Chapter Text
Ordinary. That’s the perfect word to describe you and your life. You’re just some regular, ordinary, basic Inazuman trader and wanderer. You trade supplies and information for Mora, your life couldn’t get more interesting than that. The only thing ‘extraordinary’ about you is your unexplained ‘immortality’, but in reality, immortality isn’t all that crazy. Sure, there's the reality of losing people you care about repeatedly, but the solution is to not form connections in the first place, which is easy for someone as ordinary and uninteresting as you anyways. As for the reasons for you having lived 100 years already? You gave up searching for that answer ages ago.
But what does demand your attention constantly is the need for Mora. You may be immortal but you get hungry like any other person. To obtain that Mora however is a bit more questionable. People who share their trade with the Fatui are often frowned upon by society, which you think is stupid, considering if you can manage to fix up some old weapons or get some decent information the Fatui will pay big bucks. You got to get Mora somehow. People often consider you ‘immoral’ for making trades with the Fatui and other organisations who have done bad things, but business is business after all. They would do it too if the other option was catching a hundred fish for some old man in Ritou.
Today was another one of those days where the Fatui wanted some information in trade for some Mora, enough to supply you at least 3 weeks. This time, about the current situation regarding the Inazuma Civil War between the Shoganate and the Sagonomiya resistance. You spent the last few days in Watasumi island gathering information from locals. The status of the war has not changed in months and neither side can find equal ground. This may be disappointing to the Fatui, but to you it’s easy money. It’s not like whatever the Fatui are planning is important or relevant to you. Regardless, you do wish for both the vision hunt decree and the sakoku decree to be abolished, both so you can expand your trade in Liyue again and so you can keep your precious cryo vision, the one thing you have to defend yourself against treasure hoarders.
The gentle Inazuman breeze brushed through your hair, you could feel Inazuma’s biting winter approaching more and more every day. Though now, you stand in front of where you're supposedly supposed to meet with a representative of the Fatui. A hole in some rock south west of Yashiori island. Not the usual sophisticated and intimidating spot to meet, but whatever. You assume you’re supposed to enter the cave-like structure since nobody is outside. You almost don’t want to. You never know what to expect from the Fatui after all. But nonetheless, Mora is Mora.
You begin walking forward, your boots on the grassy landscape around you. Once you enter the cave, it's no warmer than outside, perhaps even chillier. But what stands out most to you is the traditional Inazuman interior, tinted purple by the dim lighting and the elemental energy present within the room. It is very much unexpected for such a pathetic exterior, but yet it’s the Fatui.
You begin walking through the eerily empty corridors. There’s not a soul insight, not even a Fatui agent. It’s so strange. First the information needed for something that has nothing to do with them in the first place, and second the empty and spooky interior very much unlike the Fatui’s usual bases. Something isn’t quite right. You continue walking down the wood lined hallways until you hear voices belonging to a man and a woman. Instinctively, you clutch your katana. As you approach the people having a conversation, the long corridors begin to open up. There, you see who the voices belong to. Their attire is different to that of regular Fatui and their presence feels almost threatening. Something in you tells you to take cover so they don’t spot you, in case approaching isn’t the smartest move currently. You hide behind a sliding door listening into the conversation occurring between the two strange individuals.
“These delusions better be distributed throughout Watasumi island within the next few months, otherwise you and I both will face the consequences, Balladeer.” The woman's voice echoes through the room, almost threatening the man she's speaking to. The woman is tall with long blonde hair and an elegant yet threatening demeanor. During your career as a trader of information, you've managed to learn how to gather information about something or someone within a small amount of time. “Yes, Yes, Signora. Visions are far more valuable now than ever before. The weak and those who have had their visions stolen will be scrambling like pathetic rats to get their greedy hands on some power.” The man spoke with nonchalance, seemingly unphased by the taller woman’s sharp tone. What was his name? Balladeer?
…
Balladeer.
Signora.
These were harbingers.
Your grip on your katana tightened till your knuckles turned white under the pressure.
