#astral express crew shenanigans

[aventurineswife]

Hiii! I'm a relatively new reader who has fallen in love with your fics lol, could I request for some crack and funny moments with the astral express crew? (reader is a member of the express btw)

“Welcome Aboard the Disaster Express!”

Summary: Life aboard the Astral Express is full of breathtaking cosmic adventures… and absolute nonsense. As a member of the crew, you’ve long accepted that professionalism is a distant dream, and chaos is the true conductor of this train. Whether it’s March antagonizing Dan Heng, Trailblazer being an unhinged cryptid, or Sunday delivering existential monologues at 9 AM, you’ve learned to just go with the flow. At least it’s never boring.

Tags: Astral Express x Reader, Astral Express Crew Shenanigans, Crack & Humor, Found Family Vibes, Platonic Relationships, Mild Existential Crisis Courtesy (of Sunday), Dan Heng Is So Done, Trailblazer: Chaos Personified, Welt Deserves a Raise, March 7th vs. Dan Heng.

Warnings: Mild swearing, Unhinged behavior from Trailblazer (as expected), Existential rambling from Sunday, Dan Heng contemplating violence (he won’t actually do it… probably), Welt is tired. Just generally.

A/N: Awww thank you!! 🤭💖

The moment you wake up, you already know today is going to be a mess.

For one, Trailblazer is missing. Again. And if past experiences have taught you anything, it’s that their absence usually means trouble.

For two, March is running down the hall at full speed, her camera in one hand and a look of pure chaos in her eyes.

“For the love of Aeons—someone stop them!” Welt’s voice rings out, exasperated yet resigned.

You don’t even get a chance to ask what's happening before March practically tackles you, using your shoulder as a shield while snapping a picture of something—or someone—behind you.

“I got it!” she cheers, pumping a fist in victory.

You glance over your shoulder, half-expecting an eldritch horror, only to find Dan Heng standing there, looking deeply unamused. His spear is in hand, though it’s not aimed at anyone—yet.

“March,” he says in a calm, yet menacing tone, “delete that.”

“Nope,” she chirps.

“March.”

“It’s for science.”

“I will destroy that camera.”

“I have backups,” she grins.

You decide it’s best to take two steps away from the brewing conflict.

Before Dan Heng can contemplate murder, Sunday walks in, radiating his usual composed, otherworldly aura—until he sees the scene before him and sighs. His halo flickers slightly, as if even it is tired.

“Another morning of senseless conflict,” he mutters. “Truly, the cycle of strife knows no end.”

You blink at him. “It’s literally just March annoying Dan Heng again.”

“Yes,” he agrees, “but is this not a reflection of our broader struggles? A reminder that conflict is inherent even in our found families?”

There’s a moment of silence before Trailblazer suddenly emerges from inside a supply cabinet, looking completely unbothered despite the fact that they were very much not supposed to be in there.

“Good morning,” they greet, as if they weren’t just casually hiding in a cupboard like a cryptid.

Welt, who just arrived, pinches the bridge of his nose. “Why were you in there?”

“Dunno. Seemed like a good place to take a nap.”

“I—” Welt visibly restrains himself from asking more questions. “You know what? No. I don’t want to know.”

You give Trailblazer a look. “You’re an enigma.”

They smirk. “I try.”

Himeko enters with a steaming cup of coffee, looking far too elegant for someone who has to deal with this daily nonsense. “I see everyone’s already in top form this morning.”

Dan Heng sighs, still eyeing March with suspicion. “If by ‘top form,’ you mean ‘already causing unnecessary chaos,’ then yes.”

Sunday hums, thoughtful. “Perhaps the chaos itself is what keeps us together. Without it, would we still be the same?”

“…No offense,” you say, “but do you ever just say things without making them sound like the intro to an existential crisis?”

Sunday’s eyes glimmer with amusement. “Where’s the fun in that?”

Trailblazer leans over to you. “I think that’s his way of saying no.”

March, still holding her camera hostage, grins. “C’mon, guys, let’s take a group picture! This moment is totally capture-worthy!”

Dan Heng deadpans. “So you can delete photos.”

March winks. “Not happening.”

As Welt sighs, Himeko sips her coffee, Trailblazer plots their next act of mischief, and Sunday ponders the metaphysics of chaos, you realize something:

Maybe the Astral Express is absolute nonsense.

But hey, at least it’s your nonsense.

And that makes all the difference.

[quietplace26]

Another SAGAU au idea, but this time mixed with SAHSRAU?

I'm basing this idea off this post (the creator is called @suiana. give them love!) where the MC lands in Honkai: Star Rail and every character, besides the Trailblazer, Pom-Pom, and the Aeons, hates them.

Warnings: Cringe worthy content. OCness from the characters. HSR characters (minus Trailblazer and Aeons) calling MC an 'it'.

Notes: This is mostly crack, so don't take it seriously. I only included certain characters that I felt comfortable with since I'm not good with keeping characters in character. So, if you want, please send me any suggestions about shenanigans the Genshin crew and MC could get mixed up with while trying to get back to Teyvat, or just how they would interact with the HSR crew.

Basically, the MC is stressed beyond belief. Besides Trailblazer, Pom-Pom, and the Aeons, everyone MC once admired in Honkai: Star Rail, hates them, calls them an it, tries to hurt them, and even tried to KILL them on many occasions.

And when everything becomes too much, they kind of break down? Maybe wishing they landed in Genshin Impact instead.

Then because of Aeon shittery, as the MC is their darling and want them to be happy, MC's wish is granted... and the next moment, characters from Genshin Impact start appearing on the Express... and they all know the Reader!

Reader is quickly surrounded by worried Archons and vision holders, and their chosen Traveler was hugging them, saying they were worried as your presence just disappeared!

Needless to say, the Astral Express becomes more crowded, and you gained a whole bunch of bodyguards that weren't afraid to throw someone down for your honor and safety.

One thing I think would be hilarious if Nahida met Dr. Ratio. He's like all, 'I'm above you or something', because one, she's a 'child', and second, she was with that... thing (the MC).

But then Nahida just tears him down with a sweet smile and quick wit... and then he finds out this 'child' was actually a Goddess of Wisdom.

And speaking of children, the child vision holders become absolute menaces to the HSR characters.

The MC had to on many occasions stop Aha or one of the more chaotic Aeons from blessing the Genshin children.

Especially Klee.

MC and Jean: "Klee where did you get that bomb?!"

Klee: "Masky gave it to me!"

MC: "AHA!"

Klee is definitely Aha's favorite of Teyvatians. She's just so naturally chaotic it brings them joy!

The Aeons as a whole find the Teyvatians to be... interesting, but this could probably be because the MC was very fond of them, so of course the Aeons would be interested as well.

Did the Archons count as Teyvat's Aeons? The Sovereigns? Maybe?

If Long somehow pops in, alive, jump scaring the Vidyadharas, and just zeros in on Zhongli and Neuvillette.

Long's like, dragons? But not mine, not Vidyadhara? There's more like you two (Zhongli and Neuvillette).

And then MC's telling Long all about Dvalin, Azhdaha, Apep, Mini Durin, Ajaw, and goodness knows, all about Natlan's adorable and amazing Saurian population.

Long would also probably find the Melusines fascinating as well because they were born from the blood of the dragon Elynas. And there's 48 of them???

Childe would definitely pick a fight with an Aeon, only for either the Traveler or the MC to grab his ear and pull him away.

Yae Miko would go about trolling the Foxians and spending time with the MC via asking them to help her go over potential new novel ideas. Because this whole experience would no doubt make the best novel to hit Teyvat.

Ei would be like MC's protector like the others but would help them relax via teaching meditation... and if one of the HSR characters butt in, they're in for a nasty shock to the ass.

Zhongli and Neuvillette casually dunking on Dan Heng and the other Vidyadhara, both of which are in awe and slight terror as these true dragons...

...who only spends time with it (the MC) of all things!

Zhongli, for shits and giggles, shifts into a tiny, chunky form of his Exuvia form, his Chonkli form if you will, and lets MC cuddle and smother him with affection all the while Dan Heng and the Vidyadhara are watching in disbelief.

Like this man was like an elder Vidyadhara, a TRUE dragon... and he was waddling around in a tiny, chubby undignified form, and lays on its (MC's) lap like a common house cat!

Zhongli only innocently bleeps his tongue at them before making biscuits on MC's lap and curls up to for some cuddles.

Neuvillette immediately joins in so not to be out done by the Geo Archon, but his form is rather large, so he tends to squish the MC but they only giggle and return the cuddles.

He's so big and long that he scares most of the Honkai characters away while MC naps with him.

If MC starts feeling nervous or scared, Furina dramatically swoops in to steal MC away, drawing their attention by retelling a story of one her many plays as she helps MC with their hair or clothes, maybe even pulling them into a small performance with her Hydro familiar's while Neuvillette stands guard.

Wriothesly helps with MC's self-defense after they admit about feeling scared whenever the Trailblazer, he, or the Aeons aren't around. And considering how the most of the HSR crew treats you... he becomes MC's self-defense coach.

Though afterwards he always asks you to join him for some tea, which usually leads to Neuvillette or others always inviting themselves to join.

When the Genshin crew gets to know the Trailblazer some of them make a connection that they reminded them of the Traveler... A bit of a more feral and raccoon like Traveler.

And since they were kind to MC, protecting them when no one else on the Express was willing to, the Trailblazer was automatically granted access to any of the nations of Teyvat if they wished to visit once the Teyvatians made it home.

Except for the Trailblazer, no one else from the Astral Express was given this permission. In fact, any special guilds, explorers, Stellaron Hunters, and especially the ICP was banned from setting one foot in Teyvat.

Nanook and a few other Aeons made sure to emphasize on this... after setting an example with the first few foolish ones that tried to force their way in.

And that's how Teyvat quickly becomes something like vacation spot for the Aeons whenever any of them wanted to visit MC.

[endursent]

- Biting Cold - Searing Warmth

【 content; sunday x reader , astral express sunday , mutual masturbation , blood and injury, hurt/comfort , huddling for warmth , handjob , self-destructive thoughts , NSFW 】

【 note; thank you for all the likes, comments and reblogs on through the dark, the overwhelming support means a lot to me and gives my souls strength. please enjoy this much longer piece.

as always, the reader's gender is never mentioned, i avoided describing their genitalia and left it vague so that you can imagine your preference. 】

【 word count; 8.075 | read on ao3 】

He feels slightly out of place among the Astral Express, it’s not that he doesn’t physically ‘fit in’, all of you look different, act differently and portray yourself in very different ways… but Sunday hasn’t been able to see himself as part of the crew despite travelling with you for four months. 

  He feels like he’s made of stone, every movement is stiff and he has to make excruciating effort into every little action, he feels cold and hard, like an observing statue as opposed to a member. 

  There are days where he forgets that cold, when what he has come to recognise as typical shenanigans drags him into situations where he’s either forced to use his brain to solve complex problems or empathise with someone in a situation he didn’t think was possible. Days where he is on his feet and his mind tunnels to the mission at hand. 

  And there are others where there is silent travel, two days of calm traversal through the cosmos where he retreats to solitude and sees the sky get further away behind closed eyes. He tries to write down his thoughts and understand them, understand what his goal has become… the path he has taken leads towards the cosmos, towards discovery of himself as well as the universe, but what does he search for in the distant stars? 

  Is he merely searching for redemption? Should he not atone for the wrongs his ideals did to others? 

  Dan Heng had told him that endlessly searching to right a wrong that has already been done will only wear him down to his bones and bring no closure. That it will be an endless journey of selfish fulfilment, he will never be able to touch every person that was drawn into the dream—and that he should start with the person he can touch, himself. 

