Curate, connect, and discover
“After walking the Fyxestroll Garden for awhile, you stumble upon an old, fluffy, dark brown cat holding a piece of paper. He puts it down, looks at you, and trotts off. Read it, why don't you?”
# — Notes: ITS DONE DUDE OMG AND I'M ACTUALLY RLLY HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME!! GUYS I'M SO HAPPY!!!! Also this is a lot longer than I anticipated.. I'm still super happy with this tho (≧▽≦) I used the hsr wiki for my info so if any wording is familiar, yk why >< # — Word count: 1.0k # — Fandom: honkai: star rail # — Cw: mention of drinking but that's literally it. The only non-angst chapter # — Taglist: @dumbificat , @ariicandy , @thetwinkims , @imanonandawkward , @klemen-time , @akuangels “Prologue: From the Start”
Yingxing stepped into the Xianzhou off of the merchant vessel he somehow got on, looking up to the artificial blue sky as his navy hair blew in the wind. He had come here on a whim after his home planet was destroyed by the borisin.
He was a short-life species, an outlier among the long-life species that reside in the Xianzhou, but he didn't care.
Yingxing started to explore the Xianzhou to get a feel for what might be his new home when he was bumped into, stumbling backwards a bit. Yingxing blinked some, his dull, light blue eyes landing on the person who stumbled and fell to the ground.
“I’m so sorry!” they exclam, picking up the paper they dropped. They seemed young, young for a Xianzhou native at least, that being maybe about 50, a young teenager.
“It’s no issue,” Yingxing replies, helping them up. Once they look up, their eyes widen.
“You- you're the short life species coming to live here that everyone's talking about!” They say excitedly. Yingxing quirks an eyebrow.
“Yes.. that's me, what about it?”
“Oh! Wait, what's your name? Mine’s [name]!” Yingxing is puzzled by [name]’s excitement. He's got odd looks from the other natives, so why does this one show interest in him?
“I'm Yingxing, but why-” he was cut off by [name] and their excited rambling.
“Yingxing! What a cool name.. Ooo! You look like you'd like the art of craftsmanship!!” Yingxing blinked, trying to wrap his head around the natives’ words.
“Craftsmanship.. like weapon making?” he inquires. [name] gives an enthusiastic nod. Yingxing crossed his arms, glancing down at the Xianzhous ground. “Show me then, [name],” he looks back up and smiles, his navy hair blowing in the wind with the natives'. “ ‘m interested.”
After showing Yingxing to the Artisanship Commission, he joined as an apprentice under the guidance of Master Huaiyan. He had vowed to avenge his home and family by making weapons for the Cloud Knights. He quickly became well known for his astounding craftsmanship.
Later on, Yingxing met Baiheng when she was sent to a delegation to request reinforcements from the ship for Yaoqings Crane Feather Orbit Fleet. They were fighting the borisin, and in present time, Yingxing was helping Baiheng with receiving the delegation and taking them to his master — Huaiyan — at Flamedisk Forge Palace.
“Soo~” Baiheng cooed cheerily, walking beside Yingxing as they made their way on the Zhuming. “What got you interested in the Artisanship Commission? You're a short-life species, so I'm curious,” the foxian asks. Yingxing sighs.
“A kid named [name]. They disappeared after I joined,” he replied, looking over to Baiheng.
“Oh! I know [name]! Almost all of the Zhuming people do, they're an aspiring writer and a good people analyzer,” Baiheng says. “Seems they were pretty accurate with you, little Yingxing, no?” she smiles, finishing her sentence, fox ears twitching.
“I suppose, though I believe I would've found the Artisanship Commission on my own,” Yingxing replies with a sigh as they finally make it to their destination.
“Baiheng!” someone called out. The two turn around and see [name], who halts their movements and smiles. “And Yingxing too! How's it been for you in the Commission?” they inquire, smiling. Yingxing shrugs.
“It’s been pretty fun, I suppose,” he replies. [name] nods politely at him, their smile growing, and they then turn their attention to Baiheng. Yingxing watches on as he crosses his arms with a faint smile. He liked these two, maybe more so than he knows for now.
Yingxing remained on the Xianzhou for some years, Baiheng and [name] sticking with him. They were a little trio, and later on, the Sword Master of the Luofu — Jingliu — had befriended the three and introduced them to her apprentice — Jing Yuan.
They hung out as a friend group for about a year more, and in that time, they had managed to befriend the Vidyadhara High Elder, Dan Feng, and had made a name for themselves after a while. The High Cloud Quintet.
Bellowing laughter rang out through Scalegorge Waterscape as the clink of small shot glasses came together. Yingxing, Dan Feng and [name] we're having some drinks together, though Dan Feng was more stoic as he took his shot with his friends.
The others were chatting on their own, Jingliu and Baiheng having their own shots together. The entire Quintet was close, but Yingxing, Dan Feng and [name] were especially close, so much so they had matching jewelry.
Yingxing has the long, red earring on his left ear, Dan Fengs in his right ear, and [name]s on a necklace. The three often drank and sparred together with themselves and the others, much like now.
“Guys!!” [name] calls out to the others, setting down their small shot glass and running over to the other three as they turn around. The foxians ears swiveled to the nosie as she turned around.
“What is it, [name]?” Baiheng asks. Yingxing and Dan Feng walk up behind their friend as they explain their ideas they commonly do.
“We need to spar after we all take a shot together. I need to test out this new weapon Yingxing made me!” they exclam, pulling out said weapon. Yingxing crossed his arms with Dan Feng, a smile falling upon his lips. He was proud of his work, and if [name]. After learning how to fight, he made them a weapon specifically catered towards their fighting style, and they've come a long way since he's helped them learn to fight.
Jingliu smiles, looking at all her friends, her red eyes landing back on [name]. “Of course, get the drinks ready?” she says as she holds out her cup. [name] nods, beaming, and goes back to get their cup and the drink.
The group laughs at their antics, Jing Yuan standing beside Jingliu as [name] returns.
With their cups now filled, they hold up their drinks in the air with a clink! and gulp down their shots, getting ready to spar one another soon after with smiles on their lips.
Oh the horrors that were to come for them, fall upon them and crush their friendships.
★ — © nervocat || I appreciate any reblogs made, and pls don't repost or translate my works anywhere, ty — ✦