The 11 Fatui harbingers were the highest positions in the Fatui and only given out to whom the Tsaritsa deems worthy. You’ve heard from Fatui camps you’ve visited and occasionally stayed in when your information was valuable enough how awful and ruthless they could be. You’d sit at the table or camp trying to pretend you didn’t stand out like a sore thumb amongst the real Fatui agents as their conversations would dim down when speaking about the Fatui harbingers. Listening to how their voices would whisper lower depending on rank or strength. They knew you wouldn’t snitch, to some you were practically considered Fatui. Or maybe they just forgot you were there.
But now, in the presence of two actual, in the flesh, Fatui harbingers, you can understand the fear those Fatui agents had towards them. But even if some Fatui agents could consider you a part of the Fatui, the harbingers sure wouldn’t see you as one. And currently, you were listening to all their plans. But why are they discussing visions and the vision hunt decree? It shouldn't have anything to do with them.
You continued listening to the two harbingers talk about the vision hunt decree and these objects called ‘delusions’ that can seemingly give someone ‘power’. You’re torn between sprinting the hell out of this creepy dungeon or staying to try and understand more. Both are equally as risky.
Suddenly, you hear Signora's voice echo louder throughout the room. “Tch, where is that messenger I ordered,” she snaps, her voice thick with irritation. Right, you’re here for that. But you can’t just appear from the shadows now after listening to their whole conversation, especially with your disappointing information about the Inazuma civil war. “Whatever, I have places to be. They probably got blown away by the appalling weather, so let me know if they show.” You hear Signora’s heels click toward you, planning to leave. You’re quick to duck behind some boxes, your knees digging into the wooden floor. You watch the woman whip past you, her dress and heels clicking down the hallway before disappearing into another corridor out of sight. Once again, you’re drowning in silence. But isn’t the Balladeer still here? You didn’t see him leave with Signora, so why is it so silent? You carefully rise to your feet, creeping back towards the sliding door. You peak your head out to see the open area where Signora and The Balladeer once stood together empty.
You find yourself silently stepping into the room. It’s cold and eerie, just like the rest of this place. Your boots click against the wood louder than you'd like them too. The purple hue of the air remains. The place is run down and poorly conditioned, but what is this place anyways? Your eyes catch the smoke pouring through the open spaces between the floor and higher platform. Is it a… Factory? The smoke is thick in the air, making you cough. What is this stuff? What's going on? What are the Fatui planning this time?
“I knew I felt the presence of another.”
A male voice fills the silence within the room, one you recognize from just a few minutes ago.
You whip around to see The Balladeer standing just within a couple meters of you, looking unimpressed, his kasa hat sitting atop his head like a crown. You just saw a harbinger for the first time, now a harbinger is standing right in front of you, looking at you like you personally caused every minor inconvenience in his life. Getting a closer look at him, you notice he’s rather beautiful. Like ‘could be mistaken for a woman’ kind of beautiful. Which would be pretty easy if you hadn't heard his voice considering he isn’t very tall. It’s a shame you can’t bask in it right now, considering he just scared the shit out of you and is continuing to do so by just standing here.
“I-I’m the information deliverer you requested,” You immediately defend your case, justifying why you’re so deep into this factory. Unfortunately, that didn’t seem to impress this harbinger very much.
“Such a shame, you just missed her. But I'm sure you know that already,” The Balladeer speaks, sarcasm lacing his tone. “State your information, then how much you heard. Then I will decide if you’re worth killing.” The Balladeer’s voice is threatening, making your pulse quicken.
“Signora requested information about the Inazuman civil war and its progression within the last 3 months. Unfortunately, it hasn’t changed a bit so far, apologies. As for your second request, I didn’t hear a thing, sir.” Your lie would have been flawless if not for the fact your voice was incredibly shaky and your lie on its own was awful. One thing you were always bad at was lying under extreme pressure. You could do it fine on normal jobs, but standing in front of a Harbinger and lying was beyond your lying capabilities. And The Balladeer could tell.
Suddenly, like it was on cue, the smoke suddenly felt so much thicker, almost as if it was punishing you for that atrocious lie. Your knees felt weak under you as it was increasingly getting more difficult to breathe. Your eyes met The Balladeers indigo irises as a sadistic smirk fell onto his face. This was his doing, you could tell. “Judging by that answer, you must have heard too much,” The Balladeer remarked, his fingers pinching his kasa hat as your knees gave out under you and you fell to the ground. You were coughing so hard you thought your lungs were about to come up.