  He startles when he bumps into your back, his mind having been completely occupied with thoughts and distracted—as usual. Sunday grasps your shoulder to push himself back slightly as he gives the back of your head a glare. “Why do you walk in front of me? There’s more than enough space.”

  You give a small shrug. “Just making sure you don’t walk into something, think of me like a cushion,” you wave your hand vaguely as you turn back around. The snow is getting deeper as you venture through the woods, at one point in the densest part, it reaches up to your knees as you practically climb forward, raising your knee stomach-high with every step. 

  Looking around, you squint through the all-white forest… there’s supposed to be a research facility out here, at least according to one of the locals that showed the group around. But all you see is snow and trees.

  Sunday pulls his coat tighter around himself, he doesn’t yet have a very varied wardrobe to properly adjust based on the world the Express goes to next… perhaps he should have searched in the small town for an extra layer, the biting cold makes his fingers stiff and toes tingle uncomfortably. His nose is cold and whenever you turn your back to him, he tucks his wings against the front of his face like a shield, hoping his warm breath might give some comfort to his red nose and cheeks.

  Finally, the trees spread further apart and the snow congested less, you take out your phone and unlock it… no signal. Well, at least you’ve been walking in a straight line, it’s unlikely you’ll get… lost…

  You see a line of snow that’s been walked through across the clearing, it’s halfway snowed up again… and it looks exactly like the line the two of you have been leaving behind—but how could it be through this same clearing? You swear you haven’t turned at all since you left the town! 

  Sunday spots it as well and his teeth clench together. “That’s ours… have we been walking in circles?” he, too, was sure the path had been straight the entire time. How could you pass by your own footsteps leading across your current path? 

  You both stand still for a time, the gears in your head spinning, trying to understand how this came to be—does it mean that the way you came from now is wrong? Is left or right the way back. You heard Sunday click his tongue and turn to look at him… he looks terribly cold. 

  Feeling a bit bad for him—and certainly not wanting him to catch a cold, you zip down your thick jacket and pull your arms out of it. Being that you’re the only moving thing in his line of sight, Sunday immediately frowns at the sight. “What are you doing? You’ll freeze if you take that off—” he blinks as you hold the jacked out towards him, and he hugs his own coat closer to himself, lowering his chin under the scarf around his neck. “I don’t need your jacket, it is my own fault that I’m underdressed.”

  “Doesn’t mean you should freeze,” you push it against his chest. “Come on, while it’s warm—we can take turns.”

  Reluctantly, Sunday unwinds his stiffly cold arms from around himself and accepts the jacket, it doesn’t fit him perfectly… but the relief it brings is far more valuable. It’s still a bit warm from when it was wrapped around your own body, and he can faintly smell your scent along the neck of it. You give a smile and reach for the hood on the back, you pull it over his head, the fur lining it tickling his cheeks as his wings get pushed against his head and poke out of it, halo bobbing behind his head with snow lined around its outline. 

  “... thank yo—wh—?” his thanks is interrupted as you poke the feathers of his wings that are sticking out and push them inside the hood before pulling it slightly further down. “Stop—it’s perfectly suitable,” he waves your hand away. His cheeks were red already, but now more so with an embarrassed warmth as well.

  You immediately feel the chill of the cold wind and shake your arms a bit before rubbing them for some friction. “Alright, alright—I’ll leave you be, come on. The sooner we find this facility the faster we’ll be out of the cold.”

  He makes a ‘hmph’ sound and hunches slightly so that his face is nestled nicely in the collar of the puffy jacket. If you’re to take turns, he should try and warm up as quickly as possible… he doesn’t want you to be cold either. He only accepted as easily as he did because he knew you would hold him down and force the jacket onto him if he didn’t…

  But the gesture resonates with him nonetheless. It would be easy for you to continue in comfort, the jacket doesn’t prevent cold entirely, but it brings a significant barrier to the wind and chill, especially with the hood protecting his ears and neck. Yet you still chose to share it with him… it almost brought more warmth to him than the jacket. 

  You have always been like this, he shouldn’t be surprised at this point… with every offer, every smile and nudge, his chest grows warmer. 

  His sleepless nights were never unaccompanied, you were usually in the kitchen past midnight—once because you ‘forgot to boil eggs for breakfast and are too tired in the morning to do it’, another time because you were simply thirsty, then it was the night before Welt’s birthday and you and March 7th were baking cupcakes at three in the morning. 

  It has become a habit when he cannot sleep, be it because his thoughts will not stop interrupting him, or because the deeds of the past pull his stomach down until he has to use a bathroom or he simply feels restless and has a need to stand and move… to go to the kitchen. It’s a separate carriage from the bedrooms and gives some peace and quiet, once when you were not there as he had become accustomed to, he had taken out his phone to send you a message and ask if you were awake.

  Of course… he didn’t, as his thumb had hovered over the send button, he set his phone down and turned back to his water. Spending the dark hours of the night alone. 

  Not that there is a true night and day on the Express, it operates on a 24-hour cycle where the lights dim and the windows are blocked to emulate night—but Sunday is far accustomed to strange hours or wake and deep sleep. 

  Sunday is once again taken from his thoughts as you stop for the second time, looking around with a focused expression on your face. He follows your gaze but sees nothing amiss, just more snow and now distant trees. The sky is grey and the ground white, the falling flakes of snow blending the two seamlessly to blur the distance between earth and sky. “What is it?”

  With a shimmer, your weapon appears in your hand, sturdy and warm against your cold fingers. “I heard something…”

  Out here? It was a miracle if anyone found you out in the chilled wilderness like this.

  “Remember what those kids said earlier? When we were in town?” your voice lowers, eyes still scanning your surroundings. 

  Sunday nods. “That… we should be careful because ‘kids who get lost in the forest turn into ghosts that eat people’?” he didn’t entirely believe them, it was most likely just a cautionary tale their parents tell them so they don’t run into the forest and get lost. No child will survive for long. 

  “I don’t much like ghosts…” you mumble, the shiver on your skin not only because of the biting winds. Your muscles are coiled, ready and tense… you’re no stranger to duking it out with a monster or two, or even people. But what if you can’t whack it away like you could anything else? 

  Sunday is equally on guard as you are, but less experienced with direct combat. He’s mostly relied on intellectual disputes in the past, as well as planning for conflicts ahead of time where he won’t have to directly face off against something. 

  You see something shift in the corner of your eye—it’s not a whole form, it looks like a misty shape that drags into the snow as it moves. You shift your feet towards it as it speeds towards the two of you. Sunday grasps your shoulder as if he’s about to pull you backwards, but before he can, you swing your weapon—and the misty form dissipates.

  “...” your eyes flicker around to search for it. “Was that it?”

  “I doubt it,” Sunday says quietly next to your ear, his voice clear above the cool brush of wind that’s been chilling your skin. “There,” he gestures to a shift between trees. “There is a flicker of blue between the shoulders, it must be the weak spot.”

  Weak spot, you can deal with that—it can’t be much different from the game machines in Penacony, whack the glowing part. 

  “Be careful if it—” Sunday’s warning went ignored and interrupted as you lift your leg and charge toward the misty apparition. “Wait—!” damn it, he knows you have a tendency for recklessness, but at least let him do what he’s good at and create a plan of attack!

  He struggles to wade through the snow to follow you, unfamiliar with navigating high snow. But he has no chance of catching up with you. You raise your weapon again and raise your hands to swing downwards—but the misty form moves and you miss, the body dissipating again, it’s already a pretty small form, but it’s mostly translucent too, it’s not easy to follow.

  You’re so damn cold, it’s difficult to move as quickly as you usually could. You see Sunday stop halfway towards you and look around for the elusive creature… you’re not sure what it’s capable of, but your prickling instincts are telling you it’s absolutely not friendly. “Come, stay closer,” Sunday calls to you. “It’s less likely to surprise us if we watch each other’s flanks.”

  He’s right. You start to wade through the snow towards him when something moves in the corner of your eyes to your right—the wraith-looking creature seemed more condensed than before, its form whiter as if the falling snow had blanketed its outline and made it more visible. The blue hue in it’s torso flickered and expanded as a sharp shard of ice formed inside its body, it wasn’t wide, but it was long and jagged—and it was facing Sunday, too far from you to be able to get to him in time if the speed at which the shard was made was anything to believe. 

  He seemed to see it as well, eyes widening only slightly in surprise at the sight—his gaze snaps equally startled towards you as you dash towards the wraith. What are you doing!? Sunday calls your name in both warning and surprise, concern clear in his startled gaze, the creature is clearly preparing an attack—you should be falling back on the defensive, and not charging right at it!

  You hop surprisingly easily through the snow, each large step eating at the distance between the threat and yourself. Swinging the bat at it did nothing but dissipate it and let it reappear elsewhere—and you don’t have the body heat or stamina to chase it around for twenty minutes. Maybe if you grab the blue centre, it’ll materialise enough for you to break it. 

  Sunday cursed the high snow, trying to stumble through it towards you as you ran at the enemy. He watched as you leapt at it and tackled it down—surprisingly, the wraith did fall with you, but the way your body jerked as you landed in the puffy snow made his skin itch. 

  As soon as you tackled the wraith down, the shard of ice it was conjuring short forward as if it had been held back by a tight bowstring—and impaled itself in your body. The sudden, violent pain that burst from your torso made you nearly double over in on yourself. But you persisted and jabbed the end of your weapon into the core.

  With a loud crack and sound of shattering, the core broke apart like a light bulb, as if it had been entirely hollow. The misty form dissipated once more, leaving only shards of blue on the snow under you. 

  Sunday calls your name again with more urgency, heart hammering in his chest as he finally makes it to you, he bends down to take your shoulders in his hands. “Are you hurt? You shouldn’t rush li—” his words stop in his throat once he sees blood padder onto the snow, the red colour a stark contrast to the pure white of freshly fallen snow. 

  For a moment, he doesn’t move, unsure what to do—does he tug you up into a sitting position? Onto your back? Where is it coming from? You’re on all fours already, so perhaps you can straighten slightly. “Let me see, let me see,” his voice is urgent as he sees the tremble of your hands and hears a strange sound, as if a thin sheet of ice was being stepped on. Sunday takes your arm that twitched towards your torso and sees frost hardening on your clothes and skin. 

  As soon as you had physically touched the wraith, your skin began to feel extremely cold, like you were perpetually laid against ice. Your entire torso prickled, but the worse of the pain was coming low in your abdomen, your eyes lower and you see the shard imbedded in your lower left abdomen, it was wider at the bottom and stretched the skin apart and cut your clothes where blood bubbled and dripped down into the snow. It felt like you had drunk ice cold water, the feeling of it leaking down into your stomach—except it was spreading from the ice, and every surface you had touched of the ghost.   

  “Let me see,” he says for the third time, firmer this time despite the small crack of his voice, whether it was from the cold numbing his nose and lips or the creeping anxiety at the back of his mind, it was hard to tell. 

  You gasp and cry out slightly as he tries to right you up, it feels as if the sharp shard in your body had just cut through the entirety of your torso with the small movement, tears bubbling at the bottom of your eyelids from the overwhelming sensitivity and pain. “S-stop—” you pant, voice barely audible between short, quick breaths, as if you were afraid that breathing deeper would hurt more.

