water and the last thing she needs is him freaking out on her.]
[He chokes in a breath as she lands, steadying himself as close to the middle of the craft as he can manage before yanking the scarf off his face.]
Spirits, Ana, are you TRYING to kill me?? [A beat, as he lets the rush of panic dissipate.] Are you joking? I just saw you this morning! For fuck's sake, don't go asking shit like that.
How are you not being dramatic? You're not gonna fall in, stop clinging to the boat like that!
[She's not that heavy, it's not going to sink just because she's on it!!!! Even though she's half tempted to stomp a foot when he doesn't believe her, because seriously.]
Uh, hello? Does this look like anywhere close to the mountain, genius? We're in Liyue, we're miles away from there!
[But fine, whatever, this might be an easier conversation if they actually get onto dry land first.
But instead of being a normal person and helping with getting the boat to the docks, she just... reaches over, pulls him over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes and flies them both over to the docks. Ana knows he'll have a few words about that, but no regrets and this is quicker.]
How the hell do you know where w-- [His question cuts off abruptly as she advances on him. He scrambles backwards, squawking in protest when she still effortlessly plucks him up and over her shoulder.]
S-stop, stop, w-what the fuck are you doing--!?
[But he barely spits it out before they are in the air, up over open water. Even if its only for a few moments, Lutha's grip against her tightens desperately. Don't drop him don't drop him please spirits above don't drop him.]
[Because what is doing things the nicer way - luckily her hold is firm and secure. And at least she's quick about it as she flies across, not hesitating to let him down once they're on the docks and out of the water.]
Now will you listen to me?
[She says, as if she didn't just basically dangle him over his trauma for a few seconds there.]
[The second they are both over dry ground and Ana gives him any sort of slack, Lutha is shoving himself off her shoulder, backing away a couple steps and glaring towards her through an otherwise pale face.]
Listen about what? You just got dropped here from the damn mountain too, didn't you?
How the fuck have I been gone?? I JUST saw you! [Except she is absolutely not wearing what she had just been wearing, and the mountain is nowhere in sight...]
Fucking hell... [Of course the goblin of a god would be involved. Why would he bother, though?] I don't imagine he gave you a decent reason for that jump, did he...
[He checks for his Vision, for his weapon, satisfied that everything is exactly where he left it before he suddenly fell on his face through a whole missing chunk of his life.] Come on. Let's get out of this damn place before I fall over. If Zhongli's around, I'd like to find out where he is. He said he was from around here. [The change in temperature and scent and the sound of lapping water just makes him want to gag, anyway.]
Something like... soul degradation? Which, honestly, is not very reassuring to hear.
[Nothing like the fear of her soul caving in before anything else, especially considering her kinds soul issues in general. But she doesn't appear too bothered, instead nodding in agreement with leaving - even if him saying how he would fall over is a biiiit concerning to hear. Don't make her carry you again -]
That's the other issue. I haven't seen him at all since we arrived here... I think he might be laying low since he's pretending to be dead.
[Just ~god shenanigans~. But she's already leading the way out, lowkey keeping an eye on Lutha for now.]
Huh? What are you talking about, he's - [Wait. Most of the group only found out on the way to Liyue, so of course he wouldn't know.
She trails off, thinking of how to word this. So she just goes the blunt route.]
Right, you wouldn't know.... Well, Zhongli is actually Rex Lapis, or Morax, the god here. But he "died" during a ceremony, so he's not been around much.
That is a lot to take in at once when he had just been under the impression that Zhongli was just a cryptic old soul from old money with zero mind for how to use said money appropriately....]
What the fuck... [Why are all the gods here like this ana he is so tired...] This whole time he's just been sitting around with us and he didn't bother saying anything???
How did you find out? Did Forneus know about this??
But ah. Right. He doesn't know about fog island either. TIME TO PROBABLY CONFUSE HIM EVEN MORE -]
Forneus does know, that ass knows everything. [Pause.] And I know because I met Zhongli before here. We were on some... weirdass fog island, and I still had my powers then, so I could tell he was a god.
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December 13th, before mid-month post
At least, until the air seems to snap, depositing a squawking young man straight onto one of the fishing boats floating idly out in the water.
One moment, Lutha had been out in the bitter cold of the mountain slopes, buzzing with anxiety under ever step of snow, momentarily lost from the rest of the camp... and the next, his world had shifted with the smell of salt and the warmth of a southern coast. His body hits the wood of the deck with a hard thud, birds scattering as the water ripples unsteadily. There's a groan, a shuffle of limbs as he shoves supplies off himself and tries to right himself... only to instantly lower back down to a crouch on his hands and knees when the surface under his feet rocks.
He's on the water. He's out in open water.
What the HELL.
---
Wherever Ana might be coming from, when she passes by the docks, she might spot a familiar flash of red hair, still wrapped in his winter garb, trying and failing to get the little fishing sloop back to the dock without having to touch the water or, spirits forbid, jump out and swim. For the time being, he's awkwardly trying to reorient himself with one of the oars, reaching the long piece of wood towards the nearest deck in hope that he can hook against something and pull himself in.
He is failing miserably. But he looks exhausted, and from how some people are ignoring him and others are watching with hushed whispers, it seems he's already caused a bit of a fuss - enough, at least, to get otherwise pleasant people to let him figure it out for himself.]
