#hu tao has a way of deflecting with humor

[maburp]

Hu Tao and Alhaitham parallels…

Grandparent that left them a line that they live by (“May my child Alhaitham lead a peaceful life” and “Live in life, die in death. Follow your heart, do what you can.”)

Both are highly competent at what they do

Neither care for outsiders’ perception of them, thus considered to be eccentrics

To an extent, both enjoy solitude (Alhaitham obviously does, Hu Tao character story 2 - she likes disappearing for periods of time)

Both stick to their ideals (Alhaitham’s rationalism, Hu Tao’s ideas of life and death as seen with how she first perceived Qiqi but changed her views later)

Both seen as vaguely annoying by their friends lmao (Hu Tao’s pranks, Alhaitham direct way of speaking)

Both have an appreciation for literature (Alhaitham more so all knowledge and books in general, whereas Hu Tao loves poetry…. Lowkey they’d probably bond over music too)

[angeliteeyes]

Hihi

Could we get reader S/O who is getting harassed/bullied somewhere like work and their partner finds out? I’m kind of curious how a jokey character like Hu Tao would react or handle this situation but if you would have another character you would prefer that’s cool too.

Have a lovely time of day!

Hehehe... Hu as in "Who upset my darling S/O?" and Tao as in "They need to geT OUt!" Hehe.... No, not funny?

Lmao anyway—hope you enjoy ;p

Hu tao x Reader - How She'd React to Finding Out You're Being Bullied at Work

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You weren't always like this.

Hu Tao knows your reaction to her startling you like the back of her hand—or at least, she used to. Heaven knows how many times she's coaxed it out of you, after all; the way your eyes would widen in shock as you let out a shrill little shriek was simply too adorable to pass up. But lately... something has been off. Your muscles would tense far tighter than they used to. When your eyes met, they bore into hers the way a scared stray's would, an innate layer of fragility coating them. And perhaps worst of all, you lost your signature smile when you finally recognized her, it being replaced with a fake, plastic mockery of the joyful expression she loves so dearly.

That same fauxness appears every time your job comes up in discussion, she's noticed. Time and time again, it's always the same pleasantries about work going "well", and never any actual details, despite her regular poking and prodding. You also get particularly cagey when the topic of coworkers pops up and endlessly end up shying away from further questioning, much to her chagrin.

As she paces around her abode, the weight of her dilemma presses against her tiny shoulders. How is she supposed to help you out when you won't even tell her what's going on? Oh, if only she could just curse whatever pesky person's bothering you...

Her feet come to a halt.

"Curses, huh..." An eerie grin stretches across her face as her eyes narrow in mischievous excitement. Soon, the walls echo with bone-chilling giggles, the kind only someone with as strange a sense of humor as her could produce.

"I guess I can figure something out after all."

-

Hu Tao's odd behaviors were nothing new to you, including her strange penchant for gifting you items you couldn't recognize. Whenever you'd ask about their meaning, her answers were, at best, roundabout and unclear. At worst, she'd merely giggle creepily, following with cryptic deflections. Things like that you "shouldn't worry about it" or "you'll understand eventually".

Perhaps that's why, as she determinedly pushes an amulet into your palms right before work with a stern warning to keep it on the whole workday, you listen without question. Why wouldn't you? As much as you aren't anywhere near as skilled or knowledgeable in spiritual matters as her, you knew better than to doubt her own talents and wisdom. That's practically a death wish (both literally and figuratively).

It's only once your colleague comes over that the true meaning behind her actions becomes clear. You brace yourself, awaiting a crude string of words like you've come to expect, when—

Growwwllllll.

The two of you stand in confused silence for a second, processing the sound. More important than the actual noise, though, is the source of it. And based on the way that they're clasping their arms over their stomach... No way. Really?

Grooooowwwwlllllll.

Even louder this time, you stare in complete bewilderment at the sight before you. At this point, they've hunched over so severely that they're basically bowing at you, a gesture you know for a fact they'd never do under any other circumstance. It's taking everything within you not to burst out into laughter, honestly, but you somehow manage to hold it back. Just in time, too, as they sheepishly whisper an excuse to leave and run off towards the nearest restroom.

On a typical weekday, their comments would stab at you like thorns all throughout it. Not today, though. Turns out their intestinal issues put them out of commission for the rest of your shift, granting you much-needed peace and quiet. You would feel sorry for them, but... well, what goes around comes around, right?

You pull out your newly acquired amulet and smile—a real, earnest one this time. As much of a jokester as Hu Tao may be, you know better than anyone else how serious she gets when it comes to important matters. Even if her methods still retain her signature eccentricity, the heart behind them was, and always has been, painfully sincere.

-

As you return to your shared home, a familiar face pokes out from behind the entranceway walls, goofy grin and all. Her eyes are swimming with amusement and anticipation as they make contact with yours.

"Yo! How did work go? Anybody end up bothering you?" Her tone is laced with joyful giddiness as she awaits your response.

The mention of your job stirs up plenty of negative emotions and discomfort—or at least, it would've any other day. But this time, a wave of relief courses through you, finally understanding that you don't have to struggle on your own any longer. You pull her into a warm hug and gently nestle into her. This time, she's the one that ends up wide-eyed in surprise, her normal fiery energy temporarily being quenched by your arms.

"I had a wonderful day. Thank you."

A few quiet seconds pass before you feel her own limbs snake around your torso. It's moments like these in which you get to glimpse a softer, shyer side of your lover, an honor you try to cherish every chance you get.

After some time, Hu Tao pulls herself back and, to your surprise, she's now pouting at you. Usually, this expression of hers is reserved for petty attempts to get out of things like chores or consequences for her pranks that went too far, yet the one before you right now feels different. Softer, perhaps.

"Just don't hide this sort of thing from me again, got it? It's no fun when you get all sad and mopey." Her face contorts, an attempt to make her pout and words appear more playful. You're not buying it, though. And so, you respond to her thinly veiled plea with the genuine affirmation she desires.

"I promise."