  Sunday swallows, he’s not a doctor and though he knows basic first aid, his knowledge of what to do in situations like this relies heavily on the fact further help was on the way—but out here in the snow and wind with no signal… 

  He shrugs off the puffy jacket you had handed to him earlier and he lays it over your back, the biting cold already cooling his shivering body. “I’m sorry,” Sunday apologises quietly, his heart is racing, and though he seems calm outwardly, it’s a very practised and well-crafted front. His thoughts are racing, heart hammering in his chest and cold fingers trembling. All he sees and seems to be able to focus on is the puff of your breath and the drops of blood continuously leaking from you. 

  He’s afraid. Afraid that trying to move you will hurt you further, afraid that it might do irreversible damage—afraid that the damage is already so bad that there is scarce time to act. 

  The wind blows again and a shiver shakes both of your bodies and Sunday knows that just sitting around fretting will do more harm than good. “I am sorry,” he apologises again, more sincerely, because he knows this will only cause more agony. 

  He wraps his arms around you, and hoists you up to your feet. Your breath leaves you as you instinctively try to hunch back down, the stretch of your torso is blinding, your vision almost whites out in pain as you gasp and curse. Sunday apologises for the third time as he tries to drag you with him, pulling your dead weight is no easy feat—he isn’t particularly strong physically, he would struggle to hold Pom-Pom for long. “Hold on…” Sunday says quietly, his breath heaving from the strain of dragging both of you through the cold. “It’s alright, you’ll be okay,” he tries to reassure you, he needs to keep you awake.

  Sunday wasn’t sure he had ever felt so… anxious? Afraid? His skin felt like it was trying to tear away from his body, his hands and knees trembled and his heart clenched with every beat. 

  He is the one who should suffer, not you. 

  “Talk to me, you need to stay awake,” he urges, pinching the skin over your ribs. Sunday doesn’t want to create more pain… but if you fall asleep now, there’s no guarantee you’ll wake up again, and the thought makes his breath tighten. 

  Talk to him? No thought forms in your head, all you feel is pain. You want to throw up, your head is spinning and it feels like your ears are blocked out. “... o-okay,” is all you can manage. You can’t even move your legs to walk with him, he’s taking the entirety of your weight at this awkward angle. 

  “Good,” he peers into the distance. You need shelter—it would be a miracle if he found the town you departed from, or the facility you were looking for. But Sunday doesn’t consider himself so lucky. He looks down at you, slumped against him with sweat on your forehead despite the cold, he tugs the jacket closer to your body, trying to make sure you get some respite from the winds. 

  His legs burn, but he sees a raised part of the earth—there, it must be enough. “Almost there,” he murmurs your name, worry gnawing at his gut. “You’ll be alright, I’ll make sure of it,” he promises, holding you tighter.

  You groan as he sets you down in the small cave you found, your limbs shaking terribly—laying on your back doesn’t feel great, but it’s probably the best position you could be in, it pulls slightly on your wound… but it’s better than being hauled around. Blood has leaked more from the wound because of the movement, and the cold spreading from it, as well as your arms and chest where you touched the wraith has begun freezing your clothes in place.  

  Sunday presses his lips together, this cave isn’t large, but he could immediately feel the relief that the shelter brought. The snow gathered at the entrance shielded you from the biting wind, and that’s what’s most important. He takes his phone out of his coat pocket, his fingers stiff and numb from the cold… no signal, still. It might be the snow and wind, perhaps it will come around if it dies down.

  For now, there’s a far more important matter to tend to.

  Sunday kneels by your side, his throat tight at the sight of your pain. He had never been particularly good at facing the pain of others with a calm and straight face, his deep sense of empathy and compassion makes him wish he could take the pain from you and bear it himself. Not to mention that he’s come to actually care for you, he has never felt himself so shaken like this—not since he had heard of Robin’s injury. Very few instances will shake him so thoroughly to his core as that did. 

  He tugs your sweater up, a small whimper leaving you as more cold brushes against your bare skin. The shard isn’t wide, it’s similar to his thumb, perhaps a bit wider… but he realises the severity of it nonetheless. It’s long, and…

  Sunday hears the cracking again.

  You had only moved your hand, your breath trembling. He looks down at the shard again and sees frost spread from it, it’s cooling your skin and hardening on it—it has to be removed. Everything in his mind is telling him not to touch it, leave it there so that you don’t bleed even more profusely. But if he leaves it in, your skin and body will freeze.

  He says your name quietly. “I need to remove the shard,” he says slowly. Sunday reaches for your hand and holds your fingers in his palm. They’re ice cold, frost covering the gloves and threatening to freeze them in place. “It… it will hurt, and I apologise for having to do it.”

  You squint at him, swallowing thickly. You can’t imagine how it will feel, and you feel anxious to let him. “A-are you sure?”

  “Yes,” he nods, his hand slides up your arm and rubs it slightly, as if he’s trying to create friction and warm your skin. His wings are lowered, sitting against his shoulders as if saddened. He wasn’t entirely sure what the best course of action is, but surely you will have a better chance with an open, but dressed wound and not being actively frozen alive, than you will with the shard still inside of you and trying to actively kill you? 

  It’s a chance you’ll have to take. 

  He takes off his scarf but leaves his gloves on, he doesn’t want to touch the shard with his bare hands. “I will need to remove it slowly to ensure it doesn’t cut you further…” Sunday shifts on his knees next to you, the cave floor is just as cold as kneeling on snow. “I’m sorry.”

  You’re not sure how often he’s apologised at this point, and you’re unsure why he feels the need to, this wasn’t his fault. 

  Before you can examine the thought further, he grips the shard and you gasp—even just touching it makes you panic. “W-w-wait—” your heart races. Don’t, it—

  He pulls gently, and the shard moves. A scream tears from your throat and Sunday’s breath catches. He almost stops, but steels himself. If he stops now, it’ll be worse, he’s already started—he has to finish. He repeats his apologies like a mantra, your body jerks and he uses his other hand to press down on your left hip, trying to hold you still. 

  It only takes a few seconds, but they feel like minutes, minutes of tears and screams, of trembling fingers and gentle pulling. He has to pay attention to his movements perfectly, and has to make sure it doesn’t hurt you further. 

  And when it’s all over, he tosses the shard aside and bundles his scarf to lay over the wound as blood wells in the wound. His white scarf immediately colours red at the edges as tears slip down your temples. Sunday feels a rush of emotions after the ordeal, your screams and tears, the blood. Almost as if moving instinctually, he lays over you and wraps one arm around you, cradling your head into his shoulder as his other still presses against the wound. “I’m sorry, it’s over, you’re okay,” he whispers into your ear, his arms shaking equally to your entire body. “Focus on breathing, slowly. It’s over.”

  He tears up as well, the soft wings by his head touch your jaw as he holds you, his breath shaking. He hadn’t even realised how tense he had gotten, and while the danger hasn’t passed—and you could potentially be in more danger freely bleeding as you are, it brings a small relief that the shard it out. 

  Your head spins, the pain has been so agonising, the fear and anxiety of pulling the shard out that you feel like you passed out for a moment. But feeling Sunday so close, holding you so tenderly, as if he were cradling a delicate feather between his palms… your hand that feels less frozen solid slowly raises, as if to return the hug—but your fingers poke at his halo by accident and he near shoots up, wet eyes large. Ah, touching a halovian’s halo probably doesn’t feel good, you think. 

  He blinks a few times and takes a breath. “L-let me focus on your wound, then we need to find a way to warm you up,” Sunday says hurriedly, sitting back on his knees. 

  His mind races as he tries to focus on pressing down on your wound, hoping it starts to clot faster. Your body was so cold, even your neck and cheek. Sunday himself doesn’t feel particularly warm… but he’s afraid that you’ll die from hypothermia if he doesn’t warm you up quickly. Sunday looks up to see that your eyes have slid shut and he feels his heart tighten. “Open your eyes,” he reaches up and pats your cheek with his palm, he says your name urgently. “Stay awake, just a little bit longer, please.”

  He tries to keep you awake with encouragements and small pokes and pats, but your near violently trembling body needs more help. Sunday ties the bundled scarf to the wound tightly with a long ribbon from his coat—maybe this needlessly complicated outfit has its uses after all. He then focuses on trying to warm you up, he places his hands on either side of your arms and rubs them, creating friction. The frost that had built up on your clothes and skin hasn’t spread further, it was likely driven by the shard. Now he just has to warm you up.

  But friction can only do so much, after a time, you’re moaning about it hurting, and as he lifts your jacket he sees the already reddened skin from the cold is raw and sensitive. 

  Sunday’s eyebrows pinch in thought as he does as before. “Let me share my warmth with you,” he utters and lays over you, now using both arms to wrap around you—he doesn’t dare move you into a different position than on your back. He still tries to rub every surface of your skin for warmth, but it’s not retaining heat well enough. 

  “We need to create warmth—” he jumps as he feels your cold fingers slide under his shirt. His stomach is warmer than his hands, and your icy fingers on it makes his entire body shiver. “O-okay,” he doesn’t say more, he doesn’t trust his voice to form fully. 

  This might be the method you need, and Sunday is determined to warm you up in any way you require… though this doesn’t very much help him retain his warmth.

  As your fingers feel warmer and it’s easier to move them, you retreat them from his stomach and slowly raise them to his ears. Sunday blinks at you in surprise as your warmed fingers envelop his cool ears. “What are you doing?” 

  You give a weak smile, you’re still in pain, but you’re more lucid now that there isn’t a foreign object stuck in you. “We warm each other.”

  His cheeks redden slightly as your fingers rub the shell of his ears to warm them, your fingers aren’t exactly warm, but they’re not completely cold either.

  “It won’t be sustainable like this,” he says, still laying over you, just raised slightly with his elbows on either side of your head, his misty breath wafting over your cheeks. “We need to warm faster, more directly.”

  You squint at him, he sounds like he was trying not to explicitly say something, but you had an inkling to what it was. “Like… sharing body heat?”

  His head turns slightly, gaze avoiding you as one of his wings twitches, moving to his cheek as if to hide his face, you’re unsure if it’s a conscious movement. “... for example.”

  You don’t see why not, desperate times and all that. “Okay, your coat is pretty big, we can use it as a blanket, my sweater too,” he has an easier time taking off his coat by himself, but has to help you take your sweater off. You shiver at first, but as Sunday sets his coat and your sweater over the two of you, and lays closer to you—still wearing a thin shirt—you feel subtle warmth. 

  Sunday struggled to even talk to you as soon as you huddled together, though there were thin shirts separating you, he felt the skin of your arms and collar against him. He’s never been this close to the glimpses of your skin only previously seen from a distance, now he’s close enough to smell you, to touch you. 

  He’s careful not to touch your wound, but keeps an eye on it. Your breaths mingle together and you lay your cold forehead against his shoulder to try and absorb any warmth he gives. Unfortunately, it’s not quite enough to keep both of you warm. He tries to rub your arms again, and you try to breathe warm air on his skin, but the solutions are very temporary. 

  Darkness has begun setting outside, and there’s little light inside the cave. You can still see each other, but it’s clear that nighttime is approaching. You whisper in Sunday’s ear next to you. “You cried for me, earlier.”

  He doesn’t reply immediately, his hands that were rubbing your thighs for warmth halting for a moment. “... I did.”

  “Do you often cry when people are hurt?” you wonder.

  “Sometimes,” he continues to focus on warming you, trying not to think of your lips brushing against his collar when you talk. 

  He hadn’t just cried because you were hurt, because you were in pain… a thought had occurred to him as you screamed and shook as he removed the shard that it might kill you—that his actions might. He had done nothing but stand and watch as you had battled the wraith, he had moved slowly and been unsure how to help you after you broke its core… and he had brought you more and more pain. Even in trying to help, how can his heart not ache? 

