((Sampo continuously getting dragged into Sparkle’s antics because she doesn’t have any real friends and just has to grab the one guy she knows is my favorite running gag))
((I have recently learned that the computer I am using is simply too old and too integrated to upgrade, and that I would just have to purchase a new one entirely if I wanted to continue playing more system intense games))
((Right now I can still play Star Rail, albeit extremely impractically, but there is a very real risk that Penacony and worlds beyond will become too graphically intense for my current set up. I’m not sure how I’ll proceed with this blog if that does happen, and to be honest, the fact that I can no longer explore updates to their fullest has really put a dent in my inspiration to write for the series, but hopefully it won’t come to a full brick 🙏))
Penacony spoilers via personal rambling about religion below
((I’ve seen people theorizing that her death was staged by the Family because she works with the watchmaker and man))
((I knew it was a possibility, one that I was excited for quite frankly, but I was not expecting Robin to hit me in a very specific corner of religious trauma))
((Because your family fearing their god more than they love you is such a real experience))
((You doubt because you’ve been corrupted by another force, and that corruption must be purged before you can return home, before you can return to THEM. You are losing an integral part of your identity to illness because you angered THEM, but that is not enough. You’ve been away too long and now you’re not making sense, you’re not singing like you used to. Of course THEY still love you, of course we still love you, and it’s because we love you we must burn away the layers of you until we find the you that THEY allow us to love))
((The highest form of love is sacrifice, and you, dear, are our darling martyr))
Yanqing blinked up at the general in turn, taken off guard by the act of seemingly taking his master off guard. He quickly straightened back up.
"Yes sir." He answered succinctly. "Your work for the day has been dived up between myself, the Helm Master, and the Master Diviner so you can get the rest you deserve." With his purpose stated, he let his arms fall to the side as the facade of a lieutenant slipped just enough for the concerned boy beneath to speak up. "Phantylia wouldn't have been defeated without your help."
Without your sacrifice, he didn't say. A sacrifice that could have left the Luofu without its general, and a boy without his father.
"You deserve a day off," he picked back up. He then kicked a foot out and rubbed the back of his neck. "And besides, I thought this might be a good opportunity for me to learn more about the administrative parts of being the general. . ."
Jing Yuan smiled again, calmly and affectionately, as Yanqing batted his hand away, the gesture all too familiar -- they've gone though this song and dance before. Some might see it as disrespect, but Jing Yuan paid it no mind, only watching expectantly as Yanqing straightened up.
Ah... how fast he'd grown in only fourteen years. It felt like only yesterday that the boy before him was but a babe within his arms, his tiny hand only barely wrapping around the general's fingers. Only yesterday that he was still only at knee height, clinging to the tail of the general's coat and looking about them with wide eyes as they meandered through the streets. Only yesterday that he picked up his first sword -- only a toy, like Jing Yuan himself -- and Jing Yuan saw that spark in his eyes and knew he was destined for greatness. Only yesterday that Jing Yuan gifted him that precious sword forged for his hands, unknowningly, before he'd even been born, before he ever entered Jing Yuan's life, that sword he'd so carefully kept locked away and knew that it was meant for Yanqing. It sang to him. And clearly the sword sang to Yanqing, too. Only--
"So I had your schedule cleared for the day."
Jing Yuan blinked.
For a moment, he thought it was an exaggeration, but-- no, Yanqing's countenance made it clear that he had indeed been quite serious and wasn't, in fact exaggerating. Perhaps even expecting to be chastised for interfering with the general's own affairs.
"I was wondering where you ran off to. More swords, hm?" The question is only a tease, Jing Yuan patting the boy's head as he approached from behind, unannounced as usual. "I was of the impression that one invites fortune and wealth into the new year, not spends it." Even so, Jing Yuan gently turns Yanqing around, presents a red envelope and taps his nose with it. "This should more than make up for it, hm?
"Happy New Year, little sparrow. I am very, very proud of you."
"General!" Yanqing started, whipping his head around to see his master. In his hands were already two swords he had just bought, and from the way he had been eying yet another vendor, it seemed he already had a third in mind. Called out, he crossed his arms and puffed his cheeks defensively, swords somewhat awkwardly pinned between his chest and arms. "Hey! I am inviting wealth! Just- a wealth of new swords to train with."
He blinked as the envelope hit his nose. After a moment of registering what had just collided with his face, his eyes seemed to light up in the dark evening as he scrambled to grab it without dropping his swords.
"Ah! Thank you, general!" he exclaimed. In his boyish excitement, he leaned into the general in a rather awkward half hug, only able to use one arm without dropping his swords. However, realizing the immaturity of his actions a moment later, he quickly pulled back and offered a bowed head instead. "Happy New Year as well."