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Lutha...? [The people either ignoring or watching but not, is enough to tell her that whoever it is had quickly worn out any good will. So she flaps her wings and flies herself over to the little boat, brows shooting up to her hairline when she sees it really is him, uncaring that her approach has caused more eyes to land on them.]
Lutha? What the fuck, where the hell have you been? [She doubts he actually knows, but it still comes out as she gently lands, making sure not to jostle anything. She remembers his... less than stellar reaction to water and the last thing she needs is him freaking out on her.]
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Spirits, Ana, are you TRYING to kill me?? [A beat, as he lets the rush of panic dissipate.] Are you joking? I just saw you this morning! For fuck's sake, don't go asking shit like that.
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[If the boat tips they're both going in, and while Ana can swim she doesn't reaaaaaally want to.
And her expression falls into something completely flat at his response, gesturing with great intent at their less than snowy surroundings.]
Seriously? I know you're not damn blind, we aren't even on the mountain anymore! We left that like, over a month ago!
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Her next statement earns a brief pause, before Lutha scoffs.]
Right, right, good fucking joke. I was just on the mountain a half an hour ago, you idiot, and so were you. Don't pull my leg like that.
Look, would you just-- would you either get your ass off the goddamn boat or help me get to the dock?
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[She's not that heavy, it's not going to sink just because she's on it!!!! Even though she's half tempted to stomp a foot when he doesn't believe her, because seriously.]
Uh, hello? Does this look like anywhere close to the mountain, genius? We're in Liyue, we're miles away from there!
[But fine, whatever, this might be an easier conversation if they actually get onto dry land first.
But instead of being a normal person and helping with getting the boat to the docks, she just... reaches over, pulls him over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes and flies them both over to the docks. Ana knows he'll have a few words about that, but no regrets and this is quicker.]
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S-stop, stop, w-what the fuck are you doing--!?
[But he barely spits it out before they are in the air, up over open water. Even if its only for a few moments, Lutha's grip against her tightens desperately. Don't drop him don't drop him please spirits above don't drop him.]
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What does it look like I'm doing? Hold still!
[Because what is doing things the nicer way - luckily her hold is firm and secure. And at least she's quick about it as she flies across, not hesitating to let him down once they're on the docks and out of the water.]
Now will you listen to me?
[She says, as if she didn't just basically dangle him over his trauma for a few seconds there.]
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Listen about what? You just got dropped here from the damn mountain too, didn't you?
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Of course not, can you just listen for a second?! [She huffs, planting her hands on her hips now.]
We walked here from the mountain, it took us about two weeks and we've been here for almost a month now! And you've been gone the entire time!
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How the fuck have I been gone?? I JUST saw you! [Except she is absolutely not wearing what she had just been wearing, and the mountain is nowhere in sight...]
Ana, you know how ridiculous this sounds, right?
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Yes, I know. But weird time shit happens sometimes... I went home for about seven months, but when I came back only a night had passed.
[So timelines had gotten confusing for her for a while.]
You can blame Forneus for this... timehop, I guess. It's most likely his fault.
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[He checks for his Vision, for his weapon, satisfied that everything is exactly where he left it before he suddenly fell on his face through a whole missing chunk of his life.] Come on. Let's get out of this damn place before I fall over. If Zhongli's around, I'd like to find out where he is. He said he was from around here. [The change in temperature and scent and the sound of lapping water just makes him want to gag, anyway.]
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[Nothing like the fear of her soul caving in before anything else, especially considering her kinds soul issues in general. But she doesn't appear too bothered, instead nodding in agreement with leaving - even if him saying how he would fall over is a biiiit concerning to hear. Don't make her carry you again -]
That's the other issue. I haven't seen him at all since we arrived here... I think he might be laying low since he's pretending to be dead.
[Just ~god shenanigans~. But she's already leading the way out, lowkey keeping an eye on Lutha for now.]
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what x2
???
Soul degradation he can at least file away into "shit to punch a god over", but what the fuck was that second thing hello stop please]
What?? Why the hell would someone like him need to fake his own death? Who did he piss off?
[Guess who STILL doesn't know that Zhongli is a god.]
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She trails off, thinking of how to word this. So she just goes the blunt route.]
Right, you wouldn't know.... Well, Zhongli is actually Rex Lapis, or Morax, the god here. But he "died" during a ceremony, so he's not been around much.
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That is a lot to take in at once when he had just been under the impression that Zhongli was just a cryptic old soul from old money with zero mind for how to use said money appropriately....]
What the fuck... [Why are all the gods here like this ana he is so tired...] This whole time he's just been sitting around with us and he didn't bother saying anything???
How did you find out? Did Forneus know about this??
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But ah. Right. He doesn't know about fog island either. TIME TO PROBABLY CONFUSE HIM EVEN MORE -]
Forneus does know, that ass knows everything. [Pause.] And I know because I met Zhongli before here. We were on some... weirdass fog island, and I still had my powers then, so I could tell he was a god.
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[This is so much, and Forneus is going to get a talking to later for sure, but--]
You knew this whole time?????? Spirits, Ana, why didn't you say anything back in Mondstadt?