  You who have always been so kind and patient, even when he sought to entrap the cosmos. Even when you stood on opposite sides of the grand theatre. You didn’t hesitate to include him, to make him feel welcome as he hesitantly stepped onto the Express. You sat with him during long nights and caught him when he experienced his first warp.

  He doesn’t want you to die, he doesn’t want you to be hurt.

  You seemed to sense that he had fallen deep into thought yet again, you raise your head from his shoulder and he turns his head to look at you. As he does, your cool fingers slowly raise and touch his cheek, it’s warmer than before. “You’re very kind.”

  His lips part slightly, his expression is difficult to read as he stares at you from above, his eyes flicker from your eyes down to your hand, to your eyes again and do a round of your face. He opens his mouth further, as if he wants to say something, but only a breath leaves him that warms your own cheeks. He utters your name and it’s almost too quiet to hear. Slowly, his head lowers and you meet him halfway—his lips are soft, despite not having eaten or had water in hours, stuck in the cold, they don’t feel stiff or chapped at all.

  As if he’d snapped out of a trance, it had only been seconds that your lips touched and he was pulling back, eyes wide. “I-I’m sorry, I should—”

  “It’s okay,” you breathe, hand still on his cheek as you try to guide him back towards you. “You’re warm, and…”

  He doesn’t need more of a reason, he’s been aching to be closer, his arms tremble with the strain of holding back. His body is so damn cold, and the inside of your mouth is warm as his tongue slips between your chilly lips. Your hand that rested against his cheek slides behind his head as he kisses you deeply, your head lowered against the cold floor, only cushioned by the fluffy hood of your jacket. His wings flutter and brush against your wrist as your other hand touches his shoulder. Sunday’s fingers that had tried to keep your thighs warm rise to your hips, one hand dangerously close to your wound. 

  Your mouth opens to warm him, your lips separating for a moment, but he presses on again. “I know,” Sunday assures you, and his gentle tone eases your wariness. “I’ll be careful.”

  His lips part in tune with yours, the sounds of your wet kisses echoing in the cave, his thumbs rub at your hips as if he can’t keep his hands still and the only way to have them put in one place was to at least soothe you like this. Your cheeks are warm from the deep kissing, it’s almost suffocating the way his tongue drags over your lips and traces the inside of them, as if he’s trying to taste every surface of your mouth he can reach. 

  It was too much, the taste of you, the warmth of your mouth and your tight hold on his shoulder and behind his head. He needs more warmth, needs to feel it radiate from you and bask in it like touching a bonfire. Your cold fingers and shivering skin, the frost clinging to your sleeves and collar—he wants to make you warm again, feel your warm fingers against his own, like when you handed him a cup of tea during a long night and your fingers touched. Even the brief brush of another’s skin had stuck with him for weeks. 

  He groans against you and his mouth slides from yours, his lips trailing warmth to your cool jaw and throat, the chilled skin shivering again when he closes his mouth over thin skin between the juncture of your shoulder and neck. Your breath trembles as he worries it between his teeth, tongue gently brushing over the tingling spot once he’s done. 

  “I…” his breath is deep and wanting. “Let me warm you, please. I-I wish to touch you, to ensure you won’t shiver with cold any longer.”

  You nod. “Help me,” the words are pleading on your lips. Your feet are numb with cold and your body has bouts of harsh trembling. You want him to touch you. 

  Sunday takes your lips again with his, as if he can’t get enough of your taste and the feeling of your mouth moving against his, he tilts his head to kiss you deeper as his hands lift your thin shirt to your collar, moving any barriers in his way as he moves the heat from between your lips and to your chest. Your body will quickly warm itself if he stimulates it appropriately, and he intends for the two of you to feel comfortably warm. “Wha—“ you weren’t expecting his mouth to seek there so quickly, and certainly were you not prepared. 

  His lips close around your left nipple, the warmth brought from it makes you inhale softly—but as the texture of his tongue drags over it, you nearly jerk in surprise, your wound aching from the sudden moment. Sunday’s hand holds your hip down on the side where there is no injury, his eyes looking to you from under grey eyelashes. “Please be still, I don’t want you to hurt yourself,” his breath fans over the moist point of your chest and you shiver again—for entirely unrelated reasons to the cold. He resumes his attention and you find that ‘being still’ is your greatest challenge today. Every single drag of his tongue, flick and suckle sends sparks through your body, it makes your fingertips twitch where they’ve claimed hold of his shoulders and your thighs flex. The most prominent tingles settle between your legs where you’re desperately trying to will down the rising need for attention. 

  Your cheeks and neck warm—and you make a high-pitched sound as his gloved hand moves to your other nipple, a poke followed by a pinch and his thumb sliding left and right over it makes your body instinctively squirm and tense. “S-Sunday—“ you breathe his name, unsure exactly what you want him to do or don’t, the sensations of his warm mouth and cold glove on opposite sides makes your head nearly spin. 

  “Do you feel warmer?” he looks up at you again, his golden eyes seem to glow in the darkening cave. 

  You nod again. “A little,” you’re still cold, especially on your stomach that’s bare And exposed to the cold air of the cave. Your left hand rises slightly to touch the wing above his shoulder—causing Sunday to tense as he blinks at you. You want him to be warm too, he’s been so diligent in trying to make friction against your arms and thighs, in hugging your coats together and huddling close… “Warm us both, together.”

  He licks his lips in thought. Warm you both at the same time? He can only think of one method. Sunday takes your hands from his shoulders and holds them in his own, he raises them to his lips and blows air onto them before he guides them between your legs—and a distinct warmth emanates from there. It shouldn’t be surprising, having your chest touched and licked like that definitely pools heat there, but the way Sunday’s hands are so careful and his gaze so focused, as if he were unearthing a grand treasure or under an important assignment…

  He buttons open and lowers your pants only as far down as needed, not wanting to expose your skin to more cold air than necessary. Sunday still holds your hands as he lays them over the radiating warmth of your crotch, he doesn’t directly touch you, only using your own fingers as a proxy to slowly slide and rub your cool fingers over yourself. You bite your lip as you twitch under your cold fingers, the stark contrast of temperature making your heart race more than it was already. But it does warm your fingers, the more he moves them. “This might be uncomfortable at first,” Sunday utters as he brings your hands up before guiding them into your underwear—with no barrier between your warm flesh and cold fingers, the temperature difference is even more stark. 

  His own cheeks are red now as well, and he releases one hand from you to lean over you again and bring your bodies closer. “Keep your hands there, move and touch as you can,” he says and fully lets go of your hands. He holds himself over you with his elbow on the floor next to your head—which you instinctively tilt your head towards to rest against, seeking his touch—while his other hand unbuttons his own pants and tugs them down only slightly. “I-if we… do this, then our bodies will warm… and so long as we huddle together, then—“ his body almost jerks as his cold fingers touch his own aching need. “—then th-the cold should subside somewhat.”

  You nod, the movements familiar to you as your breath deepens—you were so sensitive, perhaps it was your cold fingers, or it could be the prelude of having your chest touched like that. This is surprisingly effective, but you still struggle to pay attention to your own pleasure and movements while Sunday is only a hair’s width of you, doing the same. So much of a distraction that your movements stilled, gaze fixed on the way his breath heaved, his head lowered so that his forehead was almost touching yours, his wings raised and shuddering. 

  Sunday seems to notice that you aren’t moving anymore, he swallows thickly and squints at you. “Wh-what is it?” his voice trembles slightly. “Does it hurt?” 

  He’s worried about your wound—and it certainly does ache, but your attention is far from being focused on that. “No… ah, can I… can I touch you?”

  “What?” he doesn’t understand you at first, even though he’s been quite good at reading your expressions and words today. “You… want to touch me?”

  You nod, and your hands leave yourself towards him, your warmed fingers touching his wrists—and his hands almost fly out of his pants in surprise. “I do,” you confirm. “Can I?”

  He seems conflicted for a moment, eyes lowering before he nods. “Okay… I’ll take care of you too.”

  A smile touches your lips. “Alright, I think it will warm us much faster.”

  Your fingers slide under his underwear, his cock is already straining against his underwear, hard and hot to your touch. Sunday gasps as you touch him—your fingers aren’t nearly as cold as they were before, but he still tenses as if you had shoved snow into his pants. You grasp him gingerly, not sure what is too fast of an approach for him, but as his breath seems to slow at your gentle touch, you take it as a go-ahead. 

  With every stroke and movement, his hips twitch—as if they want to move with you but are held back by sheer will alone. Sunday can barely think clearly, all he feels is you, all he smells is your skin, mixed with sweat and blood that stirs something in him. He joins you, his hand touching you in return and immediately it’s like your entire body flares to life, your hand moves faster, careful still—and Sunday leans down again, his lips on your neck kissing and suckling, his cool nose brushing against your warmed skin. 

  “S-Sunday—ah—“ your breath shudders. “More, l-little bit down—mnh,” warmth was pooling in your belly quicker than you’re used to, the flexing of your stomach amongst the pleasure tugged on your wound a little, but the brief pain was just an enhancement at this point.

  He breathes out your name, once, twice—with every stroke of your hand. You don’t feel that you can properly take care of him when his cock is confined within his pants like that, you turn your hand and tug his length out of them—and he springs free to the cold air, making Sunday suck in a breath, your sweater over his back almost sliding off. “Hahh, y-you don’t need to…”

  “I want to,” you assure him, licking your lips as you have much better freedom of movement now, your thumb strokes over the head and Sunday whines. His hands redouble their efforts between your legs, pushing your pants and underwear a bit further down to give himself more room as well. “Fuck, Sunday,” you curse on instinct, the overwhelming feeling of liquid heat searing through your veins causing you to respond to his hands with your hips—you were getting closer, and with every touch and twist on the upstroke you make, he is as well. 

  “Ahh, please,” he presses his forehead into your neck, Sunday’s hips make no effort to cease their movements now, he fully meets your strokes, hips rolling with your hand—he’s pressed down so much that your stroking him against your stomach, his thigh pressing against his hand as he prays to bring you equal pleasure with his own fingers as you are doing to him. He makes a particular movement that you can’t describe—and the tight coil in your stomach that’s been spreading fire through you for minutes finally releases its tension. 

  You cry out slightly, both surprised by the intensity as well as the relief and soothing warmth that surges through you from his fingers and out to your fingers and toes, to your ears and behind your eyes. 

  Sunday almost seems to come undone simply at the sight of you doing so, he needs only a few ruts against your tightened hand, instinctively flexed with pleasure, to achieve his own, his entire body jerking and shuddering as a sticky wetness splatters onto your stomach. 

  It takes the both of you a few moments to to catch your breaths, but as soon as Sunday’s thoughts realign to a comprehensive read, he tugs his coat and your sweater that’s slid a bit askew over his back—somehow miraculously not fallen off—to huddle the warms built by your combined pleasures. He nearly jumps when he feels the evidence of his pleasure sticking to your stomach and quickly starts to dry it with his shirt. “I-I apologise, I should’ve—should have turned away,” he stutters slightly, his voice not entirely reliable yet. 

  But you only laugh softly, wincing slightly from the strain put on your wound—the worry in his eyes from only a mere wince makes your chest warm more. “It’s okay. We’re warmer now, and… it was good, you’re good with your fingers.”

  His cheeks redden further—somehow—and his gaze leaves yours, looking at the floor next to your head. “Th-thank you… you did… very well, as well,” Sunday mumbles awkwardly. 

  You open your mouth to speak again, and suddenly both of your phones ping. 