Was this the end of your life? Was this where all your hard work over the last 100 years gets you? Dying by the hand of some harbinger because you were nosy? And yet, you catch yourself thinking not about family, or the people you’ve met, but instead if you were to survive this, could you ever even get along with this guy. It’s a stupid dying thought but it's true! He didn’t even give you a chance to swear up and down that you won’t tell a soul. Your eyes caught his smug ones again. “You- Bastard-” You spoke between gasped breaths, your lungs till attempting to get rid of the plagued air even if it was pointless. If you were going to die you should at least get the last word. For a second, You saw his smirk falter, like confrontation wasn’t something this brat faced often. Makes sense, he could probably get the world with that arrogance and pretty face. But before you could add fuel to the small fire, your vision started to go black, fading in and out of darkness until it eventually enveloped you whole.
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“Y/N!”
“⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ “
“h⬛e you tri⬛d this sea⬛ns lav⬛nde⬛r melon⬛ ??”
“⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ “
“come ⬛ n you k⬛w me !”
“Y⬛⬛⬛ /⬛ N??????⬛???”
“Is ⬛ s⬛ething the m⬛ ter?⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ????”
…………….
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Your eyes slowly open, feeling heavy under the weight of your previous experiences. The moment you're able to notice your breathing clean air you immediately take a deep breath. It’s a little dusty, but it's better than what was flooding your lungs before… Wait what happened? You’re in a daze for a short moment until your eyes fall on the indigo haired man standing arms crossed on the other side of the room. Right, you remember perfectly. Once again, the indigo haired man looks unimpressed. Maybe he took your insult to heart and he wants to punish you personally? “Where am I?” You ask, your voice still hoarse from the intake of smoke earlier. You’re on the floor in some even darker room than the factory so the question itself is valid, But The Balladeer ignores your question.
“Do you know why I kept you alive?” He asked, like you're supposed to know the answer. “No…” you answer truthfully. Best not to push his buttons now that he managed to save you the first time. The Balladeer clicks his tongue, as if you’re some fly that's currently wasting his time. He turns his body towards a small table where a neat file sits. He picks up the file with his pale fingers, flipping through the pages until he lands on one. “Because you’re useful to the Fatui, or so they say” He scoffs, reading the file page. You watch him for a moment in confusion? Please, all you ever do is supply them with some information and fixed up weapons 3 times a year, useful isn’t a good term to describe you. Out of the corner of your eye you spot your katana leaning against the concrete wall. You attempt to grab it, only to realise your hands and feet are binded by tight rope. How top secret is this delusion stuff? Suddenly, The Balladeer snapping the file closed catches your attention. “Was that… My file? But don’t work for the Fatui?” You asked, your eyes catching the folder marked with the Fatui’s signature logo. “That much information has to be illegal.” You remark. The Balladeers face quickly grows more irritated with your constant questions. “It’s useful to have someone who isn’t obviously a Fatui be able to gather information for the Fatui at such a small price,” The Balladeer interrupts. “Which is why you're considered a Fatui ally and why I can’t kill you for getting nosy in harbinger business,” He continues, placing the file back down on the table, impatience throughout his tone. “But…” He starts. You feel your heart sink as that sadistic smirk returns to The Balladeer’s lips. His fingers brush the dust on the table. “Because you’re not with the Fatui, that means you can leak information about us to anyone at any time without consequences, which means I can’t let you out of my site.” The Balladeers form turns to face yours sitting pathetically against the floor. “So I’ll just have to make you a Fatui, just until I think you’ve served your purpose.” The Balladeers indigo irises almost glowed in the dark room. Work… For the Fatui? As if! You had other customers and people who relied on you. Now the Fatui wanted to kidnap you for however long because you heard something? “You want me to be a rat for the Fatui and the Fatui only so I won't leak information I don't even understand?” You replied, trying to cover the irritation present in your words. “I’d much rather kill you and get it over with so I don’t have to deal with some weakling who can’t even use their vision to escape. But your demise will become reality if you decline my offer. You’ll connect the dots eventually, and when you do it’ll be most ideal for me that you can’t share that information. Your choice, ‘rat’,” he sneered, crossing his arms. He wasn’t wrong. You had little control over elemental energy. You were weak. And if death is all that faces you if you decline, what other choice is there?
“Fine. I’ll play your stupid game.”