  It’s stopped snowing and the winds have calmed, Sunday fishes for his phone to see seven unread messages from the Astral Express group chat. They’re asking for both of your locations and whether you’re alright, it’s been hours. He sighs in relief and sends your coordinates to them, the sooner you get medical assistance, the better. 

  You watch as he sets the phone aside. “No time for round two?”

  Sunday looks at you as if you’ve sprouted two additional heads. “Round two? Already—? No, you—the injury, if—what?” he stumbles through three different sentences, and you only laugh softly. The halovian lets out a ‘hmph’ and turns his head away from you—his cold halo bumping into your forehead.

  “Next time, then,” you rub the spot between your eyes where the spiky point of his halo smacked against you. 

  A sigh leaves Sunday and he turns his head to you again, a soft, warm kiss blessing the corner of your mouth. “… once you’re healed.” 

[chaot1c0]

the way my heart beats for you - sunday o.

alas, the fated day of christmas had arrived. being a new member of the astral express, sunday is not familiar with how the crew celebrates christmas.

so that explains why he is stunned to find a tall tree in the parlor car adorned with ornaments of almost all color that twinkle in the express' lights.

and besides the ethereal-looking tree, is the trailblazer with march 7th on their shoulders, reaching out to place the star on the tree. you stand nearby, next to himeko, dan-heng, and welt, who keep an eye on pom-pom in case the poor conductor faints out of worry.

sunday merely chuckles at the sight, covering his small smile with his fist. he then makes his way over to stand next to you and observe the sight before him.

"oh, looks like the angel decided to grace us with his presence after all," you remark.

sunday merely shrugs with a smile, one that seems genuine for the most part.

"so, what are they doing?" he asked, not bothering to take his eyes off of march 7th and the trailblazer, who somehow end up placing the star on the tree perfectly before falling.

you shrug, snapping a picture of them mid-fall.

"their usual shenanigans," you simply stated.

sunday nods slowly, deciding to leave that as it was .. [ he'd rather not get involved in their interesting activities ]

eventually, the day comes to a close and sunday finds himself staring at something else. well, someone else, in particular.

..it seems the angel has fallen for someone.

guys this was the best I could do I swear one of these days I'll drag my ass out of writer's block ..

masterlist

[deathbxnny]

helloo sunday with an astral express member teen!reader who is scared of him (would hide behind someone or something whanever they see him) but gets used to him and sometimes even tries spending time with him and comfort him?

astral express passenger sunday

Yes, yes, yes, I love this. It's so cute.

Content: Teen reader, platonic relationships, fluff, sfw

Reader has no set pronouns.

((Not proofread))

He knew who you were from the time that you and your found family rammed a train right into him. So meeting you again felt rather awkward and understandably filled with deep mistrust to his intentions. Sunday had no one to blame but himself for that of course and left you alone, especially when he noticed that you were rather fearful of him. Another thing he accepted, supposing it wasn't all too surprising.

Yet despite this, he went out of his way to apologize to you formally, considering that your young age made him feel worse about potentially having hurt you too in the battle. You always hid behind the other members of the crew, however, and so it was hard to get much of a direct response from you at first that wasn't filtered through them.

Months went on this way until his patience with you eventually wore off, and you began asking him curious questions about his wings, his sister, and his current beliefs. He always answered as calmly and as age appropriately as he could, a small, serene smile on his face when you seemed childishly amazed at his answers. The other express members saw it as a good thing that you were beginning to trust him, and it made them, in turn, let their walls down around him easier. If you saw something well meaning in him, then there was nothing for them to worry about anymore.

This resulted in you including him in all of your shenanigans. Whether it was playing board games with the crew or running around a nameless planet with him in tow, he was always a step behind you now. And deep down, your presence brought him joy again, as you reminded him of his sister in their own youth. As though reborn, he sees the world through your young eyes, and despite its at times rather worrisome and reckless nature, he finds deep appreciation for it.

To thank you for your indirect yet significantly important impact on his newfound way of life, he silently vows to keep you safe and teach you whatever good thing he still knows.

And if there is a day in which your paths diverge, he hopes that what he brings you will help you become something much greater than he ever was and will be.

[22ayla21]

Hi, I was wondering if you could do a Dan Heng x reader family headcanons or fic? I know in one post you said that, due to Dan Heng's lore and such, he couldn't biologically have a kid, but can maybe adopt or maybe have an inseminated baby, like either by a sperm donor or a person they know and trust? Either way, I just think he would be a good dad and have cute but funny shenanigans, also be a giant bookworm and read the kid stories and such. Also would be a little protective of both his kid and wife.

Under the Dragon's Wing

Trying to leave his past behind, Dan Heng found on the Astral Express not just a home, but also a family: a beloved woman and an adopted son.

From Author: In this fic, I've combined three requests. Screenshots of the other two will be below.

Life aboard the Astral Express was always about movement. Planets whizzed by the windows, Dan Heng delved into new data in the archives, March 7 incessantly clicked her camera, capturing another adventure, Pom-Pom habitually grumbled at Caelus, and Welt and Himeko discussed the route, knowing that every journey changed them. No one could have imagined that one day the Express would become not just a means of transport, but a true home—warm, full of children’s laughter and whispered bedtime stories.

It didn't happen immediately.

They found the boy on a forgotten planet. A dusty, abandoned orphanage where children were more like numbers in reports than living souls. Dan Heng's beloved was the first to notice him. He sat in a corner, clutching a ragged doll, of which only half remained. Dark eyes meticulously followed every movement, but he didn't cry. He didn't call out. He just… watched. Silently, as if he had long understood there was no one to call.

"Name?" The caretaker merely shrugged. "No one gave him one. He… just exists. Has been silent since he was found. Strange, not like the others. As if he understood too much, even before he learned to speak."

The boy sat, huddled, as if trying to become invisible. His thin fingers clutched an old, barely-holding-together doll—the last remnant of something that could once have been called "care." His eyes—large, dark, terrifyingly adult for a child—met Dan Heng's.

And in that moment, time stood still.

Not a single muscle twitched on Dan Heng's face, but inside, everything clenched. His heart, accustomed to restraint, was squeezed by pain and anger. Not fiery anger—no. This was a cold, conscious anger. The kind that makes you make decisions that change destinies.

He approached slowly, without haste, and knelt down. His voice was quiet, but firm, like a promise carved in stone: "I am Dan Heng. And this is my beloved."

He extended his hand. Not intrusively. Just… openly. "You are not alone. Do you want to come with us? Home?"

The boy remained silent. His eyes didn't waver, but something flickered in them—a tiny spark, a faint glimmer of hope. His lips trembled slightly, and his fingers, clutching the doll until his knuckles ached, slowly unclasped. The doll slipped and fell silently to the floor.

He didn't say a word. He simply reached forward and placed his tiny hand in Dan Heng's large, warm hand, and then in his woman's hand.

The answer was clearer than words.

The adoption process took time. The Express crew, upon learning of their decision, didn't ask a single unnecessary question—only offered support, only warmth. Welt and Himeko helped with the legal nuances, and March 7 immediately began brainstorming ideas for decorating the room.

The boy's room appeared next to theirs—with built-in lighting, soft panels, children's toys, and a bookshelf that Dan Heng personally began filling. He sought out the best editions of fairy tales—from Luofu, Jarilo-VI, and even rare translations from the languages of forgotten civilizations.

It wasn't easy for them.

At first, the boy, whom they named Yang Ming, didn't speak. He rarely ate, often woke up at night, and didn't trust easily. He was especially afraid of loud voices. Dan Heng and his beloved, though accustomed to difficulties, found themselves facing a new challenge—parenthood. The responsibility was different, almost sacred.

Initially, Dan Heng was afraid to touch the boy. Not because he didn't want to, but because… he didn't believe he could give enough warmth. But the child, despite everything, reached out to him himself.

"Are you a dragon?" he whispered one day, burying his face in his father's shoulder.

"Yes," he replied, and gently ran his fingers through his hair. "But first of all, I am your dad."

From that day on, Yang Ming would only fall asleep in Dan Heng's embrace, demanding that he read him stories. His favorite was the ancient tale of the Azure Dragon. The boy asked him to tell it again and again, and each time he looked at Dan Heng with admiration, as if he himself were the hero from the legend.

Over time, the boy began to laugh. First shyly, then loudly. He ran around the carriage, chased March 7th and Pom-Pom, made paper ships with Caelus, and confidently asked Himeko for another pastry in the dining car. Welt (like a true grandpa) lectured him on history, and then cut out a cardboard model of the Express that he himself had drawn.

When mom and dad wanted to be alone—even just to drink tea and hug in silence—their friends happily took Yang Ming under their wing. No one grumbled. On the contrary, it seemed everyone felt part of something bigger. A family.

Dan Heng and his beloved themselves changed. Before, he could sit in the archives for hours, forgetting to eat or sleep. Now, time spent with his son became more important than any ancient manuscripts or data. He learned to comb hair, fix broken toys, and even once put on a show with cardboard decorations, where he himself played a mischievous wind spirit (March 7, giggling, filmed it from around the corner).

He didn't stop being a protector. But now his water, his wind, his spear—everything was for the sake of his family. For them, he would fight any monster, would return even from the farthest stars.

"Are you afraid of anything, Dad?" Yang Ming asked one day, sitting on his lap.

"Only one thing," Dan Heng replied, and looked at his beloved sitting beside him. "Losing what I love."

The boy hugged his neck tighter. "Me too."

One evening, when even more stars than usual were visible outside the Astral Express's windows, and the scent of cocoa hung in the air, the crew gathered around the large round table.

Yang Ming, covered in confetti and wearing a wreath of artificial flowers, danced joyfully, celebrating the anniversary of his "family day."

"This is better than a birthday!" he shouted happily. "Because on this day, I found Mom and Dad!"

And truly—it was the day his heart found a home.

And Dan Heng… he quietly watched his beloved and son, his gaze soft, full of tenderness and peace.

He knew he had made many mistakes. That in the past, he was one who brought storms. But here, in this present, he had become one who brought light.

A dragon reading bedtime stories to his son. A guardian protecting his family. A man who had found the right to be happy.

And though the stars changed outside the window, one shone brightest in his heart. The one called home.

[lizdive]

I propose reader being a big brother figure who's responsible and reliable for the astral express trio (March 7th, trailblazer, Dan Heng) since Welt is the grandpa/father figure while himeko is the mother figure

i do 💍 /j this is such a cute idea i love the astral express crew found family trope it’s so cute <33 i don’t think i did this too well concept wise i’m sorry,,, but thank you for requesting <3 If you’re not satisfied then just tell me and i’ll redo it !! <33

notes 𐙚 male! reader — "you" + "he/him" + "big brother" used to refer to the reader ,, reader as an older brother figure ,, platonic relationships ,, trailblazer is not specific — can be seen as stelle or caelus ,, not proofread so excuse typos auhm ,,,,,,,

⭑ Whether you joined first or last, your closeness to the express does not differ. You’ll always be the one MARCH runs to when she wants to try out new outfits and needs an opinion, or when DAN HENG needs help with the archives, or when the TRAILBLAZER wants to go dumpster diving.

⭑ If you joined before DAN HENG, you probably had the role of Astral Express Guard and handled the archives. You left the most of the archive work to DAN HENG when he joined so he could freely enjoy the archives, but whether you give up your role as Astral Express Guard or still hold it alongside DAN HENG is up to you.

⭑ HIMEKO and WELT are very thankful for your responsibility and reliability, and HIMEKO will praise you for it with a pat on the head or the back. While DAN HENG is responsible and reliable, too, it’s nice for someone to relieve the stress of the TRAILBLAZER and MARCH from his shoulders while looking after him, too.

⭑ Also, while DAN HENG is a victim of the TRAILBLAZER and MARCH’s shenanigans, you’re always there to put a stop to them before they get too out of hand. Sometimes whenever you four are on a mission and your separated from the group, the moment you all meet back up DAN HENG will snitch on MARCH and the TRAILBLAZER. They’ll convince you to not snitch to HIMEKO and WELT after you scold them.

⭑ You’re the unofficial official chaperone for those three so good luck.

⭑ During crew group photos you’ll always be in the middle between WELT and HIMEKO. Doesn’t matter if you’re on the shorter side or the taller side.

⭑ After the Xianxhou arc, DAN HENG will find solace in your presence. Whether it’s just in silence or you comforting him verbally, he appreciates it. If you stay with him on the express during Penacony, he may feel a tear being shed from how touched he is.

⭑ The TRAILBLAZER will call you 'big brother' and depending on how you view / play them, it can be seen as either teasing or genuine. MARCH does it, too, but it’s joking.

⭑ WELT always feels himself relaxing more when you join him on missions because he knows you’ll be able to handle yourself and enemies as well as keep up with negotiations and pitch in ideas should there be any. He’ll make sure you don’t push yourself, of course, but he will appreciate you fighting diligently.

⭑ With HIMEKO it just feels like you’re babysitting the crew while she deals with the important things. It’s like when a mother is talking with a teacher and the oldest is trying to keep his siblings in check so they don’t do anything stupid.

⭑ The trio would follow big brother! reader like ducklings and if anyone calls them out on it, they’ll deny it. Maybe TRAILBLAZER wouldn’t and would crack a joke, but DAN HENG and MARCH will definitely deny it, DAN HENG being better at doing so than MARCH. big brother! reader just laughs and says he’s fine with it and doesn’t mind.

⭑ Good heart health is most likely non-existent. Poor heart will be at risk of stopping permanently with all the shit those three get into. HIMEKO and WELT will start taking your place in missions because you’ll need 5–12 stress and anxiety-free rest days after every few missions.

⭑ If anything during a mission is going downhill you’re the first person the trio will think to call. Big brother to the rescue!

[leariefandoms]

Ngl I lowkey headcanon Argenti goes visit the astral express when the crew and him aren’t busy with stuff. And just comes to hang out for like movies nights or something or some weird shenanigans that March and Stelle/Caelus got up that Dan Heng that judges silently in the back.

And Sunday, Himeko and Welt and Pom-Pom just watching the chaos unfold.

Like this knight of beauty needs a fam and astral express can give him one.

[genshingorlsrevengeance]

Yeah I got a request. Cuddles with mommy characters of your choice would heal me of my ailments, like a victorian child who would be soothed by seeing the sea one final time before the affliction takes hold

(Genshin Impact/H:SR/GFL) Cuddling with Lisa, Yae, Yelan, Himeko, Natasha, Springfield, and RO635

That's...oddly specific.

Lisa cuddling with her S/O is comfortable and very lazy.

Whether it be reading a book, drinking tea, or simply enjoying each other's warmth, there will be nothing productive done that day.

But in order to achieve such heavenly bliss, they will have to work doubly hard right before, so that way they can lounge about with no risk of worrying about work.

That, or she'll find excuses. If it's raining, then oh well! Nothing to do but relax at home.

With her eyes slowly fluttering open, her head rests into the crook of S/O's neck, latching onto them with both her arms.

(Lisa) yawn "It's so early in the morning..."

S/O's eyes glance over to the wall before sighing.

(S/O) "It's ten."

(Lisa) "Hm...still too early, cutie..."

Though cuddling with Yae can lull S/O a somewhat sleepy state, somehow they feel like that's exactly what she wants.

Yae's smile seems to indicate she has something up her sleeve.

(Yae) "Oh? Why are you getting so antsy of all a sudden, S/O?"

(S/O) "I know that look, Miko..."

(Yae) "Do you now? Is it truly so mind-boggling that I too, can enjoy just some regular affection?"

...A moment of silence gives her the answer.

With a flick of their forehead, her hand playfully mimics a fox with her fingers.

(Yae) "Sorry to disappoint dear, but I just wish to spend some quality time today.~"

She of course, jumpscares them later to which she laughs endlessly about.

Yelan rolled the dice, and have dictated to her that she take a break.

And she wasn't really feeling like finishing the rest of work anyway, so this works out.

(Yelan) "Not planning on moving anywhere for a while, S/O?"

(S/O) "Guess not with you laying on me like this."

(Yelan) "Perfect, don't mind if I do.~"

Yelan rests her head on S/O's stomach and dozes off for a while.

S/O smiles as one hand brushes against her hair. Having her relax with them was a rare treat.

And though they didn't know entirely what she did, getting her to sleep with someone in the room meant she trusted them completely.

Plus, they knew Yelan would want to get dinner at some point tonight, no need to rush things, as she would say.

As the Astral Express is travelling through the stars, Himeko spends a good chunk of her time with S/O, close together on the couch.

Sometimes its drinking coffee together, sometimes its talking with the other crew members, and sometimes its even just sitting together in silence.

As much as their expeditions were ways for everyone to bond, it was the quiet moments like these that Himeko cherishes with her S/O the most.

After all, no one quite knew where their final stop could be, and-

(S/O) "Himeko?"

Himeko snaps out of her mini reverie and feels S/O grab her hand, turning to look at them.

(S/O) "You alright? You were spacing out a little there."

(Himeko) "Ah, don't worry, I'm okay."

Himeko lets S/O's head rest on her shoulder and she closes her eyes, committing this feeling to memory.

(Himeko) "I just want to stay this way for a little longer..."

Natasha lets S/O hold her after a long day, a feeling she very much welcomes.

(S/O) "Hey Nat, feeling tired?"

She hums in response, her body relaxing as their hand brushes some strands of hair out of her face.

(Natasha) "As always, my dear..."

S/O chuckled at that, and let her ramble on about her day, ranging from the state of patients or whatever shenanigans the Moles got up to.

Though she'd be right back to doing more tomorrow, for now she could at least enjoy the company of someone she loved.

It was nice to be pampered every now and then.

No objections from her when it comes to being looked after, instead of always the other way around.

Springfield's smile grows wider the moment she sees S/O come into her cafe.

(Springfield) "Welcome back, love."

(S/O) "Thanks. Mind if I get the usual?"

(Springfield) "Already in a cup."

Making S/O sit in a nearby booth, she finishes cleaning her cups before joining them, both of them snuggling into each other.

Though she was a T-Doll, the warmth she gave off was just as real as any human.

(Springfield) "Work around the base busy as always?"

(S/O) "Psh, especially when Kalina and the Commander have me running around!"

A soft giggle escapes her lips as one hand barely moves to cover it, letting S/O continue and listen intently, all while her arm wraps around theirs.

RO sighs when S/O asked to hold her.

She was still in the middle of processing some reports, but she supposed it wouldn't hurt.

At least no one was watching this time.

(RO635) "You have been working hard lately...Okay okay, come here..."

With a blush creeping onto her face, RO holds S/O tightly, and not giving them space to wiggle their way out.

Assuming they even would.

Hopefully, she wouldn't have to say out loud how much she loves them and that the blush on her would do all the talking.

(S/O) "RO, you're head is burning hot, you alright?-"

(RO635) "A-Ah! I'm fine just...j-just a little embarrassed."

(S/O) "I thought you'd be used to this by now-"

She turns to them pouting, but her hold on them has gotten tighter.

[aventurineswife]

Hear me out: Dan Heng having to put up with Yae Miko!Reader’s antics. Not only are they cunning and mischievous, but they probably goad and enable Dan Heng into indulging in some mischief himself, which…honestly spells chaos for anyone unfortunate enough to cross their minds, but especially enemies of the Astral Express (or anyone Reader might deem as threatening the other crew members). The Unshackled, Sanctus Medicus, the borisin, the Preceptors, the IPC, the Banacademic Office’s Assistananas. Chances are, Reader has screwed them over somehow (and maybe even humiliated them) without ever lifting more than a finger — and they’ll gladly rub salt into the wound to drive home the ungodly karma.

They’re very sweet to Dan Heng, tho, in their own exasperating way; which probably contributes to March’s accusations of Reader playing favorites.

That being said, not even Dan Heng himself is safe from Reader’s tomfoolery. 😅

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Summary: Dan Heng finds himself reluctantly pulled into one of your mischievous schemes aboard the Astral Express. With your charm and knack for chaos, you convince him to join forces in an elaborate plan to subtly humiliate the IPC while stirring up lighthearted trouble for the crew. Despite his initial resistance, Dan Heng discovers a side of himself that enjoys the thrill of your antics—and maybe, just maybe, the connection you share.

Tags: Dan Heng x Yae Miko!Reader, Astral Express Shenanigans, Mischief and Pranks, Slow-Burn Tension, Protective Dan Heng, Humor and Fluff.

Warnings: Light chaos and playful mischief (nothing harmful), Mild suggestive undertones (flirty banter).

Dan Heng leaned against the railing of the Astral Express, his gaze fixed on the vast expanse of stars stretching out before him. The hum of the train was a welcome contrast to the chaos that often followed their travels. But in the quiet of the night, the crew had a way of finding him—one way or another.

And tonight, it was you.

“Good evening, Dan Heng,” you said, your voice light and playful, with that familiar mischievous gleam in your eyes. He didn’t look at you right away, but the subtle shift in the air told him everything he needed to know. You were up to something.

“Evening,” he replied flatly, not bothering to look at you, though he couldn’t help but sense the energy in your presence, like the calm before a storm.

You sidled up beside him, leaning casually on the railing. "You know," you began, your tone deceptively sweet, "I’ve been thinking. The crew’s been too comfortable lately. Maybe it’s time to remind them how exciting life aboard the Astral Express can be."

Dan Heng didn’t react right away. He’d learned long ago to never fully indulge in your schemes, but your words always had a way of pulling him in. The thought of unsettling the others—especially the more uptight members of the crew—was something he couldn’t entirely resist. After all, no one was truly safe from your antics, not even him.

“You know the Trailblazer’s fond of tricks, don’t you?” you smirked, nudging him with your shoulder. “I think you’ve been far too good lately. Maybe it’s time you joined me for some fun.”

Dan Heng sighed, but even as the breath left his lips, he felt his resolve weaken. You had a way of getting under his skin—drawing him into your antics with a precision that both frustrated and intrigued him. Normally, he would’ve resisted—his responsibility aboard the Express always came first. But with you, the lines were always a little more blurred. You made everything feel… lighter.

“March is already accusing you of playing favorites,” he said, the faintest hint of amusement slipping into his usually guarded tone. “I don’t think adding fuel to that fire is wise.”

You chuckled, your voice soft and melodic, betraying none of the mischief simmering beneath. “Oh, Dan Heng, who would I be without a little fun? Besides, what harm could a bit of chaos do? After all, the IPC won’t be the only ones suffering if we don’t make a statement.”

The mention of the IPC made him pause. The ongoing conflict with them was a constant weight on his mind, one he preferred to avoid discussing. But your tone—effortless, confident—reminded him that there was always more to your mischief than met the eye. You never did anything without a reason. And when it came to protecting the Astral Express or those you cared about, your actions often spoke louder than words.

You leaned closer, your breath warm against his ear as you whispered, “And you know, Dan Heng… I think it would be absolutely delightful to humiliate them all without lifting a finger. A little magic, a little misdirection… and we could make them regret crossing us.”

The mischievous edge to your voice sent a shiver down his spine. He could already picture it—the smug faces of the IPC executives contorting into confusion and frustration as you unraveled their plans. Chaos. But it was a chaos he could almost enjoy, especially when you made it seem so effortless.

Dan Heng hesitated, then finally muttered, his voice a mixture of exasperation and reluctant amusement, “Fine. But if we’re doing this, I’m not going easy on them.”

Your eyes sparkled with glee. “That’s the spirit. Just follow my lead, and we’ll make sure they remember the consequences of underestimating us.”

In that moment, it felt as though the universe itself held its breath, waiting to see what would unfold. And then, in an instant, everything shifted. You sprang into action, weaving a web of illusions and misdirection that left the crew scrambling. Dan Heng, despite his best intentions to remain detached, found himself swept up in the whirlwind of pranks and subtle sabotage.

The IPC never stood a chance. Their every move undone by tricks and magic they couldn’t possibly fathom. As for the crew—well, Dan Heng wasn’t sure how they’d ever look at him the same way again.

March would probably have another complaint about favoritism. Himeko would shake her head, as always, in quiet resignation. But Dan Heng? He found himself fighting the urge to smile as the chaos unfurled around him.

You, as always, were impossible to resist.

[blissfullyapillow]

Ever since the scene of Welt getting enthusiastic about playing hide and seek but then getting shut down because he's too old, I've been... daydreaming to say the least. Offering to play with him as his s/o, not judging him at all for his age, just wanting to see him have fun... Seeing a whole new mischievous side of Welt as he uses his abilities to give you a scare... Hearing his laughter... Maybe getting a bit spicy if you want to... Just anything with the hide and seek scenario just makes me so giggly!!!!! Love the silly old man <333

┃Hide and Seek with Welt Yang

₊˚⊹♡ wc: 1,222~

₊˚⊹♡ warnings: not proofread, fluff, suggestive ending, fun shenanigans with some of the astral express crew :D

₊˚⊹♡ Pillow Talks: I hope you like what I have for you anon! I did my best to honor your request to the best of my ability (╥ ω ╥)

₊˚⊹♡ Masterlist

You’ve never seen Welt act so.. giddy before

He can be difficult to read at the worst of times and a bit mischievous at the best, but a totally different side to Welt is presented before you as you hide your frame behind the large furniture in front of you.

Not the best hiding spot, but it’s in a place he’d least expect!

Or.. maybe not.

A low chuckle is the only warning you receive before a weightless feeling takes over your senses. You emit a noise of surprise as your body levitates off the ground.

Warm, inviting brown eyes light up with mirth as you struggle to maintain your balance.

“I won this round. You have two more chances.” You recall the deal you made with Welt. Whoever wins three rounds of hide and seek gets to ask the other to do one thing, whatever they want, and it can’t be refused. Of course there’s a time limit each round, and unfortunately he found you well before time ran out.

“You got lucky.” Your reluctance to admit defeat amuses Welt immensely. You are gently let down, and as soon as your feet are planted you get ready to hide again.

This time, you hide somewhere that hopefully won’t be so obvious.

In the archives.

Dan Heng was nonplussed that you wanted to use the archives as a means to win a game of hide and seek, but your pleading was enough to get him to relent.

“As long as you do not disturb me, I don’t mind.” His agreement came as a surprise, but who are you to complain?

So, you hang out with Dan Heng as the minutes tick by.

You snicker as you check your phone, and two minutes remain.

Again, not the best hiding spot but everyone on the astral express knows Dan Heng isn’t one to let tomfoolery occur in the archives. Which makes it a  good hiding spot should he consent.

Which is why you emit a groan when a knock is heard at the locked door.

Dan Heng turns to eye you, raising an eyebrow. You shake your head frantically, clasping your hands together in a silent prayer for him to keep the door locked.

He releases a deep sigh as he turns back to the data bank, only for the knocking to continue, louder in volume. Dan Heng pinches the bridge of his nose.

You glance at the timer on your phone.

Thirty seconds left.

“Just a few more seconds!” You whisper-yell the words to Dan Heng. He looks at the door and back at you, a frown on his face.

“Name, are you—“ somehow, the door unlocks and swings open. Welt stands triumphant on the other side, and you glance at your phone.

There was only 10 seconds left!

You stifle a groan as Welt walks inside, picking you up effortlessly as he bids Dan Heng farwell. You swear you catch Dan Heng’s smirk as he waves to the both of you.

As soon as Welt exits the archives the door slams shut behind the both of you.

“Did you think I didn’t know where you were hiding?” Welt teases you. “Maybe…” You're pouting, but you don’t care.

Welt ruffles your hair, a vibrant air of life about him. “This’ll be the last round if I win, Name. Are you sure you don’t want to be the seeker?” You adamantly shake your head in refusal.

“No way! It’d be too easy for you to manipulate the doors. I still can’t sneak into your room, you always have to let me in.” You huff, crossing your arms in faux annoyance. Welt side eyes you before he finally sets you down on your feet.

“You’ve tried sneaking into my room?” He sounds surprised, but there’s a knowing glint in his warm gaze. “Oh, be quiet. We both know that you’re more than aware that I have.” He shrugs, feigning innocence before he turns around. “I’ll give you extra time to hide this time. I think I’ve decided what I’ll ask of you…” He muses.

You roll your eyes but an uncontrollable smile lifts your lips. You press a chaste kiss to Welt’s lips before you run off to find your next hiding spot.

This time, you hide in plain sight, moving after Welt leaves the area. You make your way to March’s room. She lets you in, and after some begging she allows you to hide behind her plushies once you agree to let her take a picture the moment you’re found. You didn’t like the fact that she knew believed you would lose, but you needed a new place to hide.

Time ticks by all too slowly for your liking. March continues on with what she was doing previously before you interrupted her. She checks the time for you, sending a thumbs up your way to indicate time is almost up. You hold your breath as you will the time to pass faster.

You make sure to bury yourself beneath her plushies when Welt inevitably visits her room, and she cheekily lets him in (despite your previous agreement but you choose not to gripe).

Welt takes one look at the pile of plushies you’re hiding beneath before you’re suddenly floating upside down midair. March cheers loudly as she snaps a candid photo of you.

Welt leaves the room with you trailing behind him, still suspended in air with your arms crossed in dismay.

“Welllttt… this isn’t fair.” Your complaints fall on deaf ears as he brings you to his room, shutting the door behind him.

You hear Welt’s phone chime. He leisurely takes his phone out of his pocket to check the lit screen, grinning to himself at whatever is on the screen. “I told March to send me the photo she took of you.” He chuckles as he holds the phone up to you. You look absolutely ridiculous in the photo, hanging midair with pure shock written on your features.

You reach for his phone, only for him to pull it back.

“Ah ah, this photo is precious to me. It’s worthy of being my screensaver, don’t you agree?” Welt relishes in the look you give him, clearly disapproving of his choice of jokes. You do a flip at Welt’s command, and you yelp in surprise. He laughs, setting you down once more.

Except, you’re now caged between his arms with the wall behind you for support.

“My silly partner really thought they could win a game of hide and seek against me, hm?” Welt’s eyes darken, a dangerous glint to them as he holds your chin with his fingers.

You have no choice but to look him deep in his eyes, your own flustered gaze reflected within his iris’. 

“Ah.. well, it’s the effort that counts right?” You suggest, pressing your back against the wall. Welt smirks when you gasp; his knee parts your legs to tease between your thighs.

“I agree. In fact, I think your efforts should be rewarded.” His tone is suggestive, just as his actions ignite the familiar flame of your desire.

Your body relaxes when he leans in to slot his lips with yours, his knee providing pleasurable stimulation for you.

You are completely at his mercy, and you have no intention of hiding this time.

[crazyringo]

Source: Hsrchat.pages.dev

Read from left to right. Coffee shenanigans with the Astral Express crew/family. Oh boy, Stelle is in trouble now lol. Poor Dan Heng is too nice to say no, and March and Welt were the only smart ones to decline

In my hc, Himeko may be kind and patient for most things, but she won't tolerate any coffee sins. Black coffee or nothing. And if you do decide/dare to drink coffee any other way, it better not be in her presence

Still, it's kind of funny/interesting that most characters in the game so far cannot tolerate Himeko's coffee. The only one that seems to like it is Pela. Anyways, you guys can expect a part 2 for this one in a day or two

[blackwaterbbq]

I wouldn't risk doing anything that might cause more problems for the actors since we don't know if Hoyo recast or they chose to abandon the franchise after the massive hate VAs got when it was revealed Hoyo games were never struck down and the strike was VAs wanting Hoyo to go Union which would have left non Union smaller VAs jobless. They might have chosen to not continue voicing due to fandom hate or because Hoyo wouldn't go Union. I miss them and hate losing them but we don't know what happened and a petition can make things worse for them if they're trying to move on.

Fair enough. My interpretation here is predicated on the fact that said union shenanigans screwed them over, and they were then replaced despite Hoyo being perfectly lenient with people in similar situations (the traveler Vas)

Star Rail’s cast more or less rode above that drama, as far as I know. That’s mostly the Genshin fandom.

I know Molly Zhang (Seele, Astra Yao) mentioned a bit about their predicament on stream about letting Hoyo know if you wanted to hear them in the game in some capacity again. I’m just wondering if I should pursue that angle further, compliant with everyone’s NDAs, of course.

By my interpretation here they got screwed over by every conceivable party here. Just want to ensure some of the performers who inspired me to start the game (which in turn inspired a massive 2+ year creative writing output in both fanfiction and especially original fiction!) got a fair shake in all of this. Because it sure looks like they didn’t from any party.

(Seriously if I ever meet with any success in a creative field it’s the Astral Express crew + Stellaron Hunters performance that are largely responsible for inspiring that! 0.0)

Even if such a campaign failed to stop any bridges from burning for the pair, it could still raise awareness for the fans of the other projects they’ve got out there/upcoming… I’d consider even that a success.

[consumeroflemoans]

For the character break down since he's been in the public conscience, Sunday? Also Aventurine so we have the classic?

I DIDNT SEE THIS ASK OMG

Sunday

- How I feel about him?

Augh I love love love his character so much. He’s such a fascinating exploration of the trauma and grooming that can sometimes come from religious institutions. He’s a deeply flawed person that I just want to see improve

- Who do I ship with him?

Stellar question to ask the multishipper I have a few

Sunheng - This most recent quest really opened my eyes to this ship. Dan Heng and Sunday have parallel plots of redemption. They both have been made criminals in their own homes after doing something they believed was right. Dan Heng is further along in his character arc, so he could potentially help Sunday with his own development, helping him find his own purpose. Also they’re on the Astral Express together now (:

Sunturine - These absolute divas. The conversation between Order Sunday and Aventurine had my toxic yaoi bells ringing. I’ve talked about this before, but they are amazing foils for each other. Sunday is lowkey obsessed with Aventurine’s surface level frivolity, it was even mentioned in his argument against himself. The dynamic of the (metaphorical) straight man x the frivalous flirt is so fun. Also “It’s Sunday, the most handsome man in Penacony” plays in my head constantly.

Sunday x Caelus/Stelle - Now I don’t ship the Trailblazer with a lot of people, but this is one situation where I think it would work. Penacony was supposed to be a vacation for them and it turned into arguably one of the most traumatic experiences of their life. The dynamic between a villain searching for redemption and the one that defeated them in the first place is really fun to explore and I think there could be good angst.

- Non-romantic OTP?

Oh my god Sunday and Robin. Their sibling dynamic brings me life and the newest quest nearly made me cry. Sunday has been so dependent on Robin acting as the light in his life and he’s finally recognizing that he needs to secure his own independence. They love each other so much I hope they see each other again

- Unpopular opinion?

I’ve touched on this before but I don’t think Sunday has changed all that much yet. I’ve seen a bit of discourse surrounding the farewell quest because it’s frankly confusing at times. This quest wasn’t about him becoming a whole new person, it’s about him finally accepting that he can’t change the past. He can only move forward and work to improve himself

- One thing I wish would happen/had happened

Please please hoyoverse I am on my knees give Sunday more interactions with the Astral Express crew. I’m well aware he’s only a passenger but he could have so many interesting conversations with them. I was really hoping the room event had Sunday included. It makes sense why he isn’t but I’m still kind of sad

Aventurine

- How I feel about him?

Obsessed with this character. He’s my husband. He’s my darling little boy. He kicked off the growing trend of us really getting to see the plot from character’s perspectives and I think they did a phenomenal job exploring his trauma.

- Who do I ship with him?

*clears throat* Dr. Veritas Ratio. *the crowd goes wild*

I do think they have a fun dynamic. Once again the straight man character plays well off Aventurine gambling on everything. It’s also nice to see a character that genuinely cares. Someone who can say, no, stop, this is actively harming you. Ratio also doesn’t say that in the most polite way, but I think it makes them fun.

Also Sunturine again (:

- Non-romantic OTP?

Aventurine and Topaz! I really like to think of them as best friends. They’re lowkey bad influences on each other, but they work well together. There’s a lot of fun concepts for workplace shenanigans also with them working together as Stonehearts.

- Unpopular opinion?

I don’t think it’s an unpopular opinion but tbh I’ve seen a lot of people mischaracterize Aventurine as being incredibly reckless. His entire theming is based around gambling but he’s actually an extremely calculating character. He had an intricate plan on Penacony with multiple backup plans to fall back on. He’s very smart with his plans and knows how to make things go his way. That’s why he’s good at what he does.

- One thing I wish would happen/had happened

Proper Aventurine/Boothill team up when. I need to see them take down the IPC together. They’ve both lost their homes, their families, and their autonomy to them. I need this for my soul

[creetch]

I really do hope Sunday joins the Nameless. I think putting him on that train would help him heal from Everything

Also I wanna see him get involved in the Trailblaze Trio's shenanigans so bad

I agree! I really think he'd get along with Dan Heng, also I don't think March would give him a moment of peace either which would be so funny to watch lol I need to see her call him every single day of the week apart from Sunday

I have a lot of new thoughts about Astral Express Sunday that I want to put into a big post, but I also haven't had the time to as of yet because of work

To be brief about how I feel, I've been thinking about it a whole lot and one of the things I love most is how the members of the Express are reborn in a way which ties very well into Sunday's character.

Dan Heng doesn't want to be associated with the actions of his prior incarnation and is following a new path with the crew, March 7th doesn't know her past but is happy to travel with the express and live as she is now learning more about herself along the way, Welt comes from another world entirely and is now treading a new path in his current universe, the Trailblazer has had their memories wiped by Kafka and are discovering themselves aboard the Express, and Himeko started this all by paving the way for members of the Express to move forward via fixing the train. Sunday moving forward from his past and joining the Express really fits in with the crew, and even Dan Heng himself told him not to be shackled by the past, something he would really understand

Also the 'you have a noble soul...' ;_;

Sunday can't go back to the way things were prior to the Penacony storyline, that's over. His entire life has changed. The life he lived before is gone. He has no option but to move forward towards a new future which is exactly what he can do with the Express.

Robin has been able to travel to other planets, meet a wide array of people and form her view on the world based on those experiences. It's one reason why they have such differing viewpoints. Meanwhile, Sunday has been caged in the Dreamscape, rarely venturing into reality (as we see Robin encouraging him to please spend more time in reality in one of her letters) and the only views he was exposed to since childhood were that of Gopher Wood who had a vested interest in shoving the teachings of Order on him the moment he noticed his uncertainty, his kindness and his hatred of suffering, and pinpointed this as a weakness. This is especially evident when Sunday says, about the Dove, that he wants the bird to live 'no matter what'.

Joining the Express would give Sunday the chance to really experience reality. It fits into the idea of him being the bird that can't fly - what better way to spread his wings than with them? With how his reply to Robin saying they were meant to fly into the sky together was 'If only... I could...' him joining the crew would make me actually cry like a fucking baby lol

It would give him the chance to travel to various worlds just as Robin has, to meet different people with different perspectives on life, and then decide for himself what he believes based on his own life experiences and not on the grooming of his adoptive father. If it is a Paradise he wishes for, and he says he still wants to achieve that goal at the end of 2.3, then maybe he'll find one in travelling to help others.

I still really believe that the Death of a Crow readable is from Elio about Sunday, however knowing that Elio and the rest of the Hunters try to aid the Express, and with Firefly calling them the dark to the Astral Express's light, I wouldn't be surprised if the poem itself was about Sunday joining the Astral Express instead of the Stellaron Hunters. Elio's aim is to support the Express, so him pushing Sunday towards joining the Express would be in line with the Stellaron Hunters and what they've always done throughout the story - provided us with their help.

Sunday has had rebirth themes around him for such a long time now that him totally changing outfit and walking a new path to travel the stars when he's only ever been stuck in the Dreamscape, now being able to create a new life for himself, would be very fitting. Sunday's lightcone animation has him saying 'the end is also the beginning', along with the description for his sticker which also points towards rebirth.

ALSO the whole fallen angel rebirth thing, etcetera etcetera, right down to Jade offering him a deal that's super comparable to the forbidden fruit, but that's pretty clear, yet I thought I'd throw it in there

In my opinion, the Astral Express would welcome him. They thought he was trying to resurrect Ena at first, but they then realised he wanted to create a world without suffering. He was also willing to listen to what the Astral Express had to say, and I really think he would welcome them challenging his views. I do believe they'd welcome him with open arms, as someone who is willing to move on from his past.

Also Sunday talks about the Trailblaze like this

So there's that too

I... really want this to happen lol. And I'm so happy current leaks point very strongly towards it

[the-wild-tomato]

Hello! May I request the Astral Express Crew (Platonic) ((maybe plus Jing Yuan if your okay with that)) reacting to frail!soft!observant!reader, who usually either stays on the express with PomPom or running small (relatively safe) errands, having extremely strong mental resilience?

The group is confronting a very enemy that has the ability to cause agonizing mental pain (turns out its the enemies severe depression) with their mind powers by using their opponents' fears against them. (Which the pain alone had the ability and has driven people insane) It's kept everyone else back a significant distance (including Welt and Jing Yuan), except he reader, who appears to be completely unaffected.

Turns out the reader had enured the same agonizing mental pain that was inflicted on everyone(which exponentially increased the closer they got to the enemy). Due to their past experiences with living with moderate to severe depression and the high levels of self-actualization they had gained as a result, the reader managed to pull through and defeat the enemy alone with some injuries.

Yeah, they cried and was much more softer and frail afterward, but they made a full (mental) recovery after a few days of just resting in their cabin on the Express. Even then, the reader still made the effort of checking in on everyone afterward and offering comfort, space, or just company if needed. ( Reader knows they have the experience and the tools to cope, and they know that the others are more shaken than they say they are)

Thank you.

👁-👁 Anon

Thank you so much for requesting!!! I hope this is to your heart's liking 👁-👁 Anon. I hope to hear from you again!!

Title: Resilience

Pairing/s: Platonic Astral Express Crew (+ Jing Yuan)

Genre: Angst w/happy ending

Word count: 825

I can imagine it was supposed to be a regular mission with the express trio (March 7th, Trailblazer and Dan Heng) at the Loufu. Some kind of Marastruck shenanigans. But obviously the enemy turned out to be tougher than they look and took down the three with its power. Thankfully, both Welt and Jing Yuan were nearby to help. That backfired badly when the enemy attacked them and after back and forth, it had landed hits on both of them, giving them the same sense of depression as everyone else had.

Back on the express, Himeko, MC, and PomPom were getting worried when they hadn’t heard anything from the crew in a while. It took a while, but a distress call was sent to the express. Himeko volunteered to go alone, but MC quickly joined in, saying two people would be better than one.

They quickly found everyone a ways away from the abnormal marastruck. Himeko and MC rushed to help everyone get back on their feet.

“What happened here?” Himeko asked looking over an in agony Welt.

“The marastruck, it’s playing tricks with our minds, making us see what we’re afraid of the most.” Welt explained, clutching his head.

“We need to get everyone far away!”

With Himekos order, MC and Himeko gathered everyone away to a safe distance. But even that didn’t do much to help.

“We need a healer. Jing Yuan, are there any nearby? ” MC asked to the slouched over general.

“Call Lady Bailu, she’ll know what to do…”

Before Himeko or MC could even reach for their phones, the abnormal marastruck found them and charged at them. Himeko tried to hold it back but was hit with a head on blast.

MC stared at the marastruck as it dropped Himekos body down to the ground. It walked slowly towards MC. But to everyone’s surprise, the usually soft spoken and danger avoidant MC stood their ground, showing no fear. Summoning their weapon MC got into a fighting stance, placing their body in front of everyone and acting as a shield.

“You’re… the last one… standing…” the marastruck spoke, its voice distorted. With a flick of its hand, the emotions started to overwhelm everyone further.

MC knew that there was little time left.

“So what’s your power? Being a pain in everyone’s ass? Or being annoying?”

“You speak so highly, SO I’LL MAKE YOU REGRET COMING HERE!!!” the marastruck ran towards the MC, aiming to kill.

“You use your own fear against everyone; wither them down until nothings left of their mind, making them join you.” MC spoke, anger in their voice as they lifted their weapon high and getting ready to fight.

It drew closer, as did its effect on everyone behind MC.

“I hope you had your fun, because this is the last time you make anyone suffer!” MC shouted as they used their weapon, and with one hit, blasted the marastruck into oblivion.

With all their willpower and adrenaline leaving their body, MC collapsed onto the ground panting and crying.

“Is everyone alright?” MC asked, voice cracking in between sobs as they looked towards the equally exhausted group behind them.

Weak ‘all rights’ and thumbs ups were thrown their way.

It took a while for everyone to recover fully. Thankfully, nearby guards had been notified and they rushed to aid everyone. A few days had passed and Jing Yuan had come aboard the express to check in with everyone else.

“Say how did you avoid the power of that abnormal marastruck?” Ying Yuan asked.

“Oh, I didn’t…” MC chuckled anxiously, getting embarrassed from the revealment.

“HUH?! So you powered through it?” March 7th asked with a bewildered expression her face.

“…yes?” MC asked timidly, folding into themselves.

“Please don’t do that again. You could have seriously injured yourself.” Sighing Welt said.

“Forget that! You have to come trailblazing with us again!” March 7th exclaimed.

“Agreed,” Trailblazer spoke, the same excitement on their face.

“No way, that was too much excitement and chaos for one lifetime.” MC spoke, abhorrently denying their further agreement.

“I have to agree to that statement!” PomPom exclaimed, “Who else would help around the express if not MC. We have enough trouble makers as is! You leave my best helper alone!”

Laughing and enjoying everyone’s company, MC looked out of the windows in the parlour car.

“So how did you deal with all of those emotions?” Dan Heng asked.

“Oh I have my ways…” MC replied, a small smile on their face.

As the days passed and the event was slowly going to the backs of everyone’s minds, MC still made sure to check in on everyone. Making Himeko her morning coffee extra warm and comforting, assisting March 7th with getting more secret photos, going on walks with Welt, just enjoying each other’s companies. All of these things carried on just in case someone needed the extra reassurance that everything was fine.